Restaurant Name:  DT Kirby’s

Location:  605 Main St Lafayette, IN 47901  (map it)

Phone: (765) 429-6666

Cuisine:  Hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches

I may have just had the best hot dog of my life at DT Kirby’s. And, I don’t say that lightly. I’m a big fan of the genre. There may have been others that compare, but memory of them escapes me at the moment. I had the Sonoma dog. I can’t remember what all was in it, but in addition to the dog, there were jalapenos, lettuce, and, I think, bacon and tomatoes.  In any case, it was phenomenal.

The venue is unassuming. It’s a bar. In addition to the main bar, there are several tables along the opposite wall. Napkins are in the form of paper towels on a roll set on the table. There are plenty of big screen televisions, so you can see what is on. And, they appeared to have a decent selection of beer – though I was on a lunch break from work, so I didn’t indulge. In addition to the hot dog, I got a side of onion rings. They appeared to be homemade, and they were delicious as well.

If you’re looking for great tasting food and maybe a beer or two, this is a good choice. If you’re looking for healthy cuisine and a fancy setting, not so much.

Kid friendly: No.

Methods of payment: Cash or credit

Restaurant Name: Red Seven

Location: 200 Main Street, Lafayette, IN (map it)
Phone: 765-742-7337

Cuisine: Bar & Grill

Hours: Mon 11 to 10pm, Tues 11 to 10pm, Wed 11 to 12am, Thurs 11 to 1am, Friday 11 to 1am, Saturday 11 to 1am, Sunday closed

Review: If you are a regular reader or subscriber, you are probably aware that I’ve reviewed Red Seven before. I was invited to dine with some lady friends of mine this weekend, and had such a pleasant experience that I felt the need to revise my review. I didn’t originally give it a bad review; I just thought it had some potential and was hoping it would improve, and it did.

I love dining downtown, and the location of Red Seven couldn’t be better, right across from Chase and Riehle Plaza. It’s beautifully decorated, with an obvious amount of time, money, and energy put into the ambiance. Really quite nice.

The menu has really expanded since my last trip there, and for the better. Six months ago I dined in to be given a one page menu that housed everything from starters to entreés, but now it’s quite expansive, with appetizers, salads, and a slew of menu choices.

We got pot stickers and crab rangoon for starters. Both were good, but I preferred the pot stickers. For my meal, I chose the Penne pasta with grilled chicken, portabella mushroom, brandy cream sauce. It was good and extremely large. In fact, all the dishes were huge and we all took home sizeable containers.

The service was very nice as well. Our waitress was friendly and attentive, and our food was served in efficiently. I’d say a definite improvement over my last visit there and I’m actually looking forward to going again.

My husband also recommends the R7 Chop Chop salad from the lunch menu.

Kid friendly: No.

Payment Methods: Cash and credit.

Price Range: Pretty steep – you pay for ambiance. The least expensive items are the pizzas, which start at around $8, but they go up to over $20 for some of the steak options.

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