Bona Sera Cafe
200 W Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI, 48197
Bona Sera Cafe Menu
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Address :
200 W Michigan Ave
Ypsilanti, MI, 48197 - Phone (734) 340-6335
- Website https://eatypsi.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
- Mon :Closed
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Emily B.
Went for lunch yesterday. The atmosphere was fun and eclectic. The food was great- especially the mint gelato. The food and atmosphere deserves 5 stars. The service was very slow. It took us at least 20 minutes to get drinks. Overall it took 1.5 hours for lunch. Thankfully we didn't have a lot going on in the afternoon.
(3)Sarah S.
We had the strawberry salad, the shrimp Po boy and the bean dish. Everything was tasty, flavorful and fresh!! The shrimp Po boy was to die for!! Big bites of big shrimp that were perfectly cooked and juicy on a light and crusty baguette. I appreciate the use of big flavors via lemon, herbs, and fresh aromatics. Everything was super tasty without being salty. Can't wait to return.
(4)Sarah E.
Had the Ama Grape flatbread as an appetizer. Very unique flavor. It's a very crispy flat bread with a creamy white sauce and cheese topped with halved grapes and spring lettuce. It almost had a vanilla taste with maybe balsamic? Boyfriend had the porchetta sandwich on a baguette. Very tasty but it was difficult to eat. The baguette was sliced from one side and stuffed with the pork, fennel, apples and lettuce. Everything kept falling out, but my boyfriend also is just naturally a messy eater. I had the Catfish Po Boy. The fish was moist and crispy. The slaw was a Brussels sprout base but was lacking something. The house tartar sauce was pretty good. Mostly I felt my sandwich lacked some spice. It was still tasty but I'm used to Po Boys having a little heat. Maybe some spicy mayo? Over all the ambiance was funky and artsy including the staff. We went during lunch so it was pretty slow and quiet. Could have used some music.
(3)Dayna K.
This place is what everyone says. Really good eclectic comfort food. The shrimp and grits were delicious, and I got a gnocchi poutine with duck, it was fantastic and flavorful! For dessert we had a lemon chia seed cake. Soooo good. Pretty sure most everything is house made. Yum!
(4)Suzanne B.
There is no doubt, the food is magnificent! But... the service is so slooooow. The last few times we have been here, the server has not had their wits about them. its not the same person everytime. Either the ordering system is confusing or the cash out system is confusing but something is slowing them down. Drinks take forever to receive... if its alcoholic its even longer. The servers are un-attentive for the most part and if they are attentive they are confused. Can't remember who ordered what, can't remember how many drinks you ordered. it's unbeievable. After having a meal that took almost an hour and a half to receive and consume, ( there were 6 of us) We waited AT LEAST 30 minutes to receive the bill. The server came back 3 times to re-confirm who had what and STILL didnt get it right. Dont get me wrong, I love this place, they are chic, eclectic, talented chefs and the environment is edgy but if the service is bad, it will deter me from coming back. I'd rather have good food and good service over excellent food and bad service anyday. Sorry ladies!
(2)Michael S.
This is a very eclectic place (for Ypsi, that is). It's a large pretty, without being overly so, space. The menu is not meat heavy, so don't bring any carnivores. Omnivores will be happy, though. There is lots of variety here. I had the Chicken Shepherd's Pie. It took a bit to get to me, because they had to prepare it; read fresh. Fresh seems to be a key here. I did like it. My SO had what looked like spaghetti and meatballs, but was not too thrilled with the meatballs. There's no bar, but they offer a variety of drinks, all non-alcoholic, of course. The make their own gellato, but as the meal filled us, we had no dessert. Service was friendly and swift. Prices were very much in line with what we got; quality over quantity.
(4)Kathleen J.
I wanted to mention that the owner contacted me very soon after I posted this and wanted to have the opportunity to make it up to us the next time we visited. We have not yet been back, but wanted to let readers know that they made every attempt to do right by us.
(3)levramosis H.
I've only had the pleasure of visiting Bona Sera once for breakfast. It was a generally positive experience. We started with coffee, which was quite good. Refills were extra, which was fine, unfortunately we had to chase our waiter down to get one. The waiter was very accommodating about checking with the kitchen about the use of dairy (to which my BF is allergic) We decided on the confit hash which was fantastic. Rich, well salted and delicious. We also ordered the tom yum shrimp and grits. This was less of a success for us. It was ok, but missing something...maybe acidity...texture? I will definitely go back when I get a chance.
(3)Robin M.
