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Dominick's
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 10 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Thu
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
104 reviews for Dominick's
Review Highlights
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"Their long picnic tables are also great for groups." In 6 reviews -
"...beautiful summers, and pretty good spring and fall seasons." In 3 reviews -
"...better way to spend a summer evening than in a beautiful..." In 3 reviews
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104 reviews in English
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Review from Ryan B.
3/27/2012
This is currently my fav. bar in Ann Arbor.
It reminds me of Latin America with it's plastic folding tables, folding metal chairs, and giant jars of sangria in which you pour yourself a class of in a smaller jar.
Perfect place when the weather is nice to chill with a group and just enjoy the HUGE porches.
Only complaint: Why do you close at 10PM? -
Review from Amanda L.
1/31/2012
There's no question that Dominick's is a great place to chill after class (or a tortuous exam) with your friends. The outdoor space in the back with the fountain and decorative lights has the best vibe.
5 stars for the sangria, pizza, and bruschetta. This place seriously makes a mean tomato sauce; you can really taste tomato as opposed to the canned flavor. For the sangria, I like when I can't taste the alcohol too strongly, so it's awesome.
Why the one star deduction? The staff isn't very friendly and the annoying alarm buzzer that goes off every 10 mins, 30 mins prior to closing time is really over-the-top and obnoxious. When they say they close at 10 pm, they MEAN that they're closing at 10 pm, and they're not going to let you forget it. -
Review from Ron W.
Canton, MI
5/21/2012
Beer is over priced and the staff is worthless. My friends and I are over 60 and we look it...no sense in carding us. The old fart at the door lost our biz forever. Good job.
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Review from Sarah C.
3/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here on St. Patty's Day. The place is really big and plenty of seating. The tables are bolted in so don't expect to push a couple tables together if you have a big group. The security did a pretty good job and so did all the other workers. We ordered constant buzzes and green sangria. I though the constant buzz was so delicious. The green sangria not so much. I wouldn't mind coming back on a day where it isn't so crowded.
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Review from Robyn T.
9/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I gotta be honest. I'm embarassed that Dominick's has been around for so long without me knowing it. I swear without Yelp, I would be eating at Applebee's for every meal.
Here is a place off the main Ann Arbor busyness that has it's own crowd, culture, and charm. Not to mention a killer sangria!
My first experience at Dominicks was at the end of an atrocious day at work. I had made some lasagna the night before and just wanted to re-heat a piece and crawl into bed. I have such an awesome family who loved my lasagna so much, they ate it all without leaving me any. My husband observed my chin quivering and the tears forming, so he turned me back out the door and off we went to Dominicks.
I, of course, ordered the meat lasagna and a glass (or mason jar) of sangria. As we sat down in the courtyard, my mood instantly changed. I loved the casual outdoor feel and the wide variety of ages and cultures that surrounded us.
The lasagna and bread completely hit the spot and hubs loved his meatball sub too. We walked away full and happy. The only thing I would change is to put individual tables out instead of long, cafeteria style. I'm not a big fan of sitting next to strangers.
I have been back twice and everything I've ordered has been very tasty. The larger portions of sangria haven't hurt either! -
Review from Jessica W.
Ann Arbor, MI
9/9/2011 4 Check-ins Here
As I was told by numerous people before and after I arrived, "You have to try sangria at Dominick's." So I did. I must say, though I'm no sangria aficionado, their sangria is delicious. A little over $8 for the second-smallest mason jar, it's a worthwhile beverage to consume, getting you a little buzzed (if your tolerance is as low as mine) and tasting great in the process. I haven't tried the Constant Buzz yet, but I have a feeling it is in my near future.
The porches may overflow when it's crowded and the guy at the front has always been a bit surly when requesting my ID, but those are small issues. It just adds to the character. Someone else said it and I'll repeat it: Dominick's is "true Ann Arbor."
The location itself is perfectly suited to the grad student crowds that flock there. I like being able to step directly out of the library and into a bar. This suites me. I think law school is going to work out just fine.Listed in: Drinking my way through Ann…, Essential Ann Arbor
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Review from Kathryn L.
Birmingham, MI
9/10/2011
Dominick's is an Ann Arbor staple that you absolutely must visit! The drinks are strong, but they sure don't taste like it. You'll be fooled.
