"Chris Burton and Gus Vazquez's 21-and-up Mass Ave grill does a serious chimichurri sirloin and a late bar — book it for a relaxed team dinner."
About The Oakmont
The Oakmont opened in April 2021 in a 5,300-square-foot space at 323 North Delaware Street, just off Mass Ave in downtown Indianapolis. Owners Chris Burton and Gus Vazquez built it as a twenty-one-and-up room, part restaurant and part late bar, and Indianapolis Monthly tagged it the city's newest gastroclub when it launched. The kitchen runs upmarket American comfort food: familiar plates done with a bit more care than the neighbourhood average.
The draw is the combination of a proper kitchen and a bar that stays open late, which is rarer downtown than it should be. It is not fine dining and does not pretend to be; it is a well-run grill with a cocktail program and a patio, a few minutes' walk from Bottleworks.
The Kitchen
The plate to order is the Chimichurri Steak: a marinated, seared sirloin finished with caramelized onion butter, roasted garlic, roasted poblano, chimichurri, and a pile of truffle-garlic fries. It is the dish that anchors the menu and the one regulars come back for. Around it sits a broad American card — burgers, tacos, salmon, a Buddha bowl for the table vegetarian — plus a weekend brunch, all priced for a casual night rather than an occasion.
Cooking here is about execution rather than invention: get the sirloin to temperature, keep the fries crisp, pour a good cocktail, and turn the room without rushing it. Most plates land in the teens to high twenties, and the average spend runs twenty to thirty dollars a head before drinks, which is fair for downtown. The bar program does the heavy lifting after the kitchen slows, and the late hours make it a reliable second stop. For a sharper steak occasion, compare the city's best steakhouses worldwide.
The Room
The room reads gastroclub: low lighting, dark woods, a long bar, banquette seating, and a patio for warm nights. Sound climbs as the bar fills, so it is a hum-to-loud room rather than a hushed one, which suits a group better than a quiet date. Dress is smart-casual and the crowd skews young-professional given the strict twenty-one-and-up door. Seating spans bar, tables, and patio, and the space is large enough to take a party of eight without a private room.
Best for a Team Dinner
A good team dinner needs three things: a room that can take a group without a private booking, food everyone can find something on, and a bar that lets the night run long. The Oakmont has all three — a broad American menu from the chimichurri sirloin to tacos and a vegetarian bowl, a cocktail program that keeps going after the kitchen slows, and a downtown location minutes from Mass Ave's after-dinner options. Book a larger table, anchor the order around the steak and shareable plates, and let the bar carry the back half of the evening.
Not for
Not for a quiet date or anyone under twenty-one — it is a strict 21-and-up gastroclub, the bar gets loud, and the room is built for groups, not intimacy.
Frequently Asked
Is The Oakmont worth it?
Yes, as what it is: a well-run downtown gastroclub rather than a fine-dining room. Owners Chris Burton and Gus Vazquez opened it in 2021 just off Mass Ave, and the draw is a proper kitchen, anchored by the chimichurri sirloin, paired with a late-running bar and patio. For groups, after-work drinks, or a relaxed dinner downtown it is a reliable pick; for a quiet, romantic meal it is the wrong room.
How hard is it to book The Oakmont?
Not hard — reservations are available on OpenTable and walk-ins are welcome at the bar most nights. Weekend evenings fill up given the late hours and the twenty-one-and-up door, so book a few days ahead for a larger group or a prime Friday or Saturday slot. Mid-week tables are usually available close to the date.
What is the dress code at The Oakmont?
Smart-casual. It is a downtown gastroclub, so a neat shirt and jeans or a casual jacket fit right in; there is no jacket-required policy. Note the strict twenty-one-and-up door — bring ID, because the room is bar-forward and the policy is enforced at all hours.
What is the average meal price at The Oakmont?
Expect twenty to thirty dollars per person before drinks, with most plates landing in the teens to high twenties. The chimichurri sirloin with truffle-garlic fries is the signature and prices accordingly; burgers, tacos and the vegetarian bowl sit lower. Cocktails are a real part of the bill here, so a full evening with drinks runs higher. See more options in our Indianapolis dining guide.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at The Oakmont
Reservations via OpenTable · 21-and-up only · walk-ins welcome at the bar. Late hours Friday and Saturday.
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Practical Information
Address323 N Delaware St, Suite B, Indianapolis, IN 46204
NeighbourhoodMass Ave
CuisineAmerican Bar & Grill
Price20 to 30 dollars per person · most plates in the teens to high twenties
Dress CodeSmart-casual · 21-and-up
SeatingBar, tables & patio · group-friendly
ReservationOpenTable · walk-ins at the bar
