Good Eats in Bloomington, Indiana

I lived in Bloomington for four years while attending Indiana University. Sure, I had meal points for three of those years, leaving me to subsist on dorm food. But Bloomington has some of my favorite restaurants. A trip back this weekend made me realize how fantastic the food is- my friends and I planned our weekend solely around food (breadsticks here first, then dinner, then dessert, more breadsticks...). My favorites: Scotty's, Village Deli, Zagreb's (if only I still ate red meat!)

Quick Tips:

Kirkwood Avenue, next to the heart of campus, has some fantastic quick eateries. If you want something a little classier, head up College and Walnut or closer to downtown Bloomington. Chain restaurants plague College Mall and out by 37 and the Wal-Mart.

Best Way To Get Around:

As a college town, Bloomington is ripe for walking. Walking spryly and with purpose, you can cover campus in 20 minutes. Driving during the school year can take a while, but summertime finds roads as empty as the classrooms.

When I was a sophomore in college, my mom proudly handed me my Christmas stocking, filled to the brim with typical stocking stuffer fare, but best of all, she had included Pizza Express gift certificates.

To those who did not go to Indiana University, a gift certificate for pizza might seem like a really dumb gift. To me, it was like gold. Pizza Express is a Bloomington institution and has served the student population since 1982. They stay open until 4am on the weekends, will deliver only breadsticks, and will deliver ANYWHERE, as long as you can give them a phone number. This does include the main library, as we discovered during some late-night finals studying. But best of all, they offer the Big Ten special: One large pizza, an order of breadsticks with sauce, and two sodas in their signature Pizza Express cups, all for the low, low price of $10.95 ($11.50 with tax).

Pizza Express offers a wide variety of pizza toppings and sauces (including barbecue and pesto) on regular or wheat crusts. But the point never really was the pizza. Their pizza is overly cheesy and really greasy. The breadsticks, though, are dusted with garlic salt and cheese and baked to perfection. A friend introduced them to me midway through my freshman year, and many dinners were composed solely of breadsticks. Plus, the cup. Everyone had a stack of Pizza Express cups in varying colors (orange was highly prized), and even now, when I use one at work, people stop to discuss their days back at old IU. But the real joy of getting a Big Ten for me (well, besides the breadsticks and free Tootsie Rolls they throw in) was sitting around with my friends after a late night of studying, or more likely going out, and just having fun. I can look at my stack of Pizza Express cups and wonder just how many pizzas we ordered through the years, knowing my friends have an equal or greater stash of cups in their cupboards too.

Bloomington has Pizza Express locations all over town, and they will deliver anywhere, as long as you give them a cell phone number for confirmation. Students know to call the Express on 10th Street at 3EXPRES. They have recently opened up new locations in Indianapolis by the IUPUI campus and in the hip Broad Ripple area, thus allowing IU alums to relive their college days by indulging in a late-night breadstick fix. I know I certainly have, and I have the (new and improved) Pizza Express cup to prove it.

Perfect for: After a late night of studying or at the bars Expect to spend: $11.50 for the Big Ten, $3.10 for breadsticks, add a quarter if you are writing a check. Locations: All over Bloomington. Check http://express.bloomington.com for Btown.
Indianapolis: at 10th and Indiana by the IUPUI campus, new location in Broad Ripple. See www.pizzaexpressindy.com for Indy info.

Mmmmmm, Scotty’s. Hands down, this is my favorite restaurant. Scotty’s began in another college town, Muncie, Ind., before opening a location in Bloomington in the summer of 2001. Within the first week it had opened, I had already eaten there twice and was hooked. Maybe it is the tall tables, the towels they hand you as napkins, or the huge selection of beer they offer. More likely it is the steak fries and hamburgers they serve up.

