I've been coming here since 2008. This place has moved and changed with the times an it is a fantastic place to eat! I can't come to Ann Arbor without stopping here at least once for dinner. I used to come here for brunch, but I think the dinner is much better! They have a wide variety of entrees, most of which are less than $20. They have a great selection of local craft beers, they make a good cocktail, have great service, and they have a wide variety of seating options that can accommodate an intimidate date, a family dinner, or large gatherings. Now let's get to the food. Appetizers: Sweet potato pancakes - a unique dish with a pear sauce and maple smoked trout. I would order this again and again. (5/5) Bombas - these rice balls are crispy perfection! (5/5) Bang Bang Shrimp - this dish WAS perfection, and then they changed it. Still great. (4/5) Entrees: Salmon w/beet risotto - this was a special dish that night and it was almost perfect, but the risotto was a little cold (barely room temp). (4/5) Capellini Marlon - fantastic seafood para dish with large chunks of lobster and large shrimp! I was astonished at the amount of seafood in this dish. (5/5) This place cares about their food, and the dining experience. I highly recommend this place!
(5)
Paige H.
I don't even know where to begin. Their food and service is AMAZING. love the atmosphere. The atmosphere has more of an upscale ambiance about it, but if you look around, the wait staff are all very individualized...tattoos everywhere, really just so many personalities that are wonderful. This is probably the only place I don't feel guilty about ordering pasta dishes, just because it is SO good. Also, the quality of this place is wonderful. In the bathroom (strange place), I read a sign that states they shop locally and organically for the meats and veggies that they include in their dishes, which I could not ask for anything more. Seafood, great. I WANT IT NOW
(5)
Todd B.
You the know the place is good when crowded on a Monday evening. Sava's did not disappoint. Greeter and staff were kind and attentive. The food was wonderful and portions on the large side. Pricing quite reasonable. I had the Lamb Kefta with yogurt, pita bread, carrots, and house potatoes. Scrumptious. The drink menu is quite extensive. When you walk in you can tell by the bar they like to mix 'em ! Enjoy!
(4)
Darrell K.
I had a friend visiting from out of town and i was going to play it safe and visit a place with which i was familiar with. I always wanted to check out this place so i read some reviews. Some were good and some not so good. I decided to check it out. It is in the heart of downtown A2 which can be tricky for parking. It was not too bad for an early morning visit. I found a great parking spot. Whooohooo! My friend had arrived early and decided to sit outside which happened to be a great choice. It is setup courtyard style on the side of the building. Nice and cozy. The waitress was also attentive and had a geat attitude. The menu had a variety of items for lunch/brunch from Waffles, toast, eggs, pancakes and even a fried chicken based item. I started off with a carmel latte and orderd the french toast and eggs with spinach, cheese and mushroom. The french toast was great. Sweet with a good cinamon flavor. It was almost like candy. I like my sweet so it was right up my alley. Don't take this home to the kids. The eggs were also done just right, not runny and not overcooked. My friend was a vegatarian and opted for the egg whites. She loved that i choose this place due to this. She thought it was an excellent pick and i agree. I will visit for dinner soon.
(4)
Jenn H.
Came here for brunch with my friend. She loved my red velvet waffles.. It was simple, mahagony & slightly salty. The cream cheese & maole syrup made it deliciously sweet. The food was good but there are other places to try. It was a nice day to sit outside. The staff were friendly.
(3)
Dia D.
Went back for lunch and had another great meal. Service was slow (I'll give them the benefit of the doubt since it was U of M Move In weekend and they were very busy) but once our server took our order the food arrived quickly. I had the Porcetta Panini, another person had the VEG, and the third had the Cuban. The person who ordered the Cuban orders them all the time and he said it was the second best Cuban that he's ever eaten. You know the meal is good when all afternoon people mention how good the food was.
(5)
Sarah H.
After walking from Ann and Main to Liberty and State, Sava's menu caught our attention. I tried the waiter recommended drink of the week, which was "Gay Pride Week" and it was amazing. Boyfriend had the Short "Soft Parade", which was delicious. We shared a small plate, a side, and a main dish. The roasted cauliflower was fabulous, slightly sweet and a little creamy. The dish maintained the texture of the cauliflower pieces but was smooth at the same time. The sweety fries were also very good, very hot, fresh, and crisp without a hint of grease anywhere. We shared the lamb kefta- the blackened carrots were sweet and delicious, the potatoes perfect, and the lamb well seasoned. The grilled pita was slightly sweet and the feta extra creamy. We splurged on dessert and got the orange creamsicle cake. Sweet but not overdone and the perfect compliment to our meal. The service was very attentive, our waiter had a great personality and knew the menu well. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Beth H.
We wanted to try something new. It's hot but looking for a different spot w shade for a good bite and glass of wine. We headed to Sava's. When waitress asked what to drink, I asked if there were any specials. She said, "No, no specials because of Art Fair". I conceded for the Pool Boy that looked refreshing at the next table. I had the Tuna Poke that was ok. Small portion and too sour. Hubs had the grilled cheese w/o tomato. It was okay but for $8 just got a sandwich. We paid and left just as the sun came around the building and we ran for the shade. Upon exiting, we see the OTHER side of the entry chalk board that advertises "Art Fair Special, 1/2 off select bottles of wine"!!!! We won't be back for a long while.....
(1)
Raven T.
I just moved to Ann Arbor and Sava's was the first place my friends took me. It was pretty crowded on a Thursday night which was a good sign. The hostess took down our name and we squeezed three of us at the bar. Our bartender she immediately greeted us with a smile and we ordered mojitos... I have to admit one of the tastiest mojitos I've had in a while. Great atmosphere, the decor the ambiance, so we ordered few appetizers and decided to have wine with dinner, it was too much fun at the bar so we ended up having dinner there rather than sitting at a table. Everything we ordered was delicious and prepared with care. I definitely recommend Sava's, I shall be back.
(5)
Tiffany F.
I come to Ann Arbor to visit my boyfriend often, and each time I come, we make an effort to come to Sava's- it's a must visit for sure. Their brunch is fantastic-- all kinds of egg varieties, hash brown concoctions, the normal eggs and bacon, lamb meatballs, cheese varieties, seafood lasagna, fruit and dessert. You couldn't ask for more. I also got the Sa Va Bien brunch cocktail. It was vodka with strawberries and ginger beer and it was very refreshing. The atmosphere is inviting and bright during the day time, but a little dark at night. They also have an outdoor patio. The staff is friendly enough and the price is fair for what you get. Love this place!
Chicken fuscilli, mac and cheese, and fish tacos are heaven. Great texture and taste combinations for each one. Lots of room, pleasant atmosphere and interior design, clean, and great service. I'd go back to try the brick chicken and the breakfast buffet. I highly recommend.
(5)
Ronaldo T.
Sava's food has been a true hit or miss for me. If it was only for the food I would not recommend this place, however the atmosphere and drinks really make up for the underwhelming food. Brunch is a whole different thing, absolute recommend.
(3)
Jan R.
I came here thinking it would be better than what it was. It was kind of sub par tbh. I got the bandito hash because it was so raved about on here. I thought it was decent. It wasn't mind blowing our super out of the ordinary in my opinion. They also ran out of the lavender lemonade which I was really looking forward to. The service was pretty good though. Everyone was nice and accommodating. Probably deserves 3.5 but I don't think I can give it a 4 in good conscience. Come here if you want. You won't be disappointed but you won't be wowed either
(3)
Tiffany B.
Absolutely loved breakfast here! The nested eggs were awesome and the Brioche french toast was off the charts! Loved that they had a morning Happy Hour going, with mimosas, bloody's and special lemonades--including a lavender one (swoon). The decor is beyond fabulous and the space is so much fun. If I lived in Ann Arbor, it'd be a frequent haunt. Loved it!
(5)
Shamsheer C.
Their maize and blue burger is great and reasonably priced. The location and atmosphere are also very enjoyable.
(5)
Janet M.
Doesn't matter if you make a reservation (2 days prior)...you'll be waiting either way during Sunday brunch hours. WTF. Shitty, pretentious service. Still waiting as I write this......3 seconds before I make a scene
Sava's is just average for me in general, however I'm giving them 4 stars because the Sunday lunch buffet is a total game changer. They serve a great assortment of quality brunch foods and their dessert layout's also another thing worth admiring as well. You definitely won't be disappointed if you go there for their unlimited lunch buffet.
(4)
Daniela C.
Came here since so many coworkers recommended the place. Went for a Sunday brunch and the ambiance was pretty nice, chick and could be both family or date/day drinking spot. I ordered some fish tacos and shared some huevos rancheros. Must say they were both great but nothing out of this world. Fish tacos were kinda cold and needed more salt or aioli sauce - which the waiter hesitated in bringing me extra sauce even after I said it was fine if they charged me for it. Their lavender lemonade is wonderful! I do wish they had all you can drink mimosas it would definitely make me come back since the food isn't to die for.
(3)
Arm I.
I just had the worst burger here! I ordered the Blue & Maize Burger. I got a cold burger with no cheese. When I complained, the server just said the cheese is in there, but also offered to bring extra cheese, which at this point was useless because the burger was cold.
(1)
Sevana T.
Wow!!! We had breakfast at Sava's and it was amazing. The brunch buffet was my dad's favorite and I had a beautiful omelette , yum . Round it up with a mimosa and Sunday morning is a bliss...it is the best breakfast in town .
(5)
Kenneth R.
Sava? Oui, ça va bien chez Sava! Thirteen of us were lucky enough to come by for dinner one evening. We were placed at a long table upstairs and had a rip-roaring good time. The space is beautifully designed and appointed. It's really quite inviting. A member of our group had meetings during the day. One of her contacts asked to be taken to breakfast at Sava's. Another requested a lunch at a local favorite -- again Sava's! This particular group member opted out of our dinner on the grounds that she didn't want to have all three meals at the same place. But she had good things to say about the establishment! As you can see by looking online, there are plenty of vegetarian choices on the menu. The menu is quite extensive, and there's seemingly something for everyone. As we were led to our table, I looked at the plates and bowls on tables around the house. My impression is that pasta dishes are very popular here. I ordered the caprese special salad, which turned out to be special indeed: the tomatoes were fried green tomatoes -- they were perfect with the mozzarella, the red tomatoes and the greens (pea shoots, if I remember correctly). I ordered another special as a main dish: lamb chops, which were served on a bed of more greens with a few fried vegetables here and there. The lamb chops themselves were excellent, but the dish as a whole was not up to the standard that had been set by the caprese. Uncharacteristically, I went for a dessert -- a flourless chocolate cake -- and an espresso. Both were excellent. Our group put down a fair amount of wine and beer. Here are the three wines that I tried: Principia Mathematica Xarel-Lo 2012, Alemany i Corrió $50 PHILIPPE PORTIER QUINCY $40 ERRALBA COSTA ROSSA Barbera $42 (The last two are in ALL CAPS because they copied that way from the online wine menu.) All three choices were perfectly solid, but I absolutely loved the Xarel-Lo. I last had had a Karel-Lo at Camino in Oakland (CA); their menu shows "2013 Bohigas Xarel-lo" @ $40. So maybe the $50 Sava's price is a tad on the high side. I recommend Sava's very highly and look forward to my next visit.
(4)
Erin S.
This place seems to be hit or miss, but for both of my visits has been a hit. The first was a company dinner - I had the baby kale and added lamb kofta. Both were flavorful and properly portioned- if you normally share entrees to reduce cost, this probably isn't your place. I also, at the recommendation of the waitress, had the espresso pudding. OMGoodness. Smooth, rich, bold, and served with a beautiful mint whipped cream that had no right to work as Perfectly as it did. I went for brunch today and had a double of Basil Hayden's- only complaint is that the bartender used a snifter that was too big, which affects perceived flavor notes on a room temp bourbon. The sweet potato pancakes with trout were bringing it and came out quickly. We also had the breakfast empanada, which featured very lovely bacon. And then we ordered, at the waitress' recommendation, the Chocolate XS, a flourless chocolate cake. I requested a side of the mint cream, which was also perfect with this dessert.
(4)
Rocky S.
Service was great! Matt knew everything that I asked for. Espresso pudding cake was so good, I'll defiantly be back for more!
(5)
Hannah S.
BRUNCH BUFFET! yesss!!! It was superb, and not to diss other reviewers that say otherwise (who knows, maybe they or Sava's were having an off day) but I just cannot see how anyone wouldn't like this buffet, if they are a yummy food lover! Had a large party, and they got us in quickly. Things on the buffet included a lot of seafood, a lot of fun cake bites, divine homemade poptarts chocolate and raspberry, beignets with cream sauce, candied bacon panne cotte OMG, blood orange marshmallows YES YES YES, veggie lasagna, ribs with tangy watermelon sauce, many egg dishes, yummy hash, biscuits and magical gravy, and cold cuts. AMAZING. I'm a huge Sava's fan in general, but you just cannot beat their brunch.
(5)
Greta B.
I absolutely love this restaurant! Every time I come, I am awed by the taste sensations I encounter! The $20 Sunday Brunch was fantastic! $1 cocktails accompanied the deal- by the way, the bar tender makes a mean Bloody Mary!!! The buffet included the most delicious waffles, creamed sweet potatoes and veggie hash!! Mouth watering! The also featured bagels with everything from salmon and capers to cream cheese with chives . The shredded bbq beef and mini lemon pudding were excellent! This was the kind of buffet where you're really too full to try everything!! Sara was an awesome server for our party of 13. She was welcoming, attentive and efficient! Although group seating was in the beautiful upstairs with hardwood flooring and glass walls, it wasn't too annoying to go downstairs for food. This location is perfect and there are two close by parking garages. Washington Street is $3 after 5:00pm, free on Sundays!
(5)
The G T.
The only reason I'm giving it a bad review is that I'm annoyed by how often they up their prices and lessen their quantities. And take off all the good drinks from their bar menu.
This restaurant continues to be the "place to be", however I am not wowed just yet. We paid almost $40 today for a burger, fries, omelette, and iced tea. The omelette had no presentation value to it whatsoever. The burger's sesame bun had a grocery store-six-pack quality, all air no substance. The chopped iceberg lettuce had the taste and feel of a Big Mac - see my pictures.
(2)
Julie E.
I really did not want to have to write a bad review of Sava's, but after reaching out to management via email twice now (and giving them almost two weeks to respond each time), I feel like I have no choice. I chose to take my family to Sava's for my grad school graduation dinner because I had had good experiences in the past and do enjoy the food. This time though, there were a couple of extremely negative incidents that left the group quite disappointed with the evening. First, a waitress dropped an entire tray of someone else's food all over our table with broken plates everywhere (really, it was actually terrifying). Thankfully, no one was hurt and nothing that bad came of it, but it was extremely odd that the waitstaff tried to make it seem like it was not a big deal by laughing it off and not providing any discount off our bill, dessert on the house, etc. Our waitress even commented, "Oh, it's not as bad as I thought!" Next, one of the bottles of wine we ordered at the beginning of our meal had run out, so our waitress had informed us of this and recommended another wine that was "very similar" to the one we had picked out. This was fine, until we got the bill and realized that the $34 bottle of wine we thought we had gotten as a replacement was actually $70! This is fine if the waitress had mentioned it, but to not say anything at all about such a large price differential was pretty upsetting. We spent a lot of money that night on a very special occasion and to have both of those incidents occur with no attempt to make things right was extremely disappointing.
(1)
Claudia S.
Went there for the lonster rolls, the flavor was good but the ratio of bread to lobster was not balanced. I would have liked more lobster. The shoestring fries and mac and cheese were ok. Overall the service was good.
(3)
Carolyn R.
Was there for lunch. Adult meals were good and not badly priced. What was outrageous was spending $7 on a kids French toast dipper. One tiny piece of bread & my 5 year old granddaughter was still starving. Complained to the slow waiter, who basically did nothing.
(2)
Aaron M.
One of my favorite places to eat at, especially looking for a delicious HEALTHY option. One of my favorite places around.
(5)
Julie M.
Great food and service. Lovely atmosphere!
(5)
Linnea V.
I have been to Sava's twice, both times were on a Sunday for brunch. My 2 friends and I arrived without reservations but despite it being busy, we were seated immediately. Everything on the menu looks amazing but I always opted for the brunch buffet as there were so many delicious choices, I wanted to try a bit of everything. One friend ordered pancakes, the other an omelet, both looked pleasing to the eye and they weren't disappointed. I enjoyed everything on my plate and the mimosa was a great finish. The restaurant itself has a lovely atmosphere and nice decor. It can be a little pricier than other places but well worth it.
(4)
Scott P.
Having just eaten brunch at Sava's I can honestly say "A-OK" is exactly how I would rate it. I went with a large group and we all got the brunch buffet. A few items were bad, some were pretty good, and overall the meal was solidly average. I felt a little bad for our server- she had to lug all kinds of drinks upstairs to our enormous table on her own and probably could of done with some help. I feel bad holding lack of drinks against her but realistically a restaurant shouldn't have 1 person in charge of 24 people if they want the service to be good. My other Ann Arbor brunch experience is the Gandy Dancer, and while many in my group preferred Sava's The Gandy Dancer is more of a "brunch" to me- they have an omelete bar, waffles- the kind of things you expect from a buffet. I think the Gandy Dancer is much more expensive than Sava though, as a kept man I never have to deal with things like checks, bills, driving my own car etc. Here are the items I thought were pretty good -bacon- whether by accident or design their trough of bacon had both crispy and soft bacon-most buffets only offer one -Pot pie- a weird brunch Item but this was probably my favorite- although i did get my piece right as it was refreshed -biscuits and gravy- the saw mill style gravy was spot on Things I didn't enjoy -the eggs- yea yea, its buffet eggs, my fault for getting them -various potato dishes- all tasted a little weird -sausage- both the links and turkey sausage patties had been sitting out way longer than you would want
(3)
Ilene T.
Sorry to say it, but quality has fallen off in recent years. Sava's used to be our favorite go-to destination for a great casual dinner. In the last few times, however, i've been disappointed with the taste of the food, even though presentation and service remain excellent. Trying a recommended special, instead of choosing something off the menu, I had high hopes, but the halibut was dry, and the accompanying vegetables were a mysterious dark base. The worst part were the hard pink items that i never would have guessed were actually shallots. Not a keeper! Next time I'll stick to items off the well-tested menu, like the Bronzino en Papillote.
(3)
Linnea B.
Sava's got a facelift. But with this updated look it is definitely less cozy, with less comfort food and a little more expensive/smaller portions. Although, they are making a push for local fare, which I really do appreciate. I was a heartbroken when I found out that the sava's Mac and cheese is now gone forever and ever. But they do have some new and enticing menu options.
(3)
Jeanie S.
Enjoying working my way through the new menu. Atmosphere: I like the re-vamped space, but depending on where you're seated, it can be very drafty due to vents. Also, the upstairs perimeter tables are VERY dimly lit. Great if you like a romantic atmosphere. Not great if you like to see the menu, or your food, for that matter. Service: Friendly, although sometimes not attentive. Food: Recommend the Lamb Ragu, Ahi Tuna Poke, Roasted Carrots, Broccoli Rabe. Drinks: I love a good martini. The martinis here are okay, not fabulous. I've greatly enjoyed the French and Italian reds by the glass. Prices are fair, the space is festive and bright (except the upstairs perimeter tables), and my experiences have been pleasant. Looking forward to trying more dishes at Sava's.
(3)
Germaine S.
I try not to be a touch critic, but this experience warrants it. I was thoroughly embarassed to have taken a friend here for lunch the other day after giving Sava's such high praise. I've been about a dozen or more times and have always had both good food and service, so expected to have a good experience. Not sure if the lunch seems to be the issue or current inconsistency in the restaurant overall. Due to my suggestion, my friend ordered the tuna salad and I had the Banh-Mi. Maybe Asian flavors and dishes are not Sava's forte or maybe shame on me for ordering a Banh-mi from a non-Asian restaurant. In any case, execution failed for us on both of these dishes. For one, it was obvious that my tofu was pan-fried after the tuna from my friend's salad. 2) Tuna did not taste sashimi grade. 3) Friend's salad was soggy from too many capers and pickled (jarred) ginger, creating a pool of water at the bottom of the bowl. 4) Banh-mi's shouldn't have mayo, should be pate, lacked classic Banh-mi flavors. 5) Server never asked how everything was, regardless of the obvious full salad still sitting there when we asked for the bill. 6) Bill was handed to us, matter-of-a-factly, as server was talking to another table. Focus on one table at a time please. I honestly don't know if I will go back. So very disappointed and more than underwhelmed. I will, most likely, not recommend Sava's to friends in the future.
(1)
Ana N.
Love everything on the menu here, service is always good but expect a wait on the weekend or a football game. Always busy - which is a great sign!
(5)
Allison O.
Had brunch this morning and although I normally wouldn't give 5 stars for this experience, I felt like the service we received from Andrew warranted it. The boyfriend and I ordered two bloody Mary's, the chipotle infused vodka and cucumber dill infused vodka which by far beats out on the classic which can be a little bland here. It took a long time to get our drinks which at first made me a little peeved. For brunch, I had the maple smoked trout scramble and the boyfriend had the shrimp and grits. His dish was great; grits were jalapeño and cheese and had the perfect amount of heat. Mine left a lot to be desired. Cream cheese was melted into the scrambled eggs and the caper relish had a very odd taste. I normally love smoked fish, but this dish I did not. After a second cocktail and after everyone else was done eating, I asked for a croissant with Nutella (which was awesome!). Andrew, our server, just after taking my croissant order came back and said "I just realized you didn't like your dish, did you?" to which I said no. He said he'd take it off the check and offered me to look for something else on the menu. I was shocked that without complaining about my meal, something I don't really like to do, he took the effort to make sure I was happy. Kudos for good service, Sava's!
(5)
Ashlee S.
Excellent service! Amazing food! The hubby and I had the goat cheese tart and tuna tartare to start. We could've eaten 5+ tartare's they were so good! He also Had a roasted beet salad and I had the soup of the day, a cream of portabella soup, awesome! For dinner, I had the seared scallops and he had the bourbon pork, both cooked perfect and delicious! No complaints!
(5)
Marisol B.
I enjoy Sava's brunch buffet on Sundays! It's so worth it. Other than that, it's a great place for a happy hour and for Ann Arbor's restaurant week.
(4)
Lauren L.
Service: The service was mediocre at best. When we were seated at our table there were still old water glasses and half of the silverware was missing from the previous patrons. I had to request new water glasses for anyone to even notice. Since the previous patrons left the napkins folded and intact, rather then providing us new sets of napkins and silverware the wait staff though it was acceptable to only replaced the silverware that was missing by slipping in back into the folded napkins. Leaving us with the half used, dirty napkins with wiped orange finger prints on them. We had to request new ones and the waiter looked less then enthused to replace our white napkins 'sans' orange finger stains! Gross! Food: The Rutabaga & Beet chip small plate was delicious although very greasy. My boyfriend's meatball sandwich was salty, unimpressive, and all of the shredded cheese was in one clump on one half of the sandwich, leaving the other half with nothing. My Pecan Crusted Chicken Salad was tasty but I found the "four greens" mix containing romaine and iceberg lettuce to be disappointing, I prefer to have more nutritious greens in my salads. I would give it 3 stars for the food, but the unsanitary practices could not be overlooked. My boyfriend used to really enjoy this establishment, but was incredibly disappointed with our most recent trip. We won't be back any time soon.
(2)
Sara B.
This used to be one of my favorite restaurants, but it has really gone down hill. It used to be a very good all around place you could take anyone. They have since royally screwed up their menu, taking all the good vegetarian/vegan and gluten free options off and replacing them with overly fancy options that just don't make sense. There's nothing I would order here. Also used to be a great place to bring a party, now I would never recommend bringing a large group there. They really are not accommodating. 1 star for sadness and disappointment. Probably will never eat there again.
(1)
Naz M.
Good food just has a way of enhancing your mood, similarly not so great food can make one mad. Unfortunately I experienced the latter on my latest visit to Sava's. When I first moved to Ann Arbor, Sava's was one of my fave places to go, there was no wrong thing I could order because everything tasted great and the waiters and waitresses were top notch. After this last visit though, I'm sticking to the lighter meals.. My first mistake was ordering the Risotto Balls. The description said prosciutto, mozzarella - but really it just tasted like a salty not quite burnt cheese. I love fried cheese, used to eat in on a weekly basis where I'm from, but this was just not good. The best part about it were the sauces that garnished the plate, the olive tapenade and tomato jame. My second mistake was ordering the Pan Seared Scallops. I know better than to order seafood from a place I've never had it, but I wanted to give it a chance. I had never been wronged at Sava's before. The scallops were bland, the asparagus was meh - definitely not better than how I prepared them last night (I am NO CHEF.) I mean who pays for food that isn't better than anything he or she can make themselves, I mean really? The saffron rice wasn't great and lobster, *sigh* maybe I missed it. My husband had the roasted chicken and enjoyed it, but in the end the food wasn't worth the bill. The waitress kindly asked if she could do anything. In Aventura, my server (at the bar, no less) knew ENOUGH to not ask and just DO.* With such swift action, I was inclined to order something else, confident that the second time around would be different, better. Small plates and tapas at Aventura would have been tastier, more filling and not to mention more satisfying and cheaper.**I make this particular comparison because the restaurants share an owner. ** I think from now on I'll stick to drinks, brunch, burgers and sweet potato fries and leave seafood and pricier food options to other restaurants.
(2)
Joey Z.
Savas has fallen in terms of value. It still has decent food and drinks, however the prices has inflated to the point where a burger fries and a drink for lunch is easily going to run you $28-30 after tax and tip. ($14 for burger, $4 for fries, $2 for soft drink) Their $3 all day draft special is still on for Monday tho, so that's good
(3)
Shannon T.
I liked the old menu slightly better, but the new decor makes the space a lot brighter and more upbeat. Though a bit overpriced, I swear by Savas brunch. If you have a sweet tooth (and are looking to treat yourself), the red velvet waffle and puffed french toast are heavenly. Pair this with a grapefruit mimosa or a coffee and you have a perfect weekend meal. For a healthier option, do the egg white omelet or bruleed oatmeal. They also still do a brunch buffet on Sunday, but I never eat enough go justify the cost of that. For lunch, note that they have the best greek salad in the city... The dressing and ingredients are all top notch. If I'm hungrier and having a late lunch, I usually go for a side greek and the black bean burger- it comes wrap style and is slightly spicy. I always order it with sweet potato fries. For dinner, the mushroom spaghettini is amazing! Cocktail and wine list is superb as well.
(4)
Emir H.
Decent food at a nice place. Nothing to complain but nothing to be really excited about either.
(3)
Linbo Z.
It's a 3-3.5 star restaurant for me. All dishes we ordered are predictable, plain and nothing special.
(3)
Ellen K.
Finally found a new brunch place in Ann Arbor! Normally, our standby is Cafe Zola's, which is delicious. Last Saturday, though, my friends and I were looking to make reservations for a reunion brunch, and Zola's was already full (since it's amazing and has the best coffee ever). My friend found Sava's had availability at open table. First, our waiter was fantastic (Jordan). Attentive, knowledgeable, and patient with my friend (the most high maintenance orderer in the world). He made the experience even more fun. Secondly, the food was delicious. I ordered the bourbon french toast (!!!) and a $5 mimosa. The french toast was warm and delicious, sweet but not too sweet. My friends each had the huevos rancheros, which also was really good. Sava's is a pretty big place and can accommodate big parties and plenty of people. My friend was telling me she comes for drinks and appetizers with her husband, and they love it. Next time you're planning breakfast/brunch in AA, check out Sava's. You won't regret it.
(3)
Faye Z.
Came here twice in one week: once for brunch buffet, and once for lunch. Overall opinion was mostly meh. Probably won't come back on my own accord. BRUNCH BUFFET Wait (0/5) - We came at 10:45am on Sunday without a reservation. We were told that it would be a 45min wait, but it ended up being over 1.5hrs despite being repeatedly told that we were next in line. The hostesses kept brushing us off, and finally informed us after we got pretty desperate that it was because any and all reservations got priority over us. So no, we were actually NEVER next in line. I honestly usually don't mind waiting, but this was handled very poorly. Protip: absolutely, positively ***make a reservation*** or you will crawl into a corner and melt into a hangry nerveball like I did and all the hostesses will do is offer a free bloody mary right on the brink of death. #melodrama #butstill Food (3/5) - The buffet was pretty good, especially if you're hungry. The corned beef was out of this world. Everything else was fairly standard. If you want to maximize your enjoyment without feeling gross afterwards, a recommended strategy is to avoid the carbs. I ate so much in potatoes and biscuits that I spent the next 24 hours not even a little bit hungry. LUNCH Shrimp and grits (3/5) - This was pretty tasty. Shrimp was tender (not overcooked) and seasoned/grilled nicely. Grits were yummy. Only thing: the portion was TINY. Listen, I'm a small person, and I generally eat way slower than my group, but I finished this up in 10 minutes, and was still so hungry as to consider going next door to Chipotle afterwards. Not cool.
(3)
Lisa G.
What were the owners thinking? The remodel of this Ann Arbor eatery is horrible. What used to be an elegant while at the same time NY Chic dining spot now feels like I'm eating in a school cafeteria. Who wants to sit on plastic chairs with a sterile decor. Change of menu, no cocktail menu ( still working on it) and no art work or pleasing decorations. Part of the Savas experience was atmosphere, not just food. Very sad!v
(1)
Matt K.
Had lunch here during a college visit with my family - we ate at the bar, and were very impressed with the ambiance, the crowd, the service and especially the food. We'll be back!
(4)
Annika K.
Delicious food! It was a little bit chilly upstairs, but definitely worth it! We were a group of 7 but the service was still great!
(5)
Kathy T.
I am thrilled every time I can introduce this restaurant to a friend! The atmosphere is inviting and the meals are delightful every single time! My favorite dish is the Cappellini Marlon: Maine lobster, marinated shrimp, saffron cream, pecorino, chili flakes! You must order it!
(4)
Aaron Jae M.
I can in here with friends and family for brunch on a saturday. The space is great and has a nice upscale feel to it without feeling too fancy. I had heard great things about the bandito hash so I had to go for it. I also got a bloody mary to go with it. The bloody mary was not bad but they put something along the rim that was like chia seeds or something else that I did not like and was too overpowering. The bandito hash was very tasty but my poached eggs came out hard boiled, something I think the chef should have been able to notice just by looking at them since they were not milky or fluid at all. Luckily even without the eggs the hash was still tasty.
(3)
Michael S.
Maybe a 4.5, but not enough the whine too much about it. I went with a party of 10 during Art Fair. A good test for this place. We were immediately seated by the hostess and very shortly after, our waiter arrived. After passing out the menus, he took out drink orders and soon returned with them. We ordered our food, with the waiter answering all questions. Not too long after that, the food came. Everyone enjoyed their meals. My minor issue was that my salmon sandwich was not able to be eaten by hand all the way, but it's not that unusual to have to resort to utensils. The waiters checked on us throughout the meal, though not in a way that was annoying. Drinks were refreshed, as needed. The prices were very in line with a place of this type. The establishment itself was nicely laid out and pleasant to be in. I can't really ask for better. Food was great. Service was great. The restaurant was great. I'll have to come back.
(5)
Samantha C.
Great food and perfect place to take out of town family!
(4)
Maria J.
Everything on the menu looked great. I ordered the Arthur Avenue Shuffle. I was disappointed to see that everything that my family and I ordered looked like it was made a day ago and the ingredients weren't fresh at all but the service was good. That was probably since we ate there at an odd time of the day before dinner, but after lunch around 2 o'clock. It had a great atmosphere though and the design was pleasing to the eye.
(2)
Lisa B.
Excellent mac and cheese! The vegetarian sandwich was the best one I have ever had. The lobster pasta tasted like heaven. Lavender lemonade was another big excellent item on their drinks menu. Minus one star for the desserts, they kind of ruined our delicious dinner. We ordered the birthday cup cake, the cheese cake and the orange peel cake, they were "meh". But we will come back for the drinks and the dishes. The service was great too.
(4)
Jen Z.
A quick update: The decor is so much better now! Calm colors and classy light fixtures make for a more relaxing time. Overall, I like the bar and sandwiches, and I am happy to see the menu ever-evolving. I'd say the biggest draws to this place are the bar tenders' skills and the outdoor seating. My previous review still stands regarding entrees and service needing improvement. I tried the fish tacos, but the accoutrements were lacking (1 tiny slice of dry lime, and no salsa). The lack of toppings opened the door to realizing the fish is very, very salty. No one came to check on how it was until we were done. TIP to management: Use less salt on the fish tacos!
(3)
Denise Z.
We enjoyed a wonderful dinner tonight with our two young kids. My son devoured the mac & cheese. My husband and I shared the calamari, greek salad, bombas, and pork nachos with kimchee. All delicious! The food came out quickly and our waiter was incredible. My daughter Elise charmed Sava's brother Fred, and he brought us the Birthday Cake for dessert. So kind - icing on the cake!
(4)
Renee C.
This place is amazing! My favorite restaurant in Ann Arbor. The food is delicious, and they use a bunch or organic and locally grown ingredients in their dishes. The side outdoor patio is perfect on summer nights
(5)
Michael S.
I don't think I've ever had a bad meal there. First time in since the renovation and I thought it was nice, though redundant. We ordered two appetizers - the beet and rutabaga chips, cooked to perfection with a very good feta dip, and then a roasted cauliflower concoction that was also very tasty. I could go on about the main entrees, but the food won't disappoint. The atmosphere is very fun too. It's not a social bar, but it's very light, very community feel in there and yet can also be romantic for a date (ask for a booth, preferably on the second floor).
(5)
Joe G.
Food: 3/5. Service: 2/5. Wholly uninspired, this place is more about image than cuisine. The food is unoriginal, the decor is garish, and service is apathetic.
(2)
Lauren C.
I've been here a couple times and each time is just as good as the next! I've been here once for regular brunch and ordered eggs benedict which was perfectly poached. The next couple of times I opted for the brunch buffet that is available on Sundays and it's absolutely worth the price of $19 dollars. The selection for the brunch buffet ranges from smoked salmon to eggs to a vast and delicious desert section. I highly recommend the brunch buffet!
(5)
Smrithi D.
Its one of the best places (location and ambiance wise) for whatever the occasion is, birthday, dates, brunch after a final, dinner with the parents, etc. The food is good but I wouldnt say its spectacular. The sweet potato fries are amazing, so is the fried green tomato po'boy (get it on a brioche bun or croissant). The salads are overpriced but the smaller side size is perfect and almost too big. The wait staff are always nice and can custom change whatever you need/accomodate out of the ordinary requests. At one point I think my friends and I asked for 5 strawberries on the side-to go because we were making Sangria later that night but nothing else was close by... haha
(4)
Vivian K.
Our first impression was not exactly the greatest as they had some mixup with our seating. We wanted outdoor seating and they said it would be available in a few minutes as it sounded like they were cleaning the table as we spoke. 15 minutes went by as we continued to watch other customers get seated so we finally asked them for an update. They apologized and we were then lead outside, but only to find that we were being seated at a coffee table with sofa and lounge chairs that they had in the middle amongst all the other regular outside dining tables. My boyfriend and I looked at each other, confused, and wondered how were we going to eat a dinner meal on a table that only came up to our knees. It didnt make sense at all and we werent happy. We asked to change to another table and luckily one had just left so there was no more waiting to that. It was a nice gesture that manager noticed and came by to apologized for all the inconvenience and then said dessert would be on the house tonight. Food-wise, the menu has a decent amount of variety. It also appears that they change their menu every now and then as well to keep things new and people coming back. I ordered the wild mushroom spaghetinni and my boyfriend ordered the chicken fusili. Everything tasted great, but nothing really stood out. For dessert we tried the creme brulee duet and we were pleased as it was well made and not overly sweet. The creme brulee that was supposed to taste like strawberries were just basically a regular one creme brulee but with cut strawberries on top.. not sure if thats what they really intended, but I was actually hoping that it was strawberry flavored itself. They have a great dining atmosphere, with candle lit tables and fresh flowers at each. The interior was nicely decorated as well. The food wasnt bad, but I would probably have to come back a couple more times to try other items. Their breakfast menu looks delicious though from the pictures on yelp. Unfortunately, the whole mixup with the tables was a huge turn off and the dessert being on the house only made up for a little of it. I wouldnt mind coming back, but I wouldnt rush back to try anytime soon either.
(3)
Jennifer S.
So much potential. So disappointingly average. Cool-looking place and menu. The food was not quite as advertised. The lamb "panini" was really a gyro and the black bean "burger" was more of a black bean taco. Slow, slow service. Small portions, Very, very loud.
(2)
Cara G.
I went here a few weeks ago when I first moved to Ann Arbor, and have not regretted it since. I ordered the Lamb Ragu with Mac and Cheese. It was a bit pricey, but overall 100% worth it. You could taste every flavor in each meal. One thing I didn't like is that the portions were a bit small. I paid $23 for a bowl as big as my fist, however, it was delicious and I do not regret it. Would recommend :)
(4)
Brian S.
If you want to pay more than $15 for a breakfast that contains two pieces of bread and a beverage, then come here. The puffed French toast tasted great, but was not worth $11 for two pieces on a plate. Not coming back for breakfast again. Much better options in Ann Arbor until the prices come down...
(2)
Alexandra K.
This seems to be everyone's go-to place. They have everything on their menu for every taste. I would recommend looking semi-cute when going here as all the yuppies tend to go for every meal of the day. I have to say though, for as good as their food looks, and for how expensive it is, it is really only good--not great. Breakfast (if you want a $6 breakfast in 8 minutes M-F, ask for their "power breakfast" menu) -English Major (scrambled egg, Swiss cheese, sliced apple, Dearborn ham, Dijon mustard): It's delicious! The cheese mixes so well with the spiced ham and it's melted perfectly which makes it somewhat crispy with the semi-runny eggs. The apples are slightly off-putting but a nice sweet. -Wheat Bread: The wheat is delicious--somewhat sweet with butter. -Lemon Ricotta Pancakes: they have a slight lemon and ricotta taste but are abut dry. Certainly not the best lemon Ricotta pancakes and not worth getting again. Lunch -Fried Green Tomato Po'boy (fried green tomatoes, lettuce, pimento cheese, pickled red onions, bacon, baguette): The fried tomato is nicely crispy and has a great flavor--slightly sweet and oniony. The baguette is nicely soft so it's easy to bit into. The bacon could be crispier. The cheese is so creamy and delectable, yet not spread evenly. It's good, but I wouldn't get it again. Dinner -Chicken Fusilli (fusilli pasta, chicken, arugula, sun-dried tomatoes in goat cheese cream sauce): It's your average pasta. It's got a hint of a creamy mushroom taste and even though it's got creamy ingredients, it's not as heavy as an Alfredo--or ever at all. There is very little chicken so mostly pasta. It was good but not order-again-worthy. -Maize & Blue Burger (Knights bef, fried egg, bleu cheese): the beef is a nice thick size and is perfectly juicy. Of course the fried egg and bleu cheese add to the creaminess of the dish. This is a good burger. Dessert -Oatmeal Apple Whoopie Pie: It's tasteless--just a pure waste of calories. The ice cream just slips between the two tasteless oatmeal cookies--you need to douse everything in the caramel sauce to make it taste like anything. FINAL VERDICT: I'd say it's a bit overpriced for the food that they serve. The menu sounds delectable but what actually gets served doesn't taste that great. Maybe I'll have to explore the menu more to find the goods.
(3)
Hannah S.
I am so, so sad about Sava's. This used to be my favorite restaurant in Ann Arbor, but they recently remodeled and created a new menu, and it is not what it once was. The service was also sub-par and we were treated awful. To start, the interior is very sterile and uninviting now. They also sat us at the worst table in the restaurant - in the back corner by the trash/kitchen. Waiters were constantly walking around our table and there was a window and horrible draft next to us. We asked our waitress if we could be moved to the table next to us which was empty and a little warmer and out of the way. She said, "No because the reservation coming in had specifically requested that table." (Yes, I'm sure a group said "put me in the second-worst table in the restaurant by the cold window and noisy kitchen"). Anyway, the worst part was NO ONE sat down in that table the whole 90 minutes we were there. To be treated in that manner is truly awful. They also took off the menu some of their best items - Brussels sprouts, mac and cheese, and risotto balls to name a few. The bang bang shrimp - which used to be my favorite - was redone and not nearly as good. I could go on, but you get the picture. I won't be returning to Sava's with these new changes, which is unfortunate since my husband and I used to go every few weeks.
(2)
Jason C.
They recently changed, the menu in an entirely new direction. There's very few items that remain and/or remained similar to the previous menu. The food was good, nonetheless, but nothing worth wanting to return. I've been to Sava's multiple times, but assuming the new direction with the menu, I will not be returning anytime soon. The service is always sub-par for the prices. It's always nice if you anticipating long conversation. It's never too long to complain about the lack of service, just barely to the point of complaining. It was a Monday evening between 6:45 p.m. - 9 p.m. for a party of four. This seems to be an ongoing occurrence, but like I said never anything to make an actual complaint about. Essentially, if you liked it before, be sure to check the menu before going.
I went with a friend for happy hour recently. We were seated at a high top table and to be quite honest, I didn't like the set up. The chairs were uncomfortable and it was as if the high tops were positioned so you could see the bar. My friend and I had to turn ourselves sideways in the chairs to talk, it was kind of awkward. I first got the Churango to drink. I figured there would be a hint of cucumber. That was not the case, it nearly overwhelmed the drink. Maybe it's my own bias because I do like to eat cucumber, I just don't care to drink it. After that, I got the Buck on Berry St. which was much better but honestly, I didn't taste much alcohol in either beverage. It was happy hour and they did have special pricing, $3 off, so maybe that had something to do with it? For food, we got the calamari small plate. The calamari was good, there were some pieces of tentacles and the mayo that came with it was yummy. I would go back to see how their other food is. The service was spotty. The bartender was initially our waiter and he was almost too attentive. Then as things got busier, we got a waitress but she was not very attentive at all.
(3)
Melanie T.
Sava's no doubt is a a staple in Ann Arbor. We recently have discovered the Brunch Buffet, which is amazing. Add a Bloody Mary to the mix and a beautiful sunny Ann Arbor Sunday morning, it could not get any more perfect. But it is a great stop any day of the week. My favorite dishes are the fish tacos and the Tuna Poke (which I could eat everyday). The service is always professional and friendly. My favorite spot is the bar though. The bartenders are always fun to talk to and its a great place to meet people.
(5)
Yosuke K.
We weren't crazy hungry, so we got four appetizers for the four of us that we shared. All of them were very good and well prepared. I definitely recommend the ahi tuna appetizer. The drinks were too expensive for how it tasted, but maybe I just chose a bad one (it was a special, can't remember what it was).
(4)
Amy G.
A+ for ambiance, but the food is just so-so. The atmosphere would make for a cute date night spot, with tall candles and vases of flowers between eating booths and lights that dim consistently throughout the night. I ordered a salad and salmon burger. The salad, just your standard house salad with greens, onions, and tomatoes, came first on its own plate, and the burger shortly after. I liked that the burger featured an actual piece of salmon instead of a ground fish patty, but the presentation of the entree was quite lackluster. It was awkwardly by itself, and looked so small on an expansive, stark white plate when it really wasn't too diminutive. It would've looked much more appetizing had they plated the salad and burger together, or at least dribbled some sauce arts-ily around the plate like they do on cooking shows. The wait staff is very congenial and I had a blast chatting with my girl friend for a couple hours though, so I would come again for a fun, slightly more upscale-feeling activity.
(3)
Artist B.
Sunday brunch was wonderful, plus you can order off the menu if you don't want to go to the buffet. The food off the menu was great. Wonderful service too. I had lunch there several times and was never disappointed. I love the atmosphere and it's easy to have a conversation without background noise drowning you out.
(4)
Emily M.
Went here for a party! We were placed upstairs! It was a bit tight for a large group bu the Food was solid! The butternut squash ravioli was particularly excellent! The service was also excellent! My glass of wine and water never went unfilled! Loved Sava's! Would love to again for dinner on my own!
(4)
Ryan O.
Decent restaurant, me and the boyfriend go here a lot, I use to always get their chicken pesto sandwich which they no longer have after the new menu!!!! :( last time I got a salad it was pretty good and I absolutely loved the drinks I got it was basil state street tea!
(4)
Marcie K.
Tried the breakfast buffet again last Sunday. Everything was excellent and service was much improved. Perhaps it helped that nearly all of the undergrads were out of town and it was a holiday weekend, so less people overall, but it was definitely encouraging enough that we will add it back into our brunch rotation. Keep up the good work, Sava's!
(4)
Penny Y.
Friendly service and good food! A little bit cold inside though, but the atmosphere is chic and relaxed.
(5)
Amanda S.
I feel i need to update my review from below . Brian D. from Sava has offered a $40 gift card to make up for the negative experience we had. Although we have not been back to use the certificate I feel it speaks volumes that Brian contacted me directly to try to right a negative situation. Im a firm believer in second chances and am looking forward to using our gift card to taste some more of the delicious dishes at Sava's!
(5)
Jennifer X.
Sava's...sigh. I have such a love-hate relationship with you! On the one hand the space and architectural design are flawless. I love sitting on the second floor surrounded by candles and fairy lights. I love the patio, tucked away and intimate. It's a perfect place to drink, dance, talk, and chill. On the other hand the food is only so-so - the kind of stuff that has the potential to be good but never exactly reaches it. I've ordered the miso salmon Too salty. I've had the pecan island. Too sour. I've had the mac and cheese. Too clumpy. And the thing about Sava's is that the prices are expensive enough that you think you're getting something great but cheap enough that you keep on coming back. Ann Arbor, be better at having good dinner places!
(3)
Taylor H.
My mom and I decided to come in for breakfast after reading some good reviews. For a drink I ordered a strawberry lemonade which took a little while to come, but was very tasty. My mom ordered the huevos rancheros which she said were nothing too special and that her eggs were cold. I got the breakfast sandwich and a side of bacon to put in the sandwich which I would recommend. The sandwich was well seasoned eggs, but not very much cheese so the bacon was a good addition. We also got the sweet potato fries which we heard good things about and they were fantastic! (Favorite part of the meal) The service was a bit slow for the restaurant not being crowded at all (Memorial day weekend), but our waiter was very pleasant. Overall good, but not great, maybe we will try for lunch or dinner.
(3)
Ogre B.
Very good food and awesome service. A little pricey for what you get food wise but the rest make up for it. Definitely going back again.
(4)
Mary G.
Location is PERFECT in the UMich area, convenient, clean and attractive, trendy. The food was excellent. Definately try the lobster roll, the BLT and the sweet potato fries. The only thing lacking during this visit was good service and an atmosphere conducive to conversation. On Sunday at Brunch, especially for Mothers Day, when you're expecting a mutual-generational crowd, there's no need for loud music. Save that for Happy Hour/Evenings. Service was slow, inattentive (refilling water?) and inefficient (bring cream AND sugar together for coffee and take care of the check in a timely manner or watch your tip dwindle). Otherwise, I would have given 5 stars.
(3)
Lan H.
To wrap up my first trip ever to Ann Arbor, my boss invited me and several of her esteemed colleagues to dinner at Sava's. How lucky we were to be seated in the outdoor patio with a beautiful August summer night to keep us comfortable while we ate a scrumptious meal. I wish I had remembered the bottle of wine that we shared, but it was delicious with the harvest ravioli that I was recommended to have. Who knew that autumn would come slightly early for me! I didn't care, it was delicious, and I could not have asked for a more pleasant time with the company that I had in the atmosphere that was perfect for reminiscing about the past, and just feeling like the night was going to last forever. Wow, it almost did because we were there until 11pm! And we didn't even drink and eat for the entire time! Thank you, Sava's, for giving me an everlasting taste of Ann Arbor (truly, though - they use Ann Arbor-grown ingredients!)!
(5)
Garry C.
We recently had dinner at Sava's, and although the food we sampled was quite good, I was left a little cold by both the room and the overall value. The remodel looks nice at first, but after awhile it seems too stark; I think the walls are crying out for some art work and I agree that the plastic, cafeteria style chairs are awful. My friend and I ordered a soup and house salad to begin. The soup was a potato-leek that had a good flavor, and the salad was fresh, but both were on the small side at $6 and $5 dollars respectively. I ordered the new Porchetta panini and my friend ordered the Lobster roll. Both were really good but small. I kind of assumed that some fries or something would accompany the sandwiches but they didn't. When our server sat the sandwich in front of me I realized that I forgot to request the optional fried egg. She quickly took it back to the kitchen and replaced it almost immediately with the egg. Her service was friendly and professional and she was most accommodating. But $13.00 for a small sandwich? After our server brought our check we decided we were still hungry. I ordered the salt and pepper shoestrings and my friend orders Sava's potatoes. When we realized we both ordered potatoes she got the servers attention and changed the order to meatballs. Both the shoestrings and the meatballs were only OK. Nothing special. But when looking at the check the next day I noticed we were charged for both the meatballs and Sava's potatoes. That's my bad for not looking at the check more closely. I've always been a big fan of Sava's for breakfast, and I'm sure when I return again it will be for breakfast, which I've always enjoyed.
(2)
Albert T.
Acceptable food. I largely go out to dinner here out of convenience rather than because of the quality of the food. Burgers are average, but when the rest of the menu is served it appears to be hastily put together and lacks balance. I frequently order the fish and chips when I'm looking for a more casual meal, but even that has frequently disappointed me.
(2)
R N.
I'm always looking for a good brunch place & happened upon Sava's with my son while walking in Ann Arbor. Serves breakfast until 3:00. My son had the empanada (de-lish), we shared the puffed french toast (to die for), and I had the shrimp and grits (shrimp cooked perfectly). Made a reservation to come back with friends for the brunch buffet tomorrow! Sara was super friendly and very attentive. We arrived at the perfect time (12:00ish) because there was a HUGE line when we left. Reservations recommended.
(4)
McKenna B.
Bring back the Mac & Cheese!!! As much as I love Sava's, one of my favorite things about it was its big menu. My whole family could go and we would each get something different. Now with the flimsy two sided page, there only seem to be a few of the classics that made Sava's so great. It's still an enjoyable place for me, but they didn't need to renovate everything.
(4)
George N.
Strange assortment on menu, but some good choices. Ordered fish tacos, they were pretty good but flavor was on bland side, nothing very daring. This place feels like they need an identity!
(3)
Charisse W.
We came to Sava's as a special date night, it was good. The drinks were excellent as was the service. Two of the four in our group raved about thier meals. My husband loved his scallops and risotto dish, it was as beautiful as it was delicious. The decor and atmosphere were great, very open and airy. The restrooms are clean and overall very nice. Overall a solid 3.5 but because my husband liked his dish so much I bumped it to a 4.
(4)
Erina K.
Nice atmosphere, friendly waiters. The Wild Mushroom Spaghettini was delicious! Not too big of a dish, and perfectly satisfying. I also got the Seven Layered Cookie. AMAZING with the milk and whipped cream that come with it. A little confused because the hard chocolate on the top and bottom of the cookie was too hard to cut through. Overall very satisfied!
(5)
Priya R.
This place is the definition of customer service. Everyone here is so friendly and helpful. Every time I have come here, the waiters/waitresses go out of their way to make it a great experience for you. I recall times when a group of us were craving crepes and Sava's (even though it was WAY past crepe making time) prepared an amazing strawberry nutella crepe for all of us. I know everyone here raves about sunday brunch. Trust me, it really is all it's cracked up to be. But the thing they don't talk about it the AMAZING earl grey panna cotta in the brunch spread. I basically could have just eaten that all morning.
(4)
Jacqueline S.
Sava's is a student favorite (including mine!)- located close to both campus and Main Street Downtown, this place is great for groups or dates. You can rent out the big tables upstairs for large parties, students frequently do this when they don't want to make the trek to Main Street for a birthday. I particularly love their brunch- they have great outdoor seating area, amazing mimosas, and the Brie omelette changed my life for the better. The dinner/lunch is also awesome, though not my favorite place to go in AA. Comfy casual ambience and a great menu!
(4)
Angie N.
Definitely need a reservation. If you don't make a reservation, expect to wait upwards to an hour and a half. I've only eaten here for their awesome Sunday brunch, where they have amazing food for $19. Non-alcoholic drinks are free with that $19, and alcoholic drinks are an extra dollar. I love the rotating mini desserts and the oysters! The brunch buffet is definitely worth the price as Sava's does not skimp on quality for their buffet. The seating environment is nice and clean, which is a big deal to me. If it's raining outside and you're sitting out there, you'll have to move inside or use one of the two big umbrellas. I'm still dreaming about their basil blueberry panna cotta.
(4)
Jola B.
Went here tonight for happy hour with a group of grad students from UM. We got a bunch of tables outside. Not too warm and it hadn't rained yet. Happy hour: 1/2 off beer. $3 off wine and cocktails. I had a Barry on the Buck(?) - $4. Whiskey-based but sweet and I love sweet drinks. Appetizers looked good - calamari, vegetable tempura, but were $6 plates. I just got $3 fries to coat my stomach. All in all a good evening and a good vibe. I'll definitely be back again.
(4)
Jolie V.
Chicken and waffles. Lobster mac and cheese. And the crazy tricolor cakey dessert that looks like an Italian flag. Chicken and Waffles. :)
(4)
Stephanie W.
In undergrad, my friends and I went here for $1 burger Mondays, but they don't offer that anymore :( But even without those hot deals, Sava's is still a solid dinner venue. The food is very consistent and good. I've tried the burgers, salmon, salads, and a couple desserts. BUT ALWAYS WITH A SIDE OF SWEET POTATO FRIES!!! They are super tasty and come with a delicious horseradish dip. The decor is really nice, and the second level is a little too dim, but quite stylish. It's kind of noisy for how fancy they are trying to present themselves. Finally, the service is SUPER hit or miss. I've had awful servers that never stop by, are rude and unprofessional, and it can take forever just to take my order. However, I've just had a fantastic experience where our server (my receipt says his name was Jordan) tended to my group of 20+ people. He also graciously accommodated a couple stragglers and rushed their orders so that we all got our food around the same time. If Sava's maintains this level of service, I will have to give them that 5th star.
(4)
Kevin T.
Here for Sava's Sunday Brunch. Nice place. Would recommend, though would lean towards ordering off the menu. The buffet looked okay. Nothing extraordinary and though it was only 12 noon, some of the items looked a little dried out. My daughter had the buffet ($10 for kids and $17 for adults) and enjoyed the quiche and pastries. I enjoyed the Eggs Benedict ($9). Very nicely prepared. Eggs not poached too much...plenty of yolk to add to the hollandaise sauce. Seasoned potatoes made a good side. Decent service. Coffee cup never was allowed to to be less than half empty. Recommend sitting in a booth. Tables thru the middle are flimsy and in disrepair. Ours was drooping way, way down, and no other sittings were available to move to. I'll be back to try the lunch/dinner items. Meanwhile...plenty of other options in AA. 3.5 stars for the regular menu, the service and atmosphere. I'd give 3 for the buffet if you are into buffets.
(3)
Meredith F.
I love their food. Dollar Burger Mondays is perfect, and they have delicious burgers for what you're paying. Of course, they get you on the toppings, because cheese and bacon are another $1.00 each. But they have to make money somehow... Service is pretty good most of the time. Lately, I've only been going on Mondays (remember I'm a poor college student), and it's pretty crowded but the food gets there fast enough.
(4)
Justin D.
I really like this place. They have a good assortment of mixed drinks and meals. I usually get the risotto. The place has an ambiance that is a mix between a coffee shop and an upscale restaurant.
(4)
Danny I.
Great brunch on our last day in Ann Arbor. Service was great. The waitress was friendly and provided us plenty of time and made some great recommendations. I always hate asking "what's good" and getting the response "everything is good here". Come on we know that's not true. It's like being in an interview and being asked what your biggest weakness is and saying your a perfectionist. Pffft! Anyway... The food. We decided not to be glutenous and opt out of the brunch buffet and stick with the menu items. My eggs benny were good. The poached eggs stat on top of some really nice cuts of ham that looked to have been carved of a roast and not just deli slices. The hollandaise was a nice consistency but I could have used a little less of it. My only complaint is one of my poached eggs had the yolk cracked. This is probably why there was an abundance of hollandaise, to try and cover up the mishap. My partner had the Greek salad which was unlike anything I've ever tried before. It was full of chickpeas, beets, kalamata olives, tomatoes, cucumbers and pepperoncinis. Unusual for a Greek boy to see in a salad but tasty none the less. We also ordered a single slice of French toast to share and satisfy the sweet tooth. I wish we ordered a full order. It was very good. Many time I find French toast to be more like toast with fried egg stuck to it. This was not the case at Sava's. Also worth mentioning. The coffee was very good. I drink it black so I can identify a good tasting cup of joe. I never take the word of a coffee drinker that load theirs up with cream and sugar. Free WiFi is also always nice when traveling and Sava's does offer that as well. I wish we found this place earlier. The diner menu also looks pretty good. It would have been worth checking out as well.
(4)
Terese C.
Here for our first time. Our waiter was great. I ordered the maize & blue burger, I asked for it medium well, but meant to say medium. That was my fault. I still enjoyed it! My husband and daughter ordered the pork loin over grilled watermelon. I expected very thin pieces of pork, they were quite thick & extremely tasty! A great place to eat.
(4)
Ann S.
So, I have to give it a three but that is based on overall experience. Location is great and decor is great. Music was very annoying and it got worse due to service (slow and got bored while waiting endlessly for our server to pay any attention to us). We were seated in a booth immediately and greeted fairly soon, but it took at least 10 minutes just to get our drinks. We ordered one small appetizer plate to share and we are quite certain the server forgot about it, as we had to remind him of it 30 minutes later. The appetizer finally came out (mac and cheese) and it was the BEST mac and cheese I have ever had. Simply divine! Our food finally came out about 45 minutes later and it did not disappoint. Our table had three different entrees and most items were very good. The menu is vast and I am excited to go back and try to new things. The service was really really bad, which was puzzling because the restaurant was a little more than half full, yet there were more than enough workers on the floor. There were multiple people (managers) running around with headsets on reporting on various areas, but it did not seem to help matters at all (at least not our table). I am a standard 20% tipper, but our server deserved no more than 10%.
(3)
Catie F.
Update: I went back. More than once. The macaroni and cheese here is so good that I wish I never tried it - because there is no way I'll ever be satisfied with anything lesser. Tried a few more drinks from the fancy drink menu, some different dinner dishes - the turkey burger was melty and warm, with a nice "umami" to the combination of red pepper, smoked gouda and big grilled bun. The shrimp and quinoa salad might have made me a believer in the sweet and savory combination (and felt pretty healthy to boot), and the polenta fries were also comforting and yummy, albeit a bit heavy for just the two of us (we managed). I would award five stars for eats and libations but the service is hit or miss, leaving Sava's with something to shoot for.
(4)
Tom G.
blackbean burger was good but on the salty side. Garlic frites were disappointing, I was expecting much more. They were also way way too salty. Overall interesting concept but I don't think it's worth waiting in a long line for the experience.
(4)
Mike L.
I've been going to Sava's for the past year or so, and in general, I've had a mixed experience throughout that time. Sava's started off very strong with high quality and flavorful ingredients, but about 6 months ago or so, the quality of the food really dropped off - dry, bland, and hastily put together. I got the idea that they were preparing a number of dishes well in advance of service, perhaps freezing the food, and then thawing it later. I believe they've ceased this practice as of late though because the quality is back to its initial standard. So, my personal highlights from the lunch menu (I only go there for lunch on slow work days). The tomato bisque probably won't win national awards, but it's pretty darn good! Cobb sandwich is super tasty. I can't recall the name, but the chicken sandwich with garlic mayo, brie, and pancetta is always a pleaser. However, the grand daddy of them all has to be the bacon and brie burger. It is simply out of this world in flavor and juiciness and I'm tempted to say it's one of the best burger's I've ever had. They use high quality meat from nights market and I think that comes clearly in the flavor. I've eaten burgers from Casey's, Grange (also excellent), Ashley's, Sidetracks, etc. and I was pretty surprised when Sava's topped them all. Now, for the bad. The happy hour is a good deal, but stick with beer or wine. You're paying for alcohol when you purchase a cocktail and they either water theirs down or add just a splash. Also, when I didn't see anything on the cocktail menu that didn't sound cloyingly sweet and asked the bartender if he could make a classic mojito (lime, simple syrup, rum and mint), I got a deer-in-the-headlights stare of panic. He suggested another drink that he said was similar to a mojito (not really, it was composed of watermelon, grand marnier, vodka, and a mint leaf). It was indeed refreshing, but the drink hardly resembled a mojito and I couldn't taste a drop of alcohol, nor could I feel any detectable effect when I'd finished the drink. Bottom line: go there, order a beer at happy hour and treat yourself to a bacon and brie burger, medium rare.
(3)
Julia K.
If I am going to be served by total amateurs, they'd better be hot and the food had better be amazing. Sava's is neither, and to top it all off, the food is not so much. I think that it's a reflection on Michigan-ers niceness that this place is rated as highly as it is (Open Table Diner's Choice 2012?!! Really??!!). - Stars - Servers. Yes, they are nice. But the clumsiness of the serving style, the lack of knowledge about what makes a wine different from another, what makes a cooking style the best to prepare a dish, lack of information about food sourcing - I mean, what do you kids actually know? And please, find some way to practice how to approach the table when it's an appropriate moment to check in on your guests. Don't hover! Argh! - Stars - Restrooms. Down in a strange, twisted little basement is a ladies room that is best forgotten, as it was by the cleaners on the day I was there. - Stars - The food. Mediocre. Perfectly ok, but nothing special, like food that your mom would cook if she had put in a 10 hour work day and then whipped up some fairly tasty but not awesome whatever. The Caeser Salad tasted like it had bottled dressing and as though the lettuce was chopped that morning. The pasta was a bit overcooked and just not so great. Baked mini potatoes on the side of my fish were so overcooked as to be wrinkled up and dried out. - Star - Wierd wine experience. I ordered a glass of shiraz. I get to within sight of the bottom, and there is not just sediment, but a TWIG. Now, I know what sediment is, and don't care about that (though it is not appropriate to decant that into a patron's glass). But when I pointed out the twig to the (clueless teenage) waiter, he whisked the glass away. Ok, I thought, I guess that my new glass of wine will be back shortly. Um, no, I got a lecture from a girl with BRACES about how the final glass of wine often has sediment in it. *really?!!* I gave her a talking to, to say the least. First of all, that sediment is not acceptable to pour to a guest, and most of all that there was a fricking chunk of plant in my glass. She then asked me what I wanted her to do. For reals? Crappy customer service and general wine foolishness was the cap to the evening. I don't think that I would come back here, and certainly not for what I considered excessive prices for meh food ($16 for pasta? really?) and childish service. It's not the worst food I have ever had, but one of the lamer customer service incidents in my eating out in Ann Arbor stay.
(2)
Jillian M.
What a great local restaurant! Sava's has a great selection of pretty much anything you could be in the mood for. I've come here for a quick lunch break, fancy dinner, and even a hungover breakfast (the crepes are amazing). There is always something new to try. I love the sweet potato fries! I am very sad they no longer have dollar burger nights, but I went back just last week for the veggie burger and sweet potato fries because they are just that good! The pricing is great too. You can get a great meal for 10 bucks, or if you're feeling fancy, you can spend a lot more. Overall, fantastic place! Sava is almost always there as well. Well run, snd local too!
(5)
Molly H.
Wow--what an amazing first experience I had at Sava's Sunday evening! First off, our server was SO awesome--really funny, very honest with her opinions about the menu and very informative and attentive. What first struck me was the incredibly innovative and imaginative cocktail menu--there is some crazy stuff on there! Amazing sounding concoctions using ingredients such as paprika, cumin and pickled watermelon rind. I still wish I would have followed a career as a mixologist, so this piqued my interest right away. My friend and I both ordered The Vicar--a gin cocktail with a watermelon nectar and pickled watermelon rind as a garnish, among other things. It was absolutely incredible and, in my opinion, worth the $8 as it was also pretty large--my friend couldn't even finish hers! The subject of liquor is where I dock the 5th star, however--$6 for a well gin and tonic?? Are you nuts? It should be half the price. I digress.... I ordered the turkey burger and, I'm sorry to say this Casey's, but I have now bequeathed upon it the title of "Best Turkey Burger in Ann Arbor". Soooo delicious and the bun alone was enough to sing its praises (No joke. They're awesome buns.) My sweet potato fries were crispy and lovely. So, with that $8 cocktail and the sweet potato fries upgrade, my bill was just under 20 bucks. Not cheap, but not a bank breaker, either. I really loved my dinner here and I'll definitely be back. Thanks Savas! P.S. Love that you can bring your furry friend out on the patio!
(4)
Alien T.
