Looking for a place for my husband and I to go for our belated Valentine's Day dinner. We looked several fine dining places, but I have a pet peeve about menus that use such complicated culinary jargon and so much french words so much that I have no idea what I'm looking at nor what I'm eating. We decided on Meridian because I could actually understand their menu and they had a nice selection of entrees that were reasonably priced for fine dining. I had also heard good things from a chef friend of mine. My mango tango martini was delicious. It tasted how Mr. Bubbles smells, honestly, that is the best way to describe it, and it is a compliment. It didn't taste soapy, just fruity and delicious but not overly sweet. We had the bacon and eggs appetizer which was a piece of pork belly with a fried egg, cheese grits, Brussels sprouts and sweet chili sauce. This unexpected combination of flavors was awesome and for once my husband actually ate a Brussels sprout! My husband had the ribeye special which I tried and it was melt in your mouth fabulous. It was made from Waygu beef which is America's version of Kobe beef, minus the $50 price tag. I had the chilean sea bass. It was very good on top of a bed of mushroom risotto with drops of basil pesto. Our dessert, the butterscotch brulee combined three things I love so much, butterscotch, creme brulee, and bacon. This dish had cornbread on the bottom, what tasted like the best butterscotch pudding I've ever had, carmelized sugar on top, then a sprinkling of bacon bits. What I loved most about this place was their unorthodox way of combining flavors a normal person wouldn't normally put together. Each and every dish was an unexpected delight. We will definitly be back. The decor is also simple, gorgeous, warm, and inviting. I strongly recommend making a reservation as they fill up fast. Also, they have comp valet available as well.
Review Source:My new favorite Indy restaurant! The ambiance gets an A++ -- we sat next to the fireplace after sunset and I felt I was transported to another place. The "candle" lights around the room and in the chandeleirs just GLOW. It's magical.
I HIGHLY recommed all salads, corn chowder, CHILEAN SEA BASS, fliet, duck confit dish and the butterscotch dessert. All were absolutely delicious. I'm drooling a little just thinking about it.
Service is top notch as is the drink menu. My beloved "flirtini" was not on the menu, but the bartender on duty whipped one up to perfection. This is the BEST place for a date fella's. Be sure to reserve the table next to the fireplace to earn major points. I can't wait to go back!
New Year's Eve finally brought me to the steps of Meridian Restaurant & Bar. Â We chose to dine in the bar area, which was cozy and fun and has me making plans for happy hour drinks and appetizers already. Â Obviously, the NYE experience had us somewhat limited with regard to the normal selection, however the choices were exceptional and I waffled for some time before making a decision. Â My meal started with the "Bacon and Eggs"....crisp pork belly with an egg and cheddar grits, finely pureed. Â Next came their delicious smoky, corn soup with a touch of jalapeno for some heat. Â For my main course, I strayed from my original choice when the waitress described the ribeye, topped with 4 oz of lobster and some delicious brandy buerre blanc sauce. Â It did not disappoint...in fact, I got to enjoy it the next day (and so did my dog) because it was such a huge serving. Â I couldn't even attempt the chocolate pave' dessert because I was so full...but I'm sure it was divine. Â
I'm counting down the minutes until I can return and convince my friends to join me for some delicious wine, delectable food and good conversation.
A wonderful dining experience 15 minutes north of downtown. Downtown is filled with upscale chain steakhouses. It's great to know a local option is just a short distance away.
The roasted corn soup was the perfect way to start a cold evening. It was rustic yet flavorful and filling. Â The filet was very good, not the best, best worth the price. Â The gratin potatoes were slightly overlooked. The evening ended with a deconstructed carrot cake - a perfect end to the meal.
Prices were reasonable based on food quality, service, and atmosphere.
I believe a private dining room is available upstairs with large tables available on the first floor. Â The downstairs fireplace gave the meal a more intimate and romantic flavor.
An absolute must in the chain ridden city of Indianapolis.
