This evening, my roommates and I ventured out to B's Po' Boy in Fountain Square, a five minute drive from our house. We moved in to the Fountain Square area back in May and have sampled many of the great eats in the area; however, we had passed B's dozens of times and had yet to stop in. 100 plus degree weather makes Katie loath to cook, so we all decided to finally hit it up.
The restaurant itself looked like the bistro version of a NOLA dive, which was a cool fusion (read: nicely framed shadowboxes of voodoo dolls on the wall). The menu was simple as to be expected from a place that headlines their main dish in the title. I settled on a fried shrimp po' boy, with fries and remoulade for the rest of the table, all washed down with a $5 pitcher of PBR (for the table too, of course. I'm no lush, even on my bad days).
The menu at B's advertises in a small bit of text at the bottom that "we've got bread", and bread they had. I heard tell that B's overnights their bread from NOLA; if that's the case, I have no problem believing it. The po' boy bread was the best part about the sandwich, so much so that it was the first thing I noticed (and honestly, how often do you notice your bread first when eating a sandwich).
The po' boy itself was a little short on fillin' (excepting lettuce, of which there was an exceptional amount) and my full sized po' boy had only about 8-10 small shrimps on it, which were pretty bland. The bread somehow made up for this, so it was a decent sandwich overall.
The fries tasted like they were from Burger King (though artfully salted and arranged) so overall forgettable, but I did spy some sweet potato fries at another table that looked pretty good. The remoulade was stellar, so that made up for the blandness of the fries. If I weren't such a wimp and liked really spicy things more, I think I would have eaten more of the remoulade. It was so good I barreled through more than would be expected with my heat-fearing taste buds.
The pricing was decent, though I don't know if I'd pay $9 again for what I deem to be a wimpy po' boy, but I have no regrets. It was a good meal, and washing it down with a pitcher of beer was a delightful end to an egregiously hot afternoon. The service at B's was very relaxed, and our waitress did a magnificent job at keeping us happy - even laughing at my roommates' bad jokes.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Our Favorite Places
Before we go into exploring new restaurants in the Indianapolis area, we felt it was important to pay tribute to the Indianapolis restaurants we already love and cherish, those that made us truly realize what a fantastic culinary scene Indianapolis has.
KA: With locations on Mass Ave, College, East 96th Street, and US 31, this Cajun diner quickly worked its way into both of our hearts. Serving up enormous amounts of food for small amounts of cash, their cajun cuisine is sure to soothe any woe and fill every belly. They remember their vegan and vegetarian friends too! My personal favorite is the famous B&B, which I mix with the Chili Cheese Etouffee with Crawfish (I'm a pescatarian, by the way). And extra bread. Always extra bread. I don't know what they put on that stuff but it is Cajun crack, I am certain. I took both of my parents to Yats on separate occasions when they visited me, and every time they visit they always demand we go back. I do not fight it. One of the greatest things about this tiny local place is their friendliness towards customers and laid back attitude. The College Ave. location only accepts cash, and will allow customers to do IOU's should they only have card. This policy has earned them a special place in my heart.
SW: I still remember the first day I ate at Yats. Well, not really because it was about four years ago but rest assured, I haven't stopped going back. My usual is either Chili Cheese Etouffee with Crawfish or Chicken Creole, depending on what I need on that day (either veggies or cheese) however, I know that if I want to try something new, I can always ask for a tasty sample of anything on their menu. That's how they get you hooked, yo. And of course, their Bread with Spiced Butter. Always order extras of this stuff- you won't find anything like this anywhere. Well, maybe New Orleans but that's too faraway, ya know?
Broad Ripple Bagel Deli
KA: Home of the sandwiches which I refer to "sandwiches you have to make out with." The sheer gooeyness of these bagels, created by steaming instead of toasting, compels one to mash the sandwich against the face instead of biting (not unlike a bad first kiss). BRBD serves up any possible combination you can imagine, and colorful drawings of customer creations adorn the walls. My personal favorite is the Hot Tuna Meltdown sans banana peppers (I once worked at a pickle factory and still can't smell the things without yacking). The list of vegetarian sandwich combinations is nearly endless as well. I have a friend in Detroit who sometimes texts me asking if I will buy her half a dozen of the Wild Honey Pies before I go to visit her, just so she can stock up. When she comes to visit me, Bagel Deli is the first place we go.
