South Bend, IN

Today I felt like a south of the border lunch. I went to a local taqueria (El Paraiso) for lunch today. I decided to try something different and at the recommendation of the waitress, I had the Carne en su Jugo. This homemade soup was made with a pork broth containing pinto beans, serrano peppers, bacon, pork, onion, and other spices. The soup was served with tortillas, avocado, onions, cilantro and lime quarters. Carne en su Jugo was a hearty soup with good flavor. I have eaten here several times with very good meals. I plan to return and try some of the other fare.

El Paraiso also has a well stocked Mexican grocery attached, with an outstanding selection of meats.

El Paraiso
425 S. Main
South Bend, IN

I plan to continue posting my comments on this restaurant as I explore there menu.

Today I tried the Carne Asada with a braised beef enchilada. I must say this was outstanding. The steak was perfectly seasoned served with grilled onions, refried beans, and the most flavorful Mexican rice I have ever eaten. The enchilada and sauce was very good. I watched the cook make guacamole for another diner and me. Such a simple, quick, and flavorful food to make. Homemade fresh tortilla chips with a nicely spiced moderately hot, but flavorul salsa.

I will return.

Bruce, I appreciate you posting on restaurants from your home base. I get down to S. Bend about 6 or 8 times a year, and I'd love to check out some new spots when in town.

Feel free to email or pm me before you come down. While I sometimes consider SB to be a culinary wasteland and there are some places that are pretty good. Tabor Hill Winery which is in SW Michigan is very good and has some decent wines. Its about 30 minutes from SB. In Mishawaka a place called Pat's Pub is very good. I usually forget about eating there unless someone else mentions it.

We are generating quite a few new Mexican restaurants in certain areas of town.

I've been to Pat's (Colonial?) Pub many times. A family friend is an old ND grad and has to eat there every time in town. I think the steaks are about the best I've had in the Michiana region. Of course most of the red meat competition is served by national chains. I'll be sure to contact you for recs next time I'm heading down the toll road.

Simon,

There are a couple of other places that serve great steaks. Eddie's Steak Shed is outstanding. Very casual, hand cut steaks, cash only. By 6:00 pm about every night there's at least a 30 minute + wait.

MY BIL ate at Pat's a few nights ago and said the pork chops were outstanding. Large thick cut, juicy.

El Paraiso Taquerio served a delicious Chile Verde yesterday for lunch. This is my third time having this wonderful dish. What is unique about the dish was that they use spare ribs cut into 1 inch pieces instead of the usual pork butt. The peppers were fresh and cut into strips and the added tomatillos made this outstanding. Not greasy but a very deep flavor. Served along with this entr

Bruce wrote:El Paraiso Taquerio served a delicious Chile Verde yesterday for lunch.

Bruce,

You have your 'must visit' list for Chicago, I have a new one on my 'must visit' list for South Bend. Great post.

Enjoy,
Gary

Bruce wrote:Today I felt like a south of the border lunch. I went to a local taqueria (El Paraiso) for lunch today. I decided to try something different and at the recommendation of the waitress, I had the Carne en su Jugo. This homemade soup was made with a pork broth containing pinto beans, serrano peppers, bacon, pork, onion, and other spices. The soup was served with tortillas, avocado, onions, cilantro and lime quarters. Carne en su Jugo was a hearty soup with good flavor. I have eaten here several times with very good meals. I plan to return and try some of the other fare.

El Paraiso also has a well stocked Mexican grocery attached, with an outstanding selection of meats.

El Paraiso
425 S. Main
South Bend, IN

I returned today and tried a new dish. The goat was outstanding. Goat was not listed on the menu but when I asked the waitress what those 2 meats in the glass case were she said goat and beef. I ordered the goat, and asked if it was cabrito and she thought/heard burrito. Any way my language skills leave something to be desired. The food though is very desirable.

I plan to continue posting my comments on this restaurant as I explore there menu.

I stopped by today at El Pariso for lunch and Luis, the chef who I have seen buzzing around behind the counter cooking up a storm every time I have been there, initiated his first conversation with me. We have talked before but language is a barrier at times. (The place was busy, the waitress running around, waiting on tables, busing tables, and running the cash register.) Luis asked if I wanted the Green Chile Verde as he was placing a beautiful bowl of Shrimp Soup on the counter for the waitress to deliver. With the weather turning chilly today I couldn't resist. Luis brought me a Diet Coke, chips, salsa, and a steaming bowl of soup filled with large shrimp, carrots, tomatoes, and chayote squash. The Shrimp Soup was outstanding. I'm betting there were 15 larger than cocktail size shrimp in the bowl. This was a very filling and delicious lunch.