Fantastic dinner with my family. It was my grandmother's birthday, and the Executive Chef not only made a ridiculously great cake for the party, but he came out himself to serve it .
He's a young guy, and it's great to see young chefs get a chance to shine. Everyone at the table was a fan.
While I have lived in Meridian Kessler for nearly 15 years, I've never tried Meridian. Â When a friend from the office suggested we go out for a nice dinner, I suggested Meridian and sent her the menu. Â She agreed we should splurge.
The parking lot was full by 6:30pm on a Thursday, I took advantage of the complimentary valet. Â Tips are welcomed for the valets of course. Â
Our waiter Brandon was great. Â He had a great suggestion of a relatively inexpensive cab and offered to bring me a taste before I committed. Â It was excellent.
We shared the roasted beet appetizer. Â The presentation was perfect little concoction of red and yellow varieties with goat cheese and greenery. Â Our waiter had the kitchen present it on two plates for us.
We both had the filet cooked medium rare. Â If you read my other reviews, you'll see I sometimes compare restaurants. Â Unlike St. Elmo's, Meridian can cook a steak perfectly. Â
Our filet was served with gorgonzola cheese melted over the top on a pool of a savory and sweet currant sauce. Â Our steaks were perfect and we were thrilled.
My check came to $78. Â Not bad for a perfect steak, a shared appetizer, a ceasar salad, and two glasses of superb wine.
I will return.
Celebrated my wife's 44th b-day. Â Meal and service were excellent. Â The smoked corn puree soup was the highlight. Â Entrees were the lamb shank and Chilean sea bass and both were excellent. Â At 6:45pm restaurant was fairly empty for a Friday night but was full when we left at 8pm. Â Per Open Table only times available were 6:45 & & 7:45??? Â Again plenty of tables of seats when we arrived at 6:45. Â Will definitely return and recommend to friends/family. Â Also a thumbs up for a business dinner.
Review Source:I really enjoyed eating here. The food is extremely flavorful, and the presentation is great. The only disappointing thing is the prices for the portions you get. I wasn't disappointed with anything on the menu, it was all wonderful. I had a fabulous salad, shared the gnocchi, had a petite filet for my entree, and then our table shared 3 wonderful desserts. I would definitely recommend trying dessert, we split a flourless chocolate cake, banana coconut tart of sorts and the apple pie. I was impressed with everything and I will definitely go back and try something different next time!
Review Source:Our plates were prepared so perfectly, it felt like we'd hired a personal chef. Â Chef Layton's menu items are precise: Â you will recognize what you ordered, plus you'll enjoy that one, exacting touch that distinguishes each menu selection.
Atmosphere is charming. Â Cottage cozy, yet elegant. Â Diners in dress shirts or skirts as well as polos, shorts & did I see a cap? Â Feels like an east coast summer home crowd. Â Service staff is formally dressed & our server made excellent suggestions on both food and wine.
Mussels are superb, so fresh it reinforced the feeling we were near a coast. Â Sweet chili sauce carries the mussels from "those are so yesterday" to "of course I'm ordering mussels again!"
Very accomodating on our Surf n' Turf plating request. Â We ordered a Scallops entree and a Filet entree but wanted both of our plates to have half of each entree. Â We were pleased that our plates arrived individually plated, divvied for us. Â Scallops melted in my mouth and the Filet was grilled to perfection, served with delicious Bordelaise Sauce.
I highly recommend trying something from the dessert menu. Â Portions seem meant for two. Â The Flourless Chocolate Tart is rich and creamy. Â Dato's Apple Pie skips the heavy butter crust and delivers apples and cinnamon with lighter, phyllo layers.
Extensive wine list with range of price points. Â Cognacs, brandy, and port for the connoisseurs.
Not up for a full dinner? Â Meridian's cozy bar offers a quiet spot for fine drinks and a romantic dessert for two.
