The Trojan Horse
100 E Kirkwood Ave
Bloomington, IN 47408
http://www.thetrojanhorse.com/

As I’ve mentioned before, I spend a lot of time in Bloomington.  This past winter, I was in Bloomington again for a basketball game and a friend talked me into visiting one of the longstanding traditional restaurants of the city:  The Trojan Horse.  Open since 1978, The Trojan Horse specializes in Greek food,as you could imagine from the name, and is a small, cramped place consisting of two floors and rundown furniture.  Once you walk in, you can clearly tell that not much has changed since opening and like most traditional college places, that is perfectly okay.  On my visit, I got one some of the traditional Greek fare, so here we go…

What I Got:  Super G, $8. 

From their menu, the Super G is described as “Our gyros sandwich with more meat, more veggies, and more Zaziki, but not more pita.”

As I hope my picture conveys above, this was not exactly a small sandwich and that’s what you’d expect from something with “Super” in the title.  As for the taste, the gyros meat was tender and had a slight peppery kick to it.  The veggies were as fresh as you could expect from winter produce and added a nice crunch and texture to the sandwich.  The pita was a little too pillowy for my liking as I prefer my pitas to have a slight crunch to them, but to each their own.  The Zaziki sauce was a bit too tame for me as I think it could have used a bit more zing since all it really did was add a “creamy” texture to the sandwich and not really all that much flavor.

Overall, this was a tasty gyros and one of the better ones that I have had “locally” (I’m counting Indianapolis area too).

Would I Buy It Again?  If I was in Bloomington again and ended up at The Trojan Horse, I absolutely would.  It’s not the type of thing I will go out of my way to get, but you certainly cannot go wrong by either being at The Trojan Horse or by ordering this sandwich.

-IndianapolisEater

Yogi’s Grill & Bar
519 E 10th St
Bloomington, IN 47408
http://www.yogis.com/

As if you haven’t been able to tell from the blog so far, several of us on this blog are graduates of Indiana University.  Since I am a graduate of that fine institution, I spend a lot of time in Bloomington supporting my alma mater by going to see football and basketball games. 

Due to this, I recently visited what I consider to  be one of the many Indiana University institutions (albeit not as old of one) on one of my recent trips there for a basketball game and since I hadn’t had a tenderloin in a while (and the menu is reduced prior to home basketball games), I figured I would give it a shot.

What I Got:  Breaded Tenderloin Sandwich, served with cole slaw and chips (I substituted tater tots for an addtional charge); around $8-$9.

This was your classic Indiana breaded tenderloin sandwich as it was way too big for the bun and if you can get that right, you are off to a good start.  If I had to guess though, I would say that they bring this in from off-site (or at least pre-prepare them and then freeze them) because it didn’t have that “hand-pounded on site” look to it.  If you’ve had as many tenderloins in your life as I have, you can just tell what that “look” is.  The breading was a little soggy too, so I’m guessing that they just defrost a bunch of these at the beginning of the night and throw them in the fryer to heat them up as the orders come in.  That’s too bad, but unfortunately, you are bound to run into that from time to time.

In terms of taste, it wasn’t bad.  Considering that I’m speculating that this was of the frozen variety, I would rate in the “above average” column when all things are considered.  In terms of fresh tenderloins, no way.  In terms of frozen tenderloins, it was not too shabby.  It was helped by the fact that the tenderloin, while slightly on the thin side (again, compared to fresh tenderloins) was juicy and the produce was fairly fresh for the time of year.  The bun was toasted, as I prefer it and while that may seem like a simple part of the sandwich, I’ve been to a lot of places that manage to screw that up.  The tater tots were crunchy too (also of the frozen from the bag variety too, I’m sure), so all in all, it wasn’t a bad meal.

Would I Buy It Again?  Sure.  I wouldn’t go out of the way for it and wouldn’t rate it as a “must have,” but overall, it was not a bad tenderloin and you wouldn’t be filled with regret if you ordered it.  Lord knows that I’ve certainly had worse.

As for Yogi’s in general, I would highly recommend it.  They have a nice restaurant area with a small bar and then they have another large, attached bar area that is filled with televisions.  It really is a great place to watch a game and with over one hundred different flavors of beer available (over forty of them on draft), you certainly aren’t going to go thirsty.  Ha!

