Destination Delicious

story by TAMMY TILLEY

Indiana food has long been defined by breaded tenderloin, sugar cream pie, and field-picked corn. While these craveable staples are worth the trip, there’s so much more to discover. “We want to tell the story behind the heart of each unique dining option,” shares Haley Anderson, president of the Indiana Foodways Alliance (IFA) and executive director of the Grant County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Indiana Foodways is all about supporting locally owned and operated restaurants.”

The organization does just that through 21 food trails encompassing more than 400 stops. Follow the Farm to Table, Just Cruisin’, Hoosier Distillery, or another trail; let your appetite guide you.

Whether you follow a trail or explore by region, you’ll meet home cooks, chefs, confectioners, and bakers who put their hearts into what they create. Savor some of Indiana’s tastiest food with a generous helping of Hoosier hospitality.

Your journey begins in Lake County. In Hobart, the farm-to-table restaurant Bon Vie follows the seasons with Truffled Brie-stuffed chicken breast and cabernet-braised short ribs in an 1895 Victorian home overlooking Lake George. For a livelier vibe, Tavern on the Lake pairs Cajun buttermilk-crispy chicken with 20 craft beers and live music.

Make the drive to Valparaiso where the newly-opened Alpen Haus offers an authentic German experience and lively atmosphere. Rooted in family recipes from the Stuttgart region and Bavarian bierhall culture, Alpen Haus serves classic German dishes, fresh pretzels, schnitzel, sausages, and traditional sides alongside German beer and craft cocktails.

Inside Valparaiso’s restored American Factory building, Journeyman Distillery is among the very few distilleries in the U.S. producing certified organic and kosher-certified spirits alongside American fare.

At Fair Oaks Farms, dining isn’t just something you do between activities, it’s a chance to slow down, connect, and savor flavors everyone can enjoy. Farmhouse Restaurant offers weekend lunch, dinner nightly, and brunch on Sundays while Milkshed offers their signature ice cream. Try lunch or dinner at Say Cheese, their all day-cheesy café.

The Heron Bistro in Michigan City’s Uptown Arts District prepares classic French-inspired dishes such as beef bourguignon and duck confit. At Zorn Brew Works, house-smoked brisket and wood-fired pizza accompany 24 craft beers in a restored carriage house.

Head northeast to Shipshewana, where Amish and Mennonite heritage shapes the food scene. Start your day at the small-batch roastery Five Lakes Coffee. At Corn Crib Café, try the Amish Breakfast Haystack. Stop by JoJo’s Pretzels, family owned and operated since 1989. You can choose from a variety of flavors, including dill pickle. The Blue Gate Restaurant includes a menu-style service with roast beef, chicken, noodles, and other sides passed around the table. The Blue Gate is part of the local “My My American Pie” trail that links 10 local pie destinations.

Nearby in Noble County, Kimmel House, a brick Italianate bed-and breakfast, hosts two public dining experiences: a Victorian tea with homemade goodies on a tiered tray, or a seasonal dinner highlighting locally sourced ingredients. The St. James Restaurant in Avilla is Northeast Indiana’s oldest restaurant, housed in a former hotel built in 1878. Its expansive menu includes award-winning steaks and roasted chicken, along with a full bar.

Step back in time at Triple XXX Family Restaurant in West Lafayette, Indiana’s first classic drive-in. Although the car-hop service is gone, its nostalgia and unchanged root beer recipe remain. Creative burgers earned this iconic stop a featured spot on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.

Also in West Lafayette, Boilerhouse Prime pairs elevated cuisine with Purdue University heritage at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex. USDA Prime steaks, fresh seafood, handcrafted cocktails, and an extensive wine list complement the setting steeped in golf history.

Hungry for pizza? Arni’s Restaurant in nearby Lafayette has been slicing up pies since 1965. Afterward, pull up a stool at McCord Candies’ old-fashioned soda fountain, or treat yourself to chocolates crafted since 1912.

In Boone County, Traders Point Creamery remains a working organic dairy farm and artisan creamery. Its Loft Restaurant builds farm-to-table specialties around locally sourced, organic ingredients. In downtown Zionsville, Noah Grant’s Grill House and Oyster Bar brings fresh, East Coast-style seafood to the Midwest. Oysters and other dishes are prepared with distinctive flair. In Lebanon, Backroads BBQ dishes up Texas-style barbecue, while Boone County Cake Co. satisfies sweet cravings.

Casual bites, burgers, international cuisine, and wineries are all part of Carmel’s diverse food scene. Along the Monon Greenway, Social Cantina pairs fresh street tacos with margaritas. In the Arts & Design District, PadThai Carmel prepares authentic Thai cuisine. At Carmel City Center, Vivante Restaurant & Bar, located inside the boutique Hotel Carmichael, highlights refined European-inspired cuisine. No visit is complete without a stop at The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers.

In nearby Westfield, you can earn prizes and enjoy global cuisine when you sign up for their “Westfield International Passport.” This free digital experience encourages residents and visitors to explore more than 30 locally owned restaurants, markets, and businesses offering international cuisine and experiences. The passport showcases a side of Westfield’s dining scene that people may not expect.

