Found this cool spot while walking around downtown Indianapolis by the Capitol during a business trip. And let me tell you how glad I was to find Bakersfield! The ambiance was inviting, and quite busy for a chilly Monday night. Grabbed a seat at the bar and the dish being delivered in front of the patron next to me looked so delicious that I ordered the same - this was the Short Rib Queso and absolutely amazing. The Anejo Margarita was the single best Margarita I've ever had. The service from the bartender was warm, prompt, professional and he went above and beyond to ensure I had an amazing experience. Highly recommend Bakersfield next time you are in downtown Indianapolis for a superb experience you won't forget! read more

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If you haven't had Bakersfield you gotta give it a try. One of the best spots in Indy. They are the bar in which other restaurants are judged. read more

I thought about this review and wanted to give it a higher rating but just can't. Let's start with the high points, the food is excellent but a pretty limited choice, it's pretty much just tacos, but they do them well! Now we must move on to the low points. The ambience is very very loud like difficult to hear the person across from you loud. I thought it would be better away from the bar, but it really wasn't and there's nothing to soften the sound as part of the aesthetics. The other very low point is service. while our waitress was very friendly, there wasn't a whole lot of service included. We asked for extra napkins Many times before we got any. There was no silverware on the table when we were seated and so when our appetizers were brought, we had no silverware and no napkins. It took an extremely long time to get any drinks to our table. I asked for a gluten friendly menu and never did have one delivered. On OpenTable I had indicated we were celebrating a birthday and this was never acknowledged by anyone. There are many many restaurants. several have closed recently and service really needs to be a focus of management. I know she said they were down a person but that is on management and that isn't a good look on a weekend night. We only ended up here because Nada closed and yet Nada had better service, ambience and food. We will probably try other places before returning here. read more

I want to love this place so badly. I'm disappointed to write this review. We had a reservation for a party of 8 at 6:30pm and were seated right away when we arrived, I really like when restaurants are on top of their reservation list so this is a big plus in my book! I was not impressed with service from the start. It was a Saturday night and I understand that they're busy but our waiter was not good. He didn't speak up and so it was difficult to hear him when we he spoke, had to be reminded a few times to refill drinks and get more chips for the table and overall, just was kind of absent the entire time. Regardless of service, the food was not great and it is the main reason I won't recommend this spot. The Trio appetizer was okay but not great, no one cared for the salsa verde so it went untouched. The queso wasn't great either. The tacos are small so I ordered 3 different kinds: Carnitas, Al Pastor and Short Rib. The tacos are presented beautifully on a large platter but it's confusing when everyone is trying to figure out whose is what. It was a debate at the table and our waiter wasn't much help in decipher who got what... Each of my tacos were disappointing. I didn't even take another bite of my Al Pastor it was so bad, the pineapple was straight out of a can and the pork tasted old. The carnitas wasn't anything special, it really needed seasoning and the short rib was the best of the three but still lacked flavor. I'm not sure why Bakersfield was a major flop for me but I'm disappointed and I will stick with Torchy's Tacos in Fishers. read more

Bakersfield Mass Ave - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I had a fun time at the bar with Keily, Seraj, and Jenn! They went above and beyond and made my experience exponentially amazing. read more

Bakersfield Mass Ave - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Came here on a Saturday night for dinner before a Pacer's game and was pretty disappointed. The vibe was fun and we were able to snag seats at the bar quickly as it was a 30 min wait for a table for 2. We got an app of chips and guac which were fine. The guac wasn't particularly exciting and the chips were okay. I got short rib, carnitas, and shrimp tacos. Both the short rib and carnitas were dried out. The shrimp taco was pretty tasty. Overall, was disappointed and would not go back. read more

The food was amazing! The options of tacos and home made queso and guacamole were delicious! The outside seating options as well as the inside with open garage doors was fun and perfect for the warmer weather! The service was also great and sweet! read more

Just went for the first time this past week even though I'm from Indy and I had such a fun time! Their food and drinks are so good and the vibes at this place is fun to be around. The service was great as well especially Hannalise. She was super friendly with the entire group. We could tell she truly is caring for others in the bar. Would definitely recommend checking this place out! read more

Basement dining and bar area: Our first time eating in the downstairs area. Nice bar section with a lot of seating. We got the happy hour chips and salsa, tacos, and beer. The short rib taco is my favorite, followed by carnitas! The guacamole is also so so good, and I usually get that but the two salsas were also good this time. read more

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Trey was amazing!! Very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and drinks. Will definitely be back!

