Picture it ... Carmel, 2026: It's February, and the high is an unseasonably warm 69 degrees. The…read moresun is shining, and you take a seat in a sunbeam on the covered outdoor patio of a local restaurant. You have a glass (OK, two glasses) of a nice Barbera d'Asti, and savor a couple of nibbly things. Everything is sparkly and right in the world on this beautiful Wednesday afternoon. All this and more can be yours when you visit Wine & Rind. At least, all that and more was mine when I visited. This is my ideal restaurant: wine focused, with a succinct menu of beautifully presented and thoughtfully created food. Plus, it's located right off the Monon Trail in Midtown Carmel, so it's a prime space for people-watching. This little restaurant is a great place to get a charcuterie platter, but I was feeling like bruschetta when I visited, so I ordered the Bruschetta Sampler, which is plenty for two people. It comes out like artwork on a wooden platter: five beautiful bruschetta toasts consisting of traditional tomato; fig and bleu cheese; capocollo and a herbed ricotta; blueberry and lemon ricotta with sugar sprinkled on top; and strawberry and cannoli cream with balsamic. The last one (strawberry and balsamic with cannoli cream) was surprising and might have been my favorite, because it tasted like cheesecake. I love being surprised! I also ordered the caprese salad, which was a wonderfully tasty platter of tomato, mozzarella, basil, pesto, olive oil, balsamic glaze and Maldon salt. It was so fresh and light. Another surprise: It was sprinkled with sprouts! I would have never thought to add that to a caprese, but it 100% worked. The service here is top-notch. The server was super nice and attentive, but also disappeared and only reappeared when necessary. Wine & Rind is a Carmel gem! I know I'll be back soon to try more of the menu, and drink more of the wine.

This was a FABULOUS experience!!! We were seated right away and our server was so kind and…read moreattentive. She shared many facts about the different items on our board. We sat inside and it was cozy and quiet. The food was incredible!! We got the Spanish board and fries and demolished it between two people as dinner. It was more than enough food, and every single thing was delicious. The fries were perfectly crispy and came with yummy sauce options. The board was gorgeous and had a diverse assortment to munch on. We got a wine recommended by our server and it was also a great pick. I will most definitely be back here!! I imagine it's even better on a beautiful summer day!

Ask for Shawn! We came for a girls day out and it was amazing!!! He's so knowledgeable ! Downtown…read morelocation!

What a great little wine shop in downtown Carmel. It isn't a destination spot but it's a great…read morepart of planning an evening in Carmel. They source wine from Napa, Sonoma, or Lake counties and have a selection that should cover ever palate....maybe not the hardcore Indiana sweet fruit wines but anything outside that is covered. We stopped in for a glass and sole chill time on the patio. Ive seen it busy but on a Saturday night there was lo problem finding a table. They schedule live music on the back patio. Think local musicians with a guitar singing solo for tips. It gives a great low key vibe. The server/bartenders are well versed in their wines and can help guide decisions if needed. I think they are incredibly positive which is always appreciated and keeps with the shops over arching theme. We will keep coming back.

Went to dinner here with a party of six and our dinner was fantastic! Justin was our server and the…read moreservice was as good or better than any of the finer food establishments in Carmel. We got there are 5:30 on a Saturday and were pleasantly surprised to find that happy hour lasted until 6pm, so the wine was 1/2 price. The Harvey and Harriett red blend was phenomenal. The pig and fig was an amazing appetizer and I could have eaten 5 of those by myself!The seafood special, cordon bleu and burger were definitely all dishes we will crave and return for. If you haven't tried Josephine, I highly recommend. You will not be disappointed.

