Some restaurants have atmosphere, and then there is Sidetrack Bar and Grill. Set in the heart of Depot Town in Ypsilanti, Michigan, this lively spot pulls you in before the first drink even hits the table.
Railroad memorabilia lines the walls, taxidermied trophies stare down from above, and the buzz of a packed dining room fills every corner. GQ once helped put its burgers on the map, while 37 beers on tap make sure nobody leaves thirsty.
Whether you are a local regular or just passing through, this bar and grill delivers an experience that sticks with you long after the last bite.
The Railroad Decor That Sets The Scene Before You Order
Walking into Sidetrack Bar and Grill feels like stepping into a chapter of Ypsilanti’s industrial past. The building sits in the Depot Town neighborhood, a stretch of East Cross Street where old brick storefronts and historic architecture set the tone for everything around it.
The railroad theme here isn’t just a design choice — it’s a full commitment.
Taxidermied trophies hang above the bar, vintage train-related artifacts are scattered throughout the space, and the overall layout has a rugged, well-worn character that newer restaurants spend years trying to fake. Every corner holds a small detail worth noticing.
Loyal customers often mention how the place decorates thoughtfully for holidays, adding fresh layers to the existing personality without overloading the space.
The bar area itself is energetic without being chaotic. During peak hours, the noise level rises, but it matches the setting — this is a place built for good conversation, cold beer, and the kind of meal that doesn’t require a hushed dining room.
The outdoor deck adds another dimension entirely, giving guests a chance to enjoy the Depot Town streetscape alongside their food.
Groups tend to spread out naturally here, with enough seating variety to accommodate everything from a quick solo dinner to a surprise birthday party. The space has hosted both.
What keeps the decor from feeling like a gimmick is how organically it fits into the neighborhood’s actual history. Ypsilanti’s Depot Town was a real railroad hub, and Sidetrack leans into that legacy without turning it into a theme park.
The result is a bar that carries genuine character — the kind that makes first-time visitors slow down and look around before they even pick up the menu.
The GQ-Recognized Burgers That Earned Their Reputation
Not every burger earns national attention, but Sidetrack’s did. GQ magazine recognized the burgers here as among the best worth knowing about, and customers who make the drive from Detroit and beyond would agree without hesitation.
These are handmade patties built with care, not shortcuts.
The menu offers a range of options that go well beyond the standard cheeseburger. The Kevin Bacon Burger draws fans who come back specifically for it.
The Steakhouse Burger and the Deluxe are regulars on customers’ most-recommended lists. Each one arrives with hand-cut fries that come out fresh — not frozen-bag-dumped-into-a-fryer fresh, but actually sliced and cooked to order.
For those who prefer something outside the beef lineup, the Portobello Burger holds its own as a solid meatless option. Sidetrack also keeps impossible burger patties and gluten-free buns available, which makes the menu accessible to a wider range of eaters without narrowing the experience for everyone else.
That kind of flexibility in a bar-style kitchen isn’t always a given.
Pub chips are another standout that loyal customers push hard. Customers consistently recommend ordering them instead of fries, describing them as noticeably better in a way that’s hard to fully explain until you try them yourself.
The portion sizes across the board tend to run generous, which makes the mid-range price point feel entirely reasonable.
Burgers here aren’t dressed up with unnecessary ingredients just to look impressive on a menu. The focus stays on quality components, solid technique, and flavor combinations that actually work.
That restraint is part of why the reputation has held up over time rather than fading after the initial buzz.
37 Beers On Tap Inside A Michigan Bar Worth Knowing About
Thirty-seven beers on tap is not a number most bars reach without intention. At Sidetrack, the draft list is a real draw — not just a backdrop for the food, but a destination on its own.
The selection leans into local Michigan craft options alongside broader favorites, giving both beer enthusiasts and casual drinkers something to land on.
Happy hour deals have been known to stop people mid-scroll when they check the specials. Customers describe the pricing as surprisingly generous, the kind of deals that make the year feel like it rolled back a couple of decades.
For a bar sitting in a lively neighborhood like Depot Town, that value holds serious appeal on a Tuesday night just as much as a Friday.
The bar setup itself is part of the experience. Seating along the bar puts guests directly in the action — the noise, the energy, the rotating conversation with staff who know the menu well enough to make real recommendations.
For people who enjoy the social rhythm of a bar without the pretense of a cocktail lounge, this spot lands exactly right.
Draft beer pairs naturally with the food here. A cold Michigan craft pint alongside the chili or a plate of pub chips is the kind of combination that requires no explanation.
The chili, for the record, earns consistent praise from customers who describe it as exactly what bar chili should be — thick, well-seasoned, and satisfying.
Non-beer drinkers aren’t left behind either. The drink menu extends beyond the taps, and the bar staff moves efficiently even during busy stretches.
For a Michigan bar experience that feels local, unhurried, and genuinely well-stocked, Sidetrack handles the beverage side of things with the same seriousness it brings to the kitchen.
Slow-Roasted Pot Roast, Shepherd’s Pie, And The Dishes That Surprise First-Timers
Most people arrive at Sidetrack expecting a great burger, and they get one. But the menu runs deeper than that, and the dishes that catch first-timers off guard tend to become the reason they come back.
Slow-roasted pot roast is one of those items — the kind of comfort food that takes hours to build right and shows up on the table tasting exactly like that effort.
