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 that improvement has only accelerated as we recover from the impact of the pandemic on restaurants. 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 two years, we've had plenty of time to discover all the great spots in our new, 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.


But you're here to find a place to eat on the north side of Indy, so let's get to the entree. 


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.

Best Restaurants North Indianapolis:
​ Root & Bone

Pimento BLT, Root & Bone

At the southern-most end of our list is one of the absolute highlights of our time in Meridian Kessler, Root & Bone. I haven't traditionally been a comfort food girl, so the lure of sweet tea and fried chicken (for which Root & Bone is known) wasn't really calling my name. Thankfully I took the plunge and I've been in love with Root & Bone ever since. Fresh, local ingredients, a chic open kitchen, a homey feel, cozy furnishings, and a great rotating cocktail menu keep me coming back. 

Easily accessible right on College Avenue, there's a free parking lot diagonally across College from the restaurant if you can't get into the actual parking lot at Root & Bone.

Best Restaurants North Indianapolis:
​ Gallery Pastry Shop

Heading directly across the aforementioned College Ave, the Gallery Pastry Shop's new location is the 'new kid on the block,' having recently renovated the former location of Next Door American Bistro and made it their own, complete with an in-restaurant (fake?) tree. Focusing, unsurprisingly on amazingly perfect pastries, the Gallery Pastry Shop also serves full meals, from brunch through dinner. 


Downtown? The owners also have Gallery Pastry Bar, not too far from Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Best Restaurants North Indianapolis:
​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 after last year's renovation, 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.

Best Restaurants North Indianapolis:
​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.

Best Restaurants North Indianapolis:
​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.

Best Restaurants North Indianapolis: 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.

Best Restaurants North Indianapolis:
​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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Best Restaurants North Indianapolis:
​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.

Best Restaurants North Indianapolis:
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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Best Restaurants North Indianapolis:
​The Northside Social & Northside Kitchenette

Just north of Broad Ripple are a couple of my favorite spots, who 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. 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.