This used to be Pho Queen. I never went there.

Then it was Pho 999. I never went there.

Now it’s called Maxim Place and I finally took the plunge. First off, I was a bit wary of what it would be like just judging by the exterior. But the inside is clean and well lit. Cheery, even. The service is quick. And the food is awesome. I’m fairly new to Vietnamese food and a lot of the menu was a bit mysterious to me. But I am familiar with pho, the proto-typical Vietnamese dish. I chose a pho with rare slices of steak along with well done slices of brisket. The meat was tender, the broth was delicious, the entire experience was delicious. I highly recommend this establishment.

If you’ve never tried pho before, you might want to do some research prior to doing so. There is a certain method to the madness. Plus, I wouldn’t want you to think that the bean sprouts, basil, pepper, and lime on side is meant to be a salad. The following link is a good resource regarding pho:

http://www.phofever.com/

This is another place I used to frequent when I was a student at Ball State. Unfortuneately, there wasn’t a location in Muncie. We’d drive to Oxford, Ohio for it.

The hot sauce is completely addictive. It was worth the drive to Ohio back then and it’s worth the drive to the south side now.

I first started going to La Bamba when they put a location in up at Ball State in the early 90’s. I’m pretty sure that I never went there unless I was heavily intoxicated.

But those days are gone and La Bamba has found me in my near sobriety on the southside. The chorizo burrito is still my favorite. Reasonable prices and good quality. Worth every cent.

Prices are great for lunch. Plus there’s a huge selection, one of the largest buffets I’ve been to. Food is just average, but the selection makes up for that.

The whole family likes it here. The youngest isn’t so much into the food, but she’s definitely entertained by the chef. The rest of us love the whole thing. The sushi may not be the “best in town”, but it’s better than average and the hibachi is as good if not better than any other place in town. Good location for us and decent prices, too.

I’ll have to digress from the above reviews a little bit. Definitely more like Steak n Shake than In n Out. But we like it a lot, the carnivores in the family always want to go here when we’re in Plainfield. Plus it’s locally owned, which absolutely bumps it up a notch on my favorites list.

My first (and only) impression of Iaria’s was based on a group outing. The menu was decided in advance in order to accommodate the large party. It was good, but not great. I’m pretty sure that when I go back again, I’ll have a better experience. Not that it was bad, but I’d like to branch out further into their menu. Whatever was lacking in the meal was made up for in the ambiance. Everybody there had a good time; it definitely earned a second try.

This is one of those places where I keep telling myself I need to try everything on the menu. And then every time I go, I order the same thing. The fish and chips are my favorite in the city, you just can’t go wrong with them. Throw in the Guiness and I’m always happy with my meal. I like the downtown location a bit better but the Plainfield site seems to be where we end up for family gatherings.

It’s just a take out Chinese place. The only thing that makes it stand out are the lunch combos for $3.25. Through on an egg roll for another dollar and it’s a filling lunch.

The fresh squeezed orange juice is just a foreword of the goodness that’s soon on its way to you. Some of my favorites are the potato pancakes, corned beef hash, and spanish omelet. Wow, I really want to go there right now after writing this!

With so many chains on the southside, it’s great to have another locally owned place nearby. The great menu is going to attract southsiders in droves as the word filters out.

I imagine they serve things there besides pizza, but I’m really not sure. The pizza is the only thing I go there for. Similar to the Ale Emporium, just in a convienent westside location. Oh, plus the ambiance is better.

Did you know Heaven might actually be located in Mooresville? It’s true! Look at the line of (mostly older) people waiting to get in as evidence. Just try to tell me that doesn’t sound like Heaven!

Well, okay. Maybe it’s just a cafeteria.

Gray Brother’s Cafeteria is the mothership of cafeterias, offering a down-home dining experience that everybody needs at times. Standing in the line, getting the chance to catch up with family and friends before eating is just the precursor. The line moves quickly, even when you start standing outside the doors, you reach the servers before you know it. Plus it gives you the opportunity to check out the day’s entrees as you snake behind the people already being served.

First up in the line are the salads and cold sides. Yes, believe it or not some of the food is not fried. Hmmm, cottage cheese or deviled eggs? Next up are the desserts. We’re talking about pies, people. You name it, they probably have it. But the strawberry must be the favorite judging by the number of servings always waiting to be selected. My personal fav is the pecan. Or the banana cream. Or maybe the coconut cream. Or butterscotch. Yes, one of those is my favorite. Oh wait, maybe the pumpkin.

