I'll admit, Oakley's did not exactly sweep me off my feet on arrival. You pull into what feels like a pass-by shopping center on 86th Street--restaurants, retail, parking lot, the whole suburban strip-mall package--and I immediately wondered if I had overthought this one. Then the first beer came out a little flat, and the room felt oddly quiet for a Friday night. No real judgment there; selfishly, I was just hoping for a little more energy, maybe rub some elbows at the bar and feel like I had landed somewhere. Still, I came here to eat, so I did what I almost always do: asked the person behind the counter what I should order and took the recommendation seriously. That sent me straight into the prime rib dumplings and the meatloaf. Would I have chosen those two dishes on my own? Probably not. But hey--when in Indianapolis. The prime rib dumplings were weird in the best possible way. The first bite comes at you with a full fist of horseradish, almost enough to make you wonder where the dish is going, and then somehow it finishes smooth. There are these perfect little touches around the plate--something crunchy, something green--and the dish actually gets more interesting as you work your way through it. I'll admit, it was almost as much fun to watch the plate evolve as it was to eat. And then came the meatloaf. Gosh darn that meatloaf. I did not want it to be memorable. In fact, I was actively betting against it. Meatloaf feels like the safe recommendation--the thing you order when you've decided not to take a chance. Apparently Chef Steven Oakley took that personally. It was rich, comforting and familiar, but there was enough thought behind it to make me regret doubting the recommendation in the first place. There's something funny about walking into a restaurant expecting the ambitious dishes to make the impression and leaving thinking about one of the most ordinary foods imaginable. Only afterward did I learn that Oakley is a four-time James Beard Best Chef semifinalist and that Stanley's Meatloaf is a tribute to his grandfather. Suddenly, the attention given to such a humble dish made a little more sense. And I almost bet against the meatloaf. The second beer, for whatever reason, came out colder, more bubbly and just plain better. Go figure. Oakley's may not win you over in the parking lot, with its Friday-night atmosphere or even with the first beer. But give the kitchen a chance to make its case. By the end of the meal, I was glad I did. And gosh darn that meatloaf. read more

Oakleys Bistro - Meatloaf - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Oakleys Bistro is a creative New American neighborhood restaurant led by Chef-Proprietor Steven J. Oakley. It is tucked away in a shopping plaza with plenty of parking spaces. When you walk in, you are immediately thrown into a busy atmosphere with the kitchen near the front entrance and dining to the right of the hostess stand. We had a reservation and were greeted warmly and seated promptly. Our waiter grabbed our water bottle and filled our cups while taking our drink orders. It was a busy Saturday night, so while service was slightly slow, we didn't mind the wait. Our drinks were excellent and strong. I ordered the Godfather and felt like the Godfather with every sip. The citrus notes were very strong but did not overpower the rest of the components. This is a 2018 James Beard Award restaurant that has a seasonal menu or menus with changes over time. For our starters, we had Bacon Wrapped Apricots (tequila soaked apricots, hickory smoked bacon in a jalapeño kumquat honey glaze). Those were excellent and hit the sweet and savory palate with ease. My guy ordered their beef and broccoli which was slow-cooked brisket on a bed of veggies with a focal point of broccoli. His dish was excellent. For my meal, I had the Salmon Filet (olive oil poached, coconut lime scallion rice, mango cashew salsa, baby bok choy, chili crunch slaw, shiitake mushroom rangoon, pad thai glaze). The shiitake mushroom rangoon took the already excellent salmon to the moon. Holy flavor town!!! I cleaned my plate and even had room for dessert. The Chocolate Whiskey cake was the most popular dessert from other reviewers, so we ordered our own plate after our waiter described the size of each piece. It was heavenly. It had steamed cherries within and atop the dark chocolate cake, and the almond basil ice cream was surprisingly delicious despite the herbaceous notes. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals and cannot wait to come back! read more

