So the other day I was talking with Compendium's creative designer Mikey about places to grab a bite to eat in indy. He has mentioned a place that I hadn't had since I was a kid. Arnie's pizza, located up on 96th street is a great place to grab some pizza at a reasonable price.

After Mikey had mentioned Arnie's, I had to ask what he thought about it. He first said that the variety is a lot wider than he expected. Arnie's has an extensive menu including not only Pizza, but subs and salads as well (there is something there for everyone). Mikey also said that he liked that the pizza was thin crust (my favorite!!) Also, the ingredients are chopped up in smaller pieces (which allows for more toppings!) On top of the great pizza and the wide variety of food, Mikey said that there is a big bar. So it is a great place to grab a bite to eat and a few drinks before a night out.

There are several locations where you can get your fix of Arnie's pizza. The on in Indy is on 96th street (it recently moved up there from it's previous location on 86th street in the strip mall next to Wal-Mart). You can call in or order on-line and get carry out for those nights that you want to pick up something on your way home from work!

During the holiday season we are always running late in making our group reservations for department or company parties.   Usually all the best Restaurants in Indianapolis are sold out months in advance.   So I really was pleased to get this email today from McCormick&Schmick's Seafood Restaurant Downtown Indianapolis today.  Located just one block off the circle in Indy there is a ton of great parking all within a few steps to their front door.   

M & S's isn't just for Seafood but also is a great steak restaurant and the bar has one of the best great happy hours,   complete with a huge Hamburger for about a dollar.

 According to this ad, they still have room for holiday reservations...not bad for one of the Best Restaurant Indianapolis.

Workingman's Friend
234 N Belmont Ave
Indianapolis IN 46222
(317) 636-2067

DO NOT FEAR Workingman's Friend.   This is a classic Indianapolis Lunch Restaurant that in spite of it's appearance serves one of the best burgers in Indy.  Close to Downtown Indianapolis Workingman's friend is full of the white collar types as well and a lot of physicians for some reason...probably because it's close to IUPUI and the Med Center.

Workingman's Friend is an old fashioned Indianapolis Pub and nothing more.  The kind of place your dad would go after the 3 to 11 shift at the plant.   Take my advice, great burger, great bar and great people is why this makes the cut in my Indianapolis Menu Guide.

McGinley's
Golden Ace Irish Bar
2533 E Washington St
Indianapolis IN 46201
(317) 632-0696

Still owned by the McGinley family makes this the oldest family owned bars Indianapolis.  Just outside of downtown Indianapolis on the East Side, you'll find this Pub just two blocks west of Rural St.

The Golden Ace is tops in Indianapolis Nightlife if you like cool pints and lots of great Irish music.  In my quest for the Best Burger in Indianapolis I was really impressed with the "Ace" burger.   A traditional hamburger that puts the FOOD in the idea of barfood.

My father-in-law loves the Braunschweiger...and like good Irish everywhere, this is a seafood restaurant on Friday's.  Finally, I recommend the bean soup.  Nothing like a pint of Smithwick's and some bean soup on a cold winter night.   This is one Indianapolis Restaurant that I'm thrilled to and to my Indianapolis restaruant reviews.

(317) 423-3154‎

Indianapolis Nightlife, Wine, fine dining?   OMG thank you for Deano's Wine Bar & Restaurant!

Located just off Fountain Square this is sincerely one of the best restaurants in Indianapolis.   Just about a mile from downtown, owners Dean Wilson and Jody Bryant have created something that is truly unique.   With a motto of "Good food, good wine and good friends"  these guys have really come through in creating a great Indianapolis date restaurant.

Oh...did I mention they have music on weekends?  How's that for those of you looking for some Indianapolis Nightlife that's for adults?

The dinner menu has lots of seafood like a smoked salmon platter appetizer or a "more crab than cake" Crab Cake.  What Indianapolis fine dining restaurant review would be complete without a shrimp cocktail?  (Shrimp Cocktail is to Indianapolis Restaurants like wings are in Buffalo...available everywhere)

The appetizer menu even includes an Italian restaurant touch with four different Pizza's and a portabella & pistachio salad.    Entrees cover seafood to chicken to beef.  As an Atkins eater who is trying to eat more locally produced food, I was thrilled to see Indiana Bison Steaks on the menu...pared with a suggested Petite Sirah......perfect.

Writing this Indiana Dining Guide is makeing me hungry...

