It's been 8 years since I returned to this restaurant and it is still as good as it gets. This was my friends' favorite restaurant so I decided to treat them as well as revisit it myself. I ordered the Lavanda cocktail to start, a mixture of gin and prosecco. It looked as good as it tasted. My friends ordered white wine and a Cherry Coke Old Fashioned. The server (who was attentive and excellent) said the drink was not as sweet as it may sound so my friend gave it a try. He loved it! We shared the mussels and the sauce was the defining moment that made this appetizer. My friends ordered various pasta dishes and I went with the scallops. The scallops presentation alone made all of our eyes pop. The scallops were on individual beds of roasted red pepper cream risotto, sautéed spinach and a brandy cream sauce. It was perfection. All in all, another great meal and experience. read more

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Unfortunately, Ambrosia didn't live up to the expectations. The service was inconsistent throughout the meal. Our server seemed to have very little knowledge of the menu and wasn't able to answer basic questions. One example was being over charged for a spirit served neat, even though the menu specifically states there's a $3 upcharge for spirits made into cocktails. When I asked about it, the server couldn't explain the reasoning, which only added to the confusion. The timing of the food was also disappointing. We ordered everything at the same time, but the salad didn't arrive until 15-20 minutes after our entrées had already been served. By that point, it felt like an afterthought. As for the food itself, it was just okay, nothing particularly memorable and certainly not enough to make up for the service issues. Overall, there are plenty of other restaurants in Indianapolis I'd choose before returning. read more

I had been here a long time ago and remembered liking it, but I came back with my mom recently before a show at Butler. I consider myself a veal piccata aficionado, and I order it all the time. This one was really really good. I also loved the mashed potatoes and green beans it came with. It's super dark and romantic in here, and I plan to bring my husband back for a date night sometime. Our waitress was super friendly and helped us get out in a timely matter since we had a show to see. My mom ordered a special chicken caprese and she loved it too. read more

Ambrosia - Veal Piccata - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Second time eating at ambrosia and I was only enticed back because my friend had never been. Second impression was the same as the first. It is 'ok' Italian food (ok for Italian food in the USA). This time I had the scallops which were served over roasted red pepper risotto. It was served with a nice tasting sauce that I could had used more of on my plate. The sautéed spinach lacked flavor. Like it was an afterthought. Extra sauce dumped on it could have made it tolerable. Scallops seemed to be cooked through. And not overcooked. Was it $38 worthy? Not really. Plus the meal upset my stomach something fierce that evening. No vomiting so I am not going to say this was food poisoning. Just didn't settle with me. Service was decent and friendly which is what propelled the stars from two to three. Plus the ambiance here is warm and cozy on a cold night. Parking is pretty tight on a busy night. I saw people parking at the bank and walking over. I parked around the corner but that doesn't bother me to walk but maybe for others it could be a problem. My friend had a hard time ordering because she likes to have veggies with her meal. She landed on the salmon entree which she said was just 'ok'. We shared the tricolor salad which was honestly the best part of the meal and it was a simple salad. The restaurant was very busy at six o clock on a Thursday (with snow falling) so obviously people like this place. It just wasn't for me. Very average in my opinion plus the upset tummy gives me bad vibes on ever returning. read more

Ambrosia - My friend's salmon dinner. She said it was 'ok'. - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Still the best Italian in town! Ambience, Service and food always outstanding. Love Gino, his family and staff. Always the best!

Always an enjoyable experience Dining at Ambrosia. celebrating my mom's birthday , They did not disappoint. She even got to blow out a candle. Great service , good food! read more

Our foodie group came to Ambrosia for dinner Monday night and it was fine dining at its best! I am surprised I have not been here before for dinner,but I do know it is high end and pricey, and I was on a budget at the time. I'm so glad I was able to come splurge for dinner at Ambrosia this night, because it was a wonderful dining experience from start to finish. The ambiance is beautiful with a definite nice fine dining flare to it, and the front patio is gorgeous to sit out on when the weather is nice. Our server was excellent and first class all the way. He took wonderful care of our group. I ordered a cup of the wedding Soup to start out with at the server's recommendation. It was fantastic! I ordered the lobster ravioli for the main entree and it was heaven on a plate. It tasted perfect and melted in my mouth! I ordered the tiriamisu for dessert and it was an incredible tiriamisu. I had a glass of Pike Island Pinot Noir with my meal and it was a perfect pairing with my dinner. Everything that went well with the meal did go well, and it was one of the best dining experiences I have had in a while. The price was definitely worth it, and I was not disappointed at all with my meal or the service. I see why people love Ambrosia so much because the cuisine is magnificent and the service is top notch quality all the time. I would go so far as to say that Ambrosia is one of my top ten favorite restaurants in Indy. It is just that good!! Everyone needs to come experience Ambrosia for dinner. You will love it!! read more

