Favorite Local Indianapolis Businesses (Fishers, Carmel: food, nicest, yard)

[stx12499]

Originally Posted by beth1104

I haven't been for a few years, but used to love the Jazz Cooker in Broad Ripple - - if it was a nice evening to sit outside under the trees with mardi gras beads.
The melting pot in Castleton - fondue and martinis!!!!
Ditto St Elmos for steak. Creme Brulee' at Ruth's Chris.
Someone mentioned needing more Carmel suggestions... Mitchell's Fish Market & Kona Grill at Clay Terrace. I'm a huge fan of Charleston's at 31 & Greyhound Pass... never had a bad meal there, not overpriced.

Lots of chains in this thread of Indy locals! Indy has some gem local places, but you have to look harder to find them in the chain dominated market.

To be honest, I never liked the hype for St Elmo's. Dunaway's is the best restaurant in the city, and the Rathskellar is the best and most unique bar within a 100 mile radius of Indy.

Mitchell's Fish Market, Palomino, Ruth's Chris, Kona Grill, Melting Pot, and many others I have seen listed here are chains!

[beth1104]

I didn't realize Melting Pot was a chain... but then again, so is PF Changs for Chinese and I challenge you to find a non-chain Chinese restaurant that good


UPDATE: Thanks!!! I looked it up after you mentioning M.P. is a chain, and there is one in Charleston, where I am now! (I had no idea)

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by beth1104

I challenge you to find a non-chain Chinese restaurant that good

Yen Ching is ok

There is a place at 86th and Ditch that is real good, but the name escapes me. It is strictly delivery/takeout, no dine-in.

[stx12499]

Originally Posted by beth1104

I didn't realize Melting Pot was a chain... but then again, so is PF Changs for Chinese and I challenge you to find a non-chain Chinese restaurant that good


UPDATE: Thanks!!! I looked it up after you mentioning M.P. is a chain, and there is one in Charleston, where I am now! (I had no idea)

Indeed, Melting Pot is a chain located in every major metro in the US. IMO it is the most overpriced, average food I have every had. Anyone can heat up cheese or chocolate, put it in a pot, and cut up stuff to dip in it.

To each his/her own, but if you believe PF Changs is the best Chinese, you should try some Chinese outside Indy. Chinatown in Chicago would be a start

Even taking a trip to Louisville, which has a substantially more diverse and better local food scene, may change your tastes. When you start eating at places where they have chefs and you get to meet the owner at the door, who is concerned about you as if you are family, that is when you realize the chain system is depersonalized, cuts corners, and rarely produces the same quality food as local restaurants (I can think of some exceptions. For example Bonefish is a wonderful, quality chain). Good luck!

[Naptowner]

Originally Posted by DC 38

Yen Ching is ok

Yes it is. It's also a chain.

There is a place at 86th and Ditch that is real good, but the name escapes me. It is strictly delivery/takeout, no dine-in.

Sesame? I ate there last year, but it looked like it had some seating (it's on the southwest corner in the same strip mall as the Marsh.) My Chinese friend recommended it, along with Mandarin House in Carmel, which I think is also locally-owned.

[Naptowner]

Originally Posted by stx12499

Indeed, Melting Pot is a chain located in every major metro in the US. IMO it is the most overpriced, average food I have every had. Anyone can heat up cheese or chocolate, put it in a pot, and cut up stuff to dip in it.

To each his/her own, but if you believe PF Changs is the best Chinese, you should try some Chinese outside Indy. Chinatown in Chicago would be a start

Even taking a trip to Louisville, which has a substantially more diverse and better local food scene, may change your tastes. When you start eating at places where they have chefs and you get to meet the owner at the door, who is concerned about you as if you are family, that is when you realize the chain system is depersonalized, cuts corners, and rarely produces the same quality food as local restaurants (I can think of some exceptions. For example Bonefish is a wonderful, quality chain). Good luck!

I have to agree about the Melting Pot. Fondue is a lot of fun and you miss out by not making it yourself at home.

There really wasn't a need for the crack on PF Chang's, imo. The person who brought it up meant, I think, that you can't find a better non-chain Chinese restaurant in Indianapolis, not in Chicago's Chinatown. Chinese food cooked for Chinese people is bound to be better, wouldn't you agree? Like most cities, Indianapolis doesn't have enough Chinese people to have great Chinese restaurants. The other side of the coin is that people rip on Chang's simply because it is a chain. It may be soulless and impersonal, but the food quality is incredibly consistent, the place is always extremely clean, and the staff is well-trained and attentive. My (Asian-American) wife, who doesn't have any hangups about eating at an "authentic" Asian place, will pick Chang's over other non-chain options simply because of these factors.

Which kind of brings me to your next point. You paint with a very broad brush when you paint a picture of a non-chain restaurant with real chefs and an owner who cares about you like family. Plenty of locally owned places cut corners - plenty more order their food from the same suppliers the chain restaurants use. If I'm eating Nifda nacho cheese sauce, does it matter whether I'm sitting in an Applebee's or a mom and pop?

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by Naptowner

Sesame? I ate there last year, but it looked like it had some seating (it's on the southwest corner in the same strip mall as the Marsh.) My Chinese friend recommended it, along with Mandarin House in Carmel, which I think is also locally-owned.

No, not Sesame; the one I am thinking of is on the other side of Ditch Road in the same strip as Taylor's Pub and the new Baskin Robbins.

[lizzwith2zs]

Restaurants:
I'm glad that someone said Maria's in Fountain Square!
St. Elmo's
Amici's
Mann's on the southwest side (inside 465) is a guilty pleasure.
Sal's in Brownsburg has great Italian food.

Shopping:
lots of Broadripple stores

Bars and Clubs:
Nicky Blaine's
Slippery Noodle
Red Eye Cafe just for the people. I've never laughed harder than some of the nights I've been there after the bars. The food leaves a room for improvement.

To the person who said Bucca's, the last time I went to the downtown one, it was awful!!!!!! And it's a chain. No biggie, but I'd go to Maria's, Sal's, or Amici's everyday for a month before I'd eat at Bucca's.

[grmasterb]

For the Jockamo's Pizza fans on the board, I must say that I visited it for the first time this weekend and LOVED it. I will most certainly return there.

[Toxic Toast]

I re-visited Lazy Daze in Irvington this weekend. Still my favorite local coffee house.