Italian Restaurants Indianapolis

Deano's Wine Bar & Restaurant - Indianapolis Restaurant Review

Posted Saturday, November 22, 2008 by Chris Baggott

Deano's Wine Bar&Restaurant
1112 Shelby St
Indianapolis, IN 46203

(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...

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Italian Restaurant Indianapolis...(actually Carmel) Macaroni Grill?

Posted Tuesday, November 4, 2008 by Chris Baggott

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....

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My Favorite Pizza for Lunch in Indianapolis

Posted Friday, October 17, 2008 by Chris Baggott

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.

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Indy's Best Old Italian Restaurant

Posted Monday, October 13, 2008 by Krystal Featherston

This past weekend, I had the privilege of dining at one of my favorite Italian restaurants, Mama Carollas Old Italian Restaurant. I’ve lived in Broad Ripple for over a year, but never taken the time to eat there. After eating there once … I won’t over look it again – that’s for sure!

I was promptly seated upon arrive in a nice, quiet area. Our waiter – Kevin was delightful!! He was very funny and he made our dining experience that much better.
I ordered a glass of Melot which went perfect with the atmosphere. After drinks were served, we received the bread and dipping sauce. The bread was fresh and hot, and it appeared that it was never ending – we always had a fresh basket.
We started with the bruschetta appetizer which was a nice starter - fresh tomatoes and smoky cheese gave it good flavor. For dinner, I decided on the pasta primavera. It had some good fresh veggies and a garlic oil dressing. Unfortunately, I was not able to try any of the dessert because my meal was so filling (I usually don’t make it to dessert thought).
Mama Carollas Old Italian Restaurant definitely gives a whole different take on Italian food. I was great food and it was reasonability priced.

What more could I ask for ….

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Goodfella's Pizza

Posted Friday, July 18, 2008 by kristen hanschu

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!

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The Best of the Best

Posted Wednesday, April 23, 2008 by kristen hanschu

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.

Carrabba's definitely gives a whole different take on Italian food. This Italian Grill tops the charts with incredible dishes, unique flavor combinations, and outstanding service.

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Ambrosia Ristorante

Posted Monday, March 31, 2008 by Mike Pecchia

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!!

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Amalfi Ristorante

Posted Wednesday, March 5, 2008 by Mike Pecchia

Amalfi Ristorante Italiano

1351 West 86th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46208
(317) 253 - 4034

Genre: Italian
Rating: 5 out of 5
Location: Northwest Indianapolis

Having spent the second semester of my junior year in Italy, I had the chance to distinguish between the American and authentic versions of Italian foods. This restaurants embodies everything that an authentic Italian restaurant needs: Intimate seating arrangements, knowledgeable waiters, and a Neapolitan chef.

One of my main reasons for rating this restaurant a 5 out of 5 is that I am very particular about my wine. No, I'm not too particular about the taste (though very important) but more particular about how it is presented and opened. In Italy, waiters and waitresses are graded on how they open the wine bottle; unacceptable is usually determined on how the individual cuts the top seal, where they cut it, and how it looks (frayed? torn?) after. Failed attempts result in expulsion from the training. The waitress for my girlfriend and I opened the bottle the most accurate way that a restaurant has since Ive been frequenting restaurants as an adult. This means that this restaurant pays attention to detail, even to the presentation of wine, which is very important.

For my meal, I chose the Scaloppine Di Vitello Al Marsala. This dish includes veal with marsala wine sauce and Crimini mushrooms. This dish was fantastic! The veal was so tender that I used barely any energy to chew it. The sauce was a perfect fit for the mushrooms. To top off the whole meal, I ordered the cheesecake. I figured that I ought to test out the Cheesecake Factory monopoly reputation. From the first bite I knew that this was the real deal. It was the perfect texture that one would expect from an Italian cheesecake.

After staying in the restaurant for 2 hours, enjoying Valentines Day with my girlfriend , we decided to call it a night. On the way out, I noticed an Italian chef noticing my Mediterranean features. Find out that this is the head chef who is from Napoli. After conversing in Italian for 20 minutes, I realized this guy was the real deal.

All in all, I would highly recommend Amalfi to anyone who is looking for an authentic Italian meal that will knock your socks off.

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Italian Dining at Mama Carrolla's

Posted Monday, July 2, 2007 by Ali Sales

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

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