I looked at Yelp reviews for a recommendation of where to have dinner when in Bloomington. Tall isn't is pretty but simple. We started with a brut rose sparkling and complimentary rolls and butter which were fresh, homemade and good. We ordered the mussels, which are a cross between the classic French and Spanish preparations with a spicy tomato cream with lots of fresh vegetables and julienned sausage with grilled bread. Very good! Next was a chopped salad with blue cheese, cucumber, avocado, bacon and radish. Good but the long cut strips of lettuce were a bit unruly to fork, feeling like lettuce spaghetti. Next was the rabbit tagliatelle which my teen daughter adored, with a rich tomato-rabbit Raghu and topped with a snow of fresh grated cheese. Fresh pasta, great sauce, fresh cheese - well done! Next was the walleye entree with a crispy skin seared piece of walleye nicely cooked on a bed of spring vegetables (fresh peas, sugar snap peas, snap beans, red and yellow halved cherry tomatoes, fresh Lima beans and watercress shoots) in a light vinaigrette. Quite an ode to spring! I paired this with an Oregon Pinot noir which was quite good. Lastly, seeing rhubarb tart on the dessert menu meant I had to try as I am mad for rhubarb and can hardly ever find it in the south. The tart was good, a bit more heavy on the streusel then the fruit for my taste but paired with a strawberry ice cream with s wonderful rich, fresh strawberry sauce. My daughter had the pb&j fresh doughnuts which were huge: 3 big puffs on a bed of peanut butter mousse and the same fresh strawberry sauce. It was a meal that reached for greatness, sometimes achieving and sometimes falling short to very good. Enjoyed our experience overall, and recommend.
(4)
Debra D.
Although fresh the favors were not as expected. The mint was so overwhelming in the risotto we thought it should be called mint with risotto. There are many More problems, including burning my pork!!! However the lamb was perfectly prepared and we enjoyed his crudo very much! They have a long way to go to win a James beard. I hope the rest of Indiana has more to offer us!
(2)
Krista R.
Man, we were really let down by our recent dining experience here. Service was abysmal and the food just OK. First, we waited 15 minutes for our table. No big deal, they were slammed. There's no where to sit or stand while you wait, so be prepared to be in the way. When we finally were seated, my husband and I were straight up ignored by servers for over 25 minutes. Servers made eye contact and then walked right past us. We didn't have water or bread, so it was painfully obvious no one had been to our table. We felt invisible and unwanted. Did we not dress up enough? Did we look too young to tip well? We finally flagged down a random waiter and then management was at our table apologizing profusely. That was nice, but we already felt out of place and put off by the service. We recently ate our way through Chicago and never once had service this poor. My pasta dish was good. My husband's main of lamb was decent, but had more fat than meat. Dessert was dry and boring. It's likely the food would have tasted better had we received good service. Oh, well. Plenty of good restaurants in Bloomington with non-discriminating service we will stick with. Beyond a small college town this restaurant wouldn't have nearly the hype.
(2)
Steve S.
I know it's an absolute apostasy in Bloomington to say this place is anything other than OMG THE BEST RESTAURANT EVER, but my experience was just so-so. In New York or Chicago, this place would be just your average decent neighborhood place. My "Chop Salad," which wasn't chopped but more swirled into a sort of nest, was a bit overdressed, and the distinct tang of the vinaigrette, along with the sharp, assertive slivered salami and blue cheese, didn't seem the right match for the soft butter lettuce and field greens. If you want to show off the local produce ("farm to table" and all that faddishness), don't overwhelm it and cover up its delicate personality. The Spaghetti Carbonara (actually bucatini) was disappointingly bland. The pasta was cooked a bit beyond al dente, and the pancetta, though plentiful, tasted like perhaps it had spent a day or two too long in the refrigerator. I had two glasses of wine. The Ponzi Pinot Gris was terrific, with flavors of peach, green apple, and mineral. The Simi Chardonnay (available in every grocery store) was pointless -- neither fruity, nor steely, nor oaky, just meh. Surely the wine list of a place with pretensions as large as this place could feature a far better and more interesting chard. Maybe I just caught them on an off night. I would go back, if only in hopes of a more satisfying experience that lived up to the place's foodie reputation.
(3)
Jerome M.
This place hit the spot - it's worth the price of admission for the presentation(s) and service alone -- plus the food is a solid - good. I'm glad I found this gem and was very happy with the overall experience. Main courses and apps were good - the ginger/cracker ice cream desert always as we say - to die for. -ps...although the rumor was its expensive....it the damage was reasonable enough.
(4)
Ellie B.
Absolutely, by leaps and bounds, the best restaurant in Bloomington. I have a moderately severe wheat allergy and Chef is always very cognizant of my allergy. During Italian month he even had special gluten free pasta available for those of us with allergies and intolerances. The food and presentation is spectacular and the staff is always very pleasant and knowledgable. I've never had less than the best at RT!
(5)
Jacky C.
Nice environment, nice food, great service. Top 3 local owned restaurants hands down.
(5)
Robin K.
Fancy, fancy! EXCELLENT service. Unique dishes! Made from local food! Love the place and the idea of food as art. Although worth it, it's a tad bit pricey.
(4)
David S.
Another great meal. The tasting menu is always an adventure. This is still an annual anniversary event for us and we have never been disappointed.
(5)
Hollywood H.
I want to like this place, but have been underwhelmed on two occasions. My husband and I dined here several months ago and thought it was "meh". I convinced him we should give it a second shot tonight since it is Italian month, but we were less impressed than the first time. The first time we were here, the service was spot on. Tonight it was sub par. Our waitress didn't offer coat check for us although tables around us had utilized this service. She interrupted me with "would you like to see a dessert menu" and was rude and off putting throughout the meal. I can deal with poor service for awesome food, but unfortunately the food was a let down as well. Meatballs and beet and ricotta tortelli were okay, but nothing special. I probably wouldn't order them again. For our main course I had the chicken milanese and my husband had the porchetta which were both disappointing. I loved the potatoes, brussels and speck sides....I would have eaten a whole meal of that if I could, but the chicken milanese itself was greasy and nothing special. I had a bit of husband's pork and didn't care for it either, too much fat. Prior to our meal tonight I read reviews on Yelp and thought that because this is a nicer/pricier restaurant people gave poor reviews based on unrealistic expectations. After my experience tonight I no longer thing that is the case. This place just isn't very good. I wanted at least one dish that would be so yummy it would make me want to come back so that I could have it again, but in two visits we have only found disappointment. The food at Scholars, Uptown. or even Malibu is much tastier and I would recommend any of those over Tallent.
(2)
Cheri G.
I love this restaurant! Tallents never disappoints! They have a way of uniquely combining flavors that are so very satisfying. They use mostly locally grown foods so everything is fresh and delicious. This is the restaurant that has set the benchmark for excellence! I've traveled widely and I always look forward to dining at Tallents. I'd give them six stars but only 5 are available :-)
(5)
Aaron G.
We arrived a few minutes late for our 830 reservation and were seated promptly. Our server was tied up taking an order at a large table so it took a few minutes for her to check in and take our wine order. I ordered a bottle of Italian red and we perused the menu. Our server returned with the wine after a couple minutes and took our order. We started with the arancini and chopped salad, both arrived as ordered and were good if a little bland. For my main I had the pappardelle pasta while my SO opted for a 1/2 order or the seafood pasta. Our mains arrived and I very much enjoyed my pasta, the noodles were cooked perfectly and there was just enough sauce. My girlfriend's pasta was adequate but very bland and did not have much seafood in it. We had the Nutella dessert which had a good texture but not much Nutella flavor. Overall we enjoyed the experience but the food was hit and miss. Service was solid.
For the last 4 years this is our "go to" restaurant when we visit our daughter at IU in Bloomington. We repeatedly tell Chef David Tallent it is the best restaurant we have ever been to and it IS CONSISTENT. I never order a pork chop but he does pork (and pork belly) right. Graduation2014 weekend we ate there TWICE. Risotto, Indiana strip steak, pasta Carbonara, roasted airing chicken breast with the most delicious focaccia "pudding" and of course the succulent pork chop with a delicate (?) barbecue sauce. Chef David and his staff check every plate before it leaves the kitchen. Not sure if I'll ever be back in Bloomington so I hope you try this place and enjoy it as much as our family.
(5)
G.S. J.
For a special dinner with a casual feel, we love to sit at the small wine bar here, where we can chat with the staff about the excellent wine list and how it might pair with the chef's subtle, carefully crafted food. It's a treat we drive up from Louisville to enjoy. The menu varies, but you can't go wrong if you visit in late summer, when area farms supply the freshest ingredients imaginable. Look for a haunting, complex corn soup or perhaps a lively cruditÄ— for openers. If the entrÄ—es present you with too many conflicting choices, fall back on the rich, earthy hamburger du jour. Even the butter here is a delight, Amish-churned, seasoned perfectly and (thank the restaurant gods) served at the correct temperature. It could almost turn the basket of bread and a few glasses of wine into a full meal.
(4)
Dalia M.
(3.5 stars) My second time to Tallent was just what I wanted. A one on one dinner that ran smoothly, unlike my first experience. We ordered the mussels, spaghetti carbonara to share, I had the duck, my friend had the fish special. Both of us enjoyed all the dishes. I had too much duck and couldn't finish it! Paired with a bottle of cabernet, friendly chatter and good service, we enjoyed our entire experience. I DO have a bone to pick with Chef Tallent though. I couldn't believe the carbonara appetizer was $24. My duck entree was just a bit more! I've had this same dish, more quantity and just as delicious made by top chefs, as an entree, and it has never been this expensive. Charging $24 for a pasta appetizer is outrageous. That is why they got three stars. I would go back here but I'll be more careful about what I order. The other apps were priced in the teens and this one took me by complete surprise!
(3)
Kevin T.
I had such a fantastic meal here, one that convinced me that I really ought to treat myself to more nice dinners, definitely more wine pairings, and that the meal is so much better when you have fun with it. I'll attempt to be brief. I came with a friend expecting to do tasting, because, why not? 1) When asked if you'd like to do the wine pairing, say yes. The tasting was not, as far as I could tell a totally separate menu as you'll find at many places, but rather for the most part a sampling of whatever the menu is at the point which changes seasonally. Additionally the wine pairings aren't set, but seem to have much to do with whatever the waitress wants to give you and what's in the back. But more on that later. We had over the course of it 5 items a light slaw-type salad, pasta, fish/pork atop grits and some kind of foam (of course! foam makes it fancy!), duck and a pastry / ice cream dessert combo (photos are up on Yelp). And a glass of wine with each. Well 6 glasses of wine. Portions are small, so the plates come out quickly. In most cases, this meant wine came out before the last glass had been finished. About glass three this game was dubbed "Shit, she's coming around with more wine!" and we would have to finish up what we had. Our waitress was amazing and I think appreciated our casual attitude toward all of it and we all had fun with it. The crowd that night was mostly older couples and there weren't many at that anyway. Because of this it was quiet. And we were easily the most fun people there. The round after round of wine certainly helped. By the time we got to the duck we were both very full, acceptably boisterous, and very happy with all of the food. Each bite was followed by exclamations like "This is so good" and "I'm so full but I have to eat it." Dessert almost posed a logistical problem of being too full to eat it. Our waitress on the other hand posed us a question. If we wanted "something bubbly, something stronger, or...something fun?" to go with our final course. 2) If given the option, at any point in life really, go with 'something fun' So she brought us both. 6 glasses for 5 courses. And a good night was had by all! Seriously, after that amount of time, and that much wine, you'll love it. But it was on a (somewhat) serious note a great meal, both in terms of the quality of food, wine and the service, served with a much-appreciated smirk along with a smile. The best meal I've had this year.
