It has been over ten years since my original review of Fort Ben Pub, a locally owned pub and grill type establishment located in the Fort Ben area in the same strip center that includes Moo & Lou's Ice Cream and Phaya Thai. There's a wheelchair ramp in the middle of the building - I'll be honest, I don't quite trust it as I've noticed people in this parking area tend to block it without noticing it. There's also easy access from a ramp at the end of the building. Lawrence has done quite a bit to improve their curb cuts in this area, an area that has grown massively since my last review including 2-3 apartment buildings, a library branch, and an improved civic plaza. Fort Ben Pub itself is pretty accessible, though it becomes less so when it's packed (for example, my most recent visit was on a Friday karaoke night and accessibility was definitely more limited). There's two glass doors going inside the pub and, yes, they do offer a few tables on the sidewalk for outside dining. As you enter, you arrive in a large dining area with a beautiful bar to the right. The restaurant is decorated in warm woods with a few televisions of varying sizes and, on this evening, background music playing. On this visit, I was with a festival after-party that was placed off the main area in a smaller area that had two pool tables along with a variety of food/appetizers, etc. It's a cozy room that gave me a chance to check out the rest of the building. I did see the restrooms, which I would definitely not consider accessible - plan accordingly. I could possibly get in the door of the men's restroom, but it was quite tight and I have a smaller chair. This is a beloved place for a friend of mine who lives nearby and within walking distance. They treat her well. She was there during this visit, and I honestly just smiled at their clear affection for her (it's mutual). I love places that become community, and knowing this makes me want to return. That said, my accessibility concerns do somewhat limit my options. Fort Ben Pub does offer space for private events/groups and does catering. They have pool tables, Putt Putt live, Mega Touch, and Golden Tee and most of the sports network channels. While I'd tried both their tenderloin and burger in the past, I had a variety of items this time around due to the after-party, though not everything it seems was on the menu (or I'm just not recognizing it). As I noted previously and my friend also proves, the employees are super friendly and helpful. There are definitely times when it gets busy, though it's also pretty easy to come here during slower times. This particular visit was the first time I'd experienced accessibility issues. There's an awful lot to love here. I have to say that while I wasn't in the room with karaoke, the people were having a blast with such sincere enthusiasm that I was almost in awe. I've done karaoke one time in my life, and I don't think there's enough alcohol in the world to fuel another attempt. I also know from being close to the folks at Moo & Lou that these businesses watch out for each other - which I really like as it's a nice little safety factor. In the end, my star rating isn't changing but my appreciation for Fort Ben Pub has grown. This visit made me want to return in the near future, and it made me grateful for those places where you can get so comfortable that it feels like the people become part of your village. That's Fort Ben Pub. read more

The people were really nice, but the meal was very lackluster. Price for the quality was also pretty low. I would also say little odd how much they charge for different options. The environment was very dead when we came, but hopefully maybe just because it wasn't sports going on that day. read more

Fort Ben Pub - American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Very good service I'm in out within an hour. One of my servers knows my drink order pretty well. I've had four or five on the menu

We recently attended a business coaching session and dinner at the pub and found the bar charming but average. The staff was wonderful especially the bar tender who went out of her way to make sure we were taken care of. The menu had a decent amount of bar food but nothing that was not available in other establishments. Drinks ... well what can you say wrong about mix drinks or beer on tap. While we were there the karaoke crowd rolled in and that was great to experience. read more

Service is hit or miss, but the food is always good. I love it when we can sit outside.

Restaurant is nice and clean, and the service and drinks are fantastic. The food is decent.

Awesome food, and awesome people. A lot of seating inside and some outside. Awesome atmosphere, read more

Fort Ben Pub - Bar - American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

See all

I ate here recently with some coworkers, went here because Phaya Thai was packed. Upon arrival, place was almost empty and the waiter was no where to be seen (during lunch hour). Seated ourselves as a result. Noticed flies flying around, which is unusual for this time of year. Waiter (only him and a cook) eventually took our order. Coworker's food was ill prepared, he did not finish the meal. Ketchup bottle had something nasty on the outside. Restroom was disgusting, toilet paper on floor and toilet. Sink and floor not clean. Was on a deadline to leave to get to a meeting, waiter was too busy chatting with cook to notice. I had to get his attention, and while preparing receipts he mixed up the orders. Terrible experience, never coming back. read more

