Oakland County Restaurant Quest: Aurora Italiana in West Bloomfield and Commerce Twp

(Crystal A. Proxmire, Aug. 8, 2026)

West Bloomfield, Commerce Township, MI – I’m on a quest to try every restaurant in Oakland County, and my visits to Aurora Italiana in West Bloomfield were among my favorites!

In fact, I’m pretty sure the best meal I’ve had is Aurora’s Branzino Sardo. This is a amazing dish of grilled Mediterranean sea bass, with olive oil and fresh lemon with grilled veggies. Even in a to go box this dish was beautiful, with the bold vegetable colors contrasting with the golden tone of the delicate fish. The meat was soft, flaky, and buttery in a way that made the corners of my mouth tingle and I couldn’t help but say “mmm” out loud with every bite. Just absolutely wonderful.

Because Aurora is an Italian place, I felt it would be wrong not to also try a pasta dish. The Rigatoni al Bosco definitely fit the bill. “Bosco” means “the woods,” a nod to the wild mushrooms in the dish. Along with the mushrooms, the thick ridged noodles had delicate beef tenderloin tips, ricotta salata, and creamy truffle demi-glace The glaze adds a richly seasoned tone to the dish, balanced by the cream, the cheese, and the richness of the beef.

The dessert has also made it to the top of my favorites list. The Spumoni Pie is a top notch flavor treat. The crust is a thick chocolate cookie crumble, with a darker chocolate flavor than you might expect and a very subtle amount of salt to trigger all the best tastebuds. This holds together a trio of gelato flavors – chocolate, pistachio, and cherry. This dessert has roots in Naples, where layered ice creams with fruits and nuts first became popular over 150 years ago. Here, Aurora has put it into what could be the perfect ice cream pie, and serves it up with garnished with fresh fruit to make it even more luxurious.

The first visit impressed me so much, that I wanted to show off even more for my review. So when a day came that I was feeling extra carnivorous, I treated myself to the New York Strip steak. The USDA Prime steak came char-broiled with roasted bell peppers and served with Detroit zip sauce, shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, and the joyful accompaniment of fresh roasted garlic.

I also got the Brussels Sprouts, roasted simply with Calabrian pepper vinaigrette and Parmigiano Reggiano. Like everything else, this was top quality and delicious.

There are many more things on the menu that I hope to try someday. Arancini has rice balls filled with saffron risotto and melted mozzarella. The Grilled Octopus is served with ceci bean puree and balsamic reduction. There are Lamb Chops, Veal Limone, and Pollo Paillard, as well as Ora King Salmon, Cedar Plank Whitefish, and more. For pasta there are several dishes, including Linguine Alle Vongole made with baby clams, garlic, olive oil, and Calabrian chile. They even have pizza.

With such inspiring food choices, it’s no surprise that the restaurant itself is also stunning. Dimly lit with features that sparkle through the atmosphere make it easy to feel captured by the moment. The ceilings even are a work of art, with visions of the Mediterranean Sea.

Aurora Italiana is located at 6199 Orchard Lake Rd. There is also a location at 2323 Union Lake Rd in Commerce Township. And a third location is in the works in Detroit. Aurora is part of the Prime Concepts which includes a number of other restaurants including Wabeek Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Sexy Steak in Detroit, Prime 29 in West Bloomfield, and Nara Sushi and Hibachi Steakhouse also in West Bloomfield. Check them out online at https://www.auroraitaliana.com/

*****

Publisher Crystal Proxmire is on a quest to try every restaurant in Oakland County, and to share that flavorful adventure with you! For our list of over 550 restaurants, organized by city, visit our RESTAURANT QUEST PAGE. And join in the conversation on Facebook to add your suggestions!

We are currently looking for a sponsor for this section. Support this work and be prominently showcased. Message editor@oc115.com for details.