Very nice local place that I've been to a few times while in town for work... So each time I had dinner here it was with people relative to work. It's location is convenient as well. With that being said, if I lived locally, I would definitely go here for a date night and/or special occasion. The staff has always been professional, and it has a nice ambiance. The food was excellent, and they have a sufficient wine selection. I would definitely go back.
(5)
Andrew G.
The experience can be summed up in one word. Amazing! Our server was very nice and knowledgable about the menu. I had a special, dry aged bone-in rib eye. It was perfectly cooked and full of flavor. The restaurant atmosphere was nice and formal. I definitely will be going back for more.
(5)
Greg L.
2nd time here. Only reason for 4 stars instead of 5, is because I felt my steak was a little over cooked everywhere but dead center. I ordered it medium. I started with the Lobster Bisque, it was great. The house pretzel bread with cheddar butter is awesome. For my meal I went with the prime 16oz NY strip. Potatoes Au gratin as a side. I feel like the potatoes au gratin was completely different than last year. We finished with the chocolate cake. Huge piece. I brought along a few friends that haven't dined there, we go out a lot together. They mentioned they were impressed with everything. Always good to hear. I'll always go back to Peterson's.
(4)
Amiami M.
I'd give this a 3.5 We're not locals and typically rely on Yelp restaurant reviews when we travel. I guess I expected more, but honestly it wasn't bad. The place screams fance. I believe they try to lure in a higher class. The dining room is definitely dressy. The lounge is a bit more relaxed but still upscale. We wandered in after being on a golf course all day hoping for a 5 star meal, even if in the lounge. The place was pretty much a ghost town and our meal still took 45 minutes or better. Drinks were good. Meal was good, but average for the price. Service got better as the better staff arrived. I could see the lure for the locals to enjoy a nice night out but I've had better. My husband loved the lobster bisque. The filet Oscar style was OK. It's fancy but I'm not sure it's worth the hype.
(4)
Bryan S.
One of the best steaks I've ever had. We arrived at 8:15 for our 8:45 reservation and were told we would need to wait until our reservation time, which we expected, no problem. We ordered a glass of wine at the bar and even before it was poured, a different host told us our table was ready and he didn't know why we were told we'd have to wait. A little confusion there. The dining room was comfortable and classy. The service was excellent--our sever was cheerful and knowledgable, helpful without hanging around too much. Just perfect. The menu was varied and tempting, with several items I'd never tasted, and I do appreciate such variety, don't you? We went with the tempura lobster fingers ($20), and they were quite good--a little greasy from the frying though. Now for the steaks. My wife and I ordered the same thing: the 8-ounce filet cooked medium ($39). Mine was served medium well and hers medium rare. While this was fine with both of us (we didn't send them back), we mentioned the curiosity to our server who also saw the difference. Shouldn't they be cooked the same? We accompanied our entree with potatoes at gratin ($9) which were perfectly balanced with cheese and bacon. So tastey! Three things made the steak one of the best I've ever had. First, the quality. Tender, no fat or gristle, just excellent. Second, the seasoning. I don't know what it was, but it enhanced the meat without usurping it. Finally, the sauce. There were two: a tomato confit, which I didn't prefer, and the other one. I didn't remember from the menu what it was (sorry!) but it, too, provided just a touch more flavor which lifted the steak to new heights. 4 stars instead of 5 because of the confusion at the front and the inconsistent steak temperature. But I would definitely return and can highly recommend Peterson's to anyone.
(4)
Jemmie W.
This is the best high-end independent steakhouse/restaurant in the metro Indianapolis area. There - I said it. Because it's true. The aged steaks are USDA Prime and better than St. Elmo's USDA Choice (St. Elmo's uses Choice and not Prime?!?! Yes.). If I put Choice and Prime side by side and did a blind taste test you would be able to taste the difference. All of the other high end steakhouses in town are chains: Eddie Merlot, Ruth's Chris, Sullivan's, Morton's, Fleming's, Shula's, etc. All of them are pretty good but you know what's the difference between those in Indianapolis and those in any other city in any other state (or country)? Nothing. By design. That's why they are called "chains". The seafood and other items are thoughtfully prepared and delicious. The lobster fingers appetizer is exquisitely prepared and tasty. The decor is old school. The location is right off I-69 and very convenient. Parking is plentiful and easy.
(5)
Jennifer S.
While I've worked five minutes from this restaurant for almost eight years now, I've never been inclined to visit until last night. I previewed the Northside Nights menu and was curious to try the 'Tickle Me Tito's', their specialty cocktail for the event, in celebration of a friend's divorce. The bartenders were friendly and greeted us right away, asking if we'd ever been in, then offered a taste of the cocktail before we decided to go for it. We enjoyed our drinks, not too sweet, but far from my usual Dirty Martini. I was pleasantly surprised when we were offered blue cheese stuff olives as we switched over on round two. Realizing we'd hit the floor fast if we didn't munch on something, we requested menus. The prix fixe menu for the event offered several really good options, but we weren't hungry for a 3-4 course meal. Nothing on the dinner menu caught my eye, but the Specials on the bar appetizer menu certainly did. $1 dollar oysters on the 1/2 shell?? Of course we ordered a dozen. They were perfect; served with cocktail sauce & horseradish, a delicate wine sauce, a lemon and Red Hot in case you needed a kick. We were also offered fresh baked bread and crackers. The decor is formal, yet inviting - nothing too pretentious. We were glad to have taken a chance and stopped in, and look forward to trying some of the other daily specials!
(4)
Adrienne G.
We had reservations at Peterson's for the day before Valentines Day. It is definitely a classier joint so don't walk in wearing jeans and a t-shirt. However, it does not feel stuffy. It has a very modern, classy ambiance. We were seated and welcomed by our waitress. The had a set, limited menu for Valentine's weekend but it was still diverse enough that we each found something delicious to try. We each ordered the Cesar salad and it was just OK. I would expect the same quality from someplace like Applebees or the like. However, I completely forgot about the salad when I dug into the Center Cut Filet. OMG!! Melt-in-your-mouth delicious! So flavorful and tender. Definitely the best steak I have ever had. We also shared a side of Au Gratin potatoes that were creamy and cheesy and perfect. For desert we shared the Creme Brulee and that was quite good as well. Overall, I was quite impressed with Peterson's. This will be our new restaurant for anniversaries and special date nights!
(5)
Ej F.
Worthless! Just left this overpriced steak house with my $90 meal in take home bag. They were not busy at all an after waiting 35+ minutes for my steak I told the light in the loafers waiter to bag the steak and bring me my bill. Will never go back again!!
(1)
Rob S.
The lighting and decor was very nice at Petersons. The noise level was louder than desired. They have a nice dining room and also a bar area. My wife got the wedge, redfish, and cheese cake. I got the lobster bisque, filet medallions, and bread pudding. Overall the food was pretty basic. For what we paid I thought I was going to be wowed. Her fish was excellent but my filet medallions had two totally different tastes. One was dry and the other was juicy. The service was fantastic and the wine list was wonderful. Prices ranged from $35-$400 a bottle. We were just not overly impressed by the food.
(3)
Amanda R.
Tried this place for the first time during northside nights. We had 8pm reservations and when we got there asked if we wanted to sit in the main room or the lounge. We said we had never been there before so she took us to the lounge. Nice lounge, but had tvs and was distracting from trying to have a nice dinner. Should have sat in the main room. The service we great, but seems like we had 3 or 4 different people helping us out. B had an old fashioned that was nothing special and I had a cucumber type drink that was pretty good. Due to the set menu, we each tried the lobster bisque. Good taste, but not a lot of lobster. For the 2nd course, I had my heart set on the filet medallions - melted like butter! So delicious. B opted for the pork chop after the waiter recommended it. He said I had made the better decision though. Dessert came last then with the white chocolate creme brulee and flourless chocolate cake. Nothing to complain about there! All in all, a great date night. Expensive even for northside nights though.
(4)
Sheryl Y.
Ambiance: 8/10; Service 7.5/10; Food: 9/10 The boyfriend and I made reservations for Peterson's to celebrate my birthday. After reading all the mixed reviews, I was a little apprehensive on going. Since we had a gift card, we figured there was no harm in trying this place out and I'm very glad we did. Upon walking into the restaurant, the ambiance gave a very cozy feeling. The hostess was sweet enough to take a birthday picture for us and had it printed out (I thought that was a nice touch). Although our server was very knowledgable and friendly, service was a little spotty. It was a Friday night, so it's understandable. We ordered the lobster tempura and lobster bisque for starters and were pleasantly surprised by how delicious the lobster tempura tasted. The lobster bisque was good but I wish there were more lobster meat in there. For our mains, I ordered the day boat diver scallops and the boyfriend ordered one of their daily specials; steak medallion served with three different sauces. We both enjoyed our dishes but I think the boyfriend enjoyed mine a little more than his own. All in all, I am glad that I got to try this place out for my birthday and will definitely be back again.
(4)
Patty L.
Atmosphere is always great! Service was a little odd but I think it was just the night not the norm. Oysters were very unexpectedly bad but the wedge salad is as always the best in Indiana or anywhere as far as I'm concerned. I've never had a better wedge, its the yummy best. Great shrimp cocktail but the cocktail sauce is above average but not the best. Martini was a little weak but stuffed olives were perfect. Jeff loved the Mackerel Special. Overall it was an okay dining experience. Although for the price it should be a wow I loved my dining experience. That was not the case. It wasn't very busy, if I'd been the waiter i would have made it a night to remember. Just saying
(5)
Joe H.
A bit spendy, but so delicious! Add in the great service and classy atmosphere and you get a great dining experience. Order the Portobello Fries!
(5)
Patton C.
Service is very good. Which is why I am giving any stars. Nice effective servers and management. If they could just get the food thing figured out. Very poor steak quality For supposed USDA prime it was no flavor with tough cutting I think the quality was forgotten sometime at this restaurant
(2)
Rob B.
I made reservations over a month prior for my engagement dinner. It was my girlfriend's birthday and I was going to propose. The week prior to the date I made arrangements to meet the event coordinator to see my private booth and to decide on flowers and wine. No one showed up! I called and emailed with no response. I eventually left. After a few hours of no response I called back. I talked to the GM and she didn't know about the meeting. She informed me that no one was there that day. She was confused when I cancelled my reservations! Needless to say I changed venues and she said yes!!
The service sucked,you would think for the price you could bring your meal before 2 hours!!!!
(1)
Nichole K.
Been here multiple times and have felt like upper crest, the service was impeccable and attentive. Once was for a birthday, they took our picture and had it presented to us upon our departure. The seating is private in the booth areas, the backing is high, great for a romantic eve or anniversary. Typically we grab a martini or glass of wine at the bar, the martinis are reasonably priced for top shelf vodka. Unlike Ruth Chris they don't smother your steak in butter, but the flavor is just as good. My first duck experience was here as well, the duck crepe is light and flavorful, not gamey like I thought it would be, and tastes nothing like chicken. This place may put a dent in your wallet, but the overall experience and quality of food make you forget the price.
(5)
Chip R.
The almost empty parking lot on a Friday night should've been a clue. I hope for the sake of the waitstaff and the bartenders they make some management changes and pay attention to the kitchen. Fish special was cold after taking forever. After waiting 15 minutes for the complimentary appetizer that I had requested, Management comped salads and the one glass of wine but we left tired and hungry.
(1)
Travis S.
Honestly...very polished and well executed establishment. They do it right and although it is expensive, it is well worth it. Save your money and dine only once a month and make it Peterson's.
(5)
Tamara K.
Had a fabulous anniversary dinner at Peterson's. The staff was wonderfully attentive and made great suggestions for menu items and wine selections. The food was excellent. Highly recommend the bacon wrapped shrimp appetizer.
(5)
Tiffany G.
