The Friendly Tavern — Restaurant in Zionsville

This is a review for Friendly's Tavern not to be confused at all by the chain Friendly's Restaurants. No comparison at all! I just love this place. Almost everytime I have been there, there has been a small wait. I don't mind because things move along quite smoothly and the food and service are so worth any wait you might have. Luckily I have had the pleasure of experiencing one of the most wonderful career waitresses I have ever experienced in such a relaxed atmosphere. She was very much there to get the job done and did it perfectly. A real pro and her craft. I wish I could remember her name. It's not because she is not memorable but because I have chicken skat for brains sometimes, have been busy so this is a delayed review. We started off with the most wonderful very lightly breaded chicken wings that you can imagine. They are not wet, but come with sauces on the side. We added the Friendly Platter (their sampler platter) the chicken strips are lightly breaded just like their famous wings. My sister in law and I started out with a glass (or two) of Reisling. It was just a little dry for the both of us but I promise it didn't go to waste. My brother in law ordered the clam chowder and a side salad not pictured. My sister in law ordered the Tuna Melt with substitutions and fries no problem. My husband ordered the Buffalo Chicken Wrap with Cole Slaw. I ordered the turkey burger. The sandwich could have probably been squished on the grill just one less time, but was still thick and had good flavor. All the food was very good but as always, the chicken wings always steal the show. Their hand breaded chicken (any style) and service will always earn them Five Stars in my book⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Can not wait...

I was in Zionsville for NCAA March Madness with a group of six guys, and a couple of them had been to The Friendly Tavern before and were eager to go back. I’m so glad they did—what a spot! This place nails that quintessential Midwest bar/restaurant vibe—cozy, unpretentious, and just the right amount of lively. We rolled in late, right around kitchen closing time, but the staff greeted us with genuine warmth and made us feel right at home.

It’s a 21+ spot, which wasn’t an issue for us since the kids weren’t tagging along. I can see how that might be a pro or con depending on your situation, but for our crew, it added to the laid-back, adult-friendly atmosphere. We kicked things off with the wings, and wow—meaty, perfectly fried, and an absolute standout. One of the guys, the only local in our group, tipped us off to mix the buffalo sauce with ranch, and let me tell you, that combo was a flavor bomb with just the right kick.

Drinks were on point too. I started with a Fat Tire on draft which came out ice-cold and crisp—perfect for unwinding after a long day. I then ordered a glass of Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon, and it was fresh (sometimes a concern ordering wine by the glass). My buddy ordered the Chicken Melt and was kind enough to share a quarter of it. I’m still thinking about how incredible it was—juicy, melty, and packed with flavor.

If I find myself back in Zionsville, The Friendly Tavern is a must-visit. And if I were a local? I’d be a regular without a doubt. Five stars...

A lot of food but lacks in the flavor & taste department. We ordered 20 chicken wings, 2 whole pieces of Catfish and a Grilled Cajun style filet. The portions were very filling but the flavor of the chicken and the fish was very average. We also asked for hard cooked/crispy chicken and they were not crispy so if you like crispy wings, make sure you tell them that up front! Also, they are supposed to do 10 drums & 10 flats on the Chicken so if they do not, ask them to correct it and they are professional enough to do so.

Overall, if you are looking for a place to get a lot of food and aren’t really concerned about the taste as much, this is a great place to have a good time with family & friends and you can also watch games from the tvs on the wall.

Our customer service from our waitress was about a B. I think after we began to ask more questions than she bargained for we began to annoy her but she was very nice & professional and we would recommend her again!

Great but small upbeat sports bar environment that has the small mom & pop shop feel! The food was not extremely...