French-influenced restaurant and cocktail bar Savant opened in Detroit on Monday, September 24. The 99-seat addition to Cass Corridor arrived in over-the-top fashion with edible gold leaf garnished “caviar bumps” and champagne shooters. A project of two former Apparatus Room staffers, chef Jordan Whitmore and bartender Rebecca Wurster, Savant aiming to bring a bit of fanciful drinking and upscale French-American food to West Forest Avenue.
The menu features dishes such as foie gras éclairs, burgers, croque monsieur, and croissant biscuits and gravy. Wurster has also brought a bit of molecular gastronomy to the cocktail menu. Customers can choose from drinks like a clarified bloody mary garnished with horseradish foam, a gin and Benedictine drink called In the Snap with gel pearls known as “cocktail caviar,” and an infused fruit cocktail called Center of the Universe that’s prepared using a showy infuser and dry ice.
The restaurant’s address has housed Bolero Latin Cuisine and Mid City Grill over the past four years. Since Bolero vacated the space this spring, the building has undergone some aesthetic changes. Outside, the restaurant features new awnings and signage and inside booths and banquettes feature updated dark upholstery. Savan’ts team also punched a hole through a wall that previously separated the bar from the kitchen and surrounded it black subway tile. Savant’s dining room is also decked out in work from local artists including Lisa Spindler, Niagra, Ron Zakrin, and Armageddon Beachparty. Patrons can also sit outdoors in a small outdoor patio area.
Savant plans to host regular DJ nights and will open the space for pop-ups on Mondays. The restaurant is currently open for dinner only, but the owners intend to expand into lunch hours soon. Photographer Michelle Gerard visited Savant this week to check out the completed space and a few of the drinks. Take a tour of the restaurant below.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19234508/Savant_3594.jpg)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19234485/Savant_3403.jpg)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19234501/Savant_3422.jpg)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19234511/Savant_3444.jpg)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19234491/Savant_3417.jpg)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19234488/Savant_3507.jpg)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19234502/Savant_3523.jpg)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19234481/Savant_3568.jpg)
Savant is located at 51 W. Forest Ave.; open 5 p.m. to midnight Tuesday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday (bar opens daily at 4:30).
• A French Diner Will Bring Dollar Oysters and ‘Caviar Bumps’ to Midtown [ED]
• Latin American Restaurant Makes Way for Savant in Midtown [ED]
• All Savant Coverage [ED]
• All Openings Coverage [ED]