Food - 1. Onion soup - had no natural sweetness and had too…read moremuch tang and rosemary/thyme. The herb was overpowering. 2. Steak tartare - my husband enjoyed it. Just not my thing unless steak is tender. This was a little bit tough for me still. 3. Homemade ketchup was too sweet and runny. Didn't have much of a tomato flavor. 4. Duck a l'orange - is the signature dish but it was overcooked. It actually tastes gamier and didn't have a great texture. Proper duck breast is to be medium rare to medium, but I know we're in central Indiana. 5. Steak frites - steak was cooked well but had a burnt crust to it. Made it bitter. It really lacked basic salt and pepper. The sauce was also lacking in flavor. But the frites and aioli were good. 6. Wine- decent selection. The Bordeaux wasn't good but my husband's rose was decent. Service - our server was attentive as he could be was unfortunately spread too thin and was covering both sides of the dining room. Service at times took longer than anticipated. Manager was nice and did check on us. Just not the memorable meal we were hoping for on our anniversary and isn't the type of French cuisine we've had in the past from our travels.

I ate here with a friend last night. We both loved the ambiance. The staff were all amazing being…read moreincredibly professional and very down to earth. We got the escargot appetizer, which was so amazing that I've thought of nothing today but that escargot. I had the shrimp and grits as my entree and my friend had the salmon. We both enjoyed our entrees. They do have an espresso machine, so that was a huge plus to be able to order after dinner. Did I mention the escargot?!?!?!

We visited for the first time on Saturday night for my birthday dinner. We had reservations at 7:45…read moreand it was really busy so I wouldn't advise walk-ins. Luke was our server and he was super friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. We enjoyed being seated in his section! He described the Carrots appetizer as having a "100% success rate" which sounded hyperbolic but absolutely was not !! GET THE CARROTS! Even if you don't like cooked carrots (which I don't!) they are sooooo good and there's no other way to describe it. You just have to try it yourself. After the carrots, we thought it would be hard for the rest of the dishes to live up to that but our daily soup (always vegan) was so yummy! It was made with leeks/root vegetables and forbidden rice - absolutely delicious and very earthy! I was so pleased with just those two items, I could've stopped there and had a perfect experience. We both ordered the mapo tofu - and it was not like mapo tofu you'd get at a korean/chinese restaurant. It wasn't a saucy dish at all - in fact, it was intentionally dry - practically charred. It included rice cake which was interesting. I appreciated the charred/crispy texture with the chewy inside. I wouldn't order it again but if you like textured, spicy dishes you might enjoy it. Luke offered to get us something else but we were already full, so we declined. He also gave me a complimentary blueberry sorbet which was delicious and sooo fresh, and wished me a happy birthday! It was very delicious and necessary to rinse the palate. We had a great time and can't wait to come back when the patio opens up - we loved their mission to assist with providing job opportunities for autistic adults, too. It's a great restaurant with a cozy and welcoming atmosphere and phenomenal service.

It's been amazing to see all of the growth in downtown Westfield since I first started visiting in…read more2021. Something Splendid is a most welcome addition. I wish I had discovered it sooner. Not only do they offer a great variety of wines, they also have a charming and spacious outdoor garden with live music and a fire pit & heaters to warm up by. It's beautifully decorated and quite pleasant to sit out on the enclosed patio even in the colder months. I really enjoyed the atmosphere--they are dog friendly and the patrons & staff are incredibly welcoming. The adorable gift shop is perfect for supporting small, local businesses. Looking forward to coming back during the summertime too!

I have only been here once but had a very strange experience. The porch was too heated, the drink I…read morewanted was out, and the goat cheese dip did not have enough goat cheese and had way too much fig or whatever was on top of it. Our server also made a passive aggressive comment to the host in front of us which was awkward and then she seemed to forget about us the whole time we were there. I would try it again but first experience was pretty tough.

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.

