Bonge's Tavern is what would happen if a world-class kitchen crashed a backyard party in rural…read moreIndiana and everyone decided to keep it that way. The parking lot tailgating before dinner is half the experience. Where else can you sip a drink next to a pickup truck, make friends with complete strangers, and then walk inside to eat a meal that makes you question every life choice that led you to lesser restaurants? The food is absurdly good. The famous Perkinsville Pork deserves its own state holiday. Portions are generous, flavors are bold, and the menu somehow manages to feel both elevated and unapologetically Hoosier. Service was friendly, the atmosphere was chaotic in the best possible way. Everyone having a great time. Come hungry. Come early. Bring a folding chair for the parking lot. Leave wondering why every restaurant isn't this much fun. 10/10. I'd drive past three chain restaurants and a dozen sensible decisions to eat here again. Will be back soon.

Just wow. This place is the definition of a hidden gem. From the overall vibe of the place, to the…read morefood and the service, we were blown away. I can definitely understand why people will tailgate just to get in for dinner. We started off with the meatballs, the pork loin, and the pierogies. The pork loin is a must get, and the other others were delicious as well. For my entrée, I got the pork loin as well because it was so good as an appetizer, and before that I started with the tomato soup, which was also excellent. Addison was our waiter and was extremely attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. We had a party of over 10 people and he handled it flawlessly. If you're in the mood for something out of the city in a little bit of a change of pace, I would highly recommend trying here.

Third visit here and 10/10 all three times. Delicious, fresh, and locally sourced meals…read more Great staff. Great cocktails.

Angry Donkey is worth the trip. We make the trek from Indianapolis and always have a great…read moreexperience. Ambiance is classy but casual attire is acceptable. It's a great escape from the chain restaurants. Fresh ingredients and new takes make for a great destination/meal. Service was great - and our waitress was super attentive and efficient in know to check in when needed and not hover. If you haven't already checked it out - hurry up!

We stopped in for dinner before our concert in Noblesville, Indiana, because the food looked good…read more They have really nice patio, but unfortunately it was down pouring when we went there so we sat inside. The staff was really nice and helpful. We really just came in just to get a drink and a few bites to eat but the poached pear Caprese salad was unique and pretty delicious. The food has a southern vibe. It was a great in-between stop before where we were staying and the concert venue and the surrounding downtown area was super cute so you could walk around if it's not raining if you're trying to kill time before going to a concert or just to hang out

A group of 4 of us had dinner at Juniper the evening of 9/2…read more We were inside (I prefer outside but it very hot). The temperature of the restaurant killed the vibe. It must have been at least 78 degrees though I'm not sure. We mentioned it to the server who blamed it on the weather. I saw one air vent which was covered by a bench for the entire front and side area which is clearly insufficient. It was so unpleasant I wouldn't eat inside again. - Service average to fine. - Thai salad - fair - the chicken was super dry. - Shrimp salad - good - Hummingbird cake - delicious It will be a long time before I return and my group felt the same way. My recommendation is to only eat outside and anticipate some great food and some midling.

Cute and retro drive in. Server was very friendly and service was quick. We had the beef & noodles…read moreand the roast beef Manhattan. Definitely reminds you of that Midwest home cooking.

Ordered some mushrooms and a mini tenderloin and a coney dog. My total was $15 I thought was…read moreexpensive since there Wednesday specials is $1.50 coney dogs and mini tenderloin. I called and asked he said since I didn't ask for the Wednesday specials price . Wtf this is stupid . Didn't know I had to ask for the special price. I'm so disappointed I've been coming to Ray's for years for the baked tenderloin dinners on Thursday. Gonna have to find something else now

Derek took great care of us. We came in with a party of 11. 6 Vietnam Vets, 3 90's era vets and…read more2 spouses. He was quick and efficient. I had the beer battered fish. Nice fish. Mash potatoes were too starchy for me (tasted like left over baked potatoes). Jen got tenders. Dry but tasty. We come here once a year when these guys have their reunion in Peru. Be back next year.

