Est. 1978
Our Story
From a family-run Italian restaurant in Grosse Pointe Woods to a new home on Harper Avenue — nearly five decades of handmade food, and we’re just getting started.
Where it all began
A Grosse Pointe Tradition Since 1978
For nearly five decades, Ferlito’s was the place families in Grosse Pointe Woods went for authentic Italian food. The Ferlito family — Sicilian through and through — built a restaurant around the recipes they grew up with: slow-simmered sauces with a touch of sweetness, handmade pastas, and the kind of meals that turned first-time visitors into regulars.
What started as a neighborhood spot quickly became a local institution. Voted into the top five for Italian food by ClickOnDetroit four separate times, Ferlito’s earned its reputation one plate at a time — with baked lasagna, chicken Siciliano, hand-tossed pizza, and a family-friendly atmosphere that made everyone feel welcome.
A Chef Comes Home
A Chef Comes Home
Josh Mowen’s first restaurant job was at Ferlito’s — and he’d been eating there with his family long before that. He worked his way up from dishwasher to prep cook, learning the rhythms of the kitchen and falling in love with the craft.
That passion took him to Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Chicago, and then to Sorrento, Italy, where a culinary externship immersed him in the southern Italian cooking traditions that had always been the soul of Ferlito’s. Sicilian himself, Josh connected deeply with the food — the same flavors his family had been cooking at home for generations.
After working as a chef in restaurants across metro Detroit, the Ferlito family approached Josh about purchasing the restaurant. In 2015, he took the keys — and the recipes — and became the new steward of a Grosse Pointe institution.
— Josh Mowen, Chef & Owner
A New Direction
When the World Changed, So Did We
When the pandemic hit, restaurants everywhere scrambled to adapt. But Josh noticed something unexpected: Ferlito’s carried-out better than almost anyone. The food traveled well, the orders kept coming, and the overhead of a full dine-in operation started to look less like a necessity and more like a weight.
It was a tough call. Josh loved greeting guests tableside — it’s one of the most humbling parts of being a chef and owner. But the numbers told a clear story: a carry-out model could keep Ferlito’s alive and thriving for years to come, without the crushing costs that have closed so many independent restaurants.
In June 2025, Josh made the decision to close the Grosse Pointe Woods dining room and build something new.
A Brand New Chapter
Same Recipes. New Home.
Ferlito’s Pizzeria opened at 22910 Harper Avenue in St. Clair Shores — a fresh start built on nearly fifty years of family tradition. The menu still features the Italian classics that made the original restaurant famous: chicken Siciliano, baked lasagna, eggplant parmesan, and the Sicilian Sampler that regulars never stopped ordering.
But there’s more to love now, too. Hand-tossed round pizzas and Chicago-style deep dish. Wings, subs, and combo deals. A full catering menu for your next big event. And brand new dishes like Chicken Marsala, Chicken Piccata, and Chicken Joseph — sautéed dishes that Josh has been eager to bring back.
We’re open Tuesday through Sunday, 11am to 9pm, for carry-out and delivery. Same family recipes. Same legendary flavor. Just a little closer to you.
The Journey
Nearly 50 Years in the Making
1978
The Beginning
2015
New Ownership
2020
The Pivot
2025
A New Home
Taste the Tradition
Order online for carry-out or delivery, or check out our full menu and weekly specials.