Where is your favorite place to enjoy a weekend brunch?
Ricotta pancakes at Jolly Pumpkin in Ann Arbor.
Jessica Webster | AnnArbor.com
As an adult in Ann Arbor, I'm still very much a fan of brunch, and we have more choices than I'm able to fully appreciate. From the dizzying array of choices at Gandy Dancer's excellent Sunday brunch to the "simple, honest" choices at Beezy's in Ypsilanti, to the ridiculously delicious sweet and savory explosion that is the Grits & Bits waffle at Zingerman's Roadhouse, we've got a whole lot of brunch here.
With Mother's Day coming this weekend, brunch has been on my mind more than it usually is. Gandy Dancer was fully booked by the time I got around to making my reservations this year, so we're deciding between all of the other ridiculously delicious choices. Will we enjoy a breakfast pizza at Jolly Pumpkin? A southern omelet at Benny's? Buttermilk lemon pancakes at Grange Kitchen & Bar?
Now it's your turn to tell us. Where do you like to brunch? Do you while away your weekend hours at an outdoor table downtown, or do you prefer a buffet brunch at the local country club? Hippie Hash at Fleetwood Diner or mimosas around the corner at Cafe Zola? Tell us in the comments below, and we'll pull together a poll of your favorites Thursday afternoon.
Jessica Webster leads the Food & Grocery section for AnnArbor.com, a part of the MLive Media Group. Reach her at JessicaWebster@annarbor.com. You also can follow her on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
A2Kimmie
Mon, May 13, 2013 : 4:25 p.m.
I'm borderline obsessed with Sava's brunch, and what crepe! is a really good choice too, lots of gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian options. This mothers day we went to ZIngerman's roadhouse however and were WOWed :) Delish and great service as always
Elizabeth Marek
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 7:46 p.m.
Lena has the best brunch in Ann Arbor!! The stuffed French toast is amazing!! Hoping to head there for Mother's Day! Yum!!
Nancy Koziol
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 11:53 a.m.
My favorite brunch in Ann Arbor is at Zola. The wait and attitude used to be horrific but has greatly improved in the last five or six months. I had brunch at Sava's (a fav lunch and dinner spot in our household) two summers ago and it was awful; based on the comments we have to go again. Cafe Felix has been on a steady decline in my opinion. I do like Angelo's but the parking is rough. I always seem to find myself at Zola with a blood orange martini and Americana breakfast.
A2Kimmie
Mon, May 13, 2013 : 4:27 p.m.
Definitely give Sava's another chance... very very good. And yes, Cafe Felix got a new chef about a year ago and has been on the decline since then... sad because it's a really nice atmosphere and ambiance. When I asked about the change in the recipes/food quality one of the servers actually told me that they were cutting costs... lmfao
Karen
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 11:30 a.m.
The Grange - very tasty!
Drmom
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 3:55 a.m.
Jefferson Market--best pancakes ever!!
Jessica Webster
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 11:52 a.m.
My son is crazy for Jefferson Market pancakes!
ordmad
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 3:49 a.m.
Zola: I order Saturday morning, leave, and come back Sunday morning to eat it when it's finally ready.
A2Kimmie
Mon, May 13, 2013 : 4:28 p.m.
... and begin waiting in the endless line on friday night?
charlotte m.
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 2:04 a.m.
The Grange and Zingerman's Roadhouse are my favorites. The Grange has wonderful, interesting combinations with totally fresh food and great service. The Roadhouse is hard to beat for any meal. Both are also very careful and responsive to food allergies and special diets.
microtini
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 2:02 a.m.
Gandy Dancer. Mmmmm ...steamboat shrimp.
Dirty Mouth
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 1:42 a.m.
Zola. Cafe Zola.
Halter
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 1:14 a.m.
/aut/Bar for sure -- one of the best brunches in town.
Arboriginal
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 1:10 a.m.
Wellington Park
LA
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 12:51 a.m.
Afternoon Delight and Cafe Marie
eom
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 12:44 a.m.
The Gandy Dancer has always been one of those places I love to visit. The train tracks, the cool bar, and how fancy I feel when I'm there. Dinner before my senior prom (circa 1986) and I continue to be amazed by the brunch they do each Sunday. It's pricey, but it's worth it. And, you don't need to eat until Monday.
