Sava's

Second time visiting this restaurant, the food is excellent and the flavors are not only delicious but also interesting. The staff is super friendly and the service is great.

I'm working in A2 from out of town, my UM student son took me out for my birthday dinner on Wednesday night. Food was delicious, staff was friendly, and atmosphere fantastic! Highly recommend!

Sava's has been a mainstay in Ann Arbor since 2007. The interior is elegant, and notably has two levels. The cuisine is primarily American, but there are some Mediterranean options, as well. It's also worth mentioning that brunch takes place on Sundays. The fried dill pickles are a simple, but great way to start a meal. The half order of the mac & cheese is another great option. It's baked with 4 cheeses and topped with bread crumbs. As for entrees, Sava's burger is legit. The dijonaise and shallots on it are what stood out to me the most. Although they don't come with the burger, I recommend ordering the shoestring fries. I've also had the lamb shank. This is the most expensive dish on the menu, but it's worth it. The lentil ragout and veggies the lamb is served with compliment it so well. The dessert menu occasionally rotates. I've tried the raspberry pot de crème and the blueberry cheesecake. The bites of the pot de crème with raspberry were significantly better than the ones without. As for the cheesecake, its fluffy texture was the highlight. The combination of the beautiful ambiance and the high quality food make Sava's a desirable destination.

Wonderful smiles as soon as you enter. Food is exceptional and tasty. This place is an awesome place simply for the experience. The taste is a bonus!

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Sava’s and it was an outstanding experience. The lunch menu boasted a variety of dishes crafted with incredibly fresh ingredients, which truly elevated the flavors. Each bite was vibrant and satisfying, reflecting the restaurant's commitment to quality. The service was impeccable friendly and attentive. If you're looking for a place with fresh, flavorful food and top-tier service, Sava’s is a must-visit! Check out the pictures associated with this review and follow on IG @ifooditravel

We went for a family dinner. The out of the box menu delighted me. I ate the Hippie Bowl, which is a mix of healthy ingredients complementing each other subtly. I also loved the Artichoke dip, which bursts upon your tastebuds as a pleasant surprise. Do try out this restaurant with a character of its own. Highly recommended.

What a gem of a restaurant. The staff was polite and attentive. Our waitress Izzy was amazing! The food- delicious! The ambience was classy, but not pretentious.

Absolutely lovely, slightly upscale dining establishment. The watermelon & feta salad was the best version I've ever had! Superb job with adding the fresno peppers 🌶 which gave heat to balance the ripe, sweet watermelon. The greek salad with chicken was delicious, as well. I will most definitely eat here, again.

Impressed by Elliot’s service tonight. He was so thoughtful checking in, offering recommendation to protecting my husband when it came to food allergy. Honestly the atmosphere of the staff there seemed positive and probably ran by great leadership. Highly recommend for food, service & atmosphere!

Went there in the summer and enjoyed lunch outside. The outside area is cute clean and well maintained. The food was quite good too. I was happy they had a vegan item with protein, the Hippy Bowl. It’d be great if there was more than one vegan item but it was good. My friends ate other dishes with meat and enjoyed them. The cocktails were very good too and the service was good our server was helpful sweet and funny. My friends ordered the pistachio tiramisu which looked good but they didn’t love it and said they wouldn’t order it again. But otherwise it was a good place for lunch and I’d go back. My friends also had

A Lady’s and Gentleman's Delight: A Healthy Haven in Ann Arbor Sava’s in Ann Arbor's Downtown offers a refined dining experience for the health-conscious lady and gentleman. The ambiance is a perfect blend of sophistication and comfort, making it an ideal spot for a leisurely meal. The menu showcases a delightful array of dishes that celebrate the natural flavors of quality ingredients. Each bite is a testament to the chef's commitment to wholesome, yet delectable cuisine. Whether you're seeking a light lunch or a satisfying dinner, Sava’s caters to discerning palates without compromising on taste or nutritional value. We had lunch with fare prices the other day and highly recommended.

Great vibes at this classic, staple restaurant of Ann Arbor. Food was extremely tasty; had the Lemon Za’atar Fish and Chips, Fish Tacos, and the Little Gem Lettuce salad. The salad sauce was a very nice addition. Same for the tacos’ sauce. Nice location of the restaurant on State Street as well. Service was great, Madison was our server and she was quick and courteous. I highly recommend Sava’s for anyone in A2 and hope to come back!

