It’s Friday night, you’re exhausted from work, and you’re ready to grab a drink, or two, or three (seriously, who’s counting) with friends. As luck would have it, your usual happy hour spot is packed to capacity. So, what do you do now? Open your Waze app, type in “Ivy Kitchen and Cocktails Detroit,” and take a trip to Detroit’s East English Village to experience the new black-owned restaurant that features a Mediterranean, Spanish, Asian, and All-American food and drink menu.
Owned and Operated by Detroit native Nya Marshall, Ivy Kitchen + Cocktails was born after Marshall purchased two East Jefferson buildings with plans to develop the community.
“The vision derived from the community and the surrounding neighborhoods,” Marshall said. “I didn’t just want to be a developer that bought and built buildings and plopped something in the community on a prayer of success. I wanted to find out what the community wanted, and one of the common denominators was a really nice restaurant.”
Filling the food-insecure neighborhood with a culturally eclectic menu, Ivy Kitchen + Cocktails serves everything from Argentinian Shrimp Bruschetta and Beef Short Rib Stroganoff to good old chicken sandwiches and burgers. It is the place to go when you want the best of both worlds – fine dining and a short drive from home.
“My favorite dish is the Branzino, but I love everything on the menu,” said Marshall. “We took a long time curating the menu and coming up with what we thought people would like. We have bold flavors and some things that we wanted to introduce or reintroduce to the community. Detroiters are from all over the world, so why shouldn’t we serve delicacies that mimic that?
In addition to fine dining, stop by the restaurant between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to enjoy “Cocktail Hour” (Happy Hour) specials that feature wine, beer on tap, bottled beer, and hand-crafted, original cocktails and mocktails. Experiencing a late-night craving and in need of something tasty and delicate? Ivy Kitchen + Cocktails has you covered with their late-night menu that is served up until one hour before closing each day.
So, the next time you’re looking for good quality, wholesome food to enjoy with your family, friends or significant other, look no further than Ivy Kitchen + Cocktails on East Jefferson. The restaurant opens its doors at 4:00 p.m. seven days a week, and closes at 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, at 11:00 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and at midnight on Friday and Saturday.
“My goal is to be a community staple,” said Marshall when asked about her vision for the restaurant. “If I can do my small part and inspire people to go beyond, then I’ve reached my goal with the community.”
You can find more information about the restaurant on Facebook at Ivy Kitchen and Cocktails, on Instagram @Ivy_Detroit; to learn more about the owner, Nya Marshall, check out @IamNyaMarshall.
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