The Brockway Public House

12525 Old Meridian St.

Carmel, IN 46032

317.669.8080

The Brockway Public House

This past weekend we decided to switch up our regular Broad Ripple bar scene and drive up to Carmel to watch the Notre Dame game at Brockway. This was out of the norm for me in particular as I would prefer to watch my teams from the comfort of my own couch. This can be attributed to outbursts of not so family friendly language, especially with Tommy Rees under center for the Irish. Case in point, there was a family sitting behind us and I may or may not have dropped an F bomb during a surefire Miami touchdown (I didn't think kids were allowed in the place, but I guess they have to sit away from the bar area). Within a few minutes I wasn't overly impressed with TV setup. The larger TV's were kind of high on the wall and it was not a very comfortable eye level. Luckily, the bar was not crowded and we were able to get a couple high top tables next to a lower TV. When we asked if the channel could be changed to NBC before game time, it was a 10 minute fiasco that took 2 different waiters to figure out how to operate the remote. If I ran a sports bar, channel changing would be one of my first areas of training. After that our service was pretty fair. Our waiter checked on us regularly and we rarely had to wait for drinks or food. In a throwback to my Chicago days, I ordered an Old Style. Our waiter said that is something that is reserved for the regulars and nobody else really orders it. He was shocked that this was my first visit. The bar has a nice patio, but it was too cool to be out there. Another throwback to my Chicao days was the tableside beer taps that charge per ounce poured. I would definitely go back, the issue is transportation back and forth to Broad Ripple. Drink Responsibly my friends.

We got an appetizer sampler to start that had fried cheese, fried mushrooms, and homemade potato chips with marinara and ranch for dipping. The mushrooms had a beer batter and were too big to eat in one bite, but impossible to cut into bite size pieces without losing the breading on the mushroom. I did not really care for these. The chips were average. They had more substance than a regular potato chip and lacked seasoning. The fried mozzarella were my favorite of the three. These were hand breaded in a bread crumb mixture and had a great crunchy texture to accompany the gooey, melted cheese. I apologize for not having a picture of me Reuben. I thought I took a picture of it, but didn't. Luckily this Reuben did not crack the Top Ten Reuben list, so I don't feel as bad. The Reuben was pretty average. The only flavor that shone through was the sauerkraut. I really wanted it to have more 1000 island dressing. The meat was juicy and there was a good amount of corned beef, but it left something to be desired. I feel like all Irish food is pretty heavy. I guess you need a heavy meal to give you a nice base for the Guinness and Jameson. FYI, Irish Car Bombs are on sale there on Saturdays. Again, drink responsibly. I would like to go back when it is nicer and sit on the patio and try something different for dinner. I was told that the fish and chips are delicious.

"May the enemies of Ireland never EAt bread nor drink whiskey, but be afflicted with itching without the benefit of scratching."

Bub's Burgers & Ice Cream

201 W. Main St.

Carmel, IN 46032

(317) 706- BUBS (2827)

Bub's Burgers & Ice Cream

 

The first time I ever ate at Bub's was 2 summers ago during an ambitious ride north on the Monon from Broad Ripple. I had just purchased a new bicycle, and we wanted to go on a ride. We thought it would be a good idea to go to Bub's for lunch, as it was getting much press from its feature on Man VS Food. It is a little over an 8 mile ride down the Monon. We decided it would be a good idea to make it a tradition after this trip. I'm sad to say that the tradition came to an end this year, as the other 3 of my friends that partook on this inaugural trip have since moved away from the Circle City. Nothing will compare to the first time riding down there as it was around 100 degrees outside and humid. 3 out of the 4 of us ate the "Big Ugly" 1lb burger. The other ordered the 1/4 lb hot dog. We were all successful in finishing the Big Ugly so we got our picture on the wall. Shockingly, the ride home took less time than the ride there.

