Clover Eats!
Sharing restaurant experiences through photography!
Snapshot: new openings on Liberty!
We walked by today and the restaurant had lots of people inside. The sign reads, “we will be open to the public later this week”!
And of course, no one can forget Slurping Turtle, slated to open April 21st!
CloverEats: vegan/vegetarian fare at The Lunch Room in Ann Arbor
In the little Kerrytown courtyard where our favorite sushi joint Yamato once was, The Lunch Room offers tasty vegan and vegetarian fare. It’s always interesting to see how traditional dishes can be made with only plant ingredients! Everything was fresh, and I loved the space – the spices behind the counter and the bright, giant windows. I got a chai, made with almond milk, which was super spicy. The pad thai had “broad bean thread noodles pan fried with slightly spicy coconut-milk peanut sauce and topped with fresh red pepper, cilantro, cucumber, crushed peanuts and a lime wedge” – the noodles were interesting, but the real star in this dish were the super fresh cucumbers! The peanuts were also very flavorful. The mac and cheese is described as “the ultimate comfort food, the “cheese” is rich with butternut squash & red peppers. Baked to perfection with a crunchy almasen (almonds, lemon zest and sesame seeds) topping” – perhaps because I have certain expectations of what mac and cheese is supposed to taste like, I thought the “cheese” was unfortunately not cheesy at all. I’ve heard great things about their Tempeh Reuben and Breakfast Burrito, and would like to try them sometime. Also, there’s a great variety of baked goods, and while our Boston Creme donut also didn’t taste like a traditional Boston Creme, it was quite delicious! I also feel healthy eating here, and I love how creatively plant-based ingredients are used to make a wide range of unexpected dishes. I was caught off-guard when the dishes we got tasted different from how I expected them to; I think I just need to go into my next meal here with a more open mind. Check them out on Yelp or at their website!
CloverEats: Tmaz Taqueria in Ann Arbor
The first time I was introduced to Tmaz was when leftovers from a large order were left in the library common area. I’m not particularly a taco person, but having it was a late night and I was hungry. The giant tub of sauce, onion, and limes were pretty enticing, so I grabbed a taco and loaded it up. It was amazing. The flavor of the meat was so strong, the shell so soft and perfect, and the lime super refreshing. I think I ended up eating five tacos in one sitting. Since that fateful night, I’ve had a special place in my heart for Tmaz. Their pastries are also quite tasty. Check them out on Yelp or at their website!
CloverSnacks: Happy Hour at the Gandy Dancer
I’ve passed by the charming Gandy Dancer many times on the way to the Amtrak train station, and while I’ve heard that it is a much-loved Ann Arbor classic, I somehow never visited it before. We went for Happy Hour drinks and snacks before the annual medical school Smoker musical, and had a great time. Our waiter, Brian, was fantastic with our large party, doing a great job with orders and splitting the bill at the end. My Mango Mojito was refreshing and sweet. The Hawaiian Poke was tasty, although just having returned from Maui, I was not super impressed. The Scotch Egg was great, and to my surprise, so were the Steamed Mussels and Battered Cod – I blame Monahan’s for my newfound love for fish. The price was very reasonable for our Happy Hour fares. I love the old train station history of the restaurant, and hope to be back sometime to try out dinner and brunch!
CloverEats: Belly Deli in Ann Arbor
I like the design and cute feel to Belly Deli. Their space is hip but kind of tight. I like their bokum balls, and their bahn mi style sammies are pretty tasty. I think they have very reasonable pricing for the size and flavor of their sandwiches. My friend says their cheesesteak is even better than Broadway Cafe! Check them out on Yelp or at their official website!
Snapshot: Grizzly Peaks in Ann Arbor
Another local restaurant that seems to be popular but which has never truly caught my eye is Grizzly Peaks. I like the decorations and brewing equipment, but was not very impressed with my meal. I’m a big mac and cheese person, but wasn’t a fan of the mac and cheese here. Described as “creamy, cheesy and intense. Made with three cheeses, topped with truffled bread crumbs and baked ‘til golden and bubbly” and at $13.95, “recommended with Victor’s Gold”. I wasn’t particularly impressed by the Victor’s Gold, a Kolsch-style beer, described as “a hybrid beer, that is it has both the fruity flavors of an ale (although somewhat muted) and the clean, crisp (less fruity) character of a lager. The addition of a bit of wheat and a lager yeast fermented on the warmer side leads to a light crisp, malty beer with a light fruitiness and a clean hop finish.” Despite my attempts to educate myself on beer types and flavors, most beers still just taste unpleasant to me. Our waiter was attentive, the price was a little high, but overall Grizzly Peaks struck me as another pub restaurant like ABC or Blue Tractor – a reasonably nice place for a meal, but nothing to write home about. Unfortunately, I can’t speak to their beer, which may be a redeeming factor. Check them out on Yelp or at their website!