First time and I loved it. I had a brunch here. They have really good menu itmes and everything looked really good. I had breakfast burrito and it was delicious. Few of my buddies got different items and looking at their plates, I can say that it was made really well. I am sure I am gonna try some of their crepes next time. The staff is friendly and happy to provide you recommendations. I heard they have buffet brunch as well.
(3)
Jonas L.
Sava's, you have grown up so wonderfully. As the history of my reviews shows, I was not in love with Sava's at first, to say the least. But I have to say, it gradually won me over by consistently making good food, consistently offering good service, and--most importantly--consistently improving itself. From a hole in the wall that served grown-up diner food, Sava's is now a two-story restaurant with full bar service and breakfast menu. The standards are still there, and perfectly adequate. As is the owner and most of the original staff, an impressive feat for this town. Hey, even the dollar burger promotion remains on, and there are now happy hour and breakfast combos to match. This will never be a place to take a romantic date to, but a perfect place to grab a bite or a drink, before or after a school or work day.
(4)
Hilary N.
We love the menu, the food, and setting, but most of all we love the service. It is always stellar, going out of their way for us. They even crossed the street to get new crayons for our kid one time. On top of that they are always hot! Where do they cast this crew. I am impressed, and it does add to the experience. It is our local favorite. A bit fancy, a little up scale, but always comfortable and even pretty affordable with $5 burger specials.
(5)
John and Elizabeth T.
I wish we could be more generous with the stars, as we've had some very delightful and memorable meals here. The food is generally very good, with a large menu that we have yet to plumb the depths of. The arancini are a personal favorite, and many of the sandwiches come on a pillowy-soft and not-too-dry brioche bun. The yellow fin salad is also harmoniously concocted, though be sure to specify the tuna be cooked rare (if that is how you enjoy it). The drink menu has a reassuring foundation of well-made traditional cocktails, but also features some more modern flavor combinations. The beer list is short, but always includes at least one solid regional craft brew. Athough we'd like to give five stars, if only to boost Sava's average rating, four stars is more appropriate, since the food, while very good, is not exceptional; and the service, while friendly, is not always exemplary. Our only poor experience to note occurred when one of us ordered the ratatouille with couscous (a seasonal dish), and plain white rice was substituted without advance notice. In short, Sava's is a great place for dinner or a light evening snack/drink and is definitely a top choice in vicinity of Central Campus.
(4)
Becky S.
I have been here for brunch, lunch and dinner and dinner and lunch blew me away. Brunch was eh ok, but I have heard it is phenomenal so perhaps I got the wrong thing. Lets start with lunch, I had an inside out prosciutto hamburger with sweet potato fries and a little drinky winky because it was happy hour. I am not a huge eater but I never wanted this burger to end. It was seriously borderline orgasmic. For a girl who has been known to eat over the sink, this means something. The drink was strong, but the fries were whatever. Now dinner, once again a cocktail was involved and it was really good. A cucumber mojito sort of thing. I then had a pasta dish which was really good and my friends also had things they enjoyed. Pricing is about what you would expect and seating is comfortable and plentiful. I particularly like to sit upstairs on a snowy day so I can watch the street and the snow fall. There are also large group meeting areas away from the main area if you want to do a ladies brunch or whatever like I did. Overall I recommend you go there right now and put a burger inside of your face.
(5)
Shane M.
I found the environment very relaxing when I came in for breakfast. The coffee was great but I wish they had real half and half and not the little containers. I recommend Calder's Dairy if they are reading this... I had a plate of fresh fruit which was fresh and delicious, they'll pretty much customize it to be whatever you want, seriously I was like, 50% watermelon and 50% other fruits and they did it :) I had a scrambled egg sandwich, which was OK, I felt it could have used something more, like spinach or something? The server was a pretty laid back guy (laid back in his tone, not in his quality of service). I felt like he may have been the owner, which is exactly what you want your staff to be like (although he may have actually been the owner). Coffee: 5/5 Food: 3/5 (sandwich) + 5/5 (fruit) / 2 = 4/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Maybe I should round up to 5 stars?
(4)
Hengjuan Q.
it's really a nice place to hang out with old friends and they have the best food in A2.
(5)
Marisa S.
Sava's, not to be confused with Seva's is a pretty nice lunch spot. Although it's been open for a while now, this past week was my first time there! I had lunch and there was a wide variety to choose from, I ended up with the Lobster BLT which my server told me could be put into a wrap instead of just on bread. Smart server = great food idea. The wrap was delicious and had lots of lobster and bacon. The pesto aioli was equally as good but there might have been too much of it on the wrap for me. Next time I'll for sure get it on the side. The polenta fries were great, probably some of the best I've had! I will surely come back and have those again! The restaurant itself was very clean and bright, our server was attentive and knowledgeable. The only draw back of this place is how hot the restaurant is inside. I'm not sure if Sava's thought they could get away with not having AC inside but usually people ask to be seated inside to avoid the heat, not feel like they are in a sauna. Overall, decent places, large lunch variety and nice atmosphere, as long as you can take the heat.
(3)
Travis L.
On a particularly rainy day, myself and 2 friends here to visit for U of M ducked into Sava's for brunch. Our waiter was incredibly talkative and cordial, and each of us enjoyed our meals. I had the southern style omelette (sausage, green pepper, onion), a standard 3 egg blended to fluffy goodness. My friend had the Bandito Hash (chorizo sausage, green peppers, onions, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, sour cream, guacamole, salsa), which he described as one of the best he had in a long time. I really enjoyed the environment and the decor of the establishment. Great diversity in the menu and great service. A true gem in Ann Arbor.
(4)
Debbie H.
You ever have a meal that made such an impression that you woke up the next morning and STILL wanted to talk about it? Well here I sit at the iPad the morning after our first experience at Sava's trying to piece together enough superlatives to cover what was a pleasantly surprising 5-star rating. Our waitress, Nicole (aka "Sara Lee") was knowledgeable, attentive and accommodated our curiosity of a couple of wines by allowing us a taste of both before deciding. We were off on the right foot. We started with a small plate ... The smoked salmon pizza. All three of us (we were with mom!) enjoyed it. Tasteful and the perfect portion for a starter. Nicole gave us some great recommendations for entrees and we went with two Herb Encrusted Salmon dishes and one Chicken Fusilli. I had the salmon and the only negative I can think of regarding my choice is that it's going to be extremely difficult to choose something else the next time we come in (and we WILL be coming back in!). The fish portion was generous and cooked to perfection. It was accompanied by a bed of veggies and halved redskins and surrounded by an incredible Dijon cream sauce with a balsamic border ... Really, this dish ranks right up there with my favorites at Mitchell's ... Excellent! The Chicken Fusilli offered great taste with the lean protein, arugula, sun-dried tomatoes, and chunks of goat cheese. We truly went 2-for-2 on the entrees, both home runs. I mentioned that this was a pleasant "surprise" because while we did choose Sava's based on a quick glance at its Yelp rating, it mostly felt like a blind date. I guess since Yelp is the "friend" who set us up, we owe you guys a big thank you. I think this is the start of a beautiful relationship!
(5)
Mary K.
I visited Sava's when Top of the Park got rained out... we weren't the only ones, and they weren't prepared, so I think that's why the service was a little spotty. I was pleasantly surprised, though, by the prices... on State Street if you can get a meal for under $10 in a sit-down restaurant, I'm happy. We got fish tacos and "nacho fries." The nacho fries were... nacho fries... I don't know what I was expecting, but they were nachos with fries instead of chips. Pretty good, generous portion, fair price, nice guacamole and fresh salsa. The fish tacos were delicious -- more like a quesadilla, but again a fair price. They had mangos in them -- yummy. I also love the fact that they have live music (yes!) and mini kegs of Oberon and Heineken... awesome. I'm taking one star away because the service was slow... but again, I think that's because they weren't expecting Top of the Park to get rained out -- and it's the closest restaurant to the festivities, so they were probably understaffed. I would like to see what it's like upstairs, because it looked very nice and comfy, with couches, etc. I'll be back!
(4)
Lily P.
I went today after grabbing some cake and froyo at LAB. Yea i don't eat my meals in order..bite me. Anyways first time I've been here since they changed it from zanzibar and got rid of the artsy look. It looks nice inside, I love the space in general and its a bit more classy. The place was probably half open, service was nice, and everything came out fast. I like the chairs and how everyone is placed a good distance apart. They added things to the menu but it looks still pretty small. I think I would like to try breakfast but its only served until 3pm...hrm even though dinner was nothing remarkable it could have amazing breakfast? I'll update after I go try it. I got the panini with the roasted peppers, chicken, and etc and a side order of Sweet Potato Fries (doesn't come with the food everything u need to order on the side). The sweet potato fries should have been better..a bit too fried and lack of non too crunchy and oily parts. I got way too excited about them after looking forward to it for a while. My roomie got the veggie something (looked like a vegetable burec) under the entree dinner part. Hers was fine..it was wrapped up in a crisp baked phyllo dough. Dinner was like $10 each, laid back atmosphere, nice waiter...food wasn't spectacular..I would have liked red hawk more I suppose in that area.
(3)
Amy B.
I'm a sucker for great service and for the most part they do this right. I have had a time or two where the hostess has messed up on a busy night, but overall I love the food and atmosphere here.
(4)
shannon r.
If you want to have a $1 burger at Sava's, here's what you do: enter the restaurant on a Monday, order a burger. Your burger will consist of a bun and a nicely grilled piece of Knight's beef. That's all. If you want cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion, it'll cost you. The burger is only available for dine-in customers, so you gotta get a drink. Tack on the cost of a soda and then if you'd like to round out the meal with some sweet potato fries (which were excellent) make sure to factor in that cost as well. Including tip, my meal ended up costing $9. That seems reasonable to me, especially given the quality of the food, which was great, but let's face it, the $1 burger is really just a gimmick to get you into the restaurant. Luckily my lunch was so good I didn't really mind.
(4)
Kevin P.
This review is based off of one experience. I went to Sava's in the early evening on a Saturday during the summer... just to provide context for service. Upon entering the restaurant I was amazed at how extensive the restaurant actually was. The whole setting is quite nice, and they have a host of different table/seat arrangements to suit your preferences (seating: booth seats, typical table chairs, bar chairs, and fancier table chairs approaching sofa chairs). There is also outdoor seating but I didn't get a good look at it -- did note there was a lot of sun shining on one table. The hostess offered me a high table (near the bar) which I took because I don't usually care where I sit. I was instantly greeted by the bartender who took my order. She was great. Very friendly, funny, and quite helpful. After she took my order I had a chance to observe the other staff and noticed there must have been about eight to ten wait staff wandering around. The restaurant had an equivalent number of occupied tables at the time. Consequently, a lot of the wait staff seemed quite aimless yet the bartender herself was quite busy (since people were ordering drinks... often). She was still sufficiently attentive but I'm surprised they didn't just give me to one of the (bored-looking) wait staff. The food was good, not amazing. I ordered the Teriyaki Salmon Burger w/ Apple Ginger slaw on top. The salmon was amazingly tender and moist. I couldn't fully enjoy it though because I wasn't particularly fond of the teriyaki flavor. I couldn't quite figure out why it didn't work for me since I normally enjoy Teriyaki but it detracted in this case. Wasn't *so* bad that I couldn't eat the salmon though. If you order this sandwich know that it gets quite wet so you'll be using that fork at some point, or requesting more napkins. I also ordered sweet potato fries, which were standard fare in my opinion, and applesauce... because I like it!
(4)
Julie C.
I remember back in the day when Sava's was this cute little thing across the street from where it is now. My friend from out of town spotted you so we wandered in, and ate a delicious sandwich and of course the infamous sweet potato fries. You made a great first impression, you Sava. Then Sava's grew up, moved across the street, decided it was good enough to make me wait in line for 45 minutes regularly, and provided me with acceptable-good food. The crepes are pretty good. Otherwise, I can't think of anything else to recommend.
(3)
Barnaby F.
This is high three star headed for four star review. I hesitate to go over three on an initial visit, but my initial visit worked out exactly the way I needed and wanted it to. We told the waitress we were in a hurry, she tried to answer our questions about what would be fastest, then we ordered without heeding her advice! She still got the food on the table in less than four minutes, and although the place wasn't mobbed and crazy, it was operating at a pretty busy level. The food was tasty, too. Simple menu, which is always a good sign for me.
(3)
Guillermo K.
Underwhelming in each and every way but one. Decor -- underwhelm. Food -- underwhelm. Drinks -- underwhelm. Service -- underwhelm. I guess the host/hostess has seemed overwhelmed by his job each and every time I've been.
(2)
Heather C.
So I've been debating between 3 and 4 stars, but decided to round up to 4 because ultimately, I like coming here. The good: almost all the food I've enjoyed, especially their breakfasts; the coffee, the burgers, and the sweet potato fries (so crispy!). The prices are kind to my student loan budget, and I appreciate the sensible portions. The awkward: the staff sometimes seem confused... and service can be slow. In any case, Sava's is always a good bet for dinner with a friend (I've never gone in a large group, so I can't attest to how well they handle that). The restaurant is beautiful, and I always look forward to trying something new on the menu. But don't go if you're in a rush.
(4)
Rachel C.
We went here to try the Adult Grilled Cheese or whatever and had the best Mac n' Cheese in our whole lives. Honestly, yeah you could probably find just as nice of a place anywhere else but the service was so kind that I feel like it deserves a good amount of stars.
(4)
Duna R.
Love this place! Delicious food - lunch, dinner, or even Sunday brunch. Highly recommend.
(5)
Sarah W.
This cafe opened last year and I must admit the food is very good! The food is fresh, tasty and prepared by Sava herself. My favorite is the grilled veggie sandwich. The vegetables are fresh with a mix of melted cheese and humus wrapped in a flat bread. The atmosphere is a bit bare, lots of pale yellow. But its one of those new restaurants where it will acquire its own character as time goes by. The service is a bit slow but its understandable of a new local business. Sava herself is very friendly and helpful with suggestions of what to eat.
(3)
Nicole P.
I, like many others, have walked by Sava's a number of times without venturing inside. Recently, a friend finally convinced me to give it a try. I was most impressed by the bi-level seating and I squealed like a small child when we were seated upstairs near the railing giving us a great view of the entire restaurant. On a sidenote: a couple of the male staff members were wearing western-style shirts and jeans that night. Theme? I don't know. But either way, it was kinda cute. My friend pointed out that the menu was "hands-free" (one-page) which helps an occasionally indecisive person like me. He went with the 1/2 roasted rosemary chicken. I went with the sesame tofu salad. Our server pretended to be humored when we asked which half of the chicken is roasted (L-O-L). Both dishes were ok. Had it not been for our individual eccentricities, they would've been a lot better I suppose. The prices were mid-range so I can't complain. Even with the large gatherings we spotted in every corner of the restaurant that night, the noise level remained fairly low, which was nice. I would definitely return to Sava's if for no other reason than to see if the western-shirt thing was a coincidence or a regular theme...and to try the veggie burger and sweet potato fries.
(3)
Shannon P.
Surrounded by patrons grasping burgers and clutching sweet potato fries we chose the road less traveled by. It might have been a mistake, maybe not? Either way, the food was mediocre. I.e., the salad we ordered lacked some of the components from the menu description and yet had other items from other salads described. The salad was odd, but when in transit gave us the greens we needed. Beer is a tad expensive for being highlighted as local. Decor was fabulous. Ambiance: the music the evening we were here was far too much like a hyped clothing store for 18yr olds. A pucker and a pout, let's get some more tight leggings to try on with some slouchy boots...wait! This is place with food. Only the food was ok, just not memorable.
(3)
Stacey D.
The thing about Sava is that it has so much going for it that even if occasionally your fries are cold, or the service is a bit slow, you keep coming back. One of the best things about Sava is the ambience, the lighting is soft, the decor contemporary, large windows. You feel like you are at an actual to goodness sit down restaurant (which is more than you can say for a lot of restaurants on state and s. university). Given this ambiance, the prices are great. It is possible to get dinner for under $10, but who can resist the smoothies and sweet potatoe fries? Fish tacos, roast chicken, pasta all for about $12 or less. Pretty good date place I think.
(4)
Sam T.
From the atmosphere to the food, Sava's doesn't disappoint!! Had the Salomn burger and left happy and filled!
(4)
Maxwell C.
[Since I can't write another update, my prior review is pasted below.] The last couple times I've been to Sava's the kitchen service has been very prompt and the food, as always, has been great. It appears they've hired additional wait staff, which was much needed. Sava's has listened and, as far as I've seen, addressed their shortcomings, and that's the mark of a good business. They did get rid of one of my favorite dishes (the pierogi), but made up for it by adding a delicious ban-mi. I'll definitely be back more often. PRIOR REVIEW: I've found myself at Sava's a lot over the past few months, and my feelings haven't changed. Food is still pretty great, kitchen and wait service is still crap. The latter can be seriously frustrating if you want to go here for lunch or something. If they got this straight they'd earn another star.
(4)
tim d.
Pretty sucky. I'm not sure what the deal with the dress code is here, but I'm pretty sure that many pairs of denim shorts and chucks is a sign of some sort of unholy affair; further evidenced by the smashed and bitter briquette on brioche they sat at my lap, faintly smelling of sulphur. The $2 high life was alright. Although I probably wouldn't have minded a chance to maybe squeeze two beers into an hour and a half lunch.
(1)
mariah c.
I'm in the same boat as a few other people -- wanting to wait until Sava's settled in a bit to write. But honestly, it's been awhile since they've been in the space -- I've been there multiple times over the last few months, and I think it's important to note that they do have a way to go and it's not just (as Eric suggests) needless complaining. My service experiences lead me to believe that it's not all idle griping. One time a month back I was at a table where everyone else had silver, but I had none. I asked if maybe he could get me some silverware. The waiter looked at me very confused, then panicked and told me "I think we're all out." Of silverware? I think that might pose a problem when my meal arrives! He finally located some, but the poor guy seemed totally stressed out when asked any questions. He wasn't brand new, either -- I'd had him for a server weeks before. I chalk some of this up to growing pains, but it seems that there might be a lack of systems or delegation that probably needs to happen now that the operation has jumped to such a larger scale. I really enjoyed the food at the old location and just really hope that Sava can get things back on track in the operations part of the restaurant. I hope she can get the quality up to what people came to expect and enjoy.
(3)
Adam D.
Interesting menu, with a mix of high brow fare and bar-food classics. The burger I had was really tasty without being a mess to eat in public. Staff was nice and the decor was pleasant without being too fancy, kitschy, or college-y. A very nice alternative to all the cheap-o places on campus for a bit more money. You can take a date here in the evening just as easily as you can chill with friends in the afternoon.
(4)
Mike M.
Been to Sava many times. Great menu.great service.always something interesting. Love the fish tacos.
(5)
Natalie G.
I prefer their dinner menu, but they've got a ton of great sandwiches for lunch as well. i had a bite of my friends almond-crusted chicken and it was delicious! I love the atmosphere at Savas above all. Great reason to drive out to A2.
(5)
Jeff B.
Signed up just to be able to leave this review. Go here, eat great food, and drink incredible drinks. And I mean INCREDIBLE drinks. Sean (sp?) behind the bar completely blew our minds with his creations. Do yourself a favor and get a Saint Genet and/or a Hiroshima. Good LORD. Killer service, too. Can't wait to get back to Ann Arbor just to visit this place again!
(5)
Maggie W.
Great place, nice atmosphere, awesome food. S.O loved the ribs, his dad got great ravioli, his mom had a kick ass salad (don't remember name but had asparagus, avocado, etc.) and I had a kick ass grilled cheese. I liked The Roadhouse's sweet potato fries better but thats just me... Definitely going back!
(4)
Logan W.
I've heard for lunch this place is great, but my dinner experience was forgettable. I was excited to go here because it has curb appeal, and the place is neat looking inside. However, upon being seated we found ourselves having to shout to hear each other. One reviewer said something about this place having atmosphere, but atmosphere is not just about looks. The place is a bare box, as in the floors are hardwood, the walls are brick and the ceiling is tin or something similar. There is nothing to deaden any sound, and as soon as there's more than eight people in there, it's a deafening din. I hate to go on about it, but you often go out to eat to have a conversation and this place makes that nearly impossible. Our server was a nice enough guy, however once again, we couldn't hear him, he couldn't hear us and we had to shout at each other. He seemed a bit manic, which probably wasn't his fault as he most likely just had too many tables to care for which is indicative of poor management, and makes a customer feel like just another customer. That is not the experience you would want to have on a romantic date, contrary to another reviewers opinion. He wrote everything we said down, but came back several minutes later to double check some things, meaning he hadn't put in our order after some time. Not a big deal, but the waiter didn't do the place any favors. We ordered the 'artichoke and spinach dip', which outside of the unusual reversal of the order of ingredients named, was nothing special. I love spinach and artichoke dip so I kind of liked it, but more thought seemed to have gone into putting the wheat lawash chips into a perfect teepee in the middle of the dip, which makes it impossible to get to the dip by the way, than what it tasted like. It's not hard to make those ingredients taste good, and they did not. Our table ordered a chicken and goat cheese sandwich which was great, but just riding on the shoulders of how good goat cheese is haha, a burger which was mediocre but almost fairly priced, a smoked half chicken which was alright but their smoker was broken, and I think some mushroom pasta dish that looked good. The food was okay, but they were clearly overcharging to finance their nice looking yet impractical interior. For around $30 a head without drinks, the food should be much, much better. If your dinner companion is into flash without substance, check this place out. If you're looking for an enjoyable atmosphere with good food, it won't be hard to do better. I'm not saying which need is better, sometimes you just want to get out of your usual and go someplace that looks fancy, but for the prices here you can get a nice place with good food as well.
(2)
Will S.
I thought my dinner at Sava's was very enjoyable. I ate at the bar with a friend and the service was efficient and professional. We started with the risotto balls which I found to be under-fried. I will forever compare any risotto balls I have to the suppli a telefono at 2 Amy's in DC. The flavor was good yet a little subtle for calling them truffled. My main dish was really great. I ordered the fried green tomato Po'boy with bacon. Whenever I read Po'boy on a menu I almost 100% of the time order it (especially fried shrimp po'boys). The sandwich was truly excellent. The bread was crusty yet not too hard and the aioli they use is great. It is also only like $11 which makes it a great value. It is served a la carte but I was full after eating half an order of risotto balls and the sandwich. Overall, a very satisfying meal in a very satisfying atmosphere.
(4)
Tricia K.
I feel that Sava's is a wonderful value for the food it serves and I am now wondering why I hadn't tried it earlier. Although I have only been once, the menu had so many options on it that sounded good I had a hard time deciding on what to get. In the end, I was craving something light and opted for the watermelon salad with prosciutto added. I was fully expecting a bed of greens with 2 slices of watermelon on it but what came was a bowlful of sweet watermelon chunks flecked with thinly sliced red onion, feta cheese, mint and prosciutto. It really hit the spot because I was extremely thirsty and not wanting a heavy dinner. I was so addicted I kept gobbling it up and ignored the ongoing dinner conversation. We lingered at our table long after our dinner was over but the staff was patient and didn't try to kick us out. This is a great place to have dinner with friends because it is reasonably priced and likely everyone will find something good to eat. Next time I come back I'd love to try their artisan cheese and charcuterie plates.
(4)
Gemma H.
Sava's used to be one of my favorite restaurants in A2. With this recent remodel and revamp of their menu I was looking forward to testing it out for dinner with a group of friends. I'm sorry to say I was beyond disappointed. Not only has the whole atmosphere of the restaurant changed into some attempt to be hipster-60s-retro-modern-chic with what's a terrible excuse for music playing in the background, the menu was totally disappointing and incongruous. We ordered sweety fries and spinach dip to start. These were the best part of the entire meal and probably the only thing I would get again. Each of us ordered a different entree so we could try a lot of things and share--from lamb shank on brussel sprout (one of the specials), ribs on a bed of grits, chicken pasta with a goat cheese cream sauce, and steak frites. The steak frites were super disappointing: the meat was a little tough, the frites were a little soft, and the homemade umami ketchup was straight-up terrible. I'm not sure I've ever been so disappointed with a meal in my life. In fact, I didn't like anything that anyone else ordered either. The pasta was too creamy and lacked any real flavor. The meat on the ribs was decent (at least compared to my steak), but the rest of it was so-so. The lamb was tender, but everything else on the plate was not good and didn't really go together at all. I don't even think I can stress how disappointed I am in the changes this restaurant has made recently. If I could give it 1.5 stars I would.
(2)
Jessica R.
We went to Sava's this weekend and I kept saying, "Why did I give this place a 3? It's so good!" And it was. Each bite of our Mediterranean Trio appetizer was yummy--the pita and dips perfectly portioned--and each bite of my tuna sashimi salad was incredible. The service was thoughtful, the atmosphere energetic yet private, and the bill affordable. They do have a long wait on weekends (usually 45 minutes if you just walk in), but this is true of most popular restaurants downtown. A very specific compliment: They have a room with a big table in the back. That table is not a rectangle, but bulges a bit in the center (picture a flattish oval with the very ends chopped off). It's hard to describe, but the point is that you can seat over a dozen people at this table and everyone can see everyone else. Such a smart design!
(4)
Amaryllia L.
* Moules Frites :: p.e.i. mussels, steamed in coconut curry cream sauce, served with fries ($11) - the sauce tasted fantastic but at least 1/3 to 1/2 of the mussels were dead/closed so we ended up dipping the fries that came with it into the sauce instead (so yeah...$11 fries, basically). I got a couple mouthfuls of sand with the mussels that we could eat but I suppose that's to be expected. * Paella :: saffron rice, p.e.i. mussels, clams, shrimp, lobster, peas, chorizo, green peppers, saffron butter sauce ($22) - very mediocre in flavor and borderline too salty. I had a couple more mouthfuls of sand here as well. Sand in a $11 appetizer, somewhat acceptable. Sand in a $22 entree, less so. * Bacon Brie Burger :: crispy bacon, melted brie ($9 with no sides) - arrived more medium-well to well-done even though we ordered medium-rare. Flavor was pretty bland. * Gouda Prosciutto Burger :: stuffed with gouda and prosciutto, topped with pineapple salsa ($9.5 with no sides) - yep, also way overcooked and boring. It's sad when you're at a nice restaurant with a $9 burger and wishing you were at Five Guys instead... I really had high hopes for this place and was so excited to try it that I settled for a 9PM dinner reservation, thinking it would be worth the wait. Unfortunately, I was really underwhelmed by the food quality, especially given how expensive the meal was. I'm giving 3 stars based on Ann Arbor standards but it would easily be 2 stars in any other major city. On the other hand, our server was fantastic!
(3)
Alix N.
Much better now. The menu is back to its usual wonderfulness. Still no State Street Tea, but a nice waiter said he could make me one that was similar. I'm a fan again!
(4)
Nancy C.
I am feeling generous today! Hence the four stars. Truth is probably closer to 3.5 stars (and also because half stars aren't allowed). I have generally really enjoyed my foods and drinks at Sava's and the service has been consistently friendly, so rounding up! The patio is really nice and semi-private (when weather permits) and the location is great. An ideal spot for happy hour or dinner or lunch... Items are pricier than warranted in my opinion, but not outrageous by Ann Arbor standards. It's just not a place I would frequent... We came here one time with a group of 25+ people and the staff accommodated us really well. Thumbs up.
(4)
Klara S.
I have been here many, many times and have almost always enjoyed my experience. My favorite times to come are for brunch (the eggs benedict with smoked salmon is my jam) and for happy hour. Reading over my review, I am using the word "good" a lot - and that's what this place is. Solidly good, never bad, never slap your mama great. One major pro is their decently priced wine list - the wines are solid and the prices are especially nice during happy hour when glasses are half off. The mixed drinks are good as well, but given the wine selection, I would usually stick with that. Sava's also has a good variety of seating - you can get anything from intimacy to the ability to spread out. The food is consistently good - not fabulous, but great for the price. I have never had something I have actively disliked, but I have had some things I like better than others (typically, I've liked the traditional items (mac and cheese, risotto balls) more than the non-traditional items (Banh Mi)). Service is prompt, although I usually seem to get newer servers who aren't as knowledgeable about the menu. I almost want to give this place 5 stars to balance out the smattering of 3-stars (Sava's is definitely better than a lot of other places with the same average rating).
(4)
Emily G.
During my time as a student in AA, I never went to Sava's because, well, I was dirt poor. Stopping by my old college campus for a night gave me the opportunity to eat dinner here and finally give it a try. Since a storm was coming, it was pretty empty which meant it was mostly just the servers and us hanging out in the restaurant. I ordered the lamb entree and my friend got a cheeseburger. I have to say, his burger was pretty darn perfect: cooked medium-raw (as he requested), incredibly juicy, crunchy bacon, fresh ingredients and just tons of flavor. The burger didn't come with sides (which sucked) but I was still really impressed with the quality of their dish. My lab dish came with 2 single ribs (frenched), potatoes and green beans with a small side of tzaziki. I asked for medium, but my lamb was cooked past well-done, so there was no traces of pink and it made the meat a little tough. This was disappointing because the lamb itself didn't have a rub or a sauce, so overcooking it couldn't be masked by any added flavor. The potatoes were cooked perfectly and the green beans were just a little under (crunchy) while the sauce was tasty, but should have had a bit more flavor since the potatoes, green beans or lamb had no added seasoning. Our server was super nice and the place looked great. A pretty successful dinner despite some small mishaps, but I didn't want to bother making a big deal out of it (I was also starving so there was no way I was going to reject food). Oh Ann Arbor, I missed you so.
(4)
Deron O.
We had excellent service and delicious food for dinner on a Monday night. The restaurant was busy, so we weren't benefitting from a lack of competition, so to speak. Highly recommended.
(5)
Hello G.
Don't hate on seva! This place is so awesome! I absolutely love love love it! I always try to go here when I'm in Ann Arbor! It's so delicious.
(5)
Rosemarie C.
I came to dinner here with some friends on a Saturday night around 6 and we were promptly seated. We were seated Ina large booth, which I LOVED. Our server was very knowledgable and friendly, and always kept our glasses fill! They have a good selection of craft beer. The menu has a large assortment of foods- fish, pasta dishes, burgers and sandwiches, and so on. The burgers and sandwiches are under $10 and the seafood and pasta dishes begin at around $15. Their prices are not bad, especially considering the location. I ordered the grilled cheese with tomato bisque and it was delicious. Others on my party ordered pasta dishes and the salmon burger. Everyone enjoyed their meals. I highly recommend checking this place out!
(5)
Melissa C.
I absolutely loved this place! We went during the art fair so that had scaled down menu but it was all of their greatest hits! The decor was nice, burgers were divine and don't even get me started on their sweet potato fries! All around great experience, all made better by our funny and witty server, Jordan.
(5)
A.J. S.
I had Paella for the first time ever here, and it was AMAZING. Ok, now that I have gotten that out of my system I will be a little bit more in depth. The bar is actually quite excellent, they have a decent beer list, and the food was GREAT. I had the Paella as I mentioned above, and Polenta Fries - which were also fantastic. The food had great flavour and taste. I don't know what to compare paella to, because I have never had it before, but it was delicious. It tasted fresh, flavoured, and not lumpy like was made in an episode of weeds. The service was also pretty good, the waitress was nice and everything. The ambiance was pretty low key. I would consider going back here, though the food can be a little pricey so beware.
(4)
Robyn T.
Honest to goodness, I can't say enough about Sava's. I've been there a few times and each time the food is excellent, the ambience is relaxing, and the service is stellar. I do say that this is one of my Ann Arbor faves. The last time I was there they had this hot spiced wine for the holidays that was perfect to warm up to. Some of my personal hits from the menu: - Mac and Cheese - Grilled Cheese for Adults - Sweet Potato Fries - Chicken Pot Pie - Salmon Burger Generally, I try to avoid State Street because it's close to campus so many of the stores up there are chock full of half stoned undergrads. However, Sava's is completely worth the trip, no matter where it's located. Seriously you gotta try it.
(5)
Victoria H.
Any easy go-to. Whether you are looking for breakfast, brunch, lunch, happy hour, dinner, or late night, Sava's has something to satisfy everyone. For breakfast, I think their omellettes are the standout items, but have also heard great things about the french toast and the hash. For lunch, you can't go wrong with a greek salad (amazing dressing and served with grilled pita) or a burger with sweet potato fries. Their cocktails are strong! Definitely get your money's worth. Sava's can suit just about any occasion and service is typically great. Its a wonderful all around option.
(4)
Sara B.
This is another hit and miss restaurant that there is normally a wait for. My rating is mostly for the most recent food and drinks I had there and the service. Also, the wait time is often far longer than they tell you even if you have a reservation. 20 minutes to an hour is fairly normal. The first time I went I had the ham and brie sandwich, which was bliss. My friend had the portobello sandwich, which was also fantastic. We went for lunch at an odd hour so it was pretty empty and the servers were very attentive and kept our water glasses filled. The second time I went I had the taco or fajita? salad, which was just awesome. There was fresh avocado and chicken and had great flavor with a very ample amount of salad. The service was decent and the restaurant was pretty dead, but it could have been better. The last time I went I had the mussels and a cocktail. The mussels tasted old and had a bitter sauce, and the fries that came with it were too salty. The watermelon cocktail was poorly mixed and had a weird aftertaste. The waitstaff was also very inattentive this trip, and never returned to check on us this trip.
(3)
Mads F.
I was in the area just for a weekend and we ran into a local who raved about this place so we sat down and had a drink with him at the bar. The drink menu was pretty impressive. It was divided into 3 categories, "the progressive" "the purist" and "the novice". I got the State Street Tea which was really refreshing and good. Another person got the Sandia sucia which was like a watermelon martini and then the churango which was really good but strong since it has Pisco. The bartenders were really friendly and put on quite a show with the drinks. A person in our group ordered a drink that they lit on fire which was an awesome show to watch. Overall great service, great drinks and good time out in Ann Arbor!
(4)
Patty C.
Every dish looked wonderful, I shared 3 small plates and each were equally as good. We had a part of 10 with good service.
(5)
Wayne P.
Late for breakfast? Too early for lunch? Come down to this place and enjoy their brunch. As many plates as you want. So many options to choose. Grab brunch at Sava's and you'll never loose. (Egg muffin thing kinda sucked tho) WP.
(5)
martha b.
Excellent food and great vibey atmosphere. Jimmy was the highlight however with his above average service. Thanks for the great experience! When next in Ann Arbor definitely swing by Savas.
(5)
Sally B.
Like another Yelper, I was wondering if Sava's has improved. I was there for the third (fourth?) time recently and it was reallyreally good. My fish tacos were delicious. And they have a really nice wine selection. The dinners that my colleagues had also looked really tasty (BBQ tofu, chicken masala, big salad with chicken and a interesting looking pasta) and we all cleaned our plates! And our server was prompt and helpful. The first couple times I was at Sava's, it was not long after it moved to its new location. There were menu glitches and the food was inconsistent. Those issues seem to be solved. It is a loud restaurant, though, so be prepared for that.
(4)
Kellie W.
I read an earlier review that said this place seemed soulless- which I thought was odd because my experience is the opposite. The restaurant clearly takes a lot of care in space design: the upstairs is open to the downstairs, the windows are tall and stunning, the candles are expertly set together depending on their various heights, the plating is aesthetically appealing... they even decorate for the seasons and this fall have a bunch of gourds everywhere. Some of the food served here also appears in Babo, the market and prepared food counter owned by the same restauranteur. I really like the salads, the truffle mushroom pasta YES PLEASE and the appetizers. I like to come here and share a bunch of dishes with whoever I'm with. They've good food prices on all levels, so you should be good on any budget. Some of their main plates are a little expensive, and some of them are a little bland (chicken pot pie). The breakfast here is usually very good. They serve some delicious omelets and I think they brew Ugly Mug coffee and it's delicious. Also, all the wait staff I've had here has been really pleasant. HALF OFF wine on Sundays. Yum.
(4)
David S.
Not sure how I missed this place during my five years in Ann Arbor. Thankfully I had a younger sibling that remained in Ann Arbor so I was able to discover Sava's shortly after graduation. I make it back to Ann Arbor a few times per year and Sava's has become my go-to brunch place on the way out of town. I'm a corned beef hash person, but the bandito hash is amazing. I haven't been disappointed with dinners at Sava's either. A lot to choose from. Just make sure you get the sweet potato fries. Good drink selection as well. Service has always been very friendly and quick. I think the pricing is very reasonable although locals sometimes disagree. I'm a fan. I look forward to trying the new restaurant the owner has opened as well.
(4)
Jaye K.
We showed up without a reservation and told it would be a 10 minute wait, gave our name and said we'd be at the bar. 20 minutes later, the hostess was seating others and we thought we had better have dinner at the bar if we wanted to make it to the movie. Happily, the bartender was great and we loved our dinner. We never found out if all of the people being seated had reservations. We were never called for our table, but we made it to the theater in time for the movie!
(3)
DJ H.
Good food in terms of taste and variety with good service. The prices can be a bit on the high side but they are reasonable given the quality of food. Weekend brunch for $20 is great, even for vegetarians. My last time there, the hostess put us down for two instead of three people and that extended our wait time.
(4)
Rachel S.
Sava's is one of my favorite restaurants in Ann Arbor. The food is always delicious. The menu is pretty vast, something for everyone. There are great vegetarian options. My favorite items are: the grilled salmon, the quinoa salad, the salmon burger and the macaroni and cheese. All yummy options. Desserts are very good too. Go for the chocolate molten cake. Sunday brunch is BEYOND good!!
(4)
Stephen K.
Best brunch buffett I have ever been to, in any state hands down. This place is amazing.
(5)
Lindsey S.
This place keeps getting better and better in my book! There is tons of seating options - the bar right when you walk in, high top tables, booth tables, outdoor seating, long tables, round tables !! an upstairs area - a private dining room closed off area for privateparties! they've really got it all here. Tv's at the bar area, which are normally playing a cool indy documentary or tv show. Strong great drinks -- really great mimosas and bloody mary's! ** Top eats @ Sava's *Steak Sandwich - the aoli on this will blow your taste buds to orgasm *Sweet Potatoe Fries- crispy perfection *Shrimp & Quinoa Salad - switched it out for grilled chicken breast for no charge, this is my new fav thing, great mix of squash bites, shaved almonds, a light dressing, and apple or pear, spinach, dried cranberries * greek salad- note that the lettuce isn't chopped, but the toppings are, a creamy ish dressing thats pinkish, the toasty pita is greecian style *veggie skillet hash * artichoke and spinach dip - has legit artichokes in it, its not too creamy and doesn't up set your stomach, it comes with crispy thin pita chips that are largee if you are there for lunch be sure to grab the crossiant bacon egg and cheese !! its divine and mouth watering and delicious beyond belief !! its great to support a local - love sava !! shes awesome !!
(4)
Linda S.
I have been here a few times and truly love the updated look in the last month. It has a sophisticated feel (love the new tile entrance and larger bar.)Pros: The food has gotten even better than it was before. I love the crispy and delicious bombas, and the chicken fusili pasta is amazing. The servers are very friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They have increased the number of beers on draught and have a nice wine list. Just a few of things that could use to be improved: I don't love the new bar stools as they are not very comfortable. The bar could also use some purse hangers underneath for a place as classy as this is, and the side of the bar near the door can be a bit cold with drafts each time the main door is open. This is a small thing, but the menu font is tiny and very hard to read by the dimmer romantic lighting. The servers during busy times seem to be spread a little thin. One last thing-we came once recently with our five year old son. The server was very sweet in bringing him an ice cream sundae at the end of the meal, but we are pretty strict about what he eats and would have preferred that we were asked if he could have it. We would have allowed it as a treat, but would have asked for the portion to be much smaller than what was ultimately given to him. They do have a small kids menu that we liked the choices he was given and my son would definitely want to come back.
(4)
shannon h.
Huge brunch g for the $19 price. Sausage gravy was AMAZING. Food was very fresh. Only thing not on buffet was crepes, waffles and omelettes. Not sure about the rest of their menu but if their brunch buffet is this good the rest of their food should just as good! Great service as well!
(4)
Bernard A.
Off the charts. Anything Sava gets her hands on blows my mind. Amazing food and honestly, whoever is in charge of hiring needs a raise. Best staff around. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.. anytime of the day this is the place you want to go.
(5)
Michelle N.
Not sure if it was bc Sava's makes a good burger or if it was bc I was sick and hadn't really eaten all week, but I DEMOLISHED my burger AND ended up craving burgers the day after...so 5 stars from me! Love love loooooved the environment. Perfect date restaurant. Idk how to explain this without sounding like an idiot, but I felt like the restaurant was both cozy yet spacious at the same time. The table arrangements were close to each other, which lended itself well to a cozy, intimate environment, but i really appreciated the simple decor and tall ceilings...made everything feel so much more spacious. There was a 10-15 min wait when I arrived on a Saturday evening around 8:30pm, but no biggie - we just grabbed some seats at the bar while we waited. Their menu has a variety of dishes, but I was in a burger kinda mood, so I opted for the Knights beef burger w/bacon and a side of fries. SOOOOOO GOOD...the burger was big and yummy, and the fries were so perfectly crispy. I want to go back. Now. :)
(5)
Nicholas M.
I've never disliked the food here. Never really had a complaint. So why don't I rate it higher? I just get this weird feeling from the place. The word soulless comes to mind. It just seems devoid of anything unique. It's great for picky large groups. You can generally always find something on the menu that will make everyone happy. The bartenders also make some really inventive drinks that are worth checking out. However, the pricing might be a little high for Ann Arbor.
(3)
Nicole T.
One of my FAVORITE restaurants in Ann Arbor! Everything here is just soooo good. I especially love the burgers and handheld paninis, but the dinner entrees are also amazing. The prices have gone up and the portions have become smaller though, which is why I took a star off. The sweet potato fries and the tomato bisque are a MUST at every meal. My boyfriend and I are obsessed with this place. The dinner entrees are quite small though, not enough to fill us up, which is why we always order the sides. The risotto balls are AMAZINGLY good. Also, their brunch is great too, many options such as the french toast! I don't come here too often anymore though because it is a bit of a walk from my apartment along with the price, so it is reserved for special occasions now. On weekends, dinner time is very busy and you should make a reservation before hand if you don't want to wait 30 minutes for a table.
(4)
Konefkta K.
We stopped here for brunch the morning after my friend's wedding (i.e. a little hungover) and I had the crepes with heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella (basically caprese salad crepes) and they. were. PHENOMENAL. Also, we had no idea that they had a brunch buffet on Sunday afternoons ($19). It looked amazing (shrimp, oysters, quiches, pastries, etc), but neither of us were super hungry. If we are ever back, we will make it a point to try it out!
(5)
Jacqui D.
I have been to Sava's a number of times. The food is always just alright. Most of the time, the service has been pretty good. The only thing that I don't like about coming here is the attire that the servers wear. Many of the women that work here are wearing very short, tight skirts when I have dined here, and not to be rude but some of them should not be wearing that kind of outfit... The food and atmosphere at Sava's is very nice, and I don't feel like their dress reflects that. Other than that, great place to spend an evening.
(3)
Panagiota Z.
One word explains the food here-AMAZING! I came here with my family for my birthday. We first ordered our drinks- they didn't have chocolate martinis on the menu but the waitress asked the bartender & said they would make them for us. I was actually disappointed when they came to our table. Not only were our glasses half filled but they were not tasty at all. I probably should have said something but I just let it go. Next- onto my favorite part- the food! I decided to try the mushroom swiss burger and ordered the infamous sweet potato fries that everyone raved about. Simply amazing. The burger was so tasty and juicy and huge! (I could only finish half of it & took the rest home). The sweet potato fries were the best fries I've ever had!! A must try!! My dad ordered the Lamb Shank with a Mini Caesar salad. The waitress explained this meal exactly how it was. My dad was in love with it. He said it tasted as if he made it himself (we're Greek & he never says that about any restaurant he's ordered lamb from!) Another must try! We definitely will be back. Atmosphere: Beautiful! They have an upstairs and outdoor seating also. Staff: Our waitress was awesome! She answered our questions and was very attentive.
Delicious! The pecan crusted chicken was so tender and paired with a bleu cheese spread that it just melts in your mouth! I would for sure go back!
(5)
Karina S.
Came in today with an out of town guest for lunch. Our male server named a beautiful french name I cannot remember greeted us promptly and with waters. Was very knowledgable and personable. Thanks to him you got 2 stars! The food was bland at that, it is never a good sign when you leave a restaurant wanting 'more'. Ordered some drinks and both cups were dirty, my chardonnay glass had remnants of red wine, gross to say the least. The beer glass was also dirty and looked like it had dried white paint all over it. Since my guest and I are in the service industry we can overlook such things. BAD FOOD WE CANNOT. We ordered the bang bang shrimp for an appetizer...shrimp was 'okay' but actually tasted like the TGIF's bang shrimp I had one night drunk. Sub par to say the least We then ordered our lunch which consisted of a fried green tomato po' boy, the chorizo blue cheese burger and sweet fries. ( which we did not end up getting, we received regular fries) The po' boy was greasy and inedible. The tomato was too greasy to eat so i removed it from my sandwich and took a bite. I then noticed there was no pimento cheese, so basically I ate a french baguette for lunch at around 9$ The chorizo burger was bland and I only picked up the blue cheese tangy flavor. Chorizo is normally juicy and good but this was very dry and abysmal. Maybe the chef at seva can talk to the chef at Frita Batidos and prepare chorizo the right way. The french fries, what a bummer! Took me back to my college days when I ate frozen fries in my toaster oven. Did not even finish them, thanks to the honey dijon sauce it saved the frozen taste a bit. REVAMP your fries, the ones you have are horrible. Probably will not be going back to Sava which is a bummer because the service was great but alas, there are other great places to eat downtown.
(2)
Elizabeth K.
Sava's is great for an all-around go-to restaurant. In the mood for drinks or wine? Want a full dinner? Brunch? A light lunch? They do it all, and really pretty well, too. They have a brunch buffet on Sundays, which is lovely and packed full of delicious food (smoked salmon!). Their burgers and other "hand helds" are fantastic - my favorite is the boccacini panini, with fresh mozzarella, pesto and roasted red peppers. Other favorites include the fish tacos, the southwest chicken salad, and the mac and cheese. They have nice happy hour drink specials (but you have to sit in the bar!) and they have a large side-patio for those who want to dine al fresco. Service is always friendly and upbeat, and the prices are reasonable for the portions and ambiance.
(4)
Eric R.
Came here with my girlfriend the night we moved to Ann Arbor. The food was excellent. We got the spring rolls, which were fantastic and would've cost $20 in Boston, and a chicken salad with blue cheese and raspberry vinaigrette which was also excellent. Oh, and a decent German beer (forget the name) - Sava's looked to have a pretty solid beer selection. Service was great - we were seated immediately, and our waitress was very friendly and patient. And the outdoor seating is awesome! They have a patio alongside the building, so you're not just eating on the sidewalk right next to cars driving by. At night they have these cool fire decorations next to the tables, and they're pumping some pretty sweet music. Made me feel so hip.
(5)
Kate M.
So disappointed!!! Sava's has been my favorite Ann Arbor restaurant for some time. However, I had my first dinner there since their renovation and OMG - what a difference a renovation makes! The physical change isn't too impressive, but the new menu and food are terribly disappointing. The quality of the food has taken a nose dive and what you get for your money is frankly, insulting and a rip off. One item ordered in our party was the evening special, the sea scallops. The dish arrived and there were THREE scallops (which were undercooked and had to be sent back) on the plate which were scantily surrounded by small pieces of diced sweet potato - for a whopping $27. Nothing else was included, not even a bread basket. Personally, I think that's outrageous. Another disappointing dish was the stir fry with tofu. This dish was $17 for two large pieces of tofu (we all know how inexpensive tofu is) atop a very small mixture of something (maybe rice or some other grain) laced with many large pieces of onion, all swimming in a overly sweet tasting sauce. In two words- NOT GOOD! I hope Sava's can get their act together soon. They once served creative, quality, expensive-enough food. They have lowered their standards, raised their prices and reduced their entree's portions - apparently assuming their patrons wouldn't notice. HELLO, I noticed.
(2)
Kara M.
Do NOT sit outside in the late afternoon. We were seated at 6:30pm (in May), and the sun was directly in my eyes. They will not let you move your chair because then the servers don't have room to walk within the boundaries of the restaurant. I thought it especially odd that they wouldn't let us move tables--we were told we could go up to the hostess and put our names at the bottom of the list if we wanted to be reseated. We had already waited an hour for our table. The food was fine, the service was a little surly and slow, but the patio was awful. I don't mind waiting a long time for a great experience, but the time we waited was completely not proportional to what we got.
(2)
Jimmy T.
Sava's is one of the few places in Ann Arbor -- probably the only place -- I won't go. I've dealt with the staff there and no one really knows what's going on. Even the owner doesn't have time for you. Her communication was unacceptably rude on a matter unrelated to the food on multiple occasions. For this reason I could never recommend this place. As a fellow business owner and human, I would never treat a customer or anyone like that ever.
(1)
Sophie S.
Great service and the food is always good .I like the music very cheerful and the decor is very nice .I am enjoining going there .Keep up the good work
(5)
Myke O.
Pretty good. I had the pecan crusted chicken sandwich and a chocolate lava cake for dessert. The chicken was very good but I felt that the bun was a bit overkill. It might have been better just served on a bed of mashed potatoes, but it was still very good. The chocolate lava cake was good but not fantastic. I was expecting more "lava" to pour out when I sliced into it but it was more just very dense, very rich, moist cake. Extra points for being just about the only place open super late and for being walking distance to the Campus Inn. Bartender was friendly.
(4)
Channa P.
This is probably one of the best restaurants I've eaten at in a college town. It has the menu of a swanky dining spot without the pretentious attitude or outrageous prices. The menu is stacked with lots of great sounding dishes, and because this was the first time I had been in cool weather in months I got something homey and warm, lasagna. Vegetarian lasagna to be exact, and I can still taste the super flavorful sweet corn that was inside. The shells were green from the spinach base and the different veggies inside made the dish really filling. I tried to take a picture, but green lasagna doesn't exactly photograph well. I just wish I could have eaten all of it. I would love to go back to try more food or drinks on the menu. The restaurant is situated on Ann Arbor's busy street that run's through U Michigan's campus. Even with lots of fun looking choices around I would eat at this place again before trying some place new.
(4)
Mary-Catherine H.
3 1/2 stars is about right. When they are good, they are very very good. And when they are bad, they are, well, okay. Sava's plays an important and admirable role in the downtown/campus area. They have mixed price points and they serve breakfast through late night cocktails. Some of the food is/was magnificent (I miss you, Burrata salad!). But I am unimpressed by much of their food. Their sweet potato fries are blah, filet mignon unimpressive, papaya slaw with tuna mushy and flavorless. I *want* to love them, but they are just too spotty. Customer service is so-so. They only take a certain number of reservations per hour and won't make any exceptions, even if you are coming in with a group of 8 and don't want to wait while they set up a table. I tried to place a pickup order the other day and was on hold for 5 minutes the other day before I gave up. Sava's has high potential; I hope they continue to challenge themselves to be a *great* restaurant rather than just rely on their location to pay the bills.
(3)
Jackson N.
The experience at savas was wonderful. Food was great and service just as good. Would definitely go back for dinner or lunch!
(5)
Nancy R.
Writing an update for my review that I did a while back. I've been to Savas a few times after my review and would give them a better score now. I've had their brunch as well as their steak sandwich. Both were very good. The steak sandwich could use some fries on the side in with the price to make it a full meal. But the horseradish aioli was perfect with the onions and the sandwich was delicious. On the brunch menu, I had the eggs Benedict. The eggs Benedict was amazing. The potatoes they're served with are bland, though, and desperately need some seasoning. The service is a definite 2-3 stars. Sometimes the servers are decent. Other times they're pretty useless. I've never had a service experience I truly remember as being great. The servers are all competent and there were no issues, but they weren't personable, weren't exceptionally quick and sometimes needed a little reminding of drink orders. I would go back. The food is pretty decent, if not a little expensive. Just don't expect much from the experience besides a good meal in a nice environment (the restaurant is always clean and looks nice).
(4)
Derek P.
I hadn't been to Sava's in a couple of years, so I figured that I would give it a try again for dollar burgers on Monday. First surprise: dollar burgers no longer exist. Oh, well. Five dollars isn't a big deal. I got my veggie burger with brie and a side of fries, which was good enough (typical mediocre veggie patty with tasty cheese on top). The fries tasted a little fishy, which suggests that they a) fry them in the same fryer as fish and b) don't filter their fryer oil frequently. The check brought the second surprise: my meal came to $11 while my tablemates' cheeseburgers and fries came to the expected $8. When I asked the server about this, she took it to her manager and came back explaining that they had taken off one dollar because the computer incorrectly charged me $6 for my burger. So, in case you're keeping count: $5 burgers means $5 for a hamburger, cheeseburger, or plain veggie burger, but $7 for a veggie burger with cheese. That ranks pretty highly in the history of asinine up-charges for vegetarians. It also ensures that I won't be returning to Sava's any time soon.
(2)
C M.
Hit it for brunch on a Saturday at noon and felt immediate trepidation when we walked in and the place was nearly empty. It all became clearer once the food arrived and consumed. Had a veggie omelette and was immediately struck by the blandness of the thing. I couldn't figure out how it was actually cooked....maybe started in a pan and finished off in the oven (?!) - such a strange texture...dry and almost cardboard like. With enough salt I forced it down (hunger overcame revulsion). My companion was happier with her croissant sandwich of spinach, egg and brie. We won't be returning.
(2)
Jess L.
Sweet potato fries are worth the money, I'd think. My friends liked their food, but I think I expected more with the brown-butter pear chevre ravioli. I've been here a couple times; the lack of stars isn't so much for the food, but for the service and how it really doesn't seem to improve even after years of being.
(2)
Beth N.
Monday night was my third time at Sava's, and it was the best time yet. The last time I went, my friend and I sat upstairs at a high top. I am generally not a fan of high tops, so I wasn't thrilled, but my steak and potato salad was incredible, hence the 4 stars. This time, my two friends and I sat downstairs, and it was a great experience. The server was very attentive and friendly. I got the fish tacos which were really really good. I am a little bit of a snob, because Black Pearl fish tacos are to DIE for, but Sava's are a close second. There was the perfect amount of chipotle mayo, and I loved that there was a corn and black bean salsa. Excited to go back for drinks and to try their brunch!
(4)
Georgia G.
Unique, healthy flavorful food, a wide variety of choices and fast service. What more could you ask for?
(5)
Nicole R.
I recently went to Sava's for my boyfriends birthday dinner. Our waiter was Amanda (I believe), and she was very informative and friendly. We didn't have to wait for a table at all, and they brought our food out rather quickly. The ONLY small thing that I didn't like was that there were no booths available, so we had to go on the upper level to sit at the table and high chairs (which weren't completely comfortable). It's nothing to really complain about, but I thought I would mention it (I'm just a booth lover). We started off with appetizers. We ordered the black & bleu filet bites and spinach dip with warm pita. Both were very delicious, my favorite being the spinach dip. For entrees, my boyfriend had the braised lamb shank and I just had a regular cheese burger with fries on the side. My boyfriend said the lamb was excellent, moist, and just fell right off of the bone. I honestly don't have high reviews for the burger because in my opinion, it was just a burger, but yet very tasty! It was flavorful, juicy, and just the right size for me. We also ordered drinks, but I forgot the name of them. All in all, I wasn't "blown away", but I was very pleased with the overall experience, and will definitely be going back!
(4)
Badrul F.
I always like coming here. And will continue to do so. However, as a vegetarian, I wish they had more options. Brunch is delicious here.
(4)
Joe S.
We went to Sava's for Father's Day to have brunch, with a reservation at noon. We arrived 5 minutes early and were seated fairly quickly (about 10 minute wait). I checked out the buffet - I am a huge fan of lox, so that made me decide for the buffet. My daughter got a Greek omelette and my son also got the buffet. Service was pretty bad; it was nearly impossible to get a coffee refill and the waits between the waiter coming to and from the table were VERY long. I think this was primarily due to the restaurant just being packed at noon. If you're going for brunch and can wait until 1pm, the crowd thinned out significantly. Brunch goes until 2pm. The buffet was OK to good. The food did have some highlights and the presentation was great, but there were no dishes that you said, "Wow - I have to have more of that!" The lox were good, the selection of meats was pretty good, but overall the selection was pretty small (total of maybe 3 or 4 entree type foods, plus breakfast fare and desserts). It's also crammed in a room in the back - it is almost impossible to navigate through the area. The staff does a great job at keeping everything stocked, but they do this constantly so there is always someone restocking or rearranging something. This adds to the congestion in the area. My daughter's omelette was just meh, really very bland and nothing to prioritize as an item to order. Coffee was hard to come by. Desserts were also OK to good. The restaurant itself is really nice - a lot of light, and the booth that we were in was arranged so the window next to it was centered over the booth. This is just one of the things that makes the ambiance here. The noise level was fairly high, but we didn't have to talk too loudly to chat during our meal. Overall, the meal was pretty pricey for the mediocre to good food, the surroundings were really nice, and the service needs work. If you're willing to drop $60 for three people for brunch there are probably nicer places. However, I wouldn't tell people to stay away, just that they might be disappointed. It just seems like something is missing.
(3)
Melissah L.
This place is really nothing special. I've been here quite a few times, and to me, most of the menu is really plain. A lot of the dishes sound like they would be tasty, but I've never had anything outstanding. Tonight I ordered the Southwest Chicken Salad with a side of sweet potato fries. The cilantro-lime vinaigrette was nice, but the actual salad part was just chopped romaine lettuce with beans and some corn. The meal was huge, but I could only finish half of it. The sweet potato fries are probably my favorite thing to order. The fries are cut to the perfect thickness and they are soft and chewy (that is the way I like all of my fries), but the best part is the dipping sauce that comes with it. I have no idea what goes into it, but it is a pink color and slightly spicy. Yum. Prices here are pretty reasonable for what you get, and I do appreciate the atmosphere. The restaurant itself feels decently classy, and it could be a nice place to meet with friends for dinner or drinks, or go for a nice lunch. I'll warn you though, do NOT come here in a big group, I've been twice in groups of 10+ and received the worst service I've ever experienced. Their waitstaff are college students and get overwhelmed very easily. Tonight, I went in a group of three, and the service was decent.
(2)
Diane C.
Sava's had good ambience, but was just a tad too loud for good conversation for a party of 5. The food was excellent, as was the service.
(4)
Michelle W.
Sava's has a great menu and all the dishes that I've had there have been excellent.
(4)
c f.
We reserved a room to have our rehearsal dinner at Sava's. They was so helpful and really went out of their way to make this dinner special. It was perfect! The ambiance, the food, the service, everything!
(5)
Russell R.
Great interior, great list of cocktails and other drinks. My grilled cheese on a croissant was okay, but my girlfriend's salmon burger with...I think, soy?...was pretty great. Prices aren't terrible.
(4)
Jenny L.
I remember when Sava's was just starting out at a much smaller location across the street - I would stop by just for their delicious sweet potato fries and a quick bite to eat. Its been really enjoyable to see them grow and expand to where they are now - turning into a much classier($$$) establishment but keeping a bit of the small-diner feel. The menu has expanded a lot but they have still kept their delicious sweet potato fries. TRY: sweet potato fries(duh), huevos rancheros, bocaccini panini, black bean burger, artichoke spinach dip
(3)
Trina M.
Found Sava's looking for a restaurant near the Michigan theater. What a Gem! The food was delicious and the service was impeccable. The appetizers, the fish, the burger, the pizza and the pulled pork sandwich were enjoyed by the four of us as they were melt in your mouth fantastic. Our server Geno, was professional, efficient, attentive and wonderfully friendly. Perfect for a date night, friends night out or family dinner. All our thumbs up! Thank you! The McAllister family
(5)
Natalie R.
I came here for an event this past week. The party I was attending took over the front room near the window. There was a slight draft coming in from the window but the warmth of the company kept me feeling good. The restaurant had arranged a spread of different finger foods. There was cheese platter, a hummus/tzatziki/tabbouleh plate, and spinach and artichoke dip. The hummus was delightfully creamy, but tasted more natural and authentic than typical Sabra-brand. The spinach and artichoke dip was not to be missed - delightfully buttery in taste. These items were paired with toasted pita triangles and extremely delicious chips (that tasted like healthy was not exactly a factor when cooking them). There were also crackers, a veggie plate, and a fruit platter. I didn't get a chance to sample any of the main dishes on the menu, but I did knock back some cocktails. There was a tasty gin drink that I nursed for a while. The restaurant was large and perfect for the size of our 20+ party. There was also an area upstairs, housing a separate party that would have been sufficiently-sized for ours as well.
(4)
L. W.
Sava's is such a mixed bag. The food is decent--not super-memorable, but pretty enjoyable whenever I go. They have a good happy hour (1/2 off draft beer and wine and some cocktail deal that I don't remember because I never drink cocktails--though my friends are always happy with them). The service is really hit or miss, though. I've had times when the server was incredibly personable and attentive and offered me wine samples and then other times where I had to wait half an hour to be visited by a server at all. One particularly odd encounter: I came for happy hour with 2 other friends, and they directed us to a high top table upstairs with only 2 seats. We asked for another seat for our friend who had recently hurt his back and couldn't stand for long periods of time, but the server said she wasn't supposed to move chairs from other tables. Most of the upstairs was empty at this point, so we asked if we could just move to one of the three empty booths right across from us. The server was really flustered and said we weren't allowed to get the happy hour price at the booth, but she ended up letting us do it anyway. It was nice of her to give us the happy hour rate, but why does the restaurant have such a strange policy about restricting happy hour to tables with only two seats and then not allowing you to use extra chairs? This is the kind of weirdness I've just come to expect from visits here.
(3)
Wally S.
Oh Sava. How I want to give you a good rating. But it's so difficult after tonight's meal. We were warned that Monday nights might be a bit busy due to the $1.00 burgers, but we wanted to try it anyway. First we waited over 30 minute for someone to come to our table and ask us to order beverages. We we're later told the the wait staff was confused as to who was handling our table. This echos some of the other reviews which imply that the staff is unorganized. We received our food nearly an hour and twenty minutes after we we were seated. Many of the hamburgers were cold as were some of the fry orders. What was warm was very tasty. The burgers are plain but made with good beef. The fries and sweet potato fries were cooked just right and had a wonderful taste. I really enjoyed the sauce that is made at Sava. The mixture of paprika and mayo added a nice flavor to both the burgers and the fries. The garden burger was also very good. The owner was apologetic for the service and the cold food and asked that we come back at some time I'm the future. Next time it won't be on a Monday. So. Service: 1 star out of 5 Atmosphere: 4 out of 5 - beautiful building Food: 2 out of 5 for the cold food. 4 out of 5 for the hot food. I hope to be able to re-review this restaurant in the future. They deserve another chance.
(3)
Riordan R.
As stated by others here, I've never had bad food there. Last Monday evening I was there for dinner, the place was packed, but my table was there available for us just as I reserved. Service is good, waiters are friendly, and you can't go wrong with the food. This is a place where you can have a casual dinner or something fancier, or a business dinner too, very eclectic and I think this is an awesome combination. It can be a little noisy sometimes, but don't let this discourage you, you're going to have a good experience. One other nice thing is that you can have a coffee at a charming Starbucks just next door !
(4)
Jen S.
I don't know what to make of Sava's. It is just so hit or miss. It's taken me so long to write a review for this place because sometimes it's great and then sometimes it's really bad. They have a great happy hour and a great selection of drinks. The drinks are half off and I've always had a great time coming here for that. Who wouldn't? The decor is pretty nice and relaxing, some of it is cheesy but I can live with it. The waitstaff... sometimes they're great and on top of things but there have other times when I've come here and I don't see my waiter or waitress for almost a half hour at a time. Or I've had the experience where maybe three different people act as my waiter or waitress and I have no idea who my tip is going to. The food is just okay. I've never eaten here and thought, "That was amazing!" I've always just left feeling like I ate decent, good food but probably paid too much for it. Brunch here is a nightmare. I will say that. It might have just been the morning I went because I think it was parent's weekend but basically, I waited 30 minutes for a cup of coffee and the hollandaise sauce on my eggs benedict was practically curdling by the time I got it. Bleh!
Tried their huevos rancheros, schakolad chocolate and Belgian waffles, and their whipped cream strawberry Belgian waffles. The huevos rancheros were ok but I needed some sriracha on the side to up the flavor and the heat. They were the crunchy tortilla style, not the soft taco /burrito type (I prefer the latter). The waffles were also ok - good but nothing imaginative or special. They have a great brunch selection, though I personally decided to order off the menu in order to pace myself for more eating later. The brunch included quiche, pastries, salmon, etc. The ambience is nice and airy and open. The wait was a bit long - 30 minutes or so. I'd go to try the brunch, though I think Zola's, Northside Grill, and Broken Egg all have better breakfast entrees.
