The 16 Best Indianapolis Restaurants Right Now: Where to Eat in 2025
Corridor
By Ananya Bakshi | Feb. 28, 2025
Indianapolis may be best known for fast cars and basketball, but its dining scene is accelerating just as quickly. From chef-driven tasting menus to laid-back neighborhood gems, the city offers a surprisingly dynamic mix of flavors, with Midwestern comfort at its core. Whether you’re here for the famed St. Elmo’s shrimp cocktail or the latest modern small-plate concept, Indy’s chefs are pushing boundaries while staying true to local ingredients. With James Beard nods, inventive cocktails, and a deep love of pork tenderloin sandwiches, here are the best restaurants in Indianapolis—no pit stops required.
1. Bluebeard
A new chapter began at Bluebeard in 2024 when Alan Sternberg—twice a James Beard semifinalist for Rising Star Chef—took the reins from cofounder Abbi Merris. With a résumé that includes Iozzo’s Garden of Italy and Field Brewing, Sternberg brings a sharp eye for aesthetics and an unwavering commitment to locally sourced ingredients. His take on Midwestern cuisine leans modern and bold, with dishes like rib-eye amped up with eggplant harissa or falafel served alongside charred cauliflower and beet hummus. It’s Indiana comfort food with a thoroughly contemporary twist.
2. Vida
In the historic Lockerbie Square neighborhood, Vida delivers a refined yet inviting fine-dining experience, helmed by two-time James Beard semifinalist Thomas Melvin. His meticulously crafted four- and seven-course tasting menus are a showcase of technical precision and creative balance, featuring dishes like seared scallop with crispy Brussels sprout leaves, bacon lardons, and a hit of gochujang maple brown butter. Meanwhile, bluefin tuna, kissed by the flame, arrives with smoked trout roe, yuzu kosho aioli, and a delicate drizzle of sesame ponzu. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the 19th-century charm outside, but trust us—your eyes will be glued to what’s on the plate.
3. Corridor
Corridor‘s seasonal lunch menus and made-fresh-daily Nicole-Taylor’s Pasta leaves you feeling like you’ve stumbled upon an Italian trattoria in the heart of Indiana. Photo by Michael Durr
4. Good Omen
Chef Nicholas Gattone and his mother, Diane, have reimagined this former bookstore as a Northern Italian haven, making Good Omen in Zionsville 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Casa Santa
Located on East Washington Street in Noblesville, 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.
8. 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
9. Borage
Borage is the brainchild of chefs Zoë Taylor and Josh Kline, both alumni of the acclaimed Milktooth. This café, bakery, and market hybrid in Speedway offers progressive American cuisine that reimagines European classics with locally sourced Indiana ingredients. From breakfast staples like croissant sandwiches to dinner options such as smoked salmon rillette tartines. Open Tuesday through Sunday, Borage aims to be a community hub where comfort meets culinary exploration.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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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