We absolutely enjoyed our time at Culinary Dropout. We decided to try something different while we were in the Nora area, and it was a great choice. The service was fantastic and the food was very good. We had the nachos as an appetizer and shared the beef au jus sandwich, which was flavorful and satisfying. Overall, I would give it four out of five stars and definitely recommend giving this place a try if you are in the area. read more

Culinary Dropout - BBQ Pork Belly Nachos - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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The ambiance was pretty. There was plenty of seating available- it was a Tuesday afternoon around 3. The male in our group was a little disappointed that we were seated in an area where he couldn't see a television. Everyone that worked there was friendly. My daughter thought the Mac Burger was a little dry and undercooked. Admittedly, she opted out of the thousand island dressing and chose mayonnaise. She gave it a 6.5 out of 10. My son loved his Turkey Pastrami. He didn't realize the cole slaw was on the sandwich but said it paired perfectly with the pretzel bun. He rated his a 8.5 out of 10. We all loved the fries. I specifically chose this restaurant because I saw a vegan option. I asked for the Spicy Vegan Curry to have the spice level brought down a notch and they did a nice job with that. The bok choy and eggplant pieces were huge- and I was eating with a spoon, so that was odd. The flavor was fine, I appreciate anything I wouldn't make at home. I rated it a 6.5 out of 10. Basically everything was fine but we aren't itching to go back. There was nothing here that wowed me enough to crave it. 'Meh' is probably the best description on food, though it was very pretty inside. read more

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We had a great experience here for Brunch this past Sunday! The food was delicious and had tons of great options. We started with more of a lunch type appetizer with the brussels sprouts and the gochujang sauce was incredible. I'm not a huge vegetable fan but I loved this dish. Then we got the smokehouse hash and the fried chicken and buttermilk biscuit. The chicken was perfectly cooked and paired nicely with the biscuit. The smokehouse hash was excellent as well with just the right amount to not leave you hungry but not leave you overly full. The service was great as well. With our waitress making great recommendations and checking in with us regularly. As an avid brunch goer, I would definitely come back. Especially because they were out of the banana bread French toast which sounded divine. We will be back. read more

I've been wrestling most of this afternoon with how to rate Culinary Dropout, a relatively new entry to the Indy Market that set up shop in Nora alongside sister establishment Flower Child. I've driven by Culinary Dropout several times. The parking lot seems a little wonky to me and it's pretty much been packing them in since it's arrival. However, today I was driving by right after the start of lunch hour and noticed that the parking lot was pretty reasonable. So, I decided to go for it. Culinary Dropout has two accessible parking spots - one offers driver's side access (I'm a wheelchair using driver) and I was able to snag it. You enter and a hosting station is to the right. I didn't get a great sense of the layout, however, there's a lovely area right by the window and I was pleased to snag a two-top there. I'm not usually a fan of two-tops, however, this one worked fine. I inadvertently arrived during their weekend brunch period (11am-3pm on weekends). I'd planned on a more traditional meal, however, after eyeing the brunch menu I opted to eat off that menu. I ordered my usual unsweetened iced tea. I ordered a "Ham & Egg Grilled Cheese," though I requested no egg due to allergy issues. It came with breakfast potatoes. The sandwich came with tavern ham, white cheddar, avocado, and ciabatta. My server mentioned something about getting a side protein, but I didn't see a reference to that on the menu and I'm not into cost surprises. So, I declined. I was very pleased that the server mentioned the sandwich also has tomato - not mentioned on the menu for some reason. The sandwich arrived as ordered. It was very good. The ciabatta, in particular, was just a delightful complement to the toppings. I'm not completely sold on the avocado, though overall I was still pleased. I loved the breakfast potatoes. The iced tea - I have no idea where they get their iced tea, but it's a delight. It has a lightness to it that I really loved. The atmosphere? A winner. Warm and yet festive with a quiet elegance. If you really want to go to a restaurant where the servers remind you how fashionable you're not, this is it. The servers are fashionable yet in a professional way. I really loved it. The only slight, and it's truly slight, downside is that I found my area very loud - part of that was acoustics and part was one particular table. It happens. Culinary Dropout has an Ebites (sign up for e-mail) option that comes with some benefits including a $10 off perk once you sign up (NOTE: This is a little confusing - at one place it says $10 off next $20 order; another place, it says "online order."). Okay, server. Nelly. Impeccably attentive, friendly, and encouraged me to linger and enjoy my iced tea. She had no idea I'd been working on estate stuff - and I really appreciated the friendliness and encouragement to enjoy my meal at a leisurely pace. Oh, and so fashionable. Gee whiz (NOTE: Gee whiz alone tells you I'm older). This is definitely not discount dining, however, if you're in the mood for a better meal, better atmosphere, and much better service, this is where to go. I will admit I pondered a 4-star, however, the service wins me over. 5 stars it is. read more

