Wow! I recently just discovered that they offer a half of a rotisary chicken for an special entree! I get the bbq version!! it comes with a soup or salad - i got the calm chowder its good ! it come with a potatoe and veggies ! awesome deal!
(4)
John F.
Ok, here goes. Cottage Inn pizza. Thin crust pepperoni and sliced tomato, pretty solid. Actually, it is very good and super thin. Also, the service is very good and people are friendly. Now for the bad news....the traditional pizza is a 5 on 1-10 scale on its best day. I would come here again for the thin for sure, the pan or traditional, not so much.
(3)
Jessica R.
Cottage Inn is an Ann Arbor staple, and I have enjoyed my few trips there. With that said, their pizza is nothing to write home about, and small quirks about the restaurant can detract from the experience of dining in (e.g., table the wrong height, very noise set-up, etc.). One thing I do really like here, though, is the $20 meal for 2. You get a big bowl of salad and a nice-sized pizza with a couple of toppings. It makes for an easy and sweet date. I've also seen signs that they do a lunch buffet, but have never had it, myself. Happily, and this is the step up from Pizza House (depending on your preference, of course), Cottage Inn does NOT have TVs going in every corner.
(3)
Steve B.
It was just ok. We had a deep dish pizza that did not come out real hot. The quality of the ingredients was mediocre at best. Our service was good and overall it was an ok experience.
(3)
Laura C.
We got take out from here and it was really impressive! Once I go back and eat in the restaurant, I will update and maybe kick this up to 5 stars! The pizza was really really good. We got the Cottage Inn Classic pizza which was mushrooms, pepperoni, and sausage, and it was suuuper yummy. We also got the apple/blue cheese/pecan salad which was HUGE and very good as well. It also came with fresh, warm slices of italian bread. This was a great meal! Word to the wise: Large pizzas there are huuuge and have 8 pieces. Medium pizzas are also 8 pieces but are more of a normal size, and just perfect for 2 people including leftovers for the next day! Enjoy!
(4)
Bill S.
Food was pretty good. But they refused to break up the bill for individual seats. Caused us to all deliberate how to handle the $300 bill for our table.
(3)
David B.
Imagine if Olive Garden were actually good. That's the kind of Italian food you'll get here: unadventurous but decently well-made. Not the best of the cuisine even within two blocks (that'd be Palio), but entirely satisfying nonetheless.
(4)
Christina V.
This review is mainly for the restaurant, though the take-out pizza is also delicious and a great deal. Overall, it's a great restaurant with great food. Affordable prices, and a convenient location right downtown and close to campus. Good place to take parents or a date, or just to hang out with friends. The one thing I absolutely cannot get enough of: the Pesto Primavera Pizza. Hands down my favorite pizza, of all time, anywhere. You have to be a veggie lover but it's totally worth it, I promise. Pesto instead of pizza sauce, both mozzarella and feta, all the right veggies...mmm so delicious! But really all their food is good, and they have a wide variety of menu items. Fair prices and good portion sizes. Nice selection of beers and wines. They actually have a great lunch buffet, and excellent happy-hour specials (bar seating only). They have a lot of space and the layout is pretty open, so it's perfect place for groups and meetings (they even have two banquet rooms for special events). Bottom line: Go to Cottage Inn! And order the Pesto Primavera Pizza! You will not be disappointed! And if you are just call me to eat your leftovers... :)
(4)
David F.
This is an Ann Arbor favorite. I came here during my exploration of pizza places around the U of M campus. I see why it has been around for so long. As I mentioned, I was on a pizza journey, and made the stop here because of the Yelp reviews I looked at. Cool space and good location near campus certainly help this place. It's an older looking restaurant, but I think that is part of the appeal. It very much reminded me of an old school pizza parlor. I went with a pepperoni, as I believe any proper pizza place has to be able to make a good pepperoni pie. It was different than what I am used to, in a good way. They use sesame seeds on the crust (which was a nice change) and use a sweeter pizza sauce (which isn't usually my thing, but worked this time). Both made for an unique pizza experience which I enjoyed. I regret I was unable to try more pizza. I will definitely be back and would recommend the pie here to anyone. Give it a try!
(3)
Katherine P.
Please note that this review is based primarily on service (a very important element of the dining experience.) The food is good. The prices are great - huge portions for not a lot of money. The building is beautiful. That being said..... This past Saturday four of us arrived for dinner at 6 p.m. It wasn't busy yet. There were still a lot of open tables. I'm not sure if our waitress was brand new, hungover or just plain inept but she was AWFUL. My brother ordered a beer. She didn't know they were out of it. After our drink orders were placed, she didn't know who had ordered what. There were four of us. It's not that complicated. When we ordered a second round of drinks, the same thing happened. When I inquired what the soup of the day was, she had no idea. By the time our meals arrived, the restaurant was busier so our food was dropped off by a runner. The worst I've ever seen. He pretty much plopped our plates down in front of us and ran. Didn't ask if we needed anything else. Food down and out. When he had arrived to our table he had to call out meals. I'm not sure if this meant the waitress didn't ring orders in by seat number or if the runner just didn't care about doing his job correctly. Like I said, the food was great. But when it was time to box up leftovers, I specifically said that I did not want mine boxed. The other three did. In the end, she only boxed up two - one of them being mine! I waited tables for years. I understand that it can be difficult and frustrating at times. That being said, these were rookie mistakes. Sorry mistakes. It makes me seriously consider not returning to the restaurant for quite some time, if ever. Diners pay good money not only for the food but for good service. Perhaps the two individuals we encountered are the worst they have. Regardless, it's unacceptable. The owners/managers should seriously consider beefing up training and/or reevaluating their staff.
(2)
Emily B.
I had a great meal and enjoyed my Saturday night in this warm restaurant during a cold, snowy night. I left a very nice tip (in cash--even though I had paid for the meal by card), and left happily. After my payment to Cottage Inn cleared in my bank account, an ADDITIONAL 25% tip was added to the total. I know that these mistakes happen and they could have accidentally added seven additional twenty fiver percent tip to the bill, but when the tip line showed nothing, it should not have been too difficult to realize that 'oh, this was the customer that paid a tip in cash' and flip to the next of their receipts. Wouldn't have been an issue except for the fact that I meticulously track my income and am tremendously organized, which means funds for other things may not be available as planned, etc. It just seems sketchy!
(2)
Jessy C.
Do NOT order the chicken MARSALA. WORST CHICKEN MARSALA EVER! IT doesn't even taste like chicken marsala. Pizza was okay. So stick to pizza instead.
(1)
Christine M.
Yummmmm! I love coming here whenever I'm in town! Make sure you get an order of the Greek salad to go with your pizza too!
(4)
M M.
Sat us early as we arrived 30 minutes before our reservation. Were very accomodating. Service was attentive and offered menu suggestions. Pizza was excellent and my daughter like her pasta. Great spot for pizza, not fancy, not too expensive and service was good.
(4)
Michael S.
Went there today for lunch. Happily, they had a buffet going. All you can eat for $8.99. Turned out to be a great deal. Put together a nice salad and followed it up with some very good roasted vegetable lasagna and vegetable pizza. SO had similar items and we were satisfied with both the quality and quantity. Service was prompt, but not surprising, since not many were there. Looked like they were breaking in a new waitress and her shadow was with her all the time and giving her the few prompts she needed. It had a nice look to it. Unlike most other places in the area. Saw they had a decent happy hour. Might have to go back there.
(4)
Alex T.
I know this place is an institution or whatever, but their pizza is solidly mediocre, as is the service. Last time I was here it took me 40 minutes and asking two different people to get *water*. There's just so much better in the area, I don't really get the point of coming here beyond Ann Arbor-y sentimentality.
(3)
Miriam S.
Just returned from an unfortunate visit to The Original Cottage Inn on William Street, Ann Arbor. I'll begin with the end. Awful and terrible summarizes it. But wait....we had already been put into a negative mood when our unfriendly server exhibited disgust when my husband asked him for water without ice, for starters. Trouble was afoot. We should have left after that but an exquisite Gorgonzola salad convinced us that it was just a passing fluke. Not so. the following margharetta pizza was soggy and tasteless. When I complained, the ineffective general manager told us he would speak to the cook. He might have used the intervention of a medium because he never returned to our table. The offer of a free desert was inconsequential since we do not eat dessert. The place was pretty empty considering it was the day of U of M graduation. Those who ignore signs, will suffer the consequences. We did.
(1)
N P.
I can't believe it's taken me this long to review this place. Sorry Original Cottage Inn. You were home for many special occasions in Ann Arbor. You were a great place to take the family, a great place to meet up with friends. Your crunchy deep dish was delicious and there was a nice, classy ambiance to the restaurant. I felt like I was back in Italy which would actually be amazing since I've never been to Italy but you get it don't you? --- you treated me like an old friend when you had me over. Your service was outstanding 90% of the time and the only time it wasn't it was never rude but you just had a lot of other guests to take care of. I liked that sometimes I got to sit in the upper level area and I love that I never felt like I was getting low value for what I was paying. I loved your delicious sesame crust and I didn't know much about you before living in Ann Arbor but once I tried this place I found your other locations to carry out from. You had a pizza for everyone and your olive oil and garlic pasta also became a favorite of mine. Now, old friend, I'll be back soon but I'll have to ask if you can get me some vegan options since like you I've changed a bit with the times. I hope you'll still welcome me like you did before!
(4)
Carrie A.
We went for their lunch buffet. After getting rained out at our organic farming volunteer work out in Manchester, our little road trip back to A2 took us past a Pizza Hut, and I was tempted to stop and re-live the soggy post-game meals of my childhood. Soggy isn't as fun post-thirty though, so we went home, changed, grabbed a Clipper coupon ($6.95 for the buffet + drink), and rushed into town for the last 45 minutes of the buffet. I like variety, hence the interest in the buffet. When we make pizza at home, we divide it into quarters, each with its unique topping combination. So I was a bit disappointed to see only two containers of pizza - one meat, one veggie. In the end, it was okay, because, well, I'd never really liked the spongy crust of Cottage Inn pizza, and it's so thick and topped with so much cheese that you can't really eat more than one piece anyway. Plus, the salad bar was excellent. It's small, but toppings are well selected. They have real mixed greens and their chicken is outstanding (and I don't usually like meat). They also had minestrone (decent), enchiladas (tasted like pure salt to me), mac 'n' cheese (good if you're into that sort of thing), and fish and chips (fish was cooked perfectly but still, of course, fried and therefore greasy; fries were limp). This may seem obvious, but the food is EXTREMELY HEAVY. It would be nice if the staff cut the servings much smaller (buffet/sample size), but they are full serving size. Don't be shy about cutting off a quarter of an enchilada or half a piece of pizza, and even then, share that with your dining partner. If you don't, you could end up like me: ill and unable to eat for over 24 hours. Also, don't order a lemonade and think that will help your digestion. It's Coke product: tastes like overly sweetened cleaner fluid and gave me heartburn after such a heavy meal. That said, the waitstaff was great, and the atmosphere perfect: both casual but nice. It was definitely a step up from our family outings to Pizza Hut (although I have to admit, I like their pizza better).
