Super 46 Sandwich and Brat Contest (renamed)

The winner was announced today and guess what?! It is NOT EVEN A F*CKING SANDWICH!!??

First, a tenderloin should’ve won, even though the selection of tenderloins from the list are some of the worst in the state.

Second, a sandwich should’ve won.

I will admit, I would put that pretzel-brat thingy straight to the face, it doesn’t look half bad.  It is not a sandwich though.

I give up.

-wibia

Arby’s
http://www.arbys.com

I’ll be the first to admit that I am no fan of Arby’s.  It used to be my favorite fast food joint, but when the prices kept increasing and the food quality went down, I stopped going.  I must be a glutton for punishment, because on a recent weekend, I decided to hit Arby’s for the first time in over two years for lunch since I saw that they are now offering a limited time offering sandwich called the “Super Reuben.”  Their advertising campaign boasts their food is “Good Mood Food,” so I was daring enough to see if I would feel that way after I ate.

What I Got:  Super Reuben Combo; $7.99 + tax.

I’m too lazy to type out a physical description of this myself, so because of that, I’ll let Arby’s do it for me:  ”So how do you make a Reuben super? Well, take warm toasty rye bread, pile on thinly sliced corned beef, melted natural Swiss and tangy Sauerkraut with creamy Thousand Island dressing – then add turkey for a double dose of delicious! Now that’s Super.”

Wow, they’ve decided themselves to dub this one as super.  Well, I’m not so sure about that because there was nothing super about this sandwich.  The turkey, while plentifully placed on the sandwich, was nothing special and was just run-of-the-mill.  The corned beef, while also plentiful, was dry and very bland.  The sauerkraut was messy and lacked the tang of a well made sauerkraut and frankly, I’ve had sauerkraut out of a can that was better than this.  As for the “toasty” marble rye bread, well that was a bit of a fabrication too because when you mix in the minimally applied Thousand Island dressing to all the other ingredients, the bread turns soggy and loses all the crunch that you would expect in a nice, toasty Reuben sandwich.  Oh yeah, the cheese…well, it was so unnoticeable that I forgot it was even on there until I just re-read the description.

Would I Buy It Again?  No, absolutely not.  Sandwiches that are failures like this remind me why I stopped going to Arby’s.  It was boring, essentially flavorless and not only that, it was a rip off!  $7.99 for the combo and all I got was this piece of garbage, a drink and some fries.  Ugh.  Oh well, I’m glad I did this though because I’ll now know to not go to Arby’s again for another two years.  What a failure and this is definitely not good mood food.

-IndianpolisEater

Firehouse Subs
http://www.firehousesubs.com/

I have heard a lot of good things about Firehouse Subs from readers on the blog and general buzz around town once it opened.   I hate most chain subs as they mostly have low quality meat and very little of it as well.   I was running short on time and grabbed this one in Atlanta, GA.   IndianapolisEater had the Italian Sub and seemed to like it quite a bit.  I thought that I would be crazy and…try the exact same thing.

What I Ate:  The Italian Sub.  Drinks and chips brought the combo around $8.50.

Geona salami, pepperoni, ham, melted provolone, Italian dressing and seasoning.  I took a look under the hood and I thought that the bread to meat ratio was pretty fair for a chain.  Quality of the ingredients was decent.  For as many salty meats that were on the sub, this wasn’t very salty.   I really didn’t like the Italian Dressing.  I far prefer oil and vinegar.  It tasted cheap, which was a shame.   With 2430mg of sodium, you would think it would taste salty.  Yes, that is more than two Big Macs of salt.  Yikes.

Would I Buy It Again?  No to the Italain.  Firehouse, probably.   I didn’t love this sandwich.  All of you know that I can’t stand Subway and this was surely better than that.   If I had $8 for a sub, I would probably pick Firehouse over Jimmy John’s, but Jason’s Deli would probably get my business for the chain sub market.  Plus, this sandwich is horrible for you packing in 910 calories and 57g of fat.

-wibia

The Local Eatery and Pub
14655 North Gray Road
Westfield, Indiana  46062
http://www.localeateryandpub.com/

Since moving to Westfield earlier this year, The Local Eatery and Pub has at the top of my review wishlist.  The “slow food” concept isn’t a new thing by any means, but there are very few places that can claim to use local ingredients in the chain-heavy northern suburbs.  The Local proudly displays the names of the farms that are currently supplying their kitchen.  The dining room is a welcoming mix of “cheery feminine” meets “vintage industrial.”  The atmosphere is a little bit more upscale than the prices would suggest, but it wasn’t too stuffy for a casual dinner.

