Big Lug Canteen delivers a memorable meal from start to finish -- friendly, unpretentious service, a warm neighborhood vibe, and two standout dishes that I'll be ordering again. The Brussels sprouts are an absolute triumph: perfectly blistered with a caramelized exterior and tender interior, dressed in a harmonious balance of bright acidity and savory depth. Little crunchy bits and a subtle smoky char add texture, while a finishing sprinkle (and a hint of something sweet-salty) elevates them from simple side to a show-stealer. The Korean salmon is equally impressive. The fish arrives flaky and moist with a richly glazed crust that carries sweet, spicy, and umami notes in perfect proportion. Layers of flavor -- gochujang-forward heat, sesame brightness, and a touch of citrus -- play against the salmon's natural richness without overpowering it. It's plated thoughtfully, with complementary sides that keep each bite balanced. If you're at Big Lug Canteen, don't pass up those two dishes -- they demonstrate skilled technique, bold yet nuanced seasoning, and a real sense of care in the kitchen. Great food, relaxed atmosphere, solid value. Highly recommended. read more

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Big Lug is a nice brewery with lots of beer and food options. The day we went, it wasn't very busy and the service was fantastic- they were always on top of asking how things were, giving refills, etc. Clean and had lots of TVs with football on for a Sunday afternoon! The only downside for me is that it's a little pricey for what you get. read more

Big Lug Canteen - Chicken cranberry melt; Brussel sprouts - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Sep 21, 2025 Went to Big Lug last Tuesday (9.16.25) for a quick lunch. They're located on the southside of 86th right off the Monon in Nora. Although they have really nice shaded outdoor seating near the trail, we opted for a booth in the bar area. I will say the booths are not the most comfortable (benches are narrow and a little far away form the table) --so a table is a much better option. We ordered chips and queso to split. I got the burger special of the day, which had cheddar, bacon, and jalapenos on a pretzel bun. For my side, I got the brussel sprouts. My friend got a regular cheeseburger and curly fries. Our queso for the chips was not even warm. They quickly brought us another - but that one was the same temperature. We told someone - weren't upset about it, but wanted to let someone know because it seemed like maybe a warmer wasn't plugged in our something. But I'm not sure the person we told understood what we meant (it wasn't our regular server.) No biggie, just fyi. My burger, the spice level, cheese, bacon and bun were very tasty. The brussel sprouts were good as well, and my friend enjoyed her dish, too. Great lunch place. #yum #ReviewsByRL read more

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Arrived late on a Saturday, and kitchen still open! Don't let the name fool you, as I was hoping for a salad & cider--I was not disappointed! Menu variety was nice, and seasonal specials as well. Full bar in addition to their Big Lug products-would definitely return! Service efficient & friendly. read more

Big Lug Canteen - (Seasonal) Lemon Chicken Salad (half size!) - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Good beer and food and atmosphere outside is great. Short walk from Meridian Street. Will go back for sure.

This place exceeded my expectations! Overall, the food was delicious and the indoor/outdoor element they provide is awesome. I ordered the 12 wings, 6 spicy garlic and 6 hot. The spicy garlic had great flavor and I would go with these for all of the wings next time. The hot wings definitely had heat, but hardly any flavor to the sauce. They were still good size wings, while not being overly large where you get the fat and grizzle. Highly recommend the wings. The cheese curds were the hit at the table. They come out hot, they portion size is definitely shareable among 3-4 people, and the flavor is outstanding. It's a perfect starter. Others at my table got a fish sandwich, which I believe was the weekly special at the time. They loved it and said they would come back just for that. The weekly special rotates and items come on/off the menu, so if you see something you like posted, be sure to come in and get it! You can sit inside or outside. Either way, there was plenty of staff waiting tables. The staff is very friendly and very helpful with any questions on the drinks or food menu. Come check out Big Lug Canteen! I would think this place gets packed on your favorite team's gamedays. read more

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The service here is absolutely amazing and the staff brings a real family make yourself at home vibe. Be sure to go upstairs and check out the brewery! The food came out VERY quick. It was also incredibly fresh all around and absolutely delicious. Price was very fair for the large portions. 10/10 will come again. read more

