John's Famous Stew

The southwest part of downtown Indy is largely industrial but you’ve most likely driven by John’s Famous Stew, a true dive that has been open since the 1910s. I saw it on a Google search and it looked great so we decided to stop in. Came on a Saturday at around 2:30 PM and they weren’t busy. Our waitress was super friendly and attentive to our table. The overall vibe of the place is very vintage, and looks like a true dive. I got the breaded tenderloin sandwich with fries as my entree. I was overall impressed! The size of it was insane! Overall, it tasted good, and the fries were decent. I also had a bite of the classic stew my parents got along with the bowl of chili. The stew was great and the chili was fantastic too! Pro tip: dip your tenderloin in either of these, it makes it even better! Overall, if you’re on the near southwest side looking for a cool longtime dive, John’s Famous stew gets a high recommendation from me! I’ll be back.

Coming from KY and really enjoyed this place; the beef stew is certainly the best I’ve ever had and highly recommend taking the time to stop in and try it. The atmosphere is a little outdated, but don’t let that stop you from swinging by and taking a seat, they could used updated booths as the springs can be felt in the current ones. Still, highly recommend!

I tried their classic beef stew, and it was hearty, rich, and full of flavor, with tender chunks of meat and perfectly cooked veggies. The place has a no-frills, homey vibe, with friendly staff who treat you like a regular even on your first visit. It’s the kind of comfort food that warms you up and makes you want to come back whenever the weather turns cold.

We ordered breaded tenderloin and fries. The tenderloin was massive, and the flavor was decent. The fries were hot and well seasoned. I would highly recommend wiping down the condiment bottles and salt & pepper shakers. I picked up the mustard, and it was sticky and dirty. I lifted the top, and it was pretty crusty, so that was an immediate turn-off. The salt and pepper shakers were dirty as well. The cook brought our little nephew a free ice cream with sprinkles - we thought that was very kind.

If you like things like good hearty stews, roast beef, chicken fried steak, and mashed potatoes and gravy, you're going to love John's Famous Stew. The service here is good. The prices are fantastic. With regard to the vibes, it's as if you're transported back in time to a diner in the 70s. However, if you read about JFS history, you'll find out that they've been serving their delicious stew in Indianapolis for more than 100 years! Pro tip: I love spicy food, but if you order the stew, I'd recommend getting it mild. I ordered mine medium and found the heat to be a distraction rather than a compliment. 🤷‍♂️

Place was run down, we sat down our table was dirty with coffee spilled on it. Waitress cleaned it after we had to ask. Ordered the giant tenderloin and John's famous Stew. The stew was great but my tenderloin was solid pink on the inside. Did ask me if I wanted to replacement I said no thank you so she gave me a discount off the price of the tenderloin. She was very nice an apologetic.

I know I’m not the only person who feels that for the last few years the quality of food at restaurants has drastically declined. Because of this we go out less and cook a whole lot more at home. That being said, we were incredibly surprised to find this gem. John’s Famous Stew is a hole in the wall restaurant that probably hasn’t been updated in decades. What it lacks in atmosphere and decorum ( which I couldn’t care less about) makes up for in fantastic tasting food. Old classics that taste great. We had fried mushrooms, gigantic breaded tenderloin sandwich and beef manhattan. All were amazingly flavorful and it’s obvious the fryer grease is changed often. Our waitress was friendly and pleasant. I hope anyone reading this gives this place a try. I know we will be making this a regular on our list of “must go”.

Hoosier Breaded Pork Tenderloin smothered in John's hot Stew is a dish best served warm and often! The friendly staff at John's Stew have been serving up a menu of delectable delights for over 100 years...they have their Stew perfected beyond imagination. Thanks to Phoebe and the staff at John's for a great meal and some fun conversation during my visit today

Wow! I had the job of finding a flavorful, great-reviewed breaded pork tenderloin sandwich coming from Chicago and on our way down to Nashville. I thought Indianapolis is known for breaded pork, but it felt so tough finding a place with good, consistent, and recent reviews. Hidden in the shadows of Lucas stadium... John's. My family and I were totally blown away. We got a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, onion rings, and a cup of medium stew. My parents are so picky and LOVED everything, especially the sandwich and the stew! Apparently the stew comes in mild medium and hot, I asked for what was recommended and medium was great, not a ton of spice just flavor! I have to admit... the place looks rough from the outside. Plus, there was no one there! We were shocked by no crowd with how amazing this food was. Called in our order, ready in 15 minutes and seriously, just SO good. We are thinking about coming on our way back up!

