Rome in Detroit

A little bit of Rome has landed in Detroit with the recent opening of SheWolf Pastificio & Bar at 438 Selden in midtown. Chef/owner Anthony Lombardo said the region of Rome is represented on everything from their menu’s Roman pastas to the name itself – SheWolf is based on the Roman origin myth. “I think that there’s not an Italian restaurant like this in Detroit right now,” Lombardo said. “I think we’re pushing the envelope of Italian food.” SheWolf won’t have the giant portions with heavy cheese and red sauce many Americans are used to. This is much more contemporary Italian food, like their already popular carbonara, which has zero peas in it. Not only is the restaurant chef-driven, but they mill their own flour on-site every day in order to preserve the flavors and nutrients that often disappear when preservatives are added. For those interested in watching the process, there’s a glass-enclosed milling room visible to all diners. Word is reservations are already tough to get.

Metro Intelligencer is a monthly column devoted to news stories, tidbits and gossip items about what's happening on the restaurant scene in the metro Detroit area. Metro Intelligencer is reported/created each month by Dana Casadei who can be reached at DanaCasadei@DowntownPublications.com with news items or tips, on or off the record.