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

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

Bonge's Tavern - Tomato Soup - New American Near Me - Perkinsville, Indiana

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Might be in the minority, but the four of us who had dinner last nite all agreed Bonge's has gone downhill since the sale. The lamb shank was ok, the NY strips were tough and cold!! Not a good sign when the pad of butter on top of the steak doesn't melt into the meat. The trout was good, but nothing special. What happened to the potato casserole? The green beans? No thank you. Wedge and soup haven't changed though. Wasn't our first time; been coming and tailgating for years. The food has always been great; not anymore. I believe last nite was our late night of tailgating and eating at Bonge's. Such a disappointment. Didn't think the food would change, but it has. read more

Bonge's Tavern is one of those rare places that lives up to the hype. Just go, you won't regret it.

Bonge's is incredible. Only friendly, welcoming service, inside this 1930s bar decked out with wood and tasteful taxidermy, it feels like you stepped into an old Wisconsin supper club. The short rib pierogis were one of the best things I've eaten- the horseradish sauce pairs perfectly with the savory beef. I got the daily special which was a filet mignon meatloaf. It was so tender, but the Demi glaze is what made it perfect, sweet & savory. All meals are served with a cup of tomato soup or a wedge salad with the best candied pork belly on top. The jalapeño cornbread had the consistency of a moist cake. If I had to pick between Bonge's or the famous St. Elmo's, I'm picking Bonge's every time. read more

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I've always wanted to go to this place and now I'm kicking myself for waiting for so long. This place was definitely worth the wait. They do take reservations now, which is nice, but there was a cozy fireplace to keep us warm while we waited for our table. There aren't too many tables in this place, but there was a back room for larger parties. Our waitress did a wonderful job making suggestions for everything from our appetizers to our salads, and entrees. The food was amazing. We were able to try many things because our party was big. I took a lot of pictures because I don't think my words could do the food justice. It was really good! read more

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How have I never been here before? I have lived in Indiana way too long for today to have been my first visit. Stop right now, go online, and make yourself a reservation. We made a reservation for 4:30 on a Friday. We arrived at 4:20, so we waited in the parking lot. Others showed up shortly after us, and were clearly regulars, as they knew each other and they were tailgating in the parking lot. As any internet sleuth would do, I had read about this, but I didn't get it until I saw it. I'm sure they all had an incredible evening of friends, drinks, and food. When we entered, we were told which booth was ours, and our server, Kelsey, greeted us right away to see if she could start us off with water - either well water for free or bottled water. We're on a well at home, so we have no issues with well water. Go for the bottled water if you do not have a well and are particular about your water! I wish I could remember the name of my drink - it was a blood orange mocktail, and it was perfect. I never order drinks at restaurants, but this one sounded good, and it was a great way to start the meal. At $12, I would pass in the future, but no regrets tonight! We passed on the appetizers. My eyes are always bigger than my stomach, but man, I sure had food envy when I saw appetizers that were being delivered around us later! I ordered the 10-ounce smoked prime rib, medium rare, and a wedge salad with blue cheese dressing and candied pork belly. My dining partner ordered the Perkinsville pork and tomato soup. Get the wedge salad and add the candied pork belly. It's worth the extra $5. If you don't like blue cheese, well, you don't know what you're missing. The tomato soup is perfection in a cup. I would have loved to bring some home - they sell it by the quart - but my refrigerator is overly full at the moment, so I reserved that option for another visit. Out came our meals, and I was giddy at how perfect my prime rib looked. I love prime rib, but haven't ordered it in probably 20 years because once you've had "icky" prime rib, it sure makes you nervous. There is ZERO ick factor here. Go for this perfectly smoky-tasting cut of beef and you'll be happy as a clam. The horseradish sauce was just the right amount of bite - yum! The mashed potatoes and broccolini were equally delicious. I mean, potatoes! My dining partner's Perkinsville pork was oh so tender, and cooked perfectly. No dried-out pork on this plate! It is incredibly rich with all that buttery goodness and parmesan nuttiness. I did not try the jalapeno cornbread. There just wasn't enough room for it. Speaking of not enough room, I brought home enough food for another meal and a half. I could have walked out after the wedge salad and felt like I had a full meal. I would love to see an option for a "sides" dinner - soup, salad, mashed potatoes, broccolini. Because, while I think the prime rib was amazing, I love all the other things too, and I just can't eat them all. The service was sincere and very efficient. We never felt rushed or ignored. Thank you, Kelsey! You did a great job explaining everything to us first-timers tonight. We both agreed we would return again. I'm thinking a full rotation through the menu might be in order. read more

