Friendly Tavern
290 S Main St, Zionsville, IN, 46077
Friendly Tavern Menu
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Diabetics at TGI Friday
If you're a diabetic, then you must be extra careful while dining at TGI Friday. Try the salad menu at TGI Friday to keep your sugar and sodium intake in check. Soups are great to keep you full and satisfied without munching on the unhealthy greased meat-based dishes on TGI Friday menu.
Foods to Avoid at TGI Friday for Diabetics:
Sugar and sodium intake are crucial if you have diabetes. While the salads are the best option for you at TGI Friday, it is recommended to avoid the Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad containing over 1000 calories and 1,650mg sodium. Also, skip Warm Pretzels with Craft Beer-Cheese dipping sauce as it contains more than 3000mg sodium. It is wise to skip the dessert for diabetics, especially the Brownie Obsession topped with Vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, and pecans.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at TGI Friday
Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara Sauce
Nutritional Facts: 560 calories, 33g (Tans. Fat 1g & Sat. Fat 16g), 790mg sodium, 37g carbs, 2g sugar, 6g fiber, 27g Protein
Chicken Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken (Lunch portion) with Caesar Dressing
Nutritional Facts: 310 calories, 28g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 6g), 800mg sodium, 38g carbs, 3g sugar, 2g fiber, 11g Protein
Kids Meal Chicken Sandwich
Nutritional Facts: 310 calories, 14g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3.5g), 700mg sodium, 26g carbs, 3g sugar, 2g fiber, 22g Protein
Kid's Side - Seasoned Fries
Nutritional Facts: 320 calories, 16g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3g), 810mg sodium, 40g carbs, 0g sugar, 5g fiber, 5g Protein
Kid's Side - Fresh Fruit
Nutritional Facts: 45 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 12g carbs, 10g sugar, 1g fiber, 1g Protein
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® - Tea - English Breakfast
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 10mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® - Tea - Mint Green
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 10mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Zionsville for healthy meals suggestion.
High Blood Pressure at TGI Friday
Most foods served at TGI Friday are high in sodium and could be a health risk if you are concerned with your blood pressure levels. You can always opt for salads or soups. However, you must check the sodium levels in burgers, sandwiches, appetizers, and desserts before ordering.
Foods to Avoid at TGI Friday for High Blood Pressure
While the salads are healthy at TGI Friday, you must skip the Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad. You should also avoid Jack Daniel's Ribs and Shrimp at TGI Fridays for its high sodium content. Appetizers are the best to ensure that you don't eat too much while dining outside. However, you must skip Warm Pretzels with Craft Beer-Cheese Dipping sauce as one serving of this contains over 3000mg sodium.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at TGI Friday
Caesar Salad with Breadstick with Caesar Dressing
Nutritional Facts: 440 calories, 31g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 7g), 720mg sodium, 33g carbs, 4g sugar, 3g fiber, 9g Protein
House Salad with Breadstick
Nutritional Facts: 220 calories, 8g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3.5g), 330mg sodium, 29g carbs, 5g sugar, 3g fiber, 8g Protein
Kid's Dessert - Vanilla Ice Cream
Nutritional Facts: 460 calories, 26g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 17g), 170mg sodium, 39g carbs, 5g sugar, 0g fiber, 6g Protein
Kids Meal Pasta & Marinara
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 2g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 150mg sodium, 46g carbs, 7g sugar, 4g fiber, 9g Protein
Kid's Side - Carrots w/ Ranch 150
Nutritional Facts: 150 calories, 14g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 340mg sodium, 7g carbs, 3g sugar, 1g fiber, 1g Protein
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® - Coffee - Black/Decaf
Nutritional Facts: 5 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 5mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Espresso
Nutritional Facts: 5 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 5mg sodium, 1g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Zionsville for healthy meals suggestion.
High Cholesterol at TGI Friday
Fat and calorie count are normally high at American diners and TGI Friday is no exception in that case. Too greasy and fried items will not only boost your calorie intake but also increase your bad cholesterol levels. You should make smart choices while dining at TGI Friday if you have cholesterol issues.
Foods to Avoid at TGI Friday for High Cholesterol
TGI Fridays are also famous for their ribs and steak. However, it is in the best interest of those concerned with high cholesterol to stay away from Jack Daniel's Ribs and Shrimp. Desserts are a big NO for you if you are worried about your high cholesterol levels. It is recommended to skip all kinds of desserts, especially the Brownie Obsession. You should also skip the meat burgers and sandwiches at TGI Fridays as these items are high in saturated fat which can elevate your LDL levels.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at TGI Friday
Traditional Wings BBQ
Nutritional Facts: 500 calories, 24g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 7g), 790mg sodium, 29g carbs, 24g sugar, 1g fiber, 44g Protein
Grilled Chicken Pecan & Blue Cheese Salad (Lunch portion)
Nutritional Facts: 480 calories, 21g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 870mg sodium, 30g carbs, 8g sugar, 10g fiber, 66g Protein
Chicken Fingers with Honey Mustard ((Hand-Breaded)
Nutritional Facts: 440 calories, 33g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 6g), 700mg sodium, 26g carbs, 8g sugar, 1g fiber, 11g Protein
Kid's Side - Side Salad
Nutritional Facts: 45 calories, 2g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 90mg sodium, 5g carbs, 1g sugar, 1g fiber, 2g Protein
Kid's Side - Mandarin Oranges
Nutritional Facts: 60 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 10mg sodium, 14g carbs, 14g sugar, 1g fiber, 1g Protein
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® - Tea - Apricot
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 10mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 10mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Zionsville for healthy meals suggestion.
Q & A on TGI Friday
Can Vegans eat on TGI Friday?
TGI Friday has launched Vegan food options The Beyond Meat Cheeseburger, fries and salads which can be enjoyed by vegan lovers. Though we would advise you to get confirmation from the server at the TGI Friday outlet before ordering the food item.
Does TGI Fridays have vegetarian food?
TGI Friday have options of burgers made from plant-based ingredients which are grilled and seasoned with cheddar cheese, red onions, tomatoes, pickles and lettuce. One can also go for fries, salads or juices.
Does TGI Friday have happy hours?
The happy hour on TGI Friday happens every Friday. Chief marketing officer of TGI Friday says that “people now don't operate on a 9 to 5 schedule”. Thus the company is giving out one whole day when customers can enjoy their favourite meal at pocket-friendly rates.
Is TGI Friday closed on holidays?
TGI Friday is opened on most of the holidays except Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.
What are TGI Friday Opening and Closing Time?
The American restaurant chain is established on some of the largest cities like Miami, Las Vegas, Boston, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston etc. TGI Friday regular restaurant hours from Monday to Sunday is 11:00 AM – 01:00 AM.
How do I find the nearest TGI Friday Restaurant?
There are over 800 TGI Friday restaurants in the United States. The best way to search the nearest TGI Friday location is by using our Restaurant Listings Directory.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About TGI Friday
TGI Friday is a casual dining American restaurant chain founded in 1965. The term “TGI” is an acronym for Thank God It's and together the name of the restaurant is often announced as Thank God It's Friday. Over the years of its existence, the TV commercials and other advertisement streams have also twisted the phrase a bit and used it as Thank Goodness It's Friday. The restaurant serves alcoholic beverages primarily. However, they are also known for their low-carbohydrate and low-fat menu items to promote a healthy lifestyle. TGI Friday also offers gluten-free items on its menu for those with gluten intolerance.
Besides the cool name, TGI Friday also has an interesting background story of its origin. The founder of the restaurant Alan Stillman lived in a New York-based neighbourhood full of a young crowd, especially girls from the airline and fashion industry. He started the first TGI Friday restaurant in New York in the hope of meeting single women as there weren't any such public place for young men and women to meet. He invested $5000 on his own and borrowed another $5000 from his mother to buy a bar named The Good Tavern and renamed the premise to Thank God It's Friday, inspired from an expression during his time at Bucknell University.
Healthy Food Options at TGI Friday
TGI Friday is a casual dining American restaurant chain serving burgers, sandwiches, steaks & ribs, salads, soups, and desserts. You got to be somewhat cautious while dining at TGI Friday if you are health conscious. You can always opt for light items such as salads or soups to start with. You can also prefer seafood over chicken or other meat to ensure a healthy meal at TGI Friday.
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Address :
290 S Main St
Zionsville, IN, 46077 - Phone (317) 873-5772
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Peter P.
This is an awesome homey bar/tavern in old town Zionsville. The wings are a treat. Fried nicely with 2 sauces of your choosing served on the side. Definitely not the chain restaurant drivel that you usually find in the 'burbs. I highly recommend it.
(4)Vinnie P.
My mother and I had a lovely time at Friendly's. Very welcoming atmosphere. I had the pork chop BBQ special, and she had a small filet. Entrees were excellent, as were the sides! Totally coming again!
(5)Dylan E.
I've been to the Friendly Tavern a handful of times, and have had mixed results enough times that I think I am done going in and hoping for the best The location itself is great, right in the middle of the cute part of Zionsville with brick roads in front and little shops along the sidewalks. Parking is made easy with a free public parking lot just north of the Friendly. Even if there wasn't a sign on the place, the old brick building on the corner with locals flowing in and out just emits the kind of vibe that makes you know you're going to find a cold beer and good food inside. Once you make it inside, you quickly realize you weren't the only one who had the same idea. I've never had to wait on a table very long here, but it is always packed. Along with being packed, it is also very loud. The tables and chairs look like they were kept around from the 1960's as well, and certainly weren't purchased with the intent of being any kind of draw. It is a large place that has a bar with a lot of seating around 3 sides of it, and the rest is filled with as many tables as they could fit, making it feel crowded and difficult to get around in. The crowd is definitely on the older side with most of the restaurant full of what I would assume are locals, and I'd take the over if somebody set the line for the median age at 50. As far as the food goes, if you want something delicious and don't have a conscience about what you put into your body, then this is the place to go. Their menu does offer some salads, but one look around and you quickly realize that everyone else has a plate in front of them stacked high with a fried tenderloin, greasy sandwich, crispy wings, fried fish, or a concoction of deep fried appetizers. I've gotten a few things here, and while unhealthy, they were all delicious. The prices are on par with what I would expect for this type of food. The beer list contains a decent number of bottles at an above average price, and only offers a couple of taps not occupied by anything special, so I wouldn't visit if you just wanted to get a few beers. The reason that I can't ever seem to leave this place happy after all of that good stuff is that the service has been terrible. I know that service can be hit and miss, but I'd say of the only 5 or so times I have gone here, 3 of them I can remember feeling like the waitress was just downright rude. The group of people I work with who I usually came in with now refer to it as the "Unfriendly" if we are ever getting a group to go get some food. The other times have been more pleasant, but still involve really long waits to get orders taken, empty glasses for way too long without getting a refill, and an overall sense that you aren't a very high priority. I think that a lot of this probably has to do with the fact that most of the people inside look like they are probably there every night and sit around for hours talking about what their neighbors did that day without requiring much attention, but I'd hate to walk in here hoping to get food in a hurry.
(3)C A.
The parents love this place when they come to town. I have had my hand batted at when trying to take a chicken wing from my mother's plate. I like the grilled cheese and Husband loves the tenderloin. The service just sucks though - 100% of the time. The servers are nice, but are never around - whether the restaurant is swamped or dead. The last time we went - I actually had to physically get up from the table and go to where the servers were gossiping to get someone to get my dad some more salad dressing. It was 4PM on a Wednesday and the place was empty - come on. We will be back as I'm fairly certain my mom comes to visit more for the FT wings than to see me, but it is not my favorite place.
(3)Dan D.
Being going the there for a long time. Finally tried the prime rib. Excellent.
(5)Mike K.
Always great food at a reasonable price and a friendly atmosphere. A regular place for lunch.
(5)Michael C.
The chicken wings at this place are really worth the trip. It's a nice, often overcrowded place for lunch, and the wings are made fresh so my suggestion is to go early. But man, the batter and seasoning are good, and they're hot and perfectly cooked. Really a treat. And they give you a lot. They prices are cheap across the board too.
(5)Amber E.
I was excited about going here after hearing for so long how great Friendly's was/is. I'm sorry but I wasn't impressed at all. My table of 3 came in on a Wednesday around 6 PM. The bar area was full but not packed. Our waitress, although very nice, was slow as molasses. We ordered 3 orders of wings a large fry and a large onion ring. It took 52 minutes to get our food! ( I know because I had sent a text as she was taking our order.) the fries and onions rings were okay. The chicken wings were chicken legs and the sauce didn't come on them? And they were dry to boot. I just didn't care for the place and feel they're over priced for the quality.
(3)Thomas P.
You almost expect someone to yell out "Norm!" when the door opens. This place is so comfortable. As got the food, get the broasted chicken wings (with two sauces) appetizer. The order is huge and everyone that is new to the restaurant is kicking themselves for not ordering it too. The wait staff will remember you when you come back (which is often!)
(4)T F.
I had the worst and least attentive service ever in the Indianapolis area. I stopped in before dinner hours to check the menu before a meeting. Excited to come check out the homestyle dinner menu items I have heard so many positive things about, I stopped back after my meeting. It was 5:15. I ordered a bourbon. When I asked what they had the answer was "what do you want." That's fine, I get the charm of someone who looks like they could be your grandmother chiding you before they give you a cocktail, that's half the reason you go to a place like the Friendly, right? And for $3.75, I was ok with the one bourbon they had to offer. There were 2 people behind the bar and at least 2 servers in the bar area. After a long day it took me just a few minutes to take care of the first cocktail. After that, I sat, and sat, and sat...and sat...a.n.d......s......a.......t....... For 40 minutes...at a bar, with 4 customers.....waiting patiently for cocktail #2 and a dinner menu. Nothing. I listened as the barkeeps talked with other customers about heating elements and hoses. I made eye contact with every employee I could, smiled at them, did everything short of waving them down to try to spend money there. Nothing. I'm in the alcoholic beverage industry, so I have to be really careful of complaining in a potential customers establishment, it's just not good for business. But I couldn't wait to write this review, and I will tell all of my friends and neighbors just how unfriendly the Friendly was to me.
(1)Burke M.
One of our favorite places for good food and a friendly atmosphere.
(5)Phil B.
Friendly service and good food. Werent busy at all on Sarurday around 330pm. But who eats at that time? We do!! Good atmosphere. Clean and well located.
(5)Kelly D.
Being approached with the challenge of taking my dad on a date for his birthday, I looked for somewhere local where we could get some tasty food somewhere that he wouldn't be embarrassed to go. I was surprised by the interior of the Friendly Tavern! Concrete floors and ugly chairs. It's clear that the focus of the Friendly Tavern is on the food and the regulars, just as it should be. It is not an exaggeration to say that this is the best burger I have had in a long time. Fresh cooked fries accompanied our burgers and we could not stop exclaiming over how delicious the food was. Funny how something as simple as a well-cooked burger can make your day! We will be returning to the Friendly Tavern. Dad wants to try the grilled cheese. ;)
(5)Rae Ann P.