(5)
Thomas R.
Amidst another good meal comes chewy duck sushi. Thanks guys! #NoMoresChances
(2)
Lynn J.
Yes, this may be the best food in Bloomington. If that is your goal you will probably be very happy. For me there is the balance between quality and cost and somewhere each of us must draw our line. I usually find food I enjoy just as much for a better price and the price here mars my pleasure and enjoyment of the evening. Nonetheless this remains one of the top choices for my family members when we have a very special celebration meal. You make the call.
(3)
Amanda R.
First time visit last week. Waitstaff was very attentive. The fried chicken is amazing, but be prepared for a greasy hangover the next day, especially if it is a "cheat meal" The pimento cheese grits were a wonderful surprise, great flavor. My husband had a ribeye over potatoes that had excellent flavor. Wish the menu had little more to choose from. Might try again in the fall if the menu changes.
(3)
Anna W.
Very good. For those who say that Scholar's Inn is the best...I say you must come here. It is far less pretentious and, in my opinion, pays more respect to the food you are eating. I came here with a group and a visiting professor. We were given the 'okay' by the department to enjoy ourselves, which we graciously did. We started off with a nice pinot noir from their extensive wine list and appetizers of pierogis and crudo. The pierogis were okay - probably the low-light of the meal for me. They were beet and goat cheese...perhaps tried too hard to be conceptual. The crudo was nice and fresh. The amuse bouche for the night was a fantastic ceasar salad bite. Perfectly anchovy-y. For my entree, I ordered the fennel and coriander crusted salmon with salmon bacon couscous and roasted root vegetables (my absolute favorite). this. dish. was. perfection. I am a notoriously fast eater, so I tried my hardest to eat slow so I could savor every bite. Also, I'm confused as to why Tallent has a reputation for being pricey. My entree was $24 and was a very reasonable portion. I thought it was a great deal. For desert I had the clafuti (sp?). Having nothing to compare it to, all I can say was that I enjoyed it. Our service was great, everything was great. Seriously, I could not have asked for a better experience.
(5)
Christianna W.
Bright lighting and cold robotic service... not my idea of a pleasurable meal. The amuse b0uche, which is typically served both to prepare the guest for the meal and to offer a glimpse into the chef's approach to the art of cuisine, was a piece of bread that was half burnt (3 servings of which 2 pieces were burnt), was pathetic. Don't insult me with me a fancy amuse bouche, of burnt standard bread and humus.... the entrees where decent, but not fantastic. I dined at Scholar Inn the night before and it was hands down a MUCH BETTER EXPERIENCE for the price. Also, no cocktails here, beer and wine only. Will not go back and will not recommend to friends.
(3)
E T.
I made reservations at Tallent through Open Table for me and my wife and another couple. I indicated that it was a birthday celebration for my wife when making the reservation. We were seated promptly and the service was friendly and attentive. We ordered several starter dishes which were served promptly. The wait for our entrees was very long and they were served after a member of our party inquired as to their whereabouts. My wife and I both ordered the walleye, which was a rather small portion, and which was not hot when it finally arrived. The worst part is that the walleye was terribly overcooked, and therefore not pleasant to eat. I did complain to our server, and to their credit I was not charged for my entree. The fish was served on a bed of mashed potatoes (?) which was not only cold but nondescript. The menu indicated that smoked whitefish was supposed to be part of the recipe, but it was nowhere apparent. One of our party ordered the roasted cauliflower. I thought it tasted burned and flavorless, but I admit it's not my thing. The lamb was ordered by the other member of our party and it seemed to be the best entree. Tallent is overpriced given the quality of the food, they need to get orders out of the kitchen more promptly, and the food should be served hot. There were two or three birthday celebrations during our meal (cupcake with candle, etc.) but none for my wife. She was wished happy birthday as we were walking out of the restaurant. Maybe Tallent's problem is simply a lack of attention.
(2)
Christine B.
Top notch Bloomington restaurant. Small but intimate, open kitchen, super "new south" cuisine. Nice for special occasions but also great for a quick light meal from the starter menu. A little crazy out front when the Bluebird is having a popular performance but worth working through the crowd. Consistently excellent food. Highly recommend.
(5)
Rebecca Z.
It's a pretty restaurant and there were a few good items--the smoked trout, the amuse bouche the night we were there was tuna crudo on a potato chip and it was delightful. One of our party of four had a great entree--the lamb with cabbage and sausages. Two of us has walleye that was dreadfully overcooked--dry and tasteless as were the accompaniments. Nice wines, bland service. Not eager to spend this kind of money for this product.
(2)
John G.
On our sixth visit, we were awed by the service, for the most part. Our neighbor had called ahead to have the best wine waiting for us at the table. It was the nicest thing anyone had done for us all year. Our server, Amelia, brought me two tastings of wine before my duck arrived. I pretty much nailed the Pinot Noir, but the Campagnian wine was more robust--a good beef pairing, and of a varietal we seldom encounter. We had the crudo fish and moules frites for appetizers, and the flounder and duck breast for entrees. Too much! Such rich flavors, we had to take most of the duck home for supper tonight, and it was still wonderful. The only criticism I could raise is that soon after tucking into my entree I realized I was done for, and there were no staff to finish up the service for more than ten minutes. If the staff were as attentive at the end of the me meal as at the start of it, I would be a lot happier. For $100 plus $25 tip, we were very happy with our visit. Amelia really enhanced our enjoyment of the experiences, As always, I encourage all staff to read two books by Michael Ruhlman, "The Reach of a chef" and "The Soul of a Chef". These are not just for cooks, but for eveybody--it is a way of conducting yourself in business and in life.
(5)
William B.
This is the best restaurant in Indiana, and possibly a substantially broader area than that. Dave Tallent is a wizard at cooking food that is savory, substantial, and local while remaining elegant and often playful. It's hard to go wrong here. Corn soup is famous for a reason; virtually any smoked meat or house-made bacon is likely to be one of the chef's personal favorites, and I would snap up anything you see made with parsnips, rutabagas, or other root vegetables. Do note that the dishes that seem like they will be very intense and rich--are. Worth a trip from a long distance away.
(5)
Alan B.
We were visiting relatives in Colombus and wanted to take them out for a something special and this filled the bill. Excellent food. The grilled mellon salad was great. Service was good although a bit slow. A great place for a special meal.
(5)
Julie S.
My first dining experience at Restaurant Tallent did not leave me with any desire to return. My boyfriend and I made a reservation through OpenTable for our sixth anniversary because we knew of its reputation and we've tried most of the other upscale restaurants in town, including FARM, Scholars Inn, and Finch's. My boyfriend ordered a beer and I ordered a glass of wine, our server seemed somewhat pushy about getting our orders, asking for them almost immediately after we were seated. This isn't terribly surprising given that we were seated by the hostess, brought menus by another server, then greeted by the woman who would be our server in a flurry that didn't indicate much coordination. We ordered the pesto arancini to start which was incredible, we asked for plates to make it easier to share but we didn't receive them and decided to just go ahead and eat them. We also ordered a half portion of the butternut squash risotto to share, which was, in my opinion, the highlight of the meal. We did receive plates to share for the risotto after asking two more times. My boyfriend ordered the lasagna and I ordered the pork for our entrees. When we were brought our entrees, more than forty minutes after we received our second course, two separate individuals came to ask if we needed extra plates. Apparently they got the memo that we wanted plates to share a couple courses too late. While both entrees were good, neither was memorable and they did not compare to the two prior dishes. As much as I wanted to love everything, we were both really disappointed in the service we received. Everything seemed to be moving very slowly and our food was brought to us and cleared by several different people, none of whom were our server. Our server didn't check in to see how we were enjoying our meal either, which seems unusual. We heard countless apologies given to tables surrounding ours because of how backed up the kitchen was, but we didn't receive an apology despite the delay we also faced. We chose not to have dessert not because we weren't tempted, but simply because we didn't want to wait thirty minutes for a panna cotta. Overall I'm glad I tried Restaurant Tallent because it's often revered as an exceptional dining destination, but I do not have any intention of returning. The service did not make us feel welcome. No mention was made of our anniversary and we seemed both rushed at the start of the meal and ignored during the course of the meal.
(2)
Frank T.
I've always seen Bloomington as having three upscale new-American cuisine restaurants: Finch's Brasserie, FARM, and Tallent. Out of those three, Tallent ranks third. That's not to say that Tellent isn't a good restaurant- because it is. Its ingredients are fresh, the rotating menu is exciting, and the wine list robust. However, considering the restaurant's underlying pretentiousness, the other two restaurant options, and the fact that Tallent is located in a glorified strip mall, its not worth the high price to dine there.
(2)
Jasen F.
Disappointed. Truly. I went last night and ordered two of the nightly specials. My dining companion ordered the other, the soul food dish of the night. My first course was a Spinach salad which featured a nice dressing but was not as wonderful as I expected. I did not like the bread it was served with (poor flavor match and texture issues). My main was the red fish which was good but not great. I don't know if it was high expectations (Tallent had been on my 'too try' list for months), the atmosphere (there were some wine dealers at the table next to ours), or the crappy Indiana weather outside. The fish was cooked well but the accompanying bok choy and other items (potatoes in a former life) did little to pair or hold up against the fine texture and flavor of the fish. We ordered two of the deserts; one was Butterscotch (alright) and Persimmion pudding (meh). The waittress was funny in an awkward way. She was not the quickest (empty glasses and fruitless flagging down with my arm). I might go back but given the price (expensive) and my enjoyment of other restaurant with the same cache (Finch's, FARM, and Michael's Uptown), maybe not.
(2)
Doug W.
Great special occasion place. The food was wonderful and the service attentive. It made for a wonderful night.
The food is pretty good, but honestly not worth the price. You are definitely paying for the atmosphere.
(4)
T Q.
I have heard it is a great restaurant,so I had a try the day before yesterday.Unfortunately, I was very disappointed. The first course salad was just so-so. The second course entree lamp was overcooked. The third course dessert was made of poor quality cake and canned fruit. I paid 70 bucks for the terrible food and service. You can either go to some authentic French or Japanese restaurants with the same price or find many restaurants of great value in town. To me, tallent is just the last choice!
(1)
Anthony B.
The seasonal soul food, mussels & grits, smores tart, waitstaff - all amazing. I would have to say Tallent provided one of the best dining experiences I've ever had.
(5)
Mary H.
This is a great place to have good, fresh food in Bloomington! I'll be back.
(4)
Thomas R.
Obviously the best food in Bloomington. Pork and morell mushrooms are perennial specialties. Note, sitting on the bar side (even at the tables) allows to you order of bar or main menu. Wise choice for the budget conscious.
(5)
Julie D.
I don't know what I expecting here. I knew it's reputation of serving local fresh organic food. Which they do. But I felt the food was rather bland. Even the pate was lacking that extra something you look for in a restaurant that people rave about. I'm not raving. Bland bland bland. My scallops were overcooked and the sauce drizzled over then did nothing to enhance them. I do give then some kudos for the portion size being just right. Not too big and enough to feel full. I can see why Btowners love the trendy modern decor and the tasteful presentation of the dishes. But the meal was 100% forgettable. For the food skip it and go to FARM. For modern bright decor go here. Just don't expect your tastes buds to be happy ecstatic.
