The Eagle Mass Ave — Restaurant in Indianapolis

This place is great. In town for a work thing and was excited to learn about this place that apparently had the best fried chicken in town. Not being from town, I took their word for it and wandered over (great walk from DT Indy to this place, btw). I’m from the south and moved to the Pacific Northwest 5 years ago, and though Portland has incredible food, it does not and cannot replicate real southern soul food fried chicken. I had my doubts that it was possible this far north in Indianapolis, either.

Anyhoo...the moment I got near the place I could smell it. That unmistakeable scent of a good scald on perfectly seasoned crust, skin and all. Instantly salivating, I walked in. Omg is smelled so good! My stomach started to growl with hunger.

Though alone, I opted to not sit at the bar and was instead seated in a room in the back. The server handed me the menu and I ordered right away:

1/4 chicken dark meat (duh) which consisted of two thighs and a leg Horseradish mashed potatoes Collards Biscuits

He said something along the lines of “you know those sides are for sharing?” I said no, he said I’d have leftovers, I said I’ll eat it all. And I did.

The crust on the chicken was amazing and delightfully spicy. The scald even all over. The meat was so tender and juicy that eating it was a near sensual experience. The spicy honey sauce (honey and Tabasco WHO KNEW) was divine. The horseradish mash had this amazing brown gravy and the balance of horseradish and chive was perfection. The collards were so good that my mouth is watering all over again while writing this. The biscuits were fluffy and buttery and came with some butter concoction what was so tasty and a raspberry jam (both on the side) that was a great palate for a morsel of chicken. I ate like a wild animal. And I ate every bit of that food. My fingers were sticky. I nearly had to be rolled outta that place like Violet Beauregarde.

Please, do yourself a favor...

Ordered delivery using the link through their website that takes you to a (non-door dash) page where you can select pickup or delivery at the top of the page.

After ordering got a text from door dash saying they would be delivering my order at 7:08.

At 7:13 got a text from door dash saying my order had been canceled and to call the eagle for more details.

I called the eagle and talked to a lady who first said that they don’t offer delivery through their website (incorrect I followed the link from their website and delivery was offered on the top of the page) she said I needed to call door dash and I informed her door dash said to call them. She then asked for the name on my order which I gave her, and she put me on hold. After being on hold for 25 mins they hung up on me.

Called back and talked to another lady who also asked for my order name and then told me they had my food. I asked when my order was ready and she said 7:13. I asked if there was anyway to get my food and she said they couldn’t do anything. I told her I would call door dash.

I called door dash and they said the dasher had canceled the order saying someone else picked it up. They said if the restaurant had my order he would call them and ask if they could send another dasher. Then put me on hold for 15 mins and hung up on me.

Called the eagle back and they said door dash had called them and they said they could send another dasher.

But I never got my food.

Throughout all of this the eagle insisted there was nothing they could do and it was an issue I needed to work out with door dash. But I never hired door dash, no where on the order website their website links to does it say it will be fuffiled by door dash (I went back and double checked). The eagle hired door dash, and then refused to take any responsibility when the service they hired didn’t deliver my food and didn’t have any interest in...

If you find yourself walking down Mass Ave in Indianapolis and you hear a choir of angels melodically singing a harmonious symphony, don’t worry…it’s just the inside of fried chicken and comfort food heaven. This family style paradise serves the best fried chicken and fried chicken variations in the Midwest. The sides, though; the sides will make an already good experience great. Pop a warm biscuit with their blackberry jam or a spoon full of Mac and cheese in your mouth and have your life changed forever. You’ll be telling your grandkids about the sides at The Eagle in the year 2050.

Now, the service. I want you to close your eyes and think about the BEST service you’ve ever received at any restaurant you’ve ever been to. Now, multiply that quality of service by 10, and you’ll still fall short of the quality of service I received from Heather. What’s it like having your drink get below the halfway point? I wouldn’t know. What’s it like not having enough napkins at a place that encourages eating with your hands? Yeah, I wouldn’t know. Hey, what’s it like wondering where your server is, or not being able to add on another side minutes before your food comes out? Guess what? Yeah, exactly; I wouldn’t know. I think I literally saw Heather in 3 places at once during my meal. Like Roy Kent in Ted Lasso, she was here, she was there, she was everyyyywhere. I’d put Heather up against any server in the United States for a best server award if there was one. I might actually reschedule my next visit to The Eagle if she’s not serving.

All in all, this place is unworldly good, and the service we had with Heather was...