Every once in a while, a place comes along that isn’t trying to be the best; it’s trying to be the most fun. And honestly? That’s exactly why Shoya Sushi earns a spot on our radar.

Located in the Clearwater Springs Shopping Center on Indy’s north side, Shoya brings a high-energy, tech-forward twist to dining with its revolving sushi concept. It’s not your traditional sushi night out, but that’s kind of the point.

First Things First: Is It Worth It?
We’re usually not in the habit of blogging about chain-style restaurants, but Shoya is just different enough to deserve the conversation. If you’ve ever wondered whether a revolving sushi spot is worth trying, let’s save you the suspense: Yes, go do it.

Let’s Set Expectations
If you’re hunting for the absolute best sushi in Indianapolis, this isn’t your stop. For top-tier quality, stick with local Indianapolis standouts like Asaka or Sakura. But if you’re looking for something interactive, entertaining, and surprisingly satisfying, Shoya delivers in a big way.

How It Works (And Why It’s Fun)
The move here is simple:
👉 Go all-in on the “all you can eat” option.

Ordering plate-by-plate misses the point and can rack up quickly. The real joy is sampling everything that catches your eye as it glides past you on the conveyor. And yes, it’s exactly as fun as it sounds.

Picture this:

• A constant stream of sushi plates circling the restaurant
• You grabbing whatever looks good in the moment
• No waiting, no overthinking—just eat and enjoy

But it doesn’t stop there.

Welcome to the Future (Robots Included)
Shoya leans hard into automation—and it works.

• 🤖 Robot servers deliver your drinks
• 🍣 A revolving belt keeps sushi flowing nonstop
• 🚄 A tram system above your table sends custom orders directly to you

Each table also has a digital tablet where you can order more specific items beyond what’s on the belt.
It’s part restaurant, part amusement ride.

And honestly, it’s hard not to imagine something whimsical happening behind the scenes—like a pair of Miyazaki-style spirits crafting sushi in a blur of magic. Reality check: it’s a small team working hard to keep the system humming—but the illusion is part of the charm.

Come Hungry (Trust Us): This is not a light meal situation.

On our visit, three of us cleared about 25 plates without much trouble. At roughly $30 per person (plus drinks), it felt like a solid deal, especially considering the volume and variety. Add in some boba, a few laughs, and the constant motion of the experience, and you’ve got a night that feels like more than just dinner.

The Honest Take
​Let’s keep it real:

• The sushi is good, not elite
• The focus is on fun over finesse
• The experience is what you’re really paying for

And that’s perfectly okay.
This is “okay” food elevated by a genuinely memorable, family-friendly experience.

Final Verdict
Shoya Sushi isn’t trying to compete with the best sushi in the city, and it doesn’t need to. It’s carving out its own lane as one of the most unique and entertaining dining experiences in Indianapolis.
If you go in with the right expectations, you’ll leave with a full stomach and a smile.

Plan Your Visit
📍 5025 E 82nd St, Suite 800, Indianapolis, IN 46250
📞 (317) 537-2287
🌐 Menu: shoyarevolvingsushi.com
Go hungry. Bring friends. Grab everything that looks good.

Some dinners are memorable. Others feel like a full-on experience—where every course tells a story, every flavor has a purpose, and every moment lingers a little longer than expected. That’s exactly what we found at the MOkAO Opening Dinner on April 3. Hosted as part of MOkAO, a multi-day coffee and chocolate festival by Epicurean Indy, this wasn’t just a meal—it was a celebration of craftsmanship, culture, and connection.

What is MOkAO?
At its core, MOkAO is a multi-day festival exploring the global impact of coffee and chocolate through labor, sustainability, and cultural heritage. Held this year at The Stutz in Indianapolis, the event brought together an incredible mix of:

• Coffee roasters
• Cacao artisans
• Chefs
• Artists
• Storytellers

The festival shines a spotlight on the deep-rooted history of coffee and cacao in the Americas, while elevating both local and international voices in the space. Guests can expect tastings, live demonstrations, educational sessions, and, if you’re lucky enough to snag a ticket, an intimate dinner like the one we attended.

The Opening Dinner: An Immersive Culinary Journey
The April 3 opening dinner sets the tone for the entire festival, offering a curated, multi-course experience centered around coffee- and chocolate-inspired cuisine.

