Henry's

536 West Main St
Fort Wayne, IN  46802
(260) 422-5031
-no known website-

photo source

 Nestled in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne, Henry's, has been serving up it's family-owned atmosphere and food since the 1950's.  Once inside you are instantly transported into another dimension.  The hustle and bustle of city life disappears upon entering and is replaced by a "Cheers"-esque setting (except at Henry's, it seems, no one cares to know your name).  The lowered lighting, original brick walls, 1800's European-made bar and booths, and random shelf accents converge for a cozy setting that wraps patrons in nostalgia of a speakeasy.  

 The laminate tables, simple wood chairs, cafeteria quality silverware, and handwritten menu ensure the charm of a small town family owned restaurant is not lost.  

 FIRST IMPRESSION:
After trying to enter the wrong door, I found the correct entrance and took a moment to absorb the uniqueness and immediately noticed a sign saying "Please Seat Yourself".  Despite the sign, I waited in the entry way for my friends - a total of 7 minutes - and NO ONE said ANYTHING to me.  I looked through the materials displayed on the shelf and the cork board.  I looked around at the interesting bar all the while being completely ignored by everyone.  So much for one of the more common elements of a family-owned restaurant - the warm welcome.  

 MARTINIS:
With news the other Elles were going to be a bit more delayed, I pulled up the last bar stool and waited for another couple of minutes before Matt, the bartender, approached.  With no martini menu, and a whole lot of excuses as to why, I requested a tropical, fruity and girlie martini - he gave me 2 options:  a lemondrop which he said tastes exactly like the candy and a cosmo martini.  I opted for the Cosmotini . . . completely disappointing.  It was neither fruity (unless you count the "sucking a lemon" flavor as fruity) nor tropical.  Although it was only $6 - it could have been sold at a kid's kool aid stand for a quarter and no one would have been the wiser.  

 Adams L arrived shortly afterward and went through the whole "you don't have a menu?  How can I know what to order?" just as I had 5 minutes earlier.  Matt's response was, "I don't know you so I can't know what you want to drink." (see, NOT exactly Cheers).  Adams L said she liked raspberry.  Matt took off and returned with this pretty purple drink that he had no name for so he said, "Raspberry-eee".  OKEY DOKEY Mr. Bartender. 

Last to belly up to the bar was Allen L who skipped the no menu drama and ordered a Lemondrop requesting a sugar rim.  She said it was so disappointing that she didn't even recommend we taste it.  Her exact words were it was VERY VERY VERY TART!

$20 for 3 martinis vesseled in smaller-than-normal glasses and were essentially alcohol-free was a disappointing start to our evening.  Planning to head to Henry's for 'tinis?  Change your plans!

APPETIZERS and BREAD:
I started off with ordering a LOT of diet coke . . . our server, Michelle, brings me a glass and says that they only have one free refill.  For $2 - seriously, at a bar?  Where designated drivers should be encouraged?  What kind of dumb ass bar, in 2012, has a 1 refill limit on a $2 diet coke?  OMG!  I told her to keep it and I'll stick with FREE water instead.  

We started with Spinach Artichoke Dip - SKIP IT!  Michelle said it was the "best anywhere" - she is oh sooo wrong!  It's tasteless and arrived paired with the most greasy "pita chips" that were too fragile to hold a feather let alone this chunky dense dip.  The dip is primarily artichoke and very little spinach and has no notable flavors.

sorry for the poor photo quality

Adams L fell in love with the 6" submarine type loaf of bread that Allen L identified as being nuked.  The bread is made daily from the Bagel Station which is a fun partnership between local companies- too bad it had to be nuked rather than reheated in the oven to prevent the chewiness!  The bread was served in a plastic basket (like you would get at a coney dog in at the root beer stand) nestled among a variety of prepackaged crackers and tiny "spread" containers.  


ENTREES:
Adams L ordered the Tuna Balsemico based on the recommendation of a friend.  Our server indicated this salad was the best selling menu item.  This salad featured many different components and textures including mixed greens, olives, walnuts, goat cheese, and a large perfectly prepared tuna filet but none of the flavors stood out as exceptional. She said it was tasty and a generous portion, but would opt to try something else the next time (spoiler alert:  we won't be returning anytime soon).