(3)
Mary A.
An exciting place with a great vibe!! But just don't expect to enjoy the "omelettes". The worst I've ever had. The waitress explained that they "sear" them and then bake them. Well that explains it. Tough, dry, browned beyond recognition as anything made with eggs. I sent it back and they brought a totally delicious salmon scramble. Our waitress was excellent--very attentive. Though we were there too early for the buffet brunch it looked fabulous. The greeter and seater tried to give us a booth right by the serving station even though the restaurant was nearly empty when we got there. We protested; she chose another. If this place figures out these kind of problems it will be outstanding.
(4)
Michael K.
Food is mediocre and the service is very poor. Not worth the 1 hour wait it took us to get seated. Wouldn't come back.
(2)
Gina R.
Absolutely terrible experience. Came on Sunday am with friends while in town for the football game. We had a large party and were quoted an hour wait. The hour turned into an hour and 30 minutes, with no explanation offered other than the kitchen's need to wash our tablecloth. Ironically, none of the other tables in the entire restaurant had a tablecloth except for the one table we were sat at. When we were finally sat down, our waiter, though very nice, immediately spilled waters all over the table, including me. I was willing to forgive and forget because the food sounded great and he was really nice. He then forgot 2 drink orders, as he had disappeared for 15 minutes. He dropped off the drinks but then took another 10 minutes to come back for our order. I expressed hopes that the food could be made quickly, as a few of our party had flights to catch. he said they would "try" but it was their "busy time". By this point, it was 1:20, and over half the tables had cleared out. 2 pm rolled around, and our nice server left and was replaced by someone after the shift change. We asked her to inquire on the status of our food and she said she would check into it, but "everyone's been here a really long time so you're not the only ones." She came back and told us it would be maybe 15 more minutes. At this point, we all gave up and left and ate at Panchero's instead. Altogether, our name was entered at 11:30, and we left shortly after 2, having NOT eaten. Awesome.
(1)
Nancy K.
I visited Sava's for the first time today for a late lunch/early dinner with a colleague. I was first pleased to see an outside eating area that included many tables, some in the sun and some not. We opted to dine indoors because of the wind but were able to do so surrounded by windows and plenty of sunlight. The menu was varied and substantial; will definitely be back soon to explore more choices. There are several veg-friendly options. I had the Famous Greek Salad which was excellent except for one sketchy piece of lettuce. Considering that I'm kind of ridiculous when it comes to lettuce, this is a fantastic accomplishment for a restaurant to only have me push aside one small leaf of lettuce. The salad had an impressive mix of greens and veggies. The addition of chick peas was a nice surprise. I also had lemonade and a slice of pecan pie which had a fantastic crust. The filling could stand to be a little more sticky. Pecan pie slices at Sava's come with a yummy scoop of icecream drizzled with caramel. While I usually stick to water I had a glass of lemonade - it was very good. This was an excellent dining experience. The food was great but, besides this, the rather hip wait staff was attentive, friendly and made the experience all the better. I could see a few more trips turning my four stars into five.
(4)
Edward C.
Disclaimer: This is a review from a vegan perspective. I'm glad that Sava's has some vegan options, but honestly, they're pretty bad. The sesame tofu salad was terrible. In theory, the ingredients sound like they could mesh well (sesame tofu, pineapple, couscous, spinach, green onion, cucumber, carrot, green curry vinaigrette), but in actuality, the components were all bad individually, and then they were thrown together in a haphazard fashion that didn't really make sense. Like the tofu was hard and tasted only of salty soy sauce; the pineapple was sad and probably out of a dried up can (is that even possible?); the green onions made no sense; the carrot wasn't julienned; etc. If you're going to have something vegan on the menu, at least try? Because when you have a token vegan item and it's clear that you didn't put in any effort, it's disappointing and I would have rather gone somewhere where they at least try. Anyway, the only thing that's saving this from being a 1-star review is that my non-vegan companions seemed reasonably satisfied with their food, and the service was nice.
(2)
Scott B.
Embarrassed to have brought a good friend here from out of town, hoping to impress with an example of some of our best local dining and something unique to Ann Arbor. VERY disappointing. Seated immediately (we had a reservation) - good. Food was OK though our dining experience was very much spoiled by non-responsive (read SLOW) waitstaff. Drinks arrived 20 minutes or more after ordering them, and were delivered incorrectly. Ordered another round before the entrees arrived; these were delivered after we'd eaten, so late we had them for dessert. Server says "so sorry, we have a new computer system." I. Don't. Care. Blaming the computer system is so very 90's. Buy a GOOD system, hire a GOOD bartending team, and Train Your Staff. Unacceptable and I won't be back for a loooong time. "So Sorry."
(2)
Erin H.
I first ate here when it was in the smaller location across the street. At the time I thought the sandwiches were good - as were the crepes - the menu list of which was painted on the wall in the original location. Since Sava's moved I have eaten there 3 additional times and unfortunately every time have had extremely poor service - requests made repeatedly for refills or a condiment and never done, messed up orders, flustered and stressed out behavior. Each time I have visited I have asked for a list of the crepes and have always been met by confusion at this request - I'm assured they have "many kinds" but no one can produce a list. Sadly my book group tried the place during restaurant week (without me) and reported they had "astonishingly bad service" -- I'm not sure if it's a couple rotten servers or what but clearly there's an issue.
(2)
Elizabeth E.
I have had two very average lunches at Sava's in the last year: once during the January restaurant week, and once with a large group of coworkers later in the spring. I think 'very average' is an appropriate descriptor because while I'm trying to remember anything noteworthy about either meal, I can't. The service was average. The food was average. The climate was average. Seriously, I can't think of a single dang thing to say about this restaurant, and that should be review enough.
(3)
Sam F.
Yummy! This place is great to go to for a nice brunch on the weekend. The atmosphere is relaxed and classy, perfect for a laid-back dinner with the family or a first date. Their menu had so many different options, it was hard to choose what to order. I couldn't turn down ordering a side of pita bread with tzatziki, and it was really good! I would highly recommend checking this place out.
(4)
Alex S.
I have been to Sava's many times since it has opened, and several times since it moved across the street to it's new larger location. I love food and good restaurants so I have been to many of the wonderful establishments Ann Arbor has to offer. Of all of those place, Sava's (post expansion) has consistently had the absolute worst service in the city. Every time I have gone there, the food arrived at unpredictable and at dramatically long intervals, so that one person would have already finished their main course while another would only be starting their appetizer. It was also common for them to forget orders completely. You would have to remind them repeatedly that they did not bring out a particular item you ordered. From now on, if anyone offers to eat at Sava's, I make sure to direct them to the nearby similarly named, but superiorly staffed and flavored vegetarian place, called Seva.
(1)
Maria A.
The first time I went to Sava's, around 2 years ago, I wasn't super impressed. The food wasn't worth the price. However, it looks like times have changed! I went to Sava's this afternoon with a group of 5, and we were seated really quickly. I had the huevos rancheros, which were heaven on a plate. Everyone else with me seemed to really enjoy their burgers and sweet potato fries. I definitely need to make a return trip to try out the rest of their breakfast menu!
(4)
Brian D.
I have only gone once for a late lunch, so I will update this review if my opinion changes. The restaurant was good, but seems to have an identity crisis. Is it upscale? Is it a sandwich place? Is it for everyone or just hipsters. I guess I just don't get it. I had the pecan encrusted sandwich and it was very good, however the waiter could have informed me that it wouldn't come with any sides (A la carte is fine, just tell me). What kept this place in the 3 range for me is how damn ironic they are trying to be. I get it - you put the check in a coffee cup and the waiters are wearing ties with cutoff jeans - sweet, hip, awesome. The food simply doesn't seem to match the showy machismo they're flaunting. I'm looking forward to giving this place another chance, but for now it seems like the owners are more intent on worrying about how cute their hostesses are than how good the food and service is.
(3)
Joseph T.
Very quick, prompt, polite service. The staff is friendly and the food is great. Yes, the Chorizo Mac and Cheese is definitely a good side to try, quite delicious.
(4)
Dee W.
While planning my sister's law school graduation dinner, I asked her for some of her favorite restaurant. I was able to settle on Sava's and had such a pleasant experience working with them in making the reservations and also pre-ordering appetizers. For the pre-ordered apps, I opted for the calamari, spinach & artichoke dip, coconut shirmp and risotto balls. Food was delicious as everyone got something different from each other so we could sample a little bit of everything. We tried the beef ternderloin (cooked to perfection), capellini marlon (the lobster, shrimp cooked with saffron butter was scrumptious!), sausage risotto, rigatoni bolognese, mushroom spaghettini (with the slightest taste of truffles), and two of the dinner specials - the sea bass and the lambchops. Each dish was special yet simply delicious. Service was divine and they were just overall wonderful to work with. Thank you again!!
(5)
Andrew S.
I started going to Sava's Cafe before it changed location to the larger establishment that used to be Zanzibar. Back then, I felt as though it was pretty unique and had relatively good vibes. Since the switch, the quality of Sava's has deteriorated on every level. Service? Abysmal - you're lucky if the waiter is not so high he doesn't forget he's waiting on you. If she isn't too high to function, she likely is so poorly trained she doesn't realize humans drink water. You do not go to Sava's for a quick meal - make sure you are going for an extended experience which is likely to overtake all other plans you had for the weekend. Food? Overpriced, low quality ingredients, and poor craftsmanship - while some dishes are unique (the vegetarian lasagna has a unique hint of indian spice in the sauce), other dishes (such as the eggplant sandwich) are of foul taste and softened by excess liquid. Good luck getting sweet potato fries which are not burnt but crisp ;) After stopping going for these myriad reasons, I returned a number of times for a foray into the Dollar Burger Monday. Was I pleased? No. Of course the dining experience took ages and the waiter was far too incompetent and high to actually be functional (this happened similarly at least 6 different times). And, over time, they slowly decreased the bun quality to make up for their "lost profit", even though each topping on the burger cost an extra $1. And the final nail in the coffin on the entire Sava's experience? EGO.
(2)
Megan M.
I walk by Sava's nearly every day, and even at 8am on a workday winter morning, the interior looks amazingly inviting. I love the bi-level seating, and the whole restaurant manages to feel simultaneously airy and cozy. My experiences, however, haven't lived up to the fantastic space. I first went to Sava's for a drink and snacks in the early afternoon. The curried chickpea cakes were well flavored, and the polenta fries were fine (not quite the golden perfection of the polenta fries at Grizzly Peak). Portion sizes are on the slender side but priced on par with other Ann Arbor bars. I appreciated that the beer selection was not overwhelmingly huge, and curated with a tendency toward Michigan brews. This week, I went back for Restaurant Week. I know, I know - you can't judge a place on its RW menu, but the meal just really turned me and my boyfriend off Sava's. I feel like Restaurant Week should do the opposite. I convinced my boyfriend to go, claiming the meal would be wonderful (a conviction based entirely on the first appetizer, goat cheese with fig compote). I also called ahead, and they said that though they were full reservation-wise, we should definitely stop by any time after 6:30, because their kitchen was fully staffed and they could handle a high turnover. We were seated within ten minutes of walking in. The much-anticipated goat cheese and fig compote came with bread that was toasted to a dryness more like biscotti than bruscetta. I would have enjoyed the appetizer more if the cheese had been even slightly warmed. It came cold and did not open up the flavors of the fig compote. The two entrees (chicken breast and mushroom risotto) had each clearly sat around for the 25 minutes it took for them to be delivered after our appetizer was cleared. Slow service was the real disappointment; I would have been fine with the OK food if it had been served promptly. Our server didn't offer to refill our drinks, or stop by to ask about our entrees. The Restaurant Week deal (2/$25) was incredibly affordable, but the food and service let me down, and my boyfriend refuses to ever return to Sava's. The interior is great enough to entice me back for happy hour, but I'm not willing to commit to dinner service again.
(3)
Andrea A.
Meh. I go to Sava's pretty regularly, but only because my department is in North Quad, which is less than a block away. I've had breakfast, lunch, and happy hour there multiple times. I definitely don't recommend breakfast if you're on any kind of schedule. Service early in the morning is lackluster and slow. It's pretty common to have to wave down a server to place an order, get coffee, etc. And the breakfast food isn't really good enough to make up for that; nothing I've had there has been objectively bad, although I think the coffee tastes like it's been sitting in the pot for far too long, but nothing is great, either. At lunch, the staff moves more briskly, which is nice if you only have an hour or so. There are some good sandwiches on the menu, and as other reviewers have mentioned, the sweet potato fries are great. Happy hour is a pretty good bet here as well. There are a variety of beers, including some nice microbrews. The mixed drinks are fine too. They have some nice appetizers-- standouts for me are the hummus (which comes with fried pita) and the raspberry and brie in filo. Despite the annoyance of breakfast at Sava's, I would have given it four stars except that they are painfully unreliable at times. For example, I made plans to meet a group of friends for breakfast at 8:30 one morning (because I'm a masochist, apparently) and even though Sava's is supposed to be open at 8, the door was locked and the restaurant was closed. I called on my cell phone to see if it was an oversight, but even though I could see people inside, no one answered. There was no sign explaining the closure, either. And they discontinue specials-- like their half price appetizers during happy hour, or their quick and cheap breakfast-- with no notice, which is irritating if you've made a point of going there for those specials. Basically, Sava's has a great location and just enough good food to make it worth stopping by if you're in the neighborhood, but it's nothing special; certainly not the kind of place I'll miss when I leave Ann Arbor.
(3)
Elle W.
I had been eyeing Sava's since I'd moved to Ann Arbor last fall. I was excited about trying it.. But also hesitant- I didn't want to be disappointed! I walked in.. Sigh of relief. Trendy, cute, and lively. The food was solid. I highly recommend the hummus plate as an app. Creative drinks and great service earn this place a solid 4 stars.
(4)
Vee V.
Third trip in two weeks, this time with the in-laws. World-travelers, father in law is a serious cook who takes cooking lessons from top chefs in foreign lands, kind of guy. Mother in law, not so much. Knows what she likes and orders it from the same restaurants for no-surprises. They both loved it! MIL had rigatoni bolognese, and they cheerfully substituted her preferred pasta for the rigatoni. FIL had fish & chips, as he "wasn't very hungry" :) he's a lovely man but inclined to be super-picky about things like slightly overbrowned edges, and not enough sauce...etc. Waitress was phenomenal, keeping up with our table of 5 and the requests for this & that (mostly special requests, not just ketchup, etc.) I had the truffled mushroom burger, and a plate of polenta fries with tomato jam to share. Even my dear picky husband ate some of the polenta--and he loves the jam. I wonder if the chef would share the recipe? Anyway, a delightful meal in what is fast becoming a favorite restaurant.
(5)
Colleen Z.
Loving the food at Sava's I decided to book an academic dinner in the private room in the back. We had a party of nine and had booked well in advance. Booking was the only easy part. We received a confirmation call a couple of days before the reservation which was appreciated. What we were not told at the time was another party had been booked for two hours after our reservation time. Although a colleague was waiting for us, I dropped our guest off at the front door with instructions to head to the back. Upon arrival in private room, my guest was immediately informed that we had two hours for dinner. As host, I was told the same thing once I arrived. I questioned why we were not told in advance to which I received no response. Once in the room, the doors to the main dining room were not closed because a table with extra seats had been set outside the private room making it impossible to close the private doors. I immediately asked for the doors to be closed because we wanted privacy and more quiet for conversation amongst our group. The staff accommodated my request but had to physically move the outside table to close the doors. Luckily the party at the table was understanding. THEN the party started upstairs above the private dining room. I am trying to think how to describe the sound of moving chairs, moving furniture, screaming, woohooing, clapping and jumping above our room. Hmmm, well, you get the picture. Some time during dinner someone at the outside table that was earlier moved decided to open the doors again, WITH the help of our wait staff. Seriously? This is when I got up, closed the doors, and asked the manager what the heck was going on upstairs. I was informed an awards dinner was upstairs. I asked if that party could be asked to be more quiet. Manager looked at me like I was crazy. Really? My party was in the back of the private room, huddled together, trying to hear each other talk while our food was being rushed and manager looks at ME? My party starts to look at one another and roll their eyes and smile. Great. To top off this wonderful evening, various different wait staff start coming in our room to clear everything off the table 30 minutes before our two hours are ending. Picture arrival at 6:30pm, hosts greet guests, cocktail and appetizer orders placed, all ten people then order food and 1.5 hours later the staff is pulling everything off the table. Nice. I am a really nice person. I tolerate alot of things. However, when I called I told the person taking reservations about our party, what I needed, etc., and the restaurant failed. Big time. The young lady staffing our room did her best. The food was very good. Everything else was absolutely horrible. I had another reservation for the private room immediately cancelled the next day. My suggestion? If you want to use the private room for a celebratory or holiday party, do. If you want to use the room where conversation and mixing will take place, run. You will be very disappointed.
(1)
Bianca P.
I like this place. The food is fresh. The watermelon salad is delicious. My salmon burger is always good (and more of a fillet sandwich than a burger). The waitstaff is always weird. Overall, its a good experience with really nice hours for students.
(4)
Dewey G.
I shouldv'e stopped going to Sava's when I found a hair in my eggs, but I chalked it up to it being a mistake. The last straw occured when I saw a roach crawl from our table into a crack. I did infom the hostess and she said "oh sorry about that." It's sad because it used to be a nice place, but now it's a dump. I hope that they cleaned up their business.
(1)
Holly B.
Let me preface this review by saying my four-star rating is primarily based on Sava's Happy Hour, which has been an after-class/work mainstay since I moved to A2 about a year ago. Sava's happy hour features 1/2 all drinks in the drink menu, including beer (draft and bottled), cocktails, and wine. 1/2 off cocktails is the big draw for me, with cocktails averaging $3.50-4.50 each. I've tried at least half a dozen, and I've enjoyed the vast majority of them. As others have already mentioned, the food itself is pretty average. I've only had a few dishes, and they're not really anything to write home about, which would be fine if the prices weren't a bit too high. With that said, my friend and I went to Sava's for happy hour yesterday and walked away with a ~$23 bill (three cocktails, three beers, and a side of fries). You can't really beat that. Happy hour out on the patio is the way to go. Take advantage of the warmth while it lasts!
(4)
Emily S.
Went here while I was visiting Ann Arbor based on a friend's suggestion --- it was so great! I think everyone at our table agreed it was the best meal we had during our trip. There are creative cocktails and the food is great. We started off with cocktails and shared some small plates- polenta fries, risotto balls, ceviche, hungarian stuffed peppers- and they were all great. The entrees were great as well. Savas has a fun atmosphere and it's a great place to go with a group of friends. I would suggest taking friends who are willing to share!
(5)
R G.
Totally bummed with the service. we went there tonight for dinner with friends. Told couldn't make a reservation (and we understood) but that I could call 20 minutes to put our name in. We called ahead and arrived at 6:00 and then was told 30-40 minute wait and we were good with it. Sat at the bar and waited 11/2 hours for our table. After we sat we ordered our food immediately since we looked at the menu waiting for our table. We waited another hour for our food to come. The tomato soup came and 4 out 5 came to the table cold. We sent the 4 back and when they came back to the table again they were cold again! We didn't dare risk sending it back because we were hungry. Then it came to our main course they too came to the table cold! Nothing like cold burgers and fries. On our way out I spoke with manager letting her know of our experience. She apologized and gave a comp certificate towards next meal. That was nice but I wish the staff should make contact with managers to let them know when patrons are not have a good experience and have it addressed then.. I wish I could say the conversation kept us at the restaurant for 3 1/2 hours and not the wait for food. Will we go there again? Yes but we wont leave anything to chance and just may eat something to eat ahead of time or have pizza delivered to sava.
(1)
Lauren L.
I've been to Sava's about five or 6 times, and it's pretty middle of the road. I have to say I've never had anything bad at Sava's, but there are things I have ordered that are just not spectacular either. It is great for groups because everyone will find something they like - they do a mix of watered-down ethic and American food. Recommended: Risotto Balls - 3 balls of rice with a cheese center in a cream sauce. Delicious, because it is quite literally a ball of rice and cheese. They're not super flavorful but they are always a crowd-pleaser, regardless. Pecan Chicken Salad - A really good salad; the dressing makes it, I think. It won't change your life but it is very good. Chicken Fusili - I was on the fence about recommending this one. I love, love goat cheese very much and good sun dried tomatoes are never not good. The combination of ingredients was delicious, but it made the dish so rich I could only finish half of it. I would say it is worth getting if you are not a huge eater and plan on taking the other half home. French fries - The french fries themselves are just normal fries; nothing special. The dipping sauce is what makes it. I asked a waitress their secret recipe and it is literally mayonnaise with sirracha mixed in. Clearly not for the diet-conscious crowd, but so tasty. Not Recommended: Tomato Bisque - I really wanted to like this dish because I have a special place in my heart for all things tomato. The Sava's version was very doctored up - I think I tasted garlic and rosemary, among other things. What made it gross was the extreme amounts of cream that they put in it - and this is by no means a small bowl. It was just too heavy and rich. Grilled cheese for grownups - A huge disappointment. It is a really rich pile of cheese on a croissant, which makes it overly greasy. You can't really taste the tomatoes or the honey, so its kind of flavorless aside from the grease. Banh Mi - Hipsters for crazy for these sandwiches because it has so many different flavors that its supposed to be like nothing else. Sava's was a bad place to start with my first Banh Mi, because it was very bland (the opposite of true Banh Mi). I almost asked for A1 Steak Sauce to put on it, because it was so dry. Overall, I would recommend Sava's. The atmosphere is great - you can have conversations without it being too loud. The waitresses are nice and very attentive (sometimes a bit too much - it can feel a little rushed when busy). They have a good beer and wine selection, although their cocktail menu needs a little work imo. And again, its great for lots of people because they have such a diverse menu. I just wouldn't recommend it solely on the strength of its food, which leans bland.
(3)
Jing M.
I don't usually go to pub. I've heard of Sava's from other occasions, but the last time I went there was for a get-together for a small group of people who are graduating. I just realize that Sava's has the best Salad I've ever had. The shrimp and quinoa salad is super awesome! It has a little goat cheese in it, which is not my type. But all others, including the shrimp, greens, quinoa, pears, and cranberries mixed wonderful together. I would definitely love to try it again! The seating is nice too, not as loud as other pubs that I've been to, or probably it's because we were there at an early time.
(5)
Jessica W.
We are new to the area and just tried this place last night. We absolutely loved it! It has a fun, classy atmosphere. The food was absolutely amazing. My husband had a hamburger and I had butternut squash ravioli. I'm still thinking about the ravioli. This is by far the best food we've had in Ann Arbor this far and I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Janelle R.
I have been to Sava's on a handful of occasions, and I'm always pretty happy with the food and service. My favorite thing about Sava's is actually the booths believe it or not. If you can score one of the booth's along the windows on the main floor you'll have the best seats in the house in my opinion. There are TONS of windows in this place and it's very pleasant there - although there's so much natural light that any seat is a good seat. My favorite thing to order at Sava's is the steak and potato salad. If you're wanting a healthy option, but still want something "hearty" this is a good choice for you. I've had it three times, and the most recent time my steak was regrettably well done (I ordered it "medium") but the other two times the steak was spot on, so perhaps it was just a fluke. All the salads are great - if you are a big time salad eater like me, you'll appreciate that the salads here are REALLy a meal - they give you a big ol' bowl full of goodies and dressing on the side. I highly recommend the salads! Sava's is a great place for lunch, or dinner - and is good for groups as well.
(4)
Ari A.
I am giving this low review because of the service, not the food. My husband and I never had the opportunity to eat the food because we waited 10 minutes when no one even aknowledged our presence or asked what we'd like to drink. Oh and this was not a busy time. I said goodbye to the host who didnt even look up from his booth and just waved. We will never patron this restaurant again.
(1)
Zak S.
Great food and atmosphere! A little pricey and loud music, if you're wanting a quieter place.
(3)
Sylvonna R.
Sava's is definitely a gem in the State St. area. Due to the proximity to Central campus I was expecting a more casual dining experience, and, while casual is definitely accepted here, the restaurant itself and the decor is just beautiful. Waiters and staff wear more formal clothing and when you order hot tea the selection is brought out in a wooden box with tea bags organized by flavor. I was definitely impressed by these small, but meaningful, details. I ordered the Maize and Blue burger which is served with a fried egg and bleu cheese. This was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. It a large burger but I finished every last little bit of it. I can't even describe all the flavors I tasted but the combination is simply amazing. My friend ordered the Greek Salad and it was HUGE (not to mention filled with yummy ingredients: feta, chick peas, beets, olives, cucumber, tomato, and pepperoncini). I usually shy away from ordering salad at a restaurant that has so many wonderful options for entrees but that salad is definitely one I will be trying soon! The atmosphere is very laid back and our server was very happy to let us linger and enjoy our food and conversation. The restaurant was packed, which is always a good sign. I am already trying to figure out when I can get back for another visit. I just can't wait to explore more of the menu!
(4)
Harley F.
Walked in and was immediately impressed with the ambiance and restaurant set up. The service was fantastic and food was delicious. Definitely a place to go to when visiting Ann Arbor.
(5)
Artime M.
Everything about this place is very mediocre, even the sweet potato fries.
(3)
Rebekah H.
Thoroughly enjoyed my experience here. Coffee was a-okay, and the croissant sandwich I had was mighty tasty. Mimosas were $7, which is still (IMO) too much to pay for a mimosa, but whatev! I was on vacation so it was a perfectly justifiable splurge. Only thing I didn't love was how giant the restaurant actually felt, and still how crowded I felt. Don't let a thing like that deter ya though, it was a completely suitable dining experience otherwise.
(4)
Nick O.
Breakfast buffet selection and quality well worth the expense, with inclusive coffee and Bloody Mary or mimosa. Salmon and shrimp are excellent as are select meats, cheese tray, and deviled eggs. Standard breakfast meats and eggs are fine but save room for the superb desserts, including homemade pop tarts and chocolate mousse!
(4)
Beck E.
Was just here Thursday night because some vegetarian friends were really craving the veggie lasagna (and I'll admit, it smelled fantastic). I'd been here once previously and had a good experience (not great), but it was our waitress' first day, so the service was really, really slow. I wanted to refrain from reviewing based off of that experience alone. So the place was loud. Like, unreasonably loud. It wasn't even packed or anything, there were plenty of empty tables, and the second floor was totally vacant. But I couldn't help but notice the noise level, and I'm generally a very oblivious person. I didn't order any food since I'd already had dinner, but I got a Diet Coke. $2.50 for soda... seems ridiculous. Especially given that the Miller High Life on tap was $2. They also had some sad attempt at Vietnamese banh mi, which they misspelled as "bahn"... which leads me to believe that they found the same terrible recipe online (complete with misspelling) that Charley's did over the summer. ARRRRRRRRGGGHHHHHHHHHH. Wait service was so-so. This place seems overpriced for what you get.
(2)
victor m.
oh no! sava's, what have you done to your bahn mi? you've ruined one of the few vegetarian go-tos on the menu. you somehow thought japanese bread would be more "authentic" for a french postcolonial vietnamese sandwich than baguette? just please do this: google image bahn mi. or at the very least consider, if not actual authenticity, then textural contrast.
(2)
Gail G W.
Amazing staff, amazing drinks and amazing food. We recently stumbled upon this gem and I can say it is our new favorite in AA!!
(5)
Trevor M.
One of my favorite A2 restaurants, a definite go-to when we can't decide where to eat. The sweet potato fries are the best in town, but skip the ancho-mayo dipping sauce. Fish tacos are also very solid, 3 tacos to an order, with a nice touch of corn and black beans. All the salads are unique and tasty. Risotto balls are an excellent appetizer. Only had the paella once, but it was very impressive, with fresh tasting ingredients and healthy portions. Sava's typically struggles in the service department, but to its credit, has significantly improved in the last 18 months. It also appears to have taken a price increase the last time I was in during art fair. It will not stop me from visiting, however, as the food and atmosphere are always tremendous.
(4)
Adam B.
Attentive staff, nice trendy atmosphere & good sized portions. The lamb shank was cooked perfectly, it literally fell off the bone. We also shared the Mediterranean Trio, hummus was very good. Highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Anne A.
The reason I'm writing this is that I'm in disbelief Sava's only has 4 stars out of 5 ... It's definitely at 5. Let me just start off saying you have to get a side of mac and cheese with any meal. It's fantastic. Best in town. Some of my favorites: - Spinach & artichoke dip: the perfect appetizer - Pecan encrusted chicken: so good, with a delicious aioli - Salmon burger: got this yesterday and it was the best! $9 and you get a full salmon with a teriyaki slaw... it is perfectly marinated. - Sweet potato fries: a classic amazing side although their normal fries are the perfect crisp texture so you can't go wrong with either! The vibe in Sava's is always amazing. They are always improving their decor and making it better and better each time! And the menu keeps evolving every few months so I'm never bored. Sava, a local Ann Arborite, really outdoes herself. Overall, everyone loves Sava's. I always go with my friends, my family, and ALWAYS bring my friends from out of town and no one's disappointed. There is just something for everyone and you definitely feel cool eating here.
(5)
Patty K.
Meh. The food is mediocre for the price. I've been here a handful of times and the food is honestly forgettable. The last time I went I had wild mushroom spaghettini and it was like I dumped a jar of store bought Alfredo sauce over some pasta with a few mushrooms. Not impressive. The time before that I went for lunch and had a mediocre portabello sandwich. Service is hit or miss, sometimes it is acceptable, other times, ridiculously slow and disorganized. The last time I went we asked the waiter to split our check 4 ways for 4 people and he got our orders mixed up and took a long time to correct it. Having been to many other restaurants many other times where the checks were split up correctly it was hard to accept this foible in addition to the lackluster food. I'll say that Sava's probably has the best ambiance on state street, and the drinks are pretty good.
(3)
Wasim Q.
Light. Fluffy. Moist. Delicious. These are words I would definitely NOT use to describe their belgian waffles, which are some of the worst I've had. The batter was way too dense, cold, and bland. The bananas on top were sliced way too big and the chocolate chips were not even melted and added as an afterthought. Before we got a table, we waited 30 minutes and then discovered they forgot to write our name down even though they gave us a buzzer. The place was packed on a Sunday for brunch so I'd give them a second chance. Just don't get the waffles!
(1)
Nicholas P.
I have been to Sava a couple times before, and last night my girlfriend and I decided to grab a late meal there. We arrived around ten and were seating promptly as the restaurant was mostly vacant. Unlike the last couple of visits when we were seated in booths, this time the hostess placed us at the high tables near the bar. Although we both contemplated asking to sit in a booth again, the higher tables proved to be very comfortable and an intimate spot for two. My only complaint is that if you are not looking at your tablemate you end up looking at the back of whoever is at the bar. Our waiter had a large section but was still very efficient and courteous even at such a late hour. I ordered the knights beef burger with cheddar and I was very pleased. The meat was cooked exactly the way I ordered it, and had great flavor. The onions, tomato, and lettuce were all fresh and crunchy. What I especially appreciated about the burger was the cheddar was completely melted over the burger. Unlike other burgers where the slice of cheese seems to be more of an afterthought, the chef did a terrific job melting the cheese onto the burger patty. I am pleased to be able to count on Sava as a quality meal late in the evening as well as a lunch and dinner spot!
(4)
Alex E.
I've never had bad food here (for dinner/lunch). I like it since it feels like a nice place (in both the food and atmosphere sense), but it is significantly cheaper than any of the actual "nice places" in A2. It's also nice because some places seem irritated if you just get a $9 sandwich for dinner instead of the more expensive high teens entrees, but this is not one of those places. All food I've ever had has been fresh and appropriately seasoned - nothing's too greasy or excessively salty, so I keep going back semi-regularly. Favorites are steak+potatoes salad and the chicken fusili. Portion sizes are also ridiculously reasonable compared to similar style of restaurants - you won't leave hungry if you get an entree or one of their entree salads (sandwiches I cant' say the same for, but most their sandwiches are less than/equal $10 so I still think they're appropriately priced), which is refreshing when a lot of restaurants here are into moderate price tags for tiny, unreasonable portions. Drinks I've had or those my friends have had are quite tasty. I like their summer white sangria a lot, and I like their mulled wine in the winter. I've been for brunch once, and it was nothing special. Which is probably why I completely forgot I'd been for brunch until I saw a bunch of brunch reviews. Same goes for their desserts - nothing special.
(5)
Amber P.
Maybe my expectations were too high for this place after reading all the great reviews. I had a dinner special, grilled salmon with coconut sauce and plantains, a side of mash potatoes. Everything was pretty bland. My boyfriend had a burger and fries with bacon, it was meh. We then had the apple pie cookies as a dessert per recommendation of the manager- we left both cookies on the plate. For the amount of time we spent waiting to be seated, high tab and bland food, I won't be returning.
(3)
Nerice G.
Loved the food. Loved the atmosphere. Great pricing on Happy Hour and wonderful dinner menu. Relaxing and fun for any age range. Service was wonderful. Definitely making a trip back to Ann Arbor for this eatery!
(5)
Jessica W.
Went for their Sunday brunch and sat at the bar with a friend. My Bloody Mary was good, definitely not spicy enough though. The bartender was friendly, and checked on us often, but not too often. We both had omelets that were served with seasoned potatoes. I had the asaparagus goat cheese and my friend had the mushroom. They were decent omelets, but too dry, and lacked flavor. I would definitely go back, but would try a mimosa and a different brunch item off their menu. Maybe some sweet vs savory.
(3)
Ian A.
Took my girlfriend out without telling her I had reservations; walking into Sava's impressed her. Atmosphere was wonderful, classy enough for a tie but I wouldn't have felt uncomfortable in jeans. The food was phenomenal, particularly the sweet potato fries. I had the smoked half chicken (and yes...it was an entire half of a chicken), which was delicious and well presented. The only minor complaint I had was that the service was fast enough that we definitely felt rushed through the meal. The entree showed up well before we had finished our salad, and we were offered the check well before finishing the entree. However, that aside I enjoyed the place thoroughly. I'll go back.
(4)
Farhaad R.
This place has literally the best sweet potato fries I have ever eaten in my life. I can vouch for the fish tacos as well, they were good - not average but not incredible. Don't know why this place doesn't have a higher rating - maybe the long wait? I had a reasonably priced dinner in a romantic setting upstairs, had a waiter who wasn't hard to find and kept checking on us (not too much) and enjoyed my food. I'll be back!
(4)
Trevor M.
We eat here after church sometimes and the brunch is usually pretty good. I like their selection of food and the service has always been good. I would eat here if you are around and want something casual and friendly. The only thing I want to say to the Owner is, why the hell would you name a restaurant Sava's when 3 blocks away is a restaurant that has been here since I can remember called Seva's. That was incredibly confusing the first time I was supposed to meet some of my family there. Needless to say I went to Seva's before I was informed I needed to go to Sava's haha. Seems stupid to me but Food is good
(3)
Briana K.
Amazing! I went here for the first time this past Saturday after passing by here a few times and loved it. We got seated right away during prime time on a weekend night. The decor and atmosphere was clean and neat - very modern and interesting. The staff was very friendly and easy on the eyes, if you know what I mean ;-) I am a vegetarian and was pleasently surpised with the number of vegetarian options on the menu - black bean burger, grilled vegetable lasanga, pear stuffed ravioli and pistachio encrusted tofu - not to mention the many starters and salads that were vegetarian friendly. I opted for the pistachio encrusted tofu and loved it! The other people at my table ordered a buffalo chicken sandwich, caesar salad, and shrimp quinoa entree and were all very happy with their meal. I noticed a well stock bar with many draft beers. I will definitely be back here!
(5)
Judy C.
We had an amazing Easter brunch at Savas. The buffet had an great selection from lobster salad to a delicious selection of desserts Our waiter could not have been any nicer. Great way for us to start off the day. But be sure to make your reservations early they book up fast.
(5)
Dancing T.
The bartenders will make awesome drinks if you ask. Also, try the spinach dip and meatball appetizers, well worth it! YUM. Only four stars because the cold air from the door is not adequately blocked. It is cold sitting at the bar or standing in the front entry way. They should really have a heater to counteract the cold during really cold winter days. It was pretty awful sitting at the bar for an hour.
(4)
S R.
Sava's is one of my favorite Ann Arbor restaurants. No matter what I order, I'm never disappointed. I've always had wonderful waitstaff, delicious food, and fantastic drinks. I've probably been 15+ times, I can't imagine how anyone could have a bad thing to say! Oh....well...there's the bathrooms...so just hold it 'til you get home ;)
(5)
Lynn C.
The restaurant itself is spacious and has a comfortable ambiance. I can see why people are drawn to this place because of it. The waiter we had was probably the best part of our dining experience. He was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic of the restaurant. The menu did not seem that unique to me, especially for of the prices that Sava's charges. We had the tofu salad for $11, salmon burger for $9, and chicken fusilli for $16. They all tasted good but not amazing enough for me to come back for it.
(3)
Sin-Yaw W.
The "Founder's" draft beer is "Dirty Bastards." It was intense and stouty. The "Bell's Two Hearted" was lighter and orangy. Quite tasty as the 2nd glass. We decided, as the correct sequence, the dessert first. Then the appetizer (Calamaris with Jalapeno sauce). Next we gauged how much room we have left and chose, both, a small dish. I Pecan crusted Chicken salad and companion a black bean cake. Have to say mine is far better, only also larger. The atmosphere was energetic, foods excellent, location very convenient, and service very quick and friendly. Why is it not 5-starred? I have not sampled their full dinner dishes yet.
(4)
Blaine T.
My favorite brunch place on campus! I always change it up between getting the Bandito Hash, Crepes, or Omelettes. They give you big portions and everything is great!
(5)
Joyce H.
My friends and I came to Sava's for brunch on a breezy, sunny day in AA. Loved the atmosphere and the patio seating! However, the food was just average. We ordered lots of different breakfast items. I ordered the caprese omelet, which had chunks of tomato and mozzarella cooked into the egg. It filled me up but it was un-memorable. My bf had the Benny with Lox (eggs benedict) and he mentioned it was just average too. One of my girlfriends and I shared a bananas and nutella crepe and though it was a great finishing sweet dessert crepe, the nutella was smeared into the crepe (and not creamy) and the crepe itself was very bready. We chose this because of location and atmosphere, knowing that the food wouldn't be mind blowing. At least we got what we wanted.
(3)
Mimi T.
It's currently restaurant week in AA and so a few girls and I decided to check out Sava's for lunch. So my rating is partly for food and partly for service. We arrived on time for our reservations and was told that our table will be checked on and we should be seated momentarily. 20 minutes later no table... our entire group was there at this point and we check back and they said that they forgot. Seriously?!?! After we remind them again about us we were seated a minute later. The table was set with menus and water and the waitress said she'll return after we reviewed the menu. So we all reviewed... 15 minutes go by and she's still not back. She returns and answers a few questions and then we order. At this point we've been at the restaurant for an HOUR. Our food eventually arrives another 10-15 minutes later. Luckily, the wait was worth it. We didn't actually do the restaurant week menu 2 for $15 just b/c the regular menu was basically the same price and the RWM had about 5-6 items. My friend and I split a Ham/Spin/Brie sandwich and the Kalifa Sandwich. Both were delicious! I tried some of the sweet potato fries which were also delicious. Cheese was melted and the panini was still hot and the fries crispy. Good Job. So would I come back? ... Maybe for dinner. The menu looked interesting so I'll try it again but if the service is the same, then I might just pass or don't come when you're really hungry. Overall- good food but meh to terrible service time (ps. never got a refill on waters/drinks)
(3)
Javier G.
Below average portions, above average price, tastes okay.
(2)
I G.
This place was ok. Came here for my sister in laws birthday. My wife and I ordered a burger and the tortilla soup. While others were eating their appetizer, we were hoping we would get our soup to enjoy...but we waited and waited until our burgers came. Needless to say we canceled our soup. Waitress apologizes but wasn't concerned. Burger was ok. Nothing to really say wow. Probably won't eat here by choice.
(3)
Jessie S.
I'm not usually one for the girly drinks but yesterday I had Sava's Candy Darling cocktail. It was so great I ordered a second one! Now to make my own Twizzler infused vodka for home.....
(4)
Sophie A.
I think Sava's is underrated. The food is surprisingly good, and very reasonably priced. Sava's also has a nice beer selection (of both bottles and drafts), and a fun cocktail list. The space is huge and nicely maintained (very clean), and the waitstaff were attentive and friendly. My reason for not giving it 5 stars is that it's rather conventional; I don't mean this in a bad way necessarily, but if you're looking for somewhere with a hipster/trendy vibe, this isn't the right place.
(4)
Christina V.
One of my favorite restaurants in Ann Arbor!! Good for so many occasions--date night, casual get-together with friends, parents' visit, you name it. Really great ambiance, and very affordable. It's a great go-to choice when meeting up with friends, because their menu has something for everyone. The menu is extensive without being overwhelming. This is definitely a place I try to bring friends when they visit from out of town. The quality of food is tops; everything I've tried has been great, and I've had a fair share of the menu items. I mainly go for dinner but they're prefect for breakfast and lunch as well. I'm a big fan of their outdoor seating! Kind of takes out of Ann Arbor, makes you forget you're in the middle of a college town. I really like their take on grilled cheese--they put a few different kinds of cheese and add some honey, all on a croissant. Paired with the tomato bisque, it's divine! Their burgers are also solid, as are their salads, and the mac and cheese is yummy. Really everything is great!! Very fresh ingredients and the presentation is always clean and modern. My only complaint is their cocktails--I get lured in by their interesting sounding concoctions, but I'm always left feeling disappointed/forced to down a $10 drink that really just tastes like soap. If you're going to drink recommend sticking to beer and wine (or drinks with a 4-ingredient-max limit). Highly recommend!!
(4)
Ranger R.
Horrible service from josh, food was not good either. They also edit their reviews on yelp. Instead, they should consider using the feedback to fix the problems. Wrote a lengthy review about the same subject and they removed it.
(1)
Rachel R.
This was the worst experience I've had in a restaurant, bar none. I was there for a friend's birthday, and we were a large group (19 people). The reservation was booked well in advance, so the staff should have been prepared for us. Should have been. When we arrived only half of the water glasses were filled. The remaining half remained unfilled for 35 minutes. We only had one server assigned to our group, and I noted he was also handling most of our section. Needless to say, service was slow. Really slow. We put in our drink orders in about 10 minutes after arriving, and did not receive them until an half hour later. Not only that, but we were served our drinks four at a time, with a few minutes between each arrival. The last two to receive their drinks, an hour after they ordered them, had ordered the unbelievably complex beverage known as "Diet Coke." It should be noted that most of us had drained our water glasses, and not had them refilled during this time. Once we had our drinks and had been in the restaurant an hour, our food order was finally taken. Sava's seems to view itself above providing it's guests with a complementary bread basket. This resulted in most of us not having a scrap to actually eat until we'd been there an hour and forty minutes. Like the drinks, food service was spaced far apart, with those whom were served first politely letting their food get cold while everyone else was served over the course of 20 minutes. I had the dubious honor of being the guest who's order was lost by the kitchen, and received no food. I had to wait another 25 minutes while our solitary server attended to his other tables before I had the opportunity to ask when I could expect to have my meal. He was appropriately apologetic, however, given that I'd been in that pretentious overpriced yuppie cesspool over two hours without food, and often-time without water, I was understandably displeased. OK, I was steaming mad. If not for the fact I was there for a friend's birthday I would have verbally bitchslapped him. I settled on glaring. It did the trick, as management arrived a minute later assuring me my food was on the way, that it was comped, and that I was also comped dessert. More on the dessert later. And now, the food. Although I received my dish as most of my friends were finishing their's, I was happy to eat, and happier knowing I wasn't paying for this B movie torture porn scene of a dining experience. I'd ordered the scallops with risotto. Speaking for my dish, it was good. I wouldn't call it a meal, more like a large snack that cost $22 and took two hours to prepare. My friends, however, had some issues. One who'd ordered mussels with a side of sweet potato fries noted that they arrived luke-warm, and had obviously been sitting on a tray for twenty minutes. Another had ordered her burger medium-rare, and received it well done (her burger was comped as a result). Another friend's chicken burger arrived cold. I only had knowledge of half the table's dining experience, and cannot know how many other's orders were either cold, ill prepared, or delightfully and extraordinarily correct. As a group we decided not to stay for dessert, so I asked our server a slice of key lime pie (one of the daily specials) to go while our solitary server distributed our bills (the process of paying for our food took an additional thirty minutes). Our server assured me I'd have it in just a minute. Twenty minutes later (again, the process of bill pay was still going on), I had no dogie bag. I asked our server when I could expect I get the pie. He looked appropriately horrified, and rushed off to figure out where my 'just one second' pie was. The manager showed up ten minutes later literally as I was standing up to leave with a box containing: Reese's peanut butter cheesecake. To quote the manager, "You're going to hate me, but we're out of key lime pie. I brought you Reese's cheesecake instead, do you like that?" No. I hate Reese's. I'm lactose intolerant. Why no one thought to come and tell me at any point during the THIRTY MINUTES after I'd ordered the pie that they were out, and ask what I'd like instead is beyond me. I took the cheesecake, determined to know how this chocolate drenched, poison, sugar and fat concoction tasted. I'll keep it short: it was thick, dry, overly induced with the hell candy Reese's, and most importantly, was not cheesecake. It was closer to a confection (candy) than cheesecake. I'm sure someone who like's Reese's will like this thing, but I wanted nothing to do with it after the first bite. In summation: my friend (who was visibly uncomfortable with the level of service AT HER BIRTHDAY PARTY) and the rest of us were forced to endure a three hour ordeal all for the sake of drinks, a main, and bill pay. The food was seasoned well but often served cold or improperly prepared. And even when trying to make up for their shortcomings, management continued to fail. Don't go. Just don't.
(1)
Krishna P.
Really good place, everything there is pretty good. This morning I had the bourbon french toast and the veggie hash. Both were solid, although the sauce for the hash felt out of place.
(4)
Jackie H.
WOW! WOW! WOW! I do not live in Ann Arbor. We were in town for a very close friend's wedding and this place came very highly recommended by the bride. We decided to try it with some friends in town before we departed our ways. Their sweet potato fries where amazing. My husband had great sandwich and I had some dips (not overly hungry). My friends had nothing but positives to say about their meals as well. They had some bloody marys that morning to fight their hangover and stated that they were very good as well. If we end back up in Ann Arbor it will defiantly be on our list to visit again.
(5)
Adam L.
Sava's is a must-try Ann Arbor restaurant. I've visited for breakfast, brunch, lunch AND dinner and couldn't choose my favorite meal! Their sweet potato fries are delicious! Although they are a bit pricey, the food and service will make you happy to be there. The environment is also modern and has a business-casual feel to it.
(4)
Squidward B.
Eh. I dislike the way the owner treats her staff (five bucks for a broken glass? really?) and her shouting at them...well, I don't like that AND you can hear it on the floor. So, that didn't impress me. I could live with that if the food were out of this world (it isn't), the value was amazing (not at all) or the servers were outstanding (overall, they are not, with a few shining examples of what could be). I think that my issue with this place is that I don't trust it. I once ordered salmon. Server came back to say the kitchen had run out, so I chose an alternate entree. I was served salmon--from where, I don't really know. It was surprising, and not really in a good way. If you're an undergrad or a grad student who likes to drink and loves a good happy hour, I hear that this may be your place. I'm neither, and it's not.
(1)
Meeta B.
Wow. I must really be slipping because I come to this place for brunch during regular weekdays and I come here for Sunday brunch (hello, $5 mimosa or bloody mary!) Sava's has become one of my favorite places to get brunch or lunch around town. Partly because I love that you can get a single slice of french toast and like an omelette, and the wait staff never looks at you all judgy when you do that while ordering your second mimosa in like 20 minutes. I've mainly stuck with brunch at this place because I am a breakfast foods kinda gal. I have just learned that my favorite might just be the veggie hash, which I kinda want RIGHT now. Potatoes sauteed with mushrooms, spinach, onions and red peppers with two sunny side up eggs that just ooze into the potatos? Yes please. And...they give me my choice of Sriracha and hot sauce? You have now elevated yourself to my best friend Sava's. And now that they have the buffet, I so need to go back just to try the buffet so I can pretty much say I've sampled all that there is at this place. Love this place. Love the staff. This is definitely on my favorites list.
(5)
Amber W.
I really like Sava's. I've been there several times and have always left happy. I think their dishes are like a fancy, unique twist on classic American food, and it really works! I've had the smoked salmon pizza, which was really delicious, and the lobster stuffing appetizer (I forget the name) was also really good. Their artichoke dip is also a winner. The other thing I really like about Sava's is that their staff is always super friendly and helpful! I've always had good experience at Sava's and (for Ann Arbor at least) it's not too expensive, so that's a win as well. I would definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Dug B.
Very nice ambiance and very good service. We had polenta fries, risotto balls, Cuban sandwich, and gnocchi. All were excellent! Decent beer selection too. Some items on the menu seem very overpriced ($22 for a pot pie?!), but all that we ate was well worth the price. Highly recommend!
(4)
Dan F.
Sunday breakfast brunch is crazy good! In winter we get gluvine (warm mold wine) from the bar...it's really good. Atmosphere is modern but warm and prices are a bit expensive.
(5)
Jennifer S.
I came here with girlfriends for happy hour last night. So Friday night, downtown Ann Arbor, parents weekend. The place was definitely packed but we actually managed to poach a table right away in the bar area since we were just interested in happy hour. The waiter came up to us right away and was like you can't just sit down you have to check with the hostess this table might be reserved! We were like uhhh I don't think so this is the bar we're just here for happy hour...so we check with the hostess and she confirms the bar is open seating for happy hour...like any other normal bar place. So the rudeness of the waiter is why the 1 star has been removed. After we got over our initial introduction however, he warmed up and was quite friendly. We were celebrating a few things between the three of us girls so decided to start with a round of champagne. We splurged for $8/glass instead of $7/glass and ended up getting a red champagne which none of us had seen or had before but it was really cool! And yummy! After that we perused the extensive wine list, beer list, and cocktail list. They definitely have something for everyone and EVERYTHING is on special (except food) for happy hour and great deals too! This place is really nice because as a returning wolverine now (almost) in my thirties, it's a more upscale place that we don't have to trek out to Main Street for. Job well done! I'm pretty sure no one misses Zanzibar!
(4)
Mira B.
Went in for our anniversary. Chanel was our waitress and was extremely friendly. I definitely recommend the pumpkin cheesecake- YUM! The atmosphere is great, especially the holiday decorations. We had a great time!
(4)
Brian P.
I've been coming to Sava's for a long time because the food is delicious and the atmosphere is nice, but I have had far too many experiences with poor customer service and will not be returning. I often find myself waiting 30 minutes after being seated to talk to a waiter/waitress and the same amount of time to get my bill after asking about it. But what really did it for me was their refusal to modify any order, even for dietary restrictions or disabilities. I have one arm and asked if I could have my burger cut in half so I could eat it with one hand and the waitress said they don't do that but that she would ask. She didn't come back until she delivered my burger a half hour later and told me that the chef refused to cut it. I had to have my guest cut it for me and was very embarrassed. There are plenty of restaurants in Ann Arbor that have better food for the same price and have excellent customer service. Don't waste your time here. Note: I made a yelp account just to report this so nobody else has to experience this terrible establishment.
(1)
Harrison L.
Definitely a step above most of the restaurants in Ann Arbor. Came here for a friend's birthday and this place did not disappoint. The atmosphere was great- not too casual, not too formal with a decent amount of noise. The server was very polite and even though it was a busy night was always asking how everything was going. Got the fish and chips and was satisfied with the clean taste of the fish and the spice of the dipping sauce. Portions are not too big, but if you're looking for a nice place for a date, special event or for dining with your parents, Sava's is the clear choice here in AA.
(4)
Sara G.
Seems like they've finally coalesced into something truly unique. The service and the menu have improved SUBSTANTIALLY. There's a great selection of strongly poured drinks. Especially to be enjoyed during their AWESOME happy hour! Old Fashioneds for $4 and an excellent array of apps to boot!! You are in hog heaven if you're of the "breakfast for lunch" persuasion. So many bennies and hash to choose from. The hash lover in me really appreciates their attention to detail. Their burgers (made with meat from Knight's) are quite filling and come on an excellent soft brioche, however you have to order fries separately (a practice I'm not too fond of).
(4)
Evan B.
Best place for a casual lunch/dinner without going to main street. There sweet potato fries are out of this world and their burgers are the incomparable. Definitely go check it out!
(5)
Hakeem J.
From the great drinks to the delicious food to the awesome atmosphere, this place is damn near perfect. If you're in town visiting, it's one of the places you have to check out before leaving town and if you live in Ann Arbor like I do, you should probably become a regular. By the way, if you're seeing this during the summer, take my advice and get the State Street Tea. It is one of the most refreshing drinks you'll have this summer. *I wrote the above review soon after moving to Ann Arbor and feel bad for having to edit it. I think Sava's for the most part is resting on its laurels and the fact that undergrads think it's the best place to take their parents when they visit. The food is slightly overpriced and doesn't blow you away (it often strikes me as mediocre). I'd recommend checking out Sava's other ventures (Babo and Aventura). The food at both these places is more flavorful than the food at Sava's. I do love the bar and the bar staff at Sava's, though. They're top notch and the place has a damn good happy hour.
(3)
Christopher F.
Went here for happy hour, which runs from 3-6pm on weekdays, the special includes half off all liqour, wine, and beer. Like some restaurants in Ann Arbor, they pull that you have to sit at the bar to enjoy their happy hour if you sit in other parts of the restaurant than the happy hour does not apply how stupid and dishonest, maybe there reasoning is they do not want to have their waiters walk farther for less of a tip, but in my opinion its complete crap. With such a rant you wonder why this place got a 4, the reason some of the most interesting menu and drink options I have seen. Everyone I went with seemed to enjoy their drinks. Mine was the viker wore pink which had watermelon garnish, watermelon, and bitters the drink tasted very grassy, but I think this was the way the drink was intended. I tried some other drinks one was called the lola lita with smoked cherries this was very good, and tried a few others and they were good as well. Another girl ordered a drink that contained the bitters and she was not able to drink hers as well so maybe this is an aquired taste. The service was really good, the waiter was really knowledgeable regarding the drinks. The food again very interesting menu, we shared some warm brie with rasberries cooked very well and was served as a crispy pastry never had brie in this way before very good. We also shared some spinach/Artichoke dip that was completely different from any other Spin/Art dip I have ever had. They fry their own chips, looks like a fried tortilla, the dip was very good the Artichoke chunks were huge. We also shared Lentil fries with a tomato/Vodka sauce very good as well. I would definitely like to go back and try their Lobster BLT or there Brie bacon burger. Prices are somewhat pricey, but if they can properly execute whats on the menu its should be worth it, an example the Lobster BLT was 11 dollars, burgers around 8-11 dollars.
(4)
Mo D.
My friends and I remark often on the Sava's Happy Hour Geography Situation. Basically, there are certain designated tables for Happy Hour. If you are not in one of those seats during Happy Hour, they charge regular price for drinks. If those tables are full or if your party is too large to comfortably sit at one of these tables, they cram you somewhere uncomfortable, and it is a big mess, especially for the host and server, who are forced to enforce this rule and play Bad Cop. I don't understand why Happy Hour isn't Happy Hour all over the restaurant, during hours when tables are abundant. Why make life harder for the staff and make the customer uncomfortable, both physically and with regards to the interactions with the server that are inevitably unpleasant? Why? We like the drinks and food here, but it is hard to justify repeat Happy Hour business when restaurant policy demands that we be made uncomfortable to suit some arbitrary rule.
(2)
Whitney S.
My friends and I confused Seva (at 5th and Liberty) with Sava, and so arrived late. The ham, spinach, pear, and brie panini was excellent, as was the boccaccini and kalifa sandwiches, and sweet potato fries. The chocolate lava cake was mediocre but edible. There are only 2 reasons for three stars are mediocre (at best) service, and uncomfortable narrow booths.
(3)
Darrell H.
Excellent Fish tacos!!! Make sure you have it with Sriracha (Hot sauce) Truly Unbelievable!!
(4)
S L.
The food is okay, but nothing I would go out of my way for.
(3)
Ryan B.
This is my 3rd time back to Sava's, and have been waffling back and forth what I think about it. First time, I was treated to a hand held by a friend that I thought was tasty, but not necessarily up to the quality other A2 sandwich shops have set to satisfy. Second, I went with a large group and was impressed with the service to accommodate 17 and the black bean burger. This made me reconsider my first experience. Finally, I treated my sister for her bday here today because I knew she would enjoy the trendy atmosphere, the upbeat feel and the food. On my quest of forming an opinion though, guess third time is the charm. The atmosphere is great, but the food is overpriced for the quality you get. I ordered the Boccaccini Panini with Prosciutto and the "famous" spinach artichoke dip. The Boccaccini Panini was good, but I don't think worth the $8.50 I paid for it. The spinach artichoke dip was also good, but was disappointed to have more chips than dip and have to pay an extra dollar to get more to finish off the dip. I don't plan on returning to Sava's unless with a large group, and find it to be your average restaurant. Next time I plan to take my sister to Zingerman's for sandwich worth it's lofty price.
(3)
Clare G.
Came here for a date-- loved the atmosphere, great waiter, great wine, great food! Winner. Excited to host an event here soon.
(4)
Jessica S.
I give Savas 5 stars for ambiance. The inside is cool and trendy, with nice upstairs and downstairs seating, a patio, and a great room that can sat 16+ if you have a party. Wait staff I give a 3. I've been many, many times and they are usually a bit slower than I would prefer and don't anticipate needs. Also, not overwhelmingly friendly. The food: I give a 4. I always find something I like, but for the price I'm not always sure it's worth it. The drinks are VERY expensive and to be honest I've never found one that I care for. Though the food quality and staff could be improved I do keep coming.
(4)
MJ B.
it's just a Happy Hour review. Good drinks. Nice servers - sat outside and can't really complain about anything at all. It was... happy hour.
(4)
Deborah N.
I have now been there twice. I was not disappointed. I had the pecan chicken salad, Mac and cheese and pecan chicken sandwich. My son had taco. We loved our food. The atmosphere is nice and cozy. You are able to have a nice conversation. Combination of booths and tables. We went on a weekday afternoon and at 730pm on a Saturday. We did not have to wait but is was full. I will go again.
(4)
Emma K.
I've gone a date, I've gone for breakfast with girlfriends early morning, I've been to an event there in the evening...food is tasty and terribly reasonable. Staff was pleasant every time...good stuff.
(5)
Xiangyun Z.
The brunch buffet is not as various as I thought, and the price of 17 dollars, free orange juice included, is not reasonable for the food... However, my friend thought it was great since they offered much higher quality dishes than she thought, like smoked salmon, cut sausage...
(3)
Emily W.
I really like Sava's. The atmosphere is charming, the waiters/waitresses are really nice, and the desserts are incredible. It does take a while to find a food that you really like though; I've been to Sava's seventh times already with friends but I didn't find a food I really really liked until the seventh try (it was the veggie burger and the risotto balls, by the way). Their sweet potato french fries are incredible as well, as is the strawberry lemonade (but ridiculously expensive - $4 for LEMONADE). Speaking of pricing, I find that their food ranges from reasonably cheap to way too expensive, but you can find something yummy in your price range. The only reason I gave it four stars is because the hostess has always been really aloof and somewhat rude to us every time we go there.
(4)
Sabrina W.
good variety of veggie options. nice location in downtown ann arbor. used to go there once in a while with friends when i was in college there. good memories.
(5)
Mary A.
My husband and I had dinner here last night--the food is decent, but it's more expensive than it really has any right to be ( we spent about as much as we would have at Zingerman's Roadhouse, which is much better). I didn't think the service was terrible, but the staff definitely seemed inexperienced--our waiter didn't know what the featured wine was, and almost missed telling us what the specials were. It doesn't help that they're all dressed like it's a TGI Friday's, either.
(3)
Red G.
Sava's is cute. It's a nice place to sit down and eat while staying in the student budget. Burgers are $6-7 and dinner entrees are around $14. The burger that uses Knight's Market beef was pretty good, though as I wish in many places, it could use some seasoning. The place was very busy during peak dinner time and service was slow. I had to ask for silverware the server forgot. Fries were tasty, but $2 coleslaw was disappointing in portion and taste. My friend who cannot eat dairy had minor allergy reaction either due to the burger sauce or the brioche bun and they took her meal off the bill. Service is a bit problematic even considering I visited during a busy time. The servers are nice though, and I like the price range and the atmosphere of the place. I didn't leave a tip because I was tired of trying to get a hold of my server to get me a small box to go, but I will be returning to this place, hoping for a bit more organized service.
(4)
Mordechai S.
The food is nice, the atmosphere is very cool and fun. The servers seem to always be a little strange and awkward though, which can sometimes be fun, sometimes annoying. Usually not a good idea to hit on a customer when they're dining as a couple... Anyways, we love that they're open later than most restaurants in the area, and it's always a solid place to go.
(4)
Mei O.
We had a really lovely dinner here, making me feel very mixed about how I feel. I love the atmosphere and the chairs, it just makes you feel cozy, and it's perfect for chatting with friends. The pricing is decent, as in you don't feel tremendous guilt going for a side and dessert. But... The food was so-so. I got the black bean burger, way too much bun, the burger itself was dry, and there was not nearly enough of the condiments to make up for the dryness. I also got the side of mac'n'cheese, which was ok, but a little salty for my taste. Andrew's eggplant panini was pretty yummy, and the fished tacos looked pretty good. And the t-shirts on the waitstaff... What is up with that? The decor looked so nice, and then I had a scrub asking me what I wanted to drink. But the breakfast menu looked like it had great potential... Ack, I'm just so conflicted on this place!
(3)
S G.
the. service. needs. training. they have the best and nicest intentions but it's like watching a football team with no playbook. i agree with posters who said they forgot basic things like silver or taking drink orders. at one point i was abandoned by my server and my friend had to literally get up and flag us another one who seemed completely baffled by our request for, you know, napkins. that being said, sava's has tremendous potential, gorgeous tasty food, great atmosphere, awesome owner, great location.
(3)
Kristen M.
Savas is amazing. One of the best restaurants I've ever been to. Everything on the menu is to die for, I promise! If you ever visit Ann Arbor, this - among other restaurants - is the place to go. Make sure you get the sweet potato fries!
(5)
Joyo P.
The location is convenient, food (was) generally dependable, friendly service, and we take our guests from work here multiple times weekly so it's reliable on multiple fronts. My main complaint in the past was this place sort of nickel-and-dimes customers when servers offer extras (I once ordered a banh-mi spicy and got charged 75c extra for about two slices of japaenos). My most recent issue was with a salad that we thought felt a bit stale, came home and found out to horrified tummies that it was. Won't be heading back myself or with my guests. I would recommend the hot foods over salads.
(2)
Libby P.
Came back to town for the holidays and this is all anyone could talk about. I was skeptical, but ended up having a really great meal. Great entertainment to boot... a terrified groom @ a rehearsal dinner. Ouch.
(4)
O'Shea J.
If this restaurant were a pair of pants, it'd be the kind you paid $200 for and hope someday your butt will be cool enough to fit into. But it will never happen. I project they go out of business in two more years and then it will be a Hooters. In the meantime, its a really great place to tie up your fixed gear bicycle while you go to the sushi spot across the street.
(1)
Kasey S.
I usually like Savas-they have quite good food, though a little on the expensive side. However, I had such a terrible experience today I will never be back. I tried to make reservations several days in advance for a weeknight, and they were full. This I can understand entirely, but the woman on the phone was incredibly rude! She treated me like I was an idiot for asking for reservations, and when I told her the time frame and number of people, she just said no and in a harsh, derisive tone and hung up. No good-bye, no suggestion of another day, just the end of the phone call. I really did like their food, but this is one dining establishment I will never, ever give my money to again.
(1)
Cheryl B.
We chose Sava's for my husband's birthday dinner because our daughter attends UM and we wanted something nicer than Cottage Inn but not as pricey as many of Ann Arbor's fine dining restaurants. Sava's fit the bill. We enjoyed the polenta fries, pasta dishes and salads. I especially liked getting a bottle of wine half off on a Sunday night. Our waiter was very nice but very slow and didn't pick up our dirty dishes. Oh well, it was a very nice setting and good food in a great town.
(4)
S M.
This is based on only one experience dining here. Things I liked about this place: - warm ambiance - comfy and lovely chairs - huge dining room (my guess this would be great for groups and a nice on-campus alternative to Pizza House) - very good sweet potato fries - smoothies looked really tasty, though I did not partake (this time) - turkey burger was pretty good - food served pretty quickly (but it was a slow day) - good service - appeared to have a fair number of vegetarian options Thing I didn't like: - the red peppers on my turkey burger made my burger WAY too wet. After attempting to eat my burger w/ soppy bun on, I had to discard the mushy (top) bun because the bun was starting to remind me of bread pudding. All in all, I would definitely come back, especially for a group meal. Nice job, Sava!
