Amazing Food and Even Better Service I was in town from California last week for a family reunion and visited the brewery on Thursday (8/6). The food was so good that we brought several of our local family members from Indianapolis back again on Saturday. While we did encounter a small issue during our visit, what truly stood out was how it was handled. Christian, the manager, could not have been more professional, attentive, and customer-focused. Our server (whose name I unfortunately don't remember) was equally outstanding throughout the experience. I often say that it's easy to provide great service when everything goes perfectly. The real test is how a business responds when something doesn't go as planned. Christian and the team passed that test with flying colors. They addressed the situation promptly, genuinely cared about making things right, and turned what could have been a negative experience into a memorable example of exceptional hospitality. The food was fantastic, the atmosphere was great, and the customer service was truly top-notch. Because of the way Christian and our server handled everything, we left with an even better impression of Big Woods than we had before. Thank you for a wonderful experience. Both my family and I, including our local Indianapolis relatives, will definitely be back! read more

Shout out to Ava, our server! We had a wonderful dinner, and everyone in our party thoroughly enjoyed their meal. Excellent service can make such a difference, and Ava certainly did! Ava was friendly, personable, and attentive from beginning to end. She made sure we had everything we needed, and allowed us to relax and enjoy our evening without ever feeling hurried. To top it off, we shared the wings and everyone thought they were absolutely delicious! Thank you, Ava, We look forward to coming back! read more

How the hell do you mess up a blueberry balsamic salad? Zero taste, field greens marginal. Second entree, cheeseburger, to be cooked to medium that was actually cooked to charcoal and beyond WELL! Asked for some ketchup they never arrived and just a terrible meal across the board and service by a young guy who disappeared! No refill on drinks and it seemed other tables around us were not getting their right orders. Will Scratch this one off the places for Lunch this summer... read more

I have finally gotten to go to big woods and it did not disappoint. I am attempting to hit all of the fries spots on the visit Bloomington French fries pass port and here was a spot. I went with the spicy bacon ranch burger and it was great. The service here was great even though there were a lot of people there. The environment of the place is one that is pretty unique. They have the outdoor patio area and two inside seating areas plus it's just a block off the hustle of kirkwood read more

Big Woods Bloomington - Buffalo Chicken slice - Gastropubs Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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The chicken sandwich was delicious! The BBQ sauce had the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors and the truffle fries were a great addition to the meal. Everything paired together perfectly! read more

Big Woods Bloomington - Maple Bourbon Chicken Sandwich - Gastropubs Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

We discovered this because of Hard Truth Distillery in Nashville. Good is great - pulled pork and pizza Try the Peanut butter Porter. Dee-lish read more

Big Woods Bloomington - Gastropubs Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

This is a cozy little restaurant just off of Kirkwood Ave. near the IU Bloomington campus. Like many other Bloomington restaurants, it's a house modified into a sit-down restaurant. I've only ever had the pizza here but it is better than I had originally expected. The dough is fluffy and the cheese and marinara are flavorful. They all blend together very well, and I think the pizza is better here than at Mother Bear's. The building and atmosphere is welcoming and provides space for small or large parties, and though the servers are pulled in several directions at once all the time, they make sure to come back around and check on you often. read more

Big Woods Bloomington - Pepperoni personal pizza. More than big enough for one person. - Gastropubs Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Our long travel day began with a 6 AM flight from Reno to O'Hare, followed by a connection to Indianapolis and a rental car drive from the Airport to Bloomington. We arrived tired and hungry at Big Woods, only to be told that we had a 45 minute wait ahead of us. After informing the nice guy at the front desk of our day's adventures and asking for alternative dining suggestions, he let us have a table for 4 that I think was being saved for a larger party. The full house surprised us as UI is out, and we failed to consider the locals crowd. Big Woods in a regional chain with five restaurant locations, two pizza places, and two Hard Truth bars. These are pizza, burger, salad, etc. places which also feature in house brands such as Quaff On! Brewing Company, and spirits from Hard Truth Distilling Co. The ambiance is upscale brew pub casual, with nice woods and and a "woodsy" feel. Our dinner choice were very tasty, starting with Flash Fried Brussel Sprouts (really good, but not all that healthy) for the table, a gin martini for Gayle, and a Quaff On! Busted Knuckle Porter. I followed with beer battered fish and chips (cod) with pub fries, house-made tartar sauce, and a lemon wedge. Gayle then continued with fish tacos (cod with corn shells), with slaw, red onion, and chipotle sauce. The proof for both our fish dishes was the batter which we found to be light, fresh, very tasty, and perhaps the best we've experienced that way for awhile. This Big Woods location also has a nice outdoor patio, of which the elements were not cooperating that evening. When we return and if the weather is nice, we'll try that. read more

