By Crysta Coburn

The North Star Lounge

If you are looking for some great food and amazing tunes with a chill and intimate vibe, look no further than The North Star Lounge located in Ann Arbor’s historic Kerrytown neighborhood. (According to the Ann Arbor District Library’s online archives, the building that is now home to The North Star was erected in 1887 as part of Baumgardner’s Marble Works.) The ground floor contains a bar and limited seating. Up a narrow flight of stairs to the second floor, decorated in a desert theme, the space opens up and contains booths and tables, a stage in the corner, and a piano for Thursday nights when the Lounge becomes a piano bar.

As for the menu, every item of food is vegan. But please, don’t let that stop you. The portions are generous and filling, and the staff is friendly and accommodating. If you need food that is gluten, nut, or soy free, for example, let them know and they will help you out. I devoured a gluten-free burrito bowl topped with nacho cheese, southwest ranch, and crunchy tortilla chips. In my humble opinion, the vegan nacho cheese made from cashew nuts tastes better than the milk-based variety. And it’s so creamy! There is also the Taco ‘Bout It Salad with grilled tofu if you prefer a little more protein.

There is a generous cocktail list plus beer and ciders (both on draft and in cans) and few choices of red and white wines. There are several nonalcoholic beverages as well, such as coffee, tea, and pop. I opted for the Lavender Lemonade “mocktail,” which was perfectly balanced. The lemon was present without being sour, and the lavender mellowed out the sweetness of the sugar. It could be jazzed up with a splash of vodka or gin, but it really doesn’t need to be.

Speaking of jazz, I was at The North Star on a Wednesday evening, which is Hot Club Jazz Night. There was a $10 cover that I was happy to pay. (Had I left before the music started, I would have avoided the extra $10.) Vocalist Kelley Kimball was accompanied by local jazz band Djangophonique. She sang classic tunes in both French and English that had toes tapping and heads bopping.

I already mentioned Piano Bar Thursday, but if Blue Grass is more your jam, head to The North Star on a Friday. Saturday brings in a rotation of local artists, and Sunday brunch also offers live musical accompaniment. Tuesday night is LGBTQ Night with trivia or popcorn and a movie. I highly recommend the popcorn topped with umami flavoring. It went great with the music.

The North Star Lounge is located at 301 North Fifth Avenue in Ann Arbor. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Music is from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information visit nstarlounge.com, call (734) 224-2161, or email northstarloungea2@gmail.com.

Latin American Cuban Cuisine

Did you know you can get authentic, not to mention delicious, Cuban food in Ypsilanti? It’s true, and it is a foodie adventure not to be missed. The dining room is colorful with some fantastic art and upbeat music, and the staff is very helpful if you have questions about the menu.

Start your journey with a choice of classic Caribbean flavors like yuca fries, ham croquettes, or Mariquitas Con Mojo (plantain chips with a Cuban garlic and citrus sauce). All entrees are also accompanied by fried plantains, a salad, and rice or beans. Choose between the popular Cuban dish Palomilla Empanizada (breaded top sirloin steaks), Ropa Vieja (shredded beef with vegetables), Masa De Puerco (fried pieces of pork), Mahi Mahi, and many more. If you are looking for something lighter, try a wrap or a sandwich, like the Cuban (my husband’s favorite). I am a fan of ropa vieja, which is so tender. The rice soaks up the rich juices, and the sweet plantains complement the salty beef.

Whatever you choose, you want to be sure to save room for dessert. There is flan, tres leches cake, arroz con leche (rice pudding), and a number of flaky pastries with flavors like guava, guava and cheese, coconut, and more. Although I felt skeptical when I first saw it on the menu, I honestly loved the guava and cheese pastry, a blend of mostly sweet and a bit of savory. Guava is not something I get to eat very often, and it’s a wonderful treat.

The drink menu isn’t extensive. I suggest ordering a Materva, a Cuban soft drink made from yerba mate, or Guarapo De Caña, which is juice made from sugar cane, so it perfectly satisfies a sweet tooth. Other Cuban drinks include Ironbeer and Jupiña, both soft drinks despite the word beer. Though I didn’t try them, the Internet told me that Ironbeer is akin to Dr Pepper, and Jupiña is a pineapple soda. Appropriately, there are also a few coffee options on the menu such as cafe con leche and cortadito.

Cuban cuisine, as well as culture, is unique and vibrant. But Cuba is not a country many of us in the U.S. are likely to visit. Thanks to Latin American Cuban Cuisine, you don’t have to travel far to get a taste of the Pearl of the Antilles.

Latin American Cuban Cuisine is located at 2269 Ellsworth Road in Ypsilanti. They are open Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information visit latinamericancubancuisines.com or call (734) 961-7452.

Plate Sushi and Chicken

Near the corner where Broadway Street and Plymouth Road converge north of the Huron River sits a delightful American-Asian fusion restaurant called Plate Sushi and Chicken. If you are a fan of Japanese and/or Korean cuisine, this place has to be on your radar.

The interior is bright and modern industrial with a concrete floor and exposed ceiling that is painted black. Being so close to the University of Michigan’s medical campus, I did notice quite a few people affiliated with U-M sitting at tables and booths, but I also saw families. Seated at the table next to mine was a toddler who appeared to be receiving her first taste of sushi, and her animated expressions were a delight to witness. I say this to show that whoever you are, you will be welcome at Plate Sushi and Chicken.

As the name of the restaurant implies, there is an extensive sushi menu. There are also chicken wings and popcorn chicken that can be ordered plain or with toppings such as soy garlic, sweet and spicy, and honey butter. You can also order bento (Japanese lunch boxes), noodle bowls, and special combination plates. The appetizer menu is also generous and definitely worth a look.

I am a huge lover of sushi, so I had a hard time deciding on what to order. I eventually settled on the Plate Poke, which allowed me to choose two fish instead of one. I chose salmon and yellowtail topped with eel sauce. The combo plate was kind of like eating a giant bowl of delicious sushi. I highly recommend it.

I was also drawn in by a side of kimchi fries, which is a basket of crispy French fries topped with Korean kimchi. If it sounds like a strange combination, please don’t be put off. It turns out fries are a fantastic way of enjoying kimchi, which was packed with flavor and spicy enough to clear my sinuses.

Due to the cold temperature outside, hot green tea was my beverage of choice. You can also choose between a number of soft drinks, energy drinks, and both sparkling and still water. For dessert, you can enjoy three different kinds of cake and flavored ice, sometimes called snow ice. Plate Sushi and Chicken’s snow ice is more like a parfait. It is made with shaved milk ice and condensed milk then topped with--depending on the flavor ordered—ice cream, a sticky rice cake, syrups, and powders. Regrettably, I did not save room for dessert, but you absolutely should.

Plate Sushi and Chicken is located at 1133 Broadway Street in Ann Arbor. They are open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. They are open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday. For more information visit platesushi.com, call (734) 369-6127, or email plateannarbor@gmail.com.