Influencer and Food Critic Opens New Detroit Restaurant

Smith & Williams to serve soulful dishes in Eastern Market neighborhood

Mar. 31, 2026 at 7:38pm

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A highly stylized, abstract illustration of a stack of golden buttermilk biscuits, rendered in a bold, neon color palette and high-contrast silkscreen technique, conceptually representing the opening of a new influencer-driven restaurant in Detroit.The opening of an influencer-driven restaurant in Detroit's Eastern Market aims to bring a fresh culinary energy to the historic neighborhood.Today in Detroit

Starex Smith, a popular food influencer known as the 'Hungry Black Man' on social media, is opening a new restaurant called Smith & Williams in Detroit's Eastern Market neighborhood. The restaurant will serve dishes like shrimp and grits, house-made buttermilk biscuits, and oxtail lasagna.

Why it matters

The opening of Smith & Williams represents a growing trend of social media influencers and food critics leveraging their platforms to open their own brick-and-mortar restaurants. This can bring new culinary experiences and energy to local communities, but also raises questions about the sustainability of influencer-driven business models.

The details

Smith, who has built a large following online for his food reviews and cooking videos, will be personally working in the kitchen at Smith & Williams alongside a chef. The restaurant aims to serve soulful, high-quality dishes without any shortcuts.

  • Smith & Williams is set to open soon in Detroit's Eastern Market neighborhood.

The players

Starex Smith

Also known as the 'Hungry Black Man' on social media, Smith is a popular food influencer who is opening the new restaurant Smith & Williams.

Smith & Williams

A new restaurant opening soon in Detroit's Eastern Market neighborhood, serving soulful and sumptuous dishes like shrimp and grits, house-made buttermilk biscuits, and oxtail lasagna.

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What they’re saying

“I'm excited to bring our Smith & Williams brunch and dinner to the incredible people of Detroit. I'll be in the kitchen personally alongside my chef, no shortcuts, no excuses.”

— Starex Smith, Owner, Smith & Williams

The takeaway

The opening of Smith & Williams reflects the growing influence of food influencers and critics who are leveraging their online platforms to open their own brick-and-mortar restaurants, bringing new culinary experiences to local communities.