Futuro: Food Reviews by Zac
In the middle of Indianapolis’ Holy Cross neighborhood, you’ll find Futuro, a restaurant that was named the 2nd best pizza in the midwest by Yelp in 2024. Futuro plays both sides of a rivalry by focusing on Detroit style pizza and Chicago tavern style. To highlight my own biases, I am firmly team Chicago Deep Dish with my least favorite pizza style being thin crust. I’m here to see if this is truly the 2nd best pizza in my region and to see if Detroit can keep up with Chicago pizza.
The Basics
Website: https://futuroindy.com/
Address: 19 Cruse St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Cuisine: Pizza / American
Type: Blend of Fast Casual and Sit Down
Parking: There is a parking lot adjacent to the restaurant that appears to be free. The area is currently under construction which adds a bit of confusion.
Bite Size History
Chicago and Detroit style pizza look rather similar. They come out screaming hot with steep sides that guarantee you’ll burn your finger. Immediately, the obvious difference is the shape. Chicago style in a circle and Detroit style in a rectangle.
A finger injury later, you’ll be able to see the crust differences. Despite the large walls, Chicago style crust lacks volume. It’s dense, but not as tall as you’d expect. Detroit style is the opposite. The crust is tall but the interior is laced with air bubbles akin to a focaccia.
If we’re playing by traditional rules (Futuro is not) you’ll also notice different cheeses. Both pizzas likely come with more cheese than your standard options. With Detroit, you’ll be getting a white cheddar or provolone. In Chicago, you’ll find Mozzarella.
Review
Atmosphere
With high expectations and rumbling stomachs, we arrived at the restaurant as close to open as we could. Immediately upon opening the door, we were greeted by the counter workers, who were in good spirits. We placed our order and debated our seating options. We opted to sit upstairs rather than using the spacious and semi-shaded patio.
The owners have a taste for classic sci-fi movies. The stairwell being an ode to Back to the Future. The decorations are sparse but done perfectly so. The industrial pipes running along the ceiling and the stacks of pizza boxes fill in the gaps between the pieces. With an infectiously happy counter worker rocking a Detroit Redwing hat, nostalgic movie art, and the panoramic windows, I couldn’t help but like this place.
Score: 2.5 / 3
The Food
My group went with two large Detroit pizzas, a double order of breadsticks, and a can of Fanta “Haunted Apple”. For the pizzas, we chose the “Futuro Classic” and the often called out “Spotted Pig”. We didn’t drink this time, but there was a surprisingly large beer list.
Haunted Apple Fanta: The temptation of getting the last one in the building was enough to seduce us. I’m not sure what was more off-putting, the smell or the color. The first scent I picked up was of the pink Hubba Bubba Gum with added hints of apple. The color is best likened to the ooze that creates the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. When drinking this neon green monstrosity, the bubble gum flavor fills your mouth first and leaves as quickly as it came. It washes away to a rather artificial cinnamon apple that morphs into a clunky spice taste that doesn’t quite leave fast enough.
We should have known what to expect when we found the staff upstairs waiting to get our opinion on this limited time promotional drink by Fanta…
Breadsticks: An order of breadsticks at 4 pieces for $8 was a bit puzzling. Once you see the breadsticks, you’ll realize that they’re American sized. They’re made in house with the pizza dough and baked in a garlic butter and cheese blend. They looked incredibly soft and fluffy. The inside was light with numerous air holes. Personally, I thought the outer layer was a bit too crispy and took away from the fluffy inside. My table ensured I knew my opinion was incorrect.
Spotted Pig: This pie comes with bacon, jalapenos, goat cheese, ricotta, and hot honey. The cheese is swirled on top in a playful manner. On the first bite, you’re going to get a lovely sweetness that morphs into a lingering low-medium heat. After a few bites, I realized it was likely smarter to smush the art and spread the cheese around. Overall, I really liked this offering and see why it is a favorite. However, I also think it could be improved.
This pizza is the young spunky sports team that starts a season on an incredible run, but falters as the grind sets in. It’s a great time, but you wish it provided a bit more. The Spotted Pig starts to slip between bites as the sweet and spice don’t come through. Without the spiciness from the jalapenos, the ricotta and goat cheese can be a touch too sweet. I also didn’t detect much hot honey – which is a shame because it’s a default pizza topping of mine. A smaller wheel of cheese or a heavier hand on the jalapenos is needed.
Futuro Classic: Here we have Italian sausage, mushrooms, and the staple red sauce plus pecorino romano. Our group did remove pepperoni from this order to appease the picky one. This pizza is nearly my go to deep dish order; it is only missing the green bell peppers. I did miss the pepperoni, but this was my favorite of the two offerings. The mushrooms were fantastic and stole the show – outshining the sausage.
If you’re new to trying thicker crust pizzas, the classic is where I’d encourage you to start. This pizza resembles a traditional offering you might get at your pizza house down the street. You enter with expectations and the Futuro Classic exceeds them. It lets you see the hype behind Detroit style pizza.
The Bill: 2 drinks, 2 orders of breadsticks, and 2 large Detroit pizzas came out to about $90.
Score: 3.5 / 5
Zac’s Thoughts
I don’t think Futuro is the 2nd best pizza place in the Midwest, but I am rather happy I went. I do plan to go back. Before jumping to the cheerful parting notes, I do have a few complaints. I really dislike how a counter service place is asking for 18+% tips on relatively pricey pizzas. To compound this, they only sell canned beverages and water bottles. When I’m grabbing my own beverage, my own plates and utensils, picking up my own food, and cleaning my table, why am I being asked to contribute another $16 on top of my bill?
Moving past America’s tipping culture, I mostly have positive things to say about Futuro. The relentless upbeat energy from the front man paired with unique regional pizzas creates a memorable experience. Futuro is the type of local restaurant that should get strong community support.
Score: 1 / 2
Futuro: 7 / 10
Zac’s Thoughts: Chicago vs Detroit
My love of thicker crust pizza means I really enjoy both styles. Ultimately, Chicago style deep dish remains my favorite. My opinion is likely influenced by my own memories. It’s impossible to forget my first trip to Chicago – one of my first trips to a “real city” as an adult. After a day of visiting the Field Museum and walking the Magnificent Mile, we stumbled upon a Giordano’s. With several miles under our feet and only a hot dog powering us, the temptation of pizza was akin to the siren’s call.
Beyond the recollection of core memories, I like the Chicago style crust better. It’s a touch sweeter and only gets better overnight as it sits leftover in the fridge. Deep dish may be my favorite, but Futuro taught me that Detroit pizza is a solid offering that I should explore more.
