Eating BIG in Cleveland - Part 2

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties
- Return to The Land

We spent a couple nights in Cleveland last Thanksgiving. The reason for our visit was to spend the holiday with some of Erica’s family that resides in Akron but we always choose to stay in Cleveland since there’s a bit more going on in terms of the food and fun. It’s a trip we’ve made before though it had been a few years since our last visit. From what I could tell the local food scene seems to be getting better with each passing visit. I had quite a few spots on my radar but it was a pretty short trip. We drove up early morning on Thanksgiving day and spent two nights at the Kimpton in downtown Cleveland. I always enjoy these little jaunts to the Land as nicknamed by local hip hop artists and the one and only LeBron James who could be scheming a return home to finish off his career. If so that would make for a fun story and an interesting roster of both old and new which is also how I would describe the dining scene in Cleveland right now. There's a nice mix of both old and new to explore.

Pics from Cleveland
__________________________________________________

Ferris Shawarma

We rode into Ohio early Thursday morning so there wasn’t much open as far as restaurants go. That said one of my favorite food stops in Cleveland was open last time I was here on Thanksgiving and that would be all I needed. Ferris Shawarma serves up Syrian style shawarma that just might be the best I’ve had in the States. You can tell this place is the real deal as soon as you walk in and see their tall and pristinely kept cones of meat which are clearly made from scratch as you can see it’s stacked layer by layer. They serve their shawarma wraps “Arabic style” which is mixed with garlic sauce plus pickles and cut into smaller bite sized pieces. I love this place. The Northeast Ohio area actually has some very good Middle Eastern food which is likely a spillover from nearby Dearborn Michigan.

Chicken Shawarma at Ferris Shawarma
__________________________________________________



European's Best Restaurant & Bakery (Strongville)

The day after Thanksgiving is actually one of my favorite days of the year. It’s kind of holiday in and of itself and it’s always on a Friday so there’s good vibes to go with it. I like to get up early and go treat myself to a nice breakfast. I made sure to scout a spot before we left and I found exactly what I was looking for in the suburb of Strongville. European's Best Restaurant & Bakery is a real locals type of place that regulars call “Cheers without the beers” - the type of spot where everyone knows each other. I could feel this on my visit where there were a few groups of older guys scattered about and they all seemed to know one another stopping to chat as they passed each other. The menu here has all the stuff you expect to find at a diner as well as some Old World Eastern European plates. I was there for the pork schnitzel breakfast plate made with a lightly breaded and fried pork loin topped with house made paprikas sauce served with two eggs plus home fries and toast and it really hit the spot. This is the type of place where you get a paper placemat with advertising from local businesses and you go up to the front counter to pay. That’s also where the pastry case is strategically placed. I took a few Hungarian mini strudels to-go and was on my way back into the city. But not before taking a minute to take in what was probably the most NE Ohio dining experience I’ve ever partaken in. 

Pork Schnitzel Breakfast Plate at European's Best Restaurant & Bakery
__________________________________________________

Martha On The Fly

Next I had to get the wife fed so I rolled back to the hotel to grab her and we were on our way to Martha on the Fly. This micro diner is known for their breakfast sandwiches which some say are the best in Cleveland. She opted for “The Pearl” which is made with a Mushroom sausage patty, avocado spread, American cheese, Martha's Sunshine Sauce and a fried egg. All sandwiches here are served on soft and semi sweet brioche buns which aren’t my favorite but I did enjoy the bite I tried. The made on site mushroom patty was very good. We also got a potato crispie which is a golden skillet fried hash brown served with Sunshine Sauce - it was nice and crisp if a bit oily. Cute spot to start the day. 

