During my wheelchair tour across Northern Indiana, I had the opportunity to stop in at Parky's Smokehouse in Lebanon, Indiana with a member of my road crew. Owned locally by the Parks family in Lebanon, Parky's Smokehouse was named a destination diner by Indianapolis Monthly and has won a slew of awards within Boone County. As you'll note here on Yelp, the reviews for Parky's tend to be very hit-or-miss. I attribute this mostly to the rather particular tastes of barbecue and meat fans rather than an accurate reflection of the restaurant itself. Am I saying that the naysayers are wrong? Nope, not really. Bad experiences definitely happen and I've yet to find a restaurant that is 100% consistently perfect. I am, however, saying that sometimes our personal opinion gets in the way of an actual critical evaluation of a restaurant's food, service, and overall quality. Parky's is at its very core a barbecue joint, but they also offer a variety of meat and pork related products including burgers, pulled pork, steak, ribs, and other items. As I was dining with someone who requires a gluten free diet, I was particularly concerned about available options and was impressed that the server answered the questions she was able to answer and obtained the answer when she didn't know it directly. This is quality customer service and it won't be forgotten. For those who would mention the dryness of their meats, it's important to realize that Parky's stresses individual choice and offers a variety of sauces available according to a person's taste. As I observed, at least a couple of these sauces start off on your table and others are available. This might be undesirable for those who want the convenience of simply picking up their food and eating it, but it's actually a joy for the more discerning foodie. As I was on the road in the midst of an athletic endeavor, I kept it relatively simple with a pulled pork sandwich and chips along with my usual iced tea. Everything was delivered as ordered and as described. The pulled pork was tender and warm and tasty. I actually went without sauces because, quite honestly, I enjoyed the sandwich that much. If I visit again, and I would definitely drive out for another visit, I'll likely experiment with sauces. The meal was reasonably priced but, as one should expect, definitely above fast food pricing and more in line with casual dining. The service was rock solid throughout the meal and consistent with standards the owner noted in response to a previous Yelp review. Everything was done in a timely manner and the server was attentive without being intrusive. As I've made it well known that a lack of refill is a personal pet peeve, I was pleased to not have to deal with that here. My meal companion seemed happy with her meal and no later concerns would indicate that the server's information regarding gluten free items was accurate. Parky's serves Indiana beer and wines, offers fundraising options, and sure seems to seek being a positive member of the local community. The decor was warm, inviting, and fun. I didn't try out the restrooms in terms of wheelchair access, but I can note that I had no problems getting around the restaurant. Given the fun nature of some of the Parky's decor, I will admit that I expected service to be just a tad more energized and, well, sparky, but I was treated well and I was delivered good food at a fair price. I'll definitely be back. For more information on Parky's visit parkyssmokehouse.com
(4)
Matt O.
There was no host, no servers, and no bartender when we walked in. No one came up to seat us. Can't really say much from there, other than maybe restaurants ought to keep people around to get customers buying food.
(1)
Jeffrey W.
Came here with the kids and in-laws. Decent barbecue. Smokehouse salad was of a good size. The atmosphere is nice - it looks like the place was recently remodeled. (The men's restroom needs some work ). Will likely return. An edit in response to Julie's reply: The interior looked so well maintained, that I thought it was recently done. So, kudos to a nice atmosphere. And, yes, the Signature BBQ Cheddar dressing was good.
(4)
Shelbi F.
I'm grateful to have the option to support a local restaurant. Parky's food is consistently solid. The co-owner / front of house manager makes the rounds regularly, and the one time my prime rib was cooked a titch past my preference, he replaced it immediately. Local beer is always available. There is often live music on the patio on summer weekends. I usually like to be more adventurous when I dining out, but Parky's is always great for a last minute night out with friends or when I just can bring myself to cook.
(4)
Ryan B.
Ordered something med rare came out dry and extra well. Complained to owner and she said it was a "perfect med rare" what a joke that woman then argued that her cooks are professional and I had no idea what i was talking about. Walked out never to return she was a rude arrogant fool! Most disgusting prime rib
(1)
D W.
Well... I came here with mixed expectations based on previous reviews. I was hoping to be surprised... I wasn't. I was greeted quickly and seated right away. The greeter and my waitress were friendly and attentive. I ordered brisket, pulled pork, and sausage with the "butter browns" - a potato dish that was dry and flavorless. The meats... The sausage was good. I was expecting the brisket to be sliced - it was pulled. And, not only did the brisket and pork look the same, they tasted the same. I ended up using a lot of bbq sauce just to give the meal some flavor. So, I was disappointed. They do have a fairly complete menu and perhaps their other offerings are better.
(2)
Scott B.
Waitress seemed like she had no idea what was going on. I asked about a beer they had on the chalkboard in the entry and she looked at me like my hair was on fire and said "Um......what's it called? I'm only 20 so I haven't tried it. Hehe." She also gave pretty much the same response when I asked about the dish I wanted(Coffee Roasted Sirloin) "I've never had it so I don't know what it's like" Maybe you should ask a coworker, it is your job to know what the menu items are and be able to describe them and the flavors, including the drinks! I worked in restaurants for over 10 years and that is an expectation of wait staff everywhere(except Parky's apparently.) My food was WAY over seasoned, like almost unbearable and my wife's was overcooked and dry. Seems the only food they got right was the grilled cheese and chicken nuggets we ordered for kids. What's this all the other reviewers are saying about fresh rolls? We didn't even get offered rolls. After we finished our appetizer, the hostess came and cleaned our whole table and then apologized because she thought we were done with our meal. You just seated us 15 minutes ago and the place only has like 10 people in it! I wouldn't call it a horrible experience, but I definitely wouldn't call it a good one. I would expect better considering how much it cost us to have dinner there. We will not be returning as we could have gotten better service and better food for half the price elsewhere. All in all, overpriced menu and uninformed service staff. Don't waste your time or money with this place.
(1)
Tim P.
