Fine dinning and a screen door.
I have favorite restaurants that I like for the atmosphere, a local coffee shop or a small mom and pop food place in amish country. They remember your name, what you ordered last time, they make you feel like you are one them and completely at home. Then there are some of my favorite places that I go to for the food, it might be pricey but the seafood and steak are outstanding and worth the drive to a bigger city just to eat there. However once in a great while you can have your sugar cream cake and eat it too.... insert Bonge's Tavern in Perkinsville, Indiana.
Eclectic, off beat, middle America and full of soul. From the front porch ceiling that represented everyone's early 90's wall paper love to more Red Gold pride than most of Orestes, you couldn't help but smile at this tavern sitting on a backroad. They have the simple-factor down, only a few items are served and they are all listed on a chalkboard above the bar. While very few restaurants I visit have ten items or less, I really cannot remember finding it that hard to pick one of them. Less is more at Bonge's in Perkinsville, Indiana!
On a recent trip to Indianapolis area we celebrated my father-in-law's 60th birthday at Bonge's. It was one of the first warm spring days of the year, and I got to live out my first Bonge's tailgating experience. With very minimal seating space (around 40 people) and only one private party room, tailgating is expected here. While we were admittedly a little more mild with our tailgating adventures, some others in the parking lot had music, streamers, coolers and appetizers happening. Lets just be honest, if a place has tailgaters just because of the wait... well it is probably worth trying. Bonge's is literally located in the middle of the crossroads of America. Growing up in the country, this was way more my style than downtown Indy. While the food tasted like a high end place with a valet out front, I was digging that this place had the small town feel.
Harger duck
Applewood smoked prime rib
Tomato bisque
The original building was built in 1847.
The chalkboard that names the minimal but outstanding menu options changes often. All of the main dishes came with a choice of soup or salad, I opted for the tomato bisque and did not regret it. My meal was the Harger Duck, a jalapeño and cream filled version that came with cheesy potatoes and wild rice. My husband got the applewood smoked prime rib and now compares other restaurants prime rib to Bonge's. The other item that was a crowd favorite was the jalapeño cornbread served wight the meal. To end the night we ordered one of each dessert to share, and hands down my favorite was the sugar cream cake
Finishing the evening with friends and family outside Bonge's.
