My Favorite Restaurants of Indianapolis
Author: WIBIA | Filed under: Announcements/News, Location: Indianapolis, IN
These lists usually crack me up. Anytime that it lists reader’s favorites, it is the same stuff year after year. However, with the Final Four in Indianapolis, I thought that I would help out on trying to figure out where to eat. I am well aware that many of these are quite the hike from downtown hotels, but Indy’s foot print is huge so whatever…
You are welcome to add more in the comments section as I am sure that there are some favorites that I left out. After all, the list is only my opinion. By the way, we have reviews for many of these places in our Review Archive, so you can check out our thoughts on them there or use the search function. DB and BRE also added to this list, I will note thier picks.
After all, food is not a competition, these are just places that we like to go.
Best Restaurants of Indianapolis:
Pizza: Pizzology, Jockomo, Ale Emporium, Brozzini’s(db), Some Guys (BRE)
Fries: Taste Cafe and Marketplace, Brugge Brasserie, Five Guys (db), Capital Grille Garlic Truffle Fries (db)
Soup: Deeters, Sandra Rice and Noodle, Buda Lounge (Shrimp Wonton), Pho @ Egg Roll #1 (db)
Sandwich: Goose The Market, Hoaglin’s (db)
Taqueria: Taqueria Guanajuato, Burrito Joint, El Pastorcito, Tamale Place(db)
Sushi: Buda Lounge, I-Sushi, Naked Tchopstix.
Steakhouse: Eddie Merlot’s, St. Elmo’s, Fleming’s, Sullivan’s (db)
Cheap Eats: Sesame (Under $5.00 for lunch entree, egg roll and soup), Yats!, Scotty’s Brewhouse (Twitter coupons, ayce wings on Mondays), Tamale Place (db)
Indian: India Garden, Taj of India.
Unclassified good eats: OAKLEYS bistro, Taste, Meridian.
Situations:
Final Four 2010 Indianapolis Eats:
Downtown Indy Restaurants for the Final Four: 14 West, Euphoria, R Bistro, Buda Lounge.
Downtown Drinks for the Final Four: Scotty’s Brewhouse, Kilroy’s, MacNiven’s (db)
Any other time of the year:
Downtown on a date (that you like): 14 West, Harry & Izzy’s (db)
Northside on a date: OAKLEYS bistro.
I want to dress up and then step in a time machine that will take me back 20 years and have great food: Glass Chimney (Carmel), St. Elmo’s (db)
Where do I find Chicago style pizza in Indy? Nancy’s
I am hungry and I need to pick up a few groceries and something to eat: Goose the Market, Saraga Super Mercado (db)
My grandma just died, where can I find her food? MCL Cafeteria, Jonathan’s Byrds (db)
I am really hungover: Qdoba Breakfast Burrito (I know, a chain), Goldmine with all you can eat biscuits and gravy (db)
I like Man v. Food, what should be my first eating contest in Indy: Wings, Etc.
I’m a $30k millionaire: Northside Social.
I need to get out of here for a weekend: Go to Bloomington. Eat at FARM and Tallent. Chicago: Frontera, Everest, Blackbird, etc. (db)
I bitch and complain about the restaurant scene here and I want to start supporting local independents: Recess (or any independents for that matter), Hoaglin’s (db)
I want a local beer: Sun King Brewery.
It is Mardi Gras in Indianapolis: Yats!, Papa Roux
Restaurant I wish that would come back: Cafe Nora.
I’m commonly overlooked, and shouldn’t be: Meridian.
I don’t get it: Bub’s Burgers and Ice Cream, Brugge (db), Union Jacks (db), Jockamo (db)
I am sick of bad hot dogs, where do I find a good one? King David’s Dogs.
I need to satisfy my sweet tooth: Holy Cow Cupcakes (Carmel), South Bend Chocolate (db….from South Bend)
Beer and pizza sounds good: Ale Emporium, Pizzology, Bazbeaux (db)
I am tired of the same old menu, where can I always try something new: R Bistro, Recess.
I was never meant to be popular, but look at me now: Bonge’s Tavern.
My boss let me off early on Friday at 2:00, where should I go? Brugge Brasserie, Rathskellar on the deck (db)
New Brunch: Taste or Zest!
I want to go on a romantic date in Indy, Melting Pot seems like the place to go? Wrong.
-wibia
Tags: beer, best restaurants, Broad Ripple, castleton, downtown, final four, Food, Indianapolis
Very thorough list. I would add Nicole-Taylor’s for pick up and go gourmet; Kona Jack’s for the best fried shrimp around (go for their lunch); Shanghai Lil for tasty apps, soups & food; Tulip Noir for brunch; Workingman’s Friend and Red Key for burgers and beer; desserts/slice o’ pie: Rene’s Bakery and La Mie Emilie.
Great compilation! Will be checking out the pizza at Ale Emporium and Nancy’s asap.
I would like to offer my own – most underrated: Binkley’s
Sorta like ‘I’m commonly overlooked…,’ but slightly different
@Amy. Good suggestions…
@Condi: Thanks, corrections made.
Oh and LOVE the love for Sesame.
C.R. Heroes Family Pub? Fishers?
A few personal additions:
- Pizza: Puccini’s – get the Campfire and/or the Twice Baked (also have the best salad dressings in town, IMO)
- Breakfast: Patachou (any one of its locations, though the Final Four crowd can check out its downtown location in the Simon Building)
- Dinner: Petite Chou in Broad Ripple – their Croque Madame is rich and excellent. Good duck fat frittes too.
- Soup: I think Oakley’s has the best of the bunch, particularly their butternut squash soup – simply stellar.
- Other: Locally Grown Gardens (at 54th and the Monon) – best pulled pork in town. Made daily from locally raised pigs. Outstanding stuff.
- Other other: The Wellington, for a great spot for drinks in Broad Ripple before or after the game (has locally brewed beers on tap).
One last mention re: Chicago restaurants…may be worth throwing Alinea along side Frontera/Blackbird/Avec, etc…it’s a top 10 restaurant in the world (and 2nd highest ranked US restaurant, behind NYC’s Per Se).
You folks have to come into Usual Suspects and try our Shrimp Quesadillas, Pepperoni Bread, Kona Chicken Sliders, Penne a la Vodka, Mac & Cheese, Stuffed Pork Chop, Osso Bucco … we even serve Rosa Hanslits’ fantastic Sausage Lasagna from her “Nicole-Taylor’s Pasta & Market”. Our pork chop comes from Joe’s Butcher Shop in Carmel (as do our steaks). We are also smoke-free till 10:00 p.m. every night. Closed Moday’s. We look forward to seeing you. I am looking forward to trying some of your suggestions as well (where is Nancy’s?)