El Paraiso has a new cook now. With no offense to the previous cook, the food has improved significantly. They are now offering moles, cabrito, and several other items which can not be found in South Bend's other Mexican restaurants.

Today I had a carnitas dinner. Carnitas are usually a weekend special. The flavor was very good, but the meat was a little dry. I continue to eat here at least once a week and enjoy dining. I am planning a South Bend Slow Food event for the middle of the fall.




El Paraiso also has a well stocked Mexican grocery attached, with an outstanding selection of meats.

El Paraiso
425 S. Main
South Bend, IN

You seem to be the resident expert on South Bend. I've read all of the posts and plan on hitting a few of your recs over the weekend.

I'll have plenty of time to meander while the S.O. is go-karting, so I'm also wondering if there are any other places to hit--farmers markets, bakeries, delis, ethnic neighborhoods, ice cream shop. Basically, anything with non-chain, local flavah or interest.

crrush wrote:You seem to be the resident expert on South Bend. I've read all of the posts and plan on hitting a few of your recs over the weekend.

I'll have plenty of time to meander while the S.O. is go-karting, so I'm also wondering if there are any other places to hit--farmers markets, bakeries, delis, ethnic neighborhoods, ice cream shop. Basically, anything with non-chain, local flavah or interest.

Farmer's Market
1105 Northside Blvd
South Bend, IN
269-282-1259
7:00 am - 2:00 pm
Strawberry season now.

Tabor Hill Winery
Tabor Hill

Fiddlers Hearth

Elia's Middle Eastern Restaurant

SB LTH link

LTH South Bend Search has some threads you may want to read.

Western Avenue west of downtown has quite a few reasonably authentic Mexican restaurants, but not near up to Chicago standards.

Notre Dame and St. Mary's campuses if you are interested in that sort of thing. They should be quiet and peaceful this time of year.

I went on a food tear in South Bend and, with the help of Bruce’s recommendations and a few of my own discoveries, managed to have a few good meals.

First, the discoveries.

Find #1:

Knowing full well the rabid opinions about BBQ on this board, specifically about ribs and tips, I humbly submit Minnie Bo Ribs to the mix. I spotted this ramshackle building on South Bend Ave., and nearly got T-boned by a Honda Civic when I pulled a fast U-turn to check it out. One thing I know about good barbecue: the best stuff is rarely found in those spit-shined and polished restaurants with lots of neon, waitresses wearing “flash” and squeaky-clean laminated menus. Truly good BBQ is made by people who are too busy doing what they do best to have time for such window dressing. Minnie Bo is in this category.

Bo, the owner, wasn’t around, but I placed an order for tiny tips, $5 (as opposed to a rib tip dinner, $9, or Minnie tip dinner, $8) with hot BBQ sauce with his wife Minnie, and got some of the “history” of the place from daughters August and Gemini. It’s only been open six or seven months, the kids don’t know where mom and dad got their BBQing skills, and Gemini thinks the hot BBQ sauce is too hot. I thought it was lovely.

I know some people like the steamed, falling-off-the-rib type of BBQ, and others like the Honey 1 style—more meaty, stuck-to-the-bone, which I find a bit tough—but Minnie Bo ribs find a happy medium ground between the two. Tender, but with a good chew. The tips are bathed in a spicy, smoky sauce that I would gladly slurp through a straw. Not the cloying, sweet, “Jack Daniels” stuff you find everywhere, not the vinegar-based North Carolina variety, but a brilliant balance of sweet-salty-hot-sour. And definitely a bit of heat.

Minnie Bo Ribs
1740 South Bend Ave.
574.272.7427

Find #2: Chicory Café

I landed here on recommendation from a waitress at another coffee shop, who said they served Louisiana food. Always intrigued by Midwest, East and West Coast interpretations of “southern”, “Cajun” and “Creole” eats, I had to stop in. The place features standard café fare—sandwiches, coffee of all manner, teas, Italian sodas—but it was the “muffaletta” caught my eye. (I think they also do beignets and “Po-Boys”.)