One of the many restaurants on/near campus. A little bit of a wait but worth it. It also was move-in week so I'm sure that contributed to the wait. The bang bang shrimp was a 10! Definitely getting that again for my meal and not an appetizer. Everyone else seemed to really enjoy their food. Drinks were delicious.

Delicious food that comes out quick. The staff are kind and knowledgeable. Do yourself a favor and get the Capellini Marlon. I didn’t get it but my partner did and I tried it and it was heavenly. I’ll be getting that next time I come

I really enjoyed my time at Sava's! Their burger Mondays are a great deal ( starting at 5$ per burger). I really liked that they took our jackets. The open bar looked great too and makes you want to order cocktails, especially since they were freshly preparing garnishes! I can't wait to visit Sava's again!

Excellent food, service, and atmosphere. Easily accessible, clean, and everyone on staff was kind. Menu prices are fair and everything was delicious

A very nice place to die and especially with friends and loved ones. Great atmosphere and great tasting food. Full of flavours. We ordered the Reuben sandwich which was supposed to be their most amazing item on the menu according to the waitress. Also ordered the Hievos Rancheros which was also excellent! Highly recommend this place to catch a good meal. A friend also ordered the Shrimp and Grits. Overall very happy with the experience

Enjoyed a great meal with my UMich son while visiting. Well prepared food and great atmosphere. Wished the salmon came with more veggies but very tasty.

Ron and Derick were AMAZING servers literally MADE my birthday so kind and the French toast was amazing. Literally would come back for the amazing food yes but honestly for the beyond fantastic customer experience and service. They both went ABOVE and BEYOND to make sure my friends and I were taken care of during our time there and even their interactions with the customers next to us at the bar were very wholesome and treated them all amazingly! 10 out of 10 due to the fantastic service and amazing food!

We have been here twice (both times before a concert) and have never had any issues. We were early for our reservation this time and they gave us our table right away-no waiting. The food was good (but the pasta could have used a bit more salt, but that's just me). Staff was very friendly and attentive. Atmosphere is laid-back and calm. Definitely a place to go if you are in the downtown area.

We worked with Sava's staff to host a brunch for a newly engaged (minutes later) couple. It was terrific! The booth upstairs was semi-private and lovely for the moment. The food was excellent, and the staff went above and beyond for every detail. THANKS!!

Came in for lunch and was blown away by the food and service! The cocktails were incredible, and our server Jamie was so charismatic and professional. She was very knowledgeable, knew the menu well and made us feel at home. The Sava's burger was to die for, compliments to the chef!

10/10!!!!! The atmosphere was a whole vibe and our waitress Mia was as sweet as pie. The food however was AH-MAZING!!!!! And the fact that it came out so fast HOT AND FRESH, was the cherry on top!!! I normally take pictures of my meals, but I was so hungry and the food was so good, I forgot. We had the smash burger with fries and the lobster and shrimp pasta dish (I forgot the name of it)....10/10!!!!! I knew nothing about this place. Heard nothing about this place beforehand. I don't even live close to this place. This place, Sava's is a hidden gem!!!!

We went for a brunch date and it was amazing. We split the creme bruele french toast and the burrito. Both were great, I loved the beautiful, airy environment with all of the windows. I love that we could hear ourselves talk. Everyone on staff was friendly and seemed excited to be there. We will be back!

We were visiting for the OSU-Michigan game and had a delightful experience here. I’ve been to Sava's a handful of times and always enjoyed it. It is an Ann Arbor restaurant that is quite the classic. We had a reservation early evening after the game on Saturday and were seated promptly. Our party had the burger, salmon bowl, scallops and one other bowl. Everything was delicious. We had a couple round of cocktails - expresso martini, dirty martinis, a Barbados rum drink and some beer. It was all excellent. Our server was also pleasant and excellent. And last but certainly least - a big thank you to the anonymous Michigan gentlemen who kindly bought our first round of drinks as Ohio visitors.

The service at Sava’s is awesome! The carrot cake was almost too beautiful to eat, but tasted even better! Our party was taken care of so well by the staff and the manager Ron made sure to stop by and check on us several times to ensure we enjoyed ourselves. What an experience! Would recommend again and again!!!!

