50 things you need to eat and drink in Ann Arbor
By Jessica Webster | MLive.com jessicawebster@mlive.com
Ann Arbor gets a lot of credit for the diversity of its food scene, and for a midwestern town of 100,000+, I think we've got a lot going on. The exciting thing? It keeps growing and improving.
We took stock of 51 of the dishes and drinks that have tickled our taste buds, landed in our Instagram feeds and kept us coming back for more.
I'm guessing that we may have missed some of your favorites. What are they? What did we miss? I had a hard time narrowing this list down, so with your help, I'd be happy to tackle a part two soon. Just post your faves in the comments below.
Pictured: Brown Sugar Oatmeal Pumpkin Pie top with seed brittle at The Chop House on Thursday, February 18, 2016. Jenna VonHofe | The Ann Arbor News
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
The poutine burger at Grange Kitchen & Bar
The downstairs dining room at Grange Kitchen & Bar (118 W. Liberty St.) is great for date night, business dinners or out-of-town guests. Head upstairs for a more casual experience and a menu that includes Chef Brandon Johns' duck confit poutine or the Grange burger, made from locally-sourced beef. If you're feeling really indulgent, ask for a poutine burger. Cheese curds, duck confit, duck sage gravy and house-cut fries top the already tasty burger. It's a lot, but it's worth the extra trip (or two) to the gym.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Turkish brunch at Cafe Zola
Cafe Zola (112 W Washington St.) and its sister restaurant, Zola Bistro (3030 Washtenaw Ave #101), offer a wide variety of breakfast, brunch and dinner menu items in a comfortable, European setting. At brunch, the crepes, both sweet and savory, are a specialty, but I'm partial to the Turkish brunch, pictured here. Cucumbers, boiled eggs, tomato, feta, havarti, olives and stuffed grape leaves are served with a basket of bread and pastries from Zingerman's Bakehouse.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Delicious oysters - with representation from both the east and west coasts - are served with cocktail sauce and a vinegar-based mignonette sauce at Ann Arbor's new French Bistro, Mikette (1759 Plymouth Rd.).
Some nights, the oysters are "a buck a shuck" during Mikette's weeknight happy hour from 4:30pm-6pm at the bar or high top tables. Keep an eye on the restaurant's Facebook page.
To adapt a quote from Lady Gaga: A breakfast pastry will never wake up and tell you that it doesn't love you anymore ☕🍩
A post shared by taylor fulton (@tay_fult) on Jul 21, 2016 at 6:27am PDT
The pastries at Pastry Peddler (619 Packard St.), baked by gifted baker Katy Nightwine, are some of the best in town. French pastries (like croissants) are among Nightwine's specialties, but don't miss the savory treats like the breakfast pasties.
Keep track of hours and specials on the Pastry Peddler Facebook page.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Where does Mario Batali shop when he's stocking up for his trips to northern Michigan? Biercamp. Where can you go for 12-hour smoked brisket sandwiches or 16-hour barbecue pulled pork sandwiches? Biercamp (1643 S State St.). The menu sometimes rotates, and these delicious sandwiches can sell out fast, so call ahead (734-995-2437) to avoid disappointment.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
A frita at Frita Batidos
Chef Eve Aronoff-Fernandez's Cuban-inspired burger and shake restaurant Frita Batidos ((117 W. Washington St.) has been racking up the accolades, and for good reason. This is some seriously delicious food.
The frita is a Cuban spin on a hamburger, served on a soft egg bun and topped with crispy fries. The Frita Batidos version has a variety of topping options, including avocado, tropical slaw, muenster cheese, cilantro-lime salsa and a sunny-side-up egg. Or make it "loco" with all of the toppings.
Deep fried French toast is so unnecessary
A post shared by Connie Prater (@hibiscust) on Sep 4, 2016 at 10:53am PDT
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
French toast at Angelo's
You're going to want to try the french toast at Angelo's (1100 Catherine St.), whether it's the deep fried french toast, homemade raisin bread french toast, or one of the other iterations of Angelo's famous breakfast specialty. Frankly, it's hard to go wrong with breakfast of any sort at Angelo's, which might be why you'll probably have to wait a little while to get a table.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
A collider at Rod's Diner
Do you really need to eat a collider at Rod's Diner (812 S. State St.)? Maybe not. But should you want to? Yes. You should definitely want to. Sure, you could go to Rod's for some quick and tasty bi bim bop, but save room for Rod's version of a Blizzard. Start with your favorite flavor of frozen yogurt, then pick from the extensive menu of mix-ins and toppings, including nuts, crushed cookies, rainbow sprinkles, breakfast cereals, shredded coconut, chocolate sauce and fresh fruits.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
A triple with cheese at Blimpy Burger
The burgers at Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger (304 S Ashley St.) have gotten more national attention than any food other than Zingerman's in Ann Arbor. Sliders, cooked and served with just a little bit of attitude, are the focus of the menu. These babies are greasy, comforting and almost infinitely customizable.