(3)
Kim M.
My husband and I took my sister and cousin, who were in from out of town, here for dinner yesterday. Had to wait about 30 minutes, which wasn't bad considering a UM football game let out about 30 minutes before we arrived. We were starving so we definitely over-ordered, but the leftovers made for a great for a midnight snack! We started with fried artichoke hearts (my new favorite thing. I'm from FL and have never seen them on a menu there!) and sampled the antipasto salad and the cranberry pecan salad. Both salads were fresh, crispy and cold. For dinner, we had a Best of the College Inn deep dish pizza and my husband got the Meat Sampler, which included lasagna, manicotti and ravioli. Pizza was amazing - not too greasy, crust was done to perfection. Husband's meal was good, but I only had a few bites as I was enjoying the pizza so much. We will definitely be back. I think my family will request this place every time they come to town! Even though the restaurant was quite busy, our server was attentive and the courses were perfectly timed.
(5)
Adam M.
The Original Cottage Inn is not a good restaurant, and has been continually going downhill. The pizza is low quality for the price, with inedible crust and way too much bread when compared with the cheese and sauce. The atmosphere is solid, and it is "original," so it may be worth your time if you're trying to get the feel of Ann Arbor. However, I would recommend Pizza House instead. Please note, I do not think either of these restaurants serve great pizza.
(2)
Ingrid C.
Really charming atmosphere. I really liked the grape light fixture that hangs down from the second floor ceiling into one of the vaulted dining spaces. The food is decent - a local version of a chain restaurant. Satisfying, but nothing to write home about (just on Yelp!) I'll always pick this over Olive Garden, if that ever becomes an issue. I don't doubt that the pizza is really good for Michigan. It's just hard to compare after living in Brooklyn. However, it was pretty tasty (if not super doughy, but I know people like that), and I enjoyed the special nutty kick of sesame seeds. One veggie pizza was enough for that night's dinner, my hotel-roommate's next night dinner, and three more midnight snacks.
(3)
Beck E.
My boyfriend and I went here with a group of friends, and the two of us each got a sandwich. Just a sandwich. Each cost $8 before tax and tip. For just the sandwich. Chips or fries were extra. The sandwiches tasted fine, and I thought they were filling enough after the free bread and olive oil... but I didn't think either sandwich was worth the $10 after tax + automatic 18% tip (since the group I came with was so large). This paired with the waitress who (although she did her job in taking our orders and getting the food to us) gave off the impression that she *really* didn't want to be there made for a negative experience. So... two stars for the Original Cottage Inn, and I won't be making plans to go back there for the rest of my time here in Ann Arbor.
(2)
Erin H.
This is a solid and always reliable place to get a meal in town. I eat here often for lunch and while I enjoy the buffet I have recently become addicted to the bacon gorgonzola burger. It's utterly delicious and they will actually cook it rare. The seasoned fries are delish and I always have excellent service. A great local institution.
(3)
Mitch M.
I've been meaning to review this place for awhile... I eat here pretty regularly (about once a week) and I am almost always very satisfied with my meal. After playing around with the menu a bit, I decided to start getting a side of the grilled chicken and a side of fries for my meal. It's not very expensive, but it is very filling! Oh yeah, and it's delicious! I don't know exactly how they make the chicken taste the way they do... but it's some of the best chicken I've ever had. The fries are also tasty! The best thing about Cottage Inn, though, is that they have a lot of options and if you're with someone picky you're probably going to find something they can eat. And enjoy. Thoroughly. If you get a chance, try their lunch buffet. It's a weekday special and it is really a great value. *Please Note* Don't get this restaurant confused with the little pizza shops around town that are also, technically, Cottage Inn. They don't serve the same stuff and they're not even close to as good! Overall, I highly recommended "The Original Cottage Inn".
(5)
Clarence C.
I had the meat sampler (Homemade Lasagna, Jumbo Beef Ravioli and Manicotti) recently and it wasn't bad. The food is a little pricey, but it is a place to get sit-down Italian food with a bar and fairly good service. Not the best pizza in town, but worth a try.
(4)
Lily P.
I like how they let me have a billion (50 people) show up for my bday RSVP of 34 seated. Then the glee club came and they let us bring in our own cake. They are pretty good about stuff like that...EXCEPT if you do take out the price is a lot more than other locations since they say they use difference sauces and etc..which makes it almost 2x the price as the delivery branches. Hrm lots of options for different types of food but when it gets really busy, which it does..sometimes its impossible to even get water for your table and lunch takes wayyy too long. Bleh.
(2)
Jini S.
Consistently great pizza and pasta dishes. We have been with large and small groups and have used carry-out. Always delish.
(4)
Chris W.
For the 2nd straight year, we celebrated a birthday at this location. We called a few days ahead since there were 16 of us (8 of them under 12). Today's visit was a Sunday afternoon and the tables were ready for us upstairs when we arrived. Nice! The upstairs room allowed us to gather as a group, see each other (they pushed 4 big tables together so we had a really nice set up), and visit amongst the family. With such a large group, I give kudos to our server(s). Drinks were always filled/refilled. Plates cleared quickly. Perfect! The cheese bread was GREAT! Highly recommended! The pizzas were yummy, especially if you like cheese. My better half thought there was too much cheese (as if that's even a possibility), but she was actually right....the pizza was really HEAVY for thin crust and that much cheese made the thin crust soggier than you'd like. The chocolate mousse cake was SUPER yummy and the birthday boy got a big bowl of ice cream. Prices are good....food is very good (a smidge too cheesy)...good beer selection, but the afternoon was a HUGE success because of the layout of the restaurant, the great servers who take care of all of us, and the hard work everyone put in to make sure we had the space we needed. See you next year!
(4)
Kelly V.
My husband and I decided to take our first swing at The Original Cottage Inn. We went down on a Saturday evening in June around 6pm. We walked right in and was greeted by a very friendly hostess. There was no wait which was an added bonus since we were both hungry. We sat down to take a look at the menu. The menu was very large with quite a bit to choose from. We decided on ordering Calamari for an appetizer and I was going to get the Eggplant dinner and my husband decided on a pizza. When our waiter arrived he seemed anything but friendly. Maybe more aloof than anything. I could barely even hear him when he spoke due to him being so soft spoken. He was attentive in bringing the food, boxing it up, and refilling drinks but overall I would just say he seemed kind of out of it and didn't really "engage" with busby all means I don't need him to take a seat with us for dinner but a simple smile and politeness can go along way:) The food came and the calamari was really good. Not over cooked at all! My eggplant came out and it was alright nothing to write home about.( I don't think I would order it again if we do go back) and, my husbands pizza was okay. Not the best but not the worst. Overall, it was a pretty average meal. We don't have any reason to really rush back...
(3)
Justin G.
The original Cottage in that started the franchise. The pizza is a step up from most other college fare. Sesame seeds on the crust of a Detroit-style deep dish is great. The lasagna, spaghetti options, and the salads are pretty tasty here too. Also, this place has a pretty nice ambiance. It's large and well lit and gives you a very comfortable feeling.
(4)
Heather C.
So I've been starting my new life as a poor grad student - packing a lunch to class, and making dinner at home. Therefore, I haven't been eating out a whole lot, and limiting my ability to write yelp reviews. Today however, after a long day walking all over campus, the bf meets me in town and offers to take me out - as long as its not too expensive. So after listing the usual standbys we decide on pizza and head on over to the Original Cottage Inn. We each order a beer and split a deep dish of the "The Best of Cottage Inn" pizza - pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms, Parmesan, brick and mozzarella cheeses with olive oil and herbs (this was copied from their online menu). After a long week of classes and early mornings - this was a good way to end the day. Service was friendly and speedy, and our total came to about $20. I realize this is a place where all the undergrads make their parents take them, or one of the go-to places for large groups, but I've always been happily satisfied at Cottage Inn. Mainly I stick to the pizza, I don't even remember eating anything else.
(4)
Lilani E.
Flew out to Ann Harbor for a graduation this year. The dinner we had was at the Cottage Inn. I ordered the crab cake salad, which was delicious. If crab cakes are on a restaurants menu I WILL ORDER IT. Sadly enough, I am disappointed about 3 out of 5 times, not this time. It was delicious. I will admit, I was still a bit hungry at the end of it but that's just me and my Michael Phelps-like appetite.
(5)
Eric G.
My parents came into town and said they were taking me to Cottage Inn the week that I moved to Ann Arbor. I said alright, not all that excited to go to a pizza joint. I did not realize that this is the original Cottage Inn and it in fact is a very nice place. I had a Lasagna and it was amazing. Do not pass up this Ann Arbor original next time you are in the area.
(4)
Nick L.
Great food on any night of the week. Staff is very friendly and helpful. They just redesigned their menu with a few fabulous additions. An Ann Arbor staple that has great food.
(5)
maranda w.
I'll never forget the first time I had Cottage Inn pizza. Going to grade school in Ann Arbor-- it was a staple of fund raisers and lunches alike. It was my first run-in with the square Sicilian style-- and not certainly my last. This is the location to get the ORIGINAL Cottage Inn pizza. The pizza here is still amazing. I get the vegetarian every time, a small side salad and couple glasses off of their decent, and affordable wine list. This is my the 'go to' restaurant when I want to hang out and catch up with my friends back in Ann Arbor. We can sit, hear each other and stay as long as we want. The food is tasty, and consistent. The wait staff is always ever-changing (it IS a college town after all) so the level of service is always ever changing-- but the menu and tradition makes it worth it. Go!
(3)
Heather K.
Even the worst pizza in the world is gourmet when I'm drunk and I was pretty drunk when I stumbled in here. Cottage Inn is not as good as I remember from my childhood. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great. Service was fine, they serve alcohol, decor was cheesy (no pun intented), but the pizza was boring. I feel like this review doesn't make any sense but I just can't come up with anything bad or good to say about this place, it just was.... well... I don't know, just get delivery.
(3)
Kathryn L.
We have only been here once, but can attest to their special event services. We were here for an engagement party. The couple had rented the entire upstairs. The food was delicious and they kept serving it fresh, replacing entrees with new entrees throughout the evening. We were more than impressed and plan to come here again soon!
(5)
Missy C.
