Food for Any Mood

"What are you in the mood for?"

We’ve all heard that before, but there’s simply no room for dining indecisiveness with so much to choose from. If spring has you feeling amorous, perhaps you’re in the mood for a daylong romantic menu extravaganza. Breakfast isn’t just for breakfast, of course — sometimes we crave it all day. Perhaps you want to give meatless a try. Whatever your food mood, we have a day planned for you.

We’ve taste tested our way through a variety of cuisine. Stay in your dining comfort zone or try something new. Let our Food for Any Mood recommendations be your guide to good eating.

Meatless Meals

Granola Cookie

The Granola Jar Café & Bakery

This cakey congregation of all-vegan ingredients can pull a double shift, serving as breakfast or dessert. The Granola Jar’s signature blend of cranberries, raisins, walnuts, sunflower seeds, oats, and a dash of cinnamon packs the cookie, made with a healthy blend of soy yogurt and canola-oil butter, with flavor.
1033 E. Mount Pleasant Road • 812-437-1899 • granolajar.com

Pear Salad

Café 111

This savory salad of fresh baby field greens, crumbled Gorgonzola cheese, candied spiced walnuts, and crisp, fanned pear slices is sure to make your mouth water. The homemade pear vinaigrette dressing features roasted, fresh pears and is the secret to this dish’s delectable flavor.
111 S. Green River Road • 812-401-8111 • brinkersjewelers.com/cafe-111.html

Spinach and Feta Pizza

The Slice

For his master’s degree in professional studies at Cornell University in Cornell, N.Y., Eric Weber’s thesis was a business plan for By the Slice Pizza. Known now as The Slice, Weber’s pizza joint near the University of Evansville is revered for its thin, crispy slices of pie. Going meatless is easy with a slice topped with spinach and feta, drizzled with olive oil, and punctuated with garlic — simple perfection.
2011 Lincoln Ave. • 812-402-8518

String Beans with Pancakes

Jimmy Jeng’s Szechuan Chinese Restaurant

One of Jimmy Jeng’s “top 10” dishes, the string beans with pancakes can be found in the light and healthy menu section — pancake is synonymous with tortilla. Garlic sautéed green beans are prepared and then quickly wrapped in four tortillas as part of the meal presentation. Dinner and a show.
669 N. Green River Road • 812-479-7600 • jimmyjeng.com

White Rabbit Coffee Beverage

Penny Lane Coffeehouse

While it’s hard to go wrong with any syrup-based coffee beverage, this indulgent blend of coffee, white chocolate, and almond is better than what you might get from the well-known franchise competitor. Top it off with whipped cream; you’re already betraying your diet. If you’re going to cheat, cheat well.
600 S.E. Second St. • 812-421-8741. • pennylanecoffeehouse.com

World Tour

Volcano Roll Sushi Lunch Bento

Nagasaki Inn

Remember unpacking your lunchbox as a kid? Consider this the lunchbox reinvented. Arriving in a well-organized tray is the Volcano Roll, bursting with fresh salmon, spicy tuna, and cream cheese, and drizzled with spicy mayonnaise. Accompanying the savory main attraction is a cup of warm miso soup, a fresh green salad, crisp egg roll, and the “chef’s special” appetizer of the day.
5720 E. Virginia St. • 812-473-1442. • thenagasakiinn.com

Garlic Chicken

MA.T.888 China Bistro

First impressions count, and this elegant chicken dish, including sliced onions, mushrooms, and carrots in a tangy brown sauce, arrives at the table aside fresh, shredded lettuce topped with a beautifully-carved radish rose. Of course, the proof is in the taste, and the vegetables are cooked to just the right tender-crispness before receiving the glaze of perfectly seasoned, mildly spicy sauce.
5636 Vogel Road • 812-475-2888 • mat888chinabistro.com

