Bad. Just bad. Bad food. Bad service. BAD. The drink was good and that's where it ends.
(1)
Kate S.
Stopped here for a Sunday lunch on our way through Indiana. It was surprisingly busy! I had mixed feelings about the themed decor--great idea but felt like they took it just a bit too far. I particularly disliked the dozens of televisions showing footage of machinery, factories, and industry; I felt they were really distracting. On the other hand, thought he model train running around the ceiling was really neat. The menu was large and an interesting mix of the bizarre and the intriguing. We ordered the much-mentioned pretzel breadsticks and, though chewy as others have said, they were really good. Loved that they didn't have that awful salt normally found on most pretzels. The cheese dipping sauce was mediocre--it tasted like velveeta mixed with something; the pretzels were better plain. My husband ordered a bacon-stuffed burger and loved it. He ate the garlic wedges, even though they were topped with parmesan cheese, which he detests. They were actually tasty, but I found that, oddly, they tasted neither of garlic nor of parmesan; they were just really good wedge fries, nice and crisp. I had a buffalo chicken burger and thought it was delicious. Surprisingly spicy, breading was nice and crisp. Would definitely order again. I came home and recommended this place to a family member, so I know it was at least memorable. If you're passing by, it's definitely worth a stop.
(4)
Ashley K.
Overpriced, small portions, annoying toy train runs around room. Only reason to come here is if you have a train-obsessed child. There are much better places in The Region.
(1)
Jack K.
Burgers are decent but I wasn't blown away. Kids Mac is summer cheesy - they liked it. Wife liked the Grilled buffalo chicken.
(3)
Chuck H.
We have been here two times now. Both time we came early at lunch. We were seated and drinks and food came out fast. The servers where great and kept our drinks filled. I liked both meals I had. We will be back again.
(4)
Yvonne L.
Another great meal this afternoon but my food was only lukewarm. My companion had roast beef and said it was very good. Service was a little off today. Had to ask three times to get lemon for my water which was unusual. We love this place for its food, service and atmosphere.
(4)
Je S.
Decor inside is worth going for. It is steel industry themed with a train running below the ceiling. Very cool to recognize the industry around the region. Meatloaf is great so is the pot roast, pot pie and chicken fried steak. Don't miss the fried pickles. Had a slider sampler once, it was just ok. I like their "comfort foods" more than the burgers. They do have an outdoor patio so that was nice to enjoy a drink and appetizer. Good service here too.
(4)
Audrey B.
I loved this place when it first opened and it has significantly changed since then. My favorite was the crab cake burger which now has been long gone. Everyone in my family ordered it when went went. I also used to like how the staff had uniforms that matched the decor which are also gone now as well. I never really went there for the burgers because I liked other things but it seems like that is all they are focused on now. We gave it a few tries last year but haven't been back.
(3)
Kev F.
The model T turkey sandwich is fantastic! The secret sauce has a sweet edge to it but the bacon adds to the flavor. The garlic potato wedges are outstanding. Only one piece of advice. The incredible deep-fried pickles need to be drained out of the fryer better. Way too greasy and sit in puddles of grease. The burgers are out of this world! Very fresh, and very delicious! Also, and this is never to be overlooked, the service is outstanding!
(4)
Alan B.
Not impressed at all with this place. Now granted I've only been here once but, I think that might be enough. Sometimes it's about finding what you like but I was so unimpressed the first time I don't know if I'm willing to give them another shot. Me and a friend started out with the welded nachos and brick oven baked pretzels both of which sucked, especially the pretzels. And I'm an absolute pretzel lover so they have to be really bad for me not to like them. Then for my meal I had the pot roast burger which I was less than impressed with. I can't remember what my buddy had but I do remember him not caring much for his meal either. I gave IR 2 stars and I think that's actually being generous. I would say their a step up from Quaker Steak & lube and I gave them 1 star. I actually don't know how they managed to pull a 3 and a half star rating with a majority of the feedback about this place being negative.
(2)
Brandi A.
If I could give this place more stars I would!!! What an amazing little jewel of a restaurant in Valpo!!! I am here with my family of 5. We are doing a long weekend and spending time at the Indiana Dunes and in Valpo. We were looking for a non-chain restaurant with some good food. The front desk person at the hotel recommended this place. WOW!!!! We were totally impressed with this place. The theme of the history on how everything on this country was built on the hard work of Americans was fascinating and so unique. They run videos on their flat screens about how everything is built. Very cool!!! The burger I had, which was the one with bacon, bbq sauce and chipotle mayo was one of the best burgers I have EVER had and I am a big foodie. The atmosphere was great and unique, the food fantastic and the service was good. If you are looking for an interesting place for a meal, love great food, decent prices and good service I HIGHLY recommend this place!!!
(5)
Kara S.
A surprising little find along U.S. 30. Needed a bite to eat while driving across Indiana and came across this place, boasting good burgers. And they are good burgers - quite a unique selection, as well. And as far as a themed restaurant goes, this one is a nice change of pace from the normal chains that try to grab your attention with gimmicks. The Industrial Revolution theme, with exposed steel girders and columns (even if they are fake) and model train occasionally going around make for an oddly relaxing environment. Service was great, as well. Worth a try if you're in or going through Valpo.
(5)
Jonathon J.
I know what you're thinking, 5 stars? Really? Being a little generous aren't you? Well here's the thing. I simply drive by this place on our way to a hotel for the night and was like, "hey. That place looks neat." So we went it and you could tell a lot of other people thought this place was neat too because it was busy restaurant! We had a 45 min wait that thankfully and surprisingly whittled down to 20. Our host was friendly, our waitress prompt, informative, friendly of course and adorable. The atmosphere there is fun, learned, warm and all with a little train circling your heads. Fun! Now the food. A bit pricey but you get your bucks worth. Generous portions and unbelievable quality. "The Morning Shift," "the Pot Roast Sandwhich," even the kids "mini burgers" we're amazing! Garlic cheese wedges, fantastic! Honestly I wish there were more of these places and certainly one closer to my hometown! It would absolutely save me money since I now have to drive all the way to valparaiso to eat here!
(5)
Carey B.
This place is absolutely a treasure in hiding! I could not be happier with the service. The food is cooked EXACTLY to your liking, and the staff are all friendly and helpful! The prices are very reasonable too! Great place!!!!
(5)
James L.
The food and the atmosphere were both great!!!! Definitely will be back! The burgers were excellent and the potato wedges too!
(5)
David G.
This review is based off just one visit so don't take it too harshly. Let me start by saying our waitress was phenomenal.... She made our time there great she loved her job and made it fun for us! The burger I had was amazing I had that spicy burger it was great! My complaint is the sides... I had the sweet potato fries and I received less then 15 small fries. The other two people in our party also were given incredibly small sides. One person received less then 10 wedges and my father in law substituted coleslaw for fries. He received his coleslaw in a side dish the same size that you bring out the ketchup in. It basically was a "shot" of coleslaw. The ambience and vibe of the place is great. We waited 10 minutes or a table at 8pm so obviously people love it. I loved the food they just don't give you enough for how much they charge. I will go back again for a burger just with much lower expectations. And I know not to ask for a side of coleslaw!!!
(3)
Ann G.
Good burgers. Turkey burger was flavorful. Nice place to stop if you are in the area. I want to stop back sometime to try the pot roast Mac n cheese. Service was friendly and quick.
(3)
Mary P.
Great decor, average food. We went there to celebrate our granddaughter receiving an art award. The pictures I posted show what we ordered. My burger sampler was warm, not hot, and the buns has started to harden on the outside. Of the 4 I liked the jalapeño one the best because it has the most flavor. The kids saiid they liked their chicken nuggets and our son liked his "one ton" burger. Now for the downside... I had to send my Arnold Palmer back because it was made wrong. Our daughter in law didn't receive her food with the rest of us. In fact, they forgot to order it. Thankfully she had ordered the sampler so we shared until hers showed up. The waitress was very apologetic and they took it off of the bill. With that removed it was $83.00 for 4 adults and 2 children. Not sure it was worth it because the food was just ok and the service was poor.
(3)
Scott G.
Stopped here on our way back from a day trip to Chicago last Sunday. I had the perch dinner which consisted of eight strips of perch, french fries and coleslaw, my wife had the cob salad. the perch was some of the best that I have had for a long time and needless to say, my wife brought home over half of the salad. We will be back the next time we are near Valpo!
(4)
Veronica M.
Great Food!!! Love the jalepeno burger!
(5)
Bella B.
This place was overall very good. Only have it 4 stars because the prices were a little high. I had the sampler burger meal. All the burgers were very good, came with Parmesan potato wedges, they were sooo good except only like 5 small came with it . They were more like fries then wedges. It was very filling but for $12.50 should have been more fries. We ordered pretzels win cheese they were good too but not as big as i thought and only 5 and it was $7.95! Atmosphere was nice, it was extremely busy so we had to wait 25 minutes for a table plus food took about 40 minutes to come out . It was a Saturday night so that's expected.
(4)
Courtney C.
Industrial Revolution is a great burger joint in Valpo. I don't have any complaints, but just wanted to mention something weird that happened that I believe was handled in the right way! I ordered a burger with no bun. I forget which burger it was, but it had grilled onions, jalapeños, and cheese on it. As I was cutting into my burger I noticed that the wax paper that goes in between the cheese slices was on top of my burger along with the cheese. I knew it was an honest mistake, but had to tell the waiter because it wasn't edible. He apologized numerous times and took it back to get another one quickly. In the mean time, the manager came to the table and apologized and immediately said that my meal would be taken care of and asked if there was anything else he could do. He did take the entree off of the check and continued to make sure everyone at the table was doing well throughout the rest of the meal. I've seen numerous reviews saying that the management is not great at this place but I beg to differ. I don't think the manager could have been nicer about a mistake! I'll always support local businesses and appreciate the kindness of the staff here!
(4)
Steve D.
The ambiance is cool- the old history channel vignettes are fitting. The food leaves a lot to be desired. We had the fish tacos and creamy Alfredo pasta. Both were sub- par. I guess the rule is that u should eat beef in Indiana.
(2)
Michael D.
Good food but not great. Maybe our visit was just an off day? They do have a lot of positive reviews and I personally know others that think it's great. We went there for some comfort food and the seasonal vegetables appeared to be the frozen variety.
(3)
Guy K.
Family took me here for the first time for my birthday. Heard a lot of good reviews of this place and finally had the chance to experience it for myself. Food was exceptionally good. Would recommend this place for anyone who likes to try new places to eat.
(4)
Chip T.
I love the atmosphere, the extensive and creative menu, and the food. Great place to learn a thing or two about the United States during one of its proud moments in history. Welded Nachos, Edison Burger, and Firehouse Burger are phenomenal.
(5)
Jessica M.
The food would probably be 4 stars, but the 5th star is for the service. We had the nachos and the grinder sandwich, both of which were delicious. Asked for the nachos to have the Pico on the side, but they came out with the Pico on top. Wasn't a big deal, didn't say anything and thought Id just pick them off. The server was so nice and came an apologized and said it was totally her mistake and offered to correct it or treat us to a dessert She definitely didn't need to do that, but it was kind of her to own up to it. Next time I'm in town, we will be back!
(5)
T S.
This place is great! Great food and very family friendly!! They have a toy train that goes around the restaurant. They have great pot roast pot pie! And wonderful beef stroganoff!!! Can't wait to go again! A total hidden gem!
(5)
A. S.
First visit, last visit...the building is so cool and our waitress was great but the food is terrible. Went in tonight, a Sunday night, around 7 and it was fairly busy. Sat in the bar which had full tables but actual bar was almost empty. We got the cheese dip appetizer and that was good but nothing to brag about. Basically queso with a plate that looked half empty cause it had mostly broken chips. My sister got the veggie burger, brother in law got the industrial revolution burger, and my husband and I split the pulled pork nachos. My sister and brother in laws food came out first and right away I tried my sisters sweet potato fries which were super cold (and there were seriously like 15 fries total). My brother in laws potato wedges were cold too. A minute or two later our nachos came out and those were just a joke. All chips, basically no pulled pork and had melted cheese and sour cream. You could tell it had been sitting in the window a long time cause the sour cream was a melted mess. And it's not BBQ pork it was dry pork on chips and had BBQ sauce globbed all over the top of the chips. I NEVER send food back but this was so awful I had to. 2 minutes later the nachos came back looking slightly better but still were tasteless and probably some of the worst nachos we have ever had. Service was good but if I was a manager or whoever it was that ran out my food I would have never let that food go out. Good beer selection but the food is way too over priced for me to return. Shame too cause it has a great atmosphere.
(2)
Peter P.
The booths are a little smallso try to grab a table. You can tell a lot of money went into building out this place. Pot roast is one of their specialties as it is featured in several dishes. You can get your iced tea or lemonade flavored with any of several flavors. They feature a different American hero every week and they create a special based on this person. For example, a peanut butter burger for George Washington Carver.
(4)
Sarah K.
Nice hidden gem in the area..I had a great burger and the portions are huge. I will definatly go again .
(5)
Christiana S.
I am usually very leery of themed restaurants. These places usually rely entirely on impressing with decor and ambiance without actually delivering in the food department. We met friends here that we hadn't seen in ages, so I was willing to give it my best effort. It actually was quite nice. The decor was nice but not completely overbearing (like these places got in the 90's). The drinks were decently strong and just OK, but the bartender was VERY SLOW. Our waitress however, was just fine. The burger was good, seasoned and cooked well, but not super amazing. I liked the variety of topping options for the burgers. I didn't like being charged $1 for swapping out pepperoncinis for jalapenos. I'd eat here again if the people I am with wanted to, but probably won't seek it out myself.
(3)
Shane H.
Eaten here 3 times or so and I've yet to have a bad experience. It's a bit on the expensive side, but the quality balances it out. I've gotten the burger with a fried egg and the grilled chicken salad. Both were tasty and large when it came to the portion size. You're limited on the sides, but I recommend the parmesian wedges. The menu isn't very extensive, but what they do make is made very well. The atmosphere is really fun for adults and children. Rich Americana theme and the weekly "unknown" American hero tributes are a classy touch. Always left with food in a box and a mini American flag. I recommend it if you're heading down US 30 or visiting Valpo University as it's right off campus. But make sure you beat the early birds because they come in droves and can leave you waiting for a while. Get 4 from me because it's kind of pricey, short list of choices, and they always seem to be a little understaffed but overall it's a fine establishment.
(4)
Colleen M.
Highly recommend stopping here. The burgers are delicious and the service is excellent. The kids menu is standard but the food our children got was also delicious and affLove when we find non chain restaurants to stop at. We will defiantly be back!
(5)
Nick F.
Place is pretty cool. Kids loved the decor. The food was just alright and a little pricey for a burger. The server was rude, but that is just one guy.
(2)
Alexa Q.
Everyone is so nice and there is a unique and wide variety of tasty food! Stuffed bacon burger was delicious. Fried pickles were greasy but overall great Experience!
(4)
Amanda E.
Good food, AWESOME service (our girl rocked), great sangria and delicious burgers! But has anyone noticed the musty smell? Not a big deal, just noticed when I walked in and smelled it for a little bit before our food came.
(3)
Paul-Edie B.
It was great! We have driven by it many times and now I wish we had stopped in sooner. The atmosphere was an experience in itself, the food was excellent and prices very well. The service was top notch. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Ed S.
This was our first time here and the food was great! The service was fantastic and the environment was very unique. We will definitely be returning to this restaurant. I highly recommend visiting this restaurant.
(5)
Valerie R.
First time visiting and will definitely be back. Pizza was awesome and the flavored teas were refreshing and delicious. Great atmosphere and even better service.
(5)
Jon N.
This review might be a bit premature. I think I need to give it another shot much like Burgerhaus. The ambiance and service were fine (albeit for the train's whistle that was annoying while trying to have a conversation). I ordered the pot roast burger. Described as "absolutely amazing" on the menu. I don't want to go as far as say I was disappointed because it was good. However, it does not fall in the absolutely amazing category for me. I should have known this, I'm just not crazy about pot roast. For some it's comfort food but for me I remember my mom's pot roast which tended to be on the dry side. The sweet potato fries were great. Loved them! The service was very good as well. And so after my first experience at Industrial Revolution, I think I'll try a regular burger the next time...
(3)
Brittany G.
Absolutely amazing burgers and amazing service by Ashley. We had four burgers and our favorites were the Edison burger and the Stuffed Bacon Burger. The garlic wedges were awesome as well as the sweet potato fries. The decor was awesome too.
(5)
Dan K.
Rather pricey, medium sized portions. Service and atmosphere were good. Not sure if I will return without a coupon. Pot roast was a treat.
(3)
Jonny S.
Hmmm...themed restaurant...doesn't usually bode well, but we were meeting old friends and would have been willing to go anywhere. This place was pretty awesome actually! The burgers were nice and thick and seasoned well...and they have lots of different topping styles (I personally enjoyed the one with pot roast on top...meat on meat, baby! Great drink choices too.
(4)
R. Kevin S.
Great concept, but the execution is lacking. Have been there twice just to make sure first time was not a fluke. Food tastes good, was Not Hot both times. Service was slow. Portions are small and prices are way too high. $50-$60 for two people with tip, no alcohol drinks.
(3)
Melissa L.
Best burgers in Valpo, hands down! My fave? The Stuffed Green Olive Burger... YUMM!!! Kids love the atmosphere with overhead train. Love, love, LOVE this place!
(5)
Angi K.
Unique decor. Love the sweet potato fries and the large variety of delicious hamburgers.
(4)
Katie C.
Went here for dinner with a friend last week, and it was very good! I usually avoid chain restaurants, but was pleasantly surprised by I.R. We had fried pickles as an appetizer-nice and crispy, not soggy at all. I had a Cape Cod as a drink, and it was tart and refreshing. Dinner was a hamburger with egg on it (always a solid choice) and my friend had the buffalo chicken burger. We stayed long after we finished our food and weren't rushed out at all, which was a pleasant change. I'd go back!
(4)
K. M.
First off let me say I will be giving this place another shot, but this time wasn't so great. I ordered the Black Bean Burger with Sweet Potato Fries. To be honest, I've had way better black bean burgers from the frozen food aisle at the grocery store. This one was complete mush when I guess I expected maybe a char on the outside or something. The sweet potato fries however were delicious. I will say though that everything I had was quite room temperature too. Kind of disappointing. The service was great though. Can't complain at all about that. My husband got a "real" burger aka beef and it looked really good and juicy. If I'm being super nit picky... The salt and pepper shakers are cool looking shiny stainless steel, but you can see the previous patrons greasy prints all over them, kinda gross. The high chair we unfortunately had to use was disgusting. What is it with nasty high chairs at places?! It had that I've-never-been-wiped sticky, grimy feel. Gross. Lastly, I guess this is my inner fat girl, but they're kind of stingy with the fries.
(2)
Leanne H.
Casual atmosphere with some unusual menu items. The model train running overhead with the open ceiling tends to make the restaurant somewhat extra noisy. Wait staff is fairly attentive and the food is served hot. For the price, the food is a little higher than other places offering similar items.
(3)
Beth M.
I am not a huge fan of themed restaurants, but I really enjoyed eating her. The waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly. He helped us pick out the perfect meal. The menu is interesting and eclectic. The burgers are great and so are the sweet potato fries. My only complaint is the noise. With the brick walls, blaring tvs, high ceiling, open kitchen, and toy trains going overhead it is nearly impossible to hear anything.
(3)
Derek H.
We had dinner here on Saturday evening around 6:30 pm. The restaurant was full but they were able to seat us in the bar area immediately. Menu was diverse with many different burgers and comfort foods. Each member of our group had something different and we all enjoyed our meals. The beer selection (draft) wasn't bad but wasn't great. They had 6-8 craft brews and several Macro brews. The server wasn't very informed on all the beers. There was an empty tap with a Bell's handle, need to fill that spot! Overall, we had a good time, enjoyed our food and company. We will likely stop again. It is always great to find a non chain place to eat.
(4)
Sean T.
Had the pot roast burger... reviews about no flavor, microwaved or frozen couldn't be far from the truth... garlic wedges... amazing! Good portion superb execution in flavor, seasoned and cooked perfect. Served hot, the waitress was very attentive, and my drinks never touched bottom... Only downside was $17 dollar tab burger, fries and a drink... once in a blue moon I'll make the trip to valpo and if I can squeeze it into the budget I'll be glad to come again
(4)
Andrew B.
We chose IR to eat lunch October 21, 2012. This was our first visit. I must say the decor is very unique and being from Northwest Indiana I appreciated the effort to the details. Someone obviously spent a lot of money to make the place look impressive. I wish I could say that our dining experience met our expectations. We were seated quickly, and about 5 minutes later we were greeted by Kylie to get our drink order. Ten minutes later those were delivered and then she told us about the specials -- this is after we looked at the menu for 15 minutes and had already chose other things. We ordered a cup of potato soup. When served, it was barely warm. After the soup was dropped at our table, we didn't see our waitress for 30 minutes, and our food took 40 minutes to hit the table. We watched others walk in, sit down, and start eating while we waited. We had ordered the pot roast dinner and 2 hamburgers. The seasoning on the pot roast was less than disappointing and it was not as tender as expected for being tended to "overnight" as the menu brags. The burgers, while unique in toppings, were nothing special--1/2 pound burgers lost much of their weight once cooked. Garlic wedges or sweet potato fries are offered -- a very limited choice. My pot roast was supposed to come with "root" vegetables -- I was looking forward to this -- and broccoli appeared on my plate. Last I knew, broccoli was not a root vegetable. Carrot? Onion? Turnip? Nope. And no mention that they were out of root vegetables. I was just served broccoli, with no offer of substitute. Our glasses became empty more than once with v-e-r-y s-l-o-w refill. We saw Kylie spending time talking to her co-workers near the serving window by the cash register -- but she didn't have time to be bothered with her tables...unfortunate. She was less than attentive -- we didn't feel welcomed or appreciated. For the cost of our meal, almost $55 for 3, and the poor service, we felt very let down. We noticed that there is a personal plea on each table from Mike Leeson, the owner, asking for feedback, and we sent it via the website. A manager responded and asked for a phone number from us. We responded we did not have much of anything else to say, just that we are hoping our feedback makes someone else's visit a better one. We asked the manager for her phone number and a time we could call her, if she still wanted to talk, and never heard back. We don't think we will return. IR is just another independent eatery we tried to support that didn't follow through on its promise/potential. Very disappointing -- such a shame. And make sure you read the filtered reviews -- Yelp has filtered 75% of IR's reviews, for some reason. Including this one. Hmmm...
(1)
Lindsey B.
Maybe it's the Chicagoan in me, but I thought this place was a great value. Loved the beer flights: 4 - 2oz tasters & a pint for $7 Massive burgers with generous portions of garlic potato wedges or sweet potato fries. Our server had lots of energy and made even the picky eaters of our group feel special. I wish I remembered his name, he really did complete the dinner package. The general vibe of the place was interesting. My dad was an iron worker, I can't wait to tell him all about this place. Or maybe convince him to stop in for lunch in route from Ohio to Illinois. I know he would love it. Is it fine date night out kind of dining? No, but it's a nice place to grab a burger.
(5)
Kaleen F.
Potato soup is awesome and the freedom pizza was booming with flavor. Very unique place and love how the owner purchased the statues of workers made by an artist, who made them for ground zero. A bit expensive.
(4)
Dana F.
Great service. Had the freedom veggie pizza and a potato soup. A good cold beer and it was just right. I don't understand what everyone's problem is about portion size. It was fine. If you want to over eat go to a buffet!
(4)
Elisa S.
The atmosphere of this restaurant is great. The decor is spot on with the American dream. Excellent concept restaurant. As a personal plea to the owner, please, please hire a new chef or a chef that has gone to culinary school The food served needs to stay ahead of the expectations of your decor. This pizza's are ok here and burgers are ok as well, but the other home cooked food is bland.
(2)
Angela U.
We stopped here on a whim. Very interesting decor. They had I Love Lucy on television in the ladies room and the Three Stooges on the television in the Men's room. Appetizer was the flat bread, wonderful flavor lots of cheese, basil. Perfect! I had the Olive hamburger. Loved it. My husband the American Classic and he enjoyed every bite. We shared the Red, White and Blue Cheesecake dessert. Strawberries, Blueberries and Vanilla. Yum. Wish we lived closer, we would be here all the time. They are getting a cocktail license, so as of now they just have wine and beer. Wonderful selection on both though. I can't wait to go back to Valparaiso, just to eat here.
(4)
G D.
Great place nice staff if my order would have been correct would have bee 5 star. Grandson have a great time a said pizza was 5 star.
(4)
Richard D.
This was our second visit to this place. The food and service is excellent and the prices are reasonable. Interesting decor too. My only regret is that they are about 45 minutes from us. Wish they were closer. We both has halibut wrap with garlic fries. Very good and my fussy wife was equally pleased.
(5)
Mary B.
I liked the decor, the food was nothing special. Had a burger, I've had better, good pretzel bread tho.
(2)
Timothy W.
The burgers are magnificent... Tough and gritty and delicious like America's rich industrial history. Can't decide on a burger? Get the sampler! The great beer menu was topped off by seeing the 3 stooges playing in the men's restroom. Bravo!
(5)
Mark K.
Great burgers!!! I had the firehouse burger. That thing was nice and spicy from start to finish. Great decor ad the kids loved the train. The garlic wedges were fantastic also.
(5)
Lizz C.
Located within easy driving distance of downtown, Valpo campus and near hotels. My husband and I went here twice on vacation in Valpo - I can only speak to the bar and the service attentiveness there as we did not take a booth or table. They have a nice variety of craft taps (Upland, Figure 8, Three Floyds and more), and both times the bartenders we spoke to knew their beers. After a little bit of craft-beer-love, we decided to grab a bit of food. We split the Revolution Pizza, a nice size pizza for splitting between two people for a light meal or between 4 people for a 'little something'. It was good - it won't go down in history as the best pizza ever, but it was tasty. We had the Stout Brownie the second time we went - the first time it came from the kitchen with the ice cream almost completely melted. The dining room was getting quite peppy so the dessert was probably not grabbed by the staff (which was in the middle of a shift change). While I never have sent food back at a restaurant, I did that time as we'd quite wanted to try it with ice cream intact. They made up for it by re-making it and we did enjoy it. I'm a baker and fairly picky - It wasn't my favorite dessert ever but it was done well for a medium-priced restaurant. The ice cream was good, but as I like to fully taste the featured ingredient I was a bit disappointed that the flavor of the malt in the stout didn't come through more. That's fine - it's made for the masses, not for beer and baking snobs like me. The decor is interesting. Photos of workers adorn the walls, along with interesting quotes about people, tenacity, industry and finances painted in white paint on the brick itself. Black girders grid the ceiling, and a train occasionally runs on a ceiling-suspended track. I agree with one of the previous reviewers - the lighting is probably too harsh for some. Though the fixtures fit the mood of the restaurant, the very bright lighting doesn't make for as casual a dining experience as I'd like. We had a good experience here both times, and we will stop back again when we are in Valpo.
(4)
Esme G.
love it, awesome staff and great food. great burgers and potato soup... my fav :) great place to take someone for a great experience.
(5)
Roland S.
Classic Midwestern American food place. Burgers, pot roast, perch along with a variety of cheese-based appetizers. The pretzels and cheese and chips and cheese appetizers were good. The pot roast burger was solid, but lacking in actual pot roast. The perch dinner that I had the last time I visited was pretty good, and I like that they offer sweet potato fries. The beer offerings were minimally acceptable, much like the service, which I'd call friendly but not the most attentive. It's got an interesting decor that evokes industry, progress, and hope. I found the portions adequate and the prices just a bit on the high side. I'd probably come here again just to take out of town guests somewhere casual, local, and that isn't a chain, but it's not high on my list.
(3)
s b.
My family and I went to Industrial Revolution last weekend. I was shocked. We've been going there for more than a year and have always been happy. My daughter has always ordered the mini corn dogs from the children's menu. They aren't something she gets often and the fact they were hand dipped in a yummy batter always impressed me. A special treat, indeed. Yeah, they don't make those anymore. She had to settle for macaroni and cheese which she didn't end up liking. I liked it, but it was awfully garlicky for kids. I ordered a pot roast sandwich and sweet potato fries. Ok, so that is what I got, but for $10, I would appreciate something other than jarred gravy. My fries were cold and there were only about 18 of them on my plate. (I'm American in an American comfort food restaurant...I may not eat all of my fries, but I want a lot of them to pick at. And it isn't like I haven't gotten far more than I could eat when I've been there previously. Why the change?) Is it a strange complaint, too, that my plate was too small? There's no way to eat a pot roast sandwich other than to cut it up and my plate was so small I had a difficult time maneuvering so that I didn't throw my sandwich and handful of fries on the table. My raspberry tea was outstanding, though. I love that it is freshly shaken, they honored my request for half the syrup they normally use, and they include fresh raspberries in the glass. (Which frankly made my jarred gravy all that more insulting.) My husband was pleased with his buffalo chicken sandwich. We've had them before and they've always been good. His complaint was the long wait for service. Never have we had to wait that long. And it wasn't that the servers weren't hustling, they just needed about three more of them. Which seems strange since we were there at an "off peak" time and the place didn't seem that busy. We'll probably try it again. The decor is wonderful and we certainly don't mind the noise. Our daughter LOVES the train that runs around above our heads. I'm just really sad that we've had such wonderful experiences in the past and things seemed so changed with the quality of the food and staff.
(2)
Jesse T.
Like most people who write here, the decor is great, atmosphere is all right. Looks like they spent a lot of money on it. If that was the only thing, I'd still give it 4 stars - too many TVs in here. The kids portions were great. The hot dog was HUGE. Burger was a good size for a 9-yr old boy. Plenty of fries. I think I had a "special" - some kind of fish tacos. They were good. Service was slow. It wasn't crowded. There was no wait. Overall, it's neat, but I wasn't blown away by the food, and it felt like I was paying for the decor, which I'm not really interested in. The beer selection was decent for craft beer. Thanks for that!
(3)
Sarah C.
Not impressed! Not happy with the menu- Before leaving home, we checked online for the menu. It showed meatloaf, fried chicken and ribs- none of which are offered at the restaurant, which is deceptive. The server told us those things were only available the first week they were open, but that the "web guy" hadn't had a chance to take it off the website. :o( It was just a bummer because the meatloaf we saw online is what made my boyfriend want to eat there, as opposed to other restaurants in the area. Also, I felt that the menu selections were very limited. I am a vegetarian and there are very few choices-a pizza or you could order some of the salads with no meat. How hard would it be to add a veggie burger or grilled portabella sandwich?? Not worth the money- We ordered a beer, the bruschetta(which was AMAZING!), a salad and the herb chicken- $43! As mentioned earlier, I am a vegetarian. I ordered the Chop salad with no bacon. It was essentially half a head of iceberg lettuce with miniscule amounts of red onion, avocado, tomato and blue cheese. When it was all mixed up, I had many bites that were just iceberg. For $9!! Since the meatloaf was not an option, my boyfriend chose the herb-stuffed chicken, which the server and the food runner raved about. It was a chicken breast sitting on about 6 green beans and a scoop of mashed potatoes. For $18! He said it was okay, but not worth almost twenty dollars. What a rip-off!! Subpar service- Our server, Melissa, was a hot mess. She seemed extremely frazzled the entire time we were there, like she was on the verge of crying. She did not read us the specials for the night, but we heard her telling other tables. Also, our dinner was brought out by another server and Melissa never came by to see how we were doing, which was kind of a bummer, because we did not have silverware and needed to flag someone else down to get it. Once we were done, she came over to see "how it's tasting"...well, it's all done now, lady! Get with the program. I used to be a server too, so I'm not trying to be unfair, but a place that serves $18 chicken should have better service than Applebee's!! Cool atmosphere- I did think the restaurant itself was very neat, especially considering it used to be a dirty wing place. They did a really nice job with the brick work and iron. The train around the top is very cool and the bar area is very inviting. From what I understand, their beer selection is pretty awesome- I don't drink beer, but my boyfriend got pretty excited! I am from Valpo, but live in California now. Was visiting last week with my boyfriend and though IR would be a fun place to go for a Friday night dinner. I was trying to show him that there really ARE good restaurants in Indiana, :o) but I regret that we didn't choose a different place for dinner and that this was his impression.
(2)
Jennifer S.
The food is American Fare meets trendy new twist! We went to IR with another couple and had salads and burgers. We sipped on peach iced teas while waiting for our lunch. I thought the food was great, the atmosphere was neat too. There's a lot of IR-era photographps, a train that circles overhead, etc. For a burger and fries luch, it was a little spendy, but I would still go back.
(4)
Amy E.
Went here one time. That was the last time. Walked in...the host sat us and walked away. Our server came over and took our drink order, and someone else brought it. She came back and took our food order, we never got it. Both my boyfriend and I ordered a salad with grilled chicken. We waited 25 minutes before we ever saw the waitress again. When she did walk up it was to tell us our food was on the way. 15 minutes later the manager came to tell us she was sorry about the wait and it was coming right away. 10 minutes later we got up and walked out. There was no way that it should have taken 50 minutes for someone to make a salad with chicken and if there was something wrong....like she forgot to put in the order....the chicken was frozen, etc. they could have just told us instead of leaving us sitting there wondering where our food was. I wouldn't waste your time! This place is horrible. Atmosphere was cool. Service was the worst I have ever had in my life!!! Pathetic!!
(1)
Robin C.
I met a friend for dinner and decided to sit in the bar. Very comfortable tables and the waitress/bartender was very nice. I ordered Moms Famous Double Shift Pot Roast Sandwich and sweet potato fries. My sandwich was pretty good but they accidentally gave me the regular garlic wedge fries instead of sweet potatoes. They were still tasty. I also ordered a dirty martini (Ketel One) and it was just "meh". No blue cheese olives and it still cost me $10.50! That was more than my $9.95 sandwich. I wanted another beverage and decided to go with their cider on tap. She said it came with ice and I told her to hold the ice but she said she had to give it to me because of inventory. Hmmm, I've never heard of putting ice in cider. Either way, for a 20oz glass, it was only $5.50. I heard their Brick Oven Baked Pretzel bites are out of this world so I think the next time I stop in, I'll try them and one of their mouth-watering burgers.
(4)
Jessica M.
Great decor. Service was good and friendly. Food was not worth the price. Onions on the burger and in soup were over cooked, chives were dehydrated, the onion soup was over salty. The aujus was also made with soy. Not what was expected for the cost of the food.
(3)
Jason C.
Way overpriced! Stay away from the supposed "Brick Oven" Pizza. It was recommended to me by our server. It was a slight step above a Totino's! It was soggy and very undercooked. I was quite shocked by the prices of the quite ordinary menu items. $10 for a burger just seems a little high, and $9 for a tall beer, way too high! Although I did enjoy the atmosphere and decor, it seems to me that management is more worried about whats on their walls than whats on there plates.
(1)
Zoe D.
Spent a night in Valparaiso just passing through on I-80. On the recommendation of the hotel, I headed down for a late lunch. The interior was interesting, tinned ceilings, old pictures, lots of ironwork. The service was attentive yet not bothersome, thanks Ronnie. And then there is the food....I had a firehouse burger (spicy but not too) with their garlic wedges. I will definitely be stopping in again on my next trip across IN on I-80.
(4)
Rachael T.
SHORT VERSION: check it out for the atmosphere and the "Dinner in a Brightly Lit Steel Mill" vibe, and hopefully they will get the kinks worked out with regards to portion size and presentation. Because if they don't, people will just go to Kelsey's or Pikk's Tavern instead. No matter how cool the interior decorating. LONG VERSION: We hit Industrial Revolution for dinner at 6:00 on their opening night. We were expecting a wait, but in-spite of the massive number of cars in the lot (as well as parked in the grass across Linwood), we were seated right away. We were expecting to have quite a wait, so the fast seating was a surprise. It was all certainly something to see. The owners, setting up shop in the former Brewski's location just off of Hwy 30, have really gone all-out with regards to the atmosphere and decor. Aside from the amazing figural sculptures and vintage-style construction framework outside, the inside is just as detailed. The walls are all brick and sport large-format, black-and-white prints of every type of industry imaginable. There are also a lot of hand-stenciled quotes about progress, getting ahead, and patriotism; and it seems that everywhere you turn there is another glossy flat-panel showing either the White Sox game or a documentary about Steel Mills. We're talking flat-panels in the bathrooms as well, people. There were five of us for dinner and we ordered a range of appetizers, salads, and mains, including: Nachos, Seared Ahi Tuna, Onion Wedges, Burgers, Open-face Steak Sandwich, and the Pot Roast Dinnner. We weren't that impressed. It's not that anything was bad, just that none of it was very exciting or creative. And, for the local area, the serving sizes were a bit small. We actually spoke to the head "Food Consultant" when he came by with a plate of dessert samples. He made sure to tell us that absolutely everything was hand-made and they didn't serve anything that frozen or pre-made. All very impressive in theory, but the final product was just a little lacking. For example, the Spinach & Pear Salad was missing the pears, and it was very small. In a very upscale restaurant with beautiful presentation and flavor, small might be fine. But in a Regular-Joe, bar-and-grill style restaurant, $8 is a rip-off for a handful of spinach and some ho-hum raspberry vinagrette. The beer selection is pretty good, including some local Indiana beers from Three Floyds. I like the Gumballhead. To sum up: very cool, no-expense-spared look; lack-luster food. I say give them some time to hear people's overall responses and find their way to being a great addition to Valpo.
(4)
Molly M.
Very cool decor, mediocre food, poor service. We ate out here twice, both times were not busy, yet it took over 15 minutes to get our drinks (diet coke, water, and a bottled beer...) and we watched as everyone else in the restaurant got served first (or so it seemed). We saw our nachos go to two separate tables, and were offered a 'free' plate of modified nachos and our waiter was surprised when we asked where ours were. It could have been saved, if the food was anything special, but it is no better than Red Robin, TGIFriday's, Applebee's, or any other mid-level chain. Recommended if you have big train fans, otherwise, go to a chain and spend less money, and get better service.
(2)
Christine J.
Outstanding service! Our server, a young African American gentleman was fantastic. The food was great. My husband is still raving about the pot roast sandwich. A great go to place for a good meal and great beer. I wish I remembered our servers name, he deserves great tips!
(4)
Marie N.
This is a fun restaurant with good food and very friendly service. Lots of families and since the floors are wood and the ceilings are open, it gets kind of noisy. So this is no place for an intimate dinner. All of the food I saw coming out of the kitchen looked delicious. We saw lots of hamburgers, pizza, grilled cheese, buffalo chicken salad (humongous). We had the beef stroganoff and it was fantastic. I couldn't believe how tender the beef was. It was served with a small piece of garlic bread. I tried a chicken sandwich with cheddar cheese, bacon, barbeque sauce and ranch sauce on it. Sandwiches come with garlic potato wedges or sweet potato fries. No regular french fries here. One minor suggestion for improvement. They use the service model where the server takes your order but then a 'food runner' delivers the food to your table. The food runner should ask 'Is there anything I can get you at this time?' before running off. I believe the manager was our food runner. Even though I had asked my server to include ketchup with my sandwich, it was not delivered. The food runner left so quickly that I couldn't catch him before he left to ask for the ketchup. So I had to wait until I saw him again before asking for ketchup. Same thing happened to a table near us. The food was dropped off and before they could ask the food runner for silverware, the was gone. We will definitely return to this restaurant when we are in the area.
(5)
Leah C.
SO much potential... that it was almost frustrating eating here. such a great space with a model train running overhead every 20 minutes - great distraction for the kid! our server was a doll and everyone was just so cheery in there. the food was just horrendous. the portions were stingy. the salmon sliders i attempted to share with my 2-year old was all bread no fish! i could count the shrimp in my husband's pesto (where's the pesto) shirmp pasta. i looked around and no one's meal looked appetizing. i so want to report this place to kitchen nightmares - this place would be a goldmine after a revamp!
(2)
Lyndsay L.
My husband and I had seen this place driving on our way to Chicago from Ohio a couple of times but never when we could stop there and eat... But this time we made a point of it. And we are glad we did. Love the atmosphere and the quotes throughout the place. We started with the fried pickle app - yum. My mom and husband each got the 4 burger sampler with garlic wedges. They enjoyed them all, but both's favorite was the Edison burger. They both thought the wedges could have had a little more garlic on them, but still enjoyed them. My dad got the meatloaf - it was delicious. I got the pot roast Mac and cheese. Loved the blue cheese with it. It was so filling as I was only able to eat half of it. We wished we had room for dessert. The triple layer cheesecake looked tasty.
(5)
Roy E.
Second time family has eaten here.... food was excellent however the wait for preparation was excessive both times. Was not really busy for a Saturday afternoon... had 3 other diners..waited 35 to 40 monutes after order was taken to eat.
(3)
C. S.
I would give 5 stars but have to try it again a few times! The first visit was fan-tabulous! Will go back and update the stars after our 3rd stop here...We had the Buffalo Chicken Salad and the Prime Rib Sandwich, also tried the Pretzels. Drinks were hand crafted at the bar and this particular Saturday night was crowded, but we got in quick! Great long Islands!
(4)
Marina D.
Where to start..THIS PLACE IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVS NOW!!From the moment you drive up you KNOW you are going to have a one of a kind dining experience,and then!!when I went into the restroom and they were playing I LOVE LUCY on the t.v...I JUST KNEW THIS PLACE WAS SPECIAL!!!!Besides the ambiance of the restaurant the food was excellent,hot and reasonably priced.Alexis was our server and was knowledgable about menu items and the featured American of the week...we have decided to stop here every time we travel to Wisconsin.
(5)
Mary Joe J.
Me, my husband and 3 kids 11 and under .... Have been here 3 times and we love the service and we love the food!
(5)
Ed R.
So I gave IR another chance after 2 horrible experiences here in the past. I'll break it down as follows; Service : better but still not good. We came on a slow Tuesday night so searing wasn't an issue like I've had on weekends. The server was nice, she was good to my kids, refreshed drinks promptly, however they seemed understaffed and she took a long time to take our order... For example, we had to wait to order appetizers because she told us she was changing the Pepsi... Shouldn't the kitchen staff do that? Other tables appeared to wait forever for ordering too. Food : tasted....just okay, looked gross. My wife got the Pot Roast Mac and cheese, sounded great on paper but looked gross upon arrival. The cheese was congealed and greasy, it didn't look appetizing at all. I got the Special General MacArthur burger, overlap it was good but the bun was really greasy and it made it a bit unappealing after a while. The best way for me to describe the menu here is that one person sat down and made a menu that THEY thought would be good, but failed to consult anyone else. The choices are eclectic and out of the norm, but they clearly do not have a chef capable of executing it to its potential. I kept picturing Gordon Ramsay on Kitchen Nightmares picking through the food shouting about how greasy and gross it was... Overall I love the atmosphere in this place, the decor is phenomenal and it is just a cool place. It's a shame that the food just isn't good enough to make me want to come back.
(2)
Deidra W.
Fantastic! We will be back. Really enjoyed this place. The menu has something for everyone. Daily drink specials..$4 sangrias on Saturdays. Highly recommend...you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Lacee M.
One of my favorite places. This is definitely not a figure friendly menu. While they do offer salad I personally find it hard to go that way with all the mouthwatering comfort food this place has to offer. Been there numerous times and have probably had everything on the menu and have loved everything. The soups are great! The big surprise to me is the fish tacos.... I never ordered them because they seemed out of place with the rest of the menu but luckily I had a taste of someone else's (at my table of course )and they are by far the best I've ever had!! They are so light and fresh tasting that it is perfect for the days you're not in the mood for anything too heavy. Love this place, it is a nice change from all the chains around
(5)
Bob C.
A fun place to dine.....once I was very excited for this place to open about 6 years ago due to the proximity to campus and the need for a unique restaurant in Valparaiso that isn't a chain restaurant such as Applebees, TGIFridays, or Chilis. Upon your first visit, you're greeted by amazing architecture and details that only Disney can rival. Amazing iron work and a train that circles the restaurant as you eat. After that initial bliss; the menu, pricing, and quality of food is lackluster. The food is decent but nothing that triggers your mind to say 'wow i want to eat here again!' The service is decent, but again nothing that sticks out. I have been here 6x since they opened and two of those times my party and I ordered drinks and decided to just eat elsewhere due to the pricing and selections. If you haven't been here, try it out once and feel free to go from there.
(2)
Kendra P.
Bad. Just bad. Bad food. Bad service. BAD. The drink was good and that's where it ends.
(1)
Kate S.
Stopped here for a Sunday lunch on our way through Indiana. It was surprisingly busy! I had mixed feelings about the themed decor--great idea but felt like they took it just a bit too far. I particularly disliked the dozens of televisions showing footage of machinery, factories, and industry; I felt they were really distracting. On the other hand, thought he model train running around the ceiling was really neat. The menu was large and an interesting mix of the bizarre and the intriguing. We ordered the much-mentioned pretzel breadsticks and, though chewy as others have said, they were really good. Loved that they didn't have that awful salt normally found on most pretzels. The cheese dipping sauce was mediocre--it tasted like velveeta mixed with something; the pretzels were better plain. My husband ordered a bacon-stuffed burger and loved it. He ate the garlic wedges, even though they were topped with parmesan cheese, which he detests. They were actually tasty, but I found that, oddly, they tasted neither of garlic nor of parmesan; they were just really good wedge fries, nice and crisp. I had a buffalo chicken burger and thought it was delicious. Surprisingly spicy, breading was nice and crisp. Would definitely order again. I came home and recommended this place to a family member, so I know it was at least memorable. If you're passing by, it's definitely worth a stop.
(4)
Ashley K.
Overpriced, small portions, annoying toy train runs around room. Only reason to come here is if you have a train-obsessed child. There are much better places in The Region.
(1)
Jack K.
Burgers are decent but I wasn't blown away. Kids Mac is summer cheesy - they liked it. Wife liked the Grilled buffalo chicken.
(3)
Chuck H.
We have been here two times now. Both time we came early at lunch. We were seated and drinks and food came out fast. The servers where great and kept our drinks filled. I liked both meals I had. We will be back again.
(4)
Yvonne L.
Another great meal this afternoon but my food was only lukewarm. My companion had roast beef and said it was very good. Service was a little off today. Had to ask three times to get lemon for my water which was unusual. We love this place for its food, service and atmosphere.
(4)
Je S.
Decor inside is worth going for. It is steel industry themed with a train running below the ceiling. Very cool to recognize the industry around the region. Meatloaf is great so is the pot roast, pot pie and chicken fried steak. Don't miss the fried pickles. Had a slider sampler once, it was just ok. I like their "comfort foods" more than the burgers. They do have an outdoor patio so that was nice to enjoy a drink and appetizer. Good service here too.
(4)
Audrey B.
I loved this place when it first opened and it has significantly changed since then. My favorite was the crab cake burger which now has been long gone. Everyone in my family ordered it when went went. I also used to like how the staff had uniforms that matched the decor which are also gone now as well. I never really went there for the burgers because I liked other things but it seems like that is all they are focused on now. We gave it a few tries last year but haven't been back.
(3)
Kev F.
The model T turkey sandwich is fantastic! The secret sauce has a sweet edge to it but the bacon adds to the flavor. The garlic potato wedges are outstanding. Only one piece of advice. The incredible deep-fried pickles need to be drained out of the fryer better. Way too greasy and sit in puddles of grease. The burgers are out of this world! Very fresh, and very delicious! Also, and this is never to be overlooked, the service is outstanding!
(4)
Alan B.
Not impressed at all with this place. Now granted I've only been here once but, I think that might be enough. Sometimes it's about finding what you like but I was so unimpressed the first time I don't know if I'm willing to give them another shot. Me and a friend started out with the welded nachos and brick oven baked pretzels both of which sucked, especially the pretzels. And I'm an absolute pretzel lover so they have to be really bad for me not to like them. Then for my meal I had the pot roast burger which I was less than impressed with. I can't remember what my buddy had but I do remember him not caring much for his meal either. I gave IR 2 stars and I think that's actually being generous. I would say their a step up from Quaker Steak & lube and I gave them 1 star. I actually don't know how they managed to pull a 3 and a half star rating with a majority of the feedback about this place being negative.
(2)
Brandi A.
If I could give this place more stars I would!!! What an amazing little jewel of a restaurant in Valpo!!! I am here with my family of 5. We are doing a long weekend and spending time at the Indiana Dunes and in Valpo. We were looking for a non-chain restaurant with some good food. The front desk person at the hotel recommended this place. WOW!!!! We were totally impressed with this place. The theme of the history on how everything on this country was built on the hard work of Americans was fascinating and so unique. They run videos on their flat screens about how everything is built. Very cool!!! The burger I had, which was the one with bacon, bbq sauce and chipotle mayo was one of the best burgers I have EVER had and I am a big foodie. The atmosphere was great and unique, the food fantastic and the service was good. If you are looking for an interesting place for a meal, love great food, decent prices and good service I HIGHLY recommend this place!!!
(5)
Kara S.
A surprising little find along U.S. 30. Needed a bite to eat while driving across Indiana and came across this place, boasting good burgers. And they are good burgers - quite a unique selection, as well. And as far as a themed restaurant goes, this one is a nice change of pace from the normal chains that try to grab your attention with gimmicks. The Industrial Revolution theme, with exposed steel girders and columns (even if they are fake) and model train occasionally going around make for an oddly relaxing environment. Service was great, as well. Worth a try if you're in or going through Valpo.
(5)
Ann G.
Good burgers. Turkey burger was flavorful. Nice place to stop if you are in the area. I want to stop back sometime to try the pot roast Mac n cheese. Service was friendly and quick.
(3)
Jonathon J.
I know what you're thinking, 5 stars? Really? Being a little generous aren't you? Well here's the thing. I simply drive by this place on our way to a hotel for the night and was like, "hey. That place looks neat." So we went it and you could tell a lot of other people thought this place was neat too because it was busy restaurant! We had a 45 min wait that thankfully and surprisingly whittled down to 20. Our host was friendly, our waitress prompt, informative, friendly of course and adorable. The atmosphere there is fun, learned, warm and all with a little train circling your heads. Fun! Now the food. A bit pricey but you get your bucks worth. Generous portions and unbelievable quality. "The Morning Shift," "the Pot Roast Sandwhich," even the kids "mini burgers" we're amazing! Garlic cheese wedges, fantastic! Honestly I wish there were more of these places and certainly one closer to my hometown! It would absolutely save me money since I now have to drive all the way to valparaiso to eat here!
(5)
David G.
This review is based off just one visit so don't take it too harshly. Let me start by saying our waitress was phenomenal.... She made our time there great she loved her job and made it fun for us! The burger I had was amazing I had that spicy burger it was great! My complaint is the sides... I had the sweet potato fries and I received less then 15 small fries. The other two people in our party also were given incredibly small sides. One person received less then 10 wedges and my father in law substituted coleslaw for fries. He received his coleslaw in a side dish the same size that you bring out the ketchup in. It basically was a "shot" of coleslaw. The ambience and vibe of the place is great. We waited 10 minutes or a table at 8pm so obviously people love it. I loved the food they just don't give you enough for how much they charge. I will go back again for a burger just with much lower expectations. And I know not to ask for a side of coleslaw!!!
(3)
Mary P.
Great decor, average food. We went there to celebrate our granddaughter receiving an art award. The pictures I posted show what we ordered. My burger sampler was warm, not hot, and the buns has started to harden on the outside. Of the 4 I liked the jalapeño one the best because it has the most flavor. The kids saiid they liked their chicken nuggets and our son liked his "one ton" burger. Now for the downside... I had to send my Arnold Palmer back because it was made wrong. Our daughter in law didn't receive her food with the rest of us. In fact, they forgot to order it. Thankfully she had ordered the sampler so we shared until hers showed up. The waitress was very apologetic and they took it off of the bill. With that removed it was $83.00 for 4 adults and 2 children. Not sure it was worth it because the food was just ok and the service was poor.
(3)
Scott G.
Stopped here on our way back from a day trip to Chicago last Sunday. I had the perch dinner which consisted of eight strips of perch, french fries and coleslaw, my wife had the cob salad. the perch was some of the best that I have had for a long time and needless to say, my wife brought home over half of the salad. We will be back the next time we are near Valpo!
(4)
Veronica M.
Great Food!!! Love the jalepeno burger!
(5)
Bella B.
This place was overall very good. Only have it 4 stars because the prices were a little high. I had the sampler burger meal. All the burgers were very good, came with Parmesan potato wedges, they were sooo good except only like 5 small came with it . They were more like fries then wedges. It was very filling but for $12.50 should have been more fries. We ordered pretzels win cheese they were good too but not as big as i thought and only 5 and it was $7.95! Atmosphere was nice, it was extremely busy so we had to wait 25 minutes for a table plus food took about 40 minutes to come out . It was a Saturday night so that's expected.
(4)
Carey B.
This place is absolutely a treasure in hiding! I could not be happier with the service. The food is cooked EXACTLY to your liking, and the staff are all friendly and helpful! The prices are very reasonable too! Great place!!!!
(5)
James L.
The food and the atmosphere were both great!!!! Definitely will be back! The burgers were excellent and the potato wedges too!
(5)
Courtney C.
Industrial Revolution is a great burger joint in Valpo. I don't have any complaints, but just wanted to mention something weird that happened that I believe was handled in the right way! I ordered a burger with no bun. I forget which burger it was, but it had grilled onions, jalapeños, and cheese on it. As I was cutting into my burger I noticed that the wax paper that goes in between the cheese slices was on top of my burger along with the cheese. I knew it was an honest mistake, but had to tell the waiter because it wasn't edible. He apologized numerous times and took it back to get another one quickly. In the mean time, the manager came to the table and apologized and immediately said that my meal would be taken care of and asked if there was anything else he could do. He did take the entree off of the check and continued to make sure everyone at the table was doing well throughout the rest of the meal. I've seen numerous reviews saying that the management is not great at this place but I beg to differ. I don't think the manager could have been nicer about a mistake! I'll always support local businesses and appreciate the kindness of the staff here!
(4)
Steve D.
The ambiance is cool- the old history channel vignettes are fitting. The food leaves a lot to be desired. We had the fish tacos and creamy Alfredo pasta. Both were sub- par. I guess the rule is that u should eat beef in Indiana.
(2)
Michael D.
Good food but not great. Maybe our visit was just an off day? They do have a lot of positive reviews and I personally know others that think it's great. We went there for some comfort food and the seasonal vegetables appeared to be the frozen variety.
(3)
Guy K.
Family took me here for the first time for my birthday. Heard a lot of good reviews of this place and finally had the chance to experience it for myself. Food was exceptionally good. Would recommend this place for anyone who likes to try new places to eat.
(4)
Chip T.
I love the atmosphere, the extensive and creative menu, and the food. Great place to learn a thing or two about the United States during one of its proud moments in history. Welded Nachos, Edison Burger, and Firehouse Burger are phenomenal.
(5)
Jessica M.
The food would probably be 4 stars, but the 5th star is for the service. We had the nachos and the grinder sandwich, both of which were delicious. Asked for the nachos to have the Pico on the side, but they came out with the Pico on top. Wasn't a big deal, didn't say anything and thought Id just pick them off. The server was so nice and came an apologized and said it was totally her mistake and offered to correct it or treat us to a dessert She definitely didn't need to do that, but it was kind of her to own up to it. Next time I'm in town, we will be back!
(5)
T S.
This place is great! Great food and very family friendly!! They have a toy train that goes around the restaurant. They have great pot roast pot pie! And wonderful beef stroganoff!!! Can't wait to go again! A total hidden gem!
(5)
A. S.
First visit, last visit...the building is so cool and our waitress was great but the food is terrible. Went in tonight, a Sunday night, around 7 and it was fairly busy. Sat in the bar which had full tables but actual bar was almost empty. We got the cheese dip appetizer and that was good but nothing to brag about. Basically queso with a plate that looked half empty cause it had mostly broken chips. My sister got the veggie burger, brother in law got the industrial revolution burger, and my husband and I split the pulled pork nachos. My sister and brother in laws food came out first and right away I tried my sisters sweet potato fries which were super cold (and there were seriously like 15 fries total). My brother in laws potato wedges were cold too. A minute or two later our nachos came out and those were just a joke. All chips, basically no pulled pork and had melted cheese and sour cream. You could tell it had been sitting in the window a long time cause the sour cream was a melted mess. And it's not BBQ pork it was dry pork on chips and had BBQ sauce globbed all over the top of the chips. I NEVER send food back but this was so awful I had to. 2 minutes later the nachos came back looking slightly better but still were tasteless and probably some of the worst nachos we have ever had. Service was good but if I was a manager or whoever it was that ran out my food I would have never let that food go out. Good beer selection but the food is way too over priced for me to return. Shame too cause it has a great atmosphere.
(2)
Peter P.
The booths are a little smallso try to grab a table. You can tell a lot of money went into building out this place. Pot roast is one of their specialties as it is featured in several dishes. You can get your iced tea or lemonade flavored with any of several flavors. They feature a different American hero every week and they create a special based on this person. For example, a peanut butter burger for George Washington Carver.
(4)
Sarah K.
Nice hidden gem in the area..I had a great burger and the portions are huge. I will definatly go again .
(5)
Christiana S.
I am usually very leery of themed restaurants. These places usually rely entirely on impressing with decor and ambiance without actually delivering in the food department. We met friends here that we hadn't seen in ages, so I was willing to give it my best effort. It actually was quite nice. The decor was nice but not completely overbearing (like these places got in the 90's). The drinks were decently strong and just OK, but the bartender was VERY SLOW. Our waitress however, was just fine. The burger was good, seasoned and cooked well, but not super amazing. I liked the variety of topping options for the burgers. I didn't like being charged $1 for swapping out pepperoncinis for jalapenos. I'd eat here again if the people I am with wanted to, but probably won't seek it out myself.
(3)
Shane H.
Eaten here 3 times or so and I've yet to have a bad experience. It's a bit on the expensive side, but the quality balances it out. I've gotten the burger with a fried egg and the grilled chicken salad. Both were tasty and large when it came to the portion size. You're limited on the sides, but I recommend the parmesian wedges. The menu isn't very extensive, but what they do make is made very well. The atmosphere is really fun for adults and children. Rich Americana theme and the weekly "unknown" American hero tributes are a classy touch. Always left with food in a box and a mini American flag. I recommend it if you're heading down US 30 or visiting Valpo University as it's right off campus. But make sure you beat the early birds because they come in droves and can leave you waiting for a while. Get 4 from me because it's kind of pricey, short list of choices, and they always seem to be a little understaffed but overall it's a fine establishment.
(4)
Colleen M.
Highly recommend stopping here. The burgers are delicious and the service is excellent. The kids menu is standard but the food our children got was also delicious and affLove when we find non chain restaurants to stop at. We will defiantly be back!
(5)
Nick F.
Place is pretty cool. Kids loved the decor. The food was just alright and a little pricey for a burger. The server was rude, but that is just one guy.
(2)
Alexa Q.
Everyone is so nice and there is a unique and wide variety of tasty food! Stuffed bacon burger was delicious. Fried pickles were greasy but overall great Experience!
(4)
Amanda E.
Good food, AWESOME service (our girl rocked), great sangria and delicious burgers! But has anyone noticed the musty smell? Not a big deal, just noticed when I walked in and smelled it for a little bit before our food came.
(3)
Paul-Edie B.
It was great! We have driven by it many times and now I wish we had stopped in sooner. The atmosphere was an experience in itself, the food was excellent and prices very well. The service was top notch. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Ed S.
This was our first time here and the food was great! The service was fantastic and the environment was very unique. We will definitely be returning to this restaurant. I highly recommend visiting this restaurant.
(5)
Valerie R.
First time visiting and will definitely be back. Pizza was awesome and the flavored teas were refreshing and delicious. Great atmosphere and even better service.
(5)
Jon N.
This review might be a bit premature. I think I need to give it another shot much like Burgerhaus. The ambiance and service were fine (albeit for the train's whistle that was annoying while trying to have a conversation). I ordered the pot roast burger. Described as "absolutely amazing" on the menu. I don't want to go as far as say I was disappointed because it was good. However, it does not fall in the absolutely amazing category for me. I should have known this, I'm just not crazy about pot roast. For some it's comfort food but for me I remember my mom's pot roast which tended to be on the dry side. The sweet potato fries were great. Loved them! The service was very good as well. And so after my first experience at Industrial Revolution, I think I'll try a regular burger the next time...
(3)
Brittany G.
Absolutely amazing burgers and amazing service by Ashley. We had four burgers and our favorites were the Edison burger and the Stuffed Bacon Burger. The garlic wedges were awesome as well as the sweet potato fries. The decor was awesome too.
(5)
Dan K.
Rather pricey, medium sized portions. Service and atmosphere were good. Not sure if I will return without a coupon. Pot roast was a treat.
(3)
R. Kevin S.
Great concept, but the execution is lacking. Have been there twice just to make sure first time was not a fluke. Food tastes good, was Not Hot both times. Service was slow. Portions are small and prices are way too high. $50-$60 for two people with tip, no alcohol drinks.
(3)
Jonny S.
Hmmm...themed restaurant...doesn't usually bode well, but we were meeting old friends and would have been willing to go anywhere. This place was pretty awesome actually! The burgers were nice and thick and seasoned well...and they have lots of different topping styles (I personally enjoyed the one with pot roast on top...meat on meat, baby! Great drink choices too.
(4)
Melissa L.
Best burgers in Valpo, hands down! My fave? The Stuffed Green Olive Burger... YUMM!!! Kids love the atmosphere with overhead train. Love, love, LOVE this place!
(5)
Angi K.
Unique decor. Love the sweet potato fries and the large variety of delicious hamburgers.
(4)
Leanne H.
Casual atmosphere with some unusual menu items. The model train running overhead with the open ceiling tends to make the restaurant somewhat extra noisy. Wait staff is fairly attentive and the food is served hot. For the price, the food is a little higher than other places offering similar items.
(3)
K. M.
First off let me say I will be giving this place another shot, but this time wasn't so great. I ordered the Black Bean Burger with Sweet Potato Fries. To be honest, I've had way better black bean burgers from the frozen food aisle at the grocery store. This one was complete mush when I guess I expected maybe a char on the outside or something. The sweet potato fries however were delicious. I will say though that everything I had was quite room temperature too. Kind of disappointing. The service was great though. Can't complain at all about that. My husband got a "real" burger aka beef and it looked really good and juicy. If I'm being super nit picky... The salt and pepper shakers are cool looking shiny stainless steel, but you can see the previous patrons greasy prints all over them, kinda gross. The high chair we unfortunately had to use was disgusting. What is it with nasty high chairs at places?! It had that I've-never-been-wiped sticky, grimy feel. Gross. Lastly, I guess this is my inner fat girl, but they're kind of stingy with the fries.
(2)
Hector R.
I am Disappointed. I have been here before with my family and have always had a good experience. This time the service was slow(waitress complained because there was only two of them) and the entrees were brought at the same time as the appetizers. 3 of us got the mill salads and we found lettuce pieces that were brown and wilted. The avocado was old and the bacon was missing from the salads. All this for $12.95 a salad? I told and showed the Manager and she thanked me for telling her. She did try to make amends by giving us dessert free after we cashed out but that didn't change our opinion of how bad the salads were. Here's my advice to the owners, get back to basics, serve fresh food and make sure the help takes pride in what comes out of the kitchen.
(2)
Judi S.
This was our first time at IR and we loved it!! Our server, Ronny, was outstanding and super friendly. The pretzel appetizer tasted delicious with four large pretzel pieces and a crock of authentic cheese (not the cheese whiz type). Although the cheese was very salty, it still was delicious. My husband ordered the special which was the prime rib opened faced sandwich with garlic mashed potatoes. They gave him au juis and horse radish for dipping. I had their Cobb salad with grilled chicken. Both dishes were superb with the prime rib and chicken cooked just right! For dessert we shared the red, white and blue cheesecake made on the premises.......mmmmmmm it was stupendous!! Served with fresh blueberries and strawberries, this is a dessert to remember. We will definitely be back and I highly recommend it!! Thanks to Ronny for a great job!! It's a rare occasion ,anymore, to find a server who is personable AND attentive but he has that perfect combo! BRAVO!
(4)
Russell T.
Great food the smoked bacon burger tastes has good as it sounds and the fries are wedges smothered in garlic cheese sauce. The wait was not any worse then most restaurants but if you are looking for buger king speed this is not it.
(4)
Andrew B.
We chose IR to eat lunch October 21, 2012. This was our first visit. I must say the decor is very unique and being from Northwest Indiana I appreciated the effort to the details. Someone obviously spent a lot of money to make the place look impressive. I wish I could say that our dining experience met our expectations. We were seated quickly, and about 5 minutes later we were greeted by Kylie to get our drink order. Ten minutes later those were delivered and then she told us about the specials -- this is after we looked at the menu for 15 minutes and had already chose other things. We ordered a cup of potato soup. When served, it was barely warm. After the soup was dropped at our table, we didn't see our waitress for 30 minutes, and our food took 40 minutes to hit the table. We watched others walk in, sit down, and start eating while we waited. We had ordered the pot roast dinner and 2 hamburgers. The seasoning on the pot roast was less than disappointing and it was not as tender as expected for being tended to "overnight" as the menu brags. The burgers, while unique in toppings, were nothing special--1/2 pound burgers lost much of their weight once cooked. Garlic wedges or sweet potato fries are offered -- a very limited choice. My pot roast was supposed to come with "root" vegetables -- I was looking forward to this -- and broccoli appeared on my plate. Last I knew, broccoli was not a root vegetable. Carrot? Onion? Turnip? Nope. And no mention that they were out of root vegetables. I was just served broccoli, with no offer of substitute. Our glasses became empty more than once with v-e-r-y s-l-o-w refill. We saw Kylie spending time talking to her co-workers near the serving window by the cash register -- but she didn't have time to be bothered with her tables...unfortunate. She was less than attentive -- we didn't feel welcomed or appreciated. For the cost of our meal, almost $55 for 3, and the poor service, we felt very let down. We noticed that there is a personal plea on each table from Mike Leeson, the owner, asking for feedback, and we sent it via the website. A manager responded and asked for a phone number from us. We responded we did not have much of anything else to say, just that we are hoping our feedback makes someone else's visit a better one. We asked the manager for her phone number and a time we could call her, if she still wanted to talk, and never heard back. We don't think we will return. IR is just another independent eatery we tried to support that didn't follow through on its promise/potential. Very disappointing -- such a shame. And make sure you read the filtered reviews -- Yelp has filtered 75% of IR's reviews, for some reason. Including this one. Hmmm...
(1)
Lindsey B.
Maybe it's the Chicagoan in me, but I thought this place was a great value. Loved the beer flights: 4 - 2oz tasters & a pint for $7 Massive burgers with generous portions of garlic potato wedges or sweet potato fries. Our server had lots of energy and made even the picky eaters of our group feel special. I wish I remembered his name, he really did complete the dinner package. The general vibe of the place was interesting. My dad was an iron worker, I can't wait to tell him all about this place. Or maybe convince him to stop in for lunch in route from Ohio to Illinois. I know he would love it. Is it fine date night out kind of dining? No, but it's a nice place to grab a burger.
(5)
Beth M.
I am not a huge fan of themed restaurants, but I really enjoyed eating her. The waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly. He helped us pick out the perfect meal. The menu is interesting and eclectic. The burgers are great and so are the sweet potato fries. My only complaint is the noise. With the brick walls, blaring tvs, high ceiling, open kitchen, and toy trains going overhead it is nearly impossible to hear anything.
(3)
Derek H.
We had dinner here on Saturday evening around 6:30 pm. The restaurant was full but they were able to seat us in the bar area immediately. Menu was diverse with many different burgers and comfort foods. Each member of our group had something different and we all enjoyed our meals. The beer selection (draft) wasn't bad but wasn't great. They had 6-8 craft brews and several Macro brews. The server wasn't very informed on all the beers. There was an empty tap with a Bell's handle, need to fill that spot! Overall, we had a good time, enjoyed our food and company. We will likely stop again. It is always great to find a non chain place to eat.
(4)
Sean T.
Had the pot roast burger... reviews about no flavor, microwaved or frozen couldn't be far from the truth... garlic wedges... amazing! Good portion superb execution in flavor, seasoned and cooked perfect. Served hot, the waitress was very attentive, and my drinks never touched bottom... Only downside was $17 dollar tab burger, fries and a drink... once in a blue moon I'll make the trip to valpo and if I can squeeze it into the budget I'll be glad to come again
(4)
Katie C.
Went here for dinner with a friend last week, and it was very good! I usually avoid chain restaurants, but was pleasantly surprised by I.R. We had fried pickles as an appetizer-nice and crispy, not soggy at all. I had a Cape Cod as a drink, and it was tart and refreshing. Dinner was a hamburger with egg on it (always a solid choice) and my friend had the buffalo chicken burger. We stayed long after we finished our food and weren't rushed out at all, which was a pleasant change. I'd go back!
(4)
Kaleen F.
Potato soup is awesome and the freedom pizza was booming with flavor. Very unique place and love how the owner purchased the statues of workers made by an artist, who made them for ground zero. A bit expensive.
(4)
Dana F.
Great service. Had the freedom veggie pizza and a potato soup. A good cold beer and it was just right. I don't understand what everyone's problem is about portion size. It was fine. If you want to over eat go to a buffet!
(4)
Elisa S.
The atmosphere of this restaurant is great. The decor is spot on with the American dream. Excellent concept restaurant. As a personal plea to the owner, please, please hire a new chef or a chef that has gone to culinary school The food served needs to stay ahead of the expectations of your decor. This pizza's are ok here and burgers are ok as well, but the other home cooked food is bland.
(2)
Angela U.
We stopped here on a whim. Very interesting decor. They had I Love Lucy on television in the ladies room and the Three Stooges on the television in the Men's room. Appetizer was the flat bread, wonderful flavor lots of cheese, basil. Perfect! I had the Olive hamburger. Loved it. My husband the American Classic and he enjoyed every bite. We shared the Red, White and Blue Cheesecake dessert. Strawberries, Blueberries and Vanilla. Yum. Wish we lived closer, we would be here all the time. They are getting a cocktail license, so as of now they just have wine and beer. Wonderful selection on both though. I can't wait to go back to Valparaiso, just to eat here.
(4)
G D.
Great place nice staff if my order would have been correct would have bee 5 star. Grandson have a great time a said pizza was 5 star.
(4)
Richard D.
This was our second visit to this place. The food and service is excellent and the prices are reasonable. Interesting decor too. My only regret is that they are about 45 minutes from us. Wish they were closer. We both has halibut wrap with garlic fries. Very good and my fussy wife was equally pleased.
(5)
Mary B.
I liked the decor, the food was nothing special. Had a burger, I've had better, good pretzel bread tho.
(2)
Timothy W.
The burgers are magnificent... Tough and gritty and delicious like America's rich industrial history. Can't decide on a burger? Get the sampler! The great beer menu was topped off by seeing the 3 stooges playing in the men's restroom. Bravo!
(5)
Mark K.
Great burgers!!! I had the firehouse burger. That thing was nice and spicy from start to finish. Great decor ad the kids loved the train. The garlic wedges were fantastic also.
(5)
Nikta P.
The decor and atmosphere are really well done and make eating here fun! Service was attentive and friendly and the food was classic American fare with attention to detail. It is not cheap but the portions are generous. We were in Indiana for the weekend and would definitely come back.
(4)
Jonathon W.
My wife and I love this place. We have been twice now. Once for dinner and once for lunch. And both times we went we got great service. The waitress was friendly and they were quick. The atmosphere is great and our children love it. The food is great. It's a little pricey for the amount of food you get but not so much so that it doesn't make the visit worth it. Their potato wedges are great! The pot roast mac and cheese is AMAZING!!! We really enjoy the food and it's clean.
(4)
Lizz C.
Located within easy driving distance of downtown, Valpo campus and near hotels. My husband and I went here twice on vacation in Valpo - I can only speak to the bar and the service attentiveness there as we did not take a booth or table. They have a nice variety of craft taps (Upland, Figure 8, Three Floyds and more), and both times the bartenders we spoke to knew their beers. After a little bit of craft-beer-love, we decided to grab a bit of food. We split the Revolution Pizza, a nice size pizza for splitting between two people for a light meal or between 4 people for a 'little something'. It was good - it won't go down in history as the best pizza ever, but it was tasty. We had the Stout Brownie the second time we went - the first time it came from the kitchen with the ice cream almost completely melted. The dining room was getting quite peppy so the dessert was probably not grabbed by the staff (which was in the middle of a shift change). While I never have sent food back at a restaurant, I did that time as we'd quite wanted to try it with ice cream intact. They made up for it by re-making it and we did enjoy it. I'm a baker and fairly picky - It wasn't my favorite dessert ever but it was done well for a medium-priced restaurant. The ice cream was good, but as I like to fully taste the featured ingredient I was a bit disappointed that the flavor of the malt in the stout didn't come through more. That's fine - it's made for the masses, not for beer and baking snobs like me. The decor is interesting. Photos of workers adorn the walls, along with interesting quotes about people, tenacity, industry and finances painted in white paint on the brick itself. Black girders grid the ceiling, and a train occasionally runs on a ceiling-suspended track. I agree with one of the previous reviewers - the lighting is probably too harsh for some. Though the fixtures fit the mood of the restaurant, the very bright lighting doesn't make for as casual a dining experience as I'd like. We had a good experience here both times, and we will stop back again when we are in Valpo.
(4)
Esme G.
love it, awesome staff and great food. great burgers and potato soup... my fav :) great place to take someone for a great experience.
(5)
Roland S.
Classic Midwestern American food place. Burgers, pot roast, perch along with a variety of cheese-based appetizers. The pretzels and cheese and chips and cheese appetizers were good. The pot roast burger was solid, but lacking in actual pot roast. The perch dinner that I had the last time I visited was pretty good, and I like that they offer sweet potato fries. The beer offerings were minimally acceptable, much like the service, which I'd call friendly but not the most attentive. It's got an interesting decor that evokes industry, progress, and hope. I found the portions adequate and the prices just a bit on the high side. I'd probably come here again just to take out of town guests somewhere casual, local, and that isn't a chain, but it's not high on my list.
(3)
s b.
My family and I went to Industrial Revolution last weekend. I was shocked. We've been going there for more than a year and have always been happy. My daughter has always ordered the mini corn dogs from the children's menu. They aren't something she gets often and the fact they were hand dipped in a yummy batter always impressed me. A special treat, indeed. Yeah, they don't make those anymore. She had to settle for macaroni and cheese which she didn't end up liking. I liked it, but it was awfully garlicky for kids. I ordered a pot roast sandwich and sweet potato fries. Ok, so that is what I got, but for $10, I would appreciate something other than jarred gravy. My fries were cold and there were only about 18 of them on my plate. (I'm American in an American comfort food restaurant...I may not eat all of my fries, but I want a lot of them to pick at. And it isn't like I haven't gotten far more than I could eat when I've been there previously. Why the change?) Is it a strange complaint, too, that my plate was too small? There's no way to eat a pot roast sandwich other than to cut it up and my plate was so small I had a difficult time maneuvering so that I didn't throw my sandwich and handful of fries on the table. My raspberry tea was outstanding, though. I love that it is freshly shaken, they honored my request for half the syrup they normally use, and they include fresh raspberries in the glass. (Which frankly made my jarred gravy all that more insulting.) My husband was pleased with his buffalo chicken sandwich. We've had them before and they've always been good. His complaint was the long wait for service. Never have we had to wait that long. And it wasn't that the servers weren't hustling, they just needed about three more of them. Which seems strange since we were there at an "off peak" time and the place didn't seem that busy. We'll probably try it again. The decor is wonderful and we certainly don't mind the noise. Our daughter LOVES the train that runs around above our heads. I'm just really sad that we've had such wonderful experiences in the past and things seemed so changed with the quality of the food and staff.
(2)
Jesse T.
Like most people who write here, the decor is great, atmosphere is all right. Looks like they spent a lot of money on it. If that was the only thing, I'd still give it 4 stars - too many TVs in here. The kids portions were great. The hot dog was HUGE. Burger was a good size for a 9-yr old boy. Plenty of fries. I think I had a "special" - some kind of fish tacos. They were good. Service was slow. It wasn't crowded. There was no wait. Overall, it's neat, but I wasn't blown away by the food, and it felt like I was paying for the decor, which I'm not really interested in. The beer selection was decent for craft beer. Thanks for that!
(3)
Jennifer S.
The food is American Fare meets trendy new twist! We went to IR with another couple and had salads and burgers. We sipped on peach iced teas while waiting for our lunch. I thought the food was great, the atmosphere was neat too. There's a lot of IR-era photographps, a train that circles overhead, etc. For a burger and fries luch, it was a little spendy, but I would still go back.
(4)
Sarah C.
Not impressed! Not happy with the menu- Before leaving home, we checked online for the menu. It showed meatloaf, fried chicken and ribs- none of which are offered at the restaurant, which is deceptive. The server told us those things were only available the first week they were open, but that the "web guy" hadn't had a chance to take it off the website. :o( It was just a bummer because the meatloaf we saw online is what made my boyfriend want to eat there, as opposed to other restaurants in the area. Also, I felt that the menu selections were very limited. I am a vegetarian and there are very few choices-a pizza or you could order some of the salads with no meat. How hard would it be to add a veggie burger or grilled portabella sandwich?? Not worth the money- We ordered a beer, the bruschetta(which was AMAZING!), a salad and the herb chicken- $43! As mentioned earlier, I am a vegetarian. I ordered the Chop salad with no bacon. It was essentially half a head of iceberg lettuce with miniscule amounts of red onion, avocado, tomato and blue cheese. When it was all mixed up, I had many bites that were just iceberg. For $9!! Since the meatloaf was not an option, my boyfriend chose the herb-stuffed chicken, which the server and the food runner raved about. It was a chicken breast sitting on about 6 green beans and a scoop of mashed potatoes. For $18! He said it was okay, but not worth almost twenty dollars. What a rip-off!! Subpar service- Our server, Melissa, was a hot mess. She seemed extremely frazzled the entire time we were there, like she was on the verge of crying. She did not read us the specials for the night, but we heard her telling other tables. Also, our dinner was brought out by another server and Melissa never came by to see how we were doing, which was kind of a bummer, because we did not have silverware and needed to flag someone else down to get it. Once we were done, she came over to see "how it's tasting"...well, it's all done now, lady! Get with the program. I used to be a server too, so I'm not trying to be unfair, but a place that serves $18 chicken should have better service than Applebee's!! Cool atmosphere- I did think the restaurant itself was very neat, especially considering it used to be a dirty wing place. They did a really nice job with the brick work and iron. The train around the top is very cool and the bar area is very inviting. From what I understand, their beer selection is pretty awesome- I don't drink beer, but my boyfriend got pretty excited! I am from Valpo, but live in California now. Was visiting last week with my boyfriend and though IR would be a fun place to go for a Friday night dinner. I was trying to show him that there really ARE good restaurants in Indiana, :o) but I regret that we didn't choose a different place for dinner and that this was his impression.
(2)
Mk O.
Casual atmosphere, food that was right on the mark. Friendly staff, very, very attentive. Creative drink specials and decor that is worth the trip. Went out here for an early NYE dinner. 5pm reservations. The Edison burger was fantastic on a pretzel roll and sweet potato fries were cooked perfectly. The onion soup was delicious. The tab, including drinks, appetizers, soups and burgers was less than $100 for three of us. If you're interested in American hertitage within the Industrial Revolution, this place will feel like home. A slew of food, great atmosphere, well worth the trip. We will be back.
(4)
Amy E.
Went here one time. That was the last time. Walked in...the host sat us and walked away. Our server came over and took our drink order, and someone else brought it. She came back and took our food order, we never got it. Both my boyfriend and I ordered a salad with grilled chicken. We waited 25 minutes before we ever saw the waitress again. When she did walk up it was to tell us our food was on the way. 15 minutes later the manager came to tell us she was sorry about the wait and it was coming right away. 10 minutes later we got up and walked out. There was no way that it should have taken 50 minutes for someone to make a salad with chicken and if there was something wrong....like she forgot to put in the order....the chicken was frozen, etc. they could have just told us instead of leaving us sitting there wondering where our food was. I wouldn't waste your time! This place is horrible. Atmosphere was cool. Service was the worst I have ever had in my life!!! Pathetic!!
(1)
Robin C.
I met a friend for dinner and decided to sit in the bar. Very comfortable tables and the waitress/bartender was very nice. I ordered Moms Famous Double Shift Pot Roast Sandwich and sweet potato fries. My sandwich was pretty good but they accidentally gave me the regular garlic wedge fries instead of sweet potatoes. They were still tasty. I also ordered a dirty martini (Ketel One) and it was just "meh". No blue cheese olives and it still cost me $10.50! That was more than my $9.95 sandwich. I wanted another beverage and decided to go with their cider on tap. She said it came with ice and I told her to hold the ice but she said she had to give it to me because of inventory. Hmmm, I've never heard of putting ice in cider. Either way, for a 20oz glass, it was only $5.50. I heard their Brick Oven Baked Pretzel bites are out of this world so I think the next time I stop in, I'll try them and one of their mouth-watering burgers.
(4)
Jessica M.
Great decor. Service was good and friendly. Food was not worth the price. Onions on the burger and in soup were over cooked, chives were dehydrated, the onion soup was over salty. The aujus was also made with soy. Not what was expected for the cost of the food.
(3)
Jason C.
Way overpriced! Stay away from the supposed "Brick Oven" Pizza. It was recommended to me by our server. It was a slight step above a Totino's! It was soggy and very undercooked. I was quite shocked by the prices of the quite ordinary menu items. $10 for a burger just seems a little high, and $9 for a tall beer, way too high! Although I did enjoy the atmosphere and decor, it seems to me that management is more worried about whats on their walls than whats on there plates.
(1)
Zoe D.
Spent a night in Valparaiso just passing through on I-80. On the recommendation of the hotel, I headed down for a late lunch. The interior was interesting, tinned ceilings, old pictures, lots of ironwork. The service was attentive yet not bothersome, thanks Ronnie. And then there is the food....I had a firehouse burger (spicy but not too) with their garlic wedges. I will definitely be stopping in again on my next trip across IN on I-80.
(4)
Rachael T.
SHORT VERSION: check it out for the atmosphere and the "Dinner in a Brightly Lit Steel Mill" vibe, and hopefully they will get the kinks worked out with regards to portion size and presentation. Because if they don't, people will just go to Kelsey's or Pikk's Tavern instead. No matter how cool the interior decorating. LONG VERSION: We hit Industrial Revolution for dinner at 6:00 on their opening night. We were expecting a wait, but in-spite of the massive number of cars in the lot (as well as parked in the grass across Linwood), we were seated right away. We were expecting to have quite a wait, so the fast seating was a surprise. It was all certainly something to see. The owners, setting up shop in the former Brewski's location just off of Hwy 30, have really gone all-out with regards to the atmosphere and decor. Aside from the amazing figural sculptures and vintage-style construction framework outside, the inside is just as detailed. The walls are all brick and sport large-format, black-and-white prints of every type of industry imaginable. There are also a lot of hand-stenciled quotes about progress, getting ahead, and patriotism; and it seems that everywhere you turn there is another glossy flat-panel showing either the White Sox game or a documentary about Steel Mills. We're talking flat-panels in the bathrooms as well, people. There were five of us for dinner and we ordered a range of appetizers, salads, and mains, including: Nachos, Seared Ahi Tuna, Onion Wedges, Burgers, Open-face Steak Sandwich, and the Pot Roast Dinnner. We weren't that impressed. It's not that anything was bad, just that none of it was very exciting or creative. And, for the local area, the serving sizes were a bit small. We actually spoke to the head "Food Consultant" when he came by with a plate of dessert samples. He made sure to tell us that absolutely everything was hand-made and they didn't serve anything that frozen or pre-made. All very impressive in theory, but the final product was just a little lacking. For example, the Spinach & Pear Salad was missing the pears, and it was very small. In a very upscale restaurant with beautiful presentation and flavor, small might be fine. But in a Regular-Joe, bar-and-grill style restaurant, $8 is a rip-off for a handful of spinach and some ho-hum raspberry vinagrette. The beer selection is pretty good, including some local Indiana beers from Three Floyds. I like the Gumballhead. To sum up: very cool, no-expense-spared look; lack-luster food. I say give them some time to hear people's overall responses and find their way to being a great addition to Valpo.
(4)
Christine J.
Outstanding service! Our server, a young African American gentleman was fantastic. The food was great. My husband is still raving about the pot roast sandwich. A great go to place for a good meal and great beer. I wish I remembered our servers name, he deserves great tips!
(4)
Molly M.
Very cool decor, mediocre food, poor service. We ate out here twice, both times were not busy, yet it took over 15 minutes to get our drinks (diet coke, water, and a bottled beer...) and we watched as everyone else in the restaurant got served first (or so it seemed). We saw our nachos go to two separate tables, and were offered a 'free' plate of modified nachos and our waiter was surprised when we asked where ours were. It could have been saved, if the food was anything special, but it is no better than Red Robin, TGIFriday's, Applebee's, or any other mid-level chain. Recommended if you have big train fans, otherwise, go to a chain and spend less money, and get better service.
(2)
Kyle W.
While this restaurant is still fairly new, I still think it's worthy of a review. SHORT: I would wait a few months before going back. Small portions for the price compared to other local steakhouses. The so called stuffed hamburgers are not stuffed at all. In fact, they are dry, flat, and tasteless. When I asked about it, the waitress came with some excuse saying that the cheese cooks into the meet. (Which you know is complete BS if you have ever cooked a stuffed burger) Cool atmosphere and our glasses were always full. Long wait after we were seated. (45min) LONG: Showed up about 8pm on a Tuesday. Waited about 10-15min to be seated. (not bad since we were entertained by the toy training traveling throughout the restaurant) Industrial Revolution, The specialty is stuffed hamburgers, but not really... Well the hamburger was not stuffed at all. In fact, it was dry, tasteless and flat. I ordered the Industrial Stuffed Burger which is suppose to be a blackened cajun burger stuffed with blue cheese. After asking my waitress about the burger being not stuffed, she informed me that by cooking the meat, you cook out the blue cheese. This is total BS because anyone who has ever stuffed a hamburger knows that cheese is 'stuffed' between two thin patties of meat and cooked, and that the cheese does not spontaneously combust. Also, it's a blackened cajun burger, it's suppose to be blackened. Not only was our burger not blackened, but the cheese (apparently) was still 'infused' with the meat. I deny ever tasting blue cheese in that burger. Nor did I taste any hint of cajun seasoning. Good news though, the fries were pretty good. That was about it. Ok, the atmosphere was great. It's also nice that not every TV is playing sports. Finally a restaurant trying to accommodate to all crowds. The waitress kept our glasses full and checked in occasionally (however she clearly avoided us for the 45 minutes we waited for our food).
(2)
Jenni L.
We finally stopped for lunch after passing it by for months. What a pleasant surprise! Extremely clean, bar area separate from restaurant, nice menu for adults and kids. Kids loved the train running over their heads. Service was fast. Food very tasty, esp the potato soup and burgers which are cooked medium unless otherwise directed. I would definitely return to taste other dishes.
(4)
Adrien B.
This place has such awesome decor. It's the type of place I'd love to go to and have a beer at the bar. However, the food is just "eh" and is very expensive. I am totally a "you get what you pay for" type and have no problem paying more for really good food. But the problem with this place is that you are paying pretty high prices for the area and the food is whimpy in taste and in portion size. I saw a couple of the other reviewers saying that they felt like they were paying for the decor. I felt the same way.
(2)
doreen b.
Looking to fill some time and empty stomachs between a wedding and a reception, our group ended up here, and glad we did. Entertaining atmosphere, very energized and accommodating staff, and good food. Try the onion soup... seriously tasty, and surprisingly filling. When a group member mentioned she'd never tried sweet potato fries, the server brought her ordered dish... and a tiny sample of sweet potato fries. How nice is that?? Was surprised the place was mobbed at 3 in the afternoon on a Saturday, but as it turns out, with good reason. If we're in the area again, we'll be back. (and yep, loved the overhead electric train!)
(4)
Vincent S.
I have read the other reviews and don't understand the critics. "Napkins on the floor, too many TVs, I didn't get a seat fast enough...." You soft / spoiled people are the down fall of this country. Stay home. Thursday evening, wasn't too busy. Plenty of seats in waiting area, inside & outside, if needed, but we walked right in and sat down. The waiter was very friendly and knew the menu. Great beer list including locals. The menu was a "working class" menu, not a Ruth's Chris menu; burgers, sandwiches, soups, appetizers, meatloaf, pot roast and other dinners. I ordered a bowl of chili to start as I always do when available. Great heat, nice flavor, few beans....... it was the best restaurant chili I have ever had. The burgers are the thing to get. From 1/4 pound burgers to 1/2 pound, 1 pound, 2 pounds and 5 pounds. The 5 pounder is free if you eat it in an hour. My IR burger was perfect. I had the 1 ton burger, although it only weighed 1/2 pound. False advertising? Perhaps I should gripe about that like the spoiled people. The burger was juicey, very hot and cooked to perfection. I was surprised that the bun held up to the juiciness of the burger. The sweet potato fries were perfect too. I don't know a better word for these other than perfect. The size was proportionate, 20 - 25 fries. I am not going to complain about the price like some. I thought it was a great VALUE for quality received. The Industrial Revolution is a lot like Union work; skilled workers making a great product at a fair price. Understand, Red Robin has good burgers, but I would eat here over RR any day, regardless that it is more expensive and that IR doesn't give you a "fresh bucket" of fries to eat. If you like Red Robin, nothing against them, this isn't Red Robin. Go to Red Robin if you like that. My brother rates restaurants on the "buffet factor." Flavor, quality and presentation doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that he can eat 10,000 calories of stuff and get a bargain for $8. From the movie Monte Python and the Meaning of Life....... Mr. Creosol; "I'll eat it all." Waiter; "Would you like that all mixed up in a bucket?" Mr. Creosol; "Yes, and don't skimp on the pate." Waiter; "Of course and I'll make sure you get a double helping." Hello Red Robin.
(5)
Kristyn D.
We had a great experience here! The service was outstanding, and the food was too. The potato wedges were scrumptious, and the kids menu was real food, not overpriced Kraft mac'n'cheese and frozen nuggets. I thought the prices were reasonable. My husband, my daughter, and myself ate for just under $50, and that included 3 beers. The keg was in the process of being changed on one of the beers he ordered, and they couldn't get to the replacement due to a frozen lock, so the waitstaff kept bringing samples until the problem was solved. They were super nice. I'm sad to see all the negative reviews, I really enjoyed this place, and plan to in the future.
(5)
Samantha P.
My brother and me went here recently because I hadn't been and he warned me it was ok but nothing special. The atmosphere is amazing, I will say it's worth going to see even if you order just a couple of drinks. I loved the statues that adorned the outside and the interesting steel mill and industry decor inside. Something so different. The service was terrible. She took our drink orders and brought them back 15-20 mins later to take our order. I ordered a half burger and half salad plate and my brother ordered a turkey sandwich with fries. We waited nearly an hour for our food despite only 5 other diners (whom all had food) and after about 30 mins heard two cooks in the open part of the kitchen/grill talking arguing about which one was supposed to go make the turkey sandwich (I'm pretty sure they should have already had it made in 30 mins). My burger was pretty good but they got the cheese wrong and I wasn't about to send it back and wait another hour since we didn't have all afternoon. My brothers sandwich was atrocious. The bread was so hard it was falling apart in big chunks, there is no way they didn't notice that. We ate and waited for the check with our waitress never coming to check on our food. We waited with plates pushed to the side of the table for a check for 20 mins before finally going to find the waitress. When giving her the credit card my brother told her the bread from his sandwich was very stale and showed it to her on his plate. She said she'd let the cook know, never offering an apology or a discount like any other place would/should. Cool atmosphere, horrible staff and so-so food. Nothing to return for, a shame too.
(2)
Christine M.
Casual dining, decor is different and interesting. The restaurant is a perfect addition for Northwest Indiana since we are an industrial region. Good place to take visiting friends or family for a casual meal. Fish tacos are one menu item that is unique from other area restaurants. Great beer selection!
(3)
Joe V.
Awesome decor and a pretty neat atmosphere, but the fun stops there. The food is greatly overpriced and subpar (their specialty condiments, such as the chipolte mayo seemed sadly flavourless), even if some of (far from all) the portions are pretty large. The service was lackluster, with drink refills either slow-to-come or nonexistent until we flagged somebody down. Seating was rather quick on the busy(ish) Friday night we came in (I've seen busier, sure, and they had PLENTY of staffers in the place), but their system seemed inefficiently-managed to the point where it likely cost others more time elsewhere (our party of 3 was seated at a 6-person table). Servers were nice (when they acknowledged you, that is; we noticed many of them sitting around nothing-doing at several points), if a bit awkward with their communication. They forgot to ask about sides, and they never once asked if we'd like any drinks at all once we said we'd "start with water". Too bad; I'd heard they had a great beer menu before I came, too, but what I saw was laughably typical and small. Approximately 1/4th of our time there was spent waiting for somebody to run our check when we wanted to leave. Wish they could live up to the apparent hype!
(2)
D. T.
Great Atmosphere! Good Food! Kids love the trains that go around! Nice beer and wine selections! Excellent Service! We would go back!
(4)
Erika D.
well, we've been back a few times and i have to say that i'm just as satisfied as i was the first time. i've taken to NOT ordering off the menu and i try the chef's special every time...i'm never disappointed. the last time was a herb-crusted white fish with rice and vegetables. it was done perfectly and there was so much there i had to take some home. the beer selection is better than most places you'll find, though they are kind of pricey in that area. sadly, the wings have been taken off the menu. they were really good, too. the bruschetta was fantastic, though. definitely fresh...homemade. i'm happy to be able to say that the quality of the restaurant has gotten better, not worse, as i really enjoyed my initial, and subsequent visits here.
(4)
Dave A.
I came here for my birthday dinner with my dad and stepmom. Everyone's food was really good although it took a good 15min or so to get it. I had the olive burger and the garlic wedges and a Bells IPA to drink and the mix of pungent and salty flavors made for the best burger/beer combo I've had in a long time. The beer and wine selection is impressive and the wait staff was attentive and very professional.
(4)
Jennifer P.
This place seems to change their menu every few months. I don't think they have settled on their brand yet, but the food is always very good. Atmosphere is fun.
(4)
James C D.
Our first visit was on opening day. We expected minor glitches and got them. The loaded potato soup was excellent. The meatloaf was simply the best non-home-made meatloaf I've ever tasted. But, don't stop here and rush out to get it. A couple of weeks later, we returned and I discovered that the wonderful meat loaf had been removed from the menu. The mustacolli I ordered in its place was very good with a superb sauce. A damper on an otherwise fine dining experience occurred when I asked the waiter for a slice of bread to "mop up" the remains of the sauce, He did bring me a roll but the seventy-five cents extra charge on my menu seemed a bit "bush league" . Good news - bad news: Food is very good. Place is extremely noisy - on a par with Chuckie Cheese's during a kids party. Still needs fine tuning.
(3)
Roy E.
Second time family has eaten here.... food was excellent however the wait for preparation was excessive both times. Was not really busy for a Saturday afternoon... had 3 other diners..waited 35 to 40 monutes after order was taken to eat.
(3)
C. S.
I would give 5 stars but have to try it again a few times! The first visit was fan-tabulous! Will go back and update the stars after our 3rd stop here...We had the Buffalo Chicken Salad and the Prime Rib Sandwich, also tried the Pretzels. Drinks were hand crafted at the bar and this particular Saturday night was crowded, but we got in quick! Great long Islands!
(4)
Marie N.
This is a fun restaurant with good food and very friendly service. Lots of families and since the floors are wood and the ceilings are open, it gets kind of noisy. So this is no place for an intimate dinner. All of the food I saw coming out of the kitchen looked delicious. We saw lots of hamburgers, pizza, grilled cheese, buffalo chicken salad (humongous). We had the beef stroganoff and it was fantastic. I couldn't believe how tender the beef was. It was served with a small piece of garlic bread. I tried a chicken sandwich with cheddar cheese, bacon, barbeque sauce and ranch sauce on it. Sandwiches come with garlic potato wedges or sweet potato fries. No regular french fries here. One minor suggestion for improvement. They use the service model where the server takes your order but then a 'food runner' delivers the food to your table. The food runner should ask 'Is there anything I can get you at this time?' before running off. I believe the manager was our food runner. Even though I had asked my server to include ketchup with my sandwich, it was not delivered. The food runner left so quickly that I couldn't catch him before he left to ask for the ketchup. So I had to wait until I saw him again before asking for ketchup. Same thing happened to a table near us. The food was dropped off and before they could ask the food runner for silverware, the was gone. We will definitely return to this restaurant when we are in the area.
(5)
Leah C.
SO much potential... that it was almost frustrating eating here. such a great space with a model train running overhead every 20 minutes - great distraction for the kid! our server was a doll and everyone was just so cheery in there. the food was just horrendous. the portions were stingy. the salmon sliders i attempted to share with my 2-year old was all bread no fish! i could count the shrimp in my husband's pesto (where's the pesto) shirmp pasta. i looked around and no one's meal looked appetizing. i so want to report this place to kitchen nightmares - this place would be a goldmine after a revamp!
(2)
Julie H.
Great atmosphere. Very busy Friday night. Sat at the bar and had some local beers. Dinner was very good. We have the brick oven pretzel sticks. Very good! Cheese was hot and tasty. My husband had the bacon stuffed burger, which he loved and I had the morning shift burger. It was amazing. I had a side of the Parmesan garlic sauce from another burger to dip my fries in. Yummy. Beer was cold and good. Good home the chocolate cake for later. 5/5 stars.
(5)
Lyndsay L.
My husband and I had seen this place driving on our way to Chicago from Ohio a couple of times but never when we could stop there and eat... But this time we made a point of it. And we are glad we did. Love the atmosphere and the quotes throughout the place. We started with the fried pickle app - yum. My mom and husband each got the 4 burger sampler with garlic wedges. They enjoyed them all, but both's favorite was the Edison burger. They both thought the wedges could have had a little more garlic on them, but still enjoyed them. My dad got the meatloaf - it was delicious. I got the pot roast Mac and cheese. Loved the blue cheese with it. It was so filling as I was only able to eat half of it. We wished we had room for dessert. The triple layer cheesecake looked tasty.
(5)
Marina D.
Where to start..THIS PLACE IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVS NOW!!From the moment you drive up you KNOW you are going to have a one of a kind dining experience,and then!!when I went into the restroom and they were playing I LOVE LUCY on the t.v...I JUST KNEW THIS PLACE WAS SPECIAL!!!!Besides the ambiance of the restaurant the food was excellent,hot and reasonably priced.Alexis was our server and was knowledgable about menu items and the featured American of the week...we have decided to stop here every time we travel to Wisconsin.
(5)
Mary Joe J.
Me, my husband and 3 kids 11 and under .... Have been here 3 times and we love the service and we love the food!
(5)
Ed R.
So I gave IR another chance after 2 horrible experiences here in the past. I'll break it down as follows; Service : better but still not good. We came on a slow Tuesday night so searing wasn't an issue like I've had on weekends. The server was nice, she was good to my kids, refreshed drinks promptly, however they seemed understaffed and she took a long time to take our order... For example, we had to wait to order appetizers because she told us she was changing the Pepsi... Shouldn't the kitchen staff do that? Other tables appeared to wait forever for ordering too. Food : tasted....just okay, looked gross. My wife got the Pot Roast Mac and cheese, sounded great on paper but looked gross upon arrival. The cheese was congealed and greasy, it didn't look appetizing at all. I got the Special General MacArthur burger, overlap it was good but the bun was really greasy and it made it a bit unappealing after a while. The best way for me to describe the menu here is that one person sat down and made a menu that THEY thought would be good, but failed to consult anyone else. The choices are eclectic and out of the norm, but they clearly do not have a chef capable of executing it to its potential. I kept picturing Gordon Ramsay on Kitchen Nightmares picking through the food shouting about how greasy and gross it was... Overall I love the atmosphere in this place, the decor is phenomenal and it is just a cool place. It's a shame that the food just isn't good enough to make me want to come back.
(2)
Deidra W.
Fantastic! We will be back. Really enjoyed this place. The menu has something for everyone. Daily drink specials..$4 sangrias on Saturdays. Highly recommend...you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Lacee M.
One of my favorite places. This is definitely not a figure friendly menu. While they do offer salad I personally find it hard to go that way with all the mouthwatering comfort food this place has to offer. Been there numerous times and have probably had everything on the menu and have loved everything. The soups are great! The big surprise to me is the fish tacos.... I never ordered them because they seemed out of place with the rest of the menu but luckily I had a taste of someone else's (at my table of course )and they are by far the best I've ever had!! They are so light and fresh tasting that it is perfect for the days you're not in the mood for anything too heavy. Love this place, it is a nice change from all the chains around
(5)
Bob C.
A fun place to dine.....once I was very excited for this place to open about 6 years ago due to the proximity to campus and the need for a unique restaurant in Valparaiso that isn't a chain restaurant such as Applebees, TGIFridays, or Chilis. Upon your first visit, you're greeted by amazing architecture and details that only Disney can rival. Amazing iron work and a train that circles the restaurant as you eat. After that initial bliss; the menu, pricing, and quality of food is lackluster. The food is decent but nothing that triggers your mind to say 'wow i want to eat here again!' The service is decent, but again nothing that sticks out. I have been here 6x since they opened and two of those times my party and I ordered drinks and decided to just eat elsewhere due to the pricing and selections. If you haven't been here, try it out once and feel free to go from there.
(2)
Kyle W.
While this restaurant is still fairly new, I still think it's worthy of a review. SHORT: I would wait a few months before going back. Small portions for the price compared to other local steakhouses. The so called stuffed hamburgers are not stuffed at all. In fact, they are dry, flat, and tasteless. When I asked about it, the waitress came with some excuse saying that the cheese cooks into the meet. (Which you know is complete BS if you have ever cooked a stuffed burger) Cool atmosphere and our glasses were always full. Long wait after we were seated. (45min) LONG: Showed up about 8pm on a Tuesday. Waited about 10-15min to be seated. (not bad since we were entertained by the toy training traveling throughout the restaurant) Industrial Revolution, The specialty is stuffed hamburgers, but not really... Well the hamburger was not stuffed at all. In fact, it was dry, tasteless and flat. I ordered the Industrial Stuffed Burger which is suppose to be a blackened cajun burger stuffed with blue cheese. After asking my waitress about the burger being not stuffed, she informed me that by cooking the meat, you cook out the blue cheese. This is total BS because anyone who has ever stuffed a hamburger knows that cheese is 'stuffed' between two thin patties of meat and cooked, and that the cheese does not spontaneously combust. Also, it's a blackened cajun burger, it's suppose to be blackened. Not only was our burger not blackened, but the cheese (apparently) was still 'infused' with the meat. I deny ever tasting blue cheese in that burger. Nor did I taste any hint of cajun seasoning. Good news though, the fries were pretty good. That was about it. Ok, the atmosphere was great. It's also nice that not every TV is playing sports. Finally a restaurant trying to accommodate to all crowds. The waitress kept our glasses full and checked in occasionally (however she clearly avoided us for the 45 minutes we waited for our food).
(2)
Jenni L.
We finally stopped for lunch after passing it by for months. What a pleasant surprise! Extremely clean, bar area separate from restaurant, nice menu for adults and kids. Kids loved the train running over their heads. Service was fast. Food very tasty, esp the potato soup and burgers which are cooked medium unless otherwise directed. I would definitely return to taste other dishes.
(4)
Adrien B.
This place has such awesome decor. It's the type of place I'd love to go to and have a beer at the bar. However, the food is just "eh" and is very expensive. I am totally a "you get what you pay for" type and have no problem paying more for really good food. But the problem with this place is that you are paying pretty high prices for the area and the food is whimpy in taste and in portion size. I saw a couple of the other reviewers saying that they felt like they were paying for the decor. I felt the same way.
(2)
doreen b.
Looking to fill some time and empty stomachs between a wedding and a reception, our group ended up here, and glad we did. Entertaining atmosphere, very energized and accommodating staff, and good food. Try the onion soup... seriously tasty, and surprisingly filling. When a group member mentioned she'd never tried sweet potato fries, the server brought her ordered dish... and a tiny sample of sweet potato fries. How nice is that?? Was surprised the place was mobbed at 3 in the afternoon on a Saturday, but as it turns out, with good reason. If we're in the area again, we'll be back. (and yep, loved the overhead electric train!)
(4)
Vincent S.
I have read the other reviews and don't understand the critics. "Napkins on the floor, too many TVs, I didn't get a seat fast enough...." You soft / spoiled people are the down fall of this country. Stay home. Thursday evening, wasn't too busy. Plenty of seats in waiting area, inside & outside, if needed, but we walked right in and sat down. The waiter was very friendly and knew the menu. Great beer list including locals. The menu was a "working class" menu, not a Ruth's Chris menu; burgers, sandwiches, soups, appetizers, meatloaf, pot roast and other dinners. I ordered a bowl of chili to start as I always do when available. Great heat, nice flavor, few beans....... it was the best restaurant chili I have ever had. The burgers are the thing to get. From 1/4 pound burgers to 1/2 pound, 1 pound, 2 pounds and 5 pounds. The 5 pounder is free if you eat it in an hour. My IR burger was perfect. I had the 1 ton burger, although it only weighed 1/2 pound. False advertising? Perhaps I should gripe about that like the spoiled people. The burger was juicey, very hot and cooked to perfection. I was surprised that the bun held up to the juiciness of the burger. The sweet potato fries were perfect too. I don't know a better word for these other than perfect. The size was proportionate, 20 - 25 fries. I am not going to complain about the price like some. I thought it was a great VALUE for quality received. The Industrial Revolution is a lot like Union work; skilled workers making a great product at a fair price. Understand, Red Robin has good burgers, but I would eat here over RR any day, regardless that it is more expensive and that IR doesn't give you a "fresh bucket" of fries to eat. If you like Red Robin, nothing against them, this isn't Red Robin. Go to Red Robin if you like that. My brother rates restaurants on the "buffet factor." Flavor, quality and presentation doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that he can eat 10,000 calories of stuff and get a bargain for $8. From the movie Monte Python and the Meaning of Life....... Mr. Creosol; "I'll eat it all." Waiter; "Would you like that all mixed up in a bucket?" Mr. Creosol; "Yes, and don't skimp on the pate." Waiter; "Of course and I'll make sure you get a double helping." Hello Red Robin.
(5)
Kristyn D.
We had a great experience here! The service was outstanding, and the food was too. The potato wedges were scrumptious, and the kids menu was real food, not overpriced Kraft mac'n'cheese and frozen nuggets. I thought the prices were reasonable. My husband, my daughter, and myself ate for just under $50, and that included 3 beers. The keg was in the process of being changed on one of the beers he ordered, and they couldn't get to the replacement due to a frozen lock, so the waitstaff kept bringing samples until the problem was solved. They were super nice. I'm sad to see all the negative reviews, I really enjoyed this place, and plan to in the future.
(5)
Jonathon W.
My wife and I love this place. We have been twice now. Once for dinner and once for lunch. And both times we went we got great service. The waitress was friendly and they were quick. The atmosphere is great and our children love it. The food is great. It's a little pricey for the amount of food you get but not so much so that it doesn't make the visit worth it. Their potato wedges are great! The pot roast mac and cheese is AMAZING!!! We really enjoy the food and it's clean.
(4)
Hector R.
I am Disappointed. I have been here before with my family and have always had a good experience. This time the service was slow(waitress complained because there was only two of them) and the entrees were brought at the same time as the appetizers. 3 of us got the mill salads and we found lettuce pieces that were brown and wilted. The avocado was old and the bacon was missing from the salads. All this for $12.95 a salad? I told and showed the Manager and she thanked me for telling her. She did try to make amends by giving us dessert free after we cashed out but that didn't change our opinion of how bad the salads were. Here's my advice to the owners, get back to basics, serve fresh food and make sure the help takes pride in what comes out of the kitchen.
(2)
Judi S.
This was our first time at IR and we loved it!! Our server, Ronny, was outstanding and super friendly. The pretzel appetizer tasted delicious with four large pretzel pieces and a crock of authentic cheese (not the cheese whiz type). Although the cheese was very salty, it still was delicious. My husband ordered the special which was the prime rib opened faced sandwich with garlic mashed potatoes. They gave him au juis and horse radish for dipping. I had their Cobb salad with grilled chicken. Both dishes were superb with the prime rib and chicken cooked just right! For dessert we shared the red, white and blue cheesecake made on the premises.......mmmmmmm it was stupendous!! Served with fresh blueberries and strawberries, this is a dessert to remember. We will definitely be back and I highly recommend it!! Thanks to Ronny for a great job!! It's a rare occasion ,anymore, to find a server who is personable AND attentive but he has that perfect combo! BRAVO!
(4)
Russell T.
Great food the smoked bacon burger tastes has good as it sounds and the fries are wedges smothered in garlic cheese sauce. The wait was not any worse then most restaurants but if you are looking for buger king speed this is not it.
(4)
Nikta P.
The decor and atmosphere are really well done and make eating here fun! Service was attentive and friendly and the food was classic American fare with attention to detail. It is not cheap but the portions are generous. We were in Indiana for the weekend and would definitely come back.
(4)
Mk O.
Casual atmosphere, food that was right on the mark. Friendly staff, very, very attentive. Creative drink specials and decor that is worth the trip. Went out here for an early NYE dinner. 5pm reservations. The Edison burger was fantastic on a pretzel roll and sweet potato fries were cooked perfectly. The onion soup was delicious. The tab, including drinks, appetizers, soups and burgers was less than $100 for three of us. If you're interested in American hertitage within the Industrial Revolution, this place will feel like home. A slew of food, great atmosphere, well worth the trip. We will be back.
(4)
Samantha P.
My brother and me went here recently because I hadn't been and he warned me it was ok but nothing special. The atmosphere is amazing, I will say it's worth going to see even if you order just a couple of drinks. I loved the statues that adorned the outside and the interesting steel mill and industry decor inside. Something so different. The service was terrible. She took our drink orders and brought them back 15-20 mins later to take our order. I ordered a half burger and half salad plate and my brother ordered a turkey sandwich with fries. We waited nearly an hour for our food despite only 5 other diners (whom all had food) and after about 30 mins heard two cooks in the open part of the kitchen/grill talking arguing about which one was supposed to go make the turkey sandwich (I'm pretty sure they should have already had it made in 30 mins). My burger was pretty good but they got the cheese wrong and I wasn't about to send it back and wait another hour since we didn't have all afternoon. My brothers sandwich was atrocious. The bread was so hard it was falling apart in big chunks, there is no way they didn't notice that. We ate and waited for the check with our waitress never coming to check on our food. We waited with plates pushed to the side of the table for a check for 20 mins before finally going to find the waitress. When giving her the credit card my brother told her the bread from his sandwich was very stale and showed it to her on his plate. She said she'd let the cook know, never offering an apology or a discount like any other place would/should. Cool atmosphere, horrible staff and so-so food. Nothing to return for, a shame too.
(2)
Christine M.
Casual dining, decor is different and interesting. The restaurant is a perfect addition for Northwest Indiana since we are an industrial region. Good place to take visiting friends or family for a casual meal. Fish tacos are one menu item that is unique from other area restaurants. Great beer selection!
(3)
Joe V.
Awesome decor and a pretty neat atmosphere, but the fun stops there. The food is greatly overpriced and subpar (their specialty condiments, such as the chipolte mayo seemed sadly flavourless), even if some of (far from all) the portions are pretty large. The service was lackluster, with drink refills either slow-to-come or nonexistent until we flagged somebody down. Seating was rather quick on the busy(ish) Friday night we came in (I've seen busier, sure, and they had PLENTY of staffers in the place), but their system seemed inefficiently-managed to the point where it likely cost others more time elsewhere (our party of 3 was seated at a 6-person table). Servers were nice (when they acknowledged you, that is; we noticed many of them sitting around nothing-doing at several points), if a bit awkward with their communication. They forgot to ask about sides, and they never once asked if we'd like any drinks at all once we said we'd "start with water". Too bad; I'd heard they had a great beer menu before I came, too, but what I saw was laughably typical and small. Approximately 1/4th of our time there was spent waiting for somebody to run our check when we wanted to leave. Wish they could live up to the apparent hype!
(2)
D. T.
Great Atmosphere! Good Food! Kids love the trains that go around! Nice beer and wine selections! Excellent Service! We would go back!
(4)
Erika D.
well, we've been back a few times and i have to say that i'm just as satisfied as i was the first time. i've taken to NOT ordering off the menu and i try the chef's special every time...i'm never disappointed. the last time was a herb-crusted white fish with rice and vegetables. it was done perfectly and there was so much there i had to take some home. the beer selection is better than most places you'll find, though they are kind of pricey in that area. sadly, the wings have been taken off the menu. they were really good, too. the bruschetta was fantastic, though. definitely fresh...homemade. i'm happy to be able to say that the quality of the restaurant has gotten better, not worse, as i really enjoyed my initial, and subsequent visits here.
(4)
Dave A.
I came here for my birthday dinner with my dad and stepmom. Everyone's food was really good although it took a good 15min or so to get it. I had the olive burger and the garlic wedges and a Bells IPA to drink and the mix of pungent and salty flavors made for the best burger/beer combo I've had in a long time. The beer and wine selection is impressive and the wait staff was attentive and very professional.
(4)
Jennifer P.
This place seems to change their menu every few months. I don't think they have settled on their brand yet, but the food is always very good. Atmosphere is fun.
(4)
Kaleen F.
Potato soup is awesome and the freedom pizza was booming with flavor. Very unique place and love how the owner purchased the statues of workers made by an artist, who made them for ground zero. A bit expensive.
(4)
Dana F.
Great service. Had the freedom veggie pizza and a potato soup. A good cold beer and it was just right. I don't understand what everyone's problem is about portion size. It was fine. If you want to over eat go to a buffet!
(4)
Elisa S.
The atmosphere of this restaurant is great. The decor is spot on with the American dream. Excellent concept restaurant. As a personal plea to the owner, please, please hire a new chef or a chef that has gone to culinary school The food served needs to stay ahead of the expectations of your decor. This pizza's are ok here and burgers are ok as well, but the other home cooked food is bland.
(2)
Angela U.
We stopped here on a whim. Very interesting decor. They had I Love Lucy on television in the ladies room and the Three Stooges on the television in the Men's room. Appetizer was the flat bread, wonderful flavor lots of cheese, basil. Perfect! I had the Olive hamburger. Loved it. My husband the American Classic and he enjoyed every bite. We shared the Red, White and Blue Cheesecake dessert. Strawberries, Blueberries and Vanilla. Yum. Wish we lived closer, we would be here all the time. They are getting a cocktail license, so as of now they just have wine and beer. Wonderful selection on both though. I can't wait to go back to Valparaiso, just to eat here.
(4)
G D.
Great place nice staff if my order would have been correct would have bee 5 star. Grandson have a great time a said pizza was 5 star.
(4)
Richard D.
This was our second visit to this place. The food and service is excellent and the prices are reasonable. Interesting decor too. My only regret is that they are about 45 minutes from us. Wish they were closer. We both has halibut wrap with garlic fries. Very good and my fussy wife was equally pleased.
(5)
Mary B.
I liked the decor, the food was nothing special. Had a burger, I've had better, good pretzel bread tho.
(2)
Yvonne L.
Another great meal this afternoon but my food was only lukewarm. My companion had roast beef and said it was very good. Service was a little off today. Had to ask three times to get lemon for my water which was unusual. We love this place for its food, service and atmosphere.
(4)
Je S.
Decor inside is worth going for. It is steel industry themed with a train running below the ceiling. Very cool to recognize the industry around the region. Meatloaf is great so is the pot roast, pot pie and chicken fried steak. Don't miss the fried pickles. Had a slider sampler once, it was just ok. I like their "comfort foods" more than the burgers. They do have an outdoor patio so that was nice to enjoy a drink and appetizer. Good service here too.
(4)
Audrey B.
I loved this place when it first opened and it has significantly changed since then. My favorite was the crab cake burger which now has been long gone. Everyone in my family ordered it when went went. I also used to like how the staff had uniforms that matched the decor which are also gone now as well. I never really went there for the burgers because I liked other things but it seems like that is all they are focused on now. We gave it a few tries last year but haven't been back.
(3)
Kev F.
The model T turkey sandwich is fantastic! The secret sauce has a sweet edge to it but the bacon adds to the flavor. The garlic potato wedges are outstanding. Only one piece of advice. The incredible deep-fried pickles need to be drained out of the fryer better. Way too greasy and sit in puddles of grease. The burgers are out of this world! Very fresh, and very delicious! Also, and this is never to be overlooked, the service is outstanding!
(4)
Leanne H.
Casual atmosphere with some unusual menu items. The model train running overhead with the open ceiling tends to make the restaurant somewhat extra noisy. Wait staff is fairly attentive and the food is served hot. For the price, the food is a little higher than other places offering similar items.
(3)
Andrew B.
We chose IR to eat lunch October 21, 2012. This was our first visit. I must say the decor is very unique and being from Northwest Indiana I appreciated the effort to the details. Someone obviously spent a lot of money to make the place look impressive. I wish I could say that our dining experience met our expectations. We were seated quickly, and about 5 minutes later we were greeted by Kylie to get our drink order. Ten minutes later those were delivered and then she told us about the specials -- this is after we looked at the menu for 15 minutes and had already chose other things. We ordered a cup of potato soup. When served, it was barely warm. After the soup was dropped at our table, we didn't see our waitress for 30 minutes, and our food took 40 minutes to hit the table. We watched others walk in, sit down, and start eating while we waited. We had ordered the pot roast dinner and 2 hamburgers. The seasoning on the pot roast was less than disappointing and it was not as tender as expected for being tended to "overnight" as the menu brags. The burgers, while unique in toppings, were nothing special--1/2 pound burgers lost much of their weight once cooked. Garlic wedges or sweet potato fries are offered -- a very limited choice. My pot roast was supposed to come with "root" vegetables -- I was looking forward to this -- and broccoli appeared on my plate. Last I knew, broccoli was not a root vegetable. Carrot? Onion? Turnip? Nope. And no mention that they were out of root vegetables. I was just served broccoli, with no offer of substitute. Our glasses became empty more than once with v-e-r-y s-l-o-w refill. We saw Kylie spending time talking to her co-workers near the serving window by the cash register -- but she didn't have time to be bothered with her tables...unfortunate. She was less than attentive -- we didn't feel welcomed or appreciated. For the cost of our meal, almost $55 for 3, and the poor service, we felt very let down. We noticed that there is a personal plea on each table from Mike Leeson, the owner, asking for feedback, and we sent it via the website. A manager responded and asked for a phone number from us. We responded we did not have much of anything else to say, just that we are hoping our feedback makes someone else's visit a better one. We asked the manager for her phone number and a time we could call her, if she still wanted to talk, and never heard back. We don't think we will return. IR is just another independent eatery we tried to support that didn't follow through on its promise/potential. Very disappointing -- such a shame. And make sure you read the filtered reviews -- Yelp has filtered 75% of IR's reviews, for some reason. Including this one. Hmmm...
(1)
Lindsey B.
Maybe it's the Chicagoan in me, but I thought this place was a great value. Loved the beer flights: 4 - 2oz tasters & a pint for $7 Massive burgers with generous portions of garlic potato wedges or sweet potato fries. Our server had lots of energy and made even the picky eaters of our group feel special. I wish I remembered his name, he really did complete the dinner package. The general vibe of the place was interesting. My dad was an iron worker, I can't wait to tell him all about this place. Or maybe convince him to stop in for lunch in route from Ohio to Illinois. I know he would love it. Is it fine date night out kind of dining? No, but it's a nice place to grab a burger.
(5)
Beth M.
I am not a huge fan of themed restaurants, but I really enjoyed eating her. The waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly. He helped us pick out the perfect meal. The menu is interesting and eclectic. The burgers are great and so are the sweet potato fries. My only complaint is the noise. With the brick walls, blaring tvs, high ceiling, open kitchen, and toy trains going overhead it is nearly impossible to hear anything.
(3)
Derek H.
We had dinner here on Saturday evening around 6:30 pm. The restaurant was full but they were able to seat us in the bar area immediately. Menu was diverse with many different burgers and comfort foods. Each member of our group had something different and we all enjoyed our meals. The beer selection (draft) wasn't bad but wasn't great. They had 6-8 craft brews and several Macro brews. The server wasn't very informed on all the beers. There was an empty tap with a Bell's handle, need to fill that spot! Overall, we had a good time, enjoyed our food and company. We will likely stop again. It is always great to find a non chain place to eat.
(4)
Sean T.
Had the pot roast burger... reviews about no flavor, microwaved or frozen couldn't be far from the truth... garlic wedges... amazing! Good portion superb execution in flavor, seasoned and cooked perfect. Served hot, the waitress was very attentive, and my drinks never touched bottom... Only downside was $17 dollar tab burger, fries and a drink... once in a blue moon I'll make the trip to valpo and if I can squeeze it into the budget I'll be glad to come again
(4)
Katie C.
Went here for dinner with a friend last week, and it was very good! I usually avoid chain restaurants, but was pleasantly surprised by I.R. We had fried pickles as an appetizer-nice and crispy, not soggy at all. I had a Cape Cod as a drink, and it was tart and refreshing. Dinner was a hamburger with egg on it (always a solid choice) and my friend had the buffalo chicken burger. We stayed long after we finished our food and weren't rushed out at all, which was a pleasant change. I'd go back!
(4)
Lizz C.
Located within easy driving distance of downtown, Valpo campus and near hotels. My husband and I went here twice on vacation in Valpo - I can only speak to the bar and the service attentiveness there as we did not take a booth or table. They have a nice variety of craft taps (Upland, Figure 8, Three Floyds and more), and both times the bartenders we spoke to knew their beers. After a little bit of craft-beer-love, we decided to grab a bit of food. We split the Revolution Pizza, a nice size pizza for splitting between two people for a light meal or between 4 people for a 'little something'. It was good - it won't go down in history as the best pizza ever, but it was tasty. We had the Stout Brownie the second time we went - the first time it came from the kitchen with the ice cream almost completely melted. The dining room was getting quite peppy so the dessert was probably not grabbed by the staff (which was in the middle of a shift change). While I never have sent food back at a restaurant, I did that time as we'd quite wanted to try it with ice cream intact. They made up for it by re-making it and we did enjoy it. I'm a baker and fairly picky - It wasn't my favorite dessert ever but it was done well for a medium-priced restaurant. The ice cream was good, but as I like to fully taste the featured ingredient I was a bit disappointed that the flavor of the malt in the stout didn't come through more. That's fine - it's made for the masses, not for beer and baking snobs like me. The decor is interesting. Photos of workers adorn the walls, along with interesting quotes about people, tenacity, industry and finances painted in white paint on the brick itself. Black girders grid the ceiling, and a train occasionally runs on a ceiling-suspended track. I agree with one of the previous reviewers - the lighting is probably too harsh for some. Though the fixtures fit the mood of the restaurant, the very bright lighting doesn't make for as casual a dining experience as I'd like. We had a good experience here both times, and we will stop back again when we are in Valpo.
(4)
Esme G.
love it, awesome staff and great food. great burgers and potato soup... my fav :) great place to take someone for a great experience.
(5)
Roland S.
Classic Midwestern American food place. Burgers, pot roast, perch along with a variety of cheese-based appetizers. The pretzels and cheese and chips and cheese appetizers were good. The pot roast burger was solid, but lacking in actual pot roast. The perch dinner that I had the last time I visited was pretty good, and I like that they offer sweet potato fries. The beer offerings were minimally acceptable, much like the service, which I'd call friendly but not the most attentive. It's got an interesting decor that evokes industry, progress, and hope. I found the portions adequate and the prices just a bit on the high side. I'd probably come here again just to take out of town guests somewhere casual, local, and that isn't a chain, but it's not high on my list.
(3)
Timothy W.
The burgers are magnificent... Tough and gritty and delicious like America's rich industrial history. Can't decide on a burger? Get the sampler! The great beer menu was topped off by seeing the 3 stooges playing in the men's restroom. Bravo!
(5)
Mark K.
Great burgers!!! I had the firehouse burger. That thing was nice and spicy from start to finish. Great decor ad the kids loved the train. The garlic wedges were fantastic also.
(5)
s b.
My family and I went to Industrial Revolution last weekend. I was shocked. We've been going there for more than a year and have always been happy. My daughter has always ordered the mini corn dogs from the children's menu. They aren't something she gets often and the fact they were hand dipped in a yummy batter always impressed me. A special treat, indeed. Yeah, they don't make those anymore. She had to settle for macaroni and cheese which she didn't end up liking. I liked it, but it was awfully garlicky for kids. I ordered a pot roast sandwich and sweet potato fries. Ok, so that is what I got, but for $10, I would appreciate something other than jarred gravy. My fries were cold and there were only about 18 of them on my plate. (I'm American in an American comfort food restaurant...I may not eat all of my fries, but I want a lot of them to pick at. And it isn't like I haven't gotten far more than I could eat when I've been there previously. Why the change?) Is it a strange complaint, too, that my plate was too small? There's no way to eat a pot roast sandwich other than to cut it up and my plate was so small I had a difficult time maneuvering so that I didn't throw my sandwich and handful of fries on the table. My raspberry tea was outstanding, though. I love that it is freshly shaken, they honored my request for half the syrup they normally use, and they include fresh raspberries in the glass. (Which frankly made my jarred gravy all that more insulting.) My husband was pleased with his buffalo chicken sandwich. We've had them before and they've always been good. His complaint was the long wait for service. Never have we had to wait that long. And it wasn't that the servers weren't hustling, they just needed about three more of them. Which seems strange since we were there at an "off peak" time and the place didn't seem that busy. We'll probably try it again. The decor is wonderful and we certainly don't mind the noise. Our daughter LOVES the train that runs around above our heads. I'm just really sad that we've had such wonderful experiences in the past and things seemed so changed with the quality of the food and staff.
(2)
Sarah C.
Not impressed! Not happy with the menu- Before leaving home, we checked online for the menu. It showed meatloaf, fried chicken and ribs- none of which are offered at the restaurant, which is deceptive. The server told us those things were only available the first week they were open, but that the "web guy" hadn't had a chance to take it off the website. :o( It was just a bummer because the meatloaf we saw online is what made my boyfriend want to eat there, as opposed to other restaurants in the area. Also, I felt that the menu selections were very limited. I am a vegetarian and there are very few choices-a pizza or you could order some of the salads with no meat. How hard would it be to add a veggie burger or grilled portabella sandwich?? Not worth the money- We ordered a beer, the bruschetta(which was AMAZING!), a salad and the herb chicken- $43! As mentioned earlier, I am a vegetarian. I ordered the Chop salad with no bacon. It was essentially half a head of iceberg lettuce with miniscule amounts of red onion, avocado, tomato and blue cheese. When it was all mixed up, I had many bites that were just iceberg. For $9!! Since the meatloaf was not an option, my boyfriend chose the herb-stuffed chicken, which the server and the food runner raved about. It was a chicken breast sitting on about 6 green beans and a scoop of mashed potatoes. For $18! He said it was okay, but not worth almost twenty dollars. What a rip-off!! Subpar service- Our server, Melissa, was a hot mess. She seemed extremely frazzled the entire time we were there, like she was on the verge of crying. She did not read us the specials for the night, but we heard her telling other tables. Also, our dinner was brought out by another server and Melissa never came by to see how we were doing, which was kind of a bummer, because we did not have silverware and needed to flag someone else down to get it. Once we were done, she came over to see "how it's tasting"...well, it's all done now, lady! Get with the program. I used to be a server too, so I'm not trying to be unfair, but a place that serves $18 chicken should have better service than Applebee's!! Cool atmosphere- I did think the restaurant itself was very neat, especially considering it used to be a dirty wing place. They did a really nice job with the brick work and iron. The train around the top is very cool and the bar area is very inviting. From what I understand, their beer selection is pretty awesome- I don't drink beer, but my boyfriend got pretty excited! I am from Valpo, but live in California now. Was visiting last week with my boyfriend and though IR would be a fun place to go for a Friday night dinner. I was trying to show him that there really ARE good restaurants in Indiana, :o) but I regret that we didn't choose a different place for dinner and that this was his impression.