Great food. Great service. But pricey Fish tacos and Chicken Katsu sandwich were great. Quality and tasty. But I wish the portions were bigger for how much you pay. Service was great too. 7.9/10

We came for brunch and it was a great meal! They have a good variety on the menu. I got the loaded hashbrowns which was really good. I tried the bang bang shrimp as well and loved it. At the end we all shared the French toast which was delicious. Definitely a solid brunch spot

Located in Downtown Ann Arbor it's no wonder they've been here for 18 years. The food is great with a variety on the menu, from high class Chicken Fusilli to one of the best smash burgers in A2. Each item was flavorful and fresh, and the shoestring fries are out of this world. The atmosphere is great being a classy place to dine.

Sava’s is easily one of the restaurants whose cuisine I enjoy the most in Ann Arbor. The menu isn’t particularly extensive, but the dishes are consistently well-crafted and thoughtfully prepared, which makes each visit feel worthwhile. It is on the pricier side—every time I’ve gone, the bill has ended up around $50–$65 per person—but the quality generally reflects the cost. The reservation system is straightforward and easy to use, and the restaurant itself has a great vibe. It’s a very good pick for dates or small groups of friends. The upstairs area is mostly two-person tables, though some of them are placed uncomfortably close to columns. On another occasion, we (a party of two) were seated at a banquette seating (these half-sofa, half-table setups) that forced us either to sit side-by-side or several feet apart, almost like a mini version of the Putin-Macron summit—not ideal for conversation. A few small details detract from the otherwise enjoyable experience. I personally miss having tablecloths, though I can understand how the bare tables fit a more modern look. What bothers me more is the pacing of service: the staff tends to rush the meal, bringing the next round of dishes before we’ve finished the previous one and hovering to clear plates. I’ve genuinely had to speed-eat because the waiter was waiting for my dish. On the bright side, my friend she pointed out that the waitstaff do have stylish outfits. Despite these quirks, Sava’s remains a place I return to because the food and ambiance truly stand out. With a few service tweaks, it could be close to perfect.

Went for brunch on a busy game day. Was able to make reservations a few weeks back online (had slight trouble setting up an account and you have to hold with card they will charge for late/cancelation). Buffet was well stocked but for me the food was just ok - understandably under seasoned for all palates but good selection. My companions ordered off menu - shrimp & grits, Eggs Benedict and then the strawberry rhubarb cheesecake. All of a la carte items were superb. Cocktails were also good.

The Food was Good was good, but not exceptional. We had reservations for two at 4pm on Valentines Day. Drinks were good, my Bloody Mary was GREAT. Our artichoke and feta cheese appetizer was good, but it was really light on the fact that cheese. It took 50 plus minutes to get our entree. Our waiter, who was exceptional apologized several times for the delay. We had the V Day special The Ribeye for Two, it was good however the cooked side spinach that accompanied it had a fishy smell. Not to ruin the nice evening with my wife I decided not complain to the waiter so I let it go. That being said, I still loved our experience at Sava’s and will definitely return. The Atmosphere was great as well, but would request to be on the lower level.

The food was great! Especially the Mac n Cheese and smash burger. Drinks could've had more variety. I removed a star since the service for our table was very slow. And also we were not even given a dessert menu, I mean the waitress didn't even ask if we wanted dessert. She straight up gave us our cheque.

Almost perfect! If the restrooms were not down a flight of stairs, it would have been a perfect experience. Perfect service, perfect food in a perfect atmosphere. It was quiet! Even though the place was packed, my friend and I did not have to yell at each other for an hour and a half. I absolutely love this place! I wish I could have met the owner.

We had a great experience overall! The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, which made us feel really welcomed. The food was delicious for the most part, with some standout dishes. The salmon was a highlight—perfectly tender and packed with flavor. The burrata with citrus was another favorite, offering a fresh and vibrant combination of flavors, and the hippie bowl was also fantastic. That said, a couple of dishes missed the mark. The birria sandwich and burek were slightly overdone, and the dim lighting gave the restaurant a slightly sleepy vibe despite the lively atmosphere. That being said, these minor issues wouldn’t stop me from going back. The highlights, excellent service, and overall experience more than make up for it. I’m looking forward to returning!

