Bologna Trattoria — Restaurant in Independence Charter Township

We have driven past it a million times and never thought to try it based on its nondescript exterior. It seemed like a Fazzolis with the big red tomato and the name bologna* and the strip mall location, but it is actually a really cozy little Italian restaurant with super tasty food.

The interior was cute, clean, and charming. The complimentary bread and oil were fresh and delicious. Our waitress was a little goofy, but was very sweet and attentive. The wine was $32/bottle and was a screw top 😒 I am no connoisseur but I expected a damn cork for that price tag.

App: calamari It came out steaming hot ♨️ the breading was light and crisp. However, I wish it had been tossed in the sauce vs just laid atop. Once we tossed it, it had a chance to soak into the breading and it really changed the game. It was also a little heavy on the parsley and I'm personally not a fan. The minestrone was your only option for soup but it was good. Lots of different beans and veggies, and a well seasoned broth.

Main: spaghetti al pomadoro and the carbonara Americana

The spaghetti was fine - B ordered it. I'm not a huge fan of regular spaghetti in general. I find it pretty boring. But, the pasta was cooked well and the sauce was sweet and seasoned well. The one meatball was kinda cold and too fennel forward (also, $4 per meatball??)

Carbonara was DELICIOUS. It came out SO 🔥 I almost burned my mouth. The decadent and perfectly seasoned sauce clung to the perfectly al dente noodles. The bacon was crisp and added a good amount of saltiness, and the peas were perfectly cooked. I was filled to the brim and kept going back for more. Downside: an excess of oil leftover, but it was still delicious and garlicky

(*Yes, I am aware Bologna is a city in Italy but I also grew up with processed...

I visited the Clarkston location one evening specifically to purchase the Almond Tiramisu. When I arrived, I made it very clear to the first staff member who greeted me that this was exactly what I was there for, and she acknowledged it. I then confirmed—more than once—with the person taking my order that I was being given the Almond Tiramisu, and each time I was told yes.

However, after getting home and trying the dessert, it was immediately clear that it was not what I had ordered. It tasted sour and off—definitely not the Almond Tiramisu. I was extremely disappointed, especially after going out of my way to be clear about what I wanted. I'm not sure how such a specific request could have been misunderstood.

What made the situation worse was the inconvenience of having to potentially drive all the way back just to fix a mistake that shouldn't have happened. I contacted the restaurant and requested a full refund for the incorrect and likely spoiled dessert, and agreed to return it in person.

The owner gave me the option of either coming back to the restaurant or receiving a gift card. I chose to return to the restaurant, expecting to receive the correct dessert and a refund. Instead, I was overcharged again—without any correction for the previous error.

After this entire disappointing and frustrating experience, I am seriously considering never returning to this restaurant. I expected better service and...

Warning:Drink Your Wine At Home Before Going Here Went with family after getting back in town, and have been here a few times a few years ago. Ordered 3 glasses of HOUSE wines to go with the meal. Wine was fine, but when we received our bills I noticed a $19 charge for the HOUSE Chardonnay, $17 for a HOUSE Cabernet and $17 for the HOUSE Chianti. You notice I capped the word house, usually a house wine is usually anywhere from $6-$10 on the high side at most good Italian restaurants. I mentioned to our server the prices and it looked like she knew what I was talking about and immediately offered free Cannolis to us. I asked for the manager, and she returned with the owner, guessing son of the owner. I told him that the owner of the most expensive Italian restaurant in metro Detroit area (name starts with a A) does not charge $19 for a glass of HOUSE wine. His answer to me, quote“ JV does not have a restaurant in Clarkston”. Wrong Answer. Now to his defense, our pours were 8oz not 5 oz. But we we just asked for a glass of HOUSE wine. We were not offered any pour options when ordering. So that begs the question, how much is the 5oz pour? $12,$13 or $14? Total rip-off. Thus my warning for ordering wine here, drink at home first. Food was just okay, not outstanding. But the free Cannolis were not great, not sweet enough and actually a...