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My bf said we had to get out for date night and devour time so he made the reservation and it's a new place for both of us. Glad we left early to get there in time because we had to drive around the block to find parking. I think the snow made it worse because of the huge mounds of it being in some parking spaces. We still made our reservation in time. We were seated and David was our server. Such a fun and awesome guy. We ordered a glass of wine and a winter margarita. Both very good. The bread was so fresh and that olive oil with it was delicious. We did order a couple of oysters and they were really good. Topped them off with the horseradish, cocktail sauce and red wine apple mignonette. Absolutely divine! The bruschetta and meatballs were just perfect and quite appetizing. Our salad wedge and mixed greens salad came out and both absolutely fresh and tasty. We split everything so we could try it all. He ordered the spaghetti and I the linguine. Both are just so amazing and I enjoyed them but not one over the other. The little spice in the linguine was perfect snd the shrimp was a nice touch. The ricotta on the other dish was really creamy and the sauce was very tasty. Again both so good. For dessert we ordered both as well so we could enjoy each. The canola and bread pudding were both great in their own way but again how can you say no to them both? The ambiance was great. The lighting was not very bright which was nice. I do however want to know what happened to the music? When we got seated there was a nice music playing in the background and then it just wasn't playing anymore so it was nice while it was on since the table next to us was talking quite loud and the music sort of helped drown that out. Overall this place is a new favorite and we will definitely be back as we saw some items in the regular menu that we'd like to come back and have. We hope David will be working he's fantastic. read more

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Stunning surprise dinner for our anniversary. Romantic vibe inside with the dim lights and candles. Amazing staff who made us feel very special. Had amazing old fashioned from the bar and loved every bit of food. The shrimp soup in the bread bowl was the best part! read more

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Came here for Devour and it was a great value. The bruschetta was delicious -- loved the roasted peppers, goat cheese, and balsamic. The meatballs were classic and flavorful with a really good marinara. The wedge salad was fresh with plenty of dressing. I had the linguine con gamberi and the flavor was excellent, even though the noodles were thicker than expected. Portions were big -- both my friend and I took food home. The bread pudding was tasty, a bit chewy but full of flavor. Service was very professional and friendly and a classy feel for the atmosphere. Four courses for $50 and just over $65 with tip -- definitely worth it. read more

Ambrosia - Bread pudding - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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We ordered many things on the menu & every bite was spectacular from the burrata, bruschetta, meatballs as apps... the limone spaghetti, bolognese, scallops, gnocchi for meals... and the beverages of Old Fashion, spritzes, and coffees. Every bite was something to remember! Service was excellent and personal. Parking lot in back, so no street parking needed. This place deserves to have a wait list and no open tables! Go enjoy a little taste of Italy and their family recipes! You will not be disappointed. read more

Really poor service, but the food was decent enough. Strongly disliked our server and parking is brutal. Food is fairly average Italian; comparable to Olive Garden. Not bad, not good. Wouldn't return read more

Normally love Ambrosia! Tonight I decided on a splurge....scallops. Not particularly an Italian dish, but our waiter, David assured us that they were great. They were not. Not uniform size and fishy tasting....some looked breaded, others not. Very, very disappointed. My friend followed my lead and had same experience. We were celebrating a friends birthday so didn't complain....but seriously awful. Again, disappointing and have to really consider if we'll ever return. Sad. read more

I was greeted at the door. I took advantage of the devour menu. They have a small mocktail selection. I tried the wine which was tasty. My sisters also loved their cocktails. Our server was great. The tables were constantly being cleaned. They automatically charge 20% gratuity. The food wasn't good in my opinion. She kept asking if I wanted a box because I was done after one bite. I actually ended up getting sick shortly after we left the restaurant and had to pull over. I'm vegetarian so it could've been something in the ingredients that didn't agree with my diet. The devour menu was $55 for four courses. read more

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Like many diners, we took advantage of the Devour Indy specials to visit this SoBro Italian place for the first time. The service was attentive without being intrusive, the dining area was nicely decorated with the old school, dark wood vibe, and the food was delicious. The four of us all had a different entree and found them all very good. A wonderful dining experience and would recommend for a quality Italian meal. Definitely plan on a return visit. read more

