When I moved to Indy 12 years ago, the thing I loved most about my new city was that there was a sense of community. Throughout the years, I’ve seen considerable change in once great neighborhoods that had fallen into decline and were written off, but are now coming back to life.
You can see it in the new curbs, updates to the housing, small neighborhood shops and restaurants that fit the charm and character of neighborhoods. That’s what I see in Penn and Palate, a restaurant located in the historic Herron Morton Place neighborhood.
Located on the corner of 16th and Pennsylvania Streets, this little eatery has only been in business for a few short weeks. However, its menu reflects a restaurant that is bound to be a staple in that community.
As I entered the restaurant, I immediately noticed the photographs that adorned the purple walls. It is classic, creatively stimulating and grown up, and overlooks a cosmopolitan street portion of the street.
The server immediately equipped me with a menu, handed me a glass of water and gave me the proper space needed to make my selection.
I noticed the menu featured my favorite type of food – normal food prepared creatively delicious.
Since it wasn’t yet 5 p.m., I knew I couldn’t order off of their entrée menu. (I will have to stop in again during dinnertime and order the short ribs with duchess potatoes, wilted spinach, caramelized fennel and radish butter. The pork chops also sounded mouth watering.)
I turned my attention to the other side of the menu and decided to order the chicken and bacon club, which consisted of buttermilk roasted chicken, spinach, avocado, Swiss cheese and pesto aioli. I chose rosemary bread to hold my sandwich together. I also ordered the apple slaw as my side item.
After a short wait, I received my lunch. I took a bite of my sandwich and discovered the succulent chicken came from a whole chicken! My sandwich wasn’t a chicken breast? That’s almost unheard of now days. I was impressed and took another bite to discover more. I’ve had club sandwiches before, but on this one, the pesto aioli and avocado is what made my sandwich’s flavor soar above and beyond tasty.
Halfway through my sandwich, I remembered I had something else to try. As a budding foodie, I can honestly say I’d never had fennel before. As I took a hearty fork-full of apple slaw, I was nervous as to what I’d find. I found a slaw that was amazingly good.
The slaw had cabbage, apple, fennel and dried cranberries that was tossed in what appeared to be a light mustard-based vinaigrette.
I devoured my side slaw and polished off my sandwich.
What I enjoyed most about my meal is that there was a homemade element to it, yet it had sophisticated flavors that pleased my taste buds. My $12 meal was food I could feel good about eating and purchasing.
Other sandwiches include ham and Swiss; fried egg; turkey melt; Brie burger, and braised short ribs.
Try potato salad or pomme frites (French fries) on the side of your meal too. Penn and Palate also offers appetizers, salads and desserts.
I had a short chat with Penn and Palate’s owner, John Robertson, and he shared with me that his goal is to serve contemporary comfort food. I believe he and his chef nailed this one.
