Restaurant Week: Indy is Welcoming Guests Through Now Serving and Devour Indy Summerfest

Cover image by Cynthia Lafara, Provided Courtesy of Epicurean Indy

Welcome to the biggest week in Indianapolis dining. Restaurants across the city and into surrounding counties are breaking out their best menus and offerings to entice diners through the door. This year includes the special addition of Now Serving, an alternative restaurant week organized by Epicurean Indy and sponsored by Indiana Grown to offer a free-to-participate alternative to the larger restaurant week.

“We wanted to create a restaurant week within Indianapolis that highlighted the truly independent, locally-owned restaurants,” said Amanda Gibson, the volunteer leading the charge of Now Serving. 

According to Gibson, Now Serving is trying to be a free alternative to the larger restaurant week that through membership to Hospitality Indiana (formerly INRLA) can cost $450 to several thousand after the first year. Now Serving also have a “locals only” rule, so national chains cannot get on their restaurant list.

Meanwhile, Devour Indy is carrying on with their biannual festivities, with over 150 menus to try across the city, including curated cocktail trails. Now Serving is bringing on another list of almost 50 restaurants and specials. 

We’ve combed through the offerings and assembled some favorites. Diners rejoice, the deals are rolling now through September 6th!

Light Bites

Usually when people think restaurant week, options feel limited to dining in. Not so– this year, a ton of cafes are offering deals for a quick coffee or takeaway meal. Lille Bonne has paired with a local bakery to offer a drink and pastry for $8 total. Sidedoor Bagel’s specialty menu includes a host of Indiana inspired flavors, including a sugar cream pie schmear and a Kettle Corn Latte, complete with a sweet and salty Indiana popcorn syrup. From Native Bread, customers can get a $20 pastry box with 5 mystery items. At Pots and Pans Pie Co, there’s a limited time pot pie bundle– 3 of their 6” pot pies for $39.99 as their Now Serving special. On Mondays at Gold Leaf Savory and Sweet, Don & Viv’s Hotdog Emporium is serving up specials from 5 to 9p.m. They’ll also have an iced horchata latte called the firefly and a peppermint matcha they’re calling the Grasshopper.

Dining Out

For sit-down dinners, multi-course menus have dropped all around the city. In Speedway, Borage is offering a shared plate and two entrees for $55 alongside cafe and lunch deals. Oakley’s Bistro on 86th street will have a 3-course dinner for $49. Fountain Square neighbors Magdalena and Monti are both putting forward set menus with optional pairings. At Magdalena, guests have a choice of cacio e pepper or brothy gigandi beans for the main course, with a starter of summer melon topped with whipped feta, chili and lime. Monti is serving up 4-courses of traditional Italian cooking. Their bucatini al limone, complete with artichokes and aged parmigiano, is sure to be a stunner. For something a little more casual, Byrne’s Grilled Pizza is offering a full appetizer, dessert, and two personal pizzas for $40.

Epicurean Indy is best known for their events celebrating international flavors around Indianapolis, and some of the same names appear on the Now Serving list. Wissanggeni Pawon, Chao Viet Street Food, The Little India Restaurant, Baan Thai Bistro, Lete’s Injera & Cafe, and more are participating in this year’s restaurant week.

On top of their Summerfest/Now Serving menus, Huse Culinary is offering an additional $10 off the bill of their special menu Monday through Wednesday at Harry and Izzy’s, St Elmo’s, 1933 Lounge and HC Tavern locations.

As part of Devour Indy Summerfest, four of Clancy’s locations, Grindstone on the Monon, Grindstone Public House, The Fountain Room, and Michelangelo’s are all presenting value-priced, chef-curated menus. This is a great chance to try the Fountain Room if Chef Ricky Martinez’ masterful work has been out of reach so far; $60 for a 4-course set menu makes for the beginning of a perfect evening on Mass Ave. 

From the folks at Sahm’s, Big Lug Canteen has also put forth a top-notch menu– which is honestly worth it for the Mexican hot chocolate inspired abuelita cheesecake alone. 

Summerfest is welcoming The Parkside Bar and Grill to the party. The Westfield newcomer is in good company, alongside Northside favorites like The Nesst of Noblesville and Trader’s Point Creamery in Zionsville.

More offers can be found across the city– you can get started by visiting @epicureanindy on Instagram where they’re posting the latest menus and updates, or going to devourindy.com to see the full Summerfest list.