I've dined at The Blue Moose a few times, recently as a month ago and theres something that needs to be addressed. First off all, lets go over the pros. The Atmosphere is great, and the staff did an excellent job when I was there last time. Empty glasses were filled almost immediately and there was no real wait when service was needed. So, Blue Moose you get high marks for that. Now I have to be the bad guy and go over the cons, and sadly what needs to be addressed is the food. The last couple times I've eaten there, what's been served to me, lukewarm. Very.....Very.......Lukewarm. I've ordered the Chipotle Braised Ribs, and from a flavor/taste persepective it was delicious, but it was not hot at all. It tasted like it had been prepared way in advance and was served to me a long time after it was cooked. The first time it happened, I didn't think too much of it. I just thought my meal was prepared first, and therefore cooler than what it should have been. But after the 2nd time its happened, its just not acceptable. The company I was with even sent their food back for the same reason. I was too nice to say anything about my food. Now I like the Blue Moose, I really do, I want this place to be a success, and for Topeka to have more places like it, but if you want to continue to have my business there, the food needs to be served when its hot, and not just dumping what was prepared in advance. read more

This place has the best food and service we have experienced in Topeka. We have been in town for almost a year, moving from Atlanta where excellent restaurants are around most every corner. The Blue Moose is now our favorite local eatery. The quality and service rank up there with fine restaurants we enjoyed back in Atlanta. The food is very flavorful and it's evident the sauces and dressings are homemade. The quality of the food and dining experience is worth the money. Everything we have tried is delicious and the service has been spot on each time. The management is very friendly and comes around to ensure you are enjoying your meal. Our experience each time is delightful from beginning to end. It is so refreshing to have a local place to enjoy excellent food. If you want a nice evening out with great food or have family or friends coming into town, this is the place to take them. We are going again this weekend to try Sunday Brunch for the first time. I'm so excited about this place.....can you tell? :0) read more

If I have a choice to go to a local independent restaurant vs a chain, I'll pick or prefer the independent restaurant. To my knowledge and I could be wrong, this is not the only Blue Moose in KS but I don't think it is a chain. This food is what I would consider gourmet bar fair with some interesting offerings like mac and cheese where you can pick your own. The rest of the menu is tapas, salads, pizza, ribs, burgers, and steak. We ordered the ribeye and it was excellent, I did have the mac and cheese and was pleased. I would definitely come back here. They have plenty of televisions to watch sports. I busy bar area which is fun and outdoor seating. By the way the beef here is local if that is important for you. read more

I love this place. The food is very consistently outstanding. The ambiance is great, the outdoor patio is perfect. The drinks are imaginative and easy to drink. The beer selection is impressive. The wine selection is above-average. Literally everything I've eaten here has managed to be scrumptious, but a particular stand out is the Shrimp and Chicken Curry. I was really skeptical that the curry at a place like this (in the middle of Kansas, no less!) would be tasty. I was wrong. I was very wrong. The curry is freaking fantastic. One of the best curries I've ever had, bar none. The wine I drank with it (a red zin) was perfect. I was soo happy. The service is pretty good, so all in all, 5 stars. read more

Still hungry and I want my money back. 4 oz of fish, 4 asparagus and boxed rice (not exaggerating). Could have made it at home for $5.00. Paid $18.00. Husband had the cuban sandwich with 16 fries (not 17... not 20...16). Son asked for cheese only on his hamburger but got mustard & mayo - which ruined it for him. Would have sent it back but didn't want to risk having to wait another 45 minutes. Wait staff gave a good effort but off the bat waited 15 minutes for water. Should have known what was in store for us based on that alone. Sigh. Too bad Topeka really, really needs a home-run of a restaurant - was thinking this could be it... Kansas City eats may be our only hope. A positive: The chicken nachos were good. Which is why I increased to two stars. Disclaimer: I travel extensively and have been lucky enough to eat in some fantastic spots. So maybe I'm being a bit too harsh and am comparing apples to oranges. I am also a 'fan' of smaller portions - but this was a little ridiculous. They came across as wanting to save money vs. offering a good plate/experience. We've eaten here several times and it's never been an overall positive experience. I think they can do better! Because Topeka is so limited on good restaurants, I'm sure we'll give it another try - but maybe happy hour only. read more

