I can see why Lone Pine is getting recognized by the James Beard Foundation this year. Why? In short: 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. read more

Unfortunately, my second visit to Line Pine may have been my last... We attended last night for my mother-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. read more

Lone Pine - Black & Blue burger with truffle fries - Steakhouses Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

See all

Close to the Palladium in downtown Carmel, this steak restaurant has replaced the vacant spot of another restaurant. Enjoyed the steak offerings, but nothing to separate from this from the other similar spots in the area. read more

What a great place. Shane our server was awesome. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was chill. The space is elegant but not pretentious. Solid background music too. Definitely a place to visit. read more

See all

Located in the Carmel city center complex, this is a newer restaurant. Parking garage and street parking all over the place. A gal pal and I went here on a Wednesday night. They have happy hour cocktails until 6 PM. Our old-fashioned and Mai tai were eight dollars each. I don't know if they have food options for happy hour since we were there for the Devour event. It's a lovely smaller place, moody with a lounge vibe. My friend got the carrot appetizer. The flavor was really good, but the carrots were so hard, they were difficult to even cut with a knife. She thought they were really good though. I had the bloody Mary wedge without blue cheese. It was really good and I enjoyed the vinaigrette. Nice pieces of bacon and the shaved peppers were different. Quite enjoyable. We had the salmon and the steak frites as our entrées. She said the salmon was good, I didn't try it but considering there were no leftovers it must've been pretty good. Disclaimer I have a pet peeve about restaurants don't tell you about up charges. I was asked if I wanted regular fries or truffle fries when ordering and who wouldn't order truffle fries? Lol little did I know it would be a five dollar up charge. A bit steep for the portion of fries that I received. The truffle fries were some of the best I've had in this area and the dipping sauce they came with was mild and creamy. We both had the sticky toffee pudding. The sauce was really good and it came with vanilla bean ice cream. This isn't a cheap date night place. With my one happy hour cocktail, the devour menu, with my five dollar fry up charge, with tip it was almost $90. Would I come back? Certainly! Probably not for a Wednesday girls nite but for a nicer dinner with Hubs, for sure. read more

See all

We ventured here for a double date night. None of us had heard of this place prior to coming but we thought why not? Walking in it was very nice, dark woods and nice atmosphere. My hubby and I like to look at the menu before hand so we have an idea of what to order but the menu online was different than the menu in restaurant. I was looking forward to having the black cod, but it was not served that evening. Instead, I went with the salmon and it was good, but nothing spectacular. My husband went with the wild boar Bolognese. definitely something new for him. He said he liked it, but would probably not get it again. Our company went with the bloody Mary wedge and shared a steak. They did say it was room temp, but they loved the bloody Mary wedge. I got the Caesar and in terms of Caesar salads. I really enjoyed mine I tried one of the vodka drinks. I can't remember the name, but it was the first one on the menu, but did not get vodka in it. It made for a delicious but small in size mocktail would recommend it. Overall, we had a nice evening. I do wish the menu had matched the in restaurant menu. read more

The food was mediocre at best! French fries frozen. Salad gritty. Service was great. Ambiance/decor - eh! read more

Grabbing a quick dinner at the bar by myself when my better half was away, I found the filet and mashed potatoes to be outstandingly prepared! My Manhattan, made with barreled rye, was a spectacular way to end the meal. I can't wait to bring my spouse here! read more

What an experience!! This is my third visit and everything I've had has been phenomenal! From the Oysters to the Roasted Carrots, The Pizza Mushrooms.... Loved it all. Mya was our server and went above and beyond for us. Thank you for a great evening once again! read more

