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food & grocery: Frugal Friday at Angelo's - raisin toast is a must

By Mary Bilyeu AnnArbor.com Community Contributor

Posted on Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 9:20 a.m.

Mary Bilyeu | Contributor

I recently asked Jeremy where he wanted to eat, on a morning when we were both free to go out for a late breakfast. I offered a couple of suggestions, but he immediately countered with "Angelo's." We hadn't been there in so, so long — what a fabulous choice!

We set off with our mandatory $5 per person budget in mind. And so, Angelo's is today's Frugal Floozie Friday feature.

Mary Bilyeu | Contributor

This Ann Arbor institution is justly famous for its handmade raisin toast, which Jeremy knew he would order no matter what else he saw on the menu. At $2.50 for an order of two thick slices, this was a substantial and delicious treat.

This is not a fluffy Wonder bread or a cinnamon-y sweet variety; and it's clearly not made in a box (otherwise known as "the sacrilege that is a bread machine"). It's real bread — the kind you'd make at home with your own two hands, if you had either the time or the inclination. (But since you likely have neither, you can also buy a loaf to take home.)

To supplement the toast, Jeremy also ordered two eggs, scrambled, for $2.30. This was an ideal portion, and together the two items came in at $4.80 for a simple, but really good, breakfast.

Mary Bilyeu | Contributor

I debated whether to get the $4 oatmeal served with raisins, brown sugar, and cinnamon; one egg for $1.30 and an order of breakfast potatoes for $3; or one egg served with potatoes and toast, for an even $5.

But I decided to order the enormous, fluffy short stack of 2 plate-sized pancakes for $4.75. I sprinkled them with some of the cinnamon sugar served at each table, which was a perfect accompaniment to the dish.

At lunchtime, sandwiches are very generous and could easily be split by those who are inclined to do so. Lots of "extras" that fall within our mandatory budget — from regular and sweet potato fries to a scoop of chicken salad to chili cheese fries — can be ordered a la carte for prices ranging from $1.25 to $4.75. A bowl of soup is available for $3.75; and a $4.50 bowl of beef chili can be supplemented with cheese ($4.75) or both cheese and sour cream ($5). Another option is the house salad for $4.

The portions at Angelo's are huge, the service is friendly and efficient, the restaurant is bright and cozy, and the food is fabulous. What more could you ask for, especially at such reasonable prices?