Good Eats: Sava's Ann Arbor

If you are looking for an eclectic, fresh and delicious restaurant in Ann Arbor, Sava's is the place. Not only is there a wide variety of choices (vegetarian too), but even the dinner prices are high and low, from an $8 sandwich to a $25 filet mignon. This is one reason it's great for a gathering. Going with friends? You can each order your own menu item at your preferred price point or choose small plates to share and each have a bite or two of all the inventive offerings. It's a great place for a cozy date, family dinner or group celebration.

image via Sava's

Insider Info.

Make a reservation. Love the option to reserve a table. Most of the time walk-ins don't have to wait, but if you want to eat between 7pm and 9pm Thursday-Saturday, call ahead, 734-623-2233.

Order a small plate. We ordered the Lobster Egg Rolls ($11) for an appetizer and gobbled them up. There was plenty of lobster meat and filling fried to a crispy perfection. You could order all small plates and have a delightful meal here.

Go cheap. The pecan encrusted chicken got 5 stars from our group. That makes the Pecan Chicken Sandwich ($7) and the Pecan Chicken Salad ($10) both fantastic, inexpensive choices.

Eat up. Since we went to Sava's for a business dinner, we decided to order big. The 8oz. Filet with Whipped Potatoes and Asparagus was a classic done perfectly ($25). Each steak at the table was cooked exactly as ordered, piping hot and tender. The Pan Seared Sea Scallops over Mushroom Risotto ($22) was light and delicious and did not disappoint. The star of the night may have been the Butternut Squash Ravioli with Warm Pecans and Thyme Infused Rose Sauce ($17). It was a really incredible, original dish that had me (traditionally not a pasta lover) wanting to lick the bottom of the bowl.

Get dessert. We could not have been happier with our fresh and light lemon sorbet or the rich chocolate cake and ice cream. Both were worth ordering, and while not too large, perfect to give everyone a sweet ending.

Enjoy the service. The service during our visit was impeccable. The staff was attentive and helpful without being bothersome. They were knowledgeable and gave fantastic recommendations.

Rise and shine (or roll out of bed late). Sava's has a full breakfast menu served daily until 3pm. I can't wait to pop in on a Saturday morning or weekday afternoon and give their omelettes and crepes a try. I love a good breakfast.

Go again. The menu is too full of inspired dishes to go once. I think I just might have to try everything on the menu.

If you go.

Dress up or down. The atmosphere at Sava's is casually elegant. You will see people in just about everything from jeans and a t-shirt to business attire to sequins. Wear whatever makes you feel great.

Bring kids or don't. Sava's offers a nice kids' menu with choices ranging from $4-$7. We prefer using it as a date night and leaving the boys home, but families are absolutely welcome. If bringing kids, I might try and get there early and leave before the crowds.

Plan a large gathering. Sava's has an upstairs area with a dedicated bar that can accommodate mixing and mingling and offers plenty of seating for when the meal arrives.

Check Directions. 

Give yourself time to park. You will need to park in a parking structure by the restaurant. Plan a few minutes to find parking and walk to the restaurant.

**Update: we went to Sava's for a late lunch and were mostly pleased with our food. All the burgers we tried along with the sweet potato fries were amazing. Skip the shrimp and quinoa salad...just average, and the ham, brie and pear panini was good but could have used more of something. Incredible service though and an overall great time.**