Tie Dye Grill

This week we traveled east to visit the Tie Dye Grill. The contingent was smaller than usual this week since @Heath and @Ash could not attend, despite the fact that they suggested the location. Also Lars is spreading the word Down Under so she could not make the trip. The crew was missing Sir Nick as well, due to unforeseen reasons.

Upon arriving to the restaurant on Shadeland Ave, Sarah and I were greeted by the owner. He pointed us to the rest of our group and we joined them at the table. For appetizers Wyatt "Flying Death" Buzzard ordered beef stew, which he enjoyed but as stuck comparing it to his home-made deliciousness. Beth Ann ordered some loaded fries, which we all delved into and were quite satisfied. A-Bomb ordered spicy garlic(?) wings which the three of us gentlemen shared and enjoyed.

As for the main event: Tuesdays are tenderloin days at the Tie Dye Grill, and as many of our loyal readers may have noticed, we always have at least one person who finds it necessary to sample a tenderloin. (Looking at you, Liggett girls). Well, sure enough 4 of the five eaters tonight sampled the tenderloin (with gravy), while the lone rebel, yours truly, went with a mac daddy chili cheese dog, mainly because like the dog, i am the mac daddy. The four tenderloiners went about attacking the massive sandwich in different ways. Aaron poured the gravy all over it and went to town, while the other three were more delicate in the nibbling. None of the four finished the beastly sandwich, but Wyatt did save room for his dessert. It was a delicious Heath Bar cake that we ordered in honor of our fallen comrade, Heath "Soft Shoe" Shanahan.

While the drive was a burden for most of us, the meal and atmosphere were enjoyable. The owner made himself readily available and was very conversational, and the place was packed with guests. If you are hungry on a Tuesday night, and have a hankering for a heaping tenderloin, the Tie Dye Grill is the place to go.

With our new grading scale, I would give the Tie Dye Grill a 3.2/4.0.

Oaken Barrel

With only a few hours to spare until the next Takeover, I welcome back all of our faithful followers. This is the newest of the Takeoverers, Blake, speaking. Seeing that I only made my season debut last week, I have minimal points of comparison; however, I truly enjoyed my restaurant pick, Oaken Barrel. The Oaken Barrel is a relaxing restaurant and brewery with a wide menu selection located in Greenwood.

The dinner began with a strike of destiny. All five vehicles pulled into the parking lot at the same time. Nick, single and always looking to impress, highlighted the group with a pair of suave glasses and a classy sweater. Unfortunately for the group, neither Aaron nor Laura could make the dinner due to prior commitments.

The atmosphere inside of the restaurant was relaxing and very enjoyable. We sat in the bar area where, despite the score, we were able to watch the Cubs' game. Dinner began much like any family get-together as Laura was the butt of most (if not all) jokes. Luke, never afraid to bash on Laura, lead with way with 6 Laura jokes on the night. The relaxing environment of the restaurant catered well to our group.

The deciding factor in the choice for the week was that Oaken Barrel brews its own beer. Although I am not 21 and cannot indulge in such practices, those who got beer certainly enjoyed their choices. Luke really enjoyed the Alabaster which is a Belgian Wheat Ale.

The menu at Oaken Barrel offers a very wide variety of options from pastas to sandwiches to steaks to seafood. We began the meal with a few appetizers including Dynamite Shrimp, Boneless Wings, and Bavarian Pretzels. While I would not ordinarily order pretzels, they were very enjoyable. Their horseradish sauce and jalapeno cheese sauce were incredible.

The mealtime decision was mentally draining. There were simply too many options. My decision, as well as Nick's, was the Cajun Jambalaya Pasta. This certainly did not disappoint in the slightest. As Nick can surely attest, the Jambalaya Pasta was phenomenal. The only disappointing part of the pasta was that I left my carry out box on the table. The rest of the crew enjoyed their meals also. Ashley and Sarah both got the Buffalo Sandwiches, which upon trying were delicious. Possibly the best part of their meals were the beer battered french fries. Despite contributing to the ballooning of the youth, these fries were some of the best that I have tasted. The remaining crew enjoyed other sandwiches and pastas including the Bar-B-Q Sandwich featuring their Famous sauce, the Steak Sandwich, and the Mediterranean Pasta. The meals, our waitress, and the beer were excellent and left everyone satisfied.

All in all, I would definitely recommend the Oaken Barrel restaurant in Greenwood. Its relaxing and casual environment was great for sitting back and appreciating life. At dinner we discussed a new rating system. The scholars in us decided to make it on a 4.0 scale. So, I would give the Oaken Barrel 3.8/4.0.

After a two-week streak to start my career as a Takoverer, I will have to temporarily say goodbye to the crew for the next three months. From May 19th to August 15th, I will be visiting/traveling/studying in Europe. I wish everyone good luck, and will see the crew at the Rory/Sarah wedding in August. God Bless...

Barlo's Pizza

Hello once again to all tnt faithful. It was our pleasure to host a new member for this Tuesday's dining experience. Blake Shanahan was in attendance. Blake is a student at Indiana University and a popular/controversial cousin of ours. He was able to step away from his final exam preparation for a few hours to enjoy a nice evening at Barlo's Pizza.

Barlo's Pizza is a small attached restaurant found on the corner of Southport and Bluff Road near the Greenwood area. The atmosphere was casual and reminded me of somewhere I would eat after a baseball game or a place where high school kids meet up once class is out. The restaurant is a condensed area and reminded me at first of bad high school memories, however, all of that was erased after trying one of their delicious gourmet pizza's.

The menu at Barlo's Pizza is a creative menu filled with eclectic parings of toppings. As usual, here are a few appetizers and entrees we tried and loved. For starters, order the Italian garlic roll, but bring a toothbrush to follow. Strong flavor but still delicious. Bread sticks are a must at any pizza place and I can never find the right balance of pizza to bread sticks. I had very little room left for my main dish.

The portion of each pizza can be overwhelming, but who doesn't like left over pizza? Nick Shanahan does. Speaking of Nick, he and Blake shared the Devil's Own pizza, a combination of hot sausage, spicy sauce, jalapeno, and pepperoni. Another saucy pizza was the Southern Draw, ordered by Heath and Ashley. It's a barbecue pizza with mesquite chicken, red onions, and green peppers. Continuing on with bold ingredients, Laura ordered The Meat Market, filled with every type of meat imaginable. The Barlo's Chicken Club, requested by Wyatt, is a pie cluckin' good time filled with ranch, basil, fresh garlic, chicken breast and more. I enjoyed the flat bread pizza which is a focaccia dough topped with spinach, feta cheese, chicken, red onion, drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette.

If you are in the Southport area, please take some time to check out Barlo's menu. I promise you will not be disappointed. Barlo's Pizza can also be found at 5051 Kentucky Avenue next to Decatur Central High School.