Yuku free message boards

Damien the Bloodfeaster wrote:

---

Restaurants? Here's a few options, as best I can remember:

1. Convention center - There are places in the convention center itself that sell overpriced greasy pizza and the like. Not recommended unless you are desperate. Instead, bring a bottle of water or the like and maybe some gum or other non-messy snack food if you'll be spending a lot of time there.

2. The Ram - Good food, good drinks, close to the convention center. It always does plenty of good business and is crowded, especially the first night or two (it is not so packed on the weekend). I'd generally have dinner here 50-75% of the time. A good place to meet up, have some food, and then head over to the free gaming tables at the nearby hotels afterwards. Gaming in the back room may well not be available, and even if it is the place can be LOUD, so your DM may end up with a sore throat. I recommend the free gaming tables instead.

3. Circle Mall - The downtown mall is about 3-4 blocks from the convention center, and is accessible by covered walkways. They have a food court with the usual mall outlet stores. One step better than eating in the convention center; otherwise, not much worth saying about it.

4. Elmo's - If you're in the mood for a $30-40 steak, this is the place to go. Expensive, but good. Good shrimp cocktail too, apparently. I have fond memories of a delicious filet and watching MacPhail attempt to demolish some massive porterhouse steak or T-bone he had ordered.

5. Weber Grill - I tried to get in here one night, but the place was booked solid. Reserve at least a week in advance, unless you want to try to get into the bar or something.

6. American cafe/restaurant on the corner near the Ram - I forget the name of this place, but it's always packed with gamers, especially at lunch, and is somewhat cheaper than the Ram. I much prefer the Ram, though I have never actually eaten here.

In addition to those, there's a Hard Rock Cafe, an Italian restaurant (Bugatti's, I believe it's called), and several other restaurants nearby. Many of the hotels have some sort of restaurant as well.

My preference is to stick with the Ram for most lunches and dinners, and go elsewhere for pickup games. It's nice to dine out in a nice place at least once during the convention, but reserving a table in advance is recommended if you feel certain you can get the people together for it. I also recommend carrying about a bottle of water and some sort of snack food that is not too unhealthy. The water is very important, since it can be hot and muggy in Indianapolis in August.

A few comments - the place by the RAM is Steak and Shake. By the Steak and Shake, there's Noodles & Co. now.

The mall has lost a couple places in the last year. The Italian restaurant on the first floor is gone - there is Buca di Beppo across from the Weber Grill, though. A couple food court places have swapped for others.

In the Simon building immediately north of the convention center is Cafe Patichou, which is good for breakfast and lunch. Pricey, but good, although with a high level of suit-types (like me).

The new development in restaurants in the past year is on Washington, the east-west one block north of the convention center, east of the mall. The BW3 moved north onto it, and is now by the Borders in the first block past the mall. Dunkin Donuts is at the end of this block on the north side of the street, and a high end Argentine place is next to it.

In the next block, there's now Scotty's Brewpub across the street and a bit south, with Fogo de Chao (Brazilian steak place) and Adobo Grill (neuvo Mexican) in the same block, but scattered among the buildings around the intersection (a new Pita place is also in this block). Past that, you're to the east end of downtown, and you'd do best to turn around and head back.