Sometimes, you do things for the story. Or in my case, for the Yelp review. I had a lot of MCL gift cards that were burning a roast-beef-Manhattan-sized hole in my pocketbook, and I needed to do something with them. So one weekday, I brought my family to this cafeteria-style restaurant that sounds like a medical condition. ("I tore my MCL and the doctor thinks I might be out of commission for another six weeks.") I mean, MCL is fine. You get to pick what you want to eat from a smorgasbord of random foods. I thought my children might like this novelty, and I was right. They liked picking out what they wanted to eat, as opposed to what they were used to, which is me serving them a specific meal. Can it be that we can choose blue Jello for dinner?! And strawberry shortcake! And spaghetti! And chicken nuggets with fries! Yes, my children -- go wild. In the end, both of my kids chose chicken nuggets with fries. Because ... kids. They thought the nuggs were a bit hard, even with lots of ketchup. We also got the breaded catfish and the fried chicken, which I would also describe as "hard." I guess you should expect a certain amount of hardness from something that's breaded, but these things tasted like they had been under the heat lamp for a spell. I'm also not sure how MCL manages to produce food that's incredibly salty but also lacking in flavor. They are an enigma! I do recommend the steamed broccoli. MCL knows how to steam a broccoli just right. When I visited on a Monday, MCL was bustling with customers. But despite all of the people there, the restaurant was quiet. They don't play any music here, or at least they didn't when I visited, so it's a good place to visit if you want some cafeteria-style food and also need to talk in low tones. I kind of like that they didn't play any music in the dining room, and so did my oldest child, who usually listens to music all the time. Sometimes, you just don't need music! Especially when you're tucking into a plate of liver and onions. I learned that you can get DoorDash from MCL, if you gotta get your carved roast beef but don't want to leave the house. read more

I was in the mood for comfort food and not in the mood to cook. And, what is more comfy than holiday food? MCL is known by some as the Medicare Line, the Medicare Lounge, and a name not appropriate for Yelp. All jokes aside, the food is good, the choices are plentiful, and there is a big meeting room for groups. The green beans were a bit lukewarm tonight (it is close to closing time.) They were warm enough to eat without taking them back to be microwaved/ refunded or replaced. My server, Mark, has been here for 18 years and I've known him that long. And, Eddie, the server in the other room has been here forever too. I love the iced tea brand they use. (Yes, I am a year-round iced tea drinker.) For those who find the decor (and other diners) a bit dated, get your comfort food delivered or to-go. I'm in their target market; so dining in is no problem for me. The payment system doesn't allow you to add a tip. So remember to bring cash to tip. It is an inconvenience; at least you're forewarned. So, when you want good food that's like home-cooked without dishes or the effort--consider MCL. read more

MCL Restaurant & Bakery - Cranberry relish, turkey, dressing, green beans, and pecan pie with whipped cream. - American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I really like MCL food. But I just wish there was a way for the food to be covered to keep it hot. When we got to our table and sat down most of the sides were cool, so we had to bag up and take it home to microwave. Most people like their meal hot like it was just cooked. Maybe the servers could start taking the food from the bottom instead of the top. I think that would help. But I will continue to try to enjoy MCL as long as the prices stay doable. Good Food! read more

I came to MCL to get dinner with my daughter. We decided to go Dutch and pay for our own meals. I got two pieces of chicken and some mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans. I got a slice of pie for dessert and an iced tea. My total was $26. I could've gone to Popeyes and gotten an entire bucket of chicken and sides for that price! It's only five dollars less than a crab boil at juicy seafood! $26 for a couple pieces of chicken and a couple sides with a dessert and drink!?! I know prices are rising, but come on! That is ridiculous. read more

Ok...so, I know this place gets a reputation fir mainly being an "old person @ place...but, I love this place and I still have another 30 years before I'll be an "old person". When you walk in the decor makes you feel like you've stepped into someone else's home to enjoy a good meal and laid back company. The food is always tasty...their staff is very efficient...especially, the staff making sure that everyone gets drink refills and anything that you might have forgotten to grab while you were up there...like salt and pepper, butter...etc... Honestly, you can beat the price to enjoy home cooked type meal options. read more