I wanted to take my honey out for a nice dinner, so I scoured Yelp for a place with good reviews and a appetizing menu. Â Meridian fit the bill perfectly!
From the outside, Meridian looks like any of the beautiful homes you see lining it's namesake. Â Lot parking is available, along with valet. Â We walked into the restaurant and the hostess was warm, friendly and lead us directly to the table in the corner of the restaurant (SCORE!). Â It was in my opinion the best seat in the house. Â We could have privacy and people watch throughout our delicious meal. Â The ambiance here is wonderfully romantic. Â It felt like we were in a modern log cabin with a stone fireplace and candle chandeliers. Â Perfectly minimal- the way I like it!
Extensive wine list; however, I only saw one by the glass option for sparkling wine. Â It was brut, and I was hoping for a sweeter sparkling wine by the glass option so I skipped wine. Â They have many bottle and by the glass options, so most people will find something they like.
We skipped the apps (I'm not personally big on seafood and they didn't have much for landlovers), but ordered the smoked corn puree soup after a suggestion from our server. Â Dinner was duck breast and wild boar dishes. Â We also ordered a side of macaroni and cheese because I've got to have it! Â Dessert was a banana tart. Our food was beautifully presented, and our meal did not feel rushed. Â We had several minutes between courses to enjoy our conversation take in the ambiance. Â One note: if you're a vegetarian, don't expect to find much here. Â Poor veggie options unless you want to eat a small salad.
The service was pretty good. Â Our waitress Sarah had apparently dropped a glass of wine on herself along with some other food, because her white button up and apron were very stained. Â It didn't bother me because accidents happen, but I thought a place like Meridian would have some extra clothes for waiters so they didn't have to serve in stained clothing. Â I'd expect to see that at Steak 'n Shake. Â
All in all: a romantic date night location and  interesting dishes you won't find anywhere else in Indy (wild boar??)
We went to Meridian to celebrate my birthday. Â I'd always heard good things about the restaurant and I wanted to try it out myself. Â I'm a little disappointed that I was able to try with both the old chef and the new one but I still enjoyed myself!
We started our meal with the calamari appetizer. Â I've had a lot of calamari in my day and this stuff was pretty darn good. Â The only thing I didn't like was that the mayonaise like sauce came drizzled on top of the calamari and I prefer it on the side.
For our meals, I chose the duck and my mom got the scallops. She loved the scallops but I'm not a huge fan of fennel so there was something I didn't like about it. Â They were cooked nicely though. Â The duck that I got was delicious as were the greens that came on the side. Â The polenta was a bit crispier than I've had in the past but I still liked it. Â
Because we got an appetizer and wanted to try a dessert, we skipped getting a side. Â People told me to get the mac and cheese but I'm just not a big mac and cheese fan. Â None of the other sides really stuck out at me.
For dessert we tried the flourless tart which was quite delicious. Â As with everything else, it was presented beautifully. Â
I very much enjoyed myself and was happy that I finally made it to Meridian. Â There are so many great restaurants in Indianapolis that I still need to try but I wouldn't mind going back to Meridian.
Much better than previous visits....new chef...perhaps that is the difference ?
blasting through the parking lot in my 93 ford ranger well purposefully dented battle wagon...and the ensuing nervous looks of those driving more fashionable steeds such as benze and bmw....well worth the price of admission !
a great date place (from someone who can't secure a date !)....nice atmosphere...decent energy...fun but unobtrusive staff....classy and interesting, without being stuffy. Â Food is creative, yet still approachable.
I have found some inconsistencies here in the past...but...they seem to be always open...and you can usually get a table with little wait.
smoked corn puree is superb...really out of this world. Â The wild boar bolognese with fresh papparedelle was very good. Â Noodles cooked perfectly...sauce well flavored with the wild boar....tomatoes not cooked to death...sauce not cooked to the point of tasting like tomato paste....
...and of course...the charming bartender/artist makes the visit that much more enjoyable.
