Dunaway’s

I guess we stopped the week they closed. It’s insane to see what used to be such an amazing restaurant fail so miserably, I guess everyone just stopped giving a crap.
I can’t wait to see what goes into that gorgeous building.

Appearance: externally it looks like a bar or pub. Internally it’s a bit more inviting. Didn’t like the area near the bar… too noisy. Lighting was tooooo dim. Fireplace wasn’t up enough. Tables were a g
Customer service: we stood waiting for almost ten minutes before a waiter answered us and said the hostess would be back soon to seat us. She never returned so he ended up seating us instead. That wasn’t a great start. I’m not a food snob either. I rarely go to pricey restaurants for the mere fact that it’d be economically unwise of me at this time. However, devour downtown allows us to visit places in the hopes of wanting to visit them again. So the water boy was a bit odd. He also misinterpreted what we said and took our bread away instead of waiting until we were done. It could’ve been God saying, «you realllllly don’t need anymore bread!» Either way it took a bit before we had our waters and bread. The waiter was decent but seemed soooo busy that it was hard to get his attention when we needed something.
Food: bread was so, so. The salad… well, we felt like rabbits in a wild open field. I love spinach leaves in my salad but it was just spinach leaves and a few chopped tomatoes with a hint of balsamic– wasn’t impressed. The gnocchi wasn’t a true gnocchi and the portion was ridiculously small. It tasted great regardless. The main dishes… decent. My scallops dish was quite salty and there was some grit still in my food. The scallops were cooked good and it seemed like there was some bacon chunks in the sauce that were far too chewy for me. The filet mignon was a bit smaller than expected. The scallops dish was far better. Dessert was pistachio crème brûlée and he liked his I thought it was so-​so. Although… I’m not a crème brûlée fan. So for that, I’d say its good just the same.
Would I return? Probably not but it was worth the experience.

We went during downtown devour because it seemed intriguing to one of our friends. The bottom line is that we were not all that impressed with either the menu or the taste.
First of all the building is wonderful and has a great ambiance. Once you get inside. Unless you get lucky and can park on the street, you have to pay $ 7 to valet park… even if you park yourself in the handicap space as my friend did. Is that even legal to charge someone to park in the handicapped space? Can’t see how.
The waiter was very friendly but the soft drink choices were very limited. No iced tea! Whoever heard of that?!? So they have fountain Pepsi products. Except their carbonation sucked. So after he replaced our diet pepsis the second time he offered to give us diet coke from a two liter bottle. So that begs the question, why do they have bottled coke when they only offer Pepsi products?
As it was devour we didn’t have many choices but that is typical. However most places give more than one choice for a salad! And heaven forbid if you ask for something other than the balsamic dressing. Weird. We also had the caprese tomato appetizer. Which was really three very thinly sliced tomatoes with a few triangles of cheese – with lots of salt on top.
The beef entrée was ok. Just ok. Passible. But the desert was a joke. Three of us got the crème broulee. Ha ha ha. It was a frozen concoction brought to us in an aluminum cup — sort of like a smaller version of a pot pie. So it had been heated up which caused the carmelized sugar glaze to be as hard as a plate of glass. And tasted burnt to boot.
All in all… Go someplace else.

Very disappointing, sad experience.

This saddens me to give Dunaway’s a bad review, but alas the once vibrant, robust, and delicious Steakhouse has fallen terribly flat.
My husband and I ate here last Saturday during Devour. We are big fans of Devour because you are able to try different menu items at several downtown eateries for less, but have NEVER had a bad dining experience. I decided to bring my hubby to Dunaway’s because I used to come here (about 5 years ago) and it was always delightful. This experience was anything but delightful.
To start the staff was very rude once the found out we were «doing Devour». The food was marginal at very best. Steak was approx 3oz. and the meal came with 3 spears of asparagus! Really, 3 spears? I am all for smaller portions, but this was ridiculous! The dessert, white choc cheesecake with berry compote was as big as a mini muffin and the «compote», well three blueberries dusted with sugar would never pass as compote in any culinary school I’ve heard of, not to mention the cheesecake was tasteless.
Now, I do understand that Devour is a prix-​fixe menu and you «get what you pay for», but I have been to Devour at such establishments as St Elmo’s, Harry & Izzies, Palomino, iozzo’s, Ocean Prime (north side nights), and Capital grille, to name a few and always had a wonderful dining experience.
A big nasty thumbs down to you Dunaway’s. We will never be back, great view or not!