Going to Cottage Inn, is fun and authentic. This was my first restaurant to eat at upon arriving in Ann Arbor. The food is great, and you can take a a fresh loaf of bread for only $1.00. I enjoy the atmosphere, and seeing the same photos and murals on the walls. The servers are professional, the food is great with my favorite being the lasagna.
(5)
Sebastian L.
Cottage Inn pizza is the budget pizza of choice around here. It's actually slightly lower quality than Little Ceasar's, but it's a similar style kind of pie, offers more options, and has the advantage of ubiquity around campus. My wife and I ordered breadsticks. My wife held the box in the car. The grease from the breadsticks soaked through the cardboard box, through her down jacket (two nylon layers and the down filling), and through her jeans. Their pizza is about the same, except the crust is kind of undercooked. But it's better than NYPD; in terms of grease, on a scale of 1 to 10, NYPD is a screaming apocalypse heart attack, and Cottage Inn is just an 8. On the plus side, they have a decent selection for toppings--they have roasted red peppers. And their sesame seed crust is pretty alright, if you don't mind it being attached to undercooked, greasy, bland pizza. So I'll give them two stars for variety.
(2)
Elliot S.
I've only been here for happy hour, but it's my favorite spot in Ann Arbor. They have a ton of Michigan beers on tap for only $2.50! There is ample seating in the bar area and the service is quick. Their apps are also half off so this is a great place to grab a drink/snack after a long day.
(4)
Alexandra K.
I dine at Cottage Inn at least one per year for a publisher's dinner during the University of Michigan Intro To Book Publishing Weekend Workshop. Delicious pizza, a wide array of vegetarian entrees and appetizers, as well as quick (but not always friendly) service. Perhaps the publishers who I dined with were immune to the snippy behavior of the waitstaff because they're from New York, but I was appalled. The food is the savior, though. So it still gets 4 stars from me.
(4)
Jackie H.
I LOVE the Cottage Inn! The Original is the best! (or something cheesy like that) But seriously: this place is my go-to restaurant. Don't feel like cooking... feel like going out...not really sure where...This is it! The lunch menu has some great deals on it, but mostly I'm here for dinner. My sampling of the menu is pretty thorough, from salads, burgers, pizza, pasta, and in-between. I love the chicken cashew salad, the turkey burger is excellent. The pizza here is solid, one of my faves. I like how people come dressed in little-black-dresses to gym shorts and t-shirts...dinner can be as nice or as laid-back as you life. Really, this is one of AA's best restaurants.
(5)
Chad C.
Why is it that the pizza in this place taste different from the Cottage Inn Pizza that delivers? I actually find the delivery pizzas much tastier (like the bacon and onion) than the ones ordered here. Aside from that, this place is good for large groups hungering for some za, but wants a little bit of atmosphere in which to eat it.
(3)
Cottage Inn is a popular chain of pizza places in Michigan. Most are take away places with limited in-house seating that usually offer delivery. However, this Ann Arbor, Michigan location is the original Cottage Inn. It is a sit down restaurant with a menu consisting of pizza, salads and pastas. The pizza is pretty good as are the salads. It's certainly not my favorite pizza, but it's fresh tasting unlike Little Caesars and various other chain pizza places. The servers have always been friendly and the service has been quick in my experience. Note: This location gets very busy during the Ann Arbor Art Street Art Fair in July, so it may take a good 20 minutes or sometimes longer to get a table and service may be a tad slower than usual. The prices are pretty decent too. For two people, you can order a salad, pizza and two non-alcoholic drinks with unlimited refills for under $30. The restaurant seems very open, and it has seating spread across two floors. Picturesque scenes of Italian countryside, looks like Tuscany, adorn the walls. The restaurant is an Ann Arbor staple, having been around for decades. My Mom, who attended the University of Michigan in the mid-70s, remembers dining at Cottage Inn as a college student! The pizza place is close to the university, making it a popular place for students to grab a meal out with friends or to take their parents to when they visit. It may be a college-student favorite, but this is a family-friendly restaurant.
(4)
Kenny W.
I was recommended to go to this restaurant by at least three people from Michigan before going there. The Pizza is very tasty. They call it a deep dish pizza, It's not a Chicago Style, but it's very good. They have this special on the last page, "Pizza and Salad for four" for $20.00 (or something ridiculous). you get your choice of two toppings on the pizza and your salad can be a green salad or anti-pasta salad. The pizza is large enough for two pieces per person (8 slices). Unless the four of you are from the Michigan Football Team. I didn't get to try any of the pasta dishes, but I'm sure they are delicious. Some of the Collage Inn's are take-out only. But this one "The Original" has a lot of seating. enjoy!
(4)
Mark P.
I think that they re-vamped the menu, because the food is better than ever before. Try the Bruschetta- you will not be disappointed! The pizza may be an acquired taste, but the rest of the food is good. Really good. A must stop for anyone in Ann Arbor, at least once.
(5)
Sophia G.
They serve some of the best pizza I have ever tasted! It is pretty close to the university which may mean an extra long wait for lunch or dinner. Nice atmosphere and excellent service.
(5)
Hubert H.
I suspect that the main menu has more interesting styles and varieties of pizzas than the banquet menu. Ordering as part of a large (~40) group, we were served buffet style to a smorgasbord of large pizzas of standard fare (cheese, cheese + pepperoni, peppers, etc.) none of which I felt were so fancy. The dough taste left more to be desired, as did the salad, while decent enough, wasn't super fresh. The upstairs large group banquet room however is very convenient for large group gatherings.
(3)
David M.
I too have a Michael Phelps-esque appetite, and let me reassure you that a pizza here will definitely satisfy it. This place is great, the pizza is amazing and the gourmet toppings, well, they make me happy.
(5)
Sara G.
This place has seriously gone down in quality over the years. If it's not pizza it SUCKS. The lunch buffet is underwhelming. Banquet fried chicken?!? The pizza is the only thing keeping me from giving this place one star. It seems as if every non-pizza menu item is not freshly prepared in their kitchen. You can do better, especially in this town. Ignore the legacy. If from freezer-to-microwave is what you want, stay home with something from Trader Joe's.
(2)
C N.
How can their website not have a menu?? I haven't been there in a long time and my kids are fussy eaters so I wanted to make sure that they had food that would be appealing for them. When I checked their site- no menu! Cottage Inn- how can you run a business in this day and age without a menu on-line? Not sure we will go there.
(2)
ian m.
When you walk in you notice that the sit down style is unusual for a pizza joint, and it appears to be a fine dining establishment. But don't be fooled it's still filled with college kids in t-shirts and plenty of pizza. The food is pretty good, although I would probably go to main street for a formal affair. But the pizza here is much better than that of the normal cottage inn, because they are all baked in a huge wood burning oven. And a great deal on the Pizza for 4, it's a huge sheet pan sized pizza w/ 8 slices the size of VHS tapes and a large salad for only $20! That makes it worth checking out.
(4)
Peter W.
Pizza delivered right to your door, and it's better than Pizza Hut, Domino's, etc. Good times.
(4)
Jillian D.
i'm a chicagoan, so naturally, i love my pizza. but hot damn, if ann arbor doesn't have some of the best around!! (please don't revoke my chi-card!!) lucky me, my little bro's a wolverine. every time i visit, we *have* to eat here (my mandate. he never complains. free food? are you kidding me?) i'll be there in just a few weeks so i can get my fix. yay!!
(5)
Kathryn H.
This is great pizza at a great price! Love it!!
(5)
Eric M.
Much like the Wendy's of pizza places, Cottage Inn serves their pizzas square. You may be frightened by this, but don't be. The crust looks thick, but is soft and doughy. The cheese melts perfectly and the sauce is both sweet and tangy. You may have to wait awhile for a seat on the weekends, but it is worth it.
(4)
John K.
Been going there for years. The last couple of years have been very disappointing. Both in food and service. I am sad to say, we don't plan on visiting again. We feel bad about it.
(2)
Nupur L.
I can't stand Cottage Inn. The food is ridiculously expensive, and pretty bad to boot. I ordered an $11 salad with pears, only to find that they had used canned pears. They had not mentioned that they would be using canned pears. The pizza is pretty doughy with a very bland sauce, the pasta was bland and don't get me started on the salads. The wait times for service are horrible and servers tend to become very careless when they see that you are ordering nothing but a personal pizza. Now they don't even serve bread unless you're buying an entree or large pizza. I can't understand how anyone would willingly come here for a sit-down meal.
(1)
Mark D.
Busy but worth the wait. Try the bruschetta appetizer. Wife's fav is barbcued chicken pizza. She likes the sauce. Mine is the 'Best of Cottage Inn' pizza. Good crust and fresh mushrooms. Kid's menu is good. Bass on tap from the bar is a plus.
(4)
Maria L.
Cottage Inn is STILL my favorite pizza- hands-down. Sorry Chicago, CI is the shit! Great sauce, crust, cheese- everything! The sauce is my fave- really fresh tomato-tasting.....Heaven....
(5)
Erik B.
The restaurant itself has great character. The pizza is good but not the greatest I've ever had. The price is right for the quality of the food.
(4)
Mae S.
Wildly popular always. More to life here than just pizza, too. The pasta dishes are overloaded with oily cheese but that's not totally bad. Just challenging to finish them. Veal dishes not bad either. I would say it's best for large groups, like a birthday party. Then the noise will be your own.
(4)
Katia M.
Cottage in has pretty good pizza, but it was their breadsticks that I really loved. Once I learned to love marinara sauce (and yes, it took me until I was well into college), I always enjoyed the pasta here as well. Nice ambiance.
(4)
Corinne M.
I give CI 4 stars in large part to the nostalgia that it affords me. :) I used to work there when I was in college and spent many hours there serving pizza to college kids, ann arborites, big ten athletes and even waited on Lloyd Carr once. Anyway, I digress, I went back there over the weekend and wasn't disappointed by the bread and olive oil or the giant Greek salad my sister and I shared. The deep dish pizza wasn't as good as I remember it, but that might be b/c my tastes have changed (pizza was my version of fine dining in college) or if it was b/c the pizza was just having an off night. I remember the pizza there being exceptionally good, especially the wood fired pizza. The pastas are pretty good (I'd probably go elsewhere for the baked dishes) and the desserts are good too. Cottage Inn is a fun collegy restaurant that I can count on to have good tasting food whenever I go back to Ann Arbor to reminisce.
(4)
kate s.
ooooh! my boyfriend (now husband) used to take me here on dates when he got paid working his pizza delivery job back when i was in college. very romantic if you like waiting 45 minutes for a seat and then shouting at each other across the table. the food was generic italian and of course the pizza is great. but mostly i'm giving this 4 stars for being a slightly upscale place where a 19-year-old can take his girlfriend to impress her.
(4)
Paul S.
