Black Pearl Ann Arbor

It's been years since I'd been to Black Pearl last, but I really enjoyed dinner here last night! My husband and I shared and split the Burger and the namesake sushi roll, which honestly were reasonably priced for Ann Arbor Main St at a nicer option. We also tried the oysters of the day (from East coast). Oysters were small, but tasty! Served with the classic accoutrements - lemon, red wine vinaigrette, cocktail sauce, horseradish, choose your own adventure. I had stopped ordering oysters in Ann Arbor because I felt like it typically ended up being disappointing (ie not fresh), but these were good. The burger was delish! Loved the pimiento cheese, which really shone through, the bacon jam, and the bun. The meat itself was great as well. And the fries, the fries! Called "side winders" with spicy ketchup, these were THICK, super crisp on the outside, super warm and soft and potato-y on the inside. Loved this dish. The sushi roll was SO unique, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it or not, but I ended up loving. It had the coconut shrimp inside, hamachi on top, some of the standard stuff, and strawberry, which was the "weirdest" part. It worked so well though, in a semi tropical and really delicious way. I also learned that there's a whole back room that I'd never seen before, which you can rent out for private events. Up to 50ish for formal seated and up to 80/90ish for strolling/high tops.

Maybe I'm being too harsh. I have had positive experiences here but the food last night was an atrocity, and it's never really blown me away. Ordered the halibut which was served atop risotto. Sounds amazing. What I received was severely over cooked halibut with severely undercooked risotto, both of which were bland and tasteless. My counterpart ordered sushi and she was also unimpressed. I don't care for sushi but have never tasted a bite that was rock hard in the bottom. Neither of us came close to finishing half of our meals. Maybe they were too focused on the special menu for their red carpet NYE party starting as we left. Service and atmosphere were fine but I go to restaurants for quality food. It will be awhile before I give this place another chance.

The black pearl was a nice spot for date night. I'd say the ambiance is a mix of casual and upscale. I was able to get a reservation on a Friday night the day before and parked in a garage nearby for a few bucks. The service was good & the waiter gave good recommendations.We got the coconut shrimp appetizer and the brussel sprouts. They were good but not necessarily unique. The half seasonal salad was really tasty with lots of contrasting flavors (sweet and salty). I love salads with lots of toppings and this one was loaded. I got the halibut for a main course and really enjoyed it; there was a unique mix of flavors that I haven't had before and the fish wasn't too "fishy" for someone who isn't all in on seafood. The risotto was loaded with squash, kale, tomatoes, wine reduction and cheese. It was the perfect savory flavor with a touch of sweetness. I liked the texture of the breading too. There were several other interesting dishes on the menu and some steak if you aren't a seas food fan.

Excellent happy hour with delicious lychee martinis, fish tacos, grilled Brussels sprouts and coconut shrimp. Super nice and knowledgeable bartender with a cozy speakeasy vibe in the back.

It hasn't been quite 15 years since I've been to The Black Pearl but feels like 50. Beautiful evening and they have one of the best patios on Main Street. I opted to sit inside at the bar, as a single. I didn't want to take up a table. I quickly found some familiar faces and now see why they have flocked to The Black Pearl. Let's start with the drinks. No happy hour on Fridays. No problem. The Brush Fire stood out as a refreshing and spicy cocktail garnished with a fresh jalapeño slice. Turns out, the pal I found there and Brush Fire is her go-to. It's perfect with the ceviche and beet salad. The ceviche is a good size portion with wonton chips. I made a meal of it and didn't really need the beet salad but it was so highly recommended I had to fit it in. If you remotely like beets and goat cheese you have to get this salad. It's incredible. My pal said that the swordfish is amazing but I couldn't eat another bite. The vibe is casual but contemporary, upbeat and fun. Ian and Jeff are slinging excellent craft drinks but still provide great personalized service. The owner told me of their expansion plans and I cannot wait to see what they do with the new space. Good size portions and decent prices. Excellent service and incredible drinks. This would be a great place to meet friends, take a date to impress, or just get a good meal. I'm going to make this a new regular spot.

Casual spot with the finest of food. The menu is perfect, not huge, but still hard to choose from. This is a seafood place, and they nail it. They do have at least one steak dish but even if you're not a fish or seafood person you would want to try the seafood. You won't be disappointed. The staff work well as a team and are quick to wait on you. The mood is dark and chill. If you have difficulty seeing in dim light you may need some assistance with the menu. There is outside seating also. Try the key lime bar for dessert. Very good and has a little spice to it.

This was my first time at this restaurant and I was there for a work dinner. It was lively in the restaurant and a little louder and people around us seemed to be deeply engaged in conversation.Our server was very attentive. We ordered cocktails, and a few appetizers that included spinach artichoke dip, the shrimp, brussels sprouts and a couple of folks got the gumbo. I ordered the scallops and grits as my meal. The grits were delicious and the scallops were well prepared. Not overcooked at all the dish had a bit of a kick that was perfect other folks order the salmon, and they seem to like it.I ordered the English garden with vodka, and it was smooth. I enjoyed it very much.We will be back again!

The food is just alright, the vibes are nice (there's outdoor seating during summer), and the service is good.I got the swordfish and it comes with 'Korean dirty rice'...which is kind of like fried rice but not really fried. While the fish was fresh and cooked well, the rice was really mediocre. I've gotten better tasting (fried) rice at Asian takeout places. I'm not sure if it complemented the fish well. Perhaps not.

Terrible Food, Bad Service.I went to Black Pearl 2 years ago and loved it. The salmon was delicious. Not sure what has happened since.I went last night for restaurant week with a friend and everything from the service to the food was absolutely terrible. The salad I was served was tiny and embarrassingly sparse. The scallops dish was inedible. So bad tasting I couldn't even force myself to eat it. The carrot tres lèches was fine, but anything is good if it's sugary enough.In terms of the service, the servers are extremely attentive to filling up your water glass but little else. We were ushered through our meal as the waiter brought our next course before we'd even finished the prior course. So the main course was sitting on the table as we ate our appetizers, and same with dessert.Overall an awful experience, I'm so disappointed because I used to love this place but won't ever be going back. I have another friend who went two nights ago and had a very similar experience, so I don't think this one can be chalked up to an "off night." So disappointed!

We went to Pacific Rim for VDay and it was delightful. Sable and Salmon dinners were excellent, as was warm chocolate cake desert. Server was also very good. 9/10 - near perfect