Do you know how cod is shown at the fish counter at Giant Eagle or Wholly's? Like a big slab of meaty fish! Well they take that whole thing and beer batter it to yummy perfection. The cod was so fresh and so was my tempura shrimp. I consider it fresh when there's zero gameyness! This is a beautiful little restaurant! It was a lovely trip from Pittsburgh! Also, the service staff made us feel so welcomed! Please send our appreciation to the chef! read more

This was my first time visiting Benjamin's and it was an amazing experience. Each course was flavorful and left us satisfied. My family enjoyed our meals and the portion sizes were fulfilling. The citrus vinegrette gave the salad a bright taste to start the meal. My son had the chicken parmesan and he gave it a 10/10. My wife had the firecracker salmon (8.5). It was slightly overcooked in the middle. I had Josh's Spicy which had a light flavor (8.5). The chicken was slightly overcooked. My son and I had the ultimate chocolate cake for dessert and it was delicious (9/10). My wife had the butter pecan cheesecake and it was Amazing (10/10). read more

See all

I'm unsure what factors were at play, but to use the term "underwhelming " is probably more of an accurate description than any other I can think of. So many people expressed the fancy, specialty aspect of dining at Benjamin's that I decided to make a lunch reservation for my parents 63rd Anniversary. I asked the host about the menu when making the reservation and made two distinct mentions about the occasion. My parents were very eager and the expectation was perhaps a bit elevated. We arrived about 10 minutes early. There was only one other party in the entire place. We were seated in what can only be described as an old sun porch. Ice cold temperatures and a view of a wooden fence where the parking lot of the neighbors parking lot could be seen between the slats. Service was uber relaxed and the server seemed more interested in staying up to date with the laptop at the podium than our dining experience. My mother asked about options for her salad and the server suggested something completely different- with seafood. Not at all my Mom's taste. I ordered the huge fish sandwich. These seemed to be the best options for us since - to our dismay- the menu lacked their full selection as promised at the time of reservation. My parents were looking forward to prime rib. In a nutshell, Mom's salad lacked flavor and was drowning in citrus vinaigrette. The fish sandwiches my Dad and I ordered were DRY!! No tartar sauce, no aioli- bare, toasted bread. It was like eating a sponge. Was hoping to ask for something to soften up the crouton-like crust scratching the tops of our mouths, but as stated before, no server in sight. We waited 15 minutes after getting Luke-warm coffee (end of shift?) for the bill. It took another 10 minutes for her to process the payment. No refills?? I was embarrassed from the minute we walked in to the vacant dining area on a Saturday that I had made the reservation in the first place. There was ZERO acknowledgement of the occasion and the host completely blanked on our name. The only saving grace to the afternoon was going down to The Meadows for ice cream. A memorable visit, but not for the right reasons. read more

Menu is limited and food is so so. I won't forget the watered down blue cheese dressing they sent me. I have never been served such a bad dressing. It's as though the cook had a jar of store bought blue cheese dressing that was 3/4 empty and filled it with water and served it to me. Service was ok and atmosphere was nice. read more

This privately owned restaurant located in Indiana, Pennsylvania is fantastic. They offer a wide variety of entrées as well as an excellent wait staff. You can book them for private events, including graduations and receptions. They offer a full service bar and an excellent wine menu. I would recommend this place to everyone. read more

I decided to give Benjamin's another try and I'm so glad I did! I got the seasonal butternut squash ravioli which was DELICIOUS! The sauce was sweet and buttery and paired with pine nuts. It went so well with the ravioli! I forget which cocktail I had to drink but I really enjoyed that as well. My friends also got the butternut squash ravioli as well as a sweet potato salad, and really enjoyed their dishes as well! Service was fast and our waiter was very nice. I sat in the bar area this time as opposed to the main restaurant area (which is more formal) and liked the vibe much better in the bar area. Definitely loved my experience here much more the second time around! read more

Benjamin's - New American Near Me - Indiana, Pennsylvania

This was at one time a busy quality restaurant. Our waitress was on point, but was not supported. The bar, kitchen, and management have failed. Sloooow drink service. Apps not seasoned. No bread service. Screwed up main entree. There are too many failure points for 40-50 per entree restaurant. read more

Make sure you review the bill. They don't tell you they charge a 3% fee to use a credit card. We were just there and they charged us the credit card amount even though we paid cash. read more

3 hours waiting on our food. Waitress was nice but table of 10 behind us ordered after us. And got their food before us. I don't recommend at all. Also one toilet. read more

This is a must visit when in Indiana, PA. The food is delicious. The atmosphere is cozy and the service is great! The owner, Mary Anne, is outstanding too! Be sure to order the butter cake! It's out of this world! read more

I got the beer battered fish tacos and do not recommend them. A single giant piece of fish buried in 2 inches of bland batter set into a tortilla shell. I peeled the batter off and was able to eat it. Waitress seemed to forget about us. I do not recommend either the food or the service. read more

Benjamin's - SO much tasteless batter!!! - New American Near Me - Indiana, Pennsylvania

It's a little bit pricey, but the food is very delicious and it's one of the nicer/fancier spots to go in town.