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Oakley's is truly a special experience. Chef Steven Oakley is an award winning chef serving seasonal ingredients in an artful way. Oakley has received accolades from Bon Appetite, James Beard, USA Today, as well as local awards. We stopped for lunch last week. Oakley was visible, working in the kitchen. The dining room has been remodeled since our last visit. Hues of green cover the traditional style walls. Autographed copies of famous cookbooks sit above booths. The place is romantic. The lunch menu is complex, yet affordable. A wine list features specials starting at $20/bottle. We start with a Shrimp Corn Dog. The "seafood dog" was made famous by Chef Oakley when he beat Bobby Flay with this innovative concoction. The variation of the seafood dog is artfully presented, drizzled with honey and fresh herbs. It is delicious. I ordered the Shrimp Risotto. I loved the spicy sauce on the rice. The mix was filled with bits of squash and onion. The shrimp were tender and flavorful. My husband was blown away by the Wild Boar Koran-Style Sloppy Joes with awesome house made chips and slaw. We had impeccable service from Nate. He was attentive, friendly and made recommendations. They bring a bottle of cold water to the table, so you can serve yourself. Nate stands behind every dish on the menu. Oakley's is truly a 5 star experience, perfect for date night. I'll be bringing visitors to Indy that I want to impress. read more

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I had dinner Friday night as part of a party of 10. The restaurant was packed. I strongly recommend reservations for this restaurant. I will say that I've eaten here at least 3 times before and it's always been top notch. I will be back again. But I did not think it was spectacular last night. My table started by ordering several appetizers and salads. I split the beet salad with my friend. That was a mistake. This is hands down the best beet salad I've ever had. It is delicious. My friend doesn't like beets and loved the salad. It's not very big. I don't recommend splitting it. I'm not a fan of the shrimp corn dog but everyone else loved them. A friend ordered them for the table. Someone ordered the prime rib dumplings and said they were ok. They looked good but I didn't try one. They really enjoyed the bacon wrapped apricots. Another person liked the pesto goat cheese Mac n cheese. The deviled eggs were wasabi this time. The preparation is always different. The table didn't love this preparation as much as others in the past. I thought they were good. I had the Stanley meatloaf. I'm not a fan of the very large broccoli they plate. The meatloaf was very dense. I won't order it again. But I will note that it typically gets rave reviews. It's just not for me. My friend who got the beef short ribs wasn't excited about them. I had those last visit and they were excellent. I was hearing a lot of "ok" when people were asked how their entrees were. But everyone cleaned their plates, except me. I barely ate my meal and the server did ask if there was anything wrong. There wasn't anything wrong with the meal. I just didn't care for it. I boxed it up and brought it home. I will say that everyone really enjoyed the cocktails, appetizers and salads. Our entrees were fine but no one raved about theirs. We always eat at fine dining establishments when we go out. We loved Freeland's see my review for them. So we had high expectations here and left having had a good time together but the food kind of missed the mark. My bill came to $104 for two cocktails, a beet salad and meatloaf, incl 25% tip. I think when I go back I'll definitely get the beet salad again and stick to appetizers rather than an entree. My friends also ordered several desserts. They really liked all of them. The service was very good and the waitress handled our large party very well. It took a long time to get the food. There was a lot of time between our appetizers and the entrees. I think the kitchen was slammed. We were there for 3 hours. There is a 20% tip for tables of our size, but it was not automatically charged. There is no question Oakleys is a great place for fine dining. I recommend going there. It just didn't excite me last night. read more

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Another wonderful evening dining at Oakleys Bistro, our fav Indy restaurant. Once again, the welcome at the front door, the impeccable service, the casual yet elegant ambiance, and the exquisitely prepared innovative and fresh cuisine (prepared in an open kitchen, which we love)...DELIGHTFUL! Chef Oakley is extraordinarily talented in his kitchen! Tonight we shared the Prime Rib Dumplings (pictured) and the Beet-Salad-unlike-any-other. Hubby had his Duck on Duck again (pictured) because he says it's the best duck he's ever eaten. I enjoyed the Indiana Chicken Schnitzel (pictured) very much, I'm including a photo of the menu so you can read for yourself the uniquely delicious details of these dishes. Oakleys Bistro, for us, remains a not to be missed destination every time we are in Indy! read more

