The Wheel Barrel

My husband loves grilled cheese sandwiches so had to try this restaurant. It was fantastic and so very fresh and properly made. He had Not Ya Mama BLT with house salad on the side and I had the Caprese with Mediterranean pasta salad. It was so delicious. The staff were professional and just the right amount of attentiveness. The place was cozy and the bathrooms clean and fully supplied. We shall be making this one of our go-to restaurants.

Absolutely loved our visit here! The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, the staff is warm and attentive, and the food is phenomenal. My sandwich—cheddar, turkey, bacon, tomato, guacamole, and cilantro-lime aioli on golden sourdough—was perfection in every bite. A must-visit spot!

Has lunch here today, it was such a cool experience. First of all, I didn’t know gourmet grilled cheese was a thing!? Definitely did not disappoint. It did take a bit to get our food, but we did have a little group. Food was phenomenal!

The food is always so good. Came here alone for a late lunch and it was still pretty busy. Got the special - the apple bottom sammy. Such fun fall flavors put together. Had friendly service too.

Great little find! North of downtown in the Arts District it looks like. Specializing in grilled cheeses... they have a couple options from the kitchen or you can build your own. Bread was perfectly grilled and cheeses were hot and melty. Seemed like house made chips and the tomato bisque was absolutely delicious! Would love to come back next time we're out this way, thank you for the great lunch!!

Stopped in for dinner and cocktails. Unique little spot. Had the special half sandwich and soup. It was excellent. Also ordered an off menu cocktail the bartender recommended (X-43). This was a perfect choice for a spring cocktail. Bourbon based but citrus forward. Ummm. Update.... Quickly becoming my favorite place for craft cocktails

The Wheel Barrel was a fantastic spot for a casual meal! We started with some delicious appetizers and followed up with a juicy, perfectly cooked burger that hit the spot. The atmosphere was relaxed and cozy, with friendly staff who made us feel welcome. The portion sizes were generous, and everything was fresh and flavorful. The only downside was that the wait time for food was a bit long, but it was worth it in the end.

Great sandwiches! And beer options are stellar! Our server was very fun and interactive! And those house made chips were crunchy, kettle fried. Soooo good!

The Wheel Barrel is a true community gem with present ownership, great management, engaging staff, and one of the best bar programs in town that balances creativity, quality, and exploration. You have to appreciate a place like this! This is an independent business that's ran with passion, care and commitment to Topeka. On top of that, they make one heck of a sandwich -- at a great value!

On a road trip, we settled in Topeka for the night. A quick 5 minutes from the hotel, The Wheel Barrel was highly recommended. It was the Bleu Cow for the Mrs. and the BLT GC for me. We chose to start with the chips and queso...which was good, but they're the same chips as what is served with the Grill Cheeses...so the flavor of the chips was over done by the end. Suggestion of different chip options maybe Good food, good service...highly recommend

The food was decent and the service was quick and the ambiance was a quite bite eat vibe. My order was a steak melt w chips.

Food was very good and the kettle chips had a good floor. Staff was busy with everything going on in NOTO but kept up with the ground and did wonderful. Love the way it's set up and love the Pennie's in the bar top.

This place is adorable! The bar top is made from pennies. The bartender makes great drinks. She was so friendly. I had a grilled cheese (you get to choose your cheeses). It came with house made pun chips, which were the best I've ever had. I also ordered a cup of tomato bisque. It also was the best I've ever had.

This is probably the best grilled cheese I've had in my life. Flavorful, perfectly grilled, not smushed. Our table tried five different versions of grilled cheese, and we were all happy. Seating inside is limited, so we were on the patio with heat lamps. It worked but if it's colder, you might want to be sure you have a coat

Pretty cool little local spot in a somewhat boring town. LOVED the artsy area that this place is located in. The Brazilian Mule drink was great! Didn't order food there but just wasn't hungry. Sure wanted to though! Would return if there is ever another reason to return to Topeka.

The Wheel Barrel was such a great experience. I had a day trip to Topeka, and two locals had said to go to the Wheel Barrel and get the Monte Cristo. We went and fell in love. My dad said the Monte Cristo was the best sandwich he ever had. I had the Baja Turkey (pictured), and it was amazing. I also really liked their blood orange cider. The restaurant is small, but it has a very cozy feeling. The service was great, and we are looking forward to coming back soon.

This is a great spot for both picky and adventurous eaters as they have fun creative options and basic grilled cheese sandwiches. They also have a seasonal menu that changes. I ate in the outdoor patio area and had no wait time on a Friday for lunch. Service was great and it wasn't overly loud even inside the restaurant.

Wish we had gotten the pretzel ahead of the sandwiches. The waitress did try. I wasn't a fan of the "beer cheese"--reminded me too much of velveeta and wasn't very warm. My Olga sandwich was just ok. It was missing the sauerkraut so they added it. They heated it all up which was good to be hot, but it made the 2 slices of pastrami chewy. I just expected much more for the price tag. Two thin slices of meat made me sad. The highlight of the meal was the salad. The feta was delicious. The pieces of lettuce were difficult to eat, but I shoved them in my pie hole. It's not a "first date" kind of salad. The dressing was good and wished I'd had more of it given the size of the salad. The monte Cristo sandwich looked good and my husband was satisfied. It comes with grape jelly. I saw a menu somewhere that listed blackberry jam--it's not, it's grape. The chips were tasty--I'd recommend the homemade chips. The seasoning on the chips was wonderful. They were out of red wine which disappointed my husband. We spent almost $60 for two thin sandwiches (one upgraded for a side salad) and a pretzel. I just can't.

Surprising. Went with friends and did not know it was a grilled cheese place. The menu isn't big, but good variety. I am typically not looking for fancy and since they call themselves gourmet grilled cheese the sandwiches had toppings I wouldn't normally choose. I ended up with the Hangover sandwich and it was fantastic. It came with house made chips that were the perfect pairing. I would go again to get this sandwich. My teenage son went with the Monte Cristo which he enjoyed as well. We sat outside in the back patio which was a nicer atmosphere than the cramped inside. Would great for a summer evening.

We should all thank the Wheel Barrel for adding to the growth of interest in North Topeka. The place continue to grow with patron support. NOTO has really put a smile on those that go there. I have yet to find poor service, less than great food always leaving thinking about the next time. Try it if you have not yet ventured there.

Amazing food and service. If you need gluten free, this is the place to go. I've now been here on lunch and dinner.

One of my favorite lunch places! Easy to get in, enjoy lunch, and back to work on my hour lunch. I always love to see what new soup they have for the week! Service and atmosphere are fantastic! I've tried almost everything on the menu and am never disappointed!

Too hot to sit outside, so we sat inside. Didn't see what it looked like in the back. Inside is a tight place but not feeling squeezed. Decent sandwich; not sure the photo chips are made in-house or just seasoned in-house. For us, it's more of a brunch/lunch/sandwich place. But of course if you are sandwich pal for any meal of the day, you can definitely get what you want here.

Had lunch here and the service was terrific and selections of sandwiches was great. My sandwich was made to order and came exactly as I asked.

In addition to popping up in my research of Topeka, The Wheel Barrel was also recommended by a local shop owner. We walked in and chose a seat at the far end of the first dining area. A table with a booth on the side against the wall, and chairs on the other side. We started with an appetizer of the House seasoned kettle chips and craft beer queso. It was goooood. The chips were SO good, we actually took the ones we didn't finish with us to go. Next, we ordered our sammiches. My wife chose the Award Winning Monte Cristo, and I went with The Kansan. My wife loved her sammich. But mine... well, mine left me momentarily speechless. The cheese pull was insane! Every single ingredient combined for an incredible flavor explosion in my mouth. Without a doubt one of the best sammiches I've ever had. Our waitress was very friendly and the service was fast. We were visiting from California, but would absolutely return to The Wheel Barrel the next time we visited Topeka.

Comfort foods in a friendly and attentive setting, along with novel twists of classic drinks, like their rum Old Fashioned.

Great food, especially their signature sandwiches. Friendly staff! Very Chicago! Love the outdoor area.

This place is GRILLED CHEESE HEAVEN! The kind waitress recommended some killer options. I got the Mafia and my husband got the Hangover. Both DELICIOUS!!! The ambiance was lovely and it was very comfortable. We will be back.

Unfortunate. It's unfortunate when you are choosy with where you spend your money, and purposely choose local places, yet, only to be turned away. I was excited to try the seasonal menu but was quickly detoured by the bartender Bo. Forcing guests to sit outside when there is seating inside is bad service. Honestly didn't feel like ordering food after the cold greeting. An all around unfortunate experience.

I have recently become employed in the NOTO Arts & Entertainment District. The Wheel Barrell restaurant is next door to my place of employment. I began to frequent The Wheel Barrell. I found the staff welcoming and quite hospitable. Especially the young man at the front desk. His name is Rava Darr. I would often call ahead and ask, "What is the soup of the day, please." Rava would tell me and then wait for me to come and pick up my cup of soup. After a couple of months of making this call and picking up my soup, I noticed the consistent courtesy and kindness of everyone in the restaurant. As well as the delicious food variety. Though I didn't stay for a lunch experience at The Wheel Barrell, everyone always greeted me with their unwavering respect and kindness. The smiling faces that meet me, as I walk through the door have warmed my heart compelling me to revisit this very special place, over and over. The Wheel Barrell's employees consistently offer every guest a rewarding and memorable experience. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting the NOTO Arts and Entertainment District. You are sure to leave satisfied and happy to have enjoyed lunch at The Wheel Barrell.

Excellent food and service. Nice outdoor patio. Will visit again next time through Topeka.

One of my favorite places to to eat in Topeka! The food is always fresh and super tasty and the service is always top notch! This is a can't miss stop in Topeka!

The food here was fantastic! We ordered 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 2 drinks and loved it all. The service was friendly and fast and the ambience was great too. The pretzel was phenomenal and the hummus was soooo good! The monte cristo and the easy caprese were the sandwiches we got and enjoyed. Definitely check out this restaurant if you're in the area and walk around the street too!

Absolutely love the wheel barrel , great food & great workers! We have never had an issue

Great place to get a fantastic sandwich and a beer. Since the WB opened, I stuck with the Hangover and it is still a go to, but in the past two years or so, I have given the Mafia a try and let me say, it's a contender. Normally now, I alternate between the two and I'm never disappointed. The WB is a staple to NOTO and to Topeka as a whole.

Have been here a couple of times and love the atmosphere, the food and the drink menu. Service is good and the food is very reasonably priced. Get the pretzel appetizer!

My family and I went last Saturday. My meal was great and they worked out a deal on a sandwich for my daughter since she doesn't like cheese. My husband ordered the adult peanut butter and jelly...it was unbelievable and not in a good way. There was literally barely any peanut butter or jelly on it. It was basically toasted bread. It was very disappointing. The service was great and the environment is always great. I just wish they didn't skimp on the ingredients when making their sandwiches. Especially for the price you pay.

My date and I decided to meet up at the Wheel Barrel for dinner. It was about 6:30 when I arrived, it was pretty busy in the restaurant which really is not that big inside. I saw a couple chairs available at the bar top so I grabbed 2. The bartender was friendly and grabbed me 2 waters while I waited. There was a big party so they had about half of the tables. A couple tables opened up so my date went and asked if we could get one, at first they said No that they were going to the big party. A few minutes later another server came up to us and said we could get a table. It took a little bit for a server to come greet us and take our order. She was friendly though when she came by. We decided on Chips and beer Queso and a couple drinks. I had the Asian Pear and my date had a beer. The chips & Queso arrived and it was good. We decided on our meals, Matt ordered The Special No town Philly and I ordered the Caprese sandwhich-we both ordered pasta since we had a plate full of chips w/the Queso. Our meals were delicious, we both enjoyed our sandwiches. The Wheel Barrel is a small a quaint restaurant, with that being said you are sitting on top of each other so it's kind of hard to have a conversation. They do have a patio that would have been nice to be out on, however they are remodeling it. We were told that they do not take reservations, so get there early if you're going for dinner. The vibe of the restaurant and NOTO area is fun!

Good drinks and food, small amount of seating if you cannot sit outside. Please bring back the jalapeno mojito!!

I was visiting and the Daughter wanted to bring me here, I had the special Sandwich with Jalapenos,, Pepperjack and ...well i thought it would be spicy it was a little bland but the rest of the family thought it was great, so 4 stars. They Did have some great options, and the Fries were good. The waitress who had her Significant other and Daughter come visit could probably be happier some place else, just as friendly as sandpaper. Maybe an Off Day.

Excellent food that is never boring!! Tomato bisque is awesome, kettle chips are yummy!! I recommend the PB&J if you can't decide what to get!! Never had a bad experience with the food or staff. Lovely people and a great NOTO must do!!

