Washtenaw County has no shortage of great bistros, bars, breakfast spots and breweries, but sometimes variety can almost overwhelm our appetite. So, when we want to simplify our options and pick the perfect place, nearly 3,000 voters told us where to find the best of the best.
Best Restaurant: Overall
Frita Batidos
fritabatidos.com
Runner-Up: Detroit Street Filling Station
Best Restaurant: Inexpensive (under $10)
Chela’s Restaurant
chela’s.com
Runner-Up: Jerusalem Garden
Best ‘Splurge’ Restaurant
The Standard Bistro & Larder
thestandardbistro.com
Runner-Up: The Grange
Best View
Jolly Pumpkin Café & Brewery
jollypumpkin.com/jp/ann-arbor-brewery
Runner-Up: Gandy Dancer
Best Outdoor Patio/Dining
Palio
palioannarbor.com
Runner-Up: Bigalora
Best Hidden Gem
Amadeus Restaurant
amadeusrestaurant.com
Runner-Up: The Earle
Best Overall Staff
Sava’s
savasrestaurant.com
Runner-Up: Zingerman’s Roadhousea
Best New Restaurant
Dessous
312 S Main St
734-222-0202 | dessousannarbor.com
Longtime pals, Scott Burk and Jay Mullick along with their good friend, consulting Chef Eve Aronoff, teamed up to establish the culinary delight that is Dessous. Combining French and Indian cuisine, warm flavors run the menu. Recipes are made from scratch and served fresh, providing a forkful of savory tastes.
Best Local Spirits
Ann Arbor Distilling Company
220 Felch St
734-882-2169 | annarbordistilling.com
The classic cocktail is enjoying a renaissance, and this boutique distillery is helping to boost the trend’s spirits with award-winning gins, vodkas, and more, made with locally-sourced, Michigan ingredients. Pick up their brag-worthy bottles and stay for a deceptively simple cocktail. Precisely designed and impossibly flavorful, it only takes a sip to understand the buzz.
Best Brewpub
HOMES Brewery
homesbrewery.com
Runner-Up: Arbor Brewing Company
Best Fast-Casual Eatery
Earthen Jar
earthenjar.com
Runner-Up: Holiday’s Restaurant
Best First-Date Restaurant
Gratzi
gratzirestaurant.com
Runner-Up: Vinology
Best Food Delivery Service
EatStreet
eatstreet.com
Runner-Up: The Original Cottage Inn
Best Mom & Pop Restaurant
Bell’s Diner
“Bell’s Diner” on Facebook
Runner-Up: Village Kitchen of Ann Arbor
New Restaurant
Dessous
dessousannarbor.com
Runner-Up: Fresh Forage
Restaurant You Want To Try
Naughty Boy Rolled Ice Cream
naughtyboysicecream.com
Runner-Up: Cardamom
Restaurant You Wish Was Still Open
Eve
Runner-Up: Lena
Best Restaurant To Take A Foodie
The Standard Bistro & Larder
thestandardbistro.com
Runner-Up: Miss Kim
Place For A Pre-Show Dinner
Knight’s Steakhouse
knightsrestaurants.com
Runner-Up: Tomukun Noodle Bar
Place For A Business Lunch
Carson’s American Bistro
carsonsamericanbistro.com
Runner-Up: Mani Osteria & Bar
Place For Chinese Takeout
Evergreen Restaurant
evergreen-restaurant.com
Runner-Up: Panda House
Place To Hear Live Music During A Meal
The Ravens Club
theravensclub.com
Runner-Up: Amadeus Restaurant
Place To Impress
The Chop House
thechophouseannarbor.com
Runner-Up: Siris Restaurant and Cigar Bar
Place To Be Seen
Cultivate Coffee & Tap House
cultivateypsi.com
Runner-Up: Dominic’s
Place To Not Be Seen
8 Ball Saloon
blindpigmusic.com/8-ball
Runner-Up: Black Rock Bar & Grill
Best Restaurant: Chelsea
Common Grill
commongrill.com
Runner-Up: Smokehouse 52