I ordered a half, fully expecting some lame interpretation served up on ciabatta or foccacia. Not only did the sammich come with Zapp’s Cajun Crawtators (not a traditional side, mind you, but still…ZAPP’s!), the bread and the olive salad—THE crucial elements in a good muffaletta—were outstanding. The bread comes from the chain bread bakery, Breadsmith (see Find #3), and although it was missing the sprinkling of sesame seeds you’ll find on an authentic Central Grocery muff, this bread was a fine specimen. Crisp-tender crust, chewy, olive-salad-absorbing interior…perfection. The olive salad is made in-house, and impressive. (I pressed the counter guy on this point by teasing him a little and saying, ‘It’s not homemade just because you opened the jar here.’ He insisted…made in-house.)

There may be an equal here in Chicago, but I haven’t found it yet. In Michelin terms, I’m not saying it’s a destination muffaletta--worth a 2-hour drive just for a taste—but if you’re anywhere in the vicinity, worth a detour.

Chicory Café
105 E. Jefferson Blvd.
574-234-1141

Find #3: Breadsmith

A cursory search for bakeries in South Bend turned up an old school, First Communion/Graduation/Retirement cakes, doughnuts and cookies bakery (Dainty Maid Bake Shop), an Italian deli/bakery (Macri’s), an Italian restaurant pastry shop (Ciao’s), and Breadsmith.

The first three bakery stops were totally unremarkable. I have nothing against people who eat airbrushed cakes (Dainty Maid), but for the most part, the airbrushing is the best thing about the cake, to which I say…airbrush a T-shirt instead and buy a cake worth eating.

Breadsmith, on the other hand, was a nice surprise. I didn’t realize it was a chain, or that there’s a store here in Chicago. Will I give up Red Hen or Bleeding Heart and take a vow of exclusivity to Breadsmith? Hardly. The apple pie muffin I took back to the hotel and nuked the following morning was nice. What will make me go back is the muffaletta bread, or what I’m guessing they call “Rustic Italian” on their menu. If I ever get the craving for a muffaletta, this is the bread that’ll make the sandwich.

Breadsmith
2022 South Bend Avenue
574.273.9130

Other food stars of the weekend, on Bruce’s recommendation:

After a day of non-stop grazing, I still managed to put down a Prime Rib Dip from Eddie’s Steak Shed. I don’t even like prime rib, USDA Prime or otherwise. I loved it. The Mr. got the special: 10 oz. ribeye and a half slab. The ribs were kinda sticky-sweet and too mushy, but the ribeye was cooked to perfection (medium rare) and very flavorful. The other jackass we ate with ordered swordfish. At a place called the “Steak Shed”. Our waitress, about 80 pounds of surly sweetness, made fun of him. It was great.

I spoke with the new owner, Nick, who bought the place from Eddie a few months ago. He said they’re still doing in-house butchering and aging, and that Eddie still comes in to do some of the cuts. I can’t compare old vs. new, or vouch for the butchering and aging, but I would definitely go back based on this experience.

Eddie’s Steak Shed
12685 Adams Road (S.R. 23)
574.277.1076


Khun Daeng Thai Kitchen was everything it has been billed here as. If you’re nice and ask the sweet, inquisitive proprietor, they’ll give you the un-American Thai treatment. The papaya salad made me sweat. Yay!

Disappointments from the weekend:

* Elia’s: I suppose if it’s the only Mediterranean place in town, I can see why it gets high marks. But the kibbe was dry and flavorless and the hummus garnered this comment: “It tastes like it looks. Pasty.” The baba ghanoush had a nice, garlick-y kick to it, and the foul moudammas was nice, but everything else we ordered (shish kebab, shish tawouk, falafel and a mixed grill entrée) was just kind of…eh.

* Macri’s Italian Bakery: Not worth the caloric intake. The Florentine I ate was wilted, not crisp, and the cannoli was an insult to cannoli-dom.

* Little Linda’s BBQ Café, on the southwest side of town, looks like the kind of run-down place in the middle of nowhere that might just serve the best BBQ and fried chicken ever. Based on the same restaurant logic that drew me to Minnie Bo Ribs, and between the hot waft of chicken frying I got driving by and the desolate location, I figured it had to be a winner.

It is not.

LTHForum rules prevent me from saying more about the food. So I’ll say this: the waitress was REALLY nice. So nice, in fact, I choked down a leg and part of a wing from the 4-piece dinner I ordered just because I didn’t want to make her feel bad.

* Four Seasons, near the South Bend airport, struck out for being one of two restaurants that swindled me into the “fresh” pitch, which I posted about here.

Today I went to Macri’s Deli for lunch. I haven’t been in many years because I had found the food lacking. While the restaurant has expanded, the menu looked to be the same as I remembered. Nothing particularly stood out as exciting for lunch but I finally decided on fish and chips and placed my order.

