Indiana, Perkinsville - Friday, May 23, 2014 - Bonge's Tavern

Last night we had a wonderful meal at Bonge’s Tavern in Perkinsville with our good friends Michael and Susan.

It’s not a fancy place.

 

 

This is the lobby where you wait for your table to be called.  Last night we didn’t have to wait long.  I understand that on weekends in the summertime your wait can be two hours or so.  You can either wait here in the lobby or join others who are waiting and tailgating in the parking lot.

 

 

I hesitate to interfere with other diners meals to take pictures with my camera when I’m in a restaurant so I waited to take pictures until most of the other diners had left.  I didn’t count but I think about 50 people could be seated at one time.  The tables were covered with brightly colored oilcoths.

 

 

This was the wine list – very original.  They serve beer and wine, no mixed drinks.  The wine we had was very good, the name escapes me now.

The menu is limited but wonderful.  There was one pork selection – Perkinsville Pork which was a pounded thin breaded and parmesan crusted tenderloin.  I chose it – good choice.  Greg and Michael ordered the steak and shrimp which they declared was excellent.  Susan had halibut, she had her choice of three or four different sauces, and she cleaned her plate so it must have been good too.  There was a duck choice, chicken and lamb chops also.  The entrees come with the chef’s choice for the evening.  Last night it was mashed potatoes and fresh asparagus.

We started out our meals with some excellent appetizers.  Susan choose sautéed mixed mushrooms which she shared.  Greg and I split a shrimp cocktail, there were six large shrimp and a very spicy sauce.  Michael shared a shrimp cocktail with Susan, but nobody was getting any of his oysters.  They were raw, but not served on the half shell.  They came in a small cup topped with the spicy cocktail sauce and additional horseradish.  He was sweating, but he enjoyed every bite.

After the appetizers we had our choice of a lettuce wedge with homemade bleu cheese dressing or raspberry vinaigrette.  Their “world-famous” tomato soup was the other option.  Greg had the tomato soup and the rest of us had the lettuce wedges with bleu cheese.  I definitely recommend the lettuce with bleu cheese, but Greg said the tomato soup was great also.

Susan chose to take home some of the chocolate ganache cake.  I had a bite – oh my goodness it was heavenly.  We didn’t need dessert to take home, we still had chocolate covered strawberries in the fridge.

Two couples were at the table next to us.  One of the young men had just come back from Afghanistan – and he had just gotten married.  So they were out celebrating.  Their evening got better when Jeff Saturday came up and paid for their meal!!

That’s right, Jeff Saturday, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts, was there last night with a group of eight or ten other people.  I so wanted to take a picture, but I think even if you are well known you have a right to have a pleasant night out with friends and to not be interrupted by fans flashing a camera in your face.

I would definitely recommend heading to Bonge’s if you end up in the Anderson/Perkinsville, Indiana area.  But, be prepared, just because it is a small town tavern, it’s a place for us at least, reserved for special occasions.  A dinner for two with appetizers and drinks will be about $130 to $150.