At the Marina

• Bella Vita Ristorante

11699 Fall Creek Road/317.598.9011
The Skinny: Geist’s only on-the-water restaurant, with a breathtaking view of the reservoir from its outdoor seating area. Bella Vita frequently features live musicians, and you can even feel the sand between your toes at the Beach Bar with the neon palm trees.
House Specialties: Misto alla Bella Vita ($31) features an array of fresh seafood; Vitello alla Bella Vita ($22) is a baked veal dish infused with flavor.
Price range: Appetizers – $8-13; Lunch Entrees – $9-18 (Fri-Sun); Dinner entrees – $11-33.
Website: www.bellavitaatthemarina.com

• Eddy’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill

11693 Fall Creek Road/317.849.0925
The Skinny: This hometown bar and grill has been labeled the “Cheers of Geist.” Large outdoor patio and friendly service. Good for a casual meal after a day on the lake.
House Specialties: Filet and Portabella Dip sandwich ($12.95) features seared filet medallions and portabella mushrooms; Dave’s Sloppy Joe Nachos ($14.95) is an ample appetizer that combines Mexican flavor with good, old fashioned sloppy joes.
Price Range: Appetizers – $7-$15; Salads & Sandwiches – $8-13; Entrees – $12-26.
Website: www.eddysnbg.com

• Puccini’s Smiling Teeth

11693 Fall Creek Road/317.842.2356
The Skinny: Pizza and Pasta chain started in Indianapolis featuring enticing pizza toppings and a casual, hip atmosphere.
House Specialties: Shrimp Santori pizza ($18.95, large) features shrimp, sesame chili oil and sun-dried tomatoes; Campfire pizza ($17.95, large) features smoked sausage, sweet onion marmalade and gorgonzola.
Price Range: Pasta – $9-12; Pizza – $11-19 (large).
Website: www.PuccinisSmilingTeeth.com

• Mama Bear’s Bakery & Cafe

10110 Brooks School Road/317.598.9663
The Skinny: You’ll find much more than coffee at this locally owned cafe just west of the marina. The cozy lodge feel invites you to linger as you enjoy your favorite flavored drink or try their new Italian gelato ice cream. Breakfast is served until 3 p.m., and Mama Bears is now open until 9 p.m.
House Specialties: An assortment of tantalizing pies ($13-16), including chocolate pecan, sweet potato and carmel dutch apple; Italian-style, melt-in-your-mouth Gelato ($4-6).
Price Range: Breakfast – $1-6; Sandwiches – $6-9.

Hamilton Town Center
This new open-air mall just north of Geist has opened up a plethora of possibilities for alfresco dining. Below are the restaurants currently open, but several more are on the way, including Red Robin and Houlihan’s Restaurant &Bar. The Food Court is located near the 146th Street entrance at the intersection of Harrell Parkway and Levinson Lane.

• Mo’s Irish Pub

The Skinny: This is the first Indiana location for the Wisconsin-based pub. The patio area sits alongside a grassy knoll and is near the children’s play area if you have to wait for a table. Live music Thursday through Saturday and an all-you-can-eat brunch on Sundays.
House Specialties: Mo’s Reuben Boxty ($12.99) features slow-cooked corned beef tucked into a seasoned potato pancake; Mo’s Shepherd’s Pie ($10.99).
Price Range: Appetizers – $5-13; Sandwiches & Burgers – $6-11; Dinner – $11-20.
Website: www.MosIrishPub.com /317.770.9020

• Paradise Bakery & Cafe

The Skinny: California-based franchise offering fresh baked goods, sandwiches and breads of all sorts. Plentiful sidewalk dining to “watch the world go by” and free WiFi.
House Specialties: The Paradise Club features ham, turkey and bacon on a butter croissant with marmalade; Big Paradise cookies and muffins in assorted flavors; and fresh-ground Paradise Estate Coffees.
Website: www.paradisebakery.com /317.770.7200

