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Super Eats in Indianapolis
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  • Super Eats in Indianapolis

    Post #1 - January 26th, 2012, 3:13 pm
    Post #1 - January 26th, 2012, 3:13 pm Post #1 - January 26th, 2012, 3:13 pm
    Super Bowl 46 is set, a rematch of one of the all time classic Super Sundays should be a fun watch for those of us with no rooting interest. Personally I don't really care for any of the sports teams from both NYC and Bean Town. Have you ever talked sports with someone from Boston? They'll say with a straight face and honestly believe stuff like Larry Bird was better than Mike and of course anyone who knows people from New York knows its the center of any and everything...how 'bout them Knickerbockers? OK enough ranting, it's not a sports message board. I'll be down in Indy during the game and have been down there a couple times leading up to it. Here are some food stops for those that may be headed to Indy for SB XLVI or for others thinking about heading down there this week with the family to the NFL experience and those that may find themselves here someday. We'll start out at the place your most likely not getting into the weekend of the game.

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    St. Elmo Steakhouse in Downtown Indianapolis

    I would venture to guess this is the city's most well known and popular place to eat at by visitors, especially those in town to play the Colts. It's a classic American Steakhouse that was founded in 1902 and has been there ever since. The original tiger oak back bar which was purchased here in Chicago is still on display and I recommend taking a seat there for dinner and drinks. It's got the classic Chicago steakhouse saloon feel going for it. Reservations are accepted. The bar and the small tables behind it are first come first serve. Even though this is a steakhouse the star of the show seems to be their world famous shrimp cocktail.

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    St. Elmo's Shrimp Cocktail

    I went to St. Elmo on both visits and enjoyed each time. The first time around we went the whole nine yards. I made reservations which were for later around 9 but when we got there we just took a seat at the bar since there were spots available and Da Bulls were playing on ESPN. Even if your not big on meat or don't want to eat all that much the bar is still a great option for a snack and a martini, of which they make a mean one. The shrimp cocktail come five to an order with some saltines but if theres two of you they'll ask if you want six. It lived up to it's hype as one of the greatest to play. I love horseradish and if you use enough of the sauce on top of these, it'll have you making weirder faces than Jim Mora did during his famous postgame press conference rant.

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    PLAYOFFS?!?!?!?!?!?!

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    Quite the pair they are...

    The menu at Elmo is pretty simple standard steakhouse fare with steaks, chops, chicken, salad and seafood selections available. My go to order at a fancy steakhouse like this is always the ribeye and it better be bone-in (Cowboy style). That's the case here where they're 20 ounces of nice tasting beef came cooked to perfect medium rare. The loaded baked potato only made it bigger and better as a whole. To old plastic face Jerry's dismay this will be the only superstar Cowboy on display during the big weekend.

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    St. Elmo's Bone In Cowboy Style Ribeye

    The Indiana Pork Chops come glazed with bbq sauce and a side of apples and I actually liked these better. The steaks are wet aged there so I cant say they're the best I have had and the nostalgia and a few martinis play a factor too but these are really nice with the sauce. I got a bone in filet with the mashed red potatoes to go for someone else. I didn't try it but they said they liked it.

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    Pork Chops

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    Bone-In Filet

    St. Elmo has a sister, much bigger, restaurant next door called Harry & Izzy's which is partially owned by Peyton Manning who looks like he's on his way out of Indy. We stopped in here for a late lunch and I enjoyed the atmosphere.

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    Downtown Indy

    This place is huge, like big enough that Fox will be renting the entire place out for their Super Bowl party the Saturday before the game. They'll be open to public all other days. Despite the fact they're owned by the St. Elmo folks and Peyton it's still different as far as the menu. The shrimp cocktail looked different as I saw it pass by and they have a much bigger menu here with both lunch and dinner. I had another stop (St. Elmo) later that night so I just went what I call light. An order of their "signature" appetizer mini bone in filet chops brushed with herb butter for the table to start and a mini filet slider for me.

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    Filet related appetizers

    Both of the app's were satisfying but some people may not be for the price ($20) of those four little finger foods. But your out of town, live a little. I got a Indiana state tourist brochure when we first arrived the first trip from a nice lady at a place coming up. She showed us how her burgers were featured in the lead cover story which was "46 Super Sandwiches to try" in and around Indianapolis. The list is impressive, lots of nice pics and I got to as many as I could including H&I's which was featured for their St. Elmo Prime Rib Sandwich.

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    As seen in the Indiana 2012 Travel Guide "Super 46"

    Served sliced with white cheddar, au jus & creamy horseradish sauce alongside fresh cut fries this was a very good lunch but the tourist brochure had the price wrong at $7.95, it's just about $15 but I'd get this again next time so it was worth it to me. This other Guy got the filet which I tried and it was very good but as I told him, I would got the Izzy Style N.Y. Strip which comes rolled in cracked peppercorn, pan-seared and served on orange brandy butter sauce.

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    Filet Mignon

    On the first trip we stopped in at Maxine's Chicken & Waffles which was found on the iPhone as being near to where we were at the downtown La Quinta. So we went in for some eats before heading over to the real spot I wanted to stop. It was pretty good but nothing special. They serve no pork products so the sausage is beef and bacon turkey. Wings were just ok as was the waffle.

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    Downtown Indy

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    Fried Eggs and Potatoes with Turkey Bacon & Wings and Waffles

    If the fans of both teams participating get a taste for something from back home, Indianapolis has them covered. First up is a deli that most New Yorkers shouldn't have too many complaints about. But when compared to their spots, we all know they always have at least something to say. But there's a reason this place has been around and well known since 1905.

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    Shapiro's Deli, over 100 years in Indy

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    Views Inside

    Shapiro's has been discussed on here before and comes with high praise from most people that have been there. Since were in the Midwest, corned beef is best and so I've been told, that's the case at Shapiro's. I haven't tried the pastrami because the corned beef is too damn good.

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    Shapiro's Corned Beef Sandwich

    However if your a Reuben man like I am, that's where its at. Shapiro's corned beef is as silky smooth as it gets credit for but what I went in not expecting to be some of the best I ever had was their rye bread. So the Reuben takes it to another level with the bread getting toasted and everything coming together perfectly like they always do in a good one. I cant say whether this or Jake's in Milwaukee is a better Reuben but I can say that this might be the best sandwich in the entire state of Indiana (I got years to go to find out). It earned it's place on the cover of the 2012 Indiana Travel Guide just like Eli did on SI when they beat the then undefeated Patriot's back in '08.

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    Shapiro's Reuben Sandwich...lets take a peak inside

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    Ms. February (and March, April, May, June, July...)

    So speaking of the Pat's who will try to exact revenge in Indy, there's a great Nantucket style cafe in the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood which is a trendy very nice neighborhood. Some of those homes on North Meridian drive which this little neighborhood is off of are ridiculous. Were talking Jim Irsay money. I never knew some parts of Indy were so nice. In fact I'll say it now, I never knew Indy was so nice. I like it there and most of the people. I'm not the biggest fan of Indiana. I feel like I gotta target on me whenever I roll thru NW Indiana with my city sticker on my vehicle and Chicago, IL listed on my license. However I am much better behaved in my old age. Oh and I despise Notre Dame, but lucky for them Penn State sprinted past 'em and never looked back. So about that New England style place in Indy...

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    The Barking Dog Cafe

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    Guess who's been here? Aww not this Guy...

    I sat down and snapped the picture seen above as I waited for the lady, who I believe was the owner to bring me a iced tea (poured right). It was very nice inside and you could feel the East Coast vacation town vibe with all the good looking couples and forever happy old time husband and wives with their grandkids eating lunch and chatting it up. They did a really nice job with the atmosphere and I had a good feeling from the go about the food I was seeing and smelling as it passed by for tables at my side. Clam chowder was one my favorite foods in my early youth and I fell in love with it from family trips to New England over summer and have loved it ever since. So their homemade chowder was a must.

