LEO's Eat'N'Blog: Asian adventures, New Albany style

[Robin Garr]

<table border="0" align="left" width="210"><tr><td><img src="http://www.louisvillehotbytes.com/onion07.jpg" border="1" align="left"></td></tr><tr><td>The Onion Restaurant and Tea House has built quite a following since it opened in New Albany a few years back. LEO photo by Nicole Pullen</td></tr></table>LEO's Eat 'n' Blog with Louisville HotBytes
(Onion Restaurant and Tea House, Tran Japanese Steakhouse)

It's been a great pleasure, in recent years, to see such a surge of restaurant-related activity on the north side of the Ohio. The arrival of a growing variety of eateries in Southern Indiana is good news for "foodies" on both sides of the river.

In addition to the obvious - the boomlet of chain eateries on the riverfront and across the Clarksville strip - the region has been gifted in recent years with interesting, locally-owned independent restaurants that range from taquerias and Asian spots to casually sophisticated dining rooms. We'll have more on that, and a deeper look at the New Albany restaurant renaissance in particular, coming soon.

One of the many epicenters of Southern Indiana eats activity, perhaps just a bit out of sight and out of the way for Kentucky diners, lies along Grant Line and Charlestown roads near I-265 on New Albany's north side. This growing field of shopping centers and strip malls may look like chain country, but it houses such local treasures as Rich O's/New Albanian Brewing Co., arguably the best beer bar in the region and one of the best in the nation; and the recently reviewed Wings To Go and Joe's OK Bayou.

Today Eat 'N' Blog correspondent SUZI BERNERT comes back from an expedition to Charlestown Road, and reports with pleasure on two fine Asian eateries with Japanese themes. Here's her report on Onion Restaurant and Tea House and Tran Japanese Steakhouse ...

Full reports in LEO and on LouisvilleHotBytes.

I've driven past the tea house a lot and thought it was tea only. I might have to stop in and see what they have for vegetarian type dining.

I live very near both of these establishments. I'm a regular at The Onion. It is, as noted, a very fine place. Lunch at the Onion is a really good deal. It's very tasty and reasonable. I, for one, simply cannot stand the Asian style buffets that dot the area and I have found the Onion to be an amazing alternative. I have also been to Tran's and do like it. They also have an enjoyable (not around the grill) lunch menu and meals around the grills are great theater and fine food.

My girlfriend and I ate there last night. I ate so much I fell asleep when I got home. There are several vegetarian options on the menu as well. Our poor server got run to death due to my finicky girlfriend's questions about what was in some of the dishes. A return visit will be in order.