OT - Fanciest Dinner in A2

Submitted by Go Blue 1984 on
This is my first thread and it is about something that is definitely OT so if it gets deleted I understand. I will give it a shot. My wife and I have our wedding anniversary coming up in a couple weeks and all she wants to do is head up to A2 and have a good time. She wants to start by going to a fancy restaurant with obviously very good food. So what would you suggest? We have been to Gandy Dancer so that is out, Shalamr sucks and wouldn't call it fancy. How about Chop House or The Earle? Thanks for any advice.

mgokev

July 1st, 2015 at 11:04 PM ^

Actually West End is just as pricey but it's a more intimate environment. I assume bluebots means overbearing as in the Chop House is good and expensive, and they know it, so they're kind of in your face about it. West End is great but there are less than 15 total tables, I want to say.




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straight-gangs…

July 1st, 2015 at 11:05 PM ^

West End Grill has only a few tables inside and Chop house isn't more expensive. My experience is that its my favorite by far. Although I like the Chop House, Earle, and some of the others, the West End grill is the best, it might be the most expensive though too....

mgokev

July 1st, 2015 at 11:14 PM ^

Agree. I'd also add the Chop House goes full on bulky tablet-in-a-case menu and the tables seem much closer and the environment much louder than it used to be. West End had their specials on a small chalkboard menu on the table and it was all I needed. Fantastic. You can't go wrong food-wise at either place but I tend to prefer the environment of West End.




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ElBictors

July 1st, 2015 at 11:48 PM ^

Knights would be an OG, Townie A2 night for sure.

Agree with others as Sra ElBictors and I hit #14 ...it's not the restaurant, it's the time.

Pick a place YOU GUYS will like, not a place some douche-foodie tells you to try. RSF is solid ..and where we did my Graduation dinner ...don't be afraid of the sole proprietor shops ...Ruth's Chris is good, but a chain.

Congrats and GO BLUE!!!!

bklein09

July 1st, 2015 at 10:29 PM ^

Chop House, Real Seafood, and a lot of the other places on Main Street are good bets. Personally, I'd go with Real Seafood because I don't like paying $35 for a steak I can pretty much replicate at home.




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Perkis-Size Me

July 1st, 2015 at 10:33 PM ^

Chop House is, in my opinion, the best steak house in the city. Can't go wrong with going there. If you're going during the Art Festival, you'll likely want to book reservations now. Pacific Rim is solid, too.

I actually went to the Earle a couple weeks ago. Food was good, but the atmosphere was a little more dull than we were expecting. Maybe it's better during the school year, or we just went on a slow night, but the place was more than half empty and they just stuck us in a back corner. I'd say pass on them. Avoid Gratzi, too. The decor inside is great, but the food is just really average.




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jdon

July 1st, 2015 at 11:08 PM ^

I worked there a long time and basically they get the first pick of all the prime rib.  It basically makes their shit untouchable. I remember when the chef was explaining to me that it really comes back to the contract they have for the beef...

i need to go back and grab a meal some time...

jdon

 

Everyone Murders

July 2nd, 2015 at 9:21 AM ^

Go back, and you'll be delighted/upset/bemused that you were 100% correct on who would be there as a lifer.  At least that was the case when I dropped by for breakfast a few years ago.

LSAClassOf2000

July 1st, 2015 at 10:53 PM ^

My wife and I have always been fans of The Earle when it came to a reasonably fancy dinner, and if you don't mind spending a little bit, you wont' be disappointed in my opinion. The menu does change from time to time, but we were there a few weeks ago and the beef dijonnaise was spectacular. You can check it out online beforehand, but it's not a bad setting at all. 

Honk if Ufer M…

July 2nd, 2015 at 12:48 AM ^

Yes, they have live jazz but I'm not sure it's every night so you better check.

I think the Earle is more romantic than the others & it has a more interesting menu than most of them.

A little secret about the Real C is they have, or used to have anyway, a very good filet mignon, and of course those addictive dinner rolls.

Ray

July 1st, 2015 at 11:00 PM ^

Dated info, but the Earle is a favorite. I proposed to the MGoBride there in 1987; when we became townies we used to go there for appetizers and a glass or 2 of wine when we wanted jazz piano and couldn't afford a whole dinner. Also took her parents to meet my parents there.

In the years since, the food has been unfailingly great, and the atmosphere too.

jdon

July 1st, 2015 at 10:56 PM ^

great topic, but do me a favor in the future:  don't yeild an inch homie!  when you start by saying 'if this gets deleted, I understand' you underestimate your self...

like my man matt damon says: if a hand is worth playing, it is worth raising... so if you have a topic worth sharing, which you do, then do so with no fear my friend...

fanciest meal I ever had in ann arbor was gandy dancer when I graduated

gustave ferbert

July 1st, 2015 at 11:00 PM ^

I forgot all about all the awesome restaurants in Ann Arbor!

 

In addition to everything else, if your wife like's chocolate, there is also that chocolateer on Washington St. next to Ann Arbor Brewing.  (Ann Arbor Brewing sucks btw so don't go there). 

MGoBender

July 1st, 2015 at 11:02 PM ^

Surprised nobody has mentioned Amadeus.  Took GF there for V-Day a few years back and it made me look rather good.  Then again, we broke up that summer, so...

Seriously, though, Amadeus is a quaint, intimate and very nice place.  Gratzi and Chop House are a little more upscale, but I think Amadeus is just as nice, but a bit more charm and smaller check.

justingoblue

July 1st, 2015 at 11:06 PM ^

Surprised BTB and Mr Spots got the requisite mentions but not Weber's.

I'll join in with everyone and say Chop House is probably what the OP is looking for, but one of the best steaks I've ever had was at Weber's.

Edit: Missed GoBlueRandy's post above. My bad.

Esterhaus

July 1st, 2015 at 11:15 PM ^

Consider visiting S3 Safe Sex Store together whilst in A^2. They appear to have chocolates inter alia. I wouldn't know firsthand since I am a yurt-dweller living on the steppes and mostly visit Crazy Jim's or Brown Jug when in town.

That would spell the night "fancy" in part because you could literally tickle her ... nevermind.

evenyoubrutus

July 1st, 2015 at 11:23 PM ^

Surprised to have not seen Palio mentioned yet. I don't really have much else to add as so much has been covered already. Although I will say Carson's has become a favorite for my wife and me, but they are quite far from downtown AA and there's really not much to do on that side of town.