Wednesday, August 21, 2013

10 01 Food and Drink - Broad Ripple


Wednesday August 21, 2013

10 01 Food and Drink



1001 Broad Ripple Ave

Indianapolis, IN

317-253-1001


Website: http://www.1001fooddrink.com/
Type of Food: Contemporary Casual

Price: $6.00 - $25.00

Date Potential: Dinner/Drinks with friends

Dress: casual to business casual

Appetizers: 3/5 stars

Entrée: 3/5 stars

Atmosphere: 3/5 stars

Atmosphere

The atmosphere of 10 01 is a casual, yet hint of upscale vibe. The patio is a great dinning experience if you enjoy people watching, however it can get a bit loud and crowded. While the atmosphere is fine, there is nothing particularly spectacular about the interior of 10 01 food and drink.

 

Service

The service at 10 01 is excellent; it was the best part of my night. Obviously, I have high service standards and the staff at 10 01 met every single one of those standards. The service experience is excellent and would be the reason for my return to 10 01.

 

Food

The menu at 10 01 provides a chance to sample different cuisines, and offers many fresh and locally grown products, which I was happy to see. The food in general though was, like the atmosphere, nothing too spectacular. While the food filled my stomach and was nicely done, it did not leave me begging for more, or tempted to lick my plate clean. If I were to recommend an item, I would suggest giving the flat breads a try; I sampled the bacon, green apple, blue cheese, and garlic puree.

 

Overview

Overall I was underwhelmed by 10 01’s atmosphere and food. The service is above and beyond, which can cover a multitude of “sins”. I would encourage you to give them a try, and see what you think.

 

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Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Brewstone - Update


Wednesday August 7, 2013

Brewstone Beer Company


3720 E. 82nd Street

Indianapolis, IN 46240

317-577-7800


Website: www.brewstonerestaurant.com
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: 2/5 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.
Unfortunately, it seems the restaurants outside dinning isn't utilized to it's full potential in the summer months either. While patrons were lingering and mingling outside, it did not seem to be a dinning area.

 

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.
The service among the waitstaff remains excellent, however I found myself wanting a bit more customer service in the bar area.
 

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!
Sadly, the food remains sub-par and does not entice me to return rather than visit the many establishments of it's kind within a 3 minute walking distance.

 

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.
After visiting again, in warmer weather, I have come to the conclusion, that while the Brewstone can be a fun place to maybe hang out, I would not specifically choose this restaurant as a must see/go to for an Indy foodie.

 

 

 

 
Interested in having your establishment reviewed?
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indyfoodiereviews@gmail.com