Also includes featured entree each day:
Monday – Italian Beef
Tuesday – Italian Sausage
Wednesday – Meatballs
Thursday – Penne Pasta
Friday – Fettuccine Alfredo
Ukiyo 4907 N. College Ave.
This is another Neal Brown restaurant. It is Japanese inspired with some non traditional twists. Or as is stated on the intro to their website a Hip Japanese spot serving ramen at lunch & small plates at dinner, plus reservation-only omakase. They change their menu with the seasons. I had wanted to get there while they were still working on their warm weather menu. However I missed it. They are currently serving their Fall and Winter menu. It has not been updated on their website so I have included a copy.
I was very excited by the food so naturally I over ordered. I started off with the shio koji duck breast.
This was an excellent dish, The duck was tender with the texture of beef filet. The greens were new to me but I liked them as much as any salad green. The crunch of the bean sprouts rounded it out nicely.
I ordered all the dishes simultaneously. The duck came out first followed by the other two.
If you like things fermented or pickled I suggest their daily tsukemono.
That day the choices were daikon radish, green bean and burdock root. All three were put up in a different pickle so you had different flavor to combine. The flavor base was familiar yet unique. It would be a great complement to any full or fatty dish. Which leads to my last dish. Their version of poutine. Curry crinkle fries. This is a side of fries smother with a curry beef gravy. I started eating before I took the picture.
This was a huge bowl of curry cheese french fries, well worth the $6 price tag. I wasn’t able to finish it so I took half home along with some of my pickled veggies. It was a cute gimmick but I think a thinner straight cut fry might be better. Regardless of the fry it was good food. So the next time you think you want a Whopper think of this bowl.
They also feature sushi. As a matter of fact they offer half price sushi for an hour on Tuesdays.
They also have a full bar. So I splurged and ordered a Tori Manhattan after lunch.
Brian my server was also my bartender and he did an excellent job with everything. Up to and including mixing my cocktail. I have never had Tori Japanese whiskey; but it does make for a smooth drink. I also appreciated the use of the coupe glass. A nice little touch of old school.
I plan on going back on a Tuesday for sushi. I have never experienced a Happy Hour for food.
Liter House 5301 Winthrop Ave.
This was Bent Rail Brewery and now it is another part of the Sahms Family empire. I thought their Big Lug was ambitious but this could at least rival that location. As you can tell from the name that they have a German theme going on with a beer Garden planned. They also have a large smoke house in the works. They hope to have the whole project completed by Oktoberfest.
As an appetizer I was tempted between the rabbit pate and the Cornwurst. They were out of the pate; so by default it was the Cornwurst; pulled pork corn dogs, curried ketchup, rutabaga mustard for $8.
These little things were crazy. A nice pulled pork wrapped in a beautiful corn dog type batter. The curry ketchup and the mustard were very good complements to the corn-ness. The only possible critique would be the dryness of the “wurst”. In order to shape and coat the pork balls they were limited on the amount of sauce they could use. More ketchup would help.
For my main lunch I ordered a Bratwurst. They don’t make their own sausage yet. They do make their own buns though. Right now they have Smoking Goose make their sausages to their own specs. The brat was excellent, full of flavor and a very nice snap to it. The mustard creme fraiche brought a nice creaminess to the sandwich which balanced nicely with the fried shallot.
For my side I got a simple side salad. However it was hardly simple in taste.
I ordered it with their smoked peach hefeweizen vinaigrette. It was a clean and fresh dressing that clung to the greens and enhanced their taste. The way I think a salad should be. It could be my imagination but it seems as though every salad I have gotten from a Sahms restaurant has been a cut or two above other joints. This new place is another home run for the Sahms and I am looking forward to Oktoberfest.
Loco Mexican Restaurant & Cantina 2205 N. Delaware Street.
There is a growing trend in Indy to erect buildings with a relatively small footprint that has retail spaces on the ground floor and rental residence on upper floors. The structure that Loco is in is one of these mixed use buildings. I think it has been around about three years. The bottom floor has a Mashcraft tasting room and Loco. I believe that it has been there since the beginning. The space that houses Loco has had a sort of revolving door on it; as far as tenants are concerned. That is one reason I was eager to go here. I wanted to see the place if they were gone in 6 months.
I ordered their Chile Colorado plate for $11. That is skirt steak simmered in a red chile and served with rice, salad, avocado and some flour tortillas to build your own mini burritos. The first thing you notice is the size of the meal. Neither one of our dishes were skimpy. Even Pat’s lunch special, which was only $8.
I thought my Chile Colorado was excellent. The chile sauce had that wonderful earthiness of a red chile pod sauce. Even the rice; which is normally just a spear carrier in a Mexican meal had a personality of its own. The meat was abundant and had just a slight chew to it. Which is to be expected of skirt steak. I would do it again. However there are so many other things I would like to try.
