My mom and I stopped by for coffee & we were so impressed! We were seated & well cared for. The coffee (roasted in San Francisco on Monday's and shipped the following Wednesday to the cafe) was INCREDIBLE. I got the Polar Opposite and she got the African brew. Not to mention the decor is lovely! The slow pace/Larry's caring attitude was just what we were hoping for (*seeing prior reviews, if you'd like speedier service there are directions on how to order so you get the quickest service at the bottom of the menu). If you'd would like a quieter experience, I suggest sitting in the front for the speakers in the back were mildly loud (easy fix!). With so many Carmel coffee shops going out of business, this one is worth the trip! read more

The best quiche I have EVER eaten in my life! Incredibly high, light and fluffy, just like in France. The atmosphere is really chill here so if you are a typical American and want to get in and out, you won't! You must have patience, but the quiche is SO worth the wait and the coffee's too. I can't really recommend anything else because I always order the same thing. The decor is just so quaint and makes me feel like I am in Paris! The chef is the owner and lived and was a chef in France for years. Hours are limited so you may show up and they are closed when online it say they are open, very European, so I recommend you call if you are traveling there like myself from a distance just to eat there. read more

I hate giving any restaurant one star, maybe I was there on a bad day, or the produce truck broke down; maybe the chef was ill. However, Eggshell Bistro had nothing remarkable about it in a good way. Atmosphere: Bohemian interior, with the hardest metal chairs known to man. The chairs are prominently featured on the website. Food and Beverages: I had the Polar Opposite and Sarge had the Kyoto Coffee. I wasn't offered a spoon, and there was no bar for cream or sugar to be added. It took 20 minutes to receive a spoon. For brunch I had the strata special, pancetta, asparagus, and jarlsberg cheese which was overlooked to the point that the asparagus was unrecognizable. Sarge had the Parisian toast, which was a slice of French toast with fruit. He mentioned that he would've enjoyed it more if there was syrup. The service: Yikes, The nicest people ever, which made it worse that we waited 30 minutes for coffee and then an hour for our brunch.In a room of 3 occupied tables. Conclusion: The price was reasonable, but even on a lazy Saturday I can't wait an hour and a half for a meal. I really wanted to like it with such a pleasant wait staff, but the interminable wait and blah meal means I doubt I'll give it another try. There are better options in the area. read more

Eggshell Bistro - The Polar Opposite and Cold Brew Coffees @ Eggshell - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

gross. dirty. call the bd of health. slow service. paper menu stained. rusted dirty table. one star for creative menu options.

Wow - wasn't expecting such a well thought out cafe in suburban Indianapolis! Cute, French decor and a coffee menu featuring four barrel coffee from CA. Tried a few drinks, the polar opposite which is a spin on a John Wayne, a solid cortado, the New Orleans iced coffee and a latte. All well done. The food is equally interesting, some North African dishes mixed with brioche toast, grits and tarts. The Shakshuka looked great, as did the poached egg brioche toast dish. If you like really good coffee and an unusual and authentic food menu, give it a try. Smaller dining room, plan time for your visit, not a speedy in and out shop read more

Hands down the best coffee in Indiana. The cappuccino is so smooth and creamy with very rich foam, even comparable to the stumptown in NYC. Chef/owner Larry prepares all the brunch food in person. I had truffled eggs in Brioche today and it was so delicious. Also recommend shakshuka and sweet potato hash. I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. If you come during the busy time you might need to be patient for your food as the owner is in the kitchen himself, but come on who cares sitting in such a lovely place sipping oh so delicious coffee. They also have matcha latte off the menu which I must try next time. Truly a gem in Indiana. read more

Eggshell Bistro - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

I've visited eggshell twice and had a great experience both times. Their food is not only good to look at but it also delicious! They have great coffee as well. I love that they open at 7am since most places don't open till 8. I plan to come back many more times! Also have had nice conversations with the owner, very personable guy. read more

Eggshell Bistro - Caprese strata - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

