Andrea's Guidebook
Brunch
Great hidden gem. Delicious brunch within walking distance.
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Juicy Kitchen
1506 N Maple RdGreat hidden gem. Delicious brunch within walking distance.
Coney type of place. Doesn't look like much from the outside, but decent food, good prices, locally/family-owned. Within walking distance.
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Village Kitchen of Ann Arbor
241 N Maple RdConey type of place. Doesn't look like much from the outside, but decent food, good prices, locally/family-owned. Within walking distance.
Perfect for a breakfast, lunch or dinner date downtown. Brunches here are the bees-knees.
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Café Zola
112 W Washington StPerfect for a breakfast, lunch or dinner date downtown. Brunches here are the bees-knees.
Avalon is relatively new to downtown A2, but they have been a Detroit staple for many years. The food and ambience are excellent. They’ve got jazz bands playing some nights. Famous for the breads (Motown Multigrain is my favorite.) The food is organic, healthy, tasty. Not too expensive.
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Avalon Cafe and Kitchen Ann Arbor
120 E Liberty StAvalon is relatively new to downtown A2, but they have been a Detroit staple for many years. The food and ambience are excellent. They’ve got jazz bands playing some nights. Famous for the breads (Motown Multigrain is my favorite.) The food is organic, healthy, tasty. Not too expensive.
Excellent food. One big advantage is that there’s easy parking. Make a reservation. You will likely need it. Delicious brunch, but also great lunch/dinner options. Personal fave: sweet potato fries.
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Zingerman's Roadhouse
2501 Jackson AvenueExcellent food. One big advantage is that there’s easy parking. Make a reservation. You will likely need it. Delicious brunch, but also great lunch/dinner options. Personal fave: sweet potato fries.
Lunch/Dinner
Best sandwiches in town, but if you are from New York, you’ll still say, “What’s so special?” Even though they have expanded, you can still expect a line. Their coffee (Roadhouse Joe), bread (sourdough!) and just about everything else is terrific, if you want to take something home. Personal sandwich faves are the Georgia Reuban, Abra’s Nutty Yardbird, & Thad’s Yes I Can!
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Zingerman's Delicatessen
422 Detroit StBest sandwiches in town, but if you are from New York, you’ll still say, “What’s so special?” Even though they have expanded, you can still expect a line. Their coffee (Roadhouse Joe), bread (sourdough!) and just about everything else is terrific, if you want to take something home. Personal sandwich faves are the Georgia Reuban, Abra’s Nutty Yardbird, & Thad’s Yes I Can!
Definitely make a reservation. Knights on Dexter is the place where older townies go (and you can just walk over!) Great, big, strong drinks, great meat, and great prices. Friendly servers who know their business. It’s a secret Ann Arbor institution. The Liberty branch is close to campus. A bit hipper. Still has the great drinks and great prices, w/ a slightly different menu.
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Knight's Steakhouse
2324 Dexter AveDefinitely make a reservation. Knights on Dexter is the place where older townies go (and you can just walk over!) Great, big, strong drinks, great meat, and great prices. Friendly servers who know their business. It’s a secret Ann Arbor institution. The Liberty branch is close to campus. A bit hipper. Still has the great drinks and great prices, w/ a slightly different menu.
Great pizza and Italian-style small plates. The owner/chef has gotten a lot of buzz. There is also a lot of buzz in the restaurant. Very noisy, but excellent food and fun. Personal fave: pickled tomato appetizer. This is one of our go-to date-night spots.
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Mani Osteria and Bar
341 E Liberty StGreat pizza and Italian-style small plates. The owner/chef has gotten a lot of buzz. There is also a lot of buzz in the restaurant. Very noisy, but excellent food and fun. Personal fave: pickled tomato appetizer. This is one of our go-to date-night spots.
Right next door to Mani and connected inside. Same owner as Mani. Same idea only Mexican style. Great small plates; great noise, great fun. Personal fave: truffle guac.
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Isalita
341 E Liberty StRight next door to Mani and connected inside. Same owner as Mani. Same idea only Mexican style. Great small plates; great noise, great fun. Personal fave: truffle guac.
