Met up with some coworkers at 11:30 on a Tuesday, was able to be seated right away. The service was great, which is always a huge plus for me. We started with the calamari, and this isn't your regular, over breaded calamari. This is thick pieces of calamari LIGHTLY breaded- what a nice change! My co workers got the brisket tacos, which they said was really good. I opted for the pork nachos. It was HUGE, certainly could be shared. Great flavors and fresh ingredients. I can't wait to come back when the weather is warmer and sit outside along the canal. Way to go Flatwater! read more

Flatwater is a great little restaurant in Broad Ripple - great food, casual and comfortable atmosphere, and great service! Another perk? I went around 7pm on a Friday night and it wasn't too crowded/there wasn't a wait! I had their Moscow Mule that was made with tequila instead of vodka - it was good but seemed a little watered down - maybe I waited too long to drink it?! The food was great - my table split some apps, the hummus platter and the lettuce wraps. The hummus platter was a good, basic hummus platter. The lettuce wraps were FANTASTIC. So flavorful and delicious. I will, without a doubt, be ordering these every time I visit Flatwater! I can't wait to come back in the summer to enjoy their patio (it's right on the canal!) and try some other things on the menu! read more

Love this place. FAVORITE spot in Broad Ripple. Great service. Great drinks and i havent had anything bad on the menu. Perfect spot right by the canal. Always love coming here. read more

The service was good, and the food was great! The best calamari appetizer I've ever had, it's a must if you like seafood. Nice large bar area too, but still a kid-friendly place. read more

Great patio, good food. I was here for lunch and it was leisurely and relaxing. The service was a little slow but I wasn't in any hurry so I didn't mind. read more

If your looking for laid back dinner or lunch , you must try the Flatwater. Great Bar and staff is big family! Service and food and atmosphere 5 star out of 5. Tuna appetizer and all appetizers are phenomenal. Please visit ! Great People! read more

I always like this little place in Broad Ripple there's really nothing special about the decor. Very rustic not much to look up unless you go outside and sit by the water which is very pleasant. I ordered the bang bang cauliflower tacos and wow was surprised they were delicious. It was more of a business meeting so I didn't ask everybody but they thought about their food. But everything seemed pretty tasty. But if you go you should definitely try the bang bang cauliflower tacos yum yum read more

We had dinner here on a Sunday night and at 6PM there was already no outdoor seating, so we didn't get to enjoy the patio which was a bummer. We sat inside which wasn't terrible, but on a nice evening it was a little stuffy. A ceiling fan would maybe help. Anyway, they had a few beers on tap with more in bottles. I was expecting a bit wider of a selection, but they had a couple Sun King and Founders options that were decent. I had the half slab of ribs which came with choice of sauce, a side, cole slaw and toast. The ribs were a good balance of tender and crisp-chewy with a good smoky flavor. I went with the spicy sauce which was, indeed, spicy! It was not just Indiana spicy, so steer clear if you don't like spice that does cross the lingering, building burn threshold. It did have good flavor though. The other choices were "house" and Carolina. For my side I had the roasted Brussels sprouts which were in s sweet sauce with chunks of bacon. They were very good, but pretty sweet and more baked in sauce than roasted (no crispy roasted edges to the sprouts). That said, I appreciate places that give choices of sides other than fries, and the sprouts were good! The cole slaw was very sweet, and really too sweet for my taste. The toast was a little soggy and cold, and seemed like it was perhaps made ahead. They don't serve any dessert here, but ice cream is close by elsewhere. Service was fine, but they were definitely busy and so water wasn't refilled. I was between a 3 and 4 star rating here, so rounded up as this was based on one visit. They don't take reservations, so I'm not sure I'd try coming back on a weekend, even early on a Sunday evening. I might try a weeknight to see if we can actually snag a table outside as that seems to be what people really enjoy about this place. Parking is on the street and heads up if you're headed south on College- you'll now have to go past Westfield and come back northbound as you can no longer turn left on Westfield due to the red line. read more

