Number 19! We are still knocking them off the list, but not as fast as I would like! I can now start seeing half-way so that is a good sign! We are saving some close and easy sandwiches for crunch time, so I might be able to pull an ace out of my sleeve in the final hours!
I have been looking forward to sandwich 19! The list describes our number 19, the Historic Steer In Meatball Sandwich, as:
After its March 2011 debut on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, in less than two months, at least one person from every state and some parts of Canada arrived to polish off the real star of the show, the fat meatball sandwich. A locally-baked crusty baguette cradles fresh, bright-red marinara sauce, and three succulent hunks of veal, beef and sausage, all under a veil of browned mozzarella and asiago cheese.
The Historic Steer Inn is a place that I have been to and am familiar with. This restaurant has had quite a wild ride in Indy. The place started out as the Northway Drive-In in the 50’s and a very well known restaurateur bought the place in the late 1950’s. That was the famous Laughner family. Here is the interesting thing, the Laughners didn’t do that well with it and sold it in 1964 to Harold Phillips. Now Harold’s Steer In, the restaurant became popular and thrived till around 2004 when it closed down. Charlie and Barbara Kehrer, longtime East siders, leased the place to try to continue the tradition of the Steer In. They were successful and able to purchase it in 2008 from Harold and it became the Historic Steer In. The rest is history so to speak.
I like meatball sandwiches but very rarely get them because NOBODY knows how to make a proper meatball sandwich. A meatball sandwich should be meat, sauce, cheese in the right portions and be able to be picked up. Easy right? WRONG. Most places try to accomplish that goal by using the wrong portions. They cut back on sauce or they increase the bread size. The only reason to use a fork to eat a meatball sandwich is because of size – not because it is too soggy to pick up! From the description from the list, I had a feeling they knew how to make it, but I was nervous.
The place has an old diner mixed with bar vibe to it. I think that is because there are flat screens TV’s all over the place showing sports or news. Not what I would think for a diner, but then you have the lunch counter, the wait staff, and build of the place so you think diner. I ordered the sandwich with onion rings (another item I am real picky on) and Kathie ordered the chili burger.
Our food arrived and let me get the formalities out of the way. The onion rings were not good. Cooked wrong, failed attempt at breading, let me just say don’t order the rings. I didn’t even finish them and if you have seen my gut, you know I don’t leave food much! Kathie liked her burger but of course she never says a bad word about anything! I did try a bite and the burger was good.
Now for what you have been waiting for, my review on the meatball sandwich. Where do I start? I read a blog the other day with someone stating that most people use the word AWESOME wrong. His premise was that awesome is “inspiring awe” and the definition of awe is “A feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder” therefore saying this sandwich was awesome would be wrong. How about splendid, first rate, superb, superior? Would those words be accurate in describing this meatball sandwich? YES! The crusty baguette is a splendid choice, a soft nice core in a toasty hard shell. Next are the superior meatballs. Nice blend of meats that provide a great flavor and top those with a first rate marinara. Covered, smothered? Nay, nay, just enough to cover the tops of the huge meatballs. Are they done with that sandwich? No. A lot of places would be. Historic Steer In is still going to top it with, not one, but two cheeses and then put the thing under the heat so you end up with a nice browned blanket of cheese. I would just say awesome and that would have saved me 50 words, but I guess that would be the wrong word.
Next time you find yourself on the eastside, steer in to a great sandwich. See what I did there? I’m here all week folks!
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