the b-side B
The Michigan Daily | michigandaily.com | Thursday, April 18, 2013
DESIGN BY : AUSTIN REED AN D AMY M ACKENS
LTS ARE IN: SU RE E TH D AN D TE VO VE HA S TE RI BO AR N AN
Read this semester’s final issue of the B-Side for a look at the year’s best restaurants and businesses. Blimpy, Shalimar and Insomnia Cookies all make an appearance. Check inside for the full list of winners and runners-up to see if your favorite hangout made the cut.
Arts
2B — Thursday, April 18, 2013
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
WINNERS AND RUNNERS-UP
COFFEE SHOP Espresso Royale Starbucks
DESSERT
CLUB
SPA
Cupcake Station and Ben & Jerry’s
Rick’s American Cafe Necto
Douglas J
Stucchi’s
Bellanina Day Spa and RUB
BANK
SANDWICHES
BARBER
HAIR SALON
BREAKFAST
TCF
Zingerman’s
Coach & Four Barber Shop
Douglas J
Salon Vox
Angelo’s
Afternoon Delight
PIZZA
OUTDOOR APPAREL Bivouac
CHINESE FOOD
LATE NIGHT
LANDLORD
Cottage Inn
REI
China Gate
Lucky Kitchen
Pizza House
Keller Properties
INDIAN FOOD
BURGERS
HOUSING
ITALIAN FOOD
MEXICAN FOOD
Shalimar
Blimpy
Landmark
Gratzi
Chipotle
Chase
Pizza House
Amer’s
Arcade Barbers
BTB
Arch Realty
Raja Rani
Five Guys Burgers & Fries
Zaragon Place
Palio
Prickly Pear Cafe
TEST PREP Kaplan
KOREAN FOOD Kang’s Korean Restaurant
NEW RESTAURANT NeoPapalis
Princeton Review
Rod’s
RUB BBQ
NEW BUSINESS Insomnia Cookies
THRIFT SHOP Salvation Army
MEDITERRANEAN FOOD
Jerusalem Garden
Urban Outfitters
M Den
Tim Horton’s
Ragstock
La Marsa
Pitaya
Underground Printing
SUSHI
BAGEL
PARTY STORE
CAMPUS BAR
MAIN STREET BAR
Sadako
Bruegger’s
Campus Corner
Good Time Charley’s
Ann Arbor Brewing Company
Sushi.com
Panera
Strickland’s
Ashley’s and Dominick’s
Connor O’Neil’s
TANNING SALON Big House Tanning Tanfastic
THAI FOOD No Thai Marnee Thai
CLOTHING STORE
UNIV. FAN APPAREL
for
•VOTING•
The Best COFFEE SHOP in Ann Arbor
thank you for voting us
BEST OF HOUSING IN ANN ARBOR
L I V E AT L A N D M A R K . C O M 1300 S. University Ave | 734 .327.1300
the b-side
4B — Thursday, April 18, 2013
NATASHA JANARDAN/Daily
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
MARLENE LACASSE/Daily
Best Burger
Best Coffee
There’s a reason Blimpy has been featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” and “Man vs. Food,” as well as named by USA Today and the Travel Channel as one of the top spots in the country to get a burger. But greasy patties, fresh ingredients and delicious, deep-fried side dishes are just part of what makes Blimpy Burger a must-eat for every Ann Arborite. Blimpy feels like a burger joint should. From the old-school dining setup to the signs warning about the dangers of eating here, Blimpy does it right. As soon as you walk in, you get the inexplicable sensation that you are about to have an incredible experience (you are). When the University purchased Blimpy’s property in late 2012, it spelled the end for Blimpy Burger as it has been since 1953. The restaurant will move to a new location this summer, taking with it the best burger in town, if not the world. So here’s to Blimpy Burger and all the great memories it’s helped us make, and all the ones it will help us make in the future. —CONRAD FOREMAN
After a long day of lectures and homework, there’s nothing more soothing than the knowledge that your choice of comfy armchairs, hot coffee and calm folk music await at your local coffee shop. It’s by creating that home-away-from-home atmosphere that Espresso Royale has earned the love of the Ann Arbor community. Even though the chain got its start in California, and despite the fact that you know perfectly well that there are two more locations within walking distance, every time you go in it feels like a quaint, one-of-a-kind local business. The baked goods are always fresh and delicious, the coffee aromatic and inviting and the baristas friendly and helpful. If you’re looking for something more adventurous, there’s a full menu of lattes, teas and iced drinks to appeal to the coffee shop connoisseur. Espresso is exactly what a college coffee shop is supposed to be. Whether hanging out with friends, looking for something to keep you awake through your next lecture or simply trying to find somewhere to sit down and relax, there’s no better place to kick back and enjoy a hot cup of espresso. —ADAM DEPOLLO
Blimpy Burger
Espresso Royale
NATASHA JANARDAN/Daily
KATHERINE PEKALA/Daily
NATASHA JANARDAN/Daily
Best Dessert Cupcake Station
Blissful. That’s the only way to describe these cupcakes: blissful and all of its associated synonyms including, but not limited to, heavenly, idyllic and beatific. The biggest problem, nay the only problem, with Cupcake Station is there’s just too much tastiness. How is one expected to choose between the marshmallow-filled “Cookies and Cream,” the nationally recognized “Bump-A-Licious” and the classic chocolate-frosted “Original,” not to mention the 21 other flavors baked fresh every day? As far as location, Cupcake Station is a tad out of the way, located on the corner of E. Liberty and Main. You have to really want that cupcake, but trust me you want that cupcake. These cupcake artists — and they are artists — perfected the all-important frosting-to-cake ratio. There’s so much flavor, so much sweetness, so much sheer goodness baked into every cake. War would cease to exist if there was a Cupcake Station in every country. These guys even sponsor charities with free cupcakes; are they saints or are they temptation itself? I don’t know, and I don’t care — just take my money already. —JAMIE BIRCOLL
