As we continue our Indianapolis coverage, I’m reminded of David Letterman’s quote: “Anything worth doing is worth going overboard.” What is the Indianapolis food scene like? According to Zagat’s 2016 list, the city is on top. At #15, Zagat says that the “Indy food scene is evolving with serious, elevated precision.” It’s “safe to say that Indianapolis entered a new culinary stratosphere”. Here is another list of ten: our picks for Indianapolis’s top ten restaurants.
Milktooth
Milktooth offers a variety of creative, interesting and hipster-inspired food combinations. The core menu is popular, but the rotating “at-the-moment menu” allows the chefs to experiment with new flavors and experiences. I ordered the Thai chicken wings and coconut curry rice. It was spicy and delicious. It was paired with a matcha green green tea by Greenhorn (amazing) and a blvk coffee with tart cherry syrup by Blvk Bear (distinctive).
Mesh on Mass
Mesh On Mass offers large portions with casual elegance. The dining rooms were all unique. I had the applewood salad which was delicious. The applewood bacon was a perfect match with the spiced nuts. As a side dish, I satisfied my desire for savory by eating a portion palms frittes. (Fries with truffle oil & parmesan Reggiano). I ate way too much, but my mouth was grateful.
Soupremacy
While visiting Circle Square, I was able to experience soupremacy. To say that I was blown-away by their small counter service is an understatement. The day’s supply of their chicken velvet soup was sold out. Instead, I ordered their Thai Coconut Soup and half of the endless summer salad. I was stuffed after eating a simple salad and soup.
Public Greens
Ashley Hubbard told us about her visit to Public Greens. She was delighted by the many vegan options. I was interested in the healthy food being grown on site. Who would’ve thought a farm to table cafeteria was possible? The cafeteria is also located in Broad Ripple, the hometown of David Letterman.
Bluebeard
In my article on Eagle Creek, I talked at length about Bluebeard’sfantastic fresh ingredients and breads. The short version is: “I ordered the Turkey Sandwich with smoked Turkey Breast, guacamole and hard-boiled eggs, blue cheese aioli and bacon, greens and tomato. It was served in a pullman bun. Now I knew why there was so much commotion. The food was delicious and the quality was obvious.
Lisa Lubin said that it was one her top three reasons for visiting Indianapolis. Bon Appetit even featured it. What’s the fuss? Fresh food prepared with style. Bluebeards is a favorite of Indy Foodies.
St. Elmo Steakhouse
Melody and Taylor are a mother-daughter writing team that I met in Bloghouse. They raved about St Elmo Steakhouse. They went there because it is ranked among the top 15 steakhouses in America. They told tales of perfectly grilled steaks covered in Bearnaise. This sounded divine to me as I love a good Bearnaise sauce.
Rick’s Cafe Boatyard
Rick’sfood has a great menu with generous portions. When I was there, I only made it to the appetizer. I shared the baked goat cheese (fresh, rolled goat cheese in croutons over marinara with pistachio-pesto french bread), and barbecue pork nachos. The patio was what really sold Rick’s to me. I loved watching Eagle Creek Reservoir from there. This view is perfect for a summer evening.
Napolese Pizzeria
Napolese pizza is made with the best ingredients available locally. Keryn Means is my Bloghouse mentor and she says that it’s ” pizza gone awesome.”
Nine Lives Cat Cafe
After reading Ashley Hubbard’s tweet about an Indianapolis cat cafe, I knew that I had to visit. I love cats, and I love visiting cat cafes. Nine Lives is a bit different from the other cat cafes I’ve visited. The coffeehouse had all the usual features, but the interaction with cats and the time spent there were separate. It’s worth it !!). Also, they do an amazing job getting their cats adopted. Ashley had gone two days before me, and I found that many of the cats had been adopted. David Letterman once said, “If not for the coffee I would have no identifiable personality”.
Indy is Super Bike Friendly
There is the Culture Trail for an urban cycling adventure, the Monon Trail which leads to Hamilton County as well as Fort Harrison State Park if you want a bit of hill climbing. You can explore Indy on your own by using the 80-miles of road bike lanes.
Hospital Gardens
I think the main problems in hospitals are the depressing atmosphere, the bad food and the sheer number of sick people. Eskenazi Health Hospital, located in Indianapolis, may have the solution to these solvable issues. Patients and staff are able to grow vegetables on the roof gardens. Find out more about this here, or .
Catacomb Tours
Tomlinson Hall was demolished to build the Indianapolis City Market. Under Whistler Plaza, a maze-like system of passages has a rich history. Catacomb Tours are offered every 1st and 3rd Saturday.
Kurt Vonnegut
Indianapolis pays tribute to Kurt Vonnegut, whether it is through the memorial library or tours of his home.
Canal Walk
Take a tour of the downtown canals! This is like Venice in the Midwest. You can hire a kayak or paddleboat. You can take a straight-up gondola. You can also walk along the canal on either side if boating isn’t for you.
Hip Cool Vibe
The city had a hip vibe. The staff at Milktooth was tatted, but not just in one place. The tattoos were everywhere. It was everywhere. The people were fit, hip and had great beards.
Eagle Creek Boating
Indianapolis Rowing Centeron Eagle Creek Reservoir – Eagle Creek offers a rowing course of Olympic standard and everything from classes on “learn how to row” to competitions. It’s wonderful to see people exercising on the water, and not just float around and fish. You can hire kayaks, canoes, and even go on a full-moon paddle.
Craft Beer Scene
The remastering of the farm-to-table remastering is also outstanding (see above). Indy is also quite skilled in the craft beer area. Visit Indy’s website has a listing of 47 craft beer breweries.
I liked the Metazoa Beer campaign. Their tagline is Drink Beer Help Animals. On their website, they say that they donate 5% of profits to animal charities. Pets are welcome in the tap room, but anyone under 21 is not. Seven house beers are available alongside a variety of seasonals, offering both traditional ales and experimental brews.
Ropes Courses
I like to go to ropes course to have some adventure and to get out of my comfort zone. I saw a couple celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary swinging through trees, and a group urban friends trying their first outdoor experience. I went to Hamilton County just outside Indianapolis and did the hardest ropes course I’ve ever done. Two ropes courses in the same city is a testament to its success. Indianapolis has a wide range of outdoor activities, which are fun not only for tourists but also locals.
Small Towns in the Big City
Indianapolis was a large city long before the advent of mechanized agriculture. Each small farm community had its own town center. As the city grew, these small communities were absorbed into the larger Indianapolis but retained their identity. There are 99 communities recognized in Indianapolis. Historical society has recognized several communities, including Central Court, Chatham Arch and Golden Hill. Streetcar Suburbs such as Broad Ripple and Woodruff Place were created by the old interurban line. As commuters become more prevalent, families-centric communities like Hamilton County are emerging outside the outer belt. It’s pretty cool that each area has a distinct feel and culture.
Indy Wrap Up
Indianapolis is the perfect place to enjoy food, fun, and friends. Take our advice when you arrive in Indy and go on a dining adventure. Be on the lookout for interesting sights along the way. You might find Norman Rockwell, a farm-to-table vegan restaurant, craft breweries or simply relax with a cup of coffee and watch the world go by. Enjoy the journey. In the words of Letterman, “There is not a single man, woman, or child who does not enjoy a tasty drink.”