They are known for their sangria and their Constant Buzz (a slurpy type drink). Both are great!! And both come in huge pitchers/canisters, so they're meant for sharing. The food there is decent as well.
My three gripes: seating is at a premium (but that can be a good thing... an excuse to make new friends and share a table), they close early (i think 11PM... so start your night here but finish it elsewhere), and when I was a student there, they only took cash (I am not sure if that is still the case; I hope not!).
The positives... delicious drinks, good food, cool atmosphere, great rooftop view of Ann Arbor... cannot be beat! -
Review from Brittany F.
Runnemede, NJ
8/30/2011 3 photos
Dominick's was good for what it is. A pizza place on a college campus, I went early in the day on the Friday of move in weekend. The ambiance is really cool, the servers were super nice. It wasn't crowded but wasn't empty either.
I totally recommend the 50oz constant buzz. It just tastes like a strawberry daiquiri but when you stand up, it's a whole other story. Probably because it has about 6 different liquors in it. Well. We ordered 2, between 3 people... and a pizza. The pizza tasted like one i would make at home. The crust was good, the sauce and toppings, also.
Would I go again? Probably won't have the opportunity to, but if I did, I wouldn't say no. -
Review from Eric G.
5/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I recently was here for a friends bday party. I was also being scolded for having never heard of or been to this place.
Walking up, this place looks pretty neat. Like an old hotel or house where you are greeted and immediately asked for your ID by someone just sitting there in a folding chair.
We sat down and a buddy brings out a huge jug of Sangria. This is a very popular beverage here and it was awesome. I am not usually a big fan of Sangria, but it was very good and strong here.
For food, its all pretty standard fare. We are told to "avoid the lasagna" by the staff which I thought was pretty funny. I had a meatball sub and it was pretty awesome.
Everything here is a bit quirky including the people taking your orders. When food is ready, they scream your name over a loud speaker
This is cute at first but gets pretty annoying after a few.
I am looking forward to going back and trying some more of the menu as well as the "constant buzz" beverage concoction. It's a mix of tequila, and a bunch of stuff in a 51 oz pitcher. -
Review from Elizabeth B.
Chicago, IL
5/27/2011
I'm with Rebecca W: Dominick's is a place you love or hate. I'm also with her in the sense that we work together and are going there for a birthday lunch today, but that's neither here nor there. Except I guess it will be there when we are there for lunch.
In all seriousness, though, Dominick's has its golden moments - like an early afternoon happy hour in the middle of summer when the students are all away. I really like that you can reserve (picnic) tables, and I'm a big fan of drinking sangria out of jars. I haven't tried much of their food, but I recall sharing a totally serviceable quesadilla last summer. At least I think that's what we split. I blame the Oberon in the giant Mason jar for that.
As other reviewers have noted, though, it gets L O U D very quickly, especially in the first few hours of the evening. The patio is glorious, but there's no shade, so prepare to sweat it out. The crotchety gentleman at the door will card everyone, no matter how much grey hair they may have on display, and will yell at you if you try to lock your moped to the bike rack (legal in MI).
In short, Dominick's is an A2 institution. Every campus should have one. -
Review from Kristin M.
Toledo, OH
4/17/2011
I've wanted to try this place for years (these were pre-Yelp years) and having recently moved back to the area thought it was high time.
Glad to have gone to get it out of my system but I will never go back.
I read all the horrible reviews about this place on here but wanted to try their sangria. Not sure who (or why) likes this stuff but I'm guessing it's frat guys who have never tried actual sangria. This was more like Kool-Aid that they dropped some Mad Dog 20/20 in. It's also super expensive (and I just moved from SoCal so I know from expensive)
The food was pretty bad as well. I split a pizza and I think I've had better from Sbarro's.
The kicker was the old guy(s) who own it. They have the nastiest attitudes I've ever seen. I've worked for years in the restaurant industry and have seen how rotten/cynical it can make people. That's when I say, get the hell out of the restaurant business!
They were super rude to all the douche-bag college kids (yes, I got my BA from U of M so don't hate) which is ironic since the douche bag college kids are the only reason this place is in business (since it's right next to the Law School).
But I digress.
My friend's son was skating in the restaurant on his heelies, which I agree isn't cool and they told him to take it outside. No problem so far.
He goes outside and is skating on the sidewalk. Public property right?
