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    The Grotto

    4.3 (122 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)

    The Grotto Photos

    THE GROTTO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Grotto

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    Summer flight on patio
    Don J.

    Great place to enjoy some craft beer on a warm summer day. Their convenient QR code ordering system makes it easy to browse the draft list right from your table and order a pint, or a flight. Our beer was delivered within a few minutes of ordering, and we were able to close out and pay without waiting for a server to deliver our check and run our card. Legit and constantly changing selection of local and craft beer. Shaded outdoor tables are great for people-watching.

    Local Hazy IPA
    Mark L.

    Second visit to the Grotto for beer. Nice beer selection. You order online (virtually ?) from your phone (QR codes) and they bring the beer to the table. Nice casual location. Easy in - easy out with the no sit down. Need a credit card. Not sure if they take cash. There are a few tables inside, but most of the seating is outdoors, which is great for Ann Arbor (maybe not winter ).

    Spicy margarita and mule
    Katy C.

    We were walking around the area looking for bars to check out while visiting Ann Arbor over the summer and The Grotto caught Nate's eye. We sat at a picnic table outside and were greeted quickly. Our server was super nice and friendly, and gave us recommendations on other places to go, including the 8 ball dive bar. The Grotto's beer menu is huge with 30+ taps, but we went with a spicy margarita and a mule this time. The drinks were decent, nothing super special, but good versions of these classic cocktails. The people watching was great in this area so it was fun to enjoy a drink outside. I'd definitely come back and try some beer next time we're in the area.

    Ivy League? Maybe not, but still rad.
    Daniel B.

    This is surely the nicest place to enjoy a burger from Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger. Being able to bring in your own food to a beer bar with a large selection of taps is an incredible feature. Naturally, without a kitchen to increase revenue, the beer prices might be a buck or two higher than you may find elsewhere. However, the setting is lovely with both covered and uncovered outside tables. There are heat lamps should it get nippy outside. Plus the service staff is quite friendly. I do wish the beer selection didn't lean so heavily on IPAs. That is a common complaint for me, along with so many beers that are flavored or contain gimmicky adjuncts. Props for having a deep list of pilsners and lagers. But I would love to see some hard to find beers from around the world. Having only one beer listed in their "Belgian/Wheat/Cream Ales" category which was just a Belgian-style beer made in Pennsylvania and available in nearly every supermarket, is what I would consider to be a red flag. The Grotto is good, but I also know they could do better... if they really wanted to raise their game. The issue isn't more beers. They have plenty. I would love to see a more curated selection that would really knock people's socks off. Although to be fair, the issue may simply be people. People love their fruited gose, double pastry stouts, and beers modeled after cocktails. Maybe one day I'll find a place to go in Ann Arbor for Geuze, ESBs, Farmhouse Ales, or true Belgian Blondes. In the meantime, The Grotto is a lovely spot downtown to sit down for one of my favorite burgers and a pint.

    The menu
    Darrell K.

    I decided to take a stroll in the downtown Ann Arbor area. I decided that I wanted a meal and a drink. I passed Grotto and decided this would be a great spot seeing that I had not been here before. We asked and were told that we seated ourselves. The waiter gave us the rundown. You can holler and ask for Any waiter, there are mainly drinks and beer, there was not usually food but this was football night so there was a limited menu. Cool and different. Different is great sometimes. I ordered the crispy burrito and taco. I also ordered a nice wheat beer that was recommended. The food was great for a spot that does not specialize in food. This was a nice spot with a good vibe. I would recommend it as a stop if you are ever walking around the area.

    Beer on patio
    Samantha M.

    Great Beer selection? Patio? Count me in! Scan the QR code and just order from your table. It's wonderful. We enjoyed the Gumballhead what beer from Bells & the Edmund Fitzgerald Porter from Great Lakes Brewing Company. There is still time to enjoy the outdoors! Go for it!

    Green Tea Shots
    Davontae F.

    First things first, this is one of my go-to spots for happy hour and drinks in Ann Arbor! My friends and I enjoy coming here to celebrate the end of the week with drinks and good vibes. The cocktails here are really good as well. Not pictured is my go-to, the Moscow mule! Let's just say after two of them I feel great! The green tea shots here hit different (in a good way)! As you can see me and my friends enjoyed ourselves with a whole round of shots! I'd highly recommend this place! A pro-tip is that you can have food delivered here from other restaurants while you enjoy your drinks!

    Beth H.

