Diversified Dining: The 10 Best Indianapolis Eateries

places to eat in indianapolis
John
John 
Updated
| 7 min read

Indianapolis, for all of its sights and sounds, isn’t without its colorful array of tantalizing eateries. Whether you’re looking to enjoy scrumptious seafood, elegant eat-in options, juicy burgers, dynamic IPAs, or traditional Mexican cuisine, the distance between yourself and culinary satisfaction has never been shorter. Keep a good time going when you stick to our recommendations for the top bites in Indianapolis to ensure that your visit to the state’s best city is satisfactorily completed by the finest foods that the region offers!

1. Harry & Izzy's

Cutest little sliders I've ever seen - tasty, too! They have a few choices. I picked the spicy meatball and the filet.

Posted by Lisa Rosser on Thursday, 11 May 2017

Your search for the state’s finest steakhouse has found a just end in Harry & Izzy’s. This highly rated venue is home to award-winning chefs, serving choice cuts of your favorite meats per your customizer request. Redefine your expectations for walk-in cuisine, when you allow Harry & Izzy’s lunch and dinner options to thoroughly impress your palate. Offering traditional dishes, as well as multiple gluten-free options and a special Indiana Pacers pre-game menu, Harry & Izzy’s also comes stocked with wines among the state’s top options. This venue also has the capacity to host your next private party; whether you want to celebrate a birthday, corporate event, or any other social function, Harry & Izzy’s aims to deliver on their promise of competitive pricing and an unrelenting dedication to culinary perfection. Check out Harry & Izzy’s in downtown Indianapolis, our top eatery recommendation for the area, and prepare to experience a new echelon of quality!

Harry & Izzy's

Address: 153 South Illinois Street Indianapolis, IN 46225

Website: Harry & Izzy’s

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2. St. Elmo Steak House


Since its inception in 1902, St. Elmo Steak House in the heart of downtown Indianapolis has existed as an absolute staple of the area, a testament to a region characteristic of quality and culinary excellence. Today, it’s easier than ever to take advantage of this establishment’s delectable menu options! Recognized as the oldest steakhouse in the area, St. Elmo Steak House offers its visitors private dining options, as well as a top-tier menu typified by enviable selections of their trademarked St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail. Their porterhouse steak, limited availability bone-in prime rib, and specialty South African lobster tails only serve to scratch the surface of their onsite chefs’ capacity for unforgettable foods; perfect your lunch or dinner selection with their signature 4-layer chocolate cake, featuring ingredients from local vendors. Round out your experience with a selection from their expansive wine menu, and you’ll find that an unforgettable night out is as simple as a visit to Indianapolis’ St. Elmo Steak House!

St. Elmo Steak House

Address: 127 S Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46225

Website: St. Elmo Steak House

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3. Seasons 52

The earthy flavors of Autumn come to life when mushrooms are added to the mix. Discover a layer of shiitake mushrooms in our Asian-Glazed Chilean Sea Bass.

Posted by Seasons 52 on Tuesday, 20 September 2016

Experience flavors of unprecedented levels at Seasons 52 Bar & Grill, where rare menu selections like their fresh Alaskan halibut serve easily to paint a large smile across your face. One of the region’s premium seafood eateries, Seasons 52 also offers a range of fresh, beautifully plated salads, as well as a variety of melt-in-your-mouth flatbreads. Their speciality, of course, is their seafood menu, a list of high-grade selections, each of which can undoubtedly satisfy even the toughest seafood critic. Their cedar plank-roasted salmon and seafood paella highlight a deep selection of fresh, ocean options. Add chef-recommended pastas, a tantalizing leek soup, and truffle mac ‘n’ cheese set to satisfy, and Seasons 52 Bar & Grill checks all the boxes necessary for a great afternoon or evening on the town!