Breakfast at Martha On The Fly
__________________________________________________

Mama Santa's Pizzeria

I took a ride into Cleveland’s historic Little Italy to try the pizza at the locally loved Mama Santa’s. I walked in around 12p and there was a line 25+ deep with a few large families in it - usually a good sign. After about a 15 minute wait I was led into a long, narrow and dimply lit dining room where every table had pizza and pastas on it. I went ahead and placed my order as soon as I sat down - one small sausage pizza with green pepper and an order of the made on site cavatelli with meatballs. No Great Lakes Christmas Ale here so I got a bottle of their Dortmunder German Lager instead. Loyalists of Mama Santa’s mention the crust and the dough as its strengths and the deeply dark cheese is also of note but the pizza here is kind of its own thing. It’s interesting bc Cleveland is a big pizza town with lots of options, both old and new, but there isn’t a specific regional style so it’s never mentioned among the country’s best pizza enclaves. That said Mama Santa’s is Cleveland’s most popular pizzeria so there do seem to be a few copycats out there. The pasta had good texture and came mixed with a standard red sauce and two medium sized meatballs - not bad. Overall a satisfying old school Italian American meal in that warm you up on a cold winter day sort of way. Since 1961. 

Lunch at Mama Santa's
__________________________________________________

 

Clubhouse Restaurant + Bar

As you probably know by now I like to seek out the regional food of whatever area I’m in. The Northeast Ohio region is home to quite a few Old World Eastern European dining destinations. You’ll find a handful of them in the suburbs of Parma and Parma Heights including Clubhouse Restaurant + Bar. It's described as a modern European bar and restaurant but it felt old school to me. Stepping inside felt like going back to the 70’s / 80’s. It was dimly lit with a round bar and worn down walls with a nostalgic feel to it. Clubhouse is locally loved for a mix of things like their fish sandwich and a few Eastern Euro dishes too including their signature Chicken Paprikash which many call the best in the area. It’s rich and creamy with thick strips of white meat chicken and chunks of spaetzle mixed in. 

Chicken Paprikash at Clubhouse Restaurant + Bar 
__________________________________________________

Amba

We were in town for two nights but one of those nights was Thanksgiving so we really only had one night to go out. As far dinner goes there were two spots I wanted to check out so we went ahead and did a 1-2 punch. First stop: Amba, a very stylish restaurant ran by Douglas Katz’s Edgewater Hospitality Group - he was nominated for James Beard ‘Restauranteur of the Year’ award not long after our visit. Diners indulge in shareable Indian inspired plates and unique cocktails in a cozy and intimate setting. We started with an order of the clay bread and added some dipping agents like a cool and creamy raita and some nice and chunky chili crunch too. We also got the namesake Amba which is a delightfully tangy condiment made from pickled mango. From there we moved on to an order of the crispy pani puri which at Amba is a mix of potato salad, zhug raita, tamarind, and green onion placed into a Crisp puri shell. Head Chef / Owner Douglas Katz also has a Middle Eastern small plate restaurant and you can tell that it rubbed off on the food at Amba. From there we moved onto the Pilau which is made up of basmati rice, quinoa, saffron, almonds, raisins, herbs, fried onions. The rice was cooked really well which is half the battle with a rice focused dish. We found all of the sauces we ordered with the pita to work really well mixed into the rice as well. We ended with a plate of Ghee Basted Shrimp which were described on the menu as having ginger, garam masala, lime, and coconut. This dish was a winner and a great way to end a good meal. The shrimp were plump and there was a lot of flavor in the sauce. I would gladly go back and spin the wheel on the menu again.

