Knight's Steak House in Ann Arbor, MI : More Than Just Steak

Courtesy of an evening power outage, I had the pleasure of dining at Knight's Steak House in Ann Arbor. At around 4:30 in the afternoon, with dinner prep on the horizon, it happened - the lights flickered, Oprah vanished from the television screen, and the air conditioner's steady hum went silent.

"Well, guess I'm off the hook for dinner!" my mother said - somewhat smugly, might I add.

As we considered the restaurant options, we wanted something cheap, not too heavy, yet filling. A sandwich or burger, perhaps. My father arrived home from work and fulfilled those requirements with one word: "Knight's!"

Knight's Steak House is an Ann Arbor institution. Maybe a steakhouse isn't the obvious choice for something "not too heavy," but Knight's isn't all steaks. For the beef-phobic, the menu has fish, pasta, soups, sandwiches, and salad. Knight's also offers some very reasonably priced burgers if you haven't saved up the appetite for prime rib. Considering that a burger entree at a typical chain restaurant, such as Big Boy or Chili's, will cost approximately the same, if not more, than a burger at Knight's, we decided to support local business.

"I don't know what street - just look for the Knight!" my mother instructed.

Knights is just beyond the commercial strip of Westgate shopping center in Ann Arbor, down a fittingly dull side road. Sure enough, the building is as non-descript as its surroundings, identifiable only by its chess piece symbol and a steady stream of full-bellied diners toting Styrofoam take-out boxes.

Once inside, Knight's is dark and smoky. Heavy wooden paneling lends that solid, steak house charm, with wooden beams shooting across the ceiling, and the smell of sirloin and cigarette smoke permeating the air. Tables are snugly arranged in the two-story seating area; the environment is very casual. On this summer night, there were large parties of families and friends - true Ann Arborites, all engaged in conversation and enjoying each other's company. I can only imagine how this place must look during football season, with nostalgic University of Michigan alums, young and old, gathered in game day hoopla. The restaurant oozes character.

I was inaugurated into the Knight's experience when I walked through the door; the food that followed lived up to its billing. Our server, friendly and efficient, brought us a basket of warm bread and a dish of butter, served just as I like it - individually wrapped pads, softened to room temperature. My two dining companions and I had no problem devouring the entire basket - what goes better with a burger than warm, doughy bread?

"Specialty" burgers, including tempting combinations of blue cheese and sautéed onions or melted Swiss and mushrooms, go for about $6. The "Build Your Own" option allows you to choose either a 1/3 or ½ pound burger base, and then dress it up to your liking. My dinner mates and I each went for the 1/3 pound burger. With some cheese and fresh veggies, the burger came out to be about $5.50. The meat was flavorful, juicy, and cooked perfectly; the bun was nicely crisped on the outside, and it did not overwhelm its contents. Burgers came with a side of rippled potato chips; extra points for ample pickles.

On account of the aforementioned breadbasket, we opted to skip the fries this time. Besides, it's just an excuse to return. In the middle of a humid summer heat wave, a burger was perfect; but next time, I'll have to try a steak.