102 replies to this topic

[BeJam]

Also on Michigan, near telegraph is the Millers bar.  If you can stand the smokey windowless interior, you will be treated to one of the best burgers in the area.  There's a reason why you have to leave for lunch at 10:45am to avoid a 30 minute line.

Also down Michigan near Shaffer is Liles.  This wonderful spot from the 50s has 5 items on the menu.  I like their corn beef, but their triumph is an amazing bowl of split pea soup.  Rich, savory with fresh hunks of roasted ham floating in the mix.  I take mine with a lot of pepper and hot sause.  I've been addicted to their solid bowl of chili. 

Further down Michigan, on Shaffer is a great italian market/deli that has great sandwiches that are 1/3 the price of Zingermans.  (Gasp, blasphemy)  For 15 dollars, you can get a bag of italain rolls, 1/2 pound of italain prosciutto, 1/2 pound of capicola, 1/2 pound of mortedella, 1 pound of provolone cheese, a large container of homemade sweet olives and calmatta olives.  Go and build your own picknic for you and all your friends.

Where Outer and Southfield meet there is a average coney island/greek place that happens to have an amazing, steamy, tangy made from scratch bowl of lemon chicken rice soup.  My greek friends tell me it's as close to grandma as you can get.  Watch your eyebrows for the continual opa's and flaming cheese.

I've lived in Dearborn during college and also for the last few years but have never found Millers to be as good as their reputation. Although I do like the honor system (no checks) and occasional surly attitude.

The Italian market is called Alcomos. It is great. They were the only store I found in the Detroit area, including the Eastern Market, that carried veal bones for stock. They've also got a good selection of olive oils and pastas and cured meats.

Right next door to Alcomos is the Fish Market which gets some surprisingly good fish but in limited selection. I hear they're expanding into a restaurant which may improve their selection.

It sound's like you may not have been to Annam which is a nice little Vietnamese place.

[supercheesewiz]

Annam is fine. The food is decent, but i don't really get excited by it.

Sushi near the michigan league is tough. Stay away from sushi.com, no matter how many college students you see in there. I had a halfway decent bite down state street at totoro sushi. It's near the michigan theater.

Other options. Zanzibar and Red Hawk can be good across the street can be good.

Ti Ki Wo down Libierty has edible chinese food too. Decent bubble tea.

[Alex]

I'm staying at the Michigan League Inn tonight, and will need to grab a quick dinner (preferably takeout) around 8:30.  Any good places nearby? Sushi?

I'm guessing it's about a ¾-mile walk to Zingerman's, open 'til 10. It'll probably be snowing, but what the heck.

[sara]

Hmmm..makes me wonder if I should have my driver stop somewhere to pickup dinner between airport and Inn...?

[supercheesewiz]

You can get something good at seoul garden in ann arbor on the way from the airport. They even have the sushi. Try the Kai Bei Jim. It's a sweet stew like beef short rib thing which is excellent. Their spicy tofu seafood soup is good too (Soon Doh Boo). They even have sushi. Best part, you get 6-7 different kind of treats at the beginning for free. FYI, it's spicy stuff!

The owner of Miki's opened a new sushi place called Yotsuba's on carpenter north of Washtnaw road.

A pretty good Thai place on Washtenaw too called Tup tim near Ypsi.

[Alex]

Hmmm..makes me wonder if I should have my driver stop somewhere to pickup dinner between airport and Inn...?

Zingerman's Roadhouse is on the way to the Inn...

[bwv544]

i hope it's ok to bump this thread.
my gf and i are working at interlochen this summer, and we're curious about restaurants in the area.
i don't think we'd ever be able to leave for a place overnight, so we're looking for things that are day-trippable.
it seems like amical is a place to check out. i looked up tapawingo as well but it doesn't seem to exist anymore...
any other must-sees? i heard there are a ton of wineries but sadly, i'm highly intolerant to alcohol.
we're there for 6-7 weeks, so that should be ample time to explore all the area has to offer.
thanks!

[abadoozy]

Alas, Tapawingo is no more.

I haven't been to anyplace in that area for at least a couple years, so I don't have up-to-date info, but here's where I'd be hitting:

The Rowe Inn, also in Ellsworth, is very good. We used to go down for weekends and have dinner at Tapawingo one night, Rowe Inn the second. Rowe Inn is more casual, but food is excellent.

