Restaurant GUIDE
DOWNTOWN
INCLUDES Fletcher Place, Fountain Square, Mass Ave, Mile Square
Bazbeaux
PIZZA As some of Indy’s most celebrated restaurateurs open pie places all over town, we haven’t forgotten where we first found artichoke hearts and goat cheese on our ’za. Bazbeaux has changed little since 1986, when it opened in Broad Ripple, and it hasn’t really needed to. Flat crust baked crunchy. Toppings you won’t find at Domino’s, like pine nuts and prosciutto. And the cheese—mounds of mozzarella blended with provolone and pecorino. 333 Massachusetts Ave., 317-636-7662, bazbeaux.com
Beholder
CONTEMPORARY A former car-repair shop just outside Woodruff Place sets the stage for daring performance art that has featured pig-skin noodles, and granita-topped uni designed to melt on the tongue, as well as buttermilk fried chicken with wildflower honey. The laborintensive cocktails are smart and spot-on. 1844 E. 10th St., 317-419-3471, beholderindy.com
Bluebeard
CONTEMPORARY Crowds still roll in for chef Abbi Merriss’s take on seasonal comfort food, a category she dominates in town as evidenced by her vast collection of national media mentions and James Beard Award nominations. Start with the bread baked next door at sister-business bakery Amelia’s—it’s especially delicious slathered with anchovy butter—and build your meal from the ever-changing menu of small and large dishes. Fried morels may show up on a spring picnic plate, while winter nights call for a comforting butcher-shop Bolognese. Bluebeard is a rare neighborhood restaurant open for Sunday dinner, a popular $1 oyster night. 653 Virginia Ave., 317-686-1580, bluebeardindy.com
The Bosphorus Istanbul Cafe
TURKISH This cozy, colorful cafe inside a restored house in the Holy Rosary neighborhood has been one of our most consistent ethnic restaurants for nearly 20 years, introducing local diners—especially nearby Lilly employees—to the aromatic cuisine of the Middle East, Greece, and the Eastern Mediterranean. Silky, tahini-rich hummus is a must, alongside exemplary falafel, creamy eggplant salsa, and borek—buttery phyllo stuffed with feta and parsley. 935 S. East St., 317-974-1770, bosphorusistanbulcafe.com
Bru Burger Bar
GOURMET BURGERS The Cunningham Restaurant Group, based in Indianapolis and the force behind several of our hottest spots, revives the gilded burger trend to great effect, pairing patties that combine sirloin, chuck, and brisket with craft beers in a young and stylish spot off the Cultural Trail. The signature Bru Burger reinvents the bacon cheeseburger with Taleggio, sweet tomato jam, and porter-braised onions. 410 Massachusetts Ave., 317-635-4278, bruburgerbar.com
Burger Study
BURGERS Part of the St. Elmo Steak House family, Burger Study conveniently backs up to Circle Centre, offering mall-side USDA Prime Black Angus burgers made from a blend of brisket, short rib, and chuck. The burgers are gilded with posh add-ons like root beer–glazed bacon, gouda, and pimento cheese, and the Wagyu burger contains locally sourced beef from Joseph Decuis topped with triple-crème whipped brie, blueberry jam, and arugula. 28 W. Georgia St., 317-777-7770, burgerstudy.com
Cafe Patachou
CAFE The original Meridian-Kessler “student union for adults” continues to draw in the baseball-capped morning crowds and has inspired citywide offshoots, such as this sleek downtown location, a huge hit with the business and weekend hordes alike. The cinnamon toast is still as thick as a brick; the produce is still locally sourced; the massive omelets still have cheeky names; and the broken-yolk sandwiches are still a lunch favorite. 225 W. Washington St., 317-632-0765, cafepatachou.com
Chuck’s Coney Island
