We all know that Hoosiers love tenderloins. But what else do they have a hankering for, say when the big game is on TV or when they're trying to eat healthfully? Most importantly, where do they go to get it?

In honor of this year's Dining Guide, we polled Indy.com users and local chefs (who were not allowed to recommend their own establishments) to get their take on the best restaurants in town. Here's what they said.

Favorite place to watch a game and grab a bite

In a city this interested in sports, asking where one would prefer to view an athletic contest, grab something to nosh and sample a bevy or three is quite the pertinent question. As such, no single place emerged as the dominant choice. In fact, it was a four-way tie.

Champps Americana, the Minnesota-born sports bar chain, polled well. "I've had great experiences here with food and friends at appropriate times," said Indy.com user Aaron Scamihorn. "If you are not interested in the meat market atmosphere where you have to bump uglies with anyone and everyone despite their appeal, then head on over on Wednesday nights during the summer."

The ubiquitous Buffalo Wild Wings naturally made a strong contender. "Back in the day, when I was able to go out to watch football, I would always find myself at BW3, said Neal Brown, chef at L'Explorateur. "I love wings. I love onion rings and corn dogs. BW3 has all that stuff."

The Ale Emporium -- celebrating its 25th anniversary this year -- is an Allisonville Road staple that couldn't miss. "I love going to the Ale Emporium to watch the big game," said Thom England, a culinary arts instructor at Ivy Tech. "During March Madness, you can find me in front of one of the many screens. The selection of beers and ales is the best around."

Sahm's Place (on 65th Street near Keystone Avenue) was given the thumbs up by many. "Great Maggie melts and hot wings, great beer on tap, reasonably priced, consistently good food, lots of screens to watch the games, not too crowded, and the best sour cream coffee cake in town (open late)," said Deidra Henry and Marc Urwand, owners of Taste Cafe & Marketplace.

Honorable Mentions: Moe & Johnny's and MacNiven's.

Favorite soul food restaurant

Sometimes the answer is all too obvious, as was the case in this category. Some folks were even incredulous that we had to ask.

"Are you kidding me? Country Kitchen at about 21st and College!" said Neal Brown, chef at L'Explorateur. "This place reminds me of one of those little roadhouse restaurants you find dotted all over Louisiana and Florida. You sort of have to ignore your instincts and just walk through the door. If you can muster up the courage, you will have a spiritual experience."

Honorable Mentions: Mississippi Belle.

Favorite place for south-of-the-border fare

Do you believe someone actually had the guts to suggest Taco Bell? Chef Ryan Nelson of The Oceanaire Seafood Room selected what would ultimately be the popular choice.

"Pancho's (Taqueria) on 71st and Michigan," Nelson said. "Anytime you're in a Mexican restaurant and you are the only gringo means you're onto something good." Neal Brown of L'Explorateur backed up Nelson, recommending the tongue tacos in particular.

Honorable Mentions: La Piedad ("It is right down the street from my house and we walk there all the time!" said Martha Hoover, owner of Cafe Patachou) and El Rodeo.

Favorite Italian ristorante

Stay away from the dark side. Don't let the soups, salad and breadsticks win this battle. Three places stood out in this category:

Ambrosia in Broad Ripple, a favorite of Deidra Henry and Marc Urwand of Taste Cafe & Marketplace. "We are creatures of habit. Deidra likes the Nepolitana (rich red sauce with lots of olives & garlic). I like the Tutto Mare (also red sauce, with lots of clams, mussels, shrimp and calamari). They have got good prosciutto w/arugula and freshly shaved Parmesan, too."

Honorable Mentions: Obvious standbys Iaria's and Mama Carolla's Old Italian.

Favorite curry creator

Thai Cafe and Shalimar pulled votes, obviously. But nothing could stop the India Garden express.

"I only recently started to truly appreciate the subtlety of a good curry, and in my opinion, (India Garden) nails it," said Neal Brown of L'Explorateur.

Honorable mention: Not to be ignored, Udupi emerged as an "unrecognized" gem, with a few effusive recommendations. Thom England, culinary arts instructor at Ivy Tech said, "Udupi Cafe is a wonderful place and way too overlooked."

Favorite place for a juicy steak

The Capital Grill is beloved. St. Elmo's has an astounding reputation. But there were really only two competitors when it came down to who cooks the best steak. Strike that, one.

"No question. Petersons," said Neal Brown, chef at L'Explorateur. "Their additional aging results in the most richly flavored beef in the city, the state, and possibly in the world."

Honorable mentions: Two other restaurants named lay claim to serious steak-cooking chops:

Ruth's Chris: "I don't eat red meat, but my boys do and they love Ruth's Chris any day for any reason," said Martha Hoover, owner of Cafe Patachou.

Texas Roadhouse: "Pick your own steak, it can be cut to any size!" posted Indy.com user Allison. "For the value you get, the care that goes into the food can't be beat."

Favorite sushi slinger

This was a question worth thinking about, particularly when you consider how the freshness of the ingredients should be paramount, given we reside in a landlocked city.

