Anatolia

I was meeting my friend Shar for dinner.  As we were walking from our parked cars in front of the fire station, a loud cheer erupted.  We immediately realized the IU vs. UK game must still be going on, and close enough to cheer?  Wait a minute...  They're #1 and we're not ranked.  How could that be?  We continued walking and heard some more screams from another location.  Wow, it must be quite the game!

At the last minute, we detoured to eat at Anatolia.  Shar said they were really good.  My friend Sarah doesn't like them at all.  It's time to form my own opinion...  Once we went in, we were asked if we wanted a table or to sit in the Cushion Room.  We opted for the Cushion Room, quickly realizing they should give a warning to those over the age of 30 that we'd be sitting on the floor and may never get up again.  LOL.

We were immediately served some hot tea, which was wonderful on such a cold night.  We both opted for the red lentil soup and stuffed chicken.  The soup was quite tasty and served with a nice bread.  

The chicken breast was huge -- stuffed with spinach and feta cheese and topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese.  It was wonderful.  There was a small salad and a bit of rice, too.  They were also really good.  At the conclusion of the meal, we were asked if we wanted some baklava.  Absolutely!  It was nearly impossible to cut, so I ended up eating mine with my fingers!  The only negative at Anatolia was getting up from the cushions with our 40-something year old bodies and full bellies :-D


When we exited, we discovered Kirkwood was blocked off.  People were everywhere in red, hooting and hollering.  Indiana had won!!!
 

Waffle House

Why are the places with the best breakfast food always the scariest?  Last Saturday, Leo and I were seeking a place for breakfast while Art was in driver's ed.  When I pulled in to the WH parking lot, Leo seemed hesitant to even leave the car.  He looked at me, as if to say, "Are you sure???"  We went in....  The decor (and air) seems unchanged in the past 40 years or so.  When I was in the ladies room, I was stunned at how grody the sink faucet was.  I think it has buildup from when Bloomington was first founded...  WH, you can buy one for $40 or so and they are easy to replace.  If someone comes here to eat with a large group, perhaps you can leave one as a tip ;-)

The biscuits and gravy were wonderful!  I'm not sure what exactly Leo ordered, but he had a large plate of food with another plate of pancakes.  He told me the pancakes were the side item.  There were two of them, easily a foot across.  And that was the side item?!  He didn't like those pancakes, but cleared up the rest of his food pretty quickly.    

I admit, I preferthe ambiance of Scholar's Inn Bakehouse.  But it's hard to say anything bad about the biscuits and gravy...

Potbelly Sandwich Shop

Leo (my 12 year old son) and I went driving over to see if Macri's had opened back up yet (I loooooooved them!).  It looked dark, so we decided to eat wherever we could find parking.  Potbelly Sandwich was it!   

It's a cute little place, quite narrow, seeming to be wedged onto Kirkwood.  Leo ordered the Big Wreck --  a large-sized sandwich with salami, roast beef, turkey, ham, and swiss cheese (although I think he passed on the swiss).  I opted for the pizza sandwich (pepperoni, marinara sauce, provolone cheese, mushrooms, and Italian seasoning).  While eating, Leo kept debating on which he preferred -- this or Which Wich.  He finally voted for Potbelly, basing it upon too much cheese at Which.  LOL.  I enjoyed my sandwich, but thought the pizza sandwich I had at Penn Station was MUCH better.  


For years, my kids have begged to go to Subway.  I got burnt out on it years ago.  I'm so happy we are finding these sandwich shops around town where my kids are happy to eat :-)

Coach's Bar and Grill

Well, the waiter looked fabulous 8-)   The food, not so much... 

Sarah is kind enough to help me scratch places off my long list.  Coach's had a word in their title that we particularly like (bar).  We had a seat, ordered $3 margaritas (the night's special), and looked over the menu (and the waiter).  The margaritas arrived with no salt :-o  which we managed to get corrected for the next two rounds...

I ordered chicken strips and waffle fries.  They were fine.  But Sarah ordered a steak (medium well), which came with mashed potatoes and vegetables.  The steak was pink and had a lot of gristle.  The potatoes were instant.  Sarah sent her food back and ordered a salad instead.  They didn't charge her for either, which was nice.  But really? 

I don't think we'll be back.

El Ranchero

Picture night for Leo's basketball team, so he had to be very early.  Instead of waiting like a good parent, I dumped him out and went to El Ranchero for dinner and a margarita!

The chips and salsa were good.  I ordered a shredded beef chimichanga.  The margarita arrived soon in a tall pilsner-type glass and the chimi arrived shortly after that.  The margarita wasn't very strong (probably a good thing, so I didn't embarrass Leo at his basketball game!).  The chimi was good -- covered in cheese sauce.  The dinner also included rice & beans.  The rice was good.  I'm not much into refried beans, so I'll not comment. 

All in all, it was a good meal.  Not great, but not as mundane as some Mexican meals I've had. 

Leo sat out one quarter, and still managed to foul out at the beginning of the fourth.  LOL.

Olive Garden

The salad...  The breaksticks...

I've loved those at Olive Garden ever since we first met about 20 years ago.  I'd been to the Bloomington Olive Garden once, over a year ago (before my blog began).  My pasta was overcooked then, but my kids' stuff was fine.  So, we decided to give them another chance.

Upon sitting down, I noticed there was something on the top of my wine glass -- leftover lipstick perhaps?  I wasn't planning to drink wine, so I just casually mentioned it to my kids.  They then both examined their wine glasses, only to find them also dirty.  When I opened my napkin and pulled out my silverware, there was a piece of paper (approximately half the size of a stamp) adhered to one of my forks.  Really guys?

Wanting to avoid potentially overcooked pasta, I ordered the stuffed chicken marsala.  Roma ordered spaghetti & meatballs and Art had lasagna with Zuppa Toscana instead of the salad.

The salad and breadsticks were delicious.  However, the dressing was just on the top layer of salad.  I remember them actually tossing the salad in front of me many years ago.  Is that different by location?  Server?  Perhaps it went away with time?  Anyway, the top layer was wonderful.  The breadsticks quickly disappeared, so we requested more to go with our dinners.  Yummy.  Art said his soup was pretty good, too.

The chicken marsala was pretty good.  The side mashed potatoes were also quite tasty.  I could tell by looking that Roma's spaghetti was way overcooked -- it looked mushy.  She liked the sauce and meatballs, but not the pasta.  Art burnt his tongue on the first bite of lasagna, so said he couldn't taste if it was good or not.  Poor thing...

