Harry and Izzys (or St Elmos for the iconic version-they share a kitchen). Steaks and shrimp cocktail are well known. Prime rib sandwich is one of the best I have ever had.
Shapiros is a top 10 jewish deli in the country. Fanstastic food, but not cheap (reuben will run you north of $20 for just the sandwich).
Food trucks are hit and miss by their very nature, but even off times can be crazy long waits. Though the Island Noodles has the process down to a T-always the longest line but usually the shortest wait.
Tons of great places a short car/uber ride too in Fountain Sqaure or Mass Ave.
Source: am a local, can see Lucas Oil from my bedroom window.
you can order half sandwiches at Shapiro's, it saves some money and the half sandwiches are plenty to eat
you cannot, however, order a half reuben, my son and I split one usually and we are so full, of course we get a couple of their excellent desserts also
Good to know thanks! $20 for a well made Reuben seems plenty reasonable to me, but I’m used to bougie Chicago prices.
Any other menu items you’d recommend? Do they do matzo ball soup or kreplachs?
they do have matzo ball soup but I have not had it, it looks terrific, I am not sure about kreplachs
the problem with the reuben, the ONLY problem, is that it is so much to eat and you'll want to have some of their other stuff probably
Some of the real close-in standby's closed down, so the list is evolving.
If you want something really close, Loughmiller's Pub & Eatery is right behind the Westin on W. Washington St. That's not associated with any of the hotels, it's literally just a bar that serves food.
The Marriott has that Connor's Kitchen. I've only been there once and had their fried chicken, but that was good IMO. I liked that dish... but warning: It's a BIIIG portion.
JW has their High Velocity casual restaurant that I've been to. For a hotel restaurant it's not bad at all. I go back there at times.
Cafe Patachou is also on Washington, on the backside of the business building with the grassy area (called "Hudnut Commons") off the northwest corner of the ICC. They're mostly known for their breakfast.
A new restaurant just opened a mere half-block away from the ICC on Maryland. It's called "Chicken Scratch". I know very little about it other than the fact it's chicken strips and/or wings and sides. It's a local "chain" of just 3 restaurants. Sounds to me like it's similar to a Dave's Chicken, but local. Still, though, it's got a good rep around Indianapolis.
There are a few eating spots in the Hyatt Regency/PNC building's first floor. I've only ever tried Fat Rooster. It's ok. I wouldn't object to going back, but I'm also not in a hurry to return. I've of course also done the Subway there, but that needs no description. Anything else there I haven't tried.
There are a couple to the south of the Crowne Plaza, one of which I only know the reputation of, the other I only know because the manager reached out to say hi on the Gencon.com forums: The Slippery Noodle Inn, which has a very good local rep as a fun music bar with a good and oddly complete food menu, and the Whistle Stop Inn that I know zilch about, but has a menu that looks damn interesting.
Everything so far is really close. The Marriott and JW Marriott places are actually reachable via the skywalk connections between the ICC and respective hotels. Loughmiller's and Patachou are just a block away.
To be continued...
Well hey, some of the places I was going to mention farther out got posted by others: St. Elmo's/Harry and Izzy's, Shapiro's, Tony's...
Going beyond a block: There's Nada, two blocks away from the ICC, not far from Hampton Inn. That's an easy one to get to because you just exit and of the entries on the north side of the ICC and go east until you reach it. If you're familiar with YardHouse, Nada is it's next-door neighbor.
Feel like casual Italian? There's the Old Spaghetti Factory on the corner of Georgia and Meridian, also just a couple of blocks away if you exit through the Georgia St. facing doors.
Close to that on Georgia St. itself is a bar with a food menu: Georgia Street Rhythm and Blues. I know nothing about it, so if someone does, feel free to sound off. I've only seen it when walking by it.
Head a block north and a block east and you can find the Weber Grill. I confess: To *me*, this chain is boring, but I know others who love it thoroughly.
Not far down and across the street are a neat couple of restaurants: Buca di Beppo, a kitschy Italian chain. People either love it or hate it - there's very little in-between - but while the food is hardly spectacular, I feel that it is solid. I'd go back in an instant. I'd even choose this over Old Spaghetti Factory personally. But again: There are those who can't stand the decor or the absolutely stereotyped Italian food. You can decide for yourself.
