I've been to Gratzi several times in my life and this was my most recent visit. My family and I went for my Mom's birthday dinner. During the Summer they have outdoor seating where, if you want, you can have drinks before your table is ready. My parents had a a nice red wine sangria which I got a taste ( I missed drinks time because I was at work) When our table was ready we were taken inside the restaurant. There is an upstairs and a downstairs. I believe I've only been in the downstairs area myself. However the upstairs looks nice as well. Especially the tables that are near the large glass window that takes over the top and lower levels. We were sat in one of the cozy booths. I prefer the booths over the tables because it's more intimate and quieter.
Our server Molly handed us a wine list and menus. After looking over a wine list I chose an Italian Pino Grigio; we were in an Italian restaurant anyway. The wine was crisp and smooth without a sharp after taste which I hate when drinking wine. Now a side note: on Main street there are two Italian restaurants across the way from each other. Palio's across the street focuses more on Southern Italian cuisine and Gratzi focuses on Northern Italian cuisine. So even though there are two Italian restaurants on the same block they still serve entirely different types of food.
Their menu has many choices for everyones tastes. Now they even serve gluten and wheat free pasta which I think is great news. Having gluten free pasta opens up the menu to patrons with gluten allergies. My Dad and I decided to split two entrees. I ordered the goat cheese ravioli with pancetta. My Dad ordered the veal tenderloin with garlic mashed potatoes. My Mom ordered the filet minion. My ravioli was good but the combination of the pacetta and the goat cheese made the dish a very salty. It wasn't so salty that I couldn't enjoy it, but for some people that may not be the case. Actually when I micro-waved the left overs the next day it killed the salty taste quite a bit. My Dad's veal was wonderful and cooked perfectly. The garlic potatoes were tasty compliment to the veal without being over powering.
I did not get desert but my Mom did. It was her birthday and she got a free cannoli. However she was bummed that her free cannoli was the traditional rolled one instead of the stacked version which is much fresher and needs to be eaten right away. If I had gotten desert I would've gotten a mouse.
I enjoyed the my time and meal at Gratzi. It is a great place for a birthday, a date or other special occasion. There's no special kids menu so unless your children have adventurous taste I wouldn't recommend brining them here. If you want to experience a different side of Italian cuisine then I would recommend giving Gratzi a try.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Bin 152
This is a wonderful wine bar I went to in Charleston SC. The owners Michael and Patrick are awesome. They serve strictly wine and a few beers. So if you are looking for a fancy cocktail then this is not the place for you. The owners are very knowledgable about the selection of wines they carry.This is wonderful for someone for like me who knows next to nothing about wine.
As far as food goes they have delicious cheese and cured meat plates. While there I had a smooth goat cheese plate. It may not sound like a lot of food but with the generous helping of fresh baked bread it fills you up.I didn't get a chance to try one of the meat plates but they looked really good.
The place is very chill and relaxed,which is a breath of fresh air in a sea of roudy loud bars in this college town. Bin 152 is a great place to meet local Charleston people. During the three nights I went there I met really cool people. They serve wine by the glass starting at $7 and going up from there. The plates start at $5 and go up from there as well.
The next time I'm in Charleston this is the first place I plan on going for drink and a good time. I defiantly rcommend coming here. It's a great place to go for a good glass of wine, great conversation and friendly Southern charm.
As far as food goes they have delicious cheese and cured meat plates. While there I had a smooth goat cheese plate. It may not sound like a lot of food but with the generous helping of fresh baked bread it fills you up.I didn't get a chance to try one of the meat plates but they looked really good.
The place is very chill and relaxed,which is a breath of fresh air in a sea of roudy loud bars in this college town. Bin 152 is a great place to meet local Charleston people. During the three nights I went there I met really cool people. They serve wine by the glass starting at $7 and going up from there. The plates start at $5 and go up from there as well.
The next time I'm in Charleston this is the first place I plan on going for drink and a good time. I defiantly rcommend coming here. It's a great place to go for a good glass of wine, great conversation and friendly Southern charm.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Webers Review
Weber's is a staple in the restaurant world of Ann Arbor. Not only does Weber's have an excellent hotel they have a wonderful restaurant where tourists and local go to enjoy and fine meal. The cuisine is traditional American Fare. Steak, seafood and lamb chops are common on the menu. The rotating seasonal specials are thankfully not absurdly priced. Which at some restaurants they are.
The decor also changes every few years. The last time I was there they had the large hanging fruit in the main dining room. The restaurant is separated into two parts. The main dinning room lit mainly with tall stain glass windows. The seating consists of long cushion booths and deep set wooden chairs. There are also circular booths for larger intimate parties. The second part is better suited for more romantic occasions. It a darker dining area light only by flickering candles on each table. The seating is the same deep set wooden chairs as the other room. The round tables can make it a little crowded for four or more people.