Had a group dinner here for work the other night and had a great time. There were 12 of us so we tried several of the appetizers and they were enjoyed by all. Most of the group ordered the chicken piccata or lasagna and both received rave reviews. I had the tortellini and it was delicious. We had one waiter (Zach) and he did a fantastic job of taking care of us. Everyone agreed this was a great pick and we'd definitely return. read more

As of December 2024, I can confidently proclaim Ambrosia the best happy hour in Indy! Hopefully the deals stick around, because you can't beat $1 oysters and $15 dirty martini flights! Offered from 5 to 6 pm on weekdays, I was glad we made a reservation because it filled up surprisingly fast. We had wonderful service in the bar. We had a few small bites and salads, too, which were wonderful. The perfect weeknight pick me up! read more

Ambrosia - Martini flight and oysters - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

It takes a lot for me to be in the mood for Italian, but on a cold wintry night it was the best decision! We got two craft cocktails that were unlike any drink we've had. They have a happy hour we had just missed with $1 oysters so we will definitely have to be back for that. Got a Caesar salad that was pretty big and very good! I got the lasagna and my boyfriend got the rigatoni. For dessert we got the butter cake with berry compote on top. The service was very delightful always giving us great recommendations and friendly. She was one of the best servers we've had in a while! Will definitely return! read more

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This place deserves five stars for the ambience and service and food. The only thing that soured the moment was the couple beside me saying, "I don't know why people are so upset about Epstein, he's dead and who hasn't done something in their past they regret." It had nothing to do with the restaurant. They were great. It was the kind of comment that is ugly on its own and even worse when aired casually in public. If that couple reads this, know that your behavior was noticed. It was grotesque and out of place, and anyone with a basic sense of decency would feel real shame saying something like that. You're the reason why people don't wanna live in Indiana and why the people that do wish they didn't. read more

This has been on my list of places to try for so long, and my husband and I finally decided to try it out with a newborn ha. When we walked in, we were seated in a corner which was perfect because when you have a baby you want some privacy. The server was amazing, and kept giving us time to think about what we wanted, and when he walked by our table and saw we were feeding the baby or accompanying her, he would come back! We ordered the grilled artichokes, spaghetti con limon, linguine con gamberi for our food. Everything was spectacular! The shrimp was perfectly cooked, and spicy, and the lemon dish was so refreshing! We ended our dinner with tiramisu which was amazing! The restaurant isn't really "toddler" friendly, there weren't any changing tables in the restrooms but with a baby who slept most of the time it was a perfect date night spot read more

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LASAGNA 9.6/10 (Pizzi family's world-famous recipe, topped with bechamel parmesan cream & meat ragu *I asked for a pesto stripe) - my fav of the night!! CALAMARI (lightly breaded calamari, cocktail sauce) - great calamari and cocktail sauce ARANCINI (crispy mozzarella risotto balls, marinara, shaved parmesan) LINGUINE con GAMBERI (linguine, shrimp, olive oil, garlic, spicy tomato cream sauce) RIGATONI alla SAUSICCIA (rigatoni, ground Italian sausage, broccolini, red bell pepper, white wine lemon butter sauce) CARBONARA (spaghetti, egg, pancetta, parmesan, black pepper) CAPELLINI (angel hair, chicken, artichoke, grape tomato, spinach, roasted red pepper cream) - caesar salad was great, barf oysters but $1 during happy hour read more

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ALWAYS a great atmosphere and meal! This restaurant's been our staple Italian place for a couple decades now. Shout out to Katie! Best of the best at the craft of positive dining experience. read more

First time visiting as a big group of 7 and Bethany, our server, took good and timely care of us. For drinks we ordered a phony Negroni and Old fashioned and they were decent. The phony Negroni was not housemade but rather a bottled one. As for the entrees , my shrimp gamberi dish was quite tasty - spicy, tomato-y! Was a bit odd to see the shrimps were 3/4th size only with their tails just snipped off. Wish that hadn't been the case, but taste was good. My husband had their special feature of tuna, which sounded good and was a very pricey dish, but was honestly underwhelming. My son mentioned his lasagna was just okay. So when it came to the entrees, nothing made us swoon, especially for the price point. We ordered desserts to share and the kids chose the Bourbon butter cake & chocolate cake. Their desserts are huge and decadent but very tasty! Overall it was meh for such pricey food. read more

I don't know how I've lived in Indy my whole life and not been here until now. Everything was delicious, and the service was amazing. I got the lasagna and it was truly the best lasagna I've ever had. That béchamel sauce was a dream come true. The pistachio cake is also absolutely amazing. The hazelnut cake was good, but the pistachio was exceptional! These meals are rich and decadent, so not something I'd choose every weekend, but definitely an amazing spot for a date night! read more

Ambrosia - Hazelnut cake and pistachio cake. (Get the pistachio!!!) - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Authentic Italian with a wonderful atmosphere. Service was excellent, food was phenomenal!