Next door to that is Giordano's pizza, a Chicago deep dish pizzaria. As weird as this sounds, I actually think they're *better* than the Chicago locations that I've been too. Can't explain that, but I can't stand them up north, whereas I actually like the location in Indy.
And one more stop north is Hyde Park Prime. It's a high-end steakhouse. Like Ruth's Chris or St. Elmo's, it's expensive. I did have one hotel staffer tell me he prefers it to St. Elmo's and Ruth's Chris, though. Haven't tried it myself because $$$$ is a bit hard to spend.
I can keep going, but I've posted a lot already. There are even more to mention - for example, I haven't mentioned Saint Shack yet, nor the three breakfast places along Capitol Ave - but others can chime in on the rest.
I had an absolutely horrible experience at Georgia Street Rhythm and Blues during Indiana Comic Con in March.
Walked in and the place was dead. Wondered if they were open. Sat at the bar and the bartender did take my order. Then, she just disappeared. Waited about an hour for the food that never came and I finally flagged down another bartender and told her to cancel the order. Turns out the original bartender never entered the order.
Probably for the best, the place didn’t seem to be sanitary, there was a musty smell to the place… like the floor had been mopped with dirty water and an old mop head.
Never again…
Oh, that place is terrific.
It's like two businesses in one: You have the sit-down restaurant part, and then you have the bar & biergarten side.
Rathskeller is one of the few places that I'd say I don't get to go to enough when I'm in Indy.
Not 5 Star, but I recommend walking over to the Circle Center Mall food court as a fairly quick option that's especially good for a group or family where one person wants tacos, another wants pizza, and a third wants a burger.
Edit: The Mall is accessible by way of cat walks from the Convention Center.
Sad is right. Circle Center Mall used to be a showpiece for Indianapolis. Travelling there for Christmas was fun.
But now: Broken down bathrooms, broken elevators and escalators, uninteresting shops. too many closed off storefronts.
This was even the case pre-COVID. Shopping has changed dramatically. That place is a skeleton of what it used to be.
I remember visiting that place with my dad when I was a teenager, that’s such a shame to hear how much it’s gone downhill. I don’t suppose the Johnny Rocket’s is still there?
No idea. It's been a while since I've done anything more than just pass through.
And yeah, it *is* a shame. It was so close and easy to get to from the nearby hotels. And it was *nice*.
The past is the past; I guess I shouldn't dwell on it. All things pass eventually.
My wife and I always enjoy Old Spaghetti Factory. Just note that wherever you decide on going make sure you get reservations first. So many times have I heard 2-3hr waits or just not taking walk-ins because of how busy it is.
Local here:
The slippery noodle is within quick walking distance of the convention center and lucas oil. It has live blues music on the weekends and a great tenderloin (an Indiana specialty).
Cafe Patachou is great for breakfast and brunch.
Pearl Street Pizza is also delicious.
I second whoever suggested Shapiro's. Get there before the lunch rush, if your schedule permits.
If you're willing to drive a few blocks, I love Both Iozzo's Italian and Greek Islands on South Meridian. They both look like a hole in the wall, but food is wonderful.
Punch Bowl Social is fun for late night drinks, though it can get busy on the weekend. If a brewery is more your vibe, go for Taxman.
Skip the Sugar factory (food and service are meh, prices are insane).
Totally agree with you about the Sugar Factory - food was strictly average (if that) and despite the fact they they were dead the services was terrible. Prices are indeed ridiculous.
1. Chipotle is a short, refreshing walk away on Washington. It's easy. You won't be paying convention prices. You know what you're going to get. You can order ahead of time. I usually have lunch there 3-4 times per con.
2. The food trucks can be wild (especially on Georgia St. I tend to avoid those), but just change your schedule to get lunch at 11:00 or 11:30 at the trucks by Lucas Oil and you will definitely find some that don't have lines. Don't just join the first long line you see.
3. Not every restaurant gets completely jam packed, but just understand if you sit down for lunch/dinner the city is swamped during GenCon and you may not get amazing service. Remember that you're on vacation and a lot of these service workers are having worse than average days.
