Tips for Dining, Eating and Food Shopping in the Midwest
Start New ThreadMy husband and I will be visiting for a couple of days later this month from Toronto, Canada. I've already got Zingerman's and Trader Joe's on my list. So, do you recommend them? And what else? What and where are your top five food shops/restaurants in the area? And what makes them special?
By Full tummy
on Oct 10, 2007 06:59 PM
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Are you staying in Ann Arbor?
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I think so.
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Trader Joe's is cheap and offbeat rather than great. The idea is not that it's great but that you can get a bottle of wine for four dollars there that may actually be decent.
People complain that Zingerman's is overpriced. But for a vacation/visit, it will deliver the goods--huge menu of sandwiches with top-notch ingredients. I recommend the half-size sandwiches, the big ones are just overkill. Go to the original deli in downtown Ann Arbor, not the Zingerman's Roadhouse, which is different.
Do not eat Chinese food here--the best we have wouldn't even qualify as good in Toronto.
Try Slows on Michigan Ave. in Detroit--really good bar/restaurant with barbecue, a variety of sauces, all good, beer from local and national small breweries. Very reasonably priced for what you get. They sweat the details on the BBQ, and this may not be so easy to find in Canada. At night, best to park in high-visibility spot or use valet parking.
If you're in the Ann Arbor area, want to splurge, and like food that's a bit left of center, try Eve in Kerrytown--sort of slow-food oriented, not afraid to pour on the spice. Read more at http://www.evetherestaurant.com . . .
Middle Eastern places around here are unusually good thanks to all the competition. No booze, even if not operated by Muslims. I've had good luck at Pine Land on Middlebelt in Westland, which has some very unusual dishes if you're into that kind of thing (think "let's eat the whole lamb, not just the parts people usually eat"). But if you go by a place that looks sharp and has a crowd, it'll almost always be good.
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Slows Bar B Que
2138 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216
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Wow! Slows looks great. Thanks for the tip!
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I'll echo Jim M's take on Middle Eastern here in Motown. You can't go wrong with La Shish. Check http://www.lashish.com/ to find a location that is convenient.
Enjoy your visit.
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Sounds good. How's their shawarma?
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Their shawarma is pure aces. It would be a shame not to try their crushed lentil soup, or their hummus with lamb as well. The hummus they serve is the best I've had anywhere.
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ITA. I LOVE the crushed lentil soup and hummus with pitas. They also have great baba ganoush.
BerkleyAndy, have you tried the crushed lentil soup at Mr. Kabob?
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Try Mr. Kabob. Money much better spent.
La Shish's is okay, but, you know, they're just not a "good" restaurant.
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Funny you should ask, Coney: we had Mr. Kabob on Saturday night. Chicken shawarma and shish tawook. My wife and I had salad and our sons split the crushed lentil. I prefer La Shish's crushed lentil, by far. Mr. Kabob's is inconsistent, with its thickish, almost porridge-like texture being constant visit after visit.
We dig everything else about Mr. Kabob. We're lucky it's so close, and it's astounding to think that they're serving that kind of food out of a gas station!
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ITA--best gas station food ever! The only problem I've had with them is finding something missing after I get home with the order--it happened more than once so now I check carefully while still there.
Have you tried the carryout at Mr J's? We haven't yet, I'm curious as to whether they are as good.
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We haven't tried Mr. J's. They're even closer than Mr. Kabob but for whatever reason . . . I don't have a good feeling about Mr. J's!
Sounds like you're right around the same area, Coney.
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Yup, a fellow Berkleyite
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Don't miss the Eastern Market.
dave
http://www.easternmarket.org/
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Wow! There are lots of places to visit there and lots of ground to cover. Do you have any specific recommendations?
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I think compared to Kensington Market in Toronto Eastern Market is no great shakes--basically a good place to buy cheap produce. However, I'd say Rafal Spice Co. is a great shop in anybody's book. The Roma Restaurant in that area is also good--old-school Italian-American food with luscious, rich sauces. It is Detroit's oldest restaurant.
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I wouldn't miss Hirt's for the cheeselist
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If you're going to be in A2 on a football Saturday...beware! Traffic is a nightmare, restaurants will be jammed. But downtown is quiet during the game, lots of cutesy little stores and cafes (are you coming for a game by chance?)
As far as shops, if you're looking for cookware Kitchen Port near A2 was always fun (I say "was" because I understand they have changed locations and I haven't been to the new one).
I also endorse Middle Eastern--Dearborn will give you the most interesting experience, esp. Warren Road.
For Mexican, Detroit has a thriving Mexicantown, and I especially like the food at Los Galanes, and a good sized Mexican grocery store called La Colmena.
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Wow! Great tips, everyone. Not there for football. Will probably be there Sunday & Monday. Torontonians are always complaining about our Mexican restaurants; wouuld Los Galanes compare favourably to what we have here, do you think?
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You might also try Evie's in Mexicantown - on Bagley, near Vernor and Grand Blvd. Super duper Mexican food
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I think Evie's, which specializes in tamales, is better than Los Galanes. The smaller places are more authentic--the little Taquería Lupita in that same block is good, too. Also strong, and with the added benefit of beer, is El Comal, which is on Vernor one block away--it is more Salvadoran and Guatemalan than Mexican. None of these is of L.A. quality, but they may well be better than those in Toronto. For some Mexican specialties beyond tacos and tamales, you might try El Barzón on Junction near Michigan--try the mole poblano or the chicken with pumpkinseed sauce. No liquor at that one.
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Tamales is the choice at Evie's, plus added bonus is you can take to go...around $6 for a dozen. They freeze extremely well so you can satisfy your jones whenever.
They have the best refried beans I've ever had... why? Can you say lard....beef lard? Forget the PC eating, these beans are beefy and creamy and irrestible. Avoid the menudo unless you like/can hack "robust" tripe. Very authentic, but not my deal.
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Thanks for the tips. And, bring on the lard; I don't eat refried beans every day, so an authentic version is much appreciated.
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Skip Mexican food in Detroit. It sucks. Guatamalan and El Salvadoran isn't bad. The Mexican though is just two steps better than Taco Bell.
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why do you say that? Have you been to any of the restaurants besides the big three--el zocalo, xochamilco, mexican village?
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That's quite ironic you say this. The best 'Mexican' meal I've ever had was in Toronto. Before traveling there a few months back, I did some searches to find out where I should try eating. I came across a mention of this little El Salvadoran market called Tacos El Asador. I found the place and tried an item called a papusa, which is El Salvador's version of a taco. It was so good I considered traveling back to Toronto from Brampton the next day, even though I had to get home. Now the only place near me where I can find a place that has them is "El Comal" in Detroit or Pilar's Cafe in Ann Arbor. I sure hope one of those places has papusas that are close to being as good as the ones in Toronto.
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I think Pilar's Cafe is closed.
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Pilar's is closed, sadly. The pupusas at El Comal are pretty good.
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Trader Joe's is great for nuts and dried fruit, plus prepared frozen food and huge numbers of canned sauces. I am not sure if that's what would excite you. It certainly wouldn't hurt to go there, but I think there are more exciting destinations.
Toronto has such great food and such a wide range of people, it's hard to think of what is around Detroit that isn't done well in Toronto! I agree with previous posts about Arab food and Mexican town. Also, maybe some Michigan apple farm would be fun.
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Thanks, everybody, for your tips, so far. We will be down next weekend, so if anyone thinks of anything in the meantime, please keep the posts coming.
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