Spoke & Steele

Unbelievable in every way. Food, staff and libations. An amazing find in a far away location (from So CA). Truly delicious. Clyties Deliverance is a MUST.

Fun atmosphere, vibrant bar area with craft cocktail tenders. Much more then a simple Bar menu. The food was great, the service was also great. The only complaint I would have is that it is very noisy. Past that definitely worth a try but go enjoy the bar first and talk to the bartenders, they have great recommendations.

Before reading any further, this review has much of the 3-​star rating based solely on the staff. How pretentious can the staff and bartenders be… very if you go to the Spoke & Steele. If our bartender (who thought he was Brad Pitt) ran his fingers through his hair anymore and then squeezed out drinks with twists of orange, I thought I would leave and just go to St. Elmo’s next door… then I’d call the health department for hygiene training. Now the food is very very good, probably worth 4 or 5 star, but again the staff are too into themselves to notice the customers.

The part of the meal that stands out the most was our server. He went into such detail about the meal and the drinks, with such enthusiasm, that it was entertaining listening to him talk for 10 minutes about our options.
Food was on point (a solid 4, with the experience earning the 5). The meatballs were tasty and a nice start to the meal.
The chop was my entrée of choice. The meat well cooked to a nice consistency. With the maple glaze, it was sweet, salty and savory. The artichokes were well prepared as well. There were parts that were crispy, to give the dish more texture. It also soaked up some of the savory flavor of the chop.
Great place for a good meal.

Ok so I had high expectations for this place and we had a good meal but not a 5 review.
Spoke and Steel is located in the MeridiAn hotel with a pub like setting. But it’s a high end pub. Great beer and wine selection.
We started with Salmon Tartare which was fresh and delicious and we order three meatloaf Nuggets another appetizer hit. Rated a 5
For the main entrée we did the snapper and the catfish both good entrees but not great. The snapper was a bit dry with no sauce should have had Mole sauce but it did not show. Catfish was a good piece of fried fish but no big shakes. Rated 3
We finished with coffee and some ice cream and berries.
If I came back it would be for the small plates but probably will sample a different place

I don’t think I’ve ever had a meal so full of flavor! As it was my birthday, I decided I wanted to come down here for dinner. It was a rainy evening with a Pacer game and rush hour traffic so once we got inside, we were ready for a special dinner, and special it was!
Our server was very friendly, and she offered complementary bubbly for my birthday which we definitely couldn’t say no to. She explained the evening’s specials and the special appetizer not on the menu. The appetizer was a baked trillium cheese from Tulip Tree Creamery, and it did not disappoint! The taste kind of reminded me of cream cheese. It also had grapes, candied walnuts, and apple slices surrounding it. Even when we ran out of the baguette slices, we still ate it with our forks!
My husband got the Kona snapper, and I ordered the breaded catfish. Both dishes were amazing, but not so big to the point where you are too full for dessert which is perfect in my book. I really liked the greens (swiss chard, I think) with corn, edamame, and shimeji mushrooms! The brown butter sauce had a slight peppery taste which made every bite interesting! The catfish was awesome and flaky with a light breading that added nice texture compared to the rest of the dish. My husband really enjoyed his snapper which came with a sesame mole that he discovered after he ate half the fish! The spiced carrots were really tasty too; he shared!
After the meal, we opted for one of their pot desserts which was a selection of 3 different custards. We both got the espresso budino which was just the right size for dessert and a sweet finish to an amazing meal. I think they even have a reduced price if you buy 3!
I have to take a moment to talk about Spoke & Steele’s amazing cocktail menu! I love that I could look over at the bar and NOT recognize a single bottle back there. They use a ton of local spirits and have their own bourbons on hand. The craft cocktail selection is superb, and I could go back just to keep trying more of those! I just can’t say enough about how much it means to me for a restaurant to have a great cocktail selection as well as great bourbons or other spirits to sip on. That’s what takes a place from pretty good to top notch in my book!

Great bourbon bar with friendly staff. Cocktails great, food local and wonderful and the bar staff was good company for a girl visiting Indy sitting at the bar alone.

