Culinary Dropout – Indy

Tonite I went to Culinary Dropout for the 1st time with friends. Food was delicious. I had the Chicken cacio e Pepe and the Sicilian lemonade. So very tasty! The server was named Danielle and she knew her stuff!!. She was very sweet and attentive. She made great suggestions for me and my friends of what to eat.. After dining, I ordered their chicken wings to go. Laughed and talked with my friends over yummy food, what can be better than that? Thank you Culinary Dropout and Danielle, I will definitely be back!!

My husband and I came here for date night and it was amazing. Our waiter was Dash and it's been a while since we've had great service. Dash was well versed with the menu and gave great recommendations for drinks and food. The Evil Jungle Princess paired well with the roasted salmon. We will definitely visit again and will recommend friends and family to visit💜.

I came to know about Culinary Dropout from cousin's experience. This place has it all. Spacious atmosphere, accommodating staff, and the best food around. I was a bit worried for my attire, I was traveling so dressed for comfort, but its actually a casual place with upscale service and food. A gentleman stood beside the hostess even had my back when she inquired "just one?" Abbey was my server and anticipated every need. She inquired of the bar for dark beers on tap, unfortunately there were non so I opted for the espresso martini. It did not disappoint. For my entrée I chose the shaved ribeye and fries. I opted for ranch instead of ketchup. House made and garlicky perfection. Everything was seasoned perfectly. I will be back and highly recommend giving them a try.

The place was busy when we arrived, so we grabbed a couple seats at the bar while waiting for a table, but the service at the bar was so great, we decided to stay there the whole time! The bartenders were friendly, attentive, and made some great drink recommendations. The food was delicious, everything came out hot, fresh, and full of flavor. To top it off, there was live music that really added to the atmosphere. Definitely a spot worth coming back to. Great vibes all around!

Our first time here and will most definitely be back! This place is worth the hype. Great food and the drink menu is insane! Abbey was an incredible server and took such good care of us. Live music on a Saturday night was an awesome bonus!

Our 1st time here. Our server was great. It was an open feel inside with comfortable seats and a huge window where customers could see the food being prepared. The soft pretzels balls with provolone cheese dip were amazing! My pretzel bun Cuban sandwich was good. The pasta was average.

Wow! This place is a rock star! Cocktail list is amazing. Food was amazing. Service by itself was 5 star. Everyone in our party was extremely pleased with their meal. The atmosphere was progressive yet thoughtful. The wall art was interesting photographic dodge-burn images. I highly recommend trying this eatery.

I had an amazing experience at Culinary Dropout, thanks to our fantastic waitress, Mandy! From the moment we sat down, she was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed. She had great recommendations, kept our drinks full, and made the whole dining experience feel effortless and enjoyable. Her positive attitude and professionalism truly stood out. If you're dining here, I highly recommend asking for Mandy—she'll make your meal even better! Can't wait to come back!

Amazing first visit and we cannot wait to come back again. The atmosphere is fun, great seating , and the staff was fantastic. Bbq nachos starter was delicious. Mongolian beef and rice bowl was absolutely to die for. Could not recommend it enough. Chicken Katsu sandwiches were tasty, right amount of crisp w/ a delicious slaw. Dessert was the banana PB bar, absolutely delicious and amazing brûlée banana on top. Everything was absolutely perfect and delicious, cannot wait to come back again.

Great food!! Service was excellent!! The fried chicken was delicious!! Everything was cooked fresh. The manager on duty came to our table twice to make sure we were ok. Every server was very polite. Excellent atmosphere. Live music was also nice. My friend had the Mississippi Mud Pie. It look great!!! That's what I'll try next time. Please try it out. You have to make reservations but the wait is not long at all. AAA+++

Heard lots about this new restaurant so for date night we tried it and were not disappointed! I’m a sucker for pretzel bites so I started with those and they were served with a little candle under the cheese to keep it hot which was a nice touch! Nothing worse than your cheese getting cold! My husband’s steak frites was so good! Would definitely order that again! I had the fried chicken and it was good as well but not the best friend chicken I have ever had. They had some great drinks listed but I didn’t order any this time but I was very tempted! Would definitely go again!

