I've gotten brioche burger buns at Whole Foods during the summer - other times of year I have not seen them there. Zingerman's had challah hamburger rolls yesterday. I don't consider challah to be an equal substitute for brioche in regards to hamburger buns - but I'm a burger nerd....

If you are interested in Forest Grill - I would go in the next few weeks. David is leaving soon -The current menu has some of his "greatest hits" on it and they may disappear once a new chef has taken over the kitchen.

What are people ordering at Neehee's? It's good, but I've never understood the over the top raves about the place online.

I'd love to hear more about the pizza oven. Keep us updated on how the pizzas turn out.

There is a guy at the Northville farmer's market on Thursdays

Consistency is the mark of a good BBQ restaurant - Ron's has failed me in my last two visits. Ron wasn't working those two visits - maybe that has something to do with it... Brisket was moist and tender, but it was gray, no smoke ring, and no flavor - lots of fat chunks. The ribs.... I am not even sure they were ribs... The woman at the counter told me they were fall off the bone tender - there was one bone... a single bone about 3 inches long in a huge mass of meat piled in a takeout container. Some pieces tender, some tough, no smoke flavor and just drenched in sauce. A really bad excuse for ribs. I am going to hold off on returning for awhile.

The best meal I have had in the last year was at Mani Osteria in AA. The second best meal was probably at The Root. I had my birthday meal a few weeks back at The Grange - I was disappointed.

Does anyone know what happened at Neehee's in Canton? I drove by last night and it was boarded up - There was a sign, but I couldn't read it from the road.

I wasn't as thrilled with my second visit yesterday. The pulled pork had litte smoke flavor, no bark, was wet and stringy with no chunks of pork - a very soft mushy texture. The sides (American potato salad and cuke salad) both needed salt and lacked flavor.

I stopped there today for lunch by chance as well. Where you the couple sitting outside by the door? I had the brisket sandwich and coleslaw. The was brisket was great - moist, tender, smokey. I liked the sauce and how little they actually put on the sandwich. The roll was excellant, but I thought a little dense for a sandwich - I prefer a cheap, spongy white hamburger bun for BBQ sandwiches - so as not to distract from the meat. The cole slaw was gross - way too much mayo, and in need of salt. The guy who ordered after me said the ribs are really good - I'll try those next time.

Not on your list, but I had an outstanding meal at Mani Osteria last Saturday. One of the better meals that I have had in Michigan during the last year that I have lived here. Only low points of the meal were crispy pork belly that wasn't crispy (still good - though) and a very weak dessert menu. Logan has been on my list to visit for a long time.

Have to be at a funeralin Beloit, WI. this weekend. Any suggestions to eat in the area - breakfast, lunch and dinner. I'd love to go out for a fish fry Friday night.

The pizza is very good - ask them to cook it well done - an extra 20 seconds or so. They seem to have gone away from the original wine bar concept and are focusing more on the pizzas. They changed the wine program last fall - they no longer offer homemade wine or tasting flights. It's a basic wine list - leaning heavily Italian - the staff isn't very knowledgable about the wines and wine service is non existant.

Did this place open for a short period and close? The open soon signs have been up for months, and recently they changed the sign to - open real soon.

Busch's has them.

We have gotten Lee's Famous 4 or 5 times for partys. Everyone seems to like, but I think it is too salty - and I am one that likes salt. We went to Guernsey's Dairy the other day in Northville - both my wife and I thought that was some of the best chicken we have had in a very long time. I think they are pretty well known for it there - from what I could see just about every table had ordered chicken. Great cole slaw and ice cream as well.

I live in Plymouth and am excited that Panache and The Sardine Room are both opening - we could use a little more upscale dinning options in town. Sorry to hear about your experiences - I feel that if a restaurant is open and charging money they are fair game for harsh reviews regardless if it's during a soft opening. I make a point of giving restaurants a few months to get their legs before trying them out. In my experience - carry out is never as good as eating it in the restaurant - for most items - the food suffers in transit.

Do you have any other favorite restaurants in the Plymouth area?

Had lunch here today with my wife. She really enjoyed her meal, I thought mine was pretty poor. We loved the fig, goat cheese, arugula, prosciuito flat bread. I appreciated that the fig component was a jam - the sweetness was a nice contrast. I've had this combo before elsewhere with whole figs and unless they are the ripest peak of season figs it can be quite flat. Both of our entrees needed salt and the asparagus that accompanied them were untrimmed (tough, woody, fibrous ends) and badly overcooked. My whitefish with a potato crust was soggy, limp, and sitting in a pool of oil. My wifes salmon was cooked perfectly and came with a delicous barley, butternut squash risotto. Nice place, but didn't live up to my expectations from the raves on these boards.