Allen L selected a Wrapped Shrimp Club with a side of homemade pasta salad.  The somewhat spicy salad was loaded with a variety of veggies and smothered in an Italian vinaigrette dressing.  The 5 shrimp were lost amid the veggie packed wrap.  If you are looking for a healthy meal heavy on the veggies than this may just be for you.  If you are looking for a shrimp meal - you'll hardly notice you're eating any with this wrap - the bacon was a more noticeable note than the featured shrimp. 

See the white "spot" at the top of the wrap . . . that's 1 of the 5 shrimp.

 The Walleye special caught my eye, but with a salty price and zero guidance from our server as to whether it was good or not, I opted for a $6.99 fish sandwich.  It was a fantastic choice.  I removed the 2 freshly breaded Pollock filets from the bulky store bought onion bun.  The seasoned fries were delicious.  Neither the fish nor the fries were overly greasy and both were very delicious.  With the great price, this is a must try meal!    

SERVICE:
After the initial less-than-warm welcome and having read many of the online reviews all pointing to poor service, our expectations were pretty low.  Our server was really short and unhelpful and almost rude at times. We noticed a trend among the staff (except for the upbeat server wearing a pink shirt who rocked a great attitude) - everyone seemed apathetic!  It was clear from the first second when I entered and continued throughout the entire meal that each employee could not care less if you were a guest or if you enjoyed your food or if you were having a great time.  It wasn't until our server found out that we write a blog that she offered up more information and was a bit more helpful - which, since that was at the end, it was too late.  

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Liked my fish - Hated the fake 'tinis - Displeased with the service - Felt unwelcome and unwanted - Would not recommend it!  As we have stated in many reviews before, it's your money - spend it on an outstanding experience or on a mediocre dinner.  

Note: After dinner we left and headed to Paula's for a REAL 'tini and dessert which we knew would NOT disappoint!

Until the next bite - 

Eddie Merlot's

1502 Illinois Road South
Fort Wayne, IN 46804-1220
eddiemerlots.com

It has been more than a year since we had visited Eddie Merlot's so we were longing to return to one of our favorite retreats.  With this visit, EM's becomes our most visited restaurant of all time!

MARTINIS:
Our server suggested we try a Eddie's Paradise martini so . . . what's a group of gals out for a fun evening to do?  Try it, of course.  Big fail!  NOPE, this isn't the drink we would recommend.  It tasted like an extremely watered down pineapple juice with a kicking horrible aftertaste.  Perhaps straight martini drinkers might enjoy this, but it's definitely not on our "to try" list.

We returned to our "go to" martini - the Berry White (old school recipe)!   This really is the best martini in all of the Summit City.  The crisp and delicious flavor packs a powerful punch of adult spirit. As a special BONUS - it was only $6 (with the bar menu) - WOO- that's what the 3 Elles are talkin' about!

APPETIZERS & BREAD:
We started with a round of appetizers - one familiar, one new.  The new-to-us dish starter was a Chicken Mushroom and Smoked Gouda Flat bread pizza.  I loved it but the other Elles were not quite as impressed.  We all agree that the dish was mild and lacked the PIZAZZ that we were expecting in a pizza.  The sweet sauce was an odd pairing with the other flavors.

And for the familiar - we opted for a round of blue cheese chips which were on special (with the bar menu) for $4 - PARTY AT THE 3 ELLES TABLE!!!  These things are ah-maz-ing!  Seriously, if you haven't tried these yet, what are you waiting for?

We were served 2 bread boules - the first one was horribly doughy and undercooked.  The second one was perfect with a crusty outside and fleshy inside.

Our dinners were prefaced with a Cesar salad.  I asked for my dressing on the side . . . but it arrived on the salad - big fail.  Our server quickly made it right and returned with an undressed salad and offered up fresh ground pepper.  Big piece of advice here:  a little of that pepper goes a REALLY long way.  We each had just a couple of grinds but it was still way.too.much!  The boring bland of romaine chunks was uninspired and quite a disappointing opening act to our upcoming main event.  The salad dressing lacked the fresh inspiration one would expect from such a high end restaurant. 

