Went to Dominick's after a long day at the Art Fair in Ann Arbor. We had heard that the sangria and the outdoor seating were great. The sangria and the outdoor seating definitely dominated the scene at Dominick's. They serve the sangria in mason jars of all sizes, which seemed to be what made Dominick's unique. Fun place with an interesting vibe. Some sort of air conditioning inside while you are waiting to order would be a nice improvement. I might have just been a little too hopeful after a long day in the hot sun and humidity.
Review Source:Fried eggplant pizza on the back patio? Yes!
I like Dom's. It is brightly painted, cozy, and a go-to for group law school org group events. While I will maintain that their sangria is overrated, most things served at Dom's are simple, pleasing, and meant to be noshed with a pitcher of Oberon. Â
Dom's is basically a beer garden by another name, and when the weather gets hot and you need a lot of space with your large group, I'd hit up Dom's. That said, if your taste is more craft cocktails and food with quality ingredients, go elsewhere.
SO...
HIGHLIGHTS:
1) Massive drinks selection, especially especially beer
2) Lots of food: pizza, pasta, quesadillas, poppers, everything you'd want fried or baked in cheese!
3) Lots of space, great atmosphere for a hot summer day or night.
DOWNSIDES:
1) No healthy food with quality ingredients
I am not a drinker so I can't comment on the sangria here. But even I can appreciate the beer garden and ambiance the place has and this is a must stop for anyone looking to experience the University of Michigan student atmosphere.
Dominick's has a sizable menu and the food is decent for a bar. My fiance and I had a medium pizza which had enough leftover for his lunch the next day. The pizza was decent but nothing special. People definitely come here for the social aspect rather than the food. It is closed in the winter time.
Sangria......summertime.......friends.........
This is the place. Their Sangria might be the best locally. You have to watch yourself as it is that good - it can catch up to you without notice (buzz effect). Doesn't taste like much alcohol - but believe me it is there.
Food is average at best. To be honest - that shouldn't be the reason to come here. The atmosphere is awesome for a summertime venue. Gotta love the outdoor effect / openness.
Downside is how busy it gets and the wait you sometimes have to endure. But, it happens for a popular place like this. The parking is also a bit of a negative unless it is later into the evening when a lot of the clampus lots open to the public.
I love the way drinks are served as well. Unique with the mason jars and that whole effect.
Ann Arbor... you did not disappoint... I was shown around the campus by someone who want to school at U Mich... aws told this place is THE place to go to.. and they were RIGHT... Located in the middle of campus, I can only imagine what its like on a thursday or friday. Â If you come here.. MUST order is the Sangria... It was delicious, without a hint of alcohol in it.. makes you want more or more (that's dangerous..). Â You also get to sit on these cute picnic tables in the back with everyone and breath in the clean cool ann arbor air.. AHHH... must go back..
Review Source:What a disappointment my experience here was!
Yes, the sangria is dangerously delicious, yes the breezy, park-like atmosphere is nice, but other than that there is absolutely no reason to come to Dominick's over another bar with happy hours (for the record, Domick's offers no happy hour deals).
Really, I wanted to like this place so badly. Â But the food was so mediocre (pesto bread is cold, crouton-like bread with a scraping of store-bought pesto and nothing else, blech) and everything is so overpriced! I spent $20 on the smallest size cup (a half-pint I think?) of sangria and a split plate of bread with my friend. Â Â
It's just economics my friends... the benefits do not outweigh the costs-- try Ashley's instead.
Part of me wanted to give the place 4 stars. The location, the ample free street parking surrounding it, the outdoorsy situation, the (I don't know if this is a thing or what) random $2 bills in change, the all right food (especially for the price).
It just wasn't that great, though. I heard outdoor drinking or even beer garden thrown around, and it's not quite that. With a fun group I'm sure you can make it your own. Outdoor drinking + 90 degree summer day - what's better than sangria?
In a mason jar? Check-plus. Strength? Check. Flavor? Check/maybe even a check-minus.
It has the potential to be an amazing place, but doesn't quite make it in my mind.
I really really REALLY do love Dominick's...or at least the "idea" of Dominick's.
