Bistros, trattorias and the everyday rooms where Indianapolis actually eats.
Bistros, trattorias, taverns and neighbourhood rooms: the mid-tier places where Indianapolis actually eats.
The Eagle Mass Ave in Indianapolis fries half-chickens brined in-house and runs Southern sides on Mass Avenue's busiest corner. The line moves fast.
Signature: Fried chicken, Spoonbread
Order: Half a chicken with spoonbread and the kale salad.
Tip: No reservations. Get on the standby list at 5:30 for a 6:30 weekend table.
The Rathskeller in the Athenaeum, Indianapolis has poured pilsner and served schnitzel in the cellar since 1894. The biergarten is one of the best.
Signature: Schnitzel, Bratwurst, Pretzel
Order: Wiener schnitzel, a Sun King on draft, the soft pretzel with beer cheese.
Tip: The biergarten opens late spring through fall. Weekend live music in the Kellerbar.
Bakersfield Mass Ave in Indianapolis runs Mexican street tacos with over 100 tequilas and an American whiskey list on Mass Avenue. A trusted stop in the city.
Signature: Street tacos, Queso, Mezcal
Order: Three street tacos, the queso, a mezcal flight.
Tip: Late-night kitchen Friday and Saturday until midnight. Walk-ins only.
Shapiro's Deli in Indianapolis opened in 1905. The Reuben, the corned beef on rye and the matzo ball soup have run the same counter for a century.
Signature: Reuben, Corned beef on rye, Matzo ball soup
Order: The Reuben with a side of macaroni salad and a slice of sugar cream pie.
Tip: Order at the counter, find a table. Weekend breakfast 9 to noon.
Workingman's Friend in Haughville, Indianapolis is a 1918 lunch counter. The thin-patty smash double cheeseburger is the West Side standard.
Signature: Smash double cheeseburger
Order: The smash double cheeseburger with mustard, onion and pickle.
Tip: Cash only. Lunch counter; in and out. Closed Sunday.
Yats Broad Ripple in Indianapolis runs Cajun-Creole on North College for over two decades. Bowls of jambalaya, etouffee and drunken chicken.
Signature: Chili cheese etouffee, Jambalaya
Order: The chili cheese etouffee with crawfish, the cornbread.
Tip: Order at the counter. Hot sauce on the table.
Mama Carolla's in Meridian Kessler, Indianapolis is the canonical Italian-American room of 54th Street. Red sauce and a candlelit cult following.
Signature: Veal Marsala, Chicken Parmesan
Order: Veal Marsala, chicken Parmesan, eggplant rollatini.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Patio in summer.
Iaria's in Indianapolis has been on the same South College Avenue corner since 1933. The canonical old-school red-sauce Italian-American house.
Signature: Cheese ravioli, Spaghetti meatballs
Order: The cheese ravioli, the meatballs and house Chianti.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday dinner only. Bar walk-ins, dining-room reservations.
Bru Burger Bar opened on Mass Avenue in 2011 and remains the avenue's standard burger room. Hand-pattied house grinds, scratch brioche, craft-beer list.
Signature: Bru burger, Truffle fries
Order: The Bru burger with sharp cheddar, truffle fries, an Indiana draft.
Tip: Walk in for the bar, reservations on OpenTable for the dining room.
Bazbeaux on Mass Ave in Indianapolis has built specialty pies for over 30 years. Thin crust, creative combinations, the Mass Ave dinner-walk standard.
Signature: Specialty pies, Bazbeaux salad
Order: The Quattro Stagioni pie, a Bazbeaux salad, a craft draft.
Tip: Slices 11:00 to 1:00. The patio runs spring through fall.
Forty Five Degrees on Mass Ave is the avenue's sushi anchor. Cocktails, hot-rock cooking and a strong roll list, with a late-kitchen most nights.
Signature: Sushi rolls, Hot-rock dishes
Order: Two creative rolls off the menu, a hot-rock entree, a craft cocktail.
Tip: Late kitchen Friday and Saturday until midnight. Walk-ins seat at the bar.
Tavern at the Point on the historic Old Point Tavern corner is the new operator at one of Indy's oldest bar addresses. Gastro-pub plates, Indiana drafts.
Signature: Smash burger, Reuben
Order: The smash burger with cheddar and the day's draft list.
Tip: Bar walk-ins all day. The corner patio runs spring through fall.
Iozzo's Garden of Italy in Indianapolis carries the recipes of the city's first full-service Italian restaurant. A South Meridian dinner-and-wine room.
Signature: Veal scaloppine, Lasagna, Tiramisu
Order: Veal scaloppine, the house lasagna, the tiramisu.
Tip: Pre-concert dinners get busy; reserve before Symphony or Pacers nights.
His Place Eatery on East 30th Street in Indianapolis runs gourmet soul food and BBQ. Chicken and waffles, ribs, scratch sides and a Sunday family room.
Signature: Chicken and waffles, Ribs
Order: Chicken and waffles, the rib platter, the mac and cheese.
Tip: Sunday is the busiest. Two locations; eastside is the original.
Bodhi on Mass Ave in Indianapolis is a 21-plus women-owned Thai cocktail bar and bistro. Family recipes, creative drinks, late kitchen on weekends.
Signature: Pad see ew, Green curry, Thai cocktails
Order: Green curry, the pad see ew, a Bodhi cocktail.
Tip: Closed Tuesday. The cocktail program is the angle here.
Livery in Indianapolis is a pan-Latin room in a restored 1890s horse livery off Mass Avenue, with a long mezcal list, ceviches and a summer rooftop.