Next time we're in the mood for some Italian, I think we'll stick to DeAngelo's.

Darn Good Soup

How can you go wrong with a name like that?

Roma and I went to the Canopy of Lights on the courthouse square in Bloomington.  The trees are wrapped in lights and lights are strung from the courthouse dome all across the square.  It's magical!  We went to watch the lighting.

We walked numerous circles around the square while awaiting the lights to come on.  Every time, ladies offered us candy canes.  We each had several, then dropped in the Bakehouse for warm drinks (cappuccino & hot chocolate).  Once the lights came on, we walked around the square once more then went for some Darn Good Soup. 


There were ten soups on the menu (we were told one was completely out).  The guy behind the counter explained that they had over 80 different soups that they rotated through, and had a new one every Wednesday.  Cool!

Roma had chicken tortilla and I had chili.  What can I say -- it was darn good!  Very hearty, with very little broth.  We each had a 16 oz bowl decided next time we'd both opt for the 12 oz bowl.  Instead of the usual crackers that people eat with soup, they gave us a small piece of bread.  Within minutes of us walking in, they closed the place and served everyone inside.  The place was packed, and everyone seemed to think it was darn good!

The next time I'm in the mood for soup, I will have some Darn Good Soup...

Dats

Roma and I both have colds or allergies.  We thought some good spicy cajun food would open up our sinuses.  Roma ordered the chicken gumbo and I had red beans and rice.  

I love the way the place looks.  The wood flooring looks old and is slightly warped.  The walls were a bit rough.  Some great jazz was playing throughout.  The floor being unswept made it look a bit more authentically Nawlins...

The red beans and sausage were quite tasty, but not hot whatsoever.  If I'm eating RB&R, I should feel it!  Roma wasn't a big fan of her gumbo.  But, she's been sick, so perhaps her taste was off.

It was fun :-)

Which Wich

My mother and niece came up to Black Friday shop with me and mine :-)  We piled six of us into mom's car ("Grandma, we look like Mexicans") and headed into town.  Since Ann (niece, age 15) had never seen IU's campus before, my mom asked me to show it to her.  So we drove around the square and down Kirkwood.  We parked, I pointed out the "Purdouche" t-shirt (go IU!), and debated where to eat.  Most aren't very adventurous, so we headed to Which Wich.

When entering, we started looking at the menu, all confused.  The fella behind the counter came out and, in a voice meant for a tour guide, showed us how to fill out our orders on the sandwich bags.  Pick a category (chicken, Italian, turkey, ...), grab that bag, and start checking things off.  Yes, the menu is printed on the sandwich bag...  Bread, size of sandwich, toasted or cold, and any toppings (about 20 from which to choose).  

I opted for gyro meat on wheat, added tzasiki (sp?) sauce, cucumbers, tomatoes, and feta cheese.  Voila - gyro sandwich (sort of).  It was wonderful.  I had the smaller size and a bag of chips, and was stuffed.  Mom had a ham & cheese (good).  Leo opted for a TBR (turkey bacon ranch) which he said was really good.  Art had something different (sorry, I can't ask him because he's still asleep) and chowed 10" of it.  Ann had a buffalo chicken sandwich.  Everyone was really happy with their sandwiches, but Roma (freshman in college, home for the holiday).  She had some sandwich with Italian meat, and none of us liked it.  We were so surprised there was a bad sandwich because the rest was so good, that we all passed hers around for a bite.  And then it went into the trash.  LOL.

We loved the food.  We loved the multitude of choices.  We will return soon...

Player's Pub

In a pre-Thanksgiving celebration, Sarah and I decided to be thankful for the things no one will remember on Thanksgiving day.  Yeah, we're all thankful for family, friends and food.  But what about the other good stuff?  Platform heels that allow me to walk in stilettos?  Cell phones with unlimited texting?  Snowplows?

About 90 minutes before Sarah and I are planning to meet, she texts me, "I need a drink.  I'm leaving now."  She lives about 30 minutes out, so I grab a quick shower, throw on some clothes, do the makeup, and beat her there :-)

Players Pub was gearing up for a show.  I ordered a glass of wine and Sarah a beer (no mixed drinks at PP).  The wine was a dry red, so naturally I had to order a steak to go with it :-)   I then proceeded to give my first toast (via Facebook) -- to Sarah who put the F in BFF.  We were best friends back when we were 11, lost track after graduation, and have started hanging out again.  I meant FOREVER, not that other F word.  Really ;-)

I had a filet mignon and baked potato.  Sarah had a sirloin, potato, and salad.  We were both impressed that a pub served a mixed salad and not just the icky iceberg.  The steaks arrived within a minute or two of the salad (I hate it when that happens).  My filet was very chewy.  A medium filet mignon should melt in my mouth!  Sarah did think her sirloin was very good, but not cooked enough; she'd ordered it medium well and it was probably medium rare.  My potato had zero flavor, even with butter.  I requested more butter, doused it in salt, and was still disappointed.  Sigh.

The guy at the door was starting to collect $ for the show, so we took off into the night to begin our adventure...  I wish I could remember all the things we toasted that we were thankful for, but only recall the most colorful ones...

Nick's English Hut

Nick's is infamous.  It's been there for 80 years, just outside the gates to IU.  Any living person that's ever been an IU student has probably been there.  I know this in part because I often meet former IU students when I travel.  They always ask if Nick's is still there...

So, expectations were high for me and my sons.  We were ordered to stay downstairs since they are under 21.  The ordered sodas arrived in what appeared to be jelly glasses.  Cute.  We ordered an appetizer -- Sink the Biz fries.  The seasoned fries arrived in a small bucket with a plastic cup of dipping sauce (something mayo-ish).  After eating many of the fries, Leo said, "I'm not really sure if I like these."  Well, kiddo, you certainly put a dent in them!

I ordered a half strom and the boys had whole ones.  Just as the food arrived, a young lady started taking a bunch of pictures.  I told the person who delivered the food that someone was taking our picture.  She then introduced herself as being from the Indiana Daily Student, said Nick's had recently won an award (Best Place to Take Your Parents), and she was getting pix for the article.  She took our names, asked Art if he was a student, ("Yeah... at South"), and she left the restaurant.  So, maybe we'll be in the paper!  Although, if it was me, I'd find an IU student taking their parents to dinner, not a mom taking her young sons.  Art was quite pleased to be mistaken for a college student...  by a young lady... again...  He's a freshman in high school.  Giggle.

