Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Pretzel Bell

    3.4 (335 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order The Pretzel Bell Takeout or Delivery

    Services - The Pretzel Bell

    Venue rental

    The Pretzel Bell Photos

    Business Info

    THE PRETZEL BELL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    DJ
    Live music
    Casual

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - The Pretzel Bell

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Rajeev L.

    I feel cheated. Thought I was going to a historic U of M institution however I was hoodwinked. The original Pretzel Bell closed ages ago in 1985 and now new owners have opened another restaurant by the same name in a different location. The deception! The tomfoolery! Anyway I do appreciate the effort and also the food was good. That pretzel do kinda slay. Also that cheese sauce it came with was yum as well.

    Holiday drinks
    Sarah K.

    My husband and I went to the down bar for the Christmas vacation popup in December and it was so fun! The themed drinks were delicious, as were the hot pretzel and potato skins (more like half a potato!) They really outdid themselves with the fun themed decorations; the ambiance with the decor and movie playing was amazing.

    Jessica C.

    Ordered my soft baked pretzel to go and it came with warm cheese dip and honey mustard dip. It was about $6.50. The waitress who greeted me was friendly and led me to the bar so I could sit while I waited for my pretzel. The pretzel tasted very good! It had perfect soft and baked texture and the temp was nice and warm. The warm cheese dip paired really well with it! The honey mustard was a little too mustardy for me. I had to brush off some of the salt as it was a little too much but it tasted good!

    Menu
    Harmony P.

    Our server was so sweet and really helped make our experience a good one. The food was DELICOUS the burger is totally reccomended. The pretzel ofc was good loved the cheese. Will definitely be coming back here when I'm back in Ann Arbor.

    Pretzel
    Reese S.

    The restaurant and staff were friendly and we were seated quickly. The food was good and came quickly out. There was no one dish that stood out, but overall a nice place to eat and great location downtown.

    Molly T.

    We came in for a late Saturday lunch, and just didn't have a great experience with the service or vibes. The place was empty, but it took us quite a while to even get water, and food took its time coming out as well. Servers and hosts were not really out on the floor, and our booth was not well-cleaned. I ordered the smoked salmon toast which was good, and my friend got the smoked salmon omelette which was alright. Just kind of a let down:/

    Alexa T.

    I can't believe I've never been here before. My friends walked in on a Friday night (8 pmish) and were seated right away. We got seated at a high top table. The stools spin but are weird and are kind of lopsided. Service was kind of slow. It took awhile for us to order and for us to get our food What we ordered: - complimentary bread: we didn't know we were gonna get this! It came with butter - pretzel ($11): it was a solid pretzel and came with hot mustard and cheese sauce. The saltier bits were better. - burger ($19): I got mine medium rare and asked for aioli on the side. I got sweet potato fries that I enjoyed. I wish they were crispier though. - fried chicken sandwich ($18): my friends liked it. There's bathrooms in the back and there is a downstairs area (I didn't get to check it lot though). There are TVs around the restaurant that are playing all sports games.

    Pretzel crouton Caesar Salad
    Dia D.

    We had lunch here on a beautiful Sunday afternoon so we sat outside. If you are a sports fan, there is a tv and a loud speaker outside so you can get the Sports Bar experience while eating outside. We had the spicy (it wasn't spicy) chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries and a Caesar Salad. Everything tasted good, BUT you have probably had a tastier version of everything at another restaurant. Our server was friendly and helpful and once we had ordered our food arrived quickly.

    Pretzel
    Orrin E.

    Had a little time to kill- stopped in for happy hour. It's funny how pretzels can vary from place to place. Philly pretzels are totally different from Pittsburgh pretzels and this pretzel was distinctively different - in a good way. The cheese was tasty, too. They have a nice cocktail list and the happy hour prices were perfect. Staff was friendly, decor is fun.

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of A C.
    0
    1
    2

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Maggie W.
    62
    351
    54

    6 days ago

    Popped in for drinks! We opted to sit outside and the service was good. Our drinks were good! The inside seemed large and welcoming!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Liz M.

    Liz M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dia D.
    106
    1099
    2581

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Good outdoor seating. Nice options of drinks and appetizers. Great spot for weekends or game days, does get busy on game days but it's fun!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jay M.
    147
    52
    20

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 19
    Thanks 0
    Love this 19
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Stella G.
    231
    67
    19

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bri B.
    0
    12
    10

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cailey R.
    22
    179
    161

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of C M.
    2
    549
    0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John K.
    10
    413
    2

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - The Pretzel Bell

    You might also consider

    Spencer - Saucisson Sec, Leelanau Raclette, mustard & pickled carrots, Sourdough Focaccia with Squash & Red Onion, Rainbow Trout Rillettes & herbs.