One more thing I had to try.
Yes that is a Frozen Margarita. A 27 ounce one for $9. I have not had one in over 30 years. I still have no idea why I ordered one today. It was okay but I prefer my ritas to be up or on the rocks.
Frozen cocktails aside I think this joint has a staying quality the other places didn’t have. It is a beautiful place with a nice patio and they serve kids. Something I think the neighbors might appreciate. I will be back.
A wall of tequila
Gallery Pastry Shop 1101 E. 54th Street G
This shop is a little tricky to find. The address is on 54th. but you can’t see it from the street. It is behind a building. You turn into an entryway and drive to the back of a small business area. Turn right and at the end is the neatest little joint you can imagine.
At the far end you can see what appears to be a Chess set on the ground. That is exactly what it is.
A little whimsy is always appreciated.
Each piece is about 2 feet high and seem to be a lightweight plastic. I say light weight because as we were leaving I saw two little kids moving them off the “board”.
I met my friend Joey, 2 of her teen daughters and her husband Jason today for brunch. The seating is nicely spaced but the acoustics and the loud music made it difficult to talk.
They offer a week day menu and a Brunch menu for Saturday and Sunday.
https://www.gallerypastryshop.com/
Once you are seated you receive small printed sheets with all the menu items listed. You check what you want, add you name and pass it to the server. It sounds pretty efficient but the service was rather choppy. Not bad just not smooth. I ordered 2 crepes, one sweet and one savory. My sweet crepe came out first. Lemon curd folded in and topped with whipped cream.
This was delicious. A tender crepe and a light curd with the proper amount of tartness. Possibly the best I have had.
My savory crepe was chorizo sausage from Smoking Goose, a “mushroom mix” and mozzarella cheese. It was a big hit as well. It held a good amount of meat and the chorizo wasn’t spicy at all. It balance well with the sweet tartness of the lemon curd.
I know this is an atrocious picture. I felt hurried for some reason. Each diner in our party had 4 plates and servers were in and out bringing the plates out at different times. I am glad we had a big round table.
This shot is only marginally better, which is a shame. As good as the crepes were this plate was the show stopper. It consisted of a split croissant with a piece of bruleed Trillium Cheese nestled in it. It was placed on a smear of honey with a fresh berry compote next to it.
Trillium cheese is a triple cream cheese similar to Brie and Camembert. This particular cheese comes from a local creamery. Tulip Tree in Zionsville. If you enjoy a warm and gooey cheese you would love this dish. The rind is sugared then torched making a sweet crust. Slice the crust off and put on a piece of the buttery croissant and enjoy the first bite. As you continue eating you get tastes of the cheese, the sweet honey and the slight tartness of the berries. Our table had 4 of them so it wasn’t just me that enjoyed it.
https://www.tuliptreecreamery.com/about-us/
I will be back. Joey and her girls got a dozen Macarons to go, but I was too full. Also on Wednesday they sell them for a buck. Normally they are $2.50. So I will be there at 10 AM this Wednesday.
Jamaican Jerk Chicken 7023 Michigan Road
I don’t know how long this place has been on Michigan Road but at one time it was over on Keystone Ave. and 34th Street. It was inside a gas station and had carry out only. Their menu is small featuring only the essentials.
As soon as you walk in the first thing that hits you is the wonderful aroma. The scent of all the spices and herbs mixed with a bit of smoke makes you want to eat. All of the menu is cooked in advance and stored on a steam table; so service is quick.
I decided on a quarter chicken white meal.
The breast was very good. Often breast meat has a tendency to be dry if not cooked properly. Which is why I usually go for the dark meat. The thigh is my favorite. This breast was properly done so it was both moist and tender. Under the meat is the red beans and rice. The rice was a bit dry. That is the danger of steam tables. Over time they dry the food out. The flavor was there I just would have enjoyed more red bean “juice”. The meat was rubbed with a subtle and savory blend of herbs and spices prior to cooking. Then a jerk sauce is served on the side. He makes 3 of varying degrees of heat. I opted for the “hot”. It wasn’t very hot at all but complemented the dry rub very well. I think a return trip is in my future.
Mr. Natural ordered the quarter white as well, but he opted for just the meat so he could have a side of cabbage.
Pat’s “steamed” cabbage
So if you need a jerk fix now you know where to go. While you are there may I suggest trying some of this.
Good stuff; and it is hot.
The Clay Oven 7415 US 31 Indianapolis
This little place sits in a strip mall on land used for the US 31 drive in theater when I was in high school. It is probably an improvement. It is a buffet that only costs $10; which is probably what got Pat’s attention.
Like most buffets taking pictures is difficult. I took selected shots of the buffet line first thing.
