Best
Sandwich
Like the 1927 Yankees or eager high school seniors touring
the "bottomless" party scene
in "Harold and Kumar Escape
from Guantanamo Bay," some
things just seem too good to
be true. Except they really are
true. Zingerman's is one of those
places. Ask any Ann Arbor resi-
dent where you should eat, and
Zingerman's comes up, usually
accompanied by a soft sigh and
an "oh my god." Everyone, from
campus to a certain Commander
in Chief with a fondness for Reu-
bens, must make the journey to
Kerrytown when they visit.
The long wait outside on a
brisk Saturday, even on a game
day, is worth it. The walls,
shelves and glass cases are
stuffed with an overwhelming
bounty of food - breads and
cheeses and cured meats and
salads and seemingly every-
thing else humanity regards as
delicious. You want everything,
so badly that you consider buy-
ing the whole store. The menu,
with several dozen sandwiches,
makes the agonizing decision
worse. When you finally make
the call, and the slightly easier
one of a half sour or old garlic
pickle, you find a table, and long-
ingly wait to hear your name as if
the caller is a long-lost lover.
It finally comes, and you take
that first glorious bite. The pas-
trami and corned beef is com-
parable to a New York deli's, but
the bread is worlds better; crusty
and dense, it puts the rye in rye
bread. With a Dr. Brown's soda,
a basket of latke fritters and that
all important pickle, it's a meal
worth any wait or any walk.
-GIANCARLO BUONOMO
Best
Mediterranean
Jerusalem Garden sits on the
corner of E. Liberty and 5th
avenue in a small, quiet yellow
house. Inside, you'll find the
cash register greets you not two
steps from the entryway, and a
small counter in the corner in
front of a grill that seems to take
up the entire room. It's a modest
establishment, sure, but there's a
reason why so many Mediterra-
nean food enthusiasts pack into
its narrow halls day in and day
out. The proprietors know their
falafel.
They know their kabobs and
shwarma, too. They choose to
grill their meats instead of skew-
er them, like the more tradition-
al and abundant Mediterranean
restaurants in Ann Arbor. For
vegetarians, Jerusalem Garden
offers impressively tasty falafel
sandwiches and plates, as well
as various salads and soups. And,
of course, their main dishes are
served on or with a pita and deli-
cious hummus.
As an added bonus, the food
is highly affordable, yet does not
suffer in terms of quality. A small
patio out front offers fresh air to
the otherwise tight quarters. It's
perfect for students on those
rare but always-welcome warm-
er blue-sky days. Take a seat,
grab a sandwich and embrace
the classic Ann Arbor goodness
that is Jerusalem Garden.
-JAMIE BIRCOLL
12 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom