Restaurant Review: Union Jack, Indianapolis, Indiana

When Leo and I want some great beer, good pizza, and a friendly atmosphere, we head to Union Jack (924 Broad Ripple Ave.). This Broad Ripple English pub has everything you'd want - a solid menu, friendly and capable bartenders, and a beer menu boasting over 70 different labels. And if that's not enough to impress you, they also have "international beer club," where you get to try every beer on the menu and receive a ball cap and a case of your favorite beer when you're done.

Union Jack is one of our favorite places to hang out, so it's not uncommon to find us parked at the bar now and again, talking over a beer and a plate of seasoned fries with ranch dressing. But sometimes we actually enjoy a meal there, and when we do, we prefer the pizza, but will occasionally partake of the fish and chips. We've been pleasantly surprised by their dessert menu, as you wouldn't really expect them to have anything terribly memorable. But their English trifle, in particular, is exceptional, and so tasty that you never really feel like the serving is quite large enough.

Union Jack is a great place to go if you like sports, too, as they're almost always showing a game or an event that you want to see. With their pleasant bartending and serving staff, there's not much to complain about with Union Jack (though if pressed, I'll say that I wish they'd improve the ladies' room a little). All told, Union Jack is the best and most relaxing, casual Broad Ripple spot in the early or late summer evenings...especially when they open up the windows and let in the breeze.