All Articles
296 of 296 articles
July 2026
Jolly Pumpkin Closed Its Midtown Detroit Beer Hall After Eleven Years on Canfield
The taproom at 441 W Canfield poured its last at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 29, 2026. Spiedo takes the room.
Jolly Pumpkin's Detroit beer hall closed March 29, 2026, after eleven years on West Canfield. Brad Greenhill's Spiedo is taking the space.
VinBar Poured Only Michigan Wine at 111 West Liberty. Nothing Has Replaced It.
Three Leelanau Peninsula wineries ran one downtown room under three separate tasting-room licenses. Current Magazine reported the closing in March 2019.
VinBar spent about five years at 111 W Liberty pouring wine from three Leelanau wineries and nothing else. Current Magazine reported the closing in March 2019.
Wright & Company Closed the Staircase at 1500 Woodward After Twelve Years
The second-floor small-plates room served its last dinner on July 3, 2026. Private events continue; the replacement concept has not been named.
Wright & Company served its final dinner July 3, 2026, after twelve years above Woodward Avenue. What the room was, and what downtown Detroit loses with it.
Michigan Blueberry Season Starts in July
The fresh window runs into fall, and southwest Michigan remains the center of commercial production.
Fresh Michigan blueberries are generally available from July through October. Here is how to find U-pick farms, shop locally, and freeze the fruit safely.
Selden Standard Remains a Midtown Anchor
The restaurant opened on Second Avenue in 2014 and is still shaping what comes next in Detroit.
A sourced look at Selden Standard's 2014 opening, its seasonally driven small-plates format, and the team's next Detroit project.
Sidetrack's Long Run in Depot Town
The East Cross Street bar pairs a documented burger reputation with one of Ypsilanti's best-known building stories.
Sidetrack Bar & Grill occupies a historic East Cross Street building and keeps burgers at the center of its current menu.
Takoi Connects Regional Thai Cooking to a Detroit Farm
The Corktown restaurant operates HiO Farm one mile from its Michigan Avenue kitchen.
Takoi's Corktown kitchen draws on regional Thai cooking and produce from HiO Farm, which the restaurant operates one mile away.
Tomukun Keeps Noodles and Korean Barbecue Side by Side
The East Liberty operation runs a noodle bar and a separate tabletop-grill dining room at the same address.
Tomukun's East Liberty address combines a compact noodle bar with a separate Korean barbecue room next door.
The Farm-to-Table Pipeline That Actually Works
Inside the ecosystem that connects Washtenaw County's farms to its best restaurant kitchens.
Washtenaw County's farm-to-table movement isn't a marketing phrase. It's actual infrastructure.
Where to Eat in Birmingham, Michigan
The most upscale suburb in metro Detroit has a concentrated Main Street dining scene. A practical guide to what's worth the drive.
Birmingham sits about 50-55 minutes from Ann Arbor and runs on old money, luxury retail, and a dining scene that punches above its demographic. A guide to what's actually worth ordering.
Where to Eat Near Eastern Market, Detroit
America's oldest open-air market anchors a neighborhood that eats as well as it shops.
Eastern Market on a Saturday morning is one of the best food experiences in Michigan. Here is where to eat before, during, and after the market.
Where to Eat in Greektown, Detroit
A neighborhood with real history, a stadium crowd problem, and a few places worth finding between the games.
Greektown is Detroit's oldest dining district and its most complicated. Between the stadium crowds and the tourist menus, here is what's actually worth eating.
Where to Eat in Chelsea
Seven places on a Main Street that's been quietly feeding its town for decades.
Chelsea has been building a food identity for longer than most of Washtenaw County realizes. Seven restaurants that justify the twenty minutes on I-94.
Where to Eat in Dearborn
A practical guide to the best Arabic food in Michigan, forty minutes from Ann Arbor.
Dearborn has the largest Arab American community in North America and the Arabic food scene to match. A guide for Ann Arbor readers making the drive east.
Where to Eat in Detroit
A neighborhood-by-neighborhood starting point for readers coming from Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.
A source-led Detroit dining guide covering Corktown, Eastern Market, Midtown, Southwest Detroit, and downtown.
Where to Eat in Dexter Michigan (2026): The Complete Restaurant Guide
Michigan's oldest cider mill, the country's first all-sour brewery, and a downtown that punches above its weight.
Where to eat in Dexter MI: 42 North Social House, Jolly Pumpkin, Raterman Bread Haus, Dexter Brunch House, and more. The complete guide to Dexter restaurants, 15 minutes from Ann Arbor.
Where to Eat in Midtown Detroit (2026): The Essential Restaurant Guide
Between the DIA and Wayne State, Detroit's densest dining neighborhood keeps getting better.
Midtown Detroit packs more serious restaurants per block than anywhere in the city. Between the DIA and Wayne State, a James Beard semifinalist sits two blocks from a brewery that helped anchor the neighborhood. The essential guide, updated 2026.
Where to Eat in Ypsilanti (2026): The Complete Restaurant Guide
Bellflower, Sidetrack, and 13 more reasons Ypsi's restaurant scene deserves your full attention.
Where to eat in Ypsilanti: Bellflower, Sidetrack Bar & Grill, MAIZ Mexican Cantina, Ma Lou's Fried Chicken, and more. The complete restaurant guide for Ypsi, updated 2026.
Where to Eat in Royal Oak and Ferndale
The inner-ring suburbs north of Detroit worth a day trip from Ann Arbor.
Royal Oak and Ferndale sit about 55 minutes east of Ann Arbor and form the most coherent dining corridor in metro Detroit's inner suburbs. A guide to what's there, what to order, and whether the drive is worth it.
Where to Eat in Southwest Detroit
Vernor Highway and the Mexicantown corridor: the most flavorful stretch of road in the metro area.
Southwest Detroit's Vernor Highway corridor has the best concentration of taco shops, Vietnamese cooking, and bakeries in Michigan. A guide to eating your way through it.
Wright & Company Turned a Jewelry Store Into Detroit's Most Interesting Dining Room
On Woodward Avenue, a second-floor restaurant in a building from the 1890s served small plates and cocktails for twelve years.
Wright & Company occupied the second floor of a historic Woodward Avenue building in downtown Detroit for twelve years, closing after a final dinner service on July 3, 2026.
Ypsilanti Has a Food Scene. You Just Have to Know Where to Look.
The restaurants on Michigan Avenue and beyond that make Ypsi worth crossing the river for.
Ypsilanti's dining scene punches well above its size. From Haab's centennial dining room to Bona Sera's wood-fired patio, here's where to eat in Ypsi.
Ypsilanti Is Having a Moment. This Time It Might Stick.
Lower rents, creative chefs, and a dining scene that's finally finding its footing.
Lower rents, creative chefs, and a scene that's finally hitting its stride.
Zingerman's Deli Is Still the Center of the Zingerman's Network
The Detroit Street deli opened in 1982 and remains the public-facing anchor of a much larger Ann Arbor food business.
Zingerman's Delicatessen opened on Detroit Street in 1982. Its sandwiches, specialty-grocery shelves, and local production network still define the wider business.
Zingerman's Mail Order Connects Ann Arbor Production to a National Catalog
The Phoenix Drive business ships bread, coffee, candy, pantry goods, and gift boxes from one online storefront.
Zingerman's Mail Order brings products from several Ann Arbor businesses into one national shipping and gift-box operation.
Zingerman's Roadhouse Is Built for the Big Table
The Jackson Avenue restaurant organizes its menu around regional American cooking, barbecue, and a full-service dining room.
Zingerman's Roadhouse is the full-service restaurant in the Zingerman's network, with fried chicken, barbecue, macaroni and cheese, and a large Jackson Avenue dining room.
Zou Zou's Cafe Holds Down the Middle of Chelsea's Main Street
Between the bakery and the bistro, a cafe that feeds the town without making a fuss about it.
Zou Zou's Cafe at 101 N Main St in Chelsea serves sandwiches, salads, soups, and coffee in the heart of Main Street. It is the casual option on a block that has been building toward something more ambitious.
B2A2: Echelon's Smash Burger
The South Main kitchen brings a burger to a restaurant built around seasonal wood-fired cooking.
Echelon's burger belongs in the Ann Arbor conversation, but its current ingredients and price should be confirmed from the live menu before publication.
Galy's Brings West African Diaspora Cooking to Downtown Ypsilanti
Chef Bangaly Kaba is now serving from the former Crawdaddy's space on North Washington Street.
Galy's is taking orders at 20 North Washington Street in Ypsilanti, with a menu spanning West African dishes, burgers, and seafood.
Ji Hye Kim's Two Kerrytown Restaurants Serve Different Jobs
Miss Kim remains the full-service anchor; Little Kim turns Kim's vegetarian work into counter service and a small market.
Ji Hye Kim now runs two distinct Kerrytown restaurants: the full-service Miss Kim and the all-vegetarian, counter-service Little Kim.
Sunda Detroit Is Built for Scale on Columbia Street
The 200-plus-seat restaurant combines sushi, dim sum, noodles, and group dining near Detroit's arena district.
Sunda New Asian's Detroit restaurant is a 200-plus-seat operation built for dinner, events, and a broad pan-Asian menu on Columbia Street.
Calamansi Remains in Development on West Vernor
The planned Filipino bar and restaurant has not announced an opening date.
Calamansi remains planned for the former PizzaPlex space at 4458 W Vernor Hwy in Southwest Detroit, with no confirmed opening date.
What Calamansi Is Planning for Southwest Detroit
A Filipino bar and restaurant is taking shape in the former PizzaPlex space on West Vernor.
The Calamansi team is planning a Filipino food and drink program at 4458 W Vernor Hwy, but the restaurant has not announced an opening date.
Inside the Plans for JD's Stage Bistro in Chelsea
Jeff Daniels' planned restaurant pairs a Michigan-focused kitchen with a purpose-built listening room.
JD's Stage Bistro is planning wood-fired pizza, Michigan-focused dishes, and a 136-seat listening room at 117½ S Main St in Chelsea.
Michigan Peach Season: What to Know in 2026
The state's season can run from July into September. In 2026, timing and crop size will vary considerably by orchard.
Michigan peaches can arrive in July and continue into September. Here is the verified 2026 crop context, where to check locally and how to store or preserve the fruit safely.
B2A2: Grizzly Peak
Entry twelve fills the gap the series has been ignoring. The Ann Arbor brewpub burger is its own category.
The B2A2 series reaches the Ann Arbor brewpub. Grizzly Peak has been at Washington and Ashley long enough to be taken for granted. Entry twelve asks whether the pub burger holds up.
June 2026
Michigan Wine Country Is Worth the Drive
Old Mission and Leelanau peninsulas produce some of the best Riesling in the country. Ann Arbor is four hours from most of it.
Michigan's two wine peninsulas north of Traverse City are producing Riesling, Pinot Noir, and cold-climate reds worth knowing about. A guide to planning the trip from southeast Michigan.
Michigan Cherry Season, Explained
Fresh cherries run from late June into August, and the 2026 National Cherry Festival ends July 11.
Michigan grows most of the U.S. tart-cherry supply. Here are the verified 2026 festival dates, the difference between tart and sweet cherries, and safe storage guidance.
