Some of you will remember this...

[per_solo]

Irony of timing, last weekend, I was speaking to someone who was asking me what type of "different" restaurants there were in Indy.

I mentioned that, I, personally, didn't know of many...but that a few years ago, friends of mine had created the IRS...which stood for Indianapolis Restaurant Snobs...

As I recall, LOTS of restaurants were visited by this group..The only one I truly remember, and this will give you an idea of what this group preferred, was the Ethiopian place..

Now? The two people I recall as being the "founders" if you will of such have moved away...and, I find myself debating starting it back up...just to find the odd places you wouldn't normally think to eat.

Hell, now that I think on it, that'd be a neat little LJ community...complete with Reviews of the places and all...

Example...two of my favorites here on the North Side that I've gotten hooked into lately..Daruma, pretty decent Japanese place, and Heera, a Very Good "Indian Buffet". OF course, the downside is that when I visit Heera, I usually feel like my stomach is planning on destroying itself...that doesn't stop me, the food is just too good.

So, here's a question....what are you favorite "ethnic" restaurants? I hate using that term, but it's the only one I can come up with. You know, the Authentic Indian place, Ethiopian...anything that isn't a chain, really (unless special circumstances), but just a place you've found that isn't McD's, Pizza Hut, or any of the nationally known chains.

Comments

[confusedjew.livejournal.com]

i did do china wok for every week for almost two years. then there's is the love for sawasdee(thai) and ty himself. great guy and great food. if you're lucky you get to meet his daughter too. ocean world's got good sushi and salvatores is good italian. so fat this all near my house. there was a japenese and chinese place philip and i tried yesterday, king's gourmet, that wasn't bad. would say cheng du but they're closed now. ok, i'll think of more later, oh wait paragon on the east side. good greek food. ok, i'm done. will write later with more.

[per_solo]

Noted, and will have to hit a few. :-)

[jmoriarty.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, the Indianapolis Restaurant Snobs. I remember it well. :)
Indianapolis - considering its location - had/has some surprisingly good and unique restaurants. The Ethiopian place, some good Indian joints, the Afghan restaurant....

[per_solo]

*nod* Every now and then, when I think that Indy is a black hole, it surprises me...the number of restaurants really does surprise me in that respect. And is making me crave some different food..

Of course, going to Heera yesterday probably helps that. :-)

[echoweaver.livejournal.com]

Hey, co-founder. Per tipped me off to your True Identity.

(I'm not a big post-name-on-LJ kind of person, a sort of knowingly fruitless security by obscurity, but I'd love to drop you a line if you don't know wtf I am.)

After Boston, we ended up in Albquerque. I recall you moved to the East Coast? Where are you now?

[jmoriarty.livejournal.com]

Hello! I don't post RL names (or non-obfuscated personal details) on LJ either, following the same security by obscurity model.

I've added you to my LJ friends list. More to follow via email. Thanks. :)

[echoweaver.livejournal.com]

Rockin'! I've friended you back. Great to make contact. You just never know who will turn on LJ :).

[katmandu07.livejournal.com]

Hey stranger! Long time no see! Whats up?

[echoweaver.livejournal.com]

Ah, the IRS. I had forgotten about that.

I was involved in a group hear we called Restaurant Hoppers, but it died out after the first year, when we got too busy. We keep talking about starting it up again, but we're still too busy....

[per_solo]

Yeah, IRS comes back to my mind now and then...and, feel happy...it looks like, from below, the IRS may have a rebirth.

Guess that means that once employed, I will have to start looking for more restaurants. ;-)

[indyellen.livejournal.com]

There was an article somewhere that I read about this - unfortunately I can't remember where - commenting that Indianapolis actually has quite a lot of GOOD ethnic/regional restaurants considering its size and population.

Personally, I'm particularly fond of La Hacienda for good Mexican, either Khorey's or Hellas for Greek/Mediterranian/Middle Eastern, and Happy Garden for Chinese. (That's what I've got off the top of my head, anyway.)

Oh, and if it's still there Rob & Jay's Chippy over on College makes the BEST fish n chips EVER.

Good idea for a community, I agree. If you want help coordinating it, etc., I'll be more than happy to do so. :)

It is kind of a chain - but only a few exist

[royalcrow.livejournal.com]

Hall's Grill - at the entrance to Castleton Square Mall.... Oh the steak is always done right, and the price will not break you.

Poppa's Resturant - a little bit of a dive, or diner as it might be called - but a decent breakfast, nice sandwiches and always a pleasant atmosphere. They are located on Pendleton Pike.

There is a woman in Cincinnati that has done really well - her name is Joyce.. damn can not remember her last name. She runs CCV (no not Citizens for Community Values) but Cincinnati Community Video... Remember when Indy had a public access station??? I knew you probably would not. Anyway she would write a guide to the best dives in town - sold actually very well, and she had a rating system of a greasy napkin.. 1 being (oh they had food there, I did not make it into the door) to 5 being a well kept gem which should be cherished for locale and drinks/food.

