
Echelon Kitchen & Bar is a wood-fired, vegetable-forward restaurant in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor. Our menu celebrates Michigan’s agricultural abundance with seasonal dishes crafted from locally sourced ingredients, thoughtfully prepared over open flame. Guests can enjoy creative small plates, shareable entrées, and an ever-evolving menu alongside craft cocktails and a curated wine program. From intimate dinners to lively nights at the bar, Echelon blends refined technique with warm hospitality to create a memorable dining experience rooted in community and exceptional ingredients
Hours
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 4–9 PM |
| Thursday | 4–9 PM |
| Friday | 4–9 PM |
| Saturday | 4–9 PM |
| Sunday | 4–8 PM |
| Monday | Closed |
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: exploretock.com
Related Web Results
Echelon Kitchen & Bar | Wood-Fired Dining | Vegan, Gluten-Free …
Echelon Kitchen and Bar (@echelonannarbor) – Instagram
Echelon Kitchen and Bar | Ann Arbor MI – Facebook
Reviews
An impeccable dining experience from start to finish. This is true upscale dining where the professionalism of the staff is matched only by the creativity of the kitchen. We opted for the 7-course tasting menu, and every single dish offered unique, phenomenal flavors that we hadn’t experienced elsewhere. Even with the complexity of the meal, the service was lightning-fast and attentive. The cocktails were equally impressive—well worth the price for a special occasion.
In fact, our experience was so remarkable, we ate there twice while in town. The restaurant is gorgeous, a real feast for the eyes that gives a significant nod to the building’s rich architectural past while pulling a warm art deco design in a space fitting for an architectural magazine. As amazing as the space was the entire service and food team. Our servers – Jenn on night one and Ella on night two – were so friendly, knowledgeable and everyone went above and beyond to ensure our experience at Echelon was something we would never forget (and we won’t!). We even got visits from the kitchen with Chef Joe VanWagner coming by to greet us, expediter and professional forager Marc Jacob Qualls-Sanchez coming by for a long session on his foraging expertise (amazing!), and even their new tiki bar (coming soon!) manager Max giving us the DL on that space and renovations. We felt like royalty! For a special treat above and beyond the food, service, and overall experience, the Echelon team passed around menus that night to have all the front and back of house staff autograph it for us! I am so excited to add this to the unforgettable memories of our trip to Ann Arbor.
It’s absolutely no wonder that Echelon was nominated for a James Beard award. Every bite, every conversation, every story, every sensation was top-shelf!
As you enter off Main St. you’re entering into the bar area. The bar is cozy and U-shaped with plenty of seating around the bar. Theres additional seating (for two) along the window wall overlooking Main St. The bar is well stocked and has a little something for everyone.
Dinning area is a good size and can handle plenty of people. The open dinning area is easy to maneuver through, which also allows the customers to have eyes on the kitchen. I alwsys like seeing chefs at work, just adds to the room. There is seating along the outer walls with additional seating in the middle and throughout the dinning room.
The waitstaff is knowledgeable of each dish they sey in front of you and will answer any questions you may have about anything on the menu. The drink menu is extensive, with wine by the glass or bottle. I ordered an Old Fashioned, which was delicious, just make sure to ask for the cherries (if that’s your thing) because evidently they dont come as a part of this particular drink. The Expresso Martin (pictured) was delicious and we loved the design in the froth.
The portion sizes were a bit on the smaller side. Echelon seems more geared towards presentation and not necessarily a healthy portion of food. If you’re hungry you may need to order more than one entree, we did.
I had the fliet. Their filet (pictured) comes 5.5 oz. a bit smaller than what I was expecting, but we made it work. The Scallops (pictured) were delicious and I would recommend those. Appetizers were amazingly presented and pleasing to the pallet. The bread plate (pictured) with three varities of spreads added a nice variety of flavors. Overall, good food, just would have liked a bit more for what we paid.
Overall, Echelon is a nice Downtown Ann Arbor establishment. I would go again for the variety of flavors. It can be a bit pricey but you are Main St. Ann Arbor.
Service was great. Waiter was cool, somm stopped by, chef came by at the end as well.
Every dish had a story and they were all incredible. The shrimp toast and shellfish bisque were probably the favorite but there were 3 or 4 dishes in the running for number 1. Root vegetable dessert was one of the best desserts I’ve had in ages too.
Vibe at the counter were awesome. Got to watch the crew work, it was cozy from the open flames, felt like a little show with the meal.
Would recommend the wine pairing as well.
Overall, the best dining experience I have had in Ann Arbor, probably the best food as well. Right up there with some of the Michelin starred meals we’ve had around the world.
The food is truly impressive. While the entire menu is strong, two dishes absolutely jumped out: the beets were unexpectedly complex and delicious, and the Wagyu steak was simply incredible—tender, perfectly cooked, and packed with flavor
The service is attentive and professional, creating a seamless and memorable experience. They are focused on high-quality ingredients and elevated preparation. Echelon sets a new standard for dining in Ann Arbor, and it’s well worth visiting for the culinary artistry