Flatwater Restaurant - Half slab of ribs with roasted Brussels sprouts side - Comfort Food Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I've been wanting to visit Flatwater for a long time, but I usually only remember it when it's nice weather which is typically when it's the busiest. So this time, I went when the weather wasn't great and got seated quickly. My friend and I both got tacos. I got the shrimp and she got the cauliflower. Both were delicious, and they were the perfect portions. It is small inside, but it didn't feel crowded which was nice. I definitely want to go back when the weather is nice! read more

Flatwater Restaurant - Shrimp tacos, fries - Comfort Food Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Love this spot by the canal! Outdoor and indoor seating available. We sat outside, what a beautiful view of the water and sun shining down! Covid friendly procedures. I ordered the house smoked pulled pork tacos and it was very flavorful and the salsa was bomb!! My friend go the black bean burger and fries and gave it two thumbs up! Friendly staff and can be busy depending the time of day you go but worth the wait. Parking is a bit tough in broad ripple so be prepared to look for an open parking spot that hopefully is free. (Some spots to be paid parking) read more

Flatwater Restaurant - Black bean burger and fries - Comfort Food Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Flatwater is such a great place to go with friends to enjoy a nice day! I went on a beautiful summer evening with a group of eight. We got there a little before 6 p.m. and were seated quickly. I started with a margarita (which was their drink special for the day). It wasn't necessarily the freshest tasting marg I've ever had, but it was cheap and good. Later with my meal, I ordered a Sun King Pachanga because they had a Sun King tap takeover going on. For my meal, I ordered the Thai Chile Shrimp. I'd never been to Flatwater before, and all of my friends said I needed to get the shrimp. 10/10 recommend!! It's crunchy, a little sweet, and a little hot. It's also served on a bed of greens and cabbage, which breaks up the fried-ness. Over all, delicious! read more

Flatwater Restaurant - Thai Chile Shrimp - Comfort Food Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Excellent service. The bathrooms were playing than I expected on a Saturday night considering it is primarily a bar. I'm very particular about my asparagus. The asparagus at this place is on point; they don't give you much, but it is very tasty and not overcooked and they are full of flavor. The wings were quite meaty. I had the mesquite flavor. They had a nice Smokey taste. this is definitely the time and place to come and hang out with your friends. read more

Flatwater Restaurant - Grilled asparagus - Comfort Food Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

We got takeout from this place-- brisket nachos and homemade hummus and veggies. The food was delicious, and the bartender was friendly and prompt. It socks next to the canal along with several other cute restaurants offering outdoor seating (I could not tell if this place offers outdoor seating or not.). The nearby streets are lined with quaint shops and boutiques. A must-stop when you're in Indy. It has a cozy atmosphere. Will definitely return on our next visit to Broadripple. read more

I'd eaten at Flatwater years ago and was unimpressed, but because it was convenient for lunch with friends, I decided to give it another try. The wedge salad with salmon made me reconsider my opinion of the place. It was delicious! I also think sitting in the bar area where there are windows and brighter creates a nicer ambiance. I'll be back and it won't be years from now! read more

Flatwater is easily one of my favorite spots in Broad Ripple! I discovered it a couple summers ago when my boyfriend and I were looking for a new place with outdoor seating. We stumbled upon Flatwater and we were blown away! First of all, the scenery couldn't be better. The restaurant has a wonderful deck that's right on the canal. In the warmer months they have ample outdoor seating on their deck, live music on the busier nights, and the best feature of all...a walk-up bar!! After putting in our name for a table, we were pleasantly surprised when the hostess directed us to the outdoor bar to grab a beer while we waited. There's no better way to wait for a table than listening to live music on a warm summer evening while drinking a cold beer. Most recently when I went, they had spread the tables out and they required social distancing in their common spaces (e.g., walkways, restrooms, etc.). I went on a Monday and unfortunately the outdoor bar was closed, but you could still order beer to drink while you waited. I'm uncertain if the outdoor bar was closed due to COVID, or because it was a less-busy Monday evening. Either way, the setting was still wonderful. I ordered a BBQ chicken salad and drank a couple Sun King IPAs...everything was delicious. My friend and I were seated at a table right on the canal, and it was wonderful. Due to COVID, all the staff wore face masks and they required guests to wear face masks while in the common areas. I really appreciated that they were so cautious about mask-wearing. All of the menus were digital, so guests scan a QR code with their personal phones and the menu will come up. I also noticed that the staff were very diligent about cleaning tables and chairs between guests. Overall, a wonderful place to go if you're looking for good food, good drinks, and a great atmosphere. read more

