I have never been to Garfield Park, so when I visited Parkside Public House, located on 2608 Shelby St., I was genuinely surprised to see a place so cool so close to campus.
The vibes in Parkside were off the charts. The amazing art collection and decor made the space feel homey and welcoming. I found myself looking around, discovering something new with every glance. The self-proclaimed art-house gastropub just screams intrigue and fascination. From the rock/alternative music to the wall of botanical beauties, this place seemed right up my alley.
The menu is curated with an artistic feel. The items available are more up-scale, from an order of oysters to a tenderloin. I ordered the Baguette Sammy ($16) and the flavors of the garlic bread, heirloom tomato and the herbed cheese just melts in your mouth. It was a little pricey (especially for my college student budget), but the taste makes up for it. A great option for fellow vegetarians. And the bread pudding ($9)? The spiced bread mixed with the light, sweet whipped cream was phenomenal. I would eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner if I could. I highly recommend ordering it, even if that’s the only thing you get. Each menu item feels like tons of care went into creating the dish.
The biggest thing that stood out to me was the atmosphere. The staff were very friendly (shoutout to David and Jackie!) and I felt extremely comfortable in the space. The owners and staff take the time to get to know you, which is something rare. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at this new small business.
They offer all sorts of events and live music, so the level of community involvement is fantastic and I’m interested to discover more. Overall, Parkside Public House is a gem inside our neighborhood, and I urge everyone at UIndy to check it out.