Food here is extremely reasonably priced and you get a lot of it. They have a fantastic selection of burgers- from the Naked Jane (no longer just plain), to the cheesy Lucy burger, to the super spicy Mo’Fo’ Cluck (sure to make your mouth and eyes water), and even a turkey and veggie burger option. But Scotty’s is not just a hamburger joint (Opie Taylor’s just down the street, has that locked up). The menu also has an amazing number of other entrees- several pasta dishes, unbelievable wraps (try the Sweet Chicken Club), sandwiches and salads galore. Kids (adults too) can munch on yummy macaroni and cheese, happy face French fries, or mini corn dogs. Kids eat free on Sundays now too! But best of all…the fries. Try them waffle-style, shoestring, or my choice, wedge fries. Thick-cut, almost like a baked potato, and seasoned to perfection, you really can’t eat just one.

In addition, Scotty’s has a huge selection of beer. Thirty on draft, 34 bottled, plus they carry local favorite Upland Brewing. If you are ambitious, join the Around the World Club, and try to get through all of them. Scotty’s has great drink specials throughout the week-drink up!

Finally, if you can make room for dessert, try out the Cookie Monster. Five chocolate chip cookies covered in mounds of ice cream. Suitable for a table of college aged kids (we still couldn’t finish it!) or a family of four…five…six…

Perfect for: A dinner out with friends before a basketball game, a quality dinner with the parents
What I normally order: Lucy burger (turkey) with wedge fries, a Blue Moon or Upland Wheat beer.
Expect to spend: Under $10 for an entrée, $3-5 a beer. Eat well, have a few drinks all for under $20.
Locations: 302 N. Walnut Street across from Kilroy’s Sports. Additional restaurants in Muncie and West Lafayette. www.scottysbrewhouse.com for info.

I love the deli. Village Deli, that is. I went there this morning, actually, and wish I could eat there every day. VD is packed for breakfast/brunch on Saturdays and Sundays for good reason. They serve up an amazing selection of breakfast food quickly and cheaply. My roommates would come here on the weekends after practice, and they got me hooked. I make a point to be there for brunch anytime I am in Bloomington.

Today, I chose the Village Special: two eggs, home fries, two pieces of toast, and a choice of tea/soda/coffee for $5. My second choice was the Power Breakfast: two eggs, home fries, toast, pancake, and juice and coffee for $7. I eat eggs every day for breakfast, and I know what two scrambled eggs looked like - the serving was more like three or four eggs with a generous heaping of home fries and toast. Emily’s Breakfast Burrito was the size of her head, covered in peppers, tomatoes, onions, and home fries and stuffed with egg and sausage. It was more of a Breakfast Explosion, and smelled fantastic. Stephanie’s French Toast looked delicious. VD also serves up a mean portion of Biscuits and Gravy and a phenomenal bowl of Oatmeal and Granola.

Village Deli also serves up quite a selection of lunchtime sandwiches, too. I’ve had falafel sandwiches, Caribbean chicken, melts, and croissants. Try the Sandwich on the Brink: chicken, bacon, onion, mayo and bleu cheese. VD has a great variety for vegetarians as well. All burgers can be made with turkey patties or veggie patties and served up veggie chili, and they have many salads, too. Again, try the falafel sandwich pita.

Breakfast is served until 10am through the week. Get there at 7 or 8am and you can get pancakes, biscuits, and gravy or other specials for only $2.50, including coffee! Your scone and latte down the street at Starbucks will run you more than that! They serve breakfast all day Saturday and Sunday. Get there early - it is PACKED after nearby church services end.

Perfect for: Brunch with the parents on Parents Weekend or a late breakfast with friends
What I normally order: Village Special, Pancakes, Biscuits and Gravy
Expect to spend: $6 to $8 for an entrée and drink.
Locations: 409 E. Kirkwood

There are few times when I lament the fact that I no longer eat beef. A few weeks ago, I was running the Mini-Marathon and ran past a family grilling burgers on their front lawn. I was starving and almost stopped for a burger, despite not having eaten one in 5 months. The second is when I think of Janko’s Little Zagreb in Bloomington, knowing I won’t be able to eat their unbelievable steaks. It breaks my heart, and the memory of the best steak I’ve ever eaten makes me want to jump back into the red-meat club. Almost.