Photo by Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Deep dish pizza at Anthony's
Anthony's Gourmet Pizza has been an Ann Arbor institution for nearly 30 years. The pizzeria's crispy/chewy crusts, homemade (and not-too-sweet) tomato sauce and fresh vegetables have earned the gourmet label many times over. You can dine in or take out at the 1924 Packard St. location or pick up takeout at 1508 N. Maple Rd. The Packard St. location also sells deep dish pizza by the slice, with one seriously hearty portion going for just $3.
Photo by Amy Sherman | MLive.com
Waffle fries and Chicago dogs at Ray's Red Hots
If you're in the mood for just straight-up comfort food, you'd be hard pressed to find a destination more worthy than Ray's Red Hots (formerly Red Hot Lovers) at 629 E University Ave. Here you can find and customize delicious Chicago dogs - both meaty and vegetarian versions - sandwiches, burgers and milkshakes. But the real reason so many of us go back? The waffle fries. Eat them naked, add cheese, or go crazy with chili cheese fries, Philly cheese fries, Chicago fries, fries topped with pulled pork...
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Fraser Mac at Fraser's Pub
Fraser's Pub (2045 Packard St.) is a neighborhood bar with a long history, a shockingly good craft beer list, a crowd of serious regulars, and burgers that will keep you coming back for more. You can build your own burger and pay per topping, or go for the Fraser's version of the Big Mac (minus the completely superfluous middle bun layer).
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Tan tan men ramen at Slurping Turtle
Meatballs, pork chashu, ground pork, bok choy, ramen noodles, scallions and bean sprouts in a spicy miso-chicken broth. This dish is far greater than the sum of its parts, and makes more appearances on my personal Instagram profile than anything other than my son. This is an addictive and delicious bowl of food. Slurping Turtle (608 E. Liberty) chef and owner Takashi Yagihashi even shared the recipe with us.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Sauteed Camaron at Logan American Restaurant
Logan is one of Ann Arbor's better white tablecloth restaurants, with an inventive menu, a well-curated wine list and top-notch service. My favorite dish at Logan, by far, is the sauteed shrimp in a rich Oaxacan mole sauce, served over rice and with a jicama slaw. If you're still hungry, Logan's milk and cookies dessert is pretty fun, too.
Photo by Tyler Stabile | MLive.com
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Tokaji cream cake at Zingerman's bakehouse
Zingerman's Bakehouse (3711 Plaza Dr.) has been hitting it out of the park in the last few years with their selection of Hungarian pastries. My favorite? The tokaji cake. Light chiffon cake layered with lightly sweetened whipped cream (with a touch of tokaji wine) and raspberries. Toasted almonds add the perfect amount of crunch. Grab a piece of cake and head down the plaza to Zingerman's Coffee for a perfect mid-afternoon snack.
Tokaji cake is also often available at Zingerman's Next Door (422 Detroit St.).
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Cocktails at Knight's Steakhouse
Knight's Steakhouse, at both its 2324 Dexter Ave. and 600 E. Liberty St. locations, serves up the traditional American steakhouse experience. The steaks are good (my go-to is the budget-friendly petite sirloin), but one of the real draws at Knight's can be summed up by the restaurant's Twitter handle: @StrongDrinks. The bartenders are serious pros, and the pours are consistently generous. If you go, plan ahead with a designated driver.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Vegan pad thai at the Lunch Room
I had my first taste of this fresh, flavorful dish in the summer of 2011, when friends and business collaborators Phillis Engelbert and Joel Panozzo opened up a food cart at Mark's Carts in 2011. I wasn't convinced at the time that of all the carts in the courtyard, the vegan cart would haunt my dream. But one bowl of The Lunch Room's pad Thai, just bursting with crunchy fresh vegetables, peanuts and cilantro and I was hooked. The pair opened their bricks and mortar restaurant two years later at 407 N. 5th Ave, where the pad thai is one of the restaurant's top sellers.
