Detroit Street Filling Station: Plant-based eatery, people-based ideals

Mural on DSFS’s Catherine Street side. The painting reinforces the colorful food experience found within the walls. Photo by Annalyse Powell (February 16, 2026).

My favorite part of Kindergarten was reading time when my teacher would share inspirational books with the class, such as Carol McCloud’s Have You Filled A Bucket Today?, that reminded us about the value of making someone’s day with small acts of kindness. Little did I know that I would find an outward manifestation of these values at Ann Arbor, Michigan’s vegan restaurant: the Detroit Street Filling Station (DSFS).

Located at 300 Detroit Street in Kerrytown, the restaurant is known for replacing classic dishes like Reubens and grilled cheese sandwiches, pad Thai, and burgers with their plant-based alternatives. But more important than DSFS’s delicious menu selections is their people-based ideals that made me think back to McCloud’s book. If you’re in need of food, their website says just ask and they’ll serve up a complimentary bowl of chili and a pop. Plus, if you need fruits and veggies, you just add that to your online cart and check out, “no questions asked.” Additionally, they have poured more than $31,000 worth of free food into the Ann Arbor community. And right now when you eat at DSFS on Mondays, you can be part of the giving as “25% of sales from the day are donated to Buenos Vecinos for their support of immigrants in Washtenaw County.”

DSFS’s Buffalo cauliflower wings appetizer is seasoned to perfection, cooked to crunch. Photo by Annalyse Powell (February 16, 2026).

On top of all the good feels, the food here is fabulously vivid in taste. I recommend the “Buffalo Cauliflower Wings” and “Lumberjack Salad.” Between the warmth and spice of the appetizer to the freshness and bounty of the fresh veggies, the two make an irresistible, addicting pair. The wings may be veg, but there’s still a distinct crunch. They’re doused in tasty Buffalo spice (although not too hot on the tongue) and paired with creamy “ranch” dressing. The wings have an aroma that makes the mouth instantly water and a deep sienna coloring that pleased my eyes. The radiant rainbow-assortment of the salad made a nice compliment to the wings. The lettuce was crisp and plentiful, topped with marinated tofu slices. Purple Kalamata olives add bitterness while the walnuts provide a nutty flavor; the onions pack a punch, balanced by the fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, and avocado.

Both dishes will linger in your mind long after enjoying them. And did I mention everything here is 100% vegan! This is all in line with the company’s mission to “prepare high-quality, nutritious vegan food, and to demonstrate the breadth and versatility of plant based-whole foods…when possible [using] local and organic produce” and emphasizing “environmental sustainability.”

The “Lumberjack Salad” is pleasing to the eye, soothing to the stomach. Photo by Annalyse Powell (February 16, 2026).

DSFS and its neighbor North Star Lounge are both owned by Phillis Engelbert, along with The Lunch Room Bakery and Cafe (about two miles away). Engelbert, along with her friend and neighbor Joel Panozzo, kicked off their vegan foodie dreams with a “pop up” in 2010, turned food cart in 2011, turned restaurant in 2013. DSFS itself was born in 2017, opening in the former home of the “historic Staebler Family Oil Company filling station,” which had been a classic Ann Arbor Italian restaurant for the 40-some-odd-years prior.

Allow yourself to romanticize the charm of the Detroit Street Filling Station. It may seem too good to be true, but I promise you, that it’s very real. After every visit that I make here, I leave feeling like the best version of myself… my heart full, stomach content, and “my bucket” filled. It is a wonderful feeling to know you’re supporting your local community, especially when a delicious meal is part of the investment.