Where to Eat Now

Main Gate Sports Bar & Restaurant – 520 Main St.
Less than 0.1 miles from the Ford Center
Opened specifically to capitalize on the attention the new arena might bring, the aptly named Main Gate — with a typical bar-food menu — sits across from the Ford Center’s primary entrance.

Milano’s Italian Cuisine – 500 Main St.
0.1 miles from the Ford Center
This dynamic Italian restaurant is perfect for romantic dates or large groups.

The Jungle – 415 Main St.
0.2 miles from the Ford Center
The owners of this upscale restaurant insist patrons can wear jeans, yet the menu is a little more upscale: grilled stuffed eggplant, flank steak, cilantro garlic pork chop.

Angelo’s – 305 Main St.
0.3 miles from the Ford Center
The atmosphere is intimate at night, and the wall-length fresco of an Italian landscape hints that the menu is a Mediterranean delight.

PeepHole Bar & Grill – 201 Main St.
0.3 miles from the Ford Center
The smoke-filled establishment is the quintessential hole-in-the-wall bar with a matching menu of fried foods.

Salad World – 200 Main St.
0.3 miles from the Ford Center
Revamped, the interior of this former consignment shop is dark yet comfortable, and the menu boasts more than salads such as sandwiches, pitas, wraps, and more.

Shing-Lee Chinese Restaurant – 215 Main St.
0.3 miles from the Ford Center
The main attraction of this windowless restaurant is a brilliant sesame chicken dish, prepared by longtime owner Ling Jung.

Jaya’s Restaurant – 119 S.E. Fourth St.
0.3 miles from the Ford Center
In a country where Asian options feel predictable is Jaya’s Restaurant — deliciously different from the mainstream. Korean native Jaya Dodd opened her eatery decades ago, and she knows her way around a wok.

Eclipse Spanish Tapas Bar & Restaurant – 113 S.E. Fourth St.
0.3 miles from the Ford Center
Warm and romantic, Eclipse is the definition of a date-night hot spot. The tapas come from owner Sandra Soto, who grew up in Mexico City with a Spanish father.

The Red Fez – 6 Walnut St.
0.6 miles from the Ford Center
Not just for Shriners, this restaurant is bright and big, and the menu is home-style goodness.

Madeleine’s A Fusion Restaurant – 423 S.E. Second St.
0.7 miles from the Ford Center
Named for their daughter Madeleine, Chef Timothy Mills and Tyra Sikkink’s casual elegant restaurant promises the freshest seafood and choice meats with a menu that changes every week.

Cavanaugh’s – 21 N.W. Riverside Drive
0.8 miles from the Ford Center
At this upscale establishment, the menu is a showcase of steaks and seafood. With a romantic river view, it isn’t a bad idea to wear a tie.

Max & Erma’s – 421 N.W. Riverside Drive
0.8 miles from the Ford Center
The casual chain is a place with another great river view. It is known for its cookies.

Riverside Cookery – 421 N.W. Riverside Drive
0.8 miles from the Ford Center
Inside the Casino Aztar Pavilion, Riverside Cookery’s menu is new to town (it debuted in August 2011), and the menu feels like a Southern celebration.

Fast Eddy’s,– 507 N.W. Riverside Drive
0.8 miles from the Ford Center
A 21 and over burger joint with half-pound patties and half-pound French fries as well as steak kebabs, pork and chicken kebabs, and peel-and-eat shrimp.

Ri Ra Irish Pub and Restaurant – 701-B N.W. Riverside Drive
0.9 miles from the Ford Center
In 2011, the chain restaurant celebrated its fifth year in Evansville. The menu is a smart blend of Irish dishes with Midwestern comfort food.

Stoney’s Rockin’ Country Bar – 701 N.W. Riverside Drive
0.9 miles from the Ford Center
A club known for its mechanical bull and beer pong has a simple hamburger menu. The beef patties, known as “outlaw burgers,” come with generous toppings.

Bokeh Lounge – 1007 Parrett St.
0.9 miles from the Ford Center
This beer and wine lounge in Evansville’s arts district specializes in drinks but also includes a menu from the River City Roller food truck.

Previous article
Next article

Related Articles

Latest Articles