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I love that Bonge's Tavern is finally on OpenTable. We've been longtime fans of this place and back in the day you could only make a reservation if you had a party of I believe eight or more. So it's great knowing that you can make reservations for smaller groups. If you're willing to make the drive out to Perkinsville, you really should try this place. We went an hour early to do some tailgating and found a spot in the lot. It was nice that one of the employees came out and checked us in so that we didn't have to go inside to let them know we were there. I received a text message when our reservation time came up. On OpenTable, I put down that we were there for our anniversary, which we were, and we took friends who had never gone before. They handed us menus that were personalized congratulating us on our anniversary. It was so sweet. Our waiter was super personable and very helpful with the menu. There were some new items on the menu since the last time we had dined. The pierogies were some of the best I've ever had and were so tender you barely had to use a fork to cut them. The mushroom appetizer hasn't changed in years and is always on point. The smoked prime rib was great, and the Perkinsville pork tasted exactly the same. Great food in a quirky environment. I was handed a sharpie on the sly and told I must go visit the bathroom since it was our anniversary, which I complied with, so until it gets covered up, our anniversary date is on the women's bathroom wall. It's a tradition at this restaurant to write things on the bathroom walls. Our friends loved it, we still love it, so we definitely plant to keep this restaurant in our rotation. read more

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One of the best meals I've had in a long time -- Bonge's Tavern completely blew us away. We started with the pierogies, which were rich, perfectly crisped, and packed with flavor. The Perkinsville Pork was the standout -- tender, juicy, and so well-seasoned. Every bite was incredible. And don't even think about skipping dessert -- the sugar cream cake was pure heaven. Light, creamy, and the perfect sweet finish. My family hasn't stopped talking about it since -- seriously, we've already planned our next trip back. Worth every mile to get there read more

Bonge's Tavern - New American Near Me - Perkinsville, Indiana

Phenomenal--that's the only word that truly captures this experience. From start to finish, there wasn't a single detail out of place. Every course felt intentional and perfectly executed, beginning with expertly crafted cocktails and moving into a rich, comforting tomato soup that set the tone for the night. The wedge salad stood out with its incredible blue cheese dressing--bold, balanced, and unforgettable. The Perkinsville pork was cooked to perfection, delivering both flavor and tenderness, and the smoked prime rib entrée was nothing short of exceptional--easily one of the best I've had. What truly elevated the evening, though, was the service. Attentive without being intrusive, polished yet warm--it was genuinely second to none. We stumbled upon this restaurant by chance, but it instantly earned a place at the very top of our list. This is the kind of dining experience you don't forget--and one we'll be coming back to for years to come. read more

Our table was ready right on time, we were seated and away we went! Chris Z was our waiter and was an indispensable part of the evening! Great attitude, fun, knew exactly what he was selling and was great. We tried (2) appetizers both spot on yet not too big as to get in the way of our main course. I had the wedge salad with my 16oz Prime Rib, my wife had the Red Gold tomato soup and Perkinsville Pork. Plenty to share and even some leftovers! Our evening was finished with 2 desserts (both suggested) and coffee! What an experience, it takes some work and patience to get a reservation but it is well worth it and we will be back in the future. read more

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First time coming here and my excitement is overwhelming. We've heard about this place and really like the reviews. Drove from Columbus Ohio to give it a try. A new place to tailgate. The vibes outside are amazing. Now for the great food..... so much, so good... very addictive. The service is awesome and informative. read more

Bonge's Tavern - Sign on the outside is wonderful. - New American Near Me - Perkinsville, Indiana

