(above image source)

In an attempt to expand my restaurant horizons from the typical Noodles & Co. and Panera dining experiences, my good friend and I went to Jolly Pumpkin tonight. Located on Main Street, right next door to Gratzi, Jolly Pumpkin was a breath of fresh air. As soon as I walked in, I forgot I was in Ann Arbor. The decor is trendy, mimicking a restaurant from the big city. Upon sitting down we were greeted by (honestly) the friendliest waiter I’ve had in years. After much discussion, we decided on the Gardener’s snack board, which ranged from several different kinds of cheeses to marinated olives and roasted peppers. Easily one of the best things I’ve eaten in Ann Arbor. For the entree? We both had the prime steak salad. Absolutely delicious.

The menu is exotic and diverse, featuring everything from Asian-layered salads to a smashed chick pea panini sandwich. There are burgers for the bar food lovers and a wide range of salads for the health-conscious. Although the food is great, Jolly Pumpkin is most known for their beers. As two recently-turned 21 year olds, we had no problem checking out the beer list. Jolly Pumpkin takes their brewing seriously, focusing on open fermentation, oak aging, and superb bottle conditioning that can’t be beat anywhere else on Main St. We kept it simple with the Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere, which was recently named one of the top 25 beers in America by Men’s Journal.

There are few things I love more than restaurants in Ann Arbor, but let’s be honest: the Sadakos and No Thais of the world can get a bit old. My new mission is to check out different restaurants in Ann Arbor. I’ve compiled quite the list. I’ll keep you posted.