I recently visited Peterson's for a business meeting -- the bar area was quiet enough for conversation, but not so quiet that we were concerned about being overheard. The ambiance is that of a classic steakhouse -- refined and luxurious, but not uncomfortably so. The waitstaff are equally professional and refined, without being stuffy. Think Mad Men in 2013. The wine list is great -- a bit pricy, but I'm not too bothered by that. I have dined previously at Peterson's for a traditional dinner and it was fantastic -- the steaks, mashed potatoes and asparagus are top notch. We did not have dinner this time, but decided to do a round of drinks and some appetizers. Our party had the quail, the meatballs, and the short rib ravioli. All of the dishes were delicious, but my favorite by far was the quail. It was served grilled with Preserved Lemon Risotto and Hunter Farms Jalepeño Honey. Wow. I can't wait to return. The chef here is equally talented with traditional dishes as he is creative with "less traditional" dishes!
(5)
William H.
Steaks and sides are excellent. The crab stuffed bacon wrapped shrimp is amazing. Don't bother saving room for dessert - you will be disappointed if you do. The pastry chef is far too concerned with presentation. Just because a small amount of something us smeared on a plate doesn't mean it is part of the ingredients.
(4)
Cory S.
Overall good selection of liquor including makers, Johnnie Walker Blue, Black and others.. The food was good, but limited as we had a select menu in our room for the event. The ceasar salad was good with just the right amount of dressing. I had a chicken something or another for my main meal and they brought out some sides to share. The mashed potatoes were very good and had good flavor. The green beans were fresh and cooked well. Service was good.. they kept our drinks filled and took good care of us overall.
(4)
Rhonda W.
One of my favorite high-end restaurants in the city. Great food, excellent service, nice decor! They also provide a complimentary picture on when dining on special occasions.
(4)
Twinkle V.
By far some of the best wine service I've had in Indy. Loved the wine chat and loved the romantic atmosphere. Service was above and beyond, and the food was really superb. Prices were pretty high, but they do offer a Monday half-price night on bottles of wine under $150. This I can deal with! Our food was pretty fabulous, and although we ordered from the Northside Nights menu only, we could tell the regular items had to pretty dang awesome, as well. Hello, Truffle Butter. (Which by the way I HAD to order anyway) Go here. AS unassuming as the outside of the building is, it is definitely worth a try.
(5)
Joe I.
My wife and I dined at Peterson's last night. We both ordered the asparagus soup which we both though was very good. I had the filet and she had the bone in strip. The steaks were cooked perfectly and quite flavorful. As a side, we ordered the butternut risotto, which tasted excellent.
(4)
A B.
I would probably give petersons a 3.5. I went here with a group of people from work. The food was good, but no one seemed to be blown away by their food. Several people complained that there are too many seafood type dishes. Most of the table ordered steaks. The filet was good, but tasted very plain and I did not finish it all. I would've preferred more seasoning. The biggest disappointment was the side dishes. The mashed potatoes had mushrooms in it and were not very good. The macaroni and cheese had crab in it and most of the table did not like it. The creamed corn was too smoky. The soup served with my meal was pretty good. The service was pretty good, but we sensed an attitude from the ladies at the hostess stand. Desserts were pretty good, especially the carrot cake. I'm glad that I didn't have to foot the bill for this meal. I highly doubt that I return because I did not feel like the steaks were worth the prices that they charged.
(3)
Marcie M.
Honestly it doesn't get much better than Peterson's. The company I work for (Beach Bum Vacations) takes our entire group here every January for our annual Christmas party and we often have special celebration meals here as well. It's a WONDERFUL restaurant. I have NEVER had a bad filet here. I get it Oscar-style and it is melt in your hot, watery mouth amazingness. It is literally better than sex. Sorry - is that Yelp appropriate. Sorry honey. It is just literally one of my favorite meals I've ever had. This is not to mention the f-ing dessert and the brushetta appetizer. Good lord....I'm getting excited writing this so I better gooooo. But you know, you should try it. I'm not messing around about this incredible food.
(5)
Torrey R.
This place is fantastic in terms of ambiance. I requested a quiet corner in my reservation and was given exactly that. Everyone knew upon our arrival what we were celebrating and everyone congratulated us. The downsides of the place is the cost. It was pretty pricy, especially for what we were given. Also, I found the food to be a little too salty. I ordered the prime rib medium rare but it was given to me medium. I was too hungry to take it back. My husband loved his aged strip and that was cooked perfectly. With as many great steak places as there are in town, I'm undecided if I will try here again.
(4)
Melissa L.
My husband won an award at work and we were able to pick any restaurant in Indy to dine at. We chose Petersons due to raving reviews from friends and because we drive by every day since we live right down the road. My husband doesn't get as excited over food as I do, and I think he talked about our meal for 3 days. It was quite possibly the best meal we have ever had. Drinks were perfect and the shrimp wrapped in bacon was outstanding. My husband got the double filet oscar style...Best steak I have ever had hands down. I got the scallops and those were amazing as well. Our waiter was helpful and very knowledgeable about the menu. This place is definitely worth the price...we will be back!
(5)
Greg M.
Perfect for date night. Excellent food served in a quiet atmosphere. Probably one of the better steakhouses on the North side of Indianapolis.
(5)
Sherry H.
Overwhelmingly underwhelming. After hearing many rave reviews, I was so looking forward to dining at Peterson's for the first time after moving to Indy 7 years ago from Chicago. As a former employee of Sullivan's Chicago and patron of Capital Grille, Morton's, Chicago Chop House, David Burke...etc., I've been able to enjoy some very delicious and well-prepared meals. This was not the case tonight. While our server was knowledgable and mostly attentive, our birthday party of 6 was very disappointed. A prime rib ordered medium-rare came out well done. Why it left the kitchen in the first place is a wonder. Where are the standards?! The manager comped a ribeye to replace which came out at the proper temp but without seasoning and a baked potato that was hard and raw inside. Two "dry-aged" ribeyes at the table were also at the proper temp but not seasoned and did not have the flavor of a properly aged piece of meat. One also was one-third gristle and fat. Not marbling. Fat. My wild boar Wellington was cooked well but went downhill after the first bite, even after adding a generous sprinkle of salt to every piece. Bacon-wrapped shrimp was overcooked and dry. Out of twelve oysters, every one had pieces of shell (not grit) and mangled by a seemingly first-time shucker. We also didn't know which oysters were which as two different servers gave us different explanations of what was presented to us. The table beside us also sent an entree back and left soon after. The lobster bisque was the only food item that I can recommend, as the lobster flavor was very prominent and indicative of a well-made stock. While we took our time ordering and enjoying our apps, we were not served our entrees until well after the two-hour mark after being seated. The manager was apologetic and receptive of our criticisms, but with the timing issues, inconsistent food, and under seasoned everything, I am shocked at the number of positive experiences at this establishment. Perhaps the time to dine at Peterson's is in the past, for after nearly 3.5 hours and $550 (with a comped entree), we want our time and money back. Update: Upped to two stars. Joe Peterson followed up with our party and sent some gift cards. Not sure when we will be back but his attention to the matter earns another star in my book.
(2)
Meg T.
Great atmosphere for a date or a special night out! Food is pricy, as to be expected at a steakhouse with the top 2% of steaks. The halibut special and lamb were both very good. If you order coffee, they bring out a cigar box fill with various goodies to add additional flavor. They also give you scrumptious chocolates. Overall, very good! Initially, a food runner, not my server, brought out the wrong meal, but my server immediately saw and fixed the problem. This incident was the only reason I lowered my rating from excellent. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Lisa H.
Have been a Petersons fan for many years and was happy to see them as one of the top 25 restaurants in Indy. However, last night was not up to a top 25 standard. Service was impeccable, wine was perfect, and from portabella fries to sugar cream pie flavors were spot on. The issue was my steak. I ordered the special, a 21 day aged NY strip, which was cooked as ordered, however, 1/3 of the steak was inedible. Huge piece of gristle that was impossible to get through. It appears it was the end of the strip versus a nice cut in the middle. You would think someone in the kitchen would have looked at that steak and thought hmmm, maybe not up to our standard. If I'm paying $69 for a steak, I expect it to be perfect, it was not last night, sorry to say.
(3)
Debra T.
If you looking to wait over an hour to be served that this is your place, If your looking for Management to be rude, this is your place! We had a 8:30 reservation and were seated in bar, not busy but notion they shorted menu for New Year's Eve , the 4 of us ordered apps and drinks, that came quick, it took over another hour to get our dinner, the waiter Brad wouldn't even come over I tried to wave him down he wouldn't even look our way, the Lady manager came over to tell us that our meals would be there in 1 min, 2 minutes later We ask again she said I don't know? Well who would know??? They where not nice or sorry, that is for sure!! The food was ok, nothing special at all!! We had 2 steaks and 2 fish, Very plain very bland!! The restroom was dirty,towels on the floor, we eat out all the time in all price places, now I remember why it has been years since we been there, the manager was WAY out of her league! For over $300.00 it should have been better....at 10:40 we finally were out the door we had to eat so fast to make our party.
(1)
Joe C.
Great ambiance. Great menu. Great food an cocktails... Ask for Jan as she is the best...there is a reason Petersons has been awarded Wine Spectators award of excellence as well as one of Indy's best restaurants .. It is a special place..make a visit as it will be memorable
(5)
Amanda D.
Ate here with a group of friends, with reservations made in advance. Everything was delicious! We split a filet duet with a lobster tail. One of the best filets I've had in a while. Got a yummy raspberry vodka drink too. Finished the meal with a trio of ice cream (which we later discovered were sundaes.. My favorite part!!) would definitely come back to celebrate special occasions.
(4)
Bill J.
Why does Peterson's deserve 5 stars? Because I can't find a reason *not* to give it 5 stars. Not even close to finding a reason. It's on the pricey side, but you're paying for excellent service and great food, so it's worth it. I recently had dinner at Peterson's and chose the dry-aged NY Strip that was one of the specials that evening. Not sure that I've ever had a better steak. Perfectly prepared and even better than I expected it to be. The building is small, but doesn't feel crowded. Same with the bar - it's small, but I've never felt crowded there. Definitely check Peterson's out the next time you are in the mood for a steak. They have some excellent sounding seafood option, Gunthorp Farms chicken and at least one pork entree but I've always gotten a steak the times I've been here.
(5)
Kari R.
Good food, good service. The wine list is great. All around a great steakhouse
(4)
Scott M.
I went with parents, and sister & brother-in-law to try local family restaurant, over increasing stable of national chains in this class of restaurant,While the ambiance & wait staff were all very pleasant,i was under whelmed by the menu(last updated 1997?), especially as high as the prices are. The food was good, not great & bar service was slow on a quiet night.
The best restaurant in Fishers that I've been to. Expect to make an evening of the experience. Ask what they have that's not on the menu, and discover hidden secrets. The salt-rubbed roast was extraordinary - hasn't been matched since. I make my own steaks at home, fresh from the local butcher, exactly how I want them. No chef in the world knows my tastes better than me. So I don't order steaks in restaurants. Unless it's absolutely extraordinary, it's bound to cause disappointment compared to what I can make at home. So I can't rank Peterson's on steaks. Soup and appetizers are superb. The bisque is very good. The waitstaff is formal and responsive. This waitstaff WILL NOT interrupt your meal and ask "how are we doing?" Thank goodness! Next time somebody asks me that, I'm going to scream. Nor will they try to take your dishes from right under your fork. Why do so many restaurants attempt to snatch up your plate as soon as you slow down? Are they running low on dishes? This is exactly what it posits: a quiet formal evening dining experience with top-shelf (expensive) drink and food. If you expect something else, you'll be disappointed.
(5)
Shelly F.
This restaurant never disappoint us. Starting with the food (which is why most people choose a dining establishment in the first place), it is among the best restaurants in Indy with its primarily seafood and meat menu. Unlike many restaurants in our fine city that overdo it on the serving sizes to mask the fact that the food is simply mediocre, Peterson's offers suitable portions that leave you satisfied but not overwhelmed. Fresh ingredients, beautiful presentations, warm bread with fresh butter and walnut pesto, a great array of desserts...ahhh! What puts Peterson's above other upper-end steak and seafood establishments though is its service. Attentive, but not overbearing, servers and bus staff. An unpretentious wine steward who truly wants to help you navigate their impressive wine menu and select a wine that suits your taste and budget, without making you feel as if you're a Hoosier whose preferences in alcohol gravitate toward Coor's Light and Cuervo tequila shots. Take your pick: A relaxed, friendly atmosphere where you can feel comfortable in jeans (nice ones, please) or a suit. A romantic night with your loved one or a place to close a business deal with clients. A quiet table for two or a spot at the bar where you can enjoy an expertly made cocktail while watching a game and enjoying extraordinary food in a lively atmosphere. Pricey? For Indianapolis, it is. But worth every penny.
