The single best place to go eating and drinking in A2, and why?
What are the best places to go eating and drinking in A2, and why?
I will start:
Ashleys for drinking, because of the great selection and it is right off the end of the diag.
Griz Peak, great food in the middle of a block where you are going to have a great time.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:54 PM ^
Drinking - I always liked the Jug because it was always near where I lived, had a decent amount of TVs if a games on, and has decent prices for getting hammered.
Eating - Red Hot Lovers (now called Ray's Red Hots). Not sure if this is still my favorite now that prices have gone up slightly, but 2 deal dogs with grilled onions and hot peppers for $2.50 was awesome sober or drunk. They also have some of the best fries in town.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:31 PM ^
I remember reading that the place was bought and then the landlord threw them out b/c they're selling the building to a developer.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:52 PM ^
Ray's Red Hots is still in the same location
December 1st, 2009 at 11:29 PM ^
From what I heard before, the new owner (thanks to him BTW for keeping the place open at night) was a recent grad running the place from New York. The landlord was raising the rent too high for his liking and there were rumors it was going to move by the Panera on North U. Not sure what happened, but a friend told me it was open again in the same spot right before we played ND. Needless to see, awesome win + reopening of Red Hot Lovers made for one of the greatest days of my life.
Note: I have no idea if that story above is true - this is all going by rumors my friends still in town heard.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:33 PM ^
The recent grad who brought in crepes (WTF?) is not involved in this. It is back how it used to be, waffle fries and all, but slightly more expensive.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:44 PM ^
I'll second this, basically. I can't speak to the new Red Hots though the old one was great; Brown Jug is the best place to drink IMO and additionally has the best combination of drink and food.
Their $3 Long Islands (after 9pm?) are particularly good
December 1st, 2009 at 8:58 PM ^
Weber's. They have excellent wedding cake, let me tell you.
For drinking: honestly, some of our best drinking nights were at B-dubs. I know it's not an authentic Ann Arbor experience, but they're the one bar that didn't screw up a Four Horsemen.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:04 PM ^
I was at Weber's for Thanksgiving, one of the best NY Strips I have ever had.
Picking a favorite bar I think would be equivalent to picking a favorite child, though, I have always been partial to Fraiser's
December 1st, 2009 at 9:03 PM ^
Great steaks, strong drinks, and an upbeat atmosphere (even if the decor is like going back to the 70's).
December 1st, 2009 at 9:09 PM ^
Definitely the strongest drinks in town. They select, cut and age their own meat, too.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:41 PM ^
Don't forget about their complimentary rolls...
December 1st, 2009 at 9:03 PM ^
Food without a doubt is BTB, affordable and ridiculously delicious.
Drinking I'd say Babb's or Ashley's. Both have good selection and are pretty unique in their on right.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:19 PM ^
every since they raised their prices last year i think the quality has gone down hill. not what it used to be.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:05 PM ^
Whatever Bell's is on tap, and a Sixth Man with hot peppers. Fried artichoke hearts to start.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:07 PM ^
gotta give some to my connor o'neills guys on Main.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:43 PM ^
One of my favorites as well. Every time I go there I get the exact same thing. Smithwick's, Shepherd's Pie, and Bailey's Cheesecake.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:10 PM ^
Best beer is Arbor Brewing. Food there is so-so, but if you want a night of craftbrew goodness, it's the place.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:48 PM ^
...try out the new kid in town. Jolly Pumpkin on Main Street is really good. The brewery is in Dexter and the owner/brewmaster is a Michigan grad.Beer is excellent.
December 2nd, 2009 at 4:01 AM ^
ABC has good beer, but their food borders on inedible. They can't even make a decent burger, and doing that is about as easy as cooking gets.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:11 PM ^
We went back to Casey's this summer, and it had been a post game favorite for bugers and one (three) more beers back in our time on campus.
It just didn't deliver a tasty burger like we remembered.
Connors is fun but pricey and too loud to chat in.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:21 PM ^
Blimpy Burger is the best burger that I've ever had (I mean that literally).
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:57 AM ^
Have you tried the No. 9 Burger? Available only pregame on football Saturdays, it's about 30% of the reason I still go to the games. The other reasons are Michigan football (100%) and ceremonial binge drinking (20%). Yes, that's 150%. No, it doesn't have to make sense.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:26 PM ^
I miss The Del for food, drink, and atmosphere. Great place to get a pitcher of Bells for last call. Heard it closed a few years back. Shame.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:28 PM ^
You cannot beat Dominick's. Best combination of food, drinks and atmosphere anywhere near campus.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:34 PM ^
Used to drink that stuff by the pitcher when I was undergrad.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:21 PM ^
I remember finishing an exam in the early afternoon on one of the first warm days of the spring. Daydrinking was wonderful. Then came the worst hangover of my life, almost 3 full days of pain.
So tasty, but the Mad Dog they throw in there will get ya.
