La Strada Italian Kitchen & Bar

Name: La Strada Italian Kitchen & Bar
Address: 243 E Merrill St, Birmingham, MI, United States, 48009
Telephone: (248) 480-0492
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.7

4.7 (403)

$31 to $50

Italian

243 E Merrill St, Birmingham, MI 48009

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 14, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 24 times today

About this restaurant

Good for business meals
Charming
Great for fine wines

La Strada Italian Kitchen and Bar is your place for authentic Italian cuisine in the heart of downtown Birmingham. Restaurateur and chef Zharko Palushaj opened this gem in late 2015. Our menu is packed with top-quality Italian and European products, including a variety of aged and fresh cheeses, salumi, pizzas, homemade pasta, fish and seafood flown in from all over the world. We also include top American beef and poultry, classic desserts, and gelato, as well as vegetarian and gluten-free options. Our passion, attention to detail, and dedication to our guests set us apart. We can't wait to show you what makes La Strada a world of its own! We're so grateful for the opportunity to serve you, and we can't wait to share our love for food with you!

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, Wine Bar, Cocktail Bar
Hours of operation
Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–12:00 am
Phone number
(248) 480-0492
Website
https://lastradaitaliankitchen.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Zharko Palushaj
Catering
We are pleased to offer catering services and request a sufficient lead time for preparation. Our catering packages are customized to meet your needs, and we are committed to ensuring that every dish catered is delicious, visually appealing, and meets your expectations in terms of taste. For inquiries about catering contact our restaurant.
Private party facilities
For inquiries regarding our event services, please contact us via email or through our website. Our team is committed to accommodating your requested date and any specific requests you may have. Whether you are planning a birthday party, graduation, business dinner, or any other special occasion, we are here to ensure the success of your event.

Location
243 E Merrill St, Birmingham, MI 48009
Neighborhood
Birmingham
Cross street
Old Woodward & Merrill Street
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Taleggio DOP$15.00
Parmigiano Reggiano DOP "Red Cow" 36$23.00
Month Aged
Cacio Di Bosco - Truffle .Pecorino$23.00
Pecorino Toscano DOP$18.00
Asiago Vechio DOP$18.00
Montegrappa DOP - Venitian Semi Soft$18.00
Cow's Milk Cheese
Cacciocavallo - 36 Month Cave Aged DOP $21.00
Paski Sir$18.00
Croatian'sSheep's milk 12 Month Aged

Salumi

Mortadella Pistachio$12.00
Salame Piacentino DOP$15.00
Coppa .Piacentina DOP$15.00
Specck Alto Aldige - Smoked Prosciutto$15.00
Prosciutto San Daniele 'Secolo' DOP$18.00
Prosciutto Di Parma Black Label DOP$21.00
Bresaola-Air Dried Filet Mignon$18.00
Jberico De Bellota (Spanish Prosciutto)$55.00
100% Acorn-fed

Antipasti

Olives$11.00
Cerignola Olives, Celery, Orange Zest, EVOO
Bruschetta$18.00
Heirloom Tomato, Garlic, Basil, Parmigiano Reggiano, EVOO
Mozzarella Di Bufala$21.00
Bufala Mozzarella, Heirloom Tomato, Basil Pesto, 15 Year Balsamic
Burrata Pugliese$21.00
Creamy Mozzarella, Julienne Zucchini, Pistachio Pesto, Balsamic Caviar,
Caponata$15.00
Sicilian Eggplant Salad
Peperoni Arrostiti$15.00
Roasted Peppers, Garlic, Basil, Evoo, Crostini Pesto
Bresaola Ricotta Di Bufala $23.00
Beef Tenderloin, Butala Ricotta, Walnuts, Truffle Honey
Carpaccio Di F'iletto$25.00
EVOO, Lemon, Arugula, Parmigiano Reggiano, Toasted Pine Nuts
P'olpette Di Vitello$18.00
Veal Meatballs, Tomato Sauce, Whipped Hand Dipped Ricotta
Salsiccia & Peperoni $18.00
Italian Sausage, Tre-Color Peppers, Roasted Garlic - Potatoes
Zuppa Di Vongole $21.00
Steamed Manila Clams, EVOO, Fragrant Tomato, hot Calabrese Peppers
Stracciatella Pugliese$25.00
Cream of Burrata, Heirloom Tomato, Arugula, Speck, Melon Ball
Zuppa Di Calamari$21.00
Boston Loligo, EVOO, Spicy Tomato