We were all disappointed in the taste of the stroms.  There was a lot (a LOT) of meat, but very little sauce or cheese.  Trying to add a bit of flavor, Leo put some seasoned fries on his.  I sure am glad I only ordered a half -- they were huge!  The boys each took half of theirs home (along with some fries) to have for dinner the following day.  They plan to pop open a jar of spaghetti sauce  and douse them first.  I think they'll be much better that way. 

As we were leaving, an Occupy Bloomington protestor was chasing after cars with a "Honk if you support the first amendment" sign.  Someone drove past without honking and he actually ran after the car yelling "HONK!  HONK!"  The car honked.  Leo has his driver's permit, so he purposely drove past the guy on our way home.  "I just wanted to honk."  I told him that, in exercising my first amendment rights, I thought about yelling at the guy, "Go take a bath and get a job!"  But I thought he might hurt my BMW :-(

I don't think we'll be back to Nick's... Is it merely famous for being famous?

Opie Taylor's

When I lived in Bloomington before, I got in a tradition of a weekly Opie Taylor's meal with my daughter Lyn.  I remembered the steak fries fondly, so was happy when Leo suggested we go there.

I'm wondering if the owner is from up north.  The front room is covered in IU stuff (as it well should be!), but the back room had the Cubs and Packers.  Hmmm. 

Leo and I decided to share a half order of cheese sticks.  They are far thicker  and shorter than typical cheese sticks; the cheese is roughly the shape of a roll of quarters.  The three of them came with two dipping sauces -- a tomato sauce and a ranch dressing.  Perfect -- we each had our own :-)

After debating on whether to get a single or a double cheeseburger, Leo ordered the Calbert's Club.  I had the Northsider, which included bacon, barbeque sauce, and fried onions.  And, of course, we both had steak fries. 

My food was wonderful.  Leo reported the club to be merely ok.  Next time, I'm sure he'll order a burger.  With choices as varied as the Tom Crean and Crimson (cute!) and a Stroganoff burger, it should be easy to find one that sounds delicious.

Siam House

It was Veteran's Day, so I had the day off.  I decided to try yet another new restaurant (surprise, I know...).  Parking was difficult, but I found a metered spot in a small parking lot.  YES!  The meter still had 0:24 on it -- awesome!  I dig into my purse and find a couple quarters.  Naturally, I immediately drop one of them between the seat and the console and cannot retrieve it :-(  I put in my quarter and plan to order my lunch, ask my waitperson for change, then run back to the meter while they cook it up.

The nearest restaurant is Siam House, and they have a sign that says Lunch Buffet.  Great!  They have quite a few people lunching.  The buffet is small, but had a nice variety.  There were small signs above everything, so it was easy to avoid things I don't like (ie - seafood).  I tried nearly everything, had a couple little bites for dessert, and enjoyed it.  Not really to my taste, but it was fine.

I returned to the parking meter with a spare 14 minutes.  Someone else got to do a fist pump...

Aver's Pizza

Leo spent the night with a friend.  A day later, he said they'd ordered Aver's Pizza and it was the best pizza he ever had.  It was getting close to dinner time and I wasn't feeling like cooking (big surprise!).  So, I thought I'd try the "best pizza ever."

I went to their web site and saw they had a special that included breadsticks, two cookies, and two drinks.  Awesome -- I'd run out of Diet Pepsi (my addiction) the day before and was getting cranky.  We flipped thru the menu and settled on the Deluxe (cheese and tomato sauce piled upon by pepperoni, ground sausage, mushrooms, red onions, and green peppers).

Less than an hour later, dinner arrived.  The breadsticks were similar to Noble Romans.  The pizza was good.  The cookies were a nice touch.  And the Diet Pepsi potentially saved my life ;-)

When I asked Leo why he thought it was the best ever, he admitted a fib.  He said he just wanted pizza for dinner.  Grrrrr.  We'll probably order from them again, especially if we're out of Diet Pepsi!

Snow Lion

One of the things I enjoy about Bloomington is the wide variety of restaurants.  Tibetan Food in Indiana?  Of course!

Silver was late, so Sarah and I had a seat and ordered an appetizer -- the Combo Platter for Two.  This included two eggrolls, three shumai, and three momo.  Two sauces were included -- something soy sauce-ish and something sweet-and-sourish.  I stuck to the soy sauce one... 

The egg rolls were similar to any I've had before.  Fine, but nothing unusual.  I was apprehensive about the shumai (fried stuffed seafood dumpling).  It was small -- slightly bigger than a Rolo.  I'm not much of a seafood fan, so I chopped it in half and stuffed it in my mouth.  OMG, I could eat an entire fish in one bite and have less of a seafood flavor.  Definitely not for me!  After seeing my bulging eyes, Sarah opted to try the other half.  Her reaction wasn't much different.  Ok, that leaves two shumai for Silver!

The Momo was more dumpling shaped -- like a wonton or tortellini.  It was filled with fried beef.   Once again, it was fine.  Sarah had one, and we left one for Silver.

Silver finally found the place.  We asked what the guys at the next table were eating -- chicken curry fried rice and chicken sesame vegetables on rice.  The waiter highly recommended both, especially since the sesame dishes made the kitchen smell amazing (yes, that's what he said).  Sarah and I each ordered those, and Silver ordered something with beef and bean threads.

We slid the Momo & Shumais to Silver, telling her what they were.  She popped one of the shumai in her mouth, loved it, and asked us if it had shrimp in it.  She said she was allergic to shrimp and that her throat would close up.  OMG, might I suggest asking what's in the seafood PRIOR to eating it!?  Sarah and I then got into an argument about, if Silver stopped breathing, which of us stayed with her and which ran the block to get the firemen.  In all honesty, I think we both would've ran after firemen and left her with the waiter.  Just kidding!  The waiter came past shortly thereafter, declared the shumai to be shrimp-free, and Silver had the other one and the Momo.  We then had salads brought to us, which had a unique but good creamy white dressing.

When the food arrived, it looked so good!  The smell was great.  Sarah and I both tried our dishes and traded (so I ended up with the curry).  The bean threads looked almost like tinsel on Silver's food -- translucent and shiny.  We all shared each other's food, enjoyed everything, and called it a success (especially since there was no allergic reaction!).  Now we need to find another excuse to chase down a fireman ;-)

Texas Roadhouse

You gotta love somewhere that encourages you to throw peanut hulls onto the ground...

