Things to Do in Indianapolis & Its’ Surrounding Cities and Towns!

Dining options abound in Indianapolis with restaurants from Broad Ripple to downtown Indianapolis to the north side offering a wide variety of unique specialties. With menus ranging from just-like-home to five-star cuisine, local eateries feature something for every taste bud. Dine in, carry-out or enjoy one of the many restaurants featuring seasonal outdoor dining.

Dining & Nightlife - Downtown Indianapolis…

Acapulco Joe’s Mexican Restaurant
365 North Illinois Street, Indianapolis, Indiana (317) 637-5160
This is Indianapolis’ FIRST Mexican restaurant. An authentic Mexican eatery with "native" decor and a traditional menu, Acapulco Joe's has been serving up chips and salsa to a regular crowd for more than 20 years. Although some consider the locale to be "a small step up from Chi Chi's," Acapulco Joe's has a cult following in Indianapolis that keeps the place packed. Choose from a large selection of traditional Mexican combination plates, salads, strip steak, tenderloin and burgers before treating yourself to the house specialty dessert -- fried ice cream. Moderately priced and casual, Acapulco Joe's is a great place to have a beer with friends.

Bazbeaux
334 Massachusetts Avenue & 811 E. Westfield Blvd., Indianapolis, Indiana
(317) 636-7662 and (317) 255-5711, respectively.
Artists Paul Harris and Deb Delbecq were hired to create the funky ambiance at Bazbeaux's Broad Ripple location with colorful designs and wall treatments. Ample outdoor seating is available on the covered patio, which is perfect for those relaxing summer days. There's plenty of room to mingle inside as well, but you'll be tempted to check out the rooftop dining area, which gives patrons a scenic view of the canal. Perhaps the greatest perk about this location, however, is the notorious 16-inch pizza that Bazbeaux can churn out here. Whether you choose to enjoy your pie in the bustling atmosphere or take out and enjoy it at home on the couch, you can't beat the homemade sauce and three-cheese blend.

In 1989 Bazbeaux ventured downtown to help establish the district now known as the Indianapolis downtown arts district. Massachusetts Avenue is now home to many unique and interesting retail shops, restaurants and music venues. The downtown location serves a quick lunch by the slice weekdays to many appreciative downtown workers and residents. They can choose to dine in our lovely sidewalk café, wine cellar or beautifully renovated dining rooms.

Buca di Beppo
35 North Illinois Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, (317) 632-2822.
If you are looking for a long, lost and loud Italian family, look no further than this national chain that whose menu is as stuffed as the bric-a-brac studded walls. Most dishes are family style which roughly translates to "feeds four with leftovers." And it’s not just the portions that are overwhelming. The amount of garlic added to the house dishes like lasagna and pasta Bolognese are enough to send you to heaven or the hostess stand to pop a mint -- depending on your preference. Buca's does offer more moderate sized dishes for twosomes which includes a salad, entree and pasta. As silly as it sating, most nights, the dining room is filled with family birthday parties or groups of women looking for an escape from PTA. Adding to the kitchen factor, large parties can reserve the "pope table" -- complete with a centerpiece bust of John Paul II.
 
Claddagh Irish Pub
234 South Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, (317) 822-6274.
A lot of places will serve Guinness on tap, hook up some green lights and call themselves an Irish pub, but this place is as good as they come. The bar is an enlarged version of an Irish village pub (though this one could supply a couple of villages), with lots of light wood and internal windows for privacy. There's plenty of whiskey and beer from the homeland -- although the house brew is one of the best on offer. The bar menu has such Irish favorites as shepherd's pie, smoked salmon, Irish beef and Guinness stew, as well as plenty o' potatoes. They also offer Irish spins on Americanized items -- e.g. "Shamrock Chicken Sandwich" and "Celtic Caesar Salad." There's live Irish music on select days of the week.

