The Best Restaurants in Indianapolis

By Ananya Bakshi

If you’re here, you’ve likely got a meeting downtown, or maybe you’re just lost and accidentally found yourself in the Crossroads of America. Either way, you’re going to get hungry, and I’m here to tell you where to go.

Nicole Taylor’s

1. Bluebeard

Located in the Fletcher Place neighborhood, Bluebeard is the sort of place where you can pretend you’re more sophisticated than you are. Named after a Kurt Vonnegut novel (he was from here, you know), this spot serves up a rotating menu of locally sourced dishes that change as often as your indecisive cousin’s hair color. But whatever’s on the menu, it’s going to be good.

2. Nicole-Taylor’s Pasta + Market + Backroom Eatery

Part Italian market, part secret dining spot, Nicole-Taylor’s makes pasta fresh daily and offers a handful of other Italian specialties that leave you feeling like you’ve stumbled upon an Italian trattoria in the heart of Indiana.

3. Good Omen

Chef Nicholas Gattone and his mother, Diane, have reimagined this former bookstore as a Northern Italian haven, making Good Omen a restaurant that feels both intimate and ambitious. Gattone, who honed his skills under Tony Mantuano at Spiaggia in Chicago, brings finesse to every plate with dishes like a wine-bathed lamb shank on creamy risotto and whole roasted walleye paired with fregola and salsa verde. Tucked between a nail salon and insurance agency, it’s a bit of an unexpected gem.

4. St. Elmo’s Steakhouse

St. Elmo is the kind of place where you’ll feel underdressed in anything less than a tuxedo, and that’s just how it should be. Established in 1902, this is where you go when you want a steak that could double as a doorstop. The shrimp cocktail will clear your sinuses for a week, but that’s part of the charm.

5. Provision

Set in the Ironworks Hotel, Provision’s sleek setting and menu of American cuisine make it a great place for a night out. From steak to seafood, each dish is crafted with care, giving diners a taste of fine dining with a local twist.

6. Casa Santa

Located on East Washington Street, this Mexican eatery offers authentic favorites alongside a few surprises. Try the mole or an al pastor dish to see why locals keep coming back for Casa Santa’s true-to-form flavors.

7. Tinker Street

For a New American dining experience that’s decidedly Midwestern, Tinker Street blends creative cooking with a cozy, intimate setting. Highlights include local ingredients that are front and center in inventive dishes like Korean-fried mushrooms and chickpea ravioli

8. Milktooth

If you’re the kind of person who thinks brunch is a personality trait, Milktooth is your mecca. The menu reads like an episode of Chopped, with ingredients you’ve never heard of but will pretend you have. This is the spot where the city's food scene flexes its creative muscles. Just don’t ask for substitutions. The chef knows better than you.

9. Gallery Pastry Shop

More than just pastries, Gallery serves up brunch dishes that are as pretty as they are delicious. With creative spins on eggs benedict, house-made pastries, and the occasional champagne cocktail, it’s perfect for weekend mornings.

10. Beholder

Beholder, located on East 10th Street, serves up a seasonal, contemporary menu with a twist, in a dining room that makes each plate feel like a work of art. With dishes such as grilled octopus and unique pairings that play with flavor, this spot keeps local foodies guessing in the best way.

11. MOTW Coffee & Pastries

This quaint bakery and coffee shop offers expertly brewed coffee paired with pastries that almost look too good to eat. Their cinnamon rolls and pastries showcase the skill behind every baked item that MOTW serves.

12. Sam’s Square Pie

A no-nonsense haven for square-cut pizzas, Sam’s is a little retro and big on flavor. Known for crisp, chewy Detroit-style crusts and an array of fun toppings, it’s where pizza purists and adventurers meet in delicious harmony.

13. Gather 22

This blend of cafe and bistro is known for its cozy, communal vibes and approachable, globally inspired menu. Gather 22 has something for every palate, from innovative salads to hearty sandwiches.

14. Livery

A rooftop in Indianapolis? Yes, it exists, and it’s at Livery, a Latin-inspired joint in the trendy Mass Ave district. The empanadas are crisp, the cocktails are strong, and the vibe is just right for pretending you’re cooler than you actually are. Plus, you can say you went somewhere with a rooftop, which is basically a humblebrag.

15. The Rathskeller

Nestled in the basement of the Athenaeum, The Rathskeller is the closest thing you’ll find to Bavaria without booking a flight. They’ve got beer steins larger than your head and enough sausages to make a butcher blush. The live music and garden seating make it the perfect place to forget you’re in the Midwest for a while.

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