The Detroit Sauce You've Probably Never Heard Of

When it comes to dressing up a juicy steak in a yummy sauce, preferences tend to vary. For example, Beefitarian posted the results of a 2021 survey by OnePoll revealing BBQ sauce as the top choice of Americans surveyed, but options like gravy and chimichurri also made the list of favorite sauces to top steaks with. A wide variety of options to suit different palates are also available at grocery stores for home-cooked steaks, and Mashed has even ranked a lineup of familiar names from Heinz 57 to A.1.

One particular sauce, though, may be much more familiar to residents of Michigan. According to The 'Gander, Michiganders allegedly have the Detroit arrival of Italian restaurateurs Mario and Nerrio Lelli in 1939 to thank for the creation of a unique sauce that was so popular it eventually spread throughout the state. Not only do restaurants still serve up their own versions of the sauce today in and outside of Michigan, but it's also bottled up and sold in grocery stores.

When it comes to the official food of the Great Lakes State, Michiganders may disagree, but it would be hard to argue that the official state of zip sauce shouldn't be Michigan. For the uninitiated, Chevy Detroit explains that zip Sauce is made with butter, a beef base, Worcestershire sauce, potentially mustard, and any number of added spices. The sauce was so good, the website claims, that it made the Lellis' Detroit restaurant a "household name."

Today, the Lelli legacy continues with a family restaurant doling out zip sauce in Auburn Hills, Michigan. According to Lelli's Restaurant's website, the "famous" sauce is served alongside dishes like filet mignons, tomahawk ribeyes, and lamb chops. Thanks to one casino owner's love of another Michigan-area restaurant chain, the beloved sauce has also made its way to Nevada. According to Las Vegas Magazine, the D Casino on Fremont Street houses Andiamo Steakhouse offering a menu item with portobello mushrooms and beef tenderloin tips in zip sauce. The outlet goes so far as to say, the sauce is "one of the best condiments you'll taste in town."

Even someone who isn't headed to Sin City or the Motor City anytime soon might still be able to get their hands on some zip sauce. A version called The Original ZipSauce is available on Amazon (note that the butter has to be added) — but, of course, going on a road trip just to try a new-to-you sauce sounds like a heck of a lot more fun!