Fantastic. Reviews were legit so we popped in after passing all the downtown places. We had a pretzel with cheese sauce, combo, grilled cheeses, tomato soup, pasta salad, chips pickles, monte cristo, etc. All enjoyed our meals and thought it was a reasonable price. read more

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This is an interesting spot in Topeka. I'm not that familiar with Topeka but there's not a whole lot there except the capitol of Kansas. Searching out food gets interesting. The one question I have is why is it called The Wheel Barrel? I know a wheelbarrow, a wheel of cheese, a wine barrel, but I haven't figured out the name yet. If I make it back, maybe I can ask. The Wheel Barrel serves grill cheese/sandwiches and soup. I appreciate the concept and in this situation keeping it rather simple yet with some good selection for sandwiches and soup. I got a special wild rice and chicken soup with a half Baja turkey sandwich. It's a half and half for $12. I thought both tasted very good. I didn't eat quite all of it but I'd say it is a normal meal. Not a huge serving. I think most people would eat this in one meal. I think if I'm back in Topeka, I'll have to go back and do the traditional grilled cheese and tomato bisque! It was a busy lunch time meal. A nice size crowd was there. Service was still pretty quick. They have a rustic decor which is sort of like a wheelbarrow and a barrel. It's on a block that seems to be trying to add some art and culture to Topeka and I appreciate that a lot! If I'm back over that way, I'll stop back in and if definitely recommend it in Topeka. read more

Great service and not your average sandwich. Outside seating is super helpful as the indoor seating is limited. Worth it!

Established in 2015 and in the NOTO Arts District (cute and slow, inside & out!), I rolled in late and was able to grab a grilled cheese - one of their award-winning "How Now, Bleu Cow" with a medley of (you guessed it, bleu) cheeses, bacon, garlic aioli and onion jam (hold the roast beef). It was gooey and melty, not greasy, although not quite as flavorful as the ingredients would suggest. A side salad fresh from the garden with jalapeño ranch was a surprising favorite, and a nice balance. A huge patio offers large seating for groups and play space for the kiddos. Everyone should go home happy! read more

The Wheel Barrel - NOTO Arts - Bars Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

Good food worth the delivery wait I'd order from them again. Next chance I'll go in person.

Top five spot in Topeka, the vibes in this place are immaculate. The food is amazing. And the service is out of this world. This place makes you feel like a kid again! read more

Great food and cocktails but even better, is the staff. They are amazing! The atmosphere is fun and welcoming. You can't go wrong here.

Food was very good and the kettle chips had a good floor. Staff was busy with everything going on in NOTO but kept up with the ground and did wonderful. Love the way it's set up and love the Pennie's in the bar top. read more

The food was decent and the service was quick and the ambiance was a quite bite eat vibe. My order was a steak melt w chips.

This is probably the best grilled cheese I've had in my life. Flavorful, perfectly grilled, not smushed. Our table tried five different versions of grilled cheese, and we were all happy. Seating inside is limited, so we were on the patio with heat lamps. It worked but if it's colder, you might want to be sure you have a coat read more

The Wheel Barrel - Jalapeño popper grilled cheese - Bars Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

The Wheel Barrel is a true community gem with present ownership, great management, engaging staff, and one of the best bar programs in town that balances creativity, quality, and exploration. You have to appreciate a place like this! This is an independent business that's ran with passion, care and commitment to Topeka. On top of that, they make one heck of a sandwich -- at a great value! read more

This is a great spot for both picky and adventurous eaters as they have fun creative options and basic grilled cheese sandwiches. They also have a seasonal menu that changes. I ate in the outdoor patio area and had no wait time on a Friday for lunch. Service was great and it wasn't overly loud even inside the restaurant. read more

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This place is adorable! The bar top is made from pennies. The bartender makes great drinks. She was so friendly. I had a grilled cheese (you get to choose your cheeses). It came with house made pun chips, which were the best I've ever had. I also ordered a cup of tomato bisque. It also was the best I've ever had. read more

The Wheel Barrel - Tomato bisque, grilled cheese, and pub chips. - Bars Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

Turkey sandwich with guacamole, tomatoes, bacon and cheese on toast is wonderful full of flavors. Chips are homemade and sauces sampler was great variety fun and delicious. Lots of IPA beers on tap if you like those but we found the lager and stout to be very good. Servers were friendly and very efficient. Sat outside in garden setting in rear was delightful. read more

The Wheel Barrel - Nachos sampler - Bars Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

