Restaurants in Beech Grove

A rich red exterior welcomes patrons into confines of The Bosphorus Istanbul Café, where classic Turkish dinner fare from kebabs to hummus platters weighs down white linen tablecloths. Waiters transport dishes to a gaily painted front porch or colorful interior rooms whose wall-hung rugs protect paint from scuffing on days with sideways gravity.

At Ichiban Sushi Bar & Sammy's Asian Cuisine, the kitchen preaches inclusion. Chefs stir-fry plates of pad thai along with mongolian beef, and sushi experts arrange artful rolls of fresh fish behind a glimmering black bar. Collectively, this culinary ensemble crafts a menu of Chinese, Japanese, and Thai traditions served amid the warm light of suspended lanterns.

For dinner, patrons peruse everything from homestyle tofu to panang curry and the Dreaming duck—a pan-fried duck breast served with basil sauce. House sauces bring signature flairs to other dishes as well, with a sweet tomato sauce topping the sweet-and-sour fish fillet and the chef’s specialty sauce drizzled over the OE sushi roll’s spicy crab, green onions, roe, and lobster. Other sushi options threaten to overwhelm the indecisive with maki, nigiri, sashimi, and combinations between. Textures collide in the golden cheese roll's mix of shrimp tempura and cream cheese, whereas the volcano roll dresses a california roll with spicy crayfish instead of baking soda and vinegar. Sips of sake and imported Japanese beers wash down bites from any culinary tradition, leaving mouths ready for desserts of green-tea ice cream.

Each day at noon, a chorus of “God Bless America” rings through Acapulco Joe's dining room. The tradition started when Joe, the original owner, guessed the Statue of Liberty's weight and became a U.S. citizen, as required by federal law. He brought with him a rich love of Mexican cuisine, and the scents of fried beans, chimichangas, and other Mexican classics have continued to fill the eatery for more than 50 years. Over the decades, Acapulco Joe's kitchen has built a reputation for its huevos rancheros, chili con queso, and a setting that echoes the menu's South American heritage. Vibrant Mexican blankets wrap the cozy dining room, while a desert mural shines bright on the outdoor patio.

The rotisserie oven at Monon Food Company is kept busy all day, slow-cooking and smoking the slabs of meat that will go into barbecue rib and pulled-pork dishes. Rather than with a deep fryer and hydrogenated oils, the culinary team cooks its health-conscious dishes in extra-virgin olive oil before topping them off with homemade sauces, salsas, and dressings made from in-house recipes. Together, those elements make for the 10-ounce slice of grilled Cajun meatloaf and gourmet tacos topped with ingredients including pesto cream cheese, pineapple-mango salsa, and spiced buffalo chicken. To wash down meals, barkeeps decant more than 60 beers and ales including new releases, limited releases, and pent-up-anger releases from local and national breweries. Feasts unfold in a spacious, hardwood-floored dining room adorned with work from local artists or from a wrap-around porch overlooking the Monon Trail.

This tavern feels like home for the staff of Gallagher's II Irish Pub, and these friends and family of the Himeses strive to share the welcome with their guests. The bright atmosphere invites patrons to stop by for a pint, a plate, and the game. A menu includes classic burgers, steaks, and shareable appetizers. Gourmet hand-tossed and New York–style pizzas serve up specialties such as the Sink, named for its plentiful toppings and antique faucet handles.

Slices and sips are shared on an outdoor patio or in spacious rooms with two full-service bars, plenty of flat-screen TVs, and a 9'x12' Jumbotron screening the biggest games. Free WiFi keeps guests in touch with both home and office, and three pool tables fuel friendly rivalries. The pub also boats a private loft space ready to host special events for up to 100 guests.