Photos courtesy of Marketing Manager Lauren Harlan
BY STACEY MCARTHUR
The unique atmosphere of The Prewitt Restaurant and Lounge in Plainfield almost rivals its rotating seasonal specialty entrees and creative cocktail bar. “I’ve never worked at a restaurant where people walk off the street just to look around,” said Megan Clossin, general manager. “Our building is iconic.”
The Prewitt Restaurant and Lounge is a combination of two historic buildings. The Prewitt Theatre, which opened in 1927 and was eventually renamed the Village Theatre, closed in 2005. The other building was originally a First National Bank that underwent many iterations. They sat untouched until the Town of Plainfield acquired them in 2018. They then changed hands when Patrick Keller and Doug Huff envisioned the sprawling space as the perfect spot for a unique Westside dining experience that included part restaurant, part lounge, and part live entertainment venue.
Light renovation
Their company, Keller Huff Restaurant Group, bought the space in 2021. Within two years, they completed a gentle restoration that preserved the building’s vintage character, including its bright lights, Art Deco details, and marquee. The two-story restaurant also features a rooftop patio.
“They wanted to create a unique experience for the Westside rather than another chain restaurant,” Clossin said. “Locals from Plainfield, Mooresville, and Avon regularly eat here, and we also have guests from all over.”
Those who eat in the main dining room sit in the old theater portion of the building. The room is framed in brick and has a soaring, blacked-out ceiling.
Local farm fresh
The menu features sharables, including wagyu corn dogs and eggrolls stuffed with house-braised short rib. Handhelds include the Copa Cabana flatbread with smoked goose salame cotto, sugo, smoked provolone, burrata, and hot honey. Dinner entrees feature swordfish and mushroom Alfredo, along with a variety of other options.
“Our chef is awesome and produces exquisitely high-quality products,” said Clossin. “We own a butcher shop next door and get a lot of meat from it. Many places order from big restaurant supply chains, and their meat comes vacuum-sealed or frozen. Our meat comes to us fresh from Indiana farms, showing we take pride in our food.”
A nod to Hollywood
Glazed tilework decorates the lobby wall, which leads to a separate bar with tables arranged on a tiered floor, facing a stage that often hosts live music, replacing the original movie screen. There, patrons can enjoy drinks with nods to the former theater, like Sleepless in Seattle, Gone with the Gin, or The Gatsby.
Clossin said The Prewitt offers fun events year-round, such as movie nights, live music on the rooftop, trivia, and music Bingo. “It gets a little bit rowdy on those nights.”
The Prewitt Restaurant and Lounge
121 W Main St., First Floor, Plainfield, IN 46168
Hours
Sunday, Tuesday-Thursday:
11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday:
11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
