Liz Biro

liz.biro@indystar.com

I’m declaring that Castleton’s new Metro Diner has the best breaded tenderloin in Indianapolis.

But what the (bleep) do I know about breaded tenderloins?

Who the (bleep) do I think I am?

Psst: Liz Biro isn't even a Hoosier.

I hear ya, and I thought about that when USA Today asked me to submit nominations for its Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin in Indiana contest in 2016. The public voted on the nominations and picked the top 10 breaded tenderloins Indiana.

USA Today Top 10: These are your picks for Indiana's best breaded tenderloin

On the list: Tie Dye Grill in moving to a new location

Although I’m not a Hoosier, I kind of felt qualified to talk breaded tenderloins. My father was a Hungarian with a soft spot for German food. We ate a lot of breaded tenderloins at my house. Dad called them “cutlets.” Sometimes they were thick, sometimes they were pounded thin, sometimes they landed between two slices of white bread.

White bread? Heresy! Bun only, please.

Breaded tenderloin rules exist, yet Indiana has a million breaded tenderloins. At least it seems that way when you ask people where to find the best one.

The signature Indiana sandwich dates to the state’s German roots, but the meat is not exactly a schnitzel – or a cutlet.

Proper breaded tenderloins should be made with pork loin, pounded or cubed to tenderize the meat. Some are hammered into ultra-thin disks the size of platters. Quality ingredients and cooking finesse matter most. Breading should never trump the pork's flavor or become soggy before the last bite. Condiments should be few. A lettuce and tomato garnish is pretty dolled up.

According to those guidelines, Metro Diner’s tenderloin doesn’t qualify as "the real thing." All that bacon, Provel cheese, fresh tomato slices, sautéed spinach, caramelized red onions, crispy fried jalapeno slices and garlic mayonnaise? On grilled Italian bread? It’s just too much for humble-minded Indiana. But, man, it tastes good.

I’ve yet to sample every breaded tenderloin in Indiana, so I asked for your opinions as I considered my Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin in Indiana contest nominees.

I also ran my picks by Indianapolis tenderloin guru Rick Garrett. The guy eats breaded tenderloins just about every day and reports about them at his All Tenderloins, All the Time blog.

Between my thoughts and his extensive experience, plus a long discussion about breaded tenderloins over a lunch of breaded tenderloins, we came up with what we considered a solid list.

And what did USA Today do? They asked for other people’s opinions. The nerve!

Garrett’s and my list follows. Metro Diner had not opened when we composed it. Compare our selections to your list. Compare it to the USA Today Best Breaded Pork Tenderloins in Indiana list. Tell me what you think. Throw some rotten tomatoes at me. Tell me to get the (bleep) out of Indiana. This battle is not over. Nor will it ever be.

The Aristocrat, 5212 N. College Ave

The Gas Light Inn, 2280 S. Meridian St.

Nick's Kitchen, 506 N. Jefferson St., Huntington

Mr. Dave’s, 102 E. Main St., North Manchester

Pawn Shop Pub, 2222 E. 54th St.

Nickle Plate, 8654 E. 116th St.

Tie Dye Grill, 1311 N. Shadeland Ave.

The Friendly Tavern, 290 S. Main St, Zionsville

The Steer Inn, 5130 E. 10th St.

Ray's Drive-In, 1900 N. Courtland Ave., Kokomo

Oasis Diner, 405 W. Main St., Plainfield

The Mug, 117 Apple St., Greenfield

Gatsby’s Pub & Grill, 6335 Intech Commons Drive

C. R. Heroe’s Family Pub, 10570 E 96th St., Fishers

Jimmy B’s, 10598 College Ave.

The Brau Haus, 22170 Water St., Oldenburg

Ralston’s Draft House, 635 Massachusetts Ave.

Wagner’s Village Inn, 22171 Main St., Oldenburg

86th Street Pub, 3661 W. 86th St.

Average Joe’s, 814 Broad Ripple Ave.

Follow IndyStar food writer Liz Biro on Twitter @lizbiro, Instagram @lizbiro, Facebook and Pinterest. Call her at (317) 444-6264.