Unc’s Pizza, a Detroit-style pizza place, opens Tuesday, Aug. 11, in downtown Detroit’s Capitol Park. Unc’s menu features both red and white square pies, sandwiches, salads, and a selection of chicken dishes.
The Team Behind Unc’s
The project is a joint venture between Larry Kahn, Ann-Marie Murphy, and Jeff Alexander of nearby Dime Store and Mootz Pizzeria + Bar’s Tony Sacco. The local founders tapped Andrew Shedden and Josh Taylor to co-lead the kitchen as executive chefs.
Shedden, a Chicago native, has helmed other Detroit favorites like Olin and most recently, Marrow in the Market. Taylor comes from Corktown’s Supergeil and previously worked under Kahn, Murphy, and Alexander as Dime Store’s executive chef.
The Space
Situated on the first floor of the historic Detroit & Northern Building, Unc’s seats 130 people across both its indoor and outdoor spaces. The 7,300 square-foot restaurant’s interior was designed by Colin Tury of Tury Design, the team behind Supino, Pocket Change, Lola’s, and Vecino. Unc’s interior draws heavily on ‘80s and ‘90s nostalgia, with green and red diner tables and tiled floors.
“The inspiration for the menu really comes from that classic 1990s pizza experience, when going out for pizza felt like an event,” said Shedden and Taylor in a joint statement.
Isabelle Leysens of Plan to Build undertook the architectural design, while Detroit-based RKP Group rehabilitated the space.
What’s in a Name?
The restaurant derives its name from co-owner Larry Khan’s Uncle Paul, who went by the nickname “Unc.” Paul was a decorated World War II veteran who embodied the warm hospitality that Unc’s is looking to achieve.
“We wanted to create the neighborhood pizza place we all wish still existed,” said Kahn. “The kind of place where everyone feels welcome, families stay awhile and another chair is pulled up to the table.”
The Menu at a Glance
While Unc’s follows the classic Detroit-style pizza making techniques, such as putting the sauce on top, their signature pies are far from traditional. The menu features inventive creations, like the chicken parm pizza, which features house-breaded chicken tenderloin, ricotta, roasted garlic, and a pesto drizzle.
A rarity in the Detroit-style sphere, Unc’s also offers white pizzas which come without sauce. The Italian beef pizza, a signature white pizza, is topped with shaved ribeye, giardiniera, parmesan, and beef jus. While Unc’s pays homage to its traditional pizza roots, there is still plenty of room for creativity.
“There’s incredible pride in Detroit-style pizza and demand for a place that really celebrates it,” said Sacco. “We took our time getting it right while having some fun.”
Outside of pizza, Unc’s offerings include house-battered chicken tenders, a smash burger, and pickled tomatoes, which come with whipped ricotta, and house-made focaccia. Lebanese influences bring a new twist to familiar favorites, like the aged cheese brick sticks and roasted whole wings.
Hours of Operation
Unc’s Pizza is located at 1133 Griswold St. and is open Sun. – Thurs., 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Friday, Saturday from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. For more information, visit uncspizza.com.
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