Rize and Livery listed in Eater's, "36 Essential Indianapolis Restaurants"

Over the last 10 years, Indianapolis has established itself as a place for good eats, carving a sizable footprint in a crowded corner of the Midwest between culinary hubs in Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Detroit. With stiff competition all around, the city has always fought for recognition, but its position has also helped Indy live up to the nickname “the crossroads of America,” attracting cooking talent from across the country, food traditions from around the world, and visitors curious about homegrown dining landmarks.

#5 Rize

Rize is a true farm-to-table breakfast and lunch spot, complete with hydroponically grown produce from their restaurant group’s farmhouse. But what really sets them apart is the selection of breakfast pastries, in particular the gourmet Pop Tarts and huge cinnamon rolls big enough to feed two. Dig into the chicken hash, the most flavorful dish on the menu, which comes on a crispy potato bed with eggs, mushroom, and pesto, all topped with a tomato-basil gravy. Be sure to check out the drinks: fresh-squeezed juice, mimosas, kombucha, and smoothies.

#22 Livery

Off the trail of Mass Avenue, this two-story restaurant with a Latin-influenced menu is a must. When the weather is nice, grab a seat on the rooftop, and start off with a margarita and some empanadas, which arrive stuffed with a range of seasonal fillings like corn, steak, chorizo, queso, chicken, and lamb. Then move on to entrees like the paella, a flavor-loaded combo of chorizo rice topped with scallops, shrimp, pickled onion, and house-made sauces. Or go for the red drum paired with sweet plantains and yucca fries in chorizo chutney and chimichurri. No matter how full you feel, don’t stop there. Dessert includes churros, flan, and ice cream. With entrees under $20, Livery provides the best value in town for a nice dinner.

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