OffTopic: Indy breakfasts?

Hi folks,
I'm going to be in Indianapolis this weekend. Any recommendations for good breakfast or lunch spots? Thanks in advance!
JR

[Robin Garr]

Hi folks,
I'm going to be in Indianapolis this weekend. Any recommendations for good breakfast or lunch spots? Thanks in advance!
JR

I'm not much of an Indy expert, but I would assume that the often-mentioned <b>Shapiro's</b> deli is worth a shot. It's long-lived and said to be a better kosher-style deli than anything we've ever had in Louisville.

For breakfast:

Petit Chou in Broad Ripple is my definite first recommendation. They have great crepes, cinnamon toast that is out of this world and a really good house coffee blend.

2nd: Cafe Patachou on the northwest side

3rd: Taste Cafe also in Broad Ripple

4th: Three Sisters also in Broad Ripple

For lunch:
Brugge Brasserie in Broad Ripple. Great frites and beer.

The Friendly Tavern in Zionsville (great burgers, fantastic apple dumpling for dessert)

El Morocco on the North West Side

Athens on 86th

Bazbeaux's Pizza (locations sprinkled throughout town)

And you didn't ask but if you're looking for a good dinner suggestion you can't beat R Bistro downtown on Mass Avenue.

Here are 2 other suggestions:

Puck's restaurant:

http://www.wolfgangpuck.com/restaurants ... ianapolis/

The Villa Inn and Restauraunt:

http://www.thevillainn.com

Hi folks,
I'm going to be in Indianapolis this weekend. Any recommendations for good breakfast or lunch spots? Thanks in advance!
JR

I'm not much of an Indy expert, but I would assume that the often-mentioned <b>Shapiro's</b> deli is worth a shot. It's long-lived and said to be a better kosher-style deli than anything we've ever had in Louisville.

Have to second that . . . there are two: one just South of downtown, and one in the far NE burbs off of I-69.

For breakfast:



And you didn't ask but if you're looking for a good dinner suggestion you can't beat R Bistro downtown on Mass Avenue.

Another dinner: St. Elmo's downtown . . . sort of like what Pat's wishes it was! Old time, go in jeans if you want, spectacular beef, huge portions, great shrimp cocktail (hottest one I've ever had!), et al. And, can be inexpensive, as no problem in splitting dinners (with each person getting plenty to eat!)

I also recommed Shapiro's--excellent food and service!

at the Keystone Grill is very good. We have eaten there several times and have always enjoyed their brunch. It is located in the parking lot of the Keystone at the Crossing mall. Well. never mind. I just googled them in order to provide you with a link and apparently they have closed since our last visit

What was Keystone Grill is now a Mexican place. Or at least it was when I was last there in November.

Cafe Patachou (several branches) is the only place I've had a worthwhile breakfast in Indianapolis.

You don't say where you are, but there are many places that are decent for lunch. If you ask me, you can't do better for lunch in Indy than a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich. Google should be able to turn up any number of best of list. My personal favorite is the Red Onion in Sheridan, though that's a bit of a drive from the city.

Since we are recommending dinner places too, the place to go is L'Explorateur in Broad Ripple. On the current menu, the kobe beef short rib is a must. But pretty much you can't go wrong. http://dinelex.com/menu/

If you are downtown, avoid the Illinois St. chain restaurant row and head to Mass Ave for Elements or R. Bistro.

St. Elmo's is highly over-rated. The shrimp cocktail is justly famous and the environment is top notch, but the steaks don't measure up.

I really love Three Sisters Cafe. It's in an old house right off the Monan Trail in Broadripple. The service is experienced and extremely friendly. Lots of heathy/vegetarian options without omitting the traditionals. I had a Bloody Mary smoothie once - interesting, but I won't be having it again.

I know it's too late, but for future reference:

We had two great lunches last year at Bosphorus Istanbul Cafe, 935 S. East St., on the east side of the sprawling Lilly corporate campus. It's delicious Turkish cuisine, fairly priced lunch specials, excellent baklava and Turkish coffee for dessert.

This is a great thread for me to introduce my sister to this forum. She moved to Indy a few months ago, much to my dismay. I've been encouraging her to check out LHB for some time - she is a self diagnosed foodie, addicted to food network and commited to good groceries. I'll be forcing her to visit if only for this post, so allow me embellish her culinary character. I've had some of the best food of my life out of her kitchen. On my last visit, she attempted a chicken nugget recipe of trickery from a cookbook designed for dietary challenged young ones (my alter sibling's neice and nephew paid a visit and they are the pickiest little twerps I've ever known) consisting of cubed chicken, wrapped in a spinach puree and panko crust, fried with minimal oil. She served it up to the whole family. The nuggs were pretty good, mostly my own opinion. But even more noteworthy was the effort to experiment (hungover from late night beer bonding, mind you) as a dedication to traditional home prepared lunching. One of my most superior homespun dinings, period. She is trying to find competetive (with Louisville) food and beverage venues in her new city, so any further advice will be read by her, I assure you. And if we're real lucky, she'll become a participant here. Keep in mind that she was raised in Louisville and hasn't even slightly divorced it's local restuarant flair. She has even more to opine than myself, so...where should Janice Z. dine?

This is a great thread for me to introduce my sister to this forum. So...where should Janice Z. dine?

Jackie, there's a place in Hagerstown, IN -- about an hour east of Indy -- that she should check out. It's called Welliver's. Most people go for the crazy-huge smorgasbord. But I'd recommend eating in the bar area or the Mill Room and ordering off the menu. Good, homestyle cooking ... and be prepared to take home a few days' worth of leftovers. A lot of people around here say Welliver's isn't as good as it used to be, but I think it's worthy of a road trip!

As for Indy ... Harry & Izzy's -- the sister property of St. Elmo's -- is OK. Pretty similar menu, but a different atmosphere. Petersen's on 96th Street in Fishers is very good, but a bit pricey. Seems to me it's the kind of place people go to only for anniversarys and birthdays. Dieter's is excellent, but it's closing (or maybe has closed already).

Despite living up here for almost three years now, I have to admit we haven't tried a lot of restaurants. Hubby eats like a 7-year-old, so it's mostly hot dogs at Costco -- not that there's anything wrong with that. I'll post more if I find something good.