I have to laugh that my first review for this location of Bazbeaux, an Indy pizza icon since 1986, was actually my 300th Yelp review. Now, I'm over 1800 reviews and Yelp has become a huge part of my life.
I was attending a nearby event related to Indy Shorts Film Festival and decided I wanted to visit Mass Avenue a bit once the event was over. This was early afternoon. After looking around a bit, I opted for a long-awaited return to Bazbeaux.
Of course, a lot has changed in this area in the last few years. Parking prices are up (way up), though it's pretty plentiful with nearby street parking (metered) and parking along Mass Avenue. You also have a couple nearby parking garage options. Finding an accessible spot is fairly easy - curb cuts remain solid in this area and there continue to be some (but not all) crosswalks with audio.
As was true nine years ago, accessibility on Mass Avenue can be challenging. That said, I think it has improved. I entered Bazbeaux and immediately noticed some improvement right away. There are two sides - a dining side, a bar side (with tables), and an aisle you can use for carry-out. The interior is warm, calming, and surprisingly intimate. The bar area is a bit louder, it's a bar area after all, but it's still pretty quiet.
Service here remains strong. The hostess offered the bar area or a booth. Tables are not all wheelchair friendly, however, there are quite a few accessible options.
My server, Samuel, was friendly and attentive without being overwhelming. He paced my meal nicely - I ordered garlic bread, my usual unsweetened iced tea (I think they still serve Mighty Leaf - an unusual choice that I love). I ordered a small (10") pizza with one-topping (pepperoni).
I lingered a little bit, though not excessively so like my last visit. This time around, I was alone and my meal time was more traditional.
The prices were definitely higher than last time, however, what price isn't higher than nine years ago? They were on park with the market these days and I had no issues with it - I think my meal came in at about $19 for the pizza, garlic bread, and iced tea (and I did get my always desired refill).
Bazbeaux is unique in that every location (Mass Ave, Broad Ripple, Carmel) is located along the Monon Trail. They all have outside dining options, as well. They serve beer and wine, sandwiches, pizza, and more.
One thing I have to say - accessibility is improved. I was noticeably bothered by it the last time I was here. This time around, I was comfortable and could easily function (I did not try the bathroom). While I could still see it being a bit difficult when packed, I arrived at an ideal time and was quite comfortable. The food was good, the service was very good, the prices were fair, and the atmosphere was nice and peaceful after a busy morning event. It really hit the spot.
So, yeah. Last time around, I gave Bazbeaux a 3-star review. This time, I'm forking over that 4th star.