I'm a pretty decent home cook and often think that I can make dishes that I eat at restaurants just as good or better. NOT true here. My friend and I splurged on the Chefs tasting menu. Tastebuds I never knew I had came alive last night. It's been 24 hours since I got home and I'm still thinking about it. Bartender Felicity and waitress, Anya, were delightful and knowledgeable. I would pay money learn how to replicate a fraction of what we ate. My friend treated me...and I'm forever grateful because I could not afford to have experienced this otherwise. It was not a meal...it was an event that I will always remember. read more

I have several interests: building Lego, reading mysteries, and seeking out a delicious meal. Yelp has allowed me to chronicle these adventures, serving as a repository for my dining memories. Echelon has now made it to my exclusive list of 5-star restaurants. I readily admit to being a tough reviewer - very few places earn a 5. Allow me to share some of the reasons: Service was stellar. The staffers were professional and friendly. They quickly brought out each course and cleared the table efficiently. They were tireless in answering my many questions about the ingredients. I prefer tasting menus. For me, after the first few bites, my taste buds get fatigued. The six-course tasting menu, with its complex flavors and textures, kept me interested throughout the meal. The dining room was spacious and well-appointed, without being stuffy and overwhelming. I loved the table groupings and comfy seats, whimsical wall coverings, oversized lighting, and wall of windows. I believe the tasting menu changes; I had: - A bite of brick dough (I had to look it up) pastry, served with a tart, faintly bitter rhubarb soda for a palate cleanser. - The Kanpachi crudo arrived with smoky fanfare. It was served with agua fresca and droplets of chili oil, topped with watermelon radish. I loved the fatty, slippery fish paired with the acidic, fresh, and spicy liquid. - My favorite course was the wood-roasted maitake mushroom in a shoyu glaze, topped with shallots, with a red pepper sauce. I wouldn't have minded a main entrée of these savory, meaty mushrooms. - Next up was the sesame seed-encrusted shrimp toast on Japanese milk bread. It was served with lobster bisque and tiny lobster tail skewers. I am very familiar with deep-fried shrimp toast, a dim sum staple, and loved the novelty of black and white sesame seeds. The bisque was rich and flavorful, while the lobster tail was sweet and delicious. It was such a variety of flavors on one plate. - I never had Cappelletti before and enjoyed the pasta stuffed with a manchego-ricotta mix. It was served with more mushrooms (yay!), buttermilk froth, and fried shallots. - The restaurant considered the Wagyu bavette the star of the tasting menu. While I liked the tender beef, peppercorn demi-glace, potato croquettes, and creme fraiche topped with bacon, I still preferred the mushroom course. - The grapefruit granita and compressed grapefruit were another nice palate cleanser. - The dessert was as beautiful as it was creative. Sunchoke ice cream and crispy sunchoke straws enhanced the chocolate hazelnut flavors. I only wish a duck course was available on the day of my visit. It was offered a few weeks earlier. read more

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Echelon is a nice place with a trendy interior and on a Saturday night it was in full swing. It was a bit noisy but not enough to be distracting. My husband and I have tried a few different tasting menus in Chicago and one in Quebec so we knew what we were in for. We ordered the 7 course tasting menu without the wine pairing. We ordered a bottle of wine we knew would be good instead of trying the wine pairing which is always a bit disappointing for us because we never like all the wines served and it was around another $70 per person on top of the $125 pp for the meal. The food was well made and well thought out. I did not want fois gras so they substituted the vegetarian option for the one canapé and it was better than what my husband got. The service was excellent as expected. I loved the pumpkin anolini. The Wagyu beef was good as was the mushroom dish. My only complaint is that the middle 4 dishes were super rich. The shrimp toast tasted like it was dipped in butter. It was too much for me. I have a sensitive stomach and was not well the next day but my husband felt fine. I'm not use to eating so much rich food. It was all good and you go for the experience and I'm happy we did. This is not the small quiet romantic place that serves 7 slow courses and has two seatings per night. This is run like a regular restaurant and they did a good job considering all the different foods they were serving and timing the tasting menu items. I would go back and try some of the other dishes and cocktails. My husband liked all the food and the wine, no complaints from him. read more

