WHETHER YOU’RE A fan of ’80s teen dramas, sci-fi comedies, or romantic musicals, Pins Mechanical Co. has crafted a drink to match your movie taste. The popular old-school entertainment venue has unveiled eight new seasonal cocktails inspired by nostalgic films.

“We wanted to bring these classic movies to life in a way that’s fun and nostalgic,” says Erin Frum, VP of marketing and creative. “Each cocktail is our way of tipping the hat to these films, whether it’s through the flavors, the garnishes, or even the colors. It’s all about giving our guests a little taste of the movies they love.”

The iconic lunch scene in The Breakfast Club inspired the “Breakfast Club,” a mix of vodka, Irish cream, coffee, and chocolate, served with a side of potato sticks. Notes of strawberry and rose show up in the “American Beauty,” a blend of gin, Campari, and amaro—it’s a sophisticated sip worthy of its Oscar-winning namesake.

Creative garnishes appear throughout this cocktail list, most spectacularly in the “Purple Rain.” A cloud of blue cotton candy tops this gin-based cocktail, which blends ube, citrus, and ginger into a pretty pink concoction. As the cotton candy melts into the drink, it transforms into a cool purple hue, a pitch-perfect callback to the purple coat Prince wore in the 1984 musical drama with its classic soundtrack.

Another garnish callback is more subtle. Say Anything made holding up a boom box romantic. The cocktail delivers a fruity mix of cognac, blackberry, plum, and lemon, garnished with berry gummies perched across the top of the glass—IYKYK. Other tasty additions include the “Cliffhanger,” “Richie Rich,” “Moulin Rouge,” and “Mars Attacks,” each promising its own unique flavor profile and garnish.

For those curious about the full drink lineup, Pins has created nostalgic movie posters showcasing each cocktail on Instagram. The complete drink menu is also available at pinsbar.com/menu.

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Loren’s Alcohol-Free Beverages is no more. The no-ABV bottle shop with two locations in Carmel is now called Orangily, its owners announced this week. In a press release, they say, “By adopting a name and visual identity that resonate with its forward-thinking customer base, the business aims to create a space where everyone feels welcome; not just those abstaining.” The business will sell the same products it always has, just under a new (arguably less descriptive) moniker, which its owners say better communicates the company’s broader interest in “wellness” (as opposed to just living booze-free).

The Turchetti’s Deli brand has also reached its end. The sit-down restaurant arm of Turchetti’s Salumeria at 1106 Prospect St. is now WildFyre Tap, it announced on Instagram. The business—an offshoot of cannabis shop Wildeye Lounge—promises “all your classic Turchetti’s favorites + an expanded menu.” That menu is on two saved stories on Instagram (here’s one and two), with a smashburger, salami pasta salad, and hearty mac and cheese on the current roster.

Niyyah Coffee’s latest location opens tomorrow. As noted back in July, the Fishers coffee shop at 8100 E. 106th St. (317-379-6038) announced an upcoming second location, and now the wait is over: Per Instagram, the doors at its new outpost at 6160 N. Rural St. will open at 10 a.m. Saturday. Expect the same specialty lattes and shaken sugary drinks Niyyah is known for, as well as matcha concoctions, milkshakes, and teas.

Turntable has taken over the old Crackers space in Broad Ripple. The new live music spot at 6281 N. College Ave. recently opened for business, the Star reports. It’s focused on live shows and bands, but with a full bar and robust mocktail menu, I consider it fair Feed territory. A look at its calendar also reveals brunch pop-ups and other tasty events.

Two upcoming Indy hotels promise fresh drinking and dining spots. People who collect IHG points eagerly await the advent of the InterContinental at 17 W. Market St., which the Star reports will open in January. It’ll be home to Astrea Rooftop Bar, which, at 11 stories up, will be the highest rooftop bar in town. A restaurant on the second floor, called Serliana Cafe & Lounge, will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner—and the chef is Craig Baker, a well-known fixture in the local dining scene whom we profiled in 2021.