Broad bean thread noodles are tossed in a flavorful peanut sauce with marinated tofu cubes. The dish is topped with fresh bell pepper, cucumber, cilantro and a wedge of lime.
The pad Thai at the Lunch Room is lacking the egg found in most traditional pad Thai recipes, but I don't miss it a bit, and apparently neither do the other 40 people who order it every day.
"It's Asian comfort food," said Engelbert. "It’s really fresh and healthy. There isn’t anything bad in it. It’s all good for you."
I'm a big fan of all of the tacos (and the truffle guacamole) at Isalita (341A E. Liberty St.), but my favorites are the cauliflower tacos with pickled jalapeños, cucumber mint salsa and smoked chili vinaigrette.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Thali for lunch at Cardamom
Cardamom Fresh Indian Restaurant has become one of the north side's most popular restaurant destinations. Lines can be long for the delicious dinner service. It's worth waiting for, but you might consider a visit at lunch, instead. Try the restaurant's thali - a round plate with small portions of a variety of different dishes, served with rice and cucumber sauce. Photo by Jacob Sendra.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Falafel sandwich at Jerusalem Garden
Considering price, portion and deliciousness factors, it's hard to find a better lunch in Ann Arbor than the customizable falafel sandwich at Jerusalem Garden (314 E. Liberty St.). I like mine with yogurt and cucumber, but you can have yours made to order with baba ghanouj, hummus, or even fattoush vegetables.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Head to Arirang (3135 Oak Valley Dr.) for some of Ann Arbor's best bibimbop. I'm particularly a fan of the dolsot bibimbop, served in a hot stone bowl. I love the crunchy rice that results.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Vietnamese vermicelli, known as bun, is served with shredded lettuce, bean sprout, pickled carrot and daikon, fresh cucumber, roasted peanuts, onion, served with sweetened fish sauce. At VKitchen (883 W. Eisenhower Pkwy., in the Colonnade shopping center), you can pick your favorite proteins to top the dish, go for the combo bowl (pictured), or even choose the vegan vermicelli, which omits the fish sauce and uses super flavorful tofu as the protein.
The seafood platter at The Chop House
If you're splurging on dinner at The Chop House (322 S Main St), might I suggest the seafood platter as your shared appetizer? It's not cheap, but it's good. I mean really good. Oysters, lobster tail, crab louie and shrimp cocktail, served with lemon and a variety of sauces. Ask them for some drawn butter for the lobster. Seriously. This is living. If you go on your birthday, you can take advantage of the birthday deal and make it more affordable. Or students: get your parents to take you.
Photo by Dominic Valente | The Ann Arbor News
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Washtenaw Dairy (602 S. Ashley) may be best known as a destination for ice cream cones, but it's the simple fried cake that keeps me going back. Get there early for the best selection, or order a dozen or two in advance and you'll be the most popular parent on the soccer team or manager in the conference room.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Huevos Motulenos for brunch at Aut Bar
This Yucatan-region brunch specialty features this layers corn tortillas, eggs and black beans, topped with ranchero sauce, diced ham, peas and shredded cheese. Is the Aut Bar (315 Braun Ct., in the Kerrytown district), a gay bar? Sure, but you'll find people of all demographics - straight couples, families, local politicians, groups of students - dining on the restaurant's classic bar food and Mexican specialties, and weekend brunch draws an especially broad crowd.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Bring a group of friends and an appetite for the shared paella experience at Aventura (216 E. Washington St.). Take your pick between the seafood paella (pictured), one with chicken and chorizo, or a vegetarian paella, all served in a large pan of saffron-seasoned rice, cooked until crispy. Preparation takes a minimum of 45 minutes, so you'll want to share some of the vast menu of tapas as you wait.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Hippie hash at The Fleetwood Diner
The Fleetwood Diner (300 S. Ashley) famous hippie hash starts with hashed browns, gets a heaping portion of sauteed vegetables (grilled green peppers, onions, tomatoes, broccoli & mushrooms) and a whole pile of feta cheese. Ask for the hippie breakfast and they'll add two eggs and toast. You can also add corned beef, tempeh or gyro meat.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Korean barbecue at Tomukun BBQ
Tomukun Korean BBQ (505 E Liberty St Suite 100) is downtown Ann Arbor's destination for classic tabletop Korean barbecue. Choose your protein - or pick a combo - and grill your own tender, marinated meats. Tomukun servers will refresh your side dishes (called banchan) and dipping sauces as you go. It's a fun experience with a group of friends.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Banh mi at Ginger Deli
Ginger Deli (303 S. Division) is primarily a walk-up takeout lunch restaurant, with a short but tasty menu of Vietnamese favorites: a few varieties of pho, a few varieties of banh mi and two types of summer rolls. All are delicious, and the takeout packaging for the pho is impressive. My favorite is the beef banh mi - a sandwich made with French baguette, marinated beef, jalapeno, cilantro, spicy mayonnaise and quick pickled carrot, cucumber and daikon radishes.
