If you're looking for Mexican Restaurants Indianapolis, this restaurant is worth trying!  This restaurant has delicious, fresh Mexican food at a reasonable price.  The menu features all of your traditional Mexican food items. 

The atmosphere is light-hearted and fun.  The restaurant is colorful and cheery - just check out the photo to the right! 

With such an extensive menu, you're bound to find something that you're interested in eating.  There is a long list of lunch specialties, as well as "house" specialties.  Whether you're looking for Indianapolis lunch restaurants, or Indianapolis dinner restaurants - this Mexican restaurant is great. 

Their "30 Combination Dinners" are my favorite.  This is a list of 30 different combinations of Mexican specialties - all for just $7.25 each!  It's a great option for people that can't decide on just one food item. 

Go to Fiesta Ranchera's website for additional information on this Mexican Restaurant. 

Zing Restaurant
543 Indiana Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46202






The atmosphere of Zing is modern, with unique lighting which everyone in our marketing team was interested in.  Our group of 8 people was quickly seated and our server was very attentive.  She was knowledgeable of the menu and offered to customize our meals depending on what we wanted. 

This restaurant was great for sharing food with friends - although our marketing team didn't decide to share meals when we went for lunch.  Zing prides itself on the presentation of its each meal and tries to make your experience there "fun and entertaining." 

For example, I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich (original, I know).  But at Zing, I didn't just order a grilled cheese sandwich - I ordered the gourmet tex-mex grilled cheese sandwich: "toasted crusty bread on jalapeno, spiced cream cheese and mozzarella."  As a side order, I chose french fries - which were delicious!  I would highly recommend ordering them.

At Zing, you're not just eating - you're enjoying the experience.  The atmosphere was sheek and modern and a great place to go on a date or with a group of people.

Everyone in our marketing team liked the food and the atmosphere, and all said they would go back!

Stars Sandwich Market
116 N. Delaware St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Looking for a great place to get a sandwich in downtown Indianapolis?  Stars Sandwich Market is a great place to stop for homemade soup, a premade sandwich, or a premade salad.

Stars Sandwich Market offers a traditional lunch menu - although the "menu" is a display of sandwiches and salads that you can choose yourself.  It is a great Indianapolis lunch restaurants and is within walking distance of Monument Circle. It's a great way to support small, local restaurants. 

The atmosphere of the restaurant is a mix of modern and retro.  As you can see in the picture, seating consisted of tall tables with bar stools. 

Overall the atmosphere was fun, pricing was very reasonable, and the food was great.  It's a great restaurant to eat in, or grab your lunch on the go.

O'Reilly's Irish Bar and Restaurant
36 S. Pennsylvania St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317.974.0674




For our marketing team lunch last week, we make the quick trek down Pennsylvania Street to O'Reilly's Irish Bar and Restaurant.  This was Abby's first restaurant selection since joining  the Compendium team, and she definitely pulled through when the pressure was on!

O'Reilly's fits in well with other Indianapolis pubs, but definitely has it's own feel.  It does a great job of combining the atmosphere of an old fashioned pub, with the modern day set-up that sports fanatics and business workers would be looking for. 

The menu at this downtown Indianapolis restaurant is also one of their great selling points.  They have many different variations of burgers, salads and wraps to choose from, as well as Irish specialties and a group of meals the offer as $5 lunch specials everyday. 

For the most part, the portions were generous.  Some of the salads were even overflowing off of the plates and I couldn't keep my BBQ sandwich intact because it was so big.

Most of us agreed that the biggest draw-back of the restaurant was the very smokey atmosphere.  Also, what seemed to be a refreshing, chilly environment upon first walking into the restaurant turned into an ice-box feeling as we could hardly use our utensils because our hands were shivering due to the frigid temperature.  

All in all, if you're looking for Indianapolis lunch restaurants, O'Reilly's possesses plenty favorable characteristics that make it the perfect location, be prepared to wait for a table if you want to eat outside, and bring a jacket if you're not a fan of the cold!

Front Page Sports Bar & Grill
310 Massachusetts Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317.631.6682





Apparently we loved the hike to Mass Ave enough last week to return there this week. Friday's destination: Front Page Sports Bar & Grill.  One of the better known sports bars Indianapolis, Front Page provided all of the necessary features to create a very enjoyable lunch atmosphere.