Seasons 52

Address: 8650 Keystone Crossing, Indianapolis, IN 46240

Website: Seasons 52

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4. Cafe Patachou

IMG_20151028_071708
Source: Photo by Flickr user Kingfox used under CC BY-ND 2.0

If you’re looking for quality cuisine, wildly affordable prices, and a variety of menu options as wide as you can imagine, you’ll want to check out Cafe Patachou in downtown Indianapolis! Their expansive menu includes diverse breakfast specialty plates including omelettes, waffles, granolas, toasts, and crepes, as well as lunch and dinner options headlined by a fabulous Patachou chicken salad and their delectable ensalada fresca. Perfect the meal with a choice from their failsafe dessert menu characterized by coconut layer cake, and transform a great meal into an unforgettable one with a mimosa, cocktail, or beer. Vegan and gluten-free options are also available at Cafe Patachou, making this your go-to venue, no matter your individual dietary needs or preferences! In Indianapolis, the quickest distance between you and a satisfied stomach is through the doors of Cafe Patachou!

Cafe Patachou

Address: 225 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Website: Cafe Patachou

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5. Bru Burger Bar

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Make sure to stop in tomorrow for a fresh brew and a burger!! Open 11a to 9p.

Posted by BRU Burger Bar on Monday, March 22, 2021

The Indianapolis location of Bru Burger Bar offers the general passerby a distinct privilege: this venue pairs an incomparable combination of ideal food with an infectiously dynamic ambience! From its high-quality milkshakes to its crispy onion rings to its soft pretzels and juicy burgers, Bru Burger Bar features both indoor and outdoor seating options, with a massive menu that boasts truly satisfactory lunch and dinner options! Locals flip for their delectable Beer Battered Cod sandwich, and their Baja Burger, lathered in Queso Fresco and surrounded by a crunchy oat bun, never fails to amaze. Bru Burger Bar also comes fully stocked with local and imported beer options, including a Belgian Monk’s Cafe Sour Flemish Ale, and a Breckenridge Vanilla Porter from Colorado! Their wines, domestics, and reds exist beside an expansive list of cocktail options, and with bourbon, whiskey, and scotch options filling out a dream drinks menu, there’s nothing else you need! Bru Burger Bar fulfills your expectations for a true Indianapolis night out!

Bru Burger Bar

Address: 410 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Website: Bru Burger Bar

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6. The Tamale Place

Posted by The Tamale Place on Tuesday, 7 April 2015

Though the name does well to suggest that The Tamale Place is home to the state’s best tamales, with regard to both authenticity and sheer taste, you’ll find that when you take a seat in this genuine Mexican masterpiece of a location, the menu sports much more than a single selection. From tacos to tortas, The Tamale Place takes authentic Mexican cuisine to a new level. By way of adherence to natural ingredients of only the finest qualities, paired with masterful, exclusive chefs, this award-winning venue boasts not one, but three different Indianapolis locations, a testament to their popularity and quality alike. Whether you’re in the mood for chipotle chicken or cilantro-founded nachos, we promise that when you trust the tried and tested methods of The Tamale Place, you’re in for a treat. Since 1999, The Tamale Place has proven its name on the streets of Indianapolis; become their newest fan today!

The Tamale Place

Address: 5226 Rockville Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46224

Website: The Tamale Place

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7. Yolk


There are few places, if any, that do breakfast like Yolk does. Founded in Chicago, the Yolk franchise soon found its way to Indianapolis, where it has wowed locals and visitors alike with its unprecedented capacity to deliver affordable breakfast dishes into the hands of critics and customers both. This high-end, contemporary atmosphere exudes a comfortable yet sophisticated feel, in a climate of fast service and natural conversation. With one Indianapolis location, and another in the works, Yolk boasts a popularity that necessitates a menu that delivers. And boy, does it ever. Its menu stays forever true to form, offering professional-grade cuisine at always affordable levels, with a dedication to simplicity unlike any you’ve seen before. Whether you’re in the mood for a California or Iron Man omelet, an oatmeal and yogurt breakfast, or any member of this venue’s enviable selection of French toast, Yolk succeeds in delivering Indianapolis’ best breakfast foods. And with a “Fan Favorites” subset of each menu, now you can select from the short list of foods guaranteed to leave a smile on your face, from the first bite to the last!