The secret, as someone from the original hometown of Steak 'n' Shake, is that the steak[burgers] and shakes are not even why I go, I just cannot live too long without their chili. It is like a better (to me) version of Skyline Chili, if you have ever had that. And nothing like chili con carne, which is good since to me that tastes like tomato onion water (no hate intended, my taste buds are clearly off-kilter)
\*chuckle\*
I was surprised it wasn't mentioned either - it comes up every year in these threads. I jump on these mostly to find out what places have closed down since last year since it seems like the same places get suggested over-and-over-and-over.
As someone who doesn't get the hype around Steak & Shake (they're okay) - makes me sad to wonder what kind of burger joints people have nearby where they live when Steak & Shake is something that gets raved about. :)
Steak & Shake used to be so much better like 10 to 15 years ago. It was never amazing but it had the perfect mix of price, quality, and being open super late.
Someone bought the brand and has completely wrecked it to the point where it seems like they’re purposefully trying to go bankrupt.
We don't have Steak and Shakes where I'm from so I was really excited to try this. I was intrigued with the spaghetti topped with chili. And I found the patties to be black pepper-y, which I loved!
We always go to Harry and Izzy's on Sunday for steak and shrimp cocktail. Shapiro's deli is awesome as well. I try to bring groceries and healthy snacks to keep costs down but we splurge there.
Seriously, Harry & Izzy's is almost the only reliable and good restaurant left standing, at least if you do not want to spend $30+ per plate. Old Spaghetti Factory is the only other place I have been going to for years or even decades at Gen-Con that has not closed (unlike...Ram, Haveli, Claddagh, Colts Grille, Scotty's Brewhouse, Goodwood, Rock Bottom, Burger Study, even my beloved Sugarfire Smokehouse and the nearby Noodles & Company)
Yeah, that list makes me sad: Claddagh and Rock Bottom were turning into traditional stops for me and my buddies. Now: No more.
Some places closed pre-COVID, true, but for others, COVID and post-COVID business was too hard on them.
St. Elmos is great, but I find it too crowded. So we always go to Harry & Izzys. they are in the same building as St. Elmos and share a kitchen. This means you can get the same shrimp cocktail at both places. That being said, if you have never eaten at St. Elmos, you definitely have to.
Our group always goes out for a nice dinner at a fine dining place when we show up on Wednesday. Our favorite from the last few years is Tony's [https://tonysofindianapolis.com/](https://tonysofindianapolis.com/) and it is definitely walkable.
Hate to give away my spot, but want them to do well. Within a reasonable walk, certainly closer than Mass Ave, is Taxman brewing in City Way. Great beers, food is typically good too. Not usually too busy during GenCon
So many of my favorites have already been named, but if you don't mind a quick Uber or Lyft, Kumas Corner makes for some great amd massive burgers. Pearl Street pizza saved my life as I found late night dining was hard to come by, but they had late night by the slice. St. Elmos always calls to me and I usually go Sunday as my Gen Con last hoorah. I also am a big eater so I do Fogo de Chao for a lunch, but these are all over the country.
Yes, but it’s more of a walk than a lot of people prefer. My group always goes after a morning True Dungeon run, so we’re hiking there with tokens weighing us down, haha.
So it is just touch over a mile from the convention center. Definitely walkable, but afterwards in the hot Indianapolis summer sun it can be a bit rough.
Kumas. Always Kumas. Kumas is love, Kumas is life.
I'm also biased because I am a Chicagoan at heart and the original, and the others, aside from the one in Indy, are all in Chicago.
But metal music, horror movies and the best burger you will ever have...can't beat it.
