Edwards Drive-In
2126 S. Sherman Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46203
http://www.edwardsdrivein.com

I think this place is sort of a local legend.  What the hell do I know?  I’ve only been here 2.5 years.  But it has that look, it has that feel and its location in a semi-sketchy area that looks like it could have been the hot cruising area forty years ago gives me that impression.  In fact Edwards’ hosts a cruise-in every Saturday night during the summer.  When we walked in, the joint was packed.  Families, old-timers, church groups, just friggin’ packed.  My expectations were high.  There was a sign that said the dude from Man v. Food had been there to eat a tenderloin or something, so it’s got to be good right?

What I Ate:  Big E Burger with a basket of breaded and fried mushrooms and a small cup of Cole slaw. The Burger is $3.49 but you get knocked $0.29 each for lettuce, tomato and cheese. 

Even with those add-ons, less than $4.50 for a 1/3 pound burger is still very reasonable.  The burger was, well, less than memorable.  I can’t name one thing that stands out.  It was okay.  It seemed to be one of those institutional formed beef patties with a smattering of lettuce, a single slice of tasteless tomato and a slice of American cheese.  I drenched the thing in ketchup, ate it and immediately forgot it. 

The Cole Slaw was okay, and again, nothing outstanding.  A food service item scooped out of a five gallon bucket. 

The mushrooms were the saving grace.  While they were not house-made, they were perfectly fried, golden brown and delicious.  I’m a sucker for these things.  The breadcrumb crust was industrial strength and crunchy.  When breached molten lava hot juice erupted and burnt the crap out of my mouth.  Oh yeah, love that.  I dipped these in ketchup too.  Yeah I know I’m a deviant bastard.

Would I Buy It Again?  Nah.  I probably drove by ten places with better burgers on the way to Edwards, which incidentally, is not exactly conveniently located near my home.  This meal was really a physiological transaction; I was hungry and needed food.  Edwards provided the calories and not much else.  Too bad.

-Smokin DB

New Bethel Ordinary
8838 Southeastern Avenue
Indianapolis (Wannamaker), Indiana  46259
http://www.nbopizza.net

New Bethel Ordinary.  Interesting name.  I’m sure there is a story there and I vaguely recall reading something about it on the menu, but I don’t have a clear recollection so let’s get to the food.

What I Ate:  Open Faced Manhattan; $9.95.  You can order this with either beef or turkey and I had the beef. 

This is one of those meals that I don’t eat often but sometimes I see it on a menu and it just hits me that I have to have it.  When done well, it can be a wholly satisfying experience.  This was not one of those times.  The menu states that the beef is “Fresh Sliced.”  I’d be surprised if that was the case as it appeared to be the same type of “Beef” that is low deli grade.   Essentially, it was chopped beef slurry that was poured into a bag and baked.  Think Arby’s, but not as tasty.  Sometimes this dish can be rescued by the star of the show that is the gravy.  Unfortunately this gravy had just one flavor profile:  salt.  The potatoes were stiff and passable but this was truly a disappointment.  If not for the incredibly hot waitress, this would have been the most disappointing meal in a long time for me.  By the way, I’m talking, “What are you doing in Wanamaker hot.”

Would I Buy It Again?  Nope.  NBO, as the place likes to refer to itself, boasts about its pizza quite a bit and I’ve had it.  That’s why I went with the Beef Manhattan on this most recent visit.  When I drive by NBO at lunch time during the week or evenings on the weekend it seems to be packed.  What the hell am I missing?  I keep thinking that there must be something on the menu that is insanely good to bring the crowds.  It’s nearly driving me to distraction.  The truth most likely is that there just isn’t much in term of competition nearby.  Whatever the case, I’m thinking one more try…

-SmokinDB

Jarrety’s Place
701 Main Street
Rochester, IN 46975
574-223-7101
http://www.jarretysplace.com

My wife is from Rochester, Indiana which is just about two hours north of Indy on US 31.  Since her parents still live there, we spend a fair amount of time in this small farming community.  Rochester sits on the banks of Lake Manitou, so there are a good number of out-of-town folks hitting the area for the summer.  Typically small towns that have this sort of influx seem to have a higher level of shopping and dining options than you would find if the lake were just another bean or corn field.  Rochester fits this bill.  It’s no metropolis, but Jarrety’s supplies the out of the ordinary coffees, sandwiches and desserts for Rochester.  The place has a small-town Gourmet vibe if that makes any sense at all.