Ann Arbor's Korean Food Scene Arrived, and It Came With a Point of View
Three restaurants, two chefs, and a cuisine that now has enough critical mass to actually argue with itself.
Miss Kim, Little Kim, and Bori Korean Kitchen & Bar have turned Ann Arbor into a city with a real Korean food conversation. That is a different thing from having one good Korean restaurant.
The Slice: Mid-Series Rankings
Five pizzerias in. Two styles evaluated. One ranking that's going to upset someone.
Five entries into The Slice, the best pizza series has a wood-fired Neapolitan at the top, a delivery kitchen defending its own category, and an argument that is not as settled as it looks.
B2A2: Sava's
Entry eleven asks what eighteen years of Ann Arbor kitchen experience does with a single burger.
The B2A2 series returns to State Street. Sava's has been at 216 S State St for eighteen years. The question: does the full-service kitchen behind one of Ann Arbor's most durable restaurants make a burger worth ranking?
Summer Berries in Washtenaw County: July 2026 Update
Strawberries are ending, while raspberries and blueberries are beginning.
A sourced July 2026 guide to strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries in Washtenaw County.
May 2026
The Slice: Pizza House
Entry six visits the 2 a.m. institution on Church Street. The question isn't whether it competes with Mani. It's whether it does what it does as well as anything in the city.
The Slice entry six covers Pizza House at 618 Church St. The deep dish, the breadsticks, the late-night delivery window. This is not the most refined pizza in Ann Arbor. It is the most reliable.
Michigan Strawberry Season Is Short
The local crop generally arrives in June and early July, with timing set by weather.
Michigan strawberries generally arrive in June and early July. Check farms before traveling because U-pick supply can change by the hour.
Ethiopian Food in Southeast Michigan: Where to Start
The cuisine closest to no coverage in this archive. A first guide to injera, wat, and the restaurants serving both within reach of Ann Arbor.
Plate & Press has covered Korean, Indian, Thai, and Mexican food in depth. Ethiopian has been missing. Here is the guide we should have written sooner.
The Best Indian Food in Metro Detroit
From a Bengali corridor in Hamtramck to chaat houses in Canton, the region's South Asian food scene covers more ground than the city gets credit for.
Metro Detroit's Indian and South Asian food scene stretches across three counties: Hamtramck's Bangladeshi corridor, Troy's biryani specialists, Canton's vegetarian street food, and an Indian gastropub in Eastern Market that made the Detroit Free Press's top 10 list.
Depot Town, Ypsilanti: A Neighborhood Dining Guide
The waterfront strip where Bellflower, Sidetrack, and the Bomber have built something worth the drive from Ann Arbor.
Depot Town is Ypsilanti's most walkable food corridor: an 1850s building with a burger GQ noticed, a James Beard semifinalist on Pearl Street, Southern comfort food in a Civil War barracks, and a roaster worth the drive alone.
The Best Vietnamese Food in Ann Arbor
Pho on South Main, shaking beef on East Liberty, and a banh mi shop that sold 1,700 sandwiches its opening weekend.
Ann Arbor's Vietnamese scene is smaller than it should be, but the restaurants here are the real thing. Dalat for traditional pho, Saigon Social House for a full dinner, Paris Banh Mi for the sandwich.
Detroit's Best Patios Are Finally Open
Where to eat outside in the city, from rooftops and beer gardens to sidewalk seats that are actually worth the wait.
Detroit has more serious outdoor dining than most people outside the city realize. These are the patios and beer gardens worth planning around when the weather cooperates.
Ann Arbor Farmers Market: What to Buy in July
Cherries are here, blueberries are starting, and the Wednesday market is running.
A current July guide to Ann Arbor Farmers Market hours, payment options, and the Michigan produce coming into season.
Summer Dining in Ann Arbor
Patios, cold dishes, new openings, and the farmers market at its peak. A guide to eating well in the city this summer.
Ann Arbor eats differently in summer. The campus crowd thins out, the patios open, and the farmers market peaks. A guide to where to sit, what to order, and which new openings are worth your attention.
Two Blocks on South Main Are Having Ann Arbor's Best Year
From 200 to 320 S Main St, something real has happened to the city's most concentrated restaurant corridor.
Echelon has a James Beard semifinalist citation. Tabe Fusion runs three floors at 209. Bori Korean Kitchen sits above Jolly Pumpkin, and a tiki bar runs under a fine dining restaurant. South Main is having a year.
The Pour: Mid-Series Rankings
Five bars in. The Last Word holds. Everything else is an argument.
The Pour has evaluated five Washtenaw County cocktail bars. Here's where the rankings stand, what changed across entries, and what the series still needs to settle.
The Grind: All Six Entries, Ranked and Defended
Six coffee shops in. RoosRoast holds. The middle is the argument.
The Grind has evaluated all six Ann Arbor coffee shops in its first round. Here are the final rankings, with the reasoning behind every placement and the live arguments the series hasn't fully settled.
The Pour: Hunã Tiki Bar
Entry 5. The best rum program in Washtenaw County runs in a basement. The series has to decide what that's worth.
Entry 5 of The Pour goes underground on South Main. Hunã Tiki Bar is rum-forward and serious about it, which puts the series in an interesting position: how do you rank a specialist against generalists?
Where to Eat in Ann Arbor Over Memorial Day Weekend
The students have left. The patios are open. The restaurants are not booked solid for once. A short guide to making the most of it.
Memorial Day weekend 2026 lands on May 23-25. Ann Arbor empties out when the semester ends, which means empty bar stools, open patios, and reservations you can actually get. Here's where to go.
The Grind: Argus Farm Stop
Entry 6. Good coffee inside a food market. The ranking has to decide whether that context is a feature or an excuse.
The sixth entry in The Grind visits Argus Farm Stop at 325 W Liberty St, where the coffee is sourced from Michigan roasters and served at a counter inside a local food market. The cup is good. The question is what that means in a coffee ranking.
The Pour: Spencer
Entry 4. The best gimlet in the county comes from a bar that doesn't call itself one.
Spencer is a wine shop first, a restaurant second, and a cocktail bar third. The cocktail program is the best argument for why that order of priorities produces drinks other bars can't.
The Best Sandwiches in Ann Arbor
By bread type: rye, baguette, pita, hoagie roll, and the soft bun. What makes each one worth eating.
The best sandwiches in Ann Arbor, organized by bread: the Reuben on Bakehouse rye at Zingerman's, bánh mì at Paris Banh Mi, falafel pita at Jerusalem Garden, Italian subs at Sottini's, and more.
The Best Wine Bars in Detroit
A craft beer and cocktail city has been quietly building a wine scene. Here is where to find it.
Detroit earned its reputation as a cocktail and craft beer city, but a cohort of wine-forward restaurants has been building a different kind of scene. Where to find serious wine, from Corktown to Midtown.
The Grind: Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea
Entry 5. Thirty-plus years in Ann Arbor, a tea list that runs to over 100 varieties, and the question of whether scale is a credential or a liability.
The fifth entry in The Grind visits Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea, the local chain that Eva and James Amburgey founded in Ann Arbor in 1993. The tea program is the differentiator. The ranking is the argument.
The Fold: BTB Burrito
The taco series returns to Ann Arbor for the campus counter that stays open when everyone else has gone home.
The Fold Entry #6 covers BTB Burrito on South State Street, where tacos are built fast, priced low, and served until the kind of hours that the rest of the series never attempted.
Where to Find Dim Sum Near Ann Arbor
The closest dedicated dim sum is a 30-45 minute drive. Here's where to go, what to order, and what to know before you leave home.
Ann Arbor has no dedicated dim sum restaurant. The nearest real options are in Detroit and the Novi/Troy corridor. A practical guide to where dim sum actually exists in southeast Michigan.
The Grind: Vertex Coffee Roasters
Entry 4. A queer-owned roaster at the edge of campus with a coffee flight program that has no equivalent in Ann Arbor.
The fourth entry in The Grind visits Vertex Coffee Roasters at 1335 S University Ave, where Kara and Mackenzie Soto have built a coffee program around flights, flash-chilled coffee, and a roastery in Milan that supplies everything in the cup.
The Best Happy Hour in Detroit
Where to drink well for less after work. The Woodward corridor, Corktown, and Midtown each have their answer.
Detroit's happy hour scene runs from a 147-year-old railway pub on Woodward to a serious cocktail bar in the back of Corktown. A guide to the deals worth building your afternoon around.
The Pour: Black Pearl
Entry 3. A seventeen-year-old martini program playing second violin to the seafood is still better than most bars' entire repertoire.
The third entry in The Pour evaluates Black Pearl's cocktail program, where the martini list is the signature and the drinks are built around a kitchen rather than a concept.
The Best Patios in Ypsilanti
Where to eat and drink outside when the weather finally cooperates. Ypsilanti has better outdoor dining than most people know.
From Sidetrack's riverfront beer garden to Bellflower's covered courtyard on Pearl Street, Ypsilanti has outdoor dining worth planning your summer around. A focused guide to the city's best patios.
Vernor Highway Is the Region's Essential Food Street. Calamansi Could Add Another Layer.
The Mexican-built corridor already holds remarkable range. A planned Filipino project could deepen it after the doors actually open.
West Vernor Highway was built by Mexican businesses and deepened by restaurants from other traditions. Calamansi remains a future project, not proof of the corridor's next chapter yet.
The Best Wine Bars in Ann Arbor
Spencer set the standard. Here's the full picture of what the city's wine scene actually looks like.
Ann Arbor's wine bar scene is smaller than you might expect, but what's here is genuinely good. Spencer is the benchmark. Beyond it, a Spanish sherry list, a vinyl listening room, and a wine shop that carries bottles you can't find anywhere else in the county.
The Grind: Comet Coffee
Entry 3. In Nickels Arcade, a counter, three roasters on rotation, and the best cortado in Ann Arbor.
The third entry in The Grind visits Comet Coffee at 16 Nickels Arcade, where Jim Saborio has spent sixteen years proving that a short menu and a small room are an advantage, not a concession.
B2A2: Grange Kitchen & Bar
Entry ten visits the farm-sourced table on West Liberty. The burger is made like the rest of the menu: with the full weight of where everything came from.
The tenth B2A2 entry visits Grange Kitchen & Bar at 118 W Liberty. A farm-sourced kitchen applies the same sourcing philosophy to a burger. The result is what it should be.
The Best Japanese Food in Ann Arbor
Ramen and sushi are just the entry points. Here is where the Japanese dining scene actually holds up.
Ann Arbor's Japanese food scene is small but real. Slurping Turtle's izakaya format, Tabe Fusion's omakase counter, Azalea's Nikkei approach, and the long-running restaurants that don't get enough credit. All of it, honestly assessed.
Everest Sherpa: Ann Arbor's Only Nepali Restaurant
The only kitchen in town doing momos, thukpa, and dal bhat -- open in a strip mall off Ann Arbor-Saline Road since 2017.
Everest Sherpa at 2803 Oak Valley Dr is Ann Arbor's only Nepali restaurant, serving momo dumplings, thukpa noodle soup, and dal bhat alongside familiar Indian dishes since 2017. Nothing else in town does this cuisine.
