THE FRIENDLY TAVERN
By Duncan
In the past week I’ve had lunch at two historic Indianapolis restaurants. Historic may be a little over the top, but it depends on your definition of historic. Could being in business for a very long time make a restaurant historic? Historic could mean “well-known,” or “important in history.” How about “an institution?” Does “iconic” work for you?
In my innocent naive youth I was lured into a multi-level marketing system called A.L. Williams. The concept was to trash Whole Life Insurance, in favor of much cheaper Term Life Insurance. The savings each month would allow a person to invest in equities.
So in lay language, take a ($100.00) monthly Whole Life Insurance policy, trade it for Term Life Insurance ($20.00) and invest the savings ($80.00) in stocks. There by becoming incredibly rich.
Yeah, I know it seemed like a good idea at the time. During my exposure to this system, I got to know some interesting people. One of these people was a pharmacist working at a well known drugstore chain. He and I were looking for a way to build our fortunes. We happen to like each other and would compare notes for each of us to achieve our goal of becoming a millionaire.
As time marches on, we go our separate ways. Off and on I would run into David at the drugstore. He was still behind the counter and I was still selling mortgage money. We would chat and the conversation would go something like this.
“How-ya doing?”
“I’m working on my second million, I’ve given up on the first million.”
I didn’t realize David was reading this blog. And he sent me an email.
“Great Story Duncan. We need to break bread soon! I'm up for an iconic lunch.... not just your run of the mill restaurant. It doesn't have to be pricey. But iconic it must be.”
Well, that’s a pretty tall order for lunch. Not historic, not an institution, not important in history, but “iconic.” I had to look up the origin of the word “iconic.”
“Iconic,” and “icon,” derives from the Greek for eikon, meaning a representation or image; initially that image was religious. In early versions of the New Testament, after Jesus asks what “eikon” is on the coins, he declares: “Then render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.”
If you had to pick a place for lunch in your area, what restaurant would you consider “iconic?” I began my search and asked Google for all the “iconic” restaurants in Indianapolis. That wasn’t much help. I had to devise my own meaning of the word “iconic.”
We have lots of very pricey restaurants in Indianapolis, Saint Elmo’s comes to mind. The iconic personality of Payton Manning comes to mind, feeding his football team, after an NFL win, at Saint Elmo’s is certainly “iconic” in my mind. Two icon’s for the price of one. But, Saint Elmo’s is way too pricey.
I happen to look at a community southeast of downtown Indianapolis, called Fletcher Place. My mother (Lucy) along with her mother (Sister Sarah Purdue - Penticostal) lived in the area back in the late 30’s and early 40’s. The area is being revitalized and is considered a very trendy upscale (iconic perhapes) neighborhood. Let's see if there is an iconic restaurant in the area. And yes, there are several opinions. I decided on Bluebeards.
I decided on the date, the time, and the restaurant, and suggested we meet at Bluebeards. I have never been to Bluebeards and was looking forward to a new experience. EAT. DRINK. EXPLORE. Bluebeards is an award-winning restaurant for people with an appetite for adventure. That’s right up David’s iconic alley.
No matter how carefully a project is planned, something may still go wrong. The saying is adapted from a line in “To a Mouse,” by Robert Burns: “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” And needless to say, my suggestion of Bluebeard fell on deaf ears.
I won’t leave you in suspense. I picked three other places. I came up with Rosie’s Place in Noblesville, Muldoon’s in Carmel, and Friendly Tavern in Zionsville. David decided he liked the idea of Zionsville, The Friendly Tavern.
SCOTT BARNES
The Friendly Tavern has been around for 60 years. The building was built in 1875. Scott Barnes, the current owner purchased the building and business in 2002. Barnes always liked Zionsville and considered The Friendly Tavern as being an icon of the community. Barnes is known to say, “We’re the Cheers of Zionsville.”
David wanted to ride to Zionsville together in the “Mean Yellow.” When we arrived at The Friendly, Scott Barnes greeted us as usual, giving us that award winning smile, making us feel like someone special. Then, the ever effervescent Erin, (Our Waitress) came to our table and the fun began.
“So, Erin, my dear, what is special today? Besides YOU!!!”
“You mean beside you two studs who just happen to walk in da-place?”
“Erin, are you working-us for a big tip?”
“Well, this is the second Tuesday of the month fellas, and every second Tuesday you are going to like the special I have for you today. Steak, mashed potatoes with brown gravy and corn.”
“What’s the damage on that lunch special?”
“$9.99.”
“You gotta be kidding. Medium-rare for me.”
Looking in disbelief, David said, “I’ll have what he is having.”
David and I began to reminisce about where he has been for the last twenty years.
As the lunch was coming to a close, Erin asked if we wanted dessert? David asked what have you got in mind? Erin went into her soft shoe and a special prepared at home by one of the other waitresses.
“You see that lady over there [Betty - Waitress] she makes cinnamon apple dumplings at home and if you have never had her cinnamon apple dumplings, with a ball of creamy vanilla ice cream on top, you haven’t lived.”
David was quick to jump all over the cinnamon apple dumpling ala mode idea. I was satisfied with the steak dinner, but the look on David’s face was, “Aren't you going to have a cinnamon apple dumpling with creamy vanilla ice cream with me?”
Erin stood patiently next to the table as my mind went off into the stratosphere.
I remember while being on a motorcycle trip with another friend in Colorado. We pulled our motorcycles over next to the cold rushing waters next to the road. As we settled onto the grass and watched the water move swiftly from right to left, my friend offered me a beer. I don’t care for the taste of beer. But he also had another surprise in store for me. He had purchased several Hostess cherry pies.
And he wanted me to share a beer and a Hostess Cherry Pie with him.
“Aren't you going to have a beer and a Hostess Cherry Pie with me?”
I came out of my trance and looked up at Erin who had her pen poised ready to take the order. Her face was simply, one order of cinnamon apple dumpling with a ball of creamy vanilla ice cream or two? I looked over at David. There was that same face looking at me again, as if to say “Please, have a cinnamon apple dumpling with creamy ice cream with me.”
Talk about peer pressure. So, I gave in and decided to order one too. David was in heaven, he was out of this world with his cinnamon apple dumplin, but I could only eat about half of mine. I was stuffed. All of a sudden Betty, the apple dumpling making waitress happened to be walking by our table.
“Betty, are you the one who makes the cinnamon apple dumplings for the Friendly Tavern?”
Betty was very excited that we stopped her and she explained everything is made from scratch. Yes, she makes about 60 dumplings a week in her own kitchen at home. A little side business for Betty. David gave her high praise for her culinary achievements. She walked away very pleased that someone recognized her, and loved knowing first hand that a customer was very pleased with her dumplings.
It was a very pleasant lunch today with an old friend. I have lamented before in a different post that it's much more enjoyable to meet your friends Face To Face, instead of sitting behind a computer monitor or cell phone.