I used to go here years ago (5+) and for no particular reason or bad experience we just stopped going. I couldn’t really tell you why.
At any rate a couple months back I thought «hey Dunaway»! I remembered how long it had been and it suddenly sounded like a good idea. If only I had a time machine.
Long story short we went, and the food and service have fallen off badly. Very. We ordered several courses and it just wasn’t good. We ate our salads… they were edible… then the main courses. Pork chops and steaks. Dry. Fatty. Coarse. Just not good. Sides were cold… everything was just awful. 90% of the food went uneaten. I was so blown away by how bad it was (we were on a date) and the server never actually checked. He ignored us for the remainder of our stay but was happy to come ripping at us with the $ 170 tab that I paid due to not wanting to go through the ordeal of complaining while being on a date.
I emailed and was in no uncertain terms told «tough luck Jack we got your money and no refunds. You can «have a meal on us» (no…it’s not a meal on you, it’s you attempting to give me an edible meal I already paid for versus giving me refund for Inedible food you served me the first go round) which I declined. I don’t want the «free» meal. I don’t want to go through that again. I’d pay to NOT eat there again. I was told I should’ve said something then and there and «of course» they’d have taken care if it… but no way no how not happening on the back end. You know what? That’s cool. I should have said something, but my date and I were so blown away by just how bad the service and food was I was shocked and had a hard time even comprehending it all.
If your service and it food sucks like mine… say it then and now or else the «general manager» Connie will tell you «too bad». Lesson learned for me. Connie does not give a f*ck.
I will say whoever mixed our drinks did a nice job. So. Kudos to you bartender. Go show everyone else how to not fail at life.
My favorite thing about this meal was leaving… and never ever coming back.
How long before this place shutters it’s doors, anyway? It’s a cool building and someone could do something better with it.
They made a million excuses as to why it was the way it was, even admitted the server I had was a «temp server» and conceded they agreed with my complaints that night, but nope… not going to take care of me by refunding me… they’re only willing to send me through the gauntlet that is their culinary sadness again. «It was F– horrible the first time, let’s see if we can get a C this time.» No. Nope. No.
You had the chance to make it right. Here’s two less people in the income bracket that can afford your food that will ever be back, and the review you all earned.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did my dining experience with you. :)

Went to my senior prom here and got engaged here 11 years later. Will always be a special place for me.

I love reading reviews.
I will be brief however.
Overpriced for what we ordered and quality was easily matched by Applebee’s. Actually, I have never had an over cooked steak at Applebee’s, let alone a «dry aged prime ribeye»…laughable.
Salads may have come out of a bag.
The Marinara in our appetizer may have been Ragu.
A single Crown Royal on the rocks was $ 12.50!!! Ridiculous!!!
Waitress was polite though.

I go to a small private high school. So, rather than have a traditional prom, we decided to have a nice dinner. When our group of twenty-​four or so arrived everything was normal, we admired the restaurant itself as we made our way to the rooftop, which we had reserved.
When it came time to order, we found that several options presented on the online menu, which we viewed earlier that day, were not available. From there until the end of our meal we received good service. However, when it came time to pay the server decided that it would be more efficient to form a line and parade half of us through the restaurant in order to pay. Needless to say, this was uncomfortable and I don’t think the fact that we were teenagers was justification to give us less than standard service. Especially with the going rate of $ 75 a plate.

Dunaway’s is one of my favorite places in Indianapolis to eat. The food is outstanding and memorable, and even though I personally don’t drink, I will tell you that the wine selection is amazing. I have a number of friends who are wine snobs, and they go gaga over the selection at Dunaway’s especially the desert wines.

Wasn’t very impressed. I asked what the fish special of the day was. The server had to go ask. Sounded good so I ordered it. Just before it should have shown up, I’m told they’re «out if it». This was a Saturday at 6:00. Ordered something else, which was ok but did not come with the described sides. No one seemed to notice but me.
The server said she was a bartender but she clearly had no idea how to properly present and serve a bottle if wine. An expensive dinner without feeling like it was worth it.