(2)
Adam H.
My Girlfriend and I went here and decided to do the five course tasting with wine. ...Simply fantastic. I apologize if my review is lacking in detail, it was just one great experience after another, so I just stopped taking mental notes and enjoyed myself. Most of the dishes were based on fish, Barramundi being my favorite. My girlfriend, who actually fears seafood, found this to be a fantastic experience. Everything was served with great professionalism, and the wine pairing also worked very well with each course. I highly recommend the tasting, I believe with wine our total bill came out to around 120, which is actually a good deal considering the quality of food/drink. As indicated by the price, this isn't too big with the college kids, but is popular with the faculty and guest lectures/alums.
(5)
Sarah L.
Tallent was acceptable, but by no means outstanding. Our first course was a yellowtail crudo that was a little bland. It was advertised as being served atop pears, bringing in a bit of sweetness, but there were merely a few julienned slices of pear within the mixed greens. The pear and beet salad had a decent flavor, much of it coming from the pistachio goat cheese, which was tasty. It was a bit puny, but I think that criticism was exacerbated by the fact that we had just ridden the first day of the Hilly Hundred and were ravenous. The stand out was the squash tagliatelle. Great autumn flavors that complemented each other nicely. Our server was friendly and steered us rather well with wine choices, but seemed a tad lost on the food special offerings. Food also came out a little too slow, but I believe that was because we were a 2-top competing with many large parties that evening.
(3)
Abigail M.
This was the perfect place for my last meal with my parents before school started. The staff was patient and helpful and, at the end of the meal, the chef visited our table. The mussels are the amazing because there isn't too much sauce but plenty of flavor. Honestly, the serving of soup was too much for me as an appetizer (even though it was delicious). The pork is the chef's specialty and it's the bet pig you'll ever have in a restaurant. The Indiana ribeye is also incredible. Overall this place pays tribute to the beauty of Indiana produce and highlights the uniqueness of this overlooked state.
(5)
Sean C.
Quality restaurant, (quality+service)/price is very high, compared to the other restaurants in this town. I recommend it.
(4)
Justin M.
Went here for the first time last night. The menu is creative, the food is platted elegantly, and the dining room has a nice ambiance and is well decorated with works from local artists. Unfortunately, I just wasn't blown away by the food. The Arancini came as three fried risotto balls stuffed with mozzarella served atop an aioli. This was an interesting concept, but it didn't work for me. The taste of the mozzarella was completely lost in the risotto. The Gnocchi is prepared with spinach and ricotta, giving it a lighter consistency than is typical of gnocchi. The tomato sauce is robust. This was the best of the three dishes. We also had the Beef Cheek Brasato. The beef itself was nothing special and the au jus was bland. I didn't find the gorgonzola grits to be complementary, but maybe I just don't like gorgonzola, The tangerine gremolata was fun. It's nice to have fine dining options in Bloomington, but the food at Talent did not live up to the price or the hype. I will probably give it another try, but I think Scholar's Inn is a better option for the price range.
(3)
Charlton C.
What a phenomenal place. I just returned from a delicious five course prix fixe meal at Tallent. It was easily one of the best meals that I've had since arriving to Bloomington. We were especially pleased that they made an exception for us to be able to have the prix fixe on a weekend. We got an amuse bouche, five courses of food, plus a cookie at the end for $60 per person. While pricey for Bloomington, it was worth it. We started off with mussels and fries which were delicious. Next, was a steak tartare and beef carpaccio dish. After was a pork belly and seared scallop on top of a bed of risotto. This was my favorite dish of the night. The main meat dish followed afterward. It was elk with a black truffle sauce. The last course was a dessert of butterscotch semifreddo. Overall, it was a great meal and confirmed the high expectations I had going in. The service was very good and went along with the quality of the meal. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone (with the cash) with out any question.
(5)
Joshua C.
Great food! Great atmosphere!
(5)
Douglas R.
Simply put: the best. If you're accustomed to restaurants serving only the finest for their customers along with impecable presentation and a wonderful pairing of flavors, this is the only place in Bloomington you might want to try. Restaurant Tallent prides itself on serving only the finest organic and/or naturally raised ingredients in an unparalleled artistic fashion. This establishment is one of the finest that Bloomington has to offer, albeit one of the most expensive, but nonetheless the best.
(5)
Jane T.
The food is fine, but the atmosphere and overall attitude of the staff makes this feel very uncomfortable. I understand that "fine dining" in a small town may not always measure up to what you'd find in a big city, but don't try to be what you're not. And they need more vegetarian options!!
(2)
Sara E.
If you're into the absolute best tasting food products available and won't settle for less, then this is the restaurant for you. I can honestly say that the Osso Buco was the best I've ever had in a restaurant, aside from probably in Italy.....but even still the flavors where outstanding. The desserts also are worth mentioning because they were to die for. I think it's truly remarkable to find a restaurant of this quality in a small city such as Bloomington.
(5)
Jonathon S.
There is simply no better fine dining in Bloomington, perhaps in the entire state of Indiana. If you have the chance I'd urge you to go right away while they are running an Italian menu inside of the restaurant. Italian? Yes, the real deal Italian. Hand made pastas (including half sizes)- get the buccatini with saffron wine broth and crab meat or the goat cheese agnalotti, killer appetizers- get the meatballs- one made of duck, one of pork and one of lamb, and thoughtful salads- get the brussel sprout salad. The wine list is excellent and has plenty of great values (virtually the entire wine list is full of values). Service is excellent especially for Bloomington.
(5)
Biggah K.
Need more seasoning. Highly over rated.
(2)
Roy H.
In my experience the quality of the food is excellent and the service is attentive. However, the prices are quite high and the atmosphere is stiffly incongruous with the rest of the Bloomington food scene. I would recommend Tallent for a romantic occasion.
(4)
Daniel H.
I was in Bloomington on business alone and I wanted some fine dinning. I searched around and found restaurant Tallent. What sparked my interest was the fact Mrs. Tallent worked at Canoe in ATL after attending CIA. Canoe is in the top ten best restaurants in the USA but thats another story. So, I hate eating by myself. It usually means bad service. However, I was very well attended to during my meal. A big thumbs up to the wait staff. I had the prix fixe and all the dishes were great, and on par with any fine dinning in a "big city". The pork belly was sooooo insanely rich. I hesitate giving the full five stars because I am writing this a few weeks after my trip. But, I promise when I am back in Bloomington to come back and revise the review as needed.
(4)
Sally S.
What a nice surprise! Thoughtfully created and wonderfully fresh food at this unassuming restaurant in down town Bloomington. I had a Kale salad with lightly tempura fried veggies and shaved parmesan cheese that was amazing, light but so tasty. My partner in crime had the Ravioli starter with a soft egg incased inside a large home made Ravioli in a light broth. Absolutely delicious! Entrees......Lamb and Rabbit.......both perfectly prepared with complimentary sides. Obviously local and fresh. Dessert.......upside down pineapple cake and donuts with chocolate sauce and honey. Do I need to say anymore??!! Everything was incredible, service was friendly and attentive, atmosphere (even for a quiet Monday night) was pleasant and the wine selection covered everyone's tastes. I would imagine this place gets busy and booked as the new students and their parents arrive into town so you may want to reserve your spot sooner rather than later!
(5)
Ralph E.
Very impressed indeed. My fried oyster appetizer was outstanding, with wonderful flavors. The smoked pork chop was tender and flavorful and I even liked the sauteed Brussels sprouts. I hate Brussels sprouts. The persimmon bread pudding could have had a more assertive flavor -- our only criticism of any item. The service was professional and prompt (on a busy Friday night), and the waiter did not introduce himself to us. In the U.S., this practically merits five stars all by itself. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Gregg S.
After a long hiatus I returned to Tallent and I was not disappointed. When food is locally sourced I sometimes struggle with the autumn selections. Tallent stormed right over that concern. I had the smoked pork chop which was delicious with the seasonal veggies.
(5)
Jon T.
This was our second trip to Tallent and it has been a fantastic experience each time. Tonight we each had the foie gras (preparation varies weekly if not daily) which was prepared exquisitely. I had the local pork entree while she had the ribeye, both were cooked perfectly. The pork chop was served with pork belly over robuchon potatoes and brussel sprouts with a cherry glaze and tasted fantastic. I was too focused on the pork to notice how the ribeye was prepared but she was raving about it so I know it was great. The service tonight was a significant improvement over before, Dustin was prompt, professional, and knowledgable. We have absolutely no complaints.
(5)
Liz L.
The best restaurant in Bloomington, hands-down. The chef-owners David and Kristen Tallent, both CIA grads, are solicitous and down-to-earth while turning out plate after plate of surprising yet comforting food. I have never eaten anything here that I did not immediately want another serving of and have ordered everything from rabbit to mussels, sweet corn soup to black pepper ice cream. Much of their menu is seasonal, local, and/ or organic, and all of it is fresh and lovingly crafted. The service is outstanding. I can only afford to go to this restaurant every few months (the prices are really a value compared to similar quality in Chicago or Louisville; I'm just poor!) but the last time I went, my server remembered me and asked how my dad and sister (my usual dinnermates) were doing. All of the waitstaff are knowledgeable but never snooty and very sensitive and kind about budget.
(5)
Jamison R.
Restaurant Tallent is the best restaurant I've eaten at in Indiana. We had a fantastic meal last night, that was perfect from beginning to end. Here's what we had: Roasted Veggie Salad -- beets, sweet potato, onion, brussels sprouts & walnuts roasted & tossed in a delicious truffle vinaigrette Arugula Salad -- arugula, beets & goat cheese with a yummy pomegranate/poppy seed vinaigrette "Ruben" Fois Gras -- buttery fois gras on top of rye & brussels sprout kraut Skate -- on a bed of heirloom potato & leek risotto with brussels sprouts, turnips & curry vinaigrette. Tasty! Scallops -- on a spaghetti squash carbonara with caramelized cauliflower & cider gastrique Everything was fantastic. The wine list was comprised of a great selection of wines grouped by price. $26, $36, $46 & "second mortgage" bottles. For dessert we had the chocolate sticky bun with chocolate chip ice cream. Yum, yum, yum, yum! I will definitely go back. Our service was perfect. I highly recommend Restaurant Tallent!
(5)
Jerry M.
Drove to Bloomington last night to see my student son and take him to dinner. We were looking for something different and just happened upon this place. We both ordered the 5 course tasting with wine pairings and were both blown away. Each course was spectacular in its own right, and perfectly paired with unusual wines. (I never would have chosen a Pinot Noir to accompany Walleye, but it was perfect). It's been a long time since I've been this impressed with a restaurant, but my hat's off to this chef and the wait staff for making it a memorable experience. I'll be coming back here with my wife soon!
(5)
David R.
Traditional fine dining options in Bloomington are limited, and Tallent pretty much tops the list. Excellent food, pleasant staff, decent wine list, and cozy atmosphere. A little pricey by Bloomington standards, but well worth it.
(5)
Jeff M.
My girlfriend and I enjoyed a fantastic meal at Talent. The menu had a great variety of items, and the food was delicious. The service was fantastic. Our waiter gave my girlfriend multiple tasting of wine to find one she enjoyed. I would highly recommend Tallent if you can afford it.
(5)
Mike C.