Ambiance 3/5 - music was a good selection but a little loud at times. The two top we were seated at for our reservation was disappointing. It was too close to the tables on either side. When the server can't fit - it's too close! I also don't enjoy eavesdropping on mind-numbing conversations. Service 3/5 - Fairly top notch with attentiveness. Unfortunately, they ran out of the wagyu for steak-frites. I was told they'd sub for filet, which is fine, except we weren't told the there would be a $14 price difference, which was a bit irritating when the bill came around. They also didn't provide the mushroom gravy, instead the steak was topped off with what seemed like a wine Demi-glacé. Food 4/5 - Overall, the meal was decent. We started with a shared wedge and French Onion Soup. Both were ok. FOS lacked bold flavor and was fairly bland. Nice cheese pull, but the broth lacked serious umami, some brandy or cognac, and was too sweet. My husband even thought they used Vidalia or Maui onions. Mains - 1) steak frites. Already mentioned the steak mishap, but it was also a bit overcooked. I requested rare plus and it was closer to middle of the road medium. Not even medium rare. No warm red center, twas pink at best. Frites were good, except they needed to be seasoned with S and P, which our server brought out. Flaky sea salt automatically brought it up to a 5 star side. 2) duck confit. Now this is a great addition to a restaurant menu. It's a standout dish. The duck was perfect. The cassoulet was tasty. But I couldn't eat much of it, since it was quite rich. Dessert - panna cotta was excellent. The end. read more

See all

Incredible! My husband and I came here to try something new for our anniversary and had an amazing experience. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable (despite being in training). He brought us both a glass of champagne after asking us if we were celebrating and offered us great suggestions for what to order while still giving us privacy to enjoy our time together. The real star of the show - the FOOD!!!! I felt the price points were very appropriate with the quality of the food an each course left our jaws on the floor. Incredibly impressive flavors and textures. Each dish was a careful crated art piece that leaves my mouth watering rethinking back! Would be the perfect date night as we finished our meal and enjoyed a walk through the city center area to walk off our stuffed bellies! Round of applause! read more

See all

Amazing experience! Great food, cocktails, and ambiance! I will absolutely return again and again! Wonderful for large groups, as well!

Do not sleep on this place! We had a date night here on Friday and everything exceeded our expectations. We started with the house mignonette oysters, very fresh tasting. I ordered the vodka daiquiri cocktail and my husband had a cocktail called Gator Boots made with mezcal, they were both delicious. For my entree I chose the Steak Frites which is an 8oz. striploin, fries, au poivre sauce. My husband ordered the 16 oz. Ribeye Purely Meats Chicago, Black Angus. I am not exaggerating when I say that the steaks melt in your mouth! We were so impressed and cannot wait to go back! My only complaint is that we were so full and did not save room for dessert lol! I will be ordering the sticky pudding next time! Shout out also to our server Andrew who was very knowledgeable and had great suggestions. read more

See all

The ambiance was warm and inviting. Andrew took exceptional care of us (you can ask for him if you make a reservation!) and Jay stopped by several times to check on our meal and ensure our diner with dietary restrictions had everything she needed. The menu felt like a steakhouse in Montana with a French twist. Between the four of us, we got to taste a lot of the dishes and everything was delicious! read more

See all

Two cozy bar seats and Nick our bartender server who was warm, knowledgeable and made a perfect dirty martini. Out of this world pink moon oysters! Beets with molé were incredible! Finally the filet was truly one of the best I have ever tasted. Overall the service, food and atmosphere was on point. We will be back. read more

See all

We've eaten here twice and had great meals and service both times. You can tell they are adapting to feedback and putting a lot of effort in as a new restaurant - I appreciate that! Food ordered has included: bbq carrots, pizza mushrooms, wedge salad, French onion soup, reserve cut filet, ribeye, miso greens, pine purée, panna cotta. There wasn't a bad dish - it was all amazing. Unique spins on classics, and nice execution. The red wine demi is to die for. As was the reserve cut filet- soooooo worth it. The French onion soup was also killer. I appreciated our servers patience as I selected a wine during our second visit (he brought me tastes of a couple of the wines by the glass so I could select). And our servers were also accommodating to my gluten allergy - helping me navigate nuances (cocktail sauce not GF). We'll be back and wish Lone Pine success! read more

We came with a large group and they were very accommodating. The food was awesome and Jacob's service was above and beyond, thank you!!