This is the cold section featuring Indian raisin pudding and fruit custard.
Fried bread and various Dal or lentil dishes.
Pat’s beloved Palak Paneer.
Gulab Jamun, Allo Tikki, and Veggie Bhuna.
I took a picture of our first plates but regardless of that old saying about eating with ones eyes when you are at a buffet you pick your dishes according to your hunger not your aesthetics.
Pat’s first plate.
My first plate
I have a slight familiarity with common Indian dishes; nearly all through buffets. This is the most complete buffet I have been to. In addition to the dal dishes and Tiki Masala and Vindaloo they offered Potato cakes and vegetable fritters. These were all fried in a Garbanzo bean batter. They were quite tasty but required a sauce. That is what the various chutneys are for.
I had two large plates but still had room for something sweet. They offered my favorite Gulab Jamun. A spongy milky ball simmered in a sugar syrup. Delicious. They also had something I was not familiar with. Rice pudding and fruit custard. The pudding was thinner than that I am accustomed to but was excellent. Their custard was outstanding as well and the added fruit was a bonus. I don’t know that there is a better Indian buffet in town.
Bento House Asian Bistro 1940 Broad Ripple Avenue
Pat wasn’t able to have lunch with me this week so I figured I would have to eat alone. Fortunately I was able to make a lunch date with a friend I am not able to see very often. We decided on this new Bento place in Broad Ripple. The menu is odd to me. They have a set Bento lunch that you can get prepared in different styles. Also they offer a choice of edamame or tempura shrimp as a side dish. I ordered a beef Bento in a Mongolian style with shrimp tempura.
The beef dish was excellent. The beef was very tender and the veggie portions had a very nice snap to them. The sauce had slight sweetness that fit well with the rice. On the down side the tempura wasn’t great, the batter coat was too thick and the egg rolls were merely average. The beef more than made up for it. On the UP side I had my first bubble tea. My pal Joey turned me on to that. Bubble tea is a flavored tea mixed with milk and it has tapioca pearls added. I had coconut. It was delicious especially the little black tapioca pearls.
Joey opted for shrimp and I honestly don’t recall what style she chose. I do know she got the edamame. She likes edamame. She also ordered a Taro bubble tea. She liked her food but wasn’t impressed with the egg rolls either. The entrees are in the $9-$10 range and the bubble tea is $3.95. I never thought I would say this about a non-alcoholic drink but I think it is worth it, and I think this little joint is worth a visit.
South of Chicago Pizza & Beef (revisit) 619 Virginia Avenue
South of Chicago is probably best known for their Italian Beef sandwiches, and rightfully so. They probably have the best in the city. They also have pizza and during weekend lunch they have a buffet, featuring one of their entrees in addition to the pizza. On Tuesday it is Italian sausage.
This is a small joint so the buffet doesn’t take up much space. They offer a modest salad bar as well.
For the hot food they have various deep dish pizzas and one large thin crust cheese pizza.
For me taking pictures of a buffet is problematic. The sneeze guard gives off a glare so I can’t stand in front and take a shot so I have to stand at the end. With this set up the space is limited so this is the best I could get.
There are more elaborate buffets in town but this modest affair is more than adequate to sate your appetite. Plus it is only 10 bucks each. Drink included. I really enjoyed their food. The toppings on the pizza were abundant and the sauce was rich with nice body. Cautionary note it is heavy with tomato paste; which I like; but you can almost OD on it. The sausage was very good but I am with Pat on the beef. For that you have to hit the joint on Monday. Regardless of the day of the week this place is quite legit. Here is the schedule of the entrees with the buffet.
Side Wok Cafe 1087 Broad Ripple Ave.
This is one business among many in a strip mall on the main drag in Broad Ripple. That may be why we never hit it up before now. Had I known what was in store for us I would have wanted to go sooner.
They offer lunch specials similar to other Chinese joints in town but we ordered from the regular menu. We each ordered a pork egg roll for $1.60. It was a pretty good roll, however I forgot to take a shot of it. I could have eaten another one. The first thing I noticed was they serve everything in and on disposable ware. Even the cutlery is plastic.
We each received a large paper plate of white rice for our entrees. This place doesn’t skimp on serving size.
That haze in the upper left hand corner is steam from the food. That was how fast the food came out.
I felt a need for pork in black bean sauce.
Usually pork in stir fry are in small pieces. This was large slices of pork loin. Two to three inches in diameter and one-quarter inch thick. A delicious surprise.
I understand Pat’s hesitation about a return visit as he lives a distance. I am only a few miles away and am in the area at least once a week. Also they are built for carry out. The amount of food we were served was crazy and the quality was as good as any in Indy. Each of our lunch dishes were $8.45. Two people could easily share one of the entrees. I am sure some folks may be turned off by the paper plates and plastic forks but it doesn’t bother me a bit. I consider it a testimony to the tenderness of the meat that a plastic knife can cut it. So the utensils shouldn’t be a negative so large the tasty food can’t over come.
