Mostly good food, but overpriced and lots of service problems It probably should have been a sign when it was nearly empty at prime dinner time on a Saturday but there were good local reviews so we tried it anyway. I guess the service team or ownership or something recently flipped but it was pretty bad. Our waiter was clearly trying hard but there were a lot of communication barriers. We ordered the Moroccan meatballs and the wings. The meatballs themselves were a little dry but the sauce/yogurt was amazing and more than compensated. There were supposed to be 8 wings but we only got 7; noticeable because there were 4 of us. Took some explaining to the waiter that we were shorted one and it took forever for that last wing to come out (after entrees came out). Also, the first set had sauce on the side (which made for nicely crispy wings but also, naked wings) and the straggler came with a different sauce drizzled all over it. Interesting choice. In between, you get some olives, which is a nice touch but they were the most pickled olives I've ever had. Kind of a weird flavor profile. For entrees, we got the salmon (recommended by our server), short rib gnocchi x2, and flat iron steak. Steak was good but way undercooked. It was ordered medium well (judge that all you want but at their prices, it should BE medium well) but came out medium rare. The salmon was overall super bland. It came with an orzo side that tasted like it was just orzo + oil with no real flavor. The salmon was also cooked medium rare, which is a bit under. Beets were also just salt & pepper seasoned. Our short rib gnocchi was its own fiasco - I guess there are multiple versions of menus floating around because the server came back to ask if we meant the Asiago cheese gnocchi (never saw that on the menus we got), then we ended up getting a short rib melt sandwiches. The server was very nice about it and said we could keep them and they'd also make the gnocchi for us. So, the short rib melt - it was delicious. A bit too greasy so the bottom slice of bread was completely collapsing but very flavorful. None of us had room left for the gnocchi when it actually came out but it honestly tasted kind of blandly creamy in my few bites. The weirdest part was the check. We gave 2 credit cards and they both got rung up for the entire bill as the subtotal, with additional lines for tip and the final total. We were very confused and had never seen anything like that before. The server kept trying to explain but we clearly had severe barriers and just gave up. He re-ran it with just one card, which came out with the same subtotal as the first attempt. I still don't know what happened there... After all this, a man came around asking if we'd like an aperitif, thanking us for coming in and dining with them during this transition period. Ended up being $55 per person with no drinks or dessert (2 apps, 4 entrees, 4 adults). I think we all felt like it wasn't worth that, even with free entrees to take home... the best dish was probably the meatballs read more

I loved their food. Their mussels dish was like Heaven! My only suggestion will be heir interior design. It's very clean and modern but almost too clean and cold. Little warming up and having some photo worthy decorations will be helpful. read more

This place went from being one of my favorite restaurants in Indy to the worst restaurant experience I have had in a long time. Sounds like they are going through a transition in management so I am still hopeful it recovers but I would absolutely not recommend this for a dining experience. It was uncomfortable and a mess. read more

