This was my first trip to the restaurant and I was pleasantly impressed. We started out with some oysters, which are one dollar each on Monday nights. Presentation freshness, and flavor all on point. We then shared some beef carpaccio, which is also outstanding. Finley sliced with just the right amount of pepper and a little bit of lemon juice. We shared some carbonara, which was quite tasty and finished off with pistachio cake. We sat at the bar. The bartender was very friendly and engaging. The entire staff is very warm and genuine in their delivery. The space is beautiful with an intriguing back bar. Excited to go again soon. read more

Bocca - Cake - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Decided to come here for my birthday dinner with a friend, I've visited before but it was my friends first time. Our waitress was amazing, very friendly, and attentive. To start we had the arincini which were delicious! A perfect starter. For my main course I had the sea food ravioli, and it was a great summer treat, the seafood was fresh, and I loved that the sauce wasn't too heavy. For drinks I love aperol spritz, so I had to enjoy one, and I finished the meal with some tasty sorbet! Be sure to check out the speak easy underneath! They have fun cocktails! read more

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The parking is available in a lot across the street. The lot in the back will likely be full and you will need to walk around the building anyway. We stopped in for a dinner date and had a lovely experience. The hostess was open to my request for another table (they sat us at a tiny two-seater next to a high traffic area). We were then sat at a lovely table next to the window. The waitress was knowledgeable and friendly, doing a good job without constantly interrupting the meal. Our food was delish! So was desert. The atmosphere was nice, the bar looked really cool and the speakeasy downstairs was a nice secret meeting location or a hidden spot for a drink. Accessibility: the main entrance off the sidewalk has a step that may impede a wheelchair. But I did see someone in a nice powered wheelchair setup eating. So while I did not see how he got in, there may be a second entrance. Either way they were able to accommodate this individual. The restrooms upstairs had Manila doors but seemed to be accessible (see pics). The speakeasy downstairs did not see to be handicap accessible at all. Having stairs for access and no accommodations in the restroom downstairs The noise level was ok, not terrible. They has acoustic tiles on the ceiling in places. Lastly, the AC seems to be provided by window units in at least part of the building. Consider this when being sat. I had an AC unit blowing right on me the whole time. Could be good, could be bad lol I say give Bocca a visit, and bring a friend to discover the Speak Easy downstairs. read more

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It was like being in a quaint little Italian atmosphere The service was top notch with our waiter being like a good friend that knows the menu the wine list and his suggestions were on point Our dinners were perfect and we finished the whole plate I would recommend this establishment to one and all ‼ Suggestion to make a reservation because it is very busy read more

The service felt super rushed here. We had a reservation and we ordered several things, but I felt like the meal was fast. Caesar salad was not pictured and super not worth it. Pasta was really wonderful and the calamari was top tier in my book. The menu changes, which I appreciate, so I would love to come back and try more pasta. Overall, the food was delicious, but I would skip the flatbread. They had a cool cocktail menu we did not try, but seemed like a popular draw to the restaurant. read more

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Bocca was a nice find north of downtown Indianapolis. The lamb was flavorful and tender and the watermelon bruschetta was unique and flavorful with a blend of sweet and savory. Trying some Amaro flight options was interesting as I've only had them in cocktails. The variation was vast. read more

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The service was top notch. Daphne was so sweet and such a great server. We ate outside on a beautiful day. Come for the happy hour from 5-6pm, if possible. They have $1/oyster (which were amazing) and drink specials. We got the goat cheese appetizer and it was delicious. I ordered a half ceci chop salad and it was SO good! My husband ordered the carbonara and I ordered the Della Casa. Recommend both. We got the Italian 75 and Old Fashioned. Both excellent. Highly recommend. read more

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Bocca is a wonderful place in a quiet neighborhood with an amazing vibe all around. The interior is all black with the only color being the lighting. Its very moody and kind of seductive. I wish they had some high backed velvet booths in black to really amp things up. But I digress. Service was professional, but not cloying, which i appreciated. They had some kind of special going on when I was there so I took advantage. It was 4 courses and you chose the dishes you wanted. I went with: 1st course: Arancini: crispy truffle risotto, parmesan, truffle cream, basil 2nd course: Ceci Chopped: romaine, cherry tomatoes, provolone, salami, red onion, artichoke, crispy chickpeas, red wine vinaigrette 3rd course: Della Casa: Calamarata, shrimp, spicy creamy tomato, lobster butter, basil 4th course: Tiramisu: Mascarpone, rum, cocoa, coffee Everything was perfectly plated and spectacular. I would definitely come back. read more

