FLOEats Indy

Clay Oven

2011-07-17T16:57:00.000-07:00

Every time a new non-chain restaurant opens on the south side, you know we'll be excited! Clay Oven is located next to the big US 31 Wal-Mart strip mall but it is still small and could be easily missed if you weren't looking for it. Open for a couple of months now, we had nothing but high hopes for excellent cuisine and a new favorite Indian dining spot close to home!

We had the opportunity to try Clay Oven out twice before doing this review and on both occasions service has been polite, personable, and friendly. The patience and humor shown by staff were very appreciated when considering our very vocal children. ;)

On our first visit, we decided to start with the mixed tandoori appetizer. A sizzling tray of chicken & lamb over a bed of charred green peppers & red onions quickly emerged. The smell of the meat and veggies was intoxicating. As expected in an Indian place, the seasoning on both were excellent. Mom, Dad & Stella enjoyed every morsel of roasted lamb, but found the chicken dry. That and for the price, I think we'll pass next time, especially since it was one of the more pricey appetizers.

While Stella, Mom & Dad dove into the meat, Ozzy pecked a bit at the Papad. These are crispy, very thin wafers that came with the dish. No one could really nail down the spice. Maybe celery salt or onion salt? Not sure, but it wasn't a big hit with the Oz, so he waited for the main course.

Our second visit appy was the Paneer Pakora. This was oddly familiar and quite good. Small squares of house-made Indian cheese dipped in a garbanzo bean batter and deep fried....yummy. This batter had a nice spice to it and would be good on anything!

As we're both suckers for lamb, our first visit had to include it. Fred ordered the Lamb Hara Masala (lamb cooked in a mint curry sauce) while Libby chose the Krahi Ghosht . Since we knew the only thing headed to the table Ozzy would even consider touching was the rice, we added a basket of assorted naan. Now, FLOE is a sucker for naan. We consider it akin to pizza. As in even when it's bad, it's still pretty good! But never before have we gotten an assortment of different naans. Yowsa! Clay Oven offers 10 (count 'em!!! TEN!!) different naans. The assortment only came with 3 unfortunately: Garlic Naan, Rati (whole wheat), and regular. Maybe it was the curry going to our heads, but all three were some of the top naan we'd ever eaten. Ozzy dove in head first. Fred literally had to grab his hands to stop him from taking more than 1/2 of it for himself. This will most certainly be an every-visit order. Skip it at your own peril, people!

Fred's dish was certainly the star of the first evening. As someone who grew up putting mint jelly on his leg of lamb (Jelly on meat? Don't knock it 'til you try it!), this was right up his alley. Not sweet like his mom's, but incredibly savory with a heavy dose of mint. Fred quickly scooped up a handful of naan for his utensil and dove in. While they called it a curry on the menu, we didn't taste much in the way of masala. The sauce was more like a mint-based pesto. The hunks of lamb tasted like they'd been cooked in the sauce, but Fred wasn't sure. All we know is Clay Oven's chef hit this one out of the park. As with most Indian dishes, it may not look very appetizing, but one whiff of the enticing aroma and you're hooked!

Libby's Krahi Ghosht was more of a fried-rice type dish which she ordered knowing Stella would have no trouble eating. While the flavor was fine and Stella definitely approved, it simply couldn't stand up to the Hara Masala. It was heavy on the peppers and onions which left the impression of a southwest meets India vibe. Unfortunately it ended up a little dry. Without a sauce to fall back on, the rice just sucked up all the moisture in the dish. A shame really...

But alas, on our second visit, we went more old school. Fred chose the Vegetable Korma and Libby the Chicken Tikka Masala. Wow! We thought the first visit had been pretty darned good, but it only when up from there. The Vegetable Korma was in a thick, savory sauce that had tons of veggies and unbelievable amounts of flavor. This kind of food can turn anyone vegetarian! Fred ordered it Medium-Hot and it was just a bit on the "hot" side, but so aroma rich, it felt perfect! Dip a little naan in and Fred was one happy man.

The Chicken Tikka Masala was definitely the best either Fred or Libby had ever had. Not to discount the familiar dish, but most lunch buffet versions are far too bland. At Clay Oven, that was SO not the case here! More savory, creamy goodness teaming with more of those floral overtones that made you wonder why the place didn't have a line out the door?!

Both visits left mom & dad stuffed, but the owner decided the kids needed some free ice cream for good behavior. Clay Oven offers a couple of different homemade ice creams per day. We decided on the mango and were happily rewarded with squeals from both kids. Definitely a hit all around. Thank you, sir!

Wrap Up
Price- $$, Not buffet prices, but what you would expect for a sit-down establishment. Although they do have a buffet for lunch.
Atmosphere-**, Clean, comfortable. We would love to see more Indian influence in decor as there seems to be a standard look to all Indian establishments. Minimalism with a hint of culture...we say jazz it up!
Service-****, Not only were both the servers attentive but the owner actually came out to explain the difference between the Roti and regular naan. The owner was incredibly gracious and practically demanded to give the kids free ice cream! What's not to love?!

Overall
Fred- A, Lets see, local owners, check. Lamb, naan and a wonderful sauce, check. Basically this is Fred's definition of a great find. Too bad Indian beer isn't my cup of tea or this would really tick all the boxes!!
Libby-A, Both experiences were consistently welcoming and proved to be some of the best Indian cuisine I have tasted. No blandness here, just aromatic spice and did we talk about that naan???!
Ozzy- B, Ok, the boy had naan, white rice & ice cream for dinner. Not great on the parenting scale, but not so bad in his eyes.
Estelle- B, Stella grazed on everything, but especially loved the ice cream. Since this ended up being a leisurely three course meal, she got a little antsy towards the end...both times.

Three Pints

2011-06-21T16:19:00.000-07:00

Okay. It's been a month, sorry to be absent. What better way to get back in the saddle than with a local brew-pub?! So, the lucky recipient of our unruly children and picky palates was Three Pints. A short trek to Plainfield and resting in the old Red Robin, sits the contender. A newly trellissed front porch begs for climbing hops, but otherwise, it's familiar.

We were seated right up front---thank you, unruly children. ;) Before arriving, we had researched the menu and were well aware this was going to be standard pub-grub... BUT we were still hopeful for some standouts.

Our waitress was prompt. But when asked about the beer she responded--- she doesn't drink beer. Okay. That's fine, but shouldn't you be able to tell us something about the four in-house taps you're serving? A detailed description, even if it's just rote memorization? Nope. Ok. How about a sampler? Oh, yes! She brought us a "sampler" of 4 little plastic condiment cups. *sigh* Yes, it was free, but OMG, plastic sampler cups??? We haven't drank beer out of a plastic cup since college! Why isn't Three Pints banking some dough on a slightly classier service in perhaps, glasses? They could easily charge $7 for a set of 4oz samplers. Not a local brewpub clientele, you may ask? In the 35 minutes we were there, 4 people came in sporting their "support your local brewery" t-shirts and growlers to boot. There are some beerchops perusing the place. You gotta respect your beer better than that.

The online menu reflected exactly what was in print. Ozzy and Stella were easy enough---the house mac(kraft) and the chicken strips. Daddy went with the pot roast sandwich and Mommy, the "brewpub favorite", fish and chips. The beers were acceptable, at least for a new brewpub. All on the hoppier side unfortunately, but of the IPA, APA, Scottish, and California Common, Libby decided on Scottish and Fred the California Common. Not terrible. Just not our favorite varieties. Let's give them 6 months and then check them out again.

The food was fairly quick. Ozzy was delighted to, in fact, see out of the box mac and cheese. Stella was disinterested in eating her overly battered and bland chicken strips. Once mom & dad were sure she was done, Ozzy helped himself to them. They were right up his alley.

Libby was excited to see the large fillets of battered Alaskan cod and was very happy to find the quality of the fish reflecting the $14 price tag. Two issues, wait. Three. The fish seemed like it was prepared in house, but sadly, the chef did not take care in frying. It was far too oily, and the batter just slid right off the fish. Not to mention the fries were awful. Awful! Out of a bag is expected, but sitting for who knows how long is completely unacceptable. McDonald's put them to shame. Shame. Shame! Shame! Shame! And last -- Our waitress didn't know what malt vinegar was and brought Italian vinaigrette salad dressing when asked.. Really? Yeah, really. At least the coleslaw was interesting and solid.

Fred's pot roast sandwich was exactly the stand-out we'd been hoping to find. Wonderful beef falling apart with an oh-so-not-so-good-for-you gravy. The optional horseradish really drove it home. And did we mention it's on a toasted brioche bun?!!! Super yummy and only $7.50! Unfortunately, Fred chose the vegetable medley for his side which he is pretty sure he has seen in every supermarket frozen food section. Two bites of that and he was done.

http://www.threepintsbrewpub.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$-$$, You can eat cheap, but you may get what you pay for.
Atmosphere-**, Meh.
Service-*, It wasn't for a lack of attention, but a lack of training, understanding of customer service or their own beer. Also, anyone who says *I*-talian should be jack-slapped. ;)

Overall
Fred- C, While the sandwich alone was more A- range, having sampled everything else at the table, it is obvious that food is not number one on the Three Pints' radar. Nor is a well-trained waitstaff. If I do go back, maybe the sandwich with a side of the slaw would make for a complete plate of decent food.
Libby-D, I didn't finish anything. Not even a pint of beer. That speaks volumes.
Ozzy- A+, "I loved everything. Even Stella's chicken."
Estelle- C+, She did not eat much, but was hell bent on eating the blinds. Did we mention the kids were a bit cantankerous that day? ;)

Red Habanero

2011-05-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

When walking into Red Habanero, you could easily mistake it for a Qdoba or Chipotle. And on it's face, the menu does nothing to distinguish it. Sure, there are a few items you won't find at the "fast casual" TexMex chains, but Red Habanero's bread & butter (tortilla & salsa?) are the same tacos, burritos, quesadillas & enchiladas. But where the chains have moved to dumb down the flavor for the mass-market audience, Red Habanero has turned up the heat.

After approaching the counter, we noticed there were several menu items labeled "Hot!". As most places take that to mean there might be a jalapeno or two thrown in, we paid that no mind continued to scan the menu. We decided on a pair of quesadillas for the kids -- one with chicken for Stella and a plain cheese for Oz. Libby ordered one of the "Hot!" items, the Jalepeno Lime Chicken burrito, while Fred chose his usual TexMex baseline dish, the Chile Colorado (this time in burrito form). On each burrito, we had our choice of 4 toppings including the usual cilantro, pico de gallo, sour cream & cheese, but also tomatoes, guacamole, black olives, onion & mushrooms, to name a few.

As each entree came with tortilla chips, we sauntered over to the salsa bar to check out the options. Wow! Not just the usual 2 choices (hot & mild) but 5-6 solid ones. There was the house, tomatillo, ranchero, habanero, chipotle, & pico. We happily scooped out a bit of each for tasting. We were pleasantly surprised at the freshness & flavor of each. Per their menu, they make each one fresh daily. It's the little things that really make a place stand out from the crowd, and this was it for Red Habanero. Shockingly, the house salsa was the spiciest of the bunch, well ahead of even the habanero. Stella snuck a taste of it after watching Mom & Dad sample each one. She quickly got an aggrieved look and decided to dip in her beans instead.

The burritos are grilled in a sandwich press which Fred found a little odd, but not displeasing. His Chile Colorado was superb. The flavor of the beef was head and shoulders above anything you get at the chains. The ranchero sauce it'd been simmered in had crept deep into the meat. No need for a salsa to add flavor here. Overall, a great crunch and just enough heat to bring a little sweat to your brow. Perfect.

Libby's burrito was a pleasant surprise on many fronts. First of all, during preparation a large pre-marinated and grilled breast was chopped fresh right before her eyes! Impressive. The jalepeno lime sauce was applied liberally and had a lovely bright green hue. The real test was in the taste and after one bite "fresh" was really the best way to put it. The sauce wasn't really apparent until the third or fourth bite in...um, Holy C***!!!, this was hot! Sure, there was the usual, discomfort in the mouth, a little bit of sweat forming on the upper cheeks, but it was the actual stomach cramps that got her attention. How can something taste so fresh and amazing and give you insta-ulcer?!!! It did cause a slow down in eating when you had to wait for the cramping to subside to have another bite. Yes, it hurt so good. Note to self; next time, heed the "hot" warning.

The kids simply demolished the meal. Other than Ozzy's beans, it was clean plates all around, with Stella wanting to dip her chips in Mommy's burrito. We tried Stella's chicken quesadilla and were surprised at the flavor even in the kid's version. Well seasoned meat and multiple cheeses. Either of us would have been happy to finish it for her!

As we were about to leave, an employee came out and offered free small cups of ice cream for the kids as well as a tiny 3" diameter sombrero. Totally unexpected at an order-at-the-counter joint! We could feel real pride and honesty in his voice and actions. When a chain does something like that, it's not even close to the same feeling.

Wrap Up
Price-$, Basically the same prices as the competition. Love it when you can support your local mom & pop without spending a dime more!
Atmosphere-**, You honestly could have been in any burrito joint---except for the stocked bar! Margarita with your burrito anyone!?
Service-****, No dead-behind-the-eyes minimum wage slaves here. If everyone who worked there wasn't family or friend of the family, we'd be shocked.

Overall
Fred- A- , I actually had to go back a few days later to try the tacos! (also awesome -- try the Three Amigos pictured at the top!). My only complaint is the grill on the burrito. I really think it'd be better without. It's a nit-pick though. Next I have to try the shrimp tacos. Yum!
Libby-A, Other than the intense pain, this was a fabulous experience. Great food with real attention to freshness. It's nice when hot means hot.
Ozzy- A+, Lets see, carbs, cheese & more carbs. Oh, then free ice-cream out of the blue! Ozzy heaven!
Estelle- A+, I'm sure we've shared her bean love in the past. But when you add chips & ice cream to the deal, you've got her dead to rights.

Fire by the Monon

2011-05-08T00:46:00.001-07:00

Another new restaurant has hit the scene in Broadripple -- Fire by the Monon. It bills itself as an upscale American grill with an emphasis on grilled local foods, local beer taps, and more heart-healthy choices. We walked the Monon from around the Biscuits vicinity and found Fire in a familiar area behind La Piedad. A red building greeted us and so did plenty of friendly smiles when we arrived.

Upon entering, to our right was a quiet looking bar area. To the left, another bar was visible...was there family seating available? Yes. In between the two bars there was a room with space for 5 cramped tables. To our dismay, almost half of it was taken up by a very loud 8-top of drunken 30-40 somethings whooping it up about weddings or bachelorette parties or whatever. Not a good start. We know what would help this! Beer! We needed to know what was on tap and get the kids some chow.

Chow was simple. Salads, a few entrees, some pizzas, burgers and sandwiches. The server informed us it was their soft opening menu, so things would change up soon. We went with a cheese pizza for Ozzy and pepperoni for Stella. Fred was into The Lake(grilled trout sandwich) and Libby the gouda-bacon burger. Both with sweet potato fries and shredded pickle(shreddies) on the side. Although after a couple of salads went by, we wondered if that was the way to go. They looked like something different and very fresh!

The beer selection was impressive, including locals Upland, Flat 12, Oaken Barrel, Barley Island and Sun King. Oh, how about an Upland Wheat for Libby and a Flat 12 American Wit for Fred? Sure! Fairly quickly, the beers arrived and Libby was sad to see the foggy beer in her glass. Now Upland Wheat should be cloudy, but not look (and taste) like dishwater. Whether the beginning or end of the keg, this was not acceptable. One taste and it was obvious this should not have gone out to the table. Our waitress, who seemed to have expected this, quickly swooped in and offered to exchange it for a Sun King. Ah. Much better. But it made us wonder aloud, why did it get served if they knew it was questionable?! The rabble continued.

This noise problem was not just us nor was it relenting. The table was getting the stink-eye from other diners as well. We have to ask, wasn't there room for 8 grown women to sit in one of your two bar areas? Ozzy decided he couldn't take it anymore and declared it was too loud, covered his ears, and asked to go home. Fred tried to tend the issue with some napkin made earplugs. On the way to the bathroom to insert them, he was stopped by another server who apologized and informed him that acoustic panels had been ordered. Another table arrived, and they were also informed of the noise reduction plan. We ended up scooting our table about a foot to help accommodate the small space for another table and that seemed to slightly help Ozzy's agony. Although Libby started to get feedback static from the jubilant noise behind her. Even Stella's occasional wails were muffled in comparison. Really?!

Before too long the food came. Yay! Ozzy was overjoyed and started to dig in as did Stella. Fred and Libby quickly snapped a shot of each sandwich and sunk in.

The burger was really good. Well cooked, nice seasoning and a very satisfying bite. The buns on both sandwiches were a wonderful toasted wheat. Teddy's, this is how you do a wheat bun right! The sweet potato fries were very familiar. Definitely from a bag. Not bad, just not special. The "shreddies" although only pickles were really fresh and the accompanying remoulade was a nice touch. Fred's trout sandwich was just that. A grilled piece of trout with lettuce and tomato along with the same remoulade. Not bad, just not special.

The kids' pizzas were fine. Ozzy ate his aggressively and Stella tried to eat a full slice new-york-fold style. While mom & dad were unimpressed with the crust, Fire does know what kids want in a pie.

When the check came, we were more than ready to go. It's a sad thing that the environment actually played a bigger part than the food or even the service in our experience. Yes, it was a soft opening, but how long should a soft opening go on? We know this "soft opening" had been going on for at least a week by this point, as other bloggers had already written about it. It is still hard to decide whether we care to go back and give it another try. Family seating should be just that. A group of adults out to have a good time shouldn't be taking up half the dining area when there are two bar areas available. Belly up to one of the bars. We would if we could. :)

http://www.firebythemonon.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$$, Your standard sit-down burger prices.
Atmosphere-*, Loud and nondescript. How do you make an old building have zero character? Maybe there is some in the bar areas...
Service-*, Friendly & they were obviously trying. But there were multiple mistakes made. Not just in seating that group, but our server knew the beer was bad. She hovered until Libby took her first taste and immediately offered to replace it. If you know it's bad, DON'T SERVE IT!

Overall
Fred-C , The food was "Not Bad. Just not special." That about sums it up. Maybe if they get their "stuff" together, I'll give it another go. But I won't be hurrying back any time soon. Also, if you want to stand out for your food, don't have your standard side dish come out of a bag. Whatever happened to (from Fire's website) "our first step includes working with local producers and suppliers to bring their best products to your table."
Libby-C+, The burger was very tasty. But this was the first time I truly understood how much impact atmosphere would have on my meal. It was very difficult to enjoy anything about it when my son was covering his ears in distress and all I kept thinking was "how did the hostess screw up seating this badly?!" The bars were almost empty!
Ozzy- D, He has never complained about noise before. Even at Chuck-E-Cheese. This would have been an F had it not been for the clean-plate-club pizza.
Estelle-B , After 5 ear infections in the last 6 months, Stella is almost half-deaf according to the docs. So she enjoyed her meal immensely! ;)

Taste Cafe and Marketplace

2011-04-22T20:35:00.001-07:00

We have read countless blogs, reviews, and comments from readers about the great things going on at Taste in SoBro. The opportunity presented itself so we went for it and decided to do lunch today---poor Oz-man had to make up a snow-day at school. :(

As soon as we entered the door around 12:30 on a friday afternoon, we saw there was a sizeable line. We looked around a bit and saw that seating was tight too. Was this a mistake? Not to worry, the line moved at a steady pace and out of nowhere a table opened up right when we needed it! Yay!

But first, the menu. This is an order at the counter set-up, with lovely glass cases showing patrons the intriguing lunchtime possibilities. There are wall menus, but the fine print makes them nearly impossible to read -- so thank goodness for the normal sized menus to peruse while you wait in line. Several things sounded good in the gourmet sandwich department; the albacore tuna nicoise, the curried chicken salad, the italian grinder, and the erin to name a few. Then others looked very good; the multitude of fresh sides, greek orzo and roasted beet salads, vine ripe tomatoes, tortelinni and OMG the desserts!!!

We had heard good things about the pommes frites, so that was a no brainer. But after much deliberation, Fred went with the Erin and Libby the italian grinder...and a slice of chocolate sponge cake with mocha butter cream frosting!!! Terrible, I know.

As we waited at our well placed plate-watching table, an incredible looking egg sandwich walked by twice and a couple of salads that didn't look too shabby either. It wasn't long before the frites arrived...Woah! A familiar looking cone of frites, good-sized portion to share, sprinkled with generous amounts of basil and seasoning accompanied by a light green basil-aioli....oooooo. We showed no mercy. Greedy bite after bite slathered in garlicy (and basily) goodness didn't stand a chance. These were serious business that put a couple of Broadripple favs to the test. Look out, Brugge, Canal Bistro, and Boogie, Taste's got your number!

So, naturally this made for some serious anticipation concerning sandwiches and cake. I mean, where do we go from here? Two lovely diagonally sliced french baguettes revealed a little of the glory within. Libby found her first bite of the grinder a real explosion of olive tapenade --a great thing at first, but quickly became a bit overwhelming in the salt department. The meats were of good quality, but the sheer amount of olive overpowered the cheese and even the meat. About half as much would have been a whole lot better.

Fred, on the other hand, made his "O" face of approval. Even though he forgot to nix the onion, he was in utter heaven. Erin was sheer creamy genius. An all veggie sammy, this creation included asparagus, sprout, red onion, provolone, swiss, more of that orgasmic aioli, and dijon dill sauce. The dill sauce and asparagus were really the stars. Creamy, easy, and the asparagus actually gave it the right amount of 'meatiness' with a little bite. *sigh* NEXT!

Ah, yes. The cake. Dessert at lunch. Who would do such a thing? Libby. Every time, given the opportunity. This was better than expected. Better than it even looked if that was possible. The decorative strawberry on top was nice and all, but please! A mere distraction! This cake was somehow light in texture, but carried a flavor punch that sent one reeling. That hint of mocha was beautiful. The icing SWEET and creamy. Dreamy. The perfect ending to a very lovely lunch. Taste can bake too. Damn.

http://www.tastecafeandmarketplace.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$$, You can eat cheap if you want, but why would you?!
Atmosphere****, Beautiful, contemporary decor. No ugly soda fountain to be found. Instead, tasty looking homemade flavored waters. Come get your snob on!
Service**, Friendly & accommodating. But honestly they needed one more person cleaning tables. Can't call it a bus-boy, perhaps a Table Presentation Coordinator?

Overall
Fred- A-, I've never before had such a flavorful vegetarian sandwich. And I can even lie to myself and believe it was good for me! If it weren't for the overpowering tapenade on the grinder, this would have been in A or A+ territory. In my book, those frites are tied with Canal Bistro for 2nd best in Indy. A couple more dipping options and they'd surpass Brugge for the top spot!
Libby-B+, Yes, you can have too much of a good thing -- tapenade . Why are all the good frites in Broadripple? Share the love, people! And the baked goods? Forgetaboutit. Next stop? Brunch for one of those flirtatious egg sandwiches or perhaps truffle frites and aioli from the Aftertaste menu! Bring it.
Ozzy- N/A, Snow makeup day at school. Sorry Oz man. You would have loved the frites!
Estelle- C, Felt a little out of place. Babies are SO last season! Were high-chairs available? On our way out, we found them. Hidden behind the front door. :/

The Tamale Place

2011-04-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

FLOE was headed to lunch before a quick trip to the zoo today, so it sounded like a good time to try out The Tamale Place on the near west side. In a strip mall off of Rockville lies this very modest, clean and easy "dive". Since it's scheduled to be featured on Triple D this May, FLOE had high hopes and were admittedly a little giddy to give it a go.

Upon walking in, we were pleasantly surprised by the eclectic clientele. It's always a good sign to see natives of the cuisine, but this was a true melting pot. We were met at the counter by a very helpful and patient staff member. She explained how to order and approximately how much food would be enough for the 4 of us. Since they call themselves The Tamale Place, FLOE decided to forgo the tacos and nachos (although both looked excellent!) -- today it was all about the tamales.

It should be noted that tamales are not a made-to-order item. Therefore the staff makes a set number of each per day and when they're out, they're out. While it's usually a good idea to peruse the menu ahead of time, don't get your heart set on a particular style before you walk in the door. You are at the mercy of the dry-eraser board.

After a protracted examination of the menu, we chose 3 tamales and 3 sides for the 4 of us. For the tamales we opted for the Chicken Oaxacan Mole, Chipotle Chicken, and Beef with Poblano & cheese. Our sides consisted of slow cooked black beans, homemade chips and salsa & easily the best Mexican rice FLOE has ever tasted.

Since we knew neither kid was going to touch the tamales (although Stella would attempt it not knowing how spicy they might be), we quickly sated each with their favorite. Black beans for the girl & chips for the boy. We're not sure why Stella has such a love for any bean, but she always gobbles them up. In this case, we had to fight her for them as these were not your run of the mill black. We couldn't place the spices used, but the overall affect was delightful. Ozzy attempted the salsa and immediately hit his water glass. Oops. Sorry son. The cilantro hits your tongue first, but the heat came on strong at the end. While mom & dad were enjoying their tamales, Stella accidentally got a chip full of it too, resulting in some serious tears. Double oops! Thankfully this only served to accelerate her black bean intake speed...

As the kids experimented, we took in the tamales. The Chicken Mole tamale was firm yet tender, with a pleasant extra mild mole. We found it made a perfect contrast with the fiery Chipotle Chicken. The chipotle was perhaps a bit dry, but solid overall. While the masa was identical in all three, the real tamale winner was the Beef with Poblano. The meat was tender and juicy; perfect with a hit of the extra hot red salsa.

We had ordered the rice as a backup for both kids but greedily kept it for ourselves after one forkful. Yowsa! Usually a throw-away side at most mexican places, this could have been served on its own! While there was undoubtedly a heavy hand with the oil, the spicing was dead on and there was a meatiness to it that we couldn't quite place. Simply a must-have on every visit.

http://www.thetamaleplace.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$, All four of us ate for under $15. That's what we call Taco Bell cheap!
Atmosphere**, Very clean & well lit, but sparse and a little utilitarian.
Service****, The staff was very patient and helpful even with another couple waiting behind us.

Overall
Fred- A, This place nails it. There are no throw-away sides here. These guys mean business with every dish. I will make sure to try the tacos on my next visit. Now I just have to come up with a reason to be on the west side!
Libby-A+, Certainly the best tamales I've ever had. The best Mexican rice I've ever had. And damned good beans, chips and salsa. Just tell me when the Greenwood location is coming!!
Ozzy- B-, Definitely into the chips and wanted to try the salsa. It was just too hot. Mom & Dad should have been more cognizant of the spice with the little ones and gotten them a milder version. He might have even gone for a cheesy tamale. Oh well. Next time.
Estelle- A, Black beans = win! And the poor girl wanted to like the salsa too. But the palate isn't up to speed yet.

Biscuits Cafe

2011-04-17T17:03:00.001-07:00

Another long weekend nightshift came to an end and Libby was in the mood for breakfast! Something a little spicy, something a little homey. Fred and the kids decided to drive her drowsiness to Biscuits in Broadripple!

Biscuits is probably in one of the best hidden locations in Broadripple. Right off the Monon in a strip mall with at least three other eateries AND behind the new Thr3e Wisemen Brewery, Biscuits has achieved maximum quaintness. You walk in to what feels like a 1950's neighborhood diner with a little hispanic flair. We like.

The menu is straight up hangover heaven! And nightshift heaven, for that matter. Where can you find the usual diner breakfast fav's with lotsa mexican treats---Breakfast burrito with beans and rice, Spicey sausage gravy and biscuits, Breakfast Quesadilla, Breakfast chimichanga??? Hell-o, Nurse! This is what Libby is talking about!!!