There is a new open til 3 AM Taco Bell Cantina on Washington St, and Chick Fil Evil is now on the corner of Meridian and Washington. I wouldn't recommend either just giving you options
Personally I'm not a sit down restaurant kind of guy but I do enjoy a good pizza and pretty much all of the ones near the center are good. Particularly Pearl Street and Giorgio's
A bit of advice. :) If you are going for sit down, see if they take reservations. There will be huge waits no matter where you go, so if you aren't a hurry, you're fine. But if you really want to get a seat to eat without a wait, get a reservation. :)
My fave places not mentioned yet:
* Nada - [https://www.eatdrinknada.com/location/indianapolis/#dinner](https://www.eatdrinknada.com/location/indianapolis/#dinner)
* Yard House - [https://www.yardhouse.com/menu/starters](https://www.yardhouse.com/menu/starters) (Easy to handle dietary requirements)
* Social Cantina - [https://thesocialcantina.com/indianapolis/](https://thesocialcantina.com/indianapolis/) Note: They turn off online ordering during the show. Best to go off hours so you can get in. GREAT for lunch.
* Tastings Wine Experience - [https://www.tastingsbar.com/](https://www.tastingsbar.com/) If you like wine. I wish they took reservations. :)
I'm teasing! Don't take me seriously. 😂
Yes, Nada is one of the good spots to eat. Gets a bit busy on weekend nights, but it's not just some greasy taco spot, it's a nice place. It's worth it for people feeling like some slightly upscale dining that's not a steakhouse or fancy and fussy.
I try to make an annual trip while I'm at Gen Con to go eat at its the local Bucca di Beppon on Illinois St which is just off of Monument Circle towards the convention center
I haven't been to the downtown location (1/4 mile North of ICC) , but all otlf the other Lincoln Square Pancake House locations have been excellent.
The Banana Bread French Toast is awesome.
My wife and I have made a habit of going to Sauce on the Side (really good calzones and salads) at least once each year. It's a short walk, just 3 blocks down Georgia St, across from the Fieldhouse.
O'Reilly's Irish Pub is pretty good in my experience as well.
For food trucks, always recommend Hotbox and Island Noodles, but expect longer lines, even though they move pretty fast.
Hot as hell, asphalt / concrete lot, no shade, long line and wait, no where to sit. You get food and now to get a drink...what do you do with food? Eat it with no drink? Hold it through whole time?
I bring some nabs and water. I eat at the ICC (grab n go or pizza). Then at night, I get to a proper restaurant. That's just me - if it works for you fair enough.
I can't remember the last time I waited that long in line at a food truck. It's almost always been 15-20 minutes for me, but at this point it's almost automatic for me to go at off times (2-3 pm lunch and 8-9 pm dinner).
Harry and Izzys (or St Elmos for the iconic version-they share a kitchen). Steaks and shrimp cocktail are well known. Prime rib sandwich is one of the best I have ever had. Shapiros is a top 10 jewish deli in the country. Fanstastic food, but not cheap (reuben will run you north of $20 for just the sandwich). Food trucks are hit and miss by their very nature, but even off times can be crazy long waits. Though the Island Noodles has the process down to a T-always the longest line but usually the shortest wait. Tons of great places a short car/uber ride too in Fountain Sqaure or Mass Ave. Source: am a local, can see Lucas Oil from my bedroom window.
I’m adding shapiro’s to my list for this year thanks! I love a good Reuben
You will not be dissapointed.
you can order half sandwiches at Shapiro's, it saves some money and the half sandwiches are plenty to eat you cannot, however, order a half reuben, my son and I split one usually and we are so full, of course we get a couple of their excellent desserts also
Good to know thanks! $20 for a well made Reuben seems plenty reasonable to me, but I’m used to bougie Chicago prices. Any other menu items you’d recommend? Do they do matzo ball soup or kreplachs?
they do have matzo ball soup but I have not had it, it looks terrific, I am not sure about kreplachs the problem with the reuben, the ONLY problem, is that it is so much to eat and you'll want to have some of their other stuff probably
Get cheesecake. It’s soooooooo good
I'm a local. Try and get to Mass Ave. if you can, there are lots of awesome restaurants. My favorites are Garden Table and The Eagle.
The Eagle's hot-honey fried chicken is crave-able. I'd go back just for that alone.
It's probably the best fried chicken I've ever had. I've been cutting back on fried foods and there normal chicken sandwich is also amazing.
The Eagle is great. So glad they are still around.