When I first arrived, I was very excited. I adore the antique French cafe ambiance and the intriguing menu tons. I ordered the New Orleans iced coffee and it was delicious, and it came with the most adorable striped straw! But then, as many others here have noted, we had a VERY long wait after ordering our food, like at least 40+ minutes (I'm not certain how long it ended up being) - this is kind of weird for a brunch place. I don't think I would've paid much attention, but my dad gets very unhappy when he hasn't had any food in a while and he kept pointing it out to me and my step-mom. We tried to just chat and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere. I expected the food to be wonderful and completely forgive the wait. Welllll the food wasn't so awesome. Actually, I think the menu is very hit or miss, because we all tried each other's food and agreed that the sweet potato hash was delicious, but the baked egg dish my stepmom got and the potato frittata I got were pretty mediocre. I think they have a problem with naming things, because I thought my Mixed Heirloom Potato Frittata with spinach and goat cheese would have more than a few tiny chunks of potatoes, and more than a small pat of goat cheese in the middle. It would have been good with a lot more cheese, because other than a strong taste of rosemary there just wasn't much flavor. And it was overcooked and rubbery. Bummer. The server was nice, but not super attentive - we didn't get silverware until we got our dishes and someone noticed we didn't have any, and we had to flag him down twice when my dad wanted some orange juice to tide him over. Also, just a note that Eggshell is vegetarian friendly but not very gluten-free or dairy-free friendly. My stepmom has an allergy to both gluten and dairy, but she can usually figure out stuff to get just by looking at menus. Nope, the dish she ordered ended up coming with bread, and it needed the bread to taste good. She's not one to complain, but I could tell she was disappointed and hungry still (without the bread it's a very small dish). We went to a fro-yo/sorbet place afterwards to supplement. I may go back and give it another chance at some point (making sure I'm not super hungry upon arrival) because several other menu items look delicious and made me curious, but I don't know if they'll actually turn out to be good or not. I'd definitely recommend it just as a place to get coffee or tea and chat for a while. That part of the meal was great. read more

It pains me to give this place 3 stars. The menu is unique and not the typical find in Indianapolis. It's a small operation the chef takes your order and prepares the food for you. it is clear that he takes pride in the food he cooks and the small details. For example he came by to tell us that the small purple things on the sweet potato hash were purple sweet potatoes. The poached eggs on that dish were prepared perfectly. The mountain of fried sweet potatoes were definitely in poor taste. Top it off with very salty vegetarian sausage and it makes for a disappointing dish. My wife got the caprese dish (don't remember the exact name) and it was essentially a mushy, swamp of oil. Definitely has potential and is worth supporting as it is not another IHOP or Denny's-esque option that are so abundant in Indy. However the potential is far from met. For a place that does not allow substitutions, the chef needs to do some work to both create more well crafted and well executed dishes. Our friends who recommended the place said the shakshuka was fantastic, but we did not try the dish. Unfortunately, while we appreciate that the chef seems passionate and it was a small operation, the food experience will not pull us back any time soon. read more