Best Breakfast Angelo’s
Most arguments about Ann Arbor’s best breakfast joint end in one word: Angelo’s. Tucked away near the University’s medical campus, you’d think the restaurant would be too off the beaten path to survive — until you get a glimpse of the line in the morning, often stretching down the sidewalk. Only consistently delicious food can draw such a devoted following, and this proves to be the case at Angelo’s. If the menu looks too sophisticated for the breakfast commoner — with entries like crab cake Benedict, eggs Florentine and pumpkin pancakes — just take a shot in the dark. It’s hard to go wrong. The hollandaise sauce is creamy, the pancakes are fluffy and the egg concoctions tend to deliver on the flavors promised. Just make sure to get there early to avoid the wait and soak in a slice of Ann Arbor culture. —ELLIOT ALPERN
Thank you for voting
Ben & Jerry’s Everyone loves ice cream. Therefore, everyone loves Ben and Jerry’s. It’s that simple. Located on South State Street, right next to its nemesis, Stucchi’s, it’s not hard to see why the people of Ann Arbor have chosen B&J’s as their favorite. The ice cream, waffle cones and smoothies blend to create an irresistible aroma that captivates your senses as you glide to the counter, where a wide selection of frozen dessert flavors await. The chocolaty sweet kick to the nose as helpful employees scoop out phish food from behind the counter is enough to remind you that you’ve come to the right place, and you won’t be disappointed. But the best part of eating ice cream at Ben and Jerry’s is the nostalgia. It’s just like when you were a kid — after begging your parents for some ice cream and promising you’ll brush your teeth, you enter a place where the walls are as colorful as the flavors, everyone’s happy and the ice cream is just so damn good. Sure, when you walk in now, your parents aren’t with you and you’re never going to brush your teeth, but what remains are the good times you spent with the people you like and the ice cream you love. —MAYANK MATHUR
as Best Indian Restaurant in Ann Arbor Metro Detroit’s Finest Indian Restaurant Specializing in North Indian, Tandoori and Mughlai dishes, Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian Dishes, Biryanis and more!
307 South Main Ann Arbor, MI 48104 734-663-1500
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
the b-side
Thursday, April 18, 2013 — 5B
TERESA MATHEW/Daily
Best Indian Shalimar
Chicken tikka masala — the delectable, bright orange gift from the food gods, a must-have entrée on the menu of every restaurant that is in any way associated with the Indian subcontinent. Mediocre restaurants are content with drowning the dish in cream. The best ones use it to bring the ingredients’ natural smokiness to the forefront. Shalimar is one of those restaurants. Conveniently located in the middle of downtown Ann Arbor, Shalimar has established itself as one of the best for one important reason — the food is like Hrithik Roshan dancing in your mouth. The success carries over further than the spicy take on chicken tikka masala. All of the entrées (try the lamb vindaloo for maximum desi goodness) are similarly delicious because they stick to a natural, Indian flavor. By the same token, nothing is over-spiced, and the following morning will be as comfortable as one of the cushy booths the side of the restaurant. The waiters are kind, everything looks cozy and when all’s said and done, that’s what visiting any nice restaurant is all about: eating great, spicy food while people smile at you. —AKSHAY SETH
TERRA MOLENGRAF/Daily
Best Italian Gratzi
Dressed in crisp white button-ups, black aprons and stunning red ties, waiters at Gratzi float table to table with decadent (yet simple) pasta dishes balanced on trays. Occasionally, one will halt under the wonderful Renaissance-style mural painted on the wall to gracefully pour a bottle of Italian red, or to place a long plate filled with rustic meats and robust cheeses in front of smiling diners. The mournful melody of magnificent Italian singing suffuses the dining room, not too loud, but just enough to invoke an archaic, old country mood. First antipasti, a misti plate including prosciutto, lemony cheese and the best red peppers ever, served with Zingerman’s bread (nothing but the best, of course). A bottle of wine? Va bene! A main course of Seafood Linguine (shout-out to our waiter Ethan for suggesting it, the dish was unreal). For dessert, a vanilla mousse so delicious, it will have you laughing with disbelief. Everyone smiles in Gratzi, the food, the atmosphere, simply lifts the spirits. Treat yourself to some perfectly al dente pasta, some fresh seafood and a great environment. Adesso, io vorrei bere più d’il vino! Molto bene! —MATT EASTON MARLENE LACASSE/Daily
Best New Business Insomnia Cookies