Yes...the drinks are overpriced; yes...the place can get CROWDED and full of college students (but that is what you get when you hang out on this side of Ann Arbor); yes...the staff can be rude and sometimes seem confused about how to even run a business; yes...the food kinda sucks.
But are those the reasons I go to Dominick's? NO...I go to Dominick's because where else can you sit at picnic tables in a beer garden with an incredibly diverse group of patrons drinking delicious sangria? Â The answer is nowhere...so, Dominick's it is!
I can appreciate the fact that this place is old-school, hasn't changed in a LOOOOOONG time, and has a reputation to uphold. Â My suggestion is to load up on food and drinks (once, so you don't have to stand in the long line again and deal with the crabby staff twice) then sit back, relax, and enjoy it all!
Yes, they card everyone. Yes, the food leaves something to be desired (that's why you go to NYPD after Dominick's closes). Yes, the staff can be a little rude. Yes, it's insane when the undergrads are still around. But Dominick's? So worth it.
Living in D.C., I don't get there often except for mid-summer when it's infinitely easier to get  a table and countless sangria refills. Because really, for the husband and me, it's all about the sangria and the atmosphere. Throw in a little bit of Constant Buzz and we're happy, too. But when it comes down to it, there's nothing like sipping drinks during a nice summer day and listening to the hum of conversation all around. We make it a point to meet up with friends there each summer. It's tradition at this point.
And let's not forget about getting tossed out at 10pm. Brings back good memories.
Expensive Food and drinks, but excellent laid-back atmosphere for college students and professors.
I enjoyed my over priced antipasto salad. My friend ordered the $15 Lobster Ravioli and a Pilsner on tap. Both of our total bill was $20 approximately.
There is no table or waiting service. You order and they call your name when you should pick up your food.
Love the outdoor seating and downtown neighborhood atmosphere.
When people Yelp about rude employees here they aren't lying! Why the heck are they so gruff? It was as if they were trying to be rude too. Plus, they have the audacity to ASK for a tip when you don't get table service! Very odd in my opinion and since I have other dinning choices with more pleasant staff, I won't be going back. The guy who took our empty plates was pleasant, but what young guy wouldn't be kind to three girls?
For the food, I had a personal pepperoni pizza (total price of $10.70). It was fine and the tomato sauce was good as other's have mentioned, but it had too much sauce on it for my liking. Plus I can make the same thing at home with more toppings for less than a buck per serving.
This is currently my fav. bar in Ann Arbor.
It reminds me of Latin America with it's plastic folding tables, folding metal chairs, and giant jars of sangria in which you pour yourself a class of in a smaller jar.
Perfect place when the weather is nice to chill with a group and just enjoy the HUGE porches.
Only complaint: Why do you close at 10PM?
There's no question that Dominick's is a great place to chill after class (or a tortuous exam) with your friends. Â The outdoor space in the back with the fountain and decorative lights has a great vibe.
5 stars for the sangria, pizza, and bruschetta. Â This place seriously makes a mean tomato sauce; you can really taste tomato as opposed to the canned flavor. Â For the sangria, I like when I can't taste the alcohol too strongly, so it's awesome.
Why the one star deduction? Â The staff isn't very friendly and the annoying alarm buzzer that goes off every 10 mins, 30 mins prior to closing time is really over-the-top and obnoxious. Â When they say they close at 10 pm, they MEAN that they're closing at 10 pm, and they're not going to let you forget it.
Dominick's is an Ann Arbor staple that you absolutely must visit! The drinks are strong, but they sure don't taste like it. You'll be fooled.
They are known for their sangria and their Constant Buzz (a slurpy type drink). Both are great!! And both come in huge pitchers/canisters, so they're meant for sharing. The food there is decent as well.
My three gripes: seating is at a premium (but that can be a good thing... an excuse to make new friends and share a table), they close early (i think 11PM... so start your night here but finish it elsewhere), and when I was a student there, they only took cash (I am not sure if that is still the case; I hope not!).
The positives... delicious drinks, good food, cool atmosphere, great rooftop view of Ann Arbor... cannot be beat!
