The Red Lion Grog House: Raise your glass to an English alehouse with class!
Ask any British native about the hallmark of a traditional English pub and they will give you a long list of items. That list would probably include Ye Olde bottles of malt vinegar on the tables, English football (aka soccer to Americans) on the telly, and Bangers and Mash on the menu. The Red Lion Grog House scores highly on all three accounts.
For those unfamiliar with English terminology, “Grog” is an old word for watery beer or rum, and in Britain there are approximately 600 pubs called the Red Lion. The layout of the Red Lion Grog House in Indy seems more American in style than English. Owner Wally Bolinger intentionally created it that way while still successfully maintaining an English atmosphere.
Whether your preference is Bangers and Mash (sausage links and mashed potato) or Toad in the Hole (sausage links wrapped in Yorkshire pudding), the menu is certainly English. For starters, insist on the Ploughman’s Lunch, a platter of Gouda and Cheddar cheeses, ham, smoked turkey, sliced apple, hardboiled egg and pickled onions. The dish is served with field greens and rustic bread.
No real surprises in the entree selection, which includes Shepherd’s Pie, Chicken Tikka Masala, and naturally, Fish and Chips. The fish is Atlantic Cod, deep-fried and crispy with a side of hand-cut chips. No fish and chips are complete without a side of homemade tartar sauce. The Blanket Bangers, or Pigs in a Blanket as Americans know them, are traditionally called Sausage Rolls in England. These are English bangers or sausage links wrapped in puff pastry and baked until golden brown. The Red Lion serves them with a side of hand-cut chips and garlic-Dijon aioli.
The draft lineup of ales includes Carlsberg Lager, Fuller’s London Pride, Newcastle Brown and a vast selection of canned ales.
For those who have ever wanted to unravel the mystery of the Banger or follow the Toad down the Hole, this is a great place to start.
HelloIndianapolis Tip: Visit the Red Lion Grog House Facebook page where regular announcements and discounts are posted.
- by Jim Brown , Indianapolis Reporter for HelloMetro
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Jim Brown Jim Brown is a longtime freelance aviation, travel and destination writer and communications professional. A former reporter for Aviation Daily, Air Safety Week and World Airline News, Jim served for more than 15 years as a senior public relations executive for American Airlines, TWA and AirTran Airways.