Culinary Dropout - Corner of window facing area. - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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We stumbled on this great little gem in the heart of Indy's trendy Nora neighborhood on our way to shop at Whole Foods and West Elm. Could have split the breakfast burrito which came with a fondue. Very cool. We were also pleasantly surprised to hear some very good live music coming from a very chill latin acoustic duo whose repertoire spanned from mashing up Ben King's "Stand By Me" with U2 as well as Bessame Mucho! The staff is so friendly and everything is scratch made from the sushi to the charcuterie to the Mississippi Mud Pie. Next time we come back we are filling up the roomy high top tables with more couples. Cheers! Thank you, Abigail, for your amazing service! read more

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I am all about new restaurants and finding the perfect place for a drink and a meal! I was super excited for Culinary Dropout! It is on the bike path and reachable from so many areas. We were able to walk in on a weekday evening. Finding parking was not easy. The lot for the restaurant is small and they share spaces with the entire shopping mall. The menu is very specific to ensure that they are sending out quality food and taking time on your meal. I completely get that, so less choices but better food is the expectation. I started with the Paloma Spritz and hubby got the Old Fashion. My drink was great, light and wonderful. The Old Fashion was so, so but not the worst that I have had. Service was good. They seemed extremely busy and it was difficult at times to grab someone, although there were at least 5 in the bar working. Most were just making drinks, and there were a ton going out. Started with some apps! The white truffle deviled eggs sounded amazing and they were! Definitely would eat these guys again. Then on to the meal. I was in love with Cacio Pepe when I was in Italy and have tried it whenever I find it on a menu. The hubby got the pork ribs. Let me start with the ribs: Exceptional. Definitely would eat these and I did eat some of the hubbies!! The Cacio Pepe, I have no idea how to describe this meal. First (see picture) there was not a flake of pepper in it. The entire meal of Cacio Pepe is pepper pasta, so not sure what happened here. The chicken was not good in it either, almost tasted like watered down chicken you would get out of a can. I have no better way to describe it other than that. Overall: CONS: Parking Pricing high Food either on or not (will have to try again) PROS: Good atmosphere (can be noisy at times due to acoustics) Nice bar area Staff nice Pay by QR code (if you are in a hurry, so easy) read more

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We had been waiting for this to open and I had eaten at a location in Arizona and it was good. There were four of us at dinner and we all kind of left there feeling like the food was just ok. The drinks were delicious and our server was great. read more

We were here for lunch on an early July day and the enclosed porch was open. I love the chairs out here. So, an experience. I ordered sushi and our wait staff came out about 5 minutes later to say they don't have their sushi chef today. She was so apologetic. Shortly after, the manager also came over to apologize, which I very much appreciate. Honestly, I'm glad they didn't try to 'wing it'! I want an experienced sushi chef, thank you. We ordered the house made potato chips and dip which took a while, maybe 10 minutes or more. They weren't warm when they came out so I'm not sure why ... I had the prime French dip which was so good, very lean, very tender! I got it with everything-cheese, grilled onions and mushrooms and, my error for not listening closely, jalapenos. (I DON'T do heat.). The sandwich was wonderful when I wasn't in pain from some of the peppers. RRR ordered the M.A.C. cheeseburger, a double decker with lettuce, tomato, onion and thousand Island dressing and really enjoyed it. So, service-quite good. Food-also good. Ambience-nice, comfortable. Price-a bit high for what we got. All in all, a good experience and recommended. read more