Fred decided the breakfast burrito was right up his alley this particular morning. On almost every other morning, Libby would agree, but today she had to sample the spicey biscuits 'n gravy---or rather a duo of the spicy and the original---carb coma coming up! :) Ozzy insisted on some chocolate pancakes and for Stella, per usual, a little of everything. Hot sauce, anyone?! ;)

Service was organized, professional, and speedy...and many. We aren't sure who our actual server was as there was a crew that seemed to be tending our hunger/thirst needs. Again, we like.

Ozzy's pancakes were the giant chocolately goodness he was after. Two hotcakes, covered in chocolate sauce and powdered sugar was the carbotarian breakfast-dessert his little heart desires. Two giant thumbs up!

Fred's Burrito was enormous! Was this breakfast? Oh, yeah it was. Refried beans, mexican rice and the veggie fixins accompanied a larger than life, colorful burrito. Muy bueno. The red sauce went perfectly with the egg and chorizo, but Fred would have liked a bit more flavorful cheese. The refried beans and rice were standard mexican restaurant fare. This would be a great workingman's breakfast to power you through the rest of the day. No one leaves hungry.

Libby anxiously awaited her biscuits and holy cow, what a plate!!! Not only was it HUGE, but the spicy gravy had a very different pink hue to it. Hey, made it very easy to distinguish the spicy from the original. Sadly, the biscuits and gravywere very floury...not in the best way. But honestly, the gravy wasn't too shabby. Not quite up to Grammy's standard (or Zest's), but worth trying. And they certainly hit the spot.

Stella had nothing but good things to jabber. Lots of "mmm's" and "oooo's" followed the refried beans and pancakes, but sadly no love for the b&g.

Wrap Up
Price-$$-Not the cheapest breakfast, but not breaking the bank.
Atmosphere***, It was a diner! How often do you see an actual diner? And in a strip mall, no less.
Service****, The well-oiled machine of service!! No qualms about it, these folks know how to turn tables and do it with a smile.

Overall
Fred- B, If there is such a thing as "standard" mexican-'merican breakfast food, this would be it. Having said that, it was up to standards and I certainly would not complain about a return trip.
Libby-B+, Although they weren't the best b&g I've ever had, they were good. And honestly, I would like to try a lot more on that menu. Is it Sunday morning yet?
Ozzy- A, Ozzy reports the chocolate pancakes were "absolutely" good. 'Nuf said.
Estelle- A, If toddler speak is louder than actual words, Stella was a happy camper.

Garuda

2011-03-26T22:31:00.001-07:00

Ever had Indonesian cuisine before? FLOE neither...until Garuda! The new SoBro Indonesian Restaurant off of College and 52nd is tucked behind Taste and is very muted in its outward appearance. We had no idea what to expect. Once inside, some minimalist decor showcased a small dining area open to the very busy kitchen.

The hostess was a bit awkward(not sure what to do, more nervous than accommodating), but we'll chalk it up to being only open about one month at the time. Our server was very polite, but again, awkward. We were glad to see a small menu---makes it a little easier to pick new things.

We noticed a lot of satay(skewered meats), some curry, and rice and noodle dishes with island flair. We decided to start with Lumpia, Garuda's Indonesian spring rolls. Fred had to have the Kare Opur(Indonesian Curry) with chicken and Libby the Beef Randang. Ozzy opted for a side of rice and Stella would sample from the lot.

Beverage orders were never requested, but we were brought water to drink. Hm. The menu also stated we could specify how spicy we would like our dishes and that never happened either.

The Lumpia came out pretty quickly and was just delightful! Visually very familiar, there was something different. The fried outside was thick like a chinese egg roll and had a hidden sweetness, while the inside had some curried tofu and mixed veggies that were more reminiscent of a spring roll. It was fried perfectly, nice and crunchy outside with a warm, tender inside. The pineapple chili sauce on the side was a great touch. Even Stella approved!

Entrees took a little longer, even though there were only two seated tables in the whole place and an army of folks in the back. Finally, they arrived and they were beautiful! And in appropriate proportions. Not the mega-size so many of us have become so accustomed to.

Fred's Kare Opur was so aromatic! It was quite mild with incredibly well blended spices--- the flavors had melded in the pot. It was familiar yet different in it's subtlety. Definitely a dish worth coming back for!

Libby's Beef Randang was actually the Beef Satay dinner. This was suspected, but not confirmed until after dinner when a quick look at the online menu checked out. Rather than a slow-roasted meat in coconut milk and indonesian spices, it was skewered beef with a side of rice and acar(a vegetable salad with cucumbers, pineapples and carrots marinated in a ginger-shallot lime sauce garnished with cilantro). One bite was all it took to see the value in these simple plates. Tender, flavorful, and so tasty it made Libby regret her earlier thoughts that less is more! More! More! The rice on the side and the acar worked better together than on their own. The yellow rice was again very mild in flavor---the acid from the veg was necessary. So, even though there was a bit of ordering confusion, Libby was very pleased with her surprise dish.

Finally, we had to try the Pisang Goreng--- more well known as fried plantains. Yummy. This version had coconut and rice-flour battered plantains, fried and sprinkled with coconut over a nutella and caramel sauce topped with coconut ice cream. This flavor combo was truly pleasing and the perfect sweet ending to a most satisfying dinner. Again, subtlety was the art of this dish. Lightly battered, lightly sweetened and even the coconut ice cream was more milky that sweet. One suggestion we would have is to have thinner slices. Plantains are naturally a bit bitter and the thicker slices caused the bitter plantain to compete with the already light sweetness. Otherwise, it was just de-lite-ful!

http://www.garudadine.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$$-Well priced for delicate, international cuisine.
Atmosphere**, Nothing exciting, but we're expecting it to flesh out over time. We did quite enjoy being able to view all of the chaos in the back!
Service*,- Very polite but GREEN. These guys need more experienced help to pay attention to detail and be on top of customer needs. There was a hostess, two servers, and what appeared to be two owners around, not to mention 4-5 chefs in the back. If they are struggling with only two tables filled, we cringe to think what a busy night would be like!

Overall
Fred- B-, I'd give the food more of an A-, very good. But the service was so poor, it weighed down the overall experience. I would like to go back to see if it's improved. If not, then that would be a huge red flag.
Libby-B+, Wonderful food, but the service was just bad. The kind of service where you know they are trying and can't seem to get it right. There's nothing worse than feeling sorry for your servers when the chefs are doing their part in the kitchen.
Ozzy- C+, Ozzy was not too impressed with his yellow rice, but he ate it and very much enjoyed the plantain sauce, rather than the plantain itself.
Estelle- B, Stella sampled from everything and preferred the acar, the curry, and the rice. The meat may have been too difficult for her to chew, but she seemed content overall.

Three Sisters Cafe

2011-03-23T17:55:00.000-07:00

On our short list, Three Sister's Cafe made the cut a couple of weeks ago when Libby had a rare Saturday night off. A roadtrip for breakfast Sunday morning was on the agenda! FLOE was well aware that one of our food-porn heroes, Guy Fieri, had sampled some eats and we couldn't wait to try it our for ourselves!

Located in the heart of Broadripple, Three Sister's is situated in an old house with all the antiquated charms---creaky wooden floors, large windows, small rooms and quaint architectural details. We didn't realize it at the time, but we were super lucky to be seated immediately. Within 20 minutes, the line was out the door.

One very fun and friendly type of seating they do for small groups is "family" seating. If there is one large table, you could get seated with other guests...some may scoff at this, but we found it kinda cool. Could be good to meet some new people. :)

With a newly printed menu after triple D's visit, Libby decided to sample one of the show's featured items, the raspberry corn cakes with lemon curd. Fred had to try the omelet with calico potatoes. Ozzy requested the bear banana pancakes and Stella indulged in her own entree as well, the french toast. And can we just say, their coffee was FABULOUS. Nice and bold, not for the Folgers crowd.

After a fairly lengthy wait, the beautiful plates arrived! We were more than a little excited. Libby, being the lucky tester of the corncakes, was completely satisfied with her choice. The corncakes were bursting with raspberries...but let's not mince words---it's all about that lemon curd. OMG, this was pure lemon heaven. Breakfast? This was a straight up dessert! Beautifully simple and totally indulgent. Fantastic! A must have from now on, whenever we get back.

Fred's a 5-ingredient omelet with a side of calico potatoes and an order of sourdough toast really hit the tastebuds front & center. The mixture of exotic mushrooms, kalamata olives, brie, spinach and basil was to die for. Creamy, briney, mushroomy goodness with enough green stuff to make you almost feel like it's healthy. Of course any mistaken notion of that went out the window with the pound of melted butter on the very sour sourdough. Not that Fred was complaining!

Unfortunately the calico potatoes may actually have been healthy. They certainly tasted like it. We wanted to like this mixture of white & sweet potato hash browns. They had some spice to them, but they just tasted. . . . healthy. Perhaps it was just a lack of salt, but there just wasn't the depth of flavor that we were expecting. Sadly, they looked a lot better than they tasted.

The kids were not on the same page with their meals. Ozzy was a little disappointed with the banana-i-ness of his choice. Apparently, he didn't connect the whole banana-in-a-pancake concept and said he would prefer them sans bananas. There was still plenty that he would like there, but this was not his dish. Stella, on the other hand, was happily munching away on her french toast and had little to complain about during our entire stay. She was in a good place.

Wrap Up
Price-$-$$,- Comparable to any chain breakfast place. But this sure ain't Bob Evans!!
Atmosphere***, You could feel the love. It was Grandma's house with a little Broadripple flair.
Service***,- The wait for the food made it seem like something had happened in the kitchen, but the server was very attentive throughout.

Overall
Fred- A-, Now I'm on my 3rd killer breakfast spot in Indy. Between Zest, Hoaglin To Go and 3 Sisters, who can decide where to go?!? I'll give you a hint -- it won't be Denny's. A little more salt on the calico potatoes during cooking would have pushed it into A territory.
Libby-A+, If I were in a hurry, this rating might be different. But the fact is the coffee was delicious and my corn cake with lemon curd was "City Hall in Flavortown".
Ozzy- C+, While he was having problems with both the wait and his chosen meal, Three Sisters had plenty of other options and the atmosphere was very conducive to a loud 6 year old.
Estelle- B+, She had the best seat in the house for people watching and her french toast was more than deserving of the adult menu.

New Bethel Ordinary

2011-03-02T19:01:00.000-08:00

Having heard that one of the best pizza's in town was actually not in town, we drove out to Wanamaker to visit the New Bethel Ordinary (NBO). Upon entering and seeing the scorched wooden tables and an incredibly small town vibe, we immediately felt at home. There's no pretense here.

The NBO could be found in any small town in the midwest complete with 1950's style plastic letter wall special advertisements to an original antiquated main street building to a bit of confusion around import beers. With no set beer menu, our waitress was unable to provide us with a full listing of their beers. When we decided on a Guiness, she offered a frosty mug, we declined, she then just brought the cans...?

We perused the menu, knowing we were getting a pie, to see if an appy was appealing. Since we were worried that Stella really is not a pizza person yet, we thought we would maximize our chances with an appy sampler---the fried onion rings, fried cauliflower, and fried cheese sticks. The pie we chose? We decided to go ultra simple since the ingredient list wasn't blowing our skirts up---half cheese(for Ozzy) and half pepperoni. Simple should suffice, right?

The sampler came out quickly, and looked like it came straight from the bag---maybe the onion rings were done in house, but there is NO WAY the cheese sticks or cauliflower were made within 500 miles of the place. Not really very good. Stella tried some of everything and Fred was so happy to see she is not an onion person either. ;) Ozzy made a valiant attempt at a cheese stick, but as it got gooey, he vetoed the effort. Fred and Libby quite enjoyed the cauliflower, but all in all, it was a bust.

At this point, other diners started rolling in and it was obvious, pizza was the star of the menu. This was both heartening and foreboding in that everyone was ordering 4-7 toppings...did we mess this up? Well, showtime, here came the pie...TONS of cheese! Ozzy looked a little apprehensive. A nice touch, the demarcation made with a green herb and was a great concept-- something we would like to see on other pies. It was obvious where one side stopped and the other began.

Unfortunately, the great first impression soon fell incredibly flat. The mounds of cheese that were so obvious at first glance were in fact, straight mozorella on a not so exciting sauce and an overwhelmed, underdone crust. One side sitting in a pool of unappetising pepperoni grease. You can't pick up this pizza, a hand-tossed...you must use the knife and fork.

We soon found that where most places would put a single pepperoni, the NBO stacked three or four. This was obviously done in an attempt to provide abundant toppings, but doesn't work well with buried pepperoni. As other pies started coming out with mounds of toppings on them, we recognized our fatal flaw...NBO doesn't do simple. But what pizza place can't make a pepperoni pizza?!?!?!?!

Only a couple of weeks ago we had outstanding cheese pizza at Thr3e Wise Men...is it really so hard?

Really? Fred and Libby immediately went into a diatribe of how they were pretty sure that that one time they were weak and tried a Sam's Club Pepperoni pizza, that it was better than this! How is that possible? A pound of mozzerella does not a good pizza make! How can the crust cook right with a layer of insulation on top? Why didn't we order 5, 6, 7 toppings?! *sigh*

Having only eaten one to one 1/2 slices each, we decided that it simply was not worth ingesting anymore. We left, not satisfying our hunger, but still feeling that there was a ball of mozzerlla stuck in our gullets. Both of us fantasized of purging roman style and going to get, perhaps, some Brozzini's. Ozzy on the other hand, could not be disuaded of his "pretty good" rating. And Stella, while she didn't really eat much, certainly enjoyed her experience and was welcomed warmly by staff and the other customers.

This brings us to the final tally, where Fred had some serious sticker shock. $44, before a good tip, as the service was fine for a 16 inch pizza, a mediocre fried appy, and two (not exotic!) beers. Huh?! An example...last night at Oaken Barrel---which is arguably very inexpensive and amazing for the price--two dinner entrees, a kids entree, a dessert, and 5 WAY better beers came to a grand total of $36. Explain that to us!

In our diner's remorse, we dialed a friend who loved the place. He explained, it's about the massive number of multiple toppings. So, a word to the wise...don't do it. Don't try to be simple, get the mother load and maybe it's a whole new ball game. But as far as FLOE is concerned, we won't be trecking to Wanamaker to give it another chance.

http://www.nbopizza.net/

Wrap Up
Price-$$-$$$,- Apparently, Guiness charges a shit ton to go to Wanamaker. There was a special to get a 16 inch and a bucket o' domestic for $30...yet somehow two Guiness and an appy added up to almost $45? Oy.
Atmosphere**, Small town, comfortable, homey, in a historic-ly ancient building in town.
Service***,- Other than a little beer-snobbery on our part, the service was fine. :)

Overall
Fred- F, I understand it's a toppings place, but what pizza place can't do a pepperoni pizza?! And if you're a toppings place, then you need to up the ante on the toppings---nothing extraordinary or interesting here .
Libby-D-, I have never only eaten one piece of pizza in my LIFE! This was not good. It was depressing that so much cheese was going to see the dumpster. The only saving grace for me was the fried cauliflower--don't know if it was from the bag or not, but it was all I had...it was all I had.
Ozzy- B, The boy took every ounce of cheese off but ate up his crust. He insisted it was "pretty good." Alright son, whatever you say.
Estelle- B, Content to snack and soak it all in.

Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Company

2011-02-20T11:49:00.000-08:00

For months now, we knew that a new brewery was surfacing in Broadripple and were excited to find they had opened in January. Almost a month ago, we planned to go on Fred's birthday, but some mean, nasty virus had other plans. Last weekend was our moment and the melting snow and glaring sunshine made us thirsty for one thing. A good brew!

Across Broadripple avenue from the McDonald's, Thr3e Wise Men has an excellent location...gooood parking (for Broadripple, at least). As soon as you enter, Scotty's marketing know-how is apparent. Not only is there great merchandising between t-shirts, growlers, very professional advertising, and a knock-out view of the heart and soul of the brewing process, but the techie factor is almost a bit much. Even the picnic table seating went above and beyond with seat padding, smooth table surfacing, and the greatest high chair ever...a table-top latch on that really allowed Stella to be at table height. Yay! Since the dining area is a bit small, they made up for lost space by placing 4-tops like us at the same table as another couple. Smart. We've always thought it was strange that more places don't do this. What's the worst that can happen? You speak to a stranger?!?

There are at least 7 hanging flat screens in the very open dining area, each table has an i-pad and even the bathroom stalls have tv's?! Naturally the faucet and soap dispenser were automatic, but even the hand dryer was some sort of high-tech freakiness. We couldn't figure out what we were supposed to do with the i-pad(only could see a map and they'd blocked the home button) and the toilet tv wasn't getting a signal, but when it's all humming...

Anyhow, let's talk chow! Although it may not be obvious from the fact that the name on the sign says "Brewery", this is a pizza place. Yes, there are appetizers, salads, and a few desserts, but the main course is pizza. This made Ozzy a happy camper.

But first, what to drink? Why a sampler of course! Unfortunately, they only offered three of their eight brews in each sampler, so Fred and Libby just had to get their own...shucks. Since neither of us are hop-heads, we stayed away from the single & double IPAs. We were excited by the color & milkiness of their Blackberry Wheat, but as with most fruit beers, the flavor just didn't come through. Pity. Both of us decided that the Blonde was the choice of the night for our second round. We found none of the beers to be extraordinary, just simple easy drinking beers that would all go well with pizza. If you're really looking for a knock-out pint, there are better breweries in town (heck, there are three of them within walking distance!), but in this case, the beer does what it's intended to do, wash down a pie.

We started with the Goat Cheese and Wise Men Marinara. Can you really go wrong with this most delicious combo? No. The only negative we can say is that the pizza crust chips they gave for dipping had some fairly burned up pieces -- the sauce was good, the cheese premium quality and the cooked pizza crust idea, not bad!

For the entree, we decided to go with two pizzas. A small plain cheese to appease Ozzy and a garlic, spinach, and basil for the rest of us. Normally, thin crust is not our preference, but this was very impressive. The sauce was outstanding! The cheeses somehow different in a really good way (parmesan melted in maybe?) and the ingredients great quality. I think we were all pretty shocked by how much we liked it. Ozzy's comments of "Fantastic!" and "This is the best pizza ever!" spoke volumes. This coming from a kid whose normal praise for a meal is "pretty good." Stella was shoveling as fast as she could....well, so were mom and dad. Next time we'll go for a meat topping, but the spinach, basil, garlic mix was perfect to show off that awesome sauce.

For dessert there are three options: elephant ear, brew-homemade carrot cake, and brew-homemade german chocolate cake. Fred expressed no interest in dessert(too full), but the rest of the family was feeling chocolate! Shaped like a small bundt cake and covered in crushed toffee bar, this was a hit. Very rich and in Libby's opinion, was screaming for a good coffee---should've gotten some Hubbared & Cravens! Next time. Ozzy and Stella were equally enthusiastic. The elephant ear looked really popular and pretty tasty. And knowing Fred's love for carrot cake, next time he's in the mood, he'll be sampling.

http://thr3ewisemen.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$-$$,- Large pizza & a growler for $20?! Sounds like a deal to us.
Atmosphere***,- Reminiscent of Scotty's other establishments. Loved the padded picnic tables.
Service***,- Plenty of staff, but we're not so sure the electronic ordering system was really helping much. Our waitress had to step away from our table to punch everything into a gadget strapped to her hip. It took at about 2 minutes for her to enter the order. By that time she could have easily written it down and walked it to the kitchen.

Overall
Fred- B+, Very good pizza, but there's so much better beer in Broadripple... Maybe if they'd called themselves Thr3e Wise Men Pizza Co I would have had lower expectations... But all in all, it's a good deal and I'd definitely go back.
Libby-B+, I had a great time just soaking it all in---beer and atmosphere. I was really happy to see they use as many local ingredients as they can--thank you, Thr3e Wise Men! Next time, we'll have to try a meat pizza and hopefully they will have the amber available since so many seem to enjoy it.
Ozzy- A+, We've never heard such high praise from our boy!
Estelle- A+, Awesome high chair and she loved every bite.

Ichiban Sushi Bar & Sammy's Asian Cuisine

2011-02-15T19:59:00.000-08:00

We're back in the saddle after more than a month of post-holiday quarantine! Weather and illness woes be gone! Oddly, we were in the mood for sushi. With Ozzy's lunch finickiness the school's problem today, we decided to see what has been going on at Ichiban.

Being very familiar with Ichiban for the past several years, we noticed something different a few months back. Not only a much longer name, but more than twice the space! The entry alone made it clear this place had gone from neighborhood (charming) hole in the wall to new southside dining hotspot! Just beautiful! Somebody dropped a dime and kept it classy for a strip mall locale.

It's about 4 times the size of the old place with a private dining room, a second bar and a lot of intimate dining space for such an open feel.The menu has changed a bit adding a few more pan-asian dishes, but we chose to ignore this and eat what we came for---the best sushi on the southside.

Crazy Roll sans tail ends...forgot to photograph before diving in!

So accustomed to grabbing a sushi order ticket, we were happy to see a few lunch roll combos available that would more than satisfy our appetites---including a small third diner who would sample from everyone. All sushi combos come with miso soup and a small salad with house asian ginger dressing. Knowing what we wanted, we couldn't stop with just the combo. We had to add the true guilty sushi pleasure---the crazy roll...to share. :)

As yummy as it is gorgeous!

Service was as expected---fast, professional and accommodating. Our salads and soups came out quickly and something was pleasantly different about the dressing. Not that it was at all bad before, but a small amount of yummy liquid sat at the bottom of the bowl and really kicked it up a notch...Stella agreed! Seeing her eat salad is a real treat after the long standing protests from Ozzy.

We did end up getting Stella one of the kids meals as we weren't sure how she would respond to sushi. We were happily surprised she sampled a bit of everything with great zest! Her favorites were the sticky rice, orange pieces, and salad. She wanted to like the shrimp, but the texture was too challenging for her to master without far too much of a choking hazard.

The sushi was fast and especially pleasing to the eye as you can see. If you haven't experienced the crazy roll...it really shouldn't qualify as sushi. But it is such a delightful fried treat wrapped in a sushi package---basically a tempura roll with extra crab meat and some killer sauces to boot! There's no denying this is a creation for the western palate.

We also went with two eels rolls, a tuna roll, and a shrimp tempura(as if there wasn't enough fried goodness from the crazy roll). All fantastic! Fred proclaimed being weak in the knees, while Libby silently stared off into space.
We were so glad to get out and get some really good food after such a long time.

http://www.ichiban31.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$-$$$,- Half priced Monday's still available, but for sushi, you can't complain about the price.
Atmosphere****,-Absolutely beautiful!!! Well designed and no spared expense.
Service***,-Same good service we have always experienced.

Overall
Fred- A+ , The best sushi I've had outside the coasts! With an atmosphere like that, it makes me proud to finally say there is a classy, high-end restaurant on the south side.
Libby- A+, Just what the doctor ordered. A perfectly prepared meal in a quiet, intimate atmosphere that made us feel like we were going out, rather than just grabbing some lunch.
Ozzy- school lunch today.
Estelle- A+, Stella was not out of place in the least and seemed to appreciate everything she ate. One happy baby!

Red Lion Grog House--take 2!

2010-12-26T19:19:00.000-08:00

FLOE has decided after the last review, that some places should get another look after that fresh, awkward opening phase. So, with the winter chill in the air and the Colts win confirmed, we decided to head out to a family pub, The Red Lion Grog House. It was about 9 months ago we first ventured to the very "green" Red Lion. So, green if fact they didn't even have their "grog" license. Not cool. But now, liquor license acquired, Red Lion has a pretty impressive beer selection on hand and has accomplished the lived in, comfy neighborhood pub feel.

Our most entertaining waitress brought Libby a Sun King Cream Ale, and Fred, a Strongbow Cider. Yum. The kids were going with water today--no milk in da house. No biggie. We were here to see how the dishes were holding up! So, to start, the Toad in the Hole sounded like a good way to begin the evening in an English pub!

While waiting we soaked in the warm setting--a long, galley-shaped dining area, multiple flat screens aglow, and that lovely sound coming from over the kitchen wall---deep frying! Crackling, bubbling, somehow so comforting to hear that happy dance!

Our appy arrived quickly and as it was our first toad in the hole, we had no idea what to expect. A small chunk of sausage lay in a circular disk or nest of some phyllo-like dough, three in total resting on a bed of brown gravy. The sausage was different, a nice (not hot) spice to it---sage, thyme? The breading was a bit dry so the dish definitely needed the brown gravy that was very seasoned(a bit salty) and quite good. Aioli garnished the dish and was a good addition.

Fred decided the Chicken Piccata sandwich with chips was the way to go while Libby went with some more of that lovely sausage in the Blanket Bangers with chips and a side of aioli. All chips (remember folks, these are fries) orders come with a side of sauce...we went with one of the hot curry and one of the mild curry. Ozzy ordered the grilled cheese with bacon (on the side) with chips to share with Stella. Such a thoughtful young lad.

The Blanket Bangers(awesome name) were quite nice. The dish came with three wrapped sausages. The aioli was a must and the mild curry was Libby's favorite! Not healthy in the least, but damn yummy. The fries were a good cut, brown, but definitley more laden by the frying than crisp and lightened. Not complaining, just an observation.

Fred's Chicken Piccata Sandwich was a first of its kind for him. While he always loves piccata, the concept of a sandwich is the sort of unexpected twist that makes Fred love food so much! How was it? Interesting and flavorful, but the novelty wore off after 4 or 5 bites. All in all, it was a half decent sandwich, but really nothing to write home about. The real hit was the chips in the mild curry sauce. It was wonderful going between the hot and mild curry. Normally, Fred goes for the hotter stuff, but this time the mild was where it was at! The chips and curry sauces are available as an appy...and if you don't get them as a side as your meal, you should seriously consider ordering the appy.

Ozzy gobbled down the grilled cheese, even though it was cheddar instead of his beloved American. Stella concurred and they happily munched away between bits of chips and cheesy goodness. Ozzy even ventured into the mild curry and went back for seconds!!! Stella will, of course, dip into anything. :)

http://www.redliongroghouse.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$$,- A bit on the pricey side, but good beer comes with a price we are usually willing to pay.
Atmosphere***,-Welcoming and cozy for a neighborhood pub. Definitely would be a great place to watch the game.
Service****,-Great service with personality and personability!

Overall
Fred- B+ ,While English pub food is never going to win any Michelin stars no matter who is in the kitchen, everything was well-prepared and thoroughly enjoyable.
Libby- A, Totally appreciate good pub grub--especially sausage, chips and sauce! Beer was really good and as always, I sooo appreciate it when I can go to a pub with the kids!
Ozzy- A, Happy boy and quietly munching!
Estelle- A, Dipped and enjoyed her meal.

Teddy's Burger Joint

2010-12-12T11:16:00.000-08:00

FLOE was psyched to see another home-grown startup on the south side of Indy. We hurried over to Teddy's Burger Joint for a quick bite on a weekday night. At the corner of State Road 37 and Southport, we thought it'd be a snap to find. We easily found Teddy's sign, but the restaurant itself wasn't so easy. For a strip mall, this was about the worst spot you could get for visibility. Teddy's is located in the back corner, behind a Steak & Shake. It's not really visible from the road. Location choice? Not so good.

Appointed with diamond plate and (nicely done) homemade tables, Teddy's decor seems like a cross between a garage & a finished basement. They've added a stage in the corner for live entertainment, a playroom in back for the kids and a fireplace in the middle of the open dining room. Several large flat-screens are positioned around the room ready for the sport du jour.

