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 record was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. 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.
The details, verified.
- 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
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.
Every award, on the record.
Each Centurion Award is its own dated annual record, and staying current means clearing the bar again each new year. The verification above is from the latest published award. Open a year for that year’s citation.
2025 Centurion Award
Best Steakhouse in Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation View the 2025 award →Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
Visit St. Elmo Steak House
A signal you can check.
This page is the standing record for St. Elmo Steak House (2025). It was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. For hours, bookings, and live reviews, go straight to the business itself.
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 for free to manage it, correct it, or remove it. If you want the award kit (badge, certificate, and announcement), you pay after you claim. Through December 31, 2026, publishing is $99. The evaluation itself is free. The $99 covers the first year only. Renewals are $199/year. That fee never buys selection.
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.