I recently visited Pop’s For Italian for the first time to celebrate a birthday. Upon arrival we were promptly greeted, seated and left in the capable hands of our phenomenal waiter, Andre. Everything from the service to the food and drinks were outstanding. The food & drinks came out surprisingly fast. Everything was well seasoned and full of flavor. Andre went above and beyond to make the birthday girl’s celebration memorable and even surprised her with a slice of birthday cake. We were more than pleased with our experience and will definitely visit this restaurant again.
Amir Kazemi
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April 13, 2025
We recently dined at this Italian restaurant with a group of six, and while the environment was generally pleasant and the space quite large, it was extremely crowded and clearly understaffed. Our waiter was doing his best but was overwhelmed with too many tables, making it difficult for him to provide attentive service. This isn’t a criticism of him, but rather a sign that management needs to address staffing levels, especially during peak hours.
The most frustrating part of the experience was that our meals did not come out together. Three arrived first, and the other three came about 15 minutes later, which made for an awkward dining experience. We also ordered a few different drinks, but none of them came out right — each was missing something, and we had to ask for corrections. Again, it seemed the bar was just as overwhelmed as the kitchen.
As for the food, we had garlic bread and Caesar salad to start, followed by chicken pesto pizza, ravioli, and chicken piccata. Everything tasted fine, nothing particularly memorable, but reasonably priced for an Italian restaurant.
One policy that caught us off guard was the automatic 20% gratuity added to our bill, which we were told is standard for tables of more than five people. In addition, we weren’t allowed to split the bill per couple, which was inconvenient. I’ve seen similar policies at other places, but usually for much larger parties.
A final oddity: we noticed a strange vibration in our chairs, like the floor itself was vibrating. It was noticeable and a bit distracting.
Overall, the ambiance was good, and the food was decent, but the service was lacking and the experience could definitely benefit from better organization and staffing. Wouldn’t rush back, but it wasn’t a total loss either.
Cassie Hicks
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April 08, 2025
We went to Pop’s on a Saturday around 4 and had about a 20 minute wait. All of the staff was so friendly (especially our waitress!) and the food was delicious. We didn’t wait long at all. The gnocchi was absolutely wonderful and the perfect portion size. Also might’ve been the best dirty martini I’ve ever had! Will definitely be coming back!!
Aditya Deshmukh
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March 17, 2025
Update3/15/25:
Went to dinner second time. Reserved a table in advance this time over the phone. Ordered couple of pizzas(Chicken pesto and funghi), wines and a chocolate cake. We were truly excited to try out their pizzas but they were average at the best. Chocolate cake was okay too. I found the service slow and understaffed. Only 1 server handling too many tables at busy time.
Old review: Great food, loud but lively atmosphere.
We went on a Friday evening and found this place very busy. We were told to wait 45-60minutes. Indeed it took more than an hour to get a table. So I recommend to reserve the table first.
Our server was friendly and welcoming. Took a bit of time to get our food after placing an order. Garlic Bread with pesto was decent. Main course was amazing. I loved the flavors of chicken Marsala. Sauce was delicious and the chicken was cooked tender and juicy. Pasta was great as well. We ordered tiramisu to finish with. It was good but not the best.
Overall a great food and good place. Food pricing is a hit on higher side. I would return to try their pizzas.
Tamara Knapp
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December 14, 2024
Great Food in a Lively, Family-Friendly Atmosphere
This busy spot offers a rustic charm with its picnic-style and four-top wooden tables. The service was good, and the manager even stopped by to check on us twice, which was a nice touch. If you’re planning to visit for dinner, I highly recommend making a reservation—at 5:30 on a Friday, the place was already packed.
The food was excellent. The lobster ravioli was rich and decadent, and the lasagna stood out with its unique twist—flavored with sausage and a rich, palomino-style sauce.
It’s clear this is a family-friendly establishment, as the place was filled with families and kids. That said, if you’re looking for an intimate, quiet dinner, this may not be the best fit, as the atmosphere was quite lively and loud. Overall, a great choice for a casual meal with excellent food!
