We haven't been eating out much lately, so I'm reviewing the impromptu lunch we had today at Kroger, of all places. It seems like I'm the last to learn about new innovations in just about everything, so you may already be aware of things about the Kroger Company which continue to amaze me, with more and more varied offerings beyond mere groceries. The Super Kroger or Kroger Super Center (I'm not sure what the company calls it, can't remember the actual title) at Emerson and County Line Road here in Indy is a wonder to behold, although compared to some of the other locations in other cities and states it may be rather tame: My son in Union, KY lives near a Kroger location that is completely Online Pickup only, no indoor shopping at all. It has numerous pull-up spaces where employees are waiting to load your vehicle with your order. Also in Union, and in Anderson, IN there are full-fledged restaurants attached to some Kroger stores, named The 1883 Cafe & Bar, which have actual chefs and a full bar. Still others in Kentucky have their own liquor stores, some with beer bars where you can purchase samples of various ales (limit 2).
Still, our Super Kroger has a rather sizable Cafe area in a front corner of the store which you can access through its own entrance. It has pre-made sandwiches and deli-made microwaveable meals, a huge salad bar, and a deli counter with fresh baked pizza, sushi, and steam tables of baked chicken, fried chicken, and other home-made style delights with some nice sides as well. Unfortunately for us it was 10:30 a.m. and this sumptuous smorgasbord didn't open until 11:00. The Lovely Woman made do with a pre-made Chicken Caesar wrap and a small bag of Doritos while I had a Maple Turkey sandwich and a bag of honey-roast peanuts. She chose a large fountain Iced Tea from the humongous drinks section which had that, a big cooler of bottled beverages, and one of those computer-controlled machines that offers myriad possible combinations of Coca-Cola brand soft drinks. I wanted coffee, but Cafe Guy apologized and said they couldn't sell coffee because of the in-store Starbucks which was like 100 feet away, even though it is run by Kroger with Kroger employees who won't let you tip them(?!) I really don't like Starbucks coffee (DON'T @ME, as they say. Most of it's too acidic for my taste, sorry... though I love their Iced Tea), so I went to the Great Coke Dispenser and had a Diet Barque's Cream Soda. Both sandwiches and drinks were fresh and delicious. Our entire meal was like $14, a bargain these days, and the cafe was clean and comfortable, with a bunch of tables and another pit-like area around a big-screen TV.
It was quite a nice experience, and I would consider eating lunch there regularly if I worked or lived nearby. I can only hope that someday soon Kroger adopts the 1883 Cafe & Bar concept systemwide, so I can eat, drink, and shop for groceries, home furnishings. and maybe a car, all in one place. It'll be too easy to tell TLW "LET'S GO KROGERING!"
