Iron Rail Brewing

Stopped by here after checking out the reviews. A very nice location. Very appealing to the eye. Great and friendly staff. The food was absolutely delicious. Beers were OK. Don’t get me wrong. I had a flight of them plus a different pint, but the flavor just wasn’t there for me. Maybe that’s my preference. The beers were basic and simple in flavor.

Brewery was busy when we arrived but wasn’t a long wait. Waitress seemed very nice, took our drink order and appetizer order and did not come back for some time. Never received appetizer. Then after we ordered our main courses and they arrived we never saw her again. Had to ask a bar staff member to get our check so we could leave. Food was slightly above average and a bit expensive.

A Grand Experience at Iron Rail & Brewery – Worth a Return Visit! Stepping into Topeka's Iron Rail & Brewery is an experience in itself. This establishment, highly recommended for its barbecue and stunning murals, immediately captivated me. The sheer scale of the space, the intricate décor, and the impressive, visible distillery tanks in the back all contribute to a visually striking atmosphere. It’s clear a lot of thought went into making this place a feast for the eyes. The menu at Iron Rail offers a diverse selection, with plenty of choices across starters, sandwiches, and full dinners. I opted for the two-meat dinner, selecting the jalapeño cheddar sausage and ribs, accompanied by a side of baked beans. While the platter was visually appealing, the ribs were unfortunately a letdown. They were tough, chewy, and dry – a far cry from the tender, moist, fall-off-the-bone ribs one hopes for. However, I'm not going to let this single dish deter me. The baked beans, on the other hand, were a delightful surprise. These aren't your typical sweet baked beans; instead, they offered a unique chili-like flavor with a distinct hint of chili powder and a pleasant smokiness. It was an unexpected and very welcome twist on a classic side. Beyond the food, Iron Rail & Brewery truly shines as a destination. The stunning murals, cohesive paint scheme, and expansive layout create an incredible ambiance. The diverse seating options, from intimate small tables and high-top communal tables to a dedicated dining room for larger parties, make it suitable for any occasion. This place has all the makings of a successful brand, and I was genuinely disappointed they didn't have merchandise like t-shirts available – I would have happily purchased one on my way out. Iron Rail & Brewery is undeniably a gem for downtown Topeka, a place the community can genuinely be proud of. The locals I spoke with couldn't praise it enough, and I can see why. Despite the less-than-perfect ribs, the overall "experience" of this place makes it a must-visit. I'm already planning my next trip to Topeka, and a return visit to Iron Rail & Brewery is definitely on my itinerary. Was it an off day for the ribs? Perhaps, but the potential and the impressive atmosphere are more than enough to warrant another try.

I’m SO glad a coworker recommended this place. We were in town for errands and decided to try it. Glad we did. The food was great and at Greaf prices. I LOVE the tie in with history. Being from Lawrence I know all about the flood of ‘51 but only how it affected Lawrencians. It was so interesting to learn about the three Locomotives (thank you for including descriptions of the murals on the websites) the murals are so interesting and are beautiful. The beer was fantastic. Tried three, came home with a Growler!

I dined in on Monday after 1pm for a late lunch, and it was pretty calm in there. The server was nice – I think she was also the bartender. The food took a while to come out, but I wasn’t upset about it since I was enjoying conversation with my date and sipping on my ‘Harvey Girl’ drink. The baked beans had great flavor, but the slaw was really bland. The burnt ends and pulled pork were both extremely dry, which was disappointing. The spinach dip was good, although it didn’t come out as an appetizer – it showed up with the rest of our food. The pita chips that came with it had a stale texture. I struggled to bite through them and ended up just tearing them apart with my hands. Part of me thought maybe I’ve never had this type of bread before and didn’t know what it was supposed to taste like, but honestly, at that point, I didn’t care because I was just really hungry. The bill was around $70 for two cocktails, two entrees and an appetizer.

Second time at Iron Rail Brewing and another great experience. Food is great, service is prompt, atmosphere is comfortable. We had the Big Pig Rig appetizer and I had the rib plate for dinner. Both were great.

Great food, amazing craft beers (especially the Light and the Vienna), and a perfect place to relax or enjoy a meal with family. The service was outstanding — Xenya took care of us with exceptional kindness and attention. Highly recommended!

Iron Rail Brewing was a great spot for a laid-back evening! The two of us enjoyed some delicious appetizers, a crispy and flavorful pizza, and a couple of well-crafted cocktails. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with a cool industrial vibe, and the service was quick and friendly. Their drink menu had great variety, perfect for unwinding after a long day. The only downside was that the place got a little loud during peak hours, but it didn’t take away from the experience.

