Dave Portnoy from Barstool in Bloomington eating Mother Bears Pizza. Link

[HooDatGuy]

It's decent food for a college town and the pub food is above average or better. The breadth of ethnic options is good for most rural college towns.

HOWEVAH. Let's not think it's on par with any city school anywhere.

Zagrebs/ Malibu - Wouldn't even rate in Madison, WI or Austin, TX

4th street - It's nice that we have it. Those are all middle of the road ethnic restaurants in any major city

Sushi - Mediocre. Domo, Sushi bar, Asuka are all average sushi.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Mother Bear's was truly great up until about 1972-73. Once they were chosen as "one of the 9 best pizza's in the country" or whatever the hell they were named, they went downhill fast.

Cafe Pizzaria on Kirkwood is the only place where the pizza is the same as I remember as a kid, when Nixon was president. 😁

 

[outside shooter]

I have never had a stellar pizza anywhere in the state of Indiana, TBH. I liked it when I was at IU in the late 80s, having never had pizza in places like New Haven, New York, Boston, or (even) Chicago.

Returning to Bloomington in recent years I had raved about Zagrebs, the Crazy Horse, Trojan Horse, Dagwood's, the long-gone Red Chair Bakery, and Mother Bears.

20+ years later, going back to all of them that were still open, they all seemed kinda meh. I don't know if they went downhill or that the younger, poorer version of me was not picky in the least. Probably the latter. I remember getting Little Ceasars back then, knowing it was total crap, but being happy that there was a lot of it for cheap.

 

[HooDatGuy]

I have never had a stellar pizza anywhere in the state of Indiana, TBH. I liked it when I was at IU in the late 80s, having never had pizza in places like New Haven, New York, Boston, or (even) Chicago.

Returning to Bloomington in recent years I had raved about Zagrebs, the Crazy Horse, Trojan Horse, Dagwood's, the long-gone Red Chair Bakery, and Mother Bears.

20+ years later, going back to all of them that were still open, they all seemed kinda meh. I don't know if they went downhill or that the younger, poorer version of me was not picky in the least. Probably the latter. I remember getting Little Ceasars back then, knowing it was total crap, but being happy that there was a lot of it for cheap.

Take a hike with your Subtle Chicago pizza dig guy.

All the good Chicago tavern style is in the south suburbs. It’s a little more blue collar down there so I’m sure you wouldn’t have wanted to wander.

Certainly better than ****ing Boston or New Haven.

 

[crazed_hoosier2]

I have never had a stellar pizza anywhere in the state of Indiana, TBH. I liked it when I was at IU in the late 80s, having never had pizza in places like New Haven, New York, Boston, or (even) Chicago.

I don't agree with that -- and I've had pizza in most of the places where pizza is king.

There are some really, really good pizza places in Indiana. Just none in Bloomington, unfortunately.

 

[HooDatGuy]

I don't agree with that -- and I've had pizza in most of the places where pizza is king.

There are some really, really good pizza places in Indiana. Just none in Bloomington, unfortunately.

Bloomington’s problem is it’s all pan or doughy crust.

Good thin crust is exactly that, thin.

 

[crazed_hoosier2]

Take a hike with your Subtle Chicago pizza dig guy.

All the good Chicago tavern style is in the south suburbs. It’s a little more blue collar down there so I’m sure you wouldn’t have wanted to wander.

Certainly better than ****ing Boston or New Haven.

Yeah, unfortunately the most well-known pizza places in Chicago are not the ones that actually have the best pizza.

 

[HooDatGuy]

Yeah, unfortunately the most well-known pizza places in Chicago are not the ones that actually have the best pizza.

I like deep dish as much as the next guy but I think it’s a separate category from NYC, not an apples to apples comp.

 

[crazed_hoosier2]

Bloomington’s problem is it’s all pan or doughy crust.

Good thin crust is exactly that, thin.

I'm in Evansville and pretty much all the best places here -- with a couple exceptions -- are thin, cracker crust pizza. The exceptions are Azzip (which is a quick-bake, make your own style place) and a place called Pangea (which specializes in Detroit pan-style).

I'm not usually big on super-doughy deep-dish or pan pizzas, myself. That's why I never go to the Giordano's or Lou Malnati's of the world when I'm in Chicago.