Insalate

Tre Colore$15.00
Arugula, Radicchio, Endive , EVOO - lemon, Parmigiana Reggiano
Barbabietole$18.00
Carpaccio Beets, Arugula, Toasted Almonds, Pistachios, EVOO
Caesar$15.00
Romaine Hearts, Tomato, Parmigiana Basket, Crisp Speck, Parmigiana Dressing

Pizza

Americana $18.00
San Marzano Tomato, Mozzarella, Fresh Basil
Margherita$21.00
San Marzano Tomato, Mozzarella di Butala (slightly wet)
P'iccante$23.00
San Marzano Tomato, Spicy Italian Salami, Mozzarella di Bufala
Quattro Formaggi $23.00
Mozzarella di Butala, taleggio, fontina, gorgonzola
Bianca$21.00
Mozzarella di Bufala, Prosciutto San Daniele, Arugula, Parmigianio Reggiano
Pesto & Mortadella$23.00
Pistachio Pesto, Mozzarella di Bufala, Mortadella, Roasted Tomatoes

Fresh Pasta

Risotto Aquarello Carnaroli 7 Year Aged

Risotto Parmigiana$35.00
Parmigiano Reggiano, Amarone Reduction
Risotto Ai Funghi & Tartufo$40.00
Gourmet Mushrooms, Black Truffle Shavings, Parmigiano Reggiano

Entrees

Parmigiana Eggplant$30.00
Tomato, Basil, Mozzarella, Parmigano Reggiano
Scaloppine Ai Funghi Trifolati $45.00
Provimi Veal, Mushrooms, Peperoncino, White Wine, Porcini Cream
Saltimbocca Alla Romana $45.00
Provimi Veal, Prosciutto San Daniele, White Wine, Butter, Sage
Batuta Di Pollo Al L.imone $33.00
Airline Chicken Breast, Artichokes, Caper Berries, White Wine, Lemon
Batuta Di Pollo Cardinale $35.00
Airline Chicken Breast, Artichokes, Forest Mushrooms, Roasted Peppers, Marsala Wine, Fontina Cheese
Brasato Di Manzo$55.00
Wagyu Brasid Short Rib, Red Wine, Creamy Polenta
Costoletta Alla Milanese$75.00
16 oz Veal Chop, Arugula - Cherry Tomato Salad
Costoletta Alla Parmigiana$85.00
16 oz Veal Chop, Tomato, Basil, Mozzarella, Parmigiano /Pesce Del Giorno / The Freshest Fish Of The Day

Contorni

Spinach $13.00
Gourmet Mushrooms $15.00
Broccoli & Rabe$15.00

Dessert

Torta Quatro Formaggi/cheese cake$15.00
Four Cheeses, La Strada Secret Recipe
Torta Di Pistachio$16.00
Four Cheeses with Homemade Pistachio Paste
Tortino A Ciccolato$15.00
Chocolate Lava Cake, Vanilla Gelato
Tiramisu$15.00
Cafe Espresso, Lady Fingers, Mascarpone Cheese, Cognac
Zabaglione ('For Two)$30.00
Egg yolks, Granulated sugar, Marsala wine
Cream Brulee$15.00
Rich Custard Base, Fresh Berries, Vanilla

What 403 people are saying

La Strada Italian Kitchen & Bar reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.8Service
4.6Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Detroit / Eastern Michigan
Good for special occasions
Detroit / Eastern Michigan
Italian
Detroit
Good for special occasions
Detroit
Italian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

La Strada Italian Kitchen & Bar offers an "amazing" dining experience with "fantastic" food and "impeccable" service. The ambiance is warm and inviting, perfect for a memorable evening. While some diners note high noise levels and suggest decor updates, the "authentic" cuisine and "outstanding" staff make it "highly recommended."