Then there’s 21C Museum Hotel Indianapolis, the luxury lodging that’s been planned for the old State Museum/City Hall building at 202 N. Alabama St. since last fall. A recent update from the hotel chain promises “three food and beverage destinations” that will “further provide immersive spaces that spark conversation and create a connection with a signature, locally-inspired, chef-driven restaurant, a lobby lounge and bar, and a rooftop bar.” And with that, I think I just filled my meaningless food and dining buzzword BINGO card—but since none of this will come to fruition until the venue’s planned 2028 opening, I’m sure we’ll be confronted with a whole new slate of restaurant marketing jargon by then.

Bar Ellis will soon open in downtown Noblesville. Current reports sisters Lisa Wampler and Chamron Baird are behind the effort to bring ladylike dining to 841 Conner St. “We felt like many places around here are just slightly more masculine. We wanted to focus more on the girls,” Wampler says. “Men will be here, too. We want couples to come, of course. But we were trying to focus a little more on what we like and what we thought was missing down here.” They hope to open by the end of the year.

CRG’s new Shin Dig is open for business. Indy’s ubiquitous Cunningham Restaurant Group is known for spots ranging from Bru Burger, to Livery, to Vida. Their latest bid for dining destination dominance is Shin Dig, a fun-focused and gently goofy (think cornhole, board games, and casual food such as pizza and wings) spot that feels intended as a breezy departure from the company’s 20 (and counting) other brands. The menu includes playful dish names like the Drove-Over Burger and location-specific nods like the Windsor Park Wedge. It’s kind of fascinating to see this 27-year-old company continue to experiment and iterate when they could just as easily rest on their laurels. Here’s hoping their spirit of inquiry continues. Shin Dig is located at 1351 Roosevelt Ave. in the North Mass area and can be reached at 317-907-6100.

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A big change is in the works at Bluebeard. The lauded Fletcher Place restaurant has long been a first come, first served spot, with diners wandering the neighborhood until their table is ready. But this week, Bluebeard announced that it will start taking reservations for its dining room, via Toast’s online platform. But don’t worry if you’re opposed to advance planning: Seats in the bar room will remain walk-in only. 653 Virginia Ave., 317-686-1580

The Prewitt wants you to check out its igloos. A positive side effect of the pandemic was a wider embrace of outdoor dining, but when the weather turns chilly, restaurants that have grown to rely on those patio tabletops are left out in the cold. That issue prompted a proliferation of outdoor dining “igloos,” clear, heated dining domes that allow the outdoor experience even in winter. A few Indy-area restaurants rolled igloos out last year, and now vintage-movie-theater-turned-dining-destination The Prewitt has hopped on the trend. From November through February, diners can rent one of the spot’s heated rooftop igloos for two hours (price is $25 to rent, plus a $100 minimum food and beverage bill). The structures seat six and are stocked with blankets, Bluetooth speakers, and tabletop firepits. Reservations are open now. 121 W. Main St., Plainfield, 317-203-5240

Pots & Pans pies are now available all over. Clarissa Morley’s nearly 6-year-old Meridian-Kessler dessert shop just landed on food shipping company Goldbelly with a menu of the pie business’s most popular offerings. Orders placed today could arrive at their out-of-town destinations as soon as October 29, but be aware that Thanksgiving orders sell out fast and can take longer to fulfill. So make that plan to send a little taste of home now so you’re not scrambling in November. 4915 N. College Ave., 317-600-3475

Tinker Coffee Co. opens its latest location today. The rapidly growing local roaster snapped up the converted fire station last occupied by Chalet this spring after Chalet’s surprising closure. The new shop, which Tinker Coffee calls The Firehouse, will offer a full food menu (including breakfast), with beer, wine, and low-ABV cocktails at night. Starting on October 25, hours will be 6 a.m.–8 p.m., Monday–Friday, and 7 a.m.–8 p.m. on the weekend. 5555 N. Illinois St.