(4)
A N.
The food is generally good with a large menu that everyone can find something they will enjoy. Nice to have the options of different sized tastes and a great beverage list. The service (knowledge, timing, patron experience) has been improving over the last year, but it could generally still use better training/more work. Be careful if you are dinning on a schedule of any kind :)
(4)
Paul G.
Finally tried their brunch and was SOOOOO impressed! They have a huge brunch buffet with lots of delicious options. This combined with exceptional service and a beautiful space will have me coming back!!
(5)
Jackie H.
A couple years ago a friend asked me if I'd been to Sava's, hidden behind the thrift store on State St. No, I'd never even seen it. Lucky for me they moved to this gorgeous space across the street, because, damn, was I missing out! I've had several burgers, including cheeseburger, black bean and turkey, and they have all been delicious. The sweet potato fries are worth a trip just to have. I've had a couple sandwiches and they were great too. That's about all I can speak for on the menu, but they knock it out of the ballpark. The atmosphere is pretty nice at night, too, with dimmed lights and candles on the tables, so definitely check it out for more than lunch!
(5)
Patricia W.
The food and service here were excellent. We came from New York, and spent 3 days in Ann Arbor with our daughter, who will be attending the University. We ate at a different well reviewed restaurant for the 3 nights we were in Ann Arbor, but Sava's was by far the best. The only problem was cold drafts at our table due to large number of people trying to get in the front door. We had to put our coats over our shoulders while dining. Having said all that, the food and service made up for this inconvenience. The cocktails were inventive and well balanced. The lamb shank was moist and tender. The mac'n cheese with lobster was to die for. The seafood was excellent. I'd highly recommend this restaurant, especially if you can get a table out to the cold, which shouldn't be a problem in the warmer months.
(4)
Dil F.
Really great bar/mixologists, good burger, pricey, looks even fancier. I'm not in Ann Arbor too often, so don't know what's typical - but walking into Sava's during a Saturday afternoon, it looked kind of fancy to me. People were super dressed up, it's a really giant and long eating space, kind of fine dining by eyeing the clientele. In any event, I was just saddling up to the bar to get a burger to go (a friend recommend this place for great burgers), so while I was waiting for my burger, I eyed the cocktail menu, which is fantastic, and ordered a drink. The bartender deserves a lot of praise here (Mr. Chene Peña, who gave me his card), not only for holding down fort while preparing drinks for the entire facility (must have been a mimosa special cuz they were flying off the counter), but was generous with his time, explaining some of their cocktails, which were obviously prepared with some knowhow. I had a drink made with gin, St. Germain, cucumber, bitters, rose water, and lemon juice... tasted amazing. Reallly well balanced. The other drinks looked equally superb - wish I was there longer. The burger was pretty dam good. Not sure it'd hold up as THE best burger in town (despite my friend's insistence), but it was really fresh (almost felt healthy), no grease, big portion. I'd go back to check out the bar alone, and maybe grab something else off the menu. Be warned though, if you're visiting from the city... prices are a little higher than you'd want to pay, ideally... for a burger at least.
(4)
Katherine L.
It's a rather large space, with indoor and outdoor seating, and very hipster music playing inside--if you like that sort of thing, which I do (bands like Phoenix, Telepopmusik; electronica or minimal lyrics). We loved the sausage risotto, but the scallops and quinoa (with spinach and tomatoes) was good as well. The molten chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream was fantastic. The server was very attentive and kind; all in all, a great experience!
(5)
Elizabeth K.
There is nothing on the menu that I don't like. The food is always great, and the staff is awesome. On this particular day, we were served by Taylor (aka Tay Tay). He is extremely friendly, attentive, and delivers the best recommendations when asked...Tay Tay definitely added that extra greatness to our afternoon... But my favorite of all favorites is Sava's happy hour. Half off all drinks! Not that I drink Miller Lite, but Happy Hour Miller Lite at $1 is awesome! But I recommend everyone try the Saint Genet cocktail. Delicious! If you love Hendrick's, you'll love this drink...
(5)
Rob P.
I think Lenny's right...Ann Arbor's skittish when it comes to restaurants. I've been happy to see some restaurants leave the state street area, hoping that they might make room for more interesting places like Sava's. My review does not necessarily capture the true essence of Sava's because I only ever eat the cheeseburger and sweet potato fries. It's not that I'm a picky eater (though I can be) but it's because I love the burgers they fire up. I've never been to blimpy burger, but in my humble, meat-eating heart, I think Sava's has the best all-around burger--cooked to order, some tasty sauce and good quality beef. Besides the menu, the dining area is cool. Cafe-ish, but warm, cozy even? Sava is awesome too--she's so welcoming to people that come in and gives back to the community. Half of the Sava's experience for me is chatting with her while she cooks or rings me up, really personable and caring. I don't really have any valid complaints at this point. I have suggestions like expanding the menu or having like premade sandwiches ready for lunchgoers in a rush? Other than that, I'm a big Sava's fan and try to get there a couple times a month.
(4)
Julia B.
I really enjoy Sava's, The new atmosphere and the quality of the food. I have been there a few times and I generally get a burger with her famous sweet potato fries, and a lemonade. I was thrilled with the food, nothing was soggy or cold, but the service was very slow and my father had to ASK for silverware! To be fair, we did come in during the lunch rush, but I still believe they could have done better. Another fabulous thing: You can choose what kind of fruits you'd like, and they will give you a fresh squeezed juice. I really enjoy the watermelon, orange and grapefruit combination, but they have many options, including pinapple, ginger, carrots, and even garlic. Overall, I enjoyed it and would definitely go back again soon.
(4)
Eric K.
My friends seem to love hanging out at this place, but I feel as though the food is always overpriced for what I actually get. The servings are quite small and the food taste is only a little above average. The service is usually a bit on the slower side too. Hopefully, my friends will soon realize these aspects too and stop suggesting that we hang out here, but some of them love this place for the sweet potato fries.
(2)
Brian S.
Sava's is great! And I love the patio outside the beautiful brick building. The drink menu is great, and after several hours on the patio we had delicious fish tacos and a surprisingly good Mediterranean plate. Excellent decor inside with a spacious room with large windows. Totally affordable prices and conscientious staff, I would definitely stop in again next time I'm in town.
(5)
Mark K.
We were there on a busy Saturday night. The food was good, not outstanding and the prices reasonable. The highlights were the fried calamari appetizer and sweet potato fries. The entrees were good but not memorable. Others have mentioned the service, which was uneven. Entrees were not served at the same time, and there was a long wait for the final entrees to arrive.
(3)
Levent H.
Great environment with a diverse menu. Worth the shot if you're passing by!
(5)
Lenny K.
Great location, nice owner and ambitious to boot! Ann Arbor can be a skittish town when it comes to restaurants, they don't want anything too outlandish, but then complain if the menu is too boring or uninspired, so it's hard to please everyone all the time. The smells walking in were great and I guess I was more in the mood for stew or rice and beans, but was grateful when the owner suggested the buffalo chicken (not too spicy, w/ cream cheese and cucumbers on a bun, next time I might ask for blue cheese instead). It was tasty w/ thinly sliced red onions and though I was a little disappointed at a single sandwich ( no pickle or chips) and a drink for almost $9 (!!), it was still pretty yummy! I think Sava's will find its niche since they seem to really be trying (and friendly) I would recommend it above the 'chain' sandwich places (buy local!) even if it is a little pricey for the current MI economy. I wouldn't mind seeing them trying some black beans and rice, soups and even more adventurous eats, but that might be too expensive for the high student foot-traffic they must get. Worth a shot though, since we're severely lacking in Latin food since Sabor left this very location! Thanks to Cookie at Above Ground for turning me on!
(3)
Erica G.
I go to Sava's pretty often (its the closest restaurant to my house), so I've gotten to know the waitstaff and the menu. Its a great place to go and get a satisfying meal if don't want to spend too much or wait around forever to get a table. The waitstaff is always friendly and attentive to your needs, but at times can be a little slow. As for the food, I love the size & price of the burgers, and they're juicy and tasty! I'm a fan of the pecan-encrusted chicken sandwich, as well. And brunch on the weekends is a lot of fun, with good portion sizes and selection. I have a few vegetarian friends who are able to find satisfying menu items here, although that isn't my particular persuasion. Overall, I think Sava's is a safe bet for a good meal at a good price.
(4)
David W.
Interesting menu and waitstaff. It was nice to go to a restaurant and not have to take a "doggy-bag" home. Our out-of-state guest wishes she could take Sava's back to Spokane with her. We know she will come back not only to visit us, but to have another memorable meal and visit at Sava's.
(5)
Laurie G.
I've been this restaurant several times and like the atmosphere and the service was fine. Now, I haven't had the whole menu, but for the price of a sandwich I was a bit upset that that's all it was. Just a sandwich in the middle of a white plate w/ a small pickle slice. For $8 I'd think having some chips or fries on the side would not only be good for the buck but also for presenation. As far as the sandwhiches go, until this is fixed, it's not in my budget to get a menial plate. Now my friend got the fish taco dish that came w/ beans and rice and though only two tacos, it looked much better for the same price. So, beware about what you order....quantity might not be good but at least the quality was.
(2)
Brad D.
So nice to find a decent breakfast that doesn't break the bank! Nice breakfast menu!!
(4)
Lauryn G.
The decor is chic yet still manages to be warm and inviting. The food was delicious, the menu was unique, and the prices were very reasonable. Also: happy hour! half off all drinks! Win.
(4)
Riki L.
I had dinner at Sava's with my roommate who goes there pretty regularly and enjoys the food. The first things I noticed were the spacious, well-designed interior and the jam packed menu offering a lot of variety. You can get spring rolls, calamari, brie with raspberry sauce and crackers, nacho fries... they seem to have a lot of options to tailor whatever you're in the mood for. Our waiter seemed a little stoned but he was nice. We had great service up until the end which involved about a ten minute wait to run a credit card, for reasons that were not explained to us. My roommate ordered the balsamic rib-eye with vegetables and mashed potatoes and I got the half roasted rosemary chicken breast with mashed potatoes. Ok, I want to know more about these so-called mashed potatoes. We agreed that they were most likely baked potatoes that were then mashed, which is the opposite of what most patrons expect. They were dry and much in need of at least sour cream and chives. Hell, make it a loaded deconstructed baked potato at this rate. All of the food needed an ample amount of salt and there was no clear balsamic taste from the rib eye nor was there a hint of rosemary on the chicken. It was really strange because I could see the herb on the chicken yet tasted none of it. Also, my chicken was roasted within an inch of it's life. It was so dry that "good" parts of the meat were rendered inedible. That should never happen at a restaurant. Granted, the food wasn't expensive ($9) for my chicken but all I could do was compare it to the outstanding bacon cheddar BBQ chicken skillet I had at the Tap Room in Ypsi the week prior that came with a basket of fries and a cup of french onion soup all for $8.50. Hmmm. Well, I guess that's the difference between Ypsi bar food and Ann Arbor yuppie food. I will definitely return to Sava's because I love the location and the products offered. I can't say that I trust their food judgment, but I will give it at least another shot. The juice bar is an excellent addition to the area. My beet/apple/lemon juice was served without ice (thank you!) and was $2.99. We were given some carrot cake on the house and I hate to say it, but I hope they don't keep that on the menu. It was dry and chock full of raisins, which a lot of people (not myself) are vehemently opposed to. It was a very nice gesture, however, and we really appreciated the hospitality. I definitely am not here to complain about gratuitous offers. I agree with some previous reviewers about the awkwardness involved with overhearing servers' conversations. They seem to huddle in groups close to tables and talk about what they're going to do when they get off work and gossip about other people. I don't particularly care about this unless it interferes with the level of service I receive, and it didn't on this visit, but some people might find that really unprofessional and offensive.
(3)
Munaf A.
Been here a few times. Breakfast: great food and atmosphere. Dinner: a very goofy attempt at pretending to be super exclusive. They seem to have a policy of keeping a line out the door despite having many tables open (which didn't seem reserved since no one else ever showed up). What to expect if you show up without a reservation: 1. They will make you wait a long time. 2. They will pretend like it's the hardest thing in the world to find a place for your party to sit, then immediately do so because they actually have a bunch of tables open. (2) happened multiple times. It was almost as if they were following a script. The dinner wasn't anything special (though the breakfast was pretty good). I'll probably go back if others drag me.
(3)
Judith S.
I made a reservation on "open door" when we were about 15 minutes away (on a Friday night) and it was accepted! Amazingly, we walked in past about 15 people waiting (my husband thought he heard someone say there was an hour wait) and within 10 minutes we were seated. I asked if one of the pasta dishes was vegan, and the waitress wasn't sure but as she talked about it she was pretty sure it was a "cream" base sauce. I didn't want to chance it so I said I would have the tofu salad. When it came, I thought it looked a little odd for tofu, I ate some of the lettuce then asked my husband if it didn't look like fish? He tasted it (he eats meat) and said it was. I was kinda amazed that I wouldn't order a cream-based sauce because I was obviously interested in it being "vegan", but I would order the "tuna" salad (it was incredibly loud in there)? Oh well, the Tofu salad was really, really, good! Who knows, the tuna salad might be good also? My husband had the "Black and Blue steak bites" and said they were delicious.
(4)
Eric M.
Need more little places like this... I'm always amused at what people expect when they goto a restaurant. I have a feeling some of the raters on yelp might've been coddled a bit too much as a child, and expect the general world to kiss their ass on a regular basis. I've been to Sava's a number of times, and it's always been tasty. I've tried several things on the menu, and have never been disappointed. Sweet potato fries are very good, as are all the wraps I've had. Once or twice on the way to class I've been in a rush, and the owner ran the order out to my car... can you really ask for more than that? This place reminds me of a more European pace, where Sava will come chat with you while you order. So, if speed's your thing, maybe burger king is more your style. Perhaps the coddled brats who reviewed this also complained about the width of the seats in the State Theatre? Hmm... it's possible...
(5)
Kate S.
Sava's is a really cute place to grab a great sandwich. The food is really, really tasty, but pretty simple. Nice waitstaff, and a cute atmosphere. The prices aren't too bad-- a little high for sandwich shops in general, but average for places in downtown Ann Arbor. For how yummy the food is, I don't think it's bad at all. I will, say, though, that we went on a Friday evening, and there was a large and very loud group of musical-theatre major freshmen there. Apparently it's a weekly hangout for them. I would definitely avoid Sava's when that group meets! After about the fifth squealing "how ARE you?!?!" I had had enough.
(4)
Mae S.
Service is willing but the kitchen may not be able. We waited 25 minutes and then our food varied in temp. as if some plates had been standing and waiting for someone to finish cooking the rest. I borrowed a salt shaker from the next table since there wasn't one on my table. The second try the eggs were really easy-over. 'Will we go back? Dunno.
(3)
Liz L.
I have eaten at Sava's a total of three times now, and every time I've had great food. I really like the atmosphere and although the menu is small, I still feel like it offers a decent variety. I love that the food is reasonably priced (not easy to find in Ann Arbor), and the drink menu has some interesting & unique cocktails which are pretty tasty. Definitely recommend this place for dinner or lunch - I still need try it out for breakfast sometime.
(4)
Michelle H.
I have never been so appalled by such poor restaurant service before in my life. My boyfriend and I decided to give the place a try a few nights ago. Hostesses were friendly, and we were able to get a table in a few minutes without a reservation, but the waiter, first name Chris, was completely uninterested and off in his own world. He would take a decade to return to our table, even when I tried calling or waving him down in passing. He would simply glance at us and ignore us. Our meal arrived from a different waiter, and we had no utensils to eat them with! We could not find him, so we had to flag down a different waiter who brought us our utensils. The food was good enough, although the filet was a little more rare than medium rare than I had ordered. When we had finished, our waiter, as usual, was nowhere in sight and seemed to avoid our table whenever he was around. When he finally came by, I asked him for the dessert menu. He returned to us 20 minutes later (having passed us and ignored us several times) saying he forgot about us. I've had two waitressing jobs, so I'm pretty understanding, but when I casually asked whether they were having a busy or rough night, he replied that it had been a fairly easy evening. Fed up, we skipped dessert and high-tailed it out of there, only to pass our waiter flirting with the hostesses on our way out. Honestly, I would have preferred an unfriendly waiter who was at least prompt over this guy...
(2)
Christie M.
I had a BLT. Tons of really tasty bacon with fresh tomato and lettuce on delicious wheat bread. Really big sandwich. It was awesome.Bobby said the mushroom cheeseburger was 'all right'. Our server was on the ball and extremely pleasant. I'll be back
(4)
Jack J.
Pretty good place for ann arbor. Filet bites just off the mark but paella hearty and very good. Rest of group enjoyed their dishes. Service very good.
(4)
Bryant B.
This place is pretty solid. The atmosphere is great. It feels more like a $$$ place but actually only $$. The menu is relatively large and diverse. If you want something more casual, you can grab a sandwich, burger, or salad at or around 10 bucks. On the other hand, there is also a nice selection of entrees in the 12-20 range. They also have a good wine list and a nice selection of specialty cocktails. Drink prices seemed a bit high though, even for a restaurant in downtown AA. Others have complained about service, but I haven't had any issues there. The waitstaff might not be the friendliest or most personable, but they have been attentive, helpful, and punctual. The kitchen seems to be quite efficient as well. Both times I've come were very busy, and the food still came quickly. If you're going to come here on a Friday or Saturday night, do yourself a big favor and make reservations. It will save you a lot of hassle.
(4)
K L.
NO GOOD FOR LARGE GROUPS. We went there for a large dinner hosted by out department. The restaurant is pretty, but the food for the large group of us was AWFUL. I had been to Sava's with a smaller group before and the food was better (still not amazing). Plus, For the buffet, they only gave us little salad plates to put out dinner on! It was really awkward.
(2)
Andrew K.
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(3)
Todd A.
It's hard to know where to begin. The service was slow, spacey, unresponsive. The place was freezing - had to sit there bundled up, and I'm usually hot. A chair collapsed under one of my lunch companions. The menu is incredibly dull and uncreative. It's all a la carte, so yeah, your burger is $8, but you'll get dinged another $2 for fries. My so-called Greek salad was a bowl of mixed baby greens out of a bag, three wedges of pale pink (unripe) tomato, a few dry hard white rocks that appear to have been meant to be feta cheese, a few slices of dried out grilled chicken, a few paper-thin slices of overripe cucumber (did they think it looked like there was more cucumber that way?) and a plastic cup of creamy pink stuff they called Greek dressing. No olives, no peperoncini, no onions, no beets, no green peppers. It took forever for the order to come during the lunch hour, when people need to get back to the office. The bill was similarly painfully slow to be handled. Maybe the new owners think they can push any crap out the door and the students will just put up with it. The old clientele for the restaurant certainly won't be wasting its time on this place. It looks all the same (they kept 95% of the furnishings), but the menu is a disaster and the experience was awful. I won't be wasting my cash on Sava's ever again.
(1)
Matt B.
Attention waitstaff at Sava Cafe, Normally if you screw up someone's bill and forget to add an item, you DON'T add it after the fact. It's a simple social contract that has existed for thousands of years.... Today at lunch I found myself exploiting the 1 dollar burgers, unfortunately I did not realize the excessive surcharge for extras. When I asked the waitress about the additional $1 charge, she told me "that is for the cheese, and oh, it looks like I forgot to charge you for tomato, onion & lettuce." For a moment let's set aside the exorbitant fee for cheddar cheese (which I can assuredly say was _not_ heirloom cow's milk from a small dairy in Dorset, UK) and observe how she took my check and indicated that she would "fix it." Um, so I shouldn't have asked you about the $1 in the first place, I said. "Yeah" she replied, completely oblivious to the social contract she was lighting afire. At this point I had no patience to attempt repair the misunderstanding. I handed her a twenty and curtly said, charge me what you need. Needless to say, the loss of 50 cents is certainly not my concern, and the communicative breakdown is an everyday occurrence. I only wish to impart to the waitress a few words for future service: DO NOT MAKE ME PAY FOR MY HONESTY AND YOUR FUCK-UP. Burger was fine, can't go wrong with Knight's beef.
(2)
Josh K.
A very unique and sizable menu. Good drinks. Burger special on Mondays for lunch is very nice.
(5)
Lisa W.
Sava (the owner) won a "Sexiest Business Owner" award. I want to say "enough said" to that, but I can't. My friend recommended the burger to me, but I didn't like it that much. It is over seasoned instead of letting the burger speak for itself. The fried ravioli, however, is insanely good. Not only does it come in a large portion, but it is cheap! The service here is always good and if you poke around their menu a few times, you'll find some really delicious things. The menu says their brie sandwich is a specialty, but I believe there are better things on the menu -- the buffalo chicken sandwich, fresh, is awesome.
(3)
Nick H.
I have been wanting to write a review since I first went to Sava a little over a week ago but have held off until the Elite event Mariah organized tonight. My first experience was so good I took my cousin here a few days ago. My first two experiences were fantastic - Sava has a good menu, excellent and excellent pricing but has proven that it's still very much getting settled and working out the bugs of being a new restaurant on a college campus. Cannot complain at all about the food. The ala carte sides are inexpensive for the portions and the sweet fries are delicious. I do like their 1/2 pound burgers and appreciate the variety of cheeses available (except no provolone). Their tomato bisque soup is good - cannot beat American Cafe in Midland, MI (but none can so I really shouldn't compare). They have a large variety of teas and the smoothies are fresh and flavorful but slightly pricey (the only thing on the menu I think is overpriced). You can tell that Sava has considered the college campus into their design but definitely do not want it to be only "college venue". And from what I've experienced, this is (going) to be executed well. They're open until midnight everyday, server breakfast all day, will deliver, are wireless enabled (will have their own network in the future) and are inexpensive. But the venue certainly doesn't make me feel like I'm going back to my undergrad days when I eat here. I love the design - beautiful wood and colors, fresh flowers, and some of the best fabric on the booths and chairs I've seen. It feels classy and casual comfortable. The space has distinct areas - a front lounge and bar (sadly no booze) for tea/coffee/smoothies, an upstairs with small tables for studying, the main dining area, and a back area with a large table for groups. This and quality of ingredients, portion size, and price would put them in a solid 4-star, almost 5-star rating. We're still at 3 stars because of some missteps - which I believe is mostly due to being a new restaurant without experience. The servers have been very helpful and friendly, but no one seems to have a strong grasp of the menu. General service items have been overlooked - not having silverware, straws with drinks (and then being out of straws - how does that happen?!), and not having drinks refilled. There are wires hanging out of one side of the walls where lights are (I assume?) in the process of being installed. Mondays are $1 1/3 lb. burgers all day - brilliant idea but the place was a zoo and it was clear the entire staff was overwhelmed and not coordinated. I know $1 meals for undergrads equals a stamped of wild gazelle but after a month of this I would except the staff to be much more prepared and able to handle the traffic. Another table waited 1:20 for their food and it all came cold. Our server had to make 4 trips to get all our food because he kept forgetting things (we were a table of four). Still, the food was good and my bill came to less than $8.00. Sava could definitely become one of my favorite spots in Ann Arbor. But the entire staff, from maintenance, supply chain, management, and servers need to have more experience and training. Until then, I'm only going to go back when I know it's not going to be busy. I'll come back and definitely reassess in the future.
(3)
Lucinda S.
I went to Sava's for the first time yesterday with a group of friends. I had ceviche and split the polenta fries as an appetizer with a few friends. The food was good but I wouldn't say it's amazing. The ambiance is very nice however and they have lots of outdoor seating. There are a lot of creative dishes on the menu. Definitely worth trying out when you're in the Ann Arbor area!
(4)
Clare W.
Okay so sometimes the service once you are seated is painfully slow, and a couple times my food has come out cold or wrong, but I will keep going back. Why? Good atmosphere, a fun selection of food (pierogi and yam fries and crepes? awesome!), and just a good place to hang out. Since they made their move across the street (into where Zanzibar used to be), they also expanded their menu and got a liquor license and they carry really strange booze like mead. So...if you're into that kinda thing...it's a good place to check out.
(4)
Rose E.
Sava has recently changed its menu according to our very nice waitperson. He told us the reason he took so long to bring us water was because the wait staff was going over the new menu. Unfortunately, the new menu has higher prices for less food. I had been here before and remember it as a reasonably priced restaurant with pretty good, though not great food. My bill for 2 entrees and 1 appetizer was over $60 (including tip). When I asked a server if they had a breadbasket she said no though we could get all kinds of bread for an extra charge. I ordered the scallops(4) on a very skimpy bed of risotto with a few spinach leaves ($20), my daughter ordered the over sweet squash ravioli and we had a starter of mussels with fries. The mussels were good and reasonably priced. We left hungry and annoyed that another place has decided to gouge its customers. I know the rents in the area are very high but I really don't want to support a place that leaves me hungry after spending $50+.
(3)
Deb C.
I love Sava. The prices are very reasonable, service is attentive and good-natured, and most importantly, the food is delicious. Lots of tasty and healthy options on the menu, too. The risotto balls (okay, not so healthy!) are delicious, and I'm a big fan of the watermelon salad. A terrific alternative to the over-priced restaurants on Main St.
(5)
Ronny E.
Hey they moved and I went there for a sandwich with a friend...it was pretty good! I had the chicken California club and I would go back for it. I'll try it again.
(4)
Michelle D.
I wish I could give Sava 3.5 stars. I really like the atmosphere and the coffee is Mighty Good...literally!
(3)
Betsy T.
Great food, great atmosphere, not so great cocktails. My friend had some cucumber thing and it tasted like lotion; however, I tend to steer away from cocktails altogether, so I wouldn't rule them out. I would definitely get a reservation because it fills up.
(4)
Dave Y.
people seem to like to complain about the service here, and admittedly it's a bit slow, but the waiting staff are decently friendly, and the food is just so good and so reasonably priced. add on top of that, the restaurant itself is such a pretty and pleasant place to be. and to top it off, on mondays they have $1 hamburgers, and they're good hamburgers. sure i wouldn't mind speedier service, but other than that this is a flawless restaurant
(5)
Tina W.
The decor in this place is so cute and cozy. Their food is a little overpriced though. I always end up getting the burger (cheapest thing on their menu.... Hey, I'm in college, ok?) And don't forget those sweet potato fries. Mmm.
(3)
James C.
It's decent but overpriced. The menu's uninspired, typical sandwiches, salads and wraps (not remotely a diner). Wait service was slow every time I was there. Burgers weren't flavorful and not enough bleu cheese on mine. Pierogies seemed to be the supermarket variety. Brie and raspberry sauce was too simple, fresh raspberries would have been better. Noble attempt but really just an average sandwich place.
(2)
Brittany G.
This place was recommended to me by a friend because of their "awesome smoothies". So I decided to give it a try. I have to say that the atmosphere was really cool and I really liked that it was relaxed and that the staff could dress how they wanted to. (Uniforms are so overrated!) Our server had a Nightmare Before Christmas shirt and was incredibly friendly. My sandwich was phenomenal! And I did try the sweet potato fries unprompted with a Happy Monkey smoothie. Everything was so tasty and the service was great. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Anne M.
Really decent turkey burger. BUMMER there's no adult bevs. Service was good and we got 2 entrees and drinks for less than $28!
(3)
Rachel K.
I just had a veggie burger and a side salad here but they were both really good. Sometimes veg burgs can be hard or just plain nasty, but this one was tasty and cheap, for sure.
(3)
Evan T.
I'll never complain if you put goat cheese on my sandwich and serve sweet potato fries. Nice spot for lunch.
(4)
Betsy S.
My husband and I had a two wonderful experiences here recently. We were looking for a relaxing place for an evening cocktail and stopped here because it looked inviting and cosy (in a boutique-modern-Manhattan kind of way).. The bartender was patient as I explained about being on vacation and wanting to try something new. He lead me to one of their signature cocktails (which I don't see on their on-line menu, but it was called Mama Louisa, or something like that). It had advocaat (an egg liqueur ), foamed sambuca, expresso powder, orange peel, and I don't know what else, but it is the nectar of the gods, for sure! It haunted me enough that we had to go in the next night where I ordered another just to see if it was a fluke...nope, stunningly delicious. We also tried the black and blue beef bites and split a Cuban sandwich. Wonderful. Everyone we encountered, from the hostess, waiter, bartender, and chef seemed passionate about their work. My only regret is that this place is 2,000 miles from my home.
(5)
Shingo B.
this is a great place to come for breakfast lunch or dinner! the service is fun and interesting. the food is delicious. there's a nice bar and the layout is great for families, big parties or intimate dinner dates. if you wanna just have a drink at the bar and grab some apps it's very comfortable. the food is progressive. they don't just serve a plain cheeseburger or mac and cheese. there is a creative thought process in their menu. sava is always very friendly and approchable!
(4)
susan s.
Made the online reservation for three at Sava's with ease. Without my specifying it, Sava's put us at the best table by the window. We also were handed a menu with an interesting assortment of lunch choices. I found that the home made sweet potato soup was delicious as well as the rissoto balls...as an appetizer. We also lingered over lunch without being "pushed" to finish and leave. It's definitely high on my "return to" list.
(4)
Michael D.
'Meh' sums it up perfectly. Lentil burger was bland and mushy. Sweet potat fries were okay, nothing special though. Ambiance was nice, waitstaff was accommodating and let our group veg for a long time without dropping any sort of hint to leave. I'll give it another shot, but not for a while.
(2)
Erin G.
I've been here for brunch and late-night dinner at the old Zanzibar location, and it was ok. I like their variety of things--not quite sure what vibe they're going for, they have kind of an eclectic mix, from brunch and crepes to full dinners like steak and ravioli to sandwiches. My friend and I both tried the full dinners, which I was wary of because they used to be just a sandwich place and I wasn't sure how they'd do with dinner, but they were pretty good. I like that they're open late, we got dinner at 10pm. Friend had butternut squash ravioli which was good, not too sweet like it is at some other places, but it was expensive and a small portion. I had kielbasa w/pierogies and sauerkraut, which was good but the pierogies could have used more flavor. Service was a bit slow. Also went for brunch, which was not so great. Slow not-so-attentive service and I had to send my coffee and my food back because they weren't hot. Coffee was watery/weak, which was sad because it's from Mighty Good and should have been better. Friend got crepes but said they weren't that flavorful, boyfriend got corned beef hash, which was good but not great. I got the lox benedict, which was good once it was hot, but by that time my companions were done eating and I was eating alone, which is annoying. When I got my food, the waiter almost walked away when I informed him that the menu said I got home fries with it. He seemed confused by this, and said he'd "check," as if I might be wrong about it. I wasn't, and he returned with said home fries. He also didn't really apologize for the lukewarm coffee or food--he fixed it, but didn't say sorry that happened or anything, which made me feel like he didn't really give a crap that my food wasn't up to par. I thought by now they would have had the hang of the bigger venue, but they seemed kind of all over the place. If I was in the area I'd try it again though.
(3)
Steven H.
My girlfriend and I eat there quite often. The food is great! I love the salmon burger and the price is where it's at. It's cheap (Depending on what you order) and the service is friendly.
(5)
Mark D.
I've been going to Sava's for a while since I have been going to college at umich, and I'll give it to the place, they are always consistently busy and keeping customers interested. This restaurant is one of the brunch/lunch staples of Ann Arbor, where everybody loves to take their parents when they visit. There is a ton of space in this place, so even if there is a wait (which there most likely will be on a weekend) you will get in quick. My girlfriend and I came in and sat on the upper level on a Saturday morning with maybe a 5 minute wait. Service was ehh, as the waiter forgot to fill up our waters and took a while to take our order but it was crazy busy so I can't blame them. We got a Bloody Mary, a beer, the lobster rolls with a side of fries and the Huevos. I was unimpressed at the size of the Huevos when it came out but it was actually very tasty and well done. The tortillas were crispy and the eggs perfectly over easy. The lobster rolls were also good, the bread grilled and toasted to make a hot dog bun type of sandwich. Fries were crispy and shoestring which is a favorite of mine. The bloody was a bit warm, and didn't have enough ice. I suspect cuz the glass just popped out of the washer. I'm giving this place 4 stars because I have had many meals here and their food has always been consistent over 7 years, that's not something many restaurants can say. Overall: a great place for brunch or to take a date/your parents if they come into town.
(4)
Lylian D.
I have had Sava's several times during my time at Umich. I like their atmosphere a lot, but the food is decent. The burger is dry and lacks seasoning. Their sweet potato fries are yummy though. This is definitely not the place to get steaks though. The ribeye needed to be trimmed because there was just too much grisly fat, although the flavor was good. I do like their Seafood Marlon, but I wish they would put in tastier pieces of the lobster instead of the bits of the claw meat. Calamari and the jalapeno aioli are very good here. Service is super slow, but they are always busy. I can understand the slow service from time to time, but sometimes I don't want to have to spend 2+ hours to at restaurants. I've never been here for brunch, but it seems worth a try from the other reviews.
(3)
Patrick T.
Came for a late lunch today. Enjoyed the mac and cheese with lobster ($5 extra). That 5 bucks resulted in a hearty amount of lobster. The mac and cheese itself was rich and delicious. Great dish, but left me feeling lethargic the rest of the afternoon. I've always liked the food at Sava's. The only problem is that their service is slow, or every time I've been I've had really inattentive waitstaff.
(3)
Jane S.
When it's good, it's very good....when it's bad, it's very bad. I've had amazing food here and I've also had the blandest pulled pork and banh mi I've ever had. Not sure why it is so inconsistent, would be dining there way more often if I knew for sure it was going to be one of those good meals. The Arancini (Crispy Risotto Balls) are killer every time and the atmosphere is lovely.
(3)
Barbara C.
Man what a wait ; no place worth a 50 minute wait , 40 minutes from our reservation time! To Sava's credit, they rushed our order FAST and we had a super nice wait staff. We did make our show on time. People linger for 2 + hrs at tables we were told, but somehow Sava's needs to fix this, as we sure will not go there for dinner on a Friday night again! Meal was admittedly good, as was service. Feel sort of sorry for wait staff. The lines are hidden from tables which is part of problem, as I am sure lingerers do not realize the long lines awaiting their tables! They need move on to coffee shops for their final hour. How about some incentives for coffee and dessert with a nearby partner? How about at least a place to sit while you wait nearly an hour? We DID have reservations too--astonishing)!
(2)
Vanessa Jean R.
I've been to Sava's many, many times over the years and this place just keeps getting better. Sava's has been the spot for many birthday dinners with friends, lunches with relatives, and light drinks with friends. The back room most recently hosted my brother's graduation celebration, and the approachable atmosphere was a great meet-in-the-middle for my diverse family. I think what makes Sava's a great go-to for pretty much any occasion is the approachable but clearly lovely interior design, combined with great food and fair pricing. What makes for a great graduation celebration also makes brunch on the patio with mimosas and a Sava's sandwich a very pleasurable experience. The wood paneling and large tile floors evoke the feeling of being in someone's dining room, and the open bar hutches to the right of the bar, as well as the white and wood bar stools themselves, are a nice touch. The one thing about Sava's is that the bathrooms are not wheelchair-accessible. As soon as I entered for our reservation in May and I saw the signs pointing down the stairs, I immediately anxiously inquired about a restroom for my grandmother. The staff promptly and courteously directed me to escort my grandmother to the bathroom by the kitchen. I'm sure that they have dealt with elderly patrons who can't do stairs before, but this solution is perhaps not ideal for those with accessibility needs who would prefer a less conspicuous way of accessing the toilet.
This review is for their Sunday brunch which was dynamite. They change the brunch all the time but on the morning I went they had some fancy egg stratas and bakes, oysters, shrimp, a gnocchi dish which was very tasty and kung pao chicken with giant pieces of chicken in a spicy sauce. Desserts were plentiful from macaroons and brownies to mousse and ecclairs I left feeling fully satisfied and impressed. Bonus-- everyone who works here is attentive and good looking which made the place even better. By far my favorite in A2.
(5)
Blair R.
I have been to Sava's consistently over the past few weeks and each time tempted me to change my review but today was the icing on the cake. I still like Sava's food and consider it my easy Ann Arbor go to place, but the service lately has been unacceptable. And I don't blame the staff, I blame the management. Let's start with a few weeks ago. Service was a little spotty (the waitress was a little confused when we asked for recommendations) but worse, three of the drinks my friend ordered were out of stock.... Today I went with a large party. We gave Sava's a heads up that we would be a big group. The place had plenty of time to prepare. Instead, we only had one waitress and by herself she couldn't handle the situation. Drink orders took forever and on top of that, I watched my friend wait about 25 minutes for a refill on her coffee. Since there wasn't two people on our table, it was basically impossible to get refills and we were at Sava's for two hours, so we definitely wanted refills. I don't necessarily care that it took FOREVER to order and get our food, but with such a large party, someone should have been there to help our waitress serve. Instead, she slowly had to go to and from the kitchen and around the table by herself. By the time the last food arrived, the first people to receive their food were basically finished. Also, I told my friend who I sat next to at brunch I'd cover her. She ordered a side of poached eggs. And they were overcooked, no runny yolk to be found. But with the uneven service going on, there was no way to fix it.
(2)
Kayla K.
Delicious food, fantastic staff, great prices. Walked in around 8pm on a Friday and was seated within 5 minutes. Waitress took our order, and we got our food promptly. The black bean burger was AMAZING.
(5)
Natasha P.
We ate here on Saturday night and apparently, they get booked very quickly. I called on Saturday afternoon to reserve a table for 4, and was told that they do not take reservations on Saturdays. So we decided to try our luck, just show up and see how long the wait would be. On our way to the restaurant (about 10 minutes before we reached), we called and asked what the wait time would be and the hostess said that there wasn't any. By the time we got there and gave our name, she said it would be a 5 minute wait. So we said ok and waited. We were finally seated 25 minutes later, and when I asked about our table, I was told that they do take reservations, but I must have been told that they don't because they were full. That mini fiasco aside, Sava's in a nice restaurant to eat at and catch up with friends. Their food is nice and they have a wide selection of drinks (not just beer and wine). We started out with a plate of polenta fries and a plate of sweet potato fries. I've been here 3 or 4 times now, and their sweet potato fries have consistently been excellent. It is crispy on the outside and soft inside - the perfect fry. For dinner I ordered the Bacon Brie Burger. It was cooked perfectly, and they had laid on the brie pretty thick. My husband and a friend both ordered the Cuban Sandwich which was excellent. It was huge, and full of flavor. I think that's what I'm going to have the next time I'm there. The fourth person at our table ordered the Gouda Prosciutto Burger. He said it was tasty and full of Gouda, but that he could not taste any prosciutto and that the burger needed a little more 'burger sauce'. When our food arrived, I ordered another side of sweet potato fries, but it never came to the table and we just let it slide. I'd go back to Sava's often, but I'll try to have a reservation...
(4)
Sacha U.
Really cool looking place inside. We were debating where to have breakfast and wanted to try something new. The menu looked great. However, they seated us upstairs . Finally looked around after ordering off the menu and my husband noticed a breakfast buffet. He asked the server if it was available and changed his order. It was mediocre. I ordered a simple breakfast with eggs, toast and bacon and sweet potato pancakes. When it finally came, the eggs were dried up and cold, the bacon soft and extra greasy, and the potato pancake was covered in what looked like applesauce topped with ranch. The dry toast was the only decent item on the plate. When the server asked "is everything good" my response was "meh" and without another word she filled our coffee and walked away. When the bill came, the breakfast buffet was $20!! With so many great breakfast places in Ann Arbor, this was a terrible disappointment.
(1)
Jenny H.
Our trip to AA was met by strong recs from a friend: go to Savas. Get the Watermelon Salad. Hence we went and no watermelon salad to be found on ze menu. It felt a bit discombobulated at the front of the house-- they were obviously booked solid inside, but couldn't tell us about wait times. Eventually we found out our friends were already holding a table outside. We ordered the ahi tuna salad, caprese, steak and potato salad, and butternut squash ravioli. First off, is ahi tuna supposed to tingle and numb your mouth? Maybe it was the dressing or some other component of the salad. But way too much lettuce leftover in the jumble. My caprese came with a nice portion of burrata cheese, but there wasn't nearly enough pieces of bread to complement... and when the bill came, we saw that they charged extra for three additional pieces of toast. What?! Our other dining companions loved their ravioli and steak-potato salad. Maybe we just had an ordering fluke that night. Service was decent and we never felt rushed given our chatty dinner. It was a pleasant meal outside, overall not a place to write home about.
(3)
Shirley H.
For me, Sava's is a place that I would go to if a friend would suggest it. If I had an option of grabbing some food downtown, this restaurant would not be on my list. With that being said, I think their drinks and food are way too pricey. The last thing I remember getting was a chicken wrap that was mediocre. Honestly, I can't say much about it because it wasn't impressive. One thing I have liked from past experiences is the fish tacos. Their lavender lemonade was also pretty good but too pricey to get again.
(2)
Libby S.
Delicious food and very creative menus. Lots of variety and nice staff. This is one my go-to places for elegant cuisine.
(5)
Emma D.
Visited when my parents were in town around lunchtime-had to wait about ten minutes which wasn't bad, although the hostess was a little snippy. Regardless, our waitress was awesome all around with checking up on us, recommending dishes, and giving refills. I got the Truffled Mushroom Burger medium rare which was good- it could have had more flavor in the toppings, but the bun was very good along with the burger itself. I also got the Sweet Potato Fries- if you go here, GET THESE. They were better than any other sweet potato fries I've had. Seriously. Overall, good visit, will definitely be coming back.
Trusty 'ole Sava's. One of those few restaurants that really just excels at everything. Food, service, atmosphere - it has it all. It is somehow appropriate for every occasion, and accomodates both fancy girls' night out or a casual study break. In warmer months there's also an outdoor seating area with comfy couches! They also have a generous range of alcohol options. People rave about their sweet potato fries. But my favorites are their seafood mains and salads! So. Freakin. Good. I recommend the shrimp quinoa salad. Given how good the food and everything else is, I'd say the pricing is reasonable. Plus the waiters are really cute! This is the place I take any new visitors to Ann Arbor.
(4)
Leslie T.
Sava's is a great place to eat for any meal. I first came with my parents for Parents' Weekend during my freshman year and have loved it ever since. Their maize and blue burger is to die for; I love that they top off burgers with a fried egg. Always get sweet potato fries as a side -- so good! The capellini marlon had delicious sauce, but not too much seafood. I always loved Cuban sandwiches, and Sava's did not do anything to reduce my love. The service is also friendly. My friend went for her birthday dinner and they surprised her with a cake she didn't even order! Pleasant surprise. For breakfast, I like the bistro crepe, just enough hollandaise sauce. The salmon scramble was good, but the salmon was a touch salty. Overall, great place to eat.
(4)
Ross A.
Had a great late breakfast at Sava's with my significant other. I chose to have the bagel with lox which was rather excellent. I'm not someone who has a lot of experience with this type of breakfast, but I enjoyed myself. My girlfriend had the salmon scramble which creamy and delicious. Also the bagels were just how we liked them. Nice and chewy after being toasted. Overall it was a great experience and we will be back!
(5)
Emma W.
I LOVED Sava's before the remodel. Absolutely loved it. I wanted to eat there every weekend. I would try something different every time and was never disappointed. However, now that they've remodeled, I don't think I'll be back. The menu is so much shorter and instead of the heavy duty leather menu, it's now just a sheet of paper--there's nothing classy about that. And the extensive and creative cocktail menu has been reduced to six or so drinks, none of which struck me as unique or inventive. The service was still good, but I just felt so let down. The menu had fewer vegetarian options and felt way more generic. What was before a great atmosphere for any occasion and a menu with so many options is now an average establishment with sub par decor. I can imagine anyone coming to Sava's for the first time might enjoy it, but if you loved Sava's before the renovation, you'll be sadly disappointed.
(1)
Barry D.
One of my go-to restaurants in town, I always come here at least once in a week-long visit. Had dinner here two nights ago (on a Wednesday night), was seated promptly in a booth despite not having a reservation. My server Josh was polite and attentive and we got into a conversation about local draft beers, mead and Australian beers that spanned many visits to my table. He recommended the Left Hand milk stout, which was quite delicious. I started with the Mediterranean Trio which has a small serving of tabbouleh, hummus and tzatziki along with some bread wedges. The wedges are solid, not pita, so it's a little more awkward to eat than if they were hollow inside, but it's delicious and often I'll order this as a starter. For my main course, I ordered the Grilled Cheese for Grownups. I've had this before as well, and it was as wonderful as expected. This is several white cheeses melted in a butter croissant with slices of heirloom tomatoes and seasoned with a pesto sauce. The heirloom tomatoes (depending on which ones the kitchen has particular night) can make the sandwich taste as meaty as ham-and-cheese, or light and fruity. Sadly, the pear soup (which I sternly admonish you to order every visit) was not available that night. I've had dinner elsewhere and then come to Sava's just to finish with the pear soup, it's that good. It's a warm puree of poached pears, poured over melted chocolate in the dish, with a few slices of poached pear floated in the dish. Utterly simple, yet utterly delicious. I've tried to duplicate this a few times at home, and there's some secret ingredient or trick that Sava's has which gets it just perfect.
(5)
Jessica W.
I don't think there is a single person who has survived school at Michigan without dining (or drinking) at Sava's at least once. It's one of the closest and most non-objectionable eateries in Ann Arbor. There is something for every taste on the menu, from bánh mì to fish tacos to (my favorite) the black bean burger. The drink menu isn't bad either. And...drumroll...breakfast is available until 3pm! It may be a little overpriced for the portions, but it has terrific hours (open till midnight for dinner every day) and consistently good quality food. The service can be slow, but that's usually just because the place is packed, so you can't blame the staff.
(4)
Julia G.
I used to go to Sava's back when it was just a casual little place across the street. Regularly came in for the great roasted vegetable wrap with hummus. I was a little worried they would change too much when they moved across the street but they have done a really great job! The decor is really nice, and the place has a bright, modern, but homey feel. Its definitely gotten a bit pricey, but I looove the food so I can't help but keep coming back. This is my go-to for an impressive weekend breakfast when I have friends visiting. The crepes and omelets are fantastic, and they have really great coffee, if you're in the mood for something stronger the mimosas and tasty cocktails will do the trick!
Let me start by saying we have gone to Sava many times and thought it was terrific. This time it was just OK. Server was completely clueless. Everytime we asked for something (refill or Ketchup), it took her more than five minutes to return. I tried the Vera Cruz omelette which was very good. SS tried the Kalifa Panni which was bland and generally tasteless.
(3)
Kelly E.
We went to dinner at Sava's on a Saturday night, and since it's such a different experience from brunch, it deserves an update. Compared to brunch or lunch, there is a much longer wait. We waited almost an hour, so it was a late seating for dinner. The ambiance is much nicer, and calmer. We sat upstairs, and both ordered specials - asiago gnocchi and veal osso bucco. The side of fresh string beans were delicious. We had several rounds of drinks, food and coffee, and didn't feel rushed to leave. Loved the dinner food and vibe.
(4)
Tiffany H.
The span of reviews from "this place sucks" to "this place is awesome!" really reflects the range of possible experiences you'll get at Sava's. I've been a handful of times, and I've managed to get both decent meals and crappy meals. That merits nothing more than 3 stars. The food is above average, but not special in terms of either ingredients or flavor. considering what you pay for it. Nothing on the menu is exciting and most of it can easily be replicated at home, which to me means it's hardly worth ordering. I do believe firmly in paying for quality, but there are A LOT of places in A2 that offer equal or better quality for a lesser premium. Oh, and in January in Michigan, their "seasonal" vegetables are apparently zucchini and asparagus, which just raises the skepticism meter. What I really want to know is whether their servers get any training whatsoever. They are incredibly slow and do that thing where they walk by your table multiple times and promise they'll be right with you for x, y, or z, and proceed to disappear for 10 minutes. The last two times I've been there, neither could tell me what styles of beer their drafts were. I've had multiple waiters push appetizers and sides to the point of obnoxiousness (sides aren't included with their burgers/sandwiches, by the way). I feel bad because the servers are always ridiculously nice and apologetic, which leads me to believe they are either intentionally trained to be terrible, OR management just sucks. Sava's best feature is happy hour, for which their drinks are reasonably priced. Otherwise, you can find far better in Ann Arbor.
(3)
Joanna C.
I came here for brunch today with my brother. We decided to do the all you can eat for $16, which came with the drink choice of a mimosa or bloody mary. I had the mimosa, which tasted a bit more bitter than the ones I usually have. The buffet was just okay. There were a lot of different food items, but I thought that all of the dishes with eggs were too dry and unappetizing. The pastries and desserts were also too sweet for my taste, but my brother enjoyed them. I enjoyed the grilled vegetables, lox, and fruit. The brunch could be better with something like pancakes or waffles. The ambiance and service were great. Our waitress quickly cleared our plates and the buffet was well-maintained. While I wasn't impressed this time around, judging from the reviews, I'll have to come back and try something else.
(3)
John D.
Sava's has a special place in my heart- this was where I had my first date. It's where I grew up, lived, and loved. The service is always top-notch. Can be a tad pricey but if you're smart you can definitely do Sava's on a budget. Have ordered: Tomato bisque (get it every time), sweet potato fries, french fries, brunch, capellini merlon, bacon brie burger, western omelette, breakfast burrito, brunch
(5)
Crystal R.
The interior is very nice, and the server was attentive. One thing that they have going for them is a plethora of OPTIONS. You'd like a milk? Would you like whole, half, 2%, or skim? Hot sauce? They have tabasco, red hot, and schiracha. Their menu is only one long page, but there were a lot of interesting choices. We had the med trio appetizer- the grilled pita was amazing, the hummus was okay, nothing to be excited about. My husband got a portobello panini which was cheesy and delicious! I had the chorizo macaroni and cheese, which was very good! Ann Arbor has a lot to offer, so I'm sure it'll be a while before we stop in again- but I can't say we had a bad experience!
(4)
Elizabeth M.
It's odd that I love love Sava's-owned Babo but not the big kahuna herself. First off, I need to divide this review up between cocktails and food. COCKTAILS: This is a wonderful place to go get a drink even though you'll be facing near-big-city prices, aka around $10-12 per cocktail. Nonetheless cocktails are a huge win here, especially the more "advanced" menu with the largest selection, which emphasizes the actual alcohol itself rather than trying to cover it with a hodge podge of sweeteners, etc. My favorite was the Fashion of Passion. It was ridiculously good, and the caramelized notes were pronounced. They also have a great spread of Beligian beer, if you're into that sort of thing. THE FOOD: So, I want to love the food but it never quite kills it for me. Maybe it's because a lot of their menu seems to be stuff I could make at home with ease. They have excellent ingredients--it's all fresh, tasty, interesting--but I've never been blown away. When I went, my BF and I split sammies and swapped halves, and split a side of polenta fries. The polenta fries were OK but the dip they came with seemed like a roasted red pepper soup. The bahn mi sammie with pork was just ok, but I think I could have gotten better pork at Belly Deli on South U. The Adult Grilled Cheese was just weak. It's in a croissant (read, soggy/droopy) with tomatoes and cheese. Honestly, where was the fruit and carmelized onions? Where was the innovative bread choice that would have made this an elevated dish? I've been here before and you know what's a whole lot better? Their brunch and burger menus. Seriously, go for a burger or wake up early and get one of their perf crepes. If you're going here for dinner, order off the larger entrees menu, NOT the sammies. THE SERVICE: WONDERFUL. THE AMBIANCE: WONDERFUL. I just love being in this restaurant. THE BOTTOM LINE: skip the sammies, order the burgers, and get a cocktail!
(3)
Shirley C.
Save your tummy for a nice Sunday brunch buffet. Especially for its smoky salmon and oyster! a place where you can't go wrong with ;)
(4)
Andrew F.
Sava's brunch is one of the best around! I am hooked on the Bandito Hash with a side Bloody Mary, but their buffet is also incredible. It has a ton of offerings and everything is always fresh.
(5)
Nick R.
This place will not disappoint. Make a reservation because it's normally packed. Their Sunday brunch turns up and the happy hour is legit. Perfect mix of contemporary and experimental American cuisine.
(5)
Sarah H.
I do not care for the new menu at all. This is my 3rd time here with the new menu, and it takes me 45 minutes to figure out what I want to eat. I used to come here for the great salads and small plates, now they are gone. The menu is very weird and unique, you have to be willing to try new things that you have never heard of. The service has been extremely slow and I am upset because Sava's used to be one of my favorite restaurants. Now I don't think I will be retuning ever again.
(2)
Sami S.
Great service and the food is always good. They are especially good for large groups as they can easily split the check however you want. I love the Khalifa panini and their Sunday brunch buffet is truly amazing. I don't love their omelets, but really enjoy almost everything else I have ordered.
(5)
Joe B.
I was on my way back from a business meeting in Ohio and me and my old man decided to grab a bite of pizza in A2 at Mani Osteria, which is apparently closed on Mondays?! His second choice was Sava's for their Bacon Brie burger. We dropped in, were seated immediately and our server came straight away. Erin was friendly, attentive and on her game even with a trainee under wing. The restaurant is bustling, a little trendy but also campus classy (meaning great for students and business class alike). The bar area was even a little sexy. It was pretty packed with no open tables on the main floor in sight. We began with the Risotto balls which were tasty although on the dry side and laid over Arugula with a creamy tomato sauce drizzled over top. They were decent and very cheesy. My dad ordered his burger well done with a side of macaroni and cheese and I ordered the Knight's burger medium with American cheese and no side. He liked his burger and we both tried the cavatelli macaroni and truly enjoyed it. It's on the dryer side but full of cheesy flavors. My burger was cooked properly albeit not very juicy (and, yes, it is possible to order a medium burger without it being dry and yes I know Anthony Bourdain would NEVER commit such a travesty as ordering a burger cooked over medium rare). The Brioche bun was pillowy, light and lightly toasted. The tomato, unfortunately, was mealy but the lettuce was a good quality - Bibb I'd guess. My gripe would have to come from, first the pickle spear on the side. I'm not sure if they did it by design or by coincidence but both our pickles looked like they had been beaten by a jockey and then run over-they were very sad looking. Second, both our burgers were LOADED with onion, which I love. But if you don't, you would've had a lot to pick off. Next, their burger sauce, totally unremarkable. I'm not really sure what it even tasted like. Lastly, a burger is much like a building. You have to lay a proper foundation or it falls apart. I took one bite and everything slid out the side. Overall the food was OK and in retrospect I should have ordered some of the other creations that looked truly interesting like the Sausage Risotto or the Ratatouille. Dessert was another story. We tried the Tartufo. A chocolate gelato filled with a sabayon, dusted with cocoa powder, sprinkled with hazelnuts and served in a martini glass. It was very very good but if you're sharing, don't - order your own. If I lived closer I would try Sava's again for sure. They have some very intriguing cocktail offerings and a host of entrees that if prepared properly should be amazing. The bar area was cozy and their beer selection was thumbs up with plenty of Michigan micros to opt for.
(3)
Aaron M.
I like Sava's. I'm glad it exists. I think it's a little too expensive. They've got decent vegetarian options, and that's a serious pro in my book. Lots of space and therefore good for groups. Sometimes it gets preeeeeeety hairy on weekend nights. By hairy, I mean busy, not covered in hair. That would lead to far fewer stars than three. Decent beer selection. Lots of tattoos (which I also like, but maybe you don't). If Savas were maybe 10% cheaper, I'd eat there more and be tempted to bump the star rating up one.
(3)
Sarah P.
Love the Ham-Spin-Pear-Brie Panini and Kalifa Panini (chicken, goat cheese, roasted red peppers). The breakfast foods are also fantastic, esp. the bananas foster (yep, I said breakfast)! Large upscale cocktail selection, as well as the standard beer and wine.
(5)
Richard S.
Like the atmosphere... people watching.. pricey though!
(4)
Lauren I.
Atmosphere: 4/5 Walking in the interior is some of the most impressive that you'll find in the city. Sava's has a elegant, airy feel while still remaining cozy. While it gets crowded at night, especially during the weekends, small candles set on tables contrast a dark city outside and the space becomes borderline beautiful. Giant glass windows that grace the northern really brighten up the space during the day without it becoming too cold. Booths are upholstered with soft fleur-de-lis embroidery and the bright wooden tables add to a refined and yet casual atmosphere both day and night. Some of the appeal is ruined however by some giant sculptural pieces that appear to have been placed there in a desperate attempt to fill up empty space. Menu: 2/5 Sava's menu is extensive, way too extensive, with a variety salads, wraps, paninis, sandwiches, burgers, and some ethnic-inspired appetizers such as hummus or chickpea curry. Collectively, there's too much going on in the menu to really absorb in one sitting, and their attempt at Mediterranean dishes while still maintaining an American-base is somewhat tacky. Sava's would do well to stick to one theme and do it well. Breakfast is available until 3, (Why don' they just make it available all day?) and the lunch and dinner menus are combined. Price: 2/5 Apart from breakfast and some sandwich options, somewhat overpriced. Spinach and artichoke dip was 7.99, and while the homemade dip and fried "chips" were admirable, eight dollars is way to too much to be paying for this kind of appetizer, considering the ingredients involved. 3.99 or 4.99 would be a much more reasonable price, but this trend reflects Sava's overall trend in overpricing. Service: 2/5 Very poor, especially considering the price. During dinner with a friend we were asked by our waiter at least three times within 15 minutes whether we were ready for our order before being quickly replaced by other waiter, and not at our request. We weren't halfway done through the appetizer before the main came, in which the server very unceremoniously set the plates down at the edge of the table before scooting away. Most chain restaurants have better service. Food: 3/5 As a main I had the bacon and brie burger, a bit of an indulgence but a combination that worked extremely well, with both the brie and the bacon adding a creaminess and saltiness to the burger that is usually absent. While I've had burgers at Savas in the past, I find that the meat is a somewhat dry, almost tough, especially after cooling down. ...But I would like to try brie on a burger again soon. Sweet potato fries are another specialty at Savas, served with a slightly spicy, tangy chipolte-mayo dressing. Verdict: 3/5 Savas is a nice place to get take your parents out to eat, especially if they're paying the tab. Granted the food appears to be higher quality than many of the surrounding restaurants, but its too overpriced to me to return there any time soon for dinner. The Aftermath: With the fries and the spinach artichoke dip I only had a couple of bites of my burger, saving the rest for dinner. As with most burgers, it didn't do too well cold. After eating at Savas I feel very greasy and somewhat nauseous, but I suppose that's to be expected considering my choices.
(3)
Suzy E.
I've been going to Sava's or getting take out around once a week for the past 2 and a half years. I ordered a grilled chicken Greek salad tonight and for the first time ever they forgot my chicken. I called up to let them know, hoping maybe to get reimbursed for the chicken add on since I no longer had access to a car to go pick it up. The manager himself drove it to me, and he packed me some extra sides and a dessert too! Greatest display of customer service and the nicest staff I've ever seen.
(5)
Ray S.
We dined here with some dear friends recently. The recommendation was ours based on the wonderful experience we had at Sava's previously. The online reservation found on their website is great, I recommend it. Nice to walk in and they have your name and correct party number right there. We sat at the bar for 15 minutes waiting for our guests to arrive. The beer tap selection was average at best, with only one IPA option and several domestic beers. There is a rotating tap, so maybe I was there on an off week. Most restaurants in Downtown Ann Arbor have a wider selection of micro-brewed taps. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Seating was comfortable too. A bit on the noisy side, but that comes with the unique building and is really not much of a concern to me. I ordered the Capellini Marlon which has capellini pasta, lobster, shrimp and saffron butter. This meal in itself should have made my rating a two star. Both the shrimp and lobster (especially the lobster!) were overcooked. It was difficult to enjoy the rest of the pasta and sauce when the main course is overcooked. What saved me, and why I give Sava's a three star rating was my wife's dinner. She ordered the Chicken Fusili (chicken, arugala, sundried tomatoes, goat cheese, fusili pasta). This was an amazing dish - FIVE STARS! So good that I ate the last 1/3 of her dish rather than let her take it home. I recognize that not every meal will be perfect, so I'm not out to slam Sava's, I think they really have a nice place with good and unique selections. But if they can't cook shrimp or lobster without overcooking, then they should just take it off the menu altogether. I'll be back.
(3)
Sumana P.
So good! This place is an Ann Arbor favorite and that is definitely justified! Great service and fantastic food.
(5)
Lyla J.
Beautiful atmosphere. Very good place for a romantic dinner, we sat on the top balcony overlooking the rest of the restaurant. Chicken Marsala was delicious as was the mac and cheese... Free birthday crepe on top made for a perfect evening. Our server, Taylor was, also, amazing.
(5)
Matt R.
Had my birthday dinner at Sava's with my parents. The truffle risotto balls were amazing. I had the lamb chops, which I ordered rare but came out more in the medium range, not a disaster because the meat was incredibly tender and still very juicy. The seasoning on the lamb was subtle but just right to enhance the natural flavor of the meat. My mom ordered the Restaurant Week special of pork loin with squash puree and fried brussels sprouts. The pork had a little bit of gristle and was cooked a little more than requested, but very tasty nonetheless. My dad had another Restaurant Week special of pasta with seafood, olives, and capers, I had a bite of that and it was perfect. A very good birthday experience. Edited to add: The owner and I have very similar musical tastes, because I was delighted to hear all my favorite artists over the speaker system during my visit. Good to hear some Australian Electropop in Ann Arbor.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Anthony A.
I've been coming here since 2008. This place has moved and changed with the times an it is a fantastic place to eat! I can't come to Ann Arbor without stopping here at least once for dinner. I used to come here for brunch, but I think the dinner is much better! They have a wide variety of entrees, most of which are less than $20. They have a great selection of local craft beers, they make a good cocktail, have great service, and they have a wide variety of seating options that can accommodate an intimidate date, a family dinner, or large gatherings. Now let's get to the food. Appetizers: Sweet potato pancakes - a unique dish with a pear sauce and maple smoked trout. I would order this again and again. (5/5) Bombas - these rice balls are crispy perfection! (5/5) Bang Bang Shrimp - this dish WAS perfection, and then they changed it. Still great. (4/5) Entrees: Salmon w/beet risotto - this was a special dish that night and it was almost perfect, but the risotto was a little cold (barely room temp). (4/5) Capellini Marlon - fantastic seafood para dish with large chunks of lobster and large shrimp! I was astonished at the amount of seafood in this dish. (5/5) This place cares about their food, and the dining experience. I highly recommend this place!
(5)Paige H.
I don't even know where to begin. Their food and service is AMAZING. love the atmosphere. The atmosphere has more of an upscale ambiance about it, but if you look around, the wait staff are all very individualized...tattoos everywhere, really just so many personalities that are wonderful. This is probably the only place I don't feel guilty about ordering pasta dishes, just because it is SO good. Also, the quality of this place is wonderful. In the bathroom (strange place), I read a sign that states they shop locally and organically for the meats and veggies that they include in their dishes, which I could not ask for anything more. Seafood, great. I WANT IT NOW
(5)Todd B.
You the know the place is good when crowded on a Monday evening. Sava's did not disappoint. Greeter and staff were kind and attentive. The food was wonderful and portions on the large side. Pricing quite reasonable. I had the Lamb Kefta with yogurt, pita bread, carrots, and house potatoes. Scrumptious. The drink menu is quite extensive. When you walk in you can tell by the bar they like to mix 'em ! Enjoy!
(4)Darrell K.
I had a friend visiting from out of town and i was going to play it safe and visit a place with which i was familiar with. I always wanted to check out this place so i read some reviews. Some were good and some not so good. I decided to check it out. It is in the heart of downtown A2 which can be tricky for parking. It was not too bad for an early morning visit. I found a great parking spot. Whooohooo! My friend had arrived early and decided to sit outside which happened to be a great choice. It is setup courtyard style on the side of the building. Nice and cozy. The waitress was also attentive and had a geat attitude. The menu had a variety of items for lunch/brunch from Waffles, toast, eggs, pancakes and even a fried chicken based item. I started off with a carmel latte and orderd the french toast and eggs with spinach, cheese and mushroom. The french toast was great. Sweet with a good cinamon flavor. It was almost like candy. I like my sweet so it was right up my alley. Don't take this home to the kids. The eggs were also done just right, not runny and not overcooked. My friend was a vegatarian and opted for the egg whites. She loved that i choose this place due to this. She thought it was an excellent pick and i agree. I will visit for dinner soon.
(4)Jenn H.
Came here for brunch with my friend. She loved my red velvet waffles.. It was simple, mahagony & slightly salty. The cream cheese & maole syrup made it deliciously sweet. The food was good but there are other places to try. It was a nice day to sit outside. The staff were friendly.