I had been meaning to eat here the last couples times I came to Indy but it hadn’t panned out. This trip I promised myself I’d go and I am very happy I did. The restaurant itself is located inside the Le Meridien. It is posh and modern. The bartenders dress in sort of old fashioned, speakeasy type of garb. It just added to the charm, I suppose.
They have an extensive list of wine, cocktails, and beer. I decided to go with The Last Word which is one of my favorites. It was made very well. Later on I had the bartender make me something, a surprise. He made me a basil daiquiri. I know it sounds weird but an actual daiquiri is not made like that fruity blended crap you can get elsewhere. It was very refreshing and delicious.
For food I started with the beet and endive salad. I’m not quite sure there is any other combination of food as good as goat cheese, beets, and candied walnuts. It’s a homerun. The endive had some mustard type drizzle on it and it was just spicy enough to cut the sweetness of everything else. I really enjoyed it.
The main course was the braised beef. It was amazing. I will say I do not care for polenta. I will eat it but not really enjoy it. This polenta was insane, it was so good. It was crispy on the outside yet dense on the inside, perfect with the tender beef. Overall, great dining experience. Will definitely be back!

My first trip here was for a Unilocal event, and that left me excited to return to try out the full menu! The cocktail, beer and wine menu is quite extensive; they had just updated it today and it really was hard to decide. I opted for the Nueva Alemania which was excellent; tequila, orange, amaretto, and a touch of cinnamon. It was a little on the sweet side, but definitely not too sweet to go with food!
We started with the special cheese appetizer; baked trillium triple brie from Tulip Tree. This is one of my favorite cheeses, and baking it managed to make a wonderful cheese even more amazing! I then had the snapper as my entrée, which was nice and light, and the fish was cooked perfectly. We shared some of the funeral potatoes which were very good! They reminded me of a richer version of a dish we make for holidays — potluck potatoes. These were a cheesier version of those if anyone else out there knows what potluck potatoes are! We shared an apple crisp dessert which was excellent; the apples were fresh and cooked to a perfect crisp-​tender texture. The topping and ice cream were delicious as well.
Service was good! Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu, and gave us good recommendations. Courses were nicely timed and we weren’t at all rushed. I’m looking forward to my next trip back!

Great place for a date night. The décor is upscale and well done. The service is excellent. The food is great tasting.
My wife and I were first introduced to Spoke & Steele at a Unilocal event where Tyler showed us how they make their own spirits and how people can be a part of the spirit making. It intrigued us. So, this year we finally had the chance to visit the restaurant during Devour Downtown. It was a great experience.
Our service was excellent. The waiter had tried everything on the menu and was able to give helpful suggestions. Based on what we ordered, we felt he was right on!
We really enjoyed the food — both in taste and in decoration. I had the Goldenrod Eggs, Slow-​cooked Scottish Salmon and for dessert — the Espresso Budino. My wife had the Meat & Cheese starter, Roast Chicken and Black forest for dessert.
The spirits — we tried three of the spirit drinks designed by Tyler. Wow they were great. I loved my Le Mans Rough Rider. She had the Smoke and Spice — where the drink glass really is filled with smoke. I tried it as well — hard to say which was better — probably hers. For dessert I had a drink with the name «roadkill» in it. It was good — just cannot remember it’s name.
For parking we parked on the street — but you could park across the street at the mall parking garage — convenient.

Another one of the bar /​lounges we dropped by in Indianapolis during our tour de Indianapolis. Cocktails are well done here. I did the Le Mans Rough Rider by Tyler. Bomb dot com. Bourbon x House Made Dram x BACON syrup x cinnamon x smoked paprika x apple bitters. Oh man… SO GOOD.
You’re looking at about $ 13 /​$ 14 a pop here. Might sound a tad pricey, but I think the cocktails are well thought out. Also, I loved the décor here. Somebody cue DMX’s rough ryders anthem. ‘Til next time, cheers!

Devour downtown! Enjoyed the goldenrod eggs, salmon and espresso budino. Server explained the dishes in a way that made everything sound so good. The goldenrod eggs, described as a deviled egg dish, were delicious but the presentation was so different from our expectation (slice of toast with bechamel, mortadella, sliced pickled hard egg whites, and deviled egg filling on the side). The salmon was good, thoroughly cooked (which my friends preferred, but being from the Pacific NW, it was over). The dessert was perfect!
Also got to try the Mormon funeral potatoes… now those were delicious!
Liked the idea of the draft cocktail flight, fun way to try drinks, but not as strong as the individual drinks.
I’ll be back!

This place. was a different place., and now it’s Spoke and Steele…
Sexy, selective, intimate– but not intimidating
What a transformation, I like it.
I’m a bit under the weather. I usually don’t go out when I’m not feeling up to par, but the sexy ambiance made me feel better. The bartender offered to make me a side car, nice and warm; I sipped it by the fire as I reflected on the night.

