Restaurants in Carmel

Mazatlan is a family restaurant that specializes in traditional recipes presented within a warmly welcoming environment free of rogue cannon fire or aluminum space bats. Spicy and mild-minded palates alike can mull over a full menu of savory standards such as custom-cooked steak or chicken fajitas ($11.75), as well as off-the-beaten-path treats such as seafood enchiladas with fish, crabmeat, and shrimp atop a bed of rice, guacamole, and pico de gallo ($8.99). Mazatlan's more straight-up specialties include the pineapple chicken grill topped with tomatoes, red onions, pineapple slices, and avocado ($10.75). And for anyone who has ever been tempted to order a taco that contained only more tacos, the fajita burrito ($8.99) might be the closest thing to living out the dream of foods wrapped within foods wrapped within foods. Once you've built up a solid mouth-fire, put it out with a signature 27-ounce Mazatlan Margarita (Tequila Cazadores, triple sec, sweet and sour mix, Red Bull, and Grand Marnier, $9.15) and some fried ice cream ($4.25).

Squeeze is focused on hunting down the freshest ingredients from the untamed ingredient jungle and squishing them together, resulting in a menu that roars with nutritious and friendly life. Smoothies are made with 100% juice and fruit and have no sugar added. Choose from a variety of favorite flavor combinations in three sizes: the Rookie ($3.65 for 16 ounces), the Original ($4.45 for 24 ounces), and the Big Squeeze ($5.35 for 32 ounces). Slurp classily on classics such as a strawberry-banana-frozen-yogurt blend or a summery bouquet of watermelon juice, strawberries, bananas, and orange sherbet. "Exotic" smoothie combos cost about a dollar extra, giving customers super-vivifying body-electric choices including açai berry and Matcha green-tea blends.

Arni's planted its salad tongs into the Indiana dining scene back in 1965 with a firm dedication to swell cuisine served within a fun and welcoming environment by an accommodating staff. The joint's menu coddles down-home appetites with savory deep-fried pork-tenderloin sandwiches ($8.99) and chipotle-shrimp-and-bacon tacos that marry the bounties of land and sea within a pair of soft tortilla shells lined with veggies and special sauce ($9.49). Famous Arni's Junior Salads present their garden bounty in neat geometric rows of fresh greens, succulent cuts of turkey and ham, and ripe portions of radishes and green onions complemented by mozzarella cheese ($6.99).

Agio's executive chef Joseph Heidenreich concocts a Mediterranean-infused menu of fresh Italian fare that's impeccably paired with sophisticated sips from the restaurant's extensive wine list and served in an intimate, romantic setting. Complement an order of baked goat cheese in a tomato-basil puree served with flatbread ($8.95) with an earthy Italian red wine, or couple a vegetable pizza topped with basil pesto, mushrooms, roasted peppers, and gorgonzola ($10.95) with a crisp Italian white. Agio's moroccan paella serves up a succulent selection of fresh seafood, chicken, sausage, and saffron rice ($22.95), and the grilled pork loin arrives tableside sporting a dapper fez and a balsamic glaze ($19.95). The meatball is in the patron's court with the spaghetti, as it can be customized with a choice of sauce, protein, and other tasty toppings ($8.95–$15.95).

Owner and chef Mike Atherton draws upon 35 years of culinary experience and one huge Weber charcoal grill to ignite menus of burgers and pizzas that have found their way into the Indianapolis Star. After nestling flame-kissed meats between homemade buns and slathering them with flourishes—such as bourbon and made-from-scratch hot sauce and poppy seed dressing—chefs pronounce them ready to explore the roomy restaurant's wide-open spaces and wood-paneled bar. Local craft beers mingle with Sunday afternoon's sporting events, which are televised on wall-mounted big-screen TVs and then reenacted by former child stars.

The large menu at iSushi Café presents a rice-covered mountain of possibilities, both raw and cooked. Yakisoba combines sautéed buckwheat noodles with seared meats, vegetables, and seafood ($6.75–$7.75), perfect for silencing noisy appetites or impressing friends by tying noodle knots. The sushi menu's 39 rolled specialties flatten cravings, bounding over taste buds with such eclectic combinations as chicken-tempura sushi ($5) and spicy octopus with korean pepper ($5) or traditional delicacies including unagi rolls—eel and cucumber topped with eel sauce ($5.50). For nostalgic enhancement, iSushi beefs up dorm-room memories with spicy seafood ramen-noodle soup, which contains egg, enoki mushrooms, red and green pepper, onion, fish cake, shrimp, scallops, and mussels instead of a tiny foil packet ($8.75). The interior of iSushi Café conjures futuristic feelings with a metallic-lined sushi bar, stylish light fixtures, and a bright color scheme.