Lennie’s
1795 East 10th St.
Bloomington, IN 47408
http://www.lenniesgourmetpizza.com/
Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bloomington-IN/Lennies/156042808737?ref=sgm
If you live in Bloomington, are an IU student or alum, you have probably been to Lennie’s. Located across from the Ashton Dormitory that is being completely rebuilt, it is a meeting place for family, friends and professors in the heart of the Indiana University campus. Lennie’s is one of the many countless restaurants in Bloomington that adds to making it one of the greatest college towns in the United States. Recently, I had a chance to visit Lennie’s to see how little things had changed since I graduated from IU eleven years ago.
What I Got:
Drink: Vision Weiss (Imperial Pint 22oz. $4.75). Lennie’s and the Bloomington Brewing Company are owned by the same owner and the beer selection adds to make the Lennie’s experience even more unique. The Vision Weiss is a summer ale with a banana, clove and vanilla flavor. You may be thinking it sounds weak, but it provides a lite summer taste with punch and comes highly recommended. For only $9.75, you can order the half gallon Growler unique to Lennie’s and the Bloomington Brewing Company. IU was not named the #1 party school for nothing.
Roasted Garlic Focaccia ($6.50): The focaccia is homemade and is baked with garlic, rosemary, caramelized onions and kosher salt. It is served with marinara sauce, a roasted garlic bulb that is so soft that you can smear it across the top of the bread and some extra virgin olive oil to top it off. It’s a great appetizer for four people to split and share at the table.
Stromboli: ($10.25): There are five different versions you can order, but I went with the Supreme including Italian sausage, pepperoni, green pepper, white onions and mushrooms. I am not sure why it is called a Stromboli because it is constructed as a calzone. The “Stromboli” was baked to perfection and I enjoyed the pocket it created to hold all of the filling. Unfortunately, it was a bit dry and needed some cheese. Although I still enjoyed it, I was disappointed in the fact that I was looking forward to a true Stromboli and not a calzone.
Mushroom & Chicken Tortellini ($15.00): This dish is extremely rich with the cheese filled tortellini and alfredo spinach sauce mixed with fresh mushrooms and a herb roasted chicken that was tender and retained its seasoning through the richness of the dish. It is baked and the cheese on the top creates a crust that tops the dish off. A great choice for a main course and you will get two meals out of this $15 portion.
Would I Buy It Again? Yes, 100%. I have only nominated one restaurant, another Bloomington favorite, Dagwood’s Sub Shop for the WIBIA Hall of Fame and Lennie’s comes close to earning a nomination. Everything I have had there I would buy again, including some of their salads and excellent pizzas that I did not review. Saving room for their homemade dessert is a must and I just did not have the room this time.
I like my coffee strong and Lennie’s delivers a stout tall cup of Joe that goes well with any of their desserts, making Lennie’s a meeting place for many student groups and professors. Service is usually excellent provided by some of IU’s best students. Lennie’s is small and long waits can occur during peak meal times.
If you are visiting Bloomington, want to support local business and are having a difficult time choosing a place to eat, Lennie’s has a little bit of everything for everyone.
-EatHSE
Tags: beer, bloomington, calzone, Food, indiana university, lennie's, stromboli, tortellini
I discovered Lennie’s early in my freshman year when I walked there from Forrest dorm with some of my friends. It’s a place I still enjoy going every time I’m back in town. I will have to try that tortellini next time I’m there. I’ve always been a sucker for their stromboli every time before.
I’m from Amherst Mass. which is the BEST college town, but B-town is a close second. I was wondering what the best pizza is there — I’ve been pretty underwhelmed with the pie there where I find myself in Bloomington… (oh, and don’t get me started on the fact that you can’t buy beer on Sunday…)
Oh, but now you can buy beer on Sunday – since July 4th the law allows microbreweries to sell in Indiana: six-packs, growlers, half-growlers and half barrels with a limit of 576 ounces per person – that would be equivilent of 2 cases of beer. So next time you’re heading here you can celebrate! It is a truly wonderful thing.
For a truly excellent pizza experience may I humbly suggest the Sicilian pizza – Cappocolla, fontina, fresh basil and button mushrooms with white sauce. And if you have never tried it, the Shrimp & Blue Crab Dip appetizer is seriously rich, complex, fresh and wonderful. Blue crab and shrimp baked with artichoke hearts, green onions, lemon and romano. Served with house made crisp flatbread. TDF. Lennie’s is not only a great student hangout, but us townies love it as well. One of my favorites in B-town.
LOVE their white pizzas! We usually will do a build your own with sausage, roasted peppers, and their marinated onions. Fabulous!
I absolutely loved this place when I was at IU and tried to go at least every other week. The one summer that I spent in Bloomington for summer school, I went at least once a week.
Just thinking about their spaghetti and meatballs is making me hungry right now.
IU the number one party school? No, man, you’ve been usurped:
http://www.ajc.com/news/uga-named-the-nations-583411.html
GLORY GLORY TO OLD GEORGIA*
*I don’t even go to UGA; I go to its “we have football too! We can party too! We’re smart too!” younger cousin Georgia State