Nice restaurant for graduation dinner from Anderson Univ

Help! my daughter is graduating May 9 from Anderson University in Anderson. Since we-her parents, live in WI, we have no idea where to take her for a nice celebration afterwards. As a college student, her budget has not allowed her to go to nicer restaurants either so I need some advice.

We need to find a nicer ($25 - $30 per person) restaurant within 45 minutes of Anderson. Preferably south to southwest since some of us will have to make the 6 hour trek home that night. I%26#39;d like something in the $25-$30 range. Please send me your ideas soon. Thanks! Chris

Nice restaurant for graduation dinner from Anderson Univ

Cheerhcs -- Don%26#39;t have an immediate answer for you but I know the area between Anderson and Indy very well. I%26#39;ll get back to you with some suggestions.

Honk

Nice restaurant for graduation dinner from Anderson Univ

Unless a place has emerged over the past 12 months or so, I%26#39;m sorry to say there%26#39;s not much in Anderson beyond some nice chain-type places.

In nearby Perkinsville, Bonge%26#39;s has been through several owners without losing their overall quality of food (at least not for long). I don%26#39;t know if they%26#39;re open during the time period you%26#39;d want though - they do have a web site. They are about 20 minutes west of Anderson.

If you%26#39;re willing to drive down to the north edge of Indy (a pretty short drive, WELL within the 45 minutes you%26#39;ve mentioned), you can hit a large number of very good restaurants. Chief among them - in terms of pretty fancy places to eat - Peterson%26#39;s. In my opinion, they%26#39;re the best locally owned restaurant in the city. They are open for dinner only, and are pretty expensive (~$35 per person and up). And there are many others within a short drive of Peterson%26#39;s.

Thank you both for your attention to this. I can easily drive to the north end of Indy if need be. I do need to find something at the lower range of upscale. Any other suggestions will be great as well. I will look into Peterson%26#39;s tonight also Thanks again!

Cheerhcs:

As he always does, DaveinIndy made the best possible suggestion. Peterson%26#39;s is both upscale, very easy to find, and not far from Anderson. It%26#39;s at the intersection of Interstate 69 and 96th street in Indy. It%26#39;s probably 20-25 minutes from Anderson, probably 35 minutes from Anderson University campus, depending how fast you drive.

As Dave said, there%26#39;s really not much in Anderson anymore as far as upscale dining. I had heard of a nice newer restaurant in Pendleton, which is near Anderson and not far from Indy. I was checking into it but couldn%26#39;t get any info about it though.

If Peterson%26#39;s doesn%26#39;t fit the bill, I would recommend looking at restaurants in Carmel, Noblesville, and Fishers. These are all suburbs north of Indy and have some level of upscale dining. Other specific suggestions might be Glass Chimney in Carmel and Bellavita on Geist Resevoir in Fishers (nice atmosphere, okay food, harder to get to). In the Castleton area of Indy, just south of Fishers, there%26#39;s a place called Loon Lake Lodge. You can do a Google search for ';restaurants, castleton, IN'; and get some results to consider.

Of course, there is the chain stuff like Bonefish Grill, Bravo%26#39;s, Maggianos, Cheescake Factory, etc etc. North Indy and the %26#39;burbs have just about every upscale chain. Trip Advisor can be helpful if you search for ';restaurants, %26lt;city name%26gt;,IN';

Wish I could give you more ideas. Feel free to ask questions.

Thanks so much! With the graduation rapidly approaching, I appreicate all these tips. I really narrows down my search. once again, my friends at TripAdvisor, have come through for me. You all are the best!

I would recommend Stone Creek Dining Company. They are located in the new Hamilton Town Center at I-69 %26amp; Exit 10 (very close to Anderson). Their website is:http://www.stonecreekdining.com/noblesville

I know the proprietor Mike Cunningham personally and he always does everything top notch. Not only is the food outstanding but the atmosphere is great as well. Once you%26#39;re done with dinner you could catch a movie at the 16 screen IMAX Theater, shop at a myriad of stores, etc. The mall%26#39;s website is: www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=1214

Good luck and congratulations!

Cheerhcs -- Just to support indystoprealtor%26#39;s suggestion . . . the location of this restaurant is nearly perfect for your needs as it is getting close to halfway between Indy and Anderson. It%26#39;s closer to Indy than to Anderson and wouldn%26#39;t add much more driving time on to the poor souls who will be hitting the road that night back to WI (I assume they will backtrack to Indy to catch I65?)

All the above posts are great! I can%26#39;t seem to get early enough to put my two cents in!! GOOD FOR YOU ALL!! Where in Milwaukee CHEER? I lived in West Allis (119th and national) back in the early 70%26#39;s

Just following your example, Indyob!

Indyob,

We actually live quite close to your previous home. We live in new Berlin right on the New Berlin, Brookfield border. Since most people have no idea where New Berlin is, Milwaukee is good for a general location :)

Thands to all who are helping me with ideas. 3 weeks to go %26amp; I am on the hunt for one of the restaurants that you have all suggested.

I am also on the Paris forum looking for advice on her graduation gift- a trip to Paris so anyone with ideas on that one, look me up there %26amp; put your suggestions down there too!