I had to be in Indianapolis for some business and decided to stay at The Hotel Indy since it was so convenient to the corporate headquarters and the many activities in the downtown area. The hotel is new and considered a boutique hotel, meaning it only has a total of 90 rooms. The hotel has a mid-century modern design vibe and an "all Indiana" theme, including books, and pictures that highlight the contributions made by local legends like Kurt Vonnegut, Madam CJ Walker, and Major Taylor. After my arrival, I decided to have dinner in the hotel. I had two options - The Cannonball Lounge ( a more limited menu), which unfortunately was closed during my stay, which was very disappointing as I understand it has a wonderful view of downtown. The other is The Hulman restaurant that is named to honor Tony Hulman, the previous owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I have to say, I was very impressed with The Hulman! During my visit I was offered two different menus, one was the regular dinner menu and for a special limited time the "Devour Indy" menu, which was a four-course pre-fix menu. This created my first dilemma, both menus offered a great variety of choices. The Devour menu offered very temping choices, most of which were not on the regular menu. The problem was that I love oysters and the Devour menu offered a smaller course of the Pink Moon Oysters, which would be half the amount (3) that's on the regular dinner menu. So, what would you do? I decided to get the Grilled Oyster from the regular menu and then order off the Devour menu. Don't judge me. I'm away from home and on a business trip. First off, I didn't make the wrong choice. The Grilled Oysters came out of the kitchen smoking on a tray of hickory chips. This is one of those dishes that turns all the heads of the other patrons in the dining room. These oysters were lightly grilled and topped with a chili, lemongrass, lime and cilantro sauce. Enhanced by the still smoking hickory chips, the oysters had a nicely balanced, creamy flavor with a mild brininess and a delightful sweet finish. A perfect starter if I were to say so. From the Devour menu I ordered the following: First course: French Onion Soup with sourdough and gruyere cheese. I ordered this as I was intrigued by the use of the sourdough croutons and the gruyere, but it was my first spoonful of an "out-of-this-world" broth with an amazing depth of flavor that knocked my socks off! The soup was nicely seasoned, not too salty which is often a problem which I've encountered with this dish. I couldn't identify the elements that made it so delicious so I told my server that I wanted the chef's recipe. I'm still waiting, but I'm sure he'll get back to me soon. LOL Second course: Wild Boar Empanada. I don't see Boar on a menu very often and was surprised to see it in the Midwest, so I had to order this. Again, I was pleasantly surprised by this dish. The empanada was on the larger size, nicely browned and plated with a small dish of aji Amarillo pepper sauce and pickled red onions, carrots and green peppers. The empanada pastry was delicate and flaky. The filling had perfectly spiced boar, which has a taste and texture between beef and pork, cheese and I believe potatoes. Everything was paired together beautifully. Third course: Berkshire Pork Loin, Gnocchi, parsnip puree, & broccolini. This was a beautifully plated dish!! The loin had a wonderful sweet glace and was tender and perfectly cooked. The parsnip puree was so light and flavorful I couldn't believe it, but the gnocchi was a standout (and according to my server made inhouse)! Five Stars!!! Fourth course: A difficult choice between the Key Lime Tart with toasted coconut & pineapple sorbet (which my server again told me was made inhouse) or Earl Grey Crème Brulee with brandied cherries. I went with the Crème Brulee. The aromatic crème contrasted by the sweet, crackly caramel crust and a scoop of brandied cherries in a favorable syrup. A great end to a wonderful meal!! My server was very attentive despite a nearly full dining room. She was very informative and explained how the restaurant tries to source local products from local farms, breweries, distilleries, wineries, and other local small food venders as much as possible. She was also able to tell me who the local icons were that who the rooms and menu items are named after. The bar has a long list of these icon honoring cocktails including the SPT, Millionaire, World Record, and my favorite Bokonon (a nod to Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle). All-in-all a very enjoyable night. Highly recommended!! read more

The Hulman - Wild Boar Empanada - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Over priced Marriott restaurant I just had the soup Chicken Tortilla one of my favorites but not from the Hulman presentation was a 0 no fresh tortillas to go with it or avocado or anything not even crackers and is was very watered down. After having the soup I cut my losses and went elsewhere for dinner plenty of great places in walking distance ( the pictures on the site are comical in compared to what is plated) read more

Beautiful new restaurant on the first floor of Hotel Indy. Decor is very modern yet comfortable. Unfortunately, due to widespread staffing issues, they did not have a bartender this day. Otherwise, service was excellent. I had the veggie omelette. It was delicious. The potatoes hash was superb. Very Instagram-able ambiance. Highly recommend. read more

The Hulman - Veggie Omelette, Yukon Potato Hash, Screwdriver. - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