Came here while on business in Topeka. The atmosphere was great. Wide open dining area, with a good wait staff. For the most part food was very good. Most of us opted for the build your own mac'n'cheese. The only sticking point was that one in our party ordered a steak and wasn't very happy with it. read more

I'm being generous with the 3 because the food was good. The time in here started out rocky to say the least. It wasn't peak time, the place was pretty empty and we were seated. For about 20 minutes no one came to help us. A waitress did look at us constantly during the 20 minutes. Maybe expecting us to help ourselves. Finally we were helped and the rest of the meal went smoothly. read more

Anyplace that offers so much variety usually scares me. Here, they seem to get it right, though. You can tell a lot is homemade... they are not boiling plastic bags and dumping the contents on your plate here. The pickles taste homemade... so you can imagine the FRIED pickles are awesome here. Yes indeed. Long slices in seasoned batter perfection. The flat bread pizzas are all good. The cheese and mushroom we had was baked to a crispy crust goodness. White sauce, cheeses, shrooms. Oh My! The pork belly Reuben was a slight twist on the old standard. I liked it, though I wished for slightly more meat. The space surely has an open feel and a sports theme to it. It is not an ambiance I care for, but you and yours might.. The food is good, so either way... you win. : ) read more

Was gratified to be taken here by the 'rents while I was in town, and I was sure grateful - with the service and the sumptuous portions it's easy to see that this is one of the capital city's finer dining establishments. Like pretty much everything else that's new and shiny in Topeka, it's on the West Side where pretty much everyone (i.e., white flight) has fled, but the demographics don't seem to bother the restaurant as it had a very diverse clientele. I ordered my ubiquitous fried pickles, which did not disappoint. The sparse but well manicured wine list yielded a lovely robust Spanish Tempranillo my parents and I shared; dad went for salmon, mom for a rosemary chicken that left us with plenty of leftovers and I went for the special; a chicken fried steak bathed in gravy and smothering some quite fine dirty mashed potatoes. The meal made an impression because unlike so many other restaurants today, we weren't rushed, the service was slow, but steady in the sense that they weren't hovering over the table but we didn't see to want for napkins or fresh refills of water. In fact we were so comfortable we through caution and medical conditions to the wind and had a scrumptious dessert of authentic pecan pie (I add the adjective of authentic because many of you out there know how fake and mealy a nasty pecan pie can be) with a fantastic crust and little pumpkin donuts you could dip into a savory but sweet creamy icing - if I lived back in my home town, I'd visit again! read more

The restaurant is very large and generic feeling. It doesn't seem to me that there was anything that made it feel special or remarkable. The ambiance felt disingenuous, as did our server. It's as if they attempted some type of grandeur that fell extremely short. I was with a group of friends for a birthday so it was quite a distraction from the restaurant. The food was good though, not fantastic but good. The prices were about average as well. I had the fried artichoke hearts as an app, they were good but you can't go wrong with fried anything. I also tried the crab cakes which were ok and the spinach and artichoke dip was blah. For dinner I had the shrimp and chicken curry, the flavor was good and they had a nice assortment of veggies and the tiniest scoop of rice. I was driving back to KC that night so I didn't enjoy a nice alcoholic beverage, though I've heard they have a great assortment of booze AND draughts are $1.50 some night of the week (not sure which night though). read more

I've eaten here several times during the many trips I've taken to Topeka. I will give them credit for being clean and having great service. The food is decent, nothing is exactly mind-blowing, but it's definitely better than the hundred chain restaurants you'll find on Wanamaker Road. I'd recommend The Blue Moose if you're looking for a casual dinner or a more upscale place to watch sports in Topeka. The menu is rather large and intimidating, which is almost always a turn-off for me. Why have such a large menu of things that are just okay, instead of a small menu with 5 or 6 mind-blowing dishes? Am I right? But anyway, two dishes I really enjoyed were the crab cake sandwich and the shrimp and chicken curry. However, the curry (which is a Thai-style curry with coconut milk) isn't as filling as I would like and is extremely mild - could definitely use some sriracha - but I'll chalk that up to local preferences when it comes to spiciness. I will also give them credit for using fresh, scratch ingredients. However, I wasn't thrilled with the selection of appetizers and the buffalo wings were very mediocre. Apart from a number of local brews including Free State (Lawrence) and Blind Tiger (Topeka), they also have bottles of Goose Island Matilda, which is one of my favorite beers - so that's definitely a plus. read more

