When Café Cortina first opened in Farmington Hills, founder Rina Tonon said many people doubted they would stand the test of time. But now, 49 years later, she’s proven the naysayers wrong.
“No one thought we would ever, ever last on Ten Mile Road,” said Rina. “At the time, only about 10 cars passed that area each day. But my husband and I didn’t want to be in a commercial area. We wanted a restaurant with land for a garden. We wanted it to feel like we were in Italy.”
The chance they took most definitely paid off with their restaurant becoming a premier destination in the city for date nights and special occasions – with several people proposing on the patio each year and about 80 weddings already booked for 2025.
“Café Cortina is an escape. It’s an urban oasis and a hidden jewel,” said Rina.
Café Cortina has been a labor of love for Rina and her late husband Adriano. Since his
death in 1993, she has kept their dream alive with the help of their sons Adrian, who oversees the leadership team; Giancarlo, who is head of marketing; and their grandson’s Andrew, Caleb and Nicholas who serve in various roles.
For Rina, the restaurant business has always been a family affair. Her parents had moved from Italy to the Bronx and finally to Detroit when Rina was 8 years old. Soon after, they opened Rina’s Pizzeria on Schaefer Highway – named after their first-born daughter.
“This is all I’ve ever known,” said Rina. “I was always fascinated by the kitchen and by the people who came into the restaurant and appreciated the food. I knew from when I was 14 or 15 that this was what I wanted to do.”
Then, when she was 17, she met Adriano at a dance in Windsor, Ontario. She said there were about 100 guys there, but when she saw Adriano from across the room, she was immediately smitten with him. From day one, they were always on the same page when it came to their future.
“He had just moved to Windsor from Italy and was a baker. When you were raised in an Italian family back then, you knew food,” Rina said.
When they were in their early 20s, the husband-and-wife duo decided, instead of working at her parents’ restaurant, they wanted their own place. So, every Sunday, they would drive around and scope out property. When they found the location on 10 Mile Road near Orchard Lake Road with five acres of land in their price range, they knew it was meant to be.
They decided to name the restaurant Café Cortina after Cortina d’Ampezzo – one of their favorite spots in Italy. Early in their marriage, they lived in Italy for six months with Adriano’s parents, and they would take getaways on the weekends – often to this upscale resort in the northern Italian Alps.
“When we came back to America and started planning to open our own restaurant, I asked Adriano, ‘What’s the most romantic place in Italy that we visited?’ And he said, ‘Cortina.’ And I said, ‘That’s right. We’re going to call it Café Cortina,’” said Rina.
About 20 years after they opened the restaurant, Rina lost her husband to lung cancer when he was only 49 years old. She said many people expected her to close their doors but she wasn’t going to give up what her and Adriano had created together.
“I had to pick myself up. I rolled up my sleeves and got to work. It was tough but my staff, who are like my family, helped me get through that time of my life,” she said. “I could go on and on about the people who work for us at Cafe | Cortina. They’re the reason we’ve stayed in business for as long as we have.”
Fresh Food, Classic Flavors and Modern Cuisine
When Adriano was alive, one of his favorite parts about the restaurant was their garden. In fact, as soon as they broke ground on Café Cortina 49 years ago, the first thing he did was start planting vegetables and herbs.
“My husband grew up on a farm and a vineyard in Italy. Everything his family prepared; they got from their farm. So that’s what he wanted when we opened our own restaurant too,” Rina said.
In 2012, Rina brought on Chef Ernesto Antopia as Cortina’s kitchen director to carry on Adriano’s legacy with his garden-to-table approach. Ernesto, who studied at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, has since enhanced the restaurant’s menu by mixing traditional Italian flavors and fresh produce with innovative culinary techniques.
“When I met him, I knew right away that he had a certain ‘je ne sais quoi.’ I saw that same passion in him that my husband and I had 49 or 60 years ago. He knew what he wanted, and what he wanted was to cook and make people happy,” said Rina.
“Ernesto does such a beautiful job with the food. It’s got to be South African lobster, and the prawns come from Panama. The salmon comes from the Faroe Islands in Denmark, and the Dover sole comes from England. Everything he makes is fresh. He is an artisan chef.”
Even when they were closed during COVID-19, Rina said Ernesto would come in to tend to the garden – which has now been named “The Chef’s Garden.” With more than 2,000 restaurants in Michigan permanently closing during this time, Rina said it was Ernesto’s dedication that inspired her to not follow suit.
“I was getting discouraged during the pandemic, and I wondered how I was ever going to keep going. But then, one day, I went to check on things. No one else was working – but I see Ernesto. He’s plowing and he’s digging and he’s putting vegetables in, even though we had no one to serve. And I thought to myself, ‘I just can’t give up this place,” said Rina.
She vowed, right then, that as soon as the pandemic was over, they would be back up and running – better than ever. And, with Ernesto and the rest of the staff’s help, she’s been able to stay true to that promise.
Since the pandemic, Café Cortina’s has added an intimate garden-side chef’s table to their offerings – showcasing the fresh produce Ernesto carefully cultivates himself. With a capacity of 18 people, diners can book the table to privately enjoy a multi-course dinner during the summer and fall seasons.
In that time, Café Cortina has also earned the title of “Best Italian Restaurant” by LUXlife Magazine, America’s Most Romantic Restaurants -House Beautiful, Magazine and both Restaurant of the Year and Most Iconic Restaurant HOUR DETROIT
“We’re timeless. You could have come to Café Cortina 49 years ago, and you would have loved it. And you could come today, and you’d still love it,” said Rina. “I’ve been blessed because I’ve been doing what I’ve wanted to do all my life.”
Celebrate 49 years of Café Cortina at our special anniversary dinner, A Night in Amalfi, on June 16th!
Dine under the stars and the glow of patio lights as Chef Ernesto transports you to Italy’s iconic Amalfi Coast with a vibrant 5-course menu. Enjoy live music and the authentic flavors of a beautiful Italian summer.
Premium wine pairings and cocktails are available for an additional charge.
Chef Ernesto Antopia, continues to innovate with a ‘garden to table’ approach, sourcing fresh ingredients for our renowned Italian dishes from our seasonal on-site garden located behind the restaurant. The restaurant is a sought-after venue for hosting Events, weddings and celebrations blending Italian vineyard charm with exceptional food, service and attention to every detail.
Café Cortina is located at 30715 W 10 Mile Road in Farmington Hills. open from 4p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, until 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 3p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Sundays. For more information and to make reservations, visit https://www.cafecortina.com or call 248-474-3033.
