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

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

    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

This past Monday, my fiance and I had the privelege of dining at one of my favorite italian restaurants, Carrabba's Italian Grill.  I have not been here in years and this delightful visit made me realize what I was missing.

We were promptly seated upon arrive in a nice, quiet booth.  Although the food was amazing, one of the best parts about dinner was the service.  Our waitress, Kristen, was sweet, knowledgeable, and gave us wonderful suggestions.  It was Brian's first time to Carrabba's and Kristen was able to guide us through the menu to decide what we would enjoy the most. 

Brian started off with a Sam Adams Summer lager. Kristen brought him a sample of Italian beer, since he had never had it, to see if it suited him better.  I ordered a Sauvignon Blanc which was light, crisp, and went perfect with the dinner.

After drinks were served, we received the bread and dipping sauce.  This is truly unique to Carrabba's.  The bread is always fresh and hot, and the wait staff ensures that you have plenty to eat.  Kristen went over the day's specials and informed Brian of popular dishes he might want to try as a first timer.

For dinner, Brian decided on the Pollo Rosa Maria which is a grilled chicken breast stuffed with fontina cheese and prosciutto.  It is topped with mushrooms and complimented with a delicious basil lemon butter sauce.  The chicken was grilled to perfection and the combination of flavors was brilliant.  I opted for the Lobster Ravioli.  Stuffed with tender Maine lobster in a white wine cream sauce with diced tomatoes, this dish was to die for. 

Unfortunately, we were not able to try any of the dessert because our meals were so filling.  In the past, I have tried the Tiramisu.  This dessert encorporates lady fingers dipped in liqueur laced espresso, layered with sweetened mascarpone, Myers’s Rum, and chocolate shavings.  There were a few others that we wished we could try as well but our stomachs would not allow.

Maggiano's Little Italy
3550 East 86th Street
Indianapolis, IN, 46240-2424

Genre: Italian-American
Rating: 5 out of 5
Location: North Indianapolis

"...when the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie, that's amore..."  Everytime I walk into this restaurant, that song plays in my head at least once.  This restaurant gives you the feel of a traditional Italian-American establishment, as if you were in little Italy.  Ive been here on many occasions (family visits, couples night, friends, etc.) and the food is just as delicious as when I ate there that time before. 

I can't really put my finger on a specific plate that I like the most because Ive enjoyed all of the meals that Ive had here.  Maggiano's features signature plates in the menu that are cooked house-style.  I would recommend eating here, at least once, and experience for yourself the taste of little Italy!

I gave this restaurant a perfect score because of the menu.  It does contain such dishes as Fettucine Alfredo and Spaghetti with Meatballs, two non-authentic Italian dishes.  We must realize, however, that Maggiano's represents a "Little Italy" style of dining, not a purely home-land Italian style.  It is this that allows Maggiano's to represent Italian-American dining.

Ambrosia
915 E Westfield Blvd
Indianapolis, IN 46220
(317) 255-3096

Genre: Italian
Rating: 5 out of 5
Location: Broad Ripple

"Ambrosia" has its roots in the Greek culture as meaning "immortality".  As a food, it was referred to, in mythology, as the "food of the gods".  Today, this restaurant adorns Broad Ripple with its elegance and intimate setting.  Unfortunately, I don't believe any Greek gods have eaten here recently.

Like many Italian restaurants I frequent, I look for certain criteria: A menu filled with CORRECT Italian dishes, an Italian themed setting, and at least one individual in the restaurant that is fluent in Italian.  Good news: Ambrosia had each one of these.  Once inside this establishment, it is clear that lighting, colors, seating arrangement, and table displays are conducive to an Italian restaurant.  Moreover, the menu is blessed with beautiful, authentic dishes.  Menu Advice: if you are at an ethnic restaurant and cannot pronounce the dish names, that is a good thing.  I am fortunate enough to have an Italian language background and constantly judge the accuracy of the menu in order to understand the owner's attention to detail.  Lastly, it wasn't hard to find the native Italian in the restaurant.  This older woman, who reminded me of my grandmother, was patrolling the restaurant ensuring all meals were accounted for.  Seeing this woman led me to believe that she was the individual preserving the Italian style dining experience within those walls.

I ordered the Spaghetti Tutto Mare, literally translated to "everything sea", because I needed to have my seafood fix for the week.  I trusted that the Italian Patrolwoman would deliver a beautiful dish of everything from the sea.  The dish was excellent!!  My food had no chance of survival once I smelled the aroma wafting from the kitchen.

I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the mood for an authentic Italian dinner.  The reason I gave this restaurant a perfect rating is because it met all my criteria for Italian style dining AND I didn't find Fettuccine Alfredo or Spaghetti with Meatballs (Both American forms of Italian dining).  Make your reservation today!!

 I would not call myself a sushi connoisseur by any means, but I have been to enough sushi restaurants in the country to have an opinion on which are the best.  I would have to say that out of all the sushi restaurants in this great country, my favorite would have to be one that I found in the Indianapolis Dining Guide.  It is an upscale place called Kristen's Sushi Palace.  It is a spin off of another restaurant by the name of Yummy Chopsticks.  Kristen's Sushi Palace is by far the best downtown Indianapolis restaurant there is.

    It has a unique blend of modern decor with a touch of traditional Japan.  There are many menu items to choose from.  You can order anything from chicken teriyaki to seaweed salad.   They have the most exciting selection of rolls as well.  I suggest trying either the spicy tuna roll or the volcano roll.  Everything is prepared extremely well and fresh.  Of course, lunch is lovely too, and that's when I was here. The menu is extensive, offering a la carte sushi, Korean and Japanese dishes, and sandwiches and salads with an Asian bent.