Big Lug Canteen - Loaded Nachos! - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I didn't come here for months after 1 bad experience with my food and my opinion has completely changed. I've been back 3x and Everytime has been 5 stars and my friends all really loved their food as well. Every staff member I've encountered was nice, food comes out quick, the restaurant offers seating upstairs if you're over 21 that's really cool and the patio space out back is large and good for groups. Plenty of seating. The Willie's salad is a 10/10, I got the full and was stuffed, but there was still plenty for my husband to eat. I tried his Philly cheesesteak (which I typically hate) and it was actually delicious. I was shocked! The hand cut fries are crispy in a good way and they have plenty of tasty dipping sauces to choose from. In addition to all of this, Big Lug offers daily drink specials and a lunch menu. Service & food have been so consistent this might be my new go-to spot for taking visitors! read more

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Heat Advisory and all of a sudden people don't want to sit outside? Folks spend the preceding 100 days complaining about how cold it is and this is how we respond? I'm not mad, just disappointed. Snagging a table in the back, our biking triage nursed cold adult bevvys in peace for the duration of our stay. In past visitations, this patio is one of high pedigree, so we soaked up our exclusivity. Doubling down on specials, I snagged a Tenderloin for a tenner alongside my pale ale. Trying bites even beyond my plate brought the realization that Big Lug is solid, not spectacular. Dust off those tricycles and come share an outdoor beer here! read more

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The beer is solid. I love the throwback in Topanga. The Nashville hit here is legit hot. Kiss of death stuff. The curly fries are epic good. Next time I'm going for something a little more mild and a HUGE order of curly fries. read more

Big Lug Canteen - Nashville hot chicken tacos, hot honey Brussels sprouts, a flight of beer, chicken tenders & curly fries. - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Big Lug has a really cool industrial vibe with a relaxed feel. It's one of the few places my wife and I go to fairly regularly. Tonight I got the pizza and it was honestly awesome -- super crispy pepperonis and great flavor. Only downside is it's a 10", and I definitely could've eaten a bigger one. The salad was fine, not amazing. I also tried the Nashville chicken and even the mild was way hotter than I expected. Their beer lineup is great if you're into IPAs. I had the Goat Ranch and really liked it. Service was solid. They checked on us just enough without being annoying. All around, a good spot I'd go back to. read more

Big Lug Canteen - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

If you know me, you know I love it here. I've added a new dish to my rotation of favorites....the Caesar(make it a wrap) and add fried chicken? AMAZING. You can choose any side and I get kettle chips. Obsessed! read more

Service was great, waiter was always checking on us. The place was clean and had a nice friendly atmosphere. The menu had plenty of good options to try from I decided on the Willie's Special. I wish the chicken was a bit crispier and had a little more sauce to it. The fries were much better than I expected and were really good! I'd like to try the wings next time I go. read more

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Came in here for dinner one weeknight with a friend. We had wanted to sit outside, so we let the host know. He told us we could head upstairs and thru that bar area to grab a table. We followed those instructions and got a table no issue. We waited and waited for quite a while and no one came to greet us. My friend went inside and found an employee. Turns out no one told her we were there and generally the host seats you. She was very friendly and willing to make recommendations. I went with the Philly. It was good but almost too cheesy. The fries were great. My friend had ordered nachos and they forgot some toppings. When it came time to pay there was an issue with the credit card machine and it took awhile to get our checks and a box in the first place. I would give them another try. read more

Big Lug Canteen - Philly cheesesteak - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Great place in terms of location and convenience. Food is really good and they have great service. If I lived in the apartments connected I'd probably be a regular. read more

The family and I stopped in for dinner on a Sunday night around 6:30 for the first time. The location is great and it's so cute inside, we didn't go check out the beer garden it was just to hot. We waited a little for a host to greet us, we had limited places to sit since we had minors with us. Hubs and I order off devour menu, and it was obvious the items had been sitting precooked for a while they were very dry. The portions are huge so I would suggest splitting anything you get. Best bites were : beard pudding and crab Rangoon. We had enough leftovers for 3 more meals read more

