From cozy bistros and cafes to elegant champagne bars, Indiana’s French cuisine scene is sure to impress. How does foie gras sound? A glass of award-winning wine? And finishing everything off with some sweet crepes with lemon zest? We bet your stomach is rumbling now. Here are the 7 best French restaurants in Indiana!
Truffles celebrated the new millennium in style when they opened on December 31, 2000 and offers locals and visitors alike a mixture of New American, French and Italian cuisine. Chef Robert Adkins is a genius when it comes to creating culinary masterpieces using locally sourced, fresh ingredients. The atmosphere of Truffles is classic yet modern, and the food invokes the use of key senses: taste, sight, and smell. You can also expect your server to recommend the most fabulous wine pairings with each meal to take your dish from delicious to absolutely scrumptious. You’ve never experienced French cuisine until you’ve visited Truffles!
Bistro 501 is located in the historic Lahr building in downtown Lafayette and features the flavor and style of the gorgeous French countryside. During the summer, customers can enjoy the outdoor sidewalk seating and in the winter season, sit by the fireside and enjoy quiet conversation. The menu changes seasonally and is made with the finest, freshest ingredients. Recommendations include the Ricotta Cannelloni, the Bistro Benedicts, and the fruity Raspberry Sorbet.
Featuring fusion cuisine from Europe, Asia and the new world, Vera Mae’s Bistro in Muncie is a local favorite among students and locals alike. The bistro has been in business since 1999 and was formerly a hardware store in downtown Muncie’s historical district. Every piece of furniture and art within the bistro tells a story and starts a conversation. Each season, the menu changes to provide customers with the freshest, in-season ingredients. Favorites include Chic’s Escargot, classic French Onion soup, and the smoked salmon croissant.
Located within the beautiful and historic Broad Ripple neighborhood, Petite Chou Bistro and Champagne Bar is a local favorite. Each meal is made fresh with local ingredients and the menu is an interesting mix of French cuisine, including the Hangover Crepe and the millennial favorite: avocado toast. A personal favorite is the Between Bread menu, including the Le Club and vegetarian burger and frites. With each meal, enjoy one of their sweet and savory beverages, including their Ice Teas, brewed fresh daily or the Caffe Macchiato. Another perk of Petite’s: they also feature a dog friendly outdoor patio for your four-legged friend(s)!
The mission of the Carriage House Dining Room and Gardens in northern South Bend, Indiana is to provide ‘artistically’ executed classic recipes using traditional French preparation methods and the finest ingredients to customers. The atmosphere is beautiful and tasteful, housed in the historic Brethren Church building, which was built in 1851. They’ve also been given AAA’s Four Diamond award for over 25 years, and the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence for the last 30 years. Taste the deliciousness that is the Petite Thermidor or the creamy Ratatouille.
Chef and Proprietor of Oakley’s Bistro, Steven J. Oakley, is living his childhood dream of owning and operating a successful, inspiring restaurant, one in which is affordable and an everyday destination where every meal is a special occasion. Not only is Oakleys providing great food and awesome customer service, but they are also going above and beyond to give back to the community. Oakleys donates a portion of their sales to Second Helpings, and Chef Oakley opens his kitchen to train and hire those who demonstrate a true passion for food, such as foie gras mousse, rosemary boule and wild mushroom paella.