Indianapolis Spotlight: Mesh

🍽️ Mesh on Mass Ave, Indianapolis: A Culinary Overview

Mesh is a restaurant located in the Mass Ave Arts and Cultural District of Downtown Indianapolis.¹ It is part of the Cunningham Restaurant Group.²

Unique Features and Concept

Mesh is known for blending contemporary elegance and comfort with innovative cuisine and excellent service.³ Its unique décor and menu make it a suitable setting for business meetings, romantic evenings, or a night out with friends.⁴

• Cuisine: It features creative, chef-driven American comfort food with international influences, often described as upscale-but-comfortable.⁵

   

• Sourcing: The menu includes locally sourced meats and vegetables, showcasing produce from the Cunningham Restaurant Group’s own CRG Grow Greenhouse.⁶

   

• Ambiance: The restaurant has a cool vibe and beautiful setting, with its bar housed in a building dating to the 1890s and its dining room in a building built before 1865.⁷

   

History

Mesh was a trailblazer in the now thriving Mass Ave district.⁸

• Opening: The Mesh on Mass Ave location operated for 15 years.⁹

   

• Predecessor: It took over the space formerly occupied by Scholars Inn Restaurant and Lounge, which operated from 2002 to 2010.¹⁰

   

• Significance: Mesh was the first of several restaurants the Cunningham Restaurant Group subsequently opened in downtown Indianapolis.¹¹

   

Significant Event: Upcoming Closure

A significant recent event is the announcement of its impending closure.¹²

• Mesh on Mass is set to permanently close on January 4, 2026, after a 15-year run.¹³

   

• The closure is due to the building’s owner putting the property up for sale and the Cunningham Restaurant Group being unable to reach an agreement on a long-term lease with the new owner.¹⁴

   

• The Mesh brand will continue to exist as the group operates a second location in Louisville, Kentucky.¹⁵

   

Highlight Menu Items

Mesh offers lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, and is known for its diverse menu.¹⁶ Popular and highlighted items include:

• Mains:

  • Amish Chicken (often cited as a popular and critically acclaimed dish)¹⁷

     

  • Short Rib Meatloaf¹⁸

     

  • Orange-Miso Salmon

  • Grouper

  • Pad Thai (vegetarian option available)¹⁹

     

  • Scallops

  • Fried Chicken & Waffles (brunch item)²⁰

     

• Appetizers/Starters:

  • Lobster Bisque (described as “consistently great”)²¹

     

  • Kung Pao Calamari

  • Crab Cakes

  • Deviled Eggs²²

     

  • Brussels Sprouts Dip

• Desserts:

  • Bread Pudding (described as “excellent and sweet”)²³

     

Customer Feedback

Customer reviews generally highlight the following:

• Atmosphere: Praised for its “cool vibe,” “beautiful setting,” and being a great atmosphere for various occasions.²⁴

   

• Food Quality: Reviewers frequently call the food “outstanding,” “delicious,” and “tasty and filling.”²⁵

   

• Service: The staff is often described as friendly and providing exceptional service.²⁶

   

Mesh has received various awards over the years, including the Open Table Diner’s Choice Awards and the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.²⁷

📞 Contact Information and Online Presence