403 Reviews

B
Beth VIP
New York City14 reviews
4.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
This was our first time here. We were a party of four. I’m going to tell you that a restaurant has one time to make a first impression, and for me that first impression is the host or hostess. If I am greeted warmly, with a smile, I am set up for a nice time. The hostess here never cracked a smile and barely uttered a word. I saw her seat many guests and I never once saw a smile on her face. She’s too young to be so miserable, so unless she was having a really bad night, she may not be the best front person. Let’s get to the food. We sat down and were immediately asked if we wanted drinks. I ordered sparkling water, my husband order wine, our friends order wine and some other drink (I wasn’t paying attention). The drinks came out pretty quickly (within 10 minutes). About 15 minutes later we placed an appetizer order (2 things) and our main courses. One appetizer came out in about ten minutes, the other in about 20 minutes. We were enjoying our appetizers and conversations. We also noticed that people around us who sat down after us had already been served dinner. We said nothing, and continued our conversations. Our reservations were at 6:30 and at 8:15 we still had not been served. Seems they dropped the ball on our order. After a few minutes we were served dinner. We weren’t mad, we didn’t get upset, we shrugged our shoulders and started telling story of other dining experiences where the ticket got “lost.” It happens. When the food arrived, we certainly enjoyed it as it was very good. Our server whose name were didn’t know had one chance to end our dinner on an up note by offering us dessert, but he didn’t. Not mad, but we discussed it on the drive home. One last thing….if you want a relaxing dinner where you can have a conversation with your dinner companion, this is not the place. The noise level is very high. The food is good, but I don’t know when I might be back.
La Strada Italian Kitchen & BarResponded 1 day ago
Dear guest, We appreciate the feedback. It was thorough, especially for a first-time guest at our restaurant. Reservations are set for two and a half hours, and the kitchen is timed to prepare the course meal accordingly. We wish you had brought it to the attention of the waiter or the chef-owner. They're always present to check on guests. However, this is an effective method as well. The hostess has been with us for over three years, and there have never been any issues. We are proud to support college students with jobs. While smiling is not required, professionalism is essential. We have control over some noises, but not all. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. We are committed to enhancing our service to ensure your next visit is a positive one Best Regards!
Is this helpful?
D
David VIP
Detroit / Eastern Michigan13 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Continues to be a great experience. Food as always is amazing as is the service. You need to add this to your restaurant list in Bham!!!
Is this helpful?
G
Gloria VIP
Detroit / Eastern Michigan99 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 10, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The Chef and the staff here make you feel so very special ! They are welcoming! The food and wine and cocktails are top notch . High quality and delicious! La Strada is highly recommended.
Is this helpful?
S
Sam VIP
Detroit / Eastern Michigan5 reviews
1.0
Dined on May 2, 2025
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 2
Food was bad , low quality and not gourmet it just looks gourmet , disappointed and will not be back
La Strada Italian Kitchen & BarResponded 1 day ago
We really appreciate your feedback! It would be so helpful for us to know which dishes weren't to your liking. Gourmet we have mushrooms, which are delivered fresh when in season. We apologize for the inconvenience. We hope to have an opportunity in the near future to serve food that will meet your expectations. Best Regards!
Is this helpful?
A
Allison VIP
Detroit / Eastern Michigan23 reviews
3.0
Dined on April 30, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
Two entrees, two non alcoholic drinks, one dessert and coffee - $160 without tip! And who cooks … fries Coho Salmon to be well done! No quality chef. Value exchange is just not there. Sadly we won’t be back.
Is this helpful?
M
Maureen
Washington, D.C. Area7 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 26, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was excellent. I had the grouper (fish of the day) and it was one of the best fish entrees I have had.
Is this helpful?
Z
Zachary
Indiana3 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 20, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food was great, service was excellent - very well managed & staffed. Definitely recommend!
Is this helpful?
T
Tim VIP
Detroit / Eastern Michigan18 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always a good time. Great food, people, and service!
Is this helpful?
M
Maureen VIP
Las Vegas12 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 10, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Restaurant was beautiful and much larger than expected! Food was delicious! The owner and staff were wonderful and helped celebrate my birthday with a special dessert. Everyone in my group really enjoyed their food! Definitely recommend this restaurant if you are looking for a dinner out in Birmingham!
Is this helpful?
C
Christina VIP
Detroit / Eastern Michigan69 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 9, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Really friendly and helpful staff. They helped us choose a nice wine to pair with our meal. The food was delicious and very authentic. We will be back again.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

La Strada Italian Kitchen & Bar offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (248) 480-0492.