Dinner at Amba
__________________________________________________

Cordelia

Our second dinner of the night was at another James Beard nominated place - Cordelia. We met up with some of Erica’s cousins at this hip and happening spot located in the middle of the downtown entertainment district. Cordelia is helmed by Akron native Vinnie Camino who was included in a 2025 Food & Wine list naming the best new chefs in the country. He was also a 2024 finalist in the 'Best Chefs: Great Lakes' category of the James Beard awards. Camino and his team mix heartfelt hospitality with community-rooted cooking with the menu at Cordelia being an ode to the chefs Midwestern roots - it's been described as “modern Midwest grandma cooking”. They use local farmers and push the regions food legacy into a modern setting with dishes like popcorn gnocchi and the signature Jojos - a regional type of seasoned, deep-fried potato wedge very popular in parts of the Midwest (and Portland Oregon too). The menu switches up based on the seasons so most of what we ate is no longer available but we all enjoyed apps of smoked whitefish and house fried rinds with ranch. We also got a salad geared after the extra large ones you find at old school pizzerias across the Midwest. I heard very good things about the burger box which is what they call their White Castle inspired burger served on an everything-spiced Japanese milk bun that can be separated into four pieces making it a good appetizer. It’s a double smash creation also inspired by Hamburger Station, an old school spot serving sliders in Akron. The burger is dressed with smoked cheddar cheese crust, pickle, onion, house sauce. As far as higher end burgers go this was a good one! All in all Cordelia is a great pick if you got one dinner in Cleveland and want to eat at a spot that personifies the city. 

Dinner at Cordelia
__________________________________________________



Patron Saint

Drinks and snacks at Patron Saint ended up being a real pleasant surprise. They offer an all-day menu of Italian-inspired cafe dishes paired with espresso, spritzes, and warm Midwestern hospitality. The menu isn’t entirely vegetarian but it’s mostly veggie with just a couple of meat offerings. Erica had an excellent broccoli melt made up of roasted broccoli, provolone, giardiniera, and Calabrian chili aioli on a leavened sesame seeded hoagie roll. The bread was really good as was what was inside of it. I tried the chickpea piadina and it was also excellent. They mix ground chickpeas with fresh snow peas, and sun-dried tomatoes, wrapped in a warm pita with aioli + eggplant conserva. This was one of the best vegetarian meals I ate all year. It was Italy quality in that all of the ingredients were top notch. 

Broccoli Melt

Chickpea Piadina
__________________________________________________

Larder Delicatessen and Bakery

Cleveland is a corned beef town but I had my sights set on some pastrami this trip. The last time we had visited Cleveland I stopped in at what was then a newly opened deli called the Larder Delicatessen and Bakery. It’s a new school deli that set up shop in old city firehouse. My initial visit was just ok. I left underwhelmed, but they were also new and a lot can change over a three or four year period so I returned on this trip as I had heard good things from people that would know what’s up. I came back to a packed restaurant - it’s not that big to begin with but this is clearly a popular spot with Clevelanders. While they do have a deli case with different stuff to pack up and put in your fridge the crowds are mostly here for the made to order food such as the pastrami melt. The first time I tried the pastrami from here it was a bit too tough resulting in a tough to eat sandwich but my return visit was a different story completely. The pastrami was much more tender this time around. It was exceptionally spiced and the sandwich as a whole was near flawless with excellent bread and a perfect toasting job to boot. As good as the sandwich was, and it was awesome, the fresh cut fries were an even bigger surprise. Simply put some of the best fries I’ve ever had. Now I can see why this place is so popular. Word on the street is they’re also a big part of the community too. Cool spot!

Pastrami Sandwich and Fries at Larder Delicatessen and Bakery
__________________________________________________

Marie's Restaurant

The four-decades-old Marie's Croatian restaurant in the St. Clair-Superior area is what it is, and what it has always been: a no-frills Eastern European restaurant. I had a hard time deciding what to get at this Cleveland timewarp serving old world favorites like cabbage rolls, cevapi, city chicken. In the end I got the house goulash with dumplings which some say is the best goulash in Cleveland and beyond. The beef was fine but the dumplings were a textural pleasure. Next time I'd try the cabbage rolls.

Beef Goulash with Dumplings at Marie's Restaurant
__________________________________________________ 

Farka's Pastry Shoppe

Last stop before heading home was Farka’s Pastry Shoppe for a couple of their signature Napoleon Pastries. There’s a handful of fantastic European bakeries in the Greater Cleveland area including this terrific Hungarian spot specializing in Napoleons or Krémes as they’re commonly called in Hungary. These tasty squared treats consist of layers upon layers of crisp and golden puff pastry with a hefty amount of vanilla custard sandwiched in between. Make sure you wipe your nose off after eating one of these so that you’re not mistaken for a rabid cocaine user. That’s it for this trip!

