Experience Ann Arbor (part 2): The Best Restaurants Around!

Hi Everyone!

Several months ago I went on a date with my husband. If you know us at all, you know that we rarely get the opportunity to go out on dinner dates so this was automatically put in the "Special Occasion" category! We only had a babysitter for a couple of hours so we had to make the most of the time that we had. The problem, however, was neither of us had had time that week to look up restaurants to decide where we wanted to go. We ended up spending a big chunk of our date time deciding where we wanted to eat! It was ridiculous and it was our own faults! So then I went on a mission to find the best restaurants around so that next time we're prepared. Luckily, now you don't have to worry about that happening to you. That's right, Chrissy Myers - "Savor of Date Nights, Fun Nights, and Even Just Plain Lunches" has created your guide to the best restaurants around Ann Arbor. LOL! I have broken them down by city and also by genre so that you can find exactly what you are looking for. We have another date night coming up in a few weeks and this time we know exactly where we are going. Try 1, try all, you really can't go wrong. You may just find your new favorite restaurant!

Ann Arbor

Adventura Ann Arbor

Location: 216 Washington, Ann Arbor
Price Range: Tapas $9-$15, Paella $32-$44
Atmosphere: Cozy with old-world charm
Menu: Spanish/Mediterranean MENU

Adventura is an excellent tapas restaurant that is also well known for its homemade paella! Located in Ann Arbor's second oldest restaurant, it has a way of taking you back in time. They even have a table that the owner found in the basement when she bought the historic property. A great choice for a romantic date night.

Sava's

Location: 216 S State Street, Ann Arbor
Price Range: Lunch $10-$15, Dinner $15-$33
Atmosphere: Contemporary and fun
Menu: New American MENU

This restaurant can get noisy due to large crowds, but there's a reason so many people come here. It has consistently been voted as of the top restaurants to go to in Ann Arbor. With its incredible menu featuring fresh, local ingredients in fun ways and its stellar service, no one in your party will be disappointed with this option!

Zingerman's Delicatessen

Location: 422 Detroit Street, Ann Arbor
Price Range: $14-$20
Atmosphere: Crowded
Menu: American, Kosher, Sandwiches MENU

Zingerman's is hailed as one of the best delis in the country. They offer incredible sandwiches with tons of options. Their prices are high for sandwiches, but you get what you pay for. Just be warned that you will be waiting in line awhile. If you are in a hurry or don't like a lot of noise, this may not be the place for you, but, if you have time and are looking for an amazing sandwich, you should definitely stop by.

Saline

Salt Springs Brewery

Location: 117 S Ann Arbor St, Saline
Price Range: Lunch $11-$15, Dinner $12-$20
Atmosphere: Historic
Menu: Their own craft beers, American MENU

Located in an old church, Salt has the best atmosphere around. It is a great place to go whether you are going on a date or just grabbing a beer with some friends. Their ingredients are all locally sourced (including the ingredients for their craft beers) and of the highest quality. They offer a variety of pub food and even a Sunday Brunch. This place is a true Saline gem!

The Cheese Shop

Location: 98 N Ann Arbor St, Saline
Price Range: $7-$9
Atmosphere: quaint
Menu: Sandwiches, cheese MENU

Started by the co-founder of Zingerman's, this cheese shop is nothing to pass up. Don't let the name fool you, they offer way more than just cheese. They also have sandwiches and everything you would need to create a beautiful cheese board with the perfect wine pairings. Plus, since it's owned by the same man that helped create Zingerman's, I shouldn't have to tell you that their sandwiches are amazing!

Carrigan Cafe

Location: 101 S. Ann Arbor Street #107, Saline
Price Range: $4-$10
Atmosphere: cozy and inviting
Menu: Sandwiches MENU

Carrigan's is a great place to get a cup of coffee or tea and have a conversation with an old friend! Their staff is friendly and courteous and the food is awesome! They offer bakery items such as muffins and cookies as well as their breakfast and lunch menus.

