As the weather transitions to windy days and brighter colors of leaves, a new cuisine sensation has trickled into the outskirts of the downtown Indianapolis area. Located on 1351 Roosevelt Ave. with its entrance facing away from the road, diners may be deceived from seeing it entirely. But enter from the south side, and they will find themselves in front of Cunningham Restaurant Group’s newest feat: ShinDig.
The first thing you will be greeted with when you enter ShinDig is a small, mellow waiting space with a towering but uniquely inviting blue double door. Pull the handles, and you will be thrusted into a retro scene of both atmospheric and cuisine delight.
From the immediate arrival, to reaching the host stand, and when you're finally seated, there is an ambient harmony of music flowing through the air from the restaurant’s speakers. The smooth concrete floor is far from plain, with certain parts decorated with yellow, blue or red heptagrams.
ShinDig, which by definition refers to a lively party, marks a new road not only for the brand but for restaurant hoppers who are looking for a casual but appeasing bite.
Aaron Rambo, ShinDig manager, says the restaurant operates under the theme of a retro vibe over a 40-year period and seeks to be a comfortable environment for all diners.
“It’s a different concept from anything we’ve ever done,” Rambo said. “A lot of the [Cunningham] restaurants tend to be a little more high-end. Bru Burger is more casual, so this is our attempt at being even more casual than that.”
With a meticulous seating layout, the restaurant offers a comforting experience for a broad range of guests–a table for a family of four, a booth for a lively group of six and a bar with over 40 seats for solo quests.
“At Cunningham, we are all about embracing communities, the people that live around us, and we want to be a part of all of that,” Rambo said.
Every corner of the restaurant is a testament to its dedication of being retro, with a life-size vintage robot at the front, proudly hung completed coloring sheets on lockers from past diners and striking movie posters framed at the end of jeaned-out booths.
Shin and Dig, the restaurant’s characters, are playfully present on certain areas of the space and behind the red t-shirts of staff who are equally amiable as they are attentive.
Of the restaurant’s most notable facets is its extended menu including but not limited to wings, pizza, salads, burgers and sweets–all of which are freshly made in-house and are assembled with a fine detail to every touch.
“Cunningham Restaurant Group is known for elevated cuisine, interesting flavors,” Rambo said. “You can come in here and get a pepperoni or cheese pizza–absolutely. But we have a lot of other interesting things like our pastrami kraut pizza. You don’t usually put pastrami kraut and mustard on your pizza, but it's really good.”
Beverage choices follow closely, with exquisite takes of options for coffee, slushie cocktails, beer, wine and more.
While one sitting alone is anything but enough time to explore each name-enticing menu item, here are a few that I particularly enjoyed.
Dragon Wings - $15
Plated on a white, black-spotted plate, the twice-fried pieces of chicken sit on a leaf of romaine lettuce, with a side of roasted garlic ranch. Upon the first bite, there is a slight crunch as the flavor from the Szechuan chili oil seeps into your mouth. The meat has a complementing tenderness to it that is almost distracting from the inevitable but peculiar feeling that is building on the tongue. It is not until finishing the second wing that a stronger numbing sensation permeates; one that is surprisingly not sweat-inducing and still allows one to faithfully enjoy the remainder of the dish. The pickled carrot and cucumber are an excellent twist to the spice, along with the ranch, aiding the taste buds from becoming overstimulated.
Garlic Butter Breadsticks - $8
The distinct shape of every breadstick is the first indicator of the dish’s freshness. Warm to the touch, perfectly baked and freshly rolled, it is safe to say that one could finish all seven on their own. Biting into it is much like biting into a toasted marshmallow–soft and chewy. If you think that the grated parmesan cheese will melt into the abyss of your savoring or when dipping it into the cheese sauce, you are wrong. It is a tangy and rich flavor that remains amidst the butteriness until the very last bite.
Churro Bites - $7
If you are particularly irked by food that sheds the moment it lands in your fingers, you will find an immediate exception with these. The soft and moistness of the dough is a wondrous match to the slightly hardened shell that caves in with each bite. Neither the taste of sugar or cinnamon is overpowering and harmonizes in taste with the soothing side cup of chocolate dip.
In all, if you are looking for a place to eat, to celebrate with friends and family or just to rest your mind after a week of duties, ShinDig is a must go-to. Not a fan of indoor dining? No worries at all. You can mark your calendar to visit in the spring when the restaurant’s outdoor patio opens, which includes plans for a capacity of 130, ping pong tables, fire pits and games. You can also stop by to talk with Rambo about the restaurant’s impressive oven ability to cook 40 pizzas at once.
With a fervent atmosphere of retro pride, a distinctive menu with friendly prices and a group of staff who will host you as if you were at home yourself, you can be sure that ShinDig is where the party is.
Heaven Xiong is a senior majoring in management, international studies and journalism, with a minor in economics. She is a writer and Copy Editor for The Campus Citizen. Outside of writing, she is an avid Minute Maid lover, dancer and Swiftie.