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| They had me at small-batch beauty products! |
Exterior: 4/5
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| Don't walk too fast or you'll miss it |
The Radish is situated in one of the downtown Kokomo buildings that got a facelift when I was a kid and the city was first getting interested in improving its aesthetics. It does a nice job of branding itself to make it distinct from the other establishments on its block. The Radish is only open during the day (i.e. fur lunch but not for dinner) which means that you might have trouble finding parking close on the Courthouse Square when all of the downtown businesses are in full swing. Fortunately the parking garage across from Geek Street is only a short walk away. I could handle their branding being a bit more reader-friendly, but they still do a nice job of catching your attention as you're passing by.
Ambience: 5/5
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| It's one of those this-place-is-special entryways |
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| Intact design features from whatever this building was back in the olden days |
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| Looking out from the dining area into the market |
The friend I was dining with (who knows about all the things in Kokomo) told me that his place was conceived as a way to keep some of the products featured at the Kokomo Farmer's Market available more often than just Saturdays in the summer. When you first walk in you're in a market with handcrafted goods like shirts, accessories, beauty products, and crystals. Further back you encounter refrigerator and freezer displays with pantry staples like eggs and meat, all locally procured. And then in the back-back you'll find the cafe - a modest counter and some farmhouse-y seating. I don't know what this building housed originally, but the Radish has done a nice job of keeping the little architectural flourishes from the original structure purposefully intact. There were quite a few people in there while we were, but the seating was spaced out enough that we could still have a quiet conversation. All in all, the ambience is exactly what you want out of a place like this.
Variety: 4/5
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| Lemon Drop - lemonade with vanilla |
The menu at the Radish is small but attractive. They do cool things with drinks, especially - peep the vanilla/lemon concoction I had with my meal above, which was really, really good. The menu rotates special items on and off to keep you on your toes, but even some of the mainstays are neat, like honey lavender coffee. The presentation of the menu adds to the appeal, since it's chalked up next to the counter in fun writing. The little details like calling the sandwiches "sammiches" make everything even more fun.
Quality: 5/5
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| Cilantro Lime Bowl |
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| Ham, Pear & Havarti Sammich |
My drink was good. My friend said her cilantro lime bowl was good. My sammich was so good that I wolfed it down even though I'm currently on antibiotics that ruin my appetite. I didn't try any of the hot drinks, but at one point a server walked by our table to bring someone else their coffee and it smelled really good too. Honestly it doesn't really matter if the menu is small when everything on it tastes this good. The cookies we got for free with our meals (see below) were huge and delicious, too.
Kid-Friendly: 4/5
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| Peanut Butter Cookie (which I munched on while taking in downtown from a parking garage) |
I didn't have my kids with me on this trip, but if they had been I think they would have enjoyed their experience. They definitely would have enjoyed the cookies, anyway. There was a parent with a couple of littles at a table across from us and they were tucking into their lunches just fine. If I'd had my toddler with me I'd have been worried about her getting loose and messing with stuff in the market, but if your kids are older or better behaved than mine they'll probably be golden. This could be a great place for a special lunch date for a kid you want some alone time with.
Would Eat Again?: Green Light
With shopping and eating linked in their space, The Radish is a captivating spot. They have community events as well: While we were there they mentioned they were doing a singalong brunch the next day. Go there to buy the market products and support local growers and artisans, or go there just to enjoy the food and drinks and ambience. I'll definitely be back.
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