I'm a fan of old bars and if they have good food, so much the better. Workingman's Friend is a real gem, well known and much loved in Indianapolis.
Workingman's Friend is located a couple miles west of downtown in a mixed residential and industrial neighborhood.
It's been around nearly 90 years and is now run by the third generation of the founding family.
Decorations are pretty much limited to beer signs but the place has a beat-in cheerful feeling about it. It seems like nothing that still works is discarded; note the cigarette machine (they actually have two), television with rabbit ear antennae, and the cash register. Even the trough-style urinal appears to be original (I'll spare you the picture of that).
I had a modest lunch of a burger and a glass of beer.
However the glass held 32 ounces and the burger must have weighed in at over a pound. Oh, and they're known for their onion rings so I couldn't pass those up. The burger was darn good and the onion rings were better. The tab was barely over $10 for a huge and tremendously satisfying meal. I can't wait to get back for a Big John (grilled ham and Swiss) and a bowl of chili. It's a shame places like this are becoming so rare, a classic tavern run by friendly people who clearly care about what they're doing.
Workingman's Friend
234 N Belmont Av
Indianapolis IN
317-636-206