The Library Restaurant & Pub 2610 S. Lynhurst Drive
https://www.thelibrary-indy.com/
I am not sure how we ended up here. I was checking on a joint that Pat mentioned to me and in anticipation of that joint not being open I listed this as an alternative. I guess that was why we ended up here.


It was a very attractive place. High ceilings, chandeliers, even an upstairs. I can see it as a fine dining French Restaurant.

As Pat said the special was fine. The aforementioned special was blackened prime rib Caeser salad. I agree with Pat is was fine. A tasty lunch for 14 bucks. Maybe it was the spirits of the former Haute Cuisine in the atmosphere but I am going to pick some nits. The salad was too lightly dressed for my taste. Salad greens should not be soggy with dressing but I would like to taste the dressing. Also the medium temp was more mid well. That comes from buying a cooked to rare ribeye. I do not agree with that. I think any kitchen with an oven should be able to cook a whole ribeye; or as some folks call it a whole Prime rib. However even if the meat was rare I do not get why they were unable to cook it to medium. I have my suppositions but they are just that, guesses.
Now the age old question. Would I buy it again? Of course. It was still a decent meal. Tasty and filling I just would have prefered a better execution. The fat was crisp which I enjoy and there was a slight spiciness which is always nice.


As a grand finale how about a fancy Manhattan. That makes any meal complete.
The Red Key Tavern 5170 N. College Avenue. (revisit)

Since we hve been back we have done mostly revisits. Part of the reason is the food industry here is still in flux with all of the Government second guessing. Another reason is we like to do a welfare check on some of our more favorite joints. When it comes to favorites the Red Key ranks right up there.
I know the trend in bars is craft beers and the whole gastropub scene but the Red Key is a comfortable joint with beer and liquor and just a few food offerings. https://www.redkeytavern.com/



I decided on a cheese burger. A simple patty fully cooked on a griddle with some onion and pickle.

I appreciated a good burger cooked medium rare but I also like a drug store burger cooked to one temperature. Fully cooked.

So if you haven’t been to the Key you should ask yourself why. It’s a nice and relaxing atmosphere with very good cheese burgers and they only take cash. However on Wednesday the drink special is a $4.75 Manhattan. Now that is a good deal.

Fort Ben Pub 5645 N. Post Road
We have been asked before why we go to so many bars or taverns. Some folks don’t consider such places as “legitimate restaurants”. Well considering the crowd these joints feed at lunch time I would say that is a minority opinion.
We have been to all the bars we lunch at before; for a beer or cocktail. The ones that offer something unique or special we add to our list. This week we couldn’t really decide on what we wanted to eat. I recalled Fort Ben’s Wednesday Special. A 6 ounce bacon wrapped filet with fries, toast and a salad for $9.25. Now that is a special Special.
Pat ordered his medium and mine was medium rare. For all practical purposes they were the same temperature. The beef was very tender and had a very nice char quality to it. It was a record for speed that is for sure. I believe it was because the steak was par cooked prior to the order, and the fries were probably fried earlier and stored under a heat lamp. All perfectly reasonable and legitimate “tricks” done to expedite the lunch service. Also you could eat it in record time since you didn’t need to cool anything down. The meat was still tasty and I would do it again were I in the area. However Murphy’s @Flynn’s use to have a similar steak special for $9.99;and the steaks didn’t start cooking until you ordered. They might have raised the price a buck since Pat and I were there. Check their website.
This particular place has a full repertoire of daily specials; both lunch and dinner. The specials may make this particular spot your destination. So don’t be too quick to overlook lowly bars or taverns for a bite to eat. Remember some of the best scratch type cooking can often be found at these bars.
Murphy’s at Flynn’s 5198 Allisonville Road
Well the name Murphy and Pat Flynn have been pretty well know on the North side for many years,with Murphy’s Steakhouse on Keystone and Pat Flynn’s Public House on Allisonville. A couple of years ago Murphy’s Steak house closed its Keystone location and moved to the Pat Flynn site. It has kept both names; I assume to take advantage of the name recognition of each. The menu has items suitable for both a steak house and a pub. Pat and I popped in for a beer one Tuesday afternoon and noticed that they have a set schedule of specials. On Tuesday it is a 6 ounce filet with potato choice and soup or salad for $9.99. So here we are. Tuesday at Murphy’s at Flynn’s.
Their soup offerings that day were white bean and French onion;both too filling for us. So we both decided on salad.
It was a salad. What can be said about a salad? It was fresh and chilled with crunchy stuff on top.
As for me I was very impressed with the steak. It was very tender. The seasoning was minimal if at all,which is fine with me. I prefer the naked taste of the steak. Needless to say Murphy’s has two new fans.
The time we stopped for beers we ordered some mushrooms. They were pretty good. Couple that with the steaks and I will say they know how to cook at this joint. Murphy’s offers a different lunch and dinner special every day of the week. They also have pie and cobbler.
They have 4 or 5 beers on tap,some local brews. They also build a pretty tasty Manhattan for 6 bucks.
So;in summation you can get an old school steak lunch and cocktail for $16 plus tax. Toss in a respectable tip and you have only dropped a twenty,tax not included. Of course a cocktail isn’t mandatory. I just think it makes lunch much more jovial.