Visiting fam and we came for dinner. We ate outside and although humid, there was a breeze making it more comfortable. Our server was lovely, although they may have been short staffed. Wait times with a toddler are decidedly noticeable. My kids like the beer. I enjoyed a peachy cocktail. My catfish was great as was the potato salad I switched for fries. Hush puppies were crispy as I like them! I very much enjoyed my dinner here!

Visited not once but twice this gem of a restaurant in Topeka in the same week! Brit our server first of all was very engaging, attentive and very professional! Great rep for Iron Brewing! We had her as our server luckily both times. Let me start with the appetizer. The "Pig Rig" was some kind of magic. The bacon was thick and beautifully cooked. But the peanut butter magic and molasses dip was absolutely amazing. This was the hook that brought us back not once but twice! I ordered the pulled beef grilled cheese sandwich. "Brisket Grilled Cheese" sandwich with fries. It came with a tomato jam on the side. This was a party in your mouth! My friend had the "House Smoked Meatloaf" with mashed potatoes. The meatloaf had a drizzle of some fine gravy that gave it an extra punch. It was delicious! I have heard the Cobb salad is the bees knees. This will be tried on my next venture when I'm back. Turkey Apple Brie sandwich also. Excellent brew as well! All the way around from the ambiance, food, and service was 5 out 5 stars! Love this place!

These guys have been doing a great job in their kitchen since it opened in the revived downtown area a couple years ago. They have without a doubt the best fried chicken in town and a nice selection of house made beer and ales. What prompted me to write this review is there very good brunch that we have frequented twice in the past month with family. I can say the gravy on their biscuits and gravy offering is also the best in Topeka. Very reasonable $5 Bloody Mary's. And several in our party enjoyed the customizable mimosa flight.

Great craft beer. The smoked turkey and burnt ends were excellent. This place has the best coleslaw we've ever had!!

Update after a few years: overall good place! Depending on the bartender, you can get a great Old Fashion and the best thing in the menu is the Southwest Chicken Salad! They now have Hushpuppies as a side and they are good! I would recommend coming here!

My father in law turned 60 last month and to get the family together at a central location we all decided that we should meet up in Topeka to celebrate. The best time for everyone was going to be a weekend brunch and much to my surprise, there just aren't that many local or more upscale brunch options in Topeka. Most of the better restaurants don't open until 11 even on Saturday or Sunday, so it took us a while to find someplace that was open, was not a massive chain, and would be a fun place for a celebration. Enter Iron Rail Brewing. Now, the Yelp reviews for this place are kind of hit and miss to be honest I can see why, but the quick summary is that Iron Rail is a pretty solid choice in Top City. Now, I used to work in Topeka for a few years, and had the opportunity to get to know the town a bit. There just aren't that many amazing local eateries but this is slowly changing and since it's been a while since I'd returned I was pretty excited to give this place a go. When we arrived our family had secured a large table, big enough to accomodate our group. The restaurant was bustling - likely because there aren't that many great brunch spots in Topeka! My husband and I ordered the nashville hot chicken biscuit and it was good. The biscuit was a bit disappointing, but the chicken was solid, and they serve real hashbrowns here which is always a win. The servers were kind, food came out fairly promptly (with the exception of one order in our group), and folks overall enjoyed their food. I think in a bigger market where there are more options it would maybe be closer to three stars, but this was the best brunch I'd ever had in Topeka, and I'd like to come back to try their beers someday. Overall, I'm so grateful this spot exists and they are paving the way for even more great local businesses to open up in town. Totally worth a stop if you're in the area.

Had a huge family reunion dinner. Service and food was great! Brisket and bbq sauce was amazing!!! Highly recommend if you are ever in Topeka

Brunch menu was a nice variation. Food was GREAT and the service.... Our waiter was awesome! Didn't make us feel rushed and took his time with us. Came back with a "to go" box and the check without us asking. We will definitely go back when we are in town!

Really great place! We often go here with a group when in Topeka. The menu is varied and will surely please everyone. Staff is always nice and welcoming. Love all the fun beers they have available- and so nice that they do samples as well as flights of 4, your choice of flavor. Only drawback is that there are lots of TV's so if you want quiet you're not going to get it, especially when the Chiefs are playing.

Updating for new visit - chicken fingers and gin drinks at the bar. It was great & the chicken is NOT that pre-made stuff that's frozen. Good stuff! The bartender made me some strong & delicious libations

Great place to stop in for lunch or a quick beer when you're in Topeka! Bartender on today was quick and efficient. Appreciated his service! Very nice decor inside. Super chill vibe with a great playlist!