    Spencer

    4.4(216 reviews)
    0.1 miDowntown Ann Arbor
    $$

    Small but it works. Very interesting dishes with a different menu each week. Great wine pairings…read moreand nice vegetarian options. Tough to get reservations so book 3 weeks in advance

    My friend had high praise for Spencer, so I was excited to try it out when I was in Ann Arbor. My…read morefriends and I arrived 10 min before they opened for brunch and there was no wait, though the restaurant filled up quickly behind us. The space is rustic and simple, with fresh cut flowers on the tables. A majority of the walls were occupied by floor to ceiling racks of wine, as that is their award-winning product. Their brunch menu changes weekly and is extremely tight and cohesive. My party ordered the entire food menu sans olives (2/3rds of us don't like them), and two plates of the potato pelmeni. My thoughts below: Amaro Apertivo: mocktail based on the namesake dessert wine. This tasted like candy but not too sweet, and we enjoyed it a lot. Lovage soda: Google told me that lovage is an herb that tastes like citrus and celery. I am a huge fan of drinks with a twist, and I'd say that celery is a pretty big one! Crisp and not too sweet, the citrus flavor definitely balanced the Celery, and both flavors kept the soda fresh and crisp. This was great paired with the rest of the herbaceous menu and balanced out the richness of some later dishes, though it's not necessarily something I would enjoy by itself without appropriate accompaniment. Pickled egg, fried shallot, dill: I had only heard of pickled eggs in the context of strange British food on YouTube, so I was a little hesitant about this dish. The concept of an egg floating in vinegar brine is a bit off-putting, but once I powered through that mental roadblock, I found myself enjoying this bite. The egg is perfectly cooked with a slightly jammy yolk, and the shallots added a much needed crunch. Dill enhanced the pickled taste while cutting through the richness of the fried shallots and yolk. Sourdough focaccia, whipped butter: Never in my life have I ever made focaccia this tall. This focaccia was raised by a loving family and nurtured to develop a golden, non-greasy, crisp crust protecting its tender, pillowy innards. The classic sourdough tang is a novel addition to each bite, and cuts through the creamy, whipped butter to keep me wanting more. I could eat a whole pan of this alone, but we had many more plates to sample. Saucisson sec salami, pickled carrot: This is a simple, charming, carb-free mini charcuterie; place a slice of salami, some of the mozzarella (next dish on this list, below), and its oil atop a pickled carrot base, and you are in for a perfectly balanced treat. My favorite part of this dish is the fact that the salami was incredibly savory, and not too salty. The more you chew it, the more the flavors express themselves, so be sure to chew slowly and thoroughly! The crunch of the crisp, dill-pickled carrot and the soft chewiness of the mozzarella give each bite a lot of good contrast. Mozzarella, green garlic oil: Fresh, hand-stretched mozzarella is something that even I, a notorious cheese-hater, can't say no to. It is not sharp or funky at all, nor is it too salty. Most of the flavor comes from the green garlic and olive oil smothering each bite. Fresh and floral with a little bite, this was delicious with the salami and carrot above. Potato pelmeni, asparagus green adjika, sour cream: Given the portion size of the previous dishes (small, tapas vibes), we were not expecting the platter full of double carb heaven that met our eyes. And we ordered two!!! This is a gorgeous dish with plump, quarter-sized pelmeni nestled in a vibrant green asparagus and herb sauce with a dollop of sour cream on top. This was a classic comfort dish with a verdant twist! The pelmeni were stuffed full of creamy potato, and the dough was cooked perfectly al dente for a satisfying, pillowy bite. The sauce was homey but packed with zippy flavor and tender asparagus. The major feedback I have for this dish is that it was way too salty, to the point where the flavor was a tad too sharp because of it. Lettuces, radish, pumpkin seed, caraway vinaigrette: It was through this dish that I found out what caraway tastes like and through this dish that I figured out that I'm not a caraway fan. The lettuces were bitter and when combined with the slightly medicinal caraway taste, wasn't for me. The crunch of the radish and the nutty pumpkin seeds were great in this dish though! Fennel cornmeal biscotti, rhubarb compote, cream: This was a single biscotti with generous dollops of compote and cream. We were quite full when this dish was set in front of us, so I was frankly relieved for the small portion size. The fennel in the biscotti paired wonderfully with the tart rhubarb, and the rich cream rounded things out nicely without tipping into cloying territory. The savory cornmeal complimented the fennel and provided additional depth of flavor. A great small bite to end on! Overall, Spencer's strong fundamentals allow them to take risks with in-season local produce. Some things worked for me and some didn't, but I would love to come back to see what they can create next!

