Location: 111 South River Rd. Suite A West Lafayette (map it)
Phone: (765) 743-8226
Website: www.fuzzystacoshop.com
Cuisine: Mexican

When I announced on Facebook and Twitter that I was going to try Fuzzy’s today, I had a great deal of feedback – most of it really bad! So I went into the restaurant with low expectations and a fair amount of trepidation. And I learned a very important lesson: low expectations are good. Because my expectations were so low, I was pleasantly surprised rather than disappointed.

Fuzzy’s is located where Pot Belly used to be, right on the corner of SR 26 and US231 in West Lafayette. There’s a parking garage there, but depending on which location you are coming from, it can be difficult to get into. I had been in this location when it was Pot Belly, and I was surprised by just how different it was. I recall there being a balcony at Pot Belly where sometimes musicians would perform. There is no longer a balcony! But it was colorful and cheery. You enter and walk up to the register to order. It wasn’t that busy, but we had to wait a fair amount of time to place our orders. They have a big magnet board with their menu and prices. You order at the counter and they give you a number and you can find a seat and fill your drink cup while waiting for your number to be called.

Taco Dinner: one chicken, one beef, potatoes, and beans

I ordered the Taco Dinner. The menu has tacos, quesadillas, salads, sandwiches, burritos, and dinners. All the dinners are a combination of items and come with two sides. The side options include re-fried beans, black beans, rice, and something I’ve never seen offered in a Mexican restaurant: Latin fried potatoes. So I  knew that was something I was going to have to try because I’ve never met a potato I didn’t like.

I wanted to mix it up so I got one shredded beef taco and one shredded chicken taco with re-fried beans and Latin fried potatoes. A friend tried the enchiladas, one shredded chicken, and one shrimp. Another friend had a ground beef taco, so among us we had enough variety to test.

The beans were standard re-fried beans, and tasted exactly like what you’d get out of a can of Old El Paso. I happen to like canned re-fried beans, so I don’t have a problem with that. They certainly didn’t stand out among re-fried beans I’ve had. Then as for those potatoes that surprised me on the menu, they were actually quite good. I’m not sure how “Latin” they were, but they were tasty!

As for the tacos, they were okay. The shredded beef was better than the chicken, for sure. But neither had me jumping out of my seat. Neither were bad either, just average. My friend reported that the shrimp enchilada was tastier than the chicken, and my other friend said her ground beef taco was better than the chicken. So the consensus is that the chicken is not great.

Overall though, for a cheap and fast lunch, it’s not a bad option and I’d go again. This is a chain restaurant, with locations nationwide, but they do have a local Facebook page with specials.

Friends’ opinions: From @kristenrielly, “Fuzzy’s Taco Shop – my opinion: It certainly wasn’t bad, though it’s not a place I feel the need to go back to.” From @khaskett94, “Food was decent though hardly the “new addiction” they tout on the door. I would go again, but it’s not a priority.”

Kid Friendly: Yes.

Price: Starting at  $1.99 for a la carte items, and dinners starting at $5.99.

Restaurant Name: Honey Baked Ham & Cafe

Location: 3540 State Rd. 38 E., Suite 302 Lafayette, IN (map it)

Phone: (765) 449-1223

Cuisine: American, Sandwiches

Review: I was killing some time today and running some errands over on the east side by the mall and while driving through the strip mall where Kmart is I saw a sign that read “Honey Baked Ham”. I thought that was a strange kind of store to have – one that just sells ham. I then noticed some patio tables out front with a couple eating there, so I drove a little closer and saw the words “and cafe” tagged onto the sign.

And since it was lunch time, I pulled in and decided to try it out.

It was pretty dead inside, just me and the woman working. The restaurant was small with just a few tables. You order and pay at the counter and get your food in a box or a basket, depending on whether you are staying or taking it to go.

I asked the woman what was good and ended up choosing the “Classic Ham.” I figured I ought o try to the specialty. They have all kinds of sandwiches, not all  ham. Turkey and roast beef too served on a variety of breads. The classic ham came on a croissant and was served with Swiss, lettuce and tomato, mayo and honey mustard. You could buy it alone or get it in a “box” which included a cookie, a side, and a drink.

I chose the box. The side choices are pasta salad, potato salad, fruit salad, or pretzels. Cookies choices include chocolate chip, peanut butter and some others (I stopped reading at peanut butter. Sorry.) The sandwiches are made fresh and the basket it came in was quite nice, much better than the red plastic baskets you see a lot of places. The soda came in a can, they didn’t have fountain drinks.

I really liked my sandwich and the potato salad was okay. (I’m kind of a potato salad snob so take that with a grain of salt.) The peanut butter cookie was so rich I could barely finish it. Good, but rich.

Overall, it was better than I expected and I’m glad to know it’s not a ham sales store. They have been in business for 15 years and are a pretty big chain, but this is the only one in Lafayette and one of only 8 or 9 in Indiana.

