The charming and walkable Zionsville, located a hop over the Boone County line from Indianapolis, offers a small-town appeal that extends to its growing and diverse food scene. With a brick-paved Main Street cutting through the village and a population of just over 13,000, Zionsville’s dining options cater to various global tastes and Midwest preferences.
Starting May 18 and continuing through Sept. 28, the annual Zionsville Farmers Market occurs every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11:30 am. A hallmark of the area’s summers for almost 30 years, the market operates every Saturday, rain or shine. Throughout the season, food days are highlighted, such as Ice Cream Day (July 29), Watermelon Day (August 12), and Eat an Apple Day (the third Saturday in September). Expect live music and the traditional hide-and-seek for the market’s mascot, a corn plush toy named “Cornelius” that’s hidden among the stalls. Kids win sticker prizes for uncovering the weekly hideout.
Begin your farmers’ market morning at Patrick’s Kitchen with a breakfast burrito stuffed with scrambled eggs, cheese and your choice of melt-in-your-mouth smoked pork shoulder or cherry-wood smoked bacon. Husband-and-wife co-owners Patrick Mullen and Beth Dickerson closed Patrick’s Kitchen in 2022, reopening it as a market stall.
After picking up your produce for the week, walk Zionsville’s Main Street to explore its many mom-and-pop boutiques, shops and restaurants. To satiate a sweet tooth, stop at Truffles & Creams, where chocolatier Natasha Hovyadinova and her husband, Sergei, make delectable candied shells with flavored ganaches and more.
As it gets closer to lunch, the village provides ample dining opportunities. For 66 years, the Friendly Tavern has been feeding locals burgers and tenderloins in a circa 1870s wagon works factory. Noah Grant’s Grill House & Seafood Bar specializes in fresh seafood and steaks, and owner Shari Jenkins also created the Key West vibe of Tipsy Mermaid.
As the evening approaches, the French-inspired Auberge serves Gallic favorites such as escargot à la bourguignonne (snails in red wine), moules frites (steamed mussels and fries) and tarte fine aux pommes (apple tart).
In the Boone Village Shopping Center, the recently opened 60-seat Good Omen, by chef Nicholas Gattone and his mother, Diane, showcases Northern Italian dishes with fresh pastas, including gluten-free, and large portions of proteins with polentas and generous sides.
From farmers’ market meals to old-school taverns and upscale global eateries and sweets, Zionsville offers dining experiences that leave a lasting impression.
