Kate Williams’ Lady of the House Takes Over St. Cece’s Space in Corktown

Chef Kate Williams’ long anticipated Corktown restaurant Lady of the House will take up residence in the former St. Cece’s building this spring. The chef confirmed the location to The Detroit Free Press in an interview today. Eater reported on the rumor in October, though Williams initially denied involvement stating that she didn’t buy the pub.

As it turns out, that statement is technically true. Williams’ silent partners purchased St. Cece’s for $770,000 — about $54,900 below the listed asking price on O’Connor Real Estates website but more than twice the amount it was last sold for in 2011.

Williams is working with Patrick Thompson Design on the look for the 60-seat restaurant. The plans include removing the stained glass windows and covering the drop-ceiling with wood beams.

The menu will be shareable with items prepared using ingredients from local farms. Diners can expect dishes like whole roasted chicken on the list as well as bar snacks like tartares and shrimp carpaccio. Additionally, Lady of the House will offer an Irish tea service using Joseph Wesley Tea. Although Williams is keeping the name of the bar manager under wraps for now, she adds that the drink menu will focus on beer, wine, and whiskey at a range of prices.

Williams left Republic and Parks & Rec in May 2015, in order to open Lady of the House. Throughout 2015 and early 2016, she raised the profile of the restaurant across the country with a dining series dubbed Lady of the Market, in which she showcased “ugly food” from Detroit urban farms (transporting the produce with her by plane). Initially the project was expected to land in the former Practice-Space building in North Corktown, but those plans fell through in the spring. Stay tuned for more updates.

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