ann arbor is overrated.

Gastronomic Capital of the Midwest?

A writer to Minneapolis City Pages’ food column expresses excitement that her adopted city may finally be catching up to A2 in gastronomic sophistication: “I’m a big foodie, and after growing up in Ann Arbor and living in London, Toronto, and other places, I’ve been so delighted to see the Twin Cities grow in its food selection over the past 20 years.” And here we always thought that those “New York, London, Paris, Ann Arbor” shirts were supposed to be a joke.

93 Responses to “Gastronomic Capital of the Midwest?”

Three words can swat away any thoughts of AA being able compete with even a trailer park in Louisiana regarding food awareness:

1. Main
2. Street
3. Ventures
posted by leighton on February 21st, 2007 at 10:58 am e
I kind of feel sorry for Minneapolis if it’s just now catching up to Ann Arbor’s level of food sophistication. This place is, by and large, a wasteland of culinary atrophy.
posted by David on February 21st, 2007 at 12:03 pm e
Ugh. And you know they had to be thinking of Zingerman’s while they wrote that. The best food options in Ann Arbor would be run-of-the-mill, neighborhood joints in other places I’ve lived (New York, Chicago).
posted by ajn on February 21st, 2007 at 4:29 pm e
I’m intrigued at how she refused to mention the name of her favorite “olive bar” in case it might attract the attention of other olive aficionados in Minneapolis. The thought of a locust-like plague of olive lovers must be too hard to bear.
posted by Tony_K on February 21st, 2007 at 5:45 pm e
Judging from the constantly-packed status of AA’s Olive Garden parking lot. I think we know where she acquired a taste for the pitted in Treetown.
posted by leighton on February 21st, 2007 at 5:52 pm e
Having just moved from Ann Arbor to Minneapolis and back I can share my experience. Minneapolis is actually a good town with an exciting restaurant scene, but it took several years for me to sift through the mediocrity. The best places compete well with Chicago eateries. It is definately a more sophisticated culinary scene than Ann Arbor, but it should be, it is a big city. There are some things you cannot fine in the state of Minnesota, however. Foremost is a good burger, they have something there called a “Juicy Lucy” (you do not even want to know) but God how I missed Side Tracks burgers. Thai: Nothing there comes close to Thai Bistro in Canton, and I swear I tried them it all. I enjoyed my time in Minneapolis and would recommend it.
posted by Sulli on February 21st, 2007 at 8:11 pm e
Compared to New York I would say Ann Arbor’s Indian and Ethiopian restaurants actually exceed most options in NYC. Really, I think they do. I don’t know about burgers: I do not eat mammals. And I still think Zingerman’s beats most NYC delis which are all about chutzpah and not really about food. I suppose being a non mammal-eater affects my judgment. I will say of Minneapolis that I have some family there who, living in what is the biggest city between Chicago and Seattle, think they are in some sort of cultural mecca that deserves its own categories. That they have never been to Chicago or Seattle adds to their idea of this primacy.
posted by toasty on February 22nd, 2007 at 2:08 am e
I know it’s possible to experience all of Ann Arbor’s Ethiopian and Indian restaruants in one day, but did you really get a chance to experience all of New York’s? Hell, I lived in NY most of my life and didn’t get to all of them.
posted by Anna on February 22nd, 2007 at 7:21 am e
Okay, I’ve never been to Ethiopian restaurants in NYC, but I used to live in DC. One trip 6 years ago to The Blue Nile told me all I needed to know about Ethiopian in Ann Arbor.

I appreciate what Ann Arbor has to offer. For a town of its size, I think there are some really lovely places. Of couse, it’s too bad that the service is almost universally poor across this city. I don’t care how good the food is, frankly, if the service is substandard. What most restaurants need to do in this town is focus on improving service.
posted by Young(ish) OWSider on February 22nd, 2007 at 8:01 am e
Couple of problems with comparing NYC with AA. One, as so many pointed out, main street ventures. While we do have a few excellent restaurants like the Earle we also have a whole slew of crap restaurants that have displaced useful shops like, say Hardware stores, Grocers, Pharmacies etc. You know, useful shops that make up a “normal” downtown. A while back I was in Little Korea (hip little hood on Manhattan), the thing that was nice was it reminded me of AA before all the crap moved to town; a fantastic grocery shop next to a mom and pap pharmacy, across the street from a hip, little, smartly appointed cake and tea shop. That’s just me.
posted by futball fo bo on February 22nd, 2007 at 8:35 am e
I don’t care how hip it is, I’m probably not going to buy much at a mom and pap anything.
posted by dcwp on February 22nd, 2007 at 9:10 am e
First of all - BOOHOO! Cry me a river over the restaurants in A2. True, they don’t compare to a real city of substance - and the chick in MN is obviously deranged, but who gives a shit? Second, get with the program people, it’s A2, not AA!
posted by bouldest on February 22nd, 2007 at 9:35 am e
The sad thing is that the good Indian restaurants in Anne Arbour are nothing compared to the Farmington South Asian eateries they are spun off from. AA doesn’t even get Farmington Hills’ selection of vegetarian places,… or an edition of Priya.