The New York Slice 5564 Madison Avenue
I am sure the name is familiar to several people. However if you can’t quite place it how about if you put the name on a truck.
Now it probably comes together. The popular food truck is now a brick and mortar on the South side. Folks that follow the food trucks know about the pizza but for the ones who don’t rest assure that this is the “real deal”. Also they have more than just pie at the shop.
Since it is so close to Pat’s house he brought the joint to my attention. Pat likes their product for the same reason most folks like it. It is good pizza and you can buy just a slice. If you want just a taste you can get a big slice for about 4 bucks. If you want more you can go the whole pie route in the form of a 16 or 20 incher. If pie doesn’t suit you try a Stromboli for $5.99. Now to me a Stromboli is a sandwich but here it is like a Calzone filled with sausage, pepperoni and cheese.
And it is huge and delicious
At first sight you might think that, as big as it is, it can’t have much filling in it. However you would be wrong. It had “stuff” in every bite. So it was big, full of cheese sausage and pepperoni and it was tasty as well. I could go on about the crust being an excellent partner to the creamy cheese and slightly unctuous pepperoni and sausage. Or the red “gravy” on the side added a wonderfully acidic note to the creation. But I will merely say it was good and oh so economical and you should try one.
So there you have it. The New York Slice. For when you are in a New York “frame of mind” and are hungry.
Superbowl Pho 5603 E. Washington Street
Well we went back to Irvington to try a new Vietnamese joint that opened right next to Batters. They have a restaurant in Westfield, by the same name and evidently business is good.
Like most Asian places around here they have excellent lunch specials all in the sub $7 range and all come with a choice of egg roll, spring roll or soup. To start things off we decided on a fish cake appetizer for 6 bucks.
These are shredded fish and potato cakes and are pretty good. They have a nice flavor with the slightest hint of spice on the back-end. They have an odd texture. By odd I don’t mean off-putting or gross I merely mean it is unique to me. I enjoyed them but I think I would have liked a more assertive sauce. They served a Mae Ploy sauce; that ubiquitous bottled sweet chili that is so popular. It is a fine sauce just rather sweet for these cakes.
After our app we got our spring rolls. I prefer spring rolls over egg rolls possibly because they aren’t fried.
These were big, nicely constructed and full of “stuff”. One complaint is the peanut sauce. Too thick and too sweet. It was like a little dish of pudding. However that is a very small complaint compared to the size of the spring roll.
Pat chose from the stir fry section of the special menu.
I had to go with Pho. I mean the place has Pho in its name. Normally I would get a beef Pho. Thin slices of raw beef in the broth. However this time I thought I would be adventurous and go with meatball . Asian meatballs are different from Western meatballs in that the meat is pounded not minced and adding fish to the beef and, or pork is not uncommon. Every bowl of Pho must have a plate of garishment.
This plate was a bit light compared to some Pho I have had. It consisted of a lime wedge, 2 jalapeno slices some basil and a whole bunch of mung bean sprouts.
This was a very good bowl of food. I would be happy to try it again if I were in the area and hackering for a Pho fix. The food is not so unique as to make this a destination. However if your normal joint is getting boring give this a try. Or if you are in the Irvington area for some of the Christmas festivities give it a try. If I lived here I would be ecstatic that they moved in. Just one more option for lunch or dinner.
Greek’s Pizzeria 4901 N. College
This posting will be different from the others; as I have few pictures to go with it. For some inexplicable reason my computer no longer recognizes my Canon Camera. I do have a few shots taken with my sorta’ smart phone.
This place originated in Valparaiso Indiana in 1968. Now it has over 100 joints covering more than just Indiana.
It has the feel of a small local pizza joint, although done up in “industrial chic”.
It has that aroma. The earthy scent of yeast mixed with the bite of red sauce and a hint of garlic.
They have other locations, that was how Pat knew they would customize his Stromboli.
Actually this is my Meatball Shell; that is what they call the Calzones. However they were same in appearance so imagine that it is a Strom.
Now here is my Meatball Shell.
It was wonderful. The meatballs were tender the sauce had a nice tang and the shell was done to a beautiful tender crispness. The only minor flaw was the amount of the sauce. However that was rectified by ordering extra solos of sauce. It is a large offering and I was surprised I ate it all as quickly as I did. It was good. Since it is right on my way to Broad Ripple I would image stopping there for lunch or carry out. The shells were $8.99 and they offer a pizza lunch special for $6.99. I can see why this place has lasted and grown. They have a good plan and they stick to it. Good house made food at a good price.
Sandra Rice and Noodle 10625 Pendleton Pike.
