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Culinary Dropout – Indy, Indianapolis, IN

Culinary Dropout – Indy

4.5
4.5
168 Reviews
$30 and under
American

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2 people
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
19:00
Booked 90 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Lively
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Good for special occasions
Culinary Dropout serves classic meals done right. With crowd favorites like our pretzel bites and provolone fondue, 36-hour pork ribs, and our famous fried chicken drizzled with honey you’ll want to taste everything. Thirsty? Wash it all down with an ice-cold craft beer or a killer house-made cocktail. And don't forget to stick around for free live music with a laid-back vibe. Culinary Dropout is for anyone who loves damn good food and drinks.

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Comfort Food, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 11:00–23:00 Fri 11:00–00:00 Sat 15:00–00:00 Sun 15:00–22:00 Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00–15:00
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress

Experiences

  • Easter Brunch at Culinary Dropout

    20 Apr 2025 only
    Easter, the Dropout Way. Chef specials, festive cocktails, great vibes: GUARANTEED! Enjoy all your brunch favorites alongside unique menu features, like Blue Crab Quiche Florentine, and special cocktails. Reserve your spot for Easter brunch on April 20th.
    Easter Brunch at Culinary Dropout photo

What 168 people are saying

Culinary Dropout – Indy reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Indiana

    Innovative

  • Indiana

    Hot spot

  • Indianapolis

    Innovative

  • Indianapolis

    Hot spot

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Culinary Dropout in Indy offers a "fun, hip atmosphere" with a trendy vibe and eclectic menu. Many patrons praise the "amazing food" and "outstanding service," with standout dishes like the chicken katsu sandwich and desserts like monkey bread. While some note the "loud" environment and service hiccups, it's a promising new addition to Nora.
168 Reviews
  1. Amy VIP

    Indiana187 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Our server and service was great but the food was just ok. I liked Flower Child next door better

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  2. Ginny

    Indiana22 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved my first experience at Culinary Dropout in Nora. Folks were fantastic. Drinks and food great. Will definitely be back … and tell others 😉

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  3. MARK VIP

    Indiana42 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Great atmosphere. Service good but seemed a bit “new” to the job. Failed to serve salad course first as it was served WITH the entree. Food delicious, limited menu but interesting and unique . Managers attentive and watching the whole dining room to insure food and service was acceptable. My 4th visit and will return to try more of the menu.

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  4. Siobhan VIP

    Indiana29 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Overall a great experience, and our first time there! Parker, our personable server, was just perfect and very patient with us. He spent a lot of time describing choices and giving us recommendations on food and drinks. Brussels sprouts app was one of the best I’ve had, and the burger was perfectly cooked. Our non-alcoholic cocktails were excellent. Our server provided a tempting array of desserts for our birthday celebrater. All the people working there seem very friendly and create such a fun and welcoming atmosphere. I’ll be taking other people there to share in the experience!

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  5. Shawnta VIP

    Indiana11 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    In 2025, it is disappointing to go to a restaurant and the menu does not have dietary sensitivity markings on its menu such as vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free. We got the California rolls for our appetizer. My husband inquired if they had gluten-free soy sauce. Although not listed on the menu, they did have GF soy sauce. These weren't the best California rolls we’ve had, but they were tasty. One of my sons got the 36 hour pork ribs. He said the ribs were really good. I had the spicy vegan curry. Vegan was in the title of the item, which is different from a menu marking multiple items with a V to let vegans know they have multiple options. The waiter verified that the dish was GF, also. However, he noted that cross-contamination was a potential issue. People who have heightened issues with gluten should not eat at this restaurant. The curry was delicious. I would get it again. I had the zero proof Sicilian lemonade stand. It was so good that I ordered two. My husband had the garden mule zero proof drink and ordered two as well. My other son ordered the crispy chicken catsu sandwich. He said it was alright, but he had better chicken sandwiches before. My husband had a salad with salmon for a $9 additional charge. He said it was average. He also ordered the BBQ pork belly nachos. He asked for the nacho toppings on the side, but they came on top anyways. The waiter asked if my sons and husband liked it. My husband said he didn't like all the toppings on top. The waiter replied that he could request it on the side the next time we come back. My husband didn't have the heart to tell him that was exactly how he had ordered it in the first place. Despite that, my children didn't like the flavor combination, and most of it wasn't eaten. I hope they update the menu with markings for GF, Vegan, and Veggie, and if they don't have items in these categories, consider adding more inclusive food items. For example, they have GF buns, but that's not listed on the menu either.

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  6. Catherine VIP

    Southwest Florida4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Exceptional Experience! Culinary Dropout is an absolute gem in Indy! From the vibrant atmosphere to the friendly, attentive service, everything was perfect. The menu is creative, and every dish we ordered was deliciously unique—perfectly seasoned. Whether you're hanging out with friends, family, or colleagues, this place nails it every single time. Highly recommend—can't wait to return!

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  7. Lorna VIP

    Washington DC6 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Service was great, our waitress was very attentive. Food was not so good. My turkey pastrami sandwich had a bitter taste I believe it was from the coleslaw on top. The pretzel bites did not taste fresh but the cheese dip was good.

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  8. Traci VIP

    New York City3 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Server was excellent. Food was a disappointment.
    Culinary Dropout – IndyResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you!

    1 person found this helpful

  9. Tori

    Indiana1 review

    3.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Fine, but definitely chain restaurant vibes. Food was okay but nothing special.

    1 person found this helpful

  10. Debe

    Indiana51 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    I was excited to try out this new spot but very disappointed. Starting with the waiter who was not very attentive, meaning he forgot if we gave him our drink order. Next I asked for a lemon with my water he forgot that as well. Sushi roll came out lack taste, My husband ordered the Fish and Chips w/ fries was just okay. I had the Fried Chicken, let me just say it need work. Meaning no seasoning, no flavor. I love fried chicken and if you some of the best in Indy can be found at Safeway on 30th and Kessler Blvd N Dr by Mrs. Mary. Perfect everytime great flavor leaves you wanting more. The chicken I had last night let me just say I ate the leg and the rest of it sit on my plate along with all the sides. The best part of my dinner was the dessert Mississippi Mud Pie was truly delicious.

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FAQs

Culinary Dropout – Indy is rated 4.5 stars by 168 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking


Booked 90 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Culinary Dropout – Indy

1320 E 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46240-5921

Additional information

  • Area
    Washington Township
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 11:00–23:00 Fri 11:00–00:00 Sat 15:00–00:00 Sun 15:00–22:00 Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00–15:00
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Comfort Food, Cocktail Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Wine
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
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