I did a pick up order from this location. There was a $1.00 Take Out fee. I read it was a must to get a pork tenderloin sandwich from Indiana and saw this place recommended online. When I came to pick up my item I thought I was in the wrong place. It looks like a warehouse no one uses anymore, but once you turn into the parking lot the lot is full. There is free parking and a large parking lot. When I went inside the restaurant was already busy at 11:30AM. I saw everyone with stew dining inside. If I am ever back I'd like to try that. My tenderloin breaded sandwich was huge!! You can easily feed 2-3 people with 1. I couldn't even take a full bite because the sandwich was so big. It was $9.99 and came with a size of fries. Everything was shockingly affordable. The sandwich and fries were great. I also ordered a carrot cake and it was phenomenal. Next time I'd like to eat inside and have it fresh. Service was great! There's a bar to pick up to go order or dine at and additional tables for indoor seating.

I love to go to John's Stew when I have a chance. I always get the stew and it's always delicious. If you've never been, give it a try. I will say that the place is old, small, and outdated...but I'm fine with that because the food is exactly what I want when I go there. I would recommend it and get the hot stew if you like spicy, mild if you don't, and medium if you're undecided.

Finally! My husband has been in search of his childhood memory of the giant tenderloin sandwich for years, we finally found it!! He has been disappointed by soggy, flavorless sandwiches during our search. However, John's Famous Stew tenderloin hits all the right notes:) Number one it is HUGE, important but not the only note! It was crisp and flavorful as well. I forgot to mention the price, also a throwback of 12.00! WOW!! The restaurant was off the beaten path and a throwback to the pub/bar vibe. It was a super clean place and very friendly staff! If you too are in search of a memorable tenderloin definitely stop by!

We have eaten at John's famous stew for years. It was always our go to place for lunch. But we haven't been here for about four years. My usual was a tenderloin supreme with hot stew. The wife and I went there yesterday for lunch. We were immediately greeted by very friendly and polite waitress, however, she was the only one working except Cook and they were pretty busy. My wife ordered the grilled Cajun chicken sandwich and I had my normal tenderloin supreme. It took a while, but when the food came out, my wife's Cajun chicken sandwich really didn't look appetizing and she said it was very dry and choked down. my hot stew tenderloin supreme however looked delicious and the stew did not disappoint. The stew really has a good kick to it so if you're not prepared for hot, you should order mild stew. on the other hand the tenderloin Tasted like it was fried in old oil. It was almost un-edible. I ended up leaving half of it behind. It wasn't even good enough to take home. I did enjoy the stew however we have removed John's famous stew from our dining list. I certainly wouldn't recommend this place since it's changed hands. I could only give it two stars. The first star was for the smiley, very polite waitress although our service was very slow. She was very apologetic and the second star is for the delicious stew.

Just look at the picture. Do I need to say anything? I got a huge tenderloin smothered in spicy beef stew. It's absolutely incredible. I've had the stew and mash, and some other sandwiches, it's all good. This cost I think 13.50. In the winter I go once every other week. Great service. Local hole in the wall vibe. I recommend 2 people split a spicy tenderloin deluxe and a stew and mash. There will probably be leftovers.

