Ann Arbor’s Echelon Kitchen & Bar has landed a semifinalist spot for a 2026 James Beard Award, a rare blast of national attention for a downtown restaurant that only opened in early 2025. The wood-fired, vegetable-forward newcomer is already getting a wave of congratulations from diners and industry colleagues across town, as restaurants across Michigan compete for national buzz this year.
The James Beard Foundation included Echelon in its January 21 list of 2026 semifinalists, naming the Ann Arbor restaurant a contender for Best New Restaurant, according to the James Beard Foundation. Finalists are scheduled to be announced on March 31, with winners to be unveiled June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the foundation says, a timeline that gives the city a tight window to ride the momentum.
Local reaction
Staff at Echelon told local outlets the nomination came as both a shock and a thrill. Founder Doug Zeif called the news “ecstatic” and said the announcement gave him “goosebumps,” as reported by MLive, and the nod quickly jumped to local television coverage. CBS News Detroit ran a short segment highlighting the nomination and the restaurant’s central downtown location.
About the restaurant
Echelon, at 200 S. Main St., bills itself as a wood-fired, ingredient-driven kitchen that leans vegetable-forward while still offering shareable proteins and a chef’s counter experience. Executive Chef Joseph VanWagner and the managing partners spent nearly two years renovating the century-old Main Street space before opening in February 2025, according to Eater Detroit. The restaurant seats roughly 150 guests and has been part of a wave of higher-end openings that reshaped Ann Arbor’s downtown dining scene last year.
The nomination is especially notable because Michigan placed only a handful of semifinalists this year. Echelon was named Michigan’s entrant in the national Best New Restaurant category and is one of six Michigan semifinalists across all categories, according to Patch. Patch also notes that in 2025, 96% of surveyed semifinalists reported a positive impact on their business after recognition, underscoring the potential bump for Echelon if it advances…