Had an almost religious truffle experience at Bona Sera. The waitress was wonderful and friendly, and recommended a few things from the menu. We ordered the Lobster Mac, Truffle Mac, and an appetizer flat bread with truffle oil and mozz. So amazingly good. The flat bread was fantastic, it disappeared quickly. The mac came with a side salad lightly drizzled in a lemon oil with fresh cracked pepper. The salad greens were very fresh and lovely. The mac itself (I had the truffle mac) was seriously the best mac n cheese I have ever had in my life. Ever. The top was lovely and had a heavenly browned cheesey crust. Everything about it was on point, even the truffle oil in it was stirred in, not just drizzled on top. I ate every bite and scraped the bowl. For dessert we had the carrot cake, which was incredible. I am very picky about my carrot cake and this was probably the best I've ever had. House made, with a wonderful cream cheese topping that was perfect. Not too sweet, and tangy. Huge portion too, was enough to split between two people. My only problem is that I live so far away and can't come more! ps. Decor was very adorable. Full of personality, just like Ypsilanti.
(5)Sal R.
I Have been wanting to stop in to this place for a while and finally the timing was right. Love the atmosphere, very open with huge windows and lots of lite pouring in. Very good vibe. Waitress was super friendly, lots of smiles and good service. Unfortunately I wasn't super hungry so I just had a capacino. It was large and delicious. The menu seemed very reasonably priced and not complicated. I can't wait to come back and try the food. It won't be long either. It is casual and if you're dressed up or not you will feel like you fit in.
(4)Allen L.
WOW! Loved it. Glad I finally tried it and recommend it highly. Could be a new favorite. Reading through the menu I pretty much thought I'd like to try everything. Everything is clearly prepared with intent, skill and nice ingredients. The grits/egg/bacon bowl was fantastic. The grits were perfectly prepared and this was a GREAT breakfast. I also got to try the biscuits and sausage gravy. Fantastic. Super light and tasty. Would love to know where the sausage was from. Service was fine. The owners are in the big open kitchen cooking. Looking forward to trying more of the menu. And what's up with Yelp filtering off almost 30 reviews?!
(5)Greg E.
Very pleasant space, with a better than average menu. Wish they had draft beer, but good prices on bottles of wine.
(4)Nathan D.
Delicious food, pretty killer staff all around. Prices are a dollar or two higher than I'd expect for the portions, but that's basically the only thing stopping me from eating the majority of my meals here. Probably better for my waistline that way anyway.
(4)Brandon O.
a couple of tablespoons of goat cheese, which was very tasty; maybe 1/3 of sliced, steamed beet; a child's fistful of kale; and a subtle, delicious dressing which must have been sprayed on. $10 A cup of coffee which, despite the claim of the menu, tasted more like Folger's than "Bad Ass", $3.50 (NO REFILLS unless you pay $1 extra) I had to ask for cream and sugar twice. The menu prices aren't formatted as proper currency ($3.50 looks like 3/50) I went inside and didn't want to stay in there because the atmosphere is pretentious - like one of those Main St. Ann Arbor atrocities - if you could charge plagiarism for decor, the Black Pearl might have a case. So, I sat outside where it's OK to smoke (yuck), and the tables are right next to the street at the corner of Michigan and Washington (double yuck.)
(2)Dy F.
Not completely sure what happened here.....this was one of my husband's and my favorite restaurants (been meaning to leave a 4 star review - based more so on staff and atmosphere than food.) Living almost an hour away, we'd drive out to Ypsi to visit pals and treat ourselves every couple of months since this place opened. We will no longer be making the trip and telling our pals not to bother too...the food is still good (not great, I do feel it was much better last few times.) The service all around seemed lacking....from unfriendly servers to wrong dishes with no apologies to bartenders who apparently do not know how to mix a variety of basic drinks. (Also, there was a waitress in the past who we had a couple of times over the years but she apparently no longer works there- Crystal? Anyway, we had actually gotten to the point where we hoped we got her every time...so another disappointment.) To sum up quickly, in the past we dealt with nice, fun servers with smiles and this last time was a lot of attitude and tone and arguing about what we ordered (meals and drinks-wise.) I understand it is difficult to train new people, but c'mon, at least hire kind ones, especially if they are still "learning the ropes". The mac and cheese is still the whip. I'll miss it.
(1)Amanda S.
I have been coming here since we first moved to Ypsi 1.5 years ago. I love it! We have never been disappointed with the food. We have gotten both carry out and dined in. This place is our go-to place when we don't feel like cooking or want a night out. Our most recent visits were fantastic. They are featuring a new soup which I keep thinking about. It is a cold beet soup. It was amazing. I had it last week and I am thinking about going back for it again this week. My bahn mi was delicious as always, but I couldn't finish it along with the soup. My husband ordered the salmon special which included orzo, broccoli, and chimmichuri sauce. He had ordered it once before (last time it had Israeli couscous instead of orzo). Fresh and yummy! Their gelato is also quite good as well as their brownies and strawberry short cake, although I have not ordered dessert there in a while. The most decadent treat, however is their hot chocolate with hand made marshmallows. You Can see flecks of vanilla bean in the marshmallows and whipped cream. It is such a treat. I always try to convince my husband to split it with me because it is very rich, but he always wants his own. They are working on getting a liquor license. Not sure where they are in the process, but if their drinks are anything like their food, they will have creative and delicious specialty cocktails made with fresh ingredients. My neighborhood posts food inspection reports periodically to our neighborhood Facebook page. Most of the other restaurants had pretty awful violations. I looked up Bona Sera and their only violation was for having jam that was too local. I believe the error was sorted out, but that gives you a sense of what this place is like. They forage mushrooms and get them certified. Amazing.