Leo and I had some time to kill while waiting for Art to finish driver's ed (yes, stay off the roads!).  So, we headed across town to Texas Roadhouse.  The parking lot was full, but we were seated immediately.  I was especially impressed that the hostess grabbed some of those amazing rolls as she was seating us, so we were able to start nibbling as soon as our tushes hit the seats.  They were so warm, so soft, so yummy.  I smeared the cinnamon butter (is that what it is?) all over mine, but Leo wasn't a fan.  Our waitress happily supplied him plain butter, and another basket of rolls (where did the first four go anyway?). 

I ordered a caesar salad, small filet mignon, and a baked potato.  Leo had house salad with ranch, half-rack of ribs, and steak fries covered in cheese.  The caesar salad didn't have enough bite for me.  But the filet was amazing!  The potato was also great.  Leo chowed like a starving man.  His only complaint was that the fall-off-the-bone-ribs actually fell off the bone.  He said he preferred gnawing.  LOL. 

Art was thrilled.  Not only is he a bit closer to driving, but he had a doggie bag with some ribs, some fries, and a couple dinner rolls. 

A great meal :-)

Scholar's Inn Bakehouse

I found a good cappuccino!!!  So happy!

The last time two times my car was at the dealership, they said the brakes were close to needing replaced.  Suggested I do it then.  In the interest of getting as much life from the brakes as possible, I opted to wait until the indicator light came on.  It never did, but they started making terrible noises when I stopped :-o  Not wanting to wait another moment (after all, Art was getting his driving permit that day!), I took the car to Midas.  They couldn't see me until later.  I drove over to Expert Tire and asked what I thought was a dumb question -- where could I get brakes done that morning...  He said they do lots of brakes and could get me in within the hour.  Cool! 

So, I wandered up to the square.  Thought Scholar's Inn looked like a place that would have coffees.  Ordered the Portabello Mushroom Scramble and a double cap. 

So yummy.  The cappuccino wasn't quite as good as those in Italy, but darn close.  Better than having to live with the Italian ex- to have a good cup (LOL).  I will be back for those... often!

The Portabello Mushroom Scramble also had spinach and feta cheese.  Sounded like it might be an odd combination, but it was quite tasty.  It came with home fries (good) and two slices of their Bakehouse toast (not a fan...).

I'm psyched about this place.  I'm not often out for breakfast in B'ton, but will return there as soon as I am...

Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches

Leo, as usual, wanted American food.  Off we went to Jimmy John's. 

The place is cute.  I like all the signs on the walls with advice such as:
“Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.” 
Thanks for that, Bill Gates!

Anyway, I ordered the Club Lulu -- sliced turkey breast, bacon, lettuce, tomato, & mayo and some plain potato chips.  I don't remember what kind of sandwich Leo had.

The sandwiches are big!  Neither of us could finish ours.  However, neither of us really wanted to...  They were ok, but Leo declared Dagwood's to be better.  I find Penn Station to be much better.  So...  I don't think we'll have JJ's again unless it's because they deliver...

Irish Lion

"The birthday party starts around 11 on Thursday."
What????  Some of us have to work Friday morning!

Sarah and I decided to have a late dinner prior to the party.  She'd never been to the Irish Lion, so that's where we headed.  I reminsced a bit -- the first time I spoke to my children's dad was at the Lion.  My first date with Tony was at the Lion  (Tony, the dude who wants me to not see others, but hasn't seen me in 3 months even though we live 2 miles apart!  Yeah right...).

We opted for Prime Rib, baked potatoes, salads.  I'm usually a Filet Mignon gal, but it was an extra $5 (really?).  I don't know if it's because I'm used to Filet, but the Prime Rib arrived and was HUGE with lots of fat.  As I was able to trim down to the meat, it was quite good.  Salads fine, potatoes good.  My first beverage was something a bit too fruity, so I swapped over to rum & diet coke.  They were good, but not quite as strong as we'd had last week at Trojan Horse.  Sarah reported her margaritas were good, all four of them.  Giggle.

We met up with Silver (what an awesome name) and headed off to Jake's for the birthday party.  Jakes was dead at 11.  We had a couple drinks (from a fishbowl...).  People started trickling in.  We couldn't find the birthday boy.  James did eventually show up.  Apparently his birthday party was getting drunk before arriving at Jakes for the APA (that's a phi, not a P) pre-Homecoming celebration.  Sarah and I completely stuck out -- two middle-aged white women at a black frat party.  Even Silver didn't fit in well, because she had her T&A fully covered.  What an experience... 

Dagwood's Deli and Subs

Leo had a fever yesterday :-( so he couldn't go to school today.  Since he was feeling ok, we decided to go out for lunch.  He suggested Subway.  I took him to Dagwood's instead.

I've been driving past Dagwood's for years.  It was there when I lived in Bloomington many years ago.  Hard to believe I'd never been inside...  I had to explain the Blondie cartoon to Leo, so he'd approve of a dagwood sandwich instead of subway...  

We both ordered the Dagwood Supreme.  Several kinds of meats, a couple cheese, and some veggies on a huge roll (mine wheat, his white).  The sandwiches were so filling that neither of us could finish them and the chips (even though we each only ordered a half...).  They were tasty, but Leo said Subway would've been better.  I'd prefer Penn Station that we'd walked past to get to Dagwood's.  Oh well...  Now I've been there :-)

The Farm

I've been here before for the funky drinks.  They grind up some funky stuff into some of the adult beverages.  Something different and fun!  Once I was on a first date there and my date demonstrated how his pecs could still dance at the age of 50.  Something different and not fun!

But, this was the first time I was going to eat there.  I met my friend Nancy.  We were expecting a child at the same time (me by adoption, her by pregnancy), 15 years ago.  We fretted over every little thing back then, occasionally having dinners such as this.  Now we are the mothers of teens, each been through a divorce (or two), and the conversations are quite a bit more graphic.   The guys at the next table sure got an earful!

Back to the food...  Well, the wine...  I had a glass of Shiraz.  Since it was the last Shiraz they had, my glass was free :-)  Then I moved on to Riesling...  

There was quite a variety on the menu -- anything from seafood to pork chops to pizza to burgers.  I opted for a white pizza -- cheese, mushrooms, and pesto.  Thin crust, baked in a fire oven.  It was pretty good, but not fantastic...  

Falafels

I like to eat in restaurants from around the world.  Occasionally I'm surprised because it's good, not just different.  This happened at Falafels.

I had no idea what to order, so I opted for the Flavors from Jerusalem.  They started me off with a spiced pita with two dips -- one tomato based and one oil based.  I could've stuck with the pita & oil and been happy...  But then my food came...

