Restaurant Reviews

A few months ago, Matt and I finally compiled a list of all of the restaurants we wanted to visit in Ann Arbor. It seems that simply compiling this list was enough motivation to get us to begin actually going to these eateries! Already, we've eaten at Argiero's, the Earle Uptown, Amadeus, Gratzi, Blue Nile, Pacific Rim, Zanzibar, Rush Street, Cafe Zola and Red Hot Lovers. Brief reviews of each are below:

Argiero's
Price: Most entrees between $10 and $15.
Atmosphere: C. Cheap Italian - plastic checked tablecloths, "rustic" tiled floor.
Food: B-. Your general Italian fare. Surprisingly bland.
Overall experience: We had an okay time there, but wouldn't go back unless dining companions were really insistent on it.

The Earle Uptown
Price: Quite expensive.
Atmosphere: A-. The restaurant is in the Bell Tower hotel. Tables are intimate, lighting is perfect. Only drawback? When we were there, we were two of only five diners in the whole restaurant. You start to feel a bit awkward.
Food: A. The food, though overpriced, was great. We especially enjoyed their interesting choices of French-American appetizers, soups and desserts.
Overall: If you're willing to forgo getting an entree to save your pennies, this would make a great dinner. It's especially convenient to Hill Auditorium.

Amadeus
Price: Most entrees between $10-20.
Atmosphere: A-. Kitschy eastern Europe, complete with piano player and crazy instruments hanging on the walls.
Food: A-. Options represent many cuisines, including Polish, German, Austrian and Northern Italian. Pierogis were delicious.
Overall: You couldn't go there too often, because the food is extremely heavy. However, as a special treat, we recommend it. Another perk: a good, cheap wine list!

Gratzi
Price: Most entrees between $15-25.
Atmosphere: A. Classic interior, nice murals, romantic.
Food: A-/B. The food was pretty good… or so we thought. Nicole got violently ill after eating fish there, hence the double rating.
Overall: Our experience was okay, but I think I speak for Boyfriend Matt and myself when I say we’d rather be at Palio.

Blue Nile
Price: Flat fee of approx. $20
Atmosphere: B+. You sit on stools around a sort of basket-table that serves as your table’s personal buffet.
Food: B. Your flat fee gets you an Ethiopian all-you-can-eat meal, including six different vegetables (three of which were indistinguishable lentils), four meats and a ton of spongy bread. Food was not flavorful as our table might have liked.
Overall: The idea of the food is a lot better than the food. We had fun, though, and it’s a good unusual dinner.

Zanzibar
Price: breakfast between $7-15.
Atmosphere: A-. Funky worldy Ann Arbor feel.
Food: B+. The food was pretty good, though brunch offered surprisingly limited options.
Overall: We have better places to spend our breakfast money (see below, Café Zola).

Rush Street
Price: small plates between $5-$10 (expect to order 2-4 per person)
Atmosphere: A-. Tables are a bit close together and the restaurant can be loud at times; general “trendy” feel.
Food: A+. The choices here range widely from seared tuna to roasted garlic and bruschetta to flank steak to chicken skewers. Haven’t had a bad dish yet – and I’ve tried at least 15!
Overall: Great place to eat, especially with groups of people who aren’t picky about their food choices. Consider going for happy hour, where all plates and all drinks (except bottles of wine) are half off. I went with three other girls and we had 12 dishes and a couple of glasses a wine apiece for $53 – total!

Café Zola
Price: breakfast between $5-10.
Atmosphere: A-. Exposed brick walls covered in artsy photographs and paintings. Great for people watching.
Food: A. Highlights of the menu are giant omelettes and a nice assortment of crepes.
Overall: Maybe the best breakfast in Ann Arbor – we’ll let you know after we try a few more places!

Red Hot Lovers
Price: between $3-10.
Atmosphere: B. Crowded, hot diner-like hot dog joint. Perfect if that’s what you’re looking for.
Food: B+. Good dogs. If you want anything else… go somewhere else.
Overall: Fun! Cheap! Yummy! It’s just hard to rank it on the same scale as some of these other places.

So: where next?