Unfortunately for University of Michigan seniors, it’s almost graduation time. That means it’s time for bucket lists. Break into the stadium at night (#worthit), paint the rock one last time, do a bar crawl, a scavenger hunt, sit in on a lecture you’re not enrolled in, and find a place to sign Skeeps.
Wherever you go next will no doubt have great food, but won’t bring you the same memories as a hungover MoJo brunch on Sundays. Bonus points if you got there during breakfast hours and stayed until they brought out the chocolate chip cookies. So, we’d like to bring you the food bucket list for Ann Arbor. The Freshman 15 has nothing on the Senior 20.
1. Tarb’s Tenacious Tenure at Zingerman’s
If you know, I don’t need to tell you. But if you’ve been coming to Zingerman’s for the past four years and getting the Reuben every single time because President Barack Obama did, you’re doing it wrong. Not that there’s anything wrong with the Reuben. But #73, Tarb’s Tenacious Tenure is something you just need to try before you leave. My love for this sandwich knows no bounds. Someone stole half of mine from the sorority house kitchen fridge in 2008 and I am still
2. Dinner from No Thai #3
A photo posted by Derek Alonzi (@derekalonzi) on Jul 3, 2015 at 11:14am PDT
Guys, do you even know about No Thai #3? Or did you spend your first two years braving the lines at the South U location and then going to Kerrytown during your last two in an effort to be classy? Head over to the location on Plymouth St. The drunken noodles are still on fleek (that’s what the college kids are saying, right?). The Sweet & Spicy Chicken is the same sweet and spicy goodness that the other two locations have, plus you’ll run into fewer people you know. This is probably for the best, especially when you get to that inevitable point in the meal where you’re just using a spoon as a vehicle for the sauce. Note: We do not endorse going to No Thai #4, which is located in East Lansing. Ever.
3. Collider at Rod’s Diner
The collider is Rod’s Diner’s version of a blizzard. Get yours with Cap’n Crunch for maximum bliss. Ice cream season lasts all of about three weeks in Ann Arbor, but when that glorious time comes,
4. Chipati at Pizza Bob’s
A photo posted by AnnArborEats (@annarbor_eats) on Nov 8, 2013 at 3:44pm PST
You’ll know people who swear by the Chipati at Pizza House. Those people are called liars. Stay away from those people. They’re the same kind of people who think 10:00am is an acceptable wakeup time for a 12:00pm game. For the uninitiated, a Chipati is basically a salad except that there’s literally nothing healthy about it. It’s an enormous pita that probably weighs ten lbs filled with lettuce, tomato, raw mushrooms, and shredded cheese probably from a bag, with an addictive sauce on the side. It’s incredible, and also probably all of the calories and carbohydrates you need to consume for three days. You can add chicken, you can not add chicken. Live your life. Just make sure you get it at Pizza Bob’s. Pizza House is for post-Rick’s cheesy bread and pizza only. Both with ranch. Speaking of…
5. Feta Bread at Pizza House
If a night at Rick’s doesn’t end at pizza house, were you even at Rick’s at all? Get the feta bread (or any kind of cheesy bread) and pizza and hang out at this sit-down late
6. Climb Mount Nacheesmo at Tio’s Mexican Cafe
A photo posted by t{AA}ste buds (@taaste_buds) on Nov 2, 2015 at 3:00pm PST
This isn’t the greatest food in Ann Arbor, but if Adam Richman climbed the mountain for Man Vs. Food, it’s definitely something you should try. It’s a 5 lb plate of nachos (supposedly the biggest in the world). If you don’t feel like conquering it yourself, share one with friends and throw back a few margaritas. It’s a good memory.
7. Frita at Frita Batidos
A photo posted by Frita Batidos (@fritabatidos) on Jan 9, 2016 at 2:50pm PST
Frita Batidos is Cuban-inspired street food by Eve Aronoff, who you may remember from season six of Top Chef. She originally opened a fine dining restaurant that you would go to with your parents, but Frita Batidos is what’s up. You could still take your parents here, especially if they want to feel cool. Get the chorizo, but if that’s not your thing, any of the fritas will do the trick.
8. Lobster Bisque at Le Dog
A photo posted by Jen Gottfried (@jennnycrocker) on Nov 20, 2015 at 11:50am PST
Get a hot dog at Le Dog. No, JK. Don’t do that at all, that’s not what you do at Le Dog. Do get the soup,
9. Raisin Bread at Angelo’s
A photo posted by stephanie neel (@cvrrent_mood) on Jan 30, 2016 at 9:06am PST
Sometimes you wake up and you need an omelet the size of your head, and that is what Angelo’s is for. It’s an Ann Arbor institution that has been around since 1956 and in the same family since it opened. The omelets, sandwiches and other breakfast items are good, but it’s the raisin bread toast that’s always the star of the show. Don’t skip it because you’re “gluten free” or on a “spring break diet,” that’s what post-college is for.
10. Burger at Blimpy Burger
A photo posted by #eatingthesix #torontoeaters (@torontoeaters) on Mar 20, 2016 at 9:22am PDT
Blimpy Burger was putting fried eggs on burgers before you ever even thought of that as an option. Guy Fieri did an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives here. They’re in a new location now (RIP old Blimpy Burger) but they’re still grinding their own beef and doing it really, really well. Get a
11. Hippie Hash at Fleetwood Diner
A photo posted by Kallan Larsen (@kallamanders) on Apr 2, 2016 at 4:54am PDT
Fleetwood diner is open 24 hours and is home to the famous hippie hash, which is homemade hash browns topped with grilled tomato, green pepper, onion, mushroom and broccoli topped with feta cheese. It’s really good. Come in after the bar closes at 2:00am. Order Hippie Hash. Eat. Repeat.
12. Late Night Anything At Panchero’s
A photo posted by maggie chang (@hashtagmaggie) on Feb 3, 2015 at 9:14am PST
This place isn’t good at all, if we’re being honest. But when you’re drunk it doesn’t matter and you have to do it at least once, so while you’re in A2 for a few more weeks, make your way over.
13. Grilled Cheese from Grilled Cheezerie
A photo posted by Emily Rothstein (@ekrothstein) on Mar 20, 2016 at 10:17am PDT
Mac-N-Cheese Grilled Cheese. Need we say more? Get that, the Shroom, or the You’ve Goat to Have it and you’re in business.
Don’t eat the chicken fingers at Skeeps. Do stay long enough to see them put out the chicken fingers at
[Image via Zingerman’s Deli Instagram]