Cafe Nora

FLO was in the mood for something classy. Well, ok, Libby and Fred were. So we packed up the boy and headed off to Nora. Cafe Nora that is. Upon arriving, we were immediately seated in one of the 4 small, separate dining areas. Fred was immediately taken by the freshness of design, for such an established restaurant. They were able to accomplish old-world touch by mixing tile, brick, stone and stucco. Being that the seating areas surrounded the open kitchen, it felt open and cozy at the same time.

While perusing the menu, we noticed that this was too classy a joint to have the children's entrees in print. But our waitress immediately let us know that Ozzy was welcome and that he had a variety of off-the-menu choices. FLO felt the pasta with red sauce was the safest. Although by this point he had eaten so much of the incredible bread with olive oil dipping sauce that he kept proclaiming "I'm not hungry".

Fred couldn't quiet the thirst for that demon alcohol, so he ordered a glass of the house cabernet. After finding it quite possibly the best he's ever had (what can we say, we like cheap wine!), we found that it was Douglas Hill Cabernet.

After such a delightful red, a dark or red meat was begging to be paired. Libby opted for one of the specials, the French onion soup followed by grain-fed beef tenderloin (medium-rare) and an undecided dessert. Simply the best French onion soup evar! Super-cheesey, perfect broth and more of that wonderful bread. A couple nearby started to stare. The beef tenderloin, so tender a regular table knife was sufficient. And it barely needed to be chewed. Unfortunately, the accompanying onion topping, couscous side and green beans shouldn't have left the kitchen. FLO make better sides at home. The couscous seemed to have zero seasoning. No salt. No additional flavor whatsoever. The green beans were still too bland, even with what seemed to be diced garlic.

Fred decided on the duck breast, sauteed with portobella mushrooms and a caramelized balsamic sauce. YUM. Again, the chef hit the protein out of the park. The duck was perfectly cooked. Crisped fat, tender meat and an insane sauce that made Fred wish he were in a less posh restaurant. The plate would have been licked. His dish too, was served with the awful couscous and green beans. It would seem that as good as the head chef may be, the line was failing on the sides. Chef Ramsey would be livid.

Ozzy was true to his word and didn't touch his main dish. Funny how tummy space was found when the desserts arrived. For Libby, a very rich chocolate mousse. For Fred/Ozzy the tiramisu. Strangely the tiramisu was lighter in texture and feel than the mousse. Both were equally satisfying if perhaps uninspired.

http://www.cafenora.com

Wrap Up

Price-$$$$, While there are more expensive places in town, Cafe Nora still packs a punch.

Atmosphere-****, Warm, unimposing old-world charm.

Service-***, Accommodating and really seemed to enjoy the Oz.

Overall

Fred - B, Why did those sides leave the kitchen? I guess it allowed room for dessert, though!

Libby - B-, Although I enjoyed the experience there, when I arrived home, my G.I. system disagreed wholeheartedly.

Ozzy -B, The bread appetizer and desserts were both out of the park.

Bazbeaux Pizza

Okay, okay, okay, so for all of you big Bazbeaux pizza fans, we finally gave it a try. And the long and the short of it is...we are not converts.

It was a cold Sunday evening and we were in the mood for pizza. The Broad Ripple location worked best for us and we were immediately impressed with the fun, eclectic atmosphere. It seemed to be a welcoming joint for families, college kids, dates, and the like. We saw the garlic bread had been advertised as "award winning" so Ozzy had to sample. Um, a hoagie, toasted with a minuscule amount of garlic butter. Not award winning. Please tell us the periodical that gave it said award.

Fred decided to start with a spinach salad with the creamy basil dressing. That was really something! We ordered the large, to share. It certainly had some awesome ingredients...bacon, mushrooms, egg, kalamata olives, mozzarella cheese blend, and some red onion, which we delicately removed. The house made dressing was excellent and paired very nicely with the fresh spinach. It was the highlight of the meal.

Then, came the big disappointment. We decided to go for a half and half. Half the Bazbeaux Special(basil, sundried tomato and garlic) and half eggplant and goat cheese. One thing we commend them on is their excellent array of fresh topping choices, but the yummy stops there.

Fred & Libby were both underwhelmed by the crust. It was the thin-crust, white flour variety. We noted before ordering that they offered both hand-tossed & thin crust with both white & wheat options. Upon ordering, we were not given an option to choose, therefore assumed that the "special" came on a particular crust. Too bad it was lifeless; like a cracker with less taste. It had no personality and did nothing for all of those fresh ingredients.

Fred has since wondered if this could possibly have been the original recipe that gave Bazbeaux its start. It seems more likely that through either under-training, neglect, or cost-cutting what was once a pizza crust has now degenerated to a cracker-esque flour concoction. This theory would be given greater weight if, in fact, the garlic bread HAS, in the past, been a true award winner. Libby concurs.

