OT: Ann Arbor Dinner Recommendations
My wife and I are home for the holidays and my parents have offered us a date night Sunday where they’ll watch our kids. First time back since 19 and first time going out in a while, just want to see if anyone had a recommendation for a place as most of my knowledge is 20 years old and not applicable for this kind of thing.
December 23rd, 2021 at 10:47 PM ^
Real Seafood Company, Palio
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:27 PM ^
Both are great choices! We love RSY, have been going since mid-80s - yes I'll gif myself....
December 23rd, 2021 at 10:48 PM ^
Pacific Rim.
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:23 PM ^
+1 Probably the best restaurant in Ann Arbor, and always my go to choice for really nice dinners (especially after eve re-closed).
I've heard good things about Taste, but haven't made it yet
December 25th, 2021 at 12:12 AM ^
Taste is excellent, both the food and the service. Can’t go wrong if you go to PR either.
December 24th, 2021 at 9:30 AM ^
Pacific Rim is truly awesome. Weber's is also a wonderful place for a family dinner. Classic Ann Arbor.
December 24th, 2021 at 10:56 AM ^
No one ever recommends Amadeus on this board, ever. But for food + atmosphere it is really the best. Only a few tables, unique food (Austrian and Hungarian) it feels like a European bistro. Servers are all usually from Europe. I’m surprised I never see it. It’s on 4th and Washington across from Blue Nile, which no one ever mentions on this board but is also excellent.
I guess you Oakland County people only ever go to main st or state street.
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:00 PM ^
My wife was lucky enough that I took her to arbys this year for our anniversary.
It's been 3 months and she still hasn't spoken to me.
Best gift ever.
December 24th, 2021 at 10:12 AM ^
Was she expecting fancy like Applebees?
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:04 PM ^
Recently went with the wife to Taste Kitchen on Liberty which was outstanding
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:05 PM ^
Sava’s (https://www.savasannarbor.com).
Not Sevas, Sava’s.
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:17 PM ^
Savas is closing up shop for renovations soon. Not sure if closed now but will be soon if not already.
check out her other spot the dixboro house for some awesome food and drinks.
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:34 PM ^
Their last night for dining is NYE, closed til sometime in Spring. Her other 2 places are good, the aforementioned Dixboro House and Aventura for a more Spanish themed dinner. NB - neither is inexpensive.
December 24th, 2021 at 1:14 PM ^
Wait, what? My nephew works there and has not mentioned this. He has been trying to recruit my son to work there. Strange.
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:09 PM ^
Without knowing what your culinary tendencies are, I'll run with Pacific Rim (seafood), Aventura (Mediterranean), The Chop House (very pricey steakhouse, but most dishes worth it), Tomukun (Korean BBQ, quite good), Isalita (Mexican, portions are small but the food is very good). There are several others, but that should get you started.
December 24th, 2021 at 6:57 AM ^
Chop house is acceptable for Michigan, but an average steakhouse. Great service, average sides, steak is “okay”. Wine selection is a little paltry. Drinks are stiff as they should be. I’d go with the other Main Street places unless it is a business write off.
December 25th, 2021 at 12:14 AM ^
True. The Ruth’s Chris is the better Steakhouse in town, IMO.
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:12 PM ^
Not sure what you’re looking for but you can’t go wrong with:
York
Pacific Rim
Tomukun Korean Barbecue
Taste Kitchen
edit: Aventura is excellent as well
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:14 PM ^
I haven't eaten at Red Hawk on State Street in years but It was great when I did. Fond memories of meals there.
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:52 PM ^
Place you take your wife when you get a rare date night tho?
December 24th, 2021 at 7:33 AM ^
I did go there with and without our kids, but if date nights are rare, maybe not.
December 24th, 2021 at 9:32 AM ^
I love Red Hawk. Not at all fancy, but really good food.
December 24th, 2021 at 10:49 AM ^
It’s a Casey’s rip off, literally. Back in the day, some of the OG Casey’s guys split and started Red Hawk
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:18 PM ^
Anything but mani and isalita. Don’t give your money to bad people.
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:31 PM ^
What’s wrong with the Mani/Isalita owners? I hadn’t heard anything but I do love Mani so would like to know. I’ve avoided Savas/Aventura for a while now since there have been numerous sexual assault allegations from their employees and their ownership/management have done nothing about it
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:38 PM ^
Sava literally fired all of her kitchen management and brought in new people. Like the entire company.
Only one owner of mani and isalita and having worked in Michelin star restaurants and other various fine dining places he is definitely the biggest pos I’ve ever encountered. Ask anybody who has ever been employed by him.
December 24th, 2021 at 4:02 AM ^
Do you know why? During undergrad I worked at like maybe 1/5 of the restaurants downtown (don't ask me how).
Sava's operations are definitely sketchy (though Aventura is decent). That's not rare for the restaurant world though.
Sadly a few of the best places seem to have permanently closed because of the shutdown. Grange and Logan were easily my two best recs.
Eve's was decent too. She was one of the best to her employees from front of house to back (rare), so was chef Johns at Grange, and the people at Logan were phenomenal as well.
