Downtown’s City Market official opening has been like Indy’s spring: imminent, but unfolding in fits and spurts. Last Wednesday saw the grand opening — of sorts — for City Market tenants Constantino’s Market Place and Moody Meats. Top sirloin and shrimp from Moody’s were prepared in the Clark Appliance Kitchen, ostensibly to showcase both City Market tenants. That the large shrimp with Thai coconut curry sauce was so tasty could have owed to savvy preparation and my preference for savory-sweet. But the top sirloin shone through its asparagus, creamy cheese and crostini dressings.

Moody Meats is your source for all cuts of mostly locally “grown” meat, especially if you live in the heart of downtown. Goose the Market, which opened last fall, offers a great selection of imported and domestic meats, the latter exclusively from butchers in this state. But for those who don’t find a trip to Delaware Street convenient, Moody Meats offers a great selection of local meats, much of it from the 250-acre Moody family farm in Southern Montgomery County. The rest comes from locally- and family-owned meat brokers when demand outweighs their own supply.

This meat market probably devotes more case space to protein than anywhere comparable in the city. I dare carnivores to not find a cut they’ll like. I myself was finally reunited with the skirt steak for which I’ve been yearning to make fajitas. And without having to special order the whole damn cow (though you can do that at Moody, too).

Their Web site is also a great tool. At www.moodymeats.com, you can find everything from the company’s “beyond organic” practices to a cow diagrammed for butchering. It also has a formidable recipe list for everything from filet mignon on a potato cake to baked stuffed lobster tails.

Most popular steaks, according to Moody PR guru Eileen Smits, include the fully trimmed filet ($20.95/pound); the New York Strip ($16.19/pound); and the Ribeye ($15.99). Whole free-range chicken is another top seller at $2.99/pound. For the record, these prices are, in most cases, pennies cheaper than Goose’s. But if you don’t already live downtown, you might spend those extra pennies driving to the City Market anyway.

Constantino’s Market Place complements Moody’s local emphasis with products from the Old World. They also offer many stinky (read: rare and/or good) cheeses, the likes of which you won’t see at Marsh. Constantino’s, also like Goose, offers sandwiches for lunch. The muffaletta, with an assortment of Italian meats, provolone and olive tapenade on ciabatta bread, is pricier than cheap for $9.25. It comes, at least, with a choice of chips or a piece of fruit.

Speaking of fresh fruit, Constantino’s carries that as well in its 1,275-square-foot digs inside the market. The prices for these are actually comparable to Marsh, and the quantity and turnover is better.

But a specialty market wouldn’t be complete without, well, specialty products. Constantino’s delivers these as well. Take the green peppers stuffed with proscuitto — for a pretty $15.49 a pound. Fat, bright green Cerignola olives floated in olive oil for $9.99 a pound. And sprawling sun-dried tomatoes bloomed, red as blood, under a plastic lid. Constantino’s antipasto is gorgeous.

Not all of Constantino’s imports are Italian, though Mediterranean fare is emphasized. I found some packaged but fresh salsa verde for sample that had a sweet, garlicky tang. It’s probably among the best I’ve had in this city.

Downtown dwellers will find their distinguished grocers in the City Market’s newest tenants.

Constantino’s Market Place
www.constantinosmarketplace.com
222 E. Market St.
317-624-1500

HOURS
Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Closed Sundays

Moody Meats
www.moodymeats.com
222 E. Market St.
317-687-1901

HOURS
Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Closed Sundays