5 Stars for the Food, 5 Stars for the Service (Matt was excellent) - You are asked if this is your first time there or a repeat guest - WOW - Matt went through the menu and detailed certain items - our mouths were watering before the dessert selection - Fish sandwich was huge and batter was delicious - burger was exceptional - appetizer plate was plentiful for 3 diners - All this and SunKing beers~!~ Ahhh, life is good!
(5)John J.
Lets start off with the positives. The place has a nice charm to it and the service was good. I believe this is the type of place that if its a burger or deep fried,you will love the food. Trying to be somewhat healthy, I ordered a tenderloin grilled. It was the worst one I have ever had. It was dry and cold. Wife had chili which she enjoyed. Like I said, if you want it fried,this is your place.
(2)Brad K.
I love the Tavern, and this is really a 3.5 star review. I'm from Zionsville, so to me it's more than the food, it's the people you run into. I've eaten here many, many times and have enjoyed apps, salads, sandwiches and occasionally a dinner special. The food is above average (stopping short of calling it great), served promptly and served hot. And I've always liked their desserts. Stop in, you'll have a good time.
(3)Marianne L.
Loud but definitely a place to find friends and neighbors. Their friend chicken wings are the best!!! The fried chicken breast is drier than I like. The cheese and crackers has an amazing horseradish flavor, but it will fill if you up if you're not careful (well, if you have a small amount of space for foods like I do). I hope to get out here a few times a month! Again, it's loud!
(4)Megan G.
After a very poor experience at the nearby Noah Grant's, we came to Friendly Tavern for a late night dinner. Our service was excellent from the time we walked in the door to the time we left. The menu was huge and both my husband and I had a great meal, at probably a third of what we would have paid at Noah Grant's.
(4)Dawn T.
I haven't eaten a lot of different food at The Friendly Tavern, but the BBQ wings are amazing. I drive over a half hour just to eat these wings. The wings are just too good to eat anything else. They do have good tenderloins though. I have had that. The apple dumpling with cinnamon ice cream is also delicious. The atomosphere is not terrific, but with the wings and beer does it really matter?
(4)Jose D.
The quality of the food in this establishment was really good. The price point was pretty good also. The staff was friendly and they were very mindful of their quality. We ordered the chicken wings because we heard they were better than the ones at Chatham tap.They were not better than Chatham tap's signature wings. Although the quality of the wing was really good. Probably my second favorite wing next to Chatham. Also had the turkey melt with fries. The wings were running a little late and she brought us the Turkey meal with fries first because she didn't want the fries to get cold. I was very impressed with the fact The waitress did not want my fries to be cold. I was very pleased and will return.
(4)Kelsey H.
Came here because they implemented that if you are 18 and older you're allowed in with a parent. This will allow them to compete a bit more with other downtown zionsville restaurants. Good food. Had pork tenderloin- not too bad. I think they need smaller plates as I received an average amount of food but it looked incredibly small on a giant plate. Fries were okay- nothing to write home about. Would recommend.
(4)Jose P.
I checked out the reviews and decided to stop here while driving with a colleague through Indiana heading home. Boy am I glad we did. The owner greeted us at the door and seated us quickly. Our server was attentive and did not rush us one bit. We ordered Wings with a side of Ranch and Buffalo sauce. The wings were unbelievably big, moist and seasoned perfectly. I can honestly say.... probably the BEST I've ever had. The Pork Chops were next and they were a HOME RUN! Charbroiled and juicy beyond imagination. Cinnamon Ice cream with warm apple dumplings finished off the meal. Do yourself a favor and stop here when in Zionsville. If there is a line.....wait. It's worth it. I can't wait to come back!
(5)Bob F.
Four stars for what it is - a friendly tavern with good bar food and good service. Prices for food and drink are very reasonable, especially for Zionsville, and portions are large. Have not tried the wings but, based on the number of huge platters of the I keep seeing people order, they must be good. The crowd is mixed in ages but trends toward the more mature. Good burgers.
(4)Corrine P.
Wow this place is popular. Located in the quaint downtown area: this is THE place to visit in Zionsville! We had to wait a little bit of time to get our table, but OH was it worth it! Since it was lent I got the cajun fish sandwich and it was good! The seating was a bit cramped. The food came really quick!
(4)Emily J.
When my husband and I lived in the area, we frequently visited The Friendly Tavern. We don't eat beef, so I can only speak to the turkey burgers. Seriously, these are THE BEST turkey burgers I have found ANYWHERE! The flavor is excellent. And the fries? Awesome. I feel the amount of food for the price has to make it the best value in the Zionsville/Carmel area. My husband and and I can get two burgers/fries, two sodas, and an appetizer for less than $30. Try doing that at any other restaurant in the area. It's a dive-type bar, for sure. But those are often the diamond in the rough. The Friendly is no exception!
(5)andrew l.
If your looking for good old fashioned, but quality American bar food. This is the place. The steaks have a great grill crust and the crispy wings come with sauce on the side so NO MESS!
(4)Jessica B.
This is a funky neighborhood dive bar and restaurant with a great beer list. Lots of nice, big, greasy food. Multiple screens. Collegiate feel with adult patrons of all ages. I had a burger with cheese and mushrooms and onion rings. The onion rings are tremendous. Each one was as big as my head. I didn't know they grew onions that big. Great service people but they were stretched a bit thin, the place seems wildly popular.
(4)Natalie J.
Amazing service and very good food. The buffalo shrimp and wings are must haves, really can't go wrong w anything there. Love the Friendly!!!!
(5)Sherri C.
Just had the patty melt. Of all the great nods this place gets, it's by far one of the best burgers in Indy especially for the prices! My favorite dive bar in ALL Indy. The owner doesn't know a stranger and food is best bar food Indy has and he's giving away the food at his prices. It's a must try and worth the trip to Zville!!
(5)Tera N.
Three stars certainly doesn't mean I don't stop here once a week for a brewskie. I do. And I like it. It's always crowded. and if it isn't when you arrive, wait and it will be by 7:30. The wings are delicious! The fish sammy is a good bar food fried fish sandwich, otherwise the menu is just so so. And even though I come often, I don't find the staff to be particularly "friendly", like the name would imply. Its atmosphere is old and run down, but I guess if they keep packing them in, why spend the money.... P.S. The restaurant side (not the bar side) is for the over 60 set, so ask for bar if you are there for a bar-type evening.
(3)Diana H.
Went in for a very late lunch. It was quiet, just a few others there before the dinner crowd. I had the mozzarella sticks, whitefish sandwich with fries, and hot tea. I was waited on and served quickly. I had told my waitress that I had to be out of there within 45 minutes and she did a great job of answering my questions and getting my order out to me quickly. FYI, with the sandwich, the usual side is some type of chips. If you opt for fries, it's a $0.95 up-charge. In snowy weather, watch the sidewalk before / north of The Friendly as the neighboring salon doesn't clear their sidewalk even days after snow has fallen. I opted for walking in the street to avoid the hazard. I know they are "The Friendly" but being called "sweetie" and "honey" that many times in 45 minutes made me cringe. Maybe dial it back a little?
(4)Daniel W.
Full disclosure... I have not been TO this eatery...but I purchased carry out. I can say unequivocally their breaded tenderloin was dry, appeared pre formed...and tasted frozen. I'm not saying it WAS frozen...or what have you, but it looked frozen. In all fairness their chicken wings looked delicious and I will definitely give the place another chance or two. I'm not telling you to avoid the place, because my coworkers love it...but I am suggesting you go for something other than the breaded tenderloin.
(3)Trina J.
Man ole' man ole' man. I really like this neighborhood establishment. It is nostalgic, dark like most taverns and definitely friendly. Think lots of wood, casually dressed servers and paper menus. At 5:00p on a Wednesday, this place was pretty full. It is a decent size so that was quite a surprise.I decided to belly up to the bar for a fried tenderloin sandwich and a side of buffalo chips instead of fries or kettle chips. The buffalo chips were very good and unlike anything I have ever had with buffalo in the name. The tenderloin was good but it was not the best I have ever had. The meal without a beverage was about $11 which is very reasonable given what you pay for fast food at places like Five Guys, Einstein Bagel or Panera Bread. That said, I would not make a special trip to Zionsville for it, but I would would definitely pop in if I am within a 7 mile radius. If you come in with a hearty appetite, grab a seat at the bar. There are bowls of popcorn for you to chomp on while you wait for your meal.
(3)Evan H.
Best hidden gem on the North side of Indy! Mostly locals go here and certain weeknights can be very busy but the friendly staff does a great job turning tables and making sure those who have a short wait feel at home. Great food, quick service, stiff drinks, friendly management, good prices!! And, for those on the go, they go great with to go orders - get the breaded tenderloin!!
(5)Renee S.
Love the Friendly! The pork tenderloin is excellent. There was a walleye special with a crispy fried fish, slaw( for my taste not creamy enough) and fries. The waitstaff is pleasant and attentive. Only real complaint is that it is a wee bit loud for conversation.
(4)Wanda M.
If you haven't been here then GO! This restaurant is a landmark in Zionsville located on Main which is a brick paved street. Parking located in lot next door or on street if available. We love this place! On Fridays and Saturday evenings expect a line out the door as we encounter Friday night. At table in just 15 minutes and even waiting was enjoyable and went fast joking around with folks around us in line. Of course you can grab a beer while you wait. This is not a quiet, romantic tavern but loud, fun, full of laughter with good food and drinks kind of place. Clientele ages range from 21 to retirement and we love the mixture of age groups. You'll find quality food, consistently prepared, with a varied menu so you always know what to expect. Great food, fair price, good service unless packed and it can be bit slower but understandable. Their famous for their amazing buffalo wings and once you try them you'll understand. Many feel they are the best in Indiana if not the best anywhere! BROASTED, not fried, and certainly enough for two with 18-20 large wings PER ORDER! Unbelievable price as well. A MUST TRY! I ordered the Black Jack Chicken sandwich which relates to a Cajun spiced chicken breast with jack cheese, all the toppings including grilled onions and a side of buffalo chips. The chicken is always juicy, cooked and seasoned perfectly for me and other than the apple dumpling is probably my favorite. My husband ordered one of his all-time favorites here which is the B.L.T. Double Decker with fries. It's a purist BLT with lots of thick bacon, fresh lettuce and tomato (no mayo for him) on toast of your choice. No foo-foo BLT here as he says. He believes it to be one of the best BLT's around and many agree. You can tell the character of the owner and employees from a small incident that happened tonight. A toothpick had broken off in the BLT and my husband NOTICED immediately and removed. No problem! Suddenly, we found sincere and truly genuine concern from our waitress, cook, and even Scott, the owner, after noticing what had happened. Even after a meal we loved, an evening filled with conversation with many laughs, we found ourselves with comp'd dinners because of the three second toothpick event. Unbelievable owners and staff here!
(5)Lord B.
The Friendly is a "staple" in Zionsville. It's, a lot of times, why people come here. I know whenever I've talked to someone that hasn't been to Zionsville in a long time; they always ask if the Friendly is still there. Pretty much every item on the menu is excellent. Some of my favorites are: Chicken Tortilla Soup Buffalo Shrimp Black Jack Burger Breaded Tenderloin Grilled Chicken Club But, no matter what you get; you wont be disappointed. They have carryout which is nice and they always do a great job of getting the order right. The wait staff is "Friendly" (no pun intended). If you are visiting Zionsville or if you live in Zionsville and haven't been here yet... get out and get some!
(5)Bill J.
Stopped in for lunch and tried the burger. I know I've been to "The Friendly" at least once before, but it was to grab a beer and I don't recall having any of the food. After reading several Yelp reviews, I decided that I needed to try the burger and see if it's really all that people say that it is. It is really all that and I will definitely come back for another burger, but not until I've come back and tried the wings.
(4)Gretchen G.
We've been several times and it's the same thing every time. Food was good. Wait was almost unbearable. Service and selection was on par with most chain places close by. If you want better food/service try the more upscale places nearby. Otherwise, be prepared to wait and expect the regular pub-style fare.
(3)John W.
well we just got home from here. It sits in the beautiful downtown area of Zionsville and the brick lined streets and quaint shops and places to eat and drink. Something for everyone in this area. So for a Friday night at 8pm it was really busy. But we only waited about 5 minutes for a table. Every table we passed had some good food on it. So it was hard for me to decide what to get. Being a southerner I ordered some sweet tea and it was pretty good. Otherwise it was Coke products. Always a deduction for me. Blah!! I was torn between the Hand pattied burger, The Hand Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and that giant plate of Chicken wings. Well they lost me with the chicken wings because I only like the flat pieces and not the drummies and they told me i had to take them as they come so for that reason I passed on the wings but they looked great. So the hand breaded tenderloin won me over and I was glad that I did, was it the best I have ever eaten? Not even close but it was really good and i would order it again. Sandwiches come with chips you pay and extra dollar if you want fries so I did. They were decent. The other person with me ordered the Chicken Salad plate, his only complaint was the Tomato it was stuffed in was room temperature and not cold, but he said it had great flavor. Also it would have been nice if they could have substituted the bowl of cottage cheese for something else as there are probably more people in the world who do not like it than do. I cannot eat fries without something to dip them in and i dont do ketchup. So I asked for honey mustard, and not sure if they make this in house or not but it was really good. We left full and enjoyed our meal. Service was great, my only comment about service is she missed an opportunity with us since we made mention that it was our first visit and there was a board across the room that had specials like 19.99 prime rib that I may very well have ordered if I had known. It was really busy and even when we were leaving at around 9ish there were still people filling the place, even a large party of 15. We walked around the neighborhood afterwards and it was quite enjoyable so I recommend going and make sure you can walk around afterwards as this is just a beautiful neighborhood full of lots to look at and take in, some of the most beautiful flowers and things I have seen in a while.
(4)Donna D.
I love lunch or dinner at the Friendly. The food is always good and the servers are great. Not much on atmosphere, but I always run into someone I know or knew from growing up in Zionsville. Looking forward to trying some of the other restaurants; especially the one that have added live music.
(4)Michael G.
It was a really nice time with Jera (kids aren't allowed at this restaurant). Burger was awesome and jera's shaved prime was ....... Wait for it ...... Phenomenal!!!!!!!!! We will definitely be back.
(5)Melanie T.
This place was open nice and late on a Friday night for me and my hubby to stroll in and take a seat at one of the tables by the windows overlooking the cute quaintness that is downtown Zionsville on a fair-weather summer night. Our servers were indeed "friendly" but I'm sitting here writing this review to get out the word about THE FOOD. The cheeseburger was melt-in-your-mouth fresh (yes, that is possible with hamburger meat, apparently), and the "buffalo chips" fries on the side were simply the best fries I have ever eaten in my life--not just counting my yelp years, either! The "chips" are shaped like thick ruffley potato chips, but they are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, with cajun style seasoning. They arrived hot and with a side of ranch dipping sauce. I would never dream of ruining the flavor of the chips with ketchup. The ranch sauce packed the perfect compliment. My husband devoured a giant catfish sandwich and his own mound of piping hot buffalo chips. The only thing that upset me about our date at the Tavern was that I had to bring half of my entire meal home with me in a doggy bag because I'm now very pregnant with a reduced-capacity stomach. It took willpower I did not know I had to refrain from stuffing it all down my throat, whether there was room for it or not. The silver lining is that I now have a delicious late-late-night "snack" waiting for me in the fridge! I plan to take all of my out-of-town visitors to Friendly Tavern from now on.