 

[crazed_hoosier2]

I like deep dish as much as the next guy but I think it’s a separate category from NYC, not an apples to apples comp.

Yeah, I think if you have to eat it with a fork and knife, it's in a different classification.

 

[anon_mya1phvcpf5x4]

My favorite is Pizza X. Not a big fan of Avers. Mother Bears was so-so.

 

[Courtsensetwo]

That’s definitely part of the issue here.

But pizza is notoriously cheap to make and, because of this, I’ve always heard that it offers unusually high margins in the food service industry. So you’d think that college towns would have some good ones, despite kids being on limited budgets.

Swing In was one of those places that you always got delivery late. Then one day you see the place on a drive in the daylight and yikes!

 

[Courtsensetwo]

Yeah, I think if you have to eat it with a fork and knife, it's in a different classification.

They are not even the same food group IMO.

Having eaten a fair amount of "local's favorites" in both chicago and NYC, neither does much for me. And what the hell in New haven Pizza anyway? Like "Detroit Style" means nothing...coal fired and bready pizza is everywhere. Do love a good white clam pizza though and you can get those in CT.

 

[Courtsensetwo]

It's decent food for a college town and the pub food is above average or better. The breadth of ethnic options is good for most rural college towns.

HOWEVAH. Let's not think it's on par with any city school anywhere.

Zagrebs/ Malibu - Wouldn't even rate in Madison, WI or Austin, TX

4th street - It's nice that we have it. Those are all middle of the road ethnic restaurants in any major city

Sushi - Mediocre. Domo, Sushi bar, Asuka are all average sushi.

I do like Madison. The campus isn't great but i like the town and the food.

 

[i'vegotwinners]

Swing In was likely well before your time. Good 2 AM pizza delivered.

is Swing In still basically the same pizza it was back in the 60's?

 

[i'vegotwinners]

Garcia's. A few weeks ago, someone was asking about the pizza place over at the Gables and I couldn't remember Garcia's for the life of me.

Garcia's was great, but only if you ate it immediately.

wasn't near as good cold or reheated like most pizza, which may have been their problem..

but great right out of the oven.

 

[i'vegotwinners]

for cheap chain pizza, (Domino's, Pizza Hut, Little Caesar's), i liked Little Caesar's the best by far, but they are no longer in B'town as i think Domino's paid them to go away.

 

[crazed_hoosier2]

for cheap chain pizza, (Domino's, Pizza Hut, Little Caesar's), i liked Little Caesar's the best by far, but they are no longer in B'town as i think Domino's paid them to go away.

I try to avoid all of those just about as much as possible. But it's sometimes unavoidable - at some kind of gathering or whatever.

Back in the "Pizza Pizza" days, Little Caesar's was one of the better big chains. I did like their Crazy Bread and Crazy Sauce. But the last time I had it, ohhh was it ghastly. Apparently they decided to go to the ready to serve $6 model. And man did it show. Not much cheese, the sauce was bland, and I had to doublecheck to make sure I was eating the crust and not part of the box.

 

[i'vegotwinners]

Mother Bear's was truly great up until about 1972-73. Once they were chosen as "one of the 9 best pizza's in the country" or whatever the hell they were named, they went downhill fast.

Cafe Pizzaria on Kirkwood is the only place where the pizza is the same as I remember as a kid, when Nixon was president. 😁

Cafe' Pizzaria, (a thin crust), is the best, and still much like their pizza was back in the 60's and 70's.

it is a little lighter pizza today than then imo, but still very true to the original, and still the best pizza in B'town and most anywhere imo. (great stroms too).

Mother Bears started in 73 i think.

pre being Mother Bears, that 3rd st location was an east side branch of Cafe' Pizzaria, (The Pizza Barn), and then was a Pizza King i think for a short time before Mother Bear's moved in to that spot.

 

[ams66]

is Swing In still basically the same pizza it was back in the 60's?

No. Was sold a few years ago and moved from that dumpy shack on 17th street to a new building a few blocks east at 17th and College. New owners claimed to be using the same recipes but it's not quite as good.

I always really liked the original Noble Roman's back in the day. Founded in Bloomington. Both the hand-tossed and the Sicillian were good. Saw RMK dining at the 3rd and Union Noble Roman's once or twice.