I absolutely love Elizabeth the bartender and the food was delicious! I had the tomato bisque soup and it was absolutely delicious! I am very picky about my soups, especially tomato, I cannot stand when they are runny! This one was absolutely perfect! Also Elizabeth was very friendly and knowledgeable about the community as well. I plan on becoming a regular and bringing my son here as well.

This place is awesome. I was home to Topeka and I absolutely loved the menu and the food is great, as well as the atmosphere... I wish we had one in Orlando!!

It was good Food good service and good location to eat. I recommend The location. Easy access to The location and friendly People in The area.

Great ambiance and excellent service with helpful bartenders to guide your selection of their great draft beers!

Wonderful place to eat. Their Monte Cristo is so good! Everyone is very kind and love the atmosphere in the back. Will definitely go whenever in town.

The food is awesome and the workers are friendly! I have never ordered something that I didn't like from the Wheel Barrel!

One of the few restaurants in the area that makes a Minte Cristo sandwich, and theirs is great. Nice and relaxed atmosphere, although they are usually packed, but worth the wait.

Fantastic place! Friendly atmosphere and staff. There is inside and outside dining. The service was fast! The food was scrumptious with generous portions. We had the Olga and Hangover sandwiches. Sooo good! Highly recommend this place. You won't be disappointed.

The bread was delicious and the atmosphere in the outdoor seating area was fun and inviting. The service was fast and friendly. The only reason we didn't give it 5 stars is because I would like to see more options for sides and the grape jam that comes with the Monte Cristo is almost tasteless.. We will definitely be back to try some of their other sandwich options!

3.5 stars. First, the good. The appetizer, sandwiches, and drinks were really great. Now, the bad, the wait to get seated on a Wednesday evening was probably 25-30m. Also, they don't have an open bar or lounge area so you can't have a drink and wait for your table. They are going to be screwed this winter as there outdoor seating will be gone and wait times will balloon even more. All that being said, we would return but, I wouldn't make a special trip to come here.

My friends took me here for comfort food and I live in Olathe I tried their big kanhonaa and I want the recipe best grilled cheese sandwich I have ever had

Small place but service was quick food came out quick and The Kansan is awesome. The decor is artistic with the penny cover bar.

Delicious we truly enjoyed eating here. Definitely recommended I'll be back when traveling in the area.

My last meal there was less impresive. The grilled sandwiches are cooked in too much margarine. I have to remind them everytime not to over butter my sandwich. The chicken tortilla soup wasn't as good as their tomato bisque. I would say overall the food is very good.

We weren't really starving or anything when we stopped by here, but we were headed to an event and knew we'd probably better have a snack or something beforehand. I hadn't really studied the menu before we got there to realize it's a pretty small menu. The place was not very full, but the people who were there (bar staff included) were pretty loud. No big deal, but it's definitely louder than I would expect around 3 pm on a week day. We decided to get half sandwiches with some of the sides such as tomato soup and pasta salad. I can't remember the name of the sandwich, but we both got the one that had falafel on the sandwich. The food sat in the window a long time before it was brought over to us-- Just sat while our server kind of wandered and/or stood around. Anyway, eventually it was brought over to us. The sandwich was not necessarily my taste, but not in way that there was anything wrong with it. I ordered something different on purpose. It was edible. I didn't love it, but not their fault. The toasted bread on the sandwich was really great. I laughed at the idea of just ordering plain grilled cheese sandwich, but I think that might have been the way to go. The chips were called house seasoned kettle chips, which I think means "we bought some chips and sprinkled some stuff on them" but they were not bad. I didn't hate the pasta salad, but it was very under-dressed and bland. The tomato soup seemed like it was just canned grocery store soup. We waited quite a bit to get our ticket paid and right as we were leaving they finally came to check on us and offer refills. I think the fact we weren't buying beer or cocktails, probably dropped us farther down the priority list. Interesting area that I'd like to visit again; this particular restaurant, I would probably not rush back to.

Cocktails- A+++ The bartenders always have something delicious they are working on, and the seasonal drink menu never disappoints. Food- A+++ the grilled cheeses are top notch, inventive and always delicious rifts on classic pairings. You can also order any sandwich as a salad! Great atmosphere! Can't wait to sit out on the new covered patio far into the fall!