Best Restaurant: Dexter
Red Brick Kitchen & Bar
redbrickkitchen.com
Runner-Up: Aubrees Pizzeria and Grill
Best Restaurant: Saline
Salt Springs Brewery
saltspringsbrewery.com
Runner-Up: Mac’s
Best Restaurant: Ypsilanti
Sidetrack Bar and Grill
sidetrackbarandgrill.com
Runner-Up: MAIZE Mexican Cantina
Restaurant Worth A Drive
Evans Street Station, Tecumseh
evansstreetstation.com
Runner-Up: Common Grill, Chelsea
Best Rooftop Bar/Restaurant
Jolly Pumpkin Café & Brewery
jollypumpkin.com/jp/ann-arbor-brewery
Runner-Up: Palio
Best Spot For Breakfast
Bomber Restaurant
bomberrestaurant.net
Runner-Up: Northside Grill
Best Spot For Brunch
Detroit Street Filling Station
thelunchrooma2.com
Runner-Up: Ollie Food + Spirits
Best Spot For Lunch
The Lunch Room
thelunchrooma2.com
Runner-Up: Afternoon Delight
Best Menu: Late Night Eats
Fleetwood Diner
thefleetwooddiner.com
Runner-Up: The Wurst Bar
Most Creative Menu
The Standard Bistro and Larder
thestandardbistro.com
Runner-Up: Spencer
Best Use Of Local Ingredients
Spencer
spencerannarbor.com
Runner-Up: Bona Sera Restaurant
Best Baristas
Cultivate Coffee & Tap House
cultivateypsi.com
Runner-Up: Mighty Good Coffee
Best Bartenders
Nightcap
nightcapbara2.com
Runner-Up: The Last Word
Best Catering
Zingerman’s Catering and Events
zingermanscatering.com
Runner-Up: Eat Ann Arbor
Best Chef
Luciana Del Signore, Bigalora
bigalora.com
Runner-Up: Thad Gillies, Logan, An American Restaurant
Best Farmers Market Vendor
Kapnick Orchards
kapnickorchards.com
Runner-Up: Tantre Farm
Best Food Truck
Ricewood BBQ
ricewoodbbq.com
Runner-Up: Cosa Sabrosa
Local Food Supporter
Miss Kim
misskimannarbor.com
Runner-Up: 5 Healthy Towns Foundation
Best Pastry Chef/Baker
Sweet Heather Anne
sweetheatheranne.com
Runner-Up: Life is Sweet Bakery & Cafe
Best Restaurant Supplier
Frog Holler Produce
froghollerproduce.com
Runner-Up: Fluffy Bottom Farms
Restaurateur
Adam Baru of Mikette Bistro and Bar
mikettea2.com
Runner-Up: Sava Lelcaj Farah of Aventura’s, Sava’s, Tavolina
Best Cooking Classes
Sur La Table
surlatable.com
Runner-Up: Tammy’s Tastings
Best Coffee Roaster
RoosRoast Coffee
roosroast.com
Runner-Up: Mighty Good Coffee
Best Bar: Chelsea
Chelsea Alehouse Brewery
chelseaalehouse.com
Runner-Up: Jet’s
Best Bar: Dexter
Beer Grotto
beergrotto.com
Runner-Up: Alley Bar
Best Bar: Saline
Dan’s Downtown Tavern
facebook.com/DANSBARS
Runner-Up: Salt Springs Brewery
Best Bar: Ypsilanti
The Tap Room
taproomypsi.com
Runner-Up: Cultivate Coffee & Taphouse
Place to Celebrate
Bigalora
bigalora.com
Runner-Up: Logan, An American Restaurant
Best Bar Overall
The Last Word
thelastwordbar.com
Runner-Up: Sidetrack Bar and Grill
Best Sports Bar
Haymaker Public House
haymakerpublichouse.com
Runner-Up: Craft Brew City
Best Dive Bar
8 Ball Saloon
blindpigmusic.com/8-ball
Runner-Up: Alley Bar
Best Wine List
Vinology
vinologya2.com
Runner-Up: Sava’s
Most Instagram-Worthy Plates
Taste Kitchen
521 E Liberty St
734-369-4241 | tastekitchena2.com
Love might make things sweeter, but envy brings out the beauty in the world. Combine both virtue and sin by dining at Taste Kitchen and snapping a picture of your table. Saints and sinners alike will drool over the beautifully presented plates, enticing entreés, and colorful cuisine as you feast on a meal fit for the gods.
