Archive for November, 2010

>Hollyhock Hill – Indianapolis, Indiana

by Mark on November 10, 2010 in fried chicken, indianapolis, restaurant review with 3 Comments

>8110 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46240, (317) 251-2294

OH HELL NO!
This place spins out boring, bland “food” and is a great example of what’s wrong with our city’s culinary future. Dated and sad, the food is fit for a 1981 budget rehearsal dinner…yet people around these parts say they Love it!
Hollyhock Hill first opened its doors in 1928. Don’t be mistaken however that surviving for the last 80 years is a testament to its cuisine. It’s due to the family style tradition of Hoosiers loving family style traditions. There’s nothing wrong with celebrating at a place you remember fondly … just don’t tell me it’s for the food.
This is the perfect place for a mediocre office party or if you want to be surrounded by an elderly group of ice tea drinking gadabouts. While they boast serving “America’s BEST Fried Chicken,” I can’t even be bothered to upload pictures of it to the blog. yuck.

Hollyhock Hill on Urbanspoon

>Napolese

by Mark on November 2, 2010 in Broken Yolk, indianapolis, Margherita, Napolese, Pizza with 2 Comments

>114 East 49th St, Indianapolis, IN 46205 • (317) 925-0765

I waited to say anything about Napolese until I had eaten there a handful of times and so far I’ve sampled most of what they have to offer. While the rest of the menu is decent, I’ve been blown away each time by their European style pizza. What is the magic that local restaurant owner Martha Hoover wields? She’s created yet another culinary home run by bringing artisanal style pizza to the Indy masses…and we’re better for it.

Napolese is as cozy as the neighborhood surrounding it and the Roman-style pizzas are fantastic. They are flat and chewy with raised pillow-puffed edges and bits of slightly charred hot spots…exactly how they should be. Don’t get me wrong, I still love Bazbeaux, Jockamo and Some Guys pizza…but Napolese serves up pizza I can’t get anywhere else in town.

The prosecco is inexpensive and good. The prosciutto and arugula starter is weak on parmesan and dry as a brush fire. The truffle white bean purée is fantastic and the affogato di gelato makes you black out from delight. The polenta and goat cheese starter is not fine dining but the focaccia is pleasingly addicting.

Highlight pizzas for me have been the Napolese Broken Yolk, Meridian Kessler and Autumn Pie, while the classic Margherita with prosciutto (or pancetta) hits my top.

Get there early or very late otherwise expect to stand in line outside drooling at the diners.

Napolese on Urbanspoon

>Taqueria Five Amigos Mexican Food Stand

by Mark on November 2, 2010 in cabeza, indianapolis, lengua, Mexican, taqueria 5 amigos with No comments

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5657 E. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46241 • (317) 227-9400

Drive down east Washington street at three-thirty in the morning and you’ll see a few things out of the ordinary. One of those will surely be a small group of people huddled around a patio heater on the side of the road waiting to order at a traditional Mexican food stand. Taqueria Five Amigos serves Mexican comfort food favorites such as cabeza (beef head) tacos, lengua (tongue) tortas and gringo favorites such as tacos al pastor and chicken or beef nachos daily from 10am to 5am.

Thinking I’d hit the Latin working class Joe’s jackpot for a late night snack place, I’ve been surprised time and time again at its diverse range of customers; middle aged women, young professionals, the working poor, homeless and a foodie or two all seem to descend on the place in equal measure.

Their asada, chorizo or pollo tacos are popular favorites and at $1.50 each they are ordered by the handful. Another highlight is the Taco-in-a-Bag; a layered taco prepared in a snack-sized Fritos bag and served with a fork. Waste not, want not.

You may be tempted to get your food and run…but don’t. Take a seat under the patio heater and relax a few minutes…enjoy it. The lively group of customers are as much part of the story as the tasty food itself. Last trip I bought a taco for a hungry guy walking by and an insurance agent from Fishers bought me a pineapple cola. Thanks stranger.

Taquiria Five Amigos on Urbanspoon