Fire By the Monon

Fire by the Monon is a nice restaurant just a block west of the Monon Trail in Indianapolis’ Broad Ripple Village. They are known for smoking and firing fresh, local ingredients. Plus, they strive to offer a good selection of local craft beer. Fire by the Monon has ample inside and patio dining, and their staff is extremely friendly.
They have several flatbreads on their menu, and I tried the carnivore — consisting of pulled pork, bacon, pepperoni, mozzarella, and red sauce. I could taste the slight grilled/​fired flavor of the crust, but it was not charcoaled and remained soft. It was even somewhat flimsy near the middle. I’m sure many people would have greatly enjoyed this pizza, but it was a little too heavy on the barbeque pulled pork for me. While I love barbeque, and I obviously love pizza, I’m more of a pizza purist and don’t enjoy mixing the two. In my opinion, the pulled pork had too much barbeque flavoring and this conflicted with the red sauce. The fresh slices of mozzarella cheese were good, but they were somewhat sparse. To me, this just allowed the barbeque flavor to further overpower traditional pizza flavors.
My fellow diners really enjoyed their meals at Fire by the Monon, especially the dirty mac & cheese. I think I would like another one of their flatbreads and plan to try the margherita next time. My poor selection should not reflect too negatively upon them. Just know not to get the carnivore flatbread if you like more traditional pizzas as I do. Otherwise, everyone working at Fire by the Monon was very friendly and helpful, and I hope to dine there again.

This place is awesome. I never mind waiting for a table here because the bar is an inviting set-​up. Warm colors, big windows with plenty of light, combined with wooden accents throughout make me want to sit down and order a 12 year scotch or bourbon, which is what I usually do. My fiancée usually orders an old fashioned, and we enjoy our drinks while we wait for our table.
Once sat, we are usually greeted with good service, and tasty options. It seems like it’s usually the weekend so we splurge and order way too much food (the specials) followed by dessert. I have ordered, twice, the steak. The steak is excellent. The dessert I can’t quite remember what it was but it had vanilla ice cream and something warm, like pie or something: IT IS AMAZING.
The atmosphere is cool and the food is good. It is also right off of the Monon Trail and plenty of other cool spots. Come check this place out.

When I went I split the Dirty Mac N Cheese and the Coop Chicken sandwich. The sandwich was very unique with a thick piece of mozzarella cheese, sautéed onions, mushrooms, spinach, and tomato pesto. The sweet potato fries were also delicious. The dirty Mac n cheese had pulled pork in it and was good, however I don’t think I would order it again. They also have nice outdoor seating and the food was all very reasonably priced.

I really like this place! Last night was my second time back. I went with a friend and we split the COOT sandwich (chicken, onions, another o word??, and tomatoes I believe) and then the dirty Mac and cheese. The Mac and cheese was good but I shouldn’t have eaten more than a few bites, it was really rich. And the sandwich was a combo I wouldn’t have thought of but was delicious! Overall my bill was cheap for the quality of food I got!
The service was not super attentive. We had been out of water for at least 20 minutes and then we had to ask. But everyone was friendly. And the patio outside with the sunset made us feel like we were on vacation. I’ll return again!

A tad bit pricey for lunch, but definitely worth it. I had the «greuben» which is a grouper Reuben sandwich. The fish was perfectly cooked, a tad bit greasy but who doesn’t love some extra calories?! Their dirty Mac n cheese is definitely worth it too!

Didn’t know anything about the restaurant when we decided to dine here. We were lured by the fire pit next to the patio and we saw an open table. The hostess said we could have the table if we wanted as the wait for an inside table was 30 minutes. Perfect timing.
The menu boasts a lot of grilled and smoked items, but also fresh salads, fish and flatbreads. Now is the breaded pork chop sandwich an Indy thing? I didn’t research about food so much but we saw it on the menu at different places including a food stall at the zoo so figured we had to try it. My husband got the pulled pork sandwich and we split each so we could try both. There is a kids menu and my son opted for the cheeseburger.
Everything was really good. The pork sandwich was huge! each piece of bun seemed to get it’s own pork chop. Leftovers definitely came home with us. It was tender and flavorful and really liked it. The pulled pork was good – I liked how it was topped with coleslaw, but it needed more of it. The BBQ sauce was tangy and there was enough of it to make it messy, but in a good way.
The onion rings and sweet potato fries were crispy and well-​made. There was a nice list of local brews and they are served perfectly chilled.
The rest of the restaurant is in a renovated house. Very cute. Service was friendly. Nice place in cute neighborhood.

