Chef Luciano DelSignore announced he will be closing Bacco Ristorante along Northwestern Highway in Southfield. The last day will be March 23. The restaurant first opened in 2002.
“I am deeply appreciative for the incredible clients and team that have made Bacco an unforgettable adventure,” says DelSignore. “I reflect on the relationships and the vibrant community we’ve built while delivering unmatched hospitality and simple Italian cuisine elevated with the finest ingredients to multiple generations.”
The restaurant was a gathering place for business executives, many of whom worked in the office buildings that line Northwestern Highway, who favored either the intimate bar, hideaway booths, or the main dining room.
Several years ago, DelSignore added the neighboring Bacco Saletta, which offers unique and customizable private dining experiences for gatherings for up to 70 guests.
Two of DelSignore’s longtime patrons, Gary and Lisa Shiffman, say the significance of Bacco and DelSignore was insurmountable to their family.
“Over the years, the role they’ve played in our lives has welcomed us into the doors, kitchen, and hearts of the entire Bacco family,” says the Shiffmans. “Any meaningful occasion was made more memorable and authentically embraced by Chef Luciano, whether a special celebration with family and friends or just having all our (three) children back in town together for a meal. While we are sad to be losing such a staple in our lives, we will anxiously await the experience of his next culinary novelty.”
From the outset, DelSignore’s vision was to establish a culinary haven, fostering a harmonious blend of Italian traditions and avant-garde gastronomy, while taking particular interest and focus to educate and embed the same philosophy in his trainees.
One of his mentees, Anthony Lombardo, executive chef of Shewolf in Detroit, says, “Bacco has been one of the most important restaurants in Michigan over the last 22 years.
“Luciano is a true leader in hospitality and Italian cuisine, and I personally learned so much during my five years at Bacco — from the importance of building relationships with guests and the community, to the seriousness of every ingredient that comes in through the back door. My time cooking in the Bacco kitchen was formative years in my culinary career and there is influence of that all over the Shewolf menu. Bacco will truly be missed.”
Mickey Bakst, DelSignore’s friend and peer in the industry, and formerly with Tribute in Farmington Hills and Tapawingo in Ellsworth (both closed), says, “I firmly believe that there is a profound difference between a cook and a chef. A cook possesses a remarkable ability to make great food but on a usual basis does not have the interpersonal skills that are important in operating a successful restaurant.
“Luciano, on the other hand, has not only talent for making great food, but also the ability to truly connect with people. In my opinion, he has used those skills to become arguably one of the most influential chefs this city has ever seen. Bacco will be missed but I eagerly look forward to Luciano’s next chapter.”
Providing few details, DelSignore hinted the excitement builds for the fresh and inspiring ventures that lie ahead.
“Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey,” DelSignore says. “The impact you’ve had is immeasurable, and I am forever grateful.”
Apart from Bacco, in 2010, DelSignore and two partners opened Bigalora Wood Fire Cucina in Royal Oak, and later added locations in Southfield and Ann Arbor. In 2019, he debuted Casa Pernoi in downtown Birmingham. All of the restaurants remain open.
For more information about Bacco, visit baccoristorante.com/.
