Hancock County’s restaurant scene is what happens when small towns refuse to become generic. The county seat has its classics, Fortville’s Main Street has gone from quiet to regionally notable in under a decade, and New Palestine holds tight to the kind of family places that define a town. Here are ten worth the drive.

1. Taxman Fortville (Fortville)

29 S Main St · Fortville

A Belgian-style craft brewery and brasserie in two restored historic buildings. Taxman Brewing Co. has medaled at the Great American Beer Festival. Rotating seasonal menu; the beer alone is worth the drive. Cornerstone of the Fortville dining scene. Full profile →

2. FoxGardin Kitchen & Ale (Fortville)

215 S Main St · Fortville

New American tavern with handcrafted comfort food, serious cocktails, and a neighborhood feel. Consistently one of the most-recommended dinner spots in Main Street Fortville. Full profile →

3. Frosty Boy Drive-In (New Palestine)

40 W Main St · New Palestine

A New Palestine institution since 1976. Walk up to the window, order a banana split, eat outside. Soft serve is real ice cream (not custard), with a rotating weekly whip flavor. Signature Frosty Pops are made to order. Dog-friendly, kid-friendly, and ranked #1 restaurant in New Palestine on TripAdvisor. Full profile →

4. Cortona’s Italian Cuisine & Wine Bar (Fortville)

209 S Main St · Fortville

Family-owned Italian on Main Street. Homemade pasta, wood-fired pizzas, and a full wine bar. The kind of place where you book a table and stay for three hours.

5. Tony D’s (New Palestine)

5918 Dragon Dr · New Palestine

Named after Tony Dixon (New Pal High class of ‘95), whose first job was frying chicken at Frosty Foods. Biscuits and gravy made fresh (not from a box), hand-cut ribeye with garlic herb butter, and a legendary tenderloin. Banana bread french toast and chicken & waffles pack the house on weekends. Full profile →

6. Denver’s Garage Pizza and Brews (Fortville)

110 E Broadway St · Fortville

Pizza and brews in a beautifully preserved 1956 former Phillips 66 service station. Thursday Music Bingo at 6 PM has become a weekly tradition. Full profile →

7. Smokin’ Barrel BBQ (New Palestine)

28 E Main St · New Palestine

Barbecue with exceptional smoked meats and sides. Co-located with Dry Bones Mud House coffee — brisket for lunch, espresso for the road. Full profile →

8. Du Lit (Fortville)

101 W Broadway St · Fortville

Made-from-scratch comfort food with exceptional lactose-free, gluten-free, and vegetarian options — rare in a small Indiana town. Full profile →

9. Libby’s Ice Cream & Gifts (Fortville)

222 W Broadway St · Fortville

Family-owned ice cream shop and home-goods gift store. Hand-dipped ice cream from Sundaes Homemade. Classic small-town ice cream parlor energy. Full profile →

10. Barrel Racing Baristas (New Palestine)

4346 S 500 W · New Palestine

Rodeo-themed coffee shop serving espresso, breakfast, lunch, donuts, crepes, smoothies, and ice cream. Quirky, welcoming, and unlike anything else in the county. Full profile →

Planning a visit

If you’re putting together a Hancock County food crawl, Fortville and New Palestine are about 35 minutes apart by car (mostly via SR-234 and I-70). A reasonable plan: coffee at Barrel Racing Baristas, lunch at Smokin’ Barrel or Tony D’s, then drive to Fortville for an afternoon at Taxman or FoxGardin.

For full directory listings with hours and phone numbers, check Fortville Guide and New Palestine Guide. Greenfield Town Guide is coming next — we’ll add the county-seat favorites once it’s live.

10 Best Main Street Restaurants in Hancock County, Indiana