With so many pizza options it's hard to believe there's room for more in the market. Like Domino's Pizza, Cottage Inn is an Ann Arbor original. Unlike Domino's, Cotton Inn wisely stayed local, expanding only to a few outlying towns with pickup and delivery. The heart of the empire though lies in this William Street location that has slowly been modified over the years. Greek owned, it represents the last of an era when the Greek and German immigrants dominated the downtown restaurant scene. The signature dish to this day, however, is the deep-dish Sicilian pizza with sesame seeds on the olive oil brushed crust. A six slice half tray does the trick to fill two or three people, or you can opt for the eight slice full tray and ensure pizza for breakfast. Don't overlook the awesome Greek salad or antipasti salads either. My buddy got his childhood favorite, manicotti, which apparently was delicious since he wiped it out quickly! I was stuffed after consuming three slices of the half tray. We washed it down with cocktails and Bell's beer. However, the new cocktails sounded better than the execution, but I applaud them for the recent addition. I think they'll get better in time. Being a college town means there are always new employees being trained, and service although well meant, isn't always excellent. Nevertheless, the night before the first home game can be given leniency but I hope the service improves soon. I am glad I visited and that their pizza is still as good as it was sixteen years ago when I last tried it.
(4)
Valerie S.
If it weren't for the sign, it would be hard to know you were in a Cottage Inn. There is no orange-and-blue motif here. Instead it is decorated almost like a winery, with vines painted on the walls, and decorative wire hangings. There are plenty of tables, and even banquet rooms you can rent for events. One major departure from your standard Cottage Inn is the menu. Of course there is great pizza, but this location has entrees, too. On our most recent visit, we tried pasta dishes instead of pizza, and they were tasty and traditional without being too acidic, something that doesn't always happen in restaurant pasta sauce. This location also has a bar, with what appears to be a good list of beer and wine, but I know almost nothing about that, so don't take my word for it. I do know a lot about cheese bread, and you need to try the cheese bread at the Original Cottage Inn at least once. It's not like standard pizza place cheesy breadsticks, this one is more like cheesy toast. Delicious! My favorite part of this Cottage Inn is their weekday lunch buffet. Working downtown, I can walk over at lunch time and fill my plate with salad, pizza, breadsticks, soup, and usually a choice between two entree-type items. Last time I went, I think there was macaroni and cheese and fish and chips. No matter what you get or how much you get from the buffet, it's the same price, and with sodas it ends up around $20 for two. Not someplace to eat every day, but a good option for days when you're very hungry, or need to eat a big lunch to power through staying late. Even if you think you don't like the standard orange-and-blue Cottage Inn chains, try out the Original Cottage Inn downtown. They were the first, and they do it the best.
(5)
Christina C.
I've been here twice now. Once for a banquet for which food was pre-determined and ordered beforehand, so I wasn't presented with a menu. I don't remember disliking anything about my first experience. Today, I ordered the Pesto Primavera 10" pizza with artichokes and no cheese on a thin crust. The thin crust was extremely crunchy, like a cracker. I would have preferred somewhere in between bread texture and cracker, but it was still good. They put a lot of toppings on it, which is definitely a plus. However, I wish the pesto had more basil. It tasted a little plain to me. I tried my friend's zucchini fries, which came as part of the Hot Trio Sampler. They were thinly sliced pieces breaded and fried. I thought they were too greasy and too salty. I would recommend the zucchini fries over at Pizza House, which are thicker and definitely less oily. The waiter, although seemingly frustrated with our large party by the end of our dinner, was overall pretty receptive and patient. The hosts are very welcoming. The atmosphere is great. They've got a bar and a couple TVs for those who don't want to have a sit-down dining experience.
(3)
Mike W.
We were looking for gluten-free option. I can say we were pleasantly surprised by The assortment about missions day have on their menu. Just the fact they have a separate gluten-free menu is a positive for us. We had an bruschetta which was delicious and two gluten-free pizzas which were crispy and cooked to perfection. They have about 10 local beers on tap and a wide selection of bottled beers. I would highly recommend for casual environment.
(5)
Jeff B.
My son and I picked up my wife to take her to lunch. We were originally going to go to Hunter House for burgers but decided to go to the "pizza buffet" at The Original College Inn. We arrived at quarter to twelve, were seated and told the server that we would all behaving the "pizza buffet". We were informed that the "pizza buffet" wasn't ready yet but that the salad bar was ready. My family all made themselves a salad, sat down and waited for at least fifteen minutes for the pizza to come out. When we came to the buffet, there were two pies.....one pepperoni/sausage and one with green peppers and onions. This is a buffet? I don't think so! The pies were ok but nothing special. There was also a chicken dish on the side that was dried out from being in a chafing dish too long and a corn side dish that clearly was made with canned corn! All this costed around $35! Needless to say, my family and I have been there both times in one, first and last!
(2)
Liz T.
Recent visit here was with 8 other family members. Pizza all around - all looked and tasted wonderful. The eggplant Parmesan looked amazing, burgers looked good. Waiter was around enough to do refills, but didn't hover and annoy. Poor Ben had my pizza order wrong - but pineapple vs pepperoni - maybe the kitchen missed the pineapple or Ben's handwriting is bad. Not upset enough to send it back as it still tasted great!! It had been 30 years since I was at Cottage Inn as I don't get to Ann Arbor often. I'll be going back soon.
(4)
Max R.
Visited here last night for the first time. I had wanted to come here for awhile, and it was surely worth the wait. Our server was very busy (had about 4 other tables during an understaffed point in the day) and got the job done well. The cheese bread appetizer, while a simple dish, was a very tasty start to the meal. My girlfriend and I ordered "The Best of Cottage Inn" (pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, Parmesan, brick and mozzarella cheeses with olive oil and herbs). It was a large square pizza that divided up into 8 triangular slices. We could only finish half! The pizza itself was very good. Toppings were fresh and the sesame crust is a nice accent. For more pizza than we could ever eat along with the appetizer it was only $25. We will definitely be coming back to try other things on the menu! Pictures of our dinner are attached.
(4)
Mike L.
There were four of us in Ann Arbor for the Ann Arbor Art fair. Two of us are alumni, and often took out pizza from Cottage Inn more than 50 years ago. After having several excellent meals at expensive restaurants, we decided to go back to cottage inn so many years later. We had salads, soup and pizza. The cost was one third of the cost at the other restaurants we went to in Ann Arbor, but as good as, and in some ways even better, than the expensive places. The pizza was the best I've had in a long time, except for Genuine deep dish Chicago pizza, like Lou Malnati's. Service was attentive and effective. The server even had time to share with us her educational experiences while being a student at a local community college.
(4)
Jeanne D.
Disappointed after we braved the rain and wind to get here. My group had deep dish and regular pepperoni pizza. There wasn't enough sauce, and what was on the pizza had no flavor and very little meat. One pizza was supposed to have green peppers but you could barely see any. Two of our group had pasta and they said that was a lot better. I noticed there aren't many recent reviews so thought I would add my two cents. When I'm in town it seems a tradition to come here but may think twice next time.
(3)
Laura K.
I love pizza, and this place has good pizza! But, the service was far from good. First off, she didn't even introduce herself. My family had to walk downstairs to the bar to get drinks because she was not getting us refills. I asked for a creme soda twice and finally got it 20 minutes later. She said they were under staffed because of the art show, but there were only 4 tables upstairs. Our gratuity was added on because we were a group of 9, but I wish it was not, because she did not deserve 20%.
(1)
Elyse S.
So, traveling to the Mid-west is always scary for me with a Gluten Allergy. A serious Gluten Allergy. They love their gluten in the mid-west, or so it seems. What a surprise to find The Cottage Inn has a Gluten free pizza that they cook in a separate dish to avoid cross contamination! It was great! I also have to nix the cheese, and the BBQ chicken still tastes great! The fact that they also deliver in the middle of the night is awesome (although thinking about it, the delivery might have come from a different location? I'm not familiar with Ann Arbor and also didn't call the order in..) Fantastic Pizza, allergy free. Win!
(4)
Rachel M.
A friend and I tried to eat lunch here recently, and her child fell asleep on the walk there. They refused to let us park her stroller with her sleeping toddler in it next to a table - we were told the stroller had to be folder up and left at the front of the restaurant. It was a super compact travel stroller, would not have taken up more room than a standard restaurant chair. There were many empty tables and places to put said stroller where it would be completely out of the way, but we were told we could not remove a chair at our table and replace it with the stroller. The only choice we were offered was to remove the child from the stroller and lay her in a booth, which would have been awkward and probably would have woken her. We left and went elsewhere.
(1)
Beth H.
The original Cottage Inn! It is so good! I haven't been in a little while, but if they still have the intense chocolate mousse torte on the dessert menu...and you like chocolate...get it. It might be my favorite dessert of all time. Naturally the pizza is a staple and is great (I like it better than Pizza House). Their other menu items are also worth a taste, though. The lasagna and manicotti are personal favorites. This is a great location for dinner with friends, or for a date, or for when he 'rents come to visit you at college.
(4)
Wylie B.
This meal was absolutely horrific. Chicken marsala came with a sauce that was as thick as paste and tasted as if it had been simmering for weeks. The plate had enough pasta mixed with carrots and green onion to feed a family of four. I couldn't eat more than 2 bites before sending it back. Lasagna was hidden under a massive blob of tomato sauce so that you couldn't tell right away that it had likely been sitting for more than a week. It had a sour smell and taste. We sent both plates back expecting to be able to leave without trouble and they insisted on charging $5 for two half drunk club sodas.
(1)
Marzuq H.
Pros: - Upscale dining Cons: - Lunch buffet selection is limited - Pizza is forgettable - Food generally falls into 'expensive because you're paying for the atmosphere quality, and actually is pretty terrible at this price point' Best fit: - Meal where you're mainly paying for ambiance - not quality of food
(2)
Lise G.
The Best of Cottage Inn Pizza has got to be, pardon the pun, the best of all the pizzas that are available, here on the menu. It's so delicious and satisfying and hits that spot when you're craving a pizza. The staff are so knowledgeable and always so friendly to be around.
(5)
Dan A.
The guys that work at the bar are nice, good place to get a hamburger and beer for lunch.
(5)
Ed R.
Instant, available but unobtrusive service on a Friday night. Pizza exactly as it has been for years, excellent.
(4)
Jason C.
Went here with friends for the Happy Hour specials... well, it wasn't a happy ending. So we got seated and looked at the happy hour menu and ordered from there... but we forgot to read the fine print above the hours (happy hour at the bar)... so yeah... we ended up paying regular prices for the appetizers rather then the $5's per plate... so when we got our bill and inquire why we were charged regular prices.. the waitress informed us that the happy hour specials are only at the bar.... I wish she would have told us this when we were ordering the food from the happy hour menu! URG! So be aware... if you go for happy hour, stay in the bar area for the specials... also, check in on yelp and you'll get 10% off on your food bill.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Garage, 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 Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Lindsey S.
