How to Eat a Gourmet Meal in Indianapolis

The gourmet restaurant scene is alive and well in Indianapolis, where some wonderful new restaurants have joined the old standbys. These days, the question isn’t so much where to find a gourmet meal in Indiana’s capital city. The real question is how to choose from among the many great options. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Visit R Bistro, in the Massachusetts Avenue Arts District, for a menu that changes weekly to reflect what’s in season. Each week’s menu features five appetizers, five entrées (including at least one vegetarian option) and five desserts. The food is wonderful, and the tiny dining room is modern yet cozy.
2. Try another of the excellent restaurants in the Mass Ave area: Elements. This dining hot spot was named restaurant of the year by Indianapolis Monthly after it opened in 2003. The daily menu features French, Asian and Mediterranean influences. Like R Bistro, Elements makes use of local foods whenever possible.
3. Make a reservation at Meridian, which became a hit with local foodies as soon as it opened in late 2007. The dining room, with its soft light and dark wood paneling, is truly beautiful. There’s been a restaurant on this spot since the 1800s, and some of the original log framing was exposed in the recent renovation. The menu offers innovative takes on traditional American dishes.
4. Visit Oakley’s Bistro, at the corner of 86th Street and Ditch Road. The menu changes seasonally, but dishes always reflect creativity, refined flavors and a bit of flair. On a recent visit, the “winter vegetables four ways” and onion-crusted salmon were simply outstanding. Don’t skip the heavenly “mac-n-goat cheese” side dish. For a truly gourmet experience, reserve the chef’s table in the kitchen to get up close and personal with the preparation of your meal.
5. Head up to 96th Street for a meal at Peterson’s, a locally owned steakhouse. While the steaks, seafood and side dishes here are excellent, the real treat is the desserts. Pastry Chef Joseph Allford keeps raking in awards, including first and second place in Indianapolis Dine’s recent pie recipe contest.
6. For perhaps the most innovative menu in Indianapolis, make your way to L’Explorateur in Broad Ripple. The changing menus, with titles like “Winter: Year of Vonnegut,” feature of-the-moment dishes like foie gras profiteroles, Kobe beef short ribs and crispy sweetbreads with currant gastrique.
7. Keep track of the Indianapolis restaurant scene by reading Indianapolis Dine and Indianapolis Monthly. The latter publishes an annual list of the city’s best restaurants, and working your way down the list is a great way to experience the best Indianapolis has to offer. Also check out local food blogs like Feed Me/Drink Me that can keep you up to date on new restaurants and other culinary news.

Tips & Warnings

• These restaurants are usually crowded, so be sure to make a reservation.

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