Friend’s Diner

My wife and I picked Friends Diner for lunch today. It was our first visit to this establishment. I would call this a neighborhood restaurant. The menu is large and fairly diverse. I had a tenderloin sandwich with fried mushrooms and my wife had a breaded tenderloin (without the bun) , mashed potatoes and ocra. She gave the potatoes an A+. We thought the good rated a solid 4 on a 5 point scale. The service was very good . We never waited on a drink refill and didn't have to ask for them. As for ambiance, they tried hard to get the place cozy and they succeeded. It's not plush but it's friendly (fits doesn't it). The cost for two meals was about average ($32). We will visit again in the future.

Overall, it was ok. The staff were friendly, the restaurant was clean, and they have a huge menu with lots of options to choose from. There seemed to be a few groups of regular customers when we were there. It was a healthy mix of older people and UIndy students when we were there. My mom and brother enjoyed their food, but I thought my food was just ok. The veggie omelet was like 75% onions. I do like onions but it was too much for me. And it was an unfair advantage since I had just had a veggie omelet the day before at another restaurant that was a bunch of super fresh veggies. My favorite thing was actually the butter on the pancake...it was whipped with vanilla or cream cheese or something. It tasted more like cheesecake than butter. But it sure tasted good on a pancake.

My beautiful wife & I have driven past Friend's Diner for weeks saying we need to try it. So last night we did. The interior was clean , well lighted & spacious. We went for an early dinner ( just before 6) & it was fairly slow. We were greeted & seated almost immediately. Our friendly waitress ( we had great service!) not only took our order but asked if we wanted some biscuits & apple butter. Since we are both sane ( although the jury is still out out on me) we said yes. They brought out 2 complimentary biscuits with a small container of apple butter. We both thought that was a tasty way to start. Breakfast is served all day here and lunch/dinner items after 10. We both decided on dinner items. My awesome wife got the Friends special meatloaf which came with 3 sides. She chose mashed potatoes, Mac & cheese & onion rings. She found the meatloaf covered in gravy decent & made there. The mashed potatoes we ok but bland. The Mac & cheese & onion rings were both brought in from the outside & were bland & just so so. I got the breaded tenderloin sandwich with just mustard on it ( which came in a small container) and for my one side I got the Mac & cheese. I found the Mac & cheese so bland as to be tasteless. The tenderloin though was another story. The bun was toasted. The tenderloin was pounded quite thin & breaded very nicely. It had a good taste & wasn't chewy at all. I'd recommend it!Overall it was a decent experience. The service was very good but we were disappointed in the quality of the sides. When you hear diner I tend to think items done from scratch. I found it interesting that the biscuits & entrees were but not the sides. It was okay but nothing spectacular. Pro tip. If you pay in cash you get a 4% discount due to credit card fees.

Folks I know from Whiteland were always raving about Friends Diner. They talked about the large amounts of great food they got and how friendly the staff is. I was thrilled when they opened this new Indy location to see what the hype was all about. My friends were not lying!This is the quintessential local diner. Great food, great atmosphere, huge portions and friendly staff are all a part of what will definitely make this second location even more of a success.The food is wonderful. I got two eggs, bacon, hash brown casserole AND biscuits and gravy. The eggs and bacon were cooked perfectly. The hash brown casserole was tasty with the additions of cheese and onions. The biscuits and gravy were flavorful and filling. The breakfast portion sizes were massive. The staff is friendly and helpful. They made sure all my questions were answered and my coffee cup was filled. I did not want for anything. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with breakfast being served all day. They have daily specials throughout the week and a vast menu to choose from. This is definitely going to be a place I return again and again.

Food was great and fulfilling. Staff were really nice and this was my first time here. They do charge a 4% credit card usage. They kept the place clean as well

It was a long wait but worth it. Our breakfast was very good along with the pancakes. Very nice waiter and lively place.

The person I went with and I both got the tenderloin lunch special. It was 9.99 for a grilled or fried tenderloin (no bun) and two sides. We both ordered the fried tenderloin. I can confidently say this was the very best tenderloin I have ever eaten. Seriously, EVER. Having lived in Indiana close to fifty years, I have had my share of tenderloins from mom and pop establishments, so that is a great compliment.If a piece of pork pounded thin to the size of a hubcap is your idea of a good tenderloin, this is NOT the one. If you want a well-seasoned piece of pork tenderloin breaded in a flour and cornmeal coating and then fried to absolute perfection, here you will find it. Super-friendly down-to-earth staff was the icing on the cake here.

I've had amazing service everytime we go! I love their Ruben and their stellar out of the world pancakes! My fave diner and breakfast spot now.

Meatloaf was excellent. Service was ok they were superbusy and short staffed. Clean and clean restrooms

Love the catfish dinner. The people are kind, and service is great and I would recommend to try it out. They are set for an older crowd and it's really the service that makes me come back.