Bavarian Apfel Strudel

The Gerst Haus

Germany is known for its hearty, flavorful cuisine: frankfurters, beer, and warm apple strudel. This dessert — warm, baked apples seasoned with cinnamon in a flaky crust, topped with two generous scoops of frosty vanilla ice-cream and a tantalizing homemade rum sauce — bolsters the country’s reputation as a solid culinary contender. Guten appétit!
2100 W. Franklin St. • 812-424-1420 • gersthaus.com

Montadito de Queso and Meil

Eclipse Spanish Tapas Bar and Restaurant

If you are familiar with the childhood treat of whole-wheat toast smothered with cream cheese and drizzled with honey, you’ll enjoy this flavorful dish that easily one-ups the homemade creation, remaining true to the delightful flavor combination. Goat cheese tops four slices of toasted whole-wheat bread. The combination is then sprinkled with almonds and drizzled with honey. Save this dessert-like dish for last. 113 S.E. Fourth St. • 812-463-6040

Turkish Coffee

Manna Mediterranean Grill

Try Turkish coffee at Manna Mediterranean Grill if you don’t plan to go to bed early. This very strong coffee is made by bringing finely ground coffee, spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg, sugar, and water to a boil three times, allowing it to cool very briefly between boilings. Manna Grill offers its Turkish coffee in a special long-handled copper pot and serves in tiny cups. The bubbly froth that forms on the coffee’s surface is thought to be a sign of good fortune for anyone who gets some in their cup.
2913 Lincoln Ave. • 812-473-7005 • manna-grill.com

Huevos Rancheros

El Maguey Grill Mexican Restaurant

A traditional Mexican medley is a must-have American breakfast. Two eggs, any style, arrive smothered in warm salsa and share the plate with Spanish rice and refried beans.  Accompanying the dish are four steamy flour tortillas for a quad of create-your-own breakfast burritos. Or use the last tortilla to soak up the remaining salsa — it’s too good to waste.
3225 Warrick Drive, Boonville, Ind. • 812-897-6666

Breakfast All Day

Fried Louie Burger

Bar Louie

Circled on the menu as a Bar Louie specialty, the Fried Louie Burger promises to deliver a unique flavor agreed upon by loyal patrons. What sets this burger apart from others served with lettuce, bacon, and cheddar cheese is one small, taste-altering ingredient: a fried egg. Without dominating the tasty carnivore delight, the egg offers a glimpse of breakfast for those morning cravings at night. Don’t pair it with orange juice — but maybe a Havana Classic Mojito.
7700 Eagle Crest Blvd. • 812-476-7069 • barlouieamerica.com

Fit Frappe

Donut Bank

Being fit never tasted so good. This frosty treat packs a hefty 20 grams of protein, while slipping in only 3.5 grams of fat, one gram of sugar, and a mere 130 calories. The “shake” comes in three tasty flavors — vanilla latte, mocha, and espresso — and boasts a fuller, creamier flavor than other “light” frozen coffee beverages, even if you forgo the optional whipped topping. With or without a delicious donut, this is a must-try for breakfast or a snack on the run.
Eight locations in Evansville, Newburgh, Ind., and Princeton, Ind. • donutbank.com

Steel-Cut Oatmeal

Coffee Cottage & Café

With a medium-sized house blend coffee, a cup of steel-cut oatmeal from the Coffee Cottage & Café is an energy-boosting wake-up call. Steel-cut oats are chewier and nuttier in taste than rolled oats, resulting in a hearty breakfast. If you prefer a little extra flavor, blueberries with a sprinkle or two of brown sugar should meet the need.
612 S. Weinbach Ave. • 812-401-1930

Quiche du Jour

Lorenzo’s Bistro & Bakery

Go ahead and take for granted the menu’s description of the quiche du jour as “extra tall.” It’s layer upon layer of daily specials, such as meatballs with Swiss cheese and cherry tomatoes, and constants: eggs and cheese in a flaky puff pastry. The salad on the side is rich with fresh veggies and greens, and serves as the perfect companion for the towering quiche.
972 S. Hebron Ave. • 812-475-9477 • lorenzosbistro.com

