The Hen had a line as long as Disney, but it moved quickly, which felt like proof the food really is that good. And it was. We had the breakfast tacos, shared the gluten-free waffles, and my girl got a massive BLTE. Everything was very good. The waffles were a little crunchier than we would have preferred, so they were not our favorite texture-wise, but the flavors and presentation were absolutely on point. Overall, definitely worth the wait. read more

I picked this location as we were visiting UM and there were lots of options. My son and I picked the croissant sandwich and my husband the Santa Fe bowl. I thought the sandwich was ok. I kept biting into something hard. It felt like a bone which is weird. The sandwich flavor was good. My son's didn't have enough sauce. The decorations were cute. Like they had the option of fizzy water or still. read more

My friend suggested this place and I was excited to try it after checking out its menu; it was extensive with something for everyone. Based on previous reviews and photos, I had a pretty good idea that this place gets busy on weekends. Guests place their order at the counter, select seating, and food is brought out to them. They will be asked to move if they've not ordered anything yet - or, if their friend/SO is ordering for them. My observation is that this system works. Despite the long lines on the first warm Saturday of the year, nobody waited. The restaurant sits between campus and downtown Ann Arbor. I liked that it is spacious but doesn't necessarily have a warehouse feel. The greenery and paintwork softened the look of the ductwork and piping. Guests can select between savory items like breakfast sandwiches, egg specialties, and toasts, as well as dishes on the sweeter side, pancakes, waffles, and French Toast. The bagel and lox always looked good, but with my allergies, I could not risk having it. Many guests, including my friend, selected the tacos, while I went with the steak and avocado toast. The steak was incredibly tender; I enjoyed the poached egg and asparagus that accompanied it. While waiting for my friend, I also had an apple fritter - an indulgence worth the carbs. Service was quick and professional. read more

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The Hen - Ann Arbor, MI It's bitterly cold outside. Single digits. An ungodly wind that cuts straight through your soul. Surely everyone must be home. I walk toward The Hen fully expecting an empty dining room. Instead, I step into easily the most packed restaurant I've ever seen. Aren't college kids supposed to be broke? Why is the entire student body here??? The queue snakes around like a Disney World line, but there's no chance I'm going back into that cold--so we ride it out. I couldn't decide between the lemon blueberry cheesecake pancakes or the breakfast tacos. So I went with both. Yes, it's a ton of food, but they were so unbelievably good that I probably ate three-quarters of everything. The tacos are wonderfully balanced: bacon, avocado, cheese, even potatoes. But the spiced ancho mayo is the star of the show--creamy, punchy, and bringing just enough heat to tie it all together. Now the pancakes. Let's get this out of the way... yes, it's a sugar bomb. I'll admit I had to scrape off a decent amount of the cheesecake spread. But oh my god is it good. Bright lemon, juicy blueberries, and indulgent in all the right ways. My criteria for crowning a breakfast restaurant is as stringent as they come--but The Hen might deserve a spot in the top three breakfast spots I've ever been to. The create mojo is flowing abundantly here. The entire operation is remarkable: managing that many patrons while consistently dishing out high-quality food in mere minutes. I tip my hat. The Hen has been goated. read more

The Hen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

There's usually a long wait, but we appreciate their organization and efficiency once we are able to order. It's very cutesy and Instagrammable inside, and it's busy, but not obnoxious or too noisy. They have fizzy water on tap, which gets them bonus points with my boyfriend. Our drinks came out in the time it took for me to walk to our table to drop off my things and come back to the coffee bar, which was very impressive. We both got the iced Pistachio Latté and it was very flavorful. The food came soon after, and it did not disappoint. They have condiments around the corner from the baked goods case. We wanted to try their waffles gluten free, and asked if we could recréer the raspberry and cream cheese pancakes on them, which the order taking staff member happily made possible. Everything was delicious and we were so glad to try some new treats! read more