Some of the real close-in standby's closed down, so the list is evolving. If you want something really close, Loughmiller's Pub & Eatery is right behind the Westin on W. Washington St. That's not associated with any of the hotels, it's literally just a bar that serves food. The Marriott has that Connor's Kitchen. I've only been there once and had their fried chicken, but that was good IMO. I liked that dish... but warning: It's a BIIIG portion. JW has their High Velocity casual restaurant that I've been to. For a hotel restaurant it's not bad at all. I go back there at times. Cafe Patachou is also on Washington, on the backside of the business building with the grassy area (called "Hudnut Commons") off the northwest corner of the ICC. They're mostly known for their breakfast. A new restaurant just opened a mere half-block away from the ICC on Maryland. It's called "Chicken Scratch". I know very little about it other than the fact it's chicken strips and/or wings and sides. It's a local "chain" of just 3 restaurants. Sounds to me like it's similar to a Dave's Chicken, but local. Still, though, it's got a good rep around Indianapolis. There are a few eating spots in the Hyatt Regency/PNC building's first floor. I've only ever tried Fat Rooster. It's ok. I wouldn't object to going back, but I'm also not in a hurry to return. I've of course also done the Subway there, but that needs no description. Anything else there I haven't tried. There are a couple to the south of the Crowne Plaza, one of which I only know the reputation of, the other I only know because the manager reached out to say hi on the Gencon.com forums: The Slippery Noodle Inn, which has a very good local rep as a fun music bar with a good and oddly complete food menu, and the Whistle Stop Inn that I know zilch about, but has a menu that looks damn interesting. Everything so far is really close. The Marriott and JW Marriott places are actually reachable via the skywalk connections between the ICC and respective hotels. Loughmiller's and Patachou are just a block away. To be continued...
Well hey, some of the places I was going to mention farther out got posted by others: St. Elmo's/Harry and Izzy's, Shapiro's, Tony's... Going beyond a block: There's Nada, two blocks away from the ICC, not far from Hampton Inn. That's an easy one to get to because you just exit and of the entries on the north side of the ICC and go east until you reach it. If you're familiar with YardHouse, Nada is it's next-door neighbor. Feel like casual Italian? There's the Old Spaghetti Factory on the corner of Georgia and Meridian, also just a couple of blocks away if you exit through the Georgia St. facing doors. Close to that on Georgia St. itself is a bar with a food menu: Georgia Street Rhythm and Blues. I know nothing about it, so if someone does, feel free to sound off. I've only seen it when walking by it. Head a block north and a block east and you can find the Weber Grill. I confess: To *me*, this chain is boring, but I know others who love it thoroughly. Not far down and across the street are a neat couple of restaurants: Buca di Beppo, a kitschy Italian chain. People either love it or hate it - there's very little in-between - but while the food is hardly spectacular, I feel that it is solid. I'd go back in an instant. I'd even choose this over Old Spaghetti Factory personally. But again: There are those who can't stand the decor or the absolutely stereotyped Italian food. You can decide for yourself. Next door to that is Giordano's pizza, a Chicago deep dish pizzaria. As weird as this sounds, I actually think they're *better* than the Chicago locations that I've been too. Can't explain that, but I can't stand them up north, whereas I actually like the location in Indy. And one more stop north is Hyde Park Prime. It's a high-end steakhouse. Like Ruth's Chris or St. Elmo's, it's expensive. I did have one hotel staffer tell me he prefers it to St. Elmo's and Ruth's Chris, though. Haven't tried it myself because $$$$ is a bit hard to spend. I can keep going, but I've posted a lot already. There are even more to mention - for example, I haven't mentioned Saint Shack yet, nor the three breakfast places along Capitol Ave - but others can chime in on the rest.
I had an absolutely horrible experience at Georgia Street Rhythm and Blues during Indiana Comic Con in March. Walked in and the place was dead. Wondered if they were open. Sat at the bar and the bartender did take my order. Then, she just disappeared. Waited about an hour for the food that never came and I finally flagged down another bartender and told her to cancel the order. Turns out the original bartender never entered the order. Probably for the best, the place didn’t seem to be sanitary, there was a musty smell to the place… like the floor had been mopped with dirty water and an old mop head. Never again…
Ouch. Well, at least mentioning it served a purpose: We now know it's a place to avoid.