Being an order-at-the-counter type of place, we had to stop for a minute to take in the menu. Teddy's sports an impressive microbrew selection on tap, but we decided against it tonight. We were a little taken aback that the only size burger they offer is a 1/2 pound monster. Smaller size options would be nice, considering the price. Even for husky mom & dad, a 1/2 lb burger is a bit much. They come in Angus by default, but it can be substituted with a bison, turkey or veggie burger. As Teddy's is shooting for the gourmet burger angle, we stuck with the red meat, except for our resident carbitarian.

Libby opted for the Cajun burger on a wheat bun with a side of cheese fries and a draft root beer. Fred can never pass up a chance to order bison, this time on wheat with a fried egg and one of Teddy's 5 specialty mayos, horseradish! He also threw in a side of cheese fries for good measure. We were surprised that a specialty 'burger joint' didn't ask how we would like them prepared, but decided they must know what they're doing.

First impression of the food? Mammoth slabs of meat on burnt buns along side straight-from-a-bag fries (seasoned at least) and a cup of pre-packaged nacho cheese. Seriously? For the prices they're charging, those buns should never have left the kitchen. We thought this was supposed to be a specialty place....

Fred's bison was a little over-done and dry. The egg fried within an inch of it's life. The whole sandwich would have been a complete disaster but was saved by the horseradish mayo. Now THAT'S the kind stuff that will put a place on the map. Crazy-good mixed with a little ketchup for the heavily seasoned fries too. Speaking of fries, the nacho cheese was surprisingly good -- nice and zesty.

Libby's Cajun burger arrived with the same, obvious burned circle on the bun (as seen above). It was nicely dressed with grilled onion, green pepper & cheese. The first bite revealed a pleasant seasoning, but she didn't find anything particularly Cajun about the burger. It was a little overcooked to her taste. The fries dipped in the nacho cheese sauce was surprisingly good for something that looked like it came out of a can. The root beer was root beer. It was sweet and hefty on the price @ $2.99 a glass. That's more than half way to a real beer.

Ozzy really enjoyed his extra healthy meal of kraft mac & cheese also with a side of fries & chocolate milk. Oh! He did have some fruit with it! (ketchup) *sigh* He took a quick trip to the chalkboard-lined playroom but got bored without any other children to play with. This is a good idea.

Stella absolutely loved dipping the fries. She had no interest in bites of the cajun burger, but had a bit of the bison. Again, the nacho cheese was the star.

Given that condiments seemed to be a real strong point and can have such an effect on a meal, Teddy's staff need to actively promote it. The person behind the counter should have been putting their best foot forward by promoting their specialty mayos and nacho cheese. A format that requires standing in line and staring at a huge menu on the wall requires the staff to help lead the customer. When you charge as much as you do for a gourmet burger, your staff has got to steer people in the right direction. You need to ask "how would you like that cooked". Libby didn't even notice that the specialty mayos existed on the menu...

http://teddysburgerjoint.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$$,- Hefty for burgers and fries---were they actually gourmet burgers, this would not have been an issue.
Atmosphere**,- A good start. We liked the homemade tables, but nothing said "stop, watch the game and have a few beers." A pity, with this outstanding beer menu.
Service*,- Order at the counter than they bring the food to your table. No enthusiasm for their own food.

Overall
Fred- D, This is just bad execution. Overcooked meat and burnt buns. The mayo was good as were the cheese fries. But when you're supposed to be a gourmet burger place, that's not exactly high praise. When I compare it to other burger places around like Boogie Burger or Brickhouse burgers, it just doesn't compare. There was just a lack of caring in both burgers. They were both dry, uninspired and on burnt buns. An incredible disappointment.
Libby- C-, I can appreciate a good beer selection, especially in a homegrown establishment. But you still have to woo me with good service, reasonable prices and high quality preparation. I found the prices to be too high. It's ridiculous that the only option is half a pound of meat! There were some high notes with the nacho cheese sauce & Fred's mayo, but everything else was just "meh". I can get a huge sandwich prepared exquisitely with attention to detail and preparation, standing in line looking at a wall menu at Shapiro's and feel like I got a good deal paying $12 (with no sides). It's not the price, it's the price for what you get.
Ozzy- B+, Ozzy really liked the play room and certainly didn't have a problem with the food. He gobbled up his meal completely.
Stella- B+, She was content through the meal dipping her fries in nacho cheese sauce and then sucking it off!

Black Swan Brewpub

2010-11-20T12:57:00.000-08:00

Nothing is going to wet FLOE's appetite more than a new brewpub in town! When we heard of the Black Swan Brewpub's opening, we had to head west to Plainfield to check it out. Having just opened a little over a month ago (10/10/10), BSB is still a little wet behind the ears. But with a serious chef in the kitchen and the upcoming brewery taking shape, this place could be a serious force in the Indy foodie scene.

We were a little sad to see it was located in a strip mall, but once inside, you'd never really know it. Rich, dark woods, a black tin ceiling, and local art displays gave a less conventional feel to the place. It scored some cozy points with low lighting, comfortable seating, and an overall relaxed atmosphere.

Even without their brewery up and running, the Black Swan offers 16 outstanding beers on tap. Budweiser fans will be sorely disappointed as there is not a single macro-brew available. Yes! Since we couldn't decide on just one, we shared a 10 beer sampler. *sigh* :)

We started with a duo of appetizers -- an order of frites and the Brewpub Stuffed Peppers. The frites come with your choice of toss and dip. As these were for the kids as well, we chose the salt & pepper toss and the beer cheese dip. The frites were light and crispy. Nice. The cheese was more of a fondue than a crock full of cheese. Stella certainly approved. We were hard pressed to keep her fingers out of it.

The second appetizer consisted of sweet, roasted peppadew peppers stuffed with chorizo and served on a bed of creamy goat cheese. Yowsa! Tiny mouthfuls of bliss! A light spice from the chorizo combined with a slight tang from the goat cheese simply left you wanting another. Too bad they only serve 5 of them! Actually, there couldn't be enough of those little happy bites.

Since it was slow, the chef, Nick Carter, came by and introduced himself. Nick discussed how they use as much local ingredients as possible...yay! Fred, being a homebrewer, was psyched to discuss the future brewing plans and was even happier to be given a personal tour of the brew-room to be. Nice touch. Thanks, Nick! :)

Fred had decided to try the Roasted Portabella Sandwich and Libby, the Braised Lamb Shank. Ozzy went with the usual. Our waiter was careful to mention that the Roasted Portabella was a cold sandwich...good to know.

Fred's sandwich was indeed, chilled, and he was thankful that the waiter had warned him ahead of time. While it was very odd at first, the flavors worked wonderfully and the combination of veggies made for a well-balanced meatless treat! Accompanied by a side of frites, this time Fred chose the Truffle Oil and Parmesan toss with the Kalamata aioli. The toss was light and went perfectly with the sandwich, but wow! that Kalamata aioli would make an old shoe taste good...it went on a little bit of everything!

Libby, eagerly anticipating her lamb, was slightly dissappointed. Not so much by the lamb itself, but by the bland gravy accompanied by the uninspiring roasted veggies. There is nothing worse than the urge to get a salt shaker out. The meat was good, some tougher bits, but the flavor was there. This called for a seasoning intervention. To experiment, we dipped a bit of the lamb in the Kalamata aioli and pop! a noticeable improvement. A sauce can make or break a dish and this brown gravy was a disservice to the whole plate.

Ozzy was unimpressed with his mac 'n cheese, but couldn't get enough of the well prepared frites. Not much of a stretch, we know, but the cheesy cream sauce wasn't doing it for him. Stella couldn't agree more about the frites, but also enjoyed some of the roasted veggies and lamb.

We had to do the deed and try a dessert. A mere trifle; bourbon pound cake, cinnamon pastry cream, apple compote, and fresh whipped cream won the vote. Yeah, basically a deconstructed bread pudding, as most good chefs feel comfortable with, but this was a nice variation. The poundcake was cold, so it held it's shape and had some texture while the compote and creams gave it some real richness. All parties present approved!

Bottom line, there was room for improvement, but our overall impression is...we're going back! Appy's kicked butt, and entrees and dessert were good, but we have to try the ambitious brew line-up when the time comes. Oh! And there is wonderful thing on the menu called a Brewpub porterhouse that is actually a pork porterhouse...yes, next time little piggy.

http://www.blackswanbrewpub.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$$-$$$$,- Can be pricey, but a nice varied menu allows you to splurge if you have the desire.
Atmosphere***,-A good start, but needs to be worn in a little more.
Service****,- Probably a slow day, but wow, what a first impression! Nothing beats the Chef's direct attention and our server was informative and very professional.

Overall
Fred- A-, Love the idea of this place!! But is the west side really ready for it? Awesome apps, and I'd love to try 3/4's of the menu! For a bud light and cheeseburger side of town, I worry this place is a hard sell.
Libby-B, Except for the blah gravy, everything was tasty. When spending $20 on an entree, expectations run high. Next time I WILL be having the pork porterhouse! Beer selection rocks and is only going to get better once the brewery opens. And thank you, Black Swan, for doing your part to support locally sourced ingredients.
Ozzy- B, Didn't approve of the mac, but couldn't get enough of the frites. Dug on the dessert as well.
Stella- A, She ate everything and was especially fond of the roasted zucchini that mommy snubbed. ;) She also performed her staff-charming duties admirably.

Mesh on Mass Avenue

2010-10-26T19:49:00.000-07:00

Mesh on Mass is a new hotspot in the old “SI” locale. FLOE decided to check it out after reading several positive reviews and we were curious to see what it had to offer to the hip Mass Ave scene. To be on the safe side, we called ahead to check if children were welcome and we were delighted to hear that yes, there were accommodations!

Once we entered, we began to wonder if it was in fact comfortable for “flip flops or a tuxedo” as the webpage claimed, and yeah, for the most part, we think so. Fred in an old t-shirt and khaki's and Libby in her scrubs felt slightly under dressed on a Saturday evening, but otherwise, yes. They really improved the interior from the bizarre Scholars Inn decor. From memory, there had been an overwhelmingly tacky red and black motif. Now, rich, warm earthtones, contemporary wall hangings and comfortable seating set the right mood for dining. It is a real treat to go to such an adult environment in a trendy part of town that welcomes families and doesn't make you feel like you're ruining the experience for someone else. *sigh*

The menu is concise but offers a nice variety of options. We also noticed that Mesh is associated with Stone Creek. Our waiter, Joseph, clarified that it was the same owner. We had grown suspicious after seeing the familiar sauce for dipping the warm fresh baked bread. Yum.

An appy sounded good, so after checking with the waiter that it wouldn't be too spice for Stella, it was the short rib epanadas with honey chipotle and red cabbage slaw. It was passible. No real punch of flavor, but solid. Maybe the slaw could have used a bit more zing? Still, start that left us ready to be wowed by the main course.

After seeing lamb chops bordelaise with carmelized brussel sprouts and chive creme fraiche, we knew one of us was getting that! Since Libby was feeling a steak, the Steak Frites(pepper crusted sirloin, herb butter, fries and citris pepper mayo) would fit the bill. Ozzy was feeling adventurous...not. Mac and cheese with... the fruit bowl on the side(!). Fruit's good! Stella would be sampling whatever she wouldn't choke on.

Fred was a lucky man. The lamb was cooked perfectly. A medium rare, yet the fat had no firmness and melted easily with each bite. The bordelaise with caramelized brussel sprouts was ridiculous! The absolute highlight of the meal! If you want to learn to love brussel sprouts, this is gonna do it. It's very rare that a vegetable side dish is the center point of an entire dinner experience. Yet we would have dined on these sprouts alone. Fred was struggling with whether to pick up the lamb chops and suck on the bones...with Libby's encouragement, he delicately indulged.

The steak was ordered medium rare and came out pre-sliced, which Libby was happy to see. Stella had decided the high chair wasn't going to work for her so Mommy's lap it was -- making the use of a knife impossible. The steak was good. Usually, medium rare does steak the best justice, but in this case, the medium well edges had the more tender texture. All in all a well prepared steak. The large portion of fries had a lovely light crisp outside that the chef had somehow gotten parmesan cheese crumbles to stick to. They then added parsley, some good seasoning and a touch of bacon...yum! Oh, and the citris pepper mayo was nice too. Stella dipped everything in it...even some cantaloupe. That one, not so good. ;)

Ozzy finished his very krafty looking mac n cheese and actually enjoyed the cantaloupe in his fruit bowl. Who doesn't love to see their kid eat something healthy once in awhile?! Stella was a big fan of the bread, strawberries, fries, the dipping sauce, and some of the empanada. She was a happy girl and quite pleased with gazing out the large window by our table.

Libby had to try a dessert, so tonight the bread pudding with white chocolate, cherries, bourbon whiskey sauce and vanilla haagen dazs was the pick. Not usually a huge bread pudding fan, this one was nice. Moist, a little depth of flavor and definitely warmed the tum-tum. Stella enjoyed her sample as did the boy. Daddy could take it or leave it, preferring his glass of port instead. Ozzy jealously guarded his vanilla ice cream, refusing to share with mommy or daddy. But in a touching move, had no issues with giving the lil' one several bites.

http://www.meshonmass.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$$$-$$$$,- Certainly pricey, but neither of us balked at the bill.
Atmosphere****,- Not quite "flip-flops to tuxedos", but close.

Service***,- Perhaps not personable, but very professional and timely. Each course came out just when we would expect it.

Overall
Fred- B+, I love a menu where the sides interest me as much as the main courses. There are several items I will be excited to try on our next visit, especially the pork belly with white bean cassoulet.
Libby-B+, Solid meal and good beer selection with more on the menu I want to try! Will definitely go back as Mass Ave is one of my favorite spots in general and I can never get enough of an adult dining atmosphere that welcomes my entire family.
Ozzy- A, While he had a hard time staying in his chair, there were plenty of smiles and "yums". He really enjoyed watching the pedestrians outside while we ate. The next day he even asked if we were going back.
Stella- B+, Plenty of space between the tables allowed her to roam a little after she could stand the highchair or Mommy's lap no more. She thoroughly enjoyed everything she was given, especially the citrus-pepper mayo.

City Barbeque

2010-09-12T13:24:00.000-07:00

City Barbeque, a small chain out of Ohio, made the south side the lucky recipient of a new bbq place last week! You can't have too many bbq joints! We had been watching for weeks as the final touches were completed and eagerly anticipated the grand opening. Three large visible smokers only heightened our glee.
We know, why come during the opening? Service is bound to be bad, food is bound to be worse, right? Well, in this case, not so much.

At first, we were confused as to where to stand once inside. It's got the look of a typical chain from the outside, but a less standard layout inside. You enter from the side of the restaurant and once inside, there is an ordering line immediately to your right. No real space to stand anywhere other than the line. Everyone orders for themselves and then you pay, find a seat, then get your food when your name is called. And it's fast! Like fast-food fast. Our food was ready to go by the time we sat down. Servers meander around to offer beverage refills and clear tables, but otherwise, it's more of a self-serve establishment.

Seating was a little tight, but after taking it all in while we noshed on some pork, chicken, and brisket, it started to make sense. It was very much like an upscale-ish bbq shack. There was all kinds of hoopin and hollerin coming from the kitchen, lots of people around, lots of servers, signs on the wall advertising the peach cobbler or offering to buy your own homemade bbq sauce in exchange for a City Barbeque t-shirt...kind of a different, fun vibe.

So, lets talk about that pork, chicken, and brisket. We decided to go with the Deluxe City Sampler--quarter chicken, half slab, pulled pork, brisket, and texas toast with two sides, gumbo and corn pudding. Ozzy had to try his staple dish with hush puppies on the side. Stella was dining on a bit of everything today.

Well, it was quite a platter. Where to start? We decided to start with a bit of pulled pork...oh, but the sauces. How many were there? Uh, about 7, we think. Sadly, the website doesn't go into them, but we can recollect, a mustard sauce, a few sweet options, a couple of spicey and a vinegar. They were all good. Like most bbq sauce, it's hard to find one that is bad. So,we put a little on everything.

The pulled pork was good. Tender, flavorful. The ribs were disappointing in that they weren't nearly as tender as they could be. You could taste the smoke, but they were tough and rather than falling off the bone had to be torn off the bone with force. The brisket was good. But it was difficult to differentiate the pulled pork from it. They were side by side and the textures were the only thing that separated their flavors. Especially when smothered in bbq sauce! But the sides were awesome! The corn pudding was just what you want, sweet, moist, buttery and so easy to spoon in. The gumbo was almost too good to be a side. On it's own, it had good heat and great sausage chunks.

An unexpected surprise was the texas toast. Usually a total throw away side or something you don't want to waste tummy space on when eating delicious meats. But this stuff was different and actually really good. Kind of sweet and reminiscent of Hawaiian bread or challah. Way soft, it would be the perfect bread for a pulled pork or brisket sandwich...Sadly, we tried it as an afterthought and didn't get the chance to do the whole sandwich thing...that would've been really good. *sigh* Next time.

The one item we ordered that needed nothing added was their chicken. Holy smokes! It was pure perfection. That was some moist meat. And such flavor! Easily the best bbq chicken we've had anywhere. Next time we go back, it will be more of that chicken and some of this amazing sausage we saw go by our table. Oh, yeah, it was total eye candy (or should we say meat candy?).... But will it stand up to Big Guy's sausage? hmmm...

Ozzy didn't share any of the mac 'n cheese, so we're assuming it was "pretty good." The hushpuppies were never a family favorite and so they were -- dry, oddly fishy and meh. Stella was very happy with all the meat and the awesome texas toast.

So, all in all, for a grand opening experience, the first lunch they served in Indiana, it seemed to go off without a hitch. Ozzy even got a free balloon out of the deal! :)

http://cityqbbq.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$$,-Actually, pretty cheap for bbq. Our platter was the Deluxe City Sampler at 19.99 and was more than enough chow for all of us. A much smaller combo(with two fewer meats) at Famous Dave's runs 19.99. We just realized we didn't get the cornbread, but even so, more than enough grub.
Atmosphere**1/2-Fun idea, but still a little awkward. Needs something.
Service***- Opening day, first meal...it was overkill. Someone was checking on us every 3-5 minutes, but that is to be expected for a good opening.

Overall
Fred-B, Had I gotten just a plate of barbeque chicken, this would've been an A+. But unfortunately, the ribs were shockingly sub-par. The other meats deserve a B, so therefore, one awesome, one awful--B it is.
Libby-B, Some very high notes and average notes. I will definitely be back to try out some sausage and get more chicken! After a few months, we'll have to see where they stand.
Ozzy-A, When asked later, he reported "Really cheesy and yummy." And he got a free balloon! Happy boy.
Estelle-A, Girl didn't refuse any bites of food and consistently screamed for more 'til she was full to the brim. And the screaming was definitely ok. ;)

Tulip Noir

2010-08-30T20:20:00.000-07:00

With a rare chance for a weekend brunch, we decided to give Tulip Noir a shot. We'd heard they were vying for best brunch in Indy so expectations were high. Upon walking in, we were greeted by the finest Ikea-wear around. This place practically screamed modern, minimalist design -- a real oddity in our little midwestern town. The staff keeps it impeccably clean and obsessively straightened. We were seated immediately and Ozzy's fears were calmed at once after he was informed that yes, they do have pancakes. We should say that 3 of the 4 of us were seated as we had to flag down a waiter and specifically ask for a high-chair for our 11-month old.

As we had both already had our coffee for the morning, Fred ventured into Tulip Noir's impressive tea menu and settled on the Tie Kuan Yin Oolong while Libby decided on a pomegranate-blueberry juice & banana smoothie to share with Stella. While we thought the presentation for the tea was cute, if a bit pretentious, it became obvious that TN was not going to be known for it's service. We can understand that perhaps this tea is meant to be enjoyed sans sugar. But being uncouth hoosiers, it might have been a good idea to ask if we would like some sweetener if it is not provided as a matter of course. Also, how is one to drink a smoothie with no straw? We were forced to flag down another server to request both.

The smoothie was a disappointment. Not only was it slimey in texture, it was too thick and slightly bitter. It seemed as though the bananas were not ripe enough. Having said that, Stella did not mind one bit and quite enjoyed it.

As is usually the case when we review a breakfast place, Fred chose the Eggs Benedict while Libby went with the "Dreamy" french toast. Ozzy chose the buckwheat pancakes rather than the "pancakeys" after hearing that the later came with only honey rather than syrup. Bold move, son. Stella was very happy to have bits of everything.

As our food arrived, we realized we had made a dreadful mistake. It became obvious that Tulip Noir's menu is a la carte. It would have been nice if the waiter had mentioned this fact after noticing that none of us ordered any sides. In fact it never occurred to us as the side dishes on the two-sided brunch menu are on the back below the "Salads and Sandwiches". Not exactly where we would go looking for breakfast side dishes.

Regrouping, we were pleased by the visual appeal of all three entrees. Fred's eggs looked picture-perfect. Too bad he couldn't cut into them as he had no silverware. Time to flag down another waiter. Joy.

Upon his eventual first bite, he found the hollandaise to be spot on and the eggs were cooked perfectly. Unfortunately the canadian bacon seemed lifeless and off as was the untoasted english muffin. While we don't expect even a high-end brunch place to make their own canadian bacon or english muffins (although that would be fantastic!), it would be nice if they purchased quality products. The otherwise well-prepared dish was brought down dramatically.

Libby's french toast was indeed dreamy. She had to remind herself to keep the moaning to a minimum as it is a small establishment and in this atmosphere that would be frowned upon. Stella greedily filled her mouth to maximum capacity with berries and bits of toast. Unfortunately our uptight waiter felt it appropriate to offer Stella a plate as the messy table was paining him. Even after we politely informed him that she would just shove it onto the floor, he froze in position with the plate out-stretched for several seconds. While there were plenty of other children in attendance that morning, our waiter was visibly uncomfortable with a messy table.

Ozzy was obviously torn throughout the meal. On one hand he was very hungry and had pancakes with yummy syrup in front of him. On the other hand, these were not Aunt Jemima. No son, these are buckwheat pancakes. For what they were, they were good. The fruit was nice and the blueberry-pomegranate syrup was fresh and tasty. Unfortunately, Ozzy's reaction was, "Mommy, I think they forgot some ingredients. These aren't good." But hunger prevailed in the end and we noticed that at least 3/4 of the pancakes were still consumed.

http://www.tulipnoircafe.com

Wrap Up

Price-$$$, Very much at the high end of the breakfast scene.
Atmosphere-****, We really enjoyed the modern decor. Something fun and different for Indy.
Service- Zero*s, Wow. Can we give a negative *? This was easily the worst service we've had within the Indianapolis city limits. It bordered on insulting.

Overall
Fred- D-, The only saving grace here was the french toast. It really was excellent. But "Competing for Indy's Best Breakfast"? You MUST be kidding me. For the price they charge, I would expect outstanding service. I've had a more attentive waitress at Waffle House. On top of that, the food was only mediocre. What, exactly are we paying extra for here?!? If you want an amazing brunch in Indy, go to Hoaglin To Go on Mass Ave or Zest in Broadripple. They blow this place away. And from the relaxed attitude and warmth of the waitstaff, they appear to do so effortlessly.
Libby- B-, Although our server had his personality quirks, I found the whole scene quite entertaining. Fred was visibly upset. Ozzy was visibly upset. Stella was busily enjoying her breakfast, as was I. But sadly, I won't be experiencing the dreamy french toast again. Although I'm pretty sure the vanilla challa french toast at Hoaglin To Go will suffice. I also wasn't aware at the time exactly how much we were paying for this breakfast or my experience would have been lessened.
Ozzy- D, We really can't blame Tulip Noir here. If there is a next-time, we might have to explain to Ozzy the full breadth of his ordering decision.
Estelle- C, While the girl really enjoyed herself and provided for lots of smiles from the other patrons, it was obvious she wasn't welcomed with open arms from the waitstaff.

Mug N' Bun

2010-08-18T17:54:00.000-07:00

Having heard for years from our Speedway friends that they have the greatest drive-in around, FLOE eventually succumbed to our need for grease and made the drive up to 10th street. Just off 465 right before the industrial center of Indy, it's a genuine throw-back to another era. We decided to stay true to the drive-in vibe and stayed in our car. As the signed helpfully explained, you turn on your lights (day or night) to signal that you'd like service.

Deciding that we basically wanted to order the entire menu, picking only a "few" items was a challenge. After much discussion, we decided we would share everything and graze our way through the menu. The lil' reviewers came up front with mom and dad to share in the bounty.

As soon as we rolled the window down for our tray o' health, that wonderfully familiar fried drive-in smell wafted into the car. This was going to be good!!! To start, we ordered one regular root beer and one diet, unwisely choosing the 24 oz size, missing out on what we later learned was a frosty mug for the 16oz or a collectors cup if you order the 32. Dag nabbit! Rookie mistake. After several sips of each, we were happy to find that we actually preferred the diet. It's much heavier on the root beer flavor and visibly darker than the regular. Not that anyone enjoying Mug N' Bun is watching their figure, but at least we wouldn't have to add even more calories to the meal next time...

Fred's first pick, the catfish sandwich, was spectacular. It had a great fry on it with no hint of fishiness. Even Stella's eyes perked up with a quick taste. Of course the Oz would have none of it -- Boy just doesn't know what good is...

Libby decided for two "main" dishes, a single burger with cheese and a regular dog with sauce & cheese. The burger, while basic with only ketchup& mustard (lettuce or tomato are $.40 extra), was exactly what a greasy spoon should serve. Nice 80/20 patty straight off a flat-top. Perfectly cooked and juicy, it made Fred openly wonder how the fast food restaurants can stay in business serving patties from a factory. There's just no comparison.

The dog was also simple. Either boiled or steamed, it was nothing special but still solid. Libby would have liked the sauce/chili to be a little sweeter, more like a coney. But it was just right for Fred, who prefers a chili dog to a coney.

For sides, we chose the Buffalo chips, seasoned fries, zucchini sticks, hot pepper cheese balls, and mac & cheese wedges (Ozzy's, of course).

The mac & cheese wedges were really the only miss for the entire meal. Ozzy just didn't get it and ended up picking out the macaroni from inside them and then moving on to the rest of the deep-fried evil. The rest of us agreed that they were edible, but certainly not up to the level of the other greased up grub.

The fries were solid as were the buffalo chips (battered &fried silver-dollar sized slices of potato). The hot pepper cheese balls were interesting, especially with a quick dip in some ranch sauce. They had a nice heat that only hit you at the end. But seriously, how can deep fried cheese be bad, especially if there's some spice to it?

The real star of the sides had to be the zucchini. The fry was much lighter than the other items and they still had a hint of crunch to the veggie itself. Perfect in the horseradish sauce! Unfortunately for mom & dad, Stella found these to be her absolute favorite, finishing off 3 of the 6 sticks. Rats!!

After dinner we decided we couldn't do a review of a drive-in without sampling the shakes. So on went the headlights! One vanilla, one chocolate please! No idea the level of prep, we decided again, these are solid shakes. Not over the top, but definitely the sweetness you crave after a savory trip down memory lane. Next time, must do the float action and try the tenderloin!

http://www.mug-n-bun.com/

Wrap Up

Price-$,-Definitely cheap eats. Our smorgasbord came to a grand total of $35 with a good tip.
Atmosphere***-Just what you expect and remember from any drive-in...only thing missing was roller skates!
Service***- A fast, feisty waitress told Ozzy how it is..."Life lesson--Mug N' Bun=Fried"
Overall
Fred- A, Dammit, now I have to try each and other every one of the frieds on the menu. Excellent zucchini!
Libby- A-, Good burger, good dog, excellent catfish, great root beer. I like my fries a little toastier and I was jonesin' for a coney sauce rather than a chili. The menu just says "sauce." Really enjoyed this and look forward to a future family date with carry-out Mug N' Bun at Tibbs Drive-in!
Ozzy- A, Other than his confusion with the fried mac, Ozzy was a happy camper. While enjoying his vanilla shake, he exclaimed,"This is soooooo good!!!"
Estelle- A, Daddy is still kinda peeved that the girl scarfed down half of the zucchini. ;) She happily sampled whatever we would let her try.