(5)Nancy C.
Really nice open space with fun, quirky decor and vintage furniture. I ordered the porchetta banh mi. The porchetta itself was very tender. It could've used a little more seasoning in my opinion, as it was edging on bland. Fortunately, the porchetta came sandwiched with an apple slaw and vinaigrette, which contributed a lot flavor-wise and cut the richness of the porchetta nicely. The biggest letdown was the bread. I was expecting a crunchy, crackly, crusty bread that was soft and fluffy on the inside, but ended up with a very soft, dough-y, bread instead. The flavor of the bread itself is not bad, but it is certainly not your standard banh mi baguette. My friend, however, really enjoyed the shrimp grits. She claims they're the best grits she has ever had, and she is quite the food snob, so that ought to say something.
(2)Colleen Z.
YUM! I actually took clients to Bona Sera tonight based upon reviews. I needed a restaurant close to a site visit and yay, the reviewers were spot on! I had a special spinach, tomato and spicy mustard tart over greens that was amazing. It reminded of a french tomato pie but with spinach and on puff pastry. Clients had the mac and cheese with a side of roasted vegetables. Both clients loved their food. The mac and cheese was quite generous in size and came out piping hot with strings of cheese pulling from their forks as they dived into their food. The roasted vegetables looked yummy and clients confirmed they were cooked perfectly. Service was really friendly. Music was lounge-cool and the place was clean and quiet. Perfect. I will definitely be back!
(4)Marcus C.
I'm surprised this place isn't more popular. The food and service is great, and it has a great look! I highly recommend this cafe!
(5)Mike H.
Bona Sera is awesome. Really great decor and atmosphere coupled with fantastic food. Servers (and everyone) are very friendly, but a little inexperienced (doesn't bother me). They are often out of something, but somehow this only makes the place all the more charming. The food seems to have fresh, top quality ingredients.
(5)Shira K.
We thoroughly enjoyed our meal here. I had lunch a few weeks ago and we came back for dinner with some friends. The curry seitan shepherd's pie was flavorful and filling. The fish grits and po boy were equally delicious! Sad thing was we were the only ones there. If you want some different veggie food give these folks some business....you will be so glad you did! Shira Ann Arbor
(4)Sarah R.
I've been to Bona Sera two times, and the food has been good while the service has been spotty. The first time, you ordered at the counter and they called out your order. That's fine, though with a large group and a somewhat noisy space, we sometimes had trouble hearing our order being called. The second time, they had wait service, and the person who served us was very new and tentative and it took a really long time to receive the food. They were busy, so I could forgive it, but she could have at least gotten my coffee to me sooner than 20 minutes after ordering. I have no complaints about the food. I enjoyed the shrimp and grits I tried the first time and the fusion Italian/Korean version of Be Bim Bop" that they call the "Bing Bada Bop" on the specials menu. The specials menu, however, didn't specify that it came with pork, which I don't eat. On the plus side, they were gracious and FAST about replacing my pork meal with a vegetarian (tofu) version. My husband has tried the jalapeno mac and cheese (very hot and very cheesy, no matter what previous reviewers have said - they apparently expected a Kraft dinner type sauce, but this was more of a bechamel) and the "I'm Not Bitter" salad and enjoyed both. The Italian potato salad was not terrible but was a bit odd with taste of lemon and fennel, I think. One of the best things about Bona Sera is the atmosphere; it can be a little loud, but I love the big windows, high ceilings and general ambiance.
(4)Taylor T.
Visited Bona Sera about a week ago with my parents while they were visiting from out of town. My dad is VERY picky, but there was something for all of us on the menu, and everything was absolutely delicious. Our service was also extremely friendly and helpful. It seems like their menu was very seasonally driven, so I can't wait to go back to see all the new things they come up with! Go, go, go!
(5)Gia J.
I've only been here twice but every time I leave wondering why I don't frequent this place more often. I love the attention put into the food and the twist on Asian foods. Last time I got the shrimp banh mi sandwich... love the marinade used on the shrimp. Also... sriracha mayo? Yes please. The coffeee? A special Roos Roast blend just for them! As for the atmosphere... I enjoy the open air lofty feel of the place. There's tons of space... so you can pick a table and have a nice chat and not bump elbows with the people at the table next to you. I also love that the kitchen is open and you can watch the staff work their magic! I think the only thing I don't like is trying to find parking...maybe that's why I don't stop in more.
(4)Rossie H.
I have been here twice and both times I had wonderful food and service. I was with a group my second time there and everyone loved their food so much that we had to order dessert to see if the sweets could stand up to the magnificent entrees (they did!) I highly recommend this place. Try the Curry Mac & Cheese!
(5)Barbara R.
