Nice Restaurant in Indy area:

[samrothstein01]

Difficulty: NO Italian, "steakhouses", or Seafood places (Ruth's Cris, Shula's, McCormick & Schmick)

-J-

What else is left?

The no "steakhouse" option limits the choices severly. I am going to include some in this list, because they are good and don't serve only steaks. I prefer Sullivans or Flemmings myself, but below are some good choices. Also, just an FYI, most of the "steakhouses" have great summer deals right now, two 3 course meals for ~ $70, and you can choose something other than steak for your entree.

I have not been to, so I can not recommend all of these, but some should be a start.

14 West - Downtown
Oakley's - West 86th
Palomino - Downtown
Dunaways - Downtown
Eagles Nest - Downtown
Scholars Inn - Downtown
Elements - Downtown
Fogo De Chao - Downtown
Benihana - Keystone
Petersons - Fishers
Daddy Jacks - Carmel
Noah Grants Grill & Oyster House - Zionsville
Capitale Grill - Downtown
Corner Wine Bar - Broad Ripple
Hollyhock Hill - Between Broad Ripple and Castleton

 

[indytechnerd]

the melting pot is expensive....about $100 out the door for the two of us.

Bah, we spent about $190 including a $40 tip when we went. My wife had just spent a week in N'awlins after Katrina, she needed some pampering.

Indy Guy, take her back to the resterraunt you ate at when you got engaged, my wife loves when we eat at the place we had our first date.

Not sure about J's, but our 1st date restaurant was horrible, and it closed about 6 months later.

The melting pot in greenwood is right there at county line and 135 behind that las Vegas place if I remember correctly... If you like German go on north on 135 past county line and it's there on the left... Can't remember the name of it eidelweiss or something like that

You remember correctly, and the german place has a huge sign at the road "German American Club". We've managed to miss their hours several times just trying to pop in.

 

[samrothstein01]

as for steaks, i've never had anyone cook a filet or ribeye like Eddie Merlot's, not even on the 7 or 8 cruise ships i've been on. eddie's makes ruth chris look like applebee's (but perhaps i was there on bad night?).

I like Eddie's, I also like Sullivans and Flemmings...not a huge fan of Ruth's Chris. But by far and away...I recommend a drive to either Cinncinnati or the Bel Terra Casino in southern Indiana....and have one of Jeff Ruby's filet's. Pricey, yes. I would pay double!!

Simply amazing.

 

[pjcalla]

Oakley's Bistro is very good. I actually did the "chef for a day" program and learned a lot. It can get pretty pricey too.

Oakleys Bistro

 

[eldirector]

The melting pot in greenwood is right there at county line and 135 behind that las Vegas place if I remember correctly... If you like German go on north on 135 past county line and it's there on the left... Can't remember the name of it eidelweiss or something like that

Eidelweiss is SOOOOoooo not a "tie and nice dress" place! I do like their food, but it is not in the same category as these other restaurants.

 

[misconfig]

My wife and myself enjoy many places but most of them are off the books considering you don't want seafood or steak, or italian.

The Ram downtown is nice, but we'd probably prefer Grey Brothers Cafeteria over anything these days.

After you have dinner, drop by Nicky Blaines for a drink, if you're into that sort of thing.

Nicky Blaine's

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Oh, no, a restaurant thread.

Last time we did this it was "there ain't no place to gets me good grub where I drive in this here city" and then did four pages of me listing restaurants.

Rather than list the dozens upon dozens of joints that I would recommend in Indy and point that Indianapolis is running over with great restaurants (but you have to leave your subdivision), I'll give you something different that we really enjoyed:

Welcome to Saffron Cafe! Located in downtown Indianapolis

Great food, beautiful cozy joint, and try the peach tea.

I can narrow it down and give you a Kirk's Top Ten (Downtown) if you want different things.

 

[samrothstein01]

I can narrow it down and give you a Kirk's Top Ten (Downtown) if you want different things.

Please do! Not to threadjack, but we are always looking for a new/good place that we haven't tried yet!

 

[suds]

Here are a couple of non-Italian and non-Steak offerings around town that I'd recommend to fit your requested atmosphere:

North
Oakley's Bistro
Meridian

Downtown
Palamino
Saffron Cafe
R Bistro
Dunaway's

 

[misconfig]

Don't forget the Rathskeller, if you like German food.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

For downtown, if I had to give a top ten:

1. Ambrosia Centro (my fave Italian joint)

2. The Bosphorus (Turkish)

3. Saffron (I just love this place)

4. Chatham's Tap & Pub (hoofing sarnies)

5. City Cafe (amazing breakfast downtown, I recommend bicycling down the Monon early, eating there and then riding back, maybe to Broad Ripple for lunch!)

6. El Sol de Tala (Mexican, great atmosphere)

7. Mikado (I recommend the eel [both kinds] and the sun roll, but the box dinners are very popular, great place to take a woman, ask for one of the private rooms, but even sitting at the sushi bar is fun).

8. Santorini's Greek Kitchen (try the lemon-roasted potatos!)

9. Shelbi Street Cafe (near Fountain Square but still downtown, on a lazy Saturday morning take your girl up to the rooftop garden and you have a great view of the city)

10. Dunaway's. (I recommend the trout and asparagus--I like the rooftop garden, let the weather cool a bit).

There are many others. I have more recs for north, or west or Broad Ripple, inter alia.

Since I am downtown Indy a lot I know the joints a bit better than most. I shake my head in amazement that people do not take advantage of the wonderful culinary scene that Indianapolis has and instead confine themselves to burgers and fries near their homes and then whine about it. Go figure.

 

[Clay]

Thanks for the list Kirk!

 

[Fenway]

I think I saw a Chathams in Fishers?

 

[Boilers]

Greenwood --> Stone Creek Dining

Not too stuffy, not too casual, not too many kids, variety of food, interesting decor.

Only one downtown choice, imo:
Palamino's

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

Thank you ALL for your suggestions!!

Seriously and truly, thank you.

I think I need to not put the kibosh on a "steak house"...as most of those restaurants, while steak is a specialty, have lots of other fare, too.

I have much research to do!!

-J-

 

[rockhopper46038]

Urban Elements (eclectic, usually with music, downtown, not the one at 9th and Penn, that one is a bit casual), BARcelona (tapas), Siam Square (great Thai food, in Fountain Square), Rathskeller (German, always some group in there in shirt and tie), or for a little more dough (but surprisingly not a bunch more, especially if you buy your own bottle of wine retail) you could hire a private chef to come prepare something especially for you at your house. I'll post more restaurants if I can think of them.

 

[rockhopper46038]

I think I saw a Chathams in Fishers?

My wife and I spend quite a bit of time there

 

[samrothstein01]

For downtown, if I had to give a top ten:


Since I am downtown Indy a lot I know the joints a bit better than most. I shake my head in amazement that people do not take advantage of the wonderful culinary scene that Indianapolis has and instead confine themselves to burgers and fries near their homes and then whine about it. Go figure.

(Snipped)

Thank you! I have visited 4 of the 10. Good to know about the others and look forward to checking them out.

Couldn't agree more about the culinary scene in Indy...lots to offer, explore, and enjoy!

 

[D.B.]

Agio's on Mass Ave, Rick's Boat Yard (Wife loves to sit on the patio overlooking Eagle Creek), Bone Fish Grill.

 

[robbran144]

This doesn't fit any of the categories but I tried that weber grill downtown and liked it too