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Category: American (Traditional) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Indy Metro
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I think this place is way better then St. Elmos. Food is great, service as well. Very accommodating- we changed group size a few times. Ambiance is modern and fresh. Staff is always extremely friendly.
The steak frites was excellent as was the asparagus with feta. We came here the last year and I remember it being nothing but good as well.
We'll prob. eat here every time we come:)
Traveling in Indianapolis, we decided that this was a good compromise, with a pretty extensive menu that had something for everyone. We started with some of the very good complimentary focaccia bread. It came with a particularly tasty chopped tomato/bruschetta topping on the side. It was a wonderful start.
We also got a side of white bean hummus. It wasn't my favorite but my companions really enjoyed it.
The wine list was good and not too pricey, which is much appreciated.
I had the braised lamb with risotto. The risotto was lovely but the lamb was just good.
For dessert we shared a pear bread pudding that was amazing and easily enough for 6.
Overall it was quite a nice experience!
Not knowing a thing about Indianapolis or any good restaurants there, I decided to stop in for lunch because the place looked cool. I sat outside on the patio and had a nice view of the downtown action. My server was very attentive which was an obvious plus.
This may sound ridiculous but things were going really well until I found out that Palomino is a chain (they must only have restaurants out West; I've never heard of the place in the South where I'm from). Maybe it's all in my head, but generally I do not care for chain restaurants. I think the food is usually fair to poor at best (exception: Chipotle) and, based on experiences I've had, the staff tends to be ignorant and/or lackadaisical. Perhaps Palomino could be another exception, but I've only been once so it's hard to say.
Anyway, getting back to the review. The menu is described as "European inspired regional American cuisine" and it seemed like a total hodgepodge of different things. For lunch that day I went the Italian route with a Roma tomato and basil brick oven pizza, which was actually very good. I enjoyed the cracker thin crust, and the toppings were well-proportioned and tasty. I nearly ate the entire pizza and did not have that icky stuffed feeling afterward.
Will I return to Palomino? Probably not, but it was good for an al fresco lunch in an unfamiliar city.
I wanted to love this place, but I didn't.
First off, my sangria wasn't very flavorful, and for $9 I think it was a tiny glass.
The calamari was chewy, and the breading was not crisp. The aioli was good, I will give them that.
I'd hear great things about the paella, so I ordered that. I was not impressed. Where was the saffron? It was a $30 dish - I expected to be wowed. It was just ok.
The chocolate torte did redeem the meal somewhat.
The wait staff was friendly and the pace of our meal was good, but for the price, I'll probably eat elsewhere.
Came with a huge group of people and had a delicious meal. Even though our group was big, the service was fantastic. The food was amazing... we had several appetizers, so I lucked out and got to try the calamari (like butter!) and the clams (tender and delicious). Enjoyed my salad, which was the blue cheese with pine nuts. Loved my entree, a special, which was Copper River Salmon, perfectly cooked and very lightly seasoned with Grey Salt. The light seasoning let the true flavor of this fresh entree take center stage.
Had a great overall experience. At the time we ate, there were several other huge groups. Many of us were very impressed at how the servers did a great job handling the crush of patrons. A place I will definitely head back to next time I am in town.
I've only eaten here once and the abrasive and ridiculously rude waitress ruined our experience. She must have had a bad night or just thought we sucked but she made her distaste very clear. Had it not been for her, we probably would have been back because the food was very good.
In the heart of downtown Indy, it's a romantic destination. But if you get the rude waitress - switch sections!!
This place is great! The decor is nice and the food was phenomenal. I have never had a better piece of seabass in my life....it is cooked in a tangine and the texture is amazing. This is a great place for a date or some eats after a show at the IRT.
I have eaten at Palomino several times and I have to say, I ALWAYS enjoy it. I LOVE the mushroom soup and always start with that. Their staff is always attentive, polite and oftentimes, funny. They are helpful in pairing wine choices with entrees, and in general, I have never had a bad experience. I am eating here again on Thursday night and taking my mom and grandma for their first time!!
With their extensive wine list and array of desserts, fresh seafood and amazing brick oven pizzas, I do think this is great for everyone! It is awesome for business lunches/dinners, romantic nights out or a first date, birthday celebration or family event.
It is one of my favorite Indianapolis restaurants! Check it out the next time you are downtown. YUM!
Went here for lunch. Tried the Kobe Beef and Italian Sausage Ravioli. My friend ordered a Steamed Tilapia Dish.
My Kobe Ravioli was delicious. The meat was succulent and juicy and i could taste a significant amount of kobe beef in there. The sauce was portioned on the dish so you could try different flavors without having to mix it.
