Recently I was convinced to eat at Zingerman's Roadhouse after many a friend told me "how it has unbeatable barbecue". Sadly, this was far from the truth. While I maintain a strict love of Zingerman's Deli, I was disappointed by the quality of food and service at the roadhouse.
By contrast, I also recently tried the Arbor Brewing Company for the first time and was incredibly impressed. What are you best and worst restauranting experiences in AA?
at least one
2nd for Exotic Bakery
Exotic bakery has some of the best cakes in Ann Arbor. They did our wedding cake years ago and it was really well priced. I think the wife is French and makes the pastries and the Syrian husband does the hot food.
Agreed on MSV stuff
But outside of that there have been some good additions in recent years.
Blue Tractor is really really good (I would rate just a step behind Slows in Detroit but not that big of a step) plus they brew their own beer.
I've heard great things about Grange which is the new restaurant that replaced Bella Ciao.
Had two or three good meals at Melange on Main St (think its been there about 3 yrs) and Pacific Rim has really been solid for a few years since the second generation of that family took it over and really redid it.
Eve was a nice addition a few years ago (what has it been four or five now)
Got one other sleeper since its off campus out on Washtenaw. Paesano's is really quite good.
On the bad side, aside from the staleness of places like Palio and Real Seafood, had two really really bad meals at Vinology (plus they're owned by Sparties)
Thanks for your support of the MGoAuction. We raised over $50,000 for M undergrad scholarships.
Wrong
Sparties live in the building above vinology and own the property. Its the Beal family of Beal contracting, Beal demolition, and Beal Properties
I thought I saw a State flag
I thought I saw a State flag flying up there!
Beg to differ.
The owner is Kristen Jonna of the illustrious Jonna family (either her cousins or brothers who own the Plum Markets in AA, W.B. and B.H.) and she owns both the one in Ann Arbor and its sister restaurant Vinotecca in Royal Oak. Beal may own the building but Kristen owns the business. See the links http://www.vinotecca.com/press.html and http://www.dbusiness.com/DBusiness/November-December-2009/The-Merchant-of-Vinotecca-mdash-Kristin-Jonna/
Thanks for your support of the MGoAuction. We raised over $50,000 for M undergrad scholarships.
The Beals are Ann Arbor
The Beals are Ann Arbor people, and as far as I know, aren't Sparties... I lived down the hall from their daughter in East Quad.
Good time at Palio
The first time I went to Palio, I had a very good steak, which was a special. I've been back a couple of times and have yet to find anything that compared. My last trip was pretty awesome, but that had less to do with the food than with Lloyd Carr walking by.
ABC is my favorite bar and their food is awesome.
I went to Prickly Pear during restaurant week and was enormously disappointed. I couldn't even eat the gazpacho is was so gross, the service was spectacularly bad and resulted in my server losing my credit card. How can a server lose a credit card! I will never go back there.
But you cannot beat ABC on Monday nights when the large beers are $3. That's the best deal in town.
Hide ya kids, hide ya wife.
Really?
I've always enjoyed Prickly Pear. The fajitas were outstanding, and a good value. In terms of service, I've found it acceptable, but not great... I've been there about 5-10 times, and had a good time with each of them (in addition to the fajitas for 2, the queso is great... but huge!) Sounds like we've had different experiences
"Over? Did you say, over? Nothing is over until we decide it is!"
Sounds Like
You caught the randomness of an incompetent server apparently. If you go back stay with their Fajitas and get a "Gold" Margarita, not a better one in town, IMO. Oh yeah, ...bring cash!
You're not alone, I have yet
You're not alone, I have yet to have an enjoyable experience at Prickley Pear. I like ABC a lot. Plus, their entire menu is locally grown i believe.
You fell victim to one of the classic blunders - The most famous of which is never get involved in a land war in Asia - but only slightly less well-known is this: Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line!
best deal?
i don't think you've been to packard pub for their 64 ounce pitchers of micro-brews for 5 bucks. granted, its only during the summer on certain days, but still. wow.
for a list of the best
for a list of the best places, go here: http://mgoblog.com/content/user-curated-mgohalloffame, and scroll to the bottom
ive always had a good time at the roadhouse though.
This is home...
An excellent point...
