Matt Weigand | The Ann Arbor News
By Jessica Haynes | [email protected]
There’s been a lot of change happening in the food scene throughout Washtenaw County, most notably in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. From long-standing establishments shutting the doors to notable restauranteurs opening new high-end eateries, there’s no lack of news.
It can be hard to keep up with all the change so the Ann Arbor News has compiled all the headlines you may have missed so far in 2017. Click through to the end to see what the food scene is anticipating for the rest of 2017, and tell us what places you are looking forward to dining at or will miss the most.
Hunter Dyke | [email protected]
Agave Tequila Bar
211 N. Main St., Ann Arbor
The former Sabor Latino, the restaurant has been revamped and the menu redone to "bring scratch cooking with Latin flair to Ann Arbor," according to its website.
Agave Tequila Bar opened in February and features shareable plates for groups to share along with flights of tequila for adventurous guests. Don't worry, Taco Tuesday is still a thing but management has brought new ingredients and flavors in to spice up the menu.
Melanie Maxwell | [email protected]
Opened: Domino's at State and Packard
Domino's Pizza
716 Packard St., Ann Arbor
Domino's Pizza franchise owner David Cesarini loves the pizza brand so much, he opened his fifth franchise location in 15 years at the corner of Packard and State streets in January.
The new Domino's restaurant in the former Bell's Pizza building has undergone some serious renovations since Cesarini leased it, including large garage doors that serve as a throwback feature to the property's former life as a service station for Ann Arbor motorists.
You can stop by the newest Domino's Pizza in Washtenaw County for $2 slices of pizza and see how much the property has changed as a result of the new business.
MLive.com file photo
Closed: Argiero's Italian Restaurant
Argiero's Italian Restaurant
300 Detroit St.
Argiero's Italian Restaurant at the corner of Detroit and Catherine streets closed after decades of serving up dishes in the Ann Arbor community. The family-run business closed on Mother's Day, with a sign posted that thanked patrons for 40 years of memories.
There is some good news: The Lunch Room, a vegan restaurant with locations in Kerrytown and Ann Arbor, has already signed a lease to take over the restaurant and reopen it later this summer as the Detroit Filling Station.
Melanie Maxwell | [email protected]
Fred's
403 E. Washington, Ann Arbor
Cafe and snack bar Fred's is owned and operated by Fred Lelcaj, brother of Ann Arbor restaurateur Sava Farah, who revamped the former babo grocery store space into open seating areas and spots to dine, study or chat with friends.
It is a step up from his previous space on South University, and now Fred and his team are taking advantage of the additional kitchen and dining space with an expanded menu that includes breakfast items like burritos and egg sandwiches to larger dinner items such as the bulgogi cheesesteak for $12 and veggie burger for $11.
Hunter Dyke | [email protected]
Sozo Japanese Grill
100 Briarwood Circle, Ann Arbor
The latest restaurant at Briarwood Mall, Sozo Japanese Grill serves up entrees hibachi-style with a wide range of protein, from scallops and steak to chicken and shrimp. Customers can also order the Sozo Signature combo, with steak, chicken and shrimp for $13.99.
Sozo Japanese Grill opened in February and is located near Tricho in the south JCPenney corridor at Briarwood Mall.
Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News
Opened (again): Jefferson Market
Jefferson Market
609 W. Jefferson, Ann Arbor
First announced in February, Ann Arbor's Mighty Good Coffee took over the long-established cafe and restaurant space on the Old West Side in April and were warmly welcomed by the surrounding neighborhood.
Serving up items like Mighty Good coffee, specialty drinks, homemade pastries and take-out lunch items, co-owner Nic Sims has also recreated the space with new touches on the old features such as the market's long green counter and glass-fronted cases.
Melanie Maxwell | [email protected]
Closed: Maize & Blue Deli on Liberty
Maize & Blue Delicatessen
106 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor
Maize & Blue Delicatessen's second Ann Arbor location closed its doors after less than two years of business on Liberty Street at the end of April, leaving nothing but a note saying it is with "sincere regret" the restaurant was shutting down.
If you still have a hankering for the deli's university-themed sandwiches, the original Maize & Blue is still open at 1329 S. University Ave. in Ann Arbor.
A new tenant has already started moving into the space: La Taqueria Ann Arbor, which could be open by the end of summer with a menu offering tacos that offer hints of Latin and Asian cuisine and lots of diverse flavors.
Katy Kildee | The Ann Arbor News
Opened: The Haymaker Public House
The Haymaker Public House
203 E. Washington, Ann Arbor
First The Arena, then Curtain Call, and now The Haymaker Public House, this property has undergone multiple renovations and rebrandings over the past year. New ownership has changed some of the look for this downtown watering hole, along with a new menu with more lunch items.
The Haymaker Public House celebrated its grand reopening in early July with a search for golden tickets that led residents on a race across Ann Arbor to get to gift certificates for the new restaurant.
Try one of the 15 sliders on the menu, including the Fat Californian with fried avocado and the vegetarian Maize & Blue with house-made blueberry jam, crushed pineapple, peanut butter and mozzarella.
Matt Weigand | The Ann Arbor News
Eat More Tea
211 E. Ann, Ann Arbor
An extension of the Tea Haus business located in the Kerrytown shopping district, Eat More Tea contains products ranging from spice mixes to gelato infused with tea. Owner Lisa McDonald has also set up a mini-candy counter featuring European sweets that are hard to find elsewhere.
