Those of you who not only read this column, but also actually dine at the restaurants we suggest, you can agree that Indianapolis’ taste buds are far from tired. We have restaurants that offer food for persnickety, upper crust palates to down home meals at unbelievable prices and everything in between.
Well, Restaurant Spotlight readers, I’ve got another one for you – Ralston’s Drafthouse.
I was fishing around for something good to eat for lunch one day when I stumbled upon this eatery located at 635 Massachusetts Ave.
Located on the eastern part of the historic Mass Ave., I found parking easily and entered the blue building. I expected the restaurant to be a bit more upscale than it was, but it was refreshing to see that Ralston’s was in fact sophisticated but was a restaurant I could let my locs down in.
Go left and you’ll find yourself in the dining area complete with flat screens and diners of all ages. Go right an you’ll find yourself in the bar area filled with eclectic beer and wine choices.
Being that it was the middle of the day, I passed on the alcoholic beverages and went straight to the food menu.
At one point in time appetizers used to be boring. Today, restaurants are stepping their game up and offering apps that go beyond the usual and small plates packed with flavor.
Ralston’s Drafthouse’s app list truly amazed me. They offer items like Masala bean dip; fried brie sticks; calamari and “The Flying Pig,” pork shanks flash-fried and served with various sauces.
I perused the salads next and thought the quinoa spicy salad was a brave yet wise step in offering customers healthier options. The pomegranate balsamic seems like the perfect salad for any time of the year.
I noticed Ralston’s had flatbreads on their menu as well. I’m not a huge fan of flatbreads, however, they did have over five types that came in a wide variety of toppings and flavor combinations.
I decided to go for the jugular and ordered a sandwich. The bourbon glazed pulled pork sandwich was calling my name until I saw Doc’s Crabcake sliders. The sliders consisted of two crab cakes topped with sriracha-lime mayo, avocado, and mixed greens. Each sandwich comes with a side and I chose the fried rosemary potatoes. I also ordered a ginger ale to wash it all down. My meal (including tax) was about $12.
When my meal arrived, I couldn’t believe the fragrant aroma I smelled. The rosemary from my potatoes was pleasantly pungent and a close second were the spices and lime of my ample crab cakes.
Both items were fresh and I could tell the methods used to prepare the food and the ingredients used came from someone who cares about quality and likes to add new twists to common favorites.
Readers, you have to go to Ralston’s Drafthouse. If you don’t like your food “outside of the box” then enjoy a cold beer at the bar. But I’m telling you, with food this good and interesting, you’d be crazy not to order something.
