INDIANA
The 20 Best Restaurants in Indianapolis Right Now—From Tacos to Tasting Menus
By Jamie Dutton | July 3, 2025
Bluebeard
AUTHOR BIO: With family spread across the Midwest and a job that has her in airports regularly, Jamie Dutton finds herself across the center of the U.S. regularly. She’s partial to BPTs a Bell's.
We’ve come back to Indianapolis three times in the past year, which says a lot.
Not because we’re gluttons for punishment—though the potholes do test that theory—but because the city keeps giving us reasons to return. Each visit reveals another ambitious chef, another neighborhood on the rise, another restaurant doing something that wouldn’t have seemed possible here a decade ago.
This time, The Adventurist team descended on Indy with a singular mission: to find the best restaurants in Indianapolis right now. From an authentic chip shop to chef’s tasting menus, we found new favorites worth a detour—or a dedicated trip.
1. Bluebeard
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A new chapter began at Bluebeard in 2024 when Alan Sternberg—twice a James Beard semifinalist for Rising Star Chef—took the reins from cofounder Abbi Merris. With a résumé that includes Iozzo’s Garden of Italy and Field Brewing, Sternberg brings a sharp eye for aesthetics and an unwavering commitment to locally sourced ingredients. His take on Midwestern cuisine leans modern and bold, with dishes like rib-eye amped up with eggplant harissa or falafel served alongside charred cauliflower and beet hummus. It’s Indiana comfort food with a thoroughly contemporary twist. —Ananya Bakshi
2. Vida
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In the historic Lockerbie Square neighborhood, Vida delivers a refined yet inviting fine-dining experience, helmed by two-time James Beard semifinalist Thomas Melvin. His meticulously crafted four- and seven-course tasting menus are a showcase of technical precision and creative balance, featuring dishes like seared scallop with crispy Brussels sprout leaves, bacon lardons, and a hit of gochujang maple brown butter. Meanwhile, bluefin tuna, kissed by the flame, arrives with smoked trout roe, yuzu kosho aioli, and a delicate drizzle of sesame ponzu. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the 19th-century charm outside, but trust us—your eyes will be glued to what’s on the plate. —Ananya Bakshi
3. Corridor
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Corridor‘s seasonal lunch menus and made-fresh-daily Nicole-Taylor’s Pasta leaves you feeling like you’ve stumbled upon a Mediterranean trattoria in the heart of Indiana. —Ananya Bakshi
4. Good Omen
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Chef Nicholas Gattone and his mother, Diane, have reimagined this former bookstore as a Northern Italian haven, making Good Omen in Zionsville a restaurant that feels both intimate and ambitious. Gattone, who honed his skills under Tony Mantuano at Spiaggia in Chicago, brings finesse to every plate with dishes like a wine-bathed lamb shank on creamy risotto and whole roasted walleye paired with fregola and salsa verde. Tucked between a nail salon and insurance agency, it’s a bit of an unexpected gem. —Ananya Bakshi
5. Amelia’s
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There are only a few seats, and you’ll likely have to elbow past someone ordering a third loaf of focaccia, but Amelia’s is worth the mild inconvenience. What started as a wholesale bakery now turns out some of the best bread in Indianapolis, with crackling crusts and chewy interiors that feel like a master class in fermentation. Go early for the ham-and-cheese croissant or a loaf of the City Loaf, which tastes like someone reverse-engineered the concept of “good bread” and baked it fresh every morning. —Jamie Dutton
6. Beholder
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Beholder serves up a seasonal, contemporary menu that nails a whole lot of crowd-pleasers, like burgers and even corndogs. But it’s the pork tenderloin sandwich that makes me want to pop in anytime I’m close; in a city with a whole lot of great pork sandwiches, this might be the best of them. —Eric Barton
7. Borage
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Borage is the brainchild of chefs Zoë Taylor and Josh Kline, both alumni of the acclaimed Milktooth. This café, bakery, and market hybrid in Speedway offers progressive American cuisine that reimagines European classics with locally sourced Indiana ingredients. From breakfast staples like croissant sandwiches to dinner options such as smoked salmon rillette tartines. Open Tuesday through Sunday, Borage aims to be a community hub where comfort meets culinary exploration. —Ananya Bakshi
8. Oakley’s Bistro
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Chef Steven Oakley has been serving polished American fare at his northside bistro for more than two decades, and somehow the place still feels fresh. The prix-fixe tasting menu might include a signature shrimp corndog—a clever little bite that once beat Bobby Flay—or a plate that looks like fine art until you ruin it with your fork. It’s one of the rare restaurants in Indianapolis that manages to be both a neighborhood standby and a destination worth planning around. —Jamie Dutton