Napoleons at Farka's Pastry Shoppe
__________________________________________________

Previous Posts You Might Like -

Eating BIG in Cleveland (2021)

Eastern European Food in Northeast Ohio (2018)

The Burgers of Akron (2015)
__________________________________________________

See ya next time @chibbqking

Pastrami Sandwiches

-Grubbing in Chicago
Five of a Kind: New School Pastrami Spots

There was a time when pastrami was mainly associated with New York City where places like Katz’s Deli have been serving it as long as anybody. It spread out from there as Jewish delis began to open elsewhere across the country but only recently has pastrami gone completely mainstream. Nowadays you’re as likely to find it at a bbq spot in Tulsa as you are at a deli in Boca. It’s even trending overseas in popular food cities like Paris and Rome. I’ve seen a big uptick on menus in Chicago too. So I’ve put together this little post on five places where you can find a good pastrami sandwich in the city.

__________________________________________________

Schneider Deli

First we head to River North to check out this new school Jewish Deli in the parking lot of the Ohio House Motel. Schneider Deli opened in the spring of 2023 in the standalone building that’s an extension of the mid century landmark motel. Their Pastrami Sandwich sits on the top shelf of sandwiches in this city but it’s also near the top in taste ($25 with tip). You get 7 ounces of thick and hot pastrami on rye. No it’s not loaded up like some have come to expect a deli sandwich to be but it’s still got a pretty good meat to bread ratio. This is a splurge sandwich so to say - not the type of sandwich you eat weekly but a great choice when you want to treat yourself to a really good one.

Pastrami Sandwich at Schneider Deli 
__________________________________________________

Bagel Miller 

Next stop takes us to Lincoln Square where the bagels at Bagel Miller have been a part of the neighborhood for more than a decade going back to when it was known as Baker Miller. They rebranded after the pandemic and all that came with it and are now a bagel deli slash sandwich shop known as Bagel Miller. They have a small menu of bagel sandwiches including the "Southsider" which mixes made in-house pastrami with giardiniera and cream cheese. Ask for extra napkins with this one.

The "Southsider" at Bagel Miller 
__________________________________________________

Clinton Street Smoked Meats

Up next we'll head to the West Loop to check out a stall in the Chicago French Market. When Clinton Street Smoked Meats opened in 2022 it was welcomed with open arms by those who missed Fumare Meats & Deli. Fumare was known for their Montreal Smoked Meat which is similar to Pastrami as both are smoked dry-cured meats made from brisket (but it differs from there). Clinton Street Smoked Meats is owned by a former employee of Fumare and is doing similar things. I tried their smoked meat when they were just getting going and it was pretty good. I’d imagine it’s only gotten better since then.

Smoked Meat Sandwich at Clinton Street Smoked Meats
__________________________________________________

Green Street Smoked Meats 

We’ll stay in the West Loop and hit up Green Street Smoked Meats for our next stop. This nationally acclaimed Central Texas style bbq spot from Hogsalt Hospitality smokes some seriously good pastrami. The sandwich is simple and lets the thick slices of hand cut pastrami do most of the talking. It's piled into a room temp Potato Roll with a packet of mustard, a whole pickle, and some bright pink pickled red onions on the side. Adding those onions onto your sandwich takes it from good to great. 