Nutella Crepes

IHOP

Faint flavors are not IHOP’s style. The fresh strawberries and fruity glaze that adorn this dish’s light and fluffy crepes get right to the point: a delicious breakfast. The Nutella crepes feature banana slices and a generous helping of the sweet hazelnut spread. Top it all off with whipped cream and add the fact that IHOP is open 24/7, and you know you’ll never be without a sweet, satisfying dining option.
601 N. Burkhardt Road • 812-471-0510 • ihop.com

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Feel-Good Fare

Pancakes

Carousel Family Dining

The Carousel’s short stack, offered all day, allows you to enjoy pancakes for breakfast or dessert. Three pancakes arrive golden, fluffy, and stacked neatly on a plate that leaves little room for the overflow of syrup. A pallet of butter atop the stack melts instantly, and the hot maple syrup seeps through each layer for a sweet, sugary taste from start to finish. The bottom pancake soaked in syrup is the best — melt-in-your-mouth, true comfort food.
5115 Monroe Ave. • 812-479-6388

West Bay Blueberry Crumb Pie

Grand Traverse Pie Company

If you have a passion for real fruit filling surrounded by a golden pastry crust, this is your pie. Not only is it packed with plump, juicy blueberries, the crumb topping gives the impression of a cobbler the way it melds with the fruit beneath it. Order à la mode.
6245 Vogel Road • 812-477-7437 • gtpie.com

Hot Caramel Apple Cider

La Sombra Coffee Roasting Co. & Cafe

The menu board lists only apple cider, but La Sombra is happy to add caramel to your steaming hot beverage to satisfy your craving for that little something extra. As a flavorful start to your morning or as a comforting afternoon pick-me-up, this cup of goodness is best served with the optional whipped cream topping.
318 Main St. • 812-492-4567

Lobster Bisque

Zoup! Fresh Soup Company

Comfort in a bowl is what we sought at Zoup!, a popular franchise restaurant with two locations in Evansville. We found it in a bowl of lobster bisque. This steaming soup made traditionally with lobster chunks, butter, and a touch of sherry rivals lobster bisque offered at fine dining establishments.
6240 E. Virginia St. • 812-477-2664
4660 N. First Ave. • 812-423-1800 • zoup.com

Bar-b-q Nachos

Shyler’s Wood Fired Grill

Don’t worry if you can’t see the tender, shredded barbeque pork or chicken on your plate. It’s there — and plenty of it, smothered by a melted layer of Jack and cheddar cheeses. Keep your fork — you’ll need it if you run out of tortilla chips while there’s still a generous amount of barbeque and cheese left over. Until then, leave it on the table. The best way to enjoy this appetizer is with your fingers. Jalapenos on the side add just the right kick, and ranch dressing is a crowd-favorite cool down.
405 S. Green River Road • 812-476-4599 • shylersbarbq.com

Pork Tenderloin and French Fries

Stockwell Inn

Ready to get your meal on? This is your combination. The generously portioned, battered, deep-fried-to-perfection tenderloin overtakes its soft, white bun and is dressed to perfection with your choice of lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. Not to be overlooked, the golden, crinkle-cut fries are the perfect sidebar to this meal-sized sandwich.
4001 E. Eichel Ave. • 812-476-2384

In The Neighborhood

Fishbowl

Knob Hill Tavern

For a restaurant known for its hot, sizzling fiddlers, the 20-ounce, arctic-frosted mug of beer is just as satisfying. Choose from any of 10 tapped beers — from a premium Stella to a domestic Budweiser. We suggest pairing the menu’s catfish with a Three Floyds; grilled salmon and tuna with a Bell’s lager; and steak with a Rogue stout. Anticipate a refreshingly smooth finish — just don’t be surprised if there are ice chips in your last gulp.
1016 State Route 662 W. , Newburgh, Ind. • 812-853-9550 • knobhilltavern.com

