Indiana's known for many things: The Jackson 5, porn landmarks, and "the world's greatest college weekend." It's also, believe it or not, got great food. If you know where to look. And thankfully, we do. Heading to Naptown for a little Final Four action? Take a break, or just soak up that stadium beer, with five meals you'll be glad you knew about...
BAZBEAUX
334 Massachusetts Ave.
(317) 636-7662
www.bazbeaux.com
Best pizza in the Nap, hands (and forks) down. Shit, it's possibly the best non-Chicago pizza in the entire Midwest. Seriously, these guys have won "best pizza" virtually every year since they opened in 1986. It's got a few locations, but this one in the Mass Ave. art/shopping/theater district is close enough to duck into between games or before you head out for the rest of your night.
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BOOGIE BURGER
927 East Westfield Blvd.
Indianapolis, IN 46220-1717
(317) 255-2450
www.boogieburger.com
Broad Ripple is the neighborhood where it's always going down, including the food at this mom-and-pop burger spot. Insane garlic fries, great shakes, and they'll slap about any type of meat between a couple of buns (ayo!). Plus, you can't front on the little chopped VW Beetle they push around the city.
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CAFE PATACHOU
4911 North Pennsylvania St.
(317) 925-2823
www.cafepatachou.com
There's a downtown location, but you want the one near the governor's house, where it's been feeding Butler students (Bulldogs, we see you!) and regular folks alike sandwiches, omelettes, and other breakfast and lunch standouts for more than 20 years. Salma Hayek and Ted Danson both tried getting into bed with this spot as investors, but they didn't count on Hoosier Pride keeping that shit all in the family.
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NORTHSIDE NEWS
5408 N. College Ave.
(317) 254-1288
What, you didn't think you could get a good Cuban sandwich in Indiana? C'mon, fam. You shoulda known that Rusty Redenbacher, Complex homie and head of the Naptown chapter of Ted Bawno Ministries, wouldn't steer you wrong. Possibly the friendliest spot in the whole damn city, and a ridiculous magazine selection to boot. Leave your iPad in the ride and get reacquainted with some physical media.
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YATS
659 Massachusetts Ave.
(317) 686-6380
www.yatscajuncreole.com
New Orleans native Joe Vuskovich opened the original Yats in Kentucky, then moved his ragin' Cajun act to Indianapolis, where it blossomed into a mini-empire with die-hard supporters. Jambalaya, etoufée, gumbo, and the rest of what you love about Nawlins, heaped up huge, fresh, and cheap. With food like this, it doesn't even matter who beat who in the Super Bowl. Except we all know who should've won.
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