This is a poor attempt at reviving paid for square footage from an equally poor attempt at an Irish…read morethemed pub. Whilst I'm no fan of MTM's, and Langton's demise was easy to predict, this review will focus on the folly that is the "new" wine bar. First, patrons are left scratching their heads at why the first floor of the former Langton's space is vacant and the Wine Bar is isolated to its former upstairs? Employees will tell you it's to utilize the first floor as a banquet space. Um, ok, but the space is visible and open to the upstairs wine bar. Conceptually that's odd and what will this actually be like from a guest experience when both the Wine Bar is open and the banquet space is in use? Second, let's talk decor. Nearly all the quasi-Irish decor is still in place despite the obvious conceptual change. Examples: the stained glass work, the artwork on the walls, and the usage of snugs. Third, let's talk televisions. Whilst the abundance of TV's (with sports on most) is a hold-over from Langton's, they have no business as part of a wine bar. In fact, one of Langton's and now the Wine Bar's shortcomings is having TVs in the remaining snugs. I've been to countless pubs in Ireland and countless wine bars throughout this country, none of which have TV's in snugs. It defeats the purpose of a snug. Fourth, let's talk music. Current pop/dance-type music is not congruent with a high-price point wine bar. The music simply doesn't match the concept. Fifth, the wine list is uninspiring. Nothing but well known, upper end labels and they are priced accordingly. Wow, you have Silver Oak, Decoy, etc. . . how imaginative! Listen, I appreciate good wine and will pay for it, but it's much more satisfying to see a well-curated wine list that is geographically diverse and price diverse. It's pedestrian to have a concentrated list of high end Napa/Sonoma offerings. Also, the staff seemed to have very little knowledge of the wine list itself. That's ok at a place that is $7-12 glass. It's not ok at a place that's $22+ a glass. Lastly, the food was a joke. Teresa ordered a cheese plate that looked like it was assembled as an afterthought. I lament not taking a photo. It was a sloppy, disorganized pile of cheese, dried fruit, and crackers that appeared to be remnants from other servings piled haphazardly. There was no description of the cheeses on the menu, nor was one offered by the server. Conclusion: expensive, poor food quality, sports bar atmosphere, uneducated staff, and feels exactly like what it is: a desperate attempt to rebrand a space as something else with no effort.

It's confusing. Separate entrance = locked. Hostess stand directs us to MTM's for service. It's…read morejust not the atmosphere we were seeking. Plus, it was oddly quiet back there. We left disappointed and ended up at a different wine bar.

A friend of mine had been wanting to try Divvy for a while so we decided to go last Friday night…read more Unfortunately they are not on Open Table but you can still make reservations if you call the restaurant directly. We didn't really have much choice other than to sit at the bar which wasn't ideal. We ordered the Sliders which we both agreed were a bit too salty and heavy on the mustard. The cheese plate however was a hit. Probably the best beer cheese I've had yet. The drinks were good. We just missed happy hour so will come back for that next time.

We started with the "favorites" board, which consisted of a bbq chicken slider with Brie (tasty but…read morenot particularly memorable); corn brûlée (warm, comforting and original but overly salty); a little bowl of caprese salad (a well-balanced and bright contrast to the very rich corn dish but hard to eat out a tiny bowl); fried Brussels sprouts (fine but salty); and a tiny brisket taco (I didn't try that one). We were still a bit hungry after the board, so we ordered a "bacon flight" and some deviled eggs. And that is how I learned that bacon served with a sauce is not for me., whether is a spicy chili sauce, a creamy lime dip, a tomato aioli, or a butterscotch-chocolate concoction. The "savory" bacon option was egregiously salty. You might expect that when you're having bacon, but they added even more salt and it was too much. It turns out that I also do not like wasabi on a deviled egg. I would give Divvy 3.5 stars if Yelp allowed half-stars because I like the shared small-concept and our server was friendly. I found the execution on the food pretty uneven, though, so we're rounding down instead of up.

