The Rathskeller is a lovely German restaurant located in the heart of downtown. Formerly in the building known as Das Deutsche Haus, the current name of the building is now the Athenaeum.
So my experience at the Rathskeller was incredibly enjoyable. We arrived at the restaurant on a Thursday night, the weather was beautiful, and I was ready for some great German food. When we arrived, we had to walk down a flight of stairs to the lower section of the Athenaeum to reach our destination. When you arrive at the foot of the stairs, you see that you have several directions you can go. If you go straight, you will reach the Rathskeller's highly coveted bar area where you can enjoy a selection of some of the finest international beers in the world, or even go out into the concert area and enjoy a local band. I believe they call this area the "beer garden" if I'm not mistaken. If you take a left, as we did, you will run into the host stand for the Rathskeller restaurant.
Upon arriving at the host stand, we were promptly greeted by a friendly woman and then seated at a corner table in the dining room. Although our table was in the corner, which I wasn't extremely happy about, we were sat right next to a pretty great antique fireplace. Our waitress was very friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the items on the menu, and she knew a lot about the different beers on the menu, which was a nice touch to the service.
The food was pretty tasty, and I had absolutely nothing to complain about in in that department or anything else for that matter. We were served a fresh plate of breads, pumpernickel, pretzel, and white, along with spicy mustard for dipping to start. Shortly after, our soup and salad selections arrived offering a nice compliment to the fresh bread. After our first course, we were then served our entrees.
We had a large selection of sausages that came out for one our dinners, as well as chicken Diane for another. I will have to say that I have seen chicken Diane cooked so poorly that it was dry and tough. Believe me when I say that this was by far one of the best chicken dishes I've ever been served in my twenty-two years of eating. The chicken Diane was light, refreshing, and well balanced on flavors and doneness. It was accompanied by red beans and Cajun rice, as well as a baked potato. All of our food was really delicious and very enjoyable.
The atmosphere at the Rathskeller is interesting to say the least. If you are looking for a cookie cutter interior to dine in, then I would not suggest eating at this establishment. The inside is rustic, eclectic, yet very original. The entire building that the restaurant is in is actually quite a mystery itself. The Atheneaum is rumored to have many, many secret passages within its walls. And even some that are yet to be discovered. If you are looking for a good mystery with wonderful food, the Rathskeller is your place. I would highly recommend this restaurant for anyone that has a diverse interest in food.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The English Ivy
A neighborhood bar should be friendly, relaxing, enjoyable, and above all else, welcoming. I think that the best fit in downtown Indianapolis for this definition would be the English Ivy. Although I have not been to every bar in the city, which if I had at 22, that would pretty much make me an alcoholic, I feel like I have been to enough bars around town to know a comfortable place when I find one.
Although for a person such as myself, who frequents this rather enjoyable establishment often, the menu has gotten to be somewhat of a bore since the main menu rarely changes, that doesn't mean that a meal here isn't just as enjoyable as it ever was. The food choices offered at this local bar and restaurant can fulfill any range of appetites and diets, from the vegetarian to the steak aficionado. They cover all the bases within the available food selections by including a very sizable array of sandwich options, which are also available for dinner I believe, as well as seafood and Italian. If you visit their website, which is a three second trip to google to find, you can pull the whole menu up for yourself and see what I'm talking about.
When it comes to the overall atmosphere of this great little bar, I have heard many varied opinions. A lot of people don't like it because there is smoking in the bar section, and most of the patrons in this area partake in the activity. I look at atmosphere a little differently when it comes to bars, however. Since the average drinker generally spends a substantially larger amount of time in a bar as opposed to sitting down for dinner, I feel like the people make the atmosphere in a bar as opposed to the quality of the wall paneling and a non-smoking rule.
The patrons of the English Ivy are one of the closer crowds among the bars of Indy. Most of the individuals that socialize within its walls are a little older, and most of them have been bumping and grinding with one another for many years. Although the English Ivy is better known within the gay community of Indianapolis, it does not exclusively cater to it. You generally see all kinds for dinner service.
One last note about the atmosphere at the English Ivy is that you need to know what to expect if you have never been. It is just like any other bar in the sense that it attracts certain crowds at certain times of the day. Meaning, if you go in at midnight on a Friday night, expect to not only see plenty of drunk people, but often times promiscuous and even obnoxious drunk people.
If you are wanting a relaxing night out with good food, good friends, and great beer, all at an affordable price, then swing by the English Ivy for an evening of fun.
