Indianapolis, INSteakhouse

St. Elmo has served downtown since 1902, pairing dry-aged Black Angus steaks with a horseradish-heavy shrimp cocktail that announces itself before the beef arrives. Tuxedoed service, a deep wine cellar, and classic cocktails give the room its old-school ceremony. Start with the shrimp, follow with a New York strip, and finish with sugar cream pie for the full Indianapolis ritual.

The Fountain Room dresses a steakhouse menu in Art Deco and midcentury polish. Terrazzo floors, massive chandeliers, swing music, and windows facing Bottleworks create a glamorous Mass Ave room, while precision cuts of beef share space with seafood and family-style sides such as bourbon-glazed carrots and skillet corn pudding. Dress up a little, arrive early for a drink, and let the setting turn dinner into an occasion.

Bynum's keeps the steakhouse formula direct: wood-paneled walls, family ownership, and serious portions without much ceremony. The 32-ounce prime rib is the central order, with a marbled bone-in ribeye ready when it sells out. Steaks come with simple sides, and leftovers leave in the restaurant's signature foil steer. The South Meridian room favors appetite and familiarity over polished pageantry.

Geraldine's pairs exposed brick and a long lacquered bar with the midcentury mood of a classic supper club. The menu follows through with retro flourishes, including a 60-day dry-aged Delmonico served with tangy bearnaise. Broiled tomatoes, sticky toffee bread pudding, and chocolate souffle can frame the steak as a full evening. The Fletcher Place room rewards arriving hungry and lingering through dessert.

Prime 47 occupies an 1895 downtown building with original tile floors, soaring columns, two-story windows, and black-and-white city photographs. Dry-aged cuts anchor the menu, served by a white-coated team that can guide diners through the options. A pianist and attentive refills add ceremony without overpowering the beef. Add black-truffle butter when you want extra richness, then let the historic room carry the rest of the atmosphere.