I will say that as catchy as "Keep Calm and Kerry On" was, I think the Colts/Irsay/Polian clan should probably be singing the tune of "Keep Calm and Carry On Looking for Manning's Replacement" because Kerry Collins is not going to cut it. We still have an arsenal of talent and he doesn't have the stamina to get the job done. Ok, enough of my Colts rant, for now.
The point of my intro is to let the great people of Indianapolis and furthermore the sulking Colts fans that there is a new place to cheer our beloved (down-but-not-out) team and maybe catch some other exciting games: the Indianapolis Colts Grille. It is located in the heart of downtown across from Circle Center on W Washington St.
I've had the opportunity to get in there twice (surprisingly not during a Colts game). I was getting off work both times so it was more of an impromptu visit.
Let me start of by saying that the Indianapolis Colts Grille is one of the latest creations from the G.R.E.A.T. Grille Group; "a food-first focused, sports-theme restaurant". I describe it as an elevated sport bar. They have the corporate professionalism but they've researched the demographic wisely. Their other successes include the Eddie George's Sports Grille in TN and Jerome Bettis Grille 36 in Pittsburgh.
The entrance is striking...
And look at the entryway....
The restaurant and bar is beautiful with wood paneling, a granite-like bar top, TVs galore (labeled with the games the various games scheduled to play that day) and multiple dining areas that can be opened up or privately enclosed.
There's even a "Coach's Box", a private area with couches and cocktail tables reserved for players and other various VIPs.
I didn't explore the menu much past the appetizers. I'm reserving that for future visits. The menu items do sound enticing and much more creative than a typical fry-everything sports dive bar. The pricing of the food was pretty close to Scotty's, maybe a bit pricier.
So far I've sampled 4 of their starters:
1) Crispy Parmesan and Sausage Crusted Farm Eggs - a delicious play on Scottish Eggs -- these were superb! One of my faves.
2) Korean BBQ Beef Tacos - the beef is marinated in Korean bulgogi flavors and topped with a crispy slaw and spicy aioli. A julienned red peppers and diced slaw salad accompanied it tossed in an Asian "Szechuan-esque" sauce. I liked where they were going but the beef was tough and hard to chew. The flavors were bold but the dish needs improvement.
3) Buffalo Shrimp Wontons - buffalo shrimp "dip" wrapped in wontons and fried crispy, served with a side of house-made chunk bleu cheese. These were D's favorite. I was a fan, as well.
4) Cilantro and Lime Chicken Quesadillas - this was another fantastic appetizer. Grilled chicken, cheese, fresh cilantro in a flavored tortilla topped with a slightly spicy cream drizzle and plated with a fresh roasted tomato salsa and guacamole (needed some heat, maybe jalapeno?)
They offer a wide variety of beers including some local brews, a full bar and great drink specials. I have a sneaking suspicion that come game days it's get there early or you're bellying up a downtown hole in the wall. The space is huge but lets face it, with the Colts Grille, the name says it all. Come Super Bowl (with the Colts participating or sidelined) this is definitely going to be a major hot spot.
We've had a lot of wonderful years as Colts fans; we've been very spoiled and we should be appreciative of all the explosive action and glory in recent years. I just hope people don't forget that. So we might be in for a long road of recovery. It might be nice to be able to sit back, relax, enjoy some great food and drinks with friends during football season without the potential heart attacks and the pressure. I know that Peyton is doing everything he can to do the right thing with his recovery and I'll be waiting anxiously for his return!
Indianapolis Colts Grille
110 W Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-631-2007
Can't find a website yet (not cool!)
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