14 West Restaurant & Suites

Just completed dinner. On the down side I had a Colorado Bulldog and it wasn’t very good. However, I sampled my wife’s dish and mine and the food was amazing! Service also was excellent. Would definitely recommend this place!

The «West» must mean coastal… in regards to diversity.
This right in the middle of downtown location gets 4 creeping on 5 stars from me. I won’t be able to weigh in on the dinners but I am going to be one to tell you that their appetizers have left me wanting to go back again to see if it is this good all the time.
We sat at a wonderful table on the outside sidewalk area. (Great for people watching).
We dined on Calamari and Spring Rolls. I have had calamari in a lot of locations for one coast to the other, and you will find none better than here. Served Tempra style but lite on the coating. It was simply amazing !! The spring rolls were a delight as well. If these two items are any indication of the meals I am all in for trying them all.
It is a good thing you are sitting down if you ask to see the martini and drink menu. There are martini’s on the menu at fairly normal prices and some up to $ 100 each. Yes for one martini!!! (I would have had to drink about 5 of the regular ones an beyond thinking to order one for $ 100.00.)…but it was a fun menu to read.
Service was informative and right on cue.
I know there is a lot more of this fine place to experience but this is just the start for me… I see 5 stars in it’s future reviews.

Now I know how Rihanna feels about Chris Brown.
I once loved this place, fell out of love, and have lately been wading back into the waters of love.
We used to come here about once a week when Layton Roberts was the chef. During that time, it was arguably the best restaurant in the downtown area.
Since then, they have gone through some changes and, at times, the quality of the food has suffered. The menu has been an experiment, but I think things are looking up.
They still get their pork, chicken, lamb, and duck from Indiana farms like Gunthorp and Viking.
Even when we aren’t looking for dinner, but are looking for drinks before or after a meal, the bar at 14 West is always a reliable stop. They never fail to have some decent cocktails at decent prices, even on weekends.
In closing…14 West, please don’t stop the music.

Really impressed; it’s the typical Indy American-​French food, which used to sound weird to me earlier — but I’ve come to interpret it as French food in large quantities. So now there are two types: good French food in large quantities (14 West) and bad French food in large quantities (Mon Ami Gabi, La Madeline to name a couple).
This place is good; I particularly like the lamb starter, and really enjoyed the half off wine — off a surprisingly fantastic list.
As far as good restaurants go, I think this is a fantastic choice in Indy.

So you haven’t seen a best friend in a while… so dinner has to be special… but not living in a city can be a challenge finding the right place and good food.
The reviews were good, it was close and the menu looked even better. We were running late after having drinks at the Eagle’s Nest, but they were accomodating and moved our reservations out 30 minutes. The hostess sat us based upon my specific requests, which is long, but important if you don’t want the «cheap seats» in an upscale restaurant… and I was dining with Carol K, so only the best for her… she’s worth it! *grin*.
We were dining late, so not many folks, but I think in this town upscale dining is more the exception than the rule. The bar was totally empty. The food was good, but not great… unfortunately…with the dessert saving the day, plus they had some good wine on the menu too. Sarah was our server and great to deal with plus we saw her late one… I’ll note her in a future review.
The only dings were the chair my friend sat in had one of the arms pull off??? and the bathrooms were in the back and in the basement… so if you ever get plastered here… don’t try to make it down… you’ll kill yourself.
It is a «good» dinner spot… though not great.

Weekday early evening, 14 West has ½ price appetizers at the bar. Even more fabulous, it is ALL of their apps, not just a limited menu. We took full advantage and had the lobster mac and cheese, stuffed portobellos, shrimp and grits, and the steak with frites. Lobster mac may be the best I’ve eaten. The steak was ok, but the fries were phenomenal. Shrooms and shrimp were also good. It is a great way to sample what they have on a budget. The bar is well stocked and they carry some great Indiana beers. Our bartender was nice and attentive.
We went during the NFL Combine and saw several NFL coaches eating at the bar. A great place to see and be seen.

Ate there last night for the 1^st time, and probably the last. Even though we made reservation and there were plenty of open table, for some reason the host put us in a small corner window table next to the kitchen. Needless to say, the wife and I did not appreciate that with all the noise and traffic. After an appetizer, a soup, a salad, 2 seafood entrée, a dessert, and 4 cocktails, we ended up with a pretty hefty bill.
To be fair the food was generally good and service was OK. But for that price, I would pick and recommend Oceanaire or Harry&Izzy over this place anytime.

