I have been waiting to visit the new Scholars Inn in Indianapolis for some time and Valentines Day seemed the perfect excuse. The food was excellently prepared and the dishes thoughtfully conceived but the service lacked polish and the seating was dreadful.\r
Because the food was so good the service had much to live up to and it appears the bar was set too high. The table provided was at the end of an empty row of three tables on the isle near the kitchen. When I asked to be reseated, I was told by the waitress that my 8:00PM reservation was not enough to allow me a better table. While I believe the waitress was mistaken (the couple who eventually did sit down in the other table would not have known a bad seat from a good one) I was still stuck by the inappropriateness of the rejection. The service did improve slightly but I had to repeatedly ask for silverware and my coffee came ten minutes before the desert. \r
If that seems like nit picking it is because the food was good enough to deserve flawless service. The Valentine?s Day menu was a slightly altered and limited version of the daily menu with a few notable surprises. \r
The American caviar parfait could confuse with it?s simplicity but it is clear the chef used a deft hand in assembling the components. The balance of the dish relied on a potato fritter and sauce to tie the creme fraiche, caviar and smoked salmon together. My wife?s lamb and chutney pastry was a study in how to balance spicy, sweet and savory components to produce a wonderful overall effect.\r
These courses were indicative of the overall meal to come. It is difficult to write enough good things about the food presented. All of the dishes were well conceived and executed. An understanding of the fine nuances of the cuisine was apparent in each. I only wish I had not ordered the filet which was too simple a preparation for this menu.\r
The Scholars Inn, Indianapolis provides excellent food but the service need some work.
Pros: Food that will surprise and delight.
Cons: Is thre a secret handshake to get a good table and service that lives up to the food?
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