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It's been 15 years since my last review at Oakley's Bistro. What can I say? Oakley's has been on my mind even after I moved back to Chicago. I took my parents here to celebrate my dad's birthday. The service was great, and the food was just as delicious as I remembered. The beauty of Oakley's is that you can't get tired of it since they change their menu seasonally and use fresh ingredients. We started our night with Shrimp Corn Dogs, Deviled Eggs, and the Lobster Waffle. All were so delicious and everyone was trying to get a bite more. We ordered the halibut, salmon, and mushroom paella as the mains. The mushroom paella was soo beautifully presented and it was soo delicious. Both halibut and salmon were a perfect portion and had various flavors in your mouth. Every bite was a little surprise. We, also, got the french onion soup and creme brulee. The French onion soup is not your typical one; it is a little sweeter and less cheese, but still delicious. The creme brulee was the best we've ever had, and it's one of my mom's favorite desserts. If you haven't tried Oakley's yet, you should find a day to enjoy the deliciousness of Chef Oakley. read more

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The company I work for held a holiday party here. We had such excellent service. Our server was so attentive. The ambiance was very cozy. Our food was amazing. We will definitely be back soon. read more

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We pre-ordered the Pekin duck per the email invite, Chef Oakley brought the duck to show us before he carved it - beautiful as you can see. The duck was tender, juicy and perfectly prepared - delicious with the traditional sauce. While the star of the dinner was the duck, we had Prime rib dumplings with horseradish sauce for Starters - we would go back to Oakley's just for those dumplings! With the sides of broccolini and garlic mashed potato purée, we brought home another full meal. Our server, Samantha, was exceptional. She is friendly, attentive and, most importantly, knows the dishes being served. Oakley's Bistro never disappoints! read more

Oakleys Bistro - Pekin duck at Oakley's Bistro - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Did not have reservations so we Were seated at bar. I think I liked that better because I watched Chef do his thing. The food is so eloquenty articulated with just the right additions and garnishes like the beet dish with dried strawberries or the Brussels sprouts with fried lo mein noodles. And the dessert - warm toffee pudding with carrot cake ice cream was out of this world good. The service was over the top even at the bar. Loved our bartender. She was spectacular. Not sure why I haven't been here more. Have been a fan of Chef Oakley for along time. He's also very generous - he supports Second Helpings Corks and Forks. This is an elevated experience but I thought the pricing was justified given the quality, service and deliciousness! read more

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Oakleys is always the perfect choice for an upscale evening out. I love the menu variety, they have something for everyone from red meat to vegetarian dishes. Wine list is well curated and prices are reasonable. Service is fantastic, we've never had an issue. If you're looking for something for a special occasion try the chef's table. Amazing! read more

Brother Oakley, your vibes are off. Something about this place. When I walk in (been here twice) it just feels weird. Full of olds and in a strip mall might be the root of the weirdness. I came here recently when it was busy. Server was cool. Drinks took a while to arrive but food was pretty quick. Shrimp corndogs and deviled eggs for appetizers which were stellar. I was torn between 4 entree items and was told that the meatloaf was a favorite. Could hardly believe that but I do like meatloaf so gave it a try. I'm used to a looser, greasier meatloaf. This was like two slabs of Spam that had been out of the can a little too long. Not sure what people like about it. Also, it was served with an uncut head (pause) of broccoli which was hardly cooked. Very strange dish but I guess it's popular amongst the previously mentioned olds...? Unfortunately, my wife loves this place so I'm sure I'll be back :/ read more

Oakleys Bistro - Shrimp corndogs and deviled eggs - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The food, service and ambience were outstanding! The staff greeted us with smiles and a glass of sparkling wine.

A great meal and great ambiance. Definitely try the lobster appetizer! We will be back. read more

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Oakley Bistro was okay maybe worth a try if you're local, but not worth going out of your way for. Six of us ate here, and the bill came to just under $600 with tax and tip. That included one midrange bottle of wine and three martinis. The deviled eggs and prime rib dumplings were excellent and easily the best part of the meal. The shrimp corn dog (the one that beat Bobby Flay) and Brussels sprouts were average, and the pork belly was a complete miss with odd texture and bad flavor all around. The French onion soup was fine but light and lacking depth. For entrées, I sampled the prime rib, chicken schnitzel, and braised short rib. The schnitzel was surprisingly the best dish of the night flavorful and well done. The other two were forgettable. For the price, I expected more attention to detail. The tables were uneven, my martini glass was cracked, and no manager ever stopped by. On top of that, nothing came out hot except the French onion soup. Overall, Oakley Bistro lands slightly above average. Some dishes showed real skill, but the overall experience didn't match the price. read more