Atmosphere was awesome! Classy old place that I’m guessing not many know about. Filet rivals Ruth’s and Sullivan’s. Wine selection is great and price is appropriate. Perfect for valentines day! Cassie was a great server! We will be back…

First things first, I have only been to Dunaway’s twice in my life. Both times were pre-​2004. Both visits were «dates», one was roof-​top and the other inside the restaurant’s main bar.
Having said that, this property made such an impression on me, that I feel compelled to drop a quick review to say how I fond of this place I am. Maybe I’ve got rose coloured glasses on, but this property has stayed with me throughout my travels and life. I’m with Chris C’s mind musing of «Shame on you Indianapolis, how dare you not have this place packed.»
At the time, being a young woman who had grown up on the southside of Indy in the days of Po’ Folks Family Restaurant, Dunaway’s was really one of my first introductions to what I would (at the time) consider fine dining.
Both meals I had here were exceptional. I very clearly remember one being a seafood pasta with a tomato sauce. I can remember the service received on both occasions being attentive without being overbearing. I also recall finding the rooftop dining experience to be quite special and the view delightful. I remember at the time they offered piccolos of champagne, which is was a totally new concept to me and was most certainly the root for my current love of & fascination with champagne. I also recall the décor feeling very art-​deco period to me, which I adored.
Now living in Australia, we can on occasion enjoy a taste of Dunaway’s thanks inclusion of their recipes in the book «Indiana Cooks!». Thanks, Dunaway’s, for introducing me to fine-​dining. I won’t forget you & hope to have the chance to visit again in the future. Wishing this establishment a long & happy life!

Two stars only because the waiter was nice. Only two tables served, one was us, while we were there (from 7pm through 10pm) on a Saturday night. Never experienced this before… my wife and I were very uncomfortable. If I’m a betting man this restaurant won’t be around much longer.
Sorry to say, don’t waste your time going to this restaurant. Plenty of other quality places to dine in Indy.

The whole time I was at Dunaway’s I kept thinking to myself «Why is nobody here?» and «Shame on you Indianapolis, how dare you not have this place packed.» It wasn’t until I came to this website that I may have found out why.
Now, I haven’t been around for ‘Devour Downtown’ so I can’t speak from experience about what happened at this restaurant then. I can tell you about my experiences with special promotions for restaurants like Norwalk Connecticut’s Oyster Fest and NYC’s restaurant week. In general, the restaurant’s resources are run thin to appeal to new customers that are likely to never return anyway.
…And on to my review.
I had driven around for a bit, looking for something in the downtown area, that wasn’t on the beaten path. If it weren’t for a banner on the outside of the building I would have never known of this place. So, I found a place to park on the street, and walked over, only to find out that there is a parking lot. Given the reviews, I guess it’s not a bad thing, but there wasn’t any valet the evening I went.
When I walked over to the restaurant, I walked around looking for the door. The doors were poorly marked, and it didn’t seem like there was a restaurant at this location. It wasn’t until I noticed that a chandelier was lit that I could tell the place was open. So, I walked in. There was a person behind the bar, and one at the hostess stand, but I still couldn’t be sure that Dunaway’s was open. Apparently it was.
I was led into an elevator and taken to the roof, where I would spend most of my night. The view from here was gorgeous, and despite this, there were only two tables. I later found out that one of those tables was the manager and two friends, so I guess that doesn’t count.
My waiter was with me very quickly, offering up the list of special (that is not a typo, there was only 1 special), and some recommendations. I had decided to go with the NY strip and a shrimp cocktail. I don’t know what it is with Indiana (polis), but if there were to be a state food, I think it would be the shrimp.
Given that my waiter had to run downstairs two flights, then back up two flights in order to retrieve any single item, I had no issue with it taking about two minutes to get a new glass of wine or anything. It never took that long though.
The steak finally came, and for a little strip it was rather large. The menu never advertised the size, but where most restaurants would serve a 16oz steak, this one was probably closer to 20oz of deliciousness. I’m drooling like Homer Simpson just thinking about it. Mmmmm steak.
So why did I give Dunaway’s only 4 stars? Two reasons. First, if you’re going to spend upwards of $ 50 per person for dinner, you should expect something better than a cheap plastic table. I understand they’re going to be exposed to the elements, but you can get something that’s a little classier. Second, it seemed like the restaurant could use a little discipline. I found that, while my experience with the service was good, there definitely seemed to be points where everything would fall apart if it where to get busy. Maybe the owners should call Gordon Ramsey to kick this place into shape.

