Ann Arbor eats

I noted that the board included discussions of many midwestern "hot spots" but no A2 news. I'll open the chat and will freely opine if there is interest.

It has been quite a few years since I regularly went to
Ann Arbor. There used to be a great German Restaurant
called "The Old German". Does anyone know if that is
still open?????

[Jim M]

Sadly, it's all gone, like many of the other German restaurants around town. Metzger's, however, has reopened on Zeeb Rd., just north of I-94, and is pretty good.

I am greatful for an "Ann Arbor" Edition of this forum. My family tends not to understand it when I drive far to try restuarants, and I'm glad to see a forum of people that will. There is alot of great food in this area, and I know there is a bunch I havn't found. I tend to find Main St. to be mediocre and overpriced, which is why I only eat at Gratzi during half-price dinners (3-6 weekdays), and even then I don't feel that fulfilled after leaving. My favorite expensive restaurant is the Kerrytown Bistro, specifically , Rack of Lamb. I like De Long's ribs, and Upsouth (Liberty & Stadium) also makes out-of-this-world ribs. Some other finds:

Dim Sum: Great Lakes Seafood Restaurant on Carpenter has good Dim Sum daily from 12-3. I eat lunch there at least twice a week.

Lobster Bisque: at Le Dog (both on Main and Liberty). Great soup on Thursday and Friday

I suspect there are many treasures in Ypsilanti so if anyone knows of any , let me know. I'll do the same as I comb the area.

Thanks for the Turkish joint recommendation, it is near where I work so I look forward to trying it.

"My family tends not to understand it when I drive far to try restuarants, and I'm glad to see a forum of people that will"

Mike--welcome, and thanks for the absolutely perfect description of what we're all about here! Sometimes it takes a newcomer to sum things up so aptly!

I hope we can attain "critical mass" among Ann Arbor hounds (I know there are a lot of 'em there), and collaboratively sniff out all the best bites in town.

ciao

Hey, Jim! Just discovered your place here (courtesy of a link from Robin Garr...) Long time, no see!

Joel (in Ann Arbor)

Robin finally linked to us? Great! (he's got a terrific wine site which we've recommended here for years).

And great to see you, Joel. Lots of good Ann Arbor discussion going on right now (and, coincidentally, I am as I type eating a slice of Zingerman's chocolate/cherry bread!!), so please join in!

ciao

good choices all. although for dim sum i would probably make the drive to windsor on a saturday morning if i was really lusting.

regarding le dog, the lobster bisque was a weekly reward for me after a long hard week of skipping class (i can't believe it's now been six months since i last had it; the mind boggles). for a real steal, if you frequent the liberty street outlet of le dog, walk over to the offices of the michigan daily at 420 maynard, go upstairs to the pop machine, and treat yourself to a 45 cent can. cheap and cold.

my favorite le dog dish by far, though, would have to be the ever-elusive veal tarragon stew. while the meat was sometimes a bit on the fatty side, the overall pungency of the tarragon-infused cream base was out of this world. i wish chef jules would offer it more often.

also worth eating at regularly is earthen jar, on fifth and liberty. i couldn't possibly tell you what anything i ever had there was (other than the samosas), but i dream of finding such a tasty yet economic indian outlet in nyc.

and unfortunately, the best frozen cokes in town are no more. maize'n'brew on state street has closed up. do not - repeat, do not - try to slake that frozen coke thirst with the frozen pepsis at the diag party shoppe. they're basically just little tiny ice balls mixed with liquid, improperly blended. (i'd say go to 7-11, but as every good wolverine knows, there are no 7-11s in ann arbor.)

Is DeLong's Real Pit BBQ still around? When I was last in Ann Arbor (1984) I had one of their fish sandwiches almost every day and even bought two for the plane ride home (which made my fellow travelers very jealous).

a couple of one-of-a-kind places near the UM campus with good chow:

Crazy Jim's Blimpy-Burger. Motto: Cheaper than food. Great burgers--they start with golf ball sized burgers, slam 'em on the grill, and you can order from 1-5 on your choice of roll and lots of condiments. A triple is about right for a first-timer; a quint is more than I can handle. On Division at Packard.

Le Dog. A tiny joint on Liberty between Thompson and Division in what used to be a caramel corn stand decades ago. Dogs are good, but the house specialties are soups and related dishes--lobster bisque a couple of days a week, cajun rice. Jules, the chef, has serious training in food but likes running this place. He's been at it for 15 years or so. Also has a new branch that his wife staffs on Main St between Liberty and William. Lunch only.

I love Blimpy Burger !!!! I lived in Ann Arbor from 1969-71. We used to eat lunch at Blimpy Burger every game day Saturday. I lived on E. William Street. We would walk to the stadium, stopping off for lunch at Blimpy Burger.

Does anyone remember the Pretzel Bell ? It used to burn down quite often, I think someone liked to collect the insurance money. I was in Ann Arbor in 1995 and it was no longer there. How about Mr. Flood's Party and the Purple Pickle ? A good crab place too; I think it was called The Cracked Crab.

