Social Cantina to take over former Mikado restaurant site downtown

Pictured is the Georgia Street side of the former Mikado restaurant, 148 S. Illinois St. (IBJ photo/Dave Lindquist)

A restaurant site at the corner of Illinois and Georgia streets won’t be unoccupied for long.

Social Cantina plans to open a location at 148 S. Illinois St., the address of Mikado Japanese Restaurant from 1997 until its closing in December 2021.

Chris Martin, vice president of operations for Finney Hospitality Group, said Social Cantina’s downtown restaurant likely will serve its first customers in time for May’s Indianapolis 500, following the expected opening of a Carmel location this month.

“We obviously believe strongly in this brand,” Martin said. “We’re opening two restaurants in the Indianapolis market in a six-month period of time.”

Finney Hospitality Group’s other restaurants include The Tap, with locations in Indianapolis, Bloomington and West Lafayette; SmokeWorks BBQ in Bloomington; and Yogi’s Bar & Grill in Bloomington.

At the former Mikado location, Martin said customers can expect Social Cantina’s “bright, flavorful” menu highlighted by street tacos, bowls and salads.

“We don’t have freezers,” Martin said. “We make everything fresh every day.”

The beverage menu will be highlighted by margaritas and craft beer supplied by The Tap, which launched a decade ago in Bloomington as the first Finney Hospitality Group property.

At the intersection of Illinois and Georgia streets, the roughly 5,000-square-foot Social Cantina will be within walking distance for people attending events at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Indiana Convention Center and Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

“It’s another good pre-game option,” Martin said. “It’s not burgers or pizza or steak, which is a little different in that area.”

Social Cantina also plans to be a reliable presence as the pandemic nears its second anniversary.

“We will have normal business hours, with the intention of being open every day for lunch and every day for dinner,” Martin said.

After opening Social Cantina locations in Carmel, 350 Monon Blvd., and Indianapolis this year, Martin said his company wants to have a presence at Indianapolis International Airport in 2023. This previously announced plan was put on hold because of the pandemic.

The former Mikado site is a street-level component of the 210,000-square-foot World of Wonders parking garage owned by the city. Square 74 Associates manages the garage’s restaurant properties, including Steak n’ Shake, Dick’s Last Resort and Goodwood Brewing.