The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

Thursday, April 12, 2012 - 59 ,

BEST COFFEE SHOP
Espresso Royale

Espresso Royale is the cof-
fee shop you want to walk into
bleary-eyed after a long night of
cramming, frustration and more
than a few nervous breakdowns.
The atmosphere is the perfect
kind of casual: warm and invit-
ing, but as straight-to-business as
the larger coffee chains. Request
just a normal coffee (ever the sin
these days), and you'll receive a
cup, which you can fill with the
perfect ratio of a selection of cof-
fees, milks and whatever accou-
trements are deemed necessary.
And, oh yeah, the coffee is
pretty delicious. Between all of
the self-labeled coffee aficio-
nados and the 12-step ordering
processes, did everyone forget
that most of us just want a cup of

joe to get us through our 9 a.m.
seminar? Well, Espresso didn't.
The pump-pot selection isn't
fancy; it doesn't boast quadru-
ple-roasted coffee. But it does
house some tasty, comforting
blends with simple, unassuming
names: Lighthouse, Solidario,
Carnivale. And the flavors are
anything but - nutty here, floral
there and always ready to give a
morning boost.
That's not to say Espresso can
only brew a simple mugful. Their
vanilla lattds rival any hipster
cafe, and they know their way
around their namesake machine.
Get a sweetheart latt6 (cinna-
mon and vanilla) off the menu for
a delicious day-starter.
-ELLIOT ALPERN

BEST OUTDOOR APPAREL,
Bivouac

BEST SANDWICHES
Zingerman 's

Deciding on Zingerman's
means you're not settling for a
mere sandwich. You're gearing
up for a Zingerman's Reuben -
layered with corned beef, melty
Swiss cheese (from Switzerland!),
sauerkraut and that smooth driz-
zle of Russian dressing, all sweetly
mashed between warm rye bread.
It's the original sandwich of the
gods.
Their heavenly Reuben - and
full menu of other deliciously
scrumptious items - put Ann
Arbor's tiny delicatessen on the
map, making it the must-visit
place for handcrafted sandwich
magic. Even Mario Batali, of Iron
Chef fame, taste-approved Zing-
erman's as the best of the best

where all things corned beef are
concerned. It's no wonder Ann
Arbor-ites voted Zingerman's
the best sandwich. Was there any
other option?
It's really a crime to pit Zinger-
man's against just any other deli.
Since its inception in 1982, it has
far surpassed being considered a
simple "sandwich shop." The icon-
ic Ann Arbor staple makes hand-
crafted art every day it churns out
its beloved, edible product.
As you sink your teeth into the
all-too-appetizing sculpture in
front of you, remember that din-
ing at Zingerman's is an experi-
ence, prices be damned. Don't
forget your free pickle!
-KELLYETZ

It's no great surprise that Biv-
ouac has topped the list again for
best outdoor store. As written in
a recent Yelp review, "If you're an
outdoor enthusiast, you're going
to go ga-ga over this place!" The
locally owned outdoor store has
a huge variety of gear and out-
door-wear brand names. Though
it's hard to gauge the store's pri-
mary market (are they a store for
hardcore outdoor enthusiasts or
the brand-conscious?) Bivouac is
united by one factor: quality.
All of the clothing and gear at
Bivouac is top-notch - exactly
what you need for your moun-
tain-climbing venture over

spring break or your weekend
escapade down to Red Rivet,
Gorge. If you're feeling a little
less adventurous, their ultra-
warm coats will keep you nige
and toasty as you brave the colad
Michigan winter for that house
party across campus. The qugl-
ity does come at a price, but the'
savvy shopper will take advag=
tage of Bivouac's guaranteed
price matching and end-of-sea
son sales.
With its prime location, BiW
ouac is Ann Arbor's hub for botlt
the outdoor enthusiast and the'
fashion-conscious.
-JOEYSTEINBERGER

BEST MEDITERRANEAN

BEST MEDITERRANEAN
FOOD
Jerusalem Garden

It doesn't look like much when
you walk in. The cash register and
baklava counter up front don't
scream with the ambiance of an
overpriced Mediterranean chain,
nor do the aproned cooks and siz-
zling grill that take up most of
the restaurant's entryway. But it's
these unrefined quirks that give
Jerusalem Garden its comfort-
able, unpretentious charm - the
paper napkins, potted plants and
wooden furniture tightly hugged
by yellow walls.
The food itself, however, is
what makes J-Garden really stand
out in Ann Arbor's sea of pita-and-
hummus joints. It's here where
you can order a plate of the fresh-
AUSTEN HUFFORD/Daily est falafel around, and tear your

fork through hot, crispy layers
until you hit its soft (and unmis-
takably green) chickpea center.
It's also here that classics such as
the chicken shawarma and Jeru-
salem burger live and thrive in
their pita-wrapped glory - and
don't forget the fabled spinach
pies that aren't always available
to order, but keep Ann Arborites
talking and coming back in enthu-
siastic groups whenever they are.
Jerusalem Garden is, in short,
a bite-sized mecca of simple mas-
terpieces: The hummus is always
creamy, the tabbouli is always tart
and you won't feel out of place in
a ratty jacket or oversized sweat-
shirt.
-CHLOE STACHOWIAK

Best of Ann Arbor
Voted Best Housing 2012 :
Zaragon Place Zaragon West
L*
Need we say more?
Now Leasing for August 2012 Occupancy 

SEE MORE BEST OF ANN ARBOR
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