On a whim decided to call in to see if they have a Saturday availability and they did have one later at night. Since its new, we had trouble locating where it was in the Carmichael center and since their staff were'nt all local, they had bit trouble guiding. But to make it easy they are in the old location of tucci's or right next to Matt the millers. Our server Rebecca was very friendly and introduced us to each of the appetizers with details and we opted for the chicken pate. She was also well aware of the ingredients that go into each cocktail as expected from the servers at such caliber restaurant. Our pate was placed on our table with a bit of an intro on the Amelia's bread and pate and the other ingredients that went into it. Well made and so tasty! For our dinner we had the Filet, loin steak and my son wanted the wagyu. Unfortunately they were out of the wagyu, so he ordered the burger. Our food came out in record time. My son's burger looked nice with thick cut bacon. My Filet was just so juicy and tender and the caramelization was perfect. My husbands aged loin was a bit on the chewy side as they had mentioned. The caramelization was still great. Our side of pomme puree was stretchy and flavorful. The broccolini was perfectly cooked - tender, crispy and lemon flavor. Was a memorable meal overall - it does come with a high price tag. read more

Went with a group for dinner. Food marginal at best. Small portions. Service so slow. Wayyyy over priced. read more

This restaurant is fairly new - food was outstanding. If you get a soft drink it isn't from a fountain, it's from a can which was surprising but didn't change my experience. It's very nice inside, which includes the bathrooms! It is next to Matt the Millers, kind of hard to see the sign. Service was outstanding, and our server was very attentive without being annoying. Will go back! It is more of a special occasion restaurant vs everyday place to go due to the cost, but I'll find a reason to go back! read more

Visited shortly after they updated their menu based on recent feedback and had an absolutely incredible meal. Our server, Rebecca, provided a fantastic overview of the concept and the menu and was attentive without being overbearing. Aaron, Mya, Nick and Josh were also lovely and very welcoming! We started with the meatballs (made from ground steak trimmings, superb flavor) and hummus and naan. The hummus was incredible! Very silky with a lovely olive medley on top. We ended up adding a squeeze of lemon wedge halfway through from one of our cocktails and it made the garlic sing - 10/10. We got a special for the second round - braised beef cheeks with polenta and house-made giardiniera. Absolutely no notes - perfectly composed bites, beautiful plating, impeccable execution. Easily one of the best dishes I or my partner have had this year. Split a Caesar salad - excellent flavor and really enjoyed the lemon-zested breadcrumbs, which provided a more consistent crunch than croutons. For mains, we had the steak au poivre (8 oz strip, med. rare, cooked perfectly and sliced so it was both easier to eat and confirmed to be perfect before serving - love it!) and the Icelandic cod, as well as a flight of all their sauces. The chimichurri, Old Bay beurre blanc, smoked horseradish and black garlic aioli were all standouts. The au poivre had a beautiful texture but could've had a bit more pepper for my palate, and the Lone Pine red wine demiglace was delicious but not my usual speed. The fries were excellent - crispy, well-seasoned and just thick enough. The beverages were all excellent - we had three well-made classics and two glasses of Fableist Cabernet. While we weren't feeling a bottle, the wine list was beautifully curated. I'd expect nothing less from the wine brain behind Beholder, but it's really refreshing to visit a steakhouse that appreciates old-world reds to this degree. Really my only critique was that the lighting was a little weird - it felt bright given the rest of the vibe, which was definitely cozy, but the overhead lights were a little bright and a little too white and it made it feel a little too sterile. This is definitely an ambitious concept, particularly for Carmel, but the staff is passionately and has clearly been receptive to feedback. We had a great experience and it feels like they very much have their feet under them; if you've been waiting to try them, now's the time. read more

