Claddagh Cravings

Ever since Rob 'N Jay Chippies on N. College closed about seven years ago, I have been searching for those fish and chips that remind me of the lovely fried fish and chips I sampled in England and Ireland. I especially like the British version with the optional curry sauces. Rob 'N Jay kept me very happy during my first pregnancy. I asked the family to go to Claddagh over the weekend - I had a craving! Claddagh is a small Midwestern chain that has been part of the Indy scene - especially downtown. In the northside version, I ordered the fish and chips, of course. My husband ordered the chicken curry, and a sister-in-law a hamburger and salad. Sadly, the fish though fried well, was pretty tasteless and undersalted, my husband's curry flavorless with tiny blocks of chicken, and the hamburger average. Maybe if you are coming here for drinks, it is more enjoyable. After all the interior is cozy and fairly authentic and the choice of beers a plus. I find the menu lacking - not sure if it is British or Irish. We had such a difficult time finding an appetizer that appealed to our group that we gave up. Prices are not cheap. Still searching...

Atmosphere - 8
Service - 6
Price - 5
Presentation - 7
Food - 6
Overall - 6

Corrin's First Post!

Windmill Grill in Kokomo

Let’s face it: our beloved Hoosier state has very few excellent restaurants. Oh sure, there are quite a number of fine dining establishments with prices to match, scattered throughout Indiana, restaurants touted by critics and advertised as having local ingredients and gourmet fare prepared by expert chefs. The truth is, as my sisters and I sadly have found, very few of these restaurants live up to their hype. We find that the food quality is uneven and several high-priced dishes have been spectacularly bad! We keep looking for a go-to restaurant in Indianapolis-one with consistently good food, good atmosphere and reasonable prices. Maybe a few gourmet surprises would be nice too. 

            Which brings me to Windmill Grill: if you’re ever in Kokomo, or there about, and have a hunger for breakfast, lunch, dinner, a late-night snack or just some gourmet coffee and dessert, this is your place. It is the almost perfect “go-to” for a meal. I have eaten there many a morning, noon and night since the 1990’s when they opened, and I’ve yet to be disappointed. Their food is almost always inexpensive, fresh, tasty and well-cooked with gourmet surprises, such a tilapia Newburg offered recently.

            For my meal there last week, I ordered salmon with Caribbean glaze, baked sweet potato with brown sugar and butter, broccoli and their signature Farmhouse salad.  The glaze was perfect, savory and sweet, but not overpowering the salmon. The broccoli  was bright and green, yet tender, and the sweet potato was mellow and deep orange, its sweetness enhanced by the butter and brown sugar (although I only allowed myself a little dab of each due to my PD (perpetual dieting) condition. The accompanying roll was so good I yearned for another though my PD wouldn’t allow it. As I ate the salad, I thought “A mere salad shouldn’t be this good;” but then I realized,” With real bacon bits, chunks of  boiled egg and crispy potato sticks, how could it not be!”

            My sister Ruthie and her husband Ray shared a hefty chopped steak, smothered with sautéed mushrooms and onions and a rich brown sauce, accompanied by from-scratch mashed potatoes, and green beans studded with bits of onion and red bell pepper. Ray was the only one to opt for dessert (Ruthie suffers from the same PD condition as I.) His huge serving of homemade pecan pie, garnished with whipped cream and caramel sauce was as delicious as it was large. We know this because he would not share.

            I still don’t know why this great restaurant is named Windmill Grill. Some day I’ll have to ask the friendly owner,  Tom Trine, whose family works in the kitchen.  The spacious dining room is paneled in knotty pine, displaying lots of Hoosier memorabilia andl a large-scale model train that runs on tracks overhead. It’s a warm, farmhouse kind of place with the quiet buzz of many contented diners, but there’s nary a windmill in sight!
            The bottom line is if you want a reasonably-priced meal (most entries are under $10), as well as very good, often excellent, food , then head north on Dixon Road in Kokomo to the grill with no windmills.

Atmosphere - 7

Service - 9

Price - 8

Presentation - 8

Food - 8

Overall - 8

Listen up: Better quality lettuce would improve the Farmhouse salad.