• Qdoba Mexican Grill

The Skinny: Fast casual restaurant offering fresh, made-to-order Mexican food. Outdoor tables right next to the children’s play area.
House Specialties: Qdoba Signature Burritos start with cilantro lime rice and your choice of beans, topped with other fresh ingredients like shredded pork, tomatillos or grilled zucchini, along with an array of salsas and sauces.
Price Range: Almost every meal on the menu is $5-7, including breakfast items.
Website: www.qdoba.com /317.776.6231

• Noodles & Company

The Skinny: A hip, fast casual restaurant that is sure to please everyone in the family! Noodles of all types — Asian, Mediterranean and even good ol’ mac and cheese. Enjoy alfresco dining (although outdoor seating is limited) while watching the kids play in the children’s area.
House Specialties: Japanese pan noodles feature carmelized udon noodles in sweet soy sauce with Asian vegetables; Create a Trio of noodles, soup and salad for $7.25.
Price Range: Noodle dishes – $4-$7.25; Sides/Desserts – $1-5.
Website: www.noodles.com (very entertaining Flash site featuring “Noodleville”) 317.774-9950

Olio Road

• Goodfellas Restaurant & Bar

9641 Olio Road/317.336.6666
The Skinny: Relaxing, family-friendly atmosphere with a comfortable sitting area inside and some tables outside. Goodfella’s plans to open a larger patio area next month. “We’re going to have nice awnings, outside music and a TV outside,” says owner Abul Rahman.
House Specialties: Old World Brick Oven Pizza made with fresh mozzarella, imported Italian tomatoes and an array of standard and exotic toppings, such as fresh broccoli, meatballs and brick oven roasted peppers.
Price Range: Appetizers – $4-13; Pizza – $13-19 (large); Pastas – $8-19; Entrees – $13-26.
Website: www.goodfellas.com

• Casler’s Kitchen & Bar

11501 Geist Pavilion Drive/317.596.9810
The Skinny: A place to unwind and enjoy good food and good company, this locally owned pub is dedicated to James Casler, who opened the first distillery in Fishers in the early 1800s. Poker and Team Trivia Tournaments on select nights.
House Specialties: Casler’s Grilled Cheese ($7.49) isn’t just American cheese; it’s three cheeses, topped with bacon and tomatoes and served on pumpernickel bread. Casler’s Crab Dip ($8.99) appetizer is loaded with crab meat and served with blue tortilla chips.
Price Range: Appetizers – $5-12; Sandwiches & Burgers – $8-11; Entrees – $9-24.
Website: www.caslers.com

Oaklandon Road

• The Fox Pub & Grill

11705 Fox Road/317.823.1000
The Skinny: In the heart of Geist, the Fox’s large patio dining area includes a mood-enhancing fire pit. “We’ve been working on the garden, so it’s a nice view,” says Executive Chef Suzanne Rockwell. The patio is available for large parties. Enjoy live music on Wednesdays and weekends.
House Specialties: Fox Chicken Salad ($11.95) includes grapes, walnuts and scallions; The Hoosier Burger ($12.95) is loaded, with bacon, prosciutto, three cheeses, BBQ sauce, guacamole and more!
Price Range: Appetizers – $6-12; Burgers & Sandwiches – $8-13; Steak & Seafood Entrees – $18-27.
Website: www.FoxPubandGrill.com

East 96th Street

• C.R. Hero’s Family Pub

10570 E. 96th St./317.576-1070
The Skinny: A locally-owned pub with full bar for the adults and arcade room for the kids. Kids eat free Monday and Tuesday. Limited outdoor seating.
House Specialties: Italian Beef sandwich ($8.79) is served on an au jus-soaked lucchesi roll and topped with mozzarella; the Hoosier Daddy ($8.79) is a giant breaded pork tenderloin.
Price Range: Appetizers – $6-8; Sandwiches & Burgers – $7-9. Entrees – $9-17.
Website: www.crheroes.com

Now you can find this popular Cajun-style restaurant at a closer-to-home location, 8352 E. 96th Street. The other locations are in Broad Ripple and on Massachusetts Avenue downtown. “Yats” refers to the phrase, “Where y’at?”, which is how folks in New Orleans say, “How are you?”