Hey, I was there in A2 at the same time...remember fondly "Bells", parties when folks turned legal (21) at the Pretzel Bell--standing on the table to chug your first legal beer, also the Bell was good for the "dinner out with the parents place." As was the Cracked Crab--cool, diner-ish feel, wonderful seafood and just down from Flood's as I recall and what about the great soda shop (can't recall the name) near Hill Auditorium; vintage 30's soda fountain, and wonderful classic sandwiches. Thanks for the walk down memory State street.

Good to hear from someone who remembers all the Old Ann Arbor places. Trying to think of a few more. How about the Village Bell - they had a sandwich place upstairs and a nicer restaurant downstairs, they used to serve the food on a plank with a border of mashed potatos. There was also a mid-eastern place I think on Main Street; can't remember the name.

Was in Ann Arbor a few years ago, first time back since 1971. There was something going on in the "diag" - tons of people. We found out it was the 25th anniversary of the Hash Bash. Did that make me feel old !!! I was at the first one. I mentioned this to a young woman at a T-shirt shop and see said,"Oh, wow, what was it like way back then ?"

Good talking about Ann Arbor nostalgia. If you can think of any more places, let me know.

Blimpy's --stalwart Sunday dinner for many friends...Gandy Dancer --stil there and wonderful. I was there over homecoming weekend two weekends back. V-Bell I remember well--had my first Southern Comfort mahattan there. A former beau instructed me, "If all you've got is $2.50, you'll get the best bang (buzz)if you order this." He was right. The Italian place on Tappan behind the law quad--open air, drank wine out of jelly glasses (drawing a blank on the name..) was probably my most visited place while in school.
Go Blue! Chow!

The place with the wine (and beer) in bell jars -- Dominick's, on Monroe St. Remember it fondly -- my last meal as an Undergrad, just after turning in my senior thesis!

Yup! That's the place, thanks for the memory nudge. I loved sitting outside on spring days...

Does anyone happen to have a photograph or some other memorabilia of the Pretzel Bell? My parents were traveling cross country the summer of 1976, and decided to get married while watching someone perform there. My sister and I are planning a 30th anniversary party for them, and are making a slideshow of their life together.

thanks!

Actually, a friend of mine used to date Jules, the chef at Le Dog--but I never actually ate there. I was always a fan of Seva for healthy, hippy food.

If there's an interest? That's what these boards are about! Please, opine away. pat

A2 is a great food town with excellent sources of ingredients of all types. The same items can be found in Chicago of NYC but you have spend all day and troop all over the city to collect them. Most (not all) of the restaurants are pretty uninspiring. There isn't much to pry me out of my own kitchen. My four favorite restaurants are the Earle (fine wine list), Common Grill (Chelsea), Cousins Heritage House (Dexter) and the Moveable Feast. There are plenty of student haunts but little that is unique.

Little that is unique? I agree there are lots of so-so eateries in a town just loaded with eateries, but you're missing some good stuff.

All of the restaurants you mention are places for "fine dining experiences" -- they are not chowhound haunts (although I did once have a Clams Casino appetizer at The Earl for half price during happy hour that was very competitive). My impression of the Common Grill was that they were scamming the hicks with nouvelle cuisine at high prices. The food was not inspired or particularly well-prepared. It was just "interesting" combinations of ingredients and expensive. As for ambience: the noise level was unacceptable at both my visits. Might as well be having dinner with the Wolverines and their fans after winning a home game!

I have heard that Cousins Heritage Inn is "very nice" -- several Ann Arbor matrons have told me so. I have not worked up an appetite for moose or deer on my plate, so I haven't checked it out. The ride down Dexter-Ann Arbor Rd, however, is totally worthwhile especially in the fall, and I've heard something about a yam dish...

Please look at my posting regarding 'yummy Turkish cuisine' to get the idea of what chowhounds are drooling over. I'll try to post others so you can try some decent priced, memorable food, cooked just right by somebody who cares. Chow down!

Hi,

It's Tex-Mex, but you can't beat Tio's (on Huron). Taste 100s of hot sauces, great enchiladas, and they are good people.

If you're after Mexican food, you can do a lot better than Tio's.

First, try La Fiesta Mexicana, in Ypsilanti on Cross Street. It's a bit of a drive but well worth it. I had a most satisfying meal there last night, in fact. Buy beer at the liquor store on the corner and bring it in.

Second, try Sabador Latino (not exactly sure of the name, as I've only been there once). It's on Main Street between Catherine and Ann, if I'm not mistaken. The call themselves Pan-Carribean. Much better food at better prices than Tio's.

Agreed, La Sabor Latino is fabulous, and cheap!

Geeze:

I used to work at Tio's (many years ago) and it was my job to stir the MSG into the big huge vat of boiling chicken. Ick.

Agreed, La Sabor Latino is fabulous, and cheap!

I can' agree more--Tio's is *not* the place to go for good mexican. The 100 hot sauce menu is interesting, but tends to be on the bland side and cant make up for the food it covers.

La Fiesta in ypsilanti is better. It is cheap with some interesting stuff (i.e. nopales tacos are not bad). worth a look, but it will not knock youer socks off.

