23 new restaurants to try

You think Indy welcomed a lot of restaurants in 2014? Check out this list of places that have already opened, or are scheduled to open, in 2015.

Giordano's

Hoosiers are hungry for this pizzeria's Chicago pies. Back in 2012, fans started the Facebook page "Bring Giordano's Pizza to Indianapolis." That happened in February when Giordano's opened next door to Harry & Izzy's in River's Edge shopping center, near Fashion Mall. Giordano's does all kinds of pies, but they're famous for Stuffed Pizza. One gets filled with BBQ-basted chicken, bacon & balsamic onions. They do traditional pepperoni and cheese, too.

4110 E. 82nd St., giordanos.com.

Bent Rail Brewing

You can ride your bike to this giant brewery/restaurant on Monon Trail just south of Broad Ripple. The brewery at the 12,000 square foot complex is in full, open view. "You'll be able to shout to the brewer, 'Hey, what are you making?'" Bent Rail co-owner chef Craig Baker said. Debut beers are due in three to six weeks. For now, Baker has a few foodie surprises on the menu of snacks, salads and sandwiches. Bright pink, pickled eggs get their color from beets ($5). The Three Amigos meatball parmesan sub holds mozzarella curds, pepperoncini, oregano "dust" and meatballs made with beef, pork and buffalo ($12). Cured pork belly, cilantro, jalapenos, garlic aioli, Smoking Goose Kitchen Sink Sausage and pickled daikon and carrots pack a banh mi ($12). Baker and his business partner, Derek Means, repurposed wood pallets they found on the property to create Bent Rail Brewery furnishings. Pac-Man, pinball machines and crayons on brown-paper covered tables please kids. The menu expands this spring when a patio and huge grill/smoker are installed.

5301 N. Winthrop Ave., facebook.com/BentRailBrewery.

Mimi Blue

Meatball shop Mimi Blue opened in January on Mass Ave. Mimi Blue is global. If a country has a meatball, this restaurant will serve it. Italian, Swedish, Turkish, vegetarian. China has meatballs. Finland, France, Indonesia, Iran. Get your meatballs alone, on pasta or mashed potatoes or on a sandwich. Wherever meatballs are from, they'll be cooked with love. The place is named after the mother of one of the owners. The setting is stylish, 1940s-era midtown New York City.

870 Mass Ave., mimibluemeatballs.com.

Bacon Legs & Turntables

The basement business that opened in early January near Monument Circle specializes in turkey legs, chicken legs, frog legs and hog legs, meaning pork shanks. Everything comes with as much bacon as you can handle. When dinner is done, DJs spin tunes. Besides legs, the menu covers breakfast all day, lunch and dinner. BL&T will be open around the clock on Friday and Saturday.

1 N. Meridian St., facebook.com/BLT.

Thai Paradise

In mid-January, the shuttered Tata's Cuban restaurant in the block of Market Street just across from the Statehouse turned into Thai Paradise.

137 W. Market St., facebook.com/ThaiParadiseIndy.

Kuma's

If you love meat and heavy metal music, hope for Kuma's Corner in Fountain Square. The Chicago-based place is known for burgers named after rockers. The Metallica features blue cheese and Buffalo sauce. The Led Zeppelin stacks bacon, pork shoulder, cheddar cheese and barbecue sauce. The idea is to eat the burger and check out the band.

1127 Prospect St., kumascorner.com.

Yard House

Yard House will be Indy's third bar to open in the past year with more than 100 taps. It launches at Circle Centre Mall March 25, right before the NCAA Final Four men's basketball tournament. Expect 130 beers on tap, some local. Lots of cool snacks include Korean short rib tacos, crispy Brussels sprouts and truffle fries. Burgers, salads, sandwiches, pizza, steaks, seafood round out the menu. Other new 100-plus beer taps spots are HopCat in Broad Ripple (130 taps) and The Pint Room in Carmel (108 taps). Both opened last summer.

