Main Street’s newest eatery is a delightful and distinctive edition to Ann Arbor’s most competitive and prestigious culinary scene. Mynt House’s recent opening between Crazy Wisdom and Beyond Bridal has brought a chill atmosphere, delicious food and even better lattes.
Coffee and baked goods
The Moroccocino for example is a nice warm drink with a full flavor of cinnamon. The cinnamon is the main character for sure, but it lets other flavors shine as well.
A good go-to is their mesamman and honey. This traditional Moroccan bread is flaky and delicious, served with a complimentary bowl of honey.
Atmosphere
The contemporary atmosphere bridges Morocco and the Midwest culture. The exposed brick walls and airy, loft-like space feels welcoming and confident in its identity as a restaurant coming from contemporary Moroccan culture. The interior is tastefully appointed and confidently itself.
After you order at the counter and wait for them to bring your meal to you, you can choose between sitting outside, in the sunlight bathed but sparsely furnished front area with its firm but comfortable arm chairs or you can head to the back, which is split into two levels. The sunken area is full of rounded tables and is dark—good for a private party or intimidate meal with just you and a date.
Walk up the steps to the mezzanine though, and you’ll find a motion detector that lights up each step for you, from under the sill of each stair, one by one, as you ascend or descend. When you get up there, you’ll find a comfortable medium between the other two interior options. Soft Arabic music plays in the background, balanced tastefully with the whispered dribble of a small fountains sprouting out of a mostly blue and white mosaic.
The mezzanine is also notable because half of it is a majlis—a type of living room common in the Muslim world that typically has little to no furniture in the center of the room, but is lined with couches that line the walls all around, leaving the middle of the room full of carpets. That part of the room has low coffee tables and it’s comfortable enough for you to have a latte there.
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Salad, sandwiches and more
The Genovese Panini is a great lunch option with a nice and chewy bread and perfectly tender chicken. But it is even better if you dip it in the vinegrate that comes with the complimentary tossed salad, served on a chopping board.
If coffee isn’t your thing, then go for the frullato. This take on a smoothie finds a delicious balance between fresh and creamy, with a refreshing chunky icicle texture.
Water, infused with lemon and herbs, is self served from a jug standing by the side of the fountain, by the extra utensils.
Mynt House is at 118 South Main Street, and is open seven days a week, 8 a.m. until midnight. Prices range $5 to $19 for food. Drinks go from $3 to $16.
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!
