Seva is vegetarian heaven; Pizza House tops everything but pizza

ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daily Cava Java offers superior coffee.

Cava Java

This centrally located, meet-your-pals-between-classes-and-pretend-to-study coffee joint on South University Avenue offers your favorite fanciful coffees and desserts.

Best Burgers:

Blimpy Burger

Tired of the same old Grade E meat and frozen lettuce used at fast food restaurants? Try out a juicy burger at this Ann Arbor staple, on Division Street, and your taste buds will be delighted. Hey, it's cheap too!

Best French Fries:

McDonald's

You can have your break today at McDonald's while munching on the fries, which are made from potatoes, grease and salt. Oh yeah, and they use salt. By the way, did we mention they use salt?

Best Pizza:

Cottage Inn

Cottage Inn, at various Ann Arbor locations, takes the prize for the best americanized Italian entree ever known to mankind. We still think it's pretty damn good, especially with so many specialty pizzas and plentiful toppings to choose from!

Best Hot Dogs:

Red Hot Lovers

If the hot dog vendor in front of the Chem Building is giving you weird looks, get your fill of various dogs cooked with toppings that exceed the typical relish, catsup and mustard. Fear not, vegetarians! You haven't lived until you've tried a tofu dog in this small but friendly joint off East University.

Best Wings:

Mr. Spots

These wings are sure to hit the Spot! Sorry, Colonel Sanders, we've found another place - on South State Street, to boot - to lick our fingers clean.

EMILY NATHAN/Daily Fans of vegetarian food should head to Seva, on East Liberty.

Best Low-Cal Food:

Seva

Has anyone ever noticed that low-cal correlates with low-taste? Not here. At Seva, on East Liberty, we're talking vegetarian heaven, with even a few dishes that carnivores out there might enjoy. And if you're trying to take off a few pounds before summer, Seva would be a good place to start.

Best Cheap Beer:

Touchdown Cafe

Hey, even "The Real World" thought this was a cool enough place to hold auditions, so it's gotta be good for something, right? Bring a great year in Wolverine football to a close with some cheap drinks and good times at this bar on South University Avenue.

Best Microbrew:

Grizzly Peak Brewing Co.

If you've had it with frathouse beer that even Mickey Mouse could chug, try this brewery on Washtenaw for a taste of the real thing. It's homemade and fresh, so you can really let the beer chase your blues away.

Best Bar Drinks:

Good Time Charley's

Like people? Then choose a tasty beverage from the large selection here, watch the people on South University Avenue stroll by, drink some more, and then entertain the customers in the dining room with a few moves you learned from "The Grind."

Best Ice Cream:

Stucchi's

As if anything else could win. This place has unique ice cream selections down cold. If you haven't already, try out a Smooshin'. Watch the workers create your own flavor of ice cream by putting your ice cream on the counter and smooshing toppings of your choice into it. It takes talent, and only Stucchi's offers it. So what are you waiting for?

Best Chipati:

Pizza House

What the hell is a chipati anyway? We've all been wondering, but the baked pita stuffed with mushrooms, peppers, lettuce, tomatoes and mozzarella (optionally, you can add tuna, chicken or feta cheese) proves popular from Pizza House, where everything but the pizza is considered a specialty.

Best Subs:

Subway

The new option of finding "7 subs under 6 grams of fat" with cheap prices for combo meals makes Subway even more delectable than ever before, but its convenient location in the Union is probably the main reason why readers chose it as offering the best subs in Ann Arbor.

Best Salads:

Pizza House

Like we said, everything but pizza is considered good at this place. In any case, the late hours of delivery will appeal to those all-nighter pros who need to stock up on tasty energy food. And what could be better as that than a great salad and a chipati?

Best Cookies:

Mrs. Peabody's

If you need a sugar rush to get through that 8 a.m. biology lecture, stop by this little pastry shop on North University Avenue for a real cavity-causing snack that is sure to keep you going - at least for a little while. And if you think a friend at another school needs a sugar rush, ship these cookies anywhere in the country and be a real life-saver for once.

Best Bagels:

Einstein Bros. Bagels

And you thought Philadelphia was the only place to get cream cheese. Think again. Disguised as a "shmear," this bagel franchise offers every flavor of cream cheese (as well as bagel) you could want. The long lines at lunchtime at the State Street shop may be discouraging, but readers think the bagels are well worth the wait.

DANA LINNANE/Daily Gratzi boasts service with a smile. Mama-mia!

Best Italian Food:

Palio

Remember when Billy Joel said we could meet him anytime we want at an Italian restaurant? This is the place to do it, if you're serious about getting some tasty Italian fare in a homelike and intimate setting. But be prepared for Palio, 347 S. Main St. Billy Joel might be entertaining, but the not-so-humble prices might make you less enthusiastic about eating anything but salad.

Best Indian Food:

Shalimar

Shalimar's traditional Indian cuisine on Main Street will either keep you begging for more or looking for the nearest fire hydrant to wash down all that spicy curry sauce.

Best Middle Eastern Food:

Jerusalem Garden

If the words hummus, babaganoug and falafel all sound like new elements added to the periodic table, stop by this diner on Fifth Avenue and find out what all the fuss is about. It's the best place for a vegetarian and a carnivore to eat in harmony, and it also offers great prices for the penny-pinchers out there.

Best Chinese Food:

China Gate

Bad day? A fortune cookie and General Tso's Chicken might make your day go from bad to better. Just off South University Avenue, China Gate the perfect place for lunch.

Best Korean Food:

Steve's Lunch

The low prices and fast service at this diner on South University Avenue will make you want to try Korean food if you haven't before. According to readers, Steve's Lunch is something to experience.

Best Mexican Food:

Panchero's

Between hard nights of partying, cheap and quick Mexican food at Panchero's, on South University, makes an appealing break. But don't go straight to a party afterward.

Best Vegetarian Food:

Seva

Duh, squared. Indulge your vegan self in an array of vegetables so large that you'll see why this place won multiple categories. Seva knows vegetables, and we don't doubt it one bit.

Best Deli:

Zingerman's

Even if you've never been to Zingerman's, you probably recognize the name. Stucchi's and Caribou Coffee sell its bread and desserts. But it is well worth the trip to Kerrytown to taste its popularity firsthand.

Best Restaurant Service:

Gratzi

Ever heard of the Soup Nazi? No need to worry about confronting him at Gratzi, located on South Main Street. Readers thought the service at this Italian restaurant made up for high prices.

DANA LINNANE/Daily The Fleetwood offers the city's best diner experience, and its classic Hippie Hash.

Best Greasy Spoon:

Fleetwood Diner

The folks at the Fleetwood, on Ashley, offer a classic American diner experience, complete with coffee, french fries and burgers. With 24-hour service, you're likely to absorb a few calories no matter what time you show up.

Best Sports Bar:

Touchdown Cafe

What better place to watch a Wolverine victory with three big-screen satellite televisions and cheap beer for all? It really doesn't get much better than this. And when the masses crowd South University Avenue, you'll be first in line to join in the festivities.

Best Breakfast:

Angelo's

You'll need to wake early on weekends to wait for a seat at Angelo's, 1100 Catherine. But the raisin toast and scrumptious waffles have kept people coming back for years.

Best Lunch:

Amer's

Reubens, falafel, grilled cheese, Haagen-Dazs ice cream and coffee

specialties - you name it, they've got it. Don't forget to try the homemade pickles! Amer's has locations on Church Street, State Street and in the Union.

Best Dinner:

BD's Mongolian Barbeque

Pricey? Maybe. Worth it? Definitely. And if your meal stinks, the all-you-can-eat, do-it-yourself buffet at this Main Street restaurant allows you to fix things up. After all, where else can you see people "do it on a grill?" Just watch out for those talented grillers; sometimes they get carried away and you wind up with curried peppers in your hair.

Best Takeout:

Pizza House

Need we say more about this multiple winner?

Best Outdoor Restaurant:

Good Time Charley's

All right, the view from the bar may be great, but the view from outside is obviously much better. It's perfect for family bonding over dinner or yelling at passersby about whatever's on your mind. Hey, anything's possible at the high-traffic intersection where you're parked.

LOUIS BROWN/Daily Pizza House, ironically enough, fell short in the "Best Pizza" category, but took tops in several others.

Best Late-Night Munchies:

Pizza House

Alive and kicking until 4 a.m., this joint seems to be great at whipping up everything and delivering at all hours ... except pizza.

Best Place for Folks to Take You:

Gandy Dancer

Try using this one on your parents: "What's money got to do with it when you're eating out with your own flesh and blood who you haven't seen since winter vacation?" Ummm, right. The food at Gandy Dancer, 401 Depot, is as luxurious and unique as the prices make it out to be.

Most Romantic Evening:

Gandy Dancer

If you're trying to screw over the mate who cheated on you, make them take you here, then leave them with the bill. But if mutual romance is your thing, then this secluded, converted train station is sure to make the mood a little more intimate and romantic.

Best Dorm Cafeteria:

Bursley

Maybe "best cafeteria" is a contradiction in terms. Anyway, it's too bad that students have to trek to North Campus to experience the culinary delights of salad bars and taco nights.

Best Overall Restaurant:

BD's Mongolian Barbeque

The crazy grillers, the loud atmosphere, the trendy music, the bar and the all-you-can-eat philosophy make Mongolian a great spot for meeting people, having some good food and enjoying a most unique dining experience.

Best Overall Bar:

Mitch's

The live bands that greet this South University restaurant and bar add to its festive atmosphere. When you've had a horrible day, the bar serves until 2 a.m. with nightly pitcher specials that are sure to lift your spirits if you down a few.

Compiled by Daily Arts Writer Joanne Alnajjar.

04-16-98