Chef Chad Brauze Brings Fine Dining Expertise to Sweetgreen in Indianapolis: Fresh, Fast-Casual Innovation

You might not expect that the Head of Culinary for Sweetgreen, a fast-casual restaurant known for fresh, customizable salads and bowls, comes from a background in fine dining. But Chef Chad Brauze, with his extensive culinary pedigree that includes stints in the kitchens of Daniel Boulud, widely regarded as one of America’s leading culinary authorities, and Thomas Keller, whose restaurants currently hold seven Michelin stars in total, has found a home at Sweetgreen—and he’s bringing his love of fresh, high-quality ingredients with him.

Bringing Fine Dining to Fast-Casual

Chef Chad’s career began in the highest echelons of the culinary world. Having trained and worked in renowned establishments like Daniel Boulud’s in New York City and Thomas Keller’s Per Se, as well as gaining international experience in Paris and Spain, he was immersed in the world of precision, luxury, and innovation in fine dining. After building an impressive resume in these environments, he made a pivotal transition to fast-casual dining.

After spending time with fast-casual giants like Chipotle and Burger King, Chef Chad joined Sweetgreen just over a year ago. His goal? To bring a refined sensibility and focus on quality ingredients to a space where speed and convenience often take precedence.

Here’s the best part. This means you can get a reasonably priced, high- quality lunch with a gourmet feel and still be back to the office in an hour. 

Sweetgreen’s Fresh Approach to Food

At Sweetgreen, the emphasis on quality is unmistakable. Every ingredient is prepared fresh daily in-store, with many of the items sourced from local farms when possible. Thus, the menu stays fresh, vibrant and creative. 

But let’s be honest, salads sometimes have a bad rap for being light on satisfaction and the stomach. Enter- the steak plate. (Which has quickly become a favorite in the Indianapolis market.) “People wanted something heartier, and we wanted to fill in the gaps,” Chef Chad explained. 

Sweetgreen’s menu also features customizable options, allowing customers to craft their perfect meal by mixing and matching a variety of ingredients. The Autumn Harvest Bowl, the most popular dish on the menu, is a combination of blackened chicken, maple glazed brussels sprouts, roasted sweet potatoes, apples, goat cheese, roasted almonds, wild rice, shredded kale and balsamic vinaigrette. It’s no wonder it’s a go- to for lunch- breakers. 

Designing an Inviting, Functional Space

The restaurant’s design is an extension of its brand —natural, sustainable, and welcoming. Chef Chad spoke about how Sweetgreen incorporates live plants, organic woods, and tiles into the decor, creating a space where customers feel comfortable and connected to nature.

“The idea was to create an environment that people want to spend time in,” Chef Chad said. “We have outlets throughout the space, so people can work or relax. It’s more than just a place to grab food—it’s a place to stay.”

What’s Next for SweetGreen

While the food takes center stage, Sweetgreen is also exploring new ways to innovate its beverage offerings. Currently, the restaurant features in-house teas like the Jasmine Green Tea and the Hibiscus Berry Clover tea. And Chef Chad hinted that more options are on the way. “We’re always thinking about what’s next, whether it’s a new drink, dessert, or seasonal menu item,” he said.

Sweetgreen also recently partnered with Siete, offering their popular Green Goddess Potato Chips as a complement to their meals. (Perfect for our dill lovers.)

“At Sweetgreen, we’re always thinking about how to keep things interesting while staying true to our roots. It’s about providing accessible, high-quality food that people can feel good about,” Chef Chad said.

For Indianapolis residents, Sweetgreen is much more than just another fast-casual option. It’s a restaurant where fine-dining principles meet everyday convenience, and where fresh, locally sourced ingredients are always at the heart of the menu.

Sweetgreen Locations in the Indianapolis Area:

Fishers

9711 East 116th Street Ste 300

Fishers, IN 46037

Downtown Indianapolis

157 E New York St.

Indianapolis, IN 46204

Keystone

8702 Keystone Crossing

Indianapolis, IN 46240