Latin American Restaurant Makes Way for Savant in Midtown

A restaurant switcheroo appears to be in the works in Midtown. A new project called Savant looks to be taking over the former Bolero Latin Cuisine space at 51 West Forest Avenue in Midtown.

The owners of Vicente’s Cuban Cuisine opened their South American-influenced restaurant Bolero in December 2017 serving empanadas, paella, and ceviche. However, people familiar with the business confirm to Eater that the restaurant closed this spring. The business was sold and its lease transferred to new owners roughly three months ago. During a visit to the restaurant today, tables, chairs, and plates were stacked up in boxes as construction crews worked inside the building. While the red awnings for Bolero are still hanging on the side of the building, the sign has been replaced by one advertising Savant.

According to Michigan Department of Licencing and Regulatory Affairs records, the “Savant Detroit” business entity is registered to Amir Daiza. Daiza is the owner of Elektricity, a Pontiac-based club, and helped found Imperial in Ferndale, though he no longer has a stake in the restaurant. He also briefly operated Populux before it converted back into the Magic Stick.

There’s little information regarding what type of establishment Savant will be. It’s social media presence is sparse. Daiza did not respond to requests for comment regarding the project. A tipster tells Eater the project may involve high-end cocktails, while a Yelp listing suggests it could serve French food with burgers and a bar. The Michigan Liquor Control Commission shows that a liquor license transfer to Midtown Restaurant Group, another entity registered to Daiza, is still pending approval.

Stay tuned for more updates on the project as they become available.

• Peek Inside Bolero’s Dramatic Interior [ED]
• All Closings Coverage [ED]
• All Coming Attractions Coverage [ED]