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    Clam Chowda

    I actually took that back and had it a little later in the night before going out and it was excellent. In fact really good, better than anything from around here. Not too thick but also not soupy. Nice consistency, full of flavor with a crapload of clams made me wish I got a bowl instead of a cup. I found Barking Dog thru the "Super 46" and along with other Guy they rec 'Buddys Shrimp Roll' although other menu items (some of which rotate) like the fried clams sounded great. The shrimp roll was a really good call especially since at this point I needed something lighter. They do the New England style rolls very well and again I got a little feel like I was in New England as I ate.

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    Buddy's Shrimp Roll

    Before I stopped into eat at Barking Dog I stopped by for a sandwich to go from 'Goose the Market' which I had to have when I saw it in the travel guide. I also remember mentions of it in this very informative Indianapolis thread.

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    A new Indy favorite

    The owners of Goose state on their website state "Our market is built around the love of phenomenal food, the people who passionately produce it, and the rest of us who can’t wait to get our hands on it. The Goose is chef–owned and –operated, and our vision is to share our passion for excellence in food and service. If you really love food then you will love the Goose." In fact the owners moved back to Indianapolis from Chicago and realized it was the neighborhood markets they would miss most about the city so they started the Goose. What a great place, I'm not sure there's anything like it within city limits. Aside from sandwiches, gelato and coffee served on site and a wine store downstairs this place is a real deal market with an amazing display case.

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    "Now by fresh we don’t mean raised in Kansas, butchered in Nebraska, trucked to Chicago, shrink wrapped on a Styrofoam plate, rolled down a hill and into your meat case. We are talking Indiana, all natural, delivered by the farmer, slaughtered just hours or days before (except our luscious dry-aged beef which takes 21 days to reach perfection) you indulge. If you want it fresher than this, you’ll have to raise it yourself."

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    See what else is inside

    This is Tom Brady's type of place. Very classy with some attractive ladies stopping in to both stock their fridge and wine rack all while getting a snack. It was packed and I had to wait for my sandwich which I saw on, you guessed it, the "Super 46". The 'Batali' is named after not Mario but his father, who is to salami making what guys like Gale Sayers are to game breaking, legendary. Goose is also a salumeria and they "...start by buying the best swine Indiana has to offer. That means no junk, just the good stuff. That is the easy part. It starts with delicate blend of spices, all natural meats and an obsession for quality. The craft of salting, smoking and curing takes patience and more of the “L” word." Can you feel the passion? I sure as hell could taste it in this beauty.

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    The Batali

    There's also quite a few good classic locally loved places you should try and check out. All of which have their own threads on here. One last shout out to the "Super 46" Sandwiches of Indiana article in the states 2012 Travel Guide which led me to the Steer In. Coincidentally enough it just got it's own LTH thread HERE.

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    A longtime Eastside Indianapolis favorite

    The place has had a few owners since the 50's but whoever is there now seems to be nailing it as the place was packed on the Sunday we came in, all locals too. It's a pretty large operation and I liked the menu which I saw after seeing one of their sandwiches make the list. Guess who also rec'd it on his show? I never watch it despite the fact I do like many places I've seen him in. But even so he's everywhere and I'm guessing he'll be down in Indy for the biggie. Stay away dude, I need a break.

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    The counter...how many Guy's can you spy?

    This is my view from where I sat, Fieri looking right at me. All I could think in my head was "man your staring is starting to make me more uncomfortable than that Dolinsky dude does when I'm in Chicago" I mean on top of that his bleached spiked just for men head is next to each menu item he really liked. However if these places make more money off of it, and they do, then good for them. Just don't start slacking, like coach always said "remember what got you here" The menu here is enormous we stopped in on the way out of town so I said screw it and went for it all on fourth down. Started off with a must get menu item when I see it, homemade corned beef hash. Then went with an Indiana classic which they cut and bread in house, the tenderloin served alongside some onion rings also breaded in back.

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    Homemade Corned Beef Hash

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    Housemade Indiana Tenderloin Sandwich

    Both of these (and the rings) were excellent versions of the classics they are. The hash was simple with lots of corned beef and served my style which is cooked until crispy. The tenderloin was juicy and I liked the black pepper laced batter. But for me the real star of the show, the reason Guy went gaga was the "Super 46" rec'd Meatball Sandwich. I loved the looks of it in the picture and the description was dead on. Served on a locally baked crusty baguette, the 'Fat Meatball' comes with three big homemade hunks of beef, veal and pork topped with house marinara and mozzarella and asiago, then browned and served. Another Hall of Famer, this one played meatball.

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    Hi I'm Guy Fieri...BRO! that's crazy kool wild style bonkers brophlicious YO!

    Next stop John's Famous Stew has been around since 1911. Its a classic Indianapolis old school tavern that happens to sell stew. As a lover of bowls of mixed meat I've been wanting to try this place since it got the Rene G Rec'd stamp of approval. Check out this places own thread HERE. Pulling on up into the parking lot it already had that classic Midwest tavern feel going on.

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    John's Famous Stew

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    No kids allowed...21 and up

    We sat at the bar and ordered some beers before deciding on what to get. Although there never was a question was there? It was lunchtime so there were a couple groups maybe on break and that was it but I saw three different people come in for large take out orders of stew. They left with boxes like they were leaving the Restaurant Depot. I went with what sounded best as far as stew which was the "Hot Minced Pit" which is the hottest of the pots of the Macedonian Beef stew they do topped with butter beans and banana peppers. I agree with the many who praise this place. You gotta love that they have lived off their age old recipe. It's a super bowl indeed.

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    John's Hot Minced Pit Bowl of beef stew.

    Upon arrival on our second visit we headed straight for the Workingman's Friend which is also featured in another Rene G rec'd LTH thread seen HERE.

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    Old School Indiana

    The original thread linked too up there ,was from over five years ago, of course this place still hasn't changed a lick. I don't think it has since 1918 when they first opened up. Its opposite corner of a huge factory or manufacturing plant and part of a neighborhood that has the feel of Northwest Indiana. A real workingman's neighborhood that needs a place like this. Bill Belichick's type of spot.

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    B&H 100's, ahh, the memories of my great grandma talking to me while blowing smoke in my face

    Indiana still allows smoking in bars and this place was smokier than, well as smoky as a NW Indiana casino gets during senior special hours. No one on their scooters with oxygen tanks pumping air into them here however. This was my type of place and I was excited to try the burger. From pictures seen it looked to be similar to Schoop's found throughout Northwest Indiana. If you've never been, they do the griddled smashed style, loved by many myself included. The way to go is a double cheese and in fact it's just like Schoop's as far as toppings which include lettuce, tomato, mayo, raw onion, pickles, ketchup and mustard. They also put an extra bun in between each patty. I got mine with onion rings and placed one in there for good measure.

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    Another excellent example of an American classic. The patties are smaller than Schoop's but the burger was $5 and well worth it. I liked it a whole lot. The owner came by and started chatting us up. Her grandpa found the place when he came over from Macedonia. We talked Super Bowl and how she wants to rent her house (empty, just beds) but doesn't know how. We explained what to do and then she showed me the 2012 Indiana Travel Guide with the 'Super 46' Sandwiches to try which this burger is featured in. That's what then got me going and this Super Post here is what became of it. Here's to Da Bears making it down to NOLA for Super Bowl 47 and cheers to Indianapolis. I expect a great game to be played and also to be back soon.