I took a visitor along with some colleagues for a dinner last week (3/1/12) and was quite disappointed. Though the staff behaves professionally and tries hard, it can't do much when there is no food to serve. We were seated around 7:20; our appetizers arrived about an hour later, though there was little traffic in the restaurant. (Some of the appetizers were good, others only so-so.) The main course was served at around 8:45. By this time, everyone had had so much of the bread that there wasn't much appetite left. I regretted not having gone across the street to Samira, which is not nearly as fancy, but consistent, well-paced, and a third of the price. Too bad, since there is much potential here.
(2)
David F.
Simply the best restaurant in town. I eat here probably every other week and it is always extremely good and frequently phenomenal. At one point a colleague from Hawaii was visiting who is really into food. So I took him here, and then took him here again at his request. The first meal was really great, the second phenomenal. He wrote me to thank me for it twice, once a month after leaving. How often do you remember a meal you ate a month before?
(5)
Jeff M.
Chef Dave Tallent lives up to his name. This is one talented chef. His wife too! Desserts where great. Marcarpone torte was great. Loved Daves oyster po-boy. Thanks for making our early Valentine's date so memorable!
(5)
Shaina S.
I hate to be the one negative review here of Restaurant Tallent - especially when so many others have praised it as being the best restaurant in Bloomington. But my husband and I really had an extremely disappointing experience there on what was supposed to be a wonderful celebration. We dined at Tallent on November 6th, and I only regret that I waited so long to write a review. I made a reservation several weeks in advance, and noted that we would be celebrating both our first wedding anniversary and our last fancy meal out before my husband deploys to Afghanistan for a year, causing us to miss our 2nd anniversary. When we arrived at the restaurant, we were seated in the bar area, at the table directly next to the kitchen. While the rest of the restaurant is beautiful with great ambience, our table was flooded with light and noise from the kitchen. The main dining room was relatively empty, so I asked our waitress if we could move to the other room. However, we were told that every table was spoken for, and therefore we could not move. Definitely a disappointment. I was hoping that since we were celebrating such a special occasion, it wouldn't be an issue for us to move to a good table. We ordered the Heritage Pork Trio for an appetizer. My husband ordered the short ribs, and I ordered the duck. We also ordered a bottle of wine. Since my husband was a full-time graduate student up until his deployment, we dine out very infrequently - this meal was very special for us. Our waitress brought the bottle of wine to the table and wrestled with opening it for several minutes...however, as I myself have worked as a server in a nice restaurant, this did not bother me as much as it could have. After a significant amount of time, our entrees were brought to the table by another server. My husband and I never received the appetizer we ordered, and we were unable to mention it to the server until we had completed our entrees, as she did not come back to see how our food was until our plates were clean. The food was mediocre, but certainly not fantastic. After moving to Bloomington from Washington DC, we have very high food standards...and I guess Tallent just didn't meet them. I am hoping they just had an off day, as so many people I know have enjoyed their meals. Either way, nothing tasted unique or interesting, and we spent most of the time wishing we had spent our anniversary at a different restaurant - especially considering the expense of the meal. When our waitress finally came to the table to check in, we had finished our entrees. We mentioned that we had never received our appetizer. Her response: "Oh, the pork trio? Did you want that?" We said that we did still want to try it, so she put in the order. It came to our table 30 minutes later, and was mediocre at best. We ordered dessert when we completed the post-dinner appetizer: Persimmon bread pudding for my husband, and spiced buttermilk doughnuts for myself. Once again...they were both mediocre. We got the bill - and were relieved to see that we were not charged for the appetizer, which we were very pleased about. We paid and left. At no time did anyone mention our anniversary. I would like to think that we dined at Tallent on the wrong night...but unfortunately, I highly doubt we will ever go back to give it another try. For far less money, we can get a much better and more unique meal at several other restaurants in Bloomington. I should note that the expense was not the issue - we have no problem spending money on a fantastic meal. This one just fell far short of our expectations.
(2)
Mary H.
My husband I visited for the first time to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. I had emailed them twice to make a reservation (with more than a week's notice) for a Friday night, as well as to order a lactose-free dessert for my husband, and they didn't contact me to confirm until the day of. That made me a little nervous, but I got over it. I told my husband if we spent less than 90 minutes in the restaurant I was going to be very unhappy. I knew we would spend a lot of money on dinner and I didn't want to be rushed. Our server introduced herself and knew who we were (knew that we were celebrating our anniversary and that my husband is lactose-intolerant). She helped us select a bottle of wine which was expertly and swiftly delivered, opened and poured. We each ordered a first course - my husband had a tuna crudo and I had the burrata. Amazing. For dinner, my husband ordered one of the pasta dishes from the seasonal/featured menu. I had a whole roasted fish. Amazing squared. Service was quick and unobtrusive. There was a server dedicated to clearing plates and another for refilling water. For dessert, he had a glass of port, I had an espresso. The chef prepared a vegan chocolate cake for him with coffee sorbet; he was in heaven. I had zeppole, which reminded me so much of my Italian grandpa that I teared up. $195 including alcohol, tax and tip for a memorable 3-course meal. Best $200 I've ever spent. We're already planing on making dinner there a twice-a-year thing.
(5)
Jim M.
Great food service wonderful taste combinations killer deserts
(5)
Nutmegala A.
Tallent is amazing. Being a poor student it was definitely a parents-in-town-special-treat, but so totally worth it. We had the mussels for an appetizer and they were out of this world. I had the Fiddler Farms pork chop and it was also excellent. Great service, amazing local food. Best restaurant in Bloomington!
(5)
Perry G.
Food on the bar side is great and prices are a touch more reasonable.
(5)
Caroline W.
The best restaurant in Bloomington. Period.
(4)
Billy C.
This is the most over rated restaurant I've been to in my life. I was at Tallent this past weekend with my girlfriend. We started with the Grilled Seafood Salad, which consisted of two shrimp sauced with a green sauce and two sauced with a red sauce. This was good; but definitely not $15 good. While waiting for our entrees we were served bread with whipped butter. The bread and butter was the best part of my meal at Tallent. If I knew how mediocre my entree was going to be I would have eaten 12 baskets of bread to try to get my monies worth. My entree was the Indiana Strip Steak. I'm not origianlly from Indiana; but does Indiana Strip Steak mean sear the steak until it is burnt and crusty on the outside? While my steak was burnt on the outside it was cooked correctly on the inside... which didnt really matter because there were some pieces I didn't want to eat because they were so burnt. The steak was served on top of a hash brown casserole which was unappetizing in appearance and over-salted. In addition, there were some over-grilled asparagus spears on top of the steak. My girlfriend got the gnocchi which I tried and thought was good, not great. I dropped about $110 here when all was said and done with tip and tax. If I pay this much at a restaurant I expect exceptional execution on the dishes. Tallent failed to deliver. I could have gone to Butchers Block and paid $12 for a steak. Then I could have gone to Kroger and paid $4 for asparagus spears and $1 for a potato. I would have cooked all of these properly and enjoyed myself much more. Two stars because the service was good.
(2)
AnneMarie S.
The risotto was wonderful, but unfortunately there was a hair in it
(4)
Matt H.
I find most Bloomington restaurant Yelp reviews are inflated 1 or more stars, but not Tallent. In fact, it should get 6 stars. The Tallents are brilliant and creative throughout the whole menu. I also find them ahead of the curve when it comes to inventive regional cuisine. I'm still finding menu items in Chicago that I had at Tallent over a year ago and in some cases 4 years ago when Tallent was down on Third Street... and in each case Tallent did it better. Dave Tallent is a master with venison and duck and dinning there is always a great adventure. Service is A+.
(5)
Paul M.
We arrived around 9pm for a late weekday meal and were practically the only diners in the restaurant. Choosing from the fresh daily menu proved to be very difficult... The tasting menu was definitely the way to go... Four delicious courses followed by an amazing dessert. Our waiter was excellent. The only drawback to the evening was a slightly surly hostess and water girl. Excellent fine dining experience.
(4)
Heather E.
This place is seriously overrated. I ate here about one year ago and I had high expectations considering I've heard good things about it. We got there at around 9pm on a Tuesday night and the place was dead. We were the only customers there. I thought, "GREAT! we'll be served quickly. this is wonderful!" WRONG... not only did it take almost an hour to get our food (which i'll review here in the next paragraph) it took almost 30 minutes to get the "bread" that they serve. The bread consisting of one small serving spoon of some kind of mush concoction (maybe it's too sophisticated for me, but definitely a disappointment... they call THAT bread??) I order the Bison and my boyfriend order the duck. Everywhere I go, I always insist that one of us orders the duck, because duck is AMAZING. it's tender and juicy and flavorful. The most amazing piece of meat to eat is duck. Anyway, the bison was tough and the potatoes and vegetables that came with the meal all tasted like the sauce they poured over everything. A sauce that didn't compliment the flavors of the food... The duck was the worst duck I've had anywhere. The way it was prepared was atrocious and again everything was covered in a sauce that didn't bring out the flavors of the meal. I've had better duck at a BBQ in Georgia where they threw it on some nachos! The service was slow, the food was terrible and the prices were outrageous! I will never eat here again. The Uptown has better food, service and specials any day of the week.
Excellent food. Tallent loves his bacon (not a bad thing)!
(5)
Colleen M.
I'm surprised by all the fantastic reviews. Went here for a special dinner with my ex, we were not too impressed. Yes the prices are high, we did know and expect taht going into things, but then in return we expected great food... I got a fish with butternut squash pasta I think, and he got steak. The steak was cooked too well-done which is just sad for steak. The food just wasn't up to the expectations I had, I don't really know how to explain more than that. It was almost two years ago we ate here so I don't remember all the details just knew we were not in any way impressed, and we generally go all out when eating and always walk away wanting to come back the next day (we're not too harsh on restaurants lol). Maybe since then thigns have gotten better though? But we decided not to return and instead went downtown to Oceanaire for our Christmas dinner together, now that meal was twice as much but worth every penny. (side note, they close fairly early I feel like...)
(2)
Andy G.
Hands down the best high end restaurant in Bloomington. The changing menu is always filled with amazing options, the desserts are unreal, and the wine selection is the best in town. Bring your checkbook though as high quality comes at a high price. It is worth every penny! If you are considering Scholars or Zahgrebs...don't go direclty to Talent!
(5)
Jason S.
dont feel bad about the negative review, I am in agreement. i went with high expectations as the reviews online are usually positive. i have high standards but am reasonable when dining in indiana. the service was definetly lacking, as our waiter could barely explain the ingredients in the specials. the port trio good IMO, but the entrees were nothing to write home about. based on the appetizer, service, and entrees, we skipped dessert. There were only two other tables but once again, the service could and should have been much better for the prices their command.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Cynthia C.
I looked at Yelp reviews for a recommendation of where to have dinner when in Bloomington. Tall isn't is pretty but simple. We started with a brut rose sparkling and complimentary rolls and butter which were fresh, homemade and good. We ordered the mussels, which are a cross between the classic French and Spanish preparations with a spicy tomato cream with lots of fresh vegetables and julienned sausage with grilled bread. Very good! Next was a chopped salad with blue cheese, cucumber, avocado, bacon and radish. Good but the long cut strips of lettuce were a bit unruly to fork, feeling like lettuce spaghetti. Next was the rabbit tagliatelle which my teen daughter adored, with a rich tomato-rabbit Raghu and topped with a snow of fresh grated cheese. Fresh pasta, great sauce, fresh cheese - well done! Next was the walleye entree with a crispy skin seared piece of walleye nicely cooked on a bed of spring vegetables (fresh peas, sugar snap peas, snap beans, red and yellow halved cherry tomatoes, fresh Lima beans and watercress shoots) in a light vinaigrette. Quite an ode to spring! I paired this with an Oregon Pinot noir which was quite good. Lastly, seeing rhubarb tart on the dessert menu meant I had to try as I am mad for rhubarb and can hardly ever find it in the south. The tart was good, a bit more heavy on the streusel then the fruit for my taste but paired with a strawberry ice cream with s wonderful rich, fresh strawberry sauce. My daughter had the pb&j fresh doughnuts which were huge: 3 big puffs on a bed of peanut butter mousse and the same fresh strawberry sauce. It was a meal that reached for greatness, sometimes achieving and sometimes falling short to very good. Enjoyed our experience overall, and recommend.
