NEW RESTAURANTS
PHOTO BY MARK A. LEE
Shoefly Public House serves a variety of hand-held fare, leaving the other free to lift a pint. rine (made to order from Goose the Market) against Vietnamese pork roll. Nothing overpowers; each ingredient — including proteins like ground chicken or beef peanut curry and toppings like pickled Korean radish and carrots — pops up randomly on your tongue like a whack-a-mole. Simple as its menu and mission may be, Rook is just as important to a strong culinary community as once-a-month or -year fine dining experiences. 719 Virginia Ave., 759-5828, rookindy.com Shoefly Public House Recently opened in a renovated space on the corner of Talbott and 22nd, Shoefly Public House serves as neighborhood pub to an area that lacks any real dining scene. With a focus on simple yet quality ingredients, including locally sourced
meat and flatbreads from Pat’s Philly Pretzel, Shoefly offers a menu full of gussied-up pub food. Unique selections include walleye tacos, yucca fries and the Hoosier burger, a pork patty topped with apple, arugula, smoked gouda and hickory dijon. Unlike perhaps your typical pub, Shoefly boasts an excellent list of made-from-scratch desserts including, of course, their very own shoefly pie. Shoefly is the perfect place for a lunch break but with an extensive craft beer and wine list, it also makes for a satisfying late-night stop. 122 E. 22nd St., 283-5007, shoeflypublichouse.com Taste of Havana Tucked amid the main street bustle of Broad Ripple Avenue, Taste of Havana is easy to miss but worth the stop. A steady stream of people flows in and
out, ordering to go, choosing from many different types of authentic Cuban “sammiches” or a delicious Jorge original. Sweet plantains, a variety of “pastelitos” including guava and cream cheese and flan are just a few of the sides/desserts to choose from. The bread is extremely flavorful and practically melts in your mouth, overflowing with tender slices of meat and a number of other ingredients. The restaurant is small and there are plenty of seats as most opt to carry out. Bright colors and cartoon-like animals adorn the walls while Cuban music plays in the background. Vegetarian options are minimal, with only one sandwich offering roasted vegetables and a black bean soup, but this is an authentic Cuban sandwich place after all. Andale! 815 Broad Ripple Ave., 559-4369, /Taste-of-Havana
Tlaolli Tlaolli serves Mexican cuisine with a focus on using healthier preparation methods like tamales fried in olive oil instead of lard. First-time restauranteur Carlos Hutchinson’s one-room restaurant feels like a friend’s kitchen. There’s a small counter where you can eat your meal standing up and chat with the owner, but it’s best to get your meal to go. Both vegetarian (soy chorizo or cream of calabacita, made with Mexican grilled zucchini) and vegan (pinto bean tamales) options are available and meat-eaters will delight in the flavorful red mole chicken and the tender caramelized pork carnitas with fresh guacamole prepared in front of you. Tamales come in cheese/poblano, pork and chicken. The affordable meals are served with either red or green salsa and some come with flour or corn tortillas. 2830 E. Washington St., 410-9507, /tamalesTlaolli
# NEW LOCATION:
86th & DITCH (Now Open!)
Voted #1 Best Yoga Studio by NUVO readers!
fit body . calm mind . for every body .
317.631.9642 | www.invokestudio.com Located Downtown & 86th & Ditch
100% RECYCLED PAPER // NUVO // 2013 // WINTER CITYGUIDE 23