We stopped at Parkys on our way home from vacation. I ordered the 2 meat combo, brisket and sausage. The waitress informed me the brisket was shredded instead of sliced, I was confused by this but said ok. The food came but was served on cold plates so the food was lukewarm. The sausage was good but that shredded brisket was...wrong. I have ordered barbeque from Savannah to El Paso and the brisket was always sliced and juicy and tender. This shredded brisket was dry and stringy and weird. Maybe the regular customers like it that way because it soaks up a lot of sauce. The slaw was fresh and tasty and the beans were awesome. I don't think that's good enough for me to recommend this place to anyone.
(2)
Melanie B.
Stopped in Parky's as a last minute idea while driving by with friends. It was early for supper so there were only a few other diners there so obviously service was very quick.They have a pretty large menu of smoked meats. I give it 3 stars only because I am not much of a carnivore and other than meat there were not a lot of other choices. I had the steak with sweet onions. It was different but it was good. My husband had a tenderloin sandwich which he said was good also. I have no complaints about the cleanliness or the price.
(3)
Jeff M.
Love to find a good smoke house place. This is it in Lebanon. Lots a food and good. Glad I can back. Last time got a sandwich and this time got a 3 item platter. This is good. Got Pulled pork, sausage and brisket. Can really taste the smoke. Went to use my free desert coupon and was told it was for good for only a coupon and not a desert. Next time I am in I can use it. Oh well...........coupon is only good for 60 days. Won't be back by then. At least the food was good. But no free desert
(4)
Haley R.
As an avid consumer of red meat, I'm always on the hunt for my next great steak experience. Unfortunately, Parky's doesn't deliver this. My boyfriend found this place and thought we'd give it a try because it's often touted as a destination restaurant for the quality of its food. I take a brief look at their menu online and start to get pretty excited about the bevy of meat treats that await me just thirty minutes north! We arrived around 7:30 on a Friday evening, and anyone that dines out frequently (or ever, really) knows that this is prime time rush hour for restaurants. I expected that we'd have at least a 45-minute wait. But when we pulled into the parking lot, we were one of only about ten cars. Not a very good sign. (I will give them the benefit of the doubt here, as we'd happened upon a "Back to the 50s" festival downtown just ten minutes earlier.) We were seated promptly, and our waitress was quick to take our drink and appetizer orders. They do have a good beer selection, which pleased the boy. While we waited on our "kiss-me-not" mushrooms (stuffed mushrooms covered in provolone cheese, which were actually quite good), the waitress took our dinner order. The boy ordered the pulled pork platter with a side of chili and barbecued beans. Per the waitress's recommendation, I ordered the ribeye steak with garlic butter, which she claimed was amazing. My sides included a salad and steamed broccoli. Our waitress declared she would be back momentarily with fresh bread, which never arrived at our table. I have a wheat allergy, so obviously this is a non-issue for me, and the boy just didn't care enough to ask about it. But I'm not a fan of emtpy, carb-laden promises. My salad was decent and the boy enjoyed his chili, although it seemed to be comprised solely of beans (vegetarian chili, maybe?). Not too long after, our entrees arrived. When I read "garlic butter" - I was thinking just that: a spreadable herb butter infused with garlic; I was not expecting a steak with a massive pile of minced garlic from a jar on top of it. This much garlic was going to seep from my pores (and I love garlic!) The boy finished his plate of pulled pork, though we both found it to be on the dry side; saucing was mandatory. But he thought the barbecued beans were fantastic. My steak ended up being a very uneven cut, somehow thicker around the edges and maybe only 1/2" thick in the middle. This, of course, made for a really uneven temperature: rare around the outside (yay!) and medium well in the middle (why!?). The boy had to flag a random employee down twice to get some BBQ sauce for the aforementioned dry pork. Our waitress never appeared between the arrival of our food and clearing our table/bringing the check, when she finally asked if she could refill my empty soda for me. A bit late, aren't we? Not surprisingly, from start to finish my level of excitement for the meal quickly dropped to almost zero. My whole experience to Parky's was really overwhelmingly "meh". I don't have a better way to describe it. Sorry Parky's, but we won't be returning on our next jaunt through small-town Indiana.
(2)
Greg P.
What can I say about this place? Being an avid lover of BBQ, I was super excited when I moved to town and found this place. Then I tried it. Everything tasted the same. Visually you could not tell the difference between the pulled pork and the brisket(as the brisket was shredded not sliced...outrage). All I have to say is that I hope to see this resturant at the annual battle of the BBQ so I can show them some real Q!
(1)
Jenni J.
Awful experience. Started with disgusting bathrooms with vomit on the floor. We should have left then. Service was slow. Steak was not even cooked. We complained and nothing was done. The rest of the food was sub-par.
(1)
David S.
Despite being out of butter browns, the food is excellent. Things to have: Oink 'n' onion ... Mountain burger... Black bean and corn salsa and chips... bbq chili to name a few. The beef brisket would be better if sliced to order instead of pulled. Service is usually good with friendly wait staff. Best non-Chain restaurant in Boone County.
(5)
Cory S.
Food not as good as it use to be. I use to love to treat myself to some BBQ nachos occasionally a couple years back. Unfortunately, when i swung by on the end of a business trip to Chicago the nachos weren't as I remember. They were covered in way too much cheese. The pork seemed like it was well cooked and flavored, but could use less cheese. I sat at the bar and the service was slow and lethargic. They seemed less than happy to take my money (PS they dont take amex). Maybe this is my fault as I've become a lot more educated BBQ eater and thus more picky.. but I'll pass on accepting fault here.
(3)
Lisa E.
This was our first time to Parkys and many had mentioned it. The service was outstanding. Portions were larger than expected and the chicken was outstanding. My husband had the brisket and it too was incredible. I hope to make it back sometime soon and try other menu options.
(4)
Bryan W.
Nice little bbq and grill. Nothing flashy, just good food. I find it very strange that the chop and pull their brisket, but that aside, all was good. Their smoked sausage is some of the best I've had. Good stuff.
(4)
Pat S.
We went thirty minutes out Of our way to eat here. The service was great and the food was amazing. So worth the trip
(5)
Tiffany C.
My colleague and I were in town for business and were in the mood for ribs. He ordered the half rack of ribs, wet, and I ordered the brisket dinner with provolone. Both our meats were cooked pretty dry but we didn't mind too much. My brisket was shredded and topped with slices of provolone, which became difficult to eat once it got cold. I also got the Curly Ques, which are shoestring-sliced fried onion rings. They were okay. I'd say the stellar part of our dinners was actually the side salad - it came with bacon bits and shredded cheddar cheese. The table bread was also really good - it was served hot out of the oven and with a whipped butter.