Dexter

Hotel Hickman Chuckwagon BBQ

Location: 8050 Main St, Dexter
Price Range: $6-$24
Atmosphere: Casual
Menu: Texas BBQ MENU

This BBQ joint may have very limited hours (Thursday-Sunday 6 am -7 pm), but it is well worth the visit! The atmosphere is very fitting too. You feel like you are literally in Texas during the time of the cowboys. They are best known for their sauces and their brisket but don't miss out on their other options. Try getting the sampler!

Chela's Restaurant and Taqueria

Location: 7065 Ann Arbor Dexter Rd, Dexter
Price Range: $3-$14
Atmosphere: Typical Cantina
Menu: Mexican MENU

Great Mexican food at a reasonable price. You can't beat that! They have everything from $3 ala carte tacos to the typical combo platters that you expect to see at a Mexican Restaurant. Stop by on Taco Tuesdays for special discounts on food and margaritas!

Fillmore Bar and Grill

Location: 7954 Ann Arbor St, Dexter
Price Range: $11-$29
Atmosphere: Elegant and Cozy
Menu: American MENU

This restaurant used to be a house which makes it feel very warm and inviting. They also have a great patio area for eating during the warmer months. They make everything from scratch and they use local ingredients! This restaurant is favorite among the locals for its happy hour and fish and chips!

Ypsilanti

Casablanca

Location: 2333 Washtenaw Ave, Ypsi
Price Range: $5-$24, Combo plates $27-$81
Atmosphere: Contemporary, friendly
Menu: Moroccan, Middle Eastern MENU

Great food and great sized portions. Everything here is delicious, especially the lamb tagine and the bread. The service is excellent as well. It's a nice change of pace from the restaurants you typically see. If you haven't tried here yet you are missing out!

Beezy's Cafe

Location: 20 N Washington St, Ypsi
Price Range: $6-$10
Atmosphere: Casual
Menu: Breakfast MENU

Beezy's is a great place to get breakfast or lunch! If you are going for breakfast, you should definitely try their french toast! They bake their bread fresh every day bringing it to another level. You can actually taste how fresh the food is when you bite into it! It's definitely worth getting up early for.

Hana Korean Restaurant

Location: 1346 E Michigan Ave, Ypsi
Price Range: $11-$28
Atmosphere: quiet and relaxing
Menu: Korean MENU

This restaurant may look unassuming on the outside, but on the inside, you will find a lovely, peaceful restaurant with the most delicious Korean food around! The parking is rather limited though so just be prepared during peak times. Try it out!

Burgers

Krazy Jim's Blimpyburger

Location: 304 S. Ashley St, Ann Arbor
Price Range: $4-$10
Atmosphere: Classic diner
Menu: American MENU

Krazy Jim's is Ann Arbor's oldest hamburger stand. It is a fan favorite and has been enjoyed by many a student and U of M game goer for years. Think of it as chipotle met Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. Did I mention that they were actually featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives? You have the classic comfort food of a diner (i.e. burgers), but with the assembly line prepared-as-you-order style of Chipotle. They did the math, and there are so many options that you could create over 2 million different kinds of burgers. Just be sure you know how to order before you actually order!

Sidetrack

Location: 56 E Cross St, Ypsi
Price Range: $8-$15
Atmosphere: Casual, historic, bar
Menu: American MENU

Located in the heart of Depot Town, Sidetrack has been nationally recognized as having some of the best burgers in the country! They say that this is due in part to their proprietary blend of beef that is brought in daily from Hillers Market. As with most popular pubs, it can get noisy and crowded, but don't let that scare you off. You definitely don't want to miss out!

Dan's Downtown Tavern

Location: 103 E Michigan Ave, Saline
Price Range: $9-$21
Atmosphere: Casual and fun
Menu: American, MENU

Dan's is a local favorite for burgers. They offer 15 different specialty burgers so there's definitely something for everyone. Plus they have a great selection of beer as well. If you are looking for a no-frills place that serves great burgers, be sure to check them out! If you're going with someone that doesn't want a burger that okay too. They have plenty of other options as well, but with their burgers, why wouldn't you want one!

