brian c.'s Profile

So, we finally got to MJL after seeing it had won Hour Magazine's "Restaurant of the Year" in 2008.

That being said - I have one word, that being: OVERHYPED.

It's fair to say the sushi was the best part of our evening. My wife's martini was decent - my mojito was definitely not worth the $9. I ordered the "Sizzling Thai Chicken" - and the only thing "Thai" about it was the peanut sauce, but there certainly was no spice.

It's a beautiful place, that's for sure. The food just didn't match up to the decor, for us.

Finally! J. Neil's Mongolian Grille is open!

It was a bit of a running joke with my wife and I that we'd never see it open. After years of work, it has indeed opened - and with it, the addition of another vibrant destination on Michigan Avenue in downtown Ypsilanti.

If you have been to a Mongolian-style place before, you know what to expect. Lots of things to make bowls to then have cooked in front of you. Sides consist of soups, salad bar, tortillas, brown and steamed white rice.

For an extra dollar, you can get the "unlimited" stir fry - or if you're not super hungry, you can do a smaller pre-determined bowl.

All in all, well worth the wait - anxious to see if this brings more people to the downtown Michigan Avenue corridor. It should - with the newly expanded Tap Room and the brand new SPARK East across the street.

LOVED visiting here in person, finally!

Small, tons of atmosphere - and tons of mugs from their "$30 for life" mug club. As in covering all of the walls and ceilings. Walls are covered with tons of stuff - relevant stuff - not like most "stuff on walls" decorated places. Concert ticket stubs, photos of the place that fires their hand-thrown ceramic mugs, etc.

Food was excellent - and the beer was awesomely tasty and "did the trick" for sure.

They also have a cool outdoor area in back complete with a small stage for bands/musicians to perform. We even saw someone bring their dog and hang out in that area.

All in all, well worth the trip from the Ann Arbor area. We'll be back, for sure!

NOTE: This is coming from a new mug club member of Grizzly Peak - and from someone who frequents several local microbreweries in the state of Michigan.

One evening I took a growler into Grizzly Peak to be filled. I keep an empty growler from a random local brewery in my car for this purpose. I had one from another local brewery in my car and took it into Grizzly Peak to get filled. [The actual GP growler I do own was sitting at home.]

I was quite coldly and unappreciatively told by the bartender in the Den [who has a lot of tattoos] that he would not fill it because it was not a Grizzly Peak growler.

I explained to him that I was a mug club member. He still refused. I then explained to him that I have never, ever had any problems taking a growler from one brewery into any other brewery and having it filled. He still refused.

I told him that as a mug club member and supporter of the business that I was very upset, and that I was going elsewhere. He shrugged his shoulders, turned and started helping another customer.

I took said growler to Arbor Brewing up the street, and had it filled.

I doubt I will ever return to Grizzly Peak and am seriously considering returning my mug and asking for a refund for my mug club membership, which I have used twice.

Burger Spot is an awesome spot!  

A great, small burger place - and owned and operated by local people in Plymouth.  Each burger comes as two small patties on the sandwich - and the sides are also really quite good.  Their fries are excellent!

If you're looking for a great lunch for a decent price in downtown Plymouth, be sure to check this place out.

A great new microbrewery in Milan, MI - about 10-15 minutes away from Ann Arbor.  His beers are great-tasting, consistent - and don't have that "homebrewy" taste that a lot of other places sometimes have.

There are bout 5-6 "regular" beers on tap all of the time, a few "specialty" beers and a new "small batch" beer per week.   They also serve Sprecher's microbrewed soft drinks for those that are designated drivers - or for those who don't like beer.

Great snacks and a selection of nice sandwiches with Boar's Head meat and condiments.

If you're looking for a new place with new beer weekly - this is a great place to check out!

I take all of my dry cleaning to Iris Cleaners - they always do a great job, and have things done when they say they will be!

Excellent place that you'd pass by, if you didn't know it was there.  Amazing selection of draft beer - I partook of a "Knight's Breakfast" - a 50/50 blend of Founders Breakfast Stout and New Holland Dragon's Milk, both on tap.  An incredible mix of beers that I'd never have thought of doing.  

The food menu is a mix of English pub fare fused with Indian cuisine, for interesting and delicious combinations.  The atmosphere is cozy, inviting and sharp.  

All in all, one of my favorite places to visit in Grand Rapids.  If you're there and want a great experience, definitely hit this place.  Also very worth the drive for those more hardcore beer fans looking for a road trip to a tasty destination!

As the immediate previous reviewer stated, "If I lived near Graydon's, I would bankrupt myself."  I couldn't agree enough!

Food = excellent.  
Service = not so hot.

We were regular visitors to Chia Shiang under the previous management - and were afraid after the change in management that the large vegetarian selection might vanish.  Luckily, that is not the case, and they still have the best selection for vegetarians looking for great Chinese food in the Ann Arbor area.

Their service, however needs some serious work.  

On our last visit when we asked for soup, we were told that "there is no more soup".  Like of ANY kind - not just one flavor.  People were drinking out of red Solo cups [like you might find at a college party].  We were seated at a table that had no place settings and no condiments.  They then placed plates down with house chopsticks - then proceeded to take the chopsticks away and give us forks.  When I asked for the house chopsticks I was then told "we are out of them" and was offered wooden, to-go chopsticks.  Our food came out separately [almost 5 minutes], and rice came out 5 minutes after the dishes did.

We left, feeling like we were treated pretty badly - and have not been back since.  I am hoping it was an off night - and am willing to give them another shot.  Just not in the near future.

Worst meal at a restaurant in years.

Ordered the Mother's Day "Buffet" where within 45 minutes, [2] of the [4] items were out, and the prime rib looked like it was unwrapped and then merely placed under the heat lamp in the dining room.   Salad bar totally picked over, and soup was missing for 20 minutes - after I asked them to refill it.

Asked waitress to take my meal off of the ticket, and asked to be charged for the soup and salad I did eat, and was over-charged by her.  (Luckily, the "manager" took it off, after I reported my dissatisfaction.)

Will definitely not be going back.  Might be good for everyday, standard American restaurant dining, but not sure.  I hate to give bad reviews for family-owned businesses, but this was pretty bad, as a whole, on this day.  Perhaps they bit off more than they could chew?