Swing through town to check out Ann Arbor. Found this place via Yelp. Food is very good. My son says his pulled pork sandwich is "incredible" and my Jim Harbaugh Meatball sandwich is amazing. Great beer selection too.
(5)
Sofie T.
Great food, great drinks, great prices! The brown jug has very good munchies food-- I recommend the nachos! They also have one of the best shot menus that I have ever seen, and the specials are unbeatable. I have seen customers of all ages in here, but it is definitely a young environment. Whenever I have company in town I take them to the Brown Jug!
(5)
Jamie T.
The Reuben was really good, and at a low price ($8), and came with chips. Beer was also not expensive at all. And it was quiet. Friendly staff
(4)
Susan S.
Only rating on drink prices and customer service. The man that served my boyfriend and I was very humorous, friendly and the woman not so funny and smiley, the pear shots she made for us that were on special, tasted awful, not sure if that was her fault or if that's just a bad drink recipe. They do not split tips, so take care of each server accordingly, the bar seating was limited, very small bar but the vibes were good. I would return again for a quick drink before hitting up Pinball Pete's!
(4)
Sarrah F.
Went here for dinner with friends. It is a typical university bar with food. I got a BLT with steak fries. My sandwich was pretty big and had an ample amount of bacon. The bread was thick Texas toast. The bacon was nice and thick. It wasn't too crispy or too soft. The steak fries were okay. They were weren't amazing or bad. They do have drink specials every day so I recommend you take advantage of those.
(3)
Naveen N.
Not a place to go for food. Great place to go on football saturdays with a group of friends.
(4)
Neil P.
Have ALWAYS loved this place! Started going as soon as I turned 21 and i make sure to stop in when I make it back to AA. Great food not your typical bar food and awesome drink specials as well. Plus doesn't hurt that the owner id AWESOME! I love you Perry P!
(5)
Kathryn W.
We always visit the Brown Jug when we head up North to Tailgate for the Ohio State/Michigan Game. We have some Michigan fans in our group, so this is always a go to place. We have a large group (10+) and go after the game is over, but it's never a hard time to get seating for all of us, which is awesome! I have never eaten here, but some of our friends have and thought the food was pretty good for bar food. Always notice, that everyone there is always playing the game Quarters, which leads us to always playing as well. Always a pretty good time all around, I'm sure we will be back in 2015!
(3)
Lylian D.
This place has okay food. It's nothing special to go out of your way for, but if you are drinking here and are hungry, the food here could satisfy your drunk cravings. I've had the deep dish pizza which was mediocre at best, and the nachos were your standard buy in bulk and assemble fare. They have pretty good drink prices. It's not super cheap, but $3 shots of tequila & $14 bucks for a pitcher of Blue Moon or Angry Orchard Cider are reasonable for a Monday night. I still prefer Blue Lep though for reliving my undergrad years.
(3)
Jill B.
Great pizza, quick and friendly service. Decent prices. A must for any Michigan fan...there's memorabilia everywhere!! Will definitely go again!
(5)
Michael S.
I don't come here during the heavy use times, so I rate service and atmosphere pretty high. They have a nice draft beer selection and an even nice liquor selection. The food is pretty good. I've come to like the Santa Fe Chicken Salad. It's very tasty and plentiful. The standouts here are the prices. The drink specials are pretty nice and you're not going to go broke paying for the food. It's better than most places in this area, which is nothing to sneeze at.
(4)
Russ H.
This is ground zero for U of M Wolverine fans. Great burgers, and a good menu. I have been on days where it's empty. The service is good and the staff friendly. If you go on a weekend, it is a college bar, but still good. And if you go on a Michigan Game night (especially football) then it is a zoo, but this great staff holds it together and the food is still good, though the place can be loud during game times. But it is known for being the premier UofM sports bar, so that is not at all surprising. I have been many times and will go again whenever I am in Ann Arbor.
(4)
Timothy W.
I have never posted a review on yelp before, but I thought the server that we had today warranted a great review. Vicky was the most competent server I have witnessed on the job in some time. My wife and I watched as the the usual game day chaos happened...she handled it like a true professional. She was calm, collected, through, and most of all, patient. We watched as a few drunken college kids loitered around taking up 2 of her 5 tables for over an hour without ordering a thing...therefore tipping nothing. ..all during an after-game rush with a line out the door/wait-list. She didn't skip a beat and her demeanor never wavered. Nothing but smiles and good service! We'll be back, and we'll definitely request Vicki's section!
(5)
Paige M.
Food's decent, prices are decent, and the drink specials are pretty good. I mean, by no means is it the best food I've ever had, but it's about what you'd expect at a bar like this. That right there would be a four star review, but I'm going with a solid three based on the less than stellar service here. I've been here twice, both times with very few other people in the bar. So you'd expect service to be pretty good, right? The first time, it wasn't too bad; maybe a little slow, but nothing to write home about. The second time, our waitress just could not get our bills right. Somebody else had taken our food orders, so that could understandably lead to some confusion. But she came over to us afterwards to match up our food orders with our drinks. That looked pretty promising. It wasn't. Our drinks were spread out randomly across the bills. Only one of the six of us had their bill right. When she came back, we explained where everything should be, even wrote it on the receipts, but when she came back with our cards, there were still plenty of mistakes. We tried once more to correct it, and things looked right. But when the charge hit my bank account, it was $2 higher than it should have been. I'm not gonna make a scene over $2, but that definitely hurt my chances of ever going back. Also, I don't care for the fact that they put your entire credit card number on the bill...
(3)
Andi H.
I'm writing a review based on a visit for drinks only (no food) on a weeknight. Price - 5 stars $3 well drinks. Seriously, can't think of a cheaper bar in an equitably busy area. Service - 4 stars Friendly, attentive bartenders. Decent beer selection and obviously full bar/liquor. Atmosphere - 4 stars It was quite lively even though they were half empty on a cold weeknight. Enough TV's to follow whatever games you want to watch. Overall, this is a cozy pub that I will return to next time I'm in the neighborhood.
(4)
Regina P.
Brown Jug is one of our favorite spots in Ann Arbor. Everyone is always so nice and welcoming. The saying "Come as strangers, leave as friends" is how I would describe this great, historical, sports bar. Named after the Brown Jug rivalry with Minnesota, this sports bar has photos from Michigan's great football past, offers great drink specials nightly, and food specials most days of the week. The food is good and the drinks are awesome. My favorite was the Long Island Iced Tea for $3.75 in your choice of 6 flavors. I loved the Hawaiian whereas my sister loved the Jamaican version. The only downfall to this place is that they don't sell their awesome apparel. My husband and I would have loved to purchase a Brown Jug hoodie, t-shirt, and hat but they were not for sale. Great spot to hang and watch some games! :)
(4)
Emily L.
I love, love, love The Jug! The drink specials cannot be beat, and the food is great! Try the pizza or the feisty feta dip, those are definitely my favorite. Also, Sunday night karaoke night is a blast, and Miller Lite pitchers are only $5!!
(5)
Clementine C.
As a Charley's loyalist, I still love a drink at the Jug, here's why: Pros: FOOD - greek twist is nice, and their salads and fried food are really good PATIO - small, but they have TVs for sports and you can see your friends and enjoy booze in the nice A2 weather DRINKS - sometimes their specials are worthwhile; interesting Long Islands, better beer selection than Chuck's DAYTIME library - empty during the day pretty much, so you can have a beer and do some schoolwork Cons: LOUD! Their acoustics are unfortunate. SERVICE - often very slow service; they're understaffed often Their thing is the hockey team...
(3)
Mansi S.
I wana start by saying that this place is Juz AMPLIFIED in terms of NOISE!!!! Super duper noisy. College crowd of course!! Food is good..we tried chicken kebabs, jalapeño poppers and chicken quesdillas... Service tends to be slow during busy times...not bad if u want the bang for your money. Will go again.
(4)
Sara L.
My coworker and I just ate there for lunch. We walked in and no one was there to seats us after waiting a while we grabbed a menu and sat ourselves. It was my first time eating here and never will return. If I could id give it no stars. We waited and the waiter finally came so we ordered everything together drinks and food. Waited for our food to come and then saw our food be given to another table who came after us. I asked the waiter where our food was and he said a mixup happened. We got no apology from the waiter or the manager. Instead the waiter and manager apologized to the other table. As we watched another table eat our food. We spent more time waiting then eating and ended up having to box our food.
(1)
Dominique K.
We stopped by here on a Wednesday for lunch after seeing a line out the door at the sandwich chain across the street...so I can only speak for a weekday lunch experience. The Jug was pretty quiet that day, which suited us fine as we were looking for a quick lunch. Waiter was attentive and mentioned that is was half-off pizza day, so pizza it was for us. He recommended the thin crust pizza when we asked, and it ended up being a nice choice. We got our pizza quickly, it was hot, and it was pretty tasty. A small pizza w/ mushrooms, black olives and ham, accompanied by ice water, set us back less than $8 (plus a pretty good tip). U of M fans will love the UofM sports themed decor at this legendary A2 watering hole...and many of them probably spent many hours here if they spent any time at all in A2 :)
(3)
Melissah L.
I went here after my final exams for some greasy, delicious bar food. And that is exactly what I got. The Brown Jug is your typical college bar but with better food. I got the french dip, (which was actually like a cheesesteak with au jus, but still oh-so-good) with Jug fries (don't get these, go for the waffle fries or onion rings instead). My boyfriend got a quesadilla, and then told me that it was definitely one of the top 5 most satisfying meals of his life. Yeah. Eat here when you're in the mood for a burger and a couple beers. Delish.
(3)
Ryan B.
Booths are great for catching drinks and eats with friends, but not good place to talk. A lil loud (surprisingly on a Friday at 7PM), but I like the comfortably atmosphere and the attractive waitstaff. Average bar, average atmosphere, A-Ok.
(3)
Geno G.
Nice to know that not doing anything wrong to a bartender (KTMac) means nothing here since I was singled out at The Brown Jug last night. Even the manager (Stacey) doesn't want to believe my side of what happened. That's fine and all, but if you don't want to believe that one of your "employees" threatened to punch me without being provoked, then not only I'll never go back there, but I'll spread the word out to others about your "restaurant". And yes, there were two people who saw what happened and thought it was weird for her to do that.