    Photos
    Spencer - Interior

    Interior

    Spencer - Mussels

    Mussels

    Spencer - Strawberry drink (non alcoholic), and a glass of orange wine!

    See all

    Strawberry drink (non alcoholic), and a glass of orange wine!

    Echelon Kitchen and Bar - Amuse bouche from the kitchen

    Echelon Kitchen and Bar

    4.2(84 reviews)
    0.0 miDowntown Ann Arbor

    I have several interests: building Lego, reading mysteries, and seeking out a delicious meal. Yelp…read morehas allowed me to chronicle these adventures, serving as a repository for my dining memories. Echelon has now made it to my exclusive list of 5-star restaurants. I readily admit to being a tough reviewer - very few places earn a 5. Allow me to share some of the reasons: Service was stellar. The staffers were professional and friendly. They quickly brought out each course and cleared the table efficiently. They were tireless in answering my many questions about the ingredients. I prefer tasting menus. For me, after the first few bites, my taste buds get fatigued. The six-course tasting menu, with its complex flavors and textures, kept me interested throughout the meal. The dining room was spacious and well-appointed, without being stuffy and overwhelming. I loved the table groupings and comfy seats, whimsical wall coverings, oversized lighting, and wall of windows. I believe the tasting menu changes; I had: - A bite of brick dough (I had to look it up) pastry, served with a tart, faintly bitter rhubarb soda for a palate cleanser. - The Kanpachi crudo arrived with smoky fanfare. It was served with agua fresca and droplets of chili oil, topped with watermelon radish. I loved the fatty, slippery fish paired with the acidic, fresh, and spicy liquid. - My favorite course was the wood-roasted maitake mushroom in a shoyu glaze, topped with shallots, with a red pepper sauce. I wouldn't have minded a main entrée of these savory, meaty mushrooms. - Next up was the sesame seed-encrusted shrimp toast on Japanese milk bread. It was served with lobster bisque and tiny lobster tail skewers. I am very familiar with deep-fried shrimp toast, a dim sum staple, and loved the novelty of black and white sesame seeds. The bisque was rich and flavorful, while the lobster tail was sweet and delicious. It was such a variety of flavors on one plate. - I never had Cappelletti before and enjoyed the pasta stuffed with a manchego-ricotta mix. It was served with more mushrooms (yay!), buttermilk froth, and fried shallots. - The restaurant considered the Wagyu bavette the star of the tasting menu. While I liked the tender beef, peppercorn demi-glace, potato croquettes, and creme fraiche topped with bacon, I still preferred the mushroom course. - The grapefruit granita and compressed grapefruit were another nice palate cleanser. - The dessert was as beautiful as it was creative. Sunchoke ice cream and crispy sunchoke straws enhanced the chocolate hazelnut flavors. I only wish a duck course was available on the day of my visit. It was offered a few weeks earlier.

    Really enjoyed our tasting menu here! This place has been open for a while - overtook the old…read moreMongolian BBQ space in downtown Ann Arbor and I've heard mixed reviews. Mostly that it's a bit overpriced for the portions. They do have vegetarian options but not a lot. It's one of those cases where you can pay $20 for a plate of vegetables and expect that to be a full mean but if you eat meat or fish you're getting something a bit more substantial. I was hesitant to come for just dinner and order à la carte for that very reason. So instead: we came for the vegetarian tasting menu. They offer a vegetarian, vegan or pescatarian (as well as regular Meat) tasting menu on Wednesdays and Thursdays only and it's 5 or 7 courses. We did 5 which was plenty. It was a very vegetable-forward meal but it was a good way to try their menu. I do wish they had more vegetarian protein offerings but again, the flavors were fantastic. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive and was able to explain each dish with detail. I'll def come back but I hope they offer some protein options like beans or tofu or something for their herbivore friends!

    Photos
    Echelon Kitchen and Bar - Love the light fixtures. The different sizes and placement make them look like effervescent bubbles floating in the room.

    Love the light fixtures. The different sizes and placement make them look like effervescent bubbles floating in the room.

