For a city of 100,000, Ann Arbor has a ridiculous variety of food options. Zingerman's, EVE, Gandy Dancer, and the like provide the "upper crust" places to eat (upper crust=snobby MBA students). Sometimes, and in fact most of the time, students require dining establishments that feed us quickly, hopefully cheaply, and without getting us incredibly sick. It's all we ask for.
Since Seigle Café has gone green (we love you, Eva and team) the prices have gotten a bit, how do we say, more green. In response to this, Harry Werts and Will Gatziolis have decided to partake in, and create reviews of a few lunch options in close proximity to our fair school since you might as well let your money buy you some variety. Plus, since these two epicurean fantasticos are from arguably the two best restaurant cities in the US, Chicago and NY (stuff it SF), they provide that awesome element us editors are always looking for - conflict. We haven't really agreed on any sort of approach to this thing so we'll copy MMM for the time being. Sound good? Spot 1 - Ray's Red Hots.
WG: Ray's Red Hots has a simple goal of bringing the Chicago style hot dog to Ann Arbor which seems reasonable enough to these two writers since Ann Arbor has Chicago-style pizza (see Pizza House), Chicago style driving (see State St on a Friday afternoon) and Chicago style weather (see weather.com from November-March). In the end, I think Ray's does a pretty good job at bringing that specific brand of experience to Ann Arbor.
HW: During our discussion two things happened: 1) I granted that Chicago does hot dogs better than New York even though I still believe the best deal in late night anywhere is Grey's Papaya on 72nd and Broadway. Those guys know what is up. 2) We saw Denard Robinson get his incredibly over ticketed SUV get put on a tow truck and then taken off said truck when it became apparent that, yes, he was Denard Robinson. Wish that worked for me when I tell the NYPD meter maids that, "I am a former basketball player at Haverford College and a member of the University of Michigan B-League Intramural Champions of 2009." Just doesn't work. Anyway, I am happy with any place that has waffle fries. And these were pretty good - crispy, a little too salty, but all together quite good. Dipping waffle fries in anything is transcendent. Waffle fries are a dip net.
WG: Ok, that's a good reminder. Let's tell the good people what we ordered: 2 Chicago Hot Dogs (mustard, hot peppers, tomatoes, green relish, celery salt, a pickle, lettuce, onions, and NO KETCHUP) ($3.50 for each)
1 Reuben Dog (sauerkraut, some sort of Russian mustard stuff, and Swiss cheese) (a bit more than $3.50)
1 No-Dog (a tofu dog soaked in teriyaki then grilled with whatever you want - we got honey mustard, tomatoes, grilled onions, lettuce, and Swiss) ( around $4.00)
2 orders of waffle fries ($2.25 for a small, if you get bigger you need help)
Thoughts, Mr. Werts?
HW: I was kind of fascinated by the buns. Apparently these buns are part of the Chicago hot dog experience? They worked really well for the regular dogs, absorbing some of the strong flavors of the condiments, but I was not feeling it with the Reuben Dog and the No-Dog. The flavors were just swallowed up in bread. When I go to Ray's Red Hots again, I'm sticking with straight Chicago Hot Dogs. Nothing fancy.
WG: As someone who grew up on Chicago Hot Dogs (check out Muskie's, Portillio', and pretty much anyplace that has a Vienna beef sign on it next time you are in Chicago) I think they do a pretty good job overall. The hot dog is supposed to be a bit crispy in that it makes a noise when you bite through the skin. This hot dog did that. The fixings are fresh and colorful (the relish is the right color of green, which means it has been affixed with the right amount of food dye) and the overall taste is right on.
The No-Dog is a favorite of mine. It allows for vegetarian friends to join me at Red Hot's and I find it to be a healthier option if I really want to push myself and get some cheddar fries. I know you didn't love it - but I think it is a pretty ingenious offering by the owners (see sidebar for more information).
Finally, the Reuben dog is not my cup of tea. I think we got it since we were going to do this whole NY vs. Chicago thing and we thought "Ha ha, let's get a Reuben since NY is known for their delis". Well, I hated it. Many may enjoy the taste of sauerkraut and Russian dressing on any meat product but when I eat a hot dog I want the other flavors to mask out the taste of the questionable meats I might be eating.
HW: Let's talk fries really quick.in my mind there are 4 types. The McDonalds type (skinny, pretty industrial cut with a light frying technique), the classic hand cut variety (skin still on, really accepts the grease, incredibly important to fry them to the right amount), the steak fry (large cuts but similar to the McDonalds type in that there is no skin), and then the waffle fry. The waffle fry is a lost art in this country and these people do it right. Oh waffle fry - I heart you.
WG: Agreed on all fronts. Plus they have so many different sauces that they'll pour for you (BBQ, Hot, Honey Mustard, Ranch, plus some super secret mix of all of these).
HW: So what's your final score?
WG: It isn't the healthiest of places to grab a meal, but for a return to Chicago (especially with the posters about the Cubs and blues, etc); it is worth a venture across the street. Stick with the basics at first but venture into some of the different flavors to tease your nostrils. Remember though the classics are the classics for a reason. Say it ain't so, but a Hot Dog, Fries, and a pop will run you about $7.00 which is heretical in Chicago, but then again, we ain't in Chicago is we. You?
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