Bigalora Wood Fired Cucina

Mixed reviews had me nervous coming in. My aunt reported lackluster experience. My friend have been before and liked it (we went with them).
Weather was perfect for the patio. Arriving at 7:30 We waited about 20 min to have a nice patio seat. By 8:30 there were a lot of empty tables. Drink menu has a of options. I had 2 cocktails, both excellent. I recommend «I’ll have what she’s having»
We ordered Rosemary fries, risotto balls and Brussel sprout salad based on previous Unilocal reviews. All were good, nothing new. I’m over fried Brussel sprouts at the moment so I would not order again. Risotto balls are tasty.
We ordered 3 pizzas for 4 people. More than enough food (our friends are light eaters) and we had almost a full pizza to take home.
The salami pizza was my favorite. Salami style pepperoni, kalamata olives and artichoke. The cheese was a little light.
Italian sausage and peeper was good. The peppers are tiny little green ones (see picture). Bright vibrant color and flavor. Very GREEN tasting.
Italian sausage, wax pepper and red onion pizza was good. Not my style but they liked it.
A big concern was how burnt my pizza would be. Many burnt pizzas in Unilocal pics. All of ours were cooked perfectly. No burnt, a little char, overall A+
This is similar to true Italian pizza. We spent a few weeks in Italy last year and I can honestly say it is a good likeness. Is it the best ever? Ehh I don’t know. Crust is a little soft but I don’t mind that.
We are big fans of another za house on Woodward who has crunchier crust. We will continue to do carry out @c. Dine in might come to bigalora again.
The train blasting by the patio adds some entertainment. On a perfect 70* evening like we had I love this place. Laid back, good food and great cocktails. Mangia!!!

$ 30 for two glasses of wine wtf… pizza just ok under cooked and cheep with the toppings.

Pros: Great food, excellent drink choices, outstanding staff and ample parking (sometimes I bet the automated machine really works).
Cons: The men’s restroom is quite small and funky.
Stopped in after golf with the Hot Blond Wife for drinks, apps and a pizza. Rich, the bartender, was a pro and the beers/​foods were outstanding. Try the olives appetizer and the smoked salmon pizza with capers and red onions. Very nice indeed.

Typical good pizza. Nothing bad, but no reason to bring me back. The place looks good though, and the patio is very cool. Haven’t tried the drinks.

This review is three stars because we’ve had good experiences when dining in but tonight we got carry out and someone was definitely off their game. The chicken parmigiana was tough, dry, and burnt on the edges and the Margherita pizza was burnt in some spots but limp in the center, the cheese was cool, and the pizza was uncut. I guess we’ll stick to dining in.

Chicken Parmigiana is a CLEAR winner. Tasty chicken and Rigatoni. Good selection of bread. Water brought out in large carafes. Truffle Fries good as well. Also the Margherita Pizza is a thin crispy crust smaller size though.

Solid food with a nice atmosphere. My wife and I shared the margherita pizza and a shrimp pesto fettuccine.

I really liked the venue and was excited about the food when I saw it had a 4 star rating. I have to admit, I think this place is over-​rated. The food was okay. My husband and I both got the gnocchi and it was simply just okay.

Not much to complain about Bigalora. Looks like more of a high end place from the outside, but once inside that vibe no longer exists, and it’s family friendly to an extent. The prices were about right for what one would expect. Some people complain about them, but it’s a higher end pizza place, not sure what they are looking for.
Enjoyed a gluten free, salame finocchiona pizza. It was respectable, but not to die for. The gluten-​free-​ness gave it a different taste, which was overpowering at times since the toppings weren’t numerous. Nevertheless, half off bottles on Tuesday, so there’s really nothing more to say…

Been eyeing this place for a while and decided to finally give it a try. Disclaimer– I’m a pizza snob for NY, so it was a big leap. But, I’m a sucker for some good brick oven pizza and people seem to really like this place so figured it’d be worth the visit. Plus, half-​price wine sucked us in.
Tried the fried calamari app first which was good, not great. But, the pizza was awesome. We went the meat route (sausage and pepper) but there were plenty of vegetarian options and everybody’s food around us seemed awesome. Since we were going full-​italian with the wine, calamari and pizza, we needed to end with some gelato. Let me tell you, it was spectacular. I could go back for just that.
I’ve only eaten here once, but I also got a takeout pizza in another occasion and it holds up well. A lot of times, you’ll take a pizza home and it’s a greasy mess, but this was crispy and hot and delicious. And they give you the funniest little pizza cutter with it.
If you like to make your own pizzas at home, I have a pro tip for you. Buy Bigalora’s dough. Seriously. We decided to pop in and see if they’d sell us just their dough and they did! (for super cheap too, just $ 3). We got 2 to make a larger pie, and it ended up being one of our favorite homemade meals ever.