Raspberry Bellini-Tini

Edgewater Grille

A light, raspberry-infused cocktail that is perfectly pink and goes down smooth.  The refreshingly fruity blend of raspberry champagne and raspberry vodka, with just the right splashes of lime and Sprite, give each sip a tart and semi-sweet finish. While the drink can accompany a meal, it certainly stands alone.
1 E. Water St., Newburgh, Ind. • 812-858-2443 • edgewatergrille.com

Portuguese Potato Chowder

Cafe Arazu

The aroma of semi-sweet, creamy broth is mouthwatering. Tender chunks of potato, sausage, and chicken stock add thickness to each spoonful, and the colorful assortment of chopped ingredients — spinach, carrots, white pepper, onions, celery, fennel, and kale — create an interesting variation of flavors that don’t stop until the last spoonful.
17 W. Jennings St., Newburgh, Ind. • 812-842-2200 • cafe-arazu.com

Crabcakes

The Tin Fish

Order these crab cakes for a taste of Maryland. Fresh, white crab meat is blended with celery, onions, breadcrumbs, spices, and Old Bay seafood seasoning, and hand formed into round patties. Lightly breaded, the cakes are flaky and golden brown and share the plate with fries and coleslaw.  If you want to turn the spice up a notch, request horseradish. Homemade cocktail and tartar sauces always are available.
300 W. Jennings St., Newburgh, Ind. • 812-490-7000 • thetinfish.net

Lasagna

Vecchio’s Italian Market

A square-cut, rich and hearty Italian favorite that boasts textured layers of Italian sausage, ground beef, thick tomato sauce, and ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses, all pressed between blankets of smooth lasagna noodles. Its top layer of sprinkled mozzarella arrives bubbling, and each bite brings along a string of cheese. 
14 W. Jennings St., Newburgh, Ind. • 812-490-7879 • vecchiositalianmarket.com

Caramel Apple French Toast

Taste of Perfection

The single portion of this delicious breakfast boasts two pieces of white bread, dipped in egg, grilled to a golden hue, and blanketed with cooked cinnamon apples in a warm, buttery caramel sauce. The accompanying maple syrup simply is not necessary. Pass it to someone with pancakes.
8133 Rose Hill Road, Newburgh, Ind. • 812-853-8443

All You Need is Love

Bacon-wrapped Dates

Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano

No need to compromise savory or sweet with these juicy dates wrapped in not-too-chewy but not-too-crispy folds of bacon. The toothpick-speared fruits sit in a bowl of hot, syrupy balsamic glaze and are served straight from the oven. Save a couple for dessert and eat them with vanilla ice cream. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.
6401 E. Lloyd Expressway • 812-421-0800 • biaggis.com

Salt-seasoned Sea Bass

Madeleine’s: A Fusion Restaurant

This salt-seasoned sea bass with broccoli rabe and saffron risotto on the side spells romance. The risotto is toasted to bring out a nutty flavor, and the additions of saffron, rice, and sautéed onions are all brought together with Parmesan cheese. A strawberry-orange gastrique (think classic French sweet and sour sauce) with white wine, a touch of rice wine vinegar, and sugar offers a sweet and drizzly finish.
423 S.E. Second St. • 812-491-8611 • madeleinesfusion.com

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Martini

Blush Ultralounge

On the bar inside the modern, sleek ultralounge, Le Merigot’s Blush, sits an impressive menu of dessert-like drink selections, including the Triple Chocolate Truffle, Espresso Martini, and Snickertini. Although any of the 10 dessert drinks are worth trying, the Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Martini is an attention getter. A combination of Van Gogh vanilla and coconut vodka, pineapple juice, and a dash of grenadine syrup, this delicious cocktail accurately delivers its promised flavor. Don’t let the tasty title fool you; any martini packs an alcohol punch. One and done (or maybe two).
615 N.W. Riverside Drive • 812-433-4700 • lemerigotevansville.com

