The Indy A-List: A Guide to the City’s Best Restaurants
Indianapolis’s dining scene has seriously leveled up, blending historic icons with innovative newcomers that are now rivaling hotspots in Chicago and Louisville. The city is buzzing, with celebrated spots from James Beard–nominated chefs and a new wave of design-focused restaurants making Indy a true food destination.
This is the definitive list of must-try restaurants in Indianapolis. From a legendary steakhouse that’s been around since 1902 to the hottest brunch spot in the Midwest, this is your ultimate guide. Whether you’re looking for iconic fine dining, creative farm-to-table fare, or the city’s best burger, this is your roadmap to the very best dining in Indy.
| Restaurant | Neighborhood | Cuisine | Price Guide | Vibe / Perfect For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Elmo Steak House | Downtown | Classic Steakhouse | $$$$ | A Historic, Landmark Steakhouse Experience |
| Bluebeard | Fletcher Place | New American, Farm-to-Table | $$$ | A Critically Acclaimed Local Darling |
| Commission Row | Wholesale District | Upscale Steakhouse & Raw Bar | $$$$ | A Polished, Modern Fine Dining Splurge |
| Vida | Lockerbie Square | New American Tasting Menus | $$$$ | Indy’s Go-To Special Occasion Restaurant |
| Tinker Street | Herron-Morton Place | Seasonal Midwestern | $$$ | A Cozy, Farm-to-Table Gem |
| Milktooth | Fletcher Place | Creative American Brunch | $$ | The Ultimate, Nationally-Acclaimed Brunch |
| Bodhi | Mass Ave | Upscale Thai | $$ | Hip, Authentic & Flavorful Thai |
| Sam’s Square Pie | Near Eastside | Detroit-Style Pizza | $$ | Indy’s Top-Tier Pizza Sensation |
| BRU Burger Bar | Mass Ave | Gourmet Burgers | $$ | The Ultimate, Award-Winning Burger Joint |
| Bosphorus Cafe | Fletcher Place | Turkish/Mediterranean | $$ | An Authentic, Beloved Hidden Gem |
1. St. Elmo Steak House
📹 Video Source: CBS Mornings
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Cuisine:Classic American Steakhouse
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Neighborhood:Downtown
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Price:$$$$
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Vibe:A Historic, Landmark Steakhouse Experience
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Location: 127 S Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
St. Elmo is “the city’s most storied restaurant,” a downtown landmark that has been serving since 1902, making it Indy’s most iconic restaurant. It’s nationally famous for its iconic, “sinus-blistering” shrimp cocktail with a cayenne-spiced sauce and its aged-to-perfection Black Angus beef. With its retro 1930s bar, formal dining rooms, and James Beard recognition, St. Elmo’s has cemented its landmark status as the classic Indy experience.
Foodie Quote: St. Elmo is known for its “sinus-blistering shrimp cocktail, aged‐to‐perfection Black Angus beef, [an] outstanding wine collection, [and] top‐shelf cocktails.”
Why is it our top choice? For its incredible history, national reputation, and consistently excellent steakhouse fare, St. Elmo is an enduring favorite and the undisputed icon of Indianapolis dining.
2. Bluebeard
📹 Video Source: America’s Best Restaurants Roadshow
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Cuisine:New American, Farm-to-Table
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Neighborhood:Fletcher Place (Holy Rosary)
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Price:$$$
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Vibe:A Critically Acclaimed Local Darling
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Location: 653 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Opened in 2012, Bluebeard quickly became a critically acclaimed local darling. Eater describes it as an “award-winning, decade-old restaurant” whose ever-changing menu from chef Abbi Merriss honors Indiana’s agriculture. It features seasonal shareable plates, from Berkshire pork chops to house spaghetti, often paired with amazing bread from the adjoining Amelia’s Bakery.
Foodie Quote: Indianapolis Monthly highlights crowd-pleasers like “house spaghetti and octopus with kimchi.”