(3)
Belinda S.
Awesome! We have this catered at work! I love it! The homemade chips are awesome, the salsa is out of this world and the sweet tea! Yummy!
(5)
Gary B.
Three stars is what this restaurant deserves While the restaurant looks nice there is nothing special about the food. Traveling on business these days almost requires you to use your corp amex card. They do not accept AMEX.
(3)
Chris P.
Had lunch here a week ago. To put it mildly...great food, friendly staff and nice atmosphere. You should stop by and give Parky's a try!
(4)
RICK R.
I have to give this restaurant and underwhelming "eh." Had the combo platter. The pulled pork and chicken were ok. I know I'm biased being from the south where you get real barbecue, but when the green beans are the best part of your meal, something is wrong. I will say the bread pudding was great.
(2)
Paul R.
My family and I ate here this past weekend. They had good kids meals and particularly have one for new toddlers which was great, as it was not too much food for a 14 month old. The regular kids meal seemed good as well, my son got the cheese sticks and ate them all. My wife and I got the two meat combo and upgraded to a side salad and white meat chicken. The chicken was excellent. They have a different sauce for it, which was slightly sweeter then the sauce on the table. The pulled pork was also pretty good. I have eaten a lot of BBQ as my family is from Lexington NC the BBQ capital of the world. This isn't bad. The sauces were homemade and should please a wide audience not too sweet not too hot. The meat while smoked didn't taste overly seasoned nor too smokey. The only slight thing was that the meat while hot most likely had been smoked earlier which effects its juiciness. The service thought was prompt and efficient. We didn't wait too long for the food, and our waitress was very attentive.
(4)
Tim P.
Decent. It's good BBQ, not great as you would expect from a place that specializes in BBQ. Best beer selection in the town. Atmosphere is good for socializing with friends and family. Service is generally good.
(3)
Dan D.
Parky's revisited. Tried the brisket plate with fries and slaw. Very good. Service was good. No worries. Would return. The Unknown Diner Digs it!
(5)
Chris L.
Major Disappontment!! I have eaten lunch here one time before. I didn't remember anything that was bad about the place, so we decided to bring some family here for supper. MISTAKE!! I can't believe we actually had to wait for a table here. After we ate, I don't understand why anyone would eat here; especially to Te point where there is a wait for a table. Once we finally got seated nearly 30 minutes later (was told it would be 15 minutes), we waited some more. We had to wait for a waitress- ironic isn't it. We had to wait for silverware, napkins, and even more waiting for our food to arrive. The coke products tasted like they poured out the bottom of a pitcher that had sat on someone else's table for over an hour and they didn't want it to go to waste. They brought someone else's appetizer to our table before they even took our order. Once we finally placed our order it was another 5-8 minutes for 3 small rolls to arrive. I must say this, the rolls were really good! This is a BBQ place right? Slow cooking, juicy, meaty meat? Not here! They cook their meat faster then they serve it here! To sum it all up, the only thing they did right here was the dinner rolls. Don't waste your time leaving with a great disappointment like I did!
(1)
Gary B.
Man, these reviews are old! Visited Parky's last night. Service was excellent, food delicious. I had Pecan crusted Talapia. Much better than you would expect from a BBQ joint. The smoky Clam Chowder is growing on me, but I passed on dessert. My wife's order of ribs was well done, and "finger lickin' good" since they were ordered "wet". She got the Bread Pudding dessert, which disappeared like there was whole in the bowl! When you visit, ask for server Amber. SHE knows how to keep you order moving. You'll get quick and good service without feeling rushed.
(5)
Theresa R.
This is our favorite BBQ place after a day of hiking Turkey Run. The Memphis Pulled Pork with a side of sweet potato fries has never let me down while others at our table swear by the Wet Baby Back Ribs. Buns are grilled very nicely. We are very quiet when we eat as it is so damn good! Ask for the BBQ sampler sauces as they have some of the best around. Best dining occurs with a Kentuckarita. Don't try and diet here. You won't have the best experience. This is greasy, small town diner cooking with small town, relaxed servers. It's the perfect place for those that find big city, flirty, "over service" annoying. We have never dined at peak serving hours and have never had bad service. But then we are the type that plan ahead and ask for everything we need from the beginning & like to be left alone while we stuff our faces :)
(5)
Kris S.
We stopped in while on a road trip, everything was better than expected. I had a beef brisket sandwich with onion straws on it, mac & cheese and baked beans. The baked beans were different than I've had before, all different types of beans mixed in, it was good enough to cause us to try making them that way when we got home. Clean restaurant, fine service.
(4)
Michael L.
Went for Mother's Day. Friendly service but had to ask several times for things (napkins, refills, etc). Waitress forgot all of our salads until entrees were already brought to the table. Also didn't bring any "baguettes" until we asked. Number one pet peeve: Serve apps, salads and entrees in a reasonable succession such that none is served all at once. Food was just OK. Ordered a T-bone medium rare. Poor quality meat (way too much gristle and fat) and a really thin cut. The steak was supposed to be medium rare, but it was way closer to well done than anything. No pink and definitely no "juice." I've had a better flavored and cooked steak at some buffets. The place is advertised as "Parky's Smokehouse and STEAKS," with the word "steaks" on the sign out front, so you think they would have good steaks. None of the food jumped out at me and said "I'm awesome" and I've had better food and service elsewhere.
(2)
Bill L.
OK, my shortest review yet: The place has a "tired" comtemporary feel to it. Nothing like any BBQ joint *I* would create. The waitress was nice, but dumb as rocks. Seems like all the help was dumb as rocks there. But they were nice, so I can overlook that that I suppose. Food? I tried the triple meat combo. Chicken, pork and brisket. Meh. It was OK. When I go to a place that is suppose to be "the best" at anything, I expect that the food will be *at least* as good as stuff I would get at the State Fair. Not here. One good thing is they do have a decent assortment of good beers there. If this is the best restaurant "overall" that Boone county has to offer, then I guess I'll stay away from Boone county. Would I go back? What do you think?
