2F - The Michigan Daily - New Student Edition - Fall 2004
ANN ARBOR
E
Late eats, cool
treats
Gear up for school with a full wallet and an empty stomach
4
By Steve Cotner
and Joel Hoard
Daily Staff Writers
College students keep busy schedules, and as
a result, it can be difficult to maintain a regular
dining schedule. Students end up eating at odd
hours, oftentimes late at night. Fortunately,
whether you're looking for a late-night dinner or
just an early start on breakfast, there are several
establishments in Ann Arbor sympathetic to
your needs.
Jimmy John's
929 E. Ann St. (734) 913-9200
600 Packard St. (734) 741-9200
342 S. State St. (734) 222-7000
1205 S. University Ave. (734) 827-2600
Offering homemade bread, choice-cut
meats and fresh vegetables, Jimmy John's
strives to provide "the world's greatest gour-
met sandwiches." In truth, the food is merely
mediocre. But with four clean locations scat-
tered around campus, cheap prices and an
efficient staff, Jimmy John's is the most con-
venient late-night option.
Hours: 10 a.m.-3 a.m. Sun.-Wed., 10 a.m-4
a.m. Thurs.-Sat.
Food: ***
Convenience: *****
Atmosphere: ***
Subway
1315 S. University Ave. (734) 761-4160
Why go to Subway when you have several
superior options available? There's no good
answer. Subway has grown into the world's
largest fast food chain, and it's time to stem the
tide. Do yourself a favor: Pass on Subway and
explore the many other unique eateries available.
Hours: 10 a.m.-3 a.m. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-10
p.m. Sun.
Food: **
Convenience: ****
Atmosphere: **
PitaPit
1317 S. University Ave. (734) 663-2811
Special sauce or Tzatziki? It's a bit overpriced.
and there is no seating, but this spot delivers
quality pitas stuffed with all the meats and veg-
gies you can imagine. Also, they have souvlaki,
whatever that is.
Hours: 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Mon.-Sat., Noon-3
a.m. Sun.
Food: ****
Convenience: ****
Atmosphere: **I
In-and-Out Food Store
615 E. University Ave. (734) 662-6560
Buy a slice while picking up some smokes
from this pizza store within a store. You'll be
in and out in no time.
Hours: 8 a.m.-2:30 a.m. Mon.-Fri., Noon-
2:30 a.mn. Sat.-Sun.
Food: ***4
Convenience: *****
Atmosphere: *9
The Backroom Pizzeria
1204 S. University Ave. (734) 741-8296
Pizza of many kinds: cheese or pepperoni.
That's all you need to know about this place.
Hours: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily
Food: ***
Convenience: *****
Atmosphere: *1
Leonardo's
1031 E. Ann St. (734) 994-1111
Leonardo's has a delicious selection of piz-
zas, sandwiches and chipatis. Although its
location is a bit out of the way for many stu-
dents and its large seating area typically lacks
atmosphere, it provides a viable eating option
for dorm dwellers on the Hill.
Hours: 10:30 a.m.-4 a.m. Mon.-Sat., Noon-
Midnight Sun.
Food: ****
Convenience: ****
Atmosphere: ***
New York Pizza Depot
605 E. William St. (734) 669-6973
New York Pizza Depot remains a heavy-
weight in the late-night dining arena. Its menu
boasts delicious New York-style pizza by the
pie or slice, pasta dishes and sandwiches with
a side of grease. Add to that NYPD's conven-
ient location, social atmosphere and quick
service and you have one of Ann Arbor's best
pizza joints.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 a.m. daily
Food: *****
Convenience: ****
Atmosphere: ****i
I
4
TONY DING/Daily
The Fleetwood Diner, open 24 hours, offers patrons superior convenience.
4
Big Ten Burrito
810 S. State St. (734) 2224822
Upon opening in March, Big Ten Burrito was
an instant hit with insomniacs and bar flies alike.
Big Ten provides an excellent array of Mexican
food, and its convenient location, unique d6cor,
late hours and rounded-to-the-dollar, tax-includ-
ed prices make it one of the best choices in town.
