This time I’m looking forward to trying Sensu and Turner’s.  How about you?  What do you think about Devour Downtown–love it or leave it?  What restaurants do it well?

Oakley's Bistro Suckling Pig Starter

Oakley’s Bistro is the restaurant equivalent to a trophy wife–so beautiful you believe it’s worth every penny.  The dining room has a french country feel and the food presentation is beyond artistic–it’s stunning.  You really can’t help but “ohhh and ahhh” over the plates as they come out.  But the over-the-top presentation and menu prices caused me to have very high expectations.  While the food and overall dining experience was good, I left feeling disappointed.

My meal at Oakley’s was rather enjoyable and most of the food was quite good.  In fact, one dish was outstanding.  The suckling pig starter, served with a ricotta crepe and mango puree was heaven.  The meat practically melted in my mouth and the mango flavor was bright and pure.

Oakley's Bistro Suckling Pig

French onion soup is a dish that is often not executed well at restaurants.  After the pig starter, I had very high expectations.  I was a little surprised by the presentation.  Instead of the traditional crouton and bubbly cheese on top, the broth was “naked” and served along-side a small quesedilla-like grilled cheese sandwich.  While I prefer the traditional presentation, I can appreciate that they were doing something different.  Unfortunately, something went horribly wrong with this soup.  My first bite was more fat than broth and left a greasy feeling in my mouth.  Further inspection revealed a large oil slick on top of the soup.  I don’t mean a teaspoon or two of truffle oil, I mean a large quantity of oil.  It was so bad that I’m convinced this is not the way the soup is meant to be served, but rather some sort of mistake.

Oakley's Bistro French Onion Soup

For the entree, our server recommended the meatloaf.  I’ve had some really upscale meatloaf dishes recently (such as the Filet Mignon meatloaf at Tavern on South) so I had high hopes.  I was disappointed again.  The flavor of the meat was bland and the chile jam and white cheddar were overpowering.  Even with the accompanying potatoes and vegetables and the artistic presentation, this quite simply was not worthy of the $22 price tag.

Oakley's Bistro Meatloaf

The tilapia with sweet corn risotto was one of the better tilapia dishes I’ve had.  I really enjoyed the sweetness and texture of the risotto, but it was just a bit undercooked.  And the flavors with the tilapia–sun dried tomato puree, morels and hazelnuts were pure genius.  I could have loved this dish if it weren’t for the fact that the tilapia was a bit overcooked.  The whole thing left me feeling like Goldilocks with nothing being “just right”.

Oakley's Bistro Tilapia

Taking the french onion soup out of the equation, the food at Oakley’s is quite good, but not good enough to justify the price.  I give Oakley’s Bistro an overall rating of 2.25.  Here’s the breakdown:

Deliciousness = 2.25

Ambiance = 2.75

Quality of Service = 2.5

Bang for Your Buck = 1.5

Overall Dining Experience = 2.25

Mississippi Belle Pork, Sweet Potatoes & Fried Chicken

I’m talking comfort food at it’s best.  There’s nothing fancy about Mississippi Belle, they don’t take credit cards and don’t serve alcohol.  But what they do, they do well: soul food that will make your eyes roll back in your head.

Everything is served family style and is all-you-can-eat.  Each diner chooses and entree and the table decides on four sides to share.  All dinners include corn bread, sliced tomatoes and onions and a beverage.  Beverages are soda, lemonade, and regular or sweet tea.  The kind of sweet that makes you think your straw should be able to stand straight up.  And get this–your table’s meal is rolled out on a cart!  Now you know you should’ve worn fat pants when your food has to be rolled rather than carried!

Mississippi Belle Ribs, Green Beans & Macaroni

For me, the two best things on the menu are fried chicken and macaroni and cheese.  In fairness to some other restaurants in the city, I can’t say that Mississippi Belle has the best friend chicken, but that’s because there are a few well-known chicken places I haven’t tried.  But it’s the best chicken I’ve had to date.  The outside is super crisp, yet doesn’t have too much breading–the juicy chicken is the star.

As for the macaroni and cheese, I can’t put my finger on exactly what makes it so special.  I suspect they use a blend of cheese and “cheese product” which would normally horrify me, but all fanciness went out the door when I mentioned fat pants.  All I know for sure is I could make a meal of the macaroni alone.  But don’t do that, because you’ll totally miss out on everything else.