Bocca is a great spot for Italian dinner. Happy hour from 5-6pm is a nice bonus, especially with their Aperol Spritz tower! I've had the seafood ravioli and the calamari appetizer, and both were delicious. The service was prompt, and the outdoor patio is a great place to sit and unwind. read more

I visited Bocca in August 2024 while in Indianapolis for a medical conference. My friend came here 2 weeks before me & recommended Bocca- she never fails. I tend to be in Indy twice a year & I will be back to Bocca! Here's what's good: - friendly staff -free on-site parking - beautiful patio seating (we ate outside) -The Food! We started with the baked goat cheese appetizer. Baked goat cheese is one of my favorite things. It came with 4 large slices of bread & we were offered more when we ran out. I will say that this appetizer wasn't correctly balanced. It had way too much acidity leaving it extremely sour. It was still so good & we ate the whole thing, but would be way better if it was balanced more. My friend got the Cavatappi which had a breaded chicken filet on top & a pesto cream sauce. She loved it & was sad when she got full & couldn't eat more. I got the Della Casa. I had never heard of or eaten calamarata pasta before. It's cut to look like calamari, but it is pasta! The pasta was perfectly al dente, great chew & I loved the shape. It was paired with perfectly cooked, juicy shrimp, & a spicy tomato sauce. I honestly would make no changes to this dish. It was perfect & so satisfying. I was thrilled that I got full & would get to bring some home to eat later! The portion is great & I'm excited to heat up the rest tonight! This is a nice, mid-range Italian restaurant so the prices are what you expect. This is no Olive Garden. You'll pay more, but the food quality is also much higher. read more

Bocca - Della Casa- pasta cut to resemble calamari, shrimp, spicy tomato sauce. Delicious! - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Delicious food and great service!! The ambiance is a little casual for the price of the food, though. read more

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Yum - this was an excellent Italian meal with lots of food choices and everything that was delicious.

Nice atmosphere for a date or intimate gathering. Staff were attentive and had an eye for details. Food was great. No complaints. A fantastic five star Italian restaurant. read more

The drinks were impeccable and we absolutely loved the quaint speak easy in the basement. The food wasn't anything to brag about but it was still good. The staff catered to our reservation and quickly problem solved when a storm rolled in ruining the patio seating. All in all, we were satisfied with date night. read more

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I organize monthly dinner, group of ladies, that rotates around Indy trying out different restaurants. Bocca was highly recommended and the service and food quality was superb. We had a group of 16 ladies and were able to reserve the large room inside to the left of the hostess stand inside. I was made aware that with a large group, gratuity would be automatically included, which is expected with large groups. ** The new item to note when eating with large groups, is the extra surcharge to split your checks. If you want to split your checks and pay separately with cards, then your gratuity will be 30 %. We were able to notify everyone in our group ahead of time and have everyone bring cash and pay one bill vs separate checks. ** So, I had to be a banker at the end of the night, but it was worth it. * a very special treat for this restaurant is their speak easy in the basement! Definitely check it out. Our group ordered many cocktails, appetizers and entrees. We all like to share and try out each others food items. We had a great experience and definitely recommend. read more

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Anniversary dinner! First time going to Bocca and it was pretty good. I'm not a huge drinker at all, but when I do drink, I need something sweet and not too strong. I'm sure it was made with tequila, but it was YUM! I ordered the mushroom ravioli, I added grilled chicken to it and honestly I could've went without the chicken. Two reasons: 1. The mushrooms were big and juicy (I love mushrooms) 2. The grilled chicken was not flavorful My boyfriend and I always get calamari when we see that a menu has it and theirs was good. The food did take a WHILE to come- We also werent huge fans of the seating layout because the restaurant is very small and there's a lot of tables that take up the inside so we couldn't get comfortable when others had to continually walk back and forth in between our tables. Our waitress was very nice and sweet, she wished us a happy anniversary and I was happy that she was able to get me a specially made cocktail for my tastebuds read more

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I've been meaning to try this place for awhile. Remembered one night while out with friends and couldn't get a table as they were all being held for reservations coming in later that evening Made reservations for the following week with different friends and we had such a great experience. The food was delicious - clearly, I forgot to take pictures of half of the courses before devouring them. Nothing that hit our table was a disappointment: sangria, risotto balls, soups, salads, cavatappi, and ricotta chicken. Looking forward to trying more items from the menu. read more