The last three weeks we have eaten more carbs than we probably should so we decided to try this Vietnamese Restaurant a friend had told us about. It was a good move. They offer typical dishes but their execution is unique.
All of their $6.99 lunch specials come with soup and a spring roll.
The soup and roll were excellent. The broth was rich and comforting and the roll was crisp and bright. In my experience it usually gets a peanut sauce but with this one I got a sweet chile sauce.
I was interested in noodles so I opted for stir fry pork with rice noodles.
This was a very simple and straightforward dish. It didn’t have any discernible sauce. It was simply fried pork loaded with rice noodles spiked with a bit of carrot and cilantro. I really enjoyed it and I would eat it again.
They have a nice sized menu with great prices. Most of their prices are in the $7 to $10 so it is economical. Factor in the portion size and you have a bargain. Also they have salt and pepper shakers on the table. You have to ask for soy.
Papa Ray’s 1267 Shelby Street
We hit upon this place more by accident than design. We had intended to visit the Silver Circle Bar in Fountain Square but they weren’t open at 11 as scheduled so we found this place. We didn’t do any research on it so we didn’t know that they are part of a small chain out of Chicago. Even though they don’t actually fit the criteria of the blog the joint is small and has the feel of a Mom and Pop and we were already there so we stayed.
The Monster slice is as “big as your head.” At least that is what the guy at the counter said. They offer it as a one topping special with a drink for $5. Pat ordered it with mushrooms.
I wanted to try one of their calzones. I ordered an Italian. Sausage, peppers, onions and mushrooms all rolled up with marinara and cheese. It was 10 inch long monster for $8.49.
It was a beautiful piece of work. It was brushed with butter and topped with Parmesan cheese giving it a lovely sheen. It was a knife and fork affair served with 2 sides of marinara for dipping. It was delicious. Crisp crust with a lush and savory filling. I really enjoyed the freshness of it all. The big chunks of meat and veggies made it a treat to eat.
I think this little joint has an excellent calzone; possibly the best in the city. As for the pizza Pat enjoyed it. I may try a Monster slice when I go back. That way I can taste for myself. They deliver with in a 6 mile radius and in addition to the typical Italian fare they offer chicken wings. Being right across the street from Fountain Square Brewing should make this a popular joint. Pizza, wings and beer is a culinary hat trick.
Thaitanium 735 Massachusetts Avenue.
There is a fancy new Thai place on Mass. Ave. It’s a good-looking place with a clever name and better than average food. The offer several lunch specials for $8.99. Each one comes with soup, salad and a spring roll.
The soup is a nice broth with just a hint of spice. I could eat a couple of bowls of it. Minimal ingredients but the broth is the hook.
I ordered the Cashew Nut with pork. This is a stir fry dish loaded with peppers, mushrooms, water chestnuts as well as cashews.
It was a huge plate full of food. The sauce was a simple brown gravy that matched up well with the pork and mushrooms. The small side of salad added just the right amount of crunch. As for the spring roll it was one of the best I have had and it wasn’t made in-house. It was full of cabbage with a delightful flaky skin. I would eat them again with gusto.
I hope this joint lasts longer than the previous inhabitant. I think it fits in well with the area.
George’s Mexican Taco 801 Broad Ripple Avenue
Well as a rule we do not eat Mexican that often. Pat is not a big fan of Mexican food because of those pesky onions. I enjoy most Mexican foods. Even the average ones. This is a small joint with a small menu. The sort of joint where you go to a counter; order and they bring the food to you.
Their menu is posted at the front next to the order counter. As I said it isn’t very big. Tacos, burritos and quesadillas. They also make their own chorizo, which intrigued me as I make chorizo as well. The burros sell for $8.50 with choice of meat. All come with the meat beans, cheese and rice all together in a tortilla. So I ordered a steak burrito.
The burrito was pretty good and very filling. I still can’t get used to the idea of beans and rice tucked into a burrito. I didn’t eat the tortilla but I did eat all the filling. It went really well with a nice tomatillo sauce.
I also purchased a singled out chorizo taco for $2.99. They give an option of corn or flour torts. Naturally I got the corn. I thought it pretty authentic and tasty.
They sell their tacos for $2.99 ea or 3 for $8.50. The usual suspects for protein choice and of course the obligatory Jarrito beverage selections. I think it was a decent little joint for lunch. Do I think it could be a destination? No, not for me; but if you are already there I think it would be a good choice.
Mama’s House 8867 Pendleton Pike
For the life of me I have no idea why we haven’t been here before now. It is located in a strip mall just west of Post Road. Unless you are actually looking for it you would more than likely not even notice it. That would be a shame because this is definitely a place worthy of notice.
Pat forgot to mention the soup he got as a first course.
