The El Jefe pizza at Sam’s Square Pie. | Brian Garrido
Pillowy Detroit-style pizza from a former NFL SkyCam operator, rib-eye with eggplant harissa from a James Beard semifinalist newly installed at beloved Bluebeard, tea leaf salad at a Burmese hub in Southport, and more of Indy’s best meals
Over the last several years, Indianapolis’s food scene has exploded, coming to rival nearby Midwest neighbors such as Louisville, Cincinnati, and even Chicago. Many of the heartland city’s celebrated restaurants, such as Tinker Street (New American cuisine), the 70-year-old BBQ Heaven (pork ribs), and the rebuilt Kountry Kitchen (soul food), continue to serve the city. Alongside, new independent spots have bloomed, including Julieta’s (tacos), Sam’s Square Pie (Detroit-style pizza), and the all-vegan burger house Burgeezy. There are also myriad restaurants serving global cuisines, like the Burmese hub Chin Brothers, the Honduran strip mall gem El Sabor Catracho, and the Muslims of the World coffee and pastry chain. Finally, Indy’s buzzing sports and technology industries have attracted a crowd of sophisticates, who flock to trendy, design-focused restaurants like Casa Santa (Mexican), Commission Row (caviar, steaks, and cocktails), and Vicino (Northern Italian).
Together, these restaurants help the city live up to its nickname, the Crossroads of America, giving transplant chefs, hungry visitors, and local diners plenty to brag about.
Brian Garrido is a freelance food and design writer living in Indianapolis with his partner, Nick, and two dogs. Follow him on Instagram @briangarrido or @i8toniteindy, which is all about the Midwest city’s dining.