I wish I didn't have to echo many of the other reviewers' comments, but here we go. The food at Eggshell is wonderful; the atmosphere, charming. The service? Godawful. And that's a true shame because we wanted so desperately to love this place. We were prepared to cut it a boatload of slack. We have been to Eggshell somewhere on the order of seven times, mostly last fall. Every time we came away with the same impression: the service is inexcusably slow. The staff are perfectly friendly, but they seem in no hurry to do anything. This isn't necessarily a disadvantage. I understand, as the menu clearly states, that Eggshell intends to provide its diners with a relaxed, unhurried dining experience. The problem is that they clearly do understand what that model entails. Like, at all. It does not entail a version of complete neglect that basically involves not taking orders, not checking in, and not bringing checks unless you physically get up and track down their one server. It looks less like a civilized approach to dining and more like a transparent excuse for incompetent management. The last time we had been to Eggshell was in November. After a series of unpleasant experiences (due, in each instance, to the speed of service, as well as the fact that they always seemed to be out of virtually everything on the menu), we forswore the place. So, this morning we happened to be over at City Center and thought--why not?--we'll give it another shot. First of all, the menu hasn't changed since November in any remarkable way (there is a new duck dish), which strikes me as a bit underwhelming, as the menu is fairly constrained, anyway. However, today I sat facing a clock they have among their eclectic décor, which meant I knew exactly how long we'd been seated. Big mistake. After *thirty minutes* of sitting without being checked on at all--not even to place our drink order--we threw in the napkin and went to Hubbard and Cravens for brunch instead. There really, simply is no excuse for that. I very rarely choose to walk out of a restaurant, but this was too much. That's not unhurried dining; that's just terrible service. We won't be back. The food here really is quite good--some of the best in Carmel. The coffee (from Four Barrel) is also great, albeit overpriced. But if you're thinking about Eggshell, just don't do it. Or, if you do, be prepared to commit a solid two hours, most of which will be devoted to waiting around. And under no circumstances should you come hungry. I don't mind having a meal that lasts several hours. But those meals have always involved attentive service. Eggshell doesn't cut it. read more

If you're there during non peak hours, have a chat with Larry the chef/owner of the place. Probably one of the most interesting persons I have met in Indy. He has an art direction/science background which can be seen heavily in his handcrafted dishes. And yes the food is slow, that's only because Larry is creating your dish from scratch and not throwing something into a microwave. So if you're into something quick and fast, take your ignorant taste buds down the street. Only in town for the holidays so I hope to come back next week to catch his lemon ricotta cake. Also the egg truffle is an off-menu item that can be ordered at anytime. If you have time and want to wow your tastebuds come here, you will leave extremely satiated and a touch of Europe in your hearts and belly. read more

My family and I love going out for breakfast, so we were very excited to see a new breakfast place opening. However, much to our disappointment, Eggshell Bistro turned out to be very overpriced. Tasty coffee, but when having to pay for a refill, again overpriced. (Btw, better coffee around the corner at Hubbard & Cravens.) I ordered their version of French Toast. It was just a huge piece of Brioche. I was very disappointed. I even had to ask for syrup. My son ordered the Quiche. While he liked it just fine, he said he's had better. My husband can't remember what he ordered (it was that memorable.) Uncomfortable metal chairs (pictured on their website as if they were actually proud of these.) Tables intended for 2 are so small, I really don't see how they can expect to get 2 plates and cups on them. They would only work if you're just having a beverage. Their glass of freshly squeezed orange juice was warm and in the World's smallest glass. Our server did not wait for all of us to sit down before telling me, yes just me, that they were out of a couple of their coffees. My husband couldn't sit until she moved out of the way. Then when I mistakenly inquired about one of the coffees that they were out of, our servers reply was, "Like I said, we're out of that one." Wow, I was not expecting such a rude response. Overall, overpriced. The only thing I did like was the antique decor. We won't be going back. read more

My first ever post.... Summary: Overpriced, poor service, expensive The details: despite the lack of crowds, my coffee arrived late, without cream and sugar (I eventually got my own), and was never refilled. Plenty of indifferent staff standing or sitting around We spent $40 for 2 people and had to stop at Dunkin Donuts on the way home bc the portions were so small Will never go back again read more

best thing ive ever ate for brunch. sweet potato hash. i cannot rave about it enough yes, it's kinda oily for brunch, but oh my gawd my taste buds just went to heaven and back. At first, looking at the menu, I thought it was bit over priced, but I'm not even mad, it tasted so good. read more

See all

Just takes way too long. No one was there besides my family and took over an hour and a half. Absurd

