<p>smart casual recommendations not white tablecloth, but not pub food--unless you happen think there is a terrific option for either of those.</p>
<p>Ann Arbor has many great places to eat and is notoriously casual, like many college towns. It would help if you could specify a price point. Also, we have many ethnic restaurants. Do you have a preference in that regard? Finally,there is a downtown area (Main Street) and a central campus area (State Street), so location may matter. One of my favorite places, but expensive, is West End Grill. Another good one is Cafe Zola. I’m sure others have their preferences too.</p>
<p>Hmmm. Well, Zingerman’s Roadhouse is not white tablecloth but has a lot of good options and definitely screams “Ann Arbor.”</p>
<p>Some of your “pub food” restaurants are actually pretty good. Red Hawk, for one. Grizzly Peak has a pretty decent menu, as well. I liked the Jolly Pumpkin’s menu but that place is pretty loud.</p>
<p>is ballpark. Will be going to hockey game at Yost Friday, and Saturday is open (football at noon, done w/that by 3:00). So I guess Central or South on Friday, anywhere on Sat. Have been to Arbor Brewery great beer, decent food, nice desserts. Any opinions on Prickly Pear, Dominick’s, other ideas? Kids not real big on seafood. Italian, American, Southwest, Steak all work. Did Zingerman’s for lunch, good but over-priced IMO. Also it’s Parent’s Weekend and a lot of places don’t take reservations, don’t want to wait more than a half-hour. TIA.</p>
<p>One Word…BDUBS AKA Buffalo Wild Wings…although u prolly wouldnt like it but i strongly recommend it if u are a big sports fan, or loves to eat wings!</p>
<p>Prickly Pear is really good for Tex-mex. It has a nice atmosphere as well.
I’d also recommend Seva (great vegetarian place that meat-eaters will enjoy as well) on Liberty and Arbor Brewing Company (popular place close to Main Street).
And if you go to Seva get the yam fries as an appetizer. They’re my absolute favorite.</p>
<p>Parents weekend, football Saturday, and you want some place good but not more than a half hour wait?! Around here you can’t find a shorter wait even when nothing is going on. Now, another option that occurs to me-more known to locals-is Paesano’s, a great, family-owned Italian place on Washtenaw, east of campus. Possibly shorter wait times because its not in the middle of everything, but very good. Try the gorgonzola pear salad.</p>
<p>Speaking of parents weekend, my friend is on leave from the military this weekend and is coming to visit and flatly refuses to entertain the idea of not waiting until he gets here friday night to get a hotel, even though i told him it was parents weekend. That ought to go smoothly. I am glad I only eat at cheap places or this weekend would really not work out very well. >.<</p>
<p>buffalo wild wings!!!</p>
<p>parmesan cheese flavor is the best get that</p>
<p>After hearing so much about Zingerman’s over the years, we finally went there. Not only way overpriced, but really disappointing (bad) food for both of our different choices.</p>
<p>In the North Campus area along Plymouth Road, Carson’s is one of the best we have found (after trying many) in Ann Arbor. Zoup has good soups, not full meals.</p>
<p>Chop House …Stop being stingy</p>
<p>“After hearing so much about Zingerman’s over the years, we finally went there. Not only way overpriced, but really disappointing (bad) food for both of our different choices.”</p>
<p>Totally agree hadenough! I can think of 3 or 4 delis in suburban Detroit that are better.</p>
<p>Twisted, tell your friend he’s freakin nuts. There ARE NO HOTELS in AA Friday. I tried to get one 4 weeks ago. Ended up down at a golf course mariott in ypsi.
I think even Victory Inn is booked, and it’s like, one star. So get the air mattress ready : )</p>
<p>MI-Mom, thanks for the tip re Paesano’s. Awesome looking menu. This thread made me think to check with McSon to see if he’d had the presence of mind to reserve at Cafe Zola (since this is his McSon version of PW) and guess what, he did NOT : ) Paesano’s had some room left for a reservation though! So, the kid owes ya : )</p>
<p>real seafood or gratzi… nice borderline middle of the road type of nice restaurants and really decent food… price is great too</p>
<p>We ate at the Roadhouse while visiting this past January and it was a great meal. Server was wonderful - wanted us to try the gelato so brought out three humongous gratis scoops! Food was delicious. Zingerman’s Deli I can’t speak to.</p>
<p>Personally I LOVE Zingerman’s Roadhouse. Food, service, etc. is not fancy, but relaxed and fun. Our server brought us a huge bowl of homemade chocolate pudding gratis when we were last there…yummy! Anything there that has cheese on it is especially good!!!</p>
<p>I also love traditional style places and have a penchant for Weber’s Grill. Steak, wine, blue cheese wedge salad…at a reasonable price for what it is. If you’re going to the football game, they do a special that includes bus transport.</p>
<p>There are plenty of nice places on Main St. downtown and can’t say I’ve ever had a meal at any of them that disappointed me, but I can’t remember the names of where we’ve been.</p>
<p>Real Seafood, Gratzi, or Chop House.</p>
<p>A clarification: my negative comment about Zingerman’s related to the Deli, not the Roadhouse, which we have not (yet) tried.</p>