Northside house specialties: fried egg sandwich and corned beef hash

It’s off the beaten foodie path in Ann Arbor, not in bustling downtown or popular Kerrytown, but lines still form on weekends for comfort food served with a side of laid back vibe at Northside Grill.

Jim Koli, a University of Michigan graduate armed with a Fisheries Biology degree, opened his diner in 1993 and serves a steady stream of students, young families, and parents like me who want to squeeze in a few minutes with their busy college student.

Graham approved of Northside’s corned beef hash

The couple of times we ate there, while son Graham was still enrolled at U of M, were weekdays and we didn’t have to wait for a table or feel pressure to hurry our meal at the homey joint.

Northside service is efficient and friendly, prices are reasonable, the coffee is good and plentiful and the open dining room, in a former dairy building, is lined with unpretentious knotty pine paneling.

Graham liked his corned beef hash with two eggs and toast, and I had a fried egg sandwich with perfectly-done hash browns. The egg sandwich was plain but I spiced it up with Clancy’s Fancy Hot Sauce, a locally-concocted condiment found on every table.

Made-in-Ann Arbor Clancy’s Fancy hot sauce is on the table

Northside is known for its seven varieties of egg sammies; next time I may order the  cleverly named Morning Eggdition, in honor of the National Public Radio program. The dish gets rave reviews for the combination of scrambled eggs, ham, Swiss cheese and black pepper mayo.

Other options include oatmeal, omelets, pancakes and French toast, and there’s a lunch menu that I’m sure lists sandwiches and such.

But I’m satisfied with working my way through the breakfasts that are served from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. seven days a week, almost every day of the year.

The friendly joint with good coffee is celebrating its 20th year

Northside Grill is open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. seven days a week
1015 Broadway, Ann Arbor, Michigan
(734) 995-0965
Map Area A

Visitor Info Clicks:
Ann Arbor
Pure Michigan

All stories and photos copyright Kath Usitalo unless otherwise noted