MCL Restaurant & Bakery - Great food! Great drinks! - American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Prepare yourself for an experience that will lead you to unbutton your pants when you're done. Get your head out of the gutter. I'm talking about food. New to Indy, I've seen these MCL restaurants all over the place and all the exteriors share a common theme: HOME. And the food follows through with the theme. It's a cafeteria style restaurant of your homecooked favorites. From chicken parm to manhattan sandwiches, grilled tilapia to mac and cheese, pecan pie and spaghetti....honestly there's waaaaay too much to list here, but I think you get it. I tried the tilapia with some veggies and fried chicken. Pecan pie for dessert.YOU NEED TO GET THE PECAN PIE BTW! It was amazing! We did go around dinner time so the line was a little long and there was a bit of a wait. It was totally worth it though. I'll definitely be back at an MCL soon especially because I found out there's one right down the road from my house. OH LORD read more

MCL Restaurant & Bakery - ALL this for just $30?!!! - American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

For those of us who want the taste of how we used to make it but can't anymore, MCL offers us a second chance. Tasty comfort food that we grew up with. Affordable pricing and proper portions. Easy parking. read more

I used to come here all the time with my grandparents and absolutely love the homey and nostalgia feel, makes me remember my childhood, and on top of it all the food is super delicious!!! Service is amazing and they are constantly checking on you. read more

Delicious as always Fried Chicken, Fish Almondine!! Pecan pie!! Had my three grandchildren with me. Something fore everone and we had a great time!! read more

HAVE AGAIN: The sloppy joe was very tasty with a very good bun. However, the bun size and the sloppy joe serving size did not quite match - needed a bit more joe. NOT HAVE AGAIN: Green beans were just ok. I thought I was getting banana cream pie but it was coconut instead - better ask next time. read more

What a surprise - The best food, outstanding service and a great place for your family to gather. Clean tables, new decor, and great recipes for their many dishes. You do not want to miss this place. They have several locations around Indianapolis. Take time to visit today. read more

MCL? Really? Isn't that for older people? I'm here to say no! It is a great place for everyone. I brought my family here for dinner on a Sunday evening. The staff was super friendly and took every precaution when it came to customer safety. Masks, gloves, distancing, everything. The food was of really good quality and delicious. This is the first time in weeks that I have seen my 4 year old clean his plate. My kids are all 10 and under and they loved their spaghetti, or fried chicken, or mashed potatoes. My favorite dish is the turkey Manhattan. It's more food than I can eat in one sitting, so I got two meals for 7$. My whole family ate and had left overs all for under 25$. I feel like this place would be great for anyone. There are healthy options, low carb options, and food for the soul options. I can see eating here after a big workout, or even on date night. Might not be fancy, but it is a great place to eat and visit with friends and loved ones. read more

MCL Restaurant & Bakery - Someone ate well for cheap!! - American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Overview: a nice cafeteria style restaurant. The food is good, but nothing special, staff is attentive and the place is clean. Prices are a little expensive but not to bad. This place is Cafeteria style. You will go down a line and tell them what you want. You have the option of a entree with two sides or you can order a la carte. At the end they hand you the plate, you pay and then find your own table. The line to get food was very slow and they are quite busy on Sunday when we went. They do bring you refills on drinks and are really good at keeping up with it. The food was okay, nothing special and a little bland. I had the fried chicken, it was not to dry but not juicy. I also had mashed potatoes and gravy which were bland and mac n cheese which was very sharp. There was a lot of variety in food you could choose from as well as deserts. It had the atmosphere of a buffet. The men's bathroom was dirtier then usual men's bathrooms but the rest of the restaurant was clean read more

MCL Restaurant & Bakery - American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

MCL is a staple of my childhood. There used to be more locations and it used to be cheaper. So the 4star review is literally just because of price. The food is phenomenal, I mean literally so good! (If you have never been you have to try it) the roast beef Manhattan is the best! The cafeteria style restaurants are kinda a lost art in today's culture. The deserts are really good, and they have very good Cole slaw! Take a few dollars with you so you can tip the dinning room attendant. read more