GoNavy
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 12:22 a.m.
Based on the comments, sounds like my wife and I need to try Aut Bar and Quarter Bistro -
jns131
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 11:44 p.m.
Home or Big Sky. Otherwise we stay home and make something fun.
Ann23
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 11:30 p.m.
The Sunday brunch at Quarter Bistro has been a hit with my family. There was something for everybody's taste and whatever they were in the mood for.
Naked Pie
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 10:35 p.m.
I would definitely recommend the smoked salmon cakes for breakfast at the Saline Downtown Diner. Exceptional!!!
Lets Get Real
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 10:34 p.m.
We have friends that come to visit who regularly stay at Davies House Inn.. We've been invited to enjoy breakfast with them. The hazelnut stuffed French toast is fabulous and the salmon stuffed breakfast burrito topped with balsamic roasted tomatoes is amazing. Gotta be a guest though.
Lynn Liston
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 1:41 p.m.
Davies House is an excellent resource for those with out of town guests, and hostess Jan really knows how to put on a superb breakfast- she is a fantastic cook!
nunya
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 9:41 p.m.
Nicks
widmer
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 9:35 p.m.
We discovered Cafe Felix's brunch after we tried stopping by Ravens club to use our groupon but were told it was a 2-hour wait, for the THIRD time. (Way to totally oversell your ability to accommodate people on groupon, Raven's club!) Anyways, Cafe Felix is fantastic, and both times (Sunday, ~11 AM) we have gone there is no wait at all. Love the dish that comes with salmon croquettes.
katmando
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 8:40 p.m.
Tower Inn in Ypsilanti has an excellent Sunday Brunch.
jns131
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 11:44 p.m.
I remember doing that years ago. Their lunch buffet is not bad either.
Amy Wiseman
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 8:28 p.m.
I like brunch at Zingerman's Roadhouse, but only if I can sit at the bar and drink one of Bob's fab Manhattans while I eat. Table service and mimosas just don't do it for me.
bckramer
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 8:21 p.m.
My two favorites are Bona Sera (Ypsi) on Saturday; the Aut Bar on Sunday. Glad to hear Bona Sera is going to have outdoor seating.
Boo Radley
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 8:14 p.m.
Reddeman Farms GC does a really good Mother's Day brunch. We will be there Sunday. Quarter Bistro and Weber's are two that I visit fairly regularly and being on the west side, are close to us in Dexter.
a2miguy
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 7:54 p.m.
Cafe Felix is my usual brunch stop. Mmmmartinis. Several of them.
A2Kimmie
Mon, May 13, 2013 : 4:30 p.m.
their food had really gone down hill... but they do make a great bloody mary
oyxclean
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 2:01 a.m.
Just can't eat there after reading about their repeated bad health inspections.
jeanarrett
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 7:50 p.m.
Fox Hills Country Club out on North Territorial in Salem Township--fabulous--you can't believe how much food!
Griffin
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 7:45 p.m.
Nicks, Afternoon Delight, Broken Egg, Angelos!
Blerg
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 7:40 p.m.
The Aut Bar has a great brunch on Sunday as well as outdoor seating. Zola is good if you go early, although pricey. The Roadhouse had a creamed sausage over biscuits a couple of months ago that made me nearly lick my plate clean. Luckily there are lots of fun, festive options!
ahi
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 7:39 p.m.
Bona Sera in Ypsi is quite good. We head there when we want more than the simple and honest Beezy's.
Always Amazed
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 7:38 p.m.
Aut Bar hands down!
Michelle
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 7:34 p.m.
Guy Hollerin's has a fantastic buffet on Easter and Mother's Day. That's where we will be!!
vicki honeyman
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 7:24 p.m.
@kyle. you should check out juicy kitchen on miller/maple for something completely different!
Kyle Feldscher
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 7:43 p.m.
I'll look into it, Vicki, thanks!
vicki honeyman
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 7:23 p.m.
juicy kitchen. great healthy food. sweet family environment. and now they have some outdoor seating!
