8 Must Try Phenomenally Black Woman Owned Restaurants

Story by Samantha Scott | Photos by Savannah Blue

Welcome to Women’s History Month! What better way to support the phenomenal women changing the dining scene in Detroit and satisfy our hunger pains at the same time.

This list represent only a handful of the solely Black owned or co-owned restaurants in the metro area, but a great way to start. Enjoy these recommendations this month and all year long.

Welcome to Women's History Month! What better way to support the phenomenal women changing the dining scene in Detroit and satisfy our hunger pains at the same time. This list represent only a handful of the solely Black owned or co-owned restaurants in the metro area, but a great way to start. Enjoy these recommendations this month and all year long.

Ivy Kitchen and Cocktails

Making delicious meals since 2019, Owner and Detroit native, Nya Marshall, brought Ivy Kitchen and Cocktails to life in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood of Detroit. When Nya first bought the restaurant building, it was covered in the ivy plant, thus inspiring the name.

Connecting the ivy plant’s history in the city and Nya’s personal values, this restaurant serves as a reminder of Detroit’s resilient roots, community first culture and the healing power of food. Ivy Kitchen and Cocktails is known for its brunch featuring traditional and new age dishes but their dinner options like the Short Rib Stroganoff and Farro Etouffee are not to be missed.

Fried Chicken and Caviar

Want a pinky up experience minus the formal wear? Chi Walker and Nik Renee Cole have just the answer for you. These Detroiters believe that their community deserves some swanky food every now and then. Enter Fried Chicken and Caviar, a popup that’s been making a cannonball style splash on the Detroit food scene. Partnership is the name of the game and nothing stops these two from digging deep into their creative bag to produce custom and incredibly unique dining options for each popup partner they work with.

No matter where they go our the audience they’re serving, they always infuse their African American roots into their offerings. From phony coneys to their signature fried chicken served with caviar to lamb dirty rice, Chi and Nik can make it happen. As Chi said, “Fried Chicken and Caviar is a vibe because we put that love and passion for the finer things in life into every morsel of food that we prepare. We deserve fried chicken and caviar and we think that Detroiters deserve it too.”

Good Cakes and Bakes

Talk about a woman-powered triple threat! April Anderson and Michelle Anderson are the owners of the renowned, Good Cakes and Bakes, and April Anderson is the pastry chef blessed with a talent for creating tasty cakes and bakes like no other.

Since 2013, this Detroit staple has been satisfying the sweet tooth of the southeast with classics like red velvet cake, chocolate chip cookies and rum cake and creating best-selling vegan brownies, coconut pineapple cake and even soup! But one of the best features of this bakeshop is its sustainability goals and efforts.

“The goal is to remain a productive company by focusing on PEOPLE who drive our innovation and creativity, the PLANET to source “good for the earth” products to create our goods; and we acknowledge that making a PROFIT is necessary to remain viable.”

House of Pure Vin

House of Pure Vin is a signature retail destination and attraction for wine lovers across the country to experience and acquire a taste for wine.

House of Pure Vin was a dream realized by co-owners Regina Gaines, Terry Mullins and Andrea Dunbar, in December of 2015. They have adapted their tastings to be able to offer on demand wine tasting, igloo seating and more.

Though House of Pure Vin is not technically a restaurant, they surely have the wine to pair with any dinner to plan to have.

Saucey Crab

Though Angie Middleton is not originally from Detroit or even from the south, where one would find several endless crab boil options, she understood the assignment when it comes to opening a crab boil restaurant. Bringing the flavor and all the sauce, Saucey Crab has two locations in the metro area with the first located in Southfield.

Inspired by the casual tradition of getting together with co-workers on their days off, and buy crab and a case of beer to share, Angie and her husband turned the tradition into a business in Detroit, and voila, Saucey Crab. Find more than crab while dining here such as lobster baskets, po boy sandwiches or even seafood pasta.

Fusion Flare Kitchen and Cocktails

At Fusion Flare Kitchen and Cocktails, you can expect to find high quality and locally sourced food at a reasonable price point for all to enjoy. When owner-chef Maashelle Sykes opened her new soul food fusion establishment in 2019, it became the first full-service restaurant to open its doors in Detroit’s Joy community in almost 20 years.

Get those appetites ready because the menu options don’t make it easy for you to choose only one item. Their menu leaves nothing to crave with offerings like grilled salmon, lamb chops, mac & cheese, New Orleans style shrimp and so much more.

SavannahBlue – (co-owned)

Though technically, Savannah Blue is owned by three people, we’re sure that Tanya Heidelberg-Yopp was a big part of why they have been nominated to receive 2022 James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurateur.

Savannah Blue’s atmosphere truly reflects Detroit’s sophisticated, yet authentic vibe. The warm and inviting space with a large bar, plush lounge area and most importantly, the food, creates an experience that everyone, visitors and Detroiters alike, must enjoy. Did we mention the food?! The oxtails are to die for, the salmon with shrimp farro jambalaya is a must and if you come by for nothing else, make sure to get the cornbread. Trust us, you won’t regret it.

Baobab Fare – (co-owned)

One of the newer restaurants in midtown, Baobab Fare, belongs on everyone's list of restaurants to try this year. The husband and wife co-owners, Nadia Nijimbere and Hamissi Mamba made it their personal mission to bring the flavors of East Africa to Detroit. No detail was left untouched from the décor and music to the mouthwatering menu options that beautifully introduce African fare to the thriving Detroit community.

Another local nominee for the 2022 James Beard Award for Best Chef, you would be remiss to pass up a chance to find out why. Try their popular dishes like the Ugali, Mhogo or Mbuzi, which have been in such high demand that they only offer them on certain days. Don’t wait to long to decide to give Baobab Fare a try because if the award nomination isn't enough, the lines definitely attest to just how good the food is.

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