In looking for a place to meet friends, Fire By the Monon would show up in search results. Finally in June 2015, my wife and I met friends for some light food and drinks. It was very nice and now is on my list of places to visit if I ever write that Indy travel guide!
The restaurant is quaint and cozy. It is locally owned by «Joe» who lives close by and always seems happy to talk with his customers. They are kid friendly. The kids menu even has an option to ask for additional plates and let your kids eat off your plate. The children will get a pack of crayons and coloring pages to keep them busy while waiting.
For the food: We’ve had a variety of dishes here. I love the fish tacos. My wife was talking with the owner about the tacos and said she wants to try them sometime with chicken. He said, «we can do that now if you want.» So, she had them with chicken and loved them! There are a number of pork dishes and a number of mac & cheese dishes. The spicy pork bbq in mac and cheese was very good. The kids pizza is a good size. Our kids could split one (although they haven’t yet — dad seems to find something to do with the left over pizza :) Burgers are great. We always get the beer cheese pretzels — hot pretzels with beer cheese dip!
Drink: there are excellent mixed drinks. See the photos for some of the offerings. Also the local beer selection is wide and accommodating.
Other: The bathrooms are very clean and updated. Again, they are also kid friendly with changing tables. My wife checked it out and added that there are even clean diapers in the bathroom — nice touch!
FBtM has great outdoor seating. You will see this right when you walk up. There are some seats close to an outdoor fire place if it is a chilly night and you want to sit outside. We did this once on a family visit. If you are sitting outside during the sunset, the seats on the west will get a short period where you cannot block the sun (it only lasts a bit until the sun is behind trees — still, sit with your back to the west and act surprised and concerned when the other people in your group pull out their dark sunglasses).
The location is in Broad Ripple down a side street and close to the Monon. Great location! They have a parking lot — not enough for everyone dining there to have a spot, but there is free and pay street parking close by. I have not every had a problem finding a free place to park.
I enjoy this restaurant and am glad I live close enough to frequent it often!

Came for some beer and an appetizer after running on the Monon Trail. This place is nice because it’s relatively quiet compared to all the other bars on the main drag. It’s a family joint so that’s expected. The beer menu is fine and I ended up getting the Upland Beer as it was on special. I like saving a few dollars when I can.
I got the goat cheese marinara with the super awesome Rene’s bread. This focaccia was super good and it went well with marinara.
The service was a bit slow for my taste; but we got in and out in time to get back to the car before the meters expired.
Overall an excellent experience as always whenever I go to this place.

Got to sit outside got the beer cheese dip with pretzels loved it. Hubby got piggy Mac he said it could have had more BBQ pork in it.

My friend and I had lunch here and will definitely return. I had the BLTA (my favorite part was the chipotle mayo) which was delicious. I also really enjoyed the dipping sauce that came with the french fries. My friend had the fish tacos with rice on the side and really enjoyed it as well.
The only con I would say was the acoustics/​sound — there weren’t that many people eating there for lunch but it was very loud. So I will be keeping this in mind if I wanted to have a large group or to come here for dinner when it’s even more crowded, but it was bearable for lunch. They also have a parking lot which is really nice, but not a whole ton of spots.
Overall, I really enjoyed this place and would love to come back to try other items on the menu.

Tonight’s dinner was fabulous at Fire By the Monon. Our waiter, Ian, was beyond patient with my friends and me. He took our super specific orders and delivered them perfectly. The food was good-​fish and chips were a little too greasy but great taste. My one friend’s flatbread looked great and she seemed happy with it.
I’ve been here before and it’s always been good. I haven’t really had a really extraordinary experience yet, but it’s always a solid bet. Hopefully next time there will be less of a wait!

