Friday, April 18, 2008

The (Incomplete) List

So what is a restaurant? I've been asked that question by a few brilliant people since announcing my plan.

dictionary.com's definition: an establishment where meals are served to customers

jess's definition: an establishment where meals are served to customers

But, for this project, I will add the following stipulations:

  1. 75% of the food must be prepared (from raw to finished) in-house.
  2. It must have a printed menu of its food items
  3. The meal must be packaged in-house if grab and go.
  4. Coffee shops which sell pastries and vendor produced products (like deli sandwiches, etc.)and some ready-to-use soups do not count (sorry coffee shops) unless they adhere to the principle set forth in 1.
  5. Bagel shops don't count unless they make a bunch of meals on bagels. (i.e. #4)
  6. Grocery stores are not restaurants no matter how pretty the deli (yeah, I'm talking to you Plum Market and Whole Foods).

Based on this criteria, I have compiled a(n) (incomplete) list. This list took me about 4.8 hours to compile. Compile is my word of the day and I have successfully utilized (another day word) it twice.

It is much harder than I anticipated to find every restaurant in Washtenaw County. It seems as though even the faithful Internet is no match for the task. Not only had I never heard of Sharon Township, neither it seemed had Google. (Sorry Sharon Township)

I think I have a good start, however, and with your help, can add even more.

Maybe it is better that I have only found 457 restaurants thus far. Maybe it is God's way of making the task seem less daunting. Maybe there really are no restaurants in Lodi, Lima, Bridgewater, Augusta, Freedom, Northfield, Salem, Sharon, Superior, Sylvan, Webster or York.

Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.

Anyway, here is the list so far. Feel free to let me know if I am missing any places (and I'm sure there is a bunch).Please, though, let me know not only the name of the fine establishment but the address if at all possible.

And please, do not give me your review. Though I value your opinion, I just won't listen. It may sway mine.

So far we have:

A Hello Faz Pizza
Shehan-Shah Indian Cuisine
Achilles Restaurant
Siam Cuisine
Afternoon Delight
Siam Kitchens
Ahmo's Deli
Siam Square Thai Cuisine
Aladdin's Mediterranean Cuisine and Juice Bar
Smokehouse Blues
Ali-Baba
Soup Du Jour
All Star Grille
Smokin Q 4 U
Aloha Grill
Steve's Lunch
Alpha Koney Island
Stucchi's
Amadeus Cafe & Restaurant
Studio 4
Amer's
Sunflower Cafe
Angelo's on the Side
Summit Party Shoppe
Angelo's Restaurant
Sushi Cafe
Anthony's Gourmet Pizza Inc
Sushi.come
Arbor Brewing Company Pub
Sweetwaters Café
Argiero's Italian Restaurant
Sze-Chuan West
Arirang Restaurant
Taqueria La Fiesta
Artisan Bistro
T K Wu
Ashley's
The Arena
Aut Bar
The Backroom
Ayse's Turkish Cafe
Tio's
The Backroom
Totoro
Bandito's
Touchdown Cafe
Banfield's Bar and Grill
Tuptim
Banfield's Westside Grill
University Cafe
Banh Na
Uptown Coney Island
Beijing Restaurant
Victors At The Campus Inn
Bell's Diner
Villa Pizza
Bell's Pizza
Village Kitchen
Bella Ciao
Vinology
Bella Italia
Wastenaw Milk and Ice Cream
Bella Napoli Pizza e Ristorante Italiano
Weber's Restaurant
Benny's Family Dining
Weng's Kitchen
Bewon
West End Grill
Big City Small World Cafe
Yamato Japanese Restaurant
Big House Pizza
Yotsuba
Bistro Bar & Grill
Zanzibar
Blimbyburger
Zingerman's Delicatessen
Blue Nile of Ann Arbor
Zingerman's Roadhouse
Broadway Café & Jumbo Steak Hoagie
China Gardens
Broken Egg
Chinese Tonite Restaurant
Brown Jug Restaurant
Cleary's Pub
Cafe 303
Collins Pizza Inc
Café Japon
Common Grill
Cafe Marie of Ann Arbor
Inverness Inn
Cafe Oz
Main Street Coney Island
Cafe Rendez-Vous
Mike's Deli
Cafe Zola
Ollie's Main Street Pizza
Carson's American Bistro
Prego Italian Grill
Casa Devarti
Schumm's Restaurant
Casey's Tavern
Stivers Restaurant
Champion House
Thompson's Pizzeria
Chan Gardens
Wolverine Food & Spirits
Chia Shiang Restaurant
Campfire Family Steakhouse
China Gate Restaurant
China One
China Stone Intl
Fenders Bar & Grill
Chop House
Lighthouse Coffee CO
City Limits Restaurant & Night Club
Milan Coney Island
Classic Cup Cafe
Mr Bread Basket
Cloverleaf
Roys BBQ
Coffee Break the
Sam's Italian Pizzeria
Conor O'Neill's
Aegean Restaurant
Cottage Inn
Brecon Grille
Cottage Inn Pizza
Country Creek Family Diner
Creekside Grill & Bar
Drowsy Parrot
Cubs' Ac
Guilin Restaurant
D J's Pizza & Subs
Jasmine Thai & China Bistro
D'Amato's
Joyful House
Da Vinci's Pizza
Kelly's 107
Demeter World Cuisine
Lucky Bucks Cafe
Diag Deli & Pizza
Mac's Acadian Seafood Shack
Dinersty Restaurant
Marco Polo Restaurant
Dominick's
Papa's Coney Island
Dynasty Chinese Buffet
Pastries & More
Earthen Jar
Pat's Two Dragon Pub
The Earle
Raisin River Cafe
The Earle Uptown
Saline Cafe
Eastern Accents
Saline Inn
Emerald City
Signature Grille and Catering
Eve
2.99 Pizza Co
Evergreen Restaurant
Abe's Coney Island
Fabulous Food
Alnoor Restaurant
Fleetwood Diner
Americana Coney Island & Restaurant
Flim Flam Restaurant & Deli
American Eagle
Foods Of India
Arbory Restaurant
Frank's Restaurant
Arthur's Inc
Fraser's Pub
Aubree's Pizza
Fuji Restaurant
Beef Fajita
Gallagher's Eatery & Sports
Bentley Mariott Hotel
Gandy Dancer
Big Dee's Famous Sausages
Geppetto's Pizza Soft Serve Ice Cream & Shakes
Big Sky Diner
Godaiko Japanese Restaurant
Biggie's Fine Foods
Golden Chef Chinese Restaurant
Bill's Drive-In
Goodtime Charlies
Bombadill's Café
Goodnite Gracie
Bomber Restaurant
Gourmet Garden
Brother's BBQ & Grill
Graham's Restaurant
Cady's Grill
Gratzi
Chick-Inn Drive-In
Great Lakes Chinese Seafood Restaurant
China Star
Grizzly Peak Brewing Company
China Chef
Guy Hollerin's
Chinese Buffet 2
Gypsy Cafe
D C Mex Restaurant Group Inc
Happy Wok
Dalat
Heidelberg Restaurant
Depalmas Ristorante
Hello Pizza
Di Maggio Spicy Pizza
Hinodae Japanese Restaurant
Express Fish & Chicken
Holiday's Restaurant
Family's Fried Chicken
HomeTown Buffet
Filling Station The
In & Out Pizza
Food Garden
Inn Season Café
Freewill Diner
Izzy's Hoagie Shop
French Quarter
Jamaican Jerk Pit
Full House
J T's Dawg House
Gabrielle's Hoagie Shop
Jefferson Market
Golden Crust Pizza
Jerusalem Garden
Golden Wall
