The moody and modern vibe inside is exciting. It just feels trendy and like a great place for to grab drinks - the bar is huge! Plenty of seating and even a good amount on the patio as well. The service was quick and they were eager to get our orders out. The menu itself was kinda disappointing. I couldn't figure out if there was a theme or what to expect. It's a mix and match of a variety of things - we had burgers, chicken sandwiches, a salad, and pretzel bite appetizers at our table. All were good - nothing I'd come back specifically for though. I'd be open to coming back for drinks - it's a fun place! The food I'll also attempt again, I heard it's a rotating menu so I won't give up! read more

Day two, so there was an abundance of employees learning the ropes. We waited about 10 minutes to be seated. Comfortable set up with a reasonable volume. Menu was interesting with standard bar food and some unique offerings. The waitress had tried everything and had plenty of suggestions. The old fashioned was a reliable choice and the recommended abandoned Cadillac was a good margarita. Steak and frites was a hit: tender and well seasoned. The katsu chicken sandwich was interesting and unique- a sweet sandwich. The side salad was very tasty. A nice addition to the neighborhood. read more

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What a vibey and tasty place! I've visited a Culinary Dropout location in Arizona and was so pumped when the I saw the Indy location open up. This location is moody and has plenty of mixed seating inside. Service was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. Food came out surprisingly fast! I ordered the Crispy Brussels Sprouts as an appetizer. Really enjoyed the overall flavor and crisp. It also smelled amazing when it came out. I do wish the dish had some goat cheese or extra crunch to add a little extra razzle dazzle. For entrees my husband and I got the Chicken Cacio e Peppe and the Fried Chicken. I know chicken gets a bad rap... but this was honestly one of the best I've had from a restaurant. Very tender and juicy in both dishes. The Cacio e Peppe had the best pecorino/parmesan flavor and perfect amount of sauce. The Fried Chicken was well seasoned and we enjoyed the mashed potatoes and gravy. The biscuit was tasty, but could have been perfected with some hot honey and warm butter. Overall enjoyed our experience and would definitely come back to try some other dishes! read more

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What a great time we had here. Checked in for our 7:30 reservation, and had a table ready for us. The place was packed, and had the noise to go along for it- but not loud enough where you couldn't hold a conversatio Server came to us quickly and got drink orders, and offered plenty of menu recommendations. Service was overall great. Food was great as well. My wife and I split the pretzels and cheese fondue, and I had the steak frites. The pretzels were soft and warm, and the cheese was creamy. I loved how they give you an abundance of cheese as well- I have ordering pretzels and cheese normally because there's normally an overabundance of pretzels compared to cheese- but this wasn't the case. The steak frites were great. The steak was cooked to how I ordered. The sauce on it added a nice creaminess and had a nice salt profile. The fries were good- nothing to write home about. My one complaint is i got regular fries with it even though the menu said it came with truffle fries (and didn't realize it until I got home). I had the two to mango cocktail. Wasn't my favorite drink of all time, but when I ordered it, I didn't realize it had a canned seltzer as a component, so definitely my fault. If we are ever in the area again, will definitely return. Would recommend to anyone wanting a fun date night spot. read more

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Beautiful decor and ambiance! Excellent service! Food is amazing! Chef quality scratch kitchen fare! I had the Korea cap ribeye! The pic is half portion that I shared. read more

Culinary Dropout - Korean Style Ribeye Cap* half portion - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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The service, food and ambience was top marks. Food was prompt and tasty options abound. I got the short rib which was modest portion and fresh. The sauce was little overwhelming but the meat, veggie and mushrooms were well (not over) cooked. I coupled mine with Cadillac Tequila cocktail. My bride had a bacon burger, which we found bits of bacon in BBQ sauce to meet the description. The patty was thick and hand patted version. read more

Culinary Dropout - Shortrib bowl very tasty and slightly to much sweet sauce. - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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When you walk in they have a ton of seating and the host were welcoming! The restaurant is beautiful. I ordered the crispy chicken katsu sandwich with a side of fries. The service was slow and it took awhile to get our food. read more

Stop by here for drinks and dinner with a friend yesterday evening. The service drinks and food were good and quickly refilled,. We just enjoyed the vibe, especially once the guitar singer started playing.. I'm in a nice conversational and clean atmosphere. We will certainly come again read more