(4)Debra D.
Although fresh the favors were not as expected. The mint was so overwhelming in the risotto we thought it should be called mint with risotto. There are many More problems, including burning my pork!!! However the lamb was perfectly prepared and we enjoyed his crudo very much! They have a long way to go to win a James beard. I hope the rest of Indiana has more to offer us!
(2)Krista R.
Man, we were really let down by our recent dining experience here. Service was abysmal and the food just OK. First, we waited 15 minutes for our table. No big deal, they were slammed. There's no where to sit or stand while you wait, so be prepared to be in the way. When we finally were seated, my husband and I were straight up ignored by servers for over 25 minutes. Servers made eye contact and then walked right past us. We didn't have water or bread, so it was painfully obvious no one had been to our table. We felt invisible and unwanted. Did we not dress up enough? Did we look too young to tip well? We finally flagged down a random waiter and then management was at our table apologizing profusely. That was nice, but we already felt out of place and put off by the service. We recently ate our way through Chicago and never once had service this poor. My pasta dish was good. My husband's main of lamb was decent, but had more fat than meat. Dessert was dry and boring. It's likely the food would have tasted better had we received good service. Oh, well. Plenty of good restaurants in Bloomington with non-discriminating service we will stick with. Beyond a small college town this restaurant wouldn't have nearly the hype.
(2)Steve S.
I know it's an absolute apostasy in Bloomington to say this place is anything other than OMG THE BEST RESTAURANT EVER, but my experience was just so-so. In New York or Chicago, this place would be just your average decent neighborhood place. My "Chop Salad," which wasn't chopped but more swirled into a sort of nest, was a bit overdressed, and the distinct tang of the vinaigrette, along with the sharp, assertive slivered salami and blue cheese, didn't seem the right match for the soft butter lettuce and field greens. If you want to show off the local produce ("farm to table" and all that faddishness), don't overwhelm it and cover up its delicate personality. The Spaghetti Carbonara (actually bucatini) was disappointingly bland. The pasta was cooked a bit beyond al dente, and the pancetta, though plentiful, tasted like perhaps it had spent a day or two too long in the refrigerator. I had two glasses of wine. The Ponzi Pinot Gris was terrific, with flavors of peach, green apple, and mineral. The Simi Chardonnay (available in every grocery store) was pointless -- neither fruity, nor steely, nor oaky, just meh. Surely the wine list of a place with pretensions as large as this place could feature a far better and more interesting chard. Maybe I just caught them on an off night. I would go back, if only in hopes of a more satisfying experience that lived up to the place's foodie reputation.
(3)Jerome M.
This place hit the spot - it's worth the price of admission for the presentation(s) and service alone -- plus the food is a solid - good. I'm glad I found this gem and was very happy with the overall experience. Main courses and apps were good - the ginger/cracker ice cream desert always as we say - to die for. -ps...although the rumor was its expensive....it the damage was reasonable enough.
(4)Ellie B.
Absolutely, by leaps and bounds, the best restaurant in Bloomington. I have a moderately severe wheat allergy and Chef is always very cognizant of my allergy. During Italian month he even had special gluten free pasta available for those of us with allergies and intolerances. The food and presentation is spectacular and the staff is always very pleasant and knowledgable. I've never had less than the best at RT!
(5)Jacky C.
Nice environment, nice food, great service. Top 3 local owned restaurants hands down.
(5)Robin K.
Fancy, fancy! EXCELLENT service. Unique dishes! Made from local food! Love the place and the idea of food as art. Although worth it, it's a tad bit pricey.
(4)David S.
Another great meal. The tasting menu is always an adventure. This is still an annual anniversary event for us and we have never been disappointed.
(5)Hollywood H.
I want to like this place, but have been underwhelmed on two occasions. My husband and I dined here several months ago and thought it was "meh". I convinced him we should give it a second shot tonight since it is Italian month, but we were less impressed than the first time. The first time we were here, the service was spot on. Tonight it was sub par. Our waitress didn't offer coat check for us although tables around us had utilized this service. She interrupted me with "would you like to see a dessert menu" and was rude and off putting throughout the meal. I can deal with poor service for awesome food, but unfortunately the food was a let down as well. Meatballs and beet and ricotta tortelli were okay, but nothing special. I probably wouldn't order them again. For our main course I had the chicken milanese and my husband had the porchetta which were both disappointing. I loved the potatoes, brussels and speck sides....I would have eaten a whole meal of that if I could, but the chicken milanese itself was greasy and nothing special. I had a bit of husband's pork and didn't care for it either, too much fat. Prior to our meal tonight I read reviews on Yelp and thought that because this is a nicer/pricier restaurant people gave poor reviews based on unrealistic expectations. After my experience tonight I no longer thing that is the case. This place just isn't very good. I wanted at least one dish that would be so yummy it would make me want to come back so that I could have it again, but in two visits we have only found disappointment. The food at Scholars, Uptown. or even Malibu is much tastier and I would recommend any of those over Tallent.
(2)Cheri G.
I love this restaurant! Tallents never disappoints! They have a way of uniquely combining flavors that are so very satisfying. They use mostly locally grown foods so everything is fresh and delicious. This is the restaurant that has set the benchmark for excellence! I've traveled widely and I always look forward to dining at Tallents. I'd give them six stars but only 5 are available :-)
(5)Aaron G.
We arrived a few minutes late for our 830 reservation and were seated promptly. Our server was tied up taking an order at a large table so it took a few minutes for her to check in and take our wine order. I ordered a bottle of Italian red and we perused the menu. Our server returned with the wine after a couple minutes and took our order. We started with the arancini and chopped salad, both arrived as ordered and were good if a little bland. For my main I had the pappardelle pasta while my SO opted for a 1/2 order or the seafood pasta. Our mains arrived and I very much enjoyed my pasta, the noodles were cooked perfectly and there was just enough sauce. My girlfriend's pasta was adequate but very bland and did not have much seafood in it. We had the Nutella dessert which had a good texture but not much Nutella flavor. Overall we enjoyed the experience but the food was hit and miss. Service was solid.
(3)Erin G.
Chef Dave is the absolute best! We love to come here. I have quirky dietary restrictions and the staff is excellent about calling and making sure I am taken care of before I come in. I am gluten and sugar free/extremely low sugar by necessity. Chef Dave makes my meal to order leaving out the gluten and even preparing special dessert. Now on top of this the food is high quality, locally sourced, cooked to order. They have an excellent wine list with knowledgeable staff who know about pairings. They offer seasonal chefs menus that feature local resources. Wine and beer tastings are offered regularly paired with courses and always fun. The décor is tasteful and inviting, the staff is friendly and welcoming, and the food is always great!
(5)Brenda M.
For the last 4 years this is our "go to" restaurant when we visit our daughter at IU in Bloomington. We repeatedly tell Chef David Tallent it is the best restaurant we have ever been to and it IS CONSISTENT. I never order a pork chop but he does pork (and pork belly) right. Graduation2014 weekend we ate there TWICE. Risotto, Indiana strip steak, pasta Carbonara, roasted airing chicken breast with the most delicious focaccia "pudding" and of course the succulent pork chop with a delicate (?) barbecue sauce. Chef David and his staff check every plate before it leaves the kitchen. Not sure if I'll ever be back in Bloomington so I hope you try this place and enjoy it as much as our family.
(5)G.S. J.
For a special dinner with a casual feel, we love to sit at the small wine bar here, where we can chat with the staff about the excellent wine list and how it might pair with the chef's subtle, carefully crafted food. It's a treat we drive up from Louisville to enjoy. The menu varies, but you can't go wrong if you visit in late summer, when area farms supply the freshest ingredients imaginable. Look for a haunting, complex corn soup or perhaps a lively cruditÄ— for openers. If the entrÄ—es present you with too many conflicting choices, fall back on the rich, earthy hamburger du jour. Even the butter here is a delight, Amish-churned, seasoned perfectly and (thank the restaurant gods) served at the correct temperature. It could almost turn the basket of bread and a few glasses of wine into a full meal.
(4)Dalia M.
(3.5 stars) My second time to Tallent was just what I wanted. A one on one dinner that ran smoothly, unlike my first experience. We ordered the mussels, spaghetti carbonara to share, I had the duck, my friend had the fish special. Both of us enjoyed all the dishes. I had too much duck and couldn't finish it! Paired with a bottle of cabernet, friendly chatter and good service, we enjoyed our entire experience. I DO have a bone to pick with Chef Tallent though. I couldn't believe the carbonara appetizer was $24. My duck entree was just a bit more! I've had this same dish, more quantity and just as delicious made by top chefs, as an entree, and it has never been this expensive. Charging $24 for a pasta appetizer is outrageous. That is why they got three stars. I would go back here but I'll be more careful about what I order. The other apps were priced in the teens and this one took me by complete surprise!
(3)Kevin T.
I had such a fantastic meal here, one that convinced me that I really ought to treat myself to more nice dinners, definitely more wine pairings, and that the meal is so much better when you have fun with it. I'll attempt to be brief. I came with a friend expecting to do tasting, because, why not? 1) When asked if you'd like to do the wine pairing, say yes. The tasting was not, as far as I could tell a totally separate menu as you'll find at many places, but rather for the most part a sampling of whatever the menu is at the point which changes seasonally. Additionally the wine pairings aren't set, but seem to have much to do with whatever the waitress wants to give you and what's in the back. But more on that later. We had over the course of it 5 items a light slaw-type salad, pasta, fish/pork atop grits and some kind of foam (of course! foam makes it fancy!), duck and a pastry / ice cream dessert combo (photos are up on Yelp). And a glass of wine with each. Well 6 glasses of wine. Portions are small, so the plates come out quickly. In most cases, this meant wine came out before the last glass had been finished. About glass three this game was dubbed "Shit, she's coming around with more wine!" and we would have to finish up what we had. Our waitress was amazing and I think appreciated our casual attitude toward all of it and we all had fun with it. The crowd that night was mostly older couples and there weren't many at that anyway. Because of this it was quiet. And we were easily the most fun people there. The round after round of wine certainly helped. By the time we got to the duck we were both very full, acceptably boisterous, and very happy with all of the food. Each bite was followed by exclamations like "This is so good" and "I'm so full but I have to eat it." Dessert almost posed a logistical problem of being too full to eat it. Our waitress on the other hand posed us a question. If we wanted "something bubbly, something stronger, or...something fun?" to go with our final course. 2) If given the option, at any point in life really, go with 'something fun' So she brought us both. 6 glasses for 5 courses. And a good night was had by all! Seriously, after that amount of time, and that much wine, you'll love it. But it was on a (somewhat) serious note a great meal, both in terms of the quality of food, wine and the service, served with a much-appreciated smirk along with a smile. The best meal I've had this year.
(5)Thomas R.
