Pisanello’s Pizza

26 05 2008
  • 110 N. Main St.Pisanello's Pizza
  • Mt. Pleasant, MI 48854
  • (989) 773-9906
  • Website
  • Menu

I had family in town for the Memorial Day weekend.  On Sunday night, our two options were either sit on the couch and watch the Sprint Cup Race or we could pack up and head to Mt. Pleasant and spend a few hours at Soaring Eagle.  Gambling is always a good option with my family so we headed north.  I didn’t realize Mt. Pleasant was 75 miles from Lansing when we started.  I put the address in my GPS and after a few minutes, I looked at the miles and thought “Oh crap!”  I told everyone it was only a half hour or so.  After a quick conference..actually, I just asked my dad, he said “Go,”  so I went.

It was about 7:45 when we left Lansing and the only other meal we had eaten was at about 2:00 when we ate at Wendy’s, so finding a restaurant before we hit the casino was a must.  I had read somewhere about a really good pizza place in Mt. Pleasant…and like gambling, pizza is always a sure bet in my family.  I did a quick Google search for “Best Pizza Mt. Pleasant, MI” and Pisanello’s popped right up.  I figured this had to be the place.  I didn’t realize it until I started writing this review, but Pisanello’s is actually a small chain with nineteen locations in Ohio and Michigan with the original being in Alliance, OH.  The Mt. Pleasant location is located in a small building in downtown.  There were just a few booths and one table big enough for our party of seven.  We noticed a sign that said “order here” so my mom and I went up to the register to place the order. 

We started with an order of breadstix.  The order consisted of six breadstix dusted with parmesean cheese.  A marinara sauce came on the side for dipping.  There were six breadstix and seven of us, so as you can imagine, we tore through them in just a few minutes.

Next up were the pizzas.  We got two 16″ pies for the seven of us.  One of them we got half cheese, half pepperonni.  The other was half sausage and half bacon.  They were both a thicker crust, but not a Chicago style.  They were actually very similar to Papa John’s pizzas, but they tasted much better.  the crust was chewey and the cheese was piled on.  The pies came out smokin hot and the cheese was stringy, but stuck to the crust.  I had the pepperoni side of one of the pizzas and the pepperoni’s were cooked perfectly.  I like it when the meat has a little crunch to it and these did.  When all was said and done, there was one piece left between the two pizzas, so the portion was the perfect side.  As a bonus, both pizzas came with a cup of garlic dipping sauce (again, very similar to Papa John’s) for the crust.

The hit of the evening was definately dessert.  My mom noticed a “dessert pizza” on the menu and had to give it a try.  She didn’t have a very hard time convincing anyone else it was a good idea either. About the time we were finishing up with the pizza, the cook brought out the dessert pie.  A small pizza crust was covered in cinnamon sugar and vanilla icing.  I think we may have fought over this one a little bit….I think everyone at the table would have loved to eat the whole thing themselves.  It was delicious.  Everyone looked at me asked if I could do that at home.  I probably could, but I don’t think it would be as good.

My family is usually pretty tough to please when it comes to pizza.  Some of them like thin crust while others prefer the thicker crust.  Everyone left with the same opinion of Pisanello’s though.  It was delicious.  In the past, I’ve mention my quest for the perfect pizza.  This wasn’t quite that because it reminded me a lot of Papa John’s pizza which I also like, but don’t love.  Pisanello’s was a great choice for us.  Everyone was very happy with the food, but even better, we ate all that food for $30!


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Categories : Local Flavor, Michigan, Mt. Pleasant, Pizza, Restaurant, Reviews

Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger – Ann Arbor

25 05 2008
  • 551 S. Division StBlimpy Burger
  • Ann Arbor, MI 48104
  • (734) 663-4590
  • Website
  • Menu

Not only is Blimpy Burger the oldest burger joint in Ann Arbor, it’s also one of the most famous places in town.  The humble little shop on the corner of Packard and Division Sts. is voted best burger year after year by a variety of publications and they’ve even been featured on Food Network’s Diner’s Drive-In’s and Dives which somehow I missed. 