West Coast Tacos

2010-08-04T18:15:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a cosmic dining coincidence? Have you ever just wanted to eat something so bad that the universe actually lead you there? Well, either FLOE is in good with the stars or the luckiest SOB's in town 'cuz that is EXACTLY what occurred today. We were driving to the Children's Museum and started to muse about how much we would love to try that beloved taco truck we have heard so much about. We had no idea where to look, then eureka...it was right there before us! On one of our favorite dining spots, Mass Ave.! *angel chorus*

So psyched to stumble into some kind of wonderful, we grabbed a nearby parking spot and rushed into the stifling heat to the short line at the corner of Mass Ave, Delaware and New York. There was no menu, but Fred felt confident and all was cleared up when the young man at the window announced these simple words..."We have three meats today, chicken, pork or beef, and a green or red sauce...what would you like?" Well, that was simple enough! Three beef with red and three pork with green and a chicken sans sauce for the kids...well, for Stella. Great! Back to the car to enjoy our cosmic treasure!

As if we were meant to be comfortable in the swelter, a breeze blew through the Element and allowed us to take it all in. First, the pork with green sauce...light, fresh with hints of cilantro and onion(and that was ok). Just delightful and refreshing. Piled on two corn tortillas it was a light bite and as good as we had hoped. Then, there was the beef with red sauce. Libby actually moaned a little. Could it really be this good? Fred, while feeding Stella bits of chicken that her mouth gaped open for, was unable to speak. But his eyes spoke volumes...yes, yes, yes! How could something so delicate and simple from a truck be so incredible?

After Fat Dan's, we are beginning to wonder if this uncomfortable weather thing and incredible eats just go hand in hand...Sadly, Ozzy had no interest and was holding out for his dear mac 'n cheese at the Children's Museum cafeteria...whatever.

So, in summary, this is a must experience. The much revered West Coast Taco truck moves daily. You must either facebook, tweat, or be guided by the fates to enjoy this light, zesty lunch. You won't want to miss out on this Indy phenomenon!

http://www.thebestdamntacos.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$, $5 for three small tacos that will knock your socks off.
Atmosphere-?-Kind of depends, but they picked a nice shady spot for us! ;)
Service-****, For a lunch truck, they were accommodating, polite, and fast. Works for us! They were even so kind as to break a large bill at the beginning of the lunch rush.

Overall
Fred-A, I've been happily burping it up the rest of the day! Both red and green sauces were awesome and the seasoning on all three meats was superb! No hiding anything here with cheese, sour cream, lettuce, or tomato...just perfectly cooked, incredibly seasoned meats in wonderful sauces.
Libby -A, I could eat the beef with red sauce all day! Actually, all of it was great...you can't go wrong here.
Ozzy- no vote...amateur. This kid has no idea what he is missing!
Estelle-A+, Stella chowed on a bit of everything and was only to happy to get another bite, and another, and another.

Big Guys BBQ

2010-08-04T17:05:00.000-07:00

Disgusted that the best BBQ we'd found on the south side was a chain (Famous Dave's), FLOE was excited to hear of a home-grown place that had opened up in Center Grove. Big Guy's BBQ shares a double-wide strip mall location with Hula Bean coffee, an ice cream place and a doughnut shop. All not only under the same roof, but at the same counter & cash register. Tres bizarre. Upon entering, Big Guy himself, Chris Sullivan explained that we needed to step next door to order at the counter. Sounds good. On our trek to the counter we were able to pass a table display of some of their specials, not wax food, but real smells...good advertising.

A small menu made it easy to narrow down what's for dinner. Definitely two combo platters to sample 4 meats and 4 sides total. Fred decided on the pulled pork, pulled chicken, cole slaw and ranch beans. Libby went with the Kielbasa, brisket, green beans and potato salad. Ozzy was delighted to have a combo made almost just for him, a pb & j and mac 'n cheese! Grammy came along for the ride and went with her own combo of the brisket and pulled pork with cole slaw and homemade chips.

It was slow at the time we arrived so seating was easy. It was very cool to be served by the owner and chef himself, who was quite surprised to be asked for a pic for the blog. No idea who or what we were, he played along. Big question for Big Guy now is how exactly is the BBQ?

Fred was very worried when he first bit into his pulled chicken. It was lukewarm and dry. But then the pulled pork! Luscious. Perfectly smoky with beautiful juicy bits. If we wanted to show a foreign visitor what pulled pork was supposed to taste like, this would be it. The beans were also a pleasant surprise. Not just a bunch of chili powder mixed into some beans but a great jalapeno bite and a dash of smokiness to round out the flavor.

Libby was pretty happy with the brisket. Some dryer parts but also some extremely tender, melty fatty bits that altogether had a great smokiness. The sides were good. A creamy potato salad that wasn't over the top in tang and the green beans were mild and had some sort of meat addition Libby couldn't identify. But the star of this show had to be the kielbasa...holy smoked sausage! So tender, with the perfect amount of char. It almost melted in your mouth and had so much flavor! Even Stella, with only her third tooth coming through bit into a skinless piece like it were softened butter! Her expression said it all. More!

Big Guys only offers 3 sauces, regular, spicy and mustard. The flavor of the regular and spicy were about the same, with only a bit more heat on the latter. Both were good but nothing to write home about. The mustard sauce was heavy on the vinegar with mustard to the extreme. Perhaps it would have worked well on the kielbasa, but who on earth would want to cover up any of that wonderful flavor? This place is definitely meat-first with sauces as an after thought.

Ozzy's pb&j was served on a bun rather than bread. Mom & Dad thought that was a bad choice, but Ozzy loved it...devoured every morsel! There were even a few "mmm's" overheard throughout the meal. Oddly, he did not find the mac to his liking. It was of the baked variety rather than boiled, so it was "too hard" in his opinion. The rest of the dinner party quite liked it. It did have some peppery overtones, so perhaps our finicky boy had a legit kid complaint.

Stella was right at home and seemed to be the entertainment of the evening for the few surrounding diners. She lapped up the attention along with a good portion of pulled pork, chicken, kielbasa and texas toast. Wow, what is this? A child eating meat?

http://www.bigguysbbq.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$-$$, Cheap even by bbq standards.

Atmosphere-* 1/2, Confusing ordering and decor. Nothing about the place said stop and stay awhile. FLOE will be happy with take out in the future.
Service-**, Order at the counter, you're brought the food and that's all she wrote.

Overall
Fred -A-, The only downfall was the pulled chicken which was fine once sauce was added. I just wish I had gotten the chance to ask if the kielbasa was house made since it was so amazing. North siders, it is worth the drive just to get a lick of that!
Libby -A-, Loved my kielbasa...that's right, MY kielbasa. ;) And the brisket was pretty delish too. Sides were not show stealers, but the potato chips, whether crispy or floppy, were straight up awesome!
Ozzy- A, Definitely no complaints and it didn't hurt having a kick butt bakery attached for dessert!

Estelle- A, Couldn't get enough of any of the bbq. The girl was chowin' down.

Little Mexico

2010-08-03T16:57:00.000-07:00

We recently took a trip to Little Mexico for a review but held off on writing it as we had been invited by some friends to meet there for a second visit. The moment you walk in, the amount of colorful, carved wood is overwhelming. Beautiful and over the top. It's hard to imagine how much work went into the walls, windows, booths, tables, chairs and bar of this restaurant. Everything is a carved, colorful piece of work. You'd never think you were in a strip mall.

We were immediately met with the usual chips & salsa. In this case a very mild, but fresh salsa with good chunk to liquid ratio and a heavy dose of fresh cilantro. We couldn't decide whether or not the chips were house-made but regardless they were a good salsa delivery device. On our second visit, our friends asked for a spicier one and the kitchen sent out a habanero sauce that kicked their socks off. Even a 50/50 mix with the regular salsa was a bit too much.

Fred ordered burritos on both occasions. First was the Chile Verde followed by the Chile Colorado. Each was served alongside a salad with sour cream and guacamole which went untouched on both occasions. Each burrito was stuffed with slow-roasted pork, rice, sauce and then smothered in queso blanco. The pork was perfectly cooked and juicy but both the red and green sauces seemed a little tame. The flavor was there, it was just begging to be kicked up a notch.

Libby's first night demanded the Pollo Mole Poblano. A very good mole with well prepared chicken, corn tortilla's and the same salad with sour cream and guac went down too easily. It seemed a crime to leave one drop of that mole on the plate. Definitely a meal that will make you hate yourself in the morning. The second night would only top this one with gourmand-ish proportions, the Special Dinner; which is too big to fit on one plate and encroaches on other people's space at the table. Embarrassed by the insanity, she did quite enjoy it overall. Although the tamale was dry, it was saved by the pleasing enchilada, chile relleno and chalupa. Two margarita's could have skewed perceptions a bit, but hey, when pronouncing the name of the town on the back of the menu gets you one for 25 cents...well, turning down another libation sounds ridiculous, right?

Little Mexico seems to have immediately become one of Ozzy's favorite restaurants. The little man even liked the salsa?!? Amazing. But really, what's not to like for a carbivore? Too many chips, followed by a cheese quesadilla with fries & rice?? Sounds like Oz-heaven to us.

Stella was also right at home. Not only are the walls decked out in incredibly loud colors and interesting authentic Mexican carvings, but the noise level and general commotion about the place kept her interest throughout.

http://eatlittlemexico.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$-$$, Nothing out of the ordinary for Mexican...
Atmosphere-****, Wow. This place POPS and when you hear everything was custom made and shipped in from the owner's home town in Mexico, definitely a 4-star showing.
Service-**, It's a big plus in the food dept when the servers barely speak English, but both service and the kitchen were slow on both occasions.

Overall
Fred - B-, Ida know. I wouldn't mind going back, but I'm certainly not going to seek it out. Everything was solid (especially the salsa) but nothing had the kick I was looking for. Just too bland throughout the meal.
Libby -B+, The first night presented an excellent mole, the second night was hit or miss but also a very pleasant experience. And now that I know I can pronounce the name, I'll definitely take another $.25 margarita!
Ozzy- A+, Kids everywhere, carbs to munch. And he even tried (and liked!) salsa for the first time.
Estelle-A, At home and entertained. What more can you ask for with a 10-month old?

Fat Dan's Deli

2010-07-18T07:38:00.000-07:00

"Wow...I need more napkins and a shower!" Not necessarily a good sign when you're out enjoying a family dinner, but in this case it's only the beginning. FLOE had an opportunity to go out on one of the hottest Saturday's of the year for dinner. Libby was off so it felt like a great day to venture up to Broadripple! We really should live around there, but you know how it is...economy, etc. etc. Back to our story...we were super psyched as we had decided to finally sample Fat Dan's!!! So many awesome reviews and now it was our turn.

We must reiterate, it was hot out. Hades hot. Slatherin' in the nethers hot. And Fat Dan's A/C was either non-existent or had just given up in the kitchen heat. No problem. We were there for the food, no matter the consequences.

As you walk in, the first thing you notice is the non-chalant atmosphere. You could be in any hole in the wall in any big city. Low key, small space, but a lot of personality. Definitely the spot to go to after a night of drinking with friends. There is a chalk board menu and an order-at-the-counter set up. Perfect for street eats with a seat. Sadly, we found that they were out of several things; the cole slaw, ribs, and wings...hmmm. FLOE knew they had to try some form of barbecue and the Italian Beef...so we got the I.B. dipped with sweet and hot peppers. You can get it in any number of different ways including double dipped or with cheese whiz. Rib tips and their house made fries were a must. We can't forget the draft Upland Wheats...especially good on this sweltering day.

So, we cop a squat at a table near the picture window and spend some time examining the scene. Stella was oddly calm and observant as she sat on Libby's lap. No folks, this is not the kind of place that caters to wee ones. Again, not a problem. Ozzy noticed some games around(a large old-school arcade racing game, Connect 4 and what looked like a chess game box) and immediately wanted to know if they were for kids...uh, could be, but our guess is it was for the bigger kids. ;) So, he settled on Daddy's iphone. Out of seemingly nowhere, a nearby patron got our attention and asked if we were FLOEats Indy...uh...yes. In the literal heat of the moment, we hope we came across as thankful of their compliments as we were. It was somewhat shocking to be noticed. Thank you, young reader, whomever you are. We truly appreciate your support.

Did we mention it was hot? ;) The food arrived with a parchment paper matt for the table. No plates here. On top of it was placed a huge Italian Beef that looked the part...tons of peppers piled high and the kind of maneuvering that doesn't allow for any type of clean or polite eating...this was a "MANwich." Just get ready to get sloppy.

So tender...so much flavor...and more heat...It was hot before the food got there...now the beads of sweat were forming and suddenly FLOE was beginning to feel a religious experience coming on. What is it about eating spicy, hot food in an equally sauna like environment? Libby kept thinking how being this uncomfortable was really adding to the experience. You were earning the goodness that was going in. It was cleansing, real. Not the commercialized comfort we are exposed to and grow to expect on every dining experience. This was the real thing. Fat Dan was pulling no punches. This is what it costs in 90 degree weather to have a great sandwich...Man-up...or Woman-up in this case. ;)

If the Italian Beef weren't enough, the rib tips just gave more. More flavors, tons of different textures between the char and the fatty super tender bits...so tender in fact that Stella, with only two bottom teeth, was able to enjoy her first bit of pork ever. Such a comfort to know that in our twilight years, when we're down to dentures, we'll still be able to enjoy some rib tips!

Lastly, the fries. Not that they are the bottom of the barrel by any means. They were great. Hot, skin on, fresh cut potatoes...excellent frying well seasoned. As good as they were, they really paled in comparison to the whole meat experience. Kind of like when you go to Fogo de Chao and they have that killer salad bar, probably the best we've ever had, but you don't want to waste an inch of space when you know the meat love that is to come. Yeah, this is yet another carnivores paradise.

Oh, and if it isn't crystal clear...Even though you weren't there this day, we love you, Dan.

http://www.fatdansdeli.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$$, $10 per meal...more than the average fast food, but more than worth it.
Atmosphere-****, Normally sweating while we eat wouldn't get such a high rating, but in this case, it just added. The two staff were as warm as the kitchen. Upbeat and truly happy to serve great eats!
Service-****, Self order and fast. Exactly how it should be for a great Italian Beef.

Overall
Fred - A+, Perfect beer selection an Italian Beef JUST like I remember from Chi-town!
Libby - A+, Solid and delicious meats and potatoes. It was the kind of experience that will stand out in my memory. Don't change a thing. Keep making it and they will come.
Ozzy- B, Lots of visual entertainment and tasty fries.
Estelle-B, Although Stella wasn't as comfy as she could be, she was diggin the pork and fries!

Scotty's Brewhouse

2010-07-08T19:01:00.000-07:00

A day off together always calls for an opportunity to review. We considered making the trip to Fishers to Scotty's Lakehouse, but thought better of it...too close to nap time. So, instead, it seemed like a good opportunity to try Scotty's Brewhouse downtown. We had been to the location in Bloomington a couple of years before, but had no memory of it. From the website, we saw they had an extensive menu and today, burgers were sounding pretty good.

We had heard several good things about this location. After finding street parking, we were immediately impressed by the large amount of outdoor seating, including a very comfy-looking crazy-large couch encircling an equally large fire pit. Sounds like a great spot to enjoy a nice summer's evening to us! Since it was mid-day and 90+ outside, we chose to keep it all inside this trip. We were immediately seated in what appeared to be a semi-private room which could be closed off for larger parties. Upon first sitting down we were impressed by the incredible amount of flatscreens. It was like eating in the electronics department at Best Buy. Each extra-high booth had it's own TV plus several 50+ inchers on every wall. Talk about an incredible place to watch a game! Fred pondered if he'd rather keep our Colts tickets or have a season ticket to our own booth here, if one were offered.

While waiting for Stella's highchair, we wondered how it would fit as the booth was raised a good foot above a normal table. Never fear! Scotty's has thought of that! Soon a very tickled Stella was happily munching away in her equally-tall chair. Nice work, Scotty's.

On to the food, but not without a couple of thirst-quenchers. As expected, Scotty's boasts a really spectacular draft menu. Fred eventually chose New Albanian's Beaks Best Bitter while Libby went with the Sun King Wee Mac Scottish ale. It's not often you find an English-style bitter around as they're often misunderstood here in the US. Lots of great hop flavor but with only a hint of bitterness. We both agreed it was a perfect brew to stand up to the belly-buster to come.

As we had just reviewed the fried pickles from Parky's, we decided to get them again for some contrast. Sadly, these paled in comparison. While they still had a nice tang, most were stuck together causing the batter between the pieces to be uncooked an mushy. Once un-stuck we found that the batter fell off the pickles making them hard to eat. While they were served with 2 yummy (and artery clogging) sauces, horsey & ranch, this was not a good start to the meal.

The rest of the meal came out quickly. Ozzy's mac n' cheese looked great and both mom & dad thought it was mighty tasty. Unfortunately the extra cheese placed on top was enough to turn him off of it. A real shame, but we are certain that any less-finicky kid would love it.

Libby's Atomic Mo'Fo burger was very good. A large burger at half a pound, dressed with montarey jack, jalapeno slices and the burger seemed to be dipped in the mo'fo sauce it was so well coated. All served on a kaiser roll. I would always prefer a toasted bun, but the taste of the burger itself made up for it. She chose a side of blue corn chips with salsa. Oddly, she only received around 2 tablespoons of salsa to go with half a plate full of chips. While she wasn't too hot on the salsa, there still needed to be about 4 times the amount.

Fred chose a build-your-own bison burger with pepper-jack and mo'fo sauce. The burger was perfectly cooked and juicy. Not the easiest job with bison. A real winner, especially with the mo'fo sauce to light up your tongue. Unfortunately his waffle fries had the same problem as the pickle chips. We're not sure if it's an oil temp problem or just a lazy fry-chef, but this is a big issue. They were a jumbled mess of stuck, half-cooked fries; a real shame, especially at a beer & bar-food establishment.

http://www.scottysbrewhouse.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$$, Right around average for a downtown bar.
Atmosphere-****, Yeah baby! On gameday we might show up even if they were serving sandpaper!!
Service-****, Absolutely no complaints here. There were plenty of servers and everything came out quickly.

Overall
Fred -B, This really should have been an A- if not for the fry-problems.
Libby - B, Top quality beef, cooked to order correctly. A fantastic mo'fo sauce. The bun could have stood to be toasted. It was a little soggy with all the extra sauce.
Ozzy- B+, Although he didn't care for the mac 'n cheese, he loved the tv and there were plenty of other kids options on the menu.
Estelle- A+, She ate up not only Ozzy's applesauce, but even had a taste of a fry.

Parky's Smokehouse

2010-06-29T04:51:00.000-07:00

Road trip!!! Several weeks ago we received a generous invitation from Gary and Julie Parks to try Parky's Smokehouse in Lebanon, and today we finally had the opportunity to go and give it a try. Being from the south side, it was quite a trek at about a 50 minute drive, so we had to be strategic in our dinner time planning.

After a pleasant drive through old Lebanon, past Memorial Park, Parky's gave a very good first impression. From the outside, it looked like a chain. Very polished. We aren't sure if the building was originally a different chain, but it had the look down...great signage, designated carry-out parking, and a contained playfulness.

Inside was more of the same. Great layout and excellent marketing. From the cute pig with shades t-shirts to the signature sauces available for purchase, these people obviously had a lot of pride in their product.

So, for the reason we came...the eats! We had reviewed the menu beforehand and already knew what we wanted. To drink, Fred went with a tall New Belgian Fat Tire ale. For a small selection of brews, they really had a good mix. The Kentuckarita, their signature margarita made with Jim Beam and frozen smooth, was a must for Libby! Libby never knew that her two favorite spirits, bourbon and tequila could go so well together! These came out quickly and were accompanied by a bread basket. Fred was very happy with the Fat tire and Libby was on cloud nine -- Only disappointed that she had decided on the 12 oz instead of the 27 oz.!

For starters, we decided to go big and take on the Smokehouse Sampler! This is a belly buster in it's own right; Corn & Black Bean Salsa, Tortilla Chips, Curley Ques(thin onion rings), Boneless Barbecue Glazed Chicken Wings, Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, Fried Dill Pickles and Fresh Fried Potato Chips served with barbecue ranch dressing. Wow! So many good things about this appy, it was hard to know where to start. Our initial interest was in the fried pickles...and yes, they were exactly what you want when you're in the mood...well battered and that little tang that melds so perfectly with the homemade bbq ranch dressing. The mozzarella sticks, housemade potato chips, curley ques, and boneless chicken wings were all really good, but the show stopper had to be that corn and black bean salsa! Fred and Libby have never had anything like it. Such a sweet, flavorful surprise that really makes salsa belong in a bbq joint!

Knowing we still had entrees to order, we paced ourselves and were so glad we did. Fred, continuing the sampler feel, went with the Barbecue Blast; a quarter rack of ribs, a white or dark chicken quarter, pulled pork, brisket, turkey breast and smoked sausage...what was he thinking??? Libby, trying to stick a more conservative sounding array, went with the two meat combo plate of the bourbon chicken and the pulled pork. Both came with two sides. Fred went with mac&cheese and sweet potato fries and Libby the barbecue beans and creamy coleslaw. Ozzy went with his usual that came with a side of fries and applesauce. Can we say Pig Out?!

Where do we begin?
First off, the kids were very happy!

Stella gleefully enjoyed some of the bread basket, sweet potato fries and the applesauce. We had never seen the girl eat so much regular table food with the family in her life! Ozzy loved the mac&cheese and kept proclaiming how full he was...he was careful to add that we must box up all the leftover mac as he would want it tomorrow!

Now, for the meat! What a bountiful feast it was! We had to agree that everything was good. There was no failure here, but there were a couple of stand outs. The ribs were crazy tender and fell apart as they should. Even the fat was all gooey...no chewiness or underdone bits, just melt in your mouth goodness. The brisket had great flavor and texture. The turkey was a surprise and perfect for trying out all the sauces! Much more flavor than we expected. The bourbon chicken was moist and the sauce was nice and easy.

Oh, the sauces...can't forget those! We had the pleasure of trying sweet, spicy, mustard, molasses, bourbon bbq, and apple. Again, hard to know where to start! The molasses really stood out as it had a very unique flavor that gave the impression of rich prunes..it was amazing! Went very nicely on the brisket. The apple was like putting apple pie filling on the meat and that was a treat on the turkey and chicken. The mustard felt very honey mustard-y and was a good contrast to the wide array of sweetness. The spicy was mild as was the bourbon flavor of the bourbon bbq.

The sides were good. The most outstanding being the barbecue beans...a fun twist with black beans and huge hunks of the pulled pork...oh, baby! The cole slaw was very mild in flavor and didn't really stand up to anything else, but it would have been good with a lighter dish...needed more zing. As mentioned above, the mac & cheese and sweet potato fries were hits with the kids. Simple preparations that kept the meat the guest of honor.

FLOE had planned to try dessert, but there was just no way. Full to the brim, we rolled out in a carb coma, fighting the urge to nap on the way home. The torrential downpour didn't help, but all in all, this was well worth the trip. Next time, dessert, but for now, we will rest easy with dreams of molasses over brisket, tender babybacks, and Kentuckarita's by the pitcher...

A word of warning...this place is not for the weak of stomach. Bring an appetite and extra insulin if you got it! ;)

http://www.parkyssmokehouse.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$-$$$, Actually, very well priced for barbecue. Our meal included, one large and one small beer, two 12 oz Kentuckarita's, the biggest appetizer, a kid's meal, the largest meat sampler, a combo platter, and everything came with two sides. Our total was right at $80 and was well worth it. If one doesn't order basically everything but the kitchen sink, it is quite reasonable.
Atmosphere-****, You would think this place is a chain! It is so polished and professional, yet has so much personality. Julie and Gary are doing things right!
Service-****, Again, very impressive. Our waiter seemed pretty new, but it was obvious his goal was to give us a fun, inviting experience. By the way, the menu is HUGE, so there is literally something for everyone!

Overall
Fred -A-, Wonderful find with surprising off the beaten path items. Couldn't get enough of the salsa or the kentuckarita...only complaint....have to ask for any of their amazing sauces rather than have them at the table.
Libby - A+, I absolutely LOVE this place! Not only is it a great mix of clean and contemporary, but it has a feel of downhome hospitality that is hard to find north of the Ohio. The food was so comforting and it was not just a meal, but an experience!
Ozzy- A+, Comments like "This is great!" "I'm so full," and "Don't forget the leftovers!" really speaks volumes from our finicky fella.
Estelle- A+, As Stella's first opportunity to enjoy the meal with the rest of us, she was one happy 9 month old! It was nice to put the baby food up entirely for one meal!

Monon Food Company

2010-06-21T18:59:00.000-07:00

So, FLOE went out on a limb and decided to chance a trip to the Monon during the week. It was beautiful out and Fred got home a little early, so thinking we could squeeze it in just before the girl's bedtime, we went for it!

Unfortunately, it didn't turn out to be much of a walk, but we did make time to try the Monon Food Company. Situated in the old Hogheads BBQ location, MFC changed it up by brightening the inside and making it an order at the counter/deliver to table set up.

The menu is chalkboard style and in the very busy line, one of the owners(we assume) was taking orders ahead to try and speed things up a bit. One especially nice touch is the outstanding beer selection and wine by the glass. So, first challenge, which beer to choose? A few items really stood out so we had to give them a try. First, would be the Gorgonzola Steak and Potato Basket(see above). Fred decided on the rotisserie chicken with potatoes and corn muffin. Libby had to try Tim's chipotle fish tacos and Ozzy, naturally the kids mac 'n cheese.

First off, we must say the service is awesome! These people have a lot of pride in their restaurant and make it a priority to give fast, friendly, and very personable service. Case in point...we actually tried to stop in a couple of weeks before, but had to leave due to a personal matter and one of the staff remembered Ozzy's name when we returned! Pretty impressive.

Anyway, back to the food. The appetizer, though a bit heavy for an appy(had to use a knife and fork), was awesome! Libby doesn't even like gorgonzola and she was ooing and awing over it. The steak was a nice medium, tender and juicy and the potatoes had a good amount of seasoning. The whole thing went together so well...felt more like an entree...yummy!

But sadly, that is where the amazing ended for us.

The entrees came out fairly quickly and Libby's fish tacos looked the part, fresh ingredients, nicely crisped tortillas, but unfortunately a healthy dose of raw onion was used as a garnish. Normally, a small amount of red onion wouldn't be an issue, but this was a bounty of raw white onion and sadly took the tacos to an unpleasant place for Libby...it gave the impression of a tuna salad...you know, the canned tuna version with mayo and onion and bleh...not Libby's cup of tea. The ingredients were top quality, but the amount of onion just threw the whole thing off...just a damned shame. Otherwise, it would've been great. And no, onions were not mentioned in the menu at all.

Fred's dinner had different problems...the rotisserie chicken was dry or overcooked, he couldn't figure out which and had very little flavor to boot. Sadly, this is another instance we have experienced lately where the local Kroger version would've put it to shame. The same yummy potatoes were on the plate, but the cornbread was too grainy and had little flavor on it's own. Ozzy usually will eat up any bread you put in front of him and after one bite, he pushed it aside.