Front Page has seating both indoors and outdoors, which makes it perfect on a warm afternoon.  You better get there early on a nice day, or else the outdoor seating will quickly fill up.

The menu at this Indianapolis restaurant was fairly typical for a sports bar & grill.  A cheeseburger and fries was the popular choice, with Mikey & Meghan getting the Blue Bella Burger (which Mikey describes simply as "heavenly") while I went for the classic BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger.

Chandra thoroughly enjoyed the GIANT tenderloin, and Megan opted for a delicious seafood entree.  Abby, the newest addition to Compendium's marketing team, landed on the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich.  She thought the portion sizes were favorable and the sandwich had good flavor.

Like most of the places we've stumbled up in the past few weeks, the atmosphere makes this downtown Indianapolis restaurant an enjoyable place to eat.  The wait staff was very helpful, the outdoor seating was perfect for a sunny day, and the multiple big screen televisions inside make it a perfect place to watch a game with friends!

MacNiven's
339 Massachusetts Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317.632.7268






For the Friday lunch, Meghan landed on MacNiven's Restaurant and Bar as the selection.  MacNiven's has the feel of a Scottish pub, with the menu and atmosphere to match.   It had a similar feel to other Indianapolis pubs, with quality food and fun service.

We all agreed that the atmosphere and wait staff gives MacNiven's a very "fun" feel, especially on a beautiful afternoon when they open up the windows.  We were able to sit at a table facing Mass Ave while enjoying the fine Scottish cuisine.

Chandra and Meghan both ordered the Angus burger, which is a cheeseburger prepared in a very unusual way.  They flatten out the patty until it is very thin and the size of the plate! Both of the ladies thought the burgers were top-notch.

Megan's grilled cheese was, quite possible, the "best grilled cheese ever," and Mikey claimed that his fish & chips was golden delicious. I went for the chicken curry with fried rice and was very pleased with the great flavor!

Although the menu was varied in its selections, it still seemed fairly limited.  If you're not willing to get outside of the "norm" with food selections, this might not be your perfect fit.  However, for a quick lunch break on a nice day, or an after work drink with friends (it is known to have an ample beer selection) MacNiven's should be the perfect downtown Indianapolis restaurant for you!

 

 

Bourbon Street Distillery
361 Indiana Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 636-3316



The Bourbon Street Distillery put up quite a fight today to be considered one of the best Indianapolis restaurants.

With quick service, a fun atmosphere, and a wide selection on the menu, this Indianapolis restaurant left myself and all of the members of the Compendium marketing team very satisfied. 

The menu had a wide range of selections, with everything from spicy Cajun seafood dishes to club sandwiches eight inches tall and then finish it all off with cheesecake for dessert.

Overall, we agreed the atmosphere and service were both very favorable qualities.  The wait staff was fun and there was plenty of seating, both indoor and outside.  The restaurant is prime for a quick lunch break or an after work drink.

All five of us were in shock as our food came out not even ten minutes after we put our orders in!  I, personally, have never seen service so fast. And, in the words of Megan, the quick service makes it perfect for a speedy business lunch.

Mikey and Megan went the seafood route and were both very satisfied with their spicy dishes, Mikey had the craw fish etoufee and Megan tried the tilapia salad.

Meghan, Chandra, and I went the route of American cuisine... with Chandra ordering a HUGE club sandwich, Meghan having the Bourbon Burger (we're talking massive here folks) and I went with the old fashioned country fried steak with gravy.  We were all very happy with our selections.

Megan pointed out one of the only flaws we could find in this fine Indianapolis restaurant: The lack of a website or menu online.  I don't believe this was a breaking point for any of us, but with so many "blog-minded" individuals, we could easily see how the world of blogging could really help this restaurant.  

This being my first Indianapolis restaurant review, I'm feeling pretty generous in giving this restaurant such a high score, but I must say... I'd give Bourbon Street Distillery a 9/10.

And Bourbon Street (yes I'm talking to you)... if you want that last point to get a perfect score, contact Compendium today and we'll help you get better connected to the Indianapolis community.

So there is this place located in the heart of downtown that serves what I would like to call home cookin'. Maxine's Chicken and Waffles is a great place if you want have a little time to kill during your lunch hour. So when it was Mikey's turn to choose where we went, he made the executive decision to check out Maxine's, which turned out to be a great restaurant in Indianapolis.