And Now for Rene's Bakery

Of course, I had to work Rene's into my morning schedule after the sad experience at Taylor's. Would Rene's stand up to my criticism? This is a locally owned bakery in Broad Ripple for over a decade and is often at the local farmers' markets. Well, the main problem is that it is a tiny house - I mean tiny. But every corner is filled with mouth-watering temptations although they are a quite low on the pastry choices. The other problem is that it is a 15-minute drive from my house. Today I filled my bag with a perfect-looking loaf of brioche, a few berry scones, a plain croissant, an orange hazelnut croissant, and some pumpkin bread. I have eaten my way halfway through the bag and I can attest that everything is delicious. I always think the croissants are a little over baked beyond golden, but they are still very good. The pumpkin bread has perfect flavors and texture and the berry scone is interestingly hearty and good. A list of short ingredients on each product lets you know if your taste buds don't that the ingredients are high quality and pure. So yes, Indianapolis does have a excellent bakery albeit too small and limited in pastry choices.

Atmosphere - 6
Service - 8
Price - 6
Presentation - 7
Food - 9
Overall - 9 (food carries a heavier weight in this instance)

Taylor's Bakery I Want to Love You

At Hearthstone Coffee House and Pub, we were not able to find the right sweet ending to our lunch so Corrin and I thought for sure the solution would be found at the nearby Taylor's Bakery. Taylor's has been on the Indy scene for years, is locally owned, and has loyal customers. Here begins my lament. Is there not one good decent bakery in this whole Indy area? Where are the critics who demand more? How long have I been crying for a good bakery? Years? Yes, I did recently feature Great Harvest which I like but it hardly could stand up to any European or ethnic bakery. Plus it is a franchise with canned recipes! I keep trying which explains why I am here again at Taylor's. I pump up my spirits as I walk in the door and see once again mostly heavily decorated and traditional cakes and piles of donuts and cookies. No subtlety here. I resign myself to a glazed donut and these cute little cinnamon squares that look like donut pillows for Barbie dolls . My sister sacrilegiously buys their hot cross buns ("Way before Easter!" I scream at her.), a pecan tart and a cannoli. We break out the donuts before we reach home and enjoy the fresh homemade sugary taste; this is what they do pretty well.There is no chemical aftertaste like one gets after a grocery store donut or a donut from Dunkin Donuts. Unfortunately, the good stops here. The cute little cinnamon bites are way too cinnamony inside - almost inedible. The pecan tart is awful with a syrup and pastry that begs for improvement. The cannoli is equally bad. Well, I can be content with the fact that the hot cross buns may still be on the counter come Easter! Huge sigh. Rene's Bakery here I come. You are the one small yet bright bakery light in this town.

Atmosphere - 7
Service - 9
Price - 8
Presentation - 6
Food - 3
Overall - 5 (mostly due to great service)

Hearthstone Coffee House and Pub in Fishers

We needed a new lunch place so Corrin, me and my toddler went to the new Hearthstone Coffee House and Pub which had caught my eye on my way to work. It is located on 116th St. in Fishers in one of those neat brick plazas. It is locally owned and hopes to capture the spirit of a European pub. As we walked in we were greeted by a warm gas fireplace and a family sitting comfortably in leather armchairs around the fireplace. It was warmly brown inside and featured a coffee counter facing us and around the back was a bar. The light fixtures were very twiggy. There were scattered tables reminiscent of Starbucks with its occupants staring at computer screens while sipping their favorite beverage. Unfortunately there were not enough tables for the fair number of people looking for a nice lunch spot. Corrin and I sat at the at a tall counter that faced the parking lot as we waited for our order. My toddler went running for the children's books and games found in baskets by the fireplace. We had ordered the gumboliya soup and a chicken salad sandwich with a chai. I received my soup shortly but my sister was still waiting for her lunch 15 minutes later. When she inquired at the counter, the staff person seemed confused (similar to when we originally ordered) and realized her order had been lost!. Shortly her sandwich and soup appeared with an apology and a card for a free beverage. Well handled! The sandwich though small in size was fresh with the chicken salad and cranberry bread working well together. It was served with kettle chips and a pickle. Our soup was delectable featuring large chunks of veggies and meat including sausage, chicken, mussels and shrimp! I kept going back to the dessert display looking for a nice sweet thing to end our lunch but they were whisking away the muffins and scones, staples of a coffee shop. Another man getting ready to order a muffin was equally disappointed. They replaced the case with various cakes and cupcakes from the Flying Cupcake Bakery but I walked away bewildered by the fancy desserts. The menu also features healthy breakfast and lunch items including gluten-friendly choices. They have live entertainment on some nights with small plates in the evening.  All in all, a nice neighborly place for downtown Fishers!

