Indiana restaurants get Midwestern comfort food right -- think chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy and apple cobbler. But menus are also full of more daring fare, from sautéed frog legs to sushi, Mediterranean and "garbage."

Auburn

Patrons pile up the spicy buffalo wings and nachos at the bustling Meteor Bar and Grill, recommended by Midwest Living Magazine. Also recommended: the Bread Basket and The Auburn House Restaurant -- try the fried chicken or country-fried steak.

Carmel

You probably won't expect to get great seafood in the Midwest, but Mitchell's Fish Market boasts that its menu is updated twice daily to reflect the freshest deliveries and that "fish any fresher would still be in the ocean. Regulars sample the latest catches from Chile, the Bering Strait, the Chesapeake Bay, Gulf of Mexico, Cape Cod, Atlantic and Pacific, and of course, the Great Lakes.

Eugene

Diners come to the Covered Bridge Restaurant for chicken with noodles and gravy and mashed potatoes before a stroll along the river and through a nearby red bridge, Midwest Living Magazine says.

Fort Wayne

Regulars at Cindy's Diner will tell visitors that they should order the "garbage" – potato chunks, onions grilled with ham, eggs and cheese, according to Midwest Living Magazine.

Indianapolis

Indianapolis Monthly Magazine picked these restaurants as among the best of 2010: Euphoria, Ruth's Chris Steak House, 14 West, The Capital Grille, R Bistro, The Oceanaire, Taste Cafe & Marketplace, Pizzology, H2O Sushi, Oakleys Bistro, Recess, Kelties and Miyagi’s. Yats Restaurant was rated tops by Booyah.com for good Cajun and cheap eats. And urbanspoon.com rated among its top choices Taj of India, Bazbeaux Pizza, Boogie Burger and St. Elmo Steak House. Midwest Living recommends: City Market, for busy produce stands, food stalls and everything from Asian dishes to deli sandwiches; the tomato pizza at the Milano Inn and Mediterranean dishes at Aesop's Table.

Metamora

The family-style Hearthstone serves up Indiana comfort food at its best, according to Midwest Living: chicken sizzling in cast-iron skillets, country-cured ham seared in its own juices and fried catfish rolled in seasoned cornmeal.

South Bend

Club NOMA in South Bend is a hip Asian fusion joint that boasts a lively but still intimate atmosphere and an innovative martini bar. Trio's Restaurant and Jazz Club opened in 2007, offering casual dining, live music, with an eclectic menu that blends the cuisines of two jazz cities: New Orleans and Kansas City.