It was a delicate broth with small cubes of tofu added. It also had a mystery vegetable(?) in it as well. Opaque strips of something that didn’t really have much intrinsic flavor. It was pretty good for an opening act.
I was really second guessing my lunch choice after Pat was served. I ordered Seolleong- Tang. That is beef tongue boiled in an ox bone broth. While I am not a fan of boiled meats I like tongue and I am especially fond of bone broths so it sounded like the answer to a cold afternoon.
The broth was very nice;not as rich as I thought it would be but still very good. The beef tongue was plentiful and tender. As I ate I discovered little bits of tripe and sweet potato starch noodles as well. That was a pleasant surprise. I got another surprise when they brought out the sides for the soup.
Little bowls of pickled onion and mung bean sprouts, kimchi and some delicious slices of cucumber in a sweet chile sauce. These additions turned a good soup into a great soup. All of their lunch specials are $6.99 or $7.99. I am definitely going back.
Hibachi Bar -Japanese Steak House. 921 Broad Ripple Avenue.
Well Broad Ripple has one more new joint. This is Hibachi Restaurant. New for the Ripple scene. It is located where the Sabbatical used to be. Curiously that’s right next door to the Triton Taproom and the Sushi Bar. The Hibachi Bar is owned by the same folks who have the Sushi Bar. All they need is one called the Tempura Bar for a true hat trick.
Their dining room is really nice looking.
All of the seating is for Hibachi. So you get a show even if you order from the hot kitchen or the sushi kitchen.
This is their basic dining unit. In the background is the sushi bar. Their menu is an odd Frankenstein affair. Cut and paste with several items marked off. Of course this is only their first week of operation so I am sure they will be making adjustments along the way. Being true to their name they offer a lot of steaks and combos with fish. They also have a few noodle dishes ( from the kitchen) and Teriyaki Chicken as well as salmon.
Funny thing about the sake. The chef had it in a big squeeze bottle. I figured it was just water and the sake bit was a joke. When Pat told me it was indeed sake I was jealous. Hell Pat doesn’t even like sake. Oh well. I ordered Yakisoba. That is a buckwheat noodle dish cooked with veggies and a protein. I opted for chicken.
I thought this dish was excellent. The chicken was not overly abundant but the overall flavor and amount made it an excellent value at $12. I especially liked the tender crisp celery and its crunch.
About the prices. I thought the pricing was reasonable. They feature strip steak and filet mignon as well as ocean-going sea food, which ain’t cheap. Pat’s Teriyaki chicken was only 9 bucks. And in celebration of their Grand Opening they were offering a 15% discount. So I don’t see the pricing as a problem. I can only image things getting better for this place. I think it is a nice addition to Broad Ripple.
WB Pizza 6155 Allisonville Rd.
People toss around the phrase “hidden jewel” probably too often. This little place may well be just that. The make all of their own crust and bread as well as cheesecakes and gelato. This time around we didn’t have room for desert but there is always another time.
We noticed this place some time back when we went to “Some Guys Pizza”; which is about one block away.Its proximatey to “Some Guys” may be the reason it isn’t that well know. It has been around since 1999 and Pat and I have never heard of it. It isn’t a “sexy” joint with a wood or coal-fired oven. It doesn’t offer duck confit or organic kale toppings. It is just a little Pizza joint that offers a good pie at a good price.
Naturally when you go to a Pizza place you need to overload on carbs so we ordered some garlic bread for $5.00. It comes with your choice of 2 sauces. We opted for red sauce and garlic & butter.
The bread had a good flavor and a nice chew to it. The red sauce was very good with a touch of sweet. The fingers don’t come with it.
Pat’s critique of the crust was correct. I don’t think olive oil before hand would have necessarily fixed the issue. However a brushing with some would have given it a sheen and an extra luscious mouth feel. My personal pie was the same way. I,however like the slight char. As long as the crust stays soft. This crust was soft and stayed soft sitting in Pat’s car and on my kitchen counter for about 5 hours,in a go box.
My pie was a two topping one. Black olives and anchovy. I really like that combo. Both pies were under 8 bucks. A single $7.20 and a double for $7.90. The crusts we got are called their original thin crust. They also have a really thin crust if that is your taste; as well as a deep dish.
I am with Pat about the calzone. I am going to get one, maybe to go. That way I can try some cheese cake and gelato.
http://www.wbpizza.com/TheMenu/Index.htm
Tomo Japanese Steakhouse 7411 N. Keystone Ave.
Pat called me the other day and we were talking about lunch this week. He informed me that he had just read the last few posts and realized that he had ordered several burgers. He wanted to get out of that rut ; quickly. I told him that I thought that the quickest way to carry out that was to go to a Japanese joint. I think we have gone to one before. That was Sushi Bar in Broad Ripple. Pat ordered a Tempura lunch special and I ;as usual; had a medley of sushi rolls. This time I was determined to change the pattern.