As I was told by numerous people before and after I arrived, "You have to try sangria at Dominick's." Â So I did. Â I must say, though I'm no sangria aficionado, their sangria is delicious. Â A little over $8 for the second-smallest mason jar, it's a worthwhile beverage to consume, getting you a little buzzed (if your tolerance is as low as mine) and tasting great in the process. Â I haven't tried the Constant Buzz yet, but I have a feeling it is in my near future.
The porches may overflow when it's crowded and the guy at the front has always been a bit surly when requesting my ID, but those are small issues. Â It just adds to the character. Â Someone else said it and I'll repeat it: Dominick's is "true Ann Arbor."
The location itself is perfectly suited to the grad student crowds that flock there. Â I like being able to step directly out of the library and into a bar. Â This suites me. Â I think law school is going to work out just fine.
I gotta be honest.  I'm embarassed that Dominick's has been around for so long without me knowing it.  I swear without  Yelp, I would be eating at Applebee's for every meal.
Here is a place off the main Ann Arbor busyness that has it's own crowd, culture, and charm. Â Not to mention a killer sangria!
My first experience at Dominicks was at the end of an atrocious day at work. Â I had made some lasagna the night before and just wanted to re-heat a piece and crawl into bed. Â I have such an awesome family who loved my lasagna so much, they ate it all without leaving me any. Â My husband observed my chin quivering and the tears forming, so he turned me back out the door and off we went to Dominicks. Â
I, of course, ordered the meat lasagna and a glass (or mason jar) of sangria. Â As we sat down in the courtyard, my mood instantly changed. Â I loved the casual outdoor feel and the wide variety of ages and cultures that surrounded us. Â
The lasagna and bread completely hit the spot and hubs loved his meatball sub too. Â We walked away full and happy. Â Â The only thing I would change is to put individual tables out instead of long, cafeteria style. Â I'm not a big fan of sitting next to strangers. Â
I have been back twice and everything I've ordered has been very tasty. Â The larger portions of sangria haven't hurt either!
I'm with Rebecca W: Dominick's is a place you love or hate. I'm also with her in the sense that we work together and are going there for a birthday lunch today, but that's neither here nor there. Â Except I guess it will be there when we are there for lunch.
In all seriousness, though, Dominick's has its golden moments - like an early afternoon happy hour in the middle of summer when the students are all away. Â I really like that you can reserve (picnic) tables, and I'm a big fan of drinking sangria out of jars. Â I haven't tried much of their food, but I recall sharing a totally serviceable quesadilla last summer. Â At least I think that's what we split. Â I blame the Oberon in the giant Mason jar for that.
As other reviewers have noted, though, it gets L O U D very quickly, especially in the first few hours of the evening. Â The patio is glorious, but there's no shade, so prepare to sweat it out. Â The crotchety gentleman at the door will card everyone, no matter how much grey hair they may have on display, and will yell at you if you try to lock your moped to the bike rack (legal in MI).
In short, Dominick's is an A2 institution. Â Every campus should have one.
I recently was here for a friends bday party. Â I was also being scolded for having never heard of or been to this place.
Walking up, this place looks pretty neat. Like an old hotel or house where you are greeted and immediately asked for your ID by someone just sitting there in a folding chair. Â
We sat down and a buddy brings out a huge jug of Sangria. This is a very popular beverage here and it was awesome. I am not usually a big fan of Sangria, but it was very good and strong here.
For food, its all pretty standard fare. We are told to "avoid the lasagna" by the staff which I thought was pretty funny. I had a meatball sub and it was pretty awesome.
Everything here is a bit quirky including the people taking your orders. Â When food is ready, they scream your name over a loud speaker
This is cute at first but gets pretty annoying after a few.
I am looking forward to going back and trying some more of the menu as well as the "constant buzz" beverage concoction. It's a mix of tequila, and a bunch of stuff in a 51 oz pitcher.
I've wanted to try this place for years (these were pre-Yelp years) and having recently moved back to the area thought it was high time.
Glad to have gone to get it out of my system but I will never go back.