I was in Ann Arbor the Big Ten Baseball Championships and needed to find lunch before crew call at U of M.  I had heard of Blimpy Burger and thought it would make a good lunch.  Apparently, half of Ann Arbor thought that too.  The line weaved around the tables inside and right to the door.  The building is small. There’s only room for a handful of tables that line two walls and a couple free stand tables next to the counter.  The service is described as cafeteria style.  You actually walk up to a counter where the cook asks you what you want and he cooks it right there in front of you.

Ordering is a tradition in itself at Blimpy Burger and something I thought was going to be really intimidating.  On their website, they give you instructions for ordering and those same instructions are posted in the restaurants.  For the most part, they’re just to keep the line moving.  It starts out simple.   Everyone who’s ordering must order themselves.  You can’t just send Mom up to get food for everyone.  Your first stop in the process is the deep frier.  A fry cook asks if you want anything deep fried.  Your choices are fries (which are steak fries) or vegetables like onion rings or mushrooms.

After you get your fried food, you make your way to the grill.  The cooks actually put on quite a show and this part can be fun to watch.  The cook will first ask what you want.  Adults have to get at least a double and they go all the way to quints (that’s five burger patties) and beyond.  All the meat is fresh.  What they do is take a disher and make little balls out of fresh beef.  The cook puts those balls on the grill then slams them down into patties.  He had probably five or six orders going at one time with all of them being at least triples.  The patties aren’t huge.  Once slamed down, they’re pretty thin, so a triple isn’t as huge as you’d think.

After the cook asks what you want, the next question is “Do you want any grilled items.”  By this, he means bacon, onions, etc.  Don’t say cheese.  Cheese isn’t grilled.  The guy in front of me made that mistake.  I didn’t want anything, so he moved on to buns.  The regular bun comes standard, but they also have choices of onion or Kaiser rolls for an additional charge.  As the burgers are just about done, the cook turns around again and asks if you want cheese.  They have five choices.  I went with cheddar although the bleu cheese option was there.  The burgers cook a little longer then they are passed on to the cashier who finishes the burgers off with condiments.  There’s even a correct way to handle this process.  Wet condiments first then everything else.  I passed altogether as I just wanted to taste the burger.  The cook appreciated that.  He turned around and said most people don’t do that, but they really should.

It took me about a half hour to get through line.  I elected to take my burger to go since the place was packed, but quite a few people were grabbing trays to stay.  Once I got to my destination, I chowed down.  The burger was delicious.  Blimpy Burger is NOT all hype.  They really do have good food.  The triple was about the size of a double most places.  The cheese was melted into the burger and the burgers were so moist they were just falling apart.  I actually had a hard time finishing the burger and fries which almost never happens.  I just got the small order of fries and with the sandwich, the total was just over six dollars.

Blimpy Burger is an absolute must in Ann Arbor.  Make sure you have plenty of time as I imagine it’s always busy like it was the day I was in there.  This place lived up to the hype as a classic burger joint.  Their slogan is “cheaper than food”…..they could also add “better than food” 


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Categories : Ann Arbor, Big Ten Tour, Burgers, Local Flavor, Michigan, Restaurant, Reviews, Sandwiches

Saturday Update

24 05 2008

So, I did make it to Blimpy Burger yesterday.  I’ll have a review soon.   Just need some time.  I just woke up and I’m  heading out the door to go back to Ann Arbor.

There’s also an article in today’s LSJ about the smoking ban that I want to comment on.  Again, in the next couple days.  The jist is it’s being held up by the casino provision.


