The Hoppy Gnome (downtown Fort Wayne, southeast side of courthouse) - new food menu, you decide! The old food offerings were the reason I came here and the reason I preferred not to come back. I loved the Cuban flavors, unique food items and the variety of tacos. Everyone loves tacos and The Hoppy Gnome did (still does, only 4 versions now) them well. However...after about a half dozen visits...I got bored with the same offerings. On line posters and most frequent customers (according to the manager) tend to favor the old menu. I, personally, found the change very refreshing and delicious! I will be back as there are lots of new things to try! The Hoppy Gnome is located downtown on the southeast side of the court house. You can park in the Citizens Center parking lot for free after 5pm. It is safe and right across the street from The Gnome. Making a reservation is easy on Open Table. I would suggest you do that versus walking in. The inside is still appealing with the bright and colorful industrial decor. They have a large private seating area for parties. They also have a street side outdoor patio. We sat outside on this summer evening. The area is spacious with solid high table furniture. People watching is fun but the traffic can be really loud at times. The new menu has a much broader appeal and less emphasis on Cuban only items. You will find lots of appetizer choices. Salads, burgers, flatbreads, pasta, seafood and chicken dishes are available. There are a decent number of specialty entrees and four varieties of tacos. All items pretty reasonably priced. Here is a run down on the food we ordered: -Chicken Flatbread: the crust was a little thicker than a normal thin crust and very soft; the manager said they really researched out this crust to fit their style; lots of delicious grilled chicken and toppings; very tasty! -Miso Honey Wings: 8 medium sized wings that are grilled and dipped; slightly crunchy skins; all white color on the inside but perhaps a little over cooked as the wing meat was tough and a bit dry; very unique sauce - very thick, sticky and rich in consistency; mild amount of sweetness and teriyaki flavors. The manager says about 70% of the people that order wings get the Miso Honey sauce. This dish was very good also! -Side salad: nice sized side salad; very fresh and attractive; no iceberg lettuce here - real greens; nice garnishment of carrots, cucumbers and roasted red peppers The team here was very friendly and professional - per normal. They hustled to serve. We particularly enjoyed sharing our experience with the manager and getting insight on the changes. Give the new menu a try for yourself!! read more

See all

We come here every year during a game convention in town. It's a large spot so there is usually seating. The staff are really friendly and they have a nice beer selection. The food is good. Kinda like a cross between a hip upscale bar and a decent restaurant. If you are ever in downtown Ft Wayne give it a shot. You won't be disappointed. read more

The Hoppy Gnome - Nice beer selection. - New American Near Me - Fort Wayne, Indiana

See all

Food was very good. Not a place for kids. Service was slow and they completely forgot one of the kids meals. Manager was apologetic and took $$ off of the bill. Waiter never acknowledged it or say sorry. read more

Hoppy Gnome, I am very disappointed. Tonight was my birthday, and I went with my family to celebrate at your establishment. For the record, Hoppy Gnome has always been one of my favorite restaurants in the city of Fort Wayne. The tacos were my favorite thing to order off the menu, and I also loved the pepper jack Mac and cheese. Tonight, upon glancing at the menu, I was surprised by how different it looked. Come to find out, the menu had been completely changed, and almost none of the same menu items remained. The tacos used to take up almost an entire page. I found out you now have to order three at a time, and you only have four options of tacos, instead of the usual 8 or 9 they had before. They also replaced a lot of the Mac and cheese items with beer cheese Mac and cheese. I was not really keen on the changes they made, but I still gave it a shot. Unfortunately, the food was really sub par this evening. My flour soft taco shells were hard, when in the past they have always been soft. The barbacoa was not very fresh tasting and tasted overcooked and very greasy, and the walleye fish taco was not nearly as good as the mahi mahi before it. The Bob Marley chicken taco was actually pretty good though. My family members were not huge fans of their hot chicken sandwiches, as one complained of the chicken being overly soggy due to the large amount of sauce, and I had to agree. I am very disappointed with how our meal turned out, and with the price being much bigger than it had been before, I don't believe that we will be returning anytime soon. Hoppy Gnome, I used to love your restaurant, I hope you guys can change things for the better! read more