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Food was tasty. All the the TVs were on, World Cup was showing. Great atmosphere. Went for lunch with a friend. Service was super slow and waiter was super inattentive. The restaurant wasn't busy, I can be patient when a restaurant is busy. The other server was getting food out quickly was refilling drinks and checking in with her customers often. I had to go to the bar for napkins, flag down the other waitress for straws, and stop our server to ask for a refill. When the food finally did come, it was tasty, which is the whole point of choosing a restaurant I suppose. I was half jokingly wondering if he'd forgotten to put our order in. So many other people that came in after us were getting their food, but they were in someone else's section. Again, the food was great. The atmosphere was fantastic, but, if you go at lunch be prepared for a wait if you wind up in the wrong section. We had to run out and feed the meter as we had only put an hour and 45 minutes in coins. It really shouldn't have taken that long for lunch. read more

Absolute garbage. Food was disgusting. Service was equally as bad if not worse. Avoid this place.

Great food, ambience and beer. Stopped when for the school orientation. Everything was great. Service was quick, polite. Certainly recommend. read more

The best burger, fries and beer combination I have ever had. Try the whiskey burger and the peanut butter beer. You won't be disappointed. Trust me. read more

Good food but the service was extremely slow. Our waiter didn't ever visit the table to fill our drinks up so after our appetizer we just sat there with empty drinks waiting for our food to come. Our entrees got to our table over an hour after we got there. read more

Stopped by for lunch after touring IU on a hot July day. Service was slow. Our server was also the bartender and was more concerned about patrons at the bar than the few tables he had. Good beer selection. Food was good...nothing spectacular but nothing bad either read more

I already had dinner plans, which was the main reason I detoured to Bloomington, but there's always room for beer. And Big Woods got my beer craving satisfied. I spent nearly two hours this afternoon, sipping at one or two while working away with my laptop (not actual work, just Yelp). Comfortable space, great beer options, wifi worked well. I would hang out here again for sure! [Review 20561 overall - 99 in Indiana - 1542 of 2023.] read more

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Been coming here for years, and everything is great, but suddenly the music is all country music, which doesn't fit the vibe of the location - I mean, it's BLOOMINGTON!! Maybe this would work in Nashville but not here. Bring back the regular music PLEASE. Accidentally checked ambiance. Yelp won't let me remove it. The ambiance was the problem. Bummer. I loved it here read more

Been here a few times and the food does not disappoint. In the warm weather, you can even eat outside and might catch live music. Today is a cold wet day in January, so we are inside. It is warm, even near the windows, and finished like a hunting lodge. I really like the vibe. And it's just steps off Kirkwood in the heart of Campustown. It's a small place, but lots of tables, and a full bar. They have local craft beers and make cocktails with local spirits. I've never partaken of either because I am always driving somewhere after the meal. Tonight I had the Thai Steak Tacos. It was a light dinner, and a great choice. The steak in the taco was so tasty! Hit the spot. The Mexican Elote side dish is something I could take or leave. It's not the decadent creamy street corn we often see. It's less creamy and cheesy, and therefore healthier I'm sure. It's flavorful, but if you are looking for the indulgence, it's not that. The servers are always friendly, helpful when you ask for a suggestion, and they always smile. read more

Big Woods Bloomington - Thai Steak Tacos (2 of 3), and Mexican street corn side - Gastropubs Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Stopped here during an IU visit. Great service, really good food! There beer they brew also really good.