 

[i'vegotwinners]

No. Was sold a few years ago and moved from that dumpy shack on 17th street to a new building a few blocks east at 17th and College. New owners claimed to be using the same recipes but it's not quite as good.

I always really liked the original Noble Roman's back in the day. Founded in Bloomington. Both the hand-tossed and the Sicillian were good.

did the original Little Caesar's maybe morph into Noble Roman's at some point?

 

[Coach Geez]

Take a hike with your Subtle Chicago pizza dig guy.

All the good Chicago tavern style is in the south suburbs. It’s a little more blue collar down there so I’m sure you wouldn’t have wanted to wander.

Certainly better than ****ing Boston or New Haven.

New Haven has some of the best pizza in the country. Pepe’s and Sally’s are iconic.

 

[ams66]

did the original Little Caesar's maybe morph into Noble Roman's at some point?

Yes. Steve Huse owned the Little Caesar's franchise in Bloomington and either had some kind of falling out with them or maybe just thought he could do better and he started Noble Romans.

 

[ThreeToMakeTwo]

A guy from Mass. doesn’t like midwest pizza and he’s an expert on all pizzas? ? It’s just a regional thing. I don’t know much abt this guy but it sounds like a case of arrogance above anything else.

 

[Victorbmyboy]

Thanks for sharing...I have fond memories of doing Karaoke there as a starting point on my 21st birthday. (First of MANY spots we hit that night.) I honestly don't have any memories of their pizza. Fun that he was on campus though, and he was certainly dressed the part! GO IU!

That was bears place.

 

[Victorbmyboy]

I'm in Evansville and pretty much all the best places here -- with a couple exceptions -- are thin, cracker crust pizza. The exceptions are Azzip (which is a quick-bake, make your own style place) and a place called Pangea (which specializes in Detroit pan-style).

I'm not usually big on super-doughy deep-dish or pan pizzas, myself. That's why I never go to the Giordano's or Lou Malnati's of the world when I'm in Chicago.

Evansville has crap for pizza. I hate Una cracker crust. It’s best served hot out of the oven straight into the trash. Pangea, lombardies, pizza revolution, slice and even MOD isn’t bad. If I want nostalgia then it’s the new Noble Romans at red bank.

 

[VanPastorMan]

I've never found any really good pizza in Bloomington. They mention Greeks -- it's OK. Nothing too memorable. I guess I like Nick's better than any of them. But even that's not much better than average. MB's is way overrated. I think Portnoy was being generous with a 6.1

He just did Greeks. He said it had a Dominos vibe.

 

[VanPastorMan]

I'm pretty sure I've been to all of those. They're all good -- I do really like Big Woods. Almost forgot about that one. Good Quaff On beers, love the outdoor seating area, cool building in general. And the food is pretty good.

I do fully agree with you on the chain restaurant thing. It's not that I think the food options on Bton are bad. I just think there's room for improvement.

I hate to go comparing steakhouses and such. Because you just wouldn't expect a college town to have a killer steakhouse. LZ's is probably the best in town -- and compare that to something like Jeff Ruby's or even St. Elmo.

But wouldn't it be nice if Bloomington offered a pizza like Bazbeaux or Brozinni in Indy, Oley's in FW, Rocco's in SB, or Turoni's in Evansville? I hate that Portnoy finally comes to Indiana and he ends up at MoBears, of all places!

I have had Oley's in Ft Wayne. Are you talking about the one which is on 24? If there is another Oley's I am not aware of it and have not eaten at one.

 

[VanPastorMan]

Evansville has crap for pizza. I hate Una cracker crust. It’s best served hot out of the oven straight into the trash. Pangea, lombardies, pizza revolution, slice and even MOD isn’t bad. If I want nostalgia then it’s the new Noble Romans at red bank.

Evansville has Gattiland. I hope Dave Portnoy hits Mr. Gatti's in Martinsville on his way to the 500. Then he will have a lot of good things to say about pizza in Indiana.

 

[VanPastorMan]

The place that kinda makes me laugh is Vincennes. In that one little town, you have the following pizza joints: Bill Bobe’s, Larry Bobe’s, and Byron Bobe’s.

I’m sure somebody here knows the back story. I’ve only been to Bill Bobe’s, which I believe is the oldest of the 3. It was pretty good. Better than MB’s anyway.

Must be kinda like Adidas and Puma.