(5)pippa c.
Great chicken wings, my husband loves their ginormous BLT and I love their beefy vegetable soup. Definitely fast and friendly service, enjoyed our meals here. One of our usual dinner place and love to come back often.
(4)Shane L.
This is a decent spot, offering the standard bar fare in an old rustic setting. Maybe a bit too old. A little updating could go a long way. Not that it needs a modern feel - just get rid of the garage sale-kitsch that seems to permeate the place. Fairly good beer selection. It is the only tavern in downtown Zionsville. The spot has a lot of potential. I just wish the owners would kick it up a notch and give us something to really want to come back to.
(3)Keith W.
The Friendly Tavern ain't so friendly, in my experience, but it's a great place to eat. I've visited twice since I moved to Zionsville in November 2010. The first time I visited, I arrived after the lunch rush (maybe 3pm) and the place was not crowded. I sat at the bar for almost 20 minutes before the bartender / waitress even acknowledged my presence, and it was only because I grew tired of waiting and timing to see how long the "friendly" people were going to ignore me. I inquired as to whether they had any local beers on tap, and the bartender / waitress stared dully at me before finally saying that they had Sun King in a can. So I ordered that. I asked if they had sweet tea, since not all the Indiana establishments had it, and she immediately perked up. I explained I had just moved from Atlanta, and it was like I threw a light switch; next thing I know, she's got me my own pitcher of sweet tea, is my best friend, and is talking my ear off about how she lived in Savannah, GA for many years. Weird? Yes, to say the least. Thirst abated and patience tested, I turned to the menu and my new friend was (now) more than willing to give me commentary and feedback about the cuisine. I opted for the burger, as it was rumored to be excellent. And it was! I've ordered a cheeseburger both times I've visited because they are that good! Everything from the hand-patted, freshly made and seasoned patty, to the high quality bun makes this burger a must have. The second time I visited, I also sat at the bar, and it took a fairly long time (again) before I was acknowledged and served, but not as long as my initial visit. On my second visit, there were several patrons seated near me at the bar, but none of them looked my way, and their whole demeanor seemed to imply that they were not remotely open to chit-chat. So, I have a few conclusions: I think the Friendly Tavern is a "locals only" place because I saw plenty of people greeting each other and the staff and making chit-chat, but no one seemed inclined to pay much attention to the "new guy". I also think it is an excellent eatery, but it is definitely more of a restaurant. I cannot imagine going there for drinks with friends, and sitting at the bar. The bar is awkwardly arrayed in the center of the dining area, and is essentially a big square. The "back bar" is used as a server station, and has other random restaurant items stacked on it - the other three sides of the bar are for customer seating. There are a couple of small TVs in the front dining area / bar, but there are maybe four spots you could sit that would afford you an unobstructed view of them. I would totally recommend this place for the food; my order arrived in a timely fashion, and the service was adequate, but "friendly" is the LAST word I would use to describe this place if you are not already a local or regular.
(3)rod m.
If you've not been recognized by the bartender, it's the "not so" bar IMHO. Food is above average, service is bad. I'd spend my dime at the cobblestone or Attic first
(2)Cara R.
The Friendly Bar has the best and most apt name for any bar I've visited. It's located in the quaint little village/main street part of Zionsville and as soon as you walk in the waitresses greet you with a smile. I was taken here for lunch by a local and I'm really posting this review to state that the breaded tenderloin I had here is the best I've had. Crispy outside, hot greasy porky inside, with a fluffy butter-grill toasted bun and side of mayo and ketchup. Layer that big leafy green piece of lettuce on there and you've got yourself a lunch, my friend. Welcome to the Friendly Bar.
(4)Becky Y.
It's true, they will remember you. but you know it's mostly Zionsville folk who are their regulars they know almost every other person by name and every other person inevitably spots their friends or neighbors across the room. No drink specials, boo. but very good beer selection by the bottle, anyway. Smallish bar but it's cozy and it works. Menu consists of burgers, sandwiches, the usual pub appetizers. I recommend anything fried. These people have hired the fry cook from heaven. 4 types of fried potatoes, awesome fat onion rings, the best breaded whitefish in the city, very good tenderloin and wings and chicken as well. the breading on each of them whether the beer batter on the onion rings or the crunchy crusted fish-- is absolutely divine. but i did mention the fry cook is from heaven, right? If you must go with lighter fare, salads are big and crunchy and fresh, the soup is yum as well. Very good coleslaw. if you order an entree you get the old school basket of crackers with your meal, love that. They also have prime rib on fridays and wknds and other running entree specials like chicken parm and pasta as well. I never have room for dessert. but the apple dumpling has been calling..... soon, soon.
(5)Mary S.
Good food! Don't plan to come in unless you are 21+ though. It's always busy & there is usually a line by the door. Not the best place to have a quiet conversation. It's usally pretty loud but it's a popular place in Zionsville with reasonable prices.
(4)Brittany L.
We were in Zionsville to do a bike ride (27 miles) and since we're NEVER in Z-ville I consulted my Yelp Bookmarks to see where we should eat afterwards. We got to Friendly Tavern about 4:45-5pm and sat in the bar area. Menus are printed on paper placemats and everything sounded pretty good. Waitress brought us 2 waters, a draft Sam Adams Oktoberfest and a Sam Light bottle. I had a chicken cordon blue sandwich grilled chicken, ham, and I subbed provolone for the swiss, with honey mustard on the side. It was delicious. He had a breaded pork tenderloin, also good. We both changed our regular chips to "buffalo chips" which are seasoned (like curly fry seasoning) round fries. YUMMY! Fat kid pro-tip...get a side of ranch to dip the buffalo chips in. Very clean restaurant, friendly, quick service, tasty food, decent beer selection. We'll be back if we're in the area again. They have a prime rib special on certain nights that looks pretty good.
(4)Ryan H.
First, let me say that if you go for lunch on a Friday expect to wait in line. The atmosphere here is great as well as the food. Just a great place to have a few beers and good grub.
(4)Stefan M.
If your only gonna read the 1st line of this review, let me sum The Friendly up...AMAZING! Hurry up and get in line for this place. Hoinestly I (think I have) tried multiple things on the menu here but time and time again it is the wings that bring me back (almost weekly). Their wings are like little perfect pieces of fried chciken. Yeah, you can get them with sauce, buffalo, bleu cheese and such but I love there wings so much that I dont even need the sauce anymore. The tast of the chickes is wonderful. Go ahead and order some buffalo chips on the side or what ever. My tip, 1 order is enough for 2 people to share but you will want to have your own leftovers in the fridge that night to munch on because these are alos amazing cold. I honestly cant remeber many of the other items (I do remember that the fried pork tenderloins are good and the horseradish cheese dip is also good). but get the wings. Get the wings get the wings!
(5)Holly G.
Rick and I stopped by the Friendly after a trip to Zionsville Farmers Market. Great atmosphere...a nice homey place that lives up to its name. Rick ordered the breaded tenderloin and claimed it to be outstanding! His side order of fries were better than average. I ordered a side salad with raspberry vinaigrette and the Apple BBQ Wings. I was a little put off by the price, but when the order came out, I was pleasantly surprised! You definitely get your money's worth. I typically don't care for breaded wings because I think that breading detracts from the flavor of the meat. But these were well-balanced and very tasty indeed. For dessert, Rick had the strawberry rhubarb pie. I had a bit...it was average. For my dessert, I chose a scoop of CINNAMON ice cream. That's right...cinnamon ice cream! And not Red Hots cinnamon - natural, beautiful, unadulterated cinnamon. It's always been one of my favorite flavors and is not that easy to find. So I was beyond pleased to see it on the menu. Overall, our first time experience at The Friendly was great! We'll be back. :)
(4)Rick G.
This was our first visit to the Friendly. We'd been in town for a gig, and decided to dine here. Of course, I had the breaded tenderloin...and it was absolutely fantastic. Over the top good. I'd order it again in a heartbeat. One of the best around. My wife ordered a side salad, and that was one BIG salad...and an order of wings. We were a little put off by the price of an order of wings at the beginning, but when we saw the size of the order...certainly a good value. They were tasty with just the right amount of heat. AND, we had enough to make another meal out of them at home! For dessert, I chose the Strawberry/Rhubarb pie. Not the very best I've ever had, but still well above average. I'd order it again. Service started out good, then got a tad slow as more people came in. Not terribly slow, but enough to knock a star off. All things said, we'll be back. And soon.
(4)Kelly O.
The Name Says it All! This place is a family favorite! The staff always remembers you, you end up being best friends with your table neighbors, and the meal is always well prepared and tastes like good southern home cooking. They have an array of food to choose from and everything is really good! They sometimes have a bit of a wait, the key is to get to the restaurant BEFORE 4, just FYI. After 4, you may wait awhile.
(4)Deborah H.
Good place for burger or sandwich. Very crowded; service was cheerful but a bit spotty due to press of customers. Had patty melt w beer. Others had walleye fried sandwich. Would go here again if in area.
(3)Patrick G.
(Yes...there are nothing but white people in Zionsville...HOWEVER......) Okay...I'm reviewing reviews that I didn't review and I totally forgot to review this every time I went. So this is another retroactive review. Friendly Tavern is friendly. Being a transplant to Indianapolis area, I made it a conscious decision to break out and go to as many "safe" and "accepting" places as possible. Zionsville is supposedly suspect in this regard...but this place was very nice and the servers were witty and helpful. The first time I had the Turkey Reuben and a glass of lemonade. That Reuben was great! The second time I had a Prime rib hoagie...wow! I was as full as a tick off that. Very good! The 3rd time I had picked up a friend from outta town and she was hungry. She was staying with friends in Carmel and so I took her here and she demolished their Turkey Burger. I'm pretty sure it was good! LOL. I had already eaten so I just have the Apple Dumpling with a scoop of vanilla Ice Cream. Yummy! The Friendly Tavern is a friendly place and they have very good food!
(5)Erica W.
If you work in the restaurant business or go with someone who has - don't go on a Monday. Service is horrible. We got water right away but didn't get our drinks from the bar for a good 10-15 minutes. Then she brought my husbands drink, but not mine. Then when I got my beer, I got this tiny glass to go with it instead of a SAM Adams glass to go with my beer. My chicken was dry and need extra sauces when there was already BBQ sauce on it. The buffalo chips are delicious though. My husbands steak (ordered medium) was also dry and needed A1. The server was swamped but she was nice when we saw her.
(2)D h.
frequented the friendly enough to form multiple opinions. the first, lunch at the friendly is very good. second, if you hang around longer, the place closes way too early. it's an old school bar that has decided it's better as a lunch & dinner place. and though the food is good, it's not great. a couple of dining areas after your enter in the SE corner and walk thru a small hallway. upstairs is your primary eating section, but there is also one on the east side of the bar. the bar itself is in the southwest corner. square bar with ample seating. love the paper menus and the service is great. the owners have obviously found their niche and it's not serving drunks late into the evening, but the hours make the friendly feel fake. like it's not a true bar (though it look and feels like one), but just cashing in on the lunch and early dinner crowd.
(3)DeAnna P.
Very pleased with my experience here! Every bit of the food was fabulous. I was a little nervous about the service, as so many reviews said it was slow. I have to disagree. Our server was prompt and attentive. Funny side note -- when I ordered my tenderloin, she asked if I wanted it grilled or fried. I said, "What kind of a weirdo gets a GRILLED tenderloin? Yuck! Fried please." She looked mildly amused and put in our order. She later came by and asked how the food was. When I told her how delicious the fried tenderloin was, she leaned down and whispered to me. Apparently the woman sitting less than ten feet from me ordered the grilled tenderloin and complained it wasn't very good. Ha! Go fried or go home. I ordered the tenderloin (natch) and a cup of chili. The chili was meaty with plenty of beans. It was not spicy at all, but had a great flavor. You could also get cheese and onion, and they load it up. It came with a heaping basket of every kind of cracker imaginable. Try some Tabasco Sauce on that bad boy, and you are in for a treat. Next came the tenderloin for me, a club sandwich for my friend, and a basket of wings for sharing and taking home. The tenderloin was clearly hand breaded, pounded out just thin enough, and NO yucky silverskin left to interrupt your chewing pleasure. My friend's club was monstrous and according to her, absolutely yummy. Neither of us are big eaters, but we both ate every bite of our sandwiches, practically licking the crumbs. The wings -- oh the wings! For $10.99, you get 18 - 20 meaty wings that appear to be breaded and fried, but not overly breaded or overly fried. Even after we asked for them coated in buffalo sauce, they were still crispy, but not greasy. Unfortunately, I was too full to eat that many, but I have a feeling they reheat wonderfully under a broiler. Total cost for my chili, tenderloin, and chips -- $10. My only, very minor complaint is the seating. You are really stuffed in there like sardines. Waitstaff has to squeeze around each other. I do understand it though. We went at 6:00 pm on a Tuesday and snagged one of the last remaining open tables. I will definitely be back. I'll just keep my comments about grilled tenderloins to myself. :-)
(4)Crystal K.
The food was really great, the beer selection, nothing to brag about. 4 beers? Hmm. I LOVED the Friendly Platter though. Deeeelicious.
(4)Darrin M.
Ok, so I own a business in Zionsville. When I first opened, everyone that came into my shop asked had I been to The Friendly or not, since I'm not a drinker I generally as a rule stay away from bars. But after witnessing EVERY DAY a long line of people waiting outside the Friendly, I was intrigued. So on a Saturday afternoon, I sent my wife down there to grab the family some food. OMG! I had a chicken sandwich. It was on point, AND HUGE! So needless to say, whenever people ask if I knew of a good place to grab a bite. Without hesitation, I recommend The Friendly Tavern!
(5)Tyler S.
I've eaten here three times. The first time I got the breaded tenderloin which was fantastic and I highly recommend. Its one of the best tenderloins I've had in Indiana. After talking about this place with some friends, they mentioned trying the chicken wings. Needless to say, that's what I've gotten the last two times and my mouth is watering just thinking about them. They were served fresh both times and continue to keep me coming back. This is a must have!
(5)Amy C.
Friendly platter is a really good appetizer. Usually a five star, but we had to wait 40 mins. for our food. Our waitress was a really hard worker, it wasn't her fault. I know some people have complained about the waitstaff here, but we've never had a bad waitress. Order anything with the honey apple BBQ sauce and you'll be happy.
(4)Tim R.
Great location. Very busy at lunch , and deservedly so. Club sandwich comes on marble rye and no skimping on the cold cuts. (Turkey/ham) Lost a star for FoxNews on the television. That channel is appealing to only half the population. For me, it's not a welcome sight. Service was superb, but I was rushed out even though the line had all been seated.
(3)Colleen F.
