We returned to Gandy Dancer after having a wonderful experience here last Valentine's Day. This time for our wedding anniversary. My husband made a reservation and the Host greeted us with a cute little sample menu rolled and tied with a ribbon. At the top it said Happy 14th wedding anniversary. What a nice touch! Our waitress, Bria, also acknowledged our special occasion as we were seated by the window with a view of the train tracks. The ambiance and waitstaff attention was all we could have asked for. The food, not so much. The bread was missing something. Not as soft or warm as I remembered it from our last visit. For appetizers we had the fried calamari (yummy) and fish chowder which was also tasty but not warm enough for me. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his entree of the Seafood Trio. I had Shrimp & Crab Fresca Butini. It was underwhelming. The shrimp was fried so hard it was rendered tasteless. The pasta seemed like the Chef Boy R Dee canned spaghetti from my childhood. I thought to send the meal back, but I had already had issues with the water and sent back the bread, so I just told myself to suffer through it. I ordered a pomegranate martini which helped me chill a little and tasted good as well. The also gave us complimentary crème brûlée for dessert. So 4 stars since my husband enjoyed his meal, my entree was really the only disappointment, and in all other respects it was a lovely dinner. I love the old school romance of dining in this place so I will go again. But if my entree is not up to par next time it definitely goes back. read more

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Roy is an excellent waiter! He suggested his favorite, the DiNAMiTE Scallops and not they were dynamite! You must try for yourself! But you can thank me later wink We also tried the Martha's Vineyard salad and the Caesar salad. Wouldt recommend the MV salad it was not as I was expecting and my wife did not like either. The Caesar was good but too life lived the thick cut cheese but wouldn't get either again. The King Crab legs were really good thick soft and buttery! They bring out the butter on a bowl and they have a cake on the bottom to keep it hot. My wife had the iron skillet flank with blistered tomatoes (they should change the name to Fire Roasted) and the potatoes. It was nice. Something different for a change. My wife had a Smoking Dragon cocktail wi h was exquisite and she had 3. Highly recommended this place. read more

Amazing experience! We absolutely loved our dinner here the other night. Such a beautiful and historic building right on the train tracks. Service was exceptional and so was our food. I ordered salmon and it was probably one of the best I've ever had. The Martha's Vineyard salad, calamari and even the bread were all so delicious. I wish there were more restaurants like this. Can't wait to go back. read more

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Today's lunch visit was my sister's birthday choice as a meeting spot to enjoy glasses of bubbles and fine dining for her special day. We had a 7 top in the back dining room that was very well-lit and elegant. It was just noon when we sat and ahead of the lunch rush. We flagged down the server to let him know that we would like to order drinks and appetizers ahead of the rest of the diners arriving, as some of us were time limited. Bill was attentive and friendly in the beginning, however, his pleasant demeanor soured as our table and his section filled. Idk what his problem was but we were all very polite when we really should have been complaining about the crap coming out the kitchen and the bar shorting my drink. We said nothing and were super nice to him. I ordered a spicy cucumber cocktail and asked Bill if the bar could make it spicier and not so sweet. He was happy to hook me up with my request and that was it. When my drink came, it tasted great BUT it was half a cocktail! Where's the rest for $13?! The pic I included was before 1 sip. I didn't ask or bring it up to avoid a scene or complaining. Just annoying and shows that the server doesn't care to tell the bar to do it right and make sure his table is getting what we ordered. I ordered a Brie for the table and my friend ordered calamari. Both were not on par with what you'd expect from GD. There was something off about the Brie. Something pungent and not appetizing like mustard seed in the apple compote on top. The calamari was overcooked and mostly vegetables. Barely warm too, like precooked and served from a holding table instead of made fresh. Especially with how fast it came out of the kitchen, it had to be precooked. We all picked at it but had the same opinion. We said nothing to the server and another young man swooped in and cleared one of the plates when it was clearly unfinished. We just looked at each other and said wtf is going on here? But shook it off to make sure my sis was having a good birthday. When Bill brought the second bottle of bubbles, I asked to place a lunch order of the Ahi Tuna Poke that was $17.50. It was ok. Light portion. Fake guacamole that tasted sour, but the dish had a nice bit of heat. Fine portion for what it was. I dropped my napkin on the floor ONCE and it had so much yuck and hair on it, I quietly set it aside and grabbed another from an empty place setting at our table. They need to vacuum better. We had to ask for three replacements for dirty flatware. I don't know how or why The Gandy Dancer's quality checks have fallen off so dramatically, but I hope someone is paying attention and will make corrections. I was there just under an hour and had to get back to work. Bill was upset at something and it should not have been that I pointed out the bill split was incorrect for the two of us that ask for our checks. It was a reasonable thing I pointed out, and everyone was taken aback that he snapped the folio out of my hands. I still made a point to said thank you and tipped well so he'd hopefully continue to provide good service to the table after I left but he was clearly pissed at something. I'm not going back here unless invited by someone. It was all around poor. read more