Even though the menu is typical American restaurant food it does not disappoint. The main dishes do not come piled with a laundry list of side dishes. They come with one or two complementary side dishes. I had the New York Strip steak that came with a baked potato. My dining companion had one of the specials; Oregon Salmon. It came with garlic mashed potatoes and sweet candied onions. She said the salmon was a bit over cooked for her liking, but still enjoyed it. Each diner had the option of a soup or salad. Their soup that night was cheeseburger soup. It was in honor of the University of Michigan game that day. Not something you'd should expect to frequent Weber's on a regular basis. The bread basket comes with your standard butter as well as pate. If you're familiar with pate, it's basically liver paste that is often common with bread or crackers. Weber's is a good place to start is you're interested in trying it.
The staff was attentive but not over bearing. Both our waiter and the manager made sure our meals where cooked to perfection. We were easily able to get a 6:00PM reservation on a Saturday night. Weber's is popular but that doesn't mean you'll be waiting and hour and half for a table. Another good thing is that Weber's offers a free shuttle to and from the University of Michigan games. A plus for football fans looking a for a warm meal and good nights sleep at the hotel.
Whether you're looking to celebrate a graduation or go for a romantic night out Weber's is a great choice. Their ambiance is perfect for almost any occasion. The menu has something to offer for everyone, even children. So the next time you're looking for a classy affordable place to eat out in Ann Arbor give Weber's a try.
Weber's
3050 Jackson Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
The decor also changes every few years. The last time I was there they had the large hanging fruit in the main dining room. The restaurant is separated into two parts. The main dinning room lit mainly with tall stain glass windows. The seating consists of long cushion booths and deep set wooden chairs. There are also circular booths for larger intimate parties. The second part is better suited for more romantic occasions. It a darker dining area light only by flickering candles on each table. The seating is the same deep set wooden chairs as the other room. The round tables can make it a little crowded for four or more people.
Even though the menu is typical American restaurant food it does not disappoint. The main dishes do not come piled with a laundry list of side dishes. They come with one or two complementary side dishes. I had the New York Strip steak that came with a baked potato. My dining companion had one of the specials; Oregon Salmon. It came with garlic mashed potatoes and sweet candied onions. She said the salmon was a bit over cooked for her liking, but still enjoyed it. Each diner had the option of a soup or salad. Their soup that night was cheeseburger soup. It was in honor of the University of Michigan game that day. Not something you'd should expect to frequent Weber's on a regular basis. The bread basket comes with your standard butter as well as pate. If you're familiar with pate, it's basically liver paste that is often common with bread or crackers. Weber's is a good place to start is you're interested in trying it.
The staff was attentive but not over bearing. Both our waiter and the manager made sure our meals where cooked to perfection. We were easily able to get a 6:00PM reservation on a Saturday night. Weber's is popular but that doesn't mean you'll be waiting and hour and half for a table. Another good thing is that Weber's offers a free shuttle to and from the University of Michigan games. A plus for football fans looking a for a warm meal and good nights sleep at the hotel.
Whether you're looking to celebrate a graduation or go for a romantic night out Weber's is a great choice. Their ambiance is perfect for almost any occasion. The menu has something to offer for everyone, even children. So the next time you're looking for a classy affordable place to eat out in Ann Arbor give Weber's a try.
Weber's
3050 Jackson Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Sunday, September 26, 2010
The Jolly Pumpkin Review
Are you a vegetarian, vegan? Well the Jolly Pumpkin is just the place for you. It's a new restaurant that caters to these cliental as well as carnivores. This cozy place is tucked in the busy Main street stretch between Liberty and Williams. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. It's loud but people are still able to caring on a conversation without shouting. The restaurant is also brewery which makes its own selection of beer with seasonal ale throughout the year. There's a long dark wood bar goes almost the whole length of the restaurant. Old time lanterns light the place giving it the feel of a neighborhood bar in a small town where everyone knows everybody. The dark wood decor makes the place feel cozy are great place to come warm up on a cold night. There is also an upstairs part that is more like a traditional bar with a limited menu. Patrons can go up there and have a drink or an appetizer waiting for their table.
The menu is short but still has many choices to offer. None of the options exceed $12. The very unique choices in pizza are wonderful with fresh ingredients. They sour dough crust is very delicious. They used to over a gluten-free crust but have recently stopped. The pizzas are about 14 inches big and are plenty of food for one person, but not quite enough to share. So getting your own pizza is the best choice, or perhaps splitting two. There are some ambitious options as well including truffle fries and a basil limeade. They also have specials every night that are pricier then the regular menu. Even the specials don't go above $19. The deserts were just as heavenly has the main courses. The vegan chocolate cake was well portioned and so moist you'd swear there was egg in it. The ice cream came in two flavors vanilla bean and dark chocolate. But people with nut allergies should be warned, the ice cream is made with coconut milk.
