I'm astounded by the number of people who rave about this place. As a beer lover who's lived in Ann Arbor for over two decades, I'm equally surprised how little I've been here. The bottom line is that I always have a poor experience. It seems center mostly on the staff who tend to be lazy, slow, and overly opinionated on nearly any topic you can imagine (and quick to feel compelled to join your conversation...). I've never gotten even decent service and usually it's just plain poor. Beer selection is fine, though not to the level of hyperbole some people seem to need to apply to this place. Though I must admit that I don't need to go seek out SuperButtMonkey's Flying Octopus Pale Ale. Only eaten here once and the food was just plain gross. Greasy and unappealing. If you want extreme beer selections, skip this and hit nearby World of Beer which has way more and solid service. Or just stroll up the street to the Red Hawk for a solid beer selection and really good food with top-notch service. read more

Ordered through Grubhub and my high hopes were crushed to a pulp. My burger wasn't even the right burger and even then the bacon on it was burned. Everything was cold, the poutine I paid an up charge for was terrible, with cold cheese and gravy packed with the dessert and not the poutine so I didn't see it until I'd already pitched it from being so gross. They didn't include caramel with my caramel dessert and it was not only overdone, but rock hard because it was overdone and cold. When I called Ashley's to mention it (politely), I asked for a manager but I'm assuming the bar answered because it was so loud the person on the phone kept screaming into the phone "what?!" At least 5 times. I finally hung up and called back and someone answered in a quieter area and he told me that he was a manager, but it was "out of his hands," and to speak to Grub Hub. GH refunded my burger and poutine. Guess it's a turkey sandwich out of the fridge, because it's way better than takeout here. So disappointing. read more

When in Ann Arbor for work, I'd wanted to find a cool joint that would offer a craft take on regional food while also offering a good feel for the University of Michigan crowd - which Ashley's definitely provides. To begin with a drink, their craft beer selection is huge - veritably offering something for any preference. Their menu was great for someone new and offered many staples (fish and chips, burgers, etc.) with different takes such as poutine (the reason I came here) as well as lobster rolls and a craft beer infused sausage with root vegetables. I ended up getting the sausage which was fantastically crafted: not too 'meaty', very flavorful, and tender. I absolutely loved it. The poutine was also great - a Canadian dish of fries, cheese curds, and gravy that I've wanted to try for awhile. Definitely a Michigan/CAN treat if you can find it. The atmosphere was really nice as well. It had a very east coast college vibe and is a joint that seemed to have a lot of young professionals and grad students that frequent it. Ashley's is an awesome spot that I'll be sure to come by again should I be in Ann Arbor. read more

One fine day a few years ago, I drew the short straw and got to go out for a face-to-face meeting with a potential client in Ann Arbor. Coming from the west coast, you have to understand that I have no idea what goes on anywhere east of the Rockies, really. When people told me I was going to Ann Arbor I was like, "Crap. I have to go to Minnesota. That's like somewhere off in the middle of nowhere on the east coast." The meeting was in the afternoon, and as any road-warrior will attest, the only way you can pull that off coming from the west coast is to take the Red Eye and fall asleep during your meeting, and all throughout your day at work the next day, or just come in the night before. There aren't exactly a wide variety of flights to Ann Arbor, so we had to arrive the day before. That gave me plenty of time to explore the wonders of Ann Arbor. Not knowing much about where we were on a map, much less how much there really was to do in Ann Arbor (although I had a guess), we wandered into Ashley's, since it looked like it would be reasonably standard food. Understand that my expectations were even lower than the temperature outside; but the waitress handed us the beer list, and it was thicker than the Communist manifesto. I had several super obscure beers I'd never had before and never again. The food was pretty decent bar and grill style fare. But seriously, we were completely overwhelmed by the unexpectedly massive beer selection. Never before have I so inappropriately prepared for a company meeting the next day as I did that night. We finished the evening with a port flight, of all things. The moral of the story is, we eventually did end up landing the client, and I can only think that my hangover the next day made me seem so quiet and agreeable that our first impression carried us through. I couldn't point out Ashley's on a map of Ann Arbor, let alone Ann Arbor on a map of the United States; but I owe Ashley's a debt of gratitude for turning an otherwise uneventful trip into a trip that I'm guessing was eventful although a large portion of it is pretty hazy. read more

