The owner of a bistro in Toledo is bringing elevated American cuisine to the Motor City.
Smith & Williams is moving north to 1428 Gratiot Avenue in Eastern Market this year. This will be called a restaurant and bar, carrying over some of the same dishes from the Toledo location. Owner Starex Smith said he is hoping for a March opening.
Originally from Miami, Smith has been wanting to bring a new restaurant option to the city for about a month. He is also the CEO of The Hungry Black Man Media, a company that highlights black owned restaurants in areas like Miami, Chicago and Detroit. He had the idea of opening his own restaurant last year, and he opened Smith & Williams in December at 5038 Lewis Avenue in Toledo.
“This journey has been dramatic, exhausting, instructive and still somehow beautiful,” Smith said in a recent post.
The team has experimented with many different appetizers and entrees to serve the Toledo community. Main dishes at this location include the herb-buttered braised oxtails, rob southern pork chops and the Georgia fried or oven-roasted chicken plate.
For the Detroit location, he will offer entrees like miso-grazed salmon with black mushroom rice, and Sunday supper braised turkey. The Southerner’s choice will be a favorite option, with a choice of protein like friend chicken, pork chop, catfish filet and snapper filet. With this, diners can add two signature sides and a piece of cornbread.
The new restaurant will be near the intersection of Gratiot Avenue and Russel Street, along the east side of the road. It neighbors Tailored Detroit a couple stores down, and also will be close to Fred’s restaurant and Trinosophes coffee shop.
Prior to the opening, Smith & Williams will be hosting pop-ups at the new location to showcase their dishes. The times are 4-11 p.m. on Jan. 30, noon-4 p.m. for lunch and 5-11 p.m. for dinner on Jan. 31, and noon-4 p.m. for brunch and 5-8 p.m. for dinner on Feb. 1.