Apparently not to the two octogenarians who own this place (or at least work here).
In addition to screaming at a 7-year old little boy, the one wannabe Donnie Brasco storms over to our table and demand of my friend is that is her little boy.
Then he says loudly, "He don't listen to good does he??"
My friend was stunned and just said, "What?"
The aging Don repeated it and we had had enough. We got our stuff and left.
I mean, there are way better ways to handle that situation. Even if the kid was doing something bad (he's 7 remember--no kids listen at 7), the guy could have let my friend handle the situation by saying something like, "Ma'am I've asked your son to stop skating and he hasn't. He could get hurt or hurt someone else. If he won't stop we're going to have to ask you to leave."
No harm, no foul.
The only reason it got 2 stars is a part of the downstairs is pretty cute with small table and chairs, kind of a bistro atmosphere.
But the upstairs is a rabbit warren of little rooms that people rent out and have meetings in. (ie. like future MBAer's of America).
It sucks because it doesn't matter how many shitty reviews this place gets or how many people they piss off because they are next to the university and have a whole new demographic ever 4 years. -
Review from Justine M.
Chicago, IL
5/20/2011
delicious sangria as everyone said. I dunno what that slush strawberry drink was but it was good as hell.
I didn't like the inside/seating. Too smushed together. Then again I was there for a rehearsal dinner with a bunch of my family members.
Food was okay. Didn' thave too much but what I ate was decent. -
Review from Jen L.
Canton, MI
7/19/2011
Just paid my first visit to Dominick's last night and I plan to be back. Several people with me commented it's part of "true Ann Arbor."
Sangria, tasty appetizers, and casual outdoor seating. A fun atmosphere and great with a group. -
Review from Matt R.
10/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Can't beat a spring or summer day on the patio with a glass of sangria. Pizzas are excellent.
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Review from Jill F.
Glen Ellyn, IL
8/31/2010
One of the worst restaurant experiences ever. First of all, the service is absolutely HORRIBLE. They are rude, and most of the servers look homeless. I asked for a glass of water and they pointed me to a nearby drinking fountain. Then, I asked for an extra glass to split the sangria in, and then checked my ID... again (they must have incompetently forgotten to have checked it the first time). They were vocally very rude and treated you like shit, basically.
The sangria wasn't even that great. But I guess the overall food and drink standard in the state of Michigan is pretty low, this I understand, being a Chicago native. There are however, some decent eats in Ann Arbor and other MI cities--- this was definitely not one of them.
The pulled pork sandwich was passable.
But the service was so horrible that I would never go back, even if I was paid. The hobos working there are disgusting, and there is no way they are students at Michigan. They haven't shaved in months and they smell pretty awful. That's about it for this place... -
Review from Colleen Z.
Ann Arbor, MI
10/14/2010
Dominicks is absolutely everything that previous reviewers have posted. Good and bad.
Try the Italian sandwich and you will be sold for life. Just try it.
You will want to go back again and again. -
Review from Tara R.
Chattanooga, TN
7/17/2010
The food and drinks at Dominick's are really just 3-star caliber - solid, never terrible, but never spectacular either. Dominick's gets its fourth star for being the perfect summertime party place for large groups. Seriously, in the 13 years I've been going there, I don't think I've ever gone to Dominick's with just a friend or two. It's the place where you get drunk with your coworkers or classmates.
And drunk you will be if you order those half gallons of sangria and Constant Buzz (their version of a strawberry daiquiri). Again, not the best alkeehall - I heard they put Mad Dog in the former - but it's all very sweet, easy to drink and strong.
The snacks are charmingly weird, like the old-school, gringo-style, round, yellow tortilla chip nachos with cheddar, corn, zucchini and sour cream. Their pizzas are thin-crusted with okay sauce, cheese and pepperoni - nothing you would ever bother to order out, but it soaks up the booze nicely. I prefer the stromboli. The curled-up crust has a buttery, chewy texture way superior to their pizza crust.
On two recent work party visits, our group wisely reserved a table in advance and set up a tab with a credit card. We got to skip to the front of the line, order our food quickly, and have it brought to the table. No waiting for your garbled up name to be called over the paging system ("Wrshuxlaur - your food is ready" Whaa?!?!).