The saddest part of the meal was the mac 'n cheese. Ozzy took one bite and started to pout. "It's not good" is something we have NEVER heard him say about a kids mac 'n cheese. Stunned, both Fred and Libby tried it and yeah, it wasn't good. Needed salt or more cheese, not hot, congealed beyond pleasantness, something. The same young lady that took a special interest in Ozzy asked permission to get him a little snack from a candy machine and we consented. It was a sweet gesture.

We loved the vibe, the beer and wine by the glass, the service...it is so Broadripple. It will succeed with fine tuning and perhaps some menu tweaking, but our experience was a major disappointment. We will probably stop in again and give it another shot as we did like the concept so much and the people even more.

http://www.mononfood.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$$, For Broadripple, average pricing and certainly not a deterrant.
Atmosphere-***, Relaxing outdoor seating and excellent location on the Monon.
Service-****, Yes, you order at the counter, but big deal...they make up for it in enthusiasm.

Overall

Fred - C, The entree drags down this rating. Loved the beer selection and the appetizer, but I wonder what's going on in the back of the house when they are working so hard up front.
Libby -C+, I have never had a fish taco with that amount of fresh, white onion before and it was just wrong, wrong, wrong...IMHO. Outstanding beer selection. Great service.
Ozzy-D, Ozzy has never been so disappointed with his standard fare. Although, we think he might be sweet on the pretty young lady who took a shine to him. ;)
Estelle-B, High chairs available and a nice amount of buzz in the air to keep her occasional squawks from interrupting the other diners' experiences.

Jonathon Byrd's Cafeteria

2010-06-13T18:54:00.000-07:00

In need of a quick lunch on the south side, FLOE stopped in at Jonathon Byrd's Cafeteria. When we first moved into town 11 years ago, we asked a local for a good place to eat and this was her first suggestion. We weren't impressed then and are even less so now.

Upon entering, you're greeted with the usual cafeteria line and extra long spread of various preprepared items. Immediately upon grabbing our trays we noticed the brown lettuce on the salad and moved on to dessert.

It's always struck us as strange that cafeterias put the desserts first. But at least the yummy-looking pies and cakes cleansed our minds from the wilted greens. Libby chose the chocolate cake and Ozzy immediately pointed towards a very large eclair. "That one!!!" Fred is never really a dessert person so he chose to pass. Libby's cake was uninspired and frankly a little stale. While Fred agreed that Ozzy's eclair looked amazing, Ozzy did little but pick at it until Fred demanded a fork full. It was indeed all bark and no bite. The crust itself was hard and flavorless. The filling was fine but not enough to make up for the overall.

While Ozzy & Libby flew straight past the soup station, Fred decided to make up for dessert with a bowl of their vegetable soup. It had a cabbage base and a good mix of veggies. Solid overall.

Next was main courses where Libby opted for the fried chicken and Fred the breaded cod with cocktail sauce. The chicken was by far the best item we had. Judging by their geriatric clientele, we had expected it to be bland, but it was nicely seasoned and juicy. Fred's fish was crispy and artery clogging yet completely unremarkable. He was thankful that it was served with cocktail sauce to at least give it some flavor as it seemed to have zero on it's own. Ozzy didn't like the looks of any of the main dishes but was assured that there was indeed mac 'n cheese at the sides station.

Ozzy picked out his perfunctory side of mac 'n cheese as well as a cornbread muffin while Libby chose the green beans and a baked potato. Fred, knowing that we'd never get a bite of Ozzy's mac, picked up one for himself as well as a cup of the sweet potatoes. Ozzy destroyed not only his sides but the second half of Fred's mac 'n cheese. They definitely know the way to the boy's heart. Fred's sweet potatoes were cloyingly sweet and heavy on the cinnamon. Overall it wasn't horrible, but much more a dessert than a side dish. Unfortunately, Libby's sides both went more or less untouched. The potato was cold and Libby immediately pushed it aside. The green beans were the typical over-cooked over-salted dish found at every cafeteria.

Before leaving, we took a few minutes to look around at the dining room. They have obviously not updated the decor in decades. It felt like we had been eating in a nursing home. Actually, we've eaten in nicer nursing homes. We suppose they were going for down-home country, but it was instead just depressing. Vinyl-covered chairs with dusty, rusty wheels do not add to the ambiance and need to go. Although Stella did enjoy her old-fashioned high-chair as it was more functional than the standard restaurant ones that are inevitably too short.

http://www.jonathanbyrds.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$$, Afforable with large portions.
Atmosphere-*, We don't recall ever leaving an eatery more deflated than when we arrived.
Service-***, Above-average service for a cafeteria. Staff helped with getting Ozzy's tray to the table and came around to refill drinks.

Overall

Fred - D-, Jonathon Byrds embodies the worst of cafeterias. Uninspired warmed-over food reminiscent of your great-aunt's who wasn't the family's best chef. Combined with a depressing dining room, this does not make for a pleasant dining experience.
Libby - D+, No. The chicken was good. But if I want really good fried chicken, decent sides and a home-style meal, I'm going to Maxine's Chicken & Waffles. The atmosphere was sterile without being clean. Wiped down surfaces that were still tacky. Muzak in the background. Decor that would have been outdated 30 years ago. Overall just a stagnant feeling.
Ozzy- B, LOVED the mac 'n cheese. The eclair, not so much. But dug on mommy's stale chocolate cake.
Estelle-B, She loved the high chair and was, for once, at eye-level with the rest of the diners. A big upgrade over the standard high-chair.

Good Morning Mama's Cafe

2010-05-23T17:11:00.000-07:00

Sadly, the final day of our four day weekend arrived so we had to go enjoy one more brunch! After much discussion and research, we settled on Good Morning Mama's Cafe on 54th just east of College. Mixed reviews intrigued us and since we have never experienced Mama Corolla's Old Italian, there were no expectations other than something new and hopefully fun for the family! As it happens to be across the way from Zest Exciting Food Creations, we were left to wonder how good they must be to take on such stiff competition!

Upon entering, it is obvious this place is meant to be fun and inviting for everyone. From the cute murals to the bright colors to the very loud dining area, everything about this place says kids, old or young. We were very happy to see several families dining and for once, we didn't feel out of the ordinary in a trendy SoBro establishment. ;)

We were seated in the classically 1950's diner decorated open dining room that most certainly was a renovated service station. It was a great design. The chairs were surprisingly comfy and the layout just made sense. There was one flat screen mounted above a nicely placed bar and a jukebox displayed in one corner. To Ozzy's dismay, the jukebox was "fragile" and just for show.

So, what's for breakfast?! First, coffee. Good, smack-yo-mama brew was just what we needed and just what we got! Very impressive and most certainly stood up to the neighborhood competition.

Next, Italian fried biscuits rolled in sugar and cinnamon sounded like the perfect starter. There was something quite nostalgic about them. Libby was pretty sure they were the same homemade doughnuts that Grammy used to make from a tube of biscuit dough. Good stuff and very comforting. Ozzy was more than enthusiastic about them and actually proclaimed that they were "SUPER good!"

Fred decided the special of the day was speaking to him, the Eggs Benedict with cheesy grits. For Libby, a mimosa was in order...to be followed by the Java French Toast (made with challah) and a side of the homemade corned beef hash. And for Ozzy, the Blueberry shortstack.

Even though it was quite busy, we didn't have to wait long. Fred's egg's benny looked awesome! Tasty ham, topped with little dollops of poached goodness. Unfortunately they were skimpy with the hollandaise, but the eggs were cooked to perfection! Fred always likes his hollandaise to smack him around a bit, so he was a disappointed there wasn't more lemon. The cheesy grits were spectacular after a dash of salt!

Libby was quite jazzed to see such a beautiful line-up. The Java french toast was quite tasty, but there wasn't any of that kahlua flavor that the menu promised. Toasted pecans, sugar, and cinnamon butter really made for a great bite, but not quite as good as the creme brulee french toast across the way. Perhaps an overnight marinade would make that kahlua pop?...On the other hand, the corned beef hash rocked! Just the right amount of seasoning, hunks of tender corned beef, and a nice fry on the taters made for one happy Mama!

Ozzy enjoyed his blueberry stack and finished most of it. Mom nor dad had room to sample and give input, but if looks don't deceive, this was another winner.

http://www.goodmorningmamas.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$, Very reasonably priced for satisying fare!

Atmosphere-***, Fun, inviting, but might be a bit loud for some folks...for those of us with little ones, it was nice to not to worry that squeals of delight are bothering your neighbors!
Service-****, A warm & fuzzy waitress who took time to talk with the kids and make sure our needs were met. Did we mention that Papa himself topped off our coffees?! That's what we call service.

Overall

Fred - B, Very family friendly. Foods pretty darned good. If I'm driving up to SoBro for brunch, I'll be pulling for Zest to get my bidness.
Libby - B+, This was a fine way to end our mini-vaca. A delicious brunch with the fam that we will be sure to repeat in the future...now I can't wait to try Mama Corolla's!
Ozzy- A, Ozzy loved the doughnuts and dug into the pancakes. He felt comfortable to be in his normal loud state and seemed very pleased with everything.
Estelle-A, Nice highchairs and very welcoming of wee ones. There were three other infant diners around while we were present. Stella was in good company. :)

Petite Chou

2010-05-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

To celebrate 11 years of marriage, FLOE was determined to make it to a nice brunch on a rare Saturday morning off together. Planning some time at Holliday Park afterwards, we settled on Petit Chou in Broadripple. Our enthusiasm was so great that we made it there just after 8am. One to avoid a wait later, and two to get an early start on a day that promised to be uncomfortably humid after midday. (As it was very early, and neither of us was quite awake, no pics were taken...sorry, we spaced it.)

Upon arrival we made a mistake of picking a table towards the rear of the restaurant. After we were seated, we were informed that we should get our own coffee up front. Fred hopped up, avoiding 2 supporting beams on the way, to get some for us. While we enjoyed the 4 coffee options, we were very much annoyed at the extra-small cups. Several times we had to interrupt not only our meal but other diners' by navigating our way to the front of the restaurant coming uncomfortably close to their tables due to the columns in the walkway. Due to the tight quarters you feel other guests sway sideways in their seats as you go around the columns. We kind of enjoy being served at a sit-down restaurant. It's fine to be able to get your own, but being expected to is another thing altogether. The server made it abundantly clear that she was above getting you coffee. Most of this could be avoided simply by providing decent sized coffee cups!!

Service was slow, even though there was plenty of waitstaff and open tables available. Highchairs and boosters were available and we saw that they allowed pets outside (even providing water for a thirsty canine diner).

Libby ordered the The Overachiever -- a specialty omelet with bacon, cheddar, sour cream and horseradish with side of roasted potatoes and two large slices of brioche. She also order a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice, which never came but was on the bill. When we asked to have it removed, the waitress claimed it was in Ozzy's water container, which we assured her was not the case. Lovely. Thankfully Libby's food was good. The omelet was well cooked, with a nice balance of ingredients. Even kind of fluffy. The roasted potatoes were crispy, but unseasoned so she resorted to table salt. The toasted brioche was excellent, especially covered in the sweat cream butter.

Fred ordered the broken yolk sandwich with bacon and fresh fruit on the side. Although the menu stated that the eggs would be served runny unless otherwise requested, his were way overcooked. Instead of a yummy yolk running out the sides, he had a very hard yolk and crisped edges on the whites. This meal was what we would expect at Denny's. As a matter of fact, a Moon Over My Hammy's is better.

Ozzy requested a toasted bagel with butter which he enjoyed.

http://www.cafepatachou.com/ (Petite Chou is part of the Cafe Patachou chain of local eateries.)

Wrap Up
Price-$$$-$$$$, Very expensive for breakfast or dinner, but lunch prices seem reasonable.
Atmosphere-*, Did we mention the columns?
Service-*, If I want a sh!tty attitude from my waitress, I'll go to Ed Debevic's. Also, Zest does the get-your-own coffee thing right. While you wait you can get your own, but once seated, they refill your (nicely sized!) mug...

Overall

Fred - D-, This should have been so good. I really wanted to love this place and was excited to come back for dinner sometime to try the duck fat frittes. But I don't think I want to give them any more of my money.

Libby - C, My food was admittedly much better than Fred's. But the experience as a whole was tainted by the poor service. A successful dining experience takes more than decent food. I will not return to a place that does not want my business.
Ozzy-B+, Enjoyed his bagel and had many other food options.
Estelle-B+, High-chairs were available and she wasn't out of place.

City Cafe

2010-05-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

FLOE was off to the Children's Museum on Friday, but first we had to take the opportunity to eat a good lunch downtown...finally some City Cafe! Just south of Michigan and Pennsylvania, City Cafe is a quaint galley-style eatery with local art adorning the walls, a huge city mural on the back wall, and a menu that boasts farm fresh ingredients from local growers. It had been many years since FLOE had experienced lunch here, but if memory served, we were in for a real treat!

We arrived at a good time for lunch, just after 11, but dang it, we missed brunch again...keep hearing such good things about it! We were happy to see booster seats and high chairs for the kids, but no kids menu here. Ozzy still had options though, there was a very delicious looking grilled cheese on the menu, but a little too much good stuff for him, so we asked if we could get one toned down...no problem, per our waiter he was getting the "no fun" grilled cheese. It was a quick, easy choice for Fred as well. After hearing the special, a grilled chipotle chicken taco, he went right for it. Libby, on the other hand was struggling between the BBQ sandwich, the BLT wrap, and the fish tacos. Final decision, BLT wrap with a cup of the special of the day soup, a very chunky creamy tomato!

While we waited, we enjoyed our beverages; especially the house made raspberry lemonade. It was so light and refreshing! Not the usual overly sweet or fake tasting stuff we have all become so accustomed too, but very lemony with a hint of raspberry and very lightly-sweetened...really good stuff.

The entrees arrived in good time and looked as fresh as the menu boasted they would be! Ozzy's grilled cheese looked sooo gooey and delish next to what appeared to be house made chips. We later were told by our waiter that they were locally made by a venue in the City Market...yummy stuff. Fred and Libby's both had some of the best looking greens we've seen in a restaurant in awhile, but that is only the beginning.

Fred's tacos consisted of pulled chicken with southwestern spices, cheese, avocado, tomatoes and some great looking lettuce. On the side was a wonderful chipotle sauce that added just enough heat to make things interesting. Everything melded well but it felt like it was missing a side. Oh well, specials of the day are always works in progress and this dish was well on it's way.

Libby's BLT wrap had the same wonderfully fresh veggies and some really nicely cooked, very tasty bacon. It went so well with the cup of soup that had it's own depth of flavor thanks to good amounts of dill. This is the kind of food that not only tastes good, but makes you feel good! Not only good for the bod, but supporting the green mentality is so important and still challenging to do on a consistent basis in these parts. Bravo, City Cafe!

Now Ozzy's food, not necessarily "green", was still, very very good. Sadly, the grilled cheese was still too "gooey" for him...crazy kid...but mommy and daddy like! Fred already has decided next time he goes, that is what he is getting. Oodles of gooey sharp cheddar, provolone, and jack on a very nicely grilled sammi and those freshly made chips? This time, ordered "fun" would come with a chipotle sauce to add some spice! Forgettaboutit! Freaking awesome! Sorry Oz-man, but you're missing out here.

http://www.indycitycafe.com/ (coming soon, just a link to their Facebook page as of this writing)

Wrap Up
Price-$$, Not a cheap lunch, but not crazy either. Especially when you consider they buy local whenever possible.
Atmosphere-**, Would be a three but every time we've come there's an awkwardness waiting to be seated. There is nowhere to stand without feeling you're in the way.
Service-****, Informative, professional and well trained. He made mention that he had not yet tasted the special and offered to go do so and report back. Obviously tasting the special is a daily occurrence but we arrived at the very beginning of lunch. Thumbs up!

Overall

Fred - A-, I've probably been to lunch here a dozen times over the years and I can't ever remember ordering anything off of the menu. The special is ALWAYS so good.
Libby -A, Very pleased that the food stood up to the "farm fresh" hype. I really wish I knew of more local eateries that offered such high quality local ingredients. Any suggestions, readers?!?
Ozzy-C, While kids were welcome, there is no kids menu.
Estelle-B, They have high-chairs available and she didn't feel out of place.

-

Binkley's Kitchen & Bar

2010-05-21T04:48:00.000-07:00

We were on a mission. Find the best sit-down burger in Indy. Boogie reigns supreme in our minds, but it's not technically a sit-down. So, from a strong suggestion from a close friend, we headed for Binkley's in Broadripple.

Originally a drug store in 1928, Binkley's is now a very well established restaurant with accommodations for both adult diners and families (to our delight!). Once inside, the very contemporary decor was minimally decorated and tastefully understated. There was so much buzz around that the squealing infant and talkative pre-schooler were never noticed. A quick glance at the appy's made it easy to choose the Baked Goat Cheese served with naan.

Yeah, it was good...very reminiscent of the tapas version at Barcelona Tapas, but not quite the complexity with the tomato sauce here. Not complaining one bit. It was delicious! This is the first time we've seen naan in Indy outside of an Indian restaurant. A definite step up from the standard pita.

Fred and Libby had to sample some brews, so Fred chose the Celis Gran Cru and Libby the Goose Island Urban Wheat. Both were easy on the mouth, but something about Fred's beer made Libby's very good wheat taste like ass....ah, it was a Belgian Triple we later discovered...not to be compared with a mere wheat. Alas, they were both pleasing and oh, yes, Ozzy enjoyed his chocolate milk.

After looking over the menu, Fred decided he would order a burger, the Black & Blue, served with bacon and blue cheese crust. Libby, not to limit Binkley's to a burger experience, went for one of the spring specials, a half roasted chicken with roasted potatoes and the veggie of the day, squash and zucchini. Ozzy went for the kids' grilled cheese and fries and Stella settled on some Earth's Best peas and brown rice. ;)

Pictured right, the Black & Blue was huge!...not sure if only a third of a pound or more, but dripping with blue cheese sauciness and topped with fresh veggies(lettuce and tomato) and nice crispy bacon, it was one beefilicious bite! It came out just as ordered, medium rare. Even Libby, not a fan of blue cheese, was quite impressed with the combo! Fred was heavily reminded of cheeseburger in paradise, but even better...super juicy with perfectly crisped bacon and a great flavor from the sauce.

Libby's entree started with a salad mixed with strawberry vinagrette...wow! It really popped! Almost like a dessert, the fresh greens, house-made croutons and sweet dressing were just wonderful! After the beer, appy and salad, this was really shaping up to be quite the experience. Libby's roasted chicken came with roasted peaches in a thyme and balsalmic glaze. On it's own, the chicken was sadly, uninspired...but add a slice of peach to the mix and it was raised up to a fresh and light bite...still a little light. Not bad, just nothing special. It felt light on flavor...too subtle. Luckily the roasted potatoes were swimming in a pool of oily goodness, so mixing that with the roasted chicken added the seasoning from the potatoes and some fat...better. Still, not something Libby would order again. Bummer.

Ozzy was very quiet in the buzz around us as he dined on his panini grilled cheese, yes, panini! Served with fries, Ozzy was naturally in his preferred state of zen, carb munching. He refused to share a bite, so we will have to assume it was better than his usual "pretty good."

So, big question is, did we find the best sit-down burger in Indy? Well, Fred gives an enthusiastic thumbs up, but Libby is still on the fence. Better than Brickhouse? Yes. Better than any chain we have experienced, yes. But the best? Since burgers are not ordered at every dining experience, Libby doesn't want to commit just yet, but....anyone else out there know of a best sit-down burger in Indy?

binkleyskitchenandbar.com

Wrap Up
Price-$$, Shocked by the great price at the end! Three entrees, one tall and two short drafts, plus an appy all for $57 before tip? Not too shabby.
Atmosphere-***, Like most places in Indy, it's hard to judge the ambiance inside based on outward appearances. For years, we assumed this was an adult pub or adults only dining experience, but we were so pleased to see a kid's menu on the website and high chairs offered for the wee ones when we arrived. Not necessarily a "family" restaurant, it is great to see such a grown up place be so welcoming of those willing to bring the munchkins to a nicer spot.
Service-***, Timely in a busy section. Polite and accommodating.

Overall

Fred - A, That burger was melt-in-your-mouth good and with a killer beer selection to boot!
Libby -B+, Really enjoyed the appy and salad! Entree was pretty blah, but one bite of Fred's burger made me wish I had tried one of my own!
Ozzy-A, Ozzy's most enthusaistic, "pretty good!" might chalk this up to the best grilled cheese place in Indy!
Estelle-B, High chair? check! Busy room? check! Infant welcome?...yes, but still would feel odd if there were more than a couple in the place. She was definitely admired by onlookers, but we could only imagine how much less appreciated she would be if this was the typical kids everywhere kind of place.

Iozzo's Garden of Italy

2010-05-16T20:10:00.000-07:00

To kick off a much needed vaca, FLOE decided to be treated to a nice sit down dinner. We finally decided on Iozzo's, as it has been on our list of places to check out since it re-opened last July.

We arrived for early dinner, just after 4pm, and were immediately seated toward the back of the restaurant. Talk about a piece of artwork! Beautiful place. Exposed brick, huge archway to the bar area, etched glass dividers, hand blown glass lighting fixtures, contemporary yet comfortable chairs, original hardwoods...too bad we can't just move in...always dreamed of a downtown condo! ;) Anyway, nice pad!

We decided to forgo an appy as there was bread and olive oil at the table and we were thinking Italian desserts must be sampled! The bread was a good sour dough and the dipping sauce had an extra fresh feel with diced tomato incorporated...good start. We also went for a carafe of the house red...awesome. Not too heavy and seemed to go well with everything.

Fred was struggling between the lamb, eggplant, or pork medallions...Libby the salmon, orzo, or duck breast...
Finally Fred went with the Lamb Porter House Chops and Libby the Salmon Piccata. Ozzy decided on the kids spaghetti with marinara.

Both came with house salads and sides...Libby substituted her house for a spinach salad. Good idea! Tossed in a bacon vinagrette with dried cranberries, cucumber and almond slivers, it was the best salad Libby had encountered in recent memory! Never had wanted to lick a salad bowl before...
The house salad tossed in a basalmic vinagrette was good, but Fred agreed that bacon makes everything better! ;)

All entrees came out in a timely manner. Ozzy quickly dove in and didn't say much the entire meal. Libby was very happy from the first bite of salmon... very moist, crisp outside, with a nice medium inside...almost melted in your mouth. Green beans were very well seasoned. Libby was sure to ask for her side spaghetti with the sauce on the side...anytime an entree with a great sauce is ordered at an Italian restaurant, for some reason, it comes with the marinara all over it...how do you sop up yummy piccata sauce with your pasta if there is marinara all over it? So, lesson learned...if ordering an entree with it's own yummy sauce, and it comes with the "spaghetti side," get the marinara on the side. The marinara was pretty light on flavor and spice, so it was a really good decision.

Fred had a slightly different experience with his entree. Sadly, the Lamb chops were the one true disappointment of the evening. While well-seasoned, Fred's "medium" lamb chops were far past the well done stage. Tough and rubbery, if young children weren't present, we would have sent them back. But as always, time is of the essence with an 8 month old in tow. Fred found the green beans delightful and agreed that the seasoning on the marinara was almost non-existent. Perhaps, this sauce would go well with a spicy meatball, but couldn't stand on it's own and should not be offered as the standard side dish. Next time, I will opt for the Yukon mashed potatoes.

Dessert time! Having felt shortchanged by his lamb, even Fred opted for his own plate. There were several good looking options, so everyone got to try something! It came down to the featured raspberry cheesecake for Ozzy, the lemoncello tart for Fred, and the Iozzo chocolate pyramid for Libby.

All were happy here. The cheesecake was not shared with anyone until Ozzy was stuffed. He even turned down a bite of mommy's chocolate to stave off sharing a bite!

Fred's tart was surprising and whimsical. There were several different flavor combinations depending on where you stuck the spoon. Fred made sure not to leave any on the plate!

Libby's chocolate mousse was just as it should be, light yet rich in flavor. A rare thing to have a small dessert with such a sweet-tooth-satiating quality. A perfect ending to her perfect meal.

http://www.iozzos.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$$$$, Price limits Iozzo's to more than a casual dinner out.
Atmosphere-****, Beautifully restored building with a killer outdoor area which we look forward to enjoying on our next visit.
Service-***, We enjoyed our server's heavy Italian accent as well as his recommendations on desserts.

Overall

Fred - B, This experience is really hard to rate. It's bolstered by the 4-5 other dishes on the menu I'm dying to try, yet harpooned by a main course that should never have left the kitchen. All other aspects of the meal were delicious though and my overall experience was certainly an enjoyable one.
Libby -A, Very happy with all aspects of the meal, the atmosphere...other than the hefty bill, you can't beat this Italian experience.
Ozzy- B+, Seemed to enjoy his pasta, definitely liked the dessert.
Estelle-B+, Welcomed by the staff(high chairs available). Although she almost had a close encounter with the floor as her high chair had no crotch strap and she is still a wee bit squirmy.

Flatwater Restaurant

2010-04-19T19:26:00.000-07:00

Sunny, warm weather always beckons the FLOE to the Monon. A lazy Sunday stroll left us parched and ready to find some new eats. Our first attempt didn't work out (we'll be back for you, Fat Dan's!), so we moseyed further and stumbled upon the newly opened Flatwater Restaurant on Westfield Blvd.

We were super-psyched to see the awesome deck located in back, right on the canal...lots of scenery for the Oz-man and a serene atmosphere for maxin' and relaxin'.

It was also the location of a momentous occasion - first time in a restaurant high chiar- for our newest member, Miss Stella.

Mommy and Daddy were very thirsty, so the on-draft options had to be addressed immediately. Libby decided on the Sun King Wee-Mac...one of the least hoppy selections available, and Fred, the Upland Rad Red. It is obvious the owner(s) favor the hoppy side as the tapped goodies were all pale ales and other bitter varieties -- even the Rad Red was on the bitter side, much to Fred's dismay.

The menu was simple yet had a lot of tasty selections to offer. We decided to get a couple of things to share...Libby ordered the "Best of the Wurst" plate and Fred, a sliders selection (Hickory Smoked Ham, Hoosier Mini Pork Tenderloin, and Pulled Pork) with house-made fries. Ozzy the mac 'n cheese and fries...is there no helping this child?

First off, the beers were good...both Fred and Libby preferred the Sun King, with Fred moving to it for his second pint. Ozzy was content to watch the active canal fowl and visit the nesting duck in a planter on the deck. Stella proclaimed her control of the lotion(pictured above) and we all enjoyed a great start to the meal. The orders came out fairly quickly.

Fred's slider plate looked awesome! And it was. As soon as he saw them, he knew the fries were perfect...golden brown and delicious. A deep dark honey color that only comes from a double fry. The ham had a zesty mustard that actually needed the swiss to cool it down. The two played off nicely and set the stage for slider #2. The fried tenderloin had a great coating that again, was extra crisp without being oily. No mayo, but the bite from the pickle was all it needed. Last up was the pulled pork. While it could have used a dash more barbecue, it was incredibly juicy and full of porky goodness.

Libby was somewhat disappointed that her plate came out with brown edged lettuce and a few rotten grapes, but you can't go wrong with the high quality meats and cheeses. The nuts, apples, crustinies and raspberries were nice, but it didn't really feel like $13. It truly was an appetizer...more was in need. So, instead of ordering a dessert (of which there were none on the menu?!), we went with another appy that sounded awesome, the Pulled Pork Nachos with serrano pepper salsa.