What I Got:  The Local “Cheesesteak” with fries; $10.00.

I already knew that I wanted to try The Local’s spin on a cheesesteak even before taking my seat.  Braised beef tongue, fig mostarda, caramelized onions and swiss cheese – sounds fun right?!  Upon entering the restaurant, I was greeted by a former chef colleague of mine (who now works at The Local!) and he highly recommended that I try the beef tongue.  My order was now cast in stone…

I’m not really sure if tongue would be considered “Offal,” but I’m not ashamed to admit that my Midwestern palette is almost entirely unaccustomed to anything veering from the carnivorous norm.  Thankfully, this braised beef tongue tastes surprisingly familiar.  Imagine a really beefy, almost gamey pot roast and you’d be pretty close.  My only gripe, however, is that several of the pieces in my sandwich appeared…well, I’ll use the word “anatomical” for lack of a better descriptor.  Most of the meat was braised and shredded, but a few chunks were very recognizable… tastebuds and all.  At no point did the texture cause a problem; it was always tender.  I just could’ve stood to have the pieces cut up a little more to disguise their source.  The fig mostarda was like a chunky fig compote with a little mustard kick.  The caramelized onions continued the sweet theme, but the swiss leveled everything out.  This was a very unique combination of ingredients for a sandwich that tasted as familiar as any steak sandwich I’ve had before.  I chose fries for my side and could easily rank them as some of the best I’ve had in Indianapolis.

The rest of the meal was great.  I chose an excellent Sun King beer that arrived in a Ball jar.  My wife had the pulled pork sandwich and seemed to really enjoy it.  The slaw was vinegar-based and very crunchy, which provided a nice counterpoint to the tender pork.  Her tater-tots we clearly from a bag, but they seemed better than I remember from my elementary school days.  We rarely partake of dessert when we dine out, but the dessert chalkboard got the best of us.  We tried the goat cheese cheesecake and the flourless chocolate torte.  Both desserts were excellent, but I took a liking to the “farmy tang” present in cheesecake.  The chocolate torte was very cold and probably would’ve been better served closer to room temperature.  It took on the consistency of cold fudge with a crust… I cleared both plates so I can’t really complain.

Would I Buy it Again?  Yes, definitely.  I must admit, I am more likely to overlook imperfections at a place like this.  I love the concept of stressing local produce and seasonal goodness.  I love it so much that I would probably forgive mistakes or minor issues just to avoid eating at a mass-produced chain restaurant.  I was extremely happy with my meal at The Local and I’m willing to bet that you will enjoy it too, but I might also have a bit of a bias.  I’ve officially given you a fair warning.

-Indy Food Geek

Jimmy B’s Eatery & Pub
10598 North College Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46280
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jimmy-Bs-Pub/149395358345?sk=info

I have mad respect for our friend, The Tenderloin Connoisseur.  One of his favorite tenderloins, if not his favorite, is the tenderloin at Jimmy B’s.  So, I had to give it a try for the Tenderloin of the Month segment.  Jimmy B’s is like every other somewhat dive-y strip mall bar.  I stopped by at lunch and it was a little smoky, but it didn’t bother me after the first minute or two.

What I Ate:  Breaded Pork Tenderloin with fries (add $1).  Don’t quote me, but it was around $8. 

It arrived and it surely looked good.  The bun didn’t look as toasted as I like it, but the tenderloin itself looked great.   Well, it didn’t disappoint.   The thickness was perfect, the bread-to-meat ratio was perfect as well.  The breading was not softer, not really crunchy or crispy.  There was no gristle to be found.  Plus, it was flippin huge!  I skipped dinner that night.

My only complaint about the meat is that it could’ve used a little more seasoning (read: salt).  The rest of the sandwich was nothing special, but the tenderloin itself was so good, that it didn’t need to be.  Fries were straight out of the bag, so nothing to talk about there either.  Service was friendly and attentive.

Would I Buy It Again?  Yes, easily.   One of the better tenderloins in the city.  I would not pick a fight with anyone that told me that this is the best tenderloin that they have had.    I liked it quite a bit and it is a very fine version of the official state sandwich of Indiana. 

