Flatwater Restaurant,  located on the banks of the Central Canal in Broad Ripple, could easily be confused for a quaint little house nestled between the vast number of restaurants on Westfield Boulevard.

Don’t let its size fool you though, because what Flatwater lacks in space, they make up for with the tremendous flavor of their dishes.

Serving as a restaurant and a bar, Flatwater has a more upscale atmosphere with very homey decor. Upon sitting down and glancing at the menu, you will notice that not only do they have local beers from Sun King and Upland Breweries, those are the only beers they have on tap. Other domestics and imports are on the menu, but the fact that only Indiana beers are on tap gives Flatwater an even greater hometown feel.

A downside to the restaurant is the size of the menu. At just two pages, the options are sparse without much variety.

However, Flatwater knows what it is doing, because these few dishes are delicious. Specializing in American cuisine, Flatwater will make sure you get your daily servings of steak and pork.

Highly recommended is the Pulled Pork sandwich. At a reasonable price—just $8.50—this sandwich has great taste because the pork is so tender it feels like it could melt in your mouth. Not mentioned on the menu is the dipping sauce that comes with the fries, a ranch and serrano type mixture that is a bit spicy, perfect for those who like a little kick with their  meal.

The pulled pork tacos are another excellent dish to order. With only two tacos at $8, it seems like a bit of a swindle, but once the tacos arrive you see how packed they are with meat and other toppings. Including cheese, homemade pico and cilantro, with shrimp and mahi mahi as other options for meat, these tacos are enough to satisfy a healthy appetite.

If meat is not your favorite, the lone pasta dish on the menu is recommended for your eating pleasure. The vegetarian pasta dish is topped with mushrooms, kalamata olives, artichoke hearts and roasted garlic in a creamy roasted tomato sauce. It has the quality of a fine Italian restaurant but costs just $11.50. Served with a piece of bread that is lightly toasted and buttered, this dish is impressive and flavorful in many different ways.

With seating inside and out on its deck, Flatwater restaurant is a perfect place to relax, sit back, have a drink and enjoy good food with friends. Because as its slogan goes, “between the rapids of life, lies the flatwater.”