Pizza chain growing & more

March 25, 2008
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Monical’s PizzaMonical's Pizza plans to open new restaurants in Carmel, Fishers and Indianapolis later this year. The Illinois-based chain, known for its thin-crust pies, already has six stores in Indiana: in Avon, Lafayette, West Lafayette, Monticello, Kentland and Delphi. The new locations are: 14099 Mundy Drive in Fishers; 6010 W. 86th St. at Traders Point; and 126th Street and U.S. 31 at Hamilton Crossing Shopping Center in Carmel. The Fishers restaurant is set to open in the spring, and the others are scheduled for summer openings. Anyone tried them?


In other restaurant news: Famous Dave's Legendary Pit Barbeque plans to open its second Indianapolis restaurant near U.S. 31 South and County Line Road. Chicago Gyros plans to take 1,400 square feet along 38th Street just east of Meridian. Teavana, a chain that hopes to become a Starbucks for tea drinkers, has filed plans to open its first local store in the Fashion Mall at Keystone. And finally, Burger King has filed to build a new restaurant at 765 County Line Road.

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  • IndymanMarch 25, 2008 11:20 AM
    I know people will complain about chain's but they need to get a life. I live in Avon and Monical's has been a great addition. Their salad is really good and really large. Maybe a little more in $ than a traditional Pizza Hut or Papa John's but also nicer place to sit and eat than those others. Avon's is always packed and my wife's office always request it at their office staff meetings.
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  • kevin f.March 25, 2008 11:39 AM
    I'm ecstatic about Monical's! I grew up in southern Indiana and we had a Monicals throughout the 70's and early 80's and then they vanished and I never saw one again anywhere.

    I love them and always have. It is definately not for everyone though. The crust is probably a little thinner than Donatos but the overall taste is much better.
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  • mickMarch 25, 2008 3:35 PM
    Yuck - just about the worst pizza in the world !!!
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  • Brick by BrickMarch 25, 2008 6:18 PM
    I'm not a big fan of chaines and I've never eaten there.
    So I wouldn't know how it tastes.
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  • HelenMarch 25, 2008 8:07 PM
    give me bazbos anyday!
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  • spellbotMarch 26, 2008 8:27 AM
    brick by brick: chains
    helen: bazbeaux
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  • JimMarch 26, 2008 8:43 AM
    I agree, Bazbeaux is the one. Keep the chains! I avoid them so that locals can profit. Also, new locally owned in Irvington opened by former Bazbeaux employee, but cannot remember the name. Indyman, I do have a life eventhough I do not like chains. Why be insulting!
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  • Terry KirtsMarch 26, 2008 9:32 AM
    Monical's is the pizza I grew up on in Eastern Illinois. So for me it's sort of the gold standard, fraught with all sorts of nostalgia of eating the Family Pleaser every Friday night in Robinson, Illinois. It's St. Louis-style pizza with a super-thin cracker crust and toppings chopped fine (no big rounds of pepperoni here) and a nice mix of mild cheeses (in St. Louis, they use a soft cheese called Provel, but I don't know about Monical's). And it's square cut. A bit like Pizza King, but I think much better. Monical's is a chain, but only a regional one, and it's a really nice alternative to the bland puffy stuff at most middle-of-the-road pizza chains. Bazbeaux definitely sets the standard for pizza here in Indy, but most of the pizza (except at Puccini's where the respect the crust) in Indy is so overloaded with toppings that you might as well just have a bunch of cheese, meat, and sauce on a plate. Monical's is the kind of place where people who actually understand the virtues of bitting into a crisp and chewy crust can go and not have to worry about getting sauce on their collar. I say let the chains and the local places duke it out. I, for one, am glad to have so many good choices.
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  • indytransplantMarch 26, 2008 9:55 AM
    I also grew up in Robinson, Il (southeastern Illinois) and this place was a staple in our diet. Even though we grew up with this pizza, it's still fantastic even today! It's in a class all by itself. It's different than most pizzas as Terry described above. The crust is crisp and cracker thin(which I love) and it's loaded with toppings. The Avon restaurant is terrific also. Most Indy transplant downstate Illinoisian's will be thrilled to see the chain expand here. The pizza is great! Try one of their Delite or Dexluxe pizzas. Don't listen to Mick above. He must be a meat lovers pizza type guy.
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  • MarkMarch 26, 2008 9:58 AM
    Anyone know anything about the Chicagos Gyros. I visit that Subway and China King II next to it all the time so I've been excited to see this open.

    Speaking of the China King II. It doesn't look like much, but if you live in that area give it a try. Their take out dishes are resuable as tupperware containers all different sizes. I have tons of them, but this is what I was impressed with. Their Crab Rangoon, made on the spot and filled full, not just filled with air like others. Also, I got the moo goo Gai Pan and every single vegetable was freshly chopped I saw them do it and you can taste the difference. In the summer when the MEthodist SChurch on Meridian and 38 host the farmers market, this is where they get all of their vegetables for their meals. Give it a try its delicious!
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  • thundermuttMarch 26, 2008 10:14 AM
    Jim, the place in Irvington is right on Washington in the same building as Legends and Dufours. It is called Jockamos and it's good.
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  • SteveMarch 26, 2008 10:49 AM
    I grew up eating Monical's, and frequent the Avon store, chain or not, it's awesome pizza. I too would like to see more indie restaurants. I just read where local investors have chosen the old Mounatin Jack's location at 465 and west 38th to put in what sounds like a high end steak house with a 3,000-bottle wine cellar. As a previous restaurant owner, I wish them the best, but that's a lousy location, I don't see it succeeding.
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  • BlahMarch 26, 2008 3:54 PM
    I too grew up in East Central Illinois, and Monical's was every Friday night in high school. Monicals is the only restaurant that I've driven to Avon (from Castleton) for. The pizza is not Bazbeaux and in reality, the products are so different that the two shouldn't be compared. That being said the pizza is really very good, and Monicals is a good citizen. They hire a lot of local high school students and try to evoke school spirit of the local high school. I'm not a huge fan of chains, but remember that this one is simply Eastern Illinois, Western Indiana, and now showing up in Indianapolis. It's not Papa Johns or Dominos.
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  • FishersMarch 27, 2008 5:22 AM
    I grew up in Central Illinois, it was a Friday night event. agree with everthing said by those who know Monical's. It will be a nice added choice. I've driven to Avon from Fishers many times to eat at Monicals and always worth the drive.Now one is opening a mile from my house, can't wait.
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  • EmilyMarch 27, 2008 1:34 PM
    I grew up on Monical's too! When I was in elementary school I lived in Urbana and we ate at Monical's all the time. My parents now live in Monticello so it is a must that we eat there when I visit. I now live in Noblesville and have drive my husband crazy because I am so excited that they are coming to the area!
    I graduated high school in Casey, Illinois and had I known there was a Monicals in Robinson, I would have went to it.
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  • kitinMarch 27, 2008 2:12 PM
    There is one in Bourbonnais/Kankakee, IL area ... I went to college there and I now live about 50 miles away and drive all the way there to eat it! You all will love it !!!
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  • brettMarch 31, 2008 8:36 AM
    Monical's- please come to Greenwood or the southside!!
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  • KathyJuly 1, 2008 5:59 PM
    Talking about great pizza...Has anyone tried BJs at Greenwood Mall? They have awesome pizza. I'm a huge bazbeauz's fan but my husband and I liked BJs better. Which is great since I live south and Bazbeauz hasn't made any plans to come south.
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