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Great ambience. Food fell off a bit from years ago service excellent. Parking needs more handicap spots. Valet good. read more

What a great experience we had! We had reservations for 8:00 pm which we achieved through Resy. Gandy Dancer hostess found our reservation just fine. We were a few minutes early so we got to visit the bar and encounter the gracious and expert bartenders. I did notice that one bartender- a lady - disposed of the wine bottles by breaking them in the bin. Not sure why that was but wow, a surprising noise each time. We also noticed that patrons clap when the train passes through. It's a thing at Gandy Dancer. Our table was ready right on time except it had a leaf folded up that kept landing in my husband's lap. The table was situated right in the entry traffic flow so we asked to be seated in a quieter area and, amazingly, they had a table in a lovely alcove that was perfect for our party of four. We had incredible escargot. I had scallops with asparagus. All around we stuck closer to surf more than turf and all had great entrees. We shared a dessert of carrot cake. The server was very attentive, the coursing of the food was timely. We had a wonderful evening. Next time I would use valet parking. :) read more

Dynamic scallops were these most delicious item I have ever had. Filet migons cooked to perfection. All the food had incredible flavor. Lobster was fresh and incredible. Drinks were top notch. It was so hard to not order one of everything off the menu. Ambiance and service also top notch. There is a reason this restaurant has been around for years! The dynamic sauce lives up to its name. Great spot, great area! And for a special occasion they are sure to make it special! read more

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Everything was great. The food and service were top notch! We like to visit when in town for a game.

Service and ambiance great though complimentary valet parking was a bit hectic blocking the main road. Server was lovely but, unfortunately, as excited as my UM daughters and I were to try, the food was meh. Plating was uncreative and one dimensional. Shrimp scampi linguini had several shrimp shell sections in the pasta not on the shrimp Itself. We thought maybe it was for affect or perhaps they tried to steep the sauce with shells to add flavor, but not appetizing and off putting. The linguini was a bit too soft and Not close to al dente. My breaded flounder was so heavily breaded, I actually thought they gave me my daughter's chicken. The sauce had been soaked up by the breading so it was thick and mushy. Chicken schnitzel was tough and overcooked, breading also mushy, and the arugula wilted. The menu description highlighted potato "croutons" (their quotation marks), but there were just three boiled, semi smashed potatoes. None of us finished half our dish, it was not palatable. Nothing was hot, just warm. On a positive note, the portions were very generous, the prime rib others were eating looked good, and the everything bread rolls at the beginning were tasty. Beautiful restaurant, excellent service, and complimentary sparkling water, but I'd rather spend my hard earned $ at La Serre, Taste, or Echelon. Even Vinology might be better. The people that eat here are signif older than me (and I'm 50) and likely do so out tradition. GD needs to step up their game . . . significantly. read more

This restaurant is in a very unique historical building (old train depot) with lots of charm. There is valet parking and also a lot if you're lucky enough to find parking. The service on a Friday night was a little rough. They were packed so the service was slow and the waitress didn't seem to be very knowledgeable about the menu. She was friendly though. The food was good but portion sizes and quality were not great for the price point. I got the sangria to drink and it was refreshing and light. read more

