Each week, for 12 weeks, we will write about something fun to do in Chelsea, Michigan. Located just 15 minutes west of Ann Arbor, Chelsea has a vibrant downtown, with a mix of retail, galleries and restaurants.
- See a Live Performance at the Purple Rose Theatre Company
- Visit the Chelsea Center for the Arts
- Spend a Day Playing at the Chelsea TreeHouse
- Take a Tour of the Chelsea Teddy Bear Company
#5. Dine at The Common Grill
Located in the heart of downtown Chelsea, The Common Grill is an upscale American Bistro founded by Craig Common over 20 years ago. The Common Grill presents fresh and delicious dishes and provides outstanding service, earning the restaurant critical praise and a devoted clientele.
Receiving accolades in Gourmet and Bon Appetit, The Common Grill was most recently named one of Detroit’s Top 10 Restaurants in the national-edition Zagat guide.
Do you have plans for Mother’s Day? The Common Grill is the perfect place to celebrate any occasion!
What is your favorite item on the menu at The Common Grill?
Each week, for 12 weeks, we will feature one of our top 12 reasons to live in Ann Arbor.
- Exceptional Public Schools
- Vibrant Local Culture
- Great Commuting Options
- Job Opportunities
- University of Michigan
- Location, Location, Location
#7. Eclectic Mix of Restaurants and Bars
Dining out is one of Ann Arbor’s greatest pastimes, which is apparent from the eclectic mix of restaurants and bars Ann Arbor has to offer. With more than 250 eateries, Ann Arbor is home to nationally acclaimed restaurants such as Zingerman’s to unique and delicious finds like Afternoon Delight. From upscale restaurants, perfect for celebrating any occasion, to sports bars to catch a University of Michigan game with friends, Ann Arbor has something for everyone!
The list below is based on the voting by readers of AnnArbor.com in weekly BestOf categories.
Best Place for Breakfast
- The Broken Egg
- Uptown Coney Island
- Angelo’s
Best Place for Burgers
- Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger
- Casey’s Tavern
- Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery
Best Place for Italian Food
- Paesano Restaurant & Wine Bar
- Bella Italia Pizza & Pasta
- Palio Restaurant
Best Place for Mexican Food
- Prickly Pear Southwest Café
- Sabor Latino
- Tios Mexican Café
Best Place for Seafood
- The Real Seafood Co.
- Monahan’s Seafood Market
- The Black Pearl
Best Place for Thai
- Tuptim Thai Cuisine
- Marnee Thai
- No Thai Restaurant
Best Sports Bar
- The Arena Sports Bar and Grill
- Fraser’s Pub Sports Bar & Eatery
- Banfield’s Westside Grill
Breweries in Ann Arbor
- Arbor Brewing Company
- Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery
- Grizzly Peak Brewing Co.
- Jolly Pumpkin Café & Brewery
- Wolverine State Brewing Company
Visit AnnArbor.com for complete information about all of the restaurants in the Ann Arbor area.
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Ann Arbor is known for having an eclectic collection of delectable restaurants. Below are the top restaurants in the Ann Arbor region that we recommend to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Ann Arbor
- The Earle Restaurant
Located in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor, The Earle serves award-winning French and Italian country cuisine. With a wine list of over 1,000 selections, The Earle has received the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence for 20 consecutive years. Call (734) 994-0211 or visit their website for more information or to make a reservation.
- The West End Grill
Known for serving up a variety of dishes from around the world, The West End Grill offers what they refer to as “New American” cuisine. The West End Grill is an upscale, intimate environment on Liberty in downtown Ann Arbor. Call (734) 747-6260 or visit their website for more information or to make a reservation.
- Pacific Rim
A unique Pan-Asian restaurant, Pacific Rim serves delicious dishes inspired by the Chef’s own Asian-American roots. Excellent service, a warm ambiance, and a large wine list make Pacific Rim a great restaurant for date night. Call (734) 662-9303 or visit their website for more information or to make a reservation.
- Gratzi
Located in the former Orpheum Theatre in downtown Ann Arbor, Gratzi is an upscale restaurant serving Italian cuisine. The dramatic history, still preserved today, in addition to the restaurant’s elegant décor and ambience, make Gratzi the prefect place to dine on Valentine’s Day. Call (734) 663-5555 or visit their website for more information or to make a reservation.
- La Dolce Vita
Skip dinner and go straight to dessert. La Dolce Vita offers the finest gourmet desserts, expertly prepared by their pastry chef. In addition to desserts, their menu includes coffee drinks, wine, specialty cocktails, beer, and fine cigars.
Chelsea
The Common Grill
An upscale American Bistro restaurant, The Common Grill has earned praise from Gourmet, Bon-Appetit, AnnArbor.com, The Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News, which proclaimed it “uncommonly grand.” Located in downtown Chelsea, The Common Grill continues to present fresh, imaginative American dishes and provide outstanding service. Call (734) 475-0470 or visit their website for more information or to make a reservation.
Dexter
RedBrick Kitchen & Bar
Beautifully exposed brick throughout the restaurant adds to the unique and contemporary setting. Dexter’s newest destination, RedBrick offers upscale American cuisine. Call (734) 424-0420 or visit their website for more information or to make a reservation.