HOLY SH*T! How have I not been to this amazing place before?! Let me introduce you to Bonge's folks - and if you haven't been put on, consider this YOUR PUT. They are located northeast of Noblesville and Fortville and this place is worth the drive, and the wait!!! It's a small dining room but has ample space for small and large parties and is decorated well. Our server was Allison (iykyk) and he was great, super knowledgeable about the menu and was able to describe each dish in detail. We started with the Prime Rib Pierogi's which were absolutely stellar! They had the perfect shell and came with plenty of prime rib and their house made creamy horseradish sauce - each bit you got a taste of each ingredient creating a wonderful flavor. We both opted for the Wedge Salad (each of their dressings are made in house) and I got the blue cheese and of course I opted in for the bacon. Originally thinking the bacon was going to be little crumbles/ bites, but instead it was huge chunks of perfectly cooked bacon -- NO that's not croutons, those are masterfully crafted chunks of bacon. This wedge was honestly amazing -- the blue cheese dressing was perfect and the crunch of the lettuce wedge made each bite textured and delicious. I opted for the Homemade Pasta dish - which was a from-scratch fettuccine noodle with prime rib, and an awesome sauce (think stroganoff but better!) The pasta was a very filling dish and oh so delicious. PDD opted for the 16oz Prime Rib which came with creamy horseradish sauce, asparagus and mashed potatoes -- he absolute loved it. I did try a few bites of it and it was great (and I can't rave about it enough -- that creamy horseradish sauce was delectable!) Of course we had to get dessert! PDD got the Carrot Cake and I got the Sugar Cream Cake. The carrot cake was splendid, it was perfectly cold and layered to perfection with slices of carrot in each bite. The Sugar Cream Cake was amazing and came with a berry sauce (I usually don't like berry sauces, but this one just added the perfect flavor to balance out the sweetness of the cake. Overall this place is 11/10 and I truly am enamored by how I have not been here before! If you don't have this place on your radar then you are MISSING OUT!!! I can't wait to go back again -- my goal is to try each item on the menu because I know that I won't be disappointed in any dish i choose. KUDOS!!! read more

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Great night out at Bonge's. Always a treat! The mushrooms with goat cheese were the star for me tonight! Chris is a great server too. Always worth the trip! read more

Bonge's Tavern - New American Near Me - Perkinsville, Indiana

This place far exceeded our expectations. The atmosphere and service were top notch. Our server Addison knocked it out of the park, answered all our questions and then some. We started with the mushrooms and prime rib pierogis which were perfection. Then we had the famous prime rib and Parmesan breaded Perkinsville pork which somehow were even better than we imagined. And on top of that it came with to die for potato's, Brussel sprouts, and HOMEMADE cornbread. I CANNOT say enough of this meal, service, and unreal environment. A must visit of central Indiana. Would not miss. read more

Long time listener, first time caller, here! ‍ My fiancé and I had reservations this evening and there is not one thing about our experience that did not exceed our expectations. The ambience, the menu, the SERVICE! Oh chef's kiss a thousand times. Shout out to Chip & Courtney. You guys rock. We will be back! P.S. try the crabcakes. They blew the Oceanaire's out of the water. read more

Bonge's Tavern - New American Near Me - Perkinsville, Indiana

The service was amazing the recommendation of the tomato soup was good and I don't normally have the best luck with tomatoes these were sweet and less acidic so no heartburn for me. Some things to keep in mind no one under 21 there is a TIME limit addressed on the menu. I liked the food the portions were reasonable still keep In mind the $$$ is real two people 2 a coke a local alc cider chicken Marsala and the parm pork cutlet rounded to $70 n some change. The environment is warm and welcoming also outside/deck seating is nice and warm around the wall's is home town decor. Also we met the parking lot cat funny enough they greeted us as soon as we pulled up. For a first time also visiting from out of state (Maryland) it was a great meal with my girlfriend, oh also go for the bottle water as the tap is like well water for those who not accustomed. read more

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Smoked Prime Rib is way below par. Not much flavor. Sides were very small. Heard a lot of good things about this place, none were true. Doubtful to ever return. read more

Such a hidden gem! We made reservations and brought my entire family during the holidays. The food was delicious and unique, the ambiance exceptional, and although we've always had great service-the service tonight from Chris Z. was phenomenal. His knowledge of the food, suggestions for pairings, and true joy for being there was evident. We will ask for him as a server again and can't wait to make the trip and return to Bonge's! read more

I cannot believe I haven't visited this restaurant before now. It is SO GOOD. I understand what the hype is about now. I would highly recommend a reservation if you plan to attend. Also, ask for Peter as your server. He was great and offered helpful suggestions for items on the menu. I cannot recommend a visit to this restaurant enough! Looking forward to visiting in warmer weather. read more

Bonge's Tavern - New American Near Me - Perkinsville, Indiana

This is a place you need to try if you are a foodie. Love the old decor and out of the way location. Food is very good, and lots of variety. Our group had prime rib, steak, meat loaf, Perkinsville pork and trout. All were good - trout being my favorite. Everything was solid, but the overall experience was the star more than the food itself. I would go again if I could find it again read more

