Sauced Taproom, a craft-beer-focused restaurant and bar, opened in late summer 2018 in the center of downtown Lakewood. Located on Detroit Avenue, the business was founded by local partners who had experience at other national restaurant chains. They came together and became a small business that has made its mark in the heart of Lakewood.
Sauced Taproom offers something most restaurants don’t: they offer a customizable menu. Customers can build their own pizza, either by the slice or a whole pie. Sauced is special because it provides a wide menu of pizzas, wings, and burgers, all fully customizable, so each customer can enjoy their food exactly the way they want. The taproom also has many TVs, making it a popular place for customers to grab a bite and watch a wide variety of sports games.
Sauced Taproom has become a social hub for people to gather, celebrate one another and connect the community by supporting local businesses. The restaurant takes a specialized approach to its signature dish. The pizza is cut into square rather than triangular slices, using a thicker style of dough than most other places.
The menu is defined by its creative flavor profiles, especially with its wing and pizza flavors.
“One of our most popular wing flavors is the lemon pepper chimichurri, which was kind of made by accident,” said employee Brent Pease. “I dropped one plate on top of another, combining the two flavors, and I was like, ‘Huh, this actually works.’”
Beyond the creative menu, owner Geoff Mathias said the restaurant’s mission is to build community.
“Lakewood is a second home for me and has been for a while. My wife lived here when she was young, and I’ve always found myself connected to the area over the years through friends and family,” Mathias said. “The community we’ve built is a combination of amazing regulars, a great team, and an always-open door to do whatever we can reasonably do to support schools, nonprofits and other small businesses.”
The pizza at Sauced Taproom draws people in because of its unique process of making their dough thicker and lighter than other restaurants. Customer Amelia Dawson said, “This is my favorite place to come for pizza. I enjoy their crust, and I love all the different, unique styles of pizza they have here. My personal favorite is the hot honey pizza.” Sauced Taproom’s pizza is a delicious combination of cheese, good sauce, and a thick but fluffy crust that ties it all together.
Sauced Taproom is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat, especially if you want to try something new and unique, different from most other places. They are not just a bar; they offer amazing food, a great staff, and a wonderful menu that everyone can enjoy.