(2)
Jennifer S.
The food is American Fare meets trendy new twist! We went to IR with another couple and had salads and burgers. We sipped on peach iced teas while waiting for our lunch. I thought the food was great, the atmosphere was neat too. There's a lot of IR-era photographps, a train that circles overhead, etc. For a burger and fries luch, it was a little spendy, but I would still go back.
(4)
Kendra P.
Bad. Just bad. Bad food. Bad service. BAD. The drink was good and that's where it ends.
(1)
Kate S.
Stopped here for a Sunday lunch on our way through Indiana. It was surprisingly busy! I had mixed feelings about the themed decor--great idea but felt like they took it just a bit too far. I particularly disliked the dozens of televisions showing footage of machinery, factories, and industry; I felt they were really distracting. On the other hand, thought he model train running around the ceiling was really neat. The menu was large and an interesting mix of the bizarre and the intriguing. We ordered the much-mentioned pretzel breadsticks and, though chewy as others have said, they were really good. Loved that they didn't have that awful salt normally found on most pretzels. The cheese dipping sauce was mediocre--it tasted like velveeta mixed with something; the pretzels were better plain. My husband ordered a bacon-stuffed burger and loved it. He ate the garlic wedges, even though they were topped with parmesan cheese, which he detests. They were actually tasty, but I found that, oddly, they tasted neither of garlic nor of parmesan; they were just really good wedge fries, nice and crisp. I had a buffalo chicken burger and thought it was delicious. Surprisingly spicy, breading was nice and crisp. Would definitely order again. I came home and recommended this place to a family member, so I know it was at least memorable. If you're passing by, it's definitely worth a stop.
(4)
Ashley K.
Overpriced, small portions, annoying toy train runs around room. Only reason to come here is if you have a train-obsessed child. There are much better places in The Region.
(1)
Jack K.
Burgers are decent but I wasn't blown away. Kids Mac is summer cheesy - they liked it. Wife liked the Grilled buffalo chicken.
(3)
Chuck H.
We have been here two times now. Both time we came early at lunch. We were seated and drinks and food came out fast. The servers where great and kept our drinks filled. I liked both meals I had. We will be back again.
(4)
doreen b.
Looking to fill some time and empty stomachs between a wedding and a reception, our group ended up here, and glad we did. Entertaining atmosphere, very energized and accommodating staff, and good food. Try the onion soup... seriously tasty, and surprisingly filling. When a group member mentioned she'd never tried sweet potato fries, the server brought her ordered dish... and a tiny sample of sweet potato fries. How nice is that?? Was surprised the place was mobbed at 3 in the afternoon on a Saturday, but as it turns out, with good reason. If we're in the area again, we'll be back. (and yep, loved the overhead electric train!)
(4)
Jesse T.
Like most people who write here, the decor is great, atmosphere is all right. Looks like they spent a lot of money on it. If that was the only thing, I'd still give it 4 stars - too many TVs in here. The kids portions were great. The hot dog was HUGE. Burger was a good size for a 9-yr old boy. Plenty of fries. I think I had a "special" - some kind of fish tacos. They were good. Service was slow. It wasn't crowded. There was no wait. Overall, it's neat, but I wasn't blown away by the food, and it felt like I was paying for the decor, which I'm not really interested in. The beer selection was decent for craft beer. Thanks for that!
(3)
Leah C.
SO much potential... that it was almost frustrating eating here. such a great space with a model train running overhead every 20 minutes - great distraction for the kid! our server was a doll and everyone was just so cheery in there. the food was just horrendous. the portions were stingy. the salmon sliders i attempted to share with my 2-year old was all bread no fish! i could count the shrimp in my husband's pesto (where's the pesto) shirmp pasta. i looked around and no one's meal looked appetizing. i so want to report this place to kitchen nightmares - this place would be a goldmine after a revamp!
(2)
Amy E.
Went here one time. That was the last time. Walked in...the host sat us and walked away. Our server came over and took our drink order, and someone else brought it. She came back and took our food order, we never got it. Both my boyfriend and I ordered a salad with grilled chicken. We waited 25 minutes before we ever saw the waitress again. When she did walk up it was to tell us our food was on the way. 15 minutes later the manager came to tell us she was sorry about the wait and it was coming right away. 10 minutes later we got up and walked out. There was no way that it should have taken 50 minutes for someone to make a salad with chicken and if there was something wrong....like she forgot to put in the order....the chicken was frozen, etc. they could have just told us instead of leaving us sitting there wondering where our food was. I wouldn't waste your time! This place is horrible. Atmosphere was cool. Service was the worst I have ever had in my life!!! Pathetic!!
(1)
Robin C.
I met a friend for dinner and decided to sit in the bar. Very comfortable tables and the waitress/bartender was very nice. I ordered Moms Famous Double Shift Pot Roast Sandwich and sweet potato fries. My sandwich was pretty good but they accidentally gave me the regular garlic wedge fries instead of sweet potatoes. They were still tasty. I also ordered a dirty martini (Ketel One) and it was just "meh". No blue cheese olives and it still cost me $10.50! That was more than my $9.95 sandwich. I wanted another beverage and decided to go with their cider on tap. She said it came with ice and I told her to hold the ice but she said she had to give it to me because of inventory. Hmmm, I've never heard of putting ice in cider. Either way, for a 20oz glass, it was only $5.50. I heard their Brick Oven Baked Pretzel bites are out of this world so I think the next time I stop in, I'll try them and one of their mouth-watering burgers.
(4)
Jessica M.
Great decor. Service was good and friendly. Food was not worth the price. Onions on the burger and in soup were over cooked, chives were dehydrated, the onion soup was over salty. The aujus was also made with soy. Not what was expected for the cost of the food.
(3)
Jason C.
Way overpriced! Stay away from the supposed "Brick Oven" Pizza. It was recommended to me by our server. It was a slight step above a Totino's! It was soggy and very undercooked. I was quite shocked by the prices of the quite ordinary menu items. $10 for a burger just seems a little high, and $9 for a tall beer, way too high! Although I did enjoy the atmosphere and decor, it seems to me that management is more worried about whats on their walls than whats on there plates.
(1)
Lyndsay L.
My husband and I had seen this place driving on our way to Chicago from Ohio a couple of times but never when we could stop there and eat... But this time we made a point of it. And we are glad we did. Love the atmosphere and the quotes throughout the place. We started with the fried pickle app - yum. My mom and husband each got the 4 burger sampler with garlic wedges. They enjoyed them all, but both's favorite was the Edison burger. They both thought the wedges could have had a little more garlic on them, but still enjoyed them. My dad got the meatloaf - it was delicious. I got the pot roast Mac and cheese. Loved the blue cheese with it. It was so filling as I was only able to eat half of it. We wished we had room for dessert. The triple layer cheesecake looked tasty.
(5)
Roy E.
Second time family has eaten here.... food was excellent however the wait for preparation was excessive both times. Was not really busy for a Saturday afternoon... had 3 other diners..waited 35 to 40 monutes after order was taken to eat.
(3)
C. S.
I would give 5 stars but have to try it again a few times! The first visit was fan-tabulous! Will go back and update the stars after our 3rd stop here...We had the Buffalo Chicken Salad and the Prime Rib Sandwich, also tried the Pretzels. Drinks were hand crafted at the bar and this particular Saturday night was crowded, but we got in quick! Great long Islands!
(4)
Marina D.
Where to start..THIS PLACE IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVS NOW!!From the moment you drive up you KNOW you are going to have a one of a kind dining experience,and then!!when I went into the restroom and they were playing I LOVE LUCY on the t.v...I JUST KNEW THIS PLACE WAS SPECIAL!!!!Besides the ambiance of the restaurant the food was excellent,hot and reasonably priced.Alexis was our server and was knowledgable about menu items and the featured American of the week...we have decided to stop here every time we travel to Wisconsin.
(5)
Mary Joe J.
Me, my husband and 3 kids 11 and under .... Have been here 3 times and we love the service and we love the food!
(5)
Zoe D.
Spent a night in Valparaiso just passing through on I-80. On the recommendation of the hotel, I headed down for a late lunch. The interior was interesting, tinned ceilings, old pictures, lots of ironwork. The service was attentive yet not bothersome, thanks Ronnie. And then there is the food....I had a firehouse burger (spicy but not too) with their garlic wedges. I will definitely be stopping in again on my next trip across IN on I-80.
(4)
Rachael T.
SHORT VERSION: check it out for the atmosphere and the "Dinner in a Brightly Lit Steel Mill" vibe, and hopefully they will get the kinks worked out with regards to portion size and presentation. Because if they don't, people will just go to Kelsey's or Pikk's Tavern instead. No matter how cool the interior decorating. LONG VERSION: We hit Industrial Revolution for dinner at 6:00 on their opening night. We were expecting a wait, but in-spite of the massive number of cars in the lot (as well as parked in the grass across Linwood), we were seated right away. We were expecting to have quite a wait, so the fast seating was a surprise. It was all certainly something to see. The owners, setting up shop in the former Brewski's location just off of Hwy 30, have really gone all-out with regards to the atmosphere and decor. Aside from the amazing figural sculptures and vintage-style construction framework outside, the inside is just as detailed. The walls are all brick and sport large-format, black-and-white prints of every type of industry imaginable. There are also a lot of hand-stenciled quotes about progress, getting ahead, and patriotism; and it seems that everywhere you turn there is another glossy flat-panel showing either the White Sox game or a documentary about Steel Mills. We're talking flat-panels in the bathrooms as well, people. There were five of us for dinner and we ordered a range of appetizers, salads, and mains, including: Nachos, Seared Ahi Tuna, Onion Wedges, Burgers, Open-face Steak Sandwich, and the Pot Roast Dinnner. We weren't that impressed. It's not that anything was bad, just that none of it was very exciting or creative. And, for the local area, the serving sizes were a bit small. We actually spoke to the head "Food Consultant" when he came by with a plate of dessert samples. He made sure to tell us that absolutely everything was hand-made and they didn't serve anything that frozen or pre-made. All very impressive in theory, but the final product was just a little lacking. For example, the Spinach & Pear Salad was missing the pears, and it was very small. In a very upscale restaurant with beautiful presentation and flavor, small might be fine. But in a Regular-Joe, bar-and-grill style restaurant, $8 is a rip-off for a handful of spinach and some ho-hum raspberry vinagrette. The beer selection is pretty good, including some local Indiana beers from Three Floyds. I like the Gumballhead. To sum up: very cool, no-expense-spared look; lack-luster food. I say give them some time to hear people's overall responses and find their way to being a great addition to Valpo.
(4)
Molly M.
Very cool decor, mediocre food, poor service. We ate out here twice, both times were not busy, yet it took over 15 minutes to get our drinks (diet coke, water, and a bottled beer...) and we watched as everyone else in the restaurant got served first (or so it seemed). We saw our nachos go to two separate tables, and were offered a 'free' plate of modified nachos and our waiter was surprised when we asked where ours were. It could have been saved, if the food was anything special, but it is no better than Red Robin, TGIFriday's, Applebee's, or any other mid-level chain. Recommended if you have big train fans, otherwise, go to a chain and spend less money, and get better service.
(2)
Christine J.
Outstanding service! Our server, a young African American gentleman was fantastic. The food was great. My husband is still raving about the pot roast sandwich. A great go to place for a good meal and great beer. I wish I remembered our servers name, he deserves great tips!
(4)
Kyle W.
While this restaurant is still fairly new, I still think it's worthy of a review. SHORT: I would wait a few months before going back. Small portions for the price compared to other local steakhouses. The so called stuffed hamburgers are not stuffed at all. In fact, they are dry, flat, and tasteless. When I asked about it, the waitress came with some excuse saying that the cheese cooks into the meet. (Which you know is complete BS if you have ever cooked a stuffed burger) Cool atmosphere and our glasses were always full. Long wait after we were seated. (45min) LONG: Showed up about 8pm on a Tuesday. Waited about 10-15min to be seated. (not bad since we were entertained by the toy training traveling throughout the restaurant) Industrial Revolution, The specialty is stuffed hamburgers, but not really... Well the hamburger was not stuffed at all. In fact, it was dry, tasteless and flat. I ordered the Industrial Stuffed Burger which is suppose to be a blackened cajun burger stuffed with blue cheese. After asking my waitress about the burger being not stuffed, she informed me that by cooking the meat, you cook out the blue cheese. This is total BS because anyone who has ever stuffed a hamburger knows that cheese is 'stuffed' between two thin patties of meat and cooked, and that the cheese does not spontaneously combust. Also, it's a blackened cajun burger, it's suppose to be blackened. Not only was our burger not blackened, but the cheese (apparently) was still 'infused' with the meat. I deny ever tasting blue cheese in that burger. Nor did I taste any hint of cajun seasoning. Good news though, the fries were pretty good. That was about it. Ok, the atmosphere was great. It's also nice that not every TV is playing sports. Finally a restaurant trying to accommodate to all crowds. The waitress kept our glasses full and checked in occasionally (however she clearly avoided us for the 45 minutes we waited for our food).
(2)
Jenni L.
We finally stopped for lunch after passing it by for months. What a pleasant surprise! Extremely clean, bar area separate from restaurant, nice menu for adults and kids. Kids loved the train running over their heads. Service was fast. Food very tasty, esp the potato soup and burgers which are cooked medium unless otherwise directed. I would definitely return to taste other dishes.
(4)
Adrien B.
This place has such awesome decor. It's the type of place I'd love to go to and have a beer at the bar. However, the food is just "eh" and is very expensive. I am totally a "you get what you pay for" type and have no problem paying more for really good food. But the problem with this place is that you are paying pretty high prices for the area and the food is whimpy in taste and in portion size. I saw a couple of the other reviewers saying that they felt like they were paying for the decor. I felt the same way.
(2)
Vincent S.
I have read the other reviews and don't understand the critics. "Napkins on the floor, too many TVs, I didn't get a seat fast enough...." You soft / spoiled people are the down fall of this country. Stay home. Thursday evening, wasn't too busy. Plenty of seats in waiting area, inside & outside, if needed, but we walked right in and sat down. The waiter was very friendly and knew the menu. Great beer list including locals. The menu was a "working class" menu, not a Ruth's Chris menu; burgers, sandwiches, soups, appetizers, meatloaf, pot roast and other dinners. I ordered a bowl of chili to start as I always do when available. Great heat, nice flavor, few beans....... it was the best restaurant chili I have ever had. The burgers are the thing to get. From 1/4 pound burgers to 1/2 pound, 1 pound, 2 pounds and 5 pounds. The 5 pounder is free if you eat it in an hour. My IR burger was perfect. I had the 1 ton burger, although it only weighed 1/2 pound. False advertising? Perhaps I should gripe about that like the spoiled people. The burger was juicey, very hot and cooked to perfection. I was surprised that the bun held up to the juiciness of the burger. The sweet potato fries were perfect too. I don't know a better word for these other than perfect. The size was proportionate, 20 - 25 fries. I am not going to complain about the price like some. I thought it was a great VALUE for quality received. The Industrial Revolution is a lot like Union work; skilled workers making a great product at a fair price. Understand, Red Robin has good burgers, but I would eat here over RR any day, regardless that it is more expensive and that IR doesn't give you a "fresh bucket" of fries to eat. If you like Red Robin, nothing against them, this isn't Red Robin. Go to Red Robin if you like that. My brother rates restaurants on the "buffet factor." Flavor, quality and presentation doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that he can eat 10,000 calories of stuff and get a bargain for $8. From the movie Monte Python and the Meaning of Life....... Mr. Creosol; "I'll eat it all." Waiter; "Would you like that all mixed up in a bucket?" Mr. Creosol; "Yes, and don't skimp on the pate." Waiter; "Of course and I'll make sure you get a double helping." Hello Red Robin.
(5)
Kristyn D.
We had a great experience here! The service was outstanding, and the food was too. The potato wedges were scrumptious, and the kids menu was real food, not overpriced Kraft mac'n'cheese and frozen nuggets. I thought the prices were reasonable. My husband, my daughter, and myself ate for just under $50, and that included 3 beers. The keg was in the process of being changed on one of the beers he ordered, and they couldn't get to the replacement due to a frozen lock, so the waitstaff kept bringing samples until the problem was solved. They were super nice. I'm sad to see all the negative reviews, I really enjoyed this place, and plan to in the future.
(5)
Mk O.
Casual atmosphere, food that was right on the mark. Friendly staff, very, very attentive. Creative drink specials and decor that is worth the trip. Went out here for an early NYE dinner. 5pm reservations. The Edison burger was fantastic on a pretzel roll and sweet potato fries were cooked perfectly. The onion soup was delicious. The tab, including drinks, appetizers, soups and burgers was less than $100 for three of us. If you're interested in American hertitage within the Industrial Revolution, this place will feel like home. A slew of food, great atmosphere, well worth the trip. We will be back.
(4)
Hector R.
I am Disappointed. I have been here before with my family and have always had a good experience. This time the service was slow(waitress complained because there was only two of them) and the entrees were brought at the same time as the appetizers. 3 of us got the mill salads and we found lettuce pieces that were brown and wilted. The avocado was old and the bacon was missing from the salads. All this for $12.95 a salad? I told and showed the Manager and she thanked me for telling her. She did try to make amends by giving us dessert free after we cashed out but that didn't change our opinion of how bad the salads were. Here's my advice to the owners, get back to basics, serve fresh food and make sure the help takes pride in what comes out of the kitchen.
(2)
Judi S.
This was our first time at IR and we loved it!! Our server, Ronny, was outstanding and super friendly. The pretzel appetizer tasted delicious with four large pretzel pieces and a crock of authentic cheese (not the cheese whiz type). Although the cheese was very salty, it still was delicious. My husband ordered the special which was the prime rib opened faced sandwich with garlic mashed potatoes. They gave him au juis and horse radish for dipping. I had their Cobb salad with grilled chicken. Both dishes were superb with the prime rib and chicken cooked just right! For dessert we shared the red, white and blue cheesecake made on the premises.......mmmmmmm it was stupendous!! Served with fresh blueberries and strawberries, this is a dessert to remember. We will definitely be back and I highly recommend it!! Thanks to Ronny for a great job!! It's a rare occasion ,anymore, to find a server who is personable AND attentive but he has that perfect combo! BRAVO!
(4)
Russell T.
Great food the smoked bacon burger tastes has good as it sounds and the fries are wedges smothered in garlic cheese sauce. The wait was not any worse then most restaurants but if you are looking for buger king speed this is not it.
(4)
Jonathon W.
My wife and I love this place. We have been twice now. Once for dinner and once for lunch. And both times we went we got great service. The waitress was friendly and they were quick. The atmosphere is great and our children love it. The food is great. It's a little pricey for the amount of food you get but not so much so that it doesn't make the visit worth it. Their potato wedges are great! The pot roast mac and cheese is AMAZING!!! We really enjoy the food and it's clean.
(4)
Nikta P.
The decor and atmosphere are really well done and make eating here fun! Service was attentive and friendly and the food was classic American fare with attention to detail. It is not cheap but the portions are generous. We were in Indiana for the weekend and would definitely come back.
(4)
Samantha P.
My brother and me went here recently because I hadn't been and he warned me it was ok but nothing special. The atmosphere is amazing, I will say it's worth going to see even if you order just a couple of drinks. I loved the statues that adorned the outside and the interesting steel mill and industry decor inside. Something so different. The service was terrible. She took our drink orders and brought them back 15-20 mins later to take our order. I ordered a half burger and half salad plate and my brother ordered a turkey sandwich with fries. We waited nearly an hour for our food despite only 5 other diners (whom all had food) and after about 30 mins heard two cooks in the open part of the kitchen/grill talking arguing about which one was supposed to go make the turkey sandwich (I'm pretty sure they should have already had it made in 30 mins). My burger was pretty good but they got the cheese wrong and I wasn't about to send it back and wait another hour since we didn't have all afternoon. My brothers sandwich was atrocious. The bread was so hard it was falling apart in big chunks, there is no way they didn't notice that. We ate and waited for the check with our waitress never coming to check on our food. We waited with plates pushed to the side of the table for a check for 20 mins before finally going to find the waitress. When giving her the credit card my brother told her the bread from his sandwich was very stale and showed it to her on his plate. She said she'd let the cook know, never offering an apology or a discount like any other place would/should. Cool atmosphere, horrible staff and so-so food. Nothing to return for, a shame too.
(2)
Christine M.
Casual dining, decor is different and interesting. The restaurant is a perfect addition for Northwest Indiana since we are an industrial region. Good place to take visiting friends or family for a casual meal. Fish tacos are one menu item that is unique from other area restaurants. Great beer selection!
(3)
Joe V.
Awesome decor and a pretty neat atmosphere, but the fun stops there. The food is greatly overpriced and subpar (their specialty condiments, such as the chipolte mayo seemed sadly flavourless), even if some of (far from all) the portions are pretty large. The service was lackluster, with drink refills either slow-to-come or nonexistent until we flagged somebody down. Seating was rather quick on the busy(ish) Friday night we came in (I've seen busier, sure, and they had PLENTY of staffers in the place), but their system seemed inefficiently-managed to the point where it likely cost others more time elsewhere (our party of 3 was seated at a 6-person table). Servers were nice (when they acknowledged you, that is; we noticed many of them sitting around nothing-doing at several points), if a bit awkward with their communication. They forgot to ask about sides, and they never once asked if we'd like any drinks at all once we said we'd "start with water". Too bad; I'd heard they had a great beer menu before I came, too, but what I saw was laughably typical and small. Approximately 1/4th of our time there was spent waiting for somebody to run our check when we wanted to leave. Wish they could live up to the apparent hype!
(2)
D. T.
Great Atmosphere! Good Food! Kids love the trains that go around! Nice beer and wine selections! Excellent Service! We would go back!
(4)
Erika D.
well, we've been back a few times and i have to say that i'm just as satisfied as i was the first time. i've taken to NOT ordering off the menu and i try the chef's special every time...i'm never disappointed. the last time was a herb-crusted white fish with rice and vegetables. it was done perfectly and there was so much there i had to take some home. the beer selection is better than most places you'll find, though they are kind of pricey in that area. sadly, the wings have been taken off the menu. they were really good, too. the bruschetta was fantastic, though. definitely fresh...homemade. i'm happy to be able to say that the quality of the restaurant has gotten better, not worse, as i really enjoyed my initial, and subsequent visits here.
(4)
Dave A.
I came here for my birthday dinner with my dad and stepmom. Everyone's food was really good although it took a good 15min or so to get it. I had the olive burger and the garlic wedges and a Bells IPA to drink and the mix of pungent and salty flavors made for the best burger/beer combo I've had in a long time. The beer and wine selection is impressive and the wait staff was attentive and very professional.
(4)
Jennifer P.
This place seems to change their menu every few months. I don't think they have settled on their brand yet, but the food is always very good. Atmosphere is fun.
(4)
Marie N.
This is a fun restaurant with good food and very friendly service. Lots of families and since the floors are wood and the ceilings are open, it gets kind of noisy. So this is no place for an intimate dinner. All of the food I saw coming out of the kitchen looked delicious. We saw lots of hamburgers, pizza, grilled cheese, buffalo chicken salad (humongous). We had the beef stroganoff and it was fantastic. I couldn't believe how tender the beef was. It was served with a small piece of garlic bread. I tried a chicken sandwich with cheddar cheese, bacon, barbeque sauce and ranch sauce on it. Sandwiches come with garlic potato wedges or sweet potato fries. No regular french fries here. One minor suggestion for improvement. They use the service model where the server takes your order but then a 'food runner' delivers the food to your table. The food runner should ask 'Is there anything I can get you at this time?' before running off. I believe the manager was our food runner. Even though I had asked my server to include ketchup with my sandwich, it was not delivered. The food runner left so quickly that I couldn't catch him before he left to ask for the ketchup. So I had to wait until I saw him again before asking for ketchup. Same thing happened to a table near us. The food was dropped off and before they could ask the food runner for silverware, the was gone. We will definitely return to this restaurant when we are in the area.
(5)
Julie H.
Great atmosphere. Very busy Friday night. Sat at the bar and had some local beers. Dinner was very good. We have the brick oven pretzel sticks. Very good! Cheese was hot and tasty. My husband had the bacon stuffed burger, which he loved and I had the morning shift burger. It was amazing. I had a side of the Parmesan garlic sauce from another burger to dip my fries in. Yummy. Beer was cold and good. Good home the chocolate cake for later. 5/5 stars.
(5)
Ed R.
So I gave IR another chance after 2 horrible experiences here in the past. I'll break it down as follows; Service : better but still not good. We came on a slow Tuesday night so searing wasn't an issue like I've had on weekends. The server was nice, she was good to my kids, refreshed drinks promptly, however they seemed understaffed and she took a long time to take our order... For example, we had to wait to order appetizers because she told us she was changing the Pepsi... Shouldn't the kitchen staff do that? Other tables appeared to wait forever for ordering too. Food : tasted....just okay, looked gross. My wife got the Pot Roast Mac and cheese, sounded great on paper but looked gross upon arrival. The cheese was congealed and greasy, it didn't look appetizing at all. I got the Special General MacArthur burger, overlap it was good but the bun was really greasy and it made it a bit unappealing after a while. The best way for me to describe the menu here is that one person sat down and made a menu that THEY thought would be good, but failed to consult anyone else. The choices are eclectic and out of the norm, but they clearly do not have a chef capable of executing it to its potential. I kept picturing Gordon Ramsay on Kitchen Nightmares picking through the food shouting about how greasy and gross it was... Overall I love the atmosphere in this place, the decor is phenomenal and it is just a cool place. It's a shame that the food just isn't good enough to make me want to come back.
(2)
Deidra W.
Fantastic! We will be back. Really enjoyed this place. The menu has something for everyone. Daily drink specials..$4 sangrias on Saturdays. Highly recommend...you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Lacee M.
One of my favorite places. This is definitely not a figure friendly menu. While they do offer salad I personally find it hard to go that way with all the mouthwatering comfort food this place has to offer. Been there numerous times and have probably had everything on the menu and have loved everything. The soups are great! The big surprise to me is the fish tacos.... I never ordered them because they seemed out of place with the rest of the menu but luckily I had a taste of someone else's (at my table of course )and they are by far the best I've ever had!! They are so light and fresh tasting that it is perfect for the days you're not in the mood for anything too heavy. Love this place, it is a nice change from all the chains around
(5)
Bob C.
A fun place to dine.....once I was very excited for this place to open about 6 years ago due to the proximity to campus and the need for a unique restaurant in Valparaiso that isn't a chain restaurant such as Applebees, TGIFridays, or Chilis. Upon your first visit, you're greeted by amazing architecture and details that only Disney can rival. Amazing iron work and a train that circles the restaurant as you eat. After that initial bliss; the menu, pricing, and quality of food is lackluster. The food is decent but nothing that triggers your mind to say 'wow i want to eat here again!' The service is decent, but again nothing that sticks out. I have been here 6x since they opened and two of those times my party and I ordered drinks and decided to just eat elsewhere due to the pricing and selections. If you haven't been here, try it out once and feel free to go from there.
(2)
Shane H.
Eaten here 3 times or so and I've yet to have a bad experience. It's a bit on the expensive side, but the quality balances it out. I've gotten the burger with a fried egg and the grilled chicken salad. Both were tasty and large when it came to the portion size. You're limited on the sides, but I recommend the parmesian wedges. The menu isn't very extensive, but what they do make is made very well. The atmosphere is really fun for adults and children. Rich Americana theme and the weekly "unknown" American hero tributes are a classy touch. Always left with food in a box and a mini American flag. I recommend it if you're heading down US 30 or visiting Valpo University as it's right off campus. But make sure you beat the early birds because they come in droves and can leave you waiting for a while. Get 4 from me because it's kind of pricey, short list of choices, and they always seem to be a little understaffed but overall it's a fine establishment.
(4)
Colleen M.
Highly recommend stopping here. The burgers are delicious and the service is excellent. The kids menu is standard but the food our children got was also delicious and affLove when we find non chain restaurants to stop at. We will defiantly be back!
(5)
Nick F.
Place is pretty cool. Kids loved the decor. The food was just alright and a little pricey for a burger. The server was rude, but that is just one guy.
(2)
Alexa Q.
Everyone is so nice and there is a unique and wide variety of tasty food! Stuffed bacon burger was delicious. Fried pickles were greasy but overall great Experience!
(4)
Amanda E.
Good food, AWESOME service (our girl rocked), great sangria and delicious burgers! But has anyone noticed the musty smell? Not a big deal, just noticed when I walked in and smelled it for a little bit before our food came.
(3)
Paul-Edie B.
It was great! We have driven by it many times and now I wish we had stopped in sooner. The atmosphere was an experience in itself, the food was excellent and prices very well. The service was top notch. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Ed S.
This was our first time here and the food was great! The service was fantastic and the environment was very unique. We will definitely be returning to this restaurant. I highly recommend visiting this restaurant.
(5)
Valerie R.
First time visiting and will definitely be back. Pizza was awesome and the flavored teas were refreshing and delicious. Great atmosphere and even better service.
(5)
K. M.
First off let me say I will be giving this place another shot, but this time wasn't so great. I ordered the Black Bean Burger with Sweet Potato Fries. To be honest, I've had way better black bean burgers from the frozen food aisle at the grocery store. This one was complete mush when I guess I expected maybe a char on the outside or something. The sweet potato fries however were delicious. I will say though that everything I had was quite room temperature too. Kind of disappointing. The service was great though. Can't complain at all about that. My husband got a "real" burger aka beef and it looked really good and juicy. If I'm being super nit picky... The salt and pepper shakers are cool looking shiny stainless steel, but you can see the previous patrons greasy prints all over them, kinda gross. The high chair we unfortunately had to use was disgusting. What is it with nasty high chairs at places?! It had that I've-never-been-wiped sticky, grimy feel. Gross. Lastly, I guess this is my inner fat girl, but they're kind of stingy with the fries.
(2)
Alan B.
Not impressed at all with this place. Now granted I've only been here once but, I think that might be enough. Sometimes it's about finding what you like but I was so unimpressed the first time I don't know if I'm willing to give them another shot. Me and a friend started out with the welded nachos and brick oven baked pretzels both of which sucked, especially the pretzels. And I'm an absolute pretzel lover so they have to be really bad for me not to like them. Then for my meal I had the pot roast burger which I was less than impressed with. I can't remember what my buddy had but I do remember him not caring much for his meal either. I gave IR 2 stars and I think that's actually being generous. I would say their a step up from Quaker Steak & lube and I gave them 1 star. I actually don't know how they managed to pull a 3 and a half star rating with a majority of the feedback about this place being negative.
(2)
Brandi A.
If I could give this place more stars I would!!! What an amazing little jewel of a restaurant in Valpo!!! I am here with my family of 5. We are doing a long weekend and spending time at the Indiana Dunes and in Valpo. We were looking for a non-chain restaurant with some good food. The front desk person at the hotel recommended this place. WOW!!!! We were totally impressed with this place. The theme of the history on how everything on this country was built on the hard work of Americans was fascinating and so unique. They run videos on their flat screens about how everything is built. Very cool!!! The burger I had, which was the one with bacon, bbq sauce and chipotle mayo was one of the best burgers I have EVER had and I am a big foodie. The atmosphere was great and unique, the food fantastic and the service was good. If you are looking for an interesting place for a meal, love great food, decent prices and good service I HIGHLY recommend this place!!!
(5)
Kara S.
A surprising little find along U.S. 30. Needed a bite to eat while driving across Indiana and came across this place, boasting good burgers. And they are good burgers - quite a unique selection, as well. And as far as a themed restaurant goes, this one is a nice change of pace from the normal chains that try to grab your attention with gimmicks. The Industrial Revolution theme, with exposed steel girders and columns (even if they are fake) and model train occasionally going around make for an oddly relaxing environment. Service was great, as well. Worth a try if you're in or going through Valpo.
(5)
Jonathon J.
I know what you're thinking, 5 stars? Really? Being a little generous aren't you? Well here's the thing. I simply drive by this place on our way to a hotel for the night and was like, "hey. That place looks neat." So we went it and you could tell a lot of other people thought this place was neat too because it was busy restaurant! We had a 45 min wait that thankfully and surprisingly whittled down to 20. Our host was friendly, our waitress prompt, informative, friendly of course and adorable. The atmosphere there is fun, learned, warm and all with a little train circling your heads. Fun! Now the food. A bit pricey but you get your bucks worth. Generous portions and unbelievable quality. "The Morning Shift," "the Pot Roast Sandwhich," even the kids "mini burgers" we're amazing! Garlic cheese wedges, fantastic! Honestly I wish there were more of these places and certainly one closer to my hometown! It would absolutely save me money since I now have to drive all the way to valparaiso to eat here!
(5)
Carey B.
This place is absolutely a treasure in hiding! I could not be happier with the service. The food is cooked EXACTLY to your liking, and the staff are all friendly and helpful! The prices are very reasonable too! Great place!!!!
(5)
James L.
The food and the atmosphere were both great!!!! Definitely will be back! The burgers were excellent and the potato wedges too!
(5)
David G.
This review is based off just one visit so don't take it too harshly. Let me start by saying our waitress was phenomenal.... She made our time there great she loved her job and made it fun for us! The burger I had was amazing I had that spicy burger it was great! My complaint is the sides... I had the sweet potato fries and I received less then 15 small fries. The other two people in our party also were given incredibly small sides. One person received less then 10 wedges and my father in law substituted coleslaw for fries. He received his coleslaw in a side dish the same size that you bring out the ketchup in. It basically was a "shot" of coleslaw. The ambience and vibe of the place is great. We waited 10 minutes or a table at 8pm so obviously people love it. I loved the food they just don't give you enough for how much they charge. I will go back again for a burger just with much lower expectations. And I know not to ask for a side of coleslaw!!!
(3)
Ann G.
Good burgers. Turkey burger was flavorful. Nice place to stop if you are in the area. I want to stop back sometime to try the pot roast Mac n cheese. Service was friendly and quick.
(3)
Mary P.
Great decor, average food. We went there to celebrate our granddaughter receiving an art award. The pictures I posted show what we ordered. My burger sampler was warm, not hot, and the buns has started to harden on the outside. Of the 4 I liked the jalapeño one the best because it has the most flavor. The kids saiid they liked their chicken nuggets and our son liked his "one ton" burger. Now for the downside... I had to send my Arnold Palmer back because it was made wrong. Our daughter in law didn't receive her food with the rest of us. In fact, they forgot to order it. Thankfully she had ordered the sampler so we shared until hers showed up. The waitress was very apologetic and they took it off of the bill. With that removed it was $83.00 for 4 adults and 2 children. Not sure it was worth it because the food was just ok and the service was poor.
(3)
Scott G.
Stopped here on our way back from a day trip to Chicago last Sunday. I had the perch dinner which consisted of eight strips of perch, french fries and coleslaw, my wife had the cob salad. the perch was some of the best that I have had for a long time and needless to say, my wife brought home over half of the salad. We will be back the next time we are near Valpo!
(4)
Veronica M.
Great Food!!! Love the jalepeno burger!
(5)
Bella B.
This place was overall very good. Only have it 4 stars because the prices were a little high. I had the sampler burger meal. All the burgers were very good, came with Parmesan potato wedges, they were sooo good except only like 5 small came with it . They were more like fries then wedges. It was very filling but for $12.50 should have been more fries. We ordered pretzels win cheese they were good too but not as big as i thought and only 5 and it was $7.95! Atmosphere was nice, it was extremely busy so we had to wait 25 minutes for a table plus food took about 40 minutes to come out . It was a Saturday night so that's expected.
(4)
Courtney C.
Industrial Revolution is a great burger joint in Valpo. I don't have any complaints, but just wanted to mention something weird that happened that I believe was handled in the right way! I ordered a burger with no bun. I forget which burger it was, but it had grilled onions, jalapeños, and cheese on it. As I was cutting into my burger I noticed that the wax paper that goes in between the cheese slices was on top of my burger along with the cheese. I knew it was an honest mistake, but had to tell the waiter because it wasn't edible. He apologized numerous times and took it back to get another one quickly. In the mean time, the manager came to the table and apologized and immediately said that my meal would be taken care of and asked if there was anything else he could do. He did take the entree off of the check and continued to make sure everyone at the table was doing well throughout the rest of the meal. I've seen numerous reviews saying that the management is not great at this place but I beg to differ. I don't think the manager could have been nicer about a mistake! I'll always support local businesses and appreciate the kindness of the staff here!
(4)
Steve D.
The ambiance is cool- the old history channel vignettes are fitting. The food leaves a lot to be desired. We had the fish tacos and creamy Alfredo pasta. Both were sub- par. I guess the rule is that u should eat beef in Indiana.
(2)
Michael D.
Good food but not great. Maybe our visit was just an off day? They do have a lot of positive reviews and I personally know others that think it's great. We went there for some comfort food and the seasonal vegetables appeared to be the frozen variety.
(3)
Jessica M.
The food would probably be 4 stars, but the 5th star is for the service. We had the nachos and the grinder sandwich, both of which were delicious. Asked for the nachos to have the Pico on the side, but they came out with the Pico on top. Wasn't a big deal, didn't say anything and thought Id just pick them off. The server was so nice and came an apologized and said it was totally her mistake and offered to correct it or treat us to a dessert She definitely didn't need to do that, but it was kind of her to own up to it. Next time I'm in town, we will be back!
(5)
T S.
This place is great! Great food and very family friendly!! They have a toy train that goes around the restaurant. They have great pot roast pot pie! And wonderful beef stroganoff!!! Can't wait to go again! A total hidden gem!
(5)
A. S.
First visit, last visit...the building is so cool and our waitress was great but the food is terrible. Went in tonight, a Sunday night, around 7 and it was fairly busy. Sat in the bar which had full tables but actual bar was almost empty. We got the cheese dip appetizer and that was good but nothing to brag about. Basically queso with a plate that looked half empty cause it had mostly broken chips. My sister got the veggie burger, brother in law got the industrial revolution burger, and my husband and I split the pulled pork nachos. My sister and brother in laws food came out first and right away I tried my sisters sweet potato fries which were super cold (and there were seriously like 15 fries total). My brother in laws potato wedges were cold too. A minute or two later our nachos came out and those were just a joke. All chips, basically no pulled pork and had melted cheese and sour cream. You could tell it had been sitting in the window a long time cause the sour cream was a melted mess. And it's not BBQ pork it was dry pork on chips and had BBQ sauce globbed all over the top of the chips. I NEVER send food back but this was so awful I had to. 2 minutes later the nachos came back looking slightly better but still were tasteless and probably some of the worst nachos we have ever had. Service was good but if I was a manager or whoever it was that ran out my food I would have never let that food go out. Good beer selection but the food is way too over priced for me to return. Shame too cause it has a great atmosphere.
(2)
Peter P.
The booths are a little smallso try to grab a table. You can tell a lot of money went into building out this place. Pot roast is one of their specialties as it is featured in several dishes. You can get your iced tea or lemonade flavored with any of several flavors. They feature a different American hero every week and they create a special based on this person. For example, a peanut butter burger for George Washington Carver.
(4)
Sarah K.
Nice hidden gem in the area..I had a great burger and the portions are huge. I will definatly go again .
(5)
Christiana S.
I am usually very leery of themed restaurants. These places usually rely entirely on impressing with decor and ambiance without actually delivering in the food department. We met friends here that we hadn't seen in ages, so I was willing to give it my best effort. It actually was quite nice. The decor was nice but not completely overbearing (like these places got in the 90's). The drinks were decently strong and just OK, but the bartender was VERY SLOW. Our waitress however, was just fine. The burger was good, seasoned and cooked well, but not super amazing. I liked the variety of topping options for the burgers. I didn't like being charged $1 for swapping out pepperoncinis for jalapenos. I'd eat here again if the people I am with wanted to, but probably won't seek it out myself.
(3)
Jon N.
This review might be a bit premature. I think I need to give it another shot much like Burgerhaus. The ambiance and service were fine (albeit for the train's whistle that was annoying while trying to have a conversation). I ordered the pot roast burger. Described as "absolutely amazing" on the menu. I don't want to go as far as say I was disappointed because it was good. However, it does not fall in the absolutely amazing category for me. I should have known this, I'm just not crazy about pot roast. For some it's comfort food but for me I remember my mom's pot roast which tended to be on the dry side. The sweet potato fries were great. Loved them! The service was very good as well. And so after my first experience at Industrial Revolution, I think I'll try a regular burger the next time...
(3)
Brittany G.
Absolutely amazing burgers and amazing service by Ashley. We had four burgers and our favorites were the Edison burger and the Stuffed Bacon Burger. The garlic wedges were awesome as well as the sweet potato fries. The decor was awesome too.
(5)
Dan K.
Rather pricey, medium sized portions. Service and atmosphere were good. Not sure if I will return without a coupon. Pot roast was a treat.
(3)
Jonny S.
Hmmm...themed restaurant...doesn't usually bode well, but we were meeting old friends and would have been willing to go anywhere. This place was pretty awesome actually! The burgers were nice and thick and seasoned well...and they have lots of different topping styles (I personally enjoyed the one with pot roast on top...meat on meat, baby! Great drink choices too.
(4)
R. Kevin S.
Great concept, but the execution is lacking. Have been there twice just to make sure first time was not a fluke. Food tastes good, was Not Hot both times. Service was slow. Portions are small and prices are way too high. $50-$60 for two people with tip, no alcohol drinks.
(3)
Melissa L.
Best burgers in Valpo, hands down! My fave? The Stuffed Green Olive Burger... YUMM!!! Kids love the atmosphere with overhead train. Love, love, LOVE this place!
(5)
Angi K.
Unique decor. Love the sweet potato fries and the large variety of delicious hamburgers.
(4)
Guy K.
Family took me here for the first time for my birthday. Heard a lot of good reviews of this place and finally had the chance to experience it for myself. Food was exceptionally good. Would recommend this place for anyone who likes to try new places to eat.