It's getting to be Fall, so thought stew sounded good. Headed to the Southwest Side to John's Famous Stew. I haven't been there in years ... so many so that if I told you, I'd date myself. We ordered the Giant Breaded Tenderloin for $9.99. The menu said "this tenderloin is so big it fills up the plate." And boy is that a true statement! It came with fries, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion and mayo ... all on the side. We also ordered John's Famous Stew for $11.99 with added garden vegetables, for an additional $1.59. We requested it medium heat, and it had a kick. If you don't like spicy heat, get the mild. We were told the hot was very hot. The stew was very good. It was hearty and filling. The vegetables (potatoes, butter beans and carrots) had great flavor. As mentioned, the medium heat level was spicy. The beef was fork tender and literally fell apart. Just wish there'd been more meat. The tenderloin sandwich was very good. It was huge and not wafer thin like some other large tenderloins at different establishments. The fries were very good as well. Service was very good. Our server was friendly and attentive. The food was served promptly on a Saturday afternoon at 1pm. Portion sizes are large, well worth the money! If it's cold weather or you're craving stew or chili, I'd recommend a stop at John's Famous Stew. It's well worth the trip to the Southwest Side!

John's Famous Stew (1146 Kentucky Ave., Indianapolis, IN) Stopped in for lunch today and had their breaded pork tenderloin (with mustard and jalapeños), fries, and goulash stew. The stew was good. I ordered a cup of goulash medium heat, but didn't really taste the spice in it. It tasted good on a cold day, though! The tenderloin was huge. I cut it in half, and folded half into a double-decker sandwich. It was still way larger than the bun. It is pretty thin, but tasted ok. It wasn't greasy or salty or anything like that. I took the other half home. The fries were just average. Overall, I'd say their breaded pork tenderloin is good, but I'd rather go back for their famous stew. I later noticed the BPT is listed as $9.99, but they charged me $11.99.

Food Is Great and the Staff are Awesome ! I felt like a regular as soon as I walked in.

They're baaack, same great stew and options. Delicious year around. Savory thick, with big chunks of vegetables as well as meat. I opted for the medium heat level over mashed potatoes. Awesome. The bread they serve may be nothing spectacular, but it is perfect for sopping up the stew broth. The only downside was the cherry cobbler. My friend purchased one to go and it was incredibly small for the price and I was told it wasn't that tasty either. On the other hand I keep hearing how great their blackberry cobbler is... so I'm a little torn on that issue. Despite the size of this restaurant you get the hole in the wall feel here. Service is friendly and quite efficient. Private lot alongside the building for ease of parking.

John's Famous Stew is BACK! Woo Hoo!!! They opened their doors almost 3 weeks ago in the same location (1146 Kentucky Ave.). The parking lot is ample with room for a full restaurant of patrons vehicles. They currently do not have a liquor licenses so it is Coke products and now kid friendly with a new kid's menu. John's Famous Stew has 5 options of stew to choose from and all are served either mild, medium or hot. We ordered the house favorite, John's Hearty Stew and opted for hot. The Stew is served with a large, thick slice of bread. We ordered extra bread (.39 per slice) so we could dip in the amazing Stew broth. You can order extra ingredients for your Stew from stew broth to butter beans, meat or potatoes plus hot peppers will be added if requested. Stew Your Way! One of my son's favorites is John's Famous Tenderloin Supreme. It consists of their large, Breaded Tenderloin smothered in John's Famous Stew and served mild, medium or hot. John's Stew Burger uses a 1/3 lb. Burger smothered with John's Famous Stew. If you enjoy Cabbage Rolls try theirs. It is a large stuffed cabbage roll covered with their famous Stew gravy. If you are looking for other home-cooked options try the large serving of tender roast beef or pan roasted Turkey Manhattan. It begins with the Stew bread topped with roast beef or turkey and add mashed potatoes then smothered with rich gravy. If that isn't enough, it is served with cole slaw or side salad. The other popular dish is their Country Fried Steak with a hand breaded steak, plated with a generous amount of mashed potatoes and smothered in creamy gravy. Again, served with coleslaw or a side salad. Stew is just one of the many dishes you can order at John's. A full appetizer menu is available along with many salads from Cobb, Taco, Chicken Salad and Tenderloin Salad plus more. So many types of sandwiches are available and most people will find something that pleases them. I had to end the evening with a slice of their cobbler. Peach or Apple Cobbler are the mainstay but occasionally you'll find Blueberry or Blackberry. Peach is my favorite but it, along with the Peach pie, was sold out. I opted for the Apple Cobbler which has a great flavor with cinnamon and nutmeg. It is served warm with vanilla ice cream and I devoured the warm, flavorful cobbler. They were extremely busy and had close to a full house when we visited at 5:00 p.m. Friday. We were told the current hours will be 10:00 - 6:00 until they see the trend. Our server had been working close to 12 hours so she was running on empty but gave it 100%. Our drinks took several minutes but our stew arrived hot and timely. She only checked on us once but understandable with the crowd she was trying to serve. They also need additional staff as most restaurants are currently facing. This little restaurant is historic and a laid-back, casual gathering spot. So many stories and memories were bring shared. Fun night. Go if you enjoy delicious stew.