Pull out your dull knives. McCordsville custom blade maker Aric Geesaman will be at (Best Restaurants 2024 honoree) Nicole-Taylor’s Pasta + Market + Backroom Eatery on Friday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., where he’ll be sharpening knives for walk-in customers. He’ll also bring his full inventory of available knives for purchase, which—I know it’s early, but—could be a special and amazing Christmas gift, just sayin’. (You can see his lineup online.) 1134 E. 54th St., 317-257-7374

West Fork Whiskey just traded Kennedy-King for Fountain Square. The Westfield-based distillery shuttered its 7-year-old tasting room last month but teased that a new downtown-area plan was in the works. And now the cat is out of the bag, with WTHR being the first to announce the company is plotting a cocktail bar at 1233 Shelby St. on the ground floor of the recently completed Union Square apartment building. The IBJ reports this is the first commercial tenant for the 70-unit building and will occupy a 1,700-square-foot space. According to the Star, that space will “feature an industrial chic design,” (so we’re still doing that, I guess) and—in addition to booze—will offer a “small snack and finger food menu.”

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The Southern Dunes Golf Course has a new restaurant. You don’t have to hit a ball at the Gary Player–designed course to grab a bite at its Clubhouse Grill, which (per the Star) quietly opened last month. Daily specials include deals on apps, cocktails, and wings. The lunch and dinner menus rely on a selection of Midwestern classics like burgers, pork chops, and a respectable fish and chips. 8220 S. Tibbs Ave., 317-865-1800

King Dough’s new special pizza is foraged fungus fun. For a limited time, the wood-fired pizza spot from our Best Restaurants list is serving a pizza called the Super Shredder, made with three cheeses, chard, onion, basil, and lemon. But the star of the show is hen of the woods mushrooms foraged by Porch Pizza pop-up founder Eric Neylon. It’s reminiscent of a clam pie (oh, stop) but with a richer, earthier edge. Get it before the ’shrooms are gone. 452 N. Highland Ave., 317-602-7960; 12505 Old Meridian St., Carmel, 317-669-2201

IU Indy’s new cafe has a Fever connection. Tea’s Me Cafe, a loose leaf tea shop that also serves a solid breakfast and lunch, has been owned by Olympic gold medalist/Indiana Fever Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings since 2017; it’s since opened a couple additional locations in the city center. A fourth shop recently opened at IU Indy, the Star notes, at 420 University Blvd. (that’s the student affairs building). The opening is fresh enough that its menu isn’t online quite yet, but we’re told online ordering—which will allow you to skip the line, grab your purchase, and rush to class—might be coming soon.

Gather 22 is turning one this weekend. In its first year in the game, the chic restaurant at 22 E. 22nd St. (317-258-2222) was named on our Best Restaurants list and Eater’s Indy 38 and scored a glowing write-up in the Star. Not bad for a one-year-old business, right? It’s celebrating the landmark moment Saturday, October 19, with events running from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., including costume contests for adults, children, and dogs; on-the-spot tattoos and piercings; and a gin tasting. 

Hey Now Pizza will now come to you. Low-key hipster pizza spot Hey Now Pizza landed in Beech Grove this summer and generated a following for its nostalgic but ambitious menu of pies, sandwiches, and sides. Delivery was available from an in-house staffer for diners in Beech Grove, while everyone had to make the trip to pick up their Palmerski, Home Run, or cheese bread. This week, the restaurant announced that it has hopped on the DoorDash train, which means even the laziest of us can get their Hey Now fix without leaving the couch. Check the app to make sure you’re in delivery range, and make sure to generously tip your driver.

Indy bars and restaurants are going Full Swift. There’s no way you haven’t heard that Taylor Swift will be in Indy in early November; I even got to write a story for our Circle City section on what her visit will bring to the city. One of the things I didn’t have room to cover was the multitude of Taylor Swift–themed drinks, dishes, and specials our local spots are rolling out in anticipation. Our pals at Axios took the task and ran with it, rounding up all the best Taylor treats you can find in Indy thus far. Now, if someone asks if you know about the Eras bake sale at 4 Birds Bakery or the Swiftie Mac Sampler at Filigree Bakery, you can respond, “Yes, all too well.”