As soon as it hit the table, we were concerned about the amount of red onion --an aversion for both Fred and Libby (immature, we know) as well as the lack of sauciness. As we started to munch, the consensus was, where is the goo? the glop that makes nachos nachos? But, as we continued on, a change came over us...this was good. Good in a fresh garden nacho kind of way. Good in a not too cheesy and overly greasy kind of way...what is this? Do we dare to enjoy a "healthier" nacho? Blasphemy!!! This is an outrage! But alas, we actually quite enjoyed the plate before us. Well played, Flatwater. Well played.

Ozzy was pleased as punch that his mac 'n cheese was the oh so healthy Kraft variety. Yay. But he did luck out to get the same delish house-made fries. He gobbled it all up and was quite pleased by the experience...except he tried to get a little too friendly with the nesting duck and got a nip on the finger to put him in his place. Kids.

http://www.flatwaterbroadripple.com/home.html

Wrap Up
Price-$ - $$$, All over the board. You can get a good meal for $9 or $20.
Atmosphere-****, While we did not experience the interior, the back deck was fabulous overlooking the canal.
Service-***, Courteous, timely and friendly.

Overall

Fred - B, I would recommend the sliders to anyone. A steal at less than $10. But come on guys, not EVERYONE likes bitter beer and it was either that or the domestic swill.
Libby - B-, Atmosphere, great. Sliders, awesome. Nachos, a surprise hit. But the appy I chose, which took zero cooking and just meant throwing together decent ingredients on a plate, should never include brown lettuce and rotten grapes. Quality control can make or break a new establishment. Don't destroy a good concept by letting the little things go. There were a lot of bells and whistles in that menu description, but the proof wasn't on the plate.
Ozzy- A , Wolfed down his food, loved the freedom to walk up to the fence, look at the ducks, etc.
Estelle- A, Her squawks of delight in loud proclamations were barely noticed and she received lots of smiles from the other tables enjoying the fine evening outside.

La Jolla Mexican

2010-04-06T20:24:00.000-07:00

Guess what? We forgot to take a picture of the food...again. So, please enjoy the fun Fred and Stella photo from the restaurant instead of one of our yummilicious dishes.

So, we digress...it was a most beautiful spring day in Indy. We wanted to walk the Monon, but by the time we made it to Broad Ripple, light was waning and we decided to dine some place new...to us. La Jolla, with it's ample outdoor seating and busy atmosphere called to us, so we answered! The wait was somewhat lengthy, but we have to say, well worth it!

As it was a Thursday, the hotties and metros were out in force. Especially at La Jolla. It was definitely awesome people watching and hearkened Fred and Libby back to those college years...ah, to be young and tartly! ;)

With an infant on one hip and a 5 year old scaling the half brick wall outside, it was obvious the FLOE was a little out of place. Regardless, we were here to experience, eat, drink and be merry!

We were seated at a perfect table on the deck with full view of Broad Ripple Ave and in the middle of the hustle and bustle. Salsa and chips came quickly and wow, we were impressed by the hot, very flavorful salsa. Not too shabby for what we thought would be at best, a good hang-out and hangover recovery establishment.

Yes, our server was busy, but he was good to get our drinks to us quickly and even took time to jaw with Ozzy here and there. The menu offered typical mexican-american fare, but a couple of enchilada, burrito, and taco fillings stood out...chorizo and spinach & cream cheese...que? Sign us up!

With combo platters calling to our very grumbly tummies, Fred chose the chorizo taco and chicken enchilada, Libby the chorizo burrito and the spinach & cream cheese enchilada. Both came with the very standard refried beans and spanish rice. Ozzy went with the cheese quesadilla...yes, there was a kid's menu!

Fred's combination was surprisingly tasty. The chicken enchilada with green chilis was certainly above average, but the chorizo taco! Yeah baby! Pure fatty, hard fried pork with a delightful heat. This place does not play around when it comes to spice. Daddy like! After the extra spicy salsa, he decided a second Negra Modelo was in order to tame the tongue. His only complaint? A $12 combo and he would have still been hungry had it not been for the chips and salsa.

Libby's top shelf margarita started the night off right. Once the dish finally arrived, Libby was most excited to try the chorizo burrito. Unlike other burritos, the shell had a slightly-baked, almost fried chewy texture. This stood out from the usual raw flour tortilla burrito. She had to actually cut it with a knife. This turned out to be a very good thing. Lots of texture and flavor. The chimichanga was an excellent paring thanks to the creamy spinach filling and flaky fried crust. Both of us agreed the spanish rice was "meh" at best, but the refried beans were a little bit eyebrow raising, giving extra life to anything else that happened to be on the fork at the time.

Ozzy, of course, macked out on the chips sans salsa. We had to start rationing. But after a puny whining attempt, he grudgingly ate half his quesadilla. Fred had a bite of the leftovers and decided that with a little of the outstanding salsa, he could have finished the whole plate.

Wrap Up
Price-$$, Perhaps a bit pricey for mexican. But that would not deter us.
Atmosphere-*****, The first 5 we've ever given. The people-watching and cantina atmosphere overlooking the Broadripple strip was entertainment in itself. Pure bliss when it's been all-kiddos all-the-time for the past 5 years.
Service-**, They were careful to get drinks & chips to you quickly, but the kitchen could not keep up with the crowd.

Overall

Fred - B+, Certainly above-average Mexican. Is it better than La Piedad? No way. But when you add in the atmosphere, I'd call it a wash. I'd happily head back any time.
Libby - B+, Ditto. I can't agree more. What La Jolla lacks in authenticity, they make up in atmosphere. The spinach & cream cheese is effing genius. I know it's not Mexican, but that's good *beep*.
Ozzy- A+ , Fun atmosphere. He was entertained the entire time and even when he got loud, who on earth could have heard him above the crowd?!
Estelle- C+, Distracting atmosphere whose hotties and metros found her absolutely adorable. She handled it well, but this is not a high-chair offering establishment. Not that we expected one, but it was obvious that they do not exactly cater to that crowd. School-agers are OK, infants are a buzz-kill.

Addendum: We're a little taken aback by the poor ranking on Urban Spoon. Having been by the place often, it is always packed. Yes, it's location location location, but we're wondering if people just discount it because of the hookup atmosphere..?

Saffron Cafe

2010-03-17T20:06:00.000-07:00

FLOE felt a little late to the ball having seen lots of great reviews flow in on Saffron Cafe. But this week we finally had a chance to give it a whirl.

As they have their menu online, we'd given it a bit of thought before we arrived. We knew that the antipasto plate was right up our alley. Hummus, Zaalouk (Morrocan eggplant spread) & Bakoula (Morrocan spinach spread) served with a tasty warmed pita. The only question was how we'd keep Ozzy away from the pita basket!

Careful to limit the boy's carb consumption, we dug in. Fred found the spinach to be captivating; far outshining the hummus, which was a real surprise to us. Neither of us could place a single ingredient past the spinach, but were consistently commenting on how flavorful it was. The eggplant was also high on Libby's list, reminding us heavily of babaganush. Even when the pita ran out, the serving spoon made for a satisfactory delivery device. All in all, a great start to the meal.

Always excited about new and exotic ways of cooking, both of us chose Tajines for the main courses. A Tajine is a traditional Moroccan stew cooked and served in a decorative ceramic pot. Think of individual little crock pots that've been cooking all day and bursting with spices. yum!

After ordering an Alhambra Negro (a wonderful, dark Moroccan lager), Fred chose the Ginger Chicken Tajine. Half a chicken slow-cooked with ginger, garlic, peas & carrots with a healthy dose of saffron and a most unique flavor addition: pickled lemon. We're not sure if they intend for you to actually eat the pickled lemon wedges, but WOW talk about a flavor bomb in your mouth! It was intense, in a good way. Aside from the lemon, the dish was very mild, floral with a pleasant flavor. However we both agreed that this was not the best choice of dish. Due to the slow, wet cooking method, the skin was unappetizing. That combined with a large amount of bones made for a less than stellar overall experience. The flavor was spot-on, but with so many other amazing options, you should consider them instead.

Libby chose the Tajine Lamberel. Presented in the beautiful Tajine dish, it was a sight to behold....stewed leg of lamb, resting in a brown sauce that contained eggplant in some capcity(yum) and the aroma...absolutely wonderful! The LesTrois Domanes Rouge,(a mild red table wine from Geurouane, Morocco) paired perfectly. Definitely not a dish heavy on spice. Richness was the word that came to mind. The lamb was beyond fork tender. The table bread, special in it's own way with heavy tones of beer, was perfect for sopping up the goodness. When craving a lamb dish, this is exactly what comes to mind...tender, rich, depth of flavor...comfort food.

Ozzy made due with half the pita from the appetizer. We had ordered him a side of roasted red potatoes, which mommy and daddy both agreed were quite tasty. Ozzy on the other hand was much more interested in another boy's toy police helmet and had no time for food. One of these days, boy, we'll turn you into a foodie. You can't hold out forever!

For dessert, the choices were a tiramisu, a baklava, and a marscapone cheesecake. Ozzy heard the word "cake" and quickly declared his vote...so, the marscapone cheesecake it was! This was not cheesecake in the usual sense of the word...it was really more like a strawberry shortcake...and wow! It was the best strawberry shortcake we have ever had! A huge piece layered with marscapone cheesecake and the shortcake, covered with whipped cream and strawberry sauce...just fabulous! Light and heavy at the same time. How did they pull that off?!

http://saffroncafe-indy.com/

Wrap Up
Price-$$$-$$$$, Pricey but with a wow factor. The couple on a first date in the corner certainly had the right idea!
Atmosphere-***, Small, but beautifully decorated with comfortable seating. An open concept with a very affable and ever-present owner.
Service-****, We had a very early reservation and there were few other tables, but the waitstaff was attentive and personable without being overbearing.

Overall

Fred - B+, I'm sure a different tajine would only improve this rating. But you have to call it as you see it.
Libby - A, My experience was excellent. I look forward to coming back for more. I appreciate their openness to allow accommodating young children. We saw another table made a fast-food run for their youngster which was simply joked about by the owner as he brought out a complimentary appetizer for the large family to share.
Ozzy- C+, No kids menu whatsoever, but Ozzy actually fork-blocked mommy for the dessert!
Estelle- A, Stella's personal, very private dining experience was not looked upon with shock and dismay by the staff, but rather seemed welcome and natural in the setting.

Red Lion Grog House

2010-03-11T19:23:00.000-08:00

FLOE is finally feeling well and glad to be back to one of our favorite things...food! On this rainy almost-Spring day, an English pub sounded like the thing that could warm our hearts and tummies!

In October of last year, Fountain Square welcomed newcomer, Red Lion Grog House to the scene. (Check out the website...nicely done.) Although they are located in the heart of Fountain Square on Virginia Ave., it takes a minute to find them due to a distinct lack of a good outdoor street sign. It helps to know it is part of the old G.C. Murphy building.

Upon entering, you notice how clean and new everything is. Rich red-brown walls, beautiful hardwood floors, a dark tin ceiling, and at least 5 flat screens. The restaurant has a long narrow shape, is well arranged, and has a nice, albeit, alcohol-free bar at the moment..(liquor license pending within the next month).

The lack of a freshly tapped beer at a grog house was quite the disappointment for Fred and Libby, but we were still optimistic and so glad to finally be out and about after so long. The menu features typical English fare...fish 'n chips, bangers 'n mash, shepherds pie, scotch eggs, a little curry, and some sandwich and burger options.

FLOE decided to start with the fried pickle chips with garlic dijon-aioli. Fred chose the curry dish, the Chicken Tikka Masala while Libby stayed very English with the Fish and Chips...although the Blanket Bangers sounded oh, so tempting! Ozzy, being in a mood after waking up cranky from a brief car nap and losing a toy the moment we set foot in the pub, settled on some of the fresh-cut fries and a water...oy. Stella seemed very content post pre-dinner peas and squash. :)

The pickles came out fresh and hot. A nice crunch, a light fry, and that dipping sauce was just fantastic! Something to save for anything else you could possibly dip in it! They were gone far too quickly, but definitely got us in the mood for more!

The entrees arrived soon after. Fred's Chicken Tikka looked so good that poor, quick Stella stuck her hand in it the moment Daddy's attention went to picking her toy rings off the floor for her...a little too warm and a shock brought the pleasantness of the evening to an abrupt halt.

After soothing the wee one, Fred found the Chicken Tikka Masala to be rich and flavorful. He had always heard that the English did Indian very well, but had assumed that their version would always be a bit watered down on the flavor side. But this was heavily seasoned and certainly equal to anything he's had at India Palace. The only thing missing was the naan. And a hefty beer, of course! Served with only basmati rice, it was a hearty portion that left a wonderful warmth around the lips and belly.

At first glance, you could tell Ozzy's fries were going to be good. A perfect brown hue promised a lovely flavor to those house made fries...and they did not disappoint. Ozzy was very happy, complaining only that there were too many for him to finish. Libby was so pleased to see an equally welcoming perfect golden-brown fry to her Atlantic cod. This was easily one of the best fish and chips entrees ever, and there have been many. The fish was not oily, of good quality, perfectly fried with a tasty batter...and a perfect amount. Not over battered, mushy, or underfried. Well done. A little(or maybe a lot) of malt vinegar and we were good to go!

To round off the meal, and to try and salvage an evening that had been full of follies, we chose to try the dessert...two large chocolate chip cookies over vanilla ice cream drizzled in ganache...how can that not be good? It was great. The cookies were even a little underdone just to put it over the top. Yum. Ozzy was so enthusiastic he proclaimed that it "tasted very healthy!" and tried to convince me he saw some greens in it...if only chocolate chips could count as greens...

Afterwards, one of the owners came up to let us know there were going to be a few locals on tap, including two Sun King brews and Upland Rad Red (complete with a custom Red Lion tap)...not a bad start. She also made sure to let us know there would be no domestics...even better. There will also be about 20 bottled beers available. We will definitely be back when the taps are present and full and we can get the full Grog House experience. :)

http://www.redliongroghouse.com/index.html

Wrap Up
Price-$$, Well worth the money for far above average pub-grub.
Atmosphere-** - ***, We never thought we'd say this, but they need more sh!t on the walls. And beer...
Service-****, Service was top-notch, although it was a slow night and they had plenty of extra staff on hand.

Overall

Fred - B+, Assuming they get that liquor license, this place could be dangerous... Perfect fried pickles. Must try the Blanket Bangers next time.
Libby - B, The meal was good. But sadly the rating has to take a hit when there's no grog in the grog house.
Ozzy- B, Enjoyed the fries and dessert, but there really weren't any children's items available. Although the waitress did offer to come up with a PB&J!

The Greek Islands Restaurant

2010-01-25T19:02:00.000-08:00

Great balls of flaming cheese! Talk about an entertaining environment! We saw about 8 of these cheese infernos in the time we were there. And not only are they fun to watch, but tasty to boot! Opa!

Greek Islands is located south of downtown, neighboring Shapiro's and Iozzo's...not bad company. A little out of place with it's bright blue paint, once inside, it all comes together. Intimate, open and inviting describes the ambiance and the waitstaff do their part to add to that family restaurant feel.

After ordering a glass of the house red, we simply had to start off our meal with a Saganaki. Graviera cheese flambéd table-side in ouzo then sprinkled with fresh squeezed lemon juice. At first we assumed you were really paying for the show, but upon our plate's arrival, we knew differently. There is a reason why almost every table in joint ended up with one. It's a must have. Creamy and oily with a flavorful chewy exterior. Perfect with the ever-present warm pita.

We then decided to split the Greek Islands combination plate -- Generous helpings of Moussaka, Pasticcicho, Dolmades, Gyro meat, Spanakotiropita, and Tiropita. The single entree was more than a match for both our appetites. The Moussaka was easily the best either of us has had. The eggplant and meat melded perfectly and made you feel like there was an old Greek grandma back in the kitchen.

The Pasticcicho seemed like simply a lesser version of the Moussaka. It was basically the moussaka with the eggplant substituted with macaroni. We quickly passed this one by on the way to the wonderful Gyro meat (all for Libby) and the only Dolmades that either of us have enjoyed. Both the Spanakotiropita and Tiropita (small stuffed phyllo pies) were delicious. Perfectly crispy with creamy spinach and cheese stuffing. Yum.

Ozzy opted for the kid's spaghetti with the sauce on the side. He has recently decided that he loves dipping everything, but this time he quickly asked that we pour it on top. It was a big hit. This mixed with a playful waitress made for a very happy Oz. The loud atmosphere was also very good for both kids and parents alike. Any shenanigans would not upset nearby tables.

http://greekislandsrestaurant.com/

Libby lucks out again! Greek twice in one month??? Well, she had Dinner Club to thank for that.

Wrap Up
Price-$$-$$$, A fair price for scratch-made meals.
Atmosphere-***, Fun with flames erupting every few minutes and exclamations of Opa!
Service-****, Everything about our service screamed family business that really cares about their customers.

Overall

Fred - B+, While the house red was uninspiring, I think a few rounds of Ouzo would push this into A territory. Perhaps next time!
Libby - A, Solid food, fun atmosphere, happy kids = happy parents.
Ozzy- A, Plentiful bread, understanding waitstaff and a good red sauce. What's not to like?

Canal Bistro Mediterranean Grille

2010-01-03T19:21:00.000-08:00

New Year's Eve gave FLO the opportunity to go out as a family and enjoy a year ending feast together. As usual, the most difficult part was figuring out where to go. Canal Bistro had been on our short list of places to try since we saw it during a beautiful summer walk on the Monon this year. Located on the White River canal, the outdoor seating always looked so tempting in the evening sun. Finally, on the coldest part of the year, we decided it was time to check it out.

We were psyched and surprised to see there was a small parking lot (and an open space!) located next to the building and were not surprised to see we were one of two four tops in the joint. Our waitress was welcoming and happy to see us. Inside, the decor was unique and fun...a little upscale in feeling, but like most Broad Ripple establishments, a relaxed atmosphere that welcomes jeans or jacket.

For those not aware, Fred is not the biggest Grecian cuisine fan. The closest he gets is Turkey(loves Bosphorus), but Greece has not been his fav. Libby, on the other hand, LOVES Greek and relished this rare opportunity to try one of the several Greek venues in the Indianapolis area.

We chose to start with their appetizer sampler, the Mazza plate; falafel, tabbouleh, humus, tiziki sauce, tomato, cucumber, spinach pie, feta, and pitted black olives. Freshly grilled yummy pita came as the table bread. The falafel and spinach pie were the shining stars of this plate. The falafel was perfectly fried and had a well-melded mild flavor...really tasty in the humus. The spinach pie was absolutely delightful. Lightly crisp that left your fingers greasy and your mouth happy with the creamy spinach filling. Tabbouleh can be a difficult thing to eat much of with so much parsley, but it was fresh and light, a nice garnish(though there was more of it than anything else). The humus was good, but not memorable. The feta and olives were of great condition and quality. Overall, a nice appy, but Fred and Libby agreed they preferred the similar option at Bosphorus.

As it is really the Greek meats that Fred dislikes, he chose to sample the grilled feta sandwich-feta, tomato, cucumber, olives and spices grilled inside a large pita(?) or other flat bread. A solid sandwich made special by the very creamy feta that Fred wishes he could repeat at home. On the side came the orgasm of the evening. Originally requesting just fries, the waitress questioned whether Fred wanted them with feta and garlic...yes, please! What arrived are FLO's new favorite garlic fries in town. Move over Boogie Burger, these are the best garlic fries around! How is this accomplished? We suspect a garlic infused oil is the portal and more of that delicious, extra creamy feta. If the concept of creamy, crispy garlic fries intrigues you, then give these a try.

Libby, with a great love for gyros, had to try the Gyros platter that included more of the delicious feta and olives, buttery rice, some cucumber, tomato, lettuce and tiziki sauce. An unusual feature was the manner in which the gyros meat was presented. In the past, Libby has experienced the thin sliced variety, but this was cut in short chunks. Oddly, it made a difference. Libby prefers the thin sliced, more done edge that come with most gyros platters and sandwiches. The flavor was good, but the texture was not as desirable or pleasant as with others. Sadly, the tiziki seemed to need salt. Creamy enough, but little seasoning. The rice was standard. Overall, it was good, but not the best Libby had had by any means. Fred sampled the meat and found the texture not to his liking either-big shocker.

Ozzy was not left in the cold here. There was a kids menu. Options included gyros, chicken strips and something else he wouldn't eat(no recollection). He chose to try the chicken strips and fries. To our delight and his chagrin, they use their own batter...Ozzy did not approve, but Mommy and Daddy like. An odd and sadly happy development for Mom and Dad was a curious and new appreciation for ketchup. Since when did Ozzy decide he liked dipping? Yay! A new love for fruit? ;)

Wrap Up
Price-$$$, With no alcohol, at lunchtime, we were still talkin' $60.
Atmosphere-***, Interesting decor and welcoming environment.
Service-****, One of the coolest waitresses we have ever had!

Overall

Fred - B+, If I have to be dragged to a Greek place, this would be my choice. While the Brugge's frites still reign supreme, these feta garlic fries are an easy number two.
Libby - B+, So glad to finally enjoy a taste of the Mediterranean! Although it wasn't the best of it's kind I've had, it was good and a happy meal overall.
Ozzy- B, Loved the fries(and ketchup!) and the atmosphere, but a short kids menu with little for carbotarians to enjoy.

.

Brickhouse Burger Company

2009-12-30T19:17:00.000-08:00

Location, location, location ...You definitely can see this place going south on 465 at the Kentucky Ave. exit, but it isn't quite clear how to get there. Fred had noticed this Damon's takeover more than a couple of times on the way home. Recently, FLO was able to make an appearance.

After a round about way, we were glad to arrive and see that the place was busy on a monday evening. Inside, we were immediately seated in a comfortable booth and had the pleasure of 4 large screens to choose from. We were excited to see a speaker box on the table, but to our disappointment it was out of order. We later found out from our waitress that a server had cut the wires during carpet replacement and it was decided not to fix it...bad move.

The menu promised several appetizer classics, ribs, steaks, seafood, salads, sandwiches, wraps and some very exciting burgers...and that was what we were there for. Libby knew right away it would either be one of their stuffed burgers or the Rockefeller Spinach burger. Since Fred had his eye on either the Italian Stallion or the Three Cheese, Libby went with the latter. Not to be horribly redundant, but Ozzy had "the usual."

With Stella in tow, we were glad to be in a family friendly environment. On her best behavior, she seemed happy to look at the moving pictures or check out the activity outside the kitchen. The layout was very open and much larger than it appeared from outside...definitely an awesome place to watch a game or hang out with a group of friends. So, in essence, a venue for the masses.

After ordering a delightful Fat Tire draft, Fred had finally decided on the Three Cheese stuffed burger, as the pizza sauce on the Italian Stallion left him a bit skeptical. To change it up, he asked for it to be served on their pretzel bun but left on the standard house fries. Brickhouse certainly did not disappoint. The three cheeses oozed out of every bite and just to put it over the edge, they added a layer on top of the burger as well. Yowza, that's an artery clogging, gotta be good the rest of the week kind of burger. The pretzel roll really held up to the juice rushing out of it and added a bit of bite to the whole ordeal. A real home run. The fries, while certainly prefab, were well fried. Not overdone, but had a great crunch to them.

Libby's Rockefellar looked spectacular (as pictured above)! Ordered with the sweet potato fries, it was a wonderful balance of salt and sweet. There was a layer of cheddarjack cheese, spinach artichoke dip and crumbled bacon on top. Perfectly cooked and juicy...the only thing missing was more bacon and spinach. Not to downplay a good burger, but the size of the burger begged for more topping. Very well done all in all. And those fries were very tasty. As you would add to any sweet potato, they had sweet/cinnamony spices and the more fried bits were a bit caramelized. Sweet and crunchy. Yum.

Ozzy completed the meal and actually gave an enthusiastic "Pretty good!"

http://brickhouseburger.com/

Wrap Up

Price- $-$$$, If you came to watch the game, you could get 2 big beers and a great burger for under $20. A steal.
Atmosphere- ***, Clean, good layout and noise level. Stadium seating so that everyone can watch the game's on the projection TVs. But they've GOT to fix those speaker boxes!!
Service- ***, Personable, laid back wait staff.

Overall

Fred - A-, One delicious burger and I could certainly enjoy a game there. I need to try their brioche bun next! For the money, the great food and the TV's, these guys have it going on.
Libby - B+, Was it the best burger in Indy, no. Boogie Burger and Ted's are my favs, but if you are looking for a family friendly sports bar atmosphere, this is the place to go. The burger rocked and I will be back for another.
Ozzy- A+, he loved his meal, finishing the entire thing. And as a typical 5 year old, he could make an ass of himself and no one heard or cared. Unlike BW3's, where all the good TVs are in the bar area, these guys have family seating in front of the massive screens! Yeah Rah!

Barley Island Restaurant & Brewhouse

2009-12-17T18:18:00.000-08:00

Choices. Choices. Choices. Oh, and we guess they have food too....

Libby and Fred had an afternoon together while the Oz was in pre-school. Not sure if it was kid-friendly, we'd been waiting for just such an occasion in order to visit the new Broadripple location for Barley Island.

Fred's one and only stop at the venerable Noblesville brewery had been very dissapointing. Not only was the food only so-so, but he was working and therefore couldn't really sample the beer. (ok, maybe he still had one. so sue him.)

Fred instantly zeroed in on the Beastie Barrel Stout, a malty cocoa stout. It was surprisingly light and refreshing. If he weren't driving, he certainly would have ordered a second. Libby was undecided and therefore went with the sampler. As per our usual, we loved both ends of the spectrum, but the middle, not so much. Pale Ales just aren't our thing. While the porter and amber were good, the real standouts were the stout and blonde ale. But Libby agreed that the real winner was the Beastie. Get it while it's still in season, folks!!

Remembering that we were actually there for a late lunch, we chose a starter of the beer cheese and bread. Libby then ordered the spinach melt with homemade kettle chips, Fred, the "ultimate" grilled cheese with waffle fries.

We were originally heartened to see our server almost bring us our appetizer and then begin a quick low grumbling with another waiter. After a little back and forth, the plate was returned to the kitchen. It's wonderful to see quality control and a staff that really does care, even if they all unquestioningly blaze up out back. It was later explained to us, as our appetizer and entrees arrived in unison, that the bread had been over-toasted.

About the bread... This yeasty, flavorful, doughy wheat bread is an all-star. It was the highlight, not only of the appetizer, but the whole meal. If Barley Island were to use that on every sandwich, they could easily charge an extra $1-2 per plate. Think about it, Mr. Island. Unfortunately, it was served with a meek, bland, watery, one-note cheese sauce. We could not detect which, if any, of their beers were present in it. Come on guys. If you can't serve over-toasted bread (and thank you for not doing so!), you shouldn't be serving this either.

Moving on to our entrees...Libby's spinmelt had a distinctly "healthy" feel to it. Not a bad spinmelt, by any means, it was light on the cheese and heavy on the veg...topped with cucumber slices and mushrooms. A slice of cheese on top and some of that beer bread would have changed the whole story! It's ok for a spinmelt to be healthy, but there was no "melt" involved here. Oh, and the kettle chips were pretty good. Fred, not usually a fan of homemade chips, thought they were the best he'd tasted.

Fred's grilled cheese was just that. A grilled cheese. There was certainly nothing "ultimate" about it. It was 3 slices of white bread with American cheese in between. Granted the tomato and bacon were good. But this is something anyone could have made at home, probably with items already in their fridge. White bread & American cheese = ultimate? Really? Otherwise, the waffle fries were good. Most likely out of a bag, but crisped up nicely.