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This is our second time at the Gandy Dance in 35 years. Why did we wait so long? Maybe cost. The last time we were here was approximately 25+ years ago with friends. This weekend was because we could. The food was phenomenal. We had the crab cakes and the seasonal sea bass. Both were excellent and we enjoyed our meal and our company. We sat next to the railroad tracks inside and enjoyed the view of trains coming by. We love the old station charm. We strongly recommend this place for great food and ambiance read more

Had seafood trio-5star Creme brulee.5 star Rodney our server-5 star Dining was fabulous Infused bourbon delicious read more

Had a really good dinner with my family tonight. We sat in the bar area which was fine as there was a party going on. The server was friendly and put effort into the service. I enjoyed the sole with crab. Appetizers were on point. Bread refills and pop refills were attentive. Glad we stopped. read more

We celebrate a birthday here and had an amazing dinner! The atmosphere is genuine and unique! The staff was amazing! Quiet and breathtaking! My dad had the steak and he said it was the best one he ever had! We had a variety of dishes and they all were amazing! We all can't wait to come back. Party of 6. read more

NOTE: I had written this review approximately five years ago and found it in my "Draft" folder when I came to review this restaurant after a recent visit. My mom & I went here for a late lunch on my birthday and this was a great choice! The ambiance is very charming inside this historical former train station. Initially, the hostess was going to seat us in a room toward the back that was very crowded - as in, you'd nearly be bumping someone else's chair to be seated. I asked to be seated in a different room & they accommodated us, which we so appreciated. Was nice to be able to have some room to converse & enjoy the lovely atmosphere. For lunch entrees, my mom had a beautiful Cobb Salad & I had the Shrimp Scampi over angel hair pasta. I knew the shrimp scampi dish could be rich, so ordered it light on the sauce. I wouldn't say that it arrived with light sauce, but it was delicious. The shrimp were extra large and the dish was very tasty. It came with an abundance of pasta & portion sizes were much larger than anticipated for lunch entrees. Our server was very nice- attentive without hovering; extremely professional. For my birthday, he offered me a complementary dessert & I had the Cre'me Brûlée. It was so delicious!! Overall, I would describe our experience as elegant in an under-stated way. Food & service were wonderful. Highly recommend!! read more

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Excellent from start to finish! We came in for a family dinner with 13 people. Our server, Bill, was knowledgeable, kind and attentive. He gave great recommendations. We had pre-dinner cocktails, appetizers, entree's, wine with dinner, desserts and coffee. Bill told us about the lifetime membership and we signed up! The food was fabulous and the excellent service was such a refreshing bonus! We love to cook and we host so many family dinners. It is so nice to have a break and be served, occasionally. We have found it difficult to find both great food and great service, but you do it so well! Thank you!! We will be back! read more

Now it's been close to a half dozen years since our last visit to one of Ann Arbor's most surreal dining experiences. "All Hail" when the trains come rumbling through. They used to serve up one of the more spectacular Sunday brunch offings I've enjoyed. Service was always nearby and cluttered china cleared smoothly. Loved those Mimosas & their Eggs Benedict which were to die for topped with my favorite dessert - the Norwegian smoked Salmon. Really enjoyed the upper level piano bar too! read more

Dined here on Christmas Eve for the Pre-Fixe menu. The ambiance and service were great. You can tell they care and try hard to provide a nice experience. The prices have gone up quite a bit, as have most things these days, so this three-course meal is not as good a deal as it used to be. My dining companions enjoyed their menu selections (prime rib, duck and sea bass.) I chose the Shrimp and Crab Fresco Bucatini. To be honest, it didn't sound so good from the description, but I had previously had a pasta dish here called Seafood Carbonara that was AMAZING and was hoping this dish would be as well. Unfortunately, it wasn't. This dish was pasta with a red sauce, a few pieces of spinach and some canned crab meat, apparently straight from the can, dropped on top. There was deep fried shrimp laid on the sides (I didn't think to take a photo.) Nothing about this dish worked for me and the various ingredients just didn't seem to fit together. Nothing good about it and I didn't eat it. Our server did take it off our bill, thankfully. I did enjoy the crab cake I added (gone up to $24 to add a crab cake so not sure if it's really worth it) and salad. The key lime pie was way too sweet for my liking. Overall, we had a nice time but disappointed about my meal. I would recommend taking the Shrimp and Crab Fresco Bucatini off the menu. And please bring back the Seafood Carbonara! read more