(4)
Chip T.
I love the atmosphere, the extensive and creative menu, and the food. Great place to learn a thing or two about the United States during one of its proud moments in history. Welded Nachos, Edison Burger, and Firehouse Burger are phenomenal.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Drive-Thru : No Caters : No
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Kendra P.
Bad. Just bad. Bad food. Bad service. BAD. The drink was good and that's where it ends.
(1)Kate S.
Stopped here for a Sunday lunch on our way through Indiana. It was surprisingly busy! I had mixed feelings about the themed decor--great idea but felt like they took it just a bit too far. I particularly disliked the dozens of televisions showing footage of machinery, factories, and industry; I felt they were really distracting. On the other hand, thought he model train running around the ceiling was really neat. The menu was large and an interesting mix of the bizarre and the intriguing. We ordered the much-mentioned pretzel breadsticks and, though chewy as others have said, they were really good. Loved that they didn't have that awful salt normally found on most pretzels. The cheese dipping sauce was mediocre--it tasted like velveeta mixed with something; the pretzels were better plain. My husband ordered a bacon-stuffed burger and loved it. He ate the garlic wedges, even though they were topped with parmesan cheese, which he detests. They were actually tasty, but I found that, oddly, they tasted neither of garlic nor of parmesan; they were just really good wedge fries, nice and crisp. I had a buffalo chicken burger and thought it was delicious. Surprisingly spicy, breading was nice and crisp. Would definitely order again. I came home and recommended this place to a family member, so I know it was at least memorable. If you're passing by, it's definitely worth a stop.
(4)Ashley K.
Overpriced, small portions, annoying toy train runs around room. Only reason to come here is if you have a train-obsessed child. There are much better places in The Region.
(1)Jack K.
Burgers are decent but I wasn't blown away. Kids Mac is summer cheesy - they liked it. Wife liked the Grilled buffalo chicken.
(3)Chuck H.
We have been here two times now. Both time we came early at lunch. We were seated and drinks and food came out fast. The servers where great and kept our drinks filled. I liked both meals I had. We will be back again.
(4)Yvonne L.
Another great meal this afternoon but my food was only lukewarm. My companion had roast beef and said it was very good. Service was a little off today. Had to ask three times to get lemon for my water which was unusual. We love this place for its food, service and atmosphere.
(4)Je S.
Decor inside is worth going for. It is steel industry themed with a train running below the ceiling. Very cool to recognize the industry around the region. Meatloaf is great so is the pot roast, pot pie and chicken fried steak. Don't miss the fried pickles. Had a slider sampler once, it was just ok. I like their "comfort foods" more than the burgers. They do have an outdoor patio so that was nice to enjoy a drink and appetizer. Good service here too.
(4)Audrey B.
I loved this place when it first opened and it has significantly changed since then. My favorite was the crab cake burger which now has been long gone. Everyone in my family ordered it when went went. I also used to like how the staff had uniforms that matched the decor which are also gone now as well. I never really went there for the burgers because I liked other things but it seems like that is all they are focused on now. We gave it a few tries last year but haven't been back.
(3)Kev F.
The model T turkey sandwich is fantastic! The secret sauce has a sweet edge to it but the bacon adds to the flavor. The garlic potato wedges are outstanding. Only one piece of advice. The incredible deep-fried pickles need to be drained out of the fryer better. Way too greasy and sit in puddles of grease. The burgers are out of this world! Very fresh, and very delicious! Also, and this is never to be overlooked, the service is outstanding!
(4)Alan B.
Not impressed at all with this place. Now granted I've only been here once but, I think that might be enough. Sometimes it's about finding what you like but I was so unimpressed the first time I don't know if I'm willing to give them another shot. Me and a friend started out with the welded nachos and brick oven baked pretzels both of which sucked, especially the pretzels. And I'm an absolute pretzel lover so they have to be really bad for me not to like them. Then for my meal I had the pot roast burger which I was less than impressed with. I can't remember what my buddy had but I do remember him not caring much for his meal either. I gave IR 2 stars and I think that's actually being generous. I would say their a step up from Quaker Steak & lube and I gave them 1 star. I actually don't know how they managed to pull a 3 and a half star rating with a majority of the feedback about this place being negative.
(2)Brandi A.
If I could give this place more stars I would!!! What an amazing little jewel of a restaurant in Valpo!!! I am here with my family of 5. We are doing a long weekend and spending time at the Indiana Dunes and in Valpo. We were looking for a non-chain restaurant with some good food. The front desk person at the hotel recommended this place. WOW!!!! We were totally impressed with this place. The theme of the history on how everything on this country was built on the hard work of Americans was fascinating and so unique. They run videos on their flat screens about how everything is built. Very cool!!! The burger I had, which was the one with bacon, bbq sauce and chipotle mayo was one of the best burgers I have EVER had and I am a big foodie. The atmosphere was great and unique, the food fantastic and the service was good. If you are looking for an interesting place for a meal, love great food, decent prices and good service I HIGHLY recommend this place!!!
(5)Kara S.
A surprising little find along U.S. 30. Needed a bite to eat while driving across Indiana and came across this place, boasting good burgers. And they are good burgers - quite a unique selection, as well. And as far as a themed restaurant goes, this one is a nice change of pace from the normal chains that try to grab your attention with gimmicks. The Industrial Revolution theme, with exposed steel girders and columns (even if they are fake) and model train occasionally going around make for an oddly relaxing environment. Service was great, as well. Worth a try if you're in or going through Valpo.
(5)Jonathon J.
I know what you're thinking, 5 stars? Really? Being a little generous aren't you? Well here's the thing. I simply drive by this place on our way to a hotel for the night and was like, "hey. That place looks neat." So we went it and you could tell a lot of other people thought this place was neat too because it was busy restaurant! We had a 45 min wait that thankfully and surprisingly whittled down to 20. Our host was friendly, our waitress prompt, informative, friendly of course and adorable. The atmosphere there is fun, learned, warm and all with a little train circling your heads. Fun! Now the food. A bit pricey but you get your bucks worth. Generous portions and unbelievable quality. "The Morning Shift," "the Pot Roast Sandwhich," even the kids "mini burgers" we're amazing! Garlic cheese wedges, fantastic! Honestly I wish there were more of these places and certainly one closer to my hometown! It would absolutely save me money since I now have to drive all the way to valparaiso to eat here!
(5)Carey B.
This place is absolutely a treasure in hiding! I could not be happier with the service. The food is cooked EXACTLY to your liking, and the staff are all friendly and helpful! The prices are very reasonable too! Great place!!!!
(5)James L.
The food and the atmosphere were both great!!!! Definitely will be back! The burgers were excellent and the potato wedges too!
(5)David G.
This review is based off just one visit so don't take it too harshly. Let me start by saying our waitress was phenomenal.... She made our time there great she loved her job and made it fun for us! The burger I had was amazing I had that spicy burger it was great! My complaint is the sides... I had the sweet potato fries and I received less then 15 small fries. The other two people in our party also were given incredibly small sides. One person received less then 10 wedges and my father in law substituted coleslaw for fries. He received his coleslaw in a side dish the same size that you bring out the ketchup in. It basically was a "shot" of coleslaw. The ambience and vibe of the place is great. We waited 10 minutes or a table at 8pm so obviously people love it. I loved the food they just don't give you enough for how much they charge. I will go back again for a burger just with much lower expectations. And I know not to ask for a side of coleslaw!!!
(3)Ann G.
Good burgers. Turkey burger was flavorful. Nice place to stop if you are in the area. I want to stop back sometime to try the pot roast Mac n cheese. Service was friendly and quick.
(3)Mary P.
Great decor, average food. We went there to celebrate our granddaughter receiving an art award. The pictures I posted show what we ordered. My burger sampler was warm, not hot, and the buns has started to harden on the outside. Of the 4 I liked the jalapeño one the best because it has the most flavor. The kids saiid they liked their chicken nuggets and our son liked his "one ton" burger. Now for the downside... I had to send my Arnold Palmer back because it was made wrong. Our daughter in law didn't receive her food with the rest of us. In fact, they forgot to order it. Thankfully she had ordered the sampler so we shared until hers showed up. The waitress was very apologetic and they took it off of the bill. With that removed it was $83.00 for 4 adults and 2 children. Not sure it was worth it because the food was just ok and the service was poor.
(3)Scott G.
Stopped here on our way back from a day trip to Chicago last Sunday. I had the perch dinner which consisted of eight strips of perch, french fries and coleslaw, my wife had the cob salad. the perch was some of the best that I have had for a long time and needless to say, my wife brought home over half of the salad. We will be back the next time we are near Valpo!
(4)Veronica M.
Great Food!!! Love the jalepeno burger!
(5)Bella B.
This place was overall very good. Only have it 4 stars because the prices were a little high. I had the sampler burger meal. All the burgers were very good, came with Parmesan potato wedges, they were sooo good except only like 5 small came with it . They were more like fries then wedges. It was very filling but for $12.50 should have been more fries. We ordered pretzels win cheese they were good too but not as big as i thought and only 5 and it was $7.95! Atmosphere was nice, it was extremely busy so we had to wait 25 minutes for a table plus food took about 40 minutes to come out . It was a Saturday night so that's expected.
(4)Courtney C.
Industrial Revolution is a great burger joint in Valpo. I don't have any complaints, but just wanted to mention something weird that happened that I believe was handled in the right way! I ordered a burger with no bun. I forget which burger it was, but it had grilled onions, jalapeños, and cheese on it. As I was cutting into my burger I noticed that the wax paper that goes in between the cheese slices was on top of my burger along with the cheese. I knew it was an honest mistake, but had to tell the waiter because it wasn't edible. He apologized numerous times and took it back to get another one quickly. In the mean time, the manager came to the table and apologized and immediately said that my meal would be taken care of and asked if there was anything else he could do. He did take the entree off of the check and continued to make sure everyone at the table was doing well throughout the rest of the meal. I've seen numerous reviews saying that the management is not great at this place but I beg to differ. I don't think the manager could have been nicer about a mistake! I'll always support local businesses and appreciate the kindness of the staff here!
(4)Steve D.
The ambiance is cool- the old history channel vignettes are fitting. The food leaves a lot to be desired. We had the fish tacos and creamy Alfredo pasta. Both were sub- par. I guess the rule is that u should eat beef in Indiana.
(2)Michael D.
Good food but not great. Maybe our visit was just an off day? They do have a lot of positive reviews and I personally know others that think it's great. We went there for some comfort food and the seasonal vegetables appeared to be the frozen variety.
(3)Guy K.
Family took me here for the first time for my birthday. Heard a lot of good reviews of this place and finally had the chance to experience it for myself. Food was exceptionally good. Would recommend this place for anyone who likes to try new places to eat.
(4)Chip T.
I love the atmosphere, the extensive and creative menu, and the food. Great place to learn a thing or two about the United States during one of its proud moments in history. Welded Nachos, Edison Burger, and Firehouse Burger are phenomenal.
(5)Jessica M.
The food would probably be 4 stars, but the 5th star is for the service. We had the nachos and the grinder sandwich, both of which were delicious. Asked for the nachos to have the Pico on the side, but they came out with the Pico on top. Wasn't a big deal, didn't say anything and thought Id just pick them off. The server was so nice and came an apologized and said it was totally her mistake and offered to correct it or treat us to a dessert She definitely didn't need to do that, but it was kind of her to own up to it. Next time I'm in town, we will be back!
(5)T S.
This place is great! Great food and very family friendly!! They have a toy train that goes around the restaurant. They have great pot roast pot pie! And wonderful beef stroganoff!!! Can't wait to go again! A total hidden gem!
(5)A. S.
First visit, last visit...the building is so cool and our waitress was great but the food is terrible. Went in tonight, a Sunday night, around 7 and it was fairly busy. Sat in the bar which had full tables but actual bar was almost empty. We got the cheese dip appetizer and that was good but nothing to brag about. Basically queso with a plate that looked half empty cause it had mostly broken chips. My sister got the veggie burger, brother in law got the industrial revolution burger, and my husband and I split the pulled pork nachos. My sister and brother in laws food came out first and right away I tried my sisters sweet potato fries which were super cold (and there were seriously like 15 fries total). My brother in laws potato wedges were cold too. A minute or two later our nachos came out and those were just a joke. All chips, basically no pulled pork and had melted cheese and sour cream. You could tell it had been sitting in the window a long time cause the sour cream was a melted mess. And it's not BBQ pork it was dry pork on chips and had BBQ sauce globbed all over the top of the chips. I NEVER send food back but this was so awful I had to. 2 minutes later the nachos came back looking slightly better but still were tasteless and probably some of the worst nachos we have ever had. Service was good but if I was a manager or whoever it was that ran out my food I would have never let that food go out. Good beer selection but the food is way too over priced for me to return. Shame too cause it has a great atmosphere.
(2)Peter P.
The booths are a little smallso try to grab a table. You can tell a lot of money went into building out this place. Pot roast is one of their specialties as it is featured in several dishes. You can get your iced tea or lemonade flavored with any of several flavors. They feature a different American hero every week and they create a special based on this person. For example, a peanut butter burger for George Washington Carver.
(4)Sarah K.
Nice hidden gem in the area..I had a great burger and the portions are huge. I will definatly go again .
(5)Christiana S.
I am usually very leery of themed restaurants. These places usually rely entirely on impressing with decor and ambiance without actually delivering in the food department. We met friends here that we hadn't seen in ages, so I was willing to give it my best effort. It actually was quite nice. The decor was nice but not completely overbearing (like these places got in the 90's). The drinks were decently strong and just OK, but the bartender was VERY SLOW. Our waitress however, was just fine. The burger was good, seasoned and cooked well, but not super amazing. I liked the variety of topping options for the burgers. I didn't like being charged $1 for swapping out pepperoncinis for jalapenos. I'd eat here again if the people I am with wanted to, but probably won't seek it out myself.
(3)Shane H.
Eaten here 3 times or so and I've yet to have a bad experience. It's a bit on the expensive side, but the quality balances it out. I've gotten the burger with a fried egg and the grilled chicken salad. Both were tasty and large when it came to the portion size. You're limited on the sides, but I recommend the parmesian wedges. The menu isn't very extensive, but what they do make is made very well. The atmosphere is really fun for adults and children. Rich Americana theme and the weekly "unknown" American hero tributes are a classy touch. Always left with food in a box and a mini American flag. I recommend it if you're heading down US 30 or visiting Valpo University as it's right off campus. But make sure you beat the early birds because they come in droves and can leave you waiting for a while. Get 4 from me because it's kind of pricey, short list of choices, and they always seem to be a little understaffed but overall it's a fine establishment.
(4)Colleen M.
Highly recommend stopping here. The burgers are delicious and the service is excellent. The kids menu is standard but the food our children got was also delicious and affLove when we find non chain restaurants to stop at. We will defiantly be back!
(5)Nick F.
Place is pretty cool. Kids loved the decor. The food was just alright and a little pricey for a burger. The server was rude, but that is just one guy.
(2)Alexa Q.
Everyone is so nice and there is a unique and wide variety of tasty food! Stuffed bacon burger was delicious. Fried pickles were greasy but overall great Experience!
(4)Amanda E.
Good food, AWESOME service (our girl rocked), great sangria and delicious burgers! But has anyone noticed the musty smell? Not a big deal, just noticed when I walked in and smelled it for a little bit before our food came.
(3)Paul-Edie B.
It was great! We have driven by it many times and now I wish we had stopped in sooner. The atmosphere was an experience in itself, the food was excellent and prices very well. The service was top notch. We will definitely be back.
(5)Ed S.
This was our first time here and the food was great! The service was fantastic and the environment was very unique. We will definitely be returning to this restaurant. I highly recommend visiting this restaurant.
(5)Valerie R.
First time visiting and will definitely be back. Pizza was awesome and the flavored teas were refreshing and delicious. Great atmosphere and even better service.
(5)Jon N.
This review might be a bit premature. I think I need to give it another shot much like Burgerhaus. The ambiance and service were fine (albeit for the train's whistle that was annoying while trying to have a conversation). I ordered the pot roast burger. Described as "absolutely amazing" on the menu. I don't want to go as far as say I was disappointed because it was good. However, it does not fall in the absolutely amazing category for me. I should have known this, I'm just not crazy about pot roast. For some it's comfort food but for me I remember my mom's pot roast which tended to be on the dry side. The sweet potato fries were great. Loved them! The service was very good as well. And so after my first experience at Industrial Revolution, I think I'll try a regular burger the next time...
(3)Brittany G.
Absolutely amazing burgers and amazing service by Ashley. We had four burgers and our favorites were the Edison burger and the Stuffed Bacon Burger. The garlic wedges were awesome as well as the sweet potato fries. The decor was awesome too.
(5)Dan K.
Rather pricey, medium sized portions. Service and atmosphere were good. Not sure if I will return without a coupon. Pot roast was a treat.
(3)Jonny S.
Hmmm...themed restaurant...doesn't usually bode well, but we were meeting old friends and would have been willing to go anywhere. This place was pretty awesome actually! The burgers were nice and thick and seasoned well...and they have lots of different topping styles (I personally enjoyed the one with pot roast on top...meat on meat, baby! Great drink choices too.
(4)R. Kevin S.
Great concept, but the execution is lacking. Have been there twice just to make sure first time was not a fluke. Food tastes good, was Not Hot both times. Service was slow. Portions are small and prices are way too high. $50-$60 for two people with tip, no alcohol drinks.
(3)Melissa L.
Best burgers in Valpo, hands down! My fave? The Stuffed Green Olive Burger... YUMM!!! Kids love the atmosphere with overhead train. Love, love, LOVE this place!
(5)Angi K.
Unique decor. Love the sweet potato fries and the large variety of delicious hamburgers.
(4)Katie C.
Went here for dinner with a friend last week, and it was very good! I usually avoid chain restaurants, but was pleasantly surprised by I.R. We had fried pickles as an appetizer-nice and crispy, not soggy at all. I had a Cape Cod as a drink, and it was tart and refreshing. Dinner was a hamburger with egg on it (always a solid choice) and my friend had the buffalo chicken burger. We stayed long after we finished our food and weren't rushed out at all, which was a pleasant change. I'd go back!
(4)K. M.
First off let me say I will be giving this place another shot, but this time wasn't so great. I ordered the Black Bean Burger with Sweet Potato Fries. To be honest, I've had way better black bean burgers from the frozen food aisle at the grocery store. This one was complete mush when I guess I expected maybe a char on the outside or something. The sweet potato fries however were delicious. I will say though that everything I had was quite room temperature too. Kind of disappointing. The service was great though. Can't complain at all about that. My husband got a "real" burger aka beef and it looked really good and juicy. If I'm being super nit picky... The salt and pepper shakers are cool looking shiny stainless steel, but you can see the previous patrons greasy prints all over them, kinda gross. The high chair we unfortunately had to use was disgusting. What is it with nasty high chairs at places?! It had that I've-never-been-wiped sticky, grimy feel. Gross. Lastly, I guess this is my inner fat girl, but they're kind of stingy with the fries.
(2)Leanne H.
Casual atmosphere with some unusual menu items. The model train running overhead with the open ceiling tends to make the restaurant somewhat extra noisy. Wait staff is fairly attentive and the food is served hot. For the price, the food is a little higher than other places offering similar items.
(3)Beth M.
I am not a huge fan of themed restaurants, but I really enjoyed eating her. The waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly. He helped us pick out the perfect meal. The menu is interesting and eclectic. The burgers are great and so are the sweet potato fries. My only complaint is the noise. With the brick walls, blaring tvs, high ceiling, open kitchen, and toy trains going overhead it is nearly impossible to hear anything.
(3)Derek H.
We had dinner here on Saturday evening around 6:30 pm. The restaurant was full but they were able to seat us in the bar area immediately. Menu was diverse with many different burgers and comfort foods. Each member of our group had something different and we all enjoyed our meals. The beer selection (draft) wasn't bad but wasn't great. They had 6-8 craft brews and several Macro brews. The server wasn't very informed on all the beers. There was an empty tap with a Bell's handle, need to fill that spot! Overall, we had a good time, enjoyed our food and company. We will likely stop again. It is always great to find a non chain place to eat.
(4)Sean T.
Had the pot roast burger... reviews about no flavor, microwaved or frozen couldn't be far from the truth... garlic wedges... amazing! Good portion superb execution in flavor, seasoned and cooked perfect. Served hot, the waitress was very attentive, and my drinks never touched bottom... Only downside was $17 dollar tab burger, fries and a drink... once in a blue moon I'll make the trip to valpo and if I can squeeze it into the budget I'll be glad to come again
(4)Andrew B.
We chose IR to eat lunch October 21, 2012. This was our first visit. I must say the decor is very unique and being from Northwest Indiana I appreciated the effort to the details. Someone obviously spent a lot of money to make the place look impressive. I wish I could say that our dining experience met our expectations. We were seated quickly, and about 5 minutes later we were greeted by Kylie to get our drink order. Ten minutes later those were delivered and then she told us about the specials -- this is after we looked at the menu for 15 minutes and had already chose other things. We ordered a cup of potato soup. When served, it was barely warm. After the soup was dropped at our table, we didn't see our waitress for 30 minutes, and our food took 40 minutes to hit the table. We watched others walk in, sit down, and start eating while we waited. We had ordered the pot roast dinner and 2 hamburgers. The seasoning on the pot roast was less than disappointing and it was not as tender as expected for being tended to "overnight" as the menu brags. The burgers, while unique in toppings, were nothing special--1/2 pound burgers lost much of their weight once cooked. Garlic wedges or sweet potato fries are offered -- a very limited choice. My pot roast was supposed to come with "root" vegetables -- I was looking forward to this -- and broccoli appeared on my plate. Last I knew, broccoli was not a root vegetable. Carrot? Onion? Turnip? Nope. And no mention that they were out of root vegetables. I was just served broccoli, with no offer of substitute. Our glasses became empty more than once with v-e-r-y s-l-o-w refill. We saw Kylie spending time talking to her co-workers near the serving window by the cash register -- but she didn't have time to be bothered with her tables...unfortunate. She was less than attentive -- we didn't feel welcomed or appreciated. For the cost of our meal, almost $55 for 3, and the poor service, we felt very let down. We noticed that there is a personal plea on each table from Mike Leeson, the owner, asking for feedback, and we sent it via the website. A manager responded and asked for a phone number from us. We responded we did not have much of anything else to say, just that we are hoping our feedback makes someone else's visit a better one. We asked the manager for her phone number and a time we could call her, if she still wanted to talk, and never heard back. We don't think we will return. IR is just another independent eatery we tried to support that didn't follow through on its promise/potential. Very disappointing -- such a shame. And make sure you read the filtered reviews -- Yelp has filtered 75% of IR's reviews, for some reason. Including this one. Hmmm...
(1)Lindsey B.
Maybe it's the Chicagoan in me, but I thought this place was a great value. Loved the beer flights: 4 - 2oz tasters & a pint for $7 Massive burgers with generous portions of garlic potato wedges or sweet potato fries. Our server had lots of energy and made even the picky eaters of our group feel special. I wish I remembered his name, he really did complete the dinner package. The general vibe of the place was interesting. My dad was an iron worker, I can't wait to tell him all about this place. Or maybe convince him to stop in for lunch in route from Ohio to Illinois. I know he would love it. Is it fine date night out kind of dining? No, but it's a nice place to grab a burger.
(5)Kaleen F.
Potato soup is awesome and the freedom pizza was booming with flavor. Very unique place and love how the owner purchased the statues of workers made by an artist, who made them for ground zero. A bit expensive.
(4)Dana F.
Great service. Had the freedom veggie pizza and a potato soup. A good cold beer and it was just right. I don't understand what everyone's problem is about portion size. It was fine. If you want to over eat go to a buffet!
(4)Elisa S.
The atmosphere of this restaurant is great. The decor is spot on with the American dream. Excellent concept restaurant. As a personal plea to the owner, please, please hire a new chef or a chef that has gone to culinary school The food served needs to stay ahead of the expectations of your decor. This pizza's are ok here and burgers are ok as well, but the other home cooked food is bland.
(2)Angela U.
We stopped here on a whim. Very interesting decor. They had I Love Lucy on television in the ladies room and the Three Stooges on the television in the Men's room. Appetizer was the flat bread, wonderful flavor lots of cheese, basil. Perfect! I had the Olive hamburger. Loved it. My husband the American Classic and he enjoyed every bite. We shared the Red, White and Blue Cheesecake dessert. Strawberries, Blueberries and Vanilla. Yum. Wish we lived closer, we would be here all the time. They are getting a cocktail license, so as of now they just have wine and beer. Wonderful selection on both though. I can't wait to go back to Valparaiso, just to eat here.
(4)G D.
Great place nice staff if my order would have been correct would have bee 5 star. Grandson have a great time a said pizza was 5 star.
(4)Richard D.
This was our second visit to this place. The food and service is excellent and the prices are reasonable. Interesting decor too. My only regret is that they are about 45 minutes from us. Wish they were closer. We both has halibut wrap with garlic fries. Very good and my fussy wife was equally pleased.
(5)Mary B.
I liked the decor, the food was nothing special. Had a burger, I've had better, good pretzel bread tho.
(2)Timothy W.
The burgers are magnificent... Tough and gritty and delicious like America's rich industrial history. Can't decide on a burger? Get the sampler! The great beer menu was topped off by seeing the 3 stooges playing in the men's restroom. Bravo!
(5)Mark K.
Great burgers!!! I had the firehouse burger. That thing was nice and spicy from start to finish. Great decor ad the kids loved the train. The garlic wedges were fantastic also.
(5)Lizz C.
Located within easy driving distance of downtown, Valpo campus and near hotels. My husband and I went here twice on vacation in Valpo - I can only speak to the bar and the service attentiveness there as we did not take a booth or table. They have a nice variety of craft taps (Upland, Figure 8, Three Floyds and more), and both times the bartenders we spoke to knew their beers. After a little bit of craft-beer-love, we decided to grab a bit of food. We split the Revolution Pizza, a nice size pizza for splitting between two people for a light meal or between 4 people for a 'little something'. It was good - it won't go down in history as the best pizza ever, but it was tasty. We had the Stout Brownie the second time we went - the first time it came from the kitchen with the ice cream almost completely melted. The dining room was getting quite peppy so the dessert was probably not grabbed by the staff (which was in the middle of a shift change). While I never have sent food back at a restaurant, I did that time as we'd quite wanted to try it with ice cream intact. They made up for it by re-making it and we did enjoy it. I'm a baker and fairly picky - It wasn't my favorite dessert ever but it was done well for a medium-priced restaurant. The ice cream was good, but as I like to fully taste the featured ingredient I was a bit disappointed that the flavor of the malt in the stout didn't come through more. That's fine - it's made for the masses, not for beer and baking snobs like me. The decor is interesting. Photos of workers adorn the walls, along with interesting quotes about people, tenacity, industry and finances painted in white paint on the brick itself. Black girders grid the ceiling, and a train occasionally runs on a ceiling-suspended track. I agree with one of the previous reviewers - the lighting is probably too harsh for some. Though the fixtures fit the mood of the restaurant, the very bright lighting doesn't make for as casual a dining experience as I'd like. We had a good experience here both times, and we will stop back again when we are in Valpo.
(4)Esme G.
love it, awesome staff and great food. great burgers and potato soup... my fav :) great place to take someone for a great experience.
(5)Roland S.
Classic Midwestern American food place. Burgers, pot roast, perch along with a variety of cheese-based appetizers. The pretzels and cheese and chips and cheese appetizers were good. The pot roast burger was solid, but lacking in actual pot roast. The perch dinner that I had the last time I visited was pretty good, and I like that they offer sweet potato fries. The beer offerings were minimally acceptable, much like the service, which I'd call friendly but not the most attentive. It's got an interesting decor that evokes industry, progress, and hope. I found the portions adequate and the prices just a bit on the high side. I'd probably come here again just to take out of town guests somewhere casual, local, and that isn't a chain, but it's not high on my list.
(3)s b.
My family and I went to Industrial Revolution last weekend. I was shocked. We've been going there for more than a year and have always been happy. My daughter has always ordered the mini corn dogs from the children's menu. They aren't something she gets often and the fact they were hand dipped in a yummy batter always impressed me. A special treat, indeed. Yeah, they don't make those anymore. She had to settle for macaroni and cheese which she didn't end up liking. I liked it, but it was awfully garlicky for kids. I ordered a pot roast sandwich and sweet potato fries. Ok, so that is what I got, but for $10, I would appreciate something other than jarred gravy. My fries were cold and there were only about 18 of them on my plate. (I'm American in an American comfort food restaurant...I may not eat all of my fries, but I want a lot of them to pick at. And it isn't like I haven't gotten far more than I could eat when I've been there previously. Why the change?) Is it a strange complaint, too, that my plate was too small? There's no way to eat a pot roast sandwich other than to cut it up and my plate was so small I had a difficult time maneuvering so that I didn't throw my sandwich and handful of fries on the table. My raspberry tea was outstanding, though. I love that it is freshly shaken, they honored my request for half the syrup they normally use, and they include fresh raspberries in the glass. (Which frankly made my jarred gravy all that more insulting.) My husband was pleased with his buffalo chicken sandwich. We've had them before and they've always been good. His complaint was the long wait for service. Never have we had to wait that long. And it wasn't that the servers weren't hustling, they just needed about three more of them. Which seems strange since we were there at an "off peak" time and the place didn't seem that busy. We'll probably try it again. The decor is wonderful and we certainly don't mind the noise. Our daughter LOVES the train that runs around above our heads. I'm just really sad that we've had such wonderful experiences in the past and things seemed so changed with the quality of the food and staff.
(2)Jesse T.
Like most people who write here, the decor is great, atmosphere is all right. Looks like they spent a lot of money on it. If that was the only thing, I'd still give it 4 stars - too many TVs in here. The kids portions were great. The hot dog was HUGE. Burger was a good size for a 9-yr old boy. Plenty of fries. I think I had a "special" - some kind of fish tacos. They were good. Service was slow. It wasn't crowded. There was no wait. Overall, it's neat, but I wasn't blown away by the food, and it felt like I was paying for the decor, which I'm not really interested in. The beer selection was decent for craft beer. Thanks for that!
(3)Sarah C.
Not impressed! Not happy with the menu- Before leaving home, we checked online for the menu. It showed meatloaf, fried chicken and ribs- none of which are offered at the restaurant, which is deceptive. The server told us those things were only available the first week they were open, but that the "web guy" hadn't had a chance to take it off the website. :o( It was just a bummer because the meatloaf we saw online is what made my boyfriend want to eat there, as opposed to other restaurants in the area. Also, I felt that the menu selections were very limited. I am a vegetarian and there are very few choices-a pizza or you could order some of the salads with no meat. How hard would it be to add a veggie burger or grilled portabella sandwich?? Not worth the money- We ordered a beer, the bruschetta(which was AMAZING!), a salad and the herb chicken- $43! As mentioned earlier, I am a vegetarian. I ordered the Chop salad with no bacon. It was essentially half a head of iceberg lettuce with miniscule amounts of red onion, avocado, tomato and blue cheese. When it was all mixed up, I had many bites that were just iceberg. For $9!! Since the meatloaf was not an option, my boyfriend chose the herb-stuffed chicken, which the server and the food runner raved about. It was a chicken breast sitting on about 6 green beans and a scoop of mashed potatoes. For $18! He said it was okay, but not worth almost twenty dollars. What a rip-off!! Subpar service- Our server, Melissa, was a hot mess. She seemed extremely frazzled the entire time we were there, like she was on the verge of crying. She did not read us the specials for the night, but we heard her telling other tables. Also, our dinner was brought out by another server and Melissa never came by to see how we were doing, which was kind of a bummer, because we did not have silverware and needed to flag someone else down to get it. Once we were done, she came over to see "how it's tasting"...well, it's all done now, lady! Get with the program. I used to be a server too, so I'm not trying to be unfair, but a place that serves $18 chicken should have better service than Applebee's!! Cool atmosphere- I did think the restaurant itself was very neat, especially considering it used to be a dirty wing place. They did a really nice job with the brick work and iron. The train around the top is very cool and the bar area is very inviting. From what I understand, their beer selection is pretty awesome- I don't drink beer, but my boyfriend got pretty excited! I am from Valpo, but live in California now. Was visiting last week with my boyfriend and though IR would be a fun place to go for a Friday night dinner. I was trying to show him that there really ARE good restaurants in Indiana, :o) but I regret that we didn't choose a different place for dinner and that this was his impression.
(2)Jennifer S.
The food is American Fare meets trendy new twist! We went to IR with another couple and had salads and burgers. We sipped on peach iced teas while waiting for our lunch. I thought the food was great, the atmosphere was neat too. There's a lot of IR-era photographps, a train that circles overhead, etc. For a burger and fries luch, it was a little spendy, but I would still go back.
(4)Amy E.
Went here one time. That was the last time. Walked in...the host sat us and walked away. Our server came over and took our drink order, and someone else brought it. She came back and took our food order, we never got it. Both my boyfriend and I ordered a salad with grilled chicken. We waited 25 minutes before we ever saw the waitress again. When she did walk up it was to tell us our food was on the way. 15 minutes later the manager came to tell us she was sorry about the wait and it was coming right away. 10 minutes later we got up and walked out. There was no way that it should have taken 50 minutes for someone to make a salad with chicken and if there was something wrong....like she forgot to put in the order....the chicken was frozen, etc. they could have just told us instead of leaving us sitting there wondering where our food was. I wouldn't waste your time! This place is horrible. Atmosphere was cool. Service was the worst I have ever had in my life!!! Pathetic!!
(1)Robin C.
I met a friend for dinner and decided to sit in the bar. Very comfortable tables and the waitress/bartender was very nice. I ordered Moms Famous Double Shift Pot Roast Sandwich and sweet potato fries. My sandwich was pretty good but they accidentally gave me the regular garlic wedge fries instead of sweet potatoes. They were still tasty. I also ordered a dirty martini (Ketel One) and it was just "meh". No blue cheese olives and it still cost me $10.50! That was more than my $9.95 sandwich. I wanted another beverage and decided to go with their cider on tap. She said it came with ice and I told her to hold the ice but she said she had to give it to me because of inventory. Hmmm, I've never heard of putting ice in cider. Either way, for a 20oz glass, it was only $5.50. I heard their Brick Oven Baked Pretzel bites are out of this world so I think the next time I stop in, I'll try them and one of their mouth-watering burgers.
(4)Jessica M.
Great decor. Service was good and friendly. Food was not worth the price. Onions on the burger and in soup were over cooked, chives were dehydrated, the onion soup was over salty. The aujus was also made with soy. Not what was expected for the cost of the food.
(3)Jason C.
Way overpriced! Stay away from the supposed "Brick Oven" Pizza. It was recommended to me by our server. It was a slight step above a Totino's! It was soggy and very undercooked. I was quite shocked by the prices of the quite ordinary menu items. $10 for a burger just seems a little high, and $9 for a tall beer, way too high! Although I did enjoy the atmosphere and decor, it seems to me that management is more worried about whats on their walls than whats on there plates.
(1)Zoe D.
Spent a night in Valparaiso just passing through on I-80. On the recommendation of the hotel, I headed down for a late lunch. The interior was interesting, tinned ceilings, old pictures, lots of ironwork. The service was attentive yet not bothersome, thanks Ronnie. And then there is the food....I had a firehouse burger (spicy but not too) with their garlic wedges. I will definitely be stopping in again on my next trip across IN on I-80.
(4)Rachael T.
SHORT VERSION: check it out for the atmosphere and the "Dinner in a Brightly Lit Steel Mill" vibe, and hopefully they will get the kinks worked out with regards to portion size and presentation. Because if they don't, people will just go to Kelsey's or Pikk's Tavern instead. No matter how cool the interior decorating. LONG VERSION: We hit Industrial Revolution for dinner at 6:00 on their opening night. We were expecting a wait, but in-spite of the massive number of cars in the lot (as well as parked in the grass across Linwood), we were seated right away. We were expecting to have quite a wait, so the fast seating was a surprise. It was all certainly something to see. The owners, setting up shop in the former Brewski's location just off of Hwy 30, have really gone all-out with regards to the atmosphere and decor. Aside from the amazing figural sculptures and vintage-style construction framework outside, the inside is just as detailed. The walls are all brick and sport large-format, black-and-white prints of every type of industry imaginable. There are also a lot of hand-stenciled quotes about progress, getting ahead, and patriotism; and it seems that everywhere you turn there is another glossy flat-panel showing either the White Sox game or a documentary about Steel Mills. We're talking flat-panels in the bathrooms as well, people. There were five of us for dinner and we ordered a range of appetizers, salads, and mains, including: Nachos, Seared Ahi Tuna, Onion Wedges, Burgers, Open-face Steak Sandwich, and the Pot Roast Dinnner. We weren't that impressed. It's not that anything was bad, just that none of it was very exciting or creative. And, for the local area, the serving sizes were a bit small. We actually spoke to the head "Food Consultant" when he came by with a plate of dessert samples. He made sure to tell us that absolutely everything was hand-made and they didn't serve anything that frozen or pre-made. All very impressive in theory, but the final product was just a little lacking. For example, the Spinach & Pear Salad was missing the pears, and it was very small. In a very upscale restaurant with beautiful presentation and flavor, small might be fine. But in a Regular-Joe, bar-and-grill style restaurant, $8 is a rip-off for a handful of spinach and some ho-hum raspberry vinagrette. The beer selection is pretty good, including some local Indiana beers from Three Floyds. I like the Gumballhead. To sum up: very cool, no-expense-spared look; lack-luster food. I say give them some time to hear people's overall responses and find their way to being a great addition to Valpo.
(4)Molly M.
Very cool decor, mediocre food, poor service. We ate out here twice, both times were not busy, yet it took over 15 minutes to get our drinks (diet coke, water, and a bottled beer...) and we watched as everyone else in the restaurant got served first (or so it seemed). We saw our nachos go to two separate tables, and were offered a 'free' plate of modified nachos and our waiter was surprised when we asked where ours were. It could have been saved, if the food was anything special, but it is no better than Red Robin, TGIFriday's, Applebee's, or any other mid-level chain. Recommended if you have big train fans, otherwise, go to a chain and spend less money, and get better service.
(2)Christine J.
Outstanding service! Our server, a young African American gentleman was fantastic. The food was great. My husband is still raving about the pot roast sandwich. A great go to place for a good meal and great beer. I wish I remembered our servers name, he deserves great tips!
(4)Marie N.
This is a fun restaurant with good food and very friendly service. Lots of families and since the floors are wood and the ceilings are open, it gets kind of noisy. So this is no place for an intimate dinner. All of the food I saw coming out of the kitchen looked delicious. We saw lots of hamburgers, pizza, grilled cheese, buffalo chicken salad (humongous). We had the beef stroganoff and it was fantastic. I couldn't believe how tender the beef was. It was served with a small piece of garlic bread. I tried a chicken sandwich with cheddar cheese, bacon, barbeque sauce and ranch sauce on it. Sandwiches come with garlic potato wedges or sweet potato fries. No regular french fries here. One minor suggestion for improvement. They use the service model where the server takes your order but then a 'food runner' delivers the food to your table. The food runner should ask 'Is there anything I can get you at this time?' before running off. I believe the manager was our food runner. Even though I had asked my server to include ketchup with my sandwich, it was not delivered. The food runner left so quickly that I couldn't catch him before he left to ask for the ketchup. So I had to wait until I saw him again before asking for ketchup. Same thing happened to a table near us. The food was dropped off and before they could ask the food runner for silverware, the was gone. We will definitely return to this restaurant when we are in the area.
(5)Leah C.
SO much potential... that it was almost frustrating eating here. such a great space with a model train running overhead every 20 minutes - great distraction for the kid! our server was a doll and everyone was just so cheery in there. the food was just horrendous. the portions were stingy. the salmon sliders i attempted to share with my 2-year old was all bread no fish! i could count the shrimp in my husband's pesto (where's the pesto) shirmp pasta. i looked around and no one's meal looked appetizing. i so want to report this place to kitchen nightmares - this place would be a goldmine after a revamp!
(2)Lyndsay L.
My husband and I had seen this place driving on our way to Chicago from Ohio a couple of times but never when we could stop there and eat... But this time we made a point of it. And we are glad we did. Love the atmosphere and the quotes throughout the place. We started with the fried pickle app - yum. My mom and husband each got the 4 burger sampler with garlic wedges. They enjoyed them all, but both's favorite was the Edison burger. They both thought the wedges could have had a little more garlic on them, but still enjoyed them. My dad got the meatloaf - it was delicious. I got the pot roast Mac and cheese. Loved the blue cheese with it. It was so filling as I was only able to eat half of it. We wished we had room for dessert. The triple layer cheesecake looked tasty.
(5)Roy E.
Second time family has eaten here.... food was excellent however the wait for preparation was excessive both times. Was not really busy for a Saturday afternoon... had 3 other diners..waited 35 to 40 monutes after order was taken to eat.
(3)C. S.
I would give 5 stars but have to try it again a few times! The first visit was fan-tabulous! Will go back and update the stars after our 3rd stop here...We had the Buffalo Chicken Salad and the Prime Rib Sandwich, also tried the Pretzels. Drinks were hand crafted at the bar and this particular Saturday night was crowded, but we got in quick! Great long Islands!
(4)Marina D.
Where to start..THIS PLACE IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVS NOW!!From the moment you drive up you KNOW you are going to have a one of a kind dining experience,and then!!when I went into the restroom and they were playing I LOVE LUCY on the t.v...I JUST KNEW THIS PLACE WAS SPECIAL!!!!Besides the ambiance of the restaurant the food was excellent,hot and reasonably priced.Alexis was our server and was knowledgable about menu items and the featured American of the week...we have decided to stop here every time we travel to Wisconsin.
(5)Mary Joe J.
Me, my husband and 3 kids 11 and under .... Have been here 3 times and we love the service and we love the food!
(5)Ed R.
So I gave IR another chance after 2 horrible experiences here in the past. I'll break it down as follows; Service : better but still not good. We came on a slow Tuesday night so searing wasn't an issue like I've had on weekends. The server was nice, she was good to my kids, refreshed drinks promptly, however they seemed understaffed and she took a long time to take our order... For example, we had to wait to order appetizers because she told us she was changing the Pepsi... Shouldn't the kitchen staff do that? Other tables appeared to wait forever for ordering too. Food : tasted....just okay, looked gross. My wife got the Pot Roast Mac and cheese, sounded great on paper but looked gross upon arrival. The cheese was congealed and greasy, it didn't look appetizing at all. I got the Special General MacArthur burger, overlap it was good but the bun was really greasy and it made it a bit unappealing after a while. The best way for me to describe the menu here is that one person sat down and made a menu that THEY thought would be good, but failed to consult anyone else. The choices are eclectic and out of the norm, but they clearly do not have a chef capable of executing it to its potential. I kept picturing Gordon Ramsay on Kitchen Nightmares picking through the food shouting about how greasy and gross it was... Overall I love the atmosphere in this place, the decor is phenomenal and it is just a cool place. It's a shame that the food just isn't good enough to make me want to come back.
