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Bonge's Tavern
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Nightlife Bars Pubs American (New), Pubs [Edit]
9830 West 280 NorthPerkinsville, IN 46011
(765) 734-1625
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 4:30 pm - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 4:30 pm - 10 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
17 reviews for Bonge's Tavern
Review Highlights
"...amazing, and their NY Strip with blue cheese is simply out..."
(in 1 review)
"It was by far the best tomato soup I have ever tasted."
(in 5 reviews)
"...you do, save room for the sugar cream cake, it's the best..."
(in 2 reviews)
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17 reviews in English
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Review from John P.
Pendleton, IN
2/18/2011
Bonge's is my all-time favorite... in Indiana or anywhere else.
Fantastic food... the applewood prime rib is incredible! The Perkinsville pork amazing, and their NY Strip with blue cheese is simply out of this world.
This is gourmet food without any pretense.
Be prepared to wait, but that's part of the fun; bring your lawn chairs, coolers and snacks. It's a blast! -
Review from Steven S.
Noblesville, IN
11/2/2011
Great fun and unique. At this place you can tailgate before dinner. Get there early. Call for the best arrival times. Don't bring more than 6 to table or you will be rejected. A couple of 10 tops can be reserved. Next year is the next available date.
Most of the food was outstanding. I had Walleye, My wife had lamb chops with escargot, the Duck was flattened and then wrapped around jalapeno and some kind of cheese. Prime Rib was ON!
Great place for adults and friends. Cocktails in the tailgate section are allowed. -
Review from Becky Y.
1/22/2011 ROTD 4/5/2011
So Bonge's is like, so friggin way out there in the sticks they ought consider renaming themselves "Boonies Tavern". You couldn't happen upon it if you tried. the best way I'd describe it is it's as if Dorothy's twister wrapped itself around Harry & Izzys, stripped off the starched whites and crap attitude, and unceremoniously deposited it in a mini-barn/cabin in the middle of, well, nowhere. and then strung multi-colored xmas lights around it. AS IF that would help you find it easier.
That said, this place is solid. You will eat well, and unless you are anorexic, you should leave happily full. The menu is short but isn't that a positive. Usual suspects-- definitely visit the website to view the chalkboard of standards-- and call ahead day of, say around noon-ish, and Mr. Chef himself will answer and tell you the special(s) of the day.
Most of what I would say in terms of describing the dishes has already been said, so i'm just here to confirm it and add my appreciation to the consensus. Let me be clear, this is not cutting edge or nouveau cuisine-- this is competent straight forward Americana classic stuff. I think its best menu/fare equivalents in the city would be along the lines of H&I, 14 West or Stone Creek Dining Co, taken up a notch. Would budget $30-$40 per person, drinks not included.
I've never enjoyed the climactic suspense of waiting 2-3 hrs for a table but people definitely come prepared-- coolers, chairs, music, space heaters, etc. I'm sure all that waiting enhances the ultimate prize even more. They do also have a mini-vestibule with heaters where the unprepared can squeeze together and make the best of the wait.
Service is stellar. Friendly, welcoming, swift. My only suggestions are in the finer details that would compliment the competency of the entree. For instance, they need better quality flatware. Real steak knives to cut your meat with. and fresh pepper grinders at each table would be awesome too.
It can get loud inside. Like, deafening loud, esp if there is a large group taking up 4 tables put together. So please don't even consider bringing a colic baby with you to add to the din. Really not necessary.
Drinks menu-- eh, not so much. Wine--eh. well you brought your own, right? It's ok-- you're there to eat. Bonge's is a unique experience to plan and be had. -
Review from Hannah C.
Los Angeles, CA
6/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
You know it's 45-50 minutes away from Indy on random backroads; you wait to be seated so you tailgate; it's completely casual though pricey because it's gourmet - these are the reasons you go!
Things to bring: bottle-opener, DEET bug spray (maybe even your own Citronella candle) - the mosquitoes were EPIC, cooler full of drinks. There is a standing water along a small river/creek 30 feet away from the entrance, so the parking lot and outdoor waiting at Bonge's is in DRUNK and HUNGRY MOSQUITO zone.
Steaks, chicken, fish entrees all good (and more gourmet than I'm making them sound here). Bonge's apparently really likes Bleu cheese, so if you're a fan, you'll have dishes to choose from. Maximize your experience and go with a group! -
Review from Robert B.
