Food & Drink

Brave timing: New Detroit neighborhood restaurant introduces 'gourmet sliders' today

July 25, 2020, 9:48 AM by  Alan Stamm


Five types of "gourmet handcrafted sliders" are $4 each. (Photos: Slyde)

Restaurant entrepreneurs Jen and Lj Nelson, along with four partners, are preparing to launch a fast-casual dining and drinking destination in Detroit's West Village neighborhood -- a bold move at a risky time.

They'll preview Slyde this Saturday with the first in a planned series of patio pickups at 7960 Kercheval Ave., where an October opening is envisioned. 

"Come be the first to support Slyde and taste this delicious new West Village concept," say an Eventbrite page, where registration is requested for the four-hour carryout preview so executive chef Davante Burnley and his team get an idea of how much to cook. 

Order here ahead of time to ensure we don't sell out of your favorites or simply show up and order on the day of. We'll be serving food from 4-8 p.m. (or until we run out).

We'll be adhering to social distancing procedures to ensure everyone's safety. ... Please remember your masks.

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Takeout choices are five styles of sliders (listed here and at right), two sides (pineapple rum wings and poutine with beef bacon and scallions) and five soft drinks. 

The restaurant-bar is in a 1918 former bank, where it'll fill the ground floor. "The idea for Slyde started as a need," the Nelsons post at its Instagram page this month. "A need for an affordable and approachable neighborhood joint. A need for a space where everyone feels free to show up as they are. Families with little ones, couples catching up after work, friends looking to swap stories over a good meal, an individual grabbing a quick drink at the bar."

Slyde was a 2018 finalist in the Hatch Detroit contest for startups and originally focused on a Midtown site. The half-dozen investors now include general manager Justice Akuezue and chef Burnley.

Lj Nelson, a Cass Tech High School graduate, is a sales consultant for an industrial facilities services firm.

At Eater Detroit, editor Brenna Houck adds details about Slyde:

The owners also plan to create a more robust outdoor seating area and beer garden with green space in the parking lot to allow for more open-air social distancing.

The restaurant will also offer retail options for customers who want to purchase beers, spice blends, sauces, and other ingredients from Slyde to make their own meal at home. Eventually, Slyde will offer local delivery.

The startup's team posed this month:


From left: Anitrah Hurley, general manager Justice Akuezue, chef Davante Burnley, Dana Frost, CEO Lj Nelson and Jen Nelson (with their 3-year-old daughter).

Mushroom cheddar slider on a pretzel bun has seasoned beef, grilled mushrooms, cheddar sauce and grilled onions.

 



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