Classic bar food with a fairly large food selection. Lots of beer on draft and a full bar available. We went when they opened and it was incredibly clean for a bar, friendly efficient service. read more

Food was terrible. All frozen food thrown in a deep fryer with no seasoning...think bowling alley snack bar quality. Karaoke on a Friday night is never a good sign of a successful restaurant, not to mention the technical difficulties that they had with it...can't be making any money since everyone there for the karaoke were only drinking refillable sodas and weren't eating anything...restrooms were not clean and the handicap stall was out of service. The only positive is that the owner will be going out of business soon because there is no sustainable revenue coming in. read more

Went for lunch this week. Was not very busy. We waited a bit to place our order but did look like there was only one server. I ordered the chicken sandwich with fries. Food took aLONG time. Way longer than should have for how not busy it was. However the sandwich was delicious. Pounded a bit but not too much. Light breading fried perfectly. Will eat there again but not if we are short on time. read more

typical middle american bland greasy nonsense! I ordered the grilled cheese which I thought just had cheese and bread, which is what it says on the menu. but it turns out it has nothing but bacon and fake American cheese. and it ended up looking and tasting like dog food. This place is horrendous. go to the Thai place next-door. also. i ordered hot sauce and it didn't show up. and i ordered sweet potato fries and received waffle fries. read more

We came here for dinner on a Friday night. It was not too busy when we went but there was only one server/bartender when we first arrived. He did a pretty good job of coming by and getting our drinks and food orders. The food came out pretty quickly. I had the tenderloin which I enjoyed. read more

Fort Ben Burger with fries. Basic pub food here. Burger was cooked well, fries were crispy and seasoned. Small strip mall parking. Not too crowded for lunch at all on a Monday at noon. Daily lunch special is written on a board in their foyer. read more

Fort Ben Pub - Fort Ben Burger with fries - American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Very excellent Vibe on Fridays for karaoke Night and I really was received very well for my singing by everyone there!!! The hostesses took very good care of me and the food is very YummyLicious!!! read more

Stopped in for the first time at Fort Ben Pub and I'm already looking forward to my next visit. My server (Cindy) made feel like I was a longtime patron and provided great service. I ordered the Philly Cheesesteak and it did not disappoint. The bread had a nice crisp from the flattop to elevate the flavor while still remaining soft. The strips of beef were seared to perfection while remaining juicy. Even the green peppers had a nice chop size so I'd still enjoy a burst of freshness in every bite. The space was clean and much larger than I had imagined. Fort Ben Pub is exactly what I look for in a good bar & grill. Thank you. read more

Fort Ben Pub - Philly Cheesesteak was delicious! - American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I made my first visit to the Fort Ben Pub yesterday. It is located in a short strip mall in the 5600 block of Post Road in northeast Indianapolis on the grounds of what used to be the U.S. Army's Fort Benjamin Harrison. There is ample free parking in a spacious lot right outside the front door. The public dining area is a rectangular room with a bar at the west end. There is seating for about one-hundred patrons. There are additional tables and chairs outside along the front of the establishment. The decor and overall atmosphere are casually comfortable. There are some six muted television sets wall-mounted around the area. I can easily see this being a great place to watch a televised sporting event. When I arrived in the early afternoon the sets were all muted and recorded background music played at a volume conducive to conversation. Adjacent to the dining area is a game room with two pool tables and a dart board. They have a pleasingly comprehensive menu of pub grub selections including appetizers, salads and soup, pizzas, quesadillas, sliders, tacos, sandwiches and wraps, sides, daily specials, and more. The prices are all quite reasonable. A full bar offers a range of beers, wines, and distilled spirits as well as daily drink specials. My server Kelly was friendly and attentive. I ordered a Chef Salad which comprised a satisfactory combination of salad greens, cheese, egg, ham, olives, tomatoes, and turkey. They did not have a poppyseed dressing but they did have a honey-mustard and the overall dish was excellent. The Fort Ben Pub is an establishment I would recommend to anyone. I look forward to returning soon. read more

Fort Ben Pub - Chef Salad - American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

