OT - Ann Arbor anniversary dinner recommendations
My wife and I, who met as students at Michigan, will be in Ann Arbor for our 10th anniversary next week, and we're looking for a nice place for dinner (just the two of us). The original plan was to go to the Gandy Dancer, but we've heard from multiple people that it has gone downhill, so I thought it prudent to look at other options.
So what say you, MGoHorde? Where would you want to go for a nice dinner in Ann Arbor?
Also consider The Earle (best ambience in town) or Mediterrano off State and Eisenhower.
In order:
1. Pacific Rim
2. Logan
3. Taste Kitchen
Actually:
1. Pacific Rim
2. West End Grill, Logan, Aventura, Taste Kitchen
3. Chop House, Knights
4. Gandy Dancer, Earle
Happy Anniversary! Today is my 22nd so you picked a good date to get married.
one thing to keep in mind is that the Art Fair is going on so parking and getting around will be suckier than usual.
we will probably end up at Pacific Rim unless there’s a long wait. Rain may keep people away though.
Nobody mentioned The Earl yet, so I will throw that out there. Also, Gandydancer and Real Seafood were disappointing the last few times I went, so it’s been a few years. Gout diet keeps me away from the steak houses
Ann Arbor Chop House
My wife and I go there every year for our annual football game trek. She gets a great meal, I get to see a game - it all works out.
Here's a vote for dining wherever you first dined with her. Awwwww how sentimental. Brownie Points: earned.
This would normally be a great idea, but we didn't date until after we had both left Ann Arbor.
If you’re looking for something really nice and you don’t care about price, Chop House is great. But it wouldn’t be my first choice mostly because it is expensive. Great food but for two steaks, a side or two and a bottle of wine I’d anticipate dropping around $200-$250.
I personally love Aventura. Probably my favorite overall non-student restaurant in town. A fun, lively tapas bar with amazing food. Pacific Rim is good too but I haven’t been in a while. I’d avoid Gratzi. The decoration and ambiance are great but every meal I’ve had there has tasted like something I could get at Olive Garden. It’s just nothing special, and I don’t care to go back.
Jim Harbaugh recommends Cracker Barrel
https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2015/02/13/jim-harbaugh-michigan-cracker-barrel
Only goes for the audiobooks
Chop House or Pacific Rim.
My anniversary is tomorrow so we're going to Common Grill to get away from Art Fair.
Went to Logan’s with my wife about a month ago and was pretty disappointed. Food was mediocre and at times bland. Nothing stood out, and I felt like I wasted my money.
Just was at Gandy Dancer with my wife for her birthday last week. Good food, decent service and nice atmosphere. La Dolce Vita is excellent for desserts but I can’t say The Chop House serves anything better than “good” dishes that an above average steakhouse serves. I haven’t found a local steakhouse that can compete with something on the level of NYC or Chicago’s Smith and Wollenskys.
The Earle. Candlelight atmosphere, excellent menu, decent coupons available if that's your thing.
Chop House. No question.
I've always liked Cafe Felix (even though I see reviews of it aren't as good as others). I'm partial to French cooking though and it also has a pretty nice atmosphere.
If you like French food, check out Mikette. You won’t be disappointed.
The Earle is great, as is Mikette on the north side of town. Taking my wife to Standard Bistro and Larder tonight for her birthday. Very much looking forward to that.
my recs: slurping turtle, knights, and though i havent been yet, i hear good things about the standard, out on jackson new venture from james beard award winner and former zingerman’s head chef alex young and i would like to go there soon.
Whiffletree or Leopold Bloom’s, but I haven’t been to Ann Arbor in a while.
we went to dessous earlier this month for my birthday. it's melange reinvented, as of june - same owners, but they have brought in eve as a consulting chef, from my understanding. it was very, very good. the atmosphere on a friday night got a bit noisier as it got later (they have a live band over by the bar on weekends) so not as quiet and romantic as, say, the earle, but good ambiance and we highly enjoyed everything we got - appetizer, entrees and dessert. service was good, but low key - i think they make an effort to not be too fussy or pretentious. we will definitely be going back.
I highly recommend Carson's on Plymouth Road just west of 23 on north side. Intimate setting, great service and outstanding food. A little pricey but well worth it. Call ahead for reservation and try to get a booth near fireplace. Prime rib outstanding.