The food was pretty good, a bit heavy in my opinion but maybe I just chose the wrong stuff. The service was great and the waiters were all very nice. The ambiance is okay, it's very loud so it was a bit less intimate than I had hoped but maybe that's because of the day we went on. Would def wanna try again to give it another shot! read more

Culinary Dropout - Mississippi Mud Pie - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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A nice edition to the Nora area. It has such a cute vibe on the inside and the service was great. The cocktails are well crafted with a lot of options. We opted out of appetizers but our main courses were extremely fresh. read more

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Had a great dinner and our Server Juliette was awesome! above and beyond, so friendly and took great care of us...food was great! highly recommend read more

I've heard it said that you should always "fail up" and use your setbacks as stepping stones for success. Well, dropping out of culinary school sure worked out well for the creator of this restaurant! Once upon a time, some young person was not performing to their potential, and they were subsequently released from their culinary arts program. "You haven't seen the last of me!" They shouted in protest as they gathered up their apron and chef knife and stormed out into the world. Did it slow them down? For a bit, yes. They had a short stint living on a friend's sofa and diving a bit too hard into Pokémon: Sapphire. But once that friend launched a new start-up called "AirBnB", our young protagonist knew there must be a brighter future ahead! So, they got to work. They put in the time. And finally released "Culinary Dropout" to the world! A testament to their resilience. They figure it out. They get things done! They're scrappy af! I'll admit, I have no idea if that is where the name "Culinary Dropout" came from. But that espresso martini would taste just a little bit better if it were true, right? Of course not! That espresso martini is dang near perfect! Even if the garnish of crushed espresso beans is placed in such a way that reminds you of Ash Wednesday. (That's probably just me). In all seriousness, the espresso martini really is perfect. And that ground espresso hits your olfactory senses just before taking a sip, heightening the taste and experience. Let me back up. I recently opened my own business is Nora, so I've been trying to explore this hidden gem of an area on the North side. On this particular evening, Culinary Dropout was on the itinerary. The hostess was very kind and helpful, greeting us immediately as we walked through the door and, again, as we exited. We chose to simply sit at the bar for drinks and appetizers. The bar seating was comfortable and we had multiple staff attending to us. I felt very well taken care of all night. I started with the classic mule. I forget what the bartender said, exactly, but they do something a bit different. And it works! It was delicious and refreshing. We opted for the chef's board with a sample of their deviled eggs, grilled ciabatta with balsamic glaze and a selection of meats and cheeses with a golden raisin chutney. We also got a sushi roll. The food was fun and tasty and perfect for the evening. I also opted for an Old Fashioned and it was made the way I like it. Culinary Dropout, even with its mysterious origin story (not really), is a fine addition to Nora and a place I see myself returning. I look forward to exploring more of the menu and sitting under those fabulous chandeliers. read more

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Came for the happy hour experience. It is Monday to Friday from 3 to 6. Only good if you sit at the bar. They had sushi rolls, several snacks, including many items that would cost twice as much on the regular menu. They had iced tea, cocktails, including a east of Manhattan and several classic drinks like an old-fashioned, sangria, daiquiri, and margarita. A few other snazzy drinks were also included. The drink prices were only eight dollars! And they were almost too pretty to drink Bartender Molly, a doll! So helpful and witty! Wow! The housemaid chips with homemade onion dip was not your childhood chip's and dip! Oh and those soft pretzels are made in house and beyond words! Worth the carbs!!!!! Please try the Maui Maui a cocktail with white rum, guava, pineapple mango!! A nice little buzzy happy hour made this Yelper happy happy!! read more

Salmon was tremendous. We also had the Wagyu pigs in a blanket and BBQ pork belly nachos for apps. The decor was really cool, service could have been a little better through, needs some work. Overall good place to eat. read more

Culinary Dropout - Roasted Salmon* - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

If you're looking for a nice place to eat at with reasonable prices and the atmosphere is nice than look no further. I had randomly decided to stop here at this restaurant for the first time and the fried chicken mash potatoes and coleslaw was all delicious and even the biscuit with the honey was very tasty. They have non alcoholic beverages that are really good. There is not a lot of lightning in the restaurant but it sets the tone. The service I received was great. I definitely will be back soon. read more