Great good old fashioned service. Enough for 2 meals. Nostalgic setting. Daily specials.

They are back! John's Famous Stews was a southside institution for decades serving the most amazing food. About two years ago they closed and broke the hearts of Indy stew lovers. But a wonderful thing happened and John's Stews has reopened! I ventured over and was thrilled to see the familiar interior, menu and staff that made John's such an institution. It is not fancy.  It is not a dive.  John's Famous Stew is a working class grill with AMAZING food.  They have been around forever and are the epitome of comfort food.  They have severed several generations of Hoosiers, including favorite son David Letterman, who was a frequent customer when he was a local tv weatherman.   The menu of this version of John's is jam packed with old favorites. The centerpiece of their vast menu is their stew, variations of the Macedonian stew recipe that was passed down through generations. Hot, made from scratch and chock full of chunks of beef and vegetables, this stew is filling and flavorful.  You can get it in mild, medium or hot and it is served with bread and butter.  It is not a fancy but it is most definitely fabulous comfort food. They have several variations of stew and several choices of items that they serve their stew on or with.  You can get stew orver a hamburger, mashed potatoes or my personal favorite, a giant Hoosier tenderloin.  If you venture from the stew items, you have a variety of sandwiches and home cooked items such as cabbage rolls, country fried steak and beef manhattans. The atmosphere is not pretentious.  The place is packed at lunchtime and don't be surprised if you see local factory workers elbow to elbow with politicians, civil servants and executives.  Just come hungry and you will leave full and happy.

I've reviewed John's Famous Stew before. We just took a nephew to try it out before he goes to Basic Training. He gobbled down his order. Others in our group of five had trouble getting thru half of their stew. To go boxes had to happen. John's definitely gives ample portions and is well worth the drive, time, and effort. Their server was very friendly and was very efficient. The venue is old, but rugged and has character. I like it because it's usually pretty quiet and not a cliche type of restaurant; not a chain. How anyone could rate this lower than a five is beyond me. TRY IT....!!

Had lunch today at John's. I got the beef Manhattan. Husband got the tenderloin with stew on top. Both meals were excellent. Served hot. Manhattan was literally piled high and covered the plate. Gravy was traditional and delicious. The tenderloin had a delicious breading. It was nice and crispy, and the stew was outstanding. The server was excellent. He immediately greeted us, and we waited no more than seven minutes for our food. He had such a great attitude and was super friendly. We've been going there for over 20 years and the service and quality of food has not changed. Absolutely delicious. It's always a treat to come here.

This is a one of a kind place. If you have never been here, put it on your bucket list. My favorite menu item is the Tenderloin Supreme. It's the best of both worlds, a giant breaded pork tenderloin smothered with John's famous stew.

My dad frequented John's back in the 70s & 80s. Stopped in for a quick Saturday afternoon lunch and I got swept back to my childhood. The place has not changed! We enjoyed John's Hot Stew and a beef Manhattan. Two stick to your ribs, FLAVORFUL choices. Walked out for $24- 2 entrees and an appetizer. I won't wait 35 years until my next visit. Cravable!

The onion rings are fantastic but the stew is outstanding! It comes mild, medium, hot. My friend had mild and it was all he wanted. I had the medium and it was very spicy (lip burning delicious) and yes you need a fork to eat it too. The service is outstanding, we had two waitress making sure we had everything we needed and wanted. The bar/pub atmosphere is relaxing as well.

We've been there 3 times. Very friendly staff, a unique "old school diner" atmosphere, & good food! LOVE the stew!!!! (w/ a side of mashed potatoes, of course!)