I read all the horrible reviews about this place on here but wanted to try their sangria. Not sure who (or why) likes this stuff but I'm guessing it's frat guys who have never tried actual sangria. This was more like Kool-Aid that they dropped some Mad Dog 20/20 in. It's also super expensive (and I just moved from SoCal so I know from expensive)
The food was pretty bad as well. I split a pizza and I think I've had better from Sbarro's.
The kicker was the old guy(s) who own it. They have the nastiest attitudes I've ever seen. I've worked for years in the restaurant industry and have seen how rotten/cynical it can make people. That's when I say, get the hell out of the restaurant business!
They were super rude to all the douche-bag college kids (yes, I got my BA from U of M so don't hate) which is ironic since the douche bag college kids are the only reason this place is in business (since it's right next to the Law School).
But I digress.
My friend's son was skating in the restaurant on his heelies, which I agree isn't cool and they told him to take it outside. No problem so far.
He goes outside and is skating on the sidewalk. Public property right?
Apparently not to the two octogenarians who own this place (or at least work here).
In addition to screaming at a 7-year old little boy, the one wannabe Donnie Brasco storms over to our table and demand of my friend is that is her little boy.
Then he says loudly, "He don't listen to good does he??"
My friend was stunned and just said, "What?"
The aging Don repeated it and we had had enough. We got our stuff and left.
I mean, there are way better ways to handle that situation. Even if the kid was doing something bad (he's 7 remember--no kids listen at 7), the guy could have let my friend handle the situation by saying something like, "Ma'am I've asked your son to stop skating and he hasn't. He could get hurt or hurt someone else. If he won't stop we're going to have to ask you to leave."
No harm, no foul.
The only reason it got 2 stars is a part of the downstairs is pretty cute with small table and chairs, kind of a bistro atmosphere.
But the upstairs is a rabbit warren of little rooms that people rent out and have meetings in. (ie. like future MBAer's of America).
It sucks because it doesn't matter how many shitty reviews this place gets or how many people they piss off because they are next to the university and have a whole new demographic ever 4 years.
The food and drinks at Dominick's are really just 3-star caliber - solid, never terrible, but never spectacular either. Dominick's gets its fourth star for being the perfect summertime party place for large groups. Seriously, in the 13 years I've been going there, I don't think I've ever gone to Dominick's with just a friend or two. It's the place where you get drunk with your coworkers or classmates.
And drunk you will be if you order those half gallons of sangria and Constant Buzz (their version of a strawberry daiquiri). Again, not the best alkeehall - I heard they put Mad Dog in the former - but it's all very sweet, easy to drink and strong.
The snacks are charmingly weird, like the old-school, gringo-style, round, yellow tortilla chip nachos with cheddar, corn, zucchini and sour cream. Their pizzas are thin-crusted with okay sauce, cheese and pepperoni - nothing you would ever bother to order out, but it soaks up the booze nicely. I prefer the stromboli. The curled-up crust has a buttery, chewy texture way superior to their pizza crust.
On two recent work party visits, our group wisely reserved a table in advance and set up a tab with a credit card. We got to skip to the front of the line, order our food quickly, and have it brought to the table. No waiting for  your garbled up name to be called over the paging system ("Wrshuxlaur - your food is ready" Whaa?!?!).
On both of these visits they reserved a prime table in a shady spot on the side of the yard - bonus! Their long picnic tables are also great for groups. I notice that if you make a reservation you tend to get one of the nice courtyard tables. Unless it's raining, there's no good reason to sit in the sheltered areas. Enjoy the sunshine, the shade of a 250 year old elm and the tile fountain. Make a reservation and if you can put it all on one card, set up a tab.
Summer is finially here!!! Dominicks's is open for 2010!!!
It is open 1st week of march until october :)
CONSTANT BUZZ ($20 only comes in one size) Â and sangrias make the summer a million times better and class worth going to so you can head off to dominicks between classes, skip, or afterwards.
The bruschetta is good here, sandwiches, pasta, and finger foods. I like the fresh mozzarella and roasted peppers (with bread olive oil), and the quesadilla. The pizzas are about 12 inches for the gormet ones (which have mushroom, peppers, and amazing cheese..I like this one to the ones where you can put your own toppings on. Its $14 or so.. Yea its a big pricy but seriously what is the price on an amazing summer evening with your friends OUTSIDE, on campus, PRICELESS.