Although for a person such as myself, who frequents this rather enjoyable establishment often, the menu has gotten to be somewhat of a bore since the main menu rarely changes, that doesn't mean that a meal here isn't just as enjoyable as it ever was. The food choices offered at this local bar and restaurant can fulfill any range of appetites and diets, from the vegetarian to the steak aficionado. They cover all the bases within the available food selections by including a very sizable array of sandwich options, which are also available for dinner I believe, as well as seafood and Italian. If you visit their website, which is a three second trip to google to find, you can pull the whole menu up for yourself and see what I'm talking about.
When it comes to the overall atmosphere of this great little bar, I have heard many varied opinions. A lot of people don't like it because there is smoking in the bar section, and most of the patrons in this area partake in the activity. I look at atmosphere a little differently when it comes to bars, however. Since the average drinker generally spends a substantially larger amount of time in a bar as opposed to sitting down for dinner, I feel like the people make the atmosphere in a bar as opposed to the quality of the wall paneling and a non-smoking rule.
The patrons of the English Ivy are one of the closer crowds among the bars of Indy. Most of the individuals that socialize within its walls are a little older, and most of them have been bumping and grinding with one another for many years. Although the English Ivy is better known within the gay community of Indianapolis, it does not exclusively cater to it. You generally see all kinds for dinner service.
One last note about the atmosphere at the English Ivy is that you need to know what to expect if you have never been. It is just like any other bar in the sense that it attracts certain crowds at certain times of the day. Meaning, if you go in at midnight on a Friday night, expect to not only see plenty of drunk people, but often times promiscuous and even obnoxious drunk people.
If you are wanting a relaxing night out with good food, good friends, and great beer, all at an affordable price, then swing by the English Ivy for an evening of fun.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
The Adobo Grill
Recently had the dissatisfaction of having a meal at the Adobo Grill in downtown Indianapolis. Jonathan wanted to go for dinner, and that's where he chose. Although I was a little skeptical, I decided to to and hopefully enjoy the experience. I was very wrong.
When you walk in the front doors, there is a man with an ear piece that clearly runs the host stand. We were then sat in an elevated area that was set on a wooden platform not far from the stand we came to at the front door. After we were seated, it took about ten minutes when a very unpleasant, absentminded waiter came by and took our drink order. He seemed a little snooty, and quite frankly we could both tell that he felt like he had better things to do. After we received our drinks we started talking our day and that's when the real party killer came. A woman pushing a cart with fresh guacamole right past the table, making a loud rolling noise on the platform, almost smacked my elbow. Not only did she not even care if we were in her way, but she continually rolled that cart back and forth throughout the rest of our meal. Definitely a real let down.
Next came our appetizer, where the waiter gave us both "that" look. As soon as he put the tray down he raced away as though he didn't care about us at all. The appetizer, which consisted of three salsas, was mediocre at best, and we honestly didn't eat most of it. The main entrees that we both had, which were fish tacos, tasted EXTREMELY FISHY, and neither of us enjoyed them at all. I love fish and seafood with all my heart, but that fish really tasted like a cat had thrown up her can of kitty food right onto the stove in the back. Absolutely disgusting.
The atmosphere of the Adobo Grill is actually very nice. From the very modern bar, its bright colors and contemporary design, to the men walking around in sombreros singing to tables while playing their guitars, the restaurant as a whole provides a lovely mix between new and old world Mexican themes. This was only my first time going to this establishment, so I'm not your average "seasoned" customer for the Adobo Grill. I can tell you though that for a first impression, I would not recommend this facility for dining, which is mostly due to the poor service and food. I also feel like the food we ate was very overpriced for the overall quality of our meal.
Food: 2.0
Service: 1.0
Atmosphere: 5.0
When you walk in the front doors, there is a man with an ear piece that clearly runs the host stand. We were then sat in an elevated area that was set on a wooden platform not far from the stand we came to at the front door. After we were seated, it took about ten minutes when a very unpleasant, absentminded waiter came by and took our drink order. He seemed a little snooty, and quite frankly we could both tell that he felt like he had better things to do. After we received our drinks we started talking our day and that's when the real party killer came. A woman pushing a cart with fresh guacamole right past the table, making a loud rolling noise on the platform, almost smacked my elbow. Not only did she not even care if we were in her way, but she continually rolled that cart back and forth throughout the rest of our meal. Definitely a real let down.
Next came our appetizer, where the waiter gave us both "that" look. As soon as he put the tray down he raced away as though he didn't care about us at all. The appetizer, which consisted of three salsas, was mediocre at best, and we honestly didn't eat most of it. The main entrees that we both had, which were fish tacos, tasted EXTREMELY FISHY, and neither of us enjoyed them at all. I love fish and seafood with all my heart, but that fish really tasted like a cat had thrown up her can of kitty food right onto the stove in the back. Absolutely disgusting.