The wait-staff is very friendly and extremely accommodating. When my dining companion forgot to mention she needed gluten-free crust on her pizza, our waiter immediately put in a new order for her pizza with the correct crust and he also took it off her bill as well. He let us take our time ordering our food and we didn't feel rushed to finish out meal in a timely manner. The most shocking part of the meal was how cheap the bill was. A two people going out could easily get a drink, entree and desert for a little under $15 each. Thats even better then Applebees.
The Jolly Pumpkin is a wonderful place for a first date or two old friends to catch-up. The decor and quality of food is not sacrificed for the very affordable price. The Jolly Pumpkin is sure to become a Ann Arborite favorite.
~Food Love
Jolly Pumpkin
311 South Main
Ann Arbor, MI
~Food Love
Jolly Pumpkin
311 South Main
Ann Arbor, MI
Tomukun Noodle Bar Review
This was my second time going to Tomukun Noodle Bar in Ann Arbor. I was excited about this place even before it opened last Spring. Noodles in general have been my favorite food for a long time. This coupled with my love of Asian cuisine was perfect. Their menu is not very large but it offers a nice array of Asian soup dishes.
This restaurant is not very big. The seating relatively comfortable. On one side there's a long wood bench that acts as seating for about five tables. On the other side are wooden chairs. It's not too bad but they're not something you want to lounge in. Even though the place is small my friend and I were seated right away. When I went there the first time I went on a Friday night and there was also no wait. The music is loud but not so loud that it drowns out your dining companions conversation. There is a TV above the bar but the sound is turned off and nobody was really paying attention to it, so it seemed a tad unnecessary.
My friend whom I was dining with ordered the pork buns. She liked them but she wasn't pleased with the extra fat around the pork. I had the pan fried pork dumpling which were great. the dumplings were crunchy and the dipping sauce complemented it wonderfully. For the main course my friend ordered the Be Bim Bop which is a Korean rice dish. I had the Duck Udon. The Duck was exterior was crispy but didn't over power the flavor of the broth. I'd had other Udon soups where the flavor of the boiled meat ruined the flavor of the soup and made it taste down right fowl. But this was much better. The portions are generous but not overwhelming. The beverage list is limited but the refills keep on coming.
Tomukun is not for unadventurous eaters. This is real Asian cuisine not some Americanized version. Their menu includes mostly authentic Korean and Japanese dishes. Each dish lists the ingredients underneath which is great for people to know what they're getting up front. The prices range from $3-$6 for appetizers and $9-$11 for main dishes. It's relatively cheap which is perfect for a college town like Ann Arbor. One down side there is no dessert here. So you'll have to go else where to satisfy your sweet tooth.
This having been my second time being here I would defiantly go back. The hot soup is wonderful for the cold weather coming our way. This would be a great place to bring a date but I wouldn't bring the kids unless you know for sure they like this kind of food. If this place was in New York City there would be a two hour wait, but here in Ann Arbor their waiting for you.
~Food Love
Tomukun Noodle Bar
505 E. Liberty St
Ann Arbor, MI
This restaurant is not very big. The seating relatively comfortable. On one side there's a long wood bench that acts as seating for about five tables. On the other side are wooden chairs. It's not too bad but they're not something you want to lounge in. Even though the place is small my friend and I were seated right away. When I went there the first time I went on a Friday night and there was also no wait. The music is loud but not so loud that it drowns out your dining companions conversation. There is a TV above the bar but the sound is turned off and nobody was really paying attention to it, so it seemed a tad unnecessary.
My friend whom I was dining with ordered the pork buns. She liked them but she wasn't pleased with the extra fat around the pork. I had the pan fried pork dumpling which were great. the dumplings were crunchy and the dipping sauce complemented it wonderfully. For the main course my friend ordered the Be Bim Bop which is a Korean rice dish. I had the Duck Udon. The Duck was exterior was crispy but didn't over power the flavor of the broth. I'd had other Udon soups where the flavor of the boiled meat ruined the flavor of the soup and made it taste down right fowl. But this was much better. The portions are generous but not overwhelming. The beverage list is limited but the refills keep on coming.
Tomukun is not for unadventurous eaters. This is real Asian cuisine not some Americanized version. Their menu includes mostly authentic Korean and Japanese dishes. Each dish lists the ingredients underneath which is great for people to know what they're getting up front. The prices range from $3-$6 for appetizers and $9-$11 for main dishes. It's relatively cheap which is perfect for a college town like Ann Arbor. One down side there is no dessert here. So you'll have to go else where to satisfy your sweet tooth.
This having been my second time being here I would defiantly go back. The hot soup is wonderful for the cold weather coming our way. This would be a great place to bring a date but I wouldn't bring the kids unless you know for sure they like this kind of food. If this place was in New York City there would be a two hour wait, but here in Ann Arbor their waiting for you.
~Food Love
Tomukun Noodle Bar
505 E. Liberty St
Ann Arbor, MI
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