So this week the M-Team here at Compendium Blogware didn't want to walk too far for our meal, so we went around the corner to Dicks Bodacious Bar-B-Q. If you want to see whats new at Compendium, go ahead.... Click Here.

When we got there it was pretty empty and we walked right up to the counter... no line at all. I ordered the Pulled Pork sandwich with a side of potato salad. What you have to remember is that the pulled pork is just pulled pork... no BBQ. Also, the meal comes with potato chips and a pickle spear, which makes for a full meal. After I was done eating it, I felt like I should go ride a bull or something. As for the BBQ, it's at the table so you can put as much mild or spicy sauce on it as you wish. Mikey ordered the Beef Brisket and dumped a lot of spicy sauce on his. He said that the spicy sauce provided a lot of "kick". He also mentioned that it was a good place, but he prefers Pepsi products and the ice from "across the street". (He means the kind of ice that King David Dogs has). He suggested that you check into the side of the day because that day it was Sweet Potato Casserole, which he enjoyed. Monica ordered the Pulled Pork sandwich as well. She felt that the sauces were "OK" and her side, cole slaw, was too sloppy. She said they should have "held the mayo". (I didn't even know that cole slaw had mayo in it... who knew?) She said that she really enjoyed her corn muffin, but it could have been a little bigger. Oh and she said that she was not impressed that she didn't get the pickle spear along with her meal. Meghan had the Pulled Chicken Sandwich with a side of Mac&Cheese. She felt that it was a lot of food and if you are looking for a hardy meal on a cold day, that is a good place to get it. She was really happy with the alternatives of chicken and beef, because she isn't a pork person. Megan had the Pulled Chicken as well and had nothing but good things to say about it. She said she was trying to eat healthier that day, so she was appreciative that they had chicken.

As for the overall atmosphere, I think you will walk away with a little southern swagger and a full stomach. The people there are very friendly and very quick when you order. They even came and cleaned up our plates right after we were done eating. Make sure that you get there before 12:30 because that is about when the rush come in. We barely beat the large rush so keep that in mind. So if you are looking for a hardy meal and you are in a hurry, check out Dick's Bodacious Bar-B-Q located at 50 N Pennsylvania St. here in downtown Indianapolis. There is another one in Noblesville if you are up in that neck of the woods located at 2295 Greenfield Ave.

Once again my good friend Nicki Laycoax of Squish Designs has come up with a fantastic review of another place to go under the category: best restaurant Indianapolis.

14 West Restaurant at 14 West Maryland
www.14westindy.com

14 West Maryland Street
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46204
Telephone: (317) 636-1414
Email:     customerservice@14westindy.com

A colleague of mine that I met as a result of blogging, treated me to a nice lunch at 14 West Restaurant. It was my first visit, but had heard great things about the restaurant and the suites that are  above this downtown Indianapolis restaurant, from multiple people.

The restaurant has a great wine list, exciting menu, and very able catering
staff. (I thought I saw a full bar, but I can't confirm from the website)
Ashley Sorenson, the very sweet and professional Hotel and
Banquet Manager made certain that our dining experience was great!

In the picture, you are looking at the Caesar Salad topped with
Seared Tuna as well as the Crab Cakes. We also had the Red Garnet
Yam Soup and the Lobster Brie Macaroni&Cheese.

This restaurant is recommended for those on a professional lunch or
dinner meeting and would also be a nice spot for a romantic Indianapolis date restaurant. At lunch, the music playing in the background was modern adult contemporary.  It was a nice change from what I normally hear in restaurants.

Summary: Food was absolutely excellent. Prices were moderate. Service was perfect.

Reserve your table now!

Romano's Macaroni Grill
Carmel Indiana
2375 116th East
Carmel, IN 46032
317-582-1637



Today I had a great lunch up in Carmel Indiana with Patty Bender of Compendium Blogware client Sheetz Century 21.  

I've never been to a Macaroni Grill before and usually try and avoid the big box eateries on Indy's north side.  If I'm looking for the best Italian food in Indianapolis, I'm not sure this would be my first choice.  

Until now that is.   Every time I have this experience, I have to just say:  "Chris Baggott: Get over yourself"   Romano's Macaroni Grill  is awesome.  I can't say for dinner, but for a lunch restaurant it was fantastic.  The environment is high end Italian cusine. I love an Italian Restaurant that has bread and olive oil on the table....just sets the quality meter up right from the start.

