The Hoppy Gnome

Great food. Excellent service. Server was Cierra who did a fantastic job. Four of us met for lunch on a Saturday. Place was busy and we were seated within 5 minutes. Had a half fattoush salad and Conan barbacoa taco. Wife had two fungi tacos (mushroom) along with some tots on the side. Appetizer was guacamole and cheese with chips. Total bill was $69 with tax and b4 tip. Reasonable. For drinks wife had a 35mm margarita, italian style (add shot of amaretto) with was great and I had a Clutch beer. So here's the cool part...my beer had a generous head of foam. Enough to be annoying without complaining. Five minutes later and without asking, Cierra brought ANOTHER small beer on the house. Because my first beer was end of the keg. Who does that?!Didn't have to wait for anything. Other servers and manager stopped by to check on us. Everyone was pleasant and professional.

The Hoppy Gnome, located in the heart of Fort Wayne, offers an elegant yet laid-back dining experience, perfectly balancing modernity and comfort. The large windows let in natural light and offer a stunning view of the cityscape, making it the ideal spot for anyone wanting to enjoy the vibrancy of the downtown area. We chose to sit by the window, where the view only enhanced the experience.As for the food, it exceeded all expectations. I started with three tacos, each offering a unique burst of flavor. The first, El Verdad, was a steak taco that delivered exactly what I anticipated--juicy, well-seasoned steak that hit all the right notes, a familiar taste that didn't need to be anything more than delicious.Next was the Bob Marley taco, a jerked chicken creation with pineapple salsa and roasted peppers. This one was truly something special. The jerk chicken was smoky and tender, perfectly offset by the sweetness of the pineapple salsa. Each bite was a harmony of flavors, with the roasted peppers adding just enough heat to keep things exciting. The complexity of the taco was both beautiful and delicious, a perfect fusion of savory, sweet, and spicy.But the star of the meal was the Conan the Barbacoa taco. Barbacoa is a flavor I've known since childhood, but this was on a whole other level. From the very first bite, I was floored by its richness. The meat was incredibly tender, almost melting in your mouth, with juices spilling out with every bite. It was messy in the best way possible, with the deep, slow-cooked flavors of the Barbacoa shining through and making it an instant favorite. The perfect blend of spices and the intensity of the flavors made this taco nothing short of extraordinary.Dining at The Hoppy Gnome was an experience to remember, from the chic yet welcoming ambiance to the inventive, flavorful tacos that made each bite a journey. It's a place where tradition meets innovation, and I can't wait to return for more.

There were three of us, a Thursday. The place seemed a bit overhyped, like we were lucky to get in. The food was decent, nothing to rave about. Service was okay, again, nothing stood out. Same for the beer, it was enjoyable but not stellar. I don't live in Ft Wayne and if I came back, I'd try something else.

First time at Hoppy Gnome! I absolutely loved it. Food might be a little pricey but it's very worth it! Tater Tots are very delicious and it's hard to choose which tacos to order! I ordered the Dante's Inferno, Pulled Pork, and the smoked brisket. I respect the Dante's inferno because it was actually hot and I have a high heat tolerance! My girlfriend ordered the Free Mahi Mahi, Conan The Barbacoa, and the Smoked Brisket tacos. We both agreed the Smoked Brisket taco was not as good as we were hoping because the Cherry Salsa was too sweet. We both ordered a drink, I got a 35mm margarita 14oz and my girlfriend got a Boba Fett's Bounty. Both were very delicious drinks! The atmosphere is very modern and relaxed. A great place for drinks and great tacos!Overall I would give my experience a 10/10. Brian or Bryan was excellent and quick!