Good atmosphere. Drink prices were reasonable and there was a good selection. We were here for a night out with friends. I liked the graphic with all of the selections as you enter. read more

We enjoyed the food the most! So good and nice little lunch before continuing on our day. The bartender was cool, too. He was chatty and my fiancé globbed onto him haha. Good vibes here and would come back next time we are in FW. read more

See all

3.7 / 5 Stars The Hoppy Gnome has a lot going for it--especially when it comes to atmosphere and service. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and both the indoor and outdoor seating areas offer awesome views of the capitol building. There's a solid beer selection, which is always a plus. We kicked things off with the cheese curds, and they were hands-down the best item we ordered. Perfectly crispy with a delicious bang bang sauce that really hit the spot. Knowing everything is made from scratch had us excited to try more. Unfortunately, the rest of the food was a bit hit or miss. We tried the mahi-mahi and Dante's Inferno tacos on Bibb lettuce wraps, which turned out to be a messy decision. Would definitely go with corn or flour tortillas next time. The mahi-mahi was especially disappointing--very chewy and not great in texture. We also got the hot honey chicken sandwich. The flavor was good, but the chicken itself just wasn't quite there. While the food didn't wow us overall, we'd still consider coming back if we're ever in the area again. With the great vibes, friendly service, and made-from-scratch menu, there's definitely potential for a better second round. read more

See all

This is an attractive brewery/restaurant with a gnome theme. And I'm a sucker for gnomes. Thankfully, you can't order gnome on the menu. The draft beer selections are extensive, with many different styles available. I went with a flight of all high alcohol varieties because I find them to be the most flavorful and definitely not because they give the best buzz for your money. The Belgian was outstanding. Our server was fantastic. She was incredibly friendly and attentive. If you dine here and she's your server, you won the lottery. The menu is very well-written but I don't think the food quite matched my expectations. The BBQ burger was fine. The hot chicken sandwich had a good kick but I thought the sauce was a little weird. The side of tots was good but it's impossible not to like tots. I appreciated the option of fried potatoes. They were fine. You could do a lot worse with the view. The spectacular courthouse towers over the restaurant on the other side of the street. Really good beer, decent food, great service, and a wow view. And gnomes. read more

See all

Quite the turn around! It's been awhile since visit to Hoppy Gnome... so glad we returned! Delicious food, attentive wait staff and overall excellent. Monday night was not too busy, but not dead either. S'mores were a highlight! read more

See all

We recently enjoyed a special 5 course Cinco de Mayo dinner (each course paired with an innovative complimenting beverage) at the Hoppy Gnome and it was absolutely delicious! Each course left us with eager anticipation of what came next! First course: blue masa sopes with roasted pork shoulder, pickled red onion "caviar", cotija cheese and micro greens. Second course a salad of spring greens, jicama, cucumber, red onion, queso fresco, and a fabulous apricot-chipotle vinaigrette. A traditional grandma's recipe green pazole with tomatillo, savory broth, hominy, cabbage, radish, cilantro and lime. Worth the price of the whole meal! Fourth course: pepper-crusted lamb with guajillo carrot puree, crispy Brussels, and veggie Marsala Demi-glacé. Beyond words. Lastly, Horchata Brûlée made with creamy rice milk and cinnamon. The perfect finish to a wondrous meal! (and the only course not pictured below...sorry!) Highly recommend Hoppy Gnome and their talented chef and crew. Warm and welcoming. Delightful experience! read more

See all

I drove in on a Sunday (Mother's Day) from north of Detroit and sat at the bar. I was traveling alone. I was the only person seated at the bar and neither of the 2 bartenders said a word to me. I ordered a beer and a sandwich and they didn't even acknowledge I was there. No eye contact, no conversation, no customer service. As a lone traveler and a woman on Mother's Day it was a very depressing and disappointing service. How can you ignore a customer literally three feet away from you with an empty bar rail? read more

Went on a not very busy Saturday and had a reservation where we listed we were getting together for something special. They sat us in a pretty cruddy spot even though nice comfy booths were available but we couldn't ask to get moved because they ditched us at the table. Then somehow they sat us with the same server who had just gotten a huge party. I was willing to move on and we had managers taking care of us so it was OK. We got brunch food since we were there at that time. We got the breakfast tacos and they were fine. Also got the breakfast burrito. It was fine too but nothing amazing. Ordered the extra potatoes for $5 and got a few on a plate. They brought out hard boiled eggs basically when my daughter ordered poached and thankfully a manager checked and got it fixed after a while but then her toast was cold and chewy. The beer was fine, again nothing to bring me back. I guess I would just say it all was "ok" and I don't regret going but I don't know that I would go back. read more

