Located on Restaurant Row in Westfield, Nyla’s is a 21-and-over establishment serving up a unique blend of American cuisine and drinks in a converted red barn, and the staff is about to celebrate its first anniversary.
Originally, Nyla Wolf owned Hillsdale Farmers Market back in the 1990s. “This was my passion, but was soon transformed from produce to plate,” she says. “Nyla’s is at the core of what I loved about my farmers market, using local ingredients and a Midwestern palate to create what it has become today.”
Restaurant Row in Westfield is a group of restaurants on Park Street near Grand Junction Plaza, and is known in the Westfield and Hamilton County communities for being a destination filled with rich food and atmosphere – and Nyla’s is no different. It sits in a large red converted barn that offers a cozy atmosphere and a menu of perfectly thought- out dishes that represent Americana.
“Transforming an old house or barn isn’t something I’m unfamiliar with, but the challenges of maintaining and building a restaurant within one was our biggest struggle,” Wolf says. “Each seat and table was meticulously chosen. The kitchen was connected by the building beside and made a private dining space for events. My husband has an eye for building, but we both agree this one was a challenge.”
Despite the struggles of creating a restaurant from a converted barn, Nyla’s features two cocktail bars and three levels of intimate seating space that could also be converted to event space.
“When it comes to the menu, I’m certainly not the chef,” Wolf says. “My husband and I have always enjoyed the restaurant scene, eating out and admiring the diverse atmospheres. Over the years we have found our favorite dishes through this very practice. With the support of some amazing chefs, we were able to put out a menu that we felt northern Indianapolis would love to try.”
One of these chefs is Chef Sarah Sinclair of Italian House fame, who is the executive chef at Nyla’s. Embracing a motto of being the “best between NY and LA,” the menu features the Filet, Prime New York Strip, Rib Eye, Tomato Bacon Jam Pork Chop, seafood dishes of Miso Soy Ginger Sea Bass and Cajun Salmon, and chicken dishes of Chicken Milanese and Gramps’ Broasted Chicken.
Wolfpack Restaurant Group, consisting of Wolf family members Scott, Nyla, Alec and Ansley, owns and operates five Wolfies Grill locations, Boomerangs, The Broken Barrel, The Italian House on Park (also located on Restaurant Row), Nyla’s and, soon, Swanky Mule.
“When it comes to our restaurants including Nyla’s, we are always excited for the opportunities it brings to our staff,” Wolf says. “We love to see our teams’ passions and ours connect together, and build something that the City of Westfield would be proud of.”
Wolf’s advice for anyone looking to own their own business is to “go for it. I failed more times than I succeeded, but with passion for anything, I believe others will see the work. Nyla’s is the product of many years of family, life and hard work, where we now can build our passions for all to enjoy.”
