Book Nook Bistro

By Erin Shultz
Tribune columnist

January 30, 2006 03:28 pm

— With its wall-to-wall carpets, cozy little tables and open books scattered throughout, Book Nook Bistro is a far cry from the seemingly endless line of chain restaurants that line U.S. 31.
Visitors are greeted by a year-round Christmas tree decorated with books and ornaments. An old bicycle hangs from the ceiling and soft jazz floats through the air.
Walking into the establishment at 311 W. Walnut St. (MAP) is more like walking into the living room of an eclectic artist than one of Kokomo's most innovative restaurants.
And, really, that's what you're doing.
Owner and local artist Reed Stoeckley runs the restaurant out of the gutted shell of an old church and lives in the basement.
It's got the coziness of your neighbor's living room, but only if your neighbor served up fresh and innovative dishes and kept the coffee flowing all day long.
Patrons sit amid shelves of old books -- dog-eared novels, slightly worn children's stories, mysteries, love stories, you name it. Most everything, from the scores of books to the paintings on the walls, is for sale.
On a recent Wednesday, Stoeckley plopped down in a chair next to a couple of regulars and chatted for a moment before jumping up to greet a new batch of customers.
The charm and inviting atmosphere isn't the only thing unique about the Book Nook. One bite of one of its signature Nook Nack sandwiches will tell you that.
Stoeckley stuffs interesting pairs of meats, vegetables, cheeses and spices inside a loaf of bread so they slow cook as the bread rises and bakes.
The result might be the best thing to happen to sandwiches since the Ziploc bag.
The distinct ingredients meld together to form a powerful taste. Soft and warm, the sandwiches burst with flavor without being overpowering.
Check out the turkey pesto sandwich -- sliced turkey with a light Italian pesto, pine nuts, two kinds of cheeses and lettuce.
Or, give their barbecue chicken sandwich a shot. Or the BLT. Or the ham and swiss. The list goes on and on.
Stoeckley serves three sandwich varieties every day and the menu changes daily, but with three to choose from, even the pickiest eaters are sure to find something they'll love.
All sandwiches are served with homemade Potato Wacks, baked potato chips dusted with special cheeses and spices.
In the evening, the restaurant serves chicken and steaks topped with a variety of fresh ingredients. If you're in the mood for something lighter, test out the salads or homemade soups.
If you like to end your meal with something sweet, I highly recommend the fresh pastries and baked goods. I would crawl over broken glass for the oatmeal raisin cookies.
Whatever you order, make sure you top it off with some of the Nook's fresh coffee, because there's nothing better than curling up in a cozy chair with a steaming mug and a good book.