-IndianapolisEater

Nick’s English Hut
423 East Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47408
http://www.nicksenglishhut.com

If you went to Indiana University like a lot of the writers on this blog, including me, you are familiar with Nick’s English Hut.  Opened in 1927, it’s probably the most famous bar in all of Bloomington.  The bar/restaurant is filled with old photos, trinkets, great memories and all sorts of other various nostalgia.  Nick’s is famous for many things, including a drinking game called Sink the Biz, their pizzas and their most famous sandwich (which I ordered)…

What I Got:  Half Traditional Stromboli, $6.95.  Served with sweet pickles.

As you can see in the picture above, Nick’s Stromboli is served on a toasted sub bun and includes sausage (served in very small crumbles), mozzarella cheese, onions and Nick’s pizza sauce.  A half Stromboli, like I got, is about six inches long and is piled high with a TON of toppings, especially sausage.  So much so that all the sausage falls out of the sandwich as you try to eat it and you end up having to finish all the sausage with a fork or if you don’t mind looking like a wild animal, your fingers.

As far as taste is concerned, it’s delicious.  Nick’s advertises this as pizza on a bun, and really, they aren’t lying.  The sausage has a slight kick and the sauce is rich and flavorful.  The sliced onions don’t do a lot for me, but they do add a nice flavor to the sandwich.  The only gripe, albeit a very minimal one, I have with the sandwich is that they don’t put a ton of sauce on it.  As a tomato sauce worshipper, having this thing doused in sauce would make it even better, but that’s more of a personal preference than something that is lacking from the sandwich.

The side of pickles (think bread and butter style pickles) are a nice compliment for those that like pickles, like I very much do.  I think you are supposed to pile them on your sandwich, but I just eat them individually like a wild animal and often times find myself taking the uneaten pickles from my friends sandwiches and devouring myself.  They are that good.

Would I Buy It Again?  Of course I would.  I’ve had this Stromboli so many times in my life that it is not even funny.  I will continue have it as my go-to order at Nick’s and honestly, I don’t know that I would ever consider ordering anything else.  Okay, maybe the pizza, but that’s about it.

So, if you are ever in Bloomington and are looking for some good food and nostalgia, give Nick’s and the Stromboli a try.  You will not regret it.

-IndianapolisEater

Lennie’s
1795 East 10^th 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

Left: Chicken Pesto - Right: BBQ Chicken

Uncle D’s New York Pizza
430 E. Kirkwood
Bloomington, IN
http://www.uncledsnewyorkpizza.com/

Uncle D’s First Review

As you can tell by the first review, I loved Uncle D’s.  I really like New York-style pizza by the slice.  I can always throw down a slice no matter what.  D’s is located between Kilroy’s and Nick’s in Bloomington (Go Hoosiers!)

On my revisit, I tried the Chicken Pesto and Chicken BBQ Pizza.   You get 2 slices and a drink for $6.00, so it was a good deal.   The Chicken Pesto was really good.  I added a little crushed red pepper because that is the way I roll.  There was a ton of cheese and plenty of toppings on this slice. I really thought that the quality of the mushrooms, cheese and chicken is a step above other chains. It was a really good slice of pie.

The BBQ Chicken didn’t have the magic of the pesto.  Don’t get me wrong, it was good, but overshadowed by the pesto.   I could have used a little more BBQ sauce and red onions, but that just might be my preference?

Would I Buy It Again?  Yes…easily.    I am leaving it on my Hall of Fame because I have had 5 slices of pie there and 4 of them were top shelf.  With any pizza place that carries 10+ pizzas, there are going to be ones that you like more than others and D’s is no exception to the rule.  It keeps the honor of the Hall of Fame because every trip I make to Bloomington, I am craving a slice to start or end my weekend with and I can’t explain why…maybe because it is good pizza, I like it better than Pizza Express and Avers. What I like the most is that D’s doesn’t try to be too fancy, but they have a lot of options outside of traditional pizza.  I really enjoy Uncle D’s and if you are in Bloomington, check it out.

-wibia

Restaurant Tallent
208 North Walnut
Bloomington, IN 47404
http://www.restauranttallent.com/

Bloomington is very different now than the one that I left in 2001.   There are two restaurants that are getting some press, Farm Bloomington and Tallent.   I went to Farm on my last trip and really enjoyed it.  Casual, fun and great food.

Tallent is a touch more formal, business casual attire and a more contemporary minimalist interior.   Ambiance was not aggressively artistic, if you like Crate and Barrel, you would feel comfortable here.