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    Get in me belly

    St Elmo Steak House
    127 South Illinois Street
    Indianapolis, IN 46225
    (317) 635-0636

    Harry & Izzy's
    153 South Illinois Street
    Indianapolis, IN 46225
    (317) 635-9594

    Maxine's Chicken & Waffles
    132 North East Street
    Indianapolis, IN 46204
    (317) 423-3300

    Shapiro's Delicatessen
    808 South Meridian Street
    Indianapolis, IN 46225
    (317) 631-4041

    The Barking Dog Cafe
    115 East 49th Street
    Indianapolis, IN 46205
    (317) 924-2233

    Goose the Market
    2503 North Delaware Street
    Indianapolis, IN 46205
    (317) 924-4944

    The Steer-In
    5130 East 10th Street
    Indianapolis, IN 46219
    (317) 356-0996

    John's Famous Stew
    1146 Kentucky Avenue
    Indianapolis, IN 46221
    (317) 636-6212

    The Working Man's Friend
    234 N Belmont Avenue
    Indianapolis, IN 46222
    (317) 636-2067
  • Post #2 - January 26th, 2012, 8:21 pm
    Post #2 - January 26th, 2012, 8:21 pm Post #2 - January 26th, 2012, 8:21 pm
    Agree:

    Harry and Izzy's...esp. if you're looking for a late night nosh and neighboring St. Elmo's is closing down.

    Goose, goes w/o saying.

    Shapiro's where you can watch the hoi polloi down turkey clubs and pink lemonade(wtf?) while you, of the cognoscenti, enjoy righteous corned beef or pastrami

    Pile ons:

    Taste

    gone are the days of snooty service, now it's but a casual brush-off to go with your selection of breakfast and lunch items

    5164 North College Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46205-1136
    (317) 925-2233

    Zest

    1134 E 54th St # H Indianapolis, IN 46220-3279
    (317) 466-1853

    service is still slow as Christmas, but food is handily prepared

    Recess

    4907 North College Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46205
    (317) 925-7529

    set menu, changes daily, overpriced, well-executed

    Biscuits

    go for the Mexican breakfast menu or the eponymous(I like the chilaquiles and the breakfast burrito)

    Avoid like the Plague the nearby "Thai" and Indian places

    (317) 202-0410
    1035 Broad Ripple Ave
    Indianapolis, IN 46220


    The Sinking Ship

    Come Get Wrecked!

    4923 North College Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46205
    (317) 920-7999

    Sam's Gyros

    undergoing an expansion, an unusual take on gyros, diced meat, microwaved pita, better than it sounds, a local favorite, try the "spicy," a stewed version of the regular

    5404 N College Ave
    Indianapolis, IN 46220

    Twenty Tap

    next to Sam's, lots of SOBRO douches, loud, somewhat unmoored waitstaff, well-curated beer list, inventive-enough grub; deepfried cheese curds!, housemade pickle pickles!, burgers a plus, a decent Cuban, nduja(see what I mean about inventive-enough?)

    5406 N College Ave
    Indianapolis, IN 46220

    The Fresh Market

    where you might spy me slinging some of Naptown's best wings to the ravening Superbowl hordes

    720 East 54th Street Indianapolis, IN 46220
    (317) 259-9270
    Being gauche rocks, stun the bourgeoisie
  • Post #3 - January 27th, 2012, 12:08 pm
    Post #3 - January 27th, 2012, 12:08 pm Post #3 - January 27th, 2012, 12:08 pm
    Just a few blocks farther west of downtown than Working Man’s Friend is a little taco truck called El Taco Veloz (2475 W Washington St) with a trompo selling pretty good al pastor tacos:
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    A tiny sit-down place called Tortas Guicho Dominguez y El Cubanito serving good tacos (chorizo!) and tortas is just southeast of downtown, on the way to a little neighborhood called Fountain Square (good lounges/bars and fewer douchebags than Broad Ripple).

    To escape the crowd, another hidden away place a little east/southeast of downtown is Taqueria Monterrey (1909 Southeastern Ave). They have a more extensive menu than your average taqueria. I’ve always been happy with their chorizo and al pastor tacos.
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  • Post #4 - January 27th, 2012, 4:15 pm
    Post #4 - January 27th, 2012, 4:15 pm Post #4 - January 27th, 2012, 4:15 pm
    I keep getting recommended Tortas Guichas...must visit soon(post-Superbowl).

    The last place I tried for tortas was El Burrito in Crystal Lake(rec'd off LTH) when I was there opening a new store. That was a good find. Unfortunately, the people I subsequently rec'd it to didn't quite have the same appreciation. Except for one they were a margaritas, queso dip, enchiladas crowd. And nothing wrong with that.
    Being gauche rocks, stun the bourgeoisie
  • Post #5 - January 28th, 2012, 7:34 am
    Post #5 - January 28th, 2012, 7:34 am Post #5 - January 28th, 2012, 7:34 am
    great post dabeef ,loved all of these spots.
    liven large in indy
    think i eat half of it :mrgreen:
    philw bbq cbj for kcbs &M.I.M. carolina pit masters
  • Post #6 - January 28th, 2012, 9:24 am
    Post #6 - January 28th, 2012, 9:24 am Post #6 - January 28th, 2012, 9:24 am
    Great post! Brings back memories of my time in Indy! Thank you for sharing!

    Be on the lookout for the West Coast Tacos food truck as well. These guys are a great story and are doing big things in Indy.

    If you're looking for the best sushi in town, Sakura at 71st and Keystone Ave can't be beat!
    RJ Howard
    Owner/Operator/Chef/Pitmaster/Bub
    Bub's BBQ
    120 8th Ave NE, Suite 3
    DeMotte, IN 46310
    219-987-2909
  • Post #7 - January 28th, 2012, 10:23 am
    Post #7 - January 28th, 2012, 10:23 am Post #7 - January 28th, 2012, 10:23 am
    Yes, food trucks eventually hit Indy. There are 3 or 4 that squat outside the store any given week. Foremost, the West Coast Taco truck offering the redundant(elsewhere) mash up of Korean product in a Mexican container. Here, unfortunately, the container consists of those tissue thin, mechanically-produced corn tortillas(the industrial toilet paper of tortillas). It is possible to source El Milagro and Atotonilco tortillas in Indy if one takes the time. Godforbid a truck makes it's own.
    Being gauche rocks, stun the bourgeoisie
  • Post #8 - January 30th, 2012, 12:39 pm
    Post #8 - January 30th, 2012, 12:39 pm Post #8 - January 30th, 2012, 12:39 pm
    Just a great post..thank you..

    I am in Indy quite a bit on business...this enhances what I thought to be a pretty desolate place....
  • Post #9 - January 31st, 2012, 2:26 pm
    Post #9 - January 31st, 2012, 2:26 pm Post #9 - January 31st, 2012, 2:26 pm
    Christopher Gordon wrote:Taste

    gone are the days of snooty service, now it's but a casual brush-off to go with your selection of breakfast and lunch items


    We stopped in at Taste a few months ago while in Indianapolis and had a pretty tasty (pun partly intended) lunch. BUT...

    I'm pretty easy about service most of the time, but this was, without question, the rudest service I've seen in any restaurant in all my decades of restaurant eating. Mainly, it was one guy, stalking angrily about the restaurant, bitching about the customers, often directly in front of them/us. This went on the entire time we were there. Every time it seemed like he was getting himself under control, he'd erupt again. The rest of the staff was OK, but this kid's attitude had all of them on edge, so their efforts were compromised.

    At least it was memorable.
  • Post #10 - January 31st, 2012, 3:02 pm
    Post #10 - January 31st, 2012, 3:02 pm Post #10 - January 31st, 2012, 3:02 pm
    maigre wrote:
    Christopher Gordon wrote:Taste

    gone are the days of snooty service, now it's but a casual brush-off to go with your selection of breakfast and lunch items


    We stopped in at Taste a few months ago while in Indianapolis and had a pretty tasty (pun partly intended) lunch. BUT...