On both of these visits they reserved a prime table in a shady spot on the side of the yard - bonus! Their long picnic tables are also great for groups. I notice that if you make a reservation you tend to get one of the nice courtyard tables. Unless it's raining, there's no good reason to sit in the sheltered areas. Enjoy the sunshine, the shade of a 250 year old elm and the tile fountain. Make a reservation and if you can put it all on one card, set up a tab. -
Review from David I.
Chicago, IL
3/17/2011
Every spring afternoon in Chicago I long to be on the patio at Dominick's sipping on a constant buzz, watching the co-eds pass me by.
Food is also very underrated here. -
Review from Lily P.
3/8/2010
Summer is finially here!!! Dominicks's is open for 2010!!!
It is open 1st week of march until october :)
CONSTANT BUZZ ($20 only comes in one size) and sangrias make the summer a million times better and class worth going to so you can head off to dominicks between classes, skip, or afterwards.
The bruschetta is good here, sandwiches, pasta, and finger foods. I like the fresh mozzarella and roasted peppers (with bread olive oil), and the quesadilla. The pizzas are about 12 inches for the gormet ones (which have mushroom, peppers, and amazing cheese..I like this one to the ones where you can put your own toppings on. Its $14 or so.. Yea its a big pricy but seriously what is the price on an amazing summer evening with your friends OUTSIDE, on campus, PRICELESS.
10am-10pm its open and it makes the perfect place to meet up after classes and you can just hang out until it's time to go to the bars. You can kill plenty of time here between the food, drinks, and packed place where you are bound to bump into other friends.
The only Con is that it can get so full there is a line to get in and wait about 30 mins in line for the food....When its packed on both floors and outside there will be like 50 people just standing around and not enough glasses cleared for you to sit down when you find a free space. This only happens during st patty's. :) and it still was lots of fun. Ask for napkins since I def got a drink spilled near me and ended up on me..no worries. Still a great day, in the 60s in March in michigan, sunny, and everyone was decked out in green. -
Review from mariah c.
Ann Arbor, MI
8/20/2009
Want to hear something sort of messed up? I was born small. Really small. Because of this, the doc wouldn't let my parents take me out in public until I balanced out a 5 lb. bag of flour (my parents' home-made version of a baby scale).
Once I did, it was a-OK to take me out and about. My mom recalls that one of the very first places she brought me was to Dominick's. During the Art Fair. Good god, I must have been totally overwhelmed. I can't even begin to understand what that many people, a loudspeaker and heat would do to frazzle a baby. Apparently, I did OK with it though. Enough so that I wasn't totally traumatized years later.
This is really one of my favorite places to be when I have no responsibilities ahead of me on a summer evening. Now, I very seldom have no responsibilities, but if that's the case, its hard to resist the idea of lounging on the patio with friends, drinking sangria or Oberon out of jars, and perhaps even downing some pasta or soup.
I've never been blown away by any of the soups here (and the servings are so tiny, I don't think that's the point. However, salads here are refreshing enough, and the pasta dishes are total comfort food.
What the sangria may lack in authenticity, it makes up for in sheer strength. Plus, there's those jars -- I'm always charmed by drinking out of jars. Makes me think of moonshine (a good thing, in my book)!
I just prefer to go in the midst of summer, when there aren't quite as many students. The blaring siren at 10pm is annoying no matter what -- but if you've had enough sangria by 9:30 or so, you're wise to take off then and not wait for the blare of the loudspeaker!Listed in: Pizza! Pizza!, Outdoor Drinks, Ann Arbor Waterin' Holes
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Review from Tyler B.
5/14/2008
Let's state the obvious - the food is so-so at best and this place has got some nerve charging what they do for booze. If you're looking for economic value or haute cuisine, you're not going to Doms.
Why are you going there? Because people get drunk here. Groups of friends meet to sit in the sun and get wasted, so that when the sirens go off at 10 you can go drink more somewhere else. They come to have fun, and fun they have. Sure the place is a labyrinth, the bathrooms frustrating and its always crowded when the weather's nice and students are in town. But when you really want to sit outside and down a few ice cold Oberons or sip some Sangria, there's really no better place to go.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Margot F.
Ann Arbor, MI
6/19/2005
Dominck's is all porch and patio, with two counters inside where you can order jars of sangria and beer in mason jars ranging from little single-glups (okay, probably 12oz) to the mighty half-gallon.
