<p>Thanks for all the restaurant suggestions. H and S are heading out there in a couple of weeks. S is doing a journalism program at IU and will live on campus for 10 days.</p>
<p>calcruzer</p>
<p>thanks so much for the description. my son will be applying this summer/fall and we will make a trip out if he gets accepted/ it sounds like a great place to go to college.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advic. I just have a couple of more questions.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Just how expensive is restaurant tallent?</p></li>
<li><p>Can RPS meal points be used at the tudor room?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>You can only use meal points at on campus food courts in the dorms. Some academic buildings have food courts you can use them in. You can't use them for anything in the Union, or anywhere off campus.</p>
<p>Here's the website for Restaurant Tallent. The menu with prices is available for your review.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.restauranttallent.com/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.restauranttallent.com/index.html</a></p>
<p>For those parents who might be going to visit Bloomington with your student, here's an update on top restaurants:</p>
<p>Restaurant Tallent is no longer open (the owners have moved to a different town).</p>
<p>A good new place is called "The Farm". My wife went there just a few days ago and said she liked the food better than what she got at "Tavern on the Green" in New York City last December (high praise, I'd say). She now ranks it as the top place in town. It's at 106 E. Kirkwood just a block east of the main square.</p>
<p>P.S. The reason I know the address is because my son lived one floor up (that's where his apartment was) during the past year. The owner was very nice to my son and used to make him up a "cheap" dinner when he returned from a late night class and all the other spots in town would be closed. My son has now moved to a larger (but cheaper) place across town.</p>
<p>Malibu Grill and the Tudor Room at the Union are still on my list of the top 3--and I'll leave it to others to nominate their choices on here for those who will be visiting during the next week or so (and possibly later during the school year).</p>
<p>Other new news: There is now a Wal-Mart in town--so you don't have to drive 12 miles north to get to the closest one.</p>
<p>I can highly recommend Finch's Brasserie, it is on Kirkwood, very close to the Sample Gates. Food was excellent and service was great.</p>
<p>Do NOT, under any circumstances, try the French restaurant in town. Can't remember the name of it, but the food was truly inedible and they served bad California wine (how wierd). </p>
<p>As an alum I love Nick's - 18 year olds may enter with parent. Mainly they are known for their beer but believe it or not they have great salads made from locally grown organic veggies.</p>
<p>Unless Rest. Tallent has closed in the last 5 days it's still open. It moved to 208 N. Walnut. There was an article about it last week. It seems a well know Chicago food critic gave it rave reviews. </p>
<p>Another non-fan of Malibu Grille here. Pretty poor service for okay food--at least the first, and last, time we went. </p>
<p>An inexpensive place, on 4th and Grant, is Yats--Cajun. Cheap and filling, just what a college student needs. </p>
<p>My top three picks--too hard to choose. It depends on our mood. Trojan Horse is a family favorite. DH and I will still go to Nick's sometimes to watch a game and grab some "bar food." D likes the Thai place on Lincoln--I can't recall the name of it. Gratzi is good for drinks and appetizers. Their pasta tends to be overcooked sometimes though. Janko's is a steak lover's dream restaurant (just be prepared for extremely slow service) S loves to go to Cafe Pizzaria. The entire family enjoys Village Deli for breakfast. Michael's Uptown has a good menu also for breakfast or dinner.</p>
<p>Best place to eat (im biased im asian) for lunch:</p>
<p>Siam house (located on 4th st) - $8 all you can eat GREAT FOOD buffet. Amazing curry sauce.</p>