Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre

I have been attending Beef and Boards since the early 2000s. My family and I have done the VIP membership for several seasons. We always love the unique lineup each season has to offer! The staff is always so welcoming and accommodating. The food has really improved significantly the past few years and tends to match the theme of the show which is really neat. Definitely a great place to take the family or friends to!

I came here to see a Christmas story. I was with a small group of five others.I Absolutely loved the show. I was a little nervous about what to expect but I would definitely watch this show again. The buffet was pretty good. I was glad there was a variety of foods. Our menu included ham, prime rib, and fish for the main proteins.Our server was attentive and took care of us very well. She was friendly and courteous but also efficient and taking care of her multiple tables.

The service was friendly and fantastic as always. The food was good as buffet food goes but desserts are delicious. I had the hummingbird cake today. It was amazing. The show was Jersey Boys and it was fantastic also. The talent was so good. It's playing till April if you have a chance to see it you should go.

I've heard about this place so much since moving to Indy, and man oh man - I finally understand what the hype is about!! The food was so good, hot and fresh with plenty of options to choose from. The desserts (not included in the price) were also incredible. Our server, Lori, was amazing - so upbeat, kind, and funny. The performance was also great! Actors are constantly entering and exiting from all around you and often navigate their way through the rows in the audience. It keeps you very engaged and entertained as you never know where you'll be looking next! This has by far been one of the best ADA experiences I've had. As soon as I walked in with my service dog, I was so kindly greeted and helped, despite the line. Without even asking, the staff worked quickly to accommodate me and my pup. They were even willing to upgrade my seating (no extra charge) to ensure we had plenty of space for my service dog (the seating is really tight as the tables are so close together). I was blown away by how kind the staff was, I will 100% be returned because of how great they were with ADA :)

Beef and Boards offers an unique experience of dinner and a show while providing the opportunity for local talent to showcase their talents. This was my first visit to the 51 year old establishment (can't believe it took me so long). Ordering tickets was easy. They have a nice web site that explains special offers, seating and the program. You can also order at their box office if you don't want to work on line. They have VIP packages that offer BOGO tickets for most shows and include other perks. We were able to buy tickets for same day performance but we were sitting in C24, which has a somewhat obstructed view, but was wonderful to see the performers up close. The theater is conveniently located on the north side near the pyramids. Parking is free and close. There are lots of stairs, making it difficult for accessibility, but the snow was shoveled and it was not slippery. You can drop someone off at the door and park if needed. You check in with the hostess and a server takes you to your table. We got a table for two otherwise you may be seated with people you don't know. Seating is tight, but we were comfortable on the end of the section. The tables have white tablecloths and candles. All the tableware is real including cloth napkins. Our server, Jaylan, was wonderful 5 star. He was attentive, funny and friendly. All the staff were nice including the beverage people and busboys. The dinner is a buffet. Old school buffet. There is a salad bar and then a main meal buffet. The buffet has plexiglass cover to protect the food. The salad was good, vegetables fresh. The entrees were just ok. My husband loved the roast beef with fresh horseradish. I loved the veggies. While I'm not a fan of buffets, this one works ok. They offer beverages for an added fee. My husband had a beer and I had a smoothie. They kept our water glasses full. Cocktails looked great and prices are reasonable. At 7:30, the buffet rolls away and the stage rolls out. The set up is pretty ingenious. The show is preceded by acknowledging birthdays and anniversaries of the 500+ guests (something you don't get in New York). We saw Menopause, the Musical. The local cast was wonderful, talented and left me in stitches most of the show. The sets are simple yet effective. I LOVED the show. Desserts come out at intermission if you ordered (the huge selection of desserts was only $6.50 each) Coffee is complimentary and good. There is one rest room facility for guest on the main level. The restrooms are clean, but a little dated. There is a coat check and small gift shop near the box office. This was a wonderful opportunity to see a show, have a bite and not break the bank or deal with ticket lotteries. I love the opportunity to support local talent. Next show, we are going to try the box seating. These seats are in the rear for parties of two and offer a more private seating. These seats cost a little more. Their season starts on January, so December is the ideal time to get tickets. But you can also find seats last minute.

