Stone Creek Dining Company
4450 West Point Drive, Zionsville, IN 46077
http://www.stonecreekdining.com/zionsville/
There are four locations that are locally owned, do I call this a chain? Hmm…walking in and first impression, I really like the interior of this restaurant. Take a look at the pictures on the website, pretty nice really.
Stone Creek has an interesting niche. It is nicer than your neighborhood bar and grill chains (Applebee’s, Chili’s), not as nice as local/chain steakhouses and lacks the individuality of a chef owned restaurant. Think locally owned Cheesecake Factory without the huge portions.
It was lunch time, so…
Tuscan Rigatoni – $10.99
Italian Sausage, chicken, mushrooms & scallions, in a smoked gouda cream.
My wife hates alfredo or cream sauce of any sort so when I have pasta and I am out, I will usually get my fix. When the pasta arrived, my first thought was…that portion is a little small. I understand it is lunch, but at dinner the same dish is $13.99. When looking at the dish, it appeared to be under sauced (and I rarely say that). Also, a good amount of the rigatoni were broken. It looked like someone just threw this together…
It also tasted like someone threw this together. IMO, chicken and sausage rarely mix well and this still rang true on this dish. The little bit of chicken that was included was overcooked, mushrooms were sparse as well. The smoked gouda sauce was very rich and thick. I liked the taste of the sauce, but the consistency was too thick.
Would I Buy It Again? No. It has been about a year since I visited Stone Creek and I might wait that long again. My friend that joined me for lunch did not like her salmon salad and said that it was very salty. Based on portion size and quality of the food, I was disappointed.
I really really want to like Stone Creek, they have a beautiful restaurant, a good selection on the menu, good service, but for WIBIA, it is ALWAYS about the food. If Stone Creek would execute on the food and they would have a real winner. My last visit to sister restaurant Bolder Creek was good experience, so I know they have it in them.
Btw, what is a “Dining Company?” I still wonder what a “Spaghetti Factory” is. Funny names…
-wibia
Tags: Food, Pasta, Rigatoni, Stone Creek Dining Company
I’ve been to this place before and I couldn’t agree more. The food when I went was just bland and while the prices are okay, I just don’t want to pay for something that lacks any sort of flavor or panache. I definitely won’t be going here anytime soon or maybe even ever again.
Looks nice but I’d probably want a bigger portion. That’s what bugs me about fancy places. I’m an American dammit….I overeat.
Also…$10.99!!! That looks like it’s fit for a 6yr old. I hope you got some free salad and breadsticks with it…hehe.
I also agree fully. I live a couple of miles from the Zionsville Stone Creek and it is very family friendly so we head there with the kids once every 6 weeks or so. It is always the same. Average food with a occasional winner and unfortunately a more frequent miss. I really want this place to be better for the reasons you mention, but since I have been going since the day it opened and nothing has changed, I don’t think they have it in them.
I’ve got two lists of restaurants, “don’t miss” and “miss”.
This shall stay on my “miss” list.
Well, I have to offer up a contrary opinion. Although I’ve never eaten at the Zionsville location, I’ve been to the one in Greenwood ~10 times. Also, never for lunch – only dinner. But each time I’ve been quite satisfied with the quality of the food, service, atmosphere and value. Maybe there’s a noticeable difference between the two locations?
The portion size looks fine for a lunch meal – but you are certainly over paying at $11. That is ridiculous.
@ Skippy… I should’ve put something to compare the dish too, don’t let the plates fool you, this was a kids meal (thanks Ryan)…maybe a fat kid!
@andy, Not sure. Z-ville Stone Creek is the only one that I have tried.
Greenwood’s location must be an outlier because I’ve only been to the Noblesville one and I had the same experience as WIBIA.
I’ve been to the Zionsville location many times and also the location in Westchester, OH as recently as last month. I’ve always had an good experience. I’ve been with many friends and family and I don’t remember anyone being disappointed. The goat cheese, chicken or pork salads are great, the dipping oil for the bread is very different and delicious, the shrimp pasta is light and wonderful, and I know my husband enjoys the campfire pasta. I’ve lived in San Francisco, San Diego, Dallas, and Switzerland, cook a lot at home (most recently Ethiopian cuisine) and consider myself a foodie. I’m not saying it’s the best restaurant in town, but I certainly enjoy going. Stone Creek is definitely worth another try.
You’ve hit it on target about this chain. I want to like it too but the food just a massive miss.