Top 27 Places to Eat in Indianapolis
Where do I get the best foodie restaurants near me? This is one question foodies like asking because of their interest in exploring different places and dishes. However, Indianapolis has made a name for itself as a destination for delicious food and satisfying carvings. Keep reading to find out more.
About Indianapolis
The most populated city in Indiana is Indianapolis, which also serves as the state capital.
From the numerous historic buildings and districts to the specialized markets in amateur sports and motor racing to the biggest children’s museum in the world, it has a lot to keep you interested.
Additionally flourishing in Indianapolis is the food scene. The city has seen the emergence of many vintages and inventive businesses, including anything from steakhouses to mom-and-pop eateries.
This list of Indianapolis’ best foodie restaurants is a terrific place to start if you’re trying to decide where to eat.
Best Foodie Restaurants in Indianapolis
1. Convivio Italian Artisan Cuisine
Fresh pasta and handcrafted pizzas are the restaurant’s specialties. The eatery emphasizes regional delicacies by utilizing local ingredients.
Every day for dinner, Convivio Italian Artisan Cuisine is accessible.
Try the braised wild boar, carrots, celery, and lamb meatballs served over fried polenta with chimichurri sauce.
The Cotoletta Milanese, a bone-in veal chop that is breaded with rosemary and cooked in butter, and served with a lemon sauce, is another dish that will make your mouth wet.
With your lunch, we’d suggest a glass of Chianti.
2. Ale Emporium
The Ale Emporium has been in business since 1982 as a premier sports bar with inventive menu items and a wide range of drinks.
Start with the standard or boneless wings and any of the sauces, especially the renowned “Herman” sauces.
Try the stromboli or white panini after the Pretzel-Crusted Pickles and Buffalo Chicken Dip, which are delicious sharing appetizers.
It would be wrong to overlook the Falls City Pale Ale and the Lagunitas IPA, both of which live up to their reputation as alehouse.
3. Yats
Yats is an Indianapolis-born eatery with a New Orleans flavor. Now, the eatery has locations in Tennessee and Ohio as well.
It is a great location to find Cajun and Creole food because it is open for lunch and dinner every day.
The Chili Cheese Etouffee with Crawfish is the restaurant’s hallmark dish. But you should also try the Red Beans with Smoked Sausage or the Vegan White Chili.
The rosemary and crushed red peppers in the Drunken Chicken stew will keep you toasty on chilly days.
4. St. Elmo Steak House
With a selection of baked potato, French fries, sauteed green beans, and navy bean soup, various kinds of steak are available.
With any steak, the bourbon peppercorn sauce is a great addition.
If you’re in the mood for seafood, the Crab Stuffed Shrimp is a great choice. The St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail has been on the menu since the restaurant opened.
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5. Napolese Pizzeria
Every day for supper, the establishment maintains a modern and welcoming atmosphere. Try the baked goat cheese with tomato sauce and ciabatta as an appetizer.
Choose the Roasted Salmon with Garbanzo bean succotash as your main course. But trying the artisanal pizza is the main reason tourists come to Naples.
The Bicicletta is a refreshing alternative among the equally distinctive cocktails.
6. Milktooth
In 2014, Jonathan Brooks founded Milktooth with the intention of serving gourmet diner fare made using regional ingredients.
Brooks was recognized by Food and Wine as one of the Best New Chefs a year after his establishment.
Additionally, Bon Appetit ranked the eatery as one of the top ten new restaurants in the nation. Monday through Friday, the restaurant is open from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Try the sandwich topped with celery salad, an over-easy egg, Old Bay velvet hollandaise, and a crawfish cake.
7. Caplinger’s Fresh Catch
Andrew Caplinger launched Caplinger’s Fresh Catch in 2013. Every day, deliveries of seafood are made to the restaurant.
The restaurant’s best-selling sandwich, the Caplinger’s Special, is made with grilled or fried fish. It is fantastic.
8. Nada
Nada, which has several locations across the nation, is open for supper from Tuesday through Sunday in Indianapolis’ Wholesale District.
Latin American and Mexican dishes are included on the menu.
The grilled shrimp tacos with cilantro-lime slaw and citrus achiote, as well as the chicken carbon tacos with chihuahua cheese, crema, ancho salsa, and onion, are both wonderful.
With roasted jalapenos, chorizo, lime crema, sliced onions, and tomato frito sauce, the Chile Relleno is ideal.
