Happy hour mussels at the Earle are one of the best deals in town.
Jessica Webster | AnnArbor.com
If you're looking to eat well in Ann Arbor but need to stay on a moderate budget, you might find yourself frustrated. Ed Vielmetti
recently wrote up a guide to eating gourmet sandwiches on the cheap, but what about sit-down dinner service? For the most part, it's all about timing.
I'm a big fan of
The Earle. I love the wine list, the live jazz, and the cozy romantic atmosphere. And, it turns out, it can be pretty affordable as long as you're dining in the wine bar. Every weekday evening, early diners can partake of a bowl of The Earle's delicious steamed mussels for just $2.75. Served in a broth of white wine, garlic and tomatoes, and accompanied by a basket of fresh bread to soak up the broth, this is one of the most delicious small plates in the city. Get there early, though. The mussels are only available between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Just a block away, the bar menu at Grange offers reasonably priced plates for the farm-to-fork crowd. Head upstairs to the bar for a separate menu that showcases the restaurant's featured hamburger, delicious poutine fries, spicy fried chicken bits, and more. While you're there, you might consider sampling one of the Grange's delicious cocktails - if you like that sort of thing.
The bar is the place to be at Weber's, too. My friend Molly Motherwell reports that Weber's Habitat Lounge offers its famous prime rib at a steep discount on Monday evenings. Hit the lounge between 5 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Mondays and enjoy the prime rib for just $9.95.
Bruschetta with locally farmed shrimp is one of the appetizers you might find offered for free on Thursdays after 9:30 p.m. at eve the restaurant.
Jessica Webster | AnnArbor.com
It doesn't get much cheaper than free, and that's the price for a rotating selection of appetizers in the bar area at
eve the restaurant on Thursdays after 9:30 p.m. The night we tried it out, we arrived right at 9:30 p.m., and ordered one of Eve's famous
ginger-lime martinis and a wine flight. After about 15 minutes, two trays of appetizers came out of the kitchen. We sampled some delicious shrimp bruschetta topped with Parmesan and tamarind chili-lime chicken wings. We were told there's usually a live band or a DJ, but we were happy with the
Italian lounge jazz they were piping in over the house sound system.
Of course there are specials and birthday deals all across the city. You can eat at any
Mainstreet Ventures restaurant for free on your birthday, and some of the weeknight specials at
Zingerman's Roadhouse are very reasonably priced.Â
Do you have a favorite undiscovered dining deal in Ann Arbor? Post it below or e-mail it to me at
JessicaWebster@AnnArbor.com, and if I get enough responses I will post another cheap eats roundup.
Comments
Peggy Lampman
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 5:09 p.m.
Great great article, Jessica! My girl's nite happy hour group will be thrilled w/this plus the great comments for other spots. I remember the Roadhouse has a different dinner special most nites too. Peggy
Cat
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 4:50 p.m.
I have been trying to find a list of happy hour type specials for this area lately. In Grand Rapids they have a site called wikibar that is very informative. The sites I have found for this part of the state have not been as user friendly as I want. Is anyone familular with the site I am longing for? Maybe annarbor.com could compile the information in this article and comments for us:)
dextermom
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 3:50 p.m.
If you haven't tried the discount coupons on restaurant.com or smartdining.com. you are missing out on some very cheap eats, too. Wide variety of restaurants.
dextermom
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 3:47 p.m.
I'm glad someone finally said Gratzi's. Half off their fantastic appetizers. Our favorite it the beef you cook on a hot rock. The lettuce wraps are also fabulous. Dumplings. Sushi. I could go on forever. Including a couple drinks each and tip, the 2 of us are out under $30 for a huge amount of truly wonderful food.
Suki
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 3:22 p.m.
My "eat cheap" approach -- I have a Borders card (free) and they send a weekly email with partner offers. When one of their partners, Restaurant.com, has a deal I go online to Restaurant.com and get certificates. With the Borders typical 80% off discount, a certificate for $25 off costs only $2. Several Ann Arbor and Ypsi restaurants participate. I've used this most recently at Logan, Tio's (go early and get the margaritas for half price as well) and Raja Rani. I think The Earle usually participates as well. Works like a charm -- just make sure to tip the server on the pre-discount amount.
pj
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 2:11 p.m.
I'm with RhondaM!
RhondaM
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 12:37 p.m.
My Husband and I will share a dinner and get an extra side (soup, salad, etc). That keeps the cost down too :)
Chrysta Cherrie
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 10:45 a.m.
Happy hour at the Gandy Dancer (Monday-Friday 4:30-6:30) also offers deeply discounted good eats. My dining companions enjoyed the sliders, steamed mussels and tuna sashimi ($5 apiece), while I was into the portobello fries, bruschetta ($3 apiece) and cheese plate ($4).
Patti Smith
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 10:29 a.m.
I just got a pint of beer from Cottage Inn for $2.50 (well not "just"...I mean last night :)). Whole Foods on Ike has some good beer/wine deals, too. Jessica, I totally want to go to the eve thing you mentioned...that restaurant is way out of my price range normally but I've always wanted to go :)
Erik
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 9:43 a.m.
Gratzi's Happy Hour is M-F from 3:00 until 6:00. It is available only when seated at the bar or outside. Any food item on the menu under $20 is half off and glasses of wine are $2 off. Bottled beer, draft beer, and cocktails are $1 off.
ShadowManager
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 9:27 a.m.
Cheapest eats in the area? Head down the road east a few miles to most restaurants in Ypsilanti.
Christine Ayers
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 8:45 a.m.
@ Karen Grange has a great Happy Hour M-F (5-7) & Saturdays (10pm-1am) $2 off everything on the Bar Menu, their Signature & Classic Cocktails & wines by the glass. (i.e. spicy chickpeas $2, scotch duck egg $2, spicy chicken bits $4, duck fat fries $3)
Barb Roether
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 8:04 a.m.
Thanks Jessie. Such a fun article about a topic near and dear to many of us. My husband and I found that Blue Tractor had a great happy hour deal until 6:00 this summer.This included some food items too. Ashley's also offered some good deals early in day as did Bar Louie on beer prices. Eating early does have its advantages!
Sarah Rigg
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 7:45 a.m.
Not as fancy as the places you've listed, but Guy Hollerin (off Plymouth Road) has happy hours Thurs-Sat. that include cheap domestic beer and free appetizers. I've seen cheese pizza, taco rollups and wings there, free. It's been a while since I've been there, but I think it's still the same deal.
Pat Putman
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 7:36 a.m.
Nice job Jessica. Your article was quite timely, especially where the downtown area is concerned. realizing that you can't be "everywhere all the time", here's an additional tip on another place...Paesano, on Washtenaw near Arborland, has wine tastings every Wednesday at 6pm. Five to six different wines and small plates that compliment them for 25.00. They also have a very nice appetizer\small plate menu for bar patrons that ranges from 3.95 to 7.95 for items like stuffed mushroom caps, marinated olives with soft breadsticks & a salmon mousse.
a2ta
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 7:29 a.m.
We just discovered a fantastic deal. Blue Tractor every Monday-all day. A double burger with grilled onions, cheese, etc. Perfectly cooked and delicious! $2.95!
Karen
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 6:47 a.m.
"Just a block away, the bar menu at Grange offers reasonably priced plates for the farm-to-fork crowd. Head upstairs to the bar for a separate menu that showcases the restaurant's featured hamburger, delicious poutine fries, spicy fried chicken bits, and more." You mention prices for the other venues, can you give us an idea of what the bar menu prices are at Grange?