Wow! I recently just discovered that they offer a half of a rotisary chicken for an special entree! I get the bbq version!! it comes with a soup or salad - i got the calm chowder its good ! it come with a potatoe and veggies ! awesome deal!
(4)John F.
Ok, here goes. Cottage Inn pizza. Thin crust pepperoni and sliced tomato, pretty solid. Actually, it is very good and super thin. Also, the service is very good and people are friendly. Now for the bad news....the traditional pizza is a 5 on 1-10 scale on its best day. I would come here again for the thin for sure, the pan or traditional, not so much.
(3)Jessica R.
Cottage Inn is an Ann Arbor staple, and I have enjoyed my few trips there. With that said, their pizza is nothing to write home about, and small quirks about the restaurant can detract from the experience of dining in (e.g., table the wrong height, very noise set-up, etc.). One thing I do really like here, though, is the $20 meal for 2. You get a big bowl of salad and a nice-sized pizza with a couple of toppings. It makes for an easy and sweet date. I've also seen signs that they do a lunch buffet, but have never had it, myself. Happily, and this is the step up from Pizza House (depending on your preference, of course), Cottage Inn does NOT have TVs going in every corner.
(3)Steve B.
It was just ok. We had a deep dish pizza that did not come out real hot. The quality of the ingredients was mediocre at best. Our service was good and overall it was an ok experience.
(3)Laura C.
We got take out from here and it was really impressive! Once I go back and eat in the restaurant, I will update and maybe kick this up to 5 stars! The pizza was really really good. We got the Cottage Inn Classic pizza which was mushrooms, pepperoni, and sausage, and it was suuuper yummy. We also got the apple/blue cheese/pecan salad which was HUGE and very good as well. It also came with fresh, warm slices of italian bread. This was a great meal! Word to the wise: Large pizzas there are huuuge and have 8 pieces. Medium pizzas are also 8 pieces but are more of a normal size, and just perfect for 2 people including leftovers for the next day! Enjoy!
(4)Bill S.
Food was pretty good. But they refused to break up the bill for individual seats. Caused us to all deliberate how to handle the $300 bill for our table.
(3)David B.
Imagine if Olive Garden were actually good. That's the kind of Italian food you'll get here: unadventurous but decently well-made. Not the best of the cuisine even within two blocks (that'd be Palio), but entirely satisfying nonetheless.
(4)Christina V.
This review is mainly for the restaurant, though the take-out pizza is also delicious and a great deal. Overall, it's a great restaurant with great food. Affordable prices, and a convenient location right downtown and close to campus. Good place to take parents or a date, or just to hang out with friends. The one thing I absolutely cannot get enough of: the Pesto Primavera Pizza. Hands down my favorite pizza, of all time, anywhere. You have to be a veggie lover but it's totally worth it, I promise. Pesto instead of pizza sauce, both mozzarella and feta, all the right veggies...mmm so delicious! But really all their food is good, and they have a wide variety of menu items. Fair prices and good portion sizes. Nice selection of beers and wines. They actually have a great lunch buffet, and excellent happy-hour specials (bar seating only). They have a lot of space and the layout is pretty open, so it's perfect place for groups and meetings (they even have two banquet rooms for special events). Bottom line: Go to Cottage Inn! And order the Pesto Primavera Pizza! You will not be disappointed! And if you are just call me to eat your leftovers... :)
(4)David F.
This is an Ann Arbor favorite. I came here during my exploration of pizza places around the U of M campus. I see why it has been around for so long. As I mentioned, I was on a pizza journey, and made the stop here because of the Yelp reviews I looked at. Cool space and good location near campus certainly help this place. It's an older looking restaurant, but I think that is part of the appeal. It very much reminded me of an old school pizza parlor. I went with a pepperoni, as I believe any proper pizza place has to be able to make a good pepperoni pie. It was different than what I am used to, in a good way. They use sesame seeds on the crust (which was a nice change) and use a sweeter pizza sauce (which isn't usually my thing, but worked this time). Both made for an unique pizza experience which I enjoyed. I regret I was unable to try more pizza. I will definitely be back and would recommend the pie here to anyone. Give it a try!
(3)Katherine P.
Please note that this review is based primarily on service (a very important element of the dining experience.) The food is good. The prices are great - huge portions for not a lot of money. The building is beautiful. That being said..... This past Saturday four of us arrived for dinner at 6 p.m. It wasn't busy yet. There were still a lot of open tables. I'm not sure if our waitress was brand new, hungover or just plain inept but she was AWFUL. My brother ordered a beer. She didn't know they were out of it. After our drink orders were placed, she didn't know who had ordered what. There were four of us. It's not that complicated. When we ordered a second round of drinks, the same thing happened. When I inquired what the soup of the day was, she had no idea. By the time our meals arrived, the restaurant was busier so our food was dropped off by a runner. The worst I've ever seen. He pretty much plopped our plates down in front of us and ran. Didn't ask if we needed anything else. Food down and out. When he had arrived to our table he had to call out meals. I'm not sure if this meant the waitress didn't ring orders in by seat number or if the runner just didn't care about doing his job correctly. Like I said, the food was great. But when it was time to box up leftovers, I specifically said that I did not want mine boxed. The other three did. In the end, she only boxed up two - one of them being mine! I waited tables for years. I understand that it can be difficult and frustrating at times. That being said, these were rookie mistakes. Sorry mistakes. It makes me seriously consider not returning to the restaurant for quite some time, if ever. Diners pay good money not only for the food but for good service. Perhaps the two individuals we encountered are the worst they have. Regardless, it's unacceptable. The owners/managers should seriously consider beefing up training and/or reevaluating their staff.
(2)Emily B.
I had a great meal and enjoyed my Saturday night in this warm restaurant during a cold, snowy night. I left a very nice tip (in cash--even though I had paid for the meal by card), and left happily. After my payment to Cottage Inn cleared in my bank account, an ADDITIONAL 25% tip was added to the total. I know that these mistakes happen and they could have accidentally added seven additional twenty fiver percent tip to the bill, but when the tip line showed nothing, it should not have been too difficult to realize that 'oh, this was the customer that paid a tip in cash' and flip to the next of their receipts. Wouldn't have been an issue except for the fact that I meticulously track my income and am tremendously organized, which means funds for other things may not be available as planned, etc. It just seems sketchy!
(2)Jessy C.
Do NOT order the chicken MARSALA. WORST CHICKEN MARSALA EVER! IT doesn't even taste like chicken marsala. Pizza was okay. So stick to pizza instead.
(1)Christine M.
Yummmmm! I love coming here whenever I'm in town! Make sure you get an order of the Greek salad to go with your pizza too!
(4)M M.
Sat us early as we arrived 30 minutes before our reservation. Were very accomodating. Service was attentive and offered menu suggestions. Pizza was excellent and my daughter like her pasta. Great spot for pizza, not fancy, not too expensive and service was good.
(4)Michael S.
Went there today for lunch. Happily, they had a buffet going. All you can eat for $8.99. Turned out to be a great deal. Put together a nice salad and followed it up with some very good roasted vegetable lasagna and vegetable pizza. SO had similar items and we were satisfied with both the quality and quantity. Service was prompt, but not surprising, since not many were there. Looked like they were breaking in a new waitress and her shadow was with her all the time and giving her the few prompts she needed. It had a nice look to it. Unlike most other places in the area. Saw they had a decent happy hour. Might have to go back there.
(4)Alex T.
I know this place is an institution or whatever, but their pizza is solidly mediocre, as is the service. Last time I was here it took me 40 minutes and asking two different people to get *water*. There's just so much better in the area, I don't really get the point of coming here beyond Ann Arbor-y sentimentality.
(3)Miriam S.
Just returned from an unfortunate visit to The Original Cottage Inn on William Street, Ann Arbor. I'll begin with the end. Awful and terrible summarizes it. But wait....we had already been put into a negative mood when our unfriendly server exhibited disgust when my husband asked him for water without ice, for starters. Trouble was afoot. We should have left after that but an exquisite Gorgonzola salad convinced us that it was just a passing fluke. Not so. the following margharetta pizza was soggy and tasteless. When I complained, the ineffective general manager told us he would speak to the cook. He might have used the intervention of a medium because he never returned to our table. The offer of a free desert was inconsequential since we do not eat dessert. The place was pretty empty considering it was the day of U of M graduation. Those who ignore signs, will suffer the consequences. We did.
(1)N P.
I can't believe it's taken me this long to review this place. Sorry Original Cottage Inn. You were home for many special occasions in Ann Arbor. You were a great place to take the family, a great place to meet up with friends. Your crunchy deep dish was delicious and there was a nice, classy ambiance to the restaurant. I felt like I was back in Italy which would actually be amazing since I've never been to Italy but you get it don't you? --- you treated me like an old friend when you had me over. Your service was outstanding 90% of the time and the only time it wasn't it was never rude but you just had a lot of other guests to take care of. I liked that sometimes I got to sit in the upper level area and I love that I never felt like I was getting low value for what I was paying. I loved your delicious sesame crust and I didn't know much about you before living in Ann Arbor but once I tried this place I found your other locations to carry out from. You had a pizza for everyone and your olive oil and garlic pasta also became a favorite of mine. Now, old friend, I'll be back soon but I'll have to ask if you can get me some vegan options since like you I've changed a bit with the times. I hope you'll still welcome me like you did before!
(4)Carrie A.
We went for their lunch buffet. After getting rained out at our organic farming volunteer work out in Manchester, our little road trip back to A2 took us past a Pizza Hut, and I was tempted to stop and re-live the soggy post-game meals of my childhood. Soggy isn't as fun post-thirty though, so we went home, changed, grabbed a Clipper coupon ($6.95 for the buffet + drink), and rushed into town for the last 45 minutes of the buffet. I like variety, hence the interest in the buffet. When we make pizza at home, we divide it into quarters, each with its unique topping combination. So I was a bit disappointed to see only two containers of pizza - one meat, one veggie. In the end, it was okay, because, well, I'd never really liked the spongy crust of Cottage Inn pizza, and it's so thick and topped with so much cheese that you can't really eat more than one piece anyway. Plus, the salad bar was excellent. It's small, but toppings are well selected. They have real mixed greens and their chicken is outstanding (and I don't usually like meat). They also had minestrone (decent), enchiladas (tasted like pure salt to me), mac 'n' cheese (good if you're into that sort of thing), and fish and chips (fish was cooked perfectly but still, of course, fried and therefore greasy; fries were limp). This may seem obvious, but the food is EXTREMELY HEAVY. It would be nice if the staff cut the servings much smaller (buffet/sample size), but they are full serving size. Don't be shy about cutting off a quarter of an enchilada or half a piece of pizza, and even then, share that with your dining partner. If you don't, you could end up like me: ill and unable to eat for over 24 hours. Also, don't order a lemonade and think that will help your digestion. It's Coke product: tastes like overly sweetened cleaner fluid and gave me heartburn after such a heavy meal. That said, the waitstaff was great, and the atmosphere perfect: both casual but nice. It was definitely a step up from our family outings to Pizza Hut (although I have to admit, I like their pizza better).