(2)
Landon T.
We heard about this place in the October Indianapolis Monthly "Destination Diners" article. Looking for a new experience, we made the drive to Lebanon. The food was decent, but this was my worst service experience of 2010. We had to ask for water three times before getting it. Our server delivered our appetizers while speaking directly to a person at another table that he seemed to know, not even acknowledging us. The server did not come by our table voluntarily a single time after bringing our entrees out. We sat for 10 minutes after finishing before finally deciding to get up from the table to the flag down the server to ask for our check. The other servers seemed attentive, so I suspect we were unlucky in the draw. As far as atmosphere, the inside and outside of the restaurant felt like a chain...nothing really unique. Ultimately, this place wasn't worth the drive.
(1)
Jordan R.
Parky's Smokehouse... My experience --THE BAD-- -My girlfriend and I went at a fairly busy time, we were told there will be a 10-15min wait. LIES we waited for 45mins and what really upset me is that I could see empty tables, multiple of them, I don't care if I'm not waited on for 10mins a place to sit is better than standing in the cold (the door behind us opening and closing). -SLOW and SAD service my waiter had 4 tables in total and it took 5 mins to get a water, our lemonade a came after he remember we ordered lemonades. -My Caesar salad had so much dressing I had to ask for more lettuce (which came out and was NOT romaine lettuce). -I sat close to a wall decor that simply made me sad, it's parky pig and the moos, a singing pig with cows as backup singers. It it suppose to be their focal point I assume but it's very displeasing to the eye. -The music choice in the restaurant was so random my girlfriend and I could t help but laugh. 1 minute I'm getting in a rap battle, the next I'm gettin ready for the hoe down! Definitely someone iPhone music. -- THE GOOD -- -My Caesar salad had ALOT of chicken, probably a whole breast or more, definitely worth the $2 up charge. (This might have been a mistake though) -My girlfriend and I split chili, I regret that, I should have ate the whole thing, phenomenal. -- MY BOTTOM LINE -- Will only go back for the chili when it's not busy or if my girlfriend wants to go there. -- UPDATE -- I missed a few things on my initial review due to the fact that it has been awhile since I have been there, I was very pleased with the owners punctuality and commented very quickly, in her comment she also recalled the dressing for the salad, I was so concerned with there being too much I forgot to mention how good it was! (My suggestion is order on the side, which was my fault). Also my last two comments under the bad are purely opinion based, but the fact of the matter is last time I was there, service was lacking HOWEVER the food was great and owners obvious caring of the restaurant makes me want to try again, last time I ate there was about 8months ago. -- NEW BOTTOM LINE -- From my experience I remember the food being fantastic, they have a mark near their signature dishes (GET THESE) I'm sure the service has improved since my last visit so I believe ill give it another try. The owner's caring for her business is also just fantastic. For these reasons I'm bumping them up a star for now, and if satisfactory next visit I believe another is necessary.
(3)
Todd G.
I want to like this place but the food is consistently bad. Low quality ingredients prepared at a lower quality. The service is friendly and quick though. I've tried Parky's quite a few times and it never delivers. I will drop in and get a bottle of their mustard BBQ sauce. It's great on the pork or chicken that I fix at home.
(2)
Rebecca F.
I was surprised to find so many mediocre reviews. I discovered Parky's a few years ago and just love the place. I have tried multiple menu items and have loved them all. I live in Indy and my parents live in Lafayette and we often meet here to eat dinner. I think the food is fantastic and I have always had good service!! I highly recommend checking it out!
(5)
Jmarie P.
Love this place. The prime rib on Friday nights and Saturdays is the best! Also love the Mac-n-cheese.
(4)
Wade W.
Some of the other reviews seem to say the food was good so perhaps our experience was an off night (or more likely just the wrong thing to order). We ordered the brisket and a rack of ribs (wet). I've had a lot of BBQ - and this ranks as one of the worst I've ever had. The main complaint was complete lack of true smoked bbq flavor. Actually the complaint was complete lack of flavor period - in both dishes. The Brisket came shredded like pulled pork rather than sliced which is more typical of brisket. The ribs were just plain void of any flavor. They had 2 bbq sauce options - sweet and spicey. Neither would top my list of memorable sauces. Anymore I go by the simple rule that you don't order bbq from a steakhouse (you order steak). Not sure this is a steakhouse, but its not a BBQ joint despite having "smokehouse" in the name. -- Service however was very good, the place was clean and had new finishes. A lot more up-scale than a typical BBQ place but, its obviously a catch-all and not a BBQ restaurant.
(1)
Barry S.
We saw a sign on the highway coming back from Purdue that Parky's won awards as the best restaurant in the area ... or something like that ... we were skeptical of the advertisement but were hungry and felt a bit like BBQ. The place was actually quaint and had a pretty varied menu ... and some of the dishes had some promise ... but nothing stunned us. The homemade salad dressing were actually kinda good. As a side note, the very nice waitress spilled bbq sauce all over my wife ... and didn't think to offer a free meal or dry cleaning expenses. Again, nice place ... worth trying ... might have some good dishes in here ... but we were just "so so."
(3)
Michael C.
Pulled pork was good with the bourbon BBQ sauce. The pork loin was dry.
(3)
Chris and Tami T.
In a sea of chain restaurants and highways, Parky's is like a shiny buoy with an arm chair on it. It'll save you from drowning, it'll provide comfort but it's probably not where you'd hang out all the time. My pulled pork was totally yummy. Also, all pulled pork is inherently totally yummy. I don't know if they are doing any thing at Parky's that's jaw dropping amazing, but they are maintaining the reputation of pork sandwiches...more than status quo but wouldn't necessarily inspire future food fantasies. Our waitress was competent and friendly enough, our table area was clean and comfortable. There was even some charming hand painted singing cows on the wall. We left Parky's feeling totally great that we detoured 10 minutes out of our way to go.
(3)
Dave G.
This place has a expansive menu of traditional BBQ-restaurant food, such as pulled pork, beef brisket, turkey, etc....I got the burger they have that is topped w/ pulled pork & crispy fried onions, and it was GOOD! Their baked beans were very good too, and their fried pickles are the dill-chip style & very delicious. Only thing I could complain about is that their house BBQ sauce is not very thick. Service is great here too!
