Let's hear it for local restaurants!

[GodFearinGunTotin]

2 local eatery's to me...

Salt Creek Brewery
Location: Needmore/Judah area in northern Lawrence Cnty
Notes: They brew right in the mechanic's pit of an old auto-garage turned bar & restaurant. It's a really cool place to go check out and enjoy a cold brew. From the end of the bar you can look down into the pit at the brewing apparatus and sometimes even see some bubbling out of the air-locks and such... Food is decent including some delicious twists on traditional bar-foods. They have breaded french-fries which are actually not bad, fried green beans, onion rings, tenderloin sandwich, all the normal delicious fried foods that go well with a cold brew. The atmosphere is nice. A great deal of antiques and decor adorn the walls and shelves making this place very homey and make the dining experience pleasant, but the building is simple with a concrete floor (remember, it's an old auto-garage) and basic tables & chairs. Ordering food is done at the food window and you're given a number to put on your table, they will bring your food to the table. Beverages are ordered at the bar. You will often find a local live band playing music on Friday & Saturday nights which often means a packed house in most cases. Take this into account if you like a quiet place go at lunch or week-nights. For a hoppin' place with lots of people and lots going on, weekend evenings are your time.
Cost: Draft pints will run around $4 if I recall correctly from my last visit. Food is very reasonable around $5 for a sandwich and $3 or so for a size/appetizer


Holt's Cafe
Location: Downtown Judah, IN (northern Lawrence Cnty)
A variety of good, down-home cooking including an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, but my favorite is their breaded tenderloin, fresh pounded on the premises. It's THE BEST tenderloin sandwich I've ever had. You can fold it in half and it still overhangs the giant bun it is served on. Even if I go for breakfast I ask for a tenderloin because I can't get enough of them... I don't eat out much, but this place gets a lot of my money on tenderloins alone... The dining is very simple with basic tables/chairs, very few decorations except some local news articles and other items you would expect to find at a small mom-n-pop place. It doubles as a small convenience store so you will see some pop and other convenience store items on the shelf. You walk in, order your food at the counter and they bring it to your table. This is the place to go if you want to get to know the locals and converse with the old-timers at breakfast...
Cost: $5 for a tenderloin sandwich and the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet is around $7 I think. Drinks are reasonable as well.

My wife's family used to own that building that Salt Creek Brewery is now.

I'm a big fan of Chicago's Pizza in Mitchell. It's not really "mom and pop" but it's great.

We really used to enjoy Pinto's before they shut down.

We're going to Casa Brava in Bedford tonight--it's pretty good.

 

[John317]

Fire by the Monon, 10-01, pawnshop pub, twenty tap, the aristocrat & keystone sports review are some of our favs

 

[RedneckReject]

She deals with licensing and has to enter the violations when the inspectors make their rounds. It has changed where we eat... But Sophia's was the only place that had multiple infractions or "criticals" for food items being stored way above temperature. There was a meeting scheduled with the owner... Not sure if it has happened yet, but the health department was not real happy since the owner hadn't corrected any of the previous violation.

Thanks for the info. I'll definitely keep that in mind. Like I said I've never gotten sick from anything I got there but I don't want to do so anytime in the future.

 

[rockhopper46038]

I'll gladly go out of my way to try a breaded tenderloin, if its been recommended to me. I'll be on the lookout for Holt's Cafe if I get over that way.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

I'll gladly go out of my way to try a breaded tenderloin, if its been recommended to me. I'll be on the lookout for Holt's Cafe if I get over that way.

I've never been there, been by it, but I might have to make a special trip now that I've heard about the tenderloins! IIRC, it's just something like 1/2 mile east of 37 at the first stop light after you've crossed the Monroe/Lawrence county line.

 

[nakinate]

If you want the best breakfast, lunch or brunch then go to Rosie's Place on the square in Noblesville.

 

[Jerchap2]

For chili, I really like Nick's Chili Parlor on Indianapolis' West side, on Lafayette Road a few blocks South of 30th Street. It has been there for years, and the chili is one-of-a-kind. Nick, the owner, is a nice guy, and frequently there.

Home of the "Not Yet World Famous"Chili...Nick's Chili Parlor

 

[CountryBoy19]

I've never been there, been by it, but I might have to make a special trip now that I've heard about the tenderloins! IIRC, it's just something like 1/2 mile east of 37 at the first stop light after you've crossed the Monroe/Lawrence county line.

this^^^ 1 mile after crossing into lawrence county coming southon 37 turn left (east) at the stop light(by the BP station) and about a half mile. small brown building on the right-hand side of the road. if you blink you will miss it. continuing another 3 miles down old 37 and Salt Creek Brewery will be on your left just after you come up the steep hill.]