10am-10pm its open and it makes the perfect place to meet up after classes and you can just hang out until it's time to go to the bars. You can kill plenty of time here between the food, drinks, and packed place where you are bound to bump into other friends.
The only Con is that it can get so full there is a line to get in and wait about 30 mins in line for the food....When its packed on both floors and outside there will be like 50 people just standing around and not enough glasses cleared for you to sit down when you find a free space. This only happens during st patty's. :) and it still was lots of fun. Ask for napkins since I def got a drink spilled near me and ended up on me..no worries. Still a great day, in the 60s in March in michigan, sunny, and everyone was decked out in green.
Oh, the Sangria and Constant Buzz....
I heart this place, not just love, but HEART. I could list the downsides (seasonal, pricey, weird guy at the entrance investigating IDs) but other than that little aside, I won't.
There is just no better place to enjoy a warm afternoon in Ann Arbor with friends than Dominick's, given the following three rules: First, you must sit outside. Second, Sangria and/or Constant Buzz is required. Third, dinner comes later at some other establishment  nearby (not that the food is bad... it just isn't why you go to Dominick's).
The drinks are very strong and still taste super yummy. The end result is invariably ending up more buzzed than you anticipated, and thus invariably having more fun than you anticipated. Also, the laid-back attitude, outdoor seating and afternoon timeframe just make for a relaxed an enjoyable time. What I know is this: mixing my friends with this place always was, and  always still is a great idea.
Want to hear something sort of messed up? Â I was born small. Really small. Because of this, the doc wouldn't let my parents take me out in public until I balanced out a 5 lb. bag of flour (my parents' home-made version of a baby scale). Â
Once I did, it was a-OK to take me out and about. Â My mom recalls that one of the very first places she brought me was to Dominick's. Â During the Art Fair. Â Good god, I must have been totally overwhelmed. Â I can't even begin to understand what that many people, a loudspeaker and heat would do to frazzle a baby. Â Apparently, I did OK with it though. Â Enough so that I wasn't totally traumatized years later.
This is really one of my favorite places to be when I have no responsibilities ahead of me on a summer evening. Â Now, I very seldom have no responsibilities, but if that's the case, its hard to resist the idea of lounging on the patio with friends, drinking sangria or Oberon out of jars, and perhaps even downing some pasta or soup. Â
I've never been blown away by any of the soups here (and the servings are so tiny, I don't think that's the point. Â However, salads here are refreshing enough, and the pasta dishes are total comfort food.
What the sangria may lack in authenticity, it makes up for in sheer strength. Plus, there's those jars -- I'm always charmed by drinking out of jars. Â Makes me think of moonshine (a good thing, in my book)!
I just prefer to go in the midst of summer, when there aren't quite as many students. Â The blaring siren at 10pm is annoying no matter what -- but if you've had enough sangria by 9:30 or so, you're wise to take off then and not wait for the blare of the loudspeaker!
There's nothing better than a summer afternoon/evening at Dominick's with a group of friends and lots of sangria. It's a great location, eclectic vibe, and lots of seating, mostly outdoors or on the patios. The food is good, but takes forever to make, and there's always a long line for food/drinks. If you bring cash it's much easier to get their famous sangria or constant buzz from the second bar. Both these drinks are great, but expensive! Constant Buzz does live up to its name.
As most know, Dominick's closes at 10pm - a major buzz kill - especially if you've waited in line for 20 minutes to get a drink. I think the bubonic plague was born in their bathrooms, which is always occupied. The staff certainly aren't in a hurry to take or complete orders - but their attitude lets you know that upfront. Best time to go is in the summer, when the Business School and Greek Life students are not around. Â Dominick's is an Ann Arbor classic and a place like none other. Because of that it's easier for me to forgive some of its annoying characteristics.
Dominick's is pretty much a place that you love or you hate. Â They're full of Michigan 'tude and don't really care what you think about it.
That being said, if you're IN Ann Arbor, and AT the U of M, you're probably a sucker for Michigan 'tude. Â I am unapologetically in this camp, and very much enjoy Dominicks.