There are those who live to eat (me), and then there are those who eat to live (the yawners).
Those who eat to live would like Fire by the Monon. It’s a safe pick, with options that are familiar to your palate. In my opinion, the food reads better than it tastes. I wasn’t the biggest fan of my bites of Dirty Mac ‘n’ Cheese, Carnivore Flatbread, or Coop Chicken Sandwich. Perhaps more seasoning or a more zesty ingredient to give the dishes a little bit of pizzazz and a reminder that the best things in life should be delicious.
Given the other options in Broad Ripple and my overall food philosophy, I’m not going to fight the yawners for a table. Life’s too short to waste my calories.

The husband is a fish taco connoisseur, I on the other hand have only met a couple of fish tacos worth mentioning. We shared a plate of the magical tacos and almost had a full out wrestling match on the floor over the 3^rd one. I thought he would be the gentleman and offer it to me… no. We split it equally and I still have a chip on my shoulder about it. Warning: it is a gigantic plate of goodness.
We also had the soft pretzels with cheese sauce. I was completely disappointed, the pretzels were hard, and the cheese just meh.

Overall: Awesome place for a great sandwich, apps/​pizza, or quality entrée. Cozy and delicious.
The good: Everything was delicious Nachos, salads, entrees, all were fresh and hot and tasted great. The portions are generous but not overwhelming. The atmosphere is cozy and neat. The service was very friendly and quick.
The bad: Gets pricey.
Atmosphere: ¹⁰⁄₁₀
Service: ¹⁰⁄₁₀
Food: ¹⁰⁄₁₀

This place is like a cozy blanket– we settled in and didn’t want to leave. The atmosphere was just so… warm. The lights were dim and there were fire heaters outside the window that gave the place a cool glow.
Our server had waters on our table before we were even completely seated and our food came out within about ten minutes. I ordered a chicken sandwich with mushrooms and caramelized onions that came with a side salad. Not kidding– the side salad was brought out within about five minutes (and I was there on a Friday night). The place was pleasantly busy and the server had helpful recommendations. It’s also reasonably priced for the quality of food. I liked this a lot better than Monon Food Company.
Mmmm can’t wait to eat my leftovers. (I’m shocked I have leftovers too). Great job, Fire by the Monon.

I had lunch here last weekend; bonus points for being open on Sunday! We ate on the patio which was quiet and delightful!
I had a «greuben» sandwich, which featured a really huge grouper fillet that was breaded and fried. The fish was flaky and delicious, and the way it extended so far past the marble rye bread made me think of a tenderloin. I’m not sure the sandwich reminded me much of a reuben, but it was a tasty fish sandwich! The sweet potato fries were fine; nothing too exciting, standard likely frozen waffle cut, but good! My friend had a Cobb salad with shrimp; she really enjoyed it and it did look very good!
The beer selection is great! I had an Indian Brown Ale which was something I hadn’t seen before, so had to try it! It reminded me a bit of a porter and I enjoyed it!
Sadly, they had no desserts. Our server said they ran out on Saturday, and don’t get more in on Sunday.
Service was great! Our server was friendly, just attentive enough, and knowledgable about the menu.

My family and I visited this past weekend for a quick lunch while out and about. We had looked over the menu prior to and were really looking forward to stopping in. The location is convenient and quiet, with a great patio for nicer weather.
We dined inside around noon, very few other people. We were seated and had drinks immediately. It was nice and quiet, we could converse and be heard easily, a sticking point for my parents. Our food took a bit longer to arrive than anticipated, going from the number of patrons, but it was delicious. I opted for the southwest chicken sandwich, hubby had the pulled pork sliders, dad had the carnivore flatbread, mom had fish tacos and little bro had a burger. Everyone was very happy with the food, it all turned out great. Dad’s only complaint was our drinks weren’t refilled. He did have to get up and find our server. But he was apologetic and filled our glasses immediately.
We all agreed four stars just for the service. Food was great, location is nice, we will definitely return. Looking forward to trying out the rest of the menu!