Dunaway’s Palazzo Ossigeno
351 South East Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, (317) 638-7663.
Located in the former Indiana Oxygen Company building, this Art-Deco Mediterranean is a refreshing change from the basic breadstick and tomato sauce-set. Owner Jeff Dunaway restored the building and rejuvenated Italian classics to suit a modern, discerning diner. Although some of the touches are over the top (lion-headed soup tureens, anyone?), the menu implements simple and astoundingly fresh ingredients. The well-heeled older couples that occupy the tables on any given weekend night rave about the Parmesan-crusted salmon and crab cakes with red bell pepper sauce. And if the food isn't enough to take their breath away, Dunaways offers up the moon and stars on the city's only rooftop terrace. For a less conspicuous celebration, private rooms are available.

Milano Inn
231 South College Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana, (317) 264-3585.
A fixture on the Indianapolis dining scene since the doors first opened in 1934, this family-owned and -operated eatery has a reputation for serving up traditional family-style Italian cuisine. The casual location is usually crammed with festive families, neighborhood folks and an occasional professional athlete carbo-loading before the big game. The dimly-lit main dining room features a spectacular mural that covers all four walls, while the rest of the spacious location is pasted with action photos of local sports celebrities and artwork displaying the cities most popular destinations.

If you haven't called ahead for reservations, you can enjoy a cocktail or a glass of wine from the full service bar while you're waiting for your table. Well-received renditions of spaghetti and meatballs, spaghetti with clam sauce, ravioli, manicotti, and crispy pizza with a bevy of toppings are just some of the many menu options. House favorites like portabello lasagna, fettuccini topped with garlic-dipped shrimp and crabmeat drenched in Alfredo sauce and tangy tomato basil chicken get the most attention from hungry patrons.

Mo’s A Place for Steaks
47 South Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, (317) 624-0720.
Steak lovers cheer while vegetarians look for the nearest exit at this trendy downtown steakhouse. Just steps from the Circle Center Mall and situated in the heart of the business district, this location caters to a diverse and sophisticated crowd that is willing to pay hefty prices for quality cuts of meat.

The owners compensate the big-spending crowd with mahogany columns that climb to the ceiling, large open windows on two sides that allow you to see and more importantly be seen while you dine and bronzed walls that seem to resemble bars of gold bouillon. The one-page menu includes a limited selection of appetizers to enable you to concentrate on the main course. The crab cakes and Italian bread are two of the most popular starters. Steaks come in all sizes at Mo's from the beefy 24-ounce ribeye to the petite 9-ounce filet mignon, you're sure to find the perfect pallet-pleasing portion. Pork chops, chicken and seafood are also available for those that need a break from steak.

The Oceanaire Seafood Room
30 South Meridian Street, Ste. 100, Indianapolis, Indiana, (317) 955-2277.
Notoriously landlocked downtown Indy now has a seafood emporium that competes with either coast. Fresh catches ranging from Icelandic char to Hawaiian marlin are flown in to Circle City daily to round out the lengthy, constantly rotating menu. The raw bar boasts a dizzying selection of fresh mollusks. The spacious dining room features a sweeping bar, ceiling-high wine racks and elegant table settings. Pick at pickled herring, or slide down a plate of raw oysters while you're choosing from the extensive selection of seafood entrees. Tender halibut cheeks are a mainstay and are served over a bed of braised fennel, toasted pine nuts and drenched in vinaigrette. Red meat lovers can take comfort in a limited selection of steaks. The wine list will impress, and includes bottles for all budgets. You can also wash down your meal with a frosty root beer float for dessert.

The Old Spaghetti Factory
210 South Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, (317) 635-6325.
Like many things in the country, this Portland, Oregon-based company has taken old-world recipes and melded them into a menu that every American can recognize and enjoy. Using what they describe as "high-quality, fresh ingredients that are cooked on premises," the Spaghetti Factory has made an art of serving up a complete dinner (including salad, bread, spaghetti, entree, dessert, and a beverage) for under $10. And what is more American than a great value? The dining room is decorated with antiques, old streetcars and brass headboards, keeping the atmosphere homey while the food remains 'affordable and fun.' An efficient managing team and friendly staff has helped make the Spaghetti Factory a family favorite; some even consider it to be America's leading pasta-based family restaurant chain.