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Photo by Danielle Doepke

Farmers markets aren’t just for the summer anymore. Once upon a time, Indy’s farmers markets shut down around the same time that our cornfields turned withered and brown. But as interest in shopping locally increased (sidenote: can you believe Animal, Vegetable, Miracle came out 17 years ago?), area innovators have found ways to make those markets a year-round affair. For 16 seasons, the Indy Winter Farmers Market has been one of those cold weather exchanges, but this year it has a new operator: 16 Tech Community Corporation is taking over from previous manager Growing Places, with a plan to “continue its legacy,” 16 Tech president Emily Krueger says via statement. This year, the market will kick operations off at 16 Tech’s AMP Food Hall (1220 Waterway Blvd.) on Saturday, November 16, and will run weekly from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Zaire Franklin is getting into the frozen dessert game. The Colts linebacker/social media delight (a recent hit is, “Just cause you got a lot of followers don’t mean you know what you’re talking about. All you internet dweebs need to relax.”) has picked up a side hustle as a franchisee of Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, a Pennsylvania-based chain with locations across the U.S. His shop opened on Wednesday in McCordsville at 5817 Main St. (317-747-3709). “Rita’s has always been a part of my happiest memories,” Franklin says in a press release. “Opening a Rita’s allows me to create that same joy for others in the community.”

Local sweet stop Pana Donuts has opened its eighth location. The shop, which also serves boba drinks, pastries, and pressed sandwiches, opened at 2284 E. 116th St. in Carmel earlier this month. If you’re looking for an incentive to stop by, it’s also handing out a free doughnut with every purchase through Saturday. 

International drink company Smoothie King is expanding across the Indy area. The company, which was founded in Louisiana in 1973, was sold to a South Korean franchisee in 2012. In the years since, it’s opened over a thousand locations and garnered dubious honors such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s 2013 Xtreme Eating award for its calorie and sugar counts. (The company has since boosted its number of under-1,000-calorie options, to be fair.) The IBJ reports that four new shops will open in Indy in 2025, including one in Speedway, another in Franklin, and outposts at 8603 S. Emerson Ave. and 7411 N. Keystone Ave.

Amberson Coffee & Grocer is moving into the bean biz. The third-wave coffee shop in a 1930s gas station at 401 S. College Ave. has been in business since 2020, serving drinks from a variety of roasters as well as locally baked pastries and house-made dishes. Now it’s launching a roastery, with an anticipated opening sometime this month. I’m watching the roastery’s freshly minted Instagram account for more details and will report back when they emerge.

Indiana’s first Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will open soon. The Austin-based movie chain is known for its in-theater dining program and its no-talking policy, which combined have allowed it to launch 39 outposts across the country. Its latest, at 3898 Lafayette Rd., is expected to open in early November, a source close to the project tells me. A grand opening date is expected to be announced next week.

As if this week’s Feed wasn’t sweet enough … Soda chain Swig is opening two Indy locations in the coming weeks. Watch for one at 5145 Noggle Way in Greenwood, which has a projected opening date of September 26. A second, set for 9510 N. Meridian St., is expected to open on October 6. Both will serve concoctions such as Life’s A Peach (Dr. Pepper, vanilla, peach flavoring, and half-and-half) and the Waikiki (Coke with pineapple flavoring and coconut cream). 

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Mass Ave might get even buzzier. A mile of Mass Ave might become a designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA for short) if its merchants association agrees on the move. The IBJ reports that if the plan makes it through the approval process, the street would allow “people 21 and older to purchase alcoholic beverages from designated bars, restaurants and vendors and carry them outside or into certain participating businesses” between New York Street and the Interstate 65/70 overpass from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. If the proposal is adopted, it would be the first DORA in Indy; there are 20 and counting in surrounding communities.

Fires damaged two of the region’s restaurants this week. A fire in downtown Rushville destroyed The Corner Restaurant, a breakfast and lunch destination that’s served diners from 50 N. Main St. since the 1980s, Fox 59 reports. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. It follows a Monday fire at Luciana’s Mexican Restaurant (5910 W. 86th St., 317-735-2110) that left the business with enough water damage to spur a temporary closure, WTHR reports.

