Venue by 4M — Restaurant in Ann Arbor

I recently booked Venue by 4M for my team’s office party, and it was a great experience with a few areas for improvement. I chose this place based on a friend’s recommendation, and it definitely lived up to the hype. The venue was perfect for our gathering of 30 people, and the staff did an excellent job accommodating us.

Since it was the day before a holiday and the restaurant had been closed earlier in the day, we planned the event the same morning. Despite the short notice, the staff was incredibly flexible and made the entire process seamless. They even assured me over the phone that we could take our time without feeling rushed, which was a thoughtful touch.

The restaurant has a unique charm, as it’s a former grocery store that’s been transformed into a modern, art-inspired space. The vibe is fantastic—sleek, clean, and inviting, with beautiful artwork and thoughtful design elements throughout. One of my favorite features was the large windows, which allowed us to enjoy the stunning sunset while we dined and socialized. It created the perfect atmosphere for our gathering.

We came in for a happy hour gathering, and while the overall experience was pleasant, the food was just okay and could definitely be improved. We only tried their happy hour menu, so I can’t speak to their main menu yet, but I’m hoping for a more flavorful experience when I return to explore it.

Our server was attentive, friendly, and regularly checked on our large group to ensure everything was going smoothly. The appetizers were fresh and flavorful, but I feel the drink menu could use some improvement. I tried the Tropical Thunder, and while the name and description suggested a bold, strong cocktail, it was much sweeter than expected. A better balance of flavors would have elevated the experience.

The bread with olive oil was simple yet flavorful, and the chips paired with different dips added a fun variety to the meal. Chimichurri offered a refreshing, tangy twist. The fried calamari was perfectly crispy, while the pizza brought a comforting and satisfying touch. Brussels sprouts chips were a delightful surprise—so crispy and full of flavor. The rosemary table spread added an aromatic elegance to the experience, and the chicken wings we had were served in different flavors, each one bursting with its own unique taste.

One feature I truly appreciated is that Venue by 4M doubles as a rentable workspace. They offer open desks, conference rooms, and video conferencing setups, making it a great spot for professionals. Additionally, the ample parking space adds to the convenience of hosting events here.

With its welcoming atmosphere, diverse themed menu options (including American, Asian, and Mexican), and versatile offerings, this venue is an excellent choice for both gatherings and work-related needs. I’ll definitely return to explore their main menu and see how their bar offerings evolve. Overall, a great experience that has the potential to be...

The space is beautiful and unique. Everything else … is not so great. I’ve been here twice . The first time I came, everything was great except I was sitting at the bar and waiting 10-15 mins to actually get greeted. The people at the host desk just kinda stared at me without doing anything about the situation. I got pizza. It was very fresh but somehow lacked flavor. It kinda just tasted like cardboard, though the crust was good at the end. Both of the male bartenders (i was there during a shift change so i had two) were incredibly friendly that day.

The second time I went I once again wasn’t greeted when I sat at the bar but this time after about 7 mins I asked the hostess to tell the girl I’m sitting here . She was on the opposite side of the bar talking to what I assume were some regulars and didn’t care to turn around until the hostess told her. I ordered a CIDER, wings, and fries. She instead gave me the orange SELZTER . It tasted good enough so I didn’t say anything, though it’s not what I asked for. And of course cost more than the one I asked for. She was back talking to her regulars anyways, so I didn’t even have an opportunity to tell her. Keep in mind me and that group are the ONLY people at the bar. Then my wings come out, I ate 3 of them before the server comes back and says “they didn’t bring your fries?” Correct. They didn’t. I think she forgot to ring them in. It happens, but No apology or anything was offered. Even after, they didn’t get them out quickly. I had 1 chicken wing left by the time I got my fries. And of course when I got my bill I was charged the $6 for them. I had to ask someone else to tell her I wanted the check because she was still talking the other persons head off. Overall it was a terrible experience with service. I felt very forgotten about and felt she should have taken the fries off the bill after all the hassle. I’m truthfully not difficult to please, had she apologized or taken them off the bill it would have been cool. But instead her attitude got colder and she kept talking to the people on the other side. I was clearly her last priority. You could tell she knew i wasn't happy, she wasn’t even pretending to be apologetic. I should also note that as I sat there another group came up to the bar and asked if they could send a server because they wanted to order and hadn’t been greeted. As far as the food, the wings are soft and seem undercooked. Probably baked not fried, and the fries have a strange taste to them. Almost like garlic, but not in a tasty way. Anyways, I give up on this place. Cool...

Me and My husband love finding new places to eat, we are super picky when it comes spots. We base our spots off of the three major things… Food , atmosphere & customer service. Customer service is by far the most important for us, even if you have good food if your customer service is horrible we WILL NOT RETURN!! (we will angerly call in the order for carry out lol) & then atmosphere is important to us because we are both busy humans and when we get out we like things to be peaceful and stress free. We also don’t enjoy feeling out of place. Fitting in can really change the vibe. The’re is honestly no way you CANT fit in at a place like this. They are equipped to serve all ages and taste buds. Their menu is deeeeep!! You can tell the chef poured his heart out. It has different sub categories, Americano menu, pasta menu, pizza, Mas Tequeria and brunch. Almost two many choices if you ask me. But you could never get bored of options if you ask me! We’re night owls and seemed to mainly dine here an hour before closing most times. We felt like a**holes walking in the first time, the last thing we want to do is to be rude. We weren’t treated as inconveniences or rushed. The Chef came out with drink in had and we chatted it up!! First impression we knew we’d be back. We planned to return for brunch… & we did!! Brunch was great & again the Chef came up acknowledged us and chatted for a few minutes. We’re inlove with the atmosphere and how versatile it is. They have a meeting room that has equipment set up to do podcast interviews. They have a banquet room that I plan to hold an event in. They were holding an old folks card game night that was super cute. They also have great lounge sections PERFCET for game days! This place is definitely gunna blow this fall for Michigan football and I can’t wait to be a part of it. They have an old food truck outside near the outdoor seating area where they turn into a little bar. Chef Thad is BRILLIANT!! and his passion speaks volumes. He definitely made regulars out of us! He bought us a drink last night. Truly a genuine person that is a goat in hospitality. Only great things coming… Thanks for the great & pleasing...