Flatwater Restaurant - BBQ chicken salad and Sun King Keller Haze IPA - Comfort Food Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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We stopped in for an afternoon snack. We had a scotch and ceviche. Both were delicious. Service was fast and friendly. I used to frequent this place about 10 years ago. Not much has changed, but that's not a bad thing for the younger folks who seemed to be regulars now. We didn't have high expectations for the ceviche, but it was up there among the best we've had. I loved the hint of cumin and chili powder. The wonton chips were really good too. read more

This is the first restaurant we visited since COVID started and I was really impressed ! I felt very comfortable. The staff wore masks at all times and they have digital menus now. We sat outside and they was super nice . The food and drinks are excellent. I got the fish tacos and a Moscow mule . It's a very relaxed environment. Definitely will be going back ! read more

Flatwater Restaurant - Moscow mule Gin and tonic - Comfort Food Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Service and food quality are at the Acme of excellence here at FlatWater. Uplifting American cuisine.

If you come for nothing else at least come for the House Smoked Beef Brisket NACHOS!! My husband and I enjoyed dinner here on a Saturday evening and we cannot wait to go back! We were disappointed that we could not get any outdoor seating (the wait was over 2 hours!) but we were so hungry that we didn't mind sitting in the main dining room. We started with drinks and the best nachos we have ever had. The pulled brisket was cooked to perfection and was accompanied by cheese, bbq sauce, pico de gallo black beans, corn, guacamole, and queso fresco-all on a large mountain of chips and topped off with fresh cilantro. (I'm wishing I had some right now as I write this review.) To be honest, we could have left after sharing the nachos but we had ordered the BBQ sampler and shared that as well. Each of the meats were cooked wonderfully and tasted delicious! We definitely would order it again. I am excited to go back to Flatwater Restaurant again and hope that the next time we go that we will be able to sit outside on the deck to make our experience even more enjoyable. read more

Flatwater Restaurant - BBQ Sampler - Comfort Food Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

First time at Flatwater and it was wonderful. The music and environment gave me a southern/bayou feel. The service was top notch. Our server Danny recommended the Black Bean Tacos and they were excellent. A thin layer of cheese between the tortillas and bit of a kick really make them. I also tried a bit of my friends Brussel sprouts which were delici. We were also brought drinks by the manager AND he bussed our table when we finished eating and made conversation. Danny was also very funny and patient. The employees here seem to like their job and it shows. I will definitely be making return trips to Flatwater. read more

Flatwater Restaurant - Black Bean Crumble Tacos - Comfort Food Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Enjoyed the patio, the staff, the scene, and scenery here. The Brussels were a little sweet and greasy but they comped the order in light of this. read more

Flatwater Restaurant - Comfort Food Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Really solid food, always satisfying. Wonderful service with down to earth, helpful, friendly staff and overall good vibes. It's popular for outside in the summer but I even love it on a cold or rainy day inside by the bar. read more

Outstanding lunch stop! Had the sandwich of the day and it was AMAZING! Our server recommended the brussel sprouts and they were fantastic! Seriously, get them! The mushrooms were good too! Friendly and helpful, I would definitely make this a frequent hangout! Great beer options and a wonderful canal view too! read more

My wife and I recently had a great meal at Flatwater. I must admit that as soon as we walked in we wondered if we had made a mistake. It was a special occasion for us and we were hoping for a particularly enjoyable meal, but our initial impression of the dining room wasn't great. Nevertheless, we gave it a try and were very pleased that we did so. The service was friendly and efficient and the food was first rate. I had the grilled tenderloin sandwich and my wife had the chicken bowl. The tenderloin was well cooked without being dry and my wife has been complementing the chicken bowl for days. We were so pleased with our meal that we stayed for desert. That was also wonderful. I'm confident we will be back. However, I should note that the restaurant was almost empty when we were there, so we can't contest to how well it handles a crowd. read more

Food & service was great! The vibe & view was everything you need as well. Love when they have live music as well.

