Avalon Cafe and Kitchen has moved. Instead of the characteristically roomy and urban chic exposed brick interior that defined their previous Ann Arbor location at the corner of Liberty and Fourth, they are now in new location a block away on Main Street.
There are differences to be sure. The new location, at 224 South Main Street, is smaller and narrower. The decor is along the same lines, but the exposed brick is gone.
The new space is a pleasant place to be. But the smaller space means that only a handful of people work there compared to the old, since the busily efficient waitstaff that used to power walk around are no longer necessary. This creates a much more relaxed, slow vibe compared to the bohemian faster pace that Avalon used to be characterized by.
The food has not changed, however. Avalon is a solid chain which serves a delicious and varied assortment of gourmet food at reasonable prices. There is no denying that it is one of the great breakfast and lunch places in Ann Arbor.
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Avalon is now attached to Pretzel Bell, the more sports bar focused martini place next door with a nightclub in the basement, at the corner of Main and Liberty. An arch connects both dining rooms now.
One of the most interesting features of the new Avalon is the facade. It is remarkable in that its floor to ceiling windows are deeper than anywhere else in town. These were built for displays when the shop was originally built and could have made the space hard to use. They have fixed the problem by installing a bench table with stools, ideal for single person dining. It’s a similar set up as Sweetgreen’s across downtown – except it faces the wall and is a lot longer.
Drew Saunders is a freelance business and environmental journalist who grew up just outside of Ann Arbor. He covers local business developments, embraces his foodie side with reviews restaurants, obsesses over Michigan's environmental state, loves movies, and feels spoiled by the music he gets to review for Ann Arbor!