I had the Grilled Halibut Seasoned halibut topped with a tomato basil relish and served with pesto Parmesan risotto for $16.99.  Clever marketers that they are, each item on the menu was accompanied by the Chef's Recommended Wine.  In this case a Chardonnay by Mezzacorona (Italy).  

I'm guessing that this place packs them in at night, but the bar is huge and looks like a lot of fun.   Patty and I kept it to business and didn't indulge in any wine or cocktails, but for a lunch meeting is was one of the best restaurant experiences I've had in Indianapolis.

One last great thing about Romano’s Macaroni Grill is their Curbside to Go program.  Call or order Indianapolis Best Italian food online and pick it up at the curb.   They have great to-go family style food too!

oh..and they teach you Italian in the bathroom and on the site:

Impress Mom and Pop with anniversary wishes spoken in Italian. Or learn how to celebrate the evening - Italian style.

Sample: English - "Happy Anniversary!" Italian - "Felice anniversario!

Listen to It in Italian here....

Usual Suspects, located above well known basement bar in Broad Ripple, The Casba, is an upscale, yet casual Indianapolis restaurant/bar featuring great food and drinks.  Enjoy a great dinner in a quiet atmosphere in the evening and then hang around as things get a bit louder into the night as this place is a favorite of the "late 20's and up" crowd in the neighborhood.

As a former ethnic Indianapolis restaurant, Greek to be exact, the menu features great hummus and pita appetizers and Gyro entrees.  Stuffed quesadillas, unique salads, mini burgers, and traditional entrees round out the menu.  I reccomend the shrimp or caprese quesadilla and the hummus and pita appetizer. 

Usual Suspects also features a great bar.  Fresh sqeezed juice cocktails are a house specialty, the martini list has all the traditional faves, and the bartenders are always ready to make a good drink suggestion.  Although not a true sports bar, the are several flat screen tv's around and it is a good place to watch a game if you're not in the mood for the traditional sports bar Indianapolis atmosphere.

Usual Suspects is located at

Mo's A Place for Steaks
47 South Pennsylvania Street
Indianapolis, IN
Phone: 317-624-0720
Fax: 317-624-0721


What I love about this Downtown Indianapolis Steak Restaurant is the setting itself.  (I'll get to the food)  I like windows and because of Mo's location on the Corner of Pennsylvania and E. Maryland you have great windows not only in the front, but also all along the wall on the Maryland side.   I love reviewing Indianapolis restaurants, but don't often get to talk about windows...but once you have them you hate to give them up.   We are blessed with some great Steak Restaurants in Downtown Indy including Morton's, St. Elmo's, Shula's and Ruth Chris' but none has nearly the great interior of Mo's.

When you think of Indianapolis Nightlife, Mo's is well located next to Conceo Fieldhouse so it's perfect for before or after an event.   The bar is great for Pub beers and terrific Martini's or anything else you would want in a cocktail.  They do serve lunch but are much better suited as an Indianapolis Dinner Restaruant.  No entertainment so it's not a nightlife place except for the other people who keep it buzzing.

Oh the food....delicious.  Excellent Steaks including a huge Porterhouse and awesome filets.  Some seafood and of course a hamburger.   What more can I say?

I would put Mo's clearly in among the best restaurant in Indianapolis and one of my favorite Date places..... Fine Dining for sure. 

McCormick&Schmick's Seafood Restaurant at the Corner of Illinois&Market Streets at the base of the Downtown Hilton
(317) 631-9500

As an interested party to this Indianapolis Dining Guide, I'm always on the lookout for something different.  Typically during the day downtown I eat lunch as someplace fast.   The other day however, I found myself wanting to go someplace nice with my partner Ali and our big time Lawyer (patent work).   McCormick & Schmick's was perfect.   The place has just the right mix of being busy with downtown workers (all wearing ties) yet still easy enough to get in and out of.  We took a booth in the bar which is really nice looking with big booths and a great wooden bar.   They have two TV's up high and turned down low on ESPN so you could catch some highlights out of the corner of your eye...but not be intruded on.  

Indianapolis menu guide:  they update the menu twice a day so you always know whats fresh & available.