Zagreb’s is housed in a big red-brick building on the edge of Bloomington’s downtown, hidden by the railroad tracks and constantly billowing smoke from its back doors. It’s not much to look at from the outside, and even less from the inside. Café tables with red gingham tablecloths are crammed inside the dark hall (there’s only one main room). An old jukebox sits in the corner and the waitresses run around in shorts. Don’t let that fool you. Hands down, they have the best steak in Bloomington. Order the filet or don’t order at all - steaks are their specialty, and while the other items on the menu are quite good as well, go for the steak. Filet, t-bone or porterhouse - you won’t regret it.

With your dinner, you will receive bread, baked potato, and a large side salad. I was never able to finish my steak entirely, but it made for a nice meal the next day. My sister enjoyed the chicken breast filets covered in lemon. A friend once tried the eggplant, and it was too spicy to eat. My mom enjoyed the ribs - I helped her out and there were still enough for lunch the next day. I’ve heard that the spicy meatballs and mushrooms are fantastic appetizers - if they aren’t on the menu, ask.

I never really went to Zagreb’s with my friends. The meals are pretty pricey, and poor college kids can’t stand to go too often. I saved it for special occasions when my parents were in town and willing to pay. I don’t know about a children’s menu, but I would probably bypass this if you have picky little kids in tow.

Perfect for: A special occasion when your parents are paying, a romantic date, or a night out with the guys
What I normally order: Filet steak
Expect to spend: $30, easily, for entrée and drink; a dinner for four is over $100 but completely worth it
Locations: 223 W. 6th St. (by Morton Street)

It’s not summer in Bloomington without Jiffy Treet. This locally owned ice cream shop serves up dozens of flavors of homemade ice cream, sundaes, frozen yogurt, malts, cyclones and even tacos, soup and sandwiches. Not only were my roommates obsessed with Jiffy, my friend worked there. Needless to say, I hit up Jiffy quite often.

If you are in the mood for ice cream or frozen yogurt, try a Cyclone- your choice of ice cream with a topping mixed in. Flavors range from plain old Vanilla, to Raspberry Cheesecake, to Butter Pecan, with every candy topping imaginable. Have a favorite fruit or candy? Bring it in to Hartzel’s on Kirkwood and they’ll mix it into the ice cream for you! Try vanilla with pretzels and chocolate chips, cookie dough, raspberry with graham crackers, or the Strawberry Shortcake mixture (my favorite). If you have trouble making a choice among the thousands of combinations, ask the server for a suggestion. They can clue you into some tasty treats.

If you are watching your carbs, Jiffy offers Dream Delight, a low sugar/low carb ice cream in several flavors, changing weekly. Keep an eye out for seasonal ice cream flavors- Pumpkin Pie is a change of pace, and Christmas time means Peppermint Stick- the best. Ever. Pick up a pint or two for those late night snacks. Or, Jiffy Treet on College will deliver (ok, so it gets a little melty. Who would expect an ice cream place to deliver??).

Jiffy is a little more expensive than your average ice cream place, but remember that everything is homemade every day. Enjoy sitting outside on a summer night, watching everyone else stream in. Keep an eye out for Ken Nunn (of "have you been in an accident?" fame), John Mellencamp, Coach Mike Davis, and other local celebrities. They enjoy the Jiffy just as much as we do!

Perfect for: Those hot summer nights without air conditioning; dessert on a date; celebrating the end of finals!
What I normally order: Strawberry Shortcake Frozen Yogurt Cyclone
Expect to spend: $4
Locations: 1000 N. Walnut (delivers), 223 S. Pete Ellis Drive, 425 E. Kirkwood, also in Elletsville and Stinesville.