Wish we had gotten the pretzel ahead of the sandwiches. The waitress did try. I wasn't a fan of the "beer cheese"--reminded me too much of velveeta and wasn't very warm. My Olga sandwich was just ok. It was missing the sauerkraut so they added it. They heated it all up which was good to be hot, but it made the 2 slices of pastrami chewy. I just expected much more for the price tag. Two thin slices of meat made me sad. The highlight of the meal was the salad. The feta was delicious. The pieces of lettuce were difficult to eat, but I shoved them in my pie hole. It's not a "first date" kind of salad. The dressing was good and wished I'd had more of it given the size of the salad. The monte Cristo sandwich looked good and my husband was satisfied. It comes with grape jelly. I saw a menu somewhere that listed blackberry jam--it's not, it's grape. The chips were tasty--I'd recommend the homemade chips. The seasoning on the chips was wonderful. They were out of red wine which disappointed my husband. We spent almost $60 for two thin sandwiches (one upgraded for a side salad) and a pretzel. I just can't. read more

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Surprising. Went with friends and did not know it was a grilled cheese place. The menu isn't big, but good variety. I am typically not looking for fancy and since they call themselves gourmet grilled cheese the sandwiches had toppings I wouldn't normally choose. I ended up with the Hangover sandwich and it was fantastic. It came with house made chips that were the perfect pairing. I would go again to get this sandwich. My teenage son went with the Monte Cristo which he enjoyed as well. We sat outside in the back patio which was a nicer atmosphere than the cramped inside. Would great for a summer evening. read more

On a road trip, we settled in Topeka for the night. A quick 5 minutes from the hotel, The Wheel Barrel was highly recommended. It was the Bleu Cow for the Mrs. and the BLT GC for me. We chose to start with the chips and queso...which was good, but they're the same chips as what is served with the Grill Cheeses...so the flavor of the chips was over done by the end. Suggestion of different chip options maybe Good food, good service...highly recommend read more

We should all thank the Wheel Barrel for adding to the growth of interest in North Topeka. The place continue to grow with patron support. NOTO has really put a smile on those that go there. I have yet to find poor service, less than great food always leaving thinking about the next time. Try it if you have not yet ventured there. read more

Pretty cool little local spot in a somewhat boring town. LOVED the artsy area that this place is located in. The Brazilian Mule drink was great! Didn't order food there but just wasn't hungry. Sure wanted to though! Would return if there is ever another reason to return to Topeka. read more

The Wheel Barrel was such a great experience. I had a day trip to Topeka, and two locals had said to go to the Wheel Barrel and get the Monte Cristo. We went and fell in love. My dad said the Monte Cristo was the best sandwich he ever had. I had the Baja Turkey (pictured), and it was amazing. I also really liked their blood orange cider. The restaurant is small, but it has a very cozy feeling. The service was great, and we are looking forward to coming back soon. read more

The Wheel Barrel - Blood Orange Cider - Bars Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

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If you crave a good grilled cheese sandwich this is the place! My husband loves grilled cheese and is always on the hunt for a unique but tasty one. Not only do they have great grilled cheese but also good and fresh salads. Highly recommend this place for great food, friendly and welcoming service plus a cozy atmosphere. read more

In addition to popping up in my research of Topeka, The Wheel Barrel was also recommended by a local shop owner. We walked in and chose a seat at the far end of the first dining area. A table with a booth on the side against the wall, and chairs on the other side. We started with an appetizer of the House seasoned kettle chips and craft beer queso. It was goooood. The chips were SO good, we actually took the ones we didn't finish with us to go. Next, we ordered our sammiches. My wife chose the Award Winning Monte Cristo, and I went with The Kansan. My wife loved her sammich. But mine... well, mine left me momentarily speechless. The cheese pull was insane! Every single ingredient combined for an incredible flavor explosion in my mouth. Without a doubt one of the best sammiches I've ever had. Our waitress was very friendly and the service was fast. We were visiting from California, but would absolutely return to The Wheel Barrel the next time we visited Topeka. read more

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Too hot to sit outside, so we sat inside. Didn't see what it looked like in the back. Inside is a tight place but not feeling squeezed. Decent sandwich; not sure the photo chips are made in-house or just seasoned in-house. For us, it's more of a brunch/lunch/sandwich place. But of course if you are sandwich pal for any meal of the day, you can definitely get what you want here. read more

The Wheel Barrel - The Hangover Sandwich - Bars Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

Had lunch here and the service was terrific and selections of sandwiches was great. My sandwich was made to order and came exactly as I asked. read more

Amazing food and service. If you need gluten free, this is the place to go. I've now been here on lunch and dinner. read more

The Wheel Barrel - The Baja Turkey Sandwich. Gluten free. - Bars Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

This place is GRILLED CHEESE HEAVEN! The kind waitress recommended some killer options. I got the Mafia and my husband got the Hangover. Both DELICIOUS!!! The ambiance was lovely and it was very comfortable. We will be back. read more

The Wheel Barrel - The Mafia Sandwich - Bars Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

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One of my favorite lunch places! Easy to get in, enjoy lunch, and back to work on my hour lunch. I always love to see what new soup they have for the week! Service and atmosphere are fantastic! I've tried almost everything on the menu and am never disappointed! read more

Great food, especially their signature sandwiches. Friendly staff! Very Chicago! Love the outdoor area.