On to the main dishes. Fried chicken is always on the menu, as is roast beef. I’ve tried them all and never found one I didn’t like. But some of the ones that I look forward to and hope are being served that day are the fried chicken livers, country fried steak, fried pork tenderloin, and the beef liver and onion. Yes, I know. I like my food fried.

The hot sides come up next. Macaroni and cheese, fried potatoes, and green beans are always great choices.

After paying, it’s time to find a seat. If you have members of your party that aren’t able to carry their tray for themselves, there are swarms of servers who will be happy to help out. Winding your way through the crowded dining rooms, it always feels like you’ve reached a much anticipated finish line when you finally get to your table. Sitting down and starting on the meal always quiets your party for the first few minutes while everybody digs in. It’s too good to waste time talking at first.

The servers check by often making sure your drinks are full. And everybody, customers and employees alike, always wear a smile. Something about the fried food just makes people happy.

Considering that it’s part of a chain, the service always seems personal. The food is fun and good, the fried oysters were my favorite but I don’t think they have them any longer. The namesake Cheeseburger in Paradise Burger is another good option. The bar is very well stocked and has a good vibe going on.

I’ve only been once, during the dinner hours. The food was about average for an asian buffet, but with the tab for one person ending up at $14 it wasn’t a good value. The one item that I did really like was the sesame balls, other than that it was all just okay.

Every time we go here, it’s always a good experience. The different cheese fondues are all good and the house salad is one of my favorites. For the entrée we always choose the mojo cooking style, it adds a nice citrus flavor to the food. The French quarter and pacific rim meals are 2 of my favorites, both include items that you usually wouldn’t think of using in a fondue such as duck, potstickers, and andouille sausage. The chocolate fondue is a must, all of these that I’ve tried have also always been good. The service is usually on top of their game and then to top it off they have a nice selection of scotch.

It’s fairly small. There isn’t much signage to let you know it’s there. But it’s the best restaurant in Brownsburg. The Cabana Room is located on Main Street, tucked in near a consignment shop and a cigar bar. Just driving by, you might miss it. But if you’re on a mission dedicated to dining there, it’s easy enough to find.

When I was there last week, the specials were rosemary pork chops and rosemary chicken. I went with the chicken and was very, very happy with it. The accompanying salad was served first, I chose the housemade honey mustard and was pleased with it. Then the main dish arrived. The chicken was perfectly cooked. Flavorful, but not overwhelmed with the seasoning. The artichoke hearts and mushrooms in the sauce provided a nice balance of flavor. And the bed of mashed red potatoes was cooked just right. The Belhaven Scottish Ale went perfectly with the meal

The menu features a long list of desserts but not all are available every night. I’d hoped the carrot cake was being served that night, but it wasn’t to be. Instead I went with the peanut butter pie and was very happy with it.

The service was friendly and helpful. I will absolutely return here frequently.

Walking in the door, you’re immediately surrounded by the scent of the spices used in cooking your greatly anticipated meal. (How’s that for an opening line, huh??) Greeted by the friendly cooks/servers/owners, they take your order while gladly offering help with the menu if you need it. Your food is prepared directly behind the counter and brought to your table shortly.

The weekday lunch specials are all priced at $6.75, including a drink. I took Friday’s special of smokie chicken and sausage stew served with red beans and rice, french bread, corn bread, and added on a dessert of bread pudding. The perfectly seasoned stew was served over rice, every drop of it was consumed. I didn’t know what to expect of the red beans and rice, I’ve had hit and miss experiences with it before. This was far and away the biggest hit I’ve had. It ended up being my favorite component of the meal. Both of the breads were absolutely delicious. And once I was done with the meal, I felt comfortably full. And yet, there sat the bread pudding. Taunting me. Daring me. I reluctantly accepted the challenge. But the moment the first bite hit my taste buds, all reluctance flew out the window. This stuff is GOOD!

From the décor to the service to the food, everything about this experience is perfect. I won’t be surprised if they grow out of their small-ish setting in the near future but as long as they stay on the eastside, easily accessible for my lunch hour, I’ll be a happy boy.

The service here was really, really, really good. Polite, fast, and thorough. I ordered from the specials for the day, a 32-oz Dox XX amber draft for $4.75 and the Burrito Sonora for $7.25. The beer was cold, the large burrito was filled with perfectly seasoned beef and accompanied by some incredible beans. The facility was clean and attractive. It may not be the best Tex-Mex I’ve had, but especially considering the price it was definitely a good value. I won’t hesitate to go back again.

This is my favorite place for oysters. I’d never get them from a place like Red Lobster, but I feel safe getting them here. Everything is always fresh