Echelon Kitchen and Bar - Menu - Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Overall, service is not an issue here! They called to be sure we were on our way for our reservation. Part of the reason for the mid range stars is the overall feel of the space - it's large and not intimate; and it's color scheme, layout, lamps and bricks, its rather cold, and at odds with the high end experience they are trying to achieve. Also, tThe timing of the serving of the dishes could have been better choreographed. The first two dishes came out within minutes of ordering and the kanpachi (one of the first two dishes) was too cold. This was an odd dish. The fish was kind of boring. The contrasting pear and peanuts added a lot of texture; that was interesting but not sure it worked that well; the ponzu sauce was quite good. Next was the Romasesco, a substantial mix of broccoli and cauliflower over a cauliflower puree with capers and fried onions. This was a substantial dish and the vegetables were perfectly cooked (which, from experience, I know is a big deal to get them roasted just right). This was followed by the octopus. It came out Instagram-ready. The octopus was well cooked, but the coriander crust was a bit much - too much crunchy without the punch of coriander flavor. The yogurt sauce added a nice, balanced sourness. This was a complicated dish, that mostly worked well. Next was the best of the items ordered - scallops and risotto. We haven't had delicious, fresh, buttery scallops in a long, long, long time. Excellent quality scallops. Where did they find these? The risotto wasn't gloppy, but more like perfectly cooked rice. The final dish was the lamb loin slices and merguez sausages. The spices on the loin was outstanding, although it had too much fat. The merguez was good, but bordering on dry. While this was good, it could have been better with something else... something maybe crunchy (fried chicpeas?), sour (yogurt sauce). The wine list, particularly by the glass, was quite good (although also quite expensive). Service was good and in alignment with what would be expected for the price. I actually would suggest they try to take things down a notch and work to make this a place that isn't a special event meal, but one where you come back over and over because it is just so damn good! And, at a (high-end) price point that feels fair (if a little steep), that will leave you an evangelist for the place. read more

4.5 Stars I was celebrating my birthday here because my husband and I had such a good experience at our anniversary dinner. The atmosphere and service is still top notch! Our server and the food runners were very knowledgeable when it came to the description of the menu and food items. There's really not many restaurants in the area with such a creative menu. They take ordinary and no so ordinary ingredients and turn them into such a creative dish. The plating is beautiful and always so esthetically pleasing. The flavors are bold and unique and not easily reproduced. That's why I love the menu here. Everything was great, except the pacific sea bass was a bit overcooked, in my opinion. It was dry and my least favorite dish. I loved the short shell crab appetizer and the Gemelli. I'm not a lamb person but thought that dish was cooked really well and not gamey at all. I enjoyed the baby carrots but the portion was very small. I do wish the portions were a bit bigger. My husband and I shared 5 dishes and it was just perfect but I wasn't stuffed. If you come here as a group of 4, they recommend 8-10 dishes. I still enjoyed this experience overall! My mocktail, A Friend Indeed donates $1 (per drink) to Ben's Friends Recovery Organization, which I thought was so special. My husband also loved the old fashioned he got. read more

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The blue cheese croquettes were pungent but not as crunchy as I would've liked. The Modern Medicine cocktail "served tableside" was it put in a burette and then poured into a cup, O it was a bit anticlimactic. The scallops were clocked perfectly, so that made up for the risotto not having much flavor except for the nduja. The staff was friendly and the interior is nice. I would consider coming back for the tasting menu. read more

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Recently, my brother's job took him behind the scenes at Echelon and he said it was the cleanest kitchen he's ever seen in his life! When restaurant week rolled around, I saw it on the list, remembered what he said & made a reservation. The night before we went, I read that they were chosen as a semi-finalist for James Beard's Best New Restaurant. That raised my expectations even more! I was a little worried whether this place could live up to the hype. Spoiler - It absolutely did! We were sat in the lovely dining room right away and greeted promply by our main server. I say main server, because through the course of our meal, we had many different staff members deliver our food, clear dishes, fill water - you name it - someone was there to do it before you even realized you needed it! This place really knows how to work as a team and it made this one of my favorite dining experiences ever. At the same time, the service is not at all pretentious. Everyone is easy-going, but still very professional. We were excited to try the chef's tasting menu. For restaurant week it consisted of 5 courses. First, we were given the coolest little wooden box containing an amuse bouche. I literally felt like a kid opening up a treasure chest. That first bite began a procession of AMAZING dishes. I could go into detail, but I don't want to ruin the surprises for anyone. Believe me when I say that is is a really special experience both from a culinary and visual perspective. We will definitely return to Echelon the next time a special occasion allows us to splurge. This might not be the kind of place we can dine at all the time, but one to look forward to and remember! read more

