The Cow Palace - Shelbyville, IN

Just southeast of Indianapolis, Indiana, lies the small town of Shelbyville.  While it is the county seat for Shelby County, it is a distinctly working class town without much to offer beyond a historic movie theater and a collection of industrial employers.  This is certainly not to say there aren't great people living and working in Shelbyville because there are, but it isn't exactly a tourist destination.

Like the factories that are the lifeblood of the town, the food mirrors that utilitarian theme.  Restaurants serve simple, diner-style food among the number of familiar fast food and casual dining options in town.  Just north of the downtown square, a local eatery came up on my radar screen.  The Cow Palace is a restaurant and ice cream shop that serves up diner fare with a unique spin on some dishes.

The restaurant sits on the site of the former homesite for noted local author, Charles Major.  Major lived from 1856 to 1913 and is known for writing When Knighthood Was In Flower and The Bears of Blue River.  A plaque at the entrance to the restaurant recognizes the site in his honor.

On my visit, I scanned the menu filled with traditional diner selections like the cheeseburger, pork tenderloin sandwich, soups, salads, and other sandwiches.  One particular item caught my eye.  It seemed to advertise a most delicious combination of two classic diner dishes.  Just as the Labradoodle transfigured two distinctly different large breed dogs, the Cow Palace has transformed the sandwich by pairing a cheeseburger with a BLT club sandwich.  Snuggled between three slices of bread this sandwich boasts a cheeseburger patty, lot's of crispy, hickory-smoked bacon along with fresh lettuce and sliced tomatoes.  Mayonnaise completes the sandwich.  Naturally, I had to order this.

What arrived at my table looked exactly like a club sandwich with the exception of the sliced deli meat being substituted for the cheeseburger.  I can readily say the sandwich was all that I hoped for.  It was equal parts tasty BLT and juicy cheeseburger.  I truly enjoyed every delicious bite.  The french fries served alongside were alright, but needed a dose of salt to make them have some flavor.  I also indulged myself with a strawberry milkshake that was very thick and rich.  In traditional diner fashion I got a tall glass filled with my shake and the metal mixing container with all the extra shake mixture.  It was the perfect compliment to my meal.

If you ever find yourself in Shelbyville, Indiana, I would encourage you to drop in to the Cow Palace and sample their fare.  I can assure you that the Cheeseburger BLT will exceed your expectations.  The prices are very fair and on par with small town pricing.  My total bill for this meal was right around $10 before tip. 

Bigelo's Bistro - Edwardsville, IL

This Tuesday while I was getting ready for a meeting in downtown Edwardsville for work, I sought out a spot to grab some lunch.  As usual, I looked for a chance to dine at a local restaurant.  I stumbled on Bigelo's Cafe.  It was convenient for me because it was right across the street from where my meeting would be and it had a nice, modern look to the restaurant.  Once inside, the decor was modern and nice.  The restaurant seats about 50 at a time around tables and at the bar.  When I came in at about 12:30 pm. there were not many seats available, which I always take as a good sign.

A server greeted us as she walked by and told us to find a seat anywhere.  I selected a small table toward the back so I could watch the service.  Our server came by quickly and took our drink order and our food order a short time after that.  I chose a BLT sandwich and a Greek salad for the side.  My co-worker ordered a club sandwich and the same Greek salad.  The menu was full of affordable items.  The BLT was $7.69 and I was able to add the side salad for $2.50 more.

The salads were delivered quickly and were delicious. The serving was generous and would equal a full-size salad at many other restaurants. The lettuce was crisp and the tangy dressing was well balanced against the salty flavor of the black olives and generous helping of feta cheese.  Things were off to a good start and as soon as I finished the salad, my sandwich arrived.  The BLT was delicious.  It was made on Texas toast, which had been grilled on the flattop grill.  It had a crunch to the outside of the bread with a soft, sweet interior.  The bacon was crisp, but not brittle and the sandwich had the right amount of mayonnaise, lettuce and juicy tomatoes.

The only downside was that my co-worker ordered a club sandwich, yet he received a BLT like me.  Our server was attentive and kind, but during a busy lunch rush I think the problem arose because the servers don't write down their orders.  More and more restaurants seem to be adopting this model, but I always like to see someone write down my order.

Overall, I had a great meal and a good experience at Bigelo's.  The decor was nice, the staff was friendly, and the food was great.  They have a nice selection of beers and wines there as well and I saw a flyer for an upcoming 5-course dinner they were having as a special event.  For more information, find them at www.bigelosbistro.com.