ENTREE:
From the "Eddie's Meals" section of the menu, Allen L selected a Double Cut Pork Chop while Adams L and selected the same thing, New Orleans Mixed Grill.

Allen L's Double Cut Pork Chop was super-sized!  The 2" thick chop was glazed with a flavorful peach BBQ sauce that tasted more like apricots than peaches.  The rest of the plate painted a perfect picture of an outdoor scene with a delicate "cloud" of tasty mashed potatoes and a stunning green "tree" of perfectly steamed, but overly salty, broccoli.  The exceptionally well prepared chop was tender and moist and ranked among the best pork chops Allen L has ever eaten.

The New Orleans Mixed Grill was a repeat order for us as we have both eaten it before.  I ask you - is this dish visually appealing?  If you said, "no" you are correct.  It also smells much like a wet dog.  Good news, the food tastes a bit better than it looks or smells.  I found the Aduoille sausage to be mushy, but the undercooked steak (I asked for well done and it arrived medium well) was a perfect cut and the mega sized shrimp are beefy but unseasoned.  The 3 meats were plopped onto a mountaintop of mashed potatoes and paired with an amazingly well prepared broccoli crown.

DESSERT:
The desserts at EM's are on steroids - they are seriously overgrown and outrageous.  Allen L ordered the carrot cake which weighed half as much as she did.  It's not that it wasn't amazing, because it was good, but under what circumstances should such a collossal size dessert be served?  It's just so crazy huge.  Look at it towering over the plate! 

Adams L chose the Mixed Berry Cobbler with a side of mixed berry sorbet instead of vanilla ice cream.  The sorbet was fruity and carried a thorough berry flavor, but the outer surface was covered in a jelly goo-like substance which was a bit off putting.  The warm Cobbler had a sweet biscuit topping and was a definite winner.  She said she would surely get it again.

I had ZERO room left for dessert, but opted to get a "piece" of Red Velvet Cake to go.  I say "piece" because I'm pretty sure it was the entire cake.  It was as large or even larger than Allen L's carrot cake.  I tried it the next day and was completely unimpressed!  It had an off taste and was a complete fail.  I think that EM's is trying to get the wow factor through size - but they should really focus of flavor instead.  I would have much rather had a small piece of red velvet cake that tasted amazing over the gigantic piece of disappointment I received.

ATMOSPHERE & SERVICE:
There was annoying music being piped in over the ceiling speakers.  The problem was the volume - it was too quiet to hear anything but the bass - and that was just a mood spoiler to hear Thump Thump Thump for two hours.

Adams L arrived first and asked to be seated in the bar, but it was reserved.  She was offered the bar menu as a compromise.  I arrived shortly and a random server came by our table and said, "Oh you can't have that menu."  She said she would get clarification and then come back.  She never came back - what?!?  That's not the EM's level of service that we had experienced on our previous 4 visits. 

Our server was initially very unfriendly which was irritating.  By the end, she loosened up and that was greatly appreciated.


FINAL THOUGHTS:
Today's Eddie Merlot's is NOT the same experience as 3 years ago. Sadly, it has lost it's unmatched level of service and unique swank factor.  It has fallen from a place of fine dining to a place that overcharges and offers mediocre touches of flare.  It's disappointing in many ways.  It was our go-to place to retreat and be treated on the South side.  It was equally matched, in our minds, with the more northern Baker Street.  After this visit, Baker Street is clearly our favorite and now stands heads and shoulders above everywhere else.  If you are looking for a winning experience, your belly might be full, but your wallet and overall satisfaction will be left empty.  Opt to head north to Baker Street - and tell them the 3 Elles sent you!

Rusty Dog

Rusty Dog Irish Pub

(260) 579-0433

N. Jefferson St. 

Huntington, IN 46750

rustydogirishpub.com

After having my MIL say good things about this eatery followed by Allen L saying "We should go there I hear it's good" - bam, the 3 Elles moved it to the top of our list!  Unfortunately, Adams L was unable to join us (missed you, girl!).