Great tangerine wheat beer. Since we like to eat in the bar, ate at the bar post Chiefs game. Quiet as they close at 8 pm and we got here at 645. The parfait is amazing. For $10 you have a large mug filled with sugared baked beans, macaronis and cheese, burnt ends, jalapeño smoked sausage, potato salad?, mashed potatoes. This is Iowa State Fair food. Amazing!

Iron Rail advertised a special tonight for two entrées and one appetizer for $30. A group of four of us decided that sounded like a great deal and wanted to support a local restaurant. When we arrived, they presented us with a "limited menu". None of the items we had wanted to order were on that limited menu. It was the cheapest items. I understand a limited menu, but be honest about the promotion, the things we did get were cold chewy and disappointing. Had we known about the limited menu in the dishonest advertising we would never have gone there tonight.

Good food, good brew, and good service. Easily walkable if you're working or staying downtown. The brisket had a great smoky flavor. The IPA was flavorful and had a nice hop bitterness to it that was not overwhelming.

My wife and I went here for lunch and we had some ribs and burnt ends. The burnt ends were average and the ribs were TOUGH ! I had to use a knife to cut between the bones and use some force to do it. The coleslaw wasn't the typical shredded cabbage, it was shredded carrots and broccoli type of coleslaw. The biggest complaint I have is this place was supposed to be a BBQ type restaurant and the BBQ was average at best. The wait staff was good and I have zero complaints with them. I would probably not go back or recommend it.

First time trying out IR's brunch, we sat on the patio because I had brought my puppy with me, I saw from previous post on fb that dogs were welcomed. Unfortunately our table besides the 2 seater tables had Umbrellas on them. My friend was going to ask for an umbrella but our server had just stated that it broke in the last storm. It was nice on the patio when there was a breeze otherwise Hot from the sun beating down on us. The food was served hot and delicious, we couldn't eat much because it was so hot out-it was around 11:30am when we went. Our Server Brett was attentive and stopped with refills of water. My friend and I both enjoyed the atmosphere, we just were hot. She even made a joke that I would pick the table with no umbrella(she burns easily) but that was the only table left outside.

I was going to the Pennat because I know they have good burgers, but as I walked through Topeka downtown, I decided to stop here. The place is busy at noon and it is quite nice, like any other brewery. I ordered a Kansas wheat, which was very good and a high rail burger. The burger was disappointing. The beef patty was not handmade or pressed, and it didn't taste anything special. For the only burger on the menu, they should do it better. Just a thought.

Typical brewpub menu, good surroundings, decent beers. The IPA's are great, and their sours aren't bad either.

We were on our way back from Fort Riley to Leavenworth and stopped in to try this place on our way back. First off, the staff was all super friendly and the atmosphere was great! We started off with a beer flight for my wife and I and tried the following: Blackberry Lager 7/10 Amber Spice 6/10 Cake Lager 7/10 (the smell was better than the taste, but it smelled exactly like cake) Tangerine Wheat 9/10 Malty Amber 8/10 Dances with Skittles 7/10 Millions of Peaches 6/10 (None of them were BAD, but some weren't really our taste) For dinner I had the Chili Burger, my wife had the The Widowmaker, and my stepdaughter had the BBQ Pork Mac n cheese. All of them were really good, although I wasn't a huge fan of the beer cheese that was on the chili burger. The fries were pretty standard. We finished up with a bread pudding and peach cobbler a la mode (I forgot to get a picture though) Overall though, it was a great experience and we will definitely be back!

Very kind staff that made an out of tower on work travel feel right at home. Great BBQ and plenty of beers to choose from.

Great local bar/ bbq gathering place. The Mac n cheese was returned... the Mac cheese was not cheesy- they stir it In a milky cheese sauce. It was tasteless and the staff gladly took it back. The brisket and fries plate was filling. Adequate serving size, nicely seasoned fries and although the brisket looked dry, it was tender and lightly bbq'd. The sauce is on the table. The pretzels are a signature appetizer, nicely buttered and large granules of salt. The cheese dip is what makes this a savory bite full. The burned ends look... well.. burnt. And yet moist when you bite into them. The plates are silver school lunch trays, the food is not nicely plated, it may as well be a bento box. Plating is lacking, the bread is not spectacular, the pickle slices were sad looking and that's why it's a three. The staff are wonderful! Friendly and very customer service oriented.

Good food and service. Haven't had a chance to try their beer but it is on the list. I have heard they have some flavors that don't sound appealing like fruity pebble beer.