Near campus downtown and very popular. Good food, mid-high prices. I would make a reservation. Also serves great brunch!
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Sava's
216 S State StNear campus downtown and very popular. Good food, mid-high prices. I would make a reservation. Also serves great brunch!
Great restaurant near campus. Personal fave: chicken nachos.
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Red Hawk Bar & Grill
316 S State StGreat restaurant near campus. Personal fave: chicken nachos.
Great for barbeque and sandwiches. Downstairs is a bar specializing in hard liquor drinks.
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Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery
207 E Washington StGreat for barbeque and sandwiches. Downstairs is a bar specializing in hard liquor drinks.
Good food for decent prices. If you’ve got a long history with Ann Arbor, you will remember this site was once the home of the Del Rio. Personal fave: cheddar ale soup w/ pretzel sticks.
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Grizzly Peak Brewing Co.
120 W Washington StGood food for decent prices. If you’ve got a long history with Ann Arbor, you will remember this site was once the home of the Del Rio. Personal fave: cheddar ale soup w/ pretzel sticks.
Known for their sour beers. Oro de Calabaza is the award-winning brew that’s kind of unusual. Food is tasty. Personal fave: truffle fries.
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Jolly Pumpkin Café & Brewery
311 S Main StKnown for their sour beers. Oro de Calabaza is the award-winning brew that’s kind of unusual. Food is tasty. Personal fave: truffle fries.
Burgers
Closed Sundays. No reservations.
(Across the street from the Gandy Dancer, which is not on this list because of the very high prices. Still, it’s been in Ann Arbor forever.) Same owners as Red Hawk. Great burgers; great prices. This is the townie version of Red Hawk, with TVs tuned to sports. It’s a pub kind of place.
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Casey's Tavern
304 Depot StClosed Sundays. No reservations.
(Across the street from the Gandy Dancer, which is not on this list because of the very high prices. Still, it’s been in Ann Arbor forever.) Same owners as Red Hawk. Great burgers; great prices. This is the townie version of Red Hawk, with TVs tuned to sports. It’s a pub kind of place.
Frita Batidos
117 W Washington StCuban-inspired fast food. Communal tables. Very popular.
Arguably the best burgers and fries in town. Kids eat for free on Tuesdays. Greg likes to get their burgers and fries and take them across the street to The Grotto and enjoy them with their beers on tap.
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Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger
304 S Ashley StArguably the best burgers and fries in town. Kids eat for free on Tuesdays. Greg likes to get their burgers and fries and take them across the street to The Grotto and enjoy them with their beers on tap.
Pizza
Less than 5 min from the house and they deliver. Our favorite go-to (carry-out) deep dish pizza.
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Anthony's Gourmet Pizza
1508 N Maple RdLess than 5 min from the house and they deliver. Our favorite go-to (carry-out) deep dish pizza.
They offer a wider menu, but are known for their pizza. Downtown A2 has a cute atmosphere for in-person dining, but there is a location on Stadium that is closer to the house if you want carryout or delivery.
The Original Cottage Inn
512 E William StThey offer a wider menu, but are known for their pizza. Downtown A2 has a cute atmosphere for in-person dining, but there is a location on Stadium that is closer to the house if you want carryout or delivery.
Located in the heart of the students’ zone. We don’t venture out here much, but we do like their pizza.
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Pizza House
618 Church StLocated in the heart of the students’ zone. We don’t venture out here much, but we do like their pizza.
New York Pizza Depot
605 East William StreetOn campus. Good pizza by the slice.
Ethnic
Good Italian. Love sipping sangria on their rooftop in the summer. Good view over downtown A2.
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Palio Ann Arbor
347 S Main StGood Italian. Love sipping sangria on their rooftop in the summer. Good view over downtown A2.
Really fresh and well-loved Indian food. In a shopping center by north campus. Our personal favorite spot for Indian food.
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Cardamom Restaurant
1739 Plymouth RdReally fresh and well-loved Indian food. In a shopping center by north campus. Our personal favorite spot for Indian food.