Had amazing service tonight from Chelsea Peterson! She was an absolute delight and we hope we get her the next time we come! Also do yourself a favor and get the cucumber marg that is on special currently! It's amazing! My go to tacos are the shrimp! Can't be beat! read more

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I get that Mass Ave caters to the night and weekend crowd. But I didn't set there hours, and hadn't realized our presence wouldn't be received well on a Tuesday. if you're open you should act like it and this place didn't. It was after 5PM and we asked to be seated on their cute patio so we could drink and people-watch. The hostess promptly seated us... Then nothing. Nobody came around. The hostess came outside again (not to take our order, I guess) and I caught her eye. She gave a big, bright smile and went inside. I thought, 'oh good, she'll tell whoever is waiting tables that we're ready.' Many, many minutes went by and nobody came out to take our order. When my mate took the menus back in because we were leaving for somewhere that would actually act like we were visible--she said nobody was in there. It's weird, unprofessional behavior. Again, just have a sign or something that says, 'indoor bar orders only til 10PM' or whatever. As it was, the vibe was uncomfortable and un-wecoming. read more

Colette was an amazing waitress!! Had such a great experience. Food and drinks: perfect! If you're in Indy, you need to come here!

Haley was the best server! She was so educational about the menu and made great suggestions. We will definitely be back! Food was awesome too! :) read more

Bakersfield Mass Ave - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Came here with a group of classmates, so it was really fun to see how the restaurant caters to so many tastes/preferences. I tried the fish taco, shrimp taco, and huitlacoche (corn truffle) taco. My favorites were definitely the fish and shrimp taco and appreciated how each taco comes with a different dressing of toppings - it keeps things from getting boring! The huitlacoche was a little dry for me, but I still enjoyed it. Our server (I forgot her name!) was so welcoming and gladly answered any questions we had about the menu. I could tell that she was busy, but she had a great attitude that made my experience great! read more

Bakersfield Mass Ave - Variety of tacos - fish taco, shrimp taco, Huitlacoche Taco, Al Pastor taco, and carnitas taco. - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Great tacos and drinks, and Seraj made the whole experience even more enjoyable! Definitely one of my favorites spots downtown Indy!:)

I was hesitant to try this but it was highly recommended by a local friend. A Mexican restaurant named after a California city not really known for a food scene (or anything really) should have had all my warning bells going. Nothing really authentic about the food here. We were seated right away during dinner rush on a Friday night and the restaurant was quite busy. The pineapple margarita was seriously good. The trio app with salsa and guac was also good. However the tacos and taquitos we got left so much to be desired. Nothing authentic about the toppings, but ok they aren't street tacos.. still they lacked depth of flavor, were dry, and were very skimpy. Service was good. With how busy it was, we did have good and attentive service. Definitely no complaints there. The decor was also cute. I liked the vibe of the restaurant and really wished the food could have been better. I say pass, there has to be other types of food that are better in the area. Save the tacos for when you're actually in Bakersfield. read more

I could give you a list of reasons to check out Bakersfield on Mass Ave, but the #1 reason is to see Sierra!! She is by far one of the best servers in the business. She made our time at Bakersfield such a pleasure and we will be going back just to see her. While you're there, try out the papas rajas - you won't be disappointed. The short rib and fish tacos are absolutely delicious, second only to the chicken taquitos. If you're looking for a spot that will bring the energy and leave you full, check this one out. read more

Went to this restaurant tonight after the Colts win over the Chiefs (Hurray) - anyway back to this nice restaurant on Mass Avenue. It wasn't to crowded tonight. Nice place good food (not a wide variety but that is ok). Our server was very nice and knowledgeable. We ordered a couple of margarita's. I had their special Mai Tai Margarita (good but on the sweeter side) and my wife had their Pineapple Margarita. They were both tasty. My son ordered their Carnitas Taquitos that had an enchilada sauce over them (he said they were good). My wife ordered 2 tacos (Chorizo and potato and also a fish taco). We shared their 1/2 Willie Salad (Good Salad with plenty of flavor) and I also has a Short Rib Taco (pretty good). Nice place good food. read more

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I never make reviews, but the service I got a long and tiresome weekday was exactly what I needed m. My server Ryan was polite respectful and knowledgeable on the menu and help guided me through my order. the food came out quickly but gave my party enough time to enjoy the bar and ambiance of the restaurant. If you a looking for a spot for great food and great service after a long day this is your spot. read more