I personally never thought that chicken and waffles would ever be appetizing together, but turns out... it's not that bad. I ordered the Dusty's Waffle and since I wanted the full experience, I ordered a Jumbo Chicken Wing. I wasn't disappointed in the waffle, which had this sweet spread and even better syrup to put on top. It also came with two eggs and two pieces of sausage. When I ordered the Jumbo Chicken wing, I was a little worried because I didn't know if I was going to be able to eat it all. However, upon it's arrival I realized I wasn't intimidated and Jumbo doesn't really mean anything related to it's size (I'm still trying to figure that one out...)

Megan ordered the Veggie Omlet with an extra side. However, she was kind of dissapointed because they came back with the wrong kind of bread. She was brutally honest with me when I asked her what she thought of our choice. She said that the service wasn't up to par because it slow and she thought other people got there after us and they were served before us.

Meghan also had the Dusty's Waffle with the sides of eggs and turkey sausage. She thought her food was very good, yet filling so make sure you go on an EMPTY stomach. She also said the staff was very friendly but to make sure you get there a little early because the tables fill up quick!

When I asked Mikey what he thought of his choice his response....... "Dude...peach butter... wow." He also said that he felt a "taste of love in each bite, no exaggeration." So I am going to take a stab in the dark and say that he liked his choice a lot. 

So all-in-all it was a pretty good choice. We got out of the office for a while and visit a different side of town that we weren't exposed to regularly. It was a good time! If you only have credit, lukily for you they accept those too. So if you are ever around town, check out Maxine's Chicken and Waffles, located at 132 North East Street in Indianapolis. Maxine will probably even seat you!

A few weeks ago before I left for my spring break, we decided to grab lunch at this little place just north of the circle on Pennsylvania. Elbow room is a great Indianapolis restaurant that everyone needs to stop by at some point.

When the marketing team here at Compendium went, we all happen to order something different, which was good to give us some insight on their expansive menu.

Mikey ordered a veggie burger. When I asked him what he thought about it he did the "Raise the Roof" motion. He said that it was good and his burger had a lot of flavor. Also he really liked the bar and thought it might be a good place to check out. Maybe for a game? or just to have a couple drinks with friends?

Meghan ordered the strawberry chicken salad and was very impressed with the fact that they had Fat Free dressings for a healthier alternative. She said that her food was very flavorful, even with it being a more health conscious meal.

Megan had the Turkey Bourbon sandwich and found it to be very good. She mentioned that it was a bit crowded, but if you are going to grab lunch with co-workers, you have to commit and make sure that you have enough time.

Chandra at the cob salad with chicken and found it to be tasty as well. She said the staff were very friendly and very efficient. However, she said that the place was small, "hense the name 'Elbow Room'" Also she mentioned something about her dressing being soupy... so watch out and be prepared!

As for me, I ordered the American Burger. It was a harty meal consisting of a burger, with American cheese, red onions, lettuce, and bacon. And to go along with it, I ordered the fries... oh how i love fries.

I think we all would agree that it was a great downtown Indianapolis restaurant. However, the rush comes around noon, so if you are going there for lunch, just get there a little early.

So if you are looking for a good downtown Indianapolis restaurant, you should think about going to Elbow room, located at 605 N. Pennsylvania. You can check out their website and their menu online!

This week for the Marketing Team at Compendium's Friday lunch, we decided to keep it simple and check out the new location of Buffalo Wild Wings (it was my choice).

This new location just recently opened up and we were all having a craving for some hot wings.

When we got there, we were immediately seated and asked for drinks. Mikey and I both opted for the water because we both are trying to stop drinking pop (or soda, or "coke", or whatever you call it). Meghan and Chandra ordered their diet cokes (they serve Coke Products) and we put in our orders.

Meghan ordered 6 boneless wings with the "Asian Zing" sauce along with some onion rings. She said her food was delicious and the onion rings were perfectly cooked. The only thing she had against the place was the service was a little slow for the lunchtime hour (which all of us thought was a bit odd).

Mikey ordered the Big Jack Daddy burger. It was a massive burger with BBQ, onion rings, and pulled pork on top of a burger. He mentioned today "I wish I got wings becuase it is a wing place, but next time... I'lll get wings"

I orderd the Buffalo Ranch Chicken Sandwich. It was a large chicken breast with a piece of swiss cheese, ranch dressing and the Medium sauce that you can get on wings. I was really excited to eat when i ordered it. It did meet almost every expectation that was causing my mouth to water. However, I do wish that their was more of the Medium sauce smothering the chicken breast. MMMMMM... so Good!