Perhaps the Tree Towne’s Chamber of Commerce should tout itself as a proud burb of Farmingtion. Burb of a burb of a burb…
If it weren’t for the huge South Asian population to the northeast, Ann would have nothing.
posted by leighton on February 22nd, 2007 at 10:03 am e
Is the service at Ann Arbor restaurants really that bad? I eat out probably more than most people, at a wide variety of places, and I wouldn’t say so.

The most memorably bad experiences I have had with restaurant service took place in other cities.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on February 22nd, 2007 at 10:44 am e
Larry,

The service is mediocre at best. Yes, most places do an okay job of bringing the food from the kitchen to one’s table. I’ve been to what’s considered to be one of the best places in town several times over the past few years and have witnessed, among other things, the hostess being virtually clueless about where to put people, the hostess handing the check to a table that had been seated only 20 minutes before, and waitstaff unable to answer basic questions, luke warm soup, wilty salad, failure to bring the wine list after saying it would appear and bringing it after being asked twice, etc. This has been our experience at one place, but it’s been repeated at all the supposed top restaurants in town.

Are these major issues? Not really. But the goal of the service at the restaurants in Ann Arbor that want to be considered top notch should be to take care of everything at one’s table without the patron having to be concerned about things like someone else’s bill arriving at the table, asking for a refill on water or asking multiple times for the basics. From my experiences in town, and I eat out quite a bit, too, I’ve found the service largely to be poor to mediocre.
posted by Young(ish) OWSider on February 22nd, 2007 at 11:11 am e
I find the service in Ann Arbor to be fine, but nothing special overall. Like someone said earlier, they bring the food from the kitchen to your table. Just don’t expect much more. Is that really so uncommon in a college town?

The one place in town that seems downright surly is Arbor Brewing Company and it is really just one of the hostesses there who can be downright rude. I’ve been there both in a couple and in a large group and she always seems put out to have to find us a table. She’s even said things like “look you’ll get a table when I get around to it” and “just wait, I’m busy.”

At another restaurant I would think it was supposed to be part of the ambiance, but I really don’t get it at ABC. Strange.
posted by grumpy on February 22nd, 2007 at 11:50 am e
Ann Arbor food is not bad, but it is too expensive.
posted by Kozzie_13 on February 22nd, 2007 at 1:12 pm e
A year or so ago, we ate at the Gandy Dancer. The unnecessarily upbeat waitress had some need to share her life history with us, tell us how she was working just long enough to become a Michigan resident so she could get in-state tuition, what she was planning on studying, how she liked A2 except for her accommodations, and the difficulties with her roommates. Finally, almost as an afterthought, she got around to asking us if we would like to start with a drink. We took her up on the offer in the hope she’d leave us in peace for a few minutes.
posted by Tony_K on February 22nd, 2007 at 2:58 pm e
Wow some of you must be horrible diners based on the experiences you’re describing. I really have never had a horrible experience with service in A2. Some places (individuals) may be better than others. On the other hand I’m pretty sure waitstaff (everywhere not just a2) do treat different customers differently based on the type of attitude they get from them.

I will agree with Kozzie_13 that many places in a2 are too expensive (I’m looking at Main Street and all of Zingerman’s establishments)
posted by andy on February 22nd, 2007 at 2:59 pm e
Ethiopian in Ann Arbor? Oh, the Blue Nile, you mean?

Don’t get me wrong - it’s decent enough. But there are better places in Toronto, Windsor, and hell, even Ypsilanti (Red Sea, if you can bear the thought of a restaurant in a strip mall - best price/food ratio ever, and the food’s good in its own right as well). DC is the best, but that’s the benefit of being where the immigrant community ended up, I suppose.

There really isn’t anywhere else in town for a somewhat broke student to find. I’m in love with Amadeus, but can rarely afford to go there except an occassional lunch. Other than that… yeah, I know it’s a small town and I’m jaded with bad pricing requirements, but damnit, it’s getting boring here for food. Small-college-town sure, but Ithaca and Madison both seemed to have more breadth and range. I guess they’re still waiting for their Main Street Ventures to sweep them off their feet.