(3)Dia D.
Went back for lunch and had another great meal. Service was slow (I'll give them the benefit of the doubt since it was U of M Move In weekend and they were very busy) but once our server took our order the food arrived quickly. I had the Porcetta Panini, another person had the VEG, and the third had the Cuban. The person who ordered the Cuban orders them all the time and he said it was the second best Cuban that he's ever eaten. You know the meal is good when all afternoon people mention how good the food was.
(5)Sarah H.
After walking from Ann and Main to Liberty and State, Sava's menu caught our attention. I tried the waiter recommended drink of the week, which was "Gay Pride Week" and it was amazing. Boyfriend had the Short "Soft Parade", which was delicious. We shared a small plate, a side, and a main dish. The roasted cauliflower was fabulous, slightly sweet and a little creamy. The dish maintained the texture of the cauliflower pieces but was smooth at the same time. The sweety fries were also very good, very hot, fresh, and crisp without a hint of grease anywhere. We shared the lamb kefta- the blackened carrots were sweet and delicious, the potatoes perfect, and the lamb well seasoned. The grilled pita was slightly sweet and the feta extra creamy. We splurged on dessert and got the orange creamsicle cake. Sweet but not overdone and the perfect compliment to our meal. The service was very attentive, our waiter had a great personality and knew the menu well. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Beth H.
We wanted to try something new. It's hot but looking for a different spot w shade for a good bite and glass of wine. We headed to Sava's. When waitress asked what to drink, I asked if there were any specials. She said, "No, no specials because of Art Fair". I conceded for the Pool Boy that looked refreshing at the next table. I had the Tuna Poke that was ok. Small portion and too sour. Hubs had the grilled cheese w/o tomato. It was okay but for $8 just got a sandwich. We paid and left just as the sun came around the building and we ran for the shade. Upon exiting, we see the OTHER side of the entry chalk board that advertises "Art Fair Special, 1/2 off select bottles of wine"!!!! We won't be back for a long while.....
(1)Raven T.
I just moved to Ann Arbor and Sava's was the first place my friends took me. It was pretty crowded on a Thursday night which was a good sign. The hostess took down our name and we squeezed three of us at the bar. Our bartender she immediately greeted us with a smile and we ordered mojitos... I have to admit one of the tastiest mojitos I've had in a while. Great atmosphere, the decor the ambiance, so we ordered few appetizers and decided to have wine with dinner, it was too much fun at the bar so we ended up having dinner there rather than sitting at a table. Everything we ordered was delicious and prepared with care. I definitely recommend Sava's, I shall be back.
(5)Tiffany F.
I come to Ann Arbor to visit my boyfriend often, and each time I come, we make an effort to come to Sava's- it's a must visit for sure. Their brunch is fantastic-- all kinds of egg varieties, hash brown concoctions, the normal eggs and bacon, lamb meatballs, cheese varieties, seafood lasagna, fruit and dessert. You couldn't ask for more. I also got the Sa Va Bien brunch cocktail. It was vodka with strawberries and ginger beer and it was very refreshing. The atmosphere is inviting and bright during the day time, but a little dark at night. They also have an outdoor patio. The staff is friendly enough and the price is fair for what you get. Love this place!
(5)Ann W.
On a recent long week-end, Ann Arbor was packed as was Sava's. Even though it was late for lunch, the narrow bi-level restaurant was filled with boisterous friends enjoying a leisurely brunch or colleagues on a working lunch. Luckily, with reservations through Open Table, there was no wait - even for a great table near a wall of tall windows. I loved the look of the restaurant: a tufted yellow banquette at the front, the parade of Sputnik light fixtures suspended from the ceiling towards the back, and the varied, bright and cheerful mosaic tiles at the front. The food was as varied as the décor. Small plates were the order of the day from a menu with a curated selection that included several vegetarian, seafood and popular options. The bang bang shrimp featured four crunchy shrimp in a spicy Thai sauce with cilantro overtones, sitting on fried rice cakes. These were not the puffed rice cakes found in the cereal aisle of the grocery store but brown rice formed into triangles and then deliciously deep fried. The edges were particularly nutty-tasting. Next up was the sweet potato pancake side, shredded sweet potatoes that are pan-fried and then topped with pear sauce and herbed yogurt. This was a nice change to the more common potato pancakes with apple purée. Note that guests can also enjoy the dish as a small plate which comes with smoked trout. I enjoyed the Ahi Tuna poke, with large chunks of tuna, diced avocado and apples, mixed with glassy seaweed (wakame) and served with crispy, thin taro root chips. The delicate taste of the dish was enhanced by the hint of cilantro. For dessert, there were several interesting options. For me though, I will always gravitate towards olive oil cake and citrus flavors, whenever either of them are options. At Sava's, both were part of the same dessert: orange-vanilla olive oil cake with orange curd and vanilla cream. The light sponge-like cake was subtly flavored and was a great finish to the meal. Other than a blip in service at the start - the assigned server never showed up - service was perfect. The wonderful individual refilling water glasses took the initiative to recommend dishes and ultimately took the order; she answered numerous questions capably and knowledgeably.
(4)Anhdao T.
Chicken fuscilli, mac and cheese, and fish tacos are heaven. Great texture and taste combinations for each one. Lots of room, pleasant atmosphere and interior design, clean, and great service. I'd go back to try the brick chicken and the breakfast buffet. I highly recommend.
(5)Ronaldo T.
Sava's food has been a true hit or miss for me. If it was only for the food I would not recommend this place, however the atmosphere and drinks really make up for the underwhelming food. Brunch is a whole different thing, absolute recommend.
(3)Jan R.
I came here thinking it would be better than what it was. It was kind of sub par tbh. I got the bandito hash because it was so raved about on here. I thought it was decent. It wasn't mind blowing our super out of the ordinary in my opinion. They also ran out of the lavender lemonade which I was really looking forward to. The service was pretty good though. Everyone was nice and accommodating. Probably deserves 3.5 but I don't think I can give it a 4 in good conscience. Come here if you want. You won't be disappointed but you won't be wowed either
(3)Tiffany B.
Absolutely loved breakfast here! The nested eggs were awesome and the Brioche french toast was off the charts! Loved that they had a morning Happy Hour going, with mimosas, bloody's and special lemonades--including a lavender one (swoon). The decor is beyond fabulous and the space is so much fun. If I lived in Ann Arbor, it'd be a frequent haunt. Loved it!
(5)Shamsheer C.
Their maize and blue burger is great and reasonably priced. The location and atmosphere are also very enjoyable.
(5)Janet M.
Doesn't matter if you make a reservation (2 days prior)...you'll be waiting either way during Sunday brunch hours. WTF. Shitty, pretentious service. Still waiting as I write this......3 seconds before I make a scene
(1)Lise G.
I ordered the Dry Rubbed Pork Tenderloin and it came with Jalapeño and Cheddar Grits accompanied with broccoli rabe. Everything was absolutely delicious, portions were large and service, excellent. There's a great beer and wine list, as well. I will definitely be coming back for dinner and maybe even check out brunch and lunch as well. Now, I'm ordering dessert...crime brûlée and a cappuccino.
(5)Amy M.
Sava's is just average for me in general, however I'm giving them 4 stars because the Sunday lunch buffet is a total game changer. They serve a great assortment of quality brunch foods and their dessert layout's also another thing worth admiring as well. You definitely won't be disappointed if you go there for their unlimited lunch buffet.
(4)Daniela C.
Came here since so many coworkers recommended the place. Went for a Sunday brunch and the ambiance was pretty nice, chick and could be both family or date/day drinking spot. I ordered some fish tacos and shared some huevos rancheros. Must say they were both great but nothing out of this world. Fish tacos were kinda cold and needed more salt or aioli sauce - which the waiter hesitated in bringing me extra sauce even after I said it was fine if they charged me for it. Their lavender lemonade is wonderful! I do wish they had all you can drink mimosas it would definitely make me come back since the food isn't to die for.
(3)Arm I.
I just had the worst burger here! I ordered the Blue & Maize Burger. I got a cold burger with no cheese. When I complained, the server just said the cheese is in there, but also offered to bring extra cheese, which at this point was useless because the burger was cold.
(1)Sevana T.
Wow!!! We had breakfast at Sava's and it was amazing. The brunch buffet was my dad's favorite and I had a beautiful omelette , yum . Round it up with a mimosa and Sunday morning is a bliss...it is the best breakfast in town .
(5)Kenneth R.
Sava? Oui, ça va bien chez Sava! Thirteen of us were lucky enough to come by for dinner one evening. We were placed at a long table upstairs and had a rip-roaring good time. The space is beautifully designed and appointed. It's really quite inviting. A member of our group had meetings during the day. One of her contacts asked to be taken to breakfast at Sava's. Another requested a lunch at a local favorite -- again Sava's! This particular group member opted out of our dinner on the grounds that she didn't want to have all three meals at the same place. But she had good things to say about the establishment! As you can see by looking online, there are plenty of vegetarian choices on the menu. The menu is quite extensive, and there's seemingly something for everyone. As we were led to our table, I looked at the plates and bowls on tables around the house. My impression is that pasta dishes are very popular here. I ordered the caprese special salad, which turned out to be special indeed: the tomatoes were fried green tomatoes -- they were perfect with the mozzarella, the red tomatoes and the greens (pea shoots, if I remember correctly). I ordered another special as a main dish: lamb chops, which were served on a bed of more greens with a few fried vegetables here and there. The lamb chops themselves were excellent, but the dish as a whole was not up to the standard that had been set by the caprese. Uncharacteristically, I went for a dessert -- a flourless chocolate cake -- and an espresso. Both were excellent. Our group put down a fair amount of wine and beer. Here are the three wines that I tried: Principia Mathematica Xarel-Lo 2012, Alemany i Corrió $50 PHILIPPE PORTIER QUINCY $40 ERRALBA COSTA ROSSA Barbera $42 (The last two are in ALL CAPS because they copied that way from the online wine menu.) All three choices were perfectly solid, but I absolutely loved the Xarel-Lo. I last had had a Karel-Lo at Camino in Oakland (CA); their menu shows "2013 Bohigas Xarel-lo" @ $40. So maybe the $50 Sava's price is a tad on the high side. I recommend Sava's very highly and look forward to my next visit.
(4)Erin S.
This place seems to be hit or miss, but for both of my visits has been a hit. The first was a company dinner - I had the baby kale and added lamb kofta. Both were flavorful and properly portioned- if you normally share entrees to reduce cost, this probably isn't your place. I also, at the recommendation of the waitress, had the espresso pudding. OMGoodness. Smooth, rich, bold, and served with a beautiful mint whipped cream that had no right to work as Perfectly as it did. I went for brunch today and had a double of Basil Hayden's- only complaint is that the bartender used a snifter that was too big, which affects perceived flavor notes on a room temp bourbon. The sweet potato pancakes with trout were bringing it and came out quickly. We also had the breakfast empanada, which featured very lovely bacon. And then we ordered, at the waitress' recommendation, the Chocolate XS, a flourless chocolate cake. I requested a side of the mint cream, which was also perfect with this dessert.
(4)Rocky S.
Service was great! Matt knew everything that I asked for. Espresso pudding cake was so good, I'll defiantly be back for more!
(5)Hannah S.
BRUNCH BUFFET! yesss!!! It was superb, and not to diss other reviewers that say otherwise (who knows, maybe they or Sava's were having an off day) but I just cannot see how anyone wouldn't like this buffet, if they are a yummy food lover! Had a large party, and they got us in quickly. Things on the buffet included a lot of seafood, a lot of fun cake bites, divine homemade poptarts chocolate and raspberry, beignets with cream sauce, candied bacon panne cotte OMG, blood orange marshmallows YES YES YES, veggie lasagna, ribs with tangy watermelon sauce, many egg dishes, yummy hash, biscuits and magical gravy, and cold cuts. AMAZING. I'm a huge Sava's fan in general, but you just cannot beat their brunch.
(5)Greta B.
I absolutely love this restaurant! Every time I come, I am awed by the taste sensations I encounter! The $20 Sunday Brunch was fantastic! $1 cocktails accompanied the deal- by the way, the bar tender makes a mean Bloody Mary!!! The buffet included the most delicious waffles, creamed sweet potatoes and veggie hash!! Mouth watering! The also featured bagels with everything from salmon and capers to cream cheese with chives . The shredded bbq beef and mini lemon pudding were excellent! This was the kind of buffet where you're really too full to try everything!! Sara was an awesome server for our party of 13. She was welcoming, attentive and efficient! Although group seating was in the beautiful upstairs with hardwood flooring and glass walls, it wasn't too annoying to go downstairs for food. This location is perfect and there are two close by parking garages. Washington Street is $3 after 5:00pm, free on Sundays!
(5)The G T.
The only reason I'm giving it a bad review is that I'm annoyed by how often they up their prices and lessen their quantities. And take off all the good drinks from their bar menu.
(1)Bethany O.
Tonight, post-film & without reservation, seated immediately in a cozy booth. The renovation earlier this year has improved appearance, lighting, & especially the entrance & flow. Outstanding service throughout. The roasted cauliflower appetizer was savory & sweet with the addition of cheese & currants. White bean & tomato soup good, tasty on a chilly, wet night. My partner's entrée, capellini w/lobster & shrimp in white wine cream sauce, was very good. Unfortunately, my entrée, eggplant parmesan, was soggy rather than crisp, eggplant mushy, & pasta overcooked. Flavour ok, texture awful.
(3)Gregg C.
This restaurant continues to be the "place to be", however I am not wowed just yet. We paid almost $40 today for a burger, fries, omelette, and iced tea. The omelette had no presentation value to it whatsoever. The burger's sesame bun had a grocery store-six-pack quality, all air no substance. The chopped iceberg lettuce had the taste and feel of a Big Mac - see my pictures.
(2)Julie E.
I really did not want to have to write a bad review of Sava's, but after reaching out to management via email twice now (and giving them almost two weeks to respond each time), I feel like I have no choice. I chose to take my family to Sava's for my grad school graduation dinner because I had had good experiences in the past and do enjoy the food. This time though, there were a couple of extremely negative incidents that left the group quite disappointed with the evening. First, a waitress dropped an entire tray of someone else's food all over our table with broken plates everywhere (really, it was actually terrifying). Thankfully, no one was hurt and nothing that bad came of it, but it was extremely odd that the waitstaff tried to make it seem like it was not a big deal by laughing it off and not providing any discount off our bill, dessert on the house, etc. Our waitress even commented, "Oh, it's not as bad as I thought!" Next, one of the bottles of wine we ordered at the beginning of our meal had run out, so our waitress had informed us of this and recommended another wine that was "very similar" to the one we had picked out. This was fine, until we got the bill and realized that the $34 bottle of wine we thought we had gotten as a replacement was actually $70! This is fine if the waitress had mentioned it, but to not say anything at all about such a large price differential was pretty upsetting. We spent a lot of money that night on a very special occasion and to have both of those incidents occur with no attempt to make things right was extremely disappointing.
(1)Claudia S.
Went there for the lonster rolls, the flavor was good but the ratio of bread to lobster was not balanced. I would have liked more lobster. The shoestring fries and mac and cheese were ok. Overall the service was good.
(3)Carolyn R.
Was there for lunch. Adult meals were good and not badly priced. What was outrageous was spending $7 on a kids French toast dipper. One tiny piece of bread & my 5 year old granddaughter was still starving. Complained to the slow waiter, who basically did nothing.
(2)Aaron M.
One of my favorite places to eat at, especially looking for a delicious HEALTHY option. One of my favorite places around.
(5)Julie M.
Great food and service. Lovely atmosphere!
(5)Linnea V.
I have been to Sava's twice, both times were on a Sunday for brunch. My 2 friends and I arrived without reservations but despite it being busy, we were seated immediately. Everything on the menu looks amazing but I always opted for the brunch buffet as there were so many delicious choices, I wanted to try a bit of everything. One friend ordered pancakes, the other an omelet, both looked pleasing to the eye and they weren't disappointed. I enjoyed everything on my plate and the mimosa was a great finish. The restaurant itself has a lovely atmosphere and nice decor. It can be a little pricier than other places but well worth it.
(4)Scott P.
Having just eaten brunch at Sava's I can honestly say "A-OK" is exactly how I would rate it. I went with a large group and we all got the brunch buffet. A few items were bad, some were pretty good, and overall the meal was solidly average. I felt a little bad for our server- she had to lug all kinds of drinks upstairs to our enormous table on her own and probably could of done with some help. I feel bad holding lack of drinks against her but realistically a restaurant shouldn't have 1 person in charge of 24 people if they want the service to be good. My other Ann Arbor brunch experience is the Gandy Dancer, and while many in my group preferred Sava's The Gandy Dancer is more of a "brunch" to me- they have an omelete bar, waffles- the kind of things you expect from a buffet. I think the Gandy Dancer is much more expensive than Sava though, as a kept man I never have to deal with things like checks, bills, driving my own car etc. Here are the items I thought were pretty good -bacon- whether by accident or design their trough of bacon had both crispy and soft bacon-most buffets only offer one -Pot pie- a weird brunch Item but this was probably my favorite- although i did get my piece right as it was refreshed -biscuits and gravy- the saw mill style gravy was spot on Things I didn't enjoy -the eggs- yea yea, its buffet eggs, my fault for getting them -various potato dishes- all tasted a little weird -sausage- both the links and turkey sausage patties had been sitting out way longer than you would want
(3)Ilene T.
Sorry to say it, but quality has fallen off in recent years. Sava's used to be our favorite go-to destination for a great casual dinner. In the last few times, however, i've been disappointed with the taste of the food, even though presentation and service remain excellent. Trying a recommended special, instead of choosing something off the menu, I had high hopes, but the halibut was dry, and the accompanying vegetables were a mysterious dark base. The worst part were the hard pink items that i never would have guessed were actually shallots. Not a keeper! Next time I'll stick to items off the well-tested menu, like the Bronzino en Papillote.
(3)Linnea B.
Sava's got a facelift. But with this updated look it is definitely less cozy, with less comfort food and a little more expensive/smaller portions. Although, they are making a push for local fare, which I really do appreciate. I was a heartbroken when I found out that the sava's Mac and cheese is now gone forever and ever. But they do have some new and enticing menu options.
(3)Jeanie S.
Enjoying working my way through the new menu. Atmosphere: I like the re-vamped space, but depending on where you're seated, it can be very drafty due to vents. Also, the upstairs perimeter tables are VERY dimly lit. Great if you like a romantic atmosphere. Not great if you like to see the menu, or your food, for that matter. Service: Friendly, although sometimes not attentive. Food: Recommend the Lamb Ragu, Ahi Tuna Poke, Roasted Carrots, Broccoli Rabe. Drinks: I love a good martini. The martinis here are okay, not fabulous. I've greatly enjoyed the French and Italian reds by the glass. Prices are fair, the space is festive and bright (except the upstairs perimeter tables), and my experiences have been pleasant. Looking forward to trying more dishes at Sava's.
(3)Germaine S.
I try not to be a touch critic, but this experience warrants it. I was thoroughly embarassed to have taken a friend here for lunch the other day after giving Sava's such high praise. I've been about a dozen or more times and have always had both good food and service, so expected to have a good experience. Not sure if the lunch seems to be the issue or current inconsistency in the restaurant overall. Due to my suggestion, my friend ordered the tuna salad and I had the Banh-Mi. Maybe Asian flavors and dishes are not Sava's forte or maybe shame on me for ordering a Banh-mi from a non-Asian restaurant. In any case, execution failed for us on both of these dishes. For one, it was obvious that my tofu was pan-fried after the tuna from my friend's salad. 2) Tuna did not taste sashimi grade. 3) Friend's salad was soggy from too many capers and pickled (jarred) ginger, creating a pool of water at the bottom of the bowl. 4) Banh-mi's shouldn't have mayo, should be pate, lacked classic Banh-mi flavors. 5) Server never asked how everything was, regardless of the obvious full salad still sitting there when we asked for the bill. 6) Bill was handed to us, matter-of-a-factly, as server was talking to another table. Focus on one table at a time please. I honestly don't know if I will go back. So very disappointed and more than underwhelmed. I will, most likely, not recommend Sava's to friends in the future.
(1)Ana N.
Love everything on the menu here, service is always good but expect a wait on the weekend or a football game. Always busy - which is a great sign!
(5)Allison O.
Had brunch this morning and although I normally wouldn't give 5 stars for this experience, I felt like the service we received from Andrew warranted it. The boyfriend and I ordered two bloody Mary's, the chipotle infused vodka and cucumber dill infused vodka which by far beats out on the classic which can be a little bland here. It took a long time to get our drinks which at first made me a little peeved. For brunch, I had the maple smoked trout scramble and the boyfriend had the shrimp and grits. His dish was great; grits were jalapeño and cheese and had the perfect amount of heat. Mine left a lot to be desired. Cream cheese was melted into the scrambled eggs and the caper relish had a very odd taste. I normally love smoked fish, but this dish I did not. After a second cocktail and after everyone else was done eating, I asked for a croissant with Nutella (which was awesome!). Andrew, our server, just after taking my croissant order came back and said "I just realized you didn't like your dish, did you?" to which I said no. He said he'd take it off the check and offered me to look for something else on the menu. I was shocked that without complaining about my meal, something I don't really like to do, he took the effort to make sure I was happy. Kudos for good service, Sava's!
(5)Ashlee S.
Excellent service! Amazing food! The hubby and I had the goat cheese tart and tuna tartare to start. We could've eaten 5+ tartare's they were so good! He also Had a roasted beet salad and I had the soup of the day, a cream of portabella soup, awesome! For dinner, I had the seared scallops and he had the bourbon pork, both cooked perfect and delicious! No complaints!
(5)Marisol B.
I enjoy Sava's brunch buffet on Sundays! It's so worth it. Other than that, it's a great place for a happy hour and for Ann Arbor's restaurant week.
(4)Lauren L.
Service: The service was mediocre at best. When we were seated at our table there were still old water glasses and half of the silverware was missing from the previous patrons. I had to request new water glasses for anyone to even notice. Since the previous patrons left the napkins folded and intact, rather then providing us new sets of napkins and silverware the wait staff though it was acceptable to only replaced the silverware that was missing by slipping in back into the folded napkins. Leaving us with the half used, dirty napkins with wiped orange finger prints on them. We had to request new ones and the waiter looked less then enthused to replace our white napkins 'sans' orange finger stains! Gross! Food: The Rutabaga & Beet chip small plate was delicious although very greasy. My boyfriend's meatball sandwich was salty, unimpressive, and all of the shredded cheese was in one clump on one half of the sandwich, leaving the other half with nothing. My Pecan Crusted Chicken Salad was tasty but I found the "four greens" mix containing romaine and iceberg lettuce to be disappointing, I prefer to have more nutritious greens in my salads. I would give it 3 stars for the food, but the unsanitary practices could not be overlooked. My boyfriend used to really enjoy this establishment, but was incredibly disappointed with our most recent trip. We won't be back any time soon.
(2)Sara B.
This used to be one of my favorite restaurants, but it has really gone down hill. It used to be a very good all around place you could take anyone. They have since royally screwed up their menu, taking all the good vegetarian/vegan and gluten free options off and replacing them with overly fancy options that just don't make sense. There's nothing I would order here. Also used to be a great place to bring a party, now I would never recommend bringing a large group there. They really are not accommodating. 1 star for sadness and disappointment. Probably will never eat there again.
(1)Naz M.
Good food just has a way of enhancing your mood, similarly not so great food can make one mad. Unfortunately I experienced the latter on my latest visit to Sava's. When I first moved to Ann Arbor, Sava's was one of my fave places to go, there was no wrong thing I could order because everything tasted great and the waiters and waitresses were top notch. After this last visit though, I'm sticking to the lighter meals.. My first mistake was ordering the Risotto Balls. The description said prosciutto, mozzarella - but really it just tasted like a salty not quite burnt cheese. I love fried cheese, used to eat in on a weekly basis where I'm from, but this was just not good. The best part about it were the sauces that garnished the plate, the olive tapenade and tomato jame. My second mistake was ordering the Pan Seared Scallops. I know better than to order seafood from a place I've never had it, but I wanted to give it a chance. I had never been wronged at Sava's before. The scallops were bland, the asparagus was meh - definitely not better than how I prepared them last night (I am NO CHEF.) I mean who pays for food that isn't better than anything he or she can make themselves, I mean really? The saffron rice wasn't great and lobster, *sigh* maybe I missed it. My husband had the roasted chicken and enjoyed it, but in the end the food wasn't worth the bill. The waitress kindly asked if she could do anything. In Aventura, my server (at the bar, no less) knew ENOUGH to not ask and just DO.* With such swift action, I was inclined to order something else, confident that the second time around would be different, better. Small plates and tapas at Aventura would have been tastier, more filling and not to mention more satisfying and cheaper.**I make this particular comparison because the restaurants share an owner. ** I think from now on I'll stick to drinks, brunch, burgers and sweet potato fries and leave seafood and pricier food options to other restaurants.
(2)Joey Z.
Savas has fallen in terms of value. It still has decent food and drinks, however the prices has inflated to the point where a burger fries and a drink for lunch is easily going to run you $28-30 after tax and tip. ($14 for burger, $4 for fries, $2 for soft drink) Their $3 all day draft special is still on for Monday tho, so that's good
(3)Shannon T.
I liked the old menu slightly better, but the new decor makes the space a lot brighter and more upbeat. Though a bit overpriced, I swear by Savas brunch. If you have a sweet tooth (and are looking to treat yourself), the red velvet waffle and puffed french toast are heavenly. Pair this with a grapefruit mimosa or a coffee and you have a perfect weekend meal. For a healthier option, do the egg white omelet or bruleed oatmeal. They also still do a brunch buffet on Sunday, but I never eat enough go justify the cost of that. For lunch, note that they have the best greek salad in the city... The dressing and ingredients are all top notch. If I'm hungrier and having a late lunch, I usually go for a side greek and the black bean burger- it comes wrap style and is slightly spicy. I always order it with sweet potato fries. For dinner, the mushroom spaghettini is amazing! Cocktail and wine list is superb as well.
(4)Emir H.
Decent food at a nice place. Nothing to complain but nothing to be really excited about either.
(3)Linbo Z.
It's a 3-3.5 star restaurant for me. All dishes we ordered are predictable, plain and nothing special.
(3)Ellen K.
Finally found a new brunch place in Ann Arbor! Normally, our standby is Cafe Zola's, which is delicious. Last Saturday, though, my friends and I were looking to make reservations for a reunion brunch, and Zola's was already full (since it's amazing and has the best coffee ever). My friend found Sava's had availability at open table. First, our waiter was fantastic (Jordan). Attentive, knowledgeable, and patient with my friend (the most high maintenance orderer in the world). He made the experience even more fun. Secondly, the food was delicious. I ordered the bourbon french toast (!!!) and a $5 mimosa. The french toast was warm and delicious, sweet but not too sweet. My friends each had the huevos rancheros, which also was really good. Sava's is a pretty big place and can accommodate big parties and plenty of people. My friend was telling me she comes for drinks and appetizers with her husband, and they love it. Next time you're planning breakfast/brunch in AA, check out Sava's. You won't regret it.
(3)Faye Z.
Came here twice in one week: once for brunch buffet, and once for lunch. Overall opinion was mostly meh. Probably won't come back on my own accord. BRUNCH BUFFET Wait (0/5) - We came at 10:45am on Sunday without a reservation. We were told that it would be a 45min wait, but it ended up being over 1.5hrs despite being repeatedly told that we were next in line. The hostesses kept brushing us off, and finally informed us after we got pretty desperate that it was because any and all reservations got priority over us. So no, we were actually NEVER next in line. I honestly usually don't mind waiting, but this was handled very poorly. Protip: absolutely, positively ***make a reservation*** or you will crawl into a corner and melt into a hangry nerveball like I did and all the hostesses will do is offer a free bloody mary right on the brink of death. #melodrama #butstill Food (3/5) - The buffet was pretty good, especially if you're hungry. The corned beef was out of this world. Everything else was fairly standard. If you want to maximize your enjoyment without feeling gross afterwards, a recommended strategy is to avoid the carbs. I ate so much in potatoes and biscuits that I spent the next 24 hours not even a little bit hungry. LUNCH Shrimp and grits (3/5) - This was pretty tasty. Shrimp was tender (not overcooked) and seasoned/grilled nicely. Grits were yummy. Only thing: the portion was TINY. Listen, I'm a small person, and I generally eat way slower than my group, but I finished this up in 10 minutes, and was still so hungry as to consider going next door to Chipotle afterwards. Not cool.
(3)Lisa G.
What were the owners thinking? The remodel of this Ann Arbor eatery is horrible. What used to be an elegant while at the same time NY Chic dining spot now feels like I'm eating in a school cafeteria. Who wants to sit on plastic chairs with a sterile decor. Change of menu, no cocktail menu ( still working on it) and no art work or pleasing decorations. Part of the Savas experience was atmosphere, not just food. Very sad!v
(1)Matt K.
Had lunch here during a college visit with my family - we ate at the bar, and were very impressed with the ambiance, the crowd, the service and especially the food. We'll be back!
(4)Annika K.
Delicious food! It was a little bit chilly upstairs, but definitely worth it! We were a group of 7 but the service was still great!
(5)Kathy T.
I am thrilled every time I can introduce this restaurant to a friend! The atmosphere is inviting and the meals are delightful every single time! My favorite dish is the Cappellini Marlon: Maine lobster, marinated shrimp, saffron cream, pecorino, chili flakes! You must order it!
(4)Aaron Jae M.
I can in here with friends and family for brunch on a saturday. The space is great and has a nice upscale feel to it without feeling too fancy. I had heard great things about the bandito hash so I had to go for it. I also got a bloody mary to go with it. The bloody mary was not bad but they put something along the rim that was like chia seeds or something else that I did not like and was too overpowering. The bandito hash was very tasty but my poached eggs came out hard boiled, something I think the chef should have been able to notice just by looking at them since they were not milky or fluid at all. Luckily even without the eggs the hash was still tasty.
(3)Michael S.
Maybe a 4.5, but not enough the whine too much about it. I went with a party of 10 during Art Fair. A good test for this place. We were immediately seated by the hostess and very shortly after, our waiter arrived. After passing out the menus, he took out drink orders and soon returned with them. We ordered our food, with the waiter answering all questions. Not too long after that, the food came. Everyone enjoyed their meals. My minor issue was that my salmon sandwich was not able to be eaten by hand all the way, but it's not that unusual to have to resort to utensils. The waiters checked on us throughout the meal, though not in a way that was annoying. Drinks were refreshed, as needed. The prices were very in line with a place of this type. The establishment itself was nicely laid out and pleasant to be in. I can't really ask for better. Food was great. Service was great. The restaurant was great. I'll have to come back.
(5)Samantha C.
Great food and perfect place to take out of town family!
(4)Maria J.
Everything on the menu looked great. I ordered the Arthur Avenue Shuffle. I was disappointed to see that everything that my family and I ordered looked like it was made a day ago and the ingredients weren't fresh at all but the service was good. That was probably since we ate there at an odd time of the day before dinner, but after lunch around 2 o'clock. It had a great atmosphere though and the design was pleasing to the eye.
(2)Lisa B.
Excellent mac and cheese! The vegetarian sandwich was the best one I have ever had. The lobster pasta tasted like heaven. Lavender lemonade was another big excellent item on their drinks menu. Minus one star for the desserts, they kind of ruined our delicious dinner. We ordered the birthday cup cake, the cheese cake and the orange peel cake, they were "meh". But we will come back for the drinks and the dishes. The service was great too.
(4)Jen Z.
A quick update: The decor is so much better now! Calm colors and classy light fixtures make for a more relaxing time. Overall, I like the bar and sandwiches, and I am happy to see the menu ever-evolving. I'd say the biggest draws to this place are the bar tenders' skills and the outdoor seating. My previous review still stands regarding entrees and service needing improvement. I tried the fish tacos, but the accoutrements were lacking (1 tiny slice of dry lime, and no salsa). The lack of toppings opened the door to realizing the fish is very, very salty. No one came to check on how it was until we were done. TIP to management: Use less salt on the fish tacos!
(3)Denise Z.
We enjoyed a wonderful dinner tonight with our two young kids. My son devoured the mac & cheese. My husband and I shared the calamari, greek salad, bombas, and pork nachos with kimchee. All delicious! The food came out quickly and our waiter was incredible. My daughter Elise charmed Sava's brother Fred, and he brought us the Birthday Cake for dessert. So kind - icing on the cake!
(4)Renee C.
This place is amazing! My favorite restaurant in Ann Arbor. The food is delicious, and they use a bunch or organic and locally grown ingredients in their dishes. The side outdoor patio is perfect on summer nights
(5)Michael S.
I don't think I've ever had a bad meal there. First time in since the renovation and I thought it was nice, though redundant. We ordered two appetizers - the beet and rutabaga chips, cooked to perfection with a very good feta dip, and then a roasted cauliflower concoction that was also very tasty. I could go on about the main entrees, but the food won't disappoint. The atmosphere is very fun too. It's not a social bar, but it's very light, very community feel in there and yet can also be romantic for a date (ask for a booth, preferably on the second floor).
(5)Joe G.
Food: 3/5. Service: 2/5. Wholly uninspired, this place is more about image than cuisine. The food is unoriginal, the decor is garish, and service is apathetic.
(2)Lauren C.
I've been here a couple times and each time is just as good as the next! I've been here once for regular brunch and ordered eggs benedict which was perfectly poached. The next couple of times I opted for the brunch buffet that is available on Sundays and it's absolutely worth the price of $19 dollars. The selection for the brunch buffet ranges from smoked salmon to eggs to a vast and delicious desert section. I highly recommend the brunch buffet!
(5)Smrithi D.
Its one of the best places (location and ambiance wise) for whatever the occasion is, birthday, dates, brunch after a final, dinner with the parents, etc. The food is good but I wouldnt say its spectacular. The sweet potato fries are amazing, so is the fried green tomato po'boy (get it on a brioche bun or croissant). The salads are overpriced but the smaller side size is perfect and almost too big. The wait staff are always nice and can custom change whatever you need/accomodate out of the ordinary requests. At one point I think my friends and I asked for 5 strawberries on the side-to go because we were making Sangria later that night but nothing else was close by... haha
(4)Vivian K.
Our first impression was not exactly the greatest as they had some mixup with our seating. We wanted outdoor seating and they said it would be available in a few minutes as it sounded like they were cleaning the table as we spoke. 15 minutes went by as we continued to watch other customers get seated so we finally asked them for an update. They apologized and we were then lead outside, but only to find that we were being seated at a coffee table with sofa and lounge chairs that they had in the middle amongst all the other regular outside dining tables. My boyfriend and I looked at each other, confused, and wondered how were we going to eat a dinner meal on a table that only came up to our knees. It didnt make sense at all and we werent happy. We asked to change to another table and luckily one had just left so there was no more waiting to that. It was a nice gesture that manager noticed and came by to apologized for all the inconvenience and then said dessert would be on the house tonight. Food-wise, the menu has a decent amount of variety. It also appears that they change their menu every now and then as well to keep things new and people coming back. I ordered the wild mushroom spaghetinni and my boyfriend ordered the chicken fusili. Everything tasted great, but nothing really stood out. For dessert we tried the creme brulee duet and we were pleased as it was well made and not overly sweet. The creme brulee that was supposed to taste like strawberries were just basically a regular one creme brulee but with cut strawberries on top.. not sure if thats what they really intended, but I was actually hoping that it was strawberry flavored itself. They have a great dining atmosphere, with candle lit tables and fresh flowers at each. The interior was nicely decorated as well. The food wasnt bad, but I would probably have to come back a couple more times to try other items. Their breakfast menu looks delicious though from the pictures on yelp. Unfortunately, the whole mixup with the tables was a huge turn off and the dessert being on the house only made up for a little of it. I wouldnt mind coming back, but I wouldnt rush back to try anytime soon either.
(3)Jennifer S.
So much potential. So disappointingly average. Cool-looking place and menu. The food was not quite as advertised. The lamb "panini" was really a gyro and the black bean "burger" was more of a black bean taco. Slow, slow service. Small portions, Very, very loud.
(2)Cara G.
I went here a few weeks ago when I first moved to Ann Arbor, and have not regretted it since. I ordered the Lamb Ragu with Mac and Cheese. It was a bit pricey, but overall 100% worth it. You could taste every flavor in each meal. One thing I didn't like is that the portions were a bit small. I paid $23 for a bowl as big as my fist, however, it was delicious and I do not regret it. Would recommend :)
(4)Brian S.
If you want to pay more than $15 for a breakfast that contains two pieces of bread and a beverage, then come here. The puffed French toast tasted great, but was not worth $11 for two pieces on a plate. Not coming back for breakfast again. Much better options in Ann Arbor until the prices come down...
(2)Alexandra K.
This seems to be everyone's go-to place. They have everything on their menu for every taste. I would recommend looking semi-cute when going here as all the yuppies tend to go for every meal of the day. I have to say though, for as good as their food looks, and for how expensive it is, it is really only good--not great. Breakfast (if you want a $6 breakfast in 8 minutes M-F, ask for their "power breakfast" menu) -English Major (scrambled egg, Swiss cheese, sliced apple, Dearborn ham, Dijon mustard): It's delicious! The cheese mixes so well with the spiced ham and it's melted perfectly which makes it somewhat crispy with the semi-runny eggs. The apples are slightly off-putting but a nice sweet. -Wheat Bread: The wheat is delicious--somewhat sweet with butter. -Lemon Ricotta Pancakes: they have a slight lemon and ricotta taste but are abut dry. Certainly not the best lemon Ricotta pancakes and not worth getting again. Lunch -Fried Green Tomato Po'boy (fried green tomatoes, lettuce, pimento cheese, pickled red onions, bacon, baguette): The fried tomato is nicely crispy and has a great flavor--slightly sweet and oniony. The baguette is nicely soft so it's easy to bit into. The bacon could be crispier. The cheese is so creamy and delectable, yet not spread evenly. It's good, but I wouldn't get it again. Dinner -Chicken Fusilli (fusilli pasta, chicken, arugula, sun-dried tomatoes in goat cheese cream sauce): It's your average pasta. It's got a hint of a creamy mushroom taste and even though it's got creamy ingredients, it's not as heavy as an Alfredo--or ever at all. There is very little chicken so mostly pasta. It was good but not order-again-worthy. -Maize & Blue Burger (Knights bef, fried egg, bleu cheese): the beef is a nice thick size and is perfectly juicy. Of course the fried egg and bleu cheese add to the creaminess of the dish. This is a good burger. Dessert -Oatmeal Apple Whoopie Pie: It's tasteless--just a pure waste of calories. The ice cream just slips between the two tasteless oatmeal cookies--you need to douse everything in the caramel sauce to make it taste like anything. FINAL VERDICT: I'd say it's a bit overpriced for the food that they serve. The menu sounds delectable but what actually gets served doesn't taste that great. Maybe I'll have to explore the menu more to find the goods.
(3)Hannah S.
I am so, so sad about Sava's. This used to be my favorite restaurant in Ann Arbor, but they recently remodeled and created a new menu, and it is not what it once was. The service was also sub-par and we were treated awful. To start, the interior is very sterile and uninviting now. They also sat us at the worst table in the restaurant - in the back corner by the trash/kitchen. Waiters were constantly walking around our table and there was a window and horrible draft next to us. We asked our waitress if we could be moved to the table next to us which was empty and a little warmer and out of the way. She said, "No because the reservation coming in had specifically requested that table." (Yes, I'm sure a group said "put me in the second-worst table in the restaurant by the cold window and noisy kitchen"). Anyway, the worst part was NO ONE sat down in that table the whole 90 minutes we were there. To be treated in that manner is truly awful. They also took off the menu some of their best items - Brussels sprouts, mac and cheese, and risotto balls to name a few. The bang bang shrimp - which used to be my favorite - was redone and not nearly as good. I could go on, but you get the picture. I won't be returning to Sava's with these new changes, which is unfortunate since my husband and I used to go every few weeks.
(2)Jason C.
They recently changed, the menu in an entirely new direction. There's very few items that remain and/or remained similar to the previous menu. The food was good, nonetheless, but nothing worth wanting to return. I've been to Sava's multiple times, but assuming the new direction with the menu, I will not be returning anytime soon. The service is always sub-par for the prices. It's always nice if you anticipating long conversation. It's never too long to complain about the lack of service, just barely to the point of complaining. It was a Monday evening between 6:45 p.m. - 9 p.m. for a party of four. This seems to be an ongoing occurrence, but like I said never anything to make an actual complaint about. Essentially, if you liked it before, be sure to check the menu before going.
(3)Nicole L.
Must have sweet potato fries and please save room for dessert, the creme brûlée is one of the best I've eaten.
(4)Megan K.
I went with a friend for happy hour recently. We were seated at a high top table and to be quite honest, I didn't like the set up. The chairs were uncomfortable and it was as if the high tops were positioned so you could see the bar. My friend and I had to turn ourselves sideways in the chairs to talk, it was kind of awkward. I first got the Churango to drink. I figured there would be a hint of cucumber. That was not the case, it nearly overwhelmed the drink. Maybe it's my own bias because I do like to eat cucumber, I just don't care to drink it. After that, I got the Buck on Berry St. which was much better but honestly, I didn't taste much alcohol in either beverage. It was happy hour and they did have special pricing, $3 off, so maybe that had something to do with it? For food, we got the calamari small plate. The calamari was good, there were some pieces of tentacles and the mayo that came with it was yummy. I would go back to see how their other food is. The service was spotty. The bartender was initially our waiter and he was almost too attentive. Then as things got busier, we got a waitress but she was not very attentive at all.
(3)Melanie T.
Sava's no doubt is a a staple in Ann Arbor. We recently have discovered the Brunch Buffet, which is amazing. Add a Bloody Mary to the mix and a beautiful sunny Ann Arbor Sunday morning, it could not get any more perfect. But it is a great stop any day of the week. My favorite dishes are the fish tacos and the Tuna Poke (which I could eat everyday). The service is always professional and friendly. My favorite spot is the bar though. The bartenders are always fun to talk to and its a great place to meet people.
(5)Yosuke K.
We weren't crazy hungry, so we got four appetizers for the four of us that we shared. All of them were very good and well prepared. I definitely recommend the ahi tuna appetizer. The drinks were too expensive for how it tasted, but maybe I just chose a bad one (it was a special, can't remember what it was).
(4)Amy G.
A+ for ambiance, but the food is just so-so. The atmosphere would make for a cute date night spot, with tall candles and vases of flowers between eating booths and lights that dim consistently throughout the night. I ordered a salad and salmon burger. The salad, just your standard house salad with greens, onions, and tomatoes, came first on its own plate, and the burger shortly after. I liked that the burger featured an actual piece of salmon instead of a ground fish patty, but the presentation of the entree was quite lackluster. It was awkwardly by itself, and looked so small on an expansive, stark white plate when it really wasn't too diminutive. It would've looked much more appetizing had they plated the salad and burger together, or at least dribbled some sauce arts-ily around the plate like they do on cooking shows. The wait staff is very congenial and I had a blast chatting with my girl friend for a couple hours though, so I would come again for a fun, slightly more upscale-feeling activity.
(3)Artist B.
Sunday brunch was wonderful, plus you can order off the menu if you don't want to go to the buffet. The food off the menu was great. Wonderful service too. I had lunch there several times and was never disappointed. I love the atmosphere and it's easy to have a conversation without background noise drowning you out.
(4)Emily M.
Went here for a party! We were placed upstairs! It was a bit tight for a large group bu the Food was solid! The butternut squash ravioli was particularly excellent! The service was also excellent! My glass of wine and water never went unfilled! Loved Sava's! Would love to again for dinner on my own!
(4)Ryan O.
Decent restaurant, me and the boyfriend go here a lot, I use to always get their chicken pesto sandwich which they no longer have after the new menu!!!! :( last time I got a salad it was pretty good and I absolutely loved the drinks I got it was basil state street tea!
(4)Marcie K.
Tried the breakfast buffet again last Sunday. Everything was excellent and service was much improved. Perhaps it helped that nearly all of the undergrads were out of town and it was a holiday weekend, so less people overall, but it was definitely encouraging enough that we will add it back into our brunch rotation. Keep up the good work, Sava's!
(4)Penny Y.
Friendly service and good food! A little bit cold inside though, but the atmosphere is chic and relaxed.
(5)Amanda S.
I feel i need to update my review from below . Brian D. from Sava has offered a $40 gift card to make up for the negative experience we had. Although we have not been back to use the certificate I feel it speaks volumes that Brian contacted me directly to try to right a negative situation. Im a firm believer in second chances and am looking forward to using our gift card to taste some more of the delicious dishes at Sava's!
(5)Jennifer X.
Sava's...sigh. I have such a love-hate relationship with you! On the one hand the space and architectural design are flawless. I love sitting on the second floor surrounded by candles and fairy lights. I love the patio, tucked away and intimate. It's a perfect place to drink, dance, talk, and chill. On the other hand the food is only so-so - the kind of stuff that has the potential to be good but never exactly reaches it. I've ordered the miso salmon Too salty. I've had the pecan island. Too sour. I've had the mac and cheese. Too clumpy. And the thing about Sava's is that the prices are expensive enough that you think you're getting something great but cheap enough that you keep on coming back. Ann Arbor, be better at having good dinner places!
(3)Taylor H.
My mom and I decided to come in for breakfast after reading some good reviews. For a drink I ordered a strawberry lemonade which took a little while to come, but was very tasty. My mom ordered the huevos rancheros which she said were nothing too special and that her eggs were cold. I got the breakfast sandwich and a side of bacon to put in the sandwich which I would recommend. The sandwich was well seasoned eggs, but not very much cheese so the bacon was a good addition. We also got the sweet potato fries which we heard good things about and they were fantastic! (Favorite part of the meal) The service was a bit slow for the restaurant not being crowded at all (Memorial day weekend), but our waiter was very pleasant. Overall good, but not great, maybe we will try for lunch or dinner.
(3)Ogre B.
Very good food and awesome service. A little pricey for what you get food wise but the rest make up for it. Definitely going back again.
(4)Mary G.
Location is PERFECT in the UMich area, convenient, clean and attractive, trendy. The food was excellent. Definately try the lobster roll, the BLT and the sweet potato fries. The only thing lacking during this visit was good service and an atmosphere conducive to conversation. On Sunday at Brunch, especially for Mothers Day, when you're expecting a mutual-generational crowd, there's no need for loud music. Save that for Happy Hour/Evenings. Service was slow, inattentive (refilling water?) and inefficient (bring cream AND sugar together for coffee and take care of the check in a timely manner or watch your tip dwindle). Otherwise, I would have given 5 stars.
(3)Lan H.
To wrap up my first trip ever to Ann Arbor, my boss invited me and several of her esteemed colleagues to dinner at Sava's. How lucky we were to be seated in the outdoor patio with a beautiful August summer night to keep us comfortable while we ate a scrumptious meal. I wish I had remembered the bottle of wine that we shared, but it was delicious with the harvest ravioli that I was recommended to have. Who knew that autumn would come slightly early for me! I didn't care, it was delicious, and I could not have asked for a more pleasant time with the company that I had in the atmosphere that was perfect for reminiscing about the past, and just feeling like the night was going to last forever. Wow, it almost did because we were there until 11pm! And we didn't even drink and eat for the entire time! Thank you, Sava's, for giving me an everlasting taste of Ann Arbor (truly, though - they use Ann Arbor-grown ingredients!)!
(5)Garry C.
We recently had dinner at Sava's, and although the food we sampled was quite good, I was left a little cold by both the room and the overall value. The remodel looks nice at first, but after awhile it seems too stark; I think the walls are crying out for some art work and I agree that the plastic, cafeteria style chairs are awful. My friend and I ordered a soup and house salad to begin. The soup was a potato-leek that had a good flavor, and the salad was fresh, but both were on the small side at $6 and $5 dollars respectively. I ordered the new Porchetta panini and my friend ordered the Lobster roll. Both were really good but small. I kind of assumed that some fries or something would accompany the sandwiches but they didn't. When our server sat the sandwich in front of me I realized that I forgot to request the optional fried egg. She quickly took it back to the kitchen and replaced it almost immediately with the egg. Her service was friendly and professional and she was most accommodating. But $13.00 for a small sandwich? After our server brought our check we decided we were still hungry. I ordered the salt and pepper shoestrings and my friend orders Sava's potatoes. When we realized we both ordered potatoes she got the servers attention and changed the order to meatballs. Both the shoestrings and the meatballs were only OK. Nothing special. But when looking at the check the next day I noticed we were charged for both the meatballs and Sava's potatoes. That's my bad for not looking at the check more closely. I've always been a big fan of Sava's for breakfast, and I'm sure when I return again it will be for breakfast, which I've always enjoyed.
(2)Albert T.
Acceptable food. I largely go out to dinner here out of convenience rather than because of the quality of the food. Burgers are average, but when the rest of the menu is served it appears to be hastily put together and lacks balance. I frequently order the fish and chips when I'm looking for a more casual meal, but even that has frequently disappointed me.
(2)R N.
I'm always looking for a good brunch place & happened upon Sava's with my son while walking in Ann Arbor. Serves breakfast until 3:00. My son had the empanada (de-lish), we shared the puffed french toast (to die for), and I had the shrimp and grits (shrimp cooked perfectly). Made a reservation to come back with friends for the brunch buffet tomorrow! Sara was super friendly and very attentive. We arrived at the perfect time (12:00ish) because there was a HUGE line when we left. Reservations recommended.
(4)McKenna B.
Bring back the Mac & Cheese!!! As much as I love Sava's, one of my favorite things about it was its big menu. My whole family could go and we would each get something different. Now with the flimsy two sided page, there only seem to be a few of the classics that made Sava's so great. It's still an enjoyable place for me, but they didn't need to renovate everything.
(4)George N.
Strange assortment on menu, but some good choices. Ordered fish tacos, they were pretty good but flavor was on bland side, nothing very daring. This place feels like they need an identity!
(3)Charisse W.
We came to Sava's as a special date night, it was good. The drinks were excellent as was the service. Two of the four in our group raved about thier meals. My husband loved his scallops and risotto dish, it was as beautiful as it was delicious. The decor and atmosphere were great, very open and airy. The restrooms are clean and overall very nice. Overall a solid 3.5 but because my husband liked his dish so much I bumped it to a 4.
(4)Erina K.
Nice atmosphere, friendly waiters. The Wild Mushroom Spaghettini was delicious! Not too big of a dish, and perfectly satisfying. I also got the Seven Layered Cookie. AMAZING with the milk and whipped cream that come with it. A little confused because the hard chocolate on the top and bottom of the cookie was too hard to cut through. Overall very satisfied!
(5)Priya R.
This place is the definition of customer service. Everyone here is so friendly and helpful. Every time I have come here, the waiters/waitresses go out of their way to make it a great experience for you. I recall times when a group of us were craving crepes and Sava's (even though it was WAY past crepe making time) prepared an amazing strawberry nutella crepe for all of us. I know everyone here raves about sunday brunch. Trust me, it really is all it's cracked up to be. But the thing they don't talk about it the AMAZING earl grey panna cotta in the brunch spread. I basically could have just eaten that all morning.
(4)Jacqueline S.
Sava's is a student favorite (including mine!)- located close to both campus and Main Street Downtown, this place is great for groups or dates. You can rent out the big tables upstairs for large parties, students frequently do this when they don't want to make the trek to Main Street for a birthday. I particularly love their brunch- they have great outdoor seating area, amazing mimosas, and the Brie omelette changed my life for the better. The dinner/lunch is also awesome, though not my favorite place to go in AA. Comfy casual ambience and a great menu!
(4)Angie N.
Definitely need a reservation. If you don't make a reservation, expect to wait upwards to an hour and a half. I've only eaten here for their awesome Sunday brunch, where they have amazing food for $19. Non-alcoholic drinks are free with that $19, and alcoholic drinks are an extra dollar. I love the rotating mini desserts and the oysters! The brunch buffet is definitely worth the price as Sava's does not skimp on quality for their buffet. The seating environment is nice and clean, which is a big deal to me. If it's raining outside and you're sitting out there, you'll have to move inside or use one of the two big umbrellas. I'm still dreaming about their basil blueberry panna cotta.
(4)Jola B.
Went here tonight for happy hour with a group of grad students from UM. We got a bunch of tables outside. Not too warm and it hadn't rained yet. Happy hour: 1/2 off beer. $3 off wine and cocktails. I had a Barry on the Buck(?) - $4. Whiskey-based but sweet and I love sweet drinks. Appetizers looked good - calamari, vegetable tempura, but were $6 plates. I just got $3 fries to coat my stomach. All in all a good evening and a good vibe. I'll definitely be back again.
(4)Jolie V.
Chicken and waffles. Lobster mac and cheese. And the crazy tricolor cakey dessert that looks like an Italian flag. Chicken and Waffles. :)
(4)Stephanie W.
In undergrad, my friends and I went here for $1 burger Mondays, but they don't offer that anymore :( But even without those hot deals, Sava's is still a solid dinner venue. The food is very consistent and good. I've tried the burgers, salmon, salads, and a couple desserts. BUT ALWAYS WITH A SIDE OF SWEET POTATO FRIES!!! They are super tasty and come with a delicious horseradish dip. The decor is really nice, and the second level is a little too dim, but quite stylish. It's kind of noisy for how fancy they are trying to present themselves. Finally, the service is SUPER hit or miss. I've had awful servers that never stop by, are rude and unprofessional, and it can take forever just to take my order. However, I've just had a fantastic experience where our server (my receipt says his name was Jordan) tended to my group of 20+ people. He also graciously accommodated a couple stragglers and rushed their orders so that we all got our food around the same time. If Sava's maintains this level of service, I will have to give them that 5th star.
(4)Kevin T.
Here for Sava's Sunday Brunch. Nice place. Would recommend, though would lean towards ordering off the menu. The buffet looked okay. Nothing extraordinary and though it was only 12 noon, some of the items looked a little dried out. My daughter had the buffet ($10 for kids and $17 for adults) and enjoyed the quiche and pastries. I enjoyed the Eggs Benedict ($9). Very nicely prepared. Eggs not poached too much...plenty of yolk to add to the hollandaise sauce. Seasoned potatoes made a good side. Decent service. Coffee cup never was allowed to to be less than half empty. Recommend sitting in a booth. Tables thru the middle are flimsy and in disrepair. Ours was drooping way, way down, and no other sittings were available to move to. I'll be back to try the lunch/dinner items. Meanwhile...plenty of other options in AA. 3.5 stars for the regular menu, the service and atmosphere. I'd give 3 for the buffet if you are into buffets.
(3)Meredith F.
I love their food. Dollar Burger Mondays is perfect, and they have delicious burgers for what you're paying. Of course, they get you on the toppings, because cheese and bacon are another $1.00 each. But they have to make money somehow... Service is pretty good most of the time. Lately, I've only been going on Mondays (remember I'm a poor college student), and it's pretty crowded but the food gets there fast enough.
(4)Justin D.
I really like this place. They have a good assortment of mixed drinks and meals. I usually get the risotto. The place has an ambiance that is a mix between a coffee shop and an upscale restaurant.
(4)Danny I.
Great brunch on our last day in Ann Arbor. Service was great. The waitress was friendly and provided us plenty of time and made some great recommendations. I always hate asking "what's good" and getting the response "everything is good here". Come on we know that's not true. It's like being in an interview and being asked what your biggest weakness is and saying your a perfectionist. Pffft! Anyway... The food. We decided not to be glutenous and opt out of the brunch buffet and stick with the menu items. My eggs benny were good. The poached eggs stat on top of some really nice cuts of ham that looked to have been carved of a roast and not just deli slices. The hollandaise was a nice consistency but I could have used a little less of it. My only complaint is one of my poached eggs had the yolk cracked. This is probably why there was an abundance of hollandaise, to try and cover up the mishap. My partner had the Greek salad which was unlike anything I've ever tried before. It was full of chickpeas, beets, kalamata olives, tomatoes, cucumbers and pepperoncinis. Unusual for a Greek boy to see in a salad but tasty none the less. We also ordered a single slice of French toast to share and satisfy the sweet tooth. I wish we ordered a full order. It was very good. Many time I find French toast to be more like toast with fried egg stuck to it. This was not the case at Sava's. Also worth mentioning. The coffee was very good. I drink it black so I can identify a good tasting cup of joe. I never take the word of a coffee drinker that load theirs up with cream and sugar. Free WiFi is also always nice when traveling and Sava's does offer that as well. I wish we found this place earlier. The diner menu also looks pretty good. It would have been worth checking out as well.
(4)Terese C.
Here for our first time. Our waiter was great. I ordered the maize & blue burger, I asked for it medium well, but meant to say medium. That was my fault. I still enjoyed it! My husband and daughter ordered the pork loin over grilled watermelon. I expected very thin pieces of pork, they were quite thick & extremely tasty! A great place to eat.
(4)Ann S.
So, I have to give it a three but that is based on overall experience. Location is great and decor is great. Music was very annoying and it got worse due to service (slow and got bored while waiting endlessly for our server to pay any attention to us). We were seated in a booth immediately and greeted fairly soon, but it took at least 10 minutes just to get our drinks. We ordered one small appetizer plate to share and we are quite certain the server forgot about it, as we had to remind him of it 30 minutes later. The appetizer finally came out (mac and cheese) and it was the BEST mac and cheese I have ever had. Simply divine! Our food finally came out about 45 minutes later and it did not disappoint. Our table had three different entrees and most items were very good. The menu is vast and I am excited to go back and try to new things. The service was really really bad, which was puzzling because the restaurant was a little more than half full, yet there were more than enough workers on the floor. There were multiple people (managers) running around with headsets on reporting on various areas, but it did not seem to help matters at all (at least not our table). I am a standard 20% tipper, but our server deserved no more than 10%.
(3)Catie F.
Update: I went back. More than once. The macaroni and cheese here is so good that I wish I never tried it - because there is no way I'll ever be satisfied with anything lesser. Tried a few more drinks from the fancy drink menu, some different dinner dishes - the turkey burger was melty and warm, with a nice "umami" to the combination of red pepper, smoked gouda and big grilled bun. The shrimp and quinoa salad might have made me a believer in the sweet and savory combination (and felt pretty healthy to boot), and the polenta fries were also comforting and yummy, albeit a bit heavy for just the two of us (we managed). I would award five stars for eats and libations but the service is hit or miss, leaving Sava's with something to shoot for.
(4)Tom G.
blackbean burger was good but on the salty side. Garlic frites were disappointing, I was expecting much more. They were also way way too salty. Overall interesting concept but I don't think it's worth waiting in a long line for the experience.
(4)Mike L.
I've been going to Sava's for the past year or so, and in general, I've had a mixed experience throughout that time. Sava's started off very strong with high quality and flavorful ingredients, but about 6 months ago or so, the quality of the food really dropped off - dry, bland, and hastily put together. I got the idea that they were preparing a number of dishes well in advance of service, perhaps freezing the food, and then thawing it later. I believe they've ceased this practice as of late though because the quality is back to its initial standard. So, my personal highlights from the lunch menu (I only go there for lunch on slow work days). The tomato bisque probably won't win national awards, but it's pretty darn good! Cobb sandwich is super tasty. I can't recall the name, but the chicken sandwich with garlic mayo, brie, and pancetta is always a pleaser. However, the grand daddy of them all has to be the bacon and brie burger. It is simply out of this world in flavor and juiciness and I'm tempted to say it's one of the best burger's I've ever had. They use high quality meat from nights market and I think that comes clearly in the flavor. I've eaten burgers from Casey's, Grange (also excellent), Ashley's, Sidetracks, etc. and I was pretty surprised when Sava's topped them all. Now, for the bad. The happy hour is a good deal, but stick with beer or wine. You're paying for alcohol when you purchase a cocktail and they either water theirs down or add just a splash. Also, when I didn't see anything on the cocktail menu that didn't sound cloyingly sweet and asked the bartender if he could make a classic mojito (lime, simple syrup, rum and mint), I got a deer-in-the-headlights stare of panic. He suggested another drink that he said was similar to a mojito (not really, it was composed of watermelon, grand marnier, vodka, and a mint leaf). It was indeed refreshing, but the drink hardly resembled a mojito and I couldn't taste a drop of alcohol, nor could I feel any detectable effect when I'd finished the drink. Bottom line: go there, order a beer at happy hour and treat yourself to a bacon and brie burger, medium rare.
(3)Julia K.
If I am going to be served by total amateurs, they'd better be hot and the food had better be amazing. Sava's is neither, and to top it all off, the food is not so much. I think that it's a reflection on Michigan-ers niceness that this place is rated as highly as it is (Open Table Diner's Choice 2012?!! Really??!!). - Stars - Servers. Yes, they are nice. But the clumsiness of the serving style, the lack of knowledge about what makes a wine different from another, what makes a cooking style the best to prepare a dish, lack of information about food sourcing - I mean, what do you kids actually know? And please, find some way to practice how to approach the table when it's an appropriate moment to check in on your guests. Don't hover! Argh! - Stars - Restrooms. Down in a strange, twisted little basement is a ladies room that is best forgotten, as it was by the cleaners on the day I was there. - Stars - The food. Mediocre. Perfectly ok, but nothing special, like food that your mom would cook if she had put in a 10 hour work day and then whipped up some fairly tasty but not awesome whatever. The Caeser Salad tasted like it had bottled dressing and as though the lettuce was chopped that morning. The pasta was a bit overcooked and just not so great. Baked mini potatoes on the side of my fish were so overcooked as to be wrinkled up and dried out. - Star - Wierd wine experience. I ordered a glass of shiraz. I get to within sight of the bottom, and there is not just sediment, but a TWIG. Now, I know what sediment is, and don't care about that (though it is not appropriate to decant that into a patron's glass). But when I pointed out the twig to the (clueless teenage) waiter, he whisked the glass away. Ok, I thought, I guess that my new glass of wine will be back shortly. Um, no, I got a lecture from a girl with BRACES about how the final glass of wine often has sediment in it. *really?!!* I gave her a talking to, to say the least. First of all, that sediment is not acceptable to pour to a guest, and most of all that there was a fricking chunk of plant in my glass. She then asked me what I wanted her to do. For reals? Crappy customer service and general wine foolishness was the cap to the evening. I don't think that I would come back here, and certainly not for what I considered excessive prices for meh food ($16 for pasta? really?) and childish service. It's not the worst food I have ever had, but one of the lamer customer service incidents in my eating out in Ann Arbor stay.
(2)Jillian M.
What a great local restaurant! Sava's has a great selection of pretty much anything you could be in the mood for. I've come here for a quick lunch break, fancy dinner, and even a hungover breakfast (the crepes are amazing). There is always something new to try. I love the sweet potato fries! I am very sad they no longer have dollar burger nights, but I went back just last week for the veggie burger and sweet potato fries because they are just that good! The pricing is great too. You can get a great meal for 10 bucks, or if you're feeling fancy, you can spend a lot more. Overall, fantastic place! Sava is almost always there as well. Well run, snd local too!
(5)Molly H.
Wow--what an amazing first experience I had at Sava's Sunday evening! First off, our server was SO awesome--really funny, very honest with her opinions about the menu and very informative and attentive. What first struck me was the incredibly innovative and imaginative cocktail menu--there is some crazy stuff on there! Amazing sounding concoctions using ingredients such as paprika, cumin and pickled watermelon rind. I still wish I would have followed a career as a mixologist, so this piqued my interest right away. My friend and I both ordered The Vicar--a gin cocktail with a watermelon nectar and pickled watermelon rind as a garnish, among other things. It was absolutely incredible and, in my opinion, worth the $8 as it was also pretty large--my friend couldn't even finish hers! The subject of liquor is where I dock the 5th star, however--$6 for a well gin and tonic?? Are you nuts? It should be half the price. I digress.... I ordered the turkey burger and, I'm sorry to say this Casey's, but I have now bequeathed upon it the title of "Best Turkey Burger in Ann Arbor". Soooo delicious and the bun alone was enough to sing its praises (No joke. They're awesome buns.) My sweet potato fries were crispy and lovely. So, with that $8 cocktail and the sweet potato fries upgrade, my bill was just under 20 bucks. Not cheap, but not a bank breaker, either. I really loved my dinner here and I'll definitely be back. Thanks Savas! P.S. Love that you can bring your furry friend out on the patio!
(4)Alien T.
First time and I loved it. I had a brunch here. They have really good menu itmes and everything looked really good. I had breakfast burrito and it was delicious. Few of my buddies got different items and looking at their plates, I can say that it was made really well. I am sure I am gonna try some of their crepes next time. The staff is friendly and happy to provide you recommendations. I heard they have buffet brunch as well.
(3)Jonas L.