    Much improved!!! I love writing update reviews for great improvements. Again, my office wanted a happy hour to celebrate a co-worker at a venue with great beer. Beer Grotto fits that bill - but to avoid the catastrophe we had last time, I called to ask if space could be reserved for 20 and not take the chance that seats would be available, like last time. Doesn't hurt to ask. Jamie was great! He listened to my concern and agreed to reserve space for 20 of us. The office has the Beer Grotto, I have less stress because I was able to reserve seats and BG got a lot of business for an hour and a half. Win-Win-Win. It worked out perfectly. Everyone had a seat and was happy. I was able to open a tab on my card but the boss switched it to his card and treated us when he closed the tab. I told the staff that this is the best happy hour we have had in a long time and I really appreciated their accommodations. The Boss showed his appreciation with a good tip. The patio is bigger, with more tables along both streets. More beverage options for cocktails, frozen drinks, and wine. Grizzly Peak has an abbreviated menu that they will walk over to you for free, or BG encourages you to bring in your own food. Kosmo's, Blimpy burger and The Fleetwood are across the street! I won't make a request for 20 a habit, but glad to know it's an option for 4pm on a Wednesday afternoon. They will surely see us again. Thanks Jamie and Beer Grotto!

    Menu
    Liz P.

    I had been wanting to try The Beer Grotto for a while now, and got my chance this past Saturday night. My boyfriend and I both ordered the Weinstephaner (sp?), on draft, for $6.50 each. I had tried a different version of it before, and I ended up liking that one better than this one, but it was still okay - I'm not a big beer person in general. I believe they had 20-30 beers on tap, and then a few more in bottles. The place itself is small, but they have an outdoor seating area too, along with some heat lamps throughout. It was nice and warm inside but there was no seating, so we sat outside, it was about 60 out so that was fine. They don't sell any food, I believe, except truffle popcorn ($2), which I'd like to try next time. Overall, not my favorite place to drink out of all the Ann Arbor establishments I've been to, but I may return in the future.

    people sitting at tables outside at night

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    11 months ago

    Brutus provided excellent service. One of the mainest experiences I've ever had as a young jit

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    2 years ago

    Great beer and service. No foid, but you can order from the huge number of nearby restaurants. Very dog friendly in a heated patio.

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    3 years ago

    Decent selection of beers, came because the website advertised games and then couldn't find them? No complaints otherwise

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    Dave S.

    Thank you, John! Let us know how we might get that fifth star!

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - The Grotto

    Do they serve food?

    No. But they have a menu for food delivery. You can bring you own food in and there are places across the street.

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    Casey's Tavern - Burger deluxe

    Casey's Tavern

    4.0(247 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Great vibes + Excellent Service + Good Grub = Casey's…read more And that's a math fact! Also- good proximity to the train station, Yost Ice Arena, and other cool stuff.

    Stopped by with friends who haven't been here before... we can on a Monday and thank goodness it…read morewas slow. Seating was simple and quick... they do check your ID at the door before you get seated. Interior hasn't changed and I don't expect it to change. I appreciate the old vibe that place gives. For meal, we ordered: - few onions rings - Fried Artichoke Hearts - 2 regular burgers and 1 order "over the top" - few beers The service is hit or miss, depends on how busy the place gets... our waitress was working six tables by herself, but she did all she could to help. The onion rings were awesome, fried artichoke hearts, you can skip... for the burgers, I would recommend you stick to classic - meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato and onions. We all got it med, the meat was juicy as usual and we all enjoyed it. The draft beer that I ordered was flat unfortunately. When we got our check I noticed that there was a "convenience fee 3%", which is applied to your meal prices only. I'm not a fan of convenience fee, if they are trying to offset the credit card charges or adjust their prices due to the inflation or higher material costs, they should just raise their prices to offset those. I also didn't see anything about convenience fee being added, granted if it was in a smaller print so I could have missed it. It seems everyone is adding on convenience fee to everything.

    Photos
    Casey's Tavern - Art in the restaurant was from commissioned pieces from 2013.  Beautiful Ann Arbor scenes

    Art in the restaurant was from commissioned pieces from 2013. Beautiful Ann Arbor scenes

    Casey's Tavern - Burgers (Beef*, Black Bean or Impossible) Corned Beef or Hot Pastrami Asian Chicken Salad

    Burgers (Beef*, Black Bean or Impossible) Corned Beef or Hot Pastrami Asian Chicken Salad

    Casey's Tavern - Locally produced - not bad

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    Locally produced - not bad

    The Grotto - pubs - Updated May 2026

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