My family and I have been ordering carry-out for several years from this establishment and have always been very satisfied. Until, yesterday....I had just come back home from the lake and didn't want to cook so I called in my order before going home to watch the Colts. The wings were a perfect 10+ tasty and hot. The pizza was AWFUL! It was like a piece of cardboard with very little sauce, a few slices of mushrooms and lots of black olives! No more pizza.............. Wings and service were top notch!! read more

We usually make a couple visits a week to Ft Ben Pub. The food is good ( especially the quesadillas, taco salads, and Mexican egg rolls). They have a full bar that includes pretty much anything you want created. KT and Tim are our go-to servers. Even when the place is crowded, they keep the food and drinks coming! Now for the reason for the dismal rating.... The place is not air conditioned! Every other place in the strip are and when we asked some other usuals, we were told the owner refused to replace her useless units! Since we come regularly, we just thought the settings were off. NOOO! It is so hot in there!! We are close to taking Ft Ben Pub off our go-to neighborhood haunts. read more

We were told to come here by some coworkers, and it was a very frustrating experience. We walked in, but no one greeted us. Finally someone came and sat us. This was a sign of things to come. It took about 5-10 minutes for our waitress to come get our drink orders. She brought our drinks out and immediately ran away and did not appear again for another 10 minutes, even though we were ready to order. By the time she did come back, my drink was empty again. After about 30 minutes, our food came out, but I was given someone else's order. She realized the mistake and went and got my food - luckily someone had not taken a bite yet. I had a stromboli, and it was good. Overall, very disappointed by the quality of service here. I'm not sure the food is worth the experience. I won't be back unless a coworker drags me there. read more

See all

It was like walking into an episode of bar rescue. Cocky waitress having drinks with customers. Waiting what seemed like forever to get drinks and food Part of our food was wrong. The meal came in stages. French fries were like crunchy droopy rubber. Only one waitress in the place. I think she was doing double duty as a bartender. We tried it out based on some good reviews on yelp but probably won't go back. read more

I'm new to this establishment. I play cards there on Tuesday nights. My first time there, there were many guests and even more card players. There was only one bartender/server working . She introduced herself and asked me my name . She has called me by my name ever since! Recently there have been two additional employees, neither of whom have not only cared about me or my name but the two of them together don't do half the job that the other one does. She remembers every card player by name and gives great service to everyone! Tonight my boyfriend got taken out of the game early and sat at the bar for an hour or so, waiting for me to finish the playing, watching a hockey game on TV. His drink was finished and a whole period was played and not once was he noticed! He placed his empty glass out in front of the bar to get noticed. He never was! She walked past him several times and was never acknowledged. She was too busy chatting with a woman sitting just to his left. When she finally noticed him, he was so discussed, his "buzz was killed" and he let her know, in no uncertain terms. She just kind of shrugged her shoulders. Not even an apology. How can one person take care of the whole place and the other not be able to serve the six customers sitting at the bar? While the original bartender, Katie, waited mostly on the card players, the other girl was mostly behind the bar. I am also a bartender/server from San Diego (which shouldn't account for much), although since moving to Indiana I've noticed time and time again that many people working in the service industry just don't seem to care about serving the people. This behavior is new to me. It just doesn't happen where I come from. My boyfriend will not sit at the bar and not be served again, unless Katie there. She WORKS !! PS The food is great. read more

Sorry . . . Never again! Although aesthetically pleasing, my husband had to exterminate a Giant Cockroach in the men's room. Food was fair.