My most recent trip was on this past Labor Day. The restaurant was as busy as always, it seems to have a pretty steady flow of patrons no matter what time or day it is. It doesn't hurt to be located right off the Monon and in Downtown Carmel which has hundreds of visitors a day. We even got there at 11:30. Luckily it was a nice day out and we could sit on the patio. Actually, I have never eaten inside, it has always been on the patio. There are a good amount of picnic tables out there to accomodate large groups. Our service was great. The food came out quickly and our waitress was very friendly. I have never had any issues with the restaurant. My only caveat is be prepared to wait to be seated. They do not take reservations unless you book the party room. Luckily during the summer time there are games outside to keep the kids occupied. They also line up patio chairs so you have a place to sit. It is a great place to people watch.

This time around I ordered the 1/2 lb Elk burger. Elk is healthier for you as it has less fat, cholesterol, and calories than beef. All the burgers come with your choice of cheese, lettuce, pickles, tomato, and onion. I went with the pepper jack cheese. I also ordered a side of sweet potato waffle fries with marshmallow sauce for dipping. The burger was cooked to a perfect medium, which as far as you want to go with game meats. If I have learned anything watching cooking shows, it is to cook game meats to medium rare. Each bite was juicy and flavorful. I have always felt that a good burger can stand up on its own without any condiments. This holds true with the Bub's burger. This was also the first time I have had elk. I really couldn't tell too much of a difference between my elk burger and JBH's beef burger besides the elk tasting a bit sweeter than the beef. The buns are baked locally, specifically for the 3 different sizes of burgers. The bun was toasted and had a wonderful buttery flavor. The sweet potato waffle fries reminded me of Thanksgiving. These were a perfect blend of sweet and salty. The fries were crispy thoughout. I find that sometimes sweet potato fries are usually on the soggy side, but not these. I was full after my meal, but not uncomfortable. It helped cure any lingering hang over effects I was feeling from the wedding I went to that weekend.

Of all the burger places I have written about Bub's falls somewhere near the middle of my favorites. It is a good burger with a fun atmosphere, perfect for families. I just think there are better burger joints that offer a more grown up taste.

"EAting is really one of your indoor sports. you play three times a day, and it's well worth while to make the game as pleasant as possible." - Dorothy Draper

Cafe St. Tropez

110 W. Main St. STE140

Carmel, IN, 46032

(317) 581-9559

Cafe St. Tropez

I want to first explain why it has been so long since I last posted an entry. I have been spending my nights coaching high school track. It has been the most rewarding and fulfilling thing I have ever done. It has also taken up most of my free time. Our season is coming to an end, so expect to hear much more from me. I also ended up buying a Groupon for Foodie Indy. It is a deck of playing cards with $10 gift cards to 52 local restaurants. You have to spend a minimum of $30 at each restaurant, but dinner for 2 usually ends up costing that much anyways. This is going to give me a larger base of restaurants to choose from. Maybe I'll start treating my followers to meals from the deck of cards, as the cards expire at the end of the year.

Since I failed to blog in a two week span, one of my followers, Melissa, won a meal on EAting Indy. We went to Cafe St. Tropez in downtown Carmel. It is located in between Bub's and Detour, overlooking the Monon. They have a little patio, but it was a cool evening so we ate inside. The restaurant is not very big. The interior is kind of a blend between a coffee house and a quaint cafe. The decor was nice, somewhat fancy. I felt a little underdressed as I came after a workout and was wearing sweat pants. It didn't really matter as we were the only ones in the restaurant. Near the end of our meal, a couple walked in, but it was just 4 of us in the restaurant for the majority of our dinner. Our service was average to good, but it is hard to ignore the only patrons in your establishment. The food came out quickly and our waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu. Not to downplay her, but the menu only consists of appetizers, paninis, and a small breakfast menu. I was torn between the egg salad and the chicken panini. Our waitress recommended the panini. Price was the biggest issue. My sandwich was $10.50 and it only came with a salad. If I am going to pay that much for a sandwich, I at least want to feel satisfied. They also offered a dinner menu with a couple full size entrees, but those were priced at $19.99. I was still hungry after the meal. Luckily we went to Huddles Frozen Yogurt afterwards.

The panini was on sourdough bread. It was made up of chicken breast, taleggio cheese, greens, and a pesto sauce. It was very fresh and did not lack taste. The cheese was smooth and smokey. The bread was perfectly toasted. The pesto kept the chicken from drying out. The salad left something to be desired. It was just field greens, tomatoes, with white balsamic dressing. I just thought it was pretty boring. I probably will not make it back to St. Tropez Cafe as I could get more for my money elsewhere.