You simply can't find better quality and innovation in cuisine than Oakley's Bistro. It's been in the unassuming location for many years and for a good reason. My ideal time to dine is at lunch where you get a good bang for your buck. Only drawback was feeling somewhat pressured to leave at 1:30 when we wished to chat a bit longer, having only arrived at 12:30. We ordered dessert and stayed on and finally adjourned to the outdoor patio. had the brisket gyro flatbread and it was a gastronomical bonanza. The shrimp risotto brought raves. Can't go wrong here! read more

Oh wow! The food choices are so unique and delicious! We were looking for interesting food choices and that is why we chose Oakleys Bistro. I made reservations through the site a few hours before we arrived on a Friday night. It looked like almost every table was occupied and there were people really enjoying their company and the atmosphere. This restaurant is located in a better looking strip mall, but the outside and especially the inside give the vibe of fine dining. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable of the food and attentive. Oh the food tasted amazing! We loved the unique flavors of the Frios Gras and Jam.. or the bread dipped in a beef tallow candle! Loved the Indiana pork Schnitzel with the extra special sauce. It definitely gave the vibes of an upscale pork tenderloin that we Hoosiers love! I also enjoyed my mushroom Paella! The depth of flavors were amazing! I want to make this a place I take all my friends! read more

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Oakleys keeps getting better and better. This is truly a hidden gem on the north side of town. Ambiance is warm and inviting. Food is always well prepared, on the inventive side without being too 'out there' and you leave feeling satisfied. Vegetarians will delight at the many options they always have on the menu. Recently had a phenomenal mushroom paella that was full of a wide variety of vegetables. Heavenly. Don't skip the small plates - always something fun on that menu. Usually we are too full for dessert but when we have dessert here it is also excellent. read more

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My mom and I came here for a break from the hospital. It was a lovely little escape. The decor was nice; however, I did feel that the music was too loud. My mom ordered the special soup - roasted chestnut. It was delicious and very, very rich. I had the French Onion ('ish) Soup. I say "'ish" because it had the basic components - croutons, onions, and cheese - but it wasn't very beefy. The broth was garlic-forward which I enjoyed very much, but it was different. There was a lot of pepper and not much cheese. So, tasty, but not my fave. We split a mushroom stroganoff. I thought it was delicious, but VERY rich and oily. I'm glad that was not my entire meal. Our server was great! He kept my tea glass full. read more

Oakleys Bistro is a great local chef-forward epicurean dining experience. This is the best restaurant in Nora (north side of Indy, directly south of Carmel) The wait staff is friendly and the vibe is fancy but relaxed. The menu rotates regularly - try the tasting menu if you have time! read more

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Oakley's Bistro offers farm to table and tasting experiences. I went here for a work meeting, and the chef came out and explained each dish. The service was impeccable in that regard. It was nice but not incredibly fancy inside. Inviting, is how I would describe it. Enjoyed all my dishes. The first time Ive had a multiple-course meal like this. Will take my wife here next time. read more

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AMAZING FOOD, SERVICE, & DRINKS! We were immediately greeted and seated upon arrival. The ambiance was simple, yet unique. I loved the fresh flowers at the table. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu, and friendly. We started with the shrimp corn dogs and the lobster waffle. We also had the Long Island cocktail, and the Viuex Carre. Both drinks were great. The shrimp corn dogs were soooo delicious. The lobster waffle was very delicious and I also loved the amount of vegetables served with the waffle. I wanted to lick the plate! For entrees we ordered the salmon and beef brisket. Both entrees were beyond delicious and filling! The salmon was cooked to perfection and made very unique. The food at Oakleys is definitely cooked with love! I can't wait to return! read more

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My husband and I have talked about coming here forever, and I'm glad we finally were able to try it for our anniversary. We split a bottle of wine that was listed as a special. It was delicious and reasonably priced. All of the food was delicious. We of course had to start with the shrimp corn dogs since that's what won beat Bobby flay. They were great! We also shared the stracciatella which we both loved. It was super creamy and delicious. For my entree I had the brisket. It was delicious but so much food, I had to bring half home. No complaints there! My husband had the salmon and loved it. The service was good. There was hardly anyone else there when we were but it was a Thursday night after a big storm. Overall, it was a great dinner. read more

