Which Bloomington restaurants opened in 2022? Which ones closed?
2022 was a good year to try out new restaurants in the Bloomington area, which already has more independent restaurants than most cities its size. Here we look back at the restaurants that opened — and the ones that closed this year.
Bloomington's food scene got more diverse with new restaurants opening almost every month
FEBRUARY
Owner/chef Nick Deitrich opened Small Favors, a farm-to-fork restaurant at 402 1/2 W. Sixth St., in the former La Vie En Rose. The restaurant's menu changes monthly with a focus on quality ingredients. Things seem to be going well since the restaurant just added lunch on Fridays and Saturdays.
Something special: What's the secret to Small Favors' sell-out pizza?
The Caffeinated Cook cafe, at 206 N. Sale St. in Ellettsville, is in the location that had formerly housed Heritage Trail Cafe and Coffee. In addition to coffee, the restaurant has granola, bagels, and muffins and serves sandwiches, salads and soups.
Hoosier Pie Hole restaurant opened at Hoosier Putt Hole in Ellettsville, at 4747 W. Ind. 46. The three prong business also includes a bar, the Hoosier Tap Hole, and offers American cuisine including pizza and smash burgers.
Coffee and more:These two Ellettsville area restaurants are reopening with new names, menus
Roly Poly Sandwich opened its second Bloomington location inside Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington at 200 Daniels Way. Both the new location and the other, at 1616 W. Third St., are owned by Tom Seybert. Roly Poly specializes in rolled sandwiches, soups, salads and friendly service.
More:Roly Poly opening second Bloomington location inside Ivy Tech
MARCH
Breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch in Bloomington got better when Hopscotch Kitchen opened the space adjacent to Hopscotch Coffee B-Line Cafe, 235 W. Dodds St. Sandwiches, toast and rice bowls are served in breakfast and lunch versions. The brunch menu includes pancakes and a version of a benedict.
A B-Line addition:Hopscotch Kitchen to open next month at Dodds Street coffee shop
The Elm's cafe, restaurant, and bar in the two-story building at 614 E. Second St. quickly became a Bloomington favorite. Offering fresh, beautifully plated food ranging from smoked oysters to pasta to fried chicken, the cafe is open for breakfast and lunch and the restaurant is open for dinner.
Take a peek inside The Elm, a new Bloomington restaurant opening Wednesday
Chocolate Moose at The Gables opened at 114 S. Indiana Ave., which is also the address for BuffaLouie’s. Besides ice cream, the shop sells Rainbow Bakery and Brown County Coffee products.
APRIL
Parlor Doughnuts, offering layered doughnuts, opened at 322 E. Kirkwood Ave, the former home of Laughing Planet. The small chain, which opened its first location in Evansville in 2019, doesn't just serve sweets. It also has egg dishes, breakfast tacos and avocado toast.
A different kind of doughnut:Parlor Doughnuts opens shop on Bloomington's Kirkwood Avenue
With the beginning of Food Truck Fridays, new food trucks introduced at the beginning of the season included Bloom Burger and PappyShack. Another new food entry was Pinoy Garden Cafe, serving Filipino cuisine. Wacky Bunzz food truck, offering Mexican-style hamburgers, was a new edition by owners of Pili’s Party Taco Truck. Elli-May’s Smoked BBQ opened a booth at FTF late in the season.
JUNE
Burritos, bowls, salads and nachos, all customizable, are the core of the menu at Chubbies Diner, which opened at 118 E. Kirkwood Ave., former location of Bloomington Sandwich Shop.
In Nashville, the original Big Woods location was opened as Quaff On! Pour House, the company’s first tap room, at 60 Molly's Lane.
JULY
People on Bloomington's southeast side had reason to celebrate when Verona Coffee House, at 3105 S. Sare Road, Suite 1010, had its grand opening on July 23. The family-run coffee shop is in the Porto Flats apartment complex. In addition to a full menu of coffee and tea drinks, Verona has pastries and breakfast sandwiches, and a light lunch menu.
When it opened:Verona Coffee House opens on Bloomington's south side
AUGUST
It started in Buffalouie's as owner Ed Schwartzman pined for a real New York City bagel, hot and fresh from the oven. Bloomington said yes, inspiring Schwartzman to open Gables Bagels at 421 E. Third St. in Colstone Square. If you haven't yet, you're going to want to try the whitefish schmear.
From the East Coast to Btown:Gables Bagels opens, Raising Cane's to follow soon
SEPTEMBER
Bloomington foodies waited patiently for Raising Cane’s, much-anticipated opening at 422 E. Kirkwood Ave. Do chicken have fingers? Here they do.
After closing its pizza operation, Switchyard Brewing partnered with the owners of Pili's Party Taco to create Estacion d-Sabor, a Mexican kitchen providing food through a kiosk and QR codes at tables inside the craft brewery at 419 N. Walnut St.
Crumble Coffee and Bakery opened its third location at 316 S. Swain Ave. near the IU campus. the bakery offers sweet and savory crepes as well as the coffee, tea and food found at the other two locations.
More:Switchyard Brewing switches up food offerings; coffee shop opens third location
OCTOBER
Chef’s Table Catering opened in the former Naughty Dog location at 3860 W. Third St. It’s not the same as the Chef’s Table that had been open on Bloomington’s east side that closed in 2021.
Yes, they have hot dogs:Chef's Table opens on Bloomington's west side
DECEMBER
Riviera Maya, a new Mexican restaurant, opened at 116 S. Franklin Road after a long struggle with permits and materials. Have a huge appetite? This restaurant has a burrito so big it's served on a turkey platter.
Gigante:Riviera Maya to open Dec. 1; soup sale now at Hive, Lennie's
Bowls 4 Boots, a cereal bar with breakfast and lunch, opened in the first-floor cafe inside Fountain Square.
On the Menu: New restaurant in Fountain Square, Small Favors adds lunch, tea shop closing
Changes in ownership
JUNE
Function Brewing changed its name and owners and is now Metal Works Brewing Co., still at 108 E. Sixth St.
Still with us
MARCH
Irish Lion Restaurant and Pub celebrated its 40th year and is looking for someone to take over the family-owned and operated business at 212 W. Kirkwood Ave.
Bloomington restaurants that closed in 2022
JANUARY
Underground Cupcake at 3631 W. Ind. 46 closed its doors and the business moved to become part of BB’s Market, the new name for Wagon Wheel Custom Meats at 1915 S. Walnut St.
Not really gone:Where did Underground Bakery move?
SEPTEMBER
Butch's Grillacatessen & Eatzeria at 120 E. Seventh St. closed its doors.
DECEMBER
BloomingTea, at 615 W. Kirkwood Ave., closed its doors on Dec. 23 for the last time.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington area restaurants that opened, closed in 2022