The Saint Shack is going NoLa. Since 2021, the Saint Shack (250 S. Meridian St.) has been the hot dog–slinging sister business to New Orleans themed club The Patron Saint. Now their interests are aligning, as the Shack just pivoted beyond its lauded dogs to a menu of Cajun and Louisiana faves such as jambalaya, po’boys, and beignets. The spot joins a competitive market, between ubiquitous Creole chain Yat’s and local institutions such as Zydeco’s, Chef Borel’s Kitchen, and so many others, but in my opinion, there’s always room for more beignets.

This week saw three new openings in Indy and Carmel:

• Downtown soup spot Subito has expanded to The AMP. The 34 N. Delaware St. lunch stop moved into a neighboring former bail bonds shop over the summer, transitioning from takeout-only to dine-in, while a satellite location at 1220 Waterway Blvd. opened Tuesday with a menu of sandwiches made with house-baked bread and a solid selection of salads.

• As we teased last month, pickleball country club Pickle on Penn (11575 N. Pennsylvania St., Carmel) just opened its in-house restaurant, The Kitchen. You have to be a member to pick up a paddle at the spot, but its dining venue is open to all.

• Finally, Nora roaster Illumine Coffee has quietly opened its downtown Indy location at 11 S. Meridian St. An official grand opening is planned for Friday, September 13, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Three upcoming closings to note:

• Tastings Wine Bar & Bistro will shut down on September 21, it announced in a statement. The restaurant has operated inside the Conrad hotel (50 W. Washington St.) for 15 years but was independently owned by local resident Ross Bailey. The hotel will not seek a new tenant when Tastings departs, the IBJ reports, opting instead to “take over the 3,500-square-foot space.”

• Evansville’s popular Myriad Brewing Company is closing its location at 101 S.E. 1st St. on September 21, 44News reports. A longtime bartender at the business will open a new spot, called The Industry Bar, at the same address.

• Four Finger Distillery will shutter its Fletcher Place outpost (636 Virginia Ave., 317-804-5675) in January, it announced via Instagram. “The building’s owners have chosen a new path for the space, and while this decision wasn’t ours, we know that our journey together is far from over,” its owners write.

Finally, two to look forward to:

• Natural wine bar Solely Wine now has a sign and a gorgeous mural (by Megan Jefferson) at its 1102 E. 16th St. building. Can a grand opening be far behind? Their number, when they open, will be 770-617-6118.

• Hawaii-inspired doughnut shop Mochi Joy has long operated via pop-up and out of Noblesville’s VFW post at 54 S. 9th St. Its owners announced on Instagram this week that they are in mid-buildout for a permanent location in Fishers. A little bit of sleuthing suggests the shop is in the Centre North strip mall at 8600 E. 96th St., opening date is TBA.

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GUGGMAN Haus Brewing Co.’s taproom began in a wood-framed house at 1916 Gent Ave., but after Guggman opened a new facility next door, its future was unclear. But in May, co-owners/sisters Abby Gorman and Courtney Guggenberger put the coffeepot on the front burner, partnering with restaurant vet Kelly Jones to open The Coffee Haus in the vintage home. Specialty drinks include a comforting, not-too-sweet blueberry muffin latte made with Tinker Coffee Co. beans and blueberry syrup. Muffns, scones, and a tasty breakfast burrito are also available to enjoy on the spacious patio overlooking the funky industrial neighborhood.

1701 Gent Ave., 317-602-6131, guggmanhausbrewing.com

The post New In Town: Haus Blend appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.