I was entertaining some friends from out of town and trying to cater to a few different palettes. After seeing multiple reviews for Fire by the Monon it looked like the perfect place.
Upon arriving, I was immediately impressed by the exterior. The numerous patio areas and the well designed building had me thinking we were in for a real treat.
When we first entered, we weren’t greeted right away. However that worked out in our favor because had we been whisked off to our table immediately, we would have missed the «pick a random bottle of wine» to take to our table for only $ 20 from a container in the entryway. My friends and I picked through and found an unusual red Chilean wine with chocolatey undertones we hadn’t tried before.
The service was alright, but our server wasn’t able to tell us much about options from the bar or tell my guest the cost of a mimosa. Not that it was the end of the world, but I feel like that should be pretty basic information readily available.
Between my friends and I, we ordered a variety of items from different parts of the menu. All of which were decent but nothing to write home about. Our server talked up the dirty Mac and cheese, but it ended up being a soupy bowl of fusilli noodle pasta dripping with cheese and lacking in flavor.
Overall, I’d set this place in the «meh» category for people that are feeling passive and coincidentally in Broad Ripple. I feel like this place could be really amazing if they stepped up the menu options and classed up the interior. Until then, I am not likely to go back.

My wife, my giant dog, and I visited Fire! On a sunny Wednesday for dinner and a drink on the patio. I’ve never been to fire for dinner during the week. During weekend visits, I tend to allow myself to indulge in their comfort food. On this visit, I decided to give their healthier choices a whirl.
I ordered the berry spinach salad, add Salmon, and my wife went with the cobb, add chicken. We both had the dressing served on the side, as they don’t have any light dressings. While we enjoyed our drinks on the patio, it took quite a long time to assemble the salads (circa 20 minutes). Finally, they arrived. Both salads were a good size portion for a dinner entrée, but very hard to eat with the dressing on the side. I appreciate how much spinach was in my salad, and I understand getting the dressing on the side was my fault, but it was hard to dress the salad in the bowl. Doing it over again, I would just ask for the chef to use a small amount of dressing when assembling my salad. On my next healthy visit, I plan to tackle one of their fish entrees with a healthy vegetable side.
Overall, it was a good visit. My main problem is the cost. I know, its local, and I understand paying a bit extra for that. But, they don’t really run any specials. I had 2 of the «special» pints, which was still $ 4 each on a Wednesday. My wife had 1 glass of wine, which was $ 7. Both salads, after adding a protein, were about $ 15. So we walked out close to $ 60 for dinner. That’s just too much to do as a casual mid-​week meal. If they want to attract a more frequent crowd, they need to add some specials and/​or additional options for a better value.
I’m sticking with a solid 4 stars. I love the patio, I love the atmosphere, I love how they treat my dog, and I love that Inferno Burger. But I just can’t afford to eat here as frequently as I’d like.

This is one of those time a half star option would be nice. This place is a solid 3 and half after my first visit. This past weekend, my bf and I stopped in for dinner. This place has been on my radar for well over a year, so I was stoked to finally visit. Upon walking in I immediately liked the atmosphere. Homely. Loved all of the art work and warm colors on the walls.
We went on a Sunday afternoon, so it wasn’t packed. Our waiter was awesome! He was nice, attentive, and helpful. We ordered the dirty mac & cheese for an appetizer. I couldn’t decide between the fish and chips or Hoosier breaded pork tenderloin. Of course, i had to go with the tenderloin. My bf ordered the inferno burger. We basically ordered their three signature dishes.
It didn’t take long for the dirty mac & cheese to come out. Mmmm, pasta, pulled pork, and white cheddar. I was excited to dig in! Unfortunately, I was completely underwhelmed. Although the pasta was cooked perfectly and the pork was tender, the entire dish lack flavor. Bummer.
Now off to the entrees. My bf’s burger was massive and overflowing with pulled pork and bbq. He seemed to enjoy it and the side of onion rings. My tenderloin was HUGE. I didn’t even see the bun hidden under it. I mean, wowsa! It was subtly seasoned, but I found it just to be ok. I couldn’t finish the entire thing. My side of sweet potato fries were a tad bit on the salty side.
This place is a winner when it comes to location, atmosphere, and service, but unfortunately, I was completely underwhelmed by the food. If I had an opportunity I would definitely go back and try other options like a burger or pulled pork sandwich.