The sangria suffers from the common misconception that bad wine can produce decent sangria, and from the further misconception that bad sangria is like bad pizza or bad sex: it's never so bad that it's worse than none at all.
I'm not so joyless I won't admit to the pleasure of lounging on the massive two-story front porch or in the back yard between the fountain and gazeebo with dozens of breeder spawn underfoot. But the bad pizza and bad sex allusion was unintentionally prescient: Dominck's offers both. You can order the bad pizza, or mediocre sandwiches at the longer of the two counters inside and I truly do not want to imagine the post-sangria activities of the predominantly law school and greek house crowds that gather under Dominck's massive eaves.
The intercom system that announces food orders turns into the loudest, most annoying bouncer imaginable at 9:30pm (last call--it fancies itself a "restaurant" instead of a bar, but how many restaurants declare a "last call," and with bullhorns, no less). Promptly at 10pm, air raid sirens blare, a cruel audio equivalent of the "ugly lights," and the staff gently but firmly begin to herd people outside. I'm sure their neighbors love them.
Somehow, despite all this, I'm relatively sure that whoever you are, you will *love* Dominicks. You will seek reasons to go there. You will recruit teams of people to meet you there at 5pm on Fridays to maximize your sangria-drinking time. You will buy the half-gallon jar of sangria before you even know how many people will show up to share it with you. And you'll be too sangria-delighted come 10pm to be remotely fussed by the apocalypse-heralding "we're closed" foghorn.
So just give in already and love it.
Not open on Sundays.Listed in: Drink A2
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Review from antwan k.
Ann Arbor, MI
11/15/2009 4 photos
Dominicks, I have been going here for years and I love this place But its not for everyone. There seems to be alot of disinformation on this site so let me clear up some facts.
---yes dominicks is seasonal they open the first week of March and close the last home football game. ( usually sometime in November .)
--Dominicks is a little pricey but what would you expect from an ann arbor resterant. ( I don't know if you noticed but ann arbor is a pricey town.) Alot cheaper than zingermanns and other resterants though.
--There is no waitstaff. Its a self serve place. and sometimes you have to wait in line. personaly I don't mind. The most I've ever waited on a busy day was 15 minutes.
--Alot of people say the food here is gross. Maybe they had the wrong thing or something was made differently then they expected but they have hands down the best subs in town. The best pizza ( entirley made from scratch ) quesadillas and tomatoe brushetta are also good along with the ravioli pastas and salads.
--yes, Dominicks can get very noisey but its all part of the experience. There is a P.A. system in the place calling out orders and when its packed its noisey . does nt bother me.
--Dominicks does have a siren they blast at 10 p.m. because thats when they close. Its the most effective way to get drunk people out of there. In all honesty if you hear the siren you should have been gone 10 minutes ago.
In conclusion Dominick's is an original part of Ann Arbor that everyone should try . Good sangria, Good local beer, Constant buzz, Great Pizza, and a good atmosphere. -
Review from Aaron B.
Ann Arbor, MI
8/14/2007
There are people who love Dominick's. If waiting more than ten minutes in a dank, noisy room to order weak, pricey booze that you have to drink out of dirty jars while being eaten by mosquitoes and sweating like swine outdoors on hard benches is your thing then maybe you too will love Dominick's. Personally I'd rather have a bologna and jelly sandwich than the crap they serve there (I think their pizza is actually Crisco on lasagna noodles).
People seem to want to like it so much (because it's an "institution") that that they overlook the fact that every aspect of it sucks. I really can't say enough bad things about this place and because I have only bad things to say I will actually give it a bad rating. I don't understand the people who recognize its being terrible and still rate it well. It's just plain bad. -
Review from Vi V.
New York, NY
10/9/2007
Oh Dominick's.......................................w ords can't describe how much I miss this precious Ann Arbor treasure. To me, Dominick's almost defines my Ann Arbor experience....it is everything i love about this lovely little campus town.
i gotta admit Dominick's business model might puzzle some - it only opens half the year (closes during the chillier months) and closes at 10pm (when most bar goers are only getting ready to leave the house). There are tables on the porch, the patio and in the house (both downstairs and upstairs) but you gotta love the patio.....and how can you not love drinking delicious sangrias out of quaint jars as you're sitting at picnic tables overlooking a beautiful landscape (which includes a mini waterfall) under clear blue skies???