Yolk.

Address: 220 E South St, Indianapolis, IN 46225

Website: Yolk.

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8. Nada

Posted by nada on Monday, 8 May 2017

At Nada in downtown Indianapolis, it’s all about the modern Mexican cuisine experience. With a dynamic menu boasting powerful, authentic flavors and the venue’s capacity to host any social event you can dream up, Nada is the perfect location for any of your high-end Mexican eatery needs. With Nada’s signature “Build Your Own Queso” headlining their brunch menu, and a lunch menu highlighted by fried avocado and braised chicken enchiladas, this establishment doesn’t have to pretend it has everything it takes to satisfy your craving for the best Mexican food in the area. Nada’s mac ‘n’ cheese and iconic drunken coffee and warm chocolate torte give you more than enough reasons to make an easy decision, and frequent Nada in downtown Indianapolis to put highly rated, authentic Mexican cuisine to work for you!

Nada

Address: 11 W Maryland St, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Website: Nada

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9. Caplinger's Fresh Catch

Portion of seafood paella on plate
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Sandstein used under CC BY 3.0

When you’re on the hunt for the finest seafood in the area, make sure you consider the fine services of Caplinger’s Fresh Catch! Family owned and operated for nearly 130 years, Caplinger’s Fresh Catch aims to deliver the finest cuisine that the oceans make available straight to your plate. Recognized as the #1 location in the state by multiple review institutions, Caplinger’s Fresh Catch understands that the process of acquiring only the best seafoods for your satisfaction, is in fact a simple one. That process is typified by simple, dynamic ingredients, an enthusiastic dedication to learned quality, and a staff that comprehends the ins and outs of the industry. Caplinger’s Fresh Catch has it all: escargot, snow crab, octopus, calamari, lobster, smoked fish, and all the fresh fish you could hope for! This location also caters to individual requests, and does its best to deliver to you a specified dish. Don’t make an easy decision a difficult one, and swing by Caplinger’s Fresh Catch for your share of the state’s finest seafoods!

Caplinger's Fresh Catch

Address: 7460 Shadeland Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46250

Website: Caplinger’s Fresh Catch

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10. Rock Bottom Brewery

places to eat in indianapolis | rock bottom brewery
Source: instagram

Keep a good time going when you frequent the Rock Bottom Brewery! Part restaurant, with only the finest foods and appetizers, part brewery, with delicious, refreshing domestic and imported IPAs, the Rock Bottom Brewery is the best of both spheres. The location of seasonal events, and capable of hosting any party you want to throw their way, this local favorite deserves your attention whenever you’re in the vicinity. Sporting multiple high-resolution televisions, billiards, and a high-profile ambience while maintaining the wildly affordable rates that make this social hangout a verifiable go-to, this establishment deserves your interest. When you trust Rock Bottom Brewery, you can bank on the genuine Indianapolis experience!

Rock Bottom Brewery

Address: 10 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Website: Rock Bottom Brewery

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Give your stomach something to sing about

Come discover why Indianapolis isn’t close to complete without its meal options! Regardless of your individual tastes, we promise that this list of top-tier meal options will more that satisfy your stomach; they’ll give your palate something to sing about! Enjoy mouth-watering steak options, extensive drink choices, and traditional American and exotic foods, when you trust the best eateries that Indianapolis has to offer to satisfy your craving for delicious foods! The Indianapolis experience is fulfilled when you understand that the recipe for a perfect day or night on the town is complete only when you allow one of these staple state eateries turn your amazing stay into an unparalleled one.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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John Gallagher is a digital marketing consultant and writer from San Diego, California. When he isn't thoroughly enjoying the writing process or pretending he thoroughly enjoys the revision...Read more

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