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8B TusaArl 201 o n ro

Thursday, April 14,2011 //B-est of Ann Arbor 5B
BEST BURRITO: CHIPOTLE

BEST BARBER/HAIR SALON:
DOUGLAS J AVEDA INSTITUTE
For all colors, cuts and styles, one salon stands alone as
the best of Ann Arbor: Aveda. The Douglas J Aveda Insti-
tute offers cheap cuts and color for students. Student hair-
dressers carefully follow the specifications of clients under
the close supervision of their instructors to ensure the best
service possible. While waiting for color to set or bangs to
be trimmed, complimentary hand massages are common,
leaving customers relaxed. Aside from the service, anyone
who leaves Aveda is guaranteed to smell great. Every hair
flip, glance or nod will send waves of countless natural
essences that are sure to turn heads. There's a reason Aveda
is a cut above the rest.
-LtUCYPERKINS

(BEST CHINESE FOOD: CHINA GATE)
You can't even walk into China Gate without observing
the staggering number of awards Executive Chef Jan has
accrued over the years. The signs that brag to this effect
fill the front windows, reminding any passerby that he has
won the Top Gold Medal an impressive eight times at the
International Professional Culinary Competition (which,
the signs also claim, is the world's largest culinary com-
petition), With China Gate, Chef Jan clearly found an out-
let to pour his culinary expertise into. There's a reason
China Gate is being bestowed the honor of Best Chinese
Food in Ann Arbor for the 10th time. The sauces are suc-
culent, the soups warm and comforting and the spices
dialed in to the perfect extent. The menu's daunting only
because of its massive breadth, but from the mainstays
(like wonton soup or chicken with cashew nuts) to the
less common (Kung Pao scallops), China Gate executes
with blatant expertise.
-ELLIOTALPERN

Just picture it: a beautiful fall day, and a
Football Saturday to boot. You woke up early
for some pre-game festivities. It's now 4 p.m.
You're hankering for something delicious,
and you know there's only one place where
the food is as good as the people-watching.
That's right: the "Chipotle Experience," Ann
Arbor style. The number-one burrito in town
is located at the intersection of East Liberty
and State. And we're not just talking burri-

tos, but also burrito bowls, crispy tacos, soft
tacos and the always-tasty vegetarian option
(in which guacamole doesn't cost "extra").
With ingredients that smell and taste as good
as they look, friendly service and an excel-
lent soundtrack accompanying those anxious
minutes of picking out the perfect ingredients,
Chipotle's burrito earns its spot as a best taste
of Ann Arbor.
-JACOB AXELRAD

ERIN KIRKLAND/Daily

BEST THRIFT STORE: THE SALVATION ARMY

BEST COFFEE: ESPRESSO ROYALE

Don't be fooled by its name - Espres-
so Royale is about more than just coffee.
From its hip background music to the tan-
talizing display case of muffins, parfaits
and brownies, the caf is a haven for all
things comfortable and cool. It's the per-
fect place to kick back and catch up with
friends, kill awkward gaps between class-
es and even grab a scone on the way home
from a party Sunday morning. That isn't
to say that the drink menu doesn't have its

merits, though. With its spicy chai lattes,
creamy cappuccinos, rich teas and assort-
ment of mocha flavors, Espresso Royale
boasts enough beverages to satisfy even
the most serious caffeine consumer. It's a
royal destination for any student's needs,
whether you're just popping in for an
expertly brewed cup of coffee or looking
for a cozy booth to spend a day of study-
ing in style.
-CHLOE STACHOWIAK

BEST DATE PLACE: THE CHOP HOUSE

Nothing says "I want to have sex with
you" like a $43 steak (unless, of course, you're
dating a vegetarian). Impress your signifi-
cant other with a trip to one of Ann Arbor's
swankiest and priciest dining venues: The
Chop House. The Main Street restaurant's
logo - a long-horned bull with prominently
displayed genitalia - is a testament to the
house specialty of thick, juicy, red-blooded,
all-American, USDA prime beef. Wash your
steak down with a bottle of cabernet from The
Chop House's award-winningecellar. Or, order

two bottles if the date is going awkwardly. But
no trip to the Chop House would be complete
without a descent into La Dolce Vita, the res-
taurant's dark and dungeon-chic dessert bar.
Aromatic cigar-smoke swirls around the bar's
plush leather chairs, where diners can relax
and order after-dinner cocktails and pastries.
Seated together in an intimate corner, you and
your date will be sure to make La Dolce Vita's
regular clientele - a bunch of middle-aged
white guys - green with envy.
-JOE CADAGIN

TERRA MOLEGR FF/Daily

SALAM RIDA/Daily