(3)Kim M.
My husband and I took my sister and cousin, who were in from out of town, here for dinner yesterday. Had to wait about 30 minutes, which wasn't bad considering a UM football game let out about 30 minutes before we arrived. We were starving so we definitely over-ordered, but the leftovers made for a great for a midnight snack! We started with fried artichoke hearts (my new favorite thing. I'm from FL and have never seen them on a menu there!) and sampled the antipasto salad and the cranberry pecan salad. Both salads were fresh, crispy and cold. For dinner, we had a Best of the College Inn deep dish pizza and my husband got the Meat Sampler, which included lasagna, manicotti and ravioli. Pizza was amazing - not too greasy, crust was done to perfection. Husband's meal was good, but I only had a few bites as I was enjoying the pizza so much. We will definitely be back. I think my family will request this place every time they come to town! Even though the restaurant was quite busy, our server was attentive and the courses were perfectly timed.
(5)Adam M.
The Original Cottage Inn is not a good restaurant, and has been continually going downhill. The pizza is low quality for the price, with inedible crust and way too much bread when compared with the cheese and sauce. The atmosphere is solid, and it is "original," so it may be worth your time if you're trying to get the feel of Ann Arbor. However, I would recommend Pizza House instead. Please note, I do not think either of these restaurants serve great pizza.
(2)Ingrid C.
Really charming atmosphere. I really liked the grape light fixture that hangs down from the second floor ceiling into one of the vaulted dining spaces. The food is decent - a local version of a chain restaurant. Satisfying, but nothing to write home about (just on Yelp!) I'll always pick this over Olive Garden, if that ever becomes an issue. I don't doubt that the pizza is really good for Michigan. It's just hard to compare after living in Brooklyn. However, it was pretty tasty (if not super doughy, but I know people like that), and I enjoyed the special nutty kick of sesame seeds. One veggie pizza was enough for that night's dinner, my hotel-roommate's next night dinner, and three more midnight snacks.
(3)Beck E.
My boyfriend and I went here with a group of friends, and the two of us each got a sandwich. Just a sandwich. Each cost $8 before tax and tip. For just the sandwich. Chips or fries were extra. The sandwiches tasted fine, and I thought they were filling enough after the free bread and olive oil... but I didn't think either sandwich was worth the $10 after tax + automatic 18% tip (since the group I came with was so large). This paired with the waitress who (although she did her job in taking our orders and getting the food to us) gave off the impression that she *really* didn't want to be there made for a negative experience. So... two stars for the Original Cottage Inn, and I won't be making plans to go back there for the rest of my time here in Ann Arbor.
(2)Erin H.
This is a solid and always reliable place to get a meal in town. I eat here often for lunch and while I enjoy the buffet I have recently become addicted to the bacon gorgonzola burger. It's utterly delicious and they will actually cook it rare. The seasoned fries are delish and I always have excellent service. A great local institution.
(3)Mitch M.
I've been meaning to review this place for awhile... I eat here pretty regularly (about once a week) and I am almost always very satisfied with my meal. After playing around with the menu a bit, I decided to start getting a side of the grilled chicken and a side of fries for my meal. It's not very expensive, but it is very filling! Oh yeah, and it's delicious! I don't know exactly how they make the chicken taste the way they do... but it's some of the best chicken I've ever had. The fries are also tasty! The best thing about Cottage Inn, though, is that they have a lot of options and if you're with someone picky you're probably going to find something they can eat. And enjoy. Thoroughly. If you get a chance, try their lunch buffet. It's a weekday special and it is really a great value. *Please Note* Don't get this restaurant confused with the little pizza shops around town that are also, technically, Cottage Inn. They don't serve the same stuff and they're not even close to as good! Overall, I highly recommended "The Original Cottage Inn".
(5)Clarence C.
I had the meat sampler (Homemade Lasagna, Jumbo Beef Ravioli and Manicotti) recently and it wasn't bad. The food is a little pricey, but it is a place to get sit-down Italian food with a bar and fairly good service. Not the best pizza in town, but worth a try.
(4)Lily P.
I like how they let me have a billion (50 people) show up for my bday RSVP of 34 seated. Then the glee club came and they let us bring in our own cake. They are pretty good about stuff like that...EXCEPT if you do take out the price is a lot more than other locations since they say they use difference sauces and etc..which makes it almost 2x the price as the delivery branches. Hrm lots of options for different types of food but when it gets really busy, which it does..sometimes its impossible to even get water for your table and lunch takes wayyy too long. Bleh.
(2)Jini S.
Consistently great pizza and pasta dishes. We have been with large and small groups and have used carry-out. Always delish.
(4)Chris W.
For the 2nd straight year, we celebrated a birthday at this location. We called a few days ahead since there were 16 of us (8 of them under 12). Today's visit was a Sunday afternoon and the tables were ready for us upstairs when we arrived. Nice! The upstairs room allowed us to gather as a group, see each other (they pushed 4 big tables together so we had a really nice set up), and visit amongst the family. With such a large group, I give kudos to our server(s). Drinks were always filled/refilled. Plates cleared quickly. Perfect! The cheese bread was GREAT! Highly recommended! The pizzas were yummy, especially if you like cheese. My better half thought there was too much cheese (as if that's even a possibility), but she was actually right....the pizza was really HEAVY for thin crust and that much cheese made the thin crust soggier than you'd like. The chocolate mousse cake was SUPER yummy and the birthday boy got a big bowl of ice cream. Prices are good....food is very good (a smidge too cheesy)...good beer selection, but the afternoon was a HUGE success because of the layout of the restaurant, the great servers who take care of all of us, and the hard work everyone put in to make sure we had the space we needed. See you next year!
(4)Kelly V.
My husband and I decided to take our first swing at The Original Cottage Inn. We went down on a Saturday evening in June around 6pm. We walked right in and was greeted by a very friendly hostess. There was no wait which was an added bonus since we were both hungry. We sat down to take a look at the menu. The menu was very large with quite a bit to choose from. We decided on ordering Calamari for an appetizer and I was going to get the Eggplant dinner and my husband decided on a pizza. When our waiter arrived he seemed anything but friendly. Maybe more aloof than anything. I could barely even hear him when he spoke due to him being so soft spoken. He was attentive in bringing the food, boxing it up, and refilling drinks but overall I would just say he seemed kind of out of it and didn't really "engage" with busby all means I don't need him to take a seat with us for dinner but a simple smile and politeness can go along way:) The food came and the calamari was really good. Not over cooked at all! My eggplant came out and it was alright nothing to write home about.( I don't think I would order it again if we do go back) and, my husbands pizza was okay. Not the best but not the worst. Overall, it was a pretty average meal. We don't have any reason to really rush back...
(3)Justin G.
The original Cottage in that started the franchise. The pizza is a step up from most other college fare. Sesame seeds on the crust of a Detroit-style deep dish is great. The lasagna, spaghetti options, and the salads are pretty tasty here too. Also, this place has a pretty nice ambiance. It's large and well lit and gives you a very comfortable feeling.
(4)Heather C.
So I've been starting my new life as a poor grad student - packing a lunch to class, and making dinner at home. Therefore, I haven't been eating out a whole lot, and limiting my ability to write yelp reviews. Today however, after a long day walking all over campus, the bf meets me in town and offers to take me out - as long as its not too expensive. So after listing the usual standbys we decide on pizza and head on over to the Original Cottage Inn. We each order a beer and split a deep dish of the "The Best of Cottage Inn" pizza - pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms, Parmesan, brick and mozzarella cheeses with olive oil and herbs (this was copied from their online menu). After a long week of classes and early mornings - this was a good way to end the day. Service was friendly and speedy, and our total came to about $20. I realize this is a place where all the undergrads make their parents take them, or one of the go-to places for large groups, but I've always been happily satisfied at Cottage Inn. Mainly I stick to the pizza, I don't even remember eating anything else.
(4)Lilani E.
Flew out to Ann Harbor for a graduation this year. The dinner we had was at the Cottage Inn. I ordered the crab cake salad, which was delicious. If crab cakes are on a restaurants menu I WILL ORDER IT. Sadly enough, I am disappointed about 3 out of 5 times, not this time. It was delicious. I will admit, I was still a bit hungry at the end of it but that's just me and my Michael Phelps-like appetite.
(5)Eric G.
My parents came into town and said they were taking me to Cottage Inn the week that I moved to Ann Arbor. I said alright, not all that excited to go to a pizza joint. I did not realize that this is the original Cottage Inn and it in fact is a very nice place. I had a Lasagna and it was amazing. Do not pass up this Ann Arbor original next time you are in the area.
(4)Nick L.
Great food on any night of the week. Staff is very friendly and helpful. They just redesigned their menu with a few fabulous additions. An Ann Arbor staple that has great food.
(5)maranda w.
I'll never forget the first time I had Cottage Inn pizza. Going to grade school in Ann Arbor-- it was a staple of fund raisers and lunches alike. It was my first run-in with the square Sicilian style-- and not certainly my last. This is the location to get the ORIGINAL Cottage Inn pizza. The pizza here is still amazing. I get the vegetarian every time, a small side salad and couple glasses off of their decent, and affordable wine list. This is my the 'go to' restaurant when I want to hang out and catch up with my friends back in Ann Arbor. We can sit, hear each other and stay as long as we want. The food is tasty, and consistent. The wait staff is always ever-changing (it IS a college town after all) so the level of service is always ever changing-- but the menu and tradition makes it worth it. Go!
(3)Heather K.
Even the worst pizza in the world is gourmet when I'm drunk and I was pretty drunk when I stumbled in here. Cottage Inn is not as good as I remember from my childhood. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great. Service was fine, they serve alcohol, decor was cheesy (no pun intented), but the pizza was boring. I feel like this review doesn't make any sense but I just can't come up with anything bad or good to say about this place, it just was.... well... I don't know, just get delivery.
(3)Kathryn L.
We have only been here once, but can attest to their special event services. We were here for an engagement party. The couple had rented the entire upstairs. The food was delicious and they kept serving it fresh, replacing entrees with new entrees throughout the evening. We were more than impressed and plan to come here again soon!
(5)Missy C.
