Thursday, April 19, 2012

Chief's (Greencastle, IN) -- CLOSED

5 E Franklin St, Greencastle, IN 46135, T: 765-301-4135 

 
Greencastle is a culinary and pig out wasteland! The only exception is Chief's, which brings a taste of New Orleans to rural Indiana. It serves catfish, cajun, bbq, and more. Over the past two years I have eaten at Chief's many times and virtually always I have thoroughly enjoyed it.
 
 
On this picture you can see the Sit Down, Shut Up & Hold On Burger ($11.95), which comes with their delicious crawfish/andouille sausage sauce. They also have a steak with that sauce, called BubbaZ Blackened Voodoo Strip Steak ($19.99), which is also delicious (although the quality of the steak varies and is sometimes sub-par). The other dish is a special, Hoosier's Surf & Turf ($11.99), which combines the best of two worlds: a half rack of ribs and half a catfish. The ribs are meaty but come easily off the bone -- take it with their spicy Filmore Fire Sauce -- while the catfish is delicious in every style - grilled, blackened or breaded. Other favorites of mine are the Catfish Submarine ($8.49), a perfect lunch sandwich, and The Big Brentlinger ($10.99), a 8oz Angus burger with bacon, bbq sauce, cole slaw, and a fried egg. The only downside of Chief's are the sides, which vary between poor (e.g. fries and slaw) and ok (e.g. onion rings and green beans). 
 

 

VERDICT: 90/100

Chief's is a piece of heaven in Greencastle, but would also easily survive in more competitive cities (like Indy). They serve very good cajun and American food and some of the best fried catfish I have ever eaten. If they would only improve their sides.

Diggity Gourmet Dawgs (Danville, IN)

68 S. Jefferson Street, Danville, IN 46122, T: 317-604-6008


Diggity Gourmet Dawgs is a tiny hole-in-the-wall with just two tables on the main square of Danville. It serves only hot dogs and nachos and is open just 3 hours a day (5 hours on Friday and Saturday). In addition to various styles of hot dogs, you can also build your own.


I got a Chicago Style ($4.50) and a Classic Carolina ($3.50). In both cases the buns weren't steamed and the sausage was very thin and salty. The Chicago had a lot of fresh toppings with totally overpowered the dog. The Carolina comes with (tasty but salty) chili and too creamy slaw.


VERDICT: 74/100
Diggity offers tiny hot dogs with fresh toppings but at too high prices.

Mr. Gyros (Indianapolis, IN)

5358 West 38th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46254, T: 317-388-9788


According to various online reviews, Mr. Gyros serves the best gyros in Indianapolis. To be fair, most reviewers note that Indy is not a city of gyros or shawarma, but they nevertheless praise the gyros at this unappealing place at a busy street. It serves a broad range of fast food, from greasy American to greasy Greek.


I order the Gyros Value Meal ($6.98), which includes a gyros sandwich, a generous portion of fries, and a soda. The fries are crispy, but fairly tasteless. The gyros is standard American fare: relatively thin slices of salty fat meat (provided by Kronos) on a fat thick Greek pita with tomato, (too much) onion, and well-spiced tzatziki.


VERDICT: 72/100
Many people say this is the best gyros in town, and sadly they might even be right. While they provide much food for little money, it is standard and fat fare.