Jonathan Family Restaurant
Haab's Restaurant
Kabob Palace
Hana Korean Restaurant
Kagayaki Japanese Restaurant
Harvest Moon Cafe
Kai Garden
Hawkins Place
Kave's Kafe
Hidden Dragon Chinese Rstrnt
Kerby's Koney Island
Holmes Road Diner
Kerrytown Bistro
Howard's Hoagies Restaurant
Khana Khazana
Hunan Gardens Restaurant
King Burger
J J's Pizza
King Shing
Kaya Sushi
Knight's Steak House
La Fiesta Mexicana
Kosmopolitan Deli
La Fuente
La Dolce Vita
Luca's Coney Island
Lai Lai Restaurant
Lucky 7 Chinese Food
Le Dog
Lucky Garden Chinese
Leo's Delicatessen & Catering
Marias Italian Bakery & Pizze
Leopold Bros Of Ann Arbor
Mazaris Family Grill
Little Porky's Pizza-n-More
Milano's Pizza
Logan
Nelly's
Lord Fox
Ogden's Truck Stop
Lotus Thai Restaurant
Papa V's
Lucky Kitchen Chinese
Pea Pod Inn Inc
Lulu's Cafe Llc
Pittsfield Pizza & Bbq
Madras Masala
Pizza & Chicken Stop
Magic Wok
Pizza Perfect
Maize And Blue Deli
Primo's Coffeehouse
Makkara
Real Pizza Pittsfield
Mandarin Chinese Restaurant
Red Sea Ethiopian Cuisine
Mark's Mid-Town Coney Island
Restaurant-Nick's
Marnee Thai Restaurant
Roundtree Bar & Restaurant
Mary's Fabulous Chicken
Roy's Squeeze Inn
Mediterrano
Sinbad Koney Island
Melange Bistro Wine Bar
Stephens Brothers Inc
Metzger's
T C's Speakeasy Bar & Grill
Michael's Chop House
Tap Room
Middle Kingdom
Taqueria La Loma
Miki Japanese Cuisine and Sushi Bar
Theo-Door's
Ming Tree
Tony's Grill
Missaigon
Tower Inn Cafe
Mitch's Place
Town Café
Monkey Bar
Vinnie D's
Moveable Feast
Wolverine Restaurant
Mr Pita & the Coffee Beanery
Ypsi Gas & Mart
Mr Spot's
Ypsilanti Seafood Market
Mr. Greek's Coney Island
2.99 Pizza Co
Mughal Asia
Abe's Coney Island
New Garden Buffet
Alnoor Restaurant
New China Wok
Americana Coney Island & Restaurant
New Star Chinese Restaurant
American Eagle
New York Pizza
Arbory Restaurant
Nikko's Pizza
Arthur's Inc
Northside Grill
Aubree's Pizza
No Thai
Beef Fajita
Oasis Deli
Bentley Mariott Hotel
Old German Restaurant
Big Dee's Famous Sausages
Old Siam
Big Sky Diner
Old Town
Biggie's Fine Foods
Oliver's Pizza
Bill's Drive-In
Omega Pizza
Bomber Restaurant
Oriental Express
Cady's Grill
Oscar's Cafe & Deli
Chick-Inn Drive-In
Our Town Deli
China Chef
Pacific Rim
Chinese Buffet 2
Paesano's
D C Mex Restaurant Group Inc
Palio
Dalat
Panda House
Depalmas Ristorante
Panda Korean & Chinese Food
Di Maggio Spicy Pizza
Paradise Restaurant
Family's Fried Chicken
Parthenon Restaurant and Bar
Filling Station The
Piggy Back Cafe
Food Garden
Pita Kabob Grill
Freewill Diner
Pizza Bobs
French Quarter
Pizza House
Full House
Prickly Pear Southwest Cafe
Gabrielle's Hoagie Shop
Quarter Bistro & Tavern
Golden Crust Pizza
Raja Rani
Golden Wall
Real Seafood Co.
Haab's Restaurant
Red Hawk Bar & Grill
Hana Korean Restaurant
Red Hot Lovers
Harvest Moon Cafe
Rick's American Cafe
Hawkins Place
Rod's Diner & Corp
Hidden Dragon Chinese Rstrnt
Rush Street Restaurant
Howard's Hoagies Restaurant
Sabor Latino
Hunan Gardens Restaurant
Sadako Japanese Restaurant
J J's Pizza
Saica Restaurant
LA Fiesta Mexicana
Saigon Garden
Lucas Coney Island
Salvatore's Pizza
Lucky 7 Chinese Food
San Fu Restaurant
Lucky Garden Chinese
Scorekeepers
Marias Italian Bakery & Pizze
Seoul Corner
Mazaris Family Grill
Seoul Garden
Milano's Pizza
Senor Lopez Mexican Restaurant
Nelly's
Seva Restaurant
Ogden's Truck Stop
Sevens the
Papa V's
Shalimar
Stephens Brothers Inc
Pea Pod Inn Inc
T C's Speakeasy Bar & Grill
Pittsfield Pizza & Bbq
Tap Room
Pizza & Chicken Stop
Theo-Door's
Pizza Perfect
Tower Inn Cafe
Red Sea Ethiopian Cuisine
Wolverine Restaurant
Restaurant-Nick's
Ypsi Gas & Mart
Roundtree Bar & Restaurant
Ypsilanti Seafood Market
Roy's Squeeze Inn
Alley
Sinbad Koney Island
Classic Pizza
Frank's Place
Cousins Heritage Inn
Hungry Wolf Restaurant
Dexter's Pub On Main St
Manchester Bakery
Food Zone Chinese Restaurant
Melissa's Café
Mary T's
The Moveable
Noble Romans Pizza Express
Ollie's Main Street Pizza
Reddeman Farms Restaurant
Pleasant Lake Inn
Wings N Things
Whistle Stop Restaurant
Coffee Mill Café
Bridgewater Bank Tavern
Dan's River Grill
Food Art