La Strada Italian Kitchen & Bar is rated 4.7 stars by 403 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 14, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 24 times today

Google Map for La Strada Italian Kitchen & Bar

243 E Merrill St, Birmingham, MI 48009

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Old Woodward & Merrill Street
Neighborhood
Birmingham
Hours of operation
Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–12:00 am
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, Wine Bar, Cocktail Bar
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Zharko Palushaj
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://lastradaitaliankitchen.com/
Phone number
(248) 480-0492
Catering
We are pleased to offer catering services and request a sufficient lead time for preparation. Our catering packages are customized to meet your needs, and we are committed to ensuring that every dish catered is delicious, visually appealing, and meets your expectations in terms of taste. For inquiries about catering contact our restaurant.
Private party facilities
For inquiries regarding our event services, please contact us via email or through our website. Our team is committed to accommodating your requested date and any specific requests you may have. Whether you are planning a birthday party, graduation, business dinner, or any other special occasion, we are here to ensure the success of your event.

La Strada Italian Kitchen & Bar

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

Dinner

Formaggi

Taleggio DOP$15.00

Parmigiano Reggiano DOP "Red Cow" 36$23.00

Cacio Di Bosco - Truffle .Pecorino$23.00

Pecorino Toscano DOP$18.00

Asiago Vechio DOP$18.00

Montegrappa DOP - Venitian Semi Soft$18.00

Cacciocavallo - 36 Month Cave Aged DOP $21.00

Paski Sir$18.00

Salumi

Mortadella Pistachio$12.00

Salame Piacentino DOP$15.00

Coppa .Piacentina DOP$15.00

Specck Alto Aldige - Smoked Prosciutto$15.00

Prosciutto San Daniele 'Secolo' DOP$18.00

Prosciutto Di Parma Black Label DOP$21.00

Bresaola-Air Dried Filet Mignon$18.00

Jberico De Bellota (Spanish Prosciutto)$55.00

Antipasti

Olives$11.00

Bruschetta$18.00

Mozzarella Di Bufala$21.00

Burrata Pugliese$21.00

Caponata$15.00

Peperoni Arrostiti$15.00

Bresaola Ricotta Di Bufala $23.00

Carpaccio Di F'iletto$25.00

P'olpette Di Vitello$18.00

Salsiccia & Peperoni $18.00

Zuppa Di Vongole $21.00

Stracciatella Pugliese$25.00

Zuppa Di Calamari$21.00

Insalate

Tre Colore$15.00

Barbabietole$18.00

Caesar$15.00

Pizza

Americana $18.00

Margherita$21.00

P'iccante$23.00

Quattro Formaggi $23.00

Bianca$21.00

Pesto & Mortadella$23.00

Fresh Pasta

Risotto Aquarello Carnaroli 7 Year Aged

Risotto Parmigiana$35.00

Risotto Ai Funghi & Tartufo$40.00

Entrees

Parmigiana Eggplant$30.00

Scaloppine Ai Funghi Trifolati $45.00

Saltimbocca Alla Romana $45.00

Batuta Di Pollo Al L.imone $33.00

Batuta Di Pollo Cardinale $35.00

Brasato Di Manzo$55.00

Costoletta Alla Milanese$75.00

Costoletta Alla Parmigiana$85.00

Contorni

Spinach $13.00

Gourmet Mushrooms $15.00

Broccoli & Rabe$15.00

Dessert

Torta Quatro Formaggi/cheese cake$15.00

Torta Di Pistachio$16.00

Tortino A Ciccolato$15.00

Tiramisu$15.00

Zabaglione ('For Two)$30.00

Cream Brulee$15.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does La Strada Italian Kitchen & Bar offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is La Strada Italian Kitchen & Bar restaurant rated?

Is La Strada Italian Kitchen & Bar currently accepting reservations?