Trattoria Andiamo Adds Outdoor Patio

The Italians gave us the term “al fresco,” so it’s only fitting that Grosse Pointe Wood’s popular Italian eatery have a space for outdoor dining. Owner Joe Serventi understands this, and he’s meeting his customers’ desire for fine food and fresh air with a new patio.

The outdoor cement patio fits 36 diners at 12 tables—four six-tops and six two-tops—surrounded by a black guardrail. The tabletops will be made of DuPont’s versatile, chic Corian and be sheltered by gold-colored umbrellas, and the space will boast heat lamps and a small fire pit to extend the outdoor dining season. It was designed by Birmingham-based designer Ron Rae, who redid the restaurant’s interior this April.

“We’d been here 18 years and decided it was time to remodel,” Serventi said. “We decided to do the outside as well as the inside.” He added that the restaurant had wanted a patio for a long time, but that “there was a while when the city wouldn’t let us. That’s changed in the last few years. Now it seems to be a trend, and every [restaurant] has outdoor seating here.”

Serventi predicts the patio will be ready for diners by the end of August. As required, the plans were first approved in June by Wayne County, which has an oversight role because Mack Avenue is a county road. According to Building Inspector Gene Tutag, Wayne County allows outdoor dining on Mack but must approve each project individually.

After receiving approval from the county, Serventi submitted the plans to Grosse Pointe Woods officials, who signed off on them shortly after. Serventi said he is now waiting for the State of Michigan to give him permission to sell alcohol outside. That could require modifications to the patio, he said. For example, they may require the guardrail to completely enclose the patio rather than partially enclose it.

Serventi does not plan to have a special patio menu, but says he will celebrate the patio’s opening with an event featuring free hors d’oeuvres.

“There’s quite a buzz about it—our customers are looking very much forward to being outside,” he said. “Our summers are pretty short here and people like to enjoy them with a glass of wine. This summer has been pretty lousy with the heat, so I’m looking forward to getting the patio together for the fall.”