    I'm pretty easy about service most of the time, but this was, without question, the rudest service I've seen in any restaurant in all my decades of restaurant eating. Mainly, it was one guy, stalking angrily about the restaurant, bitching about the customers, often directly in front of them/us. This went on the entire time we were there. Every time it seemed like he was getting himself under control, he'd erupt again. The rest of the staff was OK, but this kid's attitude had all of them on edge, so their efforts were compromised.

    At least it was memorable.


    Sounds like Taste. We moved from Chicago 4+ years ago, but before that we'd visit our friends in Broad Ripple every so often and I remember 6 or so years ago them taking us to Taste(this is long before the restaurant reboot). We sat outside and, as I recall, our lanky frizzy haired waiter completely ignored me, waited on everyone else, and somehow I was invisible to his discerning eye. Until he'd taken everyone's order, left, came back with drinks, and I spoke up. We were all kinda wth? Fast Forward post restaurant reboot, a few months ago, I stopped in to get some sandwiches to go(they have great sandwiches and frites). I'm standing off to the side, out of everyone's way anticipating my order. And this same waiter delivers a totally snide, do you need something?! Which read more like, "why the fuck are you standing there!?" Ahhh, Taste, decent food, sometimes shitty service. If you care to brave it and are in the neighborhood during Super Bowl, I still recommend it. I'm that generous.
    Being gauche rocks, stun the bourgeoisie
  • Post #11 - January 31st, 2012, 3:29 pm
    Post #11 - January 31st, 2012, 3:29 pm Post #11 - January 31st, 2012, 3:29 pm
    Christopher Gordon wrote:Ahhh, Taste, decent food, sometimes shitty service. If you care to brave it and are in the neighborhood during Super Bowl, I still recommend it.
    Yep, their frites are particularly good. Another place worth a mention is SoBro Cafe (653 E 52nd St), about 20 paces from the front door of Taste, around the corner. Serving pannenkoeken (Dutch pancakes), sandwiches and sweet potato fries, with nothing but good attitudes.
  • Post #12 - January 31st, 2012, 5:59 pm
    Post #12 - January 31st, 2012, 5:59 pm Post #12 - January 31st, 2012, 5:59 pm
    SCUBAchef wrote:
    Christopher Gordon wrote:Ahhh, Taste, decent food, sometimes shitty service. If you care to brave it and are in the neighborhood during Super Bowl, I still recommend it.
    Yep, their frites are particularly good. Another place worth a mention is SoBro Cafe (653 E 52nd St), about 20 paces from the front door of Taste, around the corner. Serving pannenkoeken (Dutch pancakes), sandwiches and sweet potato fries, with nothing but good attitudes.


    Is that in the space of the shortlived Garuda? I wasn't impressed with Garuda's food(tiny menu, expensive for what it was, and woefully underseasoned---I have no prior experience with Dutch/Indonesian restaurants, but I had, at that time been cooking regularly and sourcing ingredients from James Oseland's Cradle of Flavor so I figure I have a good spice barometer). However, the interior was awfully-pretty, and the front of house exceptionally-friendly. And I was so excited to have rijsttafel not only in Indianapolis, but walking distance. Oh, well. I'll have to give SOBRO Cafe(sounds like maybe the same owners?) a try.
    Being gauche rocks, stun the bourgeoisie
  • Post #13 - November 10th, 2013, 8:34 pm
    Post #13 - November 10th, 2013, 8:34 pm Post #13 - November 10th, 2013, 8:34 pm
    I was in Indy Saturday and stopped into the City Market which turned out to be very disappointing. Nothing of note whatsoever so I headed over to Goose the Market where I knew there was lots to love. The Batali sandwich was as good as it was the first time around but the "Freeman" on the special board was even better. As super of a sandwich as I've had in a long time. Took home some lamb snack stix and a smoked duck breast too. Great place.

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    Smoked Brisket w/ Poblano Chimichurri, Chihuahua and Garden Greens

    Goose the Market
    2503 North Delaware Street
    Indianapolis, IN 46205
    (317) 924-4944
  • Post #14 - November 11th, 2013, 10:35 am
    Post #14 - November 11th, 2013, 10:35 am Post #14 - November 11th, 2013, 10:35 am
    Da Beef wrote:... so I headed over to Goose the Market where I knew there was lots to love. ... Took home some lamb snack stix and a smoked duck breast too. Great place.


    Goose the Market is a great, delicious place. For the past few years on our trips down to Kentucky (for bourbon tours/tastings & horse racing at Keeneland) we leave on Friday mornings as we hit Goose the Market for sandwiches, then stop over at Sun King Brewery as growler refills are only $5 on Fridays.
    -
    I did absolutely nothing and it was everything I thought it could be.
  • Post #15 - November 12th, 2013, 4:49 pm
    Post #15 - November 12th, 2013, 4:49 pm Post #15 - November 12th, 2013, 4:49 pm
    Da Beef wrote:I was in Indy Saturday and stopped into the City Market which turned out to be very disappointing. Nothing of note whatsoever . . .

    I’ve been to Indianapolis twice recently and was going to post on a couple places I’ve become fond of at City Market. Granted, most of the offerings there don’t look terribly exciting but I'm a big fan of the kraut and the beer. Fermenti Artisan's (kraut) long white sign can be seen under the blue banner and Tomlinson Tap Room (beer) is barely visible at the far end of the balcony on the right.

    Image

    Fermenti Artisan specializes in fermented vegetables and beverages — sauerkraut, curtido, pickled peppers, kefir, kombucha and the like. Almost everything I've tried has been excellent. A couple weeks ago I enjoyed this smoked salmon salad with fresh and fermented vegetables on a bed of beautiful local greens (almost all their produce is from Indy or surroundings). Except for a beet vinaigrette that I didn't care for, it was one of the most satisfying and interesting salads I've had in quite a while.

    Image

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    Tomlinson Tap Room pours beers from Indiana exclusively, mostly from breweries I'm unfamiliar with.

    Image

    On that tap list are beers from Bier Brewery, Fountain Square, Triton, Brugge, Danny Boy, New Albanian, Salt Creek, Flat 12, 450 North, Planetary, Upland and Three Floyds. Another visit introduced me to Three Pints, Powerhouse, Daredevil and People's. I love the low-key atmosphere, especially after hours (TTR is open until 9), looking out over the deserted Market. I have a feeling all my future visits to Indianapolis will include a stop at Tomlinson.

    Fermenti Artisan
    and
    Tomlinson Tap Room
    at
    City Market
    222 E Market St
    Indianapolis IN
  • Post #16 - November 15th, 2013, 11:29 am
    Post #16 - November 15th, 2013, 11:29 am Post #16 - November 15th, 2013, 11:29 am
    Next time you're in City Market try The Pantry by Brad Gates - he's in the corner near the staircase going up to Tomlinson Tap. Very good chef, he knows what he's doing. Varied menu, changes often. Definitely try his cheeses, he chooses them well.
  • Post #17 - November 19th, 2013, 9:44 am
    Post #17 - November 19th, 2013, 9:44 am Post #17 - November 19th, 2013, 9:44 am
    rolled down to Indy recently for about 24 hours of eat and drink with Da Beef, here are some #discoveries. :wink:

    seriously now, just some data points on some places visited:

    B's Po Boy, Enjoyed a really solid shrimp Po Boy here, gumbo and rice and beans weren't to my liking:

    Shrimp Po Boy:
    Image

    Red Beans and Rice: - a little too one note(cayenne) for me
    Image

    B's Po Boy
    1261 South Shelby Street
    Indy

    http://www.bpoboy.com/

    Saw Iaria's Italian Restaurant en route to another spot, looped back to have some drinks and catch a glimpse of the neon:

    As Old School as they come:

    Image


    Iaria's Italian Restaurant
    316 S. College Ave.
    Indy

    http://www.iariasrestaurant.com/

    Always on the lookout for fried shrimp a visit to Mary's Seafood and Pastries was in the cards: Some good shrimps and a really great piece of caramel cake that lasted me 2 days - anyone who can remember the Sanders Caramel cakes from the Detroit area from back in the day, this is it - sorry no pic.:

    Mary's skrimps:
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    Mary's Seafood and Pastries
    5523 E. 38th St.
    Indy

    Almost bolted town without trying some more fried chicken - To clarify I dont live and die for fried chicken, I enjoy the search more than the eating most days, plus living in Lasalle County you kind of grow into liking it & end up knowing what is great vs good. Just good to scratch another spot off the list, what I am finding is pan fried is no better than the best of the chicken done in a deep fryer.

