Sharon Maher of Sterling Heights and five of her cousins meet for lunch twice a year and it’s always at Filippa’s Italian Restaurant and Banquets in Shelby Township.
“We love the food and I think you get a lot for your money,” said Maher, who ordered the chicken picatta, a house favorite featuring a white wine butter sauce with capers, artichokes, garlic and lemon over tender breaded chicken filets, served with potatoes and vegetables along with the soup of the day and a salad.
“It always tastes fresh,” said Shirley Roberts of Troy, who joined Maher’s group on the patio for lunch.
“I also like that it’s homemade,” she said, echoing the words of many who look forward to the food and classic ambience of the popular eatery whose staff are celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Twice a year this group of cousins meet for lunch and it’s always at Filippa’s Italian Restaurant in Shelby Township. The group includes Shirley Roberts, left, Sharon Maher, Nancy Marvin, Debbie Whitney, Connie Tiernney and Stella Malkowski. (Gina Joseph – The Macomb Daily)
“If I had to pick one dish it would be a simple pasta with marinara sauce,” said Dean Cicala, a consultant for the restaurant and co-owner of Coco’s Chop House, a new eatery that he and Giancarlo (John) DeAngelis are opening in Southfield.
And while that might not sound as complex as chicken picatta or linguine allo scoglio it is every bit as good because it’s all made in-house.
“We’re still a scratch kitchen,” Cicala said. “We make all of our pastas, salad dressings, soups, sauces and stocks.”
“Italian cooking doesn’t have to be rocket science,” DeAngelis said, in a news release. “The secret has always been to buy the best, freshest produce and meats available and keep it simple.”
“True Italian food is at its best with four or less ingredients and when it is prepared with love the way nature intended it,” added the co-owner of Filippa’s.
The original owners — the Fiore family — opened the restaurant in 1975 and worked to establish it as one of Metro Detroit’s finest Italian establishments. In 2017, the original owners retired and sold the restaurant, which under new ownership became something more international rather than Italian and while that might have been popular in some areas it did not go over with Filippa’s following of patrons. Two-years later DeAngelis and Iris Male purchased the restaurant and once again were offering patrons most of the original dishes they had come to love but with an emphasis on steaks and ribs.
Pasta is a favorite at Filippa’s but also a sweet treat are the house made cannoli. Gina Joseph – The Macomb Daily
“While we brought back the traditional recipes that made Filippa’s famous, we do offer some modern interpretations in some of our daily specials for those who would like to explore a bit more into Italian cuisine,” DeAngelis said.
He and Male also invested further by renovating the restaurant’s interior, which features several private banquet rooms for baby showers or family weddings and engagement parties, as well as the outside patio area.
DeAngelis said back in the day there was nothing like Filippa’s in the area and it became a hotspot for business lunches and special occasions. Once he heard it was for sale the idea of returning it to what it had been was very appealing to him and Male, who is especially proud of what they’ve done since.
“Our specialties include both fresh and imported bronze die pastas,” said Male. “Our baby back ribs remain one of the most popular items with almost 100 slabs a week sold between dine-in and carry out. Our barbecue sauce is still made by Chef Gary, who has been here for 36 years.”
Also still on the menu is Pollo Di Bacci, a dish created by original owner Tom Fiore, who frequents the restaurant himself since Male and DeAngelis took over.
When John DeAngelis and Iris Male took over Filippa’s besides brinking back a lot of the old favorites they renovated the restaurant’s interior and patio. This is a view of one of several private dining areas. Gina Joseph – The Macomb Daily
“Like any company or individual that buys an existing legacy business we consider ourselves stewards of the Fiore family and of Filippas and do our best to uphold the traditions of the last 50 years while making changes to reflect the current desires of an ever-changing dining scene,” said Male.
Filippa’s is at 45125 Mound Rd., Shelby Township
For more information visit filippas.com.
Dining and Cooking