Bonge's keeps raising the bar! I love the expanded wine list and spirts menu. Their summer lemonade/mezcal/candied lemon/mint concoction was "I'll have another, please!" Our go-to's are the Harger Duck, NY Strip & Perkinsville Pork. We added the smoked Pork Chop (it was fit for Fred Flintstone) and it was a hit! Enjoy the atmosphere, the food and the history when you trek to this 1 stoplight town. read more

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Not a welcoming environment when you walk out and see a confederate flag (on the fence next door?). Food was really good but I will not return until it's removed. read more

I have been hearing about Bonge's Tavern since we started spending time in Indiana almost two years ago. When you ask people where they love to eat, Bonge's is normally the first place you hear about. My husband made reservations for us on a Wednesday night. Getting a weekend reservation would have been several weeks away. The restaurant is in a rural area. It is a very cute place. You enter into a porch area and the sign on the door asks you to wait out there until they come to check on you. We had someone come out in less than a minute and were seated immediately. The place is very small with booths on the side and tables in the middle. There is also a room to the side where you can come in with a small group. Our server, Lindsay, was amazing. She greeted us quickly and took our drink orders. They only serve beer and wine,if you are desiring an alcoholic beverage. I ordered water and agree with others that said the water had a bad smell to it. But the flavor was fine. I ordered the Perkinsville Pork and my husband took Lindsay's suggestion and ordered the tile fish. This was my first time coming in so I figured I would order their famous dish. We both opted to have the salad with the homemade blue cheese dressing. It was very tasty. The lettuce was fresh and crisp and the dressing was very good. My pork was large and came with mashed potatoes and asparagus. All entrees come with the same sides. I loved the asparagus. They were cooked perfectly and had great flavor. The mashed potatoes were unremarkable. The pork comes with lemon butter on it. It honestly tasted more like margarine than butter. The pork was good but also unremarkable. My husband said the tile fish was good but he much preferred the trout from his previous visit. Jalapeño cornbread came out with the entrees and we both really enjoyed it. It was moist and had a sweetness to it. The service was wonderful. The food was good but not as amazing as I had been told it would be. I would definitely come back and try them again though. Especially given all the other five star reviews they receive. read more

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Not sure if it matters, I have not written a review in fifteen years. We started going to Bonge's in the 90's. So, what right? Due to illness have not been there since December 2023. I am sorry but the Prime Rib is nowhere as good as it used to be. Period. I think it had an artificial smoke taste and was not tender. No lie -my doggies loved it My wife's Pork was 100% as good as usual. Service was top notch. Love the place - Great, great memories- Jeff and Louise. Dined July 19,2015 4:30 read more

Went here last night with a group of friends. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals, and the service was top notch. Our only complaint was with our soft drinks, they give you an 8 oz bottle of Diet Coke and it's $3.50 and there are no refills, I noticed a soda gun behind the bar, I think they need to start using it, because that price for a 8oz bottle is ridiculous. read more

It was my first time at bonges last night and it was nothing short of amazing. The food was above my expectations and was worth the hour drive. Our server, Addison was great and had great recommendations. The restaurant itself was smaller than expected but has such a homey vibe. Check this place out if you get the chance! read more

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Incredible place to eat please make reservations cause you probably won't get a table. Food is superb had a 24 ounce prime rib apple smoked. I can't describe how good it was. I couldn't eat it all. Chris was a great waiter. read more

Two days after I posted the negative review about Bonge's. Surprisingly the manager called and was very apologetic about our bad experience. She insisted for us to come back and was going to send a gift certificate for the amount we spent that night. Which really surprised us. Most restaurants don't give a crap if you had a bad experience. But add insult to injury it's been 2 months and we still are waiting on the gift certificate!! I really think she just wanted me to take down the negative review on yelp. Am glad I didn't. Because I guess they are like any other restaurant they really don't care what kind of experience they're guess have. Shame on you for making us think you gave a shit. read more

To be such a small place food was amazing pork chop and filet was the best I've probably had yet. Tell me to go to bonges or st elmo or Ruth Chris I'll pick bonges everytime. Hour and a half drive will do again! read more

Well let's start with a positive. The service was great. Kelsey was our server and she was outstanding. Beyond Beyonce was great tight, packed, old school hitching Post bar with a great history. Now for the bad news. Don't eat here. It does not live up to the hype as far as food quality is concerned. They have a cook, not a chef. The harger duck was smothered in a cheap, sicklingly sweet, off the counter barbecue sauce. Wrapped in almost raw bacon. Stuff with a cheap bechamel and served absolutely raw. The mashed potatoes were dry and crumbly with no taste or any attention to preparation. The asparagus was not Al dente, it was uncooked. What a waste of $300. read more

Been aware of this place for years and finally got to see why it has the reputation. The excellent, flavorful, fresh and well prepared dishes that are definitely worth the hype. Small facilities in and quirky setting sets this place apart in a spot that would be on the top restaurants in any area, let alone central Indiana. Great, informative staff too read more

Great atmosphere very rustic. Nice people and customers. The food is fantastic. I got the chef's special pasta. I'd order it again again.

