Petite Chou
823 E Westfield Blvd.
Indianapolis, IN 46208
317.566.0765‎

If you're looking for a great place to get breakfast Indianapolis, try this delicious restaurant located along the canal in Broad Ripple.  Petite Chou was created, owned, and operated by Café Patachou.

The atmosphere was very welcoming.  I noticed that many people brought their dogs, opting for an outside table and fresh water for their dogs (compliments of Petite Chou). 

There was about a 30 minute wait to get an outside table since the weather was great.  We were able to grab a cup of coffee (at a self-serve coffee station) while we waited to be seated.  After we were seated, the service was good.  Although the staff was busy, they were still attentive, as well as knowledgeable about the menu.

The food was absolutely amazing! Everything was fresh, and they try to use organic products when available.  I got the broken yolk bacon and avocado sandwich on wheat bread - delicious!  It was served with fresh fruit, and I also got coffee.  The sandwich was filling and didn't leave me hungry until the evening, so it was a great option!  There were many items to choose from on their menu.  Each of my friends got an omelette, which they said was delicious.  I'll try one of those next time! 

If you're looking for brunch restaurants in Broad Ripple, or just a restaurant in Indianapolis in general, check out Petite Chou! Or head to the nearest Café Patachou, creator of Petite Chou.

I'll definitely go back soon!

Recently there is a newer establishments in Broad Ripple. It is probably one of my favorite places to go when I need to get away from my roommates, or just campus in general, Brothers.

Brothers is a chain of restaurants located at almost every large college or university in Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Illinois. It is a great place to grab a bit to eat or a couple of drinks when you need to get away. It is probably one of my favorite restaurants in Broad Ripple, just because of the atmosphere. They have several TV's around so if you want to grab the big game of your Alma Mater, or just to watch any game... it's the place to be.

One of my favorite things about Brothers is that througout the week, they have tons of specials. Tuesday nights, they have 2 dollar drafts!


So if you are looking for a great sports bar in Indianapolis, I would recommend Brothers.

*Also, it is non-smoking... so that is another perk that I love!

There is this place in Broad Ripple that my friends and I go pretty frequently. Especially when we don't want to cook dinner. It is called Noodles & Company and is located across the stree from Union Jacks and next to La Jolla.

It is one of those places that everyone can find something great to eat. If you like spicy, they have spicy. If you like mild, they have mild. If you like Mac and Cheese... it's phenomenal!

They have three different menus with different types of cuisines... American, Mediterranean, and Asian. All are delicious and like I said before.. they have something there for everyone.

When I go, I usually order the Chicken Pad Thai treo with a ceasar salad. The "treo" is the size of meal, which means you get a pasta, a meat, and a choice of salad or soup. They also have other smaller sizes for the days that you want to eat light.

So the next time you are cruising through Broad Ripple (or any of their other locations) and you feel your stomach start to grumble... go ahead and check out Noodles and Company, located at 927 Broad Ripple Avenue. They also have one located on IUPUI's campus. So you can check that one out too.

Well.. it is... But Dagwood's is also a great place to grab a bite to eat in Broad Ripple. I have been there once or twice for lunch and I must say... it is a hidden gem.

Dagwoods is a little deli locacted right next to Q'Doba in Broad Ripple and if you are out for a Sunday lunch, I would recommend it. It has a great menu of subs from the classic BLT to the Ultimate Turkey Sandwich, loaded with everything from onions to pickles and of course turkey. They also offer wraps and salads if you aren't feeling a sub for lunch. You can even create your own sub from options listed on the menu. Along with your sub they offer a combo that includes a cookie or chips and a drink.

The price is reasonable and the subs are well worth it. The staff is always friendly and very helpful if you are feeling indecisive. You also don't have to worry about stopping by the ATM before you get there becuase they take cash or credit. So the next time you are in Broad Ripple around lunchtime... check out Dagwoods located at 6336 Guilford Avenue right next to Q'Doba and across the street from the fire station.

Thai Cafe In Broadripple!