Although the sangria is the most popular drink here by far, the Constant Buzz is definitely my favorite. I like it so much that I am convinced it is the BEST (alcoholic) drink I've ever had .. anywhere! It looks and tastes like strawberry smoothie, with barely any traces of alcohol. This is a drink i can sip on all day. it's dangerous!
i realize I may be slightly biased in my review because i'm missing ann arbor like mad. there's never been a time when i come to Dominick's and not have a great time. this is one Michigan experience you wouldn't want to miss. best to come with a group of friends! -
Review from Nick H.
Ann Arbor, MI
6/2/2009 2 Check-ins Here
There's nothing better than a summer afternoon/evening at Dominick's with a group of friends and lots of sangria. It's a great location, eclectic vibe, and lots of seating, mostly outdoors or on the patios. The food is good, but takes forever to make, and there's always a long line for food/drinks. If you bring cash it's much easier to get their famous sangria or constant buzz from the second bar. Both these drinks are great, but expensive! Constant Buzz does live up to its name.
As most know, Dominick's closes at 10pm - a major buzz kill - especially if you've waited in line for 20 minutes to get a drink. I think the bubonic plague was born in their bathrooms, which is always occupied. The staff certainly aren't in a hurry to take or complete orders - but their attitude lets you know that upfront. Best time to go is in the summer, when the Business School and Greek Life students are not around. Dominick's is an Ann Arbor classic and a place like none other. Because of that it's easier for me to forgive some of its annoying characteristics. -
Review from laura g.
San Francisco, CA
8/10/2007
Another Ann Arbor institution. Seriously I wish there was one in every city.
This is definitely a place where it is dangerous to sit too long, because after not much time, when you try to stand you actually fall over, because you are that hammered.
If you don't dig the sangria, have a different beverage. My favorite was more of a frozen blended number called constant buzz. Definitely a great place to have a friend on staff as well.
Also, the BEST Profs and/or TAs held class here at least once a semester. I love you organizational psych.
And for eye candy and view? The law quad and students are but a stumble across the street!
The best thing the food is here for is merely to slow the time in which it takes the booze to take effect.
Way back in the day, this used to be a place one might be able to manage some underage drinking, so I've heard. -
Review from Johanna L.
San Francisco, CA
2/24/2010
Oh, the Sangria and Constant Buzz....
I heart this place, not just love, but HEART. I could list the downsides (seasonal, pricey, weird guy at the entrance investigating IDs) but other than that little aside, I won't.
There is just no better place to enjoy a warm afternoon in Ann Arbor with friends than Dominick's, given the following three rules: First, you must sit outside. Second, Sangria and/or Constant Buzz is required. Third, dinner comes later at some other establishment nearby (not that the food is bad... it just isn't why you go to Dominick's).
The drinks are very strong and still taste super yummy. The end result is invariably ending up more buzzed than you anticipated, and thus invariably having more fun than you anticipated. Also, the laid-back attitude, outdoor seating and afternoon timeframe just make for a relaxed an enjoyable time. What I know is this: mixing my friends with this place always was, and always still is a great idea.Listed in: Nostalgic Ann Arbor
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Review from Puneet S.
Columbus, OH
1/19/2012
Ann Arbor staple! An absolute must for Ann Arbor in the Spring/Summer. Mmm the constant buzz is so good, I could drink a pitcher myself. Only issues are that they close early and it is difficult to find seating at times.
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Review from Becky H.
Ann Arbor, MI
4/23/2011
The food is overpriced for what you get, but the Constant Buzz is okay. The sangria is also okay. However, the service is bad and my credit card is routinely overcharged when I tip. For example, the Constant Buzz comes out at $22.26 and I tell the cashier to put $24 on the card. Sometimes I will get a "Thank you" (which I appreciate), but often whoever it is will charge $24.26 to get an even $2 tip instead of the $1.74 that I was authorizing. The extra $0.26 isn't worth fussing about in public, but it has happened often enough to me that I am getting annoyed enough to sign up for yelp to write about it. Plus, what they're doing probably isn't legal.
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Review from Tony C.
New York, NY
4/23/2007
I think all that's been said about this place has been said, especially by Margot. With as many unsavory experiences I've had there, including being rained on, being shooed out by the people that work there, etc. I still persist and go to Dominick's. Why? It's al fresco alcoholic debauchery at its best and there's not much you can do about it.