Furthering the disappointment, The Bazbeaux Special had a funk going on. Libby wasn't sure if it was the basil or the garlic, but something was off. On the other hand, the eggplant and goat cheese was an excellent combo, if only the crust could have stood up to it instead of detracting. Just a damn shame.

Fred found the sauce good, had some zest, a thin sauce, not too chunky and it paired well with the toppings. The bottom line, Bazbeaux is the epitome of a "toppings" pizza place. Excellent ingredients, top quality and an amazing array, but if you were to order a straight up pepperoni pizza, would they have a leg to stand on?

http://www.bazbeaux.com/

Wrap Up

Price-$-$$, Good price. An entree salad for $6.50, not bad at all.

Atmosphere-***, Fun, inviting atmosphere that makes you want to stay awhile.

Service-***, Standard waitstaff service, fast order time to table service. Was it an oversight that the crust options were not presented while ordering?

Overall

Fred - C, It's sad when the starter salad was the best portion of the meal at a well-known pizza joint.

Libby - C-, So disappointed with the pizza, but the salad was a pleasant surprise.

Ozzy -B, He ate the garlic bread without complaint and it was a kid friendly environment.

Yats

Although the FLO has been dining at Yats for years, we had not attended in some time and thought we should review our own branch in Greenwood that opened about a year ago. As with all of the Yats eateries, it has the same eclectic take on a sit-down soul food place...some booth seating with simple chairs and tables, a counter for ordering take-out or sit down and the fabulous chalk board menu. There is something so inviting about those steamy windows in the cruel winter chill. The daily specials stay fairly consistent with occasional variances, but Yats has the forethought to include their daily menus for each location online.

On this particular occasion, Libby went with the Chili Cheese Etoufee(a staple on any Yats visit) and the B&B(a lovely combination of sweet corn and black beans that likens to a dessert.) Fred went with the Chili Cheese Etoufee and the White Chicken Chili. Ozzy suffices on the accompanying white rice and garlic toast.

Simply put, each dish is well thought out, consistently prepared, and just plain yummy! Over the last several years, we have tried everything and have never been disappointed. Fred has an unnatural love for the Cajun Power, a garlic based hot sauce that adds a real punch to the already smooth, easy flavors of each dish.

And you can't beat the price!

If you are from the Indy area, you already know about Yats. It is an Indy tradition with three locations in Indy proper, the Greenwood locale, one in West Lafayette and a new addition in Chicago! Look out, windy city, get ready to feel the fever!

http://www.yatscajuncreole.com/

Wrap Up

Price-$, Cheap, good eats.

Atmosphere-**, If we were reviewing the broadripple or mass ave locations, we'd say a ***, but the all too familiar strip mall locale in Greenwood doesn't have the same kind of personality.

Service-****, There isn't table service, but the staff are always curteous and as fast as any fast food establishment could be.

Overall

Fred - A-, I only wish they had something totally new from time to time.

Libby - A, I always know what I want when I go and it's always what I expect!

Ozzy -B+, Rice and buttery garlic toast? Duh.

Famous Dave's BBQ

While FLO doesn't usually review (or even admit to patronizing) national chain restaurants, we decided to give Famous Dave's a try due to the dearth of good BBQ on the south side. Don't believe us? Our first attempt last month was actually rebuffed by the hordes of other diners. Hour+ waits don't really sit well in the land of Oz.

In order to beat the mad dinner rush, FLO decided to skip lunch on Sunday and gorge on a 4 o'clock "Linner" instead. This allowed for a hunger befitting the feast to come!

After our waiter explained Dave's 5 BBQ sauces, with a mini-serving of fries for tasting, he recommended that we each try a combo meal in order for us to sample a variety of different meats and sides to share around the table. Not a bad idea, sir! While Ozzy would not be dissuaded from the mac 'n cheese, both Fred and Libby took the bait.

Wow. Dave must really like his side-dishes... Each combo comes with 1/2 an ear of corn, the most amazing cornbread muffin FLO has ever tasted and then your choice of another 2 sides!

Fred chose St. Louis ribs and rib-tips for his two meats, along with a horseraddish coleslaw and a spicy mac 'n cheese for his sides. Libby opted for the spicy catfish fingers and beef brisket with Wilbur beans and green beans. Even Ozzy's mac 'n cheese came with a side. Knowing that Ozzy wouldn't mind, we ordered him the Drunkin' Apples as an extra side.

