We are the MRLA Feature: Haab's Restaurant
Owner Name: Michael Kabat
Company: Haab’s Restaurant, Inc.
City: Ypsilanti
Year Founded: 1934
Website: haabsrestaurant.com
MRLA Member Since: 1949
What is your business’ niche/specialty?
Although traditionally known as a steakhouse, we also serve seafood and good old -fashioned American cuisine, including comfort food like spaghetti and meatloaf. Many of our items can be found on our original menu, which is framed and hanging at the entrance to the dining room.
Our most popular item has always been our “Chicken in the Basket,” served with shoestring potatoes and a biscuit with honey. It was originally a franchised item of “Chicken in the Rough,” first served in Oklahoma City. During the 40s, there were approximately 240 “Chicken in the Rough” restaurants across the country, including two in Ann Arbor, one in Jackson, and one in Port Huron. As the nation moved to fast food, the franchise floundered. We maintained the original recipe and renamed the product “Chicken in the Basket” in the late 90s.
Located in downtown Ypsilanti, the Haab Brothers Café was on the original Detroit-Chicago Road (now Michigan Avenue). When the interstate highway bypassed the city traffic, we needed to expand the menu to include fresh seafood and prime steaks to draw motorists off I-94 and into Ypsilanti. We have now been privileged to serve four generations of families.
In addition to our food and service, we are proud of our historic building, which dates back to 1850. Both the original bar and tin ceiling still exist in our front room, and a portion of the wall that once (late 1800s) separated the “women’s bar” from the “men’s bar” is still visible.
Why is the MRLA important to you and your business?
The MRLA has been a godsend during the past year. The organization has brought to the attention of the governor, as well as the casual diner, the need for government assistance to ensure the independent restaurants survive during these trying times. Without that continued assistance in Lansing, we would experience far more restaurants closing their doors forever. They know, more than anyone else, the fragility of our industry; and their ongoing support of our industry since we first joined the MRLA in 1949 has been unsurpassed.
Haab's Restaurant Highlights
Company: Haab’s Restaurant, Inc.
City: Ypsilanti
Year Founded: 1934
Website: haabsrestaurant.com
MRLA Member Since: 1949
What is your business’ niche/specialty?
Although traditionally known as a steakhouse, we also serve seafood and good old -fashioned American cuisine, including comfort food like spaghetti and meatloaf. Many of our items can be found on our original menu, which is framed and hanging at the entrance to the dining room.
Our most popular item has always been our “Chicken in the Basket,” served with shoestring potatoes and a biscuit with honey. It was originally a franchised item of “Chicken in the Rough,” first served in Oklahoma City. During the 40s, there were approximately 240 “Chicken in the Rough” restaurants across the country, including two in Ann Arbor, one in Jackson, and one in Port Huron. As the nation moved to fast food, the franchise floundered. We maintained the original recipe and renamed the product “Chicken in the Basket” in the late 90s.
Located in downtown Ypsilanti, the Haab Brothers Café was on the original Detroit-Chicago Road (now Michigan Avenue). When the interstate highway bypassed the city traffic, we needed to expand the menu to include fresh seafood and prime steaks to draw motorists off I-94 and into Ypsilanti. We have now been privileged to serve four generations of families.
In addition to our food and service, we are proud of our historic building, which dates back to 1850. Both the original bar and tin ceiling still exist in our front room, and a portion of the wall that once (late 1800s) separated the “women’s bar” from the “men’s bar” is still visible.
Why is the MRLA important to you and your business?
The MRLA has been a godsend during the past year. The organization has brought to the attention of the governor, as well as the casual diner, the need for government assistance to ensure the independent restaurants survive during these trying times. Without that continued assistance in Lansing, we would experience far more restaurants closing their doors forever. They know, more than anyone else, the fragility of our industry; and their ongoing support of our industry since we first joined the MRLA in 1949 has been unsurpassed.
Haab's Restaurant Highlights
- Consistent food quality and traditional recipes our guests count on.
- Quality dining in a comfortable, homey atmosphere.
- Housed in a historic building within Ypsilanti’s large historic district.
- Family owned and operated.
- Part of the Ypsilanti community since 1934.