We unknowingly went during Devour Indy, which was our first mistake. Positives - Love the vibes and ambiance of the dining room. Cannonball Lounge upstairs is a great start to a meal. This is why I gave 2 stars. Negatives - The service was *incredibly* slow - our reservation was for 7:30 pm but we didn't get our main entrees (the "third course") until after 9:00 pm. The salmon was just "okay." I say that since three of us agreed the protein and the couscous accompaniment were underseasoned. We noted that the restaurant takes pride in serving quality proteins, per their main menu, so the quality and wait were disappointing. We also wanted the fried Brussels sprouts as our second course, but they sold out a bit earlier so we settled for the pork/cornbread alternative. It was also "okay." We waited for such a long time we asked to speak to the manager to get a sense of timeline. Our server came over after a minute or so and seemed surprised we wanted to speak with someone. He assured us our meals were coming and said there was a 20+ table holding things up. Indeed, there must have been a private event in the back, as we saw a few servers go in and out with platters. Looking around the main dining room, it seemed as though several other tables were waiting too. Drinks from the bar were delayed as well. One friend who didn't order from the Devour menu waited over an hour and a half for any food; her sauce component never arrived. We ultimately asked for our desserts to be packed up to go; that was another 15 minutes. Bottom line - I don't see going back here at this $$$ price point when several better options exist downtown. read more

Dined here this weekend. The Devour menu items we selected were delicious. The French Onion soup was maybe the best I've ever had...wild boar empanada served w/ a very tasty sauce. Seafood pasta outstanding...4th course, dessert, very nice key lime tart, served with sorbet. Atmosphere very pleasant and service excellent. Seems that management gives servers a hand--dishes are cleared and beverages refilled very promptly. If you haven't tried this newer downtown restaurant yet, do, during "Devour!" Great value! read more

This outing was with two of my girlfriends, which we consider ourselves foodies. The food was incredible. I usually have leftovers but ate every bite of my four course meal! Plus bread. Our waiter Franklin was very sweet and attentive. He gave us plenty of time in between courses to eat and relax, never feeling rushed nor waiting too long in between courses. The cocktails were fantastic, especially the millionaire cocktail! I will be visiting with my husband soon! Especially excited to try out the patio bar and the 6th floor bar with a view! read more

Love the atmosphere. I ordered the veggie omelette and added bacon. It was good, but the potatoes that came with it were delish! The service was lacking... The hostess checked on our table more often than our server, and there were only 5 tables seated with a total of 9 people, so it wasn't busy. I didn't enjoy the jazz music. Not the performance necessarily, but since there's no carpet and the restaurant wasn't full it was really loud. I will return to try the dinner menu. Hopefully the evening experience is 5-star. read more

My husband and I returned to the Hulman as we were excited to try the newly opened Paddock patio. It did not disappoint!! The menu is more casual then the dining room, offering a variety of flat breads, salads and grilled skewered options. All perfect accompaniments with one of their signature drinks and absolutely delicious! The patio vibe is intimate, comfortable, and removed from street noise and traffic. read more

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I recently scheduled a business lunch at the Hulman and was soo impressed. I wanted an upscale nice vibe without being too overly pricey. That was achieved! I love though the menu was small, you could order breakfast or lunch. I opted for the southern crawfish Benedict and it was delicious. $16 price point isn't too steep considering the atmosphere and it was a good size dish. Staff was friendly as well. I will definitely be back to check out more! read more

Can I do 4.5 ? Didn't have a full meal but love the ambiance! Will be back - saddened that the agnolotti and creme brûlée were off the menu (but not the website .menu) - service great although the young man at the check in desk seemed half asleep and as if he could care less about his job? Otherwise excellent can't wait to come back for a full meal!! read more

Food poisoning from here during Devour. The pasta dish with squid ink was dreadful. I think of it often. And waited 15-20 minutes before anyone came to the table after being seated. I understand it is new and staffing issues are an industry problem but this was a bit much. I will say the person who brought out the meals was delightful. read more

I think it's important to realize this is a hotel restaurant. If you want mediocre everything at a higher price point, you'll love this spot! The service was one of the worst experiences I've had dining out. We had a large group which I get can be intimidating. I've worked in the industry, I get parties can throw you off your game. I don't think the table was addressed at any point. I didn't even realize we were ordering when they came to me and just looked at me without saying anything. Didn't write anything down. One meal didn't come out until the rest of the table was done eating. Water glasses were consistently empty on the table to the point of me getting a spare glass so when they refill I could last a little longer. I had the burger and it was actually fire that's what gets the extra star. The person sitting next to me had the short rib spacatelli and it was okay, mainly just short rib. The bar did an okay job with drinks. Martinis were not garnished and when I asked for blue cheese olives I was met by the waiter with a blank stare and when they returned i had a skewer of regular olives. Overall, a bizarre experience. The vibes are immaculate and this spot has so much potential. It's a shame the team was not set up for success. I'd recommend checking this spot out now because I can't imagine it being there a long time. read more

