40 mid-range places in Indianapolis, editor-picked. the comfortable everyday-good restaurants in Indianapolis, with real cooking and no surprise on the bill. All Indianapolis food.
Tinker Coffee Co. ★ 4.8
speedway · 1125 W 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Tinker Coffee in Riverside, Indianapolis roasts single-origin beans on West 16th Street. The city's leading specialty roaster, with a Saturday tour.
Tip: Roastery production hours; cafe service limited. Open Mon-Fri only.
Sun King Brewery Downtown ★ 4.8
mass-ave · 135 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Sun King Brewery on North College in Indianapolis is the city's biggest local. The downtown taproom runs the full lineup with rotating food trucks outside.
Cafe Patachou ★ 4.8
meridian-kessler · 4901 N Pennsylvania St, Indianapolis, IN 46205
Cafe Patachou at 49th and Penn in Meridian Kessler, Indianapolis since 1989. Martha Hoover's flagship and the city's defining brunch room for decades.
Goose the Market ★ 4.7
old-northside · 2503 N Delaware St, Indianapolis, IN 46205
Goose the Market in Old Northside, Indianapolis is a butcher and charcuterie shop with a sandwich counter and an Italianate wine cellar downstairs.
Tip: Smugglers Cove wine bar runs in the basement evenings. No reservations.
Provider ★ 4.7
near-eastside · 1101 E 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Provider on East 16th in Indianapolis is a coffee-and-cocktail lounge from a local barista crew. House-made syrups, a deep espresso menu, evening cocktails.
Tip: Coffee bar by day, cocktail lounge in the evenings.
Arlene's ★ 4.7
fletcher-place · 534 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Arlene's on Virginia Avenue in Fletcher Place is Jonathan Brooks's 2026 reset of Milktooth. A Southern meat-and-three concept named for the chef's mother.
Shapiro's Delicatessen ★ 4.6
downtown · 808 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
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.
Tip: Order at the counter, find a table, they bring it out. Cash-friendly. Weekend breakfast 9 to noon.
Shapiro's Delicatessen ★ 4.6
downtown · 808 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
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.
Tip: Order at the counter, find a table. Weekend breakfast 9 to noon.
Hubbard & Cravens Coffee ★ 4.6
meridian-kessler · 4930 N Pennsylvania St, Indianapolis, IN 46205
Hubbard & Cravens has roasted coffee in Indianapolis since 1991. The 49th and Penn cafe runs the city's longest specialty bean program with strong espresso.
Tip: The 52nd Street roastery offers cuppings on select Saturdays.
Calvin Fletcher's Coffee Company ★ 4.6
fountain-square · 647 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Calvin Fletcher's on Virginia Avenue in Indianapolis is a Fountain Square cafe and charitable foundation. A solid Indianapolis room. An Indianapolis favorite.
Tip: The cafe doubles as a community meeting room.
Daredevil Brewing Speedway Taproom ★ 4.6
speedway · 1151 N Main St, Indianapolis, IN 46224
Daredevil Brewing in Speedway, Indianapolis runs a two-acre taproom blocks from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Big patio, all-ages outside, 21-plus inside.
Goose the Market ★ 4.6
old-northside · 2503 N Delaware St, Indianapolis, IN 46205
Old Northside butcher and salumi shop on Delaware with sandwiches, gelato and Enoteca wine cellar; Smoking Goose charcuterie, Bon Appetit top-ten sandwiches.
Tip: The cellar bar opens Thursday to Saturday evenings. Reserved bench seats only.
Petite Chou Bistro Brunch ★ 4.6
broad-ripple · 823 Westfield Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46220
Petite Chou by Patachou in Broad Ripple, Indianapolis runs Saturday and Sunday brunch since 2007. The Travel and Leisure US French restaurant list anchor.
Borage Speedway Brunch ★ 4.6
speedway · 1609 N Lynhurst Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46224
Borage in Speedway, Indianapolis runs cafe-bakery brunch Tue through Sun. Chefs Josh Kline and Zoe Taylor turn out the city's best progressive small plates.
Amelia's ★ 4.5
fletcher-place · 653 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Amelia's at Bluebeard on Virginia Avenue in Indianapolis is the bakery side of the James Beard semifinalist room. Sandwiches on naturally-leavened sourdough.
Tip: Morning queue Saturday and Sunday. Coffee bar runs until midday.
Sam's Square Pie ★ 4.5
indy-east · 2829 E 10th St, Indianapolis, IN 46201
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.
Tip: Wed to Sat only. Order ahead at peak; pies run out by close.
Shoyu Shop at Strange Bird ★ 4.5
irvington · 128 S Audubon Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46219
Shoyu Shop at Strange Bird in Irvington, Indianapolis pours deep shoyu broths and runs tantanmen, with a tiki cocktail program from the host bar.
Tip: Closed Monday. Strange Bird's bar runs late on weekend nights.
Bovaconti Coffee ★ 4.5
fountain-square · 1042 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Bovaconti Coffee in Fountain Square, Indianapolis runs an espresso program featuring local Indiana roasters. The Virginia Avenue room is the anchor.
Tip: Weekend mornings draw a queue. Bar seating turns over fast Beans available to take home.
Workingman's Friend ★ 4.5
haughville · 234 N Belmont Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46222
Haughville tavern on Belmont since 1918, founded by Louis Stamatikin; thin-edged smashed double cheeseburgers, chili and cold draft beer, cash only.
Tip: Cash only. Don't ask for ketchup, ask for mustard. Closed Sundays.