Korean fried chicken at Seoul Street
MLive's Michigan's Best team picked the Korean fried chicken at Seoul Street (771 Plymouth Rd #101) as their second favorite in the state earlier this year. Here's what they had to say: Seoul Street served us the most unique fried chicken we had on our trip, Korean style fried chicken. And it is absolutely fantastic. The group of six owners went to U of M together for engineering, and loved having Korean fried chicken when they traveled. They used their Korean connections to learn how to make it, and have perfected their technique over the last five years. The chicken goes through a double frying process, and gets hand painted with one of two glazes, soy garlic, or hot and spicy. The chicken skin is paper thin, sealed in the glaze, and when you take a bite and break the seal, it literally pops.The sauce is sticky and flavorful. It's completely different, and incredible. You choose what pieces, and sauce you want, and the chicken comes with either pickled radish or a corn salad. Place an order the next time you are in Ann Arbor.
Photo by Melanie Maxwell | Ann Arbor News
A Reuben at Zingerman's Deli
President Barack Obama on the Zingerman's Reuben: "Before I came here today, I stopped at Zingerman's, which is the right thing to do when you're in Ann Arbor. I stopped for two reasons. The first is the Reuben is killer. So I ordered like the small, and it didn't look that small. So I gave half to Valerie Jarrett, who's traveling with us. And then after I finished the half, I wanted the half back. But it was too late. All she had left was the pickle. So I took the pickle."
The Corned Beef Rueben comes with corned beef, house made Russian dressing, Switzerland Swiss cheese and sauerkraut, served on grilled Jewish rye bread from the Zingerman's bake house. Patrick Record | AnnArbor.com
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Latte at Mighty Good Coffee
Ann Arbor has a healthy cafe culture, with shops like Comet, Lab, Literati Coffee, Roos Roast, Morgan & York, Black Diesel, and Zingerman's Coffee offering up (in some cases, locally-roasted) espresso-based drinks that far surpass anything we could have found in our fair city 15 years ago.
Mighty Good Coffee gets the nod here because of its three geographically diverse locations: the downtown cafe (217 N. Main), the campus cafe (1335 S. University) and the Arbor Hills shopping center location (3110 Washtenaw #111).
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Polpette pizza at Mani Osteria
Housemade meatballs are scattered over fresh ricotta, mint and pickled chiles in this signature pizza at Mani Osteria (341 E. Liberty). All of the pizzas at Mani are worth trying, and have racked up accolades from everyone from MLive's Michigan's Best team (best pizza in 2013, second best in 2016) and Food & Wine. The crust comes out of the wood fire oven with the perfect amount of chew, and the sauces have just the right amount of tang.
The "Polpette" pizza is topped with meatballs, fresh ricotta, mint and pickled chili at Mani Osteria & Bar. Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Pho at Tomukun Noodle Bar
Whenever I've got a cold, my first stop is Tomukun Noodle Bar (505 E Liberty St #200) for a hearty bowl of steaming beef broth loaded with thinly-sliced rare beef, meatballs, jalapenos, bean sprouts, scallions, fresh herbs, red chile sauce and hoisin sauce. A squirt of lime adds just the right amount of acid to balance it all out.
It's pretty great when you don't have a cold, too.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Quickie English Tea at Tea Haus
If you're a tea aficionado, you're probably well acquainted with TeaHaus (204 N 4th Ave, Ann Arbor) and its impressive wall of nearly 200 different teas, arranged by type.
If you've got some time to spare, a group of fun friends, and you're better at planning than I am, you can call a day or two ahead for the full English Tea service at TeaHaus, with white linen tablecloths, soups, an impressive multi-tiered serving contraption laden with treats, and all the tea you can drink.
