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OK, so you’ve found yourself downtown with a hundred thousand other rabid hoop fans. If you are lucky enough to have scored tickets for the games, you’re probably still hungry after dropping 50 bucks on a hot dog and soda in the Dome. So where to eat?
Well, for some reason, sporting events conger up images of meat. Maybe something about the Christians and lions. And since Indianapolis is the Amateur Sports Capitol of the World, we’re no slouch in the beef department downtown. Within a few blocks of the Dome, there are four gen-u-ine steak houses. You’ve got Shula’s, named after the famous Miami football coach (see, sports and meat) in the Westin Hotel, a branch of the regional chain Ruth’s Chris on Illinois and the latest entry, Morton’s of Chicago on Washington Street. Ruth’s Chris has a small but cool bar near the entrance, and Morton’s has the feel of an exclusive club behind their imposing, heavy doors. All will tempt you with slabs of beef the size of a Toyota. If you’re looking for tradition, however, St. Elmo’s on Illinois is the way to go. The dark-paneled rooms and waiters in black tie make the place ooze power. There are sure to be plenty of cigars being chomped along with the restaurant’s legendary shrimp cocktail. St. Elmo’s also boasts one of the city’s best wine lists.
Wine is great with dinner, but this is basketball, so beer is the beverage of choice. Downtown now boasts two brewpubs within shouting distance of the Dome. Alcatraz on Illinois Street plays up the penal theme with their industrial, “behind bars” look. Rock Bottom has a warmer, lodge feel to their massive space on Washington Street. With plenty of TV sets in the bar plus the big screen in the basement, this isn’t a bad place to catch the action if you’re short a ticket, and the beer is great. At Brewki’s (part of the World Mardi Gras entertainment complex in Circle Centre), they don’t brew their own beer, but do offer an impressive selection along with big screen action.
If you don’t want to miss a moment of the televised action and want to get a feel for the energy of the day, there probably is no better place downtown than Jillian’s (141 S. Meridian). With their 15 large monitors filling the room, you can be overwhelmed quicker than Florida can say “full court press.” With a sleek bar, great burgers and a view of the Dome up the street, this may be the prime sports spot.
Need something out of the ordinary? Ethnic restaurants have been popping up downtown as of late. Z-Teca offers south o’ the border food in its strip-mall modern space just off the Circle. Or try one of the gardens: India Garden (143 N. Illinois) or Thai Garden (247 S. Meridian). Both offer nice representations of their respective cuisines. A little farther afield, try Greek and Middle Eastern food at Aesop’s Table on Mass. Ave., or Mediterranean at Agio’s, the Avenue’s latest hotspot. You can do the Mediterranean thing at Dunaway’s as well, in the old Indiana Oxygen building down on East Street at Fletcher and Virginia avenues. Possibly the swankiest space downtown, and if the weather is good, they may have their rooftop open for a bird’s eye view of all the activity downtown.
If I’m thinking ethnic downtown, I’ll cast my stone for Mikado Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar (148 S. Illinois). I think there is something funny about the fact that sushi is the closest food to the Dome. Though every place downtown is sure to be jammed to capacity, Mikado’s serenely elegant dining room should offer at least modest respite from all the frenetic goings on. Regardless, their sushi is first rate.
With all of the options downtown today, there is truly something for everyone. Take your pick. But if you want to catch the full flavor of Indiana during basketball season, follow my lead: I’m grabbing a bacon double cheeseburger, fries and a vanilla malt and watching the world pass by the plate glass at Steak ‘n Shake.
jparker@nuvo.net
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