Tinker Street is a new american restaurant in Downtown, Indianapolis.
Tinker Street on East 16th turns out seasonal New American small plates and pairs them off a serious wine list. Tom Main runs the kitchen and the room.
Signature dishes: Seasonal small plates, Wine flights
Must order: Whatever the chef's running on the small plates board plus a glass off the European wine list.
Tip: Sunday and Monday dinner only; closes Tuesday and Wednesday some weeks. Check the calendar before the drive.
Address: 402 E 16th St, 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.
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.
Ryan Nelson's farm-to-table room near Keystone at the Crossing. The menu changes daily and leans into Hoosier ingredients with a chef-driven point of view.
Signature: Pork chop, Daily fish, Bourbon flights
Order: Whatever Nelson's running on the daily change, plus a flight off the bourbon list.
Tip: Bigger room than it looks from outside, with private dining for groups. Reservations on OpenTable book up Friday and Saturday.
Mama Carolla's in Meridian Kessler, Indianapolis runs the canonical Italian-American room from a brick house on 54th. A reliable Indianapolis pick.
Signature: Veal Marsala, Chicken Parmesan, Garlic bread
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.
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.