I travel to Indy often, and when I’m eating alone (most don’t want to eat so expensively), usually pick 14 West. I always eat at the bar, always have a great conversation with whatever bartender is working and always just enjoy myself. The dry vodka martinis are perfect. The pretzel bread is perfect. My entrée — whether it’s scallops, crabcakes, steak — is always perfect. Love this place.

So, I’ll admit it, I’m a bit of a snob. I had really low expectations in finding a really nice meal in Indianapolis. But, wow, 14 West was a surprise, in a good way.
Can I just say LOBSTER MAC & CHEESE? Hellooooo… yeah, I think our party might have ordered more than one and totally had to hold back in ordering more because we actually had entrees coming.
Every person at the table finished the food, from appetizer to entrée to dessert.
The service was great, very friendly. Food came out perfectly timed, water glasses refilled efficiently and cocktails kept coming, but not wasn’t pushed on us, which was nice.
The only thing that is preventing me from giving it 5-​stars is the fact that even though I had reservations, we were seated by the door, which made it awkward between the noise of the restaurant, the hostess/​reception counter and the draft from the front door.
But, all in all, great restaurant and even better food. Great location from the convention center and the various hotels downtown.

I have a love hate relationship with 14 West. There are times when I feel it is one of my favorite restaurants, yet there are times when I wonder what the heck is going on in the kitchen. Perhaps it is the change in chefs.
Anyway, tis the end of halibut season, and I was craving the light fish before the fresh stuff disappeared off menus. I’m happy to report the meal was delicious. It was served with a summer risotto and vegetables. As always, it was hard to keep my hands off the delicious pretzel rolls and spicy mustard. I try to eat as much locally sourced food as I can, and I appreciate a number of their menu items are made with fresh, local ingredients.
Once a week they offer half price bottles of wine. Also, the bar offers a light happy hour menu.
14 West, I really hope you find your footing — I’m cheering you on.

There are so many steakhouses and upscale eateries to choose from downtown Indianapolis, but very few offer something local and serve food produced locally. Nothing screamed romantic like our mini-​Indy babymoon and finally trying out this lovely restaurant. The menu called my pregnant name as soon as I read: lobster mac&cheese. Um, hellllllllllllo pregnant ladies of Indy — this is a MUST try!
We decided to start off by splitting a Caesar salad (I promise we aren’t cheap, we just didn’t want to overeat). It was crisp, fresh and came out right away (and they split it for us, which I thought was a nice detailed touch). While I really wanted to try everything on the appetizer menu, I just couldn’t decide and knew that my entrée along with my side items would definitely fill up my 36 week belly (food just doesn’t fit like it used to!).
Not to mention, they indulge your senses with pretzel bread as well. Sometimes I wonder why bread is a starter… after all, it’s SO FILLING and this bread was DEEEE-​LISSSSSH! It was soft and flavorful and came with some awesome spreads. My hubby’s favorite was the spicy Dijon (which he said would be too spicy for me, but I wonder now if he just didn’t want to share!). I enjoyed the herb butter so there is something for everyone which was nice.
For entrees, I got the 8 ounce filet oscar-​style and it was MELT IN MY MOUTH deeeelectable! I was in steak heaven (and I rarely eat red meat). The whipped potatoes were extremely smooth and a very nice texture. And, the sauce (not sure exactly what it was) was the perfect touch to bring it all together.
But…I must discuss the one item I came for. The lobster mac&cheese with brie and parmesian. The little macs were sliced in half and cooked perfectly, coated with all the beautiful white cheeses. We were both quite surprised at the amount of lobster that was in there, as well! They did not skimp and the flavor was intense but not overwhelming. While it is a very heavy dish, it was the perfect side item to our entrees (my hubby got the lamb and devoured it so fast I couldn’t try it). All I can say is «can I have the recipe??»
Overall, I was incredibly impressed. We had a 7 p.m. reservation and were seated immediately. Adam, our server, was prompt, polite, and very encouraging but not pushy about the menu. He was always nearby if we needed him but did not hover. The overall atmosphere was romantic, quiet and absolutely lovely. I would DEFINITELY go back!
The one thing I will say I found odd was the bathroom situation — it was in the basement, SEVERAL steps down a long, cold hallway, which I didn’t really like. But I won’t actually complain. It’s just a comment.
I definitely think this is a fine-​dining establishment that needs to stay while others (cough cough — St. Elmo’s), I couldn’t care less if they went.
This is a GREAT date place or an awesome location to celebrate an anniversary, babymoon or other fun, special occasion with a SMALL group. I would probably also enjoy an evening at the bar indulging in appetizers and lovely drinks (once I’m allowed again) to start off a night out downtown. Men, take the ladies here for something a little different (Ruth’s Chris is definitely getting a run for my money!).