...and...wild boar is yummy...try making burgers...and getchyour meat at kincaids, just down the street !
I had a mixed experience with the restaurant. When we first arrived, the hostess was hesitant to seat us because we didn't have a reservation. I found this bizarre as the restaurant was nearly empty and did not become busy until we got our checks. Nevertheless we were seated in the bar area. The food was good although overpriced. The lobster bisque was served in a small Le Creuset soup bowl and tasted good but not great. The pork oscar busco was delightful. The meat was tender and well marinated. The lamb was also impressive. The spinach salad was overpriced and left much to be desired.
Our waiter was neglectful towards us, he tried to rush us with his order and never checked back at us. Another waiter brought our food after a solid 30+ minutes of waiting and we had to flag down other waiters to refill our drinks. The only other time we saw the waiter after ordering was when we had to flag him down for our check. I could somewhat understand if he was busy but the restaurant was nearly empty and we could see him loitering around by the register for most of the night.
My husband and I went for our anniversary and had an excellent meal. Â It was 5 months ago or I'd write about what we ordered and how good it was, but all I remember was "Yummy" Â The service was outstanding as well -- mentioned to the host that we were celebrating, and our waiter and the manager were soon aware, and made the evening memorable.
Review Source:Came in on a wednesday and was told about half price wine. Â yay! Â Sat at the bar and sampled as much as we could. Â Fire roasted quail with jalepeno honey risotto, charcuterie plate, potato gnocchi, mussels, fried spicy lobster, egg nog ice cream. Â A bottle of Veuve and i was in heaven! Â excellent service, food, and atmosphere
Review Source:I have been here two times - the first time for Valentine's day and the second, our 1-year Wedding Anniversary.. Both times the service, food and drinks were supurb. I love the atmosphere: hard wood floors, a cozy fireplace and a candlelit dining area. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys a warm, cozy environment and decadent food. It's definitely worth the price!
Review Source:Bibb salad you say? The name didn't attract me but it was great! Terrific mixture of apple, lettuce, candied walnuts and blue cheese.Had the luscios French dip sandwich with Meridian's terrific fries. Mango sorbet for dessert was delectible. The only reason it didn't get four stars was the lunch menu was so heavy on sandwiches and I wanted some more meal-like entree choices. Lovely presentation of the food
Review Source:I made an early reservation here for myself and my aunt and we had a wonderful time. Â The food was good, the service was attentive and the ambience was perfect.
I had the scallops and found them to be tough and over cooked, but felt it not necessary to complain as all other elements were fine. Â And I did not want my aunt to eat her dinner alone and then she watch me eat my scallops.
She had the trout and she really enjoyed it, she ate every bit on her plate.
Pros: Â the ambience, the service, the meal, with the exception of the scallops
Cons: the scallops
We've been to Meridian three times in the last year or so. The food is always excellent. Last week it was the Lobster Dynamite (an app) and the donuts dipped in the butterscotch pudding (two desserts) that really stood out. Our scallop and cobia entrees were quite good as well. And our server Jonathan went above and beyond. With a great ambiance and valet parking, we'll keep going back! (without our three little kids)
Review Source:I went here for lunch, so I can't comment on dinner services or bar service. However, the lunch service was great. The decor is dark, but still inviting and cozy. The lunch menu is pretty diverse ranging from a Onion BBQ Burger to Lobster Pot Pie. I had the turkey Reuben sandwich which was  excellent. Service was outstanding and friendly. The lunch prices are pretty standard for a causal dining experience. I would highly recommend this place!
Review Source:This place is pretty great. We were in town for a visit and went here for a business meal. The ambiance is nice with the hundreds of fake candles on the walls and the high ceilings.
The roasted corn puree with bacon was definitely the most memorable part of this meal. The soup is served at the perfect temperature and has a few pieces of diced bacon on top, how can you go wrong with extra bacon? Everything our group had was great, I had salmon and some others had steaks with no complaints. The donuts were not bad, but a little tough (and I would say I'm picky about donuts...).
