St. Elmo Steak House Restaurant Review in Indianapolis: Menu, Prices, Reservations, and Who It Suits

By Steve Levine · Updated October 26, 2026

St. Elmo Steak House in Indianapolis is a classic downtown steakhouse for spicy shrimp cocktail, premium steaks, and celebrations. It suits business dinners, special occasions, and diners who want old-school steakhouse service at dinner prices.

St. Elmo is a long-running restaurant at 127 S. Illinois St., Indianapolis, IN 46225, tracing to a saloon opened by Joe Stahr in 1902. Expect a traditional dinner-only routine, reservations, and a menu built around beef, seafood, salads, and sides.

Where is it and when can you go?
What does the menu cost?
How do reservations work?
Who will enjoy it most?
What should home cooks copy and what are the limits?

Where is it and when can you go?

The dining room sits downtown on South Illinois Street, close to convention hotels and event venues. According to the official Hours and Location page, dinner runs Monday through Thursday 4pm to 10pm, Friday 4pm to 11pm, Saturday 3pm to 11pm, and Sunday 4pm to 9pm official Hours and Location page.

Happy Hour runs Sunday through Thursday from 4pm to 6pm. That early window works well for lighter spending, shorter waits, and weeknight plans.

What does the menu cost?

Dinner often starts with the St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail: four jumbo shrimp with spicy signature cocktail sauce for $21.95. Salads include house wedge, Caesar, and chopped BLT at $15 each, according to the official menus official menus.

Steaks and chops sit in the premium range. The DoorDash store menu lists examples such as filet mignon around $57, ribeye around $56, porterhouse around $80, and Tomahawk ribeye around $155 DoorDash store menu. Home cooks can use that structure as a guide: cocktail plus salad, steak, one potato, and one vegetable feeds two generously.

How do reservations work?

St. Elmo accepts walk-ins but recommends reservations.

You can book up to one year ahead, OpenTable reservations are held for 15 minutes, and casual dress is acceptable. Use this simple plan for a smooth visit:.

Book early for Friday, Saturday, conventions, and games.
Arrive 10 to 15 minutes before the reservation time.
Order carry-out by phone if the dining room is full.
Budget $20 to $40 for valet parking.

Who will enjoy it most?

Classic-steakhouse fans will feel at home. The room, service style, and menu favor diners who want martinis, shrimp cocktail, wedge salad, and a thick steak.

It also fits business dinners and celebrations. The restaurant offers five private-dining rooms with limited menus, plus the adjacent vintage 1933 Lounge for drinks before or after dinner. Carry-out by phone helps when you want the flavors without a long sit-down meal.

What should home cooks copy and what are the limits?

Copy the balance, not the bill. Make garlic shrimp with extra horseradish in cocktail sauce, pair ribeye with a crisp wedge, and finish with baked potatoes and creamed spinach. Small portions of strong flavors go far.

Know two limits before planning. St. Elmo closes on major federal holidays including New Year's, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. It does not cater, so holiday travelers and off-site event planners need another option.

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