RESTAURANT REVIEWS
By Duncan
Over the past few months, I've embarked on a culinary journey with some cherished friends. As a travel blogger, you might expect me to explore exotic destinations like Ireland, France, Italy, or Greece. However, I'm taking you on a different kind of adventure today. Let’s call it the gastronomic wonders of the “Crossroads of America.”
THE FRIENDLY TAVERN, Zionsville, Indiana.
The Friendly is a true red, white, and blue mom-and-pop tavern owned and operated by Scott Barnes.
The building was built in the 1870s as a wagon works factory that made carriages. The next business was Russel and Son, a family-owned plumbing and heating business. In 1958, the ‘Sons’ Hearn and Earl of Russell and Son turned the building into a small restaurant.
Scott had his eye on the place for a long time. Scott was a worker bee for eight different restaurants for 25 years. He was tired of working for the “man.” He wanted to own his place, so he bought the building and the restaurant in 2002. He turned it into “Cheer’s.” Were “Everyone knows your name.”
My personal and very close friends, Jack and Martha, were on their way to vacation in Florida and suggested that we have lunch as they drove through Indianapolis.
Jack is an 'organizer' of big and small. He wanted to know where I would suggest they stop for lunch. Since they were driving from Wisconsin, I suggested they take a break before reaching the bustling city limits of Indianapolis, Indiana. On the northwest side of Indy is a quaint and charming community with cobblestone streets. Zionsville seemed the perfect spot for our rendezvous. And, of course, it’s always a pleasure to be in the company of my dear friends.
TAYLOR’S BAR & TABLE - Engalls, Indiana
Taylor’s Bar and Table is located on the far northeast side of Indianapolis in a small community called Pendleton/Ingalls. Ingalls is part of the Indianapolis, Carmel, and Anderson metropolitan statistical areas. The population of Ingalls is 2,223. Wow, that’s a small community in which to start a restaurant/bar.
When Clinton Hiatt (Left) heard about a possible new bar/restaurant location becoming available in Ingalls, his knee-jerk reaction was to say, “No Way.”
Kyle Davis (Right) said the location was in the middle of nowhere, so the idea was dropped.
One day, Clinton Hiatt dropped his daughter off at school and decided to “take a second look.” He drove around the neighborhoods and realized there were 2,200 high-priced homes with no restaurants or pubs near their homes.
“Son of a gun, somebody’s going to do really, really well there.”
Pablo Uribe (Center), Hiatt, and Davis put their collective heads together and decided, “The rewards were worth the risks.”
One day, my neighbor Joe Allman, who lives behind me, wanted to try something new for lunch. Of course, Joe has two ironclad requirements: They must serve Budweiser in a bottle, and the restaurant can’t be any further than ten minutes from his home. I lied to him about how far it was from his home.
We had the steak special. A strip steak, crispy fries, and a small side salad for $12.95. Joe's last comment was,
“We got to come back to this place.”
WENDY’S Brownsburg, Indiana
I was in Brownsburg (West of Indianapolis) and needed a quick bite before going to the VA Clinic for a check-up. I noticed long lines at the McDonald's next to the Wendy’s and thought, “I can get in and get out of Wendy’s in a hurry.” There was a reason no one was in the Wendy’s parking lot.
Two unmotivated young women ran the place. Neither of them was excited about anything, including waiting on me. I know it is hard to find help, but the front counter gal entered my order into the computer five times and then asked the young female cook in the kitchen for help.
I looked at the restaurant's general condition as I waited for my order. Then, I decided to walk around and take a few pictures of what I saw as problems.
The drink machine was not working, and it looked like it had not been working for a long time.
The sign on the drink machine.
Sign on the trash containers.
DAVE THOMAS - FOUNDER OF WENDY’S
I try to be as upbeat as I can when writing these stories. But it’s obvious that if Dave Thomas were alive today, he would have a “hissy fit.” Or is he rolling in his grave? Yes, I had to say, “Rolling in his grave.”
I have had several poor experiences at three different Wendy’s this year. One can only wonder if the home office management team is committed to the values that dear old “Dave Thomes ” expected of his franchisees. As for me, I’m avoiding Wendy’s.
RUSTY BUCKET, Indianapolis
GARY CALLICOAT
Well, you could have fooled me. I assumed the Rusty Bucket was a local Indianapolis pub/bar. The Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, and is owned by Gary Callicoat. Gary opened his first Rusty Bucket in Dublin, Ohio, in 2002. Gary has 21 locations in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, and Florida.