Yats is known for good Cajun food, and even though it was one of the hottest days of the year, we still had to check out the newest location, just to be sure!

The clean, small eatery sports a red and blue checkered floor and fiery yellow-orange walls. You head straight back to the counter to order right off a chalkboard listing four or five items. Each plate is $5 or $6 dollars for a combo.

We picked three dishes that our server, Chase Stout, said are some of the most popular. My pre-teen daughter (who usually goes for only for pepperoni pizza) order the red beans and rice with smoked sausage.
We also tried the popular chili cheese etouffee (a Louisiana-style stew of fish, veggies and sauce over white rice), and my other dining pal ordered the Caribbean jerk chicken etouffee.

As we were filling up our drink cups, the food arrived at our table. My daughter was excited about the speedy service, saying, “It is so nice not to have to sit and stare at your pop for an hour waiting for your food!”

The red beans and rice dish was topped with large pieces of sausage and covered in a red sauce. It was delicious and not too spicy… definitely my daughter’s favorite!

The chili cheese etouffee was a little cheesy and a little light on the crawfish but was spiced to perfection. The Caribbean chicken etouffee was the spiciest of the three dishes, with a generous amount of chicken as well as carrots, tomatoes and even a bit of coconut. All dishes come with a big chunk of warm, buttered bread—which was a hit with everyone!

The walls of Yats are dotted with photos of Louisiana, mirrors, mardi gras masks and framed reviews from Indianapolis Monthly, Dine magazine, Nuvo and NWA, the Northwest Airlines magazine which named Yats as the place to check out for Cajun cooking when in Indy.

Yats is owned by New Orleans-born-and-raised Joe Vuskovich. It is simply a spot for inexpensive, good Cajun food—there is no standard Midwest fare, such as hot dogs and mac and cheese.

The restaurant regulars seem to know the routine. They quickly clean their Styrofoam plates of etouffee and go back for more bread. A second helping is only 50 cents! That must be why the regulars keep going back… the same reason my daughter wanted to go back the next night!

Good job on your newest location, Yats!

So off I went to meet with the new owner of Masala Kitchen, which has been open for two years but was purchased by Gangwani and his partners—Sudheer Thondapu of Fishers and Amar Bukkasagaram of Geist—in March.

Haresh allayed my fears of fiery hot dishes, saying most Indian food is not super-hot. Indian cooking uses a lot of herbs and spices – particularly cardimum, cinnamon, ginger, saffron and mint – but not necessarily hot chilies. Nor do all Indian dishes feature only curry, Haresh assures.

“It’s flavor spice, not hot spices,” he says. (Incidentally, the name “Masala” means “spice” in Hindi.)

While the dishes may resemble Chinese food (vegetables and meat over rice), the distinct spices definitely set them apart as Indian. I hit the lunch buffet, served weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and from noon to 3 p.m. on weekends. It features dishes from North and South India, including several made in a clay oven called a Tandoori Grill. Vegetarian dishes are separated from meat dishes, as most South Indians are vegetarians, Haresh said. The restaurant also features dinner hours from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. weekdays and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The later hours reflect the Indian tradition of eating meals later than Americans are usually accustomed.

The mix of clients at Masala Kitchen is about 80 percent Indian/ 20 percent American. Haresh, who immigrated from India 19 years ago to attend the University of Indianapolis and now works for a software company, is hoping to up the number of American guests. He’s implemented “free beer” night on Thursdays and says his friends and co-workers love it.

“It’s about marketing, and, of course, great food” he said. “We’ve got to reach out to people.”