You can't beat the consistency of the food, especially the pork tenderloin sandwich. YUM. This place deserves it's local institution status.
(5)Heather H.
Love the tenderloins here! Friendly staff, great atmosphere. Everything is good. Definitely a great spot when the locals call The Friendly home.
(4)EmergencyRN C.
Wow! Arrived in town early for a doctor's appointment & came upon this place for a quick lunch instead of a fast food or chain restaurant. Sat @ bar as not to take a table during a busy lunch crowd. GREAT service and one of the best buffalo chicken sandwiches I have ever had!
(5)Michael C.
The chicken wings at this place are really worth the trip. It's a nice, often overcrowded place for lunch, and the wings are made fresh so my suggestion is to go early. But man, the batter and seasoning are good, and they're hot and perfectly cooked. Really a treat. And they give you a lot. They prices are cheap across the board too.
(5)Amber E.
I was excited about going here after hearing for so long how great Friendly's was/is. I'm sorry but I wasn't impressed at all. My table of 3 came in on a Wednesday around 6 PM. The bar area was full but not packed. Our waitress, although very nice, was slow as molasses. We ordered 3 orders of wings a large fry and a large onion ring. It took 52 minutes to get our food! ( I know because I had sent a text as she was taking our order.) the fries and onions rings were okay. The chicken wings were chicken legs and the sauce didn't come on them? And they were dry to boot. I just didn't care for the place and feel they're over priced for the quality.
(3)Natalie J.
Amazing service and very good food. The buffalo shrimp and wings are must haves, really can't go wrong w anything there. Love the Friendly!!!!
(5)Phil B.
Friendly service and good food. Werent busy at all on Sarurday around 330pm. But who eats at that time? We do!! Good atmosphere. Clean and well located.
(5)Sherri C.
Just had the patty melt. Of all the great nods this place gets, it's by far one of the best burgers in Indy especially for the prices! My favorite dive bar in ALL Indy. The owner doesn't know a stranger and food is best bar food Indy has and he's giving away the food at his prices. It's a must try and worth the trip to Zville!!
(5)Tera N.
Three stars certainly doesn't mean I don't stop here once a week for a brewskie. I do. And I like it. It's always crowded. and if it isn't when you arrive, wait and it will be by 7:30. The wings are delicious! The fish sammy is a good bar food fried fish sandwich, otherwise the menu is just so so. And even though I come often, I don't find the staff to be particularly "friendly", like the name would imply. Its atmosphere is old and run down, but I guess if they keep packing them in, why spend the money.... P.S. The restaurant side (not the bar side) is for the over 60 set, so ask for bar if you are there for a bar-type evening.
(3)Diana H.
Went in for a very late lunch. It was quiet, just a few others there before the dinner crowd. I had the mozzarella sticks, whitefish sandwich with fries, and hot tea. I was waited on and served quickly. I had told my waitress that I had to be out of there within 45 minutes and she did a great job of answering my questions and getting my order out to me quickly. FYI, with the sandwich, the usual side is some type of chips. If you opt for fries, it's a $0.95 up-charge. In snowy weather, watch the sidewalk before / north of The Friendly as the neighboring salon doesn't clear their sidewalk even days after snow has fallen. I opted for walking in the street to avoid the hazard. I know they are "The Friendly" but being called "sweetie" and "honey" that many times in 45 minutes made me cringe. Maybe dial it back a little?
(4)Daniel W.
Full disclosure... I have not been TO this eatery...but I purchased carry out. I can say unequivocally their breaded tenderloin was dry, appeared pre formed...and tasted frozen. I'm not saying it WAS frozen...or what have you, but it looked frozen. In all fairness their chicken wings looked delicious and I will definitely give the place another chance or two. I'm not telling you to avoid the place, because my coworkers love it...but I am suggesting you go for something other than the breaded tenderloin.
(3)Trina J.
Man ole' man ole' man. I really like this neighborhood establishment. It is nostalgic, dark like most taverns and definitely friendly. Think lots of wood, casually dressed servers and paper menus. At 5:00p on a Wednesday, this place was pretty full. It is a decent size so that was quite a surprise.I decided to belly up to the bar for a fried tenderloin sandwich and a side of buffalo chips instead of fries or kettle chips. The buffalo chips were very good and unlike anything I have ever had with buffalo in the name. The tenderloin was good but it was not the best I have ever had. The meal without a beverage was about $11 which is very reasonable given what you pay for fast food at places like Five Guys, Einstein Bagel or Panera Bread. That said, I would not make a special trip to Zionsville for it, but I would would definitely pop in if I am within a 7 mile radius. If you come in with a hearty appetite, grab a seat at the bar. There are bowls of popcorn for you to chomp on while you wait for your meal.
(3)andrew l.
If your looking for good old fashioned, but quality American bar food. This is the place. The steaks have a great grill crust and the crispy wings come with sauce on the side so NO MESS!
(4)Jessica B.
This is a funky neighborhood dive bar and restaurant with a great beer list. Lots of nice, big, greasy food. Multiple screens. Collegiate feel with adult patrons of all ages. I had a burger with cheese and mushrooms and onion rings. The onion rings are tremendous. Each one was as big as my head. I didn't know they grew onions that big. Great service people but they were stretched a bit thin, the place seems wildly popular.
(4)Evan H.
Best hidden gem on the North side of Indy! Mostly locals go here and certain weeknights can be very busy but the friendly staff does a great job turning tables and making sure those who have a short wait feel at home. Great food, quick service, stiff drinks, friendly management, good prices!! And, for those on the go, they go great with to go orders - get the breaded tenderloin!!
(5)Renee S.
Love the Friendly! The pork tenderloin is excellent. There was a walleye special with a crispy fried fish, slaw( for my taste not creamy enough) and fries. The waitstaff is pleasant and attentive. Only real complaint is that it is a wee bit loud for conversation.
(4)Wanda M.
If you haven't been here then GO! This restaurant is a landmark in Zionsville located on Main which is a brick paved street. Parking located in lot next door or on street if available. We love this place! On Fridays and Saturday evenings expect a line out the door as we encounter Friday night. At table in just 15 minutes and even waiting was enjoyable and went fast joking around with folks around us in line. Of course you can grab a beer while you wait. This is not a quiet, romantic tavern but loud, fun, full of laughter with good food and drinks kind of place. Clientele ages range from 21 to retirement and we love the mixture of age groups. You'll find quality food, consistently prepared, with a varied menu so you always know what to expect. Great food, fair price, good service unless packed and it can be bit slower but understandable. Their famous for their amazing buffalo wings and once you try them you'll understand. Many feel they are the best in Indiana if not the best anywhere! BROASTED, not fried, and certainly enough for two with 18-20 large wings PER ORDER! Unbelievable price as well. A MUST TRY! I ordered the Black Jack Chicken sandwich which relates to a Cajun spiced chicken breast with jack cheese, all the toppings including grilled onions and a side of buffalo chips. The chicken is always juicy, cooked and seasoned perfectly for me and other than the apple dumpling is probably my favorite. My husband ordered one of his all-time favorites here which is the B.L.T. Double Decker with fries. It's a purist BLT with lots of thick bacon, fresh lettuce and tomato (no mayo for him) on toast of your choice. No foo-foo BLT here as he says. He believes it to be one of the best BLT's around and many agree. You can tell the character of the owner and employees from a small incident that happened tonight. A toothpick had broken off in the BLT and my husband NOTICED immediately and removed. No problem! Suddenly, we found sincere and truly genuine concern from our waitress, cook, and even Scott, the owner, after noticing what had happened. Even after a meal we loved, an evening filled with conversation with many laughs, we found ourselves with comp'd dinners because of the three second toothpick event. Unbelievable owners and staff here!
(5)Jose D.
The quality of the food in this establishment was really good. The price point was pretty good also. The staff was friendly and they were very mindful of their quality. We ordered the chicken wings because we heard they were better than the ones at Chatham tap.They were not better than Chatham tap's signature wings. Although the quality of the wing was really good. Probably my second favorite wing next to Chatham. Also had the turkey melt with fries. The wings were running a little late and she brought us the Turkey meal with fries first because she didn't want the fries to get cold. I was very impressed with the fact The waitress did not want my fries to be cold. I was very pleased and will return.
(4)Kelsey H.
Came here because they implemented that if you are 18 and older you're allowed in with a parent. This will allow them to compete a bit more with other downtown zionsville restaurants. Good food. Had pork tenderloin- not too bad. I think they need smaller plates as I received an average amount of food but it looked incredibly small on a giant plate. Fries were okay- nothing to write home about. Would recommend.
(4)Jose P.
I checked out the reviews and decided to stop here while driving with a colleague through Indiana heading home. Boy am I glad we did. The owner greeted us at the door and seated us quickly. Our server was attentive and did not rush us one bit. We ordered Wings with a side of Ranch and Buffalo sauce. The wings were unbelievably big, moist and seasoned perfectly. I can honestly say.... probably the BEST I've ever had. The Pork Chops were next and they were a HOME RUN! Charbroiled and juicy beyond imagination. Cinnamon Ice cream with warm apple dumplings finished off the meal. Do yourself a favor and stop here when in Zionsville. If there is a line.....wait. It's worth it. I can't wait to come back!
(5)Bob F.
Four stars for what it is - a friendly tavern with good bar food and good service. Prices for food and drink are very reasonable, especially for Zionsville, and portions are large. Have not tried the wings but, based on the number of huge platters of the I keep seeing people order, they must be good. The crowd is mixed in ages but trends toward the more mature. Good burgers.
(4)Corrine P.
Wow this place is popular. Located in the quaint downtown area: this is THE place to visit in Zionsville! We had to wait a little bit of time to get our table, but OH was it worth it! Since it was lent I got the cajun fish sandwich and it was good! The seating was a bit cramped. The food came really quick!
(4)Brittany L.
We were in Zionsville to do a bike ride (27 miles) and since we're NEVER in Z-ville I consulted my Yelp Bookmarks to see where we should eat afterwards. We got to Friendly Tavern about 4:45-5pm and sat in the bar area. Menus are printed on paper placemats and everything sounded pretty good. Waitress brought us 2 waters, a draft Sam Adams Oktoberfest and a Sam Light bottle. I had a chicken cordon blue sandwich grilled chicken, ham, and I subbed provolone for the swiss, with honey mustard on the side. It was delicious. He had a breaded pork tenderloin, also good. We both changed our regular chips to "buffalo chips" which are seasoned (like curly fry seasoning) round fries. YUMMY! Fat kid pro-tip...get a side of ranch to dip the buffalo chips in. Very clean restaurant, friendly, quick service, tasty food, decent beer selection. We'll be back if we're in the area again. They have a prime rib special on certain nights that looks pretty good.
(4)Ryan H.
First, let me say that if you go for lunch on a Friday expect to wait in line. The atmosphere here is great as well as the food. Just a great place to have a few beers and good grub.
(4)Darrin M.
Ok, so I own a business in Zionsville. When I first opened, everyone that came into my shop asked had I been to The Friendly or not, since I'm not a drinker I generally as a rule stay away from bars. But after witnessing EVERY DAY a long line of people waiting outside the Friendly, I was intrigued. So on a Saturday afternoon, I sent my wife down there to grab the family some food. OMG! I had a chicken sandwich. It was on point, AND HUGE! So needless to say, whenever people ask if I knew of a good place to grab a bite. Without hesitation, I recommend The Friendly Tavern!
(5)Stefan M.
If your only gonna read the 1st line of this review, let me sum The Friendly up...AMAZING! Hurry up and get in line for this place. Hoinestly I (think I have) tried multiple things on the menu here but time and time again it is the wings that bring me back (almost weekly). Their wings are like little perfect pieces of fried chciken. Yeah, you can get them with sauce, buffalo, bleu cheese and such but I love there wings so much that I dont even need the sauce anymore. The tast of the chickes is wonderful. Go ahead and order some buffalo chips on the side or what ever. My tip, 1 order is enough for 2 people to share but you will want to have your own leftovers in the fridge that night to munch on because these are alos amazing cold. I honestly cant remeber many of the other items (I do remember that the fried pork tenderloins are good and the horseradish cheese dip is also good). but get the wings. Get the wings get the wings!
(5)Holly G.
Rick and I stopped by the Friendly after a trip to Zionsville Farmers Market. Great atmosphere...a nice homey place that lives up to its name. Rick ordered the breaded tenderloin and claimed it to be outstanding! His side order of fries were better than average. I ordered a side salad with raspberry vinaigrette and the Apple BBQ Wings. I was a little put off by the price, but when the order came out, I was pleasantly surprised! You definitely get your money's worth. I typically don't care for breaded wings because I think that breading detracts from the flavor of the meat. But these were well-balanced and very tasty indeed. For dessert, Rick had the strawberry rhubarb pie. I had a bit...it was average. For my dessert, I chose a scoop of CINNAMON ice cream. That's right...cinnamon ice cream! And not Red Hots cinnamon - natural, beautiful, unadulterated cinnamon. It's always been one of my favorite flavors and is not that easy to find. So I was beyond pleased to see it on the menu. Overall, our first time experience at The Friendly was great! We'll be back. :)
(4)Rick G.
This was our first visit to the Friendly. We'd been in town for a gig, and decided to dine here. Of course, I had the breaded tenderloin...and it was absolutely fantastic. Over the top good. I'd order it again in a heartbeat. One of the best around. My wife ordered a side salad, and that was one BIG salad...and an order of wings. We were a little put off by the price of an order of wings at the beginning, but when we saw the size of the order...certainly a good value. They were tasty with just the right amount of heat. AND, we had enough to make another meal out of them at home! For dessert, I chose the Strawberry/Rhubarb pie. Not the very best I've ever had, but still well above average. I'd order it again. Service started out good, then got a tad slow as more people came in. Not terribly slow, but enough to knock a star off. All things said, we'll be back. And soon.
(4)Becky Y.
It's true, they will remember you. but you know it's mostly Zionsville folk who are their regulars they know almost every other person by name and every other person inevitably spots their friends or neighbors across the room. No drink specials, boo. but very good beer selection by the bottle, anyway. Smallish bar but it's cozy and it works. Menu consists of burgers, sandwiches, the usual pub appetizers. I recommend anything fried. These people have hired the fry cook from heaven. 4 types of fried potatoes, awesome fat onion rings, the best breaded whitefish in the city, very good tenderloin and wings and chicken as well. the breading on each of them whether the beer batter on the onion rings or the crunchy crusted fish-- is absolutely divine. but i did mention the fry cook is from heaven, right? If you must go with lighter fare, salads are big and crunchy and fresh, the soup is yum as well. Very good coleslaw. if you order an entree you get the old school basket of crackers with your meal, love that. They also have prime rib on fridays and wknds and other running entree specials like chicken parm and pasta as well. I never have room for dessert. but the apple dumpling has been calling..... soon, soon.
(5)T F.