One of the nicer restaurants in Topeka. Nice change in pace compared to the typical chains. I am addicted to the salmon club, I get it everrrytime! & I'm never dissapointed! Also got the white sangria, it wasn't my fave..but I'll be back for more! read more

See all

The Blue Moose's own worst enemy is itself. When they're down, you notice. But when they're hot, they're really HOT! My fiancee and I have been coming here off and on for years. They started off at a full sprint out of the gates. Their food almost always has a unique taste. The service used to be top notch, so much that I've previously given them a five star review in the past. And then that sophomore slump. Every business seems to hit it sooner or later. The staff was rude and the management very laissez faire. We stopped coming here because frankly, for the price, this place needs to impress or they lose their identity. One day we were struggling for a place to eat. Couldn't decide on anything we settled with a sigh and a moan on trying the Blue Moose again, and in hindsight, I am glad we did. The food is back to being top notch. As with any eatery that constantly tries to freshen up their menu there was new and unique meals to try. Most importantly, the staff obviously care. They are prompt with refills, smile and are patient with explaining menu items. Very knowledgeable and accommodating. Then there is the little things. Offering drinks (non-alcoholic obviously) to go with a meal. Packaging meals for you and promptly cleaning up your table when you've finished a plate. It's important to note that the KC Hopps rewards program has been surprisingly a good investment. It seems that we are constantly getting rewards. I just wish there was more places that participated in this program in Topeka. read more

Does nothing for me. The food is subpar in my opinion. The Sunday brunch everyone raves about is okay, but get there when they open. Leftovers suck. read more

Love this place! Great happy hour menu, nice ambiance. Great outdoor patio. Healthy menu options.

I just called this place to inquire about making a reservation for a late Sunday lunch for 9 people to celebrate my mothers Birthday. The lady stated they only take reservations for 10 or more and could not accommodate. POOR SERVICE! So much for being a Guest Rewards loyalty member! Take your business elsewhere! read more

Good food. Desert was yummy but it SO loud here. The fish batter was a little to be desired but I would get the creme brule again.

Another location I would love to give a higher rating, but can't. When everything runs smooth, the food & service are very good. Unfortunately that has become very rare. On two out of our last 3 trips, we couldn't get anyone to stop at our table. It was to the point and called the restaurant from our table to request service. How bad is that? We want this place to do well, but they need to step up their game. read more

Traveling on business... ate here with colleagues and we had an adequate meal and nice time. Very pleasant waitstaff (though a bit under-attentive... appetizer side plates that were served had clearly either not been washed properly or were from the DIRTY pile... crud all over them). Nice menu choices. Food is average (think Chili's), which is probably better than what's in the area. KC Strip steak ordered Medium was not "pink throughout" but grey throughout. Still, good options without ridiculous, fatty sauces, nice beer selection, and a fine patio on a nice evening. Be warned about the patio... smoking allowed. I actually don't have a big issue with that but don't appreciate it when those using the patio don't consider that the people next to them might not want to inhale crappy cigarette smoke while dinner is served. That kind of sums up the apparent clientele. Doubt we will be back unless there is almost literally no other option... or unless I want to go for a drink and a cigar (after 10pm only for cigars... because, I guess, the smell of fine tobacco is more offensive than cheap cigarettes...) read more

My husband and I went on a date there a few months ago and we ordered a Caesar salad and a home style salad. The croutons were so soggy and wet. Same with the lettuce as if was old and left out. Then to top it off on the house salad the ranch they put on it was mayo!! Wtf!?!? We had the manager come out and he dipped his finger in and tasted it and said "ew that taste like mayo" and proceeded to say that was the base ingredient for the mix to the ranch. Gross. Too pricey for bad food. read more