(1)
Regis W.
The Brown Jug is exactly what you would expect in South U, solid beers on tap and great bar food. If you don't have tickets to the game, head to Jug and there are sure to be a bunch of people there to watch. I will admit that sometimes it gets a little crazy in there and Jug seems hesitant to kick the real drunkards out, so be prepared for shenanigans on game days or St Patrick's Day or... Fridays.
(4)
Kelly E.
Of the bars on South U, this is my favorite. But I say that as a twenty-something, not an undergrad. It's more subdued than a lot of bars on U. It is not, however, empty or quiet. You will need to yell to talk to people. Snag a table if you can, and crowd in. It's much preferrable to standing shoulder to shoulder at the bar area. They have good beers (I like their Red) and plenty of TVs for game watching. While this place is a favorite of mine in the area, it is not worth waiting in a long line. On game days, the line can be down the block. One-out-one-in. Actually, all of South U can get those huge lines on gameday (alumni wanting to relive their college days?). In no world are these bars worth an hour wait.
(3)
Laura C.
I have been a few times and always enjoy myself! In the summer, they set up flat screens outside so we could enjoy the Olympics, and this past weekend, we brought some friends who were visiting from Chicago so they could feel the true college vibe without waiting in a line as long as Blue Leprechaun or Charley's. We sat at the bar, got great service and very well-priced drinks, especially compared to Main St. prices. Brown Jug is not fancy by any means, and I think they could do a better job optimizing their bar/restaurant space, but overall, it is a fun place for a college vibe on a college budget! :)
(4)
Patrick T.
The food is meh, but it's good drinks and good times.
(3)
Phx A.
Quick details: sub-par food, horrendous service, decently priced food, cool environment. We were there on a Saturday and were seated right away. Waitress took our drink orders and food orders while we enjoyed looking at everything on the walls. Soon we were out of things to look at and were waiting for refills. Another waitress took care of this as our waitress couldn't be found. Our waitress told us that it shouldn't be long for our food. While we continued to wait, we noticed a table near us that had arrived after us getting their food. We finally flagged down our waitress and she asked how we were doing. We said okay, other than the fact that we were still waiting for our food. Continuing to wait, we noticed a table that had arrived after us had finished their meal, cleared out, and another party was seated and had received their food! Our food finally did arrive, some of it cold and some of it not as ordered. Our waitress never apologized for the delay but did take care of the mistake in less than 5 minutes. While we ate our food, we waited for (and never got) refills. We finally got our check which was more difficult than it should have been. That all being said, I've been there once prior for drinks. The drinks were cheaply priced and service at the bar was just fine. This last experience was bad enough though, that I won't being going there again, even if it is just for drinks.
(1)
Jessica W.
Brown Jug seems to be one of the only bars (if not the only bar) on S. University that doesn't make me feel ancient for my 24 years. It seems to attract a more mature crowd. Still, don't go to expecting to have a conversation with friends -- you can barely hear a word in there over the TVs, music, and other people. Last time I was in there I scored a free shot of Lime SoCo from the brand reps, but usually I'm all about the beer. The Red is really good. Their selection isn't as spectacular as Ashley's, but it's a lot closer, and that matters when it's cold outside. The food is okay, but nothing to look forward to. Avoid the chips (tasted stale) and salsa (tasted like it was straight out a jar). Go for the wings if you like wings, but be prepared for the epic mess that accompanies them.
(4)
Dancing T.
It seems as if the ginger bread man shot a load of his secret sauce into the barbecue sauce. It might be okay for human consumption if BJ cut out the ginger and added more vinegar. The SW salad is anything but -- it's a couple lonely tortilla chips lined around a bed of lettuce and overly cooked reheated chicken strips. Great for drinks, not for food. Subpar bar food.
(1)
Beck E.
I only come here for food, and it's pretty good. The service is usually friendly, and at night, Bacardi promo girls often show up and give you free stuff (mini flashlights, shirts, hats, shots). Yay!
(3)
Alice C.
I actually came here with my little bro for a late dinner on a Thursday, so consider this review a sober (read: fairly reliable) account of the food. If you're getting food, try the Feisty Feta & Greek pita bread. The dip was fantastic, and the pita was actually pretty good, as opposed to being thrown in a basket straight from the bag o' pita that someone bought on sale at the nearest grocery store. I made the mistake of ordering a salad, and ended up eying my brother's BLT sandwich the whole time. SO. MUCH. BACON. And thick bacon too--none of that wimpy Oscar Mayer crap. So bottom line--if you're getting food from the Brown Jug, get the feta dip and a BLT. You'll enjoy it, even sober. :)
(4)
Eric B.
At some point in my senior year of college, I moved my post studying/south u drinking from Charleys to the Brown Jug. I've always found service friendly and attentive. I like the menu and it is more extensive and better quality than the bar food at any of the other South U bars. Great place to sit at a table and drink
(4)
Elsbeth S.
Every time I eat there I try something new. They have such a fun menu that it just makes you want to try new things. It isn't meant to be a culinary explosion in your mouth it is meant to be yum and hit the spot. I would say it does just that with a nice tall glass of beer or one of their fun shots!
(4)
Shelly M.
Great place to sit on the patio for a beer and such. Love the olive pate.
(3)
MaryEllen F.
I met my first love in this bar. It was Leinenkugel Red Lager. Paired with Hawaiian pizza, it is a wonderful combination. If I recall correctly, ths is the first time I had a decent beer in my life. Yes, I led a sheltered life. Before this, it was all Beast and Natural Life. This Red Lager opened my eyes to the wonders of beer. Thank you Brown Jug!
(5)
Clare G.
Although i now live much further from south u, I still have many fond memories of coming here as well as working here Thursday nights before home football game days. I must say the weekly coupons in the Ann Arbor fliers have kept me coming this fall with a friend to enjoy a reasonable dinner or happy hour meal. (Referring to the buy an entree, get another half off). i believe when we came on a Monday at 7 the deal was buy one app, get one free. For vegetarians out there, the feisty feta app is unique, and tastes just like it sounds - feta with a spicy kick which is served with pita bread. My vegan also got the baba ghannouj app which looked good. I have usually had good waitresses with the exception of one who was slow after a game that after waiting more than 10 minutes just for waters (I thought I learned in my waitressing days to have them on the table and greet the customer within 2 minutes), we had to leave. Make sure to come in Thursday nights 930-1030ish for $2 Miller specials and free giveaways from yours truly!
(4)
Clarence C.
The Brown Jug is thick with undergrads drinking pitchers of beer. It's not that there's anything special about the food or the beer, it just happens to be on South University, and students have been drinking pitchers of beer at the Brown Jug since your grandfather's day. Don't go to the Brown Jug when you're hungry. Go when you're thirsty, and stay until you get hungry. The name of the restaurant refers to The Little Brown Jug, one of the sweetest trophies in college football, which started out as a water jug for the Michigan Wolverines. It was left behind on the field after a 1903 game against the Minnesota Gophers, and when athletic director Fielding Yost asked for the jug, his counterpart in Minnesota told him he'd have to win it back. In retrospect, the boldness of Minnesota's athletic director may not have been well-advised. Michigan now has a record of 65-22-3 against the Gophers. I've heard that winning the jug is a lot more important to Michigan players than the supposed rivalry with MSU, which I suspect exists only in the minds of East Lansing residents. To find out more about the jug, go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li… . To get your own brown jug, go to South U with a bunch of your undergrad buddies and remember to take your rent money with you.
(4)
Jerry K.
Here's the deal with the Jug: * It is not trying to be a nice, classy bar - so don't get upset when it isn't * It isn't trying to have the best food - it wants you to be able to afford it * It is intended to be a dingy, crowded PUB, and pulls it off quite nicely. ...I think that should cancel out about 75% of the negative reviews I've read on this board - you people really should be on Main Street, not South University. Hating the Jug for it's grassroots, egoless, and dingy atmosphere is like getting pissed at your garbage man for not wearing a tuxedo. You were at the wrong bar, and that is your fault, not their's. With that said, I have had a lot of great times at the Jug throughout college and afterward, especially in the summer when you can get a seat. The WAITstaff is phenomenal, attentive, and friendly -they deserve five stars. The bartenders and doormen, on the other hand, are total nob jobs, and the reason I am dropping my score to a three. Here's the deal with being a doorman at a dive/college bar: * You are not working at a nice club * Your clients are not out for a spectacular, involved night on the town. Because you are guarding the gate to something mediocre, your role itself is mediocre. You should remember that and not overstep your bounds. * Piggybacking on that, you aren't allowed to be a prick. Asshole bouncers are expected at four and five star clubs because they are exclusive and unavoidable, just like pompous asshole chefs are expected at four and five star restaurants. How silly would it be to complain about your eggs to the short order cook at Denny's only for him to insult your pallet in return? Same deal. I say this because on multiple different incidents, the bouncers at the Jug have completely betrayed it's homey, blue jeans-and-a-t-shirt atmosphere and apparently mistook their door for a swanky club on the Jersey Shore. *Situation One: 30 something Guido Doorman requests Bribe* Thist was this weekend (December 2009) when at closing time, the guido bouncer let a group of six girls in ahead of my girlfriend's friend and her two guy friends. When confronted, he gave a cheesedick smile and said "you've got too many guys." When my girlfriend replied "and you are the Brown Jug, no one is getting laid anyway," he got a little frowny, and then LITERALLY SAID "maybe if you give me $15 I'll change my mind." It was fucking incredible, like being offered into the VIP room at a Waffle House, and we all laughed in his face. A bribe to get into the Brown Jug! *Situation Two: Meat Head Bouncer needs Persuasion by Cop* Last summer, my friend Casey offered his legitimate Wisconsin ID, only to have the bouncer tell him it was a fake. He calmly explained that it wasn't a fake, and the bouncer told him if he didn't leave he was going to take it and call the police. Casey said "fine." Rather than acknowledge the fact that a minor with a fake ID probably wouldn't call that bluff, the bouncer took the ID THEN REFUSED TO CALL THE POLICE! Casey ultimately did, with the officer arriving, scolding the bouncer, giving Case his ID back, and allowing him in the bar. He never apologized, never sent a free drink. All in all, it took 45 minutes for Casey to get into the bar on an empty summer night.
