Guide

Guide

Source-checked guides with clear limits and current practical details.

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.

July 13, 2026 · 4 min read

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.

July 11, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

July 11, 2026 · 4 min read

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.

July 11, 2026 · 4 min read

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.

July 11, 2026 · 4 min read

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.

July 11, 2026 · 4 min read

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.

July 11, 2026 · 4 min read

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.

July 11, 2026 · 4 min read

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.

July 11, 2026 · 4 min read

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.

July 11, 2026 · 4 min read

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.

July 11, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

July 11, 2026 · 4 min read

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.

July 11, 2026 · 4 min read

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.

July 9, 2026 · 4 min read

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.

June 28, 2026 · 8 min read

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.

June 22, 2026 · 4 min read

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.

June 3, 2026 · 7 min read

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.

June 2, 2026 · 2 min read

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.

May 26, 2026 · 2 min read

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.

May 25, 2026 · 6 min read

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.

May 24, 2026 · 6 min read

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.

May 23, 2026 · 6 min read

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.

May 22, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

May 22, 2026 · 6 min read

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.

May 21, 2026 · 4 min read

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.

May 20, 2026 · 7 min read

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.

May 17, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

May 16, 2026 · 7 min read

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.

May 16, 2026 · 3 min read

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.

May 14, 2026 · 5 min read

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. This guide maps where to find serious wine in Detroit, from an Alpine Corktown room with northern Italian bottles to a Midtown anchor with a James Beard pedigree.

May 14, 2026 · 6 min read

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.

May 12, 2026 · 7 min read

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.

May 11, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

May 10, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

May 9, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

May 8, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

May 8, 2026 · 8 min read

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.

May 6, 2026 · 7 min read

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.

May 5, 2026 · 6 min read

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.

May 4, 2026 · 6 min read

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.

May 1, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

April 29, 2026 · 7 min read

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.

April 28, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

April 27, 2026 · 6 min read

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.

April 27, 2026 · 4 min read

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.

April 25, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

April 25, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

April 24, 2026 · 6 min read

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.

April 24, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

April 22, 2026 · 7 min read

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.

April 20, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

April 18, 2026 · 2 min read

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.

April 17, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

April 16, 2026 · 7 min read

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.

April 16, 2026 · 6 min read

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.

April 10, 2026 · 7 min read

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.

April 2, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

March 30, 2026 · 8 min read

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.

March 20, 2026 · 8 min read

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.

March 16, 2026 · 6 min read

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.

March 15, 2026 · 8 min read

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.

March 15, 2026 · 4 min read

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.

March 14, 2026 · 7 min read

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.

March 13, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

March 12, 2026 · 7 min read

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.

March 12, 2026 · 7 min read

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.

March 11, 2026 · 8 min read

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.

March 10, 2026 · 8 min read

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.

March 10, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

March 8, 2026 · 7 min read

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.

March 7, 2026 · 8 min read

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.

March 5, 2026 · 8 min read

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.

March 4, 2026 · 8 min read

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.

March 2, 2026 · 7 min read

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.

February 22, 2026 · 6 min read

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.

February 15, 2026 · 9 min read

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.

February 12, 2026 · 8 min read

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.

February 8, 2026 · 5 min read

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.

February 2, 2026 · 6 min read

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.

January 31, 2026 · 4 min read

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.

January 24, 2026 · 6 min read

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.

January 19, 2026 · 8 min read

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.

January 10, 2026 · 10 min read

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.

December 20, 2025 · 5 min read

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.

December 6, 2025 · 8 min read

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.

November 24, 2025 · 6 min read

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.

November 15, 2025 · 9 min read

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.

November 13, 2025 · 7 min read

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.

October 2, 2025 · 5 min read

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.

September 1, 2025 · 6 min read

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.

August 20, 2025 · 10 min read

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.

August 18, 2025 · 6 min read

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.

August 14, 2025 · 7 min read

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.

August 11, 2025 · 3 min read

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.

August 4, 2025 · 5 min read

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.

July 7, 2025 · 4 min read

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.

June 5, 2025 · 5 min read

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.

April 10, 2025 · 4 min read

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.

March 3, 2025 · 6 min read

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.

January 20, 2025 · 7 min read

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.

November 18, 2024 · 6 min read

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.

November 11, 2024 · 7 min read