0 6B - The Michigan Daily - lWekeod Ilgin - Thursday, March 13, 2003 The Michigan Daily - Weekenid liagie - Thursc ,y1mer's Mediterranean $eli r--, By Ellen McGarrity Daily Arts Writer ituated among the facades of Ann Arbor's, downtown streets, between the clothing boutiques, the the- aters and the bar- gain book stores, are some of the most delightful and unique cafes this town has to offer. They are not your run-of-the-mill cof- fee shops or your regular fast food chains. With their distinc- tive atmospheres and ethnic food, they stand out in the sea of Starbuck's and Wendy's. If your mouth isn't watering after hearing the descriptions of these cafes best and most tasty treats, visit one in the near future and experience some- thing truly unique to Ann Arbor. With locations in the Michigan Union, and on Church, Main and State streets, this cafe provides ample opportunity for students to drop by. Boasting an impressive 82 different sandwiches and numerous gourmet cakes, Amer's has been around Ann Arbor since the early 1990s. "The concept is sort of a New York-style deli with a coffee shop and the flavor of Mediterranean cuisine," general manager Sean Carter said. And to go along with their large amount of seating, Carter pointedf out its large amount of food. The cafe has coffee, smoothies, desserts, K sandwiches, salads, bagels and even ice cream. "There really isn't any- where else in town where you could eat almost= every part of your meal in one place," Carter said. With sandwiches being the main and most abun- dant attraction, favorites have obviously emerged An Amer's employee brews up among staff and cus- tomers. Carter sites the Georgia Reuben - smoked turkey, Swiss cheese, coleslaw and Russian dressing on grilled rye - and the chicken ranch - baked chicken breast, Vermont cheddar cheese, cucumber and ranch dressing also on grilled rye - as the most sought after. "Their sandwiches are amazing!" LSA junior Megan Wilbur said. "And their spacious setting is perfect for long study sessions." Also special to Amer's is its selection for vegetarian customers. "The falafel sandwiches as a group are very popular," Carter said. "Falafel is a mixture of garbanzo beans, onions, garlic, parsley and spices. We grind it all up and deep fry it. It's a vegan product - very Mediterranean." And who could finish any meal without dessert? Some of the most magnificent and beautiful cakes and tortes line the shelves of one of the caf6's display cases. "The intense chocolate mousse torte is our biggest seller," Carter said. "It's flourless choco- late cake, chocolate and white chocolate mouse, covered in ganache, a tempered chocolate." T Unlike many other cafes, Amer's is a smoke- free restaurant. It decided to ban smoking just a few years ago, and lost some business because of it. "It wasn't necessarily a health-conscious deci- sion, it's more of an ambiance thing," said NICK AZZARO/Daily Carter, explaining the ome fun. cafe's controversial poli- cy. "They say that most of taste is smell and anytime you have smoke, you're not going to taste your food." Even if you don't care about the great food or atmos- phere, come to Amer's for the personal touch the staff tries to offer each customer that walks through the door. "We get customers that appreciate the fact that we know them by name," Carter said. "Obviously we don't always remember, but when we take your order, we always ask for your name." Rendez-vous Cafe serves Ann Arbor the delicacies of I Iendez-1o US pRs Cafe Felix eeking a caf6 with some exot- ic flair? Then this two-story restaurant on South University is your place. Serving American food with a Middle Eastern twist, as well as a selection of coffee drinks, Caf& Rendez-vous has been a favorite among Michigan students for ten years now. Manager Abou Lakredine feels that the best part about the caf6 is its convenience for students. Open a whopping twenty-two hours a day, from 6 a.m. to 4 a.m., it provides an alternative place to study for late night crammers. "The libraries close and (the stu- dents) can eat, they can drink, they can talk, they can smoke. They can do whatever they want to," Lakredine said. "It's a very good place to study - very quiet." A specialty of Rendez-vous is its fresh fruit- smoothies. Lakredine rec- ommends the Mango-Tango, which consists of mango, peach, banana and fat-free yogurt all mixed togeth- er. Or, start off a first date with their fancy caffeinated drink, Passionate Kisses, which combines chocolate, milk, strawberries and whipped cream. And if you're in the mood for something more filling, this caf6 also serves crepes, sandwiches and salads. "I like the nutella crepes best because they give you such a liberal amount of nutella that you can even pick it off the plate after you're done with the part!," L Teo ah good not socializir "I love people vw bunch of said. The ca day also shawarm; with mar lemon-ga a side of If you Lakredin 11 a.m., you get lege stu food?). Uniqu< restauran top for exclusive "We a know of upstairs," son we k because ( it, but be away froi High c tractions, popular classes. "The fI given in senior E "And the nice stud In contrast to its loud and spicy neighbor, Mongolian BBQ, this European cafe provides a cozy, elegant atmosphere for its customers. Owned by three French brothers - the oldest is Felix - the cafe has graced Main Street for five years now. The most noticeable aspect of the cafe is its beautiful wall paintings, mirroring the tables and bar in the restau- rant itself, but manager Anna Zogas hopes that people will visit for more than just the attractive interior. "The variety is really what sets us apart (from other restaurants)," Zogas said. "You can come here and order pretty much whatever you like. You can come here with a group of people and someone wants a coffee, someone wants a glass of wine, someone wants a bagel or pastry - and we can offer that." The menu takes its inspiration from French and Spanish influences, serving croissants, pastries and omelettes dur- ing the day, while at night switching to their tapas menu. "Tapas are small Spanish dishes meant to be paired with each other and shared amongst a group of people," said Zogas, explaining the restaurant's specialty. "It's a European concept in that people will go sit and drink wine and beer with small bites to eat." At five in the evening, the lights dim and this Spanish tradition comes alive. Cafe Felix serves all sorts of tapas, from salads to vegetables to fish and meat. Zogas suggests the Hojaldre De Champinion, a puff pastry filled with portabello mushrooms and topped with a red wine cream sauce or their popular Brie Plate, warm brie cheese served with strawberries and baguette slices. And if you're tired of watching your roommates chug beer on a Saturday night, the cafe has a more refined way to enjoy alcohol with their coffee cordials. Combining fine liquors and Italian imported Segafrado espresso, these cof- fee drinks are a delicious way to end the night. Its most Enjoy a treat alongside the artwork at Cafe Felix . famous is the Cafe l'Orange, containing Remy Martin, Cointreau, Grand Marnier, coffee and whipped cream. Also for those with a sweet tooth, there are sweet and savory crepes served throughout the day. The crepes come with a variety of fillings including fresh berries, ice cream and Nutella as well as meats and vegetables (in the savory crepes). Zogas feels that the cafe does not cater to one specific age group. "We have many regulars - we have people who will come in for dinner a certain night of every week, profes- sors who come in from the university and sit and do their work in the back," Zogas said. "I would encourage stu- dents to come in and sit and enjoy the atmosphere." LSA sophomore Kate Wheeler has already had the chance to sample some of Cafe Felix's special dishes. "The crepes are beautifully prepared and delicious," Wheeler said. "The atmosphere makes you feel as if you're in France." i----r------- 1: Cafe Felix 204 S. Main St. 2-4: Amer's Mediterranean Deli 321 S. State St. 530 S. State St. 611 Church St. 5: Rendez-vous Cafe 1110 S. University Ave. 0 ASHLEY HARPER/Daily A smoothie from Rendez- vous Cafe Is one of mnya features drinks.