Best non-chain places for lunch in the Indianapolis area:

[xanderphillips]

+1 Bourbon Street (Tenderloins)
+1 India Garden (buffet)
+1 Papa Roux
Santorini's (Greek)
Creation Cafe (great burgers)

 

[danielocean03]

to Yats, love that place

 

[Kagnew]

Iaria's.

 

[dowalker]

Stacked Pickle In Fishers 116th and Allionsville.

 

[Hop]

The lunch buffet @ The Amber Indian near Meridian & 126th is incredible.

The Datwich @ Gumbo-a-go-go is also killer good. 86th & Ditch I think.

 

[Hoosier8]

The 745 Pub is great. 745 Mass Ave. Good food and great wait staff. It does get busy which is always a good sign. Right across the street from the IFD museum and union hall.

Called the Mass Ave Pub now after the rebuild but I will second this. I love their bacon cheddar burger.

 

[rockhopper46038]

Called the Mass Ave Pub now after the rebuild but I will second this. I love their bacon cheddar burger.

Tracy (the owner), is great, and so is the waitstaff. Love their lunch specials.

 

[Clay]

The Buritto Joint

Right next to Mann's @ Morris and Tibbs.

All manner of authentic Mexican food made right in front of you on a flat top grill. The place is always full of Mexican people, so I figure they must like the food, and I think its awesome. (not quite as much as Papa Roux but its already been mentioned )

 

[3point5]

Shapiros is great.


I have never had anything but HORRIBLE service at Scottys. Indy, Muncie, and B-Town.
My sister even used to wait tables there!

 

[Roadie]

Left Bank Cafe on the canal has fantastic crepes.
Papa Roux, what can I add? It's Papa Roux!
MacNivens, Scottish pub food, great fish n chips and a HUGE chicken breast sandwich.

 

[Tim1911]

Mann's Grill on the southwest side. turkey manhattan or Mann's breakfast

We have a winner. It's only $7 for more food than you'll finish. I can't do it for lunch though. I won't get anything done after.

 

[fireball168]

Back to downtown....

I can't believe the tenderloin at the Living Room Lounge hasn't come up yet.

http://www.thelivingroomlounge.com/

Although, it seems about 50/50 the folks that are so impressed with the sandwich vs. those that are so repulsed by the venue they won't try the sandwich.

 

[PistolBob]

Iaria's on College, and Santorini's Greek in Fountain Square. Milano is about as Italian as Fozoli's.

Shapiro has the best Reuben in the entire universe. I prefer the Pastrami Reuben over the Corned Beef.

 

[fireball168]

And one other:

Iaria's Italian Restaurant in Indianapolis

The Chicken Parm sandwich is a lunch favorite for me.

 

[skydelta34]

The lunch buffet @ The Amber Indian near Meridian & 126th is incredible.

The Datwich @ Gumbo-a-go-go is also killer good. 86th & Ditch I think.

+1 on the datwich

 

[williamsjr22]

Squealers at 86th and Zionsville. Huge pulled pork sandwich chips and drink for around $7. Not to mention that IMO their tenderloin is better than Bourbon St.

 

[Hoosier8]

Just ate at Bru Burger Bar and it was OK. It is a chain but a local one that also has Mesh, Charbono's, Boulder Creek, etc. The place was pretty full but it is pretty new also.

 

[xanderphillips]

Not 'downtown' but Boogie Burger in Broadripple makes some killer burgers.

 

[Hop]

Not 'downtown' but Boogie Burger in Broadripple makes some killer burgers.

No doubt one of the best in town.

 

[Bigc177]

On a cold winters day, no doubt it has to be John's Famous Stew, for a bowl of HOT stew, or the Supreme Tenderloin! Or, another vote for Mann's Grille, just don't plan on doing much after you return from lunch