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    Josephine Carmel

    4.3 (63 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

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    Bartop
    Lauren J.

    Such a hidden gem in downtown Carmel. I've lived here for almost two years and passed Josephine countless times on Main Street, but finally decided to give it a try..and I'm so glad I did. French cuisine isn't usually my go-to, but this place completely changed my mind. We were welcomed by Aaron, the GM, who was incredibly friendly, genuine, and accommodating. Our server, Justin, was just as impressive--super knowledgeable about the menu, wine, and appetizers, and made the whole experience even better. If you're in the mood for something a little different, a bit elevated, and genuinely delicious, this is your spot. I had the chicken cordon bleu and my boyfriend ordered the duck, both were outstanding. But if there's one thing you have to try, it's the bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with goat cheese... seriously unforgettable. Already looking forward to going back, especially to check out their happy hour (every day from 5-6pm!). Definitely a must-try in Carmel!

    Anna N.

    I always have a lovely experience at Josephine because of the amazing staff and beautiful ambiance. Definitely my favorite spot in Carmel to have a glass of wine.

    BEEF BOURGIGNON    braised beef, carrots, celery, pearl onion, mushrooms, potatoes, red wine beef stock
    Shannon N.

    Josephine Carmel was a pleasant experience to be devoured indeed! I went with friends to try their Devour Indy Winter 2026 menu. It did not disappoint! The prix fixe choices included an appetizer, soup or salad, entree and dessert of your choice all for $50. I enjoyed the PIG & FIG app-a crisp pork belly with Granny Smith apple, whipped Brie, figs, rosemary honey. The FRENCH ONION SOUP made with chicken & beef stock, caramelized onions, wild herbs, Gruyere, Comté, parmesan, and a touch of sherry. I had the BEEF BOURGIGNON  braised beef, carrots, celery, pearl onion, mushrooms, potatoes, red wine beef stock as my entree. We were also served complimentary sparking wine. I enjoyed their espresso martini, the chic and sophisticated ambiance as well as the friendly and attentive wait staff. This place is perfect for a romantic dinner or fancy drinks with friends. 10/10 Will return!

    Coq au vin
    Josie M.

    The wine and food was delicious! The coq au vin was very nostalgic and familiar tasting. Classic flavors and a hearty winter meal. The chicken was cooked perfectly and super juicy. The layout of the restaurant is super weird and the menu is quite limited. The bartender was very nice and made sure to ask questions to ensure we got what we wanted. But overall, it was good, but not great or very memorable. They did give little chocolate raspberry cups with the check though, which was a pleasant surprise!

    Salad
    Audrey A.

    Had a lovely dinner with girlfriends during devour week. We were given a nice table to sit at and the staff was so kind and patient with us when waiting an extended period of time for our last party. We went on a Wednesday night and learned that it was wine night, so we split a very nice bottle that was made even more affordable. All 3 of us decided to take advance of the 3 course devour menu option. Everything was delicious! An even nicer touch was that we were present an amuse bouche and another dessert tasting before our dessert course. My friends and I throughly enjoyed our time at Josephine. We were never rushed and were even able to enjoy conversation quite long after our dinner. We can't wait to have another Wednesday dinner there!

    Coq au vin
    Brett C.

    I strongly recommend eating on the patio during a summer evening. Our group of seven was well taken care of and the food was delicious!

    Escargot
    Megan H.

    TOP notch experience. Food was incredible, service was excellent, and the restaurant itself is so beautiful. Very dim but it makes for a wonderfully calm dinner. We went to celebrate my 40th birthday and our waiter Peter was wonderful. We were given an amuse bouche for both appetizer and dessert, plus I received a free birthday dessert. We started our meal with the escargot, which were perfect. Then I had the salmon almondine, and my husband chose the duck a' l'orange. Both were absolutely delicious, and I highly recommend that you order anything that involves the potatoes aligotes. SO good. Owner Dan stopped by and was so nice and welcoming. We will most definitely be back.

    Barbara R.

    Date Night in our hometown. Went to Josephine in Carmel for happy hour. What a beautiful bar and restaurant. We were there for happy hour...1/2 price appetizers, drinks, wine. We love mussels, and had "pig and fig". Who serves an Amuse bouche for an appetizer order....yes, they did! Carlos was fabulous taking care of us...had a lovely surprise dessert wine, and we ordered a decadent French Silk pie. We shall return. An absolutely delightful evening.

    Chicken and frites
    Joseph D.

