Cass Corridor’s New Pizzeria Delivers a Natural Wine Bar and Cafe to Second Avenue

A rendering of the dining room at Sauce in Cass Corridor. | Parini Design [Courtesy image]

Sauce is coming to Detroit this spring with coffee cocktails, boozy sorbet, and Neapolitan pizza

Buzzy new Neapolitan pizzeria, Sauce, is speeding ahead towards a spring opening in Cass Corridor. Today, Heirloom Hospitality released new details about the forthcoming “California-style” Italian restaurant including the purpose for a take-out window featured in design specs last fall.

Located inside the 11,000-square-foot former Will Leather Goods space at the corner of Second Avenue and Alexandrine Street, Sauce will deal out a triple threat with a restaurant, natural wine bar and bottle shop, and a coffee bar, called Sauce on Side or S.O.S.

The foundation of Sauce will be a modern Italian restaurant headed by chef Myles McVay, formerly of Otus Supply, and Heirloom culinary director Ryan Prentiss. The restaurant group teases a “wood-burning hearth” at the center of the dining room as well as a rotisserie. The menu will be comprised Neapolitan pizzas and fresh pasta made with ingredients sourced from the Midwest. The dessert menu is expected to include pastries and gelato.

A section of the restaurant will be reserved for a natural wine bar and bottle shop with Italian and California varieties, small-batch bottles, and a selection of Italian and Michigan beers.

Parini Design [Courtesy image]

A rendering of the lounge area and bar inside Sauce.

Parini Design [Courtesy image]

A rendering of the dining room inside Sauce.

S.O.S. will occupy the northwest corner of the building with a walk-up window for customers picking up coffee and pastries. Inside, the shop will feature espresso drinks, coffee cocktails, gelato, and baked goods prepared by pastry chef Sharyn Harding.

The overall mid-century look is being developed by architecture firm McIntosh Poris and interior design firm Parini Design. Diners can expect lots of copper and terrazzo stonework with high ceilings. Heirloom Hospitality, which operates Prime + Proper and Townhouse, is well-known for its restaurant patios and is investing significantly in that experience at Sauce. The restaurant is in the process of building an annex for an all-season patio housing a fireplace lounge with herb-infused cocktails and boozy sorbet.

McIntosh Poris [Courtesy image]

A rendered view of the exterior of Sauce, located inside the old Tomboy Market.

When it opens in the first half of this year, Sauce will serve lunch and dinner seven days a week with the cafe opening early for customers seeking coffee and pastries. Stay tuned for more updates as the project moves forward.

• Townhouse Owner’s New Pizzeria Aims for a Spring Opening in Cass Corridor [ED]
• Townhouse Owner Plans Neapolitan Pizzeria for Shuttered Will Leather Goods Building [ED]
• 13 Detroit Restaurant and Bar Openings to Look Forward to in 2020 [ED]
• All Sauce Coverage [ED]