42 W. Maryland St., yardhouse.com.

Georgia Reese's and Stacked Pickle

Former Colts linebacker Gary Brackett opened the soul food supper club's first location in 2014 near 86th Street and Michigan Road. His second Georgia Reese's arrives Downtown in spring 2015. The address stands next door to Red's Classic Barber Shop Co. Expect the same menu as the 86th Street store, plus quick-service lunch items that will get you in and out in an hour. Brackett also plans weekend live entertainment in the 5,700-square-foot space on the bottom floors of the McOuat Building. Brackett also plans to expand his Stacked Pickle sports bar to Southport, Westfield, Plainfield and West Lafayette.

14 E. Washington St., georgiareeses.com, stackedpickle.com.

Flix Brewhouse

You know how you love beer and a movie at home? IndyStar beverage reporter Amy Haneline dug up this gem opening in spring in Carmel's Merchants Square. Center. Buffalo blue cheese popcorn, a bratwurst hoagie, a meatloaf sandwich, banana bread pudding and homestyle mac and cheese Flix favorites at other locations outside Indiana. Beer is a big show. Watch brewers in action making Flix's core and seasonal beers. There will be 30 to 40 guest taps, as well.

2160 E. 116th St., Carmel, flixbrewhouse.com.

Big Lug Canteen

IndyStar beverage reporter Amy Haneline hardly had time to sip with all the new brewpubs she discovered on the horizon. Big Lug Canteen is from Eddie Sahm of Sahm's Place and Scott Ellis, former head brewer at The Ram. Poutine, hoagie sandwiches and salads are on the menu. Craft brews, rotating seasonal beers and an outdoor beer garden will please suds lovers when Big Lug opens on the Monon in mid-spring.

1435 E. 86th St., Indianapolis, facebook.com/BigLugCanteen.

Daredevil Brewing

Amy found yet another brewery, this one coming to Speedway. Daredevil Brewing will move all its production from Shelbyville to a 10,000-square-foot space. New digs include an indoor tasting room, outdoor beer garden and a food menu to pair with beer. Owners expect a spring opening, before Indianapolis 500 festivities begin.

1151 Main St., Speedway, daredevilbeer.com.

The Tap

Yet one more brew pub. The Bloomington-based restaurant and craft beer bar's second location, opening in summer, will be in the Pulliam Square development. Pair burgers, sandwiches, pizza and tacos with beer brewed in house as well as numerous guest taps and some 500 bottled beer brands.

300 N. Delaware St., thetapbeerbar.com.

Repeal Restaurant

Watch 12.05 Distillery in Fletcher Place. The business is already making what it calls "Indiana corn vodka." Try it at area lounges like Libertine Liquor Bar, Plat 99, Thunderbird and Spoke & Steele. This spring, 12.05 plans to open its Repeal Restaurant serving small plates to pair with 12.05 cocktails.

636 Virginia Ave., 1205distillery.com.

Louie's Wine Dive

Between all that beer, Amy discovered a wine bar coming to Mass Ave in early 2015. The kitchen will send out from-scratch entrees, salads and sandwiches, including Lobster Poutine with seafood gravy. Owner Corey Gonzalez told Amy the place is called a "dive" because of its relaxed atmosphere. Drink selections will include more than 100 wines, local brews, and cocktails.

345 Massachusetts Ave., louieswinedive.com/indy.

Café Nonna

David Page's forthcoming cafe along the Cultural Trail will help revive the Italian heritage of the Holy Rosary neighborhood where he grew up. Page envisions serving authentic gelato, some 30 from-scratch flavors. The café list also includes cannoli, pistachio cheesecake, amaretto cake and cappuccino cake as well as full coffee service, hot chocolate with fresh whipped cream and maybe a few panini.

635 Virginia Ave., www.facebook.com/Cafe-Nonna.

Sunrise Café

Look for this breakfast and lunch place to pop up in the former Cafe Zuppa on Meridian Street near University Park. Four other Sunrise locations are in Indy, Carmel and Fishers. The homey menu is famous for its breadsticks, Reuben sandwich and eggs Benedict.

