Owning Bonge's Restaurant a dream come true for Burgess
Sep. 25—PERKINSVILLE — Bonge's Restaurant has been a part of this small Madison County community for almost a century, and the new owner plans to continue that tradition.
This month the iconic restaurant, known for tailgating and Perkinsville Pork, was purchased by the Burgess Restaurant Group, which was founded by Jake Burgess.
Bonge's opened in Perkinsville near the banks of the White River following the end of Prohibition in the 1930s.
Charles Bonge took ownership in 1944 and spent nearly 50 years serving food and drinks to patrons.
It was purchased in 1994 by Tony Huestler, who transformed Bonge's into a restaurant that attracted diners from throughout Indiana.
The building was struck by lightning in 2000 and was closed for four months before opening for business.
On Sept. 11, Huestler sold the restaurant to Jake Burgess, and the restaurant was open for business the next day.
The Burgess Restaurant Group owns four other restaurants in central Indiana, Smoky's Concession Stand in Lapel, Fox Gartin Kitchen & Ale and FoxGardin Family Kitchen in Fortville, and The Den by Fox Gardin in Carmel.
Spencer Wood Foster, director of operations, said Monday that Burgess has always looked up to Bonge's standards for restaurant operation and food preparation.
"All my restaurants were loosely based on Bonge's," Burgess said. "I liked the quality of the food and how the business was operated.
"I started reaching out to him three or four years ago," he said of Huestler.
"It was a dream come true," Burgess said of the purchase. "There will be a couple of small upgrades, but the menu will remain the same."
Dean Sample will be the chef at Bonge's.
Bonge's Tavern is known for its "Perkinsville Pork" tenderloin, pounded thin, Parmesan-breaded, pan-fried and topped with lemon butter.
Bonge's Tavern prides itself on being a community social hub by encouraging tailgating on the property.
Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.