Vibes are pretty modern and simple (we were seated in the side room, the outside looked like they…read morehad a bit more fun furniture going on) Service felt elevated. Appetizers - pretty yummy WTF roll - 9/10 had dried Wagyu which made it more savory, rice is chewy (in between sushi rice and sticky rice) could be a little less rice; the potato threads were crispy and yum Wagyu Perogi - 7.5/10 was good, but not as meat focused as I was hoping, filling was very soft but I like the pasta dough (had some chew) Entrees were cooked well, I think the flavors were straightforward and not too complex. Chicken Wellington - the pastry dough was as buttery as biscuits. Sauce had dates and the dish was on the sweeter side (I prefer more savory entrees so this was not my taste) My partner ordered this and he loved it Miso Black Cod Fish was done well and not dry. Broth was a bit one dimensional to me. I thought my soba noodles were gonna be the brown ones but they were thicker like ramen white noodles The herbs really captured the pho broth well. I've noticed the effort put into the menu was done really well. I feel like with food fusion, I noticed a lot of things do end up getting misspelled but I noticed the accent and spelling were all correct on the menu. Liz was our server and she was very knowledgeable on the menu also!

The Easter Brunch Buffet at Aberdeen Social House is a "must" for those seeking an "elevated"…read moreholiday experience. While the restaurant is known for its upscale American food and extensive bourbon selection, the Easter buffet shifts the focus to a high-end spread. The buffet Isn't your typical brunch fare offering: - carving stations that had selections like lamb, ham along with prime rib and glazed salmon. - brunch staples included blueberry stuffed French toast and chorizo biscuits. The service was amazing and our server made sure we were taken care of. Eventhough it was a bit pricey we did enjoy the atmosphere and service.

1.10.26 - I like to pick nice restaurants for the Hub's birthday, and try places we haven't been…read moreto, so was excited to go to Portofino. It's not much to look at from the outside - in small strip mall off Fall Creek about 2 miles north of 96th, but the inside is both luxe and comfortably cozy. At just 12 tables, you get your table for the night, so there is no rush and your evening can be as long as you want to make it. They also have a gorgeous little side wine room that you can rent for parties of 6-8 for dinner. And there's a little bar area that seats maybe 4-6. We had reservations for 6pm, so there were only 2 or 3 other tables occupied when we got there, but they filled throughout the night (& we left close to 8pm). Our server Shaunda was delightful, and the owner Dan came around and checked on all the tables a few times as well. We were presented with a cous cous amuse bouche, a nice refreshing bite to start the evening. Hubs had an Italian Old Fashioned and I asked our server to pair wine for me, so it was a Decoy Sauv Blanc with our first course - the mussels. We asked for extra crostinis in order to soak up more of the delicious sauce they came in. Next was the beet arugula salad, so good! For entrees, hubs had the pappardelle bolognaise and got an iced T, and I had the short ribs with risotto, paired with a glass of cab franc. Dessert was coffee (americano) for each of us, and we split the tiramisu (see all my pics). We ate and enjoyed everything! Total with tax was right at 200 before gratuity. So this is more of a splurge place for us, (of course would be less without the beverages we did) but we will be back. It was a really pleasant evening and another big win for me picking birthday places! #yum #ReviewsByRL

Wow. I must start there. Talk about an experience, this place is what 5 stars is…read more Located in Fishers, in a spot that has been a couple other restaurants prior I wasn't really sure what to expect. Once parked (plenty of parking right outside their door), walking in it is a very intimate, maybe no more than 12 tables or so. We did have reservations, I would suggest making them to be on the safe side since it is so small. As soon as we sat down, our server came right over and explained how the menu is laid out and how the courses are brought out. I will say, this is not a place to go when you are rush. It is meant to be slow, so you can settle in and enjoy your food, enjoy the company and just be in the moment. We were probably there just over 2 hours for just the two of us. Chef Dan came out many times to chat with us and really made us feel welcome. Telling us different stories, walking us through what we were eating, and just made us feel like we were special. While everything was amazing, a few standout things I would like to mention: The Mussels were amazing, such good flavor so if you are fan, make sure you order them. The caesar salad comes disassembled, and the anchovies are sold separately, (I didn't realize it when I ordered it), we ordered a few desserts and they were all amazing. Can't go wrong there.