Our first visit to Culinary Dropout was for lunch on a Saturday. We sat at the bar where we received prompt and friendly service. Note: if you want to be able to see the bar tv's, sit on the side opposite the hostess stand. We now know better for next time. :) We started with a 9 oz Prosecco ($18) and a Diet Coke ($4.75) and the White Truffle Deviled Eggs ($11) which we'd give a 7/10. The menu offers many enticing options, including brunch items. After asking our friendly bartender for recommendations, we opted for the 36 Hour Ribs ($31) and the Spicy Vegan Curry ($28), for which you can swap out the tofu for chicken if you wish. The ribs were served with well seasoned fries and tasty slaw. The curry was good, but included a lot of peppers (perhaps poblano?) which wasn't stated in the menu description: "griddled sweet potato, eggplant, snap pea, cauliflower, shiitake mushroom, black rice." Still a nice dish; just an overwhelming amount of sliced peppers (or some other green veggie which, thankfully, was not green bell pepper). It's a cool, new place and I'm sure it will do very well. I'd suggest trying to go at off times as the parking can be a bit limited given the new restaurant's popularity. read more

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Coba was boss! He was friendly and personable. His attentiveness was on point. The restaurant was chill and I loved the vibe. read more

My friend and I dropped in to culinary this evening and had a solid experience. The ambiance in the restaurant is a cross between casual and high class. Our server, Dillan, was knowledgeable, helpful and attentive. We chatted briefly with the manager, who was moving about the restaurant attending to any unseen needs, which imo is an excellent sign of cohesive management and team effort. The food was very good. I had the ribeye tips partner had the vegan stir fry.i was pleased that they subbed the rice for a vegetable medley that paired well with the steak, as I'm on a low carb diet. The drinks were well made, even my partner enjoyed her non alcoholic beverage. I would rate the service here as impeccable and would gladly return. read more

I was blown away by the cacio e pepe. I'll admit that I had my doubts when I saw it had chicken in it because normally when chicken is added to pasta it's too big and chunky. But the pieces were the perfect size and texture for the dish! I had no clue they had live music. It was a bit loud and hard to hear people talking at times, but it was fun. I wish the seating / ambiance was cuter but I was definitely impressed by the food! read more

Culinary Dropout - Chicken Cacio e Pepe - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

PROS: -large space with cool vibe that is well arranged *long bar to left at entrance *variety of high-tops and booths that can accommodate parties of 6 -variety of food and beverage menu options *Spicy Vegan Curry [$22] is excellent *Soft Pretzel Bites & Provolone Fondue [$17] is unique -decent looking happy hour menu -service is very friendly and efficient CONS: -Chicken Cacio E Pepe is a complete letdown in flavor and quantity (and may have made me sick) -Prices are a tad bit high ($20+ is the baseline price for an entree) -Kind of dark in dining area, 'older' folks will need cheaters to see -Rewards club offers $10 off $20 1st online order only (seems peculiar to not promote dining in) #If my entree had not been such a disappointment, I probably would feel more favorably about the place. Willing to try the happy hour (bar only) if returning for chance at redemption. read more

Server did a great job explaining the menu, his favorites as well as customer favs. We had the Thai Salad added shrimp and the Prime Rib Dip w/ the house salad. Both dishes were very flavorful. It was a little noisy, went for a later lunch. Got right in. Will be back I want to try several things on the menu. read more

The food was excellent, the service was excellent, and I love the ambience. It was really pretty inside, and everything was clean. You could see the kitchen from the dining area, which makes me feel good about the food they're serving. They had live music playing, which was really enjoyable. I would definitely go back and recommend it read more

While they don't have gluten free items listed on the menu, our server had extensive knowledge and made several recommendations. On those she wasn't certain she willing checked with the kitchen. They have gluten free buns and a dedicated gluten free fryer. We started with the Spicy Avocado Roll (unique & delicious!) then I had the prime rib French dip on a gluten free bun, with fries. read more

Love the atmosphere. Drinks were super yummy and appetizer was delicious . Def will go back read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Outstanding! The restaurant itself is something to see! The interior is super eclectic and funky like the menu! Food is amazing! We have been over and over and everything we have ordered is fantastic! Staff is attentive and helpful when ordering if you can't make a decision :) it's a must do! read more

