If you go to almost any bar in the city you’ll likely find a variation of the same food: wings, sub-par nachos, mozzarella sticks, burgers and some form of French fry among other greasy or cheesy bar staples.
Thank goodness Tin Roof, 36 S. Pennsylvania St., has come to Indianapolis.
This self-proclaimed “bar that doesn’t serve ‘bar food’” is located downtown and is a fusion of a bar, sports bar and live music venue that serves an interesting menu.
Before you enter the bar, you notice its bright, cartoonish signage from the street. This alone piqued my interest into seeing what the eatery was all about. Pick a seat anywhere in the fairly large bar and you will be entertained.
I visited Tin Roof during lunchtime and enjoyed the air breezing through the large, open windows, ESPN on the flat screens and all of the stimulating signage around me.
The waitress handed me a menu and I was taken aback by the eclectic selection. Sure they have bar staples, such as hot wings, jalapeno poppers and cheese fries; however they had so much more.
For starters, Tin Roof is known for award-winning appetizers. Their cheese dip has been recognized and the fried shrimp basket is one typically not seen on bar menus.
On other menus, you may see a quesadilla or two, but at Tin Roof, they offer 13 different types. They also offer 21 different types of sandwiches.
It took me a while to figure out what I wanted for lunch, not because the amount to choose from was so overwhelming, but that everything sounded delicious.
The Cuban (ham, pork, pickles, mustard and Swiss cheese) sounded great, but so did the turkey club (turkey, bacon, shredded lettuce, tomatoes and mayo). Oh, look, they have a sandwich I used to eat as a kid, the PB&B (peanut butter and bananas on Texas toast).
Time to make a decision. I chose a quesadilla versus a sandwich…OK, now which one.
The BBQ chicken quesadilla (marinated chicken, BBQ sauce, sautéed onions and Jack cheese) sounds great, but so does the Veggie (tomatoes, zucchini and mushrooms with Jack cheese). I’ll go with the Southwest fajita (marinated grilled chicken or steak with sautéed peppers, onions and Jack cheese).
I took one bite and exclaimed its goodness out loud. Mmmmm! The chips and salsa that came along side my quesadilla was the perfect extra to my meal. Since it was the middle of the afternoon, I appropriately opted for a Coke instead of a cold beer.
Even before I finished my meal, I thought “oh, I’m definitely coming back here. This place would be awesome for a fun girls night out or watching the game with my sports-crazed sweetie.”
Tin Roof has all the makings of a bar, but adds more fun and good food to what could otherwise be a boring repeat. What also makes this eatery awesome is that they make their own salsa, guacamole and marinades from scratch. The bread is made locally and brought in fresh and all of their recipes start with the freshest ingredients. The cherry on top – nothing on the menu is over $8.
Whether you work downtown and need a new lunch spot, desire something cheap and tasty for dinner or want a late night snack, head to Tin Roof and taste some serious bar food.
For more information, call (317) 224-0785 or visit www.tinroofbars.com.