Hamtramck Is Worth the Drive
Two square miles, more countries of origin than most cities, and some of the most interesting food in Michigan.
Hamtramck packs Bengali, Yemeni, Polish, Bosnian, and Bangladeshi kitchens into two square miles. A guide to what's there and why readers in Ann Arbor should make the trip.
The Grind: Espy Cafe
Entry 2. On-source roasting, handmade ceramics, and an espresso pulled on a $6,000 machine. The newcomer makes its case.
The second entry in The Grind visits Espy Cafe at 404 W Huron St, where the roasting program, the room, and the no-tip labor model all have something to prove.
The Pour: 312 Underground
Entry 2. The strongest seasonal program in Ann Arbor runs in a room most people don't know exists.
The second entry in The Pour goes underground. 312 Underground on South Main runs a seasonal cocktail program that changes fast enough to punish inattention, in a room that the street-level foot traffic has no idea is there.
The Best Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in Detroit
Seven spots where plant-based eating is the point, not an apology.
Detroit's vegetarian and vegan options have grown well past the token veggie burger. These are the restaurants where plant-based cooking is treated with the same conviction as anything else on the menu.
The Best Lunch Spots in Ann Arbor
Counter service and sit-down, quick bites and long tables, under $10 and over $20. The midday meal, covered.
The best places to eat lunch in Ann Arbor, organized by what you're actually in the mood for: fast counter service, proper sit-down, international options, and spots worth the walk.
Gluten-Free Dining in Ann Arbor
A practical guide to restaurants that actually do it well, not just restaurants that happen to have one GF option.
From Korean rice bowls to Palestinian mezze, Ann Arbor has more genuinely gluten-free-friendly restaurants than most people realize. This guide separates the solid options from the token gestures.
Ladder 4 Has Three Consecutive James Beard Nominations and Michelin Watching
Chef John Yelinek's Detroit restaurant is the most decorated kitchen in the city that nobody outside of it is talking about.
Ladder 4 in Detroit has earned three consecutive James Beard semifinalist nominations for Chef John Yelinek. Now that Michelin inspectors are in the city, the case for a star is being made in two directions at once.
One World Market Has the Best Sushi in Michigan. Novi Is the Reason That Makes Sense.
The Japanese market on Grand River has been quietly serving the best to-go sushi in the state. A new mixed-use Asian district opening next door is not a coincidence.
One World Market in Novi is a Japanese grocery store and sushi counter at 42705 Grand River Avenue. The shrimp tempura roll and cali futamaki are the best versions of those rolls available in southeast Michigan. The market behind the sushi counter rewards browsing every time.
Where to Eat Near the Michigan Theater
Pre-show and post-show dining on Liberty, State, and the blocks in between.
The Michigan Theater anchors one of the best dining corridors in Ann Arbor. Here's where to eat before and after the show on East Liberty and the surrounding blocks.
The Cellar Is Gone
Grizzly Peak's basement bar was underutilized and a little eccentric. That was most of the point.
The basement bar under Grizzly Peak on Washington Street has been replaced by The Ranch Honky Tonk. The frosé is gone. The particular kind of afternoon it made possible is gone with it.
April 2026
Grey Ghost Proved Detroit Could Do This. Now It Might Get the Stamp.
The Midtown anchor was ahead of the Michelin announcement by years.
Grey Ghost was one of the early bets on Detroit fine dining. With Michelin inspectors now in the city, it's among the restaurants local food writers are watching most closely.
Best Steakhouses in Ann Arbor and Detroit
A guide to the steaks worth driving for, from South Main Street to the metro.
Ann Arbor has two dedicated steakhouses that have nothing in common except good beef. Detroit's steakhouse scene is thinner than its broader dining reputation. Here's where to eat.
Freya Is the Detroit Fine Dining Restaurant That Serious Eaters Already Know
With Michelin inspectors in the city, the Midtown kitchen is getting a second look from everyone who missed the first one.
Freya in Detroit's Midtown has been making the Michelin contender lists since the Great Lakes expansion was announced. The Daily Detroit podcast named it a top candidate. Here's what that means.
Where to Eat for Ann Arbor Graduation 2026
Reservations are gone if you wait another week. Here is what to book, what to walk into, and how to feed a table of ten without a plan.
University of Michigan commencement weekend fills every reservation in Ann Arbor by late April. A practical guide to the celebratory dinner, the family lunch, the drinks after, and what to do if you waited too long.
B2A2: Zingerman's Roadhouse Burger
Entry eight goes to Jackson Avenue, where fried chicken is king and the burger is made with beef from regional farms on a Bakehouse bun.
The eighth entry in our Best Burger in Ann Arbor series visits Zingerman's Roadhouse. The $21 burger uses beef from regional farms, a house-made Bakehouse bun, and a kitchen philosophy built on ingredient obsession.
The Best Bars in Ypsilanti
From a crooked building on Cross Street to a bourbon lounge inside a Civil War barracks. Where to drink in Ypsi.
Sidetrack has the GQ burger and a patio that earns the hype. 734 Brewing pours the area code. Mash has the bourbon and the live music. A focused guide to the best places to drink in Ypsilanti.
Michigan Morel Season: Timing, Safety and Buying
Michigan's morel season can run from late April into mid-June. Identification and food safety matter more than any recipe.
Michigan's morel season is longer and more variable than a three-week window. Here is what state agencies say about timing, identification, buying, storing and cooking them safely.
The Grind: RoosRoast
Entry 1. Twenty years of roasting in Ann Arbor, and the Lobster Butter Love is still the one.
The first entry in The Grind visits RoosRoast at 1155 Rosewood St, where the Lobster Butter Love espresso sets the benchmark and the room earns every return visit.
Best Breakfast Burritos in Ann Arbor
Where to find a burrito worth eating in the morning, and one reason to wait until 11.
A guide to the best breakfast burritos in Ann Arbor, from RoosRoast's small but serious morning option to the BTB counter on South State. Plus one burrito worth delaying breakfast for.
The Grind: Best Coffee in Ann Arbor
A running series evaluating Ann Arbor's coffee shops one at a time. One drink, one room, one honest read.
The Grind is a new Plate & Press series: one coffee shop, one drink, one honest evaluation. Starting with RoosRoast on Rosewood, working through every serious coffee program in Ann Arbor worth arguing about.
Saffron de Twah and Michelin: What Is Actually Known
Detroit joins the American Great Lakes guide in 2027. Michelin has not announced restaurant selections.
Michelin will reveal its first American Great Lakes restaurant selection in 2027. Saffron de Twah has not been selected or awarded a star.
Best Brunch in Ypsilanti: Where to Eat on Weekend Mornings
From a Civil War barracks to a James Beard kitchen, Ypsilanti's brunch scene is better than Ann Arbor wants to admit.
The best brunch in Ypsilanti: Bellflower's Sunday brunch changes weekly, Thompson & Co. does bananas foster French toast in a restored Civil War barracks, and The Bomber has been frying Cap'N Crunch French toast since 1936. A practical guide.
Greektown Is Still Detroit's Most Reliable Dinner Neighborhood
Pegasus Taverna, Astoria Pastry Shop, and a block that has been feeding the city for generations.
Greektown on Monroe Street has been Detroit's most consistent dining neighborhood for decades. The saganaki still arrives on fire. Astoria has been making baklava in the same spot since 1971.
Dearborn Has the Best Arabic Food in North America. We Haven't Covered It Once.
An editorial blind spot that's hard to justify and past time to fix.
Dearborn is home to the largest concentration of Arabic-speaking residents in North America and some of the most important restaurants in the region. This publication has ignored it entirely. That ends here.
The Best BBQ in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County
Ann Arbor is not a BBQ town. But between Chelsea, South State Street, and Packard, there's more smoked meat worth knowing about than most people realize.
Best BBQ in Ann Arbor: from Smokehouse 52 in Chelsea to Zingerman's Roadhouse pit ribs to Biercamp's smoked meats and Ricewood's brisket bowls, Washtenaw County has a BBQ scene worth navigating.
Oak and Reel Is the Bet on Detroit That Already Paid Off
Chef Jared Gadbow came here with two Michelin stars from New York. The city is catching up.
Chef Jared Gadbow earned two Michelin stars in New York before moving to Detroit. Now that inspectors are in the city, Oak and Reel is one of the most credentialed names in the field.
B2A2: Jolly Pumpkin
Entry seven takes the burger to a wood-fired kitchen that has been making its own sour ales since before the brewing boom made everyone feel good about it.
The seventh B2A2 entry visits Jolly Pumpkin on South Main. The wood-fired burger is better than it has any right to be given everything else this kitchen is known for.
The Best Seafood in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor is a long way from any coast. Here is where to find fish worth eating anyway.
A landlocked college town is not where you expect to find serious seafood. Ann Arbor has a few places doing it right anyway, from Japanese sushi and Nikkei ceviches to halibut, fish tacos, and miso-glazed fish.
The Pour: The Last Word
Entry 1. Why the bar that started this series is still the one every other bar has to answer for.
The first entry in The Pour visits The Last Word on West Huron, where the namesake cocktail is the best version in Washtenaw County and the room delivers the speakeasy idea as craft instead of costume.
Ann Arbor Wasn't Invited to the Michelin Party. That's Not the Whole Story.
The guide went to Detroit, not here. The reason matters more than the outcome.
When Michelin announced its Great Lakes edition, Ann Arbor wasn't on the list. The reason is less about the food and more about what a Michelin guide actually requires.
Azalea Brings Nikkei Cooking to South Main Street
The restaurant beneath the Blue Llama combines Japanese and Peruvian traditions in a contemporary dinner format.
Azalea at 312 S Main St is a contemporary Nikkei restaurant blending Japanese and Peruvian traditions beneath the Blue Llama Jazz Club.
Michigan Ramp Season Comes With a Public-Land Rule
Ramps are a spring crop, but Michigan prohibits harvesting them from public lands.
Ramps are a short spring crop in Michigan. Buy them from a farm or market, and do not harvest them from Michigan public lands.
The Pour: Best Cocktail Bar in Washtenaw County
A running series evaluating the county's serious cocktail programs, one drink at a time.
The Pour is a new Plate & Press series: one bar, one drink, one honest evaluation. Starting with The Last Word on West Huron, working through every cocktail bar in Washtenaw County worth arguing about.
Where to Find the Food Trucks: A 2026 Season Guide
The trucks, the lots, the lunch windows. Everything you need to eat well on four wheels this spring and summer.
A practical guide to Ann Arbor's food truck season. Where the trucks park, when they're open, what to eat, and how to track the rotating lineup.
The Detroit Restaurants That Could Actually Win a Michelin Star
Inspectors are already in the city. Here is where the stars might land.
With Michelin inspectors already visiting Detroit restaurants, here are the candidates most likely to earn stars when the Great Lakes edition debuts in 2027.
Afternoon Delight Has Fed Ann Arbor Breakfast Since 1978
Pan-grilled pancakes, muffins baked throughout the day, and a no-freezer policy on East Liberty Street for nearly fifty years.
