Terry Kirts

No. 6 – Since Rook reopened in February, the fully open kitchen in the airy yet cozy new spot has been putting out some truly impressive bites.

No 7 – The pasture-to-plate mantra drives every ingredient on your plate, from the grass-fed livestock to the freshly plucked ground cherries.

No. 8 – No one tells us what to eat—except Greg Hardesty, the Recess chef-owner who has been crafting a prix-fixe menu at his SoBro mainstay since 2010.

No. 9 – Escaping the northside shopping grind in Ryan Nelson’s sleek yet woodsy strip-mall supper club never gets old. Despite its placement in a former Smith & Hawken store in the middle of a shopping district, Late Harvest’s patio is one of the city’s most charming outdoor spots.

No. 10 – Black Market is far more than a special-occasions spot. A chalkboard of daily creations means you can refuel after browsing nearby shops with an impromptu plate of rabbit and dumplings or kraut pierogi.

No. 11 – The only thing more surprising than Indy’s newfound craving for chopped pork-tongue sandwiches and trout-skin chips is where we discovered this implausible love: in a tiny East 10th Street storefront.

No. 12 – Grab a seat at the restaurant’s raw bar for super-fresh oysters or an ever-changing tuna poke.

No. 13 – Since it opened in 2012 Cerulean quickly became known for its sense of adventure, earning its third Best Restaurant selection.

No. 14 – Amid all the Midwest-is-best chest-thumping going on right now, this is still the place we want to be.

No. 15 – Of all the unexpected places Indy’s ever-expanding food scene took us this year, we never figured on Main Street Fortville as the location for a rollicking comfort-food pub with a lighthearted yet sophisticated soul.

No. 16 – Union 50 proves that when you have a menu adventurous enough to offer a smear of roasted bone marrow alongside fish and chips with powdered vinegar, you don’t have to follow the standard rules of engagement.

No. 17 – Don’t save Oceanaire just for special occasions. Hot appetizers such as the generous crab cake or the rich and savory shrimp and grits make for a great weeknight meal with a salad and a glass of wine.

No. 18 – It takes some diligence to maintain a spot on this list after 17 years. Peterson’s, which has been dishing up elegant surf and turf in its clubby, dark-paneled dining room since the dawn of gourmet mac and cheese, also has a lock on consistency.

No. 19 – Young Broad Ripplians, still dewy from hot yoga refuel at this fresh-faced juice bar and brunch kitchen.

No. 20 – What has been most fun about Public Greens is how Patachou, Inc.’s most conscientious, improvisational offering is always changing to follow the seasons.