Kid friendly: Yes

Price Range: $5 for a sandwich, $8 for a box

Restaurant Name: Arni’s

Location: Various – Main store at 2200 Elmwood Ave.
Lafayette, Indiana (map it)

Phone: 765-447-1108

Cuisine: Pizza, subs, and salads (Menu)

Review: Arni’s is a Lafayette institution, so anyone in the area probably does not need a review. In my mind, it has the best pizza in town. But, that’s because my tastes run toward that kind of pizza, having grown up eating eastern Indiana Pizza King pizza (which is different than the western Indiana variety). The pizza crust is flat, crisp, and salty, the ingredients are ground, and the pieces are typically cut into party squares. Arni’s is also known for its Arni’s junior salad – a nice mix of lettuce, cheese, and meat. Additionally, it has a full menu of sandwiches, pastas, and salads.

I should make clear that, with this review, I’m primarily focused on Arni’s Market Square location which I view as its flagship store. This store has a number of dining rooms, including a traditional dining room, a bar/dining area, and a “game room” where the dining area is furnished with train and game decorations that will likely be popular with the kids.

The food is great and it’s available for eat-in or pick-up. The service has always been efficient and friendly. And, I would be remiss if I did not mention how generous the Cohens, owners of Arni’s, have been to the Lafayette community. I am directly aware of Brad Cohen’s years of support for Tippecanoe County’s Legal Aid program and indirectly aware that he has been very civic minded in other respects as well. But, please don’t think I’m letting that color my review. I just flat love the pizza.

Kid friendly: Yes.

Price Range: $5 – $7 for sandwiches; $7 – $15 for pizzas; $5 – $8 for salads.

Methods of payment: Cash and Credit.

Restaurant Name: Panera Bread

Location: 300 E State St., West Lafayette, IN (map it)

Phone: (765) 746-2400

Cuisine:  American, Café

Review:  The west side Panera Bread is located in Wabash Landing on SR 26. Parking is kind of a pain if you don’t want to park in the garage, but you can generally find a spot. The parking garage is free for the first hour, so that makes it easier if the lot is full.

You can find Panera Bread across the country in malls and strip malls, and the fare is the same at all locations. You go in and order at one end of the counter, and pick up your food at the other. The menu is fairly large, including lots of hot soups that can be served in a dish or a bread bowl, sandwiches, both hot and cold, and a large assortment of salads.They also offer a variety of desserts and don’t forget bagels and muffins.

I’ve had a variety of items off the menu, and am very fond of the soups and bread. Most meals come with your choice of chips or an apple, which makes for a nice rounded out meal. Drink selections range from sodas, teas, lemonade, and coffee drinks.

They also have free WIFI – which is definitely a plus!

The food is always good, and their website has all the menu items and nutritional information available, which is nice for those of us looking to try to eat a healthier item.  Don’t let the menu fool you though, even the salads are pretty high in calories!

This is a nice place for a meal, good for kids, and enjoyable atmosphere. Watch out for busy times when the line to order can get pretty long!

Kid friendly: Yes. The menu offers several kids items, including peanut butter and jelly,  yogurt, fruit, and chips.

Methods of payment: Cash or credit.

Price Range: Varies – under $10 per entreé.

Restaurant Name: Chili’s Grill & Bar

Location: 3980 State Road 26 E Lafayette, IN (map it)

Phone: (765) 449-8430

Cuisine:  American, Tex Mex

Review:  Near every interstate or mall across America, you will find a Chili’s.  The Lafayette one is located on SR 26, close to the I-65. I found myself in that part of town today around lunch time and was looking for something that would suit the children, but also not be 8,000 calories per entrée. Sometimes I’m weird like that.

Chili’s fit the bill. I had to avoid the bottomless chips and salsa, which is a weakness of mine. Their menu has items from burgers to quesadillas and sandwiches and ribs. It’s fairly extensive with a large selection of salads. The reason I like to go to Chili’s on occasion is because of their Guiltless Grill options. They have one page of their menu with a handful of selections that are less than 750 calories and less than 25 grams of fat. So you still have to be careful with these items, because 750 calories is a lot for one meal. But still, a better option than most restaurants. Once upon a time they had the calories and fat listed on the menu, but apparently they did away with that so do your research before you go if you are counting calories. You can dowload the nutritional information here.

The restaurant is clean and the staff is friendly and my water was refilled often. I ordered the Guiltless Chicken Platter, which is a grilled chicken breast on rice with a side of broccoli. It was good, nothing to write home about but overall a decent meal. My daughter ordered the kid’s pizza, and she enjoyed it but it was pretty sad – limp and clearly something that had recently been frozen and wrapped in cellophane.

If you are looking for a predictable chain restaurant with an extensive kids’ menu, this is a good choice. I don’t go here often, but it’s nice once or twice a year.

Kid friendly: Absolutely. They have coloring pages and crayons and an extensive children’s menu. (Although I’m pretty sure most of the kids’ items are pulled from a freezer and zapped.)

Methods of payment: Cash or credit.

Price Range: Between $8 and $17 for most entrées.

Download and print the Chili’s menu here.

Download and print the nutrtitional information here.