Pastrami Sandwich at Green Street Smoked Meats
__________________________________________________

Top Butcher Market

There’s good stuff going on in Montclare all the way west on Grand which is where you’ll find International Meat Company. They’ve been selling wholesale meats for more than 60 years. They supply nearby Johnnies Beef with their Italian Sausage. They decided to open Top Butcher Market, a butcher shop slash restaurant across the street and it’s been a smashing neighborhood success. Customers stop in regularly for butchered meats and prepared foods such as pastrami sandwiches. The pastrami is smoked on site and pulled as opposed to sliced. It comes with pickles and slaw at a very reasonable price ($12.99). Don’t sleep on the brisket sandwich either. I’m looking forward to returning for more including a made on site Italian Beef and a daily special deal on two slabs of smoked ribs for $30 (takeout only). I got to sample the latter and that’s a steal of a deal when restaurants are charging $40+ for a single slab. The daily specials are also intriguing, at one point they were serving a Cudighi sandwich which I’ve never seen offered outside of the Upper Peninsula. 

Pastrami Sandwich at Top Butcher Market
__________________________________________________

See ya next time @chibbqking

Eating BIG in Indianapolis Pt. 3

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties
- Checking back in on Indianapolis

Well I saved todays post for this date back when I saw that Caleb Williams and the Bears would be going down to Indianapolis for week three of the 2024 season and here we are sitting at 1-1 headed down to Indy for a very winnable game. It’s early but they do look like the same old Bears so far. But even if you’re not headed down for the game this post could come in handy should you ever find yourself in or passing through Indianapolis. Is it the Midwest's best food city? No it’s not. (Note: I rank it 9/10 on my list of  the Midwest's best food cities with Chicago taking the top spot). But is there good food to be found in Indy? Of course there is! Anybody that tells you (insert city) doesn’t have good food is either an extremely picky eater or they don’t know how to find the good stuff. There’s good food to be found in every urban area of the country, if there’s people around then good food isn’t far behind and Indianapolis has 850,0000 plus people. It takes a bit of research and knowing what you’re looking for or you can just leave it to me. I’ve never led my readers astray. Here’s where I’ve ate in Indy of late. Note: previous Indianapolis eating reports linked at the end of this post. Enjoy the ride!

Pics from Indy
_______________________________________

Long's Bakery 

First stop for me whenever I’m in Indy is more often than not this locally loved donut shop. Long’s Bakery is a great stop even if you’re just passing thru as it’s right off I-65 and it opens early and closes late (5:30a - 10p daily). If you arrive on a weekend before noon you should be prepared to wait as they often have a line. Customers from across the city line up for their donuts the most popular of which is a glazed yeast. Local rapper Tevin Studdard released a song in 2020 called "Long's Bakery Music Video" during which he raps about eating Indy's favorite donuts. David Letterman is also a fan.

Donuts at Long's Bakery 
_______________________________________

Shapiro's Delicatessen

Indy is a good Roadfood city by which I mean there’s alot of fun old school spots you can stop in at. Shapiro’s Deli is arguably the most iconic of the bunch. This classic cafeteria style restaurant has been at it since 1905 and is still in the same family today as when it started. I think their Reuben is a contender for best I’ve had in big part due to the spectacular rye bread which they bake on site. The sliced corned beef is really good too but man oh man that hand cut rye bread is as good as it gets.

Rueben Sandwich at Shapiro's Delicatessen
_______________________________________

Working Man's Friend

If there’s one spot in Indy that can contend with the previous stops for most iconic it’s this bustling bar known for their sensational smashed burger. I first visited Workingman's Friend 15 years ago when I named it one of the best burgers in the country and it’s still up there on my list. Limited hours means it's always packed so I highly advise arriving right when they open if not right before they close. Hoosiers jam the place for their signature burger which is a double crispy smashed with a third bun in the middle. Despite heavy inflation across the country it’s still a heck of a deal at just over $8. The beer is reasonable here too as it’s still a very blue collar bar that got its name after its Macedonian founder would spot food and cash to local railroad workers on strike back in the mid 20’s. Since 1918.