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Big Lug is right in our neighborhood and we've been a handful of times. In past visits we've had Ok service and Ok food, but we wanted to give it another chance because the patio area is fantastic and we do love the beer selection. I'm happy to report that our visit recently had both excellent service and food! I tried a black and blue wrap and my husband ordered the Caprese Ledecky special. We each had one of their seasonal beers that were on special. The food came out hot and was delicious, I especially appreciated the wrap which was well constructed and used a traditional flour tortilla that held all of the ingredients nicely. The patio right off the Monon is really a nice spot with tables and umbrellas and is dog friendly! read more

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What a great night spent on the patio. We arrived around 7:30 on a Friday night, and made our way to the patio. It's honestly kind of a pain in the butt to have to walk around the whole building from the parking lot to get to the patio- definitely should be a way to access it from inside the restaurant. Not too busy on the patio, so we were seated quickly. A live band started playing shortly after we sat down which was nice for the warm evening. Service was a little slow throughout the night, and our waitresses wasn't the most outgoing with us. The food came out less than ten minutes after we ordered- we were surprised when we saw it coming because it was lightning fast. The food was really good. I started off with a house salad. I don't think it was worth $5.49 for the amount you get, but everything looked and tasted fresh, and the vinaigrette was a nice touch. I had the Cuban for my main. I enjoyed the pork belly on it- somewhat unique. Overall, I would definitely get it again. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that I was able to upgrade to poutine fries. Instead of having to order a big appetizer for just two people of the fries, it was nice to just get a side order- and they definitely don't skimp on the toppings either. Overall, I would give the food a 4.5/5 for taste and pricing, and service a 3.5/5. read more

Big Lug Canteen - Full cuban with poutine fries - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Had a great first experience here. Went around 5 pm on a Sunday, and it wasn't super busy. They have a nice outside dining area that we were honestly aiming for, but ended up just being a tad too chilly for us. We sat upstairs, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. The bartender was very nice, said she had only been there for a month, but her recommendations were great. If you like Philly Cheesesteaks, GET THEIR PHILLY CHEESESTEAK! Best I've had in the area, easily. I got the Goat Ranch beer, and it was solid. They had advertisements for trivia nights on Tuesdays, which also paired with other ads for Taco and Marg Tuesdays, and boy do I wish I could go on those nights . Definitely didn't expect to spend $90 for 2 people, but it was worth it! read more

We've come here a few times and sat outside with our dogs, but this was the first time sitting inside at the bar. Good vibes only here :) there were two bartenders that were easy to talk to and came to check on us periodically. We came past 8:30pm for their late night menu. Everything is 4 and 5 dollars. We ordered the gunslinger slider, the bagel bite (love it on an everything bagel), a blackened shrimp taco (good, but too much avocado in there for a small taco), and the wings (3 in an order $4, and I got the spicy garlic sauce on them). This is a great way to get some tasty, cheap food. Each person could get 2 or 3 dishes for under $15 and be full. We also got a couple beers and I tried their Severance (!!!) themed cocktail Ready, Aim, Fire and it was so dang good. Would definitely come back here :) read more

Big Lug Canteen - Ready, Aim, Fire (Severance themed cocktail special) - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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QUICKIE REVIEW Great place for beer. FOOD This is what I tried: -Nashville chicken Chicken left a bit to be desired. Came with a friend from Tennessee who got the same thing that said this isn't the right meal for this place. Would be sure to try some other items next time I come. PARKING Yes, it is in a shared parking lot with other businesses. SERVICE Waitress was cool and took care of us. PRICE Can expect around $25-ish for an adult beverage and meal. TIP/OTHER THOUGHTS Place is big with ample seating. Can easily come here with 10+ for an event or just for a big meet up. read more

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We were in town for the state fair and decided to stop here for dinner the day before. It was a wonderful experience. The noise level was not too loud, which can occur in these types of bar atmospheres. We ordered the seasonal philly steak egg rolls which come with a side so we shared a ceasar salad. The salad dressing is made in his and it was phenomenal! My husband haf the shrimp po' boy while I ordered the Margherita pizza. It was all much better than I could've expected. Our waiter, Nolan, was attentive without being overbearing! If you are looking for a real casual place with up scale food stop by. You will not be disappointed! read more

Complaining works, but I complain too often! Big Lug Canteen responded very positively to my issue. Bless them!