Wrap Up
Price- $-$$, For the beer quality, you can't beat these prices.
Atmosphere-***, Open, contemporary, but felt like it wasn't quite broken in yet. We were happy not to see TVs every 10 feet.
Service-***, It was interesting that they contemplated serving burnt bread, but we're glad they didn't.

Overall

Fred - C+, I'm actually surprised by my own rating. The food really was sub-par. But the beer! I'll suckle on that any time. And I really see potential. They need to work on the food, but it's only been open for a few months...
Libby - C, Honey, the beer was fine. But when I am lucky enough to get a beer in Broadripple, The Brugge gets my business..
Ozzy- Pre-K. :)

Ram Restaurant & Brewery

2009-12-06T10:20:00.000-08:00

Ah, the age old question...is the beer glass half full or half empty? Just send another one, quick! To your left would be the Ram's seasonal Winter Wit beer...delish. Unfiltered wheat that leaves your glass dirty inside...hmmm. Fred and Libby liked it so much, we took a keg for the road! The kegerator was pleased.

FLO decided to check out Ram after a long stint away. For Libby, it had been close to 4 years since last there and she remembered not really liking the beer or the food so much. Well, things have changed!

To start, Fred ordered the beer sampler and wow, not a bad brew selection. Winter Wit was the winner here, with the Butt Face Amber a close second.

Arriving during the late lunch hour on the weekend, it was not very busy and we were bemused by the number of things we wanted to try. To make things worse, the regular menu was supplemented with their seasonal menu. Choices. Choices.

After much deliberation, she went with the Turkey Reuben and homemade chips. Fred decided to go for the Red Hot Turkey Burger and sweet potato fries. Both selections from the seasonal menu. One cool thing about Ram is the large array of fried sides for burgers and sandwiches...sweet potato fries, homemade chips, regular fries, waffle fries, and onion rings. Ozzy shockingly decided to try their rendition of *sigh* mac 'n cheese. yay. rah.

The reuben was really tasty. Libby had to remove a little kraut as Stella would make her pay for it later, but the yummy havarti was a great twist. And the homemade chips were just right...super crispy and the whole thing paired perfectly with that wonderful brew.

Fred's turkey burger was equally successful. Slathered in Frank's Red Hot sauce, it was dripping-down-your-hand good. While the flavor of the turkey itself was masked by the spicing and sauce, it all melded so well that you wouldn't necessarily recognize whatever meat they had used. Usually not a fan of homemade chips, Fred went with the sweet potato fries. Although seemingly unseasoned, they were tasty and crispy. The slight sweetness from the sweet potato came through well and really offset the tangy, hot burger.

Ozzy finished his mac' n cheese with nary a word. It was the penne pasta variety and the sauce didn't do much for either Fred or Libby, but it's Ozzy's dish to critique anyway. ;)

Wrap Up
Price- $$, It's downtown lunch prices...not cheap, but worth the price.
Atmosphere-***, comfortable booths, but overall you can tell it's a chain.
Service-**, Bad service. It was not busy, but you would think our waitress was covering Sunday lunch rush before a Colts game. She was slow and forgetful when present. Ozzy did get a balloon though, when he noticed one hovering above another table.

Overall

Fred - B+, While the food was a little pricey for lunch, the excellent and inexpensive beer more than made up for it....and did I mention we got a to-go keg tableside???
Libby -B+, Even though the waitress was aloof for the most part, the food and the beer stood alone. I even later went with a girlfriend of mine and had another impressive meal and better service. My impression has done a 180 from several years ago.
Ozzy- A, Mac 'n cheese gone and noise level was no issue with the not-so-quiet atmosphere.

Papa Joe's Jr.

2009-11-13T19:38:00.000-08:00

FLO had not been out for almost a month and we had set our sites on Jugheads BBQ in Avon. To our dismay, after over 30 minutes of driving, we found it had been closed. With a screaming baby in the back, we decided to see what looked local and was close by. Papa Joe's Jr. was at a nearby stripmall and Italian sounded like something we could deal with...even though we had worked up an appetite for some ribs.

From the outside, you would have no idea the size or decor that awaited inside. A very nice surprise with it's shabby sheek bucca's-type atmosphere...lots of family and patron photos, some gawdy pieces in a low lit setting. There were several different rooms and sadly, FLO must have gotten the worst seat in the house--a wobbly fast food type booth directly across from the kitchen with a huge anvil-like tv hovering above Fred's head. This is surprising considering there were very few customers on this monday night.

The hostess was very nice and the waitress that followed very helpful and patient. The menu had the usual Italian standby's including more upscale offerings than you would expect when you walk in the door. As Libby was dealing with a most unhappy Stella, Fred did the ordering. Ozzy had to ask the waitress himself if they had spaghetti. This was a serious question for the 5 year old. So serious that he felt the need to repeat the question a few more times when he only received a bemused grin from the waitress. ;) Fred ordered the chicken picata for himself with a side of angel hair pasta and for Libby, the veal marsala with garlic mashed potatoes.

Fresh bread and a dipping sauce were provided with the meal. Very good bread and a tasty dipping sauce that had a spice/herb puree that FLO could not identify. The garlic butter on the side was also quite strong and yummy. The salads, on the other hand, were the old iceburg lettuce stand-by. Unfortunately, someone did not go through the lettuce very well and there were several brown/slimy pieces, so Libby forewent it altogether.

The meals arrived fairly quickly and Ozzy immediately began devouring his spaghetti with meat sauce. (Hey, any way to sneak protein into him!) Fred's angel hair came with a red sauce, much to his dismay. This seems to be a common problem at Italian restaurants. When you serve pasta alongside a heavily sauced dish, why add an extra sauce to the pasta, especially when it does not meld well with the main dish?! Shaking his head, Fred's mood lightened as he took the first bite. The sauce was thick and hearty and had a wonderful flavor. Perhaps his new favorite marinara in the city. The picata was very heavy on the garlic but also tasty. The portions of both were large enough to share, which, after Libby tasted her meal, we did...

Libby's veal began well enough. It was cooked well and had generous portions of meat, mushrooms and sauce. After the first bite, Libby noticed an off flavor. With Fred's help we recognized the harsh alcoholic essence of too much cooking wine. Had real marsala wine been used, this off flavor would not be present. It is a real shame to take the sacrifice of a baby cow and cover it with cooking marsala. Please Papa Joe, add a couple dollars to the price of the entree and use the real deal. The mushrooms were cooked perfectly, the garlic mashed potatoes were fine. But overall the dish was hard to eat and impossible to enjoy.

As this was an off night for Stella, it was difficult to get through the meal. We opted not to send the marsala back, but just push it aside, share Fred's dish, settle up and get back in the car. On a less hectic night, Libby would have sent her dish back and we would have had a third entree to critique. Ozzy on the other hand, seemed unaffected by the screaming and happily finished his meal after repeated doses of parmesan.

Sadly, we were unable to sample any of the wonderful looking deserts in the front display case. If we were to return, those tasty looking cannolis would certainly be high on our list!

Wrap Up
Price- $$, Very good value and large portions.

Atmosphere-***, We would give it a 4, but we had just a view of the kitchen with a leaky faucet. Other tables would be a different story.

Service-****, Most accommodating and friendly!

Overall

Fred - B, I would definitely return for that red sauce and there were many other tantilizing items on the menu.
Libby -C-, Good points: bread & dipping sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, Fred's dish. Bad points: poor attention to detail, corner cutting on the salad and sauce! There's never an excuse for cooking wine.
Ozzy - A, Kid friendly. Bread. Pasta. Happy kid.

Lincoln Square Pancake House

2009-10-24T17:42:00.000-07:00

After a viewer's suggestion, we decided to try Lincoln Square Pancake House. It was a Sunday morning, bright sun, and a packed house. We were seated almost immediately by a very courteous and eager host! After settling in our booth, another enthusiastic staff member, our waitress, brought our water and got the coffee goin'. One look at the menu, and Libby began to question if this might possibly be another Grecian family-run diner...the presence of the Greek Omelet and attention by a noticeably older gentleman helping staff made sense. This place only opened up within the past year or so. Most men over 60 aren't opening and working in new establishments, but instead, planning or practicing retirement. Yes, this place smelled of hard work and determination.

After reading a posted newspaper article, Libby's suspicion was correct...owner, George Katris immigrated from Greece in his teens to Canada, eventually became a US citizen and started the Indiana based chain in the late 80's. There are 13 locations, with one in Ohio.

As newcomer's, there were a couple of breakfast musts...for Fred, a benedict of sorts, for Libby, something to sample the house sausage gravy, and for Ozzy, the breakfast carb of champions, flapjacks. Fred went with a little twist to the classic benedict, the Florentine...spinach and bacon instead of canadian bacon. Libby went with the Country Benedict or basically, biscuits and gravy with poached eggs piled on for good measure. Both entrees came with the "American Fries" aka house hashbrowns. For Ozzy, the kids pancakes with bacon.

Our waitress was a coffee pusher, as with most good breakfast places...and we are happy to say, this brew was decent for a basic house coffee...fresh, medium-strength with a mellow flavor. Fred and Libby typically like the french-press, knock you on your arse variety, but found this quite satisfying.

The food arrived quickly. Fred tried his dish first thing, as he is very particular about the level of acid, or lemony-ness in any hollandaise. Not impressed. Too bland and no noticeable lemon flavor. Having said that, the buttery-ness was there and at least, it was an actual hollandaise and not a cheese sauce as so many breakfast placed think of as hollandaise. He loved the spinach and found the American Fries to be the highlight of the meal.

Libby, always excited for a tasty gravy, was also nonplussed. This was the overly floury variety with little seasoning and flavor. Nothing special. The biscuit was fine and the eggs were perfectly poached. The American Fries were very good.

Ozzy, on the other hand, was quite impressed with his pancakes! Libby and Fred had to sample and agreed...there is something special in that batter...vanilla? spices? Regardless, the flapjacks are the way to go...wonder how the blintzes/crepes weigh up?

Although, not the sweeping successful impression we were hoping for, this establishment showed promise with it's sweeter variety of breakfast. There is also a bakery counter at the entrance...so much possibility!

Wrap Up
Price- $, Cheap Eats!
Atmosphere-**, Clean but cramped, and somewhat odd design.

Service-****, Most accommodating and friendly!

Overall

Fred - C+, While not my ideal breakfast place, it would certainly do in a pinch..no one would walk away unhappy.
Libby -B-, The gravy was a real disappointment, but I feel the sweet carb menu is most likely quite impressive!
Ozzy -A, Ozzy loved his pancakes!

Chatham Taps

2009-10-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

After a month-long break due to the birth of our newest reviewer, Estelle or "Stella", Fred & Libby were able to have a "grown-ups only" date for Libby's birthday. (Thanks, Grammy!) We decided on a place we would rarely get the opportunity to visit, a British inspired gastropub on Mass Ave. called Chatham Taps.

This is no bud-light-guzzling, nachos and wings place. The patrons seemed to be primarily regulars as they chatted with the waitstaff on a personal basis. There were even a couple sporting supportive chatham taps t-shirts. The menu was very impressive...green leaf thai wraps, fried pickles, taponade, a variety of salads and sandwiches...and let's not forget to mention homemade potato chips!

We were delighted to see there was not a single domestic macro-brew on tap. No Bud. No Miller Lite. If you want to drink crap, you have to do it out of a bottle. And shocked as we were, we still saw someone partaking. Will they never learn?! Oh well.

We decided to try a couple of pints from Indy's newest microbrewery, Sun King. Libby tried the Octoberfest while Fred opted for the Saison. Both of us agreed that they were clean and crisp, but not as complex on the finish as we would hope. The Octoberfest didn't have the spiciness Libby looks forward to and was a tad too bitter for her palate. Fred's Saison was nice and tart but he couldn't help thinking how it needed the addition of... something? He considered asking the waitress for lemon, or maybe an orange, but eventually decided against both.

For our starter, Libby chose the Montauks -- Bread baked with smoked gouda and fresh basil topped with either rasher bacon & pan-seared tomatoes or sauteed mushrooms all served atop a devilishly delicous mayo based pool of sauce (or was it an aioli?). Holy cow. We might have been happy paying twice the $7.50 pricetag. Or perhaps we should just get 3 orders and call it a meal?!?!

For the main course, Libby chose that old English stand-by, Fish and Chips. The fish, although of good quality, was too heavily battered for her taste. This in turn made the outside deliciously crunchy, but the inside too mushy which detracted from the flavor of the fish. The fries, on the other hand, were of the seasoned variety that were very comparable to a Rally's type of fry. The dish would have been completely satisfying if it weren't for the gooey
non-fried batter issue.

Fred immediately chose the gorgonzola, pear and rasher bacon melt. Wow. If you're a gorgonzola lover, this one's for you! Hot and gooshy. And then you add the bacon and it just goes over the top! Served on ciabata bread this was a sure-fire Fred pleaser. It came with Chatham's wonderful homemade chips which were well done, nice and crispy. They were pretty thick for a chip and not at all oily. A perfect plate of upscale pub grub.

For desert, Libby gave the tiramisu a try. Oddly enough, she believes it to be one of the best she's ever tasted. It was light with perfect coffee undertones and a delicate creamy texture. A true pleasure and perfect after the nice fried platter. We are unsure if it was made onsite, but our compliments to the pastry chef.

Fred, per his norm, decided to drink his dessert. And boy is he glad he did! How had a beer snob such as himself missed trying Wychwood's Hobgoblin Ale before? Unlike any other beer FLO has tasted, it was incredibly complex and a reason alone to return to this outstanding pub. And yes, it was on tap! Incredible.

http://www.chathamtap.com/

Wrap Up
Price- $$, Great value for such upscale food.

Atmosphere-****, It screams English pub. Even the clientelle seemed to fit the mold.

Service-***, No complaints here. Fast and personable.

Overall

Fred -A+, I want to live upstairs and have my own personal bar stool.
Libby -A, Love this place! In another life, we would be living in Real Silk and regulars. But for now, it will remain a grown-up treat from time to time.

Tata Cuban Cafe

2009-09-07T14:56:00.000-07:00

Being that Tata has been listed at the top of the urbanspoon Indy restaurant site, FLO had to sample some of this highly regarded cuban cuisine. The opportunity presented itself during one of our dinner club outings and so we entered the experience with high expectations and much anticipation.

Upon entry, the very small, narrow location was decorated in dark, rich tones and the space was actually used very efficiently. There was a small look-through to the kitchen and a large flat screen blaring Gloria Esteban music videos.

Our large group was well accommodated in the seating department and two waitresses handed out menus and started filling water glasses promptly...good start. The fried plantains appetizer caught our attention immediately...must try. The appetizer came with a mojo sauce...no idea what it was, but why not? Our guess is that the plantains were deep fried. They came out caramelized, warm, soft, and oh-so delicious. The mojo sauce on the side provided a sweet tang that really didn't add much, but did not detract either. We ended up rotating between bites with and without.

Being that the cuban sandwich had been boasted as the best in Indy, Libby had to try it. Libby loves a good cuban and this one came with more fried plantains! Fred found a delicious sounding roasted chicken, with yellow rice and fried plantains. Ozzy did not partake in the menu other than some french fries that he seemed very happy with.

Fred's chicken(pollo asado palenque) was fall-off-the-bone tender, succulent, with an amazing pool of drippings that were easily and happily sopped up by the yellow rice. The maranade on the chicken added a wonderful savory flavor that really enhanced the bird. On it's own, the rice had little flavor, but the drippings from the meat made all the necessary difference! Oh, and the plantains were delicious! Did we say that already?

Libby's cuban(el guaso), although not the best cuban she has had, was good. The bread was perfectly pressed and toasty, but sadly, the ham was not of the greatest cut nor amount. The ham was cut in thicker chunks and did not lend itself to the best sandwich experience. The mustard, ham, roasted pork, and swiss cheese were ok, but the pickle was off. Not sure if it was a bread and butter pickle or what, but it detracted from the sandwich.

Ozzy wanted more fries...oy.

Fred also had the delight of partaking in a mojito. Tata's is served with a stick of sugar cane, light on the mint, and overall mild and refreshing! Only deference to a very pregnant Libby stopped him from having a second.

http://tatacubancafe.com

Wrap Up

Price- $-$$, Great value, especially for downtown.

Atmosphere-***, Maybe a little less Gloria? Down just one notch?

Service-****, Handled a no-reservation 12-top with separate checks. Nuf said.

Overall

Fred -A-, Somehow they made roasted chicken with rice into something truly special. It's hard to believe this is not their signature dish.
Libby -B, Although their Cuban may have been more authentic, my American palate prefers the Cheesecake Factory version. But I cannot say enough about the carmelized, soft and gooey plantains. I can understand why some might rate it number 1 restaurant in Indianapolis (per Urban Spoon), but for me, nothing beats the Brugge Brasserie.

Ozzy -C+, They were very tollerant and accommodating of children of all ages, but there was no children's menu and our boy is not big on ethnic food.

Zest Exciting Food Creations

2009-08-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

FLO was enthusiastically searching for some place to unwind after a stressful day and have a great meal. Zest came to mind after remembering several stellar reviews so we checked out the website. The menu made our decision for us...brie cake, "steak" 'n eggs, asiago "fried" chicken, crab patties...the descriptions were all we needed to jump in the car and make our way asap. We even called ahead to make sure there were options for the wee ones, and we received an exuberant, "of course!"

Located off the beaten path, Zest rests in a strip mall off of 54th and Carvel Ave. FLO is unfamiliar with the area, but discovered Mama Carolla's was close by and a cute looking breakfast place whose name escapes us. Definitely an area we will be returning to one way or another.

Zest provides some outdoor seating, has a small gourmet shop inside and has a higher end interior design, but not too elite, just nice. There weren't many patrons at the time we arrived and we were seated in a low lit dining area just off the entrance.

As the server approached, Ozzy immediately asked, "Do you have any mac 'n cheese?" To his delight, she responded positively. This was surprising to Fred and Libby as the kid's menu did not mention mac 'n cheese, so was this a special order? We decided to start with the Pommes Frites with roasted pepper aioli, wasabi cream, & sea salt and vinegar for dipping. Fred went with the Pan-Blasted Pork, rosemary roasted pork tenderloin with fig & port sauce with roasted garlic smashed potatoes & the night's veggie, which was green beans. Libby decided to go for the Asiago "fried" chicken, crispy asiago-crusted chicken breast with wild mushroom ragoût, roasted garlic smashed potatoes, & the same green beans.

The frites arrived nice 'n hot, well seasoned and a welcome site to Ozzy! Very nice. The sauces were very good, especially the garlic aioli, and the dish really wet our appetite for more. (Although, sorry to say, still doesn't come close to Brugge...they have the blue ribbon in pommes frites and sauce!!!) The entrees came soon after and Ozzy immediately balked at the mac 'n cheese. It was covered in something(potato chips!) and had a definite air of bacon. Sounds awesome to Fred and Libby, but Ozzy has the most unexciting preference in the mac...Kraft or something close to it...he occasionally enjoys the pasta interpretations at many Italian places, but sadly, this was a no go. He did try it, but did not enjoy the porky goodness.

Libby was faced with quite a large portion of lovely mushroom smothered chicken. It was wonderful. A light crisp on the chicken and the ragout was very tasty...mushroomy with lots of herby tomato overtones. It went very well with the chunky, skin in, flavorful, garlic mash. The green beans did nothing for the dish.

Fred's pork was perfectly cooked with a very thick sauce, heavy on the cinnamon and fig...perhaps fig butter? And Fred could not get enough of the smashed potatoes. His seemed extra heavy on the white pepper, which drove him wild! More than making up for the lackadaisical green beans.

As if we weren't full from the ample portions for dinner, we decided to gluttonously try a dessert. The carrot cake called to us! It was very, very good. Different from the typical cake, it appeared to be steamed, as it was so incredibly moist. Large chunks of carrot, dried fruit and nuts were accompanied by the most lightly sweetened cream cheese frosting we have ever tasted. A large portion as well, it put us over the edge. It was a heavy dessert and we should have gone with a lighter option, but it was soooo gooood! Unfortunately, Ozzy sifted out the healthy parts of the cake and would only eat the icing on his slice. Is anyone surprised?

zestexcitingfood.com

Wrap Up

Price- $$-$$$$, This was the one downside. Perhaps, a bit on the higher side than we would've liked, but we'll still return.

Atmosphere-***, More laid back outdoor seating with fancier indoor accommodations.

Service-****, Accommodating, fast, friendly, and understanding of Ozzy's insistent request for mac 'n cheese followed by the "I don't like it" complaints.

Overall

Fred -B+, Everything I ate made me wonder what other creations I can expect when I return for brunch!
Libby -B+, Impressive menu that delivers. I am biased, but Fred's own pork tenderloin recipes put his dish to shame. And yes, brunch is a must in the near future!

Ozzy -B, He loved the frites, and we're sure would dig something else from the kid's menu. He just ordered the wrong thing...happens to all of us.

Viet Bistro

2009-08-10T13:59:00.000-07:00

In the mood for something between Chinese and Thai? This is how Fred describes a new ethnic food for FLO, Vietnamese. Located on the northeast side off of 86th, Viet Bistro is a quaint strip mall eatery with a very friendly owner/waitress who is more than happy to meet your dining needs.

On our first visit, she was very accommodating to Ozzy. We never would have thought of it as family friendly until we saw how tolerant she was of Ozzy's complaints that there was no mac 'n cheese. She went so far as to suggest some good noodle alternative that ended up being Libby's favorite!

For an appetizer, we decided on the shrimp spring rolls. We were shocked when they arrived cold. As in refrigerator cold. It was not a good pairing with Libby's interesting "coconut drink"(which Fred really liked). The rolls consisted of vermicelli, shrimp, sprouts, cabbage, pork and mint rolled with rice paper. Dipped in the provided peanut sauce, the flavor was nice, but the consistency was a little slimy for Libby's taste.

As if to add insult to injury, Libby decided to sample the fish sauce between the appetizer and main course. Oops! It wasn't until a second after the fact that Fred realized what she was doing. She had poured 1/2 a teaspoon of fish sauce into her spoon and downed it. For those of you who do not know fish sauce, it's fishy. And not at all meant to be taken on it's own. Libby only recovered midway into her pho -- eventually even adding a dash or two.

If you haven't tried Vietnamese, you must try Pho(pronounced Fuh). A soup at base, it has so many layers of flavor that there is no way you would repeat the same experience twice. A pile of noodles rest on the bottom, with meat options to add, some veggies in the broth, then a great dish of fresh herbs, lime, and bean sprouts on the side that you can add as you wish. And don't forget the great condiments at the table; hot sauce, hoisin, salt, pepper, fish sauce or Maggi.

One thing that would be nice is some sort of tutorial on how to season it... and eat it. It comes with a spoon and chop sticks. We saw a table nearby who looked like Pho Pros, but sadly, we had already eaten and missed the opportunity to learn pre-lunch. Apparently the correct way is with two hands. One for the chop sticks, one for the spoon. Definitely an acquired skill.

Ozzy's dish was very much like thai. His noodles were stir fried in peanut oil with some veggies, peanuts and tofu yumminess that was reminiscent of pad thai...Ozzy may not have dug on it, but Fred and Libby like!

Having never had Vietnamese before, FLO cannot say that Viet Bistro is the best Vietnamese food around. But it was definitely enjoyable and a place to which we will return. As for Ozzy, hopefully he won't be getting a happy meal on the way home again... :(

Wrap Up

Price- $-$$$, Can be very economical, depending on what you get.

Atmosphere-***, Did not look like a strip mall on the inside.

Service-****, Great personal service with a sense of pride and ownership.

Overall

Fred - B, Definitely a positive first Vietnamese experience. Somehow I expected it to be more "out there".
Libby - B, Being a true lover of thai, next time I will try their more spicy options.

Ozzy - N/A, Although he tried the noodles, nothing would suffice for the finicky boy.

La Trattoria

2009-07-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

Having lived in Greenwood for over 10 years, it was almost embarrassing that we had never tried La Trattoria, old downtown Greenwood's best known restaurant. We picked a beautiful night to sit outside and enjoy the most mild July to date. We were seated immediately. Ozzy was even allowed to choose the table -- a very kid-friendly gesture on the host's part.

Our waitress is one we won't soon forget. Sassy to an extreme. Rude on purpose as it is her schtick. It worked very well and she always left us smiling. At her suggestion, we started the evening with the stuffed portabello, pictured above. Ouff. It was so good. Garlicy, creamy and salty. We couldn't place the cheese, but our question to the waitress was met with only a "oh you think I'm going to tell you" stare. Perfect.

Her first recommendation being spot on, we kept them coming. First, the house Chianti for Fred --Tasty, fully bodied, great nose and a generous portion. FLO approves. As for the meal, Libby agreed to the 8-ounce filet, medium rare with veggies and roasted potatoes. Fred, the special. Seabass, blackened also with veggies and potatoes. Even Ozzy took the suggestion for the marinara instead of meat sauce.

From the appetizer on, Fred's review goes south. While the salad course provided decent produce, it was drowning in dressing. With a powerfully tangy ceasar, a little goes a long way and a lot makes for an inedible salad.

Whether it was an oversight or by design, the seabass (while cooked perfectly) was not blackened nor did it have a hint of flavor. The veggies were the highlight of his plate. Again perfectly cooked, but this time seasoned very well.

Libby, thankfully, had much the opposite experience, save the equally overdressed salad. The waitress told us they were known for their steaks and it showed. She's unsure she has ever had a better steak. So flavorful and tender. Not sure if it was the aging, seasoning or the cooking technique but it was one of the most succulent steaks she has ever had. The parmesan crusted roasted potatoes were a perfect match as were the veggies. It was obvious they'd used butter to cook the steak and the resulting pool made for a wonderful melding with the other items on the plate.

Ozzy's pasta dish didn't receive much attention. While he had a few bites, he decided the complimentary garlic bread was a much more satisfying dining experience. Having tasted the marinara, we wonder if this was only the child's version. It was overly sweet, but probably suitable for a younger clientele.

For desert, Ozzy began with the complimentary mint/cherry/chocolate spumoni. But as there was something that looked like a giant Reese's Cup on Mommy's plate, he abandoned it quickly. Libby had ordered a giant chocolate layered ganache; an easy choice next to the cheesecakes and cannoli. Covered in spumoni and whipped cream, it was warm, rich and almost too much after the heavenly steak. Fred, per his norm, would rather drink his dessert. Again he was thwarted in that La Trattoria offers neither a sherry nor a port. Bah. Instead, our waitress offered up a white zin. Fred was skeptical but ended up pleasantly surprised. It was highly fruity with very strong strawberry overtones. Way too easy to drink. Not the decadent aperitif he was looking for, but welcome nonetheless.

Wrap Up

Price- $$$-$$$$, Our wallet still hasn't recovered. Oops!

Atmosphere-**, Green plastic chairs with your high end steaks? Really?

Service-****, Very attentive with extra helpings of sass. Her suggestions (minus the Seabass) were spot on.

Overall

Fred - C, Perhaps I should have sent my fish back. I was close to it.
Libby - A-, Amazing portabello, excellent steak and an overall rich dining experience.

Ozzy - B, Loved the bread and probably would have eaten more of the pasta had he been more hungry. Unfortunately the icecream had fruit in it. No go. Nice try mom & dad.

Tomato Pie

2009-07-05T13:17:00.001-07:00

Having attempted to sample and review this north-side bistro more than once and been turned away due to it's unusual hours of operation (seriously, check the website or call ahead to make sure they're open!), we were finally successful. Our first impression, strictly from the name, was that Tomato Pie was a pizza joint. But upon arrival, we found that it is actually Tomato Pie Bistro, who proudly serves their pies alongside other classic Southern Italian cuisine.