Bocca - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I've always wanted to try Bocca and now that I did, I know why this place has so many great reviews! It lived up to my expectations truly! It was a dinner date with my boyfriend and I loved the ambience there. After reading reviews and looking at Yelpers' photos, I HAD to try the pasta dish "Della casa" , it seemed to be very popular. Besides that we had goat cheese appetizer. Appetizer came quickly, and it was so creamy and soft and I became obsessed. It is highly recommended. My pasta was so delicious, had ample amount of big shrimp and this sauce- nothing like what I've had before. So. Great. I don't know what It is about the sauce, you just have to try it. Staff were professional and friendly. Great spot for dates, birthdays or any special occasion. read more

Bocca - Della casa - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Fantastic from start to finish. Feels very upscale but also comfortable. Our server, Tillman, was very knowledgeable and attentive. His suggestions were spot on. Caesar Salad followed by Mushroom Ravioli was out of this world. Full bar and extensive wine list make the experience top notch. Highly recommend. read more

The perfect meal and ambiance...Bocca surpassed any expectations I had. The space really sets the mood, intimate and classy while still being welcoming. We found out they are owned by the same people as Ambrosia and The Commodore, so if you've visited either of those spots you know they are experts at creating a wonderful dining environment. Our service was great all around, our waitress was very approachable and had great recommendations for our meal. The meal was delicious with a few fun twists that made it stand out in my overall experiences with Italian food. The Della Casa and Bacci both came highly recommended and for good reason! The Bacci features a creamy honey chipotle sauce cheese-filled pasta, so it's rich but in the way that you won't want to stop eating. The Della Casa highlighted the shrimp beautifully and the spicy tomato sauce had the perfect amount of kick. We hardly ever leave room for dessert, but we couldn't resist the skillet cookie and it was a delightful treat to end the meal. Our experience combined with the amazing food put Bocca in one of my top 10 Indy restaurants! read more

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Went to Bocca for Valentine's Day and it was great! I recommend arriving early to go downstairs to the speakeasy for drinks! I also recommend visiting on Wednesday for a half price wine night! read more

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We had the mussels, calamari, lasagna, della casa & the ricotta bomboloni. Very good dinner experience overall except the calamari was almost soggy. For Ambiance It's very dim and cozy inside, the exact vibe I was looking for read more

Absolutely on our list of special-occasion spots! Service was delightful, the mood and vibe of the place was cozy and cool. The cocktails were great and the food was absolutely incredible. I dug into mine (a gnocchi with a brown butter sauce) so quickly I forgot to take a photo! My husband's carbonara was delicious too. I can't wait to return! Also street parking was easy to find nearby. We made a reservation for a Friday night and were glad we did as it was crowded by the time we left. read more

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My family and I went here for my graduation celebration and my sister and I's birthday. Our server was great and very kind! All our food was amazing and came out in good timing. I had the gluten free cavatappi and it was so good I didn't even get a picture. We sat inside but their outside area looks really nice too. Definitely recommend! read more

We went back for dinner! Our server was so nice and very accommodating. I'm picky..so that was so helpful! We had two appetizers...judge me. Arrancici. Flawless except there's only three. I'm chunky. Give me more. And the Baked Goat Cheese. Stop it!! It was so good. It does say spicy sausage, and I think Nacho Cheese is spicy, and I loved it. Main: My husband had the special. He said it was delicious. I had the Cavatappi. It was great. Sauce delicious. And the crispy chicken was perfect. I wish they would use fresh pasta though. I think it will make their dishes even better. I tried to see if I could find anywhere online and/or at the restaurant for the scratch pasta, but I couldn't. So I am assuming it is from a box. Nevertheless, it's still good. Dessert: Tiramisu. I added the Vanilla Gelato with Salted Carmel. Because I want everything extra. It was delicious. We will definitely be coming back. We love the apps, deserts, staff, and ambiance so much!!! read more

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Had to make an updated review with photos!! Sometimes when you have such a great experience at a restaurant the first time, the second time is a bit of a let down. I will say this was NOT the case here. We all tried different dishes and they were all amazing yet again!! My mom even said her dish was the best pasta she had ever had! And she's been to Italy. Great decor with a nice and lively ambience. I love this place! read more

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The happy hour is a must try if you love aperol! Our server was so sweet. The outdoor patio was amazing!

