Eggshell Bistro

Unique restaurant and a great environment.

My husband and I’s wedding anniversary is December 27, so we drive from Indianapolis to come here for a nice weekend brunch. After driving all the way over here they have a «closed for winter break» sign. 2 days after Christmas? And you can’t hire help? What a letdown, we will NOT return!

If you’re looking for a cute brunch spot with a menu with a little different flair, this place is for you. French style bistro, gourmet menu, smaller portions. You might consider the prices a little high if you’re expecting a grand slam breakfast. The size was just right for me, but my husband left wanting a little more food which doesn’t usually happen when we eat out. They request no alterations to your order, so if you’re a picky «no onions» type of gal, this isn’t for you. Only 4 stars instead of 5 because MYLANTA the service was slow. I’m all for a culinary experience, but when you’re only 1 of 2 tables, I expect prompt coffee delivery.

It pains me to give this place 3 stars. The menu is unique and not the typical find in Indianapolis. It’s a small operation the chef takes your order and prepares the food for you. it is clear that he takes pride in the food he cooks and the small details. For example he came by to tell us that the small purple things on the sweet potato hash were purple sweet potatoes. The poached eggs on that dish were prepared perfectly. The mountain of fried sweet potatoes were definitely in poor taste. Top it off with very salty vegetarian sausage and it makes for a disappointing dish.
My wife got the caprese dish (don’t remember the exact name) and it was essentially a mushy, swamp of oil.
Definitely has potential and is worth supporting as it is not another IHOP or Denny’s-esque option that are so abundant in Indy. However the potential is far from met. For a place that does not allow substitutions, the chef needs to do some work to both create more well crafted and well executed dishes.
Our friends who recommended the place said the shakshuka was fantastic, but we did not try the dish.
Unfortunately, while we appreciate that the chef seems passionate and it was a small operation, the food experience will not pull us back any time soon.

Throw your Denny’s coupons in the trash and experience what breakfast is meant to be. The owner and Chef Larry takes pride in his unique execution of contemporary fusion cuisine. The eggs are sourced from a local Amish farm (Google sous vide). The ingredients are fresh and handled with love. Real food is supposed to make you grow. Learn to appreciate the privilege to eat, and defeat your inner desire for ‘fast food’. Talk to someone, read a culinary book/​magazine from the back counter, humble yourself and sit quietly. The atmosphere features true vintage relics and there’s a story behind everything. Reviews will not do justice until you delight in the Eggshell experience for yourself.
The Brioche is blessed bread from a local bakery and tastes of milk and honey. Try the Parisian Toast with organic ginger snap icecream on top. You do not need syrup because the house made chutney is phenomenal, have some class.

This place is a culinary adventure. It certainly has the most interesting, unique menu in Carmel. I had to look up some ingredients. Since it was my first time, I had to try the sweet potato hash. It had a delicious blend of flavors. I cleaned my plate. My hubby had the asparagus ham strata, and it was also delicious. Our service was great. I would like to be able to give it five stars but I can’t for three reasons. First, it is really pricy; breakfast for 2 cost $ 37 not including the tip. Second, the coffee was weak for my taste. Lastly, they weren’t offering three items on their menu, and it is not an expansive menu to begin with. Still, I want to try some of the other items on the menu, so when I can splurge I will return.

Second time visiting and tried something new. Had to share! If you go to Eggshell Bistro, you know to get the sweet potato hash. However, today I strayed away from my norm and got the shakshuka. This Moroccan-​spiced, tomato dish is tangy, slightly spicy, and full of flavor. It contains sautéed onions, a generous helping of feta cheese, and comes with toasted ciabatta to dip.
This is now my new favorite dish! Definitely recommend.

This place was fantastic. Egg in brioche. Spicy Mediterranean eggs. Excellent coffee. Lamb bacon, and fresh orange juice. Service was excellent, and we had a wonderful conversation with the chef. I highly recommend this place.

best thing ive ever ate for brunch.
sweet potato hash.
i cannot rave about it enough
yes, it’s kinda oily for brunch, but oh my gawd
my taste buds just went to heaven and back.
At first, looking at the menu, I thought it was bit over priced, but I’m not even mad, it tasted so good.

My first tip is that this place, in my opinion is a splurge. Patachou pricing is on the high end of what I like to spend for brunch and this place is even more costly. That’s my only complaint. Do I think it is worth it, sometimes. I’ve been here twice in about 3 years. In part because I live downtown but my biggest deterrent is the price. Every breakfast item is over $ 13-​$ 15. Coffee is $ 3.5 per CUP. I had a piece of quiche and a cappuccino (I’d rather upgrade my single cup of $ 3.50 Joe to a $ 4.50 cappuccino) and my bill was $ 19.08 before tip.
The food here is amazing. Phenomenal even. My quiche was light, airy and creamy. My fruit cup was full of perfectly ripe fruit cut into tiny bite size pieces. The staff was friendly. Heck I got to chat with the chef about food which was great but the dent it made on my wallet is still haunting me.
My recommendation is to dine her when someone else is paying the tab.

A great brunch spot in Carmel. Small dining room with a great French café feel. Had the sweet potato hash and it was one of the better meals I have had in some time. They take pride in their food and presentation which is always the way to go. Will be back soon.

I’ll start by saying that every time we eat here, we are never disappointed. The truffled egg brioche I enjoyed today along with the «polar opposite» coffee, is a breakfast I would eat every single day if I could. Why not eat it every day? Unfortunately I do not have 2 hours to spare most days brunch. The service was horrendous.
But let me say this had nothing to do with the very capable and friendly server we had today, the problem was, he was the only server for the entire resturant. It just is not humanly possible to do everything required of a server (get waters, coffees, take orders, run food, refill water, refill coffees, clear plates, present checks) for an entire establishment.
Eggshell, please hire more help and we would come far more often. Your food/​coffee is marvelous.