Unfortunate. It's unfortunate when you are choosy with where you spend your money, and purposely choose local places, yet, only to be turned away. I was excited to try the seasonal menu but was quickly detoured by the bartender Bo. Forcing guests to sit outside when there is seating inside is bad service. Honestly didn't feel like ordering food after the cold greeting. An all around unfortunate experience. read more

The food here was fantastic! We ordered 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 2 drinks and loved it all. The service was friendly and fast and the ambience was great too. The pretzel was phenomenal and the hummus was soooo good! The monte cristo and the easy caprese were the sandwiches we got and enjoyed. Definitely check out this restaurant if you're in the area and walk around the street too! read more

The Wheel Barrel - Delicious food and happy patrons! - Bars Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

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Great place to get a fantastic sandwich and a beer. Since the WB opened, I stuck with the Hangover and it is still a go to, but in the past two years or so, I have given the Mafia a try and let me say, it's a contender. Normally now, I alternate between the two and I'm never disappointed. The WB is a staple to NOTO and to Topeka as a whole. read more

Excellent food and service. Nice outdoor patio. Will visit again next time through Topeka.

My date and I decided to meet up at the Wheel Barrel for dinner. It was about 6:30 when I arrived, it was pretty busy in the restaurant which really is not that big inside. I saw a couple chairs available at the bar top so I grabbed 2. The bartender was friendly and grabbed me 2 waters while I waited. There was a big party so they had about half of the tables. A couple tables opened up so my date went and asked if we could get one, at first they said No that they were going to the big party. A few minutes later another server came up to us and said we could get a table. It took a little bit for a server to come greet us and take our order. She was friendly though when she came by. We decided on Chips and beer Queso and a couple drinks. I had the Asian Pear and my date had a beer. The chips & Queso arrived and it was good. We decided on our meals, Matt ordered The Special No town Philly and I ordered the Caprese sandwhich-we both ordered pasta since we had a plate full of chips w/the Queso. Our meals were delicious, we both enjoyed our sandwiches. The Wheel Barrel is a small a quaint restaurant, with that being said you are sitting on top of each other so it's kind of hard to have a conversation. They do have a patio that would have been nice to be out on, however they are remodeling it. We were told that they do not take reservations, so get there early if you're going for dinner. The vibe of the restaurant and NOTO area is fun! read more

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Comfort foods in a friendly and attentive setting, along with novel twists of classic drinks, like their rum Old Fashioned.

I have recently become employed in the NOTO Arts & Entertainment District. The Wheel Barrell restaurant is next door to my place of employment. I began to frequent The Wheel Barrell. I found the staff welcoming and quite hospitable. Especially the young man at the front desk. His name is Rava Darr. I would often call ahead and ask, "What is the soup of the day, please." Rava would tell me and then wait for me to come and pick up my cup of soup. After a couple of months of making this call and picking up my soup, I noticed the consistent courtesy and kindness of everyone in the restaurant. As well as the delicious food variety. Though I didn't stay for a lunch experience at The Wheel Barrell, everyone always greeted me with their unwavering respect and kindness. The smiling faces that meet me, as I walk through the door have warmed my heart compelling me to revisit this very special place, over and over. The Wheel Barrell's employees consistently offer every guest a rewarding and memorable experience. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting the NOTO Arts and Entertainment District. You are sure to leave satisfied and happy to have enjoyed lunch at The Wheel Barrell. read more

Have been here a couple of times and love the atmosphere, the food and the drink menu. Service is good and the food is very reasonably priced. Get the pretzel appetizer! read more

I was visiting and the Daughter wanted to bring me here, I had the special Sandwich with Jalapenos,, Pepperjack and ...well i thought it would be spicy it was a little bland but the rest of the family thought it was great, so 4 stars. They Did have some great options, and the Fries were good. The waitress who had her Significant other and Daughter come visit could probably be happier some place else, just as friendly as sandpaper. Maybe an Off Day. read more

One of my favorite places to to eat in Topeka! The food is always fresh and super tasty and the service is always top notch! This is a can't miss stop in Topeka! read more

I absolutely love Elizabeth the bartender and the food was delicious! I had the tomato bisque soup and it was absolutely delicious! I am very picky about my soups, especially tomato, I cannot stand when they are runny! This one was absolutely perfect! Also Elizabeth was very friendly and knowledgeable about the community as well. I plan on becoming a regular and bringing my son here as well. read more

The Wheel Barrel - The cool bar - Bars Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

My family and I went last Saturday. My meal was great and they worked out a deal on a sandwich for my daughter since she doesn't like cheese. My husband ordered the adult peanut butter and jelly...it was unbelievable and not in a good way. There was literally barely any peanut butter or jelly on it. It was basically toasted bread. It was very disappointing. The service was great and the environment is always great. I just wish they didn't skimp on the ingredients when making their sandwiches. Especially for the price you pay. read more