    Iron Skillet:

    Image

    The Iron Skillet, solid chicken, basic, and stripped down, the bird is the star.. no frills.:

    Like $11 for all this bird:
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    a chunk of breast meat:

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    The Iron Skillet
    2489 W. 30th Street
    Indy

    http://www.ironskillet.net/

    Did a couple tenderloins in town:

    Plumps Last Shot was the first, cant remember the other spots name, tenderloin wasnt as good as Plums:

    Image

    Ill confess, I am not the biggest breaded tenderloin sandwich fan, a pork cutlet that size seems better utilized on a plate next to a pile of mashed potatoes and gravy, but I digress.

    Plumps version was meaty, and surprisingly tensder:

    Image

    Plumps Last Shot
    6416 Cornell
    Indy

    http://plumpslastshot.com/

    Lastly made a return trip to Smoking Goose, cited over here:

    viewtopic.php?f=15&t=410&start=30

    Grabbed up some more of their lard - great stuff, as well as some pork rillette, some spicy capocolo & some bourbon barrel slats for smoking - Big fane of Smoking Goose and what they do, if I was in my 20's Id go apprentice there.

    Smoking Goose
    407 Dorman
    Indy

    http://smokinggoose.com/

    Seemingly just scratched the surface in Indy with 2 trips down in the past month or so. Ill be back.
  • Post #18 - April 3rd, 2014, 10:09 am
    Post #18 - April 3rd, 2014, 10:09 am Post #18 - April 3rd, 2014, 10:09 am
    A few more stops to add this now rich thread. First and foremost is Hank's Smoked Briskets. I will never go to or thru Indy again without stopping in at this place. Every other food stop in town takes a backseat in my pocket guide.

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    It doesn't matter where in America you are, if you're on an MLK Jr. Drive there's BBQ nearby

    In the case of East Indy, there's some top of the line brisket as well as smoked corned beef. Hank's is attached to a popular neighborhood barber shop and basically does takeout. I believe we (jimswside was w/ me) got a 1/2 pound of each, it was taken out to the lot to dine al trunko. Hot Damn! I hate playing the best game but this was the best brisket I've had outside the state of Texas. No question about it. Hell, it was as good as I remember some of the top spots I had on my semi recent trip down there. The corned beef further cements the claim of the Midwest being the King of salt cured beef. They smoke theirs here and that nice hint of it added in makes me wonder if I'll ever fully appreciate it being baked or steamed again.

    Image
    Smoked Brisket

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    Smoked Corned Beef

    We stopped in for a snack at this Jamaican spot pictured below. It's run by the son of a Chinese-Jamaican, I think swside was kind of surprised to see the guy with a deep rastafari voice on the phone was actually a small Chinese guy. Nothing new to me. Many places in the states serving Jamaican food are owned by Chinese people with family roots in Jamaica. The patties were a $1 and change and a little different as far as the dough goes to others I've ate but they still tasted great. It appeared they sell lots of frozen bags full of them. I'd have a few in my freezer if I was a resident there.

    Image
    Hidden in a strip mall somewhere

    A couple notes form me on the spots Jim mentions up above. B's Po' Boy's was really good. The sandwich anyway. They get their bread shipped in from Leidenheimer Baking Company in New Orleans and the standard crunch that's needed is definitely there as you can see in the picture. The Gulf Shrimp were lightly breaded and the overall balance was spot on. I was just in NOLA, this was as as good as many you'll find down there.

    Image
    B's Fried Shrimp Po Boy

    Iaria's is a classic old school Italian-American joint. It was packed on that Saturday night but we manged to squeeze a couple seats at the beautiful bar where the tender had obviously been working for what seemed like forever. I couldn't resist trying their famous spaghetti and meatballs and they were good for what they were. I can make better but they itched the sudden fix I got for them upon entering. The old school ovens in back were more to the eye than the pizzas coming out of them.

    Image Image
    Classic 1950's Italian-American Owned Restaurant

    jimswside wrote:Ill confess, I am not the biggest breaded tenderloin sandwich fan, a pork cutlet that size seems better utilized on a plate next to a pile of mashed potatoes and gravy, but I digress.


    Nothing out of this world but I'm not sure they ever are, still I thought the couple we tried were respectable and I enjoy eating them when riding thru both Indiana and Iowa. They're comforting, no doubt about that. The Fried Chicken at the Iron Skillet was much better than a more well known place I tried at a later date (read on) and those fried scrimps were buzzworthy.

    Image
    Ralph's Great Divide

    This little neighborhood favorite has been a part of the area since pre-civil war. The east end of the building anyway. Thru the years it's been a part of a carriage, an auto repair shop and a pub post prohibition. It became Ralph's Great Divide in 1983 and has served their signature bourbon ham sandwich ever since then. While it is a bar, and a very cool one, it's more of a restaurant as far as hours and reason patrons are there. I remember there being a guy on the piano on our visit as well as plenty of regulars enjoying their Saturday night. The aforementioned bourbon ham is described as "Slow Baked Pit Ham with Bourbon & Spices" and comes served on bread from a local bakery with the works if you want. I guess it's loved by many around here. I didn't love it, but I liked it.

    Image
    Famous Bourbon Ham Sandwich - "The One and Only"

    I also tried an order of their signature German potato Salad (served warm) and got the "Tips and Aug" to go with it. The tips are 6 ounces of skewered tenderloin beef and the aug is their "Hot Pot Aug" which is a cream of potato au gratin soup. The German potato salad was stellar. I would enjoy that often if this place was my neighborhood haunt. The skewer and soup were solid too. Meat was tender and had deep beef taste to it while the soup hit the spot. I think it was like $11 for the combo so not a bad deal by any means.

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    German Potato Salad

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    Beef Tenderloin Tip Skewer with a cup of Hot Pot Aug

    One more stop, not from this trip but another one I had to take down this way last Fall. The Cafeteria is a staple in Indiana cuisine. If you do alot of travel thru the state I suggest taking a look at Joanne Raetz Stuttgen's book titled 'Cafe Indiana: A Guide to Indiana's Down-Home Cafes'. She documents all of the states hometown mom-and-pop restaurants in celebration of small-town Midwest culture. One of the more well known Cafeteria's in the state is the roadfood approved Gray Brother's Cafeteria which rests about 20 minutes southwest of Indianapolis.

    Image
    Moorseville, IN

    This would be my first visit to one of these fill your tray up Indiana cafeterias and thus I learned a few things as I went. The line starts with dessert and there's lots of it. So much I was overwhelmed. Even though I'm not the biggest dessert guy you cant go thru one of these in the middle of Midwest and not get a piece of pie.

    Image
    Start of the Buffet Line

    Image
    Moving thru...Beef and Noodles, Fried Chicken and Meatloaf

    Along with my slice of apple pie I went ahead and had them put three pieces of dark meat fried chicken and a few hush puppies on my tray. For my sides I went overload and got green beans cooked in ham juice, mac and cheese, sliced potatoes and of course the standard Hoosier classic of beef (or chicken) and noodles, second only to the pork tenderloin for most beloved eat in-state. Read more in this excerpt HERE.