(3)
Eric G.
SO I don't know how I have never been here living in this town for a few years. I guess there are other places I spend time when I am downtown (ashleys, blue lep, griz peaks etc) We came on in for a few drinks. They have a decent brew selection and have Bells 2 Hearted Ale on tap which works out for me. I got the Saganek Fried Cheese and it was great. But I mean, how can you go wrong with fried cheese right? Also tried the pizza and it was very good. A bit surprising for a little dive like this. All in all, good times and I will come back next time im out that way.
(3)
Nick H.
I've come to realize something. I think many on Yelp (wrongly) only determine how to rate a place and their experience based solely on what they wanted it to be. Many don't consider the culture - or what the owners, employees, other clients, surroundings, history, etc. are trying to create as an experience at a destination. I just wanted to say that to explain my rating because people too often forget these other considerations. And I think it's a shame. So - Brown Jug. College bar: 5 Stars! I love it! Do I love it for a date, to take my family out for a family meal or for a power brunch with coworkers? No. But, without a doubt, it is the quintessential college undergrad bar. If you don't love college undergrad bars - simply don't go! This is Big Ten college bar central. Too many people, not enough space, but I swear to God, the servers are fantastic and work their butts off for you and your table. Prices are more than reasonable, even down right cheap. And I'm from the Midwest. You can buy fries and a pitcher of Miller for less than a Big Mac and Diet Coke. I will say, it's a legit place in the summer to have a big all American lunch outdoors. The Jug is, for many a great starting point for the night. For many others, it's a great 'middle ground' until you figure out where everyone wants to really go place. And for many more, it's a great end of the night place. For some, it's an "We stopped by the Jug? Really?!" or "I was there ALL NIGHT?! I thought I was studying" place. What I'm getting at is it's transcient. The scene, while college, is always moving. Again, it's a college scene but without most of the pretentious or obnoxious people you find at ... oh...Rick's. It's not Greek central, it's not nerdville - it's college students out with friends to just have a good time. I could go there, have good bar food, drink for cheap, and have fun. And, if I got bored with our fun, I'd go flop into another booth or strike up a conversation with random others who were just having their own fun too.
(5)
Eric M.
Two words... projectile vomiting. :) Ok - so it might've been the fact that I ate the entire fried sampler on my own (damn friends that wouldn't help)... Or, maybe my friends knew something I didn't. Anyway, talk about a bad experience, and despite the fact that my single star rating might be unfair, I have trouble even writing this without the memory of the taste of the Vomit Comet. So, forgive me.
(1)
Andrew P.
I would have my mail delivered here college if they would have let me. I have many memorable and "un-rememberable" nights here. This was basically my Cheers when I was in school. Pay attention to the names on the menus being named after great wolverines of yesteryear. I just realized my yelp picture is actually a picture of me at the Jug.
(5)
Byoung Kyu S.
Spent many a nights at the Brown Jug. Unlike many of the other joints, this place kept it's "old" feel which makes it nostalgic. Food is average but the Brown Jug is more a place to hang out and chill than for eating.
(4)
Dallas K.
Now about that pizza ... We had a hand-tossed traditional pie with pepperoni, bacon, scallions and hot pepper rings. Well cooked, with well-seasoned sauce and good carmelization on the topping and cheese. Crust was slightly greasy but not overly so (I mean that affectionately--it was the "just right" amount of sheen on the crust). The pepperoni was thin but tasty, and I'm not sure if it was the bacon or the pepperoni, but something gave the overall package a pleasant smoky aura. The hand-tossed crust was firm but chewy with a pleasant crackle as we bit into it--and was also quite tasty. The presence of things like scallions and gyro meat on the toppings list were noticeable and appreciated--the list of toppings overall was comprehensive and accommodating. We also had the surprise of the night we ate (it was a Tuesday night in late november) being "half off pizza" day. We had two pints of beer and a 4-topping 14" hand tossed pie for $14 out the door--not bad. In addition to the pies, they offer a dizzying array of menu options--typical bar fare and then some (this is a hybrid bar/restaurant, and whether the bar or restaurant is the more prominent aspect probably depends on the day and crowd). The shot list alone took up a full single-spaced 8 1/2x11"-ish laminated drink menu, though sadly the tap beer options were far less ambitious A couple of things that could have improved the experience would have included the pie reaching the table hot. It got to us fast--so fast it was confusing how it had been provided enough time to cool from what presumably was originally "piping" to the "merely warm" state it reached us in. Not really a huge problem--we were hungry and it was tasty. The server disappeared after we were done eating, and couldn't answer some simple questions about the food (e.g., Is the gyro meat fresh, cooked on a spit here, or re-heated from a package?). Considering how empty the place was, non-returning server bit was confusing. We had already been asked if we needed anything else a few times and our table had been cleared. All minor trifles; I'd go back for pizza any day (I may insist the pie reach me hot, though--hey, it's pizza, it goes without saying!).
(4)
Justin G.
This place is great for conversation, and the food is pretty good. I have spent plenty of time at this place hanging out with friends enjoying many pitchers of beer.
(3)
Jennifer S.
The Brown Jug is my absolute FAVORITE spot on campus. They have amazing food (veggie pizza mmmmmmm) and the best drinks ever! They have a menu of about 10 different long island iced teas of which the green dinosaur is the most popular amongst my friends and I. I can't tell you how many nights we spent there just sitting at a table in the back eating food and ordering drinks. It's not a dancy kind of place but if you're looking for a neighborhood joint where you can grab a table and plunk down for the night it's the BEST!
(5)
Sarah M.
My opinion of this bar has diminished over the last couple of years, hence its lower rating. I used to love coming to the Jug for a couple of pitchers of beer and quarters with my friends. It had a great "reputation" with students for being more of a chill bar. It was nice to go to in the summer and sit in their (limited) outdoor seating. When Charley's was closed, it was a great place to come for 21st birthdays as they have a wide variety of decent shots. I don't know if it's because they turned Touchdowns into Blue Lep, or because Charley's changed management and stopped sucking, but its reputation is...well, not good now. The last two times I have been there...oh boy. Interesante. 1. There was a fight in the men's bathroom, which resulted in someone getting his face smashed into the toilet and flooding of part of the bathroom area because the toilet literally came off of the ground. The cops were called, and it was kind of funny to watch 3 cops make their way through the narrow back part and then escort this guy out. The bouncers definitely made their money's worth that night. 2. Michigan-OSU weekend 09. It's busy, I get it. You're dealing with drunks, I get it. We sat down at our table and were waiting for about 10 minutes for our waitress to show up. Eventually, my friend (who wasn't from the area) had to pee and I pointed her back to the bathrooms. They only have two bathrooms, which sucks. Both were in use...for a long time. I'm talking like 5 minutes here. My friend, who was getting a bit impatient, knocked on both of the doors. One opened and the girl said, "Hang on ONE FUCKING second, ok?" and stormed off. Guess what? She ended up being our waitress. That kind of ended up being an awkward night. She gave us pretty bad service, but we had friends at another one of her tables who said she was pretty awful. Maybe she was just having a bad day... On another note, the bartenders are great and pretty attentive, and don't do the "ignore all guys and only serve the girls no matter how long they've been standing there" thing. The service can be really slow sometimes, but that's only because the servers have to make their way through the crowds with everyone's drinks. The bouncers can be kind of douchey sometimes, but what bouncer for a South U bar isn't power tripping? Their food is decent, I've had a burger there before and thought it was pretty good. Their fries are also good. They have pretty good happy hour specials that run late enough (9-10pm) to where you can get drunk there and then head right to another bar to continue your night.
(3)
Sean G.
Cheap drinks & great pizza.
(5)
James C.
Long islands there were killer.....the place is tiny and the outside patio was small too. Fun college bar .....if you are in college still.
(2)
Amanda Z.
My husband and I went in for lunch during the holiday (students were gone) so we found a seat very quickly. I ordered the chicken pesto pasta, and when it came, it was so bland that I couldn't even eat it. It was just oily and had a TON of basil, but it seemed like there was no parmesan or garlic in it at all. Even the "garlic bread" tasted like cardboard and seemed to have no garlic on it either. When the waiter came to check on us and asked how our food was, I very politely told him that it wasn't very good and very bland... he apologized, but didn't offer to fix it. Then he asked me if I wanted him to box it up for me! I declined, and he brought us the bill, and STILL CHARGED US FOR IT. Never again will I go to this hole. YUCK.
(1)
Brad S.
Loved it. Was looking for a college bar to watch monday night football a few years ago, and found this one. I still remember it to this day. The beer was great, the service was good, it wasn't packed but there were people to mingle with. Seems like it has turned into a more rowdy place than before, but I will always remember it and if I'm ever in Ann Arbor for any reason would love to return and see this place again.
(4)
F J.
Crowded, non-existent service, too loud to hear anything more than 3 feet away, smoke-filled, plenty of recognizable faces (especially the ones you'd never expect to see), pee troughs & vomit in the bathrooms, great drink specials, frat boy crowd and frat boy music, constant football on TV, crappy bar food, busty servers, and the occasional odd-ball townie. Good ol' college bar. Unfortunately I do remember encountering plenty of d-bags here, and people who just seemed to be dressed up way too nice considering it was the Jug. But the memories save this place... that time we met the trio of cute deaf girls, or recorded people outside asking them to tell jokes, or caught up with that guy from high school working the door... Unfortunately, nostalgia is the past for a reason. For some of us it's hard to stay in those moments, and people just seem to outgrow the Jug. But it's definitely a must if you want that college bar scene.
(3)
David M.