Masala Kitchen is located next to an Indian grocery store, and on the other side, Haresh and his partners are planning to open a banquet hall later this month. Autaak, which means “to gather” in Sindhi, will accommodate up to 180 people. While Masala will be happy to cater events at Autaak, outside caterers also will be accepted.

In addition, Autaak’s owners are planning to open the facility on Wednesday nights for karaoke featuring Indian, American and even Mexican music. According to Haresh, Bollywood is the No. 1 movie producer worldwide, and all Bollywood movies are musicals.

“The Indian people love singing Bollywood songs,” he said.

Haresh, an active member of the India Association of Indianapolis, estimates there are about 300 Indian families in the Fishers/Geist area and 1,500 in greater Indianapolis. He’s glad to see more Americans getting into Indian cooking as well.

Here’s a tip I learned from Haresh (call it, “Eating Indian Food for Dummies”): If something has a bit too much bite for you, tone it down with Raita, a yogurt sauce with cucumbers, onion and mint. The buffet featured a host of other sauces as well, including coconut sauce, tomato sauce, tamarind (a sweet & sour sauce), mint sauce and ranch dressing (for those die-hard Americans).

I particularly enjoyed the Naan, traditional unleavened bread baked in the Tandoori grill. The cook actually smacks the dough onto the side of the clay oven to cook it! Another surprising delight was the Mango Lassi, a yogurt smoothie-type drink. The “deserts” were a little soupy for my taste (nothing like cheesecake and brownies), but overall, my tastebuds were happy and thanked me for the break from pizza and sandwiches.

There are more than 100 items on the menu at Masala Kitchen, so you’re sure to find one to make your tastebuds happy, too! Visit Masala Kitchen at 9546 Allisonville Road or call 849-2996. For more information about events at Autaak, call 444-1778.

Murali Krishna, one of the three cooks at Masala Kitchen, just took this naan out of the clay oven, called a tandoori grill.

“Stefano’s is an upscale restaurant with a family value,” says Steven Enriquez (aka. Stefano). Steven grew up in New York with four brothers and remembers that family time was always centered on gathering for meals.
“I was always in the kitchen with mom,” he said.

In May, she will be coming to visit him from Texas to see his new restaurant for the first time. What a change from all those times he spent helping out in her kitchen.

“Mom will finally come to my kitchen!” Steven said excitedly.

Preparing great food has always been his passion. Besides the famous, tasty brick-oven pizza, Stefano’s offers other Italian favorites like shrimp scampi, lasagna and chicken alfredo.

Steven has worked most of his life in restaurants. He started as a bus-boy in a cafeteria at age 15. He’s worked for many restaurants such as Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesdays and Shells Seafood. Although he has tried working in the business world (Comcast for a year and half), his heart remained within the realm of restaurants.

With a triple B.A. degree in the areas of human kinetics, psychology and business administration, Steven brings a blend of wisdom to his job as owner and chef of Stefano’s.

“I have always wanted to have my own place by the time I was 40 years old,” remarks Steven. He officially took over Stefano’s (formerly Cio’s) in December and turned 41 three months later. He reached his goal, becoming a self-made man living the “American Dream.”

He proudly admits: “For years I have been working for corporate America, going with their rules. Now, I make my own decisions and enjoy life much more.”

Stefano’s menu offers a Spaghetti Family Dinner for four with salad and drinks for only $21.95. Also, a family can enjoy an 18-inch brick-oven-baked pizza with up to two toppings, four breadsticks and drinks for $22.95.

“I wanted to create something with a family oriented atmosphere and with a good value,” Steven said.

He wants everyone to relax and enjoy themselves while dining out with friends and family.

“If you make a mess, don’t worry, I’ll clean it up!” he said. “When you sit down, it’s family time.”

Coming soon, will be a new summer menu featuring some favorite additions such as Pasta Primavera and refreshing salads like the Italian Cobb and Mediterranean.