Richard P.
During my wheelchair tour across Northern Indiana, I had the opportunity to stop in at Parky's Smokehouse in Lebanon, Indiana with a member of my road crew. Owned locally by the Parks family in Lebanon, Parky's Smokehouse was named a destination diner by Indianapolis Monthly and has won a slew of awards within Boone County. As you'll note here on Yelp, the reviews for Parky's tend to be very hit-or-miss. I attribute this mostly to the rather particular tastes of barbecue and meat fans rather than an accurate reflection of the restaurant itself. Am I saying that the naysayers are wrong? Nope, not really. Bad experiences definitely happen and I've yet to find a restaurant that is 100% consistently perfect. I am, however, saying that sometimes our personal opinion gets in the way of an actual critical evaluation of a restaurant's food, service, and overall quality. Parky's is at its very core a barbecue joint, but they also offer a variety of meat and pork related products including burgers, pulled pork, steak, ribs, and other items. As I was dining with someone who requires a gluten free diet, I was particularly concerned about available options and was impressed that the server answered the questions she was able to answer and obtained the answer when she didn't know it directly. This is quality customer service and it won't be forgotten. For those who would mention the dryness of their meats, it's important to realize that Parky's stresses individual choice and offers a variety of sauces available according to a person's taste. As I observed, at least a couple of these sauces start off on your table and others are available. This might be undesirable for those who want the convenience of simply picking up their food and eating it, but it's actually a joy for the more discerning foodie. As I was on the road in the midst of an athletic endeavor, I kept it relatively simple with a pulled pork sandwich and chips along with my usual iced tea. Everything was delivered as ordered and as described. The pulled pork was tender and warm and tasty. I actually went without sauces because, quite honestly, I enjoyed the sandwich that much. If I visit again, and I would definitely drive out for another visit, I'll likely experiment with sauces. The meal was reasonably priced but, as one should expect, definitely above fast food pricing and more in line with casual dining. The service was rock solid throughout the meal and consistent with standards the owner noted in response to a previous Yelp review. Everything was done in a timely manner and the server was attentive without being intrusive. As I've made it well known that a lack of refill is a personal pet peeve, I was pleased to not have to deal with that here. My meal companion seemed happy with her meal and no later concerns would indicate that the server's information regarding gluten free items was accurate. Parky's serves Indiana beer and wines, offers fundraising options, and sure seems to seek being a positive member of the local community. The decor was warm, inviting, and fun. I didn't try out the restrooms in terms of wheelchair access, but I can note that I had no problems getting around the restaurant. Given the fun nature of some of the Parky's decor, I will admit that I expected service to be just a tad more energized and, well, sparky, but I was treated well and I was delivered good food at a fair price. I'll definitely be back. For more information on Parky's visit parkyssmokehouse.com
(4)Matt O.
There was no host, no servers, and no bartender when we walked in. No one came up to seat us. Can't really say much from there, other than maybe restaurants ought to keep people around to get customers buying food.
(1)Jeffrey W.
Came here with the kids and in-laws. Decent barbecue. Smokehouse salad was of a good size. The atmosphere is nice - it looks like the place was recently remodeled. (The men's restroom needs some work ). Will likely return. An edit in response to Julie's reply: The interior looked so well maintained, that I thought it was recently done. So, kudos to a nice atmosphere. And, yes, the Signature BBQ Cheddar dressing was good.
(4)Shelbi F.
I'm grateful to have the option to support a local restaurant. Parky's food is consistently solid. The co-owner / front of house manager makes the rounds regularly, and the one time my prime rib was cooked a titch past my preference, he replaced it immediately. Local beer is always available. There is often live music on the patio on summer weekends. I usually like to be more adventurous when I dining out, but Parky's is always great for a last minute night out with friends or when I just can bring myself to cook.
(4)Ryan B.
Ordered something med rare came out dry and extra well. Complained to owner and she said it was a "perfect med rare" what a joke that woman then argued that her cooks are professional and I had no idea what i was talking about. Walked out never to return she was a rude arrogant fool! Most disgusting prime rib
(1)D W.
Well... I came here with mixed expectations based on previous reviews. I was hoping to be surprised... I wasn't. I was greeted quickly and seated right away. The greeter and my waitress were friendly and attentive. I ordered brisket, pulled pork, and sausage with the "butter browns" - a potato dish that was dry and flavorless. The meats... The sausage was good. I was expecting the brisket to be sliced - it was pulled. And, not only did the brisket and pork look the same, they tasted the same. I ended up using a lot of bbq sauce just to give the meal some flavor. So, I was disappointed. They do have a fairly complete menu and perhaps their other offerings are better.
(2)Scott B.
Waitress seemed like she had no idea what was going on. I asked about a beer they had on the chalkboard in the entry and she looked at me like my hair was on fire and said "Um......what's it called? I'm only 20 so I haven't tried it. Hehe." She also gave pretty much the same response when I asked about the dish I wanted(Coffee Roasted Sirloin) "I've never had it so I don't know what it's like" Maybe you should ask a coworker, it is your job to know what the menu items are and be able to describe them and the flavors, including the drinks! I worked in restaurants for over 10 years and that is an expectation of wait staff everywhere(except Parky's apparently.) My food was WAY over seasoned, like almost unbearable and my wife's was overcooked and dry. Seems the only food they got right was the grilled cheese and chicken nuggets we ordered for kids. What's this all the other reviewers are saying about fresh rolls? We didn't even get offered rolls. After we finished our appetizer, the hostess came and cleaned our whole table and then apologized because she thought we were done with our meal. You just seated us 15 minutes ago and the place only has like 10 people in it! I wouldn't call it a horrible experience, but I definitely wouldn't call it a good one. I would expect better considering how much it cost us to have dinner there. We will not be returning as we could have gotten better service and better food for half the price elsewhere. All in all, overpriced menu and uninformed service staff. Don't waste your time or money with this place.
(1)Tim P.
