Review: Augustino’s Italian
Author: Smokin DB | Filed under: Food Reviews, Location: Indianapolis, IN
Review: Augustino’s
8028 South Emerson Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46237
http://www.augustinosindy.com
Italian food. What’s not to like? Sure there are tons of red-sauce emporiums around but there are also the more adventurous places that can take the world’s second most influential cuisine (Yeah, France at least you are number one at something other than being annoying) to new heights. I’m easy; I like ‘em both. Honestly it’s going to take a couple more visits for me to tell you with any certainty where Augustino’s fits. I’ve had a few of my south-side brethren speak highly of the place so I decided to give it a try for lunch. The décor is very comfortable and actually felt more fine-dining than strip-mall storefront.
What I had: I read in Indianapolis Monthly that the Italian wedding soup was good so I started with that and shared the Toasted Ravioli appetizer with my wife.
Before I get to those I have got to say something about the bread basket delivered to our table. It was fantastic. Hot and crusty with just the right amount of reluctance before giving way to reveal a wonderful spongy interior. A slather of butter and I was very happy. The Toasted Ravioli arrived and the too uniform appearance leads me to believe that they are not house-made and rather than toasted in a pan, I’m guessing deep fried. Nonetheless, they were tasty, half with a beef filling and half with cheese., served with Alfredo and Marina served with a swirl in the same bowl for dipping. Nice.
A cup of wedding soup was next. My wife is a former regional manager for a high-end food manufacturer and one of the best things they made was Italian Wedding soup. I think that Augustino’s is buying this soup. It was good but again, I just didn’t think it was house-made.
For my entree, I ordered the “Supreme Sausage Sandwich.” If you’ve read more than just a couple of my reviews you know that I am a sausage junkie (Yeah, I just wrote that). This really is a knife and fork sandwich for a couple reasons: first, it is piled with sliced sausage coins, peppers, onions and cheese on that awesome bread and is just impossible to pick up and second, it was as hot as the face of the sun. It was also really good. I could have used a bit more sausage but that’s just me. The pepper/onion mix tasted as if it was simmered in the generous marinara giving it a nice spicy bite. Did I mention this was really good?
Would I Buy It Again? Sure. The food was really well prepared, attention to detail was evident and it tasted good. I do want to return for dinner so that I can see what else this kitchen can do. I can’t remember what I paid for it but it was worth it so who cares?
-Smokin DB
Tags: alfredo, augustino's, bread, Food, Italian, marinara, Pasta, ravioli, sausage
I absolutely LOVE this place, but live on the northside so I don’t make it down there much. I ventured out there initially for lasagna based on a picture I saw in the star, and it was fantastic (it tasted as I imagined it would, based on the picture). This is easily my favorite lasagna in Indianapolis. When driving back from Kentucky I make a point of phoning in an order and picking it up to bring home. I recall it being very reasonably priced as well.
You’ve expressed several times in this article that some of the items might not be “house-made.” If the food was good, please explain why it matters whether or not it was made at that restaurant?
Lauren, thanks for reading the blog. Good question. I have two reasons for noting that the items were not house-made; First, the website and menu of the restaurant trumpet, “Chef driven” cooking using the finest ingredients. Buying soup in a bag and adding water, in my opinon does not fit this ethos. Second, while I don’t have a huge bias against chain restaurants, I do hold a localy owned restaurant to a higher standard. In this environment there just has to be a good reason to go to one over the chains and scratch cooking is typically that reason. From a bit higher altitude, while I thought the food was good, that doesn’t mean it couldn’t have been better. Next time I’ll do a better job of explaining that comment. Thanks again.
Thank you for clarifying. I really enjoy this blog and turn to it often when I plan to eat out. Your efforts are very appreciated!
It’s been at least a year since I last visited Augustino’s. Like you, I found reason to suspect that the toasted ravioli was not house made. On my visit, my suspicions were aroused because the ravioli were delivered to our table still frozen. And no, I don’t mean they were not hot enough, but rather, they were frozen solid. Someone forgot to cook them.