Italian steakhouse Sexy Steak is now open in downtown Detroit

A locally based restaurant group is bringing “sexy” to a historic castle-like building at Grand River and Cass. Sexy Steak is now open on the first and second floors of the Grand Army of the Republic Building.

The menu has traditional and contemporary Italian dishes with steaks and seafood, an oyster bar and a Himalayan salt-lined case showcasing premium cuts of beef. All the beef and poultry served is Halal certified. Some menu items include a 16-ounce USDA Prime ribeye ($65), mushroom truffle risotto ($32) and Dover sole ($55).

The 4,000-square-foot dining room will seat 120, and the second floor Centurion Room is a dining and lounge space that can seat up to 100 with another dozen at the bar. There’s also a third floor named Castle Hall with two rooms for weddings and other events.

Sexy Steak is a project from Prime Concepts, which has six restaurants locally, including nearby PAO in Detroit and Aurora Italiana in West Bloomfield Township. As the name implies, the restaurant will have a focus on having an exciting atmosphere as well as food and hospitality.

“Guests will have their senses ignited from the moment they walk in — from the sculptures they see, the music they hear, the aromas they smell, and the flavors they taste,” said managing partner and director of operations for Prime Concepts Detroit Stolion Liti in a press release. “We look forward to sharing many memorable evenings with Metro Detroiters for years to come.”

The first-floor space was formerly the restaurant Republic, which at times was home to well-known Detroit chefs like Kate Williams and Matthew Baldridge. There was also a diner here called Parks and Rec.

Sexy Steak, 1942 Grand River in Detroit, is open now from 5-10 p.m. Mon., Wed.-Thurs. and Sun. and 5-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Reservations can be booked through the OpenTable app. Call (313) 403-1000 or visit sexysteakdetroit.com for more information.

For more details on private events at the GAR Building, visit gatheratthecastle.com.

Mbaetens@detroitnews.com