Stone Creek - Zionsville

Wednesday March 27, 2013

Stone Creek Dinning

4450 Weston Pointe Dr #15

Zionsville, IN 46077

317-873-9700

Website: http://www.stonecreekdining.com/Zionsville/
Type of Food: American Dining

Price: $6.00 - $30.00

Date Potential: Third Date for good conversation

Dress: business casual

Appetizers: 3/5 stars

Entrée: 4/5 stars

Atmosphere: 3/5 stars

Atmosphere

Stone Creek in Zionsville is hidden in a strip mall next to a dental practice. The outside is not terribly impressive, but the inside is lit for a romantic mood. I did not like that the dining spaces felt closed off from the rest of the restaurant - almost sectioned out at different points - and the tables were pushed a bit close together. Overall, though, the restaurant was clean, and not terribly loud.

Service

Our waitress was helpful; however we did have to request the early bird menu, as we arrived at 5:30 and they do not simply provide it to you at the table. The staff was helpful and courteous. We did have errors on our bill that caused a delay in our ability to pay and leave; however, they were corrected.  

Food

The starters - fresh bread with dipping oils and salad - were a good starting off point. The oil had a sun-dried tomato flavor to it, which made it a bit different than the oil at other restaurants. The salad was crisp and light, and offered a large selection of dressings you would not find elsewhere. For my entrée, I chose the bone-in pork chop which was accompanied by mashed potatoes and a vegetable medley.  The pork chop was cooked well, but mostly bland in flavor. The mashed potatoes were delicious, and the vegetables were steamed well. Overall I would say it was worth the lower price I paid; however, at full price I would have been disappointed.

Overview

I would go back to Stone Creek to enjoy the Early Bird specials and half-priced wine on Monday night. However, I would not mark it as a must-eat attraction for Zionsville.

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Plum's Upper Room - Zionsville

WEdnesday March 20, 2013

Plum’s Upper Room

 

112A South Main Street

Zionsville, IN 46077

317-873-5577

Website: www.plumsupperroom.com
Type of Food: European Farm to Table

Price: $3.00 - $60.00

Date Potential: Second or Third date; romantic atmosphere

Dress: business casual to dressy attire

Appetizers: 4/5 stars

Entrée: 4/5 stars

Atmosphere: 5/5 stars

Atmosphere

While walking down main street Zionsville, you might even miss this hidden gem across from the black dog bookstore. As you walk up a wooden stair case, with tea candles lighting your way, you are welcomed into a warm and open upper dining room. The dining area is light with tea candles and unique lighting pieces to show off the exposed brick walls and barnwood ceilings. Simply sitting at a small table by the window, you could spend hours looking and soaking in this place.

 

Service

Our waitress was knowledgeable, friendly, and seemed passionate (like the restaurant) about the farm to table and made to order food she served. She also made it clear, the restaurant take a European idea about dining and encourages their guests to stay all night if they wish. this is truly refreshing, as many restaurants these days cannot seem to get you to leave soon enough.

 

Food

The food was exactly what I was hoping for in this already exciting atmosphere. There were daily specials, which I chose my entrée from, and then a small menu of well-prepared dishes the chef enjoys. We started with small salads, which were fresh and full of flavor. Accompanying the salads was fresh French bread with a balsamic and olive oil mixture that would leave you licking the bowl for more. My entrée was a seared duck breast with a wasabi infused sauce, paired with roasted radishes. I could not get enough of the wasabi sauce, with an earthy yet spicy flavor, it truly completed the meal.

 

Overview

Overall I could not recommend the dining experience more highly. If you enjoy fresh and well thought out food, a kind and knowledgeable staff, an atmosphere worth soaking in for hours, and a new and creative menu, then the upper room is for you.

 

 

 

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Chatham Tap - Fishers, IN

Wednesday March 6, 2013

Chatham Tap

8211 E. 116th St

Fishers, IN 46204

317-845-1090

Website: www.chathamtap.com
Type of Food: Pub

Price: $6.00 - $33.00

Date Potential: Meeting your friends

Dress: Casual

Entrée: 3/5 stars

Atmosphere: 1/5 stars

Atmosphere

Chatham Tap is located in one of Fishers’ strip malls off 116^th and can easily be seen if you are driving West on 116^th. However, if you are unsure of the exact location and coming East, you could easily miss it. The outside of the building is not very impressive, but it does give off an inviting vibe.

Service

We were greeted at the door by a gentleman who had previously been sitting at a table with customers, and were quickly taken to a table near those customers. There seemed to be some confusion about employees’ sections, as we were told to expect a different waiter, but the same gentleman who seated us ended up being our server. While he was very polite, he did seem a bit distracted for what appeared to be a relaxed and even slow evening; at one point, after dinner had been served, we were not sure if he was ever going to come back to the table.

Food/Drinks

We decided to try an appetizer since we were both a bit on the hungry side and needed something to tide us over. We chose the lettuce wraps, thinking this would be a light but flavorful option while we chose what to have for dinner and caught up with each other. We were wrong. The lettuce - the three pieces that were there - was soggy and towards the ends had been left to sit in a pool of what, based on its extreme saltiness, we believed to be soy sauce. The chicken and accompanying sauce did not add much flavor, and while the slaw on the side provided the crunch I was hoping for, it did little to enhance the overall experience.

I decided to try the steak sandwich for my entrée: a nice piece of steak over warm bread, topped with a fried egg and a melted piece of pepper jack cheese. I chose a side of fries, as we all know I have a passion for a good French fry. Overall, the entrée was well put together and satisfying. I enjoyed the kick the pepper jack cheese provided to the dish, and the egg was cooked well. However, the steak was by no means the medium rare I had ordered, and since this is not a “chain” restaurant (such as Applebees, Chili’s, etc.) and I was not informed otherwise, I had assumed ordering my meat medium rare was not a problem. The bread underneath the steak was fine, but did not have the crunch to the crust that I was hoping for. I would, however, eat those fries a few more times; with a good crunchy outside and a soft inside, they were a winner.

Overview

For the most part I enjoyed Chatham Tap for its English Pub style and its charm, but I cannot not say I was wowed by the service or the food enough to recommend going out of your way to eat there. Chatham Tap might be a good location to sit at the bar and have a beer while watching a soccer or rugby match, but I would not recommend it as a must-eat destination in Fishers. While the entrees were fine, the lackluster appetizer and less-than-stellar service might keep me from trying this location again.

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