Ms1215919
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 11:03 p.m.
oooh, good suggestion. Glad you mentioned it....I'll be trying it out for sure. :)))
Liz
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 7:19 p.m.
Angelo's! Though to be fair I've only gone there like once. There's a tiny hole in the wall called Frank's over on Maynard, too - great french toast.
GoNavy
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 12:20 a.m.
Can't beat the raisin bread there...
treetowncartel
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 6:33 p.m.
The Grotto on Stadium next to the Jeep dealer was always a good valuye for what you got.
David Briegel
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 6:24 p.m.
It is a beautiful drive to Tecumseh for a wonderful Mothers Day meal at Evans Street Station. The food, ambiance and hospitality are just fantastic. Mom will love it!
Jessica Webster
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 6:11 p.m.
@Kyle - I need to check out Sava's brunch. Are there interesting dishes on the buffet, or is it your standard eggs/bacon/potatoes, etc?
Lynn Liston
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 7:42 p.m.
Jessica, Sava's brunch is definitely different- very elegant and beautifully presented. Our last visit there they had a lovely tray of smoked salmon, a tray of brie and other cheeses, some beautiful tarts, and a nice array of egg, meat, vegetable dishes definitely a cut above the usual egg/bacon/potato offerings. Some of this spread probably represents the gourmet items available at Babo. Not that there aren't other fine brunches around, like Quater Bistro, but Sava's included a mimosa with the meal! How could you not like that?
Jessica Webster
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 7:02 p.m.
Understood. I almost headed down to the Wafel Shop for lunch after writing this.
Kyle Feldscher
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 6:45 p.m.
The buffet usually has a little bit of everything that is delicious. The (and this is the scientific name) Pop Tart Things are deadly good. I usually get the Bandito Hash (potatoes, eggs, bacon, etc. along with guacamole, salsa and sour cream), which is way more food than any one person needs but I eat all of it every time because it's so good. My roommates recommend the omelets and Huevos Rancheros. I could go on, but I'm making myself hungry.
bluetonguedlizard
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 6:04 p.m.
We make our own and either enjoy it at home or take it picnic style somewhere lovely, weather permitting. Then we go out a different sunday for brunch thus avoiding the very hectic sunday that is mothers day brunch. Good luck to all the brunch places in town I know it is a busy day.
Kyle Feldscher
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 5:58 p.m.
My roommates and I have set out on a sort of brunch tour of Ann Arbor in recent months and we've found out most reliable spot is Sava's. The food is always good, the wait usually isn't bad, the service is excellent and the brunch buffet is something else. The best food we've had is probably at Cafe Zola, but after waiting for almost 45 minutes (despite making a reservation) and being stuck in the crowded lobby waiting for that table, we decided it wasn't worth more than one trip. Also good: What Crepe? and Cafe Felix.
A2Kimmie
Mon, May 13, 2013 : 4:44 p.m.
I strongly disagree with the negative comments on service at Sava's. The staff there is friendly, fast, consistent, and knowledgeable. They have an answer to any menu question or will quickly find it. They are very accomodating to additions/changes, and are great at making suggestions on food and especially on the quirky beverage menu as well. Employees tend to stay there long-term. Sava herself is often there smiling and greeting customers. My suggestion is to go sit at the bar during non-busy hours some day for a while... chat it up with the staff as they mill about and be friendly. They will remember you next time and hopefully your service experience will be better :) Now if we want to talk about terrible service let's take a field trip to SEVA... smh
Dirty Mouth
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 12:07 p.m.
Evidently, you don't have any connections.
Craig Lounsbury
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 10:57 a.m.
I just play the "I'm a reporter doing research" card. My service is always prompt and the portions are very generous. ;)
GoNavy
Thu, May 9, 2013 : 12:20 a.m.
I second Griffin - and I've to Sava's more than once. I'm not sure if her choice of waitstaff is suspect, but my service has, on average, been suspect. As an aside, my wife and I are foodies and have visited most restaurants in AA more than once (that is, if the first time was worth it).
Griffin
Wed, May 8, 2013 : 7:44 p.m.
Everyone I know that has gone to Sava's, including myself, has had good food but awful service. Certainly not on my top-10 brunch list.