Wow! It looks overwhelming on paper (screen/paper/whatever). If you read this whole list, I'll give you a cookie. I make a mean cookie. But, there will be a test. Be warned, I ain't no pushover.

I am surprised at how many of these restaurants I've actually been to.

I am also surprised by the large quantities of Chinese and Sushi restaurants. Oh, by the way, Chinese is my least favorite type of food and seaweed (yes, sushi lovers) nauseates me by smell alone. I also hate hot dogs, so all those Coney Islands are gonna be a treat. At the very least, it should be funny.

Thank goodness I love pizza. There are a lot of local pizza places.

I am a bit disappointed that the Transylvanian restaurant closed in Ypsi. I never got a chance to try it. I suppose most people didn't try it and that is why it closed. If only I started this 5 years ago.

If only...

Happy eating!jess

Friday, April 11, 2008

The Beginning: Would You Like to Have Dinner?

I plan on eating at every restaurant in Washtenaw County.

Originally, I said I would do it in three years but that now seems a bit unrealistic. There are a lot of restaurants in Washtenaw County. I mean, a lot a lot. Someone even told me Ann Arbor (the biggest city in Washtenaw County) has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the United States. Is that true? I have no idea, but I like the person and I'm going to take their word for it.

Knowing this, what made me come up with this crazy idea, you ask?

Well, I'm in food. I love food. I eat a lot of food. I cook food. I talk about food. I love the word food (look at it for a moment; doesn't it make you just giggle?). I watch shows (even the terrible ones) about food. I read about food. I even read and watch things about people reading and watching and talking about food.

And it seems that because of this intense foodiness, people are often asking me what my favorite local restaurants are.

I've been giving the same 3 as a stock answer for at least 5 years. (Gratzi, Zola, Bomber)

After some thought, I realized that this was unfair to all the other restaurants I haven't eaten at before or haven't eaten at in the last 5 years. In order to give an accurate and honest opinion, I have to eat at every restaurant in the area. It just seems wrong to be so foodie and not try all of the food my local communities have to offer.

So where do I go from here?