Culinary Dropout - Table for 4 on the porch with such comfy chairs! - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

It's a NEW hot spot in Indy and the perfect place to celebrate Father's Day. It was our first time and we enjoyed the live music, brunch and cocktails. The wings are highly underrated here! Great Buffalo flavor and artfully served with a homemade ranch...Yum! We also had the pork belly nachos (pork on the side) and my crew loved the pork. Note to the chef: the best nachos have layers of cheese and there are no naked chips. Would love to see more care taken here. I had the chopped chicken salad. Wow! I don't eat pork so no bacon, sub ranch dressing was my order. It was AMAZING! It's fresh crisp lettuce, sharp white cheddar cheese, tomatoes and grilled chicken. A fantastic bonus is the truffle deviled egg. Ohmmmgeeee. One daughter had the beer battered fish and chips. It's a cod based crispy bite served with house made tater sauce and she subbed Mac and cheese. The Mac and cheese wasn't memorable and on the bland side. Lastly the Mr and my other daughter had the burger. He subbed his fries for the Brussels sprouts which were tossed in gochujang sauce which was perfection. They both enjoyed the burger and would get it again. I can see why this new spot is always packed. Reservations are highly suggested. I'd love to come back and eat more off of the regular menu! read more

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First time trying brunch. The fried chicken with buttermilk biscuit and fried egg was really good. I don't know that I've ever had a more tender piece of chicken. The gravy was a bit spicy but not bad. Husbands Grilled cheese with ham and egg was a good size sandwich and had good flavor. The breakfast potato's were kinda flat on taste. Service was good. And I over heard a manager dealing with a table that wasn't happy. She was super professional and tried her best to remedy the situation that was happening. She is an asset to the company. read more

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Stop by here for drinks and dinner with a friend yesterday evening. The service drinks and food were good and quickly refilled,. We just enjoyed the vibe, especially once the guitar singer started playing.. I'm in a nice conversational and clean atmosphere. We will certainly come again read more

I went in anticipation that I wiould LOVE this place as I'm a sucker for the underdog. Who doesn't want a culinary dropout to achieve the American dream? To start, they seated me first while my companion was parking, and offered to direct him to my table when he arrived. Nice! But it didn't happen. He couldn't find me in the crowded restaurant, and we finally met at the host stand, with the same host who had no customers and chatting with co-workers. No ding on them whatsover if that was the only issue. The food? I got the Strawberry & Spinach salad with the added chicken for a cool $22.50. Here's the thing - the salad was very fresh but the chicken was cold, thinly cut and somewhat dry. For that price I would have expected something elevated from a Wendy's salad. And... I had asked the server if they cooked the chicken fresh before I ordered and she replied yes. Perhaps it was sitting in the back for a long time? My husband ordered the Pasta Bolognese for $25. The balance of flavors in the sauce was fantastic! However, the smallish portion was extremely salty, and note that I'm truly a salt hound. Most disappointingly, the pasta noodles tasted homemade but was so overcooked that it was nearly mush. It was a busy Saturday night so perhaps someone got distracted? Be forewarned that the acoustics make for a very very loud restaurant when it's busy. But I need to give a shout-out to our server! She was a rockstar, truly the only bright spot. I did let her know about the chicken and she offered to replace it. However, we waited an additional 30 MINUTES for the replacement, which the manager dropped off sullenly at our table without a word. I won't be back, but take the other positive reviews under advisement, as we may have hit a bad night. read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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The food was good. Service was okay. The kitchen was slow and food is pricy for what u get.