So, I’ve lived here almost 2 years now and July 4^th was my first experience at Dunaways… We were looking for a place to view the fireworks and it seemed like a good option… the catch? $ 100 prix-​fixe for 8 course meal. Sure, a little pricey for Indy given there was no wine paired… but reasonable if the food had been good. It was mediocre at best. Service was slow, but I assumed that was based on kitchen output though they only had rooftop diners to contend with for a set menu.
Between this and being charged for valet, when you park it yourself… I’m going to have to give this a thumbs down. Maybe their normal menu (which is pricey) is better… but based on my first experience here, it would be a huge leap for the quality to match the price.
It is nice on the interior, the rooftop had great views and the staff were very nice… maybe things will turn around.

I tried Dunaway’s again last night after an absence of a couple years. Service and food was lacking then. I chalked it up to restaurant week and the restaurant being busy. Went again this past weekend to watch the fireworks from the roof top. SO SO BAD. They only offered a $ 100 pre fix, since it was the 4^th. This would have been fine, if the food tasted good. Service was very slow. The downstairs portion of the restaurant was empty. Kitchen couldn’t have been that busy with only rooftop seating. They even charged for valet service. Shocking when you’re dinning at a restaurant that does not provide a parking lot. I wish the food was better. The view is great. Guess that will be my last visit.

We stopped in for a drink Saturday evening at about 8 p.m. There was NO ONE in the restaurant! Every table, upstairs and down, was empty. The bartender was pleasant. No one at the bar, either. The story we obtained from a person who used to work there is that the owner made a pile from St. Elmo’s and, early on, from Dunaway’s and basically retired. The negative reviews must be spot on. It was spooky. We’d never been in what was supposed to be a nice place that was totally empty on a Saturday night! The manager, if any, must be incompetent.

This was recommended by a local. Great place, but not sure how they stay in business. There were only three parties in the restaurant Thursday night, when we were there. It is an old renovated building, one room is almost all orignal and is quite quant. There is a fireplace and wood panelling. I recommend asking for a seat by the fireplace.
All the food was exceptional, except the risotto (but I know that risotto can be quite difficult). We ordered the crostini platter, calamari fritti and the shrimp cocktail. All very delicious. We orded the ribeye, the strip steak, the fish special and the sea scallops. The ribeye was to die for! Very juicy and cooked just right. I can’t remember what the fish special was, but that was the best!
The manager gave us a tour of the restaurant, we even got to see the wine cellar! They told us the owner was a previous owner of St. Elmos (a staple of Indy).

One note: It seems like most of the negative reviews of this place were made during Devour Downtown. As much as you’d like to think you’d get the same quality and service when you dine during DD, most places aren’t as accommodating when you’re eating for only $ 30 a plate.
Pros: great steak, beautiful art-​deco era décor and construction, great valet guy
Cons: hostess (Connie) was aloof, valet parking only
If you’re looking for a nice restaurant in Indy, there are many other places that come to mind before Dunaway’s. I came here on a recent weeknight for a business dinner, and had never heard of the place. I consider myself to be someone who knows local business pretty well, but this place slid under the radar.
I called ahead to see what the parking situation was, because I was going with a group. The hostess, Connie, answered and seemed slightly rude, as if my question was annoying to her. Parking was valet only. I can get a steak many other places without having to fork over $ 7 for someone to park my car. However, the guy who was working valet that night (sorry, his name escapes me) was the best part of the experience for me. He was super friendly, and earned his tip well by finding my lost cell phone in my car.
The food was great. I had the filet with mashed potatoes and enjoyed it. I usually leave steakhouses feeling like i prefer the steaks I grill at home to the $ 40-​$ 50 I just spent. However, Dunaway’s knows how to cook a steak.
All in all: I probably won’t be back to Dunaway’s. The food was good, but for the money there are several other places I’d rather dine in Indy.