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We went for our anniversary last year and had great service/a nice time. We went back this year and it was a totally different experience. We had to ask for utensils several times, drinks came super late, they brought a desert with a candle and told us happy birthday (ok this was funny but not for a $300 dinner). The food was good, but we expected much better service, especially on a rare/expensive night out as new parents. My husband and I will not be recommending Echelon in the future - especially since we wrote to them about our experience (just to let them know) and they never contacted us back.... not sure what happened to this restuarant. read more

The dining room is amazing. The service is incredible. The food phenomenal. Truly a 10/10 experience. I dined at Echelon and didn't know what to expect. I was dining with a a relatively larger group and we all were very open to the experience as non of us had ever dined here before. The dining room was beautifully appointed while very open, there was still a level of separation that made you feel intimate with your own group. The servers were top tier. The experience was enhanced by their precision, attention to details, and impressive knowledge of each dish. We opted for the four course meal. This allowed us to choose from vegan, pescatarian or omnivore options at each course. This was beneficial to our groups diverse taste buds. As the courses arrived at the table, you could see that this was not just any meal it was artfully crafted. The balance and blend of unique ingredients along with the aesthetic presentation made for a very tasteful experience. We were provided with new flatware for each course and the wait staff worked very well coordinating service of tables among all of them. When our food arrived 4-6 different waiters would come out to bring our table of 12 their food. So no one was left waiting. This was an amazing experience. Every single dish I immensely enjoyed. I am looking forward to an opportunity to return. It is a must try. Definitely a pricier experience. But if you're looking for an experience it is well worth it! read more

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This was a great dinner! You could definitely tell that the food was made with high quality ingredients and love. I loved the open kitchen concept where you could see your food being made. The waiters would also come and explain each dish as it was served. I felt that I was included in the dining experience and that eating was part of fulfilling a food ritual. Great for a celebration or nice night out! read more

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Loved this new Ann Arbor spot. I've been twice now. It is a great spot for a nice occasion. The dishes are all very unique and utilize Michigan vegetables that are in season. The crudo is a must get along with the bolognese we loved. The octopus was also great and so was the scallops and risotto. Everything honestly was very good, however, the portions are a little small, but still good for sharing. I would skip the hummus/whatever dips they have. I will definitely be back! read more

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The co-diner and this Yelper both got the tasting menu on our first visit to Echelon. This included ceviche, which came sitting on dry ice, producing a nice smoky effect. It next featured maitake mushrooms, served with a mild green curry and crisp- fried shallots. Next, we enjoyed the pumpkin Anolini, which contained toasted pepitas and mascarpone, pickled pumpkin and a lovely citrus foam. The main was a very yummy wagyu tri-tip, sliced on the thin side, and served with foie gras, and a peppercorn demi-glacé. Dessert was a carrot cake made with parsnips, sunshine rosemary caramel and brown butter ice cream. Sounds more like a vegetable course than a dessert course, but it was most definitely dessert. Service was very attentive, and the ambiance was relaxed yet classy. One slight negative: for a high-end restaurant, one that may be aspiring to earn a Michelin star when the Michelin folks finally make it to Michigan, Echelon may want to work on elevating the consistency of its experience. An example: while our waiter was very nice and accomodating, he did not provide the memorable experience one might expect of a restaurant at this level. When we asked a question, he had to go back to the kitchen to get the answer. Not terrible, but not at the high level to which the place obviously aims. For the most part, a very fine experience - an establishment that we would recommend. read more

Snagged a reservation here on a Saturday night. Wow I would describe the ambience's slightly on the loud side. It's a hopping place. Wait staff are very attentive and extremely knowledgeable about the menu. Everything is described in detail when it is brought to the table.Most everything is a small plate so you need to order multiple courses and expect to spend at least 100+ dollars per person. We had the carrots, scallops with risotto, Seabass, and grilled octopus as well as a lemon dessert. For a foodie, it is heaven. I might want to try the tasting menu next time! The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is that I thought it was a little pricey for what we got. But everything tasted excellent. read more

We did their 4 course Valentine dinner. It was great we enjoyed it. My favorite part was the lobster spaghetti and my husband liked the surf and turf. I thought portions were good felt super full at the end. Cute restaurant inside as well. read more