What I Got:  Rustic Italian Panini. 

All the usual suspects on here:  Ham, Salami, Mozzarella, Tomato, Red Onion, Black Olives, Lettuce and Pepperoncini piled on Ciabatta that has been grilled in a sandwich press, so this is just a really good sandwich.  There’s no re-inventing the wheel here as it is just a group of good quality ingredients assembled with care and executed flawlessly.  The Ciabatta is fresh and I think is made in-house.  The sauce seems to be an oil and vinegar combo with perhaps some Italian seasoning and maybe a blast of Balsamic.  It brings just the right moisture and brightness to the sandwich and gives you a bit of relief from the relentlessly crunchy Ciabatta crust.

Would I Buy It Again? Yep.  This sandwich comes with a pickle and chips and will set you back just $7.95.  That’s a lot of food for just $8.00 bucks and a good deal I think even in a small town.  Anywhere in the greater Indianapolis Metroplex, this is a $10.95 or more meal.  Also, take note that like my brethren here at Would I Buy It Again, I am a big eater.  The photo is of a HALF sandwich which is what I usually order at Jarrety’s.  The whole sandwich takes me dangerously close to a food coma which I really try to avoid, particularly at lunch.

-Smokin DB

Brozinni Pizzeria
8810 S. Emerson
Greenwood, IN 46237
317-865-0911
http://www.Brozinni.net

I have been trying to get WIBIA for months to come on down to the southside and have a slice at Brozinni.  He hasn’t made it quite yet.  I wanted him to review the place because he has eaten a ton more pizza in Indy than I have, but I just couldn’t wait any longer to declare this the BEST Pizza in Indianapolis!  Think you have a better place?  I doubt it.  I know my sample size is relatively small, but I don’t think there could possibly be better New York-style pie in town.

Since I am from South Bend, the pizza that I grew up on was influenced by Chicago style; lots of big buttery crust and loads of toppings.  Or the hybrid hand-tossed crust of the legendary Bruno’s.  I didn’t’ become a fan of the thin crust New York style until just the past ten years or so when work obligations took me to NYC and I sampled the real stuff.

Brozinni isn’t just the real deal, it’s better than a lot of pizza that you will get in NYC thanks to the attention to detail.

What I had:  A slice of the “Canal Street” which is sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, black olives, onion and green peppers.  The menu doesn’t mention the eye of newt and fairy dust but I’m sure it’s on there because this pizza is magical.  A huge slice of crispy thin crust just begging to be folded over and devoured.  Yep, that’s a bite mission in the photo.  I couldn’t control myself.  More about that crust:  under a think carpet of toppings it has wonderful flavor with just the right amount of tangy tomato sauce.  No need to stuff the crust with cheese or smoother it in butter in order to make it edible.  This is crust so good it won’t be sitting abandoned on the plate while you grab the next slice as is the case with most pizza.

A word about toppings.  At Brozinni the vegetable toppings are all prepared in a small dice so that when they hit the pizza they seem to be more uniformly spread about the crust.  Even the pepperoni and sausage are on the smaller bite-size.  I like this.  A lot.  You’re going to get a blast of flavor from all of the elements of the pizza when you take a bite. 

Would I Buy It Again?  Everyday, all day. 

Two “Canal Street” slices, a cheese slice and two drinks for less than $15.00 and my wife, daughter and I walked out stuffed.  Truly excellent pizza and a great deal.

If you have a real hunger, I highly recommend the “Knuckles” appetizer.  Essentially they take a small rope of that wonderful pizza dough, tie it into a knot, bake ‘em and then smoother them in garlic butter.  What’s not to like?  I do try to limit myself on these since the term “Heart Attack on a Plate” comes to mind with every bite.

A couple of things to consider:  One, in general I think NY Style pizza doesn’t lend itself well to carry-out.  To me the thin crust is really susceptible to moisture and gets soggy during travel.  So I always eat in or better yet, hit Brozinni at lunch when I can order just a slice and get it hot and crispy.

Which leads me to my second point; this place is small.  They do have a guy at lunch bussing tables like a mad-man and he is really cool, but you may have to wait a few minutes particularly at lunch for table.  I do notice that Brozinni now has a location just two doors away from the eat-in joint that is carry-out only.  So they must be doing a good carry-out trade.

