Inside the Alexander Hotel in downtown Indianapolis, Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner Nesso Italian Kitchen brings the flavors of coastal Italy to the Midwest with refined cooking and one of Indiana’s most extensive Italian wine lists. Part of the Cunningham Restaurant Group (CRG), Nesso pairs house-made pastas and fresh seafood with a thoughtful wine program that appeals to both collectors and curious drinkers.
The dining room mirrors the restaurant’s balance of sophistication and warmth: Large windows flood the space with natural light, while dark leather booths, wood accents, high ceilings and a dramatic floral mural create a stylish, contemporary setting. The result is an atmosphere that feels both intimate and inviting—equally suited to a celebratory dinner or a relaxed evening with friends.
The wine list features 250 selections and 1,200 bottles in the cellar, including 16 wines by the glass and an entire page dedicated to spritzes. Italian benchmarks such as Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone, Gaja Barbaresco and super Tuscans such as Antinori’s Tignanello and Solaia, as well as Tenuta San Guido’s Sassicaia, anchor the collection, while up-and-coming producers provide fresh discoveries.
“Simply put, we seek out classic wines from classic areas throughout Italy,” says Nesso’s general manager, Roddy Kirschenman. “We also try to highlight emerging, young winemakers from areas not traditionally thought of as great wine-producing areas. An example of this is the Sangioveses of Chiara Condello from Emilia-Romagna.”
The large windows at Nesso Italian Kitchen provide ample natural light. (Courtesy of Nesso Italian Kitchen)
Wine lovers will appreciate Thursday evenings, when the restaurant hosts its half-price wine night, inviting guests to explore the extensive cellar with a half-price discount on bottles $100 and under and $50 off bottles over $100.
In the kitchen, chef Zack Szabo highlights coastal traditions with dishes that emphasize local sourcing alongside Italian authenticity. “I’m always a big fan of pairing wines from the region of the dish’s inspiration. My current favorite pairing is our squid ink linguine with shrimp, octopus, scallop, oil-cured tomatoes, chili flake and a touch of pomodoro served with a bottle of Le Fontane Cerasuolo Classico. This is a new winery run by the sons of [Sicilian wine icon] Giusto Occhipinti,” notes Kirschenman.
Beyond the dining room, Nesso Italian Kitchen showcases its Midwest roots through CRG Grow, a hydroponic greenhouse established in 2016 to provide fresh, sustainable produce to its restaurants. The greenhouse cultivates a year-round supply of flavorful, high-quality herbs, microgreens, tomatoes and peppers through sustainable growing practices, utilizing purified water. This dedication to sustainability is also evident at Best of Award of Excellence winner Vida Restaurant, the French- and Japanese-inspired CRG outpost, where chefs harvest fresh herbs straight from a living wall during service.
Award of Excellence
Hours of operation: Monday through Saturday, 5 pm–10 pm, Sunday 4 pm–9 pm
Address: 339 South Delaware Street, Indianapolis, IN
Website: nesso-italia.com/
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Dining and Cooking