But if you're looking for a quick, delicious, reasonably priced lunch or special treat, on your own or with friends, the Quickie English Tea at TeaHaus is hard to beat. For $10.25, you get a homemade scone served with a quartet of housemade toppings and a choice of three finger sandwiches from a list of five. Also included is a pick from a dessert menu nine items deep, including deliciously scented French macarons and a decadent Swedish pancake, filled with fruit and topped with fresh whipped cream.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Farmer's Fritto at Jolly Pumpkin
Jolly Pumpkin (311 S. Main) has a great menu of pizzas, salads, a burger, sandwiches and small plates. One of the best from the appetizer menu is the farmer's fritto. The vegetable changes by the season, based on what's available from local farmers, but the preparation remains the same: the veggies are tipped in a tempura batter and flash fried and served with a tangy sambal dipping sauce.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Lobster bisque at Le Dog
Le Dog, now down to just the 306 S. Main St. location, is named for the hot dogs Jules Van Dyck-Dobos has been selling for more than 35 years. But the real draw has always been the homemade soups. Le Dog's lobster bisque, served on Thursdays and Fridays, is the king of the soup menu, and it's not unusual to find long lines of fans waiting to part with their cash for a bowl of it to go. Just remember: NO Coke, NO Pepsi, NO pop or soda. Ever!
Wuxi Ribs at Asian Legend
The Wuxi Ribs entree at Asian Legend (516 E. William). This is one of the Taiwanese/Szechuan restaurant's most popular dishes.
Photo by Daniel Brenner | The Ann Arbor Newsa
Ethiopian Feast at Blue Nile
Ann Arbor has a gift in Blue Nile( 221 East Washington St.). Traditional Ethiopian food cooked up in an immaculate kitchen and served by people who excel at customer service. Go with friends and order the Ethiopian feast - with or without meat - served on a shared platter with spongy injera bread. One caveat: do not make the mistake of bringing friends who are eschewing carbs, as the injera replaces silverware as a food-delivery tool.
Pictured: A traditional Ethiopian feast from the Blue Nile. Courtney Sacco I The Ann Arbor News
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
A fragel from MD Bagel Fragel
What's a fragel, you ask? It's a cinnamon raisin bagel, deep fried at 350 degrees for 3 minutes, then rolled in cinnamon sugar. It's delicious and ridiculous and messy and best eaten warm, and you can get them at MD Bagel Fragel (1760 Plymouth Rd.)
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Soft pretzels at Arbor Brewing Company
This is the ultimate comfort food appetizer. Buttery, salty pretzels - with just a touch of sweetness - served with a tangy cheese or spicy mustard dipping sauce. The folks at Arbor Brewing Company (114 E. Washington St.) knew just what they were doing when they put this one together. Order one for the table to share, or get greedy and get your own. You'll love them.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Bulgogi Omelette at Bell's Diner
Want classic breakfast food like pancakes and eggs, crispy hashed browns or sausage and biscuits? You'll find homemade versions. made with precision, from scratch at Bell's Diner (167 W Stadium Blvd.). Want delicious Korean staples like bibimbop, japchae or bulgogi? You'll find them here, too.
In fact, the hardest decision you'll face is choosing between the breakfast menu and the Korean menu. My solution? Order the bulgogi omelet, pictured here. Bell's strikes the perfect balance of egg and filling. And who knew that marinated beef would make such a delicious omelet filling?
Macaroni & cheese at Zingerman's Roadhouse
Alton Brown crowned the Zingerman's Roadhouse macaroni and cheese America's Best Comfort Food. Our MLive Michigan's Best team crowned it Michigan's second-best macaroni and cheese. Need to know more? High-quality Martelli pasta meets sharp cheddar for a marriage ade in heaven. You can go for a classic Roadhouse mac, or try variations with fried chicken, green chiles and roasted chicken, or bacon and pimento cheese.
Pictured: Zingerman's Roadhouse Pimento Cheese & Bacon Macaroni during the search for Michigan's Best Mac 'n cheese at Zingerman's Roadhouse on Tuesday, November 11, 2015. Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Chocolate Oh!s from White Lotus Farms
Modeled after the famous cronuts from New York's Dominique Ansel Bakery, the Oh!s from White Lotus Farms are a hybrid of croissant and doughnut, and they're unbelievably delicious. Though these were previously available at retail shops, the farm has changed its distribution model and are only offering their baked goods at farmers markets and on the farm. Keep tabs on them via the White Lotus Facebook page.