The Hen - Gluten free waffles with raspberry drizzle and cream cheese - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Great breakfast place that bright and airy with quirky design elements on the walls. There are very creative and tasty menu options and the food's very good. read more

The Hen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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We were fortunate to find parking right in front on a Saturday afternoon! Walking inside, it was a big surprise to see how CROWDED it was!! You cannot claim any seating before ordering. They are very strict on that. I tried getting a table to sit down on because I am pregnant and my MIL is visiting. But they asked us to not sit until we have ordered and assured me they would help us find seats when it was our turn. I was very doubtful looking at the long line (we waited 20min before ordering). But he proved true to his word and got us a table! We waited about 10-15min for our food. There were sooo many students there! We ordered the Salmon Avocado toast, bagel breakfast sandwich, and Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast from their fall menu (it was perfectly moist but also toasty and sooo delicious like a cinnamon roll)!! It all was yummy!! You have 75min to eat there (because it's so crowded! But most people leave within 40ish min. We took an hour including wait time). They have 2 non gender restrooms available. At the water self-serve station, it's pretty cool because you get it "from on tap," So you get to pull the lever down and water sprays out! read more

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I had a lovely time during my recent visit to The Hen! I only wish I had discovered it sooner. I visited with a friend during early Sunday afternoon for some brunch food. The place was jam-packed with other folks, but staff were efficient with getting customers seated and their orders placed. The blueberry pancakes here were amazing!! The pancakes were fluffy and delicious with tasty blueberry jam and cream cheese flavoring. I also enjoyed my matcha beverage. I appreciated the water options on tap - flat or sparkling. The ambiance is casual and lively. The interior is beautifully lit with lots of natural sunlight streaming in through the tall windows. It's a great spot to hang out with a group of friends at. I hope to try some more of their lunch foods the next time I visit. Will definitely be back! read more

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Be prepared to stand in line, it's popular for good reason! The food is very tasty and there's a good variety. My go-to is the breakfast tacos, but their French toast is also very good and deep fried I believe. read more

Had to share a brunch update- had the cinnamon apple French toast and it did not disappoint! It hit the spot! read more

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I would move to Ann Arbor just to eat here all the time. This breakfast was absolutely fantastic. My husband and I could not stop talking about it. We ordered a breakfast burrito, mini chocolate chip waffles, and a breakfast sandwich served on a bagel. They also had a full coffee bar with tons of options. This is a quick service spot where you order at the counter and they bring the food out to you. It's a pretty big spot with lots of seating and even had an outdoor patio if that's more your speed. 100/10 read more

The Hen - Burritos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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The first impression, although a vibrant and happy place, was the long, long lineup you must traverse before getting to the counter to order. However, all was forgiven once we got to our seat and our breakfasts came to the table. Mom is a traditional girl and she was very happy with her breakfast. The bacon was fantastic and potatoes were amazing! I got The Fosters - more or less bananas foster French Toast which was to die for!! I wouldn't hesitate to get it again. The long line is a pain but it was worth it in the end!! read more

The Hen - Traditional - Eggs, Bacon, Potatoes and sourdough - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Nice spot for a weekday lunch! There was kind of a long line initially to order, but it moved fast and we were still in and out in the ~hour that I had for a lunch break. I was feeling like breakfast for lunch and got the south side omelette. It was delicious and I ate every bite! Got it with toast and a side of fruit. The coffee drinks sounded reeeally good but I don't do caffeine after noon. However, I now want to go back to try a pistachio latte. read more

