10 Places Where Locals Love to Eat in Indianapolis

St. Elmo Steak House has a reputation for its fantastic steaks, fresh seafood, large chops, and top-notch service. You will find the restaurant housed in its original 1902 location on Illinois Street just north of West Georgia Street. The menu features traditional steakhouse items such as shrimp cocktail, wedge salads, and prime, dry-aged steaks with a selection of sauces and sides to share. If you dine at the bar, you can watch the chefs preparing your meal through a large, open kitchen window. The bar offers several thousand bottles of wine, which are housed in the award-winning wine cellar. Several private dining rooms are available to host special events of all sizes.

Bluebeard combines comforting Midwest elements with exotic international flavours. You will find the restaurant in the historic Holy Rosary Church area. Chef Abbi Merriss has been nominated several times for the James Beard Award and happily opens her kitchen to train up-and-coming chefs. The restaurant started with a focus on European-style bread, and the in-house bakery, Amelia’s, draws residents from all over the state. Bakers arrive early every morning to prepare hundreds of fresh loaves of bread, cookies, pastries, and other treats.

Festiva features popular Mexican food along with new and exciting dishes. You will find this local favourite located in the Broad Ripple area. The restaurant offers a wide variety of tacos filled with steak, chicken, fish, or shrimp that are topped with signature salsas as well as traditional and more creative toppings. You can also try one of their signature dishes such as carne asada or enchiladas. With an extensive tequila and mezcal list plus house-made margaritas, cocktails, beer, and wine offerings, Festiva is a great spot for a night out. It is also an excellent place to stop for a bite to eat with your family thanks to their children's menu. You'll also find a wide variety of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free items available.

King Dough specialises in handmade pizzas and highlights classic recipes as well as gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan pies. You will find the newest location in the Holy Cross area of Indianapolis. Everything here is made fresh and in-house daily. The menu also features starters such as homemade meatballs and fried calamari, fresh entree-size salads, and mouthwatering desserts. This intimate restaurant that focuses on high-quality food and great service is a favourite spot to have a quick meal with your family or enjoy a dinner with friends.

Beholder offers a dining experience that highlights modern cuisine featuring local, organic ingredients. You can find Beholder on the east side of city centre, overlooking historic Woodruff Place. You will find several small-plate options that are great for sampling and sharing with your table. A la carte menus and 5-course tasting menus with optional paired wines are updated with seasonal selections. Offerings include oysters, fall sweet potato and apple salad, braised lamb, and grilled banana ice cream. Beholder offers an extensive wine list featuring small wineries.

Rick’s Cafe Boatyard serves fresh seafood and prime steaks in a friendly waterfront setting. You will find the restaurant located on the east side of the Eagle Creek Reservoir. The menu offers delicious starters including baked brie and fresh oysters, hearty entrees such as linguini with scallops and a prime, dry-aged rib-eye, and fabulous desserts like Cuban creme brulee. The indoor dining room offers waterfront views from almost every table. You can also choose to enjoy a la carte dining on one of their decks, which feature retractable siding to protect diners from the wind and rain. The lively outdoor bar presents live music nightly and offers exciting craft cocktails.

Tinker Street offers flavours based on fresh, locally sourced ingredients in a hip atmosphere. You will find the restaurant in Herron-Morton Place next to the Old Northside Historic District. The menu changes with the seasons, and extensive vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are available. Previous menu offerings have included citrus salad topped with soft goat cheese and crunchy quinoa, shrimp and grits, and delicious ricotta donuts. You can enjoy dinner in the warm and inviting dining room or on the spacious patio. The restaurant is adults-only, and you must be 21 or older to dine.

Ukiyo features a Japanese-inspired menu that utilises local foraged and grown ingredients. You can find the restaurant located on College Avenue north of East 49th Street. The menu includes a wide variety of fresh sushi, ramen, and kappo-style small plates. The contemporary decor features eccentric light fixtures and modern furniture. With the restaurant's strong focus on environmental sustainability, you can rest assured that their products are sourced from sellers that value the environment. While they do accept reservations, they usually have room for walk-ins.