Rock Bottom Restaurant And Brewery

oracle

Indiana

2.7/5  rDev -28.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 2 | food: 4

This was the second stop of the BA Indy Pub Crawl. I have been to various Rock Bottom Cafe's before, but this was my first time at the Indy one.

My first impression was a nice one, of a clean and well run establishment. It was moderately crowded but not too much so. I did have to wait a tad too long at the upstairs bar to get a pint of their dark german wheat beer (which was pretty good).

Then we went downstairs to play pool. Nice tables at $10/hour. I had to walk up to the downstairs bar to order food, as they had only one guy handling all of the downstairs. Not good, in my opinion.

Food was good, but nothing out of this world. Their beer selection seems to be pretty much limited to their own brews, which is a real shame.

10-19-2004 20:49:37 | More by oracle

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.2/5  rDev -15.6%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 2.5 | food: 3.5 | $$

Rock Bottom venues are often solid and consistent. Although, the standardized feel becomes comonplace.

Always a clean, vibrant, nicely lit, and casual hot spot. Nice feel, similar to Applebees and O'Charlies, although the beer here is better.

The service is always good and solid, but nothing special. The food is mostly standard for Rock Bottoms, but they do throw in a few special plates for the vernacular.

The beer is always good, but lacks much creativity, uniqueness, or boldness. As do other franchised Brewpubs, they appeal to the average beer drinker and offer little for those of us who appreciate better.

A fine place to enjoy a meal, ball game, and a beer. Easy to get bored with the cookie cutter brewpub. No complaints, but can't brag on it too much either. No real uniqueness, but safe.

06-20-2005 00:51:57 | More by BEERchitect

frazbri

Ohio

3.24/5  rDev -14.5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.25 | selection: 3 | food: 3.25 | $$

Visited the Indianapolis Rock Bottom on a rainy Saturday night. We were staying downtown for a trade show and knew we could walk from our hotel most of the way to the RB without going outside in the rain.

We went to the bar and found an open high-top table. The table itself was wobbly, so it made me a little paranoid about spilling my drink. The NFL playoffs were on, so the room was lively, and a little loud. Generally clean and friendly.

At a Rock Bottom your going to have five or six standard beers and one brewmaster's special that's usually a little more interesting than the blonde ale. The special was out this visit, so I opted for the stout. It's a good irish stout, a little sweeter than a Guinness.

My meal choice was fish tacos. The tacos were good, the black beans were tasty, but the rice was crunchy. (either undercooked or really overcooked and dried out)

Our server did a pretty good job. Nothing extraordinary, but our orders were on time and accurate.

I feel like I'm damning Rock Bottom with faint praise. Really, it's good, just it's not amazing. (and it's kind of a cookie cutter thing. Not much difference from Indy, Cinci or Denver)

01-14-2013 15:53:41 | More by frazbri

rdailey76

Indiana

3.3/5  rDev -12.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$

I have been to a couple different Rock Bottoms, but this was the first time I have eaten at the one in Indy. The sidewalk out front is torn up for road construction, but it didn't seem to hurt the business at all.

I decided to enjoy my meal and beers on their outdoor patio, which is streetside on a busy east/west street in Indy. Nice night, so nice atmosphere so far.

I was able to sample a IPA that they had on cask. It was ture to style, but definitely not satisfying. There was just something amiss with it, but I can't put a finger on it. I also had the seasonal wheat that they were pushing. It was better, but still has that "tang" that puts me off of Hefes.

The server took our drink and food orders and then we didn't see him again until after the food arrived cold and incorrect. He returned with our second round and the check, so I guess he wasn't inviting us to stay for another round.

I think they had approximately 6-8 taps to choose from, with one being cask. They had the standard brown, light, seasonal wheat, stout, the brewer's choice IPA and maybe another 2-3.

The food was pretty good, but definitely had been sitting under a heat lamp. The fries were cold and the salad was warm.

Anyway...definitely will be back, but probably only for beers next time.

07-11-2005 18:12:51 | More by rdailey76

JamesS

Indiana

3.64/5  rDev -4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Nice atmosphere, your general chain restaurant, although I do like seeing some of the brewing equipment around.

Everything was nice and clean and the beer was good, if not outstanding. Nice menu, although I was only in for the beer.

Good service, if a little slow. My server answered questions and came by to check up on my occasionally, although it seemed like at the end she wasn't worried about me as much, and I think she didn't work as hard since I only ordered beer.

Nice beer selection, including a cask ale (that I didn't see until it was too late).

11-27-2008 16:49:57 | More by JamesS

soper2000

Texas

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5

The second Rock Bottom I've been to. Dropped by here on a Friday lunch hour and the place was absolutely packed and this is no small place either. Atmosphere is grandiose for a brewpub, pseudo-formal in my opinion. I'm used to the rustic feel of the Lafayette Brewing Co. and this is something different. I had the Ma Stout as the other selections seemed uninspiring or sort of bland. The beer was pretty good and I wish I had time to venture into the other selections. Food portions were enormous again and generally good. You can't really beat the location but I wish for a wider selection of interesting(to me) beers. I know this is unfair as you can't please all. But I will definately be going to the Rock Bottom in Indy again, plus it got bonus points as my girlfriend really enjoyed it (that's not too common).

09-01-2004 01:41:33 | More by soper2000

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$

I was reading a review of my home base, LNCBC, by diakron, in which he characterizes me as "ubiquitous". Ha! Outside of the FBI, I didn't realize that people were tracking my movements. That is, until I remembered my ankle bracelet and my Rock Bottom Mug Club card, which has seen me in King of Prussia, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago, Boston, Milwaukee, Bethesda, Arlington, and now, Indiananpolis, with Mini-Apple-Us scheduled for next weekend (17 to 19 December 2005). I guess that I do get around, come to think of it.