Wholy beer pickins! If you want a good brew, Ashley's has got it! Located in downtown Ann Arbor near the park, this dark, cozy pub is awesome. I had the beer sampler and was able to pick 4 beers from a list on the chalk board. I had the Jolly Pumpkin ES Bam (nice caramel color with a lost of head, but a little on the sweet side) the Blonde (a fruity wheat beer), Khunnens Wit (a little on the light side, citrisy), and umm. hmm. i forget. I will definitely be returning here. read more

I was there on the 7th of October around 2pm so I'm sure I had the same waiter as Zach below did. My buddy and I were in town for business and decided to hit it up since they seemed to have this crazy beer selection. When we were ordering beers both of us managed to keep picking out beer that was no longer available and the menu had not been updated. Placed our food order and both had food served wrong. Waiter watched way more of the tigers game sitting at the bar with his friend than checking on the tables (no refills for us without flagging him down). Only reason I gave it a second star was because after i fixed my burger and requested the right toppings the food was good. read more

Campus bars, by definition, have to suck. Ashley's is really no different, except I suspect undergrads go here to feel "grown-up" and "smug", just like a real grad student does. The beer selection is impressive - they do have the tasty tasty brew that is Smithwicks - but the wait *is* long, even if it's a weeknight. The women they have as hostesses/bouncers are always surly, the jukebox is loud as fuck (seriously, I love JT as much as the next person, but not when he makes my ears bleed) and the downstairs bar is so freaking smokey that it makes my eyes water just thinking about it. There are much better bars in town - but you may have to *gasp* walk (or cab it, you lazy lazy jerk) over to Main Street. read more

Best beer selection in the area and the staff are VERY knowledgeable about their fare. It looks like they do well enough with whiskeys as well but I'm not much of a liquor drinker. Never had any major complaints about the service but my only really stellar experiences come from sitting at the bar, they have some awesome bartenders The food is decent but nothing spectacular, it's certainly not the reason I go there. read more

Excellent selection of beer and whiskey! I loved going here when I could. Unfortunately, I only had a few weekends where I was able to actually try it. The food is your typical bar food - nothing spectacular. Definitely get the beer samplers if you go here! read more

Ashley's has an amazing selection of craft as well as imported brews. I have been going here for years and their selection has yet to disappoint. Their pricing is very reasonable for beer as well as liquor; you can get a Knob Creek on the rocks for like $6, which is fabulous! They pour heavy and you get your money's worth. I have yet to eat a full meal at this establishment, I usually end up ordering apps while drinking with friends. Last Saturday my group and I drank there for about 4.5 hours and ordered numerous apps, all were up to par as always. read more

Location is great. Drink selection is good. But food was not tasty. Ppl just dont come to drink, they come to eat as well and the name has restaurant in it. read more

Super-friendly staff, excellent beer selection, equally excellent prices, walking distance from UM Union. I can't squeeze out a fifth star 'cos the food was terrible, but I believe beer is called liquid bread for good reason. read more

I love beer, and I love stouts and porters, cask beers, and IPAs. They have so many beers on tap I can't keep up. There is definitely no other place like this in Ann Arbor for beer. One of my favorites is the Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA on pump which is amazing. If you've never had a cask beer and like IPAs, I highly suggest this one. It is heaven. Their bar food is above average, their fries are especially good and they have an awesome weekday lunch special which ranges between $5-$6 -- you can get a sandwich or burger with a side and a pop. Their jukebox is alright. If you're lucky, you'll be there when one of the regulars starts playing all the motown in the box and dances around it. read more