My mother loved Bobes. She was very excited when we got one in Washington so she didn't have to drive the 20 miles to Vincennes. She is with God now but it was NOT Bobes that took her out. She didn't eat it that often. And she rarely had Mr. Gatti's so it was not that place either.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Cafe' Pizzaria, (a thin crust), is the best, and still much like their pizza was back in the 60's and 70's.

it is a little lighter pizza today than then imo, but still very true to the original, and still the best pizza in B'town and most anywhere imo. (great stroms too).

Mother Bears started in 73 i think.

pre being Mother Bears, that 3rd st location was an east side branch of Cafe' Pizzaria, (The Pizza Barn), and then was a Pizza King i think for a short time before Mother Bear's moved in to that spot.

Mother Bear’s Pizza was started in March 1973 by Ray McConn and Bruce Storm as they felt it was needed as an adjunct to their first business, Bear’s Place, to service the pizza portion of Bear’s Place menu. While providing Bear’s Place with pizza, Mother Bear’s began gaining a bit of reputation itself. In 1979, it garnered its first award, “Best Pizza in Bloomington” by the Indiana Daily Student. In 1982, People Magazine selected Mother Bear’s as “one of America’s top nine pizzas” and business literally doubled overnight.

Your memory is better than mine! I was off by a decade...MB was named one of the 9 best pizza's in America by Peoples magazine. In 1982.

That's when it started to decline IMHO.

 

[VanPastorMan]

Take a hike with your Subtle Chicago pizza dig guy.

All the good Chicago tavern style is in the south suburbs. It’s a little more blue collar down there so I’m sure you wouldn’t have wanted to wander.

Certainly better than ****ing Boston or New Haven.

Do you ever watch the youtube channel about Chicago's best? They did one with a pizza place south of where I lived in Stickney when I was in college. I missed that place when we lived there and wish I would have had some of it. It is the thinner tavern style like you are talking about.

 

[abraxis]

No one has mentioned one of my favorite pizzas at DeAngelo’s, if you like the thinner crust type. Two other east side establishments to try (non pizza) are Truffles/56 degree Bar near the big Kroger and Hive at 10th and the 46 bypass. Samira on the town square had a great Middle Eastern lunch buffet before covid. It doesn’t attract the students, but more of the retired professor types, appearance-wise anyway. I like Trojan Horse, surprisingly for their Steak and Shake-type cheeseburgers (and gyros). My wife and I like to slide the sensuous looking oysters at Irish Lion. The Owlery is a good vegetarian place for lunch, kind of reminiscent of The Tao, back in its day. That said, Bloomington doesn’t have a decent, traditional Chinese place, which is surprising to me. The Scenic View has a great fish taco and half off Bloody Mary’s on Sundays. Fish sandwich’s are pretty good at Big Woods. Sweet Grass on the south side of town has a good, fried green tomato BLT and a smaller place next to it has authentic tamales of various kinds in an upscale setting with fine wines. Have I told you I like to eat? Now, about that pizza...

 

[Courtsensetwo]

From the many ethnic options, to good sushi, to Zagreb’s, Uptown, Farm, Malibu, Scenic View, Lennies, Social, bar food, Yogis, Nicks, Tap, Irish Lion, Feast, Sweetgrass, a new one called Village Pub that has an interesting menu, Big Woods, Trojan Horse, Buffalouies, DaVincis, Truffles, and I’m sure I’m leaving some out. Not sure we have much to complain about...

Some great, some ok, some not good but the sheer variety from basic barfood to authentic ethnic to steak and Farm to Fork is very unusual for a single isolated college town. You never even have to consider a chain...but there are even some of those...I think. We are very fortunate in that aspect.

We could be stuck with WLaffy where the best restaurant is the Shriveldogger at Speedway.

 

[Victorbmyboy]

No one has mentioned one of my favorite pizzas at DeAngelo’s, if you like the thinner crust type. Two other east side establishments to try (non pizza) are Truffles/56 degree Bar near the big Kroger and Hive at 10th and the 46 bypass. Samira on the town square had a great Middle Eastern lunch buffet before covid. It doesn’t attract the students, but more of the retired professor types, appearance-wise anyway. I like Trojan Horse, surprisingly for their Steak and Shake-type cheeseburgers (and gyros). My wife and I like to slide the sensuous looking oysters at Irish Lion. The Owlery is a good vegetarian place for lunch, kind of reminiscent of The Tao, back in its day. That said, Bloomington doesn’t have a decent, traditional Chinese place, which is surprising to me. The Scenic View has a great fish taco and half off Bloody Mary’s on Sundays. Fish sandwich’s are pretty good at Big Woods. Sweet Grass on the south side of town has a good, fried green tomato BLT and a smaller place next to it has authentic tamales of various kinds in an upscale setting with fine wines. Have I told you I like to eat? Now, about that pizza...