This place has potential, but it's poorly run. Our waiter was sweet, but not attentive. The quality of the food was fine. We had to request more drinks and remind them that they had forgotten 2 of our dinners (party of 6). The value was poor. The menu prices suggest a classy place, but the dining experience was sub par. read more

Came here for a girls night with my best friend. WOW! I am a sucker for mid century modern decor and this place is a mid century modern lovers dream! We had the meat and cheese board and marinated olives to start and it was delicious. I had the short rib pasta for my main and it was comfort food to the max. Exactly what I wanted in the cold weather. As someone who no longer drinks, I really loved that they have a zero proof cocktail list. I love being able to still feel like I'm having a cocktail without the alcohol. Not many places have zero alcohol options, and this alone will bring me back here many times! read more

The Hulman - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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One of the worst "dining" experiences we have had in Indy. Only giving it one star because not possible to give it zero. Problems begin because they don't post menus on their web site, so no idea what to expect. Then we arrive and find ourselves literally the only people in the restaurant. And it stays that way all evening. Not a good sign, any day of the week. Then the food was bland and boring. A variation on a caprese salad that consists of burrata, one sliced peach, and a drizzle of balsamic. That's it. Probably took three minutes to prepare. The chicken pesto was tasteless - how is it possible to make tasteless pesto?! The corn risotto was not much more than a dish of rice and corn. Not even sure it was Arborio rice. The smoked pork chop was dry and hard. It astonishes me to read all the positive reviews on this site - hard to believe they are referring to the same restaurant. The only good element was the service - hats off to Charles. But the rest of it makes me wonder how the Hulman is still open. read more

New restaurant alert!! If my reviews matched the numbers of places I've been... whew Chile. But alas, I am here for good food + good experience so I rarely get to write it all down, or desire to. But it's my birthday, so I'll write this one out. New restaurants, especially in Indy, always pique my interest and this one did not disappoint. I booked for dinner after a night at the symphony , but read the prior reviews and did not know what to think: seemed that food was good, small portions, inexperienced service, but overall a good work in progress. After our experience, I have to say that I agree, though the imperfections were few and minor and bc we plan to go back! The food though was way more delicious than expected from other reviews. Get the empanadas. Don't think . Just get them. The Crust is Theeee best empanada crust you'll ever eat. I think we went through 4 orders of them!! ( one order came out with only 1 empanada on it when there were supposed to be 2, so they gave us a whole new order), the olives, the Brussels, and Italian rice balls rounded out our appetizer order (see what i did there? ) and everything was delicious. I expected the olives to be warmed, and they were a bit chilly but tasted good. The Brussels, though an airy and small portion, were good, the mouth textures were fun- a little crispy/ umami / sweet notes. A note about service: there were several folks chipping in on our service: our main waitress who was super sweet and attentive, two folks who brought out food, one who brought drinks, and two who came to refill our waters. So needless to say, the service was attentive , if not a tad chaotic, given so many hands on... but not irritatingly so, just confusing at times. For example, one of the main guys bringing food kept asking us if we ordered a dish before placing it in front of us-not in a confirmatory way, as I'm used to , but actually asking.... This was not ideal for us Bc We order a lot of food when we go out bc we love to try everything, but in this case it was confusing bc if we said no or weren't sure, he paused, looked around, and actually in one instance took it away we had already been served that dish and in another case, we said " yes" absent mindedly and he sat it down and we ate it before realizing we hadn't ordered that rice balls after all . The drinks were good _I had a 1977 and wife had the old fashioned. Both were good. Entrees: oysters, cioppini, and the shoshort rib pasta . Everything tastes oven roasted--which I absolutely loved. ( and felt like it paid homage to the Indy 500, engines burning but maybe that's a stretch?! ) my oysters came out on a bed of smoking hot wooden chips-- first I've ever seen oysters like this/ and I've eatena LOt of oysters in my day!! They were DElISH!!! Seafood stew was good as was the short rib pasta. Long review just to say go, try it out . The services is interesting but it's clear that the folks working there Def want to help and the food is delicious. read more