Chris - I was honored to hang out with them IRS folks for guess would have been a last time before moving on.. Honestly could not get in a word edgewise if I remember - I was new to the area and all that - Kat and Me and that guy (really pretty neat guy and his wife) went to Beppa de bupo's because it had just opened in the year.. enjoyed it royally - but make sure you bring an appetite - the portion control.. well lets just say, 2nd day lunch and dinner were made already.

that is about it,
later TOny

[per_solo]

:-) I will definitely want help coordinating it, and it sounds like it'd be a neat idea to do again..hell, with the ability to create LJ Communities, this could be quite interesting.

I don't think I've been to any that you mentioned...and, well, I'm always looking for a good Fish and Chips...

This is starting to sound like a really good idea again.

[per_solo]

And, I forgot the words that first came to me upon reading your post.

Icon Love! I laughed pretty hard. :-)

Peeking in from the south side

[sexyexpy.livejournal.com]

Los Tapatios in Greenwood for authentic mexican.

8 Lucky Buffet at Thompson and 31 for chinese.

Another secret, China Thai restaurant in Beech Grove has THE BEST pot stickers and crab rangoon.

Hmmm. Downtown is Amici's for best italian. There's also a good hungarian place across from Lilly on East St that's yummy too.

Re: Peeking in from the south side

[sexyexpy.livejournal.com]

Ohh yeah, and Mug n Bun on west 10th for best drive-in and root beer :) Oh oh oh and Joe's Shelby St. Diner on duh... Shelby St. southside for best hamburger.

Re: Peeking in from the south side

[per_solo]

I haven't had Mug n Bun in years....not since I worked at the Internet place, and one of the techs would take a two hour lunch to go there, and come back...and sometimes bring me something.

GREAT suggestions...and I'll let you know if we get this going, as I'm assuming you're local (Southside comment kinda gave me that ;-P), and may be interested.

Hungarian? I have no idea what that cuisine would even involve...one to check out.

And, yes, it's beena while, but I do remember Los Tapatios as being one of the better Mexican places here. :-) Thanks!

Re: Peeking in from the south side

[sexyexpy.livejournal.com]

I think I Have met you before at Kat's gaming parties. Maybe. YOu'll have to ask her. LOL

Re: Peeking in from the south side

[per_solo]

*nod* That would be a guess, as I've been to several of hers...not in a while, though, as my life tends to be a bit chaotic...

Re: Peeking in from the south side

[sexyexpy.livejournal.com]

may i add you to my friend's list?

Re: Peeking in from the south side

[per_solo]

You may, and I'll return the favor. I'll admit, though, as opposed to some on Kat's Friends, I'm pretty boring. :-)

Re: Peeking in from the south side

[katmandu07.livejournal.com]

you are not boring...and I'd like to see a rebirth of the IRS as well.

[the-pixie.livejournal.com]

Per, there are actually quite a few great mom n' pop joints here in Indy. Bear and I prefer them anymore, for we're just not turned on by the bland "Americanized" food that you get in chain restaurants anymore. It relaly just depends upon what you want.

Tai - There is Tai Spice near Greenwood Park Mall
Russian - Russia House on 86th Street
Indian - for me, there is Udupi Cafe (vegetarian Indian on Lafayette Rd). The other one that we really love, I'm spacing the name of, but it is near Castleton Square Mall, across the way from the 82nd stree enterance (I think that there is a Bird store in the same strip mall).
Greek - Santorini's Kitchen, of course! Best host/hostess in town, in addition to being the best greek food in town.
German - The German-American Club on US 31, and also Ratheskeller
Scottish - McNevins (sp?) on Mass. Ave (Ok, I'm partial to this one because the owner's wife is a vegetarian as well and so they make sure they have vegetarian things on their pub menu)
Italian - too many to name! Most recently we discovered Peter's on the south side
Ethiopian - Unfortuantely, the one that was near IUPUI closed (Cleopathra?). I heard that there was another one that opened up though by the same people. I believe I heard it was suppose to be in Broad Ripple.
Isralian - Again, name is escaping me, but it is right across the street from Lilly. Food is great
Mexican - Again, there are so many authentic Mexican restaurants in Indy anymore. I believe the one we go to is on Stop 11 and is called the Mexican Grill.

That's all I can think of quickly. There are quite a few more though.

[per_solo]

Those are great, and helpful..I'll have to refer back to this post if this thing gets flying again.

Thanks! That's quite an impressive list...I THOUGHT an ethiopian place was right up around here...and, Russia House is right next door,and I've not been there in the 8+ years I've been up here..think it's been that long.