 

Sleep 'til your hungry, EAt 'til you're sleepy."

Shapiro's Deli

Shapiro's Deli (Carmel Location)

918 S. Rangeline Rd

Carmel, IN 46032

317-631-4041

Shapiro's Deli

This is one of the posts many of you have been waiting for. It is time to finally review my #1 Reuben. I had been waiting to write about this until ABW was back in Indy. We decided to go to the Carmel location on Black Friday. Of the two locations, Downtown and Carmel, Carmel is my favorite. Although it doesn't have the tradition and history of the Downtown location, it just has a cleaner feel to it. The downtown location is much older, and it seemed a little dingy. There is a third location located at Indianapolis International Airport in one of the terminals. Our fraternity chapter advisor once told me he plans his flights around to depart or arrive during meal time so he can stop and have a Reuben I have pictures of the Reuben's from both downtown and Carmel locations. Just like the last post, this is a restaurant you cannot judge service. It is essentially a Cafeteria, so you walk down the line with your tray and order as you move along. The sandwiches are made to order, so they bring you your food as it is finished. The food comes out in a very timely manner. Both locations have ample seating, and I have never had to wait for a seat. I don't have any pictures of the desserts, but they are top notch. The carrot cake is my favorite, where ABW prefers the German Chocolate Cake.I do have to be honest with my next statement and ABW agreed. Our Reuben experience was not up to par with our previous visits. Don't get me wrong, Shapiro's still is the best. But, we have had better sandwiches there. It felt like one of the times one of your friends over-hypes a movie, and when you go see it, you are disappointed. Maybe in our heads, we have this glorious idea of the perfect Reuben, and this time it just did not stack up to past experiences. If you compare the pictures, the Carmel Reuben lacked the meat of the Downtown Reuben. Also, the thickness of the bread was on the thick side in Carmel. Don't get me wrong, it was still delicious, but it has been better. The corned beef is tender and flavorful. The cole slaw is exactly how I prefer it, finely chopped veggies and just the right amount on the sandwich to add flavor, but not overpower the corned beef. The bread was perfectly toasted. The 1000 Island dressing adds a nice sweet and tangy flavor. I opted not to get the Mac N Cheese this time, as Thanksgiving was the day prior, and I had my fill. I usually split it with whomever I dine with. It is creamy and cheesy and for whatever reason, its just habit to order it with the Reuben. I did order a deviled egg. It was nothing out of the ordinary, a very typical deviled egg. 

Let me leave you with my favorite ABW story, which says a lot as I have known him for 20 plus years. It happened during my last year living in Chicago. ABW was going for a bike ride on a weekend morning. The CPD had some streets blocked off, and he was re-routed on his way to the lake. When he finally was able to get going on a street, he realized the streets were full of people. He then realized these people were dressed flamboyantly and were holding rainbow flags. It soon hit him, he was on the parade route for the Pride Parade. Embarrassed by the attention, he pedaled faster to get out of there. The problem was that the faster he pedaled, the louder the crowd cheered. And that is how ABW was essentially the "first float" in the Chicago Pride Parade

"Never EAt more than you can lift." - Miss Piggy

Detour An American Grille: Carmel, IN

110 W. Main St.
Carmel, IN 46032
(317) 571-0091
Detour: An American Grille

Before I go on about what I hated about Detour, let me preface that with what I enjoyed. Detour is a sports bar located in the heart of Downtown Carmel. There is ample seating and many televisions. They also have a nice patio for the summertime with live music. So as a sports bar, they are great. I wouldn't mind sitting down and watching games there. To no fault fault of Detour, ESPN needs to stop showing the World Series of Poker. Its not 2003 anymore. They can fill those useless hours of the WSOP with more 30 for 30 movies. We had to ask our waiter to change the WSOP to the Monday Night Football game. More on that guy later...They have good drink specials every night of the week. Its also nice that it is family friendly, as they are catering to the neighborhood. The menu is typical for a bar and grill: sandwiches, burgers & wraps, and limited entrees. More and more bar and grills have these over bearing menus where you get lost in pages of food, Detour has a very simple menu to navigate. I just wish I would have picked something different to eat on this very simple menu.