CHEAP EATS Natives of Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan will wax nostalgic at the offerings from Detroit native Charles Lovelady’s hot-dog walk-up. He and son Charles Jr. even drive up to the Motor City every few weeks to load up on authentic chili for their Coneys and piled-high cheese fries. But don’t discount the pair’s original creations, such as the three-cheese Boom Bang Burger layered with corned beef on Texas toast. Seating is limited, so be prepared to make off with your bounty. 2932 E. 10th St., 317-426-4945
Comida
LATIN FUSION Food truck–style fusion in the form of General Tso’s chicken tacos and char siu pork burritos are some of the tasty globally influenced choices at this counter-service spot. Breakfast scrambles and pastries from such local sources as Saraga International Market start the day alongside espresso drinks, and street-food favorites such as beef and chorizo empanadas, “flaming hot” cornand-mayo elotes, and Korean-inspired bulgogi nachos make great choices for lunch. 43 E. 9th St., 317-426-4392, comidaindy.com
Condado Tacos
TACOS This flashy Mass Ave outpost of the Ohio-based chain offers a paper menu of build-your-own taco options, from tortilla to sauces. Customers fill in the dots next to their preferred fixings, like the Firecracker hard shell, the housemade chorizo, and the Thai chili tofu. 530 Massachusetts Ave., 317-222-5999, condadotacos.com
Conner’s Kitchen + Bar
CONTEMPORARY At this luxe, relaxed restaurant inside the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, a glowing wall of alcohol separates the dining room from the bar, and deep, allseasons sofas made for lounging sit on the sidewalk-side patio. Art-directed cocktails, ike the Prickly Pear Margarita and the Peppered Paloma, elevate aft er-work drinks, and a simple upscale-casual menu focuses on chopped salads and basic dishes done well, like a grilled five-cheese sandwich and a litt le pail of black-truffle potato chips too addictively light and crispy to share. Weekend brunch calls for cereal milk–infused cocktails garnished with Cocoa Puffs. 350 W. Maryland St., 317-405-6100, connersindy.com
Ellison Brewing Co.
BREWPUB This Lansing, Michigan, brewery arrived in downtown in late 2019, breathing new life into the former home of Tow Yard Brewing on South Madison. But pale ales and craft spirits are only part of the draw when former CharBlue chef Ricky Hatfield is in the house pairing some pretty sophisticated and hearty plates with the suds. Pretzel nuggets and lush cheese dip spiked with house beer are predictably addictive, but fresh, fragrant crab dip with grilled corn is a lighter and equally satisfying starter. A Greek salad dressed up with artisan salami and pepperoncini is also far from brewpub fodder, and fish and chips with unusual thin-cut steak fries rival some of the best in town. A wood oven allows Hatfield to produce top-notch chewycrust pizzas such as the Goat Hollow with cheddar-ale sauce, roasted fig, and prosciutt o. Colts fans will want to up their pre-game ritual at this casual spot just blocks from Lucas Oil Stadium. 501 Madison Ave., 317-390-4291, ellisonbrewing.com
Fat Dan’s Deli
MEAT AND POTATOES Be prepared to use plenty of napkins when you chow down on smoked meats and burgers loaded high with such tasty add-ons as smoked pork, pastrami, gorgonzola, capers, and brie. Brisket cooked for 14 hours is a mainstay of the made-fromscratch menu, as is the house corned beef. Get an order of tots for the table, served on a spread of craft paper, and whatever you do, don’t miss the plump Vienna dogs that will transport you straight to Wrigleyville. 410 E. Michigan St., 317-600-3333, fatdansdeli.com
Fogo de Chao
This Brazilian steakhouse chain is as handsome as it is indulgent. Come hungry and start with the elaborate salad bar headlined by marinated veggies and giant hunks of cheese. But don’t overdo it on the healthy stuff, because you will want to save plenty of room for all-you-can-eat beef ancho, filet mignon, top sirloin, bott om sirloin, pork ribs, and the house-special picanha, sliced sizzling hot right