I joined a friend for happy hour! The ambience is great as was the wait staff. We enjoyed the pork belly nachos. The meat was a bit skimpy but the other toppings were plentiful. We tried a few happy hour beverages , such as the Long Island called East of Manhattan, Maui Wowie, and the Perfect Margarita. The first, although good, had a distinct different flavor than what was anticipated. The latter two were great and would gladly be ordered again. read more

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We decided to try this place because we'd had such a great experience at the Denver location. We sat at the bar where we were immediately greeted by a a young man with long hair and a bandanna. We ordered drinks and the deviled eggs. Another bartender came by to make sure we had been helped. It was obvious that the bartenders function as a team. Watching the bartenders make drinks it was clear that they were professionals. Whoever set up the cocktails clearly knows what they are about. After conceding with a few of the bartenders, I ordered the fried chicken and Jill ordered the crispy chicken katsu. The menu stated that it took a while for the fried chicken but that it was worth the wait. I thought it came out pretty quickly. But dishes were spot on. We were told that we absolutely had to try the monkey bread so we did. It was amazing. I noticed a young woman who I assumed was the manager very active in the dining room. She was doing table visits, picking up checks and helping out where needed. Overall a fantastic experience. The one drawback was the wine list. I think there were six reds and they basically all had the same flavor profile. I get that it's corporate but damn, you're peddling grocery store wines in a place with great beer, an amazing cocktail program and killer fresh made food. You can do better. Having said that, we will definitely be back if for no other reason that the bar staff is great. Even the food runner, a young man with dreads was nice and genuinely seemed to care about our experience. The portions were very generous, and the leftovers were delicious the next day. The size of the fried chicken were amazing. That law was the best I've ever had. read more

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Zoey the bartender did a hands down fantastic job!!! Her recommendations were fantastic and everything she recommended was tasty and delicious! She would be the reason we come back because she was an 11/10!! What an amazing job I can't say enough fantastic things about this gal!! read more

Service fine but the description oversold it for me Liked the Brussels w chili paste, but let's be honest, Brussels are the trendy menu side item Fish n chips, greasy, salty, flavorless, just a sprinkling of fries and the slaw was odd. Mt husband has the chicken since we rarely fry chicken at home, large portion, well done, but salty, potatoes might have been instant/mix. And biscuit was forgettable. Like a TGIFridays, or typical chain with a different interior and better bar area. read more

Great vibe, they have live music and $7 cocktails on Saturday brunch time. Staff was super nice and food was great! read more

Culinary Dropout - Breakfast Burrito - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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We went to Culinary Dropout yesterday to celebrate my stepdad's birthday, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable dining experiences we've ever had! We were a same-day party of 10, and the team was so accommodating even with short notice. When we arrived, they asked who the birthday was for because they wanted to make it special. My husband also let them know we had just found out we were having a baby boy prior to arriving. The staff (specifically Des, Shannon, and Liza) went above and beyond for us! The bartender made me a delicious blue mocktail, we received dessert, and to top it all off, they went to Whole Foods to buy us flowers and a card signed by the entire team congratulating us on our baby boy. It was one of the kindest gestures we've ever received. Not only was the food amazing (everything we ordered was top-notch), but the service and genuine kindness from the staff made the night unforgettable. It's not every day that strangers go out of their way to celebrate you - and for that, I can't thank the team at Culinary Dropout enough. We'll definitely be back! read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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We theorized the owner was an aspiring chef who 'left' culinary school. But they must have been naturally amazing anyway since the food was so delicious and creatively prepared. We appreciated the inviting & fun ambiance and yummy cocktails. Not to mention their entertainment, a super acoustic guitar/ singer duo, Matt and Aly while we enjoyed dinner. Will definitely return. read more

The food was great, and the menu was unique compared to many other places. Everything is homemade, which was really impressive. The restaurant was very clean, and the service was top-notch. Our server was extremely knowledgeable, going over every item on the menu that we asked about and providing great details. read more