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Echelon had been on our list of must try" since they opened. Our evening started in their downstairs Tiki Bar, HUNA, which was a great experience. We were able to get a two top, next to the windows, looking out on to Main St, great people watching! Our server/bartender was Max, and he was amazing. Very friendly and attentive. There are a lot of great options on the menu, and everything is shareable which is nice to try multiple dishes. After cocktails, we ordered the Baby Carrots with Gruyère, chili, candied hazelnuts, lime and cilantro. These were cooked perfectly with amazing flavor. We also ordered the Casserecce Bolognese; braised beef, Calabrian chili, Parmesan with crispy breadcrumbs. This too, was a very fresh and flavorful dish which we would definitely order again. This venue was also completely remodeled and revisioned from the previous tenant and the transformation is upscale, not pretentious, but very well appointed and decorated. We will definitely be back, and highly recommend Echelon if downtown Ann Arbor. read more

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The Chef's Counter tasting menu was very impressive! By far and away the best tasting menu experience I've had in Ann Arbor. Price is high (this isn't an every day meal) but worth it for those who highly value thoughtful, creative, delicious food experiences. Ours was a bit more of a veggie and seafood forward menu, with one meat course (wagyu, yum), and some Asian flavors inspiration in a handful of courses. A few of my fave courses: - Osetra caviar with red wine sorbet and shiso ice cream; this was super inventive and the flavor combination was ridiculously good - Wood-roasted maitake; these mushrooms were absolutely delicious and the sauce was a punch of flavor - Shrimp toast with shellfish bisque and a lobster skewer; the textures really stood out to me on this one! - Root vegetable dessert cake; best dessert I've had in a long time... rich, a little savory, just the right amount of sweet, very balanced and not overwhelmingly heavy to close out the meal I normally don't get the wine pairings with tasting menus (as it can sometimes be too much alcohol and take away from food), but I'm glad I did with this one! Unique and memorable choices, and we loved the sommelier talks. I enjoyed every single pour (and there were seven!!) including the dessert wine, which I usually never like. Service was friendly, attentive, and well timed. The staff supporting the chef's counter have the routine really coordinated. Note - sitting at the chef's counter can be hot! Temperature wise. You will be in close proximity to the kitchen's open flame wood grill. I had brought a sweater (since you never know how cold a place will be in the summertime) and definitelyyy did not need it. I appreciated getting a personalized menu at the end of the meal as a little souvenir! It listed out the food we ate, all the wine pairings, and had our names and date printed on it. I also appreciated that the full experience was prepaid. That left the pain of spending the $$$ in the past :) and we got to just enjoy the meal while there. No big check to settle afterwards! Overall lovely meal, and I'm interested in going back to try their a la carte menu next. read more

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Perfect! From the welcome to the ambience to the service to the menu to the food. Well worth the drive, even in winter. And the beverage options highlighted by wondrous nonalcoholic cocktails and delightful wine and spirit choices accentuate the evening. If I still lived in Ann Arbor, this could easily become a habit. The tasting menu is a great option. There are lots of options to assemble your own. And shareable (2-4 people) mains complete your options. Don't miss the beet dish. Other gems include the kale salad (really), the octopus, and the quail. read more

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The food was delicious. My son ordered the tasting menu which he absolutely loved. The rest of us. Ordered the filet medium rare, carrots were sweet, the cabbage was actually one of my favorite items it's served two ways. It's something you definitely need to try if you are in Ann Arbor you will not be disappointed. Oh and on Wednesday they have half off on their bottles of wine. The new wine we tried was fantastic. This is a restaurant that is a definite repeat. read more

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I was taken here for my birthday. I had heard about the place as it switched hands from the old Mongolian BBQ. It is located on Main street in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor. Just an FYI that the place is pricey. It is an upscale restaurant so don't be shocked. Go for the experience. We had reservations and were quickly seated. Our waiter Malick explained the drink menu and the food menu. He was pretty thorough at how the menu worked and his recommendations. He explained that the items were very small so he recommended a 5 course meal or more for 2. We decided on the Calamari, roasted cauliflower, trout and scallops. The food was delicious. It had a variety of tastes and flavors. The Scallops, trout and roasted cauliflower was my favorites although all were tasty. The staff were pretty friendly and attentive. It was a very nice experience. I would definitely choose this place again especially for special occasions. read more