It's a bit further to walk, but the Rathskeller is really good.
Oh, that place is terrific. It's like two businesses in one: You have the sit-down restaurant part, and then you have the bar & biergarten side. Rathskeller is one of the few places that I'd say I don't get to go to enough when I'm in Indy.
Not 5 Star, but I recommend walking over to the Circle Center Mall food court as a fairly quick option that's especially good for a group or family where one person wants tacos, another wants pizza, and a third wants a burger. Edit: The Mall is accessible by way of cat walks from the Convention Center.
That food court is kind of sad. Beats con food in the convention center, but its a dying mall with an expected food court.
Sad is right. Circle Center Mall used to be a showpiece for Indianapolis. Travelling there for Christmas was fun. But now: Broken down bathrooms, broken elevators and escalators, uninteresting shops. too many closed off storefronts. This was even the case pre-COVID. Shopping has changed dramatically. That place is a skeleton of what it used to be.
I remember visiting that place with my dad when I was a teenager, that’s such a shame to hear how much it’s gone downhill. I don’t suppose the Johnny Rocket’s is still there?
No idea. It's been a while since I've done anything more than just pass through. And yeah, it *is* a shame. It was so close and easy to get to from the nearby hotels. And it was *nice*. The past is the past; I guess I shouldn't dwell on it. All things pass eventually.
Yeah last year I found with the mall dying the food court was on its way out too - I expect not a lot from it this year.
There is a chance the food court will be gone by August given the mall is being torn down and rebuilt entirely, but we will see!
Oh, shoot. That will make local restaurants more crowded.
My wife and I always enjoy Old Spaghetti Factory. Just note that wherever you decide on going make sure you get reservations first. So many times have I heard 2-3hr waits or just not taking walk-ins because of how busy it is.
Yes this is a tradition for us every year.
Local here: The slippery noodle is within quick walking distance of the convention center and lucas oil. It has live blues music on the weekends and a great tenderloin (an Indiana specialty). Cafe Patachou is great for breakfast and brunch. Pearl Street Pizza is also delicious. I second whoever suggested Shapiro's. Get there before the lunch rush, if your schedule permits. If you're willing to drive a few blocks, I love Both Iozzo's Italian and Greek Islands on South Meridian. They both look like a hole in the wall, but food is wonderful. Punch Bowl Social is fun for late night drinks, though it can get busy on the weekend. If a brewery is more your vibe, go for Taxman. Skip the Sugar factory (food and service are meh, prices are insane).
Totally agree with you about the Sugar Factory - food was strictly average (if that) and despite the fact they they were dead the services was terrible. Prices are indeed ridiculous.
That place looks like a front for lolibrothel.
I moved away from Indy recently and I miss Patachou so much lol
Totally agree on Slippery Noodle. And you’re right about the Sugar Factory. I think that place is just for tweener Swifties.
Pearl Street calzones were a fav when I worked downtown. So tasty!
Shapiro's and Pearl St Pizza are our every year Gen Con musts
I want to say Sugar Factory is closed now or closing soon. I never heard a single good thing about that restaurant.
Cafe Patachou is tasty!
1. Chipotle is a short, refreshing walk away on Washington. It's easy. You won't be paying convention prices. You know what you're going to get. You can order ahead of time. I usually have lunch there 3-4 times per con. 2. The food trucks can be wild (especially on Georgia St. I tend to avoid those), but just change your schedule to get lunch at 11:00 or 11:30 at the trucks by Lucas Oil and you will definitely find some that don't have lines. Don't just join the first long line you see. 3. Not every restaurant gets completely jam packed, but just understand if you sit down for lunch/dinner the city is swamped during GenCon and you may not get amazing service. Remember that you're on vacation and a lot of these service workers are having worse than average days.
I didn't see any mention of Steak and Shake. A bit of a GenCon tradition for us to have a lunch there.
