As my time in Bloomington nears its end, I have become more appreciative of the town’s local food scene. After three years of dining in Bloomington, I have found my personal favorite restaurants in the city. Before your time as an IU student comes to an end, I would make sure to try all 10 of these establishments.
302 N. Walnut St.
If you are looking for a restaurant to watch an IU game, I think Yogi’s Bar and Grill has the best gameday atmosphere. The restaurant has numerous large televisions, walls of eye-catching Indiana memorabilia and tasty bar food. Some of my favorite dishes from Yogi’s includes the fried pickles, chicken nachos, chicken bacon ranch wrap and fried cookie dough.
421 E. Third St.
Located in Colstone Square, Little Italy Market is a small Italian grocery store with a kitchen in the back. The market sells a variety of Italian brands of dry pasta, canned tomatoes, pastries and sodas. There is also a refrigerated section with house-made ravioli, fresh cheese and high-quality frozen meats. Additionally, the store sells delicious made-to-order sandwiches, pizza and pasta dishes at the back counter. Little Italy Market’s chicken cutlet sandwich and turkey sandwich are my two personal favorite sandwiches in Bloomington.
421 E. Third St.
When I am craving a hearty but quick Sunday morning breakfast, Gables Bagels is my go-to place. My typical order is a plain bagel with sausage, egg and cheddar cheese. However, I do also like Gables Bagels’ everything bagel with chive and onion cream cheese and its Matzah ball soup. If you’re feeling like fresh bagels every morning at home, you can order a dozen frozen bagels from Gables Bagels for $12.99.
402 E. Fourth St.
During the cold winters, My Thai Downtown is one of my favorite spots to get a warm meal. My Thai offers a variety of authentic Thai meals including Thai curries, noodle soups and stir-fried entrees. In the past, I have ordered chicken -fried rice, chicken noodle soup and the pad see ew. If you want a quick and flavorful meal, My Thai is a wonderful choice.
6. Osteria Rago
419 E. Kirkwood Ave.
Osteria Rago is a high-end small Italian restaurant located in the alley of East Kirkwood Avenue. The restaurant offers a variety of elegant appetizers, pizzas, sandwiches and pasta dishes. My favorite items are the tomatoes vesta appetizer, the bruschetta pizza and the Bucatini Amatriciana pasta dish. Osteria Rago is the best place to celebrate a special occasion, but, since the venue is small, I advise getting a reservation at least two weeks in advance.
105 N. College Ave.
401 S. Woodlawn Ave
The Inkwell Bakery and Café has two locations in Bloomington and is the perfect place to spend an afternoon studying or grab brunch with friends. If you are looking for casual dining, then you’ll enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the coffee shop. No matter the season, when I go to Inkwell, I like to order an iced vanilla latte. I also enjoy its eggs and bacon platter, turkey club sandwich and carrot muffin.
4. The Tap
101 N. College Ave.
With live music every Friday and Saturday night, The Tap is the perfect place for 21+ students to spend a weekend evening. When I go to the Tap, my friends and I love to order hard ciders, share a table of appetizers and enjoy that week’s performer. My favorite dish and beverage at the Tap is the fried green beans and the Strawberry Magic cider.
108 E Kirkwood Ave
FARM Bloomington is an upscale restaurant that uses local ingredients to create its rotating seasonal menu. The restaurant’s collection of high-end entrees includes Pan-seared Tuna Piperade, Filet of Beef, Linguine Di Mare and a 7 oz. bison burger. During my latest trip to FARM, I loved the juicy and smokey flavors of the Bison burger as well as the cheesy and crispy shoestring garlic fries.
250 S. Washington St.
If you are looking for a delicious dining spot for a large group, I would highly recommend going to Da Vinci Pizza and Pasta. Da Vinci is an Italian restaurant with an array of delectable appetizers, salads, pizzas and pasta dishes. If you are unsure what to order, I suggest trying the Del Papa pizza, Penne Alla Vodka or the Truffle Funghi pizza. Since Da Vinci does not take reservations, I would make plans to go Sunday through Thursday or before 7 p.m. to avoid long wait times.
102 E. Kirkwood Ave.
The Uptown Cafe is a fantastic restaurant for any time of day. While it offers a great dinner selection, I love to go to The Uptown Cafe for its weekend brunch menu. The mornings I have spent there, I’ve ordered the Popeye Omelet, Number Two platter or the cinnamon roll coffee cake. I also like to pair my meal with an iced vanilla latte, which is served in a tall beer glass. Uptown Cafe’s excellent service and delicious food makes it one of my favorite restaurants in Bloomington.
IU students are lucky to live in a town with such phenomenal local dining options. Before you graduate, I recommend making time to try each restaurant on the list.