One of the best patios in broad ripple. Food and drinks are great too. It's popular, so don't be surprised if the wait is really long on a beautiful night. read more

Been here twice this week and seemed that every time they go better. First time on Tuesday, weather was not the best however the patio is very good to be during this summer. Had a very good pachanga beer and a tasty burger over there, the fries were crispy and the dressing they add it's awesome I wanna know what they put in it. Second time, Wednesday, they had a singer back on the patio and the place was crowded unfortunately we couldn't stay to eat but I believe now that the good temperature is back this will be my place in Broad Ripple. Don't get discouraged by my review there is plenty of space if you just wanna grab some drinks there is bar inside and one outside so you can be around the place if not the waiting time was not that much and I believe it's worth it. read more

Great time every time! Mike is a great guy and has a fun place to be and always welcoming. Food is hearty and terrific. I can't wait for the summer line up out on the deck. read more

This place has been so consistent, I just had the fish tacos. I recognize most the staff and it's been years. Good sign the owner takes care of people. Food was excellent. Parking is a nightmare all over broad ripple but we lucked out and got a front row spot. Can't wait till it warms up an the patio is packed with out door music and live bands. Can't wait to come back. read more

Flatwater Restaurant - Comfort Food Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Delicious food and best atmosphere in Broad Ripple (located on the canal). Bonus when they have live music.

With the reviews I read, I thought this would be a good meal, but I was really not impressed. Service was speedy (ate at the bar so we could get some shade on a hot day). Drinks were fine, but our two entrees were both not great. Hubby got the fish and chips and they seemed like they came out of a freezer right into the fryer. Not fresh, for sure. I got the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich and the breading was gummy and the pork was chewy. Clearly more of a bar hangout than a place for good food. They definitely have a nice view in the back, but I wouldn't recommend the food at all. read more

I love everything about this place! Especially in warmer weather. I've been here so many times, I can't believe I've never left a review! My cousin and I went here after work on a Thursday night. Our wait to sit outside was 30-45 minutes and we were sat within that time frame. While waiting, we grabbed a couple drinks at the outside bar and had a seat on the benches outside in the front. We got sat right beside the water, and they had live music. The sun was scortching this day, but much better after it went down. The food is always amazing! I ordered two tacos: Mahi Mahi & pulled pork. Both were delicious and very filling! The pulled pork alone probably would've been enough -- they load it up! My cousin got mahi mahi and brisket along with a side of brussel sprouts. I ate some of the sprouts and they had a great flavor. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. You gotta try this place! read more

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We were sat at a table in the bar area and no one greeted us. Now we were a little impatient because we drove ALL the way from Westfield to get here in time to have bloody Mary's from the Bloody Mary bar that they have on Sundays. It's phenomenal and I build your own. We arrived at 2:42pm and that was because it took us FOREVER to find parking. The Bloody Mary bar is only till 3p on Sundays! You have to check it out. It's amazing! Now as we sit anxiously for someone to greet us, we look at the bartender, Shelly, and asked if we could get waited on right away if we moved to the bar. She said, "absolutely!" Do we hurriedly scuffled our way there to the bar to order our bloody Mary's. As I'm drinking mine I look over at the Bloody Mary bar and it was tore down at 2:51pm! Now I can't here thinking I could get at least another one in and when u advertise till 3pm and you have a FULL HOUSE of people here mainly for that.... it's disappointing to say the least. I noticed the person breaking it down was the server that was supposed to wait on us and never came by to greet us. read more

Flatwater Restaurant - Comfort Food Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

