Birmingham’s newest restaurant and retail floral concept pair together from metro Detroit’s highly acclaimed chef Luciano DelSignore. Called e Fiori, meaning “and flowers” in Italian, set to open Wednesday, June 17, and billed as the first of its kind in Michigan.
E Fiori is operating as a “bottega,” a first for Birmingham, which in Italian tradition and by definition is a studio or workshop of a major artist that may include other artists.
Chef Luciano DelSignore (L), Nicole Antakli DelSignore and Darin Lenhardt at e Fiori in Birmingham
In the space formerly occupied by Mare Mediterranean at 115 Willits St. in Birmingham, DelSignore draws menu inspiration from Italy’s 20 regions, and as a chef who honed his craft training in Abruzzo, Italy. Operating in the nearly 7,000-square-foot space at the same time as the Italian restaurant is floral designer Darin Lenhardt’s handcrafted European-style flower and gift store called the Shoppe.
Guests enter through the floral shop and retail space before stepping into the e Fiori’s bar and formal dining room.
“E Fiori is a place people will continue to fall in love with,” said chef DelSignore in a news release. “The more they come, the more they’ll like it — because they won’t be able to take it all in on one visit, or two, or three. It’s going to require many visits to really experience everything we have to offer.”
From the e Fiori bar is a cocktail program that features Italian spirits and aperitivo culture plus wines hailing from nine Italian regions.
United together, the concepts are meant to be representative of an artisan practice, and both the restaurant and the retail shop will be driven by what DelSignore and Lenhardt choose. Its plan will reflect the moment, rather than the calendar, with “florals, tabletop elements, wines, and menu selections,” according to a news release.
E Fiori is a new Italian restaurant paired with European-style floral and gift shop called the Shoppe.
“The smell of culinary preparations, including heritage Italian breads in the morning alongside peonies and freesias — that is an image that people picture in their head,” said Lenhardt in a news release. “That is something that everyone wants. It is a dream to have flowers on your table every day and to pick up a fresh loaf of bread that’s still warm.”
Managing partner and co-founder Nicole Antakli DelSignore said the concept has a personal origin.
“I fell in love with the flowers they sold on the streets of London and Paris,” said Antakli DelSignore. “I smelled them before I could see them. They captivate you.”
E Fiori is a new Italian restaurant paired with European-style floral and gift shop called the Shoppe.
On its menu, handmade pasta and sourdough bread are made daily and hail from the Abruzzo technique and tradition.
At the Shoppe, guests can shop and select from its European-style cut stems, seasonal bouquets and other gift items.
Well known for his Bacco Ristorante, which closed in 2024 after 20 years of delighting guests with deftly prepared Italian fare, DelSignore also owns Birmingham’s nearby Casa Pernoi. In metro Detroit, DelSignore also operates Bigalora Wood-fired Cucina, with four metro Detroit locations. DelSignore is a James Beard Award nominee and has been known in metro Detroit for his depth of Italian fare and dining.
E Fiori will debut on Wednesday, June 17. Lunch is 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and dinner is daily 4-10 p.m. The Shoppe is open the same hours as the restaurant. You can make reservations with OpenTable. For information, call 248-744-4000 or visit efioribirmingham.com.
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @SusanMariecooks. Subscribe to the Eat Drink Freep newsletter for insider scoops on food and dining in metro Detroit.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: New e Fiori restaurant, flower shop opens in Birmingham on June 17
Dining and Cooking