Falafels - which are chick pea balls, deep fried (I think).  Awesome
Hummus drenched in oil and small pita pieces to dip it in.  Good
Small salad - fine, but I didn't eat there to have salad :-)
Plus two choices...  I picked:
Mamaganush - fried eggplant wrapped around feta cheese
Babaganush - It says it's grilled eggplant in tanish.  It looked like hummus, but wasn't as good.

I was quite surprised at how tasty everything was, and can't wait to return!

Panda Express

I'd been looking forward to my Saturday night date.  I've had so few dates this year that it's comical.  Anyway, plans fell through (don't ask...), so I was looking at a Saturday night by myself.  My kids were staying with friends, so I didn't want to feel like a pathetic loser, at home by myself on a Saturday night.

So, I was a pathetic loser, eating out by myself on a Saturday night...  I got all dressed up as if I was going on a date.  Hopped in the car, and started driving around to see where I wouldn't be completely obvious that I was alone.  I was in the mood for Chinese food.  Driving towards the square, I spotted Panda Express.  Ok, that should do.  

I went in and was transported to Jin-Jin, my favorite eatery in northwest Florida (where I used to live).  The signs were the same.  The menu was the same (except for the header). The level of cleanliness (not!) was the same.   Even the tile floor was the same.  So, I ordered my Jin-Jin addiction, Curry Chicken and had a seat at a not-so-clean table.  The familiar styrofoam container arrived, and I opened it to see that it even looked like Jin-Jin's curry chicken!  First taste, I was preparing to be transported.  I wasn't very enthused by the first taste.  Perhaps I got too much rice and not enough curry sauce?  Next bite was rice-free.  Still bland.  So sad...  I salted everything and ate it, but it was merely transformed from bland to ok.  Jin-Jin, I miss you! 

Amol India

My friend Sarah and I decided to have dinner on a Friday evening.  We met in front of the fire department (had nothing to do with checking out firemen -- really!) and took a stroll down 4th St.  We reminisced about different places there we've tried (mine were complete with bad online dating stories) and stopped at Amol India.  Sarah told me she'd gone there about a month ago with a friend, and the Butter Chicken was fabulous.

When we walked in, everyone recognized Sarah.  It was crazy.  Three of the men were fawning all over her.  They smiled, flirted, joked (even though we couldn't understand them half of the time).  Now, if we were scantily glad college gals, I'd understand.  But we're over 40, average looking, were dressed conservatively, ...  Then a lightbulb went off in the back of my head.  When I'm in the US, I'm overlooked for the pretty young things.  When I'm out of the country, men seem to appreciate women of all ages.  These men were not American...

So, back to the food.  Sarah had the Buttered Chicken, spiciness 2 (of 6).  I had Curry Chicken, spiciness of 3.  We also had naan.  I love that stuff!  Anyway, once I started eating my curry chicken, I was glad I'd only gotten a 3.  It was right on the edge of what I could eat and enjoy (although my stomach made some gurgling sounds along the way...).  My lips were tingling when I left.  I had a taste of the Buttered Chicken, and it was amazing.  

I will definitely be back, have the Buttered Chicken, and take Sarah along.  Can't beat the service ;-) 

Panera Bread

I decided to hit Panera Bread for breakfast on a lovely Saturday morning.  The place was packed!  I ordered a cappuccino, hoping so much to have a good one.  I miss them terribly!  I also had a cinnamon swirl & raisin bagel,m toasted, with butter.  

The bagel was pretty good.  Nothing like the ones you get in NY, but...  And the cappuccino was decent.  I can't stand Starbucks cappuccino -- theirs tasted burnt to me.  I was spoiled during my two years in Italy...  Anyway, I'm convinced the only way to get a great cappuccino in Bloomington is to marry an Italian.  It worked for me for years.  LOL

Malibu Grill

Before I moved to Bloomington, I met a friend here a few times.  It's her favorite place.  I'd had pizzas and different things in the past, and enjoyed them all. 

We chose a lovely day -- a warm Saturday afternoon in October.  IU's football game was ready to begin, so the town was empty.  My mom was up for the afternoon. 

There is nothing I love more that outdoor seating, so I was pleased there were plenty of spots available.  I had the Grilled chicken Marinara -- linguini with chicken, mushrooms, garlic, basil, parmesan & marinara.  I should've stuck to the pizza...  It was ok, but not great.  My mom had a Crispy chicken Salad, which she found quite amusing due to the dried cranberries throughout it.  I had one of her pieces of crispy chicken, which was pretty good.  Art tried the Cajun Salmon, which quite surprised me.  He loved it.  I don't remember what Leo had, but remember he wasn't very impressed with it.

Next time, I'll stick to the pizza :-) 

Scotty's Brewhouse

We came here to celebrate my friend Sarah's birthday.  We had about a dozen of us, so they thought it would take 40 minutes to seat us (not bad, considering it was a football Saturday).  Unfortunately, it took them nearly 90 minutes to seat us...  We'd managed to take over a small corner of the bar, drinks were flowing pretty reguarly over there, so by the time the food came, we would've enjoyed anything...  I had a salad with steak and bleu cheese.  It was good, but I don't know for sure since I was on my 3rd (or 4th?) drink by then.  I do know the waitstaff was very good at managing our large group and keeping us all happy.

Can't really critique the food, but the drinks were great :-)

Casa Brava

Well, dear readers, I've been asking where to find the best Mexican food in Bloomington.  I think I've found it...

We loved the salsa at Casa Brava -- just the tiniest touch of hot to it.  I had the chicken Casa Brava chimichanga.  It was rolled up tight, looking more like a wheat-shell enchilada, drenched in a white cheese sauce.  It was incredible.  The rice was good; the beans were fine (I'm not much of a bean fan).  Leo had a combo meal that had tacos and a few other things (he couldn't remember what they were).  He loved it, too.  Art was too busy texting to talk to us, but his tamales disappeared pretty quickly.

Not only was the food good, but the service was prompty and the decor is nice.  We will definitely return.

Penn Station East Coast Subs

It was a football weekend.  Everywhere was packed.  We thought we'd have to settle for fast food, but then spied Penn Station Subs.  OMG!  These were so good!  I had a pizza sub, served piping hot and open.  Tons of cheese, pepperoni, ham, ...  I had them toss on some sausage, too.  I was in heaven 8-D  Leo had the Philly Cheesesteak and was also quite pleased.  Once again, I don't remember what Art had but know he was delighted.  We also split a big cup of fries. 
I will definitely return, but think I'll go for the Small instead of Medium next time.  It was just too much for me :-)

Trojan Horse

Going in, I already knew it was my favorite restaurant in Bloomington :-)  I ate there some when I lived in Bloomington many years ago.  I had a few dates there before moving to B'ton.  It was my first trip there since moving to B'ton (and my sons' first trip).

