Sweetest
Le Nectar, 1228 W. 86th St., 317-848-4244, lenectar.co
Tulip Noir’s adjacent offspring, a juice-and-coffee bar, specializes in fresh-squeezed juices and healthy on-the-go snacks like Black Forest raw bars and Tulip Noir’s raw-fruit jams. The cafe also whips up its own juice-cleanse program.
Coziest
Chef Dan’s Southern Comfort Restaurant, 5539 E. Washington St., 317-737-1527, chefdansindy.com
Food-truck operator Daniel Carter brings his Cajun comfort classics to a brick-and-mortar location in the heart of Irvington: the 1,600-square-foot space formerly occupied by Roll With It Bakery. That’s good news for fans of Carter’s catfish po’ boy and banana pudding.
Healthiest
Duos at Eskenazi Health, 720 Eskenazi Ave., 317-880-5676, duosindy.com
Longtime Indy chef–turned–food-trucker Becky Hostetter works her luscious, slow-food magic at a hospital-based cafe serving feel-good dishes like veggie chili, a chicken Parm sandwich, a Reuben, and chili-cheese squares with apple cabbage.
Handiest
R2Go, 1101 N. College Ave., 317- 737-2543, r2goindy.com
Customers at this specialty market can stock up on local and gourmet provisions (including
goodies from a loaded deli case). But the hottest items are R Bistro chef-owner Regina Mehallick’s fully cooked, freshly made to-go meals. The seasonal choices range from potato torta layered with leeks, tomato sauce, capicola, and smoked mozzarella to (sigh) R Bistro’s famous sticky toffee pudding in portable form.
Hoppiest
Bent Rail, 5301 N. Winthrop Ave., 317-737-2698, bentrailbrewery.com
The casual 12,000 square feet of polished concrete floors, cinderblock walls, and industrial-paned windows bring to mind owners Derek Means and Craig Baker’s family-friendly The Local Eatery & Pub, while the menu’s culinary winks (including a lamb-terrine sandwich) align with their chef-driven jewel, Plow & Anchor.