Its simple: *over 60 delicious beers on tap. *All liquor drinks are strong and tasty (full bar) great martini menu. *Fabulous and yummy bar food, especially late night. *Fun servers (request Jamie Register, local music artist and quite a character - she's great!) *Chill, cozy, comfortable (dress sweats or dress up!) and fun atmosphere (music can be a little loud...) This is a gem of Ann Arbor, my go-to place... So many amazing memories here drinking quality beer with quality people. What sealed 5 stars: last night they were playing Disney's The Lion King soundtrack at midnight. Absolutely amazing! Yes, I sang along...Hakuna Matata! read more

If your looking for a bar in Ann Arbor to call home then look no further than Ashley's. It is by far my favorite bar in Ann Arbor from their huge selection of beer to their delicious (not so nutritious) pub food I love Ashley's. In case you needed more incentive to make it your spot they have Motor City Trivia on Mondays which is always a ton of fun, especially if your there with a group. Only downside is that Ashley's is a bit small so depending on how many people your with you may have to be willing to wait a bit but they usually get you in pretty fast. Overall Ashley's is fantastic and you should probably be on your way there right now, make sure to have a strongbow and some pesto fries waiting for me :) read more

Came on a post-game Saturday and loved it. The place was right at capacity when we walked in, so we had to wait a few minutes for a table to open up, but lucked out and got a two seater by the big mirror opposite the bar. Our server was awesome, the Stilton fries were disgusting (Blue cheese sucks!), and I didn't feel like I was getting completely hosed on the price of booze. 4.4 stars. Can't wait to get back to Ann Arbor. read more

Ashley's happens to be my favorite bar in ann arbor. Unpretentious yet boasting one of the most exceptional beer lists in the deuce, Ashley's has great food and a great vibe. It reminds me of Cheers, kinda, but not everyone knows your name. It just has that neighborhood-y pub feel down pat. The food is absolutely fantastic. The cheddar ale fries?! Waflle cut fries with a cheddar beer sauce on top- yes, PLEASE! They are so so good. As are most of the other offerings on the menu- salads, burgers, and typical "bar food". One of my favorite "beers" is Lambic Framboise- which they have ON TAP!! Amazing. One of my favorite things about Ashley's is the happy hour from 3-6pm every week day. Apps and drinks are cheap! read more

Trivia night is what makes me like Ashley's so much. And their huge menu o' rotating beers is pretty mind boggling, in a good way. I love that it includes a little beer dictionary for the beer clueless like me. The food is pretty standard pub food, nothing stellar, everything greasily satisfying. I don't like how cramped it is, you're constantly kicking your friends or getting poked in the back by a passing elbow. And their ladies bathroom always seems really gross. They have a little "Around the World" passport that you can have stamped as you sample various beers, and after so many stamps, you get freebies like t-shirts or a % off your bill. Not too shabby! read more

Beer is five stars. Beer list is always changing, and you are sure to find something that strikes your fancy. I've recently had a Roak IPA that I enjoyed. They also have some rarer items on tap; Bae raved about the Expedition Stout. Food is three stars. Between the two locations, I've had quite the selection from their menu. It's meh. Glad that they added poutine. Also: location - meh. Hard to park, hard not to hit an undergrad. :/ read more

I pine for Ashley's now that I am away from Ann Arbor. 4 years of college, and I still couldn't get through the entire list of beers on tap. I think I've only eaten there once, you don't really go for the food. Well, not intentionally anyway. Ah, was it Ben Franklin who said, "Beer is proof that God loves us?" Because God really loves you at Ashley's. read more

One of the best things about Ashley's for a first time patron shows itself almost immediately after sitting down. Aside from the menu, Ashley's supplies a booklet containing in-depth analysis of all the beers they have available, specific styles, and beer terminology that the average beer drinker may not know/understand why it is important. Other places may have a greater selection than Ashley's but this booklet leads me to believe that the bar has a passion for good beer and wants their patrons to learn about/try/enjoy the beer in the same manner. I've also been impressed by Ashley's food. Their food isn't anything fancy. You can find almost all the dishes (sans the Stilton cheese covered anything) at other establishments. If you're going to offer a regular bar food lineup you better at least make sure the quality is great and I feel Ashley's delivers. The only downfall of drinking and eating at places that cherish high quality spirits is the price. Don't come into the bar/restaurant expecting to sneak out with a small tab. If you can get over the price during your first trip, I'm sure you'll be ready to hype up the place just like the rest of us. read more