Sava's, you have grown up so wonderfully. As the history of my reviews shows, I was not in love with Sava's at first, to say the least. But I have to say, it gradually won me over by consistently making good food, consistently offering good service, and--most importantly--consistently improving itself. From a hole in the wall that served grown-up diner food, Sava's is now a two-story restaurant with full bar service and breakfast menu. The standards are still there, and perfectly adequate. As is the owner and most of the original staff, an impressive feat for this town. Hey, even the dollar burger promotion remains on, and there are now happy hour and breakfast combos to match. This will never be a place to take a romantic date to, but a perfect place to grab a bite or a drink, before or after a school or work day.
(4)Hilary N.
We love the menu, the food, and setting, but most of all we love the service. It is always stellar, going out of their way for us. They even crossed the street to get new crayons for our kid one time. On top of that they are always hot! Where do they cast this crew. I am impressed, and it does add to the experience. It is our local favorite. A bit fancy, a little up scale, but always comfortable and even pretty affordable with $5 burger specials.
(5)John and Elizabeth T.
I wish we could be more generous with the stars, as we've had some very delightful and memorable meals here. The food is generally very good, with a large menu that we have yet to plumb the depths of. The arancini are a personal favorite, and many of the sandwiches come on a pillowy-soft and not-too-dry brioche bun. The yellow fin salad is also harmoniously concocted, though be sure to specify the tuna be cooked rare (if that is how you enjoy it). The drink menu has a reassuring foundation of well-made traditional cocktails, but also features some more modern flavor combinations. The beer list is short, but always includes at least one solid regional craft brew. Athough we'd like to give five stars, if only to boost Sava's average rating, four stars is more appropriate, since the food, while very good, is not exceptional; and the service, while friendly, is not always exemplary. Our only poor experience to note occurred when one of us ordered the ratatouille with couscous (a seasonal dish), and plain white rice was substituted without advance notice. In short, Sava's is a great place for dinner or a light evening snack/drink and is definitely a top choice in vicinity of Central Campus.
(4)Becky S.
I have been here for brunch, lunch and dinner and dinner and lunch blew me away. Brunch was eh ok, but I have heard it is phenomenal so perhaps I got the wrong thing. Lets start with lunch, I had an inside out prosciutto hamburger with sweet potato fries and a little drinky winky because it was happy hour. I am not a huge eater but I never wanted this burger to end. It was seriously borderline orgasmic. For a girl who has been known to eat over the sink, this means something. The drink was strong, but the fries were whatever. Now dinner, once again a cocktail was involved and it was really good. A cucumber mojito sort of thing. I then had a pasta dish which was really good and my friends also had things they enjoyed. Pricing is about what you would expect and seating is comfortable and plentiful. I particularly like to sit upstairs on a snowy day so I can watch the street and the snow fall. There are also large group meeting areas away from the main area if you want to do a ladies brunch or whatever like I did. Overall I recommend you go there right now and put a burger inside of your face.
(5)Shane M.
I found the environment very relaxing when I came in for breakfast. The coffee was great but I wish they had real half and half and not the little containers. I recommend Calder's Dairy if they are reading this... I had a plate of fresh fruit which was fresh and delicious, they'll pretty much customize it to be whatever you want, seriously I was like, 50% watermelon and 50% other fruits and they did it :) I had a scrambled egg sandwich, which was OK, I felt it could have used something more, like spinach or something? The server was a pretty laid back guy (laid back in his tone, not in his quality of service). I felt like he may have been the owner, which is exactly what you want your staff to be like (although he may have actually been the owner). Coffee: 5/5 Food: 3/5 (sandwich) + 5/5 (fruit) / 2 = 4/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Maybe I should round up to 5 stars?
(4)Hengjuan Q.
it's really a nice place to hang out with old friends and they have the best food in A2.
(5)Marisa S.
Sava's, not to be confused with Seva's is a pretty nice lunch spot. Although it's been open for a while now, this past week was my first time there! I had lunch and there was a wide variety to choose from, I ended up with the Lobster BLT which my server told me could be put into a wrap instead of just on bread. Smart server = great food idea. The wrap was delicious and had lots of lobster and bacon. The pesto aioli was equally as good but there might have been too much of it on the wrap for me. Next time I'll for sure get it on the side. The polenta fries were great, probably some of the best I've had! I will surely come back and have those again! The restaurant itself was very clean and bright, our server was attentive and knowledgeable. The only draw back of this place is how hot the restaurant is inside. I'm not sure if Sava's thought they could get away with not having AC inside but usually people ask to be seated inside to avoid the heat, not feel like they are in a sauna. Overall, decent places, large lunch variety and nice atmosphere, as long as you can take the heat.
(3)Travis L.
On a particularly rainy day, myself and 2 friends here to visit for U of M ducked into Sava's for brunch. Our waiter was incredibly talkative and cordial, and each of us enjoyed our meals. I had the southern style omelette (sausage, green pepper, onion), a standard 3 egg blended to fluffy goodness. My friend had the Bandito Hash (chorizo sausage, green peppers, onions, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, sour cream, guacamole, salsa), which he described as one of the best he had in a long time. I really enjoyed the environment and the decor of the establishment. Great diversity in the menu and great service. A true gem in Ann Arbor.
(4)Debbie H.
You ever have a meal that made such an impression that you woke up the next morning and STILL wanted to talk about it? Well here I sit at the iPad the morning after our first experience at Sava's trying to piece together enough superlatives to cover what was a pleasantly surprising 5-star rating. Our waitress, Nicole (aka "Sara Lee") was knowledgeable, attentive and accommodated our curiosity of a couple of wines by allowing us a taste of both before deciding. We were off on the right foot. We started with a small plate ... The smoked salmon pizza. All three of us (we were with mom!) enjoyed it. Tasteful and the perfect portion for a starter. Nicole gave us some great recommendations for entrees and we went with two Herb Encrusted Salmon dishes and one Chicken Fusilli. I had the salmon and the only negative I can think of regarding my choice is that it's going to be extremely difficult to choose something else the next time we come in (and we WILL be coming back in!). The fish portion was generous and cooked to perfection. It was accompanied by a bed of veggies and halved redskins and surrounded by an incredible Dijon cream sauce with a balsamic border ... Really, this dish ranks right up there with my favorites at Mitchell's ... Excellent! The Chicken Fusilli offered great taste with the lean protein, arugula, sun-dried tomatoes, and chunks of goat cheese. We truly went 2-for-2 on the entrees, both home runs. I mentioned that this was a pleasant "surprise" because while we did choose Sava's based on a quick glance at its Yelp rating, it mostly felt like a blind date. I guess since Yelp is the "friend" who set us up, we owe you guys a big thank you. I think this is the start of a beautiful relationship!
(5)Mary K.
I visited Sava's when Top of the Park got rained out... we weren't the only ones, and they weren't prepared, so I think that's why the service was a little spotty. I was pleasantly surprised, though, by the prices... on State Street if you can get a meal for under $10 in a sit-down restaurant, I'm happy. We got fish tacos and "nacho fries." The nacho fries were... nacho fries... I don't know what I was expecting, but they were nachos with fries instead of chips. Pretty good, generous portion, fair price, nice guacamole and fresh salsa. The fish tacos were delicious -- more like a quesadilla, but again a fair price. They had mangos in them -- yummy. I also love the fact that they have live music (yes!) and mini kegs of Oberon and Heineken... awesome. I'm taking one star away because the service was slow... but again, I think that's because they weren't expecting Top of the Park to get rained out -- and it's the closest restaurant to the festivities, so they were probably understaffed. I would like to see what it's like upstairs, because it looked very nice and comfy, with couches, etc. I'll be back!
(4)Lily P.
I went today after grabbing some cake and froyo at LAB. Yea i don't eat my meals in order..bite me. Anyways first time I've been here since they changed it from zanzibar and got rid of the artsy look. It looks nice inside, I love the space in general and its a bit more classy. The place was probably half open, service was nice, and everything came out fast. I like the chairs and how everyone is placed a good distance apart. They added things to the menu but it looks still pretty small. I think I would like to try breakfast but its only served until 3pm...hrm even though dinner was nothing remarkable it could have amazing breakfast? I'll update after I go try it. I got the panini with the roasted peppers, chicken, and etc and a side order of Sweet Potato Fries (doesn't come with the food everything u need to order on the side). The sweet potato fries should have been better..a bit too fried and lack of non too crunchy and oily parts. I got way too excited about them after looking forward to it for a while. My roomie got the veggie something (looked like a vegetable burec) under the entree dinner part. Hers was fine..it was wrapped up in a crisp baked phyllo dough. Dinner was like $10 each, laid back atmosphere, nice waiter...food wasn't spectacular..I would have liked red hawk more I suppose in that area.
(3)Amy B.
I'm a sucker for great service and for the most part they do this right. I have had a time or two where the hostess has messed up on a busy night, but overall I love the food and atmosphere here.
(4)shannon r.
If you want to have a $1 burger at Sava's, here's what you do: enter the restaurant on a Monday, order a burger. Your burger will consist of a bun and a nicely grilled piece of Knight's beef. That's all. If you want cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion, it'll cost you. The burger is only available for dine-in customers, so you gotta get a drink. Tack on the cost of a soda and then if you'd like to round out the meal with some sweet potato fries (which were excellent) make sure to factor in that cost as well. Including tip, my meal ended up costing $9. That seems reasonable to me, especially given the quality of the food, which was great, but let's face it, the $1 burger is really just a gimmick to get you into the restaurant. Luckily my lunch was so good I didn't really mind.
(4)Kevin P.
This review is based off of one experience. I went to Sava's in the early evening on a Saturday during the summer... just to provide context for service. Upon entering the restaurant I was amazed at how extensive the restaurant actually was. The whole setting is quite nice, and they have a host of different table/seat arrangements to suit your preferences (seating: booth seats, typical table chairs, bar chairs, and fancier table chairs approaching sofa chairs). There is also outdoor seating but I didn't get a good look at it -- did note there was a lot of sun shining on one table. The hostess offered me a high table (near the bar) which I took because I don't usually care where I sit. I was instantly greeted by the bartender who took my order. She was great. Very friendly, funny, and quite helpful. After she took my order I had a chance to observe the other staff and noticed there must have been about eight to ten wait staff wandering around. The restaurant had an equivalent number of occupied tables at the time. Consequently, a lot of the wait staff seemed quite aimless yet the bartender herself was quite busy (since people were ordering drinks... often). She was still sufficiently attentive but I'm surprised they didn't just give me to one of the (bored-looking) wait staff. The food was good, not amazing. I ordered the Teriyaki Salmon Burger w/ Apple Ginger slaw on top. The salmon was amazingly tender and moist. I couldn't fully enjoy it though because I wasn't particularly fond of the teriyaki flavor. I couldn't quite figure out why it didn't work for me since I normally enjoy Teriyaki but it detracted in this case. Wasn't *so* bad that I couldn't eat the salmon though. If you order this sandwich know that it gets quite wet so you'll be using that fork at some point, or requesting more napkins. I also ordered sweet potato fries, which were standard fare in my opinion, and applesauce... because I like it!
(4)Julie C.
I remember back in the day when Sava's was this cute little thing across the street from where it is now. My friend from out of town spotted you so we wandered in, and ate a delicious sandwich and of course the infamous sweet potato fries. You made a great first impression, you Sava. Then Sava's grew up, moved across the street, decided it was good enough to make me wait in line for 45 minutes regularly, and provided me with acceptable-good food. The crepes are pretty good. Otherwise, I can't think of anything else to recommend.
(3)Barnaby F.
This is high three star headed for four star review. I hesitate to go over three on an initial visit, but my initial visit worked out exactly the way I needed and wanted it to. We told the waitress we were in a hurry, she tried to answer our questions about what would be fastest, then we ordered without heeding her advice! She still got the food on the table in less than four minutes, and although the place wasn't mobbed and crazy, it was operating at a pretty busy level. The food was tasty, too. Simple menu, which is always a good sign for me.
(3)Guillermo K.
Underwhelming in each and every way but one. Decor -- underwhelm. Food -- underwhelm. Drinks -- underwhelm. Service -- underwhelm. I guess the host/hostess has seemed overwhelmed by his job each and every time I've been.
(2)Heather C.
So I've been debating between 3 and 4 stars, but decided to round up to 4 because ultimately, I like coming here. The good: almost all the food I've enjoyed, especially their breakfasts; the coffee, the burgers, and the sweet potato fries (so crispy!). The prices are kind to my student loan budget, and I appreciate the sensible portions. The awkward: the staff sometimes seem confused... and service can be slow. In any case, Sava's is always a good bet for dinner with a friend (I've never gone in a large group, so I can't attest to how well they handle that). The restaurant is beautiful, and I always look forward to trying something new on the menu. But don't go if you're in a rush.
(4)Rachel C.
We went here to try the Adult Grilled Cheese or whatever and had the best Mac n' Cheese in our whole lives. Honestly, yeah you could probably find just as nice of a place anywhere else but the service was so kind that I feel like it deserves a good amount of stars.
(4)Duna R.
Love this place! Delicious food - lunch, dinner, or even Sunday brunch. Highly recommend.
(5)Sarah W.
This cafe opened last year and I must admit the food is very good! The food is fresh, tasty and prepared by Sava herself. My favorite is the grilled veggie sandwich. The vegetables are fresh with a mix of melted cheese and humus wrapped in a flat bread. The atmosphere is a bit bare, lots of pale yellow. But its one of those new restaurants where it will acquire its own character as time goes by. The service is a bit slow but its understandable of a new local business. Sava herself is very friendly and helpful with suggestions of what to eat.
(3)Nicole P.
I, like many others, have walked by Sava's a number of times without venturing inside. Recently, a friend finally convinced me to give it a try. I was most impressed by the bi-level seating and I squealed like a small child when we were seated upstairs near the railing giving us a great view of the entire restaurant. On a sidenote: a couple of the male staff members were wearing western-style shirts and jeans that night. Theme? I don't know. But either way, it was kinda cute. My friend pointed out that the menu was "hands-free" (one-page) which helps an occasionally indecisive person like me. He went with the 1/2 roasted rosemary chicken. I went with the sesame tofu salad. Our server pretended to be humored when we asked which half of the chicken is roasted (L-O-L). Both dishes were ok. Had it not been for our individual eccentricities, they would've been a lot better I suppose. The prices were mid-range so I can't complain. Even with the large gatherings we spotted in every corner of the restaurant that night, the noise level remained fairly low, which was nice. I would definitely return to Sava's if for no other reason than to see if the western-shirt thing was a coincidence or a regular theme...and to try the veggie burger and sweet potato fries.
(3)Shannon P.
Surrounded by patrons grasping burgers and clutching sweet potato fries we chose the road less traveled by. It might have been a mistake, maybe not? Either way, the food was mediocre. I.e., the salad we ordered lacked some of the components from the menu description and yet had other items from other salads described. The salad was odd, but when in transit gave us the greens we needed. Beer is a tad expensive for being highlighted as local. Decor was fabulous. Ambiance: the music the evening we were here was far too much like a hyped clothing store for 18yr olds. A pucker and a pout, let's get some more tight leggings to try on with some slouchy boots...wait! This is place with food. Only the food was ok, just not memorable.
(3)Stacey D.
The thing about Sava is that it has so much going for it that even if occasionally your fries are cold, or the service is a bit slow, you keep coming back. One of the best things about Sava is the ambience, the lighting is soft, the decor contemporary, large windows. You feel like you are at an actual to goodness sit down restaurant (which is more than you can say for a lot of restaurants on state and s. university). Given this ambiance, the prices are great. It is possible to get dinner for under $10, but who can resist the smoothies and sweet potatoe fries? Fish tacos, roast chicken, pasta all for about $12 or less. Pretty good date place I think.
(4)Sam T.
From the atmosphere to the food, Sava's doesn't disappoint!! Had the Salomn burger and left happy and filled!
(4)Maxwell C.
[Since I can't write another update, my prior review is pasted below.] The last couple times I've been to Sava's the kitchen service has been very prompt and the food, as always, has been great. It appears they've hired additional wait staff, which was much needed. Sava's has listened and, as far as I've seen, addressed their shortcomings, and that's the mark of a good business. They did get rid of one of my favorite dishes (the pierogi), but made up for it by adding a delicious ban-mi. I'll definitely be back more often. PRIOR REVIEW: I've found myself at Sava's a lot over the past few months, and my feelings haven't changed. Food is still pretty great, kitchen and wait service is still crap. The latter can be seriously frustrating if you want to go here for lunch or something. If they got this straight they'd earn another star.
(4)tim d.
Pretty sucky. I'm not sure what the deal with the dress code is here, but I'm pretty sure that many pairs of denim shorts and chucks is a sign of some sort of unholy affair; further evidenced by the smashed and bitter briquette on brioche they sat at my lap, faintly smelling of sulphur. The $2 high life was alright. Although I probably wouldn't have minded a chance to maybe squeeze two beers into an hour and a half lunch.
(1)mariah c.
I'm in the same boat as a few other people -- wanting to wait until Sava's settled in a bit to write. But honestly, it's been awhile since they've been in the space -- I've been there multiple times over the last few months, and I think it's important to note that they do have a way to go and it's not just (as Eric suggests) needless complaining. My service experiences lead me to believe that it's not all idle griping. One time a month back I was at a table where everyone else had silver, but I had none. I asked if maybe he could get me some silverware. The waiter looked at me very confused, then panicked and told me "I think we're all out." Of silverware? I think that might pose a problem when my meal arrives! He finally located some, but the poor guy seemed totally stressed out when asked any questions. He wasn't brand new, either -- I'd had him for a server weeks before. I chalk some of this up to growing pains, but it seems that there might be a lack of systems or delegation that probably needs to happen now that the operation has jumped to such a larger scale. I really enjoyed the food at the old location and just really hope that Sava can get things back on track in the operations part of the restaurant. I hope she can get the quality up to what people came to expect and enjoy.
(3)Adam D.
Interesting menu, with a mix of high brow fare and bar-food classics. The burger I had was really tasty without being a mess to eat in public. Staff was nice and the decor was pleasant without being too fancy, kitschy, or college-y. A very nice alternative to all the cheap-o places on campus for a bit more money. You can take a date here in the evening just as easily as you can chill with friends in the afternoon.
(4)Mike M.
Been to Sava many times. Great menu.great service.always something interesting. Love the fish tacos.
(5)Natalie G.
I prefer their dinner menu, but they've got a ton of great sandwiches for lunch as well. i had a bite of my friends almond-crusted chicken and it was delicious! I love the atmosphere at Savas above all. Great reason to drive out to A2.
(5)Jeff B.
Signed up just to be able to leave this review. Go here, eat great food, and drink incredible drinks. And I mean INCREDIBLE drinks. Sean (sp?) behind the bar completely blew our minds with his creations. Do yourself a favor and get a Saint Genet and/or a Hiroshima. Good LORD. Killer service, too. Can't wait to get back to Ann Arbor just to visit this place again!
(5)Maggie W.
Great place, nice atmosphere, awesome food. S.O loved the ribs, his dad got great ravioli, his mom had a kick ass salad (don't remember name but had asparagus, avocado, etc.) and I had a kick ass grilled cheese. I liked The Roadhouse's sweet potato fries better but thats just me... Definitely going back!
(4)Logan W.
I've heard for lunch this place is great, but my dinner experience was forgettable. I was excited to go here because it has curb appeal, and the place is neat looking inside. However, upon being seated we found ourselves having to shout to hear each other. One reviewer said something about this place having atmosphere, but atmosphere is not just about looks. The place is a bare box, as in the floors are hardwood, the walls are brick and the ceiling is tin or something similar. There is nothing to deaden any sound, and as soon as there's more than eight people in there, it's a deafening din. I hate to go on about it, but you often go out to eat to have a conversation and this place makes that nearly impossible. Our server was a nice enough guy, however once again, we couldn't hear him, he couldn't hear us and we had to shout at each other. He seemed a bit manic, which probably wasn't his fault as he most likely just had too many tables to care for which is indicative of poor management, and makes a customer feel like just another customer. That is not the experience you would want to have on a romantic date, contrary to another reviewers opinion. He wrote everything we said down, but came back several minutes later to double check some things, meaning he hadn't put in our order after some time. Not a big deal, but the waiter didn't do the place any favors. We ordered the 'artichoke and spinach dip', which outside of the unusual reversal of the order of ingredients named, was nothing special. I love spinach and artichoke dip so I kind of liked it, but more thought seemed to have gone into putting the wheat lawash chips into a perfect teepee in the middle of the dip, which makes it impossible to get to the dip by the way, than what it tasted like. It's not hard to make those ingredients taste good, and they did not. Our table ordered a chicken and goat cheese sandwich which was great, but just riding on the shoulders of how good goat cheese is haha, a burger which was mediocre but almost fairly priced, a smoked half chicken which was alright but their smoker was broken, and I think some mushroom pasta dish that looked good. The food was okay, but they were clearly overcharging to finance their nice looking yet impractical interior. For around $30 a head without drinks, the food should be much, much better. If your dinner companion is into flash without substance, check this place out. If you're looking for an enjoyable atmosphere with good food, it won't be hard to do better. I'm not saying which need is better, sometimes you just want to get out of your usual and go someplace that looks fancy, but for the prices here you can get a nice place with good food as well.
(2)Will S.
I thought my dinner at Sava's was very enjoyable. I ate at the bar with a friend and the service was efficient and professional. We started with the risotto balls which I found to be under-fried. I will forever compare any risotto balls I have to the suppli a telefono at 2 Amy's in DC. The flavor was good yet a little subtle for calling them truffled. My main dish was really great. I ordered the fried green tomato Po'boy with bacon. Whenever I read Po'boy on a menu I almost 100% of the time order it (especially fried shrimp po'boys). The sandwich was truly excellent. The bread was crusty yet not too hard and the aioli they use is great. It is also only like $11 which makes it a great value. It is served a la carte but I was full after eating half an order of risotto balls and the sandwich. Overall, a very satisfying meal in a very satisfying atmosphere.
(4)Tricia K.
I feel that Sava's is a wonderful value for the food it serves and I am now wondering why I hadn't tried it earlier. Although I have only been once, the menu had so many options on it that sounded good I had a hard time deciding on what to get. In the end, I was craving something light and opted for the watermelon salad with prosciutto added. I was fully expecting a bed of greens with 2 slices of watermelon on it but what came was a bowlful of sweet watermelon chunks flecked with thinly sliced red onion, feta cheese, mint and prosciutto. It really hit the spot because I was extremely thirsty and not wanting a heavy dinner. I was so addicted I kept gobbling it up and ignored the ongoing dinner conversation. We lingered at our table long after our dinner was over but the staff was patient and didn't try to kick us out. This is a great place to have dinner with friends because it is reasonably priced and likely everyone will find something good to eat. Next time I come back I'd love to try their artisan cheese and charcuterie plates.
(4)Gemma H.
Sava's used to be one of my favorite restaurants in A2. With this recent remodel and revamp of their menu I was looking forward to testing it out for dinner with a group of friends. I'm sorry to say I was beyond disappointed. Not only has the whole atmosphere of the restaurant changed into some attempt to be hipster-60s-retro-modern-chic with what's a terrible excuse for music playing in the background, the menu was totally disappointing and incongruous. We ordered sweety fries and spinach dip to start. These were the best part of the entire meal and probably the only thing I would get again. Each of us ordered a different entree so we could try a lot of things and share--from lamb shank on brussel sprout (one of the specials), ribs on a bed of grits, chicken pasta with a goat cheese cream sauce, and steak frites. The steak frites were super disappointing: the meat was a little tough, the frites were a little soft, and the homemade umami ketchup was straight-up terrible. I'm not sure I've ever been so disappointed with a meal in my life. In fact, I didn't like anything that anyone else ordered either. The pasta was too creamy and lacked any real flavor. The meat on the ribs was decent (at least compared to my steak), but the rest of it was so-so. The lamb was tender, but everything else on the plate was not good and didn't really go together at all. I don't even think I can stress how disappointed I am in the changes this restaurant has made recently. If I could give it 1.5 stars I would.
(2)Jessica R.
We went to Sava's this weekend and I kept saying, "Why did I give this place a 3? It's so good!" And it was. Each bite of our Mediterranean Trio appetizer was yummy--the pita and dips perfectly portioned--and each bite of my tuna sashimi salad was incredible. The service was thoughtful, the atmosphere energetic yet private, and the bill affordable. They do have a long wait on weekends (usually 45 minutes if you just walk in), but this is true of most popular restaurants downtown. A very specific compliment: They have a room with a big table in the back. That table is not a rectangle, but bulges a bit in the center (picture a flattish oval with the very ends chopped off). It's hard to describe, but the point is that you can seat over a dozen people at this table and everyone can see everyone else. Such a smart design!
(4)Amaryllia L.
* Moules Frites :: p.e.i. mussels, steamed in coconut curry cream sauce, served with fries ($11) - the sauce tasted fantastic but at least 1/3 to 1/2 of the mussels were dead/closed so we ended up dipping the fries that came with it into the sauce instead (so yeah...$11 fries, basically). I got a couple mouthfuls of sand with the mussels that we could eat but I suppose that's to be expected. * Paella :: saffron rice, p.e.i. mussels, clams, shrimp, lobster, peas, chorizo, green peppers, saffron butter sauce ($22) - very mediocre in flavor and borderline too salty. I had a couple more mouthfuls of sand here as well. Sand in a $11 appetizer, somewhat acceptable. Sand in a $22 entree, less so. * Bacon Brie Burger :: crispy bacon, melted brie ($9 with no sides) - arrived more medium-well to well-done even though we ordered medium-rare. Flavor was pretty bland. * Gouda Prosciutto Burger :: stuffed with gouda and prosciutto, topped with pineapple salsa ($9.5 with no sides) - yep, also way overcooked and boring. It's sad when you're at a nice restaurant with a $9 burger and wishing you were at Five Guys instead... I really had high hopes for this place and was so excited to try it that I settled for a 9PM dinner reservation, thinking it would be worth the wait. Unfortunately, I was really underwhelmed by the food quality, especially given how expensive the meal was. I'm giving 3 stars based on Ann Arbor standards but it would easily be 2 stars in any other major city. On the other hand, our server was fantastic!
(3)Alix N.
Much better now. The menu is back to its usual wonderfulness. Still no State Street Tea, but a nice waiter said he could make me one that was similar. I'm a fan again!
(4)Nancy C.
I am feeling generous today! Hence the four stars. Truth is probably closer to 3.5 stars (and also because half stars aren't allowed). I have generally really enjoyed my foods and drinks at Sava's and the service has been consistently friendly, so rounding up! The patio is really nice and semi-private (when weather permits) and the location is great. An ideal spot for happy hour or dinner or lunch... Items are pricier than warranted in my opinion, but not outrageous by Ann Arbor standards. It's just not a place I would frequent... We came here one time with a group of 25+ people and the staff accommodated us really well. Thumbs up.
(4)Klara S.
I have been here many, many times and have almost always enjoyed my experience. My favorite times to come are for brunch (the eggs benedict with smoked salmon is my jam) and for happy hour. Reading over my review, I am using the word "good" a lot - and that's what this place is. Solidly good, never bad, never slap your mama great. One major pro is their decently priced wine list - the wines are solid and the prices are especially nice during happy hour when glasses are half off. The mixed drinks are good as well, but given the wine selection, I would usually stick with that. Sava's also has a good variety of seating - you can get anything from intimacy to the ability to spread out. The food is consistently good - not fabulous, but great for the price. I have never had something I have actively disliked, but I have had some things I like better than others (typically, I've liked the traditional items (mac and cheese, risotto balls) more than the non-traditional items (Banh Mi)). Service is prompt, although I usually seem to get newer servers who aren't as knowledgeable about the menu. I almost want to give this place 5 stars to balance out the smattering of 3-stars (Sava's is definitely better than a lot of other places with the same average rating).
(4)Emily G.
During my time as a student in AA, I never went to Sava's because, well, I was dirt poor. Stopping by my old college campus for a night gave me the opportunity to eat dinner here and finally give it a try. Since a storm was coming, it was pretty empty which meant it was mostly just the servers and us hanging out in the restaurant. I ordered the lamb entree and my friend got a cheeseburger. I have to say, his burger was pretty darn perfect: cooked medium-raw (as he requested), incredibly juicy, crunchy bacon, fresh ingredients and just tons of flavor. The burger didn't come with sides (which sucked) but I was still really impressed with the quality of their dish. My lab dish came with 2 single ribs (frenched), potatoes and green beans with a small side of tzaziki. I asked for medium, but my lamb was cooked past well-done, so there was no traces of pink and it made the meat a little tough. This was disappointing because the lamb itself didn't have a rub or a sauce, so overcooking it couldn't be masked by any added flavor. The potatoes were cooked perfectly and the green beans were just a little under (crunchy) while the sauce was tasty, but should have had a bit more flavor since the potatoes, green beans or lamb had no added seasoning. Our server was super nice and the place looked great. A pretty successful dinner despite some small mishaps, but I didn't want to bother making a big deal out of it (I was also starving so there was no way I was going to reject food). Oh Ann Arbor, I missed you so.
(4)Deron O.
We had excellent service and delicious food for dinner on a Monday night. The restaurant was busy, so we weren't benefitting from a lack of competition, so to speak. Highly recommended.
(5)Hello G.
Don't hate on seva! This place is so awesome! I absolutely love love love it! I always try to go here when I'm in Ann Arbor! It's so delicious.
(5)Rosemarie C.
I came to dinner here with some friends on a Saturday night around 6 and we were promptly seated. We were seated Ina large booth, which I LOVED. Our server was very knowledgable and friendly, and always kept our glasses fill! They have a good selection of craft beer. The menu has a large assortment of foods- fish, pasta dishes, burgers and sandwiches, and so on. The burgers and sandwiches are under $10 and the seafood and pasta dishes begin at around $15. Their prices are not bad, especially considering the location. I ordered the grilled cheese with tomato bisque and it was delicious. Others on my party ordered pasta dishes and the salmon burger. Everyone enjoyed their meals. I highly recommend checking this place out!
(5)Melissa C.
I absolutely loved this place! We went during the art fair so that had scaled down menu but it was all of their greatest hits! The decor was nice, burgers were divine and don't even get me started on their sweet potato fries! All around great experience, all made better by our funny and witty server, Jordan.
(5)A.J. S.
I had Paella for the first time ever here, and it was AMAZING. Ok, now that I have gotten that out of my system I will be a little bit more in depth. The bar is actually quite excellent, they have a decent beer list, and the food was GREAT. I had the Paella as I mentioned above, and Polenta Fries - which were also fantastic. The food had great flavour and taste. I don't know what to compare paella to, because I have never had it before, but it was delicious. It tasted fresh, flavoured, and not lumpy like was made in an episode of weeds. The service was also pretty good, the waitress was nice and everything. The ambiance was pretty low key. I would consider going back here, though the food can be a little pricey so beware.
(4)Robyn T.
Honest to goodness, I can't say enough about Sava's. I've been there a few times and each time the food is excellent, the ambience is relaxing, and the service is stellar. I do say that this is one of my Ann Arbor faves. The last time I was there they had this hot spiced wine for the holidays that was perfect to warm up to. Some of my personal hits from the menu: - Mac and Cheese - Grilled Cheese for Adults - Sweet Potato Fries - Chicken Pot Pie - Salmon Burger Generally, I try to avoid State Street because it's close to campus so many of the stores up there are chock full of half stoned undergrads. However, Sava's is completely worth the trip, no matter where it's located. Seriously you gotta try it.
(5)Victoria H.
Any easy go-to. Whether you are looking for breakfast, brunch, lunch, happy hour, dinner, or late night, Sava's has something to satisfy everyone. For breakfast, I think their omellettes are the standout items, but have also heard great things about the french toast and the hash. For lunch, you can't go wrong with a greek salad (amazing dressing and served with grilled pita) or a burger with sweet potato fries. Their cocktails are strong! Definitely get your money's worth. Sava's can suit just about any occasion and service is typically great. Its a wonderful all around option.
(4)Sara B.
This is another hit and miss restaurant that there is normally a wait for. My rating is mostly for the most recent food and drinks I had there and the service. Also, the wait time is often far longer than they tell you even if you have a reservation. 20 minutes to an hour is fairly normal. The first time I went I had the ham and brie sandwich, which was bliss. My friend had the portobello sandwich, which was also fantastic. We went for lunch at an odd hour so it was pretty empty and the servers were very attentive and kept our water glasses filled. The second time I went I had the taco or fajita? salad, which was just awesome. There was fresh avocado and chicken and had great flavor with a very ample amount of salad. The service was decent and the restaurant was pretty dead, but it could have been better. The last time I went I had the mussels and a cocktail. The mussels tasted old and had a bitter sauce, and the fries that came with it were too salty. The watermelon cocktail was poorly mixed and had a weird aftertaste. The waitstaff was also very inattentive this trip, and never returned to check on us this trip.
(3)Mads F.
I was in the area just for a weekend and we ran into a local who raved about this place so we sat down and had a drink with him at the bar. The drink menu was pretty impressive. It was divided into 3 categories, "the progressive" "the purist" and "the novice". I got the State Street Tea which was really refreshing and good. Another person got the Sandia sucia which was like a watermelon martini and then the churango which was really good but strong since it has Pisco. The bartenders were really friendly and put on quite a show with the drinks. A person in our group ordered a drink that they lit on fire which was an awesome show to watch. Overall great service, great drinks and good time out in Ann Arbor!
(4)Patty C.
Every dish looked wonderful, I shared 3 small plates and each were equally as good. We had a part of 10 with good service.
(5)Wayne P.
Late for breakfast? Too early for lunch? Come down to this place and enjoy their brunch. As many plates as you want. So many options to choose. Grab brunch at Sava's and you'll never loose. (Egg muffin thing kinda sucked tho) WP.
(5)martha b.
Excellent food and great vibey atmosphere. Jimmy was the highlight however with his above average service. Thanks for the great experience! When next in Ann Arbor definitely swing by Savas.
(5)Sally B.
Like another Yelper, I was wondering if Sava's has improved. I was there for the third (fourth?) time recently and it was reallyreally good. My fish tacos were delicious. And they have a really nice wine selection. The dinners that my colleagues had also looked really tasty (BBQ tofu, chicken masala, big salad with chicken and a interesting looking pasta) and we all cleaned our plates! And our server was prompt and helpful. The first couple times I was at Sava's, it was not long after it moved to its new location. There were menu glitches and the food was inconsistent. Those issues seem to be solved. It is a loud restaurant, though, so be prepared for that.
(4)Kellie W.
I read an earlier review that said this place seemed soulless- which I thought was odd because my experience is the opposite. The restaurant clearly takes a lot of care in space design: the upstairs is open to the downstairs, the windows are tall and stunning, the candles are expertly set together depending on their various heights, the plating is aesthetically appealing... they even decorate for the seasons and this fall have a bunch of gourds everywhere. Some of the food served here also appears in Babo, the market and prepared food counter owned by the same restauranteur. I really like the salads, the truffle mushroom pasta YES PLEASE and the appetizers. I like to come here and share a bunch of dishes with whoever I'm with. They've good food prices on all levels, so you should be good on any budget. Some of their main plates are a little expensive, and some of them are a little bland (chicken pot pie). The breakfast here is usually very good. They serve some delicious omelets and I think they brew Ugly Mug coffee and it's delicious. Also, all the wait staff I've had here has been really pleasant. HALF OFF wine on Sundays. Yum.
(4)David S.
Not sure how I missed this place during my five years in Ann Arbor. Thankfully I had a younger sibling that remained in Ann Arbor so I was able to discover Sava's shortly after graduation. I make it back to Ann Arbor a few times per year and Sava's has become my go-to brunch place on the way out of town. I'm a corned beef hash person, but the bandito hash is amazing. I haven't been disappointed with dinners at Sava's either. A lot to choose from. Just make sure you get the sweet potato fries. Good drink selection as well. Service has always been very friendly and quick. I think the pricing is very reasonable although locals sometimes disagree. I'm a fan. I look forward to trying the new restaurant the owner has opened as well.
(4)Jaye K.
We showed up without a reservation and told it would be a 10 minute wait, gave our name and said we'd be at the bar. 20 minutes later, the hostess was seating others and we thought we had better have dinner at the bar if we wanted to make it to the movie. Happily, the bartender was great and we loved our dinner. We never found out if all of the people being seated had reservations. We were never called for our table, but we made it to the theater in time for the movie!
(3)DJ H.
Good food in terms of taste and variety with good service. The prices can be a bit on the high side but they are reasonable given the quality of food. Weekend brunch for $20 is great, even for vegetarians. My last time there, the hostess put us down for two instead of three people and that extended our wait time.
(4)Rachel S.
Sava's is one of my favorite restaurants in Ann Arbor. The food is always delicious. The menu is pretty vast, something for everyone. There are great vegetarian options. My favorite items are: the grilled salmon, the quinoa salad, the salmon burger and the macaroni and cheese. All yummy options. Desserts are very good too. Go for the chocolate molten cake. Sunday brunch is BEYOND good!!
(4)Stephen K.
Best brunch buffett I have ever been to, in any state hands down. This place is amazing.
(5)Lindsey S.
This place keeps getting better and better in my book! There is tons of seating options - the bar right when you walk in, high top tables, booth tables, outdoor seating, long tables, round tables !! an upstairs area - a private dining room closed off area for privateparties! they've really got it all here. Tv's at the bar area, which are normally playing a cool indy documentary or tv show. Strong great drinks -- really great mimosas and bloody mary's! ** Top eats @ Sava's *Steak Sandwich - the aoli on this will blow your taste buds to orgasm *Sweet Potatoe Fries- crispy perfection *Shrimp & Quinoa Salad - switched it out for grilled chicken breast for no charge, this is my new fav thing, great mix of squash bites, shaved almonds, a light dressing, and apple or pear, spinach, dried cranberries * greek salad- note that the lettuce isn't chopped, but the toppings are, a creamy ish dressing thats pinkish, the toasty pita is greecian style *veggie skillet hash * artichoke and spinach dip - has legit artichokes in it, its not too creamy and doesn't up set your stomach, it comes with crispy thin pita chips that are largee if you are there for lunch be sure to grab the crossiant bacon egg and cheese !! its divine and mouth watering and delicious beyond belief !! its great to support a local - love sava !! shes awesome !!
(4)Linda S.
I have been here a few times and truly love the updated look in the last month. It has a sophisticated feel (love the new tile entrance and larger bar.)Pros: The food has gotten even better than it was before. I love the crispy and delicious bombas, and the chicken fusili pasta is amazing. The servers are very friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They have increased the number of beers on draught and have a nice wine list. Just a few of things that could use to be improved: I don't love the new bar stools as they are not very comfortable. The bar could also use some purse hangers underneath for a place as classy as this is, and the side of the bar near the door can be a bit cold with drafts each time the main door is open. This is a small thing, but the menu font is tiny and very hard to read by the dimmer romantic lighting. The servers during busy times seem to be spread a little thin. One last thing-we came once recently with our five year old son. The server was very sweet in bringing him an ice cream sundae at the end of the meal, but we are pretty strict about what he eats and would have preferred that we were asked if he could have it. We would have allowed it as a treat, but would have asked for the portion to be much smaller than what was ultimately given to him. They do have a small kids menu that we liked the choices he was given and my son would definitely want to come back.
(4)shannon h.
Huge brunch g for the $19 price. Sausage gravy was AMAZING. Food was very fresh. Only thing not on buffet was crepes, waffles and omelettes. Not sure about the rest of their menu but if their brunch buffet is this good the rest of their food should just as good! Great service as well!
(4)Bernard A.
Off the charts. Anything Sava gets her hands on blows my mind. Amazing food and honestly, whoever is in charge of hiring needs a raise. Best staff around. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.. anytime of the day this is the place you want to go.
(5)Michelle N.
Not sure if it was bc Sava's makes a good burger or if it was bc I was sick and hadn't really eaten all week, but I DEMOLISHED my burger AND ended up craving burgers the day after...so 5 stars from me! Love love loooooved the environment. Perfect date restaurant. Idk how to explain this without sounding like an idiot, but I felt like the restaurant was both cozy yet spacious at the same time. The table arrangements were close to each other, which lended itself well to a cozy, intimate environment, but i really appreciated the simple decor and tall ceilings...made everything feel so much more spacious. There was a 10-15 min wait when I arrived on a Saturday evening around 8:30pm, but no biggie - we just grabbed some seats at the bar while we waited. Their menu has a variety of dishes, but I was in a burger kinda mood, so I opted for the Knights beef burger w/bacon and a side of fries. SOOOOOO GOOD...the burger was big and yummy, and the fries were so perfectly crispy. I want to go back. Now. :)
(5)Nicholas M.
I've never disliked the food here. Never really had a complaint. So why don't I rate it higher? I just get this weird feeling from the place. The word soulless comes to mind. It just seems devoid of anything unique. It's great for picky large groups. You can generally always find something on the menu that will make everyone happy. The bartenders also make some really inventive drinks that are worth checking out. However, the pricing might be a little high for Ann Arbor.
(3)Nicole T.
One of my FAVORITE restaurants in Ann Arbor! Everything here is just soooo good. I especially love the burgers and handheld paninis, but the dinner entrees are also amazing. The prices have gone up and the portions have become smaller though, which is why I took a star off. The sweet potato fries and the tomato bisque are a MUST at every meal. My boyfriend and I are obsessed with this place. The dinner entrees are quite small though, not enough to fill us up, which is why we always order the sides. The risotto balls are AMAZINGLY good. Also, their brunch is great too, many options such as the french toast! I don't come here too often anymore though because it is a bit of a walk from my apartment along with the price, so it is reserved for special occasions now. On weekends, dinner time is very busy and you should make a reservation before hand if you don't want to wait 30 minutes for a table.
(4)Konefkta K.
We stopped here for brunch the morning after my friend's wedding (i.e. a little hungover) and I had the crepes with heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella (basically caprese salad crepes) and they. were. PHENOMENAL. Also, we had no idea that they had a brunch buffet on Sunday afternoons ($19). It looked amazing (shrimp, oysters, quiches, pastries, etc), but neither of us were super hungry. If we are ever back, we will make it a point to try it out!
(5)Jacqui D.
I have been to Sava's a number of times. The food is always just alright. Most of the time, the service has been pretty good. The only thing that I don't like about coming here is the attire that the servers wear. Many of the women that work here are wearing very short, tight skirts when I have dined here, and not to be rude but some of them should not be wearing that kind of outfit... The food and atmosphere at Sava's is very nice, and I don't feel like their dress reflects that. Other than that, great place to spend an evening.
(3)Panagiota Z.
One word explains the food here-AMAZING! I came here with my family for my birthday. We first ordered our drinks- they didn't have chocolate martinis on the menu but the waitress asked the bartender & said they would make them for us. I was actually disappointed when they came to our table. Not only were our glasses half filled but they were not tasty at all. I probably should have said something but I just let it go. Next- onto my favorite part- the food! I decided to try the mushroom swiss burger and ordered the infamous sweet potato fries that everyone raved about. Simply amazing. The burger was so tasty and juicy and huge! (I could only finish half of it & took the rest home). The sweet potato fries were the best fries I've ever had!! A must try!! My dad ordered the Lamb Shank with a Mini Caesar salad. The waitress explained this meal exactly how it was. My dad was in love with it. He said it tasted as if he made it himself (we're Greek & he never says that about any restaurant he's ordered lamb from!) Another must try! We definitely will be back. Atmosphere: Beautiful! They have an upstairs and outdoor seating also. Staff: Our waitress was awesome! She answered our questions and was very attentive.
(4)Brian M.
Went for a surprise birthday. There were about 16 of us so we were in the "party room" section in the back. Either the room was too narrow or the table was too wide (it is a wide table); made it difficult to mingle prior to the guest of honor arriving. Staff had a hard time moving around us so we had to always move to the side to let them pass. The drink menu was excellent and had a varied selection of quality beers to choose from. Everyone seemed really pleased with the quality of the offerings. The host had ordered some small plates for the table in advance; the Mediterranean Trio, Risotto Balls, and Polenta Fries. The Trio pita bread was fantastic; nice and soft, possibly freshly-made. All three of the toppings options were very tasty. I really liked the Risotto Balls too including the sauce that came with them. Wish there were more because they went fast! Was not a fan of the Polenta Fries, maybe because of how much I liked the other two already, but others at the table seemed to really enjoy them. We had been to a grad party earlier so we weren't super hungry and split an entrée. We got the sea scallops, but it wasn't the prosciutto - wrapped one that it shows on the menu here on Yelp. They were on a bed of lobster risotto with asparagus...yum!!! The scallops were well-prepared and not overcooked. We both really loved the dish and there was plenty of it. Good choice. One of the highlights was the staff. From the helpful, friendly hostess, to the wait staff that served us before dinner, to the meal service staff, everyone was very helpful, positive and efficient. Nice job!
(4)Cassie G.
Delicious! The pecan crusted chicken was so tender and paired with a bleu cheese spread that it just melts in your mouth! I would for sure go back!
(5)Karina S.
Came in today with an out of town guest for lunch. Our male server named a beautiful french name I cannot remember greeted us promptly and with waters. Was very knowledgable and personable. Thanks to him you got 2 stars! The food was bland at that, it is never a good sign when you leave a restaurant wanting 'more'. Ordered some drinks and both cups were dirty, my chardonnay glass had remnants of red wine, gross to say the least. The beer glass was also dirty and looked like it had dried white paint all over it. Since my guest and I are in the service industry we can overlook such things. BAD FOOD WE CANNOT. We ordered the bang bang shrimp for an appetizer...shrimp was 'okay' but actually tasted like the TGIF's bang shrimp I had one night drunk. Sub par to say the least We then ordered our lunch which consisted of a fried green tomato po' boy, the chorizo blue cheese burger and sweet fries. ( which we did not end up getting, we received regular fries) The po' boy was greasy and inedible. The tomato was too greasy to eat so i removed it from my sandwich and took a bite. I then noticed there was no pimento cheese, so basically I ate a french baguette for lunch at around 9$ The chorizo burger was bland and I only picked up the blue cheese tangy flavor. Chorizo is normally juicy and good but this was very dry and abysmal. Maybe the chef at seva can talk to the chef at Frita Batidos and prepare chorizo the right way. The french fries, what a bummer! Took me back to my college days when I ate frozen fries in my toaster oven. Did not even finish them, thanks to the honey dijon sauce it saved the frozen taste a bit. REVAMP your fries, the ones you have are horrible. Probably will not be going back to Sava which is a bummer because the service was great but alas, there are other great places to eat downtown.
(2)Elizabeth K.
Sava's is great for an all-around go-to restaurant. In the mood for drinks or wine? Want a full dinner? Brunch? A light lunch? They do it all, and really pretty well, too. They have a brunch buffet on Sundays, which is lovely and packed full of delicious food (smoked salmon!). Their burgers and other "hand helds" are fantastic - my favorite is the boccacini panini, with fresh mozzarella, pesto and roasted red peppers. Other favorites include the fish tacos, the southwest chicken salad, and the mac and cheese. They have nice happy hour drink specials (but you have to sit in the bar!) and they have a large side-patio for those who want to dine al fresco. Service is always friendly and upbeat, and the prices are reasonable for the portions and ambiance.
(4)Eric R.
Came here with my girlfriend the night we moved to Ann Arbor. The food was excellent. We got the spring rolls, which were fantastic and would've cost $20 in Boston, and a chicken salad with blue cheese and raspberry vinaigrette which was also excellent. Oh, and a decent German beer (forget the name) - Sava's looked to have a pretty solid beer selection. Service was great - we were seated immediately, and our waitress was very friendly and patient. And the outdoor seating is awesome! They have a patio alongside the building, so you're not just eating on the sidewalk right next to cars driving by. At night they have these cool fire decorations next to the tables, and they're pumping some pretty sweet music. Made me feel so hip.
(5)Kate M.
So disappointed!!! Sava's has been my favorite Ann Arbor restaurant for some time. However, I had my first dinner there since their renovation and OMG - what a difference a renovation makes! The physical change isn't too impressive, but the new menu and food are terribly disappointing. The quality of the food has taken a nose dive and what you get for your money is frankly, insulting and a rip off. One item ordered in our party was the evening special, the sea scallops. The dish arrived and there were THREE scallops (which were undercooked and had to be sent back) on the plate which were scantily surrounded by small pieces of diced sweet potato - for a whopping $27. Nothing else was included, not even a bread basket. Personally, I think that's outrageous. Another disappointing dish was the stir fry with tofu. This dish was $17 for two large pieces of tofu (we all know how inexpensive tofu is) atop a very small mixture of something (maybe rice or some other grain) laced with many large pieces of onion, all swimming in a overly sweet tasting sauce. In two words- NOT GOOD! I hope Sava's can get their act together soon. They once served creative, quality, expensive-enough food. They have lowered their standards, raised their prices and reduced their entree's portions - apparently assuming their patrons wouldn't notice. HELLO, I noticed.
(2)Kara M.
Do NOT sit outside in the late afternoon. We were seated at 6:30pm (in May), and the sun was directly in my eyes. They will not let you move your chair because then the servers don't have room to walk within the boundaries of the restaurant. I thought it especially odd that they wouldn't let us move tables--we were told we could go up to the hostess and put our names at the bottom of the list if we wanted to be reseated. We had already waited an hour for our table. The food was fine, the service was a little surly and slow, but the patio was awful. I don't mind waiting a long time for a great experience, but the time we waited was completely not proportional to what we got.
(2)Jimmy T.
Sava's is one of the few places in Ann Arbor -- probably the only place -- I won't go. I've dealt with the staff there and no one really knows what's going on. Even the owner doesn't have time for you. Her communication was unacceptably rude on a matter unrelated to the food on multiple occasions. For this reason I could never recommend this place. As a fellow business owner and human, I would never treat a customer or anyone like that ever.
(1)Sophie S.
Great service and the food is always good .I like the music very cheerful and the decor is very nice .I am enjoining going there .Keep up the good work
(5)Myke O.
Pretty good. I had the pecan crusted chicken sandwich and a chocolate lava cake for dessert. The chicken was very good but I felt that the bun was a bit overkill. It might have been better just served on a bed of mashed potatoes, but it was still very good. The chocolate lava cake was good but not fantastic. I was expecting more "lava" to pour out when I sliced into it but it was more just very dense, very rich, moist cake. Extra points for being just about the only place open super late and for being walking distance to the Campus Inn. Bartender was friendly.
(4)Channa P.
This is probably one of the best restaurants I've eaten at in a college town. It has the menu of a swanky dining spot without the pretentious attitude or outrageous prices. The menu is stacked with lots of great sounding dishes, and because this was the first time I had been in cool weather in months I got something homey and warm, lasagna. Vegetarian lasagna to be exact, and I can still taste the super flavorful sweet corn that was inside. The shells were green from the spinach base and the different veggies inside made the dish really filling. I tried to take a picture, but green lasagna doesn't exactly photograph well. I just wish I could have eaten all of it. I would love to go back to try more food or drinks on the menu. The restaurant is situated on Ann Arbor's busy street that run's through U Michigan's campus. Even with lots of fun looking choices around I would eat at this place again before trying some place new.
(4)Mary-Catherine H.
3 1/2 stars is about right. When they are good, they are very very good. And when they are bad, they are, well, okay. Sava's plays an important and admirable role in the downtown/campus area. They have mixed price points and they serve breakfast through late night cocktails. Some of the food is/was magnificent (I miss you, Burrata salad!). But I am unimpressed by much of their food. Their sweet potato fries are blah, filet mignon unimpressive, papaya slaw with tuna mushy and flavorless. I *want* to love them, but they are just too spotty. Customer service is so-so. They only take a certain number of reservations per hour and won't make any exceptions, even if you are coming in with a group of 8 and don't want to wait while they set up a table. I tried to place a pickup order the other day and was on hold for 5 minutes the other day before I gave up. Sava's has high potential; I hope they continue to challenge themselves to be a *great* restaurant rather than just rely on their location to pay the bills.
(3)Jackson N.
The experience at savas was wonderful. Food was great and service just as good. Would definitely go back for dinner or lunch!
(5)Nancy R.
Writing an update for my review that I did a while back. I've been to Savas a few times after my review and would give them a better score now. I've had their brunch as well as their steak sandwich. Both were very good. The steak sandwich could use some fries on the side in with the price to make it a full meal. But the horseradish aioli was perfect with the onions and the sandwich was delicious. On the brunch menu, I had the eggs Benedict. The eggs Benedict was amazing. The potatoes they're served with are bland, though, and desperately need some seasoning. The service is a definite 2-3 stars. Sometimes the servers are decent. Other times they're pretty useless. I've never had a service experience I truly remember as being great. The servers are all competent and there were no issues, but they weren't personable, weren't exceptionally quick and sometimes needed a little reminding of drink orders. I would go back. The food is pretty decent, if not a little expensive. Just don't expect much from the experience besides a good meal in a nice environment (the restaurant is always clean and looks nice).
(4)Derek P.
I hadn't been to Sava's in a couple of years, so I figured that I would give it a try again for dollar burgers on Monday. First surprise: dollar burgers no longer exist. Oh, well. Five dollars isn't a big deal. I got my veggie burger with brie and a side of fries, which was good enough (typical mediocre veggie patty with tasty cheese on top). The fries tasted a little fishy, which suggests that they a) fry them in the same fryer as fish and b) don't filter their fryer oil frequently. The check brought the second surprise: my meal came to $11 while my tablemates' cheeseburgers and fries came to the expected $8. When I asked the server about this, she took it to her manager and came back explaining that they had taken off one dollar because the computer incorrectly charged me $6 for my burger. So, in case you're keeping count: $5 burgers means $5 for a hamburger, cheeseburger, or plain veggie burger, but $7 for a veggie burger with cheese. That ranks pretty highly in the history of asinine up-charges for vegetarians. It also ensures that I won't be returning to Sava's any time soon.
(2)C M.
Hit it for brunch on a Saturday at noon and felt immediate trepidation when we walked in and the place was nearly empty. It all became clearer once the food arrived and consumed. Had a veggie omelette and was immediately struck by the blandness of the thing. I couldn't figure out how it was actually cooked....maybe started in a pan and finished off in the oven (?!) - such a strange texture...dry and almost cardboard like. With enough salt I forced it down (hunger overcame revulsion). My companion was happier with her croissant sandwich of spinach, egg and brie. We won't be returning.
(2)Jess L.
Sweet potato fries are worth the money, I'd think. My friends liked their food, but I think I expected more with the brown-butter pear chevre ravioli. I've been here a couple times; the lack of stars isn't so much for the food, but for the service and how it really doesn't seem to improve even after years of being.
(2)Beth N.
Monday night was my third time at Sava's, and it was the best time yet. The last time I went, my friend and I sat upstairs at a high top. I am generally not a fan of high tops, so I wasn't thrilled, but my steak and potato salad was incredible, hence the 4 stars. This time, my two friends and I sat downstairs, and it was a great experience. The server was very attentive and friendly. I got the fish tacos which were really really good. I am a little bit of a snob, because Black Pearl fish tacos are to DIE for, but Sava's are a close second. There was the perfect amount of chipotle mayo, and I loved that there was a corn and black bean salsa. Excited to go back for drinks and to try their brunch!
(4)Georgia G.
Unique, healthy flavorful food, a wide variety of choices and fast service. What more could you ask for?
(5)Nicole R.
I recently went to Sava's for my boyfriends birthday dinner. Our waiter was Amanda (I believe), and she was very informative and friendly. We didn't have to wait for a table at all, and they brought our food out rather quickly. The ONLY small thing that I didn't like was that there were no booths available, so we had to go on the upper level to sit at the table and high chairs (which weren't completely comfortable). It's nothing to really complain about, but I thought I would mention it (I'm just a booth lover). We started off with appetizers. We ordered the black & bleu filet bites and spinach dip with warm pita. Both were very delicious, my favorite being the spinach dip. For entrees, my boyfriend had the braised lamb shank and I just had a regular cheese burger with fries on the side. My boyfriend said the lamb was excellent, moist, and just fell right off of the bone. I honestly don't have high reviews for the burger because in my opinion, it was just a burger, but yet very tasty! It was flavorful, juicy, and just the right size for me. We also ordered drinks, but I forgot the name of them. All in all, I wasn't "blown away", but I was very pleased with the overall experience, and will definitely be going back!
(4)Badrul F.
I always like coming here. And will continue to do so. However, as a vegetarian, I wish they had more options. Brunch is delicious here.
(4)Joe S.
We went to Sava's for Father's Day to have brunch, with a reservation at noon. We arrived 5 minutes early and were seated fairly quickly (about 10 minute wait). I checked out the buffet - I am a huge fan of lox, so that made me decide for the buffet. My daughter got a Greek omelette and my son also got the buffet. Service was pretty bad; it was nearly impossible to get a coffee refill and the waits between the waiter coming to and from the table were VERY long. I think this was primarily due to the restaurant just being packed at noon. If you're going for brunch and can wait until 1pm, the crowd thinned out significantly. Brunch goes until 2pm. The buffet was OK to good. The food did have some highlights and the presentation was great, but there were no dishes that you said, "Wow - I have to have more of that!" The lox were good, the selection of meats was pretty good, but overall the selection was pretty small (total of maybe 3 or 4 entree type foods, plus breakfast fare and desserts). It's also crammed in a room in the back - it is almost impossible to navigate through the area. The staff does a great job at keeping everything stocked, but they do this constantly so there is always someone restocking or rearranging something. This adds to the congestion in the area. My daughter's omelette was just meh, really very bland and nothing to prioritize as an item to order. Coffee was hard to come by. Desserts were also OK to good. The restaurant itself is really nice - a lot of light, and the booth that we were in was arranged so the window next to it was centered over the booth. This is just one of the things that makes the ambiance here. The noise level was fairly high, but we didn't have to talk too loudly to chat during our meal. Overall, the meal was pretty pricey for the mediocre to good food, the surroundings were really nice, and the service needs work. If you're willing to drop $60 for three people for brunch there are probably nicer places. However, I wouldn't tell people to stay away, just that they might be disappointed. It just seems like something is missing.
(3)Melissah L.
This place is really nothing special. I've been here quite a few times, and to me, most of the menu is really plain. A lot of the dishes sound like they would be tasty, but I've never had anything outstanding. Tonight I ordered the Southwest Chicken Salad with a side of sweet potato fries. The cilantro-lime vinaigrette was nice, but the actual salad part was just chopped romaine lettuce with beans and some corn. The meal was huge, but I could only finish half of it. The sweet potato fries are probably my favorite thing to order. The fries are cut to the perfect thickness and they are soft and chewy (that is the way I like all of my fries), but the best part is the dipping sauce that comes with it. I have no idea what goes into it, but it is a pink color and slightly spicy. Yum. Prices here are pretty reasonable for what you get, and I do appreciate the atmosphere. The restaurant itself feels decently classy, and it could be a nice place to meet with friends for dinner or drinks, or go for a nice lunch. I'll warn you though, do NOT come here in a big group, I've been twice in groups of 10+ and received the worst service I've ever experienced. Their waitstaff are college students and get overwhelmed very easily. Tonight, I went in a group of three, and the service was decent.
(2)Diane C.
Sava's had good ambience, but was just a tad too loud for good conversation for a party of 5. The food was excellent, as was the service.
(4)Michelle W.
Sava's has a great menu and all the dishes that I've had there have been excellent.
(4)c f.
We reserved a room to have our rehearsal dinner at Sava's. They was so helpful and really went out of their way to make this dinner special. It was perfect! The ambiance, the food, the service, everything!
(5)Russell R.
Great interior, great list of cocktails and other drinks. My grilled cheese on a croissant was okay, but my girlfriend's salmon burger with...I think, soy?...was pretty great. Prices aren't terrible.
(4)Jenny L.
I remember when Sava's was just starting out at a much smaller location across the street - I would stop by just for their delicious sweet potato fries and a quick bite to eat. Its been really enjoyable to see them grow and expand to where they are now - turning into a much classier($$$) establishment but keeping a bit of the small-diner feel. The menu has expanded a lot but they have still kept their delicious sweet potato fries. TRY: sweet potato fries(duh), huevos rancheros, bocaccini panini, black bean burger, artichoke spinach dip
(3)Trina M.
Found Sava's looking for a restaurant near the Michigan theater. What a Gem! The food was delicious and the service was impeccable. The appetizers, the fish, the burger, the pizza and the pulled pork sandwich were enjoyed by the four of us as they were melt in your mouth fantastic. Our server Geno, was professional, efficient, attentive and wonderfully friendly. Perfect for a date night, friends night out or family dinner. All our thumbs up! Thank you! The McAllister family
(5)Natalie R.
I came here for an event this past week. The party I was attending took over the front room near the window. There was a slight draft coming in from the window but the warmth of the company kept me feeling good. The restaurant had arranged a spread of different finger foods. There was cheese platter, a hummus/tzatziki/tabbouleh plate, and spinach and artichoke dip. The hummus was delightfully creamy, but tasted more natural and authentic than typical Sabra-brand. The spinach and artichoke dip was not to be missed - delightfully buttery in taste. These items were paired with toasted pita triangles and extremely delicious chips (that tasted like healthy was not exactly a factor when cooking them). There were also crackers, a veggie plate, and a fruit platter. I didn't get a chance to sample any of the main dishes on the menu, but I did knock back some cocktails. There was a tasty gin drink that I nursed for a while. The restaurant was large and perfect for the size of our 20+ party. There was also an area upstairs, housing a separate party that would have been sufficiently-sized for ours as well.
(4)L. W.
Sava's is such a mixed bag. The food is decent--not super-memorable, but pretty enjoyable whenever I go. They have a good happy hour (1/2 off draft beer and wine and some cocktail deal that I don't remember because I never drink cocktails--though my friends are always happy with them). The service is really hit or miss, though. I've had times when the server was incredibly personable and attentive and offered me wine samples and then other times where I had to wait half an hour to be visited by a server at all. One particularly odd encounter: I came for happy hour with 2 other friends, and they directed us to a high top table upstairs with only 2 seats. We asked for another seat for our friend who had recently hurt his back and couldn't stand for long periods of time, but the server said she wasn't supposed to move chairs from other tables. Most of the upstairs was empty at this point, so we asked if we could just move to one of the three empty booths right across from us. The server was really flustered and said we weren't allowed to get the happy hour price at the booth, but she ended up letting us do it anyway. It was nice of her to give us the happy hour rate, but why does the restaurant have such a strange policy about restricting happy hour to tables with only two seats and then not allowing you to use extra chairs? This is the kind of weirdness I've just come to expect from visits here.
(3)Wally S.
Oh Sava. How I want to give you a good rating. But it's so difficult after tonight's meal. We were warned that Monday nights might be a bit busy due to the $1.00 burgers, but we wanted to try it anyway. First we waited over 30 minute for someone to come to our table and ask us to order beverages. We we're later told the the wait staff was confused as to who was handling our table. This echos some of the other reviews which imply that the staff is unorganized. We received our food nearly an hour and twenty minutes after we we were seated. Many of the hamburgers were cold as were some of the fry orders. What was warm was very tasty. The burgers are plain but made with good beef. The fries and sweet potato fries were cooked just right and had a wonderful taste. I really enjoyed the sauce that is made at Sava. The mixture of paprika and mayo added a nice flavor to both the burgers and the fries. The garden burger was also very good. The owner was apologetic for the service and the cold food and asked that we come back at some time I'm the future. Next time it won't be on a Monday. So. Service: 1 star out of 5 Atmosphere: 4 out of 5 - beautiful building Food: 2 out of 5 for the cold food. 4 out of 5 for the hot food. I hope to be able to re-review this restaurant in the future. They deserve another chance.
(3)Riordan R.
As stated by others here, I've never had bad food there. Last Monday evening I was there for dinner, the place was packed, but my table was there available for us just as I reserved. Service is good, waiters are friendly, and you can't go wrong with the food. This is a place where you can have a casual dinner or something fancier, or a business dinner too, very eclectic and I think this is an awesome combination. It can be a little noisy sometimes, but don't let this discourage you, you're going to have a good experience. One other nice thing is that you can have a coffee at a charming Starbucks just next door !
(4)Jen S.
I don't know what to make of Sava's. It is just so hit or miss. It's taken me so long to write a review for this place because sometimes it's great and then sometimes it's really bad. They have a great happy hour and a great selection of drinks. The drinks are half off and I've always had a great time coming here for that. Who wouldn't? The decor is pretty nice and relaxing, some of it is cheesy but I can live with it. The waitstaff... sometimes they're great and on top of things but there have other times when I've come here and I don't see my waiter or waitress for almost a half hour at a time. Or I've had the experience where maybe three different people act as my waiter or waitress and I have no idea who my tip is going to. The food is just okay. I've never eaten here and thought, "That was amazing!" I've always just left feeling like I ate decent, good food but probably paid too much for it. Brunch here is a nightmare. I will say that. It might have just been the morning I went because I think it was parent's weekend but basically, I waited 30 minutes for a cup of coffee and the hollandaise sauce on my eggs benedict was practically curdling by the time I got it. Bleh!