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280 W Nine Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI 48220, USA
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I recently visited Pop’s For Italian for the first time to celebrate a birthday. Upon arrival we were promptly greeted, seated and left in the capable hands of our phenomenal waiter, Andre. Everything from the service to the food and drinks were outstanding. The food & drinks came out surprisingly fast. Everything was well seasoned and full of flavor. Andre went above and beyond to make the birthday girl’s celebration memorable and even surprised her with a slice of birthday cake. We were more than pleased with our experience and will definitely visit this restaurant again.
We recently dined at this Italian restaurant with a group of six, and while the environment was generally pleasant and the space quite large, it was extremely crowded and clearly understaffed. Our waiter was doing his best but was overwhelmed with too many tables, making it difficult for him to provide attentive service. This isn’t a criticism of him, but rather a sign that management needs to address staffing levels, especially during peak hours. The most frustrating part of the experience was that our meals did not come out together. Three arrived first, and the other three came about 15 minutes later, which made for an awkward dining experience. We also ordered a few different drinks, but none of them came out right — each was missing something, and we had to ask for corrections. Again, it seemed the bar was just as overwhelmed as the kitchen. As for the food, we had garlic bread and Caesar salad to start, followed by chicken pesto pizza, ravioli, and chicken piccata. Everything tasted fine, nothing particularly memorable, but reasonably priced for an Italian restaurant. One policy that caught us off guard was the automatic 20% gratuity added to our bill, which we were told is standard for tables of more than five people. In addition, we weren’t allowed to split the bill per couple, which was inconvenient. I’ve seen similar policies at other places, but usually for much larger parties. A final oddity: we noticed a strange vibration in our chairs, like the floor itself was vibrating. It was noticeable and a bit distracting. Overall, the ambiance was good, and the food was decent, but the service was lacking and the experience could definitely benefit from better organization and staffing. Wouldn’t rush back, but it wasn’t a total loss either.
We went to Pop’s on a Saturday around 4 and had about a 20 minute wait. All of the staff was so friendly (especially our waitress!) and the food was delicious. We didn’t wait long at all. The gnocchi was absolutely wonderful and the perfect portion size. Also might’ve been the best dirty martini I’ve ever had! Will definitely be coming back!!
Update3/15/25: Went to dinner second time. Reserved a table in advance this time over the phone. Ordered couple of pizzas(Chicken pesto and funghi), wines and a chocolate cake. We were truly excited to try out their pizzas but they were average at the best. Chocolate cake was okay too. I found the service slow and understaffed. Only 1 server handling too many tables at busy time. Old review: Great food, loud but lively atmosphere. We went on a Friday evening and found this place very busy. We were told to wait 45-60minutes. Indeed it took more than an hour to get a table. So I recommend to reserve the table first. Our server was friendly and welcoming. Took a bit of time to get our food after placing an order. Garlic Bread with pesto was decent. Main course was amazing. I loved the flavors of chicken Marsala. Sauce was delicious and the chicken was cooked tender and juicy. Pasta was great as well. We ordered tiramisu to finish with. It was good but not the best. Overall a great food and good place. Food pricing is a hit on higher side. I would return to try their pizzas.
Great Food in a Lively, Family-Friendly Atmosphere This busy spot offers a rustic charm with its picnic-style and four-top wooden tables. The service was good, and the manager even stopped by to check on us twice, which was a nice touch. If you’re planning to visit for dinner, I highly recommend making a reservation—at 5:30 on a Friday, the place was already packed. The food was excellent. The lobster ravioli was rich and decadent, and the lasagna stood out with its unique twist—flavored with sausage and a rich, palomino-style sauce. It’s clear this is a family-friendly establishment, as the place was filled with families and kids. That said, if you’re looking for an intimate, quiet dinner, this may not be the best fit, as the atmosphere was quite lively and loud. Overall, a great choice for a casual meal with excellent food!