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    So photogenic

    My friend went slightly lighter than I and got the Friday special of baked cod? and some sides and pie to go with it. My next learning lesson would be in the price of all this. It wasn't cheap, maybe the fact it was being served cafeteria style led me to believe this but my tray and drink were easily over $20.

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    Friends Plate

    First up the fried chicken which is taken very seriously around this way. It was ok. I'm not totally opposed to it when it's pre-fried and served cafeteria style and there wasn't a problem with it as far as temperature or crunch on the exterior, it was just plain. I didn't hate it but I don't feel the need to return for more. The sides were all pretty good and in case anyone was wondering, the meat in the beef and noodles was indeed real and not from a can. I know this because I got a little piece of butcher string that was still stuck to some in my order. I'd imagine this place gets packed on the weekends.

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    My Plate

    Hank's Smoked Briskets
    3736 W Dr Martin Luther King Jr St
    Indianapolis, IN 46208
    (317) 925-1689

    Patties of Jamaica
    5172 Allisonville Rd
    Indianapolis, IN 46205
    (317) 253-4006

    B's Po Boy
    1261 Shelby St
    Indianapolis, IN 46203
    (317) 916-5555

    Iaria's Italian Restaurant
    317 S College Ave
    Indianapolis, IN 46202
    (317) 638-7706

    Ralph's Great Divide
    743 N New York St
    Indianapolis, IN 46202
    (317) 637-2192

    Gray Brothers Cafeteria
    555 S Indiana St
    Mooresville, IN 46158
    (317) 831-7234
  • Post #19 - April 3rd, 2014, 10:19 am
    Post #19 - April 3rd, 2014, 10:19 am Post #19 - April 3rd, 2014, 10:19 am
    Note to self: do not read a post by Da Beef when the stomach is growling.

    That brisket looks fantastic! Thanks for the great post.
    -Mary
  • Post #20 - April 3rd, 2014, 11:01 am
    Post #20 - April 3rd, 2014, 11:01 am Post #20 - April 3rd, 2014, 11:01 am
    Da Beef wrote:
    In the case of East Indy, there's some top of the line brisket as well as smoked corned beef. Hank's is attached to a popular neighborhood barber shop and basically does takeout. I believe we (jimswside was w/ me) got a 1/2 pound of each, it was taken out to the lot to dine al trunko. Hot Damn! I hate playing the best game but this was the best brisket I've had outside the state of Texas. No question about it. Hell, it was as good as I remember some of the top spots I had on my semi recent trip down there. The corned beef further cements the claim of the Midwest being the King of salt cured beef. They smoke theirs here and that nice hint of it added in makes me wonder if I'll ever fully appreciate it being baked or steamed again.

    Image
    Smoked Brisket

    Image
    Smoked Corned Beef

    We stopped in for a snack at this Jamaican spot pictured below. It's run by the son of a Chinese-Jamaican, I think swside was kind of surprised to see the guy with a deep rastafari voice on the phone was actually a small Chinese guy. Nothing new to me. Many places in the states serving Jamaican food are owned by Chinese people with family roots in Jamaica. The patties were a $1 and change and a little different as far as the dough goes to others I've ate but they still tasted great. It appeared they sell lots of frozen bags full of them. I'd have a few in my freezer if I was a resident there.

    Image
    Hidden in a strip mall somewhere



    This little neighborhood favorite has been a part of the area since pre-civil war. The east end of the building anyway. Thru the years it's been a part of a carriage, an auto repair shop and a pub post prohibition. It became Ralph's Great Divide in 1983 and has served their signature bourbon ham sandwich ever since then. While it is a bar, and a very cool one, it's more of a restaurant as far as hours and reason patrons are there. I remember there being a guy on the piano on our visit as well as plenty of regulars enjoying their Saturday night. The aforementioned bourbon ham is described as "Slow Baked Pit Ham with Bourbon & Spices" and comes served on bread from a local bakery with the works if you want. I guess it's loved by many around here. I didn't love it, but I liked it.

    Image
    Famous Bourbon Ham Sandwich - "The One and Only"


    Hanks Briskets was excellent, I think I preferred the corned beef to the brisket, but now I am not so sure.

    Really enjoyed my first taste of a Jamaican Patty, & yes I was cracked up by the little asian guy with the big jamaican accent.

    The ham sandwich at Great Divide worked for me, an Anton Egoesque flashback moment that took me back to my childhood when we would have ham 2 nights in a row, the first night it was boiled and then sliced and served on Butternut bread with mayo lettuce and tomato...

    Indy is alot of fun and an easy cruise.
  • Post #21 - April 25th, 2014, 1:04 am
    Post #21 - April 25th, 2014, 1:04 am Post #21 - April 25th, 2014, 1:04 am
    Is this the new indianapolis thread of choice?

    I posted once before, but it appears my pleas perhaps fell on deaf ears. I will repeat: this might be the best Pakistani food you'll ever eat, EVER. Yes, despite the name, it is definitely Pakistani. If you travel to central Indiana and do not stop by this place, do not let me know about it or I will never let you live it down. If you believe my statement to be hyperbolic, I challenge you to try Bombay Bazaar and tell me where in Chicago I can eat better.

    The restaurant is actually a butcher shop in the back of a grocery store. It’s a beautiful sound to hear a band saw fire up just after you place your order. The "dining area" is a few card tables nestled into the Bollywood DVD collection. The kitchen setup is minimal: a live fire grill, a tandoori oven, and a couple of hot plates plugged into the wall. Yet they wield their simple tools like masters.

    Considering how I only get back to Indy a few times a year, it’s difficult to stray from the favorites. However, I've managed to explore the menu somewhat over time, and I never regret my menu explorations.

    The naan is hot and fresh, always served straight from the tandoori, lightly coated with ghee. My favorite naan is the queema, which can come in beef, lamb, or chicken form. I always get lamb, but I doubt you will go wrong with whichever you order.

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    Lamb Naan.

    The palak gosht, spinach with goat, is made with the freshest meat. It is served bone in, with tender and juicy pieces. Palak gosht is always one of my go-to dishes in Pakistani cuisine, and this is my favorite rendition by far: just the right level of spice, salt and meat.

    Image

    I have yet to find a satisfactory biryiani in Chicago. At Bombay Bazaar, all their biryianis scratch my itch, but I usually order the goat. The rice has the texture that many lesser biryianis lack, richly balanced with just enough butter and spice. Again, against the butcher shop backdrop, they do not skimp on the meat, which is of course fresh, tender, and perfectly cooked. My apologies for the picture of partially eaten food, some people were too hungry to wait for me to snap the shot.

    Image

    Their bright red chili chicken is by far the freshest, spiciest, and juiciest I’ve had. (For the sake of avoiding redundancy, I’ll just go ahead and stop saying every dish is the best version I’ve had. You get the picture. :wink:)

    Image

    The veg/bean dishes are more than worthwhile as well. Usually I get the chana masala, but this time I went with the daal instead, with no regrets.

    Image

    The star of the show on my most recent visits has been the lamb chops. Freshly cut to order, the portions are huge and insanely cheap. You may walk away feeling like they accidentally brought you two orders or didn’t charge you right. Salty, juicy, and intensely flavorful, they come with a chutney that cools the palate and balances the dish.

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    This place is a great value, especially considering the quality of their product. The portions are large, and the price averages around $10 a dish. I always walk away so full that I’m almost in pain, and the bill is usually around $15 per person. This place is a must visit on any trip to Indy. Seriously. Go. There.

    Image
    The Menu, at the front cash register. Order here, eat in the back, pay on your way out.

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    The eating area.

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    The grocery store.

    Bombay Bazaar
    7247 Fishers Landing Dr.
    Fishers, IN 46038
    (317) 585-9130
    Closed on Mondays

    http://www.bombaybazaarfishers.com/

    “Indy’s Best Kept Secret!”
    Part of the secret of a success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.