(2)Deidra W.
Fantastic! We will be back. Really enjoyed this place. The menu has something for everyone. Daily drink specials..$4 sangrias on Saturdays. Highly recommend...you won't be disappointed.
(5)Lacee M.
One of my favorite places. This is definitely not a figure friendly menu. While they do offer salad I personally find it hard to go that way with all the mouthwatering comfort food this place has to offer. Been there numerous times and have probably had everything on the menu and have loved everything. The soups are great! The big surprise to me is the fish tacos.... I never ordered them because they seemed out of place with the rest of the menu but luckily I had a taste of someone else's (at my table of course )and they are by far the best I've ever had!! They are so light and fresh tasting that it is perfect for the days you're not in the mood for anything too heavy. Love this place, it is a nice change from all the chains around
(5)Bob C.
A fun place to dine.....once I was very excited for this place to open about 6 years ago due to the proximity to campus and the need for a unique restaurant in Valparaiso that isn't a chain restaurant such as Applebees, TGIFridays, or Chilis. Upon your first visit, you're greeted by amazing architecture and details that only Disney can rival. Amazing iron work and a train that circles the restaurant as you eat. After that initial bliss; the menu, pricing, and quality of food is lackluster. The food is decent but nothing that triggers your mind to say 'wow i want to eat here again!' The service is decent, but again nothing that sticks out. I have been here 6x since they opened and two of those times my party and I ordered drinks and decided to just eat elsewhere due to the pricing and selections. If you haven't been here, try it out once and feel free to go from there.
(2)Kendra P.
Bad. Just bad. Bad food. Bad service. BAD. The drink was good and that's where it ends.
(1)Kate S.
Stopped here for a Sunday lunch on our way through Indiana. It was surprisingly busy! I had mixed feelings about the themed decor--great idea but felt like they took it just a bit too far. I particularly disliked the dozens of televisions showing footage of machinery, factories, and industry; I felt they were really distracting. On the other hand, thought he model train running around the ceiling was really neat. The menu was large and an interesting mix of the bizarre and the intriguing. We ordered the much-mentioned pretzel breadsticks and, though chewy as others have said, they were really good. Loved that they didn't have that awful salt normally found on most pretzels. The cheese dipping sauce was mediocre--it tasted like velveeta mixed with something; the pretzels were better plain. My husband ordered a bacon-stuffed burger and loved it. He ate the garlic wedges, even though they were topped with parmesan cheese, which he detests. They were actually tasty, but I found that, oddly, they tasted neither of garlic nor of parmesan; they were just really good wedge fries, nice and crisp. I had a buffalo chicken burger and thought it was delicious. Surprisingly spicy, breading was nice and crisp. Would definitely order again. I came home and recommended this place to a family member, so I know it was at least memorable. If you're passing by, it's definitely worth a stop.
(4)Ashley K.
Overpriced, small portions, annoying toy train runs around room. Only reason to come here is if you have a train-obsessed child. There are much better places in The Region.
(1)Jack K.
Burgers are decent but I wasn't blown away. Kids Mac is summer cheesy - they liked it. Wife liked the Grilled buffalo chicken.
(3)Chuck H.
We have been here two times now. Both time we came early at lunch. We were seated and drinks and food came out fast. The servers where great and kept our drinks filled. I liked both meals I had. We will be back again.
(4)Yvonne L.
Another great meal this afternoon but my food was only lukewarm. My companion had roast beef and said it was very good. Service was a little off today. Had to ask three times to get lemon for my water which was unusual. We love this place for its food, service and atmosphere.
(4)Je S.
Decor inside is worth going for. It is steel industry themed with a train running below the ceiling. Very cool to recognize the industry around the region. Meatloaf is great so is the pot roast, pot pie and chicken fried steak. Don't miss the fried pickles. Had a slider sampler once, it was just ok. I like their "comfort foods" more than the burgers. They do have an outdoor patio so that was nice to enjoy a drink and appetizer. Good service here too.
(4)Audrey B.
I loved this place when it first opened and it has significantly changed since then. My favorite was the crab cake burger which now has been long gone. Everyone in my family ordered it when went went. I also used to like how the staff had uniforms that matched the decor which are also gone now as well. I never really went there for the burgers because I liked other things but it seems like that is all they are focused on now. We gave it a few tries last year but haven't been back.
(3)Kev F.
The model T turkey sandwich is fantastic! The secret sauce has a sweet edge to it but the bacon adds to the flavor. The garlic potato wedges are outstanding. Only one piece of advice. The incredible deep-fried pickles need to be drained out of the fryer better. Way too greasy and sit in puddles of grease. The burgers are out of this world! Very fresh, and very delicious! Also, and this is never to be overlooked, the service is outstanding!
(4)Alan B.
Not impressed at all with this place. Now granted I've only been here once but, I think that might be enough. Sometimes it's about finding what you like but I was so unimpressed the first time I don't know if I'm willing to give them another shot. Me and a friend started out with the welded nachos and brick oven baked pretzels both of which sucked, especially the pretzels. And I'm an absolute pretzel lover so they have to be really bad for me not to like them. Then for my meal I had the pot roast burger which I was less than impressed with. I can't remember what my buddy had but I do remember him not caring much for his meal either. I gave IR 2 stars and I think that's actually being generous. I would say their a step up from Quaker Steak & lube and I gave them 1 star. I actually don't know how they managed to pull a 3 and a half star rating with a majority of the feedback about this place being negative.
(2)Brandi A.
If I could give this place more stars I would!!! What an amazing little jewel of a restaurant in Valpo!!! I am here with my family of 5. We are doing a long weekend and spending time at the Indiana Dunes and in Valpo. We were looking for a non-chain restaurant with some good food. The front desk person at the hotel recommended this place. WOW!!!! We were totally impressed with this place. The theme of the history on how everything on this country was built on the hard work of Americans was fascinating and so unique. They run videos on their flat screens about how everything is built. Very cool!!! The burger I had, which was the one with bacon, bbq sauce and chipotle mayo was one of the best burgers I have EVER had and I am a big foodie. The atmosphere was great and unique, the food fantastic and the service was good. If you are looking for an interesting place for a meal, love great food, decent prices and good service I HIGHLY recommend this place!!!
(5)Kara S.
A surprising little find along U.S. 30. Needed a bite to eat while driving across Indiana and came across this place, boasting good burgers. And they are good burgers - quite a unique selection, as well. And as far as a themed restaurant goes, this one is a nice change of pace from the normal chains that try to grab your attention with gimmicks. The Industrial Revolution theme, with exposed steel girders and columns (even if they are fake) and model train occasionally going around make for an oddly relaxing environment. Service was great, as well. Worth a try if you're in or going through Valpo.
(5)Ann G.
Good burgers. Turkey burger was flavorful. Nice place to stop if you are in the area. I want to stop back sometime to try the pot roast Mac n cheese. Service was friendly and quick.
(3)Jonathon J.
I know what you're thinking, 5 stars? Really? Being a little generous aren't you? Well here's the thing. I simply drive by this place on our way to a hotel for the night and was like, "hey. That place looks neat." So we went it and you could tell a lot of other people thought this place was neat too because it was busy restaurant! We had a 45 min wait that thankfully and surprisingly whittled down to 20. Our host was friendly, our waitress prompt, informative, friendly of course and adorable. The atmosphere there is fun, learned, warm and all with a little train circling your heads. Fun! Now the food. A bit pricey but you get your bucks worth. Generous portions and unbelievable quality. "The Morning Shift," "the Pot Roast Sandwhich," even the kids "mini burgers" we're amazing! Garlic cheese wedges, fantastic! Honestly I wish there were more of these places and certainly one closer to my hometown! It would absolutely save me money since I now have to drive all the way to valparaiso to eat here!
(5)David G.
This review is based off just one visit so don't take it too harshly. Let me start by saying our waitress was phenomenal.... She made our time there great she loved her job and made it fun for us! The burger I had was amazing I had that spicy burger it was great! My complaint is the sides... I had the sweet potato fries and I received less then 15 small fries. The other two people in our party also were given incredibly small sides. One person received less then 10 wedges and my father in law substituted coleslaw for fries. He received his coleslaw in a side dish the same size that you bring out the ketchup in. It basically was a "shot" of coleslaw. The ambience and vibe of the place is great. We waited 10 minutes or a table at 8pm so obviously people love it. I loved the food they just don't give you enough for how much they charge. I will go back again for a burger just with much lower expectations. And I know not to ask for a side of coleslaw!!!
(3)Mary P.
Great decor, average food. We went there to celebrate our granddaughter receiving an art award. The pictures I posted show what we ordered. My burger sampler was warm, not hot, and the buns has started to harden on the outside. Of the 4 I liked the jalapeño one the best because it has the most flavor. The kids saiid they liked their chicken nuggets and our son liked his "one ton" burger. Now for the downside... I had to send my Arnold Palmer back because it was made wrong. Our daughter in law didn't receive her food with the rest of us. In fact, they forgot to order it. Thankfully she had ordered the sampler so we shared until hers showed up. The waitress was very apologetic and they took it off of the bill. With that removed it was $83.00 for 4 adults and 2 children. Not sure it was worth it because the food was just ok and the service was poor.
(3)Scott G.
Stopped here on our way back from a day trip to Chicago last Sunday. I had the perch dinner which consisted of eight strips of perch, french fries and coleslaw, my wife had the cob salad. the perch was some of the best that I have had for a long time and needless to say, my wife brought home over half of the salad. We will be back the next time we are near Valpo!
(4)Veronica M.
Great Food!!! Love the jalepeno burger!
(5)Bella B.
This place was overall very good. Only have it 4 stars because the prices were a little high. I had the sampler burger meal. All the burgers were very good, came with Parmesan potato wedges, they were sooo good except only like 5 small came with it . They were more like fries then wedges. It was very filling but for $12.50 should have been more fries. We ordered pretzels win cheese they were good too but not as big as i thought and only 5 and it was $7.95! Atmosphere was nice, it was extremely busy so we had to wait 25 minutes for a table plus food took about 40 minutes to come out . It was a Saturday night so that's expected.
(4)Carey B.
This place is absolutely a treasure in hiding! I could not be happier with the service. The food is cooked EXACTLY to your liking, and the staff are all friendly and helpful! The prices are very reasonable too! Great place!!!!
(5)James L.
The food and the atmosphere were both great!!!! Definitely will be back! The burgers were excellent and the potato wedges too!
(5)Courtney C.
Industrial Revolution is a great burger joint in Valpo. I don't have any complaints, but just wanted to mention something weird that happened that I believe was handled in the right way! I ordered a burger with no bun. I forget which burger it was, but it had grilled onions, jalapeños, and cheese on it. As I was cutting into my burger I noticed that the wax paper that goes in between the cheese slices was on top of my burger along with the cheese. I knew it was an honest mistake, but had to tell the waiter because it wasn't edible. He apologized numerous times and took it back to get another one quickly. In the mean time, the manager came to the table and apologized and immediately said that my meal would be taken care of and asked if there was anything else he could do. He did take the entree off of the check and continued to make sure everyone at the table was doing well throughout the rest of the meal. I've seen numerous reviews saying that the management is not great at this place but I beg to differ. I don't think the manager could have been nicer about a mistake! I'll always support local businesses and appreciate the kindness of the staff here!
(4)Steve D.
The ambiance is cool- the old history channel vignettes are fitting. The food leaves a lot to be desired. We had the fish tacos and creamy Alfredo pasta. Both were sub- par. I guess the rule is that u should eat beef in Indiana.
(2)Michael D.
Good food but not great. Maybe our visit was just an off day? They do have a lot of positive reviews and I personally know others that think it's great. We went there for some comfort food and the seasonal vegetables appeared to be the frozen variety.
(3)Guy K.
Family took me here for the first time for my birthday. Heard a lot of good reviews of this place and finally had the chance to experience it for myself. Food was exceptionally good. Would recommend this place for anyone who likes to try new places to eat.
(4)Chip T.
I love the atmosphere, the extensive and creative menu, and the food. Great place to learn a thing or two about the United States during one of its proud moments in history. Welded Nachos, Edison Burger, and Firehouse Burger are phenomenal.
(5)Jessica M.
The food would probably be 4 stars, but the 5th star is for the service. We had the nachos and the grinder sandwich, both of which were delicious. Asked for the nachos to have the Pico on the side, but they came out with the Pico on top. Wasn't a big deal, didn't say anything and thought Id just pick them off. The server was so nice and came an apologized and said it was totally her mistake and offered to correct it or treat us to a dessert She definitely didn't need to do that, but it was kind of her to own up to it. Next time I'm in town, we will be back!
(5)T S.
This place is great! Great food and very family friendly!! They have a toy train that goes around the restaurant. They have great pot roast pot pie! And wonderful beef stroganoff!!! Can't wait to go again! A total hidden gem!
(5)A. S.
First visit, last visit...the building is so cool and our waitress was great but the food is terrible. Went in tonight, a Sunday night, around 7 and it was fairly busy. Sat in the bar which had full tables but actual bar was almost empty. We got the cheese dip appetizer and that was good but nothing to brag about. Basically queso with a plate that looked half empty cause it had mostly broken chips. My sister got the veggie burger, brother in law got the industrial revolution burger, and my husband and I split the pulled pork nachos. My sister and brother in laws food came out first and right away I tried my sisters sweet potato fries which were super cold (and there were seriously like 15 fries total). My brother in laws potato wedges were cold too. A minute or two later our nachos came out and those were just a joke. All chips, basically no pulled pork and had melted cheese and sour cream. You could tell it had been sitting in the window a long time cause the sour cream was a melted mess. And it's not BBQ pork it was dry pork on chips and had BBQ sauce globbed all over the top of the chips. I NEVER send food back but this was so awful I had to. 2 minutes later the nachos came back looking slightly better but still were tasteless and probably some of the worst nachos we have ever had. Service was good but if I was a manager or whoever it was that ran out my food I would have never let that food go out. Good beer selection but the food is way too over priced for me to return. Shame too cause it has a great atmosphere.
(2)Peter P.
The booths are a little smallso try to grab a table. You can tell a lot of money went into building out this place. Pot roast is one of their specialties as it is featured in several dishes. You can get your iced tea or lemonade flavored with any of several flavors. They feature a different American hero every week and they create a special based on this person. For example, a peanut butter burger for George Washington Carver.
(4)Sarah K.
Nice hidden gem in the area..I had a great burger and the portions are huge. I will definatly go again .
(5)Christiana S.
I am usually very leery of themed restaurants. These places usually rely entirely on impressing with decor and ambiance without actually delivering in the food department. We met friends here that we hadn't seen in ages, so I was willing to give it my best effort. It actually was quite nice. The decor was nice but not completely overbearing (like these places got in the 90's). The drinks were decently strong and just OK, but the bartender was VERY SLOW. Our waitress however, was just fine. The burger was good, seasoned and cooked well, but not super amazing. I liked the variety of topping options for the burgers. I didn't like being charged $1 for swapping out pepperoncinis for jalapenos. I'd eat here again if the people I am with wanted to, but probably won't seek it out myself.
(3)Shane H.
Eaten here 3 times or so and I've yet to have a bad experience. It's a bit on the expensive side, but the quality balances it out. I've gotten the burger with a fried egg and the grilled chicken salad. Both were tasty and large when it came to the portion size. You're limited on the sides, but I recommend the parmesian wedges. The menu isn't very extensive, but what they do make is made very well. The atmosphere is really fun for adults and children. Rich Americana theme and the weekly "unknown" American hero tributes are a classy touch. Always left with food in a box and a mini American flag. I recommend it if you're heading down US 30 or visiting Valpo University as it's right off campus. But make sure you beat the early birds because they come in droves and can leave you waiting for a while. Get 4 from me because it's kind of pricey, short list of choices, and they always seem to be a little understaffed but overall it's a fine establishment.
(4)Colleen M.
Highly recommend stopping here. The burgers are delicious and the service is excellent. The kids menu is standard but the food our children got was also delicious and affLove when we find non chain restaurants to stop at. We will defiantly be back!
(5)Nick F.
Place is pretty cool. Kids loved the decor. The food was just alright and a little pricey for a burger. The server was rude, but that is just one guy.
(2)Alexa Q.
Everyone is so nice and there is a unique and wide variety of tasty food! Stuffed bacon burger was delicious. Fried pickles were greasy but overall great Experience!
(4)Amanda E.
Good food, AWESOME service (our girl rocked), great sangria and delicious burgers! But has anyone noticed the musty smell? Not a big deal, just noticed when I walked in and smelled it for a little bit before our food came.
(3)Paul-Edie B.
It was great! We have driven by it many times and now I wish we had stopped in sooner. The atmosphere was an experience in itself, the food was excellent and prices very well. The service was top notch. We will definitely be back.
(5)Ed S.
This was our first time here and the food was great! The service was fantastic and the environment was very unique. We will definitely be returning to this restaurant. I highly recommend visiting this restaurant.
(5)Valerie R.
First time visiting and will definitely be back. Pizza was awesome and the flavored teas were refreshing and delicious. Great atmosphere and even better service.
(5)Jon N.
This review might be a bit premature. I think I need to give it another shot much like Burgerhaus. The ambiance and service were fine (albeit for the train's whistle that was annoying while trying to have a conversation). I ordered the pot roast burger. Described as "absolutely amazing" on the menu. I don't want to go as far as say I was disappointed because it was good. However, it does not fall in the absolutely amazing category for me. I should have known this, I'm just not crazy about pot roast. For some it's comfort food but for me I remember my mom's pot roast which tended to be on the dry side. The sweet potato fries were great. Loved them! The service was very good as well. And so after my first experience at Industrial Revolution, I think I'll try a regular burger the next time...
(3)Brittany G.
Absolutely amazing burgers and amazing service by Ashley. We had four burgers and our favorites were the Edison burger and the Stuffed Bacon Burger. The garlic wedges were awesome as well as the sweet potato fries. The decor was awesome too.
(5)Dan K.
Rather pricey, medium sized portions. Service and atmosphere were good. Not sure if I will return without a coupon. Pot roast was a treat.
(3)R. Kevin S.
Great concept, but the execution is lacking. Have been there twice just to make sure first time was not a fluke. Food tastes good, was Not Hot both times. Service was slow. Portions are small and prices are way too high. $50-$60 for two people with tip, no alcohol drinks.
(3)Jonny S.
Hmmm...themed restaurant...doesn't usually bode well, but we were meeting old friends and would have been willing to go anywhere. This place was pretty awesome actually! The burgers were nice and thick and seasoned well...and they have lots of different topping styles (I personally enjoyed the one with pot roast on top...meat on meat, baby! Great drink choices too.
(4)Melissa L.
Best burgers in Valpo, hands down! My fave? The Stuffed Green Olive Burger... YUMM!!! Kids love the atmosphere with overhead train. Love, love, LOVE this place!
(5)Angi K.
Unique decor. Love the sweet potato fries and the large variety of delicious hamburgers.
(4)Leanne H.
Casual atmosphere with some unusual menu items. The model train running overhead with the open ceiling tends to make the restaurant somewhat extra noisy. Wait staff is fairly attentive and the food is served hot. For the price, the food is a little higher than other places offering similar items.
(3)K. M.
First off let me say I will be giving this place another shot, but this time wasn't so great. I ordered the Black Bean Burger with Sweet Potato Fries. To be honest, I've had way better black bean burgers from the frozen food aisle at the grocery store. This one was complete mush when I guess I expected maybe a char on the outside or something. The sweet potato fries however were delicious. I will say though that everything I had was quite room temperature too. Kind of disappointing. The service was great though. Can't complain at all about that. My husband got a "real" burger aka beef and it looked really good and juicy. If I'm being super nit picky... The salt and pepper shakers are cool looking shiny stainless steel, but you can see the previous patrons greasy prints all over them, kinda gross. The high chair we unfortunately had to use was disgusting. What is it with nasty high chairs at places?! It had that I've-never-been-wiped sticky, grimy feel. Gross. Lastly, I guess this is my inner fat girl, but they're kind of stingy with the fries.
(2)Hector R.
I am Disappointed. I have been here before with my family and have always had a good experience. This time the service was slow(waitress complained because there was only two of them) and the entrees were brought at the same time as the appetizers. 3 of us got the mill salads and we found lettuce pieces that were brown and wilted. The avocado was old and the bacon was missing from the salads. All this for $12.95 a salad? I told and showed the Manager and she thanked me for telling her. She did try to make amends by giving us dessert free after we cashed out but that didn't change our opinion of how bad the salads were. Here's my advice to the owners, get back to basics, serve fresh food and make sure the help takes pride in what comes out of the kitchen.
(2)Judi S.
This was our first time at IR and we loved it!! Our server, Ronny, was outstanding and super friendly. The pretzel appetizer tasted delicious with four large pretzel pieces and a crock of authentic cheese (not the cheese whiz type). Although the cheese was very salty, it still was delicious. My husband ordered the special which was the prime rib opened faced sandwich with garlic mashed potatoes. They gave him au juis and horse radish for dipping. I had their Cobb salad with grilled chicken. Both dishes were superb with the prime rib and chicken cooked just right! For dessert we shared the red, white and blue cheesecake made on the premises.......mmmmmmm it was stupendous!! Served with fresh blueberries and strawberries, this is a dessert to remember. We will definitely be back and I highly recommend it!! Thanks to Ronny for a great job!! It's a rare occasion ,anymore, to find a server who is personable AND attentive but he has that perfect combo! BRAVO!
(4)Russell T.
Great food the smoked bacon burger tastes has good as it sounds and the fries are wedges smothered in garlic cheese sauce. The wait was not any worse then most restaurants but if you are looking for buger king speed this is not it.
(4)Andrew B.
We chose IR to eat lunch October 21, 2012. This was our first visit. I must say the decor is very unique and being from Northwest Indiana I appreciated the effort to the details. Someone obviously spent a lot of money to make the place look impressive. I wish I could say that our dining experience met our expectations. We were seated quickly, and about 5 minutes later we were greeted by Kylie to get our drink order. Ten minutes later those were delivered and then she told us about the specials -- this is after we looked at the menu for 15 minutes and had already chose other things. We ordered a cup of potato soup. When served, it was barely warm. After the soup was dropped at our table, we didn't see our waitress for 30 minutes, and our food took 40 minutes to hit the table. We watched others walk in, sit down, and start eating while we waited. We had ordered the pot roast dinner and 2 hamburgers. The seasoning on the pot roast was less than disappointing and it was not as tender as expected for being tended to "overnight" as the menu brags. The burgers, while unique in toppings, were nothing special--1/2 pound burgers lost much of their weight once cooked. Garlic wedges or sweet potato fries are offered -- a very limited choice. My pot roast was supposed to come with "root" vegetables -- I was looking forward to this -- and broccoli appeared on my plate. Last I knew, broccoli was not a root vegetable. Carrot? Onion? Turnip? Nope. And no mention that they were out of root vegetables. I was just served broccoli, with no offer of substitute. Our glasses became empty more than once with v-e-r-y s-l-o-w refill. We saw Kylie spending time talking to her co-workers near the serving window by the cash register -- but she didn't have time to be bothered with her tables...unfortunate. She was less than attentive -- we didn't feel welcomed or appreciated. For the cost of our meal, almost $55 for 3, and the poor service, we felt very let down. We noticed that there is a personal plea on each table from Mike Leeson, the owner, asking for feedback, and we sent it via the website. A manager responded and asked for a phone number from us. We responded we did not have much of anything else to say, just that we are hoping our feedback makes someone else's visit a better one. We asked the manager for her phone number and a time we could call her, if she still wanted to talk, and never heard back. We don't think we will return. IR is just another independent eatery we tried to support that didn't follow through on its promise/potential. Very disappointing -- such a shame. And make sure you read the filtered reviews -- Yelp has filtered 75% of IR's reviews, for some reason. Including this one. Hmmm...
(1)Lindsey B.
Maybe it's the Chicagoan in me, but I thought this place was a great value. Loved the beer flights: 4 - 2oz tasters & a pint for $7 Massive burgers with generous portions of garlic potato wedges or sweet potato fries. Our server had lots of energy and made even the picky eaters of our group feel special. I wish I remembered his name, he really did complete the dinner package. The general vibe of the place was interesting. My dad was an iron worker, I can't wait to tell him all about this place. Or maybe convince him to stop in for lunch in route from Ohio to Illinois. I know he would love it. Is it fine date night out kind of dining? No, but it's a nice place to grab a burger.
(5)Beth M.
I am not a huge fan of themed restaurants, but I really enjoyed eating her. The waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly. He helped us pick out the perfect meal. The menu is interesting and eclectic. The burgers are great and so are the sweet potato fries. My only complaint is the noise. With the brick walls, blaring tvs, high ceiling, open kitchen, and toy trains going overhead it is nearly impossible to hear anything.
(3)Derek H.
We had dinner here on Saturday evening around 6:30 pm. The restaurant was full but they were able to seat us in the bar area immediately. Menu was diverse with many different burgers and comfort foods. Each member of our group had something different and we all enjoyed our meals. The beer selection (draft) wasn't bad but wasn't great. They had 6-8 craft brews and several Macro brews. The server wasn't very informed on all the beers. There was an empty tap with a Bell's handle, need to fill that spot! Overall, we had a good time, enjoyed our food and company. We will likely stop again. It is always great to find a non chain place to eat.
(4)Sean T.
Had the pot roast burger... reviews about no flavor, microwaved or frozen couldn't be far from the truth... garlic wedges... amazing! Good portion superb execution in flavor, seasoned and cooked perfect. Served hot, the waitress was very attentive, and my drinks never touched bottom... Only downside was $17 dollar tab burger, fries and a drink... once in a blue moon I'll make the trip to valpo and if I can squeeze it into the budget I'll be glad to come again
(4)Katie C.
Went here for dinner with a friend last week, and it was very good! I usually avoid chain restaurants, but was pleasantly surprised by I.R. We had fried pickles as an appetizer-nice and crispy, not soggy at all. I had a Cape Cod as a drink, and it was tart and refreshing. Dinner was a hamburger with egg on it (always a solid choice) and my friend had the buffalo chicken burger. We stayed long after we finished our food and weren't rushed out at all, which was a pleasant change. I'd go back!
(4)Kaleen F.
Potato soup is awesome and the freedom pizza was booming with flavor. Very unique place and love how the owner purchased the statues of workers made by an artist, who made them for ground zero. A bit expensive.
(4)Dana F.
Great service. Had the freedom veggie pizza and a potato soup. A good cold beer and it was just right. I don't understand what everyone's problem is about portion size. It was fine. If you want to over eat go to a buffet!
(4)Elisa S.
The atmosphere of this restaurant is great. The decor is spot on with the American dream. Excellent concept restaurant. As a personal plea to the owner, please, please hire a new chef or a chef that has gone to culinary school The food served needs to stay ahead of the expectations of your decor. This pizza's are ok here and burgers are ok as well, but the other home cooked food is bland.
(2)Angela U.
We stopped here on a whim. Very interesting decor. They had I Love Lucy on television in the ladies room and the Three Stooges on the television in the Men's room. Appetizer was the flat bread, wonderful flavor lots of cheese, basil. Perfect! I had the Olive hamburger. Loved it. My husband the American Classic and he enjoyed every bite. We shared the Red, White and Blue Cheesecake dessert. Strawberries, Blueberries and Vanilla. Yum. Wish we lived closer, we would be here all the time. They are getting a cocktail license, so as of now they just have wine and beer. Wonderful selection on both though. I can't wait to go back to Valparaiso, just to eat here.
(4)G D.
Great place nice staff if my order would have been correct would have bee 5 star. Grandson have a great time a said pizza was 5 star.
(4)Richard D.
This was our second visit to this place. The food and service is excellent and the prices are reasonable. Interesting decor too. My only regret is that they are about 45 minutes from us. Wish they were closer. We both has halibut wrap with garlic fries. Very good and my fussy wife was equally pleased.
(5)Mary B.
I liked the decor, the food was nothing special. Had a burger, I've had better, good pretzel bread tho.
(2)Timothy W.
The burgers are magnificent... Tough and gritty and delicious like America's rich industrial history. Can't decide on a burger? Get the sampler! The great beer menu was topped off by seeing the 3 stooges playing in the men's restroom. Bravo!
(5)Mark K.
Great burgers!!! I had the firehouse burger. That thing was nice and spicy from start to finish. Great decor ad the kids loved the train. The garlic wedges were fantastic also.
(5)Nikta P.
The decor and atmosphere are really well done and make eating here fun! Service was attentive and friendly and the food was classic American fare with attention to detail. It is not cheap but the portions are generous. We were in Indiana for the weekend and would definitely come back.
(4)Jonathon W.
My wife and I love this place. We have been twice now. Once for dinner and once for lunch. And both times we went we got great service. The waitress was friendly and they were quick. The atmosphere is great and our children love it. The food is great. It's a little pricey for the amount of food you get but not so much so that it doesn't make the visit worth it. Their potato wedges are great! The pot roast mac and cheese is AMAZING!!! We really enjoy the food and it's clean.
(4)Lizz C.
Located within easy driving distance of downtown, Valpo campus and near hotels. My husband and I went here twice on vacation in Valpo - I can only speak to the bar and the service attentiveness there as we did not take a booth or table. They have a nice variety of craft taps (Upland, Figure 8, Three Floyds and more), and both times the bartenders we spoke to knew their beers. After a little bit of craft-beer-love, we decided to grab a bit of food. We split the Revolution Pizza, a nice size pizza for splitting between two people for a light meal or between 4 people for a 'little something'. It was good - it won't go down in history as the best pizza ever, but it was tasty. We had the Stout Brownie the second time we went - the first time it came from the kitchen with the ice cream almost completely melted. The dining room was getting quite peppy so the dessert was probably not grabbed by the staff (which was in the middle of a shift change). While I never have sent food back at a restaurant, I did that time as we'd quite wanted to try it with ice cream intact. They made up for it by re-making it and we did enjoy it. I'm a baker and fairly picky - It wasn't my favorite dessert ever but it was done well for a medium-priced restaurant. The ice cream was good, but as I like to fully taste the featured ingredient I was a bit disappointed that the flavor of the malt in the stout didn't come through more. That's fine - it's made for the masses, not for beer and baking snobs like me. The decor is interesting. Photos of workers adorn the walls, along with interesting quotes about people, tenacity, industry and finances painted in white paint on the brick itself. Black girders grid the ceiling, and a train occasionally runs on a ceiling-suspended track. I agree with one of the previous reviewers - the lighting is probably too harsh for some. Though the fixtures fit the mood of the restaurant, the very bright lighting doesn't make for as casual a dining experience as I'd like. We had a good experience here both times, and we will stop back again when we are in Valpo.
(4)Esme G.
love it, awesome staff and great food. great burgers and potato soup... my fav :) great place to take someone for a great experience.
(5)Roland S.
Classic Midwestern American food place. Burgers, pot roast, perch along with a variety of cheese-based appetizers. The pretzels and cheese and chips and cheese appetizers were good. The pot roast burger was solid, but lacking in actual pot roast. The perch dinner that I had the last time I visited was pretty good, and I like that they offer sweet potato fries. The beer offerings were minimally acceptable, much like the service, which I'd call friendly but not the most attentive. It's got an interesting decor that evokes industry, progress, and hope. I found the portions adequate and the prices just a bit on the high side. I'd probably come here again just to take out of town guests somewhere casual, local, and that isn't a chain, but it's not high on my list.
(3)s b.
My family and I went to Industrial Revolution last weekend. I was shocked. We've been going there for more than a year and have always been happy. My daughter has always ordered the mini corn dogs from the children's menu. They aren't something she gets often and the fact they were hand dipped in a yummy batter always impressed me. A special treat, indeed. Yeah, they don't make those anymore. She had to settle for macaroni and cheese which she didn't end up liking. I liked it, but it was awfully garlicky for kids. I ordered a pot roast sandwich and sweet potato fries. Ok, so that is what I got, but for $10, I would appreciate something other than jarred gravy. My fries were cold and there were only about 18 of them on my plate. (I'm American in an American comfort food restaurant...I may not eat all of my fries, but I want a lot of them to pick at. And it isn't like I haven't gotten far more than I could eat when I've been there previously. Why the change?) Is it a strange complaint, too, that my plate was too small? There's no way to eat a pot roast sandwich other than to cut it up and my plate was so small I had a difficult time maneuvering so that I didn't throw my sandwich and handful of fries on the table. My raspberry tea was outstanding, though. I love that it is freshly shaken, they honored my request for half the syrup they normally use, and they include fresh raspberries in the glass. (Which frankly made my jarred gravy all that more insulting.) My husband was pleased with his buffalo chicken sandwich. We've had them before and they've always been good. His complaint was the long wait for service. Never have we had to wait that long. And it wasn't that the servers weren't hustling, they just needed about three more of them. Which seems strange since we were there at an "off peak" time and the place didn't seem that busy. We'll probably try it again. The decor is wonderful and we certainly don't mind the noise. Our daughter LOVES the train that runs around above our heads. I'm just really sad that we've had such wonderful experiences in the past and things seemed so changed with the quality of the food and staff.
(2)Jesse T.
Like most people who write here, the decor is great, atmosphere is all right. Looks like they spent a lot of money on it. If that was the only thing, I'd still give it 4 stars - too many TVs in here. The kids portions were great. The hot dog was HUGE. Burger was a good size for a 9-yr old boy. Plenty of fries. I think I had a "special" - some kind of fish tacos. They were good. Service was slow. It wasn't crowded. There was no wait. Overall, it's neat, but I wasn't blown away by the food, and it felt like I was paying for the decor, which I'm not really interested in. The beer selection was decent for craft beer. Thanks for that!
(3)Jennifer S.
The food is American Fare meets trendy new twist! We went to IR with another couple and had salads and burgers. We sipped on peach iced teas while waiting for our lunch. I thought the food was great, the atmosphere was neat too. There's a lot of IR-era photographps, a train that circles overhead, etc. For a burger and fries luch, it was a little spendy, but I would still go back.
(4)Sarah C.
Not impressed! Not happy with the menu- Before leaving home, we checked online for the menu. It showed meatloaf, fried chicken and ribs- none of which are offered at the restaurant, which is deceptive. The server told us those things were only available the first week they were open, but that the "web guy" hadn't had a chance to take it off the website. :o( It was just a bummer because the meatloaf we saw online is what made my boyfriend want to eat there, as opposed to other restaurants in the area. Also, I felt that the menu selections were very limited. I am a vegetarian and there are very few choices-a pizza or you could order some of the salads with no meat. How hard would it be to add a veggie burger or grilled portabella sandwich?? Not worth the money- We ordered a beer, the bruschetta(which was AMAZING!), a salad and the herb chicken- $43! As mentioned earlier, I am a vegetarian. I ordered the Chop salad with no bacon. It was essentially half a head of iceberg lettuce with miniscule amounts of red onion, avocado, tomato and blue cheese. When it was all mixed up, I had many bites that were just iceberg. For $9!! Since the meatloaf was not an option, my boyfriend chose the herb-stuffed chicken, which the server and the food runner raved about. It was a chicken breast sitting on about 6 green beans and a scoop of mashed potatoes. For $18! He said it was okay, but not worth almost twenty dollars. What a rip-off!! Subpar service- Our server, Melissa, was a hot mess. She seemed extremely frazzled the entire time we were there, like she was on the verge of crying. She did not read us the specials for the night, but we heard her telling other tables. Also, our dinner was brought out by another server and Melissa never came by to see how we were doing, which was kind of a bummer, because we did not have silverware and needed to flag someone else down to get it. Once we were done, she came over to see "how it's tasting"...well, it's all done now, lady! Get with the program. I used to be a server too, so I'm not trying to be unfair, but a place that serves $18 chicken should have better service than Applebee's!! Cool atmosphere- I did think the restaurant itself was very neat, especially considering it used to be a dirty wing place. They did a really nice job with the brick work and iron. The train around the top is very cool and the bar area is very inviting. From what I understand, their beer selection is pretty awesome- I don't drink beer, but my boyfriend got pretty excited! I am from Valpo, but live in California now. Was visiting last week with my boyfriend and though IR would be a fun place to go for a Friday night dinner. I was trying to show him that there really ARE good restaurants in Indiana, :o) but I regret that we didn't choose a different place for dinner and that this was his impression.
(2)Mk O.
Casual atmosphere, food that was right on the mark. Friendly staff, very, very attentive. Creative drink specials and decor that is worth the trip. Went out here for an early NYE dinner. 5pm reservations. The Edison burger was fantastic on a pretzel roll and sweet potato fries were cooked perfectly. The onion soup was delicious. The tab, including drinks, appetizers, soups and burgers was less than $100 for three of us. If you're interested in American hertitage within the Industrial Revolution, this place will feel like home. A slew of food, great atmosphere, well worth the trip. We will be back.
(4)Amy E.
Went here one time. That was the last time. Walked in...the host sat us and walked away. Our server came over and took our drink order, and someone else brought it. She came back and took our food order, we never got it. Both my boyfriend and I ordered a salad with grilled chicken. We waited 25 minutes before we ever saw the waitress again. When she did walk up it was to tell us our food was on the way. 15 minutes later the manager came to tell us she was sorry about the wait and it was coming right away. 10 minutes later we got up and walked out. There was no way that it should have taken 50 minutes for someone to make a salad with chicken and if there was something wrong....like she forgot to put in the order....the chicken was frozen, etc. they could have just told us instead of leaving us sitting there wondering where our food was. I wouldn't waste your time! This place is horrible. Atmosphere was cool. Service was the worst I have ever had in my life!!! Pathetic!!
(1)Robin C.
I met a friend for dinner and decided to sit in the bar. Very comfortable tables and the waitress/bartender was very nice. I ordered Moms Famous Double Shift Pot Roast Sandwich and sweet potato fries. My sandwich was pretty good but they accidentally gave me the regular garlic wedge fries instead of sweet potatoes. They were still tasty. I also ordered a dirty martini (Ketel One) and it was just "meh". No blue cheese olives and it still cost me $10.50! That was more than my $9.95 sandwich. I wanted another beverage and decided to go with their cider on tap. She said it came with ice and I told her to hold the ice but she said she had to give it to me because of inventory. Hmmm, I've never heard of putting ice in cider. Either way, for a 20oz glass, it was only $5.50. I heard their Brick Oven Baked Pretzel bites are out of this world so I think the next time I stop in, I'll try them and one of their mouth-watering burgers.
(4)Jessica M.
Great decor. Service was good and friendly. Food was not worth the price. Onions on the burger and in soup were over cooked, chives were dehydrated, the onion soup was over salty. The aujus was also made with soy. Not what was expected for the cost of the food.
(3)Jason C.
Way overpriced! Stay away from the supposed "Brick Oven" Pizza. It was recommended to me by our server. It was a slight step above a Totino's! It was soggy and very undercooked. I was quite shocked by the prices of the quite ordinary menu items. $10 for a burger just seems a little high, and $9 for a tall beer, way too high! Although I did enjoy the atmosphere and decor, it seems to me that management is more worried about whats on their walls than whats on there plates.
(1)Zoe D.
Spent a night in Valparaiso just passing through on I-80. On the recommendation of the hotel, I headed down for a late lunch. The interior was interesting, tinned ceilings, old pictures, lots of ironwork. The service was attentive yet not bothersome, thanks Ronnie. And then there is the food....I had a firehouse burger (spicy but not too) with their garlic wedges. I will definitely be stopping in again on my next trip across IN on I-80.
(4)Rachael T.
SHORT VERSION: check it out for the atmosphere and the "Dinner in a Brightly Lit Steel Mill" vibe, and hopefully they will get the kinks worked out with regards to portion size and presentation. Because if they don't, people will just go to Kelsey's or Pikk's Tavern instead. No matter how cool the interior decorating. LONG VERSION: We hit Industrial Revolution for dinner at 6:00 on their opening night. We were expecting a wait, but in-spite of the massive number of cars in the lot (as well as parked in the grass across Linwood), we were seated right away. We were expecting to have quite a wait, so the fast seating was a surprise. It was all certainly something to see. The owners, setting up shop in the former Brewski's location just off of Hwy 30, have really gone all-out with regards to the atmosphere and decor. Aside from the amazing figural sculptures and vintage-style construction framework outside, the inside is just as detailed. The walls are all brick and sport large-format, black-and-white prints of every type of industry imaginable. There are also a lot of hand-stenciled quotes about progress, getting ahead, and patriotism; and it seems that everywhere you turn there is another glossy flat-panel showing either the White Sox game or a documentary about Steel Mills. We're talking flat-panels in the bathrooms as well, people. There were five of us for dinner and we ordered a range of appetizers, salads, and mains, including: Nachos, Seared Ahi Tuna, Onion Wedges, Burgers, Open-face Steak Sandwich, and the Pot Roast Dinnner. We weren't that impressed. It's not that anything was bad, just that none of it was very exciting or creative. And, for the local area, the serving sizes were a bit small. We actually spoke to the head "Food Consultant" when he came by with a plate of dessert samples. He made sure to tell us that absolutely everything was hand-made and they didn't serve anything that frozen or pre-made. All very impressive in theory, but the final product was just a little lacking. For example, the Spinach & Pear Salad was missing the pears, and it was very small. In a very upscale restaurant with beautiful presentation and flavor, small might be fine. But in a Regular-Joe, bar-and-grill style restaurant, $8 is a rip-off for a handful of spinach and some ho-hum raspberry vinagrette. The beer selection is pretty good, including some local Indiana beers from Three Floyds. I like the Gumballhead. To sum up: very cool, no-expense-spared look; lack-luster food. I say give them some time to hear people's overall responses and find their way to being a great addition to Valpo.
(4)Christine J.
Outstanding service! Our server, a young African American gentleman was fantastic. The food was great. My husband is still raving about the pot roast sandwich. A great go to place for a good meal and great beer. I wish I remembered our servers name, he deserves great tips!
(4)Molly M.
Very cool decor, mediocre food, poor service. We ate out here twice, both times were not busy, yet it took over 15 minutes to get our drinks (diet coke, water, and a bottled beer...) and we watched as everyone else in the restaurant got served first (or so it seemed). We saw our nachos go to two separate tables, and were offered a 'free' plate of modified nachos and our waiter was surprised when we asked where ours were. It could have been saved, if the food was anything special, but it is no better than Red Robin, TGIFriday's, Applebee's, or any other mid-level chain. Recommended if you have big train fans, otherwise, go to a chain and spend less money, and get better service.