Disappointed to learn that Big Woods is not dog-friendly, and unfortunately, the staff wasn't super friendly about it either. We showed up expecting to enjoy the back patio (by the grass) with our very well-behaved pups, only to be turned away from an EMPTY patio on a Sunday afternoon. This used to be one of my go-to recommendations for Bloomington. From many previous visits the food and beer are pretty good, but the overall experience left a bad taste. I won't be returning, nor recommending any of their establishments. Their websites are literal garbage so you can't find this information out unless you click on one specific page, not easy to find information. read more

Good first trip to Big Woods during college move in time. Large craft and tap list and this is a good burger place. The Quaff IPA was tasty. Brew Burger with bleu cheese was really good, while the street corn was a good side. The Malik Reneau Burger was enjoyed by two at our table and is a tribute to the Hoosier basketball player. read more

First -- this restaurant is so cute! It's in an old home and is just so quaint and lovely. I thought the service was really good, she met all our needs during our visit! The pulled pork nachos were fantastic! So so good. Great toppings and a good amount of pulled pork on them. The candied bacon burger.....just delicious. The fries were also cooked and seasoned to perfection. I loved everything we tried! read more

Big Woods Bloomington - Candied Bacon Burger - Gastropubs Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Worst service and food I have experienced in Bloomington. I wanted to have a good time but my food was cold, the wings were terrible and overall just a horrible experience. My waiter seemed to be in a terrible mood and never would come around to check in or refill drinks. No napkins and we were seated at a 2 person table for 5 of us. read more

Food here was very mid. There's lot of hype for this place but I found it be very mediocre keeping in mind the price as well. $16 for a basic pull porked sandwich that's really no better than $4 one you can get elsewhere. Cheesy bread that was really just flavorless and dry- better off getting it at Da Vinci considering the price point isn't any cheaper. The marinara sauce served was also really sour, find better at the store on the shelves. read more

Always a good option in the Bloomington area. The appetizer nachos could easily be a meal by themselves. It's usually pretty busy but the wait staff has always been responsive when be been there too. I was disappointed they recently took the mac and cheese with pulled pork off the menu but lots of things to choose from! read more

This is a must if you want some great food. We dropped by after visiting IU and were so happy we did. The pulled pork nachos are a Must!!! We ordered several plates: the smoked wings, kale quinoa salad, and Hoosier burger. All were delicious in flavor. Our waiter was attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is laid back and cozy. I highly recommend trying their beers as well. You won't be disappointed. read more

So yummy!!!! Maybe one of the best burgers I have had! Very friendly service and a cute rustic ambiance! Great bartender making craft cocktails! read more

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This place is fantastic. It's right in town, the beer is good, and the food is great as well. The service is always good, and I love the option of sitting at a table or at the bar. read more

Three words: pulled pork nachos An absolute must when visiting Big Woods! I've waited three years for these nachos since graduating and they're just as good as I remember. We came Sunday morning just after opening and got in without a problem, even on Homecoming weekend. The dining area quickly filled up. Luckily there is plenty of outdoor space in the form of a deck and a patio. The service was excellent, offering many recommendations for seasonal beers and choices to eat. The flights of beer are 5 oz each - one ounce more per pour than other places like Upland. To eat I got the steak salad. Salad ?! at a place that makes their own beer?! Don't sleep on it!!! The steak was cooked to order, seasoned perfectly, and was still plenty filling. I would definitely order again. I used to always get a salmon sandwich but I don't think that is on the menu anymore. I think there is something for everyone on this menu, and anyone can find something to enjoy. The one downside - no coke products :( As a big diet coke girl, that would make this restaurant unbeatable. read more

Big Woods Bloomington - pulled pork nachos - Gastropubs Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

My family and I accidentally ended up here after our first choice had no tables for the evening unless you had reservations. Im so glad we did though! Service was super friendly and attentive, food was delicious - amongst the four of us we shared a pizza (crust is so yummy), the tacos, and the nachos. Everything was so flavorful and fresh plus the drink menu was extensive! We will definitely return next time we're in the area! read more