Tried it for the first time today for lunch. Really great environment- kind of like a more open Café Zola in Ann Arbor. And not crowded. And reasonable. And free parking! Happy to support a business trying to make downtown Ypsi a fun place to go. Food choices for all tastes. No beer or wine but good drink selection. I'll be back soon.
(4)Pete P.
I went to Bona Sera last night. It was my first time eating there. I like the location and the cool decor on the interior. Nice open floor plan which seems unusual nowadays. I ordered the mac & cheese with the cracklins on top. It was very good! Some of the better mac & cheese in the area that I've had. Nice blend of cheeses and toasted on top which I really liked. It came with a simple salad of greens dressed with a bit of lemon juice.You can't beat the price either ($7.25). It was the server's first night on the job and she did a great job considering the circumstances (a really big group of people). I guess the only downside was the noise level. The high ceilings made it a bit "echo-ey" plus the night club down stairs was really loud! The bass was reverberating up through the floor and right up my spine! Having never been there, it was unexpected. But overall, I like the place and will try it again as the food and conversation were very good.
(4)Rose E.
After reading the great review in A@.com, my husband and I decided we had to experience the shrimp and grits. What a disappointment. We were up for some experimentation but balsamic vinegar and squishy caramelized onions with 3 shrimp on a bed of grits did not do it. Why do cooks think that adding balsamic vinegar to their dishes makes them innovative and good? Putting different flavors together is great but they have to compliment each other. Balsamic vinegar is now trendy and is used in the most ridiculous combinations. Before it was pesto and/ or sun dried tomatoes. We did not try the Vietnamese sandwiches so will not comment on these.
(1)W. E.
Wonderful open space with communal feel, yet you can have an intimate meal too. The staff is incredibly welcoming and warm. Menu creatively takes on traditional Vietnamese cuisine. Enjoyed the sesame peanut noodle salad and looking forward to see the complete menu soon! The most delicious oatmeal whoopie pie cookies ever!!!
(4)S B.
I LOVE this place. The food is amazing, the staff is always incredibly friendly, the owners are super-nice, and they're incredibly invested in the local community and supporting local, sustainable agriculture. I'm in love with the tofu and grits and the mushroom flatbread. You also can't beat soup, a sandwich, and a salad for 6 bucks! It's definitely one of the best deals in Ypsi and great for vegetarians, omnivores, and carnivores! Plus, the atmosphere is great, always having fun events going on and the physical space itself is unbeatable!
(5)Kathleen M.
Delicious food. Friendly staff. Local sourcing. Freshly made dishes. Looking forward to returning again soon to try more of their intriguing dishes especially once their complete menu is available. Definitely a dining experience to be welcomed to the Ann Arbor Ypsilanti area.
(5)Jose S.
Wow! What a unique treat! The sandwiches were fantastic! To heck with Mark's Carts and the rest of the expensive midday dining options in Ann Arbor. I'm heading to Ypsilanti for lunch more often.
(5)Charlotte W.
I stopped with a friend for a quick lunch, and had a divine down-home-Italian meal of fried rice balls in tomato sauce. I forget the Italian name, so it sounds mundane, but it is far from ordinary. It's a delicious combination of very crisp rice balls filled with cheese in a rich, aromatic tomato sauce. Nothing mundane about it on the lips. Friends who have had more opportunities to visit say the broad, adventuresome menu ranges from Vietnamese to Italian, and the taste sensation I experienced is not confined to the rice balls. I can't wait for a chance to go back and dig into that menu in more depth. And the deserts, made there, are as rich and innovative as the menu.
(4)Cliff L.
Our family thoroughly enjoyed the Bona Sera experience and food. Wonderful Bahn Mi and gelato served with a friendly smile.
(4)Measie J.
Stopped in for lunch today. Several people had already told me to try the shrimp and grits dish. I ordered the small and wished I had ordered the large because it was so delicious. The blend of flavors with the balsamic reduction complimented the marinated shrimp perfectly. I only hope I can move on from this dish the next time I stop in. I also could not pass up the jalapeño Mac and cheese dish. I really like spicy dishes. The smooth and creamy cheese sauce with slices of jalapeño in this dish was a true comfort food that I wish I was having at home with my feet up. I settled on a comfortable business conversation instead. If you love Mac and cheese with a kick, it's definitely a must try. And since I could not decide between the Mac&cheese with pork rinds or the jalapeño, they suggested that I have both together. Yes, I was very happy with that combination. Looking forward to my next visit to try some of the other dishes that looked intriguing on the menu.
(5)Alice S.
Bona Sera is only ok, when it COULD be great. All of their meals are made with quality ingredients, local fresh produce, crusty french bread, and high quality meat, yet a lot of their dishes are not great. All of their salad dressings are very vinegary and make the salads much too tart. The duck gnocchi is ok; while the duck is well done with a simple duck broth, there's no other flavors besides the duck which makes the gnocchi bland and just kind of salty. All the desserts are very good and fresh baked, but they're something you could get at any cafe. I would give this restaurant a higher rating if it weren't for the price. The price suggest dishes of a much higher quality than what you're served. If you're looking for a quick and healthy bite, this is a great place, but for taste, this place is overpriced.