The Hen - South Side - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Stray Hen has quickly become a favorite of ours for brunch here in Ann Arbor. It's an easy, delicious, and the vibe is just right. First, it's counter service for ordering. So plan for a more casual experience. It's good etiquette to wait to grab a seat after you order. During peak times it may seem like there isn't enough seating available but there will be! Every time I've thought "oh no am I going to get a place to sit?" something has opened up by the time I've checked out. Because there's no need to wait for a check or leftovers boxed up (there self serve take-out boxes located throughout) when you're done eating turnover is quick! That said you're not being rushed out the door. It's still a nice and comfortable space to linger a bit after your meal. For food everything I've had here has been great. The breakfast tacos? YUM. And very filling. The blueberry lemon pancakes? Decadent. The waffle flight? Perfect for splitting. The English muffin sandwich? Holy moly. Way bigger than you would expect. I seriously got two meals out of it. Also love the side of potatoes. Pro-tip--if you take home any of those as leftovers they crisp up AMAZINGLY in an air fryer. The self-serve water station includes a still and sparkling taps and every coffee beverage I've had has also been stellar. And for the price, the portions are huge. Wins all around! read more

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We stopped into The Hen in Ann Arbor for brunch and it was impressive from the moment we sat down. I ordered the avocado toast and it was one of the best I have had. The colors were vibrant the seasoning was thoughtful and the jammy egg tied everything together with the right richness. Even the side salad stood out with a bright tangy dressing that balanced the plate. My husband picked the blueberry French toast and it arrived as this beautiful towering stack that made everyone at the table stare. The flavor was spot on sweet but never heavy with fresh blueberries that made each bite feel special. Our daughter went for the Nutella pancakes and she was thrilled. The pancakes were soft fluffy and layered with enough Nutella to make any chocolate lover happy. Everything at The Hen felt intentional from the way the plates looked to the way the flavors came together. The food was beautiful the service was warm and the space has this cozy charm that makes you want to stay a little longer. This is the kind of brunch spot you think about later and start planning your next visit. read more

We come here all the time and have tried loads of different things on the menu. It's always delicious. They are always busy but we still get seated fast. Best iced mocha in Michigan. read more

I genuinely am such an Ann Arbor hater sometimes but I truly do not understand how you can mess up eggs... I've been to this place a couple of times now and I'm just consistently underwhelmed despite ordering the simplest things imaginable. Might I add you'll also wait in a long ass line and pay a fortune for the privilege of doing so. Most recently I got one of the scrambles and the eggs were just like mush and the sausage had zero flavor at all. The potatoes were fine albeit criminally undersalted and they did put a solid half Hass avocado on the plate so that alone recoups some of the cost but not enough to make me stop hating this godforsaken town. Perhaps I'm a little jaded at the moment because I gave a chance to a balding aviation nerd against my better judgment and we just broke up but I am comforted to know that he won't be able to get a good breakfast in a 20 mile radius. It's the little things. Wouldn't go back unless one of my hens strays in that direction. Le sigh read more

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The place was really cute. The people were so nice and it's pretty close to other shops! read more

The Hen - Smashed avocado, toast, poached egg, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, radish shredded, and sesame seeds - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Incredible extra fluffy blueberry cheesecake pancakes! My husband is a connoisseur so that's saying something. I also really loved the veggie breakfast tacos, great fresh flavors w: lots of ripe avocado! read more

The Hen - Blueberry lemon cheesecake pancakes and veggie breakfast tacos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Be warned: you order at the counter before you sit. The line to order can take up to an hour! I missed that part and was already very committed to standing in line by the time I realized how long it was taking. Was the food worth the wait? Absolutely not. Yes, I enjoyed my burrata toast, but I would have preferred sitting and ordering at the table. The lemon blueberry pancakes are tart, but beautiful. The matcha latte was underwhelming. Plus it it loud. I was not interested in overhearing the loud conversation my neighbors had at an obnoxiously loud volume about fine arts and all that jazz. Plus fellow patrons are just rude. Standing too close to you in line, hitting you with their backpack because they are too oblivious to be courteous to people. There were other open tables but we almost felt forced to sit where we sat instead of at another two-person table in a quieter spot. All of this was a Friday at 11am. I guess it's always crowded here, but again, not worth it to me. Maybe this is the hottest spot in town. Not a place for a quiet breakfast spot. Definitely not a place to bring kids (although people did do so). I'm not sure why there needs to be one person at the counter when it's clear there was table space (at least 9 empty ones that I counted), and food comes out fairly quickly. I'm just not on board with the process. read more