Afternoon Delight has been at 251 E Liberty St since 1978, nearly fifty years of pan-grilled pancakes, made-to-order omelets, and a rotating muffin selection baked fresh each day. Ann Arbor's longest-running breakfast spot, and mostly uncelebrated.
The Slice: Detroit-Style Pizza and the Case for the Rectangle
The fourth entry goes to the source: a thick crust, crispy cheese edges, and the pan that started it all.
Detroit-style pizza is having a national moment, but it started here. The fourth Slice entry goes to the source: Buddy's Pizza and the pan that changed everything.
Detroit Is Getting a Michelin Guide. Here's What That Actually Means.
The Great Lakes edition covers six cities. Inspectors are already here.
Michelin announced a new Great Lakes edition on April 8, covering Detroit and five other Midwest cities. Inspectors have been in the field for months.
A Day in Dexter: How to Eat Your Way Through a Small Town
Fifteen minutes west of Ann Arbor, a town that keeps surprising the people who bother to show up.
Dexter is 15 minutes from Ann Arbor and has more good food per capita than any town in the county. A day-trip guide from coffee to last call.
The Dexter Cider Mill Has Been Pressing Apples Since 1886
Michigan's oldest continuously operating cider mill, still pressing after all these years.
The Dexter Cider Mill has been pressing apples on Central Street since 1886. Three families, one oak press, and the best cider donuts in Washtenaw County.
JD's Stage Bistro Targets Mid-Summer 2026
The planned Chelsea restaurant and 136-seat listening room has not announced an opening day.
JD's Stage Bistro is targeting mid-summer 2026 for its Chelsea restaurant and listening room, but no opening day has been announced.
42 North Social House Brings a Full-Service Dinner Room to Dexter
The restaurant at 7954 Ann Arbor Street serves dinner, Sunday brunch, and rotating specials.
42 North Social House operates out of a restored Arts and Crafts farmhouse in Dexter. The kitchen runs seasonal and scratch, and the building deserves the effort.
Patio Season 2026: What's New and Where to Sit
The tables are going outside. Here's what opened since our last patio guide and where to spend a warm evening.
A companion to our best patios guide, updated for 2026 with established outdoor tables in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Dexter.
March 2026
Where to Take Mom: A Mother's Day Dining Guide for 2026
Nine restaurants across Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Chelsea. Call this week.
Mother's Day is May 10. The best tables in Washtenaw County will fill within weeks. Nine restaurants, one guide, no time to wait.
Smokehouse 52 Does the Slow Work on Main Street
Chelsea's BBQ joint has been smoking brisket since 2013. It deserves a profile that isn't about Jeff Daniels.
Smokehouse 52 BBQ at 125 S Main St in Chelsea has been smoking brisket, pulling pork, and running five sauces since 2013. Phil and Jenn Tolliver built it from a hog farm education and a Mike Mills apprenticeship.
Best Ramen in Ann Arbor (2026): Where to Eat Noodles in Town
Three noodle bars, one Thai institution, and the case for eating with your head down.
Ann Arbor's noodle scene is deeper than most people realize. Tomukun's tonkotsu, Slurping Turtle's chef-driven bowls, No Thai's pad see ew: ranked and reviewed by someone who has eaten at all of them. Updated 2026.
Bori Korean Kitchen & Bar Has Been Waiting for You to Notice
Chef James Park's restaurant on the second floor above Jolly Pumpkin is four months old and worth your attention
Four months in, Bori Korean Kitchen & Bar above Jolly Pumpkin on South Main is one of downtown Ann Arbor's best recent additions: dakgangjeong, japchae, and a noraebang in the back.
Hunã After Dark
The tiki bar underneath Echelon centers rum in a fully built-out basement room.
Hunã Tiki Bar at 200 S Main St in Ann Arbor is a rum-forward cocktail bar below Echelon.
Grand Trunk Pub and the Reuben That Justifies the Drive
In a former railway ticket station on Woodward Avenue, a pub does exactly what a pub should do.
Grand Trunk Pub occupies a 1879 building on Woodward Avenue that spent three decades as a railway ticket station. The vaulted ceilings are original. The Reuben is the reason to go.
Spring Eating in Washtenaw County
Morels, asparagus, and the farmers market shift. What to eat and where to find it.
A guide to eating seasonally in Washtenaw County this spring, from morel mushrooms and asparagus to the farmers market's outdoor expansion.
The Essential Ann Arbor Food Guide
A current starting point for destination dinners, everyday meals, and long-running local institutions.
A source-led guide to Ann Arbor restaurants, organized by the kind of meal you want and linked to current menus where possible.
Little Kim Eight Months In
Ji Hye Kim's fast-casual vegetarian Korean cafe in Kerrytown has found its rhythm. Here's what the menu looks like now.
Little Kim at 403 N Fifth Ave opened in July 2025. Ji Hye Kim's all-vegetarian Korean cafe and mini-market offers bowls, kimbap, and prepared foods.
Restaurant Openings in Washtenaw County: 2025-2026
A sourced, non-exhaustive running list of new and announced restaurants, cafes, and bars.
Verified openings and announced projects in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Dexter, and Chelsea during 2025 and 2026.
A Detroit Dining Guide from Ann Arbor
A current starting point for planning meals across Detroit's restaurant neighborhoods.
A source-led Detroit dining guide for Ann Arbor readers, organized by neighborhood and restaurant type rather than an invented ranking.
Detroit Restaurant Openings: Verified 2026 Tracker
What has opened and what remains announced or under development.
A source-linked tracker for Detroit restaurant openings in 2026, including Sunda New Asian and projects that remain in development.
The 8 Best Cocktail Bars in Washtenaw County
From a speakeasy on Huron to a tiki bar in somebody's basement.
Eight bars where the drink in your hand is the point of the visit, sorted by the kind of night you're trying to have.
Chelsea Is a Day Trip. Here's How to Do It.
Twenty minutes west of Ann Arbor, a small town with more good food than it should have.
Chelsea is 20 minutes from Ann Arbor and most people never go. A day-trip guide covering breakfast through dinner, with stops worth the drive.
Corktown Is Still Detroit's Best Food Neighborhood
The hype has spread to Midtown and Eastern Market. The best cooking is still on Michigan Avenue.
Corktown built Detroit's modern food reputation. Despite losing Lady of the House, the neighborhood's dining scene remains the city's strongest and most interesting.
Budget Eats in Detroit: Eight Great Meals Under $20
The city with $45 entrees at Selden Standard also has $4 tacos on Vernor Highway. Both versions of Detroit are real.
Detroit's dining revival has been well documented. Less discussed: you can still eat extraordinarily well for under $20 in every neighborhood that matters. Here are eight places that prove it.
The Best Brunch in Detroit
Saturday morning in Midtown, Sunday in Corktown, and the case for crossing the county line before noon.
Detroit's brunch scene has grown past the usual eggs-and-mimosa formula. From Midtown to Corktown to Eastern Market, here is where to eat on weekend mornings.
Detroit's Restaurant Renaissance Isn't New. But It's Never Been This Good.
From Corktown to Eastern Market, the city's dining scene has matured beyond the comeback narrative. It's time we covered it properly.
From Corktown to Eastern Market, Detroit's dining scene has matured past the comeback narrative.
Late-Night Eats in Ann Arbor: What's Still Open After 10 PM
The kitchen closed an hour ago at most places. Here's where to go when it hasn't.
Where to eat in Ann Arbor after 10 PM: the spots still serving when most kitchens have closed. Some run until 2 or 3 AM. The most useful list for late nights in town, updated 2026.
Sunda New Asian Opened on Columbia Street in Detroit
The 200-plus-seat restaurant opened March 10, 2026, near Comerica Park.
Sunda New Asian opened March 10, 2026, at 33 W Columbia St in downtown Detroit.
Raterman Bread Haus Builds a Bistro Around Sourdough
The Dexter bakery's published menu is 100% sourdough, with bread, pizza, sandwiches, soups, and salads.
Raterman Bread Haus & Bistro at 8080 Grand St in Dexter serves a 100% sourdough menu Wednesday through Saturday.
Three Closings in Eleven Months
Red Hawk, Blue Leprechaun, Zamaan Grill. Ann Arbor lost three restaurants between May 2025 and March 2026. What's the pattern?
Ann Arbor lost Red Hawk, Blue Leprechaun, and Zamaan Grill in under a year. The closings share a pattern that says something about the city's restaurant economics.
Best Coffee in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti
Seven roasters and cafes that take the cup seriously. No drive-through chains allowed.
Seven coffee shops across Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti where the beans are sourced with care, roasted with intention, and served by people who actually drink the stuff.
Date Night in Detroit
Six restaurants and one cocktail bar, organized by how much you want to impress someone.
Where to take someone on a date in Detroit, from a casual first dinner in Corktown to the room on Woodward that closes the deal. Plus the cocktail bar for before or after.
Echelon Named a 2026 James Beard Semifinalist
The South Main restaurant joins the national Best New Restaurant field after opening in February 2025.
Echelon Kitchen & Bar at 200 South Main Street is a 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant.
The Best Pizza in Detroit
Detroit invented a style. These are the places still doing it right, plus the ones doing something else entirely.
Detroit-style pizza is famous for a reason: crispy cheese edges, thick focaccia-like crust, and sauce on top. Here is where to eat it in the city that invented it.
The Best Bakeries in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County
Five places where the bread is real, the pastry case matters, and someone showed up before dawn to make it happen.
A guide to the best bakeries in Ann Arbor, Dexter, and Chelsea. Sourdough, croissants, bagels, and the ovens behind them.
Hunã Tiki Bar Ann Arbor: Rum Cocktails, Menu and Hours
The team behind Echelon takes the basement and bets it on rum.
Hunã Tiki Bar is open beneath Echelon at 200 S Main St, with a rum-focused cocktail list, a food menu, and public hours Thursday through Saturday.
The Best Desserts and Ice Cream in Ann Arbor
Three ice cream operations, two bakery counters, and the honest truth that the list should be longer.
A guide to the best desserts and ice cream in Ann Arbor and nearby. Blank Slate Creamery, Sanilac Creamery (formerly Zingerman's Creamery), Dexter Creamery, and the bakeries that double as dessert destinations.
Zamaan Grill Closed After 15 Years on Eisenhower
The Colonnade restaurant closed in early 2026 after owner Ali Hijazi sold the business.
Zamaan Grill closed in early 2026 after 15 years at 865 W Eisenhower Pkwy.
February 2026
Alpino Fills the Hardest Space in Corktown and Makes It Look Easy
In the brick building where Lady of the House used to be, an Alpine-inspired kitchen is melting raclette, pouring northern Italian reds, and earning its own reputation.
Alpino occupies the former Lady of the House space at 1426 Bagley St in Corktown. Dave Mancini's Alpine-inspired restaurant has raclette, wood-fired cooking, and a wine list that doesn't apologize for butter.
The Lakehouse Bakery Is Chelsea's Morning Anchor
Scratch-baked pastries on Main Street, from a baker who chose a small town on purpose.
The Lakehouse Bakery on Chelsea's Main Street bakes everything from scratch, and the croissants alone make the case for it.
