Great Tastes in Local Food

By Crysta Coburn • Photos by Tom Closs

The Deep End Cafe and Gallery

When I stepped through the door of The Deep End Cafe and Gallery, I was immediately enamored with two beautiful blue wingback chairs. They looked comfortable and inviting and sitting between them was a small table to set food and drinks. Opposite was a sofa with chaise where a group of friends could really settle in and get cozy. There were, of course, tables with seating as well including one coffee table with chairs around it in the middle of the cafe and a few stools at the counter. For a small space, it did not feel cluttered or tight. The pièces de résistance, for me, were the books scattered around to peruse. Nothing spruces up a space quite like a book.

The mission of The Deep End is (per its website) is “to provide a space for underrepresented artists and writers to sell and promote their works while enjoying ethically sourced coffee.” The walls of The Deep End showcase local artists, and most weekends have at least one special event such as music, live readings, karaoke, artist meet and greets, and more.

While it is delicious, there is so much more than coffee on the menu. And I don’t just mean espresso and macchiato. (Although the vanilla latte I ordered was pretty spectacular.) You can also choose between different smoothies, freshly pressed juices, wellness shots, and teas, including matcha and chai.

The food options are as unique as the cafe. On the “munchies” side there are Grits and Toast, O’s Favorite (two fried eggs, turkey bacon, and cheese on brioche), Banana Butter Crunch (sliced banana and peanut butter grilled on a tortilla with butter and cinnamon), and the mysterious P’s Pick of the Day. On the “sweet treats” side there is a parfait of the day, fresh fruit, and to indulge the sweet tooth, cake balls, lemon bars, and homemade peanut butter cups.

Because I can’t eat pork, I was very excited to see the turkey bacon on O’s Favorite. To anyone who is turned off by this, I urge them to give it a try. I can’t promise you won’t taste the difference, but with the eggs, cheese, and bread, I suspect the “alternativeness” of the meat will be less noticeable. I could have downed two of these delicious sandwiches, which is unusual for me.

Being located so close to Eastern Michigan University, parking can occasionally be tricky (a situation that Ann Arborites are no doubt also familiar with). But there is some free parking on Perrin as well as meter parking along Cross.

The Deep End Cafe and Gallery is located at 310 Perrin Street in Ypsilanti. It is open Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit tdecafe.com or call (734) 896-3841.

Cups n’ Chai

They had me at chai. If you, like me, believe there is nothing better than a warm cup of aromatic spiced tea, Cups n’ Chai will be your new go-to spot. It is a halal food certified cafe in Canton that specializes in South Asian tea (chai) and street food.

If you don’t like milk in your tea (normally I don’t), there are also green and black tea options. But the Karak chai is an absolute chef’s kiss. You can order it with or without sugar. Other chais on the menu are Amore, with notes of vanilla; Bonbon, with notes of caramel, cinnamon, and ginger; and the Sulaimani, a black tea with lemon and herbs. You can also order a dirty chai (tea and coffee) or the Karak coffee, which I think I would like more if tea weren’t the better beverage. (My husband is a diehard coffee drinker and he enjoyed the dirty chai.) Other beverages include mango lassi, masala soda, iced tea lemonade, a list of enticing mocktails, and so much more. But I have to stop writing about drinks because we need to get to the phenomenal food!

The paratha wraps are heavenly mouthfuls of flavor. My husband swears the peri peri chicken in the wrap is the best peri peri chicken he has ever had. (And yes, we’ve been to Nando’s.) I also really enjoyed the achari chicken wrap. It’s spicy but not overwhelming. The sauce in the BBQ chicken wrap was sweet and tangy. The chicken in all the wraps was juicy and so tender. The paratha is chewy and more than capable of standing up to sauces that might turn other breads soggy.

There are also vegetarian options, like the paneer chutney and manchurian wraps, samosa, kachori, a sandwich menu, an all-day breakfast menu, and an incredible dessert menu. As much as I wanted to try the rose petal cake and pistachio kulfi cake, I could not say no to the Biscoff and Nutella wraps which were as indulgently delicious as I dreamed they’d be. The paratha was far superior to a crepe in my book.

Although Cups n’ Chai is located in a strip mall (what part of Canton isn’t?), there is some lovely outdoor seating in addition to the tables and chairs inside. The patio couch is even under an overhang. It’s absolutely worth the trip to try some incredible South Asian food and chai that I haven’t seen anywhere else.

Cups n’ Chai is located at 43339 Joy Road in Canton. It is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. For more information, visit cupsnchai.com or call (734) 667-2196.

Hidden King Cafe and Bar

I started shopping at Peaceable Kingdom when I first moved to this part of the state over 10 years ago. It was one of my favorite shops to peruse and find fun gifts in downtown Ann Arbor. Like many in Ann Arbor, I mourned when its doors closed for the last time. Another unique and independent Main Street store was gone.

The space remained without a new business until recently, and rather than a chain business moving in as has happened to other addresses along Main Street, Hidden King and Bar is locally owned and operated by Mark Wilfong. He is the son of Peaceable Kingdom’s owner Carol Lopez who passed away in August 2022.

While it is its own business with its own distinct vibe, Hidden King has kept some of Peaceable Kingdom’s charm as well. The fairy house in front, for instance, is still there and customers can peer inside. For architecture fans, the metal ceiling is also the original and is beautifully maintained. While I was there, I enjoyed perusing the historic photos of Ann Arbor on the dark blue walls and reading more about them via a QR code in the corners of the frames. The furniture is dark and comfortable making Hidden King the perfect place to kick back with friends over a drink. My favorite part? There are no televisions broadcasting national news or sports games; nor is the music blaring.

I am not much of a beer or wine drinker, so I appreciate the teas on offer provided by local tearoom, Tea Haus. I was also excited to see café con miel (coffee with honey and milk)--one of the few coffee drinks that I really enjoy. (Chai lattes are also on the menu.) The coffee is provided by Super Duper who is a fair-trade Michigan roastery that donates 1% of its annual sales to nonprofit environmental organizations.

On my next trip to Hidden King, I intend to try a cocktail or a cider. My husband, I am sure, will opt for a beer. However, I will definitely try to talk him into trying the popular espresso tonic, made with Super Duper Espresso and Tea Haus Tonic, because I am very curious but also worried I wouldn’t be able to finish it myself.

If you are looking for a lowkey place to relax with friends–-and maybe make some new ones!–give Hidden King a shot.

Hidden King Cafe and Bar is located at 210 South Main Street in Ann Arbor. It is open Wednesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, visit linktr.ee/hiddenkinga2 or call (734) 545-6760.

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