9. St. Elmo’s Steakhouse
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St. Elmo is the kind of place where you’ll feel underdressed in anything less than a tuxedo, and that’s just how it should be. Established in 1902, this is where you go when you want a steak that could double as a doorstop. The shrimp cocktail will clear your sinuses for a week, but that’s part of the charm. —Ananya Bakshi
10. Provision
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Set in the Ironworks Hotel, Provision’s sleek setting and menu of American cuisine make it a great place for a night out. From steak to seafood, each dish is crafted with care, giving diners a taste of fine dining with a local twist. —Ananya Bakshi
11. Casa Santa
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Think upscale Mexican without the pretense—Casa Santa in Noblesville delivers vibrant flavors, from tacos to seafood tostadas and rich enchiladas, all in a colorful, lively setting. The luxe decor and warm service still feels casual enough for family dinners or date night. Add in mezcal cocktails, a solid margarita lineup, and a menu that dances between Tex-Mex and regional specialties, and you’ve got a spot that’s making Mexican dining in the Indy suburbs anything but ordinary. —Jamie Dutton
12. Tinker Street
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For a New American dining experience that’s decidedly Midwestern, Tinker Street blends creative cooking with a cozy, intimate setting. Highlights include local ingredients that are front and center in inventive dishes like Korean-fried mushrooms and chickpea ravioli, —Ananya Bakshi
13. Milktooth
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If you’re the kind of person who thinks brunch is a personality trait, Milktooth is your mecca. The menu reads like an episode of Chopped, with ingredients you’ve never heard of but will pretend you have. This is the spot where the city's food scene flexes its creative muscles. Just don’t ask for substitutions. The chef knows better than you. —Ananya Bakshi
14. Salt on Mass
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Mass Ave’s Salt still nails fresh seafood flown in daily and scratch-made pastas in a buzzy, coastal-chic space. Since debuting in 2016, it’s added a Geist location and headed to Carmel this summer—bringing jumbo lump crab cakes, Chilean sea bass, lobster mac and cheese, and steak-and-surf dishes for lunch, dinner, brunch, and everything in between. Solid wine list, hand-crafted cocktails, and vibes that feel upscale without you needing a tie—Salt's a reliable spot to anchor a night on Mass Ave or downtown Carmel. —Jamie Dutton
15. MOTW Coffee & Pastries
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With multiple locations around the city, this bakery and coffee shop offers expertly brewed coffee paired with pastries, including items you won’t see elsewhere in town. There’s traditional coffeehouse items like muffins, but the real order here is the baklava and Yemeni Honey Comb, pictured above, a savory bread stuffed with cream cheese and drizzled in honey. —Eric Barton
16. Max & Tilly’s
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Straight-talking and no-frills, Max & Tilly’s in Fishers is the spot where British comfort food—and a hefty portion of nostalgia—meets Indiana. Owner Sharon Moore brings the classics: double-fried chips, flaky Icelandic cod, mushy peas, steak-and-merlot pie, and sandwiches, all in a casual, family-friendly atmosphere. Right next door, her revived Tilly’s Tea Room serves afternoon tea with clotted cream and scones by day, and leans wine bar after dark. —Jamie Dutton
17. Sam’s Square Pie
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A no-nonsense haven for square-cut pizzas, Sam’s is a little retro and big on flavor. Known for crisp, chewy Detroit-style crusts and an array of fun toppings, it’s where pizza purists and adventurers meet in delicious harmony. —Ananya Bakshi
18. Gather 22
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This blend of cafe and bistro is known for its cozy, communal vibes and approachable, globally inspired menu. Gather 22 has something for every palate, from innovative salads to hearty sandwiches. —Ananya Bakshi
19. Livery
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A rooftop in Indianapolis? Yes, it exists, and it’s at Livery, a Latin-inspired joint in the trendy Mass Ave district. The empanadas are crisp, the cocktails are strong, and the vibe is just right for pretending you’re cooler than you actually are. Plus, you can say you went somewhere with a rooftop, which is basically a humblebrag. —Ananya Bakshi
20. The Rathskeller
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In the basement of the Athenaeum, The Rathskeller is the closest thing you’ll find to Bavaria without booking a flight. They’ve got beer steins larger than your head and enough sausages to make a butcher blush. The live music and garden seating make it the perfect place to forget you’re in the Midwest for a while. —Ananya Bakshi