Double Cheeseburger at Working Man's Friend
_______________________________________

Heidelberg Haus

I can’t believe I never stopped at this German amusement park until just recently. Heidelberg Haus is a family-owned German restaurant, bakery, and gift shop that's been on the east side of Indianapolis since 1968. It’s owned by a German national from Heidelberg who gained fame making pastries around the world at a young age and eventually found himself in Indy where he decided to open his own place. Walking into Heidelberg Haus feels a lot like visiting the German wing at Disney’s Epcot Center. Dining tables are scattered about the restaurant strategically placed wherever they can find the room between the bakery and the gift shop that expands throughout the property. It also has a cafe where customers can try a variety of German sausages including a delicious plate of currywurst. 

Currywurst at Heidelberg Haus

I always enjoy this German dish born in Berlin but you don’t see it too often in Chicago. Currywurst is typically just sliced sausage served with a curry ketchup for dipping. At Heidelberg Haus they give you two pieces of fried knockwurst served with their made on site curry sauce and a fat scoop of German Potato Salad which is a mayo-less recipe served warm with chunks of bacon found throughout and also a piece of buttered rye bread. As good as the Currywurst was it was second fiddle to the incredible German Chocolate cake that the owner himself still bakes. You can buy it by the slice or if your timing is right you can even take an entire cake to go but it’s best to order ahead if that’s what you want. There’s rarely a day that goes by where they don’t sell out of it. I’m not a big cake guy, I like it but I don’t seek it out but that will change next time I find myself in Indy as I’m so going back for that and whatever else looks good in the bakery case that day. They also sell a ton of German ingredients and souvenirs which are scattered throughout the shop. This place is an absolute gem.

German Chocolate Cake at Heidelberg Haus
_______________________________________

Red Key Tavern

The Midwest is littered with cool bars no matter where you are. Indy is no exception. There’s some great bars to drink at in this city and Red Key Tavern is one of my favorites. This cash only establishment is one of the best bars in the country according to The Daily Meal. It opened in 1933 and was known for its rules like no cursing, no dancing, and no leaning back in your seat. While the rules have changed the inside remains very much the same. It’s got that old school feel that so many spots try to replicate but the only real way to do so is thru time and Red Key Tavern has been at for 90 years so you know it’s the real deal. Food wise the bar is known for its burgers and also its braunschweiger sandwich which is an embodiment of the tavern itself— nostalgic and straightforward. The sandwich has been on the menu as long as anyone can remember. “Braunschweiger” is a catch-all term for several types of German sausages but the version served at Red Key is spreadable, like pate, and sliced right off the log. It comes standard on wheat bread and can be toasted upon your request. You can also add onion, pickle, lettuce, tomato, or mayo. I thought it was surprisingly good.

Braunschweiger Sandwich at Red Key Tavern 
_______________________________________

The Pawn Shop Pub

Pictured below is 'The Big Pawn" from Pawn Shop Pub - an old Long John Silvers turned local vibes bar. The Big Pawn is a hand breaded pork tenderloin that’s sliced in half and dressed like a Big Mac. Did you know that McDonalds once tested a breaded pork tenderloin on the menu back in 2002? It went on a test run here in Indiana but I guess the Hoosiers decided they prefer the mom and pop spots like this. There’s not a ton of variety when it comes to the dressing of a BPT so this one was a standout with the special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onion on a sesame seeded bun. 

Big Pawn Breaded Tenderloin at The Pawn Shop Pub
_______________________________________

