MI Farm-To-Table Restaurant Among Best In The Nation: USA Today List

ANN ARBOR, MI — USA Today released its list of the top 39 restaurants in the nation for 2026, and it includes one from Michigan.

Spencer in Ann Arbor made the list. The restaurant, located in downtown Ann Arbor, is owned and operated by husband-and-wife Abby Olitzky and Steve Hall. It opened in 2015 and has since become well known for its natural wine selection and seasonal, farm-driven dishes.

The selection stands out because the list was put together by local writers who live and work in the communities, rather than sending in outside critics or relying on online reviews.

Lyndsay C. Green of the Detroit Free Press said Spencer is a cozy fine dining spot.

"The room is transformed with sturdy, wooden communal tables, where diners rub elbows as they cut into fresh pastas and tear apart pieces of hot, fluffy bread," she said. "The tasting menu here is dictated by produce availability at nearby farms and preserves from previous peak seasons, like pickled cherries in December."

For February, Spencer’s menu features sourdough pancakes with sauerkraut and alpine cheese, roast mushrooms with herb salad and winter squash, and a winter salad made with endive, celeriac, fennel and apple.