Why is it our top choice? With its high Google rating, multiple James Beard semifinal nods, and innovative leadership in the farm-to-table scene, Bluebeard exemplifies the best of modern Indy cuisine.
3. Commission Row
📹 Video Source: Daisy Palacios
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Cuisine:Upscale American Steakhouse & Raw Bar
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Neighborhood:Wholesale District
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Price:$$$$
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Vibe:A Polished, Modern Fine Dining Splurge
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Location: 110 S Delaware St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Commission Row is a polished fine-dining steakhouse from the Cunningham Restaurant Group, and a premier destination for upscale downtown dining. Housed in the historic Wholesale District, it offers “the highest quality steaks, raw bar, and seafood” in an elegant setting. Executive Chef Adan Sandoval orchestrates a sublime dining experience with tableside caviar service, a full seafood bar, and prime aged steaks.
Foodie Quote: It offers “the highest quality steaks, raw bar, and seafood” with a superb cocktail and curated wine list.
Why is it our top choice? It consistently appears on “best of Indy” lists for its excellence in steakhouse dining, its upscale vibe, and its rich flavors, making it a modern classic.
4. Vida
📹 Video Source: Good Year List
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Cuisine:New American, Upscale Tasting Menus
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Neighborhood:Lockerbie Square
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Price:$$$$
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Vibe:Indy’s Go-To Special Occasion Restaurant
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Location: 601 E New York St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Vida is an intimate fine-dining spot led by James Beard semifinalist chef Thomas Melvin, making it Indy’s go-to special occasion restaurant. It offers prix-fixe tasting menus (4- or 7-course) that showcase Melvin’s incredible skill with flavor combinations. Dishes are always artfully plated, and the handsome dining room, with views of 18th-century architecture, has won national praise.
Foodie Quote: Dishes are artfully plated – “for example, seared scallops with bacon and gochujang-maple brown butter or bluefin tuna with trout roe and yuzu aioli.”
Why is it our top choice? Its sophisticated tasting menus, exceptional execution, and two-time James Beard semifinalist recognition make Vida the ultimate destination for a celebratory meal in Indy.
5. Tinker Street
📹 Video Source: Thinker Street
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Cuisine:New American, Seasonal Midwestern
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Neighborhood:Herron-Morton Place
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Price:$$$
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Vibe:A Cozy, Farm-to-Table Gem
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Location: 402 E 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
For nearly a decade, Tinker Street has been an Indy leader in “farm-to-table” cuisine, establishing itself as a perennial local favorite. As Eater notes, it “epitomized the farm-to-table movement in Indy,” with an ever-changing seasonal menu of Midwest-sourced ingredients. Signature dishes include creative takes on shrimp and grits and smoked pork belly, and its warm, community-oriented atmosphere exemplifies “Hoosier hospitality”.
Foodie Quote: Guests are treated to a “complementary glass of sparkling wine served to each guest.”
Why is it our top choice? Redditors often mention Tinker Street first when asked for top Indy restaurants, proving its status as a beloved favorite for fine casual dining thanks to its local focus and cozy vibe.
6. Milktooth
📹 Video Source: WRTV Indianapolis
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Cuisine:Creative American Brunch
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Neighborhood:Fletcher Place
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Price:$$
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Vibe:The Ultimate, Nationally-Acclaimed Brunch
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Location: 534 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Opened in 2014, Milktooth is the restaurant that put Indianapolis brunch on the national map, making it the ultimate brunch spot in Indianapolis. Voted Bon Appétit’s Best New Restaurant of 2015, this “funky Fletcher Place ‘fine diner’” is known for whimsical, high-quality brunch dishes like gourmet grilled cheeses and sweet & savory Dutch baby pancakes. The line on weekends is expected, but reviewers agree “it will be worth it”.
Foodie Quote: One fan raved, “One of the best places… that cornbread waffle truly blessed by the gods.”
Why is it our top choice? Its national acclaim and wildly inventive menu make Milktooth the undisputed king of brunch in Indianapolis and a must-try eatery.