Chandra ordered the Ultimate Nachos, (which is supposed to be an appetizer. However, it came out it seemed like an entire meal! It was huge!
She had to share some of it with the rest of us.

As for the atmosphere, it was a sport bar type place, with TV's all over the place showing different sports channels so you won't miss an instant of any game if you go there. Also, if you aren't so much of a sports fanatic, you can play trivia games on some of the TV's! So if you are in town, the new location is almost on the corner of Pennsylvania and Washington street downtown Indianapolis. So go check it out!

Well.. it is... But Dagwood's is also a great place to grab a bite to eat in Broad Ripple. I have been there once or twice for lunch and I must say... it is a hidden gem.

Dagwoods is a little deli locacted right next to Q'Doba in Broad Ripple and if you are out for a Sunday lunch, I would recommend it. It has a great menu of subs from the classic BLT to the Ultimate Turkey Sandwich, loaded with everything from onions to pickles and of course turkey. They also offer wraps and salads if you aren't feeling a sub for lunch. You can even create your own sub from options listed on the menu. Along with your sub they offer a combo that includes a cookie or chips and a drink.

The price is reasonable and the subs are well worth it. The staff is always friendly and very helpful if you are feeling indecisive. You also don't have to worry about stopping by the ATM before you get there becuase they take cash or credit. So the next time you are in Broad Ripple around lunchtime... check out Dagwoods located at 6336 Guilford Avenue right next to Q'Doba and across the street from the fire station.

So this week, it was my decision to where the Marketing Team at Compendium Blogware, would go to lunch. I chose a place that we have been talking about for a while, but we just haven't been. It is called The Educated Sandwich, which is a branch of a well known caterer, MBP Catering.

I chose this place because it was a place where I used to go with my supervisor from my internship over the summer. Upon arrival, there was a long line (luckily it moved quickly). After lunch, when I asked Chandra what she thought of it, she responded with "I feel like I smell like my sandwich". She ordered the Club Sandwich on Sourdough bread and said that she really like it. Meghan and I again happen to order the same thing, Turkey, Bacon, Ranch wrap with chips (I swear, I am not a copier... I didn't even know what she ordered until we all sat down). She mentioned that it was a lot of food and she only ate half of her wrap. It was a lot more than she expected. Meghan also mentioned that she thought it had a wide variety of foods, and very unique foods (such as split pea soup) that made it feel more like a home cooked meal. Megan ordered the side salad and chicken fiesta soup. She said that the soup was good and tasted homemade. Also, she said that there was real veggies in the soup and you could eat very healthy there. Chantelle ordered the egg salad sandwich, but wasn't too impressed. She said it was alright, but just wasn't her favorite place we had been. She also ordered the Chicken Fiesta soup and said that it had good, healthy portions of chicken. Mikey ordered the Greek Chicken wrap and the split pea soup. He mentioned after lunch that "I think I just wanted some Broccoli Chedder and that was the closest thing to it".

Overall, I think my selection was a success. It was a good place to go and grab lunch, but I think the time I go I would get take-out because while I am writing this blog, I still smell the deli on my shirt. The people there were very nice, and always are willing to talk to you. So if you are near the Capital building anytime around lunch, just pop on in to The Educated Sandwich located at 150 W. Market Street.

Ok, so I delayed blogging about last Friday's lunch. I have good reason... I got distracted. Anyway, last week the Marketing Team here at Compendium chose a place to eat downtown Indianapolis called South Bend Chocolate Cafe. Along with the usual marketing team we took newcomer, Chandra.