Historic old building, can't believe I have been visiting for the past four years and having yet not tried this place. Came for a late graduation lunch and the party had Sea Bass, Salmon, Crab Cakes, Mahi Mahi, Shrimp Scampi, and a trio of deserts shared. All the dishes were very good and quantity was hearty, as was the deserts. Food was solid 4.5 to 5 stars and service was also good and attentive given the hectic grad weekend crowds. Not a bad way to end my visiting days to Ann Arbor read more

Gandy Dancer - Menu - Seafood Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

My boyfriend and I were marking a year of dating when we went to the Gandy Dancer this week. We had a really spectacular time! We ended up having a room all to ourselves, and our waiter Paul told my BF that he made sure we weren't disturbed by putting other guests in the room with us. Our food was great! We started with oysters and champagne, which were both quite tasty. Next, we each had soup. I had the butternut squash soup (vegetarian, goat cheese, buttered crouton, brown butter). That soup alone will have me coming back, for sure!! My BF had the Mediterranean-style fish chowder that was also delicious. Chilean Sea Bass is my all-time favorite fish, and this lived up to my extremely high expectations. I had it blackened with dynamite sauce--so, so, so yummy!! My BF had the same sauce over mahi mahi. While his mahi was good, too, I loved the perfection that was my dish. Our WillaKenzie wine was a perfect accompaniment to our meal. The restaurant treated us to creme brûlée to celebrate--a perfect ending to our amazing dinner. I can't wait to go back!! Thanks for giving us such an amazing experience treating us like royalty! I'm so glad we picked the Gandy Dancer to celebrate! read more

I have eaten at the Gandy Dancer a dozen times since 1985. I can recall taking a date there 40 years ago, probably only the third time I had done anything along those lines, gone to a fancy sit down restaurant on a "date." I can recall what we ate, paella; and what we drank, sangria. I would not have expected to recall that, since it was so long ago and I have not seen the young lady (well, she would be, like me, not quite 60 by now) in probably 25 years or more, and I could tell you nothing about our conversation, which likely was not worth noting in any event (that is a criticism of myself, not her). I grew up maybe a 20 minute drive from here, past north campus. Back then, it was still half cornfields. Gandy Dancer was, and likely still is (I return to Ann Arbor at least once a year, but I am not keeping up on the local dining scene), the best restaurant in town. The term "gandy dancer" refers to the guys who worked on the railroad back in the era the transcontinental line was being built, the ones who operated a handcar as in old-time movies. In 40 years since, I believe I have had the paella once more. But I have sampled everything else. The food is, as expected, very good, and more conventional than not. They specialize in seafood. I have enjoyed the raw oysters and the shrimp cocktail. I also have had the meat. The duck in particular I would recommend, if that dish is of interest (it is rich, which is not unusual). If your grandparents grew up in America, you could take them here, and people do, and they would feel at home. It's for birthdays, weddings, graduations, first dates, business functions. As someone married (not the gal referenced above, you can infer), I have been with my wife, and the special occasion is that we are back in Ann Arbor, which is all about nostalgia (I'm not old enough to have been the Big Chill generation, but it is that same tug of emotion, the maudlin desire to experience again, but better, whatever it was the younger version of you enjoyed or endured). The interior is grand, and I remain impressed at three times the age I was when I stepped foot into it. We have sat outside at least once, and I recommend that as well. The only criticism, which is not in fact all that critical but descriptive, is this is not a place if you want a quick meal or a quiet one. This is festive, which means a leisurely pace and a loud environment. read more