I want to start by saying, I LOVE THE BRUNCH (but then again - there is no other real brunch places in Topeka - so it's a default). I'll also say that's there's a great ambience and I've had nothing but great service from the wait staff. They are seriously wonderful. Unfortunately... They've made some big menu changes lately - and it's definitely not for the better. - I have come in multiple times (and to be honest, my main reason for returning) and ordered the build your own Mac n' Cheese with Pork Belly. It is literally AMAZING, but was sold out probably every other time (but was also worth it coming back in hopes they'd have it). I returned today to a new menu that still listed the pork belly - but when I ordered it I was told, "we actually don't offer that anymore... It didn't really sell well." (Which as someone who has been told on multiple occasions that they're sold out - I'm sitting here preeetttyy confused.) - my friends also went to order their favorite dish, the Chicken Madiera, which we learned was no longer on the menu and that left us a even more discouraged. Nevertheless we understand that things change (including menus), but it's just discouraging that they took such popular items away. I guess as long as they don't lose their brunch Buffett I'll continue to show up on Sunday's - but you can count me out on any other day. read more

Nobody was here. Service was slow. Food wasn't as good as what it should have been for what we paid. I wouldn't come here again. They like themselves too much. read more

We go every Thursday. Our server Kylie is the best! She know what everyone is drinking, you sit down and before you can ask, your favorite is sitting in front of you. The bar service in Topeka is awesome. read more

Usually great but only good tonight. Cuban sandwich was off, almost like they used smoked ham rather than pork belly. Fries are a little soggy. Tried the wings and really enjoyed them. Overall, not such a great meal. Used the Yelp $2 coupon and never got the discount. read more

Love the different types of selections from the menu. Tacos, filet, shrimp wontons are all amazing and never disappoint. The bar has a great selection of drinks. There are happy hour specials for food and drinks! read more

My husband and I went here for a date night!! It was terrific! We got there just in time for their happy hour! I got a chocolate martini and it was amazing!! We started with some chicken nachos!! I ordered the 5oz steak with mashed cauliflower and it was sooo good!! read more

My husband and I had drinks and dinner at Blue Moose on a Wednesday evening for my husband's birthday. The bartenders were personable, readily available to answer our questions, made sure to refill our water glasses, and kept an eye out when our drinks ran low. We then moved to a table for dinner and Dakota was our waitress. She was so friendly, answering any questions we had about the menu, and checking back with us every little bit to see if there was anything we needed. She was the BEST waitress we've had at ANY restaurant in the past year! She made our evening very enjoyable! I would highly recommend this restaurant and if you get a chance ask for Dakota for your waitress! The food was very tasty, portions were not skimpy, and the wait time to get our food was not long at all. Thumbs up to Blue Moose in Topeka!! read more

3 stars for me on this place means it is ok. I have had some great food there and some ok food there. The kitchen is to inconsistent to give it a really high rating. The Sunday brunch there is once again ok. Not a life changing experience read more

Called ahead to get reservations. Was told you had to call ahead an hour before. Got to the restaurant - found others had reservations in much less time - spoke to supervisor who apologized for operators error. Had to wait over 45 min. Only after we spoke to the supervisor did they take our name - we lost another 10 min of wait time. Hire knowledgeable competent employees. read more

Great place to have lunch on sundays after church, that was my case. Our waitress was very polite (wish I remember her name) always cleaning our table and offering refill on our drinks. Clean place and atmosphere family and friends can hang out for unlimited time lol!! Food was always hot and never empty pot/warmer. We came that Sunday for brunch/buffet. I was delighted with every single dish and service from the staff read more

This place definitely had a delicious Cajun Ribeye and a very delicious andouille sausage hash to go along with it. My issue was the dessert. It was coconut cheesecake and I had high hopes for it.....it was very very close to terrible. The crust and topping was nice but the cheesecake itself was flavorless and of a somewhat jello like consistency although it "looked" like cheesecake, it was not. Oh well I choose to take off 1 star for the dessert, there also wasn't many items for dessert to choose from so don't go there thinking that you're going to have a delightful sweet experience after dinner. read more

Gave this place one more chance. Eventually got seated, but had to leave due to treatment. This place makes it clear you are inconveniencing them. read more

