Tribute Restaurant

Information may not be reliable

Nationally acclaimed, Tribute restaurant in Farmington Hills, MI has closed the restaurant for a la carte dining effective Tuesday, September 29, 2009. The restaurant will continue to be available for private functions and events.

An iconic restaurant in Michigan and the Midwest, Tribute was opened by the Wisne family in 1996. Tribute's menu and service were the hallmark of the restaurant and a benchmark for fine dining in Michigan and the Midwest.
Over the years, Tribute won numerous local and national awards and commendations from Mobil, AAA, Gourmet, Bon Appetit, Conde Nast, The Wall Street Journal, Wine Spectator, the Food Network, and other national, regional and local experts. Tribute's long list of accolades included special recognition in an article from the New York Times stating that "Tribute may be the best restaurant between New York and Chicago; it is certainly the finest in Detroit."
Current Executive Chef Rich Travis is the latest of three very talented chefs to run Tribute's venerated kitchen. Chef Don Yamauchi preceded Travis. Before Yamauchi, Chef Takashi Yagahashi was Tribute's first and most celebrated chef, running Tribute's kitchen from 1996 through 2006. Yagahashi won the coveted "Best Chef Midwest" award from the James Beard Foundation in 2004 after being nominated for the same award the four previous years.
Tribute's owner, Toni Wisne Sabina said with teary eyes, "It is with great sadness that we have decided to close the restaurant. Operating a high-end fine dining establishment in Michigan these days is most difficult given the current economic conditions. I am extremely proud of all that we have accomplished over the last thirteen years and am very thankful for all of our supporters and our current and former employees."
"This has been the most difficult business decision I've ever had to make. I don't want to compromise what Tribute is because of the challenges in our economy. It's not what our guests expect and not what Tribute is all about. To cut back on quality or service to accommodate a lower price point would be disingenuous to our loyal guests. There are other restaurants and other opportunities where that formula works well, but not at Tribute. I want it to be the same," said Sabina. "It is a landmark restaurant. We will never have another place like it."
Representatives from Tribute's management company, Epoch Restaurant Group, echoed Sabina's sentiments, "We understand the impact closing Tribute will have not only on guests, but our employees and our community. Sadly, this is a result of the current economic situation affecting consumers and restaurants in Michigan and throughout the country. We are committed to the continued operation and growth of our company and to our employees overall. Being part of a multi-concept hospitality group allows us to be diverse enough to adapt and succeed under the current conditions. We've been through challenging times before and we will continue to operate our current properties and look for new opportunities as they become available."
Ownership and management have confirmed that all of Tribute's financial obligations will be fulfilled. Customers who have Tribute gift cards amy use their gift card at any Epoch property. For those in Metro Detroit, gift cards may be used at Forte Restaurant in Birmingham. Further information is available by contacting the company by email at
info@tributerestaurant.com