OT: Zingerman's vs. Maize and Blue
Andy Staples has a piece comparing the 2 delis...he sides with Maize and Blue over Zingerman's.
http://heavenisabuffet.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/quality-vs-quantity-and…
August 18th, 2011 at 8:19 PM ^
well duh, who wouldnt pick maize and blue over shitty overpriced zingermans. if it was me i would have chosen the bread basket out on carpenter and ellsworth
August 18th, 2011 at 10:13 PM ^
Zingerman's has the best sandwich. They have the best ingredients, the most diverse sandwich selection, and an aweseome atmosphere. It is, in no way, "shitty."
Howeva, I go to Maize and Blue more often because a) it's way closer to where I live and b) it's less expensive than Zingerman's. Maize and Blue's sandwiches are gigantic too.
I will say that whenever my parents come into town and take me out to lunch, I pick Zingerman's over Maize and Blue 100% of the time.
August 18th, 2011 at 10:30 PM ^
i keep seeing people say that about going to zingermans when their parents come to town but i can think of dozens of places id rather take my parents if they are paying over either of those places
August 19th, 2011 at 6:51 PM ^
30 bucks for a sandwich? And you guys are students?
August 18th, 2011 at 10:25 PM ^
Another vote for Carpenter and Ellsworth!
August 19th, 2011 at 6:57 AM ^
You two are crazy. I live near Bread Basket, and if there were a Maize and Blue deli right next door, Bread Basket would never get another dime from me.
August 19th, 2011 at 8:52 AM ^
If you're just comparing the deli sandwiches, they are comparable. But I see M&B as a place to go to for a big lunch with your buddies, while Zingerman's is really somewhere to treat yourself.
However, if you're comparing the two establishments, it's not even close. Their offers of cheeses is excellent, and if you go to the Roashouse, their fried chicken and mac n cheese are incredible. I was flipping through a Delta magazine on a flight a few months back, they did an article where they featured 3 different world famous chefs and asked them what 3 places/restaurants influenced their cooking the most. The lady chef put Zingerman's as her #1 influence, saying how much she loved it, their cheese and ingredients, and business overall.
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:04 AM ^
I saw Mario Batali at the Roadhouse and he was loving that shit. Orange clogs and all.
August 18th, 2011 at 8:21 PM ^
@Maize and Blue... so good...
August 18th, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^
You all are out of your minds. The fact that Maize and Blue is even mentioned in the same breath as Zingerman's is preposterous. I'll gladly spend $20 at Zingermans because its just that good. Maize and Blue is bunk.
August 18th, 2011 at 8:27 PM ^
have you ever had a sandwich outside of ann arbor? zingermans is average at best, nothing special. i truly believe that people who like zingermans subconsciously will themselves to believe it is better than it really is because it has fancy sounding sandwiches
August 18th, 2011 at 8:45 PM ^
I tend to agree with you. I mean, I like Zingerman's sandwiches, but they are incredibly overpriced and overrated. That doesn't mean they aren't great. I think Zingermans is a cool place with other good stuff too (like their bread). Its just that there are many sandwiches elsewhere that I've had that are just as good though.
August 18th, 2011 at 8:53 PM ^
they do have good pretzel rolls, but i can get those at le dog with some awesome soup. blueberry muffins are dry and dont have many berries in it, maybe it was just an off day but ive been to the roadhouse, wow, $29 for ribs? $14 for mac and cheese? come on, thats absurd, plus the portions suck. cant believe how much more you can charge when you use the word organic, even when they ruin the food because they dont know how to cook it
August 18th, 2011 at 8:53 PM ^
nationally reknown then? Why did the Chef at the Roadhouse just win a James Beard award for best in the great lakes region? Why can I find Ari Weinzeig's book on a display table in an Austin bookstore? It's because those guys know quality, and other people that truly know quality recognize it.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:03 PM ^
the same reason that chinese place on south u has won so many awards, because......actually i have no idea how they win, that place sucks too. anybody ever been to nays bamboo kitchen in alma?
