--U- 0 0 12B - The Michigan Daily - Weekend agai~n - Thursday, April 10, 2003 The Michigan Daily - Weekend Magazi House beloved of Ann Arbor Potbelly bg on atmosphere, not food By Sravya Chirumamilla g -' gr Daily Arts Writer By Niamh Slevin Daily Arts Writer Hidden among the small cafes and residential dwellings of Church Street, Pizza House has grown from just another pizza parlor into Ann Arbor's most-loved restaurant. Its pizza is hailed as the best in the business, but its eclectic cuisine has surpassed all expectations with its sheer number and quality of its tan- talizing meals. There's no better way to start off your meal there than with a helping of Pizza House's breadsticks. With just the right combination of but- tery softness and crust-like crunchi- ness, these things disappear quickly, leaving only a trail of mari- nara sauce behind. Its namesake delicacy, the pizza, is the classic example of Pizza House's flair for culinary excel- lence. Best known for its deep dish, the Pizza House pie is made to sat- isfy every order. The toppings are always smothered in sauce and buried amid a sea of hot, gooey cheese. The crust is just thick enough to support the mound of treats baked onto it but so much so as to include an excess of dough, creating an ideal equilibrium for this entree. Anyone who's ordered takeout can attest: This is not a pizza for lightweights. The pie itself feels like it weighs five pounds, but you can tell it's packed with only the best flavor in the area. If pizza isn't appetizing enough, Pizza House has added innumerable other winning combinations to its repertoire of fantastic feasts. Subs, both hot and cold, make for simple or spicy meals, depending on one's tastes. Pizza pockets mirror the great taste of their larger counter- part, but these single-serving dishes serve those who can't handle a whole pizza to themselves. While the restaurant offers other Italian favorites and even the all- American classic of burgers and fries, the chipati outshines all of them. This pita-like choice com- bines a rather unusual tasting bread with equally unique and savory food stuffed inside. The chicken caesar chipati blends two of Pizza House's prize meals into one, including a healthy portion of their fantastic salad in the mix. Because it's open pretty late (approximately 4 a.m.) every night, Pizza House is a favorite with late night study groups and the bar crowd. The servers are welcoming and pleasant at all times, but the place can get a little loud in the wee hours of the weekend. On the plus side, Pizza House is more than willing to accommodate large parties, and some late night noise never seems to bother anyone. With its friendly service, acco- modating staff and great food, Pizza House, quite rightly, holds the title as one of the finest campus joints around. File Photo The Naked Mile: we will remember you fondly. Has the Naked le run its course? The grand opening of Potbelly Sandwich Works was yet another example of the influx of national chains to this campus' main streets. State Street has had rapid turnover the past few years, replacing old businesses with new ones, but the newest installation is set to stay. Potbelly comes equipped with a cutesy story to bring about a mom-and-pop type atmosphere. The story goes that in order to lure customers into their antique store the owners decided to sell sandwiches and fresh desserts. Ironically, the sandwiches were a bigger hit than the antiques, launching the chain. The restaurant chain has spread to 26 locations, primarily in the Washing- ton D.C. and Chicago areas. Ann Arbor would commemorate the 26th year of the chain with the opening of the restaurant located on the corner on Liberty and State Streets. The novel sandwich shop is teeming with friendly and energetic staff eager to satisfy the customers' needs. The service is by far the most notable of the restaurant's qualities, as all other aspects lag in comparison to similar restaurant joints. Seating in the restaurant is limited as the con- structors had to build around the ATM on Liber- ty Street. Luckily, management utilizes the sidewalk, placing multiple tables and umbrellas outside the establishment in order to create more seating options. The decoration for the restau- rant, such as vintage signs and old-fashioned hardwood floors, replicates that of the original antique store. A great draw for college students is the live music often playing at this eatery. This greatly improves the experience as customers are treated to one of the few locations in town where live music is still appreciated. REBECCA SAHN/Daily Look for Potbelly to crack Into next year's Best of Ann Arbor. PIP OU EARf You mean I can get 6 classes That's right. But only at of pilates, yoga, spinning / One On One Athletic Club! or aerobics for just $49? By Rebecca Ramsey Daily Weekend Editor Every year, on the relief that is the last day of classes, students crowd the sidewalks of South University Avenue in voyeuristic anticipation of witnessing their peers streaking in the Naked Mile. But, recently, the only parading to occur is courtesy of the local police and their threats to potential runners. Ironically, the most lauded tradition on campus also happens to be the most consequential. What used to be an annu- al act of uninhibited exhilaration is now a mere memory to many students and an urban legend to those who have only heard stories about the event. While the Naked Mile garnered top honors in the Best Tradition category this year, it has inched near mythic status as a result of increased warnings and arrests by the University and Ann Arbor police. "The Naked Mile has grown to such a large number, we couldn't wait for tragedy to occur," said Lt. Michael Log- ghe of the Ann Arbor Police Department. "People were highly intoxicated and women were being sexually assaulted." Indeed, the Naked Mile, which started in 1986 as a proclamation of liberty by members of the crew and lacrosse teams, has exploded to such immense notoriety that the University administra- tion began to worry about the safety of its students. As a way to prevent streak- ing, which is illegal, administration and the police issued warnings of ensuing arrest to those who dared to run in the buff. However, the arrests proved not to be strict enough. The current policy stands as follows: Those who run will be arrested and pos- sibly be charged as a sex offender, which means that one prosecuted accordingly will be required to register as a sex offender. Imagine having to admit that you ar- a sex offender during a job interview. i3ut the police need to realize that the real sex offenders are the gropers who attempt to take advantage of the runners. Even though the number of partici- pants has plummeted, students still have a deep respect for the Naked Mile. This year, students can only hope that this great tradition of exuberant nudity is not forgotten and shelved away as a fable. While the atmosphere of the restaurant is inte- gral in enhancing the experience, the quality of the food should really set it apart. In terms of Potbelly though, the food does not stand out from the numerous other venues on campus. Pri- marily, students will be surprised by the relative- ly small size of the sandwiches. For those accustomed to Subway, Jimmy John's or Quizno's foot-long subs, Potbelly's sandwiches would seem very inadequate. Since the weather refuses to warm up, Ann Arbor residents might want a hearty soup to get away from the cold. They would get neither a hot nor a filling soup at Potbelly. The title "chicken noodle soup" is very misleading since no chick- en can be found in the soggy noodles-and-broth combination. Continuing with the theme of minuscule size, the much-acclaimed milkshakes and malts add to the bill with very small portions. The cookie on the straw is the saving grace for the weak and runny shakes. While the atmosphere scores an undeniable A+, Potbelly does not pass if the criterion is to satisfy customers who are hungry, have limited funds and need a quick place to sit and eat - the food is meager and overpriced, and seating is limited. Al ,V f: I 2 V.N FREE Lock* ($15 value) The *call store for-details Storaae Chest Jackson Rd N. (D) W. Liberty Scio Church Rd 3033 W. Liberty Between Stadium & Wagner " Month to Month Leases! * Save $ By Only Renting As Long As You Need To! * No Security Deposit! - Save $ When You Move In! 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