I've eaten here several times when I'm in town for work. The food is good, however the bar is really slow. The wait staff aren't super friendly and never smile and when the person brought out my food, sitting at the table by myself, he set my entree on the other side of the table on the corner I stead of putting it I. Front of me. I, literally had to reach across the table to get the entree. read more

We love this place, quiet enough to talk but always decent music! The food is great with a rotating seasonal special list. I had a Georgian bread dish tonight that was wonderful. Most importantly, Paige S. Is a great waitperson who knows the menu and is extremely attentive. read more

The food was good. The waitress was great. The hostess with the black hair needs a lesson in customer service. When we ate there on Saturday night , her attitude towards us when we checked in for our reservation was beyond rude. Last time I checked, Customers Pay restaurant employees their pay checks. We have choices on where we spend our money. The way she treated our friend was rude. I was embarrassed for my friend . Perhaps, you can reach out to Chick Fil A and ask them for a lesson in manners. " My Pleasure" goes a long way. Until then.. I had my first and last trip to Blue Moon... read more

I came here for brunch while a visiting a friend a couple weeks ago. As many other Topekans have noted, brunch spots are sparse in this city, so outside of Capitol Plaza Hotel, Blue Moose is an excellent choice. I found the host desk and waiter service to be acceptable. My only concern regarding service was that the waiter was fairly inattentive and could have checked on our table at least twice as much as he did. Our order for french toast was forgotten and when reminded of the server brought the food towards the end of our brunching. Other than that he was a nice guy and very professional. Now on to the good stuff. The food selection was amazing especially considering the price! For $11.99 there were 4 tables of delicious food ranging from spinach and artichoke dip, bacon & eggs, mac and cheese, and BBQ meatballs. One thing I found interesting about Blue Moose's buffet brunch was the apparent mix of breakfast, lunch, appetizer, AND dinner food. Most buffet-style brunch places in Kansas City may have one or two but never all 4 types of food! Regarding the flavor and freshness, all of my food was hot, fresh, and had a good taste. The spin dip was the only item that could have been refreshed or kept warmer but the mac and cheese and meatballs were definitely on point. Even though the french toast came out late I almost want to say it was worth the 30 minute wait. It was cooked to perfection and had a great balance of spices and sweetness. My friend had a Mimosa and Bloody Mary and he found the drinks small in size for their price ($3.50 or $4 if I remember correctly) even if their taste was good. I had a glass of orange juice and I couldn't believe it was only $2 so that was a nice price surprise. The interior was very spacious and I did not feel crowded like I normally do at most buffet brunches. The chairs and tables were sturdy and comfy. There were several t.v.s showing various sporting events and games so this definitely a great place to catch like a KU game if you want a late brunch. I certainly will come back because service can fluctuate between visits but I expect the quality of the food to remain the same. read more

Ambiance isn't bad. Waited almost an hour for a table yet half the tables were empty. Sadly understaffed but the staff was nice. The food is subpar to par. The Monte Cristo was too heavy with grease and wasn't done well. The curried chicken had good flavor but the meat had several pieces of gristle. My coffee was not kept topped off and hot. Then the waitress emptied the pot in my cup and left thick grounds in the bottom. Also, the little one wasn't fond of the chicken and waffle. Chicken was way too crispy (ie overdone) Do yourself a favor and find a different restaurant. read more

Food was pretty good. Our table had many different items from the flat bread pizza (with fresh ingredients) to baked brie to a salmon sandwich and a buffalo chicken wrap we were all satisfied with our lunchtime stop. One pizza was burnt and they immediately made a new one without asking. As non-Kansans it was nice to Have Freestate beer. Service was feeling slow but when they explained they were redoing a pizza we understood. Go check it out! read more

Just tried the new brunch menu. Food was very good, freshly made in house, unique breakfast items, and very reasonably priced. My new go to, nice breakfast restaurant in Topeka, which the city sorely needed. Service was also very good and a nice dining ambience to sweeten the pot. Thanks a lot Blue Moose! read more

Yummy best restaurant in Topeka, new to town and was looking for a good restaurant with great food and atmosphere and checked out this place!!! Was not disappointed at all!!! Not only was the lunch and dinner delicious there Sunday Brunch is amazing!! read more