I've been here two times, and both times have honestly been very good. Definitely enjoy their menu, the food doesn't disappear, and the service was fantastic. The environment was modern-esk with a nice warming atmosphere attached. read more

There were three of us, a Thursday. The place seemed a bit overhyped, like we were lucky to get in. The food was decent, nothing to rave about. Service was okay, again, nothing stood out. Same for the beer, it was enjoyable but not stellar. I don't live in Ft Wayne and if I came back, I'd try something else. read more

See all

Great food. Excellent service. Server was Cierra who did a fantastic job. Four of us met for lunch on a Saturday. Place was busy and we were seated within 5 minutes. Had a half fattoush salad and Conan barbacoa taco. Wife had two fungi tacos (mushroom) along with some tots on the side. Appetizer was guacamole and cheese with chips. Total bill was $69 with tax and b4 tip. Reasonable. For drinks wife had a 35mm margarita, italian style (add shot of amaretto) with was great and I had a Clutch beer. So here's the cool part...my beer had a generous head of foam. Enough to be annoying without complaining. Five minutes later and without asking, Cierra brought ANOTHER small beer on the house. Because my first beer was end of the keg. Who does that?! Didn't have to wait for anything. Other servers and manager stopped by to check on us. Everyone was pleasant and professional. read more

The Hoppy Gnome - Half fatoush salad and a Conan' taco. - New American Near Me - Fort Wayne, Indiana

Service was fantastic. Beer was really good. However I was tremendously disappointed in the hot chicken sandwich. Had no flavor, just heat and 50% of the chicken was breading. Waitress/busser took my plate with only 3 bites taken out, I mentioned that I was not satisfied... no remedy or other options mentioned. Pretty disappointed in the lack of service there. But otherwise service was fantastic, drinks were always full, table cleared in timely fashion. I'll give them another try at some point down the road(not very soon), but will definitely not be ordering the sandwich again and highly advise nobody else order it. read more

Great service! Awesome beer selection! Food needs A LOT of improvements! Drinks were delicious, Ashton was very friendly and attentive- management was hands on, even helped box our food! Nice vibe but I would take that steak pasta off the menu read more

The Hoppy Gnome - Beer flight - New American Near Me - Fort Wayne, Indiana

Service was so friendly. Fort Wayne is a halfway point to meet a friend who travels to Detroit. We thought the Hoppy Gnome sounded like a great place. We both had tacos. They were flavorful. If I go again I'd want to try something from the brunch menu. Reasonable prices. Sat in the bar by the windows it was a beautiful day. The music was present but not overwhelming. Nice visit! read more

My wife and I stopped here for lunch Thursday and had a great experience. I have been wanting to try this place since it opened but I'm never downtown anymore since I work from home. I got 3 different tacos which cost about 18 bucks and felt a little overpriced for what I got. I chose the Conan the Barbacoan, Thai Meatball taco, and the Bob Marley. The only one I didn't like was the Thai Meatball as the meat was super dry and hard to eat. My wife's lunch special chicken wrap was really good! She enjoyed it so much! Our server was very nice but did make a mistake by adding another table's chips and salsa app to our bill so this is your warning to always double check your receipt! Honest mistake but it added $16 to our bill!?! The ambiance of this place is super cool and I bet it's a super fun place to eat at dinner! Check it out! read more