However, my favorite part came before the actual meal. I usually head into restaurants starving and the wait for the entree is interrupted by deep stomach growls and numerous glances at the kitchen door. Palomino remedied this with free bread and some absolutely delicious tomato sauce mix. Combination of roasted tomatoes, feta cheese, E.V.O.O, and some other spices and materials i couldn't place. It calmed the beast before my entree arrived. I would've been content to make a meal just of that sauce and bread. It was THAT good.
Ended up finishing my friends Tilapia dish, haha. (she couldn't finish it and why waste food!?) Her entree came with grilled asparagus on the side which were seasoned very well. The fish was soft and moist. Also a winner.
Fun restaurant. Been there many, many times. The cheese appetizer smells like wet socks. Please don't order it. The chicken is not good either. Stick with the seafood. Service always good and usually don't have trouble getting a table. Reservations needed for the weekends. You can usually get a coupon after a visit.
As much for the seasonal early November weather.. dining outdoors on a groovy Saturday evening.. strollers passing by..
the service was with a smile.. the drinks came quick and sufficiently juiced up with liquor... the meal wasn't anything to complain about.. but alas, nothing to write home about either.
I had two rasberry mojitos... and the roasted chicken marsala with capallini.... tasty.. did the trick.. pricey.. yep. don't buy the cappucino..
I used to frequent Palomino for business lunches and in the evenings for a drink or two, since a friend used to work there and we'd occasionally meet in the bar for a drink before going elsewhere.
The service is generally spot-on, and I do like the atmosphere here - the color scheme is particularly appealing to me. However, I can't say that Palomino's food really does it for me... at least not for what you'll pay for it. There are plenty of other restaurants in the city that I'd much rather go to if I was going to spend that kind of money on a dinner. If you are meeting a colleague or client downtown for lunch, and it's on the company's dime, Palomino is a good place to go because you can make reservations (I always used http://OpenTable.com) and it's a pretty nice environment to conduct business.
Cocktails are good but a little pricey. In the bar they used to always have some different appetizers at special prices later in the evening; I'm not sure if they still do that or not. It is a nice place to grab a drink or two, but I wouldn't ever spend all night at Palomino's bar.
we're Back LOL we finally had the Rigatoni Bolognese, what the Indpls Monthly called their best dish, the server said their steaks are even a better dish, great staff, Molly always friendly
we went in to try a dish mentioned in a local magazine, we're Always in search of a Happy Hour,… Read more »
Another of my favorite restaurants in Indianapolis. I eat here for 1 meal nearly every time I am in town. The service is always quick and unless there is a large convention in town, you get seated without much fuss.
On this particular trip, I had the paella. Served piping hot in cast iron bowl, the presentation is great. The saffron rice is delicious, and the seafood looks wonderful. Shrimp, clams, mussels, salmon all served piping hot. For appetizers, we had the flat bread with baked cheese sauce. It was awesome.
I'm not sure whether I love or hate the fact that this restaurant is in the mall, but it holds good memories for me, as my violin teacher would always take us here for a treat after his concerts downtown. At any rate, I've never actually had the entrees in here, but I've had good luck with the desserts. The ice cream, in particular, is quite tasty.
Always great service. Excellent Lemonade. Amazing Paella.
Happy Dining!
This has to be one of the best places to go when you are in downtown Indianapolis. In fact, this place has been picked by many magazines as one of the best over top places on the same street like St Elmo's and Ruth Chris but the best part of this is the price tags are NOT like them!
From the mushroom soup to bruschetta with the mushrooms to the parmasean crusted tilapia the meal can not get any better!
I woudl recommend you make a reservation no matter what night you go and it is so worth it!
An easy walk from the conference hotel, Palomino offers a large and interesting menu in a nice setting for dinner. I loved the Paella last time I was here!
Yes it's a chain, but decent steak salad
Went here for lunch yesterday and feasted on the snow crab and artichoke open-faced sandwich. It was amazing - creamy and rich. Almost too rich to polish off solo... fyi.
Peach iced tea was a great match.
Service was excellent and the atmosphere is always friendly yet sophisticated. Always leave happy!
Another family favorite in downtown Indianapolis. I've been several times and I've always enjoyed myself.
The food is tasty, the service is friendly and attentive and the atmosphere is fun and inviting. This is a great place to go with a fairly big group, have dinner and some drinks and really have a good time.
Reservations become almost essential, as it's in the middle of everything and can fill up quickly. Think ahead and you'll have a great time.