A total surprise.... In a great way. The food was excellent and the beer solid. Service on our night was great even though it was crazy crowded for a concert across the street. Would definitely go back when in Topeka.

Ordered a quick lunch to go online midweek. It was ready as promised and delicious. I will certainly go back again!

I visited this establishment a few years ago and while I liked the atmosphere of the place, I wasn't impressed with the food or service at all. However, I've been back a few times in the past year or so and the food has been much better. I'm picky about chicken wings and these are currently my favorite in Topeka. I stopped in today for lunch and ended up getting the Cobb salad and was very impressed with that also. Lastly, the service I received was much better than a few years ago. I'm glad to see that they've improved so much.

Sat on the patio with our dogs for dinner. Food was decent. The half size salad was as big as a full meal. The brisket was a little dry but burnt ends were good. Mac was okay. Just a stop through for us. Service was fine. Nothing extraordinary. Conveniently located off the highway for easy access.

We had the pretzels with beer cheese, nacho fries, and brisket mac n cheese. The brisket mac was so amazing. I also had an espresso martini which was perfect. Very well decorated place with chill vibes and kind wait staff.

The BBQ will stand up with the famous kc BBQ. The brisket and burnt ends are top notch. I have been smoking my own meat for 30 years. This is only BBQ at a restaurant I will buy

The atmosphere was cool... but they weren't serving any of their brewed beer which I thought was interesting! We did have local brews and delicious food! The pricing was a little high in my opinion, I spent $20 on a sandwich that had dry bbq.... Which was a bummer! Service was great though!

Nice and cool on a hot day. Great environment to relax. We both had their salads. I had the strawberry salad which was perfect! They really load up the toppings including the bleu cheese and strawberries. Delicious! He got a taco salad and basically licked his plate clean. It is a little loud due to the entire room made of cement and stone. Would recommend.

In Topeka for one night and was looking for good bar food. Trusted fellow Yelpers and was very pleased. Beer selection wasn't big but found one I liked really easily. Went with Brisket Mac & Cheese. Mac & Cheese wasn't over the top but creamy and the brisket was tender and had good flavor. The BBQ sauce over the top was very good. Ate at the bar and bartenders were great and just the right amount of attentive.

My first experience here, I wanted to try it out for a possible rehearsal dinner. I sat at the bar and the bartender was very helpful in helping me select a beer that I would like (after I told him what I normally drink) he also allowed me to taste a couple to decide what I wanted. The menu had a lot of great items listed, I decided on a turkey, apple, brie sandwich. The sandwich was delicious and so were the homemade fries. A side of honey mustard was also included and was plenty for my sandwich and for dipping my fries. I also enjoyed the atmosphere and that it was local. I will definitely be back and hoping to bring a crowd with me!!

I ate here for the first time during lunch. The atmosphere was good and I had the friendliest waitress (Katherine). I ordered the brisket sandwich with a side of potato salad. Everything was tasty and portioned just right. I'll definitely go back.

Everything we've had here in past year has been fantastic! Tried fish & chips again and they were amazing. Ribs are best in town! Service has been great. Great vibes!

This place has the best meatloaf I've had ever! It was Soo good that I ate it 4 of the seven nights I spent in Topeka! It's smoky flavor and beef demi glace set it apart from the regular meatloaf with a ketchup topped sauce. The mash and collard greens {I'm from SC and the last thing I expected was delicious collard greens in Kansas..mind blown} was a great compliment to the meatloaf. The beer was amazing too and they brew it right there on site! Customer service was amazing and the bartenders were phenomenal! I will definitely be back and look forward to coming back next summer! I have talked about this meatloaf so much until I have more folks from NC and SC that are waiting to visit and see if what I was saying is really true. Lol!

I really want this local downtown business to succeed, but Im just not going to keep going back to way over-salted food & asking to find the waiter or waitress, who regardless of which section we're in, always seems to disappear after taking the initial order. I have sat at the bar previously & service there is great. This last time we were a group of 8. The waitress was a little older & very nice, but the service industry may not be for her, initially she forgot to go back & get the drinks from the bar after putting our order in & the 2nd time forgetting to put the 2nd drink order in at all. Either situation on its own is understandable, but when multiple food items came out so salty, they were almost inedible, it turned into a disappointing experience for all of us. Ive had a couple of things in the past here that were also zealously seasoned. But usually it's not most of the food like it was this time.