When you arrive, you'll be greeted by the crotchety gentleman (Dominick himself?) on the front porch, who will card everyone in your party stringently...even if it's the middle of the afternoon, and even though they have a full restaurant menu. Â Mixed feelings about this...it's easier to get in as a 5 year old with your parents than as a 19 year old. Â But I suppose they have to do it.
If you're here, you only want to eat out on the back patio. Â There's no point in being inside. Â You CAN reserve tables/areas, and your "space" will be announced to guests via a pizza-board sign on the front porch--v. handy.
I love the pasta entrees, in particular the mushroom ravioli. Â It comes with warm, soft bread, a perfectly standard green salad, and a cute little jar of soup. Â
It's basically self-service--order inside, and pick up at a window. Â I appreciate the built in security system: when you order, you give your first name and last initial. Â When your food is ready, they call your first name only--then when you pick up, you have to give your initial. Â
I've heard mixed things about the sangria. Â My general sense is that if you are an actual expert in Spanish libations and authentic sangria, you may be disappointed.
If, on the other hand, you're just looking for a cold, sweet, refreshing, fruity drink to get a little blurry on, you'll be pleased. Â I always am.
Dominick's, like Blimpy and like most Ann Arbor establishments, is a place you have to just take as it is. Â If you can, and that's your thing, you'll enjoy.
Students tend to love this spot. Â It seems secluded just because it's hidden behind the business school -- but really everyone knows about it because of the Sangria. Â And if you're going to go, you might as well just go for the Sangria, because I don't even remember what their food tastes like.
If you're sitting inside, then you're obviously not cool -- because all the cool kids sit outside on the patio furniture.
Let's state the obvious - the food is so-so at best and this place has got some nerve charging what they do for booze. Â If you're looking for economic value or haute cuisine, you're not going to Doms.
Why are you going there? Â Because people get drunk here. Â Groups of friends meet to sit in the sun and get wasted, so that when the sirens go off at 10 you can go drink more somewhere else. Â They come to have fun, and fun they have. Â Sure the place is a labyrinth, the bathrooms frustrating and its always crowded when the weather's nice and students are in town. But when you really want to sit outside and down a few ice cold Oberons or sip some Sangria, there's really no better place to go.
First day in Ann Arbor, I hop onto a School of Public Health bus for a tour of the campus and surrounding establishments. The tour guide makes a stop in front of Dominick's, and the guide raves about Dominick's sangria and constant buzz, which tastes like a delish strawberry margarita. Both drinks are perfect for warm spring, summer, and fall nights.
The loud mouth owner of Dominick's comes on the bus to give us a rude welcome and yells at us to get the H-E-double hockey sticks out of here because the bus was blocking their view or preventing business, which was not open yet. He just wanted the tour bus out of the way. That is classic. You will never find a ruder person than the ego-maniacal owner.
Despite that snafu, all of us have been back to Dominick's time and time again. Business is so awesome that this place can hibernate during the winter while students can not wait for the snow to melt, and so they can guzzle sangrias and constant buzzes all day long on the outdoor patio.
Oh Dominick's.......................................Âwords can't describe how much I miss this precious  Ann Arbor treasure. To me, Dominick's almost defines my Ann Arbor experience....it is everything i love about this lovely little campus town.
i gotta admit Dominick's business model might puzzle some - it only opens half the year (closes during the chillier months) and closes at 10pm (when most bar goers are only getting ready to leave the house). There are tables on the porch, the patio and in the house (both downstairs and upstairs) but you gotta love the patio.....and how can you not love drinking delicious sangrias out of quaint jars as you're sitting at picnic tables overlooking a beautiful landscape (which includes a mini waterfall) under clear blue skies???
Although the sangria is the most popular drink here by far, the Constant Buzz is definitely my favorite. I like it so much that I am convinced it is the BEST (alcoholic) drink I've ever had .. anywhere! It looks and tastes like strawberry smoothie, with barely any traces of alcohol. This is a drink i can sip on all day. it's dangerous!
i realize I may be slightly biased in my review because i'm missing ann arbor like mad.  there's never been a time when i come to Dominick's and not have a great time. this is one Michigan experience  you wouldn't want to miss. best to come with a  group of friends!