Crème Brulee

Bonefish Grill

The literal meaning of crème brulee is “burnt cream,” which doesn’t sound as appealing as the silky vanilla-infused custard it is. Served slightly chilled and garnished with whipped cream and a sprinkling of fresh, plump blueberries, the creamy dessert boasts a thin, crisp top of caramelized sugar that glistens and then cracks with a tap of your spoon to reveal the smooth, creamy custard beneath.
6401 E. Lloyd Expressway • 812-401-3474 • bonefishgrill.com

Eggs Benedict

Truffles Eatery & Catering

Because the original breakfast sandwich isn’t widely found on local menus, it’s a real treat to begin the morning of a special day with eggs Benedict at Truffles Eatery & Catering in Newburgh, Ind. As pretty to look at as it is good to eat, Truffles’ eggs Benedict is classically prepared: perfectly poached eggs atop Canadian bacon on lightly toasted English muffins and dashed with a light, lemony Hollandaise sauce. You have a fun day ahead; make your eyes bright with a Truffles’ mimosa or Bloody Mary.
4833 State Route 261, Newburgh, Ind. 812-490-6070 • truffleseatery.com

Gorgonzola Walnut Salad and Olympian Pasta

Acropolis Restaurant

The crisp romaine lettuce and spring mix salad blend, heavily dotted by glazed walnuts and sun-dried cranberries and sprinkled with flavorful Gorgonzola cheese, is easily shared with a friend. A drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette adds just the right amount of tang to complement the sweetness of the berries and candied nuts. The salad serves as the perfect introduction to the tri-colored penne sautéed in an aromatic pesto sauce with pungent sundried tomatoes. The only thing missing is the Athenian sunset.
501 N. Green River Road • 812-475-9320 • acropolisevv.com

Enjoy Every Sandwich

Croissant Egg & Cheese Sandwich

The Pie Pan

Most of us don’t have time to cook a full-on breakfast of all the essentials — bacon, eggs, and biscuits or croissants. At the Pie Pan Family Restaurant, the Croissant Egg and Cheese sandwich encompasses all that is good in a home-cooked breakfast, including melted cheese over an egg, topped with bacon, nestled inside a buttery, mouth-watering croissant.
905 North Park Drive • 812-425-2261 • thepiepan.net

The Kilcooly

Rí Rá Irish Pub

The Kilcooly sandwich at Rí Rá Irish Pub proves its popularity derives from more than its place as a “safe bet” on the menu. Layered with perfectly crispy smoked bacon, melted cheddar, sliced apple, and a creamy cranberry mayo, the deli turkey has a refreshing kick in every bite. Recommended side: German Potato Salad.
701-B N.W. Riverside Drive • 812-426-0000 • rira.com

Floppy Disk

Bits-N-Bytes Deli

This atypical turkey sandwich has been around since the Downtown deli’s opening in 1986. A fresh pita round is topped with a heaping mound of shaved deli meat, crisp alfalfa sprouts, and strips of fresh Colby Jack cheese for a wide-mouth bite. Their secret sauce? Request it. This garlicky, ranch spread pairs nicely with deli meat and is a must for a delectable Floppy finish. 
216 N.W. Fourth St. • 812-423-5113

Cheeseburger Sliders

Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill

This tiny-yet-tasty trio consists of three grilled-to-perfection burgers, complemented with American cheese, a pile of grilled onions, and tangy sauce sandwiched between lightly toasted, yet doughy buns. There’s an option to add bacon for 50 cents. Since when is “do you want bacon” even a question?
5100 E. Morgan Ave. • 812-471-0929
5727 Pearl Drive • 812-426-2006 • applebees.com

Lic’s Chip Ice Cream Sandwich

Lic’s Deli & Ice Cream

Chocolate chip cookies are the quintessential treat. What could make them better? Adding premium ice cream between two of them and calling it a sandwich. For this sweet treat, large baked-from-scratch cookies hug a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream studded with mini chocolate chips. 
10 locations in Evansville, Newburgh, Ind., Hopkinsville, Ky., and Owensboro, Ky. • licsdeliandicecream.com

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