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

It was dark and raining when I approached the well lit corner bar - from the street it looked exactly like Murphy's Irish Pub in Old Town Alexandria.  The outside featured many charming accents including the Irish Flag, a iron sculpture of a dog (hence, the Rusty Dog), and an animatronic santa leprechaun.

Sorry it's blurry - it was raining and it was animated!

I entered the bar side only to be greeted with this sign on the door . . .

Yes, in 2012 when everyone has a smart phone, the policy of this establishment is "No cell phone use!"

I was a bit taken back with the no cell phone sign especially since I was meeting the other Elles and none of us had been there before - there was texting and possibly calling that needed to happen in order to discuss parking and the fact that I had opted to sit in the family dining room rather than the bar.

ATMOSPHERE:
The family room, which had opened this past Fall, was quaint and relaxing.  It was highly embellished with it's many pictures of dogs and pub accessories.  The working fireplace was a perfect compliment to the cold and damp weather. 

MARTINIS:
When starting off an Elles outing, first off is a review of the martini menu.  We lucked out - on this night, Martinis were on special - $5 WOO!  Allen L opted for an Irish Creamtini.  It was everything she loves including Irish Cream, Vanilla, and Butterscotch.  She described it as creamy and light but packed a powerful flavor punch.  Immediately following every sip she said, "Oh that's good!"  I selected a Banana Cream Pie Martini.  It was frothy and light . . . wait for it . . . YUMMY!  Both of our beverages came ungarnished - kind of a bummer.  The garnish just puts a drink into the next stratosphere!  After dinner we met the bartender who created these unique thirst quenchers. 

The bar is a perfect fit to this Irish Pub!

The pub takes pride in bringing unexpected touches to the eating experience - such as the customized glasses . .. and look at that mint container (it's a dog food bowl -clever!)

APPETIZERS/STARTERS:
After taking in all that surrounded us, we were ready to order.  Both of us ordered Guiness Cheddar Potato Soup - how much more Irish can you get?!?!  This was heavy on the Guiness and the Cheddar but a bit shy on the potato.  It was thick and creamy and provided an excellent buffer from the winter blahs the miserable weather outdoors was causing.  The muti-layered flavors ranged from an unidentifiable sweetness to a beer bite.  It was unique and worth trying.  Allen L had hers as a starter and that was probably a better option.  I had mine at the end of my meal and was displeased with the bad after taste left (I'm sure it was the Guiness so if you like beer this will be an non-issue for you). 

We were disappointed that a restaurant as unique as the Rusty Dog wants to be, didn't provide any homemade rye bread croutons or other garnish for the soup - nope, pre-packaged oyster crackers - BORING!

I started with a Pub Salad.  It was served with WAY TOO MUCH Red Pepper Vinegrette.  I asked the server to have the chef prepare everything as healthfully as possible . . .wrongfully assumed this would include getting the dressing on the side.  It was exceptional and I would get it again, but was disappointing to have ordered it with Gargonzola cheese( for an added cost), but was told by our server that she thought they were out.  I think the cheese would have completely made this salad all the better. 

ENTREES:
Allen L ordered Fish & Chips.  She, like me, LOVES this entree at Paula's (see that review HERE).  We often have that on our brain when we order the same dish at other restaurants expecting it to be at least equal to the awesomeness served on Main Street.  With great hopes for authentic Irish Fish & Chips (with the chips being swapped out for a side of grilled Zucchini), this plate of disappointment arrived. 

To start - look how small it is - and 3 thin slices of zucchini is a considered a side?  Wow - that's more like a garnish if you ask us!  Despite the petite nature of the portion, Allen L took her first optimistic bite . . . breading was all that her tongue detected.  The thick, but thankfully not greasy, breading was overbearing and resulted in an inability to detect any fish flavor or texture.  Now you will notice a mountain high piling of what is possibly THE BEST cole slaw EVER!  That was definitely the highlight to this plate.  Frequent readers know I'm not a lover of the 'slaw, but this Bacon Cole Slaw was out.of.this.world.  It was incredible.  It was thick and rich and gave me a mouth full of BAM!  In fact, I remarked that it was the most "non-cole slaw tasting slaw" I've ever eaten.  YES - this side alone is worth the drive to Huntington!  The Bacon Cole Slaw kept this entree selection from being a complete flop. 