Being fans of breweries and brew pubs, and restaurants, we zeroed in on this wonderful slightly…read moreupscale place. It was far from the limited menu and "See here is our brewery equipment" place. Researching their website, we were convinced this was the place to be on our "chasin' racin'" weekend. My companion noticed that the clientele was quite diverse. I noted that also. We both agreed it was a sign of a thriving establishment. Autumn was our server and she was a lot of fun. Conversant, knowledgeable of the menu, and attentive, she was just great. One of my sides was a Caesar Salad. It was copious to the point that I could not finish it when it was appropriately brought out ahead of time. As a diabetic, I am concerned about carbs, but the Alaskan Whitefish grabbed me . While my plate was messy, I peeled off the coating and enjoyed the nice tender fish inside. In Tennessee, corn pudding is different than what they brought me, but it was wonderful. Bread pudding of the day was S'mores. I had my fill, brought home the rest and my family loved it. Local history was abundant. The menu held an article on local history and the lobby had many historic photos of local interest. I took many photos of them for remembrance. Chances are I will never return to Kokomo. But if I do go back. This is where I will dine.

Love the menu and the chandeliers. We traveled through for our grandson and loved it. Will be back!read more

I have driven by this place to get to Target and Marshalls so many times, but it always seemed so…read morepacked I never really wanted to bother to stop. I did see they allow you to make reservations on Open Table, so I booked it for a weekday to try it out. It wasn't nearly as busy as the parking lot looked, there was plenty of seating. It was a nice day so they had the windows open and they also had someone playing live music so it was a tad loud but, not overly loud where you can't hear your conversation. The menu is not your typical menu, it's very crafty if that's a word. The service was very good, and she explained the menu well and we took her up on her recommendations. Turkey pastrami which I had never had before. It tastes really fresh and felt healthy. The salad comes in a little small bowl but full of goodness. It's a really nice place for a girls night out, or a family dinner. Wouldn't consider it a good place for date night as it is pretty loud.

I finally made it to Grindstone on the Monon and really enjoyed the vibe! We sat outside and the…read morepatio area was super nice, especially for a casual date night or grabbing drinks when the weather is good. We started with the loaded nachos and they were definitely a good size for sharing. They came piled with toppings and I loved that there was plenty on almost every chip instead of everything just sitting on top. We also grabbed drinks and the margarita was refreshing and perfect with the nachos. Service was friendly and the atmosphere felt laid-back but still cute enough to make a night out of it. I also love the location right by the Monon because it makes it easy to stop in after walking around the area. I'd definitely come back, especially for patio season. Next time I want to try more of the actual entrees and cocktails!

The food was excellent. I had the schnitzel and my wife had the salmon. Salmon was cooked perfectly…read morevery rare to have salmon cooked correctly like they did the schnitzel plate as I call it was really the hot plate per the menu very tender, nice thick tenderloin, covered, and gravy done perfectly. Alex was our waitress. She was very pleasant informative, and fun and responsive to our needs Goldstar

Freeland's Restaurant was such a memorable dining experience! From the moment we arrived, I loved…read morethe charm of the beautiful historic home and the warm, intimate atmosphere. It feels elegant and special without feeling overly formal. The food was truly a work of art. Every plate was beautifully presented, colorful, creative and full of interesting combinations of flavors and textures. Even the presentation itself made you want to stop and admire each dish before taking the first bite! The burrata, beautifully plated entrées and vegetable dishes were all impressive, and I loved the attention to detail throughout the meal. The cocktails were just as creative as the food--beautifully presented and almost too pretty to drink. And t The service made the evening even better. Luke took wonderful care of us and was friendly, attentive, knowledgeable, and welcoming throughout the entire meal. He gave us just the right amount of attention without ever making us feel rushed, and his service really added to the overall experience.

