Boasting modern Mexican food and vibrant décor, Social Cantina is expanding with a new Indianapolis outpost. The recently opened Broad Ripple/Meridian Kessler spot brings the franchise up to a total of six locations—Carmel, Bloomington, downtown Indy, Mishawaka, and even Nashville, Tennessee, round out the rest of the roster.
Settling nicely into the former Gallery Pastry Shop digs on North College Avenue, the latest Social Cantina is perfectly poised to capture traffic from Broad Ripple, midtown, and downtown. A colorful outdoor mural by Indianapolis-based artist Kimmy Wachtel greets guests from the approach, setting the tone for a fun meal inside or on the patio.
“As we looked for our next location in Indiana, opening in Broad Ripple-Meridian Kessler became the perfect fit, and we’re excited about the continued growth of Social Cantina,” said Chris Martin, president of Finney Hospitality Group. “We’re also thrilled to announce a partnership with Butler Athletics, making Social Cantina the place to be before or after any event on the Butler campus, especially at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse.”
Once through the door, the atmosphere is lively with bright colors, a wall of greenery and neon flamingos echoing the theme of the mural outside.
This isn’t your average Mexican fare. Social Cantina upgrades traditional favorites like tacos, arroz con pollo, and enchiladas with its own contemporary flair, achieving unexpectedly delicious results. The shareable salsa “flight” is a great way to get the party started with your choice of four dips to accompany a generous pile of fresh tortilla chips. A themed “taco of the month” option joins a tempting regular lineup that features hot honey fried chicken, ahi tuna, Korean pork belly, and fried avocado variations.
To wash it all down? Margaritas, of course, with made-fresh-in-house sour mix and a selection of agave spirits, fruit, and flavorings. Signature cocktails, beer, sangria, mocktails, and “dirty pops” are also available.
Social Cantina is open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. For more information, go to thesocialcantina.com.
