Bagger Dave's Burger Tavern: Looking Back at a Blogger Tasting Event

Disclaimer: I was provided with samples of Bagger Dave's Burger Tavern's signature drinks and appetizers in exchange for a product review. However, all opinions expressed here are my own.

This post goes back to a blogger event at Bagger Dave's Burger Tavern in Indianapolis. I was invited to a signature-drink tasting and happy hour and brought my husband, Jeff, along with his best friend and his wife.

I don't have a strong memory of the restaurant now, so I don't want to pretend I do. Looking back at the original review, I clearly enjoyed the event at the time. Jeff's memory today is simpler: he remembers the food as decent, maybe a little overpriced.

That difference between an in-the-moment review and what sticks with you years later is worth acknowledging. Not every restaurant experience becomes a lasting favorite, and that is okay.

What I Wrote About Bagger Dave's at the Time

When we arrived my first impression was favorable. The inside of Bagger Dave's Burger Tavern did not smell like alcohol. It was clean and bright. The tables were roomy too. We chose a booth near an interior window that allowed us to see the food being prepared. That was fun. A waitress immediately came to our table to take our drink selections. We chose their signature sodas to begin with.

Once the event began, Jeffrey, Mary and I chose to sample their signature-drink sodas which included black cherry (my favorite), root beer, cola and orange creme. I felt the orange creme was very sugary and could not drink it. The other drinks were good but weak. The favorite soda of those of us in attendance was the black cherry. I also drank some of their sweet tea which I really enjoyed.

Patrick Roth sampled a total of six of their signature libations. His favorite drink was the Portuguese Breeze which he said was fruity with a strong pear overtone. The exotic Orange Cooler they were heavily promoting that night had a strong orange taste he said.

We were also served a sampling of their appetizers. We received the Blue Buffalo Tavern Fries which were covered in pico de gallo, apple wood bacon, blue cheese crumbles and their signature Buffalo Garlic Sauce. We also received sweet potato chips and fresh-cut potato fries. We received three dipping sauces as well - buffalo, ranch and a honey sea salt cinnamon. I loved the buffalo sauce. Mary did not feel the ranch sauce was very good. Jeffrey loved the honey sea salt cinnamon but I felt it tasted more like honey than anything else.

The Cheeseburger Was the Standout for Me

We ordered sandwiches as well, and we paid for those ourselves. Jeff and I both chose the Great American Cheeseburger. I ordered mine very simply: cheese, no condiments, with a pickle on the side.

According to my original notes, I thought the cheeseburger was very good and said it was one of the best I had eaten in quite a while. I also liked the pickle spear.

At the time, I wrote that the prices seemed reasonable and noted that Jeff and I paid under $20 for the two cheeseburgers. Jeff's memory today is that the food was decent but perhaps a little overpriced. Since I don't clearly remember the pricing myself now, I am leaving both pieces of context here rather than forcing a stronger opinion than I actually have.

The T-Shirt Outlasted the Restaurant Memory

At the end of the event, we received a Bagger Dave's swag bag with a T-shirt and a $5 gift certificate.

Here's the funny long-term update: Jeff still has the T-shirt, and he still wears it.

I don't remember the meal strongly enough today to give you a detailed current verdict on Bagger Dave's, but apparently the shirt was a keeper.

My original review also praised the atmosphere and service. I wrote that the restaurant was clean and bright, the tables were roomy, and the servers checked on us regularly even though they were busy. I also thought the setting could work well for a casual business lunch or dinner.

What This Old Restaurant Review Still Says About Food

This isn't really a homesteading article in the way a gardening, preserving or livestock post is. But it does connect to something I think matters in a homestead kitchen: eating out can give you flavor ideas to bring home.

The black cherry soda stood out to me. The honey-sea-salt-cinnamon dipping sauce stood out to Jeff. I liked the buffalo sauce. Those kinds of combinations are useful inspiration when you are making drinks, sauces, burgers, fries or appetizers in your own kitchen.

You don't have to copy a restaurant dish exactly for the experience to be useful. Sometimes one flavor combination is enough to spark an idea for something homemade later.

My Bagger Dave's Review, Years Later

This was a fun blogger event, and my original notes show that we had a good time. I liked the burger, the black cherry soda and the buffalo sauce. Jeff remembers the food as decent and maybe a little overpriced.

Today, I don't remember enough about the restaurant to tell you it was amazing or terrible. I would rather say that plainly than invent enthusiasm I don't have.

What I can say with confidence is that we enjoyed the event at the time, and Jeff still wears the Bagger Dave's T-shirt all these years later. That may be the most durable part of the whole review.

The disclosure at the top remains because the drink and appetizer samples were provided for review. The sandwiches were purchased by us.