I think the Brown Jug is a little overrated, personally. It's near campus and has become one of this town's college bar staples, but there are better places in town to drink. It's too trashy to be nice, but not trashy enough to be Charley's. The food, however, is a little underrated in my opinion, and I would definitely come here with friends for dinner before I'd come here with friends for drinks (of course there's nothing wrong with combining the two). So overall, this place gets a 4, as I've had many good times here with family and friends. EDIT: The men's bathroom here sucks though. I hate trough urinals. No separation wall? Come on, I don't want to end up in an accidental sword fight here. But it doesn't come up that often.
(4)
Bailey Y.
The service is HORRIBLE. They illegally charges me 20% in tips that they did not deserve, and threatened to call the cops on my friends and I for not giving them enough tips.
(1)
Sunil S.
Great bar, come here on Thursday nights for great drink specials before going to Rick's. Lots of great U-M memorabilia inside the restaurant, limited outdoor patio seating available but also great spot on South U.
(4)
Rochelle P.
5 stars is for having an awesome bartender (I forgot her name though) who can mix drinks/shots with the best of them. My friend was in town from Nebraska and wanted to see the bar scene around town. I think we hit up just about every place. We ended up falling in love with the Jug. It doesn't look like much but we felt like we were back home and when you've been away from home for 3 years, that's a great feeling. The bartender was very friendly and suggested shots (although the menu was so extensive she didn't even need to). It was just a great night overall. My husband did have the wings and said they were very good! I tried them and they were a bit too hot for me to enjoy actually eating them (strange becuase I can ususally handle the heat).
(5)
Ayesha S.
I've been to the Brown Jug a handful of times, but was recently there and had plans to grab dinner as well as drinks. The menu is huge, so you think that they've got to be doing something right, but unfortunately this wasn't the case. I ordered the chicken gyro pita with waffle fries. The waffle fries were pretty good, but the chicken gyro was below average. I also ordered a lime margarita in my silly haze which ended up being pretty weak and insufficient. I moved to drinking out of the many pitches that had somehow landed on the table I was sitting at- cheap, basic beer. The Brown Jug seems like a great place for undergrad's to hang out as the location is pretty awesome. I also appreciate that they have a unique story and have stood the test of time (one star). I'm just not sure that I'd ever suggest this place if I were in a situation where I got to make the actual decision, although they do have a full bar and I'm not so ridiculous that I wouldn't be able to find something to hydrate with (two stars).
(2)
Bonnie L.
I'm pretty disappointed with this establishment. I lived very close to this place for a year and only wound up there a handful of times. I found the food tolerable until a chicken finger gave me a second-degree burn on my lip. Their deep dish pizza leaves much to be desired- it's basically two-inch thick bread with light tomato sauce and cheese, and it's way too dry. What they do well: cold draft beer, and to a lesser extent, french toast. The main reason why I gave them one star: twice I went there and they were not open during posted hours. Sure, it's 11:00 in the morning on a weekend, but your website and the sign posted on your door says you're open, so you better be. That kind of thing is pretty unacceptable to me, even if this place is supposed to be first and foremost a bar.
(1)
Julie C.
This is a good place to play quarters or to split a pitcher. The waffle fries are also really good.
(3)
Margaret C.
The Brown Jug is basically an Ann Arbor legend - if you can't understand it, then you probably don't know much about Ann Arbor. I love this place, especially to meet up with all of my friends from home. And the beers are cheap. I have had plenty of great nights here, and getting a drink is never too hard despite how packed it can be. Oh yeah, and I met my future husband here. Ha! :)
(4)
Lisa W.
The Brown Jug was at one point my spot of preference to watch sporting events, mainly the Pistons or soccer. They have amazing outdoor seating that includes flatscreen TVs. That is a wonderful, beautiful thing. I don't know if they have the same bartenders, but they always knew how to pour a great Guinness, and when Guinness was on special, it made me happy. They have a great happy hour, also. And smoking (though I no longer smoke). The food here is mostly miss, but you're safe with a cheese omlette. One very impressive thing on their menu, however, is the chef salad which is huge and is nicely prepared. It's perfect with a beer for a long game and won't weigh you down. I also love the crowds during important games, they're rowdy just like me, and I don't have to feel like the annoying ass-clown who screams at a TV all by myself. They do have a shot here which involves mayonnaise. I've asked about it and they said that it usually gets ordered for birthdays, but then people find out that they like it and order it again. There's something weird to look into.
(4)
Parisa K.
This place is an Ann Arbor tradition, from it's pre-game crowd, to its late night crowds, to its name even. For those of you who don't know about it, the Little Brown Jug is one of the oldest college football trophies, going to the winner of the Michigan-Minnesota game (I mean it pretty much lives in Ann Arbor because we always win it). What this place serves is good cold drinks and warm greasy food. My favorite item on the menu is this spicy feta dip. It's so incredibly good that anyone who's ever had it knows exactly what you are talking about when you mention spicy feta dip at the Jug. If you are of drinking age, the Brown Jug turns into a fun hang out bar, where you can choose to either sit back and relax at a table with friends or wander around as a social butterfly, whichever suits you more. Whether you are looking for food or drink, this place you will give you a genuine Ann Arbor experience.
(4)
kristen g.
I walked in the door and the kid behind me said "My, this is.....sporty...." He was right. The tv's, more frequent than a starbucks in a big city....were blaring any and every different sports game that could be found. The food was just ok...The wait staff was awesome, however. Our waitress was great, our friend that worked there took care of us....it wasnt a total loss. just kind of...
(3)
Erik H.
My girlfriend, father and I went to Brown Jug when we were walking around downtown the other weekend. I hadn't been there since I was a kid and my Dad got all sentimental about sharing a pizza like the old days so we stopped in. It was cleaner than I remember it being years ago. We got a booth by the widow for prime people watching during dinner. I was going to try a drink or two but their nightly drink specials didn't start until later so I passed. We ended up getting a large meat lover's pizza and breadsticks. The breadsticks were decent enough but I'm not sure I'd recommend them. The pizza was pretty decent. One thing of note is that it is made with cheddar cheese instead of mozzarella. I thought it was OK but my Dad was not too fond of it. It was certainly no Cottage Inn on the other side of town. Our server seemed more concerned with talking to some friends in a booth behind us so our service wasn't that great. In the end it was an average meal. I think in the end there are many other restaurants in town I would go to instead.
(2)
Hana S.
Perfect college pub: laid back atmosphere, good drinks with unexpected variety, and comfort food, all at an economical price. I'm envious of UM students, since I had no such place to frequent where I went to school. Also, my grandparents met there in the 40's, which is pretty cool.
(4)
Akilah W.
This place is okay. The Long Islands being an exception, the drinks here are weak.
(2)
Cyn C.
if you're drunk and poor, by all means, go to the Brown Jug. If you are coherent at all, you'll want to avoid this place. It's dingy and dirty... making whatever they're serving completely unappetizing.
(2)
John R.
How I miss the ol' Brown Jug. Nothing like 2am cheese nachos as brain food while cramming for an exam. And their bottomless cups of coffee in those age old brown ceramic mugs, you could drop one of those from a second story window and it wouldn't smash - of course, it only held about 6 ounces, but that's another story.
(4)
Jason P.
This place is dirty and full of smoke. The bathrooms have the wonderful large tub as their urinals. The seating is first come first serve, meaning that you just have to stand next to a table ready to pounce on it as soon as the people leave. Then I ordered 'pizza" It was not good and they ran out of spinach, so I went with mushrooms of the canned variety. I am definately a pizza snob, and this was far from being up to standards. Also, they did not have the HD cable package for the sports. That is pretty ridiculous.
(1)
Joseph D.
Me and my roommates used to eat in the BJ when it was a white formica table place back in 65/66 when we among the first wave of tennants of University Towers in the fall of 65. Liked it back then enjoyed it last Thursday night in its fancier decor and liquor licence. Enjoyed the pale ale and the hamburger with grilled onions--a 60s favorite--was good, medium could have been a little less cooked. The waitress listened politely to my recounting of this past history. South U and S Forrest hasn't changed much in 45 years.
(4)
kelly w.
when i asked how the nachos were a friend said, "eh.." i should have known. but i wanted nachos. it's not really my scene (perhaps it was sporty?), but the staff there is incredibly helpful and pleasant. i can see myself going back, but an old roommate works there so that would be the pull factor.
(3)
Theresa F.
Every time I have been to the Brown Jug it's absolutely packed...and usually with undergraduates. It's rowdy and small, and I usually won't last if I'm not in the mood to be tolerable. But I will say St. Patty's was an absolute blast (green beer!)--depsite the drunken hook-ups going on all around my husband and I and all our friends (wait until you're back at your dorm!). Their cheeseburger and jug fries are surprisingly really good--will definitely order again.
(3)
Katia M.
Any time I'm in Ann Arbor, I go back here for the wings. Spicy, saucy, awesome. The beer is cold, the game is on, and you really just can't go wrong with their wings.
(5)
Coco C.
I am so confused by the Brown Jug! It looks like a crappy diner/restaurant my Great Aunt Mabel goes to every Wednesday morning, but my friends tell me it's the shiz-nit for the "undergrads" to drink at. What the hell? At any rate, they have beer and food, though neither is spectacular. I say suck it up and walk over to Main Street to get your drunk on...
(2)
Noah P.
This place is the best. Massive plasma TV's indoors and out for sporting events. The barstaff & waitresses are amaizing and really friendly... People love to hate on the Jug on this board but that is fine. It is already packed with too many people as is.
(5)
ian m.
By far!!!! Some of the the BEST pizza in town. Especially late at night. The lesser known backroom ran out of the "back room" is $1 a slice for the best five cheese pizza you'll ever find, don't even mess with toppings. As for the BAR it is what it is, a bar. If you expect great food (other than apps+pizza) from a bar with limited staff and kitchen then this isn't the place for you. go to a restaurant.
(5)
Arun C.
I stopped by for breaskfast (at 11:30) since my friend and I couldn't find any other place that was open on Sunday. What gives Ann Arbor? Maybe since school wasn't in session there might have been summer hours getting in our way. Anyway, the place was ok for breakfast. The French toast was passable, my friend's omlette was delicious she says, but my orange juice..blah! Worse than airplane oj. I didn't have a chance to check out the rest of the menu, so maybe they are better equipped for the dinner scene.