This is a very attractive place. Spacious and nicely decorated. I found it pretty dark though. Nice enough for a date night but so much for a lunch.
Their menu is very nice. They feature actual Bento boxes with Teriyaki, noodle dishes, maki and sashimi and,of course Hibachi. All are in the $7.50 to $10.75 range, and they come with soup or salad.
I wanted some cooked salmon so I ordered Salmon Hibachi for $10.75. The Hibachi dishes come with the soup or salad, fried rice and veggie of the day. I opted for Miso soup. I do so like Miso soup.
This particular version was excellent. A lovely broth with just the right amount of tofu.
The rest of the luncheon was expertly prepared. The Salmon was a thinner cut than I am accustomed to so it was cooked more than I would like. However it was still very tasty, and the fried rice was superb. It was a brown rice with flecks of egg and onion and the veggies were as you would image from a Japanese kitchen. Tender crisp with a hint of soy. They serve each diner with 2 sauces. A mustard sauce and a “ginger” sauce. Or at least that is what our server told us it was. The mustard had no kick and the “ginger” sauce brought nothing to the table. Flat ; no flavor.
So Pat and I both enjoy our lunches. They were well prepared, excellent quality and great service. He won’t go back because he lives too far away. I wouldn’t mind going back;there are some dishes they have I would love to try. However there are several joints that offer similar food. They may be better or worse;but I will not know that until I eat there. I only have so much time left and there are so many places to visit I have to use my time well. So eat and enjoy it.
Don Juan 3720 E. Raymond St.
A friend told me about this place a few weeks ago. After contacting them to make sure onion could be left off their sandwiches it was a go. We also had a guest;our friend from Cali who was in for the day;on his way back home. They offer 9 sandwiches and a few appetizers. We all decided to start off with some Yucca fries for about 4 bucks and change.
All 3 of us enjoyed them. If you have ever eaten fried Yucca you know they are sturdier and more fibrous than potatoes. In many ways I think they are tastier than the usual french fry. They serve them with a mayo based sauce that was so so. The winner was the Peruvian hot sauce. A mixture of chiles, spices and vegetables that give a wonderful “burn” on your throat. I used it on everything. Our buddy David was torn between the Asado; beef pot roast and the Chicharrones; slow cooked pork deep-fried and served with fried sweet potato. So was I. The obvious solution was to order one of each and share. We were both very impressed. Each sandwich had its own taste signature and a wonderful depth of flavor. I am sure it was because of the spice and herb marinade. Also the onion on top brought another layer of flavor as well as bit of crunch. I think the Asado won out over the Chicharrone. Both sell for $8.99.
This is the Asado. The picture doesn’t do it justice at all.
The space is bigger than it looks from the outside. The floor is concrete that appears to have been partially cut into squares and then painted black and white. The walls are covered in corrugated sheet metal giving the joint an industrial vibe.
After we finished lunch our server brought us out a sample of their purple corn “tonic”. They take the corn and boil it down with pineapple and other ingredients to make a dark liquid with a slight medicinal taste but with an overall sweetness that is really pleasant. I really recommend the Asado or beef pot roast. It is a great taste that you don’t always find in a simple sandwich.
Shapiro’s 808 S. Meridian St.
Shapiro’s has been a part of Indianapolis since 1905. Everything they serve is made here. From the bread and confections to the soups and smoked tongue. I think the only reason we haven’t reviewed this joint before is we figured most of the folks who eat out already know of Shapiro’s. After last weeks debacle with the “Cajun” I didn’t care. I wanted a joint that I knew was good. Since yesterday when I decided to come here I knew what I was going to get. Chopped liver on rye.
All of their sandwiches are big;the liver is no exception. As you can see I took a bite before I took the picture. Their chicken liver is excellent. Rich and dense with just the right amount of fat (schmaltz) to make it right. I got a whole sandwich for $8; even though I had to take half home. I love chopped liver and I make a pretty fair one myself. However Shapiro’s has the best. You can even add a Schmear of the liver to any sandwich for $2.55.
Another thing I was hungry for was some Matzo Ball soup. I thought that Shapiro’s was the only joint in town with Matzo Ball soup but I discovered that the Cafe Patachou on 49th and Penn has it on Fridays. I haven’t tried it yet so I can’t make a comparison.
To me matzo ball soup is elegant in its simplicity. The balls in their soup are an excellent combination of texture. Dense enough to taste the meal yet light enough to soak up the excellent chicken soup,or broth. You can buy it by a cup or bowl or by the quart or gallon. A bowl costs about $4.30.
I don’t think a meal at Shapiro’s would be complete without pie or cake. I couldn’t resist a slice of German Chocolate cake for $4.10.