Shepherd’s pie also appears on the menu, which is unusual for a bar and grill operating in this format. It signals a kitchen that’s willing to put in prep work for dishes that don’t get ordered as frequently as burgers.
That willingness shows in the results. Customers who’ve ordered it describe it as a solid, satisfying plate that holds up against the more popular items.
The fish and chips pulls in consistent praise as well. Customers who order it tend to note the quality of the fish itself rather than just the batter, which is the real test.
The potato wedge version of the chips generates mixed opinions, but the standard thick-cut fries that accompany other dishes tend to win people over.
Mac and cheese made with penne noodles shows up as another unexpected highlight. It’s a small variation from the usual elbow pasta format, but it changes the texture and bite in a way that customers notice and appreciate.
Pasta dishes and the mac and cheese come up repeatedly as family favorites, especially for groups with younger eaters at the table.
BBQ Pork and French Dip sliders round out the menu’s range, offering lighter options that still deliver on flavor. The BBQ Pork version tends to edge out the French Dip for most people, though both are worth ordering if the table is sharing.
Desserts That Close Out The Meal On A Strong Note
Dessert at a bar and grill often feels like an afterthought — a frozen slice of something pulled from the back and plated without much care. Sidetrack takes a different approach, and the dessert menu reflects that.
Bread pudding is one of the standout finishers here, described by customers as genuinely tasty rather than just passable.
Carrot cake shows up on the list of desserts that draw repeat orders. It’s the kind of item that sounds simple until it arrives at the table and reminds everyone why classic recipes exist.
The brownie sundae is another one worth saving room for — customers use words like “insane” to describe it, which for a bar dessert is high praise by any measure.
Strawberry shortcake appears seasonally and tends to generate real excitement when it’s available. A group of three reportedly shared one and still couldn’t finish it, which gives a clear sense of the portion size.
For seasonal specials, that kind of generosity makes the limited availability feel even more worth timing a visit around.
The dessert lineup doesn’t try to be trendy or overly constructed. Nothing here arrives with a foam or a deconstructed concept.
These are straightforward, well-executed sweets that fit the setting — unpretentious, satisfying, and sized for sharing if the table still has room after working through the main course.
For families celebrating special occasions, the dessert menu adds a genuine finishing touch. Several customers mention coming in specifically for birthdays and other milestones, and the kitchen handles those moments with the same reliability it brings to a regular Tuesday dinner.
Ending a meal at Sidetrack with bread pudding or a brownie sundae is a solid way to make any visit feel complete.
Depot Town Location, Parking Tips, And When To Show Up
Sidetrack sits at 56 E Cross St in Ypsilanti’s Depot Town district, one of the more walkable and visually interesting stretches of the city. The surrounding block includes independent shops and historic storefronts, making the area worth exploring before or after a meal.
On a good weather day, arriving early and walking the neighborhood first is a natural way to build an appetite.
Parking requires a small amount of planning. The lot directly across the street from Sidetrack is functional but rough — potholes are a real concern, and it fills up quickly during busy hours.
The better option is the Maple Lot, which offers free parking about a three-minute walk away. That short walk through Depot Town is easy and pleasant, so the distance isn’t a real inconvenience.
Weekday evenings draw a solid crowd, and weekend nights get busy enough that a wait is likely. The upside of waiting is the neighborhood itself — the shops nearby give people somewhere to browse while the table turns over.
Sidetrack does not close on Sundays, operating until 10 PM, but Monday is a full closure. Tuesday through Saturday, the bar opens at 11 AM.
Friday and Saturday hours extend to midnight, making it a viable late-night stop after exploring other parts of Ypsilanti. The outdoor deck is a strong option during warmer months, adding capacity and a completely different atmosphere from the indoor railroad-themed dining room.
Groups should know that the kitchen has handled parties of 22 at lunch without losing pace, so larger gatherings are manageable with some coordination. The space also accommodates private events, as the surprise party reviews confirm.
Arriving closer to opening on weekdays is the smoothest way to get a table without a wait.
Why Sidetrack Keeps Drawing People Back To Ypsilanti, Michigan
Some bars coast on atmosphere alone. Others rely entirely on food.
Sidetrack manages to hold both in balance, which is harder to pull off than it looks. The combination of a nationally recognized burger, a deep draft beer list, a kitchen that handles everything from pot roast to carrot cake, and a setting rooted in real local history gives the place more than one reason to visit.
The staff consistently earns praise across a wide range of visits. Servers like Talan and Jocelyn come up by name in customer accounts, which says something about how the front-of-house operates.
Quick service during a surprise party for 20 people and attentive tableside care during a quiet weeknight dinner aren’t always the same skill set, but the team here handles both.
Families come for birthdays and special occasions and leave feeling like regulars. Solo diners settle in at the bar and find the energy easy to sit with.
People traveling from Detroit make the drive specifically for the food, then find themselves back again within months. That kind of pull doesn’t happen by accident.
The price point stays accessible throughout — mid-range for the area, with portions that make the spend feel worthwhile. Happy hour deals push the value even further for those who time their visits right.
For a bar and grill operating at this volume with this level of consistency, the pricing reflects genuine respect for the customer.
Ypsilanti has plenty of places to eat, but Sidetrack occupies a specific spot in the city’s identity that no other venue quite matches. The railroad history, the handmade food, the 37 taps, and the Depot Town address all stack up into something that earns its reputation visit after visit.