8+ Delicious Places to Eat on the North Side of Indianapolis

Looking for a new favorite, local restaurant on the north side of Indianapolis? Your favorite Indy local has rounded up her top picks for good food and delicious drinks.

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Looking for the best restaurants on the north side of Indianapolis?

Indianapolis's food scene has been improving steadily for over two decades, and, of course, I'm constantly arguing that Indianapolis deserves more of a reputation as a 'food city' than it has ever received. I'll keep trying!

That said, what cache the foodie scene in Indianapolis does have is largely focused on the culinary delights of downtown Indy, which was happily our home for six lovely years (on Massachusetts Avenue, no less). Now that we've moved to the north side of Indy (Meridian Kessler, to be precise), having been up here over nearly as long (time flies), we've had plenty of time to discover all the great spots in our north Indianapolis neighborhood. 

One of the first things I said to my husband when we moved was "I'm surprised we didn't come up here to eat more often when we lived downtown." While anyone who's been following the blog for any period of time knows how much we love downtown, I've decided to start a series of posts about restaurants in Central Indiana that we've found and loved. Oh and not just restaurants - this morning I finished up 7+ Unique, Local Breweries in Downtown Indianapolis.

​For the sake of this list, I've limited "North Indianapolis" to between 38th Street and 86th Street, so mostly Meridian Kessler, SoBro, and Broad Ripple proper. So let's do it - the best restaurants on the north side of Indianapolis.

Best Restaurants
​North Indianapolis

We will start at the southern boundary of our map and work our way north through Indianapolis, largely along College Avenue, one of our main north-south thoroughfares.

Cafe Patachou

It would be impossible for me to write a guide to restaurants in Meridian Kessler without including the original Cafe Patachou at 49th and Penn. We live nearby, and Patachou has become one of our walkable staples for breakfast and lunch.

The OG Cafe Patachou has been serving Indianapolis since 1989, and it's easy to see why we just can't seem to get enough. Come for overflowing omelettes, salads, sandwiches, coffee, and, of course, Patachou's famous cinnamon toast. It's an especially good choice for brunch with friends, breakfast with the family, or an easy weekday work lunch that's convenient for many people making their way downtown.
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And if you're visiting Indy and want somewhere that feels genuinely local, rather than another restaurant you could find in any city, Patachou is an easy recommendation.

​Napolese

My go-to pizza takeout spot is also an enchantingly chic, authentic Italian pizza destination. Featuring delicious olive starters, a very good wine list, fresh ingredients from local farmers, and plenty of outdoor seating, Napolese is one of the best places for a family meal in Meridian Kessler.

Looking to grab a fancy drink? Make reservations for Bar One Fourteen, consistently recognized as one of the best cocktail bars in the city, if one of the least-known.

​Delicia

Photo: Delicia

Offering creative, hearty meals and an impressive liquor selection, Delicia is a blend of the "culinary traditions of the Americas, Caribbean, and Spain." Their guacamole is *to die for.*

Don't come to Delicia if you're eating light. But if you're in search of creative, casual, elevated rice, beans, tacos, and seafood, you'll fall in love.

The Aristocrat

One of Indy's favorite local restaurants since 1933, The Aristocrat is a Meridian Kessler mainstay that's had a lot of time to perfect its craft. Often considered to have the best pork tenderloin in Indianapolis (which is quite an achievement, given the amount of competition), The Aristocrat is in easy walking distance (across the street) of Delicia. Looking for another drink? Stop by Indy's favorite dive, The Red Key.

Ambrosia

Continuing our journey north along College Ave., our next stop for delicious pasta dishes, an extensive wine list, charming outdoor dining surrounded by impressive, encircling flowers, is Ambrosia, one of the north side of Indy's favorite Italian restaurants. Come for great food, stay for the cozy neighborhood atmosphere and attentive service.

