These 3 restaurants are doing Ann Arbor Restaurant week for the first time

ANN ARBOR, MI -- Although Restaurant Week is a chance to try familiar favorites, several new restaurants have joined the ranks this year.

These three restaurants have joined Ann Arbor Restaurant Week for the first time, bringing upscale bar food, taco flights and island barbeque to the event for the first time.

Read more: Get discounted eats from Ann Arbor restaurants during Restaurant Week

Two of the restaurants opened in 2022, while the third is looking to highlight its new menu.

Venue by 4M

Venue, 1919 S. Industrial Highway, Ann Arbor, is highlighting its four-in-one menu with a range of options. Lunch, available for $18 per person, lets diners choose between soup or salad as an appetizer, followed by a choice of fish tacos, duck ragu, margarita pizza or a burger as an entrée. Dessert is either a brownie or chocolate chip cookie.

Dinner, $28 per person, has a similar appetizer choice with options for a burger, pepperoni pizza, salmon, vegan kefka or fish taco for an entrée. Choose between a chocolate cheesecake and crepes suzette for dessert.

Venue opened in August 2022 as a co-working space with four restaurant menus, a café and a small grocery market.

“I always see Restaurant Week as a way to show people what I can do and what the restaurant can do at a cheaper price point,” said Thad Gillies, Venue’s chef.

His restaurant week menu is a sampling of his favorite dishes across the four different restaurant concepts, he said. It is available both for dine-in and takeout.

“We’re so big,” Gillies said. “Just come on in and experience it.”

Venue, 1919 S. Industrial Highway, Ann Arbor, is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Find it online, on social media or by phone at 734-800-0128.

Find Venue’s Restaurant Week menu online.

Havana Ann Arbor

Havana Ann Arbor, 207 N. Main St., is also a new addition to the Ann Arbor restaurant scene and experiencing its debut in the 2023 Ann Arbor Restaurant Week.

Havana opened in August 2022 as a cigar and cocktail lounge with an island-inspired theme. Although it originally started as a tapas restaurant, it has recently moved more toward full entrees.

For Restaurant Week, Havana is offering its entrees as buy-one, get-one free for dine-in customers only.

Read more: Michigan’s Best Local Eats: Havana Cigar and Cocktail Lounge serves island-inspired food

Entrees include mango rum glazed salmon, mojo shrimp tacos and jerk pasta – with a choice of salmon, shrimp, brisket or pulled pork to top it. Dishes range from $13 to $28.

Havana Cigar and Cocktail Lounge is open 3 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Find the restaurant online.

And find Havana Cigar and Cocktail Lounge’s Restaurant Week menu online.

The Circ Bar

Havana and Venue are new restaurants, but only the menu is new at The Circ Bar.

As part of a larger push to highlight its new food menu — launched last summer — The Circ Bar has joined Ann Arbor Restaurant Week for the first time.

“We’re known for being a nightclub and drinks and partying and stuff, but not for having food,” said Joshua Glaspie, general manager. “So we’re just trying to let everyone know we have food and to come out and try our new stuff.”

The Circ Bar, 210 S. First St., is offering a meal for two for $30 for dine-in customers only. Customers can choose between mozzarella sticks, Bavarian pretzel sticks, CIRC bombs and truffle fries for a shared appetizer, followed by two choices between tacos, pizza, sliders or a Philly cheesesteak with fries.

Read more: Circ Bar opens rooftop deck in Ann Arbor

The menu is available only in The Circ Bar, rather than adjacent Root Bar and tiki bar.

The Circ Bar’s Restaurant Week menu is available 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Find the bar online, on social media or by phone at 734-277-3656.

And find The Circ Bar’s Restaurant Week menu online.

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