Overall, good experience! We made a reservation (which I definitely would consider), and we were able to sit outside. The patio is huge, clean, and open. They had live music that was the perfect volume - classy, elegant, and set the ambiance for the evening. I will say, being across from the burger place across the street will involve some screaming children in the background, but nothing that Bocca can control. To start, we got the Carpaccio. The bread was so good, and the arugula was as well. I will say that the thin-sliced beef tenderloin was really oily which threw off the consistency a bit, but overall it was a good starter for the two of us to share. For our main courses, we got the bolognese and the bistecca (NY Strip). The bolognese was SO good - perfect sauce-noodle ratio, and it had wonderful flavor. They allow you to have fresh Parmesan on top, which is always an added bonus! The NY Strip was cooked perfectly and charred on the top (which I am a fan of. If you're not, it may have been too charred for you). The mushrooms that came on the side with it were wonderful and flavorful, but the potatoes could have been cooked a little longer. Overall, great meal. Our server was very nice, timely, and helpful. I wish I could have remembered her name to give her props. Overall great experience and we will be back, especially for the patio! With all of the food mentioned above, a 9oz glass of moscato and 1 Coors Light, our bill was about $110 before tip (FYI). Thanks, Bocca! read more

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I was recommended by many people to check this place out and I am so glad I did! There is a speak easy in the basement with incredible drinks, so I would definitely recommend coming a little ahead of your reservation to grab a drink. If you don't finish by the time your table is ready - no worries because you can bring it upstairs! The restaurant was very nice and had a cozy vibe. All of the employees were very friendly and helpful with making suggestions. My fiancé and I were over the moon impressed with everything we had - including a bottle of red wine (not pictured). This is a must try in Indy! read more

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I stopped into this cute bistro for a nice dinner this evening, and it did not disappoint. I dont have anything negative to say about the food at all. The arroncini was the highlight of our appetizer selection (stuffed with delicious melted cheese) but the baked goat cheese was also very satisfying. My basil gimlet cocktail was unique and seriously strong. I loved my tortellini, and my table mates seemed very happy with their pasta dishes as well. Our service was excellent. Our server allowed us to taste a few wines before landing on a nice barollo for dinner, and when she found out it was my friends birthday, she went out of her way to make it special with a complimentary dessert. The dining room is very beautiful and quirky. It has cute pasta themed photos all over the walls, and the tablescapes are super cute. Unfortunately, we had two bachelorette parties right next to us making tons of noise, but that's not the restaurants fault. I definitely looking forward to returning for another meal. read more

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What a great find! We made a reservation and sat outside. Kayla was our server and she was outstanding. She made sure we knew the specials and checking on us and even suggested going to the bar downstairs for a night cap. We ordered Lamb Pop special and the Della Casa. Both were delicious and full of so much flavor. Cannot wait to go back! read more

Bocca - Lamb Pop special - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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We stopped by Bocca on a Saturday evening and were seated immediately without a wait. Our favorite thing we ordered was the baked goat cheese for an appetizer. The pesto cavatappi was good but not great and the carbonara could've used more sauce. Overall, the pasta was decent but I wished there was more creative options on the menu. read more

Bocca - Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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This is a great neighborhood spot for nice cocktails, classic Italian food with a little something extra, and....after my last visit....a nice little outdoor seating area! Most of my visits to Bocca have been for indoor seating, we order red wine and cocktails and sit in the dimly lit dining area surrounded by black, with touches of bright green from the live greenery that hangs down here and there from little planters. There's a little bit of daylight coming in through the side-walk facing windows depending on the time of day. The food is consistently great. Service is wonderful. We wrap up our meal, order dessert and my husband gets his decaf americano and we call it a night. Always pretty decent. But LAST NIGHT we went and actually decided to sit outside. It was warm but not sticky, and the patio (which we'd never tried since the property's Shoefly days) was nearly empty. After connecting w/the hostess inside and walking through the familiar dark interior and emerging into the bright, airy patio we knew we'd made the right choice. We'll call it comfortable-classy. Not overly pretentious or curated...lots of touches of black, but surrounded by green (grass, planters of herbs and veggies around the perimeter of the patio) and just the right level of music coming from tiny speakers tucked into the planters. We experienced the same excellent service outdoors as we have indoors. We were clear from the start of our meal that we were not in a rush. At one point our server was apologetic for not checking back in -- but to be honest we hadn't noticed. There were enough other folks who had popped by (to refill waters, clear an oyster plate, salad plates, bring fresh silverware, etc.) that we never felt unattended to. It was a Wednesday, so the wine was half price. We swapped our normal wine choices for a crisp, slightly bubbly red (lambruisco) and it was perfect. The wine sat in a chiller on our table and was such a nice contrast to the warm outdoor air. We shared everything -- the oysters which were cleanly shucked, the watermelon bruschetta with a touch of goat cheese and hot honey (I'll be making this one at home!), the chopped salad, the Della Casa (pasta with shrimp and lobster butter but surprisingly light), and a brown butter cake (housemade with fresh berries and a little dollap of gelato). Here's my favorite part: Our server overheard us deciding on the salad and I said to my husband "the only thing I don't love about the chopped salad is the salami -- you can have mine" and when she had the dishes split she requested from the kitchen that the salami only go on his plate. Seriously! :) We'll be back. In the cooler months we'll cozy up in the dark indoor spaces -- but in the warm months we'll definitely be back to that patio, and probably on a Wednesday for the half off wine again! ;) read more