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The food was good. I really enjoyed my burrito and I liked the banana and Nutella waffle from the sample plate we got. For a really cute aesthetic place, the food is relatively affordable. The service was nice. My only complaint as someone who's been out of the college town scene for a handful of years now. It did stink to wait in line so long for the food. Maybe it's better during the week days. read more

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Popular place with students and locals. Good but not exceptional. Ambience is noisy and bustling.

This is not the place to go if you are either in a rush or if you hate standing in lines. This place has good food, but given that it js fast-casual, you will be standing in a line that loops back on itself several times inside and then pops out the door. The premise is that you wait in line and then are seated by the hostess after you place your order. The salmon platter looks great and my dining companion really enjoyed hers. I got the breakfast croissant with fruit, and it was good, but I didn't love the aioli that was on it. I would order something else next time. I have also visited the sister restaurant "Hen on the Fly", and I've had a better experience there. We ended up being able to place our order online and then sat at the picnic table outside to eat. While I don't remember what I had to eat there, I loved it and would happily go back. I think waiting in line at Stray Hen is enough of a drawback for me that I'd prefer the other restaurant or go somewhere else to eat. read more

I've now been to stray hen 2 times and can say it's amazing! The line does get pretty long if you go at rush hour (10am-1pm) but it's never too bad. I've had the salmon toast, cinnamon roll pancakes, latte, and tried the eggs. Everything is great. The pancakes are so so good, some of the best of had, but you should share. The salmon toast is also great but plated in kind of an annoying way, I have to rearrange it. The seating is good as well and the service but it's not so formal if you're looking for that. The coffee and matcha is also solid. Would definitely recommend and will continue to go back. read more

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My mom and I went on a road trip and decided to stop in Ann Arbor for some brunch and shopping to break up the drive. So happy we selected this spot for our brunch! You walk in, order at a counter, find a seat, then they bring your food to you when complete. We at first thought it may not be the quality we were hoping for with this layout, but we were wrong!! The food was insanely delicious and high quality. There were menu items not seen at many spots (filet and asparagus on my avocado toast? Yes please!). My mom has more dietary restrictions and so breakfast is often boring for her, but the custom scramble had SO many options that other places don't. Everything was cooked perfectly, the vibe was bright and fun. If we're in Ann Arbor again, we'll be back! read more

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First time to Stray Hen. High marks for food presentation and taste. The waffle flight is a delightful ensemble of four small waffles each creatively adorned with fruit and toppings. Dusted with powdered sugar, it's a decadent burst of flavors. My husband selected the north side scramble, which was good. He is less effusive in his praise but enjoyed his meal. Once your group gets seated it's a bright, spacious and inviting interior. Not too loud. On a Sunday morning arriving around 9:45, we had to wait roughly 35-40 minutes to work through the queue to place our order and find a seat. I think I understand the reasoning behind this system - it does work out that seats are available once you've placed your order - but I do miss getting to comfortably sit and enjoy coffee while waiting for food. Still, I am intrigued by Stray Hen and saw other things I'd like to try in their menu. Next time I'm in Ann Arbor, I'd visit again. read more

The Hen - North side scramble and waffle flight - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

We'd been taking about checking The Hen out for a while, and we're glad we finally made it! The location is just away from the hustle and bustle of Liberty St, and the vibes are great, we loved the setup where you ordered then found a table. Once you're seated the food comes over in no time, and it was really good! We especially loved the blueberry-lemon cheesecake pancakes, we've been twice...ordered them twice . The Hen is definitely a new addition to our brunch rotation! read more