So for our lunch dinning experience, I believe that all of us agreed that it was a great place to go. Megan first spoke up and said that her food was excellent. She had ordered the Chicken Fajita Panini with pepperjack cheese with a Tomato Bisque soup and pretzles (or chips) and pickle that came with her meal (which no one saw coming). Megan also mentioned that it was a good place to grab a sandwich and soup. Meghan and I both ordered the Ham and Cheese Panini along with Chedder and Broccoli soup. Meghan felt that it was good food and while you are there, you can see the many desserts they have to offer. She said that "you'll be eating your lunch and craving your dessert". I would recommend it for a great restaurant in Indianapolis, if you just want a place to sit down from walking around the circle on cold winter day or a during the summer. Chantelle ordered the Grilled Cheese with Ruffles Crinkle Potato chips (which I guess is the kind of chips they use... I didn't really notice). She ordered off of the kids menu and said that the kid's meal has a lot of food for the value. Chantelle also mentioned that the next time she goes, she wants to try the "Fondue for Four". (We aren't completely sure what it is, but it sounds like a lot of fun!). Mikey ordered the "Hot Ham and Cheese with Tomatoes, Blue Cheese and it was really good!" He also ordered the Chicken and Dumpling soup. Mikey mentioned that it is a harty meal for a cold day (and it really was a cold day). Our newcomer, Chandra (who is our new Business Manager) ordered the Ham and Cheese with garden vegetable soup. She said it was very hot and "Yumo" (and I think that means it was good, or tasty, or any exclamation you might use for a appetizing food meal).

After our meal, we decided that the Southbend Chocolate Cafe was overall very good, and the service was very friendly. Also, if you want extras on the sandwiches on the menu, you can ask for extras and they won't charge you for them. The atmosphere was amazing. You could smell the chocolate and candies in the air. Meghan also pointed out that you could purchase bags of carmel corn, chocolate covered pretzles, etc, to buy and eat for a good afternoon snack. Also, if you want to visit during the summer, there is outside seating so that you may enjoy the day as well as your delicious sandwich. However, after you leave you may find that you smell like the restaurant for the rest of the day. So if you get a free lunch break in downtown Indianapolis, check out the Southbend Chocolate Factory Cafe, located right on the circle, at 20 North Meridian(There is also a satillite location in the new Indianapolis International Airport.)

Workingman's Friend
234 N Belmont Ave
Indianapolis IN 46222
(317) 636-2067

DO NOT FEAR Workingman's Friend.   This is a classic Indianapolis Lunch Restaurant that in spite of it's appearance serves one of the best burgers in Indy.  Close to Downtown Indianapolis Workingman's friend is full of the white collar types as well and a lot of physicians for some reason...probably because it's close to IUPUI and the Med Center.

Workingman's Friend is an old fashioned Indianapolis Pub and nothing more.  The kind of place your dad would go after the 3 to 11 shift at the plant.   Take my advice, great burger, great bar and great people is why this makes the cut in my Indianapolis Menu Guide.

So this week the Marketing Team here at Compendium was kind of lacking in its typical numbers. If you want to check out what Compendium Blogware has been up to, check out our website by Clicking Here.

There were only three of us that were able to go out to lunch this time. So Monica was the big decision maker of the day and took us to a place that was literally hidden unless you had heard about it. Gabriel's, located just north of the Baker&Daniel's building on meridian, was the location of our weekly lunch venture. The menu there is very extensive and I think Monica put it best when she said that there is "so much variety, its hard to decide what you want". I found myself changing my mind several times up until the time that I was forced to order because there was a line forming behind me. We all ordered the "Pick 2" meal which comes with a 1/2 of a sandwich and a soup or salad. I got the Turkey Melt with a bowl of Chili (I guess that counts as a soup). Both were very tasty and very filling. I actually had homemade chili the night before, with my roommates and Gabriel's chili was comparable. Monica ordered the Turkey Melt with a Spinach salad. She said that it was "good food at a good value" and both were delicious. Meghan ordered the Chili and the half of the Grilled Ham & Cheese sandwich. She said it was very good; the Chili was delicious and tasted homemade and gave her that "homemade feel". The portion sizes were perfect; not too much food, but filled you up and the next time she goes back she will get the homemade Mac and Cheese. She also mentioned that the bread was "perfectly toasted". She means that the bread made the sandwich better because it wasn't mushy, nor was it like a piece of burn carbon bread.

As for the atmosphere, it was almost like a cafeteria type setting. You first grab your tray and silverware. Then you place your order and go pay your bill. You go and sit down and your food is brought out to you. So I guess it is kind of like an upscale cafeteria. Meghan thought the atmosphere was really cool, with the different lights around and different colored paints on the wall. The people there are very nice and very quick with your food order. One last thing, they take both cash and credit when you go, so you don't have to worry about stopping at an ATM prior to going there. So if you are interested in a place to eat that will give you that "home cooking" feeling for your lunchbreak, go ahead and check out Gabriel's Cafeteria & Sandwich Shoppe located at 320 North Meridian, right in the heart of downtown.

