The Dish

“I don’t like the word mixology, really,” said Neal Brown, glancing down the long bar toward his busy staff at The Libertine Liquor Bar (38 E. Washington St., 317-631-3333), which opened last week. “These guys are barkeeps. But if the word means making drinks like a chef makes food, then it does apply.” Call them what you like: they’re mixing the most innovative and delicious cocktails—not to mention serving up some of the tastiest grub (“bar food,” in the menu’s designation)—in the city.

The prime rib sandwich at Harry & Izzy’s (153 S. Illinois St., 317-635-9594). Thinly sliced meat, white cheddar, and horseradish sauce with au jus for dunking. The sweet/tart red sangria at Canal Bistro (6349 Guilford Ave., 317-254-

It’s looking like a busy week for local diners who have $30 to spend, with dueling restaurant weeks showcasing the two compass ends of Indianapolis. Savor the Southside and Northside Nights both run through September 18. Each promotional event features either $30 three-course, multiple-choice menus, or a two-for-$30 couple’s meal.

The Sartorialist loves him some Bazbeaux!

Admittedly, the Indianapolis Colts Grille (110 W. Washington St., 317-631-2007)—a new NFL-themed restaurant in the shell of the former Claypool Courts off-track betting location—seemed like the kind of eatery that would have a “kick me” sign on its back. How could any foodie take this place seriously—with its out-of-state ownership, cookie-cutter sports-bar menu, and more flat-screen TVs than a Best Buy?

Last Friday, Indy’s food truck caravan circled up in the parking lot of the Murat Theatre for some Labor Day weekend curbside service. The sweltering blacktop and excruciating lines significantly raised the stock for Pop Cycle’s organic frozen treats and (guess the joke’s on us!) practically everything on the picture menu of a Summer Song ice cream truck. A portabella sandwich from the Fat Sammies window tempered the mushroom’s smoky flavors with a sweet marinara sauce. The queue stretched to infinity for the baby burgers at Keys Gourmet Catering’s Slider Station, and the employees of Byrne’s Grilled Pizza were perpetual-motion machines churning out thin-crust margarita pies. Diners sipped adorably packaged (though shamefully overpriced at $12 a bottle) Beanblossom Hard Ciders from Oliver Winery  while demonstrating their corn-holing prowess. But precious Mabel on the Move, the only food truck to take on the tin-can aesthetics of an Airstream trailer, won all of the style points.

Crisp, deep-fried Moroccan Eggs, like Scotch eggs but with an added layer of falafel, at Black Market (922 Massachusetts Ave., 317-822-6757).  Good Morning Mama’s (1001 E. 54th St., 317-255-3800) corned beef hash—hash browns and shredded corned beef under eggs. The mixed-be

A chilling review by GQ’s Alan Richman proves it isn’t easy being a food critic.

The lineup is limited to tacos, quesadillas, burritos, tamales, and tortas, which meant we were able to eat almost everything the kitchen makes. Out came a pair of tamales moist to the point of corn pudding, and loaded with seasoned shreds of pork and chicken. We could not resist the squirt bottles of smoky red sauce and kicky tomatillo, though these tamales needed no further adornment. A pork torta was more modest with its fillings than we are used to (in other words, we were able to finish it without dialing 911), and a chicken burrito had more meat than filler. But the winning order, three soft beef tacos at $2 each, contained perfect, salty morsels of steak, cradled simply with chopped onions and cilantro inside double-layered corn tortillas that had touched the griddle just long enough to attain the gentlest crunch. Muy Bueno!

Thursday’s half-price martini night at Mesh on Mass (725 Massachusetts Ave., 317-955-9600). Always jammed. Good value. Brown-sugar oatmeal pancakes with blueberries at Rosie’s Place (68 N. 9th St., Noblesville, 317-770-3322).  The Take You Back PB&J at

An estimated 5,000 foodies, locavores, beer heads, wine lovers, and summer festival buffs took advantage of a gorgeous August afternoon at White River State Park this Sunday for the second annual DIG-IN: A Taste of Indiana. Over 50 chefs, Hoosier farms, wineries, and breweries offered up samples of the tastiest products Indiana has to offer, with lines sometimes 50 deep for duck flatbreads, Wagyu burgers, wheat ales, Chambourcin wines, and coffee sodas—all proving that Indiana is much more than pork tenderloins and sugar cream pie.

Pork tacos from Restaurant Tallent, bread pudding from Keltie’s, and a killer meatloaf sandwich.

Check out this story on how the JW Marriott plans to clean up during the Super Bowl.

Sweet potato waffles at Maxine’s Chicken & Waffles (132 N. East St., 317-423-3300). The Boston-Cream-style chocolate cake at Saffron Cafe (621 Fort Wayne Ave., 317-917-0131). Rhubarb Wine from Mallow Run Winery in Bargersville—swee

Know your audience.