Big sandwiches, serious ingredients, and more than four decades of Ann Arbor history make this Kerrytown deli a stop families should experience at least once.
There are restaurants you visit because everyone says you should, and restaurants that have become so entwined with a city that skipping them feels like missing part of the story. Zingerman’s Delicatessen belongs firmly in the second category.
Ari Weinzweig and Paul Saginaw opened Zingerman’s in March 1982 in a historic orange-brick building on Detroit Street, just steps from the Ann Arbor Farmers Market. The building itself dates to 1902, when it was built as a grocery store. Zingerman’s started with about 1,000 square feet of selling space and has expanded over the decades, while the larger Zingerman’s Community of Businesses has grown around it.
For families spending a weekend in Ann Arbor, though, the history lesson can wait.
Come hungry.
What to Order at Zingerman’s
First-timers should start with #2 Zingerman’s Reuben.
It’s the deli’s signature sandwich for good reason: corned beef, Swiss Emmental, locally made The Brinery sauerkraut and Zingerman’s Russian dressing stacked between slices of grilled Jewish rye from Zingerman’s Bakehouse.
It’s also the order that holds up when you look beyond Zingerman’s own recommendations. Recent Google reviews repeatedly praise the Reuben, corned beef and quality of the bread.
If you’re a pastrami person, try #48 Binny’s Brooklyn Reuben. It swaps the corned beef for pastrami and serves it with Swiss Emmental, sauerkraut and Russian dressing on grilled pumpernickel. It’s another of Zingerman’s official Top 10 sandwiches and a good alternative for families ordering several sandwiches to share.
For the person who wants the deli meats without all the Reuben extras, #81.5 Rick’s 50/50 Mix combines corned beef and pastrami with yellow mustard on Jewish rye.
And Zingerman’s isn’t only for serious carnivores. #55 Gemini Rocks the House layers fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and housemade pesto on grilled Farm bread and also ranks among the deli’s Top 10.
Add a bowl of matzo ball soup to the table. It’s another menu item that consistently earns praise from diners and gives families something warm and easy to share alongside those enormous sandwiches.
Yes, You Can Bring the Kids
The sandwich prices can initially make Zingerman’s look like a tricky proposition for a family, especially if your child considers removing the crust an essential part of fine dining.
Fortunately, the deli has a dedicated kids menu, so there’s no need to order every child a full-size $20 sandwich.
And if you have older kids or teenagers, consider splitting a few different sandwiches. This is one place where passing food around the table makes sense.
Don’t Just Eat and Leave
Part of the Zingerman’s experience happens before and after the sandwich.
Browse the deli counters stocked with meats, cheeses and specialty foods, along with products from other members of the Zingerman’s family of businesses. The Next Door Café, which Zingerman’s added in 1991, provides another place to linger over coffee or tea and explore its chocolate selection.
Then head outside.
Zingerman’s sits in Kerrytown, making it easy to pair lunch with the Ann Arbor Farmers Market and nearby shops before walking toward downtown or the University of Michigan campus.
Know Before You Go
Zingerman’s is not a bargain lunch, and families should know that before arriving. The classic Reuben currently starts above $20. Recent Google reviewers praise the quality and portions but also regularly point out the premium prices.
It can also be busy, particularly around lunch.
Sandwich service begins at 11 a.m., so families who want a calmer experience might consider arriving early rather than walking in during the heart of the lunch rush.
But Zingerman’s isn’t really about finding the cheapest sandwich in Ann Arbor.
It’s about eating in a deli that has occupied this corner of the city since 1982, ordering the sandwich that helped make it famous, and discovering why generations of students, locals and visitors have kept coming back.
For a family exploring Ann Arbor, Zingerman’s is worth the detour.
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