Palomino
Circle Centre, 49 West Maryland Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, (317) 974-0400.
Given its coveted Circle Centre location and close proximity to the State House, Palomino's swanky downtown digs are often filled with Indy's titans of business and government. These daily lunchtime wheelings and dealings over rigatoni Bolognese give way to elegant, quiet, romantic evenings and weekends. Palomino's power-red interior, which works so well for those home court business lunches, is muted come evening, as softer light radiates from the hand-blown glass light fixtures. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls afford excellent street vistas in both the bar and dining areas.

While the name screams Italian, the menu reflects a hint of the Mediterranean with ingredients of the American Northwest, plus a special flair for presentation. Decorative Palominos -- in full stride -- can be found decorating many a dish including the homemade soups. Main course favorites include the rosy rotisserie chicken, tomato kalamata relish and oven-roasted salmon.

Rathskeller Restaurant
The Athenaeum Building
401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, (317) 636-0396.
Voted "Best German Restaurant" five years in a row, the Rathskeller offers a nostalgic taste of Bavarian life and cuisine. Located in the historic, 19th-century downtown Athenaeum Building, the Rathskeller combines elements of a lively city beer hall with a charming, quaint hillside inn. Stocked with more than 12 imported draft beers and 40 imported bottled beers, the Rathskeller's "Kellerbar" is a great place to begin the evening.

But the hops are not the only attraction that keeps the Rathskellar hopping each night. Though there are nods to modern cuisine such as the chicken Diane, most regulars devour the traditional dishes like lentil stew and bratwurst in the authentic beer garden.

St. Elmo Steak House (Hendricks Team’s personal favorite restaurant!)
The SHRIMP is to die for!!!
127 South Illinois Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, (317) 635-0636, (800) 637-1811.
The legend of St. Elmo helped sailors find their way through the stormy seas. Circle City steak lovers feel the same way about this downtown carnivore’s cavern. Visiting celebrities, beautiful people, athletes and locals alike pack the mahogany-lined walls seeking its rich atmosphere and USDA prime cuts of beef every night.

For its part, the restaurant doesn't disappoint from the Tiffany room's paneled walls and tin ceiling to the obscenely big shrimp cocktail and seemingly endless juicy porterhouse and veal chop. Most of the waiters are veterans of three decades and know the menu like the back of their hands. However, their expertise rarely comes in to play given most regulars opt for the prime rib or filet mignon. On any given night, the room is filled with sounds of boisterous conversations and clinking steak knives.

Scholars Inn Gourmet Café & Wine Bar
725 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis, Indiana, (317) 536-0707.
A historic location and an award-winning menu have made Scholar's Inn a popular choice for fine dining. The 310-seat restaurant is in the heart of the arts district and features two custom bars, two private dining rooms and plenty of outdoor seating on the back patio.

The eclectic menu features dishes presented in a manner befitting the neighborhood. Gallery-hopping lunch patrons nibble on the house grilled cheese -- a combination of cheddar, Monterey jack and Gruyere cheese with tomatoes, herbs and Granny Smith apples. The sophisticated dinner lineup features grilled escolar topped with toasted coconut, braised tenderloin tips served with smashed Yukon gold potatoes and the hearty Scholar meatloaf. An extensive wine list will make it easy to pick the perfect accompaniment for your meal. With more than 15 dessert choices, the final decision of the evening may be the most difficult.

Slippery Noodle Inn
372 South Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, (317) 631-6974.
The Slippery Noodle Inn is as much an Indianapolis landmark as Monument Circle or the Speedway. It's the oldest bar in The Circle City (established in 1850) and has been a blues institution since 1963. It's even said that famous Hoosier criminal John Dillinger hung around the bar and used a back wall for target practice. No matter what night of the week, Hoosiers will find local, regional or national blues acts performing live. The bar even has its own recording label, Slippery Noodle Sound, which has produced 12 releases by acts such as Gene Deer, Yank Rachell, Gordon Bonham, Jimmy Ley and more. But there is more to this bar than blues -- the Inn features a game room, two big-screen TVs and seven smaller ones, plus a full menu. Favorites include the Whiskey Pepper Steak Sub, the breaded tenderloin, steaks and of course, the nachos.