To say that Wilder’s is personal to owner Samy Eid would be an understatement. Opened in January 2025, the Birmingham steakhouse is named after Eid’s firstborn son, Wilder. While the name may add to Eid’s connection to the space, restaurants have always been a family affair for him.
As the son of the late-great restaurateur Sameer Eid, Samy started working as a parking lot attendant at his father’s restaurant, Phoenicia, when he was just 11 years old. Eventually, he dove headfirst into the business and started Chickpea Hospitality Group in 2015 with the purchase of Forest Grill. Having been raised amid restaurant culture, his lifelong passion for hospitality shines brightly at Wilder’s.
The 65-seat restaurant pays homage to the heyday of Midwest supper clubs with its woody interior, dark green color scheme, and cozy booths. Eid describes Wilder’s as “a big-city restaurant,” inspired by his travels to Thomas Keller’s Surf Club in Florida and 4 Charles Prime Rib in New York’s West Village.
Wilder’s cocktail offerings are central to its cosmopolitan appeal. Martinis occupy a prominent space, with six options to choose from, including a classic gin freezer martini. Other classic cocktails include the boulevardier and Manhattan alongside dirty vodkas and boozy vespers.
The diverse menu ranges from Dover sole served with brown butter to spaghetti chitarra and a well-stocked raw bar. Still, the prime steaks remain the driving force behind Wilder’s, specifically the large, dry-aged cuts.
The menu is superb from top to bottom, yet the level of hospitality on display remains one of the restaurant’s most sterling qualities. The waitstaff, dressed in ties and sport coats, are knowledgeable and welcoming. Custom-made cocktail napkins, monogrammed with the Wilder’s elephant logo, await drinks at the table. It’s details like those that help Wilder’s stand out in an industry largely dominated by corporate chains.
“There’s something to be said about the sole proprietor,” Eid says. “I feel like a lot of the time, this sector gets gobbled up by the ‘big boys,’ so it’s nice to give somebody something that’s a little more thoughtful.”
Wilder’s charm lies in its ability to provide the same family restaurant-style service that diners have come to expect from the Eids while still offering guests an experience that could hold its own in a bustling metropolis.
458 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-771-0900; wildersbirmingham.com.
More of Hour Detroit’s Best New Restaurants 2026
This story originally appeared in the August 2026 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read our “Best New Restaurants” list in its entirety, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet or click here to get our digital edition.
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