Yesterday for my Birthday I decided to have late lunch at JFS. I have been coming here for years but the last time I patronized was in 2018. John's Hot Stews had operated for more than 40 years under the ownership of Tommy Caito, who died in November 2018. The lunch I had in 2018 would be the last time I would have the actual JHS's quality. The food was so wonderful, the servers were great and it was a true downtown institution. Right away I could see that the place didn't look the same. The full service bar was gone as well as the bulk of all the interesting photos and wall accoutrements. When were seated we were given the menus and asked about our drink orders. We waited for 10 minutes for the server to get us our drinks as she was busy talking to a guy standing by the kitchen, She finally got there with our drinks and we ordered. Wife ordered a Reuben sandwich with coleslaw. I ordered the hot stew and mashed potatoes. The cook came out to the table and said they were out of Swiss cheese and could she substitute hot pepper cheese? My wife being a good sport said fine. The food arrived about 10 minutes later. My stew was lukewarm at best and had too much pepper added. I found one piece of beef and a good sized chunk of fat & gristle. The "mountain" of "Smashed" potatoes was really just a small scoop. I was pretty let down as I realized the Caito family had closed and sold the restaurant at some point during Covid. I have to say the server who is the owners daughter was very sweet & engaging. She did a good job. She did not know the previous owner, Tommy Caito but thought her dad bought the place from John Strangeff, the original owner. I hope they can improve their restaurant but, I won't be returning.

Yummy and will be back - after driving by 40 years we finally stopped! A happy to have the stew but the tenderloin sandwich looked amazing!

This is the type of place that the locals know of but don't tell because they don't want it to be too crowded. I got taken here by a colleague and walked into a delightful slice of americana. Crowded at lunch with a noisy chatty crowd of blue collar workers. Good honest cooking for a good honest meal. I love meat stew and I was delighted. They have many dishes but I stuck with the classic. You have a choice of heat. I found the medium heat just on the verge of being much. I really enjoyed my meal. Love that gravy.

Hearing that John's Famous Hot Stew was back we decided to give it a try. We thought stew and a beer would be great but we were both highly disappointed. First, John's no longer serves alcohol. So, we ordered cokes. Then the stew. It was like hot dishwater. Meat, 1 hunk in mine. My husband got a couple of chunks. Bread, the best part. Fresh white store bread. Total bill including tip was almost $40.00, A lot for eating what used to be special The staff, not eager to serve or bring check Two men standing around the bar wearing top coats, kept coming and going into the kitchen. I couldn't help think how sanitary that was. Not! Wish lunch was better but it seems reputation can't do it if you can't produce the product.

Happy that John's has reopened, albeit sans liquor license. :( But hey! Now they have a KIDS menu! :( :) Well, some may see it differently than I do! The food is the same, on point and delicious. They have some growing pains: new staff, new pos systems, etc. Service was a tad slow when I last visited. With that said I'm super happy someone has purchased this Indy "Institution" and is willing to give it a go. Local places like this will ALWAYS be better than chain restaurants!

waitress didn't take our order and only took our drin order which was simple, water w lemon, another person she knew came over, they talked, hugged for over 10 minutes while she had our water in her hands, my guy tried to get her attention twice and she continued to talking ignoring customers so we left. I was so looking forward to the famous stew but that kind of service no thanks

I've never made a yelp review. I left John's so befuddled that it was either this or therapy. Staff and charm of the establishment were amazing. Bathroom was clean. The food...defied science and logic. Our appetizer was a hodge podge of fried items. The mushrooms were hot to the touch but sopping wet and ice cold on the inside. Same with the mozzarella sticks...hot yet somehow the string cheese sticks inside remained cold and rigid. They were served with an ice cube of marinara and piping hot ranch. Creative! The "stew" consisted of ice cold beans atop a tepid beef paste. Ordered the hot which apparently meant for pain and not flavor. Live and learn. Cold and spicy is a bold choice for stew! The flavorless club sandwich was served at a temperature I can only describe as "food borne illness." The bread was somehow both toasted yet wet. Mouth feel shock waves! 3 people received (unseasoned/unsalted) fries with their meals and it was a scene out of Goldilocks and the 3 bears. One order was ice cold, one was warm, and one was burning hot yet not cooked through. Just right! Food decisions were made today. And not one of them made sense. Definitely worth the stop if you're looking for a memorable experience! The group chat memes relating to our experience here have been especially wonderful.