Shapiro's Weekend Breakfast ★ 4.5
downtown · 808 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
Shapiro's Delicatessen on South Meridian in Indianapolis runs weekend breakfast 9 to noon. Matzo brei and corned-beef hash served counter-style since 1905.
The Rathskeller ★ 4.4
mass-ave · 401 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
The Rathskeller in Indianapolis has poured pilsner and served schnitzel in the Athenaeum since 1894. The biergarten is one of the best in the city.
Tip: The biergarten opens late spring through fall. Weekend live music in the Kellerbar; the dining room is quieter.
The Rathskeller ★ 4.4
mass-ave · 401 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
The Rathskeller in the Athenaeum, Indianapolis has poured pilsner and served schnitzel in the cellar since 1894. The biergarten is one of the best.
Tip: The biergarten opens late spring through fall. Weekend live music in the Kellerbar.
King Dough ★ 4.4
near-eastside · 452 N Highland Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
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.
Tip: No reservations; arrive before 6:30 or expect a wait on weekends.
Foundry Provisions ★ 4.4
herron-morton · 236 E 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Foundry Provisions in Herron-Morton, Indianapolis runs a corner cafe with a breakfast sandwich program and local-roaster pours. A reliable Indianapolis pick.
Tip: Window-counter seating for laptops. Lunch crowds peak at noon.
Bier Brewery and Tap Room ★ 4.4
meridian-kessler · 5133 E 65th St, Indianapolis, IN 46220
Bier Brewery on East 65th Street in Indianapolis is a north-side neighborhood taproom running German-inspired American craft. A consistent local award winner.
Hank's Smoked Briskets ★ 4.4
crown-hill · 3736 Martin Luther King Dr Ste A, Indianapolis, IN 46208
Crown Hill takeout pit from Texan Hank Fields on Martin Luther King Drive since 2004, brisket smoked 8 to 12 hours over Texas mesquite; closed Mondays.
Tip: Run out by mid-afternoon. Go by noon for a full plate Word-of-mouth is the only marketing.
Cafe Patachou Downtown ★ 4.4
downtown · 225 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Cafe Patachou Downtown across from the State Capitol in Indianapolis serves the same flagship menu in a daylit downtown room. Cinnamon toast standard.
Iaria's Italian Restaurant ★ 4.3
downtown · 317 S College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Iaria's in Indianapolis has been on the same South College Avenue corner since 1933, the canonical old-school red-sauce Italian-American house.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday dinner only. Walk-ins seat at the bar; reservations for the dining room.
The Eagle Mass Ave ★ 4.3
mass-ave · 310 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Cincinnati import that nails the Mass Avenue fried-chicken brief. Brined and dredged in-house, served with spoonbread and a half-dozen Southern sides.
Tip: No reservations. Get on the standby list at 5:30 for a 6:30 weekend table, or go for an early lunch.
The Eagle Mass Ave ★ 4.3
mass-ave · 310 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204
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.
Tip: No reservations. Get on the standby list at 5:30 for a 6:30 weekend table.
Iaria's Italian Restaurant ★ 4.3
downtown · 317 S College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Iaria's in Indianapolis has been on the same South College Avenue corner since 1933. The canonical old-school red-sauce Italian-American house.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday dinner only. Bar walk-ins, dining-room reservations.
His Place Eatery ★ 4.3
east-side · 6916 E 30th St, Indianapolis, IN 46219
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.
Tip: Sunday is the busiest. Two locations; eastside is the original.
Julieta Taco Shop ★ 4.3
stutz · 1060 N Capitol Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Julieta Taco Shop in The Stutz, Indianapolis is a counter-service taqueria. Braised meats on house-pressed tortillas, aguas frescas, no shortcuts.
Tip: Lunch only most days. Cash or card, fast counter service Walk-ins usually OK.
Maxine's Chicken & Waffles ★ 4.3
indiana-avenue · 132 N East St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Maxine's Chicken & Waffles on Indiana Avenue in Indianapolis runs scratch soul food. Fried chicken over Belgian waffles and Sunday brunch institution.
Tip: Sunday brunch is the city's longest line. Weekday lunch quieter.
Please & Thank You ★ 4.3
mass-ave · 849 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204
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.
Tip: The vinyl wall is the shop's other reason. Order at the counter.
Coat Check Coffee ★ 4.3
mass-ave · 401 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Coat Check Coffee in the Athenaeum off Mass Ave, Indianapolis is a daytime cafe in a historic German social club. Signature lattes plus a food menu.
Tip: Athenaeum events can fill the room; the upstairs balcony is the quiet seat.
Iaria's Italian Restaurant ★ 4.3
downtown · 317 S College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Iaria's Italian Restaurant holds the same South College corner in Indianapolis since 1933, off the Mass Ave tourist track, with red-sauce family Italian.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday dinner only. The bar takes walk-ins Word-of-mouth is the only marketing.
Tinker Street Sunday Brunch ★ 4.3
downtown · 402 E 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Tinker Street on East 16th in Indianapolis runs a Sunday brunch service. Seasonal small plates, the same wine list, the most-watched brunch room downtown.
Bazbeaux Pizza Mass Ave ★ 4.2
mass-ave · 329 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Bazbeaux on Mass Ave in Indianapolis has built specialty pies for over 30 years. Thin crust, creative combinations, the Mass Ave dinner-walk standard.
Tip: Slices 11:00-1:00. The patio runs spring through fall Walk-ins usually OK.
The Garage Food Hall ★ 4.2
bottleworks-district · 906 Carrollton Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
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.
Tip: Lunch quieter than dinner; weekends queue from noon. Plenty of seating.