We stopped at Parkys on our way home from vacation. I ordered the 2 meat combo, brisket and sausage. The waitress informed me the brisket was shredded instead of sliced, I was confused by this but said ok. The food came but was served on cold plates so the food was lukewarm. The sausage was good but that shredded brisket was...wrong. I have ordered barbeque from Savannah to El Paso and the brisket was always sliced and juicy and tender. This shredded brisket was dry and stringy and weird. Maybe the regular customers like it that way because it soaks up a lot of sauce. The slaw was fresh and tasty and the beans were awesome. I don't think that's good enough for me to recommend this place to anyone.
(2)Melanie B.
Stopped in Parky's as a last minute idea while driving by with friends. It was early for supper so there were only a few other diners there so obviously service was very quick.They have a pretty large menu of smoked meats. I give it 3 stars only because I am not much of a carnivore and other than meat there were not a lot of other choices. I had the steak with sweet onions. It was different but it was good. My husband had a tenderloin sandwich which he said was good also. I have no complaints about the cleanliness or the price.
(3)Jeff M.
Love to find a good smoke house place. This is it in Lebanon. Lots a food and good. Glad I can back. Last time got a sandwich and this time got a 3 item platter. This is good. Got Pulled pork, sausage and brisket. Can really taste the smoke. Went to use my free desert coupon and was told it was for good for only a coupon and not a desert. Next time I am in I can use it. Oh well...........coupon is only good for 60 days. Won't be back by then. At least the food was good. But no free desert
(4)Haley R.
As an avid consumer of red meat, I'm always on the hunt for my next great steak experience. Unfortunately, Parky's doesn't deliver this. My boyfriend found this place and thought we'd give it a try because it's often touted as a destination restaurant for the quality of its food. I take a brief look at their menu online and start to get pretty excited about the bevy of meat treats that await me just thirty minutes north! We arrived around 7:30 on a Friday evening, and anyone that dines out frequently (or ever, really) knows that this is prime time rush hour for restaurants. I expected that we'd have at least a 45-minute wait. But when we pulled into the parking lot, we were one of only about ten cars. Not a very good sign. (I will give them the benefit of the doubt here, as we'd happened upon a "Back to the 50s" festival downtown just ten minutes earlier.) We were seated promptly, and our waitress was quick to take our drink and appetizer orders. They do have a good beer selection, which pleased the boy. While we waited on our "kiss-me-not" mushrooms (stuffed mushrooms covered in provolone cheese, which were actually quite good), the waitress took our dinner order. The boy ordered the pulled pork platter with a side of chili and barbecued beans. Per the waitress's recommendation, I ordered the ribeye steak with garlic butter, which she claimed was amazing. My sides included a salad and steamed broccoli. Our waitress declared she would be back momentarily with fresh bread, which never arrived at our table. I have a wheat allergy, so obviously this is a non-issue for me, and the boy just didn't care enough to ask about it. But I'm not a fan of emtpy, carb-laden promises. My salad was decent and the boy enjoyed his chili, although it seemed to be comprised solely of beans (vegetarian chili, maybe?). Not too long after, our entrees arrived. When I read "garlic butter" - I was thinking just that: a spreadable herb butter infused with garlic; I was not expecting a steak with a massive pile of minced garlic from a jar on top of it. This much garlic was going to seep from my pores (and I love garlic!) The boy finished his plate of pulled pork, though we both found it to be on the dry side; saucing was mandatory. But he thought the barbecued beans were fantastic. My steak ended up being a very uneven cut, somehow thicker around the edges and maybe only 1/2" thick in the middle. This, of course, made for a really uneven temperature: rare around the outside (yay!) and medium well in the middle (why!?). The boy had to flag a random employee down twice to get some BBQ sauce for the aforementioned dry pork. Our waitress never appeared between the arrival of our food and clearing our table/bringing the check, when she finally asked if she could refill my empty soda for me. A bit late, aren't we? Not surprisingly, from start to finish my level of excitement for the meal quickly dropped to almost zero. My whole experience to Parky's was really overwhelmingly "meh". I don't have a better way to describe it. Sorry Parky's, but we won't be returning on our next jaunt through small-town Indiana.
(2)Greg P.
What can I say about this place? Being an avid lover of BBQ, I was super excited when I moved to town and found this place. Then I tried it. Everything tasted the same. Visually you could not tell the difference between the pulled pork and the brisket(as the brisket was shredded not sliced...outrage). All I have to say is that I hope to see this resturant at the annual battle of the BBQ so I can show them some real Q!
(1)Jenni J.
Awful experience. Started with disgusting bathrooms with vomit on the floor. We should have left then. Service was slow. Steak was not even cooked. We complained and nothing was done. The rest of the food was sub-par.
(1)David S.
Despite being out of butter browns, the food is excellent. Things to have: Oink 'n' onion ... Mountain burger... Black bean and corn salsa and chips... bbq chili to name a few. The beef brisket would be better if sliced to order instead of pulled. Service is usually good with friendly wait staff. Best non-Chain restaurant in Boone County.
(5)Cory S.
Food not as good as it use to be. I use to love to treat myself to some BBQ nachos occasionally a couple years back. Unfortunately, when i swung by on the end of a business trip to Chicago the nachos weren't as I remember. They were covered in way too much cheese. The pork seemed like it was well cooked and flavored, but could use less cheese. I sat at the bar and the service was slow and lethargic. They seemed less than happy to take my money (PS they dont take amex). Maybe this is my fault as I've become a lot more educated BBQ eater and thus more picky.. but I'll pass on accepting fault here.
(3)Lisa E.
This was our first time to Parkys and many had mentioned it. The service was outstanding. Portions were larger than expected and the chicken was outstanding. My husband had the brisket and it too was incredible. I hope to make it back sometime soon and try other menu options.
(4)Bryan W.
Nice little bbq and grill. Nothing flashy, just good food. I find it very strange that the chop and pull their brisket, but that aside, all was good. Their smoked sausage is some of the best I've had. Good stuff.
(4)Pat S.
We went thirty minutes out Of our way to eat here. The service was great and the food was amazing. So worth the trip
(5)Tiffany C.
My colleague and I were in town for business and were in the mood for ribs. He ordered the half rack of ribs, wet, and I ordered the brisket dinner with provolone. Both our meats were cooked pretty dry but we didn't mind too much. My brisket was shredded and topped with slices of provolone, which became difficult to eat once it got cold. I also got the Curly Ques, which are shoestring-sliced fried onion rings. They were okay. I'd say the stellar part of our dinners was actually the side salad - it came with bacon bits and shredded cheddar cheese. The table bread was also really good - it was served hot out of the oven and with a whipped butter.