Very mediocre tacos. It was quite disappointing. The menu items sound great, but the execution is awful. It could be the best tacos, but there's so many problems. Also, the waiter said the restaurant was known for their tacos. That makes me wonder how bad the other menu items could be. Also, the prices are way too high.Every tortilla needs to be crisped on a griddle or grill, otherwise there's no flavor, and it falls apart. Every taco had this problem. Many of the tacos were dry and needed sauce.Here's what we tried. I'm including the price and their menu description. LAMBDA LAMBDA LAMBDA - $6.50 - coconut curry braised lamb, cilantro avocado crema, fresno cucumber salad - Lamb was dry, but the sauce saved it. Overall, the flavor was good. 4/5 stars.THAI MEATBALL TACO - $5.50 - lemongrass pork meatball, red curry mayo, mango slaw - Holy desert dry. My boyfriend actually liked this taco the best out of all of them, but I thought it was one of the worst. 1/5 stars.BOB MARLEY - $6.25 - smoked jerk chicken, hemp seeds, pineapple salsa, fire roasted red pepper, sour cream - This one was good. Unfortunately, this was the 2nd taco I tried, and it went downhill from that. 4/5 stars.RELEASE THE KRAKEN - $5.25 - fried calamari, brussels sprouts, parmesan cheese, red onion, sun dried tomato, lemon aioli - 1st taco I tried, and this was actually delicious. My only gripe is that there's a lot of breading versus the size of the calamari. This was still by far the best taco. 5/5 stars. CONAN THE BARBACOA - $6.50 - slow cooked short rib, red onion, cilantro, melted queso chihuahua, radish - I couldn't tell this was short rib. This could have been any shredded beef. I couldn't find any cheese. Needed a sauce as well. Ate very dry. 1/5 stars.GET IN MY BELLY - $5 - slow braised pork belly, tamarind glaze, green cabbage, mango slaw, daikon radish - Way overcooked and dry. This desperately needed a sauce. Most disappointing taco. 1/5 stars.Another problem is that when you list the ingredients, I should be able to see them or detect them in the tacos. This was an ongoing problem.Service is okay. Some other waiter noticed my water glass was empty and went to refill it for me. My thanks to him. Decor is okay. It was more fun to watch the people stuck at the stop light.The tacos are overpriced, and they are usually dry. Go somewhere else.

Needed some fortifying alcohol and snacks before meeting some family recently. I like the convenient downtown location and our bartender was friendly and there were a few regulars despite being a weekday afternoon - I though it would be dead. The tacos were delicious. The beer list was quite extensive, and my husband and I each tried something new and fun (more cider options please)!

Hoppy Gnome is a scratch kitchen associated with a brewery. I think our waitress said there were almost 50 taps including 10+ of their beers. They also have brunch mimosas and wine. So bring the whole crowd. Our group of four was seated immediately at 11:30 on Sunday, before the church rush. We had tacos. Dante's inferno was fire. So spicy. Delicious and the cheese stick is a great idea. I could eat these all the time. If you like spicy this taco is for you. I had the Wrath of Kahn on lettuce and it was a delicious mess. I was trying to save some calories but it was hard to eat. I will say they the flavors shined without the normal tortilla. I was disappointed in the Conan. Only because it seemed flat next to the two spicy tacos. Maybe a lime crema or a splash of lime would brighten it up. Don't get me wrong., it's a good taco, just not as flavor punch as the other two. Queso was a touch smoky and was thick enough to stick to the dipping chips. Bravo for making it thinker than most queso. We ordered a second. Staff was super friendly and helpful. Attentive and filled glasses quickly. Fully recommend. I'll be back to try the beers.

This review is for the Colonel Tso's hand held sandwich and sides. I love General Tso's at the Chinese carry out. I enjoy the sweet zip of flavor. The sandwich was outstanding!The sandwich starts with a breaded piece of chicken. The breading has that southern style seasoning. The breading is a bit thick and soft. The sauce is the rest of the magic. The Tso's sauce is slightly sweet but not too sweet. It has that Tso's tang but not a strong after bit. The chicken was placed on a soft bun that is slightly toasted. Simply a delicious sandwich...especially if you love General Tso's.The small salad was very fresh. The lettuce garnishments were very attractive and gave the salad a nice taste. I especially liked the tomato pieces combined with the champagne vinaigrette dressing.The pepper Jack mac & cheese is over the top as well. The noodles are slightly bigger than a normal elbow noodle. This made it easy to stab with a fork. The cheese sauce was just amazing. There was a slight pepper Jack spice in the thick and rich cheese sauce. The sauce stuck to the noodles and cup. You couldn't leave a drop of cheese in the cup! Almost finger licking good!

very nice gastropub, with lots of beer options. they also has a good selection of non-alcoholic mocktails, the pineapple mule is really good. The food is amazing, the tacos are great! The dessert smore is some real work, you get to grill it yourself, fun!

A Fort Wayne faveee! I am absolutely obsessed with their brunch. We came at great time as they were offering a brunch special with a brisket and sweet potatoes. They also had a brunch flight that was so yummy!! Bloody Mary, mimosas, and a spiked coffee. Perfect to split with two. Our service experience was amazing. Everyone is always kind and welcoming. I love the modern layout of the space and seating. We got a table right by the kitchen so you're able to see food made to order. Always a great choice for any meal! And the drinks are always yummy! Family friendly for the kiddos to join or a great place for date night.