Oddly enough, Ypsilanti may be my saving grace. Anyhow, I gots me a MCard, a AATA Ride Guide and the #4 is calling my name, I guess.
posted by Jen on February 22nd, 2007 at 3:53 pm e
Thai Bistro is rank. New chef = bad food. And don’t get me started on Tuptim, that place sucks too. The Blue Nile is probably the only restaraunt in town I’ve only eaten at once. I’ve wanted to go back ever since, but haven’t had the opportunity. Honestly, if you were to ask me, I would say the only good food in this town is at Seoul Korner. The Earle is always disappointing. Great wine selection, great atmosphere but the food always sucks. And I go back every time hoping to be proven wrong, but again and again it is just plain mediocre. The mussels at happy hour are pretty good, though. But that spongy white bread sucks beyond belief. Kinda reminds me of that stuff at Blue Nile. Great cocktails, though.
posted by . on February 22nd, 2007 at 4:32 pm e
Jen, sad to say, a strip mall locale kills my interest in a restaurant. I don’t care how good it is, I can’t get past that.

I agree with Kozzie, the food isn’t so bad, until you look at the price, then it’s a whole new perception.

It is INSANELY unfair (perhaps delusional) to compare A2 to NYC (my new home
posted by (former) OFWinsurgent on February 22nd, 2007 at 5:07 pm e
I’m so disappointed in all of you (well, many of you). Just because the crazy author compares AA to a big city, doesn’t mean you should too. If she jumped off a bridge, would you… forget it.

leighton, when you say “the good Indian restaurants in Anne Arbour”, to where do you refer? It’s never occurred to me to put those adjectives together in front of ‘restaurants in Ann Arbor’ (or its olde worlde equivalent).
posted by David on February 22nd, 2007 at 5:27 pm e
You know, in reading the article in question, the author is NOT talking about restaurants at all, and I can totally agree with her. Ann Arbor grocery stores are EXCELLENT. And I must say they beat the balls off anything I see around NY (and NOT just the city), unless you’re talking about Fairway, or a few other select places. Even Kroger and Busch’s in Ann Arbor are stocked with really great stuff and a massive selection across the board. Smaller places too.

I’ll keep Whole Foods out of this catagory because I think they are over-rated no matter where they are. They throw the organic label on anything they can get from wherever (China) and charge megabucks for it.
posted by (former) OFWinsurgent on February 22nd, 2007 at 9:10 pm e
There is no grocery here in AA that compares to the larger Wegman’s stores in NY and PA. Even the smaller Wegman’s (the only stores in town in a lot of western NY towns) are better than Kroger.

I was quite disappointed when I arrived.
posted by UM postdoc on February 22nd, 2007 at 9:25 pm e
toasty, you singled out two cuisines I used to eat a lot when I lived in DC; Ethiopian and Indian. I have tried all of the local places for both â€¦ once â€¦ maybe twice. Now we cook at home but cannot make the injera (bread) properly. So we donâ€™t eat these anymore. Thai is another; DC has a lot of good places. A2 has none that I have found. I will try the Ethiopian in Ypsi some time, even if it is in a strip mall; maybe theyâ€™ll move to a better spot with some clientele. The biggest thing I miss here, though, is French; there is no place here for good French food. Anyone have any insights? Bon appetite!
posted by abc on February 22nd, 2007 at 9:55 pm e
There are alot of restaurants around Ann ARbor, but they seem to have the idea that expensive food = good food. I don’t mind paying for good food, but I do mind paying for crappy food.
posted by Kozzie_13 on February 22nd, 2007 at 10:55 pm e
Ugh! Ethiopian food in Ann Arbor? Ypsi? New York? DC? Please. You people are so pedestrian… Best ethiopian food is in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. Hell, even Eritria and Djibouti have better Ethiopian!
posted by ja booty on February 22nd, 2007 at 11:14 pm e
Eh, my grocery store in NYC may not as big and fancy as most in Ann Arbor…. but it’s directly across the street, suckas.

And yeah, food in NYC = better than A2 by and large. And some places are cheaper, even.
posted by Brandon on February 22nd, 2007 at 11:32 pm e
This all cracks me up. Recently my spouse was at Meijer, calling me in Manhattan on her cell phone. She was looking at thai basil and fresh lemongrass– which you can hardly find in Manhattan, even in Chinatown. If you move to Manhattan after graduating from U of M and take a job in Manhattan people will ask you: “Have you ever heard of Thai food before?”
posted by toasty on February 23rd, 2007 at 4:49 am e
The best Indian in my experience is in Toronto. Babur’s. Worst service ever, though (even worse than … anywhere.) New York Indian (I’ve been to about 60 locations) is generally worse than or– at best, and at $30 a plate– on par with Shalimar. In my opinion, that is. I have been to every Ethiopian restaurant in Manhattan and actually thought Blue Nile was better than anything in Manhattan except for Ghenet, on Mulberry Street in SoHo/Nolita– again, about the same food but more expensive here. If you know how to look you can find cheaper food in Manhattan than in Ann Arbor, and there is more available.