What I Ate:
First:
Moules Frites – Red Wine & Tarragon Broth $14
Casserole Trio – White Truffle Mac & Cheese, Sweet Potato Duck Confit, Broccoli Casserole

Entrée:
Long Farms Elk – Newsome Ham, Chestnut Grits, Mushroom Ragout $36
Indiana Duck – Sweet Potato & Duck Confit Gratin, Broccoli Rabe, Preserved Lemon Jus.

In the beginning:
Service was attentive at the start, reviewed the specials and I ordered a glass of wine.  Bread came and we scarfed it down.  The whipped butter was amazing.  Probably the best butter that I have had in a long time.   Bread and butter is usually a good indication of how the rest of the meal is going to go.    Amuse-bouche was a bacon doughnut.  Dry and bad.

Appetizers:
Moles Frites.  The Frites were great, but the mussles were just average.  The broth was a little heavy.  The taste came from the frites, it should be the other way around.  Casserole trio was hit and miss.  Mac and Cheese should’ve never left the kitchen, the sweet potato gratin was good.  The broccoli casserole was my favorite.

Entrees:
The Elk was recommended at medium rare.  I am usually a rare guy.  The elk was on the low side of rare, but I enjoyed it.  Very lean and flavorful.  What I didn’t like was the chestnut grits, bland and lacked flavor.  I can understand why they are on the plate to add a little fat and creamy goodness, but some flavor would’ve been nice.  The odd combination was ham and Elk on the same plate.  The ham was diced and chewy.  It took away from the elk in a major way.

The duck was solid.  Cooked well and flavorful.  The problem is, the sweet potato gratin was in the casserole trio and a side here as well.  Flavors were clean.

Ratings:

Taste: 30 points/ 4 Items = 7.5 Each
Moles Frites = 5/7.5
Casserole Trio = 4.5/7.5
Elk = 5/7.5
Lamb = 6/7.5
Total Taste = 20.5/30

Service/Management: 5/10
We noticed that tables around us received more visits and were catered to more.  I didn’t like my first wine selection and I asked for something else.  This should automatically come with a recommendation.  Instead I was just passed the wine list again.  We didn’t catch the gratin in the app and with the Lamb, but I think that the server should’ve mentioned it.  Sorry.  The meal was paced nicely.  I never thought “they are on it here…” as far as service.  It was average.

Originality/Execution: 8/10
Interesting menu and wine list.  There is a bar menu for half of the restaurant.  The burger looked great.  The menu changes often and you can have a completely different meal here at least 10 times a year.  However, the menu on the website was entirely different than the one presented to us at the restaurant.  There were a few items from the web that I really wanted to try.

Overall: 33.5/50

Would I Buy It Again? Yes. Great potential and originality. I left wanting bigger and cleaner favors.  The elk by itself was great, add ham and cheesy grits and it brought it down.  There were moments of greatness, but at times those wow moments were a little sparse.  I would give it another try because I left knowing they can do better.

-WIBIA

Uncle D’s New York Pizza
430 E. Kirkwood
Bloomington, IN
http://www.uncledsnewyorkpizza.com/

Pizza by the slice is sometimes an appetizer, a meal, a dessert and even a food night cap.  Today, it was my lunch.  I heard some good things about D’s, so let’s get it on.

What I Ate:  2 Slices.  Mushroom and Buffalo Chicken.   My wife had a chicken/garlic/tomato and cheese slice.  They had a special, 2 slices and a drink $6.00

The mushroom slice had white, portabella, cremini and shitake.  Mushrooms appeared to be sautéed and then put on the pizza.   It had great taste and texture and the mix of mushrooms added a complexity not found on a normal slice of ‘shroom.  This is a slice that a chef would make.

Buffalo Chicken stole the show.  If you are a pizza and wing junkie, then you met your fix.  Great flavor and the chicken was plentiful and fresh.  It tasted as if was grilled there that day (the slice on the right).

Chicken/garlic/tomato was solid as well.  If you like margarita pizza and would like to add meat without changing the flavor profile, then this is for you (the slice on the left).

Cheese is not a topping nor should it be on pizza by itself.  I am not going to review cheese pizza.  My wife loved it though.

Would I Buy It Again? Yes, easily.  I wish there was one in Indy as it would be the best NY Pizza by the slice in the city.  For $6, I was stuffed and I can eat a good amount of pizza.  Folks, without a doubt, this is the best pizza in Bloomington.

Highly Recommended and good enough to make the WIBIA Hall of Fame.

-WIBIA