I had a Gyro, not the usual Gyro Platter (I wasn't so hungry).  I love the tzitziky sauce!  Leo was a bit more hungry, so he ordered the Super Gyro (I think that's the name -- it was supposed to have double the filler) and some fries for us to share.  Mine was delicious.  Leo enjoyed his, but we didn't really see a difference between our sandwiches except that he had a small container of sauce.  I just can't remember what Art had, but he liked it.  Both boys did complain to still be hungry when we left (well, they are a teen and a tween...), so we stopped at Mcdonalds for sundaes.

I'll be back... often :-)

Samira Restaurant

The boys were with their dad, so I had some alone time (YES!).  So, I chose to dine alone in a place in which they wouldn't be caught dead...

I expected to not know what anything was on the menu; I wasn't disappointed.  Sure, I know what kebabs are,  but what fun is that?  I ordered the Samor Lawang with Lamb.  First I received a few slices of marinated carrots and a grilled slice of eggplant.  Both were strongly oiled/seasoned, and not to my taste.  The bread basket arrived, and it was a bit different too.  That's ok; I expect different.  I had a piece, which was ok.  When the tomato/lentil soup arrived, I drained it.  When I've cooked with lentils, there are tons.  This was more like a vegetable soup with a few lentils tossed in too.  It was good.

When the Samore Lawang arrived, I was surprised.  I didn't know what to expect, but it was presented so nicely.  A circle of large sauteed mushrooms (delicious!), rice inside the ring, and some colorful vegetable strips atop.  All was covered in some type of great sauce.  Chunks of lamb were tossed on top, too.  I enjoyed it quite a bit and couldn't finish it all.  I took the rest home (smelling up my car, home, and refrigerator) and had the rest the next day.  Ahhhh, finally something I can leave in the frig that the teen boys won't touch!

TGI Friday's

My sons aren't as adventurous with food as I.  Take a look at the places we've been, and it'll be obvious they are all rather mundane choices.  I love the variety of Bloomington.  They do to, as long as "variety" means Fridays, Chili's & Applebees.  LOL

What can I say?  I had the Sizzling Chicken.  It sizzled.  It was pretty good, but not nearly as fabulous as the similar item at Chili's (with the green sauce..).  The boys had a club sandwich (reported to be pretty good) and chicken fingers (reported to be very dry).  They ended up fighting over the rest of my sizzling chicken. 

Good, not great.  Just what you'd expect from a chain... 

La Torre

Art & Leo wanted a ride to the mall with their buddy Abe.  What a better way to kill time than go eat :-)
So...  I went in the funkily-painted La Torre.  After seeing their awful color scheme, I was pleasantly surprised by the interior.  Cute!  And outdoor seating!  I love outdoor seating!  It was a bit cool for me to sit outside (although a couple heartier ladies were enjoying it... seated next to a heater), so I will probably return when the weather improves...
I had a shredded beef burrito and rice.  There sure was a lot of food on my plate, but I just didn't care for it so much.  I really want to find a good Mexican place :-(

So, dear readers (all 5 of you -- hahaha), where is the best Mexican restaurant in Bloomington?

La Charreda

It was Leo's birthday -- he wanted Mexican.  It may be the only Mexican restaurant I've ever been to that my waitress was native English speaking...  The food was fine -- nothing great and nothing bad.  Stomach still feels funny the next morning, though.  If I return, will have to get something less greasy than the burrito...

Three birthdays while we were there.  Two had noisemakers and a crowd singing.  Leo, turning 12, had only one singer and another clapping.  What's up with that?!  He did like the fried ice cream.

So...  where is the best place to get Mexican food in Bloomington?

Mother Bear's Pizza

The sign outside touting "4th Best in Nation" set our expectations high.  Mother Bear's didn't disappoint.  Leo and I kept it simple and just ordered the Deluxe pizza -- pepperoni, sausage, onions, mushrooms, and green pepper.  Other choices had great names such as The Divine Swine and Tuscaloosa Touchdown.  Leo wasn't willing to try anything but a standard pie.

The pizza was wonderful.  I gained over a pound sitting at that table :-(

Art was pouting and didn't want pizza.  He ordered 10 wings, which he proclaimed "decent."  He chowed through those, had a slice of pizza, then finished off the rest of the pizza on the way home.  Teens...

Bub's Burgers

Uggggghhhhh.  I usually don't review the restaurant shortly after eating there.  Tonight I am, and I'm hurting :-(

I saw all the photos of those who've eaten the one-pound burger.  One kid ate four -- are you kidding me?!  Leo and I both ordered a "Settle for Less Ugly" cheeseburger, which is a quarter-pound (after cooking).  It was ok, but not as incredible as I'd heard.  But the killer?  The Sloppy Waffles -- waffle fries covered in cheddar cheese sauce, bacon and topped with sour cream!  As if that wasn't enough, Leo requested chili added.  It tasted great, but OMG my stomach is killing me.

There goes the two pounds I'd lost...  Sigh

Bucceto's Smiling Teeth

From the menu:  Italian meatloaf - a gorgeous neapolitan hunk served with potatoes, salad & bread 10.95

Damn.  I could've save a lot of money...  My ex-husband is a gorgeous neapolitan hunk.  Immigration fees easily exceeded $1k.  I could've had one for $10.95!? 

Due to living in Italy and then living with the meatloaf ;-) the kids and I are quite picky with our Italian food.  Bucceto's didn't even come close.  Art's ravioli was was undercooked.  My linguini was a bit overcooked.  The flavor of mine was good (basil pesto), though.  Leo's spaghetti and meatballs (which you'd NEVER find in Italy, BTW) was the best.  I don't think any of us finished our meals, and Art & Leo had even ordered kid portions (saving room for Cold Stone next door). 

I know my glass of Chianti should not be refrigerated, but it also should not be served at kitchen temperature.  My boys were the ones who pointed out the wine rack leaning up against the pizza oven.  Sigh.

So sad to be disappointed here :-(

Upland Brewery

"Where's the rest of it?"