320 N. Meridian St., sunrisecafecarmel.com.

Cropichon et Bidibule

The French café emphasizing crepes and galettes is set for Mass Ave. in early 2015. Classically trained musicians Stephane and Cathy Coueffe, both from France, have been working on the place for several months. The couple plans to make the café feel like a true Paris eatery.

735 Massachusetts Ave., cropichonetbidibule.com.

Chef JJ's Backyard

The barbecue-centric Broad Ripple food business built around Big Green Egg charcoal grills, lands Downtown in spring. The restaurant's second location is moving into former home of Ugly Monkey bar. It's just west of Downtown's Slippery Noodle blues bar. Chef JJ's Backyard offers grilling classes, culinary events such as beer dinners, a retail store that sells grilling equipment and a pop-up restaurant/catering service known as Big Green Bistro.

42 W. South St., chefjjs.com.

Tinker Street Restaurant and Wine Bar

Indy fine-dining restaurant pioneer Peter George and Puccini's Smiling Teeth pizzeria co-founder Thomas Main are developing this chef-driven, wine-centric spot between Herron-Morton Place and the Old Northside. Former Oakley's sous chef Braedon Kellner is testing small- and large-plate offerings, guided by fresh, seasonal produce and including vegan and vegetarian options. Most dishes will cost less than $15. Expect around 30 to 40 wines, along with a few local beers but no liquor.

402 E. 16th St., tinkerstreetindy.com.

Center Cut

So you didn't win the $500 million Power Ball, but you can still play the big shot at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. Center Cut fine dining steakhouse opened near the Shelbyville casino entrance in late January. The sophisticated setting includes a glowing amber bar and piano lounge. Find martinis, a nice wine list and hand-cut classic steaks like seared filet and N.Y. strip. Seafood is here, too. Cold water lobster and cocoa-dusted scallops are among selections..

4300 N. Michigan Road, Shelbyville, (877) 361-1679, indianagrand.com.

Vitality Bowls

I recently did a piece on 2015 food trends. Healthy eating is one of them. Vitality Bowls opened Feb. 7 in Carmel. The idea is come have a bowl of goodness. Açaí berry puree plays big. Acai is the fruit of a South American palm tree. It's said to have all sorts of health benefits. The puree is the bowl base for toppings like nuts, fresh fruit, bee pollen, chia seeds, all kinds of super foods that make us feel better. Juices, soups, salads, sandwiches and smoothies here, too.

110 W. Main St., (317) 581-9496, Suite 115, vitalitybowls.com.

Rosie's Place

The cozy bakery and breakfast/lunch café that first opened in Noblesville added a Zionsville address in mid-December. The restaurant, named after owner Debbi Bourgerie' grandmother, is known for using its namesake's recipes. Local, seasonal ingredients stock the kitchen. Menus change daily and according to what's fresh. Blueberries might crown brown sugar oatmeal pancakes with granola on the inside. Cooks tuck crisp bacon and maple cream cheese inside challah French toast. Bacon-wrapped meatloaf fills one sandwich. Vegetarians find eggplant sliders with caramelized onions, provolone, tomatoes and Dijon mustard. Most selections are $9-$10.

10 S. Main St., Zionsville; (317) 770-3322, rosiesplace.net.

The Dancing Donut

If you like The Flying Cupcake, you're probably going to love The Dancing Donut. The gal who owns the cupcake shop opens the doughnut place in South Broad Ripple in March. Expect classic doughnuts -- cake, jelly, glazed -- but also a twist here and there. The Dirty Dancing Doughnut will be a yeast doughnut covered in sausage gravy. It's based on the biscuits and sausage gravy the owner makes her kids for breakfast. She'll put in a milk bar, too. This will be the fourth doughnut shop to open in the Indy area in less than a year. Rocket 88 in Fountain Square, General American Donut Co. in Fletcher Place and Square Donuts in Carmel are other recent additions.

1134 E. 54th St., facebook.com/ The-Dancing-Donut.

Call Liz Biro at (317) 444-6264. Follow her onTwitter @lizbiro, Instagram @lizbirodish and Facebook. Email her at liz.biro@indystar.com.