(3)Belinda S.
Awesome! We have this catered at work! I love it! The homemade chips are awesome, the salsa is out of this world and the sweet tea! Yummy!
(5)Gary B.
Three stars is what this restaurant deserves While the restaurant looks nice there is nothing special about the food. Traveling on business these days almost requires you to use your corp amex card. They do not accept AMEX.
(3)Chris P.
Had lunch here a week ago. To put it mildly...great food, friendly staff and nice atmosphere. You should stop by and give Parky's a try!
(4)RICK R.
I have to give this restaurant and underwhelming "eh." Had the combo platter. The pulled pork and chicken were ok. I know I'm biased being from the south where you get real barbecue, but when the green beans are the best part of your meal, something is wrong. I will say the bread pudding was great.
(2)Paul R.
My family and I ate here this past weekend. They had good kids meals and particularly have one for new toddlers which was great, as it was not too much food for a 14 month old. The regular kids meal seemed good as well, my son got the cheese sticks and ate them all. My wife and I got the two meat combo and upgraded to a side salad and white meat chicken. The chicken was excellent. They have a different sauce for it, which was slightly sweeter then the sauce on the table. The pulled pork was also pretty good. I have eaten a lot of BBQ as my family is from Lexington NC the BBQ capital of the world. This isn't bad. The sauces were homemade and should please a wide audience not too sweet not too hot. The meat while smoked didn't taste overly seasoned nor too smokey. The only slight thing was that the meat while hot most likely had been smoked earlier which effects its juiciness. The service thought was prompt and efficient. We didn't wait too long for the food, and our waitress was very attentive.
(4)Tim P.
Decent. It's good BBQ, not great as you would expect from a place that specializes in BBQ. Best beer selection in the town. Atmosphere is good for socializing with friends and family. Service is generally good.
(3)Dan D.
Parky's revisited. Tried the brisket plate with fries and slaw. Very good. Service was good. No worries. Would return. The Unknown Diner Digs it!
(5)Chris L.
Major Disappontment!! I have eaten lunch here one time before. I didn't remember anything that was bad about the place, so we decided to bring some family here for supper. MISTAKE!! I can't believe we actually had to wait for a table here. After we ate, I don't understand why anyone would eat here; especially to Te point where there is a wait for a table. Once we finally got seated nearly 30 minutes later (was told it would be 15 minutes), we waited some more. We had to wait for a waitress- ironic isn't it. We had to wait for silverware, napkins, and even more waiting for our food to arrive. The coke products tasted like they poured out the bottom of a pitcher that had sat on someone else's table for over an hour and they didn't want it to go to waste. They brought someone else's appetizer to our table before they even took our order. Once we finally placed our order it was another 5-8 minutes for 3 small rolls to arrive. I must say this, the rolls were really good! This is a BBQ place right? Slow cooking, juicy, meaty meat? Not here! They cook their meat faster then they serve it here! To sum it all up, the only thing they did right here was the dinner rolls. Don't waste your time leaving with a great disappointment like I did!
(1)Gary B.
Man, these reviews are old! Visited Parky's last night. Service was excellent, food delicious. I had Pecan crusted Talapia. Much better than you would expect from a BBQ joint. The smoky Clam Chowder is growing on me, but I passed on dessert. My wife's order of ribs was well done, and "finger lickin' good" since they were ordered "wet". She got the Bread Pudding dessert, which disappeared like there was whole in the bowl! When you visit, ask for server Amber. SHE knows how to keep you order moving. You'll get quick and good service without feeling rushed.
(5)Theresa R.
This is our favorite BBQ place after a day of hiking Turkey Run. The Memphis Pulled Pork with a side of sweet potato fries has never let me down while others at our table swear by the Wet Baby Back Ribs. Buns are grilled very nicely. We are very quiet when we eat as it is so damn good! Ask for the BBQ sampler sauces as they have some of the best around. Best dining occurs with a Kentuckarita. Don't try and diet here. You won't have the best experience. This is greasy, small town diner cooking with small town, relaxed servers. It's the perfect place for those that find big city, flirty, "over service" annoying. We have never dined at peak serving hours and have never had bad service. But then we are the type that plan ahead and ask for everything we need from the beginning & like to be left alone while we stuff our faces :)
(5)Kris S.
We stopped in while on a road trip, everything was better than expected. I had a beef brisket sandwich with onion straws on it, mac & cheese and baked beans. The baked beans were different than I've had before, all different types of beans mixed in, it was good enough to cause us to try making them that way when we got home. Clean restaurant, fine service.
(4)Michael L.
Went for Mother's Day. Friendly service but had to ask several times for things (napkins, refills, etc). Waitress forgot all of our salads until entrees were already brought to the table. Also didn't bring any "baguettes" until we asked. Number one pet peeve: Serve apps, salads and entrees in a reasonable succession such that none is served all at once. Food was just OK. Ordered a T-bone medium rare. Poor quality meat (way too much gristle and fat) and a really thin cut. The steak was supposed to be medium rare, but it was way closer to well done than anything. No pink and definitely no "juice." I've had a better flavored and cooked steak at some buffets. The place is advertised as "Parky's Smokehouse and STEAKS," with the word "steaks" on the sign out front, so you think they would have good steaks. None of the food jumped out at me and said "I'm awesome" and I've had better food and service elsewhere.
(2)Bill L.
OK, my shortest review yet: The place has a "tired" comtemporary feel to it. Nothing like any BBQ joint *I* would create. The waitress was nice, but dumb as rocks. Seems like all the help was dumb as rocks there. But they were nice, so I can overlook that that I suppose. Food? I tried the triple meat combo. Chicken, pork and brisket. Meh. It was OK. When I go to a place that is suppose to be "the best" at anything, I expect that the food will be *at least* as good as stuff I would get at the State Fair. Not here. One good thing is they do have a decent assortment of good beers there. If this is the best restaurant "overall" that Boone county has to offer, then I guess I'll stay away from Boone county. Would I go back? What do you think?
(2)Landon T.