In a city with a less than thrilling downtown culinary scene, this place stands out. Great service, tasty and sexy food — great cocktails and drinks… and desserts that sounded too good to pass up despite tightening belts… our server boxed them up for us; ice cream and all!
What a great dining experience — what it really should be.

After reviewing their large menu online and hearing wonderful things about their lobster macaroni and cheese I was really excited to go here over Valentine’s Day weekend.
However, when we got there we discovered that they had a special Valentine’s menu and there was no lobster macaroni and cheese to be found. Also, they somehow lost our reservation despite calling in and requesting a booth. We were still given a table right away though.
For our appetizer we chose the shrimp cocktail. There were 5 large shrimps that tasted really good and fresh. The sauce was good too with a lot of horseradish.
For our second course I had the berry salad which was filled with strawberries, blueberries, and goat cheese. I was very happy with my salad. The pretzel bread was also brought out to us at this point and they were good too.
For my third course I had the lamb dish. I guess I should have been more careful when reading the description. I love lamb chops and somehow assumed that this was what I was ordering. However, when I received it, it looked like a fancy beef stew. Unfortunately, it also tasted like beef stew too. There was nothing special about this dish at all.
For desert I had the banana foster which was delicious. My boyfriend had the crème brûlée which was also very good.
Overall, the food was pretty good and the service was very friendly. However at $ 79 a couple, definitely not worth it! I’ve had much better food for a fraction of the cost.

Not wanting to try another steakhouse, I needed a place for a couple of birthdays. 14 West was listed as a best place in the city, so I made reservations. Unfortunately, I wasn’t impressed.
The menu is all over the place, but has a little southern flare. The southern style chicken was half good and half dry. My colleagues reported their food to be good, but no raves. The lobster ravioli wasn’t amazing, it was much too rich/​heavy and really wasn’t any better than the non-​award-​winning versions out there.
I would come back to give other menu items a shot, even though there are some other promising restaurants in the area. Service isn’t exactly refined, though refined-​casual is appropriate. Dining room was empty, but the bar was full for the football game.
3 stars for average food. It’s one of those middle-​of-​the-​road places if you can’t decide on a genre.

14 West is a favorite of mine in Indy. Of the many times that I’ve frequented this restaurant, the food has been disappointing once. It was as if the boss was out of town and left the summer intern in charge. But before that one time and since then, I’ve been very happy with the food and drink — quality and quantity. This restaurant is dependable. I don’t think that just because I’m a mac ‘n cheese fanatic. (The lobster mac ‘n cheese is noted as «award-​winning» on the menu, and it’s good.) But, I really go here for the entrees — and the sauces, yum — specifically, the scallops, Chilean sea bass… actually, everything is good. The only thing I would skip at this restaurant is the ahi tuna appetizer (weird taco-​like seasoning).
Can’t-go-wrong Order: the crab cakes, goat cheese and arugula salad special (ubiquitous but really good here!), sea bass, and apple strudel.
Deals: ½ price appetizers at the bar 5−10pm M-​F, ½ price martinis on W

This review is for the Sunday brunch buffet. You can see from my three previous reviews that I really enjoy dining at 14 West. They need some work for their breakfast.
I’m on their email list and I received an announcement about their first breakfast buffet. It said «Drinks are included in the Buffet.» I assumed that included milk and OJ. Well we get our bill and it did not. I had my iphone with me and pointed it out to our waitress in a calm manor and she spoke with the manager Rhiannon and cleared it from our bill.
Things were a little hectic there. 14 West is small, which is part of it’s appeal, however it was too small to service a buffet. The staff was not very organized. They had a very large crowd there and I am not sure if they were ready to handle it. Our waitress was nice and apologized for the delay in getting our drinks. She was doing her best considering the chaos.
The food was good, not great, just good. Which I expect a little more from my past experience and the price we paid. I understand they allowed kids to join, which might explain the eggo style waffles. The coffee was very good.
I will gladly come back here for dinner, but if I want a breakfast buffet in Indianapolis. The 120 West Fresh Market Grill in the Hilton is by far superior.

