Best Broad Ripple Restaurants 2019

Looking for Broad Ripple restaurants? Here are the best restaurants in this Indianapolis neighborhood for lunch, breakfast, and everything in between.

Looking for Broad Ripple restaurants? We’re so glad you asked. Hi, I’m Sonja, and my husband Alex and I are cookbook authors and food bloggers who’ve lived in the Broad Ripple neighborhood of Indianapolis for the past 15 years. (We can’t believe it’s been that long!) When we moved here, the Indianapolis food scene was just getting started. Today, it’s exploded into a renaissance of farm to table restaurants, hipster coffee shops, trendy bars, and local breweries. It’s been a thrill to see Indianapolis claim a food culture that’s all its own. Come along with us while we share our neighborhood haunts with you!

What is Broad Ripple?

Broad Ripple is an Indianapolis neighborhood that is north of downtown. The exact definition of Broad Ripple varies, but we’ve included Broad Ripple restaurants that are in the “village” area on Broad Ripple avenue, all the way down to College and 49th Street (considered South Broad Ripple or SoBro).

What’s on this Broad Ripple restaurants list

It’s often that Alex and I are asked, what are the best restaurants in Broad Ripple? Just like determining the best of anything, it’s difficult to say one specific place. Because it depends on the situation: do you want lunch? Breakfast? Bars? Fancy dinner? Coffee? Dinner with kids? Because there are so many different scenarios, we’ve included many different recommendations on this list.

There’s a wide variety of Broad Ripple restaurants: some a little more formal, but most more casual. On the whole, Broad Ripple has a casual vibe. You certainly won’t need to dress to the nines in Broad Ripple! Though really anything goes in terms of wardrobe.

Alex and I have lived in the Broad Ripple neighborhood of Indianapolis for years and years, so we’ve eaten at a lot of Broad Ripple restaurants. HOWEVER: we have not eaten at every single new place that pops up, so this is just a list of the Broad Ripple restaurants that we’ve been to and enjoy. (Of course if you’re a Broad Ripple restaurant owner and want us to stop by: please drop us a line!)

And if you live in the area and there’s a Broad Ripple restaurant missing on this list that you think we should try, give us a shout in the comments!

Broad Ripple restaurants: Dinner

Napolese

Dinner: A signature Broad Ripple restaurant, Napolese has truly great artisan pizza and fresh, inventive seasonal salads. It’s a perfect place for a date night, out with friends, or even to bring the kids. You can eat outside in the summer (our favorite). For a starter, get the baked goat cheese. Split a few of the salads and pizzas among the table: the Margherita pizza with quail egg is a must. It’s one of our favorite inspired Italian restaurants in Indianapolis.

Taste it: Our Baked Goat Cheese with Fire Roasted Tomatoes recipe inspired by Napolese!

Ukiyo

Dinner: Perfect for a date night, Ukiyo is a Japanese fusion restaurant has incredible small plates and sushi served in a trendy atmosphere. The omakase is a special tasting menu prepared by the chef that you have to reserve in advance; it’s available Fridays and Saturdays.

Bar One Fourteen

Dinner / cocktails: Bar One Fourteen feels like you’ve walked into a hip club in Paris, but you’re still in Indianapolis! It’s super dark and serves great cocktails and trendy French-inspired food. Perfect for date night! Their truffle burger is the best burger in town. The popovers are also fabulous. It’s another in the Patachou family of restaurants (which includes Napolese and Public Greens).

Half Liter Beer & BBQ Hall

Lunch or dinner: Great for a cozy and casual lunch or dinner, Half Liter serves up Texas-style barbecue in a large hall. There’s also a lovely patio for the warmer months. Boasting house made beers and a deep whiskey list, Half Liter is family friendly with a 21-plus upstairs lounge. Eat plant based? The have a vegan BBQ option too!

Taste it: Our BBQ Soy Curls inspired by Half Liter!

Studio C

Coffee, lunch or dinner: Studio C is not a traditional restaurant: beware! One of Indy’s top chefs Greg Hardesty uses the Studio C space to host private and pop-up dinners. Studio C offers takeout coffee during the day, lunch on Tuesdays, and pop up dinners — you have to watch their Instagram or Facebook to get tickets! Or you can reserve it for a private dinner for friends cooked by Chef Hardesty himself.

Fat Dan’s

Dinner / drinks: Looking for greasy bar food in a Chicago style deli and pub? Fat Dan’s is where it’s at for a splurge, though we’re more into healthy food, Their fries are our favorite in the city, and come out on a big sheet of parchment paper perfectly salty and crisp. If you’re into wings, their wings are to die for. And don’t worry, they’ve also got a great veggie burger!

Twenty Tap

Dinner / drinks: Twenty Tap is a Broad Ripple institution serving tons of craft brews and delicious casual food with a veggie-centric twist! It’s a place where you can get a huge burger or a Vegan Jackfruit Tostada on the same menu! Another favorite was their Brussels sprouts served with harissa and goat cheese, which inspired us to make our own rendition!