First off, I have to give props to Culinary Dropout for being open on Memorial Day! We couldn't find any other restaurant in the area that was open, so it seemed like a no-brainer to eat at Culinary Dropout. They ate famous for their pretzels with provolone fondue, and these are a MUST-TRY! I have never had a better soft pretzel in my life, and I usually order soft pretzels whenever they're on a menu. They had the perfect crispy outside with a warm, fluffy inside, and the provolone fondue was an elevated take on a traditional cheese dip. There were 12 pretzel bites in our serving, but my party of 3 had no problem finishing them all--they're that good! My dinner, albeit not as outstanding as the pretzels, was still pretty delicious. I went with the MAC burger, which is basically Culinary Dropout's version of a McDonald's Big Mac. It was yummy, but it didn't surpass my expectations. The fries on the side were way too salty and felt soggy. My mom had the fried chicken dinner, another one of Culinary Dropout's signature dishes, but she said it was just ok. One thing that we all loved were the drinks! Culinary Dropout has a huge craft cocktail menu, a selection of beers, and even zero proof drinks. I tried the Sicilian Lemonade Stand, and it was sweet, sparkling, and refreshing. If I do come back to Culinary Dropout, it will definitely be for appetizers and drinks, as those were certainly the best parts of the meal. The reason why I'm docking a star is due to the service we experienced. We called ahead, but that was useless because we couldn't get out on the waitlist until we were physically in the restaurant. We waited for about 20 minutes before getting seated, but once we were seated, we waited almost 30 minutes for our cocktails and even longer for our food. The manager did come to our table and apologized, and I appreciated his commitment to hospitality. read more

Outstanding service! Fried chicken was terrific. A bit loud especially w a singer at the bar....not needed. Deviled eggs appetizer was special. Short ribs...good but pretty salty. Very good selection of beers too. Adding honey to the chicken w your own control was very good. read more

Culinary Dropout - Fried Chicken w mashed, coleslaw and biscuit. Jar of honey not shown - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Solid old fashioned. Went down smooth. Could have used a big ice cube. Didn't ask for my bourbon preference. 3.9 read more

Culinary Dropout - Old Fashioned - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The food is not good at all! The ambiance and customer service is perfect though. I saw a news special that said lots of restaurants are getting their food from Sysco Corporation and that's exactly what their food tastes like. read more

We went on Sunday evening and had a great time. The appetizers were fantastic highly recommend the chips and pretzels. Excellent service and super friendly staff. We'll definitely be back! read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I have nothing negative to say about this place! I've been twice and the food has been delicious, service was amazing and the drinks were so tasty. I love how upscale the dining room and bar seem. I'll have to go for brunch as I heard the new summer menu just came out. read more

We love Culinary Dropout. Excellent Food, Service and Atmosphere. And it doesn't break the bank. Good choices all around. Friendly and helpful staff. A great addition to the Indy area. read more

Food was AMAZING. Wife loved the 36 hour ribs and had me wishing I had ordered them. Spicy rigatoni was also bomb. Live music rocked and the service was great. Highly recommend. read more

First off, food and service were very good! That being said, prices are a little over the top. I don't mind paying extra for a really good dinner for a special occasion , but for lunch I'd just like good food and service and atmosphere for less than $70.00. There are plenty of places near me that offer that, just a thought. read more

The food was excellent, the food delivery was horrific. We can't blame the waitstaff-but no one would tell us why it took 55 minutes for our food to arrive. Just "something went wrong in the kitchen". The last 20 minutes, we were told four times by our waiter and the manager multiple multiple times that "it was being plated". The restaurant was busy, but only 70% full, for a Sunday lunch. The prices are premium, there were plenty of waiters. And we can tell from reviews that this place is getting a reputation for having service problems. If they were smart, they would have explained what the problem was and that they were comping the problem plate - probably the ribs. We may or may not be back to try them again, because there are many great restaurants that don't have lousy service in Indianapolis and take true ownership when something fails . read more

The food was overpriced for the quality and quantity. My Chef Board wasn't impressive for the price , but I do have to say their deviled eggs were great. I think maybe they "dropped out" before they studied plating, because my Korean Style Ribeye Cap (for $39!) looked liked it had been dropped from a height onto the plate. The service was good, but I would not return here voluntarily. Maybe if someone else pays. read more

Culinary Dropout nails the vibe--fun atmosphere, good drink menu, good service, and comfort food with a twist. The pretzel bites with provolone fondue are a must! Perfect spot for casual hangs or watching sports. read more

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I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Culinary Dropout! They usually have a wait, so I recommend making a reservation. The service was quick, the food was delicious, and there was SO much variety on the menu. I tried the crispy chicken katsu sandwich and it was DELICIOUS. read more