14 West does the white table cloth experience well. The service is refined and they are working a classic Sinatra-​era décor.
I consider myself a mac ‘n cheese connoisseur, especially when it comes lobster mac ‘n cheese so when I saw it on the menu, I had to try it. I’ve also had the seafood fettuccine. Both times, the seafood was a bit rubbery. I understand that Indiana is land-​locked and all, but if there is a white table cloth then I expect fresh fish — which is not quite what I got. However, the fettuccine was extremely rich and a great dish by itself.

14 West was my dinner destination on a recent trip to Indy. Located in the downtown area we entered to be greeted by the hostess who rattled off a list of wants, needs and desires. I had no idea what she was talking about until I remembered who I was with as my friend as a very specific list of criteria as to where he will and won’t sit in a restaurant.
The good news was it must have been late for dinner in Indy (8:30 on a Saturday night) as we were one of the few tables in the places. A large bar is what you first notice and then a smattering of tables and booths in the main dining room.
We did get seated at the perfect table, right by the windows. Our server Sarah was fantastic– pleasant, affable and so willing to help us while we visited her city– she even suggested some other bars we should stop in and see while we were there.
We started with the fried green tomatoes. They were pretty good although not the best I’ve had. The corn sauce and bacon added a nice contrast.
Next up? A NY strip steak for me and a filet for my friend. The steaks were fine (nothing special) but maybe coming from Chicago and the great steakhouses there jaded us a bit! As a side-​we ordered some of their award winning lobster mac and cheese. Delicious! Made with brie cheese and large chunks of lobster claw this was pretty much perfection in a dish! A must have if you come here.
We also saved room for dessert and went with the apple strudel based on Sara’s suggestion. Two large pieces of strudel (nutty and chewy) and two scoops of vanilla ice cream. The perfect ending to our dinner.
So the next time you are in Indy and looking for a good spot for dinner that has great service, check out 14 West. I think you’ll be happy you did.

Had a free night to dine with my Nephew while the rest of our Indy 500 crew of 15 went to the Snake Pit Black Tie Ball. Bah Humbug! Like I’m gonna pack formal wear for an Indy 500 weekend! So I searched Unilocal for something high end so we would have an experience to brag about as well. 14 happened to be ½ block from our Hampton Hotel, sweeeet! And how sweet it was.
Since it was just us two guys we opted for the bar instead of the formalish dining room. Good move! I wish I could remember our bartender/​servers name, but most everyone at the bar knew it, very friendly/​local vibe for an upscale place. He was well informed re; the menu and put us out of towners at ease. I started with the spinach salad topped with a medium poached egg, nice addition. I also enjoyed the Indiana free range pork chop, a tad overcooked for my preference, but still very good. It was accompanied by the most incredible feta infused mashed potatoes. I am very partial to feta cheese so I was in Indiana Heaven! Nephew selected the lamb shank which was cooked to perfection, and came with polenta. Had a nice Hayman and Hill Pinot Noir that went well with both entres.
Prices are what you would expect for the food and ambiance, but not outrageous. The Ball earned the better bragging rights as the Ohio Players were the house band for the night, but no regrets on our part damn it!

This place was close to the Downtown Indy Marriott, so it was convenient for our group of 30 to be able to walk here, eat, and sight-​see afterward. They did an awesome job accommodating us and even created a personalized menu for our group! Very welcoming and nice to us students.
We were basically on a budget of $ 25/​person, so most of us chose to either get soup/​salad + main entrée or main entrée + dessert. I got to try all three, thanks to my generous friends! I tried the 14 West Signature Lobster Corn Chowder, 6 oz. Filet, and Chocolate Mousse Cake. The pretzel rolls here are so yummy, I had never had pretzel rolls before. We asked for refills at least 2 – 3 times. I think everyone around the table ordered the Filet, but some people didn’t get theirs cooked to the right temp. We were also sad because we didn’t get the fried onions! My steak was okay, still prefer Taste of Texas or Pappas Bros though.
The Lobster Corn Chowder was good, but Mark’s Corn Chowder will always be my fave. We were pretty full after all the pretzel rolls and steak, so we didn’t finish the dessert entirely. The cake + toffee crusted vanilla ice cream was really quite tasty. currently reminding me of Restaurant August’s Napoleon of Nougatine. mmm!
The décor was nice with Christmas lights in early January and the wait-​staff provided excellent service. I’d visit again (but probably not for the steak) if I’m ever back in Indy.