I like to eat. As my time in New Haven winds down, I thought I would make a conversion chart for people who like to eat, have lived in either Ann Arbor or New Haven, and are going to the other “city”. Thus, I present you a very opinionated rough conversion chart between food establishments in Ann Arbor and food establishments in New Haven.
Ann Arbor = New Haven
Cheap Eats
BTB = Tijuana Taco Company Burrito Carts
other burrito places = other burrito carts
Jerusalem Garden = Mamoun’s
Silvio’s = Romeo & Cesare
Cottage Inn = Yorkside Pizza
NYPD = Est Est Est
Noodles & Co = Ivy Noodle (DON’T GO!!!)
Fancy Eats
Zola = Zinc, Heirloom, Union League Cafe
Pacific Rim = Miya’s, Bentara
Bella Ciao ~= Ibiza (different nationalities)
Cafe Habana = Soul de Cuba
restaurants on Main St. = Hot Tomato’s (DON’T GO!!!)
Fat Eats
Fleetwood Diner = The Pantry
Asian
Shalimar, Madras Masala = Thali
Raja Rani, Mahek= Tandoor, Indian Palace, Royal India
Earthen Jar = Thali Too
Middle Kingdom = (no comparison)
TK Wu, Great Lakes = Great Wall
Lucky Kitchen, China Gate = China King, Hunan Cafe
Yamato = (no comparison)
Miki’s = Miso
other indistinguishable sushi places = other indistinguishable sushi places
Marnee Thai, Saigon Garden = Thai Taste, Thai Pan Asian, Bangkok Gardens
No Thai = York Street Noodle House
Coffee
Comet, Zingerman’s = Atticus
Ambrosia = Blue State
Espresso Royale = Koffee, Publick Cup
Starbucks = Starbucks
Drinks
Arbor Brewing Company, Grizzly Peak = Bar
Ashley’s = Prime 16
Red Hawk Grill = Anchor
Melange, Black Pearl, Vinology = Barcelona, Bespoke
La Dolce Vita = The Owl Shop
Conor O’Neill’s = The Playwright
8 Ball ~= Rudy’s (well, nothing really compares to 8 Ball)
Scorekeepers = Toad’s
Ice Cream
Stucchi’s = Ashley’s
Overrated Local Landmarks
Zingerman’s (qua sandwiches) = Pepe’s, Sally’s
Blimpy Burger = Louis’s Lunch
Suggestions, comments, and hate-mails are all welcome. I might update this from time to time.
5 comments
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28 August, 2009 at 7:27 am
Katherine
Nice post, but I think that it’s unfair to compare eating out in Ann Arbor vs. New Haven. New Haven food is better, period (unless you prefer cheap chain restaurants, which Ann Arbor has in plentiful quantity.) New Haven’s “fine dining” restaurants are all better than Ann Arbor’s best ones (I love Zola, but New Haven has more “Zola’s” and they are all better). Also, there is really no comparison with regard to pizza, New Haven’s specialty. But it’s a good guide for people who are looking for equivalent restaurants, and the overrated section was funny (though I’d prefer to go to Sally’s/Pepe’s over Zingerman’s, because the latter is much more expensive).
28 August, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Shen-yi Liao
Thanks for the comments. I agree with the point about higher-end places that aren’t bad, and I think the “Zola = Zinc, Heirloom, Union League Cafe” comparison reflects that. I actually don’t think those places are so much better than Zola, but I’ve had limited chance to try them. The best higher-end place in New Haven area I’ve found is actually in nearby Branford, Le Petit Cafe.
12 October, 2009 at 10:02 pm
sp
ABC compares to Prime 16 for the beer. No place in Ann Arbor compares to Prime 16 for the kind of food, you have to go all the way to Zola, but then it’s too much. Also, the Anchor is definitely more of a dive bar than Red Hawk and their food is closer to a diner’s.
12 October, 2009 at 10:03 pm
sp
Oh, and maybe the Pantry is a bit closer to the Broken Egg instead?
14 October, 2009 at 12:27 am
Shen-yi Liao
I’m okay with all those revisions!