I Need Some Suggestions

"V8soundRIOT- Now Has a V8" (xv10xsoundxriotx)
04/11/2016 at 14:38 • Filed to: None

During the last week of April, my father and I will be driving out west to visit colleges. We plan on going to Detroit and Indianapolis to visit University of Michigan and Purdue, respectively. So, what are some good places to go to for food in these areas? Also, what are some good tourist attractions in (or near) the two cities?

DISCUSSION (23)

Aaron M - MasoFiST > V8soundRIOT- Now Has a V8
04/11/2016 at 14:47

If you’re visiting the main UMich campus in Ann Arbor you *have* to go to Zingerman’s.

Autohaus Derp > V8soundRIOT- Now Has a V8
04/11/2016 at 14:49

If you’re going to UofM surely you’ll be heading to Ann Arbor? If so, it is full of great brewpubs and restaurants, from high end to student-friendly places - but its pretty much all good. My reccomendations would be for Grizzly Peak (good mix of food and microbrewery) or Blue Tractor (BBQ food and microbrewery)

-A2 resident.

jimz > V8soundRIOT- Now Has a V8
04/11/2016 at 14:49

if you’re visiting the main U of M campus, you’ll be in Ann Arbor and not Detroit. AA is about 45-60 minutes west of Detroit.

if you like (or want to try) Middle Eastern food, Palm Palace is pretty good.

If you have the time, go to Dearborn and hit up the Henry Ford museum. Lots of car stuff to see there. I work across the street from it.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > Aaron M - MasoFiST
04/11/2016 at 14:51

This is the right answer.

Steve in Manhattan > V8soundRIOT- Now Has a V8
04/11/2016 at 14:52

A bit off topic, but if you’re close to South Bend, go see the Studebaker Museum. So worth your time.

V8soundRIOT- Now Has a V8 > Autohaus Derp
04/11/2016 at 14:52

Yep, my mistake on where the campus is.

LtotheG > jimz
04/11/2016 at 14:54

Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn is the right answer. Visited once and was amazed. Also the Ford Complex is impressive I only wish I could see inside

yamahog > V8soundRIOT- Now Has a V8
04/11/2016 at 14:56

Ann Arbor is pretty dang awesome and you will have an amazing time and go blue!

-former North Campus tour guide

But seriously, there is so much good food. Don’t settle for Buffalo Wild Wings or anything else you can find anywhere. You’ll have long lines at Zingerman’s and yes, they are expensive for a deli, but very worth it. Closer to campus and much quicker is Maize and Blue deli, which is also good (though I mostly ate it as hangover cure).

If you’re around for brunch, Angelo’s is a staple. Around dinnertime, you could literally open up Yelp blindfolded and have a good meal. Chipatis (from either Pizza Bob’s or Pizza House) were big when I was in school, basically a whole salad stuffed inside a massive pita pocket. If your dad is feeling generous and you want some classy dining, hit up one of the Main Street restaurants or Gandy Dancer.

Also FYI, driving/parking in downtown AA can be a pain, with lots of unexpected one way streets and constant construction. Use GPS but also pay close attention.

Milky > V8soundRIOT- Now Has a V8
04/11/2016 at 14:57

Tourist attraction in Ann Arbor? The only one I can think of is the Fleetwood Diner at 2 am. Entertaining crowd.

-former A2 resident.

DrJohannVegas > Autohaus Derp
04/11/2016 at 15:07

I concur on GP, although Blue Tractor isn’t as good as it used to be. If you jump over to Ypsilanti (next town over, where Eastern Michigan University is), there’s good options there, too. Neo Papalis does a good pizza, as does Mani if you want a more formal sit-down kinda thing. Sandwich places on S University (Belly Deli, for instance) are good, and you get to see the campus life, too. Tomokun noodle soups are good, if it’s chilly. Some other options which are more general American fare are Knight’s and Sava’s, if you are near campus, or Jolly Pumpkin, if you are downtown.