May be a little far of a drive for you, but I really like Espresso Elevado in Plymouth. They roast all beans in house and have a nice rotating selection of not so common beans. I usually stop in once a week or so and have been happy with everything I have ordered from here.

Downsides - not much seating (nor very comfortable seats), small selection of coffee type snacks, owner isn't super friendly nor is she mean - just seems uninterested sometimes - rest of staff is awesome - talkative, friendly, interested in talking about coffee, etc..

www.espressoelevado.com

Lefty's is nothing special. The roll is like a giant hot dog bun and falls apart before you are finished and the meat is chopped too fine for my taste. If you are from Philly you maybe disapointed with the cheese steaks in Michigan. My biggest complaint are the rolls - they are very soft, and are missing the very fine crackly crisp crust that I am used to on the East Coast.

I moved here from NY last year and gave up on good Chinese food after 4 or 5 really poor experiences. About a month a go I went to Shangra-La on Middlebelt and 12 - loved it - totally tasted like Chinese food from back home. Have since gone for Dim Sum at the location in West Bloomfield (again food was good, but crowded and service suffered). I have been told about good Chinese in Canton and Ann Arbor, but haven't had a chance to try it. I have gone for Dim Sum at Kims Garden in Novi 4 or 5 times. The food is hot and most of it has been good - although very salty. It is close to my house in Plymouth - so it is easy for us. I have had much better Thai food here in Michigan than in NY - so that makes me happy.

My neighbor is Chinese and moved here in the 80's from China. I asked her where she goes for good chinese food - she told me her kitchen... She then mentioned a place in Troy. It is too far for us to drive with two young kids - so I forgot the name.

Anyone try the Concrete Cuisine truck? I've seen it driving around Farmington Hills and Novi, but haven't had a chance to try it.

http://concretecuisine.webs.com/

I made lasagna for xmas eve and was looking for whole milk mozz. - I couldn't find it at Hiller's Busch's, or Krogers.

Seeing a show the 19th at The Palace in Auburn Hills. It will be the second time my wife and I will be having a "date night" since we moved to Michigan - we would like a good meal before the concert. Any suggestions for a place between Plymouth and Auburn Hills? Open to anything really - price and cuisine aren't important.

Rangoli in Auburn Hills got some good reviews on this board, but am not sure my wife wants Indian.

I'm still learning my Michigan geography - Is Union WoodShop in Clarkston or The Root in White Lake too far out of the way? They are both two places I have read about and am interested in trying.

Thanks.

I moved out here from NY a few months ago, and haven't found any with natural casings. I've seen skinless at Walmart, but they aren't the same.

We are renting a home in Livonia. My Mother in Law lives in Saline - just outside A2.

I just moved here from NYC/LI, and have been looking for a fish monger. I was shocked at the prices being charged at Monoghan's. They are charging almost double what I paid at top Long Island fish markets, and are pretty close to what the high end specialty markets in NYC are charging. Don't get me wrong - the fish and selection was very nice - it was just a shock when I saw the prices.

I look forward to exploring the food and restaurant options here in Detroit and sharing my experiences on chowhound.

John

Is a granny smith apple a good apple to bake with? Is it sweet/tart?

My mother made apple and sausage stuffing when I was younger. I found a sausage and sage stuffing that I would like to make - it doesn't include apples, but I would like to include Them. What type of apple do I use? How many apples( recipe calls for 2lbs of bread and says it feeds 10 - 12)? Do I peel the apples? Do I cook the apples with the celery and onion or just add it when I mix everything together? Thank you.

Coming in to Ann Arbor Wednesday through Sunday from NYC. Staying In Saline at MIL's, but will be spending my time with a RE Agent Thursday and Friday in Northville, Farmington Hills, West Bloomfield, and Novi. Any suggestions for solo dining/early dinner in or around these areas? I would like to go to Zingerman's Roadhouse and The Forest Grill. I'm also a fan of Michael Simons and was thinking of driving into Detroit to check out Roast. I have heard good things about Eve in AA, but the menu doesn't really look that interesting to me. Price, location, or type of cusine - I am open to all. I dine solo alot when I travel - so it isn't an issue, but some restaurants make it more comfortable than others. Are any places known for bar dining or solo dining? Open to any suggestions. Thank you.

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Forest Grill Restaurant
735 Forest Ave Ste 100, Birmingham, MI 48009

Zingerman's Roadhouse
2501 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

I've been to the hollow creamery twice in the last week. Gets my vote for best on LI. Really enjoyed the banana cream pie, pumpkin, and oatmeal raisin cookie flavors. The apple strudel ice cream had little apple flavor - tasted mostly of cinnamon. If it was called cinnamon ice cream- it would of been great. Good Size portions. Nice staff. Reasonable prices.