Antonio’s Cucina Italiana in Farmington Hills is one of about two dozen metro Detroit restaurants offering special prix fixe dinner menus during Detroit Restaurant Week, which runs through Sunday, Nov. 8.
There’s a catch for Farmington Hills diners hoping to start on opening day. The Farmington Hills location is closed Mondays, according to the Detroit Restaurant Week website. That means the restaurant’s participation begins Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Participating restaurants offer dinner menus priced at $36, $56 or $76, excluding tax, gratuity and beverages, according to WXYZ. Some menus include drinks, including Antonio’s house wine.
Antonio’s $36 menu includes a choice of soup or salad, the restaurant’s bread, a selection of fresh or stuffed pastas, a glass of house wine and dessert. The $56 option includes an appetizer, soup or salad, bread and a main-course or seafood entree, served with a side of spaghetti, plus a glass of house wine, according to the event’s menu listing.
The Rugiero family’s restaurant business dates to 1964. Antonio Francisco Rugiero immigrated from Calabria, Italy, in 1960, according to the restaurant’s website. He and his wife, Enrica Santioni, founded what became the family’s restaurant business in 1964. Antonio’s now operates locations in Farmington Hills, Canton and Dearborn Heights.
A dollar from every Detroit Restaurant Week meal goes to local nonprofits, including the Rugiero Promise Foundation, Pewabic Pottery and COTS, according to event organizers.
Diners can also download the Detroit Restaurant Week app to browse menus, check hours and earn points. According to the official promotion rules, app check-ins at four participating restaurants qualify diners for a drawing for $500 in gift cards. The participant who earns the most points overall wins an additional $500 in gift cards, according to organizers.
Event organizers are asking diners to tip at least 20%. “The people who are serving you are working harder during Restaurant Week than an average week,” the organizers said on the event website.
The Farmington Hills location is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 1 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 9 p.m., according to the restaurant’s website. Many restaurants may require dine-in for the prix fixe specials, according to organizers. The full list of participating restaurants and menus is available on the Detroit Restaurant Week app.
