Who is the Downtown Lunch Guru?  Wouldn't you like to know!?  Actually I am not your typical food critic in stature (I'm not a big guy) or profession (I've only worked in the food industry for three years).  My father is quite the accomplished chef and has given me the knowledge to critique restaurants.  I've worked in Downtown Indianapolis for five years now and I've eaten at just about every place that is reasonably priced and open for lunch.

My favorite foods include: steak, Mexican, pasta and all vegetables.  I'm the type of person that will try any food and always orders too much food so I have something to take home.  The one self-admitted problem I have is I like everything!  Well, almost everything.  But in all honesty, if your restaurant doesn't have something that I will enjoy, you should rethink your menu.

If you have any suggestions or simply just want to tell me I'm wrong, feel free to comment.  Also, I apologize for the briefness of my entries... I do have a real, full-time job I have to keep!

Einstein Bros. Bagels:  http://www.einsteinbros.com
Location: 47 S. Illinois St.

DLG Rating: 7/10

Bagels anyone?  Everyone knows Einstein's, the famous morning bagel shop, but did you know that they serve lunch as well?  Apparently, no one does downtown as this place is usually pretty empty on a normal business day.  Fast service and decent food, make this place an adequate quick lunch in downtown Indy.  

The menu is pretty much what you'd expect (bagel sandwiches) with a few exceptions.  A new one to me was the bagel dog.  Stick a hot dog in a bagel and some people call that lunch!  I've yet to be brave enough to try one, but check back soon as I promise I'll give one a try.

All sandwiches are served with a side (potato salad, cole slaw or chips).  DLG recommendation = potato salad.

Ah Barista Cafe - http://www.ahbarista.com
Location: 201 S. Capitol Ave.

DLG Rating: 8/10

Ah Barista Cafe is a little less-known place on the ground floor of the Pan Am Building.  It features a variety of sandwiches and salads, good for a quick lunch.  The sandwiches are a fairly good size, come with chips and usually fill the appetite with a solid light lunch.  If you are a big eater, this is not your place.
 

Some of the specials include: Taco Salad, Pizza Pretzel Paninis, Loaded Baked Potatoes and some other very unique choices.  The cafe serves all Boar's Head meats, so the sandwiches are quality.

Another plus to the cafe is a plethora of drink options - every type of coffee, Italian cream sodas and much, much more.

The most enjoyable part of grabbing lunch at Ah Barista is the staff.  Always very cordial and helpful with great recommendations.

Jillian's - http://www.jilliansbilliards.com
Location: 141 S. Meridian St #100

DLG Rating: 6.5/10

A forgotten about lunch spot, Jillian's features a diverse menu.  The wait staff is average and some desire to talk to the hostess more than wait on their tables.  Overall, the food is a B-/C+.



If you're looking to go out to a quiet place to have a discussion or hang out with a few friends that love sports, Jillian's could be a good fit.  The restaurant is almost never busy and sports are played on every one of the televisions. I imagine this would be a great place to catch a Colts game on Sundays.

Jillian's could really be summed up as serving up-scale bar food. Nothing is bad, but nothing is great.  

Patachou On The Park - http://www.cafepatachou.com
Location:  225 W Washington St (Simon Building First Floor)

DLG Rating:  8/10



I got my first taste of Patachou today, and in two words it was delicious and slow.  The menu contained what seemed like hundreds of choices, so the more indecisive folks among us might find it a little difficult to settle on one item.  It’s also one of the few places I’ve seen in the downtown area with breakfast for lunch.  An array of omelets, waffles and breakfast sandwiches take up an entire side of the menu.  The flipside of the menu contains your more typical café food with a twist.  Another bonus in my book was the outside seating right on Washington St.

Now for the ugly… it was slow.  Almost painfully slow to eat there.  Now I always take the fact that my situation could have been unique and not the norm, but if you don’t have an hour (hour plus in our case) to spend at lunch this isn’t your place.  

Harry and Izzy’s - http://www.harryandizzys.com
Location: 153 S. Illinois St

DLG Rating:  9.9/10

St. Elmo’s got it right when it branched off the sister restaurant Harry and Izzy’s.  A place to get a great steak and shrimp cocktail that also does light lunch fare is heaven in my book.  This is the number one spot for business lunches in the city.  The cost is similar to the RAM Brewery across the street, but the food is where it really blows away the competition.  Peppercorn steak salad, prime rib sandwich and hot pastrami sandwich are just a few of the items that all cost between $10-13 and will fill up the biggest appetites.  Okay, I’ve got to stop drooling now so I can write the rest of this…
The atmosphere is also second to none in the city.  Every table has a very secluded feel that allows for great conversation.  Although I haven’t experience it first hand, the bar looks to be top notch.  

Along the lines of St. Elmo’s, the service at Harry and Izzy’s is always great.  The wait staff is knowledgeable about the food and can really give you some good advice if you can’t choose the right meal.

If you couldn’t tell, I’m thinking about going back for that great hot pastrami sandwich tomorrow!!

PF Chang’s - http://www.pfchangs.com/
Location: 49 W Maryland St.

DLG Rating:  9/10

Downtown, need Chinese… well, maybe not need, but want Chinese??  P.F. Chang’s is the place to go.  This classic chain restaurant is the best Chinese in the downtown area according to this guru.  Located right on the first floor of the mall, PF Chang’s has delicious food for your average downtown prices.  Look to spend about $10-15 per person, but be completely full and probably take home some for the loving dog at home when you get off of work. 

If you’ve been to a PF Chang’s before, you know the drill with the atmosphere.  Tables can at times be too close together, but if you get lucky enough for a booth you’ll have all the space you’d ever want.  The one downfall is reservations are recommended.  Since it’s right in the mall they get a lot of foot traffic and it causes long waits around lunchtime. 

Staff is usually solid and at times seems like you have multiple waiters/waitresses with the way the bring food out in waves.  It’s a great idea though as it gets your food to you faster.

Bazbeaux - http://www.bazbeaux.com/
Location:  334 Massachusetts Ave

DLG Rating:  9/10

Okay, I promise every restaurant doesn’t get an eight or nine rating, I just like to review what I like first.  And, like is an understatement about Bazbeaux.  The lunch menu is perfect for a quick and delicious lunch… four different by-the-slice options, side salads or, for the pickier, the full menu is available.  Service is quick. Lines are sometimes long, but you never wait for more than 10 minutes to get your food.

By far the cheapest place I’ve reviewed so far as the standard lunch (two slices, side salad and drink) totals about $8.  Obviously, if you go off the menu it can get much pricier.

You’ve got to try some of their specialty slices if you go… The quattro, veggie and BBQ chicken are all scrumptious!!