Related: Our Brussels Sprouts with Harissa and Goat Cheese, inspired by Twenty Tap!

Broad Ripple restaurants: Breakfast & lunch

Patachou / Petit Chou

Breakfast / lunch: An old standby for lunch and brunch, Patachou has straightforward, really good real food served in a fresh atmosphere. The vegan Cuban breakfast and tomato artichoke soup are our faves. It has great vegetarian and vegan options. Petit Chou is Patachou’s the French bistro sister and has a lovely French menu. Petit Chou also serves dinner.

Related: Our Tomato Artichoke Soup recipe inspired by Patachou!

Just Pop In

Lunch / snacks & drinks: Located on the main strip in Broad Ripple, Just Pop In is a gourmet popcorn bar featuring small plates, beer, wine, and bubbles. The setting is super trendy and the patio is open in warm weather. When we’re in Broad Ripple, we love stopping by for a snack and a drink. The hummus platter is one of our favorites in town.

Public Greens

Lunch / Casual dinner: Broad Ripple restaurant Public Greens is super casual fresh, delicious food served cafeteria style. What we love about Public Greens is it offers veggie forward, delicious food without a big wait. It’s right next to the Monon Trail, so the patio is perfect in warm weather. The menu is constantly changing and it’s perfect for families. Some of our favorites: fries, the vegan chili, and their many salads. Public Greens dedicates its profits to The Patachou Foundation, which feeds at-risk and food insecure children in the Indianapolis community.

Related: Our Quinoa Black Bean Vegan Chili recipe inspired by Public Greens!

Gallery Pastry Shop

Sweet treat / brunch or lunch: Gallery Pastry Shop is one of our favorites, offering supremely high quality pastries in a trendy but relaxed atmosphere. They’re well known for their macaroons (hit them on Wednesdays for $1 macaroon day!). Gallery is a perfect meeting spot for coffee and a croissant, or brunch any time of the week.

The Garden Table

Breakfast / lunch: The Garden Table features fresh juices and healthy, plant based foods along with heartier, meaty ones. Our favorite location is the downtown location because of its trendy vibe; it also serves dinner. See below.

Related: Our Vegan Banh Mi Sandwich recipe inspired by The Garden Table!

Ezra’s

Breakfast / lunch: For the hardcore plant lover, Ezra’s features raw,vegan and gluten free foods in a casual and brightly colored atmosphere. It’s perfect for breakfast and brunch. Our favorite is the Buddha bowl: lots of veggies with delicious savory raw falafel balls. They also have some inventive vegan and gluten free dessert creations.

Related: Our Raw Falafel Buddha Bowl recipe inspired by Ezra’s!

Broad Ripple Restaurants: Sweet Treats

Nicey Treat

Sweet treat: It’s not a Broad Ripple restaurant per say, but for a sweet treat look no further than Nicey Treat! It’s a seasonal, local gourmet popsicle company. All of their flavors are insanely good: think pina colada, avocado, strawberry mint, and frozen hot chocolate. Our favorite? Almond butter dipped in dark chocolate (a $1 adder and totally worth it).

Cake Bake

Sweet treat / lunch: If you’re looking for a spot for a girl date, Cake Bake Shop is sumptuously decorated with all things pink and sparkly! It’s outfitted like a Parisian fairytale and serves enormous three layer cakes, pies, and pastries, most of them topped with glitter. They also have some savory lunch options like sandwiches. I take our niece here for tea and cake on a little date every year.

Pots & Pans Pie Shoppe

Sweet treat / snack: Pots & Pans is very new and we’ve only visited once, but we added them to our list because it’s a fun little spot to grab a pie. Boasting artisan savory and sweet pies, you can head over for their Vegan Pot Pie or Biscuits and Gravy Pot Pie as a meal, or a fruit pie as a sweet treat. They serve our favorite local coffee roasters, Blue Mind Roasting, and have a quaint vibe.

Broad Ripple Bars

There are actually lots of bars that are, well, your typical bar in Broad Ripple. Here’s a list of places we like get a drink in Broad Ripple:

Sangrita Saloon: for margaritas
Upland College Ave: for beers
Bar One Fourteen (above): for cocktails
Twenty Tap: for beers
Louie’s Wine Dive for wine

Things to do in Broad Ripple

Surprisingly, there are things to do in Broad Ripple other than eat! Here are some of our favorite things to do in Broad Ripple:

Walk the Monon: we love strolling through Broad Ripple and up near the Indianapolis Art Center; there’s a lovely sculpture garden (and cute coffee shop Perk Up).
Broad Ripple Farmer’s Market: If it’s the season (May through November), head to the farmers market for a beautiful morning of produce vendors, live music, and lots of good eats (grilled pizza, fresh squeezed juice, tacos, you name it).

What Broad Ripple restaurants & bars are we missing?

Let us know in the comments below!

Best Broad Ripple Restaurants