Hostess with the mostess from Winthrop!!! Great food and awesome service. 4 different people came to check on us. I am high maintenance and a foodie - loved this place. Only feedback - get little containers for mayo and ketchup. The little packets and plastic containers need to go. Can't wait to go back. read more

My daughter and I ate here while traveling for work. She got a flatbread pizza, I got the Filet Boursin. Both meals were very good; my filet was cooked a little more than the medium I requested, but still tender and juicy. We ordered the Benjamin's Butter cake for dessert, and it was excellent! The service was also excellent. Mackenzie took good care of us; our drinks were never empty and we weren't waiting for anything. I've eaten here about 3 times over the last 6 years. I think the prices are a bit high, but I'm on an expense account anyway so that isn't my main concern. The food has always been very good, and I'll continue to keep coming back when travel permits. read more

Great place for a business lunch or family dinner. I always get their roasted red pepper soup. I have never had a bad meal here. Wonderful in the summertime with their outside seating. read more

This restaurant was okay. First thing I noticed was that it was in a old house. Which I like to see businesses using old buildings that have been in the community for quite some time. It made it have a historical and rustic vibe. Although, we were sat next to a window and I was freezing. Had to wear my coat the entire time. (It was February) So the drafty feel of a old home lingered. Due to it being cold, I ordered a hot apple cider cocktail. Which was tasty, but not hot. It was warm. Luke warm. Then my guest and I shared a Asian inspired shrimp appetizer that was probably my favorite thing out of the entire visit. It was crispy and hot. Flavor was tangy, sweet, and spicy and it was a nice light appetizer even though it was fried. I would definitely recommend it. I ordered the greek salad for my main entree and it was just okay. The chicken was on the dry side, but luckily the dressing helped with that and was the best part of the salad. Even though I wasn't too thrilled with my salad, I had to try their tarimisu because it's a favorite dessert of mine. And it was flavorless. Im not sure how something made from coffee can be so bland, but it was. My bill was $50 and I was left pretty much unsatisfied. The waitress and staff were very nice and polite and I feel that with the appetizer were the only 2 redeemable qualities this place really had. I mean its not terrible, but I wouldn't be back due to other places in the area being better. read more

Not impressed, Benjamins. Ultra slow service married with bland foods with no ability to select my sides is not the way to my heart. Oh and being priced like a big fancy restaurant doesn't make you a big fancy restaurant. Believe it or not, my experience started out great. The fried artichokes were a great appetizer which had me psyched for my main course. While they didn't have my first beer selection, they recommended another I rather enjoyed. Still, it went wrong once I honed in on the filet. I was informed of the vegetables, and then told I couldn't 'have them my way'. Ok, I might get that if they weren't claiming to be fine dining. It wasn't like I was asking for a vegetable they didn't have! I ordered it anyway and requested another beer. My waiter came back in about 15 minutes... not with my drink but to flirt with the table next to me. Another 10 minutes went by before I got my second beer and 20 more minutes before I saw my steak (wait, 45 minutes for a medium rare steak?!?). While the steak was cooked correctly to my order, it really seemed to lack any favor. To top it off, it took 20 minutes for me to get my bill after I finished. read more

Benjamin's - Even their menu says they aren't responsible for well done food... - New American Near Me - Indiana, Pennsylvania

See all

Food was excellent. We both had fresh house salads that was followed by some tasty bread. My wife had the filet and I had a flat iron steak. Both were cooked to perfection as ordered. Our server was as pleasant, friendly and attentive. We dined in the outdoor courtyard area. Don't let the low key appearance from the front fool you. We had a wonderful evening and will be back. read more

Beautiful beautiful and beautiful out door patio!!! Food was excellent and Daniel our waiter super nice and efficient!!!! Definitely the spot we will return!!!! read more

The only thing good about this place was our delightful server. She deserves a better place to work. It is misleading to categorize this restaurant as "fine dining" when most PUBS and sports bars I have been to offer finer dining than Benjamin's. Maybe because the restaurant is in a musty old Victorian-era house they think it is "fine dining." The food is mediocre at best. There is just no experience like starting off a meal with warm, flavorless coleslaw. Oh wait -- there IS!! It is called diarrhea caused by their salad! Poor quality ingredients, even in the hands of the best cook or chef still result in mediocre food. The wine list is as bottom shelf as the owner's manners and attitude. This "restaurant" is a prime example of why the proverbial good-old-boys club of nickel millionaire wanna-be snobs who run Indiana need to be replaced with more progressive leadership. It is time to open up Indiana to REAL restaurants instead if just these dumps owned by the local cliques. read more