Go-to spot for sushi. Excellent prices. Located near campus.
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Sadako Japanese Restaurant
1321 S University AveGo-to spot for sushi. Excellent prices. Located near campus.
Best Mediterranean food and super cheap prices! Located downtown. We often get their carryout.
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Jerusalem Garden
314 E Liberty StBest Mediterranean food and super cheap prices! Located downtown. We often get their carryout.
Slurping Turtle
608 E Liberty StDelicious pho and a fun atmosphere. Located downtown.
Great Raman. Reasonable prices. There is a Korean barbecue place next door w/ outdoor seating that can be confusing, so make sure you are going into the right restaurant.
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Tomukun Noodle Bar
505 E Liberty StGreat Raman. Reasonable prices. There is a Korean barbecue place next door w/ outdoor seating that can be confusing, so make sure you are going into the right restaurant.
Up-scale
Our go-to date night spot for fancy cocktails and amazing food. Speak-easy. Reservation recommended.
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The Last Word
301 W Huron StOur go-to date night spot for fancy cocktails and amazing food. Speak-easy. Reservation recommended.
By far and away our favorite restaurant in A2. This is our go-to spot for anniversaries and celebrations. They have a fresh/chalk board menu each night and their dinner rolls are to die for.
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The West End Grill
120 W Liberty StBy far and away our favorite restaurant in A2. This is our go-to spot for anniversaries and celebrations. They have a fresh/chalk board menu each night and their dinner rolls are to die for.
Excellent Asian-fusion food. Quiet. Great place to relax and have a real conversation. Pricey.
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Pacific Rim By Kana
114 W Liberty StExcellent Asian-fusion food. Quiet. Great place to relax and have a real conversation. Pricey.
Praised in the New York Times. You wait in line; order your food, and then it’s delivered to your communal table. Really good food if you like that.
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Spencer
113 E Liberty StPraised in the New York Times. You wait in line; order your food, and then it’s delivered to your communal table. Really good food if you like that.
A 20-minute drive west of town in Chelsea. Superb fish, steaks, salads, etc. Drinks are delicious and desserts are outstanding. I think they take call ahead seating. They definitely take reservations for groups of 6 or more.
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Common Grill
112 S Main StA 20-minute drive west of town in Chelsea. Superb fish, steaks, salads, etc. Drinks are delicious and desserts are outstanding. I think they take call ahead seating. They definitely take reservations for groups of 6 or more.
Family-friendly
Great spot for the whole family - playgrounds for little toddlers to older school age kiddos, walking trails throughout.
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County Farm Park
2230 Platt RdGreat spot for the whole family - playgrounds for little toddlers to older school age kiddos, walking trails throughout.
Such a fun place for kids of all ages! Children under 2 are free.
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Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
220 E Ann StSuch a fun place for kids of all ages! Children under 2 are free.
Leslie Science and Nature Center
1831 Traver RdThis elementary school is in our neighborhood and an easy/fun place to take the kids for a walk to play or scooter in the parking lot.
Haisley Elementary School
825 Duncan StreetThis elementary school is in our neighborhood and an easy/fun place to take the kids for a walk to play or scooter in the parking lot.
General admission is free!
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University of Michigan Museum of Natural History
1105 N University AveGeneral admission is free!
Fun playground that has recently been redone to include some natural rock/wood elements. Great for kids of all ages.
Allmendinger Park
655 Pauline BlvdFun playground that has recently been redone to include some natural rock/wood elements. Great for kids of all ages.
If you have a kiddo who is obsessed with farm animals, this place is for you.
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The Petting Farm at Domino's Farms
3001 Earhart RdIf you have a kiddo who is obsessed with farm animals, this place is for you.
Fun indoor playground in the community center of a non-denominational church. Free and open to the public. Check the website for hours of operation.
2|42 Community Center - Ann Arbor
Fun indoor playground in the community center of a non-denominational church. Free and open to the public. Check the website for hours of operation.
Beautiful wooden play structure available for open play outside of school hours.
Eberwhite Elementary School
Beautiful wooden play structure available for open play outside of school hours.