Moon Winks Cafe and Tavern, located in the Village of Dixboro, has been evolving and expanding this year. The cafe has been a regular part of the Dixboro community since 2006. The owners, brothers Kevin and Brian Cox, purchased the cafe in 2022.
“I grew up in this area and always loved Moonwinks,” said Kevin Cox. “Owning a restaurant had been a lifelong dream, and when the café came up for sale in 2022, it felt like the perfect fit for my first ownership. What made it even more special is that I’ve been able to build it with my brother, Brian. He’s led the way in revamping the menu, and working side by side with him has been one of the best parts of this journey. I couldn’t imagine doing it any other way.”
When the adjacent space became available, they saw an opportunity to expand not only their square footage, but their menu offerings as well.
“We had already outgrown the café, and when the building next door opened up, we saw the chance to create something bigger. Expanding into the tavern gave us space for live music, a broader menu, and a place where the whole community could gather together,” Cox said.
Moon Winks Tavern opened in 2024, offering a menu of salads, sandwiches and pizzas, along with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. A live-edge bar seats twelve, and offers a variety of beers, wine, cocktails and mocktails.
Guests can enjoy patio seating, or choose to dine inside. Diners can find a seat at the bar, or at a standard or high-top table. At the back of the tavern, a small stage is ready for musicians, who perform regularly.
We visited the tavern on a Saturday, arriving just a bit before the dinner crowd. I ordered a personal-size Greek Pizza and a side salad.
The Greek pizza was delicious, with a Detroit-style crispy edged crust. It was loaded with tomato, spinach, red onion and Kalamata olives, along with feta cheese and topped with fresh mozzarella. The four slices were amply sized, and if I were feeling generous that night, I could have shared one with my dinner companion. Unfortunately, my companion didn’t even get a bite. It was too good to share.
The side salad was a combination of mixed greens, tomatoes, red onion, cucumbers, carrots and croutons served with a delicious balsamic vinaigrette on the side.
My companion ordered the Italiano sandwich with a side of tots. The sandwich features salami, prosciutto, salami and smoked provolone, with arugula, tomato, red onion and banana peppers, all on sourdough bread. It was so large that he was able to take one half of the sandwich home…for second dinner. He said it was delicious for both meals.
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Moon Winks features many items from Michigan vendors, including Guernsey Farms Dairy, EK’s Cheesecakes, Barry Bagels and Hyperion coffee. They also offer a variety of beers from local breweries.
“The community response has been incredible,” Cox said. “Dixboro is a small town, and people have embraced Moon Winks as a true gathering spot. Seeing locals and visitors fill the space for food, music and friendship has been the most rewarding part.”
The tavern is open Monday through Thursday, 3-9pm, Friday and Saturday, 3-10pm. They also offer Sunday brunch from 10am-2pm. Happy Hour is Monday through Friday, 3-6pm. Moon Winks Café and Tavern is located at 5151 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor. For more information on events, visit the website at moonwinkscafea2.com.