Oakleys Bistro - Shrimp corn dog - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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My boyfriend and I went here for the first time with some friends who recommended it. We had never heard of it and I'm not sure why. The food was amazing!! We all had the shrimp corn dog. It was delicious. I also had the guacamole deviled egg appetizer and the soup of the day. The soup was so flavorful! For my entree, I had a new pasta and mushroom dish which was to die for. My boyfriend had the chicken schnitzel which he really liked too. It is a small place and it was busy so definitely made reservations. Also the service was nop notch. Food came out quickly. We will be back again!! read more

I've heard A LOT about this place. We pulled and it's in a strip mall (don't judge that). When we were seated, were lucky enough to have gotten the Chefs Table. It's perched up above other seating and looks over the kitchen... at this point, I was already excited but now I was SO pumped for the experience. That's what this was - an experience. We didn't come here to just eat, we came for the experience. You must be open minded and completely just trust the flavors and ingredient combos because they're sometimes untraditional. We had the famous shrimp corn dogs (great, very fun twist), prime rib dumplings (amazing complex flavors), and the wedge salad (simple, smoked ranch was great). All were amazing. I tasted all of the following.... - Mexican Grouper special (perfectly cooked white fish and the flavors it sat in had a great kick) - Wild mushroom paella (if you're a mushroom fan, you must get! So many textures and it was plated beautifully) - Wild Boar Brussel Sprout Rigatoni special (BEST dish I had, spectacular) For dessert, we had the orange tres leche with a fruity sorbet on top. This was the perfect after dinner refreshing dessert. Spectacular. 12/10 experience here. The chefs table is the best spot in the house if you're a foodie. I'll be back to try to the rest of the menu and would trust any dish they put together. New favorite restaurant in Indy! read more

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We had a reservation at 7:15 and arrived a little early. Our table was ready. If making a reservation you may want to request a booth or against the wall because the chairs are not comfortable at all. Our server came and asked if we were ready to order. He didn't introduce himself or share the specials we had to inquire. When he return he did share his name and had to check to see what was still available of the specials. The food was delightful! However, I did inform our server that I had a nut allergy specifically pine nuts. I'm not sure how allergies are managed, but I noticed a green pesto in the waffle and lobster and requested he confirm there was no nuts. He returned and informed me there was. I'm so glad I caught it, it would have ruined the dinner and the evening. We ordered several items: shrimp corn dog, Tennessee eggrolls, the special appetizer, lobster and waffle, Brussels sprouts, and a cocktail but I can't remember the name. Everything I ate provided wonderful arrays of flavor and textures. If I return, I certainly want a different server. read more

It has been many years since we dinned at Oakleys Bistro but it won't be long till we are back. The service was terrific, starting with a mouthwatering explanation of the specials for the night. Started with the Butternut Squash maple soup followed by tasty crispy Indian pork schnitzel. This eatery is quiet and lends itself to a relaxing evening. Give it a try. read more

You just don'tfind many like this. Elegance Fine Food Good Service I'll be back... read more

Easily one of the best restaurants in the Indianapolis area. The food is delicious, and the presentation is beautiful. The artful presentation of the food adds to the experience. The service is attentive but not intrusive. The shrimp corndogs are a must. You'll know why Chef Oakley beat Bobby Flay after eating these. I've dined here several times, and it has always been a great experience. read more

Chef owned, chef onsite cooking and schmoozing the customers. Casual warm bistro vibe. Lots of locals who seemed like repeat customers. Good service, I sat at the bar. Very good food, they were generous with morels, the salmon was cooked just right. Very good cocktails. My only ding : they would not let me have a taster of the Pinot by the glass, "no free samples" which was unusual and off putting, being treated like a freeloader. My rule is if I can't taste the wine first then I won't buy it. Fortunately cocktails were good. read more

