Image Courtesy of The SAVOY
In a groundbreaking milestone for Detroit’s East Side, The SAVOY Restaurant marked its grand opening this August, heralding the arrival of the first full-service dining establishment in the area in decades. Situated at 17131 East Warren, The SAVOY is dedicated to providing an unparalleled dining experience focusing on exquisitely prepared steaks, fresh seafood, and live jazz performances. This significant development represents a promising shift towards revitalizing the community’s culinary and cultural landscape.
After a trial run earlier this year, The SAVOY has carefully honed its menu and services in response to insightful feedback. By fine-tuning pricing and expanding service options, the restaurant is committed to delivering a superb dining experience that caters to its patrons’ wide-ranging preferences.
The SAVOY, under the guidance of Executive Sous Chef Melba Dearing, is ready to create a lasting impact. She earned a Master’s in Marketing from the University of Detroit Mercy, showcasing her dedication to her craft and education. Dearing, an esteemed member of the AKA sorority and a former Grosse Pointe School District student, has strong ties to Detroit.
Her grandfather, Bert Dearing Jr., laid the foundation for her to run the kitchen of SAVOY, with Bert’s Marketplace, also recognized as Bert’s Entertainment Complex, in Eastern Market, coming first as an example. For four generations, the Dearing family has been the proud proprietors of Bert’s, a beloved establishment in the Eastern Market community that has been ardently upholding Black history and delighting patrons with its delicious dishes, including the famous BBQ, for over 30 years.
Melba Dearing, Image Courtesy of The Savoy
“The main thing is really affordable fine dining that’s become our tagline, a little bit affordable fine dining pleasure. We want people to have the opportunity to come in and have the experience of having the doorman with the top hat and white gloves open the door,” Dearing said.
“Having a wine cellar where you can go in and select premium and classic wines to pair with your steaks and seafood. Guests will have that exquisite and elegant taste without breaking your pocket.”
Her culinary skills are built on a foundation of experience within her family’s business and were enhanced through a valuable internship with the Joe Vicari Group. Furthermore, she made significant contributions to Joe Muer’s opening in Nashville before returning to Detroit.
“We want to be able to serve the people that surround us. Opposed to being at places that pop up in the neighborhood and can’t afford it, we didn’t want to go with that business model. We wanted to be able to provide a good experience and service for the people who live in the community that we serve,” Dearing said.
Executive Chef Chuck, who is highly skilled in Italian cuisine, will manage the kitchen operations. Chuck, a graduate of the Culinary Arts program at Henry Ford College, has accumulated 19 years of experience in the culinary industry. He served as the Executive Chef at Angelina’s Italian Bistro in Detroit. His specialization in crafting fresh pasta and bread will add richness to the menu at SAVOY.
The SAVOY’s menu blends creativity with accessibility, offering expertly crafted high-quality and affordable dishes. Live music performances, including jazz, R&B, and Sinatra classics, will enhance the dining experience with soulful melodies.
Image Courtesy of The SAVOY
“One of our main things is an amazing crab cake on our menu. We have presidential cut ribeye steaks and bone-in steaks. We just did the Savoy Super Surf and Turf dish with a rib eye. You are also able to get half of a lobster thermidor, which is basically where we take a whole lobster, cut it in half, stuff the body cavity with our crab stuffing, and then broil that and serve it with a lobster cream sauce,” Dearing described.
Despite some skepticism upon officially opening, Dearing was resolute in her mission to elevate the atmosphere of her family’s neighborhood by creating a refined and elegant dining establishment.
“I was born in Detroit, love it, and am committed to contributing to its growth. Having already served hundreds of guests from Metro Detroit and Canada, The SAVOY has quickly become a popular destination.”
SAVOY Restaurant
17131 E Warren Ave
Detroit, MI 48224
Hours:
Weekdays 11 am-3 pm, 4–10 pm
Saturday and Sunday, 11 am-3 pm, 4–10 pm
Closed on Tuesdays
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