For my Indianapolis dining guide review today, I have decided to describe a restaurant that nearly every single person has seen here in Indianapolis if they have gone to any of the local malls--Asian Chao.  While it is not the typical type of restaurant that I describe in my blog and restaurant guide, as I usually do some type of fine dining establishment, I felt obligated to write about it since it is one of my favorite fast food restaurants for many important reasons.  Asian Chao is a fast food chain dedicated to serving some of the best Asian style cuisine to the American public through establishments in the mall and other busy tourist areas.  You have probably seen them passing out their famous Bourbon Chicken dish in little paper cups as samples, which I love because no restaurants really do that anymore.  The interesting part of this, however, is the fact that I would recommend their Bourbon Chicken because it is my favorite dish there.  While their food is delicious and their service is quite excellent, I think it is my favorite restaurant for more personal reasons.  I had my first date with the girl of my dreams there (and it was the first time I had even eaten there) right here in downtown Indianapolis during a wonderful night at Christmas at the zoo and the other festivities.  She had me try the Bourbon Chicken, and ever since then it has been one of my favorite fast food chains because it has given me some of the best memories of my whole life.  So, don't just take my word for it, go out and make your own memories at the best Asian style fast food restaurant chain around, Asian Chao!  Take a date out to dinner and make a wonderful memory out of it!  Trust me, you won't regret it.  I know I don't!

Asian Chao
Visit:  Asian Chao

Tucked away in the northeast side of Indianapolis on the Geist Reservoir lays one of my favorite sports bars and restaurants that I have ever been to.  One of the reasons for my preference of this excellent Indianapolis restaurant is the fact that lots of my friends work there, and I love getting to see people I know when I go out to eat, but the main reason is the fact that it serves delicious food in a restaurant known for its night life and family restaurant style during the day.  While I am not old enough to have much of an opinion when it comes to Indianapolis bars, or any bars for that matter, I would have to say that it seems to be quite an enjoyable place at night when I pass by it at night while driving to friends' houses.  However, I can comment on the delicious food that Casler's serves to me each and every time that I have been there!   If you are looking for a great burger, steak, pizza, or french fries (which I would assume just about everyone eats) then Casler's is the place for you.  My personal favorite at this restaurant would have to be either its cheese fries appetizer or its meaty pizza, as I usually end up eating the entire thing to myself when I go there for lunch or dinner with my family!  They also have a very nice atmosphere that mixes the sports bar and pub with the outside edges being booths for family enjoyment (not saying that the sports theme doesn't come across in the family section however!).  Casler's is a great place to visit, and I would suggest to anyone who is tired of the downtown traffic to head up to Geist Reservoir at Olio Road and 116th Street and check it out!





Casler's Kitchen and Bar
11501 Geist Pavillion Drive
Fishers, IN 46038
Phone:  (317) 596-9810
Visit:  Casler's Kitchen and Bar

In early May of 2008, myself and around eleven or thirteen other teenagers were trying to decide what type of restaurant downtown we were going to eat at right before we went over to the Children's Museum for prom.  We thought of plenty of places that we considered fine dining, but most of them were far out of our price range as seniors in high school.  Then, we tried to decide what type of food we wanted, and most of the girls in the group decided they either wanted Italian cuisine or a steak restaurant that had ample room for such a large group and that had a pleasant atmosphere.  So, we looked and looked, and finally we found the place:  Palomino Restaurant and Bar.  Not only is Palomino a great lunch and dinner restaurant, but on top of that, it was decently priced, has a pleasant atmosphere and bar area, and is an excellent place to take a date, just as we did before prom that night.  Every single one of us there absolutely loved the food, with myself and my date splitting the Fettuccine Alfredo, and some other people in our group got excellent looking seafood dishes like their calamari or some very delicious steaks.  In my opinion, the second most important part of a restaurant besides the taste and presentation of its food is certainly its atmosphere, and Palomino seems to have mastered blending fine dining with an upscale bar perfectly!  Afterward, we all enjoyed the dance, but the restaurant certainly brought our night up considerably, and I would suggest visiting Palomino to everyone I know:  friends, family, business colleagues, and everyone!  By the way, while our prom group is too young to experience it, the night life of the restaurant is said to be quite outstanding as well!