Amidst another good meal comes chewy duck sushi. Thanks guys! #NoMoresChances
(2)Lynn J.
Yes, this may be the best food in Bloomington. If that is your goal you will probably be very happy. For me there is the balance between quality and cost and somewhere each of us must draw our line. I usually find food I enjoy just as much for a better price and the price here mars my pleasure and enjoyment of the evening. Nonetheless this remains one of the top choices for my family members when we have a very special celebration meal. You make the call.
(3)Amanda R.
First time visit last week. Waitstaff was very attentive. The fried chicken is amazing, but be prepared for a greasy hangover the next day, especially if it is a "cheat meal" The pimento cheese grits were a wonderful surprise, great flavor. My husband had a ribeye over potatoes that had excellent flavor. Wish the menu had little more to choose from. Might try again in the fall if the menu changes.
(3)Anna W.
Very good. For those who say that Scholar's Inn is the best...I say you must come here. It is far less pretentious and, in my opinion, pays more respect to the food you are eating. I came here with a group and a visiting professor. We were given the 'okay' by the department to enjoy ourselves, which we graciously did. We started off with a nice pinot noir from their extensive wine list and appetizers of pierogis and crudo. The pierogis were okay - probably the low-light of the meal for me. They were beet and goat cheese...perhaps tried too hard to be conceptual. The crudo was nice and fresh. The amuse bouche for the night was a fantastic ceasar salad bite. Perfectly anchovy-y. For my entree, I ordered the fennel and coriander crusted salmon with salmon bacon couscous and roasted root vegetables (my absolute favorite). this. dish. was. perfection. I am a notoriously fast eater, so I tried my hardest to eat slow so I could savor every bite. Also, I'm confused as to why Tallent has a reputation for being pricey. My entree was $24 and was a very reasonable portion. I thought it was a great deal. For desert I had the clafuti (sp?). Having nothing to compare it to, all I can say was that I enjoyed it. Our service was great, everything was great. Seriously, I could not have asked for a better experience.
(5)Christianna W.
Bright lighting and cold robotic service... not my idea of a pleasurable meal. The amuse b0uche, which is typically served both to prepare the guest for the meal and to offer a glimpse into the chef's approach to the art of cuisine, was a piece of bread that was half burnt (3 servings of which 2 pieces were burnt), was pathetic. Don't insult me with me a fancy amuse bouche, of burnt standard bread and humus.... the entrees where decent, but not fantastic. I dined at Scholar Inn the night before and it was hands down a MUCH BETTER EXPERIENCE for the price. Also, no cocktails here, beer and wine only. Will not go back and will not recommend to friends.
(3)E T.
I made reservations at Tallent through Open Table for me and my wife and another couple. I indicated that it was a birthday celebration for my wife when making the reservation. We were seated promptly and the service was friendly and attentive. We ordered several starter dishes which were served promptly. The wait for our entrees was very long and they were served after a member of our party inquired as to their whereabouts. My wife and I both ordered the walleye, which was a rather small portion, and which was not hot when it finally arrived. The worst part is that the walleye was terribly overcooked, and therefore not pleasant to eat. I did complain to our server, and to their credit I was not charged for my entree. The fish was served on a bed of mashed potatoes (?) which was not only cold but nondescript. The menu indicated that smoked whitefish was supposed to be part of the recipe, but it was nowhere apparent. One of our party ordered the roasted cauliflower. I thought it tasted burned and flavorless, but I admit it's not my thing. The lamb was ordered by the other member of our party and it seemed to be the best entree. Tallent is overpriced given the quality of the food, they need to get orders out of the kitchen more promptly, and the food should be served hot. There were two or three birthday celebrations during our meal (cupcake with candle, etc.) but none for my wife. She was wished happy birthday as we were walking out of the restaurant. Maybe Tallent's problem is simply a lack of attention.
(2)Christine B.
Top notch Bloomington restaurant. Small but intimate, open kitchen, super "new south" cuisine. Nice for special occasions but also great for a quick light meal from the starter menu. A little crazy out front when the Bluebird is having a popular performance but worth working through the crowd. Consistently excellent food. Highly recommend.
(5)Rebecca Z.
It's a pretty restaurant and there were a few good items--the smoked trout, the amuse bouche the night we were there was tuna crudo on a potato chip and it was delightful. One of our party of four had a great entree--the lamb with cabbage and sausages. Two of us has walleye that was dreadfully overcooked--dry and tasteless as were the accompaniments. Nice wines, bland service. Not eager to spend this kind of money for this product.
(2)John G.
On our sixth visit, we were awed by the service, for the most part. Our neighbor had called ahead to have the best wine waiting for us at the table. It was the nicest thing anyone had done for us all year. Our server, Amelia, brought me two tastings of wine before my duck arrived. I pretty much nailed the Pinot Noir, but the Campagnian wine was more robust--a good beef pairing, and of a varietal we seldom encounter. We had the crudo fish and moules frites for appetizers, and the flounder and duck breast for entrees. Too much! Such rich flavors, we had to take most of the duck home for supper tonight, and it was still wonderful. The only criticism I could raise is that soon after tucking into my entree I realized I was done for, and there were no staff to finish up the service for more than ten minutes. If the staff were as attentive at the end of the me meal as at the start of it, I would be a lot happier. For $100 plus $25 tip, we were very happy with our visit. Amelia really enhanced our enjoyment of the experiences, As always, I encourage all staff to read two books by Michael Ruhlman, "The Reach of a chef" and "The Soul of a Chef". These are not just for cooks, but for eveybody--it is a way of conducting yourself in business and in life.
(5)William B.
This is the best restaurant in Indiana, and possibly a substantially broader area than that. Dave Tallent is a wizard at cooking food that is savory, substantial, and local while remaining elegant and often playful. It's hard to go wrong here. Corn soup is famous for a reason; virtually any smoked meat or house-made bacon is likely to be one of the chef's personal favorites, and I would snap up anything you see made with parsnips, rutabagas, or other root vegetables. Do note that the dishes that seem like they will be very intense and rich--are. Worth a trip from a long distance away.
(5)Alan B.
We were visiting relatives in Colombus and wanted to take them out for a something special and this filled the bill. Excellent food. The grilled mellon salad was great. Service was good although a bit slow. A great place for a special meal.
(5)Julie S.
My first dining experience at Restaurant Tallent did not leave me with any desire to return. My boyfriend and I made a reservation through OpenTable for our sixth anniversary because we knew of its reputation and we've tried most of the other upscale restaurants in town, including FARM, Scholars Inn, and Finch's. My boyfriend ordered a beer and I ordered a glass of wine, our server seemed somewhat pushy about getting our orders, asking for them almost immediately after we were seated. This isn't terribly surprising given that we were seated by the hostess, brought menus by another server, then greeted by the woman who would be our server in a flurry that didn't indicate much coordination. We ordered the pesto arancini to start which was incredible, we asked for plates to make it easier to share but we didn't receive them and decided to just go ahead and eat them. We also ordered a half portion of the butternut squash risotto to share, which was, in my opinion, the highlight of the meal. We did receive plates to share for the risotto after asking two more times. My boyfriend ordered the lasagna and I ordered the pork for our entrees. When we were brought our entrees, more than forty minutes after we received our second course, two separate individuals came to ask if we needed extra plates. Apparently they got the memo that we wanted plates to share a couple courses too late. While both entrees were good, neither was memorable and they did not compare to the two prior dishes. As much as I wanted to love everything, we were both really disappointed in the service we received. Everything seemed to be moving very slowly and our food was brought to us and cleared by several different people, none of whom were our server. Our server didn't check in to see how we were enjoying our meal either, which seems unusual. We heard countless apologies given to tables surrounding ours because of how backed up the kitchen was, but we didn't receive an apology despite the delay we also faced. We chose not to have dessert not because we weren't tempted, but simply because we didn't want to wait thirty minutes for a panna cotta. Overall I'm glad I tried Restaurant Tallent because it's often revered as an exceptional dining destination, but I do not have any intention of returning. The service did not make us feel welcome. No mention was made of our anniversary and we seemed both rushed at the start of the meal and ignored during the course of the meal.
(2)Frank T.
I've always seen Bloomington as having three upscale new-American cuisine restaurants: Finch's Brasserie, FARM, and Tallent. Out of those three, Tallent ranks third. That's not to say that Tellent isn't a good restaurant- because it is. Its ingredients are fresh, the rotating menu is exciting, and the wine list robust. However, considering the restaurant's underlying pretentiousness, the other two restaurant options, and the fact that Tallent is located in a glorified strip mall, its not worth the high price to dine there.
(2)Jasen F.
Disappointed. Truly. I went last night and ordered two of the nightly specials. My dining companion ordered the other, the soul food dish of the night. My first course was a Spinach salad which featured a nice dressing but was not as wonderful as I expected. I did not like the bread it was served with (poor flavor match and texture issues). My main was the red fish which was good but not great. I don't know if it was high expectations (Tallent had been on my 'too try' list for months), the atmosphere (there were some wine dealers at the table next to ours), or the crappy Indiana weather outside. The fish was cooked well but the accompanying bok choy and other items (potatoes in a former life) did little to pair or hold up against the fine texture and flavor of the fish. We ordered two of the deserts; one was Butterscotch (alright) and Persimmion pudding (meh). The waittress was funny in an awkward way. She was not the quickest (empty glasses and fruitless flagging down with my arm). I might go back but given the price (expensive) and my enjoyment of other restaurant with the same cache (Finch's, FARM, and Michael's Uptown), maybe not.
(2)Doug W.
Great special occasion place. The food was wonderful and the service attentive. It made for a wonderful night.
(5)Janatha A.
Pros: excellent service, not rushed, nice presentation, scallops excellently prepared, nice wine list. Con: noisy
(4)Scott C.
The food is pretty good, but honestly not worth the price. You are definitely paying for the atmosphere.
(4)T Q.
I have heard it is a great restaurant,so I had a try the day before yesterday.Unfortunately, I was very disappointed. The first course salad was just so-so. The second course entree lamp was overcooked. The third course dessert was made of poor quality cake and canned fruit. I paid 70 bucks for the terrible food and service. You can either go to some authentic French or Japanese restaurants with the same price or find many restaurants of great value in town. To me, tallent is just the last choice!
(1)Anthony B.
The seasonal soul food, mussels & grits, smores tart, waitstaff - all amazing. I would have to say Tallent provided one of the best dining experiences I've ever had.
(5)Mary H.
This is a great place to have good, fresh food in Bloomington! I'll be back.
(4)Thomas R.
Obviously the best food in Bloomington. Pork and morell mushrooms are perennial specialties. Note, sitting on the bar side (even at the tables) allows to you order of bar or main menu. Wise choice for the budget conscious.
(5)Julie D.
I don't know what I expecting here. I knew it's reputation of serving local fresh organic food. Which they do. But I felt the food was rather bland. Even the pate was lacking that extra something you look for in a restaurant that people rave about. I'm not raving. Bland bland bland. My scallops were overcooked and the sauce drizzled over then did nothing to enhance them. I do give then some kudos for the portion size being just right. Not too big and enough to feel full. I can see why Btowners love the trendy modern decor and the tasteful presentation of the dishes. But the meal was 100% forgettable. For the food skip it and go to FARM. For modern bright decor go here. Just don't expect your tastes buds to be happy ecstatic.
(2)Adam H.
