A show of gratitude for the staff, the chef, and the Skyight Bistro & Wine Bar at The Indianapolis Marriott East Hotel

Restaurant: The Skylight Bistro & Wine Bar @ The Indianapolis Marriott East, Indianapolis, Indiana

I think every good deed should be praised and rewarded.  Honestly.  Because sometimes something unexpected can happen in the most unlikely of places.

Take for example my recent stay at The Indianapolis Marriott East Hotel.  I was in Indianapolis, Indiana for a convention and it was the first night of the event.  After a stressful drive up there (heavy traffic and then being the victim of a semi truck tire blow-out/tread shower), I got checked in, hauled in the luggage, and went to go get my badge and program from my roomie’s mom, who was attending, but staying at a hotel across the lot, not at the convention itself.

With that mission accomplished, my roomie and I turned our attention to other pressing matters – dinner.

We were hungry!

With opening ceremonies for the convention getting close, we decided to give the hotel restaurant a shot.  The Skylight Bistro & Wine Bar does not have a menu up online so we meandered over that way to glance at the one they had out at the host stand at the entrance of the Bistro.  I gave a quick overall glance to what was being offered, and it seemed that salad was once again going to be on my plate.

The host asked if he could help us, and a waiter just happened to meander over.  I explained my dietary restrictions – being a vegetarian and gluten-free.  He gave a nod, said that I could take my time looking over what they have to offer.  And then, after a pause, Mark, who ended up being our waiter that day, said that he would go back and talk to the chef to see if there is something that he could make for me that wouldn’t just be a salad.

I thanked him and he disappeared for a moment.  While he was gone, I decided on a salad that I could have in case that plan were to fall through.  But when Mark returned, he had happy news from the chef.  The chef happened to have gluten-free rice noodles in the kitchen.  And he could definitely work some vegetables in with that.  It’s been a long time since I have had that much happy!  We gave a nod and soon we were being seated in the plush seats of the Skyight Bistro & Wine Bar.

Mark went to retrieve our drink order (hydration – so water!) and when he returned, we were ready to order.  My roomie went off the beaten path…and got the BLT Sandwich which came with fries ($9.00).  As for me…I eyed the salad again, and decided that I’d be bold…and see what the chef could do for me.  So I said the vegetables and rice noodles would be awesome.  Mark then inquired if I would like a sauce with that.  I told him to ask the chef because not all sauces are safe for someone who can’t have gluten.  So, he gave a nod, took the order and went to put it in.  A moment later he returned to tell me the chef was going to cook the noodles in a vegetable broth and that way there would be some flavor throughout the dish.  He did, however, mention that our food would take a bit longer to come out because the chef would have to make mine completely from scratch.

I told him I was happy to wait.

And so…we waited.  It took, just over 20 minutes for our meals to be brought out to us.  My roomie looked quite happy to have food settled in front of her.  And her BLT sandwich looked really, really good.  As for me, a bowl was settled in front of me.  In it was the most fantastic, amazing looking Asian Noodle Soup I ever laid eyes on.  Huge.  The vegetables were steamed and mixed into the broth.  The rice noodles were cooked to perfection, laying in this fantastically seasoned vegetable broth.  And the chef even did up a beautiful little layering of vegetables and noodles to really make it look fine dining.

It was one of the most amazing things I had ever seen.

And so…as Mark went to retrieve a spoon for me, I took my fork and began tasting what I could spear.  The vegetables were cooked to perfection.  There were carrots (ribbons of them), mushrooms, asparagus, red peppers, and squash, beautifully chopped and included in the meal.  The portion…was much more than I expected.  I made my roommate take a taste and even she was happy for me.  I mean, everything was seasoned and done to perfection.  And all of this was created specifically for me…due to dietary restrictions.

There are few chefs who would step up to a challenge like that, but this one did.  And everything in that bowl worked.  It was one of the most fantastic soups I’ve had the honor of trying.  And, it was made specifically for me.  That dish is nowhere on the menu (but, it should be).  Yet, here is a shining example of a restaurant stepping up and taking charge of a dietary need.  More places should learn from this.  My meal was filling, delicious, and special.  I’ll always remember it…and I’ll forever recommend the Skylight Bistro & Wine Bar at the Indianapolis Marriott East now to anyone going into that area.  Brilliantly executed, stunning to look at, and savory.  This was just what I needed that night.

Best of all, despite having to create the dish on the fly, I was only charged $14.00 for my large bowl of gluten-free, vegetarian goodness.  Basically, I was charged the entree price on a Chicken Pasta.  Nice.

Like I said, every good deed should be praised.  Well, here is a shining example of restaurant staff stepping up to a challenge and conquering it.  I am forever grateful to Mark and the chef for really making my dining experience at the Skylight Bistro & Wine Bar one to remember.  I was blown away by the service, the care, the technique, and the food.

No simple salad for me…not this time.

Thank you.