SW: I really like this place, I really do. But for some reason, I always forget about it. Maybe it's because of the location- a small space between Starbucks and a ladies clothing store. It's cozy, alright. And delicious. Thinking about their menu, I don't think you could go wrong with anything. Heck, they even have excellent Roast Beef and I'm pretty damned picky about my beef. They offer wide variety of bagel favors to pick from- from garlic to cinnamon. Another thing to notice: it's open till 4am on Friday and Saturdays. Perfect if you're up all night doing something, I dunno. Like eating bagel sammiches.
Bazbeaux Pizza
KA: Bazbeaux has locations in Broad Ripple, Mass Ave, and Carmel, and is potentially the best pizza I've ever had (aside from various places in Chicago, but Chicago style is a whole other beast). Again, their vegetarian selections are endless, and their pizzas are always so stacked with ingredients so two or three slices will send you out the door rolling. I personally love the Garden Pizza (Artichoke hearts, avocado, spinach, green pepper, red onion, black olive, ricotta), though my roommate recently had me try some of her Chilope (Black bean dip, salsa, green pepper, onion, fresh tomato, cilantro, cheddar), and I believe it's creeping up to be my favorite. With a fantastic selection of beer and wines as well, you can't go wrong.
SW: It has been a while since I've had some delicious pizza from Bazbeaux's. I do not know why I don't go there often- maybe it's because it has been a staple in Indianapolis for so long that I've taken it for granted. And of course, being young, I just have to rebel against the establishment and eat at different pizza places. But in my tasty rebellion, I have yet to find anything close to their Chicken Bayou. Oh dear, the garlic, the smoked red peppers, the thinly sliced red onions, and the cajun chicken. Yes yes. If you want to go even wilder, try their Garlic Bread. Want more? ADD CHEESE! Not enough? ADD PESTO!
The Canal Bistro
KA: This Broad Ripple restaurant is home to some of the best Egyptian/Lebanese food I've ever had, and surprisingly, I've tried a lot. While not always soft on the wallet, the amount of food you can get for your money is pretty exceptional. And the food is indeed exceptional. I'm partial to getting the Mazza Plate when I'm there so I can get a full selection of all the small dishes they offer, including falafel, tabouli, hummus, feta cheese, and spinach pie. I also always order some Baba Ganoush on the side, which comes with pita and is absolutely stellar. The inside of the restaurant is beautifully decorated in lamps and deep colors as well. Located right on the canal, it is a gorgeous little spot.
Monon Coffee Company
SW: They do coffee right and plaster their walls with local art, so there's plenty to look at during the moments of awkward silent. My usuals there? Either Iced Mocha (best I've ever had) or White Zombie, which is made with white espresso beans that has 3x the amount of caffeine of regular espresso beans. So, if you really need to wake up, get that shit, yo. They also have delicious baked goods from a local bakery, Rene's Bakery.
Miscellaneous: Places on the Southside.
Being on the southside, there's not as many local choices as, say, Broad Ripple or even Downtown. So, it's pretty important to tell people about those places because while they're not the best in Indianapolis, they're still pretty damned good.
KA: With locations on Mass Ave, College, East 96th Street, and US 31, this Cajun diner quickly worked its way into both of our hearts. Serving up enormous amounts of food for small amounts of cash, their cajun cuisine is sure to soothe any woe and fill every belly. They remember their vegan and vegetarian friends too! My personal favorite is the famous B&B, which I mix with the Chili Cheese Etouffee with Crawfish (I'm a pescatarian, by the way). And extra bread. Always extra bread. I don't know what they put on that stuff but it is Cajun crack, I am certain. I took both of my parents to Yats on separate occasions when they visited me, and every time they visit they always demand we go back. I do not fight it. One of the greatest things about this tiny local place is their friendliness towards customers and laid back attitude. The College Ave. location only accepts cash, and will allow customers to do IOU's should they only have card. This policy has earned them a special place in my heart.
SW: I still remember the first day I ate at Yats. Well, not really because it was about four years ago but rest assured, I haven't stopped going back. My usual is either Chili Cheese Etouffee with Crawfish or Chicken Creole, depending on what I need on that day (either veggies or cheese) however, I know that if I want to try something new, I can always ask for a tasty sample of anything on their menu. That's how they get you hooked, yo. And of course, their Bread with Spiced Butter. Always order extras of this stuff- you won't find anything like this anywhere. Well, maybe New Orleans but that's too faraway, ya know?
Broad Ripple Bagel Deli
KA: Home of the sandwiches which I refer to "sandwiches you have to make out with." The sheer gooeyness of these bagels, created by steaming instead of toasting, compels one to mash the sandwich against the face instead of biting (not unlike a bad first kiss). BRBD serves up any possible combination you can imagine, and colorful drawings of customer creations adorn the walls. My personal favorite is the Hot Tuna Meltdown sans banana peppers (I once worked at a pickle factory and still can't smell the things without yacking). The list of vegetarian sandwich combinations is nearly endless as well. I have a friend in Detroit who sometimes texts me asking if I will buy her half a dozen of the Wild Honey Pies before I go to visit her, just so she can stock up. When she comes to visit me, Bagel Deli is the first place we go.
