Restaurant Name: The Akropolis

Location: 3311 South Street, Lafayette, IN (map it)

Phone: 765-447-0001

Hours: Mon-Thur 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, Closed on Sunday

Cuisine: Greek

Review: One of my daughters is doing a project on Ancient Athens for school, so it wasn’t tough for her to convince us to eat out at a Greek restaurant. I have been going to this one since I was a kid, although I never think to go here when we don’t feel like cooking. Apparently, my kids hadn’t eaten here before, and they were disgusted that we had not shared this treasure with them. They LOVED this place. Truly, nothing fancy… you order at the counter from a picture menu on the wall, and carry your own food to the vinyl-clothed tables. The framed posters of Greece on the walls are from the mid-80′s, and they play lively Greek music from a CD player in the corner. It was just like I remembered it from when I was 10! We ordered Gyros sandwiches, Souvlaki (like pork kebabs on pita bread), Cheese Pie (the Greek version of a grilled cheese) for my youngest, and Saganaki to share. The Saganaki is a salty and aromatic cheese flambé, which elicits the shout of “Opa!” from me every time I have it!

The service was great – very friendly people who seem eager to help you. While the place doesn’t sparkle, it was clean. There may have been a fly buzzing around, but the experience was so good that we barely noticed.

Don’t forget dessert… The Dipla (honey pastry) was a big hit with the kids, and the Baklava was delicious.

Kid friendly: Yes.

Methods of Payment: Cash or Credit.

Restaurant Name: Bluefin Bistro

Location: 2 South 4th Street, Lafayette, IN (map it)
Phone: 765-742-6600

Hours: 5pm-10pm Sun-Thur, 5pm-11pm Fri-Sat, and 11am-2pm Mon-Fri

Cuisine: Seafood and Pan Asian

Review: I was intrigued to see the lovely bar from the window on South Street, but disappointed after walking up to the entrance to see that they did not yet have a liquor license. (Note: Since this review originally was published, Bluefin Bistro has obtained a liquor license and now has a fine wine list as well as a full stocked bar.)   I figured I would check that out next time, but I don’t think I will be going again. Bluefin Bistro was clean and quiet, and somewhat deserted for a lunch hour downtown. They had clever framed fish tanks on the walls by some of the tables, which could entertain while you wait for your food, or your coffee, or your drink refill, or your appetizer, or anything else you might ask for that takes an eternity to get to your table. The menu had lots of sushi, some typical bistro fare, and a variety of of seafood dishes. Prices are about $6.95 and up for lunch, with dinners going from $8.95 up to the $50 range. I was shocked when I got my bill to find out that the side salad the server had suggested with my sushi roll was a whopping $3.95! It was merely a cup of iceberg with a slice of tomato on it. For a just a bit more change, I could have gotten an entree salad. One of my friends ordered the scallops from the appetizer menu for all of us to share, but there were only two scallops on the plate. Not to mention, the scallops were brought out much later than the Lilliputian salads.

We all ordered sushi, which was tasty; but it was delivered to the table at different times. One friend specified that she wanted a spicy sushi roll, and the server suggested a roll that had the word Spicy in the title (no kidding). I tasted it, and let me say, I have had spicier food at a bake sale. She asked for some spicy sauce to add to it, and after a little begging, was finally given a dish of the sauce they had used on my roll. To wrap up the meal, we ordered the Downtown Cheesecake, which was quite good and had an attractive presentation. Since the restaurant was very chilly, we ordered coffee to warm us up while we chatted, but it took more than five minutes to get to the table. To top off our wait, we had to ask for sweetener, as it was served with no accompaniments. While a sign did boast that they serve Starbucks coffee, it unfortunately tasted like instant. In hind sight, we should have just walked outside to warm up.

Kid friendly: No.

Methods of Payment: Cash or Credit.

