1 dinner in Indianapolis

[asciiwar]

I will be in Indianapolis Hyatt Regency, and I will only have 1 open dinner slot in my schedule for business travel. If you had 1 dinner, where would you go and what would you order? Thanks! (my palate is very flexible as an SF Bay Area hound)

[Wabash70]

If I had only 1 dinner in Indy, 14 West would not be it. I had a great meal, excellent service, and although the atmosphere was a little dead, I think for the price it's not worth it. I put both RBistro and Dunnaway's well ahead of 14 West. If I had a rental car, you can call me crazy, but I would trip out to Zionsville for Trader's Point Creamery. Organic, local food, well prepared for a good price. Especially from someone in the Bay Area, I don't know if you'll ever taste cheese or milk that fresh and tasty. Although the fresh mozzerella at Pizzeria Delphina is probably close!

[napolean]

I would try Recess but check the menu before because they only offer one set menu each night. The beer and wine list/pairing is good. Atmosphere is great. R Bistro and Oakley's would be the next recs.

[HoosierFoodie]

I have not been to 14 West but will be making up soon based upon the outstanding recs from friends. I just went to Oakley's and while the food was very good the wine list pricing is punitive and much like an afterthought.

The Oceanaire rec is a good one, too.

[nsxtasy]

If I were walking, I would go to one of two places, which are both a couple of blocks from the hotel (and right around the corner from each other). The Oceanaire is Indy's very best seafood restaurant, and it's a cool place, designed to look like an ocean liner. All the seafood I've had there has been excellent; one time I ate there and they had fresh (i.e. never frozen - very unusual!) Alaskan king crab legs, and they were divine. www.theoceanaire.com The other place I would consider is 14 West, which is right around the corner from the Oceanaire. They serve contemporary American food. If they have their sweetbreads on the menu, they're superb. www.14westindy.com Note that both of these restaurants are on the same block as the Circle Centre, which is an indoor mall, but the entrance to both restaurants is on the street, not inside the mall.

If I had a car or would consider a cab (or a long walk), there are three more places I would consider; they all serve contemporary American food. Euphoria is in the Buggs Temple building about 3/4 mile north of the Hyatt. www.indycanal.com R Bistro is at the far end of Mass Ave (Massachusetts Avenue), about a mile northwest of the Hyatt. www.rbistro.com There's one restaurant away from downtown that's my favorite of all; it's called Oakley's Bistro and it's on the north side of town, about 6-7 miles north of the Hyatt. www.oakleysbistro.com

I've had excellent dinners at all of these restaurants and I don't think you can go wrong with any of them. If you're not sure which one to choose, check out the sample menus on their websites and see which one sounds the best to you.

[mem53]

Completely agree with Nsxtasy's recommendations. I've not yet been to Oceanaire, but the rest of his recs are dead on, in my opinion. Enjoy your time in Indy!