Eggshell Bistro is a quaint bistro located in Carmel’s City Center that offers an interesting take on brunch. The menu offers a nice variety of items to chose from that offers flavorful and fresh ingredients. The assortment of drinks, ranging from coffee to tea to a really good New Orleans iced coffee.
The menu does offer a selection of gluten free fare. The crispy sweet potato hash appears to be small, but don’t let its appearance fool you. This protein packed meal is not only extremely filling, but packs a nice flavorful kick thanks in part to the chorizo and jalapeño mixed found within the dish.
One thing to note, like others have mentioned previously, the service is rather slow, so if your in a hurry this might not be a good option. If you are looking for some good food and have sometime to relax while sipping some tea and catching up with a friend, then Eggshell provides a nice opportunity.
**If you have never been to City Center, there is are a few parking spots above ground as well a garage off of Veteran’s Way and Rangeline Road.

This restaurant is definitely one to try if you want a new breakfast twist. Love the décor and the ambiance very cozy. I had a cappuccino and the dish with salmon can’t remember the name of the dish, both were very tasty. Unfortunately I can’t give it five stars cause service is slow they really need to hire more help. Oh and something else the price was ridiculous for what you get!

This place blew me away!!! Great spot for brunch. I am in no way exaggerating… this was hands down my favorite breakfast. I got the first thing on the menu — shakshu (something like that) and it was phenomenal!!! Do yourself a favor Indy and check out this place immediately.

Hands down the best coffee in Indiana. The cappuccino is so smooth and creamy with very rich foam, even comparable to the stumptown in NYC. Chef/​owner Larry prepares all the brunch food in person. I had truffled eggs in Brioche today and it was so delicious. Also recommend shakshuka and sweet potato hash. I don’t think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. If you come during the busy time you might need to be patient for your food as the owner is in the kitchen himself, but come on who cares sitting in such a lovely place sipping oh so delicious coffee. They also have matcha latte off the menu which I must try next time. Truly a gem in Indiana.

There are few places where I am literally grinning ear to ear because the food makes you. The coffee is brewed like no other place, although the exact process I don’t know.
The food is out of the question good. Like the name, Eggshell, the food is so delicately delicious. Eating it is like participating in an art form.
That makes the staff artists. It’s just awesome. You have to try it to see what I mean
I echo what’s been reviewed before me — this place is a rarity. Go get it!

After a quick ride up the Monon, stopped in for a quick brunch to try their ever-​so-​talked about Blue Bottle coffee. Before I walked in the door, I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t a bike rack in sight. You’re on the Monon for crying out loud!
They were back in my good graces when I saw their GORGEOUS espresso machine. We ordered the French Toast and Polar Opposites (hot espresso layered with cool, sweet cream). Both were superb, but ill-​timed. We were about ready to ask for our check before we even received our lattes. After seeing our licked-​clean plates, our server just said «dessert drinks it is» and set them on the table.
Keeping true to its Persian roots, be prepared to wait and wait and wait for your food, drinks and check. They are slow, but boy is it delicious.
Will I be back? If it’s convenient and I have the time, but definitely not an out-​of-​my-​way stop.

This is the cutest darn brunchy place in all of the land. I absolutely love the French signage, photography and the shabby chic feel of the interior. I had heard a great deal about the coffees at Eggshell and as excited to check it out (they serve Blue Bottle – my favorite from San Fran).
The menu offers a variety of interesting, not easily found items. I feasted on the sweet potato hash with chorizo and 2 sous vide poached eggs. But what I loved the most was the New Orleans iced coffee – cool and perfectly sweetened.
So why you ask does this establishment get a mediocre 3 stars? Well, for a couple of reasons…
1. The prices make this a special occasion brunch. My coffee hash combo left me $ 24 less rich. And while everything was excellent, I didn’t feel like $ 24 worth of goodness.
2. The portions are smallish. This is no place for a dude to find his hangover cure. I would have enjoyed a bit more iced coffee for the $ 5.50 price tag and the same for my hash… or perhaps include some toast?
3. The pacing. This was, to say the least, a leisurely brunch. The place is small and it wasn’t too busy when we stopped by, but things did seem to take quite a while.
All of that said, I’ll venture back once my wallet is ready to take another hit.

Dear Carmel,
I’m on a mission to love you. A mission to find your hidden local gems. And lastly, a mission to cope with the ungodly number of roundabouts you’re rockin’.
While on this mission, I uncovered Eggshell Bistro (recommended to me not only by Unilocalers but the Carmel tourism folks and Chamber). Eggshell is a little slice of Parisian café heaven tucked into the new development building that also boasts businesses like Matt The Miller’s, Divvy and InCycle spin studio. Inside the restaurant you’ll find flowers on the handful of tables, unique egg dishes and an expansive coffee and tea menu.
My dining partner and I opted for the sweet potato hash, pot of Chai tea and Eggshell signature Moroccan egg dish known as shakshuka (feta, eggs, spicy tomato and red pepper sauce served with pretzel bread —but not just any pretzel bread, mindbogglingly delicious pretzel bread). Servings are on the smaller size but in my opinion that goes hand in hand with the European flair of the biz and I left with my stomach full. I highly recommend all of these dishes. The tea fit the setting perfectly.
Way to keep me on my toes, Carmel.
Love,
Britt
**Why not the 5^th star? Jeezum Petes the service was slow and we were one of three occupied tables.