If you're from Indianapolis, it's hard to fathom that you don't actually know about MCL, a longtime Indy staple that started in 1950 and has been present, with occasional deviations, throughout that time with approximately 20 locations still open in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio. This location of MCL is located across the highway and behind Castleton Square Mall on a highly visible corner easily convenient from the mall or from Allisonville Road. While I don't know how long MCL has been here, the building is obviously older yet kept up quite nicely despite having old school accessible parking spots that aren't quite up to ADA and are situated rather oddly. While I've never been a frequent MCL customer, on those occasions that I crave something close to "down home" cooking it's a reasonable option relatively close to home. This is especially true since the Broad Ripple Avenue MCL location closed. I came tonight with a group of fellow Geocachers, a pre-planned crowd of about 25 people who'd reserved the banquet room. As has been noted in other reviews, the room is free for reservations. I don't know if there are qualifiers around that, though certainly that includes actually dining in-house. As you enter, there's a small lobby right at the door way and the line for the cafeteria-style restaurant forms to the right. Tonight, it was a very long line and I heard no less than three elder customers who were obviously regulars rather freakishly dismayed at the longer than usual line and wait. I will admit that I found the wait rather lengthy considering they did have advance notice of a larger than usual crowd. However, the line did move pretty reasonably well. MCL has coupons regularly in the newspaper and they offer daily specials, a way to save money from their regular prices that, at least in my opinion, are a tad steep. They have the usual home-style foods - fried chicken, liver, meatloaf, roast beef, fish options, and so on. They also offer a wide variety of desserts (pies, pudding, cake), salads, breads, and side options. I ordered fried chicken, a side of mashed potatoes, a roll, a piece of chocolate cake and my usual unsweetened iced tea. The price came in at just over $14 - which, again, strikes me as a tad high given the lack of service. While it is considered home-style cooking and certainly is made fresh in-house, there's a corporate taste to it that I think comes with it being a small chain of restaurants rather than a mom n' pop type cafeteria. The food was solid - probably more a 3.5 than a 3, but definitely not a 4. It's my understanding we had someone dedicated to serving our room, but by the time I made it through the line she'd pretty much dropped off iced tea and was on her way. I'd kept hoping I'd get a refill - eventually, a friend noticed and offered it. It seems like with a room of 25+ people that more attention to the little details would have been paid. The fried chicken was cooked quite nicely - it's one of their specialties and I wasn't disappointed. The mashed potatoes were of a terrific consistency and worked nicely with the chicken. The bread was, well, bread. The chocolate cake was a nice touch - I don't usually do dessert, but I enjoyed this cake. Overall, I was concerned that I couldn't get accessible parking and with parking that's not quite ADA compliant. It did actually seem like the crowd moved a tad slowly through the line, though the employees were friendly and helpful. The food was good - nothing truly standout, but definitely enjoyable if somewhat over-priced. I understand the 4 and 5-star reviews, though I can't quite get myself to say that they're much above a middling experience. 3 stars feels about right. read more

My Wife has done me an absolute disservice by telling me MCL is only for Senior Citizens who need a more bland diet to keep as healthy as possible. MCL is the GOAT!!! We actually decided to eat here on a whim after picking up a couple of checks from Midwest Bartending School because we usually go on a lunch date due to all the great spots in Castleton. It is a cafeteria styled restaurant where you can choose from the daily special, an entree with 2 sides, or a la carte. It can be a bit tricky though with pricing due to the days and times when some items aren't the actual price shown. Our bill was close to $30, which was surprising, seeing as I got the daily special and she chose another entree, we both ordered drinks and I had a side of pasta. Everything was delicious! I had the crusted tilapia with broccoli and mac n cheese with sweet tea. I could've stayed there ALL DAY and tried all of the other food but my Wife strongly suggested I not do that. (She is my biggest Hater.) She had the chicken parmesan with pasta and the rosemary bread. We didn't eat any of the desserts, not because they weren't delicious looking but because we needed to exercise SOME sort of restraint hahaha. They have also just rolled out an All You Can Eat Catfish Fish Fry Friday for Lent I believe, which is just $5.39! So I promised my Wife I'd take her back this upcoming Friday so we will definitely be back, as I am a Woman of my Word! read more