(5)
Cliff H.
I really had high hopes for this restaurant. I'm a regular at Sullivan's but after reading reviews on Yelp I decided to give it a try. Nice atmosphere and great service. However it gets 1 star as a steakhouse for me. Why one star?? Because both my partner and I had to send our steaks back because they were severely overcooked. We ordered Medium and got Well Done TWICE!! I'm sticking with Sullivan's for now. Sorry Petersons but if this was Top Chef you'd have to "pack up your knives and go".
(1)
Jelly R.
We got last minute Saturday evening reservations on opentable.com . There were several open parking spaces. The hostess was friendly. The atmosphere was comfortable and relatively quiet. Outside of New Year's and stuff like that, i hate the idea of having to get all dolled up to go somewhere, so I was relieved that the others in the restaurant and bar were dressed in what I'd call business casual (not jeans or khakis, but not business suits or cocktail dresses, either). The menu, like most steakhouses, was relatively simple. My husband started with a caesar salad, while I had the seafood chowder special. The soup was larger than expected, and probably could have been eaten as a (small) meal in and of itself. I ordered a 12 oz. New York strip steak, and he ordered the 14 oz. double filet, both cooked medium rare. He ate his plain, while I ordered hollandaise sauce for mine. As expected, the steaks were excellent: Peterson's advertises in their menu that they only serve the top 2% cuts. For sides, we got the red skin mashed potatoes and the lobster mac and cheese. I thought the lobster mac and cheese was just "okay," and seemed a bit watery and bland, though my husband raved about it (I had talked him out of the butternut squash risotto in favor of the lobster mac and cheese). I highly recommend the red skin mashed potatoes, though. Like the food, the service was excellent.
(5)
Drue S.
My wife and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary here, and it was great. Service was very friendly and thorough. The atmosphere was great as well. It was dimly lit too, which is great for any romantic dinner. The food was cooked to our specifications, and tasted great too. It was everything you would expect from a high end restaurant. They did give us free champagne and a dessert to celebrate our anniversary too. Price was high, but that is what we expected. A beer, mixed drink, 2 salads, lobster tail, and the 16 oz strip ran about $140 not including the tip. We'd definitely go back. Five stars!
(5)
Carey D.
I've went here for several professional dinners. Have always been impressed with the service, ambiance and the food. Hands down the best steak I've ever had. Blows the downtown steakhouses out of the water in my opinion! I'd definitely go here more often but since I live in Greenwood and it is in Fishers, it's a fairly long haul! But definitely worth the drive! :)
(5)
Jason K.
The pride and joy of Indianapolis. This restaurant has two Master chefs. One who specializes in the food while the other specializes in pastries. Their steaks are beautifully picked and cut. They cook their steaks to a T. I eat my steak rare to enjoy the real flavor of steak(NO A-1 SAUCE!!!) this places steaks have that beautiful charcoal flavor. As well my friend had the sushi grade tuna that was just devine. They lightly seared each side like a Japanese tataki and it just melted in my mouth.
(5)
john p.
i've been to peterson's over a dozen times and have yet to leave w/o thinking that it's a GREAT restaurant. the food is a little on the pricey side, but it's always worth it. I've had an assortment of steaks and seafood dishes and i am always blown away. also the staff is extremely friendly and very aware of their guests. these waiters should teach classes to the rest of the country on how to serve! ps ask for the flourless chocolate cake for dessert, it's the best dessert i've ever had!
(5)
Frank Y.
Quick and dirty: Upscale atmosphere with a good wine and food selection. Very good food and excellent service with a noise level that permits reasonable conversation even in the bar. We often stop here midweek after work for wine and munchies from the appetizer menu. Over the last few months, the appetizer menu has been shrinking, but good selections still remain. The have a very good wine list both by the bottle and by the glass. Very good for both steaks and seafood. They have one of the top two lobster bisques in town (they are tied with the Columbia Club in this regard). Excellent steak toppers. Be prepared - entrees and sides are al la carte. Highly recommended. On this trip, we went there at around 5:30 PM on February 13th (I'm a bit behind on my reviews) on one of our after work drop-ins. We had their signature stuffed shrimp and the meatballs. Shrimp: "3 Shrimp Stuffed with Our House Made Crab Cake Mix, and Wrapped in Applewood Smoked Bacon from The Smoking Goose." Large, meaty shrimp stuffed with a crab mixture, wrapped in bacon, and baked. The order normally comes with three shrimp, but they will add a fourth (so the order can be evenly divided by two) for a slight additional charge. The saltiness of the bacon nicely sets off the tastes of the shrimp and stuffing. The crab mixture has a good flavor and stands up well to the other taste combinations. Recommended. Meatballs: "A Family Tradition with 9 Meatballs, Brown Sugar Barbeque Sauce, Black Pepper Croustinis." Very flavorful in a sweet barbeque sauce. The meatballs are about an inch in diameter - nice single bites. Recommended.
(4)
Gabriel M.
As far as steak places go, you can definitely do better...especially in Indianapolis.
(2)
Gessica A.
The food and staff won't disappoint here! The crab stuff shrimp wrapped in bacon and blueberry donuts.....are the best!!!
(5)
David V.
I had reservations on a Monday night - requested a table in a quiet area since it was a special occasion. We were seated in the back room next to a group of 12. Within the next 20 minutes, 3 more large groups were seated in our proximity. It was so loud, we could not hear each other across the table. Finally, the waitress moved us to another area. It was quieter, but this is just a loud place. This was on a Monday when the place was maybe 15% full. The food was okay; nothing special - but when I pay big $$ for steak, I expect better.
(2)
Ted S.
Great steak! Enjoyable supper.
(5)
Mark D.
One of my favorite things to do...sit at the bar, order a bottle of wine and eat a steak with my wife. Try it., amazing food-wine and a friendly low-key ambiance.
(5)
Matt K.
I was stunned to find a restaurant of this caliber in the suburbs of Indianapolis. I've really enjoyed the beef I've had here; it's on par with some of the best steaks I've had around the country. The wine list is impressive and the sommelier is helpful.
(5)
Benjamin R.
They make good steaks.
(4)
Marcia G.
We were 4 people on a Tuesday evening during the Northsidenightsindy promotion which featured a 3 course meal for $30pp. We have dined at Petersons on a number of previous occasions and always had very good meals. The food was excellent. Both salads offered on this promotion were fresh and good. 3 of our party had the filet and all pronounced it excellent. My mahi mahi was superb. The raspberry sorbet had a rich flavor and was a perfect ending with a good cip of coffee. The flourless chocolate cake was very much like a thick hunk of fudge - too rich to enjoy more than a small piece but great flavor. The service was a tad too attentive - plates whisked away at the earliest possible moment, before all 4 of us were finished with the course. However, the fly in the ointment were the unexpected and chintzy extra charges for what I don't consider "extras" in a restaurant of Peterson's caliber. We were charged $.75 per anchovy on the Caesar salad; that was $3 for 4 anchovies. One member of our party had the wedge salad and asked for some of the thin cracker- like wafer that was served on the Caesar. Those crackers appeared on the bill for $3. Because we considered these charges uncharacteristic and inappropriate, we brought them to the attention of the manager who simply said the charges reflected his costs. We will return to Petersons for their good food but are disappointed and hope they will revise this practice which is more suitable for a fast food chain.
(4)
Brad W.
Here's how our night went: - Bacon-wrapped Shrimp (3 for $20, but amazing) - Coconut Martini (Wife loved it) - Glass of Cabernet ($14, very good) - Lobster Bisque Soup ($8, Not too much lobster in it, but great taste) - Mixed Greens Salad ($7, Delicious and sooo fresh!) - 16 oz. Ribeye ($37, Not the *best* steak I've ever had, but probably Top 15. Go to Texas and you'll get twice the steak for half the price.) - Amish Chicken Roulade ($27, Wife said it was "the least favorite part of the meal". Orzo was so-so, chicken was kind of bland. For the price, go with some of the fresh seafood instead.) - A flourless chocolate torte was complimentary since we were celebrating our anniversary. Save some of your red wine for this! Delicious, almost like eating fudge. Rich and decadent. - Two truffles for the road, compliments as well! Used the recent $70 Groupon for a night out and was treated just as a normal customer (Groupons typically get the raised nose at this type of place, just tip well and you'll help the rest who come behind you :) Got out of the door for $50 + tip with the Groupon (paid $35), amazing meal for a great price.
(5)
Ruben L.
I would almost have gone 4.5, but our waiter seemed more concerned with the table next to us. Saw this on yelp, and figured, "hey, we live pretty close, let's go check this place out." I'm glad we did. This unassuming restaurant was great, and even though it's in an odd location, my wife and I are glad it is where it is. Ambience- Very classy place. It's kind of dark in the place, but it makes it seem very intimate. Certainly not a casual place, most people were pretty well dressed, and it definitely seemed like a special occasion type of place. There are two sections of tables on each side, and a bar in the middle. Service- Our server was great (when he wasn't engaging the table next to us). As I alluded to before, our server was mixing it up with a table right next to us. Evidently, it was someone's b-day, so he was making special efforts to accomodate them. I can respect that. Even still, our server was very knowledgeable of the menu, and took extra time to explain the menu, as it was our first time. They had a team approach to serving, which was nice, because we always had someone attending to our drinks, or questions. Food- we started off with an order of portabello "fries." They are what you imagined. Panko breaded portabello mushrooms served with a horse radish cream ($8). we were STARVING, and these deep fried pieces of goodness really hit the spot. Considering they were deep fried, they were pretty lite. And actually before that, they gave us some bread, with a walnut pesto sauce, and an appetizer that tasted similar to chilaquiles (just A piece) to get our taste buds going. The bread was soft, and the walnut pesto was surprisingly good. The "Chilaquile" like dish was just ok. Hey, it was free, so how could I say no? For dinner my wife got the diver scallops with risotto, and I got a 16 oz rib eye with a crab meat risotto on a portabello cap. My wife's scallops were cooked well, and had a nice light flavor, that was paired with an apple relish (it totally worked, and didn't really have an apple taste to it). The risotto had just a bit too much garlic in it, but not SO over powering. I ordered my steak medium, but it actually came out medium rare. Didn't matter, the steak was that good. I admit, my first bite didn't blow my mind, but each sequential bite did. There was a slight bit of au jus served with it, but honestly, it didn't need it. The steak was seasoned beautifully, and I enjoyed each and every bite. For dessert we got the mile high coconut German chocolate cake. The thing was MASSIVE. Clearly good enough for 6 people, my wife and I attempted to dent this cake. We did pretty well, but the cake was so dense, and so rich with chocolaty goodness, that we had to take it home. Overall- certainly not a place you would go to every day, we really enjoyed this place. Again, the service was spotty at some points, but for the most part, they were spot on. I would recommend this place for a first date, or a special occasion. Chuck Norris rating- Spinning pile driver
(4)
Luca B.
Good food and great service. Just a little expensive.
(4)
Chris C.