What I don’t get about everyone’s tone is why the combat: in the end the Michigan credentials will be what binds. You shouldn’t waste your time trying to one-up each other when half the privileged world is waiting to punce on you.
posted by toasty on February 23rd, 2007 at 5:08 am e
pounce — doh!
posted by toasty on February 23rd, 2007 at 5:08 am e
ja booty -

Thank you, you made my morning. That perfectly sums the discussion so far!
posted by dcwp on February 23rd, 2007 at 9:22 am e
no one looks at the true culprit here — the customers. we keep paying for the mediocre slop people serve up around here, time and time again, making the market where that is acceptable. if you want to complain, do it with your feet. and certainly don’t look to the press to do it — i’ve yet to read a restaurant review in this town that was at all critical. instead we get puff pieces with, at best, one or two “this could have been better” comments.
posted by oh jesus on February 23rd, 2007 at 10:10 am e
No critical restaurant reviews? What about “Overpriced Trei Lune Not Worth The Drive”? (From the Ann Arbor News a few years back, about the most hostile restaurant review I’ve seen anywhere.) I don’t regularly read restaurant reviews, but if that kind of piece is possible for the News, then anything is possible.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on February 23rd, 2007 at 10:36 am e
wow — somehow i missed that. i’m a pretty regular reader and what you describe is VERY out of the ordinary.
posted by oh jesus on February 23rd, 2007 at 10:55 am e
Madison does have somthing similar to Main Street Ventures. It’s called Food Fight and includes Monty’s, Oceans, Bluephies, El Dorado Grill, the Taco Palace and several others. The difference is that they cover a broad range from diner to upscale and have consistently good food, service, and value. I’ve never had a bad experience at one of their restaurants. Every time I’ve been to an MSV restaurant it’s been extraordinarily expensive for mediocre to lousy food and mediocre to lousy service.
posted by madison transplant on February 23rd, 2007 at 11:56 am e
i like gratzi’s
posted by peter honeyman on February 23rd, 2007 at 2:21 pm e
Mmm… Hungry.
Shame about strip malls keeping you from food, YoungOWS. Temptations is probably about the best Indian around here. And you’re not likely to show up at Siam Square, in a hotel, though they have the best food:cash value for Thai. Tuptim’s OK, but not as good as it should be for their prices.
Though note this is all coming from a vegetarian. (Christ, Seva’s wants, what, $14 for some shitty burrito?).
Ypsi is where it’s at, overall, though both Ann Arbor and Ypsi turn into a weird micro-cuisine tour. Sure, the Aut Bar makes a killer tempeh reuben, but there’s no use going there if that’s not what you want. And Kabob Palace just closed, leaving us with the OK and cheap J-Gard, and the new spot on William, which is cheap and OK, but open late.
Thank God for the Big 10 Burrito, which is about the best value here in town (aside from maybe the Totoro veggie combo or the Broadway Cafe Bi Bim Bop).
But yeah, one of the nice things about moving out of Ann Arbor will be never having to decide what I want versus what I’ll settle for again… (”Well, they have great beer, but ABC’s food is fucking repugnant…”)
posted by js on February 23rd, 2007 at 2:59 pm e
I agree about Wegman’s.
posted by Anna on February 23rd, 2007 at 9:11 pm e
One restaurant in Ann Arbor where the food is worth every cent you pay for it : Eve.
posted by CMS on February 23rd, 2007 at 10:43 pm e
Since we’re talking about poor service, I feel I should mention the hag down at the Heidelberg. I know it’s not a restaurant, but damn.

Anyway, the food here is OK considering the size of A2. Grizzly Peak has some of the best food per dollar in town.
posted by Gary Larson on February 24th, 2007 at 3:04 am e
gotta get to addis for some a that real injera. “pedestrian” tho?: c’mon. ann arborites might have to take it– but new york and dc will send you a shipment. try to be nice to the people who want to party wif you.
posted by toasty on February 24th, 2007 at 7:34 am e
Eve typifies everything I HATE about the Ann Arbor restaurant scene. (not Eve herself, just the restaurant).

