Mama Carolla's Old Italian is an italian american restaurant in Meridian Kessler, Indianapolis.
Mama Carolla's in Meridian Kessler, Indianapolis runs the canonical Italian-American room from a brick house on 54th. A reliable Indianapolis pick.
Signature dishes: Veal Marsala, Chicken Parmesan, Garlic bread
Must order: Veal Marsala, the chicken Parmesan, the eggplant rollatini and the house garlic bread.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Reservations on OpenTable; the patio is the move 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: Spaghetti and meatballs, Tortellini, Cheese ravioli
Order: The cheese ravioli, the meatballs and the house Chianti.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday dinner only. Walk-ins seat at the bar; reservations for the dining room.
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, a side of macaroni salad, and a slice of sugar cream pie.
Tip: Order at the counter, find a table, they bring it out. Cash-friendly. Weekend breakfast 9 to noon.
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.
Signature: Schnitzel, Bratwurst, Pretzel and beer cheese
Order: Wiener schnitzel, a Sun King or Hofbrau on draft, and the soft pretzel with beer cheese.
Tip: The biergarten opens late spring through fall. Weekend live music in the Kellerbar; the dining room is quieter.
Cincinnati import that nails the Mass Avenue fried-chicken brief. Brined and dredged in-house, served with spoonbread and a half-dozen Southern sides.
Signature: Fried chicken, Spoonbread, Kale salad
Order: Half a chicken, the spoonbread, the kale salad. Sit at the picnic tables outside in summer.
Tip: No reservations. Get on the standby list at 5:30 for a 6:30 weekend table, or go for an early lunch.
Salt on Mass is an upscale seafood-and-steak room on Mass Avenue in Indianapolis. No freezers, scratch kitchen, handcrafted cocktails, coastal wine list.
Signature: Wild seafood platters, Dry-aged steaks
Order: The daily-changing wild fish, a dry-aged ribeye to share, the chef's cocktail off the list.
Tip: Reservations on Opentable for the main dining room; the bar takes walk-ins and serves the full menu.
Bakersfield Mass Ave in Indianapolis runs Mexican street fare with over 100 tequilas, an American whiskey list and one of the better Mass Ave patios.
Signature: Street tacos, Queso, Mezcal flights
Order: Three street tacos, the queso, a flight off the mezcal list.
Tip: Late-night kitchen Friday and Saturday until midnight. Walk-ins only; lines build for Taco Tuesday.