    Amazing. Just… amazing. That’s the only way I know how to describe this roll (okay, so not the only way, but definitely one of the best ways!) This has been added to my list of my favorite sushi rolls. The Srirachia sauce adds a pleasant kick, but it’s mellowed out by the mayonnaise so it’s perfect for those of us who don’t like super spicy foods. The tobiko adds a wonderful crunch to the sushi, and the green onion brightens it up a little. Overall, it’s a delicious roll!

I would not call myself a sushi connoisseur by any means, but I have been to enough sushi restaurants in the country to have an opinion on which are the best.  I would have to say that out of all the sushi restaurants in this great country, my favorite would have to be one that I found in the Indianapolis Dining Guide.  It is an upscale place called Kristen's Sushi Palace.  It is a spin off of another restaurant by the name of Yummy Chopsticks.  Kristen's Sushi Palace is by far the best downtown Indianapolis restaurant there is.
    It has a unique blend of modern decor with a touch of traditional Japan.  There are many menu items to choose from.  You can order anything from chicken teriyaki to seaweed salad.   They have the most exciting selection of rolls as well.  I suggest trying either the spicy tuna roll or the volcano roll.  Amazing. Just… amazing. That’s the only way I know how to describe this roll!  This has been added to my list of my favorite sushi rolls. The special sauce adds a pleasant kick, but it’s mellowed out by the mayonnaise so it’s perfect for those of us who don’t like super spicy foods. The tobiko adds a wonderful crunch to the sushi, and the green onion brightens it up a little. Overall, it’s a delicious roll!  Everything is prepared extremely well and extraordinarily fresh.  Of course, lunch is lovely too, and that's when I was here. The menu is extensive, offering a la carte sushi, Korean and Japanese dishes, and sandwiches and salads with an Asian bent.

 
I would not call myself a sushi connoisseur by any means, but I have been to enough sushi restaurants in the country to have an opinion on which are the best.  I would have to say that out of all the sushi restaurants in this great country, my favorite would have to be one that I found in the Indianapolis Dining Guide.  It is an upscale place called Sushi on the Rocks.  It is a spin off of another restaurant by the name of Yummy Chopsticks.  Sushi on the Rocks is by far the best downtown Indianapolis restaurant there is.

It has a unique blend of modern decor with a touch of traditional Japan.  There are many menu items to choose from.  You can order anything from chicken teriyaki to seaweed salad.   They have the most exciting selection of rolls as well.  I suggest trying either the spicy tuna roll or the volcano roll.  They have over 40 to choose from, so there is one for everybody.  Everything is prepared extremely well and fresh.  Of course, lunch is lovely too, and that's when I was here. The menu is extensive, offering a la carte sushi, Korean and Japanese dishes, and sandwiches and salads with an Asian bento box.
      
Next time you are in the mood for sushi, try this place and enjoy!  You can find this lovely place at 235 South Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN 46225.

Palomino
49 West Maryland Street
Indianapolis, In 46204
317-974-0400

Every time I think of the best restaurant in Indianapolis for a date, Palomino enters my mind. This restaurant is the essence of a tasteful yet cool downtown restaurant.

The key to a successful date here is to try the custom mixed margaritas served Martini Style. The other key is to avoid a regular table and sit in the bar. As you know, a big part of a successful date is seeing and being seen. Getting a table in the bar is worth waiting for and if you can score a window seat, well let’s just say you have really scored…

You won't find Pizza slices or breakfast, but you will find great seafood, steak, Italian dining in an excellent environment. Take my advice and take your date downtown to one of my favorite and best restaurants in Indianapolis…Palomino.

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

 

Recently, I went to Bucca Di Beppo's to celebrate a birthday dinner with a group of about ten friends and I was blown away with how smoothly it went. The servers were knowledgable and friendly and seemed to have much experience dealing with large groups. Usually it can be somewhat difficult to take a large group out but with the family style dining, we were able to order a few different items that everyone would enjoy. The spaghetti is a must and the chicken marsala was to-die-for. It was a great, authentic Italian meal. The menu price was a little steep, but the ambience and the service made it well worth it.They had a large variety of Italian food and the deserts are off the charts (I especially recommend the tiramisu). I have and will continue to recommend it to people taking large groups of friends out for a great meal.

One of my favorite places in Indy is a sushi resaurant in Broadripple called Naked Tchopstix.  I had never had sushi before when my best friend, Pat, suggested we try it.  When we got there I was a little intimidated by the menu and asked our server what she recommended.  She said that the Playboy Roll was, by far, everyone's favorite item.  Pat and I took her word for it and each ordered a Playboy Roll with a side of fried rice... I have never been so happy taking someone's advice, the Playboy Roll is definitely what to order when dining at Naked Tchopstix!  It has a little spice to it but it really isn't that spicy.  If you are looking for a mild roll, my girlfriend really likes the Maui Roll which has a slice of mango in each piece... she loves it.  If you are ever in Broadripple and are feeling a little on the adventuous side you absolutely must try the Playboy Roll at Naked Tchopstix!

The best restaurant and best dining experience in Indianpolis is at Zest! Their menu changes daily. This is by far the best restaurant for breakfast / brunch on the weekends.

5 Reasons why Mama Carrolla's Italian Dining is the best Italian restaurant in Indianapolis.

1. Great and authentic Italian food

2. Friendly waitstaff

3. Warm and cozy atmosphere

4. Affordable menu price