Hours: 11 a.m.4 a.m. daily
Food: ****
Convenience: *****
Atmosphere: ****
Panchero's
1208 S. University Ave. (734) 996-9580
What Panchero's lacks in atmosphere, it makes
up for with its delicious, hand-made tortillas and
speedy service. Getting a handle on the ordering
process may take a few tries, but before long,
you'll be ordering your El Gordo (Spanish for
"five pound burrito") like a seasoned veteran.
Hours: 10 a.m.-3 a.m. Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-2
a.m. Sun.
Food: ****
Convenience: ****
Atmosphere: ***
Rendez-Vous Cafe
1110 S. University Ave. (734) 761-8600
Open rooftop seating, smoking upstairs, wire-
less internet and a bohemian crowd of hookah-
tokers make Rendez-Vous Ann Arbor's most
Euro-friendly spot. The sidewalk seats are just
steps away from campus. Gorge on gyros and
crepes, sip on Fair Trade Coffee and philosophize
about Foucault.
Hours: 7:30 a.m.-3:30 a.m. Mon.-Fri., 8:30
a.m.-3:30 a.m. Sat.-Sun.
Food: *****
Convenience: ****I
Atmosphere: *****
Fleetwood Diner
300 S. Ashley St. (734) 995-5502
Delightfully grimy and cramped, Fleetwood
is a hike from Central Campus, but its cocka-
mamie crowd of townies and undercover rock
stars will keep you coming back for midnight
burgers and fries.
Hours: Open 24 hours
Food: ****
Convenience: ***
Atmosphere: *****
King of Queens
1235 S. University Ave. (734) 994-5860
As the newcomer of the bunch, King of
Queens has yet to develop any real character
as a late-night dining spot. KQ offers an
extensive menu of mediocre diner-style food
and cheesy, brightly colored decor. Only time
will tell if it turns into a contender on the late-
night circuit.
Hours: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.-Wed., 8 a.m.-4
a.m. Thurs.-Sat.
Food: ***
Convenience: ****
Atmosphere: **
Bell's Pizza
700 Packard St. (734) 995-0232
Bell's unintentionally grimy interior is
enough to turn away many patrons, and its
average food leaves much to be desired. But if
you're still interested, Bell's has some killer
cheesy bacon fries.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 a.m. daily
Food: ***I
Convenience: ****
Atmosphere: ***
4
Pizza House
618 Church St. (734) 995-5095
If you're looking to take a load off after a
long night of studying, Pizza House has sit-
down dining in a friendly atmosphere. Their
menu features deep. dish pizza, burgers,
chipatis and a variety of desserts.
Hours: 10:30 a.m.-4 a.m. daily
Food: ****I
Convenience: ****
Atmosphere: ****
New program provides
alternative to Entree Plus
April 20, 2004
By Ekjyot K..Saini
For the Daily
For LSA junior Kelly Holcomb-
Densmor, the dining halls on campus
just don't satisfy her eating habits
because she's never around during din-
ing hours.
To serve students such as Holcomb-
Densmor, the Off-Campus Meal Plan,
an alternative to the traditional universi-
ty meal plans, has sprung up on college
campuses across the nation. The Off-
Campus Dining Network, not affiliated
with any university, is sponsoring a
renewable debit card that students can
use at participating restaurants in Ann
Arbor in the fall term.
The Off-Campus Meal Plan allows
students and parents to add a cus-
tomized amount to the card or select
one of their preset spending options.
There is a one-time $25 fee for joining
the program.
Currently, 11 restaurants have joined
the program, including Cottage Inn
Pizza, Our Town Coffee House, Raja
Rani, Papa John's Pizza and Quizno's
Classic Subs have agreed to participate.
Thomas Deloge, the network's direc-
tor of operations, said the program gives
students a "dollar-to-dollar value."
"It gives students a better value (than
traditional meal plans) because the
money transfers over from semester to
semester and year to year," Deloge said.
The program currently has 5,000
cardholders across the country and is in
place at Michigan State University. The
plan hopes to have about 30 eateries and
other Ann Arbor area merchants join the
program before the fall term.
