Restaurant Week Food Review at Mediterrano.

On South State Street, past the Big House, is a shopping center with a Mediterranean restaurant called Mediterrano. It’s an elegant restaurant perfect for a date night. I had the pleasure of visiting during Ann Arbor’s Restaurant Week 2025, where I received a three-course menu with appetizers, a main course and dessert.

For the appetizer, they had Chicken Fried Oysters with their tzatziki sauce and a grilled lemon. I never thought there would be a perfect way to grill a lemon, but after trying it, I can’t imagine it any other way. The oysters were nicely fried with a light crunch in your first bite without feeling like they would break your teeth. The tzatziki sauce had a smooth texture with a nice punch of herbs that contrasted with the mellow yogurt flavor.

For the main course, I had the Braised Wagyu Beef. This beef consisted of an espresso-chili braise with a side of mashed potatoes and roasted carrots. I am not one for beef typically, but I was curious if Mediterrano could convince me otherwise, and they definitely did. The cut was marinated with a savory rub and the flavor seeped all the way through. I wouldn’t normally have picked this main course because I normally do not like potatoes or carrots, but this meal was delectable; I would order it again. 

For the dessert course, they had a pistachio cheesecake, but due to my nut allergy, the staff let me choose a dessert from their main menu without any extra charge. I tried their tiramisu, which ended up being the best I’ve ever had. I love a strong coffee flavor, and it was balanced with a mildly sweet mascarpone layer. The dessert focused on the balance of the different flavored layers rather than the sweetness that dominates a lot of dishes. As a foodie who doesn’t like her desserts too sweet, this changed my mind about sugar-forward desserts.

Mediterrano had an ambiance that enhanced the dining experience — they had glass chandeliers, large paintings (including a mural of the map of the Mediterranean Sea), sculptures and lights to decorate the restaurant. It was crowded, but the crowd didn’t take away from the service or the quality of the food. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone hoping to treat themselves to a flavorful meal.

Daily Arts Writer Natalie Mark can be reached at [email protected].