Bette Wechsler, Marty, John Kissling, Steve Winegardner, Duncan, Patti Schmink McQuinn, Holly Hubertz Rawls, Donna Averitt Wisehart, Chuck Stuart, Judy Britton Ong.
A group of classmates from Pike High School meets monthly at a different restaurant. It’s fun going as a group to various restaurants and pubs. They call themselves BGNO. That stands for “Boys, Girls, Night, Out.” Come and join us if you are in town from France.
RUSTY BUCKET - PM BAR
The following day, I visited the Rusty Bucket again. Once a quarter (or something like that), I have a “G-5” lunch date. “G” stands for the “Group,” and you would think that the “5” means five guys. Well, we lost one of our members a few years back, and we try to remember him each time the four of us get together.
DADDY JACK’S
The atmosphere at Daddy Jack’s is a delight. The walnut-paneled walls and blood-red leather seats give it a unique 'Man Cave' feel. I've enjoyed lunch with Beth Blake and Jim Tsareff, and each visit has been a source of excitement, thanks to the manly atmosphere at Daddy Jack’s.
Jim Thompson - owner of Daddy Jack’s.
INSIDE Daddy Jack’s
JIM TSAREFF
DUNCAN
BUBBA 33
Bar food. Pizza, Wings, Burgers, Beer, Cocktails. Bubba 33 has 45 locations and was started in 2013 by Kent Taylor, the founder and CEO of Texas Road House. Bubba 33 and Texas Road House restaurants are NOT franchise operations. Why the name Bubba 33? “Bubba” is Kent Taylor’s nickname; in 1933, prohibition ended. “Let’s Party.”
Kent Taylor
Texas Roadhouse and Bubba 33 restaurant founder and CEO Kent Taylor died March 2021 by suicide at age 65 after what his family described as a "battle with post-Covid related symptoms, including severe tinnitus."
Joe Allman
Joe and I are always looking to try new places to eat. Joe likes to stay with what he knows and likes, so I almost trick him into trying a new restaurant. Joe ordered his burger medium rare and fell in love with Bubba 33.
SAHM’S RESTAURANT AND PUB
ED SAHM
KNOBBY’S
Ed Sahm's first job was at Knobby’s at 53rd and Keystone. He then managed several other local restaurants and found a run-down bar at 116th Street and Allisonville Road, Fishers. Ed has been feeding the community since 1986.
I’ve enjoyed eating at Sahm’s (with Joe Allman) at least 50 times. The food is good and there are a variety of menu items. Joe gets his Bud almost before he sits down. Again, this place ranks high on my list.
JOE ALLMAN
FOUR-DAY RAY BREWING 2016
Four Day Ray Brewing recently held a ribbon cutting with city officials. From left, Fishers Deputy Mayor Leah McGrath, Fishers City Council President John Weingardt, Mayor Scott Fadness, Andrew Miller, Matt Troyer, Chris Welsh, Mitch Ackerman, Brian Graham, Tres Eldridge, and City Councilman Todd Zimmerman. (Photo by Renee Larr)
Longtime home brewer Brian Graham and partners Mitch Ackerman, Chris Welsh, and Matt Troyer opened the Fishers restaurant and brewery in 2016.
A nod to the city’s Nickel Plate Railroad heritage, the name “Four Day Ray” is a nickname given to a railroad employee who called off work one day a week, every week.
The brewery’s “Take the Day” tagline celebrates the three-day weekend. As their website says,
“We believe life is too short to spend at the salt mine.”
Four Day Ray Brewing's annual revenue is $690K. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found the following key financial metrics about Four Day Ray Brewing. Four Day Ray Brewing's peak revenue was $690,000 in 2023, indicating its potential for further growth and profitability.
I’m not a beer drinker, but that doesn't mean I don’t enjoy an adult beverage occasionally. I’ve never liked the taste of beer. Many friends might ask me, “How can you drink Scotch? It tastes like cardboard.” Well, there you go! Aye?
TW, DUNCAN, KRISTI, RYAN, NEAL, BOB, AAIME.
Friends from Northwest Indiana came to Indianapolis to run the Indy Marathon and wanted lunch before returning to Hammond, Indiana. Our friends picked Four Day Ray.
WALK ON’S BISTRO
Brandon Landry, Jack Warner.
