As parents of a very active toddler, we fully understand the importance of date nights. And with the ever-growing food scene in Indy, it seems like we are constantly fielding “you guys have to try this place” restaurant recommendations. Our list of the best date night restaurants in Indy that we need to try continues to grow. Yet despite this ever-expanding list, somehow when Friday night comes around all we can think about are the same three places we frequent. And while the familiar spots are easy and comfortable, our travel in recent years has inevitably and wonderfully expanded our palate and – it would now seem – physiological need for as many delightful food experiences we can discover.
So, in recent months, and in a completely altruistic effort we promise, we’ve recently made it our mission to find the best restaurants in Indy that fit this bill. The makers behind these delightful food experiences. The next time your partner looks at you and spontaneously suggests a date night and your mind for some reason can only think of the same three places you always go, you can reference our (regularly updated) findings below and be blown away by what we consider the best date night restaurants in Indy. We promise, you won’t regret it!
Note: many of our meals were comped in exchange for inclusion in this post, however all opinions are our own.
Matador
Located on Main Street in Carmel, Matador on Main is a new Tapas restaurant that is the perfect spot for your next date night. The restaurant has a lively atmosphere and has the perfect mood lighting. What better way to spend a romantic evening than over a glass of sangria and choosing which tapas you are going share, right?
The moment we walked into Matador, we knew the evening was going to be special. We were seated in the bar area which was cozy and had a great view of Main Street. Our incredible experience started with our knowledgable waiter, who explained the menu and choosing the right number of tapas. And his recommendations were spot on! Our favorites included the empanadas (I will forever dream about them), the olives, and the carrots. And whatever you do, save room for dessert! We tried the Crema Catalana and it was incredible. It had the perfect crunchy, caramelized top over a creamy custard of cinnamon and citrus.
Mel’s Speakeasy
Mel’s Speakeasy is one of the best date night restaurants in downtown Indy. It is located behind an inconspicuous door below Commission Row and has a cozy atmosphere that provides an intimate setting for pre- or post-dinner (highly recommend Commission Row upstairs) drinks and appetizers. It is also the perfect restaurant for grabbing drinks and a bite before a Pacers game.
The frequently rotating drink list is long and each drink is unique in both ingredients and name. I had one called “Size & Stature” with vodka, sherry, and pears. It was delicious and I immediately knew I was going to need another. Their food menu is short, but where it lacks in variety, it makes up for in flavor. Our favorites ended up being the truffle fries and the lobster mac and cheese.
Had a late night out and need a good coffee in the morning? Check out our post “Best Coffee Shops In Indianapolis”.
Provision
Located in the same building as the Ironworks Hotel, Provision is another great restaurant for a date night. The interior is clean, modern, and cozy and they have a large outdoor patio with fire pits to warm you up during cool evenings. They source their ingredients from local farms and aim to take their guests on a culinary journey. We were lucky to enjoy our date night at Provision in a cozy corner booth on a snowy New Year’s Eve.
One of the reasons Provision is one of the best date night restaurants in Indy and what stood out to us the most was the unique menu. Anejo Old Fashion? Sounds interesting, but ended up being better than any whiskey old fashion we’ve ever had. The food menu had so many incredible options, that limiting ourselves to what we could fit into our stomachs was difficult (we did a poor job and ended up having a lot of leftovers to take home with us haha). Some favorites that stood out to us were the crab fritters, the baked brie, the snapper, and the potato-bacon terrine + romanesco side. And don’t even get us started on the melt-in-you-mouth ricotta donuts. They must be sent from heaven!
Vida
Vida is easily one of the best restaurants in Indy for a date night. Or for any special night out or celebration for that matter. Every aspect of our experience at Vida was perfect, from the cozy, fire-lit dining room to the incredibly knowledgeable staff. We were excited to learn that a majority of their food is sourced from greenhouses and gardens within 10 miles of the restaurant and that their menu changes regularly based on the food currently available. There’s no question as to how Vida has earned AAA’s Four Diamond award as well at its many other well-deserved recognitions.
Vida offers two main options for its menu, a pre-set chef’s tasting menu or a four-course menu in which you choose what you want for each course. Both include the option for a wine pairing by a sommelier. We opted for the four-course menu with wine pairing and it was a fantastic experience. Each course was divine and I don’t think we could choose a favorite (although the ricotta donuts for dessert were probably one of the best things I have ever eaten). We weren’t even through our first course before we started planning when we were coming back. So if you don’t get date nights very often or are planning a special occasion and you want the best of the best, make your reservation at Vida now. We promise you will not leave disappointed or hungry.
The Fountain Room
Located across from the popular Bottleworks District on Mass Ave, The Fountain Room is perfect for a date night in downtown Indy. It has an Art Deco vibe and has even been named one of “The 50 Most Beautiful Restaurants In America” by People Magazine. And while the decor is definitely a great reason to visit, the food is what makes The Fountain Room truly amazing.
The hardest decision you will have to make during your date at The Fountain Room is what you are going to eat. The menu is extensive and everything on it sounded incredible. We had the hardest time choosing and definitely ended up with way to much food for just two people (luckily we ended up with plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day). Our waiter was so helpful and gave us his recommendations when we struggled to choose and each time he was on point. Some of our favorites were the arancini, the french onion soup, the brie brûlée (a must! the pistachio crust on top of the brie was heavenly), and the short ribs. We were so full we had to skip dessert, which if you know us, is devastating. But I guess that just means we need to go back for another date night.
