Abshier Ice
House
Imagine you are perched on a
chilly New England beach, dressed in a snuggly
sweater watching the ocean waves. To warm up, you down a steamy, creamy bowl of
clam chowder. A giant wave rolls in a soaks you to the bone with frigid salt
water and you stub your toe on a rock. Now imagine you are in a neighborhood
sports bar in Chicago,
watching the Bears face off with the Colts. Surrounded by locals, and being
completely outnumbered because you are a Colts fan, you order up the most
authentic dish they have to try to fit in a little because you don’t want to
get your butt kicked in the parking lot. Your eyes widen as a monster hot dog
topped with a mountain of relish, tomatoes, mustard and onions stares back at
you. Instantly all the locals know exactly who you are…
If you find that these scenarios only have one positive
thing in common – the food – you’ll be happy to know you don’t have to travel
to anywhere but Newburgh to partake in genuinely delicious food that will
conjure up memories that you have never even had.
The
Abshier Ice House, located on Jennings Street, once supplied all of the ice to
the town of Newburgh. Formerly Café Newburgh, the new owners, Roxanna and James
Geisler, decided to change the name to better reflect the ambiance and food
that is served and honor the Icehouse’s first owners, James and Cora Abshier.
Roxanna, James and their children were very gracious hosts to the N4U crew as
we devoured some dishes that you won’t usually find in the area.
We started our dinner with a bowl of the authentic clam
chowder I asked you to picture earlier. This clam chowder was even favored by
those in the group that were less than “fans” of seafood. With a base that was
much like potato soup, the more squeamish of the group deemed it “inoffensive”
to their taste buds. And those, like myself, who enjoy the little sea creatures
felt the clam chowder was delectable.
The next item that came out was another sea creature –
calamari or fried squid. The rings were crispy and the perfect start to any
meal or accompaniment to a tasty microbrew. The Abshier Ice House boasts a wide
selection of microbrews and international favorites that also pair nicely with
the salty, zingy Hummus we sampled.
Waiting for the next course, the crew devoured the
appetizers right down to the crumbs. A spread of brightly colored baskets began
covering our tables. We peeked into the baskets to discover a plethora of
dishes that not only made our mouths water but peeked our interest. Besides the
cheeseburger that was very delicious, everything was a bit of an intrigue. I
began with the meatball sub. I knew immediately this meatball sub wasn’t the
work of a food processing plant; someone from inside the restaurant had rolled
these balls with care and consideration. And I was right, Roxanna was the
culprit. She makes most of the food, and makes it not only with care and
consideration but tries to keep the food as healthy as possible.
Next I tried the golden fried Icelandic cod. It was crispy
and served with a side of creamy, scrumptious coleslaw. Finally, I came upon
the two signature items – hot dogs. These aren’t just any hot dogs; they were
so big, I could barely fit them in my mouth. The first hot dog was the Chicago
Dog topped with… you guessed it… relish, tomatoes, mustard and onions – minus
the butt kickin’. The other dog was in its own casing and topped with sautéed
onions, provolone cheese and lettuce. I just about melted into this dog and
there was so much of it, even if you are a big guy just one will probably fill
you up.
We thought our meal was over but what came next was the
best part. And no, I’m not talking about the brownie ala mode that is a
beautiful monster brownie made fresh by Roxanna’s hands or the warm, plump
bread pudding topped with a sweet, buttery whiskey sauce; I’m talking about the
ambiance of the Abshier Ice House. The Geisler family are practicing musicians
and even own and operate the recording studio behind the restaurant. The family
supports new musicians by hosting upcoming artist nights. See our Night Life
pages for a complete listing of the Abshier Ice House entertainment.
If you are looking for a delightful outdoor dining
experience, look to the patio of the Abshier Icehouse. And, the food, beautiful
view and mismatched plates, (Did I mention the serving plates aren’t exactly
uniform? I don’t think so, but it was absolutely adorable.) weren’t enough
reason to visit the Icehouse, consider the fact that the establishment has been
around for over a century and during that time, a building can acquire certain
“characteristics” of its own. After our meal we spoke extensively with the
Geislers about the “house guests” that stop in for a bite to eat and a little
company. Now, you might not believe in the existence of ghosts, apparitions or
even the afterlife, but since it is the season of such things, when we
discovered that several employees and patrons of the Icehouse have had some
sort of paranormal experience we decided it was worth mentioning. The Geislers’
daughter told me of the man who enters the restaurant and sits at a certain
booth. When she goes to wait on the gentleman, he suddenly disappears. We were
told of the young boy who looks in through a window and of Stewie. You will
have to ask the Geislers about Stewie. The story is too good for me to try to
convey it in this short article.
If this all creeps you out, please don’t hesitate to
visit the Icehouse for a meal. We were at the establishment for over three
hours and I never once caught a glimpse of anything out of the ordinary and the
staff assures me all their “visitors” are very friendly.
The Abshier Icehouse is a wonderful place to enjoy live
music and delectable fare. The ghost stories are a fun addition to your
experience, but just talking with the owners is the real treat. “We love our
customers,” says Roxanna. “They are the coolest!” Roxanna and her staff also
love to cater private parties and make wedding and special occasion cakes. Call
(812) 842-2991 for more info or to book the Icehouse for your private event
today!
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PHOTO CREDIT | MARK MCCOY
