Bloomington Food Choices

[NashvilleHoosier 3,719]

My wife and I are heading up for the UNC-Asheville game next week (fingers crossed it still happens). Staying at the Graduate a couple nights. We’re perfectly happy to hit up all our old spots but curious if there are any new-ish places that are “you’ve got to check this place out” worthy? 

[mamasa 15,384]

10 hours ago, NashvilleHoosier said:

My wife and I are heading up for the UNC-Asheville game next week (fingers crossed it still happens). Staying at the Graduate a couple nights. We’re perfectly happy to hit up all our old spots but curious if there are any new-ish places that are “you’ve got to check this place out” worthy? 

Some of the ones I consider newer (I have a horrible sense of time, lol) that I really enjoy:

FARMBLOOMINGTON, La Una Cantina, Southern Stone, The Owlery, Truffles/56 degrees, Mama's Korean, Osteria Rago (partners w/ Nick's!).  

Underrated that flies under the radar: Port Hole Inn on Lake Lemon. Total dive bar, favorite of Coach Knight. Joel that owns it is an awesome guy that makes fantastic food.

 

On a side note, anyone at all in Bloomington- STAY AWAY FROM LOTUS GARDEN!! My company does restoration and mold remediation. Lotus Garden is the most disgustingly dirty, mold infested building I've ever seen. 

 

[Stuhoo 81,571]

4 minutes ago, mamasa said:

Some of the ones I consider newer (I have a horrible sense of time, lol) that I really enjoy:

FARMBLOOMINGTON, La Una Cantina, Southern Stone, The Owlery, Truffles/56 degrees, Mama's Korean, Osteria Rago (partners w/ Nick's!).  

Underrated that flies under the radar: Port Hole Inn on Lake Lemon. Total dive bar, favorite of Coach Knight. Joel that owns it is an awesome guy that makes fantastic food.

 

On a side note, anyone at all in Bloomington- STAY AWAY FROM LOTUS GARDEN!! My company does restoration and mold remediation. Lotus Garden is the most disgustingly dirty, mold infested building I've ever seen. 

 

Cassidy Mull

 

2 reviews

a month ago

If you are in the mood to smell septic as you eat crunchy chicken and undercooked vegetables, you are in the right place. And luke warm tap water! Also, you are greeted with a nice waitress who rolls her eyes when asked for soy sauce! what a great bloomington experience. 10/10 don’t recommend

 

Yns Cmndn

 

5 reviews

2 months ago

I went there to pick up my order, which was supposed to be ready 25 minutes ago. She said it would be ready in 10 minutes. OK. I waited 30minutes more. Finally I walked out canceling my order. Other people were also complaining about the waiting. I did not like their business. They are not reliable at all. This is my second bad experience in this business.

 

11 reviews·1 photo

3 months ago

Not good. Hot pot place with no hot pots.
Very very slow. Food is overpriced. Orders are taken incorrectly but you're still charged. Would not eat here again.

 

 

Local Guide·26 reviews

6 months ago

The safety department need to visit this place . I work hard for my money to let someone ssrvd me cold food from the fridge to eat. If you want to get sick go there

[mamasa 15,384]

1 minute ago, Stuhoo said:

Cassidy Mull

 

2 reviews

a month ago

If you are in the mood to smell septic as you eat crunchy chicken and undercooked vegetables, you are in the right place. And luke warm tap water! Also, you are greeted with a nice waitress who rolls her eyes when asked for soy sauce! what a great bloomington experience. 10/10 don’t recommend

 

Yns Cmndn

 

5 reviews

2 months ago

I went there to pick up my order, which was supposed to be ready 25 minutes ago. She said it would be ready in 10 minutes. OK. I waited 30minutes more. Finally I walked out canceling my order. Other people were also complaining about the waiting. I did not like their business. They are not reliable at all. This is my second bad experience in this business.

 

11 reviews·1 photo

3 months ago

Not good. Hot pot place with no hot pots.
Very very slow. Food is overpriced. Orders are taken incorrectly but you're still charged. Would not eat here again.

 

 

Local Guide·26 reviews

6 months ago

The safety department need to visit this place . I work hard for my money to let someone ssrvd me cold food from the fridge to eat. If you want to get sick go there

Yeah.....The reason we got called was that Board of Health visited. There's an open septic below the restaurant (and, a bunch of rooms that, we were told were used as karaoke rooms, but we've speculated other things). When we were leaving, there was a trickle of "water" running across the sidewalk into the street, which was straight liquid sewer waste. 

[Hovadipo 56,636]

11 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Yns Cmndn

 

5 reviews

2 months ago

I went there to pick up my order, which was supposed to be ready 25 minutes ago. She said it would be ready in 10 minutes. OK. I waited 30minutes more. Finally I walked out canceling my order. Other people were also complaining about the waiting. I did not like their business. They are not reliable at all. This is my second bad experience in this business.

 

11 reviews·1 photo

This is a staple of Bloomington Chinese food joints downtown. Might as well order at the store and wait the 30 minutes knowing what you're getting yourself into.