    An absolutely fantastic experience! We sat at the bar and were warmly greeted by Lilly. We ordered a bottle of wine, the bone marrow and escargot. The Bone Marrow app was great And we finished them off with a calvados luge. The escargot was amazing and super tender. We moved on to share the pork entree and sides of frites and cassoulet beans. We got two glasses of a delicious red Burgundy to go with the entree. Perfect pairing. For dessert we split a pot de crème and it was denser that ones I've had in the past but the flavor wa incredible. The chefs popped into the dining room and checked on us. Super nice guy and he told us that the pot se crème was made in the traditional manner. Brad the GM stopped by to make sure everything was perfect. Can't recommend this place highly enough.

    Crème brûlée
    Corey S.

    Service, food, and ambiance were all very good. I will note the portion sizes are a little smaller than expected, however we were both pleasantly full by the time we were done. Definitely a change a pace from just about anywhere else around but overall a very good experience and great place for a date night.

    Bone marrow
    Sheila D.

    Upon entering the restaurant, we were met by the sommelier who also seated us. Loved the interior as it was very elevated and moody. Plan to be here for a bit as the food takes time to prepare. Our server was very attentive and even had recommendations. We had appetizers of bone marrow and escargot. Enjoyed both but would try something other than the bone marrow next time. Escargot had a definite herb flavor which was different than I have had before. Our entrees were both full of flavor and would definitely order again. I had the salmon (my go to) and my husband the steak. This restaurant is definitely worth a try if you want an upscale experience.

    Amuse Boucher
    Kristen T.

    My mom was visiting from out of town, and as fellow foodies, we have a tradition -- pick a new, high-end restaurant to try together. This time, we chose the new-on-the-scene Josephine in Carmel, and it was a decision we'll be talking about for a long time. Her visit was shortly after Mother's Day, so when our extremely knowledgeable and wonderfully personable server Carlos asked if we were celebrating anything, I told him it was a delayed Mother's Day dinner. From that moment, he made it his mission to ensure our evening was not just enjoyable but truly exceptional. Along with an amazing amuse-bouche, he surprised us with a complimentary glass of bubbly so we could toast the night -- a thoughtful touch that set the tone for the rest of the evening. The menu is exceptional and honestly made choosing just one entrée a real challenge. We started with the Steak Tartare -- a dish that's notoriously hard to get right -- but here, it was executed flawlessly. For her main, my mom had the Steak Frites, and we both agreed the filet was better than what you'd find in even the top steakhouses. The accompanying sauce was nothing short of spectacular, and the frites themselves were perfectly crisp, paired with a silky, flavorful aioli. Amazing dish delivered at an amazing price! I opted for the ricotta-stuffed pasta, and as someone fortunate enough to have dined in Italy, I can say these soft pillows of cheesy goodness in their rich, flavorful sauce rivaled anything I've had in that country. I can't wait to return to this new gem, and if you've been curious about trying Josephine, don't wait -- make the reservation. You're in for a truly memorable dining experience.

    Jessi G.

    Laid back speakeasy vibe in this quaint newer restaurant right off of Main St in Carmel. Very friendly, quick service. I cannot recall the name of our waitress but she took excellent care of us all night. She knew the menu well and made excellent recommendations. The food was amazing. My friends and I tried some fun options like escargot and Goat cheese cheesecake. I would definitely suggest this spot for a date night or just in the mood for great food.

    Chicken and steak and frites

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    2 months ago

    Food and service are awesome?? Mgr/chef is a class act. Food tops any restaurant I've eaten at in Europe!!

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    9 months ago

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    9 months ago

    The food and cocktails was outstanding and the service with Twyla was top notch. One of the best fining experiences we've had!!

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    11 months ago

    An excellent addition to Main Street! Food was authentic and delightful. We enjoyed every minute and plan to return soon

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    1 year ago

    Goat cheese dates were very good. Service was too notch! Great location. Very much enjoyed

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    1933 Lounge

    1933 Lounge

    4.1
    (114 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    This place is EXACTLY my vibe. Nice and quiet with smooth sounds that get upbeat a time or two…read more There is ample seating at tables booths. There are sections which we had a section with cute egg shaped chairs and a couch with lots of table room. The old fashioned I had was A1. I also had an Elmo cola recommended by a friend and it was AMAZING! That will be my drank next time! For food I had the wagyu sliders that were recommended and were melt in my mouth amazing! Can't wait to get back to Indy to have them again! I wish I could remember our servers name .. a lovely olive skinned woman with beautiful black hair. She was funny and personable. The bar area was huge but still felt quaint. Super speakeasy vibes but with an elevated touch. If you see Ben Franklin you're in the restroom. I know... smells amazing! If ya know ya know. I need that scent in my home! If you haven't gone yet. What are you doing?! You're welcome!

