Indianapolis Eats: Bluebeard

A little blog takeover for the rest of the week, because Mr. H and I headed to Indianapolis for a work trip over the weekend. Luckily, we had the opportunity to squeeze in two fun dinners out.

I knew the first stop had to be Bluebeard on Friday. With nods from the James Beard Foundation, and a tempting menu online, I thought this would be a spot right up our alley.

It did not disappoint! They don't take reservations, so we settled in at the bar while we waited for outdoor patio seating (about 35 minutes). Immediately, I loved the vibe. And the rosé flight option on the bar menu. And this little sign perched on a shelf behind the bar.

The menu has plenty of options to build a meal from, and most are small enough so that you can try several. The "Medium" menu section is your standard entrée for one size, and the "Large" format dishes are intended to be shared by two people.

We stuck to mostly Snacks and Small plates so we could do a lot of sharing and sampling of the menu. That started with Salmon Ceviche ($16) with salmon, corn, cucumber, salsa roja, avocado mousse, fried corn tortillas, cilantro, and jalapeño...

...Tartine ($22) crab, blackberry, basil, shallot, watercress, yuzu vinaigrette, semolina toast, and mascarpone...

...and Rockefeller ($16) oysters, jowl bacon, arugula, parmesan, pedro ximenez, and bread crumbs. The Rockefeller was the standout of the three, and I think we could try and recreate this take on a classic Oysters Rockefeller at home. The tartine was our least favorite, as it just didn't have a whole lot of flavor.

Then we split the Wild Halibut ($28) with vichy kohlrabi, mushrooms, green beans, smoked almonds, and cilantro in a brown butter miso sauce. This dish was heavenly. The fish was cooked perfectly, and the textures and flavors were delightful.

We also shared a Side of the Spaghetti ($12) with creme fraiche, parmesan, evoo, and gremolata. Apparently it's a staple on their menu and will never leave. The heat from red pepper flakes with the brightness of the lemon and salty parmesan was just the perfect trio of flavors in your mouth. Our server was kind enough to explain how it's made, and we'll be trying this one at home soon! If you don't care for spice, don't order it. Otherwise, it's a don't-miss item.

We had watched one particular dessert dish pass by our table several times, so we couldn't walk out without trying it. The Vanilla Bean Chess Pie ($9) with caramel sauce, candied walnuts, and whipped cream was unlike any pie texture I've had before. Not overly sweet and with an excellent crust, this was a great end to the meal.

I don't find myself in Indianapolis very often, but I can say that this restaurant will stay towards the top of the list on places I'll keep on rotation.

Any Indianapolis restaurant recommendations for me? Stay tuned later this week to see where we had our second meal.

Bluebeard

653 Virginia Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46203
(317) 686-1580