Mama Carolla's Old Italian is an italian restaurant in Meridian Kessler, Indianapolis.
Mama Carolla's in Meridian Kessler, Indianapolis is the canonical Italian-American room of 54th Street. Red sauce and a candlelit cult following.
Signature dishes: Veal Marsala, Chicken Parmesan
Must order: Veal Marsala, chicken Parmesan, eggplant rollatini.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Patio in summer.
Address: 1031 E 54th St, Indianapolis, IN 46220
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.