It's amazing how good the food/service and overall experience can be when your employees are kept happy, feel important, and a part of something. Imagine that!
In a pinch, Frita Batido's can't disappoint, nothing fancy at all, but if you want something quick, casual, and low-maintenance, you can't go wrong, get the pulled pork or inspired cuban plus sides--super easy on the wallet too (even for ann arbor)
December 24th, 2021 at 9:29 AM ^
Main Street ventures is a no go for me. If a person tips and pays with card the SERVER gets the credit card processing fee taken out of their tips. Super sketchy!
December 24th, 2021 at 5:18 PM ^
Yeah I feel the same way.
Sadly they have their hand in an incredibe proportion of, it's a real Nestle, Unilever, Kellog's situation, both on and off main street.
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:18 PM ^
One recommendation is to make sure it’s still open. I made plans to meet up with people at Arbor Brewing Company last year, and I showed up to a closed business.
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:31 PM ^
Wow - didn’t know they closed. Wasn’t the best beer in the world, but a fun establishment nonetheless. Pouring one out for them….
December 24th, 2021 at 7:44 AM ^
I used to work at ABC back in the late 90s when it just been open a few years. Their beer was considered some of the best (they even won best brew pub in the Midwest), and the only competition was Grizzley Peak. I was saddened to see ABC closed.
December 24th, 2021 at 6:30 AM ^
Good point - or due to staffing shortages (cooks and wait staff), they are closed an additional day of the week. In many places, some restaurants were routinely closed on Mondays since they are open on Friday, Sat and Sun. Now, many places have an extra day off or have reduced hours.
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:37 PM ^
Ruth Chris or whatever that steakhouse is called
December 24th, 2021 at 9:18 AM ^
You can redeem MGoPoints for discounts at Ruth's Chris.
December 24th, 2021 at 10:40 AM ^
I'm going to belly up, baby!
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:37 PM ^
Dude, with the new Covid variant dropping, it could be real unpredictable here right now. I would say any recommendations on here are going to be for the usual suspects. I would call for a reservation for sure, no doubt, 100%. I suspect that the Ann Arbor tendency for virtue signaling will possibly cut tables in half this week.
*note, I am a life-long A2 resident, see my username, I can say A2 people are uptight, don’t @ me
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:53 PM ^
Agreed
December 23rd, 2021 at 11:53 PM ^
Agreed
December 24th, 2021 at 12:04 AM ^
Dry-rubbed jerk wings @ Blue Tractor
December 24th, 2021 at 12:32 AM ^
Blue Tractor had been my go to spot but the portions for the price you pay is ?
December 24th, 2021 at 12:38 AM ^
How do they compare to Taco Bell's new chicken wings?
Taco Bell described the menu item in a press release reported by Fox Business as "five, bone-in Crispy Chicken Wings, coated in flavorful Mexican Queso seasoning, crisped to perfection and served along with our signature spicy ranch dipping sauce."
December 24th, 2021 at 12:29 AM ^
If you’re ok not being on campus or downtown, I would recommend Meditterano by Briarwood. They have outdoor seating too - or at least did in November in a heated tent. Never had a bad meal there.
December 24th, 2021 at 8:59 AM ^
This is ancient, but some of its advice is still good:
https://mgoblog.com/content/guide-ann-arbor-eating-drinking
Sorry to bag on the MSV collection of restaurants, but unless they've turned over new leaves in the past few years they're mediocre and overpriced.
There are an amazing number of longstanding restaurants in Ann Arbor that wouldn't survive in a larger city with decent collective taste.
December 24th, 2021 at 9:29 AM ^
TK WU on liberty near Nickel's Arcade. Cozy warm ambiance. Good americanized and real Chinese food. Fair price. Check into it before you go to a mediocre place that's expensive.
December 24th, 2021 at 9:30 AM ^
Did a quick scan and didn’t see Knights, so I’m adding a plug for that. Two locations - 1. Off of Dexter-Ann Arbor Rd near Maple Rd. 2. Corner of Liberty and Maynard. Been going here for birthday dinners and celebrations since I was a kid.
https://knightsrestaurants.com
EDIT: Adding a note that I am no longer a kid and legally considered an adult. Although some of my actions and hobbies are still considered “childish”.
December 24th, 2021 at 9:50 AM ^
These are all quality suggestions, I don't want to diminish them, but you're missing the romantic angle here. There is one place in ann arbor with fabulous romantic atmosphere, good food and great wine. Folks, I give you the Earle on Washington St. My wife and I have used it as a cozy night out destination for 30 years and we're still married.
December 24th, 2021 at 10:31 AM ^
Weber's Inn (American)
Metzger's (German)
Zingerman's Deli (Nuff said)
Seoul Garden (Korean)
Miki (Japanese)
Asian Legend (Chinese / Taiwanese)
December 24th, 2021 at 10:37 AM ^
Big fan of Aventura. Relatively new. Catalonian/Spanish. Great food. Great wine list. Gin and Tonics the size of a fish bowl.