Chad Maki, manager of Papa John's
said he expects to see an increase in stu-
dent business with the restaurant's
involvement in the program, "especially
on Sundays when the dining halls don't
have dinner."
Deloge said research indicates that
University students wanted to see an
expansion of Entree Plus - the Univer-
sity's own debit card system - to loca-
tions off campus.
Housing spokesman Alan Levy said
Entree Plus will not be extended to off-
campus eateries because of contractual
obligations.
Levy added that he doesn't expect the
meal plan to "have much impact on the
on-campus meal plan program."
"It's good for students to have other
options," he said.
Students can sign up for the meal pro-
gram online at wwwocdn.com or call
(888) 512-DINE.
Ann Arbor resident Cathy Sanborn browses for ice cream at Stucchi's on State Street.
Take a strollfor some sweet, cold goodies
By Emily Uu
Daily Staff Writer
All U of M Stuclents receive a
10% discount off of their meal
Szechuan, Hunan & Mandarin Specialties
Diriinra Coktaii
Nothing is better than escaping your sweltering
dorm room and getting an ice cream cone with a
group of friends before fall term begins. Ann Arbor
offers numerous shops to choose from, so grab a cone
and start enjoying these local favorites.
Close to home ...
Stucchi's
1121 S. University Ave. (734) 662-1716
302 S. State St. (734) 662-1700
This local business is the perennial student favorite
- and with good reason. One scoop is gigantic and
only $2.50, whereas three whopping scoops constitute
a "regular" cone. Although the ice cream seems to
contain some additives, resulting in a stickier consis-
tency, customers keep returning for unique flavors
such as white russian fudge and mango. Stucchi's also
sells frozen yogurt, soft serve frozen yogurt, ice
cream drinks, sundaes and smush-ins - ice cream
with your choice of toppings mixed in.
Hours: 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-
Midnight Fri.-Sat., Noon-11:30 p.m. Sun.
Price range: $2.50-$4.50
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American Spoon
539 E. Liberty St. (734) 997-7185
American Spoon specializes in sorbetto and
gelato, the Italian versions of ice cream.
Although served in smaller cups, the gelatos and
sorbettos pack a big punch of flavor. The burnt
caramel gelato is reminiscent of the top of a
creme brule. In addition to a wide range of fla-
vors such as zabaglione (an Italian custard),
American Spoon also serves coffee drinks and
Italian and French sodas. The store also carries
many of its catalog items, such as preserves, sal-
sas and grilling sauces, some of which are avail-
able for tasting.
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tues.-Wed., 11 a.m.-10
p.m. Thurs.-Sat., Noon-6 p.m. Sun., Closed Mon.
Price range: $3.18-$5.25
Most popular flavors: Gelato: chocolate, hazel-
nut, burnt caramel; Sorbetto: blood orange, red
raspberry
Further away from campus ...
Zingerman's Next Door
418 Detroit St. (734) 663-5282
Although there are not as many flavors of gela-
to at Zingerman's, the gelato they feature is rich-
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Kilwin's Chocolate Shoppe and Ice Creamn
Parlor
107 E. Liberty St. (734) 769-7759
This ice cream parlor is located next door to
Kilwin's Chocolate Shoppe, a franchise that
Michiganders might recognize from Mackinac
Island. The homey, old-fashioned atmosphere at
Kilwin's is very appealing - you can watch
employees make waffle cones on the premises.
Unfortunately, the ice cream tasted as if it
had been left in the freezer too long and was
crystallized. In addition to the waffle cones and
bowls, you can indulge in sundaes, shakes,
malts and ice cream sodas.
Hours: (seasonal) 10 a.m.-l0 p.m. Mon.-
Wed., 10 a.m.-l1 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., Noon-10
p.m. Sun.
Price range: $3.10-$5.50
Most popular flavors: Ann Arbor mud, turtle,
Kilwin's tracks
Washtenaw Dairy
602 S. Ashley St. (734) 662-3244
This ice cream shop is a bit of a hike away
from campus and therefore unknown to many
University students - instead, it is more of a,
haunt for locals. Its owners are mainstays in the
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