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After hearing a lot of praise for Stray Hen, I stopped through with a group of four for Sunday Brunch this fall -- let me tell you, Stray Hen is quite an experience! The ambiance of the restaurant really meets the desires of the clientele -- clean, chic, and very Instagrammable. That said, if you come during a peak time, expect a solid wait (30 min or more). Stray Hen has adopted the approach of some brunch restaurants in bigger cities like Nashville, structuring the line such that you order up front and the food is brought to you, optimizing the throughput after ordering and leaving the bottleneck at the point of ordering. There are definitely pros and cons to this, but the upside is that there are usually tables open by the time you order! The food and drinks similarly meet the needs of the Instagrammer; very nice to look and you'll get a great story post from the food/ drinks. That said.... I was a little underwhelmed with the taste overall. The savory dishes were a little bland, and the sweet dishes were *crazy* sweet. Overall, you'll probably get a similar tasting but less visually appealing meal at your local Coney Island. Is it worth a visit? Sure -- especially if you're looking to check it out once and keep exploring for other brunch spots after that. read more

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This place has been on my list to try for a while. It is SO GOOD! There's a reason why the line is always so long. They offer a variety of sweet and savory menu items that satisfies any cravings. The inside is well lit with big windows and plenty of seating that fills up quickly. The decor is very simple and vibrant at the same time. You have to order at the counter first (typically will have a line) and then they give you a number for your table. When it's busy like that, the staff will help find a table. All of the food was delicious and so fresh. I was so impressed with the breakfast tacos and southwest breakfast bowl, which sounds so simple, but was packed with flavor. The pancakes were huge. We couldn't finish that but we also had the waffle flight which was good, but nothing special. The green apple and cookie butter waffle was unique though. Everything was so fast for being so busy. Can't wait to try more from their menu! read more

The Hen - RoosRoast drip coffee to-go - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Mixed reviews! If you're pressed for time this is not the spot for you. There definitely is going to be a wait but the line moves fairly quickly. You grab a menu, wait in line, place your order and they help you find a table. The owner can be rude if you to save a table up front. That is unless he knows you (friend or family) got escorted around the line each and every time. Buyer be ware!! EVERYTHING and I mean everything is a la carte. Down to the syrup for your pancakes or waffles if you don't like them dry. Once you get past all of that the food is pretty good and reasonably priced. We got the Mr. Burrito (potatoes on the side), croissant sandwich and T&A with a side of fries. The burrito was balanced, just enough for a smaller appetite. The T&A is a great choice if you LOVE eggs otherwise it can be a bit too much and the fries are amazing!!! The croissant was ok, but I wouldn't order a 2nd time. Overall it's ok for the price and a nice sit down spot in AA. read more

The Hen - Croissant sandwich, T&A sandwich paired with Mr. Burrito. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

We ordered carryout from Hen on the Fly on Packard. We had the breakfast tacos with potatoes and a scone. The food was really good and was ready quickly. I would definitely order from them again. read more

The stray hen cafe is refreshing and delicious. Is there a long wait? Yes. Is the wait worth it? 100% Yes. Order before you sit down. Food is then brought to your table. For drinks you do have to wait until their call your order once it's ready. We ordered the buratta toast 10/10 very flavorful. Lemon blueberry pancakes 10/10. Hot honey biscuit 9/10 ( I would minus the honey). Iced vanilla latte 5/10 ( milk options are only skim, almond, oat). Overall the experience was great I would definitely go back. Definitely not kid friendly. They're only open till 3pm. It's a very busy place for sure so plan accordingly and to wait in the line before you can place your order. Public parking is a 8 min walk. Street parking is there but we did not find any so no luck for us. Lots of college students and locals. Cute decor, loud. read more

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Super yummy gluten free :) Celiac safe huge sandwiches :) Busy but perfect :) Would definitely go back. read more

