Frugal Friday at Backroom Pizza - real food at fast-food prices
Frugal Floozie Friday is a feature that seeks out dishes — appetizers, drinks, snacks, desserts, sandwiches, whatever — for $5 or less per person. Sometimes I split generously-sized items with loved ones, saving both money and calories; sometimes I find a great deal on a single serving that fits perfectly within the mandatory budget. I try to showcase several options to choose from, and you never know where I'll find them. Check out the column every Friday!

Mary Bilyeu | Contributor

Mary Bilyeu | Contributor
For $4.50, you can get two good-sized portions of spinach pie plus a 24-ounce soda. The pie was not what I'd expected; I'd presumed there would be a lot of doughy crust and a tidbit of spinach. But I was very happy to find a very generous layer of spinach layered within flaky phyllo dough. This was a nice vegetarian meal.

Mary Bilyeu | Contributor
The menu isn't extensive, but Backroom Pizza offers fast food and good quantities of it for very little investment. And while there are no tables — it's mostly a "grab 'n' go" kind of place that caters to students on campus. There is a small counter along the wall where you can stand and eat if you're not taking your meal with you.
Be forewarned that Backroom Pizza only accepts cash. But it won't take a lot of your money to get a quick, substantial meal.

Mary Bilyeu | Contributor
Backroom Pizza
605 Church St.
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
734-741-8296

Go visit Mary's blog — Food Floozie — where she enthuses and effuses over all things food-related; and look for her monthly articles in the Washtenaw Jewish News. "Like" her on Facebook, or send a tweet on Twitter, too.
The phrase "You Should Only Be Happy" (written in Hebrew on the stone pictured in this post) comes from Deuteronomy 16:15 and is a wish for all her readers - when you come to visit here, may you always be happy.
Comments
EyeHeartA2
Thu, Mar 21, 2013 : 4:50 p.m.
Another great place at a great price. Officially on the "list". Stick to your theme and you have a great article. Thanks.
Hmm
Mon, Mar 18, 2013 : 2:29 p.m.
Backroom used to use beer in their dough not sure if they still do that but it made for a good slice
jusayin
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 9:29 p.m.
If that Pizza is half as good as Ms. Bilyeu's photo shot I'm goin' there! Yumm...love spinach pie :-O
Candy
Fri, Mar 15, 2013 : 5:22 p.m.
Oh, this takes me back to grad school, when I would grab a slice or two at the Backroom at least once a week. Thanks for the fond memories, Mary!
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Mar 15, 2013 : 4:49 p.m.
"...As Jeremy put it, you get "real food at Taco Bell prices." jeremy hasn't been to taco bell lately...
Arboriginal
Fri, Mar 15, 2013 : 3:21 p.m.
I'm getting heartburn just looking at the pics. Still love it! Maybe I'll stop in today!!!
Billy
Fri, Mar 15, 2013 : 12:53 p.m.
Dang.....backroom is up to $1.50 for pep? Use to be $1.25 as long as I could remember. Two to three slices of pepperoni are not worth 50 cents...not even worth the two bits honestly...but that still doesn't stop me from getting it cause I want pepperoni... Oh the profit margin in pizza...
treetowncartel
Fri, Mar 15, 2013 : 4:07 p.m.
@ Billy, if you like pepperoni, try the Pepperoni Select Pizza from City's Pizza on Packard. Excellent 3.14
MMB95
Fri, Mar 15, 2013 : 3:39 p.m.
When I was at UM it was $1 a slice. Backroom Pizza came in very handy while living in East Quad!