0 9 a e e The Michigan Daily - Weekend Mge 8B - The Michigan Daily - Weekend Ma"azine - Thursday, April 15, 2004 ZOLA DELIVERS. FRENCH FARE WITH UNIQUE STYLE AND PANACHE Original, homely powder rooms offer relief By Sravya Chirumamilla Daily Weekend Editor By Niamh Slevin Daily Weekend Editor Remember those home-cooked breakfasts at Mom's house. Bacon was sizzling, pancakes were flip- ping and eggs were frying to culmi- nate in the best meal of the entire week. With the on-the-go dining atmosphere in Ann Arbor, such a luxury is hard to find. Thanks to the wonders of Cafe Zola, this kind of decadent feast becomes a reality for many Uni- versity students. Cafe Zola, located-at Washington and Main streets, offers more than the campus standard of bagels or coffee-shop muffins. The breakfast menu consists of every- thing from scrambled eggs to a wide variety of crepes in equally entic- ing sweet and savory choices. The bustling atmos- phere in the restaurant may be a turn-off for some. Zola has become quite a popular venue for Sunday morning meals. Thus, there is often a waiting period of an hour or more, which is unpleasant when one's stomach is already grumbling for some satisfaction. The small room LEFT: Although Zola's location is slightly farther from campus than most breakfast venues, it still draws a crowd for Sunday brunch. RIGHT: Zola's unique coffee blends add to its reputation as a first-rate eatery. quickly fills with the noise of peo- ple's banter, and seating seems rather limited. Yet, this excruciating wait immediately feels worth it once one's party is called and led to a sunlit spot right off the main bay window. As frazzled, but friendly servers run in and out of the room dropping off orders and picking up checks, the customer learns to ignore this distracting activity and instead focus on the ornate, drool- inducing platters whizzing around the room or landing on a nearby table. Zola's creations also add to its unique charm. The restaurant incor- porates some unusual ingredients into classic morning favorites. Omelettes are mixed with vegetables such as eggplant and covered with atypical cheeses. Savory dishes arrive com- plete with perfectly cooked, flavorful redskin potatoes. Sweet crepes can be either simple or complex, depending on one's preferences. Some derive their fulfilling taste merely from a combination of strawberries or pow- dered sugar. Others combine a variety of flavors to produce a characteristic culinary wonder. For example, one of their many sweet crepes mixes sliced bananas, nuts, Ghiradelli chocolate sauce and a layer of drizzled raspber- ry syrup into one bundle of ultra-thin dough. The Black Forest Waffle, a personal favorite, again coats Zola's light, fluffy dish with Ghiradelli chocolate and soft, juicy cherries. Despite the complexity of many of these dishes, Zola's prices remain quite reasonable as well. Though a breakfast here will set one back slightly more than a Denny's buffet, the quality is incomparable. Zola's large portions and handmade delica- cies typically cost anywhere from $7 to $10, but the taste ensures absolute customer satisfaction once the meal has ended. Have You " Graduated... From Your Parent's Health Insurance Plan? If you are nor longer eligible for coverage under your parent's health insurance plan, Amrircan Community thas an affordable indivdual short terme Our many plan features anid new monthly payment opion enable you to design a plan that fits your needs. or om inronnot ncontHact:h Bishop Health 139 N.Main Street, Adrian, MI 49221 800.860.7772 brian@bishophealth.com Patrons of restaurants can often deduce the care with which the fare is prepared by the care taken to maintain the restrooms. Those that are neat and well-kept are routine, but restrooms that are especially original are part of Ann Arbor's charm. China Gate on South University Avenue is known for its delicious and award-winning Chinese cuisine. Rarely, though, is it admired for its hidden and neat restrooms. When patrons are in need of the powder room, the wait staff leads them to the kitchen door. The wait staff usually screams into the bustling kitchen, "customer" to fore- cast the patron's walk through. Cus- tomers are directed by the staff through the kitchen and down the stairs where the restrooms await. Since the trip is winding, one would expect the restrooms to also be cramped, but they are spacious and homely, enhanced by wallpaper and potpourri. Choosing instead to focus on the cuisine offered at the restau- HAVE A CRAVING TO WRITE? APPLY TO BE A WEIEKEND COLUMNIST TODAY. SEND TWO 800- WORD SAMPLES TO weekendU4@. .imicI~edu. Jobs!!!11 Spring/Summer Term Apply now at the Law Library *non-law Students *Law Students *S.I. Students Minimum pay is $8.50 per hour! Apply at the hiring table outside room S-180 in the Law Library's underground addition. AA/EOE rant, China Gate would not comment on the restrooms' appearance. Yet another gem is located under the Red Hawk restaurant. A long passageway filled with framed pho- tographs and paintings leads to the restaurant's adorned restrooms. Red Hawk manager Tony Elam gives the credit for the decorations to the owner. "We get comments off of the Film Festival pictures," Elam said, noting that Red Hawk adds a new poster every year to commemorate the Ann Arbor Film Festival. "We pride our- selves on the whole restaurant," Elam explained. "We try to keep everything neat and clean." Bars are usually not known for clean restrooms. In fact, they are typically the worst of the lot, com- plete with dirty stalls and sinks and limited amounts of paper towels, which are usually strewn around the overflowing trash can. Arbor Brew- ing Company's restrooms, on the other hand, offer beautifully deco- rated walls and a clean atmosphere. Both of the restrooms on the main floor are painted, as is the hallway that leads to the restrooms downstairs. Elizabeth Hoffman, the owner's aunt, was an Ann Arbor artist who painted the murals. "If you look closely, there are fairies within the mural and on their wings are the names of the people who work here," said Emily Thomp- son, a manager at Arbor Brewing Company. Different features within the mural highlight one staff mem- ber's love for turtles, another's bright blue eyes and a manager's slumber. "It's an homage to the staff," Thompson said. Hoffman continues to add new aspects to the mural; thus, a sign reading "mural is in progress" greets the entrance to the mural. The mural has been in progress since the restaurant opened nine years ago. Thompson notes, "Since the staff is so close and because people stay for years, it is an honor to be added to the wall." By maintaining clean and innova- tive restrooms, these three Ann Arbor mainstays deliver not just exquisite cuisine, but also excep- tional customer care. Congratukations to The Princeton Review voted Best Test Prep' in Ann Arbor by the Michigan Daily. The (Princeton 1802Rve Rueviewo~eiei c~ 5. Originally decorated restrooms are a sp TEXTBOOKS / FURNITURE / TICKETS / PARKI