The following recommendations were originally prepared by some geometers in the
department and modified and updated by me (Russ Lyons).
There are many more restaurants than these, some of which may be good.
Note that I am vegan,
so there are many items I have not tried.
Guide to the stars below:
Anatolia***
405 E. 4th St. near Grant -- 812-334-2991
Turkish food. Excellent eggplant salad and pepper spread. Some seating on
floor cushions. Amazing lunch buffet Wed.-Fri.
Anyetsang's Little Tibet
Restaurant***
415 E. 4th street between Dunn and Grant -- 812-331-0122
Tibetan-Thai-Indian. Vegan friendly. Super hand-made pasta; try the
Kham Amdo Thugpa.
Bear's Place** -- 1316 East 3rd -- 812-339-3460
Decent pizza, beer. Currently closed.
Best Taste***
(Chinese) -- 109 W 4th St -- 812-822-1737
Authentic. Not very vegan
friendly, but acceptable.
Bloomington Bagel Company**
-- 113 N. Dunn between Kirkwood and 6th -- 812-333-4653
Excellent homemade bagels. Soup, bialys, bagel sandwiches.
Burma Garden*
-- 413 East 4th
Street -- 812-339-7334
Cafe Pizzaria** 405 East Kirkwood Avenue.
Decent pizza.
Chipotle**
-- 420 East Kirkwood Avenue.
Dat's (Cajun)** --
408 E 4th St.
-- 812-339-3090
Cheap.
Dragon Express**
-- 1400 E. 3rd at Jordan -- 812-331-7030
Chinese. Fast, inexpensive and usually hopping. Popular.
Falafels, Flavors from Jerusalem*** -- 430 E Kirkwood -- 812-355-3555
Middle eastern.
Gourmet Garden**** -- 300 E. 3rd St, corner of S. Lincoln --
(812) 349-1346
Authentic Chinese food. Fantastic Mapo tofu with Szechuan peppercorns.
The original owner, a business student, brought her mom from China to run the
place. Most customers are Chinese.
Indian
Garden*** -- 416 E. 4th St. -- 812-331-8844
Vegan friendly. Lunch buffet.
Japonee Express (Japanese and
Korean)*** -- 530 E. Kirkwood Ave. -- 812-333-7380;
just off campus, Kirkwood and Indiana.
Surprisingly good.
Korea Restaurant*** -- 409 E 4th St. -- 812-339-2735
Vegans can get soft tofu soup, but you have to tell them to leave off the
egg. Very spicy.
Laughing Planet*** -- On Grant between 4th and
Kirkwood -- 812-323-2233
Unusual take on burritos.
Healthy homemade fast food, esp. vegan burritos. Decor may induce '60's
flashbacks. Currently closed.
Downstairs, they have Soma****, a coffee house and
juice bar.
Lennie's and the Bloomington Brewing Co. Brewpub
-- 514 E Kirkwood Ave -- (812) 323-2112
Wood-fired oven for pizza.
Lotus Garden*** -- 110 S Washington St. --
(812) 369-4653
Authentic Chinese food. Excellent wood-ear mushrooms (appetizer) and
Mapo tofu with Szechuan peppercorns. Most customers are Chinese.
My Thai Cafe Plus**** --
(812) 336-2388 (closed Mon) at
402 E. 4th St. (corner of Grant) --
Very fresh ingredients. Smaller portions at lunch. Lunch specials.
Nick's English Hut** -- 423 E. Kirkwood between Dunn and Grant
-- 812-332-4040
Bloomington landmark. Great pub atmosphere.
Noodles*** -- Kirkwood near Dunn --
A chain, but quite good Asian/Italian/American pasta. Noisy interior.
Qdoba*** -- E. 4th at corner of Indiana --
A chain, but quite good Mexican food.
Runcible
Spoon*** -- 312 E. 6th St. between Dunn and Grant --
812-334-3997
Bohemian coffee house. Best for breakfast, coffee. Good for lunch
or dinner.
Siam House (Thai)*** -- 430 E.
4th at corner of Dunn -- 812-331-1233
Good lunch buffet M-F.
Taste of India***
-- 812-316 East 4th Street --
812-333-1399
Large lunch buffet every day.
Trojan Horse** --100 E.
Kirkwood at Walnut -- 812-332-1101
A Greek-American hybrid.
Turkuaz Cafe**
-- 301 E. 3rd at Lincoln -- 812-333-7908
Turkish. Most seating is on floor rugs.
Uptown Cafe*** -- 102 E. Kirkwood at Walnut -- 812-339-0900
Cajun/creole/American.
Village Deli** -- 409 E. Kirkwood between Dunn and Grant --
812-336-2303
Sandwiches and fries. Best for pancakes and eggs on Sunday morning.
Bloomingfoods Market*** -- 316 W 6th -- 812-333-7312
Deli case and market. Hot food bar with daily menus online. Sandwiches to
order. Organic and vegetarian offerings.
Darn Good Soup*** -- 107
N. College Ave (W side of Courthouse Square) -- 812-335-3533
Hearty soups. Open 11am-7:30pm. Currently closed.
Function Brewing
108 E Sixth Street -- 812-676-1000
Beers and food with mathematical names.
Grazie!***
--106 W. 6th St. (North side of Courthouse Square) -- 812-323-0303
Family style Italian. Currently closed. Che Bello in its place.
Janko's Little Zagreb*** --
223 W 6th -- 812-332-0694
Yugoslavian steakhouse. For hungry carnivores.
King Dough*** --
108 W 6th St --- (812) 287-8931
Chill pizza joint serving gourmet, wood-fired pies with vegetarian, vegan
and gluten-free versions.
The Owlery****
-- 118 W 6th St. (N side of the
Courthouse Square) -- 812-333-7344.
Specializing in vegetarian
comfort food, craft beer, and vegan baked goods. Unlike any other. Meat
eaters come out happy too. Closed Sun. dinner.
Le Petit Cafe*** -- 308 W 6th -- 812-334-9747
French Country.
Closed Mon. Lunch Thu and Sun only.
Samira**** --
100 W. 6th St. at Walnut
(North side of Courthouse
Square) -- 812-331-3761
Afghani. Authentic dishes, artistic presentation. Canonical
destination for colloquium speakers.
Mama's Restaurant**** -- 10th and the Bypass --
812-333-8071
Korean. 80% ethnic most nights. Closed Mon.