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Categories : Michigan

Grand Traverse Pie Company – Okemos

22 05 2008
  • 3536 Meridian CrossingsGrand Traverse Pie Company
  • Okemos, MI 48864
  • (517) 381-7437
  • Website
  • Menu

My girlfriend is heading back to Chicago to see friends and family this weekend and wanted to bring back something unique to Michigan.  We were going to drive up to Middleton to an Amish Mennonite Bakery but were afraid we’d get up there and they wouldn’t have any cherry pie.  Since they don’t have a phone we didn’t know the name of the place, we couldn’t call ahead.  Instead of taking the chance, I suggested we go to the Grand Traverse Pie Company.  A small chain located here in Michigan that started in Traverse City in the mid-90’s.  Their specialty?  Pies of course.

We stopped in the Okemos location around lunch time.  Since we hadn’t eaten yet, we decided to do that first.  Grand Traverse reminded me a lot of Panera Bread.  You order at a counter then wait for your name to be called.  At least you know your sandwich is being made fresh.  There were quite a few choices for lunch ranging from cold sandwiches to soups and salads.  Both my girlfriend and I went with a grilled sandwich.

She got the Grilled Smokehouse.  The sandwich consisted of smoked ham, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and a spicy dijon mustard on sourdough bread.  The neat thing was this sandwich was served in a pie tin.  On the side, she got berry coleslaw and a pickel spear.  The ham was delicious and there was a lot on it.  She peeled a few pieces off to give to me.  She’s doesn’t like a whole lot of meat on her sandwiches and this one had a lot.  The mustard was spicy, but again, there was a little too much.  Both pieces of bread were covered with the mustard where one side probably would have been better.  Even with those two minor complaints, she loved the sandwich.  The ham had a great smoky flavor that the mustard balanced.  The lettuce and tomato were just enough to cool down the spice.

I got the French Dip.  The sandwich came with a huge cup of Au jus.  I didn’t realize it when I ordered, but sauteed onions came on top of the roast beef.  I really don’t like onioins so I scraped them off which also took off most of the cheese.  The bread was just hard enough that it really soaked up the au jus and made for a nice crunch, but held the flavor of the juice.  I got a bag of chips on the side along with the pickle spear.  The chips were just a small bag of Lays.  Usually at places like this, the French Dips are a little on the small side and I end up leaving hungry.  Not here.  The sandwich was a good size and had a lot of flavor.  It’s easy to overcook roast beef, but this was done just right.

I passed on dessert and I’m kicking myself.  I don’t really like pie, but I do like cheesecake and there was a delicious looking slice of an Oreo cookie cheesecake.  My girlfriend got a slice of Laksehore Berry Pie Grand Traverse Pie CompanyCrumble to take home with us.  Strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and apples are packed into this slice.  She picked all the flavors but the apple out.  That one seemed to fade into the background, but she did call it one of the best pies she’s ever eaten.  We also grabbed two whole pies since that was the original purpose of our trip.  Being in Michgan, she went with two Cherry Pie Crumbles to take home.  I’m sure her parents and friends will love them.  Like I said, I don’t really like pie, but these both looked delicious.  Our meal cost around $18 for the two sandwiches and drinks.  For dessert, we got out for under $30 and that was two pies and a slice.


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Categories : Bakery, Chains, Michigan, Okemos, Restaurant, Reviews, Sandwiches

Weekend Update

17 05 2008

I know that is’ wierd that I haven’t posted for a couple days.  I’m in Champaign, IL doing some work at the University of Illinois and I’ve been swamped.  We haven’t been able to break for lunch the last two days and tomorrow will probably be the same.  I do have a review from Mid-Michigan that I need to post, but I probably won’t do that until Monday when I get home.  I’m hoping to go out for a little something later tonight…there’s a 24 hour just down the road.  We’ll see…..I’m exhausted.  Expect next week to get back to normal for posts.


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Categories : Michigan

Smoking Ban Opponents Using Non-Relevant Study

14 05 2008

I just recieved an e-mail on behalf of the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association claiming to be “the other side of the story.”  In the e-mail, they link to a study done by Michael Pakko who is a research officer with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.  The study, which was conducted in Columbia, MO, reached the conclusion that the ban hurts businesses.