Culinary Dropout has a really cool mural painted outside and has a private lot in a busy shopping center. We did a reservation and got there a little early so had to wait closer to our reservation time. The decor is neat with various light fixtures and it open concept when there a nice day out they can open up windows allowing the fresh air to get in. What I thought was unique was the cooking area was enclosed with clear windows so both guest and staff can see each other. I enjoyed a big portion size of the crispy fried chicken, smashed potatoes. My other half had an old fashioned and the steak frites with french fries. We shared the shrimp app which were nice and crispy, and a good dipping sauce. This is in the Nora area and its a great addition to the neighborhood definitely give it a try! read more

A culinary journey worth taking at Culinary drop out! This place is definitely a standout in the Indy dining scene! From the moment we walked in, the service was top-notch. Our server was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and attentive without being overbearing. Drinks were refilled promptly, and our food arrived in a timely manner. They struck the perfect balance of being helpful and allowing us to enjoy our meal at our own pace. I ordered the southwest breakfast bowl: Black bean, avocado, roasted zucchini, red pepper, chipotle yogurt, pumpkin seed, pico de gallo and an egg over medium. What really sets this dish apart are the Southwestern elements: the black beans added a great earthy depth, and the roasted zucchini brought a lovely sweetness and a slight char. The addition of avocado slices was a creamy, fresh contrast to the other ingredients. Southwestern flavors are alway a delicious and satisfying breakfast option, the Southwest Breakfast Bowl at Culinary Dropout is an absolute winner. Highly recommend giving it a try! read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Innovative, delicious, fresh food - check. Attentive friendly service - check. Upscale decor - check. Culinary Dropout is a win in my book. Our server, Brittany, described the menu and offered suggestions. She was attentive and friendly. In general, they seemed really well staffed with professional servers. I ordered the Asian Crunch salad. The salad is large and absolutely delicious the Thai Curry dressing knocked my socks off - slightly sweet and sour with a kick. The avocado was perfectly ripe and creamy. The salad was creative as like nothing I'd ever tasted. My husband had the Beer Battered Fish and Chips. The fish (cod, I think) was super fresh and flakey. The batter was thick was crispy with no taste of oil. The handout fries were also crisp and delicious. The slaw - delicious. They hit the mark across the plate. The decor is lovely with beautiful light fixtures. The bar had tv monitors playing sporting shows. I think the only thing that I didn't like was the shared bench seating. We were seated next to a loud couple and we couldn't really have a conversation. It was unfortunate because the dining room was only about 20% full, so we couldn't have been spread out more where we could have enjoyed this special meal. Otherwise, this was a five star experience. There was plenty of parking in the strip mall and dedicated lot. read more

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Well, my second visit in two days. Just had to make a return visit for brunch and loved it! The smokehouse hash was "smoking". This breakfast bowl was served with potatoes, lots of roasted pork, scrambled eggs and a whole lot of goodness. Chris our server was good and on this Sunday, there was live music. Fun spot to hang out and enjoy good comfort food and more! I have found a new spot for sure . read more

Culinary Dropout - Smokehouse Hash* - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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When you walk in they have a ton of seating and the host were welcoming! The restaurant is beautiful. I ordered the crispy chicken katsu sandwich with a side of fries. The service was slow and it took awhile to get our food. read more

Came for the happy hour experience. It is Monday to Friday from 3 to 6. Only good if you sit at the bar. They had sushi rolls, several snacks, including many items that would cost twice as much on the regular menu. They had iced tea, cocktails, including a east of Manhattan and several classic drinks like an old-fashioned, sangria, daiquiri, and margarita. A few other snazzy drinks were also included. The drink prices were only eight dollars! And they were almost too pretty to drink Bartender Molly, a doll! So helpful and witty! Wow! The housemaid chips with homemade onion dip was not your childhood chip's and dip! Oh and those soft pretzels are made in house and beyond words! Worth the carbs!!!!! Please try the Maui Maui a cocktail with white rum, guava, pineapple mango!! A nice little buzzy happy hour made this Yelper happy happy!! read more

This place is the BEST! Live music, incredible cocktails and the food is amazing! So delicious! I had no idea what this place was about and I have never been more pleasantly surprised. Atmosphere was casual with an elegant and eclectic flare. You have to check out the wall paper in the restroom. Staff were exceptional and fun. Highly impressed and can't wait to go back. read more

