Editor's note: During the month of August, our weekly restaurant reviews revisit some of Ann Arbor's favorite outdoor dining options.

When judging an eatery that’s in the heart of the University of Michigan campus, it’s all about the hang-out atmosphere and whatever attracts students, even if it’s not necessarily the food. At Rendez-Vous Café, the outdoor ambience, both in front of the restaurant and on the rooftop, is a draw — along with the fact that they’re open until 3:00 a.m. It’s the kind of place where the incredibly outgoing owner chats with you while he quickly prepares your order and knows all the regulars.

Based on my experience, it was some of the lighter fare, not the main entrees, that make the grade. Rendez-Vous’s menu is an eclectic mix, everything from Middle Eastern favorites, to crepes, smoothies, coffee drinks and traditional sandwiches.

All the ordering is done at a central, long counter top. Then you have the choice of eating your food indoors, street side or on the roof. We chose to head to the roof, which you access via a long staircase. Once we reached our destination, it felt like an urban dining experience, with several umbrella tables. Ashtrays with cigarette butts that could have long ago been emptied dominated the majority of the tables. The view is of South University — hardly picturesque, but it’s nice to be above it all.

My younger daughter always comes here for the smoothies and the one she ordered on her recent visit, Peachy Keen, was a delight, full of fresh strawberries, peaches and non-fat yogurt. That and the rich crepe, were clearly the highlights of our meal. My older daughter raves about the crepes and I had to agree the Naughty Nutella, with a generous smattering of the hazelnut spread on the warm crepe shell, proved to be a great combination.

My husband asked for his tuna on challah; instead it was delivered on pita, swimming in mayonnaise and relish. If you’re not a fan of that condiment, this won’t work for you.

I couldn’t complain about the corned beef Reuben, which had fresh meat, but the sandwich wasn’t grilled enough to hold all the components together. Spinach pie suffered from the same fate. The crumbling pita exterior couldn’t really hold the measly amount of spinach and there was barely a trace of feta. The chicken tawook sandwich contained flavorful ingredients and held together nicely. Lentil soup was watery, though I liked the way it was seasoned.

As for the desserts, the chocolate cake was dry. The gelato tasted more like ice milk. It lacked that dense, rich taste that I enjoy in this treat.

Rendez-Vous offers a host of coffee drinks and pairing this or a smoothie with a crepe is probably the best way to experience this dining spot.

Rendez-Vous Café 1110 South University 734-761-8600 Rendez-Vous Café web site Hours: 7:30 a.m.-3:00 a.m. every day. Plastic: Visa, Mastercard. Liquor: No. Prices: Moderate. Sandwiches are in the $6.00 range. Value: Good. Noise Level: Quiet. Wheelchair access: Yes to the main restaurant, not to the roof area. Smoking Section: No smoking in the restaurant, but smoking is permitted on the outdoor rooftop.

Michael O, of Canton and Sunny Butler, of Mason, eat gelato on the roof top patio at Rendez-Vous Cafe. Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

The roof top patio at Rendez-Vous Cafe located at 1110 S. University in Ann Arbor on Thursday. Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com