OT? Updated AA Restaurant Recs
Alright, going for some crowd sourcing on a very quiet Thursday on the board. Brian's excellent "Where to eat in Ann Arbor" guide is now 12 years old. https://mgoblog.com/content/guide-ann-arbor-eating-drinking
There was a gameday suggestions thread in 2021 (https://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/gameday-restaurant-recommendations), Seth had a post in 2017 (https://mgoblog.com/content/week%27s-obsession-dining-ann-arbor)
Whatcha got for updates?
*bonus points (an upvote from me) for toddler friendly recommendations. Heading back to AA this year with my 2 year old and while he isn't picky he does have a mild food allergy. Most the kid's menus I've looked at are "cheese pizza/cheeseburger/chicken tenders".
For toddler friendly, the best place around is Arbor Brewing Ypsilanti (aka Corner Brewery). They have a great beer garden with lots of interesting (though mundane to adults) things for little ones to check out, like trees and barrels and rocks, and the inside is spacious too. Good food and drink. That beer garden saved our skins in the pandemic, one of the only places we could reasonably take a toddler and have a great time.
Pizza Bobs - for a sub and milkshake.
Mr. Spots for wings and waffle fries. My favorite stop in AA and an awesome atmosphere.
I know it’s not as popular as it was 20+ years ago, but my kids, wife and I also enjoy Mongolian BBQ on main streets.
Mongolian BBQ on Main Street is gone.
If the weather is dry, York outdoor patio is possibly the best toddler restaurant in town. Biercamp, too, in the same situation.
Spencer is arguably the best restaurant in town, but since covid has moved to pre-booked fixed-price menus.
HOMES and Wolverine are brewpubs with amazing food.
Union Rec just opened last fall and is really tasty. That Peruvian BBQ sauce is too die for. And Union Joints Mac n cheese is still the best in the game.
Zingerman's Deli. When I visit Ann Arbor or Detroit area, I'll make special plans to fit in a trip there. I've never lived in NY, but I've lived in LA, SF, Seattle, and now Nashville, and I have never come across a deli that, to me, is close to Zingerman's.
Blue Nile (Ethopian food). Another that I will make special efforts to eat at when in the area. (There's one in Detroit, too.) I've been to various other Ethopian restaurants in LA, SF, Seattle, Nashville. None were nearly as good as Blue Nile, even the ones with the highest ratings and rave reviews.
Maybe Buddy's pizza. I love Detroit-style pizza. I am mostly familiar with Shield's, but there aren't any Shield's in AA. I'm thinking Buddy's (being the inventor of Detroit style) would be awesome.
If I had magical powers and could move a restaurant to where I live, those would be on the list.
Bellflower in Ypsi is fantastic. Right next to the burned out Vu. Not kid or allergy friendly though, it’s a farm to table, chef run restaurant. Highly recommend.
Rappourt is in a shopping center at Plymouth/Nixon on the north side of town, and has very good food and a great beer selection. I see Union Rec was mentioned in an earlier response and I've liked everything I've had there especially the mac n' cheese. The Earle is an institution and is consistently excellent. Finally, I know that Dominick's is seen as more of a place just to drink, but I like their pizza as well as their beer and sangria (and unchanging ambiance).