ANN ARBOR, MI —Taste Kitchen is a chef-owned Ann Arbor restaurant that prides itself on its small menu that uses fresh, local ingredients.
Owner and Chef Danny Van selects menu items based on seasonal ingredients and produce freshness. Alex Carlucci, Managing Director, said the menu usually has about eight to 12 starters and six to 10 main courses. Some dishes, like scallops, can usually always be found.
Van opened Taste Kitchen in 2014, with the aim of creating fresh, local dishes that combine French culinary techniques with Vietnamese flavors. Some customer favorites include salmon sashimi, beef shakes and bouillabaisse.
“There’s a huge French influence in Vietnam, so a lot of the flavors are familiar and true to what (Van has) always grown up focusing a bit more on what’s local,” Carlucci said.
To keep dishes as fresh as possible, Taste Kitchen has ingredients delivered almost daily.
“We only order the amount we need, and run out when we run out,” Carlucci said. “There are days when, early in the evening, if everyone orders scallops, it’s because there are no more scallops. They know the next day they can come back and get a new batch. »
In addition to its original menu, the restaurant recently created a new dining experience called Omakase – which is otherwise known as a Japanese meal consisting of several dishes selected by a chef.
In February 2022, Taste Kitchen expanded its operations and doubled in size by taking over the former Elevation Burger space next door.
Chef Tomonori Haruta will operate Omakase in this space and serve guests in his Taste Bar. He will prepare and showcase 15-18 dishes with a seasonal variety of fish straight from Japan. This experience will cost $235 per person and is available from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with limited seating.
With everything Taste Kitchen offers, Carlucci said he wants customers to really feel like they’re tasting fine dining while creating an inviting atmosphere.
“We strive to be as refined and upscale without the white gloves,” he said. “We want to be able to invite everyone to enjoy it all and then present it in our best way… We want everything to be as elevated as possible and as welcoming as possible.”
Taste Kitchen, 521 E. Liberty St., is open 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. To learn more, visit his website Where Facebook page.
Would you like MLive to feature your Ann Arbor area restaurant in Michigan’s Top Local Restaurants? Send details including business name, address and most popular menu item to Makayla Coffee at [email protected].
MORE ANN ARBOR LOCAL MEALS:
Michigan’s Best Local Eats: Lobster bisque among the many soups made with love at Le Dog=La Soup
Michigan’s Best Local Foods: Check Out The Jerusalem Garden Falafel That Put It On The Map
Michigan’s Best Local Dishes: Find Unique Combinations of Familiar Ingredients at Songbird Café
Michigan’s Best Local Foods: Fresh Breads and Pastries Delight the Taste Buds at The Lakehouse Bakery
Michigan’s Best Local Foods: Get a real Chicago hot dog, with celery salt, at Ray’s Red Hots
Michigan’s Best Local Food: Zou Zou’s Café Brings Creative Scones and Sandwiches to Chelsea
Michigan’s Best Local Eats: Vegano Italiano brings New York-style vegan pizza to Ypsilanti
Michigan’s Best Local Foods: Expand Your Wine and Cheese Palate with YORK’s European Flair
Michigan’s Best Local Food: Yaya’s Pizza Offers Halal Options in Ypsilanti
Michigan’s Best Local Eats: Hamburger Mary’s offers Tower Inn favorites on a mixed menu
Michigan’s Best Local Eats: Manchester Diner Combines Upscale Style With Traditional Dishes
Michigan’s Best Local Eats: Familiar favorites remain even after Casey’s Tavern menu refresh
Michigan’s Best Local Eats: The Pretzel Bell offers burgers, pizza, and University of Michigan history
Michigan’s Best Local Food: Find Mini Macaroons and Chocolate Eclairs at The Great Commoner
Michigan’s Best Local Foods: Enjoy Classic Cheesesteaks and Chili-and-Cheese Fries at Izzy’s Hoagie Shop
Michigan’s Best Local Eats: The Crazy Diamond Organizes the Community with Craft Cocktails
Michigan’s best local dishes: Amadeus’ paprikash, pierogi inspired by the owner’s travels through Europe
Michigan’s Best Local Dishes: Check Out the Kale-Yeah Smoothie at Ypsilanti’s What’s In Your Cup? coffee
Michigan’s Best Local Foods: Pilar’s Tamales Celebrates Family Heritage with Tamales and Pupusas
Michigan’s Best Local Foods: Try Authentic Cuban Food at Ypsilanti’s Latin American Cuban Food
Michigan’s Best Local Foods: Light, fluffy donuts are the specialty of DJ’s Bakery in Ann Arbor
Michigan’s Best Local Foods: Try Everything From Brats to Toddlers at Ypsilanti’s Wurst Bar
Michigan’s Best Local Eats: Curry On offers Indian-American fusion in Ann Arbor
Michigan’s Best Local Dishes: Ypsi Boxcar, Aperol Spritz on the Cocktail Menu at Ypsilanti’s Mash
Michigan’s Best Local Eats: Plate Sushi and Chicken serves bento boxes and sushi rolls