I finally had to break down and let my husband in on my hidden gem! I have come to this restaurant many times and have nothing but praise for the ambiance and fantastic food presentation. Hubby had never been, and I broke down and took him last night! He already wants to return! Last night's meal: Drinks: The special was a Horchata Martini- we were told that the base Horchata was housemade, which won me over. It was served in a perfect martini glass with cinnamon dough heaven on the edge. Old Fashion- This would be the only thing I would give points off for. The drink had something in it that gave a sour type taste. I have no idea what it could have been. It was not a bittersweet taste; I just wondered what was added to it as it should have been a regular old-fashioned. But we moved to wine afterward, and the meal was a night of flavor! Wine- Daou Reserve 2021. Can't complain with some great wine. French Onion Soup- wow! The Gruyere croutons and the garlic flavor over the onions were to die for! I could not get over the explosion of taste. The croutons were perfect, and we fought while sharing a single bowl! Shareable: Seafood croquette (I drank wine with dinner, so forgive me if I don't remember the specials exactly). It was plated beautifully with this amazing tomato sauce and so many flavors that it complemented the nose and taste buds amazingly. Main Course: My hubby got the grouper, and that was just WOW. I do not know how to say this dish was a delight (I tried to steal it from him). The base had a shrimp cake, tons of onions, asparagus, other vegetables, and this amazing sauce that brought it all together. Australian Waygu was the dish that I went with. Both of the main entrees were specials for the night. The wagyu was on a polenta-type base, and it was this green spicy sauce that was placed around the main entree that I wanted again and again. I could not get enough of it! Broccolini was atop, along with an olive remoulade. I am not a huge olive person, but I did try it and pushed that to the side (not anything negative to the chef, just not my tastebud type). No room was left for dessert, but we looked at that menu! The service was excellent, attentive, and very informative during the meal. All went well, and I even made the hubby cover the bill! You pay for excellence at Oakley's Bistro and always get it! Sorry, it was date night. I forgot to take pictures. I hope the descriptions help! read more

Wow, my last review of Oakley's was in 2016? Definitely time for an update! I've come here quite a few times over the years for special occasions and also the intermittent "treat yourself" dinner. My parents were in town, and their anniversary is coming up, so I wanted to take them out somewhere nice and the last time they were here was pre-Covid, so definitely time for a return visit! We started with the shrimp corn dogs which are a must! They are so unique and always delicious. We also shared the bacon wrapped apricots which are excellent and a great shareable starter. We had some cocktails with the appetizers; I had a Korean Old Fashioned which was wonderful! It wasn't too sweet, but had some pineapple flavor and a bit of a spicy kick; I highly recommend it! They really do a great job with cocktails here; I've always been really happy with everything I've ordered and the choices are so creative. I had the Duck and Duck for my entree; they do different version of this and the current version was excellent; I loved the waffle garnish and the duck was cooked perfectly. My parents had the short rib and salmon entrees and they both loved their food too. I had the Chocolate Whiskey Cake for dessert and loved that as well; the cake was moist and flavorful and the scoops of mousse and ice cream and brittle topping were excellent. Service is always top notch here, and honestly, they didn't seem short staffed like most places right now. Don't let strip mall location fool you! This is a really high quality restaurant; just enjoy the easy and free parking and pretend you're in a trendy part of town. read more

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Okay.. why did no one tell me about Oakleys Bistro? This was a fantastic meal. Everything was seasoned beautifully and the plating was so aesthetically pleasing. My friend and I came here on a Friday night with no reservations and could not get a table. Luckily they had a couple of bar seats open, so we enjoyed our dinner and drinks there. I will absolutely be back (and will make reservations next time). read more

Oakleys Bistro - Stanley 's Meatloaf - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Oakley's remains one of my favorite places to dine in indianapolis. When every table is occupied on a weeknight (not a Friday) in October, it speaks volumes! As always, our service and cuisine were top notch. Thank you, Chef Oakley and staff! read more

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One of my favorite spots in the city. Truly a hidden gem. We don't get out much so our list of places is very tight and we are pretty well versed in the cuisine of the city. We almost always try something different and are NEVER disappointed. read more

How had I never heard of this place? I was missing out. We had a girls night, and we wanted to try something new. We landed on Oakley's Bistro because it was close to the massage parlor that we visited earlier. What a delight! The menus are massive - no less than 20 cocktail options, tons of appetizers, small plates, entrees, sides, and desserts. In fact, it was so hard to pick 1 thing... that I ordered a smattering of everything. The chef is known for his shrimp corn dogs - he beat Bobby Flay with these things, and THAT is something. They were very good. And they were only like $3-something. Order yourself a few. The lobster waffle was amazing. I loved it. Technically, it's considered a small plate, but when you mix in some of the other small plates, it was actually the perfect portion. GET THIS 100%. The deviled eggs - omg. I love all deviled eggs, and these were some of my hands-down favorite. If you enjoy a good deviled egg, do yourself a favor and get these. I had the toffee pudding and espresso martini for dessert. The toffee pudding had a wild-ride of flavors - toffee, chocolate, mango (the ice cream), s'mores (a little chip thing on top), and pineapple. It was delicious. And the espresso martini was one of the best I've ever had - not too sweet, not too bitter. Fabulous. On top of that, our waiter was so nice and informative. He helped me pick out a few items, and they were all winners! I disliked NOTHING. I will definitely be back. Amazing! (Side-note: the restaurant is dimly lit, so my photos aren't the best, unfortunately!) read more