8/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you really, really enjoy tailgating in anticipation of a great football game and the game starts 5 hours late and is just less than mediocre, then you will enjoy it here. I must say I will never and I mean never ever return to Bonge's! I was with a large group and we called ahead a few days and were told at first we would be sitting around 6:30 so we arrived between 5:00 and 5:30. We set up our tables and chairs in the parking lot and commenced with the usual tailgating rituals minus the grill. 6:30 came and went and when we asked the staff they said it would be more like 8:30. Well, it wasn't! It was more like after 10 that we were able to be seated and they sat 11 of us at 3 different tables. I guess you could say after waiting almost 5 hours I had a little bit of a bad taste in my mouth, hence the addition of the second star, but if you're expecting gourmet please go elsewhere. Wanting to try the oh so famous "Perkinsville Pork" and the duck breast with a plum wine sauce, I went halfsies with my buddy. The table gets Jalapeno corn bread which had more bell peppers in it than jalapeno peppers and was fair. We also ordered some Shrimp Cocktail which was good. Speaking of Cocktail they do not have a full bar but they did have Sun King Wee Mac which was a plus! My wife and her friend started with a salad with balsamic vinaigrette they actually said it was a waste of space. I started with the tomato soup. I guess in Perkinsville they add a lot more ingredients like celery in particular and big chunks of it! This is not a good taste to me. Now on to the entrées. The Duck with the so called plum sauce was basically a rolled duck breast with sweet baby rays BBQ sauce on it. I love duck and Bonge's has destroyed it. Call it BBQ Duck instead of Hargers Duck and I would have known better. On to the Perkinsville Pork. To me this is nothing more than just an ok stab at a francaise. It is there version of the good ole Indiana Pork tenderloin except it is not breaded. It's egged and floured and it seems as though they add a lot of cheese to this coating before they saute it. Definitively has all the flavors of a francaise but no sauce as it is soaked into the coating. This was ok and I ate it because I was hungry but would never ever EVER drive that far and wait that long for anything on their menu. One good thing other than the Wee Mac was the wait staff. We had a very pleasant server.
Bottom line unfathomably long wait, no full bar, most foods less than mediocre and not cheap. Oh and by the way did I mention that I will never, never ever go there again! -
Review from Alex K.
Bonge's is a hidden gem. It is the perfect place to get a gourmet American style meal in a place that is not afraid to serve something in a plastic basket on a vinyl tablecloth.
This is not the typical kind of place I will go but I heard through the grape vine that this place was worth checking out. We had heard that we would encounter a long wait but luckily we did not. At first glance the place seemed a bit touristy which was strange due to it's out of the way location. The menu changes daily and is written on a black board over the bar. The prices were high for me ($19-$28) so between that and the decor I had high hopes and low expectations.
The first thing that arrived was the tomato soup. It was by far the best tomato soup I have ever tasted. I know the bar in this category is not too high but believe me it was wonderful. It was heavily spiced and had remnants of tomato chucks unlike the canned variety.
The Salad was a quartered head of lettuce with a homemade blue cheese dressing. To me this dish accentuated the dual nature of this place the best.... Masterfully crafted dressing on a head of iceberg lettuce (No arugula or endive in this one). Maybe they did this to showcase the dressing but everything was as fresh as it gets and spot-on with the flavor.
On to the entree's. I had the Harger Duck. It was a breast of duck stuffed with cream cheese, bacon and jalapeño and topped with a cherry based sauce that was used sparingly almost like a glaze. It was served atop a bed of wild rice and complimented by potatoes and a mixture of several different summer squashes. Talk about rich and delicious. The duck was tender and succulent on the inside while remaining crispy and tangy on the outside.
The NY Strip was better and more memorable than any steak I have had a Ruth Chris. And the blue cheese topping was an interesting compliment to the deep and flavorful steak. They definitely have their grilling technique down here.
The Mahi Mahi was another hit. Fresh fish cooked to perfection topped with heavily spiced and grilled shrimp in the middle of a cornfield. Ironic and superb.
We also had the shrimp cocktail, and crab cakes but I feel redundant at this point. Everything that made its way to our table was on par with any of the top gourmet restaurants that I have been to without the pretentiousness that usually accompanies them.
I should also throw in a note that the service was second to none. The place is always packed and has a line out the door but they have no problem explaining every ingredient of every dish on the menu. I did not feel rushed at all.
Anyway for American style gourmet food in the greater Indianapolis area this if my pick hands down. There are not many restaurants in this category that I feel this strongly about. -
Review from Ethan H.