(2)Kyle W.
While this restaurant is still fairly new, I still think it's worthy of a review. SHORT: I would wait a few months before going back. Small portions for the price compared to other local steakhouses. The so called stuffed hamburgers are not stuffed at all. In fact, they are dry, flat, and tasteless. When I asked about it, the waitress came with some excuse saying that the cheese cooks into the meet. (Which you know is complete BS if you have ever cooked a stuffed burger) Cool atmosphere and our glasses were always full. Long wait after we were seated. (45min) LONG: Showed up about 8pm on a Tuesday. Waited about 10-15min to be seated. (not bad since we were entertained by the toy training traveling throughout the restaurant) Industrial Revolution, The specialty is stuffed hamburgers, but not really... Well the hamburger was not stuffed at all. In fact, it was dry, tasteless and flat. I ordered the Industrial Stuffed Burger which is suppose to be a blackened cajun burger stuffed with blue cheese. After asking my waitress about the burger being not stuffed, she informed me that by cooking the meat, you cook out the blue cheese. This is total BS because anyone who has ever stuffed a hamburger knows that cheese is 'stuffed' between two thin patties of meat and cooked, and that the cheese does not spontaneously combust. Also, it's a blackened cajun burger, it's suppose to be blackened. Not only was our burger not blackened, but the cheese (apparently) was still 'infused' with the meat. I deny ever tasting blue cheese in that burger. Nor did I taste any hint of cajun seasoning. Good news though, the fries were pretty good. That was about it. Ok, the atmosphere was great. It's also nice that not every TV is playing sports. Finally a restaurant trying to accommodate to all crowds. The waitress kept our glasses full and checked in occasionally (however she clearly avoided us for the 45 minutes we waited for our food).
(2)Jenni L.
We finally stopped for lunch after passing it by for months. What a pleasant surprise! Extremely clean, bar area separate from restaurant, nice menu for adults and kids. Kids loved the train running over their heads. Service was fast. Food very tasty, esp the potato soup and burgers which are cooked medium unless otherwise directed. I would definitely return to taste other dishes.
(4)Adrien B.
This place has such awesome decor. It's the type of place I'd love to go to and have a beer at the bar. However, the food is just "eh" and is very expensive. I am totally a "you get what you pay for" type and have no problem paying more for really good food. But the problem with this place is that you are paying pretty high prices for the area and the food is whimpy in taste and in portion size. I saw a couple of the other reviewers saying that they felt like they were paying for the decor. I felt the same way.
(2)doreen b.
Looking to fill some time and empty stomachs between a wedding and a reception, our group ended up here, and glad we did. Entertaining atmosphere, very energized and accommodating staff, and good food. Try the onion soup... seriously tasty, and surprisingly filling. When a group member mentioned she'd never tried sweet potato fries, the server brought her ordered dish... and a tiny sample of sweet potato fries. How nice is that?? Was surprised the place was mobbed at 3 in the afternoon on a Saturday, but as it turns out, with good reason. If we're in the area again, we'll be back. (and yep, loved the overhead electric train!)
(4)Vincent S.
I have read the other reviews and don't understand the critics. "Napkins on the floor, too many TVs, I didn't get a seat fast enough...." You soft / spoiled people are the down fall of this country. Stay home. Thursday evening, wasn't too busy. Plenty of seats in waiting area, inside & outside, if needed, but we walked right in and sat down. The waiter was very friendly and knew the menu. Great beer list including locals. The menu was a "working class" menu, not a Ruth's Chris menu; burgers, sandwiches, soups, appetizers, meatloaf, pot roast and other dinners. I ordered a bowl of chili to start as I always do when available. Great heat, nice flavor, few beans....... it was the best restaurant chili I have ever had. The burgers are the thing to get. From 1/4 pound burgers to 1/2 pound, 1 pound, 2 pounds and 5 pounds. The 5 pounder is free if you eat it in an hour. My IR burger was perfect. I had the 1 ton burger, although it only weighed 1/2 pound. False advertising? Perhaps I should gripe about that like the spoiled people. The burger was juicey, very hot and cooked to perfection. I was surprised that the bun held up to the juiciness of the burger. The sweet potato fries were perfect too. I don't know a better word for these other than perfect. The size was proportionate, 20 - 25 fries. I am not going to complain about the price like some. I thought it was a great VALUE for quality received. The Industrial Revolution is a lot like Union work; skilled workers making a great product at a fair price. Understand, Red Robin has good burgers, but I would eat here over RR any day, regardless that it is more expensive and that IR doesn't give you a "fresh bucket" of fries to eat. If you like Red Robin, nothing against them, this isn't Red Robin. Go to Red Robin if you like that. My brother rates restaurants on the "buffet factor." Flavor, quality and presentation doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that he can eat 10,000 calories of stuff and get a bargain for $8. From the movie Monte Python and the Meaning of Life....... Mr. Creosol; "I'll eat it all." Waiter; "Would you like that all mixed up in a bucket?" Mr. Creosol; "Yes, and don't skimp on the pate." Waiter; "Of course and I'll make sure you get a double helping." Hello Red Robin.
(5)Kristyn D.
We had a great experience here! The service was outstanding, and the food was too. The potato wedges were scrumptious, and the kids menu was real food, not overpriced Kraft mac'n'cheese and frozen nuggets. I thought the prices were reasonable. My husband, my daughter, and myself ate for just under $50, and that included 3 beers. The keg was in the process of being changed on one of the beers he ordered, and they couldn't get to the replacement due to a frozen lock, so the waitstaff kept bringing samples until the problem was solved. They were super nice. I'm sad to see all the negative reviews, I really enjoyed this place, and plan to in the future.
(5)Samantha P.
My brother and me went here recently because I hadn't been and he warned me it was ok but nothing special. The atmosphere is amazing, I will say it's worth going to see even if you order just a couple of drinks. I loved the statues that adorned the outside and the interesting steel mill and industry decor inside. Something so different. The service was terrible. She took our drink orders and brought them back 15-20 mins later to take our order. I ordered a half burger and half salad plate and my brother ordered a turkey sandwich with fries. We waited nearly an hour for our food despite only 5 other diners (whom all had food) and after about 30 mins heard two cooks in the open part of the kitchen/grill talking arguing about which one was supposed to go make the turkey sandwich (I'm pretty sure they should have already had it made in 30 mins). My burger was pretty good but they got the cheese wrong and I wasn't about to send it back and wait another hour since we didn't have all afternoon. My brothers sandwich was atrocious. The bread was so hard it was falling apart in big chunks, there is no way they didn't notice that. We ate and waited for the check with our waitress never coming to check on our food. We waited with plates pushed to the side of the table for a check for 20 mins before finally going to find the waitress. When giving her the credit card my brother told her the bread from his sandwich was very stale and showed it to her on his plate. She said she'd let the cook know, never offering an apology or a discount like any other place would/should. Cool atmosphere, horrible staff and so-so food. Nothing to return for, a shame too.
(2)Christine M.
Casual dining, decor is different and interesting. The restaurant is a perfect addition for Northwest Indiana since we are an industrial region. Good place to take visiting friends or family for a casual meal. Fish tacos are one menu item that is unique from other area restaurants. Great beer selection!
(3)Joe V.
Awesome decor and a pretty neat atmosphere, but the fun stops there. The food is greatly overpriced and subpar (their specialty condiments, such as the chipolte mayo seemed sadly flavourless), even if some of (far from all) the portions are pretty large. The service was lackluster, with drink refills either slow-to-come or nonexistent until we flagged somebody down. Seating was rather quick on the busy(ish) Friday night we came in (I've seen busier, sure, and they had PLENTY of staffers in the place), but their system seemed inefficiently-managed to the point where it likely cost others more time elsewhere (our party of 3 was seated at a 6-person table). Servers were nice (when they acknowledged you, that is; we noticed many of them sitting around nothing-doing at several points), if a bit awkward with their communication. They forgot to ask about sides, and they never once asked if we'd like any drinks at all once we said we'd "start with water". Too bad; I'd heard they had a great beer menu before I came, too, but what I saw was laughably typical and small. Approximately 1/4th of our time there was spent waiting for somebody to run our check when we wanted to leave. Wish they could live up to the apparent hype!
(2)D. T.
Great Atmosphere! Good Food! Kids love the trains that go around! Nice beer and wine selections! Excellent Service! We would go back!
(4)Erika D.
well, we've been back a few times and i have to say that i'm just as satisfied as i was the first time. i've taken to NOT ordering off the menu and i try the chef's special every time...i'm never disappointed. the last time was a herb-crusted white fish with rice and vegetables. it was done perfectly and there was so much there i had to take some home. the beer selection is better than most places you'll find, though they are kind of pricey in that area. sadly, the wings have been taken off the menu. they were really good, too. the bruschetta was fantastic, though. definitely fresh...homemade. i'm happy to be able to say that the quality of the restaurant has gotten better, not worse, as i really enjoyed my initial, and subsequent visits here.
(4)Dave A.
I came here for my birthday dinner with my dad and stepmom. Everyone's food was really good although it took a good 15min or so to get it. I had the olive burger and the garlic wedges and a Bells IPA to drink and the mix of pungent and salty flavors made for the best burger/beer combo I've had in a long time. The beer and wine selection is impressive and the wait staff was attentive and very professional.
(4)Jennifer P.
This place seems to change their menu every few months. I don't think they have settled on their brand yet, but the food is always very good. Atmosphere is fun.
(4)James C D.
Our first visit was on opening day. We expected minor glitches and got them. The loaded potato soup was excellent. The meatloaf was simply the best non-home-made meatloaf I've ever tasted. But, don't stop here and rush out to get it. A couple of weeks later, we returned and I discovered that the wonderful meat loaf had been removed from the menu. The mustacolli I ordered in its place was very good with a superb sauce. A damper on an otherwise fine dining experience occurred when I asked the waiter for a slice of bread to "mop up" the remains of the sauce, He did bring me a roll but the seventy-five cents extra charge on my menu seemed a bit "bush league" . Good news - bad news: Food is very good. Place is extremely noisy - on a par with Chuckie Cheese's during a kids party. Still needs fine tuning.
(3)Roy E.
Second time family has eaten here.... food was excellent however the wait for preparation was excessive both times. Was not really busy for a Saturday afternoon... had 3 other diners..waited 35 to 40 monutes after order was taken to eat.
(3)C. S.
I would give 5 stars but have to try it again a few times! The first visit was fan-tabulous! Will go back and update the stars after our 3rd stop here...We had the Buffalo Chicken Salad and the Prime Rib Sandwich, also tried the Pretzels. Drinks were hand crafted at the bar and this particular Saturday night was crowded, but we got in quick! Great long Islands!
(4)Marie N.
This is a fun restaurant with good food and very friendly service. Lots of families and since the floors are wood and the ceilings are open, it gets kind of noisy. So this is no place for an intimate dinner. All of the food I saw coming out of the kitchen looked delicious. We saw lots of hamburgers, pizza, grilled cheese, buffalo chicken salad (humongous). We had the beef stroganoff and it was fantastic. I couldn't believe how tender the beef was. It was served with a small piece of garlic bread. I tried a chicken sandwich with cheddar cheese, bacon, barbeque sauce and ranch sauce on it. Sandwiches come with garlic potato wedges or sweet potato fries. No regular french fries here. One minor suggestion for improvement. They use the service model where the server takes your order but then a 'food runner' delivers the food to your table. The food runner should ask 'Is there anything I can get you at this time?' before running off. I believe the manager was our food runner. Even though I had asked my server to include ketchup with my sandwich, it was not delivered. The food runner left so quickly that I couldn't catch him before he left to ask for the ketchup. So I had to wait until I saw him again before asking for ketchup. Same thing happened to a table near us. The food was dropped off and before they could ask the food runner for silverware, the was gone. We will definitely return to this restaurant when we are in the area.
(5)Leah C.
SO much potential... that it was almost frustrating eating here. such a great space with a model train running overhead every 20 minutes - great distraction for the kid! our server was a doll and everyone was just so cheery in there. the food was just horrendous. the portions were stingy. the salmon sliders i attempted to share with my 2-year old was all bread no fish! i could count the shrimp in my husband's pesto (where's the pesto) shirmp pasta. i looked around and no one's meal looked appetizing. i so want to report this place to kitchen nightmares - this place would be a goldmine after a revamp!
(2)Julie H.
Great atmosphere. Very busy Friday night. Sat at the bar and had some local beers. Dinner was very good. We have the brick oven pretzel sticks. Very good! Cheese was hot and tasty. My husband had the bacon stuffed burger, which he loved and I had the morning shift burger. It was amazing. I had a side of the Parmesan garlic sauce from another burger to dip my fries in. Yummy. Beer was cold and good. Good home the chocolate cake for later. 5/5 stars.
(5)Lyndsay L.
My husband and I had seen this place driving on our way to Chicago from Ohio a couple of times but never when we could stop there and eat... But this time we made a point of it. And we are glad we did. Love the atmosphere and the quotes throughout the place. We started with the fried pickle app - yum. My mom and husband each got the 4 burger sampler with garlic wedges. They enjoyed them all, but both's favorite was the Edison burger. They both thought the wedges could have had a little more garlic on them, but still enjoyed them. My dad got the meatloaf - it was delicious. I got the pot roast Mac and cheese. Loved the blue cheese with it. It was so filling as I was only able to eat half of it. We wished we had room for dessert. The triple layer cheesecake looked tasty.
(5)Marina D.
Where to start..THIS PLACE IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVS NOW!!From the moment you drive up you KNOW you are going to have a one of a kind dining experience,and then!!when I went into the restroom and they were playing I LOVE LUCY on the t.v...I JUST KNEW THIS PLACE WAS SPECIAL!!!!Besides the ambiance of the restaurant the food was excellent,hot and reasonably priced.Alexis was our server and was knowledgable about menu items and the featured American of the week...we have decided to stop here every time we travel to Wisconsin.
(5)Mary Joe J.
Me, my husband and 3 kids 11 and under .... Have been here 3 times and we love the service and we love the food!
(5)Ed R.
So I gave IR another chance after 2 horrible experiences here in the past. I'll break it down as follows; Service : better but still not good. We came on a slow Tuesday night so searing wasn't an issue like I've had on weekends. The server was nice, she was good to my kids, refreshed drinks promptly, however they seemed understaffed and she took a long time to take our order... For example, we had to wait to order appetizers because she told us she was changing the Pepsi... Shouldn't the kitchen staff do that? Other tables appeared to wait forever for ordering too. Food : tasted....just okay, looked gross. My wife got the Pot Roast Mac and cheese, sounded great on paper but looked gross upon arrival. The cheese was congealed and greasy, it didn't look appetizing at all. I got the Special General MacArthur burger, overlap it was good but the bun was really greasy and it made it a bit unappealing after a while. The best way for me to describe the menu here is that one person sat down and made a menu that THEY thought would be good, but failed to consult anyone else. The choices are eclectic and out of the norm, but they clearly do not have a chef capable of executing it to its potential. I kept picturing Gordon Ramsay on Kitchen Nightmares picking through the food shouting about how greasy and gross it was... Overall I love the atmosphere in this place, the decor is phenomenal and it is just a cool place. It's a shame that the food just isn't good enough to make me want to come back.
(2)Deidra W.
Fantastic! We will be back. Really enjoyed this place. The menu has something for everyone. Daily drink specials..$4 sangrias on Saturdays. Highly recommend...you won't be disappointed.
(5)Lacee M.
One of my favorite places. This is definitely not a figure friendly menu. While they do offer salad I personally find it hard to go that way with all the mouthwatering comfort food this place has to offer. Been there numerous times and have probably had everything on the menu and have loved everything. The soups are great! The big surprise to me is the fish tacos.... I never ordered them because they seemed out of place with the rest of the menu but luckily I had a taste of someone else's (at my table of course )and they are by far the best I've ever had!! They are so light and fresh tasting that it is perfect for the days you're not in the mood for anything too heavy. Love this place, it is a nice change from all the chains around
(5)Bob C.
A fun place to dine.....once I was very excited for this place to open about 6 years ago due to the proximity to campus and the need for a unique restaurant in Valparaiso that isn't a chain restaurant such as Applebees, TGIFridays, or Chilis. Upon your first visit, you're greeted by amazing architecture and details that only Disney can rival. Amazing iron work and a train that circles the restaurant as you eat. After that initial bliss; the menu, pricing, and quality of food is lackluster. The food is decent but nothing that triggers your mind to say 'wow i want to eat here again!' The service is decent, but again nothing that sticks out. I have been here 6x since they opened and two of those times my party and I ordered drinks and decided to just eat elsewhere due to the pricing and selections. If you haven't been here, try it out once and feel free to go from there.
(2)Kyle W.
While this restaurant is still fairly new, I still think it's worthy of a review. SHORT: I would wait a few months before going back. Small portions for the price compared to other local steakhouses. The so called stuffed hamburgers are not stuffed at all. In fact, they are dry, flat, and tasteless. When I asked about it, the waitress came with some excuse saying that the cheese cooks into the meet. (Which you know is complete BS if you have ever cooked a stuffed burger) Cool atmosphere and our glasses were always full. Long wait after we were seated. (45min) LONG: Showed up about 8pm on a Tuesday. Waited about 10-15min to be seated. (not bad since we were entertained by the toy training traveling throughout the restaurant) Industrial Revolution, The specialty is stuffed hamburgers, but not really... Well the hamburger was not stuffed at all. In fact, it was dry, tasteless and flat. I ordered the Industrial Stuffed Burger which is suppose to be a blackened cajun burger stuffed with blue cheese. After asking my waitress about the burger being not stuffed, she informed me that by cooking the meat, you cook out the blue cheese. This is total BS because anyone who has ever stuffed a hamburger knows that cheese is 'stuffed' between two thin patties of meat and cooked, and that the cheese does not spontaneously combust. Also, it's a blackened cajun burger, it's suppose to be blackened. Not only was our burger not blackened, but the cheese (apparently) was still 'infused' with the meat. I deny ever tasting blue cheese in that burger. Nor did I taste any hint of cajun seasoning. Good news though, the fries were pretty good. That was about it. Ok, the atmosphere was great. It's also nice that not every TV is playing sports. Finally a restaurant trying to accommodate to all crowds. The waitress kept our glasses full and checked in occasionally (however she clearly avoided us for the 45 minutes we waited for our food).
(2)Jenni L.
We finally stopped for lunch after passing it by for months. What a pleasant surprise! Extremely clean, bar area separate from restaurant, nice menu for adults and kids. Kids loved the train running over their heads. Service was fast. Food very tasty, esp the potato soup and burgers which are cooked medium unless otherwise directed. I would definitely return to taste other dishes.
(4)Adrien B.
This place has such awesome decor. It's the type of place I'd love to go to and have a beer at the bar. However, the food is just "eh" and is very expensive. I am totally a "you get what you pay for" type and have no problem paying more for really good food. But the problem with this place is that you are paying pretty high prices for the area and the food is whimpy in taste and in portion size. I saw a couple of the other reviewers saying that they felt like they were paying for the decor. I felt the same way.
(2)doreen b.
Looking to fill some time and empty stomachs between a wedding and a reception, our group ended up here, and glad we did. Entertaining atmosphere, very energized and accommodating staff, and good food. Try the onion soup... seriously tasty, and surprisingly filling. When a group member mentioned she'd never tried sweet potato fries, the server brought her ordered dish... and a tiny sample of sweet potato fries. How nice is that?? Was surprised the place was mobbed at 3 in the afternoon on a Saturday, but as it turns out, with good reason. If we're in the area again, we'll be back. (and yep, loved the overhead electric train!)
(4)Vincent S.
I have read the other reviews and don't understand the critics. "Napkins on the floor, too many TVs, I didn't get a seat fast enough...." You soft / spoiled people are the down fall of this country. Stay home. Thursday evening, wasn't too busy. Plenty of seats in waiting area, inside & outside, if needed, but we walked right in and sat down. The waiter was very friendly and knew the menu. Great beer list including locals. The menu was a "working class" menu, not a Ruth's Chris menu; burgers, sandwiches, soups, appetizers, meatloaf, pot roast and other dinners. I ordered a bowl of chili to start as I always do when available. Great heat, nice flavor, few beans....... it was the best restaurant chili I have ever had. The burgers are the thing to get. From 1/4 pound burgers to 1/2 pound, 1 pound, 2 pounds and 5 pounds. The 5 pounder is free if you eat it in an hour. My IR burger was perfect. I had the 1 ton burger, although it only weighed 1/2 pound. False advertising? Perhaps I should gripe about that like the spoiled people. The burger was juicey, very hot and cooked to perfection. I was surprised that the bun held up to the juiciness of the burger. The sweet potato fries were perfect too. I don't know a better word for these other than perfect. The size was proportionate, 20 - 25 fries. I am not going to complain about the price like some. I thought it was a great VALUE for quality received. The Industrial Revolution is a lot like Union work; skilled workers making a great product at a fair price. Understand, Red Robin has good burgers, but I would eat here over RR any day, regardless that it is more expensive and that IR doesn't give you a "fresh bucket" of fries to eat. If you like Red Robin, nothing against them, this isn't Red Robin. Go to Red Robin if you like that. My brother rates restaurants on the "buffet factor." Flavor, quality and presentation doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that he can eat 10,000 calories of stuff and get a bargain for $8. From the movie Monte Python and the Meaning of Life....... Mr. Creosol; "I'll eat it all." Waiter; "Would you like that all mixed up in a bucket?" Mr. Creosol; "Yes, and don't skimp on the pate." Waiter; "Of course and I'll make sure you get a double helping." Hello Red Robin.
(5)Kristyn D.
We had a great experience here! The service was outstanding, and the food was too. The potato wedges were scrumptious, and the kids menu was real food, not overpriced Kraft mac'n'cheese and frozen nuggets. I thought the prices were reasonable. My husband, my daughter, and myself ate for just under $50, and that included 3 beers. The keg was in the process of being changed on one of the beers he ordered, and they couldn't get to the replacement due to a frozen lock, so the waitstaff kept bringing samples until the problem was solved. They were super nice. I'm sad to see all the negative reviews, I really enjoyed this place, and plan to in the future.
(5)Jonathon W.
My wife and I love this place. We have been twice now. Once for dinner and once for lunch. And both times we went we got great service. The waitress was friendly and they were quick. The atmosphere is great and our children love it. The food is great. It's a little pricey for the amount of food you get but not so much so that it doesn't make the visit worth it. Their potato wedges are great! The pot roast mac and cheese is AMAZING!!! We really enjoy the food and it's clean.
(4)Hector R.
I am Disappointed. I have been here before with my family and have always had a good experience. This time the service was slow(waitress complained because there was only two of them) and the entrees were brought at the same time as the appetizers. 3 of us got the mill salads and we found lettuce pieces that were brown and wilted. The avocado was old and the bacon was missing from the salads. All this for $12.95 a salad? I told and showed the Manager and she thanked me for telling her. She did try to make amends by giving us dessert free after we cashed out but that didn't change our opinion of how bad the salads were. Here's my advice to the owners, get back to basics, serve fresh food and make sure the help takes pride in what comes out of the kitchen.
(2)Judi S.
This was our first time at IR and we loved it!! Our server, Ronny, was outstanding and super friendly. The pretzel appetizer tasted delicious with four large pretzel pieces and a crock of authentic cheese (not the cheese whiz type). Although the cheese was very salty, it still was delicious. My husband ordered the special which was the prime rib opened faced sandwich with garlic mashed potatoes. They gave him au juis and horse radish for dipping. I had their Cobb salad with grilled chicken. Both dishes were superb with the prime rib and chicken cooked just right! For dessert we shared the red, white and blue cheesecake made on the premises.......mmmmmmm it was stupendous!! Served with fresh blueberries and strawberries, this is a dessert to remember. We will definitely be back and I highly recommend it!! Thanks to Ronny for a great job!! It's a rare occasion ,anymore, to find a server who is personable AND attentive but he has that perfect combo! BRAVO!
(4)Russell T.
Great food the smoked bacon burger tastes has good as it sounds and the fries are wedges smothered in garlic cheese sauce. The wait was not any worse then most restaurants but if you are looking for buger king speed this is not it.
(4)Nikta P.
The decor and atmosphere are really well done and make eating here fun! Service was attentive and friendly and the food was classic American fare with attention to detail. It is not cheap but the portions are generous. We were in Indiana for the weekend and would definitely come back.
(4)Mk O.
Casual atmosphere, food that was right on the mark. Friendly staff, very, very attentive. Creative drink specials and decor that is worth the trip. Went out here for an early NYE dinner. 5pm reservations. The Edison burger was fantastic on a pretzel roll and sweet potato fries were cooked perfectly. The onion soup was delicious. The tab, including drinks, appetizers, soups and burgers was less than $100 for three of us. If you're interested in American hertitage within the Industrial Revolution, this place will feel like home. A slew of food, great atmosphere, well worth the trip. We will be back.
(4)Samantha P.
My brother and me went here recently because I hadn't been and he warned me it was ok but nothing special. The atmosphere is amazing, I will say it's worth going to see even if you order just a couple of drinks. I loved the statues that adorned the outside and the interesting steel mill and industry decor inside. Something so different. The service was terrible. She took our drink orders and brought them back 15-20 mins later to take our order. I ordered a half burger and half salad plate and my brother ordered a turkey sandwich with fries. We waited nearly an hour for our food despite only 5 other diners (whom all had food) and after about 30 mins heard two cooks in the open part of the kitchen/grill talking arguing about which one was supposed to go make the turkey sandwich (I'm pretty sure they should have already had it made in 30 mins). My burger was pretty good but they got the cheese wrong and I wasn't about to send it back and wait another hour since we didn't have all afternoon. My brothers sandwich was atrocious. The bread was so hard it was falling apart in big chunks, there is no way they didn't notice that. We ate and waited for the check with our waitress never coming to check on our food. We waited with plates pushed to the side of the table for a check for 20 mins before finally going to find the waitress. When giving her the credit card my brother told her the bread from his sandwich was very stale and showed it to her on his plate. She said she'd let the cook know, never offering an apology or a discount like any other place would/should. Cool atmosphere, horrible staff and so-so food. Nothing to return for, a shame too.
(2)Christine M.
Casual dining, decor is different and interesting. The restaurant is a perfect addition for Northwest Indiana since we are an industrial region. Good place to take visiting friends or family for a casual meal. Fish tacos are one menu item that is unique from other area restaurants. Great beer selection!
(3)Joe V.
Awesome decor and a pretty neat atmosphere, but the fun stops there. The food is greatly overpriced and subpar (their specialty condiments, such as the chipolte mayo seemed sadly flavourless), even if some of (far from all) the portions are pretty large. The service was lackluster, with drink refills either slow-to-come or nonexistent until we flagged somebody down. Seating was rather quick on the busy(ish) Friday night we came in (I've seen busier, sure, and they had PLENTY of staffers in the place), but their system seemed inefficiently-managed to the point where it likely cost others more time elsewhere (our party of 3 was seated at a 6-person table). Servers were nice (when they acknowledged you, that is; we noticed many of them sitting around nothing-doing at several points), if a bit awkward with their communication. They forgot to ask about sides, and they never once asked if we'd like any drinks at all once we said we'd "start with water". Too bad; I'd heard they had a great beer menu before I came, too, but what I saw was laughably typical and small. Approximately 1/4th of our time there was spent waiting for somebody to run our check when we wanted to leave. Wish they could live up to the apparent hype!
(2)D. T.
Great Atmosphere! Good Food! Kids love the trains that go around! Nice beer and wine selections! Excellent Service! We would go back!
(4)Erika D.
well, we've been back a few times and i have to say that i'm just as satisfied as i was the first time. i've taken to NOT ordering off the menu and i try the chef's special every time...i'm never disappointed. the last time was a herb-crusted white fish with rice and vegetables. it was done perfectly and there was so much there i had to take some home. the beer selection is better than most places you'll find, though they are kind of pricey in that area. sadly, the wings have been taken off the menu. they were really good, too. the bruschetta was fantastic, though. definitely fresh...homemade. i'm happy to be able to say that the quality of the restaurant has gotten better, not worse, as i really enjoyed my initial, and subsequent visits here.
(4)Dave A.
I came here for my birthday dinner with my dad and stepmom. Everyone's food was really good although it took a good 15min or so to get it. I had the olive burger and the garlic wedges and a Bells IPA to drink and the mix of pungent and salty flavors made for the best burger/beer combo I've had in a long time. The beer and wine selection is impressive and the wait staff was attentive and very professional.
(4)Jennifer P.
This place seems to change their menu every few months. I don't think they have settled on their brand yet, but the food is always very good. Atmosphere is fun.
(4)Kaleen F.
Potato soup is awesome and the freedom pizza was booming with flavor. Very unique place and love how the owner purchased the statues of workers made by an artist, who made them for ground zero. A bit expensive.
(4)Dana F.
Great service. Had the freedom veggie pizza and a potato soup. A good cold beer and it was just right. I don't understand what everyone's problem is about portion size. It was fine. If you want to over eat go to a buffet!
(4)Elisa S.
The atmosphere of this restaurant is great. The decor is spot on with the American dream. Excellent concept restaurant. As a personal plea to the owner, please, please hire a new chef or a chef that has gone to culinary school The food served needs to stay ahead of the expectations of your decor. This pizza's are ok here and burgers are ok as well, but the other home cooked food is bland.
(2)Angela U.
We stopped here on a whim. Very interesting decor. They had I Love Lucy on television in the ladies room and the Three Stooges on the television in the Men's room. Appetizer was the flat bread, wonderful flavor lots of cheese, basil. Perfect! I had the Olive hamburger. Loved it. My husband the American Classic and he enjoyed every bite. We shared the Red, White and Blue Cheesecake dessert. Strawberries, Blueberries and Vanilla. Yum. Wish we lived closer, we would be here all the time. They are getting a cocktail license, so as of now they just have wine and beer. Wonderful selection on both though. I can't wait to go back to Valparaiso, just to eat here.
(4)G D.
Great place nice staff if my order would have been correct would have bee 5 star. Grandson have a great time a said pizza was 5 star.
(4)Richard D.
This was our second visit to this place. The food and service is excellent and the prices are reasonable. Interesting decor too. My only regret is that they are about 45 minutes from us. Wish they were closer. We both has halibut wrap with garlic fries. Very good and my fussy wife was equally pleased.
(5)Mary B.
I liked the decor, the food was nothing special. Had a burger, I've had better, good pretzel bread tho.
(2)Yvonne L.
Another great meal this afternoon but my food was only lukewarm. My companion had roast beef and said it was very good. Service was a little off today. Had to ask three times to get lemon for my water which was unusual. We love this place for its food, service and atmosphere.
(4)Je S.
Decor inside is worth going for. It is steel industry themed with a train running below the ceiling. Very cool to recognize the industry around the region. Meatloaf is great so is the pot roast, pot pie and chicken fried steak. Don't miss the fried pickles. Had a slider sampler once, it was just ok. I like their "comfort foods" more than the burgers. They do have an outdoor patio so that was nice to enjoy a drink and appetizer. Good service here too.
(4)Audrey B.
I loved this place when it first opened and it has significantly changed since then. My favorite was the crab cake burger which now has been long gone. Everyone in my family ordered it when went went. I also used to like how the staff had uniforms that matched the decor which are also gone now as well. I never really went there for the burgers because I liked other things but it seems like that is all they are focused on now. We gave it a few tries last year but haven't been back.
(3)Kev F.
The model T turkey sandwich is fantastic! The secret sauce has a sweet edge to it but the bacon adds to the flavor. The garlic potato wedges are outstanding. Only one piece of advice. The incredible deep-fried pickles need to be drained out of the fryer better. Way too greasy and sit in puddles of grease. The burgers are out of this world! Very fresh, and very delicious! Also, and this is never to be overlooked, the service is outstanding!
(4)Leanne H.
Casual atmosphere with some unusual menu items. The model train running overhead with the open ceiling tends to make the restaurant somewhat extra noisy. Wait staff is fairly attentive and the food is served hot. For the price, the food is a little higher than other places offering similar items.
(3)Andrew B.
We chose IR to eat lunch October 21, 2012. This was our first visit. I must say the decor is very unique and being from Northwest Indiana I appreciated the effort to the details. Someone obviously spent a lot of money to make the place look impressive. I wish I could say that our dining experience met our expectations. We were seated quickly, and about 5 minutes later we were greeted by Kylie to get our drink order. Ten minutes later those were delivered and then she told us about the specials -- this is after we looked at the menu for 15 minutes and had already chose other things. We ordered a cup of potato soup. When served, it was barely warm. After the soup was dropped at our table, we didn't see our waitress for 30 minutes, and our food took 40 minutes to hit the table. We watched others walk in, sit down, and start eating while we waited. We had ordered the pot roast dinner and 2 hamburgers. The seasoning on the pot roast was less than disappointing and it was not as tender as expected for being tended to "overnight" as the menu brags. The burgers, while unique in toppings, were nothing special--1/2 pound burgers lost much of their weight once cooked. Garlic wedges or sweet potato fries are offered -- a very limited choice. My pot roast was supposed to come with "root" vegetables -- I was looking forward to this -- and broccoli appeared on my plate. Last I knew, broccoli was not a root vegetable. Carrot? Onion? Turnip? Nope. And no mention that they were out of root vegetables. I was just served broccoli, with no offer of substitute. Our glasses became empty more than once with v-e-r-y s-l-o-w refill. We saw Kylie spending time talking to her co-workers near the serving window by the cash register -- but she didn't have time to be bothered with her tables...unfortunate. She was less than attentive -- we didn't feel welcomed or appreciated. For the cost of our meal, almost $55 for 3, and the poor service, we felt very let down. We noticed that there is a personal plea on each table from Mike Leeson, the owner, asking for feedback, and we sent it via the website. A manager responded and asked for a phone number from us. We responded we did not have much of anything else to say, just that we are hoping our feedback makes someone else's visit a better one. We asked the manager for her phone number and a time we could call her, if she still wanted to talk, and never heard back. We don't think we will return. IR is just another independent eatery we tried to support that didn't follow through on its promise/potential. Very disappointing -- such a shame. And make sure you read the filtered reviews -- Yelp has filtered 75% of IR's reviews, for some reason. Including this one. Hmmm...
(1)Lindsey B.
Maybe it's the Chicagoan in me, but I thought this place was a great value. Loved the beer flights: 4 - 2oz tasters & a pint for $7 Massive burgers with generous portions of garlic potato wedges or sweet potato fries. Our server had lots of energy and made even the picky eaters of our group feel special. I wish I remembered his name, he really did complete the dinner package. The general vibe of the place was interesting. My dad was an iron worker, I can't wait to tell him all about this place. Or maybe convince him to stop in for lunch in route from Ohio to Illinois. I know he would love it. Is it fine date night out kind of dining? No, but it's a nice place to grab a burger.
(5)Beth M.
I am not a huge fan of themed restaurants, but I really enjoyed eating her. The waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly. He helped us pick out the perfect meal. The menu is interesting and eclectic. The burgers are great and so are the sweet potato fries. My only complaint is the noise. With the brick walls, blaring tvs, high ceiling, open kitchen, and toy trains going overhead it is nearly impossible to hear anything.
(3)Derek H.
We had dinner here on Saturday evening around 6:30 pm. The restaurant was full but they were able to seat us in the bar area immediately. Menu was diverse with many different burgers and comfort foods. Each member of our group had something different and we all enjoyed our meals. The beer selection (draft) wasn't bad but wasn't great. They had 6-8 craft brews and several Macro brews. The server wasn't very informed on all the beers. There was an empty tap with a Bell's handle, need to fill that spot! Overall, we had a good time, enjoyed our food and company. We will likely stop again. It is always great to find a non chain place to eat.
(4)Sean T.
Had the pot roast burger... reviews about no flavor, microwaved or frozen couldn't be far from the truth... garlic wedges... amazing! Good portion superb execution in flavor, seasoned and cooked perfect. Served hot, the waitress was very attentive, and my drinks never touched bottom... Only downside was $17 dollar tab burger, fries and a drink... once in a blue moon I'll make the trip to valpo and if I can squeeze it into the budget I'll be glad to come again
(4)Katie C.
Went here for dinner with a friend last week, and it was very good! I usually avoid chain restaurants, but was pleasantly surprised by I.R. We had fried pickles as an appetizer-nice and crispy, not soggy at all. I had a Cape Cod as a drink, and it was tart and refreshing. Dinner was a hamburger with egg on it (always a solid choice) and my friend had the buffalo chicken burger. We stayed long after we finished our food and weren't rushed out at all, which was a pleasant change. I'd go back!
(4)Lizz C.
Located within easy driving distance of downtown, Valpo campus and near hotels. My husband and I went here twice on vacation in Valpo - I can only speak to the bar and the service attentiveness there as we did not take a booth or table. They have a nice variety of craft taps (Upland, Figure 8, Three Floyds and more), and both times the bartenders we spoke to knew their beers. After a little bit of craft-beer-love, we decided to grab a bit of food. We split the Revolution Pizza, a nice size pizza for splitting between two people for a light meal or between 4 people for a 'little something'. It was good - it won't go down in history as the best pizza ever, but it was tasty. We had the Stout Brownie the second time we went - the first time it came from the kitchen with the ice cream almost completely melted. The dining room was getting quite peppy so the dessert was probably not grabbed by the staff (which was in the middle of a shift change). While I never have sent food back at a restaurant, I did that time as we'd quite wanted to try it with ice cream intact. They made up for it by re-making it and we did enjoy it. I'm a baker and fairly picky - It wasn't my favorite dessert ever but it was done well for a medium-priced restaurant. The ice cream was good, but as I like to fully taste the featured ingredient I was a bit disappointed that the flavor of the malt in the stout didn't come through more. That's fine - it's made for the masses, not for beer and baking snobs like me. The decor is interesting. Photos of workers adorn the walls, along with interesting quotes about people, tenacity, industry and finances painted in white paint on the brick itself. Black girders grid the ceiling, and a train occasionally runs on a ceiling-suspended track. I agree with one of the previous reviewers - the lighting is probably too harsh for some. Though the fixtures fit the mood of the restaurant, the very bright lighting doesn't make for as casual a dining experience as I'd like. We had a good experience here both times, and we will stop back again when we are in Valpo.
(4)Esme G.
love it, awesome staff and great food. great burgers and potato soup... my fav :) great place to take someone for a great experience.
(5)Roland S.
Classic Midwestern American food place. Burgers, pot roast, perch along with a variety of cheese-based appetizers. The pretzels and cheese and chips and cheese appetizers were good. The pot roast burger was solid, but lacking in actual pot roast. The perch dinner that I had the last time I visited was pretty good, and I like that they offer sweet potato fries. The beer offerings were minimally acceptable, much like the service, which I'd call friendly but not the most attentive. It's got an interesting decor that evokes industry, progress, and hope. I found the portions adequate and the prices just a bit on the high side. I'd probably come here again just to take out of town guests somewhere casual, local, and that isn't a chain, but it's not high on my list.
(3)Timothy W.
The burgers are magnificent... Tough and gritty and delicious like America's rich industrial history. Can't decide on a burger? Get the sampler! The great beer menu was topped off by seeing the 3 stooges playing in the men's restroom. Bravo!
(5)Mark K.
Great burgers!!! I had the firehouse burger. That thing was nice and spicy from start to finish. Great decor ad the kids loved the train. The garlic wedges were fantastic also.
(5)s b.
My family and I went to Industrial Revolution last weekend. I was shocked. We've been going there for more than a year and have always been happy. My daughter has always ordered the mini corn dogs from the children's menu. They aren't something she gets often and the fact they were hand dipped in a yummy batter always impressed me. A special treat, indeed. Yeah, they don't make those anymore. She had to settle for macaroni and cheese which she didn't end up liking. I liked it, but it was awfully garlicky for kids. I ordered a pot roast sandwich and sweet potato fries. Ok, so that is what I got, but for $10, I would appreciate something other than jarred gravy. My fries were cold and there were only about 18 of them on my plate. (I'm American in an American comfort food restaurant...I may not eat all of my fries, but I want a lot of them to pick at. And it isn't like I haven't gotten far more than I could eat when I've been there previously. Why the change?) Is it a strange complaint, too, that my plate was too small? There's no way to eat a pot roast sandwich other than to cut it up and my plate was so small I had a difficult time maneuvering so that I didn't throw my sandwich and handful of fries on the table. My raspberry tea was outstanding, though. I love that it is freshly shaken, they honored my request for half the syrup they normally use, and they include fresh raspberries in the glass. (Which frankly made my jarred gravy all that more insulting.) My husband was pleased with his buffalo chicken sandwich. We've had them before and they've always been good. His complaint was the long wait for service. Never have we had to wait that long. And it wasn't that the servers weren't hustling, they just needed about three more of them. Which seems strange since we were there at an "off peak" time and the place didn't seem that busy. We'll probably try it again. The decor is wonderful and we certainly don't mind the noise. Our daughter LOVES the train that runs around above our heads. I'm just really sad that we've had such wonderful experiences in the past and things seemed so changed with the quality of the food and staff.
(2)Sarah C.
Not impressed! Not happy with the menu- Before leaving home, we checked online for the menu. It showed meatloaf, fried chicken and ribs- none of which are offered at the restaurant, which is deceptive. The server told us those things were only available the first week they were open, but that the "web guy" hadn't had a chance to take it off the website. :o( It was just a bummer because the meatloaf we saw online is what made my boyfriend want to eat there, as opposed to other restaurants in the area. Also, I felt that the menu selections were very limited. I am a vegetarian and there are very few choices-a pizza or you could order some of the salads with no meat. How hard would it be to add a veggie burger or grilled portabella sandwich?? Not worth the money- We ordered a beer, the bruschetta(which was AMAZING!), a salad and the herb chicken- $43! As mentioned earlier, I am a vegetarian. I ordered the Chop salad with no bacon. It was essentially half a head of iceberg lettuce with miniscule amounts of red onion, avocado, tomato and blue cheese. When it was all mixed up, I had many bites that were just iceberg. For $9!! Since the meatloaf was not an option, my boyfriend chose the herb-stuffed chicken, which the server and the food runner raved about. It was a chicken breast sitting on about 6 green beans and a scoop of mashed potatoes. For $18! He said it was okay, but not worth almost twenty dollars. What a rip-off!! Subpar service- Our server, Melissa, was a hot mess. She seemed extremely frazzled the entire time we were there, like she was on the verge of crying. She did not read us the specials for the night, but we heard her telling other tables. Also, our dinner was brought out by another server and Melissa never came by to see how we were doing, which was kind of a bummer, because we did not have silverware and needed to flag someone else down to get it. Once we were done, she came over to see "how it's tasting"...well, it's all done now, lady! Get with the program. I used to be a server too, so I'm not trying to be unfair, but a place that serves $18 chicken should have better service than Applebee's!! Cool atmosphere- I did think the restaurant itself was very neat, especially considering it used to be a dirty wing place. They did a really nice job with the brick work and iron. The train around the top is very cool and the bar area is very inviting. From what I understand, their beer selection is pretty awesome- I don't drink beer, but my boyfriend got pretty excited! I am from Valpo, but live in California now. Was visiting last week with my boyfriend and though IR would be a fun place to go for a Friday night dinner. I was trying to show him that there really ARE good restaurants in Indiana, :o) but I regret that we didn't choose a different place for dinner and that this was his impression.