    -Mark Twain
  • Post #22 - April 25th, 2014, 1:45 am
    Post #22 - April 25th, 2014, 1:45 am Post #22 - April 25th, 2014, 1:45 am
    While at Bombay Bazaar I met a fellow diner, who happened to own a Chicago style BBQ and Gyros place, and he also happened to have a Gym Shoe on the menu! To my knowledge it is the farthest Gym Shoe from Chicago, so naturally I was very excited to write about it. I decided to post it over on the main Jim Shoe thread, where all things Gym Shoe and Jim Shoe should really live.

    You can find it here.
    Part of the secret of a success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.

    -Mark Twain
  • Post #23 - June 6th, 2014, 4:25 pm
    Post #23 - June 6th, 2014, 4:25 pm Post #23 - June 6th, 2014, 4:25 pm
    Another great thread, and several of those places I hadn't found, when looking on various sites(Trip Advisor, Yelp, etc.) for ideas on places to hit in Indy. Unbelievably, I've always missed getting around to taking a look inside City Market, and need to correct that.
  • Post #24 - October 25th, 2014, 6:15 pm
    Post #24 - October 25th, 2014, 6:15 pm Post #24 - October 25th, 2014, 6:15 pm
    After a conversation with jefe and PIGMON about the state of the food in Indianapolis, I made it a personal goal of mine to show them the best of what Indy has to offer. So a-road-tripping we went.

    In my book there are two A+ places in the area, both of which IMO blow away the similar offerings in Chicago. I mentioned one above, "Bombay Bazaar". The other is a place called simply called “Jamaican Style Jerk” which is a killer jamaican joint serving the best Jamacian food I’ve ever had, literally out a bulletproof window on the side of a liquor store. A friend of mine alerted us to a new (to us) thai restaurant called "Thai Town" serving up some really legit and unique off menu home cooked items. We tossed in some classics and some of my favorite stops for beverages into the mix to fill in the gaps. Overall it was a hugely successful trip and I was more than trilled to show a couple friends around my hometown. I won’t do a full write-up on each spot/food item, to allow PIGMON and jefe to comment, but I’ll post my pictures.

    And now for some pics, presented in chronological order:


    Hank’s Smoked Brisket:

    Image

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    Smoked corned beef in the foreground
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    smoked brisket
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    "hot links"
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    "potato latke's"
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    Jamaican Style Jerk:

    curry goat
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    jerk chicken
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    oxtail
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    jerk ribs
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    Brugge Brasserie. A Belgian inspired brewpub in broadripple, serving some of my favorite beers in Indy. They always have at least one sour on tap.

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    Shapiro’s Delicatessen

    ruben
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    The Rathskeller, basement bar.

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    Thai Town

    stuffed bitter melon soup
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    sour (tamrind?) soup with a special greens grown in the owner's garden.
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    sour fermented pork ribs
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    dessert with sticky rice with coconut milk and dried shrimp
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    Bombay Bazaar

    lamb chops
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    palak gosht
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    haleem
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    queema naan
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    goat biryiani
    Image
    Last edited by laikom on October 27th, 2014, 12:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
    Part of the secret of a success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.

    -Mark Twain
  • Post #25 - October 26th, 2014, 7:52 pm
    Post #25 - October 26th, 2014, 7:52 pm Post #25 - October 26th, 2014, 7:52 pm
    laikom wrote:In my book there are two A+ places in the area, both of which IMO blow away the similar offerings in Chicago. I mentioned one above, "Bombay Bazaar". The other is a place called simply called “Jamaican Style Jerk” which is a killer jamaican joint serving the best Jamacan food I’ve ever had, literally out a bulletproof window on the side of a liquor store.


    Image

    Jamaican Style Jerk

    This place is no joke. I used to travel at least twice a year to Jamaica in my youth and I never had jerk even close to this good there (or anywhere else for that matter).

    It would be impossible to recommend any one of the four dishes we tried (jerk spare ribs, oxtail curry, jerk chicken, or the curried goat) over the other as they were all outstanding. Even their jerk sauce was notably excellent. The highlight of the meal, though, was catching the chef peering out from behind the bulletproof window to see how much we were enjoying his offerings. His cooking is clearly an act of love.

    Of my 4 or 5 food road trips to Indy over the years, this place easily outshined the pack. A must visit.



    Bombay Bazaar's Goat Biryani (Photo by laikom)
    Image

    Not much to add to Matt’s comments above but would totally agree that this is a notable biryani containing loads of tender goat and well-integrated, nicely seasoned/fatted rice. The accompanying raita was pleasantly thicker than most watery versions typically served elsewhere (but, unfortunately, didn't have the seldom-found yogurt tang to it. Still good, though.). I’d eat this stuff once a week if in Chicago.

    Although the biryani and palak gosht (goat spinach) at Bombay Bazaar were exceptional, the haleem was easily one of the worst I’ve ever had anywhere having more of a daal texture (ie. runny) than one with a traditional handball viscosity. I'm not certain whether they use any wheat whatsoever in their recipe. I owner claimed that their ample Indian clientele prefers a much thinner version to the traditional Paki/Hyderbadi consistency but that explanation is just too hard for me to swallow.


    I had some gripes about the BBQ being made at Hank's Smoked Briskets but I save that for another day.
  • Post #26 - October 27th, 2014, 5:39 pm
    Post #26 - October 27th, 2014, 5:39 pm Post #26 - October 27th, 2014, 5:39 pm
    Firstly, I'd like to thanks to laikom for the delicious tour of his home turf. Thanks, laikom! And thanks PIGMON for the drive and banter. It was a regular old buddy road tale.

    My 2¢

    Hanks Smoked Briskets was a likable place, a bare bones walk up window operation doing a steady business with the locals. The gal at the counter and pit master (I believe Hank himself) were, for sure, quite affable. Prices were affordable. I liked the BBQ fine, though found it not quite noteworthy. I keep making excuses that I haven't been to Hill Country so I have no reference point for top tier brisket. I'd say my peak experiences have been with home smoked efforts and the stuff Smoque served up at the GNR dinner a year or two back. I've just never quite had transcendent stuff and I'm working on a Midwest brisket ceiling theory. It can be good but never quite artwork status. So Hank's fell somewhere short of the ceiling, maybe about six feet or so- not dry, but not succulent. Discernible smoke but not a whole lot of flavor penetrating beyond the superficial layer. The links were of the Eckrich quality, slightly elevated by a kiss of smoke. And the corned beef, while having the flavor and texture of good corned beef, lacked much smoke at all. I think the most notable aspect of our order at this stop would be the head-scratchable "latke" which was served in a styrofoam cup and I would describe as a succo-hash. A base of fried potatoes, but wetter than hash browns and studded with corn (and perhaps onions and peppers). Better than it sounds actually.

    Jamaican Style Jerk as you've gathered by now, was the bomb.com. Probably the best Jamaican food I've ever had. What can I say, it was a beautiful sunny day to get down and dirty on a picnic table in a liquor store parking lot with the hits of the day from the likes of Mavado and Lady Saw pushing the limits on a set of computer speakers. This stuff was intoxicating, like the minute the order hit the table it was all pre-linguistic grunts and lip-smacks, a primal experience. The jerk pork ribs were perfectly toothsome and smoked better than the BBQ on the previous stop. I might have even enjoyed the chicken a notch more, smoky lacquered skin and tender and moist-as-can-be birdflesh. The jerk sauce was tangy and bright and perhaps hotter from a heavy hand with the allspice and clove than the chiles. The braises were super tender and I couldn't get over the elemental savory depth of the oxtail gravy. Even the beans and rice were assertively seasoned and addictive, like I couldn't get big enough plastic-forkfulls of the stuff.

    Brugge didn't have sh!t on Brewery Zatkoff.