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Great first visit all around. Love the whole vibe, especially the chandeliers. My friend and I were there for brunch -- we each got a mimosa (Boozy Bellini for me, Pom Passion for her), both very good and not too sweet. To start, we shared the soft pretzel balls with cheese fondue, adorably presented in a candle warmer to keep the cheese from clumping. A thoughtful touch. My breakfast burrito was hearty and delicious, filled with scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes with cheese and salsa on top, guac and sour cream on the side. I finished half and took half home. My friend really liked her butternut squash kale salad -- a creative chopped combination with grains, mulberries, dates and pistachios for crunch. We were too full to sample dessert, but each took a piece of Mississippi Mud Pie home, which I'm looking forward to eating tonight. Mark Twain (yes, that's his name!) was a fantastic server with great suggestions. Will definitely go back again, probably for happy hour! The cocktail list sounds very, very tempting. read more

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I have been curious about this place for a while, but the menu seemed to be an odd combination of things and weighed more on the heavy/ unhealthy side l. So I have not had a lot of desire to try it. I heard their salads were good and decided to give it a try for lunch with a friend. It's big on the inside and decor and ambiance was great. Staff was nice and service was ok. Other than sushi, salads, and a few entrees things sounded more on the heavy side. I got the butternut squash and kale salad and added grilled chicken. I really wanted to love it due to the combination of ingredients. The mix of kale and grains were good. The toasted mulberry and dates were delicious. The squash was not obvious. I think it was in there. The added chicken was thin, dry, and bland. Overall it could have been more flavorful. Maybe asking for additional dressing would have helped. Definitely not worth the total cost with added protein of 25 dollars before tip. Unless the menu changes I don't think I'll be back. Maybe if I'm in the hood for a cocktail and a burger or something. read more

Well, I finally took the plunge and went to this amazing place. The service is quick and friendly. They are very attentive. Lots of delicious food options on the menu and wonderful progressive vibe. I highly recommend this place for you and your family and/or friends. You won't be disappointed. read more

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I have driven by several times and I finally went in to eat and I am glad I did! The food was amazing! Everything has a balance to it! I think my favorite was the Lemon and strawberry Torte! I was so good, I could not stop eating it! The service there was amazing and I was immediately welcomed as soon as I walked in. I was full so I ended up taking some of my meal home and I am glad I did! I will be back! read more

I'd say this is elevated bar food? The menu and vibe is a little all over the place, but the chicken katsu sandwich was delicious. Probably not what you'd expect to be served here but it was great. Lots of cocktail options too. My friend had the sushi and liked it. Easy parking and staff was friendly! read more

Amazing interior. I lucked out and went on a night that they had live music which just added to the overall experience. I ordered the chicken katsu sandwich. It was incredible. I sat at the bar and had excellent service. This place exceeded my expectations. I'll be back for sure. read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I've been hearing about this place and was in the area. When we first got here, a worker was outside and told us they had an event and wasn't open to the public yet, so to come back after 4pm, she gave us a coupon for free pretzel appetizer with an entree purchase. Luckily we had errands to run around the area so it worked out where we came back. I love the decor of the building outside. The wall that faces west is like a collage, very artsy and modern. The mood inside is chill yet lively at the same time, lights are dim, but during the day time there is a lot of natural light coming through the windows. The seating selection varies from bar top, to high booths, to lower seated tables. I like the variety. We sat at a high booth/chair table, and the booth seat was very comfortable and I like the foot rest bar since I'm short. Our server was Abbey Girl (that's her middle name) and she was very friendly. I noticed her outfit and she said they don't particularly have uniforms but she worked the event which was a Taylor swift drag brunch so she wore something to go along with that theme. It's nice to know that you could rent the whole restaurant out, I didn't get the price though. I love the vibe in here. The time we came wasn't that busy. We enjoyed the cocktails we ordered, I got the evil jungle princess and it was delicious. Our food came out in good timing and it was really good. I ordered the steak frites and my husband ordered the Korean rib eye. We both enjoyed our meals. Since we had the coupon, we ordered the pretzel bites to go. We shared those with our boys and they enjoyed them. read more