Bloomington has a very hard time catering to the different clientele. Like Evansville people want piles of food for under ten bucks. Regardless of quality. You list some pretty nice places that don’t often get mentioned. I like Feast but sadly it didn’t last. Pizza is a very subjective matter. I like all types except cracker crust tavern style. Don’t get me started on St. Louis style. Provel cheese should never exist.

 

[abraxis]

Bloomington has a very hard time catering to the different clientele. Like Evansville people want piles of food for under ten bucks. Regardless of quality. You list some pretty nice places that don’t often get mentioned. I like Feast but sadly it didn’t last. Pizza is a very subjective matter. I like all types except cracker crust tavern style. Don’t get me started on St. Louis style. Provel cheese should never exist.

You say you like Feast but it didn’t last? I ate lunch there two days ago and it was as good as ever...had their Ancient Grain Bowl. We have their frozen tamales sitting patiently in our home freezer, as we speak and order their pies (as do many others) for takeout at Thanksgiving, if not Christmas, too. It’s a small place, but mighty.

 

[BCCHoosier]

Bloomington has a very hard time catering to the different clientele. Like Evansville people want piles of food for under ten bucks. Regardless of quality. You list some pretty nice places that don’t often get mentioned. I like Feast but sadly it didn’t last. Pizza is a very subjective matter. I like all types except cracker crust tavern style. Don’t get me started on St. Louis style. Provel cheese should never exist.

Agree on St. Louis style. Only time in my life me and the family through out 85 percent of 2 large pizzas. Awful stuff.

We are hardly pizza snobs either. My kids would power through Dominos, Pizza Hut, or any other crap pizza. But St. Louis style was plain terrible.

 

[PhyloeBedoe]

You say you like Feast but it didn’t last? I ate lunch there two days ago and it was as good as ever...had their Ancient Grain Bowl. We have their frozen tamales sitting patiently in our home freezer, as we speak and order their pies (as do many others) for takeout at Thanksgiving, if not Christmas, too. It’s a small place, but mighty.

Bloomington has a very hard time catering to the different clientele. Like Evansville people want piles of food for under ten bucks. Regardless of quality. You list some pretty nice places that don’t often get mentioned. I like Feast but sadly it didn’t last. Pizza is a very subjective matter. I like all types except cracker crust tavern style. Don’t get me started on St. Louis style. Provel cheese should never exist.

Feast is alive and seems to be doing very well. it’s my favorite restaurant in bloomington. Farm was also terrific until covid hit, and now it seems to have slipped a notch. Zagreb’s is very good, and it’s close in quality to peter Lugar’s (and far cheaper). It’s funny to see portnoy suddenly reviewing the bloomington pizza scene, and I generally agree with his reviews. Bloomington has a lot of mediocre pizza.

 

[Birnk403]

Feast is alive and seems to be doing very well. it’s my favorite restaurant in bloomington. Farm was also terrific until covid hit, and now it seems to have slipped a notch. Zagreb’s is very good, and it’s close in quality to peter Lugar’s (and far cheaper). It’s funny to see portnoy suddenly reviewing the bloomington pizza scene, and I generally agree with his reviews. Bloomington has a lot of mediocre pizza.

Zagreb’s isn’t in the same strata as NY, Chicago or any larger city steakhouse. It’s pretty good and certainly a value price wise, but the quality of food isn’t close to a place like PL.

 

[PhyloeBedoe]

Zagreb’s isn’t in the same strata as NY, Chicago or any larger city steakhouse. It’s pretty good and certainly a value price wise, but the quality of food isn’t close to a place like PL.

I strenuously beg to differ. I will give you the fact that the ambience in LZ is super low key and not at all up to the standards of places like Peter Lugars or Keens. The steaks at LZ are high quality and prepared very well, at least when ive been there.