MSU Red Cedar Message Board

I've been to the deli a few times but it's been several years.

I remember:

1) high prices
2) a long wait
3) being underwhelmed by the sandwich after paying so much

To me, it's just a deli.

This is false. People in Ann Arbor love the Deli.

Also, Maize & Blue is not a better deli. While it is good, it does not stack up to Zingermans as far as quality and selection. Better value, maybe - but not better food.

Have to say that Zingermans is the best hands down.

To anyone complaining about the price:

Not too long ago, folks spent 30% or more of their income on food. These days it's down to 10%, because economies of scale have kicked in. Your #12 from Jimmy John's only costs $6 because they buy everything in bulk and on most ingredients they go with the cheapest supplier. Stateside Deli buys pre-made dressings to douse their sandwiches. Of course Jimmy John's and Stateside Deli are cheaper. They don't care enough about what they're putting into their food.

Have you ever made a sandwich entirely from scratch? Have you ever baked the bread, smoked the meat, pickled the cucumbers, and prepared the dressing/sauces by hand? It's a lot of work, but that's exactly what Zingerman's Deli does. They do it because they're obsessed with providing their customers authentically great food.

Speaking of Jewish delis, I recently visited one just south west of downtown Chicago that was fantastic. Old style steam table with a ton of different items. I grabbed a brisket sandwich which was gianormous and out of this world. Unfortunately I cannot remember the name to be able to return. Anyone familiar with this place?

"Zingerman's epitomizes all that is Ann Arbor: overwrought, overhyped and overpriced. If your idea of a great sandwich is waiting hours in line for a sandwich that could have easily been made at home, be my guest. Otherwise, there are much better places in Ann Arbor (it's been eight years since I've lived there), so your task is to find them."

"Everyone talks about Zingerman's like it's the best food they've ever eaten, but I disagrree. Agree completely with Carl---this place is way overrated and also too expensive. I'm not sure how so many people think it's that good."

"At Zingerman's you'll find fine imported cheeses, fragrant breads, superb oils, spices and chocolates, (mediocre) sandwiches and prices that will make you lose your appetite. It's a fine deli if you absolutely need that San Francisco Sourdough loaf or the odd bit of Raclette, but its pretentions to be a Manhattan institution fall short of the mark. Trader Joe's here I come!"

"Perhaps the most overrated restaurant in the country. I'm constantly surprised at the accolades this place gets. Nice people, decent food, but I think it's extremely overrated. Sandwiches for 15 bucks? Olive Oil for $50? No wonder they make so much money! It's an absolute zoo in there, too.

The cheese is pretty good but not as good as other places I've lived... Pennsylvania Macaroni in Pittsburgh, for one. Honestly it's not that different than what you get at whole foods."

"In the great zingerman's debate (well, there may not be a huge debate now but there SHOULD BE) I am on the side crying over-priced, over-hyped, hugely under-whelming. I stopped by here while house-hunting in Ann Arbor and practically spent my entire tuition on two small sandwiches. I figured, well, after hearing everyone rave about it and shelling out all that dough (hehehe), I bet my mouth will taste the best sandwich EVER. Me thinks not. Not even close. Does this place have fancy ingredients/products. Yes. Should you have to sell your first born to afford a mediocre sandwich? That's your call. Personally, for the best sandwich of your life at half the price, go buy yourself a plane ticket to California and go to Bay Cities Deli in Santa Monica... or you could take that cash and spend it on one meal at ZIngerman's."

"I was stunned at the arrogance of this place! Can you say "Chutzpah"? $13.99 for a bagel, a tiny, mealy cream cheese and barely enough lox to cover half a bagel. And for an extra ounce of the mealy cream cheese, they get a buck!

They did toast my bagel dark as requested and the coffee was decent. The tomato was very good and they were generous with onions.

But honestly? $18 for one so-so breakfast?

Apparently they have a captive market when it comes to deli. They have developed and entire industry around what they think is an incredible way of doing business and charge $995 for seminars to share their "vision" with you. WHAT? On of the founders even wrote a two page article in their newsletter about 'visioning'. "I this and I that". Wow.

I agree that they have an enthusiastic staff and some cool case items but would not shop in the overpriced deli. We ate breakfast there because we had made the trek and I was craving lox.

Do yourself a favor and skip Zingerman's. You will be disappointed if you go."

"I went there once for a sandwich. It cost $17 plus tax, I believe. The sandwich was forgettable. Mediocre, rather bland, just utterly forgettable. I will NEVER forget, however, how much that sandwich cost. If you charge me $17 for a sandwich, it better be THE best, most amazing, call my friends back home, moisten my drawers ...

There is a certain culture in Ann Arbor such that (in a nutshell) the most expensive given thing must be the best. It explains many things about Ann Arbor and it elegantly sums up the allure of Zingerman's Deli."

Zingerman's is incredible. Maybe a tad high priced but definitely not overrated.

Also, first world problems. LOL

Zingerman's is more than a deli. You don't have to go there just for sandwiches. They have great bread, awesome cheeses and cool groceries. The sandwiches are first class but pricey to be sure but I haven't found any place as good in the Metro Detroit area and that includes Stage and Bread Basket (which gets my order wrong 50% of the time).

I also would not call Zingerman's a classic Jewish deli. It's a high end deli with creative food but it's not like Stage, Katz's, Carnegie or Langer's in LA.

Bingo.

They provide a quality product. Quality food is never cheap. They also make a strong emphasis on purchasing products from local farmers and producers. Zingerman's keeps a lot of Michigan farmers in business, and for that alone their prices are justified.

I thought it was a non-kosher deli (which seems to be a Midwest oxymoron)

Not sure it is "quality" food. After all it is processed meat, and white flour bread for the most part. In other words, we aren't talking health food here. But as far as that kind of food goes they are the best.

This is correct, which is why I have been careful to say that Zingerman's is very good. The prices don't bother me either, but thats a personal thing. I only want(ed) to point out two things: One, the majority of the clientele at Zingerman's is unbearable and two, Maize N Blue is a better deli.

Point two is subjective, but anecdotaly, most of the people I know who grew up in and around Ann Arbor (which is not coincidentally most of the people I know in Michigan) prefer Maize N Blue and they would also all tell you that Zingerman's is good. I think most of the people who prefer Zingerman's aren't from Ann Arbor, and have had it a few times when visiting and are caught up in the experience. They may have had Maize N Blue once or twice too. That isnt an experience, its just a great sandwich (and great pickles).