Palio by Sarah H 
In my opinion, Palio had one of the best dinner deals for restaurant week. They offered soup/salad, choice between two pasta dishes, and a mini dessert trio for $12.50. I had the soup, minestrone, followed by a pesto pasta with grilled chicken, followed by a trio of canoli, tiramisu, and a brownie. While the soup was a bit over-salted, the large portion of pesto pasta was creamy and satisfying, and the canoli and tiramisu were delicious. Service was very attentive, making for a delightful restaurant week dinner. 

Grange by Zak K
My episode of restaurant week began at the North American International Auto Show. I skipped a few classes last Thursday (all of them) to relive what used to be an annual tradition:  scrutinizing every car at the auto show with my dad. Unfortunately, about halfway through our visit, Cobo Hall erupted into flames. We made it out in the knick of time, and I thank the restaurant deities that we got out early or my dad and I would still be sitting in Detroit traffic with tens of thousands of car nuts in their cars. Thankfully we made it to the Grange unscathed and on time.

I was wearing jeans, and to my surprise and relief our waitress was as well—I hate being underdressed at these Main Street restaurants. We opted for the 25-a-head dinner, starting with fresh greens and goat cheese or a potato and onion soup. These starters fit Grange nicely. They were both simple to the point of quintessence and they highlighted the fresh ingredients that are so carefully chosen at Grange. However, if you are not accustomed to eating raw greens with only the slightest dressing, you would be wise to stray toward the more complex dishes.

We both had the Michigan Lake Trout with pistachios, capers, and mustard sauce for our entrée. The sauce was spectacular:  not spicy enough to overpower the fish but packed with flavor. For dessert we chose key lime pie and root beer chocolate cake. My dad is prone to grand declarations, and he spared no words in declaring the key lime pie to be “the best I’ve ever had.” I could not disagree. My cake was delicious and had a most subtle root beer flavor—so subtle that about half the customers who order the cake cannot taste it. No meal is complete in my memory without coffee and a mug of Lobster Butter Love (see my last article) finished the night with a taste so local it reminded me of home.


Palio by Emma L 
Not wanting to pass up an opportunity that only comes twice a year, my boyfriend, Jordan, and I headed to downtown Ann Arbor on Friday night for the conclusion of Restaurant Week. We were looking for the ultimate deal: the $25 dinner for two special. Only a few restaurants were offering it, and we settled on Palio, a lovely Italian place on Main Street between Liberty and East William. Arriving at about 6:30, we were seated immediately, which was a lucky break; the host informed us that if we had come in a few minutes later, we would have had a 45-minute wait. Their Restaurant Week offerings were a little sparse; most of the restaurants offer several choices for each course, but Palio only gave two options for appetizer and entrée, with a mixed platter for dessert. Jordan ordered a vegetable soup for a starter, while I went with the house salad. The soup’s portion seemed a bit small, but my salad was surprisingly good. It was made with a mix of wild greens and vinaigrette, with homemade croutons. In hindsight, I probably should have asked to take off the feta cheese, but for anyone who’s into it, I’m sure it would make the salad even better. Then, for the main course, Jordan ordered the Spaghetti and Meatballs, while I ordered Spirali con Pollo Pumante e Pesto, which is a spiral pasta with sundried tomatoes and grilled chicken in a pesto cream sauce. Both dishes were delicious, though the portions weren’t particularly large. The sundried tomatoes and chicken provided a bold contrast to the creamy richness of the pesto sauce. As we were in a hurry, we took our dessert to go, and they provided us with a portion of tiramisu and a slice of pumpkin pie with a crumble topping, both of which were satisfying to the sweet tooth. Overall, I was satisfied with our dining experience. Our waiter kept the refills of bread and drinks coming, and we were able to get out within 45 minutes, a record in downtown Ann Arbor on a Friday night. If I had one complaint, it was that the portions were too small, but considering the 2 for $25 deal and the normal prices Palio charges, I was satisfied with my experience, and I would recommend it to family and friends. Happy dining!