Every time I walk in to a restaurant it has 100 points. Then a point gets deducted here, a point there. Sooner or later so many points have been deducted that a score that relates to a 1-5 star rating can be assessed, and a yelp review can be written. I walked into Peterson's and there was no hostess to greet me. Five points deducted. That was it. No more points came off. Did I have to pay for how great this meal was? Yes. Fortunately most of it is paid for by work. But, for the parts that weren't, I was more than happy to contribute my own funds. For the meal itself, just follow the menu. There is an appetizer that is highlighted - the bacon wrapped, crab stuffed shrimp. There isn't much you could do to make this dish much better. I followed this up with the beet salad. At home, this is something very similar to what I make when I want to splurge and have the time to put it together. I do it a bit different, but this salad was amazing. Dinner was a bit difficult for me. Did I want to get the asparagus? Or the Brussels sprouts? What a strange question to ask. The entree was a no brainer though - the 16oz. New York strip. Yes, it is a bit pricey, weighing in at $49, but I can say that I have not had a better steak in the Indianapolis area. I don't know what it is about steaks in the area; the great steak places have amazingly tender steaks, but there's always this strange part on the New York strips. It's generally in the middle of the steak on the side that's away from the bone (on a steak that isn't served with the bone, it would be next to the fatty side). Right in this spot, it always seems like the steak wasn't properly cut or properly aged, and this area is usually inedible. It's annoying, turning what should be a 16oz steak into about a 13oz steak. I have yet to encounter this problem back east, or in Chicago; it really seems to be limited to every steak I have in Indy. Maybe Peterson's is far enough away that this rule does not apply. Or maybe there is a restaurant in town that knows how to butcher and/or age a steak where you don't have this problem. All I have to say is, when in Indy, I now know where to go for a steak that doesn't require compromising food, ambiance, service or individuality. For any New Yorker that may be reading this, I feel like I have to qualify my review as being restricted to the Indy area. While Peterson's would still be a great restaurant back east, it probably wouldn't get the high marks I'm giving it if it were located on 5th Avenue. Read that as you will, because it would probably still be earning 5 stars in either location.
(5)
J T.
An ideal spot for a casual conversation at the bar, a quite evening out or a non-rushed business dinner - as was last night. The service was as I like, attentive but not pushy or intruding. Food was very good with and everything cooked perfectly: rib eye, scallops and ahi. The vegetables, especially the snow peas and asparagus were particularly fine. Outstanding wine list. No room for desert. It was quite enough to have a nice round table conversation and we sat for an hour after dinner telling stories, as we do, without being pushed out the door accepting offers for more coffee, even after we said no.
(4)
Becky Y.
I'm a Mortons and Capital Grill girl. but you know what Petersons is good for? their bar eats. forget about the main dining room. it's freezing in there, anyway (I hate how fine dining does that. Maybe it's to accommodate all the men in their suit and ties but still. Makes your food go cold fast too). Duck legs, crab cake, teriyaki ribs. Skip the meatballs. But my favorite is their ONION RING tower. You know how MacNivens has fat onion rings? Like that. but bigger and better, yeah it's possible! Stroll into their bar and just order that alone for dinner. Knife and fork that humble $8 root veggie with relish. awesome! Bartenders are friendly and won't frown on you for doing it, either. oh yeah, sometimes it's even part of their special rotating Thurs happy hour 50% deal and you can have that baby buster for $4 (!!!)-- Yes you can order off the regular menu in the bar too. I had their scallops once. They were good. But not a big Hello Dolly bc fresh fat sweet scallops do all the work themselves--some s&p, quick sear, splash o' white wine, squeeze o' lemon, you're good. not a tremendous lot of skill req'd. Costco is down the street.
(3)
Jennifer P.
I was there a week ago and I honestly can't remember what I had for an entree, so I guess it was not "the best I ever had" of whatever it was. I do remember the WEDGE SALAD was a delight -- not just bleu cheese, but pears, walnuts, and balsamic vinegar made THAT a top five salad for me. The atmosphere is very nice. Our server was a bit to excited about the special--- we butterfly the shrimp, stuff it with crabmeat, and wrap it in BACON!! (alllllrightly).
(4)
Jennifer J.
Love their food here. We go here for special occasions and always love the entire visit. Friendly waiters and amazing food. In my opinion, this is better than Sullivans and Ruth Chris, which I have been to quite a bit. They have a great special side room my Dad once rented out to surprise my mom for their 30th with all of our family and friends. Very reasonable priced and they helped him out with all of the details, down to getting some flowers for the room.
(5)
Kelly F.
Stopped next door (wolfie's) for a beer and asked for a nice restaurant suggestion since we both were from out of town. Peterson's was suggested. We went for dinner on Thursday night, and had excellent service, wonderful food; I had the pan seared tuna, while my friend had the crabcakes. Both of us were extremely happy with the meal. The ambiance is cozy elegance, and was pretty busy for 8 pm. The prices are upscale, but would definitely suggest this for a special occasion!
(5)
Deuce D.
This is simply the best food in Indiana, and is priced accordingly. The bisque is wonderful. Read a review that it didn't have a lot of lobster in it...it's bisque, not chowder. It's made via a long process involving shells, stock and LOTS of simmering. It's smooth as silk-- just not something easily reproducible without a lot of time and skill. I love the sashimi tuna appetizer, but am also a big fan of the portabello fries. I wish they had dry aged ribeye all the time like they used to, but there is a sourcing problem from what I was told. The lamb porterhouse was a great alternative. in the dozens of times I've been here, I've never had a steak that wasn't spot on, and they go +/- on all their temps. They warn that well done steaks are not guaranteed, but if you're ruining a steak.... The pinot noir risotto and scallops is one of the perfect dishes about which you should change nothing. It is a perfect meal. The sides are meals unto themselves. Skip the baked potato (it's a potato...) and do the asparagus or the scalloped potato which is almost too rich. All are made for sharing. The wine menu can be daunting, but there are some real gems on there. Ask for advice, or samples of the by-the-glass. Dessert is good, but kind of an afterthought after the entree extravaganza. I would not go just for that like I might somewhere else. Surprisingly good coffee, by the way. And, last, but not least, the service: it does not get better than this. I've never seen a mistake. Never. I say that without reservation. Orders/timing/recommendations, it's all what it should be. You see the same faces over the years instead of the constant parade at other places. I save up to go here. OH!! And NO children! Love that.
(5)
Marilyn C.
We like this place! Great service.
(4)
Chuck C.
If you are looking for class on the North side on Indy, Peterson's is the place. This is the must go place when vender's are paying for your dinner also! I have never had anything I did not totally enjoy from their menu. The rooms are not over the top fancy, you feel relaxed and well taken care of at all times. Remember to eat well and live well! And please no chain's!
(5)
Jay D.
Peterson's is a high end restaurant that is consistently rated as one of the best dining experiences in Indy. It certainly failed to meet our expectations on this night. My wife and I had reservations for 7. We were seated in a nice cozy booth off the bar. Everything was fine until a party of twelve was seated next to us. I'm not against a good time and I don't blame the people that were enjoying themselves but you don't seat a party of 2 trying to enjoy a quiet romantic meal next to them. We ordered an appetizer of portobello fries. They were good, not great. I ordered the lobster bisque and my wife the baby iceberg. The lobster bisque was again good but not great. The baby iceberg however was excellent. We both got steaks. My wife the filet and a KC ribeye for me. We also ordered 2 sides; baby spinach and au gratin potatoes. This is where things didn't go to par. We waited 40 minutes between finishing our soup/salad and our entree arriving. The waiter apologized for the long wait but it's not the dining experience I'm paying for. My wife's filet was excellent, very tender and prepared just right. My KC ribeye was tough and stringy. It was rare although ordered m. rare. You shouldn't have to fight a $50 steak. Overall not the dining experience we anticipated or have experienced in the past.
(2)
Red V.
I do plenty of business entertaining and I think this place has an incredible menu - cannot believe I am in the middle of Indiana. The waitress said they are rated in the top 5 in Indiana every year. I can believe it due to the offerings but maybe we came on an off night. We both ordered seared tuna prepared differently and the Tuna was excellent. The sides were not anything special and a bit overcooked. Salad was good but not great. Great wine list. $120 for 2 including tip for a salad, main course and a glass of wine. A bit pricey compared to what I would expect. I will go again for the steaks next time and reconsider the value. You should go as it presents itself first class and the menu is as well.
(4)
Jeff K.
the service was horrid and the food cold. We had to wait forever for our entrees (at least an hour AFTER finishing apps) and they only appeared once we began debating whether to walk out. There are far too many good restaurants in this city - never again.
(1)
Thu N.
Not sure what the hype is about this place. I've tried it numerous times just to be sure and each time I leave feeling disappointed and ripped off. I am not a fan of over priced food just because the atmosphere tells you it should be over priced. We've tried just about everything on the menu between my eating partners. The seafood bouillabaise is the most disappointing as I love that dish and you can't normally go wrong. Either you know how to make it or you don't. They don't! The steaks have always been cooked wrong and nothing is superb, not even the service. They are very slow. Messed up a few people's order 1 of the times. If I am going to pay what they charge...I expect to either have fabulous service, fabulous food, or preferably BOTH. I get neither here :( I can see if you are going to dinner and corporate pays but I would not pay with my own money to come there and eat.
(1)
Brian M.
We just happened into this local place since out hotel was nearby. It also look good on YELP. The hotel actually recommended them and gave us a coupon for a free desert. I was a little skeptical , but we had a great, reasonably priced meal... and all local !!! It is a steakhouse but i had some great fish, and the staff was attentive but not overbearing -- we liked it so much we went back the second night of our two night trip..[this time for steak] .. if you are nearby, give them a shot!
(4)
Ram-a-lama D.
Just one of the best steaks I've ever had! Not much more to say other than was better than Ruth Chris or Morton's. At least it was this night
(5)
Robert B.
We used to be regulars here and for the life of me I can't figure why we have neglected this place. We sat in the bar area which is usually my preference anywhere. Small group of good friends. Service was outstanding. Great cocktails! Started with Kobe ravioli and Lobster Bruschetta. Ravioli were excellent but the Bruschetta made me feel like Usher, OMG! Something about Lobster, prosciutto, goat cheese, Balsamic vinegar and olive oil that just gives me the goose bumps! So many great ingredients in the same dish was exciting. That said on to entrees.My wife got the Maine Diver Scallops which she loved. I opted for the Tuna. seeing that they serve several different types, I was hoping for my all time favorite Bigeye! I was out of luck. They only had Yellowfin. This came out cooked perfectly RARE! I loved it. It was an excellent cut of tuna that melded extremely well with the accompaniments along side it. Service excellent! Food exquisite! Great overall experience. I can't wait to get back so I can have the Foie Gras and Wagyu Carpaccio appetizers. Stay tuned!
(5)
joey d.
I stand behind Peterson's as THE best steak in Indianapolis. I quite like asking people who has the best steak..because we have soooo many steak and potato joints in Indy. soooo many...ugh
(5)
Russ C.
Popular for business parties entertaining clients which is great for them, bad for you trying to enjoy a nice romantic dinner for two (since kids or anyone under 21 for that matter aren't allowed). Aside from being loud, it is incredibly dark and dreary interior decor. The service was slow and inattentive. The crab cake appetizer was either canned or not fresh -- either way completely unacceptable for an upscale steak and seafood establishment. The steak was salty and a tad overcooked if I recall. Sides were not that great. Overall just underwhelmed. Much better places to get steak or seafood in Indy (Mo's, Oceanairre, Bonefish, Fleming's, Sullivans, etc, etc.). Not worth it even with at $25 restaurant.com coupon -- much better food and service in this price range.
(3)
Jen M.
This review is only for their Graham Cracker ice cream. My brother completely outdid himself for Christmas dinner this year. He ordered Peterson's Graham Cracker ice cream and paid full scoop price to serve 12 people...gulp. The ice cream was very good, however, I have to say that Handel's Graham Central Station ice cream is every bit as good (dare I say better) and WAY less expensive, especially when serving a group that size. I've never eaten at Peterson's but I hope to some day because I hear their food is incredible.
(4)
Meagan B.
I went here for a first date last weekend. We did not have a reservation, however we didn't arrive until 8:45 or 9pm so I think we must have missed the dinner rush. We were sat in a corner to ourselves, which was nice to be able to hear each other. There weren't a ton of people there but I thought it was a little noisy for the number of people. I ordered the scallops which were fantastic! My date ordered the filet, which he enjoyed as well. The service was not very memorable. They left us alone enough to talk but I never felt that I need to get their attention either.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy, Upscale Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Mon Coat Check : Yes Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Andy D.
Very nice local place that I've been to a few times while in town for work... So each time I had dinner here it was with people relative to work. It's location is convenient as well. With that being said, if I lived locally, I would definitely go here for a date night and/or special occasion. The staff has always been professional, and it has a nice ambiance. The food was excellent, and they have a sufficient wine selection. I would definitely go back.
