Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v01n03)
Pizza Scene - Union Jack Pub - by Mark Rumreich
posted: Jun. 10, 2004
The Union Jack Pub is well-known for its great Chicago-style pizza, great atmosphere and great beer selection. Many of my out-of-town friends and relatives make a point of stopping in whenever they visit Indianapolis.
Union Jack was established in 1979 in its current location. A second restaurant in Speedway opened 1982. Both are still owned and operated by the original owner, Rick Rising-Moore.
The restaurant is divided into two sides, the pub side and the family dining side. The pub side has a British pub atmosphere with bar and dining areas. The walls are covered with breweriana and artifacts of local history. The family dining side has a similar decor, but accommodates families with children. (No kids are allowed on the pub side.) This proves to be a great arrangement for everyone.
The menu contains the standard pub fare of thick burgers, beer-battered onion rings, fish & chips, sandwiches and appetizers. (Try the French onion soup covered with mozzarella and parmesan, baked to a bronze crust.) There are also veggie wrap sandwiches, stromboli, pasta and steaks. There's a kids menu too. But let's talk about why we're really here - the pizza. Union Jack offers four styles of pizza, from thin crust to stuffed. The choice of "crowns" (toppings), sauces and cheeses is extensive. And their beer list has over 70 different beers from around the world, including twelve on tap.
We ordered a regular crust pizza with pepperoni and Italian sausage, and a quattro formaggio, a specialty pizza with four cheeses, white sauce and thin New York crust. The pepperoni and sausage is an old standby for me and the crust was crispy, the sauce was thick with plenty of basil, and the sausage flavorful. The quattro formaggio was a great change of pace and was crispy and richly cheesy.
Having chosen a Thursday night to visit, there was no wait and the service was excellent. From experience, Union Jack's is popular on weekends so there may be a wait for seating, but it's worth it. The Union Jack Pub has a winning recipe for pizza, brew and good times.
rumreich@broadripplegazette.com