Verde – Ironworks
Verde has been once of our favorite restaurants in Indy, specifically the Ironworks location, for years now. We started going when we lived just down the road in 2019. We like to believe we single-handedly kept them in business when the world shut down the following year. Our favorite “essential businesses only” activity was dinner and margaritas at Verde, then wandering around Target. I mean, is there a better way to spend your time during a worldwide lockdown?
While there are several Verde locations around the northern suburbs of Indy, this location is the best for a date night. The atmosphere is vibrant and full of greenery hanging from the ceiling. The menu is sophisticated and yet still authentic Mexican cuisine. Some of our favorites include the queso fundido, guacamole, street tacos (specifically al pastor and quesabirria), and the burrito mexicana. And do not miss out on the house margarita, it’s large, strong, and delicious!
Vivante
Located in Carmel’s Carmichael Hotel, Vivante is one of those spots that instantly feels like an upgrade to your date night. It’s elegant and warm and has an atmosphere that makes you want to slow down. It’s easily one of the best date night restaurants Indy has to offer, especially if you are looking for something a little more elevated. Not only is the restaurant beautiful, but the staff are so friendly and knowledgeable and gave us the best recommendations throughout the evening.
We started the meal with their signature and very tasty cocktails, the Aviation and the Lady Ella. Both were crafted perfectly and so good I would come back just for drinks. And I would definitely return when it is warmer to enjoy them on their beautiful patio. For dinner we started with their crab cakes and mac and cheese, which were both hard to stop eating, but we needed to save room for the rest of our meal. For dinner, the scallops were perfectly cooked, but the risotto stole the show and was hands down the best I’ve ever had! Josh ordered the filet and let’s just say, sharing was not part of his plan. And for dessert? The Chocolate Entrement was so decadent that we had to fight over the last bite. We will definitely be ordering two next time.
1933 Lounge
1933 Lounge quickly became one of our favorite restaurants and is a must not miss on this list of best date night restaurants in Indy. They have three locations: Carmel, Fishers, and downtown Indy. We’ve been to their newest location in Carmel twice now and love it more each time. It is a speakeasy-style lounge (21+ only) that offers an upscale dining and cocktail experience in a lively atmosphere. It’s the perfect spot whether you are looking for a full dinner or just late-night cocktails on their gorgeous patio.
We had the hardest time deciding what to order from the start. Everything on the menu, from the cocktails to the appetizers and the main courses, looked incredible. We vowed to return to try more before we even tried anything! Our waiter was very helpful and helped us with recommendations. We ended up starting with the meatball, mussels, and lobster bisque. The meatball is delicious but huge, so we highly recommend splitting it or taking it home because you will fill up quickly! For our main courses, we got the lobster tails and sesame ahi tuna. I am still thinking about that tuna, it was that good. We ended up ordering way too much and ended up going home with a bunch of leftovers (I mean, who doesn’t want another delicious meal later?) and no room for dessert. 1933 Lounge is just one of those places you have to try on your next date night!
Monti
Set in a century-old building in Fountain Square, Monti Aperitivo and Cucina is a brand new restaurant with authentic Italian food. We immediately loved the design of the space, but the food and the Italian hospitality (shout out to Executive Chef and GM, Francesco, for making us feel welcome) truly made us fall in love with Monti. We felt as if we had been transported back to Italy. They feature Italian classics made from seasonal produce as well as spritzes and craft cocktails from their stunning vermouth bar.
We started the night with a glass of red wine and the contratto spritz, which was so light and refreshing. For our appetizers, we started with the arancini (a deep-fried ball of cheese, risotto, peas, and saffron) and the charred octopus. Then, for our main course, Josh had the lamb with roasted potatoes and I had the bucatini al limone, and it was heavenly. The pasta, like almost everything on the menu, was made in-house from scratch. It was perfectly cooked. Unfortunately, we didn’t have room for dessert this time, but I guarantee that we will be back. It’s probably a good thing it a decent drive for us otherwise I would find an excuse to eat there every night.
Dean’s Steak & Seafood
Dean’s in Indy is White Lodging’s newest restaurant and the perfect spot for an upscale date night. The restaurant is located in the JW Marriott downtown. Your night out starts right at the door with complimentary valet parking. When you head inside, you are greeted with a cozy, intimate interior with a massive bar and a gorgeous raw bar. The place is decorated with the family’s personal archive of artwork, which adds to the warmth of the restaurant.
The menu has so many options, which makes it hard to choose. We typically don’t like choosing between steak and seafood, so we had to have both. We started with the petite plateau, a small seafood platter, for our appetizer. It consisted of oysters, giant shrimp cocktail, and crab legs served over a bed of ice. It was the perfect way to start our meal. As for their steaks, the menu has many different categories and types, like American, Australian, and Japanese Wagyu. Each of our steaks was cooked to perfection! Finally, we finished off our meal with a show. Baked Alaska was set on fire at our table. After an incredible meal that left us full and happy, we can honestly say Dean’s is one of the best date night restaurants in Indy!
Nice read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing some research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile Therefore let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch! “High living and high thinking are poles apart.” by B. J. Gupta.