Going to Cottage Inn, is fun and authentic. This was my first restaurant to eat at upon arriving in Ann Arbor. The food is great, and you can take a a fresh loaf of bread for only $1.00. I enjoy the atmosphere, and seeing the same photos and murals on the walls. The servers are professional, the food is great with my favorite being the lasagna.
(5)Sebastian L.
Cottage Inn pizza is the budget pizza of choice around here. It's actually slightly lower quality than Little Ceasar's, but it's a similar style kind of pie, offers more options, and has the advantage of ubiquity around campus. My wife and I ordered breadsticks. My wife held the box in the car. The grease from the breadsticks soaked through the cardboard box, through her down jacket (two nylon layers and the down filling), and through her jeans. Their pizza is about the same, except the crust is kind of undercooked. But it's better than NYPD; in terms of grease, on a scale of 1 to 10, NYPD is a screaming apocalypse heart attack, and Cottage Inn is just an 8. On the plus side, they have a decent selection for toppings--they have roasted red peppers. And their sesame seed crust is pretty alright, if you don't mind it being attached to undercooked, greasy, bland pizza. So I'll give them two stars for variety.
(2)Elliot S.
I've only been here for happy hour, but it's my favorite spot in Ann Arbor. They have a ton of Michigan beers on tap for only $2.50! There is ample seating in the bar area and the service is quick. Their apps are also half off so this is a great place to grab a drink/snack after a long day.
(4)Alexandra K.
I dine at Cottage Inn at least one per year for a publisher's dinner during the University of Michigan Intro To Book Publishing Weekend Workshop. Delicious pizza, a wide array of vegetarian entrees and appetizers, as well as quick (but not always friendly) service. Perhaps the publishers who I dined with were immune to the snippy behavior of the waitstaff because they're from New York, but I was appalled. The food is the savior, though. So it still gets 4 stars from me.
(4)Jackie H.
I LOVE the Cottage Inn! The Original is the best! (or something cheesy like that) But seriously: this place is my go-to restaurant. Don't feel like cooking... feel like going out...not really sure where...This is it! The lunch menu has some great deals on it, but mostly I'm here for dinner. My sampling of the menu is pretty thorough, from salads, burgers, pizza, pasta, and in-between. I love the chicken cashew salad, the turkey burger is excellent. The pizza here is solid, one of my faves. I like how people come dressed in little-black-dresses to gym shorts and t-shirts...dinner can be as nice or as laid-back as you life. Really, this is one of AA's best restaurants.
(5)Chad C.
Why is it that the pizza in this place taste different from the Cottage Inn Pizza that delivers? I actually find the delivery pizzas much tastier (like the bacon and onion) than the ones ordered here. Aside from that, this place is good for large groups hungering for some za, but wants a little bit of atmosphere in which to eat it.
(3)Cottage Inn is a popular chain of pizza places in Michigan. Most are take away places with limited in-house seating that usually offer delivery. However, this Ann Arbor, Michigan location is the original Cottage Inn. It is a sit down restaurant with a menu consisting of pizza, salads and pastas. The pizza is pretty good as are the salads. It's certainly not my favorite pizza, but it's fresh tasting unlike Little Caesars and various other chain pizza places. The servers have always been friendly and the service has been quick in my experience. Note: This location gets very busy during the Ann Arbor Art Street Art Fair in July, so it may take a good 20 minutes or sometimes longer to get a table and service may be a tad slower than usual. The prices are pretty decent too. For two people, you can order a salad, pizza and two non-alcoholic drinks with unlimited refills for under $30. The restaurant seems very open, and it has seating spread across two floors. Picturesque scenes of Italian countryside, looks like Tuscany, adorn the walls. The restaurant is an Ann Arbor staple, having been around for decades. My Mom, who attended the University of Michigan in the mid-70s, remembers dining at Cottage Inn as a college student! The pizza place is close to the university, making it a popular place for students to grab a meal out with friends or to take their parents to when they visit. It may be a college-student favorite, but this is a family-friendly restaurant.
(4)Kenny W.
I was recommended to go to this restaurant by at least three people from Michigan before going there. The Pizza is very tasty. They call it a deep dish pizza, It's not a Chicago Style, but it's very good. They have this special on the last page, "Pizza and Salad for four" for $20.00 (or something ridiculous). you get your choice of two toppings on the pizza and your salad can be a green salad or anti-pasta salad. The pizza is large enough for two pieces per person (8 slices). Unless the four of you are from the Michigan Football Team. I didn't get to try any of the pasta dishes, but I'm sure they are delicious. Some of the Collage Inn's are take-out only. But this one "The Original" has a lot of seating. enjoy!
(4)Mark P.
I think that they re-vamped the menu, because the food is better than ever before. Try the Bruschetta- you will not be disappointed! The pizza may be an acquired taste, but the rest of the food is good. Really good. A must stop for anyone in Ann Arbor, at least once.
(5)Sophia G.
They serve some of the best pizza I have ever tasted! It is pretty close to the university which may mean an extra long wait for lunch or dinner. Nice atmosphere and excellent service.
(5)Hubert H.
I suspect that the main menu has more interesting styles and varieties of pizzas than the banquet menu. Ordering as part of a large (~40) group, we were served buffet style to a smorgasbord of large pizzas of standard fare (cheese, cheese + pepperoni, peppers, etc.) none of which I felt were so fancy. The dough taste left more to be desired, as did the salad, while decent enough, wasn't super fresh. The upstairs large group banquet room however is very convenient for large group gatherings.
(3)David M.
I too have a Michael Phelps-esque appetite, and let me reassure you that a pizza here will definitely satisfy it. This place is great, the pizza is amazing and the gourmet toppings, well, they make me happy.
(5)Sara G.
This place has seriously gone down in quality over the years. If it's not pizza it SUCKS. The lunch buffet is underwhelming. Banquet fried chicken?!? The pizza is the only thing keeping me from giving this place one star. It seems as if every non-pizza menu item is not freshly prepared in their kitchen. You can do better, especially in this town. Ignore the legacy. If from freezer-to-microwave is what you want, stay home with something from Trader Joe's.
(2)C N.
How can their website not have a menu?? I haven't been there in a long time and my kids are fussy eaters so I wanted to make sure that they had food that would be appealing for them. When I checked their site- no menu! Cottage Inn- how can you run a business in this day and age without a menu on-line? Not sure we will go there.
(2)ian m.
When you walk in you notice that the sit down style is unusual for a pizza joint, and it appears to be a fine dining establishment. But don't be fooled it's still filled with college kids in t-shirts and plenty of pizza. The food is pretty good, although I would probably go to main street for a formal affair. But the pizza here is much better than that of the normal cottage inn, because they are all baked in a huge wood burning oven. And a great deal on the Pizza for 4, it's a huge sheet pan sized pizza w/ 8 slices the size of VHS tapes and a large salad for only $20! That makes it worth checking out.
(4)Peter W.
Pizza delivered right to your door, and it's better than Pizza Hut, Domino's, etc. Good times.
(4)Jillian D.
i'm a chicagoan, so naturally, i love my pizza. but hot damn, if ann arbor doesn't have some of the best around!! (please don't revoke my chi-card!!) lucky me, my little bro's a wolverine. every time i visit, we *have* to eat here (my mandate. he never complains. free food? are you kidding me?) i'll be there in just a few weeks so i can get my fix. yay!!
(5)Kathryn H.
This is great pizza at a great price! Love it!!
(5)Eric M.
Much like the Wendy's of pizza places, Cottage Inn serves their pizzas square. You may be frightened by this, but don't be. The crust looks thick, but is soft and doughy. The cheese melts perfectly and the sauce is both sweet and tangy. You may have to wait awhile for a seat on the weekends, but it is worth it.
(4)John K.
Been going there for years. The last couple of years have been very disappointing. Both in food and service. I am sad to say, we don't plan on visiting again. We feel bad about it.
(2)Nupur L.
I can't stand Cottage Inn. The food is ridiculously expensive, and pretty bad to boot. I ordered an $11 salad with pears, only to find that they had used canned pears. They had not mentioned that they would be using canned pears. The pizza is pretty doughy with a very bland sauce, the pasta was bland and don't get me started on the salads. The wait times for service are horrible and servers tend to become very careless when they see that you are ordering nothing but a personal pizza. Now they don't even serve bread unless you're buying an entree or large pizza. I can't understand how anyone would willingly come here for a sit-down meal.
(1)Mark D.
Busy but worth the wait. Try the bruschetta appetizer. Wife's fav is barbcued chicken pizza. She likes the sauce. Mine is the 'Best of Cottage Inn' pizza. Good crust and fresh mushrooms. Kid's menu is good. Bass on tap from the bar is a plus.
(4)Maria L.
Cottage Inn is STILL my favorite pizza- hands-down. Sorry Chicago, CI is the shit! Great sauce, crust, cheese- everything! The sauce is my fave- really fresh tomato-tasting.....Heaven....
(5)Erik B.
The restaurant itself has great character. The pizza is good but not the greatest I've ever had. The price is right for the quality of the food.
(4)Mae S.
Wildly popular always. More to life here than just pizza, too. The pasta dishes are overloaded with oily cheese but that's not totally bad. Just challenging to finish them. Veal dishes not bad either. I would say it's best for large groups, like a birthday party. Then the noise will be your own.
(4)Katia M.
Cottage in has pretty good pizza, but it was their breadsticks that I really loved. Once I learned to love marinara sauce (and yes, it took me until I was well into college), I always enjoyed the pasta here as well. Nice ambiance.
(4)Corinne M.
I give CI 4 stars in large part to the nostalgia that it affords me. :) I used to work there when I was in college and spent many hours there serving pizza to college kids, ann arborites, big ten athletes and even waited on Lloyd Carr once. Anyway, I digress, I went back there over the weekend and wasn't disappointed by the bread and olive oil or the giant Greek salad my sister and I shared. The deep dish pizza wasn't as good as I remember it, but that might be b/c my tastes have changed (pizza was my version of fine dining in college) or if it was b/c the pizza was just having an off night. I remember the pizza there being exceptionally good, especially the wood fired pizza. The pastas are pretty good (I'd probably go elsewhere for the baked dishes) and the desserts are good too. Cottage Inn is a fun collegy restaurant that I can count on to have good tasting food whenever I go back to Ann Arbor to reminisce.
(4)kate s.
ooooh! my boyfriend (now husband) used to take me here on dates when he got paid working his pizza delivery job back when i was in college. very romantic if you like waiting 45 minutes for a seat and then shouting at each other across the table. the food was generic italian and of course the pizza is great. but mostly i'm giving this 4 stars for being a slightly upscale place where a 19-year-old can take his girlfriend to impress her.
(4)Paul S.