9. Livery
A Latin American restaurant called Livery serves delicious food and distinctive mezcals. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan alternatives are available on the menu.
The Chatham-Arch neighborhood’s IndyFringe Theatre, a performing arts center, is only a few blocks away from the eatery.
There are lots of delicious delicacies on the menu. For an appetizer, try the ceviche or yuca fries.
The Mahi-Mahi Tacos with Serrano hot sauce and the Paella with shrimp, scallops, and chorizo fried rice are two of the best main meals.
10. The Rathskeller Restaurant
The Kellerbar, the Biergarten, and the Dining Room are three separate areas of the Rathskeller Restaurant, a bar in the German style.
Live music is played in the restaurant every Wednesday through Saturday. The eatery is close to both the American Legion Mall and Lockerbie Square.
The Onion Dill Bread and the Brat n’ Kraut Balls, are two delectable appetizers on the evening menu.
11. The Old Spaghetti Factory
Visit The Old Spaghetti Factory for an enjoyable dining experience that is suitable for children. Every day for lunch and dinner, it is open.
The restaurant’s design is tasteful and traditional, making for a great visual experience.
The Old Spaghetti Factory is one of the top places in Indianapolis and has several sites across the nation.
Each meal consists of three courses; the guests choose the soup or salad, the entrée, and the dessert.
12. Vida Restaurant
It is situated close to Interstates 65 and 70 in the Lockerbie Square neighborhood. A seasonal menu and a tastings menu are the restaurant’s two main menu options.
The tasting menu consists of six courses, including panna cotta, roasted maitake mushrooms, maize agnolotti, wagyu rib-eye, and yellowfin tuna.
The wine list is extensive and diverse; I was really delighted by the 2018 Pesquera Tempranillo.
13. OP Italian Indy
In a welcoming setting, OP Italian Indy serves traditional Italian fare and Neopolitan pizza.
The restaurant offers a bustling atmosphere and an open kitchen.
OP Italian received an OpenTable Diner’s Choice award in 2019. More so, the eatery is open for lunch and dinner in addition to breakfast.
If you go for brunch, try the bloody mary and mimosa bar; for breakfast, try the Italian Sausage Scramble with roasted bell pepper, caramelized onion, spinach, and parmesan.
14. The Eagle’s Nest
From the top floors of the Hyatt Regency, The Eagle’s Nest provides a stunning 360-degree view of the capitol building and downtown Indianapolis.
Reservations are advised, and business casual attire is required. Every night from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm, the restaurant is open.
To start your meal, try the Baked Brie with puff pastry, nuts, and a wild berry compote. Also, The snickerdoodle cheesecake can then be used to end your meal.
15. Iozzo’s Garden of Italy
The restaurant takes great delight in providing Indianapolis with the best real Italian cuisine.
Iozzo’s Garden of Italy, which has since been restored and reopened after being closed for approximately a decade in the 1930s, is winning numerous culinary accolades.
A delicious Chicken Piccata prepared with white wine, lemon, and capers are offered on the menu.
Pasta has its own category and comes in whole wheat and gluten-free varieties. Try the Rigatoni alla Vodka, Pasta Carbonara, or Lasagna Bolognese.
16. Prime 47- Indianapolis Prime Steakhouse
Locally owned Prime 47 serves fresh seafood and prime USDA cuts of beef. The outstanding dining experience is enhanced by a comprehensive wine list.
The Lobster Ravioli with garlic cream sauce, pesto, and fresh basil and the Steak Tartare on a Himalayan Salt Block with mustard aioli, quail egg, shallots, and truffle are two of the menu’s top starters.
17. Root & Bone Indy
A Waffle Benedict with poached eggs, Tabasco lemon hollandaise sauce, and a Banana Cream Pie Waffle with butter pecan ice cream are among the brunch options.
Try the 16-ounce prime ribeye with asparagus and tomato jam for dinner, the Mojo pork chop, or the braised short rib meatloaf.
The R&B Old Fashioned with bacon was delicious.
18. The Oceanaire Seafood Room
With several locations across the nation, The Oceanaire Seafood Room is a well-liked choice for those looking for a sophisticated experience.
The Sauteed Baby Spanish Octopus and Chesapeake Bay Style Crab Cakes are both excellent appetizers.
For a tasty side dish, add the truffle whipped mashed potatoes. Try the Barrel-Aged Manhattan or the Blackberry Smash for a drink.