I had the worst and least attentive service ever in the Indianapolis area. I stopped in before dinner hours to check the menu before a meeting. Excited to come check out the homestyle dinner menu items I have heard so many positive things about, I stopped back after my meeting. It was 5:15. I ordered a bourbon. When I asked what they had the answer was "what do you want." That's fine, I get the charm of someone who looks like they could be your grandmother chiding you before they give you a cocktail, that's half the reason you go to a place like the Friendly, right? And for $3.75, I was ok with the one bourbon they had to offer. There were 2 people behind the bar and at least 2 servers in the bar area. After a long day it took me just a few minutes to take care of the first cocktail. After that, I sat, and sat, and sat...and sat...a.n.d......s......a.......t....... For 40 minutes...at a bar, with 4 customers.....waiting patiently for cocktail #2 and a dinner menu. Nothing. I listened as the barkeeps talked with other customers about heating elements and hoses. I made eye contact with every employee I could, smiled at them, did everything short of waving them down to try to spend money there. Nothing. I'm in the alcoholic beverage industry, so I have to be really careful of complaining in a potential customers establishment, it's just not good for business. But I couldn't wait to write this review, and I will tell all of my friends and neighbors just how unfriendly the Friendly was to me.
(1)Burke M.
One of our favorite places for good food and a friendly atmosphere.
(5)DeAnna P.
Very pleased with my experience here! Every bit of the food was fabulous. I was a little nervous about the service, as so many reviews said it was slow. I have to disagree. Our server was prompt and attentive. Funny side note -- when I ordered my tenderloin, she asked if I wanted it grilled or fried. I said, "What kind of a weirdo gets a GRILLED tenderloin? Yuck! Fried please." She looked mildly amused and put in our order. She later came by and asked how the food was. When I told her how delicious the fried tenderloin was, she leaned down and whispered to me. Apparently the woman sitting less than ten feet from me ordered the grilled tenderloin and complained it wasn't very good. Ha! Go fried or go home. I ordered the tenderloin (natch) and a cup of chili. The chili was meaty with plenty of beans. It was not spicy at all, but had a great flavor. You could also get cheese and onion, and they load it up. It came with a heaping basket of every kind of cracker imaginable. Try some Tabasco Sauce on that bad boy, and you are in for a treat. Next came the tenderloin for me, a club sandwich for my friend, and a basket of wings for sharing and taking home. The tenderloin was clearly hand breaded, pounded out just thin enough, and NO yucky silverskin left to interrupt your chewing pleasure. My friend's club was monstrous and according to her, absolutely yummy. Neither of us are big eaters, but we both ate every bite of our sandwiches, practically licking the crumbs. The wings -- oh the wings! For $10.99, you get 18 - 20 meaty wings that appear to be breaded and fried, but not overly breaded or overly fried. Even after we asked for them coated in buffalo sauce, they were still crispy, but not greasy. Unfortunately, I was too full to eat that many, but I have a feeling they reheat wonderfully under a broiler. Total cost for my chili, tenderloin, and chips -- $10. My only, very minor complaint is the seating. You are really stuffed in there like sardines. Waitstaff has to squeeze around each other. I do understand it though. We went at 6:00 pm on a Tuesday and snagged one of the last remaining open tables. I will definitely be back. I'll just keep my comments about grilled tenderloins to myself. :-)
(4)Crystal K.
The food was really great, the beer selection, nothing to brag about. 4 beers? Hmm. I LOVED the Friendly Platter though. Deeeelicious.
(4)Emily J.
When my husband and I lived in the area, we frequently visited The Friendly Tavern. We don't eat beef, so I can only speak to the turkey burgers. Seriously, these are THE BEST turkey burgers I have found ANYWHERE! The flavor is excellent. And the fries? Awesome. I feel the amount of food for the price has to make it the best value in the Zionsville/Carmel area. My husband and and I can get two burgers/fries, two sodas, and an appetizer for less than $30. Try doing that at any other restaurant in the area. It's a dive-type bar, for sure. But those are often the diamond in the rough. The Friendly is no exception!
(5)Tyler S.
I've eaten here three times. The first time I got the breaded tenderloin which was fantastic and I highly recommend. Its one of the best tenderloins I've had in Indiana. After talking about this place with some friends, they mentioned trying the chicken wings. Needless to say, that's what I've gotten the last two times and my mouth is watering just thinking about them. They were served fresh both times and continue to keep me coming back. This is a must have!
(5)T F.
I had the worst and least attentive service ever in the Indianapolis area. I stopped in before dinner hours to check the menu before a meeting. Excited to come check out the homestyle dinner menu items I have heard so many positive things about, I stopped back after my meeting. It was 5:15. I ordered a bourbon. When I asked what they had the answer was "what do you want." That's fine, I get the charm of someone who looks like they could be your grandmother chiding you before they give you a cocktail, that's half the reason you go to a place like the Friendly, right? And for $3.75, I was ok with the one bourbon they had to offer. There were 2 people behind the bar and at least 2 servers in the bar area. After a long day it took me just a few minutes to take care of the first cocktail. After that, I sat, and sat, and sat...and sat...a.n.d......s......a.......t....... For 40 minutes...at a bar, with 4 customers.....waiting patiently for cocktail #2 and a dinner menu. Nothing. I listened as the barkeeps talked with other customers about heating elements and hoses. I made eye contact with every employee I could, smiled at them, did everything short of waving them down to try to spend money there. Nothing. I'm in the alcoholic beverage industry, so I have to be really careful of complaining in a potential customers establishment, it's just not good for business. But I couldn't wait to write this review, and I will tell all of my friends and neighbors just how unfriendly the Friendly was to me.
(1)Burke M.
One of our favorite places for good food and a friendly atmosphere.
(5)Amy C.
Friendly platter is a really good appetizer. Usually a five star, but we had to wait 40 mins. for our food. Our waitress was a really hard worker, it wasn't her fault. I know some people have complained about the waitstaff here, but we've never had a bad waitress. Order anything with the honey apple BBQ sauce and you'll be happy.
(4)Tim R.
Great location. Very busy at lunch , and deservedly so. Club sandwich comes on marble rye and no skimping on the cold cuts. (Turkey/ham) Lost a star for FoxNews on the television. That channel is appealing to only half the population. For me, it's not a welcome sight. Service was superb, but I was rushed out even though the line had all been seated.
(3)John W.
well we just got home from here. It sits in the beautiful downtown area of Zionsville and the brick lined streets and quaint shops and places to eat and drink. Something for everyone in this area. So for a Friday night at 8pm it was really busy. But we only waited about 5 minutes for a table. Every table we passed had some good food on it. So it was hard for me to decide what to get. Being a southerner I ordered some sweet tea and it was pretty good. Otherwise it was Coke products. Always a deduction for me. Blah!! I was torn between the Hand pattied burger, The Hand Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and that giant plate of Chicken wings. Well they lost me with the chicken wings because I only like the flat pieces and not the drummies and they told me i had to take them as they come so for that reason I passed on the wings but they looked great. So the hand breaded tenderloin won me over and I was glad that I did, was it the best I have ever eaten? Not even close but it was really good and i would order it again. Sandwiches come with chips you pay and extra dollar if you want fries so I did. They were decent. The other person with me ordered the Chicken Salad plate, his only complaint was the Tomato it was stuffed in was room temperature and not cold, but he said it had great flavor. Also it would have been nice if they could have substituted the bowl of cottage cheese for something else as there are probably more people in the world who do not like it than do. I cannot eat fries without something to dip them in and i dont do ketchup. So I asked for honey mustard, and not sure if they make this in house or not but it was really good. We left full and enjoyed our meal. Service was great, my only comment about service is she missed an opportunity with us since we made mention that it was our first visit and there was a board across the room that had specials like 19.99 prime rib that I may very well have ordered if I had known. It was really busy and even when we were leaving at around 9ish there were still people filling the place, even a large party of 15. We walked around the neighborhood afterwards and it was quite enjoyable so I recommend going and make sure you can walk around afterwards as this is just a beautiful neighborhood full of lots to look at and take in, some of the most beautiful flowers and things I have seen in a while.
(4)Donna D.
I love lunch or dinner at the Friendly. The food is always good and the servers are great. Not much on atmosphere, but I always run into someone I know or knew from growing up in Zionsville. Looking forward to trying some of the other restaurants; especially the one that have added live music.
(4)Michael G.
It was a really nice time with Jera (kids aren't allowed at this restaurant). Burger was awesome and jera's shaved prime was ....... Wait for it ...... Phenomenal!!!!!!!!! We will definitely be back.
(5)Shane L.
This is a decent spot, offering the standard bar fare in an old rustic setting. Maybe a bit too old. A little updating could go a long way. Not that it needs a modern feel - just get rid of the garage sale-kitsch that seems to permeate the place. Fairly good beer selection. It is the only tavern in downtown Zionsville. The spot has a lot of potential. I just wish the owners would kick it up a notch and give us something to really want to come back to.
(3)Michael C.
The chicken wings at this place are really worth the trip. It's a nice, often overcrowded place for lunch, and the wings are made fresh so my suggestion is to go early. But man, the batter and seasoning are good, and they're hot and perfectly cooked. Really a treat. And they give you a lot. They prices are cheap across the board too.
(5)Sherri C.
Just had the patty melt. Of all the great nods this place gets, it's by far one of the best burgers in Indy especially for the prices! My favorite dive bar in ALL Indy. The owner doesn't know a stranger and food is best bar food Indy has and he's giving away the food at his prices. It's a must try and worth the trip to Zville!!
(5)Tera N.
Three stars certainly doesn't mean I don't stop here once a week for a brewskie. I do. And I like it. It's always crowded. and if it isn't when you arrive, wait and it will be by 7:30. The wings are delicious! The fish sammy is a good bar food fried fish sandwich, otherwise the menu is just so so. And even though I come often, I don't find the staff to be particularly "friendly", like the name would imply. Its atmosphere is old and run down, but I guess if they keep packing them in, why spend the money.... P.S. The restaurant side (not the bar side) is for the over 60 set, so ask for bar if you are there for a bar-type evening.
(3)Phil B.
Friendly service and good food. Werent busy at all on Sarurday around 330pm. But who eats at that time? We do!! Good atmosphere. Clean and well located.
(5)Diana H.
Went in for a very late lunch. It was quiet, just a few others there before the dinner crowd. I had the mozzarella sticks, whitefish sandwich with fries, and hot tea. I was waited on and served quickly. I had told my waitress that I had to be out of there within 45 minutes and she did a great job of answering my questions and getting my order out to me quickly. FYI, with the sandwich, the usual side is some type of chips. If you opt for fries, it's a $0.95 up-charge. In snowy weather, watch the sidewalk before / north of The Friendly as the neighboring salon doesn't clear their sidewalk even days after snow has fallen. I opted for walking in the street to avoid the hazard. I know they are "The Friendly" but being called "sweetie" and "honey" that many times in 45 minutes made me cringe. Maybe dial it back a little?
(4)Daniel W.
Full disclosure... I have not been TO this eatery...but I purchased carry out. I can say unequivocally their breaded tenderloin was dry, appeared pre formed...and tasted frozen. I'm not saying it WAS frozen...or what have you, but it looked frozen. In all fairness their chicken wings looked delicious and I will definitely give the place another chance or two. I'm not telling you to avoid the place, because my coworkers love it...but I am suggesting you go for something other than the breaded tenderloin.
(3)Renee S.
Love the Friendly! The pork tenderloin is excellent. There was a walleye special with a crispy fried fish, slaw( for my taste not creamy enough) and fries. The waitstaff is pleasant and attentive. Only real complaint is that it is a wee bit loud for conversation.
(4)Trina J.
Man ole' man ole' man. I really like this neighborhood establishment. It is nostalgic, dark like most taverns and definitely friendly. Think lots of wood, casually dressed servers and paper menus. At 5:00p on a Wednesday, this place was pretty full. It is a decent size so that was quite a surprise.I decided to belly up to the bar for a fried tenderloin sandwich and a side of buffalo chips instead of fries or kettle chips. The buffalo chips were very good and unlike anything I have ever had with buffalo in the name. The tenderloin was good but it was not the best I have ever had. The meal without a beverage was about $11 which is very reasonable given what you pay for fast food at places like Five Guys, Einstein Bagel or Panera Bread. That said, I would not make a special trip to Zionsville for it, but I would would definitely pop in if I am within a 7 mile radius. If you come in with a hearty appetite, grab a seat at the bar. There are bowls of popcorn for you to chomp on while you wait for your meal.
(3)andrew l.
If your looking for good old fashioned, but quality American bar food. This is the place. The steaks have a great grill crust and the crispy wings come with sauce on the side so NO MESS!
(4)Jessica B.
This is a funky neighborhood dive bar and restaurant with a great beer list. Lots of nice, big, greasy food. Multiple screens. Collegiate feel with adult patrons of all ages. I had a burger with cheese and mushrooms and onion rings. The onion rings are tremendous. Each one was as big as my head. I didn't know they grew onions that big. Great service people but they were stretched a bit thin, the place seems wildly popular.
(4)Amber E.
I was excited about going here after hearing for so long how great Friendly's was/is. I'm sorry but I wasn't impressed at all. My table of 3 came in on a Wednesday around 6 PM. The bar area was full but not packed. Our waitress, although very nice, was slow as molasses. We ordered 3 orders of wings a large fry and a large onion ring. It took 52 minutes to get our food! ( I know because I had sent a text as she was taking our order.) the fries and onions rings were okay. The chicken wings were chicken legs and the sauce didn't come on them? And they were dry to boot. I just didn't care for the place and feel they're over priced for the quality.
(3)Natalie J.
Amazing service and very good food. The buffalo shrimp and wings are must haves, really can't go wrong w anything there. Love the Friendly!!!!
(5)Evan H.
Best hidden gem on the North side of Indy! Mostly locals go here and certain weeknights can be very busy but the friendly staff does a great job turning tables and making sure those who have a short wait feel at home. Great food, quick service, stiff drinks, friendly management, good prices!! And, for those on the go, they go great with to go orders - get the breaded tenderloin!!
(5)Amy C.
Friendly platter is a really good appetizer. Usually a five star, but we had to wait 40 mins. for our food. Our waitress was a really hard worker, it wasn't her fault. I know some people have complained about the waitstaff here, but we've never had a bad waitress. Order anything with the honey apple BBQ sauce and you'll be happy.
(4)Tim R.
Great location. Very busy at lunch , and deservedly so. Club sandwich comes on marble rye and no skimping on the cold cuts. (Turkey/ham) Lost a star for FoxNews on the television. That channel is appealing to only half the population. For me, it's not a welcome sight. Service was superb, but I was rushed out even though the line had all been seated.
(3)Colleen F.
You can't beat the consistency of the food, especially the pork tenderloin sandwich. YUM. This place deserves it's local institution status.
(5)Kelly O.
The Name Says it All! This place is a family favorite! The staff always remembers you, you end up being best friends with your table neighbors, and the meal is always well prepared and tastes like good southern home cooking. They have an array of food to choose from and everything is really good! They sometimes have a bit of a wait, the key is to get to the restaurant BEFORE 4, just FYI. After 4, you may wait awhile.
(4)Wanda M.