Our meal was delicious: fresh salads, perfectly prepared entrees, tasty desserts. Even the cocktails were good. Our server was Caitlin. She was friendly, professional, and attentive without intruding. read more

First off, we started with fresh bread and garlic infused olive oil then came the appetizers burrata with honey and lastly smoked salmon & salted cod fish.... The service was a little slow but only noticeable because we were on the verge of being hamgry!! The ambience was so relaxing and comfortable despite the air conditioning reminding me I should have brought a sweat shirt!.... The main courses came - Tortellini with sausage, seared scallops over risotto & spinach and a skirt stake wrapped around mushrooms and onions - DELICIOUS might be the word to describe this experience!!! I've eaten Italian food from the North End of Boston to Little Italy in NYC for over four decades and funny how Ambrosia in Indianapolis gave me the same experience!! read more

Family celebration in banquet room. Food was exceptionally good! We appreciate Ana's attention to detail!

Went for dinner to celebrate our anniversary. Our server, Kate, was fantastic! I got an Amore Spritz and the ravioli. My husband had a Summer Negroni and the lasagna. We had tiramisu for dessert. Everything was absolutely delicious! Highly recommend this place for a nice dinner. read more

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Amazing food, service and ambiance at Ambrosia! There is a small parking lot in the back, which is very surprising for the broad ripple area. The service we received from Kate was great. She was kind and helpful the entire dinner. The food and drinks were also wonderful. I ordered the burrata bruschetta, ravioli with the spicy tomato cream sauce and tiramisu. All were amazing. I'm expecting so I was very pleased to see a mocktail menu. I got the refreshing fruit + spice. We will definitely be back! read more

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Finally made it to Ambrosia for a date night with my husband and had a great experience! I knew this establishment had been around for a while, but never knew they have been an Indianapolis staple for authentic Italian cuisine for 44 years. Service was attentive, yet never looming, and provided some great recommendations. We ordered the oysters on special, Linguine con Gamberi, and Carbonara. Everything was fresh, and delicious! I forgot how much better fresh pasta tastes, and this meal was an incredible reminder! read more

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My favorite Italian spot in the area and I have eaten here many times, so it's shocking I'm just now leaving a review. The Caesar salad and bolognese are the standout dishes, hands down. Not a fan of the NA Dom's smash, but they have several good wines and you can't go wrong with a spritz. Love sitting on the patio and the service is always great. read more

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Everything was absolutely amazing!! I treated my cousin to dinner here per her request. I've passed this restaurant so many times and am so glad we got the chance to experience. Family owned Italian restaurant that has been around for many many years did not disappoint. Great ambiance and multiple seating areas. Appetizer: Arancini-risotto balls Drinks: lemon spritzer & raspberry cosmo Meal: linguine con gamberi (spicy or mild)& classic pollo parmigiana (added Alfredo sauce on the side because that's my business) served with fresh green beans. Soooo yummy Pros: Customer service Food options Delicious food & drinks Con: Parking Marinara was a tad salty read more

Ambrosia - Chicken Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I can't believe I hadn't been here before. While I'm not a huge Italian food fan, this place is pretty darn good. It's slightly difficult to get to if you are coming from the North because you can't turn in so you maybe to do some u-turns to get into the parking lot which is in the back of the restaurant. There is an entrance from the back or the front which is nice so you don't have to walk all the way around to enter. When you walk in it has a nice vibe. Not too stale yet not too casual really just a perfect ambiance. The menu isn't huge which I like and they offered several features. Their cocktail menu offers some different choices that I haven't seen at other Italian restaurants. The service was great. What I appreciated most is he read our table. I met a girlfriend that I hadn't seen in maybe a year and we had a lot of catching up to do. I saw him several times get ready to walk over but when we looked like we in the middle of something he didn't stop by so he didn't interrupt. I really like that so kudos to him. I hate I didn't get his name. The prices aren't bad. I had a glass of wine, my meal and dessert and the bill was around $45 before tax. All in all a good experience and I'll be back, if even just for drinks. read more