[NashvilleHoosier 3,719]

27 minutes ago, mamasa said:

Some of the ones I consider newer (I have a horrible sense of time, lol) that I really enjoy:

FARMBLOOMINGTON, La Una Cantina, Southern Stone, The Owlery, Truffles/56 degrees, Mama's Korean, Osteria Rago (partners w/ Nick's!).  

Underrated that flies under the radar: Port Hole Inn on Lake Lemon. Total dive bar, favorite of Coach Knight. Joel that owns it is an awesome guy that makes fantastic food.

 

On a side note, anyone at all in Bloomington- STAY AWAY FROM LOTUS GARDEN!! My company does restoration and mold remediation. Lotus Garden is the most disgustingly dirty, mold infested building I've ever seen. 

 

Excellent, thank you. Our desire to park the car when we arrive and not get back in it until we leave town will eliminate some of these options, but still several walkable options here. 

 

[Chris007 44,533]

3 hours ago, mamasa said:

Some of the ones I consider newer (I have a horrible sense of time, lol) that I really enjoy:

FARMBLOOMINGTON, La Una Cantina, Southern Stone, The Owlery, Truffles/56 degrees, Mama's Korean, Osteria Rago (partners w/ Nick's!).  

Underrated that flies under the radar: Port Hole Inn on Lake Lemon. Total dive bar, favorite of Coach Knight. Joel that owns it is an awesome guy that makes fantastic food.

 

On a side note, anyone at all in Bloomington- STAY AWAY FROM LOTUS GARDEN!! My company does restoration and mold remediation. Lotus Garden is the most disgustingly dirty, mold infested building I've ever seen. 

 

I would add Da Vinci's on there as well, also Switchyard has pizza and breadsticks that aren't bad along with beer of course.

[mamasa 15,384]

3 hours ago, Chris007 said:

I would add Da Vinci's on there as well, also Switchyard has pizza and breadsticks that aren't bad along with beer of course.

Good to know! I haven't been to Da Vinci's yet- also want to try the place that took over Gratzi.  

[Chris007 44,533]

34 minutes ago, mamasa said:

Good to know! I haven't been to Da Vinci's yet- also want to try the place that took over Gratzi.  

Osteria Rago & Da Vinci are both some of our favorite places. Small Italian places that not everyone knows about. 

[NashvilleHoosier 3,719]

5 hours ago, Chris007 said:

Osteria Rago & Da Vinci are both some of our favorite places. Small Italian places that not everyone knows about. 

Small Italian places that not everyone knows about is right up our alley. Noted!

[mamasa 15,384]

Since I'm back to my uber sunshine pumping ways, thought I'd bump this thread back up after lunch today at Hoosier Bar & Grill in Ellettsville. Their tenderloin is always one the best around, and onion rings are my favorite. But today, my wife had the mushroom grilled cheese w/ caramelized onions- simply spectacular. If you're looking for a great hole in the wall bar/restaurant (there's a family side), this is great!

[mamasa 15,384]

Just a bump here- it’s our 26th anniversary- first Nick’s then Janko’s!

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,320]

26-years with @mamasa!   I hereby officially confer sainthood on his wife.  Happy anniversary.

[mamasa 15,384]

And Janko’s was amazing as always!!

[Stuhoo 81,571]

10 hours ago, mamasa said:

Just a bump here- it’s our 26th anniversary- first Nick’s then Janko’s!

 

Lucky lady, married to a true gentleman.

[mamasa 15,384]

Hate to be the one to post- Cafe Pizzaria is no more!

https://www.idsnews.com/article/2024/08/cafepizzariacloses

[mamasa 15,384]

Hearing that Cafe Pizzaria already has been sold- new owner wants to put in a full bar and keep the same vibe. 

[Stuhoo 81,571]

16 hours ago, mamasa said:

Hate to be the one to post- Cafe Pizzaria is no more!

https://www.idsnews.com/article/2024/08/cafepizzariacloses

No problem whatsoever.

That place had been there forever and was pretty meh.

NOW, DID YOU GUYS KNOW THAT THE IRISH LION CLOSED DOWN? That is so not cool.

[mamasa 15,384]

Just now, Stuhoo said:

No problem whatsoever.

That place had been there forever and was pretty meh.

NOW, DID YOU GUYS KNOW THAT THE IRISH LION CLOSED DOWN? That is so not cool.

TBH, I never cared for Cafe Pizzaria- mine was burned every time I ate it. The Lion closing sucks- they were really weird about it. They said they were going to carry out only, but not closing. Then, they just closed. I know several people had wanted to buy the business, but nothing moved forward. The managing food groups (Endeavor, etc.) are killing the Bloomington scene (hearing the Owlery is almost gone)

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,320]

7 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

No problem whatsoever.

That place had been there forever and was pretty meh.

NOW, DID YOU GUYS KNOW THAT THE IRISH LION CLOSED DOWN? That is so not cool.

DO NOT DENIGRATE CAFE PIZZARIA!  That was almost my second home in the late 60's and before you smart off that was the 1960's not the 1860's.