Don't be fooled by those seemingly impressive 4 stars, because my recent adventure at Fort Ben Pub was a absolute tragedy... Picture this: After shooting an 87 at The Fort, I walked through the doors, and time stood still for a solid 20 minutes before anyone even acknowledged my existence. I could have aged a decade in that time, waiting for a simple glass of water. It was as if the staff had taken a masterclass in disappearing acts! Now, let's dive into the food calamities. Brace yourself for the horror show that was their chili cheese dip. I'm not sure what they were attempting to achieve, but it ended up being a flavorless, lukewarm catastrophe. It was like a bad magic trick where the flavors vanished into thin air, leaving me wondering if I had stumbled into a parallel universe where taste buds go to die. Not the kind of dip you'd expect from a place that claims to know how to handle cheese and chili. But wait, it gets better! As I tried to recover from the dip disaster, I found myself surrounded by a cloud of smoke, courtesy of the fine folks puffing away on cigarettes just outside. It was like stepping into a vintage noir film, except instead of mysterious detectives, I was greeted by cough-inducing fumes. If I wanted a side of secondhand smoke with my meal, I would have dined in a 1940s jazz club, not a supposedly modern eatery. To continue this culinary circus, let's talk about the impostor jalapeno poppers. I'm not sure if they confused jalapenos with ghost peppers or if they had a secret vendetta against spice lovers, but these sad excuses for poppers were downright deceptive. The jalapenos played a game of hide-and-seek under an avalanche of greasy batter. It was like searching for a needle in a haystack, but instead, it was searching for jalapeno in a fried blob. I think I'll stick to playing Where's Waldo, at least he's easier to find. Ah, how could I forget the infamous club sandwich? It was the epitome of averageness with a side of olfactory offense. As I eagerly unwrapped the sandwich, I was greeted by a pungent aroma that could only be described as "eau de smelly ham." The ham itself seemed to have developed a personality of its own, one that was decidedly unpleasant. It had a texture that was reminiscent of rubber, and its flavor was as bland as a blank canvas. I couldn't help but wonder if they had accidentally used a gym sock as a substitute for the ham. It was a sandwich that left me questioning my life choices and longing for the comforts of a PB&J. And last but not least, the tenderloin. Insert dramatic drumroll Prepare yourself for the most average piece of meat to grace the plate. I had visions of a tender, juicy masterpiece, but what I got was a mediocre slab that would have made a better doorstop than a main course. It was as if the chef had tried to perform a magic trick, turning a glorious cut of meat into a forgettable act of culinary deception. In conclusion, my misadventure at Fort Ben Pub was like a comedy of errors with tragic results. From disappearing waitstaff to disappearing flavors, this place needs a serious reality check. I wouldn't wish this dining experience on my worst enemy'. Save yourself the ordeal and seek refuge in the countless other dining options that won't leave you questioning your life choices. read more

Fort Ben Pub was a great time! We didn't know there was going to be karaoke, but a couple people from our group were brave enough to sing. The service was good, but I didn't eat, so I can't speak to the food. Was a pretty good time read more

Just so there's no question about it, I've been a "regular" customer at the Fort Ben Pub since they opened many years ago. What began as a convenient place to stop on the way home became a place I looked forward to visiting. As a single woman I have never been one to just walk into a bar alone. I feel safe here and have met and befriended many very nice people, including some of the staff, and the owner. They have a menu that offers something for almost every taste. The service is very good and after 6 weeks of being closed for repairs to structural damage caused by a automobile mishap, I'm happy to say they have now reopened with a few aesthetic updates. Stop in for yourself and check them out! read more

Haven't been here for a while, we liked their Big Ben burger. Thought we would try something different. So we ordered the tenderloin with side order of fries and some chicken wings. The tenderloin was passable but over breaded and over fried. The fries were terrible, still almost frozen and inedible, the wings tasted like last night's batch thrown into old oil, also inedible. Will not ever be back, used to like the place but not after spending on overpriced terrible food. read more

Another great neighborhood restaurant with great food and beverages! They make you feel like family and the crowd is always very diverse!

I met a friend here months ago. Katie was the bartender that night and automatically introduced herself and asked me my name. Ever since, she remembered me by name and drink! I come in quite often due to the fantastic service she provides. Unfortunately I have noticed that Friday nights she seems to be tending to the bar and the floor seating. While she seems to handle it extremely well it still seems unfair. If only there was another Katie (: read more

Walked from the hotel. Had the tenderloin and tater tot's. Service was friendly. Food was good. Big portions.

We've been coming here for years. Great service in a nice atmosphere. Fun things to do like karaoke. Food is always good and consistent. Friendly and attentive staff. Sit at the bar for the best experience. Tim and Katie are the best! read more

This is a great bar! Staff are all friendly and the food is great. If you haven't been here before, you need to go.