As part of my New Year's resolution to "healthify" my diet - I had very little problem finding something healthful on the menu.  The sandwich section of the menu lists about a dozen types of toppings you can add to either a chicken breast, a hamburger, or a portabella 'shroom.  I selected the Italian Greyhound on a portabella without the bun (which I had heard the Onion buns were to die for).  Although it wasn't a lot of food, especially compared to common American eateries, it was just filling enough and more importantly, tasted amazing.  Healthy meets yummy with this entree.  The Red Pepper Pesto added a 5 alarm fire to the dish adding a memorable zip!  My "sandwich" was accompanied with lettuce, pickles, and red onions.  My 'shroom was topped with Provolone and grilled zucchini.  If you're looking for a healthy meal out - this is an excellent choice.  It's tasty and unique and will surely please any vegetarian or healthy eater. 


DESSERT:
 We concluded our experience with a Turtle Torte - should have skipped it.  Again, a lost opportunity to dazzle the customer.  This final course was not made in- house and really didn't reflect the Irish flare the restaurant was going for.  This may have been the most disappointing part of the meal - it began when I asked what the dessert options for.  Our server, who was nice, started by listing the desserts they didn't have.  Who does that?  It's okay to include them if they are that fantastic, but perhaps at the end as a way to bring the customer back . . . "Oh and we normally have X but it was so popular this weekend we are all out.  You'll have to come back again and definitely order that - it's amazing!".  Nope, she started, "We're out of X, Y, Z, but I think we have A, B, and C."  Missing from the list, Allen L and I agree, was a seasonal offering such as an Apple Crisp or a Peppermint Cheesecake.  Our tortes arrived and were visually appealing, but the turtle trio flavors of caramel, chocolate, and nuts was replaced with uninspired blandness encased in a rubbery texture.  We both agree it's probably not worth the calories. 

SERVICE:
This was a unique restaurant and we got a unique vibe - not saying it was a good one nor a bad one, just very different.  It didn't feel warm and friendly.  It didn't feel harsh or rude.  There are MANY rules and procedures posted for patrons to follow in the restaurant and it gives a feeling of "if you want to eat here you have to follow the rules."  It started with the No Cell Phone Sign - hello it's 2012!  Then it continued as soon as I entered the bar side and was offered to be seated in either seat A or seat B despite the majority of the restaurant being empty - both A & B were by the door - it just felt as if I weren't a "regular" customer so this is the crap seats I 'm allowed to sit in.  Then I was told to walk outside and in the family room door where I was greeted with another "rule" - press the bell for service.  Shouldn't someone just be paying attention and welcoming customers???

The small but thematically decorated restroom had 6 "rules" posted in there - really?  Is that necessary to boss your customers around SO MUCH!  The mirror and decorations were perfectly suited for the dog theme, but the posted "rules" were just a bit much. 

That was actually taped to the inside of the toilet seat to tell customers to put down the lid -really!

This was the pictorial display above the toilet singling out the men to put the lid down.  Is this REALLY necessary?

Don't turn out the light - alright then!  Will do!

This isn't an uncommon sign in restrooms, but again, what about having the staff checking it regularly to ensure it's up to par!

Again, not an uncommon or even unacceptable sign - I'm good with it, but on top of the  other 5 signs it just felt as if we were all being give manner lessons!

There were other "rules" posted - not all of them unreasonable, just felt as if every time you looked somewhere there was something else you had to do . . .

FINAL THOUGHTS:
This restaurant does not have anything that we saw worth returning for (except the Bacon Cole Slaw and possibly the martinis) -the service was adequate not exceptional, the majority of the food was tolerable not extraordinary, the drinks were decent and at $5 a bargain, but the variety and depth of the offerings was not enough to divert your car in this direction.  The train, a mere 20' from the door, passed 4 times during our visit and was loud enough to abruptly end any conversation occurring.  The relaxing and fun atmosphere they attempted to create is sidelined by all the posted rules and procedures.  The Elles are unlikely to return, but it wasn't such a horrible experience that we wouldn't recommend you check it out for yourself.


Until the next bite -