Lone Pine - Braised beef cheeks, house-made giardiniera, and polenta. Couldn't wait to dig in before taking a photo. INCREDIBLE flavors. - Steakhouses Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Lone Pine is elegant, hip, and fun. Classic Americana steakhouse experience, from the beautifully seared Ribeye, to the rich pomme purée, to the light, bright Caesar. There are also plenty of casual options, like the Baby Got Back Burger (wagyu, thick cut bacon), Moules Frites, and Lamb Ragu. Starters were also amazing - the Chicken pâté was a highlight, as was the cheese plate. Lone Pine really shines when it comes to the expertly curated wine list. Tons of deep French and Italian cuts to discover, as well as paradigm Cali favs, all priced to drink. This is a place you can bring your fam to chill, or have a classy date. Service was kind, engaging, and efficient. Can't wait to go back! read more

See all

I had such a great experience here! The restaurants ambience was impeccable along with the employees as well. I ordered a filet mignon and a glass of wine and both were delicious and served with genuine care. I hope this restaurant lasts in this spot. I will be returning! read more

We had a great meal with friends last night. The drinks were perfect. The service was top notch. The mussels were large and delicious with a great sauce for dipping bread. Our entrees were all very good and we loved the red wine reduction for dipping our steaks. The garlic aioli was perfect for the steak fries. Only disappointment was the Bloody Mary wedge salad. That didn't work for me. Too wet. But I'm sure they will dial things in as they go. And we ended the night with a fun time at the bar with a nightcap and conversation with other guests. Good vibes! read more

Service extremely slow. Same issues as others have listed. I wish I would have read ahead. Reservation at 7pm (seated on time) and left at 10. Nice atmosphere, but very loud. Cocktails and oysters were great. Entrees: Steak and Cornish Game Hen, were meh. $250+ with tip for two. read more

The steaks were nothing to write home about and over priced. The wine list is way over priced compared to other restaurants in the area. Once I ate my average steak and paid for my overpriced wine I used their restroom and found there was no toilet paper in my stall!! Unacceptable since there were only a few customers in for dinner that night. Will not go back. read more

Pleasant surprise. Had a gift certificate so we gave it a try. Good wine list and draft beer selection. Food shrimp/grits and bolognese outstanding. Bloody Mary wedge salad maybe the best. Owner personable, active and energetic. Will be our go to in Indy/Carmel. read more

Not the experience we were expecting on NYE. Service was non-existent. Our server would disappear for long periods of time and I understand he had other tables, but not checking in after an hour or longer of waiting for our entrees is not acceptable. Our server was not knowledgeable about entrees. We asked what type of steak and how many ounces for the Steak Frites and he was clueless. I think a server should know the menu inside and out and if he doesn't, go ask. Pretty simple. When you claim to be a steakhouse, the cooking of the steaks should have no error. My husband ordered his medium rare as did our friend. Husband's came out burned to a crisp and so overdone it wasn't even funny. Friend's was cooked incorrectly also. they both asked for sauce with their steaks. Oh, the chef is making the sauces our server tells us when bringing the overdone steaks. WHAT!!! Who does that? UNACCEPTABLE. Server drops off the food and never returns to find out how everything is. Unacceptable. I had to ask another server to find ours and he was gracious to help us out with our overdone steaks. Our server is still MIA! Again unacceptable. In the end husband and friend got their steaks with the sauce. We waited for our food for a good hour or longer. And honestly the food wasn't remarkable. For the price, I would expect better. I had the Duck Confit Cassoulet and my friend had the Lamb Ragu. Both good but nothing spectacular. The steaks were good, after they finally got them cooked correctly, but once again, nothing over the top great. If I'm going to eat a steak, it won't be here, and we won't be returning. Your prices are ridiculous for the quality of the food. Experience was bad. We really tried to like it, but cannot. read more