"H2O sushi, as I know the fish they use is of the best quality, never any frozen 'sashimi'-grade stuff," said Greg Hardesty, executive chef at Elements.

Wasabi on 82nd got a mention, too. "Always consistently fresh, we are there once a week," said Deidra Henry and Marc Urwand of Taste Cafe & Marketplace. "Yellowtail and salmon sashimi; they always have perfectly cooked rice, the home-made peanut dressing on their house salad is so good I have it with my sushi as well."

There was also a movement behind Sakura. "Everywhere else I've been, you have to pay a good amount of money to get an (interesting) roll." posted Indy.com user Aaron Scamihorn. "At Sakura, some of the best rolls are in the $5 range; specifically the Mixed Florida roll."

Favorite crustacean station

When you're dropping as many dollars as good seafood costs, you want to make sure you're getting value for your cash. The winning answer to this question was near-unanimous, which we'll consider justification for investing in a meal here.

"Oceanaire is our favorite seafood, hands down," said Deidra Henry and Marc Urwand of Taste Cafe & Marketplace. "Too many items to list, but I'll try: raw oysters, escargot, freshest fish ever, always seasonal and locally procured items on this (I can't decide because I want everything) menu that changes daily. Ask the professional waitstaff for their advice; they won't disappoint."

Favorite barbecue place

Opinion on where to get the best barbecue was divided, but GT South's Rib House rose to the top of the pulled pork pile.

Indy.com user Beth6630 loves the pulled pork at GT South's: "I never liked BBQ before. A friend of mine begged me to try some of his GT grub and I was hooked! I'm a fan! Wonderful food, SUPER FAST service, and a great price."

Indy.com user Rich Newell, meanwhile, represented fans of Squealer's Award Winning Barbecue: "The brisket is by far the best I've had, very juicy and tender. No other place in town touches Squealer's brisket. "

Indy.com user Bryan Wooden made a case for a relative newcomer, Hogheads BBQ. "I almost felt like I was back at Grandpa's house sitting down for a family meal. It not only looks great inside, but they have a huge deck and good views of Broad Ripple outside. If you, like myself, have been disappointed with the lack of good, down-home style BBQ in this city, weep no longer!"

Favorite sammiches

Strangely enough, with a large city boasting a wealth of restaurants and eateries offering an array of sandwiches, two places emerged victorious in this category.

"Easy," said Neal Brown of L'Explorateur. "The Batali from Goose the Market is the best sandwich in the city."

The other big thumbs-up went to a perhaps unlikely recipient. "Northside News has an OFF THE CHAIN CUBAN," posted Indy.com user aLLENiMAGERY.

Honorable mention: Shapiro's Deli for the pastrami on rye.

Family favorite

Cafeterias rated a mention here, be it at MCL or Gray Brothers. But the most dominant answers were two pizza places.

"Try Bella Pizza in Clay Terrace," said Thom England, culinary arts instructor at Ivy Tech. "I spent six years trying different pizza places in Indianapolis, trying to find something that served truly New York-style pizza. Bella is the only one."

The other selection was the ever-reliable Bazbeaux. "They have such a great selection of salad, bread and pizza here!" posted user Jason Newkirk.

Favorite place to expand your dining palate

Why, L'Explorateur, of course.

"Arguably the best restaurant in town," posted user jas121475. "If you're looking for something that's truly different, this place is perfect."

The only real runner-up in this category was Mama's House Korean BBQ, which garnered strong recommendations: "Grab a coal-fired table and check out the menu, prime marinated thin slices of rib eye, bibimbop in stoneware pot is an all-time favorite," said Deidra Henry and Marc Urwand of Taste Cafe & Marketplace.

Favorite greasy spoon breakfast

Almost everyone agrees that greasy food has a way of calming the raging nausea that boozing begets.

A popular spot to wait out the pain is Peppy Grill. Kimiko Martinez perhaps put it best in her poem, "Almost Peppy": "The diner is dingy but clean, like well-worn denim -- faded and ripped, but soft and still a favorite that fits just right. The counter, the tables, the jukebox and servers all wear a layer of light grease on their spit-polished shine. The smell of french fries never quite stops sticking to their skin and sour smocks."

Honorable mentions: Other notable recommendations included the croque madame sandwiches at Petite Chou, the dim sum at Shen Yang, biscuits and gravy from Taste Cafe & Marketplace, and the French crullers of The Donut Shop.

Favorite wine list

Fancy yourself as a true connoisseur of fermented grape juice? Then head here.

"D'vine A Wine Bar is the place that has the best wine list," said Thom England, culinary arts instructor at Ivy Tech. "Tony Fese has an incredible palate and makes sure that every wine is worthy before adding it to the list."

Honorable mention: Oceanaire, which has a long list and hard-to-find-selections. "

Favorite cheap eats

When that's all your wallet is packing, your options become limited, at least in terms of the places you can go to eat with a partner.

But there are a couple of spots that stand out, Yats chief among them. "They are the best quick meal ever," posted  user Doug Hineline. "The food is an awesome mix of simple and sophisticated. "

Santorini Greek Kitchen was popular, too. "Santorini's is my favorite restaurant of all time. It's full of charm and personality. The owners are so warm and friendly," posted  user Indy2TX. "The food is TO DIE FOR. I just can't shut up about this place! You'll love it."