This was my first time eating at JFS, so of course I had to have the stew (they have lots of other things on the menu). It was wonderful...thick and rich and hearty! And it came with more bread than we could eat. Great place!!

First of all a major shout out to Ms. Nicole for making sure the now new "Michael Scott Turkey Stew Manhattan" was created using John's Famous Stew for the topping on the mashed potatoes!!! Make sure to get yours asap!!!

Don't waste your time A friend and I went for lunch and it was surprisingly busy right at opening We ordered stew thinking it would be pretty quick and get us back to the office Our waitress was younger - black and red flannel shirt and absolutely no personality Many other tables were already eating before our two bowls of stew came Ours took over 1/2 hour to arrive Stew was ok - tasted like mostly canned vegetables 3 pieces of beef - not terrible Service was the biggest disappointment

Best hot minced pit stew EVER! Great service. Great food. Fun ambiance. I've been going to John's Famous Stew for years. It was a sad time when they shut down during covid. I'm so happy they're open again.

The restaurant is deep in the industrial zone just west of downtown Indy and therefore a bit difficult to get to. I recommend using a navigation app unless you're already familiar with the area. The restaurant is justly famous for it's support of the blue collar workers throughout the decades. It's a basic, no frills inexpensive eatery where the draw is the food and the staff. That said, it's DEFINITELY worth the drive if you enjoy typical hoosier fare. It has all the standards including the ridiculously huge pork tenderloins the state is famous for. It also has it's named stew. I've had that and the beef manhattan and thoroughly enjoyed both. The bowl of stew is generous and has a rich beefy gravy surrounding cooked down chunks of onion, celery, green peppers, carrot slices and the like along with chunks of potato and generously large chunks of stew beef. Spices include cumin, coriander and cayenne pepper. The spice level of the medium heat (provided by the cayenne) is very similar to a typical hoosier chilli. It gives a bit of a bite but nothing much to anyone who enjoys spicy tex-mex, thai or indian foods. For spice lovers, I recommend going for the hot version. The stew is actually quite good and I'll be back for more. It's a generous enough portion that I was full after eating that and the bread that it came with. I'm not a small guy either. The decor is basic but very clean. You go here for the food and the company. The staff and chef are all very friendly and welcoming. You're made to feel at home and appreciated. I was taken care of very well without feeling crowded or rushed. I've not tried the appetizers yet but probably will. I'll be back now and then.

Great service and a very nice setting and the stew was excellent. all at a very good price too

No stranger to Johns pre-closure and was super stoked to visit again once they reopened. I could've spent my little $80 on a pack of Marlboros and some lottery tickets and been more ecstatic about that outcome than I was over this food (And I don't even smoke). Dear kitchen staff: did y'all even try? And miss ma'am handling to go orders: when I asked if the ranch was in the containers and you said yeah, I'd like to know if the wing fairy snatched all f*cking 6 of em then? I really could've used at least one to make the wings more edible. Unless you struggle with post COVID lack of taste do yourself a favor and eat anywhere else. This is damn near Mann's Grill's cousin (not a compliment to those unfamiliar with Manns)

Wow, what a treat. Tender beef, carrots and potatoes over smashed potatoes. The flavors are sooooo good. The staff was friendly. Even though the place was packed, I was seated quickly and served fast too. You cannot beat the price for such a hearty meal.

Great to see this place reopened. Stopped in for a late lunch. I had the tenderloin deluxe, which means breaded tenderloin with stew in top. Lots of carrots, onions and a few green beans and potatoes. Shredded tender beef was very good. Wife had regular bowl of stew. Bread and butter served too. You can choose mild, medium or hot(seasoned) stew. We both chose mild, but it had a bit of zing, but not overpowering or uncomfortable. I would order mild again. Very satisfied including the portion size. Kid's menu posted on wall.