That is, unless it’s changed radically from the time I ate there twice (the first and last time).
posted by (former) OFWinsurgent on February 24th, 2007 at 10:12 am e
Assertion: Ypsi and Canton have better food than Ann Arbor. Discuss.
posted by Peter on February 24th, 2007 at 11:40 am e
There seem to be lots of unsatisfied people here. I’ve had better Indian (San Fran) and Thai (Seattle), but here are some Ann Arbor places that I’ve enjoyed:

Indian - Siam Kitchen, Madras Masala, Mysore Woodlands
Medditeranean - Jerusalem Garden, Ahmo’s
German - Metzger’s
Steak - Knight’s Steak House
Hoagies - Izzy’s Hoagie Shop
Burritos - Big Ten is over rated, Chipotle is opening up a store on Washtenaw though
Chinese - Sze-chuan West
posted by Dan on February 24th, 2007 at 7:36 pm e
I’d have to agree with (former)OFWinsurgent on the shopping count. While it’s not easy if you don’t have a car, there are some great stores, specialty and otherwise, to go grocery shopping at in Ann Arbor. I’m not necessarily talking about big stores (I agree that Wegmans in NY/PA make Kroger look pretty unappealing) but small places and mixing-and-matching makes shopping both a treasure hunt and a pleasure, if you’ve got the time and inclination. There are small asian markets, the new polish deli, Morgan & York, a couple stores that sell things by the pound (including By-the-Pound, which I’ve found has some really nice figs, indian spices and lentils, etc.), the farmer’s market, bello vino, plenty of nice places to buy booze, the fish/meat market at sparrow (though it’s a bit pricey for me on a daily basis), the list is pretty long. All are pretty accessible and driveable - and we DO have the ethnic communities and stores in the Detroit area as well — all at shorter distances than most people in the majority of the country drive to get to their closest Costco. Complain all you want, but I’m a pretty happy cook here. There are surely better places (I’m sure there’s better seafood on the coast, and we can hardly compare AA to all the collected foodie power of a million-plus-person city) but let’s try not to get any more sucked into that whirlpool, shall we?
posted by heidi on February 24th, 2007 at 11:26 pm e
You hit the nail on the head about seafood. Other than that, it’s pretty good food shopping here.
posted by LittleB on February 25th, 2007 at 3:30 pm e
Monahan’s is the best fish market I have seen including many places on the coasts (variety and handling wise). Most places on either coasts don’t have the variety that Mike does. However, it is insanely expensive. (Air freight, knowledgeable employees, etc.)

I will say this in his defense though, if you go to Monahan’s and tell him how much you want to spend, he will get you the best deal within your budget as he can.

Also, since they ahve been doing lunch there, I think it is the BEST deal in town. Fantastic, fresh, under $10…there is no place for better seafood in town. (another secret: you can brown bag it if you are descreet).

I’ve been gone for a month, and I know his lunch chef was going to be moving on, so I hope this info is current, but it is seriously my favorite place in A2.

(disclaimer: I used to be a fishmongress there in the 90s…kind of a sideline because I used to cater, wanted to learn a lot more about fish, loved working there).
posted by (former) OFWinsurgent on February 25th, 2007 at 4:11 pm e
Isn’t “fishmongress” a sexist term? Just kidding.
posted by toasty on February 26th, 2007 at 3:26 am e
I’d agree that Ann Arbor is not a bad place to work on your cooking skills. I was always pleasantly surprised by the quality of what I could buy at Busch’s and Monahan’s.

As far as restaurants, my reference point is LA rather than New York. My experience with NY restaurants has been hit or miss and always very expensive, so I’m not surprised to hear so many comparisons favorable to A2 restaurants. LA, however, absolutely kills Ann Arbor as restaurants go - invariably better food, invariably less expensive.
posted by Nick on February 26th, 2007 at 11:43 am e
Check out my new website: www.eveisoverrated.com.

Seriously not worth every cent. Once again I must echo what is becoming a common refrain about the A2 culinary scene, there is so much potential in that little place but the execution falls short every time.
posted by . on February 26th, 2007 at 11:43 am e
Wow, the whine here is unbelievable. Folks, MSV has about 5 restaurants in Ann Arbor and they’re all pretty much located on one block. Here’s a tip: avoid that block.

Since someone just mentioned the Heidelberg, I’d like to point out that I think they got a new chef about a year ago and the food in their main floor dining room is vastly improved. Downstairs they also have free Tacos on Thursday and free Wings on Friday, but you get what you pay for there. Still, it’s free (with a two drink minimum)!
posted by James on February 26th, 2007 at 5:15 pm e
hmm …

los angeles: 500 square miles, 4 million people

ann arbor: 27 square miles, 115 thousand people.

yer telling me LA has better restaurants than AA? stop! yer killing me!
posted by peter honeyman on February 26th, 2007 at 6:17 pm e
Tacos and Wings at the Heidelberg?! What the fuck, I’m moving back NOW!

Toasty, “fishmongress” has a certain exotic cache in some circles
posted by (former) OFWinsurgent on February 26th, 2007 at 6:31 pm e
the eve link is dead oh mystery poster.
posted by (former) OFWinsurgent on February 26th, 2007 at 6:32 pm e
“yer telling me LA has better restaurants than AA?”