There were four of us meeting to celebrate DJBG's birthday. RFS, JJS, DJBG, and myself. At first the hostess sat us in a corner where we really couldn't see a TV, so we asked to be moved. Our waiter came and took our drink orders as 3 of us were waiting on JJS. (Shockingly, DJBG made it on time. For those of you who know him, know that he says he will be somewhere in 20 minutes, but then shows up 3 hours later. Shameless plug for him after ripping him a little bit. He DJ's at Blu Martini on Friday nights, and he does a damn good job.) Dos Equis was on special for $2 for a pint, and I had one of those (I did say the drink specials were decent, right?). We also decided to put in an order of the fried dill pickle chips to start. It comes with a side of horseradish sauce or ranch, we got both. The pickles were lightly breaded in flour. There wasn't a whole lot of seasoning on the pickles. I did manage to eat a few without dipping in the sauces. I would have to say the dill chips are better at Scotty's. Detour has one of those eating challenges that you see on Man Vs. Food. It's called the Triple Bypass. It is 2 pounds of Italian beef, giardiniera, mozzarella & parmesan cheeses on a French Baguette with a pound of waffle fries. You have to finish the sandwich within 45 minutes to get your picture on the wall AND your finishing statistics listed in the menu. DJBG suggested I try this endeavor, I respectfully declined. There is no chance in hell I'm even going to try to attempt something like that. A: It's $35. and B: That's disgusting. I instead opted for the Single Bypass, the smaller version of the Triple bypass. It has the exact same toppings as the Triple. Now I am still searching for the best Italian beef sandwich in this city. Portillo's is by far and away the King of Italian beef sandwiches, with Al's Beef a nice second. The problem is both of those franchises are in the Chicagoland area. The closest Portillo's is in Merrillville, IN. So where does the Single bypass stack up to the Kings of Italian beef sandwiches? I just finished The Wire today. So in the words of Omar, "You come at the King, you best not miss.". Well, Detour missed. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to the sandwich, and I think that cheese ruins it. A good Italian Beef sandwich is: Gonnella brand bread, slow roasted beef, spicy giardiniera, dipped in au jus. MWF's family introduced me to this sandwich at his high school open house, and we had it catered for BWL's bachelor party. My frustration's with the sandwich at Detour start with the bread. I'm used to the bread dipped in the au jus, so its not as crispy. Instead, they give you a tiny cup of au jus to dip or pour on the sandwich. Also, when I ordered the sandwich, our waiter said, "It comes with giardiniera, which is a spicy blend of celery, carrots, and peppers. Do you want that on there?" I'm thinking to myself, "Hey Dummy, I know what giardineira is. If I didn't, it clearly says what it is on your menu, so if I didn't want it I would tell you." I was over this waiter from the second we arrived. He was awful. We asked for waters 3 times before he brought them out to us. He wasn't very timely, and DJ and RFS had to ask twice for their beers. As you can see in the picture, there isn't a whole lot of giardineira on the sandwich. I had to ask for some more, because I couldn't taste it. The beef itself was good. It had good flavor and was very tender. More often than not, the beef is too salty. They at least got the taste right. The star of the meal, for me, was the waffle fries. They were nice and crispy and had better seasoning, that lacked in the dill chips. But even the fries had their flaws. There aren't a whole lot of fries that come with the meal. Also, they gave you the same small cup for ketchup that they gave for the au jus. MWF would not like this place for that reason alone. At the time, I thought that they are looking out for your health and monitoring your portion size. Then I remembered they are offering a sandwich named after a heart surgery to relieve clogged arteries...

So for what its worth, I would go back to Detour, but not for the food. As I stated before, it is a great place to hang out with friends. I'd like to go out in Carmel more often, because I think the downtown is beautiful. I guess our problem is that not a lot of our friends live their, only their parents, so it would be awkward to go crash at their house after a night of partying. As I always say, Drink Responsibly. **Especially in Carmel. The Carmel fuzz are the worst. I've seen someone get pulled over for stopping past the stop line.**

"I went on a diet, swore off drinking and heavy EAting, and in fourteen days, I lost two weeks." - Joe E. Lewis