And this is where things got special.
Each dish wasn’t just built around flavor—it was built around origin, intention, and storytelling. Coffee and cacao weren’t treated as novelties or dessert-only ingredients. Instead, they were woven seamlessly into savory and sweet courses alike, showcasing their full range and complexity.
This is the kind of dinner where:

• Coffee adds depth, not just caffeine
• Chocolate brings balance, not just sweetness
• Every plate feels thoughtful, layered, and just a little unexpected

More Than a Meal
What sets MOkAO apart is its purpose. As Youssef Boudarine, Chef/Owner of J’adore and creator of Epicurean Indy, puts it:

“MOkAO is more than just a festival—it’s a celebration of culture, craft, and community… creating a space where people can truly appreciate the journey of coffee and chocolate from farm to cup, from bean to bar.”

And that intention is felt throughout the dinner. This isn’t just about indulgence—it’s about understanding where flavors come from, the people behind them, and the traditions that shape them.

Why This Dinner Matters
In a dining scene that often chases trends, MOkAO does something different—it grounds the experience in meaning.
It connects:

• Global traditions with local talent
• Ingredients with their origins
• Guests with the stories behind what they’re tasting

And somehow, it does all of that while still delivering a dinner that’s simply… delicious.

Tucked into the heart of downtown South Bend, Roselily has evolved from a modest, diner-sized hidden gem into one of Indiana’s most compelling dining destinations. Located at 701 S Main St, this intimate yet refined restaurant is the kind of place that doesn’t just meet expectations—it quietly exceeds them, course after course.

Let’s be clear: Roselily isn’t just a great local spot, it’s a destination. Whether you’re already in South Bend or making the drive (we’ve even planned overnight trips from Indy just to dine here), this is the kind of experience that justifies the mileage. Yes, it’s that good.

A Chef Pushing Boundaries
At the helm is Chef Eamonn McParland, whose culinary approach blends contemporary American creativity with the finesse and restraint of French nouvelle cuisine. His menus are thoughtful, precise, and—at times—emotionally moving.

This isn’t exaggeration. There are dishes here that genuinely stop you in your tracks. Moments where conversation fades, the room disappears, and you’re left fully immersed in a single bite. On more than one occasion, we’ve been so struck by a dish that we’ve walked straight to the kitchen and asked for another—and the team happily obliged. That’s the kind of place Roselily is: confident, passionate, and genuinely excited when guests are having an unforgettable experience.

The Experience: Tasting Menus Done Right
Roselily is built around its tasting menu, typically offering 6 to 9 courses nightly, with the option to enhance your experience through add-ons and expertly curated wine pairings. Allergies are noted prior to arrival, as well as dietary preference (pescatarian or vegetarian options). Substitutions are made thoughtfully and feel special - never like a sacrifice.

And speaking of wine, Certified Sommelier Andrew Teall leads a program that elevates each course. Guests can choose between simple or reserve pairings, both thoughtfully matched to complement and enhance the flavors on the plate. It’s not just pairing, it’s storytelling through food and wine.
Reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends. Demand is strong, and once you’ve been, you’ll understand why.

A Recent Visit: Eight Courses of Excellence
Our latest visit in March turned into an eight-course journey, thanks to a couple of irresistible add-ons: beef tartare and oysters (two of four available enhancements).
​
The evening unfolded beautifully:

• An opening amuse of a delicate nori cigar
• Two stunning seafood courses: hamachi and scallops
• A meticulously crafted agnolotti
• A show-stopping sweetbread dish with fermented beet ketchup (arguably divine)
• A rich and elegant venison loin as the main
• And finally, a memorable ube cake to close the night

Each course felt intentional, balanced, and expressive—never overworked, never predictable.​

Atmosphere & Hospitality
The space itself is cozy, elegant, and inviting—a perfect backdrop for the level of cuisine being served. But what truly sets Roselily apart is the people behind it.

Over the years, it’s become clear that this is a restaurant where the staff genuinely loves what they do. The culture is collaborative, not chaotic or TV-style toxic. There’s respect between the kitchen and front-of-house, and it shows in every interaction. Service is warm, knowledgeable, and seamless—never stiff, never forced.

​Final Thoughts
Roselily isn’t just one of the best restaurants in South Bend—it’s one of the best in Indiana, period. It’s a place where culinary ambition meets genuine hospitality, where every detail matters, and where unforgettable dining moments happen regularly.

​If you’re building a culinary bucket list, this belongs on it.

Plan Your Visit
📍 701 S Main St, South Bend, IN 46601
📞 (574) 347-4560
🌐 Menu & Reservations: roselilysouthbend.com
🍷 Reservations also available via exploretock.com

Go experience it for yourself. You won’t be let down.