Another great Nicki Laycoax's Indianapolis Restaurant Reviews.   I'm sure Nicki is working on client business with Squish Designs while she's eating all these meals...or maybe she is talking to the owners about using Squish to help them grow their business.  Who am I to not take advantage of a great reviewer...thank you Nicki!

___________________________________________________________________

Dick's Bodacious BBQ
http://www.dicksbbq.com
50 N. Pennsylvania St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone:(317)916-9600
Fax:  (317)916-9605


What a fun title. On Monday, November 3, 2008 my partner and
I ate at Dick's Bodacious BBQ. I was really excited to eat
at the Downtown Indianapolis restaurant  location because I had eaten it before at
the Verizon Wireless Center in Noblesville, and it was SOOOO
delicious.

I didn't realize, until I started writing this blog post, that
Dicks' is not a nationwide chain, but rather a local restaurant!
They used to have locations open in Avon and at the Verizon
Wireless Center in Noblesville, but the only location that remains open is the one
at the corner of Market and Pennsylvania Streets in Downtown Indy.

The staff was so amazingly helpful, and made the decision making process almost like fast food for new patrons of the restaurant. Of course everything
sounded good, but I was encouraged to try the special of the day-Smoked
Salmon. It was the best salmon that I have had! We also had wings,
a Pulled Pork BBQ sandwich, green beans, sweet potatoes, and a
large drink. All of it was delicious!

Price for 2 meals with sides was approximately $23.

Do I recommend as part of my Indianapolis dining guide? You betcha!

Unique thing at the restaurant? BBQ sauce served in motor oil looking
bottles to top your BBQ that is served sans sauce, for your saucing
preference!

Once again my good friend Nicki Laycoax of Squish Designs has come up with a fantastic review of another place to go under the category: best restaurant Indianapolis.

14 West Restaurant at 14 West Maryland
www.14westindy.com

14 West Maryland Street
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46204
Telephone: (317) 636-1414
Email:     customerservice@14westindy.com

A colleague of mine that I met as a result of blogging, treated me to a nice lunch at 14 West Restaurant. It was my first visit, but had heard great things about the restaurant and the suites that are  above this downtown Indianapolis restaurant, from multiple people.

The restaurant has a great wine list, exciting menu, and very able catering
staff. (I thought I saw a full bar, but I can't confirm from the website)
Ashley Sorenson, the very sweet and professional Hotel and
Banquet Manager made certain that our dining experience was great!

In the picture, you are looking at the Caesar Salad topped with
Seared Tuna as well as the Crab Cakes. We also had the Red Garnet
Yam Soup and the Lobster Brie Macaroni&Cheese.

This restaurant is recommended for those on a professional lunch or
dinner meeting and would also be a nice spot for a romantic Indianapolis date restaurant. At lunch, the music playing in the background was modern adult contemporary.  It was a nice change from what I normally hear in restaurants.

Summary: Food was absolutely excellent. Prices were moderate. Service was perfect.

Reserve your table now!

Buggs Temple
337 W 11th Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
317.955.2389

So how do I evaluate a downtown Indianapolis restaurant? Especially for Lunch?  Ambiance, convenience and food.   To me, to get a designation as one of the best lunch restaurants in Indianapolis you have to start with how it feels.   Most of the time you want a place you can have a conversation, a restaurant that’s attractive and friendly….a place that’s cool so you glow in how cool it is to your guest.

Buggs Temple at the north end of the Downtown Indy Canal meets that criteria.  I never even heard of Buggs Temple before 11am this morning, but Kyle Saylers of Clarian Health Ventures treated me today and it was fantastic.  It’s a great old church located right on the tip of the Canal.  It was a little bit of a hike from my office on the downtown Indianapolis Circle and I saw there was plenty of parking. Inside were huge windows looking over the canal…it was a little chilly for the outside deck, but it looked beautiful.  The waiters were fantastic, fun, knew the menu and were wearing June Cleaver aprons,  Our guy knew the menu, was friendly and attentive while giving us plenty of space to have our conversation.