Chandler's in Petoskey also was very good.

Don't worry about the wineries - they're fun to visit, but in general, the wine is nothing to write home about.

[Alex]

Traverse City: Yes, Amical is very good. The Cook's House, also on Front, is a great little place. This wouldn't affect you, but I think their tacit BYOW policy has been rescinded. (Don't get me started on stupid Michigan wine laws.) I think that the excellent Patisserie Amie, which also serves dinner, is now called something else. Trattoria Stella, in a development housed in a former state psychiatric hospital, has a good rep, but I haven't been there recently. Ditto Red Ginger.

In Maple City, by your side of Glen Lake, is La Becasse, a restaurant modeled after a French country inn (and with an actual French chef!). I'd be perfectly content with their duck & pistachio pate, French gravlax w/a shot of Aquavit, and profiteroles ($28 total). Oh, and a bottle of M. Lawrence Brut from Larry Mawby's nearby winery (also $28).

I agree with abadoozy that Rowe Inn is very good -- not the equal of what was Tapawingo, but then, it wasn't meant to be. It's in Ellsworth, so obviously it's a longer drive than TC. Petoskey is an even longer drive. I haven't been to Petoskey in a while except to quickly pass through, so I can't speak to the restaurants there. Except for American Spoon Foods, which has a store there with free samples, a small restaurant, and gelato.

Michigan wines aren't world-class, but there are indeed some very good ones. Old Mission Peninsula is just beautiful, and Two Lads Winery sits on one of the most beautiful parts of the peninsula. Not to mention their outrageous new building and that their wines are quite good.

Other stuff to do: I'm sure you'll get lots of advice from your fellow workers. You're right by the spectacular Sleeping Bear Dunes. The Dennos Museum Center,, on the campus of North Central Michigan College in TC, shouldn't be missed.

[cookbookfetish]

If you're driving north on 127 and happen to stop in Mount Pleasant, I can heartily recommend two places:
1) The Brass Cafe The website appears to be down at the moment, so I've linked to the FB page.
2) Risk Restaurant - no website, cash only, 10 tables. Located on Mission Street between Wisconsin and Locust in a green house. Here's an article from the local paper...

[Alex]

If you're driving north on 127 and happen to stop in Mount Pleasant, I can heartily recommend two places:
1) The Brass Cafe The website appears to be down at the moment, so I've linked to the FB page.
2) Risk Restaurant - no website, cash only, 10 tables. Located on Mission Street between Wisconsin and Locust in a green house. Here's an article from the local paper...

Welcome to eGullet, Julie, and thanks for the Mt. Pleasant tips.

Given your screen/blog name, you might have some interest in this forum.

[bwv544]

Thanks for the suggestions!
I helped my gf move in earlier this week and then had to drive back to Cleveland to wrap up work stuffs; because of the time crunch there was no stopping in Mt. Pleasant.
We did drive to Traverse City but only really had time to get a cherry pie before needing to head back to Interlochen and get settled. I'm headed up next Monday and can't wait to explore then. Thanks again!

[cookbookfetish]

Several new food places have opened in the downtown Mt. Pleasant area - all worth a mention to food-friendly folks who may be passing through. I'm linking to Facebook pages...
1)Market On Main, run by the same people who own The Brass Cafe, featuring gourmet items to go, great cheese selection, cooking classes. It's a couple of doors away from the Brass on Main Street.
2) Mountain Town Station has added a fine dining restaurant called Camille's On The River. I ate dinner here recently: mussels in white wine sauce, gnocchi with beef cheek, pumpkin praline torte, and a glass of Grand Traverse Riesling. Elegant dining room, roaring fire, excellent service.
3) Midori Sushi & Martini Lounge. Fancy & friendly. Loved the hazelnut scallops with vanilla cream and watermelon salad. Enjoyed the Ninja Roll: crab salad, tempura avocado, tuna, ginger dressing and scallion. Didn't care for the fruit sushi dessert: too much rice, not enough fruit or chocolate; I think it confused my taste buds after the other items.
4) Gingko Tree Inn & Riverbluff Bistro. Haven't eaten here yet, but it sounds wonderful: Turkey, Bacon & Brie Sandwich, Ratatouille Crepes, and English Tea time every Tuesday through Sunday.