Recently ate there with my family. Super cute outdoor seating. All of the food we ordered was delicious and the wait staff were great! Would recommend!!!! read more

Disappointed in what has long been a local favorite. Chicken Parmesan was dry and not enough sauce on the chicken or the side order of pasta. Doubled up on the crab and artichoke dip ( was delicious) but forgot the salad that was to come as a side. Prices have increased and the menu changes limit selections. Maybe the new owner just needs additional experience to raise this restaurant to where it once was. It's great that Larry is still there even after the ownership change. read more

Came in for taco Tuesday. Had the blackened and Cajun shrimp tacos. They were pretty good along with the delicious truffle fries as an app. Finished off with the blueberry cobbler cheesecake, very tasty btw, which hit the spot. Now, back to the hotel to loath myself for this gluttonous endeavor... read more

Don't be fooled by this place if you see it from the street. It looks like a run down slum lord owned college house. You can't see the back patio from the road but it's nice. The front is usually covered with leaves and the porch has about 15 years worth of pollen on it but this has nothing to do with the food which I find delicious since I'm an alcoholic and I don't remember being there. 5 stars though! read more

Well you got me! I ordered the 1/2 sandwich & soup meal for lunch. It was $12.00. The soup was smaller than 9th street delis small soup. I got 1 pack of crackers. Which pretty much sums up how much soup is in the cup. The sandwich was a chicken salad with apples and cranberry's. Mostly apples. Not a large sandwich. Everything tasted fine, but what you pay portions are small. read more

Great food, reasonably priced, large portions . Highly recommend the pierogies as an appetizer! Salads are huge , their homemade Italian dressing is excellent and they have plenty of outdoor seating for those who like a little sunshine in their lives! The staff are friendly and helpful if you have a picky eater and the owner is very accommodating ! Great experience will definitely be going back for more!!! read more

We love to come here when the weather is decent and we can sit outside on the brick patio. The inside is a little crowded because the restaurant is in an old house, but sitting outside is perfect. The food is excellent, although a little pricey. We have taken our whole family there many times but it is especially good for adults going out to enjoy good food and just enjoy spending time together. We almost always go here for birthdays and girls nights out. It is one of the few upper scale type restaurants we have in the area. read more

Beautiful setting, food ok, shrimp appetizer was good. Artichoke and crab dip Too salty- would be better with crostini, and not the chips from a bag. Salads were good, steak overcooked on steak salad. Service a bit slow. read more

First time visitors ... never went inside, but the outdoor seating garden is gorgeous! Great environment. Plenty of menu choices ... something for everyone. All 7 of us raved about our meals ... delicious! Great service ... efficient and friendly. We'll definitely be back! read more

This seems to be the place to eat for the upper crust of Indiana, PA society. Its all about the Benjamins, right? Ba dum dum ching. Seriously, every time I have been there, it has been fairly busy, with luxury sedans and SUVs filling up the tiny parking lot out back. Now, here is what I don't understand: why do people spend good money here when they could go to the Coventry? Not sure. Bust since the Coventry is only open three nights a week, sometimes you have to do what you have to do, which is eat in Indiana, PA, at a place that doesn't involve inhaling deep fried potato skins while some frat boys grunt at the table next to you The setting itself is quite charming: an old Victorian house with a beautiful outdoor patio area under the trees, which is a pretty fantastic place to be on a summer evening. Foodwise, it is OK. I agree with the other comment that you could go to Ruby Tuesday for the same quality. Tonight I had a pizza with feta cheese, spinach, peppers, and portabello mushrooms. The crust was pretty outstanding. The shrimp/scallop combo in wine and butter sauce is good, but you cant go wrong sauteeing anything in wine and butter. They do have sangria in the summer, which is a huge plus- I go for the sangria, but stay for the food. One time last summer the server told us it was their Mexican night, because they were serving tapas. I digress. read more

This is one of the best places to eat and drink in Indiana, PA. Which means in real world terms, it's not very good. It does have a really nice outdoor area, and some craft beer on top, albeit at big city prices. read more