    On to Shapiro's. Could be my goyishness, but I just don't wax nostalgic over impossibly stacked sandwiches of nothing but cured beef. I love a reuben, however. This reuben was really just an impossibly stacked cold sandwich of mostly cured meat. I'd just had Jake's in Milwaukee a few weeks earlier and I could see the love for their thick cut, unctuous slabs of corned beef. The stuff at Shapiro's had a thinner deli cut. But really, a reuben is about balance and in my estimation should be a hot sandwich with melted cheese. Good bread though.

    Thai Town was a cute converted former some sort of steakhouse or something in an outlying stretch. laikom's buds seem super stoked to have this place and I could see how their rapport with the staff and owner will unfold into lots of interesting discoveries. This was a solid meal, very homey and reminiscent of some of the dishes at the Rainbow Thai, Country Style meal and other off-menu things I've sampled there. The hubbub surrounding this meal was the threat of fermented chicken wings. Seemingly a recipe for salmonella, these guys actually were pretty mild in the funk department with an underlying sourness that paled compared to the nubbins of pork ribs. I loved the fried herbs that the chef garnished these fried dishes with, a nice aromatic touch. The soups were the highlights for me, first up bitter melon stuffed with ground pork and vermicelli in a light broth that PIGMON likened to a Vietnamese version he's fond of. The greens soup was my favorite in a sour (yes, I'd reckon tamarind) broth fortified with lemongrass. The greens themselves had an herbal quality that reminded me of grape leaves. Though this was the last stop on a five meal day and dessert was the last thing I wanted to deal with, I was highly impressed with their offering of a sweet and salty (and funky) purple sticky rice (in the shape of a heart) drowned in sticky sweet coconut milk and topped with grated dried shrimp and a chiffonade of kaffir lime leaves. Although I could only muster the stomach space to eat a few bites, this was some high falutin cuisine for a dimly lit parking lot on the outskirts of Indianapolis.

    Bombay Bazaar is exactly the type of spot that so many of us cherish– a couple of tables sandwiched between piles of Pakistani DVDs in the back of a Indo-Pak grocery run by some super nice dudes. That was the best biryani I've had at a restaurant, more aromatic (whole spices present) and richer than any I've had here in Chicago. The palak gosht was one heck of a curry too, tender meat in a complex sauce that still tasted of spinach. The lamb chops were juicy and without a moment of grab-the-dental-floss gristle. I did find them to be modestly seasoned compared to other dishes, but still ranked high in my book. The keema naan, I thought was the weakest component, great bread, but under-seasoned filling. The more aggressive, crisp-in-parts garlic naan was much better, I thought. I'm no haleem expert and my opinion was at first tainted by trying to read the thoughts of silent judgment happening in the seat next to mine. It was thinner than the other two versions I've had at Ghareeb Nawaz and Khan– both of which I have loved– and even my novice palate could discern that. The more I jammed on it though, it grew on me. It had great spicing and when doctored up with accoutrements made a great soupy lentil curry. Maybe we should call it daal-eem. The owners explanation of catering to Indian palates made some sense to me, but so did our server's excuse that it had not cooked down enough. You have to give them points for preparing each dish fresh for us. Excellent stuff. One big complaint here, though, and its all laikom's fault, he dared me to follow my meal with paan, which I was unfamiliar with. Let's just say my mouth tasted like a urinal cake the entire ride home.

    Indianapolis, sensational destination for global eating, who knew?!

    Hank's Smoked Briskets
    3736 W Dr Martin Luther King Jr St, Indianapolis, IN 46208
    (317) 925-1689

    Jamaican Style Jerk
    3355 N Keystone Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46218
    (317) 926-1110

    Brugge Brasserie
    1011 Westfield Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46220
    (317) 255-0978

    Shapiro's Delicatessin
    808 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
    (317) 631-4041

    The Rathskeller
    401 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
    (317) 636-0396

    Thai Town
    1237 S High School Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46241
    (317) 731-6769

    Bombay Bazaar
    7247 Fishers Landing Dr, Fishers, IN 46038
    (317) 585-9130
  • Post #27 - October 27th, 2014, 7:46 pm
    Post #27 - October 27th, 2014, 7:46 pm Post #27 - October 27th, 2014, 7:46 pm
    Sounds like Hank's either had an off day or we happened to hit it up on the perfect day at the perfect time, unfortunately either or is totally possible with lots of bbq. What we had isn't what you describe, doesn't look like it either. But the Jerk place looks legit, and if Mavado was bumping it certainly sounds bona fide. I'll be making my way to Louisville next month and plan to stop in. This time I wont forget about it. Good stuff as always.
  • Post #28 - October 27th, 2014, 8:43 pm
    Post #28 - October 27th, 2014, 8:43 pm Post #28 - October 27th, 2014, 8:43 pm
    Great posts guys! Good info and you remembered to put the addresses of the places. I appreciate that! :)

    I just realized we forgot about one stop. One World Market. It is a small Japanese place that is half grocery half counter service restaurant. The sushi is not going to blow your mind, but is generally fresh and the rice is good quality, they have a very extensive menu of home cooked japanese hot food items, and best of all, it is at snack counter prices. My favorite aspect of the place is that you can grab some fresh fish from the cooler and they will prep it for you on the spot for the cost on the package. For example, I don't remember all of the items below, but I do recall the baby octopus was about $4, which they grilled up for us. Total bill for the 3 sashimi items and the grilled octopus was under $20. The only real dud of the bunch was the octopus sashimi which was totally waterlogged from being frozen.

    Image

    Image

    Image

    One World Market
    8466 Castleton Corner
    Indianapolis, IN 46250
    Part of the secret of a success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.

    -Mark Twain
  • Post #29 - October 27th, 2014, 11:02 pm
    Post #29 - October 27th, 2014, 11:02 pm Post #29 - October 27th, 2014, 11:02 pm
    Jefe wrote:One big complaint here, though, and its all laikom's fault, he dared me to follow my meal with paan, which I was unfamiliar with. Let's just say my mouth tasted like a urinal cake the entire ride home.


    Hehe, sorry dude, it was not with malicious intent. I too think sweet paan is disgustingly sweet, and the candied rose petals are overwhelming. There are other non-sweet or less sweet versions, but I have not tried them. I think paan is something everyone should experience at least once. As a show of good intentions, I always "do" a paan with whomever I offer the challenge.

    I do feel like some of the value of it was lost due to the fact that you didn't get to see the production process. No, it doesn't make it taste better, but it's a cultural thing as well, which I think you'd appreciate. Crazy that it takes multiple minutes per paan.

    These aren't my videos, but they show the intensive process by which they are made. There are (or were) a couple convenience stores on Devon who make them for you as you order them. I hardly ever get them when they're pre-made, but love watching the artist assemble them.



    Part of the secret of a success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.

    -Mark Twain
  • Post #30 - October 28th, 2014, 4:50 am
    Post #30 - October 28th, 2014, 4:50 am Post #30 - October 28th, 2014, 4:50 am
    Jefe wrote:Thai Town
    The soups were the highlights for me, first up bitter melon stuffed with ground pork and vermicelli in a light broth that PIGMON likened to a Vietnamese version he's fond of.


    laikom wrote:
    Thai Town

    stuffed bitter melon soup
    Image



    Rene G wrote:Image

    Nha Hang Viet Nam
    1032 W Argyle St
    Chicago
    773-878-8895


    Both renditions of this soup – the Thai version known as Gang Jeud Mara Sai Moo ( แกงจืดมะระยัดไส้ ) and the Vietnamese one as Canh Kho Qua On Thit - appear to be quite similar if not close to exact recipes. But If I recall correctly, the main difference in the two fillings being Nha Hang adds a bit of wild rice and dried fungus. Both versions of this soup fill the bitter melon with pork and a thread noodle and are served in a chicken broth and garnished with cilantro & scallion. If you like soup and bitter melon and haven’t tried it, it’s worth seeking out.

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