Harry & Izzy’s (Indianapolis, Indiana)

I perched myself at a circular high-top table in Harry & Izzy’s, a double-level restaurant in the core of downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. I glanced at the upper level, at the multiple seating areas with tin ceilings and interior windows that looked down at the street-level dining areas. The popular circular bar in the middle is embellished with illuminated panels with Jazz Age–style figures. Named for partners and longtime friends optometrist Harry Roth and bookie Izzy Rosen, the whole place exudes class and sophistication, with dark woods, rich fabrics, and a deep color palette that conjures up a subtle speakeasy vibe.

Don’t be surprised if you aren’t assigned a dedicated server. The entire wait staff rotate easily around Harry & Izzy’s, and you’ll be served cheerfully by any number of the staff who have one thing in common: No matter who approaches your table, they’ll be bringing you something wonderful.

Try This: Start with a salad of mixed greens with English cucumbers, grape tomatoes, aged cheddar cheese, peppered bacon, seasoned croutons, and avocados with a cilantro-lime vinaigrette. For your main course, focus on the offerings of steaks—100% Black Angus beef from cows raised in the upper Midwest with cuts aged for an average of 45 days. I chose the New York strip steak rolled in cracked pepper and pan-seared, with an orange brandy butter sauce and alongside the creamiest mashed potatoes imaginable. Don’t resist dessert, particularly the peanut butter pie with brownie crumb crust and topped with peanut butter glaze.