Last night, we stepped into something special—an exclusive Preview Dinner at Plat99, tucked inside the Alexander Hotel (soon to transition into a Marriott property). From the moment we walked in, it was clear: this isn’t just the old art bar that opened in 2013—it’s now an experience. It's romantic, almost Moroccan, with color and pattern popping everywhere. The second-story views are a full 270 degrees. Having spent an evening or two in the Plat after it opened, it's clearly upgraded and perfect for an intimate date night as well as an evening starter with friends.
​
After we were seated, we had a curated journey through cocktails and shareable plates, guided by one of Indianapolis’ most respected culinary talents — Chef Eli Laidlaw. The new vision makes a ton of sense. They want the space to launch the night with elevated bites and world-class cocktails. Then, guests can head out on the town and return later in the evening with friends for more. After this preview, we can confidently say that vision is not just hype. The menu is all shareables, and the cocktails are acid-focused, meticulously crafted, and present beautifully. Because this was a preview, we had the opportunity to taste the entire menu (someone has to do the dirty work). We've broken down each item below.

🍽 FIRST COURSE: A Bold Beginning
We kicked things off with vibrant, flavor-packed starters paired with a stunning cocktail.

• Charred Carrots – topped with whipped feta, ricotta, pistachio, lemon, and chili crunch. Smoky, creamy, with just the right kick. These carrots fool you. It's not the typical texture or flavor profile. The pistachio and lemon help lift them up.
• Crispy Brussels Sprouts – perfectly caramelized with walnut, pecorino, and a browned butter vinaigrette that lingered in the best way. Hard to go wrong here - deep fried and friendly, these were a nice partner to the carrots.

🥃 Cocktail Pairing: Mai Tai
Planteray rum, dry curaçao, lime, and almond orgeat—balanced, refreshing, and dangerously smooth.

🥙 SECOND COURSE: Bright & Textural
This course was the evening's highlight - both perfect shareables that highlighted Plat99’s social dining concept. We loved these so much that we could go back and just order this with a drink and feel very bougie. 

• Hummus – paired with mojo verde, roasted sweet plantains, cucumber, and warm pita. Creamy with layers of herbaceous and sweet notes. Definitely not your standard hummus plate. This was exciting and inspired a playful approach to combining flavors and textures. Something no one at our table had experienced before. I mean - who orders hummus on a date night? Well, now we do!
• Burrata Panzanella – burrata with roasted tomato, cucumber, crostini, and olive. Light, fresh, and beautifully composed. Think the best parts of a summery panzanella salad, each bite curated the way you like it.

🍹 Cocktail Pairing: “Birds Aren’t Real”
Mi Campo reposado tequila, apricot, pineapple, Cynar, and ginger—complex, slightly bitter, and incredibly memorable.

🍔 THIRD COURSE: Elevated Comfort. This course leaned into indulgence with refined takes on familiar favorites.

• Burger Sliders – featuring Chef Eli's Perfect Bite Championship and World Food Championship burger design using Legacy Maker beef, bacon jam, white cheddar, pimento cheese, and green tomato. Juicy, rich, and perfectly portioned.
• Gyro Pork Belly Bites – crispy pork belly with tzatziki, cucumber salad, feta, and pita. Bold, savory, and addictive.

🍸 Cocktail Pairing: “Super Good Advice”
Appleton Jamaican rum, Leblon cachaça, lemon, oleo saccharum, and salted foam—bright citrus with a silky finish.

🍰 FOURTH COURSE: A Sweet Finale. Dessert arrived like a curated tasting board of indulgence.

• Olive Oil Cake – with toasted berry crumb and lemon curd, light yet satisfying.
• Chocolate Malt Cake – deep, rich chocolate layered with pistachio cream and cereal crunch.
• Banana Chai Tart – roasted banana, chai dulce de leche, and graham crust - warm & spiced perfection.

🍹 Cocktails to Close:

• Spring Fever – rum, watermelon cordial, basil—fresh and herbaceous.
• Lavender Mocktail – a zero-proof option with blackberry and lavender that didn’t feel like a compromise. This paired perfectly with the Chocolate Malt Cake.

👨‍🍳 The Vision Behind It All. Indulging in anything Chef Laidlaw creates always feels like a privilege, and tonight was no exception. Everything was presented with intention and creativity. His reputation in Indianapolis is well-earned, and this menu proves why. Every dish felt thoughtful, balanced, and designed to pair seamlessly with the cocktail program. 

✨ The Plat99 Experience. What makes Plat99 stand out isn’t just the food or the drinks—it’s the flow of the night. This is a place where:

• You start with elevated small plates
• Sip on expertly crafted cocktails
• Step out into the city
• Then return for round two

It’s social, it’s beautiful, colorful, stylish, and it’s exactly the kind of spot that makes downtown Indianapolis a destination.

Final Thoughts
If this preview dinner was any indication, Plat99 is about to become one of our destination choices for cocktails and shareable dining in downtown Indy. Cheers to Chef Eli and his team!

We'll be back to check up on the menu.  🍸