City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Address: 401 E. Michigan St.
32. Greek Islands Restaurant
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (317) 636-0700
Address: 906 S. Meridian St.
Description: A true family affair, Greek Islands Restaurant is operated by Elias and Fofo Stergiopoulos, along with their children George, Penny, and Angela, the chef. As you can tell from the names, this is authentic Greek cuisine. Hand-rolled phyllo pies and items such as the taramosalata—caviar pate with lemon and olive oil—taste straight from the Old Country. The menu does a great job of giving the Greek name and explaining each dish. The galactobouriko is a sweet ending to a meal. The phyllo pastry is filled with homemade custard and smothered in light syrup. Greek Islands also has a nice selection of wine and features a belly dancer for entertainment on Fri and Sat.
33. India Garden
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Description: Owned by Darshan Mehra, known as “Tony,” India Garden serves chicken, lamb, seafood, and a large selection of vegetarian dishes, plus beer and wine. The menu features authentic northern India entrees using a special charcoal clay oven, known as a tandoor, to produce unique flavors. Take some time to enjoy the extensive menu and make sure you see the dessert choices, such as kulfi—an authentic Indian ice cream made with milk and nuts—and rasmalai—homemade cheese balls sweetened in milk and flavored with rose water and nuts.
34. Iaria’s Italian Restaurant
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (317) 638-7706
Address: 317 S. College Ave.
Description: Family owned since 1933, Iaria’s serves southern Italy–style food featuring homemade sauce and pizza. Now in the fourth generation of family members, Iaria’s still cooks spaghetti sauce with Mama Antonia’s recipe. Plenty of pasta dinners are offered, along with traditional pizza pies. Served in a hollow lemon, the lemon sorbet is a nice way to end a meal.
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Address: 3550 E. 86th St.
36. Milano Inn
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (317) 264-3585
Address: 231 S. College Ave.
Description: Serving Indy since 1934, Milano Inn is a comfortable family-owned restaurant with traditional Italian favorites. Of course, there is plenty of homemade spaghetti and meatballs and pizza but the menu is chock-full of many other delicious choices as well as mouth-watering desserts. Sip a specialized martini or order wine while you peruse the menu and enjoy the Old World ambience of the Milano Inn. Attention to detail is a given at the restaurant and diners are made to feel welcome.
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Address: 1456 N. Delaware St.
38. Mikado Japanese Restaurant
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (317) 972-4180
Address: 48 S. Illinois St.
Description: Opened in 1997, Mikado is the first Japanese restaurant in downtown Indianapolis. The menu features an array of succulent fusion entrees including steak, scallops, lobster, chicken, and lamb, as well as traditional Japanese favorites such as udon, tempura, and bento boxes. Large and varied, the menu offers easy descriptions of the dishes. The sushi and sashimi offerings also are extensive. With private rooms and configurable dining areas, Mikado offers considerable privacy. Mikado also features an extensive wine list, full bar, and premium sake selection.
39. El Sol De Tala
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (317) 636-1250
Address: 2444 E. Washington St.
Description: Serving authentic Mexican food for over three decades, El Sol De Tala has a rustic Mexican décor, some mariachi music in the background, and a popular guacamole bar. It also features almost 100 varieties of tequila. Servings are generous and all dishes include rice and refried beans.
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Address: 8650 Keystone Crossing
41. Bosphorus Istanbul Café
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (317) 974-1770
Address: 935 S. East St.
Description: Like an oasis hidden away in Indianapolis, Bosphorus Istanbul Café is located in the historic Fletcher Place neighborhood near Eli Lilly’s headquarters. The restaurant’s hand-painted designs on the floor and ceiling create a cozy atmosphere. Indy’s first and only Turkish restaurant offers a variety of authentic Turkish appetizers, soups, entrees, and desserts. A favorite to start the meal is the appetizer combo of hummus, stuffed grape leaves, tabouli, baba ghanoush, börek, and eggplant salsa.
42. Saffron Café
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (317) 917-0131
Address: 621 Ft. Wayne Ave.
Description: Indy’s only Moroccan restaurant, Saffron Café features the culinary talents of owner Anas Sentissi and his family’s recipes. To create a Moroccan experience, Sentissi brought the chandeliers, table settings, mirrors, and other decor straight from Morocco. On the menu are Moroccan dishes, including traditional tajines (Moroccan stews), kabbabs, gyros, pasta, paella (seafood, vegetables, chicken, and saffron rice), desserts, and more. Wine is imported from Morocco and fresh seafood is flown in daily. Everything on the menu is homemade from scratch. Enjoy outdoor dining during warmer months and belly-dancing entertainment every Thursday.
43. Bazbeaux
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Description: Opened in Broad Ripple on May 12, 1986, the original Bazbeaux started off in a decrepit old house that was once the home of the town grave digger. Quickly becoming famous for fresh, delectable pizza, the restaurant earned its first honor its first year for “Best Pizza in Indianapolis.” Bazbeaux has expanded into a new home—several of them, in fact. With homemade dough and sauces, plus a choice of 52 toppings, the pizza is still a great choice, but the restaurant also offers salads and sandwiches, along with a nice selection of beer and wine.
44. Canal Point Grill
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (317) 253-5844
Address: 832 E. Westfield Blvd.
Description: First opened as the Broad Ripple Seafood Shack, Canal Point Grill now has a larger menu and a full liquor license. Daily fresh fish selections are prepared either grilled, blackened, lemon buttered, or pan battered. Or order pasta your way—penne pasta with red or white sauce and either chicken, fish, shrimp, or vegetables, or any two of those options. The menu has a boatload of sandwiches and appetizers. Sit at the neat outside tiki bar area, munch to your heart’s content, and make believe you’re on an sea-swept beach. Live music is offered on Fri, Sat, and Sun nights.
45. Kona Jack’s Fish Market and Sushi Bar
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (317) 843-1609
Address: 9419 N. Meridian St.
Description: Saltwater aquariums with brilliantly colored fish help set the scene for this Hawaiian-styled restaurant. Named Indy’s best seafood restaurant by local diners, Kona Jack’s is said to offer the widest array of fresh- and saltwater fish, shellfish, clams, oysters, and sushi in the Midwest. The menu certainly seems that way. Enjoy drinks on the outside patio and maybe take in a sunset special—smaller portions of entrees for a smaller price, available Mon through Fri before 6 p.m.