During all the time I was clearing out my late father's home in Putnam County, I really wanted to…read morecheck out Central Normal Tap in Danville. The timing just never worked. However, on a recent trip back to visit my parents' grave, I finally got the chance to stop in and check it out for a bit. Central Normal Tap is basically a laid-back, charming pub and grill with solid dining options, craft beer, spirits, and a terrifically friendly vibe. I'm not sure if terrifically is really a word, but I'm sticking with it. Located on the east side of the Danville Town Square, this is a great place to hit if you're doing some visiting of the town square (and you should). It's not an all-day joint. It's really from evening into the night hours. The town square offers free parking (with accessible option). While there are stores on the square that are not accessible, Central Normal Tap is pretty darn good (some of the tables are a bit high and there are a handful of booths that have a step up). Dining options include pretzels, wings, flatbreads, and more. I didn't spend a whole lot of time here, but I enjoyed the time I spent. The vibe was a nice tapestry of smaller town charm with a modern energy. The food was tasty, and the service was absolutely top-notch. I would easily return, though I might avoid when it's super busy as I could imagine accessibility being a bit more challenging just due to the layout. For those who wonder (I love origin stories), the name comes from Central Normal College, a former college that moved from Ladoga, Indiana to Danville, Indiana in the 19th century and lasted until just after World War II. It's a part of Danville/Hendricks County history (you can learn more about it at the Hendricks County Museum).

The BEST Loaded Fries around!! I have been craving them ever since... The pizza was great too! But…read morethe best part about our visit was the server/bartender/cashier - she was doing it all and was simply amazing!

Service: Genuinely spectacular. The staff here treat you like a regular from your very first visit;…read moreattentive without hovering, quick with drink refills, and always ready with a recommendation if you're on the fence about what to order. Food: Don't let the "dive bar" label fool you, the food here punches way above its weight. Everything comes out fresh and flavorful, and the prices are refreshingly reasonable. It's the kind of menu you can order off of without checking your bank account first. Atmosphere: This is where Ralph's really shines. It's got that perfect low-key, no-pretense vibe; dim lighting, good music at a volume where you can still hear your friends, and a crowd that's there to relax rather than show off. Whether you're grabbing a quiet drink solo or bringing a group, it just works. Bottom line: Great service, great food, great vibe. Ralph's Great Divide is a certified Indy gem. Highly recommend.

If you're looking for the literal definition of a hole-in-the-wall hidden gem, this is it. Located…read moreright in the middle of a residential neighborhood, it's the kind of place where you'll second-guess your GPS until you're at the front door. I visited in January, and "authentic" apparently applies to the temperature, too--it was pretty dang chilly inside, so you might want to keep your coat on while you eat! Breaded Pork Tenderloin (an Indiana classic): This was the star of the show. It's massive and delicious. I paired mine with the Hot Pot Pig, and dipping part of the tenderloin into it was a game changer. I saw some online reviews calling it "life changing"--while I wouldn't go quite that far, it's easily one of the better ones I've had. Just a heads up: it's a heavy meal. You probably shouldn't eat more than one of these a month if you value your heart health! Spicy Buffalo Blue Cheese Chips: These were okay, but honestly not worth it. I'd skip these next time and save the room for something else. The Pie: I didn't have any room left to try a slice, but they looked fantastic behind the counter. Service & Atmosphere The staff here are super friendly and welcoming. Even though it's a modest setup, the service was incredibly fast, and we had our food in no time. It wasn't very busy when we stopped by, which made for a nice, quiet lunch. The Verdict: A great, no-frills spot for a massive tenderloin. Just dress warmly if you're heading there in the winter!

The food was amazing. They have a great Gluten Free menu as well. Lots of options and variety of…read moreselections. They also have gluten free bread for the table. My favorite appetizer was the Brussels Spouts-- the sauce was magnificent! But all of it was wonderful. The service was impeccable. The best! Very knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive, but not over-bearing. She went above and beyond to make the evening spectacular! We had a lot of fun! And of course, the wine selection is incredible. We will definitely be back!

I had a craving for the Chicken Madeira the other night and was in the neighborhood so decided to…read moreget some for carry out. We're wine club member so we picked up some bottles of Blanc de Blanc, a dry sparkling wine similar to a brut Champagne. We also decided to try their first red wine from Mexico. The woman who helped us was very pleasant. We chatted a bit while waiting for the food to be ready. They have a lot of cute merch. We've been to a couple of the special events at the Indy location which were a lot of fun. I do like the food here and it's fun to come in once in a while for a tasting.