Dude, not just better restaurants. L.A.’s also got less traffic, cleaner air, tastier tap water, friendlier squirrels, hotter ladies, and NPR that not only does traffic updates on the hour but also gives away PRIZES. They also have a very stable situation with the San Andreas fault–much better than that shaky bullshit Dexter/Pickney fault that runs through the Deuce.

And in Santa Monica you can buy a four bedroom house right on the beach for what it costs to rent a locker for a week at the Ann Arbor Y. And every afternoon Natalie Portman, or a call girl who looks JUST like her, will come over and rub suntan oil on your cock and balls. And then she’ll whisper in your ear in Hebrew while she sticks her finger up your ass and does tantric palpitations on your prostate in such a way that you can come for a solid hour. I shit you not, man, it’s heaven in L.A. I get a hard on every time I hear someone say Sig Alert.
posted by Parking Structure Dude! on February 26th, 2007 at 6:38 pm e
Well, that’s the raciest snark I’ve ever heard on AAiO and possibly anywhere.
posted by heidi on February 26th, 2007 at 7:15 pm e
PSD, you are my hero.
posted by (former) OFWinsurgent on February 26th, 2007 at 10:27 pm e
Some people’s desperate fantasies. …
But what’s no fantasy is Le Dog, not to mention their lobster bisque. Maybe Ann Arbor is not the culinary sewer some think it is after all.

Washtenaw Dairy doughnuts are not entirely bad either. And the Gandy Dancer “early bird” meals may not be the worst deal in town, too, not to mention the fun of seeing Amtrak chug by. . .
posted by David Boyle on February 26th, 2007 at 10:29 pm e
And the turkey dinner special on the last Thursday in November is so weirdly cheap in that context that it’s probably the Gandy Dancer’s version of feeding the poor at Thanksgiving.
posted by Been There, Done That on February 27th, 2007 at 8:36 am e
I love Le Dog, but I must say I don’t like his lobster bisque (heresy, I know). He makes a lot of other great stuff but the bisque has too much sherry in it and the texture is weird.
posted by (former) OFWinsurgent on February 27th, 2007 at 9:10 am e
Shopping here is awesome. Within a 10-15 minute bike travel, I can get fish at Monahan’s, Tracklements or Zingermans; a 20lb chunk of meat from Sparrow or Knight’s shop; and good (often local) produce from Fresh Seasons, the Produce Station, the farmer’s market or PFC. That’s not addressing specialty items available at any of the ethic groceries or places like The Liquor Store Formerly Known as Big 10. In terms of raw ingredients, that’s as good as anywhere outside a handful of big cities. Hop in the car and drive half an hour and it gets even better.

As for restaurants, I’m willing to believe that a Reuben better than Zingerman’s exists somewhere in this country, but I haven’t found one. And except for some small artisan-y bakeries I’ve been to, the bakehouse’s bread is the most consistently awesome. Holy cow, living in Boston made me want to kill myself the bread was so bad. Then there are Mediterrano, Amadeus, BTB (as good as any I’ve had, although this is like saying there is one true God), Monahan’s, Great Lakes, all the decent burgers (Red Hawk, Casey’s, Old Town, Sidetrack, etc), Red Sea on Washtenaw, etc. None of them are quite the experience you’d have an an uber-expensive Michelin-starred place, but personally I’d rather pay for decent food than for fancy service. Welcome to the midwest, eh?
posted by Patrick on February 27th, 2007 at 11:37 am e
“Since weâ€™re talking about poor service, I feel I should mention the hag down at the Heidelberg. I know itâ€™s not a restaurant, but damn.”

If you mean good old Monica in the Rathskellar, I have to agree 1000%. I won’t ever go in there again so long as she is behind the bar. For months, she gave me shit and once flat-out refused to serve me because of something I didn’t do but which she got into her head to blame me for anyway. Fuck that fucking bitch.
posted by Dave on February 27th, 2007 at 3:18 pm e
Yeah I love the thing where somebody behind a bar becomes a fixture who thinks that she / he can ‘deal fate’ for the drinkers who pay the institution that pays her / him. [’I stand behind this bar and decide who can give my boss a fiver — thus I am so important I can boss around a whole town of scholars’]

This attitude killed Ashley’s and Del Rio in my opinion

[anyone remember ashley’s or del rio]
posted by toasty on February 28th, 2007 at 3:07 am e
(former) OFWinsurgent: it has a certain exotic cache even in certain squares
posted by toasty on February 28th, 2007 at 3:27 am e
(former) OFWinsurgent: it has a certain exotic cache even in certain squares
posted by toasty on February 28th, 2007 at 3:27 am e
i dont know how that double-posted, sorry all
posted by toasty on February 28th, 2007 at 3:28 am e
Not to hijack the thread, but Dave you are *SO* right about that bartender Monica in the Rathskeller. Holy shit is she surly. We were there awhile back and when I asked for a beer they no longer carried she sighed super-loud and yelled, “We don’t DO THAT HERE!” Five minutes later a friend bought a beer and didn’t pick it up within 5 milliseconds of receiving it, and she yelled at him, “What, you want me to drink it for you too?” I’m taking up a collection to get her some Prozac.
posted by ajn on February 28th, 2007 at 11:39 am e
Zingerman’s used to be good. I used to be able to get consistently good food there. Now the only thing that seems to be consistent is the price.