With so many pizza options it's hard to believe there's room for more in the market. Like Domino's Pizza, Cottage Inn is an Ann Arbor original. Unlike Domino's, Cotton Inn wisely stayed local, expanding only to a few outlying towns with pickup and delivery. The heart of the empire though lies in this William Street location that has slowly been modified over the years. Greek owned, it represents the last of an era when the Greek and German immigrants dominated the downtown restaurant scene. The signature dish to this day, however, is the deep-dish Sicilian pizza with sesame seeds on the olive oil brushed crust. A six slice half tray does the trick to fill two or three people, or you can opt for the eight slice full tray and ensure pizza for breakfast. Don't overlook the awesome Greek salad or antipasti salads either. My buddy got his childhood favorite, manicotti, which apparently was delicious since he wiped it out quickly! I was stuffed after consuming three slices of the half tray. We washed it down with cocktails and Bell's beer. However, the new cocktails sounded better than the execution, but I applaud them for the recent addition. I think they'll get better in time. Being a college town means there are always new employees being trained, and service although well meant, isn't always excellent. Nevertheless, the night before the first home game can be given leniency but I hope the service improves soon. I am glad I visited and that their pizza is still as good as it was sixteen years ago when I last tried it.
(4)Valerie S.
If it weren't for the sign, it would be hard to know you were in a Cottage Inn. There is no orange-and-blue motif here. Instead it is decorated almost like a winery, with vines painted on the walls, and decorative wire hangings. There are plenty of tables, and even banquet rooms you can rent for events. One major departure from your standard Cottage Inn is the menu. Of course there is great pizza, but this location has entrees, too. On our most recent visit, we tried pasta dishes instead of pizza, and they were tasty and traditional without being too acidic, something that doesn't always happen in restaurant pasta sauce. This location also has a bar, with what appears to be a good list of beer and wine, but I know almost nothing about that, so don't take my word for it. I do know a lot about cheese bread, and you need to try the cheese bread at the Original Cottage Inn at least once. It's not like standard pizza place cheesy breadsticks, this one is more like cheesy toast. Delicious! My favorite part of this Cottage Inn is their weekday lunch buffet. Working downtown, I can walk over at lunch time and fill my plate with salad, pizza, breadsticks, soup, and usually a choice between two entree-type items. Last time I went, I think there was macaroni and cheese and fish and chips. No matter what you get or how much you get from the buffet, it's the same price, and with sodas it ends up around $20 for two. Not someplace to eat every day, but a good option for days when you're very hungry, or need to eat a big lunch to power through staying late. Even if you think you don't like the standard orange-and-blue Cottage Inn chains, try out the Original Cottage Inn downtown. They were the first, and they do it the best.
(5)Christina C.
I've been here twice now. Once for a banquet for which food was pre-determined and ordered beforehand, so I wasn't presented with a menu. I don't remember disliking anything about my first experience. Today, I ordered the Pesto Primavera 10" pizza with artichokes and no cheese on a thin crust. The thin crust was extremely crunchy, like a cracker. I would have preferred somewhere in between bread texture and cracker, but it was still good. They put a lot of toppings on it, which is definitely a plus. However, I wish the pesto had more basil. It tasted a little plain to me. I tried my friend's zucchini fries, which came as part of the Hot Trio Sampler. They were thinly sliced pieces breaded and fried. I thought they were too greasy and too salty. I would recommend the zucchini fries over at Pizza House, which are thicker and definitely less oily. The waiter, although seemingly frustrated with our large party by the end of our dinner, was overall pretty receptive and patient. The hosts are very welcoming. The atmosphere is great. They've got a bar and a couple TVs for those who don't want to have a sit-down dining experience.
(3)Mike W.
We were looking for gluten-free option. I can say we were pleasantly surprised by The assortment about missions day have on their menu. Just the fact they have a separate gluten-free menu is a positive for us. We had an bruschetta which was delicious and two gluten-free pizzas which were crispy and cooked to perfection. They have about 10 local beers on tap and a wide selection of bottled beers. I would highly recommend for casual environment.
(5)Jeff B.
My son and I picked up my wife to take her to lunch. We were originally going to go to Hunter House for burgers but decided to go to the "pizza buffet" at The Original College Inn. We arrived at quarter to twelve, were seated and told the server that we would all behaving the "pizza buffet". We were informed that the "pizza buffet" wasn't ready yet but that the salad bar was ready. My family all made themselves a salad, sat down and waited for at least fifteen minutes for the pizza to come out. When we came to the buffet, there were two pies.....one pepperoni/sausage and one with green peppers and onions. This is a buffet? I don't think so! The pies were ok but nothing special. There was also a chicken dish on the side that was dried out from being in a chafing dish too long and a corn side dish that clearly was made with canned corn! All this costed around $35! Needless to say, my family and I have been there both times in one, first and last!
(2)Liz T.
Recent visit here was with 8 other family members. Pizza all around - all looked and tasted wonderful. The eggplant Parmesan looked amazing, burgers looked good. Waiter was around enough to do refills, but didn't hover and annoy. Poor Ben had my pizza order wrong - but pineapple vs pepperoni - maybe the kitchen missed the pineapple or Ben's handwriting is bad. Not upset enough to send it back as it still tasted great!! It had been 30 years since I was at Cottage Inn as I don't get to Ann Arbor often. I'll be going back soon.
(4)Max R.
Visited here last night for the first time. I had wanted to come here for awhile, and it was surely worth the wait. Our server was very busy (had about 4 other tables during an understaffed point in the day) and got the job done well. The cheese bread appetizer, while a simple dish, was a very tasty start to the meal. My girlfriend and I ordered "The Best of Cottage Inn" (pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, Parmesan, brick and mozzarella cheeses with olive oil and herbs). It was a large square pizza that divided up into 8 triangular slices. We could only finish half! The pizza itself was very good. Toppings were fresh and the sesame crust is a nice accent. For more pizza than we could ever eat along with the appetizer it was only $25. We will definitely be coming back to try other things on the menu! Pictures of our dinner are attached.
(4)Mike L.
There were four of us in Ann Arbor for the Ann Arbor Art fair. Two of us are alumni, and often took out pizza from Cottage Inn more than 50 years ago. After having several excellent meals at expensive restaurants, we decided to go back to cottage inn so many years later. We had salads, soup and pizza. The cost was one third of the cost at the other restaurants we went to in Ann Arbor, but as good as, and in some ways even better, than the expensive places. The pizza was the best I've had in a long time, except for Genuine deep dish Chicago pizza, like Lou Malnati's. Service was attentive and effective. The server even had time to share with us her educational experiences while being a student at a local community college.
(4)Jeanne D.
Disappointed after we braved the rain and wind to get here. My group had deep dish and regular pepperoni pizza. There wasn't enough sauce, and what was on the pizza had no flavor and very little meat. One pizza was supposed to have green peppers but you could barely see any. Two of our group had pasta and they said that was a lot better. I noticed there aren't many recent reviews so thought I would add my two cents. When I'm in town it seems a tradition to come here but may think twice next time.
(3)Laura K.
I love pizza, and this place has good pizza! But, the service was far from good. First off, she didn't even introduce herself. My family had to walk downstairs to the bar to get drinks because she was not getting us refills. I asked for a creme soda twice and finally got it 20 minutes later. She said they were under staffed because of the art show, but there were only 4 tables upstairs. Our gratuity was added on because we were a group of 9, but I wish it was not, because she did not deserve 20%.
(1)Elyse S.
So, traveling to the Mid-west is always scary for me with a Gluten Allergy. A serious Gluten Allergy. They love their gluten in the mid-west, or so it seems. What a surprise to find The Cottage Inn has a Gluten free pizza that they cook in a separate dish to avoid cross contamination! It was great! I also have to nix the cheese, and the BBQ chicken still tastes great! The fact that they also deliver in the middle of the night is awesome (although thinking about it, the delivery might have come from a different location? I'm not familiar with Ann Arbor and also didn't call the order in..) Fantastic Pizza, allergy free. Win!
(4)Rachel M.
A friend and I tried to eat lunch here recently, and her child fell asleep on the walk there. They refused to let us park her stroller with her sleeping toddler in it next to a table - we were told the stroller had to be folder up and left at the front of the restaurant. It was a super compact travel stroller, would not have taken up more room than a standard restaurant chair. There were many empty tables and places to put said stroller where it would be completely out of the way, but we were told we could not remove a chair at our table and replace it with the stroller. The only choice we were offered was to remove the child from the stroller and lay her in a booth, which would have been awkward and probably would have woken her. We left and went elsewhere.
(1)Beth H.
The original Cottage Inn! It is so good! I haven't been in a little while, but if they still have the intense chocolate mousse torte on the dessert menu...and you like chocolate...get it. It might be my favorite dessert of all time. Naturally the pizza is a staple and is great (I like it better than Pizza House). Their other menu items are also worth a taste, though. The lasagna and manicotti are personal favorites. This is a great location for dinner with friends, or for a date, or for when he 'rents come to visit you at college.
(4)Wylie B.
This meal was absolutely horrific. Chicken marsala came with a sauce that was as thick as paste and tasted as if it had been simmering for weeks. The plate had enough pasta mixed with carrots and green onion to feed a family of four. I couldn't eat more than 2 bites before sending it back. Lasagna was hidden under a massive blob of tomato sauce so that you couldn't tell right away that it had likely been sitting for more than a week. It had a sour smell and taste. We sent both plates back expecting to be able to leave without trouble and they insisted on charging $5 for two half drunk club sodas.
(1)Marzuq H.
Pros: - Upscale dining Cons: - Lunch buffet selection is limited - Pizza is forgettable - Food generally falls into 'expensive because you're paying for the atmosphere quality, and actually is pretty terrible at this price point' Best fit: - Meal where you're mainly paying for ambiance - not quality of food
(2)Lise G.
The Best of Cottage Inn Pizza has got to be, pardon the pun, the best of all the pizzas that are available, here on the menu. It's so delicious and satisfying and hits that spot when you're craving a pizza. The staff are so knowledgeable and always so friendly to be around.
(5)Dan A.
The guys that work at the bar are nice, good place to get a hamburger and beer for lunch.
(5)Ed R.
Instant, available but unobtrusive service on a Friday night. Pizza exactly as it has been for years, excellent.
(4)Jason C.
Went here with friends for the Happy Hour specials... well, it wasn't a happy ending. So we got seated and looked at the happy hour menu and ordered from there... but we forgot to read the fine print above the hours (happy hour at the bar)... so yeah... we ended up paying regular prices for the appetizers rather then the $5's per plate... so when we got our bill and inquire why we were charged regular prices.. the waitress informed us that the happy hour specials are only at the bar.... I wish she would have told us this when we were ordering the food from the happy hour menu! URG! So be aware... if you go for happy hour, stay in the bar area for the specials... also, check in on yelp and you'll get 10% off on your food bill.
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