If you are on a tight schedule, you can visit the “quick counter” for individual slices of pizza and delicious calzones. The prices range from $4.95 to $6.95. For dinner, prices start at $6.50 and go up to $15.

To take advantage of the carry out, catering, “call-ahead seating” and reservations, call 577-9800.

Arsi, along with Peter Simeon and Ernest Tamaras—all seasoned restaurateurs—opened the restaurant on 116th Street near the Fishers train depot.

All three have spent most of their lives in the restaurant business. Peter and Ernest worked together in New York and Florida. Harry hails from North Carolina. This is their first joint enterprise.

“Each of us brings something different to the new partnership,” Harry said.

The Station is on the site of the original Archer’s Grocery, which housed Papa’s Restaurant until recently. The Station’s menu is among the most extensive in the area, describing food prepared of the highest, freshest quality (and always delicious). Greek and Italian dish selections are included but by no means dominant. You’re just as likely to order a four-egg omelet for dinner as the Cowboy Steak Salad, Chicken Marsala or Baked Cannelloni.

Ernest Tamaras is baker and pastries chef extraordinaire. His daily creations are as beautiful as they are delectable. There is usually a baker’s rack in the vestibule of the restaurant, filled with fresh-from-the-oven delicacies to help you decide that, no matter what you choose for your entrée, you are going to have a dessert! Ernest’s specialties are not listed on the menu but include Napoleons, Double Fudge Cake, White Chocolate Cake, flan, Walnut White Raspberry Chocolate Cake, various cheesecakes, at least three other cakes (like Coconut Cake—WOW!), assorted meringue pies, plus three or four individual pastries, including Baklava. Oh My!

Peter, Harry and Ernest did their homework, and demographic studies convince them their style and dedication will prove to be the right fit for the location. As community hosts, they know that being in the restaurant every day and evening, greeting guests and seeing to customer satisfaction are essential to their success. But, of course, an abundance of personal attention and “hosting” would never carry the day without food that makes patrons look forward to the next opportunity to try another menu item (if not to have a favorite over and over again).

After a complete two months in renovation — gutting the kitchen, installing new food preparation equipment and all new décor—the Station opened the first of March and is already experiencing repeat customers.

“The biggest obstacle,” says Harry, “is convincing the public passing by that there is no connection to previous ownership and any negative experience.”

The Station is located at at 8657 E. 116th Street and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Two to three different daily specials are featured, as well as two daily soups. Full bar service of wine and mixed drinks is available. An attractive, ample private meeting room offered by reservation at no charge has already proven to be a popular feature and has been scheduled by several churches and organizations.

The atmosphere at the Station is warm and family oriented. Seating capacity is 250; dining al fresco is planned for the summer. A safe prediction might well be that long before summer, the Station will enjoy a wait list for seating on Friday and Saturday nights. So visit Harry, Peter and Ernest for some really good food and their own brand of TLC.

You can make this as simple as inviting neighbors over for a festive snack and beverage. Now, I have a great friend Christy who has even gone nutty for planning a new year’s celebration for the kids complete with changing all of the clocks in the house two hours early so her ball would drop at 10:00 pm. She hung balloons from the ceiling complete with confetti and let it rip right at the faux time of 10 pm. The kids still talk about this experience!

My sister-in-law’s family has always shared the New Year with the kids. Their tradition includes going outside on the stroke of midnight and banging pots and pans. I guess this idea may or may not be popular with the neighbors but what the heck it only comes around once a year.

Another option is to eat out or go out. I would love to fly to Key West for New Year’s Eve, but since I can’t do that I might visit Cheeseburgers in ParadiseParadise will have the band JOBUZ rocking and rolling from 9 until 1. instead. They have such a fun atmosphere with great meals (my favorite is the mini cheeseburgers)! What a great location for either a family night out or an all adult night out.

