Weekend Update (Part 1) What I'm Eating: Hoaglin To Go (Mass Ave.)

I had absolutely no set-in-stone plans this weekend and I loved every second of it!  I spent Fri and Sat getting my grub on around the city and enjoying several a few cold beverages along the way.  The weather was absolutely wonderful minus a rainy start to Saturday.  I couldn't wait to explore some places I'd added to my Epicurean Bucket List.

Day 1 of my 4 Day Weekend started at a place I have been dying to try: Hoaglin To Go.  I had read some wonderful reviews and walked past it several times.  My friend, Tim, joined me on my excursion to Mass Ave.  We walked in around 12:20pm, right in the middle of the busy lunch rush.  We were able to grab the very last open table nestled towards the front of the restaurant.  The building is a bit narrow but they've utilized their space well.  It is clean, modern and fresh.  I really loved the local artwork (for sale) on the wall and the fresh flowers at each table.  The servers definitely had their hands full and were hustling and bustling around.  Our server , never caught his name, quickly greeted us and took our drink order.  The menu is quite large but not overwhelming.  There are a few items of note that have won prestigious awards in the past so Tim and I chose those: He went with Indy's Best Egg Salad on a croissant (best in the city according to Indianapolis Monthly) and I went with the Dilled Tuna Salad with Red Onion and Caper Berries on mixed greens with champagne vinaigrette (voted the best sandwich spread in Dine Magazine).  We were in no hurry and had really not even noticed that our food was taking a while but our server brought it to our attention that someone had accidentally plated our food incorrectly.  He apologized but we assured him that it was not a problem.  I guess if I was on my work lunch break I might be annoyed but I was enjoying myself, the atmosphere and my conversation with Tim.  When the food did finally arrive, I was thoroughly impressed and blown away by how large the portions were!

Holy Cow! Dilled Tuna Salad with Red Onion and Caper Berries

Tim's Indy's Best Egg Salad

I took a bite of Tim's first and was so delighted! Probably the best egg salad I've ever eaten!!  I am a huge fan of dill and the flavor stole the show!  Then on to my meal.  3 icecream-scoop-sized mounds of tuna salad on a fresh bed of mixed greens and sliced tomatoes and cucumbers on the side.  The tangy dressing was the perfect compliment to the entire salad.  Neither Tim nor I was able to finish such large portions and if I wasn't venturing out for drinks afterwards, I would've definitely taken leftovers home.  Our server was attentive and took 50% off our bill for the delay.  That was extremely generous of him but definitely unnecessary.  Tim and I both enjoyed ourselves and I, personally, plan on returning very soon.

The Verdict: Out of 5 stars
Location/Atmosphere: **** (Great spot on Mass Ave. Wish it had outdoor seating)
Service: ***** (wish I caught my server's name)
Food:***** (really lived up to the hype)
Will I eat there again: Can't wait!! :)

Hoaglin To Go
448 Massachusetts Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-423-0300