If you want late night pizza, go to Pizza Express. If you want fantastic, flavorful, delicious pizza, hit up Mother Bear’s. The restaurant was recently named as a finalist in the Pizza of the Year competition at the International Pizza Festival. (Read the Indiana Daily Student article on it. Located on Third Street on the southern edge of campus, it has always been a favorite of music students, and sometimes ignored by the rest of campus. If you go four years without trying Mother Bear’s, you are missing out.

Mother Bear’s serves up delicious pizza topped with mainly conventional toppings. I always enjoyed the Hawaiian pizza (pineapple and ham). It wasn’t too cheesy, not greasy, and had a perfect crust. They also serve up pints of beer (cheap!) so it’s a great place to have a lot of people meet up. Sit back in the tall-backed booths, or in the winter, gather around the roaring fireplace in the backroom. They also deliver, but it’s a charming restaurant and more fun to dine-in.

Mother Bear’s pizza is also available just down the street at Bear’s Place, owned by the same company. Bear’s Place features a bigger menu (burgers AND fries), more beer, all with the same dingy wood walls. You’ll see servers from Mother Bear’s running pizzas down the street to Bear’s. Both places are great for some good food. Mother Bear’s is pretty quiet during the day, but can fill up, especially on Friday nights. Bear’s is empty until about 10pm, when it fills to the brim.

Perfect for: A quiet place to study during the day, a raucous gathering by night
What I normally order: any kind of pizza, it’s ALL good
Expect to spend: $8-10 for pizza and a drink (it is a little more expensive than chain restaurants)
Locations: 1428 E. 3rd Street at Jordan- it is a small wooden structure between the bagel shop and swimsuit shop, so keep an eye out for it! Bear’s Place is only a black west on the same street.

I spent many a meal at the Wright Quad Food Court. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner every day for two years. And there were still things there that I had not tried (was I too scared? possibly). The Wright Quad Food Court is dorm dining at its finest. And by "finest," I mean "greasiest." There are not a lot of options for the healthy eater there. If you are looking for vegetarian campus cuisine, head to Collins. Despite its prime location in the middle of campus, next to the library and across from the business school, I would not eat at Wright if it were not for meal points (our university’s dining plan). However, it is a convenient option for many students who don’t live in the dorms, and open to the public. You can get a better quality of food if you take your dollar elsewhere- try Lennie’s or Dagwood’s right down the road.

Despite all that, I really enjoyed "el foodo courto," as we called it. The convenience of having prepared food one minute from my room is wonderful. It is a completely casual atmosphere, being in the middle of a student dorm. My friends and I would shuffle in for breakfast in slippers and P, wander through after a long run for some Powerade and a snack, or run in all dolled up before a night out. Crowds gather around the TVs, especially during The Simpsons, or before a big game. The dozens of tables are perfect for study groups and last-minute cramming.

As for the actual food…you can get better food almost anywhere else. But they do make mean pancakes, good mashed potatoes and biscuits, and a pretty good grilled turkey sandwich. The Chinese offerings (Wok ‘n Go) are pretty salty, sometimes sketchy, but you can get teriyaki chicken, sweet ‘n sour beef, or just rice with vegetables. I would completely avoid Sbarro- while it is a decent pizza place found in most malls, the IU version is greasy, oily, and just plain gross. To make up for it, we had a Dunkin Donuts, complete with (yes) donuts, bagels and Coolattas. The Coolattas, much like a Frappaccino, could easily be turned into a Margarita or Pina Colada with the addition of some liquor (but it was a dry campus and we NEVER did that!).

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend paying for anything in the food court. Kids have a lot of leftover meal points and generally feel sorry for the poor schlubs who have to lay out cash for the crappy food- he or she may help you out with Random Acts of Mealpoints by swiping their meal card for your food. Otherwise, skip it.

Perfect for: Rolling out of bed -bedhead and all
What I normally order: turkey sandwich, mashed potatoes, biscuit
Expect to spend: $6-7 for a meal, better options elsewhere
Locations: Wright Quad at 10th and Jordan.