Benjamin's is a large Victorian home that has been transformed into a fine dining restaurant creating a unique atmosphere. There are many rooms that you could end up dining in, but for larger groups or if you prefer a more traditional experience, there is a large outdoor patio area complete with a full bar and space heaters for the colder evenings. The bar is also open for those who prefer drinks without necessarily dining. I sat and had a drink while I waited for the rest of my party to arrive. The food is above average but expect expensive prices. My only complaint is that it is not a good value. While the food is okay, with a few dishes being pretty good, for what I am paying I expect better quality. I could get some of the same food of the same quality at a chain like Ruby Tuesdays or Olive Garden and pay a lot less. It seems to me that Benjamin's aspires to be a fine dining restaurant but fails in the food quality section. Still, if price is not a concern, they are worth checking out. While you could wear something like jeans to Benjamin's, dressier clothes are the norm. read more

Had a nice dinner with a group of seven. The shrimp appetizer was excellent. It was deep fried with a nice crispy crust. They take the time to remove the tail so you eat the whole thing. Nice touch. The crab and artichoke appetizer was also quite good, but not a unique as the shrimp. Still a good choice. We had a variety of entrees, but didn't try any of the beef. The pasta was ever so slightly over cooked. To me it could have been a little more al dente. However the portions were large and the sauces well done. Our server, Carly, was attentive without being intrusive. I would go back. read more

If you haven't been to Benjamin's for some time, I implore you to give it another try! Benjamin's has been around for a while and either I'm getting soft of it has definitely improved. As an undergrad attending IUP in the early 2000s, I dined at Benjamin's a handful of times. It was a little out of my price range and I really only went there on dates and when the family came to visit. The food wasn't anything to write home about, but the atmosphere was good and the clientele suitable for bringing your grandparents around. Now that I'm back at IUP for a graduate degree we've visited Benjamin's on several occasions and haven't yet been disappointed. The food seems much improved since my first time in Indiana and the atmosphere has been well maintained. Each visit my husband and I have made to Benjamin's we had great service, and drinking on the back patio is a treat. It's great to people watch on warm summer evenings having a few beers on the patio out back as well. Go back to Benjamin's with an open mind and hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised as I was! read more

I just had the steelhead trout cakes tonight that were a special tonight!! They were amazing!! There wasn't any type of fish taste to them!! They were awesome!! Love this place! read more

Good place to have a drink. The variety of beer is good, yesterday I had an Yingling Octoberfest, in the past I used to have Labatts Blue. just $3.50 for a pint -- a steal compared to what you pay in the DC region. The food is generally decent, nothing outstanding, but also pretty inexpensive. Really nice is the outdoor patio, even heated in Winter times. read more

I ate here several times years ago and was so impressed that I didn't come back almost forever. Fortunately, I got roped into joining some friends. I moaned and complained to my wife right up until we hit the door, then sucked it up and pretended I was happy to be there. Smart move, as it turns out. We split four appetizers around the table--serviceable bruscetta and caprese salad, a really good seving of friend artichokes, and the house favorite, Ben's Bangin' Shrimp--an out of the world dish of tempura shrimp on a bed of tangy asian cole slaw that, to be clear, made me immediately regret agreeing to sharing all the appetizers. I wanted every shrimp for myself. Me. Not my friends, not the love-of-my-life and mother of my children. I wanted the shrimp. I don't remember what my dinner was called, but it was a half dozen raviolis stuffed with tangy cheese filling, on a bed of spinach, with tomatos and mushrooms under a light, but really decadent white wine and cheese sauce. It's can't miss. My wife had the shrimp arribiata (maybe because she didn't get her share of the first course? hmmm....) and it was pretty good, too. Other folks at our table had chicken parmesan (yawn), Chicken Lafayette, some kind of salad, and the flat iron steak. Everybody was happy and full. We skipped desert, but loaded up on the beer--used to be they had a bunch of crap beer, but their selection has improved until it's interesting--almost. The atmosphere is also worth noting--this is an old, Victorian-era house with lots of small rooms, each with a few tables, along with "outside" seating on patios that is closed in behind glass and heated--very cozy, especially during the holiday. Well, done Ben. read more

We really enjoyed date night at Benjamin's. The crab artichoke dip was delicious! We both had dinner entrees and an appetizer for $50 (including tip). Maybe restaurants are more expensive where we are from, but I thought the price was excellent for what we ate. The service was quick and both the hostess and our waitress were very personable. The owner made his presence known and wanted to be sure that all patrons were enjoying themselves. We sat on the patio near the bar. It was very sweet and quaint. One negative part of our experience was the VERY limited parking. They really should look into expanding their parking lot in the back. We will definitely be returning. read more

Love this place! I have so many favorite dishes here. The Boursin filet is amazing! As is the house dressing. I could drink It. The restaurant is in an old Victorian house which is super cool. They also have a nice bar area and outdoor seating in the summer. read more

Great food! From appetizers, to main courses, to desserts, this place was amazing. Plus, it's in an old house, which made it very unique. I would definitely recommend this to someone in this area, We were here from out of town and looking for a unique place to eat and we found it. read more