I had the best time here.  It was my birthday!  As I told people in the bar later, it was my 21 times 2 (plus 1) birthday.  Can you tell I'm an enginerd?  Anyway, I had a great gathering of gals -- Mary Jo & Sarah from my childhood and Nancy & Shar from the adult years.  Get that many ladies together, add alcohol, and conversation suddenly becomes naughty.  I'm sure those at neighboring tables got quite an earful...

After a bit of a wait, we had outdoor seating.  There was a band playing 70s and 80s music, which was perfect for us -- it spanned from our childhood through the college years.  Awesome!  A member of the band stopped by at our table to see what all our excitement was about (well, I was wearing my new penis tiara).  The band name was Colonel Angus, which had me asking about his affinity for cattle.  He told me to read the band name aloud.  I get it now...
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Colonel-Angus/121757564573540

The waiter gets high points for keeping the drinks rolling -- enough that the food is a blur.  Oops.  I remember thinking my Frenchiladas were good, but small.  They must've listened to whomever decided a serving size is a stack of cards...  I recall seeing Mary Jo had a big salad.  Sarah was on a liquid diet ;-)

I was still sober when I was looking at the menu.  I'll be back for all the great choices, especially if Colonel Angus is playing :-)

Applebee's

"I only have 300 calories left today."
"Mom, they have food under 300 calories.  Don't you remember?"

Well, not quite...  But close.  I am trying to drop a few, so we went to find this low-cal food.  I ordered the Asiago Peppercorn Steak.  It was surprisingly good.  Add in a few roasted potatoes (there were literally 4 tiny potato pieces), a veggie mix, and I'd have to say it might've been the best 380 calories I've ever had.  Yes, 380 calories.  Amazing, right?  Leo had some other type of steak which wasn't as good.  He snubbed the veggies (of course) but killed off all the french fries.  Art found the ribs to be finger-licking good.  Which makes for fun when he needed a drink -- "Mom, can you move my glass over here?"

So, the next time I want something delicious and low-cal, I'll be back.

Peach Garden

"I bet he has lots of girlfriends.  <giggle>"

Really?  Art is only 15, but he now has waitresses flirting with him.  Sigh.

I was in the mood for Chinese food, but didn't want to hit a buffet.  I've been gaining weight (imagine that...  LOL).  So, I needed someone else to control my portions.

My egg drop soup was pretty good.  Art had an egg roll as an appetizer.  I'm not sure how it was, but it did disappear pretty quickly.  My main entree was curry chicken.  I like mine spicy enough that I go through a box of kleenex.  Tonight, I didn't even need the first tissue :-(  At the advice of the giggly waitress, Art had the Mongolian chicken.  He wasn't a big fan either.  Sigh.

So, where's the best Chinese in Bloomington?

Cafe Pizzaria

I must admit, I was worried about eating somewhere where the name wasn't spelled correctly.  But Leo had his heart set on pizza.  I thought it would be best to hit Kirkwood, because those places will be a zoo once the students are all back.  So away we went.

We were lucky enough to have seats next to the window.  We saw plenty of freshman going past with their parents.  We saw little groups of students who looked uncomfortable to be exploring their new town.  Leo saw enough leggy blondes walk past to have good dreams for the next month or so.

We had the Pizzaria Supreme -- pepperoni, sausage, mushroom, onion & green pepper.  It was surprisngly good.  I prefer my crusts a bit thicker/softer, but Leo was in pizza heaven.  We ate most of a 14" pizza, but sacrificed to take a few slices home to Art.

It's a definite return.

DeAngelo's

"Don't eat the calamari -- they'll stick to your insides."

Really, Mom? 

I lived in the Naples, Italy, area for two years.  I've visited often since then.  There are three things I always must eat when there, because there is nowhere else that compares:
1.  fresh mozzarella di bufala (from water buffalo)
2.  sfoglietella (a pastry with ricotta cheese)
3.  pizza margarita (tomato, cheese, basil)

If I am near anywhere that purports to have authentic foodstuffs, I'm looking for those.  Last Christmas, I drove from Chinatown to uptown Manhattan for some imported mozzarella di bufala (and it was worth it, even with the $75 parking ticket...).

I'd eaten at DeAngelo's before.  It was the craziest first date ever.  Gosh, the internet brings out the odd ones.  "If you need to call an ambulance, tell them my medical records are on a thumb drive on my bracelet."  WTF?!

So, anyway...  Leo was absolutely thrilled beyond belief when I told him I knew where we could get fresh mozzarella.  Not di bufala, but still pretty good.  So off we went.  Leo wanted to order nothing but mozzarella; instead we split the Caprese Towers appetizer.  The mozzarella was great (Leo declared it two days old...).  The tomatoes weren't quite ripe, but ok.  It was a tasty treat.

Art and I decided to split a margarita pizza.  It wasn't very good :-(  Leo wasn't into his pasta dish, so I finished it off -- pasta alfredo with chicken.  OMG, it was amazing!  I must order that next time...  and some more caprese towers :-)

LongHorn

"What are these things stuck to the edge of my wine glass?"
The manager said tannins.  Funny, I thought tannins were something you tasted.  I found about eight things that looked more like fourths of litmus paper stuck to the edge of my glass.  Yikes.

Backing up a bit...  my 7 oz Flo's Filet was fabulous.  The caesar salad had a decent amount of tang (there's nothing worse than a bland caesar salad.... except for stuff in my wine glass!).  I think Leo enjoyed his baby back ribs; he was too busy eating to comment on them.  Art reported his chicken tenders sucked (well, Art, that's what you get for ordering chicken at a steakhouse!). 

A question...  Does anyone know why, if ordering a baked potato with just butter, that you get a potato with the same amount of butter as a loaded potato would have?  And so, when you'd start eating the sour-cream half of the potato, it's dry?  I sent for extra butter, and it arrived about 5 minutes later.  That's about how long I waited for a glass of water, too.  Salad dishes weren't cleared until the manager arrived at the end of the meal to discuss tannins and offer free cheesecake (which was amazing, BTW).  It's back-to-school time in Bloomington, so I will attribute the poor service to that.  Perhaps it was her first week on the job, and she'll be a pro by Labor Day.

But can anyone tell me about tannins?  Or some other solid that might be found in a wine glass?

Chili's Grill and Bar

"Mom, can we please eat at a chain?"

I gave in, and off to Chili's I went with Art & Leo.

I saw a photo of the Santa Fe Chicken Skillet and was sold.  "Cheese quesadillas, fajita chicken and grilled onions topped with Monterey Jack cheese and smothered in a mild roasted Hatch green chile sauce."  Looked great, although the roasted Hatch green chile sauce had me worried. 