Wisanggeni Pawon

I first tried this Indonesian restaurant in its early stages as a ghost kitchen. Wisanggeni Pawon serves up some delicious Indonesian inspired street food. I’m not nearly as familiar with Indonesian cuisine as I’d like to be but Wisanggeni Pawon might be my favorite restaurant in Indianapolis. It’s a bit of an oddity in a city with a handful of Burmese restaurants but those are mostly found on the south side which can be an extra hour of driving going to and from downtown. Wisanggeni Pawon is ran by an Indonesian couple who ended up in Indy after a restaurant venture in the Netherlands fell thru. Well one country’s loss is another’s gain as Bambang Wisanggeni and his wife Putri Pratiwi are serving up some of the most exciting food in the city. Martabak Telor aka Crispy Beef Omelette is a savory flavor bomb of chopped beef with green onion and egg mixed with a special sauce and sandwiched between a crispy crepe that’s cut into squares for easy eating. The beef rendang is as good as I’ve had anywhere in the States. It’s rich and creamy and arrives with an array of sides like fluffy coconut rice, jackfruit gulai, steamed kale, and an omelet. But the best thing on the menu just might be the Indonesian sweet Dutch butter pancake with sprinkled chocolate, ground peanut, and cheese aka Martabak Manis. No joke one of the best deserts that I’ve ever had. I’ve never had this anywhere else but I felt like it was of a super high quality as it was just perfect. One of those dishes I'll never forget.

Martabak Telor 

Beef Rendang

Martabak Manis at Wisanggeni Pawon
_______________________________________

Futuro Indy 

I took a quick trip down to Indy last year to lend a helping hand I was rewarded with a Detroit style pizza just as good as any of the ones I’ve had in the Motor City. It comes from Futuro which is posted up in an old building from the old Angie’s List campus. We tried the Futuro Classic which comes with Ezzo pepperoni, housemade Italian sausage, fresh mushrooms and their house marinara sauce plus Pecorino Romano. They also do a tavern style thin and run a deep dish special but I highly suggest the Detroit style which hit all the high notes with its thick and airy dough that’s both light and sturdy with a lovely frico edge crust plus Wisconsin Brick cheese and a bright red top. Really good stuff.

Detroit Style Pizza at Futuro
_______________________________________

Shani's Secret Chicken 

Believe it or not Indiana has a rich tradition of fried chicken. Our neighbors to the east even have an interactive map with some of the states best fried chicken mapped out. A good chunk of those spots are south of Indy but some of the states best fried chicken is found on the west side of the city in a Pakistani restaurant. Chapati is a contemporary Indian and Pakistani spot ran by Indy resident Maisum Farid. He serves up some of Indiana's best South Asian food at Chapati which also houses Shani’s Secret Chicken where he dishes out a South Asian spin on the Southern classic. Halal Chicken is soaked in buttermilk and spiced with lots of exciting spices before a trip to the deep fryer resulting in some of the crispiest fried chicken in all of Indiana. Thumbs up for the fresh cut fries too. 

Fried Chicken at Shani's Secret Chicken 
_______________________________________

Julieta Taco Shop 

I’m not sure where to find Indy’s best tacos as I haven’t done enough searching around to give a real answer. But I know you can do much worse than this new school spot located at The Stutz - an iconic four-story factory building easily accessible from off the highway. Julieta Taco Shop is a tag team operation between two friends who met more than 15 years ago in Indianapolis. The co owners worked together at restaurants across the city before opening Julieta which specializes in tortillas made on site with nixtamalized corn from Mexico that’s milled and pressed by one of the owners dads. Aside from that I loved the fact I saw a spit of al pastor aka a trompo spinning. So I decided to try both the al pastor and a Taco Suadero (fried beef) which is really starting to take off at spots like Julieta across the country. I much preferred the al pastor which I ordered with a cheese skirt crust - it was crisp and has good flavor and the texture was better than most of the al pastor you’ll find elsewhere. The suadero was more like birria in that it was really just shredded meat and thus it lacked the texture and the fried beefy flavor typcially found in Mexico City’s lesser known specialty.

