West Bloomfield, MI — It’s always a pleasure to revisit a place I’ve previously covered for a follow-up story, especially when that story involves delicious and authentic Italian cuisine!

Earlier this year, in April (barely weeks after launching this blog), I published an article showcasing Prime Concept Detroit’s latest addition to their illustrious dining roster: Aurora Italiana. According to a press release I received, the restaurant intended to pay homage to Italy’s Amalfi Coast and feature vibrant, fresh flavors with dishes inspired by the island of Capri. Fast forward a few months, and the restaurant opened its doors with a soft launch, and already in high demand!

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I was graciously invited out on December 14th to dine and meet some of the chefs and Stoli Liti. Liti is a Managing Partner and Director of Operations for Prime Concepts Detroit and leads operations at Aurora Italiana.

Around noon, I arrived at the Italian eatery on the east side of Orchard Lake Road, just north of Maple Road. The restaurant wasn’t technically open yet for the day, but I was allowed to come in a bit early since I had to head off to work in the afternoon. I noted shortly after parking that the restaurant was quite larger than I expected, consisting of a sizeable patio area with cushioned summer-themed chairs, a lengthy dining area, and even a sectioned banquet hall for private events. The patio is closed for the winter months, but I noted it had an outdoor bar spot established near the back, as well as a cool, old-school Italian gentleman statue seated at the patio’s entrance facing Orchard Lake Road.

The holiday decor brought a smile to my face as I stepped through the foyer, only to be further WOW’ed once I stepped into the actual restaurant. I recalled the concept photos from writing about the restaurant’s imminent opening in April. The images depicted a warm, soft-toned space covered in sea green, gray, and tan colors. Since the initial concept photos, the folks over at Prime Concepts Detroit have gone above and beyond to enhance an already beautifully decorated dining area. Not only was I impressed by the plethora of well-spaced and placed holiday decorations, I couldn’t help but feel warm and welcomed by this ambient setting for what surely was about to be a great dining experience!

Before dining, I walked about the restaurant’s different sections to gather b-roll video and immerse myself in Aurora’s atmosphere. As previously blogged, Prime Concepts Detroit utilized Royal Oak-based Art Harrison Interiors to oversee the interior design. Now, being able to experience the ambiance in person, I must say I was genuinely enchanted. The various sections maintained an upscale vibe with comfy chairs, pristine flooring, and colorful, intricate artwork and murals on the walls. Prime Concepts Detroit left no interior design stone unturned in its endeavor to deliver a truly remarkable and intimate setting.

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I then sat down with Liti and Chefs Lukez Paja, Salvatore Arru, and Vasien Dhima to discuss what the first few months of the operation have been like and what they’ve learned so far along their journey:

A common theme I noticed during the interviews was the emphasis on hospitality. Liti stressed the importance of it, and the chefs’ and staff personify it with their cuisine and service. One of the dining aspects of Aurora Italiana I was told about that I thought was really unique and cool was the tableside serving. During b-roll gathering, I noticed a few of the carts scattered about the dining sections and wondered to what extent they were used for. Liti says the carts are often used for food presentations and serving, like tableside-prepared Caesar salad or de-boning a Dover Sole (example further down).

I then began to sample a few of the chefs’ signature dishes from the menu. I’ll break down each one because my taste buds felt like they went on a regional tour of Italy, and every one of these dishes deserves a shout-out! I was absolutely blown away by some of the dishes prepared by the chefs at Aurora Italiana. The range of flavors encapsulated in every bite of the Paccheri Norcina (pasta) and Dover Sole (fish) were out of this world, and the Grilled Octopus was the best rendition I’ve had the liberty of eating thus far in my travels. So, buckle up for an adventure through one of the best authentic Italian meals I’ve ever had!

Grilled Octopus

I’ve only had octopus on two previous occasions, the first of which was prepared by a renowned chef at a resort in Phoenix that set the bar pretty high. The second time around, it didn’t even come close in terms of presentation or taste, so it’s not really worth mentioning. Then, the chefs of Aurora Italiana placed their rendition before me, and I was immediately captivated because the presentation was that of a five-star restaurant.

From the colors utilized to the care and precision placement of ceci bean purée and even the glaze of balsamic reduction across the grilled octopus, these chefs don’t mess around. This octopus was cooked to absolute perfection and was so soft with every bite, which was a pleasant surprise compared to my previous encounters with octopus, where it was chewier than I had preferred. The balsamic reduction adds a slight hint of sweetness to the well-charred octo, whose taste is most comparable to that of chicken. While I’m not necessarily always on the lookout for the best octopus, I feel confident enough to say this is the best I’ve ever had and would strongly recommend it as an appetizer.

Sausage & Peppers

A colorful dish consisting of savory sausage, a zesty medley of grilled peppers and onions, potato, and tomato sauce. I learned from Liti and the chefs that the Italian sausage is actually prepared and made in-house, giving it that extra emphasis of freshness rich with seasonings and flavor. The case-less sausage is prepared and pressed into little patties to be grilled, resulting in nice meaty bites with some zest. Pressing out the meat evenly into a thin patty ensures all the flavors from the fat go right back up into the meat as it simmers on the grill, cooking the sausage in its own juices similar to smash burger-style. The sausage was downright delicious, especially after saturating it with some of the hearty tomato sauce, also a scratch-made recipe of the chefs. The depths of flavor from the sausage with that sauce are a must-experience if you ever visit Aurora Italiana.