I would definitely return, especially if I wasn't picking up the tab!
We came across this restaurant while on a visit to Indianapolis to visit my girlfriends family. Her sister wanted to take us because they have always had a great meal here.
Walking in, I didn't know what to expect. The nice wood decor and ambiance make it very inviting. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and personalable with out being to overpowering.
Definitely want to go back.
Keep it classy Indianapolis.
I was 18 when I moved out of Indianapolis and didn't even know places like this existed. Â Returning 10 years later, it is great to find out that fine dining establishments are alive and thriving in the city. Â
The interior is roomy, warm, comfortable, and modern at the same time. Â The service was excellent, our waiter didn't miss a beat and was very honest and helpful in recommending some of the dishes.
Here is my breakdown of the eats:
- Â Smoked Corn Chowder: I would drink this for breakfast
- Â Mussels: Moist, delicious, and cooked perfectly
- Â Tuna (app): Â A little bland
- Â Pork Tenderloin: Â So much potential but the pork was a bit overcooked. Â
- Creamed Kelp: Â Sooo good, sooo creamy...my blood stopped moving after four bites though
- Doughnuts / Coffee (dessert): Â Top 5 doughnuts of my life
I think the execution was a little off with some of the dishes, otherwise I would give this a five star review. Â Great for a fancy date, family gathering, or a meal where you don't have to pay (a little pricey).
The entire dining experience here was amazing. Made reservations a week in advance, though it wasn't packed inside. Got an excellent seat on the patio with a gorgeous view of the moon.
For appetizers we ordered the mussels which come in a huge serving but were absolutely delicious. Several if them weren't open though which makes me wonder if they let them steam long enough.
Our entrees arrived promptly after we had regrouped from the appetizer. I had the salmon and my companion had the scallops. She loved every bit of her scallops. I tried them and though I'm not a huge scallop eater, they were good as were the butternut squash cakes with them. Â The salmon was delicious! The soy glaze on it with the bed of seasoned mashed potatoes screamed all-American but tasted like high end cuisine.
Just when I thought I couldn't handle anymore, my companion orders up chocolate tart for dessert! Â I was so full I honestly thought I wouldn't be able to take a bite..but I did and it was delicious. I'm a huge fan of chocolate desserts with raspberry glaze and this was no exception. We had to request extra raspberry glaze as what was given on the plate wasn't enough.
When the bill came it was shocking, but shocking in the sense that it was less than budgeted for a three-course meal. It was about $40 per person which is incredibly reasonable given the high quality of food, service, and atmosphere.
Will definitely be back again when I'm in Indy.
We dined at Meridian the night before the 500 last year based on a family member recommendation. Â We thought it was ok, but nothing special. Â We were convinced to go again this year as we came back for the race. Â Have to say it wasn't an improvement.
I have to agree with the "mediocre" review listed below based on the quality for the price. Â The duck was ordinary and my wife's Halibut was cooked well, but bland. Â "American" food does not have to be void of flavor. Â The menu may sound creative, but the delivery is a let down.
Atmosphere is inviting and service is friendly. Â Wine list is decent.
4 of us ate here January 5, 2010 and it was really mediocre, particularly for the price. Â The waiter recommended a "smoky corn soup" which sounded fantastic but tasted so strongly of smoke that they must've dumped the entire bottle of liquid smoke into the batch. Â My twentysomething nephews didn't finish their steaks...which is saying something for young men. Â My salmon was okay....just okay. Â If this had been a $15 a plate meal, I wouldn't be writing this review, but our bill was $175 (2 glasses of wine only so this bill was mostly food). I've had better meals at Outback. Â If this is the best Indianapolis can do, it's a sad day.
Review Source:This would be 5 stars except for 2 small issues.
