Presenting soul food in an elegant atmosphere, Detroit Soul recently opened a new location on Jefferson that brings soul food classics right to the Pointes.

From fried chicken to candied yams, there’s something tasty and healthy for everyone to enjoy. Considering the sparseness of soul food restaurants in the Grosse Pointe area and the good food they make, I certainly recommend the short drive over to check it out.

Shining out into the night as a beacon of delectable dishes, it’s hard not to feel drawn in by the sight of scrumptious food and satisfied smiles on every customer’s face. The chandeliers, all-black staff uniforms and the consistent color scheme: the first thing you notice up close once in the restaurant is the painstaking attention the owners paid to detail.

The cool yet friendly atmosphere will draw you into your seat. With light jazz playing in the background, the restaurant gives off an immaculately friendly atmosphere with its genial waitstaff. I have zero complaints about the way I was treated at Detroit Soul; everyone was so nice and welcoming that it felt like you were family.

Moreover, the intoxicating aroma of delicious soul food that wafted through the air was only topped by the flavor of the food. Featured dishes in

clude fried chicken with mac and cheese, candied yams and collard greens. The shining star of the meal was the side dishes. Each heavenly bite of candied yams were soft and sweet, but not overpoweringly and dangerously addictive.

The only thing that tops the yams is Detroit Soul’s signature mac and cheese. It had the perfect balance between egg to give it structure and cheese for flavor, as well as a crispy, browned cheese top that contrasted the soft noodles.

Patrons can read on Detroit Soul’s website that they make their food healthier than traditional soul food, which is a major plus. Normally, healthier versions of food aren’t great, but Detroit Soul made them indistinguishable from, if not better than, the “unhealthy” versions.

With much to like, there’s room for improvement in some areas. While the fried chicken was crispy and cooked to perfection, the taste was a bit bland without any added sauce. The collard greens were unremarkable, which was a bit disappointing. Overall, larger portion sizes would’ve been appreciated, not only because of the price, but because the food was so incredible.