Just disappointing. Poor quality, over stretched service. Not worth the price. Nora, Indiana

A friend and I visited this afternoon to try out a new place from the Devour Indy line-up, and Big Lug did not disappoint! We arrived around 12:30 pm today (Saturday), and it appeared to be peak time for them. The majority of the location is designated as 21 and over only, but there is a small portion of the downstairs dining area for parties with people under the age of 21. We grabbed menus and headed upstairs. There were only a couple of tables available, and we grabbed the larger of the two in order to accommodate all of our plates! With the Devour Menu, 2 can dine for $45 (sharing an appetizer & dessert) or an individual can order 3 courses for themselves for $25 each. We chose the latter. That way, we could order two different appetizers, 2 different entrees, and if either of us were a fan of banana cake, two different desserts and share them all! For our apps, we got the Poutine Skins & Chorizo Nachos. Both were really good flavor-wise with enormous portions that were perfect for sharing. The nachos, however, were served cold (not sure if that was on purpose or not), and I struggled to find the chorizo. I came to the conclusion that the chorizo was mixed into the cheese sauce and all of the cold, fresh toppings brought down the temperature of the dish. The Poutine Skins were generously loaded and very filling. After sipping our margaritas and munching on the appetizers, we were unable to even taste our entrees while at the restaurant, and we got our desserts to-go. By then, the area had cleared out, so we sat and talked while finishing our drinks. It's a pretty cool vibe in there. Very casual and chill. I was concerned that our entrees wouldn't fair well being reheated, but I was wrong. I started with dessert when I got home. The ice cream was already melting, so I had to! The batter-dipped, deep-fried brownie was gluttonous. Cut in half and shared with my husband, I still couldn't eat all of my share. In my opinion, the battery (or the grease it was fried in) made the confection a tad bit too salty for me. The 50/50 Bacon Burger was on point! So, so good! The fried fish taco was good too, but I'm sure it would've been much better if eaten fresh at the restaurant. The toppings sort of turned to mush after microwaving it. We looked around and saw lots of people ordering the cheese curds, so I'll definitively try those if I return. This is a cool place for beer lovers. read more

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Came here with my family not too long ago, the food and beer totally hit the spot. When I'm in Indianapolis again, I'll be sure to return.

It's hard to believe that it has been nine years since my original review of Big Lug Canteen, a Nora favorite and yet another restaurant in the Sahm's family of restaurants. I will confess that despite my love for Sahm's (passionate devotee) and generally positive experience here, I'd struggled with accessibility concerns the last time around and have been just a wee bit hesitant to return. Hm. I was wrong. I mean, okay. There are definitely some limits here. As Eddie (Sahm) himself has noted, the second floor is not accessible. The bar has some accessibility, though it's generally high-tops. The inside is an interesting dilemma and I think Big Lug has done about the best you can do - it's a narrow setting. As you enter, there's a row of booths to the right (all with a step into), a group of tables toward the front (all accessible, though a bit tight when crowded), and then the bar. There's a narrow hallway that leads to the now open outside dining along the Monon Trail. It's a shared space with The Roost (also owned by Sahm's). You can also access it from the trail. The outside area is quite delightfully accessible. There are accessible parking spots, appropriate curb cuts, and a double-door entry that's generally workable (NOTE: Eddie noted after my initial review that they were going to make the doors better. I've learned over the years that when Eddie says something is going to happen it does). I decided to sit on the patio for this visit. I was in the mood to chill out and this is absolutely a great patio. I also noted it has a small stage area for live music. The menu has expanded since my initial visit. Yelper Rick G. loves the tenderloin and, as Eddie noted with my initial review, they do actually have fish and chips (which I ordered today). The menu weaves together typical bar grub along with some delightful experimental options including poutine. There's handhelds, pizza, and a host of other things. Of course, there's lots of brews and other drink options. I contemplated getting a beer, but I'm getting ready for a long-distance wheeling fundraiser and decided to behave. I ordered fish and chips with a side house salad and my usual unsweetened iced tea. My party of one ended up being a party of six when some friends walked in. My server didn't flinch and service was friendly, organized and top-notch throughout. I do still think the inside can get a bit noisy, but the patio is an absolute winner. It's also family friendly. I'd originally knocked off a star due to accessibility concerns. So, why am I forking it over when I still do have some concerns? Quite honestly, I'm realistic and I'm seeing an effort to be accessible and staff with an attitude of accessibility - that goes a long way with me. The service was excellent, the food was fantastic (and fairly priced), and the atmosphere just made this an incredible meal with friends. While there are some physical barriers here, there's enough options that you should have no difficulty if you have a mobility impairment finding a place to dine. Sahm's consistently delivers what I hope for from a restaurant and my return visit here warrants that fifth star. If you're looking for a patio experience, you won't find one much better than here. read more

