Exploring New Castle Indiana Restaurants: A Foodie’s Guide
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As someone who loves great food and exploring new restaurants, finding that perfect local spot is essential to every trip – be it a day trip or a full-on vacation. So you can bet when I spend time in a city I haven’t been to before, I’m going to do the legwork to find the best places to eat.
After a few fun day trips to New Castle (and all of Henry County), I’ve tried quite a few! And to make life easy, I’m narrowing the list down to my favorites! So, next time you are on a day trip from Indianapolis to Henry County, maybe hiking at Summit Lake State Park or delving into the history of Indiana Basketball, check out one of these amazing restaurants!
Thanks to New Castle Henry County Econ. Dev. Corp for sponsoring some of my dining experiences in Henry County. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
The BEST Restaurants in New Castle, Indiana
You’ll find plenty of excellent options in New Castle from breakfast to dinner!
1. The Press Coffee Co.
My first stop on ANY day trip is the local coffee shop. I like to start a day of exploring fully caffeinated, so locating the place the locals hang out is quite important to me.
In New Castle, that spot is The Press Coffee Co. This adorable (and delicious) coffee shop is located right downtown, just off the main street. When I visited the weather was perfect, not too hot and not too cold, so we grabbed a couple of Americanos and enjoyed them outside.
The Press Coffee Co has a cool, almost industrial vibe and gets its name from the location. It’s in part of the old newspaper building, so that’s pretty cool, right? Start your day exploring the region by stopping at The Press Coffee Co., too. If you like good coffee, you’ll thank me!
The Press Coffee Co, 225 S. 14th Street, New Castle, IN
2. Ink & Ale Brewhouse
My top choice in New Castle for lunch or dinner is just around the corner from The Press Coffee Co. Ink & Ale Brewhouse is fairly new to the area but hits all the marks in my book—good food, fun and comfy atmosphere, and a great beer list. Check, check, and check!
We enjoyed a late lunch/early dinner and had most of the bar to ourselves (although I’ve heard it gets quite busy at night). As soon as you walk in, you’ll start to see the nod to the old newspaper location. With comfy couches up front and axe throwing off to the side (fun, right?), you can easily spend an entire evening at Ink & Ale!
But, if like me, you are there for the food, you aren’t going to be disappointed. We split a delicious burger, an order of fried pickles and a fun dip trio. Plenty of food for two (maybe even three!) and a nice variety.
The burger was perfectly prepared and full of flavor – I highly recommend it. The fried pickles were fantastic – some of the best I’ve had with a light breading and delicious homemade dip on the side. Finally, the dip trio was a fun choice if you are a fan of Mediterranean food (which we are). With olives, a tzatziki type dip and homemade hummus it was a nice complement to our other options. On my own, this could easily be my entire meal.
As I mentioned, the beer list was stellar – with plenty of local (and near local) choices. I ended up with one of my favorites from a downtown Noblesville brewery! If you can’t decide you can enjoy a flight and try several.
Ink & Ale Brewhouse, 239 S. 14th Street, New Castle, IN
3. Blue River Taphouse
Every town needs a local brewery, right? Some of our favorite afternoons have been spent hanging out at a brewery, enjoying craft beers, and playing games. New Castle’s latest addition to the brewery scene, Blue River Taphouse, gave us that!
We were lucky enough to spend quite a bit of time talking to the owner of this fun little brewery and enjoyed learning about their philosophy and future plans. The beers are local, and they have something for everyone.
The atmosphere was fantastic – lots of local art, plenty of comfortable seating, and places to play games or just hang out with friends. If I was local to New Castle, I could easily see this being a place I regularly visit!
Blue River Taphouse, 1120 Broad Street, New Castle, IN
Great Places to Eat in Henry County Near New Castle
Although New Castle is the largest city in Henry County, there are quite a few other “don’t miss” dining experiences. A few of my favorites include:
4. 1000 Degree Wood Fired Pizza
My family takes pizza seriously, and 1000 Degree Wood Fired Pizza is right up there with our local favorites. It’s such a fun (and wacky) place that we consider it a destination restaurant – and a perfect addition to an afternoon hiking at one of the Henry County Parks or spending time at nearby Belgian Horse Winery.
As soon as you pull up to 1000 Degree Wood Fired Pizza you know you are in for an experience. The entire restaurant (inside and out) is FULL of memorabilia – it would take you hours to look at it all, and I bet you’ll still miss something.
The pizza is terrific, with lots of toppings and flavor. Add a soda and a side salad for a fantastic lunch or dinner. If we are extra hungry, I always add an order of bagel sticks—it’s hard to describe them, but they are basically delicious bread with salt and a side of ranch. Yummy. (I’m already craving an order just thinking about them!)
Not only is the food plentiful and tasty, and the decor fun, but it’s also pretty affordable. My family of four can easily eat there for $60ish and have leftovers!
1000 Degree Wood Fired Pizza, 101 Walnut Street, Mt. Summit, Indiana
5. Iron Kettle
Just down the road from 1000 Degree Pizza is another Henry County staple, the Iron Kettle. As soon as you enter the restaurant, you know you are in for a good old-fashioned home-cooked meal. Think fried chicken, meatloaf, veggies and the like. Comfort food at it’s best.
Along with the regular menu, the Iron Kettle has daily specials, and it’s the kind of place where getting the daily special is always a good idea. So, next time you are in the mood for a little nostalgic Sunday dinner-type meal, head over to the Iron Kettle.
Iron Kettle, 103 S. Meridian St. Sulpher Springs, IN
6. The Burch Tree Cafe and Bakery
Are you in the mood for a delicious breakfast or some yummy baked goods? Then, plan to start your day antique shopping (or maybe visiting Hoosier Gym) in Knightstown at The Burch Tree Cafe and Bakery.
On our last visit, we enjoyed eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, and plenty of hot coffee. The sausage had so much flavor, making the biscuits and gravy extra tasty! I also picked up a cupcake to take home to my son (which he gobbled down immediately).
If you get a later start, consider popping in for one of those delicious cupcakes or a slice of pie as the perfect afternoon treat. Or maybe pick up some snacks to enjoy as a picnic at one of the nearby parks!
The Burch Tree Cafe and Bakery, 20 N. Washington St. Knightstown, IN
7. Belgian Horse Winery
Searching out local wineries is one of our other favorite things to do on day trips, and Henry County is close enough to Noblesville that I’ve visited Belgian Horse Winery several times. The inside is soothing and comfy and perfect for a winter day, but my favorite spot is outside! Especially in the summer or fall.
With plenty of outdoor seating (and even a stage with frequent concerts), it’s a lovely way to while away a weekend afternoon. On my last visit, I went with a flight/tasting to try several wines. I liked them all, but as it was the summer of Rose, that was my favorite!
Even if you aren’t a wine drinker the winery has a variety of beers and ciders to pick from – so everyone’s going to find something they enjoy. There is also a food menu and although I haven’t tried it yet, the pizza looks (and smells) pretty amazing.
Belgian Horse Winery, 7200 W. County Road 625 North, Middletown, IN
Insider tip: kids are allowed outside, but inside the winery is 21+ only
Map of Henry County Indiana Restaurants
Conclusion: Exploring New Castle Indiana Restaurants
So, as you can see, I’ve found plenty of amazing (and delicious) restaurants in New Castle and the surrounding county. Whether you prefer upscale pub food or old-fashioned cooking, there is a place for you! And of course, you’ve got some amazing choices for coffee AND dessert!
Or, you can do what I do and mix it up! No matter where we are exploring on our day trips to Henry County, I can always count on enjoying a tasty meal at one of my favorite spots as part of the experience.
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