The city of Indianapolis moves fast, and we’re not just talking about the races that take place here each year. The food scene in Indianapolis is a fast-paced and ever-changing landscape with many opportunities for delicious and varied cuisine. However, there are no Michelin Star restaurants in Indianapolis. The thing is, the Michelin Guide only covers specific parts of the U.S. and abroad. And while it is expanding its rating system into states like Colorado and Florida, it has yet to cross the border of Illinois over to Indiana. Therefore, Indianapolis has other ways of identifying the best restaurants to consider. There are local reviewers, publications, and community favorites. There are also other culinary awards that do honor restaurants in the state of Indiana.
The James Beard Award is offered in numerous categories, including regional “best chef,” “outstanding restaurant,” and tiers of “hospitality” awards. The James Beard Awards recommend restaurants, chefs, and restauranteurs that demonstrate strong values within the culinary world, practice inclusivity, and showcase personality in their chosen cuisine. There are two rounds of judging, and even to make it to the semifinals of the James Beard Award cycle is quite an achievement. Several of the restaurants included on this list have been nominated several times. Let’s learn more about the close to Michelin Star restaurants in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Bluebeard
653 Virginia Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46203
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
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Bluebeard‘s chef Abbi Merriss is a gem of the fine foods scene in Indianapolis. She will be mentioned several more times on this list. Chef Merris was nominated multiple times for a James Beard Award in the regional “best chef” category. Situated in a trendy warehouse from 1924, Bluebeard's food can be described as innovative New American cuisine. Bluebeard is a farm-to-table restaurant that partners with local farmers to bring fresh produce and local ingredients to the inventive menu and dining experience. They also have an in-house bakery called Amelia's where they bake all their baked goods from scratch.
The dinner menu changes frequently, so be sure to check out their website for the latest menu. A menu from December 2023 includes a few great starter options, including grilled bread, chips and dip, and oysters on the half shell. After enjoying a good appetizer, you can dive into one of their main courses. Options include baby octopus, mussels, roasted chicken quarter, and a ribeye. You can choose from a few sides, such as roasted cauliflower and spaghetti. Finish your meal off with one of their dessert options, such as buttermilk bread pudding or peanut butter chocolate cake.
Kan Kan Cinema & Brasserie
1258 Windsor St., Indianapolis, IN 46201
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Another one of Chef Merriss's Indianapolis contributions is the Kan Kan Cinema & Brasserie. The restaurant portion of the theater offers small bites, full meals, and a full cocktail menu. Overseen by Executive Chef Michael Conley, another culinary great in this city, Kan Kan is well worth a visit on your trip to this city. Like Merriss's other restaurant, Kan Kan uses local farms to provide the freshest seasonal ingredients to craft its menu options. As a result, the menu changes when certain ingredients are no longer in season.
The current menu is separated into smaller bites and larger meals. Enjoy their charcuterie and cheese board, with bread from Amelia's Bread. Try their oysters on the half shell, or keep it simple with just bread and butter to start. If you want a smaller plate, you can choose from options like wings, a wedge salad, and a pickled shrimp cocktail. Choices for a larger plate include a burger, sea bass, duck, and lasagna. Finish your culinary experience off with butterscotch crème brulee, buttermilk bread pudding, flourless chocolate torte, or pumpkin cheesecake.
Love Handle
877 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46204
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
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Love Handle serves creative breakfast and sandwich offerings that use local ingredients in a demure setting in downtown Indianapolis. Their menu is straightforward, with options like smoked pork belly with an egg and pork tongue with egg and cheese. Try their biscuit slider, with Thai chili sauce, or smoked lake trout and duck eggs. The Lovely Sandwich features braised beef tongue with shitake mushrooms, cashews, hummus, and smoked carrots. And the Bunny Sandwich includes jalapeños, bratwurst, pickled red onion, and a daikon purée.
Milktooth
534 Virginia Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46203
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Milktooth is described as a “modern diner,” and in 2017, its chef Jonathan Brooks was up for the James Beard regional “best chef” award. While there are no Michelin Star restaurants in Indianapolis, there are other honors that clearly showcase the culinary talent of this city. Other accolades for both the chef and the restaurant include a shoutout among 11 other chefs by Food and Wine Magazine. Milktooth was also included in the 10 best new restaurants in the U.S. by Bon Appétit Magazine. Opened in 2014, the diner focuses its menu around local, seasonal produce. The result is creative and nuanced breakfast and lunch options. Their goal is to provide good food for the people of Indianapolis, and they're sticking around!
The menu offers a variety of delicious options. For brunch, your options include delightful dishes like Dutch baby pancakes, sourdough waffles, a patty melt, and grilled cheese. For anyone looking for something on the smaller side, they offer small plates such as oysters, latke, and a farmer's salad. Pair your meal with eggs, bacon, cheddar grits, or sausage on the side. The menu at this restaurant is simple, but is executed brilliantly.
St. Elmo Steak House
127 South Illinois St., Indianapolis, IN 46225
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The St. Elmo Steak House takes the title of the oldest establishment on this list. Essentially a landmark in downtown Indianapolis, this steakhouse has been open since 1902. With an array of cocktails, specialized sauces, and a fantastic dining menu, this place is quite deserving of some recognition. Between starters, steak, seafood, and sides, there is simply so much to try.
For starters, there's the classic St. Elmo shrimp cocktail and an array of salads. For those who want a meat that isn't beef, they offer lamb, pork chop, and chicken. Their seafood selections are great, with options such as yellowfin tuna and crab-stuffed shrimp available. Of course, no steakhouse is complete without good steaks, and St. Elmo is certainly not lacking here. They offer all of the cuts you'd expect, such as a porterhouse, ribeye, filet mignon, and New York strip. Add a side or two to your dinner, chosen from options like a loaded baked potato, onion rings, crab mac ‘n cheese, and roasted asparagus.
- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
Vida
601 East New York St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
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Vida restaurant is another community gem and one of only a few Indianapolis eateries to earn the AAA Four Diamond award. The cuisine is New American, with chef Thomas Melvin taking inspiration from recipes all over the world. The menus are rotational, as the ingredients are fresh and therefore seasonal. Vida works with local farmers and vendors, and also uses its own hydroponic system to grow the greens for the salads. There's an à la carte menu and a six-course tasting menu available to Vida guests. The dinner menu costs $95 per person, while the tasting menu starts at $135 per person without wine.
The menu is crafted by expert chefs and Sommeliers on the Vida team. Start with your first course selection, choosing from options like beef tartare and roasted carrot in a black bean puree. For your second course, options include buttermilk fried chicken thigh, pork belly, and foie gras. The third course brings some great meat and seafood options, like an Angus ribeye or a helping of Maine scallops. Your fourth course will be your dessert, with choices like ricotta doughnuts and apple cake available to you.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.com.