10 stars for a lovely patio especially when the weather is perfect. We had a rare date night and I chose this place because I wanted pasta. I had it in my mind that they made their pasta from scratch but they do not. Both pasta dishes were missing a little something. The carbonara wasn't creamy, it was kind of dry. Maybe just a little more pasta water when they were assembling. The cavatappi in pesto was good after I added a ton of salt and pepper. The lemon revival cocktail was perfect. The mussels were steamed in beer and I don't know if I had ever had that before. I liked it! Dessert was also 10 stars! Tiramisu was so delicate and creamy and light. Cheesecake was an indulgence! Overall it was good! read more

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Great, cute little Italian place. The bar has a wide selection of amari and the food is incredible for the price. The portions are large, but even if you can't finish them you come away with the feeling that you had a great meal for the price. The downstairs bar wasn't open when I went by, but I'm looking forward to checking it out. read more

The food and service were great. I like the cozy neighborhood vibe Carpaccio was tasty. Six different entrees did not disappoint. read more

Such great food and great ambiance. Their happy hour is unbeatable. Takes place EVERY DAY 5-6 and almost all spritz are $5. The food was amazing as well. I love the arancini app and the carbonara. Staff is super friendly as well. Go downstairs for an extended happy hour in their "speak easy". read more

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If you are looking for the best carbonara pasta look no further. Bocca has such delicious pasta that is freshly made and packed with flavor. The lasagna is always a fan favorite and the salmon is great for anyone looking for something a little lighter. The atmosphere is very relaxing from the indoor bar to the patio out back. The staff is extremely helpful with the menu and very friendly. Not to mention on Wednesday's there is 1/2 price bottle of wines which is great for the table! read more

Bocca - Carbonara pasta and Sauvignon blanc - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Bocca is just lovely! Might be my new favorite Italian spot. The style of the food is a little less traditional, if that makes sense? And so FLAVORFUL! The restaurant has a really moody, cozy atmosphere. One of the first things I noticed was the inviting bar to the right. Will have to sit there next time. It's a good spot for dates and small groups. My husband and I opted for the Devour menu. Our server, Yessica, very helpfully walked us through all the options and recommended that we order different dishes for each course so we could try a little bit of everything. We started with cocktails. I LOVED my basil gimlet. It was very citrusy and came in the cutest glass. After that we switched to the Pinot noir, which was very good. They have a pretty big wine list with lots of by the glass, 9 oz, and bottle options. Next we went rouge and ordered the baked goat cheese appetizer (not on the Devour menu). But worth mentioning because it was the best thing we had!! I loved the addition of crispy bits of sausage, and you could really taste the fennel. And the bread was toasted perfectly. 10/10 For starters, we got arancini and tuna. Both solid, but the arancini takes the win here. For entrees we got the della casa and the mushroom lasagna. The lasagna was incredible and a pretty big portion. It paired very well with the wine. The della casa was spicy and seafood-forward, as advertised. Finally, for dessert we got the fried donuts and the sorbet (mango and raspberry). The sorbet was the perfect light ending to the meal. I probably wouldn't order the donuts again. Can't wait to go back and try more! read more

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The first time at this restaurant but not the location. It used to be our beloved Shoefly. From start to finish everything was amazing. I met with with a few girlfriends. We had a good chunk of what's on the menu and none of our items disappointed. From the calamari to the salad, lamb shank and deconstructed cheesecake, everything was delicious and I'll definitely be back with other friends and loved ones. Tried the old fashioned there because that's what I try at all restaurants. You won't be disappointed. After dinner and dessert we went downstairs to the speakeasy style lounge and got one drink and chilled the rest of our time there. I wasn't really feeling anything on the menu so I asked the mixologist to create a drink using bourbon and blood orange. You need to put that on the menu because that's what I'll be back for! read more

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