There are people who love Dominick's.  If waiting more than ten  minutes in a dank, noisy room to order weak, pricey booze that you have to drink out of dirty jars while being eaten by mosquitoes and sweating like swine outdoors on hard benches is your thing then maybe you too will love Dominick's.  Personally I'd rather have a bologna and jelly sandwich than the crap they serve there (I think their pizza is actually Crisco on lasagna noodles). Â
People seem to want to like it so much (because it's an "institution") that that they overlook the fact that every aspect of it sucks. Â I really can't say enough bad things about this place and because I have only bad things to say I will actually give it a bad rating. Â I don't understand the people who recognize its being terrible and still rate it well. Â It's just plain bad.
Another Ann Arbor institution. Â Seriously I wish there was one in every city.
This is definitely a place where it is dangerous to sit too long, because after not much time, when you try to stand you actually fall over, because you are that hammered.
If you don't dig the sangria, have a different beverage. Â My favorite was more of a frozen blended number called constant buzz. Â Definitely a great place to have a friend on staff as well.
Also, the BEST Profs and/or TAs held class here at least once a semester. Â I love you organizational psych.
And for eye candy and view? Â The law quad and students are but a stumble across the street!
The best thing the food is here for is merely to slow the time in which it takes the booze to take effect. Â
Way back in the day, this used to be a place one might be able to manage some underage drinking, so I've heard.
I went to Dominick's for the first time on a Friday night in May. Maybe that was my mistake?
The sangria was pleasant enought. The crowds were horrible and the intercom was the most obnoxious sound system that I have ever encountered in Ann Arbor. I could barely hear what my friends were saying and left with a hoarse throat and headache. Thankfully, the sangria dulled the egde because I would've been really cranky otherwise. I'm definitely willing to try Dominick's again because I want to see why everyone loves it so much. Maybe this time on a Monday afternoon.
I think all that's been said about this place has been said, especially by Margot. Â With as many unsavory experiences I've had there, including being rained on, being shooed out by the people that work there, etc. Â I still persist and go to Dominick's. Â Why? Â It's al fresco alcoholic debauchery at its best and there's not much you can do about it.
What's in the sangria? Â I don't know (or maybe I do). Â I've always wondered because if it were just wine and fruit juice, I should be able to drink a gallon of it without feeling much of anything. Â I drink about half a gallon and I feel like the world is spinning. Â Hmmmmm...
Dominck's is all porch and patio, with two counters inside where you can order jars of sangria and beer in mason jars ranging from little single-glups (okay, probably 12oz) to the mighty half-gallon. Â
The sangria suffers from the common misconception that bad wine can produce decent sangria, and from the further misconception that bad sangria is like bad pizza or bad sex: it's never so bad that it's worse than none at all. Â
I'm not so joyless I won't admit to the pleasure of lounging on the massive two-story front porch or in the back yard between the fountain and gazeebo with dozens of breeder spawn underfoot. Â But the bad pizza and bad sex allusion was unintentionally prescient: Dominck's offers both. Â You can order the bad pizza, or mediocre sandwiches at the longer of the two counters inside and I truly do not want to imagine the post-sangria activities of the predominantly law school and greek house crowds that gather under Dominck's massive eaves. Â
The intercom system that announces food orders turns into the loudest, most annoying bouncer imaginable at 9:30pm (last call--it fancies itself a "restaurant" instead of a bar, but how many restaurants declare a "last call," and with bullhorns, no less). Â Promptly at 10pm, air raid sirens blare, a cruel audio equivalent of the "ugly lights," and the staff gently but firmly begin to herd people outside. Â I'm sure their neighbors love them.
Somehow, despite all this, I'm relatively sure that whoever you are, you will *love* Dominicks.  You will seek reasons to go there.  You will recruit teams of people to  meet you there at 5pm on Fridays to maximize your sangria-drinking time.  You will buy the half-gallon jar of sangria before you even know how many people will show up to share it with you.  And you'll be too sangria-delighted come 10pm to be remotely fussed by the apocalypse-heralding "we're closed" foghorn. Â
So just give in already and love it. Â
Not open on Sundays.
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