Traveling through Indiana brought us to a motel near Carmel, and we found this gem while looking for. Dinner spot. It was only 2 miles from the motel,. We were seated in the lower restaurant, while the outdoor and upstairs patio were passed on because it was fairly warm outside, Xavier, the bartender and waiter took our drink orders ad when delivered took our food orders. We decided on full Caesar salad and full chicken sandwich with fries. They wear both large, tasty and filling, but we ate almost all of it. The serve was prompt and Xavier complied with filling our request for extra plate and more napkins. All in all a good place to get tasty food fast. read more

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My husband and I decided to come here because we wanted good food and drinks without a stuffy atmosphere. We also didn't want to wait long to get in. We got right in, had fantastic service and the food came out very quickly. I got the special Irish Stew and it was delicious. The drinks were good as well. read more

My family is in town and loves trying local restaurants, Big Lug has all kinds of food to choose from that meet many dietary needs as well! Plus you can order half or lighter meals so if you aren't a big eater and hate leftovers then this place is for you! I had the half phrisco melt with hot honey brussel sprouts, everything was delicious. Everyone's good looked good and the staff came around several times to check on us and make sure we didn't need anything. Since we were a party of 5, I added our group to the wait-list on Google and we barely had to wait when we arrived. Love this feature! read more

Big Lug Canteen - Half phrisco melt and brussel sprouts. - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Big Lug is my work's lunch spot so I visit about every 2 months. There are a lot of options for lunch and usually I try something different each time I visit. We like sitting outside and the outdoor seating is top-tier. I ordered the cranberry chicken salad and it was pretty good. Some of the lettuce was worse for wear so that was kind of off putting. The cranberries and the feta really helped to pull all the flavors together. The service left a lot to be desired. Some moments we didn't see our server for over an extended periods of time. We didn't get worked up about it because we rather be outside than at work lol. My favorite meal is the impossible burger phrisco melt. I recommend it to most everyone who visits. read more

Big Lug Canteen - cranberry salad - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Big Lug is the perfect summer hangout! A neighborhood spot with great beers on tap, tasty appetizers and great daily specials. We sat outside, and service was great. The servers was quick, we were checked on regularly. read more

Thought this menu had lots of good stuff on it. Unique things you can't find anywhere. We got Nashville hot chicken in mild and the carnita tacos. We got the Nashville hot chicken because the reviews said it was the most popular thing here. However we don't normally get Nashville hot things because we don't always love it. That was the case here, we just didn't really like it. Nothing against the restaurant though. Definitely get mild if you don't want it REALLY hot. Mild was still spicy. Now the carnitas tacos... THOSE WERE GREAT. They were really tender and especially juicy. Lots of the pork juices were in the taco and it was excellent. Wasn't dry at all. You can get guac and chips as a side and that was also very good. The hand cut fries were also very good. Would recommend. Service was 10/10 and the atmosphere had a nice chill brewery vibe. Definitely would go back. read more