By the way, anyone else having deja vu (NTDV)? I think I wrote the same exact thing about the Del Rio and Dominic's sangrias back in the haloscan days and probably a few times since. Not complaining, these threads are always fun and nostalgic for me.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:06 AM ^
$25 Mad Dog 20/20, crappy house wine, Manischewitz, and cheap brandy in a jar mostly full of ice and a couple dainty chunks of fruit is NOT "fantastic" sangria.
Dominick's is cool right after you're 21 and the novelty of actually being able to get past their overly vigilant door staff still exists. After you realize how much you're spending on stuff that is wildly overpriced and varies widely in both strength and quality, you start to figure out you should be drinking elsewhere.
As for me, Red Hawk, Casey's, and Old Town are top notch.
December 4th, 2009 at 11:02 PM ^
You are exactly right that the sangria from Dominicks is terrible mad dog hangover juice. But I do love it so. There is just something about drinking sangria, no matter how bad it is, and being outside that just works.
I love whisky at at Old Town. Just the right type of bar for whisky. As for beer, ABC is great. As for burgers, Blimpy is the best.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:35 PM ^
if price is not an issue, Logan or Eve is the best for food. If it is sort of an issue, Red Hawk. If it is all-important, BTB.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:36 PM ^
Jerusalem Garden has to be in the mix for best food for the price. Great falafel and hummus. And Northside Grill is where it's at for breakfast.
Arbor Brewing Co is my favorite place to have a few beers. The Sacred Cow cask IPA is delicious.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:43 PM ^
Northside doesn't hold a candle to Angelo's for breakfast.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:49 PM ^
I think my arteries are still clogged from the eggs benedict and french toast and I haven't been there in years.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:52 PM ^
Or to the Broken Egg
December 1st, 2009 at 11:23 PM ^
Benny's >>>> *
December 1st, 2009 at 11:23 PM ^
I guess it depends on what you like. I'm not huge on eggs or french toast, so I always felt like a cajun kitchen sink at Northside couldn't be beat. Plus, I lived in that area for 5 years and felt like the mid-week Northside crowd was more my style. Either way, they're both solid breakfast spots for the uninitiated.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:57 PM ^
Amazing food there, but for a comparable (and less expensive) french toast experience, you've gotta bite the bullet and go to Frank's (on Maynard by the bike shop and dry cleaners, behind Nickels Arcade). While the food is very... greasy-spoon-like, the french toast is amazing.
December 4th, 2009 at 10:29 PM ^
Afternoon Delight!
December 4th, 2009 at 11:56 PM ^
The new Middle Eastern joint across the street from JG, Yoshi's, kicks the crap out of anything JG could ever hope to serve. Not only is the food at Yoshi's better, but Yoshi's also isn't staffed by dirty hippies. You can't lose!
December 1st, 2009 at 9:41 PM ^
"You cannot beat Dominick's."
Location for sure. Out the library back door at the law school and you were hoisting a cold one and debating in a great location on the deck or the courtyard in three minutes.
However, the drinks and snacks were okay at best.
Location, location, location is the rule at Doms.
Edit to add: My wife and I went there in the spring on a trip back to campus, and got our card number ripped off. It was the only place my wife used her card that week, so it had to be there.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:42 PM ^
Only because there is a definite line between good places you go as an undergrad and good places you go as an alum.
For the former, how can you question the wings at Mr. Spots.
For the latter, I'd throw West End Grill out there as the best eats in Ann Arbor.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:05 PM ^
+1 for Spot's Wings memory.
One dozen wings in suicide sauce with a side of O rings.
Other college favs included Pizza Bob's Chipatis, Pizza House Calzones, and Bells Take out Special.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:53 PM ^
I'll throw out Benny's for food and Fraser's for drink. Though those are based more on atmosphere than anything...
December 1st, 2009 at 9:56 PM ^
Steak sandwich, cheddar & ale soup, and a Farmer's Daughter on the rotating tap. Probably my favorite brewery in Ann Arbor, but the bar with the most options is easily Ashley's
December 1st, 2009 at 11:36 PM ^
That steak sandwich with the potatoes and bacon & creme fraiche is really fucking fantastic.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:56 PM ^
I rarely hit anywhere other than Ashleys when I am able to get in to town.
Mainly because of this.
Best food?
Well, "best" might be a stretch but I could go for a Quint with Egg right about now.
Best food?
Well, "best" might be a stretch but I could go for a Quint with Egg right about now.December 1st, 2009 at 10:04 PM ^
I am google mapping this thread so I have a restaurant checklist for my next trip to A^2.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:04 PM ^
Dominicks and the Heidleberg for combination. The 'berg's happy hour on thursday/friday are awesome, especially for someone who would rather have craft brews. Last I heard, Hofbrau and Arcadia Ales were $2 a bottle, but it might be $2.50 now. Buy two and get all you can eat wings and chips on Friday.
I preferred Thursday when they'd do tacos. We'd have a couple Arcadia Scotch Ales then move on to das boot with really good German beers.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:09 PM ^
when they closed down the downstairs pub at the Heidleberg.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:48 PM ^
I hadn't heard they closed it! That means my eventual trek back to Ann Arbor can be put on the back burner for a few more years.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:06 PM ^
I was there for the happy hour a month ago, when did they close it?