Zingerman's Roadhouse Reopened After a Six-Week Renovation
The Jackson Avenue restaurant returned in February 2026 after work on its kitchen and dining room.
Zingerman's Roadhouse reopened in February 2026 after a six-week kitchen and dining-room renovation.
Espy Cafe Opens on West Huron
A new local cafe at 404 W Huron St with a serious espresso program and single-origin sourcing.
Espy Cafe opened at 404 W Huron St in early 2026 with two Decent espresso machines, coffee roasted at Anthology in Detroit, and a democratically managed workplace.
How Espy Cafe Shares Decisions and Profits
The West Huron cafe pairs a no-tip model with equal base pay, democratic management, and profit sharing.
Espy Cafe at 404 W Huron St is owned through an LLC and run with unanimous staff decisions, equal base pay, and profits allotted by hours worked.
The Best Mediterranean Food in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County
A current guide to Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Spanish menus across the county.
A source-led guide to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurants in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Dexter, with live links for menus and hours.
Calamansi Remains in the Works on West Vernor
The planned Filipino bar and restaurant has not announced an opening date.
Calamansi is still planned for the former PizzaPlex space at 4458 W Vernor Hwy. As of July 9, 2026, no opening date has been confirmed.
Ziggi's Coffee Opened in Dexter
The Colorado-based chain opened a drive-through at 7097 Dexter-Ann Arbor Road on February 17, 2026.
Ziggi's Coffee opened February 17, 2026, at 7097 Dexter-Ann Arbor Rd in Dexter.
The Best Bars in Ann Arbor
Not just cocktail bars. The full spectrum: dives, beer bars, sports bars, wine bars, and the places where the drink is the point.
The complete guide to drinking in Ann Arbor, from the speakeasy on Huron to the sour beer program on South Main to the tiki bar in the basement.
The Chop House Does Not Need to Reinvent Itself. It Hasn't.
On South Main Street, a steakhouse in the classic American tradition still does what steakhouses are supposed to do.
The Chop House on South Main Street is a proper American steakhouse: dry-aged beef, white tablecloths, a wine list with depth. In a city obsessed with the new, it endures by being exactly what it is.
Spencer Made USA Today's 2026 Restaurants of the Year List
The Ann Arbor wine shop and restaurant was one of 39 selections nationwide.
USA Today included Spencer in its 2026 Restaurants of the Year list, one of 39 selections nationwide.
The Best Indian Food in Ann Arbor
A solid scene that deserves more attention, even if it can't match the Korean or Mexican depth.
Ann Arbor's Indian dining runs from a tablecloth-and-cocktails spot on Plymouth Road to a cash-friendly lunch counter on South Main. Here are the restaurants doing it best.
The Best Happy Hours in Ann Arbor
Where to drink well for less on a Wednesday afternoon. A guide to the deals worth building your schedule around.
Ann Arbor's happy hour scene ranges from hotel bars with serious cocktail programs to neighborhood pubs with $3 drafts. A guide to the ones worth building your week around.
A Walking Guide to Chelsea's Main Street
Six blocks, seven stops, and the best small-town food crawl in Washtenaw County.
Chelsea's Main Street packs more good food into six blocks than most towns manage in a mile. A walking guide from Agricole to Ugly Dog.
January 2026
The Best Thai Food in Ann Arbor
A short, current guide to Thai and Thai-inspired menus in the city.
A source-led guide to Ann Arbor's current Thai and Thai-inspired options, with live menu links for hours and availability.
Bev's Bagels Plans an Ann Arbor Shop
Max Sussman's Detroit bagel shop is targeting fall 2026 for 115 E Liberty St.
Bev's Bagels plans to open a 1,500-square-foot Ann Arbor location at 115 E Liberty St. The announced target is fall 2026, but no opening day has been confirmed.
Zingerman's Deli vs. Zingerman's Roadhouse: Which One Do You Actually Want?
One is a counter-service deli on Detroit Street. The other is a 200-seat full-service restaurant on Jackson Avenue. Both say 'Zingerman's' on the sign. That is where the similarities end.
Zingerman's Deli and Zingerman's Roadhouse are the two sit-down restaurants in the Zingerman's Community of Businesses. They share a name, a sourcing philosophy, and a commitment to overdelivering on ingredients. They share almost nothing else.
Three Closings and a Question: What Fills Ypsilanti's Gaps?
Wurst Bar, Beezy's, and Bobcat Bonnie's all closed within about a year of each other. Here's what the public record shows about what's replacing them.
Three Ypsilanti restaurants closed within about a year of each other. One address has already cycled through two more tenants. The others are a mix of unnamed plans and paperwork. Here's what's actually confirmed.
The Best Mexican Food in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti
A current guide beyond the taco rankings, with menus and locations readers can verify.
A source-led guide to Mexican and Mexican-adjacent restaurants in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and nearby Washtenaw County.
Knight's vs. The Chop House: Ann Arbor's Two Steakhouses, Compared
One is on Dexter Avenue with onion rings and wood paneling. The other is on South Main with dry-aged beef and a wine list. Both are good. They are not the same.
Ann Arbor has exactly two serious steakhouses: Knight's on Dexter Avenue and The Chop House on South Main. They serve different purposes, different crowds, and different ideas about what steak night means. Here's how to choose.
Where to Eat with Kids in Washtenaw County
Twelve restaurants across Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Dexter, and Chelsea where children are welcome and the food is still good.
Finding restaurants that work for kids without boring the adults is harder than it should be. Twelve spots across Washtenaw County that thread the needle.
Jolly Pumpkin Ann Arbor: The Sour Beer Standard, Downtown
Ron Jeffries' sour brewery moved into 311 South Main and gave the block a beer program that most cities would kill for.
Jolly Pumpkin's Ann Arbor taproom on South Main brings oak-aged sour ales, wood-fired pizza, and a rooftop that fills fast. The beer is the draw. The food keeps you there.
JD's Stage Bistro Plans Restaurant and Listening Room in Chelsea
JD's Stage Bistro plans wood-fired pizza, live music, and a Michigan-focused kitchen on Main Street.
JD's Stage Bistro is planned as a restaurant and 136-seat listening room on Chelsea's Main Street.
Fine Dining in Washtenaw County: Where to Spend the Money
Seven restaurants where the check is high and the food justifies it.
From a James Beard semifinalist on South Main to a tasting menu inside a wine shop, here are the restaurants in Washtenaw County where spending more gets you something genuinely better.
Ann Arbor Restaurant Week 2026 Ran January 18-23
The official lineup included more than 40 participating restaurants.
Ann Arbor Restaurant Week 2026 ran January 18-23 with more than 40 participating restaurants.
Ann Arbor's Restaurant Closure Problem Is Real, and Getting Worse
The closures keep coming. The replacements keep getting more expensive. Something has to give.
The closures keep coming. The replacements keep getting more expensive. Something has to give.
Lady of the House Closed Its Core City Restaurant
Kate Williams' restaurant stopped operating in September 2025 and will not reopen at 4884 Grand River Ave.
Lady of the House closed its Core City location in September 2025 amid a disputed business relationship and litigation. Kate Williams confirmed in December that it would not reopen there.
Comet Coffee Is the Smallest Great Coffee Shop in Ann Arbor
In Nickels Arcade, a sliver of a room with a few seats and an espresso machine proves that less is more, as long as the cortado is right.
Comet Coffee in Nickels Arcade serves precise espresso drinks in a room barely bigger than a hallway. The cortado is the best in Ann Arbor, and the size is the point.
December 2025
The Best Sushi in Ann Arbor
How to choose between sushi-forward counters and broader menus that also serve raw fish.
A current, source-led guide to sushi and sashimi in Ann Arbor, from seafood bars to omakase and pan-Asian menus.
Blue Leprechaun Closed After 17 Years on South University
The campus bar at 1220 South University ended service on December 13, 2025.
Blue Leprechaun closed December 13, 2025, after 17 years at 1220 S University Ave. No reason or replacement tenant has been publicly confirmed.
Joe and Rosie Coffee Is Dexter's Gathering Place
At 8074 Main St, a coffee shop that does more than pour espresso.
Joe and Rosie Coffee at 8074 Main St in Dexter has been serving espresso, soups, and sandwiches on Main Street since 2010, functioning as the town's de facto living room.
Tower Inn Closed on Cross Street After Decades Near Eastern Michigan
The dive bar at 701 W Cross Street, across from EMU's campus, closed when its owners converted it into a Hamburger Mary's in January 2022.
Tower Inn, the longtime dive bar across from Eastern Michigan University on Cross Street in Ypsilanti, closed in January 2022 when its owners converted the space into a Hamburger Mary's franchise.
The Pretzel Bell Carries a 1934 Name on South Main
The current restaurant uses the name of an older Ann Arbor institution, with pub food, cocktails, and a downstairs bar.
The Pretzel Bell at 226 S Main St takes its name from an Ann Arbor restaurant that opened in 1934 and closed in 1984.
Aubree's Dexter Gives Main Street Its Pizza Option
At 8031 Main St, the franchise that Ypsilanti built finds its footing in a small town.
Aubree's Pizzeria & Grill at 8031 Main St in Dexter brings the same pizza, feta bread, and beer formula that has worked in Ypsilanti since 1972 to Dexter's Main Street.
The Best Italian in Ann Arbor
Handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, and a tapas bar that learned from Spain. Three restaurants worth knowing.
Ann Arbor's Italian dining runs from handmade pasta on East Liberty to late-night pizza on Church Street. Here are the three restaurants that matter.
The Beer Grotto Is Dexter's Living Room
On Main Street, a craft beer bar that doubles as the town's gathering place.
The Beer Grotto at 8059 Main St in Dexter serves craft beer, wine, and a food menu that gives the town a place to gather on Main Street. The tap list is deep and the room is right.
ZingTrain Sells the Thing That Can't Be Shipped
The ninth stop in our Zingerman's Universe series. At 3728 Plaza Drive, a small team teaches other companies how to run like Zingerman's.
ZingTrain at 3728 Plaza Dr is Zingerman's training and consulting arm, founded in 1994 with $1,000 and a desk in an attic. The ninth entry in our Zingerman's Universe series.
November 2025
Bar Lupulus Is the Best Beer Bar in Ann Arbor. You Might Not Know It Exists.
On the ground floor at 311 South Main, a sour beer cocktail program and the deepest Jolly Pumpkin tap list in the state operate under a name most people walk past.
Bar Lupulus at 311 South Main is technically the bar at Jolly Pumpkin's Ann Arbor taproom. In practice, it is its own animal: sour beer cocktails, a deep tap list, and one of the better micheladas in Michigan.
Monahan's Has Been Selling Fish in Kerrytown for 46 Years. Mike Monahan Is Still Behind the Counter.
The co-founder of Ann Arbor's most enduring seafood market hasn't missed many days since 1979.
Forty-six years in Kerrytown. Mike Monahan is still behind the counter.
Holiday Dining in Washtenaw County
Thanksgiving reservations, holiday parties, and New Year's Eve. Where to celebrate and what to book now.
A guide to holiday dining in Washtenaw County. Thanksgiving dinner, holiday party venues, New Year's Eve, and catering options from November through December.