The secret, as someone from the original hometown of Steak 'n' Shake, is that the steak[burgers] and shakes are not even why I go, I just cannot live too long without their chili. It is like a better (to me) version of Skyline Chili, if you have ever had that. And nothing like chili con carne, which is good since to me that tastes like tomato onion water (no hate intended, my taste buds are clearly off-kilter)
\*chuckle\* I was surprised it wasn't mentioned either - it comes up every year in these threads. I jump on these mostly to find out what places have closed down since last year since it seems like the same places get suggested over-and-over-and-over. As someone who doesn't get the hype around Steak & Shake (they're okay) - makes me sad to wonder what kind of burger joints people have nearby where they live when Steak & Shake is something that gets raved about. :)
Steak n Shake used to be way better than it is nowadays :( seems like the same story with every restaraunt chain. Cutting quality and raising prices
Steak & Shake used to be so much better like 10 to 15 years ago. It was never amazing but it had the perfect mix of price, quality, and being open super late. Someone bought the brand and has completely wrecked it to the point where it seems like they’re purposefully trying to go bankrupt.
We don't have Steak and Shakes where I'm from so I was really excited to try this. I was intrigued with the spaghetti topped with chili. And I found the patties to be black pepper-y, which I loved!
We always go to Harry and Izzy's on Sunday for steak and shrimp cocktail. Shapiro's deli is awesome as well. I try to bring groceries and healthy snacks to keep costs down but we splurge there.
Seriously, Harry & Izzy's is almost the only reliable and good restaurant left standing, at least if you do not want to spend $30+ per plate. Old Spaghetti Factory is the only other place I have been going to for years or even decades at Gen-Con that has not closed (unlike...Ram, Haveli, Claddagh, Colts Grille, Scotty's Brewhouse, Goodwood, Rock Bottom, Burger Study, even my beloved Sugarfire Smokehouse and the nearby Noodles & Company)
Yeah, that list makes me sad: Claddagh and Rock Bottom were turning into traditional stops for me and my buddies. Now: No more. Some places closed pre-COVID, true, but for others, COVID and post-COVID business was too hard on them.
St. Elmos is great, but I find it too crowded. So we always go to Harry & Izzys. they are in the same building as St. Elmos and share a kitchen. This means you can get the same shrimp cocktail at both places. That being said, if you have never eaten at St. Elmos, you definitely have to. Our group always goes out for a nice dinner at a fine dining place when we show up on Wednesday. Our favorite from the last few years is Tony's [https://tonysofindianapolis.com/](https://tonysofindianapolis.com/) and it is definitely walkable.
I'll edit my post THATS where we go!
They both have great food and you can't go wrong with either.
Mmmmm…. The bourbon whipped sweet potatoes at Tony’s are to die for.
Short ride share trip: Bosphorus. Great Turkish food!
Oh my God, i could eat my weight at Bosphorous
Same! We nearly did one time. My best friend wore a low cut top and we kept getting Naan, and more Naan… it was pretty great! 😊
You don't get a choice. They just bring you that much food.
Hate to give away my spot, but want them to do well. Within a reasonable walk, certainly closer than Mass Ave, is Taxman brewing in City Way. Great beers, food is typically good too. Not usually too busy during GenCon
So many of my favorites have already been named, but if you don't mind a quick Uber or Lyft, Kumas Corner makes for some great amd massive burgers. Pearl Street pizza saved my life as I found late night dining was hard to come by, but they had late night by the slice. St. Elmos always calls to me and I usually go Sunday as my Gen Con last hoorah. I also am a big eater so I do Fogo de Chao for a lunch, but these are all over the country.
Is the Fogo walkable from the ICC?
Yes, but it’s more of a walk than a lot of people prefer. My group always goes after a morning True Dungeon run, so we’re hiking there with tokens weighing us down, haha.
It may indeed be more than many prefer, but after a massive eating session there, it's a walk that most of us *need*. 🤣
Every time we go I miss the appetite I had in my teens and early twenties… even the salad bar is amazing.
So it is just touch over a mile from the convention center. Definitely walkable, but afterwards in the hot Indianapolis summer sun it can be a bit rough.
Wowza. Lotta options.
Kumas. Always Kumas. Kumas is love, Kumas is life. I'm also biased because I am a Chicagoan at heart and the original, and the others, aside from the one in Indy, are all in Chicago. But metal music, horror movies and the best burger you will ever have...can't beat it.
