If you are anything like me, you are a poor college student for whom late night Jimmy Johns and two dollar lattes at Espresso Royale are pretty much the most you’ll spend when it comes to eating out. You may, however, be lucky enough to have parents who come into town and treat you to a nice dinner every once in a while, whether it be for a birthday or another special occasion. The question then arises, “Where should I take them?” While many of you simply resort to the classic Chop House or Gandy Dancer, I like to look beyond those popular ones. While those restaurants do provide you with the aura of a special occasion, there are many other restaurants that provide a new experience for a similar price. One of these restaurants is Logan, a fine American Dining facility on West Washington, just past Main Street. I had the chance to dine there last week with my mother, who gray offered to provide me a meal other than the usual Ramen noodles...

Upon entering the restaurant, I was surprised to see that my mother snagged the best table in the house, right next to the large floor to ceiling window. So far, so good.  While my mother admitted her martini was “moderately warm,” “not filled to the brim,” with olives that “tasted old” the mood was still hopeful. The affable waiter then stumbled over the menu, which was encased in a plastic binder which reminded us of a second-grade project. He brought us an amuse bouche, which was a lamb chili—good, but not great. It tasted like something I could make on my own. I began to feel as though the food would not be worth it. As we moved on to the appetizers, which ranged from 9 to 14 dollars, we were a bit disappointed. The mussels we ordered were too briny and the Gruyere Custard was bland or as my mother said, “absolutely tasteless—although all of the accoutrements were delicious.” We were seriously beginning to doubt our choice in restaurant as the salads were hardly anything more than ordinary.  

The waiter, however, made a mistake that changed our minds. While I ordered the Artichoke Tortellini, he brought out the Wild Boar Bolognese, which was phenomenal. In the bowl (which is significantly cheaper than the plated version) were homemade noodles in a cream sauce combined with delectable pieces of wild boar. The pasta alone was enough to make us forget the tasteless appetizers. Things only got better from there. My entrée of Saffron Monk Fish was perfectly cooked in perfect saffron seasoning and my mother’s Chef Special of Duck Confit was heavenly. Our desserts were also delicious though we hardly had enough room for the chocolate mousse and pear pastries. The night only got better with time and, while it started off rocky, we were pleased with our choice in the end. While the décor and the over-forty crowd doesn’t quite give you the college-town special occasion feeling, this restaurant is perfect for any student with “foodie” parents. I wouldn’t recommend Logan for a graduation dinner or any large gathering, but it is perfect for a student whose parents are tired of the usual Ann Arbor restaurants and looking to try something new. And for any student, it definitely beats Jimmy Johns.