• Bier and leiderhosen: a classic combination.bier einschenken image by Michael Homann from Fotolia.com
  
  Indianapolis, like much of the American Midwest, has long been home to a thriving German community. German farmers were amongst the first to settle and carve out a living from the land in this area. This included elements of their music, heritage and food culture. Today, Indianapolis is home to several very, authentic German restaurants.
  
  

The Rathskeller

• The Rathskeller is an authentic Bavarian restaurant housed in the19th century Athenaeum building in downtown Indianapolis. Part Bavarian mountain Inn and part Munich beer hall, the Rathskeller is open for lunch and dinner. The restaurant boasts an award winning menu featuring such Bavarian standards as jaegerschnitzel and bratwursts, as well as an extensive selection of imported German wines and beers. The menu also goes off theme slightly to include American bar food favorites such as Cajun chicken poppers and southwestern corn bread. The Rathskeller also features live entertainment Wednesday through Saturday.
  
  The Rathskeller
  401 East Michigan Street
  Indianapolis, IN 46204
  317-636-0396
  rathskeller.com
  
  

Heidelberg Haus

• The Heidelberg Haus is a traditional German cafe and baker that has been open since 1968. Decorated with authentic German touches, the Heidelberg Haus is intended to be a traditional German style cafe where one goes to enjoy a coffee and pastry while socializing with friends. The cafe does however have a limited but impressive menu featuring such traditional German favorites as bratwurst, wiener schnitzel, knockwurst and wiener wuerstchen. The cafe's bakery boasts an excellent array of traditional German pastry, all baked freshly on the premises daily. Heidelberg Haus is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner during the week, however, closes promptly at 5pm on the weekends .
  
  Heidelberg Haus
  7625 Pendleton Pike
  Indianapolis, IN 46226
  317-547-1230
  heidelberghaus.com
  
  

Edelweiss Restaurant

• Edelweiss is a casual, mid priced German restaurant located in the Indianapolis German American Klub. The 100 seat, dark wood panel and exposed beam restaurant, has the feel of a classic German dining hall. The menu is traditionally and heartily German, centered largely around different types of sausage, accompanied by classic German side dishes like sauerkraut, potatoes and cabbage. As you would expect from a traditional German restaurant, Edelweiss has a full bar that boasts an impressive selection of imported German beers.
  
  Edelweiss
  German: American Klub
  8602 S. Meridian Street
  Indianapolis, IN 46217
  317-888-6940
  indianapolisgak.com