I don't write many reviews, but I have to for this place. The chef is incredibly talented and brings extraordinary flavors to each dish. Nothing is overdone or pretentious. Before I moved to London, the chef recommended places for me to visit and try over there. He brings his worldly research and knowledge to each dish. Any time I am in Carmel/Indy, I reserve a meal for Eggshell. You're getting every bit of what you pay for. The staff is quirky and friendly. The meticulousness is evident in even the fruit cup- which included bing cherries, blueberries, blackberries, sliced strawberries (instead of your normal cantaloupe and grape mixture) Don't come here if you want eggs and toast with disposable containers of smuckers concord jam.... you will be disappointed. read more

Very impressed by this place. It's tucked in, almost hidden inside the Carmel city center. But once you walk in, you almost feel like you've been whisked away to a French bistro in Paris. The decorations are festive and beautiful, the service was great, and the food was fantastic. Warning. If you're looking for a quick in and out, this is not the place to go to. They even state on their menu as a disclaimer. That said, it's worth the wait. I had a cappuccino to start, delicious. Then had the sweet potato hash for breakfast. Phenomenal. And they had Sriracha Hot sauce...they get extra bonus points for that :) Only criticism I could give this place was the music. I loved it, but it was a little bit loud for such a small place. I would've liked for it to be more background music. But it didn't ruin the meal in anyway. Highly recommend, definitely my new favorite place for breakfast in Carmel. read more

This is probably my favorite guilty pleasure. My husband and I sneak off to enjoy a leisurely brunch here on occasion and it's always a delight. With a globally inspired menu and fine crafted coffee and tea beverages, don't expect a quick stop. This is a place to spend time, enjoy the atmosphere, and dine in resplendent leisure. read more

Eggshell Bistro - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Magnificent use of ingredients, a robust flavor for the portobello dish, and the chef was passionate about the preparation. The chai latte was less than desirable. read more

If you're looking for a cute brunch spot with a menu with a little different flair, this place is for you. French style bistro, gourmet menu, smaller portions. You might consider the prices a little high if you're expecting a grand slam breakfast. The size was just right for me, but my husband left wanting a little more food which doesn't usually happen when we eat out. They request no alterations to your order, so if you're a picky "no onions" type of gal, this isn't for you. Only 4 stars instead of 5 because MYLANTA the service was slow. I'm all for a culinary experience, but when you're only 1 of 2 tables, I expect prompt coffee delivery. read more

Excellent gourmet breakfast but the coffee was overpriced and not great. Decor awesome. The shuksala is fantastic and spicy!! read more

Met with a few of my coworkers from previous company for brunch. Everyone liked it. The patio seating is excellent and they brought over a small table so that give could fit well. I ordered their quiche and Kyoto iced coffee. Well the latter is too strong for my taste and having the 12 oz serving didn't help. The quiche was par excellence. We spent almost 2 hours there and didn't face many interruptions. The water ran out on the table but was not refilled. That apart everyone enjoyed their food a lot and will return. read more

See all

I have only stopped in Eggshell twice, once for a quick cup of coffee during the week and once for Sunday breakfast. The latte during the week was delicious and beautifully presented. On Sunday we walked in hoping to get a quick bite, however the small cafe was rather busy and there was only one person waiting tables. We sat at our table for 10 minutes without service. Unfortunately, we couldn't wait any longer due to a time crunch so we had to go somewhere else. We hope to try again when we have more time! The atmosphere is very cute and has the feel of a French café and the people seemed very friendly! I will write another review once I have had the food! read more

This place blew me away!!! Great spot for brunch. I am in no way exaggerating...this was hands down my favorite breakfast. I got the first thing on the menu---shakshu (something like that) and it was phenomenal!!! Do yourself a favor Indy and check out this place immediately. read more

Eggshell Bistro - From my table - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Very tasty, unique rotating menu. Delicious espresso/coffee offerings as well as an extensive tea menu. Friendly and informative service, our waitress was quick to make good recommendations since we have not dined here in several years. Great quality for the price. We will return! read more

Eggshell Bistro - Rotating Menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