If you haven't been here then GO! This restaurant is a landmark in Zionsville located on Main which is a brick paved street. Parking located in lot next door or on street if available. We love this place! On Fridays and Saturday evenings expect a line out the door as we encounter Friday night. At table in just 15 minutes and even waiting was enjoyable and went fast joking around with folks around us in line. Of course you can grab a beer while you wait. This is not a quiet, romantic tavern but loud, fun, full of laughter with good food and drinks kind of place. Clientele ages range from 21 to retirement and we love the mixture of age groups. You'll find quality food, consistently prepared, with a varied menu so you always know what to expect. Great food, fair price, good service unless packed and it can be bit slower but understandable. Their famous for their amazing buffalo wings and once you try them you'll understand. Many feel they are the best in Indiana if not the best anywhere! BROASTED, not fried, and certainly enough for two with 18-20 large wings PER ORDER! Unbelievable price as well. A MUST TRY! I ordered the Black Jack Chicken sandwich which relates to a Cajun spiced chicken breast with jack cheese, all the toppings including grilled onions and a side of buffalo chips. The chicken is always juicy, cooked and seasoned perfectly for me and other than the apple dumpling is probably my favorite. My husband ordered one of his all-time favorites here which is the B.L.T. Double Decker with fries. It's a purist BLT with lots of thick bacon, fresh lettuce and tomato (no mayo for him) on toast of your choice. No foo-foo BLT here as he says. He believes it to be one of the best BLT's around and many agree. You can tell the character of the owner and employees from a small incident that happened tonight. A toothpick had broken off in the BLT and my husband NOTICED immediately and removed. No problem! Suddenly, we found sincere and truly genuine concern from our waitress, cook, and even Scott, the owner, after noticing what had happened. Even after a meal we loved, an evening filled with conversation with many laughs, we found ourselves with comp'd dinners because of the three second toothpick event. Unbelievable owners and staff here!
(5)Jose D.
The quality of the food in this establishment was really good. The price point was pretty good also. The staff was friendly and they were very mindful of their quality. We ordered the chicken wings because we heard they were better than the ones at Chatham tap.They were not better than Chatham tap's signature wings. Although the quality of the wing was really good. Probably my second favorite wing next to Chatham. Also had the turkey melt with fries. The wings were running a little late and she brought us the Turkey meal with fries first because she didn't want the fries to get cold. I was very impressed with the fact The waitress did not want my fries to be cold. I was very pleased and will return.
(4)Kelsey H.
Came here because they implemented that if you are 18 and older you're allowed in with a parent. This will allow them to compete a bit more with other downtown zionsville restaurants. Good food. Had pork tenderloin- not too bad. I think they need smaller plates as I received an average amount of food but it looked incredibly small on a giant plate. Fries were okay- nothing to write home about. Would recommend.
(4)Jose P.
I checked out the reviews and decided to stop here while driving with a colleague through Indiana heading home. Boy am I glad we did. The owner greeted us at the door and seated us quickly. Our server was attentive and did not rush us one bit. We ordered Wings with a side of Ranch and Buffalo sauce. The wings were unbelievably big, moist and seasoned perfectly. I can honestly say.... probably the BEST I've ever had. The Pork Chops were next and they were a HOME RUN! Charbroiled and juicy beyond imagination. Cinnamon Ice cream with warm apple dumplings finished off the meal. Do yourself a favor and stop here when in Zionsville. If there is a line.....wait. It's worth it. I can't wait to come back!
(5)Bob F.
Four stars for what it is - a friendly tavern with good bar food and good service. Prices for food and drink are very reasonable, especially for Zionsville, and portions are large. Have not tried the wings but, based on the number of huge platters of the I keep seeing people order, they must be good. The crowd is mixed in ages but trends toward the more mature. Good burgers.
(4)Corrine P.
Wow this place is popular. Located in the quaint downtown area: this is THE place to visit in Zionsville! We had to wait a little bit of time to get our table, but OH was it worth it! Since it was lent I got the cajun fish sandwich and it was good! The seating was a bit cramped. The food came really quick!
(4)Brittany L.
We were in Zionsville to do a bike ride (27 miles) and since we're NEVER in Z-ville I consulted my Yelp Bookmarks to see where we should eat afterwards. We got to Friendly Tavern about 4:45-5pm and sat in the bar area. Menus are printed on paper placemats and everything sounded pretty good. Waitress brought us 2 waters, a draft Sam Adams Oktoberfest and a Sam Light bottle. I had a chicken cordon blue sandwich grilled chicken, ham, and I subbed provolone for the swiss, with honey mustard on the side. It was delicious. He had a breaded pork tenderloin, also good. We both changed our regular chips to "buffalo chips" which are seasoned (like curly fry seasoning) round fries. YUMMY! Fat kid pro-tip...get a side of ranch to dip the buffalo chips in. Very clean restaurant, friendly, quick service, tasty food, decent beer selection. We'll be back if we're in the area again. They have a prime rib special on certain nights that looks pretty good.
(4)Ryan H.
First, let me say that if you go for lunch on a Friday expect to wait in line. The atmosphere here is great as well as the food. Just a great place to have a few beers and good grub.
(4)Darrin M.
Ok, so I own a business in Zionsville. When I first opened, everyone that came into my shop asked had I been to The Friendly or not, since I'm not a drinker I generally as a rule stay away from bars. But after witnessing EVERY DAY a long line of people waiting outside the Friendly, I was intrigued. So on a Saturday afternoon, I sent my wife down there to grab the family some food. OMG! I had a chicken sandwich. It was on point, AND HUGE! So needless to say, whenever people ask if I knew of a good place to grab a bite. Without hesitation, I recommend The Friendly Tavern!
(5)Stefan M.
If your only gonna read the 1st line of this review, let me sum The Friendly up...AMAZING! Hurry up and get in line for this place. Hoinestly I (think I have) tried multiple things on the menu here but time and time again it is the wings that bring me back (almost weekly). Their wings are like little perfect pieces of fried chciken. Yeah, you can get them with sauce, buffalo, bleu cheese and such but I love there wings so much that I dont even need the sauce anymore. The tast of the chickes is wonderful. Go ahead and order some buffalo chips on the side or what ever. My tip, 1 order is enough for 2 people to share but you will want to have your own leftovers in the fridge that night to munch on because these are alos amazing cold. I honestly cant remeber many of the other items (I do remember that the fried pork tenderloins are good and the horseradish cheese dip is also good). but get the wings. Get the wings get the wings!
(5)Holly G.
Rick and I stopped by the Friendly after a trip to Zionsville Farmers Market. Great atmosphere...a nice homey place that lives up to its name. Rick ordered the breaded tenderloin and claimed it to be outstanding! His side order of fries were better than average. I ordered a side salad with raspberry vinaigrette and the Apple BBQ Wings. I was a little put off by the price, but when the order came out, I was pleasantly surprised! You definitely get your money's worth. I typically don't care for breaded wings because I think that breading detracts from the flavor of the meat. But these were well-balanced and very tasty indeed. For dessert, Rick had the strawberry rhubarb pie. I had a bit...it was average. For my dessert, I chose a scoop of CINNAMON ice cream. That's right...cinnamon ice cream! And not Red Hots cinnamon - natural, beautiful, unadulterated cinnamon. It's always been one of my favorite flavors and is not that easy to find. So I was beyond pleased to see it on the menu. Overall, our first time experience at The Friendly was great! We'll be back. :)
(4)Rick G.
This was our first visit to the Friendly. We'd been in town for a gig, and decided to dine here. Of course, I had the breaded tenderloin...and it was absolutely fantastic. Over the top good. I'd order it again in a heartbeat. One of the best around. My wife ordered a side salad, and that was one BIG salad...and an order of wings. We were a little put off by the price of an order of wings at the beginning, but when we saw the size of the order...certainly a good value. They were tasty with just the right amount of heat. AND, we had enough to make another meal out of them at home! For dessert, I chose the Strawberry/Rhubarb pie. Not the very best I've ever had, but still well above average. I'd order it again. Service started out good, then got a tad slow as more people came in. Not terribly slow, but enough to knock a star off. All things said, we'll be back. And soon.
(4)DeAnna P.
Very pleased with my experience here! Every bit of the food was fabulous. I was a little nervous about the service, as so many reviews said it was slow. I have to disagree. Our server was prompt and attentive. Funny side note -- when I ordered my tenderloin, she asked if I wanted it grilled or fried. I said, "What kind of a weirdo gets a GRILLED tenderloin? Yuck! Fried please." She looked mildly amused and put in our order. She later came by and asked how the food was. When I told her how delicious the fried tenderloin was, she leaned down and whispered to me. Apparently the woman sitting less than ten feet from me ordered the grilled tenderloin and complained it wasn't very good. Ha! Go fried or go home. I ordered the tenderloin (natch) and a cup of chili. The chili was meaty with plenty of beans. It was not spicy at all, but had a great flavor. You could also get cheese and onion, and they load it up. It came with a heaping basket of every kind of cracker imaginable. Try some Tabasco Sauce on that bad boy, and you are in for a treat. Next came the tenderloin for me, a club sandwich for my friend, and a basket of wings for sharing and taking home. The tenderloin was clearly hand breaded, pounded out just thin enough, and NO yucky silverskin left to interrupt your chewing pleasure. My friend's club was monstrous and according to her, absolutely yummy. Neither of us are big eaters, but we both ate every bite of our sandwiches, practically licking the crumbs. The wings -- oh the wings! For $10.99, you get 18 - 20 meaty wings that appear to be breaded and fried, but not overly breaded or overly fried. Even after we asked for them coated in buffalo sauce, they were still crispy, but not greasy. Unfortunately, I was too full to eat that many, but I have a feeling they reheat wonderfully under a broiler. Total cost for my chili, tenderloin, and chips -- $10. My only, very minor complaint is the seating. You are really stuffed in there like sardines. Waitstaff has to squeeze around each other. I do understand it though. We went at 6:00 pm on a Tuesday and snagged one of the last remaining open tables. I will definitely be back. I'll just keep my comments about grilled tenderloins to myself. :-)
(4)Crystal K.
The food was really great, the beer selection, nothing to brag about. 4 beers? Hmm. I LOVED the Friendly Platter though. Deeeelicious.
(4)Emily J.
When my husband and I lived in the area, we frequently visited The Friendly Tavern. We don't eat beef, so I can only speak to the turkey burgers. Seriously, these are THE BEST turkey burgers I have found ANYWHERE! The flavor is excellent. And the fries? Awesome. I feel the amount of food for the price has to make it the best value in the Zionsville/Carmel area. My husband and and I can get two burgers/fries, two sodas, and an appetizer for less than $30. Try doing that at any other restaurant in the area. It's a dive-type bar, for sure. But those are often the diamond in the rough. The Friendly is no exception!
(5)Tyler S.
I've eaten here three times. The first time I got the breaded tenderloin which was fantastic and I highly recommend. Its one of the best tenderloins I've had in Indiana. After talking about this place with some friends, they mentioned trying the chicken wings. Needless to say, that's what I've gotten the last two times and my mouth is watering just thinking about them. They were served fresh both times and continue to keep me coming back. This is a must have!
(5)Deborah H.
Good place for burger or sandwich. Very crowded; service was cheerful but a bit spotty due to press of customers. Had patty melt w beer. Others had walleye fried sandwich. Would go here again if in area.
(3)Patrick G.
(Yes...there are nothing but white people in Zionsville...HOWEVER......) Okay...I'm reviewing reviews that I didn't review and I totally forgot to review this every time I went. So this is another retroactive review. Friendly Tavern is friendly. Being a transplant to Indianapolis area, I made it a conscious decision to break out and go to as many "safe" and "accepting" places as possible. Zionsville is supposedly suspect in this regard...but this place was very nice and the servers were witty and helpful. The first time I had the Turkey Reuben and a glass of lemonade. That Reuben was great! The second time I had a Prime rib hoagie...wow! I was as full as a tick off that. Very good! The 3rd time I had picked up a friend from outta town and she was hungry. She was staying with friends in Carmel and so I took her here and she demolished their Turkey Burger. I'm pretty sure it was good! LOL. I had already eaten so I just have the Apple Dumpling with a scoop of vanilla Ice Cream. Yummy! The Friendly Tavern is a friendly place and they have very good food!
(5)Erica W.
If you work in the restaurant business or go with someone who has - don't go on a Monday. Service is horrible. We got water right away but didn't get our drinks from the bar for a good 10-15 minutes. Then she brought my husbands drink, but not mine. Then when I got my beer, I got this tiny glass to go with it instead of a SAM Adams glass to go with my beer. My chicken was dry and need extra sauces when there was already BBQ sauce on it. The buffalo chips are delicious though. My husbands steak (ordered medium) was also dry and needed A1. The server was swamped but she was nice when we saw her.
(2)D h.
frequented the friendly enough to form multiple opinions. the first, lunch at the friendly is very good. second, if you hang around longer, the place closes way too early. it's an old school bar that has decided it's better as a lunch & dinner place. and though the food is good, it's not great. a couple of dining areas after your enter in the SE corner and walk thru a small hallway. upstairs is your primary eating section, but there is also one on the east side of the bar. the bar itself is in the southwest corner. square bar with ample seating. love the paper menus and the service is great. the owners have obviously found their niche and it's not serving drunks late into the evening, but the hours make the friendly feel fake. like it's not a true bar (though it look and feels like one), but just cashing in on the lunch and early dinner crowd.
(3)Peter P.
This is an awesome homey bar/tavern in old town Zionsville. The wings are a treat. Fried nicely with 2 sauces of your choosing served on the side. Definitely not the chain restaurant drivel that you usually find in the 'burbs. I highly recommend it.
(4)Vinnie P.
My mother and I had a lovely time at Friendly's. Very welcoming atmosphere. I had the pork chop BBQ special, and she had a small filet. Entrees were excellent, as were the sides! Totally coming again!
(5)Rae Ann P.
5 Stars for the Food, 5 Stars for the Service (Matt was excellent) - You are asked if this is your first time there or a repeat guest - WOW - Matt went through the menu and detailed certain items - our mouths were watering before the dessert selection - Fish sandwich was huge and batter was delicious - burger was exceptional - appetizer plate was plentiful for 3 diners - All this and SunKing beers~!~ Ahhh, life is good!
(5)C A.
The parents love this place when they come to town. I have had my hand batted at when trying to take a chicken wing from my mother's plate. I like the grilled cheese and Husband loves the tenderloin. The service just sucks though - 100% of the time. The servers are nice, but are never around - whether the restaurant is swamped or dead. The last time we went - I actually had to physically get up from the table and go to where the servers were gossiping to get someone to get my dad some more salad dressing. It was 4PM on a Wednesday and the place was empty - come on. We will be back as I'm fairly certain my mom comes to visit more for the FT wings than to see me, but it is not my favorite place.
(3)Dan D.
Being going the there for a long time. Finally tried the prime rib. Excellent.
(5)Dylan E.