Photograph by Tony Valainis

Amberson Coffee & Grocer

An abandoned 1930s gas station transformed into a cozy coffee shop, Amberson’s thoughtful roasts and in-house baking make it a destination. Its focus on sustainability is the icing on the cake. 401 S. College Ave., ambersoncoffee.com

Bovaconti Coffee

A former jewelry store, Bovaconti’s art deco vibes and pretty presentation make it an Instagrammer’s dream. But with an emphasis on small-batch roasters and detail-oriented baristas, this spot deserves all its hype. 1042 Virginia Ave., 317-222-1855, bovaconticoffee.com

Coat Check Coffee

Recently reborn as a project of the Athenaeum Foundation, Coat Check brews the same locally roasted beans as before but has boosted its meal and baking game to all-new heights. 401 E. Michigan St., coatcheckcoffee.com

Commissary Barber and Barista

This subterranean espresso bar serves Portland vibes, with crumbling brick walls and coffee drinks made with Brooklyn-roasted Sey beans. Pastries from cult fave baker Jordan Justice sweeten the deal. 304 E. New York St., 317-730-3121, commissaryindy.com

Helm Coffee

Single-origin house-roasted beans dominate at Helm, either sweetly packaged in gift bags or via monthly coffee subscription. The indoor/outdoor shop hosts pastry and food pop-ups, as well as community groups and gatherings. 2324 Shelby St., helmcoffeeroasters.com

Rabble Coffee

That Rabble prices all milk the same, be it soy, cow, or almond, is the headline here, served in drinks made with small and indie roasters’ beans. Don’t sleep on the daily quiche. 2119 E. 10th St., rabblecoffee.com

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Can you believe it’s been over a decade since Indiana allowed craft spirit businesses to operate in the state? Indiana Capital Chronicle’s Casey Smith has a smart and thoughtful look at how the landscape has changed since 2013, when the Indiana Legislature created the Indiana Artisan Distiller’s Permit and kicked off what Thrillist referred to in 2016 as a local distilling boom.

These days, distillers say that complicated state-to-state laws regarding shipping pose challenges for their businesses (something I run into every time I want to send Hard Truth‘s fantastic coconut rum to an out-of-state pal), as are restrictions on how they can share their goods at festivals. And after you read Casey’s reporting, you’ll probably want to give our March cover story on the region’s craft distilleries another look—here’s all our reporting on the business on one handy page.

Diners in Carmel have two new places to stop this weekend. Moontown Brewing Company will open its first non-Whitestown location today at 1000 W. Main St., it announced on Instagram. The venue, which is restricted to patrons 21 and over, has snacks on hand but also welcomes outside food. Over in Carmel City Center, Hanami Sushi & Sake Bar (317-799-1515) has celebrated its grand opening, Current reports. Co-owner Saowalux Fary is the woman behind a slew of local Thai restaurants and says the business “had a Japanese friend consult on the restaurant’s traditional Japanese dishes.”

Soulshine Vegan Cafe is set to close. The vegan restaurant at 6516 Ferguson St. was known for its comforting throwback vibe and menu of tofu scrambles and seitan mock meats, but a recent equipment issue prompted its owners to reassess the business. Its owners announced on Instagram that, for now, it’ll be open with a limited menu on Saturdays only as they sell off their goods and wind down operations.

A new food ’zine from local high school kids launched this week. Too Many Cooks, a magazine from students in the Patachou Foundation’s summer Food Fellowship Program, had its launch party Thursday night with an issue featuring coverage of “food justice, sustainability and community empowerment through art, poetry, essays and interviews,” Mirror Indy reports. Students from Arsenal Tech, Believe, and Purdue Poly worked on the mag, which is available at Patachou restaurants and Dream Palace Books (111 E. 16th St., 317-737-1215) for $10. Yes, I have this song in my head now too.

Four out-of-state chains are plotting Indy moves. National sports bar chain Tom’s Watch Bar just signed a lease at 140 S. Illinois St., it announced via press release, part of an ambitious cross-country expansion plan. The bar’s differentiator is apparently its “one-of-a-kind venue featuring 360° viewing from every seat with a massive stadium screen surrounded by hundreds of additional screens,” which sounds a little bit like the baddie’s lair in deeply flawed 2009 action film Gamer, so if you’re into that, get stoked. Opening date is TBD.

Also in chain news: Cousins Subs, a company with 93 locations (some company-owned, some franchised) is opening its newest outpost today at 8545 Emerson Ave. (in the Claybrooke Commons strip mall). In a press release, it promises a distinctive “Milwaukee Sub Shop” ambiance. I won’t make a Laverne & Shirley joke since you’re probably still annoyed by my Gamer reference above.