Bella Vita will also be swinging on New Year’s Eve with Polly B and the Jam in the upstairs bar from 8 until 1a.m.. They will have complimentary champagne and different raffles during the night in the upstairs bar. They will have three seating times for their dining room and will take reservations. The seating times are 5, 7 and 9 pm. The price range for dinners will be from twenty to forty five dollars per dinner.

Practically the whole month could be spent grooving at Bella Vita. Check out their lineup in December featuring Ribs N’ Bones, Aberdeen Project and my absolute favorite band Toy Factory.

If you have not seen Toy Factory yet, make this a priority for Dec. 30th as they are jamming it up in the upstairs bar. This group is a talented band boasting sounds from the old Motown days of R & B, contemporary soul and just about anything your heart desires. They were playing in the VIP Section of Deer Creek the night that Gloria Gaynor and friends were there. We loved being their best fans so we were requesting Midnight Star, Bobby Brown, Janet Jackson, Earth Wind and Fire and Beyonce! Look, that is another whole interview waiting to happen from their stalker fan – me. Nonetheless, Toy Factory has great vocals and it is a must on your agenda this month.

Casler’s located at 116th and Olio will be a hot spot as well with Turnip Seeds featuring the infamous Dean Metcalf. This band is definitely a 70’s / 80’s cover band that might just get you moving! The sporting events of the day will definitely be on at one of Casler’s several TV screens so pop by for a snack or stay all evening. Casler’s has a great menu – (check out their variety of hot pretzels or fried Mac n cheese as an appetizer). The band will start around 9:00.

Wright’s Restaurant and Cocktails will be another terrific option for a good meal and a nice beverage. They will be featuring their normal menu along with a few specials for the holiday.

As always, as you celebrate the season please remember to designate a driver and drink responsibly.

Happy New Year and Best Wishes this season from the atGeist.com staff.

Bella Vita
www.BellaVitaAtTheMarina.com
11699 Fall Creek Road Indianapolis, IN 46256
598-9011

Casler’s
11501 Geist Pavilion Drive Fishers, IN 46037
596-9810

Cheeseburgers in Paradise
9770 Cross Point Boulevard
NW corner of I-69 & 96th Street
585-0247
www.cheeseburgerinparadise.com

Wright’s Restaurant and Cocktails
10158 Brooks School Road Fishers, IN 46037
577-2900

The décor, while definitely swank and modern, will make you feel like you have just traveled to the Orient. One can chose to dine at the sushi bar, the large, open dining room – which is suitable for larger groups and families – or the heated outdoor patio. Also available is the start-of-the-art private dining room, which offers a 52-inch plasma TV, a sound system with a CD player, PC connections to TVs for presentations, high-speed internet access, a large, adjustable mahogany dining table and a one-way mirror partition for complete privacy.

After taking in the lush surroundings and being greeted by our waiter Marc, we perused the menu and found a large selection of seafood, meat and pasta dishes, all in a moderate price range. Kona Grill also has an equally impressive wine and drink selection. The Divas ordered a selection of drinks and wines, as well as a few appetizers. We sampled two sushi rolls, the California Roll and Spider Roll, as well as Tuna Wasabi (spicy tuna and avocado wrapped in a flour tortilla, flash friend, and served with wasabi sour cream, pico de gallo and shrimp and pork friend rice) and the Avocado Egg Roll (sun-dried tomatoes and red onions, with a honey-cilantro dipping sauce). The sushi was delicious, the tuna was surprisingly zesty and the Avocado Egg Roll was excellent.