This was a lovely experience and the food was enjoyable and they even have a brunch buffet that had plenty of delicious of items included! However, I went to this establishment with a large group and they refused to split the check by meal/person, leading to some people over paying. Food: I ordered the hippie bowl and it was quite good! A significant amount of avocado and greens to really fill up on. However, the rice that was also mentioned was sparse. I realize this item is in the salad section, but labeling it a bowl might be misleading to some. The brunch buffet was also a hit with our group. You’re able to grab as much as you want and each item was well seasoned and prepared. This might be the best bang for your buck depending on what you’re looking for. Service: the service was great until the end. They were reluctant to split the check since gratuity was included. They managed to split it among our party, but as previously mentioned it caused some members to overpay. I rarely run into restaurants that do such a practice and I don’t think we should start to normalize it. While I think this was a great place, the bill process should be smoother. We weren’t even asked if we wanted to split the bill at the beginning, further proving the point that this is just how they do things and fail to mention it till it’s too late and you’ve already eaten.

Overall rating of a three. Atmosphere was very nice, the food was average and the service was very rushed. While we did not receive any type of introduction to our server who simply walked over and requested if we were ready, we constantly felt as we were being encouraged to hurry up and free up the table. Average would have been fine, however the surprise at the end of the experience was the interestingly added "sustainability charge" for $3.99. This the sustainability mission statement was missing from the bill or the menu or anywhere, these types of creative price creep charges are simply unprofessional. If you want to improve your operation with green equipment or some other type of "sustainability" investment - if at all, simply be honest and just raise the prices and save the noise.

2/5 Can't say I understand the overwhelming positivity that reviewers have expressed for Sava's. Dined in for breakfast on a Monday morning so it wasn't busy. In fairness, we happened to be there the day Amazon Web Services was down and I understand this caused some chaos behind the scenes since the kitchen staff couldn't rely on their normal systems. However, that doesn't excuse the shortcomings of my experience. I ordered a breakfast sandwich that literally has avocado in the name. The kitchen staff forgot them. I brought it to the server's attention afterwards in hopes that the staff wouldn't mess this up for someone else and wish they simply left it at that. Instead, the server proceeds to come back with a plate of sliced avocadoes after all the plates and silverware were cleared off so not exactly sure what I was supposed to do with them??? Can't say plain avocadoes are the most appetizing either. To me, this speaks to the restaurant's desperate financial state since they also didn't remove the interesting "sustainability" charge that's enforced. I'd say forgetting avocadoes is quite a way to sustain. Additionally, I ordered a side caesar salad that hardly had any dressing in it so I ended up leaving a good amount of it untouched. Maybe it was a bad day for Sava's. Either way, I recommend spending your time and money elsewhere.

2 couples. First time dining here. Food was average (I ordered yogurt marinated chicken), Portions are small. Entree prices are reasonable, but come with no sides, so essentially ala carte. Surprised with a sustainability surcharge on my bill. What does that even mean? The worst part of our experience was the service. Upon arrival, our server did not introduce herself and the first words out of her mouth were “are you ready”. From there it was all downhill as she badgered us the entire time. She was noticeably disappointed that we already had drinks from the bar (not on her tab) and didn’t like that we waited until after our appetizer round to order our entrees. Despite us telling her that we didn’t want to be rushed she was constantly stopping by pushing us along. It was so bad that I asked her if she needed the table and she said no, she just didn’t want us waiting on her. We paid for dinner and continued to chat when she told us that we needed to leave (after 10pm) because she had a reservation that needed our table and the empty one next to us. As we left we saw multiple 4 tops including adjacent ones and there was no large party waiting to be seated. Hmmm? Also, they have a very heavy curtain between the front door and the hostess station to block the cold. This is an awkward solution to the problem. Our experience did not match the hype/ratings.

This place is not friendly AT ALL for people with allergies, specifically to gluten. I went here to enjoy a nice dinner with friends and asked for a gluten free menu prior to making a reservation and told they had many options. They barely had any options and only one of those options was vegetarian and gluten free. That sole option was a salad that looked like it had been meant for a tortoise. I felt terrible eating the food there and then the bill came out and my meal was the most expensive even though my friends were given sandwiches that were far more filling for cheaper. Also, I had written this review prior but savas deleted it to make themselves look better. Whatever you do do not waste your money on a place like this if you have any kind of allergy!