I have been to Bigalora when it was called Pizzeria Biga which I still prefer. Back then, they had 50% off pizzas during some happy hour and a build your own pizza option. How could it get better than that? Alas, many good things come to an end and since it became «Bigalora,» it hasn’t been the same.
What sets Bigalora apart from other pizza joints is their crust. Their pizzas have a slight sourdough taste to them and is chewy which is great. I have tried their red pizzas and haven’t been impressed. I much prefer Crispelli’s Margherita pizza and Supino’s. However, I do adore their Pesto Genovese pizza which is surprising for me because I am usually not a fan of pesto. Their pesto is not overwhelming and the toppings (sun dried tomatoes and pinenuts) complement it perfectly.
I find their prices to be on the high side. A personal pizza will run you about $ 12 to $ 18 (but is slightly cheaper for carry out) with the average price being about $ 15. Some days I find myself craving a pizza from here and I will indulge, but I think I will stick to my other joints for an average day.

I love my family, but when it comes to special diet «preferences», they are a walking/​talking shit show. Depending on the day of the week, one could be boycotting carbs, the other meat, someone else, veggies that cause farts (think cauliflower & broccoli). So whenever I’m in town, I suggest Bigalora. The menu has something for everyone. Ovo-​lacto? Gluten-​free? Vegetarian? Vegan? Bigalora will have something for you on their menu.
The pizzas from the wood-​fired oven are «tasty», and no doubt one of the best in Detroit. But my faces for wood-​fired oven pizzas are at «Flour & Water» in San Francisco, and at «Di Fara» in Brooklyn. The lines at Di Fara are outrageous. So, If you’re a nice Detroiter, channel your inner asshole and get aggressive. Kick butt if anyone tries to cut in front of you while you are waiting «on line» as New Yorkers say ! The wait is worth it.
So back to Detroit. Bigalora has a great selection of plates to share with the table ranging from vegetables to meat and seafood. The pasta selections even include the Italian American stand-​bys for your less than adventurous friends. Spaghetti & Meatballs, Rigatoni with meat sauce, and Rigatoni with Red Sauce (meatless). Boring, but it must fulfill a need because its always on menu.

Best pizza in town. Food is very authentic. My boyfriend is from Rome and he agreed that the pizza here is very regional. Crust has been fermented so it’s nice and crispy on the outside but soft and chewy inside. Nice selection of dessert menu as well. The downside is the price. It is on the expensive side for brick oven pizza but it compensates with the fresh ingreidents. Try the pizza! You won’t regret it

Lovely atmosphere (the place is pretty big yet simultaneously cozy), good food, attentive waiters. I could NOT stop munching on the amazing truffle fries with what tasted like in house-​made ranch. The pizzas were good and supposedly «healthy.» I enjoyed the (dairy free!) cauliflower bisque and roasted brussels sprouts, too. I tried a bite of the tiramisu dessert and I liked it, although if you prefer spongy tiramisu over creamy you may be disappointed.

The ambiance is great here and everyone is progressional and very friendly. The food was good too but I would to have say it was just good. I got their cauliflower soup which was absolutely delicious and wonderfully flavored but I thought the grain salad that I ordered with it was just okay and made me long for more flavor. Would certainly continue to come back.

Went to Bigalora over the weekend. Was very impressed by their food. My tables mixed and matched our different pizzas and they were all very unique and tasty. I actually ordered the fontina stuffed gnocchi and it was awesome (it’s just as sinful as it sounds). Not to mention they had a great wine list; not too extensive and daunting and very reasonably priced. Their selection of whiskey was also impressive given he relative small size of the bar.
The meal service was excellent and the food came out very quickly; I’d say within 10 – 12 minutes if I had to guess.
As a restaurant this place is great, however I wouldn’t recommend going their for drinks as the bar is shoved in an awkward corner of the restaurant and it was kind of hectic being over there during a busy night.
Overall though, the group I was with already decided we would be going back.

The atmosphere is very cozy. The food is great– and the service is even better! They are very quick, even with a large group.

Love this place.
We have a few favorite dishes that put this spot in our tops.
Try the margarita pizza with extra bufala mozzarella and some fresh basil added after its cooked.
Risotto balls. Try them.
There are some excellent wines available by the glass. We have been very impressed by the valpolicello ripasso paired with the pizzas.
The gelato with salted caramel and peanut brittle is a dessert worth getting among a tempting selection of delicious after meal sweets.

