These Indiana Restaurants Have Been Family-Owned For Four Generations And Still Stay Packed
Indiana has a lot of restaurants that have been around for decades, the kind of places families keep going back to year after year. They’re usually run by people who grew up in the business, still using the same recipes their parents and grandparents did.
There’s something really special about walking into a spot where the photos on the wall tell half the story and the regulars all seem to know each other.
I’ve visited a few of these long-standing favorites myself, and they all have one thing in common: genuine care for the people they serve.
1. Shapiro’s Delicatessen, Indianapolis
Since 1905, this delicatessen has served authentic Jewish comfort food to hungry Indianapolis residents. The Shapiro family brought their traditions from Europe and created something special in the heart of the city.
Walking through the cafeteria-style line feels like stepping back in time. The corned beef sandwiches are piled high, and the matzo ball soup tastes just like grandma used to make. Everything is made fresh daily using recipes that haven’t changed in over a century.
Locals line up at lunchtime, and the place stays busy well into dinner. Four generations later, the family still runs the show.
2. Iaria’s Italian Restaurant, Indianapolis
The Iaria family opened their doors in 1933, right in the middle of the Great Depression. They survived tough times by sticking to what they knew best: honest Italian cooking that fills you up without breaking the bank.
The dining room still has that old-world charm with red checkered tablecloths and family photos covering the walls. Their spaghetti and meatballs remain a customer favorite, made from a recipe that came straight from Sicily.
Regulars swear by the chicken parmesan, and many families have celebrated birthdays here for decades. The fourth generation now manages the kitchen.
3. Schimpff’s Confectionery And Deli, Jeffersonville
This place opened in 1891, making it one of the oldest confectioneries in the entire country. The Schimpff family started making candy by hand, and you can still watch them do it today using the same copper kettles from over a century ago.
The deli side serves sandwiches on fresh bread, but most people come for the candy. Their red hots and cinnamon sticks are legendary throughout southern Indiana.
The tin ceiling and wooden fixtures haven’t changed much since opening day. Tourists and locals mix together at the old-fashioned soda fountain.
4. Olympia Candy Kitchen, Goshen
The Tsalapatis family opened this candy kitchen in 1912, bringing Greek hospitality to small-town Indiana. Their soda fountain still serves phosphates and ice cream sodas made the old-fashioned way.
Hand-dipped chocolates fill the display cases, each one made with the same care as when great-great-grandpa first started the business. The wooden booths and marble counter transport you back to a simpler time. Families gather here after school and on weekends.
The homemade ice cream flavors rotate, but vanilla remains the best seller. Four generations have scooped cones behind that counter.
5. Semento’s Tavern, Valparaiso
Starting in 1918, the Semento family created a gathering place for working folks who wanted a good meal and friendly conversation. The menu keeps things simple with burgers, sandwiches, and daily specials that change with the seasons.
What makes this place special is how it feels like eating in someone’s living room. The wooden tables show years of use, and the staff treats everyone like family.
Regulars have their favorite spots, and newcomers quickly become part of the crowd. The breaded pork tenderloin sandwich is bigger than the plate it comes on.
6. Pizza Palace, Seymour
The Leffler family started making pizza in 1959, back when pizza was still exotic to most small-town Hoosiers. They stuck with thin crust and loaded it with toppings, creating a style that became synonymous with Seymour itself.
Locals argue this is the best pizza in southern Indiana, and they might be right. The sauce has a slight sweetness, and the cheese stretches for days.
Friday nights bring families in for dinner before high school football games. The dining room fills up fast, but carryout orders keep the phone ringing constantly.
7. Igloo Frozen Custard, Lafayette
This tiny walk-up stand has been serving frozen custard since 1948, and the Sprunger family has kept the recipe exactly the same. The building itself looks like an igloo, which makes it impossible to miss on South Street.
Fresh frozen custard gets made daily, and the flavor of the day draws regular customers who plan their week around it. Chocolate and vanilla remain available all the time.
Summer evenings bring long lines, but the wait moves quickly. Families sit at picnic tables watching the sunset while enjoying their cones and sundaes.
8. Long’s Bakery, Indianapolis
Since 1955, the Long family has been waking up before dawn to make donuts the right way. Nothing comes from a mix or a freezer; everything gets made fresh each morning in small batches.
Their glazed donuts practically melt in your mouth, and the cinnamon rolls are bigger than your fist. Coffee drinkers line up early, and by mid-morning, the popular varieties start selling out.
The bakery cases also hold cookies, pastries, and seasonal specialties. Weekend mornings bring families who have been coming here for three or four generations themselves.
9. Teibel’s Family Restaurant, Schererville
The Teibel family opened in 1929, and their fried chicken quickly became legendary across northwest Indiana. They also serve lake perch that’s lightly breaded and fried to golden perfection.
The dining rooms can seat hundreds of people, yet the place still fills up on weekends. Everything comes family-style, with big platters and bowls passed around the table. The atmosphere feels like Sunday dinner at grandma’s house, just with better parking.
Generations of families have celebrated anniversaries, graduations, and holidays here. The fourth generation now runs the operation with the same standards.
10. State Line Pizza, Hammond
Right on the border between Indiana and Illinois, this pizza joint has been feeding families since 1956. The Panopoulos family brought their pizza-making skills from the old country and adapted them to Midwest tastes.
Their thin-crust pizza has a cracker-like crispness that sets it apart from Chicago-style pies across the border. Sausage gets made in-house, and the sauce has just the right amount of spice.
Regulars order by phone before they leave work. The small dining room fills quickly, so most people get carryout and eat at home.
11. The Beef House Restaurant, Covington
Out in rural western Indiana, the Wright family opened this steakhouse in 1964, though their restaurant roots go back much further. People drive from neighboring states just to eat here, and the parking lot stays full every weekend.
Their specialty is hand-cut steaks cooked exactly how you order them. But the real secret is the salad bar, which stretches longer than most restaurant dining rooms.
Fresh rolls come to the table warm, and the portions could feed two people. Families celebrate special occasions here, and the wait staff remembers your name.