The peppers selected complimented the sausage well, with the chefs mixing Hungarian hot peppers with some shepherd peppers and red bells. There was a perfect split of heat and sweet. The grilled red onion and tomato also added their respective flavors to the overall dish, making this another solid appetizer that at least two people could easily split.

Rainbow Salad

The bright, colorful food displays continued with this vibrant salad. This tasty (and appropriately named) Rainbow Salad consists of heirloom beets, orange segments, cherry tomatoes, chunks of goat cheese, and a creamy orange dressing. For starters, the presentation was again flawless in execution (as seen above). The portioning was perfect, with each ingredient sized just right to get about two to three in a bite. The ingredients were noticeably fresh, with each piece touched by the irresistible orange dressing, which only brought more refreshing life to this already brilliant dish.

The kitchen at Aurora Italiana hit the bull’s eye with this orange salad dressing; it is perfect for this dish! And to top it all off, the goat cheese! This was the perfect, creamy, thick consistency needed to bridge the flavors between veggies and fruit together while adding its own tartness to the mix. For those seeking a lighter meal that still packs a flavorful (and colorful) punch, this dish might be right up your alley.

Paccheri Norcina

I learned during my interview with the chefs that they all hailed from Italy, so I knew the pasta and seafood dishes were going to be on point when it came to authenticity. Sure enough, the pasta dish I sampled above was straight 10s across the board!

The Paccheri Norcina’s excellent Italian fennel sausage bits and Parmigiano Reggiano blended beautifully with the sweet and creamy palomino sauce. As you can see above, the chefs were generous with the cheese (a huge plus in my book!) and topped this delectable dish with parsley. When I cook at home, I usually find a way to top most of my meals with parsley, so I was all for it! The pasta was cooked to a great range of Al dente and was delicious to eat, smothered by the cheesy and meaty palomino sauce.

Lobster Linguine

This linguine was no joke; the noodles had a delicious buttery taste (probably in part due to the lobster aspect) and achieved an exemplary level of Al dente. The lengthy noodles were easily fork-twirled before capping off the bite by piercing a thick, juicy piece of shrimp or lobster. The shrimp was flavorful, presumably from the garlic and chili within the dish. The lobster meat also benefited from the garlic and chili, was very tender, and paired great with the linguine-style noodles for this dish. While I’m not the biggest fan of lobster, I would willingly order this dish from this establishment because these chefs know seafood, and they get it right!

Dover Sole

Admittedly, much like the first time I had a chef prepare and plate me a whole branzino, I had never had or was aware of Dover Sole! Until this meal, I’ve enjoyed the occasional whitefish, salmon, perch, or rainbow trout on even rare occasions when visiting northern Michigan. But, for the most part, fish has never been near the top of my list when ordering food while out and about, so it’s not something that I eat often. This whole pan-fried Dover Sole served at Aurora Italiana was a welcomed new attraction to my palate!

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It turns out this fish is quite a rarity on most menus and is popular among seafood enthusiasts when it can be attained. After a few bites, I could see why! For starters, the chefs at Aurora Italiana (in the example below, I had the pleasure of experiencing Liti’s first-class hospitality!) de-bone the fish tableside. The care and surgeon-level focus is both impressive and appreciated!

The fish itself was one of the tastiest I’ve ever had. It couldn’t have been pan-fried any better; the fish had a mild and sweet flavor and was saturated in brown butter. The exterior was a beautiful golden brown, but the fish melts in your mouth; it’s so delicate and tender. I squeezed a lemon across the fish before taking a few bites so the acidity would help activate more sweetness, making every bite a piece of heaven. For someone who typically wouldn’t select a fish dish as a first choice, I’d be willing to make the exception for this Dover Sole!

Lamb Chops

Another visual masterpiece, again incorporating color and arrangement flair. These lamb chops were marinated and seasoned very well, which became apparent after I took my first bite! The chops were expertly grilled, including a couple of char marks and more flame-activated flavors.

The lamb was grilled to an exquisite rare and was an absolute joy to consume for the couple of bites I efforted. This lamb was definitely on par with some of the best I’ve ever had, and my only regret was that I didn’t have the stomach space or time to eat more! The two forms of potato were a unique addition, even plated and styled to enhance the visual delivery on top of the bright red cherry tomatoes and earthy green rosemary (which is native to the Mediterranean region). For meat enthusiasts, you can’t go wrong with this menu selection!

The residents of West Bloomfield and the surrounding area (or anyone willing to make the drive) are genuinely fortunate to have this new and authentic Italian eatery part of the neighborhood. Prime Concepts Detroit’s focus on hospitality and delivering exceptional Italian cuisine at Aurora Italiana is well executed by a top-notch staff and management.

From the folks in the kitchen to the servers and front-of-house dedicated to ensuring every patron’s experience yields the desire for a return visit, this ship is helmed by some remarkably great people. I strongly recommend visiting Aurora Italiana for a dining experience you’ll thoroughly enjoy!

For more information about Aurora Italiana, click here.