Mediterrano is good. I’ll give you that. Siam Kitchen is good. But many of the other Ann Arbor restaurants are over priced and not terribly good for the cost.

Somebody mentioned LA…YES! The food out there is wonderful.
posted by Kozzie_13 on February 28th, 2007 at 11:41 am e
Patrick: where can I find a good ethic grocery, exactly? I need some ethics to go with some wild morals I found in the woods.
posted by Nitro on March 1st, 2007 at 10:49 am e
Amadeus, Kosmo Deli, Foods of India’s amazing closet of indian gastronomy, Sidetrack, Earthen Jar, LeDog, Middle Kingdom, Siam Kitchen, Monahan’s counter, Knight’s, Shalimar, Kai Garden, NYPD, the Fleetwood and Leopold’s.

Oh, and Zingerman’s.

That’s why I’m a fat broke man.
posted by Nitro on March 1st, 2007 at 11:01 am e
Re: Heidelberg - what’s with the down-on-Monica rap? When that guy at Blimpy Burger talks like that to his customers, including first timers, he’s considered a local hero and an integral part of the Deuce’s city character. According to some reviews, the s&m service makes Blimpy a go-to place. So drop the gender bias. Monica’s a special local flavor that deserves much appreciation. Our own downtown food nazi, and one who serves alcohol no less! Free entertainment, great for breaking up stilted bar talk. Hypersensitive beer guts should relax & give her a break. What do you other downtowners think? (Peter? Larry?) Tangentally, setting up a tense Monica with PSD could bring some mutual calm and satisfaction and may allow PSD a basement venue to demonstrate his well whispered performance art [notes to audience newbies: don’t drink the yellow “pilsner” he tries to serve you, but ask him to show what he can do with le dog and doughnuts]
posted by a goodtime blimp on March 1st, 2007 at 11:30 am e
toasty: when did Ashley’s close? I don’t remember them ever hurting for business, so that’s pretty surprising. Too bad, also - it was a really nice place to be around happy hour.
posted by Nick on March 1st, 2007 at 11:55 am e
I lived next door to the Heidelberg, and the witch behind the bar as well as her alkie friend who works in the law office next door were both awful, awful, awful. No gender bias here; not crazy about Blimpie, either.
posted by Anna on March 1st, 2007 at 1:11 pm e
i can’t comment on barkeeps … but ask me about baristas!

actually, no need to ask — i love them all.

(it’s not that i’m a teetotaler, i just don’t like the alcohol buzz — i prefer to have ARELAXINGCUPPACOFFEE!!!!!!!!!)
posted by peter honeyman on March 1st, 2007 at 3:54 pm e
Lived in A2 for 9 years, moved to minneapolis for a year and just got back. I thought the food in minneapolis was great. Lots of very unique places, loved the burgers (including juicy lucy’s, yes thats the correct spelling), the nicer restaurants and everything in between. For a ‘bigger’ city it has a lot to offer and lots of great neighborhood spots. Honestly, I think of Minneapolis as a bigger version of Ann Arbor. The strength of both places is that there are a lot of options and comparatively little traffic for a city of their respective sizes, and thats why I love both. But if I had to give an edge, please Minneapolis is way better for dining than ann arbor, but its also alot bigger when you consider the entire twin cities.
posted by AAandMinnie on March 1st, 2007 at 6:29 pm e
“Foods of Indiaâ€™s amazing closet of indian gastronomy”

They’re on my walk home, so I stop by every now and then for groceries, but I’ve never tried their take-out, despite some curiosity. Anything in particular you’d recommend?
posted by Bruce Fields on March 1st, 2007 at 9:19 pm e
The Chicken Biriyani is a great deal, as is the Aloo Paratha (spicy-potato stuffed bread). Also have been happy with both Kormas and Vindaloos. The kids are fond of the Dhal, and the Mango Lassi should probably be served in, like, tubs. It is salty, but splendid. And the other counter at Foods of India has some great Samosas and Gulab Jamun.

My multitudinous credit card receipts from the nice guy in the tiny kitchen read “Shan-E-Punjab,” so that might be the closets’ formal name.