Tacos at Julieta Taco Shop
_______________________________________

Shoyu Shop at Strange Bird

To understand just how good ramen in the U.S. has got over the last decade or so take a look at our next stop - a ramen shop connected to a tiki bar in the historic Irvington neighborhood. Shoyu Shop is a made from scratch ramenya started by a graduate of The Tokyo Ramen Academy. Like any serious ramen spot they only offer a total of four bowls with their namesake Shoyu Ramen leading the way. Shoyu style  ramen starts with a sweet and salty broth made with a soy sauce base or “tare” as it’s called in ramen lingo. The tare is said to make up only about 1/10 of the liquid broth while the other 90% can vary depending on recipe. Shoyu Shop adds ‘Tori Chintan’ or crystal clear chicken stock to their house noodles along with chiyu (chicken oil) and chicken chasu (sliced chicken meat), pork chasu (sliced pork belly) and a soft boiled egg with a handful of chopped scallion. It’s a complex bowl of noodles that as recently as a decade ago would be impossible to find in Indiana. The tiki drinks at Strange Bird are also very good making for a great 1-2 punch when paired with the delicious ramen.

Shoyu Ramen at Shoyu Shop
_______________________________________

Vida

If you’re looking for a restaurant that’s a bit more upscale you may want to consider the tasting menu at Vida which serves a pretty good modern American tasting menu focusing on fresh and local ingredients. Executive Chef Thomas Melvin was a semifinalist for the ‘Best Chef: Great Lakes Region’ at the 2024 James Beard Awards. Vida serves up two different tasting menu options and also has ala carte selections. I tried the full tasting menu which plugs in at $135 on their website as of September 2024. The menu has completely switched since my visit in March but I had a nice dinner with a couple of standout dishes each of which were the meat forward courses of the seven course tasting. But if I had to choose between the duck breast with a carrot emulsion, confit turnip, kumquat or the Wagyu ribeye with "Robuchon" potato, preserved lemon creamed kale and truffle demi? I would take the duck as the meat had better texture. That said the ribeye paired with the rich and creamy potatoes was also a winner. Overall it was a very nice meal but I didn’t think it was quite to the level of the best restaurant in the Great Lakes Region which incudes Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois

Duck Breast at Vida

Ribeye at Vida 
_______________________________________

Bonge's Tavern (Anderson)

I got to cross an old spot off my Roadfood bucketlist with a bit of a detour on a recent trip to Indy. Bonge’s Tavern (pronounced bon - gees) rests in a quiet area on the outskirts of Anderson Indiana about 40 miles northeast of Indianapolis. It sits in a building dating back to the late 1800’s. Bonge’s as a restaurant dates back to 1934 when Charles Bonge took over the restaurant and spent more than 60 years manning the kitchen before selling the place in 1997. It was recently sold again and the current owner chose not to mess with its success. Customers drive from across the state and tailgate outside when the weather is warm and there’s a wait - reservations recommended. The menu is fairly small but it has all of the basic proteins including chicken, duck, lamb, seafood, and steaks.  

a peek inside 

Bonge's biggest seller is their ‘Perkinsville Pork’ as this is Indiana after all and the Perkinsville Pork is a breaded tenderloin with a Parmesan crust plus lemon butter served with the days fresh vegetable and whatever potato prep they’re making on your visit. The first thing you notice upon that first bite is the quality of the pork itself. It’s got great texture as it wasn’t bludgeoned to mush. It's got great flavor too from both the butter and the cheese. This was easily the best BPT I’ve had in these parts. The scalloped potatoes were also on point. The steak wasn’t the best I’ve had as that’s a much bigger hill to climb but it was more than just fine. I really liked all the smoke flavor they managed to grill into it. All entrees come with jalapeño cornbread and your choice of tomato soup or wedge salad served with their house blue cheese dressing. I suggest going with the salad and paying the upgrade for the real deal made on site bacon bits to go with it. Bonge’s Tavern doesn’t do carryout but they do sell pints and quarts of the soup and the blue cheese dressing to go. We finished this fantastic meal with a marvelously made sugar cake topped with berries and whipped cream. I hope to one day return during the warmer months and tailgate. Overall this was one of my favorite stops of the year. 

Dinner at Bonge's Tavern 

_______________________________________

If you liked this post you might also be interested in:

Indianapolis Eats

Eating BIG in Indianapolis Pt. 2

Super Eats in Indianapolis

_______________________________________

See ya next time @chibbqking