Restaurant Buzz : All posts

Saline Reporter: Saline Benito's Pizza hopes move will attract more diners

Benito’s Pizza will be moving to what was formerly Little Caesars at 100 S. Ann Arbor St. in Saline, in hopes the new location will bring in more business, according to the Saline Reporter.

with gallery: 'Best Burger' winner Sidetrack Bar and Grill remains a Depot Town anchor

Ypsilanti's Sidetrack Bar and Grill has been a Depot Town anchor since opening in 1979 and with more than 800 hamburgers sold on a daily basis, the demand continues to grow.

"On a busy day, we shoot up to over 1,000," said Sidetrack Bar and Grill owner Linda French. "I started this business when I was really young, so I've grown up with my customers. We have a huge, huge customer base."

Food & Grocery: Top 5: Menus to try for Ann Arbor Restaurant Week

Pan fried walleye with hand-pressed onion broth, shallot, brandade, and apple at Vellum.

Daniel Brenner I AnnArbor.com

Never fear. After combing through the menus on AnnArborRestaurantWeek.com, I’ve put together a list of five restaurants with interesting, creative menus. Each of these restaurants is one where I have dined recently and enjoyed the experience, so I am confident that they’ll deliver the goods this week.

1. Vellum, 209 S. Main

I was impressed last week when chef and owner Peter Roumanis served up a simple anchovy on brioche for Taste of Ann Arbor. To me, it shows his dedication to deep flavors and his refusal to talk down to his customer. His Restaurant Week menu reflects this point of view as well, with interesting combinations like a carrot-parsnip soup with gingerbread and a game terrine with sour cherry, apple and sweet pistachio.

Selma Cafe to open for brunch at new location after troubles with city codes

The communal dining room at Sunward Cohousing in Scio Township that Selma Cafe will use for brunch June 22.

Courtesy photo

Pho House set to re-open following temporary closing in late May

Pho House located at 2224 Washtenaw Ave in Ypsilanti Township.

Courtney Sacco I AnnArbor.com

Owners of Knight's Steakhouse sign lease to open restaurant in downtown Ann Arbor

Don Knight, Colliers International's Jim Chaconas, Jeff Knight, Colliers International's Brendan Cavender and developer Ron Hughes outside the former Borders building in downtown Ann Arbor.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com

Downtown Ann Arbor's Real Seafood Company reopens after two-week renovation

The new exterior at Real Seafood Company in downtown Ann Arbor.

Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com

Louwsma family reunites at Blimpy Burger for one final meal before the big move

Brothers Dave and Don Louwsma and their families enjoy a family reunion at Blimpy Burger Saturday.

Lisa Carolin | AnnArbor.com

Eldest brother Jack Lousma—the well-known astronaut, who spells his name differently than his siblings—along with sister Judy Gertz, and brothers Jim, David and Don Louwsma (in that birth order) have a long history at Blimpy Burger. They all grew up in Ann Arbor in the 1950s and '60s, when burgers at Blimpy could be had for a few coins.

Hello! Ice Cream: Ann Arbor entrepreneur launches Italian-style ice cream business

Italian-style ice cream -- or gelato -- from Ann Arbor's Hello! Ice Cream.

Hello! Ice Cream Facebook

Ypsilanti coney island owner calls lawsuit over hot corned beef hash 'ridiculous'

A lawsuit filed recently in Washtenaw County alleges an Ypsilanti coney island restaurant served a woman scorching hot corned beef hash that burned her mouth, according to court records.

food & grocery: Taste of Ann Arbor coming to Main Street on Sunday, June 2

Michigan Theater volunteer Katy Blackhall sells tickets during the annual Taste of Ann Arbor along Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor in 2011.

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com file photo

Area food fans are invited to sample dishes from more than 40 area restaurants, whose booths will line Main Street. The event is free, but tickets for food can be purchased for 50 cents each. Most dishes will be priced between four and six tickets.

Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea in Ypsilanti to add outdoor cafe

Sweetwaters employee Nathan Gire fills an order during the first day of business at the new location at 735 W. Cross St. in Ypsilanti on Tuesday, March 19, 2013.

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

The Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea location in Ypsilanti will add an outdoor cafe in June.

Owner Lisa Bee said the cafe will be similar to the ones at her other locations and will be located on the right side of the building, across from an adjacent parking lot.

Great Lake Chinese Seafood Restaurant on Carpenter Road closes

Great Lake Chinese Seafood Restaurant on Carpenter Road near Packard Road closed Tuesday, May 14. Landlord Mun Gee said the owners closed due to personal issues she could not comment on.

Pop-up restaurant Righteous Rojo coming back to Ann Arbor Saturday

Wing of chicken with colatura, calabrian chilies, honey, and fried garlic from Righteous Rojo, one of the dishes featured at Saturday night's pop-up at the Ann Arbor Club.

Courtesy photo

Righteous Rojo is the brainchild of full-time graphic designer and part-time chef Brad Greenhill. Greenhill began his culinary career at D'Amatos in Ann Arbor and went on to work at other Myles Anton restaurants before heading to Boston's North End to head up his own kitchen team.

After forging a path in the food world, Greenhill switched gears and made his way back to southeast Michigan.

McDonald's resubmits site plan to reconfigure restaurant on Carpenter Road

The entrance of McDonald's on Carpenter Road in Pittsfield Township.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com

Bona Sera Cafe in Ypsilanti opens new outdoor cafe

Bona Sera Cafe in Ypsilanti has opened a new outdoor cafe that will be open for use during the spring and summer months.

Owner Annette Weathers said the cafe was put up Friday morning, ahead of The Color Run event on Saturday.

food & grocery: Where is your favorite place to enjoy a weekend brunch?

Ricotta pancakes at Jolly Pumpkin in Ann Arbor.

Jessica Webster | AnnArbor.com

As an adult in Ann Arbor, I'm still very much a fan of brunch, and we have more choices than I'm able to fully appreciate. From the dizzying array of choices at Gandy Dancer's excellent Sunday brunch to the "simple, honest" choices at Beezy's in Ypsilanti, to the ridiculously delicious sweet and savory explosion that is the Grits & Bits waffle at Zingerman's Roadhouse, we've got a whole lot of brunch here.

Glee star and U-M grad Darren Criss spotted at Bill's Beer Garden Thursday

Glee cast member Darren Criss posed with the staff of Bill's Beer Garden during a quick break Thursday night. Left to right: Phillis Engelbert, Crystal Conway, Brian Carbine, Darren Criss, Andy Sell.

Courtesy photo

University of Michigan grad and Glee star Darren Criss (Blaine Anderson on the popular TV program) was in Ann Arbor last week, and dropped by Bill's Beer Garden with some friends on Thursday night.

Domino's Pizza installs in-store cameras so customers can watch live video feed

Customers can watch a live video feed of Domino's pizzas being prepared at a store in Utah.

Dominoslive.com

Michigan Daily: Amer's Deli closing in Michigan Union after 19 years of business

After nearly 20 years in the Michigan Union, Amer’s Mediterranean Deli will close its doors for good Saturday, May 4.

According to a report in the Michigan Daily, an anonymous Facebook campaign that garnered more than 1,100 likes was not enough to save the restaurant.