Sidetrack Bar and Grill in Ypsilanti, Michigan is a medium sized pub that has been around in Depot town for over 100 years. While it only seats around 100 people, reservations are not needed to get a seat, but later in the evening there may be a little bit of wait for a table. At 2 o’clock in the afternoon on Sunday the 19th of October the historic pub was filled to about three quarters of its capacity with families, and groups of friends chatting, eating, and drinking. The pub is clean and decorated in various historic artifacts from throughout Ypsilanti history. There are many black and white photographs with captions explaining some of the history of the area. There are even a few moose antlers throughout the dining area. Even though Sidetrack has a TV in it, it is probably not the best place to enjoy a game, and it is definitely not considered a sports bar.
The menu itself has many options to choose from, but Sidetrack is probably best known for their burgers. The burger was featured in GQ’s “The 20 Hamburgers You Must Eat Before You Die” and also on the Oprah Winfrey show. Other than burgers, Sidetrack offers many different appetizers such as soup, chili, beer battered pickles, chicken wings, hummus, artichoke hearts, and several other items of similar nature. For a meal, one can order many different types of sandwiches ranging from grilled cheese sandwiches priced at $4.25 to a classic club sandwich priced at $7.95. There are a few non-sandwich items as well which include black bean tacos, quesadillas, and hand battered lake perch. Sidetrack also offers many different salads from the basic house salad to the “The Best” Linda’s Big Spring salad.
Before I even looked at the menu, I knew what I would order. A half pound cheeseburger with Swiss cheese and a side of French fries. When the burger arrived after a brief wait it looked inviting and delicious. The meat patty was thick, juicy, and cooked to perfection. The lettuce and tomatoes were also fresh , juicy, and flavorful. The fries were perfectly cooked, and seasoned with various herbs to enhance the taste of the fry. The service was there whenever you needed them, but not they were not overbearing and in your face. While the food and service were perfect, there was one problem. There were a few flies that constantly circled and pestered customers. This was the only trip to Sidetracks I had out of many where the flies were a problem, and if I had to guess, they had just flown in a few minutes before we arrived and would eventually be taken care of. The overall cost of the meal, which included a burger, fries, and a drink came out to be about ten dollars per person. The most expensive item on the menu is a “big” salad for $9.95. I would highly recommend Sidetrack to anyone looking to have a great time, and especially to anyone looking for a great burger at a great price.
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1. (?). Sidetrack Bar and Grill, Ypsilanti. 19 Oct. 2008
4. (?). Sidetrack Bar and Grill, Ypsilanti. 19 Oct. 2008
7. (?). Sidetrack Bar and Grill, Ypsilanti. 19 Oct. 2008
Sidetrack Bar and Grill. (?). Sidetrack Bar and Grill, Ypsilanti. 19 Oct. 2008