First time visiting for us!! We were very impressed from the get go. We went on a Friday pm around 7ish (prime time) was quoted about 2 hours to sit outside . Once we told them it was our first time the hostess immediately asked if we'd like a tour. Yes, please. She took us to the outside bar. Showed us how to order drinks and that we could wait for our table there. We decided we were good with just sitting in the little bar area and ordering food there. The owner, Mike, came over to greet us and chat about the menu. Thanked us for coming in and went and got our first drinks from the bar for us. Hubby ordered our food with the outside bartender and it came quickly. We got wings and the loaded fries. OMG they were both amazing. We love wings and these were some of the best we've had. Smoked to perfection. We got the house BBQ sauce and it was tangy and not too sweet. We are excited to return to try more menu options as we had a time narrowing down what to get as So much sounded good!!! And Mine told us starting in May they will have live Music on the patio. read more

Flatwater Restaurant - Canal view - Comfort Food Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I need to admit that I was a bit frustrated with this restaurant. After looking it up on Yelp, I was very excited to go there. However, from the very beginning, my experience wasn't the best. SERVICE: I had to wait nearly an hour to get a table for five people, and they sat us in a table for four people. So, we didn't have much space to eat! Other than that, the servers were very helpful and we didn't have any problems with our orders! ENVIRONMENT: We sat on the patio, which was really cool, because it is right by the river and they have a nice view. However, there were a lot of mosquitos!! I really liked the environment of the restaurant, because they had live music and a bunch of people drinking beers and chatting by their bar. However, the music was really loud and I could barely talk to my friends while we were eating! FOOD: The food is decent and it is not very expensive. I ordered the pulled pork nachos. You could easily share it with someone else, because it's a lot of food for just one person. Overall, it wasn't the best nachos I have ever had, but they were pretty good. In conclusion, I would come back to the restaurant just to have a beer or two. But out of all the options I could choose from Broad Ripple, I would never choose to go to Flat Water to eat again!! read more

Flatwater Restaurant - Pulled Pork Nachos - Comfort Food Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Love their pet friendly patio! We like to come by in the warmer months for dinner, typically on a weeknight when it's easier to get a table. Service is usually pretty consistent and sometimes there is live music. We like to order the nachos and enjoy a casual dinner on summer nights with our pup! read more

This will definitely be my new spot! Nice hidden gem with a great view of the water if you eat outside. Staff was super definitely on top of their game very tentative. Multiple staff came by and asked how I was doing not just my waitier. Super cool! Food here was on point cooked perfectly with huuuge portions. Even the plating was something you would expect at a more high end spot. I have no complaints about this spot other than the size and once more people get wind of it it will probably be a nightmare trying to get a table lol. Can't wait for my next trip in. read more

My boyfriend and I stopped here on this beautiful day! Unfortunately didn't get pictures of our meal but their Mac n cheese was 10/10!! We enjoyed sitting out on the patio and it was dog friendly which we loved even more Angie was our sever and she was great :) read more

Finally got to enjoy this restaurant and dine on the patio! It was dog heaven. Even a 180lb Great Dane on the patio! Started with a peach Bellini and a beer. Shared the wedge salad and California club. They split the sandwich onto 2 plates with chips and a pickle. Live when they do that! Great outdoor atmosphere on the patio overlooking the canal. Seemed to be 20 something's or 50 something's. Have an outdoor bar you can just walk up to. May have to try that in the future! read more

Flatwater Restaurant - California club. Made into 2 plates since we shared. Love that! - Comfort Food Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Want to feel like you're on vacation for the next hour? Come here on a nice day. There's as much outdoor patio as there is inside seating. They have live music multiple times a week as well as a large outdoor-only bar. The food: Pulled pork nachos: delicious, large, and gone in a few minutes (good appetizer for two or three people) Cheeseburger: pretzel bun (yum) but cheeseburger was just average, chips that came with it were deliciously seasoned Salmon entree: yes!! Fresh salmon on a bed of couscous, with asparagus. There was also a hollandaise/butter sauce with it. Very colorful! The menu had lots of good options and I would definitely come back. I can't believe I hadn't been to this place before! read more

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