Downtown’s Punch Burger expanding to Carmel

An Indianapolis burger joint that got its start downtown soon hopes to add some culinary punch to Carmel.

Punch Burger General Manager Matt McGraw plans to open the first franchise location for the restaurant in July at 12525 Old Meridian St. in space that formerly housed When Eddie Met Salad.

It will be the second location for Punch Burger, which opened at 137 E. Ohio St. in 2012.

The menu includes a variety of basic and speciality burgers with toppings including fried eggs, bacon, grilled onion, blue cheese, peanut butter and guacamole. There’s also grilled cheese, waffle fries, sweet potato tots, asian slaw, craft beer and wine available.

All of the hamburgers and turkey burgers are made from locally sourced meat. (IBJ's Lou Harry reviewed the restaurant in November 2012.)

McGraw said the Carmel restaurant will be very similar to the downtown location, which is open daily for lunch and dinner.

“There will be some differences but it will be very much the same Punch Burger brand that people love and know downtown,” McGraw said.

McGraw joined Punch Burger about a year and a half ago and decided he wanted to open his own location. The restaurant was co-founded by his college roommate Travis Sealls and Devon Everhart, who also own the downtown Pita Pit franchise.

McGraw said Punch Burger has intentions of opening additional franchises in the future, but no specific locations have been discussed.

The Carmel location will join several other eateries in the area, including Crust Pizzeria Napoletana, Miracle Sushi & Modern Asian Cuisine, Stacked Pickle, Brockway Pub, Yats, and Ming’s Wok.