Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Ann Arbor

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Ann Arbor? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Shalimar Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (658)

$30 and under

Indian

Ann Arbor

About the restaurant

Welcome to Shalimar... Metro Detroit's finest Indian restaurant, specializing in superb Mughlai cooking of North India and tasty Tandoor delicacies. The magic of Indian cooking is in the blending of spices and other fresh ingredients. At Shalimar we make each entree to satisfy YOU.
Representing the best in Indian cuisine, Shalimar offers an atmosphere that will make it an enjoyable experience for all.
Serving both lunch & dinner, Shalimar also offers complete event catering & carry out services.
Party room available for your special parties and Seminars, upto 50 guests.

Parking Information: Please park in the parking structure at 4th Avenue & William Street. Bring your parking ticket with you to redeem towards a food credit. Up to 1 hr for lunch and 2 hours for dinner.

Top review

Gregory

Dined on May 10, 2025

Great Indian restaurant experience in a fantastic downtown Ann Arbor location. The food and service were both enjoyable.

Zingerman's Roadhouse

4.7

4.7 (4028)

$31 to $50

American

Ann Arbor

About the restaurant

The seventh member of Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the Roadhouse opened in 2003 with the vision of bringing really good American food to the community. The Roadhouse has worked hard to create its own truly unique food culture, transforming high-quality ingredients into traditional, full-flavored dishes after years of studying American foodways.

With chef Bob Bennett at the helm of the kitchen, and our James Beard Award nominated staff’s dedication to great service, the Roadhouse draws in regulars from all over. We welcome our fans from right down the block or from all over the country. Buttermilk Fried Chicken, award-winning Mac ‘n Cheese, NOLA Gumbo, Nashville Hot Chicken, Oyster Po’Boys, full-flavored burgers, and Donut Sundaes are just a few Roadhouse specialties that people look forward to every time they dine with us. Beyond these tried-and-true dishes, the Roadhouse is also a destination for really good BBQ!

Top review

Brenda

Dined on Jun 9, 2025

Always a great experience and our waiter Micah was very knowledgeable and helped us pick out phenomenal delicious food!

Mediterrano

4.7

4.7 (1564)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Ann Arbor

About the restaurant

Immerse yourself in a world of flavors at Mediterrano, where culinary artistry shines. Our menu draws inspiration from over 14 countries, fusing ingredients & spices from Greece to the South of France, Spain, and beyond.

Savor the richness of our dishes, from a variety of Mediterranean classics. Each bite is a testament to our commitment to culinary excellence.

Complementing our offerings is an extensive, expertly curated wine list. Delight in a selection thoughtfully chosen to enhance your dining experience, catering to both wine enthusiasts and those seeking the perfect pairing.

While renowned for our exceptional restaurant experience, our primary focus is delivering an unparalleled dining experience within our welcoming ambiance. Reserve your table now for a journey into authentic Mediterranean flavors. Your extraordinary dining experience awaits.

Top review

Kurt

Dined 7 days ago

We enjoyed everything about this place. Excellent food and stellar service.

Discover more

Popular dish

CRISPY BRUSSELS SPROUTS

The West End Grill

4.7

4.7 (809)

$50 and over

American

Ann Arbor

About the restaurant

The West End Grill in Ann Arbor serves modern and elevated American cuisine with global inspiration. From delicate scallops, to a rich and rustic Delmonico steak, we offer a variety of dishes for you to crave. The West End Grill is open daily, with seatings from 5:00pm to 9:30pm.

Top review

Joanne

Dined 5 days ago

I love this restaurant. The veal dumplings are not to be missed.

The Session Room

4.6

4.6 (716)

$30 and under

Gastro Pub

Ann Arbor

About the restaurant

Celebrating craft beer and quality food using local vendors and products. Housed in a conversion of a 6,000 sq. ft. brick machine shop on Jackson road, with 70 rotating taps and a large covered beer garden.

Top review

Andrew

Dined on May 31, 2025

Always a great experience here. A great selection of drinks and amazing food with seasonal specials. As always the staff was wonderful and attentive. We love this place!