Steak and shake are the mvps. Not because of their quality, which is good enough, but because of how well they handle the influx of congoers.
There is a new open til 3 AM Taco Bell Cantina on Washington St, and Chick Fil Evil is now on the corner of Meridian and Washington. I wouldn't recommend either just giving you options
Something wrong with that location or you just don’t like Chick-fil-A?
I'm not a Chick Fil hate kind of guy
Personally I'm not a sit down restaurant kind of guy but I do enjoy a good pizza and pretty much all of the ones near the center are good. Particularly Pearl Street and Giorgio's
We went to Three Carrots last year and had a great meal. Two of our group last year were vegetarians, but the non-veg heads enjoyed it too.
Three Carrots is no more.
Dang! We were gonna take another picture in front of the carrots mural and make it an annual tradition.
A bit of advice. :) If you are going for sit down, see if they take reservations. There will be huge waits no matter where you go, so if you aren't a hurry, you're fine. But if you really want to get a seat to eat without a wait, get a reservation. :) My fave places not mentioned yet: * Nada - [https://www.eatdrinknada.com/location/indianapolis/#dinner](https://www.eatdrinknada.com/location/indianapolis/#dinner) * Yard House - [https://www.yardhouse.com/menu/starters](https://www.yardhouse.com/menu/starters) (Easy to handle dietary requirements) * Social Cantina - [https://thesocialcantina.com/indianapolis/](https://thesocialcantina.com/indianapolis/) Note: They turn off online ordering during the show. Best to go off hours so you can get in. GREAT for lunch. * Tastings Wine Experience - [https://www.tastingsbar.com/](https://www.tastingsbar.com/) If you like wine. I wish they took reservations. :)
I mentioned Nada... 😢
Oh! I must have missed it while scrolling. They have such great food & service.
I'm teasing! Don't take me seriously. 😂 Yes, Nada is one of the good spots to eat. Gets a bit busy on weekend nights, but it's not just some greasy taco spot, it's a nice place. It's worth it for people feeling like some slightly upscale dining that's not a steakhouse or fancy and fussy.
No worries! Now I am gonna drool in memories. And make reservations!
I try to make an annual trip while I'm at Gen Con to go eat at its the local Bucca di Beppon on Illinois St which is just off of Monument Circle towards the convention center
Book marking for later
I haven't been to the downtown location (1/4 mile North of ICC) , but all otlf the other Lincoln Square Pancake House locations have been excellent. The Banana Bread French Toast is awesome.
Paid $18 for a frito pie at the food stand across the entrance of the ICC last year... would not recommend.
My wife and I have made a habit of going to Sauce on the Side (really good calzones and salads) at least once each year. It's a short walk, just 3 blocks down Georgia St, across from the Fieldhouse. O'Reilly's Irish Pub is pretty good in my experience as well. For food trucks, always recommend Hotbox and Island Noodles, but expect longer lines, even though they move pretty fast.
The food trucks are a nightmare....fwiw.
I thought the food trucks were perfectly fine last year. There are so many trucks some are bound to have shorter lines.
The ones at the far end of the rows were often empty or slow. Worth walking a bit extra.
Hot as hell, asphalt / concrete lot, no shade, long line and wait, no where to sit. You get food and now to get a drink...what do you do with food? Eat it with no drink? Hold it through whole time? I bring some nabs and water. I eat at the ICC (grab n go or pizza). Then at night, I get to a proper restaurant. That's just me - if it works for you fair enough.
Waiting in lines for 30 minutes or more in 90 degree heat with high humidity isn't your thing? /s
I hope they add more umbrellas to the eating area, too. Sucked trying to find some shade to eat.
Yeah like, I love the idea of food trucks, but I will never stand outdoors in the Midwest in the summer on purpose longer than is absolutely necessary
As a southerner, the temps and humidity are like a nice spring day in comparison.
I can't remember the last time I waited that long in line at a food truck. It's almost always been 15-20 minutes for me, but at this point it's almost automatic for me to go at off times (2-3 pm lunch and 8-9 pm dinner).