...and I just added this link to the HOF. Great thread everyone.
LSA '89 - MBB Natl Champions, Big 10/Rose Bowl Champions | Maize Pages Wolverines on Twitter | @MGoShoe
Great Plains Burger Co.
Great Plains is a fairly new burger place on Plymouth Rd. near North Campus, and they have VERY good food. Simple menu - Beef/Turkey burgers, dogs, fries, shakes. Very fresh, and really tastes great. The employees are also very friendly, and a lot of fun if you have a kid with you.
Doba
I always frequent that Qdoba right next door and have always wondered how that place is when it popped up. I will have to try it. That is a solid little strip mall of food joints they have going there.
"A flute with no holes is not a flute. A donut with no hole is a danish"
Yes.
i love everything about this place, except that they don't have real pork bacon.
But the presentation and taste is excellent.
Brady...Hoooooooke!
One I like
One I like a lot is Knights. I don't go a lot, but do enjoy their food when I do go.
Blimpy Burger...nuff said.
Blimpy Burger...nuff said. But not nuff seen...so:
Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes...and Ohio State sucks.
Plus
the 50 cent pieces and $2 bills you get as change.
No excuses. Play like a champion.
Ever tried one of Blimpy's
Ever tried one of Blimpy's Special Burgers, Chili-size or the Bullet? They are literally unbelievable.
I have friends who won't eat
I have friends who won't eat there because it looks too gross. I tell them to close their eyes and taste heaven.
(Cause in heaven nothing makes you fat. And Blimpy costs $0.00)
Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes...and Ohio State sucks.
Blimpys is great going down
Unfortunately wasn't so great twice as an undergrad when it came back up due to food poisoning. When I was an undergrad (early 90's) that place seemed to be closed for health violations as much it was open.
Thanks for your support of the MGoAuction. We raised over $50,000 for M undergrad scholarships.
Brings a tear to my eye...
The knowledge that I only have one more year to eat the wonderful Blimpy whenever I desire...
My mouth
My mouth instantly started watering!
“When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft; on the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing.” Bo
it's hard to believe...
that place almost burned down in a grease fire.
I agree
Blimpy Burger still to this day has the best burgers I've ever had IMO. I worked at the news service during school there and it was well worth the bike ride.
I actually got hit by a moron riding my bike (some guy blew out of a parking structure and I was riding on the sidewalk). At the time I had a cast on my right hand and was riding back to work from Blimpy's. The only thing I cared about after I got hit was if my burger was ok. That's when I realized nothing is going to compare to it.
I agree
Blimpy Burger still to this day has the best burgers I've ever had IMO. I worked at the news service during school there and it was well worth the bike ride.
I actually got hit by a moron riding my bike (some guy blew out of a parking structure and I was riding on the sidewalk). At the time I had a cast on my right hand and was riding back to work from Blimpy's. The only thing I cared about after I got hit was if my burger was ok. That's when I realized nothing is going to compare to it.
Gratzi
is ridiculous, and I'm not even talking about the food (which gets an A+). I took the lady friend there last year. I come from a partially Italian family and I'm picky about Italian restaurants, but sometimes the philosophy of long, drawn-out meals results in slow service at Italian joints. Not at Gratzi. They have a veritable army of wait staff who can apparently communicate telepathically. I'm pretty sure a different waiter or waitress delivered each dish that evening, and we had quite a few dishes. This is a very impressive place that I recommend to anyone looking for a fancy evening out.
No excuses. Play like a champion.
Not to be picky
It's not Ann Arbor Brewing Company, its Arbor Brewing Company (ABC). I worked there for a couple years and the owners hammered that into anyone who would say Ann Arbor Brewing Company. Sorry :)
Best Restuarant: Bella Ciao (not there anymore)
Worst: NYPD
My bad
edit'd
Good ones
Palio (main st) - really good Italian. Try the baked cheese with cracked pepper - amazing. Also they had the Gabbiano Chianti (one of my favorite red wines) Magnum for really cheap. did my graduation dinner here.
Paesano's (Washtenaw just south of where stadium hits) - Different Italian. Palio is more your "Chicken parm/pasta/traditional italian" while the Paesano's menu changed frequently, but was very good.
