Without question, one of my favorite places in the entire world is Sidetrack Bar & Grill. There has been a bar at this location since the mid- to late-1800s, with early incarnations catering to railroad workers. Frenchies is right next door, and is used as overflow for the Sidetrack crowd or private functions. The Sidetrack has high ceilings, a warm fireplace roaring in the winter months and an outside patio to enjoy in the summer time. Not only does this place have some of the best local beer on tap, the greatest happy hour in the world (half off liquor & $3.00 22 oz drafts 11pm-1am), it also has some of the best food in the area. Pretty much anything you order here is absolutely delicious. While I usually stick with the gorgonzola tenderloin and fried clams on the side or their incredible sweet potato fries, the Sidetrack is known for the world famous burger. When I say that their burger is world famous, I don’t mean it like Tio’s wet burrito. This world famous menu item is actually known outside of Ypsilanti, and is easily one of the best burgers I have ever had.
Sidetrack was listed in GQ Magazine for grilling up one of the best burgers in the nation. Included in the magazine’s listing of “The 20 Hamburgers You Must Eat Before You Die,” and also mentioned on Oprah. Who can argue with Oprah? Sidetrack keeps its to-die-for burger status by using only fresh ground beef that’s delivered daily and by cooking each mouth-watering burger fresh to order. You also get your burger the way you like it with options including 9 types of cheese (including goat cheese), grilled onions, portabella mushroom and grilled onions. My favorite is the goat cheese and grilled onions. Oh, did I mention this burger only runs you $5.50?
If you’re ever in the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor, The Sidetrack Bar & Grill is a must stop. I’ve never met a single person with a negative thing to say about this place. It will be one of the things I miss most if I have ever had to move out of the area. There’s nothing better than sitting outside on the patio drinking a tall Bell’s Oberon and enjoying a burger in the summer. I’m getting a little emotional here.
Article by John Moors
I was blessed with a remarkable metabolism that has allowed me to overcome obesity and eat everything in sight.
John has written 416 other articles.
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
“Who can argue with Oprah?” – Hahaha.
5 f-ing 50 for that!!!!! That’s amazing. Dude, that mac chee in the back looks awesome too! How is it? I’m assuming good.
Yeah, I believe that one is a third pounder but you can upgrade to a half pounder for only two bucks more. This place is an institution. My parents went there when they were in college and still do.
The just started serving the mac and cheese this past year and it is delicious, as well. Its made with really rich cheeses, rather than just the normal cheddar. Goat cheese, gorgonzola, and a few others. You can have it topped with andoulli sausage for no extra charge too.
Yeah, the first thing I noticed in the pic was that mac in the background. It looks awesome.
This looks good, real good. You can;t beat it for the price either. I can only imagine the lines on the weekend. I hope that is not a skimpy side of fries, but just some fries you scammed from someone else?
Thanks for the 20 burgers list. I went to Bistro Don Giovanni in Napa and was disappointed in the pasta that I had, should’ve got the burger! Who knew?
John I have to agree with you wholehartedly on this one…lots of rich history in there and good beer. That mac & cheese is MONEY and the burgers are world-class. As far as I am concerned the sweet potato fries are best served at the bottom of the Huron River…can’t stand em but hey, that’s just my opinion!! Never been a sweet potato guy.
There’s a good amount of fries there, although it doesn’t look that way. The regular and sweet potato fries are to die for.
They’ve expanded the place enough so there isn’t a bad wait no matter when you go. Patio seating can be a bit tricky from time to time, but the spill over into Frenchie’s gives a ton of space.
I am here to testify…the Sidetrack is fabulous. That cheeseburger with goat cheese is perfect, as are the sweet potato fires. They even make great salads.
Sidetracks is awesome. I had no idea the burgers were that big of a deal. The only thing I’ve had that I’m not a fan of is the onion rings.
I’ll say something negative. They were the first place to ever fire me. I hate sidetracks lol
Sidetracks is great and all and the food there is always good but the service sucks!!! I have been there about 10 times and have only had good service once. And I know its not that I get a new server that isn’t trained very well because I recognize some of the regular waiters that have been there for a while and they didn’t even give the greatest service. I really do like the food here but I often choose somewhere else to go just based on the service here alone.
I used to LOVE going to the Sidetrack. However, after some of my favorite servers left I decided not to go anymore. I haven’t been back since last year and I don’t miss it much. The management in that place is horrible. If someone ever talked to me like those servers got talked… man it would get interesting. Good burgers but that is about IT!
I’ve heard a lot of people talk about the service and had a few bad experiences myself. I’m not sure if you can blame that on the management because any manager I’ve seen there is always prompt to fix any kind of problem that may arise. The male manager there, not sure what his name is, is always around asking if things are OK and they aren’t he fixes them. Linda and Jessica, the owners, are incredibly easy to contact on their website. They are prompt to fix any kind of problem you may have. If you have a problem with the service you really should let someone at the restaurant or one of them know. It’s a family run establishment and they do a lot to make sure their customers are taken care of.