The service we received (or rather didn't receive) at Ashley's was perhaps the worst I've experienced ever. We were a large and friendly group with money to spend. We were gracious and patient, and yet were treated as though we were a burden to the staff. They were rude and inattentive. I'm not a negative person, and I've never before written a poor review, but this experience was unbelievable. I would happily have a conversation with the management to better explain my concerns. read more

I first have to say that (as mentioned before) Ashley's has a very extended beer selection. It's nice because you can actually have a decent beer instead of getting your standard; Bud and miller. It's a decent place to go to catch up with friends and watch a game. It has a sports bar feel to it, however, it's not like BW3s or Malarkey's. Definitely far from a place like Touchdown. Most of the people that come here are mature UM college students, Grad students, and A2 residents. Mature meaning that no one is opening beer bottles with their teeth and you don't really see "douchebauchery" of any kind. At least not that I've seen. =) If I were to generalize, I think everyone that comes here for the most part comes for the chill ambiance and beer selection. Their food is, in my opinion, better than a standard bar. You get many options. Some people have said it's overpriced, but I don't think so. However, paying 8 bucks for a burger doesn't seem expensive to me. I guess it just depends on what you are getting. No five course meals will be served...well you could probably order enough to have some sort of said courses, but in general it's just your standard food. Burgers, sandwiches, fries, onion rings, nachos. All American food pretty much. I haven't had super speedy service. It's not terrible, but I definitely sit with an empty glass for moments longer than I would like. I'm usually so engrossed in trying to converse with someone that I don't notice that often. If you want to take a date somewhere I wouldn't take them here. Like I said it's nice, but not that nice. Usually it's quite loud. Especially if there is a game of some sort on... and there usually is a game. So, conversation is hard to have. I've been multiple times and I will definitely go again. So, if you plan on going it will be like anything - it just depends on what you are looking for at the moment and what you want. read more

This is by far my favorite place to hang out downtown A2. The service can be a bit on the slow/poor side, but its a small price to pay. I have yet to find a better beer selection anywhere especially when it comes to Michigan/Micro brews. The food is damn good also, including my personal late night favorite, The Stilton Fries. If you have not been to this place, go there now read more

A great place to hang out with friends - and the beer and alky selection is amazing. And although I don't know anyone who works there I always enjoy the wait staff - they always act like we're buddies catching up, which is great for the atmosphere. Oh, and the appetizers are DELICIOUS. read more

I have 10 years of Ashley's experience (well 12 if you count the years I could only order pop) Pardon me if get sentimental. If it weren't for Ashley's (and my college friends), today I might be drinking Bud Light with Lime. Thankfully I cut my teeth on 'good' beer while being dragged here as a poor college student in 2005 and ordering $5 pints off the ridiculously comprehensive tap list. Back in those days racking up a $20-30 tab was painful, but it was worth it. I enjoyed many 21st birthdays here, the liquor/shots were good back then too, though I stick to beer now thank you. The place hasn't changed a bit since then (and that's a good thing). I recently had my wedding in Ann Arbor, and I chose Ashley's as the place have a pint with my groomsmen before the ceremony. It was a good choice. Today craft beer has blown up in Michigan and super-multi tap rooms are all over the state. Ashley's was way ahead of that curve, but is a little less unique than it was 10+ years ago. Still I hold Ashley's in highest regard as my favorite place to get a really good beer that I won't be able to find anywhere else. The menu is solid pub food. You really can't go wrong, but the highlight of any visit is getting a recommended pick off the rotating taps. The bartenders are always extremely knowledgeable. My wife and I are casual craft beer fans (drink a lot of it, know only enough to know what we're ordering), we stopped in on a quiet afternoon and the bartender was extremely down-to-earth and had a beer conversation with us about beer. He was clearly passionate about beer. read more