(5)Andrew G.
The experience can be summed up in one word. Amazing! Our server was very nice and knowledgable about the menu. I had a special, dry aged bone-in rib eye. It was perfectly cooked and full of flavor. The restaurant atmosphere was nice and formal. I definitely will be going back for more.
(5)Greg L.
2nd time here. Only reason for 4 stars instead of 5, is because I felt my steak was a little over cooked everywhere but dead center. I ordered it medium. I started with the Lobster Bisque, it was great. The house pretzel bread with cheddar butter is awesome. For my meal I went with the prime 16oz NY strip. Potatoes Au gratin as a side. I feel like the potatoes au gratin was completely different than last year. We finished with the chocolate cake. Huge piece. I brought along a few friends that haven't dined there, we go out a lot together. They mentioned they were impressed with everything. Always good to hear. I'll always go back to Peterson's.
(4)Amiami M.
I'd give this a 3.5 We're not locals and typically rely on Yelp restaurant reviews when we travel. I guess I expected more, but honestly it wasn't bad. The place screams fance. I believe they try to lure in a higher class. The dining room is definitely dressy. The lounge is a bit more relaxed but still upscale. We wandered in after being on a golf course all day hoping for a 5 star meal, even if in the lounge. The place was pretty much a ghost town and our meal still took 45 minutes or better. Drinks were good. Meal was good, but average for the price. Service got better as the better staff arrived. I could see the lure for the locals to enjoy a nice night out but I've had better. My husband loved the lobster bisque. The filet Oscar style was OK. It's fancy but I'm not sure it's worth the hype.
(4)Bryan S.
One of the best steaks I've ever had. We arrived at 8:15 for our 8:45 reservation and were told we would need to wait until our reservation time, which we expected, no problem. We ordered a glass of wine at the bar and even before it was poured, a different host told us our table was ready and he didn't know why we were told we'd have to wait. A little confusion there. The dining room was comfortable and classy. The service was excellent--our sever was cheerful and knowledgable, helpful without hanging around too much. Just perfect. The menu was varied and tempting, with several items I'd never tasted, and I do appreciate such variety, don't you? We went with the tempura lobster fingers ($20), and they were quite good--a little greasy from the frying though. Now for the steaks. My wife and I ordered the same thing: the 8-ounce filet cooked medium ($39). Mine was served medium well and hers medium rare. While this was fine with both of us (we didn't send them back), we mentioned the curiosity to our server who also saw the difference. Shouldn't they be cooked the same? We accompanied our entree with potatoes at gratin ($9) which were perfectly balanced with cheese and bacon. So tastey! Three things made the steak one of the best I've ever had. First, the quality. Tender, no fat or gristle, just excellent. Second, the seasoning. I don't know what it was, but it enhanced the meat without usurping it. Finally, the sauce. There were two: a tomato confit, which I didn't prefer, and the other one. I didn't remember from the menu what it was (sorry!) but it, too, provided just a touch more flavor which lifted the steak to new heights. 4 stars instead of 5 because of the confusion at the front and the inconsistent steak temperature. But I would definitely return and can highly recommend Peterson's to anyone.
(4)Jemmie W.
This is the best high-end independent steakhouse/restaurant in the metro Indianapolis area. There - I said it. Because it's true. The aged steaks are USDA Prime and better than St. Elmo's USDA Choice (St. Elmo's uses Choice and not Prime?!?! Yes.). If I put Choice and Prime side by side and did a blind taste test you would be able to taste the difference. All of the other high end steakhouses in town are chains: Eddie Merlot, Ruth's Chris, Sullivan's, Morton's, Fleming's, Shula's, etc. All of them are pretty good but you know what's the difference between those in Indianapolis and those in any other city in any other state (or country)? Nothing. By design. That's why they are called "chains". The seafood and other items are thoughtfully prepared and delicious. The lobster fingers appetizer is exquisitely prepared and tasty. The decor is old school. The location is right off I-69 and very convenient. Parking is plentiful and easy.
(5)Jennifer S.
While I've worked five minutes from this restaurant for almost eight years now, I've never been inclined to visit until last night. I previewed the Northside Nights menu and was curious to try the 'Tickle Me Tito's', their specialty cocktail for the event, in celebration of a friend's divorce. The bartenders were friendly and greeted us right away, asking if we'd ever been in, then offered a taste of the cocktail before we decided to go for it. We enjoyed our drinks, not too sweet, but far from my usual Dirty Martini. I was pleasantly surprised when we were offered blue cheese stuff olives as we switched over on round two. Realizing we'd hit the floor fast if we didn't munch on something, we requested menus. The prix fixe menu for the event offered several really good options, but we weren't hungry for a 3-4 course meal. Nothing on the dinner menu caught my eye, but the Specials on the bar appetizer menu certainly did. $1 dollar oysters on the 1/2 shell?? Of course we ordered a dozen. They were perfect; served with cocktail sauce & horseradish, a delicate wine sauce, a lemon and Red Hot in case you needed a kick. We were also offered fresh baked bread and crackers. The decor is formal, yet inviting - nothing too pretentious. We were glad to have taken a chance and stopped in, and look forward to trying some of the other daily specials!
(4)Adrienne G.
We had reservations at Peterson's for the day before Valentines Day. It is definitely a classier joint so don't walk in wearing jeans and a t-shirt. However, it does not feel stuffy. It has a very modern, classy ambiance. We were seated and welcomed by our waitress. The had a set, limited menu for Valentine's weekend but it was still diverse enough that we each found something delicious to try. We each ordered the Cesar salad and it was just OK. I would expect the same quality from someplace like Applebees or the like. However, I completely forgot about the salad when I dug into the Center Cut Filet. OMG!! Melt-in-your-mouth delicious! So flavorful and tender. Definitely the best steak I have ever had. We also shared a side of Au Gratin potatoes that were creamy and cheesy and perfect. For desert we shared the Creme Brulee and that was quite good as well. Overall, I was quite impressed with Peterson's. This will be our new restaurant for anniversaries and special date nights!
(5)Ej F.
Worthless! Just left this overpriced steak house with my $90 meal in take home bag. They were not busy at all an after waiting 35+ minutes for my steak I told the light in the loafers waiter to bag the steak and bring me my bill. Will never go back again!!
(1)Rob S.
The lighting and decor was very nice at Petersons. The noise level was louder than desired. They have a nice dining room and also a bar area. My wife got the wedge, redfish, and cheese cake. I got the lobster bisque, filet medallions, and bread pudding. Overall the food was pretty basic. For what we paid I thought I was going to be wowed. Her fish was excellent but my filet medallions had two totally different tastes. One was dry and the other was juicy. The service was fantastic and the wine list was wonderful. Prices ranged from $35-$400 a bottle. We were just not overly impressed by the food.
(3)Amanda R.
Tried this place for the first time during northside nights. We had 8pm reservations and when we got there asked if we wanted to sit in the main room or the lounge. We said we had never been there before so she took us to the lounge. Nice lounge, but had tvs and was distracting from trying to have a nice dinner. Should have sat in the main room. The service we great, but seems like we had 3 or 4 different people helping us out. B had an old fashioned that was nothing special and I had a cucumber type drink that was pretty good. Due to the set menu, we each tried the lobster bisque. Good taste, but not a lot of lobster. For the 2nd course, I had my heart set on the filet medallions - melted like butter! So delicious. B opted for the pork chop after the waiter recommended it. He said I had made the better decision though. Dessert came last then with the white chocolate creme brulee and flourless chocolate cake. Nothing to complain about there! All in all, a great date night. Expensive even for northside nights though.
(4)Sheryl Y.
Ambiance: 8/10; Service 7.5/10; Food: 9/10 The boyfriend and I made reservations for Peterson's to celebrate my birthday. After reading all the mixed reviews, I was a little apprehensive on going. Since we had a gift card, we figured there was no harm in trying this place out and I'm very glad we did. Upon walking into the restaurant, the ambiance gave a very cozy feeling. The hostess was sweet enough to take a birthday picture for us and had it printed out (I thought that was a nice touch). Although our server was very knowledgable and friendly, service was a little spotty. It was a Friday night, so it's understandable. We ordered the lobster tempura and lobster bisque for starters and were pleasantly surprised by how delicious the lobster tempura tasted. The lobster bisque was good but I wish there were more lobster meat in there. For our mains, I ordered the day boat diver scallops and the boyfriend ordered one of their daily specials; steak medallion served with three different sauces. We both enjoyed our dishes but I think the boyfriend enjoyed mine a little more than his own. All in all, I am glad that I got to try this place out for my birthday and will definitely be back again.
(4)Patty L.
Atmosphere is always great! Service was a little odd but I think it was just the night not the norm. Oysters were very unexpectedly bad but the wedge salad is as always the best in Indiana or anywhere as far as I'm concerned. I've never had a better wedge, its the yummy best. Great shrimp cocktail but the cocktail sauce is above average but not the best. Martini was a little weak but stuffed olives were perfect. Jeff loved the Mackerel Special. Overall it was an okay dining experience. Although for the price it should be a wow I loved my dining experience. That was not the case. It wasn't very busy, if I'd been the waiter i would have made it a night to remember. Just saying
(5)Joe H.
A bit spendy, but so delicious! Add in the great service and classy atmosphere and you get a great dining experience. Order the Portobello Fries!
(5)Patton C.
Service is very good. Which is why I am giving any stars. Nice effective servers and management. If they could just get the food thing figured out. Very poor steak quality For supposed USDA prime it was no flavor with tough cutting I think the quality was forgotten sometime at this restaurant
(2)Rob B.
I made reservations over a month prior for my engagement dinner. It was my girlfriend's birthday and I was going to propose. The week prior to the date I made arrangements to meet the event coordinator to see my private booth and to decide on flowers and wine. No one showed up! I called and emailed with no response. I eventually left. After a few hours of no response I called back. I talked to the GM and she didn't know about the meeting. She informed me that no one was there that day. She was confused when I cancelled my reservations! Needless to say I changed venues and she said yes!!
(1)Jim J.
Back for the 2nd time in several months. This continues to be my top steak house in Indy. I can't understand the negative comments. My sister-n-law from Palo Alto(world traveler frequent diner) absolutely insisted we go again. If she raves about the food it "must" be good. She's eaten at more 5 star restaurants around the globe than I even read about. Boneless NY Strip- outstanding. Au gratin potatoes- outstanding candied carrots- outstanding. Creme brûlée- she said best she has ever had. Final touch was a great cup of coffee. A little pricey for my taste but for special occasions is perfect. Much nicer atmosphere than St Elmo's which of course has great steaks
(5)Tim T.
The service sucked,you would think for the price you could bring your meal before 2 hours!!!!
(1)Nichole K.
Been here multiple times and have felt like upper crest, the service was impeccable and attentive. Once was for a birthday, they took our picture and had it presented to us upon our departure. The seating is private in the booth areas, the backing is high, great for a romantic eve or anniversary. Typically we grab a martini or glass of wine at the bar, the martinis are reasonably priced for top shelf vodka. Unlike Ruth Chris they don't smother your steak in butter, but the flavor is just as good. My first duck experience was here as well, the duck crepe is light and flavorful, not gamey like I thought it would be, and tastes nothing like chicken. This place may put a dent in your wallet, but the overall experience and quality of food make you forget the price.
(5)Chip R.
The almost empty parking lot on a Friday night should've been a clue. I hope for the sake of the waitstaff and the bartenders they make some management changes and pay attention to the kitchen. Fish special was cold after taking forever. After waiting 15 minutes for the complimentary appetizer that I had requested, Management comped salads and the one glass of wine but we left tired and hungry.
(1)Travis S.
Honestly...very polished and well executed establishment. They do it right and although it is expensive, it is well worth it. Save your money and dine only once a month and make it Peterson's.
(5)Tamara K.
Had a fabulous anniversary dinner at Peterson's. The staff was wonderfully attentive and made great suggestions for menu items and wine selections. The food was excellent. Highly recommend the bacon wrapped shrimp appetizer.
(5)Tiffany G.