Cocktails at The Last Word
Head to The Last Word (301 West Huron, just west of 1st St.) for some of the best craft cocktails you'll find in the city, served up with snacks and small plates in a cozy, comfortable environment. Try The Last Word cocktail, or just ask an award-winning bartender to whip you up something special. It's hard to go wrong.
Pictured: The Ichabod Sour is just one of the many cocktails from a drink menu that changes quarterly at the Last Word, located at 301 West Huron in Ann Arbor. Patrick Record | The Ann Arbor News.
Fried oyster po'boys at Monahan's Seafood Market
Monahan's Seafood (407 N. Fifth, in the Kerrytown Market building) is both a fish market and a small cafe. You can order from the menu, with its tantalizing daily specials, or pick your fish from the case and they'll serve it up with your favorite sauce. Regular daily specials include Baja fish tacos on Mondays, and these excellent fried oyster po'boys on Saturdays.
Photo by Courtney Sacco | The Ann Arbor News
Wiener schnitzel = awesome birthday lunch!!!! #mmmschnitzel #getinmybelly
A post shared by Elizabeth White (@eli_lilly_white) on Oct 24, 2016 at 11:13am PDT
Schnitzel at Metzger's Restaurant
Out on Zeeb Road, just off the exit from I-94, is the latest location for one of Ann Arbor's oldest restaurants and most popular source for comforting German food and beer served in massive beer steins. Consider skipping lunch before you head to Metzger's (305 N Zeeb Rd.). If you can't make up your mind which entree to pick, you could always go for the Rheinisher sampler with a half order of Wiener schnitzel and a half order of Sauerbraten, served with spatzen and red cabbage!
Jessica Webster | The Ann Arbor News
Seaonal: A brisket bowl at Ricewood BBQ
Chef Frank Fejeran will soon be wrapping up his second season of his addictive barbecue rice bowls, served from his Ricewood food truck that parks behind Morgan & York (1928 Packard St., Ann Arbor). Fejeran and team smoke ribs, pork and (occasionally) chicken, but the real star is his Texas-style brisket, served over rice and topped with a chamorro finadene sauce. This food is the kind of food you find yourself daydreaming about in the middle of meetings. Ricewood is open Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. until food runs out.
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Seasonal: Sangria at Dominick's
Starting the week after Michigan students come back from spring break every year, and closing up for the winter after the last home football game (this year the last game is November 19), Dominick's is the best spot to savor a mason jar of potent sangria in a crowd of students, faculty and Ann Arbor townies.
Seasonal: Ice cream at Blank Slate Creamery
Open from March through December, Blank Slate Creamery (300 W. Liberty St.) has been attracting long lines and big crowds for three seasons now. Blank Slate serves up a menu of two dozen different house-made ice creams, including unique flavors like blueberry pancake and bananas foster. The also shop makes its own waffle cones on site.
The springtime appearance of the long-awaited Strawberry Rhubarb Pie! At #argusfarmstop soon! #whynotpie #celebratelocal #michiganrhubarb #handmade #madewithlove #madefromscratch #handmade
A post shared by Why Not Pie (@janice_whynotpie) on May 12, 2016 at 2:25pm PDT
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Bonus: Pie from Why Not Pie?
Some of the best pies in Ann Arbor come out of baker Janice Leach's kitchen. You can find them at Argus Farm Stop (325 W Liberty St.) or place a special order with Janice via email: janice@whynotpie.com
Don't miss this charming restaurant at 1906 Packard Street. Eat serves up locally-sourced, inventive takes on classic comfort food. And pie. Really good pie, baked up my co-owner Blake Reetz.
The recipes are handed down from his mom, and her aunt before her. Reetz calls the lard crust recipe he uses on all his pies an "old timey midwestern farm wife style crust," and the pies at Eat do evoke a nostalgia for a simpler era.
Simplicity is the key to Reetz's pies. "There's something beautiful in the simplicity of fruit, sugar and fat." Though the lard crust excludes a portion of the population, he told us that he's got regular vegetarian customers who make an exception for his pies.
Apple pie at Eat Catering & Carry-out during the search for Michigan's Best Pie in Ann Arbor on Thursday, November 13, 2014. Tyler Stabile | The Ann Arbor News
Jessica Webster | jessicawebster@mlive.com
Want more Ann Arbor restaurant recommendations? Check out our lists of great restaurants outside of the downtown Ann Arbor area:
Yes, Ann Arbor, you can find great eats in a strip mall 15 Ann Arbor strip mall restaurants we missed the first time
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