Pioneer Eats Here moved on to Wabash County next, and it did not disappoint. Wabash was the seventh out of our 11 counties that we’ve been to so far. When putting together the top 10 restaurants for people to vote on, I was intrigued the most by Harry’s Old Kettle Pub and Grill. And lo and behold, it ended up being voted as the Best Restaurant in Wabash County!
It’s tucked back just off U.S. 24 on the west side of Wabash, and it’s the perfect place to meet some of the locals, which is something owner Harry Kilmer is very proud of.
“What makes us successful is that Judy and I try to treat everyone like family! And that trickles down to our regulars. It’s funny to see our regulars greet and welcome people when they come in. You don’t find that often. I try to circulate through the bar, talking to guests, asking where they came from, if they were on a bike trip or just passing through,” Kilmer said.
Harry’s has been featured in a lot of publications, ranging from local food magazines to national motorcycle magazines. Harry’s is definitely a motorcycle-friendly restaurant.
“We gained a lot of notoriety when Wabash won the first season of Small Business Revolution. They chose six businesses and had industry professionals add their expertise and helpful hints. It was a life-changing event for sure. We had Robert Herjavec from Shark Tank as our mentor,” Kilmer said.
Harry’s is a 21-and-older establishment, and for those of age, it is a very welcoming place. Harry came out to our table and gave us plenty of recommendations for lunch. Here are our thoughts on the meal and overall experience at Harry’s Old Kettle Pub & Grill.
Ashton – Mac and Cheese Burger
“I had the Mac and Cheese Burger, and it absolutely hit the spot. This burger comes loaded with their house-made bacon and creamy mac and cheese. The mac was rich and cheesy without being too heavy, and the bacon added a flavorful punch that tied everything together. I added the pickle and onion from the side for a little extra bite, which worked perfectly with the savory richness of the burger.
On the side, the house-made chips were a nice surprise. Crisp and well-seasoned, they had a kick of spice that gave them an extra layer of flavor beyond your average side.”
Belle – Memphis Pulled Pork
“The Memphis Pulled Pork was a perfect blend of sweet and savory between the barbecue, pulled pork, and the coleslaw. The coleslaw on top was a refreshing twist on a classic pulled pork. The pork was smoked to perfection, with just a little crisp around the edges. The mac and cheese was creamier and lighter on the cheese, which I enjoyed. It wasn’t too heavy but still tasted better than classic mac and cheese.”
Callie – Chicken Sliders
“I ordered the Crispy Chicken Sliders and loved them! The chicken was cooked well and had good flavor. Each bun was toasted perfectly, and the pickle and mayo were the perfect toppings for these little guys!”
Brice – Wabash Hot Chicken Sandwich w/ Mac & Cheese
“Even after attending and eating too much at the mac and cheese fest recently, I was intrigued by the mac and cheese after talking to Harry. The sandwich was very good. It had the right amount of spice that I was looking for, and it balanced well with the cole slaw and pickles on top.”
Jonathan – Dirty Harry Sandwich
“I had the “Dirty Harry” sandwich and maaaaaan was it good. It’s a Pulled Pork sandwich with bacon, American cheese, onions, and peppers with BBQ sauce on an artisan roll. I also had the onion rings and French fries. Needless to say, I did NOT eat dinner that night. I highly recommend Harry’s – nice staff, great food, and an expensive atmosphere! (There are dollar bills covering the entire ceiling.)
Team – Onion Rings
“These onion rings were definitely the best I’ve had! I loved how thin and crispy the batter was,” Callie said.
“The onion rings were perfectly crispy without being oily and greasy,” Belle said.
This blog series was created to highlight the best restaurants in Northeast Indiana. If you missed out on voting the first time, make sure to follow our social media to vote for your favorite restaurant in one of our 11 counties.
Our previous stops in this series: Caruso’s in Steuben County, Albion Ale House in Noble County, Fulton & Main in Adams County, Botanas Locas in Kosciusko County, Shorty’s Steakhouse in DeKalb County, and Destination 814 in LaGrange County.
Brice Vance is the copywriter for NEI, and he just realized that he had a similar sandwich at the previous stop in this series. He will make sure to order something else next time.
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