I recently visited Peterson's for a business meeting -- the bar area was quiet enough for conversation, but not so quiet that we were concerned about being overheard. The ambiance is that of a classic steakhouse -- refined and luxurious, but not uncomfortably so. The waitstaff are equally professional and refined, without being stuffy. Think Mad Men in 2013. The wine list is great -- a bit pricy, but I'm not too bothered by that. I have dined previously at Peterson's for a traditional dinner and it was fantastic -- the steaks, mashed potatoes and asparagus are top notch. We did not have dinner this time, but decided to do a round of drinks and some appetizers. Our party had the quail, the meatballs, and the short rib ravioli. All of the dishes were delicious, but my favorite by far was the quail. It was served grilled with Preserved Lemon Risotto and Hunter Farms Jalepeño Honey. Wow. I can't wait to return. The chef here is equally talented with traditional dishes as he is creative with "less traditional" dishes!
(5)William H.
Steaks and sides are excellent. The crab stuffed bacon wrapped shrimp is amazing. Don't bother saving room for dessert - you will be disappointed if you do. The pastry chef is far too concerned with presentation. Just because a small amount of something us smeared on a plate doesn't mean it is part of the ingredients.
(4)Cory S.
Overall good selection of liquor including makers, Johnnie Walker Blue, Black and others.. The food was good, but limited as we had a select menu in our room for the event. The ceasar salad was good with just the right amount of dressing. I had a chicken something or another for my main meal and they brought out some sides to share. The mashed potatoes were very good and had good flavor. The green beans were fresh and cooked well. Service was good.. they kept our drinks filled and took good care of us overall.
(4)Rhonda W.
One of my favorite high-end restaurants in the city. Great food, excellent service, nice decor! They also provide a complimentary picture on when dining on special occasions.
(4)Twinkle V.
By far some of the best wine service I've had in Indy. Loved the wine chat and loved the romantic atmosphere. Service was above and beyond, and the food was really superb. Prices were pretty high, but they do offer a Monday half-price night on bottles of wine under $150. This I can deal with! Our food was pretty fabulous, and although we ordered from the Northside Nights menu only, we could tell the regular items had to pretty dang awesome, as well. Hello, Truffle Butter. (Which by the way I HAD to order anyway) Go here. AS unassuming as the outside of the building is, it is definitely worth a try.
(5)Joe I.
My wife and I dined at Peterson's last night. We both ordered the asparagus soup which we both though was very good. I had the filet and she had the bone in strip. The steaks were cooked perfectly and quite flavorful. As a side, we ordered the butternut risotto, which tasted excellent.
(4)A B.
I would probably give petersons a 3.5. I went here with a group of people from work. The food was good, but no one seemed to be blown away by their food. Several people complained that there are too many seafood type dishes. Most of the table ordered steaks. The filet was good, but tasted very plain and I did not finish it all. I would've preferred more seasoning. The biggest disappointment was the side dishes. The mashed potatoes had mushrooms in it and were not very good. The macaroni and cheese had crab in it and most of the table did not like it. The creamed corn was too smoky. The soup served with my meal was pretty good. The service was pretty good, but we sensed an attitude from the ladies at the hostess stand. Desserts were pretty good, especially the carrot cake. I'm glad that I didn't have to foot the bill for this meal. I highly doubt that I return because I did not feel like the steaks were worth the prices that they charged.
(3)Marcie M.
Honestly it doesn't get much better than Peterson's. The company I work for (Beach Bum Vacations) takes our entire group here every January for our annual Christmas party and we often have special celebration meals here as well. It's a WONDERFUL restaurant. I have NEVER had a bad filet here. I get it Oscar-style and it is melt in your hot, watery mouth amazingness. It is literally better than sex. Sorry - is that Yelp appropriate. Sorry honey. It is just literally one of my favorite meals I've ever had. This is not to mention the f-ing dessert and the brushetta appetizer. Good lord....I'm getting excited writing this so I better gooooo. But you know, you should try it. I'm not messing around about this incredible food.
(5)Torrey R.
This place is fantastic in terms of ambiance. I requested a quiet corner in my reservation and was given exactly that. Everyone knew upon our arrival what we were celebrating and everyone congratulated us. The downsides of the place is the cost. It was pretty pricy, especially for what we were given. Also, I found the food to be a little too salty. I ordered the prime rib medium rare but it was given to me medium. I was too hungry to take it back. My husband loved his aged strip and that was cooked perfectly. With as many great steak places as there are in town, I'm undecided if I will try here again.
(4)Melissa L.
My husband won an award at work and we were able to pick any restaurant in Indy to dine at. We chose Petersons due to raving reviews from friends and because we drive by every day since we live right down the road. My husband doesn't get as excited over food as I do, and I think he talked about our meal for 3 days. It was quite possibly the best meal we have ever had. Drinks were perfect and the shrimp wrapped in bacon was outstanding. My husband got the double filet oscar style...Best steak I have ever had hands down. I got the scallops and those were amazing as well. Our waiter was helpful and very knowledgeable about the menu. This place is definitely worth the price...we will be back!
(5)Greg M.
Perfect for date night. Excellent food served in a quiet atmosphere. Probably one of the better steakhouses on the North side of Indianapolis.
(5)Sherry H.
Overwhelmingly underwhelming. After hearing many rave reviews, I was so looking forward to dining at Peterson's for the first time after moving to Indy 7 years ago from Chicago. As a former employee of Sullivan's Chicago and patron of Capital Grille, Morton's, Chicago Chop House, David Burke...etc., I've been able to enjoy some very delicious and well-prepared meals. This was not the case tonight. While our server was knowledgable and mostly attentive, our birthday party of 6 was very disappointed. A prime rib ordered medium-rare came out well done. Why it left the kitchen in the first place is a wonder. Where are the standards?! The manager comped a ribeye to replace which came out at the proper temp but without seasoning and a baked potato that was hard and raw inside. Two "dry-aged" ribeyes at the table were also at the proper temp but not seasoned and did not have the flavor of a properly aged piece of meat. One also was one-third gristle and fat. Not marbling. Fat. My wild boar Wellington was cooked well but went downhill after the first bite, even after adding a generous sprinkle of salt to every piece. Bacon-wrapped shrimp was overcooked and dry. Out of twelve oysters, every one had pieces of shell (not grit) and mangled by a seemingly first-time shucker. We also didn't know which oysters were which as two different servers gave us different explanations of what was presented to us. The table beside us also sent an entree back and left soon after. The lobster bisque was the only food item that I can recommend, as the lobster flavor was very prominent and indicative of a well-made stock. While we took our time ordering and enjoying our apps, we were not served our entrees until well after the two-hour mark after being seated. The manager was apologetic and receptive of our criticisms, but with the timing issues, inconsistent food, and under seasoned everything, I am shocked at the number of positive experiences at this establishment. Perhaps the time to dine at Peterson's is in the past, for after nearly 3.5 hours and $550 (with a comped entree), we want our time and money back. Update: Upped to two stars. Joe Peterson followed up with our party and sent some gift cards. Not sure when we will be back but his attention to the matter earns another star in my book.
(2)Meg T.
Great atmosphere for a date or a special night out! Food is pricy, as to be expected at a steakhouse with the top 2% of steaks. The halibut special and lamb were both very good. If you order coffee, they bring out a cigar box fill with various goodies to add additional flavor. They also give you scrumptious chocolates. Overall, very good! Initially, a food runner, not my server, brought out the wrong meal, but my server immediately saw and fixed the problem. This incident was the only reason I lowered my rating from excellent. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(4)Lisa H.
Have been a Petersons fan for many years and was happy to see them as one of the top 25 restaurants in Indy. However, last night was not up to a top 25 standard. Service was impeccable, wine was perfect, and from portabella fries to sugar cream pie flavors were spot on. The issue was my steak. I ordered the special, a 21 day aged NY strip, which was cooked as ordered, however, 1/3 of the steak was inedible. Huge piece of gristle that was impossible to get through. It appears it was the end of the strip versus a nice cut in the middle. You would think someone in the kitchen would have looked at that steak and thought hmmm, maybe not up to our standard. If I'm paying $69 for a steak, I expect it to be perfect, it was not last night, sorry to say.
(3)Debra T.
If you looking to wait over an hour to be served that this is your place, If your looking for Management to be rude, this is your place! We had a 8:30 reservation and were seated in bar, not busy but notion they shorted menu for New Year's Eve , the 4 of us ordered apps and drinks, that came quick, it took over another hour to get our dinner, the waiter Brad wouldn't even come over I tried to wave him down he wouldn't even look our way, the Lady manager came over to tell us that our meals would be there in 1 min, 2 minutes later We ask again she said I don't know? Well who would know??? They where not nice or sorry, that is for sure!! The food was ok, nothing special at all!! We had 2 steaks and 2 fish, Very plain very bland!! The restroom was dirty,towels on the floor, we eat out all the time in all price places, now I remember why it has been years since we been there, the manager was WAY out of her league! For over $300.00 it should have been better....at 10:40 we finally were out the door we had to eat so fast to make our party.
(1)Joe C.
Great ambiance. Great menu. Great food an cocktails... Ask for Jan as she is the best...there is a reason Petersons has been awarded Wine Spectators award of excellence as well as one of Indy's best restaurants .. It is a special place..make a visit as it will be memorable
(5)Amanda D.
Ate here with a group of friends, with reservations made in advance. Everything was delicious! We split a filet duet with a lobster tail. One of the best filets I've had in a while. Got a yummy raspberry vodka drink too. Finished the meal with a trio of ice cream (which we later discovered were sundaes.. My favorite part!!) would definitely come back to celebrate special occasions.
(4)Bill J.
Why does Peterson's deserve 5 stars? Because I can't find a reason *not* to give it 5 stars. Not even close to finding a reason. It's on the pricey side, but you're paying for excellent service and great food, so it's worth it. I recently had dinner at Peterson's and chose the dry-aged NY Strip that was one of the specials that evening. Not sure that I've ever had a better steak. Perfectly prepared and even better than I expected it to be. The building is small, but doesn't feel crowded. Same with the bar - it's small, but I've never felt crowded there. Definitely check Peterson's out the next time you are in the mood for a steak. They have some excellent sounding seafood option, Gunthorp Farms chicken and at least one pork entree but I've always gotten a steak the times I've been here.
(5)Kari R.
Good food, good service. The wine list is great. All around a great steakhouse
(4)Scott M.
I went with parents, and sister & brother-in-law to try local family restaurant, over increasing stable of national chains in this class of restaurant,While the ambiance & wait staff were all very pleasant,i was under whelmed by the menu(last updated 1997?), especially as high as the prices are. The food was good, not great & bar service was slow on a quiet night.
(2)Cindy L.
Excellent wait staff. Presentation of entrée was perfect. Bloody Mary was very tasty. Do not miss ordering their aged beef steaks, best in Indy!
(5)Stephen M.
The best restaurant in Fishers that I've been to. Expect to make an evening of the experience. Ask what they have that's not on the menu, and discover hidden secrets. The salt-rubbed roast was extraordinary - hasn't been matched since. I make my own steaks at home, fresh from the local butcher, exactly how I want them. No chef in the world knows my tastes better than me. So I don't order steaks in restaurants. Unless it's absolutely extraordinary, it's bound to cause disappointment compared to what I can make at home. So I can't rank Peterson's on steaks. Soup and appetizers are superb. The bisque is very good. The waitstaff is formal and responsive. This waitstaff WILL NOT interrupt your meal and ask "how are we doing?" Thank goodness! Next time somebody asks me that, I'm going to scream. Nor will they try to take your dishes from right under your fork. Why do so many restaurants attempt to snatch up your plate as soon as you slow down? Are they running low on dishes? This is exactly what it posits: a quiet formal evening dining experience with top-shelf (expensive) drink and food. If you expect something else, you'll be disappointed.
(5)Shelly F.