Mississippi Belle Hot Water Corn Bread

Like the slow roasted pork that practically melts in your mouth.  Or the homestyle green beans.  Or the creamy mashed potatoes.  And oh, that hot water corn bread!  Anything that good probably contains lard or bacon grease.  I’m sure that pork fat in some form was involved.

Although there isn’t anything bad on the menu, I do have a couple of critiques.  The ribs were too fatty for my taste–I really wanted more actual meat.  And the sweet potatoes were actually too sweet and a bit over-cooked.

For amazing food and well, not much else, I give Mississippi an overall rating of 2.25.

Deliciousness = 3.0

Ambiance = 1.0

Quality of Service = 2.0

Bang for Your Buck = 3.0

Price = $$

Tacos at Monon Food Co.

I’ve been hearing about the tacos at Monon Food Company for quite some time.  So I finally decided to see what all the buzz is about.  In case you haven’t been to Monon Food Company, you should know they do a heck of a lot more than tacos.  Their dinner menu features sandwiches, salads, pizzas and entrees like salmon, meatloaf, ribs and mac and cheese.  They also serve brunch on the weekends.  But this visit was just about the tacos.

For under $8, you get two massive tacos.  Seriously, these things are more like open-faced burritos.  Unfortunately, some of the tacos really stand out, others are just so-so, and in my opinion one is just awful.  My first bite was of the Chipotle Fish taco, which is Tilapia with chipotle mayonnaise, cabbage, pico de gallo and guacamole.  The Tilapia was really tender and the toppings nice and crunchy–this was my hands down favorite.  The MOFOCO Pork, which is their house-specialty pork with carmelized onions, pico de gallo and a cumin lime sauce was also quite good.  It made me want to try some of the other pork items on their menu.

Monon Food Co. Chipotle Fish Taco

The Carne Asada taco landed in the so-so category for me.  Carne Asada is a highly seasoned beef so I was expecting a really flavorful taco.  It was good, but not great, and really paled in comparison to the fish taco.

Monon Food Co. Carne Asada Taco

Here’s where it gets ugly.  The Jamaican Jerk taco was the worst thing I’ve eaten in recent memory.  It was like eating chicken marinated in perfume.  The only thing remotely Jamaican about it was the mango because it definitely didn’t taste like jerk seasoning.  I even inquired about the perfumy taste and was informed it was the mango.  I know what mango tastes like, and it does have a slightly floral edge to it.  This was not the mango causing me to want to spit my food into my napkin.  It was something in the chicken and it was terribly wrong.

Monon Food Co. Jamaican Jerk Chicken Taco

Everyone has a bad night every now and then and maybe this was just a bad night for jerk chicken.  The rest of the tacos were good, and the fish was really great, so overall I would recommend the tacos at Monon Food Company.  And I’m looking forward to sampling the rest of their menu, particularly brunch.  I’ll let you know when I do!

Monon Food Co. Pork & Carne Asada Tacos

For quick service, a pleasant atmosphere, decent food and huge portions, I give tacos at Monon Food Company an overall rating of 2.00.  Here’s the breakdown:

Deliciousness = 1.75 (would’ve been a 2 if it weren’t for the jerk chicken)

Ambiance = 2.00

Quality of Service = 2.00

Bang for Your Buck = 2.50

Price = $$

Harry & Izzy's Shrimp Cocktail

Although I had never been to Harry & Izzy’s, I had an idea I would like it.  It’s owned by the same people who own St. Elmo Steakhouse and I’ve always been a big St. Elmo fan.  Harry & Izzy’s has the same classy feel as St. Elmo, yet is more comfortable and relaxed.  They also feature the famous St. Elmo shrimp cocktail: jumbo shrimp with a blow-your-head-off, painfully delicious sauce.  This really brings meaning to “hurts so good”.

Harry & Izzy's Beef Carpaccio

The great thing about a horseradish burn is that it’s over quick and your taste buds are restored to enjoy the next bite.  Just as good as the shrimp cocktail, but with more subtle flavors is the Beef Carpaccio appetizer.  For those of you not familiar, carpaccio is paper thin sliced raw beef with a mustard sauce.  Harry & Izzy’s dresses theirs with capers and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.  It’s no surprise that the owners of the best steakhouse (IMO) in the city do raw beef just as well as cooked.  It’s just plain delicious and if you’ve never had carpaccio before this is a great place to try it.

