Ottava Via — Restaurant in Detroit

My wife and I came here for the 1st time on a Monday evening around 745pm for dinner. No events going on downtown but the place was still busy. Didn’t make reservations and was seated near the door.

The noise level was very high in the main area where we were seated. Wish the tables were wider and less wobbly so we could have sat next to each other to take in the design and ambiance of the restaurant.

Our waitress was nice and attentive. I didn’t really know what 90% of the food would be as we haven’t been here before and asked for her recommendations. She proceeded to recommend the 4 most expensive things and they may have been the best but I would have liked some description to each. I tried to look online to reviews but couldn’t really find anything in depth, so I hope this helps on the food wise:

We did order the bread service which is well worth the price of $7! It’s perfect with the butter/oil but save some for your dish if it’s a sauce type of dish.

I ordered the Merlot which came in a smaller glass (probably due to the wobbly tables) and I feel it wasn’t worth the price.

I was heavily undecided and went with the Cacio E Pepe w/chicken. It was okay. Oil based pasta and the chicken was chicken. It’s a safe pick and portions were smaller than anticipated. We thought we’d have to grab a night cap closer to home but decided not to. My wife ordered the penne el arrabbiatia w/ sausage which looked amazing! Forewarning, we both agreed it had a big kick of spice behind it! It was extremely tasty but our eyes were watering from it. I would have loved to have our waitress give a quick flavor profile when I asked but it won’t been hard to hear her anyway. We declined dessert and decided to walk to a close dessert spot to try something new.

Parking can be extremely difficult as there’s no general parking lots nearby and a lot of the structures are for the lofts. They need to turn some of the empty lots into parking app lots. We had to drive around several times to find a spot.

Overall, we expected our to be larger and was pleasantly surprised on the prices as we were at about $75 with tip. If the noise level was less and our waitress could give a deeper dish profile I’d give it all 5s but would still...

Pretty good Italian restaurant in Corktown.

A couple that lives in the hideous new condos (their description) in Corktown asked me to join them at Ottava Via.

Ottava Via has a kind of trendy, limited menu. So if you are looking for Veal Parmesan or other traditional Italian dishes, you might need to temper your expectations.

We went there on the first weekday that was not raining, so we could dine outdoors.

OV has two small courtyards, one with a fun fireplace, and one that appears to be an employee smoking area.

Bread - Excellent. Normally every Italian restaurant brings you a loaf of their homemade bread or breadsticks as you are seated. Here, you have to order it (I think it was $7). Obviously you need it, so don't forget to order.

Calamari - Excellent. Lightly breaded fried squid strips, with 2 small octopi thrown in. Marinara sauce was delicious, and even better was the lemon caper sauce that was super tangy. Kind of a sparse portion (see pics).

Sausage & Peppers - very good. A thin slice of Wild Boar Sausage laying on a bed of polenta. 'wild boar' are an invasive species, so you don't have to feel bad about eating them.

Pizza - very good. A personal sized pizza with fresh looking ingredients. Thin, neopolitan style . A little more sauce could push these pies way up.

Truffle Butter Pasta - Excellent. Mild, interesting flavors. If you are scratching your head at the menu, here is a totally safe bet.

RAGOUT ALLA BOLOGNESE - kinda good. Picture a deconstructed lasagna, with a clop of cold ricotta cheese on top. Flavors were good, but cold ricotta on top was a turnoff.

Service - pretty bad, but in a comical way. Every couple of minutes a random server would ask if a random dish they were holding was ours. Then they would move on to the next table and ask them. It got so funny, that we would preemptively say "no" to any smiling approaching server.

None of our empty drinks or waters were ever refilled.

You don't get a shaker of Parmesan cheese or pepper flakes at your table.

So kinda a mixed bag, but there are a couple of...

My wife and I decided to head to Ottava Via for an early dinner after seeing endless Instagram Reels hyping their Italian food. The photos looked incredible — and like many before us, we got pulled in by the social media buzz. When we arrived, there was a 45-minute wait for indoor seating, but the patio was open, so we opted for that. The outdoor space was pleasant — shaded with a nice breeze — setting a relaxed mood. Our server explained there was a “specific way” to order, which was a little unusual but fine. We started with the bruschetta and arancini (fried rice balls with meat filling). Both were excellent — fresh, flavorful, and easily the best part of the meal. For entrées, I ordered the truffle butter pasta with sausage, and my wife got the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. My pasta looked good, though the sausage was questionable in appearance. My wife’s chicken arrived undercooked (pink in the center), so it had to be remade. By the time it returned, my pasta had revealed its biggest flaw — it was lukewarm at best. For something made to order, it should have been hot. Flavor-wise, my pasta was rich and buttery, but the temperature killed the experience. My wife’s Alfredo, once fixed, was “just okay” — she even said it wasn’t better than Olive Garden. Final verdict? Fantastic appetizers, but entrées fell flat. Would I make a special trip back? Probably not. But if you’re curious and want to see what the Instagram hype is about, Ottava Via is in...