La Marsa Brings Mediterranean to the Dexter Corridor
At 7049 Dexter Ann Arbor Rd, kebabs and hummus seven days a week.
La Marsa at 7049 Dexter Ann Arbor Rd serves grilled kebabs, hummus, shawarma, and tabbouleh seven days a week, giving Dexter a Mediterranean option outside the burger-and-pizza orbit.
Slurping Turtle Wants You to Make Noise. So Make Noise.
Chef Takashi Yagihashi's ramen-and-izakaya joint on East Liberty is loud, casual, and better for it.
Slurping Turtle on East Liberty brings ramen, takoyaki, and izakaya energy to downtown Ann Arbor. Chef Takashi Yagihashi's menu is casual, bold, and built for enthusiasm.
Crawdaddy's Creole Closed on Washington Street
The Ypsilanti Creole restaurant operated in the former Beezy's space before making way for Galy's.
Crawdaddy's Creole closed at 20 N Washington St in Ypsilanti. Chef Bangaly Kaba's Galy's now operates from the former restaurant's space.
Erratic Ale Co. Brews Like It Has Nothing to Prove
On Grand Street in Dexter, a small brewery makes exactly the beer it wants to make.
Erratic Ale Co. at 8080 Grand St in Dexter is a small-batch brewery with a rotating tap list, no kitchen, and zero interest in chasing trends. The beer is the argument.
BAKE! Puts the Flour in Your Hands
The eleventh and final stop in our Zingerman's Universe series. The teaching kitchen on Plaza Drive that turns customers into bakers.
BAKE! with Zing is Zingerman's hands-on teaching bakery at 3723 Plaza Dr, tucked between the Bakehouse and the Creamery. The eleventh and final entry in our Zingerman's Universe series.
The Best Korean Food in Ann Arbor
Five restaurants, two philosophies, one city that quietly became one of the best places to eat Korean food in Michigan.
Ann Arbor's Korean dining scene runs from a James Beard-nominated chef's seasonal kitchen to kimchi fries on North University. Here are the five restaurants that define it.
Where to Eat in Corktown
Detroit's oldest neighborhood has one of its deepest dining corridors. Ten restaurants that make Corktown a destination.
A guide to eating in Corktown, Detroit's oldest neighborhood, from Northern Thai at Takoi to smoked meat at Slows and Alpine-inspired plates at Alpino.
Agricole Farm Stop Connects Chelsea to Its Own Backyard
At 118 N Main St, a farm market that stocks what the land around town produces.
Agricole Farm Stop at 118 N Main St in Chelsea sells produce, meat, dairy, and pantry goods from regional farms on a consignment model that sends 75 cents of every dollar back to the producer.
Zingerman's Cornman Farms Is the One That Doesn't Look Like Work
The eighth stop in our Zingerman's Universe series. A 27-acre event venue near Dexter where the food is the reason people show up and the farm is the reason they stay.
Zingerman's Cornman Farms at 8540 Island Lake Rd near Dexter is a 27-acre event venue, working farm, and culinary destination. The eighth entry in our Zingerman's Universe series.
Dexter Creamery Scoops the Best Ice Cream in the Country
At 8106 Main St, a small-town ice cream shop serves MOO-ville, and the North American Ice Cream Association agrees.
Dexter Creamery at 8106 Main St scoops 38 flavors of MOO-ville Ice Cream, which the North American Ice Cream Association named the best in the nation. Seventeen soft-serve flavors round out the menu.
The Last Word Earns Its Name
On West Huron, a cocktail bar built around the speakeasy conceit actually delivers on the promise. The bartenders know their history, and the drinks prove it.
The Last Word on West Huron Street is a cocktail bar named after one of the great classic drinks. The bar program is organized around eras of American cocktail making, and the execution is the best in Washtenaw County.
Miss Kim Is the Zingerman's Business That Didn't Need the Name
The tenth stop in our Zingerman's Universe series. Ji Hye Kim's Korean restaurant on Fifth Avenue rewrites what a ZCoB business can be.
Miss Kim at 415 N Fifth Ave is a Zingerman's Community of Businesses restaurant serving seasonal Korean food with Michigan ingredients. The tenth entry in our Zingerman's Universe series.
October 2025
Frita Batidos Opens a Brooklyn Location
Eve Aronoff's Ann Arbor-born restaurant opened at 334 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg.
Frita Batidos opened at 334 Kent Ave in Brooklyn on October 29, 2025, bringing the Ann Arbor-born frita and batido menu to New York.
Knight's Steakhouse Is Ann Arbor's Oldest Restaurant. It Doesn't Care If You Know That.
On Dexter Avenue, a wood-paneled dining room has been serving prime rib and hand-battered onion rings since 1959.
Knight's Steakhouse on Dexter Avenue has been family-owned since 1959. The prime rib, the onion rings, and the wood-paneled dining room haven't changed because they don't need to.
Biercamp Is a Butcher Shop That Happens to Make Great Sandwiches
South of the stadium on State Street, a charcuterie counter and deli where the meat is the message.
Biercamp at 1643 S State St is Ann Arbor's best argument for knowing your butcher. House-cured bacon, handmade sausages, smoked meats, and breakfast sandwiches that justify the drive south of campus.
Dexter's Pub Is the Neighborhood Bar Done Right
At 8114 Main St, a small-town pub that doesn't overthink it.
Dexter's Pub at 8114 Main St serves baby back ribs, burgers, and cold beer on Dexter's Main Street. Patio seating in warm weather. Closed Mondays.
Zingerman's Candy Manufactory Turns Sugar Into Something Serious
The third stop on our tour of the Zingerman's universe. On Plaza Drive, a small team makes candy by hand, and the Zzang! Bar is only the beginning.
Zingerman's Candy Manufactory at 3723 Plaza Dr makes Zzang! Bars, toffee, brittle, and caramels by hand. The third entry in our Zingerman's Universe series.
Folk Detroit Cooks Breakfast Like It Means Something
At 1701 Trumbull in Corktown, Rohani Foulkes built a restaurant from pastry, jollof rice, and a point of view.
Folk Detroit on Trumbull Avenue in Corktown draws from West African, Caribbean, and Southern cooking traditions. The pastry case is the first thing you see, and the jollof rice is the reason to stay.
Ugly Dog Distillery Pours the Only Spirits Made on Chelsea's Main Street
A craft distillery that started with vodka and now makes a bourbon worth sitting with.
Ugly Dog Distillery at 328 S Main St in Chelsea makes vodka, bourbon, rum, and a peanut butter whiskey that outsells them all. The tasting room is the only place to drink spirits made in Chelsea.
Venue Puts Five Restaurants and a Coworking Space Under One Roof. Somehow, It Works.
Chef Thad Gillies brings a Zingerman's-to-Union Square Cafe resume to Ann Arbor's most ambitious dining experiment.
Five restaurants, one coworking space, and a chef with a resume that starts at Zingerman's and runs through Union Square Cafe.
Casablanca Is the Ypsilanti Stop You Keep Driving Past
In a strip mall on Washtenaw Avenue, a kitchen is making lamb tagine, handmade couscous, and merguez worth pulling over for.
Casablanca at 2333 Washtenaw Ave in Ypsilanti serves Moroccan and Mediterranean cooking in a strip mall that gives no indication of what's inside. The lamb tagine with preserved lemon is the dish to order.
Dexter Brunch House Does Not Cut Corners on Breakfast
On Main Street, a scratch kitchen that puts all its energy into the morning.
Dexter Brunch House at 8124 Main St serves scratch-made breakfast and brunch in the heart of downtown Dexter. Fresh-squeezed orange juice, house-made sausage gravy, and real hollandaise.
Zingerman's Coffee Company Roasts Quietly and Means It
The fourth stop in our Zingerman's Universe series. On Plaza Drive, a small roasting operation takes single-origin beans seriously enough to make you rethink your morning cup.
Zingerman's Coffee Company at 3723 Plaza Dr roasts single-origin beans in small batches. The fourth entry in our Zingerman's Universe series.
Basil Babe Brought Real Thai Cooking to Ypsilanti's West Side
A mother-daughter kitchen at 701 West Cross Street, two doors down from where Wurst Bar used to be.
Basil Babe at 701 W Cross St in Ypsilanti serves Thai food from a mother-daughter team with deep roots in the cuisine. The massaman curry and pad see ew are the orders.
B2A2: The Rankings After Six Burgers
Seven entries from a cocktail bar to a Corktown slider joint. Here's how they stack up.
Six entries into the Best Burger in Ann Arbor series, it's time for an updated scorecard. From Raven's Club to Green Dot Stables, ranked and reasoned.
At Sanilac Creamery, Formerly Zingerman's, the Cheese Is Still the Easy Part
Next door to the Bakehouse on Plaza Drive, the operation once known as Zingerman's Creamery turns Michigan milk into some of the best fresh cheese and gelato in the state, now under its own name.
The Creamery on Plaza Drive left the Zingerman's Community of Businesses in fall 2025 and now operates independently as Sanilac Creamery, with the same team and recipes. The fromage blanc alone is worth the drive.
September 2025
Blank Slate Creamery and the Case for Seasonal Ice Cream
At 300 West Liberty, a small-batch ice cream shop makes flavors that rotate faster than you can try them all.
Blank Slate Creamery at 300 W Liberty St in Ann Arbor makes small-batch ice cream with a rotating seasonal menu. The salted caramel is the constant. Everything else is a moving target.
Encuentro Latino Feeds Its Block for Under Twelve Dollars
At 228 W Michigan Ave in Ypsilanti, Guatemalan and Latin American food priced for the neighborhood.
Encuentro Latino at 228 W Michigan Ave in Ypsilanti serves Guatemalan and Latin American food, including pupusas, tamales, and combination plates, with most items under $12.
Ma Lou's Has the Best Fried Chicken in Michigan. It's on Michigan Avenue in Ypsi.
K.C. Knipple grew up here. He opened a chicken spot. The rest of the state noticed.
Named best fried chicken in Michigan by multiple publications. Ma Lou's is a Ypsilanti original.
Zingerman's Bakehouse Has Been Ann Arbor's Bread for 34 Years
On Plaza Drive, a mile from the airport, the most important bakery in the Midwest keeps doing what it does. Plus: the baking school you should have tried by now.
The Bakehouse has been supplying Ann Arbor's bread since 1992. On Plaza Drive, far from downtown, it remains the quiet engine of the Zingerman's universe.
Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails Puts Vegetables at the Center and Dares You to Miss the Steak
In Midtown's Park Shelton building, a small-plates restaurant with a cocktail program that changes fast enough to keep regulars guessing.
Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails in Midtown Detroit serves vegetable-forward small plates and inventive cocktails in the Park Shelton building. The beet dish, the cocktails, and why this restaurant rewards repeat visits.
The Bomber Has Been Feeding Ypsilanti Since Before the Bombers Flew
At 306 East Michigan Avenue, a WWII-themed diner that earned the theme.
The Bomber at 306 E Michigan Ave has been feeding Ypsilanti since 1936. Cap'N Crunch French Toast, laminated menus, and the kind of breakfast that fortifies you for the rest of the day.
