The Michigan Daily
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finn A4rbor
fine dining
Even the most uncultured Prat boy can't spend an entire undergraduate career in Ann Arbor
eating only cold pizza and burritos. So at some point, whether it is because the parents are intownor
because you've finally met a girl who calls you back when she's sober, you're probably going to want
to get dressed and splurge on a nice dinner. For most students, a fancy dinner is synonymous with
Main Street. This is a shame, because thee Main Street restaurants - Palio s, Gratzi, Real Seafood
and The Chop House - are all owned by the same company and seem determined to bring that pre-
packaged, franchised, feel to fine dining. But all is not lost. If you want that special someone to call
you back the next day, there are a few places you can go to woo even the most discerning palate.
WA LTER NOWINSKI andANNE VANDE RMEY
Eating a steak shouldn't be Platonic, it should be Epicurean. Pick West End Grille (120 West Liberty
St.) over The Chop House (above.) Over the decades, styles changed but The Chop House didn't.
The Main Street restaurant would like to be the kind of big city steakhouse where pricey hunks of meat
are served in an ultra-masculine setting - one with heavy, simple silverware, lots of straight lines
and dark colors. But with walls covered by massive gold frames that look like they were stolen from
the Louvre, The Chop House's decor, which might have wowed patrons circa 1987, fails to impress.
The Chop House's beef, however, is the only beef in Michigan that is dry aged, an expensive process that adds
flavor to the meat. So from a true meat-lover's stand point, The Chop House, which serves up hunks of cow
flesh on a plate without garnish, might be the best steakhouse around.
But if youwant the mostcbang for your 50 bucks, head to West End Grille fora more sophisticated dinner. Its
prices rival Chop House's as the steepest in town, with entrees ranging from $24 to $44, but your meal comes
with potatoes, greens and soup as well. Try the Chilean Sea Bass that falls apart on your tongue and savor
some of the innovative garnishes. And relax. Here, you won't find wide-eyed prom goers spending the year's
allowance on an unremarkable Chop House meal; the West End Grille is small, dimly lit and more casual than
most restaurants of its caliber. And unless you like eating meat without potatoes or seasoning, it's got the best
steak in town.
One ofa kind
The Gandy Dancer has a dessert called the Chocolate Mudslide that consists of ice cream, a brownie
and a warm chocolate filling. Rising almost four inches off the plate, it's something to behold. It
promises everything you could ask for in a dessert - namely a lot of chocolate. But once you bite down,
you might realize something's missing. it looks a whole lot better than Triple Chocolate Meltdown
from Applebee's, but it tastes suspiciously similar - and that might even be generous exaggeration. It
certainly isn't becoming of the elegant renovated train station in which the Gandy Dancer is housed.
The setting is sure to thrill diners, with fieldstone walls, an imposing fireplace and two-story
ceilings. If you sit by one of the restaurant's huge windows, you can see a train running the Detroit to
Chicago line whiz by on the tracks as patrons applaud. But like the Chocolate Mudslide, looks can be
deceiving. Aside from some wonderful seafood dishes, the Gandy Dancer serves up unexciting fare.
If you're looking for a romantic setting with equally impressive cuisine, try the more
modern, less ostentatious, Eve (right.) Tucked away in the back of the Kerrytown shopping
center, Eve's bare brick walls and minimalist elegance will charm - even if it isn't quite as
awe inspiring as the old train station on Depot Street. It's fashionable, you'll feel at home
with other well-heeled diners, and the food is innovative. There's no other place in Ann
Arbor where your bread will be served with salmon or guava butter. And, while there are
no brownies on the dessert menu, a poached fig fritter is more exciting anyway.
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A favorite among East Qu
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O'DONNELL
-SADAKO
Sadako is great for both a quick bite and a more leisure-
ly meal with friends. Located on South University Ave-
nue, Sadako is a popular Japanese restaurant that serves a
variety of fresh cuisine. The restaurant's traditional Jap-
anese atmosphere is shaped by the open space in which
diners can relax and watch their food being prepared at
the sushi bar at the back of the restaurant.
Both lunch and dinner are available, and take-out is
an option in the evenings. The menu features a variety of
appetizers, soups and salads, teriyaki and katsu optiions
and sushi. Special sushi combinations are listed on the
menu, but diners can also choose from over 40 different
sushi rolls which include ingredients such as crab meat,
tuna, salmon, avocado and cream cheese. Rolls vary from
containing one ingredient to several, and different spice
levels are available. Customers who choose to dine-in also
receive a complimentary miso soup and salad with their
meal.
EMILYANGELL
PIZZA HOUSE
Pizza House is one of those restaurants you must
try before you graduate. But don't expect to get a cheap
meal: Pizza House entrees are well known for costing a
small fortune. The large House Special deep-dish pizza,
for instance, costs $23.48 with tax - making it the most
expensive pizza on Central Campus. Other pies range in
price from $6.99 (for a small, six-slice cheese pizza with
no toppings) to $19.44 (for a large, ten-slice specialty
pizza). Additional toppings usually cost just less than $2.
Despite its name, however, Pizza House offers a variety
of Italian dishes. One of its most popular items, the chipa-
ti, has repeatedly been voted the best chipati on campus.
Baked entrees, such as the ravioli, aren't bad either.
And while Pizza House is considered the "first class" of
Ann Arbor's pizza places, it's great to order while drunk
- or so we hear. If you're in the late-night munchies
mood, make sure you try Pizza House's appetizers and
milkshakes. They may add to your "freshman fifteen" but
hey, at least you'll get good food in the process.
BRIDGET O'DONNELL
Simply fresh& delicious..
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Located at the heart of State St., Noodles and
Company offers excellent food that is reasonably
priced. It has a vibrant atmosphere that's coupled
with great service. What makes Noodles a staple for
many students is its wide selection of dishes. You can
order Asian cuisine like pad Thai, or a bowl of Home
Style Mac & Cheese. You can get Penne Rosa with
chicken, or Pesto Cavatappi with shrimp. If you're
having trouble deciding, Noodles provides a con-
venient solution: the Trio. This option lets you pick
three different items on the menu and combine them
into one entrae.
You'll find that Noodles is a perfect restaurant
for any occasion. You can drop in one afternoon to
get lunch to go, or you can sit down with friends on
a Friday night for dinner. Delicious food, an exciting
environment and speedy service: What more could
you ask for?
BRIAN TENGEL
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