Waffle Cafe is now open on the Avenue of Fashion in Detroit | Eater Detroit
"Walking into Waffle Cafe on Livernois Avenue feels like a hug from your Detroit grandmother: customers are greeted with warmth, smiles, and the aroma of griddled deliciousness while R&B and Motown tunes play overhead and murals by local artists such as renowned muralist Felle invite you to get comfortable in the spacious lounge and two-top seating. For owners Kimyana Freeman and Larry Phillips—who previously ran A Bit of Soul Breakfast Cafe in Redford Township before closing amid the pandemic in 2020 and opened Waffle Cafe on June 1—creating the perfect vibe is just the beginning. The star here is the namesake waffle, offered in 43 varieties: Belgian-style waffles topped with savory options like Buffalo chicken tenders (available fried or grilled), loaded baked potato fixings (sour cream, shredded cheese, and bacon), or made pizza-style with cheese and pepperoni; flights of mini waffles let you sample up to three savory or sweet toppings. Crepe-thin waffle wraps are stuffed with breakfast staples like bacon, egg, and cheese or with shrimp, chicken, or veggies; salads come in waffle shell bowls that will double as soup bowls when temperatures drop. Sweet temptations include a chocolate waffle a la mode with mint chip ice cream, a rainbow-swirled “Zuperman” (a play on Michigan’s Superman ice cream), and banana pudding. Non-waffle highlights include lightly cornmeal-battered catfish bites—so popular one customer placed four separate orders in one visit—as well as hand-dipped ice cream, coffee, and tea; every waffle can be prepared without meat or dairy. Wash it all down with fresh lemonades in flavors like lavender or Very Berry, and note that both co-owners are musical artists (Freeman performs as ZanYé and Phillips as DJ L BooG): “Being an artist and cooking are both a part of my artistry,” Freeman says." - Amber Ogden