Bonges has always been our family's favorite restaurant. Daughter and her boyfriend from Germany were in town so naturally we wanted to treat him with a meal at Bonges. He is a vegetarian, so called in advance to be sure they had a vegetarian option. They prepared a vegetarian pasta dish with mushrooms and he loved it. Kelcey was our waitress and was outstanding! Very helpful and engaging. Couldn't be more pleased with the evening read more

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You will never be sorry for trying this Restaurant! Genuine Indiana love goes into the food this chef serves! We go at least once a month.

My wife and I ate at Bonge's a few nights back. We used to LOVE Bonge's Tavern, but something has changed. The quality is not there. The prime rib had too much liquid smoke, but it was cooked well. The mashed potato casserole seemed like it was from last week, and the potatoes were undercooked. The asparagus was undercooked and bland. The wedge salad was thrown together lazily which consisted of mainly the white and yellow lettuce which we all avoid. The red wine was $50 for a screw top; after 1 glass, it was reminiscent of Jäegermeister. The only perfect thing was the blue cheese for the salad, which they literally give you 1/2 ounce of in a ramekin. The jalapeño cornbread, sweeter than most cakes, was undercooked and gummy. The table next to us were complaining about the Harger Duck being dry and under seasoned. And lastly, the water tastes and smells too strongly of sulphur. The service was mediocre. I hope they can turn it around and bring it back to the Bonge's Tavern we all used to love. I wish I had spent the same money at Applebees or had just saved the $150. I regret going to Bonge's Tavern at this point. read more

Guys... this place. We have been here twice, and have never left with regrets. It's the made from scratch food you want when you go high end, in an atmosphere that feels like home. The servers are great and down to earth - the right kind of talkative. You can tell everyone working there loves the food they serve, and that they want you to love it as well. The head chef even came to our table to get our feedback on the meal and the to show his appreciation for our coming in. Make the drive, spend the money, you won't regret it. read more

If you haven't been to Bonge's ... go! A rural little hole in the wall in Perkinsville (west of Anderson, North of Noblesville), tucked off a side road. Rsvps for covid are a must. In better weather, plan to tailgate in the gravel parking lot for a few hours. Don't let the casual barn/shack of a tavern with plain tables and plastic tablecloths fool you for the food you'll get. It's always top notch. Always. Appetizer options include things like shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, sautéed mushroom medley. Tonight we went for the smoked salmon plate, delicious. Everything is scratch made. The dinner selection is the famous perkinsville pork, a ginormous tenderloin, prime rib, duck and more. Comes with either their famous tomatoes bisque or wedge salad, and their choice of veggie and starch of the day. Everytime I'm there, I just can't not get the harger duck. Duck breast filled with jalapeño cream cheese, wrapped in bacon and BBQ sauce, served over wild rice. Today, sides were asparagus and cheesy potatoes. Hubs had the 16oz prime rib, perfection. I had the soup, he had the wedge. They have been and wine, and a selection choice of desserts. We ended with coffees and split the caramel turtle torte. (Came with a candle cuz it was my bday.) Service is always great down to earth and attentive. On this particular night, Carol was our delightful server. #yum #ReviewsByRL read more

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Finally made it back here. Rules have changed some what meaning reservations now for any size party which is awesome! Menu mostly same with some specials added. Can't really go wrong with any choice. Perkinsville pork is delicious and 2 of us add it. Others had sausage and pasta dish and quail and were very happy with their choices too. Smoked salmon app to start. We finished with a banana cake with walnuts but many dessert choices avail. Jalapeño corn bread for table is well worth the drive! Small laid back not fancy place. Friendly fast service. Good beer choices. Was cool Autumn eve so no one tailgating but this is thing when had to wait for long time to get table which was always fun socializing time pre dinner. Takes about 30 mins from Fishers to get here but worth the drive. read more

Bonge's Tavern - New American Near Me - Perkinsville, Indiana

Great tailgating and fantastic food. Bring along patient friends whom enjoy great cuts of meat. Plan ahead with reservations.