Best restaurants in Ann Arbor? v.2015
February 8th, 2015 at 12:04 PM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 1:06 PM ^
Bigalora Cucina down on Washtenaw across from Whole Foods. Authentic, thin-crust wood-fired pizzas, plus fantastic pastas and sides. Also about 50 craft beers on tap. My favorite new place in town.
February 8th, 2015 at 12:08 PM ^
Brian's guide from 2011 is a really good place to start: http://mgoblog.com/content/guide-ann-arbor-eating-drinking.
Unlike Brian, I do think the Chop House is has very good to great food, but they are part of Main Street Ventures, so you will pay 20% more than you should due to high rent prices.
February 8th, 2015 at 12:10 PM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 12:09 PM ^
Frita Batidos. The most flavor you will ever find crammed into one sandwich.
February 8th, 2015 at 12:23 PM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 12:37 PM ^
Good food, but I'd recommend carry-out because every interior surface is reflective and hard and the noise volume when it's full is ear-splitting. We also had our drinks served in plastic bags with a straw sticking out of it, which was weird as hell and not the easiest to handle.
Ate at Pacific Rim last night for first time. A bit pricey but food was great and interesting.
The Grange has unconventional but interesting menu; sit upstairs where they have a bar and serve smaller, cheaper dishes.
February 8th, 2015 at 1:06 PM ^
Eating at Frita Batidos is very much a social experience. You have to be in the mood for it. I too would often just get take out.
February 8th, 2015 at 1:08 PM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 3:22 PM ^
You drinking it or swimming in it bro?
February 8th, 2015 at 6:30 PM ^
I love the experience and setting.
February 8th, 2015 at 9:23 PM ^
I'll add my vote for Frita Batidos. I saw the thread and logged on just to add it to the list, but obviously many other foodie mgobloggers beat me to it. The place is amazing.
Frata Batidos' charizo burger with egg and avacado spread is amazing. Place was so slammed the last time I was there; over an hour wait.
February 8th, 2015 at 12:10 PM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^
I think you have to be a Rick's veteran to even attempt that joke.
February 8th, 2015 at 1:27 PM ^
I think you at least have to be old enough to go to Rick's to attempt the joke.
February 8th, 2015 at 2:25 PM ^
BAM! WD being called out for flagrant youthfulness
February 8th, 2015 at 2:27 PM ^
I'm beginning to understand why so many people say "oops! double post" - I didn't hit the send button twice in my usual fit of impatience. It's the site itself ghosting these posts
February 8th, 2015 at 12:11 PM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 12:39 PM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 1:22 PM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 3:38 PM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 12:12 PM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 12:12 PM ^
I could literally murder someone right now for a plate of Angelo's deep-fried french toast. Not gourmet, but undeniably good eating.
February 8th, 2015 at 12:17 PM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 12:32 PM ^
We should talk.....
February 8th, 2015 at 12:16 PM ^
I have season tickets for hockey and football and try to go there for a pregame meal as often as I can.
Why is it disliked on the blog?
February 8th, 2015 at 12:28 PM ^
Well, their beer is pretty much subpar. The food is OK. Not great. It's kind of amazing to me that they get the kind of press they do for a really pedestrian attempt at doing fancy, trendy barbecue and upscale burgers.
February 8th, 2015 at 1:01 PM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 2:02 PM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 2:24 PM ^
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February 8th, 2015 at 2:39 PM ^
Remember how Yogi Berra said "No one goes there anymore, it's always too crowded"?
How can Tractor be both loathed and reviled AND over-rated? A serious question from a long-ago transpanted Townie who comes back for at least one game every year, and often ends up at Blue tractor because my local friends think it's pretty good.
I live in SF and obvioulsy there are like 40,000 restaurants around here, so I have to frame my reviews differently. Tractor is OK, not terrible, not great, usually have fun there, and lotsa TVs with the sound on the game.
I guess the OP didn't really state any parameters for the type of experience he's looking for, so all suggestions have to be taken (except Rick's, which people didn't even really eat at when I was in school - 30+ years ago!!!)
Last time I was in town (PSU - UTLIII) we ate at what I guess is a Cuban place, corner of Main & Liberty(?) Forgot name, but it was quite good, with a nice looking room and pretty decent cocktails. Of course if cocktails will be an important part of OP's experience then Raven is a must!
February 8th, 2015 at 3:58 PM ^
Sounds like you're talking about Lena. It serves food from a variety of south american countries. Pro-tip: you can order beer by the tower...
February 9th, 2015 at 2:52 AM ^
I think it's similar to why reviews of some place like the Olive Garden is all over the place. Foodies hate the place because it's bland corporate food but then other people love it because of exactly the same reason.
February 9th, 2015 at 11:13 AM ^
How can Tractor be both loathed and reviled AND over-rated?
See McDonalds.
February 8th, 2015 at 3:30 PM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 2:26 PM ^
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February 8th, 2015 at 12:49 PM ^
we have so many great options, blue tractor's beer just isn't on the same level
February 8th, 2015 at 4:15 PM ^
I mean, Blue Tractor's beers aren't as bad as, say, the long-gone Leopold Bros., who both couldn't brew a decent beer OR clean their lines on any kind of consistent basis. But, honestly, I wish places with mediocre beer would just cut their losses and accept that you can put some energy into having a really great tap list of outside brews and be just as successful.
February 8th, 2015 at 12:55 PM ^
I'm a huge fan of the Blue Tractor. The brisket sandwich is great (chimichurri makes it a better buy than the brisket plate). Also, in defense of it's beer, I personally don't order the Bumper Crop very often (it's quite hoppy for it's ABV) but when mixed (stay with me here...) 50/50 with the amber the result is delicioius. A bartender there recommended it to me years ago and I have been ordering it almost exculsively ever since.
February 8th, 2015 at 4:23 PM ^
This place needs to burn.
February 8th, 2015 at 1:52 PM ^
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February 8th, 2015 at 3:41 PM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 6:51 PM ^
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February 8th, 2015 at 3:57 PM ^
I like it too.
February 9th, 2015 at 9:26 AM ^
On Blue Tractor. Tried it both here and TC, and it just wasn't very good.
February 9th, 2015 at 1:01 PM ^
I work nearby and go there for lunch all the time. It's OK. The beer is OK, better than ABC, but that's not saying much. It's not the best BBQ, but most of the dishes I've had are good. Nothing is exceptional though.
There's better options downtown, but if you're in the mood for BBQ or a hamburger and a beer, it's worth a try.
February 8th, 2015 at 12:20 PM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 12:22 PM ^
Then cover all your bases.
Angelo's one morning, Frita batidos for lunch or dinner one day, Mash one night (not or food, but for fun), Mark's midtown to recover the next morning, and zingerman's to see you off.
February 8th, 2015 at 12:24 PM ^
Tomukun
Tio's
La Marsa
Frita Batido's
Jolly Pumpkin (the pizza is ace)
Satchel's
I also had Zingerman's Roadhouse for the first time recently, and while it was a bit pricey, the food and atmosphere was worth it.
Breakfast:
Fleetwood
Nick's HoP
Frank's
As always, either Maize N Blue or Zingerman's are also solid fall back options depending on your preference.