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This is the second Thursday in a row where food was terrible. Got Liver and onions that was terribly greasy. Carrots were unedible with no flavor at all. The pumpkin pie was still frozen and I couldn't cut into it so I had to get a to go box and take it home. When I selected the pie in line and asked for whipped cream I was told " we don't have whipped cream" while several other varieties of pie had whipped cream on them. When I questioned why others had it the server turned her back and walked away. I have gone to MCL for years on Thursday night and they ALWAYS have whipped cream. I guess my wife and I need to find another place on Thursday night read more

Great food Our server Mark was friendly stuffed chicken was seasoned well and cooked to perfection My daughter and sister loved their salmon well be back soon read more

I would give zero stars if possible. I called in to place a pick up order, they picked up the phone and said we would be put on a five minute hold which we were ok with. But that five minutes turned into over 50 minutes of being on hold. When they finally picked up the phone the manager (Adrianne I think that's how you spell it) admitted to us that they forgot we were on hold! meanwhile the whole time I was on hold we called from two other phones and each time they just picked up and put us directly on hold! This is unacceptable. I frequent there a lot seeing as how I am a general manager to a hotel, and I would NEVER treat my guests or potential guests that way. The managers attitude was very inappropriate and atrocious. I will be telling all of my friends and family to not go to that place! I love MCL but this experience alone has swayed me not to return. read more

When I first thought of taking food to a party I DID NOT think of a CAFETERIA. Well, I am a completely changed diner today because of MCL Cafeteria and Bakery and because of Jessica the Manager at MCL Cafeteria. My gosh, the food is not to be believed! The fried chicken is the best in town and their Chocolate cake is to die for. There were many compliments given at the party and I proudly said, "I DID NOT cook that chicken it came from MCL Cafeteria! There were several desserts too at the PitchIn but the MCL Chocolate Cake (reasonably priced) was GONE!! I am now a Raving Fan. From MCL's home-cooked food to their impeccable service and incredibly clean establishment with the best people in Food Service working there, thank you so much and we will see you soon for dinner. (Probably tonight) read more

You know---this is a review that's difficult to write, simply because I can't find that happy medium of how many starts to give! Overall, I'd give 2.5 stars, but don't have that option. The upside: The fried chicken is among the best around. I've had a few other things, also, and while they have been good, they've not quite attained the level of the fried chicken. Except the pie. Oh, that pie. The downside: The price. You stand in line. You carry your own food. If you want a refill, my experience has been--good luck with that. I believe it's terribly overpriced for a serve yourself restaurant. A group I'm involved with occasionally has meetings there, and they provide meeting rooms free of charge, which is a nice plus. Still, it's just an average experience, at best. read more

Good food and good service, friendly customers and a great value. What now could you want. I still don't understand how places like MCL have not hit it big with the Foodie and Hipster crowds? Everything about this place screams "love me!" Your go through the line and are tempted by simple food sitting right next to items that you would find in that local bistro you have to all your friends about. The fried chicken is some of the best you will find in town. Mac n Cheese hits all the required buttons; hot, gooey, and tasty. Seriously, they may also have the best ice tea in town. Everything is clean, and your get to eat on real china and drink from actual glass glasses. Almost forgot about all the fresh baked items from beads to pies. Everyone working here wants to be your friend and that is just nice. Still upset they closed the one on Broad Ripple Ave near Keystone. read more

MCL Restaurant & Bakery - American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Rating 5 stars simply because Mack provided such wonderful service and was in a great mood- that he made my day much better. He deserves a raise. read more