We went to Spoke and Steele for the first time the day after New Years. Both my husband and myself were greatly impressed with the service, drink, and food!
We made reservations ahead of time which I would recommend. The bar top is large but it was full by 6:30pm.
We started off with the draft cocktail flights and Mormon Funeral Potatoes. The flight was amazing. 4 (very generous) 2oz samples of their signature draft-​tails! Since we each ordered our own, I was quite glad when the food started to arrive!
My favorite of the draft cocktails was the adult apple cider. This isn’t your woodchucks folks. It brought back all the wonderful memories of getting fresh apple cider at the local apple orchard and then sneaking into your parents liquor cabinet to enhance the amazingness.
The potatoes were cheesy and great. Think comfort food here. Yea, the name is a bit morbid, but these would make a funeral a bit more comforting. Topped with pickled green onions (yep– you can do that) and corn flakes that had to have been made in house! This is a great size appetizer for 2 – 4 people.
Our meal came right after we finished our tots. The husband ordered the Short Rib and I ordered the Pork Chop– medium. Here is where our oops came in. My pork chop was quite well done when it reached the table. Against all my fears, I spoke up when the server promptly checked in. David, our server, was so apologetic and rushed it back. He came back to tell us that the Chef was sorry, that it was over cooked, and Chef would be making me a new one. Shortly afterwards, with many apologies, David brought back one of the most amazing pieces of pork I have ever had. Move over bacon! Tender, flavorful, and juicy! The accompany of maple balsamic and Brussels sprouts topped the pork cake! (Note: due to the prompt response and amazing customer service– this will not influence the rating the restaurant received)
The short ribs were good too (said the husband who chomped it down quickly while giving me just a sliver of meat).
We ordered drinks afterwards in lieu of dessert. Remember that apple cider earlier. You can add a shot of bourbon to that. So that happened…
We both would highly recommend Spoke and Steele to those looking for something different than a steak house while still craving comfort foods (with a slight twist)! We shall be back.

I went here with my cousin and she got the Smoke & Spice cocktail and I got the Peach Simplicity cocktail. The Smoke & Spice comes in this cool smoked infused glass on a cedar plank and it was so good. The Peach Simplicity is also excellent although a bit sweeter but it has a great peach taste. The cocktails here are amazing and are what will keep me coming back.
We started with the charcuterie board which was fabulous. We then split the pork chop which was very good despite the fact that neither of us cared for the accompanying brussel sprouts. However, when it came to dessert, we both wasted money; they were NOT good. We got a mandarin orange pot de crème, eclaire cake, and the bomb. We didn’t like a single one. The mandarin orange pot de crème was ridiculously sweet. The eclaire’s cream had a grainy texture and the cake was hard. The bomb was overly sweet and the caramel underneath was so hard. The desserts were all a huge disappointment. The service also was ridiculously slow; be prepared to stay for a couple of hours.
Update: went last night and got The Hollis cocktail which has torched egg white on top and it was delicious! It comes with dried fruit on top to scoop up the brûlée. This place is definitely the spot for cocktails.

What a fantastic place. Elegant, refined, but unpretentious. It is tucked in the lower level a hotel next to St. Elmo’s.
We went for happy hour which goes until 7. My friends and I shared the Nugs and Mormon Funeral potatoes. Both were phenomenal. The Nugs were especially good. They were like a meatloaf meatball set on a potato slice. They had a spicy pepper sliced on top with a sweet sauce. The sweet, salty and spicy were so delicious.
The drink menu is top knotch. There is something for everybody. We tried several and all were fantastic.
Our server was great. He was extremely knowledgeable in regards to the food and drink preparations and had great energy.
My only regret is that we didn’t get an entire meal there. I can’t wait to go back and experience a full meal and more drinks.

Such an elegent setting. The drinks are delightful. Appetizers are great as well. Go from 5−7p to get happy hour specials.
Want to gather with friends in an intimate setting? Ask the hostess about the room with leather walls. It has a round table that seats 5, and a bench that can hold an additional 5 people.
The prices are higher, but keep in mind you’re paying for higher end ingrediants.

Spoke & Steele, you are sleek and sexy. I felt a bit like I was an extra in Mad Men as I sat in the Steve McQueen private room with my gal pals. Spoke & Steele has an intimate feel with lots of space to spread out (think fireplaces, comfy couches, dark secluded rooms).
High notes of the evening:
–Welcoming waiter and quick service
–Happy Hour cocktail deals
–The shareable sides/​appetizers, including: the spicy meatballs, addictive frites with a special sauce, and the Mormon Funeral Potatoes topped with cornflakes. Winners all around at our table.
Spoke & Steele is located in the first floor of the Le Meridien (formerly Canterbury) boutique hotel. I wish its signage was a bit more prominent, as it can be easy to miss along Illinois (it’s by St. Elmo’s/Harry & Izzy’s). Be loud and proud, S & S!
Note that they have a private dining room with audiovisual equipment that would be perfect for a lunch meeting.