See all

THIS. PLACE. It's everything. Imagine walking into a hole-in-the-wall in Paris for brunch - and that is basically what Eggshell Bistro is. They have one of the best ambiences I've seen locally - really interesting antiques, mismatching tables, and cool upbeat/modern music. They serve unique and globally-inspired egg dishes. Try not to be intimidated by the list of fancy ingredients and go with your gut (ha!) or ask the extremely accommodating staff. The chef is so passionate about his craft and that shows in how his food tastes. I've never had such a balanced and well palleted breakfast/brunch dish. I will definitely be returning! read more

The owner is the nicest guy I've seen. The restaurant is very well designed and the interior is amazing. If you ask, the owner will talk to you for hours about how the choices were made. Coming to this place to learn something, not to mention the food was awesome. Haven't had such a good cold brew for a while. The orange juice is also very fresh. read more

Good decor, good food, and the best coffee in the Midwest. Looking for a Saturday morning hangover spot to get loaded on a hearty breakfast before heading back home to snooze through the rest of the afternoon? This isn't the place for you. But if you're searching for a classic European-style bistro with a deliciously innovative food selection and mind-blowingly good coffee, nowhere in the greater Indianapolis area comes close to Eggshell. read more

Initially, I came in for some coffee to go. The ambiance kept me and the coffee coaxed me to stay. I had the New Orleans. Award winning is an understatement. Lightly sweet but strong notes in the coffee. Little things usually compliment a meal. Fruit salad decorated with strawberries, mandarin oranges and grapes. Topped with a pleasant BlackBerry. And the option for sparklkng or flst water. (Paltry things, but embraced nonetheless.) I forget the name of the egg dish ; I do remember the taste. Eggs were fresh and seasoned properly. Asparagus was masterfully prepared. Sriracha should NOT be avoided. It was amazing by its lonesome, but the chili sauce added depth to the light breakfast. I am all but enamored and will make this a usual spot just for the coffee alone. AND TO TOP IT OFF, a small square of chocolate to cleanse the palette. Light notes of orange. It left me perfectly satiated. Not full, but pleasantly pleased. Inevitably, their food tastes like joy and hugs. read more

What a wonderful treasure to happen upon! Needed a quick breakfast before a soccer match and stopped in to grab carry out. When I mentioned we only had 30 min they said they had dishes that we could sit and enjoy versus grab and go if we would like. I'm happy we took the gamble of time and sat and had the most enjoyable quick but absolutely delicious breakfast! From our coffee and fresh squeezed orange juice to the best quiche I've ever eaten the service, atmosphere, and timed right to the 30 min we had to spare. So a perceived rushed on the go get to the field mindset turned into a relaxing first class dining experience. Thank you Eggshell Bistro for a beautiful start to our day. read more

Because of its close proximity and it being Fathers Day, my daughter invited us to breakfast at the Eggshell Bistro. Never heard of it and didn't know it was located in the Palladium shopping area. Nestled between Matt the Millers and Divy is this little, quaint , not get in your face restaurant. Nice atmosphere, friendly people working and soon to be discovered, some of the best breakfast entries we have ever tasted. Unique coffees, excellent service and very tasty food. Sweet potato hash, quiche and strata entries were our order. All were wonderful and each had its own presentation and unique flavor. I recommend this to anyone who loves food. I shall return....soon read more

This place is truly a gem! I was in town visiting from California and came very early on a Friday morning, got personal service from the owner. The place is small but very charming inside. Hear it's quite busy on weekends. Had the egg, ham and asparagus special which was delicious and my friend had the sweet potato hash. Each coffee is individually pressed and they are one of the only in the Midwest who are authorized for this particular coffee. Unique cultural cuisine and personal service. Don't miss this spot! read more

Awesome breakfast or brunch. A nice change of pace form the regular choices, definitely a European feel.