Best Craft Cocktail Selection
The Ravens Club
theravensclub.com
Runner-Up: Nightcap
Best Hangover Cure
Northside Grill
northsidegrill.com
Runner-Up: Taqueria La Marqueza
Best Happy Hour
Aut Bar
autbar.com
Runner-Up: Isalita
Best Locally-Brewed Beer
Wolverine State Brewing Co
wolverinebeer.com
Runner-Up: Jolly Pumpkin Café & Brewery
Best Place To Buy Local Beer
Blue Front
bfa2.com
Runner-Up: Plum Market
Place To Drink Local Beer
Arbor Brewing Co
arborbrewing.com
Runner-Up: Cultivate Coffee & Taphouse
Best Bloody Mary
Aut Bar
autbar.com
Runner-Up: Avalon Cafe
Best Margarita
Isalita
isalita.com
Runner-Up: Tio’s Mexican Cafe
Best Martini
Babs’ Underground
babsannarbor.com
Runner-Up: Dessous
Best Bubble Tea
Bubble Island Coffee & Tea
bubbleisland.com
Runner-Up: Sweeting
Juice Bar
Juicy Kitchen
juicykitchen-a2.com
Runner-Up: Drought
Best Classic Burger
Sidetrack Bar and Grill
sidetrackbarandgrill.com
Runner-Up: Roy’s Squeeze Inn
Best Classic Pizzas
Cottage Inn
cottageinn.com
Runner-Up: Pizza House
Best Creative Pizzas
Anthony’s Gourmet Pizza
anthonysgourmet.com
Runner-Up: Silvio’s
Best Steak
Knight’s SteakHouse
knightsrestaurants.com
Runner-Up: Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
Best Sushi
Yotsuba Japanese Restaurant
yotsuba-restaurant.com
Runner-Up: Godaiko Japanese Restaurant
Best Coney Dog
Ray’s Red Hots
raysredhots.com
Runner-Up: Abe’s Coney Island
Best Falafel/Gyro
Jerusalem Garden
jerusalemgarden.net
Runner-Up: Haifa Falafel
Best Mac N’ Cheese
Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery
bluetractor.net/bta/a2/index
Runner-Up: Dickey’s BBQ
Best Pie
Grand Traverse Pie Co
gtpie.com
Runner-Up: Eat Ann Arbor
Best Ribs
Westside Barbecue
westsidebarbecue.com
Runner-Up: Siris Restaurant and Cigar Bar
Best Tacos
Isalita
isalita.com
Runner-Up: Agave Tequila Bar
Best Pasta Dish
Mani Osteria & Bar
maniosteria.com
Runner-Up: Gratzi
Killer Salads
Avalon Cafe and Kitchen
avalonbreads.net/avalon-cafe-and-kitchen-ann-arbor
Runner-Up: Quarter Bistro
Best Southern Food
Ma Lou’s Fried Chicken
ma-lous.com
Runner-Up: Satchel’s BBQ
Best Wings
Mr. Spots
mrspotsannarbor.com
Runner-Up: Seoul Street
Best Desserts
Blank Slate Creamery
blankslatecreamery.com
Runner-Up: La Dolce Vita
Best Gluten-Free Options
Tasty Bakery
tastysansgluten.com
Runner-Up: Sava’s
Vegan/Vegetarian Options
The Lunch Room
thelunchrooma2.com
Runner-Up: Seva
Local Spirits
Ann Arbor Distilling
annarbordistilling.com
Runner-Up: Ugly Dog Distilling
Most Instagram-Worthy Plates
Taste Kitchen
tastekitchena2.com
Runner-Up: Spencer’s
Place To Celebrate
Bigalora
3050 Washtenaw, Ste. 112
734-971-2442 | bigalora.com
Need to celebrate? Throw a pizza party with authentic Neopolitan pizza at one of five Bigalora restaurants. With fantastic fare and a classy atmosphere, this sophisticated option is the new celebratory gold standard.
Best Restaurant Overall/Best Creative Burger
Frita Batidos
117 W Washington St, Ann Arbor
734-761-2882 | fritabatidos.com
For a hip, Havana experience, get a table at celebrity chef and Ann Arbor local Eve Aronoff’s Frita Batidos. If you haven’t been to this crave-worthy Cuban eatery, make sure to order The Frita, a brilliant, customizable burger made with a choice of chorizo, chicken, beef, fish, or black beans, and topped with unique items like avocado, cilantro-lime salsa, tropical slaw, and a sunny side up egg. Pair with crisped plantains or coconut-ginger rice for full-on Caribbean vibes.
