Strange Bird — Restaurant in Indianapolis

I've been going to Strangebird for some time now. Since before Landlocked opened and when Heartbreaker was slinging smashburgers, golden fries & custard shakes. Through all the changes I've never been disappointed. Strangebird, Shoyu Shop, and Landlocked is one of the most unique restaurants I've visited anywhere. It's a place where I could go to eat two or three times a day and not get sick of it. If I have friends from out of town visiting, Strangebird is the place I want to take them. Strangebird describes themselves as rum and oyster bar and while that is very true, but they're also much more! The selection of rum is quite expansive and the drinks the bar creates are not only delicious, but are beautiful and arrive in the best glasses I've ever seen. The oysters have set the bar for me for oysters. I tried my very first oyster here and haven't looked back since. They carry several varieties, but I almost always get the pink moon oysters from Prince Edward Island because they're slightly briney and sweet. The mignonette is always a nice addition as well. With the addition of Shoyu Shop, Strangebird offers a delicious selection of well thought out Japanese comfort food that isn't all ramen. Shoyu Shop chef and creator Kyle is making the ramen noodles daily and putting out some of the best ramen I've had the pleasure of eating anywhere. While you will find tonkotsu and shoyu ramen at Shoyu Shop, you can also have mazesoba(soupless ramen) and hiyashi chuka(chilled ramen). These additions alone makes Shoyu Shop standout as a place where you can find more uncommon bowls of ramen that are equally if not more delicious than better known ramen. I've been to Shoyu Shop as a pop-up before Strangebird and I don't think Shoyu Shop could put out a bad bowl if they tried. Overall, Strangebird is without a doubt one of the most unique places in not only Indianapolis, but Indiana as a whole. It's a place that has consistently impressed me for quite some time and I'm sure will only...

I went here on a Saturday for drinks and food with a couple of girlfriends. I arrived at 6:45 pm and it was already full. I approached the host, who was friendly and he put me on the waiting list. The place has two sides. The main side has a bar and a few high-top tables while the other side has tables with chairs and sofas. While I waited for my friends and our seats, I looked over the menu. I was instantly pleased with the tiki-style cocktails and the food menu. Strange bird has their own menu on one side and on the other side, you can order food from Heartbreaker next doot and ramen and other Japanese dishes from Shoyu Shop. It's a tight space while waiting, and even tighter when waiters and waitresses are walking back and forth from each room and patrons are entering and exiting and that would be my only complaint. At one point the host came over and told me I was third on the list and that he was about to seat a group in front of me. Eventually, three seats opened at the bar and he asked if and my party would like them. I agreed. The bar is NOT open seating at Strange Bird, and you can not just help yourself to a bar seat. I saw someone do this and they were asked to get up. I suggest that they put a sign up for this. Anyhow, the bartender Ian was friendly and helpful when it came to taking our orders and answering questions. There was another bartender whose name I didn't catch who was great and even took a photo for my friends and me. The first drink I ordered they were out of and that was disappointing but I ordered 3 others and they were all fantastic. the food was tasty and I would definitely return here and...

Amazing place to stumble upon. While it had been recommended to me, I had yet to make it there and decided to check it out quickly while running an errand in Irvington and am so glad I did. Immediately is an obvious top 5 restaurant in Indy in my opinion.

The space is retrofitted as a tiki lounge more than a bar because while you have the aesthetics of a tiki bar, the design is very intentionally accented with nice features that allow the feel to be that of a restaurant still as well.

Katie, the bartender, was fantastic. Great recommendations, casual conversation and even better execution on the drinks themselves. The Colada is described as 2 per person limit so I couldn’t skip that - perfect smoothness and creaminess flavor wise and was steered in the direction of the Firebird for my second and had the perfect level of heat/spice in the back of your throat.

Food wise it was apparent immediately you can’t go wrong with anything. Definitely the best quality and value Oyster Happy Hour I have found thus far in the city, and am glad this place isn’t closer because I’d go all of the time. The wings were perfect and the Hiyashi Chuka was a perfect chilled noodle dish for summer.

Truly can’t say enough about how dope this place is and while I want nothing but smashing success for them, don’t want it to blow up too much because it’s such a gem, but regardless, I’ll be back - a lot. Parking was available and easy as a bonus and definitely am looking forward to checking out their bakery they share a space...