Harry & Izzy's Seared Tuna

The Seared Tuna appetizer is quite good, but it doesn’t really stand out from similar dishes at other quality restaurants.  It’s lightly seared, covered with sesame seeds and served with a spicy sauce.  What does stand out about it though is the accompanying seaweed salad.  It’s good enough to stand alone, but pairs well with the tuna.

Harry & Izzy's Wedge Salad

I wanted to love the Garbage Salad just as much as the appetizers, but I couldn’t.  With shrimp, Italian meats, cheese, artichokes, hearts of palm and celery should have been bursting with flavor, but the taste was rather flat.  I did enjoy the Wedge Salad, but honestly it’s pretty hard to screw that one up and I happen to be partial to the wedge to begin with.  It’s exactly as a wedge should be, crisp and crunchy with blue cheese and bacon and I’d probably order it again.

Harry & Izzy's Roasted Beet Salad

My friends ordered the Oven Roasted Beet Salad which has beets (duh), oranges, goat cheese and walnuts over mesclun greens in a tarragon vinaigrette.  They love, love, loved it but I hate, hate, hate beets so my opinion really doesn’t mater here.  I’ll just say it’s a great salad for beet lovers (shudder).

For excellent food, great service and a classy atmosphere, I give Harry & Izzy’s an overall rating of 2.75.  Here’s the breakdown:

Deliciousness = 3.0

Ambiance = 3.0

Service = 3.0

Bang for Your Buck = 2.0

Price = $$$

• Clean, classy atmosphere.  Check.
• No “iffy” looking fish hanging around the fish case.  Check.
• Large menu featuring a variety of sushi and Japanese fare.  Check.
• No rolls served on fire.  Check.
• Tight rolls cut in BITE sized pieces.  Double check!

My biggest sushi pet peeve is loose rolls cut in pieces so huge you can barely get them in your mouth.  You need a little room in your mouth to experience all the tastes and textures, and the chefs at Tegry know this.  Speaking of tastes and textures, I really like the variety on their menu–everything from seaweed salad to teriyaki.  As for appetizers, the tempura is light and flaky just as it should be.

Tegry Bistro Vegetable Tempura

And if you’re not afraid of raw beef, I highly recommend the tataki, which is thin slices of of marinated raw beef.

Tegry Bistro Beef Tataki

If that’s not how you roll (sorry, I couldn’t help it), there are plenty of fully cooked options on the menu as well.  As for the maki, or rolls, I’m a fan of the Orange Blossom, which is covered with salmon and has a sweet sauce.  And if you’re feeling fancy, the Surf and Turf Roll features scallops and kobe beef.  However, I would stay away from the Medlen Roll.  It tastes like mushy soap!

Tegry Bistro Maki

I give Tegry Bistro at Trader’s Point an overall rating of 2.5 for good quality food, a pleasant atmosphere and reasonable prices. (Tegry Bistro also has another location in Brownsburg.)  Here’s the rating breakdown:

Deliciousness = 2 (Very Good)

Ambiance = 3 (Romantic)

Quality of Service = 2 (Friendly and Efficient)

Bang for Your Buck = 3 (Good Value)

Price = $$

My friend and I started with toasted ravioli, which they call “a Midwestern take on an Italian comfort dish”.  As it turned out, that meant large, filled with a generous amount of creamy cheese and served with a homemade red sauce.  This is without question the best fried ravioli I’ve ever had.  Period.

Donatello's Toasted Ravioli

The rest of our meal didn’t disappoint either.  I try to dine with people who are willing to share, and my friend Kim was more than happy to comply.  We had Tortellini Michelangelo, which is cheese tortellini with mushrooms and bacon in a pink sauce, and Roman Chicken Marsala.  There were two things about the tortellini that really stood out.  First, it had a wonderful smoky bacon flavor that was prominent but not overpowering.  Second, despite the bacon and cream (and butter no doubt!) it was not the least bit greasy.

Donatello's Tortellini Michelangelo

The Marsala was similar to others I have had in the past, but the sauce was a bit thicker and richer and the dish was topped with prosciutto and cheese.  My only complaint about this dish was that accompanying potatoes and vegetables were under-seasoned and came across as an afterthought.  I’m looking forward to trying more of Donatello’s menu, especially dessert.  The cream cake looked amazing but shorts season is rapidly approaching so I grudgingly abstained.

