Red Hawk Bar & Grill remains a go-to destination for good pub fare
When Marilee Sturtevant opened Red Hawk Bar & Grill in 1992 with Roger Hewitt and Richard Schubach, it was one of the few restaurants in close proximity to Ann Arbor's downtown movie theaters. Sturtevant says that prime location, along with a wide-ranging menu that satisfies everyone — from students to professionals and families — has been the recipe for the restaurant's continued success.
"I think our menu covers a good range," she says. "And it's a comfortable place to be."
Indeed, Red Hawk is one of those places that can always be counted on for reliably good pub fare. It continues to draw a big crowd that is likely comforted by the menu choices, which have remained fairly consistent, with the exception of some additional vegetarian and fish options. Red Hawk's menu touches on a variety of cuisines and is divided among salads, finger foods sandwiches, burgers and chicken sandwiches, burritos, omelets and a few entrees. There are also seven options in the "kid stuff" category.
RESTAURANT REVIEW
Red Hawk Bar & Grill 316 South State Street 734-994-4004 Red Hawk Bar & Grill in AnnArbor.com restaurant guide
- Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
- Plastic: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover.
- Liquor: Yes.
- Prices: Moderate: Sandwiches are $9.50; fish & chips is the priciest entrée, at $12.95.
- Value: Very good.
- Noise level: Can be loud.
- Wheelchair access: Fine.
Red Hawk takes some of the guilt out of eating rich, caloric food. A case in point: the delicious nachos — with fuller flavors and fresh ingredients, like black beans and creamy guacamole, that allow me to rationalize this as a healthful dish. The tortilla chips, crispy and crunchy, delivered from the Ann Arbor Tortilla Factory, provided a great foundation for this appetizer.
Fish and chips were crispy and flavorful, though a bit greasy, and a surprisingly small portion. I liked the thick-cut fries that came with all our dishes, which were well seasoned and had a hearty potato taste. A weak spot was the grilled Mediterranean lamb pita, with lamb that tasted processed. It also suffered from not having enough of the spinach and tomato-cucumber yogurt sauce.
The chicken sandwich was first-rate. You can choose from among more than two dozen toppings; I selected mushrooms, guacamole and Gorgonzola cheese, a perfect accompaniment to my grilled sandwich. The cheeseburger was fine, though it was ordered medium and had a visibly pink middle.
Of the two desserts offered on our recent visit, I preferred the banana coconut cream pie, served on a crust so tender and flaky it had to be homemade. The filling was also substantial, with fresh bananas and wonderful toasted coconut. The chocolate cream pie was fine, though the crust on that dessert wasn't nearly as good.
Of course, I wasn't able to scratch the surface of the offerings here. Food was delivered with rapid speed, served in a convivial atmosphere ideal for celebrations and loud family gatherings (there were many, one including an infant, on the night we visited). This is not the place to go for a quiet, romantic evening. But if you're in the mood for a casual, jovial dining experience with many hearty food choices, Red Hawk is a great destination.
Julie Halpert reviews restaurants for AnnArbor.com.
Comments
Somewhat Concerned
Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 10:35 a.m.
I stick to the basics there - burgers, chicken and salads - and have never been disappointed. The fries also are very good.
Ariel
Fri, Jun 4, 2010 : 1:04 p.m.
Red Hawk is definitely one of my favorite places to eat in Ann Arbor. I always have a rotating menu in my head of what to eat when I'm there. It's always between a burger, the salmon teriyaki pita, and the Beijing duck quesadilla.
Chrysta Cherrie
Thu, Jun 3, 2010 : 6:53 p.m.
Townie54, the five most recent AnnArbor.com restaurant reviews have included Red Hawk, Tomukun Noodle Bar, Big City Small World, Packard Pub and Tianchu. All of those places (with the exception of BCSW, which falls under Ann Arbor West) are downtown. Because there are U-M buildings throughout downtown Ann Arbor (among other areas), it's not uncommon for U-M buildings to be located near restaurants, shops and other businesses. Have you gone to any new restaurants lately, or any not-so-new restaurants for the first time, that you think warrant a review? Let me know here or via email, chrystacherrie@annarbor.com.
townie54
Thu, Jun 3, 2010 : 6:37 p.m.
lets see,4 out of the last 5 reviews have been on campus.Do you live in a dorm?
A2K
Thu, Jun 3, 2010 : 2:55 p.m.
I miss the sub sandwiches they used to serve at Red Hawk...alas! Alakaday!
sandy schopbach
Thu, Jun 3, 2010 : 11:47 a.m.
I just signed in to comment on the "medium" burger and saw that eldegee beat me to it. Medium IS pink. Rare is red. If the middle is no longer "visibly pink", then it's well done... and waaaay less tasty.
eldegee
Thu, Jun 3, 2010 : 11:42 a.m.
"The cheeseburger was fine, though it was ordered medium and had a visibly pink middle." ------------------- Not sure what Ms. Halpert is expecting here, because she just described a cooked-perfectly medium cheeseburger! Even medium-well should be a bit pink, otherwise it's well-done. I've been to Red Hawk many times, mainly for the burgers and Two-Hearted ale. Daily specials are always great, too, though.