This restaurant never disappoint us. Starting with the food (which is why most people choose a dining establishment in the first place), it is among the best restaurants in Indy with its primarily seafood and meat menu. Unlike many restaurants in our fine city that overdo it on the serving sizes to mask the fact that the food is simply mediocre, Peterson's offers suitable portions that leave you satisfied but not overwhelmed. Fresh ingredients, beautiful presentations, warm bread with fresh butter and walnut pesto, a great array of desserts...ahhh! What puts Peterson's above other upper-end steak and seafood establishments though is its service. Attentive, but not overbearing, servers and bus staff. An unpretentious wine steward who truly wants to help you navigate their impressive wine menu and select a wine that suits your taste and budget, without making you feel as if you're a Hoosier whose preferences in alcohol gravitate toward Coor's Light and Cuervo tequila shots. Take your pick: A relaxed, friendly atmosphere where you can feel comfortable in jeans (nice ones, please) or a suit. A romantic night with your loved one or a place to close a business deal with clients. A quiet table for two or a spot at the bar where you can enjoy an expertly made cocktail while watching a game and enjoying extraordinary food in a lively atmosphere. Pricey? For Indianapolis, it is. But worth every penny.
(5)Cliff H.
I really had high hopes for this restaurant. I'm a regular at Sullivan's but after reading reviews on Yelp I decided to give it a try. Nice atmosphere and great service. However it gets 1 star as a steakhouse for me. Why one star?? Because both my partner and I had to send our steaks back because they were severely overcooked. We ordered Medium and got Well Done TWICE!! I'm sticking with Sullivan's for now. Sorry Petersons but if this was Top Chef you'd have to "pack up your knives and go".
(1)Jelly R.
We got last minute Saturday evening reservations on opentable.com . There were several open parking spaces. The hostess was friendly. The atmosphere was comfortable and relatively quiet. Outside of New Year's and stuff like that, i hate the idea of having to get all dolled up to go somewhere, so I was relieved that the others in the restaurant and bar were dressed in what I'd call business casual (not jeans or khakis, but not business suits or cocktail dresses, either). The menu, like most steakhouses, was relatively simple. My husband started with a caesar salad, while I had the seafood chowder special. The soup was larger than expected, and probably could have been eaten as a (small) meal in and of itself. I ordered a 12 oz. New York strip steak, and he ordered the 14 oz. double filet, both cooked medium rare. He ate his plain, while I ordered hollandaise sauce for mine. As expected, the steaks were excellent: Peterson's advertises in their menu that they only serve the top 2% cuts. For sides, we got the red skin mashed potatoes and the lobster mac and cheese. I thought the lobster mac and cheese was just "okay," and seemed a bit watery and bland, though my husband raved about it (I had talked him out of the butternut squash risotto in favor of the lobster mac and cheese). I highly recommend the red skin mashed potatoes, though. Like the food, the service was excellent.
(5)Drue S.
My wife and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary here, and it was great. Service was very friendly and thorough. The atmosphere was great as well. It was dimly lit too, which is great for any romantic dinner. The food was cooked to our specifications, and tasted great too. It was everything you would expect from a high end restaurant. They did give us free champagne and a dessert to celebrate our anniversary too. Price was high, but that is what we expected. A beer, mixed drink, 2 salads, lobster tail, and the 16 oz strip ran about $140 not including the tip. We'd definitely go back. Five stars!
(5)Carey D.
I've went here for several professional dinners. Have always been impressed with the service, ambiance and the food. Hands down the best steak I've ever had. Blows the downtown steakhouses out of the water in my opinion! I'd definitely go here more often but since I live in Greenwood and it is in Fishers, it's a fairly long haul! But definitely worth the drive! :)
(5)Jason K.
The pride and joy of Indianapolis. This restaurant has two Master chefs. One who specializes in the food while the other specializes in pastries. Their steaks are beautifully picked and cut. They cook their steaks to a T. I eat my steak rare to enjoy the real flavor of steak(NO A-1 SAUCE!!!) this places steaks have that beautiful charcoal flavor. As well my friend had the sushi grade tuna that was just devine. They lightly seared each side like a Japanese tataki and it just melted in my mouth.
(5)john p.
i've been to peterson's over a dozen times and have yet to leave w/o thinking that it's a GREAT restaurant. the food is a little on the pricey side, but it's always worth it. I've had an assortment of steaks and seafood dishes and i am always blown away. also the staff is extremely friendly and very aware of their guests. these waiters should teach classes to the rest of the country on how to serve! ps ask for the flourless chocolate cake for dessert, it's the best dessert i've ever had!
(5)Frank Y.
Quick and dirty: Upscale atmosphere with a good wine and food selection. Very good food and excellent service with a noise level that permits reasonable conversation even in the bar. We often stop here midweek after work for wine and munchies from the appetizer menu. Over the last few months, the appetizer menu has been shrinking, but good selections still remain. The have a very good wine list both by the bottle and by the glass. Very good for both steaks and seafood. They have one of the top two lobster bisques in town (they are tied with the Columbia Club in this regard). Excellent steak toppers. Be prepared - entrees and sides are al la carte. Highly recommended. On this trip, we went there at around 5:30 PM on February 13th (I'm a bit behind on my reviews) on one of our after work drop-ins. We had their signature stuffed shrimp and the meatballs. Shrimp: "3 Shrimp Stuffed with Our House Made Crab Cake Mix, and Wrapped in Applewood Smoked Bacon from The Smoking Goose." Large, meaty shrimp stuffed with a crab mixture, wrapped in bacon, and baked. The order normally comes with three shrimp, but they will add a fourth (so the order can be evenly divided by two) for a slight additional charge. The saltiness of the bacon nicely sets off the tastes of the shrimp and stuffing. The crab mixture has a good flavor and stands up well to the other taste combinations. Recommended. Meatballs: "A Family Tradition with 9 Meatballs, Brown Sugar Barbeque Sauce, Black Pepper Croustinis." Very flavorful in a sweet barbeque sauce. The meatballs are about an inch in diameter - nice single bites. Recommended.
(4)Gabriel M.
As far as steak places go, you can definitely do better...especially in Indianapolis.
(2)Gessica A.
The food and staff won't disappoint here! The crab stuff shrimp wrapped in bacon and blueberry donuts.....are the best!!!
(5)David V.
I had reservations on a Monday night - requested a table in a quiet area since it was a special occasion. We were seated in the back room next to a group of 12. Within the next 20 minutes, 3 more large groups were seated in our proximity. It was so loud, we could not hear each other across the table. Finally, the waitress moved us to another area. It was quieter, but this is just a loud place. This was on a Monday when the place was maybe 15% full. The food was okay; nothing special - but when I pay big $$ for steak, I expect better.
(2)Ted S.
Great steak! Enjoyable supper.
(5)Mark D.
One of my favorite things to do...sit at the bar, order a bottle of wine and eat a steak with my wife. Try it., amazing food-wine and a friendly low-key ambiance.
(5)Matt K.
I was stunned to find a restaurant of this caliber in the suburbs of Indianapolis. I've really enjoyed the beef I've had here; it's on par with some of the best steaks I've had around the country. The wine list is impressive and the sommelier is helpful.
(5)Benjamin R.
They make good steaks.
(4)Marcia G.
We were 4 people on a Tuesday evening during the Northsidenightsindy promotion which featured a 3 course meal for $30pp. We have dined at Petersons on a number of previous occasions and always had very good meals. The food was excellent. Both salads offered on this promotion were fresh and good. 3 of our party had the filet and all pronounced it excellent. My mahi mahi was superb. The raspberry sorbet had a rich flavor and was a perfect ending with a good cip of coffee. The flourless chocolate cake was very much like a thick hunk of fudge - too rich to enjoy more than a small piece but great flavor. The service was a tad too attentive - plates whisked away at the earliest possible moment, before all 4 of us were finished with the course. However, the fly in the ointment were the unexpected and chintzy extra charges for what I don't consider "extras" in a restaurant of Peterson's caliber. We were charged $.75 per anchovy on the Caesar salad; that was $3 for 4 anchovies. One member of our party had the wedge salad and asked for some of the thin cracker- like wafer that was served on the Caesar. Those crackers appeared on the bill for $3. Because we considered these charges uncharacteristic and inappropriate, we brought them to the attention of the manager who simply said the charges reflected his costs. We will return to Petersons for their good food but are disappointed and hope they will revise this practice which is more suitable for a fast food chain.
(4)Brad W.
Here's how our night went: - Bacon-wrapped Shrimp (3 for $20, but amazing) - Coconut Martini (Wife loved it) - Glass of Cabernet ($14, very good) - Lobster Bisque Soup ($8, Not too much lobster in it, but great taste) - Mixed Greens Salad ($7, Delicious and sooo fresh!) - 16 oz. Ribeye ($37, Not the *best* steak I've ever had, but probably Top 15. Go to Texas and you'll get twice the steak for half the price.) - Amish Chicken Roulade ($27, Wife said it was "the least favorite part of the meal". Orzo was so-so, chicken was kind of bland. For the price, go with some of the fresh seafood instead.) - A flourless chocolate torte was complimentary since we were celebrating our anniversary. Save some of your red wine for this! Delicious, almost like eating fudge. Rich and decadent. - Two truffles for the road, compliments as well! Used the recent $70 Groupon for a night out and was treated just as a normal customer (Groupons typically get the raised nose at this type of place, just tip well and you'll help the rest who come behind you :) Got out of the door for $50 + tip with the Groupon (paid $35), amazing meal for a great price.
(5)Ruben L.
I would almost have gone 4.5, but our waiter seemed more concerned with the table next to us. Saw this on yelp, and figured, "hey, we live pretty close, let's go check this place out." I'm glad we did. This unassuming restaurant was great, and even though it's in an odd location, my wife and I are glad it is where it is. Ambience- Very classy place. It's kind of dark in the place, but it makes it seem very intimate. Certainly not a casual place, most people were pretty well dressed, and it definitely seemed like a special occasion type of place. There are two sections of tables on each side, and a bar in the middle. Service- Our server was great (when he wasn't engaging the table next to us). As I alluded to before, our server was mixing it up with a table right next to us. Evidently, it was someone's b-day, so he was making special efforts to accomodate them. I can respect that. Even still, our server was very knowledgeable of the menu, and took extra time to explain the menu, as it was our first time. They had a team approach to serving, which was nice, because we always had someone attending to our drinks, or questions. Food- we started off with an order of portabello "fries." They are what you imagined. Panko breaded portabello mushrooms served with a horse radish cream ($8). we were STARVING, and these deep fried pieces of goodness really hit the spot. Considering they were deep fried, they were pretty lite. And actually before that, they gave us some bread, with a walnut pesto sauce, and an appetizer that tasted similar to chilaquiles (just A piece) to get our taste buds going. The bread was soft, and the walnut pesto was surprisingly good. The "Chilaquile" like dish was just ok. Hey, it was free, so how could I say no? For dinner my wife got the diver scallops with risotto, and I got a 16 oz rib eye with a crab meat risotto on a portabello cap. My wife's scallops were cooked well, and had a nice light flavor, that was paired with an apple relish (it totally worked, and didn't really have an apple taste to it). The risotto had just a bit too much garlic in it, but not SO over powering. I ordered my steak medium, but it actually came out medium rare. Didn't matter, the steak was that good. I admit, my first bite didn't blow my mind, but each sequential bite did. There was a slight bit of au jus served with it, but honestly, it didn't need it. The steak was seasoned beautifully, and I enjoyed each and every bite. For dessert we got the mile high coconut German chocolate cake. The thing was MASSIVE. Clearly good enough for 6 people, my wife and I attempted to dent this cake. We did pretty well, but the cake was so dense, and so rich with chocolaty goodness, that we had to take it home. Overall- certainly not a place you would go to every day, we really enjoyed this place. Again, the service was spotty at some points, but for the most part, they were spot on. I would recommend this place for a first date, or a special occasion. Chuck Norris rating- Spinning pile driver
(4)Luca B.
Good food and great service. Just a little expensive.
(4)Chris C.