Looking for a great Indianapolis Asian restaurant?  I highly suggest Thai Cafe!  Located in Broad Ripple at 1041 Broad Ripple Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46220 .  It is well known among Thai lovers and whether you are looking for authentic Thai dishes or a bit of comfort food in the form of yummy Pad Thai noodles, you will love this place!  The Vegetarian spring rolls also are high on my list. 

Its A 10!
Concerned about the spicy factor that some Asian and particularly Thai food can have?  Thai cafe has a great system of "rating" your spiciness 1 to 10, 10 being the hottest.  You can easily customize how hot and spicy you want your dish.  They are fast and friendly whether you are dining in or enjoying takeout.  Whether you are just looking for great Indianapolis ethnic food, a unique Indy date restaurant, or wanting to expand your Indianapolis Asian dining experience from more than sushi and Chinese takeout, I'm sure you'll love Thai cafe! 

Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:30AM - 9:30PM.

So today I wanted to mention a place that I hold near and dear to my heart. It is probably one of the best places to go to grab a bite to eat in Broad Ripple. The place is called Ripple Bagel and Deli and is located on the main strip of Broad Ripple.

If you haven't been, I would suggest going as soon as you can. It has an extensive menu, divided up by different types of meats that you might be feeling for your lunch time meal. The names of the foods are definitely unique, with names such as "Tape Your Ankles" and "The Hoosier Daddy". You really can't go wrong with a place like this. Everyone is going to find something that they like there, even if you are a vegetarian. All the sandwiches are put on a bagel of your choice (Everything, Poppy Seed, Blueberry and more) and they are all "Steamed to Perfection". The people behind the counter are ALWAYS friendly and are there to please. Also, if you are interested in making your own, you can ask for the "Lottery" and you get your choice of any toppings. And if you really want to design your own sandwich, they will give you a piece of paper and a bag of crayons to write down what you want on it, and add your little touch of creativity to the whole scene. They will even make it if you order it!

The atmosphere is laid back, relaxed and a good place to just hang out with your friends. They are even open until 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights! So definitely try out this one of a kind place located in the heart of Broad Ripple at 850 Broad Ripple Avenue, right across from Cardinal Fitness.

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!

I was talking to one of my friends this weekend about our favorite places to eat in the Broad Ripple Area. He mentioned one that I haven’t been to in a while so we just decided to go for dinner. The place is called Yats and is located on the corner of 56th and college.

Yats is one of those places you can go anytime you want something out of the ordinary of ‘normal’ restaurants in Indy. The kind of food there is Cajun Creole. I know what you’re thinking… oh that means it is spicy… so it’s out of the question. I typically am not one for spicy, unless I am in the mood to consume a LOT of water with it. However, there are some less spicy options there. Plus if you don’t know what you want or get really anxious and uncomfortable with commitment, you can ask for samples of anything that is on the menu. But be warned… the menu does change a little from day to day. One day you might go in there and find something you really like and the next time you are in, they might not even be serving it. One of my favorite dishes there is the White Chili with Chicken, which is their own secret recipe. The other dish that I get when I go is the Chili Cheese Etouffee with Crawfish which is a little spicy, but if you like it spicier there are different kinds of sauce to put on it depending on your taste. The foods are delicious, but make sure you get extra bread because it complements the flavor of all the food very well (it costs a little extra, but it is worth it). After you order, you can go get your drink (free refills) and they will bring your food to you. However, make sure you grab a spoon and plenty of napkins because it can get messy if you sometimes suffer from poor hand-eye coordination like me.

The atmosphere is great. They have outdoor seating at all the locations that I know of, and is a great place for people watching. The people there are always friendly and are willing to answer any questions you have about the food. The price isn’t bad at all. You will get a lot of food and a drink with free refills for a very reasonable price. I wouldn’t recommend that you go there for a business meeting, but it is definitely a place to go if you just want to hang out. But remember it can get busy around 6 o’ clock each night so get in there a little early to beat the rush. There are several locations around Indianapolis, one on 56th and College, one on Mass Ave, one in Greenwood, one on 96th street. There are two more, but not in Indianapolis. They are in Chicago and in West Lafayette. So go ahead and check out their website and try out Yats at any of their locations.