I've been to the Friendly Tavern a handful of times, and have had mixed results enough times that I think I am done going in and hoping for the best The location itself is great, right in the middle of the cute part of Zionsville with brick roads in front and little shops along the sidewalks. Parking is made easy with a free public parking lot just north of the Friendly. Even if there wasn't a sign on the place, the old brick building on the corner with locals flowing in and out just emits the kind of vibe that makes you know you're going to find a cold beer and good food inside. Once you make it inside, you quickly realize you weren't the only one who had the same idea. I've never had to wait on a table very long here, but it is always packed. Along with being packed, it is also very loud. The tables and chairs look like they were kept around from the 1960's as well, and certainly weren't purchased with the intent of being any kind of draw. It is a large place that has a bar with a lot of seating around 3 sides of it, and the rest is filled with as many tables as they could fit, making it feel crowded and difficult to get around in. The crowd is definitely on the older side with most of the restaurant full of what I would assume are locals, and I'd take the over if somebody set the line for the median age at 50. As far as the food goes, if you want something delicious and don't have a conscience about what you put into your body, then this is the place to go. Their menu does offer some salads, but one look around and you quickly realize that everyone else has a plate in front of them stacked high with a fried tenderloin, greasy sandwich, crispy wings, fried fish, or a concoction of deep fried appetizers. I've gotten a few things here, and while unhealthy, they were all delicious. The prices are on par with what I would expect for this type of food. The beer list contains a decent number of bottles at an above average price, and only offers a couple of taps not occupied by anything special, so I wouldn't visit if you just wanted to get a few beers. The reason that I can't ever seem to leave this place happy after all of that good stuff is that the service has been terrible. I know that service can be hit and miss, but I'd say of the only 5 or so times I have gone here, 3 of them I can remember feeling like the waitress was just downright rude. The group of people I work with who I usually came in with now refer to it as the "Unfriendly" if we are ever getting a group to go get some food. The other times have been more pleasant, but still involve really long waits to get orders taken, empty glasses for way too long without getting a refill, and an overall sense that you aren't a very high priority. I think that a lot of this probably has to do with the fact that most of the people inside look like they are probably there every night and sit around for hours talking about what their neighbors did that day without requiring much attention, but I'd hate to walk in here hoping to get food in a hurry.
(3)Kelly D.
Being approached with the challenge of taking my dad on a date for his birthday, I looked for somewhere local where we could get some tasty food somewhere that he wouldn't be embarrassed to go. I was surprised by the interior of the Friendly Tavern! Concrete floors and ugly chairs. It's clear that the focus of the Friendly Tavern is on the food and the regulars, just as it should be. It is not an exaggeration to say that this is the best burger I have had in a long time. Fresh cooked fries accompanied our burgers and we could not stop exclaiming over how delicious the food was. Funny how something as simple as a well-cooked burger can make your day! We will be returning to the Friendly Tavern. Dad wants to try the grilled cheese. ;)
(5)Mike K.
Always great food at a reasonable price and a friendly atmosphere. A regular place for lunch.
(5)John J.
Lets start off with the positives. The place has a nice charm to it and the service was good. I believe this is the type of place that if its a burger or deep fried,you will love the food. Trying to be somewhat healthy, I ordered a tenderloin grilled. It was the worst one I have ever had. It was dry and cold. Wife had chili which she enjoyed. Like I said, if you want it fried,this is your place.
(2)Brad K.
I love the Tavern, and this is really a 3.5 star review. I'm from Zionsville, so to me it's more than the food, it's the people you run into. I've eaten here many, many times and have enjoyed apps, salads, sandwiches and occasionally a dinner special. The food is above average (stopping short of calling it great), served promptly and served hot. And I've always liked their desserts. Stop in, you'll have a good time.
(3)Marianne L.
Loud but definitely a place to find friends and neighbors. Their friend chicken wings are the best!!! The fried chicken breast is drier than I like. The cheese and crackers has an amazing horseradish flavor, but it will fill if you up if you're not careful (well, if you have a small amount of space for foods like I do). I hope to get out here a few times a month! Again, it's loud!
(4)Mary S.
Good food! Don't plan to come in unless you are 21+ though. It's always busy & there is usually a line by the door. Not the best place to have a quiet conversation. It's usally pretty loud but it's a popular place in Zionsville with reasonable prices.
(4)Heather H.
Love the tenderloins here! Friendly staff, great atmosphere. Everything is good. Definitely a great spot when the locals call The Friendly home.
(4)EmergencyRN C.
Wow! Arrived in town early for a doctor's appointment & came upon this place for a quick lunch instead of a fast food or chain restaurant. Sat @ bar as not to take a table during a busy lunch crowd. GREAT service and one of the best buffalo chicken sandwiches I have ever had!
(5)Lord B.
The Friendly is a "staple" in Zionsville. It's, a lot of times, why people come here. I know whenever I've talked to someone that hasn't been to Zionsville in a long time; they always ask if the Friendly is still there. Pretty much every item on the menu is excellent. Some of my favorites are: Chicken Tortilla Soup Buffalo Shrimp Black Jack Burger Breaded Tenderloin Grilled Chicken Club But, no matter what you get; you wont be disappointed. They have carryout which is nice and they always do a great job of getting the order right. The wait staff is "Friendly" (no pun intended). If you are visiting Zionsville or if you live in Zionsville and haven't been here yet... get out and get some!
(5)Bill J.
Stopped in for lunch and tried the burger. I know I've been to "The Friendly" at least once before, but it was to grab a beer and I don't recall having any of the food. After reading several Yelp reviews, I decided that I needed to try the burger and see if it's really all that people say that it is. It is really all that and I will definitely come back for another burger, but not until I've come back and tried the wings.
(4)Megan G.
After a very poor experience at the nearby Noah Grant's, we came to Friendly Tavern for a late night dinner. Our service was excellent from the time we walked in the door to the time we left. The menu was huge and both my husband and I had a great meal, at probably a third of what we would have paid at Noah Grant's.
(4)Keith W.
The Friendly Tavern ain't so friendly, in my experience, but it's a great place to eat. I've visited twice since I moved to Zionsville in November 2010. The first time I visited, I arrived after the lunch rush (maybe 3pm) and the place was not crowded. I sat at the bar for almost 20 minutes before the bartender / waitress even acknowledged my presence, and it was only because I grew tired of waiting and timing to see how long the "friendly" people were going to ignore me. I inquired as to whether they had any local beers on tap, and the bartender / waitress stared dully at me before finally saying that they had Sun King in a can. So I ordered that. I asked if they had sweet tea, since not all the Indiana establishments had it, and she immediately perked up. I explained I had just moved from Atlanta, and it was like I threw a light switch; next thing I know, she's got me my own pitcher of sweet tea, is my best friend, and is talking my ear off about how she lived in Savannah, GA for many years. Weird? Yes, to say the least. Thirst abated and patience tested, I turned to the menu and my new friend was (now) more than willing to give me commentary and feedback about the cuisine. I opted for the burger, as it was rumored to be excellent. And it was! I've ordered a cheeseburger both times I've visited because they are that good! Everything from the hand-patted, freshly made and seasoned patty, to the high quality bun makes this burger a must have. The second time I visited, I also sat at the bar, and it took a fairly long time (again) before I was acknowledged and served, but not as long as my initial visit. On my second visit, there were several patrons seated near me at the bar, but none of them looked my way, and their whole demeanor seemed to imply that they were not remotely open to chit-chat. So, I have a few conclusions: I think the Friendly Tavern is a "locals only" place because I saw plenty of people greeting each other and the staff and making chit-chat, but no one seemed inclined to pay much attention to the "new guy". I also think it is an excellent eatery, but it is definitely more of a restaurant. I cannot imagine going there for drinks with friends, and sitting at the bar. The bar is awkwardly arrayed in the center of the dining area, and is essentially a big square. The "back bar" is used as a server station, and has other random restaurant items stacked on it - the other three sides of the bar are for customer seating. There are a couple of small TVs in the front dining area / bar, but there are maybe four spots you could sit that would afford you an unobstructed view of them. I would totally recommend this place for the food; my order arrived in a timely fashion, and the service was adequate, but "friendly" is the LAST word I would use to describe this place if you are not already a local or regular.
(3)Donna D.
I love lunch or dinner at the Friendly. The food is always good and the servers are great. Not much on atmosphere, but I always run into someone I know or knew from growing up in Zionsville. Looking forward to trying some of the other restaurants; especially the one that have added live music.
(4)Michael G.
It was a really nice time with Jera (kids aren't allowed at this restaurant). Burger was awesome and jera's shaved prime was ....... Wait for it ...... Phenomenal!!!!!!!!! We will definitely be back.
(5)Thomas P.
You almost expect someone to yell out "Norm!" when the door opens. This place is so comfortable. As got the food, get the broasted chicken wings (with two sauces) appetizer. The order is huge and everyone that is new to the restaurant is kicking themselves for not ordering it too. The wait staff will remember you when you come back (which is often!)
(4)Dawn T.
I haven't eaten a lot of different food at The Friendly Tavern, but the BBQ wings are amazing. I drive over a half hour just to eat these wings. The wings are just too good to eat anything else. They do have good tenderloins though. I have had that. The apple dumpling with cinnamon ice cream is also delicious. The atomosphere is not terrific, but with the wings and beer does it really matter?
(4)Gretchen G.
We've been several times and it's the same thing every time. Food was good. Wait was almost unbearable. Service and selection was on par with most chain places close by. If you want better food/service try the more upscale places nearby. Otherwise, be prepared to wait and expect the regular pub-style fare.
(3)John W.
well we just got home from here. It sits in the beautiful downtown area of Zionsville and the brick lined streets and quaint shops and places to eat and drink. Something for everyone in this area. So for a Friday night at 8pm it was really busy. But we only waited about 5 minutes for a table. Every table we passed had some good food on it. So it was hard for me to decide what to get. Being a southerner I ordered some sweet tea and it was pretty good. Otherwise it was Coke products. Always a deduction for me. Blah!! I was torn between the Hand pattied burger, The Hand Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and that giant plate of Chicken wings. Well they lost me with the chicken wings because I only like the flat pieces and not the drummies and they told me i had to take them as they come so for that reason I passed on the wings but they looked great. So the hand breaded tenderloin won me over and I was glad that I did, was it the best I have ever eaten? Not even close but it was really good and i would order it again. Sandwiches come with chips you pay and extra dollar if you want fries so I did. They were decent. The other person with me ordered the Chicken Salad plate, his only complaint was the Tomato it was stuffed in was room temperature and not cold, but he said it had great flavor. Also it would have been nice if they could have substituted the bowl of cottage cheese for something else as there are probably more people in the world who do not like it than do. I cannot eat fries without something to dip them in and i dont do ketchup. So I asked for honey mustard, and not sure if they make this in house or not but it was really good. We left full and enjoyed our meal. Service was great, my only comment about service is she missed an opportunity with us since we made mention that it was our first visit and there was a board across the room that had specials like 19.99 prime rib that I may very well have ordered if I had known. It was really busy and even when we were leaving at around 9ish there were still people filling the place, even a large party of 15. We walked around the neighborhood afterwards and it was quite enjoyable so I recommend going and make sure you can walk around afterwards as this is just a beautiful neighborhood full of lots to look at and take in, some of the most beautiful flowers and things I have seen in a while.
(4)rod m.
If you've not been recognized by the bartender, it's the "not so" bar IMHO. Food is above average, service is bad. I'd spend my dime at the cobblestone or Attic first
(2)Cara R.
The Friendly Bar has the best and most apt name for any bar I've visited. It's located in the quaint little village/main street part of Zionsville and as soon as you walk in the waitresses greet you with a smile. I was taken here for lunch by a local and I'm really posting this review to state that the breaded tenderloin I had here is the best I've had. Crispy outside, hot greasy porky inside, with a fluffy butter-grill toasted bun and side of mayo and ketchup. Layer that big leafy green piece of lettuce on there and you've got yourself a lunch, my friend. Welcome to the Friendly Bar.
(4)Melanie T.
This place was open nice and late on a Friday night for me and my hubby to stroll in and take a seat at one of the tables by the windows overlooking the cute quaintness that is downtown Zionsville on a fair-weather summer night. Our servers were indeed "friendly" but I'm sitting here writing this review to get out the word about THE FOOD. The cheeseburger was melt-in-your-mouth fresh (yes, that is possible with hamburger meat, apparently), and the "buffalo chips" fries on the side were simply the best fries I have ever eaten in my life--not just counting my yelp years, either! The "chips" are shaped like thick ruffley potato chips, but they are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, with cajun style seasoning. They arrived hot and with a side of ranch dipping sauce. I would never dream of ruining the flavor of the chips with ketchup. The ranch sauce packed the perfect compliment. My husband devoured a giant catfish sandwich and his own mound of piping hot buffalo chips. The only thing that upset me about our date at the Tavern was that I had to bring half of my entire meal home with me in a doggy bag because I'm now very pregnant with a reduced-capacity stomach. It took willpower I did not know I had to refrain from stuffing it all down my throat, whether there was room for it or not. The silver lining is that I now have a delicious late-late-night "snack" waiting for me in the fridge! I plan to take all of my out-of-town visitors to Friendly Tavern from now on.
(5)pippa c.
Great chicken wings, my husband loves their ginormous BLT and I love their beefy vegetable soup. Definitely fast and friendly service, enjoyed our meals here. One of our usual dinner place and love to come back often.
(4)Shane L.
This is a decent spot, offering the standard bar fare in an old rustic setting. Maybe a bit too old. A little updating could go a long way. Not that it needs a modern feel - just get rid of the garage sale-kitsch that seems to permeate the place. Fairly good beer selection. It is the only tavern in downtown Zionsville. The spot has a lot of potential. I just wish the owners would kick it up a notch and give us something to really want to come back to.
(3)Colleen F.
You can't beat the consistency of the food, especially the pork tenderloin sandwich. YUM. This place deserves it's local institution status.
(5)Thomas P.
You almost expect someone to yell out "Norm!" when the door opens. This place is so comfortable. As got the food, get the broasted chicken wings (with two sauces) appetizer. The order is huge and everyone that is new to the restaurant is kicking themselves for not ordering it too. The wait staff will remember you when you come back (which is often!)
(4)Keith W.