Very mediocre tacos. It was quite disappointing. The menu items sound great, but the execution is awful. It could be the best tacos, but there's so many problems. Also, the waiter said the restaurant was known for their tacos. That makes me wonder how bad the other menu items could be. Also, the prices are way too high. Every tortilla needs to be crisped on a griddle or grill, otherwise there's no flavor, and it falls apart. Every taco had this problem. Many of the tacos were dry and needed sauce. Here's what we tried. I'm including the price and their menu description. LAMBDA LAMBDA LAMBDA - $6.50 - coconut curry braised lamb, cilantro avocado crema, fresno cucumber salad - Lamb was dry, but the sauce saved it. Overall, the flavor was good. 4/5 stars. THAI MEATBALL TACO - $5.50 - lemongrass pork meatball, red curry mayo, mango slaw - Holy desert dry. My boyfriend actually liked this taco the best out of all of them, but I thought it was one of the worst. 1/5 stars. BOB MARLEY - $6.25 - smoked jerk chicken, hemp seeds, pineapple salsa, fire roasted red pepper, sour cream - This one was good. Unfortunately, this was the 2nd taco I tried, and it went downhill from that. 4/5 stars. RELEASE THE KRAKEN - $5.25 - fried calamari, brussels sprouts, parmesan cheese, red onion, sun dried tomato, lemon aioli - 1st taco I tried, and this was actually delicious. My only gripe is that there's a lot of breading versus the size of the calamari. This was still by far the best taco. 5/5 stars. CONAN THE BARBACOA - $6.50 - slow cooked short rib, red onion, cilantro, melted queso chihuahua, radish - I couldn't tell this was short rib. This could have been any shredded beef. I couldn't find any cheese. Needed a sauce as well. Ate very dry. 1/5 stars. GET IN MY BELLY - $5 - slow braised pork belly, tamarind glaze, green cabbage, mango slaw, daikon radish - Way overcooked and dry. This desperately needed a sauce. Most disappointing taco. 1/5 stars. Another problem is that when you list the ingredients, I should be able to see them or detect them in the tacos. This was an ongoing problem. Service is okay. Some other waiter noticed my water glass was empty and went to refill it for me. My thanks to him. Decor is okay. It was more fun to watch the people stuck at the stop light. The tacos are overpriced, and they are usually dry. Go somewhere else. read more

See all

Decent place but the bartender is way over tasked (she was hustling though). Folks sat down and weren't able to even order a drink for ten min. I had to snag the manager to order and close out at the bar. read more

Hoppy Gnome is a scratch kitchen associated with a brewery. I think our waitress said there were almost 50 taps including 10+ of their beers. They also have brunch mimosas and wine. So bring the whole crowd. Our group of four was seated immediately at 11:30 on Sunday, before the church rush. We had tacos. Dante's inferno was fire. So spicy. Delicious and the cheese stick is a great idea. I could eat these all the time. If you like spicy this taco is for you. I had the Wrath of Kahn on lettuce and it was a delicious mess. I was trying to save some calories but it was hard to eat. I will say they the flavors shined without the normal tortilla. I was disappointed in the Conan. Only because it seemed flat next to the two spicy tacos. Maybe a lime crema or a splash of lime would brighten it up. Don't get me wrong., it's a good taco, just not as flavor punch as the other two. Queso was a touch smoky and was thick enough to stick to the dipping chips. Bravo for making it thinker than most queso. We ordered a second. Staff was super friendly and helpful. Attentive and filled glasses quickly. Fully recommend. I'll be back to try the beers. read more

See all

We're visiting from Oklahoma for a business trip and had to check this place out so glad we did! I got the Wake Me Up Burger, and it was honestly the BEST burger I've ever had. Thanks for the delicious food and friendly staff! read more

This is a lunchtime favorite. It is a smaller place but there is usually a table available, though reservations are encouraged. The staff is professional and very attentive, and you can tell there is a lot of pride in the service, the taste, and the meal presentation. The entrees are very fresh and flavorful, and even the side salad alone is satisfying. Serving sizes are generous without being over the top. There is an extensive selection of tacos, but the other entrees are just as worth trying. You can be in and out in less than an hour, and it is a great option to consider, especially on a nice day when you can enjoy their shaded patio. read more

Suck amazing food and service. Popped by one day when I was traveling to other parts, near and far. Food was extremely tasty and service phenomenal. I will make sure to stop by the next time I'm in town. It was so good, I might even make a special trip. (And I live in New York, so that's a big commitment.) read more

The Hoppy Gnome - New American Near Me - Fort Wayne, Indiana

Went here last night. Got to sit right by the kitchen and watch the cooks! Adam, our server was excellent. Offered recommendations and jokes! Seemed to enjoy his job. The manager was seen throughout the restaurant engaging and stopped by our table as well. Definitely a well run team. Food was delicious! Definitely will be back! read more