I really like this chain, if I haven't copped to it before. It is always the same, yet different. Each place is unique to its physical location, but the menu is standard and many of the beers are repetitive, but the brewers all put their own spin on their product, as well as being able to create their own seasonales.

As usual, my personal compass pointed to "Bar", so after passing through a short vestibule and announcing my Pestian presence at the reservation desk, as required by federal law, I took up my usual position. Above me, again like the sword of Damocles, was a massive chalkboard touting "Fresh Handcrafted Beer" and broken down by "Style", "OG/FG", "ABV", Tapping [Date]", and "Description". Cleverly, the "U" and "P" in "Coming UP" are the Colts' and Pacers' logos, respectively. This was fitting, since it was the Stillers/Colts MNF game that had brought me to town.

My notes show that on Saturday late afternoon/early evening, the place was ungadly busy. Astounding!

Directly in front of me, behind the back bar, was a set of windows overlooking a bank of five fermentation vessels, which I felt as though I could have looked at for hours. Simple things fascinate simple minds ...

One of the waitstaff put me onto a new menu item: a cheese plate, pairing three different cheeses with three different beers. Brilliant! Did I mention that I love this chain? Here's my idea of a grand day out: the cheese plate as an appetizer, followed by their signature fish 'n' chips made with salmon, paired with an IPA. When's the next bus to KofP? Perhaps I can become their spokesperson ... or not.

In the overhead, above the servers, were the growlers, which reminded me that I wanted to add to my collection. I also feel compelled to mention the frosted glass light fixtures, which lent a very retro look to the place. Behind me, and to my left, was the the brewhouse, which gave me something else to salivate over for an indefinite period of time. Directly behind me were a bunch of high tables and bar chairs, followed by a short bank of booths. To my right, and up just a couple of steps, was an abbreviated dining area. The main dining area was off to my extreme left, behind a small partition, but it was too busy to go exploring until the impetus came in the form of a head call. The Mens and Ladies are all of the way aft, on the left side. The kitchen is off to the right, behind the fermentation room.

I almost (but only almost) missed "Under the Rock"- a basement pool hall with five pocket billiards tables, its own bar, a cigar lounge, high ceilings, and great black & white photos, especially of monks playing pool.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the preponderance of TV monitors in the place. I felt overwhelmed by the onslaught of varying images. Geez-O, man.

Finally, I want to give props to Merry the Bartender and Angela, a customer to whom I explained the difference between a "sweet" and a "dry" stout. She was nice enough not to have me hauled away as a looney.

12-09-2005 17:16:22 | More by woodychandler

pmatz2

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$

Visited over the weekend while in town with a 14 month old baby. They were kid friendly (for a 5:30 sitting)
Beer selection was varied covering all the key bases. There was even a cask conditioned beer on the blackboard.

Sorry that i wouldn't be in town for the the brewers dinner 4 course meal with 4 beer pairings.

Food choices were varied (something for everyone) including fish tacos which weren't bad. (fish tacos outside of CA scare me!) Overall worth a shot if your in the downtown area looking for good food and good beer.

01-22-2008 03:23:43 | More by pmatz2

Redrover

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$

The Indy RB has a great location just off the circle. This is a big space with lots of dining areas. The bar area is located near the main entrance and in the center of the room.

They have wood floors and very high ceilings. Attractive but you know you're in a chain. Stone cold classic rock in the background.

The bar proper seats about 20 but is hampered by a couple of large pillars that screen about 4 stools from the bartender and result in only about 6 inches of space to put your beer. The bar area also has some high pub style tables and some other long tables for groups.

Crowded on a Wednesday at 5:30 with good happy hour specials. I was kind of shocked how popular this place was. From 5 to 7:30 there were successive waves of folks waiting for tables.

My server was friendly and could describe the beers, but she went MIA for long stretches of time.

The food I tried was good and fresh tasting. Seems to be a spot for eating as much as a it is a beer place.

If I recall correctly, they have 4 house beers and then rotating wheat and "dark" beers. While I was there the wheat was a German style hefe and the dark was an expresso stout (yummy!).

10-11-2007 17:52:41 | More by Redrover

dpnelson1978

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4 | $$

My third Indianapolis brewpub in two days, and thankfully the best.

The bar is very nice, with large fermenters visible through the glass behind the bar, and the restaurant in general had a very nice vibe going with wood floors, high top tables, and red leather booths. They also very much play up the brewery aspect of their business.

As a nice bonus, there were many flat screen TV's overhead devoted to sports. A nice bonus on a Monday night during football season. Don't worry if you aren't a sports fan though, as there was no volume.

The staff was attentive, prompt, and pleasant.

The restaurant was pretty busy for a Monday night, but there was no wait to get in.

The selection was pretty typical. A dozen appetizers, a few salads, sandwiches, burgers, and a few main course dishes such as steak and salmon.

I had the seared ahi tuna appetizer for $10.99 and it was decent. Not the best I've ever had, but the best I've ever had a brew pub. In addition, their honey mustard chicken sandwich ($10.49) was great, and their beer selection was reasonably priced at $4.99 per pint. I would definitely go back.

Another bonus is that there is plenty of down town parking ($1.50 up to 3 hours) and a lot to do within walking distance in case you find yourself staying in down town Indianapolis.

11-10-2009 02:26:06 | More by dpnelson1978