(3)Carlos O.
The service was fine. The ceviche was good but did not find the chips all that great. Fries were ok. Mushroom burger was lacking in mushrooms, basically a burger. My fiancée ordered a steak medium done and was a bit dry. This place would not be my first choice for food. The atmosphere is cool.
(3)Alisa K.
Tried their huevos rancheros, schakolad chocolate and Belgian waffles, and their whipped cream strawberry Belgian waffles. The huevos rancheros were ok but I needed some sriracha on the side to up the flavor and the heat. They were the crunchy tortilla style, not the soft taco /burrito type (I prefer the latter). The waffles were also ok - good but nothing imaginative or special. They have a great brunch selection, though I personally decided to order off the menu in order to pace myself for more eating later. The brunch included quiche, pastries, salmon, etc. The ambience is nice and airy and open. The wait was a bit long - 30 minutes or so. I'd go to try the brunch, though I think Zola's, Northside Grill, and Broken Egg all have better breakfast entrees.
(3)Mary A.
An exciting place with a great vibe!! But just don't expect to enjoy the "omelettes". The worst I've ever had. The waitress explained that they "sear" them and then bake them. Well that explains it. Tough, dry, browned beyond recognition as anything made with eggs. I sent it back and they brought a totally delicious salmon scramble. Our waitress was excellent--very attentive. Though we were there too early for the buffet brunch it looked fabulous. The greeter and seater tried to give us a booth right by the serving station even though the restaurant was nearly empty when we got there. We protested; she chose another. If this place figures out these kind of problems it will be outstanding.
(4)Michael K.
Food is mediocre and the service is very poor. Not worth the 1 hour wait it took us to get seated. Wouldn't come back.
(2)Gina R.
Absolutely terrible experience. Came on Sunday am with friends while in town for the football game. We had a large party and were quoted an hour wait. The hour turned into an hour and 30 minutes, with no explanation offered other than the kitchen's need to wash our tablecloth. Ironically, none of the other tables in the entire restaurant had a tablecloth except for the one table we were sat at. When we were finally sat down, our waiter, though very nice, immediately spilled waters all over the table, including me. I was willing to forgive and forget because the food sounded great and he was really nice. He then forgot 2 drink orders, as he had disappeared for 15 minutes. He dropped off the drinks but then took another 10 minutes to come back for our order. I expressed hopes that the food could be made quickly, as a few of our party had flights to catch. he said they would "try" but it was their "busy time". By this point, it was 1:20, and over half the tables had cleared out. 2 pm rolled around, and our nice server left and was replaced by someone after the shift change. We asked her to inquire on the status of our food and she said she would check into it, but "everyone's been here a really long time so you're not the only ones." She came back and told us it would be maybe 15 more minutes. At this point, we all gave up and left and ate at Panchero's instead. Altogether, our name was entered at 11:30, and we left shortly after 2, having NOT eaten. Awesome.
(1)Nancy K.
I visited Sava's for the first time today for a late lunch/early dinner with a colleague. I was first pleased to see an outside eating area that included many tables, some in the sun and some not. We opted to dine indoors because of the wind but were able to do so surrounded by windows and plenty of sunlight. The menu was varied and substantial; will definitely be back soon to explore more choices. There are several veg-friendly options. I had the Famous Greek Salad which was excellent except for one sketchy piece of lettuce. Considering that I'm kind of ridiculous when it comes to lettuce, this is a fantastic accomplishment for a restaurant to only have me push aside one small leaf of lettuce. The salad had an impressive mix of greens and veggies. The addition of chick peas was a nice surprise. I also had lemonade and a slice of pecan pie which had a fantastic crust. The filling could stand to be a little more sticky. Pecan pie slices at Sava's come with a yummy scoop of icecream drizzled with caramel. While I usually stick to water I had a glass of lemonade - it was very good. This was an excellent dining experience. The food was great but, besides this, the rather hip wait staff was attentive, friendly and made the experience all the better. I could see a few more trips turning my four stars into five.
(4)Edward C.
Disclaimer: This is a review from a vegan perspective. I'm glad that Sava's has some vegan options, but honestly, they're pretty bad. The sesame tofu salad was terrible. In theory, the ingredients sound like they could mesh well (sesame tofu, pineapple, couscous, spinach, green onion, cucumber, carrot, green curry vinaigrette), but in actuality, the components were all bad individually, and then they were thrown together in a haphazard fashion that didn't really make sense. Like the tofu was hard and tasted only of salty soy sauce; the pineapple was sad and probably out of a dried up can (is that even possible?); the green onions made no sense; the carrot wasn't julienned; etc. If you're going to have something vegan on the menu, at least try? Because when you have a token vegan item and it's clear that you didn't put in any effort, it's disappointing and I would have rather gone somewhere where they at least try. Anyway, the only thing that's saving this from being a 1-star review is that my non-vegan companions seemed reasonably satisfied with their food, and the service was nice.
(2)Scott B.
Embarrassed to have brought a good friend here from out of town, hoping to impress with an example of some of our best local dining and something unique to Ann Arbor. VERY disappointing. Seated immediately (we had a reservation) - good. Food was OK though our dining experience was very much spoiled by non-responsive (read SLOW) waitstaff. Drinks arrived 20 minutes or more after ordering them, and were delivered incorrectly. Ordered another round before the entrees arrived; these were delivered after we'd eaten, so late we had them for dessert. Server says "so sorry, we have a new computer system." I. Don't. Care. Blaming the computer system is so very 90's. Buy a GOOD system, hire a GOOD bartending team, and Train Your Staff. Unacceptable and I won't be back for a loooong time. "So Sorry."
(2)Erin H.
I first ate here when it was in the smaller location across the street. At the time I thought the sandwiches were good - as were the crepes - the menu list of which was painted on the wall in the original location. Since Sava's moved I have eaten there 3 additional times and unfortunately every time have had extremely poor service - requests made repeatedly for refills or a condiment and never done, messed up orders, flustered and stressed out behavior. Each time I have visited I have asked for a list of the crepes and have always been met by confusion at this request - I'm assured they have "many kinds" but no one can produce a list. Sadly my book group tried the place during restaurant week (without me) and reported they had "astonishingly bad service" -- I'm not sure if it's a couple rotten servers or what but clearly there's an issue.
(2)Elizabeth E.
I have had two very average lunches at Sava's in the last year: once during the January restaurant week, and once with a large group of coworkers later in the spring. I think 'very average' is an appropriate descriptor because while I'm trying to remember anything noteworthy about either meal, I can't. The service was average. The food was average. The climate was average. Seriously, I can't think of a single dang thing to say about this restaurant, and that should be review enough.
(3)Sam F.
Yummy! This place is great to go to for a nice brunch on the weekend. The atmosphere is relaxed and classy, perfect for a laid-back dinner with the family or a first date. Their menu had so many different options, it was hard to choose what to order. I couldn't turn down ordering a side of pita bread with tzatziki, and it was really good! I would highly recommend checking this place out.
(4)Alex S.
I have been to Sava's many times since it has opened, and several times since it moved across the street to it's new larger location. I love food and good restaurants so I have been to many of the wonderful establishments Ann Arbor has to offer. Of all of those place, Sava's (post expansion) has consistently had the absolute worst service in the city. Every time I have gone there, the food arrived at unpredictable and at dramatically long intervals, so that one person would have already finished their main course while another would only be starting their appetizer. It was also common for them to forget orders completely. You would have to remind them repeatedly that they did not bring out a particular item you ordered. From now on, if anyone offers to eat at Sava's, I make sure to direct them to the nearby similarly named, but superiorly staffed and flavored vegetarian place, called Seva.
(1)Maria A.
The first time I went to Sava's, around 2 years ago, I wasn't super impressed. The food wasn't worth the price. However, it looks like times have changed! I went to Sava's this afternoon with a group of 5, and we were seated really quickly. I had the huevos rancheros, which were heaven on a plate. Everyone else with me seemed to really enjoy their burgers and sweet potato fries. I definitely need to make a return trip to try out the rest of their breakfast menu!
(4)Brian D.
I have only gone once for a late lunch, so I will update this review if my opinion changes. The restaurant was good, but seems to have an identity crisis. Is it upscale? Is it a sandwich place? Is it for everyone or just hipsters. I guess I just don't get it. I had the pecan encrusted sandwich and it was very good, however the waiter could have informed me that it wouldn't come with any sides (A la carte is fine, just tell me). What kept this place in the 3 range for me is how damn ironic they are trying to be. I get it - you put the check in a coffee cup and the waiters are wearing ties with cutoff jeans - sweet, hip, awesome. The food simply doesn't seem to match the showy machismo they're flaunting. I'm looking forward to giving this place another chance, but for now it seems like the owners are more intent on worrying about how cute their hostesses are than how good the food and service is.
(3)Joseph T.
Very quick, prompt, polite service. The staff is friendly and the food is great. Yes, the Chorizo Mac and Cheese is definitely a good side to try, quite delicious.
(4)Dee W.
While planning my sister's law school graduation dinner, I asked her for some of her favorite restaurant. I was able to settle on Sava's and had such a pleasant experience working with them in making the reservations and also pre-ordering appetizers. For the pre-ordered apps, I opted for the calamari, spinach & artichoke dip, coconut shirmp and risotto balls. Food was delicious as everyone got something different from each other so we could sample a little bit of everything. We tried the beef ternderloin (cooked to perfection), capellini marlon (the lobster, shrimp cooked with saffron butter was scrumptious!), sausage risotto, rigatoni bolognese, mushroom spaghettini (with the slightest taste of truffles), and two of the dinner specials - the sea bass and the lambchops. Each dish was special yet simply delicious. Service was divine and they were just overall wonderful to work with. Thank you again!!
(5)Andrew S.
I started going to Sava's Cafe before it changed location to the larger establishment that used to be Zanzibar. Back then, I felt as though it was pretty unique and had relatively good vibes. Since the switch, the quality of Sava's has deteriorated on every level. Service? Abysmal - you're lucky if the waiter is not so high he doesn't forget he's waiting on you. If she isn't too high to function, she likely is so poorly trained she doesn't realize humans drink water. You do not go to Sava's for a quick meal - make sure you are going for an extended experience which is likely to overtake all other plans you had for the weekend. Food? Overpriced, low quality ingredients, and poor craftsmanship - while some dishes are unique (the vegetarian lasagna has a unique hint of indian spice in the sauce), other dishes (such as the eggplant sandwich) are of foul taste and softened by excess liquid. Good luck getting sweet potato fries which are not burnt but crisp ;) After stopping going for these myriad reasons, I returned a number of times for a foray into the Dollar Burger Monday. Was I pleased? No. Of course the dining experience took ages and the waiter was far too incompetent and high to actually be functional (this happened similarly at least 6 different times). And, over time, they slowly decreased the bun quality to make up for their "lost profit", even though each topping on the burger cost an extra $1. And the final nail in the coffin on the entire Sava's experience? EGO.
(2)Megan M.
I walk by Sava's nearly every day, and even at 8am on a workday winter morning, the interior looks amazingly inviting. I love the bi-level seating, and the whole restaurant manages to feel simultaneously airy and cozy. My experiences, however, haven't lived up to the fantastic space. I first went to Sava's for a drink and snacks in the early afternoon. The curried chickpea cakes were well flavored, and the polenta fries were fine (not quite the golden perfection of the polenta fries at Grizzly Peak). Portion sizes are on the slender side but priced on par with other Ann Arbor bars. I appreciated that the beer selection was not overwhelmingly huge, and curated with a tendency toward Michigan brews. This week, I went back for Restaurant Week. I know, I know - you can't judge a place on its RW menu, but the meal just really turned me and my boyfriend off Sava's. I feel like Restaurant Week should do the opposite. I convinced my boyfriend to go, claiming the meal would be wonderful (a conviction based entirely on the first appetizer, goat cheese with fig compote). I also called ahead, and they said that though they were full reservation-wise, we should definitely stop by any time after 6:30, because their kitchen was fully staffed and they could handle a high turnover. We were seated within ten minutes of walking in. The much-anticipated goat cheese and fig compote came with bread that was toasted to a dryness more like biscotti than bruscetta. I would have enjoyed the appetizer more if the cheese had been even slightly warmed. It came cold and did not open up the flavors of the fig compote. The two entrees (chicken breast and mushroom risotto) had each clearly sat around for the 25 minutes it took for them to be delivered after our appetizer was cleared. Slow service was the real disappointment; I would have been fine with the OK food if it had been served promptly. Our server didn't offer to refill our drinks, or stop by to ask about our entrees. The Restaurant Week deal (2/$25) was incredibly affordable, but the food and service let me down, and my boyfriend refuses to ever return to Sava's. The interior is great enough to entice me back for happy hour, but I'm not willing to commit to dinner service again.
(3)Andrea A.
Meh. I go to Sava's pretty regularly, but only because my department is in North Quad, which is less than a block away. I've had breakfast, lunch, and happy hour there multiple times. I definitely don't recommend breakfast if you're on any kind of schedule. Service early in the morning is lackluster and slow. It's pretty common to have to wave down a server to place an order, get coffee, etc. And the breakfast food isn't really good enough to make up for that; nothing I've had there has been objectively bad, although I think the coffee tastes like it's been sitting in the pot for far too long, but nothing is great, either. At lunch, the staff moves more briskly, which is nice if you only have an hour or so. There are some good sandwiches on the menu, and as other reviewers have mentioned, the sweet potato fries are great. Happy hour is a pretty good bet here as well. There are a variety of beers, including some nice microbrews. The mixed drinks are fine too. They have some nice appetizers-- standouts for me are the hummus (which comes with fried pita) and the raspberry and brie in filo. Despite the annoyance of breakfast at Sava's, I would have given it four stars except that they are painfully unreliable at times. For example, I made plans to meet a group of friends for breakfast at 8:30 one morning (because I'm a masochist, apparently) and even though Sava's is supposed to be open at 8, the door was locked and the restaurant was closed. I called on my cell phone to see if it was an oversight, but even though I could see people inside, no one answered. There was no sign explaining the closure, either. And they discontinue specials-- like their half price appetizers during happy hour, or their quick and cheap breakfast-- with no notice, which is irritating if you've made a point of going there for those specials. Basically, Sava's has a great location and just enough good food to make it worth stopping by if you're in the neighborhood, but it's nothing special; certainly not the kind of place I'll miss when I leave Ann Arbor.
(3)Elle W.
I had been eyeing Sava's since I'd moved to Ann Arbor last fall. I was excited about trying it.. But also hesitant- I didn't want to be disappointed! I walked in.. Sigh of relief. Trendy, cute, and lively. The food was solid. I highly recommend the hummus plate as an app. Creative drinks and great service earn this place a solid 4 stars.
(4)Vee V.
Third trip in two weeks, this time with the in-laws. World-travelers, father in law is a serious cook who takes cooking lessons from top chefs in foreign lands, kind of guy. Mother in law, not so much. Knows what she likes and orders it from the same restaurants for no-surprises. They both loved it! MIL had rigatoni bolognese, and they cheerfully substituted her preferred pasta for the rigatoni. FIL had fish & chips, as he "wasn't very hungry" :) he's a lovely man but inclined to be super-picky about things like slightly overbrowned edges, and not enough sauce...etc. Waitress was phenomenal, keeping up with our table of 5 and the requests for this & that (mostly special requests, not just ketchup, etc.) I had the truffled mushroom burger, and a plate of polenta fries with tomato jam to share. Even my dear picky husband ate some of the polenta--and he loves the jam. I wonder if the chef would share the recipe? Anyway, a delightful meal in what is fast becoming a favorite restaurant.
(5)Colleen Z.
Loving the food at Sava's I decided to book an academic dinner in the private room in the back. We had a party of nine and had booked well in advance. Booking was the only easy part. We received a confirmation call a couple of days before the reservation which was appreciated. What we were not told at the time was another party had been booked for two hours after our reservation time. Although a colleague was waiting for us, I dropped our guest off at the front door with instructions to head to the back. Upon arrival in private room, my guest was immediately informed that we had two hours for dinner. As host, I was told the same thing once I arrived. I questioned why we were not told in advance to which I received no response. Once in the room, the doors to the main dining room were not closed because a table with extra seats had been set outside the private room making it impossible to close the private doors. I immediately asked for the doors to be closed because we wanted privacy and more quiet for conversation amongst our group. The staff accommodated my request but had to physically move the outside table to close the doors. Luckily the party at the table was understanding. THEN the party started upstairs above the private dining room. I am trying to think how to describe the sound of moving chairs, moving furniture, screaming, woohooing, clapping and jumping above our room. Hmmm, well, you get the picture. Some time during dinner someone at the outside table that was earlier moved decided to open the doors again, WITH the help of our wait staff. Seriously? This is when I got up, closed the doors, and asked the manager what the heck was going on upstairs. I was informed an awards dinner was upstairs. I asked if that party could be asked to be more quiet. Manager looked at me like I was crazy. Really? My party was in the back of the private room, huddled together, trying to hear each other talk while our food was being rushed and manager looks at ME? My party starts to look at one another and roll their eyes and smile. Great. To top off this wonderful evening, various different wait staff start coming in our room to clear everything off the table 30 minutes before our two hours are ending. Picture arrival at 6:30pm, hosts greet guests, cocktail and appetizer orders placed, all ten people then order food and 1.5 hours later the staff is pulling everything off the table. Nice. I am a really nice person. I tolerate alot of things. However, when I called I told the person taking reservations about our party, what I needed, etc., and the restaurant failed. Big time. The young lady staffing our room did her best. The food was very good. Everything else was absolutely horrible. I had another reservation for the private room immediately cancelled the next day. My suggestion? If you want to use the private room for a celebratory or holiday party, do. If you want to use the room where conversation and mixing will take place, run. You will be very disappointed.
(1)Bianca P.
I like this place. The food is fresh. The watermelon salad is delicious. My salmon burger is always good (and more of a fillet sandwich than a burger). The waitstaff is always weird. Overall, its a good experience with really nice hours for students.
(4)Dewey G.
I shouldv'e stopped going to Sava's when I found a hair in my eggs, but I chalked it up to it being a mistake. The last straw occured when I saw a roach crawl from our table into a crack. I did infom the hostess and she said "oh sorry about that." It's sad because it used to be a nice place, but now it's a dump. I hope that they cleaned up their business.
(1)Holly B.
Let me preface this review by saying my four-star rating is primarily based on Sava's Happy Hour, which has been an after-class/work mainstay since I moved to A2 about a year ago. Sava's happy hour features 1/2 all drinks in the drink menu, including beer (draft and bottled), cocktails, and wine. 1/2 off cocktails is the big draw for me, with cocktails averaging $3.50-4.50 each. I've tried at least half a dozen, and I've enjoyed the vast majority of them. As others have already mentioned, the food itself is pretty average. I've only had a few dishes, and they're not really anything to write home about, which would be fine if the prices weren't a bit too high. With that said, my friend and I went to Sava's for happy hour yesterday and walked away with a ~$23 bill (three cocktails, three beers, and a side of fries). You can't really beat that. Happy hour out on the patio is the way to go. Take advantage of the warmth while it lasts!
(4)Emily S.
Went here while I was visiting Ann Arbor based on a friend's suggestion --- it was so great! I think everyone at our table agreed it was the best meal we had during our trip. There are creative cocktails and the food is great. We started off with cocktails and shared some small plates- polenta fries, risotto balls, ceviche, hungarian stuffed peppers- and they were all great. The entrees were great as well. Savas has a fun atmosphere and it's a great place to go with a group of friends. I would suggest taking friends who are willing to share!
(5)R G.
Totally bummed with the service. we went there tonight for dinner with friends. Told couldn't make a reservation (and we understood) but that I could call 20 minutes to put our name in. We called ahead and arrived at 6:00 and then was told 30-40 minute wait and we were good with it. Sat at the bar and waited 11/2 hours for our table. After we sat we ordered our food immediately since we looked at the menu waiting for our table. We waited another hour for our food to come. The tomato soup came and 4 out 5 came to the table cold. We sent the 4 back and when they came back to the table again they were cold again! We didn't dare risk sending it back because we were hungry. Then it came to our main course they too came to the table cold! Nothing like cold burgers and fries. On our way out I spoke with manager letting her know of our experience. She apologized and gave a comp certificate towards next meal. That was nice but I wish the staff should make contact with managers to let them know when patrons are not have a good experience and have it addressed then.. I wish I could say the conversation kept us at the restaurant for 3 1/2 hours and not the wait for food. Will we go there again? Yes but we wont leave anything to chance and just may eat something to eat ahead of time or have pizza delivered to sava.
(1)Lauren L.
I've been to Sava's about five or 6 times, and it's pretty middle of the road. I have to say I've never had anything bad at Sava's, but there are things I have ordered that are just not spectacular either. It is great for groups because everyone will find something they like - they do a mix of watered-down ethic and American food. Recommended: Risotto Balls - 3 balls of rice with a cheese center in a cream sauce. Delicious, because it is quite literally a ball of rice and cheese. They're not super flavorful but they are always a crowd-pleaser, regardless. Pecan Chicken Salad - A really good salad; the dressing makes it, I think. It won't change your life but it is very good. Chicken Fusili - I was on the fence about recommending this one. I love, love goat cheese very much and good sun dried tomatoes are never not good. The combination of ingredients was delicious, but it made the dish so rich I could only finish half of it. I would say it is worth getting if you are not a huge eater and plan on taking the other half home. French fries - The french fries themselves are just normal fries; nothing special. The dipping sauce is what makes it. I asked a waitress their secret recipe and it is literally mayonnaise with sirracha mixed in. Clearly not for the diet-conscious crowd, but so tasty. Not Recommended: Tomato Bisque - I really wanted to like this dish because I have a special place in my heart for all things tomato. The Sava's version was very doctored up - I think I tasted garlic and rosemary, among other things. What made it gross was the extreme amounts of cream that they put in it - and this is by no means a small bowl. It was just too heavy and rich. Grilled cheese for grownups - A huge disappointment. It is a really rich pile of cheese on a croissant, which makes it overly greasy. You can't really taste the tomatoes or the honey, so its kind of flavorless aside from the grease. Banh Mi - Hipsters for crazy for these sandwiches because it has so many different flavors that its supposed to be like nothing else. Sava's was a bad place to start with my first Banh Mi, because it was very bland (the opposite of true Banh Mi). I almost asked for A1 Steak Sauce to put on it, because it was so dry. Overall, I would recommend Sava's. The atmosphere is great - you can have conversations without it being too loud. The waitresses are nice and very attentive (sometimes a bit too much - it can feel a little rushed when busy). They have a good beer and wine selection, although their cocktail menu needs a little work imo. And again, its great for lots of people because they have such a diverse menu. I just wouldn't recommend it solely on the strength of its food, which leans bland.
(3)Jing M.
I don't usually go to pub. I've heard of Sava's from other occasions, but the last time I went there was for a get-together for a small group of people who are graduating. I just realize that Sava's has the best Salad I've ever had. The shrimp and quinoa salad is super awesome! It has a little goat cheese in it, which is not my type. But all others, including the shrimp, greens, quinoa, pears, and cranberries mixed wonderful together. I would definitely love to try it again! The seating is nice too, not as loud as other pubs that I've been to, or probably it's because we were there at an early time.
(5)Jessica W.
We are new to the area and just tried this place last night. We absolutely loved it! It has a fun, classy atmosphere. The food was absolutely amazing. My husband had a hamburger and I had butternut squash ravioli. I'm still thinking about the ravioli. This is by far the best food we've had in Ann Arbor this far and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Janelle R.
I have been to Sava's on a handful of occasions, and I'm always pretty happy with the food and service. My favorite thing about Sava's is actually the booths believe it or not. If you can score one of the booth's along the windows on the main floor you'll have the best seats in the house in my opinion. There are TONS of windows in this place and it's very pleasant there - although there's so much natural light that any seat is a good seat. My favorite thing to order at Sava's is the steak and potato salad. If you're wanting a healthy option, but still want something "hearty" this is a good choice for you. I've had it three times, and the most recent time my steak was regrettably well done (I ordered it "medium") but the other two times the steak was spot on, so perhaps it was just a fluke. All the salads are great - if you are a big time salad eater like me, you'll appreciate that the salads here are REALLy a meal - they give you a big ol' bowl full of goodies and dressing on the side. I highly recommend the salads! Sava's is a great place for lunch, or dinner - and is good for groups as well.
(4)Ari A.
I am giving this low review because of the service, not the food. My husband and I never had the opportunity to eat the food because we waited 10 minutes when no one even aknowledged our presence or asked what we'd like to drink. Oh and this was not a busy time. I said goodbye to the host who didnt even look up from his booth and just waved. We will never patron this restaurant again.
(1)Zak S.
Great food and atmosphere! A little pricey and loud music, if you're wanting a quieter place.
(3)Sylvonna R.
Sava's is definitely a gem in the State St. area. Due to the proximity to Central campus I was expecting a more casual dining experience, and, while casual is definitely accepted here, the restaurant itself and the decor is just beautiful. Waiters and staff wear more formal clothing and when you order hot tea the selection is brought out in a wooden box with tea bags organized by flavor. I was definitely impressed by these small, but meaningful, details. I ordered the Maize and Blue burger which is served with a fried egg and bleu cheese. This was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. It a large burger but I finished every last little bit of it. I can't even describe all the flavors I tasted but the combination is simply amazing. My friend ordered the Greek Salad and it was HUGE (not to mention filled with yummy ingredients: feta, chick peas, beets, olives, cucumber, tomato, and pepperoncini). I usually shy away from ordering salad at a restaurant that has so many wonderful options for entrees but that salad is definitely one I will be trying soon! The atmosphere is very laid back and our server was very happy to let us linger and enjoy our food and conversation. The restaurant was packed, which is always a good sign. I am already trying to figure out when I can get back for another visit. I just can't wait to explore more of the menu!
(4)Harley F.
Walked in and was immediately impressed with the ambiance and restaurant set up. The service was fantastic and food was delicious. Definitely a place to go to when visiting Ann Arbor.
(5)Artime M.
Everything about this place is very mediocre, even the sweet potato fries.
(3)Rebekah H.
Thoroughly enjoyed my experience here. Coffee was a-okay, and the croissant sandwich I had was mighty tasty. Mimosas were $7, which is still (IMO) too much to pay for a mimosa, but whatev! I was on vacation so it was a perfectly justifiable splurge. Only thing I didn't love was how giant the restaurant actually felt, and still how crowded I felt. Don't let a thing like that deter ya though, it was a completely suitable dining experience otherwise.
(4)Nick O.
Breakfast buffet selection and quality well worth the expense, with inclusive coffee and Bloody Mary or mimosa. Salmon and shrimp are excellent as are select meats, cheese tray, and deviled eggs. Standard breakfast meats and eggs are fine but save room for the superb desserts, including homemade pop tarts and chocolate mousse!
(4)Beck E.
Was just here Thursday night because some vegetarian friends were really craving the veggie lasagna (and I'll admit, it smelled fantastic). I'd been here once previously and had a good experience (not great), but it was our waitress' first day, so the service was really, really slow. I wanted to refrain from reviewing based off of that experience alone. So the place was loud. Like, unreasonably loud. It wasn't even packed or anything, there were plenty of empty tables, and the second floor was totally vacant. But I couldn't help but notice the noise level, and I'm generally a very oblivious person. I didn't order any food since I'd already had dinner, but I got a Diet Coke. $2.50 for soda... seems ridiculous. Especially given that the Miller High Life on tap was $2. They also had some sad attempt at Vietnamese banh mi, which they misspelled as "bahn"... which leads me to believe that they found the same terrible recipe online (complete with misspelling) that Charley's did over the summer. ARRRRRRRRGGGHHHHHHHHHH. Wait service was so-so. This place seems overpriced for what you get.
(2)victor m.
oh no! sava's, what have you done to your bahn mi? you've ruined one of the few vegetarian go-tos on the menu. you somehow thought japanese bread would be more "authentic" for a french postcolonial vietnamese sandwich than baguette? just please do this: google image bahn mi. or at the very least consider, if not actual authenticity, then textural contrast.
(2)Gail G W.
Amazing staff, amazing drinks and amazing food. We recently stumbled upon this gem and I can say it is our new favorite in AA!!
(5)Trevor M.
One of my favorite A2 restaurants, a definite go-to when we can't decide where to eat. The sweet potato fries are the best in town, but skip the ancho-mayo dipping sauce. Fish tacos are also very solid, 3 tacos to an order, with a nice touch of corn and black beans. All the salads are unique and tasty. Risotto balls are an excellent appetizer. Only had the paella once, but it was very impressive, with fresh tasting ingredients and healthy portions. Sava's typically struggles in the service department, but to its credit, has significantly improved in the last 18 months. It also appears to have taken a price increase the last time I was in during art fair. It will not stop me from visiting, however, as the food and atmosphere are always tremendous.
(4)Adam B.
Attentive staff, nice trendy atmosphere & good sized portions. The lamb shank was cooked perfectly, it literally fell off the bone. We also shared the Mediterranean Trio, hummus was very good. Highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)Anne A.
The reason I'm writing this is that I'm in disbelief Sava's only has 4 stars out of 5 ... It's definitely at 5. Let me just start off saying you have to get a side of mac and cheese with any meal. It's fantastic. Best in town. Some of my favorites: - Spinach & artichoke dip: the perfect appetizer - Pecan encrusted chicken: so good, with a delicious aioli - Salmon burger: got this yesterday and it was the best! $9 and you get a full salmon with a teriyaki slaw... it is perfectly marinated. - Sweet potato fries: a classic amazing side although their normal fries are the perfect crisp texture so you can't go wrong with either! The vibe in Sava's is always amazing. They are always improving their decor and making it better and better each time! And the menu keeps evolving every few months so I'm never bored. Sava, a local Ann Arborite, really outdoes herself. Overall, everyone loves Sava's. I always go with my friends, my family, and ALWAYS bring my friends from out of town and no one's disappointed. There is just something for everyone and you definitely feel cool eating here.
(5)Patty K.
Meh. The food is mediocre for the price. I've been here a handful of times and the food is honestly forgettable. The last time I went I had wild mushroom spaghettini and it was like I dumped a jar of store bought Alfredo sauce over some pasta with a few mushrooms. Not impressive. The time before that I went for lunch and had a mediocre portabello sandwich. Service is hit or miss, sometimes it is acceptable, other times, ridiculously slow and disorganized. The last time I went we asked the waiter to split our check 4 ways for 4 people and he got our orders mixed up and took a long time to correct it. Having been to many other restaurants many other times where the checks were split up correctly it was hard to accept this foible in addition to the lackluster food. I'll say that Sava's probably has the best ambiance on state street, and the drinks are pretty good.
(3)Wasim Q.
Light. Fluffy. Moist. Delicious. These are words I would definitely NOT use to describe their belgian waffles, which are some of the worst I've had. The batter was way too dense, cold, and bland. The bananas on top were sliced way too big and the chocolate chips were not even melted and added as an afterthought. Before we got a table, we waited 30 minutes and then discovered they forgot to write our name down even though they gave us a buzzer. The place was packed on a Sunday for brunch so I'd give them a second chance. Just don't get the waffles!
(1)Nicholas P.
I have been to Sava a couple times before, and last night my girlfriend and I decided to grab a late meal there. We arrived around ten and were seating promptly as the restaurant was mostly vacant. Unlike the last couple of visits when we were seated in booths, this time the hostess placed us at the high tables near the bar. Although we both contemplated asking to sit in a booth again, the higher tables proved to be very comfortable and an intimate spot for two. My only complaint is that if you are not looking at your tablemate you end up looking at the back of whoever is at the bar. Our waiter had a large section but was still very efficient and courteous even at such a late hour. I ordered the knights beef burger with cheddar and I was very pleased. The meat was cooked exactly the way I ordered it, and had great flavor. The onions, tomato, and lettuce were all fresh and crunchy. What I especially appreciated about the burger was the cheddar was completely melted over the burger. Unlike other burgers where the slice of cheese seems to be more of an afterthought, the chef did a terrific job melting the cheese onto the burger patty. I am pleased to be able to count on Sava as a quality meal late in the evening as well as a lunch and dinner spot!
(4)Alex E.
I've never had bad food here (for dinner/lunch). I like it since it feels like a nice place (in both the food and atmosphere sense), but it is significantly cheaper than any of the actual "nice places" in A2. It's also nice because some places seem irritated if you just get a $9 sandwich for dinner instead of the more expensive high teens entrees, but this is not one of those places. All food I've ever had has been fresh and appropriately seasoned - nothing's too greasy or excessively salty, so I keep going back semi-regularly. Favorites are steak+potatoes salad and the chicken fusili. Portion sizes are also ridiculously reasonable compared to similar style of restaurants - you won't leave hungry if you get an entree or one of their entree salads (sandwiches I cant' say the same for, but most their sandwiches are less than/equal $10 so I still think they're appropriately priced), which is refreshing when a lot of restaurants here are into moderate price tags for tiny, unreasonable portions. Drinks I've had or those my friends have had are quite tasty. I like their summer white sangria a lot, and I like their mulled wine in the winter. I've been for brunch once, and it was nothing special. Which is probably why I completely forgot I'd been for brunch until I saw a bunch of brunch reviews. Same goes for their desserts - nothing special.
(5)Amber P.
Maybe my expectations were too high for this place after reading all the great reviews. I had a dinner special, grilled salmon with coconut sauce and plantains, a side of mash potatoes. Everything was pretty bland. My boyfriend had a burger and fries with bacon, it was meh. We then had the apple pie cookies as a dessert per recommendation of the manager- we left both cookies on the plate. For the amount of time we spent waiting to be seated, high tab and bland food, I won't be returning.
(3)Nerice G.
Loved the food. Loved the atmosphere. Great pricing on Happy Hour and wonderful dinner menu. Relaxing and fun for any age range. Service was wonderful. Definitely making a trip back to Ann Arbor for this eatery!
(5)Jessica W.
Went for their Sunday brunch and sat at the bar with a friend. My Bloody Mary was good, definitely not spicy enough though. The bartender was friendly, and checked on us often, but not too often. We both had omelets that were served with seasoned potatoes. I had the asaparagus goat cheese and my friend had the mushroom. They were decent omelets, but too dry, and lacked flavor. I would definitely go back, but would try a mimosa and a different brunch item off their menu. Maybe some sweet vs savory.
(3)Ian A.
Took my girlfriend out without telling her I had reservations; walking into Sava's impressed her. Atmosphere was wonderful, classy enough for a tie but I wouldn't have felt uncomfortable in jeans. The food was phenomenal, particularly the sweet potato fries. I had the smoked half chicken (and yes...it was an entire half of a chicken), which was delicious and well presented. The only minor complaint I had was that the service was fast enough that we definitely felt rushed through the meal. The entree showed up well before we had finished our salad, and we were offered the check well before finishing the entree. However, that aside I enjoyed the place thoroughly. I'll go back.
(4)Farhaad R.
This place has literally the best sweet potato fries I have ever eaten in my life. I can vouch for the fish tacos as well, they were good - not average but not incredible. Don't know why this place doesn't have a higher rating - maybe the long wait? I had a reasonably priced dinner in a romantic setting upstairs, had a waiter who wasn't hard to find and kept checking on us (not too much) and enjoyed my food. I'll be back!
(4)Trevor M.
We eat here after church sometimes and the brunch is usually pretty good. I like their selection of food and the service has always been good. I would eat here if you are around and want something casual and friendly. The only thing I want to say to the Owner is, why the hell would you name a restaurant Sava's when 3 blocks away is a restaurant that has been here since I can remember called Seva's. That was incredibly confusing the first time I was supposed to meet some of my family there. Needless to say I went to Seva's before I was informed I needed to go to Sava's haha. Seems stupid to me but Food is good
(3)Briana K.
Amazing! I went here for the first time this past Saturday after passing by here a few times and loved it. We got seated right away during prime time on a weekend night. The decor and atmosphere was clean and neat - very modern and interesting. The staff was very friendly and easy on the eyes, if you know what I mean ;-) I am a vegetarian and was pleasently surpised with the number of vegetarian options on the menu - black bean burger, grilled vegetable lasanga, pear stuffed ravioli and pistachio encrusted tofu - not to mention the many starters and salads that were vegetarian friendly. I opted for the pistachio encrusted tofu and loved it! The other people at my table ordered a buffalo chicken sandwich, caesar salad, and shrimp quinoa entree and were all very happy with their meal. I noticed a well stock bar with many draft beers. I will definitely be back here!
(5)Judy C.
We had an amazing Easter brunch at Savas. The buffet had an great selection from lobster salad to a delicious selection of desserts Our waiter could not have been any nicer. Great way for us to start off the day. But be sure to make your reservations early they book up fast.
(5)Dancing T.
The bartenders will make awesome drinks if you ask. Also, try the spinach dip and meatball appetizers, well worth it! YUM. Only four stars because the cold air from the door is not adequately blocked. It is cold sitting at the bar or standing in the front entry way. They should really have a heater to counteract the cold during really cold winter days. It was pretty awful sitting at the bar for an hour.
(4)S R.
Sava's is one of my favorite Ann Arbor restaurants. No matter what I order, I'm never disappointed. I've always had wonderful waitstaff, delicious food, and fantastic drinks. I've probably been 15+ times, I can't imagine how anyone could have a bad thing to say! Oh....well...there's the bathrooms...so just hold it 'til you get home ;)
(5)Lynn C.
The restaurant itself is spacious and has a comfortable ambiance. I can see why people are drawn to this place because of it. The waiter we had was probably the best part of our dining experience. He was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic of the restaurant. The menu did not seem that unique to me, especially for of the prices that Sava's charges. We had the tofu salad for $11, salmon burger for $9, and chicken fusilli for $16. They all tasted good but not amazing enough for me to come back for it.
(3)Sin-Yaw W.
The "Founder's" draft beer is "Dirty Bastards." It was intense and stouty. The "Bell's Two Hearted" was lighter and orangy. Quite tasty as the 2nd glass. We decided, as the correct sequence, the dessert first. Then the appetizer (Calamaris with Jalapeno sauce). Next we gauged how much room we have left and chose, both, a small dish. I Pecan crusted Chicken salad and companion a black bean cake. Have to say mine is far better, only also larger. The atmosphere was energetic, foods excellent, location very convenient, and service very quick and friendly. Why is it not 5-starred? I have not sampled their full dinner dishes yet.
(4)Blaine T.
My favorite brunch place on campus! I always change it up between getting the Bandito Hash, Crepes, or Omelettes. They give you big portions and everything is great!
(5)Joyce H.
My friends and I came to Sava's for brunch on a breezy, sunny day in AA. Loved the atmosphere and the patio seating! However, the food was just average. We ordered lots of different breakfast items. I ordered the caprese omelet, which had chunks of tomato and mozzarella cooked into the egg. It filled me up but it was un-memorable. My bf had the Benny with Lox (eggs benedict) and he mentioned it was just average too. One of my girlfriends and I shared a bananas and nutella crepe and though it was a great finishing sweet dessert crepe, the nutella was smeared into the crepe (and not creamy) and the crepe itself was very bready. We chose this because of location and atmosphere, knowing that the food wouldn't be mind blowing. At least we got what we wanted.
(3)Mimi T.
It's currently restaurant week in AA and so a few girls and I decided to check out Sava's for lunch. So my rating is partly for food and partly for service. We arrived on time for our reservations and was told that our table will be checked on and we should be seated momentarily. 20 minutes later no table... our entire group was there at this point and we check back and they said that they forgot. Seriously?!?! After we remind them again about us we were seated a minute later. The table was set with menus and water and the waitress said she'll return after we reviewed the menu. So we all reviewed... 15 minutes go by and she's still not back. She returns and answers a few questions and then we order. At this point we've been at the restaurant for an HOUR. Our food eventually arrives another 10-15 minutes later. Luckily, the wait was worth it. We didn't actually do the restaurant week menu 2 for $15 just b/c the regular menu was basically the same price and the RWM had about 5-6 items. My friend and I split a Ham/Spin/Brie sandwich and the Kalifa Sandwich. Both were delicious! I tried some of the sweet potato fries which were also delicious. Cheese was melted and the panini was still hot and the fries crispy. Good Job. So would I come back? ... Maybe for dinner. The menu looked interesting so I'll try it again but if the service is the same, then I might just pass or don't come when you're really hungry. Overall- good food but meh to terrible service time (ps. never got a refill on waters/drinks)
(3)Javier G.
Below average portions, above average price, tastes okay.
(2)I G.
This place was ok. Came here for my sister in laws birthday. My wife and I ordered a burger and the tortilla soup. While others were eating their appetizer, we were hoping we would get our soup to enjoy...but we waited and waited until our burgers came. Needless to say we canceled our soup. Waitress apologizes but wasn't concerned. Burger was ok. Nothing to really say wow. Probably won't eat here by choice.
(3)Jessie S.
I'm not usually one for the girly drinks but yesterday I had Sava's Candy Darling cocktail. It was so great I ordered a second one! Now to make my own Twizzler infused vodka for home.....
(4)Sophie A.
I think Sava's is underrated. The food is surprisingly good, and very reasonably priced. Sava's also has a nice beer selection (of both bottles and drafts), and a fun cocktail list. The space is huge and nicely maintained (very clean), and the waitstaff were attentive and friendly. My reason for not giving it 5 stars is that it's rather conventional; I don't mean this in a bad way necessarily, but if you're looking for somewhere with a hipster/trendy vibe, this isn't the right place.
(4)Christina V.
One of my favorite restaurants in Ann Arbor!! Good for so many occasions--date night, casual get-together with friends, parents' visit, you name it. Really great ambiance, and very affordable. It's a great go-to choice when meeting up with friends, because their menu has something for everyone. The menu is extensive without being overwhelming. This is definitely a place I try to bring friends when they visit from out of town. The quality of food is tops; everything I've tried has been great, and I've had a fair share of the menu items. I mainly go for dinner but they're prefect for breakfast and lunch as well. I'm a big fan of their outdoor seating! Kind of takes out of Ann Arbor, makes you forget you're in the middle of a college town. I really like their take on grilled cheese--they put a few different kinds of cheese and add some honey, all on a croissant. Paired with the tomato bisque, it's divine! Their burgers are also solid, as are their salads, and the mac and cheese is yummy. Really everything is great!! Very fresh ingredients and the presentation is always clean and modern. My only complaint is their cocktails--I get lured in by their interesting sounding concoctions, but I'm always left feeling disappointed/forced to down a $10 drink that really just tastes like soap. If you're going to drink recommend sticking to beer and wine (or drinks with a 4-ingredient-max limit). Highly recommend!!
(4)Ranger R.
Horrible service from josh, food was not good either. They also edit their reviews on yelp. Instead, they should consider using the feedback to fix the problems. Wrote a lengthy review about the same subject and they removed it.
(1)Rachel R.
This was the worst experience I've had in a restaurant, bar none. I was there for a friend's birthday, and we were a large group (19 people). The reservation was booked well in advance, so the staff should have been prepared for us. Should have been. When we arrived only half of the water glasses were filled. The remaining half remained unfilled for 35 minutes. We only had one server assigned to our group, and I noted he was also handling most of our section. Needless to say, service was slow. Really slow. We put in our drink orders in about 10 minutes after arriving, and did not receive them until an half hour later. Not only that, but we were served our drinks four at a time, with a few minutes between each arrival. The last two to receive their drinks, an hour after they ordered them, had ordered the unbelievably complex beverage known as "Diet Coke." It should be noted that most of us had drained our water glasses, and not had them refilled during this time. Once we had our drinks and had been in the restaurant an hour, our food order was finally taken. Sava's seems to view itself above providing it's guests with a complementary bread basket. This resulted in most of us not having a scrap to actually eat until we'd been there an hour and forty minutes. Like the drinks, food service was spaced far apart, with those whom were served first politely letting their food get cold while everyone else was served over the course of 20 minutes. I had the dubious honor of being the guest who's order was lost by the kitchen, and received no food. I had to wait another 25 minutes while our solitary server attended to his other tables before I had the opportunity to ask when I could expect to have my meal. He was appropriately apologetic, however, given that I'd been in that pretentious overpriced yuppie cesspool over two hours without food, and often-time without water, I was understandably displeased. OK, I was steaming mad. If not for the fact I was there for a friend's birthday I would have verbally bitchslapped him. I settled on glaring. It did the trick, as management arrived a minute later assuring me my food was on the way, that it was comped, and that I was also comped dessert. More on the dessert later. And now, the food. Although I received my dish as most of my friends were finishing their's, I was happy to eat, and happier knowing I wasn't paying for this B movie torture porn scene of a dining experience. I'd ordered the scallops with risotto. Speaking for my dish, it was good. I wouldn't call it a meal, more like a large snack that cost $22 and took two hours to prepare. My friends, however, had some issues. One who'd ordered mussels with a side of sweet potato fries noted that they arrived luke-warm, and had obviously been sitting on a tray for twenty minutes. Another had ordered her burger medium-rare, and received it well done (her burger was comped as a result). Another friend's chicken burger arrived cold. I only had knowledge of half the table's dining experience, and cannot know how many other's orders were either cold, ill prepared, or delightfully and extraordinarily correct. As a group we decided not to stay for dessert, so I asked our server a slice of key lime pie (one of the daily specials) to go while our solitary server distributed our bills (the process of paying for our food took an additional thirty minutes). Our server assured me I'd have it in just a minute. Twenty minutes later (again, the process of bill pay was still going on), I had no dogie bag. I asked our server when I could expect I get the pie. He looked appropriately horrified, and rushed off to figure out where my 'just one second' pie was. The manager showed up ten minutes later literally as I was standing up to leave with a box containing: Reese's peanut butter cheesecake. To quote the manager, "You're going to hate me, but we're out of key lime pie. I brought you Reese's cheesecake instead, do you like that?" No. I hate Reese's. I'm lactose intolerant. Why no one thought to come and tell me at any point during the THIRTY MINUTES after I'd ordered the pie that they were out, and ask what I'd like instead is beyond me. I took the cheesecake, determined to know how this chocolate drenched, poison, sugar and fat concoction tasted. I'll keep it short: it was thick, dry, overly induced with the hell candy Reese's, and most importantly, was not cheesecake. It was closer to a confection (candy) than cheesecake. I'm sure someone who like's Reese's will like this thing, but I wanted nothing to do with it after the first bite. In summation: my friend (who was visibly uncomfortable with the level of service AT HER BIRTHDAY PARTY) and the rest of us were forced to endure a three hour ordeal all for the sake of drinks, a main, and bill pay. The food was seasoned well but often served cold or improperly prepared. And even when trying to make up for their shortcomings, management continued to fail. Don't go. Just don't.
(1)Krishna P.
Really good place, everything there is pretty good. This morning I had the bourbon french toast and the veggie hash. Both were solid, although the sauce for the hash felt out of place.
(4)Jackie H.
WOW! WOW! WOW! I do not live in Ann Arbor. We were in town for a very close friend's wedding and this place came very highly recommended by the bride. We decided to try it with some friends in town before we departed our ways. Their sweet potato fries where amazing. My husband had great sandwich and I had some dips (not overly hungry). My friends had nothing but positives to say about their meals as well. They had some bloody marys that morning to fight their hangover and stated that they were very good as well. If we end back up in Ann Arbor it will defiantly be on our list to visit again.
(5)Adam L.
Sava's is a must-try Ann Arbor restaurant. I've visited for breakfast, brunch, lunch AND dinner and couldn't choose my favorite meal! Their sweet potato fries are delicious! Although they are a bit pricey, the food and service will make you happy to be there. The environment is also modern and has a business-casual feel to it.
(4)Squidward B.
Eh. I dislike the way the owner treats her staff (five bucks for a broken glass? really?) and her shouting at them...well, I don't like that AND you can hear it on the floor. So, that didn't impress me. I could live with that if the food were out of this world (it isn't), the value was amazing (not at all) or the servers were outstanding (overall, they are not, with a few shining examples of what could be). I think that my issue with this place is that I don't trust it. I once ordered salmon. Server came back to say the kitchen had run out, so I chose an alternate entree. I was served salmon--from where, I don't really know. It was surprising, and not really in a good way. If you're an undergrad or a grad student who likes to drink and loves a good happy hour, I hear that this may be your place. I'm neither, and it's not.
(1)Meeta B.
Wow. I must really be slipping because I come to this place for brunch during regular weekdays and I come here for Sunday brunch (hello, $5 mimosa or bloody mary!) Sava's has become one of my favorite places to get brunch or lunch around town. Partly because I love that you can get a single slice of french toast and like an omelette, and the wait staff never looks at you all judgy when you do that while ordering your second mimosa in like 20 minutes. I've mainly stuck with brunch at this place because I am a breakfast foods kinda gal. I have just learned that my favorite might just be the veggie hash, which I kinda want RIGHT now. Potatoes sauteed with mushrooms, spinach, onions and red peppers with two sunny side up eggs that just ooze into the potatos? Yes please. And...they give me my choice of Sriracha and hot sauce? You have now elevated yourself to my best friend Sava's. And now that they have the buffet, I so need to go back just to try the buffet so I can pretty much say I've sampled all that there is at this place. Love this place. Love the staff. This is definitely on my favorites list.
(5)Amber W.
I really like Sava's. I've been there several times and have always left happy. I think their dishes are like a fancy, unique twist on classic American food, and it really works! I've had the smoked salmon pizza, which was really delicious, and the lobster stuffing appetizer (I forget the name) was also really good. Their artichoke dip is also a winner. The other thing I really like about Sava's is that their staff is always super friendly and helpful! I've always had good experience at Sava's and (for Ann Arbor at least) it's not too expensive, so that's a win as well. I would definitely recommend this place!
(4)Dug B.
Very nice ambiance and very good service. We had polenta fries, risotto balls, Cuban sandwich, and gnocchi. All were excellent! Decent beer selection too. Some items on the menu seem very overpriced ($22 for a pot pie?!), but all that we ate was well worth the price. Highly recommend!
(4)Dan F.
Sunday breakfast brunch is crazy good! In winter we get gluvine (warm mold wine) from the bar...it's really good. Atmosphere is modern but warm and prices are a bit expensive.
(5)Jennifer S.
I came here with girlfriends for happy hour last night. So Friday night, downtown Ann Arbor, parents weekend. The place was definitely packed but we actually managed to poach a table right away in the bar area since we were just interested in happy hour. The waiter came up to us right away and was like you can't just sit down you have to check with the hostess this table might be reserved! We were like uhhh I don't think so this is the bar we're just here for happy hour...so we check with the hostess and she confirms the bar is open seating for happy hour...like any other normal bar place. So the rudeness of the waiter is why the 1 star has been removed. After we got over our initial introduction however, he warmed up and was quite friendly. We were celebrating a few things between the three of us girls so decided to start with a round of champagne. We splurged for $8/glass instead of $7/glass and ended up getting a red champagne which none of us had seen or had before but it was really cool! And yummy! After that we perused the extensive wine list, beer list, and cocktail list. They definitely have something for everyone and EVERYTHING is on special (except food) for happy hour and great deals too! This place is really nice because as a returning wolverine now (almost) in my thirties, it's a more upscale place that we don't have to trek out to Main Street for. Job well done! I'm pretty sure no one misses Zanzibar!
(4)Mira B.
Went in for our anniversary. Chanel was our waitress and was extremely friendly. I definitely recommend the pumpkin cheesecake- YUM! The atmosphere is great, especially the holiday decorations. We had a great time!
(4)Brian P.
I've been coming to Sava's for a long time because the food is delicious and the atmosphere is nice, but I have had far too many experiences with poor customer service and will not be returning. I often find myself waiting 30 minutes after being seated to talk to a waiter/waitress and the same amount of time to get my bill after asking about it. But what really did it for me was their refusal to modify any order, even for dietary restrictions or disabilities. I have one arm and asked if I could have my burger cut in half so I could eat it with one hand and the waitress said they don't do that but that she would ask. She didn't come back until she delivered my burger a half hour later and told me that the chef refused to cut it. I had to have my guest cut it for me and was very embarrassed. There are plenty of restaurants in Ann Arbor that have better food for the same price and have excellent customer service. Don't waste your time here. Note: I made a yelp account just to report this so nobody else has to experience this terrible establishment.
(1)Harrison L.
Definitely a step above most of the restaurants in Ann Arbor. Came here for a friend's birthday and this place did not disappoint. The atmosphere was great- not too casual, not too formal with a decent amount of noise. The server was very polite and even though it was a busy night was always asking how everything was going. Got the fish and chips and was satisfied with the clean taste of the fish and the spice of the dipping sauce. Portions are not too big, but if you're looking for a nice place for a date, special event or for dining with your parents, Sava's is the clear choice here in AA.
(4)Sara G.
Seems like they've finally coalesced into something truly unique. The service and the menu have improved SUBSTANTIALLY. There's a great selection of strongly poured drinks. Especially to be enjoyed during their AWESOME happy hour! Old Fashioneds for $4 and an excellent array of apps to boot!! You are in hog heaven if you're of the "breakfast for lunch" persuasion. So many bennies and hash to choose from. The hash lover in me really appreciates their attention to detail. Their burgers (made with meat from Knight's) are quite filling and come on an excellent soft brioche, however you have to order fries separately (a practice I'm not too fond of).
(4)Evan B.
Best place for a casual lunch/dinner without going to main street. There sweet potato fries are out of this world and their burgers are the incomparable. Definitely go check it out!
(5)Hakeem J.
From the great drinks to the delicious food to the awesome atmosphere, this place is damn near perfect. If you're in town visiting, it's one of the places you have to check out before leaving town and if you live in Ann Arbor like I do, you should probably become a regular. By the way, if you're seeing this during the summer, take my advice and get the State Street Tea. It is one of the most refreshing drinks you'll have this summer. *I wrote the above review soon after moving to Ann Arbor and feel bad for having to edit it. I think Sava's for the most part is resting on its laurels and the fact that undergrads think it's the best place to take their parents when they visit. The food is slightly overpriced and doesn't blow you away (it often strikes me as mediocre). I'd recommend checking out Sava's other ventures (Babo and Aventura). The food at both these places is more flavorful than the food at Sava's. I do love the bar and the bar staff at Sava's, though. They're top notch and the place has a damn good happy hour.
(3)Christopher F.
Went here for happy hour, which runs from 3-6pm on weekdays, the special includes half off all liqour, wine, and beer. Like some restaurants in Ann Arbor, they pull that you have to sit at the bar to enjoy their happy hour if you sit in other parts of the restaurant than the happy hour does not apply how stupid and dishonest, maybe there reasoning is they do not want to have their waiters walk farther for less of a tip, but in my opinion its complete crap. With such a rant you wonder why this place got a 4, the reason some of the most interesting menu and drink options I have seen. Everyone I went with seemed to enjoy their drinks. Mine was the viker wore pink which had watermelon garnish, watermelon, and bitters the drink tasted very grassy, but I think this was the way the drink was intended. I tried some other drinks one was called the lola lita with smoked cherries this was very good, and tried a few others and they were good as well. Another girl ordered a drink that contained the bitters and she was not able to drink hers as well so maybe this is an aquired taste. The service was really good, the waiter was really knowledgeable regarding the drinks. The food again very interesting menu, we shared some warm brie with rasberries cooked very well and was served as a crispy pastry never had brie in this way before very good. We also shared some spinach/Artichoke dip that was completely different from any other Spin/Art dip I have ever had. They fry their own chips, looks like a fried tortilla, the dip was very good the Artichoke chunks were huge. We also shared Lentil fries with a tomato/Vodka sauce very good as well. I would definitely like to go back and try their Lobster BLT or there Brie bacon burger. Prices are somewhat pricey, but if they can properly execute whats on the menu its should be worth it, an example the Lobster BLT was 11 dollars, burgers around 8-11 dollars.
(4)Mo D.
My friends and I remark often on the Sava's Happy Hour Geography Situation. Basically, there are certain designated tables for Happy Hour. If you are not in one of those seats during Happy Hour, they charge regular price for drinks. If those tables are full or if your party is too large to comfortably sit at one of these tables, they cram you somewhere uncomfortable, and it is a big mess, especially for the host and server, who are forced to enforce this rule and play Bad Cop. I don't understand why Happy Hour isn't Happy Hour all over the restaurant, during hours when tables are abundant. Why make life harder for the staff and make the customer uncomfortable, both physically and with regards to the interactions with the server that are inevitably unpleasant? Why? We like the drinks and food here, but it is hard to justify repeat Happy Hour business when restaurant policy demands that we be made uncomfortable to suit some arbitrary rule.
(2)Whitney S.
My friends and I confused Seva (at 5th and Liberty) with Sava, and so arrived late. The ham, spinach, pear, and brie panini was excellent, as was the boccaccini and kalifa sandwiches, and sweet potato fries. The chocolate lava cake was mediocre but edible. There are only 2 reasons for three stars are mediocre (at best) service, and uncomfortable narrow booths.
(3)Darrell H.
Excellent Fish tacos!!! Make sure you have it with Sriracha (Hot sauce) Truly Unbelievable!!
(4)S L.
The food is okay, but nothing I would go out of my way for.
(3)Ryan B.
This is my 3rd time back to Sava's, and have been waffling back and forth what I think about it. First time, I was treated to a hand held by a friend that I thought was tasty, but not necessarily up to the quality other A2 sandwich shops have set to satisfy. Second, I went with a large group and was impressed with the service to accommodate 17 and the black bean burger. This made me reconsider my first experience. Finally, I treated my sister for her bday here today because I knew she would enjoy the trendy atmosphere, the upbeat feel and the food. On my quest of forming an opinion though, guess third time is the charm. The atmosphere is great, but the food is overpriced for the quality you get. I ordered the Boccaccini Panini with Prosciutto and the "famous" spinach artichoke dip. The Boccaccini Panini was good, but I don't think worth the $8.50 I paid for it. The spinach artichoke dip was also good, but was disappointed to have more chips than dip and have to pay an extra dollar to get more to finish off the dip. I don't plan on returning to Sava's unless with a large group, and find it to be your average restaurant. Next time I plan to take my sister to Zingerman's for sandwich worth it's lofty price.
(3)Clare G.
Came here for a date-- loved the atmosphere, great waiter, great wine, great food! Winner. Excited to host an event here soon.
(4)Jessica S.
I give Savas 5 stars for ambiance. The inside is cool and trendy, with nice upstairs and downstairs seating, a patio, and a great room that can sat 16+ if you have a party. Wait staff I give a 3. I've been many, many times and they are usually a bit slower than I would prefer and don't anticipate needs. Also, not overwhelmingly friendly. The food: I give a 4. I always find something I like, but for the price I'm not always sure it's worth it. The drinks are VERY expensive and to be honest I've never found one that I care for. Though the food quality and staff could be improved I do keep coming.
(4)MJ B.
it's just a Happy Hour review. Good drinks. Nice servers - sat outside and can't really complain about anything at all. It was... happy hour.
(4)Deborah N.
I have now been there twice. I was not disappointed. I had the pecan chicken salad, Mac and cheese and pecan chicken sandwich. My son had taco. We loved our food. The atmosphere is nice and cozy. You are able to have a nice conversation. Combination of booths and tables. We went on a weekday afternoon and at 730pm on a Saturday. We did not have to wait but is was full. I will go again.
(4)Emma K.
I've gone a date, I've gone for breakfast with girlfriends early morning, I've been to an event there in the evening...food is tasty and terribly reasonable. Staff was pleasant every time...good stuff.
(5)Xiangyun Z.
The brunch buffet is not as various as I thought, and the price of 17 dollars, free orange juice included, is not reasonable for the food... However, my friend thought it was great since they offered much higher quality dishes than she thought, like smoked salmon, cut sausage...
(3)Emily W.
I really like Sava's. The atmosphere is charming, the waiters/waitresses are really nice, and the desserts are incredible. It does take a while to find a food that you really like though; I've been to Sava's seventh times already with friends but I didn't find a food I really really liked until the seventh try (it was the veggie burger and the risotto balls, by the way). Their sweet potato french fries are incredible as well, as is the strawberry lemonade (but ridiculously expensive - $4 for LEMONADE). Speaking of pricing, I find that their food ranges from reasonably cheap to way too expensive, but you can find something yummy in your price range. The only reason I gave it four stars is because the hostess has always been really aloof and somewhat rude to us every time we go there.
(4)Sabrina W.
good variety of veggie options. nice location in downtown ann arbor. used to go there once in a while with friends when i was in college there. good memories.
(5)Mary A.
My husband and I had dinner here last night--the food is decent, but it's more expensive than it really has any right to be ( we spent about as much as we would have at Zingerman's Roadhouse, which is much better). I didn't think the service was terrible, but the staff definitely seemed inexperienced--our waiter didn't know what the featured wine was, and almost missed telling us what the specials were. It doesn't help that they're all dressed like it's a TGI Friday's, either.
(3)Red G.
Sava's is cute. It's a nice place to sit down and eat while staying in the student budget. Burgers are $6-7 and dinner entrees are around $14. The burger that uses Knight's Market beef was pretty good, though as I wish in many places, it could use some seasoning. The place was very busy during peak dinner time and service was slow. I had to ask for silverware the server forgot. Fries were tasty, but $2 coleslaw was disappointing in portion and taste. My friend who cannot eat dairy had minor allergy reaction either due to the burger sauce or the brioche bun and they took her meal off the bill. Service is a bit problematic even considering I visited during a busy time. The servers are nice though, and I like the price range and the atmosphere of the place. I didn't leave a tip because I was tired of trying to get a hold of my server to get me a small box to go, but I will be returning to this place, hoping for a bit more organized service.
(4)Mordechai S.
The food is nice, the atmosphere is very cool and fun. The servers seem to always be a little strange and awkward though, which can sometimes be fun, sometimes annoying. Usually not a good idea to hit on a customer when they're dining as a couple... Anyways, we love that they're open later than most restaurants in the area, and it's always a solid place to go.
(4)Mei O.
We had a really lovely dinner here, making me feel very mixed about how I feel. I love the atmosphere and the chairs, it just makes you feel cozy, and it's perfect for chatting with friends. The pricing is decent, as in you don't feel tremendous guilt going for a side and dessert. But... The food was so-so. I got the black bean burger, way too much bun, the burger itself was dry, and there was not nearly enough of the condiments to make up for the dryness. I also got the side of mac'n'cheese, which was ok, but a little salty for my taste. Andrew's eggplant panini was pretty yummy, and the fished tacos looked pretty good. And the t-shirts on the waitstaff... What is up with that? The decor looked so nice, and then I had a scrub asking me what I wanted to drink. But the breakfast menu looked like it had great potential... Ack, I'm just so conflicted on this place!
(3)S G.
the. service. needs. training. they have the best and nicest intentions but it's like watching a football team with no playbook. i agree with posters who said they forgot basic things like silver or taking drink orders. at one point i was abandoned by my server and my friend had to literally get up and flag us another one who seemed completely baffled by our request for, you know, napkins. that being said, sava's has tremendous potential, gorgeous tasty food, great atmosphere, awesome owner, great location.
(3)Kristen M.
Savas is amazing. One of the best restaurants I've ever been to. Everything on the menu is to die for, I promise! If you ever visit Ann Arbor, this - among other restaurants - is the place to go. Make sure you get the sweet potato fries!
(5)Joyo P.
The location is convenient, food (was) generally dependable, friendly service, and we take our guests from work here multiple times weekly so it's reliable on multiple fronts. My main complaint in the past was this place sort of nickel-and-dimes customers when servers offer extras (I once ordered a banh-mi spicy and got charged 75c extra for about two slices of japaenos). My most recent issue was with a salad that we thought felt a bit stale, came home and found out to horrified tummies that it was. Won't be heading back myself or with my guests. I would recommend the hot foods over salads.
(2)Libby P.
Came back to town for the holidays and this is all anyone could talk about. I was skeptical, but ended up having a really great meal. Great entertainment to boot... a terrified groom @ a rehearsal dinner. Ouch.
(4)O'Shea J.
If this restaurant were a pair of pants, it'd be the kind you paid $200 for and hope someday your butt will be cool enough to fit into. But it will never happen. I project they go out of business in two more years and then it will be a Hooters. In the meantime, its a really great place to tie up your fixed gear bicycle while you go to the sushi spot across the street.
(1)Kasey S.
I usually like Savas-they have quite good food, though a little on the expensive side. However, I had such a terrible experience today I will never be back. I tried to make reservations several days in advance for a weeknight, and they were full. This I can understand entirely, but the woman on the phone was incredibly rude! She treated me like I was an idiot for asking for reservations, and when I told her the time frame and number of people, she just said no and in a harsh, derisive tone and hung up. No good-bye, no suggestion of another day, just the end of the phone call. I really did like their food, but this is one dining establishment I will never, ever give my money to again.
(1)Cheryl B.