This place slaps so hard and Alisia is the best server in the history of servers. I love the salsa! I love the guacamole! I love that stupid creamy, cheesy amazing queso! The tacos are all so thoughtfully balanced and stuffed full. Try them all. Go for it. read more

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We love stopping in to Bakersfield for a taco Tuesday! We can't get enough of that short rib queso and a seasonal marg on their patio! read more

Bakersfield Mass Ave - Short Rib Queso - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

If you're use to or looking for authentic tacos, this is not the place. The tacos are street taco size. The sauces all have way too much vinegar. I had the short rib (not pictured) and the fish. They were both good but not enough taco for the price. I also ordered the corn which was really good, but it was cold (on purpose). I didn't expect or care for chilled corn. read more

Bakersfield Mass Ave - Corn . (Aguachile, maybe) - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I've been here many times and learned today they have a basement with seating downstairs. This doubles the size of the place. This restaurant is in a great location on Mass Ave. They make an amazing spicy pineapple margarita. Another favorite is the trio dip which is guacamole salsa verde and salsa. With chips. They also have a variety of street tacos. The service is excellent our server was attentive and friendly. We were headed to a live show she made sure we're out of there in plenty of time. They sell margaritas by the pitcher which is great if your going with a group. read more

Bakersfield Mass Ave - Trio dip - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

This review is for a late lunch sitting at the bar while road tripping through Indiana in early September. service: Rokey was simply fantastic. A great bartender and hospitality professional. He made the experience amazing. bar: House margarita ($12) was excellent. Good selection of taps and bottles. But, this is the place for margaritas. Shots appeared at one point? food: We started with chips and salsa ($5). My wife's short rib taco ($4.50) was great. My Milanesa Torta ($12) is a chicken sandwich that was huge and tasty. details: Street parking up and down the block. Lots of restaurants and bars in the area, so parking might be challenging at times. Bakersfield has a whole lot of rooms or areas. We saw an outside patio out back, there appears to be a downstairs, a side room with tables, and the bar area. read more

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Bakersfield queso use to be one of my favorite things on the menu. It is alway something I order. Well today is was super runny and lumpy. I don't know if they have changed the recipe or I just received a bad batch. I feel like our waitress was rushing us, it is St Patrick's Day. We ordered our drinks and queso right away. Then we ordered some taco and the queso came out and before I had eaten my first chip the tacos were there followed by our check! Let me enjoy my chips first please! The tacos are tiny. I really don't think they can get any smaller. They taste great don't get me wrong I could probably eat a half a dozen or so. Bakersfield has always been a place my mom and I have enjoyed going but after todays visit we won't be back. read more

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A great place to stop by for drinks and apps! We stopped by here before our dinner reservations. They had the Paloma Margarita as their seasonal margarita. If you go in a bigger group, it's worth getting the pitcher! For the app we tried their queso dip and chips, also worth trying! For a Mexican restaurant, I thought it was interesting that they were playing country music. Overall, food and drinks were good. I'd love to come back to try other food on the menu. Service was great too! read more

Bakersfield Mass Ave - Loaded Queso - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I've always loved going to Bakersfield, but today Seraj, Matt, and Dustin the bartenders went above and beyond to make sure I was always taken care of! If you are here you have to try the queso, the quac, the short rib taco, and the Willie salad! All so good. Thank you Bakersfield for being the best!! read more

What's going on here? The service is just awful, I only see one person/bartender handling the whole place. She's working hard no doubt, I feel the pain. I also feel, as I don't get much attention or service what I need/order. Not sure I want to come back here again, this does make me very sad!! read more

Bakersfield is delicious!!! It was Restaurant Week, so we did the deal and each got a salad and 3 tacos. I never would have thought to have a salad with my Mexican meal. It was so good! Seline was a wonderful server. I am gluten and dairy free and she was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. I really appreciate her attention to detail and helping make sure my meal was made the right way for my allergies! She was super nice too. Will definitely be back! read more

The food was amazing and Silene is the best server around! Absolutely delightful service