Signature: Ceviche, Empanadas, Mezcal cocktails
Order: Whatever ceviche is on the day's board, the beef empanadas, a mezcal cocktail.
Tip: Two floors plus the rooftop. Reserve downstairs; rooftop seats are walk-in only.
The Garage at Bottleworks in Indianapolis is the city's largest food hall, with two dozen stalls covering pizza, ramen, tortas, ice cream and more.
Signature: Pizzology slices, Poke bowls, Tortas
Order: A Pizzology slice, a poke bowl from Poke Guys, gelato at the creamery.
Tip: Lunch quieter than dinner; weekends queue from noon. Plenty of seating.
King Dough in Indianapolis fires wood-oven pizzas with a sourdough crust, hot honey pies and a serious local-beer list. The Highland Avenue tap room.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Nashville hot honey pie
Order: The Nashville hot honey pizza and a margherita to share.
Tip: No reservations; arrive before 6:30 or expect a wait on weekends.
Julieta Taco Shop in The Stutz, Indianapolis is a counter-service taqueria. Braised meats on house-pressed tortillas, aguas frescas, no shortcuts.
Signature: Birria tacos, Aguas frescas
Order: Three birria tacos with consome, an horchata.
Tip: Lunch only most days. Cash or card, fast counter service.
Fernando's in Broad Ripple, Indianapolis runs two cuisines off one kitchen, Mexican on the order page and Brazilian on the weekend specials.
Signature: Picanha, Carnitas, Feijoada
Order: Picanha steak, the carnitas tacos, the feijoada on weekends.
Tip: Brazilian specials run Friday through Sunday. BYOB-friendly at lunch.
Amelia's at Bluebeard on Virginia Avenue in Indianapolis is the bakery side of the James Beard semifinalist room. Sandwiches on naturally-leavened sourdough.
Signature: Sourdough sandwiches, Bostock
Order: A pressed sandwich on country loaf, a slice of brioche bostock, plus a Tinker pour-over coffee.
Tip: Morning queue Saturday and Sunday. Coffee bar runs until midday.
Goose the Market in Old Northside, Indianapolis is a butcher and charcuterie shop with a sandwich counter and an Italianate wine cellar downstairs.
Signature: The Batali sandwich, Smoked ham
Order: The Batali sandwich, a side of charcuterie, an Italian red downstairs.
Tip: Smugglers Cove wine bar runs in the basement evenings. No reservations.
Maxine's Chicken & Waffles on Indiana Avenue in Indianapolis runs scratch soul food. Fried chicken over Belgian waffles and Sunday brunch institution.
Signature: Chicken and waffles, Smothered chicken
Order: Two-piece chicken with a waffle, a side of mac, a sweet tea.
Tip: Sunday brunch is the city's longest line. Weekday lunch quieter.
Sam's Square Pie on East 10th Street in Indianapolis turns out caramelized-crust Detroit-style pies with edge-to-edge cheese. A 2024 Best Restaurants pick.
Signature: Detroit-style pizza, Sicilian pizza
Order: The El Jefe and a Caesar to share.
Tip: Wed to Sat only. Order ahead at peak; pies run out by close.
Please & Thank You on Mass Ave in Indianapolis is a record-shop coffee bar imported from Louisville. The chocolate chip cookie is the city's reference cookie.
Signature: Chocolate chip cookie, Proprietary blend coffee
Order: A chocolate chip cookie and a cortado off the house espresso.
Tip: The vinyl wall is the shop's other reason. Order at the counter.
Vicino on Mass Ave in Indianapolis is a modern Italian room with hand-rolled pasta, regional Italian braises and a focused Italian wine list.
Signature: Hand-rolled pasta, Brodetto
Order: The day's pasta tasting, a braised meat main, a glass of Sangiovese.
Tip: Reservations Tuesday through Saturday; the bar takes walk-ins.
Cheeky Bastards in Fountain Square, Indianapolis serves traditional British pub plates with a serious Sunday roast. A reliable Indianapolis pick.
Signature: Bangers and mash, Fish and chips
Order: Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding, fish and chips, a real ale.
Tip: Sunday roast 11:00 to 4:00 only; book a week ahead.
Amara in Carmel runs modern South Asian out of an open kitchen, with tandoor-cooked lamb and chef-driven dal. One of the city's best Indian dining rooms.
Signature: Lamb biryani, Dal makhani
Order: The lamb biryani, the dal makhani, garlic naan.
Tip: Closed Monday. Reservations for dinner; lunch is walk-in friendly.
Spoke & Steele in the Le Méridien Indianapolis is the convention-district New American room. Wagyu burger, roasted chicken, cocktail program on the bar.
Signature: Wagyu burger, Roasted half chicken
Order: The wagyu burger and a craft cocktail at the bar.
Tip: Bar walk-ins all evening. Pre-Pacers crowds fill the dining room.
Borage in Speedway, Indianapolis is a cafe-bakery-market with weekend dinner service and a Progressive American menu. A reliable Indianapolis pick.
Signature: Milk bread, Daily small plates
Order: The milk bread course, two seasonal small plates, a glass off the natural list.
Tip: Dinner Thursday through Saturday only. Reservations on the website.
Shoyu Shop at Strange Bird in Irvington, Indianapolis pours deep shoyu broths and runs tantanmen, with a tiki cocktail program from the host bar.
Signature: Tantanmen, Shoyu ramen
Order: A bowl of shoyu ramen and a Tantanmen to share, plus a tiki classic.
Tip: Closed Monday. Strange Bird's bar runs late on weekend nights.