I don't know. I'd love to give 5 stars but I've never really gotten good service when it's been crowded. Their lunch specials are great (4-5 bucks for a lunch-sized amount of food) and their rotating taps always make me hopp--- err, happy. Try the Lineman Burger and an Arcadia Hopmouth for the ultimate mouthgasm. read more

Dear Ashley's, Thanks for the beer, obviously. It's incredible. Moreso, thank you for not shoving a big ol fuckin' TV at the end of the table. If I wanted to drink beer and watch TV, I wouldn't have left the house, and appreciate the fact that you want me and my friends to actually hang out with each other. Sorry for blowing up your bathroom last Tuesday, not my intention. See you soon! Love, Jerry read more

I've lived in A2 all my life and have been to Ashley's multiple times. So I'm pretty upset that this great bar has failed me so miserably. I went in yesterday at about 3PM, I and my two friends, we went to the downstairs bar. The downstairs bar was busier than usual because it was St. Patty's day but it wasn't, by any means, a packed bar. I and my friends waited 15 minutes for the bartender who never paid us any attention. Finally my friend pulled him aside as he was passing by and asked, "hey, could you serve us please?" The bartender says yes, my friend gives her order and he immediately wheels away without taking mine. We wait 5-10 minutes, watching as he serves everyone else their drinks but he never gives my friend hers. We decide to leave. I couldn't help but note that all the white ppl at the bar were getting great service while us, the only Asians there, got none at all; not even an acknowledgement. The hostess saw that I was visibly upset when we were leaving and grabbed the general manager (GM) for us. I hate confrontations so I didn't really want to meet the GM but, again, I was pretty bothered about what had just happened so I waited for the GM and then told him what had happened. I also made the point to the GM that I had felt like there was some sort of racial discrimination going on between us and the bartender. The GM precedes to tell me that I'm being "absurd" (verbatim) that their bla bla bla is Asian and so it's "crazy" (verbatim) that I would think that I was being racially discriminated against. ....Needless to say, the GM never apologized about the lack of service we received. I've never felt racially discriminated against in my hometown, A2, so that was a pretty singular experience. I've also never been told by anyone in the service industry that I'm being "absurd" about my feelings - I've also worked in the service industry for 2 years and I've never seen any of my coworkers telling clients/customers that either. Ashleys failed on two part, bad service, and then horrible manager, I brought my concern to the manager and he threw it back in my face and forced me to defend myself. That 1 star is for their large beer selection and the hostess who bothered to bring the GM out. Luckily, there's plenty of other bars here in town cause I won't be going back after that ridiculousness. read more

Ashley's is my favorite bar on campus for its wide selection of craft beers. In fact, it was ranked #17 for "Best Beer Restaurants 2010" by RateBeer. If it's your first time there, or you're just not familiar with their selection, ask any server for explanations or recommendations. They're there to help. The menu also serves as a decent guide because it grades each beer according to a Flavor Rating, from a "no flavor" 1 to a "full-bodied" 9. So if you're used to your favorite Heineken and not sure about trying a robust imperial stout, refer to the numbers for guidance and simply work your way up! PROS: You can find craft beers from across the world, especially great American microbreweries, and they'll carry many regional/local beers that are hard to find outside Michigan. They also offer rotating taps, seasonals, and special selections available for a limited time. (See the chalkboard inside for current off-menu specials. You'll know what I'm talking about when you walk in.) Also, though there are some rare and expensive choices like the Dogfish Head World Wide Stout or Kuhnhenn Raspberry Eisbock, I find most prices to be very reasonable, especially considering your many options. The service also is pretty good. I can't speak much about their food since I rarely, if ever, eat anything there, but the pesto fries I once tried definitely hit the spot. CONS: It's relatively small, so you might have to wait even on a weeknight. It's also a campus bar/pub, so don't expect any elegant ambiance even if the beer selection itself is pretty "high-class." I personally don't care much for proper glassware/beer pairing, but if you're the type that absolutely needs the snifter glass for a stout or barley wine, for example, you may be disappointed. (Some beers do come in the "right" glassware, but more often than not, they will just be the generic pint glass.) Lastly, you'll occasionally run into times when your top 2-3 choices are sold out, but I guess that's no different from other places. In conclusion, this is a great bar known most for their beer selection, though they also have liquor/wine/cocktails if you're interested. But honestly, if you're not that into the beer selection, there is no real reason to be there because there are other bars after all. If you want to break out of the typical mass-produced beers (you know, the ones with TV commercials), Ashley's is the place to learn and explore the world of craft beer. read more

