665657 Sun Nov 08 16:18:04 -0800 2009 17 8 Midwest 0 5165734 I am going to be flying into and out of Indianapolis but I will be staying in Bloomington for about 4 nights. I was hoping to find a few great places to eat while I am here. I was looking for seafood, cupcakes, desserts, and brunch places. Does anyone have any suggestions? Or is there a place that just can't be missed in this area. Thanks for the help. Sun Nov 08 16:18:04 -0800 2009 107374 bmorecupcake 1 5166660 Go to Restaurant Tallent and have the tasting menu (M-Th, only). One night, head to FARM and have the rabbit in mustard sauce. Moules Frites at either Tallent or Finch's. Any fish that Finch's happens to be roasting in their wood-burning oven. Braised rack of goat at Limestone Grille. Sushi and/or tempura at Mikado. Breakfast at Uptown. Brunch at FARM. Cupcakes from Blu Boy. Enjoy your stay. Mon Nov 09 06:37:10 -0800 2009 5165734 11995 pikawicca 2 5166717 Pikawicca is spot on... Whatever you do, don't miss Restaurant Tallent! Mon Nov 09 07:04:43 -0800 2009 5166660 90565 Cookiefiend 3 5167950 I was down in Bloomington from Indy last Wednesday and enjoyed another great meal at Finch's. The oven roasted trout and moules were both great dishes. I Definitely can't wait to go back to Tallent and Farm. Bloomington is such a great place for dining and you can easily spend the 4 days there, but if you are in Indianapolis for a meal I would suggest R Bistro or Siam Square. Or the tour at Goose the Market is a great deal if great cheese and charcuterie is what you crave. I'm hoping Recess will be opening soon! Mon Nov 09 13:33:55 -0800 2009 5166717 24358 napolean 2 5168036 Farm is worth ignoring- really awful service and mediocre food. Tallent is awesome as is Finch's. Unfortunately, other than Finch's and Tallent there's no seafood worth eating in Bloomington. Uptown is basic, but solid. Note:These are all Bloomington places. For Indy I really dig Ocenaire for seafood- yah I know it's a chain, but they are a very small chain and the execute extremely well. Goose and R Bistro are both solid recs below as well. Mon Nov 09 13:56:14 -0800 2009 5166660 285673 chetatkinsdiet 3 5168775 We also have an Ocenaire where I live in Baltimore I will see about that. How about any good places for brunch? or cupcakes? Mon Nov 09 18:11:41 -0800 2009 5168036 107374 bmorecupcake 3 5168791 I don't think you've eaten at FARM recently. I would've agreed with you in the past, but they've ironed out the kinks. Service is good, and the food is consistently great. Give it another try. Limestone's scallops are wonderful, BTW. I don't understand your comment that Uptown is "basic." There are many things they do, especially at breakfast/brunch that are unique. Mon Nov 09 18:20:07 -0800 2009 5168036 11995 pikawicca 4 5169616 I know you're a Daniel Orr fan, but frankly the food and service isn't good- been there a number of times in the last year, not worth the money or the time. I'm not sure why you like his place so much- either you're getting service that myself and those I know aren't getting, or the yelp reviews and my experiences are all completely off. Uptown's food is basic, it's not bad, it's just very basic. They do what they do well and they never change the menu, which is totally fine. Tue Nov 10 06:33:39 -0800 2009 5168791 285673 chetatkinsdiet 5 5170492 Tallent IMHO is, by far, the best place in Bloomington. Uptown for any meal especially breakfast. They haven't changed the menu in years in part because they don't have to. I've been to Farm several times and the service been marginal - at best- every time. The food is very good but I don't have the patience or inclination to give them another chance in the near future. Limestone is very solid, too. Haven't been to Finch's in quite some time but its rep is excellent. Tue Nov 10 11:28:01 -0800 2009 5169616 211317 HoosierFoodie 6 5170965 Frankly the service issue was about 6 months ago. However, since it was hardly the first time my wife and I decided to "take it off our list". And, because Tallent is so good we have a hard time not going there if we are dropping that kind of dough! That and Dave and Krissy are fine people and that isn't a shot at anyone at Farm b/c I don't know them. Tue Nov 10 14:12:53 -0800 2009 5170946 211317 HoosierFoodie 7 5170997 Dave and Krissy are good folks, as is Danieal Orr at FARM, Michael Cassady at Uptown, Tad DeLay at Limestone, David Fletcher at Blu Boy, and Jeff and Candace at Finch's. I appreciate their devotion to their craft, and their constant striving to perfect what they do, and I think that they all listen to and value constructive criticism. Chowhounds in Bloomington are very lucky, indeed. Tue Nov 10 14:21:10 -0800 2009 5170965 11995 pikawicca 8 5173824 Are there any farmer's markets still going around in Bloomington or Indy? Wed Nov 11 14:53:22 -0800 2009 5170997 107374 bmorecupcake 9 5173921 The Winter Farmer's Market in Downtown Indy debuts at the Chatham Center this Saturday. Def. worth checking out. Capriole Farms goat cheese, fresh past from Nicole Taylors, artisinal bread and patstries and a nice selection of produce, honey wines...etc. Wed Nov 11 15:20:01 -0800 2009 5173824 24358 napolean 9 5174144 The Bloomington Saturday market continues through November. Our winter market starts the last Saturday of January. Wed Nov 11 16:30:46 -0800 2009 5173824 11995 pikawicca 10 5175511 Havn't been to Bloomington's Market yet, but will def. try and go soon. Any local gems you rec. to us that shouldn't be missed? Thu Nov 12 08:17:34 -0800 2009 5174144 24358 napolean 11 5176427 The Market is quite a bit smaller in November, but is still well-stocked with autumn produce. Be sure to buy a lovely free-range chicken from Schacht Farm. If Harvest Moon still has beautiful young ginger, snap some of that up, for sure. And you simply must get yourself a tamale from Feast Catering -- they are delicious. Thu Nov 12 12:40:33 -0800 2009 5175511 11995 pikawicca 1 5185080 Any good coffee houses where I can sit down and get some work done? Mon Nov 16 07:03:06 -0800 2009 5165734 107374 bmorecupcake 2 5186312 SOMA on Grant Street is just a few blocks west of campus. Interesting, hippie vibe. The Green Bean is a few more blocks west on 4th St., near Wonder Lab -- great baked goods. Stonecutters is on the east side of town on Covenanter Dr., just east of the Limestone Grille. Anyone of these places would be a good place to hang out and work, They all have great coffee. (My favorite cup of Joe is Stonecutters house-roasted Sumatran,) Mon Nov 16 13:32:09 -0800 2009 5185080 11995 pikawicca