I've always had a sort of mixed relationship with Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, a steady presence in Indianapolis since it first opened in 1973. Located in College Park not too far from the Pyramids, Beef & Boards first opened as part of a chain of dinner theatres built by Louisville contractor J. Scott Talbott. The name should be fairly obvious - "Beef" comes from the roast beef that has long been a staple of its pre-show buffet and "Boards" refers to the boards or stage of a theatre. The "chain" is long gone. Indy's Beef & Boards is the only one left standing and is now privately owned and entertains more than 155,000 patrons annually with its unique combination of a pre-show buffet and live Equity theatre (i.e., professional) offering professional Broadway shows, musicals, plays, and even children's theatre productions. Having grown up in Pike Township, Beef & Boards was a steady part of my life throughout my school years. I've had friends perform on stage, behind-the-scenes, and it seems like Beef & Boards has always been somewhere within my world. For years, "The Garden" also used the stage on Sunday mornings. It was a ministry offshoot of St. Luke's UMC for which I preached more than once (though not long ago, it became an independent UMC church and now meets elsewhere). Beef & Boards offers shows year-round. Prices include both the buffet and the show. As a little tip, you can find information about each show AND each show's actual menu on the Beef & Boards website. So, you can plan ahead. They do offer Gluten Free, Vegetarian, and Vegan items and these are listed on the website. Because this is an older theatre, it definitely has some accessibility issues. There is wheelchair accessible seating. There's a seating chart on the website that indicates accessible seating, though I tend to recommend working with the theatre to ensure satisfaction. As someone who is a very active wheelchair user, I'm generally able to make things work. However, I do for the most part consider this a venue where it's best to have a companion and to plan ahead. Additionally, given the design assistance with the buffet will likely be needed (generally, the servers are very enthusiastic and helpful). Beef & Boards does also offer sound enhancement devices. There's a covered area for drop-off/arrival. Beef & Boards does have accessible parking, though be aware there's a somewhat decent incline leading up to the entry area. Drop-off is recommended for those with mobility issues. Ticket prices vary based on the show, though Beef & Boards has three different sections. Being a VIP member, which is renewed annually, lowers ticket prices. If you plan to attend a lot of shows, VIP is the way to go. If you plan to attend one, VIP isn't worth it. Children under three are not admitted except for the actual children's shows. Children from 3-15 do get a discount. I would say that Beef & Boards tends to attract an older crowd, though this is certainly not exclusively and varies according to the show. The children's shows are always stellar, fun, and tend to be a lot more affordable. The food? Decent. Roast beef continues to be the signature item. As a wheelchair user, I don't really consider it a buffet to be honest. When you have to ask someone else to go back for you, especially someone else already serving others, I think it just sort of takes away something. The buffet is typically open when doors open (about 2-1/2 hours before show) and closes 30 minutes before show time. Drinks are typically iced tea, lemonade, and coffee. There is typically alcohol available for purchase. No soft drinks. The shows? They're the selling point for me. I've never seen a bad show here and the intimacy of the theatre really sells the show. Beef & Boards uses both Equity and non-Equity performers, however, key roles tend to be Equity. That means you're getting professional actors and actresses. Beef & Boards is one of a handful of full-time Equity dinner theatres in the country. Overall, the accessibility issues bother me (and should) as both a patron and as a creative spirit. However, I also think there are a ton of reasons to visit Beef & Boards and there's a reason it's been around 50 years. The food is decent, the shows are stellar, the employees are enthusiastic and kind, and it's hard to imagine the Indy theatre landscape without this Northwest side gem.

First time at Beef and Boards and was excited for the show. I wasn't sure what to expect though my friend had been before. We had chosen a four top table though there were only us three. Another friend wanted to join us but it said tickets were sold out. We assumed the 4th seat our table would be occupied but it wasn't. I believe the minimum is two when buying tickets because the smallest table seats two.Once we found our table, we went down to get our food. They had salad, sweet potato puree, green beans, creamed corn, chicken, beef and ham. They also had horseradish and au jus for the beef. The beef that we git the first time was unfortunately rather dry and hard to cut and eat. We didn't realize there was au jus at first but we went back for another plate and this time git beef that was juicier and git the au jus. I could have at the whole tray of the sweet potato puree as that was the start of the show. It was smooth, and well spiced without too much sweetness.The performance was better than I expected. I was especially impressed with the young actors remembering their lines and stage positions. It was a great show and experience, and hope to come back for another show in 2024!!

I've always enjoyed Broadway-style shows, but I'm not a fan of buffets (I just don't get my money's worth). The experience here, though, is well worth the risk!We've been here for several shows and were just here for Grumpy Old Men. It was very entertaining throughout the entire show. Every show we've seen has been fantastic!We keep getting sat in the same spot (no complaints there), so we keep getting the same server. She is phenomenal! She's on top of things. We are rarely left waiting to order a drink. And she has the most upbeat, fun personality! The shows start at 8pm, and the doors open at 5:30pm so there's plenty of time to eat and drink before the show.You, typically, can order your drinks before getting your food - and you get those drinks pretty quickly. Like I said, I'm not a fan of buffets, but this one isn't bad. The food is usually seasoned well. There's a little bit for everyone...salad, fish, meat, sides of veggies and potatoes. Dessert and alcohol cost extra. Shortly before the show starts, you get to order drinks for intermission. This is also when you get dessert. I like the way the tables are sat in a horseshoe around the front of the stage and the different levels. It's easy to see what's going on on stage. No one is blocking your view. If you like musicals, you really can't go wrong with Beef & Boards!

While Beautiful, the Carole King tribute show was amazing, the food - not so much.Nothing on the steaming table was warm, the cod was mostly batter, and the corn on the cob was way over cooked.Service is stellar and the Beautiful cast was excellent. This is a must-see production, but better eat before you go.

My fiancé and i were gifted a "VIP" pass for beef and boards last christmas and we went to half of the plays this year. Each time we went we recognized a theme:TLDR: i don't like the food, the plays typically get worse after the intermission, and it's costly for what you get.1. The food leaves something to be desired. I am consistently disappointed on how they cook the roasts. I have never had well done/medium well prime rib until i ate at beef and boards. I avoid the meat all together and go for the fish (which is pretty "fishy" but at least they smother it in a lemon sauce to try to hide it)2. the plays are usually great, the actors do a nice job especially in the first half. After intermission and you paying your check we've noticed the performance is worse than the first half.3. The VIP experience can still get pretty expensive and they don't honor it during christmas season which makes the holiday shows pretty hard to justify. For the same amount of money i could get a pretty nice dinner and see a show at the IRT theatre instead.I will not be renewing the VIP pass for 2025. I hate to write a bad review but i opted for 2 stars vs 1 because i usually enjoyed the first half of the plays.