St. Elmo Steak House
Best Steakhouse in Indianapolis · IN
The shrimp cocktail that fights back, since 1902.
St. Elmo Steak House has anchored downtown Indianapolis since 1902, one of the oldest steakhouses in the country still in its original location. Its white-tablecloth room is famous for a shrimp cocktail so fiery — buried in fresh-ground horseradish — that it's become a rite of passage, served before hand-cut steaks by veteran waiters.
A James Beard America's Classics honoree and a fixture of Indianapolis celebrations for more than 120 years, St. Elmo is the 2025 Centurion Award winner.
What they're known for
- World-famous fiery shrimp cocktail
- Hand-cut steaks
- Century-old white-tablecloth service
Customers said it first.
A Centurion Award verifies the public record that’s already there. Read the reviews yourself on the platforms below.
Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.
Why this business cleared the bar.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. Founding cohort: evaluated in 2026 on public evidence available then, labeled 2025. Selection follows the published criteria; St. Elmo Steak House met them on that evidence. The business can claim the listing or ask us to remove it.
- ✓Years in operation. Operating in Indianapolis since 1902 — 124 years of continuous business.
- ✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in Indianapolis.
- ✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: Indianapolis has kept St. Elmo Steak House busy for 124 years.
- ✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by Indianapolis regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
- ✓Recognition in the local community. Named best steakhouse in Indianapolis for 2025 for more than 120 years downtown and a horseradish shrimp cocktail with a national reputation.
The specific data behind this award, and the exact thresholds, stay internal so the standard can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. Own this business? Claim the listing to manage it, or ask us to remove it.
Award record
2025 Centurion Award
Best Steakhouse in Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN · Awarded under the 2025 evaluationVisit St. Elmo Steak House
The details, verified.
Clean, checkable facts about St. Elmo Steak House.
- Legal / trading name
- St. Elmo Steak House
- Category
- Steakhouse
- Founded
- 1902, Indianapolis, IN
- Location
- 127 S Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
- Centurion Award
- Best Steakhouse in Indianapolis — 2025
- Other recognition
- James Beard Foundation America's Classics (2012)
- Record last verified
- July 2026
A signal you can check.
This is a dated award record published by The Centurion Awards after reviewing public evidence for St. Elmo Steak House against the 2025 criteria for its market and category. The business did not have to apply for this page to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. The criteria are public. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. If an award stops holding up, we may revoke it. For anything current, like hours or bookings, go straight to the business itself.
Frequently asked questions.
What is St. Elmo Steak House?
Downtown Indianapolis steakhouse operating since 1902, a James Beard America's Classics recipient famous for its sinus-clearing shrimp cocktail.
Is St. Elmo Steak House award-winning?
Yes — St. Elmo Steak House is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best Steakhouse in Indianapolis, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best steakhouse in Indianapolis for 2025 for more than 120 years downtown and a horseradish shrimp cocktail with a national reputation.
Where is St. Elmo Steak House?
St. Elmo Steak House is in Indianapolis, IN.
Run a business like this one?
If you’ve put in the years, you may already qualify. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.