We had an excellent lunch at Culinary Dropout yesterday! The food was delicious, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. But what truly made the experience stand out was the service — our server Killy was absolutely amazing: attentive, friendly, and genuinely caring. That kind of hospitality makes all the difference. We’ll definitely be coming back! 😊

I had a great experience here! We came within the first few months of opening and definitely needed a reservation for a party of 5 (and it looked like really for any size party). Even though they were packed, we never waited for food/drinks/our server. Our server was Moss and she was wonderful! She never seemed rushed and gave recommendations. For real the apps are the BEST but all our food was also amazing.

We went two nights in a row and will be returning next week! It is so refreshing to have a new restaurant that is 5 stars all around. The staff enjoys their job and takes pride in their work plus they make it a FUN experience. The mocktails are a huge plus to me and they are DELICIOUS. THE FOOD THE FOOD THE FOOD!!!! The food comes out so fast for how great it is! We went two nights in a row and did not have one thing that did not exceed expectations. My two friends we took last night are still talking about the food. This place is our new favorite place, it has made 'Ocean Prime' our 2nd favorite. It's rare to find a place that is fun, clean, with a nice atmosphere, and out of this world delicious. God bless this establishment and everyone in it!

We had a fantastic experience at Culinary Dropout! Our waiter, Parker, was awesome! Friendly, attentive, and made great recommendations. The Brussels sprouts and nachos were both delicious, and the chopped chicken salad was also fantastic. Everything was fresh and flavorful. I would definitely come back!

My husband and I had dinner at Culinary Dropout tonight for the first time and had a great experience! We requested a booth and they were happy to accommodate us—though it was located right next to the waiter stand, so there was a bit of foot traffic and staff hovering nearby throughout the meal. Our server, Anna, was fantastic! She took the time to explain the specials and share her personal favorites, which we really appreciated as first-time guests. While we skipped appetizers this time, the ones we saw going by looked amazing! We started with cocktails—my husband had a double Makers Mark with Coke and gave it two thumbs up. I tried the Evil Jungle Princess and it was absolutely delicious. I would highly recommend it if you’re into tropical, well-balanced drinks. For our entrees, we ordered the burger and the fried chicken—both were outstanding. Perfectly cooked, flavorful, and generously portioned. The restaurant has a fun, laid-back vibe with live music on Friday nights. Next time, we’ll probably grab a spot in the bar area to enjoy more of the atmosphere. Big thanks to Anna for her great service—we’re already looking forward to our next visit!

Food was incredible as were drinks, we ordered the pretzel bites which were a bit overdone but everything else was perfect. Our server did an incredible job recommending menu items and accommodating our tables allergies. He was incredibly helpful and attentive without hovering over our table or doing too much. Very sweet gentleman his name was Jobe, and if not just for the food the impeccable service had us planning our next visit before the bill arrived.

Sky was our waiter, he was great, very quick and efficient, even the manager came to say hi to us and other waiters, everyone is super friendly and nice. I had the steak and frites and I have to say that was AWESOME!! Best steak ever!!!! Drinks were amazing! Had the espresso martini, mimosas and aperol spritz, everything was great. Friends got the fish and chips and they look great! Fried chicken and the rib sandwich and salmon, all the food was incredible. I would back for the steak, was AMAZING!!

Brilliant space with good vibes. The menu selection for brunch was brilliant. The food and service were great too. The food especially was lip smacking good! From drinks to appetizers and entrees, we enjoyed them all!

Interior was relaxing clean and kinda fancyish! You can dress casual or dress up! Very easy to get a reservation. I believe Kass was our waiter and she had so much information and was a vibe and so nice and helped with our every need! She rocks and deserves a raise! All the staff were helpful and were in great spirits! I love how they can wear their own clothes and not like corporate franchise shirts. Food was quick and so so good! I really wanted to try the monkey bread but they were close to being closed so we got the mud pie and it was surprisingly VERY good and I’m not a pie mixed with chocolate person. They even threw in the dessert for free for my birthday! Drink was amazing and worth it, sweet (how I like my drinks) and well dressed. We got the rice with duck and it was different but good and very filling. Overall 10 out of 10. Will be back and recommending to all my friend and family! Glad to have this restaurant local! We spent about $100 for two people with 2 drinks (alcohol) , an appetizer, 2 and entrees and a free dessert! Btw, get the side salad with salmon or steak😍 it was to die for!! And very good price for a meat with a salad. Well cooked and juicy salmon (not dry, I literally hate dry salmon yuck) theirs was *chefs kiss*

Dani was amazing! She was very attentive & had great suggestions. She suggested the pretzels & fondue aswell as the hot wings & they did not disappoint. From start to finish her energy & hospitality hand & hand. Thnx again Dani! Will be back!