6/8/2010
Bonge's is a unique and worthwhile experience by any estimation. But there's no excuse for a place like this to have shit for a beer selection.
C'mon Bonge's! You LIVE for a unique and local experience. You live for something interesting. You live for being a soul-full alternative to the corporate monotony of Indy's northern suburbs. But as far as beer is concerned, you fail. You fail worse than Buffalo Wild Wings. You fail worse than Appleby's. In this respect and in this respect only, you suck. -
Review from Brad K.
Muncie, IN
11/13/2010
A friend of mine came into town and I decided to take this opportunity to check out what I've heard is the best eatery in the area.
I'll be honest: while we were driving out along the backroads of Indiana, I kept saying: There's no way a place this far out is going to be any good.
This goes to show why I make bad decisions sometimes.
The menu - which is small but ever changing (except for a few staples) - was awesome. Get the tomato soup. ("World Famous" we were told.) It's definitely good.
My friend has the Mahi-Mahi, which she loved. I had the pork, a dish I'm not normally down with. Uh-Maze-EEng.
Save room for dessert too. While I'm normally a choc-o-holic (it goes well with my alcoholism), we went for the pineapple-berry THING. Dear Thor in Valhalla, what a great decision on our part. It was like eating pure sugar and heaven mixed with freshly made cream. (Yeah, no whipped cream from a can. This was straight up made to order cream.)
In other words: yes, there can be amazing food that far out in the country. So go do this. -
Review from Stephen E.
Milford, CT
8/10/2008
I've been around the FRICKING world, and I can't wait for a Birthday party next week. . .at Bonges. This food is a perfect blend of casual, homestyle, and GOURMET.
The Applewood smoked primerib beats Schulas, Mortons, and the other want a be Steak places hands down. You know I could go on for 10 minutes on this review. . .the fun tailgating in the parking lost, the dessert (Sugar Cream cake). . .the wedge of Salad with Blue cheese. The Jalapeño Corn bread. .
Yelpers of the world - make the trip out to the fields of Indiana. But don't repeat my mistake, don't take a date there until you've been with her a couple times. Otherwise, she will think you are taking into a corn field to kill her or something. . because this place is in the boonies! -
Review from Rick B.
Lafayette, IN
6/2/2011
One of those classic small, remote places. The food is outstanding, but the fun is in the parking lot as patrons actually tailgate while waiting for a table. We have an hour drive to get there and it is worth it! The Perkinsville Pork is outstanding, but we really like their fish meals.
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Review from Emily U.
2/12/2010
Imagine a roadhouse serving gourmet comfort food in the cornfields of Indiana and you've begun to imagine the unique experience that is Bonge's. This old-timey-looking tavern has a lively tailgaiting scene in the summertime. You can expect to wait hours for a table, but the consolation is that you're welcome to drink in their gravel parking lot. In the winter, it's much easier to slide into a table.
Last night (a cold Thursday with snow on the ground), I went with a group of eight for a birthday celebration and we were seated right away. Merriment and delicious food ensued. Meateaters enjoyed duck (wrapped in bacon and stuffed with jalapeno cream cheese), pork and lamb served on couscous. The mushroom appetizer is awesome and the jalepeno corn bread is last-meal kind of delicious. The tomato soup is reportedly world famous, but I get the salad wedge with the blue cheese/garlic dressing. Prior to tasting this manna from heaven, I believed that my family's restaurant in suburban Chicago--passed down through three generations--had the best homemade blue cheese dressing, however I think I might have to concede that Bonge's is better.
For an entree, they always prepare me a plate of veggies, though it's not on the menu. The servers are laid-back and friendly, which ices the cake on one of the most enchanting eating experiences to be found in Indiana. -
Review from Sarah K.
3/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Holy f'ing crap. Seriously. I rarely say that about a restaurant.. let alone one that I have to drive down county roads 234820394802938 East and North to get to. There are very few restaurants where I actually order an appetizer AND dessert, but holy crap, how could you not?! I started with sauteed mushrooms and finished with the chocolate cream pie-cake. Let's just say that it was so good that I'm arranging babysitters to watch my kids so I can drag my husband.
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Review from Raymond H.