(3)Jeremy F.
Great food, great people. The Shrimp and grits are a must try!
(5)Liz T.
This is a very cool place and I wanted to give it more than 3 stars. The food was wonderful, but the wait staff was so freaking slow. I tried the magic mushroom frittata which was excellent, light, crisp and airy and 1/2 will be breakfast this morning. My friend had the pasta with marinara sauce (which she enjoyed but wished it actually had sauce) and roasted vegetables - those were wonderful! But with 2-3 tables in the restaurant full, it shouldn't have been a 15 minute wait for the check. I will be in again, maybe she was just having an off evening.
(3)Robby G.
I am eating what is easily the best chicken salad I've ever had - curried chicken salad- on a gorgeous bed of local greens. Because they're quiet this evening, they generously framed my salad with slices of strawberries that they drizzled with balsamic vinegar reduction, and topped it all with freshly toasted almonds. Wayyyyyyyyyyyuuuummmmmyyyyyyyyy
(5)Ann S.
Five stars for an overall amazing experience. We came late on a Saturday night and although we knew they were closing soon, they were great in accommodating us. We had THE most amazing server (Alia) I've probably ever had in my life. She was super friendly and menu savvy and was in no rush to kick us out (even though they technically closed while we were still there). She told us how much she enjoys meeting people and serving others and it was evident throughout the entire meal. It was a cute, quaint little spot and although they were not busy at all, but I can only assume on other nights they are pretty busy. We sat outside on a cool fall night and had a lovely time. We ordered three dishes and basically split all of them amongst our party. The scallops and grits were very tasty and the mac and cheese was some of the best I've had. Side salad were light yet tasty. And price is VERY reasonable for every item on the menu.
(5)Lisa M.
Okay, so totally went here based on yelp and was not disappointed. From the food to the waiter to the ambiance I was very happy. We were promptly greeted by a pleasant host who took us to a great table where we could see the exposed kitchen and the great things going on outside. Randolph was our waiter and was very well versed in the menu and was patient in explaining everything to us. I went with the mac n cheese where I could pick two and got the four cheese and bacon mac. The four cheese was my favorite but you can never go wrong with bacon! I loved being able to see the food being cooked and loved that the staff all seemed to get along and worked well together. The sticky toffee banana deliciousness that was our dessert was probably one of the best things I've eaten in a long time. I cannot wait to go back here!
(5)Tony L.
Finally got around to trying Bona Sera. Had their famed shrimp & grits and a chilled beet soup. Both were decent, but nothing to write home about. The "small" portion of grits truly is rather small for the price. Service was prompt and friendly enough, although it was pretty quiet during "brunch" on an early Saturday afternoon. Nothing really wrong with this place, but doubt I will return for another sampling, given that one of my all-time favorites is just down the street (Beezy's).
(3)Luke A.
Place is alright. Definitely wouldn't be my first choice in Ypsi. A little pricey for the mediocrity of the food.
(2)Kitty C.
I've been to Bona Sera a handful of times now, and I can't say after my last two recent experiences that I would ever go out of my way to come here. The food has been fine-- a bit overpriced if you ask me-- which is strange because so many friends recommend it because of its awesome prices. I've gotten the mac and cheese here-- truffle in particular-- which was quite good but I don't know if it was $15 good. I also got a traditional breakfast place here, which also was quite good, but again, not for the price. I generally find the service to be really slow-- like really slow-- the last time I ate here we were literally the only table seated for brunch, and it took 30-40 minutes. Last night I came here for a poetry reading and the drink service was ridiculously slow-- it took about 20 minutes for us to get our drinks, and I ended up being disappointed that my beer wasn't draft (should have read the menu more closely) because it was $6.50. I was also put off by seeing a waitress come in with two 6-packs of Oberon she had clearly bought at some nearby liquor store-- for some reason it was just reminding me just HOW marked up my beer was. My partner wanted us to eat there after the poetry reading but they closed kitchen soon after, and I was secretly really relieved that we were going to eat somewhere else.
(3)Janine C.
Another fabulous meal for Valentines day. I love that they have duck on the menu sliced generously with sliced fingerling potatoes hiding underneath and figs aside. Tasty combo, but the scallops were out of this world! Seared and then bedded on black rice with a very subtle ginger sauce dressed to kill. Then there were the french kisses. A delicious cocktail not too sweet made with prosecco. What can I say? And the desserts? Well there are no better, far and wide, you can search the entire Ann Arbor, Ypsi area, every bakery, or specialty shop around but nobody bakes and makes like Barb. I think she's from heaven and shes on loan to us for a long number of years to make her salted caramel gelato, her cakes and bakes. We are so lucky to have these two women in our city. If you like mac and cheese, this is the place with more than you can imagine. Try some today. Check out their specials too. Always imaginative, tasteful and changing with the seasons.