I'm an "official" senior citizen (62) according to the United States government so I decided I wanted MCL for my birthday! My friend and I arrived around 12:30 for lunch so she missed our 10% discount---starts at 3:00. I forgot it was cafeteria style so it I had to make a quick decision on what to choose. My friend is a picky eater and got the liver and onions so I decided on that also with the mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans and corn bread. After making my selection I could barely lift the tray! After struggling to our table and clearing the tray I discovered the PLATE weighed 10 pounds by itself! When our waiter, LaDarious or LaMarcus came to our table I mentioned the heavy tray and he stated that he would have helped us carry it. I think there should have been a sign somewhere stating assistance was available. Anyway, the liver was very tender and delicious, reminded me of my Mom's, the green beans were well seasoned and the mashed potatoes were delicious. The service was horrible! It was as if we were invisible! we had to ask for refills, it was very clear that we had finished our meal, however, the table was never cleared even after asking for refills. He spent a lot of time with the "regulars" I guess because he engaged in conversation with a couple of ladies that arrived after we did, cleared their tables and even supplied them with a beverage to take take with them. It was the very first time I've ever experienced reverse discrimination :-( read more

MCL Restaurant & Bakery - DELICIOUS, tender liver and onions! - American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Seriously good food here, guys. Even though it tends to be more popular among the more "mature" adults (trying to be polite here), its a cozy place for all to enjoy. Even when the parking lot is packed, the line moves quickly. I enjoy seeing all the available food before choosing. We definitely eat with our eyes first! The roast beef is awesome here, as are the veggies, fresh salads, and the best part...the desserts! I'm particularly fond of the sugar cream pie. Remember to bring tip money because you'll be checked on regularly for drink refills, condiments, extra napkins, etc. I took away one star due to the outdated decor (hello 1980!) and the pricing being pretty high for what you get. Overall, a great place that makes you feel like you're back at grandma's (keep an eye on the newspaper and coupon inserts - this place offers some nice coupons once in a while). read more

MCL has something for everyone. Its cafeteria style makes it great for all, enabling you to pick exactly what you want while it is dished up in front of you. Food is great and proce is reasonable! read more

MCL Restaurant & Bakery - All this for $10! - American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Sometimes you crave the cafeteria type meals, kind of like when you first went to school where they give you tray and the lunch ladies scoop your food into those individual compartments. MCL is like the grown up version - with better food, of course. So gone are days of the nasty strawberry milk or plastic juice boxes and the frozen rectangular pizzas. As a Midwestern gal, I love me some Beef Manhattan. It's essentially a roast beef sandwich on white or wheat triangularly cut. A heaping scoop of mashed taters sits in the middle between the two slices. Ladles of beef gravy drench the entire plate. I always get a side of seasonal veggies - springtime it's fresh green beans. I still wonder how they keep it so green and tender? As always, I must get a glass of their Irani sweet tea and refill it so many times that I have to make a trip to the bathroom. So, If you're looking for a laid back place to eat a homestyle meal, MCL is a great place for a family get together or leisurely eat alone as well. read more

MCL Restaurant & Bakery - Beef manhattan, fresh green beans, sweet tea - American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Consistently good. We come here once a month with a group. We reserve the back room (which is free!), and always have plenty of space Our food has always been very good. If they have the chicken casserole in the cast iron skillet, get it! It is amazing! I also love their catfish, pumpkin pie, and oh those cinnamon rolls! So good and squishy! Our drinks are always kept full, and our trays and dirty dishes are always promptly taken away. They are really attentive towards our group, and I would suspect to the rest of the restaurant as well. We come here time and time again and are never disappointed...okay except for maybe the burgers. They're not so great. :) read more

MCL Restaurant & Bakery - Catfish, Mac & cheese, taters, cinnamon roll, pumpkin pie - American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

We have been dining at MCL for years, even though our kids have made fun of us, saying it is an old peoples place (I guess we have arrived at the age of the old people), one thing that we have always appreciated is the consistency in the food, and the fried chicken has always been a favorite. This particular visit, I was craving roast been and mashed potatoes, unfortunately the roast been was still mooing (oozing with blood) so I had to decide on something different (went with the fried chicken) and my husband got the tilapia (not the best he has had but filled him up). We shared a piece of coconut cream pie (yummy) as it is both of our favorite. While the prices aren't inexpensive as some would think that a cafeteria would be, if you don't order a lot of ala carte you can get out for about $10 per person (drink water). Our server promptly introduced himself upon our arrival to our table and checked back with us a couple times to see if we needed anything. We will be back in the near future, hopefully the Roast Beef will have quit mooing next time. read more