First time here and live in lawrence. I really appreciate the owners trying to livin up downtown topeka. We arrived around 615 and had a 45 min wait as it was packed for prom etc. loved seeing that type of atmosphere but when we came back at 7 there was hardly anyone there , sad on a saturday night! Anyway service was great and beer was good. Food was ok but just wished they gave me more for 19.00 2 meat plate. Sausage was not thick like a typical bbq place but was the of a cheap hotdog and pulled pork was decent. Lots of fries which were good but you put the small meat portion on a bit tray looks sad. Either give more meat or another side or decrease the price. Just my 2 cents. I was at biggs bbq in lawrence last week and got the 3 meat plate 18.00. Holy cow they give you alot. Thats how it should be and good too. We did enjoy ourselves and will be back and will order the bbq parfait next time!

Local. Topeka. The ambience of this place is pretty neat. The art work aligns to the beers they craft and overall a fun place to be if in a large group or just 2 of you. The staff were all nice and helpful on the beer selection and food items. This is a great place to have some beers/cocktails and nibble on apps. The nacho fries are a signature app and are great for sharing. Don't let some of the names scare you...the Chicken Chicharrones are worth the order. If you are a lover of crispy fried chicken and just Eat the skins this will set you over the edge. Must try. The pretzels and cheese are always a hit with beer (hint: save some cheese for your fries if you order dinner) We were in a large group so we were able to try a lot of different things off the menu. The top vote goes to the Brisket Mac&Cheese, followed by the Brisket Sammie and then the Ribs. We also had the cheese steak but would pass on that as the it was too dry to be an actual cheese steak so would recommend trying something different. Sides are ok - greens ok coleslaw ok fries were good. I will be back to try out the fried chicken special.

Nice menu, bbq centered but exclusive to bbq. Beer is pretty good, their variety is wide enough to find a style for everyone. Busier over lunch.

My class came here for a formal dinner and the food and service was very good. The only letdown was the broccoli which was unseasoned and not well cooked. Some of the plates they gave us were dirty, but they quickly switched them out.

We've been looking for something like this place in Topeka! What a great addition to the new downtown vibe. Had to wait 15 minutes to have lunch on a recent Saturday because the place was hopping! Hubby and I tried the sausage plate appetizer which comes with a 3-beer flight and we added a side salad and fries so we could share. Our friends tried the pulled pork sandwich and ribs. Everything was tasty. Truth be told none of us are craft beer snobs, but we like the "flights" so we can have smaller tastings of a variety of the beer offerings. All in all, it was a very enjoyable outing. Walking around downtown Topeka afterwards also gave us a chance to stop at Cashmere Popcorn, Hazel Hill Chocolates, and the Leaping Llama art gallery. Downtown with all the new art work and landscaping is really quite nice!!

Big and very loud. I kept looking at the beer fermenters wondering if the deep fryer was just as big. Service was good, but food not worthy of a return

Mediocre at best Blahhhhhh My description if the bartender asked would've not great

Iron Rail Brewing is a true brewpub with beer made onsite. I went here with high expectations and unfortunately was overall disappointed. The location, layout, and atmosphere are great and I feel Iron Rail Brewing has true potential. The beers are hit and miss. The kölsch tasted great, as a blonde ale. The wit was solid, but the amber had an astringent aftertaste. We ordered the pretzel as an appetizer and it was the best pretzel I've ever had. For the main course, I ordered the brisket and burnt ends. This is really where disappointment sets in. I've had better BBQ at a truck stop. Dry and tasteless - un-servable. Iron Rail Brewing needs a lot of work.

Was in town at a conference and wanted to go out to dinner with some friends. The place was packed, understandable for a Friday night. Waited a few minutes and got a table outside. Good good, good beer, nice location. Free parking on the street. Staff were helpful and kind. Good starting point for walking up and down Main Street looking at the statues or making your own pub crawl. M

This place is surprisingly huge, very organized and tidy. It was great that it is a restaurant as well. I saw a family with their little ones enjoying their meals. I ordered the Burnt Ends with Seasoned Fries. The beef was tasty and very tender and the fries are awesome! Their food seemed popular as there were a few pick orders on the counter throughout the time we were there.

An amazing place to grab a brew and hang with family or friends! The food is on point. Takes a little while to get it, but when you do it's definitely worth it!

1st Friday is one of the busiest nights and the staff do an excellent job keeping up the pace especially Hayley and Jamie. Have never had any food that I did not like and the lemon drop martini is my favorite cocktail.

Very fun, open atmosphere. Food is very good as was the service. Wide variety of sandwiches, bbq, and excellent sides like Mac/cheese, hand cut fries, coleslaw, salads, etc. will be back.