Leo wanted the same, but had noticed the menu had a "2 for $20" special.  So, in addition to getting my meal cheaper, he got an appetizer tossed in.  Nice work for a boy of eleven.  He also requested two plates.  Art ordered the Crispy Chicken Crispers.

When the appetizer - 1/2 Texas Fries - arrived, the boys claimed the plates and started chowing down.  I had a few, dribbling cheese and bacon bits all over the table (oops).  Not bad, but I'm not really a fan of them... ever.

The Hatch green chile sauce?  OMG fabulous.  I'm thinking this was the singular best item that's ever been in my mouth.  I absolutely loved it.   It's hard to go wrong with melted cheese, flour tortillas, and chicken... but this was truly amazing.  I think I'm in love <3

China Buffet

It was Chinese.  It was a buffet. Really nothing else to say.  Food was adequate.  There was enough variety, but it wasn't huge.  It did the job...

Uptown Cafe

I was so totally disappointed.  I drove the kids down Kirkwood, around the square, and the only thing we could agree on was Uptown.  They thought it would have boring food (LOL).  I was thrilled to order some Red Beans and Rice with a Wedge Salad starter.  The salad arrived, and suddenly I had three other forks digging into it...  It was nice.  When the entrees arrived, my Red Beans & Rice was entirely too mellow.  I expected a bit of spice.  I think they forgot to season it.  I added a bit of salt which added a bit of flavor, but where's the heat?  I lived in the South for years; if the waitperson is bringing me RB&R, they'd better have a few drink refills ready to go!   I think I ate half of it without needing a sip of my beverage.  At that time, I traded dishes with Leo.

Leo had ordered Agliata Shrimp, which was a pasta dish.  Agliata should be a garlic sauce.  I noticed no garlic flavor, only a strong cheese crumbled atop it.  He hated the cheese (I liked it just fine) but enjoyed the shrimp.  Without the cheese, the pasta had no flavor.  I also used to live in Italy, and bland pasta was a disappointment.  Having not read the menu description, the cheese was probably an ordering mistake by a boy of 11.  But where was the garlic sauce?  Shouldn't the pasta have some flavor, akin to the simple but delicious dish of pasta with Aglio & Olio (garlic & oil)?

Roma ordered the Seafood Gumbo.  She thoroughly enjoyed it .  I took a taste.  I'm not a seafood fan, but still found it quite yummy.  Most amusing was her thought there was Orca mixed in with the seafood (instead of okra, LOL).

Art absolutely loved his New Yorker burger, but said he'd prefer Kraft to the Mac & Cheese he was given (kids!). 

We consider it our first miss, and probably won't be back... 

Asuka

"I don't want to go to Japanese.  I don't like Chinese.  It's the same."  Leo was upset, but outvoted (two women outrank two boys, right?).  Art refused to go.

When Oma (daughter, age 19), Leo, and I entered Asuka, we were asked "Sushi or Hibachi?"  Hibachi it was.  Since we were there early, we were the only ones in the back room.  As the three of us sat around the large cooking area, I knew what to expect.  The kids didn't.  I assured Leo, who was still pouting, that he'd be smile before he left.  He was determined to not enjoy it.  His first smile was trying to catch zucchini with his mouth.  Yes, the chef tossed food to us.  Oma was the only one who caught one (although I must state that my chunks were more likely to be caught by my cleavage).  Leo's second smile came when the chef lit up the entire grill with a two-foot tall, two-foot wide fire that I swear would've singed my hair if I'd been leaning forward and wearing hair spray...   Leo's third smile was the cute little squirtgun (well, more like a peeing doll).  Once the food was prepared, Leo was far too busy chowing down to smile (well, me too!).  I had a fillet, which was tender enough I could've cut it with a bread knife (except, of course, that the chef cut it for me).  Leo had steak.  Oma had calamari.  All were good, but mine was the best :-)  With the included soup (wonderful!), veggies, and rice (Leo opted for noodles instead), we had enough food that stubborn Art had a complete meal when we got home.

Jiffy Treet

Gosh, when I lived here before, my kids were little.  We'd come here on special occasions.  I remember my daughters getting the bubble gum ice cream -- full pieces of Super Bubble throughout the ice cream.  They'd get a second dish, put the gum into it, and take it home to chew later (well, until I tossed it the next day ;-)  Seemed pretty gross to me.  Who wants hard gum?

Leo and I came today to cool off and kill some time.  I had a waffle cone with soft serve caramel-flavored ice cream.  The cone was perfect -- crunchy without being brittle.  I wasn't a fan of the ice cream flavor, so I'll have to come back soon and try another :-D

Buffalo Wild Wings

Gosh, I was so excited to begin!  I signed the lease this morning, dropped Art (age 15) off at South, and was taking Leo (age 11) out for lunch.  "Leo, I have this list of all the restaurants in Bloomington.  We're going to try them all!  Do you want burgers, pizza, pasta?"  "Mom, I want O'Charley's.  I like their buns."   On went the discussion, trying to get him to try something new.  When he said B-Dub, I suggested he pick another Wings place.  After much debate, he settled on Wings Xtreme and we put the address into the GPS.  After battling traffic on 46, we crossed 37... and still had a few miles to go.  "Leo, Wings Xtreme is in Elletsville!"  So we turned around and went back to B-Dub.  Leo won.

B-Dub is MUCH larger than the one we frequent in Vincennes... and non-smoking!  That really bothered me in Vincennes.  Then I recalled from when I lived in B'ton before that all restaurants are non-smoking.  YES!!!

I ordered chipotle BBQ boneless wings and fries.  Leo had wings & ribs + fries.  When the food came, I was surprised that my wings looked fried, not slimed with sauce.  Leo pointed out that there were two sides to the hotness scale in the menu -- one with sauces and one with seasonings.  Duh!  Not what I was expecting, but what I ordered.  And yummy anyway :-)  Leo ate all his food (less a little of the ribs) and fell asleep as soon as he was in the car.  A successful start...

Welcome

Today, I am signing a lease to move back to my beloved Bloomington.  My favorite part of B'ton is the abundance of restaurants.  Trying to excite my kids, I pulled together a list of all the great places to try.  I told them, "If we eat out twice per week, we won't have to go to the same restaurant for over a year!"  They were less excited than I.  Well, I'm gonna give it a shot, although I think it will take quite a big longer than a year...  Join me :-)