My Girlfriend and I went here and decided to do the five course tasting with wine. ...Simply fantastic. I apologize if my review is lacking in detail, it was just one great experience after another, so I just stopped taking mental notes and enjoyed myself. Most of the dishes were based on fish, Barramundi being my favorite. My girlfriend, who actually fears seafood, found this to be a fantastic experience. Everything was served with great professionalism, and the wine pairing also worked very well with each course. I highly recommend the tasting, I believe with wine our total bill came out to around 120, which is actually a good deal considering the quality of food/drink. As indicated by the price, this isn't too big with the college kids, but is popular with the faculty and guest lectures/alums.
(5)Sarah L.
Tallent was acceptable, but by no means outstanding. Our first course was a yellowtail crudo that was a little bland. It was advertised as being served atop pears, bringing in a bit of sweetness, but there were merely a few julienned slices of pear within the mixed greens. The pear and beet salad had a decent flavor, much of it coming from the pistachio goat cheese, which was tasty. It was a bit puny, but I think that criticism was exacerbated by the fact that we had just ridden the first day of the Hilly Hundred and were ravenous. The stand out was the squash tagliatelle. Great autumn flavors that complemented each other nicely. Our server was friendly and steered us rather well with wine choices, but seemed a tad lost on the food special offerings. Food also came out a little too slow, but I believe that was because we were a 2-top competing with many large parties that evening.
(3)Abigail M.
This was the perfect place for my last meal with my parents before school started. The staff was patient and helpful and, at the end of the meal, the chef visited our table. The mussels are the amazing because there isn't too much sauce but plenty of flavor. Honestly, the serving of soup was too much for me as an appetizer (even though it was delicious). The pork is the chef's specialty and it's the bet pig you'll ever have in a restaurant. The Indiana ribeye is also incredible. Overall this place pays tribute to the beauty of Indiana produce and highlights the uniqueness of this overlooked state.
(5)Sean C.
Quality restaurant, (quality+service)/price is very high, compared to the other restaurants in this town. I recommend it.
(4)Justin M.
Went here for the first time last night. The menu is creative, the food is platted elegantly, and the dining room has a nice ambiance and is well decorated with works from local artists. Unfortunately, I just wasn't blown away by the food. The Arancini came as three fried risotto balls stuffed with mozzarella served atop an aioli. This was an interesting concept, but it didn't work for me. The taste of the mozzarella was completely lost in the risotto. The Gnocchi is prepared with spinach and ricotta, giving it a lighter consistency than is typical of gnocchi. The tomato sauce is robust. This was the best of the three dishes. We also had the Beef Cheek Brasato. The beef itself was nothing special and the au jus was bland. I didn't find the gorgonzola grits to be complementary, but maybe I just don't like gorgonzola, The tangerine gremolata was fun. It's nice to have fine dining options in Bloomington, but the food at Talent did not live up to the price or the hype. I will probably give it another try, but I think Scholar's Inn is a better option for the price range.
(3)Charlton C.
What a phenomenal place. I just returned from a delicious five course prix fixe meal at Tallent. It was easily one of the best meals that I've had since arriving to Bloomington. We were especially pleased that they made an exception for us to be able to have the prix fixe on a weekend. We got an amuse bouche, five courses of food, plus a cookie at the end for $60 per person. While pricey for Bloomington, it was worth it. We started off with mussels and fries which were delicious. Next, was a steak tartare and beef carpaccio dish. After was a pork belly and seared scallop on top of a bed of risotto. This was my favorite dish of the night. The main meat dish followed afterward. It was elk with a black truffle sauce. The last course was a dessert of butterscotch semifreddo. Overall, it was a great meal and confirmed the high expectations I had going in. The service was very good and went along with the quality of the meal. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone (with the cash) with out any question.
(5)Joshua C.
Great food! Great atmosphere!
(5)Douglas R.
Simply put: the best. If you're accustomed to restaurants serving only the finest for their customers along with impecable presentation and a wonderful pairing of flavors, this is the only place in Bloomington you might want to try. Restaurant Tallent prides itself on serving only the finest organic and/or naturally raised ingredients in an unparalleled artistic fashion. This establishment is one of the finest that Bloomington has to offer, albeit one of the most expensive, but nonetheless the best.
(5)Jane T.
The food is fine, but the atmosphere and overall attitude of the staff makes this feel very uncomfortable. I understand that "fine dining" in a small town may not always measure up to what you'd find in a big city, but don't try to be what you're not. And they need more vegetarian options!!
(2)Sara E.
If you're into the absolute best tasting food products available and won't settle for less, then this is the restaurant for you. I can honestly say that the Osso Buco was the best I've ever had in a restaurant, aside from probably in Italy.....but even still the flavors where outstanding. The desserts also are worth mentioning because they were to die for. I think it's truly remarkable to find a restaurant of this quality in a small city such as Bloomington.
(5)Jonathon S.
There is simply no better fine dining in Bloomington, perhaps in the entire state of Indiana. If you have the chance I'd urge you to go right away while they are running an Italian menu inside of the restaurant. Italian? Yes, the real deal Italian. Hand made pastas (including half sizes)- get the buccatini with saffron wine broth and crab meat or the goat cheese agnalotti, killer appetizers- get the meatballs- one made of duck, one of pork and one of lamb, and thoughtful salads- get the brussel sprout salad. The wine list is excellent and has plenty of great values (virtually the entire wine list is full of values). Service is excellent especially for Bloomington.
(5)Biggah K.
Need more seasoning. Highly over rated.
(2)Roy H.
In my experience the quality of the food is excellent and the service is attentive. However, the prices are quite high and the atmosphere is stiffly incongruous with the rest of the Bloomington food scene. I would recommend Tallent for a romantic occasion.
(4)Daniel H.
I was in Bloomington on business alone and I wanted some fine dinning. I searched around and found restaurant Tallent. What sparked my interest was the fact Mrs. Tallent worked at Canoe in ATL after attending CIA. Canoe is in the top ten best restaurants in the USA but thats another story. So, I hate eating by myself. It usually means bad service. However, I was very well attended to during my meal. A big thumbs up to the wait staff. I had the prix fixe and all the dishes were great, and on par with any fine dinning in a "big city". The pork belly was sooooo insanely rich. I hesitate giving the full five stars because I am writing this a few weeks after my trip. But, I promise when I am back in Bloomington to come back and revise the review as needed.
(4)Sally S.
What a nice surprise! Thoughtfully created and wonderfully fresh food at this unassuming restaurant in down town Bloomington. I had a Kale salad with lightly tempura fried veggies and shaved parmesan cheese that was amazing, light but so tasty. My partner in crime had the Ravioli starter with a soft egg incased inside a large home made Ravioli in a light broth. Absolutely delicious! Entrees......Lamb and Rabbit.......both perfectly prepared with complimentary sides. Obviously local and fresh. Dessert.......upside down pineapple cake and donuts with chocolate sauce and honey. Do I need to say anymore??!! Everything was incredible, service was friendly and attentive, atmosphere (even for a quiet Monday night) was pleasant and the wine selection covered everyone's tastes. I would imagine this place gets busy and booked as the new students and their parents arrive into town so you may want to reserve your spot sooner rather than later!
(5)Ralph E.
Very impressed indeed. My fried oyster appetizer was outstanding, with wonderful flavors. The smoked pork chop was tender and flavorful and I even liked the sauteed Brussels sprouts. I hate Brussels sprouts. The persimmon bread pudding could have had a more assertive flavor -- our only criticism of any item. The service was professional and prompt (on a busy Friday night), and the waiter did not introduce himself to us. In the U.S., this practically merits five stars all by itself. We will definitely be back.
(5)Gregg S.
After a long hiatus I returned to Tallent and I was not disappointed. When food is locally sourced I sometimes struggle with the autumn selections. Tallent stormed right over that concern. I had the smoked pork chop which was delicious with the seasonal veggies.
(5)Jon T.
This was our second trip to Tallent and it has been a fantastic experience each time. Tonight we each had the foie gras (preparation varies weekly if not daily) which was prepared exquisitely. I had the local pork entree while she had the ribeye, both were cooked perfectly. The pork chop was served with pork belly over robuchon potatoes and brussel sprouts with a cherry glaze and tasted fantastic. I was too focused on the pork to notice how the ribeye was prepared but she was raving about it so I know it was great. The service tonight was a significant improvement over before, Dustin was prompt, professional, and knowledgable. We have absolutely no complaints.
(5)Liz L.
The best restaurant in Bloomington, hands-down. The chef-owners David and Kristen Tallent, both CIA grads, are solicitous and down-to-earth while turning out plate after plate of surprising yet comforting food. I have never eaten anything here that I did not immediately want another serving of and have ordered everything from rabbit to mussels, sweet corn soup to black pepper ice cream. Much of their menu is seasonal, local, and/ or organic, and all of it is fresh and lovingly crafted. The service is outstanding. I can only afford to go to this restaurant every few months (the prices are really a value compared to similar quality in Chicago or Louisville; I'm just poor!) but the last time I went, my server remembered me and asked how my dad and sister (my usual dinnermates) were doing. All of the waitstaff are knowledgeable but never snooty and very sensitive and kind about budget.
(5)Jamison R.
Restaurant Tallent is the best restaurant I've eaten at in Indiana. We had a fantastic meal last night, that was perfect from beginning to end. Here's what we had: Roasted Veggie Salad -- beets, sweet potato, onion, brussels sprouts & walnuts roasted & tossed in a delicious truffle vinaigrette Arugula Salad -- arugula, beets & goat cheese with a yummy pomegranate/poppy seed vinaigrette "Ruben" Fois Gras -- buttery fois gras on top of rye & brussels sprout kraut Skate -- on a bed of heirloom potato & leek risotto with brussels sprouts, turnips & curry vinaigrette. Tasty! Scallops -- on a spaghetti squash carbonara with caramelized cauliflower & cider gastrique Everything was fantastic. The wine list was comprised of a great selection of wines grouped by price. $26, $36, $46 & "second mortgage" bottles. For dessert we had the chocolate sticky bun with chocolate chip ice cream. Yum, yum, yum, yum! I will definitely go back. Our service was perfect. I highly recommend Restaurant Tallent!
(5)Jerry M.
Drove to Bloomington last night to see my student son and take him to dinner. We were looking for something different and just happened upon this place. We both ordered the 5 course tasting with wine pairings and were both blown away. Each course was spectacular in its own right, and perfectly paired with unusual wines. (I never would have chosen a Pinot Noir to accompany Walleye, but it was perfect). It's been a long time since I've been this impressed with a restaurant, but my hat's off to this chef and the wait staff for making it a memorable experience. I'll be coming back here with my wife soon!
(5)David R.
Traditional fine dining options in Bloomington are limited, and Tallent pretty much tops the list. Excellent food, pleasant staff, decent wine list, and cozy atmosphere. A little pricey by Bloomington standards, but well worth it.
(5)Jeff M.
My girlfriend and I enjoyed a fantastic meal at Talent. The menu had a great variety of items, and the food was delicious. The service was fantastic. Our waiter gave my girlfriend multiple tasting of wine to find one she enjoyed. I would highly recommend Tallent if you can afford it.
(5)Mike C.
I took a visitor along with some colleagues for a dinner last week (3/1/12) and was quite disappointed. Though the staff behaves professionally and tries hard, it can't do much when there is no food to serve. We were seated around 7:20; our appetizers arrived about an hour later, though there was little traffic in the restaurant. (Some of the appetizers were good, others only so-so.) The main course was served at around 8:45. By this time, everyone had had so much of the bread that there wasn't much appetite left. I regretted not having gone across the street to Samira, which is not nearly as fancy, but consistent, well-paced, and a third of the price. Too bad, since there is much potential here.
