Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Lafayette Journal and Courier

Scotty's Brewhouse has made its most significant change to its menu -- literally -- in the Indiana bar and grill chain's seven-year history in West Lafayette.

The physical menus now are in a magazine format with "Scotty's Illustrated" in the same font as Sports Illustrated. Coming in at 26 pages, it is most likely the first menu in Greater Lafayette to offer a table of contents.

Of course, numerous changes and additions have been made to the menu's contents. Scotty's general manager Ryan Kellerman said the menu has the most selections in the restaurant's history.

"We're filling the voids we used to have," he said.

The entrees have been upgraded with the likes of the NY Strip steak, Pineapple Salsa Tilapia with rice and Latin Chicken -- grilled chicken that was marinated in orange juice, cilantro, cumin, garlic and oregano topped with salsa. The Latin Chicken is the top seller of Scotty's new items so far, Kellerman said.

The burger menu was bolstered with the Twisted Pretzel Burger, a patty resting on a pretzel bun with cheddar cheese spread and onion strings; Tidals Burger with a heap of Scotty's Buffalo chicken cheese dip; and the Irish Stout Burger, a half-pound burger seared in Guinness beer and topped with sauteed mushrooms and bleu cheese, cheddar and bacon.

A major addition is the gluten-free menu. Kellerman said Scotty's always had a handful of gluten-free specialty items but those were lost in the mix of the old menu. The new menu allows those with food allergies to get their burger on a lettuce "bun" or to get their salads with special gluten-free dressings.

"A lot of people have wheat allergies," said Jami Sly, Scotty's assistant manager. "And we have had a lot of requests for more gluten-free items."

Along with the new menu, Scotty's has added another day for its weekend brunch. Brunch was introduced on Sundays a year ago and Scotty's just added brunch to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Most of brunch is order off the menu -- Steak and Eggz, Spicy Sausage Sammich, Layered Breakfast Bowl -- except the Build-Your-Own Bowl Cereal Bar aimed at children with six different cereals, fruit toppings, and chocolate and strawberry milk. The adults get the Make-Your-Own Mo'Fo' Mary Bar where they can concoct their own bloody Mary cocktails.

But the most eye-raising brunch item? The Crunch Berry French Toast.

"It's exactly what you think it is," Kellerman smiled. "Cap'n Crunch Crunch Berries are in the batter."

Location: 352 E. State St., WL.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Tuesday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday

Price: Most new items range from $2.50 to $14.