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We opted for the tasting menu and sat up at the bar. It was interesting to watch the grill staff prepare dishes -- they are focused and working hard back there! Our favorites I think were the Maitake mushroom course and the cappelletti -- the most delicate and delicious stuffed pasta! The root vegetable dessert was incredible -- the chocolate was so rich and the hazelnut added the best crunchy texture. We also really enjoyed the canapes at the beginning of the meal, but I can't recall what those were. This was a pleasant experience overall, but for the price, the tasting menu and drink pairing felt like less of a value compared to other restaurants of this caliber. There were only a couple courses where the drink pairing really seemed to enhance. We would definitely return and try things from the a la carte menu. I'm glad to have a new upscale option for dining out in Ann Arbor! read more

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The former home of BD's Mongolian Barbecue has been transformed into an elevated dining experience on Main Street. In a rare date night, we decided to treat ourselves to Echelon. We made reservations for the dining room, but even several days before the only thing available was 8 PM. The evening of, we arrived early and were able to be seated immediately in the full service bar area. We were promptly greeted by our knowledgeable server, who talked us through the menu. We decided on two small plates and two larger plates. As we waited for them to be served, we enjoyed the gentle din of the restaurant - it was quieter in the bar area - and the rotating photos of historic Ann Arbor on a screen behind the bar. I imagine you cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. Our Kampachi and Octopus were cooked perfectly and very flavorful. I was excited for the next course, and it did not disappoint. I ordered the Scallops over Risotto and it was so unique and delicious. My husband got the lamb, which I sampled. It was excellent but I still preferred the scallops. This is a premium experience, and you will pay for the quality, but it is unmatched anywhere in town with the package of ambiance, flavor, and service. If you're curious about Echelon, it is definitely worth booking for your next night out. read more

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Echelon is a true fine dining experience with upscale ambience, top notch service, and an amazing menu that includes smaller plates, vegetable-forward dishes, and enough protein options for any meat-eater. The beverage program is fantastic, with great cocktail options and very talented bartenders but also an excellent wine, beer, and cider list with a ton of Michigan options including wines by the glass. My wife is still talking about the Cab Franc Blanc from a Michigan winery, this place has a focus on local and hits pretty much everything out of the ballpark. I wouldn't call it cheap, but prices are fairly reasonable for the high quality ingredients, preparation, and chef-driven flavors. Definitely a GREAT option if you're looking to dine in Ann Arbor, though it can get quite loud when busy. Well done! read more

Echelon is my favorite restaurant in Ann Arbor right now. I've held off on writing this review because I wanted to try both the Chef's Counter as well as order a la carte. Now that I've had both, I'm ready to write my review and share what a fab experience I had both times. It's worth the splurge! For the Chef's Counter Tasting menu: Their menu is going to change seasonally but I had food and wine pairings I'm going to remember for the rest of my life. I mean when you open with a 'jewel box' of canapes featuring foie gras, caviar, okonoimyaki pastries & duck fritters...I am sold. I will dream about that venison loin seasoned with Michigan wildflower salt and venision pithivier. The dopio ravioli with butter nut squash, goat cheese, orange, sage brown butter lives rent free. I will always remember how beautifully stunning the squid ink tuille/lace was on the seared scallop with parmesan foam dish (it was so tasty too). I am also never going to love a 'root vegetable chocolate ganache cake' as much as the one I loved from this tasting menu. For our most recent time - we celebrated my partner's birthday! I loved the details - the handwritten birthday note, the Prosecco toast, the candle in dessert! Now onto the food -- in order of things loved it/I'd order again to eh, skip it: * Wood Roasted Cod (spring pea and mustards, caper relish, lemon emulsion, pimenton, smoked trout roe) - this dish was unexpectedly FIRE; so flaky and soft! * Lobster Bucatini (butternut squash, preserved orange, chili, toasted milk solid pancito) * House Bread (compound butter, giardiniera, muhammara) * Baby Carrot (gruyère, chili, candied hazelnut, lime, cilantro) * N'duja Tartine (stracciatella, caramelized onion, giardiniera) * Cabbage (okonomiyaki, grilled and glazed cabbage) - good but ok! * Whole Roasted Turbot (smoked caviar beurre blanc) - super unique, but a little fishy and paled in comparison to the cod. We also ordered ALL the dessert -- you have to get the spring seasonal one which is the Lemon-Tarragon Mint Cake (paired with luscious lemon rose curd, silky tarragon cream, delicate white chocolate, and a hint of pistachio for the perfect finish.) Shout out to Anya our server. Taylor, their sommelier, who has educated my wine palate. Through the Chef's tasting menu -- there were so different unique wines from various regions that I've never had before. So I also re-ordered the stand outs as well as tried a beautiful Lebanese wine on the menu! We'll definitely be back! Even the bar looks great & they have a separate menu (eye'ing the burgers and fries!) read more

