Bonge's Tavern

"Bonge’s Tavern (pronounced bon - gees) rests in a quiet area on the outskirts of Anderson Indiana about 40 miles northeast of Indianapolis. It sits in a building dating back to the late 1800’s. Bonge’s as a restaurant dates back to 1934 when Charles Bonge took over the restaurant and spent more than 60 years manning the kitchen before selling the place in 1997. It was recently sold again and the current owner chose not to mess with its success. Customers drive from across the state and tailgate outside when the weather is warm and there’s a wait, reservations recommended. The menu is fairly small but it has all of the basics including chicken, duck, lamb, seafood, and steaks. But its biggest seller is the Perkinsville Pork as this is Indiana after all and the Perkinsville Pork is a breaded tenderloin with Parmesan plus lemon butter served with the days fresh vegetable and whatever potato prep they’re making on your visit. The first thing you notice upon first bite is the quality the pork itself. It’s got really nice texture as in it wasn’t bludgeoned to mush and good flavor too from both the butter and the cheese. This was easily the best BPT I’ve had in these parts. The scalloped potatoes were also on point. The steak wasn’t the best I’ve had as that’s a much bigger hill to climb but it was more than just fine. I really liked all the smoke flavor they managed grill into it. All entrees come with jalapeño cornbread and your choice of tomato soup or a wedge salad served with house blue cheese dressing. I suggest going with the salad and paying the upgrade for the real deal made on site bacon bits to go with it. Bonge’s Tavern doesn’t do carryout but they do sell pints and quarts of the soup and the blue cheese dressing to go. We finished this fantastic meal with a marvelously made sugar cake topped with berries and whipped cream. I hope to one day return during the warmer months and tailgate"