Culinary Dropout - Espresso martini - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Came here, at the end of summer, very last minute with quite a large party! We were so pleased how quickly they were able to get us in! Our server was amazing! She was very attentive and gave great recommendations on what to order which is how I ended up ordering the Chicken Katsu sandwich with a side of Crispy Brussel Sprouts! The sandwich was so crispy and the brussel sprouts were seasoned to perfection! She even recommended a non alcoholic beverage, Watermelon Spritz, that was so refreshing and delicious! The lemon dessert she recommended was made to perfection with the strawberry sauce perfectly complimenting the lemon and meringue! Looking forward to our next visit! read more

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My husband surprised me with a Friday night date night here! They were packed, but we were seated promptly at our reservation time. Being that they were packed and there was live music, I was afraid we wouldn't be able to hold a conversation, but the volume didn't seem to be an issue. Our server quickly greeted us and offered suggestions of their most popular items. I tried the Abandoned Cadillac for my cocktail. This was delicious, but strong (as it should be for the price). My husband and I split the Pretzels and Fondue, as I always have to get a soft pretzel if it's on the menu. These were fun, as the cheese is melted over a candle. The cheese itself is delicious and there was a lot of it. The pretzels are good, but nothing special about them. For my meal, I got the Crispy Chicken Katsu served with fries. The sandwich is good, getting most its flavor from a sweet slaw on top. The fries are nothing special. Although they were packed, we didn't feel rushed out. I would definitely return again for a fun date night! read more

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I arrived to dinner early, so decided to sit at the bar to take advantage of the Happy Hour. The Happy Hour menu has a lot of options. I ordered the Maui Wowie Long Afternoon Iced Tea. It had some of my favorite flavors- guava, mango and pineapple. I also ordered the crispy brussel sprouts. They had excellent flavor. For dinner I ordered the butternut squash and kale salad with grilled chicken. It was a good salad. Overall, the food was great and the staff were very friendly. read more

Culinary Dropout - Crispy Brussel Sprouts and Maui Wowi - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Came here for a birthday celebration on a week night and was immediately seated. The interior is so cute and the vibes are trendy. The chicken sandwich, nacho appetizer and whipped feta were all so good. Ended the meal with an espresso martini and it's my favorite one in Indy! A hint of cinnamon - YUM read more

Culinary Dropout - Giddy Up Espresso Martini - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Came here for a friend's birthday and overall it was a pretty solid spot. Nice that they take reservations, but the parking lot is tiny--I had to park over at Whole Foods. The vibe inside is modern and chill and the staff was attentive. I was torn between a few things, and the waiter really talked up the Wagyu pigs in a blanket, so I went with that. Honestly, they were just okay. Not a ton of flavor, I'd get something else next time. I did like my sangria, though. Also, the birthday girl got to pick a free dessert, which was nice. She went with the monkey bread, and it was big enough for the five of us to all get a few bites, which was perfect. I'll probably be back at some point, but honestly, the food didn't quite live up to the price--my meal alone was about $45. Based on this visit, I'm not sure I'd recommend it just yet. read more

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I have been curious about this place for a while, but the menu seemed to be an odd combination of things and weighed more on the heavy/ unhealthy side l. So I have not had a lot of desire to try it. I heard their salads were good and decided to give it a try for lunch with a friend. It's big on the inside and decor and ambiance was great. Staff was nice and service was ok. Other than sushi, salads, and a few entrees things sounded more on the heavy side. I got the butternut squash and kale salad and added grilled chicken. I really wanted to love it due to the combination of ingredients. The mix of kale and grains were good. The toasted mulberry and dates were delicious. The squash was not obvious. I think it was in there. The added chicken was thin, dry, and bland. Overall it could have been more flavorful. Maybe asking for additional dressing would have helped. Definitely not worth the total cost with added protein of 25 dollars before tip. Unless the menu changes I don't think I'll be back. Maybe if I'm in the hood for a cocktail and a burger or something. read more