Palomino
49 W Maryland Street, #189
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone:  317-974-0400
Visit:  Palomino

Despite the fact that I have only visited Journey's seafood and buffet twice, and on special occasions, I have already found it to be one of the best buffet-style restaurants I have ever been to!  Simply put, Journey is an Asian seafood, steak, pizza, and dessert buffet, along with just about 100 other types of food from all across the globe.  For example, I recently visited Journey for my girlfriend's birthday, and ended up with pizza, green beans, steak, crab legs, and dessert all on one plate!  While it is somewhat of an unusual combination, it makes for a restaurant where a whole family can visit on a special occasion or just about any time and every person can eat (even if they are very picky).  Although I have only mentioned visiting Journey on special occasions, I would have to say that it would make a good location for a business lunch, a date with that special someone, or just a nice dinner with the family or friends.  Journey is a great place for everyone because it has all types of food and a very modern atmosphere, making for an amazing and memorable experience.  I tend to stay away from buffet-style restaurants, but after visiting Journey, I had to include it in my dining guide as one of the best buffet restaurants in Indianapolis by far!  By the way, don't miss the chocolate fountains near the buffet, as they are very good!  Enjoy!




The Journey
7155 E. 96th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46250
Phone:  317-578-9933
Visit:  The Journey

While most of the restaurants I will include in my Indianapolis dining guide actually are located in downtown Indianapolis, sometimes a restaurant just grabs my attention enough that I feel the need to include it in my guide, even if it is located all the way out on Geist Reservoir.  Most people have heard of Geist if they are from Indianapolis, as it is a mere half-hour drive east on I-70 and north on Olio Road, but most probably haven't heard of a pretty good restaurant located on its shores, known as Eddy's Bar and Eatery.  I first heard about Eddy's through one of my friends that I went to high school with, and after the couple of times I have gone there for dinner, I sure am glad she told me about it.  Eddy's Neighborhood Bar and Grill is an indoor-outdoor sports bar, and delicious eatery that serves everything from great steaks to Italian cuisine, to local seafood, all at a very reasonable price for its prime location with a view of Geist Reservoir.  In my opinion, Eddy's is an anytime restaurant, in that one could have lunch or dinner there with colleagues, friends, relatives, business partners, families, or just about anyone else, because it has an atmosphere of what I would consider a seafood restaurant with an upscale twist.  The combination, however, makes for a delicious lunch and dinner restaurant, with a great view, and anyone who goes there is bound to have a great and memorable experience.  So, take the drive out to Eddy's Neighborhood Bar and Eatery--it is certainly worth it!

Eddy's Neighborhood Bar and Eatery
11693 Fall Creek Road
Indianapolis, IN 46256
Phone:  317-849-0925
Visit:  Eddy's Neighborhood Bar and Eatery

    Although it has been quite a few years since I have visited Shula's Steakhouse in downtown Indianapolis, I will never forget the experiences, nor the food, that I enjoyed there.  The first time I walked into Shula's, probably around the age of eight years old, I clearly remember trying to decide in my head whether it was some type of sports bar or fine dining restaurant, but never really figuring out which.  It isn't until right now that I have realized that it cannot be placed into some type of category as I had been trying to do, because it is a very interesting mixture of restaurants.  Not only is it a fine dining restaurant that serves probably the best steaks in Indianapolis, but it is also an elegant sports bar (the menus are actually footballs!), as one would expect coming from the coach of the Miami Dolphins' perfect season Don Shula.  In fact, Shula's Steakhouse could be included in many other categories in my opinion, because it is not so fine that children aren't completely welcome, making it an incredible family restaurant, but it is elegant enough to take a date on a special occasion or to hold a very professional meeting.  Shula's is an all-in-one dining experience, bringing together sports, fine dining, families, romance, elegance, and great steaks!  So, visit Shula's Steakhouse for any occasion and see why I consider it the best restaurant in downtown Indianapolis, by far.