19. The Capital Grille
The Capital Grille is a restaurant that serves breakfast, noon, and dinner and is known for its outstanding steaks and fresh seafood.
Private dining for large groups is available, and visitors can use valet parking.
The Capital Grille has a formal dress code, much as establishments that forbid wearing t-shirts or flip-flops.
The crisp and spicy Pan-Fried Calamari with Hot Cherry Peppers is the go-to appetizer. As an appetizer, we would suggest the lobster bisque.
20. Tinker Street Indy
Tinker Street is close to the Old Northside Historic District, a quick drive from the city center, or a pleasant walk for locals.
Start your lunch with the Peaches, Beets, and Buratta, which comes with candied walnuts and bourbon peach chutney.
Try the Jamaican jerk-rubbed cauliflower steak for the main course, which is paired with a mango-coconut sauce.
Halibut with fennel, farro, and Swiss chard is an additional choice. Finish your dinner with a sweet corn cheesecake with basil sabayon for dessert.
21. Shapiro’s Delicatessen
The establishment offers bagels, matzo ball soup, and corned beef that is prepared in-house in a New York deli fashion.
Every day, the deli offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Meatloaf and roasted chicken are examples of entrees.
Delicious selections from the bakery include bagels, onion buns, and rye bread.
The lox and bagel dish transports one from Indianapolis to Manhattan. The Reuben Sandwich is a must-have, but the peppered beef sandwich is a close second.
The all-beef franks should also not be missed; the hotdog was one of my favorite nibbles.
22. Harry & Izzy’s
A more relaxed restaurant honoring the two men’s famed relationship is called Harry & Izzy’s.
You should try the Izzy New York Strip, which is rolled in cracked pepper, fried, and then served with an orange brandy butter sauce, if you’re there for lunch.
The Roasted Chicken Breast with Wild Mushroom Demi-Glace and Redskin Mashed Potatoes is a delicious option for dinner.
23. Tony’s of Indianapolis
A 2020 Open Table Diner’s Choice Winner is Tony’s of Indianapolis. The restaurant is open every day for dinner service.
If you like pasta, try the Pappardelle Fra Diavolo with spinach, roasted peppers, black olives, shrimp, and spicy tomatoes.
24. Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse
At the interactive Fogo de Cho Brazilian Steakhouse, servers continuously present a rotating menu of different fire-roasted meats to diners.
The restaurant is housed in the former Zipper Building, which got its name from its zipper-like exterior, in downtown Indianapolis.
Various types of steak, including filet mignon, ribeye, chicken, beef ribs, and more, are available as a continuous tableside serve.
25. Mesh
The modern eatery Mesh is situated in the heart of Indianapolis.
The restaurant strives to offer inventive fare in a traditional atmosphere ideal for a date night or business lunch.
On weekdays, Mesh serves dinner, while on weekends, it serves breakfast and lunch.
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26. Spoke & Steele
One of Indianapolis’ top bars in 2020 was Spoke & Steele.
Weekend brunch is provided until 1:00 pm, while the restaurant is open for breakfast from 7:00 am to 11:00 am and dinner from 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm on weekdays.
Hotel Le Méridien Indianapolis is home to Spoke & Steele.
Start your evening with the charcuterie board of local artisan meats or the French onion soup.
Try “The Local,” an eight-ounce burger with white colby, garlic, and heirloom cherry tomato on a bacon fat brioche bun, or the lamb meatball with spicy tomato sauce and focaccia toast for an entree.
27. Bluebeard Indy
Within its first year of business, Bluebeard made it to the James Beard Award semifinals for Best New Restaurant in America.
The kitchen is currently run by chef Abbi Merriss, who produces delectable seasonal fare.
Because Bluebeard employs only the freshest ingredients, the menu changes a little bit every day.
Try the chicken and dumplings with herb dumplings, roasted leg and thigh, chicken stock, parmesan, and mirepoix, or the steak fried rice with onion, snap peas, carrot, egg, sesame, and scallion.
Conclusion
The dining scene in Indianapolis is thriving and growing.
Restaurants in the city offer a taste of everything, from family-owned establishments that have been in operation for more than 100 years to brand-new award-winning restaurants that use local, seasonal products.
A trip to the state capitol will make for a fun and thrilling dining experience for Indiana foodies.
If nothing here piques your curiosity, perhaps one of these fantastic sushi restaurants in the area will.