As we were preparing to make our main course selections, Assistant Manager Jay Prouty came over to greet us. He went into great detail about specific dishes and informed us that any sushi item could be made to our personal specifications. Our waiter Marc was also instrumental in helping us narrow down the large menu to make our dinner selections. We chose the Baked Sea Bass, which is prepared in a Miso sake marinade and served with shrimp and pork friend rice and Szechwan beans; the House Salad with Macadamia Nut Chicken; the Big Island Meatloaf (angus beef, sweet Italian and Andouille sausage served with a mushroom ragu, white cheddar mashed potatoes and wok tossed veggies); Sweet-Chili Glazed Salmon; the Soft Shell Crab Roll; Catapillar Roll; and a Nigiri Tuna. The Meatloaf, Sea Bass and Salmon were huge hits. All three had a wonderful mix of flavors, and it’s clear why they are house specials. The salad with Macadamia encrusted chicken, and it took three attempts for the kitchen to deliver the salad with the dressing on the side. While Marc was extremely attentive, the promise from the general manager that sushi can be custom made fell short, due to the fact that meals are served to patrons by restaurant employees other than the original waitstaff, who are most likely unaware if they are delivering meals that do not met that specifications of the diner.

Overall, the main courses were well received; however, there are a few kinks in the system that Kona will need to work out to obtain optimum success. Kona Grill also offers a children’s menu for those families with younger diners.

Dining Divas almost never pass up dessert, so we selected the Ultimate Fudge Brownie, with vanilla bean cream, chocolate sauce and caramel sauce, served with vanilla ice cream. It was delicious and large enough for all of us to share. Also available for dessert are turtle cheesecake, macadamia nut pie, key lime pie, passion fruit crème brulee and old fashioned root beer floats.

In general, the Divas enjoyed our trip to Kona Grill. The atmosphere was truly breathtaking and quite enjoyable. The wine portions were a bit of a disappointment considering the price, but the food, when delivered as ordered, was delicious. Kona Grill’s location is perfect for those wanting to meet after attempting holiday shopping, after a long day at work or just gathering with friends for a few laughs and good food.

The daughter of German parents, Jacqueline was raised with an appreciation and understanding of the culture, and she learned to cook the dishes of her heritage. Her mother, Ingeborg Belus, helped her get the new business going and has gladly lent her name to the store. Now that things are up and running, however, Inge has left Fishers for a warmer climate, leaving the namesake deli in her daughter’s expert hands.

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When Inge’s German Market & Deli opened its doors for business on March 25th of this year, Fishers gained an opportunity to experience a traditional German menu inside a quaint yet modern deli atmosphere. ‘Imported’ from Chicago, the menu includes a variety ‘Würste,’ such as Knackwurst, Bratwurst and Wiener, as well as Jacqueline’s own homemade Brötchen (bread rolls), Sauerkraut and Rotkohl (red cabbage). To add to the cultural draw, Inge’s German Market also offers several shelves full of popular imported goods, including chocolate and coffee.

According to Ms. Belus-Kauth, her main focus is to provide tasty, healthy dishes to people seeking quick meals … a much more nutritious alternative to fast food. She states that all of her Schnitzel entrees are created from lean cuts of pork tenderloin, and her homemade potato salad is made in the style of Southern Germany with a vinaigrette base rather than with mayonnaise. Contrary to the common American misconception, she points out that German food is actually not fattening. But to reinforce her personal commitment to serving healthy dishes, she explains, “Even our Reuben sandwich is made from very lean, high-quality corned beef.”

During their seven months of operation, Inge’s German Market has appeared at several local events in order to attract customers and enable the community to become acquainted with them. Fishers and Indianapolis residents might remember seeing them at the Renaissance Festival, A Taste of Fishers and the International Festival. Next summer, they plan on being a vendor at the weekly Fishers Farmers Market. As newcomers to our community, they are working hard to establish themselves and gain recognition, having also recently joined the Fishers Chamber of Commerce.
At the present time, Jacqueline states they are in the process of obtaining their license to serve beer and wine, which they plan to use as a means to upscale their atmosphere on weekends. Seeking to promote “… a kind of ‘Saturday Night Bistro’ at Inge’s,” she hopes they can attract a wider audience, enticing new customers to come and see how they are more than just a simple deli.

www.IngesGermanMarket.com