We heard about this place in the October Indianapolis Monthly "Destination Diners" article. Looking for a new experience, we made the drive to Lebanon. The food was decent, but this was my worst service experience of 2010. We had to ask for water three times before getting it. Our server delivered our appetizers while speaking directly to a person at another table that he seemed to know, not even acknowledging us. The server did not come by our table voluntarily a single time after bringing our entrees out. We sat for 10 minutes after finishing before finally deciding to get up from the table to the flag down the server to ask for our check. The other servers seemed attentive, so I suspect we were unlucky in the draw. As far as atmosphere, the inside and outside of the restaurant felt like a chain...nothing really unique. Ultimately, this place wasn't worth the drive.
(1)Jordan R.
Parky's Smokehouse... My experience --THE BAD-- -My girlfriend and I went at a fairly busy time, we were told there will be a 10-15min wait. LIES we waited for 45mins and what really upset me is that I could see empty tables, multiple of them, I don't care if I'm not waited on for 10mins a place to sit is better than standing in the cold (the door behind us opening and closing). -SLOW and SAD service my waiter had 4 tables in total and it took 5 mins to get a water, our lemonade a came after he remember we ordered lemonades. -My Caesar salad had so much dressing I had to ask for more lettuce (which came out and was NOT romaine lettuce). -I sat close to a wall decor that simply made me sad, it's parky pig and the moos, a singing pig with cows as backup singers. It it suppose to be their focal point I assume but it's very displeasing to the eye. -The music choice in the restaurant was so random my girlfriend and I could t help but laugh. 1 minute I'm getting in a rap battle, the next I'm gettin ready for the hoe down! Definitely someone iPhone music. -- THE GOOD -- -My Caesar salad had ALOT of chicken, probably a whole breast or more, definitely worth the $2 up charge. (This might have been a mistake though) -My girlfriend and I split chili, I regret that, I should have ate the whole thing, phenomenal. -- MY BOTTOM LINE -- Will only go back for the chili when it's not busy or if my girlfriend wants to go there. -- UPDATE -- I missed a few things on my initial review due to the fact that it has been awhile since I have been there, I was very pleased with the owners punctuality and commented very quickly, in her comment she also recalled the dressing for the salad, I was so concerned with there being too much I forgot to mention how good it was! (My suggestion is order on the side, which was my fault). Also my last two comments under the bad are purely opinion based, but the fact of the matter is last time I was there, service was lacking HOWEVER the food was great and owners obvious caring of the restaurant makes me want to try again, last time I ate there was about 8months ago. -- NEW BOTTOM LINE -- From my experience I remember the food being fantastic, they have a mark near their signature dishes (GET THESE) I'm sure the service has improved since my last visit so I believe ill give it another try. The owner's caring for her business is also just fantastic. For these reasons I'm bumping them up a star for now, and if satisfactory next visit I believe another is necessary.
(3)Todd G.
I want to like this place but the food is consistently bad. Low quality ingredients prepared at a lower quality. The service is friendly and quick though. I've tried Parky's quite a few times and it never delivers. I will drop in and get a bottle of their mustard BBQ sauce. It's great on the pork or chicken that I fix at home.
(2)Rebecca F.
I was surprised to find so many mediocre reviews. I discovered Parky's a few years ago and just love the place. I have tried multiple menu items and have loved them all. I live in Indy and my parents live in Lafayette and we often meet here to eat dinner. I think the food is fantastic and I have always had good service!! I highly recommend checking it out!
(5)Jmarie P.
Love this place. The prime rib on Friday nights and Saturdays is the best! Also love the Mac-n-cheese.
(4)Wade W.
Some of the other reviews seem to say the food was good so perhaps our experience was an off night (or more likely just the wrong thing to order). We ordered the brisket and a rack of ribs (wet). I've had a lot of BBQ - and this ranks as one of the worst I've ever had. The main complaint was complete lack of true smoked bbq flavor. Actually the complaint was complete lack of flavor period - in both dishes. The Brisket came shredded like pulled pork rather than sliced which is more typical of brisket. The ribs were just plain void of any flavor. They had 2 bbq sauce options - sweet and spicey. Neither would top my list of memorable sauces. Anymore I go by the simple rule that you don't order bbq from a steakhouse (you order steak). Not sure this is a steakhouse, but its not a BBQ joint despite having "smokehouse" in the name. -- Service however was very good, the place was clean and had new finishes. A lot more up-scale than a typical BBQ place but, its obviously a catch-all and not a BBQ restaurant.
(1)Barry S.
We saw a sign on the highway coming back from Purdue that Parky's won awards as the best restaurant in the area ... or something like that ... we were skeptical of the advertisement but were hungry and felt a bit like BBQ. The place was actually quaint and had a pretty varied menu ... and some of the dishes had some promise ... but nothing stunned us. The homemade salad dressing were actually kinda good. As a side note, the very nice waitress spilled bbq sauce all over my wife ... and didn't think to offer a free meal or dry cleaning expenses. Again, nice place ... worth trying ... might have some good dishes in here ... but we were just "so so."
(3)Michael C.
Pulled pork was good with the bourbon BBQ sauce. The pork loin was dry.
(3)Chris and Tami T.
In a sea of chain restaurants and highways, Parky's is like a shiny buoy with an arm chair on it. It'll save you from drowning, it'll provide comfort but it's probably not where you'd hang out all the time. My pulled pork was totally yummy. Also, all pulled pork is inherently totally yummy. I don't know if they are doing any thing at Parky's that's jaw dropping amazing, but they are maintaining the reputation of pork sandwiches...more than status quo but wouldn't necessarily inspire future food fantasies. Our waitress was competent and friendly enough, our table area was clean and comfortable. There was even some charming hand painted singing cows on the wall. We left Parky's feeling totally great that we detoured 10 minutes out of our way to go.
(3)Dave G.
This place has a expansive menu of traditional BBQ-restaurant food, such as pulled pork, beef brisket, turkey, etc....I got the burger they have that is topped w/ pulled pork & crispy fried onions, and it was GOOD! Their baked beans were very good too, and their fried pickles are the dill-chip style & very delicious. Only thing I could complain about is that their house BBQ sauce is not very thick. Service is great here too!
(4)