Sabor Latino is in my mind a step up from La feista. It is essentially Puerto Rican food, so not strictly mexican, but similar. The servings are generous (try their specials at the end of the day and you tend to get HEAPS of food for the same price). Vegitarian selection is pretty bland (although better vegi-mex than at Seva). If looking for excitement, try the horchada--a rice (?) drink that is spiced with cinnamon and sweet--very authentic.

Best yet though is Don Carlos on Washtenaw, south side of the street between A2 and Ypsi. the building is easy to recognize b/c of the garrish colored tiles that flank its west wall. Inside, there is spanish television playing generally all the time. For lunch, you can not beat their all you can eat buffets (around $6 as I recall). If ordering from the menu, try the mole negro--it is the best I've had in the midwest (not saying much, but if you need a mole fix this IS the place to go).

Farther out to detroit there is "mexican town" which in my limited experience has been disappointing--but there might be some good finds there. If so, tell me and i'll be there within the week :)

Ate at Tio's on Washtenaw in Ypsi and won't go back there again. Taco Bell is better!

I can see both sides in this debate. A lot of A2 restaurants are over rated. But if you poke around, you can find some good stuff. Especially if you are willing to look for good dishes at certain restaurants, and not expect every dish on the menu to be great. It's so sad that Detroit isn't a better food resource. Usually big cities have lots of great food just from the competitive forces caused by larger populations. I'm sure Detroit has some great food, but it doesn't seem to have the level of food one might expect given its size.

I will defend Cousin's Heritage Inn. I've gone several times and think it very good. I don't eat red meat, so the wild game wasn't on my plate. But my wife really like the elk she had there. I've gotten duck and seafood on several occasions and had great meals. Nor is pricey food out of the spirit of "real chow hounds," at least as I understand the term. The whole point is to make every bite count, at any price level. At least that's my 2 cents.

I was remiss not mentioning Zingerman's Deli! Killer sandwiches!!!

I love Zingermans and get a lot of mail order food from them (888-636-8162), a catalog is available.The chile cheddar bread is great, as well as the farm bread which is very similar to Amy's(NYC) Campangna. Their cheeses are very good especially the Neal's yard English farmhouse ie.Keens & Montgomery cheddars(I like Montgomery better ,most chowhounds I know like Keen's),Mrs. Appleby's Cheshire!!!, and Mrs. Kirkhams lancashire (which I have had from other purveyors and it was dry and not good). They have the best Piquillo peppers I have had anywhere-better than the Spanish Table out of Seattle(which is also a great mail order source).Their sourcream coffee cake is pretty good too. They travel the globe and have a lot of exclusive product ie. olive oil,specialty vinegars ect. Katzingers in Columbus Oh. is a Zingerman knock off as well as Zachary's in Athens ,Oh. -both worth going too but neither as good as the origianal.

One of my favorite eating experiences in Ann Arbor is "Ayse's Courtyard Cafe" on Plymouth Rd in the Courtyard Shops (around the back). Eating there is like going to Ayse's house (somewhere in Turkey) and having her make you dinner, in a modern clean tasteful cafe setting. Very home-cooked. Very authentic. There are lots of vegetarian dishes, and you can try a "sampler" with tastes of everything. (It'll definitely fill you up, bulk-wise as well as flavor-wise.) I am a sucker for her lentil soup (to die for!)and her chicken and chickpeas (cooked until the chicken is falling off the bones -- ahhh!), her sauteed vegetables (peppers, potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes, and GARLIC, GARLIC, GARLIC), and Noah's pudding (so many unexpected ingredients I'm not even going to describe it -- just go and eat).

One of my favorite things about Ayse's Cafe is Ayse, who personally prepares all the dishes, and often serves them too. She is a tiny woman in jeans who has the energy of the U-M Woman's Volleyball Team. She started her food business after she accompanied her husband to U-M from Turkey and had two kids. She catered many U-M affairs out of her kitchen before she opened the cafe.

If you stop by even for just a little something, enjoy her Turkish tea in tiny gold-edged glasses along with a honey, walnut and filo dough "Burma". And please tell her I sent you!

OK, in A2 it goes without saying that Zingerman's is great. I'm glad that some of this discussion has actually focussed on other places. But I have two Zing tips to add. First, to my palate the best sandwich is Bob and Roz's Fiesta. But be sure to order it with extra hot peppers. They aren't all that hot, so it wont burn you out. It adds a lot more flavor and really makes the sandwich work.

The other "must order" item is the baked knish. You can skip the fried knish, its good but not fabulous. The baked version however, is really something. To properly experience it, you must get a free small side of their (best I've ever tasted) applesauce. Spoon it on top of the knish before each bite. They have a "small side" that costs a bunch, and they have a really small side that they'll give free with the knish. The really small one is just enough to work, and with Zingerman's prices, we've got to opt for the free version whenever possible.

I grew up in A2, and while I enjoyed Zingerman's when it opened in what...'82?, I find that it has become too precious for words. They believe too much in their own publicity, and are extremely overpriced. They are very 'Holier than thou', to the point of being offensive, if you don't have the money to buy their products. It's too bad, because I used to love going there when I visited the folks.