I expect that, if you are on Oppo and looking at Purdue and UM, you might be looking at an engineering degree? There’s some good food up near North Campus, too, but also a lot of chain stuff, which may not be as interesting. (Great bagel place - Bagel Fragel - up there.) Cardamom is a great Indian place near campus, and Curry On is a fun take-away place. North Side Grill is a nice brunch spot if you are there during that time. But, North Campus slows down a lot in the evening, so you are probably going to be downtown.

Oh, and if you are going for coffee in Ann Arbor, I suggest either Espresso Bar (above a bookstore near downtown) if you like hipster coffee, or Elixr Vitae (near campus, next to the parking deck) if you just want a cup of coffee.

Final note: If you feel compelled, do the Zingerman’s thing. It’s pricey, mostly because you are paying for 1) pretty excellent wages for employees and 2) the Zingerman’s brand. I recommend the Roadhouse, but YMMV, and the deli is good.

- also A2 resident

DrJohannVegas > Milky
04/11/2016 at 15:08

YES. This. So much this.

DrJohannVegas > yamahog
04/11/2016 at 15:09

(grumbles about parking at Angelo’s at brunchtime)

Sam > V8soundRIOT- Now Has a V8
04/11/2016 at 15:12

Triple XXX burgers is on the Purdue campus and it is great.

yamahog > DrJohannVegas
04/11/2016 at 15:12

Yea, tell me about it. I was on my way to class on my old Ninja and almost got killed by some jackass pulling out of there onto Ann Street without looking. The light was red too so I lifted my visor and gave them an earful until it turned green.

acarr260 > V8soundRIOT- Now Has a V8
04/11/2016 at 15:13

If you’re visiting Purdue, you’ll be in West Lafayette (not Indy).

Autohaus Derp > DrJohannVegas
04/11/2016 at 15:13

Duh, how could I forget Zingerman’s! Its a $15 sandwich, but proably the best $15 sandwich.

yamahog > DrJohannVegas
04/11/2016 at 15:14

Can also vouch for Espresso Bar, and Aventura just down Washington is really good too.

DrJohannVegas > yamahog
04/11/2016 at 15:15

EB is run by a friend, and he’s good people (as are all the EB people), so please take my rec with that grain of salt. Also, I am a cheap hipster slob asshole, so I got Elixir because it fits my lifestyle.

DrJohannVegas > Autohaus Derp
04/11/2016 at 15:17

Yea. When I first moved to A2, I spent a few years playing the “East Coast Deli Snob” game for a while. Zingerman’s does a good job, and as an occasional treat, it’s great.

V8soundRIOT- Now Has a V8 > DrJohannVegas
04/11/2016 at 15:18

I don’t believe that I have ever tried Indian food. Those two places look very interesting!

SVTyler > V8soundRIOT- Now Has a V8
04/11/2016 at 15:24

Gonna be honest, there’s absolutely nothing touristy to do around Purdue so just go for the food.

Triple XXX - sounds like a porn shop, actually an awesome little burger place just outside of campus that’s been on the Food Network and a bunch of national best burger lists.

Mountain Jack’s - steakhouse in Lafayette that makes really good prime rib and steaks. Bit expensive but worth it.

Fiesta Mexican Grill- Mexican place that makes their own tortillas fresh and gives you a ton of food for the price. Better burritos than Chipotle or Qdoba.

Captain Gyro’s - Awesome little gyro place, good value for money and you get a fuckton of food.

South Street Smokehouse - best barbeque in the state but if you’re going to be walking around campus or doing anything besides sitting down afterwards you should probably eat somewhere else because the food coma is real.

Blue Nile - Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurant run by some angry Palestinians but make the shit out of beef and lamb shawarma.

Other than that it’s really just chain places like Chipotle and Panda, Purdue doesn’t really have the kind of restaurants that other places like IU and UM do.

Captain of the Enterprise > V8soundRIOT- Now Has a V8
04/11/2016 at 15:41

Might want to be careful with first time Indian food on a road trip

brianbrannon > V8soundRIOT- Now Has a V8
04/11/2016 at 20:22

Tony’s on I-75 has a full pound BLT