Bakersfield was a quick trip as a student at Butler. The location is very convenient and the food is amazing. While it is not the restaurant's fault, the first thing I noticed was the tough parking from Mass Ave. with limited spaces, parking for this restaurant is a hassle as you may need to be prepared to walk or get very lucky with a spot. Walking in, the atmosphere of Bakersfield is very lowkey and chill. The dim lighting and barstool setting makes it a nice place to just rewind and layback while you eat some food. I was seated in the basement and I liked the bench type seating as it felt more like a family-style meal eating off of a platter of tacos. The food here is amazing, it is Mexican styled food, with some twists. I had the Baja Shrimp, Carnitas, and the Short Rib tacos. Personally, my favorite was the Baja Shrimp, so if you're thinking of getting it, I would highly recommend. The Carnitas and Short Rib tacos were also great, but the shrimp stuck out to me more. The service here was also phenomenal. I went with a group of students for a class project, and our waitress was super laid back but professional. We wanted to ask her questions about Mass Ave, and what it is like for a company located on the street, and she was very cooperative. She answered all of our questions to the best of her ability, and her service to us was great. Great restaurant if you're looking for some delicious Mexican food. read more

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First time here and 100% recommend for anyone in the area. We had the waitress, Dahsha, and she was THE BEST- so so nice and was able to give us some great food recommendations. Food came out a little bit late, but it didn't even matter considering how busy it was, how polite Dahsha was, and how amazing it tasted. I ordered the pollo verde, the short rib, empanadas, and chips and guacamole and I absolutely loved everything. They also had great drink choices for people who can't/don't drink; I had a mexican coke and a jarritos. A bonus was that they had high chair booths which probably doesn't matter to most people, but I loved it. Great outdoor seating as well. Will definitely be coming back!! read more

Went to Indianapolis, Indiana for a graduation and stopped by Bakersfield to get a bite. The Ambiance was great and All of the Staff members were Amazing and extremely helpful. I had questions about different things on the menu and she explained & answered all of them. We had a few Pineapple margaritas which were excellent and full of Tequila "Yummy yummy " read more

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Really cute vibes! Staff was very friendly. Food wise: We got their queso, empanadas, and the papas rancheras. The queso was great, we added chorizo to it. The empanadas were okay, some protein would be the perfect touch. The papas rancheras were okay too. The tacos were disappointing. We got shrimp, the only out of the bunch that was alright. The carnitas was so dry, the meat felt crunch chewy. The Al pastor needed more flavor. read more

Bakersfield was one of the first places I went when I moved to Indy 4 years ago. Honestly surprised I haven't reviewed it yet because it's so good! They do an excellent job with the street tacos. And I always get the trio for the salsa or short rib queso as a starter. I skip the sides and order more tacos because they are excellent. My favorite thing about Bakersfield though is it's geared for groups. Multiple times I've gone there with 8 plus people and they've brought great service and not been mad that it's a large group. They also will take reservations for larger parties which is great! (See photos from 2023 and 2020 in the review). Last night Brendan was our server and helped us announce to the same group of friends from 2020 that we are having a boy. Brendan and the team went above and beyond to help us use Bakersfield for our moment and that makes it so special to us! read more

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Food was awesome Restaurant A/C was not working so we sweat through our meal. Ambiance was good Overall a good place. Would return. read more

A lot of fun here!!! Came on a Tuesday because naturally, Taco Tuesdays! We got a pitcher of the watermelon margarita which was pretty good but a little too much watermelon flavor for me. The salsa has quite the kick to it. There were super expensive (like $65-75) shots on special for $10, so we got 2... and I wouldn't even pay $10 for the shot again. Tequila didn't taste expensive at all, and especially not upwards of $70+. The short rib queso was bomb though! I'd definitely go back just for that. I was most excited for the queso so just ordered one taco - the Baja shrimp - also a pretty solid choice! Definitely a fun environment & worth a try if you're in the downtown area on taco Tuesday for their specials. read more

Bakersfield Mass Ave - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Bakersfield never disappoints! Recently visited with kiddos and they were super accommodating which is always appreciated. As always, the tacos were delicious! read more

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Came here with friends for a book club meeting. The hostess was very friendly took us to our table immediately. The waiter was great as well. We ordered Chips and Guacamole, and Elotes for appetizers. The Guacamole was the best I've ever had ! The corn was okay. We all order different taco's I had shrimp and short rib which are $4.50 a piece. They were just okay as well. Very small tacos. The highlight is the margarita's they are $13-$15 apiece. So we decided to order a pitcher which was great at the end. For a party of 4 we had 2-3 drinks a piece which came out to $11.25 split between us all. The pitcher was $45. I will definitely come back for drinks and guacamole. read more

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