I came In here with my family and i always rembemr fondly going to Mcl,s with my grandma and grandpa and my brother and it is always a pleasure to be here astonishing decor civil music and great food all of us agree that Mcl is a great place to go for a fancy family dinner 5/5 stars would come again and I recommend this place to anyone whose family is very cultural and decor fanatics read more

An friend and went here before a football game for lunch. As busy as they were, the line went very quick. There is plenty of food options to choose from. The chicken is very good and juicy, the mac and cheese is to die for, and the pumpkin cheesecake is a must have. It's a tad bit pricey, but worth it. read more

This was one of the worst meals ... ever! $33 for a dinner for two should be delicious. There was no selection of pies...only pumpkin, not tasty looking apple pie, no chocolate. No decent cake choices. I had salmon...it was okay, asked for tartar sauce...never got it because the servers were too busy helping a lady get her carry out order. My mashed potatoes were so bland and tasteless. My dressing tasted old. My cloverleaf roll and water were good. The roast beef was tough. The broccoli and cheddar were good. The pumpkin pie, by default was okay. The cinnamon roll was good. The meal at this price should be 100% good and full of flavor. Wow, MCL...you really let us down. Not a good experience at all. I did not get a receipt for this meal...not knowing how bad it would be. You could do better! read more

Overpriced. Entrée salad and dessert 20 bucks. Cafeteria style restaurant.also the restaurant had a funny smell upon walking in , probably all the old people! read more

Great home-style food, prices comparable to the type of food served. Nice atmosphere. read more

MCL Restaurant & Bakery - American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

This place is like eating home. I love it, food is good and tasty. There is always good option each time I come in. Too bad the Broad Ripple MCL closed( read more

I am so surprised this restaurant got 4 stars. If you like home cooking then don't go here unless you don't have a good pallet. They have deteriorated since I went there as a kid. I find them very expensive considering most of the sides are from a box or can( vegetables, mac'n cheese). I've been here about 4 times but was so outdone with the 3 small pieces of catfish which looked like chicken tenders and was so crispy it was dry and Mac 'n cheese which had a cheese powder over the noodles. Yuk -very processed. These 2 items were $8. I wanted something other than fast food- I should have had fast food. I left and went to another restaurant. Will not return. read more

If only I could eat at this place for under $10. The cafeteria line with all of that delicious food is a trap. I feel like John Belushi in Animal House as I place food on my tray. I wish it was a bit cheaper, but you're paying for food that is as good or better than a home-cooked meal. MCL is busy from open to close. The staff is very friendly although sometimes I feel like the busboys/servers are a bit pushy, like they're angling for a big tip. The fried chicken is excellent. The pecan pie is a show-stopper, and I don't normally like pecans. :) It's a great restaurant! read more

I have always loved MCL. The food is amazing and so is the staff. Everyone is always smiling and happy to serve. The waitresses are personable, and accommodating. read more

I went here with a few church friends and they had tons of options. The quality of the food was fine but not great. It was about the price of any other restaurant if not a little cheaper. Everything was hot and the others seemed to enjoy it as well. I had the crusted tilapia and it was flakey and crispy which was the perfect combination. It was convenient and quick so I'm sure we will be back. read more

Cold, wet, snowy night last night and we have our 4yr old grandson. This is a good night to stop by MCL so he can see the food and make his choice. Their food is rather bland and great for this little guy. I knew he would be tired after a long day of nursery school and running errands with his Mom, so in & out is good. My husband worked at this type of cafeteria through high school & usually refuses to go here. I stop here occasionally at lunch for a small cob salad & some chicken. The salad is always crisp & cold w/all the fixins. Their chicken is always fresh, crisp & juicy. Tonight, they were out of small cob salads. (at 5:30?) So, I got the large, which was way overpriced. It was not crisp, but obviously had sat there since lunch. Their dressing was thinned with way too much oil so the whole salad was a waste. If I had rec'd some hot fresh crisp chicken, I might have ignored the old yuk salad, but the chicken was really really dry. I had to drink water to get it down. The chicken had no crisp, like it had been shuffled around and sat forever. Does this mean if I come to eat in the evenings here, I will get food they are trying to get rid of from lunch? read more