Donatello's Roman Chicken Marsala

Donatello’s has only been open since the beginning of the year, and they have a little room for improvement in the service department.  Don’t get me wrong, they were welcoming and friendly.  But there was much rushing around and a little bit of chaos that couldn’t be hidden from the customers in the small dining room.  However, the food is the shining star here and the minor disorganization does add to the feeling of dinner at grandma’s house.  (If only my Granny could have cooked like that!)

For wonderful food, a pleasant atmosphere and welcoming service, I give Donatello’s Italian Restaurant an overall rating of 2.25.  I’m really looking forward to my next visit.

Price = $$

Deliciousness = 3 Excellent

Ambiance = 2 Pleasant

Quality of Service = 2 Pleasant

Bank for Your Buck = 2 Overall experience justifies the price

Overall Dining Experience = 2.25 Great!

14 West Lobster Rabini

They say good things come in small packages, and at 14 West fine dining comes in a small, intimate setting.  Chef Tracy Lemmonds presents beautiful, well-crafted dishes, while the elegant atmosphere and service round out the dining experience.

Sesame Crusted Ahi

From the appetizer menu, my table enjoyed Sesame Crusted Ahi, Tempura Battered Calamari, and Lobster Mac-n-Cheese–three distinctly different dishes that represent the somewhat eclectic menu.  The rare Ahi was complemented by a wonderful combination of flavors and textures–spicy, sweet and salty flavors of mango, wasabi and soy glaze with the crunch of sesame seeds and tender, toothsome soba noodles.  Yet despite all the flavors and textures, the steak-like rare Ahi was still the star.

Without question, the calamari was the best I’ve had in recent memory.  Too often, calamari is overcooked, giving it a rubbery texture.  But this was tender, and I liked the combination of the asian-style tempura batter with the tangy apricot chipotle sauce.

Tempura Battered Calamari

The Lobster Mac was everything macaroni and cheese should be.  Think rich, creamy and decadent, then add perfectly cooked lobster claws.  And just try to save room for the rest of your meal!

From the second course offerings we chose the Iceberg Wedge Salad and New England Clam Chowder.  The wedge salad was more flavorful than most, with a Maytag bleu cheese dressing that had an assertive dill flavor and a garnish of chopped red onions.  Personally, I loved the combination, but some at my table thought it was a bit much.  We could all agree, however, that the chowder was excellent.  The texture was just slightly less thick than traditional clam chowder, but no less creamy, and it had a wonderful smokey bacon flavor that while noticeable, did not overpower the sweetness of the crab.

Lobster Rabini

When the Lobster Rabini entree arrived at the table, I was worried that the flavor would not stand up to the magnificent (although phallic) presentation.  I had nothing to worry about.  Tender lobster tail, jumbo shrimp, sherry caper sauce.  What’s not to like?  Nothing.  It was perfection.

And although the presentation of the Lamb Shank (locally grown at Viking Farms) was less elegant, it was no less impressive.  There’s something about a huge plate of bone-in meat that just makes you want to put your face in it.  But I managed to show some restraint and use my fork (no knife necessary, this was fall-off-the-bone tender).  The lamb is accompanied with a corn risotto that really works with the strong wine and lamb flavors.

Viking Farms Lamb Shank

The Chilean Sea Bass was the only disappointment of the evening.  Although the menu says “seared” it was battered and fried.  What a terrible way to treat such a lovely fish!  It tasted fine, but sea bass should never be “just fine”.  I did enjoy the complexity of the red wine risotto that it was served atop, however it was slightly undercooked.  Another minute or so in the pan would have created risotto perfection.

Chilean Sea Bass

Of course no meal is complete without dessert.  If you read my earlier post about Tavern on South, you know that I have very high standards when it comes to sweets.  14 West did not disappoint.  The carrot cake with Grand Marnier frosting is quite simply the best carrot cake I’ve ever had.  I would challenge even carrot-cake haters to find fault with it.

Grand Marnier Carrot Cake

The creme brulee was traditionally prepared and had the perfect not too thin, not too thick texture.  And our server even noted that it was my birthday and dressed the plate accordingly.

Creme Brulee

For superior service, great ambiance and impressive food, I give 14 West on overall rating of 3.0.  Here’s the breakdown:

Price = $$$

Deliciousness = 3 (Excellent)

Ambiance = 3 (A Feast for the eyes)

Service =4 (Staff is proficient in fine dining service)

Bang for Your Buck = 2 (Overall experience justifies the price)

Overall Dining Experience = 3.0 (Excellent/Superior)

Click here for an explanation of my Restaurant Rating System.