Shula's Steakhouse
Westin Indianapolis Hotel
50 South Capitol Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone:  317-231-3900
Visit:  Shula's Steakhouse

Location: El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant

Address: 2203 N. State Street Greenfield, IN 46140

Phone Number: (317)462-5272

Description: So, you are on the east side of Indianapolis and you are having a major craving for Mexican food. You are in a major rush, so you need food in a flash. Of course, anywhere on the east side of Indianapolis during the late afternoon or early evening is extremely crowded and busy, leaving very few restaurants to choose from besides fast food. In my opinion, for some of the best Mexican food you can find, and for a reasonable price, also in a flash, El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant in Greenfield is the place to go. No, I am not just recommending a random restaurant that I have never been to--I go there frequently. In fact, my family recently visited El Rodeo for some fine Mexican dining. First of all, I would like to comment on their menu and prices. For a Mexican restaurant, El Rodeo has quite a large menu and reasonable prices. One of their best dishes is the steak and cheese burrito. Not only is it the size of your head, but it is placed at a very reasonable $8.00, and that includes a side of rice and beans--a staple of Mexican restaurants in the United States. As for the service, most of the employees speak English very well, and it is rare that my food does not come out within four or five minutes of ordering. The salsa is excellent, so the time goes by very quickly anyways. Overall, I would say that if you are sick of downtown dining and you want some fast and good-tasting food, you should take a quick fifteen minute drive out to Greenfield, as it is just off I-70, and visit El Rodeo Mexican restaurant.

Website: unavailable 

Rating: 4 stars

Location: Mozzi's Pizza Greenfield

Address: 2221 W. Main Street Greenfield, IN 46140

Phone Number: (317)462-2999

So, you are hungry and need to find food within half an hour of Indianapolis, Indiana. You've had enough of all the traffic and congestion of downtown, and you want some good, homecooked food in a much less congested area. Well, if this is truly what you are looking for, then Mozzi's Pizza in Greenfield, Indiana (about 20 miles east of Indianapolis on US 40) is the place for you. First of all, Mozzi's pizza is one of the best, if not THE best, pizzeria that I have been too (and I have been to a LOT of pizzerias). It is somewhat of a sports restaurant, as the walls are lined with autographed pictures of famous sports heroes, and make sure not to miss the autographed basketballs lining the ceiling in the main area! The floor itself resembles a basketball court, yet despite its focus on basketball, it seems to have a feel of home to it for me. I go to Mozzi's at least 1-2 times per week, mostly because it's menu is large, and it is relatively low-priced. Also, Mozzi's is good for just about any occassion, and I can definitely voucher for that statement. I have held birthday parties, team parties, get-togethers, dates, family dining experiences, and even after-school lunches or brunches. The pizza itself is excellent, and of all the items on the menu, I would recommend the Chicago crust pepperoni and bacon pizza, and for starters, I would also recommend the buffet-style breadsticks. Overall, I would give this place 6 stars on a five star scale, as it is my favorite restaurant that I have been to in my entire life

Website: www.mozzispizza.com

Rating: 5 stars

 

We've all seen it: "the cuisine was not only exquisite, but the atmosphere was entirely ...copious and completely and utterly breathtaking... blah blah blah." A restaurant review in many magazines and other online blogs would probably feature a description such as this, leaving many readers entirely confused and left with little or no understanding of what the restaurant actually is. However, this is where my restaurant reviews come in to play. They are not only going to critique the food and atmosphere of many of the best, and probably some that are not the best, Indiana restaurants, but they will do so in a very straightforward and decipherable manner. There will be no "blah-blahing" when it comes to my opinions on the food choices and atmospheres of the various restaurants that I describe. For all of my restaurant reviews, a system similar to the 5-star system or the 2-thumb system will be employed so as to display how the restaurant ranks among what I would consider my favorite restaurants. It will also feature a distinct and reader friendly description of each restaurant, followed by links to the best restaurant menu and menu price. Finally, I will occassionally feature my choice as to what to order at each restaurant, based on which of the dishes I believe to be the best at each restaurant. So, I will now begin reviewing the restaurants that I consider to be my favorite restaurants in Indianapolis!