Restaurants
Mention Hoosier cooking and mouths start watering. It’s no wonder. Food is both a tradition and a passion here. The capital city of Indianapolis has a huge smorgasbord of good cooks spread across the land like smooth butter on a warm biscuit.
Indianapolis cooks delight in serving up delectable food—from country-style cooking to regional recipes to cosmopolitan cuisine. No matter what you’re craving, chances are it can be found somewhere in Indianapolis. It’s a virtual paradise for taste buds.
Ask the locals. They’ll tell you where to find the tenderest steak, tastiest tenderloin, freshest salmon, smoothest mashed potatoes, flakiest phyllo, tangiest lemon meringue pie, silkiest chocolate mousse, richest cappuccino, spiciest chili, zestiest ziti, and coolest salads. Or just glance inside a bustling eatery or packed parking lot and know you’ve probably found a rewarding eating spot.
Browse through this chapter and you’ll see once and for all that the old joke about Indianapolis having no place good to eat except at home really isn’t true. And the choices that I’ve listed are only part of the delicious dining establishments in Indy. I couldn’t include them all or this chapter would probably be about as big as the whole book; plus I haven’t had the pleasure of dining in each and every restaurant. New ones are always opening up; beloved ones are adding other locations. So if you run across some great little place that should be included next time, let me know. I’d be happy to check it out.
This chapter is arranged by food category, so your favorite specialties should be easy to find. However, many restaurants serve several different types of cuisine, so if you’re craving steak and your guy or gal is all set for shrimp, many places feature both. I tried to give you a general idea of where to find what. I’ve excluded most chain restaurants because you probably already know about them. Mostly I’ve concentrated on the places that are unique to Indianapolis. For information on even more dining options, see the Nightlife chapter. That’s where I’ve listed sports bars, microbreweries, coffeehouses, and the like. Many of those places have great food, and they often serve it late into the night. You might want to add them to your list of favorites. See the Kidstuff chapter for some especially kid-friendly restaurants.
Most major restaurants take credit cards and debit cards. Many take reservations but don’t require them. Parking is usually available. Indianapolis is such a drivable city with handy parking lots as well as street parking. Being able to get just about anywhere in a half hour or less is a blessing.
Finally, keep in mind that Indy’s restaurant scene seems to be constantly growing and changing. Operating hours change, businesses switch hands, chefs play musical chairs, eateries close and reemerge with new names and menus. And new restaurants open up regularly. If you’re planning a special meal out, it’s a good idea to call first, at least to make sure of the operating hours.
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Address: 40 W. Washington St.
2. Circle City Bar and Grille
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (317) 405-6100
Address: 350 W. Maryland St.
Description: Located in the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, this upscale restaurant is a good place to dine even if you’re not staying at the hotel. Oversized cushy booths, warm wood tones, and colorful artwork of local scenes create a comfortable, relaxed setting. Regional cuisine is a specialty with Indiana farmed foods from eggs and pork to organic vegetables and wild mushrooms. Favorites are Maple Leaf Farms breast of duck served with sweet orange segments, crunchy hazelnut croquettes, and crisp summer vegetables. A nice wine list and a signature martini menu are pleasant extras. Circle City is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Address: 337 W. 11th St.
4. Eagle’s Nest Restaurant
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (317) 616-6170
Description: This restaurant got its name for a good reason. Perched high atop the Hyatt Regency, Eagle’s Nest is the city’s only revolving rooftop restaurant. Voted “The Most Romantic Restaurant in Indianapolis,” Eagle’s Nest offers glorious sunsets and wonderful 360-degree views of the downtown skyline. Take a relaxing glide around the city top while perusing a great menu with so many choices it’s wonderfully hard to decide. A favorite is the crab-crusted halibut topped with crabmeat, baked and served on sautéed spinach with roasted fingerling potatoes and lemon-caper velouté. Then again, the grilled Fischer Farms frenched rib eye steak served with truffle butter is a delight as well. Eagle’s Nest features an extensive wine list.
5. Ethan’s Restaurant
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (317) 635-2000
Address: 31 W. Ohio St.
Description: The Monumental Pasta Bar is the star at Ethan’s inside the Sheraton City Centre Hotel. Featured weekdays, the bar offers an amazing number of pasta combinations. Sometimes its fun to see what diners will create before fixing your own.
