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!

Buggs Temple
337 W 11th Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
317.955.2389

So how do I evaluate a downtown Indianapolis restaurant? Especially for Lunch?  Ambiance, convenience and food.   To me, to get a designation as one of the best lunch restaurants in Indianapolis you have to start with how it feels.   Most of the time you want a place you can have a conversation, a restaurant that’s attractive and friendly….a place that’s cool so you glow in how cool it is to your guest.

Buggs Temple at the north end of the Downtown Indy Canal meets that criteria.  I never even heard of Buggs Temple before 11am this morning, but Kyle Saylers of Clarian Health Ventures treated me today and it was fantastic.  It’s a great old church located right on the tip of the Canal.  It was a little bit of a hike from my office on the downtown Indianapolis Circle and I saw there was plenty of parking. Inside were huge windows looking over the canal…it was a little chilly for the outside deck, but it looked beautiful.  The waiters were fantastic, fun, knew the menu and were wearing June Cleaver aprons,  Our guy knew the menu, was friendly and attentive while giving us plenty of space to have our conversation.

I've not been to this Indianapolis downtown restaurant  at night, but imagine it's a great place for a date.   Supposedly there is an upstairs that has terrific views and is one of the top spots for Indianapolis fine dining.  The menu did include Steak and Seafood along with great grilled sandwiches.  I had a Cuban, which came with a fresh mixed salad.  I'm not sure about breakfast, and their website is one of the worst I've ever seen.

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

Zest! touts a menu of homestyle foods with an urban fare and is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday. Shop open until 4 p.m. through the week. 

I enjoyed the breakfast burrito which was filled with deliciousness!  Of course it had eggs and sausage and cheeses but the kicker was the fresh avocado, black beans, and yummy salsa.  It was great!  My fellow diners enjoyed the panini and homestyle breakfast offers.  These offerings also had the traditional breakfast ingredients with some extra special ingredients that were great.

This lovely establishment with its inviting decor, courteous staff will definitely remain on my list as a fave for Indianapolis breakfast restaurants and among the top for restaurants in Broad Ripple.  I also look forward to trying lunch and their takeout delicatessan offerings soon... stay tuned!

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. 

Au Bon Pain
26 Monument Circle
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Phone: 317-226-9300
Fax: 317-636-9128



So in the beginning I was resistant to Au Bon Pain when they first opened on the Circle in Downtown Indianapolis.   I liked the South Bend Chocolate Factory and felt bad supporting a evil national competitor opening right next door.  I also hate names that I can't pronounce very well...

So I was wrong.  I probably frequent Au Bon Pain more that any other restaurant on the circle.  An they are not evil.   If you look at the Au Bon Pain website, you will find that they are front and center with all of their nutrition information for every menu item.  Health Magazine has named them one of the healthiest restaurants.   The food is really good and has a wide variety.  Every day they have an assortment of soups, and as you can see from the video, they encourage sampleing.   (I'm sure you could sneak in a lunch just on the samples)  The also have lots of portion appropriate salds already made up, along with fresh wraps and half sandwiches.   I wouldn't call this a dinner restaurant,  it's more like a delicatessen with great lunch food that's fast.  They also have really good breakfast foods and for cookies&muffins it's one of the best bakeries in Indianapolis.

The people are friendly and I'm happy to write a positive review of this great downtown Indianapolis restaurant. 

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...

Actually, Giorgio's is not only the best pizza in Indianapolis for lunch, it's also the perfect Pizza for meetings and in office events.  If I were writing and Indianapolis dining guide, this would be at the top of my list as among the best fast food Indianapolis. 

Located just off the circle on East Market street, what you will love about Giorgio's (other than Giorgio himself who always makes you feel special) is the urban feel...unusual for and Indianapolis Restaurant.   I've tried to capture the essence in the video here, but there is a great process for ordering with all the pizza, pastas, salads&sandwiches on display.   The place is always full but never so crowded that you want to turn away.  Even if you see a line out the door, it moves fast.   Inside there is plenty of seating and a really nice din that you won't feel at any of the other Indianapolis Lunch Restaurants I frequent.  I wouldn't call this a date restaurant and not a dinner type Italian Restaurant but of restaurant's I review in Indianapolis, this is one of my favorites.

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!

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

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

Complimentary Bread with a nice thick Italian crust is served, and is accompanied by a wonderful Garlic Pesto Butter. The parmesan on the table seemed to be of good quality as well. Many  items have small or large portions to choose between. The small portions are anything but, and the large portions are enormous. Larger portions also include your choice of fresh tossed salad, Caesar salad, or homemade soup.

