Bangers and mash ($8.60) from Broad Ripple Brew Pub.

Server Andy Skinner, 31, holds the Lawnmower fried chicken at Broad Ripple Brew Pub.

If you're planning a getaway to the U.K., Broad Ripple Brewpub is closer, cheaper, and offers more than airplane pretzels.

This microbrewery, started by an Englishman and his Hoosier wife, is a fantastic choice for a weekday lunch or weekend evening out.

The mood

My husband and I parked a few blocks away and enjoyed the beautiful day and interesting art studios and shops on our walk over to the pub. We sat outdoors, on the large covered patio, with the bees that landed on Hayden and wind-blown leaves that landed in my drink. No complaints -- it's outside! .

Mimicking an English hangout, dark wood is everywhere through the small but spacious bar area inside. Show up early if you want a bar seat -- the bar itself is minuscule. There is also a separate, family-friendly, dining room to start those Brewpub regulars early.

The food

Yeah, yeah. The Brewpub has all the pub food you could possibly want: quesadillas, burgers, pizza. But why have the same ol' when you could have shepherd's pie, or steak and kidney pie, Scotch eggs, or a beer-cheese crock (a bread dipping sauce made of two brews mixed with cheese)?

The Brewpub has a surprisingly varied menu, and some of the best pasta I've had. Would you order wasabi salmon salad, falafel, or mussels from your regular bar around the corner? Didn't think so. But here, it works. And it's delicious.

Speaking of mussels, the appetizer menu boasts a full pound of these sea creatures, with sausage (of course), basil and Chipotle peppers.

All this talk about traditional English cuisine, and I chose a grilled chicken sandwich. The Lawnmower chicken is marinated in Lawnmower beer ($7.50). Couldn't taste the brew, but the chicken was moist. Lettuce, tomato, pickles, and my own added cheddar (60 cents) and onions rounded out the meal with a side of chips.

The boy gave it a go with the bangers and mash ($8.60). Two spicy sausages, a huge slop of mashed potatoes and shallot gravy, and bright green peas on the side arrived on his plate.

The damage: $17.76

Broad Ripple Brewpub is a place to visit over and over. Try a new entrée, try a new beer, meet new (or old) friends, whatever.

Two for $20 mission:

To send two people out to eat on a $20 budget.