Prickly Pear (main st) - Wrote about it above but I enjoyed the tex-mex here, Chicken Fajitas for 2
Angelos (Glen and Catherine, near the hospital) - Best breakfast. I'm a french toast guy, and with their homemade bread, it was amazing.
"Over? Did you say, over? Nothing is over until we decide it is!"
Based on the rest of the thread
Sounds like I've been lucky thus far on Main Street...
"Over? Did you say, over? Nothing is over until we decide it is!"
Pricley Pear is the most
Pricley Pear is the most over-rated spot in town. You have to wait at least 45 minutes to get in and then wait another hour and a half to get through waiting for a server, waiting for your food, and waiting for your check. After all of that, they'll give you a bill that looks like you've just eaten at the the Earl but for burritos that you can get at Tios. To my wife's chagrin, I have blacklisted Prickley Pear for life.
You fell victim to one of the classic blunders - The most famous of which is never get involved in a land war in Asia - but only slightly less well-known is this: Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line!
I agree.
I've been to PP quite a few times and have never left fully satisfied.
Oprah's Minge.
Ha, I have some friends who
Ha, I have some friends who did a wait-time analysis of the Prickly Pear for our Operations Management class. I've never been there, but their presentation showed it's a HUGE problem.
Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes...and Ohio State sucks.
My one (and only) visit to PP
was a comically bad experience. Just awful from top to bottom.
I've also had very bad experiences at Palio (they actually forgot to cook our food and spilled a half bottle of wine in my girlfriend's purse).
Hide ya kids, hide ya wife.
?
they actually forgot to cook our food
What? Like, totally, or just really undercooked?
not just "douchey" MGoBlog user, but now TRUSTED MGoBlog user
The salmon was completely uncooked
but the side foods on the plate were cooked. Just piss poor that night.
Hide ya kids, hide ya wife.
Indian Food
Earthen Jar is a great place for vegetarian food. There is also a place next to Skeeps which is good for meat dishes.
Raja Roni is terrible don't ever go there
"Relax you panic monger" -Megatron
Shalimar is the gold standard
Shalimar is the gold standard for Indian food in the midwest.
"Come on, you Wolverines!"
I haven't been there since the remodel
But the bathroom was the yellow and or brown standard for shitters as I recall, although their food was excellent.
Madras Masala
Is the place right next to Skeeps. It's South Indian food, so it's not entirely fair to compare eating dosas (South Indian food) at Madras Masala to eating chicken tikka masala (North Indian food) at Shalimar.
With that being said, I think those are the two best places for Indian food in Ann Arbor.
I'm a pretty big fan of the
I'm a pretty big fan of the Real Seafood Company. PAELLA FTW!!!!!!!!
Sometimes I think it's a sin
When I feel like I'm winnin when I'm losin again
I went to the Blue Nile
I went to the Blue Nile during restaurant week. I have to say, it was quite amazing. The food looks like it came out the back end of a sick infant, but tastes delicious.
You fell victim to one of the classic blunders - The most famous of which is never get involved in a land war in Asia - but only slightly less well-known is this: Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line!
Former Employee
The food is good, but significantly overpriced IMHO.
Afternoon Delight for
Afternoon Delight for breakfast/brunch.
I'm a fan of the West End/Melange/The Chop House for special occasions. Za's is always a staple for friday lunches, though. Of course, people have already mentioned Blimpy Burger.
For worst, I would say Quickie Burger. Great people there, but the food is just always so bland. I guess thats drunk food, though.
i should probably stop posting on mgoblog when I'm drunk.
Go Die
Za's is HORRENDOUS. They microwave their food...
Za's ... ugh!
I once asked for their phone number as I wanted to check what cheesecakes they would have in the coming week (at the time, they were carrying some Cheesecake Factory cheesecakes). I was told they don't give out their phone number. What? Well, I don't give out my money to you. I've never been back.
Possibly somewhat out-of-date...
I've had two good outings at Eve. On a lower level, I also like Exotic Bakery and Cafe (Syrian) just off North Campus.
While I'm here, I have to (sorry) complain about how stale Ann Arbor is with its restaurants. It would be nice to see new places pop up more often. I'd definitely like to see some of the Main Street Ventures places turn over. Some of them are just a notch above Applebee's.
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