There is nothing I do not enjoy about this place. I always make a point to eat here when I am in Indy. The food and service are great. The chop chop salad is a must. It is amazing. I order it every time. The lobster ravioli is quite tasty as well. In fact I would venture to say that I have had 70 percent of the items on the menu and the only thing I would not recommend would be the chicken Parmesan. It is fried and uninspired-----however everything else is awesome. Try the mushroom appetizer. Try it all. Just be sure to make reservations because the wait can be long if you do not plan ahead.
Oh and a lovely little touch is that they leave each table with an inspirational saying on the table.
I ate here most recently with the sole intention of trying out their cracker-thin crust pizza. I had heard the pizza was great and "perfected" in Rome (not quite sure what that means). Decided to give it a try since good thin-crust pizza seems to be un-heard of here. Verdict? It was good. But really nothing to write home about and it really didn't remind me at all of pizza I had in Italy. But the price was good and we enjoyed sitting in the bar area (tables and full menu service) for an early dinner. I have previously eaten dinner here in the main dining room - and it was very good - but I just can't get over the fact that they are a chain restaurant (therefore the three stars).
On our way back from vacation in Bloomington, my companion and I stopped in Indy to visit a pal of mine. We were starving, and my companion was more than happy not to have to eat at Arby's again (he is a no good Arby's hating loser). We ate outside on the patio at Palomino and the food was delicious. We shared the very crispy calamari and the crab artichoke dip. Both were amazing. My friend Daniel, who could not stop chanting "cheese, cheese, cheese..." had the pizza, I enjoyed prime rib with some great mashed potatoes, and my ladyish companion had a chicken caesar salad. Everyone was pleased. I'd be back if I were visiting again. Minus one star for a slightly dum dum waitress and a less than stellar mojito.
5 Stars because the sea bass was outstanding. They serve it in a triangular Moroccan clay dish with artichokes and beans in a light butter sauce that give off this excellent steam when presented. The Gorgonzola with bacon and fries were so fresh - highly recommended.
Service and ambiance are perfect - 5 stars overall. I would definitely visit again.
Its pretty good, but nothing spectacular for what you pay for. But if you go to lunch the prcies are reasonable and their salmon salad is great!
Spent lunch here my first day on the job. Excellent service and atmosphere. Food was great. I am a picky eater but they were very good had withholding what I did not like from my sandwich and it was excellent. The strawberry lemonades are amazing!
I LOVE this place. It's completly hip, large enough to handle a good crowd and the food is excellent. They have my favorite pizza in all of Indy here. Go!!
Palomino is a class act. The moment you walk in you are given first class treatment. You will always have a full beverage. The manager will ask you how your experience is and he is doing it because he cares and not because he has to. The food is wonderful. I really like the fillet mignon. The desserts are over the top. The wine selection is nice and you don't have to spend $30 to get a good bottle.
I've been to Palomino's multiple times while I lived in Indianapolis and I still like to return when I happen to be in town. I've never had a disappointing meal here. The salad with seafood, the artichoke dip, the calamari, lobster ravioli, salmon...everything is always wonderful. Oh, and if you're looking for a good cocktail, try one of their signature Lavender Martinis. Mmmmm!
Great place for some good food downtown. I particularly like the atmosphere. While it's a chain, it doesn't have the chain atmosphere.
In an effort to escape the "craziness" of the holidays, my daughter and I "escaped" to Indy for a few days. We were staying downtown, so everyone suggested dinner at Palomino, so we popped in for a quick lunch. The service, food and atmosphere were so nice...we opted to return the next day for dinner! I like this place...the prices are fairly reasonable and I liked the warm, attentive service. I have spent alot of time in Indy and I can't think of a better place...
I guess I'm the odd man out here, since I thought it was pretty 'eh'. Not bad by any means, but I didn't have anything that seemed to justify the high-endyness of it. Service was indeed good. The ambiance was average for a place like this. I don't see myself going out of my way to get back here when in Indy, you'll find me at the Rathskeller instead!
Sorry; it's not that great, folks. The food is decent, but what I've had there has been done better by plenty of less expensive chains. I've been served very well by an often nice but snooty staff. Lunch was a hurried experience of a waiter trying to turn tables, and dinner was an experience of waiting, and waiting. All in all, it's not as bad as I describe, I guess, but when you get the bill, and wonder why you didn't just go to PF Changs for half the cost, it hurts more.
Service was a bit pretentious, but the food was so good! Boyfriend and I shared the blue cheese & hazelnut salad, four cheese pizza, and lobster ravioli. Everything was delicious and the prices were reasonable (including the wine). We'll be back next time we're in Indy!!
Neighborhood: Indy Metro
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: Indy Metro
Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhood: Indy Metro
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Indy Metro
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Indy Metro
Category: Restaurants