B2A2: Green Dot Stables
Entry six takes the burger series to Corktown for $3 sliders that ask the same question the frita did: what counts?
B2A2 Entry #6 takes the series to Detroit's Corktown for Green Dot Stables, where $3 sliders challenge the definition of what belongs in a burger ranking.
Beezy's Closes Quietly in Downtown Ypsilanti
The café at 20 N Washington Street served its last coffee and pastry in September.
Beezy's closed in September after years of scratch-made breakfasts and baked goods at 20 N Washington in downtown Ypsilanti.
Sava's and the State Street Trick
A restaurant that looks like it was built for Instagram has quietly become one of Ann Arbor's most reliable kitchens. The brunch is the draw. The range is the surprise.
Sava's on South State Street draws crowds with its dramatic space and broad Mediterranean-American menu. The brunch is the draw, but the dinner menu is the stronger argument.
Vertex Coffee Roasters Takes Single-Origin Seriously
At the corner of South University and Washtenaw, a roaster doing quiet, serious work with seasonal beans.
Vertex Coffee Roasters at 1335 S University Ave roasts its own beans at a facility in Milan and rotates single-origin offerings by season. The cold brew and pastries are strong, and the room sits right on a campus corner.
Pita Kabob Grill Serves Shawarma and Kabobs on East William
The counter-service restaurant is at 619 East William, with wraps, platters, dips, and vegetarian options.
Pita Kabob Grill at 619 E William St serves shawarma, kafta, falafel, hummus, and vegetarian platters near the University of Michigan campus.
The Slice: Jolly Pumpkin's Wood-Fired Pizza
The third entry takes us to Dexter for brewery pizza that refuses to be an afterthought.
Jolly Pumpkin Dexter runs a wood-fired pizza program in a sour brewery. Our third Slice entry measures it against the first two.
Fall Eating in Washtenaw County
Cider mills, apple farms, and the restaurants that cook with what October gives them.
A guide to fall eating in Washtenaw County. Cider mills, apple farms, U-pick, and which restaurants build menus around Michigan's best harvest season.
August 2025
The Slice: Supino Pizzeria
The second entry takes us to Eastern Market for New York-style thin crust and seventeen years of consistency.
Supino Pizzeria in Detroit's Eastern Market has been making thin-crust pizza since 2008. Our second entry in The Slice measures it against the wood-fired benchmark.
Aubree's Has Been Holding Down Depot Town Since 1972
At 39 East Cross, a pizza-and-beer joint that outlasted everything around it.
Aubree's Pizzeria & Grill at 39 E Cross St in Ypsilanti has been serving pizza, feta bread, and cold beer in Depot Town since 1972. The feta bread is the sleeper hit.
No Thai! Is Not Kidding Around
On North Fourth Avenue, a counter-service Thai kitchen has been quietly winning the noodle argument for years.
No Thai! at 226 N Fourth Ave serves some of the best pad see ew and khao soi in Ann Arbor. The prices are low, the wok is hot, and the name is the only joke in the building.
Wurst Bar Closed on Cross Street
The Ypsilanti sausage-and-beer bar served its final customers on August 24, 2025.
Wurst Bar closed August 24, 2025, at 705 W Cross St in Ypsilanti.
Where to Eat Near the University of Michigan
The complete campus-area food guide: quick lunch, study spots, dinner with parents, late-night fuel, and the coffee that gets you through finals.
A neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to the best restaurants near the University of Michigan campus. State Street, South University, Liberty, Main Street, and beyond.
Where to Eat on Michigan Football Game Days
The Big House holds 107,000 people. The restaurants hold fewer. Plan accordingly.
A dining guide for Michigan football game days in Ann Arbor. Where to eat before and after the game, how to avoid the crush, and which restaurants are worth a reservation.
Sweetwaters Started in Ann Arbor in 1993
Wei and Lisa Bee opened the first cafe at 123 West Washington Street.
Wei and Lisa Bee founded Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea in Ann Arbor in 1993. The original cafe is at 123 W Washington St.
The Slice: Mani Osteria's Wood-Fired Pizza
The first entry in our Best Pizza series comes from a pasta restaurant. That tells you something.
Mani Osteria is known for handmade pasta, but the wood-fired pizza from its East Liberty kitchen deserves its own spotlight. Our first entry in The Slice.
Vegetarian and Vegan Guide to Ann Arbor
Eight restaurants where the plant-based food isn't an afterthought.
Eight restaurants in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti where the vegetarian and vegan options are the reason to go, not a consolation prize.
312 Underground Puts a Cocktail Bar Below South Main
The basement bar at 312 South Main adds a compact, walk-in cocktail option to one of Ann Arbor's busiest dining blocks.
312 Underground is a subterranean cocktail bar beneath 312 South Main Street in Ann Arbor. The drinks are serious, the room is small, and you have to know to look for the stairs.
The Slice: Best Pizza in Ann Arbor
A living series tracking the pizza worth eating in this town, one pie at a time.
A living guide to our Best Pizza in Ann Arbor series. We're eating through the arguments, from wood-fired Neapolitan to Detroit-style deep dish.
RoosRoast Liberty Is the Downtown Outpost That Earns Its Block
At 117 E Liberty St, the smaller, busier half of Ann Arbor's independent roaster.
RoosRoast's Liberty Street shop at 117 E Liberty St is the downtown cafe of Ann Arbor's independent roaster, smaller and busier than the Rosewood roastery, on a block that keeps getting better.
The Zingerman's Effect: How One Deli Shaped an Entire City's Food Culture
In the mid-1990s, Ari Weinzweig and Paul Saginaw made a decision that changed Ann Arbor. They chose to stay.
In the mid-1990s, Zingerman's chose to stay local instead of franchising. That decision shaped everything.
Bill's Drive-In Has Not Changed. That Is the Entire Point.
Since 1939, the mustard-colored building on East Michigan Avenue has been serving root beer and hot dogs from the same window.
Bill's Drive-In at 1292 E Michigan Ave in Ypsilanti has been open since 1939. House-made root beer in a chilled mug, carhop service, and hot dogs that taste like they always have.
Pacific Rim Has Been Here the Whole Time
A pan-Asian restaurant on West Liberty that has outlasted nearly every trend in downtown Ann Arbor.
Pacific Rim at 114 W Liberty St has served pan-Asian food in downtown Ann Arbor for years. The pad thai is reliable, the sushi is competent, and the longevity tells its own story.
The Fold: The Rankings After Five Tacos
A mid-series comparison from Ann Arbor's west side to Southwest Detroit. Here's how the entries stack up.
Five entries into The Fold taco series, it's time for a mid-series scorecard. From Dos Hermanos to Taqueria El Rey, ranked and reasoned.
July 2025
Little Kim Brings Vegetarian Bowls and a Mini-Mart to Kerrytown
Ji Hye Kim's counter-service restaurant opened on North Fifth Avenue in July 2025.
Ji Hye Kim's third concept: all-vegetarian bowls, kimbap, and an Asian mini-mart in Kerrytown.
Tmaz Taqueria Beyond the Fold
The Packard Street taqueria earned its spot in our taco series. Here is everything else on the menu.
Tmaz Taqueria at 3182 Packard St serves tacos, pupusas, tamales, and enchiladas until 4 a.m. The full profile of Ann Arbor's best late-night taqueria.
The Fold: Taqueria El Rey
The taco series crosses the county line into Southwest Detroit for the first time.
The Fold Entry #5 takes the series to Southwest Detroit's Vernor Highway, where Taqueria El Rey has been serving some of the best tacos in the metro area for years.
Pizza House Keeps Ann Arbor's Late-Night Kitchen Running
The Church Street restaurant has operated since 1986 and currently advertises dine-in and delivery until 4 a.m. daily.
Pizza House at 618 Church St has served Ann Arbor since 1986, with pizza, sandwiches, pasta, and delivery advertised until 4 a.m. daily.
Black Pearl Has Been on Main Street for 17 Years. It Still Surprises People.
Ann Arbor's seafood-and-sushi stalwart defies easy categorization, and that's the whole point.
Seventeen years on Main Street. Black Pearl still defies easy categorization.
Slows Bar BQ Opened Before Corktown Had Anything, and It Is Still Here
At 2138 Michigan Ave, the restaurant that sparked a neighborhood's revival keeps smoking brisket. Eighteen years later, the line still forms.
Slows Bar BQ opened in Corktown in 2005 and helped turn a quiet stretch of Michigan Avenue into Detroit's best dining corridor. The brisket, the mac and cheese, and the case for the restaurant that started it all.
RoosRoast Roasts Coffee on Rosewood Street
The Ann Arbor company runs cafes on Rosewood and Liberty, plus an Ann Arbor Farmers Market stand.
RoosRoast operates cafes at 1155 Rosewood St and 117 E Liberty St, plus an Ann Arbor Farmers Market stand.
Where to Eat During the 2026 Ann Arbor Art Fair
A current list of nearby restaurants, reservation options, and places outside the fair footprint.
The 2026 Ann Arbor Art Fair runs July 16-18. Here are practical restaurant options near and beyond the fair, with current links for hours and reservations.
BTB Burrito Feeds You for Under $10 and Does Not Apologize
On South University, a burrito counter built for the budget and the clock.
BTB Burrito at 1140 S University Ave serves customizable burritos, bowls, and tacos at counter speed. The salsas are made in-house and the habanero has real heat.
The Fold: Tmaz Taqueria
The taco series comes back to Ann Arbor for a Packard Street spot open until 4 a.m.
The Fold Entry #4 returns to Ann Arbor proper for Tmaz Taqueria on Packard Street, where tacos run $2.50 when you buy two and the kitchen stays open until 4 a.m.
June 2025
Argus Farm Stop Is Not a Grocery Store
At 325 W Liberty St, a retail model that puts local farms directly in front of local eaters.
Argus Farm Stop at 325 W Liberty St in Ann Arbor works with hundreds of local farms and producers to sell produce, meat, dairy, eggs, baked goods, and coffee under one roof. It is a distribution system disguised as a storefront.
Detroit Is 45 Minutes Away. That's Not an Excuse. It's an Invitation.
An Ann Arbor food writer on why Washtenaw County diners who ignore Detroit are cheating themselves out of the best meals in the region.
Washtenaw County has great restaurants. Detroit has a different kind of great. An argument for making the drive east.
The Common Grill Has Been Here for Thirty Years. Chelsea Still Needs It.
Chef Craig Common built a real restaurant in a town of 5,000 and kept it alive through everything.
Chef Craig Common has been running The Common Grill in Chelsea since the mid-1990s. Thirty years in a town of 5,000 is a story about food, loyalty, and stubbornness.
Chelsea Has a Food Scene. You Just Haven't Been Paying Attention.
A town of 5,000 with a 30-year restaurant anchor, a farmers market, and Jeff Daniels preparing to open a bistro. What does Chelsea's food identity actually look like?
Chelsea has a food scene most Ann Arbor residents have never explored. With a major bistro still on the way, it's time to start paying attention.
Best Patios in Washtenaw County
Seven outdoor dining spots worth planning your summer around. The season is short. Use it well.