(3)
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Address :1204 S University Ave
Ann Arbor, MI, 48104
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Very Loud Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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Jack A.
Swing through town to check out Ann Arbor. Found this place via Yelp. Food is very good. My son says his pulled pork sandwich is "incredible" and my Jim Harbaugh Meatball sandwich is amazing. Great beer selection too.
(5)Sofie T.
Great food, great drinks, great prices! The brown jug has very good munchies food-- I recommend the nachos! They also have one of the best shot menus that I have ever seen, and the specials are unbeatable. I have seen customers of all ages in here, but it is definitely a young environment. Whenever I have company in town I take them to the Brown Jug!
(5)Jamie T.
The Reuben was really good, and at a low price ($8), and came with chips. Beer was also not expensive at all. And it was quiet. Friendly staff
(4)Susan S.
Only rating on drink prices and customer service. The man that served my boyfriend and I was very humorous, friendly and the woman not so funny and smiley, the pear shots she made for us that were on special, tasted awful, not sure if that was her fault or if that's just a bad drink recipe. They do not split tips, so take care of each server accordingly, the bar seating was limited, very small bar but the vibes were good. I would return again for a quick drink before hitting up Pinball Pete's!
(4)Sarrah F.
Went here for dinner with friends. It is a typical university bar with food. I got a BLT with steak fries. My sandwich was pretty big and had an ample amount of bacon. The bread was thick Texas toast. The bacon was nice and thick. It wasn't too crispy or too soft. The steak fries were okay. They were weren't amazing or bad. They do have drink specials every day so I recommend you take advantage of those.
(3)Naveen N.
Not a place to go for food. Great place to go on football saturdays with a group of friends.
(4)Neil P.
Have ALWAYS loved this place! Started going as soon as I turned 21 and i make sure to stop in when I make it back to AA. Great food not your typical bar food and awesome drink specials as well. Plus doesn't hurt that the owner id AWESOME! I love you Perry P!
(5)Kathryn W.
We always visit the Brown Jug when we head up North to Tailgate for the Ohio State/Michigan Game. We have some Michigan fans in our group, so this is always a go to place. We have a large group (10+) and go after the game is over, but it's never a hard time to get seating for all of us, which is awesome! I have never eaten here, but some of our friends have and thought the food was pretty good for bar food. Always notice, that everyone there is always playing the game Quarters, which leads us to always playing as well. Always a pretty good time all around, I'm sure we will be back in 2015!
(3)Lylian D.
This place has okay food. It's nothing special to go out of your way for, but if you are drinking here and are hungry, the food here could satisfy your drunk cravings. I've had the deep dish pizza which was mediocre at best, and the nachos were your standard buy in bulk and assemble fare. They have pretty good drink prices. It's not super cheap, but $3 shots of tequila & $14 bucks for a pitcher of Blue Moon or Angry Orchard Cider are reasonable for a Monday night. I still prefer Blue Lep though for reliving my undergrad years.
(3)Jill B.
Great pizza, quick and friendly service. Decent prices. A must for any Michigan fan...there's memorabilia everywhere!! Will definitely go again!
(5)Michael S.
I don't come here during the heavy use times, so I rate service and atmosphere pretty high. They have a nice draft beer selection and an even nice liquor selection. The food is pretty good. I've come to like the Santa Fe Chicken Salad. It's very tasty and plentiful. The standouts here are the prices. The drink specials are pretty nice and you're not going to go broke paying for the food. It's better than most places in this area, which is nothing to sneeze at.
(4)Russ H.
This is ground zero for U of M Wolverine fans. Great burgers, and a good menu. I have been on days where it's empty. The service is good and the staff friendly. If you go on a weekend, it is a college bar, but still good. And if you go on a Michigan Game night (especially football) then it is a zoo, but this great staff holds it together and the food is still good, though the place can be loud during game times. But it is known for being the premier UofM sports bar, so that is not at all surprising. I have been many times and will go again whenever I am in Ann Arbor.
(4)Timothy W.
I have never posted a review on yelp before, but I thought the server that we had today warranted a great review. Vicky was the most competent server I have witnessed on the job in some time. My wife and I watched as the the usual game day chaos happened...she handled it like a true professional. She was calm, collected, through, and most of all, patient. We watched as a few drunken college kids loitered around taking up 2 of her 5 tables for over an hour without ordering a thing...therefore tipping nothing. ..all during an after-game rush with a line out the door/wait-list. She didn't skip a beat and her demeanor never wavered. Nothing but smiles and good service! We'll be back, and we'll definitely request Vicki's section!
(5)Paige M.
Food's decent, prices are decent, and the drink specials are pretty good. I mean, by no means is it the best food I've ever had, but it's about what you'd expect at a bar like this. That right there would be a four star review, but I'm going with a solid three based on the less than stellar service here. I've been here twice, both times with very few other people in the bar. So you'd expect service to be pretty good, right? The first time, it wasn't too bad; maybe a little slow, but nothing to write home about. The second time, our waitress just could not get our bills right. Somebody else had taken our food orders, so that could understandably lead to some confusion. But she came over to us afterwards to match up our food orders with our drinks. That looked pretty promising. It wasn't. Our drinks were spread out randomly across the bills. Only one of the six of us had their bill right. When she came back, we explained where everything should be, even wrote it on the receipts, but when she came back with our cards, there were still plenty of mistakes. We tried once more to correct it, and things looked right. But when the charge hit my bank account, it was $2 higher than it should have been. I'm not gonna make a scene over $2, but that definitely hurt my chances of ever going back. Also, I don't care for the fact that they put your entire credit card number on the bill...
(3)Andi H.
I'm writing a review based on a visit for drinks only (no food) on a weeknight. Price - 5 stars $3 well drinks. Seriously, can't think of a cheaper bar in an equitably busy area. Service - 4 stars Friendly, attentive bartenders. Decent beer selection and obviously full bar/liquor. Atmosphere - 4 stars It was quite lively even though they were half empty on a cold weeknight. Enough TV's to follow whatever games you want to watch. Overall, this is a cozy pub that I will return to next time I'm in the neighborhood.
(4)Regina P.
Brown Jug is one of our favorite spots in Ann Arbor. Everyone is always so nice and welcoming. The saying "Come as strangers, leave as friends" is how I would describe this great, historical, sports bar. Named after the Brown Jug rivalry with Minnesota, this sports bar has photos from Michigan's great football past, offers great drink specials nightly, and food specials most days of the week. The food is good and the drinks are awesome. My favorite was the Long Island Iced Tea for $3.75 in your choice of 6 flavors. I loved the Hawaiian whereas my sister loved the Jamaican version. The only downfall to this place is that they don't sell their awesome apparel. My husband and I would have loved to purchase a Brown Jug hoodie, t-shirt, and hat but they were not for sale. Great spot to hang and watch some games! :)
(4)Emily L.
I love, love, love The Jug! The drink specials cannot be beat, and the food is great! Try the pizza or the feisty feta dip, those are definitely my favorite. Also, Sunday night karaoke night is a blast, and Miller Lite pitchers are only $5!!
(5)Clementine C.
As a Charley's loyalist, I still love a drink at the Jug, here's why: Pros: FOOD - greek twist is nice, and their salads and fried food are really good PATIO - small, but they have TVs for sports and you can see your friends and enjoy booze in the nice A2 weather DRINKS - sometimes their specials are worthwhile; interesting Long Islands, better beer selection than Chuck's DAYTIME library - empty during the day pretty much, so you can have a beer and do some schoolwork Cons: LOUD! Their acoustics are unfortunate. SERVICE - often very slow service; they're understaffed often Their thing is the hockey team...
(3)Mansi S.
I wana start by saying that this place is Juz AMPLIFIED in terms of NOISE!!!! Super duper noisy. College crowd of course!! Food is good..we tried chicken kebabs, jalapeño poppers and chicken quesdillas... Service tends to be slow during busy times...not bad if u want the bang for your money. Will go again.
(4)Sara L.
My coworker and I just ate there for lunch. We walked in and no one was there to seats us after waiting a while we grabbed a menu and sat ourselves. It was my first time eating here and never will return. If I could id give it no stars. We waited and the waiter finally came so we ordered everything together drinks and food. Waited for our food to come and then saw our food be given to another table who came after us. I asked the waiter where our food was and he said a mixup happened. We got no apology from the waiter or the manager. Instead the waiter and manager apologized to the other table. As we watched another table eat our food. We spent more time waiting then eating and ended up having to box our food.
(1)Dominique K.
We stopped by here on a Wednesday for lunch after seeing a line out the door at the sandwich chain across the street...so I can only speak for a weekday lunch experience. The Jug was pretty quiet that day, which suited us fine as we were looking for a quick lunch. Waiter was attentive and mentioned that is was half-off pizza day, so pizza it was for us. He recommended the thin crust pizza when we asked, and it ended up being a nice choice. We got our pizza quickly, it was hot, and it was pretty tasty. A small pizza w/ mushrooms, black olives and ham, accompanied by ice water, set us back less than $8 (plus a pretty good tip). U of M fans will love the UofM sports themed decor at this legendary A2 watering hole...and many of them probably spent many hours here if they spent any time at all in A2 :)
(3)Melissah L.
I went here after my final exams for some greasy, delicious bar food. And that is exactly what I got. The Brown Jug is your typical college bar but with better food. I got the french dip, (which was actually like a cheesesteak with au jus, but still oh-so-good) with Jug fries (don't get these, go for the waffle fries or onion rings instead). My boyfriend got a quesadilla, and then told me that it was definitely one of the top 5 most satisfying meals of his life. Yeah. Eat here when you're in the mood for a burger and a couple beers. Delish.
(3)Ryan B.
Booths are great for catching drinks and eats with friends, but not good place to talk. A lil loud (surprisingly on a Friday at 7PM), but I like the comfortably atmosphere and the attractive waitstaff. Average bar, average atmosphere, A-Ok.
(3)Geno G.
