Destination Dining: Mayasari Indonesian Grill

It’s one thing to open an Indonesian restaurant in a small town. It’s another to succeed. Mayasari Indonesian Grill’s staying power in Greensburg—it opened four years ago with namesake owner Maya Effendi, a native of the Southeast Asian archipelago and a Purdue grad, in the kitchen—speaks volumes about the quality of the food and the warmth of the experience. Effendi’s husband, Rick Mays, and their daughters preside over the homey dining room while she sends out big plates of noodle dishes, curries, and satays. Spices, sauces, and an affinity for ground meat distinguish the region’s canon from more familiar Asian cuisines. Get your first taste from the mango tea (chunks of the fruit sink to the bottom) and an appetizer sampler that includes rissole, a fried hunk of turmeric-seasoned shredded chicken coated in egg and bread crumbs, and the strongest peanut sauce you’ll ever try, served alongside a pork or chicken kebab. Ante up with the mouth-searing sambal goreng hot sauce, a chunky mix of cayenne peppers, garlic, and shallots. Then zero in on the tight list of specialties. Turmeric and gingery galangal, key ingredients in Indonesian cooking, flavor the curry, which shows up in the nasi goreng, a fried-rice recipe topped with meatballs and fishballs. The beef curry entree resembles pot roast: a tender, fall-apart hunk of roast flanked by cap cai (sauteed seasonal vegetables). Choose the highest heat level; “mild” barely registers. 213 N. Broadway St., Greensburg, 812-222-6292

Hours

Tues. 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Wed.–Fri. 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Sat. noon–8 p.m.

Drive Time

55 minutes

Know Before You Go

The menu includes American grill staples, sushi, and a grilled cheese for kids. But no alcohol.

What’s Your Hurry?

Mile-high pies beckon a block away at Storie’s Restaurant, a country-cooking institution. Stop by for a slice of sugar-cream or cherry, or take home an entire pie for less than $20. 109 E. Main St., Greensburg, 812-663-9948