Filet Mignon Meatloaf

Tucked away behind Lucas Oil Stadium is Tavern on South, an inviting restaurant with an upscale, innovative menu and a gorgeous bar. Chef Allen Schideler, formerly of Broad Ripple Steakhouse, displays his talent for combining flavors and a flair for artistic plating. Tavern on South has only been open for about a month, and I visited during the very hectic Devour Downtown. I always expect a new restaurant to take some time to settle in, and while Tavern does have some room for improvement, the depth of experience of Owner Steve Geisler shows. Service was running smoothly and there were more hits than misses on the menu.

Tavern Salad

When I saw the filet mignon meatloaf on the menu I was instantly intrigued by the idea of using one of the finest cuts of beef in a meatloaf. It was even better than I imagined. The flavor of the filet really stood out among the chunks of fresh vegetables and the slightly smoky, sweet tomato sauce. This is truly a wonderful dish and I can’t wait to have it again. Other hits include the Tavern Salad with its granny smith apple vinaigrette and the broiled sea bass with a bloody mary corn and crab sauce. Next time I will try the Indiana “Shagged” Ahi appetizer.

Broiled Sea Bass

The big miss of the evening was dessert. Something went terribly wrong here. Its just incongruous to have such well-prepared entrees and a completely sub par last course. The apple strudel was a tough, over-worked pastry with a mushy apple filling that was almost completely lacking in flavor. The crème brulee, while flavored appropriately, was runny. The crème in crème brulee is actually a custard that is prepared the day before and sets up in a refrigerator overnight. This was not a proper custard. It’s possible that it did not contain enough egg yolk. However, I think it is more likely that they ran out of the dish and made the decision to make more and serve it without the proper setting time. For now, I’m going to blame the disastrous desserts on the restaurant’s newness and the demands of Devour Downtown. I look forward to going back to Tavern on South, ordering dessert, and eating it too.

Overall, I give Tavern on South a rating of 2.25. I think this restaurant has the potential to become a 3, and I look forward to reviewing it again later this year.

Price = $$$

Deliciousness = 2 (good to very good)

Ambiance = 3 (a feast for the eyes)

Service = 2 (friendly and efficient)

Bang for Your Buck = 2 (overall experience justifies the price)

Overall Dining Experience = 2.25

Click here for an explanation of my rating system.

Here’s what others are saying about Tavern on South:

Review by Traci Cumbay, IndyStar Correspondent

Review by W. Alexander, blogger, Indiana Insider

Review by Erin in Indy, blogger, Indianapolis Restaurant Scene

The menu is simple—a handful of appetizers, salad, pizza and dessert.  Without question, the pizza is the standout star here.  Fresh toppings served on a thin, rustic, hand-tossed crust make this the most gourmet pizza in Broad Ripple.  Another hit is the salad, which is tossed and served tableside.  And although I didn’t get an opportunity to taste it this time, I have to give big bonus points for including elephant ears on the dessert menu.

Salad & Breadstick

As the name suggests, Thr3e Wise Men is a brewery, and they offer quite a selection.   We sampled quite a few—our favorite was the Hoggy Style Amber.  If beer is your thing, click here to read my friend Scott’s more beer-focused review.

Beer Sampler

Thr3e Wise Men has only been open for a couple of weeks, and they are still working out some bugs from a service standpoint.  We tried to get call-ahead seating, but no one answered the phone.  Also, our appetizers, salad and pizza all came at once instead of staggered through the meal.  A manager did come to apologize, however, and acknowledged that it is something they are working on.  I anticipate that the service will continue to improve over the next few months.

Hummus Pizza

For offering an upbeat atmosphere, rustic pizzas and a unique concept, I give Thr3e Wise Men an Overall Dining Experience rating of 2.  I anticipate better service, and a higher rating, on my next visit.  Here is the breakdown:

Price = $$

Deliciousness = 2 (quality of food is very good)

Ambiance = 3 (a feast for the eyes)

Quality of Service = 1 (friendly but not efficient)

Bang for Your Buck = 2 (overall experience justifies the price)

Overall Dining Experience = 2 (a solid restaurant that beckons with appealing cooking)

Click here for an explanation of my rating system.