This is a Beer Paradise for any beer lovers. Over 65 different beers on tap, great beers (they even will let you taste a couple here and there). Kind of small and does get packed quickly. Also love there cheddar ale fries ( which are 5 stars in their own right). The only thing i wasn't a fan of is the buffalo wings, they were OK, but nothing special (and too big for my liking). Overall if you love beer a lot like i do, this is a place to go to. read more

I was here on a Saturday night at 9 and not surprisingly perhaps, the place was full. Luckily for us, my friend and I were let in with just a moment's wait and we were assigned a booth so I was very happy about that. Our server stopped by pretty soon we had our butts into our seats and said - "I will be in to check on your drinks orders soon." Now, I should talk about their wide selection of drinks. They easily have one of the most extensive selection of beers that you will find at any restaurant and what's nice about their selection is that the menu gives you a pretty good sense of what each of the beers is like. They have a scale from 1-10 (where 1 is very light and 10 is very full-bodied) and they have almost all of their beers rated on that scale. In addition, they also provide the alcohol content for each beer. That being the case both my friend and I took a fair amount of time looking through the beer list only to be interrupted twice by our server with - "Decided yet?" Finally when I had decided on getting a Sam Adams, she said condescendingly, "All this time to decide on a Sam Adams, huh." That was the first sign that we had a server with basically a Why-are-you-guys-here attitude. That said, our order of appetizers of pesto fries came soon and boy, am I happy that my friend had ordered it. They were easily among the best fries I have ever had. Both the seasoning that was put on those fries along with the dip that came with it were very, very good. The fries also had sun-dried tomatoes in them and that only added to the flavor. Quite soon, I found myself asking for a second serving of the dip since both my friend and I were using it in liberal quantities on our fries. As far as the main course was concerned, I had a burger and my friend had a sandwich. None of them were much to write home about but they were fine - just about average. I would have liked to have the option of having a turkey burger but they did not offer that and in the absence of that, I went for a burger with a chicken breast used instead of a beef patty (the other option besides beef and chicken was a veggie patty made of beans and I wasn't too keen on that). By the time we were done with drinks, appetizer and the main course, we were both pretty full and neither of us had any room for dessert. That said, the dessert options looked pretty interesting too. Finally when it came turn to receive the checks, our server brought us those promptly but I was VERY surprised to see a tip of 18% added to the bill. I am pretty sure I have never seen a tip of 18% being added for a party of 2 people and I am not sure why she brought us a check with that on. Had she not put that on, I would have put in the usual 15% but having had that 18% on the bill did leave a bad taste in the mouth. The total for the us came to $52 with tax and tips included. All in all, I would say that the service was lack luster and that stood in the way of what could have been a pretty darn good evening. That said, I can't stop coming by to the pesto fries - they were really OMG good and so you should certainly try those. I am more than happy to give that place another try especially considering how close it is to U of M's campus and I just hope that I get a better server. read more

Hilariously, I went here a few days after I wrote that first review and--whaddayaknow--the service was lacking. The server gave us a "minute" to decide on drinks and a "minute" was more like 10-15. I will say, though, my whiskey and diet was about half whiskey--not complainin' there! read more

Ashley's Restaurant - American Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

When I lived in Ann Arbor, I never went here that often... I thought of it as a pretty lame, safe and pretentious place for grad students (even though I was one myself). I was there twice yesterday for the first time in years, and really enjoyed myself. I am usually the sort of person who is happy to settle for the cheapest PBR or its equivalent on the menu, but sometimes it is nice to have a "good" drink. Not only is the beer list amazing (especially for Michigan), but it is ridiculously affordable. Many of these 70(?)+ craft and import beers are around $4 per pint-- it is a steal for what you get. I sometimes find myself having to shell out that much for a bottle of Budweiser in Manhattan. In my old age, I also really appreciate drinking in a booth. The food was pretty good, too. If they would just get rid of the TVs and replace the internet jukebox with a curated one they'd be golden. Cheers. read more

Loved this place. Soooooo many drink options. Great service. Only had appetizers but a definite spot to hit up.