As I stated before, by no means am I the expert in restaurant critiquing.  But I must say that my new favorite place to go is Indianapolis' very own Alculpolco Joe's.  Staying true to its name, it is everything the name makes it out to be.  If you like Mexican food, you will like this place.
   
There is so much to try here, your mouth will be watering once you take a look at their extensive menu.  We started off with the chicken avocado soup.  This soup is perfect for chilly winter weather when you just want to curl up next to a fireplace with a comforting, warm meal. Each bite holds a variety of textures and flavors such as chewy, shredded chicken and smooth chunks of avocado. Additional tastes of garlic and onion add flavor to this delicious soup.
   
They have green chile rellenos have a wonderful warm flavor when roasted, which is perfect for a chilly evening. They are stuffed with cheese, dipped in an egg batter and fried.  The flavors and textures blend perfectly together. Queso fresco (fresh Mexican cheese) is a traditional choice for this wonderful dish.
   
I ended the evening with the sopapillas.  It's a classic Mexican snack made with a little sugar to sweeten it. Usually "sopes" as they are sometimes called are topped with meats and veggies, but these sweet versions are topped with fruit.
   
Another fine Indianapolis Menu Guide find.  This wonderful little downtown Indianapolis restaurant is the cat's meow!
   
This commercial for Best Tex Mex says it all:

 
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.

Indianapolis is known for its beautiful downtown area, nice mid-western people, and of course, the food!  This city has some of the most fantastic restaurants in all the region.  I do have to say that out of all the steak houses and rib places in the city, the best one is by far Flemings Steak House.
 
I originally found this place in the Indianapolis Menu Guide and have to say that it was worth every penny.  It is a bit on the pricey side, so if you are looking for Burger King pricing, stay away from here.  Known, for its excellent service and fine wines, Flemings Steak House was everything it was even better than I could have imagined.  My company and I arrived and were promptly greeted by one of the hostesses.  She knew that we had a reservation and seated us right away.  Once we sat down we were blown away by their wine selection.  The waiter came quickly and went over it with us in detail along with the evenings specials and appetizers.
   
I started off with a salad, and my friend began with the lobster bisque.  We Flemings Steak House followed these up by two of the most incredible steaks.  We ordered a fillet  mignon with mashed potatoes and a porter house with the vegetable medley.
   
Of course dessert was offered, and quickly accepted on our end.  We were so full after the meal that we decided to split one of these succulent desserts.  We went with a tradition cheesecake, but there was nothing traditional about it.  It was nothing short of fantastic.  It came with three different kinds of sauces that you could tell were prepared by one of the best chefs in the business.
   
So next time you are looking for steak in Indianapolis, look no further.  Stop at Flemings Steak House and you will not be disappointed.

Claddagh Irish Pub
234 South Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN  46225
317-822-6274
Other Indianapolis Locations

So in spite of Claddagh being a chain, it's one of the best restaurants in Indianapolis if you are looking for an authentic pub experience.   With a great hamburger and steak as well as seafood, Claddagh is really great at the traditional Irish fare offering a full menu of some of the best food in Indianapolis.

Although this restaurant is absolutly family friendly, let's face it.....this is a Pub and it's really all about the beer.    The offer a full bar of course, but what make this really special is the great selection of terrific Pub style brews.

Bazbeaux Pizza
Broad Ripple
811 E. Westfield Blvd.
317-255-5711

Downtown
334 Mass Ave
317-636-7662

I think for location, ambiance and a hang loose vibe, Bazbeaux’s is the best pizza restaurant in Indianapolis.   The whole thing has a college feel that is decidedly un-chain…something that is getting very hard to find in Indianapolis Restaurants.

For an old fashioned Italian Pizza, this might not be the best restaurant…although they do make great traditional pizza.  What Bazbeaux’s is known for however are their unusual Gourmet Pizza.  They have a great Seafood Pizza with Shrimp & Crab and a Barbeque Chicken Pizza that features owner Deb Berman’s own recipe barbeque sauce.  For those with a more Mexican taste,  there is the Tchoupitoulas pizza who’s toppings include Cajun shrimp, a ridiculous andouille sausage (kind of Mexican/French I guess) and roasted red peppers.  There is even a vegetarian Pizza that will thrill the most ardent PETA supporter.

If you are looking for the Best Pizza Restaurant in Indianapolis, Bazbeaux might make an excellent choice.

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.