Pizzas

Aubree's

Location: All over the Greater Ann Arbor Area
Price Range: $8-$20
Atmosphere: Casual
Menu: Pizza MENU

The great news is that with 10 locations there's sure to be an Aubree's near you! Aubree's is a classic pizza chain that originated in Depot Town. They have a great variety of specialty pizzas and as well known for their feta breadsticks as they are for their pizza itself. If you want a tasty traditional pizza, you don't want to miss Aubree's.

Mani's Osteria and Bar

Location: 341 E Liberty Street, Ann Abor
Price Range: $14-$29
Atmosphere: Fun, family-friendly
Menu: Italian MENU

If you are looking for a more sophisticated place to enjoy a pizza than this is it! Their name literally means handmade Italian food and that sums them up quite well. From their wood-fired pizzas to their family-style small plates you can taste the love and freshness in every bite! In addition to more traditional flavors, they have fun pizza options like their Tartufo (which features fontina, black truffle, and egg) or their Red Onion and Pistachio (which also contains goat cheese, rosemary, garlic cream, and chili flakes) - both delicious!

New York Pizza Depot

Location: 605 E William St, Ann Arbor
Price Range: $7-$18
Atmosphere: Student Hangout
Menu: Pizza MENU

Just because this place is a college student geared restaurant doesn't mean that it's just for college students! This pizza place not only offers carry out for whole pizzas, but they also have a buffet so you can just grab the slices you want. This makes it a great place to have lunch or to grab something quick for dinner. In addition to pizza, they offer traditional Italian dinners as well as Mexican food. In spite of their name, they do offer both Chicago and New York-style pizza, making it a great option no matter which city's pizza you like best.

Buddy's

Location: 3153 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd, Ann Arbor
Price Range: $10- $30
Atmosphere: Sports Bar
Menu: Pizza, American MENU

Buddy's is the home of the original Detroit style pizza. They have long been a staple among Detroit natives, and a few years ago they finally opened up a location in Ann Arbor. Although they do sever other things than pizza, it is their pizza that has made them famous and giving them the title of "Best Detroit Style Pizza." As far as pizza goes, it is a little pricy but still cheaper than many Chicago style pizzas.

Steaks

Chop House

Location: 322 S Main St, Ann Arbor
Price Range: $25-$60
Atmosphere: Cozy
Menu: American, Steak MENU

Chop House is a steakhouse that is in par with great steakhouses that you see in New York! Their food is amazing and the service is excellent. As a bonus, if it is your birthday, you get 50% off of your entree. They are a bit expensive but well worth it!

Ruth's Chris

Location: 314 S 4th St, Ann Arbor
Price Range: $30-$120
Atmosphere: Elegant
Menu: American, Steak MENU

I almost feel bad putting this one in because everyone already knows that Ruth's Chris has great steaks, but I'm going to do it anyway. They are well-known for steaks for a reason! They also have great seafood and pork chops for those who don't eat red meat. Keep in mind that there is a business casual minimum dress requirement.

Knight's Steakhouse

Locations: 600 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor
                2324 Dexter Ave, Ann Arbor
Price Range: $25-60
Atmosphere: Elegant
                      Old-Fashioned
Menu: American MENU

Knight's is an Ann Arbor classic. Typically you will find an older crowd, but the food is great no matter what age you are! The menu changes regularly so you always get something new. The Liberty location is newer and has a more elegant feel. The older location on Dexter has a more old-fashioned feel. If you are ordering drinks, be aware that they have a heavy pour.