    It's fine. There was a leak from the ceiling onto one of the chairs on our table. We wanted to…read morenotify our server once we noticed it, but never came back for refills or to make sure everything was right. When we did tell him, he laughed it off and said there were other leaks around the space, including one hitting him in the head while mixing drinks at the bar. Which seems like a bad place to have random ceiling liquid dripping given there are open drinks everywhere. The food was fine. Didn't rock my world. But it was tasty enough:

    Photos
    Lounge and dining areas
    Lounge and dining areas
    Sliders and shrimp cocktail
    Sliders and shrimp cocktail
    Elmo Cola

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    Elmo Cola
    Anthony's Chophouse

    Anthony's Chophouse

    4.2
    (385 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    My coworkers and I went to Anthony's Chophouse for a corporate dinner expecting polite small talk…read moreand predictable bites and instead got a surprisingly sharp performance with just one awkward seating plot twist. They booked the entire top floor for our group of 30, which sounds luxe... until three of us got exiled to what we joked as "the kiddy table". Nothing says "team unity" like banquet-style seating for most of us and a side quest for the chosen few when there was clearly room to extend the table, so the choice felt less "design" and more "but, why though?" Luckily, the food excellent. Family-style apps kept things social, and the broiled goat cheese disappeared faster than corporate budgets in Q4. The caramelized brussels sprouts with feta and pears(?) was absolutely sproutstanding and worth fighting your VP over. My salmon was cooked like it had something to prove: crisp on the outside, buttery within. The mac and cheese sauce ith what tasted like sharp, aged cheddar was doing the lord's work. The mashed potatoes was aggressively average, like a meeting that could've been an email. Eh. The bourbon bread pudding was sticky, rich, and just boozy enough to make you forgive the seating chart Service-wise, they ran a tight ship. *Chef's kiss* A small army of food expeditors kept plates landing with precision and no awkward pauses or hangry-induced hostility. Timing was flawless and the polished atmosphere, confident execution, and a few standout dishes was enough to forgive the seating chart.

    Food was fair but 700.00 with tip was too much. 3 out of a party of 5 were sick the next day…read more Service was good. Won't be back for awhile.

    Photos
    Anthony's Chophouse
    Mashed Potatoes
    Mashed Potatoes
    Salmon with Succotash

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    Salmon with Succotash
    Adagio Lounge

    Adagio Lounge

    3.5
    (12 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    Easy parking, great atmosphere, free live music on Thu, Fri, and Sat nights…read more This is the perfect place to chill, grab a drink, and listen to some live music.

    Went tonight after a production at the Booth Tarkington and was really looking forward to relaxing…read morewith an apertif in a cozy setting. We went for a 3:00 show on a Sunday such that by the time we got out, it was 6:00-still early. It was in the 30's outside and already dark (thanks DLS time). Yet as we reached the top of the stairs to the lobby I was immediately disappointed that there was no fire lit in the fireplace. There were only three parties in the place. One was around the corner in the adjoining sitting area and may or may not have been drinking. There were two couples at the bar, where we considered also sitting. But the only empty spot for two had two dirty drink glasses from a previous patron still sitting. So we opted for the leather couch and chair in the main area just across from the bar. And that's where we waited, and waited, for almost 30 minutes, before giving up on getting served (or acknowledged). There was only one bartender, so we were fine with going up to order but communication would have been helpful. We stood at the bar while she chatted with the two couples, who'd all been served. We couldn't really figure out what she was doing as she seemed busy-ish yet wasn't serving, or clearing, or washing, and we were chatting between ourselves and didn't really give it much thought. Then she said she was out of something and was leaving the bar to go fetch it. We asked her to let us know when she was ready to serve us, and we took our seats to resume our conversation. The bartender returned after a while, and she served one of the original couples ... for another 10 minutes at least. Again we were talking so, while an irritation, it was in the background. About 50 minutes into our visit, she came over and took our drink order. This was my third or fourth visit, and I'd ordered my drink, an old fashioned, before and knew what to expect: bourbon of choice, Luxardo cherry, and a dehydrated orange slice. Ten minutes later we got our drinks. Now mind you, my friend ordered a glass of wine. Nothing time consuming about that. She noted that her pour was smaller than the other times she'd been there. Mine came with the whisky cube already on its way to melted, a broken (a.k.a. piece of) cherry and a twist. What? Where's my glorious little crunchy orange wheel of goodness? I had spied them on the bar earlier. No soup for me! Also, and I can't be sure 100% sure of this, but I tasted neither bitters nor syrup. Was this really just a bourbon rocks? It took a minute but we realized this gal cannot tend and talk at the same time. My friend commented that she had no idea what will happen when the place gets busy, as it has been every other time I've been there. We left after 8:00, after one drink, and for me, $21 lighter. Yeah, it's pricey. And the Carmichael crowd is a discriminating one. So we expected better. Much, much better.

