Noble Roman's Craft Pizza & Pub — Restaurant in Indiana

Bring your wind-breaker. You'll need it inside.

About the environment:

There's a couple tables near the bar area that are apparently in a direct-line with one of the HVAC ducts which I can only describe as 'overactive'. It's strong enough to tossle your hair, and blow napkins off the table. Seriously, it's like eating in a 15mph wind. We, as well as two other couples in the establishment that evening tried to sit there to eat, only to abandon the location and inform management. They acted like they knew about it. Apparently this wasn't new. What was more disturbing is that they seemed to totally shrug it off like they couldn't do anything. Bro. Call your HVAC guy. Your system is out of balance.

The acoustics in there are awful. I could barely hear to place an order. I had to ask the person behind the counter to repeat themselves more than once. I'm in my mid thirties. I shouldn't have that hard of a time being able to hear myself think, and I shouldn't have to repeat myself and ask for repetition that many times in a pizza order transaction.

About the food: The deep-dish would be highly forgettable if it weren't for the puddles of sauce that pour off when you eat it. I won't be able to forget that -- and not because I enjoyed it. The traditional crust is less offensive and far less gag-inducing. The traditional was a decent enough pizza.

The root beer on tap is nice, but meh. It's not enough to offset the nagging feeling of the premium price we paid for par pizza. There's other establishments within a 15 minute commute that have tremendously better quality food at the same price point, in an environment where I can hear, have a seat, and enjoy our family pizza. I'll be making the drive to visit them from now on.

I was really hoping we'd have a good place to sit down and enjoy an awesome pizza nearby. Apparently I'm just not hipster enough for the word "craft" in the name to send me into a transcendental state of holistic artisanal delusions that woo me into parting with my money for what I can only describe as run-of-the-mill, average, assembly line pizza put together by a line of disillusioned and unpassionate teenagers behind a glass wall.

This place is just not...

I guess I should start this review with a statement. When I think of Noble Roman's pizza, I remember the one in the old town hall in Zionsville; I know, it's been a long time since it was there. This was only remotely like that one but maybe that's the point. This is a "Craft Pizza & Pub" version so maybe it is a different take on the classic. We got a traditional cheese pizza and a large order of breadsticks. The pizza was what I can only describe as thin crust which is not a problem at all; I love thin crust, it but wasn't what I was expecting. The sauce was the exact same Noble Roman's sauce of old so that was immediately recognizable but the quantity and variety of cheese was different than I recall. I remember a thick, fluffy crust with 2 or 3 types of cheese. This was not that at all; probably the farthest thing from it. In fact, the crust was almost "cracker-like" in appearance and actually somewhat resembled a stretched Ritz cracker. The breadsticks appeared to be made from the same ingredients but were not soft and dough-y like I recall either. These were crunchy with a large amount of air pockets within. Again, maybe these are all intentional but I have found there are 3 types of Noble Roman's traditional pizzala ? : this cracker/thin crust version, a frozen version you can get from gas stations that offer it "hot and ready" and the original kind; thick, fluffy and oh-so-perfect. If you go to the one on 10th Street and Girl's School Road, you will find a completely different pizza, the original, the Noble Roman's we love and grew up on. I would give this a 2 or 3 star just because it faintly reminded me of what a Noble Roman's pizza should be albiet extremely far from it's...

I should start by saying Noble Romans was my favorite pizza place growing up before they went out of business. And do not confuse this with the crappy pizza licensed to various gas stations around Indiana. This is fairly close to the original concept, including a glass viewing of the kitchen where kids can see the dough being tossed and the pizzas made. One of the charms of the original restaurant has been modernized and is also back. Original silent movies are shown on a few of the multiple video screens around the restaurant. Other modern improvements over the original is a full-service bar with more than 15 beers on tap, and close to 30 in bottles. Local crafts are served (Upland/Taxman), as well as a flight of any four beers in tap. For the non-beer lovers, there are hard cider, sangria, and 17 wine selections. There is also a flight of your choice of four wines. Daily beer and wine specials (see photo). The bar is sectioned off, so children are allowed in the restaurant in the non-bar area. Back is the Deep Dish Sicilian pizza, as well as a dozen gourmet recipies to choose from. The Sicilian is a rectangular pizza with a 1/4 inch softly firm crust on bottom, that comes up the side of the pan into a thin, crunchy edge. The bottom has a firm crust to hold it together. Cheese is on the bottom with toppings on top, as well as blobs of rich marinara (see photo). Topping are delightfully crisp and fresh. Nostalgia buffs will not be disappointed. People only familiar with the brand through the crappy gas station pizza, will be...