Make sure to look up while perusing to see the whimsical light fixtures featuring tea pots and cups and the gnomes that greet customers at the front windows, and try the tea-infused gelato made fresh every day.
Hunter Dyke | [email protected]
BurgerFi
1235 S. University Ave., Ann Arbor
Located in the University Towers building since 2013, BurgerFi closed abruptly in April with little but a note left behind as an explanation for customers.
"The BurgerFi Restaurant is now closed indefinitely with No Plans of Reopening. The Owner and Staff would like To Thank All Our Guest for their support throughout our tenure. We apologize for the short notice and inconvenience this may have caused. Once again, Thank You All."
The restaurant was marketed as a "local hamburger joint," and sold wine and craft beer in addition to offering online ordering. No new tenants have been announced for the space, as South University goes through construction this summer.
Melanie Maxwell | [email protected]
Opened: Ollie Food + Spirits and Cream & Crumb
Ollie Food + Spirits
42 E. Cross St., Ypsilanti
Cream & Crumb
44 E. Cross St., Ypsilanti
The former Cafe Ollie reopened in April with two different spaces carving up each side of Mark and Danielle Teachout's business aspects: full-service restaurant Ollie Food + Spirits and Cream & Crumb, the cafe and ice cream parlor next door.
You'll find Zingerman's pastries, Hyperion coffee products and Guernsey Dairy ice cream at Cream and Crumb, and sometimes a line out the door on busy summer nights when downtown events are happening.
Stop in next door to try handcrafted cocktails made with Michigan liquors and Midwestern-inspired breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes or brunch on the weekends at Ollie Food + Spirits. The owners plan to keep things interesting with rotating seasonal specials for both the drink and food menu.
Melanie Maxwell | [email protected]
Smoke's Poutinerie
1300 S. University Ave., Ann Arbor
The South University spot is the first Michigan location for Canadian restaurant franchise Smoke's Poutinerie, which focuses on one menu item and one menu item only: poutine, made up of french fries, gravy and cheese curds.
It opened Sunday, June 4 near the University of Michigan and sold more than 700 servings of poutine who ordered through the take-out window or came inside to check out the restaurant's Beaver Trap bar area.
Hungry for poutine? Here are seven dishes to try at one of Ann Arbor's newest restaurants.
Matt Weigand | The Ann Arbor News
Opened: Siris Restaurant and Cigar Bar
Siris Restaurant and Cigar Bar
207 N. Main St., Ann Arbor
Siris Restaurant and Cigar Bar was expected to be open in February, but extensive renovations after a large fire in 2011 and several years of vacancy pushed back the date. It opened in April with a 120-tap beer system, a larger meat smoker in the kitchen and a cigar license that allows patrons to purchase and smoke cigar on the premises.
Menu ntrees include a half chicken, applewood or oak-smoked, for $11 and baby-back ribs available by the bone, a full rack for $26. Guests can choose from sides like baked beans or macaroni and cheese.
Siris is operated by the Kouza family which owns the building in addition to the Main Street Party Store, the Heidelberg and the building that houses Sabor Latino.
Melanie Maxwell | [email protected]
Closing: Espresso Royale on Main Street
Espresso Royale
214 S. Main, Ann Arbor
Open since 1991, Espresso Royale will no longer operate its Main Street location after August 2017.
Lisa Tuveson is the vice president of operations at Ann Arbor-based coffee company Espresso Royale, and said increased competition from other coffee spots and rental rates prompted the decision to not renew the lease for the Main Street location.
"We've decided to focus on our other stores and put more money into our State Street location, which has more foot traffic," Tuveson told the Ann Arbor News in May.
Melanie Maxwell | [email protected]
Kosmo's Bop Shop
308 S. Ashley St., Ann Arbor
Are you a fan of Kosmo's in Kerrytown? You may want to check out Don "Kosmo" Kwon's newest venture on Ashley Street, which will serve up customized dishes of bibimbap with a choice of three sauces: spicy chili, ginger soy and homemade sweet and sour.
Kwon's latest restaurant is expected to open ahead of the Ann Arbor Art Fair, but no word yet on an official opening date.
Melanie Maxwell
Buddy's Pizza
Ann Arbor-Saline Road near Meijer in Ann Arbor
The 6,500-square-foot restaurant is located on Ann Arbor-Saline Road and will seat 240 people, inside and outside on the wrap-around patio space, which features a double-sided fireplace.
Officials say the Buddy's Pizza is expected to open in time for University of Michigan football games this fall. The iconic neon sign was installed on the outside of the building in June.
Courtney Sacco | The Ann Arbor News
Chela's Downtown
307 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor
Owners of Chela's Restaurant and Taqueria are finalizing plans for a second location in downtown Ann Arbor in the former Jerusalem Garden space. Owners Adrian and Lori Iraola have operated the original Chela's on Maple Road since 2012.
The 1,126-square-foot building dubbed Chela's Downtown was expected to open in June but an opening date has not been finalized yet. Chela's placed second in the search for Michigan's Best tacos and offers authentic Mexican cuisine from barbacoa tacos to carne asada tortas.
Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News
Opening: The Standard Bistro and Larder
The Standard Bistro and Larder
5827 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor
James Beard-winning chef Alex Young has left behind Zingerman's Roadhouse, which he co-owned for the last 15 years, and purchased a restaurant space in Scio Township for nearly $2 million earlier this year.
Young plans to turn the former Creekside Grill into a French bistro-style restaurant called The Standard Bistro and Larder. It is undergoing extensive renovations and could be open as early as October.
Melanie Maxwell | [email protected]
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