We walked in upon not one, but two large birthday parties squeezed into the restaurant's very small, but open dining room. The single server was literally running between all the tables. After a breathless request to wait at the door, a very young hostess cleared and seated us at a table. The decor is sparse but well aimed and pleasant, if a bit dark.

Having already made up our minds prior to our arrival, we immediately put in our order for a green tomato pie and a dinner salad. The salad was spring mix, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, strawberries, and black olives with balsamic honey dressing. The name of the salad escapes us, but it was outstanding. Certainly a salad which could stand up as a meal by itself. The dressing was unusual and delicate in flavor. A real winner. It was accompanied by a simple garlic bread that became Ozzy's dinner.

The pie itself was a thin crust, pesto sauce with green tomatoes, fresh sliced mozzarella, chopped garlic and egg, sliced roma tomatoes and the thickest chopped bacon we've ever had. Yum-O as Rachel Ray would say. We couldn't put it down our gullets fast enough. The 14" was devoured much to our later dismay. With the very low lighting, it was hard to pick out individual ingredients on the pie, but each bite was different in flavor combination. Absolutely wonderful. Although the crust was thin, it was not exceptionally crisp -- just barely enough to hold up the pie.

Libby took a moment to read the wall of fame and found some interesting information: The owner's mother is Sicilian and he has been cooking since the age of 14. He has over 25 years of restaurant experience and all 9 of his children staff the restaurant in different capacities.

One particular difference to note about their pies -- all ingredients are sauteed in olive oil before they are ever placed on the crust. There are no cold toppings applied before it is put in the oven. This allows the flavors to meld and it certainly worked for us! It left us asking why no one else seems to do this?

While scarfing down the amazing pie, we couldn't help but notice the attractive pastas passing our table. There are 3 different marsalas on the menu along with the usual lasagna, ravioli, etc. Everything that passed reminded us that we must return for a more in-depth review!

http://tomatopiebistro.com

Wrap Up

Price- $-$$$, $14.50 for a 14" specialty pizza! A steal!

Atmosphere-**, Poor lighting and the corner table was obviously used as an office. But there was a definite personality to the place.

Service-***, Even while handing two huge parties and a few other tables, our server never left us waiting for anything.

Overall

Fred - A-, Great pie at a great price. I can't wait to sample their regular entrees. An amazing marsala would push this place into a possible A+ in my mind.
Libby - A-, Ditto. The chef and his family obviously puts their heart and soul into the cooking. I can't wait to have more.

Ozzy - C+, No kids menu. But he was certainly welcomed by the staff and entertained by the faux fireplace.

Iaria's Italian

2009-06-28T11:32:00.000-07:00

Iaria's has been on our list of places to go for quite some time. Between the long running history (since 1933), being featured on Food Network(on Best Of) and the slew of positive reviews, we were very psyched to sample their authentic Italian dishes.

Walking in we were immediately impressed by the down-home kitchy atmosphere. We felt we might as well be in a neighborhood Italian restaurant deep in a New York city burrough. It was packed. We arrived around 7pm on a Tuesday and things were hoppin'. Always a good sign. We were seated immediately.

Assuming the dinner rush was to blame, our waitress was MIA for quite some time, but we took the opportunity to study the menu and plan our course of action. For Ozzy, the kids pasta with butter was a must...per Ozzy. An appetizer of Mate's Mozz had to follow as we longed to find the same incredible fried cheesiness we once experienced in college at Mustard's oh so many years ago. Fred was feeling the bolognese pasta made with beef shank....um, yeah! Libby must try the chicken marsala at any first time Italian experience.

When our waitress was finally able to assist us, we ordered the half carafe of chianti...quite a deal at $12 that ended up being about 4 glasses of wine! She also brought out sliced Italian bread (yummy) with butter and explained that we could get either homemade Italian sausage or the meatball with our entrees, minestrone soup, salad, and the marsala could come with spaghetti. Ozzy doesn't eat meat, so Libby ordered the meatball with his entree to be sampled. Fred went with the Italian sausage and Libby opted to up her house salad to a caesar.

The salads were your basic, not so exciting variety. In fact, Libby just plain did not like the caesar. Fred was totally not impressed. We did see a antipasto salad walk by and it looked damn good with eggs and meats piled high. But we were still looking forward to the entrees to come.

The Mate's Mozzarella came out next. An entire ball of mozzarella is sliced, breaded in Italian breadcrumbs and fried in olive oil. Sounds amazing, but was only ok. Gooey and not quite crispy enough, but the saving grace was the wonderful marinara that accompanied it. It needed the marinara. It was sweet with lots of Oregano and heavy on the white wine. It made all the difference.

The food came out fairly quickly and was a smorgasbord of pasta and meats! Plenty of food. Fred's portion of bolognese was quite impressive. He immediately started to ooo and ahhh after the first mouthful. Libby was confused by the marinara on her spaghetti. She had a perfectly good amount of yummy marsala sauce with her chicken that was dying to be sopped up by plain spaghetti. This combo was going to be confusing. Ozzy dove into his buttery pasta with some parmesan and concentrated intently for the remainder of the meal.

Fred was unimpressed with the soup. Libby concurred. It was bland and oddly, we both went for the pepper shaker at the same time...doesn't happen at restaurants much. The bolognese with capellini was meaty with plenty of shank within the sauce to combine with the pound or so of pasta on Fred's plate. It had obviously been many, many hours in the preparation and would stand up to any sauce Mama could make. The Italian sausage was also homemade contained an equal amount of love...finely minced and tender with a delicate flavor.

Libby was glad to see the enormous portion of chicken and marsala before her, but as she couldn't mix her spaghetti with it, decided to add Ozzy's meatball to the marinara and see how it fared. Not so good. This is a real problem with so many Italian restaurants. Not sure if it's advanced preparation or what, but there is literally no flavor. Just a ball of meat. So disappointing as Libby loves a good meatball. The marinara it came with was ok but had an odd cloviness. The positive thing was the chicken. Well prepared, with ample yummy mushroomy goodness.

It didn't take long before the FLO were filled to the brim. These folks are not going to let anyone go home hungry! Plenty of food to take home as well.

www.iariasrestaurant.com

Wrap Up

Price- $$$, For a family friendly, low key dining experience, you did pay for the quantity of food you received. Although the wine prices are phenomenal!

Atmosphere-***, It's the original atmosphere that so many chains aim for and miss.

Service-*-**, For us, it was a disappointment. Not only was our waitress unavailable most of the evening, but she seemed "over it" and unaccommodating.

Overall

Fred -C+, When I could make one of your signature appetizers at home and do it better, it's a disappointment. But I will say there is no way I could make a sauce anywhere near that good!
Libby -B-, I had high expectations going in. Not a total disappointment by any means, but with the history and hype, I expected to be blown out of my seat. It was a good meal. For the price, I really feel there should have been homemade pastas all around.

Ozzy - A, Great, family-friendly atmosphere. He loved the Italian bread and dug into the buttery pasta.

Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza

2009-06-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

As if there aren't enough great places to get awesome pizza in this city, we have been shown yet, another! Jockamo, tucked in the East side oasis of Irvington, proved to be well worth the trip. Not only was the atmosphere loud and crowd friendly, but you could even sit at the bar! The servers had a roller-derby girl feel...a little nostalgic and made us think of our college days. We went with quite a large group, over twenty, and they had little difficulty accommodating.

Like so many star-studded pizza joints, there was a great variety of toppings, several specialty pizzas to choose from and a decent beer selection. First order of business was to decide. Fred had to lubricate with the Barley Island Dirty Helen. Ozzy, with his odd dislike of pizza(what up with dis kid?), went with bread sticks.

They not only had the marinara and nacho cheese options, but creamy parmesan, alfredo and a wonderful hummus as well! Good sticks.

Finally, we decided on a half and half of their Pomodoro(grilled eggplant, tomato, basil, garlic, and extra sauce) and Philly Jack(Italian beef, green peppers, peppadew peppers, and pepperjack cheese).

Woah, nice pie! Not only were the stellar ingredients all that we'd hoped for, but the mega-thin crust was extremely tasty and actually stood up to the pile of generous toppings! The Italian beef had a crispy, flavorful texture and the eggplant tasted fresh. All the toppings were delicious as they should be.

These fun folks even offer brunch pizza's on the weekends! It's amazing how many mouth-pleasing pizza varieties there are in this city!

Due to the generosity of ingredient portion, don't overdo it. It's easy to order with your eyes. Both Fred and Libby's ample belly's couldn't finish the 12-inch masterpiece before us. That is surprising, believe us. Although the leftovers were pretty darned good too.

Was it the best pizza of our lives? No. But was it good enough to recommend and make a few future appearances, definitely Yes! The Slaughterhouse Five(pepperoni, ham, sausage, bacon, and Italian beef) was demanding some future FLO attention! If they were on our side of town, it would become a problem, fo sho!

http://www.jockamopizza.com

Wrap Up

Price-$-$$, 12-inch cheese starts at $8.50 with additional regular toppings at $1 and specialty toppings at $1.55...definitely not dirt cheap, but a good deal for the real deal.

Atmosphere-***, Large variety of clientele, kids welcome, plenty of seating and a little bar for those who want to get away from the crowd and watch the game.

Service-***, Attentive waitress who was nice enough to split up checks with over 20 people! Gotta love that!

Overall

Fred - A-, Location is the only thing keeping me from returning on a bi-monthly basis.
Libby -A-, Really good pie. Something a little different, and doesn't skimp on quality or service.

Ozzy - B, Ate his sticks, said they were good, then spent the remainder of dinner flirting with a little 4-year old darling named, Kylie. He is such the ladies' man.

Adobo Grill

2009-06-11T16:32:00.000-07:00

FLO felt strange suggesting the Adobo Grill to an out-of-towner looking for good Mexican downtown, since we'd never been ourselves. But after he returned with big two-thumbs-up, we decided to rectify the situation. Boy, are we glad we did!

Located across Washington street from Fogo de Chao and just a block from both 14 West and the Oceanaire, Adobo certainly has some stiff competition for upscale dining. Once inside, we found it hard not to crane our necks to take it all in. Beautifully appointed in wood and earth tones, they offer indoor balcony seating as well as semi-private room-booths along with the usual four tops and booths.

We were greeted at our table by a most helpful and knowledgeable waiter. He recommended the sangria and we decided to sample both the white and red. The white was refreshing and juicy - the red, sweet with a hint of spice. Fred was all too happy to finish Libby's white after she'd had her maximum 1/2 glass.

Instead of the perfuctory bagged chips and salsa, we began our meal with wonderful warmed corn tortilla chips and Fred's new favorite salsa. The chip was more substantial than most, yet had a great crunch and flavor. The salsa was of the picante variety, smooth with all the right spice tones and a slight sweetness. It was hard to not eat too many before the remainder of the meal was to come!

While snacking on the chips and salsa, it was hard to miss the table-side guacamole prep occuring nearby. Not being fans of guacamole, FLO opted against it, but judging from the array of fresh ingredients that the guests hand pick, it looked like a sure thing for anyone who enjoys it.

Again, following our waiter's recommendation, we went with the salmon ceviche. Yum! Sushi-grade salmon cured in brown sugar and tequila, mixed with chipotle mayo and pineapple pico de gallo. Served with both banana chips and more of those delightful tortilla chips, it was the perfect start to this amazing meal. Not used to salmon ceviche, Fred and Libby were happily surprised by the refreshing flavor. Not being fans of any kind of mayo with any kind of cold fish(sushi or ceviche), we were happy to find the chipotle mayo and the pineapple to be an awesome pairing! Ceviche is a great start to any meal.

Libby, being a huge fan of mole in general, ordered the pork tenderloin with Oaxacan black mole and a corn tamal mash on a bed of cooked spinach (pictured above). Outstanding! The mole had a nice spice and went so well with the mash and spinach. Always having mole with chicken, Libby found the pork tenderloin substitution ingenious!

Fred, struggling between the Callos de Hacha and one of the weekly specials, a mexican version of paella, decided to again go with the waiter's recommendation. The paella with shrimp, scallops, mussels and white fish, baked in a serving-sized earthenware pot. As the still-boiling pot cooled at the table, we watched in anticipation as the heavy stock soaked into the rice. It can best be described as a full-flavor dish. We're shocked it's not a permanent part of the menu.

Ozzy chose the cheese quesadillas and refused to allow any sampling. From the looks of things, they were the same wonderful corn tortillas, this time stuffed with queso blanco. Definitely a hit.

Even though we had almost stuffed ourselves to capacity, we had to share one of the tempting looking desserts. With Libby's never-ending desire for chocolate, a decision was finally made...the chocolate tamal. Wrapped in a tamale leaf, a warm, deeply chocolate and barely sweet delight was set before us accompanied by Panpantla vanilla bean ice cream, dried cherries, and chocolate sauce. Each spoonful had the consistency of undercooked brownie batter except for the most rich, pure chocolate flavor...it was so intense and with just the smallest hint of sugar to counter the natural bitterness, it definitely reminded you of chocolate's primitive roots. Libby likened it to a religious experience!

http://www.adobogrill.com

Wrap Up

Price-$$$, Affordable fine dining in a child-friendly downtown atmosphere.

Atmosphere-****, Gorgeous, creative and flowing. Should it be the tequila bar or a balcony seat next time?

Service-****, Felt more like a guided tour with our waiter's excellent recommendations.

Overall

Fred - A+, If only all the hole-in-the-wall Mexican joints had flavors like these!
Libby -A+, Can't say one bad thing. Outstanding food, service, and atmosphere! Can't wait to go back!

Ozzy - A, He loved the quesadillas and fit in well with the surprising number of other young foodies in training.

Zing

2009-05-31T18:30:00.000-07:00

After a wonderful afternoon at the Imax watching Under the Sea 3D (which we highly recommend) followed by a bike trip up and down the canal, FLO was in the mood for something a little decadent. We decided to try Indy's only small-plate restaurant, Zing.

How small-plate differs from tapas, we aren't quite sure. But our waiter assured us there was, indeed a difference. It's the exact same idea.... small servings of tasty dishes meant to be ordered in bunches and shared. Heck, they even had 2-3 of the same dishes as Barcelona! Different my hat!

Since it was a gorgeous day, we decided to sit outside and enjoy the sun. Libby ordered up a yummy, if tart, pomegranate soda while Fred chose one of his favorites, a Robert The Bruce ale. It took us quite a while to decide on our entrees, but we settled on the special of the day(cheese grits with shrimp and a cajun butter sauce), bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with chorizo, warmed goat cheese with tomato sauce, and finally pork tenderloin wrapped in capocollo with a mustard ale sauce and a savory asparagus bread pudding.

Unlike Barcelona (wait!! did we actually find the difference?!?), Zing staggers their small-plates rather than bringing them all at once. First up was quite simply the star of the evening. Four bacon-wrapped medjool dates stuffed with chorizo served on a bed of chunky tomato sauce heavy on the roasted red pepper. The dates were so soft and sweet with a hint of spice from the chorizo and pork fat from the bacon. Yowza. Never would have put these tastes together, but we will from now on! On the way home, we both mentioned that next time we must order 2 servings.

Next came the warmed goat cheese with a bed of a completely different tomato sauce served with toasted garlic bread. This was another hit. Not to belittle this dish, but Barcelona serves essentially the same one with an even more succulent sauce. Be that as it may, Zing's version is very good and we would certainly order it again.

Our next entree was the cheese grits with shrimp and a cajun butter sauce. While we both felt the flavor was good, this dish needed some work. The shrimp and cajun butter were very good, but the consistency of the grits was much too thin. It was very hard to eat with a fork and no spoon was provided. We attempted to sop it up with the bread, but the two carbs together didn't really work right.

Finally the tenderloin arrived and again we felt it was a little off the mark. The capocollo worked very well with the tenderloin, which itself was cooked perfectly. The issue was with the sauce. It was missing the pow. There was pepper and dry mustard, but not enough to drive the flavor. It seemed like it was just begging for "Zing"! We felt that this dish could and should have been outstanding and perhaps we should order it again to see if the sauce was just not right tonight. On the other hand, the pairing of savory asparagus bread pudding was superb. The bread pudding with the sauce definitely worked and could have stood up as a dish on it's own.

For dessert, we were unsure if the small-plate serving size would apply. Therefore we ordered two. Well, next time perhaps one would be better. Oh darn! Libby decided on the almond cheesecake with fresh fruit and whipped cream. Fred was drawn to the 3 berry shortcake. Both would have been more than enough to share.

The cheesecake was sublime. Libby says, "Order it. It was good." and refuses to elaborate. (Libby turns into Ozzy when desserts are involved)

The 3-berry shortcake was also quite yummy. Our only suggestion would be to wait a few minutes after it's served before enjoying it. The shortcake needs the time to soak up the wonderful berry sauce and is very dry (by design) without it.

Http://www.zingrestaurant.com

Wrap Up

Price-$$$, $7-12 per plate and you'll need 2-3 per person depending on the size of your party. But yummy little tidbits they are!

Atmosphere-***, A grown-up sophisticated interior and a more laid-back balcony seating.

Service-**-***, Although our server seemed to be nursing a hang-over, we observed another who was very careful to explain how small-plate menus work. Here in the midwest, this is definitely necessary as we observed two confused tables, one insisting they should be called apetizers.

Overall

Fred -B+, I feel like I should return and perhaps try the totally separate and extremely yummy-sounding lunch menu.
Libby -B+, The dates rock my world. And I look forward to trying some of the chef's other creations.

Ozzy -C- While he was totally welcomed outside, we would not have felt it appropriate for kids inside. Also there is no kids menu (not that we would expect one). If the patron has a child with an adventuresome palate, then go for it. Ozzy, instead, insisted on emptying every complimentary bread basket that was brought to the table. "That's mine!"

Goose The Market

2009-05-30T16:40:00.000-07:00

While not a restaurant per se, FLO had heard that this place is considered by many to be the best deli in town. Located in a yuppie oasis just north of downtown, Goose The Market serves a niche in high-end meat, cheese, bread, wine, gelato and sandwiches.
First step is to get through the door. So, don't feel too strange if you can't get the door open on your first try... Not only did both Fred and Libby have problems the first time, we noticed several other people having the same issue.
Once inside, talk about a foodies paradise! An amazing selection of Indiana grown meats, some unique seasonal Indiana produce, gourmet cheeses, perfectly crispy baguettes, and not to forget the wine and groceries downstairs. Your first question will be...what should I get?

For some odd reason, Ozzy was allowed to indulge in one of the gooiest brownies evar followed by a lovely vanilla gelato. Fred and Libby decided to go savory with one of their specialty sandwiches. Fred, the Batali, with spicy coppa, soppressata, capocolla, provolone, tomato preserves, hot giardinara, marinated red onion (hold please!), mayo, and romaine. Libby, the Porter, with peppered ham, gouda, and morels with spring onions (held, of course) on toasted baguette. And to top off Libby's experience of feeling like a grown-up again(missing wine at 6 months prego), they had Vignette non-alcoholic wine spritzers that were the perfect compliment to the inspired lunch. Fred chose the Chardonnay, Libby the Pinot Noir.
Two totally different and amazing sandwiches! After ordering, we noticed that the Batali has actually been written up in Bon Appetit magazine... and WOW. Now we know why! The meats are just SO tasty and the tomato preserves and giardinara meld perfectly with them. And where do they get those baguettes? Of course, they sell them. So I guess we can be happily ignorant.

The Porter had top quality ingredients and that toasty baguette was a simple-genius texture addition. Libby's only complaint would be a lack of some sort of melding sauce when comparing it with the pow that the Batali had...perhaps some aioli? They sell that downstairs by the way!

The most fun part of this market and the small sandwich menu is the creativity it inspires! Immediately after finishing our little bits of heaven, we were excitedly discussing what we wanted next time and how we would dress it! With the arrays of meats (duck salami, anyone?), cheeses, condiments, and the like, you can purchase your ingredients and watch them create your dream right in front of your eyes!
Another beautiful feature of this market other than a freezer case full of meat treasures(lamb tongue, venison, buffalo, ground veal, whole rabbit, oxtail...) is the real sense of pride and love you feel from the homegrown quality. Visit their website to get the whole story, but this couple brought Indy something it desperately needed and in a way that says, respectfully...this has been missing and we are doing it right.
Oh, and just to make them way too cool, they offer exciting features like "the bacon of the month club." The stars of this show are an array of Indiana cured, smoked, or spiced pork tasties! Or how about the "picnic basket" special that runs at $35 for a bottle of wine, baguette, sliced meat, cheese, olives, almonds, and a couple of oatmeal cookies to end it...sweeeet. FLO is so pleased to see a steady stream of customers that will hopefully guarantee a long standing Indy attraction!
Http://www.goosethemarket.com

Wrap Up

Price-$$-$$$, $6.95 for any sandwich. Not shabby, considering the quality of ingredients.

Atmosphere-*** Clean, well organized. Seating inside and out.

Service-****, Polite. Happy to serve and very knowledgeable.

Overall

Fred -A, Only thing holding it back from an A+ is that they're closed on Sundays!!
Libby -A+, Everything I was hoping for and more. We'll be back far too often.

Ozzy -B+, Excellent deserts. He's already asked to return.

Monical's Pizza at Traders Point

2009-05-18T15:41:00.000-07:00

Do you ever just want to go out to dinner on Sunday? For some reason, this became the bane of FLO's existence yesterday. After traveling to 7 different restaurants, searching for something new to experience and being disappointed by "closed for special event" or no Sunday hours, FLO finally stumbled upon Monical's Pizza. Never having heard of it, this sounded like a perfect spot to settle in and fill our belly's.

Located at Traders Point shopping center off of 86th street, it actually has a bit of contemporary homeyness to it. As soon as you walk in, you know it is a chain from somewhere. Far too polished and "designed" to be a mom and pop. After perusing through the menu, we saw it was out of Illinois and had been around since 1959. There are four locations on the north side yet it somehow eluded our radar until now.

Being elated to finally find some place open that was new to us, pizza sounded perfect! Ozzy luckily had a few pasta choices and went with the kid's spaghetti with marinara and breadstick. Fred and Libby each decided to go with their "Individual Pleaser." This came with an 8 inch personal pizza, a salad, and drink. Fred decided thin with steak and hot pepperoncini and Libby the pan with ground beef and green olive.

Although there were some service issues, the general feel of the place made it easy to settle in and being surrounded by some good looking pies didn't hurt. The salads were no frills: lettuce, carrot, tomato, cheese and they brought out a whole squeeze bottle of the dressing of your choice.

Ozzy's pasta, which arrived first, really wasn't up to his high expectations. He gave it a shot, tried to drown it in parmesan, but alas, it was just the breadstick for the boy...and he really dug it! Fred's pizza came first and was light on the steak, heavy on spicy pepperoncini, but the overall effect was two thumbs up. The thin crust was perhaps the thinnest we have ever had, but held up well and still maintained a good flavor. The steak, although sparse, was well seasoned, and made us curious about that Italian Beef we had seen on the menu...maybe next time?! Libby's finally arrived and had the same interesting affliction...again, light on the well seasoned ground beef, and a little too heavy on the green olive. A good pan crust, not too greasy and a little doughy. Happy tum-tums.

A nice surprise for those in the neighborhood...they deliver! This would certainly be a step above any delivery place on our side of town.

http://www.monicalspizza.com/

Wrap Up

Price-$, Very reasonable...our total was under $20.

Atmosphere-***Clean, easy, comfortable. Design felt private even though it wasn't. Very kid friendly.

Service-**, Not a good day for our server, but he was taking it in stride and good to communicate with us about it.

Overall

Fred -B+, The price really boosts this rating from a B- to a B+.
Libby -B, Pretty happy with the quality and overall flavor...definitely would come back for more.

Ozzy -B-, Pasta, a big no, but they definitely seem to know their breads.

Abuelo's

2009-05-17T07:34:00.000-07:00

For Mother's Day, FLO headed up to Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy. Fred had attempted to get reservations, but in a strange twist, they do not take them on holidays. Wouldn't that be the one time they would want to accept them the most? Regardless, we decided to give it a go.

Upon arrival we were delighted to be seated immediately. While on the way to the table, Ozzy was stopped in his tracks by the wishing well at the entry way to the dining room. He would only budge after we promised to give him some coins after dinner.

The dining room reminded us immediately of Vegas. It was very well decorated with lots of faux architectural elements and a vaulted ceiling painted to look like the sky. But the real icing on the Vegas cake was the clientele. What's up with the north-west side? Since when is it appropriate to go to an upscale place in ripped t-shirts, overalls (seriously?!) or cut-off sweatpants? -- On Mother's Day of all days! For dinner? On Sunday?

Regardless, we sat down and were greeted by a very tasty chips and salsa. The chips were much lighter and thinner than the norm and went very well with a nice thick, but not too chunky salsa. These were another huge plus in Ozzy's book.

After a few too many chips (damned bottomless bowls!), Libby decided on "the picture on the menu" -- three enchiladas: Shredded Beef with chile con queso; Cheese with chile con carne; and Chicken with sour cream sauce. Fred settled on the Chile Manzanillo: Crab stuffed into a roasted poblano, covered with shrimp, scallops, mushrooms and red peppers in a creamy lobster sauce. (pictured above) Ozzy opted for the kid's chicken strips and fries.

The enchiladas, although a very well-known combination, were quite delicious. The meats were well prepared and the sauces all equally mouth pleasing. The sides of re-fried beans and the papas con chile, a house specialty, could stand alone. Talk about a fun, mexican variation on mashed taters! This creation consisted of mashed red potatoes, four cheeses, red and green peppers, sour cream, garlic and jalapeno...woah. To be honest, it was almost too much after the very heavy enchiladas and peppery re-fried beans, but it was a most satisfying belly bomb.

Fred's seafood was excellent, if a bit too mild. He would have preferred a bit more punch, but it was a tasty alternative to the usual Mexican fare. All the shellfish was well cooked and went nicely with the poblano. The rice and broccoli were perfect for sopping up the sauce and each added some much needed spice to the dish. We were unable to define the seasoning on the broccoli, but regardless, it worked well.

Ozzy's meal was sufficient. The fries were batter dipped!(oh yeah!) and the chicken looked like the nugget variety. He chose to do the total carb thing, once again, by sticking with the complimentary chips and those delicious fries.

Even though, both Fred and Libby couldn't stop verbalizing the agony they were experiencing from too much of a good thing, Libby couldn't entirely skip dessert on Mother's Day!? The menu showed three classic mexican desserts, a flan, a dulche de leche cheesecake and, (drum roll) the tres leches cake!! Instead of pushing it over the limit, the tres leches cake was ordered to go! Um, and somehow was able to disappear on the drive home...such a simply sweet, layered cake with fresh cream and strawberries. The perfect summery dessert!

www.abuelos.com

Wrap Up

Price-$$-$$$, There was something to suit every pocket book, especially considering the daily lunch specials.

Atmosphere-****, Clean, fresh, and open feel with beautiful artwork and murals floor to ceiling added a cultural element. The fountain with statue was a great kid magnet!

Service-***, Our waiter was especially good with Ozzy. Very quick with re-fills and a great sense of humor.

Overall

Fred -B+, Possibly my favorite chips and salsa in town. Next time, I think I'll stick with the more traditional dishes as mine didn't feel like what this gringo considers "Mexican."
Libby -A-, Very pleasing enchiladas. Had to finish them all. The re-fried beans had a distinct peppery flavor, and those papas con chile were really great. I can't even say enough about the cake!

Ozzy -B+, Insistent on sticking to his boring carb choices, but most excited about the amigas muy bonitas hangin' by the fountain. He was most happy to share his wishing coins with a few!