I must say that the fish and chips brought to me today was one of, if not the worst example of fish and chips I have ever been served. A McDonald’s fish value meal is better. By how much I don’t know. My order came with 3 “cod” fillets on top of a basket of French fries. Soggy breading that was uncooked inside, mushy fish that was unpalatable, and fries that were a combination of warm, cold, done, and soggy.

The waitress came with my check, I gave her a $10 and when she came back with my change she asked if she could wrap it up, I told her I wouldn’t want to feed that to anyone. After asking what was wrong and listening to my explanation she took the food and went to get the manager.

The manager came and I explained what was so unsatisfying about the meal. He offered a complimentary dinner for two. I turned him down by saying I doubt if I would come back. After a little discussion (my rant) about the quest of the food industry to meet the palates of those least offended by taste, he asked if there was anything he could do. I suggested he could adjust my bill, but since I had all ready paid he said he couldn’t do that and wish I had said something before paying. I informed him that the waitress never asked how the meal was or I would have told her. I accepted a certificate for dinner for two and must commend the manager for his persistence. I am aware that restaurant shift managers frequently have no control over the quality of what is served.

Macri’s Deli/Restaurant
227 W. University Drive
Mishawaka, IN 46544
574-277-7273

Have you tried the Chicory Cafe muffaletta yet? I was thinking about it the other day. Quite tasty.

crrush wrote:Have you tried the Chicory Cafe muffaletta yet? I was thinking about it the other day. Quite tasty.

I've eaten there a couple of times. I don't remember what I've had though. I don't think I've had the muffaletta. I haven't been that enamored of the food. More because I would hope New Orleans to be so much better. I am going to the gym tomorrow which is a half a block away and after my workout and massage I should try it. I'll stick a note in my calendar.

I can tell you that the "kid" who made your "homemade olive salad" was very proud of what he does after reading your post. I don't know the manager, but she posts on a local forum advertising the music events they have some evenings. I sent a link to your post to her. I stopped in a few weeks later and mentioned it. She told me the kid takes great pride in his knife skills and refuses to use the food processor.

It is good. Not Central Grocery good, but it's definitely worth trying. I also really liked Minnie Bo Ribs...have you been there yet?

crrush wrote:It is good. Not Central Grocery good, but it's definitely worth trying. I also really liked Minnie Bo Ribs...have you been there yet?

I went once a few days after you were there. The ribs ould have been better fresh, but they were okay. They are closed now. Several places have tried to make a go a that location but its not a very successful one. Notre Dame students don't eat a lot of ribs.

Just moved from Chicago to lovely South Bend, or more specifically, Mishawaka, Indiana, for grad school and am going through some serious decent restaurant withdrawl (I ate at a Houlihans last night, for God's sake). Anyways, seeing as I'm now a poor grad student, I'll be looking to supplement my diet of ramen noodles and condensed soup with some decent local food. Suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

-Lunchbox

Here are a few recommendations of places that I like. Or they are popular and I have not eaten there*. No chains

Cosimo & Susie's (Italian)
Town & Country Shopping Center
(In the back)

Polito's Pizza (NY Style)
Grape Road

Carriage House-Expensive
NW Side of County
LaSalle Grill-Expensive
Downtown

White House Diner-Great Breakfast/Hamburgrs-Dive though
Mishawaka Ave/Twycenham by IUSB

Fiddler's Hearth
Downtown

Pete's Patio
Niles, MI

Carmela's
Downtown

Ciao's Italian*
Downtown

Coney Express-Soups, Hot Dogss
Grape Road

Eddie's Steak Shed
Granger

Francesco's
LWW in Mishawaka

Pat's Colonial Pub
Mishawaka

Elia's Mediterranean
US 933 in Roseland,
N of ND

Hot Dog's Plus
Niles, MI

Oaken Bucket
Ironwood Ave
South Bend

Lincoln Way Grill-Good hamburger-Dive
South Bend-Daytime only

Matuba Japanese Restaurant*
Mckinley Ave
SB

Mishawka Brewing Co*
Beer

Morris Bistro*
Downtown

Sunny Italy
SB

Yessterday's-Food is good, but desserts are great
Granger

This should get you started.

There are also several good Mexican places on the west side that are good. Stay away from Hacienda.

For whats it worth there are a few Chik-Fil-A's scattered about the area, but its love/hate with it. I happen to be a huge fan.