When I heard that Mongolian BBQ had been replaced by a bougie new spot called Echelon--owned by a former Cheesecake Factory exec and a Blackstone SVP--I was nervous. Like... are we talking "echelon" as in "only the wealthy elite may dine here while the rest of us toil in the lower tiers of society"? Turns out... maybe a little. Echelon is undeniably fancy--like, suspiciously fancy for Ann Arbor--but we should all just let out a sigh of relief that the owner leaned more Spencer than CCF on Main Street. I'll take kanpachi crudo over a menu with 37 pages of pasta-adjacent dishes any day. The vibe? Impeccable. It's not your usual sleek-and-soulless minimalist aesthetic. Think: plush leather chairs, curved cushion banquettes, fun bulbous lighting, and enough soft paneling to keep the space feeling cozy and quiet even when it's buzzing. The service? friendly and knowledgeable servers and food runners. Over the top in the best way. The food? They somehow convinced me seafood is fresh in Michigan(??) New York level - at the top of Ann Arbor's restaurant scene for sure. Standouts were the kanpachi crudo, octopus, and lobster bucatini--each was bright, perfectly cooked and interesting--not the same seafood dishes that have been on rotation in the Midwest for the last 20 yrs (Pacific Rim... ). the filet mignon was also standout, as was the wine list. Downsides? The bread was forgettable and the vegetable salad my parents wouldn't stop hyping up? Came overdressed and underwhelming this time. But minor missteps in an otherwise killer lineup. Echelon is firmly in the camp of nice Ann Arbor restaurants that aren't just doing the same shtick. Think Spencer with seating options -- though, they are booking up fast. Be sure to book a table (on Tock) beforehand. read more

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Just visited Echelon for the first time and had a solid, albeit not perfect experience. Food is shareable and generally high-quality, though frankly a bit on the expensive side. The filet was fantastic. The wine list is very good, and the sommelier was super friendly and helpful. Highly recommend asking her for help if you don't know exactly what you're looking for. My only real issue was our server. Main issue is he seemed a bit pushy about us ordering more food. He almost seemed appalled by our group of 4 smaller-sized people only ordering 6 dishes (he recommended 3 plates per person, which seemed absurd). We were all fairly satisfied, but he kept insisting we should order more plates. We casually mentioned that we had dessert at home so didn't want to overeat, and he seemed annoyed by it. Last, he knew very little about the wine list, which is disappointing for a server at a pricey restaurant -- this ended up not being a huge issue as the aforementioned Somm was great, but a bit more training for the servers probably wouldn't be a bad idea. read more

Fabulous restaurant! Staff is the best and the food is very delicious! I heard they are in the running for the James Beard Best New Restaurant in the country!!! I wish them the very best! Only reason for the 4 vs. 5 stars is the restaurant is far too bright with their lighting. I much prefer a softer lighting when dining. read more

This was my second visit to this restaurant. My impressions during the first visit were positive enough to return. For someone who has not attended the restaurant it is quite fashionable. In fact a beautiful interior. This was the former Woolworths decades ago then Mongolian barbecue. Both interiors were ho hum! This is spectacular. Then, the wait staff was upbeat, engaging, fun to be with and competent. Great compliment to the interior. All good so far. Now the food. I'm not crazy about the menu. For a destination restaurant I expected greater turn over of dishes, more variety. Most were the same as on the menu from several months ago. The food was actually lovely. Picture perfect. I included pictures of almost all our food dishes. There is something to be said about beautiful food arriving at your table and how it makes you feel. Enchanting! I saved this point for last, the taste uniformly was disappointing. Bland, boring, it lacked in taste what it had in beauty. I expected the same level of ingenuity in the use of spices as its presentation. Not there. A couple of random observations, the risotto was very disappointing. The rice was the correct type but it did not have the succulence real risotto has when it has been cooked slowly and the rice has absorbed the taste of the liquid it's been cooked it. Seemed to be rice cooked but more mealy and runny, the texture not being present nor the taste. The baby carrots were tasty but they were baby carrots. The pasta dish I had, a bolognese was not right either. The first time I ate here it was my favorite. It was perfect. Not this time. Noodles were over cooked and the tomato sauce lacked zip and flavor. I could go on. No need. I have made my points. Would I go back? One day. No hurry. Maybe all will be better in 3-6 months. Hope so. Don't want to hear me talking about Woolworths, Mongolian bbq, and the sheik restaurant Echelon Kitchen, they were all very good but not enough to endure. read more

