Detroit’s Black-owned restaurants everyone should’ve tried by now

Parks Old Style Bar-B-Q

7444 Beaubien St., Detroit; 313-873-7444; parksoldstylebar-b-q.com

Remember that Buster Poindexter song from the '90s, “Hot Hot Hot”? No? Uh, OK, anyway the song embodies the “North End Detroit” heat of Parks Old Style Bar-B-Q which means cayenne-powder dusted chicken that is, well, hot, hot, hot. Opened in 1964, they now go through 2,500-3,000 of ribs each week because, yeah, it’s that friggin’ good.

House of Pure Vin

1443 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-638-2501; houseofpurevin.com

Looking to indulge with a fancy bottle of something that will take all your worries away? Founders Regina Gaines, Terry Mullins, and Andrea Dunbar opened this trendy wine hub in the heart of downtown Detroit in 2015.

The Block

3919 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-832-0892; theblockdet.com

This establishment, owned by Michael Byrd, is a contemporary restaurant and bar combo. The menu consists of burgers, chicken wings, and other elevated pub favorites.

Detroit Soul

2900 Eight Mile Rd., Detroit; 313-366-5600; detroitsoul.net

Detroit Soul, owned and run by Sam Van Buren and Jerome Brown and their wives, makes classic soul food with a health-focused twist. Buren and Brown, both of whom are descendants of parents and grandparents who relocated to the North from Selma, Alabama, during the Great Migration, have reimagined family recipes for greens, fried chicken, smothered pork chops, and catfish.

Ivy’s Kitchen & Cocktails

9215 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; 313-332-0607; ivykc.com

Opened by Nya Marshall on the city’s east side in 2019, Ivy’s Kitchen & Cocktail offers casual yet high-end American fare, like squid ink pasta, charred branzino, and short rib stroganoff, with burgers and chicken sandwiches, too.

Dime Store

719 Griswold St., Suite 180, Detroit; 313-962-9106; eatdimestore.com

Jeff Alexander, Larry Kahn, and Ann-Marie Murphy preside over this Chrysler House eatery. Look no further for a prime brunch destination, complete with made-from-scratch breakfasts.

COOP

474 Peterboro St., Detroit; coopdetroit.com

Chef Maxcel Hardy expanded from his deservedly popular River Bistro in Rosedale Park to a stall at Midtown's Detroit Shipping Co. food hall. Whereas the emphasis at the Bistro is on soul food, Coop's inspiration is a Caribbean food truck. Familiar island favorites jerk chicken, rum cake, and ginger beer do make room, though, for Southern fare like mac and cheese and Brussels sprouts with bacon.

Vicki’s BBQ

3845 W. Warren Ave., Detroit; 313-894-9906

Vicki's is one of Detroit's barbecue old-timers that's up at the top of the list in any conversation on our barbecue heavyweights. That partly owes to the St. Louis-style cut ribs that Vicki's cooks over an open pit (though you can also get them smoked). But the highlight in what's basically a highlight reel meal is the vinegar and tomato-based sauce.

Fusion Flare Kitchen and Cocktails

16801 Plymouth Rd., Detroit; 313-653-3700; fusionflare.net

When owner-chef Maashelle Sykes opened her new American and soul food eatery in 2019, it marked the first full-service restaurant to open in Detroit’s west side Joy community in nearly 20 years. Their menu includes plates like fried catfish with a remoulade sauce, grilled pork chops, and buttermilk fried chicken, and different preparations of shrimp, as well as vegan options.

Jamaican Pot

14615 W. Eight Mile, Detroit; 313-659-6033; thejamaicanpot.com

Jamaican Pot has a new location in the New Center One building in Detroit's New Center neighborhood. The menu is similar to that at its small carryout spot on Eight Mile Road near Greenfield, with offerings like jerk chicken, barbecue jerk, pepper steak, oxtail, and curried goat. And, of course, it offers what is perhaps the best dish Mama Rose makes, fricassee chicken with veggies in a brown gravy flavored by garlic, onion, scallion, and thyme.

Sloppy Chops

13226 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit; 313-646-2900; sloppychopsrestaurant.net

If you aren’t afraid of a little mess in the name of good food, then try Six Mile’s newest addition, Sloppy Chops, helmed by chef Al El. This casual fine dining establishment serves up signature entrees, like lobster tacos, lamb chops, as well as handcrafted cocktails.

Motown Bistro

2735 Russell St., Detroit; facebook.com/themotownbistrodetroit

Located in Eastern Market, Motown Bistro & Oyster Bar focuses on seafood including lobster mac and cheese, lobster bites, blue crab potato skins, and more than 150 rare scotches and bourbons.

Le Petit Dejeuner

6470 East Jefferson Ave., Detroit; 313-725-0257; facebook.com/lepetitbreakfast

Le Petit Dejeuner describes itself as a family dining breakfast restaurant. Dishes are meant to be shared amongst family and friends. Serving waffles, pancakes, crepes, and other delicious breakfast foods, sharing with your family is easier said than done.

The Kitchen by Cooking with Que

6529 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-462-4184; thekitchenbycwq

This space at 6529 Woodward serves as a culinary classroom of sorts where vegans and meat lovers can hone their culinary skills; a place for businesses and individuals to rent a shared commercial kitchen; and a place where visitors can rent private dining space.

Baker’s Keyboard Lounge

20510 Livernois Ave.; 313-345-6300; theofficialbakerskeyboardlounge.com

Believed to be the world's oldest continuing-operated jazz club, this legendary spot is owned by Eric Whitaker and business partner Hugh W. Smith III. Some of the musicians who have played the club include: Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson, George Shearing, and Nat "King" Cole, to name a few.

SavannahBlue

1431 Times Sq., Detroit; 313-926-0873; savannahbluedetroit.com

Contemporary northern soul food eatery is getting in on the fine-dining curbside action. SavannahBlue is the place to snag sides of collard greens, maple glazed yams, and crab cakes to pair with blackened shrimp farro jambalaya, braised oxtail, southern fried catfish, or St. Louis barbecue ribs.

Cafe D’Mongo’s Speakeasy

1439 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-961-0000

Founded by Larry Mongo in 2007, this Friday and Saturday-only bar and restaurant has served as the backdrop for locally produced movies and has been featured on the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern. It’s also regularly frequented by celebrities and local talent.

Flood’s Bar & Grille

731 St. Antoine St., Detroit; 313-963-1090; floodsdetroit.com

Family-owned and operated soul food spot Flood’s Bar & Grille is a Detroit institution. Located in a beautiful historic building near Greektown, Flood's has been serving up classic soul food since 1987.

Sweet Potato Sensations

17337 Lahser Rd., Detroit; 313-532-7996; sweetpotatosensations.com

Cassandra and Jeffrey Thomas have been preparing all manner of sweet potato treats for almost three decades. Although pie is what they’re best known for, the bakery specializes in other confectionary goodies such as; cheesecake, cake, cookies, and more.

Motor City Soul Food

12700 W. Seven Mile Rd.; 313-472-5885; officialmotorcitysoulfood.com

Motor City Soul Food has two locations, one located in Oak Park and the other in Detroit. They have all of the best fixings — neckbones, fried chicken, meatloaf, catfish, potato salad, peach cobbler, you name it. Their macaroni and cheese is a must-have alongside some fried chicken.