Every time I walk in to a restaurant it has 100 points. Then a point gets deducted here, a point there. Sooner or later so many points have been deducted that a score that relates to a 1-5 star rating can be assessed, and a yelp review can be written. I walked into Peterson's and there was no hostess to greet me. Five points deducted. That was it. No more points came off. Did I have to pay for how great this meal was? Yes. Fortunately most of it is paid for by work. But, for the parts that weren't, I was more than happy to contribute my own funds. For the meal itself, just follow the menu. There is an appetizer that is highlighted - the bacon wrapped, crab stuffed shrimp. There isn't much you could do to make this dish much better. I followed this up with the beet salad. At home, this is something very similar to what I make when I want to splurge and have the time to put it together. I do it a bit different, but this salad was amazing. Dinner was a bit difficult for me. Did I want to get the asparagus? Or the Brussels sprouts? What a strange question to ask. The entree was a no brainer though - the 16oz. New York strip. Yes, it is a bit pricey, weighing in at $49, but I can say that I have not had a better steak in the Indianapolis area. I don't know what it is about steaks in the area; the great steak places have amazingly tender steaks, but there's always this strange part on the New York strips. It's generally in the middle of the steak on the side that's away from the bone (on a steak that isn't served with the bone, it would be next to the fatty side). Right in this spot, it always seems like the steak wasn't properly cut or properly aged, and this area is usually inedible. It's annoying, turning what should be a 16oz steak into about a 13oz steak. I have yet to encounter this problem back east, or in Chicago; it really seems to be limited to every steak I have in Indy. Maybe Peterson's is far enough away that this rule does not apply. Or maybe there is a restaurant in town that knows how to butcher and/or age a steak where you don't have this problem. All I have to say is, when in Indy, I now know where to go for a steak that doesn't require compromising food, ambiance, service or individuality. For any New Yorker that may be reading this, I feel like I have to qualify my review as being restricted to the Indy area. While Peterson's would still be a great restaurant back east, it probably wouldn't get the high marks I'm giving it if it were located on 5th Avenue. Read that as you will, because it would probably still be earning 5 stars in either location.
(5)J T.
An ideal spot for a casual conversation at the bar, a quite evening out or a non-rushed business dinner - as was last night. The service was as I like, attentive but not pushy or intruding. Food was very good with and everything cooked perfectly: rib eye, scallops and ahi. The vegetables, especially the snow peas and asparagus were particularly fine. Outstanding wine list. No room for desert. It was quite enough to have a nice round table conversation and we sat for an hour after dinner telling stories, as we do, without being pushed out the door accepting offers for more coffee, even after we said no.
(4)Becky Y.
I'm a Mortons and Capital Grill girl. but you know what Petersons is good for? their bar eats. forget about the main dining room. it's freezing in there, anyway (I hate how fine dining does that. Maybe it's to accommodate all the men in their suit and ties but still. Makes your food go cold fast too). Duck legs, crab cake, teriyaki ribs. Skip the meatballs. But my favorite is their ONION RING tower. You know how MacNivens has fat onion rings? Like that. but bigger and better, yeah it's possible! Stroll into their bar and just order that alone for dinner. Knife and fork that humble $8 root veggie with relish. awesome! Bartenders are friendly and won't frown on you for doing it, either. oh yeah, sometimes it's even part of their special rotating Thurs happy hour 50% deal and you can have that baby buster for $4 (!!!)-- Yes you can order off the regular menu in the bar too. I had their scallops once. They were good. But not a big Hello Dolly bc fresh fat sweet scallops do all the work themselves--some s&p, quick sear, splash o' white wine, squeeze o' lemon, you're good. not a tremendous lot of skill req'd. Costco is down the street.
(3)Jennifer P.
I was there a week ago and I honestly can't remember what I had for an entree, so I guess it was not "the best I ever had" of whatever it was. I do remember the WEDGE SALAD was a delight -- not just bleu cheese, but pears, walnuts, and balsamic vinegar made THAT a top five salad for me. The atmosphere is very nice. Our server was a bit to excited about the special--- we butterfly the shrimp, stuff it with crabmeat, and wrap it in BACON!! (alllllrightly).
(4)Jennifer J.
Love their food here. We go here for special occasions and always love the entire visit. Friendly waiters and amazing food. In my opinion, this is better than Sullivans and Ruth Chris, which I have been to quite a bit. They have a great special side room my Dad once rented out to surprise my mom for their 30th with all of our family and friends. Very reasonable priced and they helped him out with all of the details, down to getting some flowers for the room.
(5)Kelly F.
Stopped next door (wolfie's) for a beer and asked for a nice restaurant suggestion since we both were from out of town. Peterson's was suggested. We went for dinner on Thursday night, and had excellent service, wonderful food; I had the pan seared tuna, while my friend had the crabcakes. Both of us were extremely happy with the meal. The ambiance is cozy elegance, and was pretty busy for 8 pm. The prices are upscale, but would definitely suggest this for a special occasion!
(5)Deuce D.
This is simply the best food in Indiana, and is priced accordingly. The bisque is wonderful. Read a review that it didn't have a lot of lobster in it...it's bisque, not chowder. It's made via a long process involving shells, stock and LOTS of simmering. It's smooth as silk-- just not something easily reproducible without a lot of time and skill. I love the sashimi tuna appetizer, but am also a big fan of the portabello fries. I wish they had dry aged ribeye all the time like they used to, but there is a sourcing problem from what I was told. The lamb porterhouse was a great alternative. in the dozens of times I've been here, I've never had a steak that wasn't spot on, and they go +/- on all their temps. They warn that well done steaks are not guaranteed, but if you're ruining a steak.... The pinot noir risotto and scallops is one of the perfect dishes about which you should change nothing. It is a perfect meal. The sides are meals unto themselves. Skip the baked potato (it's a potato...) and do the asparagus or the scalloped potato which is almost too rich. All are made for sharing. The wine menu can be daunting, but there are some real gems on there. Ask for advice, or samples of the by-the-glass. Dessert is good, but kind of an afterthought after the entree extravaganza. I would not go just for that like I might somewhere else. Surprisingly good coffee, by the way. And, last, but not least, the service: it does not get better than this. I've never seen a mistake. Never. I say that without reservation. Orders/timing/recommendations, it's all what it should be. You see the same faces over the years instead of the constant parade at other places. I save up to go here. OH!! And NO children! Love that.
(5)Marilyn C.
We like this place! Great service.
(4)Chuck C.
If you are looking for class on the North side on Indy, Peterson's is the place. This is the must go place when vender's are paying for your dinner also! I have never had anything I did not totally enjoy from their menu. The rooms are not over the top fancy, you feel relaxed and well taken care of at all times. Remember to eat well and live well! And please no chain's!
(5)Jay D.
Peterson's is a high end restaurant that is consistently rated as one of the best dining experiences in Indy. It certainly failed to meet our expectations on this night. My wife and I had reservations for 7. We were seated in a nice cozy booth off the bar. Everything was fine until a party of twelve was seated next to us. I'm not against a good time and I don't blame the people that were enjoying themselves but you don't seat a party of 2 trying to enjoy a quiet romantic meal next to them. We ordered an appetizer of portobello fries. They were good, not great. I ordered the lobster bisque and my wife the baby iceberg. The lobster bisque was again good but not great. The baby iceberg however was excellent. We both got steaks. My wife the filet and a KC ribeye for me. We also ordered 2 sides; baby spinach and au gratin potatoes. This is where things didn't go to par. We waited 40 minutes between finishing our soup/salad and our entree arriving. The waiter apologized for the long wait but it's not the dining experience I'm paying for. My wife's filet was excellent, very tender and prepared just right. My KC ribeye was tough and stringy. It was rare although ordered m. rare. You shouldn't have to fight a $50 steak. Overall not the dining experience we anticipated or have experienced in the past.
(2)Red V.
I do plenty of business entertaining and I think this place has an incredible menu - cannot believe I am in the middle of Indiana. The waitress said they are rated in the top 5 in Indiana every year. I can believe it due to the offerings but maybe we came on an off night. We both ordered seared tuna prepared differently and the Tuna was excellent. The sides were not anything special and a bit overcooked. Salad was good but not great. Great wine list. $120 for 2 including tip for a salad, main course and a glass of wine. A bit pricey compared to what I would expect. I will go again for the steaks next time and reconsider the value. You should go as it presents itself first class and the menu is as well.
(4)Jeff K.
the service was horrid and the food cold. We had to wait forever for our entrees (at least an hour AFTER finishing apps) and they only appeared once we began debating whether to walk out. There are far too many good restaurants in this city - never again.
(1)Thu N.
Not sure what the hype is about this place. I've tried it numerous times just to be sure and each time I leave feeling disappointed and ripped off. I am not a fan of over priced food just because the atmosphere tells you it should be over priced. We've tried just about everything on the menu between my eating partners. The seafood bouillabaise is the most disappointing as I love that dish and you can't normally go wrong. Either you know how to make it or you don't. They don't! The steaks have always been cooked wrong and nothing is superb, not even the service. They are very slow. Messed up a few people's order 1 of the times. If I am going to pay what they charge...I expect to either have fabulous service, fabulous food, or preferably BOTH. I get neither here :( I can see if you are going to dinner and corporate pays but I would not pay with my own money to come there and eat.
(1)Brian M.
We just happened into this local place since out hotel was nearby. It also look good on YELP. The hotel actually recommended them and gave us a coupon for a free desert. I was a little skeptical , but we had a great, reasonably priced meal... and all local !!! It is a steakhouse but i had some great fish, and the staff was attentive but not overbearing -- we liked it so much we went back the second night of our two night trip..[this time for steak] .. if you are nearby, give them a shot!
(4)Ram-a-lama D.
Just one of the best steaks I've ever had! Not much more to say other than was better than Ruth Chris or Morton's. At least it was this night
(5)Robert B.
We used to be regulars here and for the life of me I can't figure why we have neglected this place. We sat in the bar area which is usually my preference anywhere. Small group of good friends. Service was outstanding. Great cocktails! Started with Kobe ravioli and Lobster Bruschetta. Ravioli were excellent but the Bruschetta made me feel like Usher, OMG! Something about Lobster, prosciutto, goat cheese, Balsamic vinegar and olive oil that just gives me the goose bumps! So many great ingredients in the same dish was exciting. That said on to entrees.My wife got the Maine Diver Scallops which she loved. I opted for the Tuna. seeing that they serve several different types, I was hoping for my all time favorite Bigeye! I was out of luck. They only had Yellowfin. This came out cooked perfectly RARE! I loved it. It was an excellent cut of tuna that melded extremely well with the accompaniments along side it. Service excellent! Food exquisite! Great overall experience. I can't wait to get back so I can have the Foie Gras and Wagyu Carpaccio appetizers. Stay tuned!
(5)joey d.
I stand behind Peterson's as THE best steak in Indianapolis. I quite like asking people who has the best steak..because we have soooo many steak and potato joints in Indy. soooo many...ugh
(5)Russ C.
Popular for business parties entertaining clients which is great for them, bad for you trying to enjoy a nice romantic dinner for two (since kids or anyone under 21 for that matter aren't allowed). Aside from being loud, it is incredibly dark and dreary interior decor. The service was slow and inattentive. The crab cake appetizer was either canned or not fresh -- either way completely unacceptable for an upscale steak and seafood establishment. The steak was salty and a tad overcooked if I recall. Sides were not that great. Overall just underwhelmed. Much better places to get steak or seafood in Indy (Mo's, Oceanairre, Bonefish, Fleming's, Sullivans, etc, etc.). Not worth it even with at $25 restaurant.com coupon -- much better food and service in this price range.
(3)Jen M.
This review is only for their Graham Cracker ice cream. My brother completely outdid himself for Christmas dinner this year. He ordered Peterson's Graham Cracker ice cream and paid full scoop price to serve 12 people...gulp. The ice cream was very good, however, I have to say that Handel's Graham Central Station ice cream is every bit as good (dare I say better) and WAY less expensive, especially when serving a group that size. I've never eaten at Peterson's but I hope to some day because I hear their food is incredible.
(4)Meagan B.
I went here for a first date last weekend. We did not have a reservation, however we didn't arrive until 8:45 or 9pm so I think we must have missed the dinner rush. We were sat in a corner to ourselves, which was nice to be able to hear each other. There weren't a ton of people there but I thought it was a little noisy for the number of people. I ordered the scallops which were fantastic! My date ordered the filet, which he enjoyed as well. The service was not very memorable. They left us alone enough to talk but I never felt that I need to get their attention either.
(5)