Saline
Mac’s Acadian Seafood and Shack
Located in Murphy’s Crossing, a restored historical Saline landmark, Mac’s has been in business since 1996. Their menu has been inspired by the Nova Scotia heritage, combining spicy Cajun cuisine with old world English charm. Freshly made gumbo, spicy Cajun shrimp, and hearty jambalaya are just some of the delicious entrees on their menu. Call (734) 944-6227 or visit their website for more information or to make a reservation.
Launched in 2009 by the Main Street Area Association, Restaurant Week is back this Sunday, January 15th thru Friday, January 20th with more participating restaurants than last year.
During Restaurant Week, dinner is a fixed price of $25 for a three-course meal. Most restaurants are offering a choice of menu items for each course and a limited number of restaurants will be offering a two for the price of one dinner menu. Lunch is an open format in which restaurants offer a $12 menu of special items, some of which are one, two or even three courses. Several restaurants will be offering two for the price of one at lunch.
Participating Restaurants include:
- Arbor Brewing Company
- Argiero’s
- Bandito’s California Style
- Bar Louie
- Cafe Felix
- Cafe Japon
- Carlyle Grill
- Carson’s American Bistro
- Conor O’Neill’s
- Gandy Dancer
- Graham’s Restaurant
- Grange Kitchen & Bar
- Gratzi
- Grizzly Peak
- Jamaican Jerk Pit
- Jazzy Veggie
- Jolly Pumpkin Cafe & Brewery
- Logan
- Mahek
- Mani Osteria & Bar
- Marnee Thai Restaurant
- Mediterrano
- Melange Bistro
- Metzger’s
- Mercy’s
- Miki Japanese Restaurant
- Pacific Rim
- Palio
- Parthenon
- Passport Restaurant and Lounge
- Prickly Pear Cafe
- Real Seafood Company
- Sabor Latino
- Satchel’s BBQ
- Sava’s on State
- Seva
- Shalimar
- Silvio’s Organic Pizza
- The Arena
- The Black Pearl
- The Blue Nile
- The Chop House
- The Earle
- The Melting Pot
- The Original Cottage Inn
- The Quarter Bistro
- The Ravens Club
- Vinology Wine Bar & Restaurant
- Weber’s Restaurant
Most restaurants recommend making advanced reservations, so make yours today!
For more information about Ann Arbor Restaurant Week visit their website.
Readers of AnnArbor.com were asked to vote for the best place in Washtenaw County to enjoy ice cream. After a week of voting, and with more than 50% of the total votes, Washtenaw Diary was crowned the best place for ice cream. Stucchi’s of Dexter and Stucchi’s Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt of Ann Arbor rounded out the top three.
For over 75 years, Washtenaw Dairy has been serving their customers more than just generous portions of mouthwatering ice cream. Whether it is milk and cheese for local businesses or ice cream on a warm day, Washtenaw Dairy is an Ann Arbor institution for dairy. In addition to their selection of quality dairy products, Washtenaw Dairy is also known for their fresh home-made delicious donuts.
Washtenaw Dairy is located at 602 South Ashley Street in Ann Arbor. For more information or to order a dozen donuts, call (734) 662-3244 or visit their website.
This week “Best Of” is looking to find the Best Thrift or Secondhand Shop in Washtenaw County. Cast your vote on AnnArbor.com for a chance to win a $50 gift card.
Ann Arbor Restaurant Week, presented by the Main Street Area Association, is a local celebration of dining in our community. Some of Ann Arbor’s finest restaurants offer extraordinary three course dinner menus and exclusive lunch menus all at a fixed rate. Restaurant Week is your chance to experience the eclectic assortment of restaurants downtown Ann Arbor has to offer.
During Restaurant Week, dinner is a fixed price of $25 for a three course meal. Most restaurants are offering a choice of menu items for each course and a limited number of restaurants will be offering a two for the price of one dinner menu. Lunch is an open format in which restaurants offer a $12 menu of special items, some of which are one, two or even three courses. Several restaurants will be offering two for the price of one at lunch.
Participating Restaurants include:
Ann Arbor Restaurant Week is Sunday, June 12 – Friday, June 17. Many restaurants recommend making advanced reservations, so make yours today!
For more information about Ann Arbor Restaurant Week visit their website.
As voting for AnnArbor.com’s weekly Best Of contest began last week, Ann Arbor’s Zingerman’s Delicatessen was the front runner. Toward the end of the week Ypsilanti’s Bread Basket Deli gained momentum and was ultimately crowned the Best Place to Buy a Sandwich in Washtenaw County. Rounding out the top three was Dimo’s Deli & Donuts in Ann Arbor.
With 7 locations in the metro Detroit area, including their Ypsilanti location, Bread Basket Deli is known for their famous Corned Beef Sandwiches. Bread Basket Deli cooks their corned beef to perfection, which they believe is why it is the best. In order to keep up with the demand, Bread Basket Sandwiches cooks 20,000 pounds of corned beef a week.
This week “Best Of” is looking to find the Best Place for Live Music in Washtenaw County. Cast your vote on AnnArbor.com for a chance to win a $50 gift card to The Ark.
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