August 18th, 2011 at 9:11 PM ^
Thank you! China gate is the one of the worst chinese restaurants I have ever eaten at. Oriental express on packard might even be better.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:18 PM ^
im a fan of san fu, but honestly i dont think AA has good chinese food
August 18th, 2011 at 9:33 PM ^
San Fu isn't bad. I haven't been there recently, but we used to park there before Michigan games 12 years ago or so, so we got that quite often and it was enjoyable. I really like TK Wu, they also have gigantic portions. Other than that and Saigon Garden, the other decent Chinese places in Ann Arbor are off campus, Kai Garden, Great Lakes, Asia City. But hey, cheap college students like cheap Chinese food, so China Gate and the like are able to stay in business.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:45 PM ^
The only place that has good all-around Chinese is Gourmet Garden. For other places, I will usually only have a certain dish that I like. China Gate has a couple things that I like, but other things are absolutely horrible.
August 19th, 2011 at 11:13 AM ^
Holy crap, I'm pretty surprised anyone brought up Gourmet Garden. Best chinese food I've ever had. I live in Dearborn now and will still drive to Ann Arbor for their food. It's fantastic.
August 18th, 2011 at 11:20 PM ^
Chinagate is awful, but have you tried TK Wu or Magic Kingdom? Both are pretty good, even better when you order off the Chinese menu rather than the general one.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:52 PM ^
meh, haters gonna hate. I love china gate.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:45 PM ^
Chinagate? I think they make those awards up, whenever I was on that side of the street, it was for JJ's
August 19th, 2011 at 2:59 AM ^
My wife loves Nay's..I on the other hand would rather eat a sack full of shit hence we no go there. First Wok in Mt P is where its @ where everything is ready in 10 minute.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:32 PM ^
just because they use good ingredients doesnt mean they are good cooks, my gf says that the burger at the roadhouse was one of the worst burgers shes ever had, didnt even finish it. it all perceived quality, people who have lived here just want to get behind what their food is all about, local ingredients, organic, ect,
edit: also, awards dont mean anything, look at the oscars and the grammys, there are tons of winners that the majority of people hate, jennifer aniston, justin bieber?
August 18th, 2011 at 9:47 PM ^
Look you can give some anecdotal evidence from your girlfriend on their burgers, and I can counter with I've also had their burgers and I love them; however, the bottom line is Zingerman's is wildly successful and they didn't achieve it via brain washing. These guys dedicate their entire lives to food. The organic/local/vegan trends your referencing certainly weren't what they are today when Zingerman's made their name. Maybe you don't like the people that go to Zingerman's, maybe you had one bad experience, regardless while taste is largely subjective, their quality is an objective fact.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:51 PM ^
they acheived it by amazing marketing and branding
August 18th, 2011 at 9:55 PM ^
You're a cynic
August 18th, 2011 at 10:01 PM ^
listen, it is brainwashing, thats why people here are soooo in love with washtenaw dairy. they use strohs ice cream, you can buy it at kroger and take it home and that way is even cheaper than buying it at the dairy. same with angelos, that place is average at best. its the whole "ann arbor institution" thing that gets forced down your throat the day you move here. some people are able to make their own opinions while some cant and continue the pass on the brainwashing to the next generation
August 18th, 2011 at 10:10 PM ^
I disagree about Angelo's, that place is great. Washtenaw Dairy has great homemade doughnuts as well.
I do think there is some merit to your "Ann Arbor institution" comment, but certain places(like Blimpy Burger) actually live up to the hype.
August 18th, 2011 at 10:13 PM ^
i watched angelos microwave my plate, toast and all, after it had been sitting in the window for 10 min. i dont care if you say that it was one bad experience, any place that would do that at all sucks and doesnt deserve a second chance, there are lots of places in ann arbor that wouldnt do that
August 18th, 2011 at 10:10 PM ^
I disagree about Angelo's, that place is great. Washtenaw Dairy has great homemade doughnuts as well.
I do think there is some merit to your "Ann Arbor institution" comment, but certain places(like Blimpy Burger) actually live up to the hype. I wish Mr. Rib was still around.
August 18th, 2011 at 10:16 PM ^
man, i have heard so much about mr rib, sad i never got to try it. also i hear that blimpy burger is great, im just too scared to go there and mess up and get yelled at. im still scarred after going to the weiner circle at 2 am once.
August 19th, 2011 at 4:28 AM ^
Weiner Circle is the best, but you have to make sure to come with your best material.