Talk of the town!! I've heard so much about this place and as a Yelpie, I had to try it out for myself. First, the location is great!!! Easy to get to, parking is not an issue, great area! The vibe, Issa vibe!! We walked on without reservations on a Friday evening about 6:30 and was able sit at the bar. While the restaurant was not full, I did hear the hostess say the wait time was about 40-50mins. There was a lady singing and playing the guitar live and she was amazing. I love the layout of the inside as well. The staff is amazing. Good customer service is always what brings me back!! The food was ok. This is where it fell short of 5 star experience for me. The menu is limited and not many options. That's fine, however at 6:30 on a Friday night, they ran out of short ribs . I studied the menu for a good 10-15mins before making a selection to find out it was out of stock for the evening. I finally settle on a chicken salad and at was really good! My food companion had the friend chicken and it was pretty good. The biscuit that was served with it was a bit dry. The deviled eggs are tangy but I did like those! The espresso martinis is worth the hype!!! It was very good. Finally I had some banana bar desert and it was ok. read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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New on the block in the re-developmenting Nora area. Area looking quite posh these days i must say. Free parking in their lot. We walked right in during lunch and it wasn't packed. Looks like they could accommodate large parties in their spacious modern clean venue. Service very friendly but not yet quite polished which i expect to improve with time and experience. Food was tasty with traditional and modern fusion options. Cocktail and draft was very tasty; I'd come back just for this alone. Super bonus points for having local options featured. Price point a bit painful yet with rising costs these days... However not regretting anything we tried or spent on. Can't wait to return to try more! read more

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I visited about an hour before closing after a hectic travel day. I sat at the bar and was greeted immediately. I started with the endless summer margarita which is watermelon flavored. It was delicious. A perfect balance of the sweetness from the watermelon and the sour from the margarita. I ordered the steak frites for my entree. My food came out fast and my steak was cooked a perfect medium well. There was a chimichurri sauce on the steak that added a nice amount of saltiness. I didn't realize I was the last patron until I was leaving. The staff never rushed me, they actually offered another round of drinks and dessert as if I was there in the middle of the day. I would absolutely go back when I'm in the area. read more

Culinary Dropout - Endless Summer Margarita - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Them "36-Hour Pork Ribs," though. The pork ribs at Culinary Dropout are fall-off-the-bone, drenched in sauce, delicious and decadent -- and slightly spicy from jalapeño. I used at least 10 napkins throughout my meal, because I had no choice but to dig in with my hands and mouth. It was a carnal experience! The ribs come with fries, which you also eat with your hands. Basically, if you get the 36-Hour Pork Ribs here, just be prepared to go for it. This is a hands-on meal. I also got a small Caesar salad, because the Caesar is my litmus test of any new restaurant that offers a Caesar salad on its menu. The Cae sal here is good! It's nicely dressed, with freshly grated parmesan and croutons that aren't too big for my small mouth. I'd get the Caesar salad again with the fries and a glass of red wine at the bar, or a glass of their house sangria, which I tasted. It's called Sweater Weather Sangria, and has spiced peaches and apple brandy in it. Yum. We also got: an appetizer of pork belly nachos (black beans, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo); steak frites (simple yet good, and came out medium-well, as ordered, with a small arugula salad); and the M.A.C. Burger (Culinary Dropout's riff on McDonald's Big Mac). My youngest child ordered the macaroni & cheese from the Little Monsters kids' menu. My little monster said that the mac and cheese needed more cheese, and he even mentioned it the next day that his mac and cheese at Culinary Dropout should have been more creamy. Alrighty! I guess he meant it. The kids' menu here is small but covers all the kid bases. They have mac & cheese, as mentioned, plus chicken tenders, a cheeseburger with just meat and cheese, and crispy shrimp. Kid meals are served with fries. Our meal ended with a slice of Mississippi Mud Pie, which we ended up taking to go and sharing at home. It comes with chocolate espresso sauce, which gives it a little coffee kick. Yay, caffeine. I'm so glad that Culinary Dropout has a location here in Indianapolis. I consider this area of Indy -- the neighborhood of Nora -- as my own, even though I don't live here. It makes me very happy to see restaurants like Culinary Dropout coming to this area. I'll definitely be back! read more

Not bad. The place was still packed out which we love to see since they've been open a while. Service was wonderful and as fast as it could be with the crowd. The drinks and food were delicious. Definitely somewhere to stop and grab a bite with friends if you're in the area. read more