Recently hosted a dinner for 7 at the Gandy dancer. The service was skimpy and inattentive at best. It took half an hour to get wine served and another hour to have the meal served. No intervening service to see if we wanted to have the wine replenished or anything else. The staff seemed to ignore the table of 7 while they concentrated on tables of 2 or 3. When the food was served my Red Snapper was ill-prepared and over cooked to the point of being almost inedible. No one came around during dinner to see if everything was alright. Not a good experience. Frank C. read more

Seated overlooking the tracks in this historic building was a great experience. Our server, Rodney was wonderful! He was very polite, knowledgeable and attentive! He made our lunch very enjoyable and relaxing! Thank you Rodney for an amazing lunch! read more

Gandy Dancer - Gorgeous outside patio but too hot today for anyone to enjoy! - Seafood Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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This was our first time at the Gandy Dancer-what an amazing experience at this perserved historical railroad station. From the time Audrey met and seated us, it was so enjoyable. Our party of seven sat at table eleven with a wonderful view of the tracks through the beautiful floor to ceiling glass windows. From the moment you walk in, you get a glimpse of life in the past. I was impressed with the beautiful decor that has been left in tact through the renovations that make it the restaurant that it is today. Rodney was our impeccable server. He was friendly, informative and attentive. He brought an air of elegance to the table. We started with sunburst salads and a wedge salad. Both were delightful. Our party enjoyed filet mignon, pomegranate glazed lamb chops, and the ultimate seafood mixed trio. All of us really found our meals delectable. We finished the evening with a sweet touch. Raspberry sorbet, creme brulee and a molten chocolate cake dessert were what we ordered. Each of us thoroughly enjoyed our choice. read more

I have always praised the ambiance of The Gandy Dancer when recommending it to out-of-towners. However, at dinner this evening, the service was the star of the show. Rodney is an exceptional server and knows his craft. Thank you for adding to the amazing experience for me, my wife and friend of ours, who was a first-time visitor. read more

Have been to the Gandy Dancer several times when in Ann Arbor. Will return again end of January - mostly because of two things. 1. Wonderful place (old station). 2. Wonderful food, diversity of options, wine list and very good service. Highly recommend. read more

Let's start off by saying the ambience is a bit cold and not welcoming. From the broken window outside in the gazebo to the hostess and host at the front desk. You book a reservation arrive treated rudely and told to wait while they serve other guests and see them in front of you. When I asked to speak to a manager about it her approach was also rude and tried to sit us at a table next to the server station. When I said that was not appropriate for a birthday celebration and all of the restaurant pretty much empty; it was rude inconsiderate and if I may form of opinion I feel it was because we had a transgender person with us and a gay person with us. What you find there is very rich snobby people. The food is overpriced and mediocre. When celebrating a special occasion I would not recommend this place or if you're different than the upper crust in Ann Arbor I would not recommend this place. read more

Fun time, great food, great service. We had a wonderful time. My daughter and I were visiting from out of town, will return

Such a cool and historic venue. Service was slow but there were a lot of patrons including kids from prom. Food was very good but the halibut was a little salty. Will return either way. read more

Gandy Dancer - Ahi tuna - Seafood Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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I was so embarrassed that I brought my family here to celebrate my mom's 80th birthday. It was a complete disaster from the start. Waiter was rude. Food was horrible. All four entree's were barely palatable. The absolute clincher was my mother got food poisoning I have tried to contact a manager for 4 days. I am put on hold and no one answers even after waiting for 20 minutes read more

I've dined at the Gandy Dancer restaurant for 45 years and during todays, 11/19/25, lunch my girlfriend found a gray hair in her salad. She has curly blond hair. She had already eaten about half of the salad and declined to eat the rest of it. When the bill arrived, we were still charged full price for the salad. When we requested a refund for the salad, the waitress, Relacha, refused to discount the bill stating, "No one in the kitchen has gray hair, implying we were lying about the hair, and you ate the protein (chicken)" We requested to speak to the manager, who came over and reiterated that "no one in the kitchen has gray hair", again implying we were lying. She did refund half of the cost of the salad. I discounted the rest of the salad cost from the waitress's tip. I can only remember one other experience at the Gandy Dancer of such dismissive, rude and bad customer service by wait staff and the manager. Needless to say, we won't waste our time and money on this restaurant again. read more

