In a city packed with Soul Food shacks, Mama’s Place on Seven Mile stands out by offering both down-home, southern-style food and a clean place to eat it.

The restaurant serves southern staples like catfish seared on the grill, ribs cooked in the smoky, oil-drum barbecue out front, and fried chicken, along with side dishes like “candy yams,” black-eyed peas, and collard greens “seasoned with turkey butt.” The greens are about as tasty as greens can be, evidently seasoned with just the right amount of butt.

On most days the counter is staffed by Ann and Cora, a.ka. “Mama,” seen at left. Neither wanted their last names published (“I got tickets,” one of them said, jokingly. I think?) The two sisters have worked here together for 13 years, serving home cooking. “If your auntie cooked or your grandma cooked, that’s basically what we’re serving – ribs, greens, chicken, macaroni and cheese,” Ann said. “It’s a soul food restaurant and a family restaurant.”

It was for years known as Mama’s Country Kitchen before switching owners and becoming Mama’s Place a decade ago. It’s changing hands again, having reportedly been bought by an Atlanta-based company a few months back.

Doc, the manager, says the simplicity of the menu is what draws crowds. “It’s old-style cooking, just like coming in and having dinner at home.” He doubts the new owners will mess with the formula of the place.

Six-dollar specials are offered every day on items like the fried chicken wing dinner, liver and onions, or catfish, their specialty. For less than $4, you can get Mama’s Burger smothered in barbecue sauce and topped with bell peppers and onions.

They serve thick breakfasts like honey butter biscuits and grits with scrambled eggs; you can order it with deep-fried catfish for a very Deep South breakfast experience, or with double bacon, which brings a dozen or so greasy strips to your table. Chocolate cake wedges come wrapped in plastic wrap, stacked in a basket at the counter, where home cooking aromas waft from the kitchen as Motown tunes often play softly in the background. A table-level fish tank adds to the dining atmosphere of the place, which offers plenty of soul without the funk.

Mama’s Place is located at 15250 West Seven Mile, just east of Greenfield. Hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. For more information call (313) 342-6120.