As 2020 begins to wind down, most are looking back on a year that was filled with uncertainty, quarantining, and finding a new normal away from others. It was arguably not the year to start a new business venture, especially as a restaurant — however, in Evansville, several new local eateries prevailed, opening their doors under these unique circumstances and shifting how they provide tasty dishes to Evansville residents.
Here, we’ve listed some of our favorites that came on the dining scene this year.
Schymik’s Kitchen:
Though this spot in Haynie’s Corner opened in late 2019, it was one of the first restaurants we visited in 2020 and the worldly tastes left us wanting more. Located at 1112 Parrett St., owner Scott Schymik and his staff have created a diverse menu that continues to adjust and change. With the changes 2020 has brought to the dining scene, Schymik’s Kitchen now offers Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and an Upstairs Dinner Party series with limited seating. The party series includes a rotating menu filled with dishes that still indulge global flavors.
schymikskitchen.com
Yak & Yeti:
Speaking of bold, global flavors — how could we resist a chance to dig into to the Himalayan-inspired dishes at Yak & Yeti? A fixture of the East Side dining options, this spot at 815 S. Green River Road plates up traditional favorites such as tandoori chicken and of course, tasty naan. Our suggestion — the mouth-watering traditional Nepali momo. This steamed chicken dumpling also features rich Himalayan spices, ginger, garlic, onion, and is served with house sauces.
yakandyetihimalayan.com
Entwined:
Entwined Wine & Cocktail Bar lives up to its name — you can certainly find a delicious wine or interesting cocktail to fit your tastes. However, it was the perfect pairings of drink and food of the new Downtown restaurant that had our jaws dropping. Utilizing the expertise of head chef Stephanie Hay and chef Walter Edwards, Entwined’s menu packs in tons of flavors to compliment whatever is in your glass. The kitchen turns out delicious dishes using fresh ingredients, such as the seared Ahi-tuna special recently featured. But Entwined just isn’t about dinner and cocktails — guests also can enjoy a quiet, bistro-esque lunch with sandwiches such as the house-made pastrami Reuben.
entwinedbar.com
Juicy Seafood:
Evansville is far from the Gulf of Mexico, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a delicious Cajun seafood boil! Juicy Seafood — located at 865 N. Green River Road — lets you choose from a variety of low-country style boils, where you can select from 11 different types of seafood. While the restaurant touts the specialty, staff members also dish up lots of other fresh seafood dishes for casual dining, including fried seafood baskets and raw or steamed oysters.
juicyseafoodin.com
Ghost Quesadilla:
As 2020 came to a close, we headed into Newburgh, Indiana, to get a taste of the Mexican-inspired cuisine offered at Ghost Quesadilla. While quesadillas are the main feature of the menu — with many combinations to fit your taste buds — Ghost Quesadilla also offers up street tacos variations including a tip to Evansville’s West Side, which includes Miller’s Barbecue topped with mac ‘n cheese, coleslaw, and of course, Grippos! Be on the lookout in our January/February 2021 issue for our story on the restaurant!
ghostquesadilla.com