Vegan

The Lunchroom Diner and Canteen

Location: 407 N 5th St, Ann Arbor

Price Range: $5-$12

Atmosphere: Contemporary

Menu: Vegan, full bar MENU

This restaurant was named Best Vegan/Vegetarian restaurant by Current Magazine last year and it's not hard to see why! Their vegan menu has all kinds of awesome options - everything from pad Thai to nachos, to mac n "cheese." It's a great place to stop even if you aren't a vegan.

Fresh Forage

Location: 5060 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor

Price Range: $12-$16

Atmosphere: Fun and Fresh

Menu: Farm to table, American, Vegan MENU

Fresh Forage is a "bowl" restaurant which lets you make your very own mealtime creation that is exactly what you want. This restaurant is not exclusively vegan, but they have MANY vegan options to choose from when creating your bowl. Plus they use ingredients that come from local farms so you know it's fresh!

Earthen Jar Vegetarian Cuisine

Location: 311 S. 5th Ave, Ann Arbor

Price Range: $8/lb

Atmosphere: cozy

Menu: Buffet, Indian, Vegan, Vegetarian, Kosher MENU

The menu at Earthen Jar is primarily Indian and is just delicious. The nice thing about it is that it's a buffet where you pay by the pound. This makes it easy to try lots of things while having some control over the cost.

On a Budget

Haifa Falafel

Location: 4585 Washtenaw Ave, Ypsi

Price Range: $6-$12

Atmosphere: Contemporary 

Menu: Mediterranean MENU

The plates here are a bit more expensive, but you can get one of their sandwiches for $6-$7. Plus it's healthy, quality food which is hard to find on the cheap! A great option when you're in a hurry and on a budget!

La Torre Taqueria

Location: 1525 Washtenaw Ave, Ypsi
Price Range: $2-$12
Atmosphere: Cozy
Menu: Mexican MENU

This is one of my family's favorite places to go to get a cheap bite to eat. Apparently, we aren't the only ones because this place is always packed! All of their food is great, you can't go wrong! The tacos are very authentic and taste exactly like the ones you find at street carts in Mexico.

Cottage Inn

Location: Many locations around Ann Arbor
Price Range: $7-$20
Atmosphere: Casual
Menu: Pizza, Italian MENU

Cottage Inn has quite a few locations around Ann Arbor, so you'll never be too far away from one. This is a great option when you need a cheap meal! The pizza is great and you could feed the whole family for less than $20! You could even have them deliver and save yourself some time!

Upscale

Taste Kitchen

Location: 521 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor
Price Range: $16-$35
Atmosphere: Cozy and intimate
Menu: New American, Fusian MENU

If you like seafood, this is a great place for you! Their menu items have a great balance between American and Asian influences. Ingredients are fresh and the food is delicious! The restaurant is small and can get crowded, but this is a great choice for a date night!

Logan

Location:115 W Washington St, Ann Arbor
Price Range: Lunch $10-$20, Dinner $20-$70
Atmosphere: Elegant
Menu: New American MENU

Logan's is a perfect restaurant for a special evening out. The restaurant features high quality, local and organic ingredients. Chef Thad makes sure that every meal is amazing. Logan is also the best place around for wine lovers. Their wine collection is incredible and their Sommelier brings in new wines all the time so there's always something different to try.

Spencer

Location:113 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor
Price Range: varies
Atmosphere: Contemporary
Menu: New American MENU

Spencer is a nationally (and locally) recognized fine dining restaurant in the heart of Ann Arbor. Hailed by the New York Times as serving "food with substance," the restaurant won't disappoint. They source their ingredients locally whenever they can which means the menu is ever-changing, so every visit is a fun surprise! They don't take reservations and have a small seating area so it may be best to try to either come a bit early or a bit late. Chef Abby used to be the Head Pastry Chef of the award-winning Delfina in San Fransisco so make sure you order dessert.

Want More Fun Info?

I know that this was a long one, but I hope that you found it helpful! If you would like more fun information on the area, visit my website ChrissyMyers.com/Communities or read my previous blog about events going on around town, Experience Ann Arbor (part 1).

Thanks for reading and happy eating!