Slightly OT - Best Restaurants in Bloomington
- Thread starter IU1974
- Start date
VanPastorMan
Hall of Famer
People talk about Nicks a lot. I've never been there. I miss Mustards. I saw my oldest boy eat one of their regular hamburger when he was around 10. Very impressed with my little dude who is now pushing 30. Man time goes quick.
The restaurant scene in B'town has changed through the years, in my view for the better with a huge expansion in the ethnic restaurants mostly represented on Fourth Street. You didn't say what sort of food you were looking for, so I would recommend going to TripAdvisor.com and checking their reviews.
If you are interested in large steaks with prices to match.
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Depends what kind of food you want or if you are more interested ina hang out, watching other games, etc. There is a New Mexican place called Social Cantina that is very good. Malibu and Uptown are always good. Scholars Inn has been renovated and new menu. The Tap has good bar food and fun place to watch games.
Nicks is a rite of passage though i’m not sure for what... still. Order the tenderloin.
Have you not been to Bloomington since '74? Did you ever go to IU?
Take some interest in your Alma mater.
or....
We don't want your t-shirt fandom.
VanPastorMan
Hall of Famer
Be fair. We don't know if IU1974 had spent the last 40 years in prison. You just never know.
Really. I haven’t been to a game since 77 and I have been out of the country since.
VanPastorMan
Hall of Famer
Out of the country means prison right? LoL Just playin as I was with IU1974. It's what we guys do.
Agreed. Btown stands apart for many reasons, but the dining scene is amazing. Quality choices for every mood and taste.
I was born and raised in Bloomington. Graduated from IU...after a corporate career that spun me around the country I have moved back (been here about 10 years or so) here's my list of favs:
Fine Dining (no jacket required; but the food/experience is such):
- The Roost
- Topo's 403
- Michaels Uptown Cafe
- The Farm
Nostalgia, Drinks and Good Food:
- Nicks*
- Trojan Horse
- Best burger in Bloomington
- Mother Bears*
- Big Woods
- Upland
- The Tap
- Irish Lion
- Just go to Fourth Street and walk the block. I really haven't been disappointed on Fourth Street, having said that, I'm not overly enthusiastic about the Mexican and Indian food in town.
This is the high rotation list for this native.
I've been disappointed in Zagreb's...after the kids took over...I haven't been there for at least three years...so it may be back to form...I just don't know.
Didn’t attend IU, but lived in Bloomington. My mother worked for the university across the street from Assembly Hall and gave me tickets to attend the games. Been a fan since the early 70s, which I’m sure is longer than most on here. Thanks for the attack.
One thing of note, the meat cutter and supplier of the steaks changed (closed) about that time. Tons of restaurants used Ferris’s market.
Bloomington will not support subpar food. They literally get run out of town! Buffalouies, nicks, zagrebs, Bubs, Cloverleaf, Trojan horse, uptown, cafe pizzeria, mother bears, opie taylors, Malibu grill, Bobby’s at Colorado. All these places must be doing something right. Try the sweet Lou at buffalouies.
I had heard...back in the day...around the mid-90s...that they purchased their meat at the Eastside Krogers. I've no idea if that is true.
There is no substitute for quality ingredients...
Just the same...and I haven't been there in quite a while...I have found Janko's lacking.
This is true (though I've never really liked Malibu Grill or Bobby's), if a restaurant has been in business in Bloomington for 3 years...it's doing something well.
Ate dinner there in August. It is good. Not St. Elmo or my deck grill, but very good.
Yes. Typically when the kids are on break the bride and I will go to Nicks for a game. Good crowd, fandom and camaraderie. We've even gone there for some NCAA first or second round action...quite lively. Good time.
Well I'll have to give them another try.
I've had similar sentiments about Hinkles...which is a legendary local burger joint. It's been about three years after I took several unsatisfying trips...I may need to give them one last chance.
Much evidence to the contrary, "sub-par" food being integral to American culture. While Indiana's Bohemian mecca Bloomington may be, crappy food abounds for the simple fact that 50,000+ teenagers love what they know best.
I don’t think it is the young people who are patronizing the shitty restaraunts.
https://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-endanger-casual-dining-restaurants-2017-5
I love their gyros, too. Stay away from the french fries but their o-rings are pretty good. Their double cheeseburgers are to die for with being very similar to Steak and Shake quality on the paddies. They grind their meat fresh.
My wife and I have been eating at Samira for years. It's on the NE corner of the town square. It's middle eastern food and the lunch buffet is wonderful with lots of retired professor types in attendance which means good food and reasonably priced. The best hummus appetizer you'll ever eat and it comes with the meal free (also a small portion of baklava.)
My wife and I enjoy Malibu Grill (not the chain one) on the east side of town square) before a late basketball game or before an early game. We dine only in the bar area - we're people watchers. Mellencamp's dad hangs out there, too, always with a much younger, lovely chick by his side. I never could figure out how he does it. Should I ask John?
I graduated in ‘08, and at the time the best restaurant for dinner was The Farm, and best place for breakfast was Scholars Inn IMO. You have to go to Nicks, if you’ve never been. I’ve never really eaten there for dinner, but as an alum or otherwise, it’s definitely something to do if you haven’t been. Mother bears off of 3rd is always good, as is pizza express (pizza x now bc I think they got sued for the name?), or mad mushroom etc. Zagreb’s is really good, and I can understand some complaints about their quality. It’s always has been a stop in Bloomington for me,
With all of the food choices in Bloomington, you really can’t go wrong. Have fun. I’m looking forward to coming back for the Louisville game in early December.
With all of the food choices in Bloomington, you really can’t go wrong. Have fun. I’m looking forward to coming back for the Louisville game in early December.
Lennie’s/Bloomington Brewing Co.
Upland
Nicks (I’d tell you to be the wings, but they don’t serve them on game days, so get the strom and sink the biz fries) Tell Thunder hello.
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