Vida

601 E New York St, Indianapolis
(317) 420-2323

Recent Reviews

Sort by
Tanya Makan

Great food, customer service, and experience! Super vegetarian friendly as well!

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Christina Lambert

By far my favorite restaurant in Indianapolis! There was a full menu with vegan and vegetarian options as well as a regular menu for my date. The chef selections were incredible and the service was top-notch! Highly suggest this for your “must try” list!
The atmosphere and decor was beautiful. I love the history behind the building and it sparked a quest to try all of the restaurants from their group. this is still my favorite! But the others are worth a visit for sure!

Vegetarian options: There is a separate full menu for vegetarian and vegan options

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Hooper Scotty

We absolutely loved our waiter Bill and the food. Every bite was absolutely worth every dime and if my budget would allow it, we would go back every date night. Absolutely recommend the tasting menu and the ricotta donuts. The donuts were breathtaking to say the least.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Ricotta Doughnuts

Leon Engle

The lamb, steak and corn croquette are tied for the best food I've ever eaten. Service is second to none.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Linzee Ott

Stunning experience. We did the tasting menu and enjoyed every bite. The flavors, presentation, and pairings all knocked it out of the park. The service was really and truly wonderful. I haven’t had this delightful of a meal in a while. Even loved the non-alcoholic cocktails! Adored the microgreens and herbs grown on the wall near the kitchen! From atmosphere to tastiness, Vida exceeded all expectations.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Doughnuts, Duck Breast, Amuse Bouche, Grilled Octopus

The Raggios

Easily one of the best meals we’ve ever had in our lifetime. The tasting menu was excellent, with each dish building on the previous one, and every component was thoughtfully added to the dish. The presentation was gorgeous and the service was excellent throughout the entire meal.

After our meal here, we could not believe we had not visited sooner. This will definitely be a favorite special occasion restaurant for us.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Rosanne

The food is always amazing. Every bite bursting with flavor and I like the portion size as you are not too full after the 4 course meal. It's a slow meal, but service is attentive.

Liliana Fuenmayor

I have visited many restaurants in Indianapolis but this one definitely makes the difference, rich in its gastronomy it takes the dishes and flavors to another level, I did the 4 course experience, we started with the grilled octopus and beef tartare which were exceptional, then moved on to the beet and watermelon salad and chicken ballotine, the most tender chicken I have ever tasted in Indiana! And a ribeye and branzino which were perfect, to finish the dessert the best was the ricotta doughdonuts, don't miss this!

The drinks were great, the mezcal and the tequila were worth it!

I would go back to this restaurant, the service and the place is really nice, I think it is the best in Indy!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Ricotta Doughnuts, Grilled Octopus

Catherine Egenberger

Two weeks ago, I was visiting my son and his partner in Indianapolis. My son surprised me with a dinner at Vida. It was the best meal I have had in Indianapolis, hands down. All the food was amazing, but some favorites included roasted carrots, watermelon-beet salad, scallops and ricotta doughnuts. Our server, Alex, recommended exceptional wine pairings for all the courses. Setting/ambience was lovely. Service was fantastic, knowledgeable, and never intrusive. Thank you so much Alex!
It is expensive, so this was a special occasion for us but well worth it. We would all highly recommend Vida.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Felipe Allegro

**Magic is Happening in Indianapolis**

Vida Restaurant is crafting an experience usually reserved for large metropolitan dining scenes.

It’s unfortunate that restaurants like Vida can’t achieve a Michelin star solely because of their location. If one were to apply Michelin’s basic criteria, Vida would easily qualify for one star—meaning it’s worth a detour. Personally, I’d consider a diversion from any journey to Chicago just to dine at this exceptional restaurant.

In my view, Vida is the best value restaurant in the U.S. right now. While other countries like Brazil might offer excellent value as well, it’s almost surreal to experience such high quality at the price Vida charges.

Chef Tom Melvin is a self-taught master. If he were in places like California or NYC, people would be writing books about him. Yet, in Indianapolis, a city that doesn't often steal the spotlight, this talented chef hasn’t received the recognition he truly deserves. "Humble" is the word that comes to mind; Chef Melvin quietly lets his culinary artistry shine in Indianapolis.

The restaurant's ambiance is modern and elegant, featuring high ceilings and a clean, minimalist look. Our server, Bill, shared that Chef Melvin had a significant hand in creating the space—even down to the restrooms, which are striking in their own right with half-exposed copper piping.

The cuisine itself defies easy classification. It feels global with farm-to-table influences, and Chef Melvin’s focus seems to be on ingredients—crafting flavors that showcase their essence.

Now, let’s talk about the food. The menu is constantly changing, so be sure to check out the photos online. For us, the stars of the night were the trout, handmade tortellini, and scallops accompanied by gnocchi so delicious they bordered on magical. Most tasting menus end with petit fours and handmade chocolates, but it not the case on Vida and we took a different route and requested all three of their desserts. We unanimously agreed: the ricotta doughnuts were outstanding. Taste may be subjective, but execution is not—every dish was prepared to perfection. As an amateur cook myself, I recognize the incredible amount of work it takes to reach this level.

I opted for the regular wine pairing, which primarily features European wines. My only critique is that it would be nice to see a pairing option that offers more local flavors, such as ciders, kombucha, or other non-alcoholic beverages—especially as many restaurants now aim to accommodate non-drinkers.

One last point to address: Chef Melvin adopts a modern approach to the kitchen. It’s open, and unlike many professional kitchens, there are no screams or emotional outbursts. What stands out is the genuine love and support his staff show for him; from the valet to our server, everyone spoke highly of this remarkable man. I even found myself half-jokingly contemplating a career change to work at Vida—though in truth, it’s much more fun to be a guest.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Ricotta Doughnuts, Amuse Bouche

Aaron

I had the pleasure of dining at Vida for my wife's birthday this weekend. I have to say it was definitely the best meal I've had all year. My last favorite restaurant experience was in 2023 at Le Pigeon in Portland Oregon. I'm very excited that I now live in Indianapolis so I can visit Vida regularly. Chef's 4 course menu was fantastic! My wife and I's favorite course was definitely the foie gras! Spectacular! Service was top-notch. Our captain was Bill and he was extremely professional and on top of everything. Of note is the sommelier/manager- Jared- his wine pairings were fantastic! Beautiful wines with every course! Get the wine pairings! Thanks Vida!

Brett

Overall this was an outstanding experience. Menu items were interesting and well-prepared, and the service team (and it was truly a team effort) were attentive without being intrusive. Wine and food pairings were both distinctive and well-explained, and the overall effect was that of an “experience” as much as a meal. I've had the good fortune to dine in some great restaurants around the world, and it is great to have a “hometown experience” that compares favorably with some of the world's best.

Jerrey

Our anniversary dinner was special as we had hoped and the wine parings with each of the four courses were outstanding. Each course was both elegantly displayed and delicious with just the right portion sizes such that you felt comfortably satisfied, not overly full. Vida, though a bit pricey, is worth the cost and a must for any special occasion or for just a magnificent evening meal.

Justin Asher

Vegetarian tasting menu is not filling. While tasty, it is not worth the price.

Susan Boujnah

Friendly and fancy - food carefully crafted and wine properly selected. If I'm going to pay this much for a meal - it will be at a place like this.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Ricotta Doughnuts, Duck Breast, Chicken Ballotine

Loading...