I had heard really good things so when my co-workers suggested it, I was happy to try it. We were not disappointed. The atmosphere is fine and the service is good but the food is the draw. One of us had a salad with grilled chicken on it and it looked fine but salad doesn't warrant further mention. Another had a tenderloin with stew on top and he said it was excellent. Another had the Turkey Manhattan and he raved about it. I had the Beef Manhattan and it was great. We also had the combo appetizer platter that we enjoyed as well. This is just good homemade cooking and is highly recommended.

Best stew since Grandma made it I like the extra veggies but don't get the hot it'll burn your bunghole

While the business is open for 4 more hours upon arrival the buisness said they could not serve anything because they were out of everything. While I understand that they may have run out of stew I genuinely don't understand why we couldnt get anything. i drove out of my way to get this because it was recommended and I feel like the service could have been better. I wish I could have tried it because it was recommend however I will not be back because of the device I receive.

Good food, huge servings, great service! I would definitely recommend this restaurant and plan to return!

So glad you're back! Stopped in the other day after hearing it had reopened. Same place, different folks, same food. Thank you!

I just went to John's Famous Stew today ! To say their stew is unmatched is truly a understatement !! But, what I noticed in their Great stew was something I've seen eveytime I ordered it. For some reason they just jump ou at me ! Magnificent big bold extremely tasty Carrots slices Oh My Gosh thy are essential to the look and marvelous taste of John's Famous Stew !!!! Do yourself a huge favor, especially if you've never tried their stew get down to the Kentucky street location sooner than later you will be absolutely amazed how marvel it is, and wished you hadn't spent all these years missing this fantastic marvelous flavorful Stew If you haven't been there, you have missed out on an over (100 year tradition) and that only happens because you're really really good !

Best stew I've ever tasted and the breaded pork tenderloin was magnormous and delicious. Topped off our meal with triple layer carrot cake and fresh baked blackberry cobbler with ice cream!

I must have driven by John's Famous Stew a zillion times before I ate there. A coworker recommended it for lunch and I commented that I'd always wanted to try it, and she said we must. And so we did. She was an expert JFS customer so I let her lead the way. . . Wow. First and foremost this is a great dive bar. It's small, crowded and while not dark and smoky like the old days, still a great feel for lunchtime crowd. And it IS crowded. You may have to wait to find a table - and most of those tables are covered with bowls of stew and their delicious bread. I ordered the basic stew with extra meet (that's a ripoff, by the way, considerably more and I could barely tell the difference) - you can adjust the level of spicy and I went with the hot. It was fantastic. Warm, hearty, filled me up and the taste was amazing. This is fork-worthy stew. Remember Dinty Moore in a can? Like that only it tastes good. The service was great, friendly and attentive. They get your food out quick (probably to make room for the long line) and if you don't like stew, there are plenty of other options. But don't go into a stew joint the first time and order something else, that's just not cool!

Wow has this place changed to the WORSE since it reopened, ordered 2 beef stews to go, got home started eating one of them and unfortunately ZERO meat, so that got me wondering about the second bowl I ordered, again ZERO meat, how caJohn 's Famous Stewn they call this beef stew when there's no BEEF? So I called and told them my situation and was told that's the "Luck of the draw!" Really? I paid $30 bucks for a few chopped up carrots and potatoes. Never again! They got the last bit of money from me. And I will spread the word! Terrible business!

Amazingly good stew. I had the hot and it was the perfect amount of heat. My wife had the mild and it was still a little too spicy for her. For reference she likes her chicken wings naked because mild is too hot for her. Our friends had the medium and a tenderloin sandwich and they both loved their meal. Very good stuff.