Culinary Dropout - Crispy chicken katsu - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

One word: WOW! Absolutely loved this place. We only came for drinks and apps but will be back again for the full experience. Our server was Mack and she was awesome. So fun and knowledgeable and easy to talk to. The first thing you noticed in here is the vibe. It's eclectic and cool. Everyone is dressed different. It's like Gossip Girl meets Gen Z meets 90s. We started with the Evil Jungle Princess and an Old Fashioned. My fiancé thought the Old Fashioned was just like any you would get anywhere. But the Jungle Princess cocktail was super good, especially if you like tiki drinks. And it has a little hint of spice at the end that I love. I also ended with an espresso martini and there's was awesome. It had a strong espresso taste, without being overly bitter. For food, we ordered the pretzels and fondue and the wagyu pigs in a blanket. The wagyu came out first and I was surprised how much I loved them. Pricey, but worth it. And it came with a honey mustard creme fraiche that tasted like a tangy aioli. Then out came the pretzels and fondue. SO good. The order was almost too much for two people. Like if you're looking for a girl dinner, just get the Wagyu and pretzels and you're set for the evening haha. These were really good: a hint of salt, fresh and a good spongy bread, perfect for soaking up some savory cheese. We would 1000% recommend this spot to everyone and can't wait to come back :) I would highly recommend a reservation as well. We had to put our name in and wait about 45-60 minutes read more

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Good things to know: 1) CD is new to this area, so they're busy! Fortunately, you can make a reservation on OpenTable. 2) Parking lot is also very busy. IMO it's not quite large enough for all the merchants in the area. Be patient and you'll find a spot eventually. Even better, ride with your pals/Uber/Lyft it! We made a reservation for a friend's birthday in the afternoon on a Saturday. The place was hopping, even at that hour with a number of people waiting in the small lobby. We were seated at a nice large round table, which was perfect for the group. "Mark Twain" was our waiter, and I couldn't have chosen a better one. He was super attentive and just a great dude all around, especially when we had a couple dishes come out that weren't quite as ordered (burger ordered without cheese arrived with cheese, fried chicken that came grilled). Two different managers checked in on us to make sure the orders were delivered correctly and to our liking. 10/10 on customer service for sure! Despite the minor mistakes, overall the food was delicious, plated well and very creative. They have some amazing craft cocktails as well as mocktails which 2 ppl in our party also enjoyed. The ambience here is spirited, lively and trendy. There are quirky details everywhere from the red chandeliers to the b&w celeb prints in the back. If you want a quiet, subdued place, this isn't it. As we were leaving, there was a band setting up to play in the bar area...super cool! We all agreed that we had a blast here for my friend's b-day. Definitely will return soon, especially to check out the live music scene here. read more

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10s all around. The vibe was great from the decor to the lighting and the live music. I would HIGHLY recommend setting a reservation since it's a new-ish restaurant and this place stays pretty busy. We went on Sunday brunch and I believe they have a different menu. We went around 11:15 AM with our reservation and was sat within two minutes at a very spacious booth. Our server Sophia was so attentive, gave great suggestions and knew the menu well. This was our 1st time so she went over the menu sections with her recommendation. She suggested the Abandoned Cadillac and it was fantastic. Shoutout to Sophia for this rec. First, I love the fact that the staff don't wear uniforms, they all wear their own clothes, which I love. This restaurant is pretty large with live music and a huge bar that seats at least 20 people. Every single thing we had was more than delicious. I will try to come here for dinner. The parking lot was pretty full and on the weekends, it can be tricky to find a spot. Food and drink: abandoned cadillac was a perfect balance of alcohol and sweet. Spicy tuna crispy rice is a must-try-love that it's crispy and there's soo many flavors that burst in your mouth. Chicken cacio e pepe-this pasta was soo good but i wish it were spicg. Pretzel bites with fondu-bread was soft, came with approx 12-15 big pretzel balls and a bowl of provolone dipping cheese which was really creamy and delish. We also tried the deviled eggs and it was so different tasting due to the white truffle and i enjoyed it. For a new restaurant, i hope this place continues to be successful because it's truly a vibe and I can't wait to come back. 10s all around! Update: Went for dinner and it was just as good. I will make this my regular spot. My peking duck and shrimp fried rice was amazing. Drinks were still fabulous. read more