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    Adagio Lounge
    Adagio Lounge
    Adagio Lounge

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    The Goat

    The Goat

    3.0
    (86 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    There's not really another bar like The Goat in Carmel. This is probably the most Broad Ripple-y…read morebar I've been to in this city. (If you know, you know.) For that reason, The Goat got in trouble by the city a while back, and was shut down for a time. But then it reopened, and now it seems to be minding its Ps and Qs, for the most part. You will know you're at The Goat when you see a big American flag flapping in the breeze outside of the restaurant. You'll also know you're at The Goat when you spot the Donald Trump beer tap handle at the bar. OK! They must really like the movie "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" here. There really is a place for everyone, and I somehow found myself in this place. But you know what? I got nothing but love (or like, really) for The Goat. My experience was great. The service was excellent. The beer, wine and spirits list was outstanding. The music they were playing was nice (heck yeah to whoever chose to play mid-90s Incubus, Bush and Marcy Playground.) I'm the type of person who goes to a dive-ish bar and orders wine, and the kind people at The Goat didn't even blink, and poured me a nice, generous glass. Fine, two glasses. If you're the kind of person who drinks bourbon, your heart will start beating faster when you step into The Goat. They have an amazing bourbon list. On Wednesdays, they do $12 pours of select bottles, some of which are $100+ per bottle. So, you can try out some top-shelf bourbon at a decent price. Mark your calendar for Wednesdays at The Goat, if you're into bourbon. My visit was just for drinks with a small party, and we didn't try any of the food. But we got a variety of drinks among us, including red wine, beer, straight bourbon and blueberry cider. They have a lot of different types of alcohol to please an adult palate. Speaking of adults, this place is 21+ only!

    We visited The Goat for the first time Tuesday evening and had a terrible experience. It took…read moreforever for anyone to take our drink order. And when they finally did, she made us pay before she ever served a drink. Not only that, it took nearly 30 minutes to complete our drink order. The worst part is that the bartender forgot one of our drinks and we were told she only charged us for two drinks instead of three which was a flat out lie. Especially since we had a long drawn out conversation about her inability to change the alcohol type in one of our drinks because it's premixed, you'd think she would remember. Sadly, no. We should have left then but were there for a watch party. So we ended up reordering and paying again for the missing drink. We moved to a different area of the bar and still experienced subpar service. Nearly every staff member in this place had the look on their faces like everyone was an inconvenience to them. Not one smile. Very limited interaction. And overall, extremely poor customer service. I would not recommend! Cherry on top: when you pay, they have the unmitigated gall to have the tip increments go from 22-30%. Not a one person who "served" us worked to deserve a tip of that magnitude. And I'm saying this as a very generous tipper! Never again....which I'm sure they don't mind since it's clear they don't care.

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    The Goat
    Hummus Appetizer
    Hummus Appetizer
    Cabernet

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    Cabernet
    Lone Pine

    Lone Pine

    4.0
    (46 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    I can see why Lone Pine is getting recognized by the James Beard Foundation this year. Why? In…read moreshort: The food is dope, the service is attentive, the restaurant is classy but approachable. But mostly it's for Aaron Hansen, the chef at Lone Pine. He's a semifinalist for the Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH) category. What an honor! I'm curious to see if he gets the medal, but even if not, hopefully this recognition will draw people to visit Lone Pine, because people really need to visit. I don't know how Lone Pine would describe its menu, but I would call it elevated comfort food. One of the things my table ordered was chicken piccata. When was the last time you saw chicken piccata on a menu?! It was delicious, and served with mashed potatoes and lettuce leaves that added a nice, fresh crunch to each bite. We also got the roasted salmon, which was served with fingerling potatoes in a pesto sauce, with arugula on the side. This, too, was delicious and rich, yet fresh. I ordered the short ribs, which came with polenta and caramelized pearl onions. The short ribs were just fatty enough, and the sauce that they were surrounded by was unctuous and wonderful to eat with the polenta. I guess I should have started this review by writing about our first course! We got the French onion soup, bloody Mary wedge salad and the Caesar salad. The Caesar salad at Lone Pine is probably the best Caesar salad that I've eaten in Carmel, and maybe in all of the Indianapolis area. The thing that Lone Pine does differently and spectacularly is that they use breadcrumbs and not croutons. That makes all the difference! Granted, it does look a bit like a pile of pencil shavings on a plate, but sometimes the dowdiest foods are the best-tasting foods. The result is a satisfyingly salty, crunchy, creamy, crispy salad that I couldn't stop eating. I know I will be back to Lone Pine for the Caesar salad. We ended our meal by sharing two desserts: the apple pie panna cotta and the Lone Pine chocolate cake. Both desserts were amazing, but the cake won us all over because it looked deceptively heavy, but it was light and airy, and came with slightly sweet whipped cream. The service at Lone Pine is exceptional. They pay attention to detail here, and all of the little things are taken care of. Our server gave us just enough time between courses. Our water was refilled unobtrusively. We didn't get asked whether we've dined there before (because who cares?) and the menu wasn't over-explained (thank goodness, because I can indeed read). One thing we also noticed that we appreciated: The music was just loud enough to hear it, but not loud enough to notice it too much! It's these little things that come together to make a great dining experience.

