I love the Blue Nile. They offer shared style eating. A plate with about 8 different types of vegetables or meat is placed in the center of the table. Then bread called injera is used to eat. Their website states, “people who eat from the same plate and break bread together will create a bond of friendship and personal loyalty.” I would agree.
Location: 221 E. Washington Street
Panchero’s: another chain burrito place. Tastes pretty good, cheap, nothing special. I’ll eat there again if I’m in a pinch.
Location: 1208 S University Ave
Good Time Charley’s is located in the heart of the campus and is famous for 21st birthdays and its wide assortment of drinks. Their food menu has improved dramatically and the pizza sticks are awesome, especially with beer. Their prices have increased over time as they used to have $3.50 beer pitchers only a few years ago.
Location: 1140 S University Ave
Shalimar: Indian restaurant, 307 S Main St
I ate at Shalimar with my parents during the Ann Arbor art fair. We split 2 lunch specials between the 3 of us, and it was plenty. Great food, great service, and a nice assortment of different dishes. They don’t have a lunch buffet, but the lunch specials make up for this.
The Crazy Wisdom Tearoom is located just south of Huron on Main Street. I’ve walked by several times, looking up at the 2nd floor shop, and finally decided to try it out.
Inside is a peaceful setting with a friendly barista (is it called barista in the tea world?) He was able to pour tea, make quiche, and deal with a crazy lady all at the same time. Great place!
The name Vinology sounds a bit snooty, so I didn’t have a great first impression of this place. Then one day I went to an event catered by Vinology, and I was hooked, scarfing down half of the buffet line (a skill I learned to do discretely while in business school).
Since then I’ve been back a few times, including their happy hour with $3 drinks from 4-6pm and $5 sliders.
Blue Tractor, on 205 E Washington, is a brewpub. Good food, good beer. I didn’t see any tractors. They also operate Cafe Habana next door.
Siam Cuisine is located in a charming house in KerryTown. I had noodles in peanut sauce (can’t remember the name) and it tasted great. One notable thing during the meal is the teenage girl next to me complaining to her mother. For some reason, when teenagers enter my presence, they have the desire to whine to their mothers. Anyway, this place was great and I’d like to go back.
Location: 313 Braun Ct
Sometimes I go to White Market for their salad bar. It’s near the campus on 609 E William St. There’s a small assortment of vegetables and meat, and I have never paid more than $2. The woman working there is super friendly. Booya.
The Cupcake Station is exactly as the title describes it; a store filled with cupcakes. Miniature, regular, chocolate, and much much more. They also have coffee. Totally awesome.
I had the following interaction with the guy at the counter.
Me: What’s your favorite cupcake?
Guy at Counter: They all are.
Me: That’s a copout answer.
Guy at Counter: It’s like children, you can’t have a favorite.
Me: I’m not going to frost and eat your children.