Indianapolis, IN
6/25/2011
Went there on a Friday evening around 5 pm. Was seated immediately but waited QUITE a while for the waitress to come over and take my order, they seemed to be ignoring me even though the place was still largely empty. She was friendly and obliging, however, when she finally did come over. Had the 16 oz prime rib (ordered medium rare) and the Harger Duck (sans veggies but w/ rice). The prime rib was fine, but on the dry side; definitely medium to medium-well as served, NOT medium-rare. On the dry side; the horseradish sauce it came with added much needed "juices" to the meat mouth-feel. No mustard. ??? "Not available", the server thought the kitchen might have some - I declined; it just seemed weird that good mustard would not be available, so much for its beef bona fides. The Harger Duck was weird, squishy cheese mixture in a duck breast "wrap" with very salty non-descript sauce on it. Very salty rice. Meh. The cheesy potato side (with the prime rib) was OK. The radishes that came with the prime rib were actually the best thing that evening. With a pint of beer & tip: $60+ for one. NOT good value, esp with a 62 mile round trip drive from Indy.
Oh, the tomato soup was tasty but...too much cream in it, too thick, too dairy-tasting, not really soup. -
Review from Cynthia m.
Indianapolis, IN
5/22/2009
Okay, so I went all the way out to Perkinsville to surprise my fiance with a unique dining experience. It was unique, I will give Bonge's that. When we pulled up, there was a Corvette, several Mercedes, and a Rolls Royce equipped with a chauffeur in the parking lot. There wasn't a "normal" car to be found to compare to our Volkswagen Jetta. That's fine........whatever. We get seated in 25 minutes (not too bad) and we order the recommended wedge salad with bleu cheese, tomato soup, and ribs, which they didn't have. We settled for the New York Strip and the Jalapeno Duck. The wedge salad was just okay. I have had so much better. Dawson's on Main in Speedway and a few others serve wedges that are so much better. The tomato soup was wonderful, and tomatoes are my FAVORITE food so I was not disappointed at all. The duck was just okay. It was so overpowered by the bacon, cream cheese and jalapenos that you couldn't taste the duck. To me, this was such a shame as I am a die hard duck fan! The jalapeno corn bread, to me, was take it or leave it. The strip was good. The potatoes were just potatoes. One thing that was amazing, the sugar cream cake with blueberry topping. WOW!
I find it awfully funny that it says smokehouse on the side of the building yet nothing on the menu was smoked. I came for ribs only to learn that the chef only makes them about twice a year. I am going to go back after calling to get on the list to be notified when they will have ribs. I really want to try them.
Overall, I have had so much better. 14 West in downtown Indianapolis and Santorini's in Fountain Square are really great places to eat. I definitely will not go out of my way to go back until the ribs are available.
Overall, it was 2nd rate gourmet cooking with a fun atmosphere and full of a bunch or yuppies. The guy that was driven in the Rolls Royce told his guests, "Welcome to Indiana". Please............. -
Review from Jessica S.
Noblesville, IN
6/5/2008
There's no better way to spend an evening than tailgating at Bonge's. Here's what you do ... pack some lawn chairs, maybe a folding table, bring a few bottles of wine/beer/liquor, maybe something to nosh on, and a pack of cards. Peek inside the restaurant to see the menu on the chalkboard. Hang out in the parking lot for 1-2 hours - but if you show up at 7pm on a weekend, it's more like 2-3 hours. Play cards, talk with friends, drink ... before you know it, Theresa walks up and says "slam your drinks, pack it up, your table's ready." Enjoy the most amazing dinner, including the fanciest pork tenderloin in Indiana and some amazing applewood smoked prime rib. Whatever you do, save room for the sugar cream cake, it's the best dessert in town. Just make sure to sober up before attempting the long drive home!
Listed in: Best Indy Local Food
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Review from Jason S.
Chicago, IL
1/9/2007
In the middle of nowhere, in a town of less than 500 people, sits the most fabulous gourmet food in the most fabulous no frills setting you have ever seen. People tailgate in the parking lot most every night waiting for a seat inside this small tavern that does not take reservations unless you have 10 or more people. The food is out of this world with dishes such as bacon wrapped cheese and jalapeno stuffed duck and elk and steaks with crab sauce that melt in your mouth. Don't forget the world famous corn bread and amazing tomato soup that rivals any you have ever tasted. You have to see this place to believe it. Wine and beer only. I can't wait to go back!
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Review from Jennifer L.
San Antonio, TX
9/21/2008
Perkinsville's Bonge's Tavern keeps things alternately upscale and laid-back. A deceptively laid-back chalk board serves as the straightforward menu featuring entrees like elk with shiitake, duck and walleye. But just when you think Bonge's is getting uppity, you remember that they let patrons tailgate at their restaurant--they even provide a Port-o-Potty.
