Hungry? Local Foodies Dish on Where to Eat in Indianapolis, IN
Discover delicious bites at these seven restaurants in Indy.
Bradley Houser and Austin Burris know the Indianapolis, IN, restaurant scene inside and out – from the splashy new openings to the well-kept secrets. That’s what led them to create EatHere, a community-based food recommendation engine that launched in Indianapolis and is quickly expanding throughout the U.S.
“I definitely have an appreciation for food and what it does for community, how it brings people together,” Houser says. “And that’s what made me a foodie.”
Burris notes it’s the opposite for him. As an only child, he enjoyed discovering new restaurants. From his love of food, he later came to appreciate the community aspect.
Given their roles as recommendation experts, we asked them for some of their favorite Indianapolis restaurants – the ones they find themselves telling others about, visiting again and again, and dreaming of that last bite. Here are their picks.
In This Article
1. Livery, Mass Ave and Noblesville
“Livery is kind of an obvious choice, but it’s good, you know?” Houser says.
With small, shareable plates and a creative cocktail program that gives a nod to Latin culture, it’s an ideal spot to dine with a group of friends.
Houser is as much into the aesthetics of a restaurant as he is the food. He says Livery delivers, especially at Indy’s Mass Ave location. The stylish, two-story casual dining spot at the intersection of Mass and College served as a horse stable in the late 1800s. Whether you sit at the bar, in a cozy wraparound booth, or on the rooftop patio, you’ll enjoy outstanding service, mouthwatering dishes, and what hundreds of five-star Google reviews refer to as “great vibes.”
The paella and red drum are two of the top dishes on the menu, and Houser has a hankering to try them both. “You can actually add the red drum fish to your paella,” he says. “It’s a little different, but it’s really good.”
Burris recommends the empanadas and Carriage House margarita.
2. Noah grant’s grill house & oyster bar, Zionsville
You wouldn’t normally associate Indiana with great seafood, but, according to Burris, that’s part of noah grant’s charm.
“In Indianapolis, seafood is obviously an afterthought, so the places that do it right are great,” Burris says. “[noah grant’s does] it better than anyone else.”
Specializing in fresh seafood flown in daily, noah grant’s makes you forget about being landlocked. And with a full bar and an impressive wine program, you’ll definitely want to stay a while. A highlight for Burris is the seafood risotto, served with East Coast scallops and crab.
Noah grant’s provides a great environment for special occasions. Visit between 4 and 5 p.m. daily for a happy hour with half-price oysters on the half shell. Add a half-price bottle of wine on Tuesdays and Sundays.
3. Bluebeard, Fletcher Place
With Chef Abbi Merriss, a culinary artist who has received multiple Best Chefs in America nods from the James Beard Foundation, at the helm, Bluebeard definitely lands a spot on Houser’s top restaurants list.
Named after a book by Indianapolis-native Kurt Vonnegut, the dining room has a literary theme that sports shelves of books and old typewriters. Diners can also enjoy the courtyard patio.
As a farm-to-table restaurant, the menu changes daily, but always features bread from the adjacent Amelia’s, which was actually the catalyst for the restaurant.
4. BODHI, Mass Ave
Another Mass Ave pick, BODHI focuses on authentic Thai food and craft cocktails. Note that it’s a 21+ establishment.
In addition to a couple of upscale mocktails, the bar mixes cocktails with unique ingredients like lychee black tea, blueberry popping boba, and butternut squash syrup. Choose from curries, Thai salads, and noodle dishes, and find options on the menu that will please all diners (including vegan and gluten-free).
Houser especially enjoys BODHI’s patio, which feels like an urban oasis.
5. Mama Carolla’s, Meridian Kessler
Houser lauds the aesthetics at Mama Carolla’s, which is housed inside a 1920s Mediterranean-style villa.
“You get that traditional Italian vibe, with old pictures on the wall when you walk in,” Houser says. “And the patio seems like something out of Spain.”
The dining area is split into quaint rooms that hold only a handful of tables, making the dining experience intimate and romantic. But you can’t beat sitting in the garden outside.
Top dishes include the fried mozzarella appetizer, rosemary chicken lasagna and eggplant puttanesca. Finish the experience with tiramisu, spumoni or cannoli.
6. Kan-Kan Cinema and Brasserie, Windsor Park
Owned by Thomas and Edward Battista, the same team behind Bluebeard, Kan-Kan is an arthouse cinema and brasserie. And the name is another Vonnegut reference that’s best described on its website.
They opened with Chef Merriss, but Chef Michael Conley has since taken the reins. The menu is broken out into quick bites (charcuterie, frites, oysters, etc.), shorts (wings, salads, buns, etc.), and feature presentations (burger, rainbow trout, chicken, etc.).
“Kan-Kan gives you an experience unlike any other,” Burris says.
Guests can enjoy food in the European-inspired brasserie before or after seeing a film (but they don’t have to see a movie to eat or drink there). Don’t expect the same blockbusters showing at AMC. The Kan-Kan team curates their offerings with a focus on small-budget, big-idea flicks.
7. The Cannon Ball Lounge, Downtown
Not technically a restaurant, though they do offer share fare and apps, The Cannon Ball Lounge had to make the list for being “the vibe-iest place in the city,” according to Houser. Patrons imbibe on the rooftop bar, with views of downtown Indy from the top of Washington Street.
The contemporary drink menu offers craft cocktails, local beers and sommelier-selected wines. As an inclusive space, they also serve a wide selection of mocktails and zero-proof cocktails. The Indy-inspired menu includes drinks like The Millionaire, named after Madam C.J. Walker, who built her empire in Indianapolis, or World Record, for famous cyclist Major Taylor.
Lightning Round
Food helps build community while allowing people from all walks of life to share their identities and appreciate other cultures. For more recommendations, enjoy this lightning round of picks from Houser and Burris, and check out EatHere to immerse yourself in the community of local dining.
Where should I go for…
- Donuts: Long’s Bakery
- Tenderloin: Mug -n- Bun
- Cocktail: Nowhere Special or The Exchange
- Vegetarian/Vegan: Cul De Sac Kitchen, 10th Street Diner, or Black Leaf Vegan
- Tacos: La 5th or Social Cantina
- Brunch: Gallery Pastry Bar or Milktooth
- Coffee: Cabin Coffee or Parlor Public House
This article was sponsored by Life in Indy.