Big Lug Canteen - Carnitas Tacos and chips and guac - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Big Lug is a place often picked by us when meeting people. It has a casual atmosphere, has good food and good beer. For people who like malty beers, there are usually a couple. If you like hoppy beers, there are many. The food, we seem to always order the buffalo cauliflower. My kids get a pizza and I just keep mixing it up. It's a good place too if you want to eat outside or if you want to eat outside with dogs. It is right off the Monon Trail at 86th street. There are many bike racks for the bikers. I like it. I think you will too! read more

Big Lug is a great place to eat out back on the patio in the summertime! They often have live music on the weekends. The drinks and appetizers are delicious. They have some of the best cheese curds around! Service is always great. Cheers! read more

Big Lug Canteen - Cheese curds and shrimp cigar - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The owner reached out after my last review, which I thought was pretty classy, so we gave the place another try. It was winter, so we avoided walking around the entire building complex to enter like we did previously trying to get an outdoor table. We actually arrived a little after 4:00 on a weekday, which allowed us to peruse their happy hour offerings. We decided to try a variety of items to share, so we went with the Cheese Curds ($4), Fried Pickles ($4), Spicy Garlic Cauliflower ($4), two Fish Tacos ($4 each), a Nashville Chicken Slider ($5), and the Hand Cut Fries ($5.49) that we didn't receive last time. Most of these items were standard pub fare. Of the $4 items, the Cauliflower is the star. The fries were to my liking, although they were too unseasoned for my wife. The slider was bigger than I anticipated and tasted pretty good. While I didn't notice it, my wife said afterward that the fish taco had an odor and she struggled to eat but didn't want to say anything while I was eating. So if you're wondering why I still only award 3 of 5 stars (beyond the taco's potential smell), I'll share. We were 1 of maybe 4 tables, yet the service was a tad sluggish and an item was failed to be delivered again. I ordered a beer that never came, so I just made sure they took it off the bill when I paid. So overall, the food is mostly fine to good (although my wife might disagree). The challenge is that we're 2 for 2 on not receiving everything we order and service hasn't necessarily been prompt regardless of the crowd or time of day. read more

Their happy hour is great. Everything is $4-6 and the sliders are literally the size of burgers. Outdoor seating is perfect during nice weather read more

Big Lug Canteen - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The brewery may be fine but the food is another thing. We ate there for the first time on 1/10/26. I ordered a half chicken cranberry salad for $11.99. It was what I would call a side salad. It had some regular lettuce, maybe 2 cucumbers, a few nuts, and a few dried cranberries as well as a handful of small chicken pieces. Couldn't taste any dressing. 12 dollars for this size salad is a rip off. read more

Great Beer, service and food! The friendly service was our high light! She was very knowledgeable about all the beers and other notable locations in area! Being from out of state, we enjoyed all her recommendations and she was so right! If you get the chance to check out Big Lug DO IT! read more

Had lunch at Big Lug on a cold rainy day. My wife ordered the Club Hedburg for $13. It was turkey, ham, mayo, lettuce, tomato, American cheese, Swiss cheese on a Pullman loaf. It came with a side. She got the fried mushrooms. I ordered the Willie's Special for $14. It was mixed greens tossed in ranch, topped with Nashville chicken, black bean corn salsa, diced mozzarella, guacamole and frito salt. You can get the chicken hot or mild. I ordered the mild, which had a bit of a kick. The Club Sandwich was good. It had a lot of turkey, ham and lettuce. Unfortunately it also had a lot of Mayo. In fact it was busting through the bread and made the sandwich very messy to eat. We will order it "light on the Mayo" next time. The fried mushrooms were wonderful. They have some of the best in our opinion. The salad was large, presented nicely and had fresh ingredients. We would order it again. Besides the Mayo, our only issue was the temperature of the restaurant. They were busy so we were directed upstairs to the bar area. It was very cold up there. I had on two long sleeve shirts and was shivering. My wife's hands were ice cold. As a result, we couldn't linger for a drink. Instead, we left to go get hot coffee. The waitress was pleasant and attentive. Food was served promptly and the bill was accurate. read more

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