Indianapolis is My Home

01
Jun

Local Flavor Will Fill New Indianapolis Airport

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Bars, Pubs & Grills, Dining, Local Businesses, Local Establishments, Traffic & Transportation

Four new local restaurants have signed on to be tenants at the new airport to welcome visitors to Indianapolis to the flavors of Indianapolis as well.

Harry & Izzy’s, Scholars Inn, Shapiro’s Deli and Slippery Noodle Inn have just signed on to join Cafe Patachou, 96th Street Steakburgers, King David Dogs and Georgio’s Pizza as some local eateries that will be located in the new Indianapolis airport.

I really like the idea of having local establishments being spotlighted in the airport. Although sometimes nice to eat somewhere you’re familiar with when in a new city, but I think this is a great way to share a little of the local flavor with the visitors coming into the city every day as they arrive and depart.

11
Jan

Lunch at Claude & Annie’s

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Bars, Pubs & Grills, Local Businesses, Local Establishments, Northwest Side, WRTV - TV Channel 6

My boss and I stumbled into an unexpected great lunch earlier this week. That’s far better than stumbling out of the place later in the evening.

We dropped into Claude & Annie’s Park 100 location because my boss had some tires replaced on his car. It was within walking distance and we thought we’d give it a try.

From looking at their website it appears the lunch buffet menu changes, but it was fried chicken, pork chops, deep fried biscuits with apple butter, mashed potatoes and gravy, potato wedges, buttered carrots and a salad bar.

Let me just say that the chicken, gravy and biscuits were delicious! I ate way too much.

The only downfall for me was the smokey atmosphere, but hey, I expected that going in and their website proudly proclaims they welcome smokers. Again, this is to be expected and I don’t fault them for it at all. I also learned they were an WRTV6 A-List Award winner as well! So, I don’t guess this was too hidden from the majority of the public other than me.

They’ve got loads of pool tables, darts machines and have Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournaments each week. Not sure I’ll be back for any of that, but I’ll be back for the fried chicken for sure.

04
Jan

Checkout John’s Famous Stew - Now Expanding

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Bars, Pubs & Grills, Business, Dining, Downtown, Local Establishments

It’s only fitting that a local dining establishment is expanding since you can’t help but expand yourself after eating there.

My boss and I checked out John’s Famous Stew on Kentucky Avenue awhile back at the suggestion of one of our clients as we were working on site at Lilly.

I grabbed the tenderloin sandwich pictured above as my meal and my boss said the stew was worth naming the place after as well.

Come to find out they’re expanding their locations and will be showing up in the Stutz Building downtown, which just happens to be walking distance from one of our other client’s offices. It’s a good day in Indy folks. John’s Famous Stew will be moving into the location once inhabited by Mo’s Loading Dock Pub. Mo’s was also a great place to eat when we first started going over there, but their service and quality kept slipping to the point we rarely went back.

I’m looking forward to getting back to work next week. We’ll be at the client close to there and will be sure and stop by John’s for a visit. I’m sure I’ll have the tenderloin again, maybe a cup of stew to go along with it this time as well.

Visit John’s Famous Stew website

Source Story

14
Nov

Breakfast at Acapulco Joe’s

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Bars, Pubs & Grills, Dining, Downtown, Local Establishments

Experienced a little treat this morning when I arrived to work. We were at a client’s office downtown and there available working space is sometimes a challenge. When I arrived there was nowhere for me to sit and setup my computer so I joked that I’d just head over to Acapulco Joe’s for some breakfast and come back at lunch.

My boss took that idea and ran with it though. He sent me out to go get chorizo sausage gravy and biscuits for breakfast.

I’m sure most of you know what sausage gravy and biscuits is like at your local Bob Evans or Cracker Barrel restaurant, but those don’t even come close to Acapulco Joe’s biscuits and gravy. First the chorizo sausage is the key. It kicks it up a notch that’s just amazing!

A single order comes with 2.5 biscuits, drenched in sausage gravy and a load of breakfast potatoes. One thing I never realized though in other visits was that the biscuits aren’t homemade. Now to most folks that may be a hang-up but honestly, 8 times out of 10 I’d prefer a tube of Grand’s biscuits to homemade.

A fabulous breakfast to start the day at a great price. You just can’t beat that!

Read what this guy says about Acapulco Joe’s and some of the history that I wasn’t aware of (or know the validity of).

Ok this is my favorite restaurant in Indianapolis. Founded as a lunch stand 30 years by Joe after he wrongy took a bus to Indianapolis instead of Minneapolis. Joe had to be convinced that Hoosiers would eat Mexican food. It can be best be described as Barrio food, quality ingredients, good portions, and not expensive. Great Breakfast!!! Their biscuits and gravy are simply the best ever. The huevos rancheros are really really good too(and I don’t like eggs). For those who need a drink the bar opens at 7am. Not that I ever need one of their killer Margarita in the am but a buddy of mine who works as an EMT has often stopped by on his way home for a breakfast and a cocktail.

But don’t take this guy’s or my own word for it, go try it out for yourself and let me know what you think. If you need more peer pressure read some reviews at DineSite.com

Visit them at:

Acapulco Joe’s
365 N. Illinois
317-637-5160
Mon-Thur 7:00am to 9:00p
Fri-Sat 7:00am to 10:00pm

01
Nov

Boathouse Grill - Dining Review

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Business, Dining, Local Establishments, Northwest Side, Sports, Uncategorized

Another location that I frequent regularly during the work week is the Boathouse Grill off of 56th street. They’re located between Lafayette Road and I-465 on the west side. They’re in a fairly new strip center on the south side of 56th street, but once you walk in the door you feel like you’re in a place that’s been around for ages.