The name “Walk-Ons” came about when Brandon Landry and his teammate, Jack Warner, were Louisiana State University (LSU) students. They spent much of their time sitting on the bench, cheering the team. They were walk-ons when the game had a few seconds left.
"We figured out early in our careers that we needed something else to make a living besides basketball," Landry joked.
Well, word was out in Fishers, Indiana, that a new restaurant was in the building where the old O’Charly’s used to be. The promotional material came to the house. Offering a free hors d’oeuve. Plus, they’re bringing a Cajun dining experience to Fishers. I looked at the promotion and thought, this means hot and spicy food. I’m not a hot and spicy food kind of guy.
Joe and I decided to give it a shot. Well, the first critique is the acoustics. It’s loud in the dining room, and it's hard to hear each other.
Joe didn’t like where we were seated. And was about to walk out. I asked him, “Why?”
“The seats are hard. I’m not sitting on these hard seats for an hour.”
So, we moved ourselves to a booth with padded seats.
“I’ll have a Budweiser,” Joe tells Lucas, our waiter.
“We don’t carry Budweiser.”
Joe was just about at his wit's end and asked Lucus,
“You don’t carry Budweiser? America’s beer? What kind of communist place are you running here? For God’s sake, what have you got?”
Joe succumbed to the pressure and ordered a Corona with a lime. Joe’s Corona tipped the cash register scales at $6.50.
I ordered a rum and coke, and it was priced at $11.00
Then we were told the “Free hors d’oeuve can’t exceed $12.50.”
My order of the Mozzarella Logs did not qualify as a free hors d’oeuve—$12.99. (.49 cents too much.)
Joe ordered the Gumbo. Complementary.
I ordered ten alligator bites for $16.50. (Yes, it tastes like chicken.)
Lunch at Walk-On’s for me totaled $37.25.
Joe is still bitching about the cost of beer.
DUNCAN - LUCUS
Lucus was new to the Walk-On’s restaurant, which had only been open for about three days when we were there. Lucus was excellent at dealing with grumpy old Joe.
So, the bottom line is this … I will not be going back. But I encourage you to try the place for yourself. Tell Lucus Duncan sent you. And I’m sure Lucus will say, WHO?”
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY SUITES
I attend at least one function at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway about once every ten years. This year, Jim Tsareff called and said I have a free ticket to one of the suites on turn two. Would you like to go with me?
Indie Asset Partners, which offers investment advisory services, hosted our visit. I’m not sure I ever met anyone from Indie Asset Partners, but I did enjoy a couple of Vodka’s and hot fried chicken with fried biscuits and apple butter. Holy smokes, fried chicken is good at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Yngvar - Jim Tsareff - Andy.
The food.
The bar
DUNCAN
SAINT JOSEPH BREWERY: “LET’S GO TO CHURCH.”
SAINT JOSEPH BREWING
David Pentzien, Daniel Jones and Jim Ailes, Alan Simons, Roger Martin,
2007 Daniel Jones was planning to purchase a home for his family. However, the “Boys” had other ideas about where he should invest his money. They suggested starting a restaurant in downtown Indianapolis and calling it Chatham Tap. The next location was Chatham Tap, Fishers. Then, they began Ralston’s Draft House. Butler University Campas was another good fit for Chatham Tap. In 2015, Saint Joseph Brewery in downtown Indianapolis came online.
THE BUILDING:
The Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis purchased two lots on the southwest corner of North and Noble (now College Ave.) streets for $5,500 and urged the congregation to build a new church there. Bishop Chatard laid the cornerstone of the building on July 20, 1879. The Gothic church was designed by noted architect Diedrich A. Bohlen of Hamburg, Germany. The building was finished in less than a year for $17,000.
In 1942, with membership plummeting, Archbishop Paul Schulte decided to close and deconsecrate the church. Archbishop Schulte held the last Saint Joseph's church mass on June 26, 1949.
The church building, still owned by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, was then converted to the Catholic Community Center, which was used as a meeting hall and auditorium for several organizations, including the Catholic Charities Bureau and Catholic Youth Organization. The church itself finally closed in 1954.
As I mentioned, I occasionally meet the “G-5” for lunch. Last month, I decided to choose the restaurant. I asked Google to tell me the most interesting restaurants in Indianapolis. The Saint Joseph Brewing Company was number twenty-three on the list.
Cheek, Duncan, Burch, Koenig
Burch, Koenig, Cheek, Duncan
Brian, our waiter.
Da-Church