Spanning more than 60 participating restaurants across Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, and Westfield, the Hamilton County Tenderloin Trail celebrates Indiana’s classic breaded pork tenderloin. Standouts include Carmel’s Dooley O’Toole’s, Cicero’s Erika’s Place, Westfield’s The Mill Tavern, and Fishers’ Sahm’s Restaurant, but any stop along the trail will satisfy your appetite.

A former Walt Disney chef is lauded for having the best barbecue in Central Indiana. The Rusted Silo Southern BBQ in Lizton features a Ferris wheel of meat roasted over an open fire.

South of Indianapolis in Mooresville, Parlor P.S. specializes in refined Southern cuisine, afternoon tea, and creative zero proof cocktails in a restored Victorian-era downtown building.

The 1915 Steakhouse & Bar in Martinsville is a regional favorite for its steaks, seafood, craft cocktails, and live music. The Martinsville Candy Kitchen, a tradition since 1919, is a must-visit. Check its social media pages for its famous candy cane demonstration dates.

If you’re looking for delicious donuts, Linne’s Bakery and Café is a Shelbyville staple. Pastries are baked fresh daily, along with fresh sandwiches and homemade soups.

The Tin Plate in Elwood is one of Madison County’s most talked-about stops, renowned for its well-seasoned, crispy breaded tenderloin and hospitable owner, Pat Rice. The Alexandria Bakery is a favorite for cinnamon rolls, while Anderson’s Ruby’s Café and Bakery serves from-scratch warm scones and other breakfast and lunch items inside its circa-1927 church. In Pendleton, Italian Chef Catello Avagnale’s namesake restaurant showcases house-made cheeses and
flaming-wheel Fettuccine Alfredo

Experience a taste of England in Gas City, just off I-69. Payne’s Restaurant, owned by Yorkshire native Stephen Payne since 2005, is celebrated for its bangers and mash, Grandma Payne’s sticky toffee pudding, and, of course, fish and chips.

Near Muncie, the nostalgia-filled Cammack Station pairs down-home burgers, sandwiches, and ice cream with vintage signs and gas pumps inside a historic, renovated fueling station.

Still run by the Wickersham family since the mid-1940s, Winchester’s Mrs. Wick’s Bakery & Café continues to churn out great food and bake three dozen pies daily, including the venerable sugar cream.

History is still being made at Hagerstown’s Abbott’s Candies, Indiana’s oldest candy shop established in They use the same equipment that stirred its first caramels and chocolates over 130 years ago, incorporating classical recipes that multiple generations have enjoyed.

Richmond blends rich history with a lively restaurant scene. The Cordial Cork Restaurant & Wine Bar offers more than 60 wines alongside seasonal dishes. Firehouse BBQ & Blues, located in an 1860 firehouse and co-owned by local firefighters, is known for its ribs and smoked barbecue, adding blues music on weekends. At Bad Dad Pint & Slice, you’ll enjoy scratch-made artisan pizzas and craft beer that’s brewed in Fairmount. End at the family-owned Ullery’s Ice Cream, still crafting homemade ice cream after 33 years in business.

Fourth Street “International Row” in Bloomington represents nearly 20 countries through hundreds of independently owned eateries. Try the Tibetan momos at Anyetsang’s Little Tibet, Indiana’s only authentic Tibetan restaurant. Savor Greek selections at Btown Gyros. Seeking more traditional fare? Download the Culinary Passport Bloomington to follow curated food trails, collect stamps, and earn prizes.

Escape to Daviess County, in southern Indiana, to experience rolling hills and history-rich eateries. At Montgomery’s McCracken Curve Distillery, sip a Ballyloughan Castle Single Malt or Homeplace Bourbon Whiskey, whose labels reflect its 1800s-era family settlers. In Washington, Mason’s Root Beer Drive-In pairs house-made root beer and foot-long coney dogs with nostalgic carhop service.

Dubois County reflects its rich European heritage. In Jasper, experience authentic German dining at Schnitzelbank, known for schnitzels, sausages, and an Old-World atmosphere. Chef crafted steaks, smoked meats, seafood, and signature cocktails headline the menu at Butcher & Barrel on Huntingburg’s Historic Fourth Street. Experience Italian specialties and hand-cut steaks at Mama T’s Italian Steakhouse, housed in a restored 1892 landmark.

French Lick’s dining scene is as memorable as its attractions. Feast on authentic German favorites at The German Café. Enjoy steaks, burgers, and Larry Bird memorabilia at 33 Brick Street. Raise a pint at the new Brass & Bull Irish Pub, which serves rare Irish whiskeys, craft beers, and Irish-American pub fare.

The town of Leavenworth in Crawford County is home to The Overlook Restaurant, established in 1948. Perched on a high bluff, the landmark provides a 20-mile view of the Ohio River. It is known for traditional American dishes like catfish, country ham, and fried chicken.

After exploring the largest continuous National Historic Landmark District in the USA, settle in at Madison’s Red on Main. Treat yourself to the fresh Chesapeake Bay Baked Oysters.

In Dearborn County, you’ll experience a vibrant dining scene along the Ohio River featuring Southern comfort food, classic diners, and riverside taverns. Check out 4 Speed on 50s Diner, a retro diner with a 1950s’ aesthetic, or Old World Italian recipes at Strong’s Brick Oven Pizzeria.

Terre Haute is a foodie haven, from fine dining at Stables Steakhouse to charming eateries like the Ladybird Cafe.