Zingerman's
Best Deli

When I decided to come to the University, my father imparted some words of wisdom.

"Since you'll be living in Ann Arbor, you've got to eat at Zingerman's," he said. "It's a famous deli. Everybody's eaten there."

From that moment on, the exhortation "you've got to eat at Zingerman's" has become a refrain that haunted me. Because I hadn't eaten at Zingerman's well into my first year at school, I felt like I couldn't call myself a true Ann Arborite. I was just another ignorant freshman; I clearly didn't know anything about the best of Ann Arbor.

After the barrage of superlatives from Zingerman's enthusiasts, I began to envision the deli as a culinary kingdom. I saw bright lights illuminating display cases packed with every type of meat and cheese imaginable. I saw the walls adorned with a dazzling array of oils, spices and vinegars.I saw a majestic celebration of food.

Surprisingly, when I finally visited, my mental image turned out t be quite accurate.

Located on Detroit Street in Kerrytown, Zingerman's Delicatessen is a food connoisseur's heaven. Its menu is both impressive and overwhelming. The deli offers more than 60 different sandwiches, along with salads, soups and much more.

In a world overrun by food chains like Subway and McDonalds, Zingerman's is refreshing in its dedication to the art of preparing and serving food. What distinguishes Zingerman's is the high quality of ingredients and its emphasis on customer service, said Bill Dever, an assistant manager at the deli.

Doug Nahabetian, a supervisor at Zingerman's Next Door, a caf