If you like beer, Ashley's is definitely your place. There is a book of a beer menu and you can get pretty much anything you want. Lots of local microbrews too. I never went here much while in college, but now that I'm an adult I just went for dinner and a few beers with friends. I'm not much of a beer drinker but the boys I was with quite enjoyed drinking their way through the menu. As for the food, I got a chicken ceasar wrap that came with chips and a pickle while most of the rest of the crew got fish and chips. I'm not a super big fan of the homemade chips that came with my dish, but the fries that came with everyone else's food were amazing! Our waiter was excellent and very attentive although did have some trouble breaking up our big check. read more

Places that will serve me Smithwick's on draft will always find their way into my heart. Ashley's also has a somewhat staggering list of other beers available on draft, in bottles, and in casks. Usually I'll try a new one and grab my Smithwick's for the second round. Happy hour results in good deals for excellent beer (I believe it's from 4 to 7pm). Maybe I'm turning into an old man, but Ashley's is definitely more pleasant in the summer when there aren't 30 billion students crammed into it and they open the big street-side windows. The music is also better earlier in the night, before the crowd favorites are getting played. I breath a little sigh of relief on holidays as well - Ashley's was comfortable a few days before Thanksgiving. If you're bringing a party bigger than six people, prepare to split up your group. Although I have managed to go here with larger groups, nine times out of ten you're waiting way too long for a sizable table or you're cramming everyone into a 4-top. That's upstairs. Downstairs they have a bar and a couple tables, also stools. This is more conducive to mingling and meeting than the main floor but it's a small space and often packed and quite smoky. As far as food goes, I don't have any big complaints except that their wraps, in any guise, are terrible. Some stand out dishes are their hamburgers, spinach-artichoke dip, and bacon cheddar chive fries. In summary, I usually have a good time with a few friends at Ashley's. It's definitely one of the better bars to go to for a more low-key evening, but it's more-low key in the summer. Beer is great and the food is good. I've always found the wait staff to be helpful, if sometimes beleaguered by the sheer amount of people they have to attend to. read more

This is definitely my favorite bar in Ann Arbor. They have a huge selection of great beers. They don't sell garbage like Miller Lite, instead they have lots of microbrews from around the country. It get's quite hot in the summer, so be prepared. When you go, get the Stilton fries and a glass of Stone Ruination IPA, you won't regret it. P.S. The fact that the beers are really good also means they are a little pricey. Most run $5-6.50. read more

We stopped in twice during the July 4th weekend. There was plenty of seating both times (on Friday and Saturday nights of a holiday weekend, no less), and the service was great! Whether you're looking for a flight of Michigan-brewed beers or to check out their rotating taps, there is no shortage of options. We ordered a couple snacks from the late-night menu which were average - not bad, nothing to write home about either, but you come here for the beer. The kitchen was open plenty late for us (1am on Saturday nights). read more

I've only been for drinks. This review has nothing to do with food, as I haven't tried it. They were very crowded the first time we went, on a Friday, but we had no trouble getting into the basement. I liked it down there. It was less crowded and not as loud. The second time, we went on a Wednesday evening and stayed upstairs. Due to it being a week night, it was also much less crowded. They have so many beer options it is hard to choose! Something like 70 on tap? Even more in bottle options. It's not a "cheap beer, get smashed" kind of place. There are quality beers with prices that match. Depending on what you get it could be $3-$11. Most are in the mid range though so prices are not bad. The beer menu is bigger than some restaurants' food menus. It lets you know what is on tap, what is bottled, flavor scale, descriptions, etc. read more