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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*All pictures and artwork are the property of the establishment listed in the review*

Boombozz - Carmel, IN

Wednesday 27, 2013

Boombozz

 

2430 E 146th St

Carmel, IN 46033

(317) 843-2666

Website: www.boombozz.com
Type of Food: Pizza

Price: $5.00 - $33.00

Date Potential: Dates 3 and beyond

Dress: Casual

Appetizers: 4/5 stars

Entrée: 3/5 Stars

Atmosphere: 2/5 stars

Atmosphere

 

Boombozz is your typical “family style” restaurant. Three-fourths of the restaurant is for all-ages dining, as it should be in an establishment whose claim to fame is unique pizzas. However, there is limited bar seating for those who would prefer not to sit in the cramped dining area. I have only eaten in the bar area, but when walking through the main room I was surprised that such a wide open space could feel so cramped full of tables and people.

 

Service

 

I was greeted warmly by our waiter while waiting for my dining companion to arrive, and he informed me of the drink specials for the evening and explained the different beers well. The only real complaint I had was that after informing him I would be waiting until my dining companion arrived to consider ordering more than water, he still came and asked me again about 5 minutes later. Other than this one small blip the service was prompt, friendly, and knowledgeable and everyone seemed to enjoy being there.

 

Food

 

We decided to take advantage of a special (called two for twenty) which included an appetizer, a salad for each of us, and a medium pizza. Our salads were fresh, and something you would hope to be served before a dinner. We had soft pretzels as our appetizer; I would recommend ordering them if you ever choose to visit. The queso they serve with the pretzels is the highlight; our waiter even recommended keeping the sauce to dip our pizza crust into. The pretzels were soft on the inside, lightly crunchy on the outside, and had a good ratio of salt. Last, we ordered the buffalo chicken pizza. We chose the original crust, which had a light crunch on the outside with a bit of fluffiness. While I was disappointed that there were onions on the pizza when I requested none, the waiter caught it and did offer to have a fresh pizza brought out. The toppings were good and the sauce was not overpoweringly spicy as some buffalo sauces can be. Overall, I had a happy belly at the end of this evening.

 

Overview

 

I enjoyed my time at Boombozz, and would return. I would prefer if it were located in a slightly less congested area of the city, but that will not keep me away. I would recommend trying to keep the main dining area as open as the bar area; however, the families dining did not seem to care, and I had the option of dining in the bar area to get a bit more elbow room. Check out Boombozz if you want unique pizza flavors and an eclectic collection of local and Midwestern beers.

 

 

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Twenty Tap - Broad Ripple, IN

Wednesday February 20, 2013

Twenty Tap

 

5408 N. College Ave

Indianapolis, IN 46220

317-602-8840

Website: www.twentytap.com

*new beer list for each day*
Type of Food: Brewery/Pub

Price: $2.00 - $33.00

Date Potential: 3^rd or 4^th Date, Meeting your friends

Dress: Casual

Beer: 4/5 stars

Entrée: 5/5 stars

Atmosphere: 4/5 stars

Atmosphere

Walking up to twenty tap, you might even miss it during the day. The outside does not do justice to the wonders going on inside this wonderful establishment. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming. While we chose to go on a Thursday evening, and there was quite a crowd, I did not feel overwhelmed or crowded once in the dining room. I will admit, the bar area was a bit squashed in, but they all seemed like people I could enjoy for 20 minutes.

 

Service

The staff was knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly enjoys their place of employment. From the bartenders who served us our beers while we waited for a table, to the waiter in the dining room, I felt taken care of and knew I was in good hands.

 

Food/Drinks

While we did not eat a lot, what I did sample was delicious. One of my dining companions told me to try the French fries, and while I am not usually impressed by most restaurants fries, I trust her and gave them a try. I ordered them with the Chipotle Aioli and Beer Cheese sauce, and I am glad I did! Both dipping options gave a different flavor to the fries, while still being able to taste the delicious potato. If you are simply looking for a snack while having a couple beers, this is a great option!

 

The drinks were everything you want and more! They have a pint of the day for a reasonable price, however if you are not flexible on type of beer then this is not the option for you. The beer of the day changes as soon as the keg runs out, so there could be 3-6 or more different “beers of the day” that day. They also offer flights of beers; you choose 3 different beers and receive a tasting portion, for just a dollar more than a regular pint. This is a good option if you know a type of beer you like but don’t know brewers, or if you want to be adventures but on a smaller scale.

 

Overview

I cannot get enough of twenty tap! The food and atmosphere are relaxed, but fun, and if you love beer, look no further!

 

 

 

 

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Stacked Pickle - West Carmel

Saturday January 26th

Stacked Pickle

 

4335 West 106th Street

Indianapolis, IN 46032

317.876.0981

Website: www.stackedpickle.com/west-carmel.html
Type of Food: American Pub

Price: $8.00 - $33.00

Date Potential: Too loud for dates 1-3

Dress: Casual

Appetizers: N/A

Entrée: 1/5 stars

Atmosphere: 2/5 stars

Atmosphere

 

If you are looking for somewhere in West Carmel to simply have a beer and watch one of your favorite Indiana teams, then I would recommend the new Stacked Pickle. However, if you are looking for a place to share a meal with your family, talk with friends, or possibly have a date, then I suggest avoiding this loud and congested establishment. While I am happy to see the old 106^th Street Grill pass on to a new phase, unfortunately not much has changed in terms of space. The bar has been opened up into the main dining room, merging the area into one restaurant instead of two, but with so many tables crushed into a small space, you’d better try to enjoy the group sitting next to you.

 

Service

 

We sat at the bar for dinner, as it was a Saturday night and getting a table for three seemed an impossible task. The bartender/waitress was nice but may have lacked training. Most of the staff spent time talking to each other about this and that and other, and non-bar staff members seemed to be hanging around the bar quite a bit to have conversations with the female bartenders. The largest disappointment came when I requested a condiment (buffalo sauce for my buffalo chicken sandwich). Our waitress came back almost 7 minutes later and informed me that the kitchen staff had told her “no!” When she explained that the staff was in “panic mode”, I got the feeling this group was not well trained for the opening of a new location.

 

Food

 

Though I have visited the Stacked Pickle in Carmel and enjoyed my meal there, I am sorry to say that I was disappointed by the food at this location. I ordered a buffalo chicken sandwich, but when it came out the breading was almost falling off the chicken, and I had to request a side of buffalo sauce since there was almost no trace of it on the sandwich. Unfortunately, I was not able to get extra sauce and chose to make do with what I had. I tried removing the bun, hoping less bread would help - it did not.

Both of my dining companions tried the chicken Caesar salad and were disappointed. There was almost no chicken to speak of, and the large portion of croutons that most of us have come to expect on this particular salad was almost non-existent. This was true for both the regular portion and the side portion that came with one of the main dishes.

Lastly, the fish tacos: I can honestly say I did not hear many complaints about this dish. However, there were not many compliments about it either. It seemed to be lacking that “something special” to make it a meal worth ordering over others at this particular establishment.

 

Overview

 

I would like to return to this Stacked Pickle location once they have been open for a couple more months. I am hoping that my experience can be an exception rather than the rule, as it is lovely having a new restaurant in this area. However, I would warn those curious aboutthis location to beware an inexperienced staff and lackluster food until they are able to reach the same quality as other locations in the city.

 

 

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* Please note the image above is not mine, but the propert of Stacked Pickle*