(5)L R.
Fantastic place, my husband has been a few times, but my first was last week- and we're heading back this weekend. I had the scallop special, and they were hands down the best scallops that I have eaten (I could have had another whole order!). Try the place out for sure!
(5)ying l.
as good as it gets. you can sit from just about any place in this beautiful restaurant and watch the chef prepare your order. I love the art deco feel of the room, the pink Elvis lamp, the trellis canceling from the ceiling. the food is top tier, comparable to the Earle in Ann arbor. I love the grits with shrimp. everything in the entree was cooked to perfection. desert menu was thoughtful and creative. truly a hidden jem.
(5)Ellen Z.
Consistently fantastic food - craveable shrimp and grits, incredible enormous salads!!!! This place gets eight thumbs up for their knowledge of ingredients, and laid back ability to modify recipes if needed, to suit food sensitivities and allergies. They offer an inspired menu, with outstanding flavors, and a focus on local and sustainable practices. This is my go-to restaurant, when friends are in town. I hear they're working on a liquor license, but until then, you'll have to pre-game at home. I have yet to try their brunch, but I hear good things! LOVE!!
(5)Sally H.
Cool vibe. I had the catfish po-boy and my son, who says he hates tartar sauce ate the half I couldn't finish. The fish was hot, tasty, crispy, and the pear flavors and fresh tartar sauce were unbelievable. Then, I had the banaoffee (sp?) pie, as the owner/chef suggested I try it. Well, that was unbelievably delicious too. And the gelato my son had...he said it was the best he'd had since his trip to Italy. Will be back!
(5)Scott H.
It's been a while, but I returned last night for dinner. I discovered that they only serve Michigan brewed beers which is great since Michigan brews the finest beers in the world imo. We order the Caprese salad appetizer. It looked very average when it got to the table, but it tasted terrific. The cheese was very high quality. The balsamic tasted like they make it themselves. I don't know if they do but it did not taste as commercial as the stuff you get at most other places. And the basil was cut in ribbons which gave the palate an opportunity to enjoy the basil because it was not part of every bite. Subtle. I ordered the Bi Bim Bap made with porchetta. It tasted great. Though I have 2 recommendations. The pork was not really spiced enough. I believe it was boiled and therefore all the flavor has to come from the liquid and there was not enough flavor to me. Second, because it is boiled, the meat and the fat look exactly alike. There was too much fat and it was not good fat. Please trim it off before serving. I'd suggest spicing the water more or fry the pork to get texture and caramelization on the meat and fat. That is a very minor complaint. The dish was terrific. My biggest pet peeve with restaurants is cleanliness. In this case it is in the details. The walls were scuffed and dingy. And the bathroom needed a scrubbing too. I think it speaks to a level of pride. They have a lot to be proud of but a little tweek here and there and this place could charge double the price and have 10 times the clientele.
(4)Liz W.
I think I like the idea of Bona Sera Cafe more than the actuality of it. Service in there is just spotty. At best it is poky, at worst it is slow as molasses and unfriendly to boot. The portions are also hit or miss, you can get smaller at times and as a lot of the items are meatless it can leave you peckish an hour later. Even items with meat are pretty sparse on meat. It can run expensive trying to fill up a man like my husband. I prefer more myself to be honest but hey I am no delicate flower. I figure we are not their target audience but still. If you are looking for hearty I would go elsewhere. I do love things like the Orange salad, featuring orange wheels, red onion, white balsamic reduction, olive oil, salt & pepper. It is simple and just the right balance of flavors. I also am fond of the chilled beet soup with roasted beets, yogurt, cucumber and dill served with a slice of pickled egg. I am a sucker for beets and a chilled beet soup is just awesome in my book always. The macs all seem to be tasty. The putanesca? Strangely flat. Just bland. How is putanesca bland? The tom yum shrimp and grits? Also underseasoned. Sad as I really love shrimp and grits and would have been all over the other varietals. For the price and the wait, I just am not willing to settle for meh.
(3)Cayla A.
Love the food, they always have a great mash of the day and if you're feeling indulgent they have amazing house made gelato! Service is sometimes a little slow, and it usually takes longer than it probably should to be greeted at the door but they have always been pleasant!
(4)Beth S.