As an esteemed enjoyer of delicious vittles, I feel like it's my job to pay attention to the food…read moreworld in general, and central Indiana's food scene in particular. A while back, I learned that Tom Main, the owner of Freeland's, was nominated for a James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurateur. Well! That's all I needed to read, and I put Freeland's on my list of must-visit restaurants. Freeland's isn't a fancy joint, but it's also not not-fancy. Vibes were telling me that it felt like the kind of place where you want to put on a clean shirt, and so I got it into my head that Freeland's should be saved for a day when I felt like changing out of my yoga pants. So I visited on an anniversary. Pro tip: When you make a reservation online (and you should definitely make a reservation), tell them whether you're visiting for a birthday, anniversary, retirement, etc. They will make your dining experience incredibly special. We were greeted at our table with a celebratory sparkling wine toast (in shot glasses), and a complimentary scoop of fruit sorbet to end our meal. This was totally unexpected and was a nice touch, and spoke volumes about the service at Freeland's. Honestly, I don't know what to rave about first: the service or the food. But since I mentioned the service, I'll go ahead and just say that Freeland's has some of the best service I've experienced in Indiana. I felt like I was in the middle of a carefully orchestrated play, with people coming in and out to give me new silverware, refresh my water glass before I knew I needed more water, and whisk my empty plates away as soon as I was done with them. At one point, I was transfixed by watching the staff maneuver and dance around each other in the dining room with purpose and grace. It was a sight to behold. I love efficiency! I love moving with purpose! They do that here, all for you. One hundred percent, you should order the carrot appetizer. It's just called "Carrots" on the menu, which is an understatement. These are perfectly cooked warm carrots glazed in a Szechuan sauce, sitting on top of a creamy edamame hummus, drizzled with oil and sprinkled with everything-bagel spice. One order is plenty for two or three people to share, but I could see myself coming back and just hoarding an entire carrots plate all to myself, with a glass of wine, at the bar. For the main dishes, the Sakura Farm Pork Belly was ordered (kimchi, black forbidden rice, duck egg), which was so juicy and tender. I got the Loch D' Art Salmon, which is cooked medium, unless you tell them otherwise (but medium is perfect, so don't tell them otherwise), and comes with Carolina gold grits, broccolini, tomatoes, romesco sauce and harissa. Holy mackerel (I mean, salmon)! This was a perfect fish dish, and melted in my mouth. Every bite was amazing. It was just the right amount on the plate, too -- not too much, but also completely satisfying. They have some creative desserts on the menu. I didn't really want dessert, but we were given a dessert on the house, so how could I say no? The cherry sorbet was pure, icy cherries in a glass. So refreshing, and the perfect way to end the exquisite meal. Freeland's dining room is small, and when we visited, every table was full. Like I said, definitely make a reservation. But despite all of the people, and all of the people talking, it was never too loud. They have sound-diffusing panels in the ceiling to offset some of the noise, so I never felt like I had to shout across the table. They think about every detail here! This is one example of the care Freeland's puts into their dining experience, and it's not the only one. You are well-taken-care-of here.

The room was packed, the energy was high, and then the food arrived. Before the plates even hit the…read moretables, that rich, unmistakable aroma filled the air, the kind of comforting smell that only comes from a true scratch kitchen where real chefs handle real ingredients with absolute respect. I watched as people took their first bites. Forkfuls paused mid-air, conversations instantly ground to a halt, and eyes widened across every table. Jake Burgess and the crew from the Burgess Restaurant Group weren't just catering an event; they were executing a masterclass in craft for a crowd without taking a single shortcut. "You have got to try this," someone blurted out to my left, leaning across the table before even finishing their bite. "I'm tellin' you, Jake and his team don't miss," another replied. "Between FoxGardin, The Den, Bonge's, Carnegie's... it doesn't matter which spot it is, they nail it every single time." Taking it all in, it hit me why they stand so far apart. In a world full of safe, forgettable catering, Jake and the Burgess Restaurant Group served up the kind of deep, craveable food that ruins standard dining for the rest of us. It's the kind of cooking that makes you immediately start planning your next trip to one of their spots before you've even finished the meal in front of you. A massive, heartfelt shoutout to Jake Burgess and the entire Burgess Restaurant Group: FoxGardin Kitchen & Ale, FoxGardin Family Kitchen, The Den, Smoky's Concession Stand, Bonge's Tavern, and Carnegie's. Thank you for keeping us exceptionally well-fed last night!

Was in the area and decided to grab lunch as we often do when in a different locale…read more Noticed FoxGardin had great reviews and was very close by. We weren't going to get an appetizer but the bone marrow fries looked so good in pictures that we had to try them. They did not disappoint. Very large serving and extremely flavorful. Easily an appetizer for 4 or more people (there was only 2 of us so we brought some home). My dining partner is not normally a fries person and she loved these. For entree, my dining partner had today's special which was a shredded chicken sandwich that had a jalapeño cheese sauce and the house chips. She said it was very good and again half the sandwich came home. I had their breaded tenderloin which was very good, with nice breading to meat ratio and was a bit larger than the bun. It came with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles. It came ala carte with no sides. Service was excellent, exceptionally friendly and really took care of us. One of the best waiters I've come across. Inside is a bar/pub like feel. We opted to eat in the air condition enclosed "patio" type area which had a bit more light, but was also noisy today due to the tin lined walls/ceiling and another group that was quite loud. Made it a bit hard to converse. Normally don't think this would be an issue. While not tons of items on the menu, the selection was quite varied and you could really splurge on a filet or other such dish and really go all in for a more lavish dinner or have a burger or tenderloin, all at any time of day. Parking was right in front of the restaurant but could see it being a bit tight on a busy day.