See all

First time at Hoppy Gnome! I absolutely loved it. Food might be a little pricey but it's very worth it! Tater Tots are very delicious and it's hard to choose which tacos to order! I ordered the Dante's Inferno, Pulled Pork, and the smoked brisket. I respect the Dante's inferno because it was actually hot and I have a high heat tolerance! My girlfriend ordered the Free Mahi Mahi, Conan The Barbacoa, and the Smoked Brisket tacos. We both agreed the Smoked Brisket taco was not as good as we were hoping because the Cherry Salsa was too sweet. We both ordered a drink, I got a 35mm margarita 14oz and my girlfriend got a Boba Fett's Bounty. Both were very delicious drinks! The atmosphere is very modern and relaxed. A great place for drinks and great tacos! Overall I would give my experience a 10/10. Brian or Bryan was excellent and quick! read more

The Hoppy Gnome - Top to bottom; Dante's Inferno, Pulled Pork, Smoked Brisket - New American Near Me - Fort Wayne, Indiana

See all

Good food and draft beers, reasonable pricing for a downtime environment. Would return if in the area read more

The Hoppy Gnome - Conan the Barbacoa Taco - New American Near Me - Fort Wayne, Indiana

See all

Great for brunch, good service , neat atmosphere in downtown Fort Wayne across from the courthouse

super cute patio seating! food and drinks were yummy too! garlic cheese curds are a must!! Our waitress was so sweet and friendly and was really good at checking up on us:) read more

See all

Amazing food, amazing ambiance, amazing service! If you get Adam as your server tip him well bc he is so nice, attentive and funny! Really enjoyed my experience here. read more

Unfortunately, the veggie flatbread was really disappointing. The dirty martini didn't hit the mark either, and the fried pickles were way too greasy. I would strictly stick to the tacos. On the plus side, our waitress was super sweet. read more

The Hoppy Gnome - Veggie flatbread - New American Near Me - Fort Wayne, Indiana

The food was below average to put it simply. The service was fine and ambiance was good. The white cheddar beer soup tastes too much of beer rather than other flavors. The jerk chicken tacos were decent, the spicy chicken sandwich was okay. The steak burrito was good though the salsa verde was bland. Poor mixed drinks. read more

Needed some fortifying alcohol and snacks before meeting some family recently. I like the convenient downtown location and our bartender was friendly and there were a few regulars despite being a weekday afternoon - I though it would be dead. The tacos were delicious. The beer list was quite extensive, and my husband and I each tried something new and fun (more cider options please)! read more

We tried the special the day I went and it did not disappointed. Bar tender not only handled the bar she took care of a section and we never felt neglected. Ambiance is nice hip and clean I would recommend to everyone read more

Great place right across the street from the Allen County Courthouse. Plenty of taco options to choose from. They said it was a scratch kitchen, so there is a little wait, but it is worth it (this also means you can probably customize anything on the menu). I will definitely be back. read more

The Hoppy Gnome - WHITE CHEDDAR BEER SOUP (Half 6.5 * full 11.5) andouille sausage, scallions, brioche croutons, made with gnometown amber ale - New American Near Me - Fort Wayne, Indiana

very nice gastropub, with lots of beer options. they also has a good selection of non-alcoholic mocktails, the pineapple mule is really good. The food is amazing, the tacos are great! The dessert smore is some real work, you get to grill it yourself, fun! read more

The Hoppy Gnome - Smore - New American Near Me - Fort Wayne, Indiana

See all

Steak frites were delicious. Wish portion would have been bigger. Salad is one of my favorite in FW, always get it when I am here. Great atmosphere sitting outside with my dog, service always good and they always get her a water bowl. Frequent here often in the summer. Churros and s'mores are a good option for dessert. read more

The Hoppy Gnome - Steak frites - New American Near Me - Fort Wayne, Indiana

See all

Excellent! Great service, very attentive server. Enjoyed very much every beer I got in the flight. Best Octoberfest, took a 4 pack back home to New York! read more

This was a great place back when I lived in Fort Wayne. I went often and had a lot of good times there. Love almost everything that they have on the menu! Great date place. Great family friendly place as well. read more