The atmosphere of the Adobo Grill is actually very nice. From the very modern bar, its bright colors and contemporary design, to the men walking around in sombreros singing to tables while playing their guitars, the restaurant as a whole provides a lovely mix between new and old world Mexican themes. This was only my first time going to this establishment, so I'm not your average "seasoned" customer for the Adobo Grill. I can tell you though that for a first impression, I would not recommend this facility for dining, which is mostly due to the poor service and food. I also feel like the food we ate was very overpriced for the overall quality of our meal.
Food: 2.0
Service: 1.0
Atmosphere: 5.0
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
The Propylaeum
As you walk up the steps to the Propylaeum, you almost have to stop and take in this massive Victorian beauty that has been witness to some of Indiana's finest women since before the turn of the 20th century. Then, when you reach the door, you wonder what can possibly be housed in this enormous building....
After walking through the two different sets of doors to reach the main hallway, taking a look around gives you a first hand look at how life used to be, a time before Facebook and cellphones. On the left side, there is a rather spacious room that includes several sitting areas, a variety of antiques, and an original fireplace. On the right side is a very ornate ten person dining area that is so fancy, you have to stop and admire the craftsmanship. As you continue down the hallway, you notice the incredibly large staircase with wood carvings that seems to command the attention of the room. At the foot of the stairs, we were then greeted by a seemingly grumpy old woman, who then took us back to the tea room for afternoon lunch.
The tea room is where you will have the distinct pleasure of lunching if you do decide to visit the Propylaeum. It is by far the most ornate room in the ten bedroom mansion in my opinion. From floor to ceiling, I was extremely impressed at the old world appeal of this wonderful dining space. Accompanied by the many antiques that hang on the walls, as well as the carved ceiling and sparkling chandelier, you will be taken back to the time when even the wealthiest of people prized the simple things in life. It also has a fireplace, but I'm not sure if they run the fireplace for their lunch service, as afternoon lunch is a relatively new concept for this establishment.
Upon being seated, we were met by a very friendly woman who then handed us our menus and took our drink orders. After inspecting the short but delightful menu, I chose the signature panini. My selection included a seemingly fresh scone and a side salad. Although I felt like the salad was a little dry, the roasted walnuts and lovely raspberry vinaigrette saved the dish. The service was a little slow in my opinion, however I was just taking in the scene and enjoying the time. If you do decide to go to the Propylaeum, you need to know that it is not a Wendy's drive thru. You need to put around an hour aside to really enjoy your stay. After lunch, you are also welcome to go up to the second and third floors to explore the Victorian beauty. That part is up to you though, just know that you will need at least thirty more minutes to see the rest of the house if you choose to do so.
Therefore, if you want to try a new place, backed with tons of old world character, the Propylaeum is a must for the eccentric culinary lover.
Food: 4.0
Atmosphere: 5.0
Service: 5.0
Overall Rating: 4.75
After walking through the two different sets of doors to reach the main hallway, taking a look around gives you a first hand look at how life used to be, a time before Facebook and cellphones. On the left side, there is a rather spacious room that includes several sitting areas, a variety of antiques, and an original fireplace. On the right side is a very ornate ten person dining area that is so fancy, you have to stop and admire the craftsmanship. As you continue down the hallway, you notice the incredibly large staircase with wood carvings that seems to command the attention of the room. At the foot of the stairs, we were then greeted by a seemingly grumpy old woman, who then took us back to the tea room for afternoon lunch.
The tea room is where you will have the distinct pleasure of lunching if you do decide to visit the Propylaeum. It is by far the most ornate room in the ten bedroom mansion in my opinion. From floor to ceiling, I was extremely impressed at the old world appeal of this wonderful dining space. Accompanied by the many antiques that hang on the walls, as well as the carved ceiling and sparkling chandelier, you will be taken back to the time when even the wealthiest of people prized the simple things in life. It also has a fireplace, but I'm not sure if they run the fireplace for their lunch service, as afternoon lunch is a relatively new concept for this establishment.
Upon being seated, we were met by a very friendly woman who then handed us our menus and took our drink orders. After inspecting the short but delightful menu, I chose the signature panini. My selection included a seemingly fresh scone and a side salad. Although I felt like the salad was a little dry, the roasted walnuts and lovely raspberry vinaigrette saved the dish. The service was a little slow in my opinion, however I was just taking in the scene and enjoying the time. If you do decide to go to the Propylaeum, you need to know that it is not a Wendy's drive thru. You need to put around an hour aside to really enjoy your stay. After lunch, you are also welcome to go up to the second and third floors to explore the Victorian beauty. That part is up to you though, just know that you will need at least thirty more minutes to see the rest of the house if you choose to do so.
Therefore, if you want to try a new place, backed with tons of old world character, the Propylaeum is a must for the eccentric culinary lover.
Food: 4.0
Atmosphere: 5.0
Service: 5.0
Overall Rating: 4.75
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