The best laid plans… “Of Rice and Men.” This mantra suited our endeavor at 312 S. Main Street in Ann Arbor Michigan as we prepared in the early months of 2020 to launch our take on Modern Asian Cuisine in the summertime. Things didn’t go quite as planned, but our vision became a reality first as a takeout concept in the late Spring and Summer then a pop up restaurant Of Rice and Men in the Late Summer and Fall of that year. We created a concept that focused on the Asian cuisine that we love, namely, dishes like Peking Duck, a variety of house made dumplings, original takes on sushi using the best products and, of course, phenomenal wok fired rice dishes.
Utilizing her extensive career in the culinary field, Chef de Cuisine Ava Yau has created a menu of modern takes on these awesome dishes and more. We offer our unique style of culinary excellence in every dish that we prepare. We have a wide variety of different selections with many vegetarian options. It is our hope to create delicious dishes that are based in Asian tradition with a modern spin that makes our brand unique.
We pair our Modern Asian Cuisine with inspired takes on Tiki style cocktails and Asian beers. We also have a large curated selection of Japanese whiskeys to augment our full bar.
We also feature an eclectic selection of wines by the glass that complement the complexity and spice of our dishes. Furthermore, we also offer a distinct variety of sake that has been handpicked by our sommelier to excite experts and novices alike.
In the center of the dining room sits our glittering punk rock Buddha. It guides us with our theme of fine dining Modern Asian Cuisine paired with rock music and an easy going environment. We pride ourselves on the professionalism of our educated staff offering our style of enlightened hospitality.
Our team at Of Rice and Men is thrilled to have you come try our take on Modern Asian Cuisine. Come delight in our menu of Dumplings and Dim Sum, Sushi and signatures like Peking Duck and whole Wok Fried Bronzino. We are very excited showcase our amazing new brand from the same group, Multiverse Hospitality, that brought Blue LLama Jazz Club to Ann Arbor!
We’ve created a concept that focuses on the Asian cuisine that we love, namely, dishes like Peking Duck, a variety of house made dumplings, original takes on sushi using the best products and, of course, phenomenal wok fired rice dishes.
We pair our Modern Asian Cuisine with inspired takes on Tiki style cocktails and Asian beers. We also have a large curated selection of Japanese whiskeys to augment our full bar. We also feature an eclectic selection of wines by the glass that complement the complexity and spice of our dishes. Furthermore, we also offer a distinct variety of sake that has been handpicked by our sommelier to excite experts and novices alike.
Multiverse Hospitality Concepts
Meet Our Staff
Ava Yau
Chef de Cuisine
Of Rice and Men
Born in Thailand, Ava brings her expansive experience with pastry and culinary skills to Of Rice and Men. She attended culinary schools in her home country where she studied pastry, sushi, French and Asian cuisine and then in the United States at the California Culinary Academy. She has worked at various restaurants and hotels throughout California, most notably The Village Pub in Brookside and the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. She then moved to Las Vegas where she ran pastry programs at Kumi by Akira Black in the Mandalay Bay Hotel and the Aria Hotel. Chef Ava is very excited and not angry at all to bring her style of Modern Asian Cuisine to Ann Arbor at Of Rice and Men. Her unique take and respect for tradition on sushi, dumplings, dim sum, Peking duck, rice dishes and noodles are evident in every delicious bite.
Josh Hieftje
General Manager
Of Rice and Men
Throughout his 16 years of industry experience Josh has developed a passion for the restaurant industry. Josh began his career working front of the house at Zingerman’s Roadhouse and then ran the beverage program at Grange as lead bartender. He joined Multiverse Hospitality as the Beverage Director for the opening team at Blue LLama Jazz Club. Josh then moved into the
General Manager role at Of Rice and Men and has been integral in the creation and cultivation of Ann Arbor’s newest Modern Asian Restaurant. Josh is a trained Sommelier that has curated our extensive collection of Japanese Whiskey, Sake, Beer and Wine. He also offers his unwavering drive to deliver enlightened hospitality to his team of amazing servers and bartenders and his guests.
Adrian Estrada
Director of Culinary Operations Multiverse Hospitality
Blue LLama Jazz Club & Of Rice and Men
Adrian Estrada was born and raised in Chicago where he developed a love for cooking traditional Colombian dishes with his Grandmother, Rosa. Chef Adrian went on to hone his skills at some of the best restaurants in Chicago. After working with Chef Louis Goral at Chicago’s Michelin Bib Gourmand recognized, Mercat a la Planxa, the pair went on to open Rural Society Argentine Grill in Washington DC. Chef Adrian then moved to Philadelphia to lead the kitchen at Jose Garces’ flagship Spanish restaurant, Amada. Adrian is very excited to bring his extraordinary culinary talents to Ann Arbor at the Blue LLama Jazz Club and Of Rice and Men.
Louis Goral
Director of Operations Multiverse Hospitality
Blue LLama Jazz Club & Of Rice and Men
Louis Goral grew up in Iowa cooking rustic dishes with his Grandmother, Mary Lou. He began his restaurant career in Denver Colorado as a chef and ran culinary programs in Iowa, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington DC and New York City. Training under Iron Chef Jose Garces, Chef Louis developed concepts ranging from Spanish, American, Italian, Argentinean and French cuisines. While running hotel operations in Chicago and Washington DC, he branched out to manage front of the house operations as well. Louis is thrilled to be bringing his years of culinary and restaurant expertise to Ann Arbor at the Blue LLama Jazz Club and Of Rice and Men.
A Few Of Our Reviews
Amazing atmosphere, great food, and even better service. I am always blow away by my experiences here. The flavors are dramatic, yet balanced with food that is perfectly plated.
Unique, high-quality sharable dishes make this pop-up work the price. Expect to share everything and try from each area of the menu.
Some of the best food I’ve ever had! Already booked our next reservation. Strongly recommend the udon and the duck dumplings!