As students at the University of Michigan, we all know that we live in a great college town. In spite of the mass quantity of dining hall food we’ve all consumed while on campus, we don’t need a visit from Adam Richman of Man v. Food or a Zingerman’s Roadhouse feature on the Food Network to be reminded of the excellent dining our city has to offer.
Nevertheless, when your parents are coming to visit and want to take you out for a nice “departure from dorm food” dinner, where should you go? What about when you’ve been staring at your research paper for eight hours straight and you need a meal so good it lifts your spirits, even if momentarily? With this Campus Dining Guide, we’ve got you covered! Whether you need a night out with the girls or a break from your college-cooking routine of defrosting Lean Cuisines, we’ve eaten our way through Ann Arbor to provide you with restaurant recommendations for any occasion.
So, without further ado, where to eat in Ann Arbor:
When your parents visit:
Gratzi
326 S. Main Street
(734) 663-5555
Main Street is known as the go-to dining area when parents are in town because it has a number of great restaurants at a higher price range than typical college student’s budget will allow. That said, when your parents come to town and they’ve missed you enough to want to treat you to a nice dinner, request a reservation at Gratzi. Specializing in Northern Italian cuisine, the restaurant is upscale, yet cozy and perfect for group gatherings. The menu includes Italian staples like pizzas and pastas, but the dishes are all far more innovative (and better quality!) than you’d get at Italian chains like Olive Garden.
Zingerman’s
422 Detroit Street
(734) 663-3354
For lunch, you’ve got to do the cliché thing and go to Zingerman’s. What better time to justify ordering a ten dollar sandwich than when your parents are treating to you? Expensive though it may be, Zingerman’s is famous for a reason. You’ve got to try it sometime during your college years, so why not do it on Mom and Dad’s dime? (And with their wonderful company, of course!)
For something cheap and fast:
Amer’s
312 S. State Street
(734)761-6000
or
611 Church Street
(734)769-1210
or
UofM Union Building
(734)668-6770
With three locations on campus (including one in the Union) every Wolverine knows about Amer’s. Amer’s is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner, that mid-day coffee break, or a long study session. This deli is a great option for a picky group of eaters because of the variety of sandwiches and salads on the menu. Even vegetarians can find a bunch of unique and delicious options among the 80+ sandwich offerings.
If you don’t eat meat:
Seva
314 East Liberty Street
(734) 662-1111
Seva has been a vegetarian-friendly favorite since the early seventies, but meat-eaters will be satisfied with the menu as well. With crowd-pleasing appetizers like Yam Fries with Spicy Dipping Sauce, Pesto Crostini, and hearty entrees like the Black Bean and Sweet Potato Quesadilla and the Grilled Pesto Pizza Sandwich, diners won’t be likely to miss the meat.
For a night out with the girls:
Sadako
1321 South University Avenue
(734) 913-0057
For those Girls’ Nights Out, a spot with the perfect sushi roll is always a good bet. While Ann Arbor’s got plenty of sushi restaurants, the best is undoubtedly Sadako. Sadako gets all of the classic rolls just right, and its selection of fish-free sushi like the Chicken Teriyaki Roll makes it a viable option if you’ve got sushi skeptics in your group. The real treats on the menu, though, come with a “special sauce” or “crunch” (flakes of fried tempura batter) on top.
For the best brunch in town:
Afternoon Delight
251 East Liberty Street
(734) 665-7513
While there are several good brunch options (The Broken Egg, Angelo’s) in Ann Arbor, you can’t beat Afternoon Delight in terms of bang for your buck. The diner has everything you’d want in a breakfast menu, like fluffy waffles and pancakes, eggs any style, and generous coffee refills. No matter what you order, be sure to taste one of Afternoon Delight’s famous homemade bran muffins, which come in flavors like classic blueberry and decadent chocolate chip peanut butter.