Restaurant Review: Gabriel's - Ypsilanti, MI

2585 E.Michigan 
Avenue     
Ypsilanti, MI 48185 
(1 additional Location)
Phone: 734.483.5846
Hours:
Monday-Sunday: 10am - 9pm

Sunday: 11am - 9pm
Price: $$
 




www.gabrielscheesesteaks.com

Gabriel's Menu

Have you heard the idiom, "don't judge a book by its cover"? Garbriel's is a prime example of why you should not prejudge this restaurant due to the location, menu size, or its exterior appearance. What we found inside this red and yellow dive was a cheese steak hoagie that could turn a Philadelphian into a Michigander!

Gabriel's is small and dingy, but the kind of dingy where you know food must be good as there was a steady flow of customers coming in the door. It could probably seat about 25 people, though many customers opted to take their sandwiches to go. With only four sandwiches to choose from, this may have been the smallest menu I had ever seen. Leslie and I both ordered the cheese steak hoagie with a side of  peppers.

After a short wait, I was unwrapping my cheese steak from unbranded paper that reminded me of something a department store cashier would  use to wrap up something fragile. The bun was lined with American cheese and stuffed with steaming hot paper thin slices of ribeye and sauteed onions. I topped off my hoagie with a tangy-diced hot cherry pepper relish, or in Gabriel's lingo -- a side of peppers. 

It was mouth watering delicious! If I even thought I could squeeze a couple more ounces of food in my stomach, I might have ordered a second. This cheese steak hoagie was far from the ordinary over processed burger and greasy french fry meal. There were no liquid renderings running down my palm. Nor any drips on my shirt leaving behind the evidence of a sinful meal. But it tasted like there should have been! This sandwich is a broke college kids late night dream food. Too bad it's not a little bit closer to Eastern Michigan University's campus. 

Lindsey @ Munchin' Michigander

Restaurant Review: Yesterdog - Grand Rapids, MI

1505 Wealthy Street Southeast (Eastown)
Grand Rapids MI 49506

Hours: 

Mon - Sat 10:30 - 2:30 a.m.

Sun 10:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Price: $

http://yesterdog.com/index.html

Yesterdog Menu

Located in the popular neighborhood called Eastown inside Grand Rapids, Yesterdog is a MUST! Yesterdog's claim to fame is that it was the inspiration for the restaurant 'Dog Years' in the first American Pie movie. The menu features six hotdogs ranging in price from $2.00 - $2.50 each. In addition,  feature items include bags of chips and fountain pop. My favorite hotdog is the Ultradog. It is a combination of a hotdog and a steamed bun, topped with chili, cheese, onion, pickle, ketchup, and mustard.

The Ultradog!

When you enter Yesterdog be cautious as you prepare to place your order, as there are specific ordering rules that must be followed. If not, be prepared for some attitude from the staff!

The Ordering Rules:

1. When entering Yesterdog PLEASE walk down to the end of the counter.
Form 2 lines if needed.

2. We take HOT DOG orders FIRST. We start left and move right.

3. After dogs, we take drink orders, after drinks we take chip orders.

4. Once all dogs, drinks and chips are ordered, we will then begin to charge you for your order.

5. Once you are paid up you will then get your dogs on a tray or bag and seat
 yourself.

Leaving a tip is always the highlight for my husband when we visit Yesterdog. Customers are encouraged to toss coins into a old gramophone horn on the wall behind the counter. This may be the only time you can throw your loose change and not be haunted by your mothers voice telling you "don't throw things at people!".

As you seat yourself you may feel like you are walking through an antique store. The decor takes you back to the '30s or '40s. Coca-Cola signs, a jukebox, and other nostalgic decor fill the narrow restaurant, The dining booths have been carved with the names of boyfriend and girlfriends over the years (yes, I have left my mark). This makes for an atmosphere that is unparalleled to any other. Normally hotdogs are thought of something you put on the grill in the backyard or have at the ball park. However, this vintage dive makes a hotdog  a work of art. You have not had a hotdog, until you have had a Yesterdog!

Lindsey @ Munchin' Michigander