(2)David F.
Simply the best restaurant in town. I eat here probably every other week and it is always extremely good and frequently phenomenal. At one point a colleague from Hawaii was visiting who is really into food. So I took him here, and then took him here again at his request. The first meal was really great, the second phenomenal. He wrote me to thank me for it twice, once a month after leaving. How often do you remember a meal you ate a month before?
(5)Jeff M.
Chef Dave Tallent lives up to his name. This is one talented chef. His wife too! Desserts where great. Marcarpone torte was great. Loved Daves oyster po-boy. Thanks for making our early Valentine's date so memorable!
(5)Shaina S.
I hate to be the one negative review here of Restaurant Tallent - especially when so many others have praised it as being the best restaurant in Bloomington. But my husband and I really had an extremely disappointing experience there on what was supposed to be a wonderful celebration. We dined at Tallent on November 6th, and I only regret that I waited so long to write a review. I made a reservation several weeks in advance, and noted that we would be celebrating both our first wedding anniversary and our last fancy meal out before my husband deploys to Afghanistan for a year, causing us to miss our 2nd anniversary. When we arrived at the restaurant, we were seated in the bar area, at the table directly next to the kitchen. While the rest of the restaurant is beautiful with great ambience, our table was flooded with light and noise from the kitchen. The main dining room was relatively empty, so I asked our waitress if we could move to the other room. However, we were told that every table was spoken for, and therefore we could not move. Definitely a disappointment. I was hoping that since we were celebrating such a special occasion, it wouldn't be an issue for us to move to a good table. We ordered the Heritage Pork Trio for an appetizer. My husband ordered the short ribs, and I ordered the duck. We also ordered a bottle of wine. Since my husband was a full-time graduate student up until his deployment, we dine out very infrequently - this meal was very special for us. Our waitress brought the bottle of wine to the table and wrestled with opening it for several minutes...however, as I myself have worked as a server in a nice restaurant, this did not bother me as much as it could have. After a significant amount of time, our entrees were brought to the table by another server. My husband and I never received the appetizer we ordered, and we were unable to mention it to the server until we had completed our entrees, as she did not come back to see how our food was until our plates were clean. The food was mediocre, but certainly not fantastic. After moving to Bloomington from Washington DC, we have very high food standards...and I guess Tallent just didn't meet them. I am hoping they just had an off day, as so many people I know have enjoyed their meals. Either way, nothing tasted unique or interesting, and we spent most of the time wishing we had spent our anniversary at a different restaurant - especially considering the expense of the meal. When our waitress finally came to the table to check in, we had finished our entrees. We mentioned that we had never received our appetizer. Her response: "Oh, the pork trio? Did you want that?" We said that we did still want to try it, so she put in the order. It came to our table 30 minutes later, and was mediocre at best. We ordered dessert when we completed the post-dinner appetizer: Persimmon bread pudding for my husband, and spiced buttermilk doughnuts for myself. Once again...they were both mediocre. We got the bill - and were relieved to see that we were not charged for the appetizer, which we were very pleased about. We paid and left. At no time did anyone mention our anniversary. I would like to think that we dined at Tallent on the wrong night...but unfortunately, I highly doubt we will ever go back to give it another try. For far less money, we can get a much better and more unique meal at several other restaurants in Bloomington. I should note that the expense was not the issue - we have no problem spending money on a fantastic meal. This one just fell far short of our expectations.
(2)Mary H.
My husband I visited for the first time to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. I had emailed them twice to make a reservation (with more than a week's notice) for a Friday night, as well as to order a lactose-free dessert for my husband, and they didn't contact me to confirm until the day of. That made me a little nervous, but I got over it. I told my husband if we spent less than 90 minutes in the restaurant I was going to be very unhappy. I knew we would spend a lot of money on dinner and I didn't want to be rushed. Our server introduced herself and knew who we were (knew that we were celebrating our anniversary and that my husband is lactose-intolerant). She helped us select a bottle of wine which was expertly and swiftly delivered, opened and poured. We each ordered a first course - my husband had a tuna crudo and I had the burrata. Amazing. For dinner, my husband ordered one of the pasta dishes from the seasonal/featured menu. I had a whole roasted fish. Amazing squared. Service was quick and unobtrusive. There was a server dedicated to clearing plates and another for refilling water. For dessert, he had a glass of port, I had an espresso. The chef prepared a vegan chocolate cake for him with coffee sorbet; he was in heaven. I had zeppole, which reminded me so much of my Italian grandpa that I teared up. $195 including alcohol, tax and tip for a memorable 3-course meal. Best $200 I've ever spent. We're already planing on making dinner there a twice-a-year thing.
(5)Jim M.
Great food service wonderful taste combinations killer deserts
(5)Nutmegala A.
Tallent is amazing. Being a poor student it was definitely a parents-in-town-special-treat, but so totally worth it. We had the mussels for an appetizer and they were out of this world. I had the Fiddler Farms pork chop and it was also excellent. Great service, amazing local food. Best restaurant in Bloomington!
(5)Perry G.
Food on the bar side is great and prices are a touch more reasonable.
(5)Caroline W.
The best restaurant in Bloomington. Period.
(4)Billy C.
This is the most over rated restaurant I've been to in my life. I was at Tallent this past weekend with my girlfriend. We started with the Grilled Seafood Salad, which consisted of two shrimp sauced with a green sauce and two sauced with a red sauce. This was good; but definitely not $15 good. While waiting for our entrees we were served bread with whipped butter. The bread and butter was the best part of my meal at Tallent. If I knew how mediocre my entree was going to be I would have eaten 12 baskets of bread to try to get my monies worth. My entree was the Indiana Strip Steak. I'm not origianlly from Indiana; but does Indiana Strip Steak mean sear the steak until it is burnt and crusty on the outside? While my steak was burnt on the outside it was cooked correctly on the inside... which didnt really matter because there were some pieces I didn't want to eat because they were so burnt. The steak was served on top of a hash brown casserole which was unappetizing in appearance and over-salted. In addition, there were some over-grilled asparagus spears on top of the steak. My girlfriend got the gnocchi which I tried and thought was good, not great. I dropped about $110 here when all was said and done with tip and tax. If I pay this much at a restaurant I expect exceptional execution on the dishes. Tallent failed to deliver. I could have gone to Butchers Block and paid $12 for a steak. Then I could have gone to Kroger and paid $4 for asparagus spears and $1 for a potato. I would have cooked all of these properly and enjoyed myself much more. Two stars because the service was good.
(2)AnneMarie S.
The risotto was wonderful, but unfortunately there was a hair in it
(4)Matt H.
I find most Bloomington restaurant Yelp reviews are inflated 1 or more stars, but not Tallent. In fact, it should get 6 stars. The Tallents are brilliant and creative throughout the whole menu. I also find them ahead of the curve when it comes to inventive regional cuisine. I'm still finding menu items in Chicago that I had at Tallent over a year ago and in some cases 4 years ago when Tallent was down on Third Street... and in each case Tallent did it better. Dave Tallent is a master with venison and duck and dinning there is always a great adventure. Service is A+.
(5)Paul M.
We arrived around 9pm for a late weekday meal and were practically the only diners in the restaurant. Choosing from the fresh daily menu proved to be very difficult... The tasting menu was definitely the way to go... Four delicious courses followed by an amazing dessert. Our waiter was excellent. The only drawback to the evening was a slightly surly hostess and water girl. Excellent fine dining experience.
(4)Heather E.
This place is seriously overrated. I ate here about one year ago and I had high expectations considering I've heard good things about it. We got there at around 9pm on a Tuesday night and the place was dead. We were the only customers there. I thought, "GREAT! we'll be served quickly. this is wonderful!" WRONG... not only did it take almost an hour to get our food (which i'll review here in the next paragraph) it took almost 30 minutes to get the "bread" that they serve. The bread consisting of one small serving spoon of some kind of mush concoction (maybe it's too sophisticated for me, but definitely a disappointment... they call THAT bread??) I order the Bison and my boyfriend order the duck. Everywhere I go, I always insist that one of us orders the duck, because duck is AMAZING. it's tender and juicy and flavorful. The most amazing piece of meat to eat is duck. Anyway, the bison was tough and the potatoes and vegetables that came with the meal all tasted like the sauce they poured over everything. A sauce that didn't compliment the flavors of the food... The duck was the worst duck I've had anywhere. The way it was prepared was atrocious and again everything was covered in a sauce that didn't bring out the flavors of the meal. I've had better duck at a BBQ in Georgia where they threw it on some nachos! The service was slow, the food was terrible and the prices were outrageous! I will never eat here again. The Uptown has better food, service and specials any day of the week.
(2)Gregg S.
I am going to rain on everyone's parade. I am a new Yelper, so this review is about an incident that occurred about one year ago. My wife and I were regular Tallent customers when we visited Bloomington. However on our last visit ,and it will be our last unless I am someone's guest , my opinion of the place was radically altered. At the last moment we received tickets to an event which happened to fall on our anniversary. I picked an early reservation so we would not be rushed getting to the event and I had to meet someone to get the tickets( 2 hours). It was a week night and when we entered there was only one other couple in there. I informed the waiter that we had a lot of time,it was our anniversary. but we needed to be out the door in 1 1/2 hours. We received our drinks and placed our orders, then nothing for 1/2 hour. I had to chase the waiter down at the front door since he seemed more interested in the hostess than us. We then received bread, then nothing for another 20 minutes. Again the chase was on, salads arrived, then nothing. With 20 minutes left we canceled one entrée , the other arrived lukewarm. To say I was upset would be an understatement. The final blow however was that I followed it up with a letter to Tallent stating how much I loved the place, but that as a business person I thought he would want to know what happened. The response, you guessed it ....NOTHING. He must train the wait staff. Great food, but at his prices you deserve the complete package. If I could give zero stars I would. Go to FARM.
(1)Benjamin S.
Excellent food. Tallent loves his bacon (not a bad thing)!
(5)Colleen M.
I'm surprised by all the fantastic reviews. Went here for a special dinner with my ex, we were not too impressed. Yes the prices are high, we did know and expect taht going into things, but then in return we expected great food... I got a fish with butternut squash pasta I think, and he got steak. The steak was cooked too well-done which is just sad for steak. The food just wasn't up to the expectations I had, I don't really know how to explain more than that. It was almost two years ago we ate here so I don't remember all the details just knew we were not in any way impressed, and we generally go all out when eating and always walk away wanting to come back the next day (we're not too harsh on restaurants lol). Maybe since then thigns have gotten better though? But we decided not to return and instead went downtown to Oceanaire for our Christmas dinner together, now that meal was twice as much but worth every penny. (side note, they close fairly early I feel like...)
(2)Andy G.
Hands down the best high end restaurant in Bloomington. The changing menu is always filled with amazing options, the desserts are unreal, and the wine selection is the best in town. Bring your checkbook though as high quality comes at a high price. It is worth every penny! If you are considering Scholars or Zahgrebs...don't go direclty to Talent!
(5)Jason S.
dont feel bad about the negative review, I am in agreement. i went with high expectations as the reviews online are usually positive. i have high standards but am reasonable when dining in indiana. the service was definetly lacking, as our waiter could barely explain the ingredients in the specials. the port trio good IMO, but the entrees were nothing to write home about. based on the appetizer, service, and entrees, we skipped dessert. There were only two other tables but once again, the service could and should have been much better for the prices their command.
(2)