Downtown Ann Arbor's Frita Batidos restaurant closed for improvement projects
Frita Batidos is closed for improvement projects this week.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Owner Eve Aronoff said the improvements — which closed the restaurant on Monday — will make Frita’s a more enjoyable experience for customers. She said it will hopefully reopen July 23.
Frita Batidos owner Eve Aronoff said the restaurant should open by July 23.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
“We are doing all the things we realized over the past year that we want and need to do to make things better,” she said.
That includes: installing a new kitchen floor, putting in an additional checkout terminal and moving the ‘Batido’ production to the front counter.
Batidos, a popular staple on the restaurant’s menu, are tropical milkshakes.
“We got a bunch of state-of-the-art silent blenders,” she said. “Batidos have historically taken a bit longer than we would like (to make), so we’re going to be able to take that burden out of the kitchen so drinks can come out fast.”
She said all of the improvement projects — about 20 in all — are geared at expediting the customer experience.
“A lot of it is just organization,” she said. “Everything is geared to make sure the quality is consistent and expedite the whole process because that’s been our challenge: getting something we want to be special and made from scratch to come out quickly.”
She said the Ann Arbor Art Fair presented the perfect opportunity to close her business for a week.
“(The Art Fair) has been a little quieter time for us,” she said. “People milling around outside can go to the vendors. We figured it was a good time.”
For updates on the project and the restaurant’s official reopening date, check Frita Batidos’ Facebook page.
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
Eve Aronoff
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 3:10 p.m.
Yes, we are opening up after a week of improvement-making tomorrow (Wed@the latest - depending on how today goes) Thanks AA.com for helping us w/the update and sorry for the sign mix up - Sign was ripped in process and was re-written in haste w/mixed up date - BACK ON TRACK....Will keep everyone posted on timing! Never a good time to close but we were chomping at the bit to get this stuff done - all geared to expediting the process - so no time like the present! Eve c/o Frita
DBH
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 10:39 a.m.
Perhaps they actually are reopening on Tuesday, July 23, but in 2013 (when July 23 IS a Tuesday) and not July 23, 2012.
lindor
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 12:25 p.m.
This doesn't really make sense, closing a business during art fair for improvements when I'm guessing the increased traffic from said art fair could pay for the improvements. New kitchen floor? The whole place was renovated after Soup du Jour. Sounds suspicious. This place is over-priced and slow 90% of the week, bad business to close during art fair. Certainly not West End Grill or Logan, two places that can easily manage closing for a few days to handle the chaos of art fair.
Urban Sombrero
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 10:42 p.m.
Considering Eve was represented on a national scale (albeit for a short time, via her competition on "Top Chef"), you'd think she'd want to stay open during an event that brings in tons of people from all over the country. If not just for the gawker effect. I'm sure there would be plenty of people out there who would've loved to see the "Top Chef" contestant in action and try her restaurant.
DBH
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 2:12 p.m.
Hopefully, they will be (or have been) working to correct some or all of the 10 (3 critical) Health Dept. violations found at their last inspection 6 months ago. http://www.swordsolutions.com/inspections/pgesearchresults.asp?County=28
Blerg
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 12:33 a.m.
Any chance they'd consider getting rid of the benches and communal tables? I love the food, but I don't like sitting cafeteria style.
DJBudSonic
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 12:04 a.m.
I hope they take this time to learn to cook their food more thoroughly. That place is gross. Undercooked pork, drinks in a plastic bag....what do people like about this place?
catcal
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 9:24 p.m.
I haven't been myself, but I've heard they're not really very good at signs. I hope to try the food sometime, though.
xmo
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 8:33 p.m.
If closing down during Art Fair is good for one downtown business, why don't more try it?
a2miguy
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 8:12 p.m.
So... July 23rd is not a Tuesday, but rather a Monday. Which day do they expect to reopen? (I know, I'm nit-picking, but I love the place and want to go back soon as I can!)
javajolt1
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 8:02 p.m.
aa.com simply goes ga-ga over certain specific Ann Arbor businesses: Zingernam's Frita Batido's Sava Babo ....all these businesses have to do is breathe, and aa.com covers it as 'news'. Then you have businesses that have been in Ann Arbor for 50-100 years: Schlanderer's Van Boven Anderson Paint Bivouac ....coverage: zip. Unless of course Schlanderer's has been robbed.
lindor
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 12:43 p.m.
You're comparing restaurants that are constantly evolving to meet customer needs with a paint store, jeweler and clothing, none of which have made one change in decades. Oh yeah, Anderson now carries that eggshell white you can't find anywhere else.
a2gretta
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.
Maybe some businesses offer stories and others don't? Perhaps the long-standing businesses neglected by aa.com should share more? Strong silent types don't get much notice.
GoNavy
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 10:05 p.m.
I, for one, would be VERY interested in hearing when Van Boven finally begins selling clothes that people uninterested in looking like their awkward grandfather on a Caribbean golf vacation can wear. Also, a heads up as to when I can go to Bivouac and shop without being harassed by 8 different salespeople everytime I approach a clothes rack.
a2miguy
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 8:12 p.m.
You left off the most obvious one... Mark's Carts!
EightySeven
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 7:28 p.m.
Really why is this news worthy?? I will also be looking for the article (free pub) also stating that West End Grill and Logan are also closed during art fair.
brimble
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 6:37 p.m.
Eagerly anticipating the re-opening -- Frita Baditos is the best lunch anywhere in Ann Arbor! Good luck to Ms. Aronoff as she works on all the projects....