Last night my husband and I decided to try out the Bona Sera Cafe. From what I've read about them online it seems like they used to be an underground supper club and turned into a brick and mortar restaurant. Overall, the experience was really positive. They have a great, funky atmosphere, as evidenced by the Elvis lamp that greets you when you walk in the door. Incidentally, the electricity went out midway through our first course, and despite this huge setback, the kitchen and waitstaff rallied and were still able to provide patrons food service. While my husband and I weren't in love with our main entrees -- he ordered the crab mac and cheese and I ordered something called the bi bada bing, which is an Italian riff on a traditional Korean dish -- what I absolutely fell head over heels in love with was my salad and dessert. I ordered the orange salad which obviously came with orange segments, it also had arugula, shaved onion, and a white balsamic vinaigrette. There's something so poetic about a perfectly executed salad and that's what this was. It was dressed to the point where you could taste the oil and vinegar but the salad wasn't dripping in it. And it was salted! Never underestimate the power of salting a salad. And this tasted like a beautifully delicate, flaky sea salt. . But let's not forget dessert. I ordered the lime tres leches cake. I am someone who will order anything on a menu if it has lime or lemon in it. I am not usually a fan of rich, heavy chocolate desserts. But I will order something light and citrusy. And the tres leches cake was everything I love in a dessert: light, citrusy, and slightly sinful. You know a tres leches cake is good when the "leche" seeps out the bottom. Since the Bona Sera Cafe has such a fun, funky vibe and chefs who are passionate about food, I look forward to trying it again to see what their menu is like in the fall/winter. I think if they tweak a few things, they will be a hot spot in the Ann Arbor area.
(4)Candiss W.
I was really excited about all of the positive Yelp reviews so I had my husband drive across town to get shrimp and grits from here. Total waste. The shrimp itself was good enough, but the grits were pretty bad. They were lumpy and lacked flavor. I was totally disappointed.
(2)Mark M.
Update...a little late but... After my last review the good folks at Bona Sera contacted me in an effort to massage my hurt feelings. Well they sure did! They treated me and Sandi like royalty! The folks here are awesome and have a world class staff! I'm sure as they grow the menu will evolve and hopefully include some more vegan offerings but I wanna give em a shout out as awesome ambassadors of the Ypsi community. If your in the area stop in and check them out, I'm sure you will like the experience. I look forward to a return trip in the very near future. Thx Bona Sera! Mark
(4)Rebecca D.
Had not been to Bona Sera for a while, and was not disappointed. Got take out this time cause had friends coming over later. Outstanding Cobb Salad- really good! - and a couple of orders of Black Beans with brown rice. Nicely seasoned, and comes with separate sides of homemade salas, and sour cream, a nice touch. Got a side of roasted vegetables, too - mostly zucchini and summer squash, nice but not as tasty as the winter roasted veggies (with the best cauliflower ever). Topped it off with a few chocolate mocha cupcakes - yummy!
(5)Elizabeth K.
My husband and I decided to check out Bona Sera for dinner tonight after debating the usual Ypsi joints. For some reason, we've never been in here despite living in Ann Arbor for the past 6 years. We've been missing out! Prices are very reasonable, and the food is quite good. I love the ambiance of Bona Sera - it's a big place, tall ceilings, lots of whimsical decor, great bright colors, lots of tables. The menu is really well put-together. A few well-chosen apps and salads, and a nice selection of mains. They have a mac-n-cheese section of the menu, a protein-and-grits (you can get shrimp, porchetta, other things), and a nice selection of main plates, which includes a grilled salmon, flank steak, and an Italian-bi-bim-bap creation. The main plates all come with the mash and the vegetable of the day. My husband ordered the crab mac and cheese, which came with a little side salad. It was a nice size, with lots of nice panko bread crumbs on top. I had a special, which they called tuxedo scallops. Four seared scallops came atop black rice with a nice side of steamed broccoli and a delicious thai lime sauce on top. I thought my dinner would come with a salad, but it didn't and I never asked about it. Bona Sera has a really nice and interesting selection of cocktails (all $8), craft beer and wine by the glass and bottle - all very reasonably priced. Other reviews have complained of slow service. It seemed kind of slow to us too, but since they don't bring out any bread, and the salad is served with the meal instead of before it, it can seem like a while for the food to come out. If I could suggest any change, it would be to do the salad as a separate course (making it a bit bigger) and offer some bread to go along with the drinks. That would round out the experience. I would also recommend adding one more app. The flat breads were a bit pricy ($11 for a small?) and I didn't love the sound of the toppings, as I dislike both blue cheese and truffle. The honey-sriracha wings sounded great, but I haven't yet had them. I would love to come back for drinks and nibbles, and to have a couple more options in the nibbles category would be great. I look forward to returning!
(4)Dug S.
Hearty, soulful food made to satisfy - porchetta, grits, mac-n-cheese, pasta, etc. uplevelled with truffle oil, applewood bacon, shrimp, crab, etc. Bad Fairy and Wonder Woman delight and surprise with their clever and interesting takes on otherwise recognizable fare. Their tom yum shrimp & grits, truffled four-cheese mac-n-cheese, etc. have become instant classics you can't live without. What you didn't know you craved! I never made it to their celebrated pop-up supper club, but have been duly impressed by their full-blown restaurant (can you really call it a cafe?) and how much character shines through everything they do. The bright technicolor decor, brilliant tin ceilings, sprays of local art and peculiar curios, cavernous space, and gigantic walls of windows - it's like their living room collided with The Rocket, an art gallery, and a commercial kitchen to produce something marvelous, tacky, exciting, and uniquely Ypsi. Bona Sera, for me, is the new beating heart of downtown Ypsi. Go to one of their monthly funky brunch buffets (with DJ and all) and tell me I'm wrong!
