Saturday morning cartoons. Soul Train lines. Graffiti on subway cars. Eating at grandma’s house…
If you grew up in the ‘80s, then these are just a few of the memories you may recall from your childhood. More than likely, reflecting on these memories brings along warm feelings of
nostalgia. That’s what customers will feel once the step through the doors of Ms. Icey’s Kitchen & Bar.
Who is Ms. Icey?
Ms.Icey is the grandmother who you ran to for comfort, who knew how to make you feel better with just a hug and a smile. The one who made everything better with a slice of warm cornbread to melt away your troubles. She is the heart at the center of Ms. Icey’s Kitchen & Bar, the latest eatery from experienced restaurateur Sim Walker and his team Glenn Wilson, Yusef Walker, Tasha Cyril, Clive Ruddock, Sopeak Pang, and Lorenzo Washington.
Ms. Icey’s innovative yet comfort-filled menu, is a fusion of Southern & Caribbean cuisine, sprinkled with a little global flare to take it over the top. Chef Yusef & Chef Lorenzo are both from a cultural melting pot. Lorenzo’s Cajun styles from his birth place of New Orleans & Yusef’s Jamaican & Latin Caribbean back ground, together are a recipe for culinary genius. A roasted sweet potato salad drizzled with a rosé vinaigrette. Fresh blackened trout over barley & farro risotto, a take on a northern Italian dish. Chicken & waffles with a heavenly house made praline butter. Hearty seafood étouffée & grits. Savory Domincan saltfish mangu. Succulent jerk lamb ribs. House made peach butter biscuits. Sinful strip club wings. Mouth watering chocolate mud pancakes. These are just a few menu items that will surely leave your taste buds dancing.
Inspired by memories of Sim & Yusef’s late grandmother and the impact that she had on their lives, Ms. Icey’s Kitchen is a reflection of all of our childhoods. Modern contemporary design and hip-hop culture, provides the inspiration behind the restaurant’s audacious style. The influence of the hip-hop movement in New York City is evident, thanks to the rare, custom-framed images provided by the culture’s number one music video director, Hype Williams. Some of his never before seen, iconic pieces leap off the white tiled walls. Classic hip-hop imagery, by blossoming New York city artist, Lucy, keeps the theme going with happy graffiti lettering, which spell out Ms.Icey. Another bold statement was made when the the prism wall was born, the brain child of Ms.Icey’s own, Sopeak. This final piece of art would complete the design with it’s modern abstract flare.
Our spacious, yet intimate seating arrangement provides the perfect backdrop for catching up with friends or a romantic date night. At the center of the dining room is the one-of-a-kind bar. With a seating capacity of 30, its industrial feel still maintains a comfortable setting as a neighborhood watering hole. Adding to the bar’s appeal, specially crafted cocktails. The gin based Graffiti Grandma, and Grandpa Crusta, made from cognac, are sure to appease any palate.
Located in Decatur, Georgia., Ms. Icey’s Kitchen & Bar hopes to bring contemporary soul to one of metropolitan Atlanta’s rising neighborhoods. The team’s intention is to pay homage to women, specifically their grandmothers and mothers, while integrating all of their personalities into the project. The group that brought Ms.Icey’s to life all have a lot in common, but are each still very unique. With New York, St. Lucian, Cambodian and Jamaican backgrounds they’re all share an inextricable bond. So while building all the components for Ms. Icey’s was easy for them, trying to explain to outsiders was a challenge. Now seeing the restaurant in real life, and watching people’s experience of it is heart warming. The “vibe” at Ms.Icey’s, as most have described it, is amazing!