You know them you love them. This is probably my number one spots in Bloomington. This is where I recommend everyone to go and when ask. The nachos are phenomenal and out of this world. I order them every time I go. They also serve Oliver's hard cider. Which is absolutely insane. But today....... I went with my roommate. And we are huge soup girls. And we found out that the soup of the day was chili.....So we decided to order a bowl of chili and split an order of their infamous mac & cheese that we already knew was amazing. And I give you... chili Mac. read more

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Great atmosphere! We walked in and had to wait a bit since it was lunchtime, but great service. There were gluten free labels on the menu and a plethora of options. I got a mock tail that was fabulous and I got the pulled pork nachos which were delicious. Nice flavor and came out pretty quickly. I definitely recommend! read more

Big Woods Bloomington - Mock tail - Gastropubs Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Love this place. My favorite is sitting outside, but I'll sit inside as well. For starters...the tap beers. Amazing. And you can sample before you order. If you like porter this is your place. So many good options. But also lots of IPAs. I love the pizza, wings and burgers...but the nachos are my favorite! It's like they take all of the classics and make them even better than you imagined. Do not sleep on this place!!! read more

Service was great, especially for being there during a football weekend. Nachos weren't as good as I remember them unfortunately. But the dressing on the steak salad was amazing and garlicky, steak was cooks nicely. read more

Big Woods Bloomington - Steak salad and Hawaiian pizza - Gastropubs Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Where to begin. I had the Strawberry Mule cocktail. It was very bitter. Margarita Pizza was ok but not real hot. My husband ordered the wings as his meal. They were cold! We told our waitress and she had manager come over. Gave us half off the wings. My brother got the Brussel sprouts. What a joke! They were dried out and in crumbles. And then there is the parking! This Big Woods doesn't hold a candle to the one in Indy or Nashville. Sorry we drove almost 2 hrs for a disappointment! read more

Great atmosphere! The burger was delicious and so were the breadsticks. My daughter had the pulled pork tacos and they were quite tasty. The 6 foot blonde strawberry ale was delightful. A place I would definitely return to if my daughter decides on attending IU. read more

This is a good place for good beer and decent food in kind of a quiet neighborhood a little bit off the strip. They have a nice, covered outdoor seating area too. The order of fish and chips is huge and quite tasty. read more

Big Woods Bloomington - Gastropubs Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

We were visiting Nashville, IN from Indianapolis and looking for some great pizza to satiate our hungry after some solid hiking! We ended up at Big Woods in Bloomington and it hit the spot. We got some drinks, cheesy bread, and pineapple pizza and all of it was great! The bartender was very friendly and attentive. They were a little short staffed, so come with patience. Parking is on the surrounding side streets and very reasonable. Big Woods has a lot of locations around Indiana, so even if you aren't in Bloomington, definitely check out their other spots. read more

Big Woods Bloomington - Hawaiian Pizza - Gastropubs Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Excellent food! We sat outdoors on a beautiful day to enjoy a delicious Hawaiian BBQ pizza with pulled pork, pineapple, red onion & mozzarella & cheddar cheese! Delicious! read more

The food was fantastic, I had a burger and my girlfriend had the salmon. Both were delicious and perfectly cooked. The reason it isn't a five star is because of our server. Was clear that Ella t didn't want to serve college students as I didn't have a drink for probably around ten minutes. The older couple at the table next to us seemed to receive much better service. Would return for the food and would be disappointed if she was our server again. read more

It was okay - since I was dining solo I was definitely treated as a lesser customer and not taken seriously. The host refused to seat me one of the multiple available two tops but the bar was full, so he put me in a nearly inaccessible dark corner in front of the silverware station with no menu, bartenders, or any kind of hospitality. After waiting a while I moved to a place that was visible to staff and the bartenders were then attentive and kind, but I did not feel as though they wanted my business upon walking in the door. I've never felt so awkward at a restaurant, it was very uncomfortable and very odd. The food is good brewery grub and the beers are great. Just be clear with the host about where you do or don't want to sit, even it if means a bit of a wait. I do recommend Big Woods overall, but encourage that the hosts be trained in how to communicate with guests. I was scouting Big Woods for an event, which they did not know, and as a result of the customer service did not choose this establishment. read more