-wibia 

Stacked Pickle
12545 Old Meridian Suite 150
Carmel, Indiana  46032
http://www.stackedpickle.com/ 

Stacked Pickle has been around for a few years and is close to my new hangout.   Simple menu of burger, a few entrees, sandwiches, wings, etc…you get the point.  They have good specials, like a $5 burger on Monday night, so check out their website.  They are expanding to Fishers, so watch out.

What I ate:   The Cuban; $6.99.  Pulled pork, ham, pickle, mustard and onions on a hoagie roll.

When I think of a Cuban, I think of pressed bread.   This was the wrong type of bread here.  However, it stated it in the description and I decided to forge ahead anyway.  My bad.  To be honest with you, it was pretty bad.   There was a lot of meat, but all of it lacked flavor.  The mustard punched through everything else.  There was a lot of pulled pork, but very little ham.   Their fries are pretty tasty, nothing fancy, but they always hit the spot.

Would I Buy It Again?   NO to the Cuban, but yes to the Stacked Pickle.   The Cuban is a total miss on a decent menu.  I have been here at least five times and the food has always been average to pleasant and the service is always solid.  It is not going to expand your culinary pallet, but for a neighborhood bar, it is not offensive.  Also, if you are single, this place opens up after nine and on the weekends.

-wibia

Arby’s
http://www.arbys.com

Arby’s sent me a gift card to give their new sandwich a try and let you guys know what I think.  Let’s skip the normal rambling that occupies this space and go straight to the grub.

What I Ate:  Arby’s Cool Deli Sandwich; $6.99 for a combo.

The sandwich has USDA Choice roast beef, Swiss cheese, banana peppers, pickles, lettuce, tomato, red onion, a sub viniagrette and mayo on an Italian roll.

I was starving and the sandwich felt heavier than a foot long from Subway.  At first bite, I noticed that the beef was really cold and I was surprised by the quality.  There was a lot going on here and I liked the banana peppers and that the produce was surprisingly fresh for fast food (especially considering this is not a core product).

Here is my problem with the sandwich:  too much fat.  Cheese, mayo and viniagrette.  Pick one and you would be fine.  Honestly, I would be happy if they took the above mentioned items off and put a swipe of horsey sauce on it.  Also, the pickle and beef combination was odd to me.

Would I Buy It Again?  If I customized it, yes.  I liked the roll and the beef, however, there was too much mayo and cheese on it.  If I am looking for a sub sandwich and can only choose from fast food, this is not a bad choice.

First to comment gets $20 from Arby’s for you to give it a try.  Send me an e-mail with your physical address.

-wibia

Slippery Noodle Inn
372 South Meridan Street
Indianapolis, Indiana  46225
http://www.slipperynoodle.com/index2.cfm

I love this segment because it gives me the excuse to eat at least one tenderloin each month.   Great success!   I am a big music fan and a bad ass musician in my spare time.  Recently, I went to go see the extremely awesome Blues/Soul guitarist/vocalist Tab Benoit.   The show was outstanding and I would highly recommended it to yall! Back to the food.

What I Ate:  Breaded Tenderloin; $7.00.  Served with chips and a pickle.

My first thought was, “wow, this is kind of small for an Indiana tenderloin.”  It looks big in the picture, but the plate was pretty small.  The produce was really good.  Lettuce, onions, ripe tomatoes and thick-cut crunchy pickles, so it was a nice effort.   The bun was nicely toasted as well.  So far so good.

The tenderloin was pretty tasty too.  It was pounded a little, but left pretty thick.  I would say that it was the thickness of a normal chicken sandwich.  It was juicy and the seasoning had a little bit of salt in it as well.    I didn’t find any gristle and found it to be of decent quality considering this is bar food.

Would I Buy It Again?  I am torn here.  It wasn’t a bad tenderloin, but there was nothing going on here that I can’t get anywhere else.  Plus, it was pretty small when comparing it to other tenderloins in town.  It reminded me of a tenderloin that they would serve to an uptown girl that wanted to stick her toe in pool of the common people’s food without jumping off the deep end.

If I am eating a tenderloin, I barely want to see the plate.  I want it about as big as a small pizza.  I want it to stare me in the face and say, “bring it champ, you can’t finish me.”

In sports terms, I was Nolan Ryan and this tenderloin was Robin Ventura.  No match.

