Monon Food Company

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

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

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

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

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.




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