What's in the sangria? I don't know (or maybe I do). I've always wondered because if it were just wine and fruit juice, I should be able to drink a gallon of it without feeling much of anything. I drink about half a gallon and I feel like the world is spinning. Hmmmmm... -
Review from Rebecca W.
Ypsilanti, MI
5/17/2009
Dominick's is pretty much a place that you love or you hate. They're full of Michigan 'tude and don't really care what you think about it.
That being said, if you're IN Ann Arbor, and AT the U of M, you're probably a sucker for Michigan 'tude. I am unapologetically in this camp, and very much enjoy Dominicks.
When you arrive, you'll be greeted by the crotchety gentleman (Dominick himself?) on the front porch, who will card everyone in your party stringently...even if it's the middle of the afternoon, and even though they have a full restaurant menu. Mixed feelings about this...it's easier to get in as a 5 year old with your parents than as a 19 year old. But I suppose they have to do it.
If you're here, you only want to eat out on the back patio. There's no point in being inside. You CAN reserve tables/areas, and your "space" will be announced to guests via a pizza-board sign on the front porch--v. handy.
I love the pasta entrees, in particular the mushroom ravioli. It comes with warm, soft bread, a perfectly standard green salad, and a cute little jar of soup.
It's basically self-service--order inside, and pick up at a window. I appreciate the built in security system: when you order, you give your first name and last initial. When your food is ready, they call your first name only--then when you pick up, you have to give your initial.
I've heard mixed things about the sangria. My general sense is that if you are an actual expert in Spanish libations and authentic sangria, you may be disappointed.
If, on the other hand, you're just looking for a cold, sweet, refreshing, fruity drink to get a little blurry on, you'll be pleased. I always am.
Dominick's, like Blimpy and like most Ann Arbor establishments, is a place you have to just take as it is. If you can, and that's your thing, you'll enjoy. -
Review from Nupur L.
6/3/2007
I went to Dominick's for the first time on a Friday night in May. Maybe that was my mistake?
The sangria was pleasant enought. The crowds were horrible and the intercom was the most obnoxious sound system that I have ever encountered in Ann Arbor. I could barely hear what my friends were saying and left with a hoarse throat and headache. Thankfully, the sangria dulled the egde because I would've been really cranky otherwise. I'm definitely willing to try Dominick's again because I want to see why everyone loves it so much. Maybe this time on a Monday afternoon. -
Review from Lisa W.
Flint, MI
7/12/2008
Students tend to love this spot. It seems secluded just because it's hidden behind the business school -- but really everyone knows about it because of the Sangria. And if you're going to go, you might as well just go for the Sangria, because I don't even remember what their food tastes like.
If you're sitting inside, then you're obviously not cool -- because all the cool kids sit outside on the patio furniture. -
Review from Cathy H.
San Francisco, CA
11/24/2007
First day in Ann Arbor, I hop onto a School of Public Health bus for a tour of the campus and surrounding establishments. The tour guide makes a stop in front of Dominick's, and the guide raves about Dominick's sangria and constant buzz, which tastes like a delish strawberry margarita. Both drinks are perfect for warm spring, summer, and fall nights.
The loud mouth owner of Dominick's comes on the bus to give us a rude welcome and yells at us to get the H-E-double hockey sticks out of here because the bus was blocking their view or preventing business, which was not open yet. He just wanted the tour bus out of the way. That is classic. You will never find a ruder person than the ego-maniacal owner.
Despite that snafu, all of us have been back to Dominick's time and time again. Business is so awesome that this place can hibernate during the winter while students can not wait for the snow to melt, and so they can guzzle sangrias and constant buzzes all day long on the outdoor patio. -
Review from Heather K.
Chicago, IL
8/21/2007
I was in Ann Arbor this past weekend and actually went to Dominick's TWICE...that's how much I enjoyed the place. I actually thought the prices were decent...$13 for a quart of sangria seems like a good deal to me! Maybe that's because I'm used to paying like $5-6 a glass at all the tapas places in Chicago. In terms of food, I really enjoyed the penne with red pepper pesto, which was like $8 and came with a side salad and a hilarious serving of soup. (No really...it was in a teeny jelly jar and might have been 5 spoonfuls, tops!) Also tried the chicken quesadilla which was full of veggies and not greasy at all.