-Smokin DB

Buffalo Wild Wings
1077 N. Emerson
Greenwood, IN 46143
http://www.buffalowildwings.com

Back in the day, I used to eat a ton of wings.  Then I ate 42 atomic wings in a competition with my best friend and spent the night in the ER with a hole burned in my stomach lining.  Now, I don’t eat them that much.  But I had a craving last week and since I haven’t been to a Buffalo Wild Wings since moving back to Indiana three years ago, I thought I’d give them a try. 

What I Got:  Eight Boneless Wings and a Diet Pepsi. 

I know, I know, why the diet with what is basically a calorie-bomb?  I happen to like Diet Pepsi and this was lunch so beer wasn’t an option.    I ordered four wings with Spicy Garlic sauce and four wings (nuggets really) with “Hot” sauce.  The server told me that they require an order of at least 12 wings to split the sauce.  WTF?  Furthermore, she told me that “Everyone complains about that.”  Good reason to ditch that policy.  The wings were good, well-cooked and the Spicy Garlic really is a great sauce.  A good amount of heat with a deeper level of flavor from the garlic, so very nice.  The accompanying ranch dressing was fine, sort of gloppy and not a ton of herbaceous flavor but okay.  I had to ask a couple of times for my celery but whatever.

Would I Buy It Again?  Not a chance in hell.  Here’s why: $12.00 with tip.  I was pissed and hungry when I left this place.  Buffalo Wild Wings has completely gone off the rails.  The prices are crazy, the menu is a mish-mash of crap that makes no sense whatsoever and once I walked in and smelled the familiar odor of stale beer and other “stuff,” I recalled why I haven’t been to one in three years.

Wings Etc. has a much better wing, good sauce, a truly great chicken breast sandwich and is far more reasonable.

-Smokin DB

Fireside Brewhouse
997 East County Line Road
Greenwood, IN 46143
317-859-9505
http://www.firesidebrewhouse.com

Fireside is located in a little vortex of good chow what with Brozinni Pizza and India Diner just across the street and Sammy’s Pizza in the same strip mall at the corner of S. Emerson and County Line Road.  Fireside takes its name from the three fire-pits on the outdoor patio as well as the fireplace located inside.  The decor is pretty cool and definitely feels upscale.  There is a huge bar with lots of seating and a separate family dining area and banquet space.  After 10:00 p.m. the entire restaurant is 21 and over only.  I’ve been here several times since the opening while the menu has seen some alterations, they finally seemed to have found their niche.  With a glasswalled “Show” kitchen, this is a locally owned restaurant where food is taken seriously.

What I Got: We started with the M-80’s which is a paper cone filled with extraordinary lightly breaded domestic shrimp fried perfectly and tossed with a sweet chili-garlic sauce.  As I looked around the room, nearly every table had a serving of these and there is good reason why:  they rock.  I’ve seen this appetizer in other restaurants but I’ve never had them better prepared.  On a bed of cool, crunchy cabbage, my wife and engaged in a chop-stick war over the last shrimp.  Really good.

The menu has everything from soups and salads to sandwiches, burgers, steaks and a decent BBQ pizza.  On this visit, I was feeling cheeseburger-y so I had the “Cool Hand Luke” which is essentially a patty melt.  The Fireside version differs from others in that it includes a fried egg on top.  I passed on the fried egg this time.  Served on marble rye with Swiss cheese, Thousand Island dressing and grilled onions, this big (Was it 1/3 of a pound?  I’m not sure) burger was fantastic.  It was cooked to my liking at medium, just slightly pink. Yeah, I know you are supposed to only eat ground beef well-done.  Well I like it when places ask me how I want my burger done and then actually cook it that way.  (I’m looking at you Red Robin)  I could go all, “grind your own beef like I do and you don’t have to worry about cross contamination on you,”  but I won’t.   I’m not sure how they season this burger but it really tastes good.  I’m not talking about the condiments, I mean the beef itself.  Let me get technical here for a moment:  it tastes BEEFY.  Yep, I’m a carnivore.

The fries were good too.  Better than average but not really the star on this plate.

If I were to complain about something and this is sort of petty, but it’s the presentation.  Look at the picture and the plate is not that appealing.  When you walk into a restaurant that has so clearly put a lot of thought and money into the visual experience, you just expect the presentation to match.  How about a lettuce cup for the fries or something?