An excellent little place located in the LeMeridien hotel in downtown Indy. A few trips here and I am at oh 3.5 stars, but will give them 4.
My first trip here I was a bit dismayed by the hipster waitstaff and thought «here we go with the Portlandia style explanations», but I was pleasantly surprised when the staff were quite attentive, did not pretend to be experts in Indiana pigs, but seemed to be more interested in making sure we have a good experience. Plus one of them recommended a local gin, which was really good (citrusy with a hint of fennel on the nose).
The food has been a bit all over the place. Charcuterie and cheese board was outstanding with a nice variety of well made charcuterie (the coppa and a hard sausage with gin were outstanding) and nice selection of cheeses and really fabulous pickles (pickled grapes were just a fantastic though slightly disconcerting eat!), but then accompanied by crappy bread. Kale salad, brussels sprouts, fries and meatloaf meatballs were uniformly good, but the larger plated dishes while pretty were underseasoned and needed to be spiked with salt and something else…(flavor maybe???)
But all in all, friendly attentive staff and vibrant atmosphere make this a fun place to hang! Way way better than the drunk vibe at a ubiquitous chain a block away.

Two words: classy joint.
Was scoping the place out for a potential birthday dinner location and had a fantastic experience. Spoke & Steele is located on Illinois — with easy mall parking in the garage across the street.
I walked in around 5pm on a Tuesday, was immediately greeted, and seated in one of their rich green leather booth areas near a window bursting with natural light. Perfection after being trapped in the Corporate dungeon all day!
Our waitress greeted us not much longer, offering to answer any questions about the extensive and creative cocktail menu (don’t worry, they have more traditional cocktails too!). Curious about «The Blossom» I asked about it, and she kindly and unexpectedly returned with a small sample. Bonus points for awesome service! I ended up going with The Hooch, and later, with the Brown Derby — both delicious, sweet but not overly syrupy, perfectly boozy, and basically on par with B&B.
For dinner my friend and I split a few plates — first, the Kale Caesar which was fantastic! Probably my favorite dish of the three — (crispy, crunchy, not stringy as kale can sometimes be), and perfectly seasoned with a lemony essence. Size-​wise, it was about 2 cups worth of salad — enough to share if you’re just looking to try it.
Next, a 3-​piece order of The Nugs — advertised as meatloaf meatballs with a sweet/​spicy chili tomato sauce and smashed frites. Also delish! Probably my second most favorite. Meatballs are about 1.5−2″ in diameter and again 3 is a perfect portion size for two people to split if ordering a few smaller plates. Spice-​wise, my tolerance is about medium-​low, and I could tolerate these so — take that for what it’s worth!
Lastly, the Naughty Grl’d Cheese Tartine — basically a «creative» version of a grilled cheese but open-​faced and topped with a chorizo jam and arugula. This one was okay, but was a bit too salty for me. Additionally I felt there were a few two many flavors that didn’t quite go together. This is the only dish I wouldn’t order again. Not awful or inedible by any means, but not memorably great either. Oh well, ²⁄₃ isn’t bad!
Overall, a great experience. Wonderful, friendly service and very good food and cocktails. Would be perfect for a fancy dinner gathering, rehearsal dinner, date night, or heck, classy night out with the girls!
The menu is a bit on the pricier side (as evidenced by the menu pics I’ve included below), but I’ll probably be back about once a quarter since I’ve been told the menu is apt to change with the seasons — interested to see what else they come up with!

I haven’t had food from here, so this review is solely based off of drinks and service.
If you’re looking for a friendly and classy experience, look no further. The bar tenders are very friendly and would love to give you some suggestions for their drink menu.
During a past Unilocal event I tried some of their barrel aged drinks and oh. my. god. If it wouldn’t kill me I would drink that every day. Because that’s frowned upon, I’ll save it for special occasions.
My most recent experience here was because of Indy Mixture — once again, very polite and friendly staff with a great cocktail.
I’ve heard good things about the food. I’ll see about getting something the next time I visit!
4 stars because of the price. It’s a bit more than I am used too, but if that’s not a problem for you then I’m sure you’ll give them 5,