    Echelon Kitchen and Bar - Torchietti: smoked oat cream, olive, roasted mushroom, sun-dried tomato,& grilled scallion conserva

    Torchietti: smoked oat cream, olive, roasted mushroom, sun-dried tomato,& grilled scallion conserva

    Echelon Kitchen and Bar - Root vegetable cake

    See all

    Root vegetable cake

    Sava's - Blueberry Cheesecake

    Sava's

    3.9(1.5k reviews)
    0.4 miDowntown Ann Arbor
    $$

    Great Brunch, good Lunch, but menu could use more variety!…read more Savas is an adorable restaurant with a really welcoming atmosphere; the space is cute, the environment is lovely, and the staff is genuinely amazing every single time. My first visit was for brunch, and it completely won me over. The buffet had a wonderful variety of food, the mimosas and cocktails were delicious, and for the quality, variety, and service you get, the price point is very fair. I left thoroughly impressed. I came back for lunch excited to experience it again, and while the staff was just as warm and the environment just as great, however, this time the lunch menu didn't quite live up to my expectations. They offer salads, sandwiches, mac and cheese and similar American-style comfort food, which is totally fine, but for a restaurant of this caliber I was hoping for something a little more exciting. I ended up ordering a salad with added shrimp, which was absolutely delicious, and a pomegranate rosemary lemonade that was incredibly refreshing - perfect for a summer day-. But if you're not in the mood for sandwiches, salads, or mac and cheese, your options are pretty limited. My suggestion: keep doing everything you're doing because the hospitality and atmosphere are truly special, but consider expanding the lunch and dinner menu for those looking for a heartier or more diverse meal.

    I was here solo and ate at the bar. The bartender had excellent service. Ordered the sava burger…read morewith sweety fries. Some of the best fries i ever had. Burger was juicy and delicious. Got the raspberry tiramisu which had a great presentation but I'm not really a fan of raspberry mousse. Wish they had the cheesecake. The ambiance is great for date night vibe. Also, everyone who works here is very good looking. Especially the curly haired bartender and the indian girl at the front.

    Photos
    Sava's - Inside restaurant

    Inside restaurant

    Sava's - Cheesecake ($12) - bruleed, strawberry jam, berries

    Cheesecake ($12) - bruleed, strawberry jam, berries

    Sava's - Raspberry Lavender Lemonade

    See all

    Raspberry Lavender Lemonade

    Bellflower - Olive Oil Cake ($12) - very good! Vanilla-rhubarb compote with Guernsey whipped cream.

    Bellflower

    4.6(219 reviews)
    7.3 miDowntown Ypsilanti
    $$

    I've dined at bellflower multiple times and I've only had great experiences at the restaurant. For…read morethis instance, I came to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. We were escorted to our table by our lovely host, and when we arrived at our table in the back of the restaurant, there was a cute "happy birthday" table card waiting for us. This was incredibly thoughtful and a nice touch for our celebration dinner. Also, I love how this restaurant is decorated - the art work, the furniture, and plants - all come together to create a welcoming, cozy, warm atmosphere for any dining experience. I also love how the menu continuously rotates and highlights fresh produce from local suppliers. We both ordered a different dish and shared, plus we had some leftovers, so the portions are very generous. We also tried some of the oysters with vinaigrette they were fresh and delicious. To conclude our dinner, we were gifted with a DELIGHTFUL banana pudding with a scoop of ice cream and a candle to make a wish (though our wish for a wonderful meal and dining experience was throughly satisfied already ) Thanks again for a great time bellflower!

    Fantastic meals and outstanding service! The ambience was very welcoming. We were two couples and…read moreshared the starters - plenty for four people. The salad was fresh and well dressed - simple but good. The second starter was sardine tin. Very very good. Not overly fishy and the garnishes served with it were perfect. For mains which are enough to share, one was the trout! Absolutely well seasoned and crispy. It is served whole and butterflied. We changed the side to the house vegetable. OMG these sautéed garden veggies were the best! The other main was a Japanese curry dish. Here is why the five starting dropped to a four. It was just ok. We would not order again. For dessert we had the bread pudding- another star for the night! To the owner, terrific staff. Everyone we engaged in, were positive and knowledgeable. They are a great team! Looking forward to a second visit!

    Photos
    Bellflower - Bar and seating

    Bar and seating

    Bellflower - Pork cutlet sandwich- outstanding!

    Pork cutlet sandwich- outstanding!

    Bellflower - Seating

    See all

    Seating

    The Pretzel Bell - bars - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...