Culinary Dropout - Campfire Vibes & Cali & Tay Skinny Margarita (actually spicy) - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The food, service and atmosphere were amazing! The staff, particularly the manager were friendly and created a welcoming and relaxed vibe. Every appetizer, entree, and cocktail were delicious. I highly recommend Culinary Dropout! read more

I had dinner here with a friend on a Wednesday night and we made reservations the weekend before and there weren't a ton of tables left, but we did get a table for 7:15; definitely make reservations and I'd suggest planning ahead a bit farther than we did if you have a particular time in mind. The parking lot was packed, but I did snag a spot as someone else was pulling out; the good news is that there is a lot of parking in the lot for the shopping center. On arrival the first thing I noticed was that the music was very loud. I started wondering if perhaps I was a bit too old to be here... the good news was that on looking around there were indeed patrons of all ages. We were seated right at our reservation time, and our server oriented us to the menu and pointed out his favorites. I had the Abandoned Cadillac cocktail and it was quite good; kind of a fancy margarita. I had the Brussels sprouts for a first course and loved the sauce they were roasted in; the fresh mint went nicely with it as well. One glitch...our entrees came out literally 5 minutes after our first courses...and this was after our server confirmed we wanted the starters first vs all coming out together. Hopefully they'll sort out timing as they settle in. If not, I'd suggest just ordering one course at a time. I had the peking duck and shrimp fried rice which was quite good. The duck was shredded into bite sized pieces and crispy and the shrimp were flavorful; all was seasoned nicely and there was more mint involved which worked with this dish as well! Service was good and everyone was friendly. The food was really good, but the music really was loud....we had to lean in and talk loudly to have a conversation...this wasn't live music on a Wednesday night, so not just a one-off loud band. Not my preference to have music that loud as I do like to easily visit with the people I'm with, but again, just my preference. read more

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I've been wanting to visit since they opened since I've heard great things! Overall the service and ambiance were great. It was upscale but also casual. There's indoor seating and covered patio seating with garage doors that open. We tried a lot of different food and drinks. Overall everything was pretty good. Happy to have a new restaurant in the Nora area! read more

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From the moment we walked through the door on Christmas Eve, we were greeted warmly , seated, and had all our questions answered. The food was fabulous! Definitely extraordinary. The staff and the ambience did nothing but enhance our experience. 10/10 would definitely recommend!! read more

Food was really good, loved the pretzel bites. Served was super friendly and lots of good cocktails also. Loved the overall vibes inside will definitely be back read more

Culinary Dropout - Spicy Avocado Roll - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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First time to this new place in town that I've been anxiously awaiting to check out. I went mid-afternoon to avoid the Saturday night crowd to just sample the wings and a beer at the bar I'll catch some b-ball. Facilities and atmosphere are quite good. Took quite a while to get attention at the bar..the patron next to me said they weren't real attentive. Cannot recommend the wings! They were undercooked not crispy at all, why would you add mustard seed to Buffalo flavor? Cooked slices of carrots and celery in the sauce on top of the wet wings that were again not cooked enough. Seven wings $18. It's like they're trying too hard to be "culinary". Wings are a right of passage they don't need to be dolled up too much. So I'll try them again with a dinner or something I'm sure we'll be better. Beer selection was decent! read more

What a great Experience. Abigail was so sweet and very knowledgeable about the menu. We had such a kind and caring attitude. I will definitely be back!! The food was amazing as well. If you have been wanting to try out culinary drop out, run and just do it! read more

YUM! Had a great experience here! The food was absolutely delicious--flavorful, fresh, and beautifully presented. It's a fantastic spot for the whole family. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with great vibes all around. Drinks were both pretty and tasty, adding a fun touch to the meal. The only thing I wish they had were some gluten-free dessert options. It would really round out the menu and make it even more inclusive. Other than that, everything was on point. Would definitely come back! read more

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Our first visit was fantastic!!! We felt right at home and welcomed as soon as we entered. The manager flooded our granddaughter an etch a scetch which she played with the entire meal!! We had Unsweet tea, pretzel bites with yummy warm cheese to start. My husband had fried Chicken - I had a brunch hash- so delicious. My granddaughter ate a cheeseburger and fries. We all agreed we will be back. Our Server Jonathan was outstanding. We explained the menu answered questions and gave us some great recommendations. Overall a fantastic experience read more