Fred's ribs were excellent. While the meat is not falling off the bone, they were easily the first entree to disappear. The rib tips, while not for everyone due to their high fat & gristle content, were Fred's favorite. And wow did they give you a huge portion of them. Definitely great bang for your buck and a good way to test out all the sauces. His grown-up mac 'n cheese was also a hit with a little corn and jalapeno thrown in.

Libby's catfish was tasty, but although it came with two special dipping sauces to compliment the 5 other sauces already on the table, we never did find the perfect compliment. Her brisket was perhaps the one disappointment on any of the 3 plates. While the flavor was good, it was dry and could use a bit more flavor. . . but still good after a doucing with Dave's Texas Pit sauce.

The beer selection wasn't bad either. Both of us opting for a very refreshing tall 312 Ale.

Http://www.famousdaves.com

Wrap Up
Price-$$-$$$$, Price depends on your taste.
Atmosphere-** 1/2, Why do chains always LOOK like chains?!?
Service-****, Excellent. Even if he was shilling for the more expensive options, we were all ears!
Overall
Fred - B+, Good stuff. No real standouts other than the amazing corn bread, but everything was darned tasty.
Libby - B+, Fred's entree was my favorite. The ribs, spicy mac 'n cheese, coleslaw, amazing muffin and Ozzy's drunken apples were all mighty good. Not a bad option when it's your only option.
Ozzy -B+, He certainly put away a bunch of mac 'n cheese then he stole Libby's muffin!!

Charleston's Restaurant

FLO decided to finish up 2008 with a visit to Charleston’s on 82^nd street off of I-69. Fred had the pleasure of devouring one of the best prime rib sandwiches of his life thanks to a holiday lunch at work and insisted the whole FLO give it a go! And we are so glad we did!

From the outside, there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly special about the design, but from the moment you walk in the door, the feeling of dark, warm, and classy shines through. There are two main dining areas, the bar, well placed to your left, the kitchen straight ahead and the main dining area across from the kitchen with the hustle and bustle visible to the clientele. Interior elements include, exposed stone, brick, dark wood paneling and lattice, wrought iron, gas sconces, and high backed leather booths as the majority of seating options. The especially loud atmosphere definitely makes one feel just fine bringing the kids along, and somehow makes it homey.

We were fortunate enough to be seated in a booth adjacent to the kitchen scene…5-6 chefs running around the kitchen, a meticulous expeditor, and stressed waitstaff dealing with a very busy dining area. Although, you wouldn’t necessarily know it. Not only was our own waiter able to keep up with our needs, but another waitperson went out of her way to make small talk with Ozzy on a couple of occasions, adding to a real family feel.

Oh, and in case you hadn’t guessed already, the food was awesome! The menu is simple…a one pager shared between lunch and dinner with a nice variety of somewhat familiar dishes. FLO started with the Shrimp Escargot, then Fred chose the Chicken Piccata, Libby the Rigatoni Bolognese and Ozzy, hmmmm…the Mac ‘n Cheese? No?! Really?! All the entrées were home runs! Straight out of the ballpark!

Our starter was shrimp, escargot-style, covered in crispy melted havarti. It was accompanied by two slices of light garlic toast. A nice dish, very scampi-like, but the real proof was in the entrees!

Fred’s very tender chicken was smothered in a caper/asparagus/artichoke/tomato medley that was out of this world – almost a side-dish unto itself! Just the right amount of zest, a little crunch and a melt in your mouth experience. One of the best piccatas Fred has ever had!

Libby’s Bolognese was delightful. A robust, cream based sauce with a perfectly spiced sausage. Not only did the sausage add a warm-to-the-tummy experience, but the herbs and spices in the sauce gave it a real flavor punch. It was hard to decide who’s entrée was the best.

Ozzy’s Mac ‘n Cheese? Almost too good to be considered a kid’s entrée. Simple penne with a lightly cheesy cream sauce…yum. We were a little worried it wasn’t cheesy enough for a 4-year-old palate, but BOY did Oz prove us wrong! After he finished his penne, out came a HUGE complimentary two scoops of vanilla ice cream with a giant chocolate chip snickerdoodle cookie! Charleston certainly knows the route to a boy’s heart!

http://www.charlestons.com

Wrap Up
Price-$$-$$$, Very affordable. Especially for the quality of the food!
Atmosphere-****, Deep and sumptuous.
Service-***, Very accommodating and professional.
Overall
Fred - A+, High praise!! I'm not sure you could beat the quality of food combined with very reasonable prices. All I needed was a snifter of brandy and a cigar.
Libby - A+, Wonderful overall experience. As an avid people-watcher, being able to observe the kitchen and the pulse of the dining area served as entertainment in itself. The food overall was excellent and the decor, simply beautiful.
Ozzy -B+, "Pretty good." "Cold ice cream and a giant cookie. It was a circle." :)