SW: I really like this place, I really do. But for some reason, I always forget about it. Maybe it's because of the location- a small space between Starbucks and a ladies clothing store. It's cozy, alright. And delicious. Thinking about their menu, I don't think you could go wrong with anything. Heck, they even have excellent Roast Beef and I'm pretty damned picky about my beef. They offer wide variety of bagel favors to pick from- from garlic to cinnamon. Another thing to notice: it's open till 4am on Friday and Saturdays. Perfect if you're up all night doing something, I dunno. Like eating bagel sammiches.
Bazbeaux Pizza
KA: Bazbeaux has locations in Broad Ripple, Mass Ave, and Carmel, and is potentially the best pizza I've ever had (aside from various places in Chicago, but Chicago style is a whole other beast). Again, their vegetarian selections are endless, and their pizzas are always so stacked with ingredients so two or three slices will send you out the door rolling. I personally love the Garden Pizza (Artichoke hearts, avocado, spinach, green pepper, red onion, black olive, ricotta), though my roommate recently had me try some of her Chilope (Black bean dip, salsa, green pepper, onion, fresh tomato, cilantro, cheddar), and I believe it's creeping up to be my favorite. With a fantastic selection of beer and wines as well, you can't go wrong.
SW: It has been a while since I've had some delicious pizza from Bazbeaux's. I do not know why I don't go there often- maybe it's because it has been a staple in Indianapolis for so long that I've taken it for granted. And of course, being young, I just have to rebel against the establishment and eat at different pizza places. But in my tasty rebellion, I have yet to find anything close to their Chicken Bayou. Oh dear, the garlic, the smoked red peppers, the thinly sliced red onions, and the cajun chicken. Yes yes. If you want to go even wilder, try their Garlic Bread. Want more? ADD CHEESE! Not enough? ADD PESTO!
The Canal Bistro
KA: This Broad Ripple restaurant is home to some of the best Egyptian/Lebanese food I've ever had, and surprisingly, I've tried a lot. While not always soft on the wallet, the amount of food you can get for your money is pretty exceptional. And the food is indeed exceptional. I'm partial to getting the Mazza Plate when I'm there so I can get a full selection of all the small dishes they offer, including falafel, tabouli, hummus, feta cheese, and spinach pie. I also always order some Baba Ganoush on the side, which comes with pita and is absolutely stellar. The inside of the restaurant is beautifully decorated in lamps and deep colors as well. Located right on the canal, it is a gorgeous little spot.
Monon Coffee Company
SW: They do coffee right and plaster their walls with local art, so there's plenty to look at during the moments of awkward silent. My usuals there? Either Iced Mocha (best I've ever had) or White Zombie, which is made with white espresso beans that has 3x the amount of caffeine of regular espresso beans. So, if you really need to wake up, get that shit, yo. They also have delicious baked goods from a local bakery, Rene's Bakery.
Miscellaneous: Places on the Southside.
Being on the southside, there's not as many local choices as, say, Broad Ripple or even Downtown. So, it's pretty important to tell people about those places because while they're not the best in Indianapolis, they're still pretty damned good.
- Thai Spice: Where I got my first taste of Thai. I prefer this place over Thai Cafe and Siam Square because there's something about it that tastes raw and authentic.
- Barlo's: A pizza place on Bluff and Southport. They try, bless their heart, to be the best but they still fall well short of the bench mark set by Bazbeaux's. Still worth a visit, if only for their delicious calzones.
- Strange Brew: Need coffee? Go to Strange Brew. Yep, I've drank many drinks there- Peanut Butter Cup, Strange Pour, Blonde Bombshell, and when I'm feeling simple, Mocha. They also have different varieties of Dirty Hippies, but I don't care much for the taste of dirty hippies. I also once had a sip of something that had cayenne pepper in it and it was terrible. So, don't order anything with cayenne pepper in it, ok?
- The Suds: After passing through the hands of many different owners that did terrible things to it, it has finally settled into a loving hands of a local Hot Rods club. And they sure know how to make their food right- Homemade Rootbeers, Hand Battered Onion Rings, and their milkshakes and burgers are pretty good too. Currently, they have limited hours but keep an eye on 'em. They're gonna go places, I tell ya.
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