It was a pretty good cake. It had a creamy chocolate frosting with coconut pressed into it. Not what I am used to for a German Chocolate but a pretty good cake any way.
They open at 6 AM and serve the usual omelets etc. After 10 they have the hot line up and offer hot meats. So whether you want a plate lunch or dinner or a sandwich and a pickle they have you covered.
Some of This…Some of That 2405 N. College
SOT SOT started as a food truck. After a couple of years the owner decided to build a brick and mortar Cajun Table while keeping his food truck rolling. He picked an old abandoned building in a less than hip part of town and refurbished it. From what I hear he did most of the work himself. The result is a very good looking place with lots of exposed brick and shiny distressed wood flooring.
Cajun and Creole food are some of my favorites bites; and I have a bit of experience in it as does my bitter/better half. Since she didn’t want to come out to play I thought I would do carry out. They offer the obligatory Po Boy sandwiches as well as your typical entrees. They offer Crawfish and Shrimp Etouffee; Jambalaya; Bourbon Chicken and Vegetarian Red Beans and Rice. They are priced out at $7 to $10 each but you can order a pick two for $11.50 and a Sampler for $14.50. They also have Gumbo; either Seafood or Chicken& Sausage as a cup for $5 or a bowl for $10.
I ordered a pick 2 of Etouffee and Jambalaya and a bowl of Gumbo; all to go. When I got home I did not re-plate for the picture-taking. I took the pics as they are.
This is the pick two. The Etouffee is in the foreground and the Jam is in the background. Also the garlic bread is on the left. Well to be concise we were both underwhelmed and disappointed. The Etouffee had the best flavor and a nice “Cajun” feel to the veggies however we could only find one shrimp and one Crawdad tail. Lee ( my partner) was the lucky winner and she thought the shrimp was over cooked. The second part of our pick two was the Jam and it was definitely the least enjoyed. The texture was “mushy” and it had an odd taste that neither of us could name.
Our final dish was the $10 bowl of Gumbo.
I probably should have re-plated it but the only rice provided was in the bottom of the 12 ounce go bowl. Needless to say the picture is not very appealing. Apologies. We both thought it was a bit thin but that is probably subjective from what we are accustomed to. We differ on the basic flavor of the gravy. I thought it pretty good; reminiscent of a dark brown roux she did not. Another thing we were in agreement in was the dearth of veggies and meat in the dish. We ordered the chicken and sausage version and we got a few pieces of chicken and a rather mediocre sausage. So I don’t know what happened. Was it a very bad day and I should give this joint another go? I am not sure.
In summation. The Etouffee had the best flavor;just no shrimp or crawfish. The Jambalaya was a dish we could not finish and The Gumbo needs a bit of attention to the Trinity and the type of sausage. It is a nicely renovated building and I wish them the best.
Rook 501 Virginia Ave.
This restaurant was located in a smaller venue just South of here. They made the move in February this year and I have wanted to go here since then. I didn’t want to go alone but since I couldn’t find anyone to go with me I decided that I may as well indulge myself. Their menu has a Southeast Asian flair to it with a touch of the Philippines. I am adding a link so you can see the menu.
This is their second menu. Gone are the dumplings and the Pig Faced Hash. Their dumplings were very good. They will be missed.
As you can see the chef definitely has an affection for the Noble Pig. Actually I think I finally overdosed on pork. My entire lunch was ordered from the Appetizer section of the menu. I started with a Pig Face Taco for $5.
The meat from the head actually is the most tender on the pig so when they say it is from the face that is what they mean. The meat was rich with just the slightest hint of fat. It was garnished with small bits of cracklings and cured egg yolk. The mix of salty and savory was balanced out with a slightly sweet and sour Ponzu Mayo. It was a definite hit with me. However I was not a big fan of the corn tortilla they chose. I have had better in town.
My second “course” was a Pork Belly steamed Bun also $5
This was probably my favorite. A nice tender piece of pork in a soft bun with pickled cucumbers, hoisin sauce and peanuts. It just was simply great. It had all of my taste buds involved and after lunch my mouth and belly thanked me.
The last dish I ordered was Crispy Pig Ears with a 63 degree egg and Guacamole for $8.
As you can see the ears are sliced thin and then treated like potatoes. Fried and seasoned like a French Fry. The egg and Guacamole were to serve as a dipping sauces for the “fries”. For the most part that worked out really well. I love eggs prepared that way and to place one on a bed of chiles and avocado is great. However the whites of a sous vide egg are not really appetizing looking. Usually when I have had them they are placed in a bowl of stew, soup or noodles and the egg is mixed in. So it could just be my own peculiarity.
So I definitely recommend this place. I also highly recommend all the dishes I have had. Especially the pig ears; as a sharable appetizer. As a first course not a last one for a solo diner. They have a whole lot to offer, not just pig.
