6 Of The Coolest, Most Unusual Places To Dine In Indiana
By Tori Jane|Published December 22, 2022
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Folks may not think of Indiana right away when they think about unique places to eat, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any truly unusual, off-the-beaten-path kinds of places to indulge your hunger with. Why settle for a basic, run-of-the-mill dining experience when you can choose to eat at one of the most unusual or otherwise unique restaurants in Indiana? We hope you’re hungry because these amazing places to eat in IN are to die for (and then some).
Our first amazing, unique little nosh spot just so happens to be one of the best Mexican restaurants in Indiana, with an artsy, modern flair. The interior is decorated in a sleek, stylish way, making for a one-of-a-kind experience you won't find anywhere but here. Try the pork al pastor, the OG guacamole (AMAZING), or the braised chicken enchiladas. Yum.
Das Dutchman Essenhaus has a very special distinction from literally anywhere else in the Hoosier State: it is unapologetically the single biggest restaurant in Indiana, with 1100 or more seats available. What makes this one unique - other than the amazing size of it all - is that you can make a whole experience out of a visit to Das Essenhaus. We hope you have some time on your hands to check it all out!
Fondue fans, this one's for you. It's not terribly common to stumble upon fondue restaurants in Indiana, but The Melting Pot is THE place to be if you happen to enjoy that sort of thing. Dip morsels of deliciousness in warm cheese, melted chocolate, and more. This one's an excellent option for a fun, hands-on date night (just try really hard not to drink the chocolate, okay?).
The old Industrial Revolution Eatery & Grille serves up some excellent American fare and delectable comfort food you'll find yourself returning for time and time again. The setting is super interesting: it's themed for what it's named after, an incredibly important time in our nation's history, and the food is just as revolutionary. Don't sleep on this one: it's one of our all-time favorite unique restaurants in Indiana.
St. Elmo Steak House is special for numerous reasons, but perhaps most famously it's the oldest steakhouse in Indiana. Open since 1902, St. Elmo is a hot spot for celebs and the hottest stars - as well as a beloved favorite among the locals. For the best steak you've ever eaten and then some, it'll be St. Elmos!
We saved one of the best for last: Nick's Kitchen in Huntington is famous for being the birthplace of the first breaded tenderloin in Indiana, accidentally creating a Hoosier State icon that you just can't say you're from Indiana until you've had. It feels like an old-school diner and operates on a similar wavelength, except it's got the best diner and comfort food of all time. There's nothing generic about dinner at Nick's.
These are just six of our favorite, unique restaurants in Indiana to choose from. In reality, there are so many that it’s impossible to try to write about them all, so we stick to the best.
Are you a fan of steaks, fondue, or maybe steak dipped in fondue? Let us know in the comments!
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