Here’s the problem with the study.  Missouri doesn’t have a statewide smoking ban.  Columbia banned smoking on their own so you can literally drive a mile and be outside of city limits and be able to smoke.   I have no doubt that a smoking ban in one community hurts business, but you can’t compare that situation to banning smoking in an entire state.

I have sent an e-mail to Mr. Pakko asking if he’s done research on how statewide bans effect business…St. Louis is right on the Illinois border (which has a smoking ban).  Research like that would have more effect on Michigan than one done in a a single community.

Here’s a link to Mr. Pakko’s research.  This is a sad attempt at throwing sh*t against the wall to see if it sticks.

UPDATE 5:48 PM – I recieved an e-mail response from Mr. Pakko.  In it, he said he personally has not conducted a study on a statewide ban, but referred me to another study done by Scott Adams and Chad Cotti.  You can find that study HERE.

Mr. Pakko feels that the four months the ban has been in effect in Illinois is not sufficient enough time to actually study the effects.  He does mention that casino’s in the state have suffered large losses.  I would counter that by saying most of the casinos are on the Mississippi River (East St. Louis, Quincy, Quad Cities to name a few).  They all bordered states that up until recently did not ban smoking (Iowa just banned it).  The Joliet casinos are close enough to Indiana to which doesn’t have a smoking ban.  The Peoria casino is the only one off hand that I can think of that wouldn’t be effected by competition in a non-smoking state. 

Mr. Pakko also makes the argument that his study proves there is a demand for smoking venues. 

“While it is true that residents of Columbia have the option of leaving the city limits, the observation that they might be doing so is evidence that a market demand does exist for bars and restaurants that allow smoking.  Given that such demand exists, any prohibition (statewide or local) is likely to have an impact on business patterns. “

I have no hard proof of what I’m going to say next….just life experience.  To most people, smoking is the lesser of two vices.  It’s the alcohol that people go to the bars for.  The smoking is an added bonus.  If you can’t conviently go to a place that allows smoking, you’ll make the sacrafice and go outside.  I just don’t see banning smoking killing a well run business.

He also mentions non-compliance in Illinois.  I can’t argue that point as, again, I do know that from experience.  The problem is not in the ban itself or even local enforcement.  Illinois government is more disfunctional than you could ever imagine.  The legislature passed the bill.  The governor signed the bill.  The bill then goes to JCAR (Joint Committee on Administrative Rules) to write the specifics of the bill (ie. how it’s enforced, who enforces, etc).  The bill has been stuck there since January.  Now the legislators on JCAR are using it for political leverage.  Until there are rules, State’s Attorney’s can’t prosecute the case because they don’t know if they should prosecute as a ordinance violation or a misdeamonr or what.  Many police chiefs around the state have said, in public, that they will not write a smoking violation ticket unless bars are flagrantly taunting them to do so.  When you call the PD in Peoria, they refer you to the state’s 1-800 number set up to deal with smoking violations.  When you call, you get an answering machine so don’t expect a prompt response.

I appreciate Mr. Pakko promptly replying to my e-mails, but it still hasn’t changed my opinion.  I’ve lived in a state that has banned smoking and while economic impact may be unclear, I can tell you with 100% accuracy that it has improved the dining and nightlife experience.


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Categories : Food News, Michigan, Politics

Liveblogging – HB 4163 5/14

14 05 2008

HB 4163 wasn’t on the schedule for today, but I’ve got the webcast of today’s session on.  I’m about a half hour late because I went to lunch with my girlfriend (so that means there’s a review coming later today).  If there are any updates, I’ll update this post.

2:17 PM – Both parties are in caucus meetings now.  They’ve passed a few bills this morning, but not the one we’re waiting on.

3:07 PM  – The House has been called back to order and they’re starting business again.

3:11 PM – The House is At Ease again.

