Slippery Noodle Inn — Restaurant in Indianapolis

★★★★★ I was rolling through Indianapolis on a cross-country trip when I ducked into the Slippery Noodle Inn—just a short stroll from the bus and train station. I parked myself at the century-old tiger-oak bar, and the bartender, we'll call her "Rosie", launched into the place’s backstory like she owned every brick (and in a way, she does).

“Back in 1850,” she said, “this was the Tremont House, a roadhouse for early travelers. By the 1860s it became Concordia House, named after the first German Lutheran ship to land here. Later it was the Germania House until WWI, then Beck’s Saloon when German associations were out of favor. Pre-Prohibition it flipped to Moore’s Beer Tavern—then Moore’s Restaurant when they officially outlawed booze (though they still brewed in the basement). After ’35, back to Moore’s Beer Tavern.”

Rosie pointed to the basement door. “We’ve still got the old meat hooks and water lines down there from when they butchered cattle and swine, and during Prohibition Dillinger’s gang used the old stable out back for target practice. See those dents and slugs in the east wall?”

She went on: “Boris Petercheff ran it in the late ’40s. In ’63 the Yeagy family bought it—on Friday the 13th, no less—and at 5 a.m. they voted on the name Slippery Noodle Inn. Hal Yeagy grew it into a blues mecca until 2023, when two local vets took over.”

I looked up at the pressed-tin ceiling (circa 1890) and felt the weight of every decade. Live blues acts start most nights, the beer list is killer, and every corner buzzes with a story. If you’re into real history served with ice-cold brew and soul-shaking music, the Noodle...

Driving cross country last month and decided to go about 45 minutes out of the way to hit this classic Indianapolis bar that I had heard good things about. I arrived around 5:00 p.m. and just plan to sit at the bar and have a burger and beer. I got stopped by a bouncer at the door who told me I'd have to pay a $20 or $25 cover. I asked him if there was a band or music playing and he said there would be at 7:00 p.m. but I had to pay now. I told him I was literally going to be there for 30 minutes sitting at the bar right next to him to have a burger and beer and would be heading out after to continue my drive, meaning I wouldn't have a chance to enjoy the music that they were charging a cover charge for. He gave me a nasty look and said, "I don't care you still have to pay." Needless to say, I didn't pay the cover charge and left. Can't comment on the food or atmosphere but as someone who has lived in both Boston and New York City and traveled extensively, I have to say this was one of the most absurd and rude doormen I have encountered. Maybe a great bar and an institution in Indianapolis but I won't recommend it and won't...

I'm a gluten free vegan. Not a lot of options for me there. But I was able to at least make a meal out of a beyond patty on top of a side salad... 🤷‍♀️ We were there for a pre colts game lunch a d you could tell our server was a bit annoyed the moment she came to our table and we all asked for water to start. By the end of the meal she still never had 6 waters on the table for each guest, though we asked twice and she came back to the table with more water twice... it still wasn't enough. And she was very quick with her words and short with her attention. I do understand this place gets ran over at the opening bell, but, I expected a hype server who JUST started her day that would have set the tone for our day with a smile and a good attitude. Being in food service my whole life these things stick out to me. Hey slippery noodle, if you want to get your service staff on the same page, consider a training guide I wrote up several years ago called Tips For Tips A servers guide to getting the most out of their shift. A smile and a little compassion goes a long way. The tenderloin that my gf had was huge and she said it...