Dining With Denise
Over the last several years, I have really become a foodie. We are lucky that Hamilton County is now home to many different restaurant concepts and types of cuisines. I would be delighted if you would join me at local establishments for “Dining with Denise.” Cheers!
Located in downtown Westfield, just South of State Road 32 and east of U.S. 31, is the newly open Union Jack Pub. There is convenient free parking on the street or directly across the street.
Though it has a cool vibe and a full bar, luckily, this Pub – or Public House – is family friendly and a great place to take kids as well as adult evenings. General Manager Nicola Gabriele has trained her staff very well.
The service was fantastic; spot on, attentive and had a good grasp of the menu and wine list. The seating is a mixture of bar, high top, table and even couch seating. They have something to make everyone comfortable.
Reporter photo by Denise Moe
The night I visited, it was warm out, so they had one of their “garage” doors open and it was a great indoor/outdoor environment. I dined with another adult, a teenager and a child, and all four of us look forward to returning.
For their starters the children ordered the Bavarian Pretzel Breadsticks with house made queso and spicy brown mustard and the Mozzarella Cheese Sticks with hot homemade marinara sauce.
The adults ordered the French Onion Soup and the White Bean Chicken Chili. The soup has a wonderful browned cheese crust on it and a flavorful broth with onions underneath. The chili was thick and well-seasoned, but not too spicy. All appetizers came out hot and quick (apps are good things to order if you are getting the deep dish pizza because it takes a minimum of 40 minutes to cook thoroughly). They also had a full array of fresh salads on the menu.
For our entrees, we had the Hand Breaded Fish and Chips, Hand Breaded Chicken Tenders with Queso Mac and Cheese, the Battalion Pork Tenderloin Sandwich on a brioche bun, the Hot Sicilian. and of course, an award-winning Deep Dish Pizza (also available with gluten-free crust). The breaded selections were crispy and juicy, and not at all too heavy or greasy. They were well-seasoned and the protein was fresh and of high quality. I could tell that the chef knew what they were doing in the kitchen. Well worth the wait was the award-winning Deep Dish pizza Union Jack is known for. Filled to the brim with luscious ooey-gooey cheese and toppings, the pizza was everything I had dreamed of.
The Westfield restaurant is the second location, with the first one being in Broad Ripple. Owners Jay and Chelsey Wetzel, along with their children Sylvia and Ruby, have owned the Union Jack Pub for eight years, and they could not be more honored to be a part of its wonderful traditions.
To them and their patrons, Union Jack is not just another restaurant. It’s not just another pub. It’s part of a community. It’s a place to watch your favorite soccer team among friends and it’s a place to have a first date. It’s a place to propose to your beloved (hint, hint gentlemen) and a place to celebrate an anniversary. It’s where holiday traditions take place from Christmas Eve lunch to race weekend celebrations. It’s a place to celebrate a birthday and a place to catch up with friends.
The Union Jack has been an incredible blessing to their lives and they work hard to pay it forward as often as possible. They host several events for charities throughout the year. The Westfield location is available to host private events and fundraisers, and they even have a food truck that can go out on location.
They are open for ALL ages, indoor and outdoor seating, dine in, carry out, call in and online ordering and several food delivery services. They have a full menu for lunch and dinner every day of the week, and brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Find Union Jack on Facebook at facebook.com/unionjackpubwestfield or on the Web at unionjackpub.co.
Reporter photos by Denise Moe