Nice to know that not doing anything wrong to a bartender (KTMac) means nothing here since I was singled out at The Brown Jug last night. Even the manager (Stacey) doesn't want to believe my side of what happened. That's fine and all, but if you don't want to believe that one of your "employees" threatened to punch me without being provoked, then not only I'll never go back there, but I'll spread the word out to others about your "restaurant". And yes, there were two people who saw what happened and thought it was weird for her to do that.
(1)Regis W.
The Brown Jug is exactly what you would expect in South U, solid beers on tap and great bar food. If you don't have tickets to the game, head to Jug and there are sure to be a bunch of people there to watch. I will admit that sometimes it gets a little crazy in there and Jug seems hesitant to kick the real drunkards out, so be prepared for shenanigans on game days or St Patrick's Day or... Fridays.
(4)Kelly E.
Of the bars on South U, this is my favorite. But I say that as a twenty-something, not an undergrad. It's more subdued than a lot of bars on U. It is not, however, empty or quiet. You will need to yell to talk to people. Snag a table if you can, and crowd in. It's much preferrable to standing shoulder to shoulder at the bar area. They have good beers (I like their Red) and plenty of TVs for game watching. While this place is a favorite of mine in the area, it is not worth waiting in a long line. On game days, the line can be down the block. One-out-one-in. Actually, all of South U can get those huge lines on gameday (alumni wanting to relive their college days?). In no world are these bars worth an hour wait.
(3)Laura C.
I have been a few times and always enjoy myself! In the summer, they set up flat screens outside so we could enjoy the Olympics, and this past weekend, we brought some friends who were visiting from Chicago so they could feel the true college vibe without waiting in a line as long as Blue Leprechaun or Charley's. We sat at the bar, got great service and very well-priced drinks, especially compared to Main St. prices. Brown Jug is not fancy by any means, and I think they could do a better job optimizing their bar/restaurant space, but overall, it is a fun place for a college vibe on a college budget! :)
(4)Patrick T.
The food is meh, but it's good drinks and good times.
(3)Phx A.
Quick details: sub-par food, horrendous service, decently priced food, cool environment. We were there on a Saturday and were seated right away. Waitress took our drink orders and food orders while we enjoyed looking at everything on the walls. Soon we were out of things to look at and were waiting for refills. Another waitress took care of this as our waitress couldn't be found. Our waitress told us that it shouldn't be long for our food. While we continued to wait, we noticed a table near us that had arrived after us getting their food. We finally flagged down our waitress and she asked how we were doing. We said okay, other than the fact that we were still waiting for our food. Continuing to wait, we noticed a table that had arrived after us had finished their meal, cleared out, and another party was seated and had received their food! Our food finally did arrive, some of it cold and some of it not as ordered. Our waitress never apologized for the delay but did take care of the mistake in less than 5 minutes. While we ate our food, we waited for (and never got) refills. We finally got our check which was more difficult than it should have been. That all being said, I've been there once prior for drinks. The drinks were cheaply priced and service at the bar was just fine. This last experience was bad enough though, that I won't being going there again, even if it is just for drinks.
(1)Jessica W.
Brown Jug seems to be one of the only bars (if not the only bar) on S. University that doesn't make me feel ancient for my 24 years. It seems to attract a more mature crowd. Still, don't go to expecting to have a conversation with friends -- you can barely hear a word in there over the TVs, music, and other people. Last time I was in there I scored a free shot of Lime SoCo from the brand reps, but usually I'm all about the beer. The Red is really good. Their selection isn't as spectacular as Ashley's, but it's a lot closer, and that matters when it's cold outside. The food is okay, but nothing to look forward to. Avoid the chips (tasted stale) and salsa (tasted like it was straight out a jar). Go for the wings if you like wings, but be prepared for the epic mess that accompanies them.
(4)Dancing T.
It seems as if the ginger bread man shot a load of his secret sauce into the barbecue sauce. It might be okay for human consumption if BJ cut out the ginger and added more vinegar. The SW salad is anything but -- it's a couple lonely tortilla chips lined around a bed of lettuce and overly cooked reheated chicken strips. Great for drinks, not for food. Subpar bar food.
(1)Beck E.
I only come here for food, and it's pretty good. The service is usually friendly, and at night, Bacardi promo girls often show up and give you free stuff (mini flashlights, shirts, hats, shots). Yay!
(3)Alice C.
I actually came here with my little bro for a late dinner on a Thursday, so consider this review a sober (read: fairly reliable) account of the food. If you're getting food, try the Feisty Feta & Greek pita bread. The dip was fantastic, and the pita was actually pretty good, as opposed to being thrown in a basket straight from the bag o' pita that someone bought on sale at the nearest grocery store. I made the mistake of ordering a salad, and ended up eying my brother's BLT sandwich the whole time. SO. MUCH. BACON. And thick bacon too--none of that wimpy Oscar Mayer crap. So bottom line--if you're getting food from the Brown Jug, get the feta dip and a BLT. You'll enjoy it, even sober. :)
(4)Eric B.
At some point in my senior year of college, I moved my post studying/south u drinking from Charleys to the Brown Jug. I've always found service friendly and attentive. I like the menu and it is more extensive and better quality than the bar food at any of the other South U bars. Great place to sit at a table and drink
(4)Elsbeth S.
Every time I eat there I try something new. They have such a fun menu that it just makes you want to try new things. It isn't meant to be a culinary explosion in your mouth it is meant to be yum and hit the spot. I would say it does just that with a nice tall glass of beer or one of their fun shots!
(4)Shelly M.
Great place to sit on the patio for a beer and such. Love the olive pate.
(3)MaryEllen F.
I met my first love in this bar. It was Leinenkugel Red Lager. Paired with Hawaiian pizza, it is a wonderful combination. If I recall correctly, ths is the first time I had a decent beer in my life. Yes, I led a sheltered life. Before this, it was all Beast and Natural Life. This Red Lager opened my eyes to the wonders of beer. Thank you Brown Jug!
(5)Clare G.
Although i now live much further from south u, I still have many fond memories of coming here as well as working here Thursday nights before home football game days. I must say the weekly coupons in the Ann Arbor fliers have kept me coming this fall with a friend to enjoy a reasonable dinner or happy hour meal. (Referring to the buy an entree, get another half off). i believe when we came on a Monday at 7 the deal was buy one app, get one free. For vegetarians out there, the feisty feta app is unique, and tastes just like it sounds - feta with a spicy kick which is served with pita bread. My vegan also got the baba ghannouj app which looked good. I have usually had good waitresses with the exception of one who was slow after a game that after waiting more than 10 minutes just for waters (I thought I learned in my waitressing days to have them on the table and greet the customer within 2 minutes), we had to leave. Make sure to come in Thursday nights 930-1030ish for $2 Miller specials and free giveaways from yours truly!
(4)Clarence C.
The Brown Jug is thick with undergrads drinking pitchers of beer. It's not that there's anything special about the food or the beer, it just happens to be on South University, and students have been drinking pitchers of beer at the Brown Jug since your grandfather's day. Don't go to the Brown Jug when you're hungry. Go when you're thirsty, and stay until you get hungry. The name of the restaurant refers to The Little Brown Jug, one of the sweetest trophies in college football, which started out as a water jug for the Michigan Wolverines. It was left behind on the field after a 1903 game against the Minnesota Gophers, and when athletic director Fielding Yost asked for the jug, his counterpart in Minnesota told him he'd have to win it back. In retrospect, the boldness of Minnesota's athletic director may not have been well-advised. Michigan now has a record of 65-22-3 against the Gophers. I've heard that winning the jug is a lot more important to Michigan players than the supposed rivalry with MSU, which I suspect exists only in the minds of East Lansing residents. To find out more about the jug, go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li… . To get your own brown jug, go to South U with a bunch of your undergrad buddies and remember to take your rent money with you.
(4)Jerry K.
Here's the deal with the Jug: * It is not trying to be a nice, classy bar - so don't get upset when it isn't * It isn't trying to have the best food - it wants you to be able to afford it * It is intended to be a dingy, crowded PUB, and pulls it off quite nicely. ...I think that should cancel out about 75% of the negative reviews I've read on this board - you people really should be on Main Street, not South University. Hating the Jug for it's grassroots, egoless, and dingy atmosphere is like getting pissed at your garbage man for not wearing a tuxedo. You were at the wrong bar, and that is your fault, not their's. With that said, I have had a lot of great times at the Jug throughout college and afterward, especially in the summer when you can get a seat. The WAITstaff is phenomenal, attentive, and friendly -they deserve five stars. The bartenders and doormen, on the other hand, are total nob jobs, and the reason I am dropping my score to a three. Here's the deal with being a doorman at a dive/college bar: * You are not working at a nice club * Your clients are not out for a spectacular, involved night on the town. Because you are guarding the gate to something mediocre, your role itself is mediocre. You should remember that and not overstep your bounds. * Piggybacking on that, you aren't allowed to be a prick. Asshole bouncers are expected at four and five star clubs because they are exclusive and unavoidable, just like pompous asshole chefs are expected at four and five star restaurants. How silly would it be to complain about your eggs to the short order cook at Denny's only for him to insult your pallet in return? Same deal. I say this because on multiple different incidents, the bouncers at the Jug have completely betrayed it's homey, blue jeans-and-a-t-shirt atmosphere and apparently mistook their door for a swanky club on the Jersey Shore. *Situation One: 30 something Guido Doorman requests Bribe* Thist was this weekend (December 2009) when at closing time, the guido bouncer let a group of six girls in ahead of my girlfriend's friend and her two guy friends. When confronted, he gave a cheesedick smile and said "you've got too many guys." When my girlfriend replied "and you are the Brown Jug, no one is getting laid anyway," he got a little frowny, and then LITERALLY SAID "maybe if you give me $15 I'll change my mind." It was fucking incredible, like being offered into the VIP room at a Waffle House, and we all laughed in his face. A bribe to get into the Brown Jug! *Situation Two: Meat Head Bouncer needs Persuasion by Cop* Last summer, my friend Casey offered his legitimate Wisconsin ID, only to have the bouncer tell him it was a fake. He calmly explained that it wasn't a fake, and the bouncer told him if he didn't leave he was going to take it and call the police. Casey said "fine." Rather than acknowledge the fact that a minor with a fake ID probably wouldn't call that bluff, the bouncer took the ID THEN REFUSED TO CALL THE POLICE! Casey ultimately did, with the officer arriving, scolding the bouncer, giving Case his ID back, and allowing him in the bar. He never apologized, never sent a free drink. All in all, it took 45 minutes for Casey to get into the bar on an empty summer night.