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We were excited to try Culinary Dropout after looking at the menu. We showed up on a Saturday evening, party of 4, without a reservation. When we checked in, we were quoted a 45 minute wait. However the wait only ended up being maybe 15 minutes -- not sure how the estimate was so far off, but I'll take it. The inside is huge. There is a large bar right when you walk in, and they had some live music in that area. The menu is mainly American with some worldly flare. I tried the pasta bolognese and my SO got the chicken cacio e pepe. The others at the table got the shaved prime rib and crispy chicken katsu sandwiches. Unfortunately, my pasta bolognese left much to be desired. It came out lukewarm, and the portion was so small I maybe got 9 total bites out of it. The cacio e pepe was hot, so I'm wondering why mine wasn't -- keeping food hot until tabled should be pretty basic. In addition, all the employees are dressed in street clothes and blend in with the patrons. There is literally no way to tell who is an employee and who is a customer. Some even had Lulu Lemon or Herschel accessory sling bags on. I found this a bit odd and unprofessional. Overall, no one at our table was that impressed with the food or the experience to consider returning. read more

Culinary Dropout - Pasta Bolognese - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I'd say this is elevated bar food? The menu and vibe is a little all over the place, but the chicken katsu sandwich was delicious. Probably not what you'd expect to be served here but it was great. Lots of cocktail options too. My friend had the sushi and liked it. Easy parking and staff was friendly! read more

Had a great time with coworkers here on our work lunch! Food was outstanding. I don't think any of us had anything we regretted. Our service was spectacular and quick. We kept talking about how cool the restaurant looked with the lighting, the awesome bar & how different it looked from any other restaurant we'd been too. Will definitely be back! May be little pricy but absolutely worth it for a good meal! Perfect for date night. read more

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Day two, so there was an abundance of employees learning the ropes. We waited about 10 minutes to be seated. Comfortable set up with a reasonable volume. Menu was interesting with standard bar food and some unique offerings. The waitress had tried everything and had plenty of suggestions. The old fashioned was a reliable choice and the recommended abandoned Cadillac was a good margarita. Steak and frites was a hit: tender and well seasoned. The katsu chicken sandwich was interesting and unique- a sweet sandwich. The side salad was very tasty. A nice addition to the neighborhood. read more

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The moody and modern vibe inside is exciting. It just feels trendy and like a great place for to grab drinks - the bar is huge! Plenty of seating and even a good amount on the patio as well. The service was quick and they were eager to get our orders out. The menu itself was kinda disappointing. I couldn't figure out if there was a theme or what to expect. It's a mix and match of a variety of things - we had burgers, chicken sandwiches, a salad, and pretzel bite appetizers at our table. All were good - nothing I'd come back specifically for though. I'd be open to coming back for drinks - it's a fun place! The food I'll also attempt again, I heard it's a rotating menu so I won't give up! read more

What a vibey and tasty place! I've visited a Culinary Dropout location in Arizona and was so pumped when the I saw the Indy location open up. This location is moody and has plenty of mixed seating inside. Service was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. Food came out surprisingly fast! I ordered the Crispy Brussels Sprouts as an appetizer. Really enjoyed the overall flavor and crisp. It also smelled amazing when it came out. I do wish the dish had some goat cheese or extra crunch to add a little extra razzle dazzle. For entrees my husband and I got the Chicken Cacio e Peppe and the Fried Chicken. I know chicken gets a bad rap... but this was honestly one of the best I've had from a restaurant. Very tender and juicy in both dishes. The Cacio e Peppe had the best pecorino/parmesan flavor and perfect amount of sauce. The Fried Chicken was well seasoned and we enjoyed the mashed potatoes and gravy. The biscuit was tasty, but could have been perfected with some hot honey and warm butter. Overall enjoyed our experience and would definitely come back to try some other dishes! read more

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