FORK TURN: West Fork Whiskey opened its Fountain Square outpost, Rise & Revel, back in April, but now the company is switching things up. Its name has been changed to West Fork Social House, and that’s not the only plot twist: The distillery is also opening a second Social House location in Broad Ripple. They’re taking over the old Bulldog Bar and Lounge building at 5380 North College Ave. in July; like the 1233 Shelby St. location, it’ll be a coffee by day, cocktails by night affair. One notable difference, perhaps, is that while the Shelby Street venue doesn’t have an evening food menu, the upcoming outpost will serve bar bites along with their lineup of spirits.
GRILL BABY GRILL: The Star brings word of Reem Mediterranean Grill, newly opened in Fishers. Its menu of kabobs, shawarma, and rice bowls is a familiar one, while dishes like Greek Fries (loaded with feta and olives) play with the form. Family-sized full meals, built to serve parties of five or 10, run an affordable $66-131. 8922 E. 96th St., Fishers, 317-570-5930
THRILLING PAIR: New Fountain Square business Xtreme Pizzaria Restaurant & Daquiri Bar is so fresh to the game that Yelpers have yet to descend, but that just means more pizza and daiquiris for the rest of us. Expect an extensive menu of salads, five breadstick options (including a loaded Philly Cheese version), and baked pastas in addition to its namesake pies. 1634 S. East St., 317-600-3262
FIVE ON IT: National bagel chain Einstein Bros just opened its fifth Indy-area location in Avon. The company’s latest shop is at 10665 E. U.S. Hwy. 36, where it serves the company’s usual menu of bagels, schmears, and sandwiches. It joins an increasingly crowded bagel market in the area, with B’s Bagels, the recently expanded Sidedoor, and that upcoming Zionsville location of Gables Bagels also coming in hot.
SPELLING TEST: New Carmel cafe Kickstarrt-Coffee & More might make your spellcheck angry, but its vast menu might ease some of that red-underlined pain. It spans burgers, chicken tenders, protein shakes, and a variety of cakes and pastries, as well as a roster of coffee drinks. There’s also a very cute dining space, and if that’s not enough, the place is 100-percent halal. 14560 River Rd., Carmel
LIFT AND SEPARATE: A colleague raised an excellent question at the news that The Sports Bra will be coming to Indianapolis. Founded in Portland, Oregon, it’s the “first-ever sports bar 100% dedicated to supporting and showing women’s sports,” its website claims; now it’s expanding to Boston, Las Vegas, St. Louis, and Indy. Our city was chosen because of our fondness for the Fever, with founder Jenny Nguyen saying “These aren’t just dots [or bras] on a map to us. These are cities with rich sports cultures and serious women’s sports legacies … we’re serving fans nationwide who are hungry for spaces that not only champion women’s sports, but create a community where everyone feels like they belong.” But as my colleague noted, recent Indiana legislation suggests that lawmakers frown upon businesses that seek to support groups and communities outside the dominant class. Will this statehouse opposition to inclusion and equity for all apply to a bar that wants to boost the marginalized avenue of women’s athletics? And can a state that denies womens’ rights to life-saving health care truly be considered an advocate for female athleticism? The company hasn’t announced a location or timeline for their Indy outpost, so perhaps they’re trying to figure that out, too.