Kura Sushi is Japan’s second-largest sushi chain, with 543 restaurants and counting. In recent years, it expanded to Taiwan (56 spots) and the U.S. (It boasts 64 locations across the country, with nine more on the way.) Its expansion has reached Fishers, IndyToday notes, writing that a Kura is “under construction just west of Kroger on 116th Street.” Like with Tom’s, there’s a gimmick: In this case, kitchen staff place sushi on a conveyor belt, and diners snap up the items they want. Long a standby in Japan, the rotating food trend has taken a nosedive there in recent years, with customers complaining about a lack of freshness and gross social media pranks rendering dishes inedible.

Finally, Chop5 Salad Kitchen, which boasts two Ohio locations and one in Florida, is looking for franchisees who want to open in Indy, the IBJ reports. Startup costs are an estimated $995,800, and franchise fees begin at $40,000. “This is the opportunity to take a newer brand and get a bigger territory,” a company co-founder says, which is good reminder of what big box dining is truly all about.

The post The Feed: New Carmel Restaurants, Sad Vegan Closure, Craft Distilling Milestone appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.

Airplane food doesn’t have the best rep, but dining options at the Indianapolis International Airport are a whole other story. Here’s where to find some tasty local meals on the fly.

Main plaza (open to all)

Circle City Beer Garden

Thirsty? This Indiana-centric watering hole pulls craft pints from regional breweries and pours wine and cocktails accompanied by a selection of sandwiches, salads, appetizers, and breakfast all day. 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

Indiana Pacers Courtside Club

Root for the home team with a Boomer Burger named to honor the Pacers’ mascot. Even if there’s not a game to watch, you can admire the hoops-themed decor and memorabilia on display. 8 a.m.–7 p.m.

Nature’s Table

Fuel up—and feel good—for your flight with veggie-leaning choices such as wraps, filling protein bowls, fruity smoothies, soulful soups, and early morning–appropriate fare. 6 a.m.–8 p.m.

Concourse A (ticketed passengers only)

Bento Sushi

Counter service quickly satisfies cravings for California rolls, spicy tuna, and salmon sashimi with grab-and-go packaged options. P.S. There’s also ramen, gyoza, udon, and poke bowls. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., gate A11

Bub’s Burgers

When your stomach wants something familiar, it’s hard to go wrong with a flame-kissed cheeseburger, crinkle-cut fries, and a hand-dipped milkshake. Upgrade your appetite if you’re planning to tackle the one-pound Big Ugly. 6 a.m.–8 p.m., gate A11

Harry & Izzy’s

Nothing says welcome home to Indy like clearing out your stuffy sinuses after a long flight with a St. Elmo’s classic spicy shrimp cocktail. 6 a.m.–9 p.m., gate A6

Tinker Coffee Cafe

Get an early-morning (caffeine) buzz with a latte, nitro cold brew, or cuppa breakfast blend from this popular Indy-based coffee roaster. 4 a.m.–9 p.m., gate A20

Concourse B (ticketed passengers only)

Ben’s Soft Pretzels

Keep those restless kids occupied for a few minutes with a giant soft Amish pretzel. Or buy them the cinnamon and sugar-dusted variation . 5 a.m.–6 p.m., gate B7

Just Pop In!

Bags of the fun-loving brand’s signature caramel-cheddar Indy Style popcorn—or any of the salty, sweet, and spicy alternatives—make the perfect snack to carry on. 7 a.m.–8 p.m., gate B6

Shapiro’s Delicatessen

You’ll probably sleep through your entire flight after polishing off a Reuben, corned beef, or pastrami on rye stacked sky high (with extra pickles on the side, natch). 5 a.m.–8 p.m., gate B14

Sun King Tap Room

Flight delayed? Cool your jets and kill some time with a sandwich, a game on TV, and a friendly pint of Sunlight Cream Ale or Pachanga Mexican Lager. 7 a.m.–9 p.m., gate B13

This article appeared in the July, 2024 issue of Indianapolis Monthly magazine. Subscribe today.

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