CloverEats: Lena in Ann Arbor
I really loved the look and feel of Lena. We came in on a cold winter night, so the sizzling fireplace and hole in the wall booth were perfect. The baked goat cheese appetizer was delicious at first, but then became too heavy and salty after the first few bites. My boyfriend thought the fish tacos (beer-battered or pan-seared ocean fish with black bean menestra, sofrito rice, lettuce, escabeche salsa and Ecuadorian chimichurri) were okay. Initially, I was excited about the roasted beet salad (with dressed frisée-lettuce, toasted pine nuts, avocado puree, queso fresco and Cara Cara orange segments), but there was a super salty sauce that tainted the entire dish. Our astute waiter noticed that I didn’t eat much of my salad, and kindly took it off the bill for us. After a couple recent experiences with less than stellar service, it was really refreshing to have a great server who checked in on us exactly the right number of times, and at the right moments. For dessert, the flan was delicious. I forgot my ID and so didn’t get to try any of their cocktails, some of which looked quite interesting, like the Mango Flower (St. Germaine with fresh lime, vodka, simple syrup and ice spheres) or Long Walk to Ecuador (Knob Creek bourbon, Campari, cherry liqueur, Falernum liqueur and fresh muddled blackberries with a whiskey cube). Overall, lovely atmosphere, great service, but mediocre food. Check them out on Yelp or at their website!
Snapshot: pork bokum at Hana in Ypsi
One of my favorite parts about rotating in the Ypsi community clinics is being able to try a whole bunch of new restaurants that are normally too far away. It was hailing/sleeting when I pulled into the parking lot of Hana. Although it appeared run-down from outside, the restaurant had quite a homey interior that reminded me of Maru, the Korean restaurant downtown that closed last year. A nice Korean lady, who appeared to be managing all the tables in the restaurant, quickly seated me and took my order. I got pork bokum, and it was delicious. Although the quality of the meat wasn’t the highest, the sauce was very flavorful, with a perfect balance of sweet and spicy, and the three banchan were quite tasty as well. Lunch was $7. Not the best Korean food in the area, but a great deal for a quick, tasty lunch. Check them out on Yelp!
CloverEats: Zingerman’s Deli in Ann Arbor
Zingerman’s is perhaps one of the most famous restaurants in Ann Arbor. One of my friends who moved away from the city always wants to eat there when she visits. I love their design – everything is colorful and excited! The employees are also all very enthusiastic and energetic. I love looking at the different cheeses, vinegars, and gelatos. They also have great little Spanish and Mayan hot chocolates, thick, delicious concoctions. Over the years, I’ve come to like their garlicky pickle with my salad. They’re a bit on the pricey side for a sandwich, but their ingredients are always fresh, and their whole image is just so cheerful. It truly is a experience! Check them out on Yelp or at their website!
CloverEats: design-your-own rolls at Tamaki in Ann Arbor
I love the concept of Tamaki – while most sushi restaurants are accommodating of personalized rolls, there’s nothing quite like looking over the options and watching them get added to your roll. It’s like the Subway of sushi! They also make rice bowls and pho, which I can never turn down. Although this restaurant has been open for several months now, it still felt like a brand new restaurant – our roll maker forgot about our pho order, and the restaurant was out of several pretty standard supplies like miso soup. Our customized roll was huge and delicious; the Cheeseburger roll (Tempura Roll with Ribeye Steak, Pickle, Cheese,Tomato & Red Onion) was less impressive. The pho was pretty good, with Sriracha and Hoisin readily available at all tables. We got avocado tempura, which I thought would be delicious because both avocado and tempura are delicious, but was kind of soggy. They did have an amazing ginger ale brand that I’ve never tried before, with real chunks of ginger in the bottle. Our meal was also very cheap given the amount of food we got, especially compared to other sushi places. There were very few people when we arrived, but the line got quite long as we were leaving. Overall, a great concept with some flaws in execution and inexperienced staff. Yelp; website.
In other news, I’m very excited about the new Tomukun Korean BBQ restaurant, opening this summer!
Info:
Exploring restaurants in Ann Arbor, Chicagoland, New Haven, and elsewhere.
LocalEats featured blog
Follow on Bloglovin'
Chicago Food Bloggers
Top Posts & Pages
Clover Eats! 