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I didn't know what to expect. After looking over the menu. We realized that they didn't have a lot of options to choose from. We waited to look around and see if anybody got their food before we ordered. Unfortunately, they didn't and as soon as we ordered our food, that's when everybody's food came out. (Just our luck). I ordered the chicken chop salad to be safe. And... you guessed it. Everyone's food came out of the kitchen. Most around us ordered the crispy chicken salad that comes with a slaw and a side salad of fries or a whole salad or Caesar salad. We tried to talk to the waiter to hopefully offer an exchange but he suggested that we could come back and have to try it. The salad wasn't bad, however I would highly suggest to NOT get the egg. read more

Beautiful restaurant! I literally couldn't stop looking around. Service was decent; no complaints. The food was just okay though. We tried the nachos (loved them!), the katsu sandwich (i felt the bread was soaked in oil or butter so i didn't get the soft milk bread experience) and the Mongolian short rib (good but not exactly what we expected and my friend got tired of the sticky rice). I definitely want to visit again and try more options. read more

Culinary Dropout - BBQ Pork Belly Nachos - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Culinary Dropout is a fun spot with multiple dining areas and a huge bar loaded with big-screen TVs -- perfect for catching a game. Service was attentive and helpful throughout our visit. We started with the soft pretzels and cheese fondue -- excellent! The pretzels come as golf ball-sized bites, making them a great appetizer to share. For dinner, I had the rainbow sushi roll, which was very good and surprisingly large. My tablemates went for sandwiches: the shaved prime rib dip (delicious, though wish it had more horseradish) and the crispy chicken katsu, which was also a hit. One detail I really appreciate: you can see into the kitchen, and it's spotless. I always love being able to peek in -- it says a lot about how they run things. We enjoyed a few adult beverages and browsed the dessert menu but passed this time -- portions here are generous, so come hungry! Overall, great experience, and I'll definitely be back. read more

Such a treat! We kicked off Friday night with a Girls Night at Culinary Dropout and had the best time. Their happy hour is totally worth it--packed with tasty bites and refreshing drinks. I ordered the Summer Tan Sangria but ended up with the margarita instead at first but then had the actual Summer Tan Sangria ~ a must try this summer! It was delicious! The BBQ Pork Belly Nachos were just $13 during happy hour and seriously so filling. The bartenders were perfectly attentive, and I'm already looking forward to going back to try more! read more

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Dined at CD for a birthday dinner celebration on a Saturday. We had a reservation for 4 and were immediately seated. It was tastefully decorated for Halloween. Dash was our awesome waiter for the evening. He was very outgoing and offered great recommendations from the menu. I tried the Yesterday's Soup. I was told it was chicken tortilla. It gave chicken noodle. My drink was a 2 for 1 called Two to Mango. At the urging of a member of our party, we tried the Crispy Brussels Sprouts for our starter. We were pleasantly surprised that they were actually pretty tasty. For my entree I went with the Beer Battered Fish and Chips. It was seasoned very well and perfectly fried. Others tried the Crispy Chicken Katsu sandwich with house salads and really enjoyed them. CD offers a dessert for birthday celebrations. I chose the monkey bread served with ice cream. Everyone enjoyed the evening. All of the staff we encountered were really friendly, outgoing, and helpful. read more

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I am so glad Culinary Dropout has come to Indy!! I had the delicious chicken katsu sandwich and my boyfriend had the burger, both were so yummy!! Our server was awesome and did a great job of balancing being attentive and helpful with giving us space to enjoy our meal. We will definitely be back and looking forward to exploring more of the fun menu options read more

Culinary Dropout - Crispy Chicken Katsu - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Since this is a new spot, it was pretty busy on a Monday evening. Our server, Nico, was very pleasant and our food was pretty good. I wasn't "wow'd", per se but if I'm in the area, I wouldn't mind stopping in again to try something else. read more

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The service is pretty good here but it's pretty busy so not sure if that is too blame for the slowness. I feel like there are long breaks in between returns and even the first interaction. It's ok though because we indulge in the menu with it being pretty new. This is my 2nd visit and while excited to try new things I wasn't as impressed. I was really hoping this would be a go to spot. The food has been mediocre. My steak was rubbery. My pinot noir wasn't good. The Brussel sprouts were great though and the salad was my fav that came with the steak. The decor is nice. The patio and big open windows is nice. I love the concept but not the food so far. I still would like to try one more time lol. read more