(2)Jennifer S.
The food is American Fare meets trendy new twist! We went to IR with another couple and had salads and burgers. We sipped on peach iced teas while waiting for our lunch. I thought the food was great, the atmosphere was neat too. There's a lot of IR-era photographps, a train that circles overhead, etc. For a burger and fries luch, it was a little spendy, but I would still go back.
(4)Kendra P.
Bad. Just bad. Bad food. Bad service. BAD. The drink was good and that's where it ends.
(1)Kate S.
Stopped here for a Sunday lunch on our way through Indiana. It was surprisingly busy! I had mixed feelings about the themed decor--great idea but felt like they took it just a bit too far. I particularly disliked the dozens of televisions showing footage of machinery, factories, and industry; I felt they were really distracting. On the other hand, thought he model train running around the ceiling was really neat. The menu was large and an interesting mix of the bizarre and the intriguing. We ordered the much-mentioned pretzel breadsticks and, though chewy as others have said, they were really good. Loved that they didn't have that awful salt normally found on most pretzels. The cheese dipping sauce was mediocre--it tasted like velveeta mixed with something; the pretzels were better plain. My husband ordered a bacon-stuffed burger and loved it. He ate the garlic wedges, even though they were topped with parmesan cheese, which he detests. They were actually tasty, but I found that, oddly, they tasted neither of garlic nor of parmesan; they were just really good wedge fries, nice and crisp. I had a buffalo chicken burger and thought it was delicious. Surprisingly spicy, breading was nice and crisp. Would definitely order again. I came home and recommended this place to a family member, so I know it was at least memorable. If you're passing by, it's definitely worth a stop.
(4)Ashley K.
Overpriced, small portions, annoying toy train runs around room. Only reason to come here is if you have a train-obsessed child. There are much better places in The Region.
(1)Jack K.
Burgers are decent but I wasn't blown away. Kids Mac is summer cheesy - they liked it. Wife liked the Grilled buffalo chicken.
(3)Chuck H.
We have been here two times now. Both time we came early at lunch. We were seated and drinks and food came out fast. The servers where great and kept our drinks filled. I liked both meals I had. We will be back again.
(4)doreen b.
Looking to fill some time and empty stomachs between a wedding and a reception, our group ended up here, and glad we did. Entertaining atmosphere, very energized and accommodating staff, and good food. Try the onion soup... seriously tasty, and surprisingly filling. When a group member mentioned she'd never tried sweet potato fries, the server brought her ordered dish... and a tiny sample of sweet potato fries. How nice is that?? Was surprised the place was mobbed at 3 in the afternoon on a Saturday, but as it turns out, with good reason. If we're in the area again, we'll be back. (and yep, loved the overhead electric train!)
(4)Jesse T.
Like most people who write here, the decor is great, atmosphere is all right. Looks like they spent a lot of money on it. If that was the only thing, I'd still give it 4 stars - too many TVs in here. The kids portions were great. The hot dog was HUGE. Burger was a good size for a 9-yr old boy. Plenty of fries. I think I had a "special" - some kind of fish tacos. They were good. Service was slow. It wasn't crowded. There was no wait. Overall, it's neat, but I wasn't blown away by the food, and it felt like I was paying for the decor, which I'm not really interested in. The beer selection was decent for craft beer. Thanks for that!
(3)Leah C.
SO much potential... that it was almost frustrating eating here. such a great space with a model train running overhead every 20 minutes - great distraction for the kid! our server was a doll and everyone was just so cheery in there. the food was just horrendous. the portions were stingy. the salmon sliders i attempted to share with my 2-year old was all bread no fish! i could count the shrimp in my husband's pesto (where's the pesto) shirmp pasta. i looked around and no one's meal looked appetizing. i so want to report this place to kitchen nightmares - this place would be a goldmine after a revamp!
(2)Amy E.
Went here one time. That was the last time. Walked in...the host sat us and walked away. Our server came over and took our drink order, and someone else brought it. She came back and took our food order, we never got it. Both my boyfriend and I ordered a salad with grilled chicken. We waited 25 minutes before we ever saw the waitress again. When she did walk up it was to tell us our food was on the way. 15 minutes later the manager came to tell us she was sorry about the wait and it was coming right away. 10 minutes later we got up and walked out. There was no way that it should have taken 50 minutes for someone to make a salad with chicken and if there was something wrong....like she forgot to put in the order....the chicken was frozen, etc. they could have just told us instead of leaving us sitting there wondering where our food was. I wouldn't waste your time! This place is horrible. Atmosphere was cool. Service was the worst I have ever had in my life!!! Pathetic!!
(1)Robin C.
I met a friend for dinner and decided to sit in the bar. Very comfortable tables and the waitress/bartender was very nice. I ordered Moms Famous Double Shift Pot Roast Sandwich and sweet potato fries. My sandwich was pretty good but they accidentally gave me the regular garlic wedge fries instead of sweet potatoes. They were still tasty. I also ordered a dirty martini (Ketel One) and it was just "meh". No blue cheese olives and it still cost me $10.50! That was more than my $9.95 sandwich. I wanted another beverage and decided to go with their cider on tap. She said it came with ice and I told her to hold the ice but she said she had to give it to me because of inventory. Hmmm, I've never heard of putting ice in cider. Either way, for a 20oz glass, it was only $5.50. I heard their Brick Oven Baked Pretzel bites are out of this world so I think the next time I stop in, I'll try them and one of their mouth-watering burgers.
(4)Jessica M.
Great decor. Service was good and friendly. Food was not worth the price. Onions on the burger and in soup were over cooked, chives were dehydrated, the onion soup was over salty. The aujus was also made with soy. Not what was expected for the cost of the food.
(3)Jason C.
Way overpriced! Stay away from the supposed "Brick Oven" Pizza. It was recommended to me by our server. It was a slight step above a Totino's! It was soggy and very undercooked. I was quite shocked by the prices of the quite ordinary menu items. $10 for a burger just seems a little high, and $9 for a tall beer, way too high! Although I did enjoy the atmosphere and decor, it seems to me that management is more worried about whats on their walls than whats on there plates.
(1)Lyndsay L.
My husband and I had seen this place driving on our way to Chicago from Ohio a couple of times but never when we could stop there and eat... But this time we made a point of it. And we are glad we did. Love the atmosphere and the quotes throughout the place. We started with the fried pickle app - yum. My mom and husband each got the 4 burger sampler with garlic wedges. They enjoyed them all, but both's favorite was the Edison burger. They both thought the wedges could have had a little more garlic on them, but still enjoyed them. My dad got the meatloaf - it was delicious. I got the pot roast Mac and cheese. Loved the blue cheese with it. It was so filling as I was only able to eat half of it. We wished we had room for dessert. The triple layer cheesecake looked tasty.
(5)Roy E.
Second time family has eaten here.... food was excellent however the wait for preparation was excessive both times. Was not really busy for a Saturday afternoon... had 3 other diners..waited 35 to 40 monutes after order was taken to eat.
(3)C. S.
I would give 5 stars but have to try it again a few times! The first visit was fan-tabulous! Will go back and update the stars after our 3rd stop here...We had the Buffalo Chicken Salad and the Prime Rib Sandwich, also tried the Pretzels. Drinks were hand crafted at the bar and this particular Saturday night was crowded, but we got in quick! Great long Islands!
(4)Marina D.
Where to start..THIS PLACE IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVS NOW!!From the moment you drive up you KNOW you are going to have a one of a kind dining experience,and then!!when I went into the restroom and they were playing I LOVE LUCY on the t.v...I JUST KNEW THIS PLACE WAS SPECIAL!!!!Besides the ambiance of the restaurant the food was excellent,hot and reasonably priced.Alexis was our server and was knowledgable about menu items and the featured American of the week...we have decided to stop here every time we travel to Wisconsin.
(5)Mary Joe J.
Me, my husband and 3 kids 11 and under .... Have been here 3 times and we love the service and we love the food!
(5)Zoe D.
Spent a night in Valparaiso just passing through on I-80. On the recommendation of the hotel, I headed down for a late lunch. The interior was interesting, tinned ceilings, old pictures, lots of ironwork. The service was attentive yet not bothersome, thanks Ronnie. And then there is the food....I had a firehouse burger (spicy but not too) with their garlic wedges. I will definitely be stopping in again on my next trip across IN on I-80.
(4)Rachael T.
SHORT VERSION: check it out for the atmosphere and the "Dinner in a Brightly Lit Steel Mill" vibe, and hopefully they will get the kinks worked out with regards to portion size and presentation. Because if they don't, people will just go to Kelsey's or Pikk's Tavern instead. No matter how cool the interior decorating. LONG VERSION: We hit Industrial Revolution for dinner at 6:00 on their opening night. We were expecting a wait, but in-spite of the massive number of cars in the lot (as well as parked in the grass across Linwood), we were seated right away. We were expecting to have quite a wait, so the fast seating was a surprise. It was all certainly something to see. The owners, setting up shop in the former Brewski's location just off of Hwy 30, have really gone all-out with regards to the atmosphere and decor. Aside from the amazing figural sculptures and vintage-style construction framework outside, the inside is just as detailed. The walls are all brick and sport large-format, black-and-white prints of every type of industry imaginable. There are also a lot of hand-stenciled quotes about progress, getting ahead, and patriotism; and it seems that everywhere you turn there is another glossy flat-panel showing either the White Sox game or a documentary about Steel Mills. We're talking flat-panels in the bathrooms as well, people. There were five of us for dinner and we ordered a range of appetizers, salads, and mains, including: Nachos, Seared Ahi Tuna, Onion Wedges, Burgers, Open-face Steak Sandwich, and the Pot Roast Dinnner. We weren't that impressed. It's not that anything was bad, just that none of it was very exciting or creative. And, for the local area, the serving sizes were a bit small. We actually spoke to the head "Food Consultant" when he came by with a plate of dessert samples. He made sure to tell us that absolutely everything was hand-made and they didn't serve anything that frozen or pre-made. All very impressive in theory, but the final product was just a little lacking. For example, the Spinach & Pear Salad was missing the pears, and it was very small. In a very upscale restaurant with beautiful presentation and flavor, small might be fine. But in a Regular-Joe, bar-and-grill style restaurant, $8 is a rip-off for a handful of spinach and some ho-hum raspberry vinagrette. The beer selection is pretty good, including some local Indiana beers from Three Floyds. I like the Gumballhead. To sum up: very cool, no-expense-spared look; lack-luster food. I say give them some time to hear people's overall responses and find their way to being a great addition to Valpo.
(4)Molly M.
Very cool decor, mediocre food, poor service. We ate out here twice, both times were not busy, yet it took over 15 minutes to get our drinks (diet coke, water, and a bottled beer...) and we watched as everyone else in the restaurant got served first (or so it seemed). We saw our nachos go to two separate tables, and were offered a 'free' plate of modified nachos and our waiter was surprised when we asked where ours were. It could have been saved, if the food was anything special, but it is no better than Red Robin, TGIFriday's, Applebee's, or any other mid-level chain. Recommended if you have big train fans, otherwise, go to a chain and spend less money, and get better service.
(2)Christine J.
Outstanding service! Our server, a young African American gentleman was fantastic. The food was great. My husband is still raving about the pot roast sandwich. A great go to place for a good meal and great beer. I wish I remembered our servers name, he deserves great tips!
(4)Kyle W.
While this restaurant is still fairly new, I still think it's worthy of a review. SHORT: I would wait a few months before going back. Small portions for the price compared to other local steakhouses. The so called stuffed hamburgers are not stuffed at all. In fact, they are dry, flat, and tasteless. When I asked about it, the waitress came with some excuse saying that the cheese cooks into the meet. (Which you know is complete BS if you have ever cooked a stuffed burger) Cool atmosphere and our glasses were always full. Long wait after we were seated. (45min) LONG: Showed up about 8pm on a Tuesday. Waited about 10-15min to be seated. (not bad since we were entertained by the toy training traveling throughout the restaurant) Industrial Revolution, The specialty is stuffed hamburgers, but not really... Well the hamburger was not stuffed at all. In fact, it was dry, tasteless and flat. I ordered the Industrial Stuffed Burger which is suppose to be a blackened cajun burger stuffed with blue cheese. After asking my waitress about the burger being not stuffed, she informed me that by cooking the meat, you cook out the blue cheese. This is total BS because anyone who has ever stuffed a hamburger knows that cheese is 'stuffed' between two thin patties of meat and cooked, and that the cheese does not spontaneously combust. Also, it's a blackened cajun burger, it's suppose to be blackened. Not only was our burger not blackened, but the cheese (apparently) was still 'infused' with the meat. I deny ever tasting blue cheese in that burger. Nor did I taste any hint of cajun seasoning. Good news though, the fries were pretty good. That was about it. Ok, the atmosphere was great. It's also nice that not every TV is playing sports. Finally a restaurant trying to accommodate to all crowds. The waitress kept our glasses full and checked in occasionally (however she clearly avoided us for the 45 minutes we waited for our food).
(2)Jenni L.
We finally stopped for lunch after passing it by for months. What a pleasant surprise! Extremely clean, bar area separate from restaurant, nice menu for adults and kids. Kids loved the train running over their heads. Service was fast. Food very tasty, esp the potato soup and burgers which are cooked medium unless otherwise directed. I would definitely return to taste other dishes.
(4)Adrien B.
This place has such awesome decor. It's the type of place I'd love to go to and have a beer at the bar. However, the food is just "eh" and is very expensive. I am totally a "you get what you pay for" type and have no problem paying more for really good food. But the problem with this place is that you are paying pretty high prices for the area and the food is whimpy in taste and in portion size. I saw a couple of the other reviewers saying that they felt like they were paying for the decor. I felt the same way.
(2)Vincent S.
I have read the other reviews and don't understand the critics. "Napkins on the floor, too many TVs, I didn't get a seat fast enough...." You soft / spoiled people are the down fall of this country. Stay home. Thursday evening, wasn't too busy. Plenty of seats in waiting area, inside & outside, if needed, but we walked right in and sat down. The waiter was very friendly and knew the menu. Great beer list including locals. The menu was a "working class" menu, not a Ruth's Chris menu; burgers, sandwiches, soups, appetizers, meatloaf, pot roast and other dinners. I ordered a bowl of chili to start as I always do when available. Great heat, nice flavor, few beans....... it was the best restaurant chili I have ever had. The burgers are the thing to get. From 1/4 pound burgers to 1/2 pound, 1 pound, 2 pounds and 5 pounds. The 5 pounder is free if you eat it in an hour. My IR burger was perfect. I had the 1 ton burger, although it only weighed 1/2 pound. False advertising? Perhaps I should gripe about that like the spoiled people. The burger was juicey, very hot and cooked to perfection. I was surprised that the bun held up to the juiciness of the burger. The sweet potato fries were perfect too. I don't know a better word for these other than perfect. The size was proportionate, 20 - 25 fries. I am not going to complain about the price like some. I thought it was a great VALUE for quality received. The Industrial Revolution is a lot like Union work; skilled workers making a great product at a fair price. Understand, Red Robin has good burgers, but I would eat here over RR any day, regardless that it is more expensive and that IR doesn't give you a "fresh bucket" of fries to eat. If you like Red Robin, nothing against them, this isn't Red Robin. Go to Red Robin if you like that. My brother rates restaurants on the "buffet factor." Flavor, quality and presentation doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that he can eat 10,000 calories of stuff and get a bargain for $8. From the movie Monte Python and the Meaning of Life....... Mr. Creosol; "I'll eat it all." Waiter; "Would you like that all mixed up in a bucket?" Mr. Creosol; "Yes, and don't skimp on the pate." Waiter; "Of course and I'll make sure you get a double helping." Hello Red Robin.
(5)Kristyn D.
We had a great experience here! The service was outstanding, and the food was too. The potato wedges were scrumptious, and the kids menu was real food, not overpriced Kraft mac'n'cheese and frozen nuggets. I thought the prices were reasonable. My husband, my daughter, and myself ate for just under $50, and that included 3 beers. The keg was in the process of being changed on one of the beers he ordered, and they couldn't get to the replacement due to a frozen lock, so the waitstaff kept bringing samples until the problem was solved. They were super nice. I'm sad to see all the negative reviews, I really enjoyed this place, and plan to in the future.
(5)Mk O.
Casual atmosphere, food that was right on the mark. Friendly staff, very, very attentive. Creative drink specials and decor that is worth the trip. Went out here for an early NYE dinner. 5pm reservations. The Edison burger was fantastic on a pretzel roll and sweet potato fries were cooked perfectly. The onion soup was delicious. The tab, including drinks, appetizers, soups and burgers was less than $100 for three of us. If you're interested in American hertitage within the Industrial Revolution, this place will feel like home. A slew of food, great atmosphere, well worth the trip. We will be back.
(4)Hector R.
I am Disappointed. I have been here before with my family and have always had a good experience. This time the service was slow(waitress complained because there was only two of them) and the entrees were brought at the same time as the appetizers. 3 of us got the mill salads and we found lettuce pieces that were brown and wilted. The avocado was old and the bacon was missing from the salads. All this for $12.95 a salad? I told and showed the Manager and she thanked me for telling her. She did try to make amends by giving us dessert free after we cashed out but that didn't change our opinion of how bad the salads were. Here's my advice to the owners, get back to basics, serve fresh food and make sure the help takes pride in what comes out of the kitchen.
(2)Judi S.
This was our first time at IR and we loved it!! Our server, Ronny, was outstanding and super friendly. The pretzel appetizer tasted delicious with four large pretzel pieces and a crock of authentic cheese (not the cheese whiz type). Although the cheese was very salty, it still was delicious. My husband ordered the special which was the prime rib opened faced sandwich with garlic mashed potatoes. They gave him au juis and horse radish for dipping. I had their Cobb salad with grilled chicken. Both dishes were superb with the prime rib and chicken cooked just right! For dessert we shared the red, white and blue cheesecake made on the premises.......mmmmmmm it was stupendous!! Served with fresh blueberries and strawberries, this is a dessert to remember. We will definitely be back and I highly recommend it!! Thanks to Ronny for a great job!! It's a rare occasion ,anymore, to find a server who is personable AND attentive but he has that perfect combo! BRAVO!
(4)Russell T.
Great food the smoked bacon burger tastes has good as it sounds and the fries are wedges smothered in garlic cheese sauce. The wait was not any worse then most restaurants but if you are looking for buger king speed this is not it.
(4)Jonathon W.
My wife and I love this place. We have been twice now. Once for dinner and once for lunch. And both times we went we got great service. The waitress was friendly and they were quick. The atmosphere is great and our children love it. The food is great. It's a little pricey for the amount of food you get but not so much so that it doesn't make the visit worth it. Their potato wedges are great! The pot roast mac and cheese is AMAZING!!! We really enjoy the food and it's clean.
(4)Nikta P.
The decor and atmosphere are really well done and make eating here fun! Service was attentive and friendly and the food was classic American fare with attention to detail. It is not cheap but the portions are generous. We were in Indiana for the weekend and would definitely come back.
(4)Samantha P.
My brother and me went here recently because I hadn't been and he warned me it was ok but nothing special. The atmosphere is amazing, I will say it's worth going to see even if you order just a couple of drinks. I loved the statues that adorned the outside and the interesting steel mill and industry decor inside. Something so different. The service was terrible. She took our drink orders and brought them back 15-20 mins later to take our order. I ordered a half burger and half salad plate and my brother ordered a turkey sandwich with fries. We waited nearly an hour for our food despite only 5 other diners (whom all had food) and after about 30 mins heard two cooks in the open part of the kitchen/grill talking arguing about which one was supposed to go make the turkey sandwich (I'm pretty sure they should have already had it made in 30 mins). My burger was pretty good but they got the cheese wrong and I wasn't about to send it back and wait another hour since we didn't have all afternoon. My brothers sandwich was atrocious. The bread was so hard it was falling apart in big chunks, there is no way they didn't notice that. We ate and waited for the check with our waitress never coming to check on our food. We waited with plates pushed to the side of the table for a check for 20 mins before finally going to find the waitress. When giving her the credit card my brother told her the bread from his sandwich was very stale and showed it to her on his plate. She said she'd let the cook know, never offering an apology or a discount like any other place would/should. Cool atmosphere, horrible staff and so-so food. Nothing to return for, a shame too.
(2)Christine M.
Casual dining, decor is different and interesting. The restaurant is a perfect addition for Northwest Indiana since we are an industrial region. Good place to take visiting friends or family for a casual meal. Fish tacos are one menu item that is unique from other area restaurants. Great beer selection!
(3)Joe V.
Awesome decor and a pretty neat atmosphere, but the fun stops there. The food is greatly overpriced and subpar (their specialty condiments, such as the chipolte mayo seemed sadly flavourless), even if some of (far from all) the portions are pretty large. The service was lackluster, with drink refills either slow-to-come or nonexistent until we flagged somebody down. Seating was rather quick on the busy(ish) Friday night we came in (I've seen busier, sure, and they had PLENTY of staffers in the place), but their system seemed inefficiently-managed to the point where it likely cost others more time elsewhere (our party of 3 was seated at a 6-person table). Servers were nice (when they acknowledged you, that is; we noticed many of them sitting around nothing-doing at several points), if a bit awkward with their communication. They forgot to ask about sides, and they never once asked if we'd like any drinks at all once we said we'd "start with water". Too bad; I'd heard they had a great beer menu before I came, too, but what I saw was laughably typical and small. Approximately 1/4th of our time there was spent waiting for somebody to run our check when we wanted to leave. Wish they could live up to the apparent hype!
(2)D. T.
Great Atmosphere! Good Food! Kids love the trains that go around! Nice beer and wine selections! Excellent Service! We would go back!
(4)Erika D.
well, we've been back a few times and i have to say that i'm just as satisfied as i was the first time. i've taken to NOT ordering off the menu and i try the chef's special every time...i'm never disappointed. the last time was a herb-crusted white fish with rice and vegetables. it was done perfectly and there was so much there i had to take some home. the beer selection is better than most places you'll find, though they are kind of pricey in that area. sadly, the wings have been taken off the menu. they were really good, too. the bruschetta was fantastic, though. definitely fresh...homemade. i'm happy to be able to say that the quality of the restaurant has gotten better, not worse, as i really enjoyed my initial, and subsequent visits here.
(4)Dave A.
I came here for my birthday dinner with my dad and stepmom. Everyone's food was really good although it took a good 15min or so to get it. I had the olive burger and the garlic wedges and a Bells IPA to drink and the mix of pungent and salty flavors made for the best burger/beer combo I've had in a long time. The beer and wine selection is impressive and the wait staff was attentive and very professional.
(4)Jennifer P.
This place seems to change their menu every few months. I don't think they have settled on their brand yet, but the food is always very good. Atmosphere is fun.
(4)Marie N.
This is a fun restaurant with good food and very friendly service. Lots of families and since the floors are wood and the ceilings are open, it gets kind of noisy. So this is no place for an intimate dinner. All of the food I saw coming out of the kitchen looked delicious. We saw lots of hamburgers, pizza, grilled cheese, buffalo chicken salad (humongous). We had the beef stroganoff and it was fantastic. I couldn't believe how tender the beef was. It was served with a small piece of garlic bread. I tried a chicken sandwich with cheddar cheese, bacon, barbeque sauce and ranch sauce on it. Sandwiches come with garlic potato wedges or sweet potato fries. No regular french fries here. One minor suggestion for improvement. They use the service model where the server takes your order but then a 'food runner' delivers the food to your table. The food runner should ask 'Is there anything I can get you at this time?' before running off. I believe the manager was our food runner. Even though I had asked my server to include ketchup with my sandwich, it was not delivered. The food runner left so quickly that I couldn't catch him before he left to ask for the ketchup. So I had to wait until I saw him again before asking for ketchup. Same thing happened to a table near us. The food was dropped off and before they could ask the food runner for silverware, the was gone. We will definitely return to this restaurant when we are in the area.
(5)Julie H.
Great atmosphere. Very busy Friday night. Sat at the bar and had some local beers. Dinner was very good. We have the brick oven pretzel sticks. Very good! Cheese was hot and tasty. My husband had the bacon stuffed burger, which he loved and I had the morning shift burger. It was amazing. I had a side of the Parmesan garlic sauce from another burger to dip my fries in. Yummy. Beer was cold and good. Good home the chocolate cake for later. 5/5 stars.
(5)Ed R.
So I gave IR another chance after 2 horrible experiences here in the past. I'll break it down as follows; Service : better but still not good. We came on a slow Tuesday night so searing wasn't an issue like I've had on weekends. The server was nice, she was good to my kids, refreshed drinks promptly, however they seemed understaffed and she took a long time to take our order... For example, we had to wait to order appetizers because she told us she was changing the Pepsi... Shouldn't the kitchen staff do that? Other tables appeared to wait forever for ordering too. Food : tasted....just okay, looked gross. My wife got the Pot Roast Mac and cheese, sounded great on paper but looked gross upon arrival. The cheese was congealed and greasy, it didn't look appetizing at all. I got the Special General MacArthur burger, overlap it was good but the bun was really greasy and it made it a bit unappealing after a while. The best way for me to describe the menu here is that one person sat down and made a menu that THEY thought would be good, but failed to consult anyone else. The choices are eclectic and out of the norm, but they clearly do not have a chef capable of executing it to its potential. I kept picturing Gordon Ramsay on Kitchen Nightmares picking through the food shouting about how greasy and gross it was... Overall I love the atmosphere in this place, the decor is phenomenal and it is just a cool place. It's a shame that the food just isn't good enough to make me want to come back.
(2)Deidra W.
Fantastic! We will be back. Really enjoyed this place. The menu has something for everyone. Daily drink specials..$4 sangrias on Saturdays. Highly recommend...you won't be disappointed.
(5)Lacee M.
One of my favorite places. This is definitely not a figure friendly menu. While they do offer salad I personally find it hard to go that way with all the mouthwatering comfort food this place has to offer. Been there numerous times and have probably had everything on the menu and have loved everything. The soups are great! The big surprise to me is the fish tacos.... I never ordered them because they seemed out of place with the rest of the menu but luckily I had a taste of someone else's (at my table of course )and they are by far the best I've ever had!! They are so light and fresh tasting that it is perfect for the days you're not in the mood for anything too heavy. Love this place, it is a nice change from all the chains around
(5)Bob C.
A fun place to dine.....once I was very excited for this place to open about 6 years ago due to the proximity to campus and the need for a unique restaurant in Valparaiso that isn't a chain restaurant such as Applebees, TGIFridays, or Chilis. Upon your first visit, you're greeted by amazing architecture and details that only Disney can rival. Amazing iron work and a train that circles the restaurant as you eat. After that initial bliss; the menu, pricing, and quality of food is lackluster. The food is decent but nothing that triggers your mind to say 'wow i want to eat here again!' The service is decent, but again nothing that sticks out. I have been here 6x since they opened and two of those times my party and I ordered drinks and decided to just eat elsewhere due to the pricing and selections. If you haven't been here, try it out once and feel free to go from there.
(2)Shane H.
Eaten here 3 times or so and I've yet to have a bad experience. It's a bit on the expensive side, but the quality balances it out. I've gotten the burger with a fried egg and the grilled chicken salad. Both were tasty and large when it came to the portion size. You're limited on the sides, but I recommend the parmesian wedges. The menu isn't very extensive, but what they do make is made very well. The atmosphere is really fun for adults and children. Rich Americana theme and the weekly "unknown" American hero tributes are a classy touch. Always left with food in a box and a mini American flag. I recommend it if you're heading down US 30 or visiting Valpo University as it's right off campus. But make sure you beat the early birds because they come in droves and can leave you waiting for a while. Get 4 from me because it's kind of pricey, short list of choices, and they always seem to be a little understaffed but overall it's a fine establishment.
(4)Colleen M.
Highly recommend stopping here. The burgers are delicious and the service is excellent. The kids menu is standard but the food our children got was also delicious and affLove when we find non chain restaurants to stop at. We will defiantly be back!
(5)Nick F.
Place is pretty cool. Kids loved the decor. The food was just alright and a little pricey for a burger. The server was rude, but that is just one guy.
(2)Alexa Q.
Everyone is so nice and there is a unique and wide variety of tasty food! Stuffed bacon burger was delicious. Fried pickles were greasy but overall great Experience!
(4)Amanda E.
Good food, AWESOME service (our girl rocked), great sangria and delicious burgers! But has anyone noticed the musty smell? Not a big deal, just noticed when I walked in and smelled it for a little bit before our food came.
(3)Paul-Edie B.
It was great! We have driven by it many times and now I wish we had stopped in sooner. The atmosphere was an experience in itself, the food was excellent and prices very well. The service was top notch. We will definitely be back.
(5)Ed S.
This was our first time here and the food was great! The service was fantastic and the environment was very unique. We will definitely be returning to this restaurant. I highly recommend visiting this restaurant.
(5)Valerie R.
First time visiting and will definitely be back. Pizza was awesome and the flavored teas were refreshing and delicious. Great atmosphere and even better service.
(5)K. M.
First off let me say I will be giving this place another shot, but this time wasn't so great. I ordered the Black Bean Burger with Sweet Potato Fries. To be honest, I've had way better black bean burgers from the frozen food aisle at the grocery store. This one was complete mush when I guess I expected maybe a char on the outside or something. The sweet potato fries however were delicious. I will say though that everything I had was quite room temperature too. Kind of disappointing. The service was great though. Can't complain at all about that. My husband got a "real" burger aka beef and it looked really good and juicy. If I'm being super nit picky... The salt and pepper shakers are cool looking shiny stainless steel, but you can see the previous patrons greasy prints all over them, kinda gross. The high chair we unfortunately had to use was disgusting. What is it with nasty high chairs at places?! It had that I've-never-been-wiped sticky, grimy feel. Gross. Lastly, I guess this is my inner fat girl, but they're kind of stingy with the fries.
(2)Alan B.
Not impressed at all with this place. Now granted I've only been here once but, I think that might be enough. Sometimes it's about finding what you like but I was so unimpressed the first time I don't know if I'm willing to give them another shot. Me and a friend started out with the welded nachos and brick oven baked pretzels both of which sucked, especially the pretzels. And I'm an absolute pretzel lover so they have to be really bad for me not to like them. Then for my meal I had the pot roast burger which I was less than impressed with. I can't remember what my buddy had but I do remember him not caring much for his meal either. I gave IR 2 stars and I think that's actually being generous. I would say their a step up from Quaker Steak & lube and I gave them 1 star. I actually don't know how they managed to pull a 3 and a half star rating with a majority of the feedback about this place being negative.
(2)Brandi A.
If I could give this place more stars I would!!! What an amazing little jewel of a restaurant in Valpo!!! I am here with my family of 5. We are doing a long weekend and spending time at the Indiana Dunes and in Valpo. We were looking for a non-chain restaurant with some good food. The front desk person at the hotel recommended this place. WOW!!!! We were totally impressed with this place. The theme of the history on how everything on this country was built on the hard work of Americans was fascinating and so unique. They run videos on their flat screens about how everything is built. Very cool!!! The burger I had, which was the one with bacon, bbq sauce and chipotle mayo was one of the best burgers I have EVER had and I am a big foodie. The atmosphere was great and unique, the food fantastic and the service was good. If you are looking for an interesting place for a meal, love great food, decent prices and good service I HIGHLY recommend this place!!!
(5)Kara S.
A surprising little find along U.S. 30. Needed a bite to eat while driving across Indiana and came across this place, boasting good burgers. And they are good burgers - quite a unique selection, as well. And as far as a themed restaurant goes, this one is a nice change of pace from the normal chains that try to grab your attention with gimmicks. The Industrial Revolution theme, with exposed steel girders and columns (even if they are fake) and model train occasionally going around make for an oddly relaxing environment. Service was great, as well. Worth a try if you're in or going through Valpo.
(5)Jonathon J.
I know what you're thinking, 5 stars? Really? Being a little generous aren't you? Well here's the thing. I simply drive by this place on our way to a hotel for the night and was like, "hey. That place looks neat." So we went it and you could tell a lot of other people thought this place was neat too because it was busy restaurant! We had a 45 min wait that thankfully and surprisingly whittled down to 20. Our host was friendly, our waitress prompt, informative, friendly of course and adorable. The atmosphere there is fun, learned, warm and all with a little train circling your heads. Fun! Now the food. A bit pricey but you get your bucks worth. Generous portions and unbelievable quality. "The Morning Shift," "the Pot Roast Sandwhich," even the kids "mini burgers" we're amazing! Garlic cheese wedges, fantastic! Honestly I wish there were more of these places and certainly one closer to my hometown! It would absolutely save me money since I now have to drive all the way to valparaiso to eat here!
(5)Carey B.
This place is absolutely a treasure in hiding! I could not be happier with the service. The food is cooked EXACTLY to your liking, and the staff are all friendly and helpful! The prices are very reasonable too! Great place!!!!
(5)James L.
The food and the atmosphere were both great!!!! Definitely will be back! The burgers were excellent and the potato wedges too!
(5)David G.
This review is based off just one visit so don't take it too harshly. Let me start by saying our waitress was phenomenal.... She made our time there great she loved her job and made it fun for us! The burger I had was amazing I had that spicy burger it was great! My complaint is the sides... I had the sweet potato fries and I received less then 15 small fries. The other two people in our party also were given incredibly small sides. One person received less then 10 wedges and my father in law substituted coleslaw for fries. He received his coleslaw in a side dish the same size that you bring out the ketchup in. It basically was a "shot" of coleslaw. The ambience and vibe of the place is great. We waited 10 minutes or a table at 8pm so obviously people love it. I loved the food they just don't give you enough for how much they charge. I will go back again for a burger just with much lower expectations. And I know not to ask for a side of coleslaw!!!
(3)Ann G.
Good burgers. Turkey burger was flavorful. Nice place to stop if you are in the area. I want to stop back sometime to try the pot roast Mac n cheese. Service was friendly and quick.
(3)Mary P.
Great decor, average food. We went there to celebrate our granddaughter receiving an art award. The pictures I posted show what we ordered. My burger sampler was warm, not hot, and the buns has started to harden on the outside. Of the 4 I liked the jalapeño one the best because it has the most flavor. The kids saiid they liked their chicken nuggets and our son liked his "one ton" burger. Now for the downside... I had to send my Arnold Palmer back because it was made wrong. Our daughter in law didn't receive her food with the rest of us. In fact, they forgot to order it. Thankfully she had ordered the sampler so we shared until hers showed up. The waitress was very apologetic and they took it off of the bill. With that removed it was $83.00 for 4 adults and 2 children. Not sure it was worth it because the food was just ok and the service was poor.
(3)Scott G.
Stopped here on our way back from a day trip to Chicago last Sunday. I had the perch dinner which consisted of eight strips of perch, french fries and coleslaw, my wife had the cob salad. the perch was some of the best that I have had for a long time and needless to say, my wife brought home over half of the salad. We will be back the next time we are near Valpo!
(4)Veronica M.
Great Food!!! Love the jalepeno burger!
(5)Bella B.
This place was overall very good. Only have it 4 stars because the prices were a little high. I had the sampler burger meal. All the burgers were very good, came with Parmesan potato wedges, they were sooo good except only like 5 small came with it . They were more like fries then wedges. It was very filling but for $12.50 should have been more fries. We ordered pretzels win cheese they were good too but not as big as i thought and only 5 and it was $7.95! Atmosphere was nice, it was extremely busy so we had to wait 25 minutes for a table plus food took about 40 minutes to come out . It was a Saturday night so that's expected.
(4)Courtney C.
Industrial Revolution is a great burger joint in Valpo. I don't have any complaints, but just wanted to mention something weird that happened that I believe was handled in the right way! I ordered a burger with no bun. I forget which burger it was, but it had grilled onions, jalapeños, and cheese on it. As I was cutting into my burger I noticed that the wax paper that goes in between the cheese slices was on top of my burger along with the cheese. I knew it was an honest mistake, but had to tell the waiter because it wasn't edible. He apologized numerous times and took it back to get another one quickly. In the mean time, the manager came to the table and apologized and immediately said that my meal would be taken care of and asked if there was anything else he could do. He did take the entree off of the check and continued to make sure everyone at the table was doing well throughout the rest of the meal. I've seen numerous reviews saying that the management is not great at this place but I beg to differ. I don't think the manager could have been nicer about a mistake! I'll always support local businesses and appreciate the kindness of the staff here!
(4)Steve D.
The ambiance is cool- the old history channel vignettes are fitting. The food leaves a lot to be desired. We had the fish tacos and creamy Alfredo pasta. Both were sub- par. I guess the rule is that u should eat beef in Indiana.
(2)Michael D.
Good food but not great. Maybe our visit was just an off day? They do have a lot of positive reviews and I personally know others that think it's great. We went there for some comfort food and the seasonal vegetables appeared to be the frozen variety.
(3)Jessica M.
The food would probably be 4 stars, but the 5th star is for the service. We had the nachos and the grinder sandwich, both of which were delicious. Asked for the nachos to have the Pico on the side, but they came out with the Pico on top. Wasn't a big deal, didn't say anything and thought Id just pick them off. The server was so nice and came an apologized and said it was totally her mistake and offered to correct it or treat us to a dessert She definitely didn't need to do that, but it was kind of her to own up to it. Next time I'm in town, we will be back!
(5)T S.
This place is great! Great food and very family friendly!! They have a toy train that goes around the restaurant. They have great pot roast pot pie! And wonderful beef stroganoff!!! Can't wait to go again! A total hidden gem!
(5)A. S.
First visit, last visit...the building is so cool and our waitress was great but the food is terrible. Went in tonight, a Sunday night, around 7 and it was fairly busy. Sat in the bar which had full tables but actual bar was almost empty. We got the cheese dip appetizer and that was good but nothing to brag about. Basically queso with a plate that looked half empty cause it had mostly broken chips. My sister got the veggie burger, brother in law got the industrial revolution burger, and my husband and I split the pulled pork nachos. My sister and brother in laws food came out first and right away I tried my sisters sweet potato fries which were super cold (and there were seriously like 15 fries total). My brother in laws potato wedges were cold too. A minute or two later our nachos came out and those were just a joke. All chips, basically no pulled pork and had melted cheese and sour cream. You could tell it had been sitting in the window a long time cause the sour cream was a melted mess. And it's not BBQ pork it was dry pork on chips and had BBQ sauce globbed all over the top of the chips. I NEVER send food back but this was so awful I had to. 2 minutes later the nachos came back looking slightly better but still were tasteless and probably some of the worst nachos we have ever had. Service was good but if I was a manager or whoever it was that ran out my food I would have never let that food go out. Good beer selection but the food is way too over priced for me to return. Shame too cause it has a great atmosphere.
(2)Peter P.
The booths are a little smallso try to grab a table. You can tell a lot of money went into building out this place. Pot roast is one of their specialties as it is featured in several dishes. You can get your iced tea or lemonade flavored with any of several flavors. They feature a different American hero every week and they create a special based on this person. For example, a peanut butter burger for George Washington Carver.
(4)Sarah K.
Nice hidden gem in the area..I had a great burger and the portions are huge. I will definatly go again .
(5)Christiana S.
I am usually very leery of themed restaurants. These places usually rely entirely on impressing with decor and ambiance without actually delivering in the food department. We met friends here that we hadn't seen in ages, so I was willing to give it my best effort. It actually was quite nice. The decor was nice but not completely overbearing (like these places got in the 90's). The drinks were decently strong and just OK, but the bartender was VERY SLOW. Our waitress however, was just fine. The burger was good, seasoned and cooked well, but not super amazing. I liked the variety of topping options for the burgers. I didn't like being charged $1 for swapping out pepperoncinis for jalapenos. I'd eat here again if the people I am with wanted to, but probably won't seek it out myself.
(3)Jon N.
This review might be a bit premature. I think I need to give it another shot much like Burgerhaus. The ambiance and service were fine (albeit for the train's whistle that was annoying while trying to have a conversation). I ordered the pot roast burger. Described as "absolutely amazing" on the menu. I don't want to go as far as say I was disappointed because it was good. However, it does not fall in the absolutely amazing category for me. I should have known this, I'm just not crazy about pot roast. For some it's comfort food but for me I remember my mom's pot roast which tended to be on the dry side. The sweet potato fries were great. Loved them! The service was very good as well. And so after my first experience at Industrial Revolution, I think I'll try a regular burger the next time...
(3)Brittany G.
Absolutely amazing burgers and amazing service by Ashley. We had four burgers and our favorites were the Edison burger and the Stuffed Bacon Burger. The garlic wedges were awesome as well as the sweet potato fries. The decor was awesome too.
(5)Dan K.
Rather pricey, medium sized portions. Service and atmosphere were good. Not sure if I will return without a coupon. Pot roast was a treat.
(3)Jonny S.
Hmmm...themed restaurant...doesn't usually bode well, but we were meeting old friends and would have been willing to go anywhere. This place was pretty awesome actually! The burgers were nice and thick and seasoned well...and they have lots of different topping styles (I personally enjoyed the one with pot roast on top...meat on meat, baby! Great drink choices too.
(4)R. Kevin S.
Great concept, but the execution is lacking. Have been there twice just to make sure first time was not a fluke. Food tastes good, was Not Hot both times. Service was slow. Portions are small and prices are way too high. $50-$60 for two people with tip, no alcohol drinks.
(3)Melissa L.
Best burgers in Valpo, hands down! My fave? The Stuffed Green Olive Burger... YUMM!!! Kids love the atmosphere with overhead train. Love, love, LOVE this place!
(5)Angi K.
Unique decor. Love the sweet potato fries and the large variety of delicious hamburgers.
(4)Guy K.
Family took me here for the first time for my birthday. Heard a lot of good reviews of this place and finally had the chance to experience it for myself. Food was exceptionally good. Would recommend this place for anyone who likes to try new places to eat.
(4)Chip T.
I love the atmosphere, the extensive and creative menu, and the food. Great place to learn a thing or two about the United States during one of its proud moments in history. Welded Nachos, Edison Burger, and Firehouse Burger are phenomenal.
(5)