Atmosphere - 8
Service - 5
Presentation - 6
Price - 6
Food - 8
Overall - 8

Listen up: The pub could use more cozy seating. Attention to details when plating foods suggested like providing crackers/bread with soup and displaying all available food would increase appeal. Making desserts in-house would be a nice touch. The staff seem confused and short in supply.

Zacky's Hot Dogs and Smokehouse

Another favorite treat of mine is the all-American hot dog and yet I find it hard to come by a good hot dog joint. Well, look no more...there is such a place in Carmel on S. Rangeline Road called Zacky's Hotdogs and Smokehouse. Even better, it is locally owned and family operated, and this shows as soon as you walk in the door. I was greeted at the counter by a person who really seemed interested in knowing the customer and was eager to please. They have a long list of Vienna beef hotdog styles from which to choose including the Chicago and Cincinnati hot dogs. There are a variety of sides including sweet potato fries and coleslaw. This joint also features smokehouse barbeque - Tennessee style. In addition to the hotdogs and barbeque are other kinds of sandwiches including Italian beef. Everything I tried, a variety of of hotdogs and sides, was prepared right in front of me and delicious. I really liked the coleslaw which was homemade, creamy and with a surprise - cranberries. There are a few tables if you want to dine in - the walls are an interesting  lime green and the tables are covered in plastic gingham table cloths. Music in the background is cheery. Try Zacky's!

Atmosphere - 6
Service - 10
Price - 7
Presentation - 6
Food - 8
Overall - 8

Noodles and Company Again

I keep trying Noodles and Company, a place that touts itself as being a casual and healthy fast food restaurant.  I love noodles, all kinds, but I keep getting disappointed at this almost-all noodle place that features noodle dishes from around the world, specifically America, Asia, and the Mediterranean. All dishes are made from fresh ingredients as you order. I walk into one of the Indianapolis locations and am greeted by a motley group of pimply teenagers who are ready to fill my order. I decide on the Bangkok Curry with chicken for my husband, a mushroom stroganoff for myself and Wisconsin macaroni and cheese for the kids. I sit down and wait in the pleasant but bland dining area watching others eat their noodle selection from a cavernous bowl - something I would feed a family of four. My selections are ready in about 5 minutes and, too, are huge in size. The dishes feature mostly noodles, with vegetables and meat being on the light side. Yes, this restaurant chain was voted one of the healthiest fast food chains in America by Health Magazine! A sad commentary on our American diet. Anyway, the Bangkok Curry my husband finds flavorless and my mushroom stroganoff is just OK and a bit peppery. They  make a macaroni and cheese whose texture and flavor are below par for a place that specializes in noodles. Once again I leave thinking it could be much better. I am stumped by why this particular noodle chain has survived when other much better competitors are gone.

Atmosphere - 7
Service - 6
Price - 6
Presentation - 7
Food - 6
Overall - 6

Yummy Yats

I like good quality carry-outs so I decided to go over to Yats on 96^th St. for a carry-out dinner. Yats has been a favorite in the Indy scene for quite some time now due to its cheap and good Cajun Creole grub. Joe Vuscovich, the owner who grew up in New Orleans has four locations in town with College and Mass Ave. having the best atmospheres, casual and cool.  At all locations, the customer orders at the counter from a chalkboard menu. Each dish costs $5.50 and for a combination, you throw in another buck. For that price you get a good- sized portion of etouffee or jambalaya served over parboiled rice with a small slice of garlic bread. The menu is rotating and features about six or so choices depending on the day. Service is quick which is good since Yats tends to be crowded especially around noon and dinner times. This time I ordered my favorite spinach mushroom etouffee, a chicken creole dish, and red beans and sausage. Each had a nice and unique infusion of Cajun spices and tasted as if it had been brewing in a pot all day (which may be good or bad depending on your taste). Everything is thrown all together on its plastic ware so it is not the prettiest plate you will see. I thought the spices were right on, but my husband found it all on the mild side. The restaurant has a large variety of hot sauces to add to your food, if you are like my husband and like the heat turned up high! You won’t find much meat in the carnivore options. Desserts are minimal but do feature a good peanut butter pie and some treats from Circle Center Sweets – yum! Yats has found a good and simple recipe. And it is cheap!

Atmosphere - 5
Service - 6
Price - 9
Presentation - 5
Food - 8
Overall - 8