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To appreciate Echelon, I think you have to go with an open mind. If you look at the menu, it's small and also doesn't differentiate the dishes into recognizable groupings (e.g., "appetizer", "main") that would give you a hint to the serving size. So, it's perfectly reasonable to assume that dishes that *sound* like main courses (e.g., "filet mignon", "grilled cod") are going to be, well, main courses. You will be surprised, possibly disappointed. Three of us stopped in for an impromptu meal and found seats at the bar. We each ordered one of the "main-course-sounding" dishes, plus an order of bread. (Note that our server made no attempt to explain the menu or serving sizes.) When the dishes arrived, my 27 year-old son looked down-right distressed... he was hungry and, true to the menu's description, his "scallop and risotto" dish literally contained ONE scallop. (We also pictured the kitchen carefully adding miniscule pieces of the Chinese broccoli to the dish with tweezers...) Maybe it's just luck that I ordered the grill cod because I think it was the "biggest" and arguably the best executed dish -- and I'm the one writing this review. The beans were delicious (and covered enough of the plate surface to make the serving look more substantial) and the cod, albeit a small piece, was perfectly cooked. I almost never eat bread at a restaurant but I did this time (and we gave my son the extra piece ;) We clearly needed dessert. We ordered the panna cotta, the sorbet, and the ice cream. The burnt butter ice cream served with meringue chips was to die for, though, again, you only get one small scoop. Along with dinner -- so, that's three of the medium (?) dishes plus three desserts -- we had a glass of wine each. The bill was low compared to currently "trendy" restaurants in Detroit and environs. We were NOT stuffed to the gills and our dishes did look licked clean. I'm sure my son went home and ate a second dinner but I was satisfied. So, don't let the first glance at the menu fool you. This is not an inexpensive restaurant and expect to order multiple dishes per person. Now that we understand, we'll try the "serves 2-4" dishes next time. What we sampled definitely warrants another visit. read more

The food was absolutely delicious. We got the cabbage dish, crudo, bolognese, crispy cod, grilled octopus, and green apple sorbet. I cannot speak highly enough about all of the food. What was lacking was the service, which is why we knocked a star off. We were occasionally checked in on, which was fine, but since it was our first time there, which was made known to the staff, we expected more conversation from our server on the menu. The ladies sitting behind us had multiple servers come up to them and begin conversations about the food, however, it seems like we did not get that kind of service. We would've liked to be interacted with more, especially considering how much we enjoyed the food. We would've loved to know more about the dishes and what went into preparing them. My boyfriend had even tried to initiate more conversation by commenting to the server how great the food was, but there was barely a response to that. We would definitely return for the food, but don't expect much in terms of really learning the menu/inviting conversation from the servers read more

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There's no question--the food here is delicious. Thoughtfully plated, beautifully balanced, and clearly made with care. Each course felt intentional, and it's clear the kitchen knows what it's doing. If you're coming for flavor, you won't be disappointed. That said, the experience was not without a few hiccups. The website listed the tasting menu at $125 per person, but when booking, the cost had jumped to $150--with no clear explanation. The menu options online also didn't match what was presented at booking, which caused a bit of confusion leading up to our visit. While the food was very good, the price point is creeping into the territory of more established and nationally recognized restaurants--places with Michelin stars or years of prestige behind them. At that level, the experience has to feel seamless, and details like outdated website information matter. We still enjoyed our evening, but for $150 per person, plus $70 wine pairing, expectations are understandably higher across the board. read more

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Open kitchen. Wood fired grill. Great ambiance. Attentive service. When the dishes were served the server described the dish a second time. read more