(3)Eric G.
SO I don't know how I have never been here living in this town for a few years. I guess there are other places I spend time when I am downtown (ashleys, blue lep, griz peaks etc) We came on in for a few drinks. They have a decent brew selection and have Bells 2 Hearted Ale on tap which works out for me. I got the Saganek Fried Cheese and it was great. But I mean, how can you go wrong with fried cheese right? Also tried the pizza and it was very good. A bit surprising for a little dive like this. All in all, good times and I will come back next time im out that way.
(3)Nick H.
I've come to realize something. I think many on Yelp (wrongly) only determine how to rate a place and their experience based solely on what they wanted it to be. Many don't consider the culture - or what the owners, employees, other clients, surroundings, history, etc. are trying to create as an experience at a destination. I just wanted to say that to explain my rating because people too often forget these other considerations. And I think it's a shame. So - Brown Jug. College bar: 5 Stars! I love it! Do I love it for a date, to take my family out for a family meal or for a power brunch with coworkers? No. But, without a doubt, it is the quintessential college undergrad bar. If you don't love college undergrad bars - simply don't go! This is Big Ten college bar central. Too many people, not enough space, but I swear to God, the servers are fantastic and work their butts off for you and your table. Prices are more than reasonable, even down right cheap. And I'm from the Midwest. You can buy fries and a pitcher of Miller for less than a Big Mac and Diet Coke. I will say, it's a legit place in the summer to have a big all American lunch outdoors. The Jug is, for many a great starting point for the night. For many others, it's a great 'middle ground' until you figure out where everyone wants to really go place. And for many more, it's a great end of the night place. For some, it's an "We stopped by the Jug? Really?!" or "I was there ALL NIGHT?! I thought I was studying" place. What I'm getting at is it's transcient. The scene, while college, is always moving. Again, it's a college scene but without most of the pretentious or obnoxious people you find at ... oh...Rick's. It's not Greek central, it's not nerdville - it's college students out with friends to just have a good time. I could go there, have good bar food, drink for cheap, and have fun. And, if I got bored with our fun, I'd go flop into another booth or strike up a conversation with random others who were just having their own fun too.
(5)Eric M.
Two words... projectile vomiting. :) Ok - so it might've been the fact that I ate the entire fried sampler on my own (damn friends that wouldn't help)... Or, maybe my friends knew something I didn't. Anyway, talk about a bad experience, and despite the fact that my single star rating might be unfair, I have trouble even writing this without the memory of the taste of the Vomit Comet. So, forgive me.
(1)Andrew P.
I would have my mail delivered here college if they would have let me. I have many memorable and "un-rememberable" nights here. This was basically my Cheers when I was in school. Pay attention to the names on the menus being named after great wolverines of yesteryear. I just realized my yelp picture is actually a picture of me at the Jug.
(5)Byoung Kyu S.
Spent many a nights at the Brown Jug. Unlike many of the other joints, this place kept it's "old" feel which makes it nostalgic. Food is average but the Brown Jug is more a place to hang out and chill than for eating.
(4)Dallas K.
Now about that pizza ... We had a hand-tossed traditional pie with pepperoni, bacon, scallions and hot pepper rings. Well cooked, with well-seasoned sauce and good carmelization on the topping and cheese. Crust was slightly greasy but not overly so (I mean that affectionately--it was the "just right" amount of sheen on the crust). The pepperoni was thin but tasty, and I'm not sure if it was the bacon or the pepperoni, but something gave the overall package a pleasant smoky aura. The hand-tossed crust was firm but chewy with a pleasant crackle as we bit into it--and was also quite tasty. The presence of things like scallions and gyro meat on the toppings list were noticeable and appreciated--the list of toppings overall was comprehensive and accommodating. We also had the surprise of the night we ate (it was a Tuesday night in late november) being "half off pizza" day. We had two pints of beer and a 4-topping 14" hand tossed pie for $14 out the door--not bad. In addition to the pies, they offer a dizzying array of menu options--typical bar fare and then some (this is a hybrid bar/restaurant, and whether the bar or restaurant is the more prominent aspect probably depends on the day and crowd). The shot list alone took up a full single-spaced 8 1/2x11"-ish laminated drink menu, though sadly the tap beer options were far less ambitious A couple of things that could have improved the experience would have included the pie reaching the table hot. It got to us fast--so fast it was confusing how it had been provided enough time to cool from what presumably was originally "piping" to the "merely warm" state it reached us in. Not really a huge problem--we were hungry and it was tasty. The server disappeared after we were done eating, and couldn't answer some simple questions about the food (e.g., Is the gyro meat fresh, cooked on a spit here, or re-heated from a package?). Considering how empty the place was, non-returning server bit was confusing. We had already been asked if we needed anything else a few times and our table had been cleared. All minor trifles; I'd go back for pizza any day (I may insist the pie reach me hot, though--hey, it's pizza, it goes without saying!).
(4)Justin G.
This place is great for conversation, and the food is pretty good. I have spent plenty of time at this place hanging out with friends enjoying many pitchers of beer.
(3)Jennifer S.
The Brown Jug is my absolute FAVORITE spot on campus. They have amazing food (veggie pizza mmmmmmm) and the best drinks ever! They have a menu of about 10 different long island iced teas of which the green dinosaur is the most popular amongst my friends and I. I can't tell you how many nights we spent there just sitting at a table in the back eating food and ordering drinks. It's not a dancy kind of place but if you're looking for a neighborhood joint where you can grab a table and plunk down for the night it's the BEST!
(5)Sarah M.
My opinion of this bar has diminished over the last couple of years, hence its lower rating. I used to love coming to the Jug for a couple of pitchers of beer and quarters with my friends. It had a great "reputation" with students for being more of a chill bar. It was nice to go to in the summer and sit in their (limited) outdoor seating. When Charley's was closed, it was a great place to come for 21st birthdays as they have a wide variety of decent shots. I don't know if it's because they turned Touchdowns into Blue Lep, or because Charley's changed management and stopped sucking, but its reputation is...well, not good now. The last two times I have been there...oh boy. Interesante. 1. There was a fight in the men's bathroom, which resulted in someone getting his face smashed into the toilet and flooding of part of the bathroom area because the toilet literally came off of the ground. The cops were called, and it was kind of funny to watch 3 cops make their way through the narrow back part and then escort this guy out. The bouncers definitely made their money's worth that night. 2. Michigan-OSU weekend 09. It's busy, I get it. You're dealing with drunks, I get it. We sat down at our table and were waiting for about 10 minutes for our waitress to show up. Eventually, my friend (who wasn't from the area) had to pee and I pointed her back to the bathrooms. They only have two bathrooms, which sucks. Both were in use...for a long time. I'm talking like 5 minutes here. My friend, who was getting a bit impatient, knocked on both of the doors. One opened and the girl said, "Hang on ONE FUCKING second, ok?" and stormed off. Guess what? She ended up being our waitress. That kind of ended up being an awkward night. She gave us pretty bad service, but we had friends at another one of her tables who said she was pretty awful. Maybe she was just having a bad day... On another note, the bartenders are great and pretty attentive, and don't do the "ignore all guys and only serve the girls no matter how long they've been standing there" thing. The service can be really slow sometimes, but that's only because the servers have to make their way through the crowds with everyone's drinks. The bouncers can be kind of douchey sometimes, but what bouncer for a South U bar isn't power tripping? Their food is decent, I've had a burger there before and thought it was pretty good. Their fries are also good. They have pretty good happy hour specials that run late enough (9-10pm) to where you can get drunk there and then head right to another bar to continue your night.
(3)Sean G.
Cheap drinks & great pizza.
(5)James C.
Long islands there were killer.....the place is tiny and the outside patio was small too. Fun college bar .....if you are in college still.
(2)Amanda Z.
My husband and I went in for lunch during the holiday (students were gone) so we found a seat very quickly. I ordered the chicken pesto pasta, and when it came, it was so bland that I couldn't even eat it. It was just oily and had a TON of basil, but it seemed like there was no parmesan or garlic in it at all. Even the "garlic bread" tasted like cardboard and seemed to have no garlic on it either. When the waiter came to check on us and asked how our food was, I very politely told him that it wasn't very good and very bland... he apologized, but didn't offer to fix it. Then he asked me if I wanted him to box it up for me! I declined, and he brought us the bill, and STILL CHARGED US FOR IT. Never again will I go to this hole. YUCK.
(1)Brad S.
Loved it. Was looking for a college bar to watch monday night football a few years ago, and found this one. I still remember it to this day. The beer was great, the service was good, it wasn't packed but there were people to mingle with. Seems like it has turned into a more rowdy place than before, but I will always remember it and if I'm ever in Ann Arbor for any reason would love to return and see this place again.
(4)F J.
Crowded, non-existent service, too loud to hear anything more than 3 feet away, smoke-filled, plenty of recognizable faces (especially the ones you'd never expect to see), pee troughs & vomit in the bathrooms, great drink specials, frat boy crowd and frat boy music, constant football on TV, crappy bar food, busty servers, and the occasional odd-ball townie. Good ol' college bar. Unfortunately I do remember encountering plenty of d-bags here, and people who just seemed to be dressed up way too nice considering it was the Jug. But the memories save this place... that time we met the trio of cute deaf girls, or recorded people outside asking them to tell jokes, or caught up with that guy from high school working the door... Unfortunately, nostalgia is the past for a reason. For some of us it's hard to stay in those moments, and people just seem to outgrow the Jug. But it's definitely a must if you want that college bar scene.
(3)David M.
I think the Brown Jug is a little overrated, personally. It's near campus and has become one of this town's college bar staples, but there are better places in town to drink. It's too trashy to be nice, but not trashy enough to be Charley's. The food, however, is a little underrated in my opinion, and I would definitely come here with friends for dinner before I'd come here with friends for drinks (of course there's nothing wrong with combining the two). So overall, this place gets a 4, as I've had many good times here with family and friends. EDIT: The men's bathroom here sucks though. I hate trough urinals. No separation wall? Come on, I don't want to end up in an accidental sword fight here. But it doesn't come up that often.
(4)Bailey Y.
The service is HORRIBLE. They illegally charges me 20% in tips that they did not deserve, and threatened to call the cops on my friends and I for not giving them enough tips.
(1)Sunil S.
Great bar, come here on Thursday nights for great drink specials before going to Rick's. Lots of great U-M memorabilia inside the restaurant, limited outdoor patio seating available but also great spot on South U.
(4)Rochelle P.
5 stars is for having an awesome bartender (I forgot her name though) who can mix drinks/shots with the best of them. My friend was in town from Nebraska and wanted to see the bar scene around town. I think we hit up just about every place. We ended up falling in love with the Jug. It doesn't look like much but we felt like we were back home and when you've been away from home for 3 years, that's a great feeling. The bartender was very friendly and suggested shots (although the menu was so extensive she didn't even need to). It was just a great night overall. My husband did have the wings and said they were very good! I tried them and they were a bit too hot for me to enjoy actually eating them (strange becuase I can ususally handle the heat).
(5)Ayesha S.
I've been to the Brown Jug a handful of times, but was recently there and had plans to grab dinner as well as drinks. The menu is huge, so you think that they've got to be doing something right, but unfortunately this wasn't the case. I ordered the chicken gyro pita with waffle fries. The waffle fries were pretty good, but the chicken gyro was below average. I also ordered a lime margarita in my silly haze which ended up being pretty weak and insufficient. I moved to drinking out of the many pitches that had somehow landed on the table I was sitting at- cheap, basic beer. The Brown Jug seems like a great place for undergrad's to hang out as the location is pretty awesome. I also appreciate that they have a unique story and have stood the test of time (one star). I'm just not sure that I'd ever suggest this place if I were in a situation where I got to make the actual decision, although they do have a full bar and I'm not so ridiculous that I wouldn't be able to find something to hydrate with (two stars).
(2)Bonnie L.
I'm pretty disappointed with this establishment. I lived very close to this place for a year and only wound up there a handful of times. I found the food tolerable until a chicken finger gave me a second-degree burn on my lip. Their deep dish pizza leaves much to be desired- it's basically two-inch thick bread with light tomato sauce and cheese, and it's way too dry. What they do well: cold draft beer, and to a lesser extent, french toast. The main reason why I gave them one star: twice I went there and they were not open during posted hours. Sure, it's 11:00 in the morning on a weekend, but your website and the sign posted on your door says you're open, so you better be. That kind of thing is pretty unacceptable to me, even if this place is supposed to be first and foremost a bar.
(1)Julie C.
This is a good place to play quarters or to split a pitcher. The waffle fries are also really good.
(3)Margaret C.
The Brown Jug is basically an Ann Arbor legend - if you can't understand it, then you probably don't know much about Ann Arbor. I love this place, especially to meet up with all of my friends from home. And the beers are cheap. I have had plenty of great nights here, and getting a drink is never too hard despite how packed it can be. Oh yeah, and I met my future husband here. Ha! :)
(4)Lisa W.
The Brown Jug was at one point my spot of preference to watch sporting events, mainly the Pistons or soccer. They have amazing outdoor seating that includes flatscreen TVs. That is a wonderful, beautiful thing. I don't know if they have the same bartenders, but they always knew how to pour a great Guinness, and when Guinness was on special, it made me happy. They have a great happy hour, also. And smoking (though I no longer smoke). The food here is mostly miss, but you're safe with a cheese omlette. One very impressive thing on their menu, however, is the chef salad which is huge and is nicely prepared. It's perfect with a beer for a long game and won't weigh you down. I also love the crowds during important games, they're rowdy just like me, and I don't have to feel like the annoying ass-clown who screams at a TV all by myself. They do have a shot here which involves mayonnaise. I've asked about it and they said that it usually gets ordered for birthdays, but then people find out that they like it and order it again. There's something weird to look into.
(4)Parisa K.
This place is an Ann Arbor tradition, from it's pre-game crowd, to its late night crowds, to its name even. For those of you who don't know about it, the Little Brown Jug is one of the oldest college football trophies, going to the winner of the Michigan-Minnesota game (I mean it pretty much lives in Ann Arbor because we always win it). What this place serves is good cold drinks and warm greasy food. My favorite item on the menu is this spicy feta dip. It's so incredibly good that anyone who's ever had it knows exactly what you are talking about when you mention spicy feta dip at the Jug. If you are of drinking age, the Brown Jug turns into a fun hang out bar, where you can choose to either sit back and relax at a table with friends or wander around as a social butterfly, whichever suits you more. Whether you are looking for food or drink, this place you will give you a genuine Ann Arbor experience.
(4)kristen g.
I walked in the door and the kid behind me said "My, this is.....sporty...." He was right. The tv's, more frequent than a starbucks in a big city....were blaring any and every different sports game that could be found. The food was just ok...The wait staff was awesome, however. Our waitress was great, our friend that worked there took care of us....it wasnt a total loss. just kind of...
(3)Erik H.
My girlfriend, father and I went to Brown Jug when we were walking around downtown the other weekend. I hadn't been there since I was a kid and my Dad got all sentimental about sharing a pizza like the old days so we stopped in. It was cleaner than I remember it being years ago. We got a booth by the widow for prime people watching during dinner. I was going to try a drink or two but their nightly drink specials didn't start until later so I passed. We ended up getting a large meat lover's pizza and breadsticks. The breadsticks were decent enough but I'm not sure I'd recommend them. The pizza was pretty decent. One thing of note is that it is made with cheddar cheese instead of mozzarella. I thought it was OK but my Dad was not too fond of it. It was certainly no Cottage Inn on the other side of town. Our server seemed more concerned with talking to some friends in a booth behind us so our service wasn't that great. In the end it was an average meal. I think in the end there are many other restaurants in town I would go to instead.
(2)Hana S.
Perfect college pub: laid back atmosphere, good drinks with unexpected variety, and comfort food, all at an economical price. I'm envious of UM students, since I had no such place to frequent where I went to school. Also, my grandparents met there in the 40's, which is pretty cool.
(4)Akilah W.
This place is okay. The Long Islands being an exception, the drinks here are weak.
(2)Cyn C.
if you're drunk and poor, by all means, go to the Brown Jug. If you are coherent at all, you'll want to avoid this place. It's dingy and dirty... making whatever they're serving completely unappetizing.
(2)John R.
How I miss the ol' Brown Jug. Nothing like 2am cheese nachos as brain food while cramming for an exam. And their bottomless cups of coffee in those age old brown ceramic mugs, you could drop one of those from a second story window and it wouldn't smash - of course, it only held about 6 ounces, but that's another story.
(4)Jason P.
This place is dirty and full of smoke. The bathrooms have the wonderful large tub as their urinals. The seating is first come first serve, meaning that you just have to stand next to a table ready to pounce on it as soon as the people leave. Then I ordered 'pizza" It was not good and they ran out of spinach, so I went with mushrooms of the canned variety. I am definately a pizza snob, and this was far from being up to standards. Also, they did not have the HD cable package for the sports. That is pretty ridiculous.
(1)Joseph D.
Me and my roommates used to eat in the BJ when it was a white formica table place back in 65/66 when we among the first wave of tennants of University Towers in the fall of 65. Liked it back then enjoyed it last Thursday night in its fancier decor and liquor licence. Enjoyed the pale ale and the hamburger with grilled onions--a 60s favorite--was good, medium could have been a little less cooked. The waitress listened politely to my recounting of this past history. South U and S Forrest hasn't changed much in 45 years.
(4)kelly w.
when i asked how the nachos were a friend said, "eh.." i should have known. but i wanted nachos. it's not really my scene (perhaps it was sporty?), but the staff there is incredibly helpful and pleasant. i can see myself going back, but an old roommate works there so that would be the pull factor.
(3)Theresa F.
Every time I have been to the Brown Jug it's absolutely packed...and usually with undergraduates. It's rowdy and small, and I usually won't last if I'm not in the mood to be tolerable. But I will say St. Patty's was an absolute blast (green beer!)--depsite the drunken hook-ups going on all around my husband and I and all our friends (wait until you're back at your dorm!). Their cheeseburger and jug fries are surprisingly really good--will definitely order again.
(3)Katia M.
Any time I'm in Ann Arbor, I go back here for the wings. Spicy, saucy, awesome. The beer is cold, the game is on, and you really just can't go wrong with their wings.
(5)Coco C.
I am so confused by the Brown Jug! It looks like a crappy diner/restaurant my Great Aunt Mabel goes to every Wednesday morning, but my friends tell me it's the shiz-nit for the "undergrads" to drink at. What the hell? At any rate, they have beer and food, though neither is spectacular. I say suck it up and walk over to Main Street to get your drunk on...
(2)Noah P.
This place is the best. Massive plasma TV's indoors and out for sporting events. The barstaff & waitresses are amaizing and really friendly... People love to hate on the Jug on this board but that is fine. It is already packed with too many people as is.
(5)ian m.
By far!!!! Some of the the BEST pizza in town. Especially late at night. The lesser known backroom ran out of the "back room" is $1 a slice for the best five cheese pizza you'll ever find, don't even mess with toppings. As for the BAR it is what it is, a bar. If you expect great food (other than apps+pizza) from a bar with limited staff and kitchen then this isn't the place for you. go to a restaurant.
(5)Arun C.
I stopped by for breaskfast (at 11:30) since my friend and I couldn't find any other place that was open on Sunday. What gives Ann Arbor? Maybe since school wasn't in session there might have been summer hours getting in our way. Anyway, the place was ok for breakfast. The French toast was passable, my friend's omlette was delicious she says, but my orange juice..blah! Worse than airplane oj. I didn't have a chance to check out the rest of the menu, so maybe they are better equipped for the dinner scene.
(3)