4555 S. Michigan Street
South Bend, IN 46614-2553
574/968-0351

5517 N. Main Street
Mishawaka, IN 46545
574/277-0222

University Park Mall
6501 N. Grape Road
Mishawaka, IN 46545
574/272-2247

I know the Houlihan's you went to, and that entire strip in Mishawaka is chain places. It wasn't so long ago that there were nothing but cornfields there. Some random thoughts for you:

There is a Barnaby's Pizza in Mishawaka, and Bruno's Pizza is pretty solid too. Bruno's does a buffet that might be worth looking into...not sure if this is at all locations and if it's only one night a week, but I know the offensive lineman from ND go there together every week.

Check out a place called Nick's Patio if it is still around, great Greek owned place for breakfast or late night with your buddies after you've been partying.

Get a burger at CJ's in downtown South Bend as well.

Macri's Deli kicks ass.

Meijer will make you huge, almost party-size deli sandwiches (enough to last you a whole day) for some insane price of like $6 per sandwich and the ladies that work the deli counter are super nice.

...keep us posted on how it's coming along!

I'm a big fan of Cosimo & Susie's lasagna and meat ball bombers(on Gonnella bread products). Go early for dinner, as the lasagna always sells out.

Ugh!

I grew up there and hate to say it but there are a lot of chains and not nearly as many good locally owned places.

Here are a couple:

Yesterday's
In Granger. Great restaurant with the best desserts (cheesecake) you have ever had. Most of the menu is somewhat higher end, but go sit in the bar and order off their cheaper menu and you will enjoy yourself. Try their "Chicken Lips" and you will not regret it.

Rio's
For mexican food. Cheap place and I would highly suggest the Quesadillas, (more like a taco in presentation). There are two locations and one is right next door to Nick's patio mentio0ned above.

King Gyros is a decent place for hot dogs, gyros and I especially love their rib tips (for the value). There are a couple of locations around town.

The best high-end restaurant in town is Lasalle Grille. Outstanding steaks and service. An institution in South Bend.

I will second the aforementioned Barnabys and also put in a plug for Politos on Grape.

For wings I would suggest Wings etc. by the best buy on Grape. Delicious and a great place to watch a game as well.

A new place called "Wine Down Bar" just opened up by the super Target off Main (sorry I don't know the street name) that is a wine bar and has smaller plates and trendy decor. Fairly fun for Mishawaka.

I will keep thinking about this.

The B2B used this thread to help her decide where to go on Tuesday. She visited the Fiddler's Hearth and had a good meal. I know she commented specifically about the potato soup, and beer selections.

I'm not a Korean expert, but I'll drive quite a bit out of my way to get to Sunny's in Mishawaka. I usually order the chop chae which has sweet potato glass noodles covered with great stuff and their gaagie eggplant appetizer that's fairly incendiary. That have outside dining, too, though those days are numbered, and the food's plentiful, so you'll have leftovers. You can find a menu at their website:

Sunny's Korean Garden Patio
512 S Spring St
Mishawaka, IN 46544
(574) 255-5274

http://www.chomsonteriyaki.com/sunnys.php

I have had the opportunity to spend some time in South Bend recently. Not a great restaurant town or region by any stretch. Some of the places that I have been to and enjoyed include:

Taj (508 W Mckinley Ave, Mishawaka) - A better than expected Indian restaurant.

El Paraiso (425 S. Main St., South Bend) - Had breakfast here once and was impressed with my food and what I saw others eating.

Fiddler's Hearth (127 N Main St., South Bend) - One of the few good bars in South Bend. Excellent (for the area) beer selection. They also serve decent Irish food. On weekends they have Irish music which can be charming, but also kind of annoying.

Farmers Market (1105 Northside Blvd, South Bend) - Not sure of their schedule, but there is some interesting stuff here.

Mishawaka Brewing Company (multiple locations) - Not impressed with the food here, but the beer is OK.

Legends (Notre Dame campus) - Good beer list. Not sure about the food.

Lasalle Grill (115 W. Colfax Ave) - Never been, but friends who are locals tell me that the food is very good.

had some very good pupusas and tamales at girasol pupusaria on eddy street yesterday.the tamales wert a little different like a gelatin quality to the masa and not wrapped in anything when served.buttttt very good.give them a try and really cheap.

Bruce has started a few threads specific to South Bend. Not sure how up to date they are, but take a gander at:

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t= ... 8817b0b31e

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.ph ... 6a3f002962

There's another thread somewhere with more write-ups, but I can't seem to find it. Bruce?