Related Sites: Journal & Courier Article

Restaurant Name: O’Bryans Nine Irish Brothers

Location: 119 Howard Avenue, West Lafayette, IN (map it)
Phone: 765-746-4782

Hours: Sat-Fri 11am-1am, Sun 11am-12am

Cuisine: Irish

Review: Jerry and Jan O’Bryan have truly outdone themselves! This place evokes the feeling of being in a traditional Irish pub, without having to make the trek overseas. Family photos and Irish memorabilia can be found throughout the pub, and the furniture was actually brought over from Ireland. They don’t miss a beat on the food either. Daily specials are always a hit, but the Fish & Chips and Guinness Stew are my favorite. We usually get a couple meals and share them, and we love everything we’ve tried. A pint of Irish beer is the perfect complement to the meal, but they do offer a wide variety of beer, wine, whiskey, and mixed drinks. Oh, I guess they have non-alcoholic drinks, too, but come on – this is an Irish pub! The Guinness Stout is great, but you’ve got to try the Smithwicks Irish Ale (pronounced Smiddicks).

Guests are, without fail, welcomed by a warm smile and greeting from the attentive kilt-wearing staff. Everyone is treated like family, and Jan and Jerry are almost always there to show you around.They will lead you to a cozy table, where you can peruse the menu and check out the O’Bryan family story. If you’re by yourself, or in the mood to meet some new people, the bar is an ideal location. The bartenders are very friendly, and happy to serve your meal right there. Look above the bar, and you’ll see the words “Five Irish Sisters,” paying homage to the ladies of the family – yes, Jerry actually has five sisters, not to mention the nine boys in the family!

If you’re looking for a unique place to have lunch or dinner, or a fun night out, this is the place to be. Live bands on the weekends provide some great music and entertainment. They also offer whiskey and spirit tasting events, and St. Patrick’s Day festivities that shouldn’t be missed. The patio is a great place to enjoy your visit to Nine Irish Brothers, too.

One final note; While I have listed this as not a kid-friendly establishment, they do allow children during lunch and all day on Sunday. They are quite friendly to kids, but they do not offer a children’s menu, crayons, or other items that families would expect at a kid-friendly restaurant.

Kid friendly: No.

Methods of Payment: Cash or Credit.

Related Sites: Hungry Hoosier Review, My Space Page

Restaurant Name: Noodles & Company

Location: 102 N. Chauncey Ave. & South St, West Lafayette, IN (map it)
Phone: 765-743-4444

Hours: Sun-Wed 11am-9pm, Thur-Sat 11am-10pm (Starting 8/28 – Thur-Sat 11am-4am)

Cuisine: Asian, Mediterranean, and American

Review: Noodles has just recently opened in West Lafayette, situated slightly off the beaten path for those of us that don’t live on campus. It is tucked away on Chauncey Hill, making it convenient for those that travel by foot or bike, but offering some curb side parking for patrons that need to drive. The location affords a small area for dining al fresco, in addition to their main indoor eating area.

Upon entering, the menu is on a large board behind the counter where you order. It is broken into sections offering Asian, Mediterranean, and American cuisines, with four entrées (noodles dishes), one soup, and one salad per group. You can also choose several different “proteins” to add to your dish, which the menu makes recommendations for, along with more veggies or cheese. A few sides are available (we love their potstickers), as are a couple of desserts. Their beverage menu offers a selection of fountain drinks, juices, and organic tea and milk. Prices are very straight forward; for the entree, salad, or soup – $3.95 for a small portion and $5.25 for a large, then add $2 if you want to add meat of your choice or some tasty organic tofu.

While their menu is very customizable, my youngest always goes for the Wisconsin Mac & Cheese. This isn’t your typical boxed variety either – it’s elbow pasta covered in fresh and creamy cheese. She loves to snub her fork, opting instead for the provided chopsticks. The neat thing for kids, or kids at heart, is that they will outfit you with colorful chopstick helpers that clip on and make the utensils easier to use. We practice picking up ice with them while we wait for the food to be delivered by the staff to the table.

Speaking of the staff, they seem to be mostly college students, so you get a very diverse mix of personalities. We have had ultra-friendly to ultra-grumpy service, but the food never disappoints. Which by the way, if it does disappoint, they will replace it at no extra charge. So try something new – the flavors are quite spectacular!

When no one can decide where to go for dinner, this place should hit the spot for everyone. From vegetarians to meat-etarians, bland to bold, young to old, this place has something to please everyone. Oh, and do pay attention to their spicy food indicators – I had the Indonesian Peanut Saute (which has two little peppers by it), and felt like it burned a hole in my stomach. Don’t get me wrong – I loved it – just had to keep getting up to refill my water glass.

Kid friendly: Yes.

Methods of Payment: Cash or Credit.