Mad Nice Italian restaurant opens Sunday in Midtown
The eagerly awaited opening of Mad Nice in Midtown is Sunday and it's promising a "slice of Italy in Midtown Detroit."
Mad Nice, 4120 Second Ave. at Alexandrine, is the latest establishment from Jeremy Sasson's Heirloom Hospitality Group. The location is the former Will's Leather Goods.
Being in Midtown, Sasson said, will be different because the area is more residential than downtown.
"It has a sense of community from those that live there than those that work in the area," Sasson said. Midtown has its own personality, pulse and spirit."
Sasson described Mad Nice as having "great culinary spirit," adding, "it's fun and exciting and destination in nature.
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At more than 10,000 square feet, Mad Nice is spacious and offers Italian cuisine seasoned with a coastal California vibe. Its menu includes fermented and preserved elements, including sourdough.
"The core of the bread-making process is built on naturally fermented doughs and a love for sourdough bread culture," Sasson said.
On the dinner menu are pizzas made with fermented dough and pasta, along with shareables like naturally leavened sourdough served with cultured butter and olive oil. There's a daily oyster selection and a chilled lobster salsa with fermented tomato and beef tartare. Mad Nice main dishes include whole branzino, pork shank, a 32-ounce porterhouse steak, a huge short rib and a variety of side dishes. On the lunch menu, which starts Wednesday, you'll find similar dinner items along with sandwiches such as its PBLT served on grilled focaccia with glazed pork belly, tomato, greens, and salsa verde and the Farmer's Pita with cucumber, asparagus, kohlrabi, greens, seeds and feta.
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The restaurant's executive chef is Myles McVay, who led Otus Supply when it opened in 2016 as well as several other metro Detroit restaurants.
Mad Nice has been in the making for several years. Sasson said his group broke ground on the restaurant in late 2019, then the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, halting the project. Originally the restaurant was to be called Sauce. Heirloom Hospitality Group also operates Prime + Proper, Cash Only Supper Club and Townhouse Detroit.
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Mad Nice's lunch service is 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Its dinner menu is available 4-10 p.m. Monday, 4-11 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, and 4 p.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday.
You can make reservations through resy.com. On Mad Nice's website FAQ section dress code standards and expectations are listed. The restaurant asks that guests avoid "overly casual attire, including athletic apparel such as sports uniforms, joggers/sweatpants, or activewear — overly revealing clothing and beachwear, including sleeveless shirts and flip-flops. "
Also, leave your hat at home, as hats are not permitted. For information, go to madnicedetroit.com.
Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Mad Nice Italian restaurant opens Sunday in Midtown Detroit