Boathouse Grill is regularly busy during the day and my business partner says their evening business is just as good.

I got stuck in a rut when we first started going to the place and I always ended up getting the same item off the menu. Now though, I’ve tried a number of different things and am still partial to my favorites.

• Chicken or steak fajita wrap
• Nachos (add chicken or steak and guacamole)
• Pork tenderloin
• Club Sandwich
• Patty melt
• Italian sub

Those are all good of course, but I’ll tell you I’ve yet to get anything there that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed. I think the only thing that’s ever been left on my plate when I’ve finished is the dishes the food came on, the silverware I used and a dirty napkin. Good stuff!

When you visit, be sure and ask for Joy. She’s one of the owners and oozes hospitality and customer service. Always quick with a smile and a friendly word.

The Boathouse Grill has plenty of TV’s over the fully-stocked bar, so it’s a great place to watch a game with some friends or just grab a booth and talk.

Go check them out and tell them Jason “Water w/ Lemon” sent you!

Map to Boathouse Grill

09
Oct

Support Your Local Java Joint

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Areas, Business, Business Entrepreneurs, Coffee Shops, Local Establishments

I’ve been known to partake in a cup of coffee on a regular basis. My kick right now is Chai though and I’ve been selecting it over a cup o’ joe when the opportunity is available.

One of my favorite places to get a chai is at Strange Brew in Greenwood. Their vanilla almond chai is fantastic and free wi-fi makes it all better. The fact they have a giant aquarium is also a plus since I’ve been a fish freak since grade school.

The benefit though is that I’m also supporting a local business owner with their efforts. A post on the I Choose Indy site today shares that a person has put together a Google Map listing Indianapolis’ independent coffee purveyors so you can help support local businesses too.

And to help spread the love, I’ve posted the map here: Indy Indie Coffee Shops. Use the map to find your own little corner of caffeinated Heaven, and spread the word. If you have a new coffee shop, or one that’s opening soon (I’m talking to you, Corner Coffee. Come back quick!), let me know, and I’ll add it to the map. The same goes if I missed one, or inadvertently put a business on here that doesn’t sell coffee.

It would be nice on the Google Map if he colored the coffee shops differently that offered free wi-fi.

I’m not going to swear off St. Arbucks yet, but like a good chai, when I’ve got the option I’m going to start actively looking for the local company first.

19
Sep

A Taste of Morocco in Indianapolis

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Business Entrepreneurs, Cultural Events, Dining, Keystone, Local Establishments, Northwest Side

My boss and I stopped by El Morocco restaurant last night after our IndyPASS meeting and enjoyed an absolutely fantastic and unique meal.

We had come across the restaurant before after my brother told me about it and found out they had a great lunch buffet. One afternoon we stopped by there as we had been looking forward to it for a couple of weeks and they had closed down for lunch. They didn’t have enough business.

Having the opportunity to go back last night for dinner was a treat. The owner immediately recognized us and welcomed us back. After some light-hearted banter about him taking away one of our favorite lunch buffets, we jumped into trying to decide what to choose since we couldn’t just sample everything.

The owner pointed out the 5-course meal option and it provided us the reward of sampling a large variety of dishes. Some of them had not been on the buffet and some had. I meant to take a picture of the dishes but was so wrapped up in just eating, it slipped my mind.

The meal started with some fresh whole-wheat bread and a bowl of lentil soup that was tremendous. That was followed by a plate with a variety of prepared vegetables: eggplant, green peppers and onions, carrots, cabbage and spinach. The 3rd course was an interesting chicken pastry dish. The crust was like a thin, crispy phyllo dough and the whole thing was dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar. That was followed by the main entree of a whole Cornish hen roasted in a sweet sauce with onions and raisins. The last dish was fresh fruit and a very sweet pastry. If you go there you have to get the hot tea as well. It’s like drinking Double-Mint gum.

After the last course, we thanked the owner for his time and great hospitality. I told him that he should open up the lunch buffet once a week if we could organized a group to show up each day to support him. He said if I got 20 people to let him know and he’d open just for us.

If you’re interested in trying it out, let me know in the comments and when we get 20 I’ll give him a call and schedule something. I’m SERIOUS!

I really think we should support local establishments like this and there are a variety of them that I visit frequently and will highlight on the site. If you’ve got a restaurant that you recommend, be sure to let us know in the comments. I’m sure my boss and I would love to try them out.

More Details at Indy.org about El Morocco Restaurant

Map Graphic Credit: CNN.com

03
Sep

Vote for Indiana’s "BEST" Local Businesses

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Awards & Recognition, Dining, Local Establishments, News

Last week I enjoyed one of my favorite meals in the city: pad Thai, massaman curry and pad gra pao from the Thai House restaurant up on Michigan and 86th street. While we were checking out, the owner encouraged us to vote for him in the A-List voting. We said absolutely no problem!

You can vote for various businesses in the following categories:

• Arts and Entertainment
• Auto
• Beauty
• Cheap Eats
• Fashion
• Great Meals
• Health and Fitness
• Nightlife
• Shopping
• Specialty Food and Drink
• Weddings

Thai House is listed under “Great Meals” so be sure to go vote for them. It’s a tough vote for me though because I also really enjoy Thai Spice on the southside. But nobody can beat the pad thai and massaman curry at Thai House.