Rize – Fishers

Popular Breakfast & Lunch Restaurant Opens Second Location at The Yard at Fishers District

Photographer / Michael Durr

Michelle Sirum, manager at Rize breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant in Fishers, says the opening of the establishment in November was the result of more that just a growing customer following – it was nearly a necessity.

“Our first Rize location at the Ironworks hotel is quite smaller than our new Fishers location, and we didn’t anticipate it being the hit that it’s become,” she says. “That location services the hotel with breakfast and lunch room service, so between that and the 60 or so seats we have there, it was time for a second place to meet the continuing demand.”

Rize Ironworks opened back in the fall of 2017, and Sirum says the eatery was an immediate success with wait times of nearly two hours on weekends. The new location at The Yard at Fishers District, near Ikea, more than doubles the capacity of the original Rize restaurant, with a capacity of about 140 inside as well as a 30-seat, dog-friendly patio during the warmer months.

“We really think the location in Fishers is great, with the apartments nearby where people can walk right over with their dog,” Sirum says. “It’s a great option for people who like the concept but are maybe hesitant because of the way the wait times can be at Ironworks.”

Rize is owned by Indy-based Cunningham Restaurant Group (CRG), which operates more than 30 eateries in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky including BRU Burger, Mesh, Stone Creek Dining Company Union 50, Vida and others.

“It’s a great meeting spot for a number of demographics, whether it’s business meetings, families or people just out and about,” says Carissa Newton, CRG marketing director.

Sirum says the restaurant’s focus on fresh dishes and unique, slightly offbeat ingredient combos has contributed to its ongoing popularity.

“I think it’s really our farm-to-table aspect that sets us apart too,” adds Sirum, who has been with CRG for two years. “And we combine that with our local sourcing — most of what we get is from farmers here in Indiana. Sometimes that’s not doable, but we do it as much as we can. Also, CRG has its own spot where we do our own herbs for the CRG restaurants.”

Rize’s local purveyors include Miller Amish Country Poultry, Tulip Tree Creamery, Eisele’s Honey, Smoking Goose, Blue Dog Bakery, Silverthorn Farms and more.

The Rize brunch menu consists of a few traditional favorites and some unique creations like the Egg Tart (egg custard, Gruyere, spinach, hibiscus mustard, pickled onion and a seasonal roasted veggie) and the Strata (Yukon gold potatoes, egg custard, tomato jam, mushroom, pesto and ham). You’ll also find breakfast bowls, sandwiches, salads, smoothies and an open-face toast menu with selections like the BLT, featuring thick-cut bacon, romaine, tomato and Thai basil vinaigrette, and the Cold-Smoked Salmon, which comes with garlic-caper cream cheese, pickled onion and tomato.

“A lot of the dishes are very fresh and very light in nature,” says Newton, adding that Rize Fishers plans to offer catering options for private events and parties. “One benefit of our concept is that you can order anything off the menu at any time during the day. So you can order lunch at early breakfast time, or brunch during lunchtime. We think that flexibility, within the concept of a unique menu that isn’t a run-of-the-mill chain restaurant, is very nice. People get tired of the same old restaurants everywhere they go.”

According to Sirum, a recent customer brunch fave is the Miller Farm Chicken Hash, which comes with a sunny-side-up herbed duck egg, tomato-fennel gravy, potatoes, beech mushrooms and basil pesto.

Rize Fishers also offers cinnamon rolls, muffins and other pastry items from its sister business Croûte Baking Company, which opened as a to-go bakery concept earlier this year on North Meridian Street. Croûte also houses CRG’s commissary bakery and tasting kitchen.

Since the November 11 grand opening, Sirum says Rize Fishers has seen a steady growth in customer attendance, which she feels confident will continue through winter.

“We’re definitely picking up in volume,” she says. “There’s been lots of good feedback from locals, especially those who’ve been to the Ironworks and are excited to have a location here in their neighborhood. We’re hearing a lot of people saying, ‘It’s about time.’ We’re glad to finally be here in Fishers.”

Rize is located at 9705 Fishers District Drive, Suite 760, in Fishers. For more information, including a full menu, explore rize-restaurant.com or call 317-516-4838. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.