First time dining in at Culinary Dropout and it was a great experience! The decor and ambiance inside the restaurant is gorgeous and modern, a very calming yet elegant atmosphere to enjoy some great food. The drinks were amazing and perfectly balanced. We decided to try sandwiches, and my burger was cooked perfectly! The salad was delicious- one of the best I’ve had. Not to mention our server was incredibly friendly, giving suggestions and ensuring we were taken care of!

We celebrated my daughter’s 33rd birthday at Culinary Dropout and it was the best experience all around ! From the time I called to make the reservations to the service , food , waitress, everything was exceptional! We can’t wait to go back and because of the wonderful service it made our celebration even better ! Thank you Culinary Dropout for offering professional, kind and excellent customer service in all areas!! 5 stars all the way ! Terri Christie, visited 2/20/2026.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’ve had the chance to experience Culinary Dropout more than once, including during their pre-VIP rollout, and I can honestly say this place just keeps getting better and better. The pre-launch VIP experience was already impressive — the food was spectacular, the drinks were on point, and the service was excellent. It felt like a spot that was going to be something special from day one. Fast forward to a recent visit with a group of business consultants, and somehow everything was ten times better. The food was even more dialed in, the drinks were exceptional, and the service was flawless from start to finish. The energy, execution, and attention to detail were outstanding across the board. It’s rare to see a place not only live up to its early promise but completely exceed it. I truly can’t recommend this location enough — whether you’re hosting clients, meeting friends, or just looking for an incredible dining experience, this Culinary Dropout delivers at the highest level every time. —CB

Just finishing up lunch at Culinary Dropout—what an amazing experience! The food was absolutely delicious, but the service from Coba made it truly exceptional. I had one of the best burgers I’ve had in a long time, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. My husband ordered the Spicy Rigatoni, and it was mouth-watering. Coba was attentive, friendly, and made us feel so welcome. We’ll definitely be back!

We had a great date night dinner. The servers were friendly, engaged, and knowledgeable about the menu and cocktails. The ambiance was warm and beautiful. The food was delicious. We shared the chicken chop salad and fried chicken, but had several other dishes we are interested in trying at a later visit. A bright star in Nora.

My wife and three young kids had a great dinner here tonight. Plenty of space for us in their oversized booths. Got there at 5:30 on a Friday and were seated right away but they were definitely full about halfway through our meal. Food was great, atmosphere is awesome, live singer with an acoustic guitar was an added bonus. This place should be around for a long time.

Had a wonderful birthday lunch here. The server was top-notch; she even brought extra iced tea ahead of time to make sure we weren't waiting on a brew. I had the Crispy Chicken Katsu (light batter, amazing flavor) and my friend had the Butternut Squash & Kale, which was delicious. Great atmosphere, fresh food, and perfect portions. Can't wait to come back for dinner!

Title: Khamari Made Our First Visit Unforgettable We came to Culinary Dropout for the first time just to try something new—and walked out talking about how it was one of the best dining experiences we’ve ever had. From the moment we sat down, Khamari made us feel genuinely welcome. Her energy, her attention, her kindness, literally everything about her service was flawless. She didn’t just take our order; she curated our visit. She knew the menu, offered great suggestions, and made sure everything came out perfect. The food was incredible, but what truly stood out was how effortless she made the whole experience feel. It felt like being hosted by someone who truly loves what they do. We met the manager as well, who was great; but Khamari is the reason we’ll be back. It’s rare to encounter someone who makes you feel both valued and at home in a restaurant setting. Her presence represents everything a guest hopes for when dining out. Culinary Dropout, please know you have a gem in Khamari. She’s the reason your atmosphere thrives.Thank you for making this visit memorable. Hope to have you again -Meech

Layla and Parker did an amazing job! Food was wonderful. 4 of us in the party, got 4 different entrée, we got deserts and drinks. Everything was delicious. Service was great. We asked for recommendations in the area and 4 or 5 employees came by to give us ideas. We live over 2 hrs away and will definitely come back.

The atmosphere was very energetic. The food was good, but the service was better. I had the turkey pastrami sandwich and my wife had sushi and the salmon entree. The food delivery to the table was slow, but the staff did a great job.