Amazing! I have enjoyed the quiche on two different occasions. The fresh fruit salad was also a delight with exotic fruits. Great decor with attention to detail. You must stop in and experience Eggshell Bistro! read more

A gem amongst the Carmel businesses! I stopped in on a Sunday afternoon around 3pm after discovering a nearby coffee shop was closed early for the day. I wanted my caffeine fix for the day but didn't know what to expect when I walked into Eggshell. I realized as I strolled through the door that they appeared to be prepping to close up for the day so when I fully expected to be told they were closed and rushed out the door, they instead offered to serve me a delicious cappuccino. What bumps this up to the above and beyond level (and 5 star rating) was the opportunity to meet the owner of the shop and chat while I had my drink. He also offered me a sample of some new iced coffee (which was delicious as well). We talked about the art in the restaurant and I was very impressed with how much thought and effort has gone into setting this place up. All in all I am sold on Eggshell. The atmosphere is awesome. The staff is friendly and patient. The coffee was amazing and didn't seem anymore or less expensive than other coffee joints, but I didn't see a food menu, so I can't speak on those prices. read more

Pros: - Amazing coffee, maybe some of the best in the U.S. Multiple options, brews, coffees, etc. - Delightful atmosphere, unique, creative. Enough to keep you thinking and daydreaming for hours. - GREAT food, great chef. The perfect poached eggs. Minus the bacon. Cons: - Wait time (the reason for 2 stars). Sat down immediately, but was not asked about drinks or food for a good (and honest) 35 minutes. That's too long to be without coffee at the least. Still friendly, but slow. - Time to get food. Took soooo long once we placed our order to get our food! I don't even know if they have more than 1 person working in the kitchen. Couldn't even tell you how long we waited. - Burnt bacon. I don't know if it's a European thing, but a breakfast place should always have good bacon. - Food prices are reasonable, coffee prices...are scary. This was my second time in. I'll probably be back, but if the service isn't sped up, I will leave and go elsewhere. read more

I love Eggshell. Their chef is so talented and makes every dish a culinary work of art. All of their coffee is freshly brewed too. Every time I visit, I order the Caprese strata and Rwandan coffee. The atmosphere is great too. It's a small restaurant but it's never too loud and I love The French music that they play. Their portions are "European" meaning they are small but mighty and will leave you feeling full and satisfied. I recommend going to eggshell for brunch. read more

I wanted to have a new experience but was very disappointed. We arrived at this Bistro at about 12:30 on Sunday. We stood at the front for about 10 minutes before we were even acknowledged (we were the only people in line). When we were finally acknowledged we had to wait another 5 minutes to be seated. Then we waited about 15 minutes and were not even offered a glass of water. Then we watched the hostess seat a table of four and immediately take their order. When we asked what was going on we were told "they were waiting outside". The service was so bad we simply got up and left. I don't have any idea if the food is good...they simply were not interested in serving us. I will never go there again!!! read more

A New Favorite! I-Hop this is not! But, If your looking for a parisian dinining experience, this is the place! We happened by this little gem looking for a new place to have a Sunday brunch, so happy we stopped here. Everything about EggShell Bistro is perfect! Alissa was our server and was so knowledgeable on every aspect of each dish that we asked for her suggestions - I am so glad we did! We love, love, love the Chinese Herbal Tea egg~ (This has to be the best food server in town, she hit the mark on everything)-we thought she was the owner! After getting a little more information Alissa suggested the "Mixed Heirloom Potato Frittata" ~ It was simply amazing! My friend also loved his Parisian Toast, (which looked tempting!) Every bite was a bit of heaven! Hats off to EggShell Bistro's owner, Larry-, we will be back often and early to get a table...as this place already seems to have a loyal following! read more

Went mid-morning on a weekday to try the coffee (I'd heard so much about it). It absolutely lived up to its reputation. Brian (the Barrista) walked us through the process of making the perfect cup which made it even more enjoyable. We also tried the Chinese Herbal Tea Egg and the Smoked Lamb Bacon. Both were quite unique and tasty. I'm very excited to go back again to try some other breakfast entrees. This could quickly become my new "go to" place for business meetings or a morning delight. It's exciting to see a unique local place that stands out from the chains! read more