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 ….

The other day, my coworker Jennifer Buscher was telling me about a restaurant just north of Broad Ripple on Westfield Boulevard and 86th street. To read up on Jennifer’s business blog Click Here

 It is called Amalfi Ristorante Italiano. It is authentic Italian food made by an couple who moved to the United States from Italy. She said it was a high end restaurant with a romantic atmosphere. She also mentioned that would be good for a romantic night out for an anniversary or Valentine’s Day. Not some much of a place for a first date or a business meeting. The pasta dishes are phenomenal, but she highly recommended their lasagna, which is apparently the restaurants most popular dish. Also, she said there is a vast wine selection, which would probably be a good topper for that romantic evening you were looking for. As for price, she said it was “Not very expensive; but expensive.” From what I can guess, I think it means that it was cheaper than she was expecting. As for a rating from Jennifer, 5 out of 5. So go check it out.

Broad Ripple Steakhouse
929 Westfield Blvd.
Indianapolis, IN 46220

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

Broad Ripple Steakhouse may be a small white building on a corner in Broad Ripple, but it packs in a great amount of taste and atmosphere; I would give this restaurant a 5 on presentation alone.

The menu is a great compilation of every type of meat and seafood that can be grilled, seared, or marinated.  In my first dinner at Broad Ripple Steakhouse, I chose the Tenderloin Medallions with Cognac-Peppercorn Sauce.  This dish was absolutely amazing!  The sauce was especially delicious and a great combination with the tenderloin. 

The drink menu displays some of the finest Napa Valley and Italian wines.  I would highly recommend the Chateau Thomas, Cabernet Franc red wine.

If you are in the area, stop by Broad Ripple Steakhouse for a nice steak and fabulous glass of wine!

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!!

Corner Wine Bar
6331 Guilford Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46220
(317) 255-5159

Genre: Bar/Restaurant
Rating: 4 out of 5
Location: Broad Ripple

The Corner Wine Bar (CWB) situated on the corner next to Broad Ripple Qdoba is a perfect place for couples and old friends to meet.  On top of that, CWB features weekly events and specials that will bring out the 'wine-o' in you.

I enjoyed CWB this past Sunday with my girlfriend around lunch time.  The restaurant was empty when we got there because it was pretty early in the afternoon but it slowly began to fill in after an hour.  The interior was very intimate, even in the early afternoon, and the atmosphere was promising.  To begin, we ordered the Cheese Crock.  Now I was a little hesitant to order this dish because I am not a fan of sourdough bowls.  To my surprise this appetizer was phenomenal! It was a fondue for two.  Needless to say, I ate the majority of it.  For my main course, I ordered the Prosciutto Panini.  Originally, I wasn't aware of the exact makings of this Italian sandwich but knew that I loved prosciutto.  The meal came and I was pleasantly surprised.  It was a mixture of asparagus, prosciutto and chevre cheese.  The chevre was a great compliment to the prosciutto.

I have no real complaints about this restaurant.  I hope to frequent CWB at a later date to enjoy the wine tastings and other events.  Overall, I recommend this place to everyone!

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.

If there's one restaurant I can't get enough of in the summer, it's La Piedad. Oh, how I love their deck where the warm breeze greets you as you sip a Corona with a lime. Oh, how I love the attentive wait staff who is happy to bring more chips and salsa by any time you like.

I also love their bean and cheese nachos, quesadilla rellena, and tosta-guac. Speaking of the guac, although they don't make it table-side as they do at El Torito, the flavor is great, and did I mention how reasonably priced this Mexican restaurant Indianapolis runs? A night out with the girls runs a mere $10 a piece, and that's with queso, beer, chips, and a meal.

Contact info for La Pieda (located in Broad Ripple, right near the Monon):

(317) 475-0988
6524 Cornell Ave
Indianapolis, IN

Picture of the girls after enjoying La Piedad (looking happy and full)!