The service here is amazing, the food is fantastic, and the ambiance takes you back to a world of train stations and elegance. read more

Gandy Dancer - This is truly the best fish I've ever had. The combination of apple, Michigan cherries, risotto, and Chilean Sea Bass is amazing! - Seafood Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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The food was really good and fancy. The service was very good. The atmosphere was really fancy and awesome. I have the New York strip. It was delicious. I also had a couple appetizers. They were very delicious. I would go back there again. Ps the staff was very friendly read more

What a lovely experience we had at the Gandy Dancer. Great ambiance, and excellent service. The food was delicious, especially the crab mahi mahi and the steak. Shout out to Tony who provided us with some excellent recommendations for food, and beautifully balanced that line between giving us time to enjoy our meal, and making sure we were never waiting for him. read more

Wow, what a cool place! Architectural and history alone is worth the trip. Fantastic service and great food and drinks. Started with the Pearfect cocktail which was truly exceptional. Went with the suggested apple-bourbon sea bass and wild rice risotto which was amazing. Great special date night place. It is pricey, but for special occasions it is great. read more

Came here for dinner with my entire family for my sisters 40th bday and they cooked my wife's improperly and took forever to recook it and it was still not cooked properly but she ate it because by the time she got it everyone else at the table was almost done eating and we were still charged for it. Pretty poor service too. Very slow. read more

We (sisters) go to the Gandy Dancer to celebrate our birthdays. Besides the wonderful ambience and good food, we appreciate our favorite server, Rodney. As the face of the establishment, he is without peer. A professional to the letter, Rodney is gracious, kind, thoughtful and very charming. We only hope that the Gandy Dancer takes as good care of Rodney as he does all their customers. Thanks Rodney! Ann and Betsy read more

Nice vibe! Spent the Christmas Day with family here and it was a really enjoyable evening! I would recommend! read more

Gandy Dancer - The appetizers were amazing! - Seafood Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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We are very upset and sad. Tonight was our 1 year wedding anniversary and we wanted to splurge on a nice dinner. Our waiter came to our table to only give us our drinks and he was never seen again but sure walked past us plenty of times..the food runner was the one who had to bring out our food. Our waiter did not come to our table ONCE to ask if we needed any refills or how our food was. Didn't check one time to see if we needed anything. I finally had to flag down staff to get our waiter over to our table so they could fix our food and had to flag another staff member (once again) for a steak knife so we didn't have to use the butter knife to cut it. Steak was not done the way we asked and Lobster was pretty much cold. This was extremely disappointing since we were looking forward to a nice dinner for our 1st wedding anniversary. I regret not telling staff about how horrible our server was because we are usually not those kind of people but for the amount of money we spent, it was very upsetting. I was shocked, when our waiter finally gave us our bill he didn't even ask how our food was or anything. I regret coming here. Very disappointing and I am very saddened that this is how our 1st wedding anniversary dinner had to turn out. Horrible. read more

Where do I start? Without reservations, we were able to get a table on a very busy evening and I'm so thankful that we did. This historic landmark and fine dining establishment. Various dining rooms are connected with rich wood detail from ceilings to windows and wainscoting. Jasmine, our server knew the menu and provided excellent recommendations. We started with the Brie appetizer which instantly told us that we were in for a culinary thrill. The Caesar salad was very tasty and fresh and the lobster bisque was probably THE BEST I've ever had in my entire life. Between the sherry, crème fresh (?) and the overall texture, consistency and lobster flavor set this aside from any others. By the time our main courses arrived, we were already full! My husband had the prime rib, whipped potatoes with a crab cake. He forced himself to finish his steak, which was one of the best he's had. I had the seared sea scallops with butternut risotto. All six were perfectly cooked and nicely complemented the sweetness of the risotto. We were too stuffed for dessert, but that's okay. Clearly, we'd reached nirvana, and will return when in Ann Arbor! read more

Gandy Dancer - Prime Rib & Crab Cake* - Seafood Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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