First, the good stuff. Â The cocktails were almost perfect. Â My dirty martini wasn't dirty enough for my taste, but the bartender asked how it was and gladly added more olive juice when I told her.
We started with the quail and mussels. Â I really don't care for mussels but these were fantastic. Â The chili sauce was fantastic.
Next I had the smoked corn puree and my husband had a house salad. Â The corn puree was delicious.
I ordered the duck and he had the ribeye. Â We also ordered a side of the mashed potato. Â All of it was cooked very well and tasted great.
Now, for the complaints.
1) The pace of the meal wasn't great. Â The kitchen was running behind, and our server notified us, but should have brought bread or something immediately to keep us happy.
2) We were seated next to the wall and the air conditioner was FREEZING. Â My mother in law had to put on a coat.
You can't get a reasonble time for a reservation even a few days in advance - although this is a testament to how good this restaurant is.
It ain't cheap though, I will warn you...
Ate here on a trip home to Indianapolis to visit the family. It came highly recommended.
We arrived about 5 minutes early for our 7:45 reservation and were told to wait to be seated. Seated about 7:50. Upon arrival the crowd look pretty formal and a bit older. Hmmm, not quite my family's style. But right around the 8 o'clock, 8:30 hour, things started getting a bit younger and hipper. Phew.
Everything on the menu looked fantasic. The food was good, simple, honest food. I started with the mixed green salad and chose the filet for main course. Filet is served on bed of mashed potatoes - I would have preferred it on some greens, but that's me.
The lower rating comes partly from the absenteeism of our waiter. He may have come to the table 4 or 5 times the entire meal. For a restaurant of this caliber, I expect a little more service. Drinks need to be attended to, I want more attentiveness. Desert also wasn't fantastic, though it was large. Got the Chocolate Tart- kind of like a slab of chocolate icing. Weird. I may try it again, although it's not at the top of my Indy dining list.
Great atmosphere. Â Food is quite good (the smoked corn soup is to die for) and often quite interesting - especially for Indy. Â I had pasta with a wild boar meat sause - it was excellent. Â Hubby had Osso Buco - also excellent. Â The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Â We especially like eating in the bar.
UPDATE: Â We just stopped by Meridian again now that the weather is nice. Â We had a lovely dinner on the patio overlooking that green space at Westfield and Meridian. Â It doesn't get much better.
This place is great. Being a native of Indianapolis, this restaurant has always had a good reputation, but in the last year, they have gone under major reconstruction.
This restaurant is no longer only for the older crowd of Indy. There is now a younger staff with a more worldly sophisticated menu. They even have an upstairs room, too!
The ambiance is a mix between old cabin/modern simplistic. The staff is very attentive with a great attitude as well.
There are several items on the menu that have been written up several times in Indianapolis Monthly, etc. including the macaroni and cheese side(white mac n cheese infused with truffle oil, etc), the apple tart, and the corn puree soup.
There is a wide range of appetizers and desserts.
Our table had the scallops, lamb loin, ribeye and short ribs, all with excellent presentation! The chef treats his customers as well as his food, as everyone leaves stuffed and satisfied with empty plates. He even whipped up a sauce for the steak that was no on the menu :)
The wine list is not huge, but there is nothing shy about it. The bloody marys are made to perfection, I've never tasted a better one, even made by myself!
All in all, it's an Indy staple that will definitely be around for many years to come.
I can't remember the last time I was in a restaurant whose food gave off such a strong ambient smell. The smell of French onion soup, or savory, umami meat stuck around the bar last time I had a drink with my friend. I was enjoying a $7 cocktail, but longing for the perfectly plated, aromatic food around me.
That the food is so good is vouched for by a pretty full house on a Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. Sure, this literally a neighborhood restaurant, but one whose pricier point would usually thwart such swelling ranks in a market like Indianapolis.
A word on martinis: $10 is a little steep, when I can skip four miles downtown and get one a Zing or Scholars Inn for $4 -- $5 on certain nights.
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