We chose Sava's for my husband's birthday dinner because our daughter attends UM and we wanted something nicer than Cottage Inn but not as pricey as many of Ann Arbor's fine dining restaurants. Sava's fit the bill. We enjoyed the polenta fries, pasta dishes and salads. I especially liked getting a bottle of wine half off on a Sunday night. Our waiter was very nice but very slow and didn't pick up our dirty dishes. Oh well, it was a very nice setting and good food in a great town.
(4)S M.
This is based on only one experience dining here. Things I liked about this place: - warm ambiance - comfy and lovely chairs - huge dining room (my guess this would be great for groups and a nice on-campus alternative to Pizza House) - very good sweet potato fries - smoothies looked really tasty, though I did not partake (this time) - turkey burger was pretty good - food served pretty quickly (but it was a slow day) - good service - appeared to have a fair number of vegetarian options Thing I didn't like: - the red peppers on my turkey burger made my burger WAY too wet. After attempting to eat my burger w/ soppy bun on, I had to discard the mushy (top) bun because the bun was starting to remind me of bread pudding. All in all, I would definitely come back, especially for a group meal. Nice job, Sava!
(4)A N.
The food is generally good with a large menu that everyone can find something they will enjoy. Nice to have the options of different sized tastes and a great beverage list. The service (knowledge, timing, patron experience) has been improving over the last year, but it could generally still use better training/more work. Be careful if you are dinning on a schedule of any kind :)
(4)Paul G.
Finally tried their brunch and was SOOOOO impressed! They have a huge brunch buffet with lots of delicious options. This combined with exceptional service and a beautiful space will have me coming back!!
(5)Jackie H.
A couple years ago a friend asked me if I'd been to Sava's, hidden behind the thrift store on State St. No, I'd never even seen it. Lucky for me they moved to this gorgeous space across the street, because, damn, was I missing out! I've had several burgers, including cheeseburger, black bean and turkey, and they have all been delicious. The sweet potato fries are worth a trip just to have. I've had a couple sandwiches and they were great too. That's about all I can speak for on the menu, but they knock it out of the ballpark. The atmosphere is pretty nice at night, too, with dimmed lights and candles on the tables, so definitely check it out for more than lunch!
(5)Patricia W.
The food and service here were excellent. We came from New York, and spent 3 days in Ann Arbor with our daughter, who will be attending the University. We ate at a different well reviewed restaurant for the 3 nights we were in Ann Arbor, but Sava's was by far the best. The only problem was cold drafts at our table due to large number of people trying to get in the front door. We had to put our coats over our shoulders while dining. Having said all that, the food and service made up for this inconvenience. The cocktails were inventive and well balanced. The lamb shank was moist and tender. The mac'n cheese with lobster was to die for. The seafood was excellent. I'd highly recommend this restaurant, especially if you can get a table out to the cold, which shouldn't be a problem in the warmer months.
(4)Dil F.
Really great bar/mixologists, good burger, pricey, looks even fancier. I'm not in Ann Arbor too often, so don't know what's typical - but walking into Sava's during a Saturday afternoon, it looked kind of fancy to me. People were super dressed up, it's a really giant and long eating space, kind of fine dining by eyeing the clientele. In any event, I was just saddling up to the bar to get a burger to go (a friend recommend this place for great burgers), so while I was waiting for my burger, I eyed the cocktail menu, which is fantastic, and ordered a drink. The bartender deserves a lot of praise here (Mr. Chene Peña, who gave me his card), not only for holding down fort while preparing drinks for the entire facility (must have been a mimosa special cuz they were flying off the counter), but was generous with his time, explaining some of their cocktails, which were obviously prepared with some knowhow. I had a drink made with gin, St. Germain, cucumber, bitters, rose water, and lemon juice... tasted amazing. Reallly well balanced. The other drinks looked equally superb - wish I was there longer. The burger was pretty dam good. Not sure it'd hold up as THE best burger in town (despite my friend's insistence), but it was really fresh (almost felt healthy), no grease, big portion. I'd go back to check out the bar alone, and maybe grab something else off the menu. Be warned though, if you're visiting from the city... prices are a little higher than you'd want to pay, ideally... for a burger at least.
(4)Katherine L.
It's a rather large space, with indoor and outdoor seating, and very hipster music playing inside--if you like that sort of thing, which I do (bands like Phoenix, Telepopmusik; electronica or minimal lyrics). We loved the sausage risotto, but the scallops and quinoa (with spinach and tomatoes) was good as well. The molten chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream was fantastic. The server was very attentive and kind; all in all, a great experience!
(5)Elizabeth K.
There is nothing on the menu that I don't like. The food is always great, and the staff is awesome. On this particular day, we were served by Taylor (aka Tay Tay). He is extremely friendly, attentive, and delivers the best recommendations when asked...Tay Tay definitely added that extra greatness to our afternoon... But my favorite of all favorites is Sava's happy hour. Half off all drinks! Not that I drink Miller Lite, but Happy Hour Miller Lite at $1 is awesome! But I recommend everyone try the Saint Genet cocktail. Delicious! If you love Hendrick's, you'll love this drink...
(5)Rob P.
I think Lenny's right...Ann Arbor's skittish when it comes to restaurants. I've been happy to see some restaurants leave the state street area, hoping that they might make room for more interesting places like Sava's. My review does not necessarily capture the true essence of Sava's because I only ever eat the cheeseburger and sweet potato fries. It's not that I'm a picky eater (though I can be) but it's because I love the burgers they fire up. I've never been to blimpy burger, but in my humble, meat-eating heart, I think Sava's has the best all-around burger--cooked to order, some tasty sauce and good quality beef. Besides the menu, the dining area is cool. Cafe-ish, but warm, cozy even? Sava is awesome too--she's so welcoming to people that come in and gives back to the community. Half of the Sava's experience for me is chatting with her while she cooks or rings me up, really personable and caring. I don't really have any valid complaints at this point. I have suggestions like expanding the menu or having like premade sandwiches ready for lunchgoers in a rush? Other than that, I'm a big Sava's fan and try to get there a couple times a month.
(4)Julia B.
I really enjoy Sava's, The new atmosphere and the quality of the food. I have been there a few times and I generally get a burger with her famous sweet potato fries, and a lemonade. I was thrilled with the food, nothing was soggy or cold, but the service was very slow and my father had to ASK for silverware! To be fair, we did come in during the lunch rush, but I still believe they could have done better. Another fabulous thing: You can choose what kind of fruits you'd like, and they will give you a fresh squeezed juice. I really enjoy the watermelon, orange and grapefruit combination, but they have many options, including pinapple, ginger, carrots, and even garlic. Overall, I enjoyed it and would definitely go back again soon.
(4)Eric K.
My friends seem to love hanging out at this place, but I feel as though the food is always overpriced for what I actually get. The servings are quite small and the food taste is only a little above average. The service is usually a bit on the slower side too. Hopefully, my friends will soon realize these aspects too and stop suggesting that we hang out here, but some of them love this place for the sweet potato fries.
(2)Brian S.
Sava's is great! And I love the patio outside the beautiful brick building. The drink menu is great, and after several hours on the patio we had delicious fish tacos and a surprisingly good Mediterranean plate. Excellent decor inside with a spacious room with large windows. Totally affordable prices and conscientious staff, I would definitely stop in again next time I'm in town.
(5)Mark K.
We were there on a busy Saturday night. The food was good, not outstanding and the prices reasonable. The highlights were the fried calamari appetizer and sweet potato fries. The entrees were good but not memorable. Others have mentioned the service, which was uneven. Entrees were not served at the same time, and there was a long wait for the final entrees to arrive.
(3)Levent H.
Great environment with a diverse menu. Worth the shot if you're passing by!
(5)Lenny K.
Great location, nice owner and ambitious to boot! Ann Arbor can be a skittish town when it comes to restaurants, they don't want anything too outlandish, but then complain if the menu is too boring or uninspired, so it's hard to please everyone all the time. The smells walking in were great and I guess I was more in the mood for stew or rice and beans, but was grateful when the owner suggested the buffalo chicken (not too spicy, w/ cream cheese and cucumbers on a bun, next time I might ask for blue cheese instead). It was tasty w/ thinly sliced red onions and though I was a little disappointed at a single sandwich ( no pickle or chips) and a drink for almost $9 (!!), it was still pretty yummy! I think Sava's will find its niche since they seem to really be trying (and friendly) I would recommend it above the 'chain' sandwich places (buy local!) even if it is a little pricey for the current MI economy. I wouldn't mind seeing them trying some black beans and rice, soups and even more adventurous eats, but that might be too expensive for the high student foot-traffic they must get. Worth a shot though, since we're severely lacking in Latin food since Sabor left this very location! Thanks to Cookie at Above Ground for turning me on!
(3)Erica G.
I go to Sava's pretty often (its the closest restaurant to my house), so I've gotten to know the waitstaff and the menu. Its a great place to go and get a satisfying meal if don't want to spend too much or wait around forever to get a table. The waitstaff is always friendly and attentive to your needs, but at times can be a little slow. As for the food, I love the size & price of the burgers, and they're juicy and tasty! I'm a fan of the pecan-encrusted chicken sandwich, as well. And brunch on the weekends is a lot of fun, with good portion sizes and selection. I have a few vegetarian friends who are able to find satisfying menu items here, although that isn't my particular persuasion. Overall, I think Sava's is a safe bet for a good meal at a good price.
(4)David W.
Interesting menu and waitstaff. It was nice to go to a restaurant and not have to take a "doggy-bag" home. Our out-of-state guest wishes she could take Sava's back to Spokane with her. We know she will come back not only to visit us, but to have another memorable meal and visit at Sava's.
(5)Laurie G.
I've been this restaurant several times and like the atmosphere and the service was fine. Now, I haven't had the whole menu, but for the price of a sandwich I was a bit upset that that's all it was. Just a sandwich in the middle of a white plate w/ a small pickle slice. For $8 I'd think having some chips or fries on the side would not only be good for the buck but also for presenation. As far as the sandwhiches go, until this is fixed, it's not in my budget to get a menial plate. Now my friend got the fish taco dish that came w/ beans and rice and though only two tacos, it looked much better for the same price. So, beware about what you order....quantity might not be good but at least the quality was.
(2)Brad D.
So nice to find a decent breakfast that doesn't break the bank! Nice breakfast menu!!
(4)Lauryn G.
The decor is chic yet still manages to be warm and inviting. The food was delicious, the menu was unique, and the prices were very reasonable. Also: happy hour! half off all drinks! Win.
(4)Riki L.
I had dinner at Sava's with my roommate who goes there pretty regularly and enjoys the food. The first things I noticed were the spacious, well-designed interior and the jam packed menu offering a lot of variety. You can get spring rolls, calamari, brie with raspberry sauce and crackers, nacho fries... they seem to have a lot of options to tailor whatever you're in the mood for. Our waiter seemed a little stoned but he was nice. We had great service up until the end which involved about a ten minute wait to run a credit card, for reasons that were not explained to us. My roommate ordered the balsamic rib-eye with vegetables and mashed potatoes and I got the half roasted rosemary chicken breast with mashed potatoes. Ok, I want to know more about these so-called mashed potatoes. We agreed that they were most likely baked potatoes that were then mashed, which is the opposite of what most patrons expect. They were dry and much in need of at least sour cream and chives. Hell, make it a loaded deconstructed baked potato at this rate. All of the food needed an ample amount of salt and there was no clear balsamic taste from the rib eye nor was there a hint of rosemary on the chicken. It was really strange because I could see the herb on the chicken yet tasted none of it. Also, my chicken was roasted within an inch of it's life. It was so dry that "good" parts of the meat were rendered inedible. That should never happen at a restaurant. Granted, the food wasn't expensive ($9) for my chicken but all I could do was compare it to the outstanding bacon cheddar BBQ chicken skillet I had at the Tap Room in Ypsi the week prior that came with a basket of fries and a cup of french onion soup all for $8.50. Hmmm. Well, I guess that's the difference between Ypsi bar food and Ann Arbor yuppie food. I will definitely return to Sava's because I love the location and the products offered. I can't say that I trust their food judgment, but I will give it at least another shot. The juice bar is an excellent addition to the area. My beet/apple/lemon juice was served without ice (thank you!) and was $2.99. We were given some carrot cake on the house and I hate to say it, but I hope they don't keep that on the menu. It was dry and chock full of raisins, which a lot of people (not myself) are vehemently opposed to. It was a very nice gesture, however, and we really appreciated the hospitality. I definitely am not here to complain about gratuitous offers. I agree with some previous reviewers about the awkwardness involved with overhearing servers' conversations. They seem to huddle in groups close to tables and talk about what they're going to do when they get off work and gossip about other people. I don't particularly care about this unless it interferes with the level of service I receive, and it didn't on this visit, but some people might find that really unprofessional and offensive.
(3)Munaf A.
Been here a few times. Breakfast: great food and atmosphere. Dinner: a very goofy attempt at pretending to be super exclusive. They seem to have a policy of keeping a line out the door despite having many tables open (which didn't seem reserved since no one else ever showed up). What to expect if you show up without a reservation: 1. They will make you wait a long time. 2. They will pretend like it's the hardest thing in the world to find a place for your party to sit, then immediately do so because they actually have a bunch of tables open. (2) happened multiple times. It was almost as if they were following a script. The dinner wasn't anything special (though the breakfast was pretty good). I'll probably go back if others drag me.
(3)Judith S.
I made a reservation on "open door" when we were about 15 minutes away (on a Friday night) and it was accepted! Amazingly, we walked in past about 15 people waiting (my husband thought he heard someone say there was an hour wait) and within 10 minutes we were seated. I asked if one of the pasta dishes was vegan, and the waitress wasn't sure but as she talked about it she was pretty sure it was a "cream" base sauce. I didn't want to chance it so I said I would have the tofu salad. When it came, I thought it looked a little odd for tofu, I ate some of the lettuce then asked my husband if it didn't look like fish? He tasted it (he eats meat) and said it was. I was kinda amazed that I wouldn't order a cream-based sauce because I was obviously interested in it being "vegan", but I would order the "tuna" salad (it was incredibly loud in there)? Oh well, the Tofu salad was really, really, good! Who knows, the tuna salad might be good also? My husband had the "Black and Blue steak bites" and said they were delicious.
(4)Eric M.
Need more little places like this... I'm always amused at what people expect when they goto a restaurant. I have a feeling some of the raters on yelp might've been coddled a bit too much as a child, and expect the general world to kiss their ass on a regular basis. I've been to Sava's a number of times, and it's always been tasty. I've tried several things on the menu, and have never been disappointed. Sweet potato fries are very good, as are all the wraps I've had. Once or twice on the way to class I've been in a rush, and the owner ran the order out to my car... can you really ask for more than that? This place reminds me of a more European pace, where Sava will come chat with you while you order. So, if speed's your thing, maybe burger king is more your style. Perhaps the coddled brats who reviewed this also complained about the width of the seats in the State Theatre? Hmm... it's possible...
(5)Kate S.
Sava's is a really cute place to grab a great sandwich. The food is really, really tasty, but pretty simple. Nice waitstaff, and a cute atmosphere. The prices aren't too bad-- a little high for sandwich shops in general, but average for places in downtown Ann Arbor. For how yummy the food is, I don't think it's bad at all. I will, say, though, that we went on a Friday evening, and there was a large and very loud group of musical-theatre major freshmen there. Apparently it's a weekly hangout for them. I would definitely avoid Sava's when that group meets! After about the fifth squealing "how ARE you?!?!" I had had enough.
(4)Mae S.
Service is willing but the kitchen may not be able. We waited 25 minutes and then our food varied in temp. as if some plates had been standing and waiting for someone to finish cooking the rest. I borrowed a salt shaker from the next table since there wasn't one on my table. The second try the eggs were really easy-over. 'Will we go back? Dunno.
(3)Liz L.
I have eaten at Sava's a total of three times now, and every time I've had great food. I really like the atmosphere and although the menu is small, I still feel like it offers a decent variety. I love that the food is reasonably priced (not easy to find in Ann Arbor), and the drink menu has some interesting & unique cocktails which are pretty tasty. Definitely recommend this place for dinner or lunch - I still need try it out for breakfast sometime.
(4)Michelle H.
I have never been so appalled by such poor restaurant service before in my life. My boyfriend and I decided to give the place a try a few nights ago. Hostesses were friendly, and we were able to get a table in a few minutes without a reservation, but the waiter, first name Chris, was completely uninterested and off in his own world. He would take a decade to return to our table, even when I tried calling or waving him down in passing. He would simply glance at us and ignore us. Our meal arrived from a different waiter, and we had no utensils to eat them with! We could not find him, so we had to flag down a different waiter who brought us our utensils. The food was good enough, although the filet was a little more rare than medium rare than I had ordered. When we had finished, our waiter, as usual, was nowhere in sight and seemed to avoid our table whenever he was around. When he finally came by, I asked him for the dessert menu. He returned to us 20 minutes later (having passed us and ignored us several times) saying he forgot about us. I've had two waitressing jobs, so I'm pretty understanding, but when I casually asked whether they were having a busy or rough night, he replied that it had been a fairly easy evening. Fed up, we skipped dessert and high-tailed it out of there, only to pass our waiter flirting with the hostesses on our way out. Honestly, I would have preferred an unfriendly waiter who was at least prompt over this guy...
(2)Christie M.
I had a BLT. Tons of really tasty bacon with fresh tomato and lettuce on delicious wheat bread. Really big sandwich. It was awesome.Bobby said the mushroom cheeseburger was 'all right'. Our server was on the ball and extremely pleasant. I'll be back
(4)Jack J.
Pretty good place for ann arbor. Filet bites just off the mark but paella hearty and very good. Rest of group enjoyed their dishes. Service very good.
(4)Bryant B.
This place is pretty solid. The atmosphere is great. It feels more like a $$$ place but actually only $$. The menu is relatively large and diverse. If you want something more casual, you can grab a sandwich, burger, or salad at or around 10 bucks. On the other hand, there is also a nice selection of entrees in the 12-20 range. They also have a good wine list and a nice selection of specialty cocktails. Drink prices seemed a bit high though, even for a restaurant in downtown AA. Others have complained about service, but I haven't had any issues there. The waitstaff might not be the friendliest or most personable, but they have been attentive, helpful, and punctual. The kitchen seems to be quite efficient as well. Both times I've come were very busy, and the food still came quickly. If you're going to come here on a Friday or Saturday night, do yourself a big favor and make reservations. It will save you a lot of hassle.
(4)K L.
NO GOOD FOR LARGE GROUPS. We went there for a large dinner hosted by out department. The restaurant is pretty, but the food for the large group of us was AWFUL. I had been to Sava's with a smaller group before and the food was better (still not amazing). Plus, For the buffet, they only gave us little salad plates to put out dinner on! It was really awkward.
(2)Andrew K.
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(3)Todd A.
It's hard to know where to begin. The service was slow, spacey, unresponsive. The place was freezing - had to sit there bundled up, and I'm usually hot. A chair collapsed under one of my lunch companions. The menu is incredibly dull and uncreative. It's all a la carte, so yeah, your burger is $8, but you'll get dinged another $2 for fries. My so-called Greek salad was a bowl of mixed baby greens out of a bag, three wedges of pale pink (unripe) tomato, a few dry hard white rocks that appear to have been meant to be feta cheese, a few slices of dried out grilled chicken, a few paper-thin slices of overripe cucumber (did they think it looked like there was more cucumber that way?) and a plastic cup of creamy pink stuff they called Greek dressing. No olives, no peperoncini, no onions, no beets, no green peppers. It took forever for the order to come during the lunch hour, when people need to get back to the office. The bill was similarly painfully slow to be handled. Maybe the new owners think they can push any crap out the door and the students will just put up with it. The old clientele for the restaurant certainly won't be wasting its time on this place. It looks all the same (they kept 95% of the furnishings), but the menu is a disaster and the experience was awful. I won't be wasting my cash on Sava's ever again.
(1)Matt B.
Attention waitstaff at Sava Cafe, Normally if you screw up someone's bill and forget to add an item, you DON'T add it after the fact. It's a simple social contract that has existed for thousands of years.... Today at lunch I found myself exploiting the 1 dollar burgers, unfortunately I did not realize the excessive surcharge for extras. When I asked the waitress about the additional $1 charge, she told me "that is for the cheese, and oh, it looks like I forgot to charge you for tomato, onion & lettuce." For a moment let's set aside the exorbitant fee for cheddar cheese (which I can assuredly say was _not_ heirloom cow's milk from a small dairy in Dorset, UK) and observe how she took my check and indicated that she would "fix it." Um, so I shouldn't have asked you about the $1 in the first place, I said. "Yeah" she replied, completely oblivious to the social contract she was lighting afire. At this point I had no patience to attempt repair the misunderstanding. I handed her a twenty and curtly said, charge me what you need. Needless to say, the loss of 50 cents is certainly not my concern, and the communicative breakdown is an everyday occurrence. I only wish to impart to the waitress a few words for future service: DO NOT MAKE ME PAY FOR MY HONESTY AND YOUR FUCK-UP. Burger was fine, can't go wrong with Knight's beef.
(2)Josh K.
A very unique and sizable menu. Good drinks. Burger special on Mondays for lunch is very nice.
(5)Lisa W.
Sava (the owner) won a "Sexiest Business Owner" award. I want to say "enough said" to that, but I can't. My friend recommended the burger to me, but I didn't like it that much. It is over seasoned instead of letting the burger speak for itself. The fried ravioli, however, is insanely good. Not only does it come in a large portion, but it is cheap! The service here is always good and if you poke around their menu a few times, you'll find some really delicious things. The menu says their brie sandwich is a specialty, but I believe there are better things on the menu -- the buffalo chicken sandwich, fresh, is awesome.
(3)Nick H.
I have been wanting to write a review since I first went to Sava a little over a week ago but have held off until the Elite event Mariah organized tonight. My first experience was so good I took my cousin here a few days ago. My first two experiences were fantastic - Sava has a good menu, excellent and excellent pricing but has proven that it's still very much getting settled and working out the bugs of being a new restaurant on a college campus. Cannot complain at all about the food. The ala carte sides are inexpensive for the portions and the sweet fries are delicious. I do like their 1/2 pound burgers and appreciate the variety of cheeses available (except no provolone). Their tomato bisque soup is good - cannot beat American Cafe in Midland, MI (but none can so I really shouldn't compare). They have a large variety of teas and the smoothies are fresh and flavorful but slightly pricey (the only thing on the menu I think is overpriced). You can tell that Sava has considered the college campus into their design but definitely do not want it to be only "college venue". And from what I've experienced, this is (going) to be executed well. They're open until midnight everyday, server breakfast all day, will deliver, are wireless enabled (will have their own network in the future) and are inexpensive. But the venue certainly doesn't make me feel like I'm going back to my undergrad days when I eat here. I love the design - beautiful wood and colors, fresh flowers, and some of the best fabric on the booths and chairs I've seen. It feels classy and casual comfortable. The space has distinct areas - a front lounge and bar (sadly no booze) for tea/coffee/smoothies, an upstairs with small tables for studying, the main dining area, and a back area with a large table for groups. This and quality of ingredients, portion size, and price would put them in a solid 4-star, almost 5-star rating. We're still at 3 stars because of some missteps - which I believe is mostly due to being a new restaurant without experience. The servers have been very helpful and friendly, but no one seems to have a strong grasp of the menu. General service items have been overlooked - not having silverware, straws with drinks (and then being out of straws - how does that happen?!), and not having drinks refilled. There are wires hanging out of one side of the walls where lights are (I assume?) in the process of being installed. Mondays are $1 1/3 lb. burgers all day - brilliant idea but the place was a zoo and it was clear the entire staff was overwhelmed and not coordinated. I know $1 meals for undergrads equals a stamped of wild gazelle but after a month of this I would except the staff to be much more prepared and able to handle the traffic. Another table waited 1:20 for their food and it all came cold. Our server had to make 4 trips to get all our food because he kept forgetting things (we were a table of four). Still, the food was good and my bill came to less than $8.00. Sava could definitely become one of my favorite spots in Ann Arbor. But the entire staff, from maintenance, supply chain, management, and servers need to have more experience and training. Until then, I'm only going to go back when I know it's not going to be busy. I'll come back and definitely reassess in the future.
(3)Lucinda S.
I went to Sava's for the first time yesterday with a group of friends. I had ceviche and split the polenta fries as an appetizer with a few friends. The food was good but I wouldn't say it's amazing. The ambiance is very nice however and they have lots of outdoor seating. There are a lot of creative dishes on the menu. Definitely worth trying out when you're in the Ann Arbor area!
(4)Clare W.
Okay so sometimes the service once you are seated is painfully slow, and a couple times my food has come out cold or wrong, but I will keep going back. Why? Good atmosphere, a fun selection of food (pierogi and yam fries and crepes? awesome!), and just a good place to hang out. Since they made their move across the street (into where Zanzibar used to be), they also expanded their menu and got a liquor license and they carry really strange booze like mead. So...if you're into that kinda thing...it's a good place to check out.
(4)Rose E.
Sava has recently changed its menu according to our very nice waitperson. He told us the reason he took so long to bring us water was because the wait staff was going over the new menu. Unfortunately, the new menu has higher prices for less food. I had been here before and remember it as a reasonably priced restaurant with pretty good, though not great food. My bill for 2 entrees and 1 appetizer was over $60 (including tip). When I asked a server if they had a breadbasket she said no though we could get all kinds of bread for an extra charge. I ordered the scallops(4) on a very skimpy bed of risotto with a few spinach leaves ($20), my daughter ordered the over sweet squash ravioli and we had a starter of mussels with fries. The mussels were good and reasonably priced. We left hungry and annoyed that another place has decided to gouge its customers. I know the rents in the area are very high but I really don't want to support a place that leaves me hungry after spending $50+.
(3)Deb C.
I love Sava. The prices are very reasonable, service is attentive and good-natured, and most importantly, the food is delicious. Lots of tasty and healthy options on the menu, too. The risotto balls (okay, not so healthy!) are delicious, and I'm a big fan of the watermelon salad. A terrific alternative to the over-priced restaurants on Main St.
(5)Ronny E.
Hey they moved and I went there for a sandwich with a friend...it was pretty good! I had the chicken California club and I would go back for it. I'll try it again.
(4)Michelle D.
I wish I could give Sava 3.5 stars. I really like the atmosphere and the coffee is Mighty Good...literally!
(3)Betsy T.
Great food, great atmosphere, not so great cocktails. My friend had some cucumber thing and it tasted like lotion; however, I tend to steer away from cocktails altogether, so I wouldn't rule them out. I would definitely get a reservation because it fills up.
(4)Dave Y.
people seem to like to complain about the service here, and admittedly it's a bit slow, but the waiting staff are decently friendly, and the food is just so good and so reasonably priced. add on top of that, the restaurant itself is such a pretty and pleasant place to be. and to top it off, on mondays they have $1 hamburgers, and they're good hamburgers. sure i wouldn't mind speedier service, but other than that this is a flawless restaurant
(5)Tina W.
The decor in this place is so cute and cozy. Their food is a little overpriced though. I always end up getting the burger (cheapest thing on their menu.... Hey, I'm in college, ok?) And don't forget those sweet potato fries. Mmm.
(3)James C.
It's decent but overpriced. The menu's uninspired, typical sandwiches, salads and wraps (not remotely a diner). Wait service was slow every time I was there. Burgers weren't flavorful and not enough bleu cheese on mine. Pierogies seemed to be the supermarket variety. Brie and raspberry sauce was too simple, fresh raspberries would have been better. Noble attempt but really just an average sandwich place.
(2)Brittany G.
This place was recommended to me by a friend because of their "awesome smoothies". So I decided to give it a try. I have to say that the atmosphere was really cool and I really liked that it was relaxed and that the staff could dress how they wanted to. (Uniforms are so overrated!) Our server had a Nightmare Before Christmas shirt and was incredibly friendly. My sandwich was phenomenal! And I did try the sweet potato fries unprompted with a Happy Monkey smoothie. Everything was so tasty and the service was great. I will definitely be back!
(4)Anne M.
Really decent turkey burger. BUMMER there's no adult bevs. Service was good and we got 2 entrees and drinks for less than $28!
(3)Rachel K.
I just had a veggie burger and a side salad here but they were both really good. Sometimes veg burgs can be hard or just plain nasty, but this one was tasty and cheap, for sure.
(3)Evan T.
I'll never complain if you put goat cheese on my sandwich and serve sweet potato fries. Nice spot for lunch.
(4)Betsy S.
My husband and I had a two wonderful experiences here recently. We were looking for a relaxing place for an evening cocktail and stopped here because it looked inviting and cosy (in a boutique-modern-Manhattan kind of way).. The bartender was patient as I explained about being on vacation and wanting to try something new. He lead me to one of their signature cocktails (which I don't see on their on-line menu, but it was called Mama Louisa, or something like that). It had advocaat (an egg liqueur ), foamed sambuca, expresso powder, orange peel, and I don't know what else, but it is the nectar of the gods, for sure! It haunted me enough that we had to go in the next night where I ordered another just to see if it was a fluke...nope, stunningly delicious. We also tried the black and blue beef bites and split a Cuban sandwich. Wonderful. Everyone we encountered, from the hostess, waiter, bartender, and chef seemed passionate about their work. My only regret is that this place is 2,000 miles from my home.
(5)Shingo B.
this is a great place to come for breakfast lunch or dinner! the service is fun and interesting. the food is delicious. there's a nice bar and the layout is great for families, big parties or intimate dinner dates. if you wanna just have a drink at the bar and grab some apps it's very comfortable. the food is progressive. they don't just serve a plain cheeseburger or mac and cheese. there is a creative thought process in their menu. sava is always very friendly and approchable!
(4)susan s.
Made the online reservation for three at Sava's with ease. Without my specifying it, Sava's put us at the best table by the window. We also were handed a menu with an interesting assortment of lunch choices. I found that the home made sweet potato soup was delicious as well as the rissoto balls...as an appetizer. We also lingered over lunch without being "pushed" to finish and leave. It's definitely high on my "return to" list.
(4)Michael D.
'Meh' sums it up perfectly. Lentil burger was bland and mushy. Sweet potat fries were okay, nothing special though. Ambiance was nice, waitstaff was accommodating and let our group veg for a long time without dropping any sort of hint to leave. I'll give it another shot, but not for a while.
(2)Erin G.
I've been here for brunch and late-night dinner at the old Zanzibar location, and it was ok. I like their variety of things--not quite sure what vibe they're going for, they have kind of an eclectic mix, from brunch and crepes to full dinners like steak and ravioli to sandwiches. My friend and I both tried the full dinners, which I was wary of because they used to be just a sandwich place and I wasn't sure how they'd do with dinner, but they were pretty good. I like that they're open late, we got dinner at 10pm. Friend had butternut squash ravioli which was good, not too sweet like it is at some other places, but it was expensive and a small portion. I had kielbasa w/pierogies and sauerkraut, which was good but the pierogies could have used more flavor. Service was a bit slow. Also went for brunch, which was not so great. Slow not-so-attentive service and I had to send my coffee and my food back because they weren't hot. Coffee was watery/weak, which was sad because it's from Mighty Good and should have been better. Friend got crepes but said they weren't that flavorful, boyfriend got corned beef hash, which was good but not great. I got the lox benedict, which was good once it was hot, but by that time my companions were done eating and I was eating alone, which is annoying. When I got my food, the waiter almost walked away when I informed him that the menu said I got home fries with it. He seemed confused by this, and said he'd "check," as if I might be wrong about it. I wasn't, and he returned with said home fries. He also didn't really apologize for the lukewarm coffee or food--he fixed it, but didn't say sorry that happened or anything, which made me feel like he didn't really give a crap that my food wasn't up to par. I thought by now they would have had the hang of the bigger venue, but they seemed kind of all over the place. If I was in the area I'd try it again though.
(3)Steven H.
My girlfriend and I eat there quite often. The food is great! I love the salmon burger and the price is where it's at. It's cheap (Depending on what you order) and the service is friendly.
(5)Mark D.
I've been going to Sava's for a while since I have been going to college at umich, and I'll give it to the place, they are always consistently busy and keeping customers interested. This restaurant is one of the brunch/lunch staples of Ann Arbor, where everybody loves to take their parents when they visit. There is a ton of space in this place, so even if there is a wait (which there most likely will be on a weekend) you will get in quick. My girlfriend and I came in and sat on the upper level on a Saturday morning with maybe a 5 minute wait. Service was ehh, as the waiter forgot to fill up our waters and took a while to take our order but it was crazy busy so I can't blame them. We got a Bloody Mary, a beer, the lobster rolls with a side of fries and the Huevos. I was unimpressed at the size of the Huevos when it came out but it was actually very tasty and well done. The tortillas were crispy and the eggs perfectly over easy. The lobster rolls were also good, the bread grilled and toasted to make a hot dog bun type of sandwich. Fries were crispy and shoestring which is a favorite of mine. The bloody was a bit warm, and didn't have enough ice. I suspect cuz the glass just popped out of the washer. I'm giving this place 4 stars because I have had many meals here and their food has always been consistent over 7 years, that's not something many restaurants can say. Overall: a great place for brunch or to take a date/your parents if they come into town.
(4)Lylian D.
I have had Sava's several times during my time at Umich. I like their atmosphere a lot, but the food is decent. The burger is dry and lacks seasoning. Their sweet potato fries are yummy though. This is definitely not the place to get steaks though. The ribeye needed to be trimmed because there was just too much grisly fat, although the flavor was good. I do like their Seafood Marlon, but I wish they would put in tastier pieces of the lobster instead of the bits of the claw meat. Calamari and the jalapeno aioli are very good here. Service is super slow, but they are always busy. I can understand the slow service from time to time, but sometimes I don't want to have to spend 2+ hours to at restaurants. I've never been here for brunch, but it seems worth a try from the other reviews.
(3)Patrick T.
Came for a late lunch today. Enjoyed the mac and cheese with lobster ($5 extra). That 5 bucks resulted in a hearty amount of lobster. The mac and cheese itself was rich and delicious. Great dish, but left me feeling lethargic the rest of the afternoon. I've always liked the food at Sava's. The only problem is that their service is slow, or every time I've been I've had really inattentive waitstaff.
(3)Jane S.
When it's good, it's very good....when it's bad, it's very bad. I've had amazing food here and I've also had the blandest pulled pork and banh mi I've ever had. Not sure why it is so inconsistent, would be dining there way more often if I knew for sure it was going to be one of those good meals. The Arancini (Crispy Risotto Balls) are killer every time and the atmosphere is lovely.
(3)Barbara C.
Man what a wait ; no place worth a 50 minute wait , 40 minutes from our reservation time! To Sava's credit, they rushed our order FAST and we had a super nice wait staff. We did make our show on time. People linger for 2 + hrs at tables we were told, but somehow Sava's needs to fix this, as we sure will not go there for dinner on a Friday night again! Meal was admittedly good, as was service. Feel sort of sorry for wait staff. The lines are hidden from tables which is part of problem, as I am sure lingerers do not realize the long lines awaiting their tables! They need move on to coffee shops for their final hour. How about some incentives for coffee and dessert with a nearby partner? How about at least a place to sit while you wait nearly an hour? We DID have reservations too--astonishing)!
(2)Vanessa Jean R.
I've been to Sava's many, many times over the years and this place just keeps getting better. Sava's has been the spot for many birthday dinners with friends, lunches with relatives, and light drinks with friends. The back room most recently hosted my brother's graduation celebration, and the approachable atmosphere was a great meet-in-the-middle for my diverse family. I think what makes Sava's a great go-to for pretty much any occasion is the approachable but clearly lovely interior design, combined with great food and fair pricing. What makes for a great graduation celebration also makes brunch on the patio with mimosas and a Sava's sandwich a very pleasurable experience. The wood paneling and large tile floors evoke the feeling of being in someone's dining room, and the open bar hutches to the right of the bar, as well as the white and wood bar stools themselves, are a nice touch. The one thing about Sava's is that the bathrooms are not wheelchair-accessible. As soon as I entered for our reservation in May and I saw the signs pointing down the stairs, I immediately anxiously inquired about a restroom for my grandmother. The staff promptly and courteously directed me to escort my grandmother to the bathroom by the kitchen. I'm sure that they have dealt with elderly patrons who can't do stairs before, but this solution is perhaps not ideal for those with accessibility needs who would prefer a less conspicuous way of accessing the toilet.
(4)Sherry P.
We had a pre-Christmas dinner with good friends on the Friday before Christmas. Great service, good food and fantastic cocktails. We were not rushed and enjoyed an after dinner drink -- and enjoyed the ambience and holiday decorations. We look forward to the new décor and re-do in January. Sava is our go-to restaurant in Ann Arbor! Happy New Year!
(5)Christina F.
This review is for their Sunday brunch which was dynamite. They change the brunch all the time but on the morning I went they had some fancy egg stratas and bakes, oysters, shrimp, a gnocchi dish which was very tasty and kung pao chicken with giant pieces of chicken in a spicy sauce. Desserts were plentiful from macaroons and brownies to mousse and ecclairs I left feeling fully satisfied and impressed. Bonus-- everyone who works here is attentive and good looking which made the place even better. By far my favorite in A2.
(5)Blair R.
I have been to Sava's consistently over the past few weeks and each time tempted me to change my review but today was the icing on the cake. I still like Sava's food and consider it my easy Ann Arbor go to place, but the service lately has been unacceptable. And I don't blame the staff, I blame the management. Let's start with a few weeks ago. Service was a little spotty (the waitress was a little confused when we asked for recommendations) but worse, three of the drinks my friend ordered were out of stock.... Today I went with a large party. We gave Sava's a heads up that we would be a big group. The place had plenty of time to prepare. Instead, we only had one waitress and by herself she couldn't handle the situation. Drink orders took forever and on top of that, I watched my friend wait about 25 minutes for a refill on her coffee. Since there wasn't two people on our table, it was basically impossible to get refills and we were at Sava's for two hours, so we definitely wanted refills. I don't necessarily care that it took FOREVER to order and get our food, but with such a large party, someone should have been there to help our waitress serve. Instead, she slowly had to go to and from the kitchen and around the table by herself. By the time the last food arrived, the first people to receive their food were basically finished. Also, I told my friend who I sat next to at brunch I'd cover her. She ordered a side of poached eggs. And they were overcooked, no runny yolk to be found. But with the uneven service going on, there was no way to fix it.
(2)Kayla K.
Delicious food, fantastic staff, great prices. Walked in around 8pm on a Friday and was seated within 5 minutes. Waitress took our order, and we got our food promptly. The black bean burger was AMAZING.
(5)Natasha P.
We ate here on Saturday night and apparently, they get booked very quickly. I called on Saturday afternoon to reserve a table for 4, and was told that they do not take reservations on Saturdays. So we decided to try our luck, just show up and see how long the wait would be. On our way to the restaurant (about 10 minutes before we reached), we called and asked what the wait time would be and the hostess said that there wasn't any. By the time we got there and gave our name, she said it would be a 5 minute wait. So we said ok and waited. We were finally seated 25 minutes later, and when I asked about our table, I was told that they do take reservations, but I must have been told that they don't because they were full. That mini fiasco aside, Sava's in a nice restaurant to eat at and catch up with friends. Their food is nice and they have a wide selection of drinks (not just beer and wine). We started out with a plate of polenta fries and a plate of sweet potato fries. I've been here 3 or 4 times now, and their sweet potato fries have consistently been excellent. It is crispy on the outside and soft inside - the perfect fry. For dinner I ordered the Bacon Brie Burger. It was cooked perfectly, and they had laid on the brie pretty thick. My husband and a friend both ordered the Cuban Sandwich which was excellent. It was huge, and full of flavor. I think that's what I'm going to have the next time I'm there. The fourth person at our table ordered the Gouda Prosciutto Burger. He said it was tasty and full of Gouda, but that he could not taste any prosciutto and that the burger needed a little more 'burger sauce'. When our food arrived, I ordered another side of sweet potato fries, but it never came to the table and we just let it slide. I'd go back to Sava's often, but I'll try to have a reservation...
(4)Sacha U.
Really cool looking place inside. We were debating where to have breakfast and wanted to try something new. The menu looked great. However, they seated us upstairs . Finally looked around after ordering off the menu and my husband noticed a breakfast buffet. He asked the server if it was available and changed his order. It was mediocre. I ordered a simple breakfast with eggs, toast and bacon and sweet potato pancakes. When it finally came, the eggs were dried up and cold, the bacon soft and extra greasy, and the potato pancake was covered in what looked like applesauce topped with ranch. The dry toast was the only decent item on the plate. When the server asked "is everything good" my response was "meh" and without another word she filled our coffee and walked away. When the bill came, the breakfast buffet was $20!! With so many great breakfast places in Ann Arbor, this was a terrible disappointment.
(1)Jenny H.
Our trip to AA was met by strong recs from a friend: go to Savas. Get the Watermelon Salad. Hence we went and no watermelon salad to be found on ze menu. It felt a bit discombobulated at the front of the house-- they were obviously booked solid inside, but couldn't tell us about wait times. Eventually we found out our friends were already holding a table outside. We ordered the ahi tuna salad, caprese, steak and potato salad, and butternut squash ravioli. First off, is ahi tuna supposed to tingle and numb your mouth? Maybe it was the dressing or some other component of the salad. But way too much lettuce leftover in the jumble. My caprese came with a nice portion of burrata cheese, but there wasn't nearly enough pieces of bread to complement... and when the bill came, we saw that they charged extra for three additional pieces of toast. What?! Our other dining companions loved their ravioli and steak-potato salad. Maybe we just had an ordering fluke that night. Service was decent and we never felt rushed given our chatty dinner. It was a pleasant meal outside, overall not a place to write home about.
(3)Shirley H.
For me, Sava's is a place that I would go to if a friend would suggest it. If I had an option of grabbing some food downtown, this restaurant would not be on my list. With that being said, I think their drinks and food are way too pricey. The last thing I remember getting was a chicken wrap that was mediocre. Honestly, I can't say much about it because it wasn't impressive. One thing I have liked from past experiences is the fish tacos. Their lavender lemonade was also pretty good but too pricey to get again.
(2)Libby S.
Delicious food and very creative menus. Lots of variety and nice staff. This is one my go-to places for elegant cuisine.
(5)Emma D.
Visited when my parents were in town around lunchtime-had to wait about ten minutes which wasn't bad, although the hostess was a little snippy. Regardless, our waitress was awesome all around with checking up on us, recommending dishes, and giving refills. I got the Truffled Mushroom Burger medium rare which was good- it could have had more flavor in the toppings, but the bun was very good along with the burger itself. I also got the Sweet Potato Fries- if you go here, GET THESE. They were better than any other sweet potato fries I've had. Seriously. Overall, good visit, will definitely be coming back.
(4)Beth R.
Took a friend & in the biz foodie, from out of town here the other night for dinner. We ordered the short rib w kale and parsnip puree entree and the butternut squash ravioli in a sage brown butter sauce. The short rib was tough (needing a knife and fork to cut) topped with a heavy dark brown sauce that was so overpowering and not in a good way! You could barely taste the meat. The kale was so smokey and salty it was actually inedible. The entire plate looked & tasted like a pile of slop. The ravioli entree was not bad but not good either. This dish should easily be a winner. It's major downfall was it lacked any kind of sauce. It was literally just cooked in a pan w butter and had a few sage leaves scattered w a few candied chopped nuts & small squash cubes. Sad. Why they do not have a delicious creamy sage brown butter sauce is beyond me. Major flop. The watermelon flavored martini was far from tasty. The arrogance of the bartender was embarrassingly shameful. I've eaten at some of the greatest establishments in the world and one huge thing is to make your guests feel welcome. She was polite but far from attentive, warm, welcoming or fuzzy. Seemed to be completely into herself and her colleagues, feeding them at the end of the bar the entire evening. Not her guests. Although we did not send our dishes back it was apparent from the lack of care shown to us that she could care less what we thought or if we were happy with you. The one good thing we had was the creme brûlée. The half off bottle list is so small with very slim pickings that, that was not an option.
(2)Jane X.
Trusty 'ole Sava's. One of those few restaurants that really just excels at everything. Food, service, atmosphere - it has it all. It is somehow appropriate for every occasion, and accomodates both fancy girls' night out or a casual study break. In warmer months there's also an outdoor seating area with comfy couches! They also have a generous range of alcohol options. People rave about their sweet potato fries. But my favorites are their seafood mains and salads! So. Freakin. Good. I recommend the shrimp quinoa salad. Given how good the food and everything else is, I'd say the pricing is reasonable. Plus the waiters are really cute! This is the place I take any new visitors to Ann Arbor.
(4)Leslie T.
Sava's is a great place to eat for any meal. I first came with my parents for Parents' Weekend during my freshman year and have loved it ever since. Their maize and blue burger is to die for; I love that they top off burgers with a fried egg. Always get sweet potato fries as a side -- so good! The capellini marlon had delicious sauce, but not too much seafood. I always loved Cuban sandwiches, and Sava's did not do anything to reduce my love. The service is also friendly. My friend went for her birthday dinner and they surprised her with a cake she didn't even order! Pleasant surprise. For breakfast, I like the bistro crepe, just enough hollandaise sauce. The salmon scramble was good, but the salmon was a touch salty. Overall, great place to eat.
(4)Ross A.
Had a great late breakfast at Sava's with my significant other. I chose to have the bagel with lox which was rather excellent. I'm not someone who has a lot of experience with this type of breakfast, but I enjoyed myself. My girlfriend had the salmon scramble which creamy and delicious. Also the bagels were just how we liked them. Nice and chewy after being toasted. Overall it was a great experience and we will be back!
(5)Emma W.
I LOVED Sava's before the remodel. Absolutely loved it. I wanted to eat there every weekend. I would try something different every time and was never disappointed. However, now that they've remodeled, I don't think I'll be back. The menu is so much shorter and instead of the heavy duty leather menu, it's now just a sheet of paper--there's nothing classy about that. And the extensive and creative cocktail menu has been reduced to six or so drinks, none of which struck me as unique or inventive. The service was still good, but I just felt so let down. The menu had fewer vegetarian options and felt way more generic. What was before a great atmosphere for any occasion and a menu with so many options is now an average establishment with sub par decor. I can imagine anyone coming to Sava's for the first time might enjoy it, but if you loved Sava's before the renovation, you'll be sadly disappointed.
(1)Barry D.
One of my go-to restaurants in town, I always come here at least once in a week-long visit. Had dinner here two nights ago (on a Wednesday night), was seated promptly in a booth despite not having a reservation. My server Josh was polite and attentive and we got into a conversation about local draft beers, mead and Australian beers that spanned many visits to my table. He recommended the Left Hand milk stout, which was quite delicious. I started with the Mediterranean Trio which has a small serving of tabbouleh, hummus and tzatziki along with some bread wedges. The wedges are solid, not pita, so it's a little more awkward to eat than if they were hollow inside, but it's delicious and often I'll order this as a starter. For my main course, I ordered the Grilled Cheese for Grownups. I've had this before as well, and it was as wonderful as expected. This is several white cheeses melted in a butter croissant with slices of heirloom tomatoes and seasoned with a pesto sauce. The heirloom tomatoes (depending on which ones the kitchen has particular night) can make the sandwich taste as meaty as ham-and-cheese, or light and fruity. Sadly, the pear soup (which I sternly admonish you to order every visit) was not available that night. I've had dinner elsewhere and then come to Sava's just to finish with the pear soup, it's that good. It's a warm puree of poached pears, poured over melted chocolate in the dish, with a few slices of poached pear floated in the dish. Utterly simple, yet utterly delicious. I've tried to duplicate this a few times at home, and there's some secret ingredient or trick that Sava's has which gets it just perfect.
(5)Jessica W.
I don't think there is a single person who has survived school at Michigan without dining (or drinking) at Sava's at least once. It's one of the closest and most non-objectionable eateries in Ann Arbor. There is something for every taste on the menu, from bánh mì to fish tacos to (my favorite) the black bean burger. The drink menu isn't bad either. And...drumroll...breakfast is available until 3pm! It may be a little overpriced for the portions, but it has terrific hours (open till midnight for dinner every day) and consistently good quality food. The service can be slow, but that's usually just because the place is packed, so you can't blame the staff.
(4)Julia G.
I used to go to Sava's back when it was just a casual little place across the street. Regularly came in for the great roasted vegetable wrap with hummus. I was a little worried they would change too much when they moved across the street but they have done a really great job! The decor is really nice, and the place has a bright, modern, but homey feel. Its definitely gotten a bit pricey, but I looove the food so I can't help but keep coming back. This is my go-to for an impressive weekend breakfast when I have friends visiting. The crepes and omelets are fantastic, and they have really great coffee, if you're in the mood for something stronger the mimosas and tasty cocktails will do the trick!
(4)Rose A.
Sadly this restaurant has been in continual decline for me. First, the positives: I love the decor!!! The food, can be delicious! The location is great! The first two times visiting Sava's everything was perfect. The third time, they were out of crème brûlée. The fourth time the food was so so ( perhaps a different chef?). We hoped dessert would make up for the really disappointing meal that we barely touched. However, the dessert menu now had "stylish" flavored crème brûlée on it. There was green tea crème brûlée and another one with ginger. Both really weren't good at all. The fifth time visiting, the service was slow, the waitress seemed stressed and absent. My husband ordered sweet potato fries which were room temperature cold and soggy. He also ordered fish tacos that were cold. My daughter and I had the roast chicken, which wasn't very warm either. After such a long wait, this was disappointing. I noticed they had classic crème brûlée again! Yes, it's something I usually love if done well. However, they were out of it. We ordered it and about 20 minutes later the server came back and told us they were out. We ordered pumpkin cheesecake, which was good. Husband ordered the peanut butter cheesecake, which was dry and tasted like it wasn't fresh anymore. Gave this three stars because our first visits were great, but something has really changed. I hope it's temporary.
(3)Mark S.
Let me start by saying we have gone to Sava many times and thought it was terrific. This time it was just OK. Server was completely clueless. Everytime we asked for something (refill or Ketchup), it took her more than five minutes to return. I tried the Vera Cruz omelette which was very good. SS tried the Kalifa Panni which was bland and generally tasteless.
(3)Kelly E.
We went to dinner at Sava's on a Saturday night, and since it's such a different experience from brunch, it deserves an update. Compared to brunch or lunch, there is a much longer wait. We waited almost an hour, so it was a late seating for dinner. The ambiance is much nicer, and calmer. We sat upstairs, and both ordered specials - asiago gnocchi and veal osso bucco. The side of fresh string beans were delicious. We had several rounds of drinks, food and coffee, and didn't feel rushed to leave. Loved the dinner food and vibe.
(4)Tiffany H.
The span of reviews from "this place sucks" to "this place is awesome!" really reflects the range of possible experiences you'll get at Sava's. I've been a handful of times, and I've managed to get both decent meals and crappy meals. That merits nothing more than 3 stars. The food is above average, but not special in terms of either ingredients or flavor. considering what you pay for it. Nothing on the menu is exciting and most of it can easily be replicated at home, which to me means it's hardly worth ordering. I do believe firmly in paying for quality, but there are A LOT of places in A2 that offer equal or better quality for a lesser premium. Oh, and in January in Michigan, their "seasonal" vegetables are apparently zucchini and asparagus, which just raises the skepticism meter. What I really want to know is whether their servers get any training whatsoever. They are incredibly slow and do that thing where they walk by your table multiple times and promise they'll be right with you for x, y, or z, and proceed to disappear for 10 minutes. The last two times I've been there, neither could tell me what styles of beer their drafts were. I've had multiple waiters push appetizers and sides to the point of obnoxiousness (sides aren't included with their burgers/sandwiches, by the way). I feel bad because the servers are always ridiculously nice and apologetic, which leads me to believe they are either intentionally trained to be terrible, OR management just sucks. Sava's best feature is happy hour, for which their drinks are reasonably priced. Otherwise, you can find far better in Ann Arbor.
(3)Joanna C.
I came here for brunch today with my brother. We decided to do the all you can eat for $16, which came with the drink choice of a mimosa or bloody mary. I had the mimosa, which tasted a bit more bitter than the ones I usually have. The buffet was just okay. There were a lot of different food items, but I thought that all of the dishes with eggs were too dry and unappetizing. The pastries and desserts were also too sweet for my taste, but my brother enjoyed them. I enjoyed the grilled vegetables, lox, and fruit. The brunch could be better with something like pancakes or waffles. The ambiance and service were great. Our waitress quickly cleared our plates and the buffet was well-maintained. While I wasn't impressed this time around, judging from the reviews, I'll have to come back and try something else.
(3)John D.
Sava's has a special place in my heart- this was where I had my first date. It's where I grew up, lived, and loved. The service is always top-notch. Can be a tad pricey but if you're smart you can definitely do Sava's on a budget. Have ordered: Tomato bisque (get it every time), sweet potato fries, french fries, brunch, capellini merlon, bacon brie burger, western omelette, breakfast burrito, brunch
(5)Crystal R.
The interior is very nice, and the server was attentive. One thing that they have going for them is a plethora of OPTIONS. You'd like a milk? Would you like whole, half, 2%, or skim? Hot sauce? They have tabasco, red hot, and schiracha. Their menu is only one long page, but there were a lot of interesting choices. We had the med trio appetizer- the grilled pita was amazing, the hummus was okay, nothing to be excited about. My husband got a portobello panini which was cheesy and delicious! I had the chorizo macaroni and cheese, which was very good! Ann Arbor has a lot to offer, so I'm sure it'll be a while before we stop in again- but I can't say we had a bad experience!
(4)Elizabeth M.
It's odd that I love love Sava's-owned Babo but not the big kahuna herself. First off, I need to divide this review up between cocktails and food. COCKTAILS: This is a wonderful place to go get a drink even though you'll be facing near-big-city prices, aka around $10-12 per cocktail. Nonetheless cocktails are a huge win here, especially the more "advanced" menu with the largest selection, which emphasizes the actual alcohol itself rather than trying to cover it with a hodge podge of sweeteners, etc. My favorite was the Fashion of Passion. It was ridiculously good, and the caramelized notes were pronounced. They also have a great spread of Beligian beer, if you're into that sort of thing. THE FOOD: So, I want to love the food but it never quite kills it for me. Maybe it's because a lot of their menu seems to be stuff I could make at home with ease. They have excellent ingredients--it's all fresh, tasty, interesting--but I've never been blown away. When I went, my BF and I split sammies and swapped halves, and split a side of polenta fries. The polenta fries were OK but the dip they came with seemed like a roasted red pepper soup. The bahn mi sammie with pork was just ok, but I think I could have gotten better pork at Belly Deli on South U. The Adult Grilled Cheese was just weak. It's in a croissant (read, soggy/droopy) with tomatoes and cheese. Honestly, where was the fruit and carmelized onions? Where was the innovative bread choice that would have made this an elevated dish? I've been here before and you know what's a whole lot better? Their brunch and burger menus. Seriously, go for a burger or wake up early and get one of their perf crepes. If you're going here for dinner, order off the larger entrees menu, NOT the sammies. THE SERVICE: WONDERFUL. THE AMBIANCE: WONDERFUL. I just love being in this restaurant. THE BOTTOM LINE: skip the sammies, order the burgers, and get a cocktail!
(3)Shirley C.
Save your tummy for a nice Sunday brunch buffet. Especially for its smoky salmon and oyster! a place where you can't go wrong with ;)
(4)Andrew F.
Sava's brunch is one of the best around! I am hooked on the Bandito Hash with a side Bloody Mary, but their buffet is also incredible. It has a ton of offerings and everything is always fresh.
(5)Nick R.
This place will not disappoint. Make a reservation because it's normally packed. Their Sunday brunch turns up and the happy hour is legit. Perfect mix of contemporary and experimental American cuisine.
(5)Sarah H.
I do not care for the new menu at all. This is my 3rd time here with the new menu, and it takes me 45 minutes to figure out what I want to eat. I used to come here for the great salads and small plates, now they are gone. The menu is very weird and unique, you have to be willing to try new things that you have never heard of. The service has been extremely slow and I am upset because Sava's used to be one of my favorite restaurants. Now I don't think I will be retuning ever again.
(2)Sami S.
Great service and the food is always good. They are especially good for large groups as they can easily split the check however you want. I love the Khalifa panini and their Sunday brunch buffet is truly amazing. I don't love their omelets, but really enjoy almost everything else I have ordered.
(5)Joe B.
I was on my way back from a business meeting in Ohio and me and my old man decided to grab a bite of pizza in A2 at Mani Osteria, which is apparently closed on Mondays?! His second choice was Sava's for their Bacon Brie burger. We dropped in, were seated immediately and our server came straight away. Erin was friendly, attentive and on her game even with a trainee under wing. The restaurant is bustling, a little trendy but also campus classy (meaning great for students and business class alike). The bar area was even a little sexy. It was pretty packed with no open tables on the main floor in sight. We began with the Risotto balls which were tasty although on the dry side and laid over Arugula with a creamy tomato sauce drizzled over top. They were decent and very cheesy. My dad ordered his burger well done with a side of macaroni and cheese and I ordered the Knight's burger medium with American cheese and no side. He liked his burger and we both tried the cavatelli macaroni and truly enjoyed it. It's on the dryer side but full of cheesy flavors. My burger was cooked properly albeit not very juicy (and, yes, it is possible to order a medium burger without it being dry and yes I know Anthony Bourdain would NEVER commit such a travesty as ordering a burger cooked over medium rare). The Brioche bun was pillowy, light and lightly toasted. The tomato, unfortunately, was mealy but the lettuce was a good quality - Bibb I'd guess. My gripe would have to come from, first the pickle spear on the side. I'm not sure if they did it by design or by coincidence but both our pickles looked like they had been beaten by a jockey and then run over-they were very sad looking. Second, both our burgers were LOADED with onion, which I love. But if you don't, you would've had a lot to pick off. Next, their burger sauce, totally unremarkable. I'm not really sure what it even tasted like. Lastly, a burger is much like a building. You have to lay a proper foundation or it falls apart. I took one bite and everything slid out the side. Overall the food was OK and in retrospect I should have ordered some of the other creations that looked truly interesting like the Sausage Risotto or the Ratatouille. Dessert was another story. We tried the Tartufo. A chocolate gelato filled with a sabayon, dusted with cocoa powder, sprinkled with hazelnuts and served in a martini glass. It was very very good but if you're sharing, don't - order your own. If I lived closer I would try Sava's again for sure. They have some very intriguing cocktail offerings and a host of entrees that if prepared properly should be amazing. The bar area was cozy and their beer selection was thumbs up with plenty of Michigan micros to opt for.
(3)Aaron M.
I like Sava's. I'm glad it exists. I think it's a little too expensive. They've got decent vegetarian options, and that's a serious pro in my book. Lots of space and therefore good for groups. Sometimes it gets preeeeeeety hairy on weekend nights. By hairy, I mean busy, not covered in hair. That would lead to far fewer stars than three. Decent beer selection. Lots of tattoos (which I also like, but maybe you don't). If Savas were maybe 10% cheaper, I'd eat there more and be tempted to bump the star rating up one.
(3)Sarah P.
Love the Ham-Spin-Pear-Brie Panini and Kalifa Panini (chicken, goat cheese, roasted red peppers). The breakfast foods are also fantastic, esp. the bananas foster (yep, I said breakfast)! Large upscale cocktail selection, as well as the standard beer and wine.
(5)Richard S.
Like the atmosphere... people watching.. pricey though!
(4)Lauren I.
Atmosphere: 4/5 Walking in the interior is some of the most impressive that you'll find in the city. Sava's has a elegant, airy feel while still remaining cozy. While it gets crowded at night, especially during the weekends, small candles set on tables contrast a dark city outside and the space becomes borderline beautiful. Giant glass windows that grace the northern really brighten up the space during the day without it becoming too cold. Booths are upholstered with soft fleur-de-lis embroidery and the bright wooden tables add to a refined and yet casual atmosphere both day and night. Some of the appeal is ruined however by some giant sculptural pieces that appear to have been placed there in a desperate attempt to fill up empty space. Menu: 2/5 Sava's menu is extensive, way too extensive, with a variety salads, wraps, paninis, sandwiches, burgers, and some ethnic-inspired appetizers such as hummus or chickpea curry. Collectively, there's too much going on in the menu to really absorb in one sitting, and their attempt at Mediterranean dishes while still maintaining an American-base is somewhat tacky. Sava's would do well to stick to one theme and do it well. Breakfast is available until 3, (Why don' they just make it available all day?) and the lunch and dinner menus are combined. Price: 2/5 Apart from breakfast and some sandwich options, somewhat overpriced. Spinach and artichoke dip was 7.99, and while the homemade dip and fried "chips" were admirable, eight dollars is way to too much to be paying for this kind of appetizer, considering the ingredients involved. 3.99 or 4.99 would be a much more reasonable price, but this trend reflects Sava's overall trend in overpricing. Service: 2/5 Very poor, especially considering the price. During dinner with a friend we were asked by our waiter at least three times within 15 minutes whether we were ready for our order before being quickly replaced by other waiter, and not at our request. We weren't halfway done through the appetizer before the main came, in which the server very unceremoniously set the plates down at the edge of the table before scooting away. Most chain restaurants have better service. Food: 3/5 As a main I had the bacon and brie burger, a bit of an indulgence but a combination that worked extremely well, with both the brie and the bacon adding a creaminess and saltiness to the burger that is usually absent. While I've had burgers at Savas in the past, I find that the meat is a somewhat dry, almost tough, especially after cooling down. ...But I would like to try brie on a burger again soon. Sweet potato fries are another specialty at Savas, served with a slightly spicy, tangy chipolte-mayo dressing. Verdict: 3/5 Savas is a nice place to get take your parents out to eat, especially if they're paying the tab. Granted the food appears to be higher quality than many of the surrounding restaurants, but its too overpriced to me to return there any time soon for dinner. The Aftermath: With the fries and the spinach artichoke dip I only had a couple of bites of my burger, saving the rest for dinner. As with most burgers, it didn't do too well cold. After eating at Savas I feel very greasy and somewhat nauseous, but I suppose that's to be expected considering my choices.
(3)Suzy E.
I've been going to Sava's or getting take out around once a week for the past 2 and a half years. I ordered a grilled chicken Greek salad tonight and for the first time ever they forgot my chicken. I called up to let them know, hoping maybe to get reimbursed for the chicken add on since I no longer had access to a car to go pick it up. The manager himself drove it to me, and he packed me some extra sides and a dessert too! Greatest display of customer service and the nicest staff I've ever seen.
(5)Ray S.
We dined here with some dear friends recently. The recommendation was ours based on the wonderful experience we had at Sava's previously. The online reservation found on their website is great, I recommend it. Nice to walk in and they have your name and correct party number right there. We sat at the bar for 15 minutes waiting for our guests to arrive. The beer tap selection was average at best, with only one IPA option and several domestic beers. There is a rotating tap, so maybe I was there on an off week. Most restaurants in Downtown Ann Arbor have a wider selection of micro-brewed taps. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Seating was comfortable too. A bit on the noisy side, but that comes with the unique building and is really not much of a concern to me. I ordered the Capellini Marlon which has capellini pasta, lobster, shrimp and saffron butter. This meal in itself should have made my rating a two star. Both the shrimp and lobster (especially the lobster!) were overcooked. It was difficult to enjoy the rest of the pasta and sauce when the main course is overcooked. What saved me, and why I give Sava's a three star rating was my wife's dinner. She ordered the Chicken Fusili (chicken, arugala, sundried tomatoes, goat cheese, fusili pasta). This was an amazing dish - FIVE STARS! So good that I ate the last 1/3 of her dish rather than let her take it home. I recognize that not every meal will be perfect, so I'm not out to slam Sava's, I think they really have a nice place with good and unique selections. But if they can't cook shrimp or lobster without overcooking, then they should just take it off the menu altogether. I'll be back.
(3)Sumana P.
So good! This place is an Ann Arbor favorite and that is definitely justified! Great service and fantastic food.
(5)Lyla J.
Beautiful atmosphere. Very good place for a romantic dinner, we sat on the top balcony overlooking the rest of the restaurant. Chicken Marsala was delicious as was the mac and cheese... Free birthday crepe on top made for a perfect evening. Our server, Taylor was, also, amazing.
(5)Matt R.
Had my birthday dinner at Sava's with my parents. The truffle risotto balls were amazing. I had the lamb chops, which I ordered rare but came out more in the medium range, not a disaster because the meat was incredibly tender and still very juicy. The seasoning on the lamb was subtle but just right to enhance the natural flavor of the meat. My mom ordered the Restaurant Week special of pork loin with squash puree and fried brussels sprouts. The pork had a little bit of gristle and was cooked a little more than requested, but very tasty nonetheless. My dad had another Restaurant Week special of pasta with seafood, olives, and capers, I had a bite of that and it was perfect. A very good birthday experience. Edited to add: The owner and I have very similar musical tastes, because I was delighted to hear all my favorite artists over the speaker system during my visit. Good to hear some Australian Electropop in Ann Arbor.
(4)