I've not been to this Indianapolis downtown restaurant  at night, but imagine it's a great place for a date.   Supposedly there is an upstairs that has terrific views and is one of the top spots for Indianapolis fine dining.  The menu did include Steak and Seafood along with great grilled sandwiches.  I had a Cuban, which came with a fresh mixed salad.  I'm not sure about breakfast, and their website is one of the worst I've ever seen.

This week, the Marketing Team here at Compendium Blogware, along with our newest member Chantelle decided to go to China King just right around the corner from our office. If you want to read up on Compendium Blogware, you can Click Here to check it out!

We first weren’t sure where we wanted to go, but when the idea of Chinese came up we decided that is where we were going to get our usual Friday lunch. Mikey ordered General Tso’s Chicken and said, “The General was commanding my taste buds.” So I would have to guess that he enjoyed it, along with his fried rice. He ordered some dumplings, but didn’t end up eating too many because he was filled up by “The General”. Chantelle ordered an array of foods. She had Crab Rangoon, Hot and Sour Soup, along with a side of Steamed White Rice. When she got her food, I noticed that her rice came in a huge container and she ordered a “small” side of rice. Meghan ordered the Sesame Chicken with Fried Rice lunch special. The other Megan ordered the Veggie Lo Mein and only had one complaint. She had wished that the veggies in the food were a little larger. As for me, I ordered one of my default dishes when ordering Chinese… Beef with Broccoli along with fried rice. I thought the food was delicious and probably better tasting than any small Chinese food place. Also, make sure that you realize that if you go in a group and you eat in… they will bring all your food out at the same time. BE CAREFUL when you first start eating it. The food is VERY hot. I made the mistake of jumping right into it and burnt my tongue… OUCH! So open it up and let it cool for a few before you dive into your Chinese chow. We all agreed that the portions that they serve are much bigger than you might expect and the price is very reasonable for the amount of food that you get.

As for other things that might be of interest to you, Chantelle mentioned that the place would be great for winter time because you can call in and get carry out, and they even deliver. Meghan said that if you are going to China King expecting a Chinese Food chain experience, you had better think twice. It is different than a typical chain. The food is very authentic and so is the atmosphere of the restaurant. Also, the rush comes in about Noon, so if you don’t want to wait in line you should either have it delivered or go before or after the rush at Noon. I would imagine the rush dies down about 1:30 or 2 o’clock. Another point of note, they take both cash AND credit card… so you don’t have to rush to the ATM before you get there. So if you are looking for a Chinese place to eat here downtown that won’t require you sitting there for two hours… Check out China King, located at 148 N. Delaware St in downtown Indianapolis.

Romano's Macaroni Grill
Carmel Indiana
2375 116th East
Carmel, IN 46032
317-582-1637



Today I had a great lunch up in Carmel Indiana with Patty Bender of Compendium Blogware client Sheetz Century 21.  

I've never been to a Macaroni Grill before and usually try and avoid the big box eateries on Indy's north side.  If I'm looking for the best Italian food in Indianapolis, I'm not sure this would be my first choice.  

Until now that is.   Every time I have this experience, I have to just say:  "Chris Baggott: Get over yourself"   Romano's Macaroni Grill  is awesome.  I can't say for dinner, but for a lunch restaurant it was fantastic.  The environment is high end Italian cusine. I love an Italian Restaurant that has bread and olive oil on the table....just sets the quality meter up right from the start.

I had the Grilled Halibut Seasoned halibut topped with a tomato basil relish and served with pesto Parmesan risotto for $16.99.  Clever marketers that they are, each item on the menu was accompanied by the Chef's Recommended Wine.  In this case a Chardonnay by Mezzacorona (Italy).  

I'm guessing that this place packs them in at night, but the bar is huge and looks like a lot of fun.   Patty and I kept it to business and didn't indulge in any wine or cocktails, but for a lunch meeting is was one of the best restaurant experiences I've had in Indianapolis.

One last great thing about Romano’s Macaroni Grill is their Curbside to Go program.  Call or order Indianapolis Best Italian food online and pick it up at the curb.   They have great to-go family style food too!

oh..and they teach you Italian in the bathroom and on the site:

Impress Mom and Pop with anniversary wishes spoken in Italian. Or learn how to celebrate the evening - Italian style.

Sample: English - "Happy Anniversary!" Italian - "Felice anniversario!

Listen to It in Italian here....