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Made our first visit to this bistro for lunch yesterday. We enjoyed most of our experience and decided we would like to return for dinner at some point. For starters we each had a shrimp corndog followed by two soups: roasted butternut squash maple and the shrimp bisque, which was the bistro soup of the day. I had ordered the shrimp bisque for myself, but upon tasting it, my hubby swapped soups with me knowing it was much too salty for my taste. For entrées, I opted for the fish tacos and Hubby chose the meatloaf, both of which were delicious. Tip: On days when the outdoor seating is popular but you want to dine inside, avoid being seated anywhere near the path to the patio. Being our first visit we didn't know better, but we would've enjoyed our experience much more if we didn't have people constantly walking by our little table for two next to the patio door. read more

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Their Razz-wheat beverage goes great with their honey barbecue wings. I had this combo about 5 years ago.

Put your Oakley's on cause this place is fire! Everything here was excellent from the service, the booming deep voice of our server (easy to understand, even through the mask) and the eclectic menu of culinary options. I'm a huge Bobby Flay fan (still miss Jacqui Malouf and Frank the Butcher) and wish I had seen the episode where the chef here beat the Maestro himself. How do you not order a Shrimp Corn Dog for $2.75 on the lunch menu? Service was impeccable with drinks being brought out in fresh glasses each time, sparkling water brought out by the bottle, and never being without something you needed. The soup du jour was brought to the table in a metal cup then poured table side into the wide bowl. Little touches like that take your average bowl of soup into an experience. The broth had a burst of flavor with a kiss of red pepper flakes which was just enough to elevate it to a level you'd expect with a bistro! The cacio e Pepe didn't look like much at first with elbow pasta, but each bite had that creaminess you'd expect, while the fresh green peas gave it a gardenesque taste, even for someone who absolutely hates peas (canned peas were one thing my mom never forced me to eat as the consequences would have been quite gross). I may now be a fan of that country goodness and green pea-ness in every bite. Wait, that's terrible! (RIP Orson Welles) I have a theory that places that open for lunch, then close, then open again for dinner are excellent. I have yet to find one that's not, although I just started observing this. 5 Stars all around for this pea convert. Don't let the strip mall location deter you from stopping in. I didn't choose nor make the reservation, so not sure of the logistics of setting it all up, but whatever it takes, give it a try. read more

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Overall a fantastic restaurant. The service was very good and quick. The drinks were really good and unique! The food was delicious. The duck was unbelievable and incredibly fresh. This was such a good date night restaurant, it was dark, quiet, and very fun. I highly recommend! read more

Oakleys Bistro - Mahi Mahi - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Oakley's Bistro was on my restaurant list for awhile, and I'm glad I finally got to try it. I was surprised when I pulled up, as the outside is unassuming compared to the upscale menu. Don't let it fool you, the inside environment was cozy and the food is refined while still being approachable. Our waiter helped provide a drink recommendation based on my tastes, and he did a fantastic job! The Paper Airplane cocktail, made with one of my favorite bourbons, was just what I was looking for. For appetizers, we had to try the famous shrimp corn dog featured on "Beat Bobby Flay". It was a good preview of the meal to come - creative without compromising flavor. It's nice you can order by the piece! We also had the bacon wrapped apricots, which were sweet and smoky, without being too rich to enjoy like some bacon dishes. The menu had so many wonderful sounding options, it was truly hard to decide what to order. We landed on the pork tenderloin and Stanley's meatloaf for dinner, which were elevated versions of homestyle classics. I loved the smoked Gouda crepe and the fresh veggies with the pork tenderloin. The meatloaf had chile jam and cheddar cheese that were a nice compliment to dish. Oakley's Bistro is a great restaurant for a special celebration or upscale date night. Come and try it for yourself! read more

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