Great atmosphere. Good food. Highly recommend seasonal gelato or a parfait. Great vegetarian options and vegan options. The tables aren’t that comfortable if you are in a large group, but good for a small group of 4 or less although it looks like there way have been additional seating up the stairs. Unfortunately not wheelchair or handicap accessible so one of my friends couldn’t make it as the restaurant is up a flight of stairs. The pizza is a nice thin crust and I liked the options of red pizza and white pizza. Great selection of appetizers. The brussel sprouts and the sweet potatoes were good. If you don’t like pizza had other menu options too like salads and pastas.

I would probably choose Biga’s meatballs if I had to choose only one food to live on. They are light, well-​balanced, and cradled in a delicious marinara. The ensemble is topped with just the right amount of Granna padano cheese. I’ve ordered this dish in many ways as an appetizer, small plate, and large family style platter for a house party.
Oddly enough, I’ve never had the pizza. They look fantastic, but I’ve been too distracted by the pasta dishes. All in due time…
The weekend brunch is incredible with a very unique Bloody Mary that has vinegar, tomato, cucumber and garlic flavors, garnished with a thinly sliced cured cold cut.
For those weekend mornings when you want something on the lighter side, the Italian breakfast is perfect! Poached eggs, toast, prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella, and an arugula greens salad with light vinaigrette. The prosciutto is hand sliced on a vintage machine in-​house.
The prices are up there, but so far I’m willing to pay a premium for high quality ingredients and imagination.
How do they get the fifth star? Maintain consistency and keeping trying.
Update: Fifth star awarded!
Most unique pasta dish is the Strozepretti nocina. It’s awesome!

Great pizza with unique topping choices. Food comes out super quick. Super hot ovens create fast food, but your pizza will have a few burnt spots.
Tables too close together. Service subpar. Desserts better than average.

Good food, good environment. It is all good, but nothing blows me away!

very nice pizza and extras, i had the sausage, peppers and onion pizza and my favorite part was the sausage. tasty and spicy and not greasy at all, the menu says they make it and you can tell. the beet salad and fries were also worth it.
the inside is very nice and i especially loved the tall windows.
be back for more. especially the tuesday ½ off wine special.
love, juston

The best part about Bigalora: the pizza is cooked in 90 seconds! Not only that, but it’s very tasty as well. Unfortunately the tiramisu was sold out the day I went, but the other desserts are great choices. The only problem I had was where we were seated. Our table was small and positioned next to a server’s station that was a sort of break area, so it was awkward to hear and see that happening while we ate. The rest of the décor is contemporary and visually appealing.

I have been to Bigalora twice now. Both times I have had a good experience. It is accurately rated at 4 stars.
Pros: an extensive liquor and wine menu, and half off bottles of wine on Tuesdays. A relatively limited menu of pizza salad and pasta which makes choosing a dish easier. Beautiful décor on the inside with vaulted ceilings. And the patio. It may be the best patio to sit on in Royal Oak. Right by the train tracks you can people watch and get a great view of the sunset. The pizza itself is great, they specialize in thin crust pizza with anything on top. I recommend the smoked salmon pizza, you won’t be disappointed. If you’re looking to be more on the traditional side the chicken pesto pizza is also a safe bet. The crust is crunchy and tasty and the pizza is cooked at such a high temp that the bottom of the pie doesn’t get soggy.
The cons: it is busy very often at dinner time. You may have to wait up to 20 mins but they do have a great waiting area. Also at the peak of their dinner rush it can take a bit to get the food out, so grab drinks and be prepared. Their bathroom for the whole restaurant consists of two single bathrooms, which both times I’ve had to wait in line outside of it like I’m at 5^th ave.
Overall: a great place to take a date, drink some wine, and sit out on the patio.

Got a carry out. Ordered cheese pesto. Not happy. Opened the box and found a blackened burnt pizza. Never going there again.
Update 9÷9÷15:
I just got a «compliment» with someone saying the pizza was supposed to be like that all «burnt» up. The first time I had it, it did not have ANY burnt tips or anything period! The second time my co worker got it, it was not burnt. So it’s safe to say that they burnt my pizza. Be aware of this place unless you want burnt pizza!!!

I was in Bigalora their pizza is great there salads r real good the atmosphere is good .I would encouraged you to try this place.Despite. Thr construction in frontof her restaurant come got.
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I went here with a group of 25 for my birthday a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. They put us up in a loft-​type room which was mostly separated from the rest of the restaurant. My boyfriend and I split a TON of dishes and ordered a bunch of appetizers for the table. We had calamari, meatballs, risotto balls and brussel sprouts. We also tried the stuff gnocchi, the cappicola pizza, the mushroom pizza and the magherita pizza. Everything was delicious.
I will make a quick suggestion — if you aren’t a fan of spice, be careful as to what you get. Most of their dishes were spicy. The only downside — our food was a little bit burnt. Other that that, great experience!