Summer camp-style picnic tables outside were fun when it was sunny. Did not appreciate the insanely loud siren telling me to leave at 10:00, but hey, now I know what to expect for next time. -
Review from Joanna L.
7/27/2007 1 photo
The ambiance of Dominick's is your gritty gross looking hang-out -- but altogether, it's the best place to go and just relax with your friends if you want to drink a jug of sangria.
I lived next to/down the street from Dominick's for 4 years and all through the warm-weather times of the school-year, I can always hear the people and loudspeaker of Dominick's. Only when I turned 21 did I actually go experience it for the first time -- and I totally understand why people return for more.
Just don't expect much. Expect lines, sangria in jars (literally... jars that look like jam jars) and dirty tables and chairs. But DO expect a good loud time where you can just chill and talk with friends. :) -
Review from Scott W.
3/30/2010
When I was a student at UofM, Dominick's was shut down for a summer because they got caught serving alcohol to a minor with a fake ID. That was sad. Now they check all IDs at the door so it doesn't happen again.
I have so many great memories of Dominick's. It has been there always throughout my over-21 life. I used to brave the crowds and stand in line (bring cash so you can take advantage when they open the alternate serving bar) no matter what. Now that I am older and wiser, I avoid it until the students are gone. Like this weekend for example, my buddies and I were making plans for a disc golf and beer drinking Friday. I threw out the Indy Lake - Dominick's possibility, and it was shot down due to the anticipated crowds. It will be like 80 degrees though.
My econ professor used pizza and beer at Dominick's as an example when teaching us about diminishing marginal utility. I still understand this concept very clearly to this day..
Ann Arbor native Tom Monaghan wanted to name his franchise after this establishment. From what I heard, the owner declined and Tom ended up going with a close approximation: Dominoes.
My favorite is the Bell's Pale Ale or Oberon in the hot summer sun. Constant Buzzz is frustrating for me to drink, the ice is too chunky, can't drink it fast enough. Speaking of constant buzz, I think it helps to have a buzz before you arrive here, it will make waiting for that first drink easier. -
Review from James A.
Los Angeles, CA
10/17/2010
For me, Dominick's epitomizes springtime in Ann Arbor. Sure, they kick you out right at 10pm and are closed for a big part of the year, but that's part of what makes Dominick's the Ann Arbor icon that it is. It's a place to go with your friends during the "happy hour" part of the day while the weather is slowly improving or declining. Don't ever try to get in if you're underage, and try your best to sit outside. The place has a European vibe and attitude toward service - take that for what it's worth. If you're a student or Ann Arbor native, take full advantage of this gem while it's open (march through october/november-ish).
I will say that the sangria is not nearly as good as everybody says - but that's mostly because I lived in Spain and am spoiled. It's a little sugary for me and doesn't have enough fruit, and I also feel it's overpriced for what you're getting. However, the Constant Buzz is really good. Even though I'm not huge on sweet drinks, I highly recommend it. Be forewarned, though, it's one of those drinks that will pull the chair from underneath you before you know it. The food is very tasty, but a bit on the pricey side. But even though the prices are a little steep across the board, you're paying for the experience above all else - and it's absolutely worth it. -
Review from Bonnie P.
Atlanta, GA
2/2/2007
OK, I'm going to go ahead and like Dominick's less than everyoneelseonyelp.
That's not to say I don't like it. I think it's funny how they allow organizations or groups to reserve tables and then write the location of each group's table in permanent marker on cardboard discs and tape them up at the entrance. Once my a cappella group, the "Headnotes," did this, and they wrote "Headnoges." I'm not sure what the hell they thought we were saying, but it was pretty funny.
Plus, there is just something about sitting in the back garden drinking Sangria out of a jar on a sunny afternoon in the early fall. I was a law student, and despite being a geek that never goes out, I have quite a number of fond memories of it, as is I think required to graduate from UM law.
But many times I wanted a little more from Dominick's... sitting inside isn't so much fun, since it's loud and kinda gross, the food is nothing special, the lines can be absurd, and they close before I'm even allowed to leave the library most nights. What I perceive as flaws may enhance the experience of others, I am aware. In any case, Dominick's is unique, cool in its own right, a place to check out.