    Unfortunately, my second visit to Line Pine may have been my last... We attended last night for my…read moremother-in-law's birthday. She wanted to try a new "fancy" place in Carmel. My first experience at the restaurant was decent, so I figured we would give it another shot. I recall my first meal being a bone-in pork chop that was overly salted. I'll make my review brief. The restaurant was not too busy but our service was fairly slow, two separate drink orders that were requested never made it to the table, the environment was noisy/music too loud, etc. I decided to go with something very basic for my food order. My thought was, "I'll see how good they are at doing something simple." I got the black and burger cooked to the chef's preferred temperature (medium). My burger came out dry/crumbly/crispy/well done. Yikes. The server did offer to provide a complimentary drink while he asked the chef to prepare another burger (a nice gesture). However, the second burger came out raw (see photo). I'm a medium rare steak guy but this was inedible. The fries were very good. I'm not typically someone who is overly critical of restaurants but for the amount of money you're paying for these meals, the food and service should be excellent. My two experiences were fair and poor. This is very unfortunate because I've visited the sister restaurants (Beholder and Milktooth) many times and have had nothing but great experiences at both. Probably the last time I'll go.

    Photos
    Seating
    Seating
    French onion soup
    French onion soup
    Short ribs with polenta

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    Short ribs with polenta
    Okonori

    Okonori

    4.4
    (39 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    There are restaurants that serve food and then there are places like Okonori that create…read moreatmosphere, memory, and emotion around every detail. From the second you walk in, there is an intentional and elevated vibe. Crafted dishes, every plate arrives looking like art, but never in a way that sacrifices flavor or soul. It's rare to find a restaurant that feels this visually inspiring while still feeling authentic. This is still a hidden gem, but not for long. The live music on Monday nights is great too!

    Last night we checked out one of Carmel's newer restaurants, and it was an incredible experience…read morefrom start to finish. This is a high-end Japanese-style spot with a unique twist you don't typically find around here. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere sets the tone--beautifully decorated, upscale, and thoughtfully designed. The main dining area features a massive chandelier, and with the lacquered ceilings, the space feels even bigger and more impressive. We decided to go with the chef's table experience, and I highly recommend it if you're looking for something special. It's a 16-course meal served one piece at a time, and it truly feels like a curated journey. The meal starts with three appetizers before transitioning into what can only be described as edible artwork--each course carefully crafted with incredible attention to both flavor and presentation. What really sets this experience apart is the interaction. The chefs prepare each piece right in front of you and take the time to explain what you're about to eat before every course. It adds a personal touch and makes you appreciate the creativity and skill behind each bite even more. The final savory course was Wagyu, finished with a torch right in front of us--it absolutely melted in your mouth and was the perfect way to cap off the main portion of the meal. Dessert was a coconut panna cotta. While it was probably my least favorite course, it was still well executed and by no means disappointing. Another highlight was watching the sushi chef working alongside our two chefs. Seeing that level of precision and craftsmanship up close was a treat and definitely made me want to come back soon to try some of the incredible-looking rolls we saw being prepared. From the warm welcome at the beginning to the final course, the entire evening was a memorable, top-tier dining experience. If you're looking for something unique, interactive, and truly special in Carmel, this is absolutely worth a visit.

    Photos
    Our Tatami Table seating, inspired by traditional Japanese dining features a sunken floor design for comfort and an authentic, immersive
    Our Tatami Table seating, inspired by traditional Japanese dining features a sunken floor design for comfort and an authentic, immersive
    Sushi
    Sushi
    Our omakase area. Reservation only so give us a call to reserve your next experience!

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    Our omakase area. Reservation only so give us a call to reserve your next experience!

    Josephine Carmel - french - Updated June 2026

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