(5)Jenna S.
The food is amazing, the only reason I wouldn't bump this up to a 5-star is the slow service. Our table ordered the Mac & Cheese flight to start. Three different types - bacon, truffle & 4 cheese. They all had a super good broiled crust on top. I didn't get a big flavor change with each, except for the bacon that had nice bits of thick bacon, but the Mac & cheese itself was really good. For a meal I ordered the shrimp & grits. Definitely go with the large size. The shrimp was tender & there were really good bits of pancetta added and the balsamic reduction sauce went great with the grits, onions & green onions - delicious! The other meals at our table looked great too, but I didn't try. We had beer to drink and most were $4/bottle, which for a restaurant I think was cheap - $4 soft parade, ok! The cocktails were $8 on the menu, but our table didn't order any. Another thing we did not try but sounded good was their homemade gelato. Our server was super friendly, but seemed overwhelmed and the restaurant was only maybe 1/2 full. We waited to get drinks when we first sat down, waited quite a while to order and waited to get refills on drinks. On the contrary, the atmosphere was really nice, so we didn't mind waiting - but don't go here if you have anywhere to be in an hour.
(4)Jeff V.
I have been putting off visiting this restaurant for no other reason than I thought it would be nothing special. I couldn't have been more mistaken! This place is nothing BUT special! The dishes are very unique and fresh, as are the ingredients. My wife had Grits with Catfish and I had the Tuxedo Scallops. I have had scallops from some fantastic restaurants, even one in downtown Ann Arbor, and I must say these were the best I've ever had! Bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection. They also have a good beer, wine and cocktail menu. My wife had a Ginger Margarita that was delicious and stiff.... Just right. I had s unique beer that was infused with coffee beans that was surprisingly delicious. Desert was incredible as well. The atmosphere and decor was very warm and inviting and clean. The service was just right. Can't recommend this place enough! Can't recommend t
(5)Mevei I.
The food here is delicious and cooked beautifully. I had the scallops and grits and it was tasty. My friend had the salmon (also good) and husband had crab mac n cheese (delish). The only thing that wasn't awesome was the service. Can the server be a bit more friendly? courteous? attentive? Our server tried to take my friend's plate away as she was still eating off of it. Rude. We'll return for the food but the service can use some extra TLC.
(3)Jessica H.
Nothing but good food here. They have the best Mac and cheese in all of Washtenaw County and also the best salads in Ypsilanti. Also their chef is super cute.
(5)Sam G.
I still can't figure out why, after a couple years, I don't put Bona Sera on my map of consistently dined-at places. But here are some theories: Even though the interior is rich with windows, lighting, and some warm decoration, the space still always feels empty to me - partly because I've never been here with more than one or two tables filled, and partly because the sound just echoes around and isn't quite designed out. The menu has good looking things on it, ranging from comfort food (I admit the chicken and grits are really luxurious and delicious) to health food (the kale salad has a tasty garlic dressing), the portions and prices fluctuate as does the food quality. As an example, the brownie with gelato will run you $10 and comes with two large scoops of gelato on a giant, very hard and dense 'slice' of brownie which is about the size of a giant pizza slice. Even for sharing it was totally overwhelming and the flavors/textures were not pleasant. I always get the impression that nothing is fixed. You would think that a big ol' pomo like myself would love that (it's all in flux, maaaaan), but I just can't seem to set my roots down. I never know what the hours are and I never know what they have to offer (do they have fresh veggie/fruit juices anymore? they do not. Do they have tea and coffee? Yes, but no one is trained as a barista. Do they have booze? Maybe?). And I just can't pin down the identity of the place. Nothing is bad here, it just doesn't grab me. That doesn't mean I won't keep trying to 'get it.'
(3)Sarah L.
First time visit after the color run so randomly came here. The lunch buffet, albeit pricey ($15), is justified due to the quality of the selection (hand carved lamb!?! And build your own bloody mary's). Loved the fluffy soft blueberry pancakes and fresh fruit salads. Beautiful:funky:spacious atmosphere with friendly and fast staff. Our water and coffee was refilled several times before we even considered it. Would come again.
(4)Darin L.
Read a lot of good reviews so my date and I decided to try it for lunch. That was a mistake. Ordered the Shrimp and Grits (large). OK, so I've lived in a number of places down South and have tried a lot of shrimp and grits. Maybe my expectations were too high, but this stuff was inedible. You get a small bowl of grits with overly mushy caramelized onions mixed in and topped with two small shrimp. There was essentially NO flavor in the dish outside of some balsamic vinegar drizzled on top of everything. Frankly, this stuff was terrible. Oh, and it was $12! Outrageous. My date had the Bacon Mac...she stated it was "bland". She ate a good bit of it, but it wasn't good enough for us to take the leftovers home. Don't ask about the "service"...it doesn't exist. The reviews here about that are accurate. Atmosphere is really nice and might be a good place for a slow, leisurely breakfast, but I certainly won't be trying it.
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