Dining Out

The cafés at these member-owned organic groceries feature hot dishes, a salad bar, and eclectic deli and dessert selections. Local ingredients are emphasized, and vegan and vegetarian choices abound. All three locations offer a salad bar, soup, made-to-order sandwiches, and baked goods, while the West 6th Street and East 3rd Street locations also offer a hot bar with salad, lunch, and dinner items available every day from 10:30 am-9 pm. The East 3rd Street location also has smoothies. Prices: Salad/hot bar $7.99/lb, entrées $5-15, desserts $1 and up Hours:  East 3rd Street Mon-Fri 8 am-9 pm (breakfast until 10:30 am) Sat 8 am-9 pm (breakfast until 11 am) Sun 8 am-9 pm (brunch until 1 pm), West 6th Street Mon-Sat 8 am-9 pm Sun brunch 9 am-2 pm, East Kirkwood Mon-Sat 8 am-7 pm Sun 10 am-5 pm Bar: No Credit Cards: Visa, MC, AMEX, Disc., Campus Access Outdoor Seating: No/Yes/Yes

Butch’s offers everything a homesick East Coaster could want, from corned beef on rye to bagels to NY-style pizza. Prices: Appetizers $3.95-9.95, sandwiches $3.95-19.95, pizza $12.95-17.95, sides $2.50-7.25 Hours: Daily 11 am-10 pm Bar: No Credit Cards: Visa, MC, AMEX, Disc., Campus Access Outdoor Seating: Yes

This laid-back, 40-seat restaurant opened in the mid-1980s and offers family dining. Specialty sandwiches are the Dagwood Supreme (ham, turkey, and roast beef) and the Ultimate Turkey (turkey, avocado, cream cheese, lettuce, tomato, and chipotle mayonnaise). Be sure to ask for the really wonderful Special Sauce. Prices: Sandwiches $3.50-5 Hours: Mon-Th 10:30 am-1 am Fri-Sat 10:30 am-4 am Sun 11 am-midnight Bar: No Credit Cards: Visa, MC Outdoor Seating: No

This quaint deli and market, tucked away on the south side of Bloomington, holds treasures for anyone who loves Eastern European food—delicacies from Ukraine, Poland, and Russia are made right in the store. Owner Lesya Romanyshak is proud to serve dishes from her Ukrainian homeland, such as creamy cucumber and tomato salad and stuffed cabbage. Dress your sandwich with a variety of meats and cheeses. Be sure to pick up some imported groceries or smoked fish from the large display case while you’re there. They have a couple tables if you choose to eat in. Prices: $5-10 Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am-7 pm Sat 10 am-6 pm Closed Sun Bar: No Credit Cards: Visa, MC, Disc. Outdoor Seating: Yes

Owned by the proprietors of the Scholars Inn, both branches of the Bakehouse offer a selection of New York-style deli sandwiches, kettle-boiled bagels, and desserts made from scratch, as well as all of their first-rate, locally baked breads. A bowl of homemade soup followed by the Harvest Cobbler makes a generous lunch. Coffee drinks are discounted $1 during Happy Hour from 4-6 pm. Prices: Entrées $4-9, desserts $3-7 Hours: East side Mon-Fri 6:30 am-9 pm Sat-Sun 7:30 am-9 pm, downtown Mon-Sat 7:30 am-9 pm Sun 8 am-9 pm Bar: Beer, wine at the downtown location Credit Cards: Visa, MC, AMEX, Campus Access Outdoor Seating: Yes

Every Thursday from April through October, the BBQ Train pulls in and the customers line up at Short Stop Food Mart. Burgers, brats, and barbeque chicken sandwiches are grilled up alongside killer ribs and pulled pork. Barbecue sauce comes in two flavors, “Sweet and Tangy” and “Hot and Spicy,” both served Carolina-style on the side. If you can’t make it in on a Thursday, pulled pork is served every day for lunch or dinner inside at the deli, along with burgers, sandwiches, and pizza. Many soups, sides, and desserts are homemade, too. Short Stop opens early to offer a full breakfast, featuring eggs your way and homemade biscuits and gravy. Prices: BBQ sandwiches and brats $3-7, ribs $11-20, deli sandwiches and pizza $3-10, sides and desserts $1-3, breakfast $1-10 Hours: Mon-Fri 6 am-8 pm Sat-Sun 7 am-8 pm. BBQ served Thursday only, Apr-Oct 10:30 am-6:30 pm Bar: No Credit Cards: AMEX, Visa, MC, Disc. Outdoor Seating: Yes

This long-established, upbeat restaurant on East Kirkwood serves breakfast all day (but all kinds of sandwiches and salads for lunch and dinner as well); “ginormous” pancakes and omelets are house specialties. The Huevos Rancheros are not authentic, but they are tasty! Prices: Appetizers $3.75-4.75, entrées $5-8, desserts $1.25-3.75 Hours: Mon-Fri 7 am-9 pm Sat-Sun 8 am-9 pm Bar: No Credit Cards: Visa, MC, AMEX, Campus Access Outdoor Seating: Yes

Read our review of The Village Deli here!