Culinary Dropout - Bar - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I've been to a couple other Culinary Dropout locations, and to this Indy location a couple of times as well. They are all pretty different. For example, the one in Phoenix has massive outdoor space and lots of room for groups, and large game areas with ping pong tables etc. Here at the Indy location there's not much of that - but the interior of the restaurant is nice. I could see some small groups, and definitely date nights. It does have a LARGE bar that I've never seen more than 5 people at at a time. The food is pretty good! The menu is pretty diverse, and is different than most other restaurants in the area. The short rib bowl is excellent; it's a huge serving for lunch but perfect for dinner. For lunch, I highly recommend the katsu chicken sandwich - this japanese style sandwich has tangy slaw and it's much better than your typical chicken sandwich. Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice is always a favorite of mine. Chopped Salad is a large straight-forward and easily enjoyable saled The MAC Burger is pretty much a direct copy of (maybe a bit tastier than!) its namesake. One of the biggest downsides is not unique to this restaurant - unfortunately I'm seeing it at 75% or more of the restaurants I go to in Indy. There is no "uniform" or dress code for the staff. Sounds great, right? Until you need to flag someone down and you can't tell if they work there or not, because half of them are wearing crop-tops, or a lounge set, or literally a yoga tank top and pair of yoga pants...the only consistent piece of wardrobe I'm noticing in many restaurants for its staff is the crossbody bag, used instead of an apron now days to keep pens, note pads and other useful items. Do you notice this as well? In Indy? Beyond Indy? Does it bother you? read more

Second time in. I reordered the Crispy Chicken Katsu sandwich because it was so yummy. Definitely crispy Chicken with that hint of sweet sauce on a buttery toasted milk bread. My husband got the Turkey Pastrami on Pretzel roll. I now have 2 craveable sandwiches, however next time, I may get the Turkey Pastrami. Fries are nothing to brag about, so definitely go for the salad. read more

Culinary Dropout - Crispy Chicken Katsu Sandwich - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I don't leave reviews. Ever. But I feel compelled to review this place. Hostess: super friendly Bartender: also super friendly. But moreover, she was attentive and enjoyed a good conversation. I'm a prior bartender and I always like to try a signature cocktail anywhere I go. I'm also a bourbon fanatic and LOVE MY recipe for Old Fashioned (OF). This place has THE best OF I've ever had. Easily the best. I only had an appetizer which was the Pretzels and cheese fondue for food, but it was stellar. If you're in the area...stop in this place. The only negative review I have are the prices but given the quality of the ambiance, drinks, food and service, it was worth it. read more

For a brand new restaurant they knocked it out of the park. One of the best chicken sandwiches I've ever had. My wife loved the salad. The crispy rice bites were delicious. I only wish the cheese for the pretzel bites came our hotter. Otherwise was great. Loved the live music too. We will be back! read more

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Our server was so friendly and funny and gave great recommendations! The ambiance was soothing and modern and the booths are very comfy. The menu has a nice variety, it was hard to pick one dish. It's a great spot for a girls weekend brunch! read more

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Went here recently with my brother and the food is amazing. The management is amazing. We had an issue where our app got missed and our dinner came.out first. It wasnt an issue for us as the food came out quickly and tasted amazing. But the manager came over as soon as he heard(the server told him as we didn't complain). He immediately told us he was taking it off our bill and gave us. Free dessert which was to die for. Then he still brought the app to us to try at no cost. I have to say this is stellar service. Definitely plan on coming back again and.again because so much on the menu I want to try. Top notch Culinary Dropout and staff. read more

Our 2nd time dining in! This time it was a walk in. The wait advices was 30 minutes we waited less than that which was great! Service was easy going and we were very happy with our food choices today! Everything was delicious! read more

Culinary Dropout - Fried Chicken & Buttermilk Biscuit* - New American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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The food was good. Service was okay. The kitchen was slow and food is pricy for what u get.

Food was dismal for the hr price! Grilled salmon that was almost $30 was about 3 oz. And not good at all. The nachos were a joke! Awful!

My wife and I went to check out this place as we heard good things about the food plus the menu for drinks looked great. We arrived and waited 5 minutes. Server was very friendly and even recommended some plates. Started ordering and got our first round of drinks (filled with lots of ice) , they were good, but 3 sips and the drink was gone... Decided to order 2 different drinks again in hopes to have less ice with a different kind of drink and surprise!! Filled with ice. For $15+ drinks, I was expecting a better drink-ice ratio...Food was just ok. We are not planning to stop by anytime soon. read more