*
I can’t believe I forgot to list Krazy Jims’ among the primary reasons for my corpulence above. They’re not so responsible for my being broke as some of the others, as Blimpy Burgers are cheaper than food.
posted by Nitro on March 2nd, 2007 at 8:39 am e
Edit: unintended implication that the Mango Lassi is salty. Everything else is salty, but not so much the Mango Lassi.
posted by Nitro on March 2nd, 2007 at 8:43 am e
A few of us who are just as frustrated and inspired by the status of food, restaurants, and supermarkets in Ann Arbor decided to start blogging about it. Sometimes we review restaurants; a lot of the time we write about what we’ve been cooking: http://www.gastronomical3.wordpress.com/.
posted by shana on March 2nd, 2007 at 2:21 pm e
You are all mean,
Ann Arbor is great.
I live there.
I am offended.
posted by john on March 8th, 2007 at 5:55 pm e
quality bakery … where quality bar once was

i can’t believe i’m participating in this exercise in pointless nostalgia

nostalgia isn’t what it used to be, either
posted by peter honeyman on March 8th, 2007 at 8:24 pm e
personally i think eve has excellent food and pays much attention to details, which is important in a fine restaurant. i also had a great sea bass at cafe zola a few weeks ago. like butter. mm. also, in terms of markets - sparrow meats, morgan & york, the produce station - excellent quality, freshness, selection, etc. ann arbor has some gems they’re just a little off the beaten path (i.e. main street)
posted by jared on March 19th, 2007 at 6:15 pm e
What do you dislike so much about eve? We really care about the food and what we are doing and our customers so I am sorry you had such a poor experience to warrant such a vehement response.
posted by Eve on March 20th, 2007 at 11:13 pm e
What do you dislike so much about eve? We really care about the food and what we are doing and our customers so I am sorry you had such a poor experience to warrant such a vehement response.
posted by Eve on March 20th, 2007 at 11:13 pm e
Eve: Well, this is a snarking site, so if you warrant mention you warrant snark. I’m sure the food is lovely, but I will say that you seem to have an annoying echo in there.
posted by Nitro on March 21st, 2007 at 8:05 am e
I just found this site doing some research for a project for the restaurant - I am super low tech and don’t know a lot about blogging - but it doesn’t seem like all of the comments are snarking - I meant my question sincerely - Everybody has their own taste and palate - I was just honestly curious what offended the person so much??
posted by Eve on March 21st, 2007 at 10:07 am e
Eve:

I’m not the hater, but I thought I’d jump in. Typically the food/wine is tops at your place. We love the food/wine. But for us there’s just been something off about the dining experience every time we’ve been. These are some of our experiences from different visits: an unsure (read: wandering) host/hostess, a check coming out to a just-seated table, having to ask several times for the wine list, etc. Are these terrible and life threatening issues? Of course not. But the service doesn’t seem to live up to the idea of the restaurant. Does that make sense? I don’t doubt that people at Eve care about the diners. And that caring is what can make it even more frustrating.
posted by Young(ish) OWSider on March 21st, 2007 at 12:13 pm e
Thanks for posting, Eve; I’ve never been to your place but I’ve been meaning to go there, and I appreciate you taking the time to look into (I have no idea how well-founded) criticisms.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on March 21st, 2007 at 12:34 pm e
Hello Young(ish)
To be 100% honest, I can see where you are coming from(Not that that is what we are striving for)Until recently we have had difficulty finding the right fit for a general manager and since we don’t have another working partner besides myself everyone here has been a little bit stretched thin. Thankfully, we have a wonderful general manager now with amazing experience and he is providing great support and guidance in the front of the house. He has spent his life working at some of the top restaurants in Europe and is a very nice person as well. We are all learning a lot from him and he is whipping us into shape in the front of the house! Even though it is kind of excruciating to read about the kinds of things that you described in your experiences at the restaurant, I really appreciate knowing about them and can totally see what you mean about it not fitting in with what our aspirations are for the restaurant. Anyway, SORRY and we are working on it!!!!! Hopefully, you will let me know next time you are in so I can apologize in person! Thank you for being so constructive in passing along your feedback - I really appreciate it.(and thank you too ann arbor is overrated for your posting)
posted by Eve on March 21st, 2007 at 10:27 pm e
Eve–

That is indeed good news! I don’t know the first thing about running a restaurant other than it takes a lot of hard work. And I know what’s worked well at restaurants I’ve been to. I appreciate your candor. It sounds like we’ll have to swing by again soon!
posted by Young(ish) OWSider on March 22nd, 2007 at 8:00 am e
what do i have against eve? oh, nothing major, just the fall of man, that’s all. Genesis 3.
posted by peter honeyman on March 22nd, 2007 at 8:38 am e

Gastronomic Capital of the Midwest?

93 Responses to “Gastronomic Capital of the Midwest?”

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