Would I Buy It Again? Yes. This is just really good solid food in a really nice setting.

-Smokin DB

BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse
1231 US 31 North
Greenwood, IN 46142
317-881-3500
http://www.bjsbrewhouse.com/

Actually attached to Greenwood Park Mall this chain outfit started out in SoCal as a Chicago style pizza joint presumably to satisfy the cravings of ex-pat Midwesterners.  It has now morphed into much more.  The pizza is still on the menu but so are a host of other dishes.  The menu is not as complex as Cheesecake Factory, but it is still pretty thick.  As an added bonus, they have some really good beer.  Although not brewed on-site, there is a great list of craft beers from Blondes to Reds, Porters and Stouts.  There are eight beers that are always available along with a couple of seasonal additions.  The staff explained to me that this particular location simply did not have room for the brew equipment.  So, the BJ’s branded brew is shipped in from another location.

What I Got: With a menu that looks like the phone book for a small town, making a selection can be tough.  For whatever reason, I was hooked by the Fish and Chips.  I guess it was Ash Wednesday so that had something to do with my selection.

Big planks of Pacific Cod breaded and deep fried utilizing BJ’s Blonde in the batter along with thinly cut French Fries.  Yes, this might sound like a bit of grease overload, but honestly, this was awesome stuff.  Neither the fish nor the fries were the least bit greasy.  Fried foods don’t necessarily have to be greasy.  Proper oil temperature and good batter results in good food.   The batter was crunchy and had the slightest hint of beer flavor, which is always a good thing in my book.  With a splash of Malt Vinegar the perfectly cooked large flakes of Cod were shoveled down in no time.  The fries were good too but really the fish was the star of this show, ah, I mean plate.

Would I Buy It Again?  You bet! This wasn’t cheap.  It was $11.25 for the fish in chips plus the beers and app and my bill was over $20.00 per person.   But, this wasn’t the fish and chips that your average Knights of Columbus is frying up on Fridays this time of year.

-Smokin DB

GUSTO!
7153 Southeastern Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46239
317-356-5113
http://www.Gustoindy.com

When a restaurant moves from Fountain Square to Franklin Township it seems odd.  I had not been to the Gusto! location in Fountain Square but take a look at the photo and you have to wonder how this sad, windowless building in a shady looking strip mall could be thought of as a positive move.  That being said, I’m here to review the chow, not the business acumen of the owner.  Since this is relatively close to my home and provides a new, allegedly tasty dining option for me and my south-side brethren, it’s all good.  Or not.

What I had: With my wife and four year old daughter, we stopped in for dinner on a Friday night.  Only a couple of tables occupied in a room that despite some obviously fresh paint looked as it could have been Mr. Brady’s basement.  Very 1970’s.   We ordered a small cheese pizza (8” $5.99) for my daughter, breadsticks ($4.99) and “The Works” (16” $17.99) for us.  The place started to fill up and the single server was absolutely running her tail off.  Not only taking care of the dining room but also the phone and carry-out orders.  We asked that the cheese pizza arrive with the breadsticks and they did.  It was cheese pizza, whatever.  The breadsticks were the type that is simply pizza crust cut into strips, not the hand- rolled variety noted on the menu.  They were flat out terrible.  So dry they seemed to suck the moisture out of my fingers when I picked them up.  Lots of tasteless herbs and spices scattered on top as well.

Thirty minutes later the server informs us that the oven “Flared-up” and burned our pizza.  A new one has been made and will be out immediately.  For our trouble we are offered a 10% credit to our bill.  I’m not happy but I am still hungry.  Apparently “will be out immediately” means 30 minutes later at Gusto!   By the time our pizza arrived it was very late, we had been at the table for 90 minutes and we had to go.  So I had the pie boxed and carried out.  Once we got home, still hungry of course, the dagger.  This pizza was absolutely raw and doughy in the middle.  Are you friggin’ kidding me?

Would I Buy It Again?  No! In my many years of eating in thousands of places, there is just a handful that I wouldn’t give a second try.  The server at Gusto! is the only reason that I would be tempted but nope, never going back.

To be fair, I called the restaurant and in a calm, polite manner told them exactly what I wrote above.  The server answered the phone (Of course she did!) and she apologized.  Still not going back.

-Smokin DB