A new Italian restaurant will be opening soon in West Bloomfield courtesy of the management group responsible for several successful fine diners.
Prime Concepts Detroit plans to open Aurora Italiana this spring at an 8,500 square-foot standalone in the Orchard Mall at 6199 Orchard Lake Road.
“I’m very excited about this opportunity to bring to the area a true Italian restaurant that they’re going to really enjoy and it will bring them back to the last time they visited Italy,” Stolion Liti, the company’s managing partner, told What Now Detroit.
Renovations are underway at the restaurant, which is poised to put the “fresh flavors of Italy’s Amalfi Coast” on a plate via a meticulously curated menu. Prime Concepts announced the concept and a timeline for Aurora’s opening earlier this week.
Liti, who will oversee operations, indicated the food will be inspired by traditional recipes indigenous to the Capri island. The menu will include burrata caprese, cacio e pepe, veal ossobuco and fresh whole-fish offerings flown in daily from the Mediterranean.
“Whether you’re looking for a romantic evening or a family gathering, we promise to provide you with an unforgettable dining experience,” Liti said in a press release. “It is our mission to share the warmth and hospitality of Italian culture, one plate at a time.”
Prime Concepts is a restaurant management group that’s been the driving force behind metro Detroit dining hot spots like Prime29 Steakhouse, NARA Sushi & Hibachi Lounge and PAO.
Aurora Italiana joins the roster at a time when Prime Concepts is gearing up to open another restaurant inside the iconic Grand Army of the Republic building, which the company acquired in February.
Liti began his career at the age of 18 as a bus boy and server at Trattoria Andiamo in St. Clair Shores. He worked his way up and became part of the team at Bacco Ristorante, which Hour Magazine named Restaurant of the Year in 2005, the same year it won the prestigious Zagat Extraordinary Award.
In the nearly 20 years since then, Liti has helmed many of Prime Concept’s five-star establishments.
Guests at Aurora can anticipate cured meets, imported cheeses, an assortment of pasta dishes and Mediterranean seafoods, all rooted in authentic Italian culture. The ristorante will also specialize in lighter coastal fare from Italy’s Bay of Naples.
“Being from Albania right across the water, we have a lot of influence and are very familiar with Italian cuisine,” Liti said. “Therefore, to me it is second-nature. I love the style of the cuisine, I love the variety and creativity, and I love the fact that you can also eat healthy at the same time.”
Art Harrison Interiors, a Royal Oak design firm, will invoke Prime Concepts’ signature wow factor at Aurora Italiana with an interior décor keyed on custom murals and commissioned artwork.
“The ambiance is going to be beautiful. It’s going to be breathtaking,” Liti said. “You’re going to feel like you’re walking into a work of art everywhere you turn.”
The restaurant will feature a private bar, lounge seating, a flexible floor plan and a banquet hall able to hold up to 350 people for private events.
“Our guests are going to be amazed by this upscale dining experience, paired with stunning and unique décor, exceptional entertainment and, of course, our shareable moments,” said Joe Barbat, chairman and CEO of Prime Concepts’ parent company, Barbat Holdings. “We want to provide an unforgettable experience that is high-energy and memorable for all.”