I figure if you can’t get the basics right, then the restaurant isn’t worth going back to. My verdict: I will go back… only for lunch. Here’s why:
1) Food was delicious. Calamari cooked PERFECTLY– light, crispy, and seasoned accordingly. Risotto balls were to die for. Rosemary fries were good but nothing to write home about. The Margherita pizza was also cooked perfectly with a light tomato sauce, gooey mozzarella cheese, and nicely toasted basil leaves that brought the entire dish together. The crust was cooked quite nicely too with little bits of char throughout.
2) Wait time was a little ridiculous– 1 and a half hour wait for a table of 6. It was, however, a Friday night. Meh.
3) The menus all have conflicting prices. The eat-​in menu has prices that are $ 2 more than the take-​out menu but of course you are charged the more expensive price. Also the drink menu prices are not updated. I ordered a glass of absinthe that was listed at $ 9 but was charged $ 12. I had to bring it up to the server who promptly fixed it but made sure to let me know prices change all the time. In that case, please do not advertise drink prices.
4) Service was ok. Our waitress was nice but took forever to come back and check on us and offer refills.

Small parking area so either you are lucky and catch someone leaving (because they are always packed) or park short distance away and brave crossing Main Street.
It was nasty and raining outside, so I didn’t see what was on the ground floor as we ascended the stairs to the host stand for Bigalora. I was just glad the stairs were salted and made it up without mishap, while carrying a car seat.
They do not take reservations, so be prepared to wait. If you are lucky enough to get a seat at the little bar or patio lounge area, your wait won’t be so bad. We were told 25 minutes for a Four-​top but it was only about 10 minutes. Just long enough for the guys to order beers. Two draft beers were $ 15. That was a surprise, but no matter. No highchairs to be had and the tables are really close together. Very modern and minimal décor, yet inviting and fresh. Good TV placements to keep up with the game while at dinner. The baby with us is an angel so no issue, but if you have an active one, I wouldn’t recommend bringing him/​her.
The menu is perfect. Great selection without over-​doing it. We ordered a bottle of Italian red that was just tasty. Pizzas are excellent and come out quick. The olive oil on the table is infused with a bit of spice, that is quite a surprise but quickly becomes addicting. Choose a pizza and customize, but if you are lucky, you have a fellow diner you can share with to order a pizza and pasta to try both!
Don’t forget the prosciutto. Oh my, it is simply the best. I ordered mine on the side to add to my pizza, as I went. My friend ordered hers on the pizza and it did go in the oven but wasn’t compromised. Pizzas are fired for only about 5 minutes. Your food comes out fast! I had the mushroom white pizza and was very happy with it. My husband liked the little pepperonis on his pizza. Friend’s pasta was excellent, fresh and looked like house-​made noodles. I look forward to trying the gnocchi.
The tiramisu was okay. It would have been better if it wasn’t served mostly frozen, which was a disappointing. Texture is a big factor in this dessert. Olives, entrees, added prosciutto and two desserts was $ 50. Not bad for a date night with friends.

In terms of casual dining in Royal Oak, Bigalora deserves to be mentioned as one of the better options downtown. PERFECT ambiance from the industrial, loft-​like interior to their incredible outdoor patio that is absolutely divine for enjoying wine and dining outside on a beautiful day. It looks as if they focus on using fresh, organic and locally grown ingredients so that’s a huge selling point.
We went there on a gorgeous Sunday morning a few weeks back and were greeted by a hostess who had no less than a handful of employees lingering behind her and gazing at us in an uncomfortable way. I shook it off as we were seated outside on the patio that had a great view of the city, greenery and railroad tracks. Mimosas were promptly ordered and they were relatively light on the ounces served making them an ineffective buzz generator. Taste wise, they were splendid. The server was friendly although distant and made countless visits to check on us. Love the water they serve in a vintage bottle with large cut lemon slices. So refreshing!
I was a simpleton and took no risks ordering the pepperoni pizza with homemade sausage. It was served overcooked with burnt crust throughout including one black, super-​sized air bubble that dominated one of the slices. I was only slightly disappointed by this and promptly devoured the whole pie which was very enjoyable. The crust is light, thin and crispy making it easy to indulge and eat in one setting. I also ordered the wood fired wings which weren’t as good in execution as they were in theory. Something about the liberal use of onions all over the plate turned me off. My date had the chop salad and prosciutto melon of which the latter got stares, questions and compliments from curious old timers at the table next to us.
They don’t stay open too late which is unfortunate because I’ve driven by here many times at night looking for a place to eat and they were already closed. Other than that, I don’t have any complaints about Bigalora other than their choice of name. It’s worth the few dollars extra for a fantabulous dining environment inside and out plus the opportunity to taste a more eccentric type of pizza.