Salt Springs Brewery

4.6

4.6 (875)

$30 and under

Brewery

Saline

About the restaurant

"Mammoths & saber-tooth tigers once roamed these lands in search of their rich salts. Paleo-Indians hunted, farmed and raised families here because of the salt springs. Early settlers named their town Saline after the salt springs, and now in this stunning +120 year-old former church, so does this brewery.

Salt Springs Brewery offers lovingly crafted & locally sourced food, true-to-style ales, wine, cider, and craft cocktails. Located in the heart of Saline, complete with an outdoor Biergarten and main dining room filled with the original stained from 1899, Salt Springs Brewery will quench your thirst and nourish your soul."

Top review

Erin

Dined on Jun 9, 2025

The gluten free menu and wine paring event was incredible!

Discover more

Experience

Brunch at the Brewery

4.6

4.6 (77)

$30 and under

Global, International

Chelsea

About the restaurant

Located in downtown Chelsea, MI our burger and sushi restaurant is the perfect solution for diverse palates. With its romantic gothic industrial interior, hand-crafted cocktails and original artwork gracing every turn and table.

For reservations please note;

-All reservations are held for up to 15 minutes past the scheduled time. If you are going to be late on arrival, we kindly request you call us and let us know.
-During high-volume service, all reservations are booked in 2 hour increments. Please be advised, so we can accommodate future guest seatings.
-All reservations made in-house are done with at least 2 hours in advance notice.
-For large party reservations, please call the restaurant directly and one of our team members will be happy to assist you.
-If you do not see an available time online for your party, please call directly to the restaurant and we will be happy to look for options.

We're looking forward to your dining experience with us here at The Grateful Crow!

Top review

Julie

Dined 5 days ago

We have gone to Grateful Crow for Mothers Day and then for Fathers Day-great menu, great service! Its something special! My family has also eaten outside and said it was great as well.

Sam Hill

4.6

4.6 (111)

$30 and under

American

Dexter

About the restaurant

Sam Hill is a spacious indoor-outdoor gathering place for local friends and families to spend the day enjoying food, drinks, games, and entertainment of all sorts.

Top review

Beverly

Dined on Jun 4, 2025

Roast beef was good but a little too salty for my taste.

Carlyle Grill

4.5

4.5 (1691)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Ann Arbor

About the restaurant

Carlyle Grill, an Ann Arbor mainstay has proudly served the Ann Arbor Community since 2006. We work with some of Michigan’s finest food producers and purveyors to bring you the freshest offerings around. From steak dinners to burgers and salads and everything in between, we pride ourselves on providing you the best in flavor – offering generous portions to feed the hungriest of guests.

Comfort is the theme at our relaxed, family-friendly restaurant, where the menu runs to familiar, home-style dishes with top-notch regional ingredients. Enjoy our welcoming atmosphere featuring colorful yet classic design elements – bringing in added warmth and comfort with deep mahogany accents and large flagstone columns in our main dining room.

During the warmer seasons, take advantage of the two open-air dining areas surrounding the restaurant. We also have a dedicated, breathtaking dining room available for large reservations or private dining events.

Top review

MarkVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Wish we had one of these restaurants near our home. So good!

Cafe Zola

4.4

4.4 (1045)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Ann Arbor

About the restaurant

Café Zola is an independently owned and operated restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner in downtown Ann Arbor. Our menus are inspired by flavors and recipes borrowed from European and Mediterranean cultures and cuisine, including some Turkish recipes. We are committed to sourcing the freshest and highest quality ingredients available and supporting local businesses, farms, and suppliers. Café Zola’s seasonal menus emphasize organic and local produce, dairy, eggs, poultry, meat and seafood. Our full service bar features artisanal cocktails, happy hour specials, and a rotating wine selection chosen from various small production vineyards throughout the world.

Reservations move you to the top of the list.
You may still wait 10-30 minutes.
We may use more than one table for large groups.
If you are interested in a reservation for a large group or special event, please contact us directly.

Top review

MikeVIP

Dined on Jun 3, 2025

Delicious egg dishes make for a savory brunch. Service always first class. The place to see and be seen.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Ann Arbor

Explore more Diners' Choice lists