Echelon Kitchen and Bar

2-28-26 An impeccable dining experience from start to finish. This is true upscale dining where the professionalism of the staff is matched only by the creativity of the kitchen. We opted for the 7-course tasting menu, and every single dish offered unique, phenomenal flavors that we hadn’t experienced elsewhere. Even with the complexity of the meal, the service was lightning-fast and attentive. The cocktails were equally impressive—well worth the price for a special occasion.

What a gem! Echelon is truly an amazing experience! In fact, our experience was so remarkable, we ate there twice while in town. The restaurant is gorgeous, a real feast for the eyes that gives a significant nod to the building's rich architectural past while pulling a warm art deco design in a space fitting for an architectural magazine. As amazing as the space was the entire service and food team. Our servers - Jenn on night one and Ella on night two - were so friendly, knowledgeable and everyone went above and beyond to ensure our experience at Echelon was something we would never forget (and we won't!). We even got visits from the kitchen with Chef Joe VanWagner coming by to greet us, expediter and professional forager Marc Jacob Qualls-Sanchez coming by for a long session on his fora

We tried out Echelon Kitchen and Bar for the first time last night in downtown Ann Arbor's and it is fine dining at its best! We arrived around 5:30 and were able to be seated without a reservation. We were celebrating 2 birthdays. The ambiance was gorgeous, our server, Aubrey knowledgeable and professional. She asked about food sensitivities and clarified some of the menu items that could have caused an issue. The menu items were locally and responsibly sourced and change with the seasons. We were blown away by each course. Aubrey described each dish; the portion sizes were perfect for sharing, plated so beautifully and packed with flavor. The service was fast and organized. We met Taylor, the sommelier, who spoke to us about our wine selection, sourced from a village near where my husban

Echelon is located in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor (Main street & Liberty St.). As you enter off Main St. you're entering into the bar area. The bar is cozy and U-shaped with plenty of seating around the bar. Theres additional seating (for two) along the window wall overlooking Main St. The bar is well stocked and has a little something for everyone. Dinning area is a good size and can handle plenty of people. The open dinning area is easy to maneuver through, which also allows the customers to have eyes on the kitchen. I alwsys like seeing chefs at work, just adds to the room. There is seating along the outer walls with additional seating in the middle and throughout the dinning room. The waitstaff is knowledgeable of each dish they sey in front of you and will answer any questions

We did the chefs counter tasting menu. In short, absolutely incredible. Service was great. Waiter was cool, somm stopped by, chef came by at the end as well. Every dish had a story and they were all incredible. The shrimp toast and shellfish bisque were probably the favorite but there were 3 or 4 dishes in the running for number 1. Root vegetable dessert was one of the best desserts I’ve had in ages too. Vibe at the counter were awesome. Got to watch the crew work, it was cozy from the open flames, felt like a little show with the meal. Would recommend the wine pairing as well. Overall, the best dining experience I have had in Ann Arbor, probably the best food as well. Right up there with some of the Michelin starred meals we’ve had around the world.