 

[BehindBlueI's]

I gotta give it up for the Cannoli Queen on south side of Indy (Emerson/County Line in strip mall by the WalMart). Husband/wife team that makes great food and sticks to their roots (closed Sundays/Mondays) and is only open from like 11a-2p and then 5p-9p or something to that effect. They even close for lunch or dinner occasionally for catering events (announced on facebook) at least and perhaps worth a call before going there if you ever wanted to stop in.

I'll second Cannoli Queen. Her desserts are top shelf.

Jockamo Pizza, one in Greenwood and one about 5000 E Washington St is a good pizza place, especially if you're willing to be adventurous. Some of their combinations had me hedging a bit, but everytime I've tried one of their specialties it has been worth it. The Philly Jack is really tasty.

 

[db1959]

A large family up here as a multitude of place in both Michigan and Indiana called Mancino's. The one on Lincolnway East in Mishawaka has pretty decent food.

That it is. Their Grinders are pretty darn good.

 

[stephen87]

Forgot all about Cannoli Queen. Thirded by this guy.

 

[Indy317]

Down here in Southern Indiana, Huber's Family Farm Restaurant is where we take folks visiting us from Out of State. A real institution, it is worth a side-trip into the "knobs" about thirty minutes NW of Louisville. The family dinner is worth the $18 price tag.

Wife and I went to Huber's for lunch. Not sure if prices are different, but us picky eaters were able to find burgers or chicken and french fries for much less than $18/pp. The food was good, but nothing spectacular What I did like about their place is that if you have kids, during certain months they have a small farm play area with animals as well. For the wine drinkers, the family also has a winery.

Also, Lil Charlie's in Batesville is amazing, great food and beer.

We've only been there once, and the food was great and reasonably prices. This was not quite a year ago, and I remember they had lots of food choices. They had a great grilled blackened chicken that I got. Definitely worth a day trip to the area. Metamora isn't too far away, that is where we went before heading south to Batesville.


For those near Fishers/Geist area, I've eaten at Casler's and have had some good meals there. Check their website though, because they do have live music in the bar side and I'm not sure of the times. For those near the east side of Indy, Round the Corner pub in New Palestine is a small restaurant, but has some good food as well. Just recently I finally ate at the Kopper Kettle in Morristown. It is a very neat place to eat. Lunch is cheaper than dinner, and you get a lot of food for the price. If you don't want the platters, they offer hamburgers, chicken, and fish sandwiches as well.

 

[InTheShadows]

If you like Mexican food, El Reparo in Greensburg is the BEST! Also, for breaded tenderloin, Trackside in Greensburg is very good.

 

[canterbc]

Jockamo Pizza, one in Greenwood and one about 5000 E Washington St is a good pizza place, especially if you're willing to be adventurous. Some of their combinations had me hedging a bit, but everytime I've tried one of their specialties it has been worth it. The Philly Jack is really tasty.

Jocamo's is great. I know the owner. Great family, pretty darn good pizza.
Also on the east side, Steer-In at 10th and Emerson.... Never had anything I didn't like.
There are a few locations, but I like Greek's pizza.
For the Cajun flair its hard to beat Yats and Papa Roux

 

[Jerchap2]

GREAT restaurant in Dnaville, especially if you want a place that VISIBLY honors our soldiers and veterans:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Daves-All-American-Pizza-and-Eatery/277162535812

 

[tom1025]

Augustinos @ Stop 11 and Emerson Ave on the southside of Indianapolis is a great Italian restaurant and is owned and operated by a veteran.

Redlion Groghouse is an English style Pub in Fountain Square with an awesome selection of food.

Both places also take call ahead reservations.

 

[femurphy77]

Time to breath some new life into this one. Not directly related but we tried Bagger Daves today for the first and probably last time. . . .the service was great but the burgers were the most flavorless I've ever had. Definitely NOT worth $10, very disappointing.

So somebody find me a great burger that isn't "chained"!

 

[stephen87]

Teddy's. Southport and IN-37 in Indianapolis. West side of IN-37. Great burgers, good selection of beer (if that's your thing), and a great atmosphere.

 

[Fishersjohn48]

I was very disappointed to learn that Yat's is no longer a local restaurant. Their food is made in a factory in Kentucky and shipped here. Yat's used to be my favorite but I really feel that I'm done with them.

 

[chezuki]

Time to breath some new life into this one. Not directly related but we tried Bagger Daves today for the first and probably last time. . . .the service was great but the burgers were the most flavorless I've ever had. Definitely NOT worth $10, very disappointing.

So somebody find me a great burger that isn't "chained"!

Patriot's Table in Greenwood. The "Skirt Burger" can make a grown man weep.