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We spent a whole evening ordering dishes and wine bottles. The place is upscale and posh, interiors are fab. The food is dense in flavours with local ingredients and portion sizes are small, which the waiters inform you prior to ordering. The service is a bit slow but very nice otherwise. I would recommend this as an experience but beyond that... I am not so sure. Definitely worth the hype. The menu rotates so the pictures might not do justice to what awaits you. read more

Echelon Kitchen and Bar - Pita - Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Made a reservation shortly after this restaurant opened. Very cool and fun atmosphere. Staff was very attentive and friendly. Shortly after being seated our server educated us regarding the menu and provided recommendations. Everything was delicious. Highly recommend the N'duja tartine and baby carrots. The house bread was also delicious (not pictured). The scallop & risotto and the bucatini were excellent very tasty. Definitely will have to get back here to try out some of the other delicious options. read more

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Atmosphere and service at Echelon were excellent. The food would've been fabulous, if not for the hilarious portion sizes. We had a party of four and based on their menu and prices, we assumed the plates were shareable. We realized our mistake when our server recommended 7-8 plates for four people. It became evident why once the food showed up: each plate was no more than 3-4 bites of food total. It would've been funny if it wasn't so shocking to our wallets. The food itself was great, but I don't know how you would get that sense unless you were a party of two or dining by yourself. The chef's table approach was just not what we were expecting, and honestly I think it's too stuffy for a Midwest small town like Ann Arbor. Their drink menu and bar looked fun - I would come back for a cocktail and dine elsewhere. read more

I went to Echelon on a rainy Wednesday night. This is a restaurant on downtown Main Street. I'm a regular in the Ann Arbor food scene, and Echelon spoke to me. I was greeted by the server, a nice woman, who offered me a choice of water. The restaurant was very calm and peaceful. The decor had a modern, artistic vibe. I ordered house-cured pastrami brisket, with toasted sourdough, fresh pickles, and mustard that I didn't eat. The brisket tasted delicious and salty in a good way. The sourdough was very crisp and deliciously chewy. The portion size was huge, and I still have leftovers. D had a kale salad with a cheese biscuit croquette. She enjoyed it very much. I finished the meal with a chocolate ganache with buckwheat cookie crumbs, candied walnuts, and vegetable molasses. This was a fabulous dessert! It was a normal size. The restaurant offered a good variety, but was very expensive so I won't be going back. The meal totaled $193, which was very expensive. I would give the restaurant a 4 out of 5. The prices were extremely high. read more

Echelon Kitchen and Bar - Brisket, sourdough, pickles, and mustard! - Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

First time trying Echelon and will absolutely be back. The service was amazing and the food was so good. The shaved vegetable salad was our favorite. read more

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The inside of the building is well done. It's very bright, but welcoming. The service was great. You have a waiter to take your order and check in on you. You have other staff to bring you your food and go into detail about the dish they are serving you. The food is very fresh and tasty. We went for Valentine's Day. It was a 5 course menu with 3 choices to make with each course. read more

Echelon was honestly one of those places that just hits on every level. The food was incredible and everything we had was dialed in, flavorful, and clearly really intentional. You can tell there's serious thought and care behind what they're doing, not just putting dishes out to fill a menu. The atmosphere really stood out too. It feels elevated but still comfortable like you can relax and enjoy it without it feeling over the top. Just a great overall vibe! What made the night for me, though, was Chef Joseph VanWagner coming out and spending time talking with us. That doesn't happen everywhere, and you could genuinely feel how much pride and passion he has for what he's building there. It made the whole experience feel a lot more personal. This is 100% a place we'll be back to and one I'd recommend to anyone looking for a great night out. read more

I would definitely consider this a "special occasion" restaurant for us, as the dishes are on the pricier side, but some of the most delicious food I have had. Everything was bursting with flavor, with beautiful presentation. All of the employees were friendly and knowledgeable, great overall experience! The Cod and the Baby Carrots were both exceptional, also loved the Crispy Octopus and brown butter ice cream and the lemon dessert! read more

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The food, presentation, service, drinks, ambiance were excellent. It was comparable to any of our Michelin Star dining experiences. Since we were two vegans and one vegetarian, we loved the vegetable showcase. Each item was excellent on its own and didn't feel like a replica of a non-vegan dish. Echelon team will surely raise the Ann Arbor dining scene experience. Thank you for a memorable graduation celebration. read more

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