Thursdays are the best nights!! With the best staff super attentive and the best smoke wings…read moreavailable in the bar only from 4 PM till they run out! You pick the wings up and the meat falls right off! Every time I order the hot balls which are absolutely delicious!!!! The margaritas I am not a fan of unfortunately but the blue moon on tap you can't go wrong. The place is super casual and sometimes they have live music. Any day but Thursday night I recommend the tenderloin with onion rings.

Good local spot to support instead of another fast food chain. Very casual with a large bar area as…read morewell as a dining room. A good variety of food but heavy on fried etc. Some salads and few vegetarian options. We went on a Weds and the special was old school Hoosier fried chicken, mash potatoes, green beans, and fried biscuits with apple butter. Good sized portions and tasty. They do rotate specials and you need to call as it won't be online. Staff were great. Good spot for families and the bar area has plenty of tv's if you want more casual. It's worth checking out!

The Pub at Anson has such a cozy, "regulars" vibe that I really love, I t's one of those spots…read morewhere if you show up enough, the staff actually gets to know you. We actually have some friends who live nearby who first got us into this place, and now it's become one of our go to favorites. It's just a comfortable, friendly environment where you can settle in and feel right at home immediately. The menu is surprisingly versatile, too. I'm a huge fan of their breakfast selection when I'm craving something hearty to start the day, but their burgers are also a total staple and never disappoint. Love their tots! And they got good drinks as well

The Pub at Anson OMG, this was SO good. We came here once…read morebefore and weren't impressed with the burger, but decided to give it another shot... and I'm so glad we did. This time we went full comfort food mode and WOW. The wings were crispy and flavorful, the chili dog with tots was pure cozy goodness, and everything just hit. We also ordered the meatloaf (Monday special, not pictured) and it was absolutely worth it...classic, hearty, and comforting. Amazing staff and awesome ambiance. We came here for the IU game and the vibe was amazing Safe to say this might be our new go-to spot for comfort food. Don't sleep on this place, second chances can be delicious.

had the best dinner ever! took my man here for his bday so they gave us the table with the best…read moreview in house right next to the porsches. the drinks were delicious - got the creamy old fashioned and a tequila cocktail. the oysters were great. market fish was my main dish and it was incredibly good. melted in my mouth and was on top of a tasty sauce with corn. we ordered the crème brûlée for dessert and they surprised us with two extra desserts - the chocolate peanut butter cheesecake and ice cream. had the best server. got checked in by the manager a couple times too. great views of all the cars. can't wait to come back!!

Bowdie has turned into a complete dump and it's sad to say the least. The au gratin potatoes tasted…read morelike ass. Steaks were OK but overpriced as were the drinks. I realize I am calling this place a complete dump based on very limited experience, but that's how Graham Rahal operates, so I guess turnabout is fair play.

A friend and I made a reservation for a "fast six tasting". They had already set up a spot at the…read morebar and had iced waters waiting, which was a nice touch. We didn't really know what to expect, but you essentially choose sixes wines each from their list. Unfortunately, they were out of 2/3rds of red wines. They had 12 wines left, so each of us took six, deciding we would share and try everything they had to offer. We noticed that any of the sweet offerings were from Oliver winery, and they confirmed they don't have sweet wines at Foyt. After trying them all slowly with a charcuterie board and conversation, over a period of 90 minutes, there were only 2 wines that I liked, and only 1 of them that I would ever order a glass of. This experience was fine, and the place is nice, but considering it is a tasting, I expected to learn about the wines. No information was shared with us when we made our selections. Lastly, we noticed there were two other groups at the bar, each of them with a different tasting set ups. They had large glasses in a row with all their options in front of them, but we were given a mini glass that was refilled when we made new decisions. I'm not sure what the difference was.

Other sites say a must do when visiting the area. I'm sure it's nice but it is not open to the…read morepublic.. EVER. We went in while visiting Indy and we were rudely told this is a country club environment only for members. We were not welcome. No apology just told we were not allowed to stay. Not even allowed to look at memorabilia. The open sign was lit up in entrance & unless we missed it did not see a sign on door stating members only. Guess not many members as place was completely empty except person working.

OUTSTANDING BEEF STRW! Best I've ever had anywhere in the world!!!…read more Been here several times over the years and there's a reason for the name!!!! It is LOADED with meat, vegetables & potatoes with tasty gravy, too. They've been around since 1911 and it's a local place, unpretentious with quality food. Come as you are. We'll be back.

Still the best stew in town. Friendly people working here. Nice setting and relaxing.read more