Kinsey's Italian Cafe

Last time I drove by, this place was called the Wagon Wheel and it was great. Now this place is called Kinseys. It attempts Italian cuisine but really is a truck stop crowd trying to make a fat profit off canned tomato sauce and sticky pasta. Garlic knots are hard and tasteless. Save your time and go to Fortville for real Italian.

One of the great things about small, privately owned businesses is that customers can build relationships with the owners and operators of these establishments. We were thrilled when Kinsey Italian Cafe opened up near our home a couple years ago, because this meant an opportunity for us to support another small business, and in our area! We are a large family, with older and small children. We do not go out too often, but when we do, we teach our children that we don't go to large chains to eat... we support our community by frequenting small businesses whenever possible. As such, many of our children have never even been to the golden arched place or its competitors. Obviously this costs us more money when we go out, but we think of our purchases as investments in the people that own and work at these places, and until today... this philosophy has always been fruitful.

The first time we frequented Kinsey's Italian Cafe, within weeks of opening, we were seated by a very courteous waitress. We tried many different things off the menu, because we wanted to test the waters. Everything came back with good quality and taste, but problems we had were that the wait time was too long and the pizza slices were too large for the smaller children (since we got the largest size pizza that they had). When the children would pick up the slices... all the toppings would slide off and there would be teardrops, and one of us parents would have to put all the toppings back on and cut the slices into smaller pieces with our fork and butter knife so that the little ones could handle their own food. This is something we are used to doing at home, but when we go out we like to make life as easy as possible. We knew that the next time we came to Kinsey Italian Cafe, we would be better prepared.

The next time we came, we brought activities for our little children to do while we waited and chatted with the older children. We asked the waitress to have the pizza cut into squares, party style, so that our 3 younger children would be able to handle the pizza themselves. Our waitress looked very confused and replied that all their pizzas were in circular form and not in squares. We replied that we knew that the pizzas came in circles, but when the pizza is done, it is normally cut into large triangular wedges. We very much desired that the pizza would be cut into a grid form, so that square shapes would be the result. This way, our children with small hands could handle their own food. The waitress had an "AH HA" moment, and said that of course we could have the pizza that way. The wait time was still long, but we were prepared with activities this time. The pizza and other food and drinks were produced. Quality of food and drinks was very good, and children happily ate their own food. It was a tremendous experience, and we looked forward to coming back again.

Each time we ordered pizza at Kinsey's Italian Cafe, we asked for this style, and with some explanation, we got what we wanted and it worked out great.

The last couple times we had a newborn baby, so when we had a craving for pizza, we called Kinsey Italian Cafe and since the mother did not feel her best, going out was not an option. We used the carry out method. We phoned in our order and asked for the pizza to be cut into the square shapes. The person answering the phone informed us that they did not do that. We replied that they had done it for us before. She said okay. When we got there to pick up the pizza, it was cut into 16 slices in the triangular fashion. She explained that they didn't cut pizza into squares there, but their party style cut was to produce super skinny slices by cutting their regular 8 slice pizza into half. We didn't want to argue, so we accepted their pizza. We took it home and tried it. It was a disaster, so we had to cut the pizza ourselves, over their pattern, which was okay for the small children... but terrible for the parents and older children. We wrote it off as a communication problem, and just promised that we would communicate better what we wanted next time.

The last time we ordered was last night. We called and asked for a 18 inch pizza cut into squares. The phone response from the lady answering the phone was that they didn't do that there. They could cut into smaller slices like they had done for us last time. We said that it didn't work for us, and that they had cut the squares for us before. She went and asked the owner or manager and they refused to cut into squares for us any more because it make the pizza "soggy". This is strange and regretful to us. We went to Gramboli's in Oaklandon instead last night. They cut our pizza into squares no problem.

I am sorry that they don't want our business, or more importantly, a relationship with us.

Just tried the pizza, spaghetti, tortellini, ravioli, lasagna, ziti, light and fluffery manicotti, and a few alfredo's. I have to say this is a delicious place. Big portions, super fresh and all in house. LOVED IT. Prices really good too compared to all the other apples to apples italian in Indy actually a bit less. Six dinners, three desserts, three soda's $90, not too bad and I came home with enough leftovers to not even think of cooking tomorrow. Oh and the cannoli, I regret not getting a half dozen for later. This place is worth the trip to way out there, watch your speed and don't let the building shade you out, just look past it. The interior is clean and the food is worth it.