3:18 PM – Back to order

3:29 PM  – Stupid me…how about checking the bill status.  I just checked on the status HERE.  The bill has been returned from the Senate but under House rules, the bill will be layed over for one day which means they won’t vote on it until at least tomorrow.  No need to continue live blogging 😉

3:35 PM – The House has adjourned for the day.  They will reconvene at noon tomorrow and that will be the first chance they have to pass the smoking ban.


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Categories : Michigan, Politics

Smoke Free Rally at the Capitol

13 05 2008

Today (Tuesday) was a huge day for hits on this site.  Almost all of them came for info on the smoking ban.  I ain’t stupid…if that’s what your coming for, then that’s what I’ll give, but while you’re here, be sure to check out the reviews and be sure to give me your opinions on places and suggestions on where to eat next….oh yeah, and don’t forget to bookmark the page 😉

Now,  back to the business at hand.  While I was sitting at home waiting for our new kitchen table to be delivered, the American Cancer Socity held a rally at the Capitol.

Meanwhile the American Cancer Society spent the day on the Capitol lawn reminding lawmakers that they can make a difference in the fight.
Smoking,  lung cancer, and heart dissease are just a few of the battles in that war.

“Many states have successfully passed this legislation and it hasn’t hurt business and I’m encouraged we’ll move forward as well” said Rep. Rick Shaffer (R-Three Rivers).

Miss Shoreline 2008 Stephanie Marion added, “I actually think it will bring more business into resteraunts and bars because it will bring those people that don’t like the smoking environment into those facilities and it will raise profits.”

WILX has a report on their website about the ban as well.  They shed some light on why the ban wasn’t voted on today as expected.

“We will have and opportunity to concur our not concur with what the Senate has done as soon as they send it to us and we receive the bill from the secretary, we can do that,” said Andrew Meisner (D) Hazel Park.

So that’s why ther was no vote today.  Again, the bill is not listed on tomorrow’s calendar, so it must not have been transmited to the house as of the end of the day today.  I’ll try to watch the House session again tomorrow and live blog it just in case 🙂


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Categories : Food News, Michigan, Politics

House to Vote on Smoking Ban Today

13 05 2008

I saw on ABC 3 News at 10 on the CW 5 that the House of Representatives should vote on the Senate version of the smoking ban (HB 4163) today.  The session doesn’t start until 1:30.  I’ll try to remember to watch on-line to see if it comes up…I’ll update this post as necessary.  I don’t see it on the schedule, but that doesn’t mean anything.


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Categories : Michigan

Food Stamps

12 05 2008

I’m not in the greatest financial situation right now, but this article on WLNS shows that I’m luckier than I realized.

More Michigan families are relying on food stamps to put dinner on the table. The state says the number of households receiving the benefit has risen more than 50% in the past five years. Authorities say one in eight residents now gets help from the nutrition assistance program. This past March, more than 590,000 Michigan households received food stamps.

Wow.  1 in 8 Michiganders are using food stamps.  Then, I see this story on WLAJ.

It’s a plot to cheat the system, when food stamp users spend their stamps on box upon box of sale soda pop, but then dump out the soda, return the cans, and use the return to buy alcohol or other controlled substances. Grocery managers and security guards in Kalamazoo say they see it all the time.

Are you kidding me?!  I know it’s not technically illegal, but the mom interviewed in the story brings up a good point.

“What do you mean its not illegal?” she said. “It’s still fraud use of food stamps isn’t it? Doesn’t it qualify? Wow.”

There has GOT to be a way to prosecute this!  Having worked in news for five years myself, I have pretty much become immune to the type of stories that are shown.  Most of the time, the reporter rehases a generic story that is done in every market and then they put promos on the air designed to scare the viewer into watching.  I was angry when I saw this story.  I’m not on food stamps, but come on!  I’m tired of my tax money going to alcoholics!  I’m all in favor of helping people who need it, but this is ridiculous.


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Categories : Food News, Michigan

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