The following “CHEW THAT!” column originally appeared in “The Courier-Times” and / or “The Shelbyville News”. Check their websites for further information.
“CHEW THAT”
Ky’s American Bistro
Blaise Doubman
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of discovering my new favorite local restaurant. Where? A place that I had been told about over and over to visit and for whatever reason, I kept pushing it back further and further on my list of things to try. Why? I honestly have no idea. Finally though, to much satisfaction and pleasure, I tried it and have since been am embarrassingly amount of times. Matter of fact, writing this, I thought to myself before hand, should I tell anyone about this? I want this to be “my spot” and if I let this delicious secret out in the open, I feel like I am giving not only my private and personal lunches away but my secret! Then I thought, well that is selfish and I do not want the place to close, so perhaps I need to do what I can to keep it open! And not just for me but for the benefit of everyone! I am not kidding when I say that this restaurant has some of not just the most fresh and delicious food in the area but some of the most pleasurable and friendly staff that I have ever encountered! I have to, right now, drop a shout out to Rachel. She has been my waitress a couple of times while I have eaten there and she made the whole experience even better, if that is even possible. She was a great waitress and brought with her her sunny disposition, positive attitude and friendly nature, which only added to the overall charm.
When you walk in, you know you are about to get some good food. Just from the atmosphere, the decorations, the smells and the vibes. It is a place where you walk in and immediately are comforted with the thought of having a great meal in a small little town and you are doing your best to provide them with your business and hopefully drive people in with a good social media post. Ky’s American Bistro is located at 1333 Broad Street, right in the heart of New Castle. If you visit their website,kyskreations18.com, you will find everything else you may want to know.
I could just stop my column here and say, trust me. Eat here! Now! You will thank me later. However, I am not for a number of reasons. I want to talk about it number one because, of course, I love to talk and write about food but number two, I am sure there is someone out there right now reading this with their doubts and opinions. Tried it and did not care for it? It must have been an off day at the restaurant. I am highly encouraging you to try it again! Umm
Let me start with their menu. Their menu, in sizes of the restaurant world, is on the small side. Which is great! A small menu, to me, means that just about everything is fresh and therefore would have to be cooked to order. Some restaurants have pages and pages of offerings and sometimes, sure, that can be a good thing but how much of that is actually fresh? I am sure there are some places where it is and good for them, however, most places that is not the case.
Their menu is divided into sections such as sandwiches which includes a ribeye steak sandwich, cod fillet, tenderloin, chicken strips, pulled pork and other choosing’s such as their delicious chicken salad. I am not sure what they put into their chicken salad, the menu says chicken, pecans, grapes and celery in their special creamy mayo sauce. The secret must be in the sauce and or perhaps the type of chicken they use. It is very flavorful and delicious. There is also a section on the menu for handcrafted burgers. Why not try their “Goober”? A peanut butter and jelly spin on a hamburger. Or how about their “Bleu” burger with bleu cheese and bacon? Trust me when I say that there are no bad burgers on this menu. Their sides are each delicious as well, consisting of French fries, onion rings, mushrooms, macaroni and cheese, green beans, corn and on and on. They, of course also have a kid’s menu, appetizers such as a “Burger Flight” as well as tator kegs, pulled pork nachos and a “Bistro Tower” which needs to be ordered for appeal and social media presence. Their “Everyday Classics” are also delicious and include menu items such as, filet mignon, salmon, cod, shrimp, pork chops, hamburger steak, chicken breast and on and on and even includes a cabbage steak for those vegetarians.
Desserts are also offered and delicious. But, let me back up here a minute and talk about one of their appetizers. Their “Pickle Fries”. One of the best appetizers I have ever had, anywhere! Now, these are not pickle chips, they are exactly what they say they are. Pickle fries. Which means the pickles are cut and fried and served like French fries. They are then drizzled in their housemate dill sauce and a side of their house made Ranch dressing, which let me tell you, I would drink if I could get away wi th it. Some of the best Ranch dressing ever! I literally asked the server on two different occasions if I could buy this by the gallon! The pickles are to be had! Are they to be shared? That depends on how hungry you are. They are the perfect texture, the perfect crunch and flavor. I highly recommend these! I could go on and on about them honestly.
So, next up is their “bars”. They have a seafood bar sometimes, a baked potato bar, a pasta bar. And all of them are not only really good tasting but really good in options and value. The quality of the food is 100% here, especially given the modest prices. I have treated myself to the baked potato bar, which was delicious and endless and even came with a bowl of the best Tortilla Soup I had ever had the pleasure of my lips touching. I have also had their pasta bar. It is literally like Heaven. Whatever “bar” they have planned for the day, get it! You will be glad.
If you have any further doubts, just look them up on Facebook. Raving review after raving review! You can tell that this restaurant is well loved and respected by their community. Their “bars” are from 11-3 and also include their endless salad bar! Which, I have not even gotten to that! They have an entire cold salad bar that contains some of the best salads I have had in many years. Pasta salad, potato salad, cottage cheese, broccoli and cauliflower salad, pea salad, chocolate pudding, butterscotch pudding and on and on. It is making my mouth water to even think about it. I love taking a plate and filling it up at the cold salad bar and then creating a “sampler” plate for myself. Sometimes the food gets mixed together, if you are into that and sometimes you create and find tastes that you would have never known had existed otherwise. For example, years ago that is how I found out how well I liked chicken and poppyseed dressing together, which lead to a few great recipes that I still use to this very day that I love!
All in all, I would love for you to try my newest, not so secret now, favorite place to eat! I really think that you will walk away not only full but walk away with the fact that you just helped patronize a small business with some of the nicest people. What a great feeling!
Ky’s American Bistro is located in the heart of New Castle at 1333 Broad Street. Their website iskyskreations18.com Their email address iskyskreations18@gmail.com Their business phone number, which includes their hours is 765-465-8714.