A staple of Southfield's upscale dining scene, Bacco Ristorante, announced Wednesday that it will be shutting its doors come March 23, after a notable 22-year residency. The Italian eatery, which has stood along Northwestern Highway since 2002, earned its repute under the auspices of highly celebrated Chef Luciano DelSignore and was designated the 2013 Detroit Free Press Restaurant of the Year. According to a Free Press report, DelSignore conveyed through an email that the closure was a thoughtful choice aimed to reinvent and to continuously develop new ventures.
In a statement obtained by Hour Detroit, DelSignore explained his philosophy behind the decision, saying, "I believe that everything in life has a natural conclusion and a lifecycle that can give you an opportunity as a stepping stone to continually improve, reinvent and develop even greater concepts." DelSignore's reputation for simple yet finely honed Italian cuisine was built on Bacco's success, which throughout the years was not just a local favorite but also had its culinary prowess celebrated in the 2011 Zagat Guide among 'America's Top Restaurants.'
Bacco's influence has stretched far into the culinary world, having been seen as an instrumental training ground for successful chefs, such as two-time James Beard semifinalist Anthony Lambardo, executive chef of Detroit’s Shewolf. In a tribute to the outgoing establishment, Lambardo noted to Hour Detroit, "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."
Despite the closure of what some might call a nigh spiritual sanctuary for Italian cuisine aficionados, DelSignore is not stepping away from the scene entirely. He continues to operate the popular Bigalora Wood Fired Cucina, which boasts locations in Southfield, Royal Oak, Plymouth, and Ann Arbor, as well as Birmingham's Casa Pernoi. In addition, DelSignore hinted at new horizons he was keen to embark on. "Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey," he said in a statement published by WXYZ News. "The impact you've had is immeasurable, and I am forever grateful."
