About 55 Southern Stone
55 Southern Stone in Bloomington, Indiana approaches its breaded pork tenderloin sandwich with a basil aioli and a larger bun than most Indiana kitchens use, which produces proportions that look a little different on first glance but hide a thick, incredibly tender loin that reviewers describe as almost fluffy in the middle with excellent breading and great fries on the side.
The tenderloin runs $15 and reviewers call it absolutely worth it. Served hot, juicy, not dry at all, with well-seasoned breading and a fresh build. The Monroe County location on W Patterson Drive puts it south of Indiana University's main campus, which makes it a natural option for game days and student-adjacent evenings. One reviewer who made a trip back to Indiana specifically to try it noted that it might have been in the fryer a hair too long on that visit, but the breading was still well-seasoned and the pork was still juicy. The onion rings drew near-perfect marks.
The broader menu leans Southern with locally sourced ingredients, which gives 55 Southern Stone a distinct identity in the Bloomington dining scene. The atmosphere is pleasant enough that at least one reviewer flagged it as an ideal spot for a date night or anniversary dinner, which is not a typical description of a tenderloin stop.
Bloomington is the Monroe County seat and home to Indiana University, about 50 miles south of Indianapolis on IN-37. For anyone in Bloomington looking for a tenderloin with a slightly different approach, 55 Southern Stone at 405 W Patterson Dr is the stop where the basil aioli and the thick, fluffy loin make a credible case.