Vida is a new american restaurant in Downtown, Indianapolis.
Vida is Thomas Melvin's tasting-menu room in Indianapolis since 2016. The six-course menu changes weekly and is the city's most ambitious kitchen.
Signature dishes: Six-course tasting menu, Chef's tasting menu
Must order: The six-course tasting at 150 dollars per person, or the chef's tasting at 235 with the standard pairings.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday only, dinner service. Book by week in advance; the dining room is small and the kitchen does not turn tables.
Address: 601 E New York St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
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: Seasonal small plates, Wine flights
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.
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.
Bluebeard on Virginia Avenue in Indianapolis runs a scratch kitchen and the in-house Amelia's bakery. A James Beard semifinalist Fletcher Place anchor.
Signature: House sourdough from Amelia's, Wood-grilled pork chop, Pasta of the day
Order: The bread basket from Amelia's, the wood-grilled main of the day, the seasonal pasta.
Tip: Walk in before 6:00 to drink at the bar; the dining room books up by Thursday for weekend nights.
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: Seasonal small plates, Wine flights
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.
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.