The Hulman - Oysters. - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I really wanted to like it... but they just aren't there. Probably one of the most chaotic meals I have ever had. First started with the valet, you had to pay prior to your dinner and then bring the paid slip back out to the driver to park your car. That isn't valet? We went on Valentine's Day with had a set 5 course meal. They were really not busy at all to make up for this hectic environment. You chose out of 2 options for each course. We were seated on the Delaware st main entrance side which was extremely dark. There is no background music playing, so it sounds like a cafeteria listening to clinking silverware. Our first course was a oyster caviar. Is was very pleasant, but a tiny oyster. Our next course we both ordered the crab bisque. Mine came out correct, they brought my husband the other choice he didn't choose. It came out room temperature at best, and we had to wait several minutes for spoons. Next was a tuna tartare which was excellent. Unfortunately they brought out our appetizer and our main at the same time so we asked our main to be brought back until we ate the appetizer. During this time we had 7 different wait staff come for various things. Our actual waiter was very good. It was just so confusing where all these people were coming from. One girl came to our table twice asking to clear empty plates as we were physically putting a bite of food in our mouth with a full plate. Our main course I got the scallops. It came with 1 scallop and 2 very small clams. 1 of my clam shells were empty. The main part of my dish was the broth, but I didn't have a spoon. The sauce with my husbands pork was ice cold. The taste and flavors of everything we had, was actually quite good. The service and just timing of everything was unbelievably poor. I hope they are able to work the kinks out. There was way too much wait staff not communicating with one another. We won't be back for awhile. read more

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The food and the service were absolutely incredible! They have one of the best meals Indy can offer you! read more

The Hulman - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Staff service from my waiter Charles was excellent. He was friendly, attentive, and made good conversation. Once he had a few more tables I think it became obvious the place was understaffed though. I ordered the Risotto, which was so bland it tasted like eating plain rice. That's not an exaggeration - the food tasted like... nothing, even when I tried pouring salt and pepper on it. Probably the worst I've ever had, and is costed nearly $40. The food was most likely old too, given that it came out within 10mins of ordering and the plate was untouchably hot (assuming from the microwave?) read more

Friendly staff and bartender made amazing drinks. Food was awesome. Wish I lived close by so I could go more often. Short rib melt - enough said! read more

Experional experience with refreshingly attentive service, phenomenal food and a fascinating space. The menu offers a series of deceptively simple sounding dishes that showcase complex flavors and beautiful colors. Creative cocktail menu, all served with beautiful garnishes. Each bite a delight. read more

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Wow the food was fire, the manager Fernando was top notch. Ridiculous the service and everything was phenomenal 5/5 your doing a disservice to yourself. Kenny made our dining experience great also, great wine and beer knowledge. read more

What a memorable evening!! We started at the rooftop Cannonball Lounge with delicious cocktails and an amazing view of the Indianapolis skyline, followed by a lovely dinner at the Hulman. Our table shared several interesting appetizers - favourites were the sungold tomato marmalade with toasted baguettes, the black truffle arancini, artisan meats & cheeses with warm marinaded olives & grilled pink moon oysters. Our entrees were fabulous (spring pea agnolotti - the perfect spring entree) & yummy desserts the perfect end to our evening!!!! Kudos to the staff and the kitchen team!!! Can't wait to return. read more

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Chef Patrick made me feel like royalty tonight with this meal! I would recommend this wonderful place to anyone! Thank you Casey for taking such good care of us! You were an exceptional waiter! The meal was outstanding! read more