The Friendly Tavern ain't so friendly, in my experience, but it's a great place to eat. I've visited twice since I moved to Zionsville in November 2010. The first time I visited, I arrived after the lunch rush (maybe 3pm) and the place was not crowded. I sat at the bar for almost 20 minutes before the bartender / waitress even acknowledged my presence, and it was only because I grew tired of waiting and timing to see how long the "friendly" people were going to ignore me. I inquired as to whether they had any local beers on tap, and the bartender / waitress stared dully at me before finally saying that they had Sun King in a can. So I ordered that. I asked if they had sweet tea, since not all the Indiana establishments had it, and she immediately perked up. I explained I had just moved from Atlanta, and it was like I threw a light switch; next thing I know, she's got me my own pitcher of sweet tea, is my best friend, and is talking my ear off about how she lived in Savannah, GA for many years. Weird? Yes, to say the least. Thirst abated and patience tested, I turned to the menu and my new friend was (now) more than willing to give me commentary and feedback about the cuisine. I opted for the burger, as it was rumored to be excellent. And it was! I've ordered a cheeseburger both times I've visited because they are that good! Everything from the hand-patted, freshly made and seasoned patty, to the high quality bun makes this burger a must have. The second time I visited, I also sat at the bar, and it took a fairly long time (again) before I was acknowledged and served, but not as long as my initial visit. On my second visit, there were several patrons seated near me at the bar, but none of them looked my way, and their whole demeanor seemed to imply that they were not remotely open to chit-chat. So, I have a few conclusions: I think the Friendly Tavern is a "locals only" place because I saw plenty of people greeting each other and the staff and making chit-chat, but no one seemed inclined to pay much attention to the "new guy". I also think it is an excellent eatery, but it is definitely more of a restaurant. I cannot imagine going there for drinks with friends, and sitting at the bar. The bar is awkwardly arrayed in the center of the dining area, and is essentially a big square. The "back bar" is used as a server station, and has other random restaurant items stacked on it - the other three sides of the bar are for customer seating. There are a couple of small TVs in the front dining area / bar, but there are maybe four spots you could sit that would afford you an unobstructed view of them. I would totally recommend this place for the food; my order arrived in a timely fashion, and the service was adequate, but "friendly" is the LAST word I would use to describe this place if you are not already a local or regular.
(3)rod m.
If you've not been recognized by the bartender, it's the "not so" bar IMHO. Food is above average, service is bad. I'd spend my dime at the cobblestone or Attic first
(2)Cara R.
The Friendly Bar has the best and most apt name for any bar I've visited. It's located in the quaint little village/main street part of Zionsville and as soon as you walk in the waitresses greet you with a smile. I was taken here for lunch by a local and I'm really posting this review to state that the breaded tenderloin I had here is the best I've had. Crispy outside, hot greasy porky inside, with a fluffy butter-grill toasted bun and side of mayo and ketchup. Layer that big leafy green piece of lettuce on there and you've got yourself a lunch, my friend. Welcome to the Friendly Bar.
(4)Melanie T.
This place was open nice and late on a Friday night for me and my hubby to stroll in and take a seat at one of the tables by the windows overlooking the cute quaintness that is downtown Zionsville on a fair-weather summer night. Our servers were indeed "friendly" but I'm sitting here writing this review to get out the word about THE FOOD. The cheeseburger was melt-in-your-mouth fresh (yes, that is possible with hamburger meat, apparently), and the "buffalo chips" fries on the side were simply the best fries I have ever eaten in my life--not just counting my yelp years, either! The "chips" are shaped like thick ruffley potato chips, but they are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, with cajun style seasoning. They arrived hot and with a side of ranch dipping sauce. I would never dream of ruining the flavor of the chips with ketchup. The ranch sauce packed the perfect compliment. My husband devoured a giant catfish sandwich and his own mound of piping hot buffalo chips. The only thing that upset me about our date at the Tavern was that I had to bring half of my entire meal home with me in a doggy bag because I'm now very pregnant with a reduced-capacity stomach. It took willpower I did not know I had to refrain from stuffing it all down my throat, whether there was room for it or not. The silver lining is that I now have a delicious late-late-night "snack" waiting for me in the fridge! I plan to take all of my out-of-town visitors to Friendly Tavern from now on.
(5)pippa c.
Great chicken wings, my husband loves their ginormous BLT and I love their beefy vegetable soup. Definitely fast and friendly service, enjoyed our meals here. One of our usual dinner place and love to come back often.
(4)Rae Ann P.
5 Stars for the Food, 5 Stars for the Service (Matt was excellent) - You are asked if this is your first time there or a repeat guest - WOW - Matt went through the menu and detailed certain items - our mouths were watering before the dessert selection - Fish sandwich was huge and batter was delicious - burger was exceptional - appetizer plate was plentiful for 3 diners - All this and SunKing beers~!~ Ahhh, life is good!
(5)Kelly O.
The Name Says it All! This place is a family favorite! The staff always remembers you, you end up being best friends with your table neighbors, and the meal is always well prepared and tastes like good southern home cooking. They have an array of food to choose from and everything is really good! They sometimes have a bit of a wait, the key is to get to the restaurant BEFORE 4, just FYI. After 4, you may wait awhile.
(4)Deborah H.
Good place for burger or sandwich. Very crowded; service was cheerful but a bit spotty due to press of customers. Had patty melt w beer. Others had walleye fried sandwich. Would go here again if in area.
(3)Patrick G.
(Yes...there are nothing but white people in Zionsville...HOWEVER......) Okay...I'm reviewing reviews that I didn't review and I totally forgot to review this every time I went. So this is another retroactive review. Friendly Tavern is friendly. Being a transplant to Indianapolis area, I made it a conscious decision to break out and go to as many "safe" and "accepting" places as possible. Zionsville is supposedly suspect in this regard...but this place was very nice and the servers were witty and helpful. The first time I had the Turkey Reuben and a glass of lemonade. That Reuben was great! The second time I had a Prime rib hoagie...wow! I was as full as a tick off that. Very good! The 3rd time I had picked up a friend from outta town and she was hungry. She was staying with friends in Carmel and so I took her here and she demolished their Turkey Burger. I'm pretty sure it was good! LOL. I had already eaten so I just have the Apple Dumpling with a scoop of vanilla Ice Cream. Yummy! The Friendly Tavern is a friendly place and they have very good food!
(5)Erica W.
If you work in the restaurant business or go with someone who has - don't go on a Monday. Service is horrible. We got water right away but didn't get our drinks from the bar for a good 10-15 minutes. Then she brought my husbands drink, but not mine. Then when I got my beer, I got this tiny glass to go with it instead of a SAM Adams glass to go with my beer. My chicken was dry and need extra sauces when there was already BBQ sauce on it. The buffalo chips are delicious though. My husbands steak (ordered medium) was also dry and needed A1. The server was swamped but she was nice when we saw her.
(2)D h.
frequented the friendly enough to form multiple opinions. the first, lunch at the friendly is very good. second, if you hang around longer, the place closes way too early. it's an old school bar that has decided it's better as a lunch & dinner place. and though the food is good, it's not great. a couple of dining areas after your enter in the SE corner and walk thru a small hallway. upstairs is your primary eating section, but there is also one on the east side of the bar. the bar itself is in the southwest corner. square bar with ample seating. love the paper menus and the service is great. the owners have obviously found their niche and it's not serving drunks late into the evening, but the hours make the friendly feel fake. like it's not a true bar (though it look and feels like one), but just cashing in on the lunch and early dinner crowd.
(3)Peter P.
This is an awesome homey bar/tavern in old town Zionsville. The wings are a treat. Fried nicely with 2 sauces of your choosing served on the side. Definitely not the chain restaurant drivel that you usually find in the 'burbs. I highly recommend it.
(4)Vinnie P.
My mother and I had a lovely time at Friendly's. Very welcoming atmosphere. I had the pork chop BBQ special, and she had a small filet. Entrees were excellent, as were the sides! Totally coming again!
(5)C A.
The parents love this place when they come to town. I have had my hand batted at when trying to take a chicken wing from my mother's plate. I like the grilled cheese and Husband loves the tenderloin. The service just sucks though - 100% of the time. The servers are nice, but are never around - whether the restaurant is swamped or dead. The last time we went - I actually had to physically get up from the table and go to where the servers were gossiping to get someone to get my dad some more salad dressing. It was 4PM on a Wednesday and the place was empty - come on. We will be back as I'm fairly certain my mom comes to visit more for the FT wings than to see me, but it is not my favorite place.
(3)Dan D.
Being going the there for a long time. Finally tried the prime rib. Excellent.
(5)Dylan E.
I've been to the Friendly Tavern a handful of times, and have had mixed results enough times that I think I am done going in and hoping for the best The location itself is great, right in the middle of the cute part of Zionsville with brick roads in front and little shops along the sidewalks. Parking is made easy with a free public parking lot just north of the Friendly. Even if there wasn't a sign on the place, the old brick building on the corner with locals flowing in and out just emits the kind of vibe that makes you know you're going to find a cold beer and good food inside. Once you make it inside, you quickly realize you weren't the only one who had the same idea. I've never had to wait on a table very long here, but it is always packed. Along with being packed, it is also very loud. The tables and chairs look like they were kept around from the 1960's as well, and certainly weren't purchased with the intent of being any kind of draw. It is a large place that has a bar with a lot of seating around 3 sides of it, and the rest is filled with as many tables as they could fit, making it feel crowded and difficult to get around in. The crowd is definitely on the older side with most of the restaurant full of what I would assume are locals, and I'd take the over if somebody set the line for the median age at 50. As far as the food goes, if you want something delicious and don't have a conscience about what you put into your body, then this is the place to go. Their menu does offer some salads, but one look around and you quickly realize that everyone else has a plate in front of them stacked high with a fried tenderloin, greasy sandwich, crispy wings, fried fish, or a concoction of deep fried appetizers. I've gotten a few things here, and while unhealthy, they were all delicious. The prices are on par with what I would expect for this type of food. The beer list contains a decent number of bottles at an above average price, and only offers a couple of taps not occupied by anything special, so I wouldn't visit if you just wanted to get a few beers. The reason that I can't ever seem to leave this place happy after all of that good stuff is that the service has been terrible. I know that service can be hit and miss, but I'd say of the only 5 or so times I have gone here, 3 of them I can remember feeling like the waitress was just downright rude. The group of people I work with who I usually came in with now refer to it as the "Unfriendly" if we are ever getting a group to go get some food. The other times have been more pleasant, but still involve really long waits to get orders taken, empty glasses for way too long without getting a refill, and an overall sense that you aren't a very high priority. I think that a lot of this probably has to do with the fact that most of the people inside look like they are probably there every night and sit around for hours talking about what their neighbors did that day without requiring much attention, but I'd hate to walk in here hoping to get food in a hurry.
(3)Kelly D.
Being approached with the challenge of taking my dad on a date for his birthday, I looked for somewhere local where we could get some tasty food somewhere that he wouldn't be embarrassed to go. I was surprised by the interior of the Friendly Tavern! Concrete floors and ugly chairs. It's clear that the focus of the Friendly Tavern is on the food and the regulars, just as it should be. It is not an exaggeration to say that this is the best burger I have had in a long time. Fresh cooked fries accompanied our burgers and we could not stop exclaiming over how delicious the food was. Funny how something as simple as a well-cooked burger can make your day! We will be returning to the Friendly Tavern. Dad wants to try the grilled cheese. ;)
(5)Mike K.
Always great food at a reasonable price and a friendly atmosphere. A regular place for lunch.
(5)John J.
Lets start off with the positives. The place has a nice charm to it and the service was good. I believe this is the type of place that if its a burger or deep fried,you will love the food. Trying to be somewhat healthy, I ordered a tenderloin grilled. It was the worst one I have ever had. It was dry and cold. Wife had chili which she enjoyed. Like I said, if you want it fried,this is your place.
(2)Brad K.
I love the Tavern, and this is really a 3.5 star review. I'm from Zionsville, so to me it's more than the food, it's the people you run into. I've eaten here many, many times and have enjoyed apps, salads, sandwiches and occasionally a dinner special. The food is above average (stopping short of calling it great), served promptly and served hot. And I've always liked their desserts. Stop in, you'll have a good time.
(3)Marianne L.
Loud but definitely a place to find friends and neighbors. Their friend chicken wings are the best!!! The fried chicken breast is drier than I like. The cheese and crackers has an amazing horseradish flavor, but it will fill if you up if you're not careful (well, if you have a small amount of space for foods like I do). I hope to get out here a few times a month! Again, it's loud!
(4)Becky Y.
It's true, they will remember you. but you know it's mostly Zionsville folk who are their regulars they know almost every other person by name and every other person inevitably spots their friends or neighbors across the room. No drink specials, boo. but very good beer selection by the bottle, anyway. Smallish bar but it's cozy and it works. Menu consists of burgers, sandwiches, the usual pub appetizers. I recommend anything fried. These people have hired the fry cook from heaven. 4 types of fried potatoes, awesome fat onion rings, the best breaded whitefish in the city, very good tenderloin and wings and chicken as well. the breading on each of them whether the beer batter on the onion rings or the crunchy crusted fish-- is absolutely divine. but i did mention the fry cook is from heaven, right? If you must go with lighter fare, salads are big and crunchy and fresh, the soup is yum as well. Very good coleslaw. if you order an entree you get the old school basket of crackers with your meal, love that. They also have prime rib on fridays and wknds and other running entree specials like chicken parm and pasta as well. I never have room for dessert. but the apple dumpling has been calling..... soon, soon.
(5)Mary S.
Good food! Don't plan to come in unless you are 21+ though. It's always busy & there is usually a line by the door. Not the best place to have a quiet conversation. It's usally pretty loud but it's a popular place in Zionsville with reasonable prices.
(4)Heather H.
Love the tenderloins here! Friendly staff, great atmosphere. Everything is good. Definitely a great spot when the locals call The Friendly home.
(4)EmergencyRN C.
Wow! Arrived in town early for a doctor's appointment & came upon this place for a quick lunch instead of a fast food or chain restaurant. Sat @ bar as not to take a table during a busy lunch crowd. GREAT service and one of the best buffalo chicken sandwiches I have ever had!
(5)Lord B.
The Friendly is a "staple" in Zionsville. It's, a lot of times, why people come here. I know whenever I've talked to someone that hasn't been to Zionsville in a long time; they always ask if the Friendly is still there. Pretty much every item on the menu is excellent. Some of my favorites are: Chicken Tortilla Soup Buffalo Shrimp Black Jack Burger Breaded Tenderloin Grilled Chicken Club But, no matter what you get; you wont be disappointed. They have carryout which is nice and they always do a great job of getting the order right. The wait staff is "Friendly" (no pun intended). If you are visiting Zionsville or if you live in Zionsville and haven't been here yet... get out and get some!
(5)Bill J.
Stopped in for lunch and tried the burger. I know I've been to "The Friendly" at least once before, but it was to grab a beer and I don't recall having any of the food. After reading several Yelp reviews, I decided that I needed to try the burger and see if it's really all that people say that it is. It is really all that and I will definitely come back for another burger, but not until I've come back and tried the wings.
(4)Megan G.
After a very poor experience at the nearby Noah Grant's, we came to Friendly Tavern for a late night dinner. Our service was excellent from the time we walked in the door to the time we left. The menu was huge and both my husband and I had a great meal, at probably a third of what we would have paid at Noah Grant's.
(4)Dawn T.
I haven't eaten a lot of different food at The Friendly Tavern, but the BBQ wings are amazing. I drive over a half hour just to eat these wings. The wings are just too good to eat anything else. They do have good tenderloins though. I have had that. The apple dumpling with cinnamon ice cream is also delicious. The atomosphere is not terrific, but with the wings and beer does it really matter?
(4)Gretchen G.
We've been several times and it's the same thing every time. Food was good. Wait was almost unbearable. Service and selection was on par with most chain places close by. If you want better food/service try the more upscale places nearby. Otherwise, be prepared to wait and expect the regular pub-style fare.
(3)