The Blind Pig - A Decent Greenwood Dive

The Blind Pig, on Madison just north of Main Street in Old Towne Greenwood, is kind of grungy and ancient-looking when you first walk in the place, that is if you found an open parking space in the tiny little lot next to the front door (there is another lot and another entrance in the back, off the alley, but you have to search for it). It looks as if long ago three small storefronts were combined to make one good-sized tavern:  The long, long bar is sort of u-shaped, running from the kitchen in the back down to the front, then turning and passing through a big doorway in the wall, then turning back toward the kitchen again.  There must be 30 stools all around it, and there are a lot of tables, a music stage, pool table, and several arcade games in there as well.  The new owner (son of the old owner, who passed away) hasn't changed anything, but he seems like a nice guy, and the bar staff is fairly friendly, too.   I know they have the usual pub grub, but I've never eaten there.  Drink and food prices are reasonable.  This ain't the kind of place I'd take a first date, for sure, and it's not my favorite, but there is something comfortable about it that I can't put my finger on....  Drink up, unless you're parked next to MY car in the little lot!

Ralph's Great Divide- A Gem on the Edge of Downtown

The first few times I drove by Ralph's Great Divide, on the corner of New York and Davidson Street, I thought the place was closed, as in not a going concern, not operating, an ex-establishment.  It was kind of small and dumpy-looking from outside, old sign, no lights, cars, or people around.  I guess those times must have been in the early morning or late night most of the time, but even after I knew that it was open, I still never knew exactly WHEN it's open until I went there and looked on the little sign by the door, which of course I've now forgotten!  Anyway, Ralph's is primarily open during the daytime and early evening, but is completely closed some days (Sundays, maybe?)  We were  recently surprised, however, when we had just finished a Saturday tasting tour of the near-Eastside breweries at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon (see earlier post, "Beer & Wine Tasting-- Cheap Weekend Entertainment!" from 11/27/2011) and drove by RGD and saw the teeny "open" sign by the door blinking. RGD is open from 2:00 to 10:00 on Saturdays--for now, at least!

If I remember the history right, Ralph constructed his little restaurant & bar by connecting two houses back in the 1950's. At that time, Davidson Street served as the dividing line between two distinct Indy neighborhoods in the ancient days before I-65 existed, hence the "Great Divide" name.  It's a charming little place with two dining rooms of maybe 10 tables each, and a good-sized bar with 6 or 8 stools and a bunch of antique signs and other memorabilia on the walls.  There are no windows except those by the door (my Dad said back in the 60's that there was a law that all bars and restaurants had to have at least one window so the cops could peek in to see what was going on, but I dunno if that was really true).  Unlike a dive bar, which RGD certainly is not, the lack of windows gives the space inside a cozy feel, like someplace you'd take your secretary/mistress or maybe arrange a mafia sit-down. It is, in fact, very crowded with suited business folk at lunchtime on weekdays. Hmmm....

The atmosphere is cozy, but the food is the best part. We ordered the Do-a-Duo, where two of you split a sandwich, you each get a cup of their specialty Hot Pot Aug, Hot Pot Pig, Ralph's Chili, or their Soup of the Moment, and split two sides for $18.99, but there are individual menu items that range from only $3.25 to $8.49   The Aug is au gratin potato soup and the Pig is the Aug with bacon and hot pepper cheese added, and it is reeeeally good!  The Little Woman had the Chili and I had the Pig (or was it vice versa?  We always share so I forget).  The chili was very good if not uniquely outstanding, and as I said the Pig was great, just the thing to warm you on a cold winter day, or to kill a hangover. We split a Dave's Bourbon Ham sandwich, which was large and tasty, and we had German potato salad and coleslaw for our sides.  The potato salad was every bit as good as the canned stuff we're used to (I just hope it WASN'T the canned stuff!), and the coleslaw was extremely fresh but could've used just a little more sweetness for my taste.

The service was friendly and fairly quick.  Beer and drink prices were very reasonable if not a bargain, so in terms of atmosphere, food, and drinks, this place meets my every expectation.  The only bad thing about the joint is that neither dining room is considered "family" dining, so children are not allowed inside....   For us old people, though, that may NOT be a bad thing.  Enjoy, you Geezers!