Indianapolis Spotlight: Love Handle

Love Handle is a unique and celebrated eatery in Indianapolis, known for its inventive and adventurous approach to comfort food.¹

Here is a comprehensive overview of the restaurant:

🌟 What Makes Love Handle Unique

Love Handle stands out for its unconventional menu that often features overlooked cuts of meat and unusual ingredient pairings, all served in a casual, mom-and-pop style setting.²

• Adventurous Cuisine: Chef Chris Benedyk is known for utilizing ingredients like tendons, tongue, belly, and heart, transforming them into sophisticated and flavorful creations.³

   

• The Daily Chalkboard Menu: The menu changes frequently, sometimes weekly, keeping the offerings fresh and encouraging repeat visits for new discoveries.⁴

   

• Nostalgic Vibe: The restaurant often incorporates a nostalgic 80s/90s vibe in its decor and some of its creative dishes, adding a playful layer to the dining experience.⁵

   

• Focus on Local/Artisanal: They commit to using meats from local producers like Fisher Farms and Miller Chicken, and vegetables from sources like Matt Jose’s Mad Farmer’s Collective.⁶

   

📜 History and Significant Events

Love Handle’s story in Indianapolis involves a couple of key location changes and major recognition:

• Milwaukee Origins (Pre-Indy): Owners Chris and Ally Benedyk first opened Love Handle in Milwaukee in 2013, where it quickly earned praise for its creative sandwiches and small plates.

• Indianapolis Debut (2015): The Benedyks moved back to Ally’s home state and opened the first Indianapolis location in August 2015 on East 10th Street in a space that was previously a Subway sandwich shop.⁷

   

• Move to Mass Ave (2018): A significant move occurred in early 2018 when the restaurant relocated to its current, larger space on the Massachusetts Avenue (Mass Ave) corridor.⁸ This move allowed for an expanded menu, the addition of a fryer and rotisserie, and the start of dinner hours, including a popular Friday Fish Fry and Saturday Rotisserie Chicken.

   

• James Beard Recognition: Love Handle was named a James Beard semi-finalist for Outstanding Hospitality in 2020, a major national honor that recognizes their commitment to a warm, exceptional dining experience.⁹

   

🍽️ Highlight Menu Items

While the menu is constantly rotating, certain core concepts and specific dishes have become famous:

• Inventive Sandwiches: The sandwiches are a centerpiece, often featuring high-quality smoked meats like pork belly and smoked brisket with creative accompaniments.¹⁰

   

  • Examples have included the “Frankie Sandwich” (Porchetta, escabeche, & coffee mayo) and the “Jen Sandwich” (Roast pork belly, raspberry jam, blue cheese, and pickled purple daikon).¹¹

     

• Biscuits and Gravy (B&Gs): A cornerstone of their brunch menu, they are celebrated for unique interpretations, such as kale and coffee flavor or cheesy turnip greens gravy.¹² A vegetarian option is often available.¹³

   

• Sweetbreads and Offal: The restaurant is lauded for making less-common cuts approachable and delicious, such as the Egg on Top of Headcheese Mountain from their earlier days or current items featuring beef heart or chicken gizzards.¹⁴

   

• Popcorn with Octopus Butter: A famous and unusual snack item that showcases their adventurous spirit.¹⁵

   

• Desserts: Ally Benedyk’s unique desserts, like the banana cake with goat-cheese frosting or decadent cheesecake, often receive as much praise as the savory items.¹⁶

   

💬 Customer Feedback

Customer reviews frequently highlight the following points:

• Food Quality: Patrons consistently praise the incredible flavors and high quality of the ingredients, often noting the dishes are “mind-blowing” or “absolutely stellar.”¹⁷

   

• Adventurous Appeal: Many customers appreciate the chance to be culinary adventurers and try unique combinations they wouldn’t find elsewhere.

• Nostalgia and Vibe: The fun, quirky, and nostalgic 80s/90s vibe is often cited as a reason for a positive experience.

• Portion Size: The giant, dense sandwiches and hearty brunch items are noted as providing great value, though some note it can be a little pricey.¹⁸

   

• Service: The staff is generally described as friendly, unpretentious, and informative, contributing to the excellent hospitality.¹⁹

   

📍 Location and Contact Information

Please note that due to the nature of local businesses, website and social media links can change. The best place to find their most current menu is often their social media or by calling ahead.