Prior to this pandemic, my husband started coming here on Sunday nights for their Open Mic nights. The first time he returned home, he was pleasantly surprised at how much fun he had and how warm and welcoming all the regulars were to accepting him. In fact, he was going to go just to check it out and stay long enough to play a few songs, but he ended up staying for a few hours chatting with the crowd and listening to the other musicians. I joined my husband the following week to see what he was talking about. The Fort Ben Pub is a local spot in Lawrence with a traditional bar setting in the main room. There's also darts and pool tables in the back room. It definitely feels like a place that really thrived way back when smoking in bars was acceptable. It's just a strong vibe I get, I don't know. The server at the bar was friendly and complimented my husband's singing when I added my beer to his tab. They offer quite a few standard domestics and a few local beers, which I was happy to see. Since we arrived right after dinner, we didn't order food, but we might check it out for lunch some weekend afternoon. I'm intrigued to try one of their homemade soups. If you're interested in attending Open Mic night after the pandemic has subsided, it's every Sunday evening from 6-10 PM. Sign-up begins promptly at 5:30 PM. read more

Great local pub. My husband and I go there all the time, for years. I love the fish tacos, grilled chicken sandwich, cheese burgers. And they make great waffle fries. Staff is always polite and friendly. read more

I am not usually one to frequent bar and grille establishments, but Lawrence is rather limited on dinner options. On a Sunday evening, we were feeling like going out but not driving too far. Fort Bend pub was but a block away and seemed like it would probably go well. The atmosphere is a typical bar setting - spacious dining room and lots of high tops around the bar, casual and not pretentious by any means. Our server was not particularly friendly, but not necessarily grumpy either. I think if you were a regular he would probably give you a bit more in terms of his personality. He was very open to telling us what suggestions from the menu we should potential he order. I was grateful for that since I don't normally eat at places like this. He recommended the wings as being one of the staples for the bar. We ordered the teriyaki and barbecue sauces. It is hard for me to judge whether or not they were good since I'm not really a wing person. I didn't find them to be particularly inspiring. They were just your typical bone - in wings with some sauce slathered on top. For entrées... The hubby got a chipotle chicken wrap. He seem to be underwhelmed by it. He said there was not enough sauce and the chicken tasted rather drive. For my entrée, I got the fish tacos sans tortilla. I was pleasantly surprised at the fish strips or not fried. I detest when fish tacos come out with fried fish. The fish was decent, but not anything spectacular. The fish was decent, but not anything spectacular. And the pico de gallo sauce on top seemed rather old, not very fresh. I did have a decent beer selection, and my husband was quite surprised that they had one of his favorite porters on draft. Don't think we will visit again unless we are in dire need for dinner in our sweats on a Sunday night. read more

See all

I use to come here regularly. I returned after a few months and there was a new bartender. The guy spent the evening complaining about the different things ways the manager did thing. Bad inventory system. Bad chips. Bad this bad that. Everyone in the building heard negative comment. read more

Always a wonderful place for a nice lunch! The special of the day amazing ! I love the Steak quesadilla my favorite read more

Another example of higher prices, substandard quality, post-Covid. The wraps were in thin cheap small tortillas. They didn't even hold together. Crappy pre-shredded thin lettuce so it was wilted after 5 mins. The "homemade" chips appeared to be bagged. Tots tasted like they were cooked in weeks old grease. No spice to spicy chicken wrap. Salads were bagged lettuce, not fresh. Fairly apathetic, indifferent service and not one smile! The grilled chicken on one salad was the premade grilled bagged stuff. Not ever a "real" grilled chicken. Whiskey business is worth the extra 10 min drive. We won't be back here read more

Had to have a tenderloin sandwich on our trip to Indiana and we werent disappointed by this pub. We were staying at Ft Harrison and this place is in a strip center right at Ft Harrison. We elected to sit outdoors at tables on the sidewalk which was very nice. The menu had several items I would have liked to try, but I had to get the tenderloin. The waitress asked if I wanted it grilled or fried. Who would want a grilled tenderloin?? Not me!! Its not supposed to be a healthy sandwich. Its supposed to be fried and huge. And it was. The homemade chips were a distraction. They were tasteless. Nice try, but give me a bag of Lays. After we ate we went indoors to check it out and it was a hoppin place for the lunch crowd. Even had people playing pool at one of the tables. Nice place. Hopefully we will be back next year. read more

Fort Ben Pub - Great tenderloin sandwich. The chips not so much. - American Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Great time again. I've been coming here for many years and the food and service always has been good. But tonight better than ever. Live music was outstanding with Mike Barthel. Great service, Rhonda and Kim were awesome! Fun and attentive. Food was really good too! read more