It is that time of year, once again – the time of year adventurous restaurant-goers crave most: Restaurant Week in Ann Arbor. Throughout June 9 –14, participating Ann Arbor restaurants offer a fixed price menu of $15 for lunch and $28 for a three-course dinner. Want to try that swanky restaurant you’ve had your eye on for ages or that mysterious new place that everyone has a different opinion on? Now is your chance! The event is made for all of us coupon-loving commitaphobes who want the luxury of getting a taste of many items while keeping the cost light on our pockets.
There are 50+ restaurants to choose from that span across Ann Arbor’s downtown area ranging from established city staples like Gandy Dancer, Prickly Pear and The Original Cottage Inn. to more recent places like The Raven’s Club, Kuroshio, Chela’s Restaurant and Taqueria on S. Maple Rd. Almost all venues offer various choices for the different courses and many restaurants have two-for-one dining options (which makes this week a great chance for a date night).
Reservations are strongly recommended because spots fill up fast. Additional information can be found at annarborrestaurantweek.com including individual restaurant menus. After choosing where you’d like to dine, call or visit the specific restaurant’s website to make a reservation.
Remember, you won’t get another chance like this until January, so start your summer dining off in style and experience what some of the many talented Ann Arbor chefs have in store. Chances are they’ll lure you in and keep you coming back for more!
Thinking about checking our Ann Arbor Restaurant Week on June 9 – 14 but aren’t sure where to start? Let us help you out! iSPY got the Restaurant Week lowdown from three very different participating restaurants – ranging from an established classic to some mysterious (to some), foreign cuisine to a trendy buzz restaurant that’s making waves.
The Chop House, an Ann Arbor essential since 1998, is known for its elegant atmosphere and luxurious experience. The Chop House is a perfect feature for Restaurant Week because a normally high-priced meal is much more accessible at the fixed $28 price. Executive Chef Alex Wannemacher says The Chop House is featuring its classic dishes, which are what the restaurant is most known for – premium cuts of beef and fresh-catch fish. Offered with a house salad and raspberry cheesecake for dessert, The Chop House’s menu for the week is for those looking for an assured excellence. Wannemacher says he wants customers to enjoy classic favorites with a modern twist and a fresh taste, such as the avocado and grilled corn tapenade that is served with the salmon fillet.
Mercy’s, located at the Bell Tower Hotel, has Burmese and Asian-influenced cuisine. An up-and-coming restaurant on the scene, Mercy’s has been continuously reinventing its menu, says owner Mercy Kasle. Two popular items, the steamed dumplings and the Ono Kau Swe (a coconut chicken soup over egg noodles), are available on the Restaurant Week menu among many other exciting offerings, such as the eggplant puree and crispy-fried tofu. Head Chef, Miguel Leal, is known for his creative presentation and ability to combine Burmese-inspired spices and curries into menu items. As the only locale in town serving up Burmese food, Kasle says she looks forward to new customers experiencing Mercy’s unique infused dishes for the first time.
One of the most notable new restaurants, Mani Osteria & Bar, is shaking things up for Restaurant Week. Instead of offering only a handful of choices for each course, Mani will offer almost its complete menu and a variety of dining options for the event. Executive Chef Brendan McCall says the restaurant chose this direction so that restaurant-goers can truly experience the Mani philosophy. As a tapas-style restaurant, Mani emphasizes the dining experience by encouraging guests to try and share dishes, ask questions and utilize the server as their guide. Menu favorites are the Pickled Tomatoes, Crispy Pork Belly with apricot marmaletta, tartufo pizza (mushrooms, black truffles, and an egg on top), and the cappalletti pasta with broccolini and sage cream sauce. As a distinguished Italian hotspot, Mani Osteria & Bar looks forward to having restaurant newbies rubbing elbows with its faithful regulars by keeping the menu as similar as possible and still participating in the excitement of Restaurant Week.