Ambrosia - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Go here, you will be pleased. Why I liked this place, with a few notes: Cloth napkins. Nothing worse than paying $100 and getting a napkin that you can't wipe your hands on without it ripping. Lemon wedges and lemon slices. I like to make lemon water. The slices are garnish for drinks. Wedges are for squeezing. They had both. Wait staff has menu and specials memorized. Kate was on it. No hesitation to answer every question, no cheat sheet, recalled the specials and knew the entire menu. Impressive. She also struck the right balance between attentive and space. We never felt like we were waiting on her, and never felt bothered. Caesar salad came tossed. Often when I order a caesar salad I get a bowl with lettuce and ingredients that I can toss myself. People... I did not order a chore, I ordered a salad. This one came ready to eat and was pretty good. 4 stars for the salad though, something about the dressing was not acidic enough for my taste. Sound dampening on the ceiling. This is part of the accessibility aspect. I am a bit hard of hearing so loud restaurants often result in difficulty understanding the conversation at my table. This place had dampening on the ceiling and it did a decent job of cutting the higher end that can make a space so loud. We had an enjoyable conversation. Intimate lighting. It was a nicely lit space without overpowering lighting. Good place for a date as long as you choose the right table away from foot traffic. We happened to get a table floating in the middle next to a main foot traffic area. Not my preference but I have pretty high standards when it comes to seating. I am also one who usually feels like the tables are over-sat, leaving everyone cramped for space for basic things like your phone and even a regular amount of plates and glasses. This left me and my party playing a shuffle game and feeling a bit crowded at the table. Food is really good. We ordered a lot of food and it was all cooked very well. Not to minimize, but as a restaurant I expect the food to be good as a baseline. That's the business you are in. The food did not disappoint. I feel like this is a 4.5 star experience. But I cannot choose a half star. I went for 5 stars because they got a LOT right, especially compared to some other places I have been to. Bravo! Note: (I did not use the restroom or consider any of the accessibility aspects. We even entered through the back door, which did not open automatically.) read more

We went to Ambrosia for the first time this weekend. We love good Italian food. The outside seating was great. It was a bit chilly, but still comfortable. Arturo was our server, and he greeted us warmly and got drinks started. Our friends ordered the mussels appetizer special with two different types of mussels, and the Burrata Caprese Salad, which they said were delicious. We ordered Alfredo with shrimp, braised short ribs, Pollo Parmigiana, and a seafood ravioli special. Every bite was amazing, and we were all too full for dessert, but what we saw looked incredible! The service was excellent, our drinks were delicious and the experience was one that we really enjoyed. We'll definitely be back! read more

I must say I forget about Ambrosia and I don't know why. It is always amazing. Stopped in with a friend last night to get a bite to eat and we sat at the bar. The bartender was friendly and helpful. The bar crowd was lively, and the mood was great. We just got a light bite and I highly recommend the grilled octopus and the meatball soup.! Both were absolutely fantastic. Though we did not get dinner I can vouch for the entrées as well. I don't sit on Ambrosia. Get yourself over there. read more

This is a Broad Ripple classic that has been in the neighborhood as long or longer than we have, so going on 25 years at least. It was originally in downtown BRV near the Firehouse but has since moved to Meridian & College, across from Binkley's. Great classic Italian dishes match the intimate and romantic Italian decor when you walk in. The Staff is always friendly but efficient, happy to answer questions when needed. The food is always top notch, seafood is fresh, and the Italian traditionalists will be pleased. Highly recommend for special nights and carryout works well too! read more

My friend and I came in here when we were staying in the area. We arrived pretty early on a Friday night and were able to get a table in the bar area. Seems like reservations are recommended since it fills up quickly. The server was very nice and helpful. We ordered the burrata bruschetta as an appetizer and it was delicious. For my food, I ordered the carbonara. Everything was great! read more

Ambrosia - Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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This area is fortunate to have some good Italian spots. This place holds its own. The location is good and there is an option to sit both inside and out. I even think they keep an outdoor option into the colder months with the use of heaters. This was my first visit and everything that my husband and I ordered was good. We started with the pancetta with shrimp and the caprese salad. For dinner we had gnocchi with mushrooms and the clam linguine. Everything had good flavor and it came out in a timely manner. read more

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