Seven patios across Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Dexter that are worth the wait for warm weather. The outdoor dining season in Michigan is short, so spend it in the right places.
La Serre Is a Hotel Restaurant That Actually Earns the Reservation
Inside The Vanguard on Glen Avenue, chef Michael Polsinelli is running a 125-seat French brasserie at brasserie prices and brasserie standards.
Inside The Vanguard on Glen Avenue, a French brasserie with a display kitchen, raw bar, and full-service menu.
May 2025
B2A2: Sidetrack's Signature Burger
Entry five heads to Ypsilanti, where a long-running Depot Town bar serves its signature burger.
The fifth entry in the Best Burger in Ann Arbor series crosses into Ypsilanti. Sidetrack Bar & Grill's signature burger brings the pub format to Depot Town.
Ann Arbor Has a Food Truck Scene. Why Does Nobody Write About It?
The trucks are out there every day, feeding the lunch rush, taking the risks. The coverage hasn't caught up.
Ann Arbor's food trucks feed thousands of people a week and get almost zero coverage. The economics are different, the risks are real, and the food deserves attention.
Jolly Pumpkin Put Sour Beer on the Map. The Dexter Taproom Is Where You Should Drink It.
The country's first all-sour brewery has a kitchen that keeps up with the beer.
Ron Jeffries built America's first all-sour brewery in 2004. The Dexter taproom pairs oak-aged ales with wood-fired pizza and the best patio in Washtenaw County.
Supino Pizzeria Has Been Doing One Thing Right for Years. One Thing Is Enough.
In Eastern Market, Dave Mancini makes pizza that doesn't need a concept, a rebrand, or your Instagram post.
Supino Pizzeria in Eastern Market has spent years making thin-crust pizza with patience and consistency. No gimmicks. No reinvention. Just pizza worth the drive.
The Fold: Chela's
The taco series heads west on Dexter-Ann Arbor Road.
The Fold Entry #3 takes us to the Dexter corridor, where Chela's serves Mexico City street tacos from a family recipe and puts birria on the board every Friday and Saturday.
B2A2: Raven's Club Smash Burger
Our search for Ann Arbor's best burger starts in a dark cocktail bar on Main Street.
The first entry in our Best Burger in Ann Arbor series. Raven's Club serves a smash burger with a deep sear, excellent fries, and a garlic aioli that ties the whole plate together.
Red Hawk Bar & Grill Closed After 33 Years on State Street
The Ann Arbor pub served its final customers on May 3, 2025.
Red Hawk Bar & Grill closed May 3, 2025, after 33 years at 316 S State St.
April 2025
The Fold: MAIZ Mexican Cantina
The taco series crosses the Huron River into Ypsilanti for the first time.
The Fold Entry #2 takes us to Depot Town, where MAIZ Mexican Cantina builds tacos from scratch daily and makes a strong case for expanding our search beyond Ann Arbor's borders.
Ann Arbor Has a Natural Wine Problem (the Good Kind)
How a college town became one of the best small cities in the Midwest for natural wine.
How a college town quietly became one of the Midwest's best natural wine destinations.
Lady of the House's Corktown Chapter
Kate Williams's whole-animal restaurant helped define Corktown's recent dining history before closing in 2021.
A sourced look at Kate Williams's Corktown restaurant, its whole-animal cooking model, and the chapter that ended in 2021.
The Fold: Dos Hermanos Express
The Ann Arbor taco series starts on a commercial strip in Scio Township.
The first entry in the Best Taco in Ann Arbor series. Dos Hermanos Express pairs a broad meat selection with house-made tortillas and salsas.
The Fold: Best Taco in Ann Arbor
A living series tracking our taco contenders across Ann Arbor and the surrounding area.
A living guide to our Best Taco in Ann Arbor series, including methodology, current contenders, and how we judge what makes a great taco.
Tabe Is Open at 209 South Main Street
The multilevel Ann Arbor restaurant serves sushi, omakase, and a broader Asian menu.
Tabe is open at 209 S Main St in Ann Arbor with sushi, omakase, and a multilevel dining room.
Dos Hermanos Express Is a Family Tradition Made Fresh Every Day
Brothers Alex and Hiram Arreola are carrying on a family legacy with from-scratch Mexican food on Jackson Industrial.
Two brothers, a family tradition, and from-scratch Mexican food on Jackson Industrial Drive.
B2A2: Frita Batidos
Entry two in our burger series isn't technically a burger. That's what makes it interesting.
The second entry in our Best Burger in Ann Arbor series. Frita Batidos serves a Cuban-style frita that challenges what 'burger' means in the first place.
March 2025
Thompson & Co. Occupies 160 Years of Ypsilanti History. The Food Holds Up Its End.
Southern comfort food in a Civil War-era building that survived arson, abandonment, and an oak tree through the roof.
At 400 N River St in Depot Town, Thompson & Co. serves Southern comfort food inside the restored Thompson Block, a Civil War barracks that nearly burned to nothing in 2009.
Hyperion Coffee Connects Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor
The independent roaster now operates cafes on North River Street and West Liberty.
A source-linked profile of Hyperion Coffee's Ypsilanti roastery and its Ann Arbor cafe.
734 Brewing Is Ypsilanti, Poured Into a Glass
On Cross Street, a taproom built by Ypsi graduates brews beer that belongs to this city.
Founded by Ypsilanti High School graduates, 734 Brewing is a taproom that runs on local pride, rotating taps, and Cross Street foot traffic.
Flowers of Vietnam Started as a Sunday Pop-Up. Now It's One of Detroit's Best Restaurants.
In Southwest Detroit, Palestinian-American chef George Azar cooks Vietnamese food that doesn't explain itself. It doesn't need to.
George Azar's Flowers of Vietnam in Southwest Detroit started as a Sundays-only pop-up inside a coney island. Now it's a full-service restaurant where a Palestinian-American chef cooks some of the best Vietnamese food in Michigan.
B2A2: Blimpy Burger
Entry four goes to the counter where you've always built your own. No chef's vision. No cocktail menu. Just a flat-top and your choices.
The fourth entry in our Best Burger in Ann Arbor series. Blimpy Burger at 304 S Ashley St is the populist counterargument to everything we've eaten so far.
Best Burger in Ann Arbor (B2A2): The Running List
A living series tracking our current contenders, notes, and repeat-order recommendations.
The B2A2 running list: best burger in Ann Arbor rankings after 13 entries. Current top three: Frita Batidos, Echelon, Grange Kitchen & Bar. Updated April 2026.
February 2025
Marrow Is a Butcher Shop That Happens to Be Detroit's Most Important Restaurant
Chef Sarah Welch built a whole-animal operation on Kercheval Avenue where the butcher counter and the dining room share the same supply chain. The food is better for it.
Chef Sarah Welch's Marrow in Detroit is a whole-animal butcher shop and restaurant built around a single supply chain. Four dishes, one butcher counter, and the case for knowing where your meat comes from.
Aventura and the Table That Started Everything
At 216 East Washington, a Spanish tapas restaurant built on an old building and a trip to Spain is still the best argument for sharing.
Aventura brings Spanish tapas to downtown Ann Arbor with enough authenticity to satisfy and enough personality to stand on its own. Thirteen years in, it's still the best date-night format in town.
Cardamom Takes Indian Food Seriously. Ann Arbor Should Return the Favor.
On Plymouth Road, away from downtown's foot traffic, a kitchen is producing Indian food with ambition and attention to detail.
On Plymouth Road, a kitchen is producing Indian food with the kind of ambition and care that deserves more attention from downtown diners.
Hola Seoul and the Case for Kimchi Fries
Korean-Mexican fusion on North University that gets the balance right.
Hola Seoul at 715 N University Ave serves Korean-Mexican fusion with kimchi fries that justify the concept. The Korean fried chicken is the other reason to go.
January 2025
Bellflower Is the Best Restaurant in Ypsilanti. The Rest of the County Should Know.
In a former Michigan Bell telephone exchange, chef Dan Klenotic is cooking food that rivals anything across the river.
In a former telephone exchange on Pearl Street, a James Beard semifinalist is cooking food that rivals anything in Ann Arbor.
The People Who Cook Your Food
Every story we tell is about chefs and owners. The kitchen runs on people we never name.
Every story we tell is about chefs and owners. The kitchen runs on people we never name.
Date Night Guide: Washtenaw County
Eight restaurants where the food, the room, and the company all work together.
The best date night restaurants in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County: Echelon, Spencer, Bellflower, Mani Osteria, and more. Eight picks for a real dinner out, updated 2026.
December 2024
Isalita Closed in December 2024
After nearly twelve years on East Liberty, the restaurant closed to make room for Mani Next Door.
Isalita Cantina Mexicana closed December 23, 2024 after nearly twelve years at 341 E Liberty St. Owner Adam Baru planned to turn the space into Mani Next Door.
Mani Osteria and the Case for Handmade Pasta in a College Town
At 341 East Liberty, a kitchen rolls its own pasta every day. In a city full of good restaurants, that still matters.
Mani Osteria makes its pasta by hand every day. In a college town with no shortage of Italian options, that commitment still sets it apart.
Seva Has Been Vegetarian Since Before You Cared. It's Still the Standard.
On Jackson Avenue, a restaurant that's been doing plant-based cooking for over fifty years doesn't need your permission to keep going.
Seva has been serving vegetarian food in Ann Arbor since the early 1970s. Over fifty years later, it's still the standard for plant-based dining in Washtenaw County.
November 2024
Best Breakfast and Brunch in Ann Arbor
Eight current starting points, with menus and hours that readers can verify before they go.
A source-led breakfast and brunch guide for Ann Arbor, from an all-night diner to weekend service at established restaurants.
Budget Eats in Ann Arbor: Nine Great Meals Under $15
The affordable middle is disappearing. These places are still holding the line.
Nine Ann Arbor restaurants where you can eat well for under $15: Dos Hermanos, Frita Batidos, Fleetwood Diner, Jerusalem Garden, Tomukun, and more. Updated April 2026.
Saturday Morning at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market
The building is gone. The market isn't. Why that matters more than you'd think.
The Ann Arbor Farmers Market lost its office building in 2025 but continues to operate in its 107th year. A Saturday morning visit and a case for why this market matters.
October 2024
Bobcat Bonnie's Ypsilanti Closed Amid a Labor Dispute
The Michigan Avenue location stopped operating in October 2024 after workers raised pay and workplace complaints.
Bobcat Bonnie's closed its Ypsilanti location at 200 W Michigan Ave in October 2024. Employees alleged bounced paychecks and other workplace problems; the company later confirmed the closure was permanent.
The Fleetwood Diner Is Not Nostalgic. It's Just Still Here.
Seventy-seven years of hash browns, feta, and the flattop grill at 300 South Ashley.
The Fleetwood Diner has been open 24 hours at 300 S Ashley St since 1949. The Hippie Hash made it famous. The consistency kept it standing.
This City's Restaurant Scene Is Booming. Its Food Media Isn't.
James Beard semifinalists and a USA Today pick. So why is nobody writing about it properly?
James Beard semifinalists and a USA Today pick. So why is nobody writing about it properly?