First: Ground Rules

1. I will not count any national chains such as Applebee's, Chili's, Friday's, McDonald's (you get the idea, right?). It isn't that I have anything against said restaurants. Who doesn't get a craving for those intensely fabulous never-ending chip and salsa platters at Chil's? Is it just me? The reasoning for this is simple: these restaurants aren't local. Enough said.

2. I only need to eat at 1 location of any local chain. For example, I must eat at Mr. Pizza as it is local, but I do not have to eat at every Mr. Pizza. The reasoning for
this is simple:chain restaurants are meant to offer consistency in product regardless of which location you dine at. So, if you've eaten at one, you've eaten at them all.

3. If I have not eaten at a particular restaurant in the past year, then I have to eat there again. Now this causes some issues, so I've made it even more complex. From the point of my start date, I do not have to eat at a restaurant again if I have already eaten at it since the start of my challenge. I do, however, have to eat at a restaurant again if I did not eat at it within one year of my start date. Does that make sense? Not really. Okay, so let's say I eat at Holiday's on 4/14/08. The start date of my challenge is 4/22/08. If I do not eat at Holiday's again by 4/22/09, I must add Holiday's to the list and count it as part of the challenge. If I eat Holiday's after my start date, I do not have to eat at Holiday's again in the duration of the project regardless of the length it takes for completion. This makes no sense whatsoever. All I know is that I have to eat at a lot of restaurants.

4. I may eat at a particular restaurant as many times as I want during the project, but may only review the restaurant based on my first experience. I do eat at Holiday's a lot and I wanted to make sure I could eat there still...a lot.

5. I must ask the waitperson what the best seller/#1 item/favorite item is. I must then eat said item no matter how gross it may seem to me.

6. I must take at least 1 person w/ me or verify by receipt that I did eat at a particular place at a particular time.

7. I must (try) to maintain an objective viewpoint regardless of what I have been told about a certain venue or my feelings on a particular type of food (just to let you know, I hate hot dogs).

8. I must document each dining experience, write a brief review and post it for all to see.

9. Each establishment will be judged on a predetermined set of criteria graded from poor to excellent utilizing a 5 point scale.

10. I must keep a running total of the cost of doing this crazy f*king thing. (Plus, then I can constantly be faced with the guilt of knowing how much money I could have put into a sensible savings account or IRA, just to raise the stakes.)

Second: Find Out What Washtenaw County Is?

What exactly is Washtenaw County? I looked it up on ewashtenaw.org to find out:

Ann Arbor
Chelsea
Milan
Saline
Ypsilanti
Barton Hills (Village)
Dexter (Village)
Manchester (Village)
Ann Arbor (Twnshp)
Augusta (Twnshp)
Bridgewater (Twnshp)
Dexter (Twnshp)
Freedom (Twnshp)
Lima (Twnshp)
Lodi (Twnshp)
Lyndon (Twnshp)
Manchester (Twnshp)
Northfield (Twnshp)
Pittsfield (Twnshp)
Salem (Twnshp)
Saline (Twnshp)
Scio (Twnshp)
Sharon (Twnshp)
Superior (Twnshp)
Sylvan (Twnshp)
Webster (Twnshp)
York (Twnshp)
Ypsilanti (Twnshp)

Land Area: 710 sq miles

3rd: The Restaurant List

This is not easy as it seems. I am currently going to use the following resources to compile a preliminary list:

ecurrent.com/guides/restaurants2007.php
yellowpages.com
restaurantlistings.com
menuism.com

By cross-referencing each local government with these restaurant guides, I believe I can garner a fairly accurate list. So scientific! But hey, if anyone has any other ideas, it would be much appreciated. I would hate to spend half my time trying to find the restaurant list. (Especially since I know I will spend half my time physically trying to find these restaurants. I am very bad at directions and don't read maps very well.)

4th: The Start Date: 4/22/08

Why this day? Well, it's Earth Day. I like that. It's a Tuesday, which seems like an exciting day to start a new project. Lastly, the date is comprised of all even numbers. I like that, too.


Coming soon..."The List!"

Happy Eating,

Jess