The Hulman - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Don't waste your time and $$. Very poorly staffed, waited 15 min at table before even greeted and another 15 to get drinks. Food very average and expensive. Our waiter Charles was very nice and accommodating, not much you can do when you're that understaffed. Over charged for our wine by over $100. Not the way I expected to celebrate our daughters birthday. Very disappointed. read more

The empanadas were my favorite. They were very flavorful and perfectly crispy on the outside. I also had the salmon with the pilaf and beets and the salmon was cooked to perfection and the beets were tender and flavorful. read more

17 stars for the rooftop bar upstairs! Vibes unmatched af. We also had dinner and it was pretty good the burger surprisingly was bomb! Also trying to Brussels and Burrata a bit too sweet for me? My friends had the short rib + empanadas said they were delicious. read more

We had a terrific Mother's Day 2022 brunch at the Hulman. Service was outstanding, nice atmosphere, good food and, at least that day, live music. Plus living in downtown Indy it's a short walk from our condo. Lovely place to take the family for a meal. read more

I had a reservation and was asked to confirm the prior day. Arrived at the restaurant, and it was closed. There is no courtesy call or anything to advise me. I advise patrons to skip this place. Find a reputable restaurant read more

Fantastic food. Beautiful environment and rooftop. My halibut was TDF! So good I returned the next night w a group of friends who also loved the food. Must get the arancini! Service was great too! read more

.When I was there on September 2, 2022 to eat breakfast. I believe the floor manager was the one who sat me. The host acted like I wasn't there at all nor offered me water like she did for the other people. My severe was the one who got me water. I had better sever there in the past, today wasn't the greatest, the needs to step it up. read more

We got a recommendation for the Hulman from a friend. We have gone twice now, and both experiences have been great. The first time we were in the dining room. A/C was a little high but the setting and atmosphere was really nice. Food was creative and tasty. We appreciated the not huge portions so we could try several items. Second time we sat out on the back patio. It was very comfortable and pretty private. Food great again and the service was excellent. She was always there when we needed something but not hovering. We will definitely go back! read more

Wasn't sure what to expect when I went for brunch recently with a friend, but it was a delight! There was a jazz trio playing and a woman singing with one of the best vocal ranges I'd ever heard. I had a simple breakfast but honestly, I'm still thinking about those breakfast potatoes they were that good. Lots of couples there who likely stayed at the adjacent hotel having romantic long alcohol brunches - I was very jealous as that looked blissful. Great service and experience- I've recommended to a few friends already and I will be back! read more

Do not waste your time here. We had reservations on a Wednesday night and after being seated we sat for over 20 minutes without anyone taking our drink order or even giving us water. There were several other couples around us who also were not receiving service. There appeared to be lots of staff, but they were all just walking around looking busy but didn't appear to actually be doing anything. I tried many times to make eye contact with staff members walking by so I could at least get some water but they ignored me and the other diners as well. I've never seen anything like it. This place is an embarrassment to downtown Indianapolis, especially for out-of-towners that aren't familiar with our city. We finally got up and left, as we had tickets for a show and wanted no part of the train wreck that place was. read more

Food was good, but not great. The prices are much too high for the end product. There are better places to spend that amount of money

I should have known better than to go to a hotel restaurant for Mother's Day brunch. Way overpriced for scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes, fruit and assorted pastries, at $46 pp. Unlike most MD brunches, the price did not include omelets ($13 more) or even coffee. The Bloody Mary "Bar" ($15) was a shot of vodka in a cocktail glass, and the opportunity to add olives, diced cheese, prosciutto, crackers and other assorted additives that didn't really go with a Bloody. Aren't Bloody Marys usually served in a tall glass? The eggs and potatoes on the buffet were cold, and so was our server. read more

If you're looking for delicious food and attentive service, look no further! Our party of four tried The Hulman for the first time this weekend. Everyone was in agreement the plates we ordered were delicious and presented artfully. When the server noticed a steak was not cooked to correct temperature, she volunteered another without prompting. When has that ever happened? Try the flat iron steak, millers Amish chicken, or the pasta with short ribs. As a small, the meatballs and the Brussels are recommended. read more