-wibia

Bellacino’s Pizza & Grinders
12590 North Meridian Street
Carmel, IN 46032
http://www.orderbellacinos.com/

Bellacino’s is a small pizza and grinder franchise with several locations throughout the city and also throughout the country.  Along with pizzas and grinders (obviously), they also offer salads, pastas, wings and a few other smaller items.

Spurred on by a recent Eversave (one of the many growing number of clones/competitors for Groupon) offer for the Carmel location, I decided to give it a shot for my first visit ever.

What I Got:  Reuben Grinder Combo (served with 22 ounce drink and cole slaw); $8.34 + tax.

The Bellacino’s Reuben consists of “Tender corned beef piled high, lots of sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing and cheese.”  Being the amateur Sherlock Holmes that I am, I can confirm that all those toppings were on the grinder, although  the descriptions of the amount of corned beef and sauerkraut may have been a bit of an exaggeration.  It was definitely on there in a fair amount, but nothing about those amounts could be considered “piled high” or “lots.”  Oh well, I’m splitting hairs.  The sandwich also came with a pickle in addition to the cole slaw that came as my side (not pictured).

As far as taste was concerned, they nailed this one pretty well.  The corned beef was tender and flavorful, the sauerkraut had that wonderful bite to it that good sauerkraut seems to have.  The Thousand Island dressing was just regular dressing out of a bottle, not that I was expecting anything different.  What added an interesting and positive twinge to the sandwich was the fact that Bellacino’s oven bakes their grinders.  The oven baking melted the cheese, added a crispiness to the sauerkraut and made the bread delightfully crunchy.  When you mixed all these things together, you come up with a pretty solid grinder.  The only negative, if you can call it that, was that this sandwich was very messy, so grab some extra napkins.  As more of a personal preference too, the addition of spicy deli mustard would go along way to making this grinder even more of a winner.  Overall, it wasn’t the best Reuben that I’ve had in my life, but it was a very satisfying Reuben and that’s all I was really asking for when I went there. 

The cole slaw was homemade as well and was fresh (they had to make it for me since I was one of the first customers of the day).  It was crunchy and added a nice cool refreshing taste to the tangy taste that was brought on by the sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing of the Reuben.

Would I Buy It Again?  Yes, I would.  Bellacino’s isn’t exactly near my neighborhood, so I don’t think I’ll go there often, but if there is one in  your neighborhood, I would encourage you to visit.  They have an extensive grinder menu and it looks like their variety covers pretty much all bases.  Give it a shot if you are ever looking for a pizza, grinder or both!

-IndianapolisEater

Wendy’s
http://www.wendys.com/

I’ve never publicly expressed this opinion before, but I really do feel that Wendy’s has the best breaded chicken sandwich in the fast food market.  I think the quality of the meat is first-rate and they manage to keep it surprisingly juicy.  So when I saw window stickers go up for “Flavor-Dipped Chicken” at Wendy’s, my interest was piqued.  I recall seeing the “Flavor-Dipped” schtick a few years back but couldn’t recall ever trying it.

What I Got: BBQ Flavor-Dipped Chicken Sandwich; $4.50-$4.89 (somewhere thereabouts).

For no reason in particular, I chose the BBQ bath for my breaded chicken fillet.  The pickle and onion adornments seemed appropriate, albeit sparse.  As you can see, my sandwich was put together hastily and proved quite hard to eat during a lunch break at work.  I found myself rushing through the sandwich so I could start cleaning myself up.  Sauce on my hands, sauce on my face and sauce on my shirt.  The sauce also did a number on the breading, turning it soft and mushy.  Without more than two slivers of onion, I really couldn’t taste much BUT the sauce after a while.

Would I Buy It Again?  Nope. This sloppy mess costs dangerously close to $5 and I can’t figure out why.  I love BBQ anything so I guess it tasted all right, but it ranks very low on the value scale.

A couple of years ago, the WIBIA team would offer an “Instead” suggestion and I’d like to bring that back up for this review.

Instead:  Try the Asiago Ranch Chicken Club (with the spicy fillet).  Just like the flavor dipped sandwiches, it is in the $5 range but it is worth every penny.  The bacon, cheese and sauce are a great addition to the already stellar spicy chicken fillet sandwich.  I highly recommend it.

-Indy Food Geek