Cocktail Hour: The Ravens Club Old Fashioned

The Ravens Club has one of the most extensive whiskey selections in Michigan. It also makes its own bitters, which add a personal touch to the time-honored, like the Old Fashioned. This “Original Hand Pulled” version is our Cocktail Hour’s featured drink.

Eagle Rare 10-year bourbon is mixed with house-made bitters and Demerara syrup, hand-drawn and served over a two-inch ice block. We noticed hints of orange, cherry, and spice, probably because the menu also listed each note. Regardless, this is refreshing and sturdy. A new take on an old classic.

Zingerman’s Delicatessen in Ann Arbor, Michigan

President Obama recently enjoyed a reuben at this deli in Ann Arbor, so you know it is good. But good is an understatement. This joint is like Disney World for foodies. Really, the only thing that is difficult about being inside its hallowed walls is deciding what to order.

We weren’t joking about the menu. It hardly fit in one photo. Take your time (you might have to anyway; the lines here are worse than any Meatpacking club we’ve been to, but well worth it).

Zingerman’s offers over ten sandwiches under its “Beef” category, and this one is apparently “Dave’s Favorite.” The TNT Cowboy Reuben features hand-pulled BBQ brisket, coleslaw, and provolone cheese. Everything miraculously holds together because of the excellent grilled paesano (a gorgeous seeded hoagie) roll.

Syd’s Design Studio (who comes up with these names??) is a classic choice for breakfast: sausage links, baked eggs, and Vermont cheddar cheese on the ubiquitous toasted sesame bagel.

Not feeling any of the extensive house-baked breads Zingerman’s has to offer? Try this decadent macaroni and cheese.

Rating: Outstanding. This is a place you fly to Detroit Metropolitan Airport for. Even the free pickle–your choice of garlic-cured or crunchy-cucumber–is a cut above. Perhaps more important, in today’s dark day of murky, misleading food and nutrition labeling, Zingerman’s proudly states the farms where all of its meat, cheese, and produce come from.
Dish Tips: It would be an impossible task to eat your way through the whole menu–which, when laid out on its website–is sixteen pages, but it’s a safe bet that you’ll like anything you order here. A friend of ours recommends the renowned beef, pastrami, and corned beef sandwiches in particular. Well, there are 23 to choose from, so perhaps start there. End with the fabulous house-made gelato (yes, Zingerman’s doubles as a creamery). We like ginger and maple pecan.
Good For: A food orgasm.

Angelo’s in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Angelo’s is more than just an Ann Arbor staple–it’s a piece of history, too. Lines have been forming around Catherine Street since 1953, when Angelo Vangelatos and his wife, Patricia, opened the diner.

Inside, the decor is vintage 1950s diner, with chalkboard specials of the day and waiters who are even happier than you are to be here.

Angelo’s bakes its bread in-house every morning, so a good bet is this delicious raisin french toast, which can be deep-fried and smothered with blueberries and strawberries upon request.

Grade: Recommended. Sit in a booth and watch time stand still while you enjoy the surprisingly diverse menu offerings.
Dish Tips: Anything involving the house-baked bread, particularly the French Toast (we recommend the raisin variety), or the Special Breakfast, which also includes three eggs, bacon, sausage, and ham.
Good For: Breakfast!

Sidetrack in Ypsilanti, Michigan

Sidetrack’s burger has been rated among the “top 20 burgers” in the nation by GQ Magazine, but this old-school bar and grill is more than just a pair of nice-lookin’ buns. Take, for instance, the wonderful selection of beers on draft or by the bottle, or the dangerously addictive fried pickles, which are better than any we’ve had in New York City. If you are looking outside the menu, take one look at the view, which may include several oncoming trains which seem to nearly be coming your way during various points of the meal.

Sidetrack was built adjacent to the historic railroad tracks in Depot Town. Inside, it is energetic bar meets cozy ski lounge.

Can’t decide which of the 24 beers on tap to order? Sample a flight of four, including these seasonal and small batch brews.

This is the customer burger contest winner: “The Tom Halvorson BBQ Slaw Burger” on a slightly sweet and chewy pretzel bun. The medium-rare beef is topped with BBQ pork, two slices of cheddar, and fresh cole slaw. Unfortunately, the taste of the beef was lost amid all the toppings. The real star of the plate might be the garlicky sweet potato fries–and the accompanying house-made horseradish. Ask for extra.

Greasy and delicious, these beer-battered pickles are another house specialty. Perfect for sharing, and a nice pairing with the beer.

Grade: Recommended. While the burger we sampled wasn’t among the handful of ones we’d need to eat before we died, it was solid and atypical, particularly with the requested pretzel bun. Even better, however, is the old-school, home-town ambiance and the fantastic beer list and drink specials.
Dish Tips: The original handcrafted cheeseburger, beer battered pickles, sweet potato fries (add the garlic and horseradish, and you’re in for a real treat).
Good For: Groups! A beer and a burger or simply a casual dinner. In warmer weather, diners can take in the unusual view on the patio.