Every time James Beard award nominations are announced, we’re reminded how lucky we are to live in a foodie city. Let’s take a look at past James Beard Award cycles and how many Indianapolis chefs and institutions have made the cut.
Winners
Indy has only had one winner since the James Beard Foundation started handing out awards in 1991: St. Elmo’s Steak House, which won in the America’s Classics category in 2012. The America’s Classics Award, established in 1998, is “given to locally-owned restaurants that serve quality food, have timeless appeal, and reflect the character of their communities.”
Semifinalists
Since 2010, nine local chefs have been honored as Best Chefs semifinalists, many of them on repeat occasions — and we’re excited to see what the future holds. In spring 2024, two-time Rising Star Chef of the Year Semifinalist Alan Sternberg replaced James Beard veteran Abbi Merriss at Bluebeard’s helm.
Restaurateur Martha Hoover, the force behind Cafe Patachou, Napolese Pizzeria, Public Greens, and the late Apocalypse Burger, has also been recognized an astounding six times as an Outstanding Restaurateur semifinalist.
Three restaurants have been named semifinalists in different categories: Love Handle, Beholder, and Bluebeard. All are still open (lucky for us).
Love Handle was recognized in 2020 for Outstanding Hospitality — a nomination that makes perfect sense to regular patrons.
Photo by @luvhandy
Here’s a full list of every James Beard semifinalist in Indianapolis:
Abbi Merriss of Bluebeard
- 2023 Best Chef Great Lakes
- 2020 Best Chefs
- 2019 Best Chefs
- 2018 Best Chefs
- 2017 Best Chefs
- 2016 Best Chefs
Thomas Melvin of Vida
- 2024 Best Chefs
- 2022 Best Chefs
Martha Hoover of Patachou Inc.
- 2020 Outstanding Restaurateur
- 2019 Outstanding Restaurateur
- 2018 Outstanding Restaurateur
- 2017 Outstanding Restaurateur
- 2016 Outstanding Restaurateur
- 2013 Outstanding Restaurateur
Love Handle
- 2020 Outstanding Hospitality
Beholder
- 2020 Outstanding Wine Program
Steven J. Oakley of Oakley’s Bistro
- 2019 Best Chefs
- 2018 Best Chefs
- 2011 Best Chefs
- 2008 Best Chefs
Jonathan Brooks of Milktooth
- 2025 Best Chef Great Lakes
- 2017 Best Chefs
- 2016 Best Chefs
Alan Sternberg of Cerulean
- 2018 Rising Star Chef of the Year
- 2016 Rising Star Chef of the Year
Micah Frank of Black Market
- 2015 Best Chefs
Greg Hardesty of Recess
- 2016 Best Chefs
- 2015 Best Chefs
- 2014 Best Chefs
- 2013 Best Chefs
- 2012 Best Chefs
Neal Brown of The Libertine Liquor Bar
- 2014 Best Chefs
- 2013 Best Chefs
Regina Mehallick of R Bistro
- 2014 Best Chefs
- 2013 Best Chefs
- 2012 Best Chefs
- 2011 Best Chefs
- 2010 Best Chefs
Bluebeard
- 2025 Outstanding Hospitality
- 2013 Best New Restaurant