Within my first five days at the University, I’d already determined which food truck I’d be visiting as often as I could during my undergrad years. I’d amble over to West Quad whenever I would spot the Insomnia Cookies truck — my own little piece of heaven — and look in anticipation, waiting impatiently to get my hands covered in some ooey-gooey chocolate chip cookies. It wasn’t until a lot later that I realized Insomnia cookies weren’t for the sober and sane. Their goodness can only be appreciated in a state of alcohol-induced or sleep-deprived drunkenness — a state most University students almost constantly inhabit. The sweetness, the gooey-ness, the perfection of the cookies is a heart warmer on a cold Michigan night spent at the UGLi. These cookies couldn’t be more strategically marketed — nothing satisfies the late night munchies quite like they do. Possibly out of all my late night indulgences in Ann Arbor, I’m going to miss this one the most. —ADITI MISHRA
KATHERINE PEKALA/Daily
TODD NEEDLE/Daily
Best Mediterranean Jerusalem Garden
Certain restaurants, after countless visits, create seamless harmony between patrons. The regulars acclimate to the simple menu, the neighborhood ambience, the charismatic servers and the melt-inyour-mouth mints at checkout. Jerusalem Garden, a Mediterranean Mecca on 5th Street, builds that harmony on the first visit. Pick a seat, any seat — within the confines of the 25 available. The Garden’s floor plan doesn’t cater to the commercially inclined: Instead, it offers crammed barstools and a single hugging hallway. It doesn’t suffocate, but somehow comforts courtesy of its tight quarters. Established in 1987, founder Mr. Ramlawi ran the falafel station himself, crowning himself “Lead Gardener.” He settled for nothing but greatness in every rice pudding, every chicken shawarma and every finger-lick of hummus. That standard for excellence is held today. A falafel pioneer in Ann Arbor, JG embraces the same old recipe and, when dipped in chilly hummus, swoons its victim. No wonder dozens of student orgs, local businesses and professional events cater from The Garden daily. Its tradition, affordability and timeless ambience are secondary to why JG rules. And no, it’s not open late. But trust us, sobriety nicely complements this gem. —ANDREW MCCLURE
Best Sushi Sadako
When I once told my cousin from California that I wasn’t fond of raw fish, she laughed and said, “That’s so middle-of-the-country of you.” As a born-and-raised Midwesterner, I was insulted. And as a Wolverine, I was irked that she would so rudely assume all of Midwest was a cultural wasteland. The best part of Ann Arbor is its diverse restaurant and entertainment scene, which is why my favorite place to relax after a long week is over a plate of shrimp tempura at Sadako. Sadako is not a visual escape, nor does it have any pseudo-Japanese gimmicks — it uses its fresh, simple food to attract customers. You are guaranteed to get exceptional sushi at a low price, surrounded by a diverse mix of sorority girls, tweed-covered professors and international students there for a taste of home. Sadako has options for sushi wimps like myself, with creamy California rolls and crisp Shrimp tempura, while also boasting beautiful seafood creations for those more adventurous. My friends swear by the Cobra rolls, which consist of eel and shrimp nestled between avocado and cucumber. Sadako is humble in all its glory, which makes those $5 rolls all the more satisfying. —NATALIE GADBOIS
TCF voted best bank again! ®
Thank you Michigan Daily readers! Visit us to see why TCF Bank has been voted the best. TCF Totally Free Mcard Student Checking includes special features exclusively for Mcard holders: ®
• NO Minimum Balance Requirement • NO Monthly Maintenance Fee • FREE Online Banking and Bill Pay • FREE Mobile Banking • FREE University of Michigan hoodie
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• FREE checks
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• LINK your Mcard to your TCF CF M Checking account for ATM es and point of sale purchases And more! of Michigan Faculty & Staff! See a TCF Representative for details. Please note that TCF’s standard account service charges will apply. These charges include, for example, fees for overdrafts and returned items (NSFs), dormant accounts, ATM transactions at non-TCF ATMs, and other optional services. Free check images are available through TCF’s online banking service; a monthly fee applies when you request to receive check images with your mailed statements. Talk to a TCF Representative for more information.
TCF Bank Central Campus Branch 1123 S. University Ave. ®
Ann Arbor Locations 1900 Pauline Blvd. • 2701 Plymouth Rd. 401 E. Liberty • 125 Briarwood Circle 1-800-TCF-BANK l tcfbank.com ©2013 TCF National Bank. Member FDIC. tcfbank.com 1With initial opening deposit of $25 or more. Limit one per customer. Recipient is responsible for all applicable taxes. See a TCF Representative. for details. 2 No TCF Fee. The ATM operator may charge a fee. The four (4) free withdrawals per statement cycle apply to in-state withdrawals at non-TCF ATMS. “In-state” refers to the benefits of using non-TCF ATMs in the state in which you opened your account. Free withdrawals at out-of-state ATMs. 3One box of single or duplicate checks per order is provided free from a select variety of styles (otherwise regular pricing applies).