6. 14 West Restaurant
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (317) 636-1414
Address: 14 W. Maryland St.
Description: A changing selection of classic American cuisine with a twist has made 14 West a popular dining spot. Combinations are yummy, such as Kobe Mac ‘n’ Cheese—an eight-ounce Kobe beef filet with lobster macaroni and cheese. Local ingredients are proudly promoted, such as Viking Farms lamb, served with crispy polenta veal jus and tomato jam. The organic Scottish salmon is prepared with red and golden beets, roasted fennel, gnocchi, and yam puree. Attentive servers pamper diners in this posh restaurant.
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Address: 153 S. Illinois St.
8. Hollyhock Hill
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (317) 251-2294
Address: 8110 N. College Ave.
Description: Started in 1928 when V. D. Vincent began serving fried chicken dinners to family and friends at his County Cottage on the outskirts of town, this establishment is a family tradition. The name was changed to honor the beautiful hollyhock bushes on the lawn, but the house specialty is still old-fashioned fried chicken. Skillet fried and served with pan gravy, the chicken is accompanied by big bowls of mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn, as well as hot breads with apple butter. Ownership has changed several times over the years, but the emphasis is still on family-style chicken dinners. A particular favorite on Sundays after church, Hollyhock Hill also serves steak and seafood. Make your own ice-cream sundae for dessert and munch on a brownie while you enjoy the cold treat.
9. Iron Skillet
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (317) 923-6353
Address: 2489 W. 30th St.
Description: A century-old home is the setting for traditional Hoosier cooking. Family owned and operated since 1956, the Iron Skillet got its name because that was what was used to fry steak and chicken. Generous portions are served in a comfortable setting of soft music, candlelight, fresh flowers, and delicate latticework. Chicken, seafood, and steak come accompanied by big bowls of mashed potatoes, gravy, and homemade baking-powder biscuits. Dessert is make-your-own sundaes. The Iron Skillet also offers a wine list.
10. The Jazz Kitchen
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (317) 253-4900
Address: 5377 N. College Ave.
Description: Great food and great music are the winning combo that make this a popular restaurant. Featuring culinary creations from around the world, the menu ranges from steaks and seafood to inventive vegetarian and pasta creations. Paella is a Jazz Kitchen specialty, with a blend of shrimp, scallops, fish, mussels, andouille sausage, and chicken in a savory saffron rice. The dish takes at least one hour to cook. Another goodie is the Crescent City Crab Cakes, four handmade crab cakes served with Cajun rice and homemade Creole mayonnaise and cocktail sauce.
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Address: 1464 W. 86th St.
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Address: 123 W. Louisiana St.
13. R bistro
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (317) 423-0312
Address: 888 Massachusetts Ave.
Description: Located in Indy’s Mass Ave arts district, R bistro offers an eclectic, creative cuisine from chef Regina Mehallick. Exhibiting a fusion of global culinary influences, the menu changes weekly and uses fresh local ingredients and seasonal flavors. Proud of its Hoosier offerings, the restaurant offers dishes such as Indiana fried green tomatoes, an Indiana burger, and White Marble Farm pork tenderloin. When summer produce is at its peak, look for the summer vegetable stew over rice. Desserts are tasty and sometimes feature unexpected combinations. Favorites are the cherry apricot upside-down cake and the plum tarte tatin with honey ice cream.
14. Ram Restaurant and Big Horn Brewery
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (317) 955-9900
Address: 40 S. Illinois St.
Description: The Ram offers a huge menu so be prepared to spend some time deciding unless you already know your favorite. You can build your own pasta or order a fresh-made burger, including turkey burgers and veggie burgers. Add a brewery touch and order the Pacific Rock Shrimp Fajitas with Big Horn Buttface Amber Ale–marinated shrimp, pan sautéed with lime cilantro sauce, onion, red pepper, and Anaheim pepper. The fish and chips entree gives you a choice of Alaska Arctic cod or wild sockeye salmon dipped in Big Horn Hefeweizen beer batter and cooked golden. Enjoy a full-service bar and big-screen TV in the lounge.
City: Indianapolis, IN
Category: Restaurants
Address: 725 Massachusetts Ave.