This morning. My best friend and I got there at 1030. The website said they were open at 1030a. I wanted to be sure so entered into a lit restaurant and they confirmed they were open. We could smell stew cooking. I asked for the bathroom and went in and washed my hands. !!!When I came out the men in the restaurant -- they had turned off the dining room lights and told me they had no electricity in the kitchen; which was well lit up and they were cooking back there. Told me they had no food. I was like where are all the waitresses and they said we sent them home no electricity. I could tell they were lying to me!! !!!Then I asked if I could order carry out right now and they said yes. So I was like ok I'll get some carry out because that makes no sense. So I said if I can order carry out I said can I sit at this table to eat. Then they said no we don't have anything. This was not only alarming and disturbing to me after driving 20m to a restaurant I came to a lot before they closed. In fact I just called days prior to ask if they had reopened because they told me that night days prior that they had reopened with the same staff the same food and recipes. Clearly this place is not the same place. They think they are better than their customers. To be sure this wasn't in my head. I called just now at 6p on the same day to inquire if they were open (without electrical issues) and the waitress who identified herself as Nicole told me she knew of no electrical issues. She then asked about (me) a man that came in for lunch - but she didn't really listen to my key identifiers when she asked them. Then when I said I was the first patron there at 1030a she then asked them again and then they hung up the phone on me. I called back and they picked up and slammed the phone on me. What kind of restaurant is this?!?!!!! You wasted my gas driving all the way over there told me you were open then turned me away because of what? I don't even know any of these people. Never seen any of them before in my life. None of the familiar female waitresses were there. I was only in their 1m, I went to the restroom to wash my hands and simply wanted some stew. I was the first patron of the day we were excited we could get in and out after eating. I was paying cash I had $120 in my jacket pocket and I was buying for me and my friend. In fact two of the older waitresses know me because I spoke to them all the time. When I ate there. This was the only place I liked to eat when my spouse was alive and after they died. I could no longer cook any food. So I came here after my spouse died of cancer and then the business closed for the pandemic then it never reopened. No one deserves being treated like this. This was one of the last places I took my spouse to eat as we only had 11 months together with cancer. This is why I still came here to eat. I hated that it closed. Glad it reopened. I hope the original owners see this. Vera is her name one of the original waitresses. That I used to talk to me and my spouse. I brought my brother here with me after the funeral and we all .. they just trashed warm memories. For what? Why do this to any customer for absolutely no reason? Since you don't think I deserve any answers.. I'll post my experience, here. Now, I don't want to know why you treated me and my best friend that way. Won't be back.

Really good tavern fare. The hot stew is spicy (and I like spicy) so if you are questioning heat level I would start with medium. Don't expect to be pampered and you will do just fine here. Lots of "Huns" and "Sweeties" thrown my direction from the waitress when ordering, refills, etc. Old school friendly. The bowl of stew (without the extra potatoes, vegetables, etc.) was incredibly filling. 21 and older.

A group of us recently checked out the re-opened original location which has been serving stew and more to Indianapolis residents since 1911, I believe. Everyone but me ordered one of the many stew variations and all were complimentary. I tried a spoonful of the medium heat stew and found it quite flavorful and the stew meat was fall apart tender. Glad my friend offered me a sample. My tenderloin was nice and meaty...not pounded down paper thin and mostly breading (brought half home and enjoyed it next day) but I fell in love with the waffle fries. They were light and crispy with just the perfect level of crunch. Being too stuffed for dessert I brought home some dark cherry cobbler which was a big fail...there were positive reviews on their cobbler but based on my experience I will not be ordering it again. Not only did it not look appetizing the crust was chewy and at just over $4.50 it was overpriced. Maybe I just caught them on a bad cobbler day IDK. Be warned that they close at 6 p.m. during the summer except on Friday nights...we saw somewhere that they were open until 7 p.m. Thankfully our waiter was chill about the situation as he had closing duties to perform. And the service was super fast and friendly. If you get a chance stop by and try out this long time Indy business and show them some love.

I can't get enough of this hearty stew. It has a deep and complex flavor with huge chunks of meat, potatoes, carrots, and onions, and it's served with a couple pieces of white bread to sop up all of the goodness. The broth is slightly tangy and can be mild, medium, or hot. This is this enough to eat with a fork. You have to expect to spend some time here, as they are always packed, and for good reason. It's also an amazing value, and there's enough for two meals. The atmosphere is divey, but quaint, and the noise levels are uncomfortably high, but you won't care about talking when your stuffing your face with deliciousness. It's truly no frills, and it's sort of refreshing to find an unassuming gem like this right by downtown. They have other items on the menu, like a Hoosier pork tenderloin, and I intend to one day try them if I ever get burned out on the stew.