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Published On: Apr 07, 2009 10:28 AM
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Published On: Apr 07, 2009 10:28 AM
Chelsea Restaurants...
Chelsea is a great little town, but unfortunately,
it isn't such a great town for finding good food. I suppose it's probably due to
the large number of great eateries in nearby Ann
Arbor.
Even though the only restaurant outsiders know about is the Common Grill, there are few other dining options in our fair city (other than fast food) including a new place that just opened.
1) The Common Grill. Chef Craig Common was convinced to open this place so that folks would have somewhere to eat after seeing a play at Jeff Daniel's Purple Rose Theater. The menu is super extra heavy on sea-food, which means we may be the only two Chelsea-ites who aren't huge fans of the place. However, there are a few items on the menu that contain neither icky fish nor gross sea-bugs. I nearly always get the pork tenderloin with Michigan cherry compote. And their famous bread makes the place worth the trip all by itself. Their desserts (fish-free, fortunately) are also great. Unfortunately it isn't the sort of place for an intimate dinner for 2 (or any other number actually) because it's so fraking loud. You nearly have to shout to be heard across the table because everyone else is shouting to be heard across their tables. The high ceilings, brick walls and hardwood floor make the place an echo chamber. Otherwise, it's a good place to eat, but it certainly isn't the only option in Chelsea, even if it's the only option outsiders seem to know about.
2) Cleary's. Located right across the street from the Common Grill, Cleary's serves good, simple, inexpensive pub food. I'm a big fan of their Guinness Burger, which is served on a yummy, but odd sort of soft pretzel roll. (I can't actually taste the Guinness in it, but I'll take their word that it's in there.) They also have a good beer selection -- always a plus.
3) Chinese Tonight. Inexpensive and good Chinese food. This is a common Sunday night carry-out dinner for us.
4) Chelsea Grille. Unfortunately Chelsea Grille (not to be confused with the Common Grill, frankly I would have chosen a different name) recently experienced a fire and is closed, but is due to reopen soon. We've only eaten there a few times and were, I'm sorry to say, thoroughly unimpressed. But it's usually reasonably busy, so folks must like it ... maybe we're just too picky.
5) The Tree House. I suppose this isn't technically a restaurant, but they do serve food. Mostly it's a place with a giant play area for kids, that happens to serve food. Think Chuck-E Cheese's, if Chuck-E Cheese's were designed by someone NOT on crystal meth whose only purpose was to put enough crazy, blinking, freakishly loud, seizure-inducing games in the joint for you to waste money on so they could afford their next hit. And with reasonably healthy food and good snacks for kids. We went there with our Goddaughter and her two daddies and had a great time ("adults" get to play on the stuff too, as long as you're accompanied by a child.) Located in the beautifully restored Clock Tower building on the north end of the downtown business district.
6) Gourmet Chocolate Cafe. Also not technically a restaurant, unless you prefer to make an entire meal out of home-made chocolates ... which doesn't sound like such a bad idea, actually. Wonderful and interesting chocolates, and a very friendly owner. Also located in the Clock Tower building.
7) Las Fuentes. This place is so new they don't even have a liquor license yet. They're also located in the Clock Tower building (a really cool space. I'm glad to see so much good stuff going in there.) A middle of the road Mexican place (think a step or two above Chi-Chi's.) Good food, surprisingly cheap, and the service was quick and efficient. The upside is that it's new and thus easy to get into. Hopefully theater-goers will walk the extra 2 blocks to find it. Plus, the restaurant does carry-out, so now we can have something other than Chinese Tonight on Sunday evenings.
Even though the only restaurant outsiders know about is the Common Grill, there are few other dining options in our fair city (other than fast food) including a new place that just opened.
1) The Common Grill. Chef Craig Common was convinced to open this place so that folks would have somewhere to eat after seeing a play at Jeff Daniel's Purple Rose Theater. The menu is super extra heavy on sea-food, which means we may be the only two Chelsea-ites who aren't huge fans of the place. However, there are a few items on the menu that contain neither icky fish nor gross sea-bugs. I nearly always get the pork tenderloin with Michigan cherry compote. And their famous bread makes the place worth the trip all by itself. Their desserts (fish-free, fortunately) are also great. Unfortunately it isn't the sort of place for an intimate dinner for 2 (or any other number actually) because it's so fraking loud. You nearly have to shout to be heard across the table because everyone else is shouting to be heard across their tables. The high ceilings, brick walls and hardwood floor make the place an echo chamber. Otherwise, it's a good place to eat, but it certainly isn't the only option in Chelsea, even if it's the only option outsiders seem to know about.
2) Cleary's. Located right across the street from the Common Grill, Cleary's serves good, simple, inexpensive pub food. I'm a big fan of their Guinness Burger, which is served on a yummy, but odd sort of soft pretzel roll. (I can't actually taste the Guinness in it, but I'll take their word that it's in there.) They also have a good beer selection -- always a plus.
3) Chinese Tonight. Inexpensive and good Chinese food. This is a common Sunday night carry-out dinner for us.
4) Chelsea Grille. Unfortunately Chelsea Grille (not to be confused with the Common Grill, frankly I would have chosen a different name) recently experienced a fire and is closed, but is due to reopen soon. We've only eaten there a few times and were, I'm sorry to say, thoroughly unimpressed. But it's usually reasonably busy, so folks must like it ... maybe we're just too picky.
5) The Tree House. I suppose this isn't technically a restaurant, but they do serve food. Mostly it's a place with a giant play area for kids, that happens to serve food. Think Chuck-E Cheese's, if Chuck-E Cheese's were designed by someone NOT on crystal meth whose only purpose was to put enough crazy, blinking, freakishly loud, seizure-inducing games in the joint for you to waste money on so they could afford their next hit. And with reasonably healthy food and good snacks for kids. We went there with our Goddaughter and her two daddies and had a great time ("adults" get to play on the stuff too, as long as you're accompanied by a child.) Located in the beautifully restored Clock Tower building on the north end of the downtown business district.
6) Gourmet Chocolate Cafe. Also not technically a restaurant, unless you prefer to make an entire meal out of home-made chocolates ... which doesn't sound like such a bad idea, actually. Wonderful and interesting chocolates, and a very friendly owner. Also located in the Clock Tower building.
7) Las Fuentes. This place is so new they don't even have a liquor license yet. They're also located in the Clock Tower building (a really cool space. I'm glad to see so much good stuff going in there.) A middle of the road Mexican place (think a step or two above Chi-Chi's.) Good food, surprisingly cheap, and the service was quick and efficient. The upside is that it's new and thus easy to get into. Hopefully theater-goers will walk the extra 2 blocks to find it. Plus, the restaurant does carry-out, so now we can have something other than Chinese Tonight on Sunday evenings.
Posted: Sun - August 3, 2008 at 05:28 PM