Oaken Barrel

Oaken Barrel

50 Airport Parkway

Greenwood, IN 46143

(317) 887-2287

 

Website: www.oakenbarrel.com

*excellent mobile site*
Type of Food: American Pub and Brewery

Price: $2.00 - $33.00

Date Potential: First date drinks and appetizers

Dress: Casual

Appetizers: 4/5 stars

Entrée: 3/5 stars

Atmosphere: 4/5 stars

Atmosphere

If you are visiting Oaken Barrel for the first time, keep a watchful eye while driving down Main Street or you may do the same thing I did and drive right past this place. Once you arrive, you will be pleased by the fun set-up of this strip mall that looks like something out of the Old West. Inside, there are separate areas for bar and family dining. I enjoyed this arrangement, as I’m sure families do, because it created a relaxed, casual atmosphere.

 

Service

From the hostess to the wait staff, the service was exceptional. Our waitress, Dominique, had a smile that could make you feel right at home. She was attentive without being overbearing and always got our orders right, even when the first beverage I ordered was not on their menu.

 

Food

The beers were wonderful. I know many people have tried the Razz Wheat beer, which is lovely, but I recommend doing what I was told to do: mix the Razz Wheat with the Oaken Barrel Porter. It mingles the flavor of the Razz Wheat with the full bodied Porter all at once. I also sampled a pint of their IPA, Super Fly, which as a hoppy beer lover I found delicious and an excellent complement to my entrée. We had the Cowboy Caviar for an appetizer; though this dish is simple and has few ingredients, I could have eaten it all night. This mixture of black beans, cream cheese, veggies, and melted cheddar cheese served with tortilla chips is a must-have! For my entrée I ordered the buffalo chicken sandwich. I know that sounds a little anti-climactic, but if you like buffalo chicken as much as I do, you know it’s hard to find a place that makes it correctly. I asked for mine grilled, which can sometimes lead to too little sauce, but my sandwich was excellent. I will say though, the sandwich was overshadowed by the french fries. The fries were steak-cut to provide that soft pillowiness inside, but battered to allow for a nice crunch on the outside to please any fry lover. Overall I don’t think you will go wrong with any dish as long as long as it is paired with fries.

 

Overview

Overall I would go back to Oaken Barrel in a heartbeat, either for dinner or just to get a growler filled for $5 on a Wednesday night. The staff is friendly; the restaurant is fun, clean, and nicely decorated. I would recommend anyone make the drive to check this wonderful brewery out!

 

 

 

 

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Brewstone - Indianapolis, IN

Brewstone Beer Company

3720 E. 82^nd Street

Indianapolis, IN 46240

317-577-7800

Website: www.brewstonerestaurant.com

*excellent mobile site*
Type of Food: American Pub

Price: $8.00 - $33.00

Date Potential: First date drinks and appetizers

Dress: Casual to straight from work attire

Appetizers: 4/5 stars

Entrée: 1/5 stars

Atmosphere: 3/5 stars

Atmosphere

Walking up to the Brewstone in January is a bit unimpressive. During a Midwestern winter that can be expected of most places, but the patio still looked like a forgotten space with furniture left out to (hopefully) withstand the elements. Once inside we were greeted nicely by the two hostesses standing behind a large structure which seems to serve as a “hang out” spot for employees. We were quickly seated towards the rear of the restaurant near a fire place. From our table we had a good view of the entire restaurant, which centers around a medium-sized bar area. I would expect this to be the main attraction in a restaurant labeled as a beer company, but the design left something to be desired. The area seemed cramped, dark, and unwelcoming to diners. I would not recommend this as a family spot, given that the restaurant is centered around the bar, the televisions almost exclusively play sports channels, and the music is late 80s to early 90s pop.

 

Service

Our waitress, Karyl, greeted us promptly and was helpful and polite. I was disappointed to learn that this “beer company” does not brew any of its own beers; however, they do carry a large variety on tap which includes many local companies. Our waitress suggested we begin with the lettuce wraps, and I am glad she did.

 

Food

The lettuce was crunchy and looked fresh but felt a bit frozen towards the stem, and the chicken filling was a sweet and spicy delight. I would recommend this dish to any patron looking for a light but flavorful starter. We then had our meal: I ordered the Brewstone burger, and my dining partner had the mac & cheese. My dining partner won this round. The burger consisted of a medium rare patty topped with cheddar cheese, BBQ sauce, applewood smoked bacon, and onion rings. With this many toppings one would expect a burst of flavor in every bite; unfortunately, this is an incorrect assumption. The burger was cooked to a proper medium rare, but all of the toppings lacked flavor. The bacon was lost in a sea of lackluster BBQ sauce, greasy cheese, and soggy onion rings. I was only able to eat half before giving up on this dish, but luckily my dining partner’s mac & cheese was almost spot-on. The noodle were cooked well, covered in a gooey but not overpowering cheese, and topped with nicely grilled pieces of chicken. I am lucky that she is good at sharing!

 

Overview

Overall I would give Brewstone a second try, as the appetizer and my dining partner's entrée were both excellent and worth the price. I will be interested to see what the restaurant looks and feels like in the warmer months.

 

 

 

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