We popping regularly, sit at the bar, for a bite and a drink. The food is consistently fantastic, drinks are well made, and the environment uniquely balances being family friendly and swanky. The rotating menu keeps things fresh. We like to bring family and friends here when they visit. Price point is good for the food, service, and environment. Recommend!

Visited on a Tuesday evening. Host stand staff were very welcoming. Decor is beautiful. Lots of cocktails and adult beverages. We tried the whipped feta and tahini dip appetizer and really enjoyed it. The pomegranate seeds, pistachios, and apricot jam added a nice pop. Served with grilled bread. Hubby had the meatloaf and I ordered the pub burger. He raved about the flavor of the meatloaf itself and said would definitely get it again. For me the burger wasn’t as juicy or flavorful as I would have liked. Even though I ordered it medium well, it still should have had more flavor. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable. All staff we encountered were wonderful. Did find it odd that they don’t seem to offer any desserts. Overall we will go back to try a couple of other items.

I was a bit disappointed. Everything was fine but the pretzel bites weren’t served warm, the fondue was barely warm, and the brussel sprouts were sauced too heavy for my taste thus a bit soggy. The skirt steak frites entree was fantastic. I’d be back for that. The monkey bread with baked apples and ice cream was good. Highly recommend the Paloma Spritz.

Had two starters, unique deviled eggs and waygu . Was not busy on weekday, excellent service, had a great drink. Large appetizer. Much larger inside than it looks from outside. Not cheap

Well, this place was another new place for us. We will definitely go back. I will just say this much food, wise. It was excellent. Take a look at the pictures and shows what each of us had. And each one of them was a phenomenal taste. I am wondering now if we could ever go wrong with anything on the menu. We went and had dinner, and it was wonderful. Are server Kylee was amazing. I certainly hope she will be available next time we come in The service was so personalized and genuine, they did not rush us, they made it all about us and havubg wonderful time, I forget our server's name but she was very kind, very pleasant, very sweet and I think we will be asking for her from here on out.

Loved the outdoor seating and attentive service! I tried the Crispy Chicken Katsu sandwich and the Mongolian Short Rib bowl—both were delicious. The short rib leaned a little on the sweet side, but still satisfying.

It was okay for a quick family dinner. I really liked the restaurant's look. The food was alright, but not good enough to make me want to go back. The menu is pretty limited, mostly beef and pork with only two chicken dishes and one fish, no seafood which was a bummer. We got the fried shrimp, brussel sprouts, and deviled eggs. Also the Mongolian beef, some fried chicken, and two salmon dishes. Everything was super salty - like, blood pressure-spiking salty. We also got the Strawberry Torte for dessert, and it was the only thing that actually tasted good. We also had four cocktails that were mostly ice. The live music was awful, loud and hard to hear over. Also, the wait staff had a cool idea of individualism at work, but it didn't work out. Someone would drop off food and you wouldn't know if they worked there or were just another customer. They should at least wear name tags or aprons or something. They were also running around like crazy.

We went in for lunch. Had 2 sandwiches. They were both pretty tasty. That bread on the Prime Rib sandwich was excellent. Our server was attentive and pleasant. (Abigail) Very comfortable in our booth that was huge. The only criticism was the prices---for us, they seemed high. ($52 bucks for 2 sandwiches and 1 coke, without tip.) That would be the only barrier from us returning. That said...nice new restaurant worth trying.

Our visit to Culinary Dropout was an expensive lesson in how style can completely overshadow substance. We spent over $75 for two underwhelming sandwiches and a basic, forgettable salad—and still walked out hungry. The sandwiches were embarrassingly small, with bland, lifeless meat that lacked any seasoning or flavor. At $25 each, I expected quality ingredients, a satisfying portion, and at least a spark of culinary creativity. None of that was delivered. The service did nothing to improve the experience. Staff attire was inconsistent and sloppy, which cheapened the restaurant’s supposed “upscale” atmosphere. Even worse, I personally observed kitchen staff handling food without gloves, which raises serious questions about their sanitation standards and overall commitment to hygiene. The ambiance felt disorganized and confused—part industrial, part casual, but without any real charm or warmth. Everything about the environment seemed thrown together, with no attention to detail, just like the food. For the prices charged, customers deserve fresh, flavorful dishes, professional service, and basic cleanliness. Instead, we got overpriced sandwiches, careless presentation, and questionable food handling. There are countless restaurants in this price range that will deliver far better quality, service, and value.