Although McCormick & Schmick's is a great lunch spot, it's has really good seafood, terrific for dates,  but perhaps most popular among the crowd here at Compendium Blogware it's the best happy hour downtown. I wouldn't call it a place for Indianapolis nightlife,   but what is so appealing is the great bar and the terrific drinks.  Happy hour is fun and crowded partly because of the great menu.   Everything from fish tacos (for the mexican food lover) to one of the best Hamburgers in Indianapolis all for like....$1.95 each.   Great prices for great food.   All in all, a place I would highly recommend.  See the Video for a sense of the Lunchtime ambiance...

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.  

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!!

Goodfella's Old World Brick Oven Pizza
Location:
9641 Olio Road
McCordsville, Indiana
317-336-6666
http://goodfellas.com/

My husband and I are from a small town Northeast of Indianapolis.  Our town has very few good restaurants. What our town does have are 1,000 pizza restaurants to choose from and they just keep on coming. (Seriously we can get any kind of pizza within a 15 mile radius. Ok, maybe not 1,000, but at least 15.)
One of the best restaurants of Indianapolis is Goodfella’s Restaurant Old World Brick Oven Pizza.  It has become our favorite Italian restaurant. It just opened last year and it is absolutely wonderful! I just crave the wonderful Italian cuisine.
It was voted World’s Best Pizza Restaurant in 2007. Goodfella's is real NEW YORK ITALIAN!!

My husband and I start off with their chopped salad and house balsamic vinaigrette dressing, which we split. Then on to the main course, the pizza. We order the Old World Brick Oven Pizza, which is a thin crust type of pizza.   We order the works with pepperoni, sausage, extra cheese, meatballs and prosciutto. YUMMO!
Check out the menu guide to see all the wonderful choices they have to offer.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention the hot Italian bread with dipping sauce is scrumptious, but be careful not to fill-up on the bread. Side note: they do not serve bread before 5:00.
They also have wonderful pasta. My kids love their spaghetti and meatballs. The sauce on the pizza and spaghetti is so fresh. It is like eating fresh squeezed tomatoes.
The service is wonderful. The waitresses and waiters are always friendly and helpful in ordering. They also have full bar and their Cosmos are my fave!  I would highly recommend this wonderful Northeast Indianapolis Italian restaurant!

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

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

The Rathskeller
401 East Michigan St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 636-0396

Genre: German Restaurant, German Bar
Rating: 5 out of 5
Location: Downtown Indianapolis

The Rathskeller is a German restaurant/beer hall that offers more than schnitzel.  The establishment can accommodate banquet parties, large dinner parties, and offers a biergarten for happy hour specials. Personally, I have enjoyed the biergarten on many occasions and recommend it to anyone who is looking for a after work to pre-dinner hangout.

The dinner menu offers some of the best traditional German foods you can find.  I have been to this restaurant many different times and have tried every type of schnitzel that is offered.  Personal favorite: Jaegerschnitzel.  Though the menu offers something for everyone.  Vegetarians can enjoy dishes from the vegetarian section, seafood lovers can 'dive' into the seafood list, and chicken lovers have a poultry section to peek at. 

The beer menu is my go to list.  I could try to explain and review each beer but that would take too much time.  The menu offers the standard U.S and Europe based brewers but offers much more than that.  The German beer section is by far the best in Indianapolis; sure as heck the best i've seen in the region.  Not sure which German beer is the best? No problem.  Ask for the sampler!  The wait staff will bring out a six-sampler of beer of different colors, textures, and styles.  From there, choose which you like and enjoy!

The possibilities are endless with establishment.  Good food, good company, and good entertainment are what this place offers.  If you live in the area or will be, chalk The Rathskeller into you itinerary!

Palomino Restaurant
49 West Maryland Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone:(317) 974-0400

Genre: American cuisine, seafood, bar
Rating: 4 out of 5
Location: Downtown Indianapolis

Palomino is a restaurant/bar establishment that sits no more than two block south of Monument Circle.  It sports a great store front with the signature jumping Palomino on a burgundy overhang.

I have eaten at this restaurant close to five times over the last four years.  Each time, however, the food seems to get better and the drinks get stronger!  The dinner menu seems to be the best choice as the selection is finer.  Naturally, I am a sucker for the Chicken Parmesan.  It tastes exactly how this dish should: chicken is not too tough and the breaded crust is just crispy.

One recommendation I will make is that you try the coffee and tea.  These two menu items are a great end-of-meal treat!!  I give this restaurant 4 stars and a thumbs up!!