My family of three is in a season of life where it is not always appealing or realistic to eat out. As much as my husband and I love Ann Arbor’s restaurant scene, it is not always my two-year olds idea of fun. Which is understandable. Most restaurants do not accommodate for active toddlers who just want to play. The exception: York.
York has been around since the 1950s, but it has not always been like it is today. The building started off as a party store, then it became an artisan market and now it is a gathering space for the Ann Arbor community to enjoy food, drinks and music. Tommy York, the founding partner, has been owner and operator for three decades.
Within the York building is a European style cafe with coffee, charcuterie, baked goods and sandwiches. There is also a bar with a variety of cocktails (I went with a espresso martini), including low ABV cocktails and mocktails. If you keep walking, you will reach the wine store and bar.
Step outside and you enter York Yard—a homey feeling space with string lights, a fire pit and seating. There is also the Tam Sung Thai food truck on site from Thursday-Saturday, 4-8pm. It is parked where Bao Boys used be for years.
York is known to host several events and pop-ups throughout the year. On June 19, they will host a summer solstice party.
Pre-parenthood, York was always a date-night favorite for us. Now that we have our daughter, I think she enjoys the night out just as much as we do. For the parents, it offers a variety of different food from different businesses, refreshing cocktails and a laid back atmosphere that is perfect for meeting up with friends. For kids, there is a high-quality kids menu and a play area with outdoor toys such as slides and a play kitchen.
A kid-friendly option for outdoor dining
The kids menu is the perfect combination of meeting kids where they are with simple and classic options, all the while introducing them to high-quality, local ingredients.
Kids can choose from a PB+J, grilled cheese and Ham & Cheese. All of the sandwhiches are made with Zingerman’s sourdough; the butter used to make the grilled cheese is from Calder Dairy.
We ordered our daughter a PB+J with peanut butter and strawberry jam (they also offer almond butter as an option). Whole strawberry slices from the jam peeked out of the soft, pillowy slices of bread. It was one of the best versions of the classic sandwich which I have probably had thousands of in my life. Luckily, the “kids menu” is not just for kids. The menu notes that it is available for all ages.
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Thai favorites
Me and my husband both choose entrees from Tam Sung Thai. We actually ended up getting the same exact thing: drunken noodles. It is one of our favorites, and neither of us wanted to share! He got pork and I got chicken, so we had a little bit of variety. Both had great flavor and the perfect amount of sauce and spice.
We also got the spring rolls and the mango sticky rice to accompany our dinner. The spring rolls were perfectly crispy which a bright and flavorful dipping sauce. I think my toddler enjoyed the mango sticky rice the most. The fragrant desert was both fresh and comforting.
A few weeks after my visit with my daughter and husband, I returned to York for dinner with out-of-town friends. I switched it up from last time and ordered the shrimp Pad Thai. Usually when I eat Pad Thai, I like to add a little bit of soy sauce to the dish. However, no additional sauces or flavors were needed to enjoy this delicious take on the classic dish.
The bottom line
If you are a family with young kids and struggle to leave the house sometimes, give York a try. It is a welcoming space that provides something for the whole family.