Not sure what this place is going for but it's confusing, and the food does not make up for it. Service wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. You walk up to the counter to order and seat yourself. They handed us utensils after we ordered, but only one set of them? They also never told us that we needed to grab the drinks that we ordered ourselves, and that it wouldn't be brought out to the table (we ordered coffee). If we never went up to look for water, our drinks just never would have came. The coffee we ordered wasn't bad, if anything I would ONLY come here for the coffee. We had the white mocha chocolate and the pumpkin spice. (Had great flavor and wasn't too sweet) The food though? Hard pass. Everything that was supposed to be seasoned felt under seasoned, and everything that wasn't supposed to be seasoned, was??? For starters, both things we ordered just felt like ingredients cooked and thrown on the plate with no preparation (just lacked any flavor whatsoever). But the fruit that came with the egg plate was salted? Not sure how that works. Hard to recommend this place when the best thing we had was the toast and coffee. read more

The Hen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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My absolute favorite brunch place in Ann Arbor. We went around 12:30pm on a Monday and it was jam packed. There was a snaked line to wait in before ordering at the counter but the wait did not feel terribly long. Make sure to grab a menu before getting in line so you can place your order when it's your turn. The cashier will hand you a table marker and point you to where your table is. If you order any drinks, you'll have to wait by the bar to hear the barista call out your order. I ordered a french hot coco. It was on the dark, bitter, watery side. Not what I expected and I did not enjoy it. What I do thoroughly enjoy is the fruit parfait with agave instead of honey. The berries in this bowl are comically large and fresh. The agave is the perfect sweetness needed on top of the plain yogurt. The granola is a perfect blend of crunch, taste and texture. Not hard where it's awkward to chew like other granola. The croissant sandwich made with ooey fried egg, turkey bacon, and gouda cheese was good though small but it was $7. I think what would make it better is more bacon and cheese because I could only taste the egg and the spice flavor in the ancho mayo. Note: no designated parking given it's downtown and meters are sparse in the vicinity. The parking meter app is: epark Ann Arbor, $1.40/hr. It doesn't take Discover. read more

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Serves breakfast and lunch with an extensive menu. You stand in line to order, then seat yourself and food is delivered to table. Staff was all friendly, helpful and efficient. Struggled with what to order because everything getting delivered and plates on tables all looked so delicious!! I settled on blueberry pancakes ... fruit in and on , and side of bacon. My guest had the Tex Mex salad, very big portion, and side of fries. Decor was trendy and super cute. 4 stars because they deliver the food as it's ready .. fine, but when your waiting to eat for everyone, food gets cold. Would prefer all at once (that's just me ‍) Side of fries is a small. Food was all better than expected and would definitely return read more

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The food here is fresh and healthy. Their service was amazing and the place is such a cute brunch spot but also gives coffee shop vibes. I loved the presentation of their food and everything was very fresh read more

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These waffles were so good. The cookie butter apple one changed my brain chemistry. I also got the biscuit sandwich. It was decent, but biscuit easily fell apart. Would love to come back and try more stuff here. read more

The Hen - Waffle flight - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Stray Hen is the perfect brunch cafe! They serve both breakfast and lunch items all day. Everything I have tried here has been delicious. They have you stand in line and order first before being seated, so if it's a busy time you could be standing in line for 45 minutes but it's so worth it. They serve Roo's Roast coffee which I love but they make the lattes a bit sweet for my liking so I would get it 1/2 sweet next time. Also, we subbed the normal sausage/bacon on our sandwiches for chicken sausage and they did up-charge us for it. Despite that I love the natural light ambiance here and would return at a less busy time! (We went Sunday morning lol) read more

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Ambiance: Pretty spacious and there is a long line so be prepared to stand and ponder on what you want to get! Service: It is pretty good! They give good recs. Food $$: I got the salmon bowl and they have good portions! Experience: I enjoyed it! It is a good mom daughter brunch or catching up with friends! Audience: Solo Trip [X] Family Friendly [ ] Friends [X] Date Spot [ ] Recommendations/tips: You should do doing non lunch hours if you don't like to wait. read more

The Hen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan