Be the first to know
Roadhouse News
Special Book Event: The Seventh Story with Irish Storyteller & Author, Gareth Higgins
How Storytelling Helps Us Find Peace, Safety, and Belonging â and Tame Some Monsters Too?
Tuesday, December 5th 6:00pm $40
Weâre delighted to welcome beloved Irish storyteller and peace activist Gareth Higgins to the Roadhouse for a special evening of appetizers and conversation! Zingermanâs Co-Founder Ari Weinzweig and the Roadhouse team welcomes you to hear Gareth talk about the history of oppressive storytelling, and how we can create connection, courage, and community in the spirit of a better story. It will be the perfect occasion to celebrate the release of his new childrenâs book, Cory and the Seventh Story â a story that offers something meaningful to people of all ages.
Cory and the Seventh Story is newly published as of October 17th, 2023, and will be available for purchase at this very special book event, along with Garethâs previous works, The Seventh Story and How Not to be Afraid. We canât wait to hear Gareth dive into the book and tell the seventh story in his own words. Join us as we explore together how humans, both grown and not so grown, can, as Ari Weinzweig suggests, âmake the planet on which we live and work a more peaceful and positive place to be.â Doors open at 5:30pm for cocktails and mingling, then the program will start at 6pm. You will head home satisfied from a bountiful appetizer spread and a new story to inspire you and yours.
Special Event: A New Way to Celebrate the New Year
Join us at the Roadhouse for this exclusive inaugural event!
Sunday, Dec. 31st 7:30pm-10pm
Tickets: $120-$150
The Roadhouse welcomes you to gather for a new and exclusive mingling event for New Yearâs Eve! Join us on December 31st from 7:30pm to 10pm to savor the best flavors of the year with a festive spread of some of our favorite dishes. We anticipate that this event will be the highlight of your evening as you enjoy a delicious and welcoming dinner with loved ones, yet you will still have plenty of time to reach your final destination for 2023.
Weâve loved seeing your smiling faces in our dining room throughout the year and look forward to celebrating a new year with you! Donât miss out on the event of the season at the Roadhouse!
Highline Spirits
World-Class Flavor, Local Roots
Highline Spirits believes that just as each of us is a blending of our accumulated unique experiences, great whiskies can come from the blending of great unique ingredients. The founder, Christi Lower, seeks to find art and inspiration in all her blends, and is blazing a trail by establishing a line of spirits in Dexter, Michigan, where she grew up. This woman-owned and woman-run company seeks to create delicious offerings that don't feel the need to adhere to tradition, history, or heritage. Rather, they create whiskies that showcase their outlook on crafting libations, with an eye on artistry, excellence, and upending expectations. We're proud to showcase their creations, whether in a tumbler, with or without ice, or in one of our craft cocktail creations.
Zingerman’s Roadshow
‘Showcase Drinks
Pumpkin Spice LattĂŠ
Made with Epices de Cru pumpkin spice blend and organic pumpkin, this latte will warm you from the inside out this fall!
 Tall $7.00
About
Zingermanâs Roadhouse
The seventh member of Zingermanâs Community of Businesses, located in Ann Arbor, Mich., the Roadhouse opened in 2003 with the vision of bringing really good American food to the community, using only the best available ingredients. The Roadhouse has worked hard to create its own truly unique food culture, transforming high-quality ingredients into traditional, full-flavored dishes. Even after years of studying American foodways, the Roadhouse is only beginning to fully understand and appreciate our countryâs regional food microcultures and subcultures, and the professionals who preserve them.
about
Our food
With chef Bob Bennett at the helm of the kitchen, and our staffâs dedication to service, the Roadhouse draws in regulars from all over, whether theyâre coming from right down the block or making sure to pop in during their annual visit to Ann Arbor. Our guests have their favorites on our menu, dishes they come back for, time and time again. Why are they favorites? Because we use the highest quality ingredients and traditional methods to make them delicious and authentic. By spending time with artisans, chefs, food experts and historians, we learn about the stories behind the food we make and the best way to serve them. We also listen to your stories and recommendations about the food you love best!
What menu offerings do we hear about the most Buttermilk Fried Chicken, award-winning Mac ân Cheese made with Martelli artisan pasta, NOLA Gumbo, Nashville Hot Chicken, Cornmeal Fried Catfish, full-flavored burgers, Grits nâ Bits Waffles, and Donut Sundaes are just a few Roadhouse specialties that people look forward to every time they dine with us. Beyond these tried-and-true dishes, the Roadhouse is also a destination for really good BBQ!
Whole-hog pit fire
Our BBQ
In 2004, we welcomed BBQ pitmaster Ed Mitchell from Raleigh, North Carolina to help us design and build our 13-foot BBQ pit, located just outside the restaurant. Ed taught us the secrets to really good whole-hog Eastern North Carolina BBQ. His invaluable training has been passed along to continue in the hands of our current pitmaster, who continues to smoke the tender, full-flavored pork and beef we proudly serve. Many of our guests say itâs the best BBQ theyâve ever had!
Our Pork
The quality of the pork we bring in at the Roadhouse takes the flavor of our BBQ to a much higher level, and matches the traditional style we prepare it with. The story of our pork begins with Niman Ranch. Bill Niman and Paul Willis started up the pork division of Niman Ranch in 1994 with a mission to raise livestock traditionally, humanely and sustainably to produce the finest tasting meat in the world. We purchase our spare ribs from Niman Ranch because we prioritize high-quality ingredients. According to Iowa hog farmer Rex Thompson, â[Niman Ranch is] helping the small farmer be able to compete and stay in business. That has a trickle-down effect that keeps kids in a community, and then it helps the community with schools and businesses.â
In an effort to reduce our carbon footprint, the Roadhouse collaborated with Bill and Paul to source their hogs from two farms in Michigan. One of the small farmâs owners, David Yoder, has been selling Niman Ranch hogs directly to the Roadhouse for over 12 years from Homer, MI. These pasture-raised Old English breeds are the animals we use exclusively for our whole- hog pit barbecue. Whether they are Brookshire, Duroc or Chester White breeds, the hogs are smoked slowly for 14 hours over oak, giving our pork intense flavor.
Dine with us
Reservations
Celebrating a special occasion with us? The Roadhouse can order a cake for you from Zingermanâs Bakehouse with 48 hours notice! Just give us a call at 734.663.3663. If you plan on bringing your own dessert, we do charge a dessert fee of $5.00 per person. For private parties, contact our Events Team.
Call Us
734-663-3663 (FOOD)
Visit Us
2501 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Email Us
Events
Special Events
Recognition
Awards
James Beard Finalist, Outstanding Hospitality 2020
James Beard Finalist, Outstanding Service 2019
James Beard Award, Best Chef Great Lakes 2011
Roadie Spotlight
Zingermanâs Staff
Meet the Team
The Roadhouse team is dedicated to providing the best service possible! We are a family here, and we are grateful for the opportunity to include you as part of our family. Our staff loves to serve you really good food and tell you the stories behind the food. Ask us about our favorites on the menu!
Bob Bennett
HEAD CHEF
Bob Bennett has been with Zingermanâs since 2002, and with the Roadhouse since it opened in 2003. Check that, since before it openedâhe painted the walls of the restaurant, and has been here ever since. His dedication to the success of the Roadhouse is unparalleled. You can taste it in his food!
Lisa Schultz
MANAGING PARTNER
Lisa began working at Zingermanâs Roadhouse in 2004 as a server.  She worked her way up to become the Restaurant Manager in 2013, and as of 2022 is the official Managing Partner of the Roadhouse! Lisa has played an integral role in creating the service culture of the Roadhouse. She has a passion for providing excellent service and a focus for helping the managers and staff be the best they can be everyday.
If you can
Give
The Zingerman’s Community of Businesses is featuring The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County as our November Nonprofit Spotlight! We urge you to explore their important programming revolving around Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (Nov 11-18) with various events throughout November. It’s a crucial time to support the Shelter Association as we head into cold weather and the holiday season. Check out more info at zcob.me/spotlight!
