Bloomington Restaurant Tips by gkitzmil Top 5 Page for this destination

Scholar's Inn: truly Gourmet

A restored 150-year-old historic mansion is a great setting for lunch, dinner, or Sunday Brunch.

Frankly, I don't normally pay this much and it can be a bit noisy but it is THE place to entertain in Bloomington

If you are from Chicago, New York, or Metropolis you will not think the prices expensive -- but for Bloomington I find the food good but not great, the atmosphere noise, and the prices too high. Good wines, though.

Favorite Dish: Seafood Risotto -- Crab, scallops, fresh water prawns, peas, roma tomatoes & Parmigiano-Reggiano crema

Address: 717 N. College Ave

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: On College (one-way Southbound) just NORTH of 11th Street

Phone: 812-332-1892 / 800-765-3466

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 3

Theme: Eclectic/International

Lennies and the Bloomington...

Upscale and affordable restaurant connected to the first local brew pub: A very relaxing place for lunch, dinner, meeting friends, a meeting, or a birthday. Great beer, great food, snappy service.

Favorite Dish: My personal favorites are: Any pizza

Stromboli which is a calzone: Veggie
artichoke hearts, spinach, button mushrroms and tomato slices,

chicken Quessadillas and I get one without Chicken so it is a tasty Black Bean Quessadilla with salsa!
Plus recently there were NINE great locally brewed (you can see the brewery) beer selections

Address: 1795 E 10th St, Bloomington, IN

Comparison: about average

Directions: Basically on the IU campus near 10th and Union

Other Contact: phone 812.339.2256

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 5

Theme: Other

there are many LOCAL restaurants here...: A good town for eating

You'll find MANY restaurants in Bloomington. The one at left is Nick's, SEE BELOW. But you'll find many international cuisines + some of the best burgers around at either Nick's or Opie Taylors.

Nick's is one of my favorites as I like their style of pizza with cold (American) beer! It reminds me of a German kneipe for those who've had that experience.

But that is the beauty of Bloomington there are many local restaurants.

Favorite Dish: Here's a guide to local Bloomington Restaurant Menus ---> http://www.bloomingtonwebguide.com/food.htm#RESTAURANTS

Directions: Nick's is between the University and the Town on Kirkwood Avenue at the corner of Kirkwood and Dunn. Any VT regulars who get to town just HAVE to meet me for a beer at Nick's! SO FAR ONE OF YOU DID

Rating: 0

Theme: Local

Theater Cafe: FAIR TRADE COFFEE

If you want GOOD coffee, at a reasonable price, and to know that you are at least getting some of the price of your cup to the coffee farmers then get your coffee in Bloomington HERE.

Favorite Dish: I love the coffee and the idea.

Address: 1/2 block EAST of the Town Square on Kirkwood

Directions: IN the Indiana Theater Building - look for the big red theater sign

Rating: 4

Theme: Other

Bakehouse -- of Scholar's Inn: Good Bread

More than a bakery this is a small restaurant for breakfast and lunch (though they don't seem to open until 8:00 AM so it is fine if you eat breakfast later than I do).

Favorite Dish: The breads are truly the best in town.

However, for 'take out' coffee while it is very good you get the smallest cup among competitors at the same price and they charged me extra for a shot of soy milk.

Address: Corner of Sixth and College

Comparison: about average

Directions: On the Town Square

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Bakery

Mother Bear's Pizza: one of you wanted to be sure it is still here....

MANY years ago People magazine chose Mother Bear's Pizza in Bloomington as one of America's top pizza parlors -- and they are not about to let anyone forget it :-)

The pizza is pretty good and this reminds you of a genuine college hang-out.

Favorite Dish: Pizza, OF COURSE

Address: 1428 East Third

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Near Third and Jordan

Phone: 812-332-4495

Rating: 4

Theme: Pizza

Crazy Horse: try the beer or some fish

This place has a great feel -- the building is really old but the setting is great. Super wine selection and the wine is HALF PRICE on Sunday and Wednesday.<br> <br>
Ask for Kelly and tell her Greg from IU sent you. Kelly, Sarah, and Julie are all very nice

Favorite Dish: Grouper

Address: 214 W Kirkwood Ave

Comparison: about average

Directions: West Fifth Street one block west of "the Square" (5th Street is also called Kirkwood)

Phone: 812.336.8877

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 0

Theme: Local

Irish Lion: Great food in a wonderful Irish Pub atmosphere

Irish Lion
Guiness, Murphey's, Harp Bass, DAB, Newcastle, and Many more by the pint or yard! all ina great atmosphere

Favorite Dish: Fish and Chips -- truly wonderful

And if you eat meat -- Mutton Pie comes in a bread bowl

Address: 212 W, Fifth St

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: (Kirkwood)
1/2 Block West of the Courthouse Square
Downtown- Bloomington, Indiana U.S.A.

Other Contact: Voted Bloomington's Best

Phone: (812) 336-9076

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 0

Theme: Pub/Brewery

Website: http://www.irishlion.com/

Malibu Grill: romantic and fairly priced

Casual "California Style" - a chain that feels local. Good food, good prices, nice place

Favorite Dish: I love their wood-oven fired pizza and their pasta is great, too

Address: 106 N. Walnut Street

Comparison: about average

Directions: Downtown-- EAST side of the Courthouse (see map)

Phone: 812-332-4334

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 0

Theme: American

Lots of places to eat: Here's a LIST

NOTE: there are many places on this list where you can find <font color=green>vegetarian selections. One more is the Laughing Planet on Kirkwood
</font>.

Chi-Chi's (Mexican) - 2550 E. 3rd St. (812) 333-1781

<font color=green>La Charreada (Mexican) - 1710 N. Walnut (812) 332-2343 </font>

Grisanti's (Italian) - 850 Auto Mall Rd. (812) 339-9391

Mark Pi's (Chinese) - 3020 E. 3rd St. (812) 323-1688

Snow Lion (Tibetian) - 113 S. Grant St. (812) 336-0835

<font color=green>Siam House (Thai) - 430 E. 4th St. (812) 311-1233

Trojan Horse (Greek) - 100 E. Kirkwood (812) 332-1101
</font>

Steaks and Seafood
Janko's Little Zagreb - 223 W. 6th St. (812) 332-0694

Outback Steakhouse - 3201 W. 3rd St. (812) 330-1018

Colorado Steakhouse - 1800 N. College (812) 339-9979

Red Lobster - 2617 E. 3rd St. (812) 332-9712

Casual:
Applebee's - 2894 E. 3rd St. (812) 336-9147

Chili's - 2811 E. 3rd St. (812) 334-0535

<font color=green>Encore Cafe - 316 W. 6th St. (812) 333-7312 </font>

Malibu Grill - 106 N. Walnut (812) 332-4334

and many more!!!

Directions: All within a few minutes drive

Rating: 0

Theme: Other