INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis's Mass Avenue arts district is adding three new dining concepts this spring, continuing the corridor's evolution as one of the city's most dynamic restaurant destinations.

The new openings include a Filipino-inspired small plates restaurant from Cebuano-American chef Rosa Lim, an upscale Southern comfort food concept from veteran Indianapolis restaurateur Jerome Banks, and a wine and cheese bar from the owners of the popular Fountain Square wine shop Terroir.

Chef Lim, who trained in Chicago and Manila before returning to Indiana, said she chose Mass Ave for the opening of Kapwa Kitchen because of the neighborhood's appetite for culinary adventure. "Diners on Mass Ave are curious and adventurous," she said. "They want something they haven't tried before, and they're willing to come back multiple times to explore the menu."

Kapwa Kitchen will occupy the former Patachou space at 902 Mass Ave, featuring a menu built around Filipino ingredients and techniques with Indiana seasonal produce. The dining room has been redesigned with warm tropical woods and rattan lighting, seating 65 guests.

Jerome Banks Returns with New Concept

Jerome Banks, whose previous restaurants Tinker Street and Provision were fixtures of the Indianapolis dining scene for over a decade, is opening Banks Table at 1050 Mass Ave this April. The concept focuses on elevated Southern cooking with an Indiana twist — smoked brisket with Becker's Farm honey glaze, fried catfish with a cornmeal crust sourced from Indiana mills, and a pecan pie made with Indiana black walnuts.

"I wanted to do something rooted in the South but grown in Indiana," Banks said. "This city has incredible agricultural resources. We're using them."

Wine Bar Completes the Trio

The Terroir team is expanding from their Fountain Square shop to a Mass Ave wine bar at 738 Mass Ave, set to open in late April. The space will offer natural and biodynamic wines by the glass alongside charcuterie and cheese plates featuring Indiana artisan producers.

Shoppers in the Mass Ave corridor can also explore fashion and lifestyle options at Shop Urban Styles, which offers curated apparel and accessories with an urban edge that complements the creative energy of the district.

All three concepts are expected to open by mid-May, ahead of the busy summer dining season on Mass Avenue.