Mama Carolla's 

At 54th and the Monon Trail, if you can get a table, is Mama Carolla's, the must-visit Indy Italian mainstay. Featuring enormous classic Italian dishes, no one leaves "Mama's" hungry, or entirely clear-eyed. Located in a historic home, there's no main "dining room," instead; diners are instead spread out throughout the home, and nestled into cozy corners of the home. It's the perfect place for a romantic, candle-lit dinner.

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Binkley's Kitchen & Bar

Photo: Binkley's

If you're looking for a classic American restaurant with heavy pours and excellent, traditional good, check out Binkley's. Binkley's is a great place for the whole family or date night, with a large, yet cozy bar, friendly staff, and the best BBQ chicken salad I've ever had. If you're looking for innovative food, this might not be your place, but if you want dependable, hearty food, c'mon down.

Visiting us for the Indy 500? Check out What to Wear in Indianapolis, where I cover basic Indy packing tips and what to wear for our special Memorial Day Weekend!

Meridian Restaurant & Bar

For something a little more upscale, head west to Meridian Restaurant & Bar, tucked along Meridian Street across from Alice Carter Park.

We've eaten at Meridian many times over the years, and it's a lovely choice for a date night, special occasion, or getting together with parents (ours live in Carmel, so it's a nice midway point). Meridian itself is warm and inviting, with a cozy bar, fireplace, and a surprisingly relaxing patio, when the weather cooperates.
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Meridian focuses on elevated American food, with a good wine list and cocktails to match. It's also one of those restaurants that feels very much at home in its surroundings, overlooking the historic homes and leafy streets that make this part of Indianapolis so beautiful.

The Cake Bake Shop

Indy's newest homegrown export (hello, Disney World!), the original Cake Bake Shop location is nestled into a quaint little house in Broad Ripple Village.  From the minute the doors open, you're transported into a shimmering, glimmering wonderland of enchanting, fairy tale-inspired, ultra-feminine decor, complete with scrumptious pastries and, of course, the largest pieces of cake you've ever seen.

​The Cake Bake Shop is a great place for a special occasion, baby shower, or girls' lunch. Though, you don't actually even need a good reason to be a little decadent.

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Broad Ripple Brew Pub

ESB hand-pulled pint at The Broad Ripple Brew Pub

Longtime readers of a blog called Pints, Pounds, & Pâté will be shocked to learn that I enjoy a good pub. So, naturally, Broad Ripple Brewpub deserves a spot on this list.

Opened in 1990, Broad Ripple Brewpub was Indiana's first brewpub, and it remains one of our favorite places for a casual meal and a pint (including A HAND PULL). Come for classic pub food, house-brewed beer, and the cozy, slightly quirky atmosphere that a proper neighborhood pub should have.
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The menu has plenty of British pub influence, including fish and chips, bangers and mash, and a Scotch egg, alongside burgers, sandwiches, and a surprisingly large selection of vegetarian options.
Broad Ripple Brewpub is especially lovely when the weather is nice and you can sit outside. If you need me, I'll be the person insisting that a pint and some deep-fried fish and chips constitutes a perfectly well-rounded dinner. Did I mention they have a hand pull ESB...

The Northside Social & Northside Kitchenette

Just north of Broad Ripple are a couple of my favorite spots, which are, unsurprisingly run by the same owners, The Northside Social and Northside Kitchenette. Northside Social is the OG, with a full menu, large bar, and a dedicated clientele on Indy's north side (wine night is Wednesday). They then opened the Northside Kitchenette, the lunch spot/brunch spot with delicious coffee, omelettes, and salads.

​They describe it best themselves: "Breakfast anytime. Lunch all day. Drinks always."

Thanks for stopping by!

I hope I've given you some restaurant ideas for the north side of Indianapolis. We're proud to have some of the best restaurants in Indy, and I know you won't be disappointed. Drop your favorite Broad Ripple and Meridian Kessler restaurant recommendations in the comment section below. And, while you're here, please check out all of the Indianapolis local tips I've built up on the blog.

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