The food was overall average nothing special, and it's below average if you factor in the price. For what was paid you would have expected a top tier restaurant. It also seems like the menu has an identity crisis, they want to be a traditional steak house but add in dishes and flavors from all over. It's a very loud interior so if you plan to have a conversations I might look elsewhere. The wine pricing is some of the most expensive I've seen for a restaurant in a long time. read more

Underwhelming. We walked in and it was pretty dead for an evening we sat on the patio however the indoor section looked pretty nice and dim lit. The food was trying to be something that it couldn't live up to. overdone overpriced steak *no sides included* experimental food to an extent but not executed very well. we both left with stomach aches. service was fair read more

We had an outstanding meal at Lone Pine last night. We're still full! We tried dishes from every section of the menu and enjoyed it all! Some interesting twists on classics (we even tried beets, fantastic with the mole). Our service was excellent-attentive without being rushed so we were able to truly enjoy the experience. Our cocktails were delicious and there are NA options available as well. We will definitely be back! read more

Lone Pine is a strong new addition to the Carmel culinary scene. We enjoyed the French wines and warm ambience. Big fan of the crab croquet app as a starter. Bloody mary chop salad was so good. Our steak was cooked to perfection and the chimichurri complemented it nicely. Truffle fries were on point. The pomme purée (mash potatoes) is a must order. Chef driven A+ Food! read more

We were sad when the former resturaunt in that location closed down as it was one of our favorites. We had high hopes for Lone Pine but were let down in many ways. The interior of the Lone Pine looks exactly the same as the previous resturaunt which is not bad but would have expected it be a little different. Things started off rough and disorganized and continued that was throughout our dinner. We had to wait a while for a host to greet us and when they did they did not have enough menus for the table which was interesting because they were pretty slow and only about 1/3 capacity when we arrived. After about 5 mins we did get the menus but then waited another 5-10 mins before a server even came by to ask about drinks. The service continued slow and lackluster with both my wife and I finishing our glass of wine right at the beginning of dinner service and the server didn't come back until we were 3/4 of the way done so we passed on another round as we would have been done eating before they would have been back. As for the food everyone got a steak. Three of us got the Steak Frites and one got the Prime Filet. The Steak Frites was a good choice but when we ordered the server never mentioned there were 2 options either the strip of flat iron which would have been good to know. The person who got the Filet said it was dry and under seasoned, just bland in general. Overall the food was average and the service and vibe were very lackluster so we will not be back unfortunatly. read more

We enjoyed a family dinner at Lone Pine and enjoyed our evening. Wine list was ver good and great cocktails. We tried mussels , strip steak, special duck in an amazing sauce and Cornish hen. Everything was delicious and prepared perfectly. It was easy to talk to each other and the wait staff was so kind and professional. We will definitely be back soon! read more

The food and service were all fantastic. We made a reservation and sat at the bar. The space was relaxing and cozy even though it was a busy night. The 3 of us split a Cesar salad, truffle fries, the filet, steak frites, Brussel spouts, carrots, and the pizza mushroom special. Every dish was on point and a hit with our group: We couldn't have been happier and finished every bite. Highly recommend and we will be back! read more

Decided to give Lone Pine a try and it was very disappointing. They charge as much as the finest steakhouses in town and it was anything but. read more

We had a great experience here. The service began with a friendly greeting and throughout the night we were well attended to with cocktails along with all 3 courses coming to the table in good time. I got the steak frites for my entree and was very happy with the flavor and cook of it. The interior was very nicely decorated and had a comfortable but classy feel to it. Would come back. read more

One of the best caesar salads I have had. Delicious mushroom pasta with obviously house made noodles. Attentive and thoughtful staff. Would certainly return! read more

On top of absolutely outstanding service, their Tenderloin Filet was the best steak I've had in the Indianapolis area. The muscles & Toffee pudding were both divine. Very creative, and and I cannot recommend this place enough. James beard award worthy. We will be going back read more

Was the perfect place for a date night! The burger and meatball were amazing and so was the service! We can't wait for our next visit.