August 18th, 2011 at 10:10 PM ^
Washtenaw Dairy used to make their own ice cream, but the switch to Strohs is lame so I agree. And I agree to an extent about the Ann Arbor Institution thing. And I agree people try and capitalize on the organic food movement just like people do with the green movement. But I do not agree about Zingerman's. I think Zingerman's is what the wannabe Ann Arbor restaurants and cafes strive for because they are the real deal.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:09 PM ^
world-renowned. Top critics like Jeff Steingarten and friggin' Iron Chef Mario Batali sing its praises for a reason.
They are very expensive, true. But they are that expensive because the deli is one of the best in the world. They get cheeses that are available at maybe two other places in the US. If you don't think all the extra money is worth the difference in taste, that's fine. But if you think it's possible for others to subconsciously will themselves into loving it, isn't it possible you're subconsciously willing yourself into hating it?
August 19th, 2011 at 9:45 AM ^
They try to do the right thing by their staff, the food, and their customers. It's a price I'm willing to pay.
August 18th, 2011 at 8:24 PM ^
Zingerman's is fun to go to and show off to your family however Maize and Blue is the "go to' spot. I have been going there since the day it open "before any autographs on the wall". #2 Mo's Mess is still my fav. Even though I have been living in Manhattan for several years and i would take a Mo's Mess over a sandwich from Katz any day.
August 18th, 2011 at 8:28 PM ^
ZIngerman's is the place to go when the parents are in town, and you want to try something that will be amazingly tasty, a little out of your price range, but unique and fun enough that everyone will enjoy it.
Maize and Blue is for those nights when you're either working your ass off or partying your ass off. If you took your family there, they'd either harken back to their college days, or they'd ask you why you brought them to such a craphole.
I say, why not be a fan of both? Also, the chicken sandwiches at Zingermans are some of the best in the world.
August 18th, 2011 at 8:35 PM ^
Totally agree. They're both delis but I go to them at very different times. M&B is on my agenda for ND weekend, haven't gotten back there in years.
August 18th, 2011 at 8:26 PM ^
Zingerman's is fun to go to and show off to your family however Maize and Blue is the "go to' spot. I have been going there since the day it open "before any autographs on the wall". #2 Mo's Mess is still my fav. Even though I have been living in Manhattan for several years and i would take a Mo's Mess over a sandwich from Katz any day.
August 18th, 2011 at 8:33 PM ^
It's a matter of opinion and personal taste and my opinion is that you are on crack. M&B and Zing's aren't in the same stratosphere as Katz's. I've lived in Manhattan for over 30 years and can find a better deli/ sandwich every 10 blocks or so.
August 18th, 2011 at 10:28 PM ^
August 18th, 2011 at 8:31 PM ^
I go out of my way to go to Maize and Blue every time I go back to Michigan. I've always thought it was better then Zingerman's. Nice to hear some others agree.
August 18th, 2011 at 8:36 PM ^
I've got Blimpy Burger as my first stop back (well, Zola's, but that's my wife's doing, I get BB as restitution)
August 18th, 2011 at 8:35 PM ^
But if I'm not paying, it's Zingerman's without hesitation.
August 18th, 2011 at 8:40 PM ^
I personally prefer Zingerman's despite the cost (well within my budget anyway). Part of it is that, after I eat, I can go and shop for cheese. As I am responsible for all the DTE work around the place right now, I should say good things.
August 18th, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^
How long has maize and blue deli been open? I feel like I've been sheltered. I grew up near AA and never went there, and never really considered going there until I saw it on Man vs. Food after I graduated.
August 18th, 2011 at 11:11 PM ^
20 years.
August 18th, 2011 at 8:45 PM ^
Overall Maize and Blue is hands down the best I've ever been to. Don't get me wrong, Zingerman's is fantastic. I think though that the hype and the snobbery at Zingerman's makes you want to dislike it more than necessary. I went to Zingerman's had a fifteen dollar sandwich and it was great. I also had a draft root beer that was probably the best I'd ever had.
On the other hand Maize and Blue has unlimited options, fantastic quality and impeccable ingredients. Maize and Blue will give you double the quantity for half the price. Maize and Blue is overwhelmingly the favorite over Zingerman's. With how good Zingerman's is, that is saying something.