Favorite chain

Unabashed love of food that emerges in exactly the same form, whether from a kitchen in Indianapolis or Tallahassee, will always have a place in the world. The Cheesecake Factory knows this all too well. "The menu is a small novel, so there is always something to catch your eye, not to mention the million cheesecake offerings," said Deidra Henry and Marc Urwand of Taste Cafe & Marketplace. . On the more affordable side of things, Qdoba gets a nod from those surveyed. "OK, I have to admit that I really dig Qdoba -- although I was saddened that they discontinued the mole burrito," posted user John Scott. "At any rate, it's still one of the best options for fast food."

Favorite dessert menu

Those who offered up suggestions were quick to recommend Rene's Bakery. "Almond croissants, the only hand-made ones in Indianapolis," said Deidra Henry and Marc Urwand of Taste Cafe & Marketplace. "Opera cake, macaroons, brioche, fruit tartlets. Do I need to go on?" One user is so enamored with Rene's Bakery that the phrase "Yumgasmic goodies!" entered the local lexicon. "This place has the best desserts ever!" posted user baggles. "The chocolate cake with buttercream icing is amazing. Go there now!"

Favorite healthy fare

Healthiest menu in Indy? This is a question for all the vegans and vegetarians out there, or even the trendsters for whom the word "organic" has become a recent selling point.

"For the best of healthy eating I head to crunchy Broad Ripple and a table at Three Sisters," said Thom England, culinary arts instructor at Ivy Tech. "I have always had a good experience at Three Sisters," posted user baggles. "As a vegetarian, it's nice to have so many options on the menu. Also, the food tastes great and is reasonably priced."

Favorite burgers

Passions were as inflamed as meat patties. Boogie Burger was spurned. Steak n Shake barely rated a mention. The log jam of contenders at the top of the contest for best burger amounts to a big bundle of deliciousness we like to call The Triple-Stacker: 96th Street Steakburgers, Working Man's Friend and Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries.

User IndyWino chose 96th Street Steakburgers. "I would eat them daily if my heart would allow."

Ryan Nelson of The Oceanaire Seafood Room was a local advocate: "Working Man's Friend has the best burgers in town. My staff will occasionally pick one up for me. They don't normally do take-out -- I think they bribe them."

But Leslies1820, a Virginia native, was most passionate about the East Coast phenomenon, Five Guys. "They are, by far, the best burgers I've ever had. ... It doesn't get any more simple than this."

Favorite taste of the middle east

Israel and Palestine are all but at war. The Kurds and the Turks have never been friendly. And Iran and Iraq, well, let's just not go there. There's some fightin' in the Middle East. In the Midwest, a smaller battle for ascendancy rages.

"El Morocco is our choice for Middle Eastern, an assortment of appetizers and try the bastilla as an entree," said Deidra Henry & Marc Urwand of Taste Cafe & Marketplace. "Comfy pillows and belly dancing if you are lucky."

User Danielle Beck was one of many who make a case for Bosphorus. "This is one of the best, if not "THE" best restaurant that I have been to in Indianapolis. They offer an extensive menu -- which the waitstaff is more than happy to describe in detail. The food -- from the hummus to the desserts -- was outstanding! "

User Danielle Champagne posted on behalf of Khoury's Mediterranean Island. "The selection of Greek and Lebanese wines is great, the staff has good recommendations for food and drink, and there's a hookah bar if you're so inclined. I love the Fiery Feta Dip and pretty much any of the platter dinners. Don't miss the loukoumades for dessert!"

But don't discount this expert recommendation from Thom England, culinary arts instructor at Ivy Tech. "I have craved Turkish food for the many years since my time in that beautiful country. It wasn't until I went to Istanbul Cafe that I have found the perfect Middle Eastern food."

Favorite Indianapolis restaurant (hands down)

You wouldn't think such a subjective question would provoke such a definitive answer, but here you have it. The cream rises.

The favorite restaurant of almost every food expert surveyed, in addition to several posters, was Elements. "Elements without question," said Ryan Nelson of The Oceanaire Seafood Room. "Every meal I've had there has been as good or better than meals I've had in nationally recognized places in San Francisco, Chicago and New York."

One other place mentioned a few times is the not-so-tony yet impeccably-run Cafe Patachou. "They have delicious omelettes, great coffee, and cinnamon toast worth dying for," wrote user StellarSwarm. "The waitstaff will remember your name and your 'usual.' Intimate atmosphere, good choice of music at just the right volume to have a conversation over, and local art on the walls round out the experience."

Pros who gave their recommendations for this story:

Deidra Henry and Marc Urwand, Owners, Taste Cafe and Marketplace.

Ryan Nelson - Chef, The Oceanaire Seafood Room.

Thom England, Culinary arts instructor at Ivy Tech.

Martha Hoover, Owner, Cafe Patachou.

Neal Brown, Chef, L'Explorateur.

Greg Hardesty, Executive chef, Elements.