Here’s a list of some of my favorite small businesses in the Ann Arbor area–I highly recommend you check them out!
Coffee: Comet Coffee in Nickel’s Arcade has the best lattes and cappuccinos–the coffee they use is top-notch! They have delicious pastry offerings if you’re looking for an addition to your coffee.
Breakfast: Your quintessential diner, the Northside Grill on Broadway serves all of your favorite breakfast foods and has lunch options, too! If you can’t decide what to order, just get “the kitchen sink!”
Lunch: Jerusalem Garden is on West Liberty and it’s my favorite quick lunch stop. They have especially great vegetarian options! My favorite order is a falafel sandwich, a spinach pie, and pistachio baklava.
Dinner (or lunch!): Knight’s Steakhouse is an Ann Arbor classic, with one location downtown at the corner of Liberty and Maynard and another–the original on Dexter Ave–on the west side near Vet’s Park. My favorite menu items include their baby back rib appetizer (only offered downtown), the classic wedge salad, and the french dip sandwich. Their desserts are also really good!
Dinner: Blue Nile on East Washington serves up amazing authentic Ethiopian dishes! Injera bread serves as both your plate and utensil here, and the food is served family style in exquisite woven baskets. I would recommend taking a friend and sharing the vegetarian all-you-can-eat meal!
Dessert: A cornerstone of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Dairy, on Ashley Street, sells ice cream and classic donuts. This neighborhood favorite offers many ice cream flavors to choose from and an outdoor seating area, which is the perfect place to sit with family and friends. My personal favorite here is their coconut donuts!
RIP:
The Broken Egg, Prickly Pear, Middle Kingdom, Raja Rani, Stucchi’s, Cafe Royale, Isalita Cantina, and many more…