Valparaiso, IN

Going to visit family and have not been in awhile. Im sure I will get taken to Wagner's in Porter, but would love some recommendations on any other notable restaurants. Thanks

Have you been to Strongbow Inn? My wife, the Condiment Queen, hapily makes the schlep from Oak Park JUST for Strongbow. You can imagine what she'd say if she was in Valpo.

By chance you do not know it, Strongbow's the turkey place, year round thanksgiving dinners. Still, my favorite things there might not be the turkey plates. My favorite thing just might be their blue cheese vinagrette, one of the all time great salad dressings (and I am a BIG salad dressing fanatic) and their turkey pies.

Highly worth a visit, even from parts unknown. Its on Rt 30, about 10 minutes east of Valpo U.

Rob

My family is from the area and just love a little place called Sally's. It's only open for breakfast and lunch. I've never been there, but they all just rave about it! Good luck and let us know what you find.

Bumpin' an old post from 2004, cause we'll be in Valparaiso, IN Sat - any restaurants open of late worth visiting? I saw Don Quixote mentioned as the area's only Mexican (Spanish?) Restaurant... Help?

For upscale dining, Bistro 157 is really excellent as is Dish restaurant. Both are American-style, and both have menus online:

dishrestaurant.net and bistro157.net

Don Quixote is also tasty, and serves authentic Spanish food both in tapas style and full size portions. While we love the food, the tables can be fairly close together, and they often feature music. It's a much livelier atmosphere, but not conducive to conversation.

donquixoterestaurant-in.com but no menu online

There are 2 relative newcomers on the square: Pikk's Tavern, also American style but with sandwiches as well (and a tasty brunch), and Paparazzi, serving modern Italian. The atmosphere at both is relaxed and casual. Pikk's menu is also online (pikkstavern.com). A word of warning about Paparazzi: service can be very uneven. We had a great lunch on a very slow Sunday afternoon, but were treated quite rudely on a Friday nite. But the food was good and menu extensive.

I wouldn't recommend Strongbow, unless you just have to have some turkey. And then I believe I'd go to the grocery before I went there -- it's just dry, tasteless turkey at its worst.

If you go to Porter, be sure to try Santiago's -- their homemade mole rivals the best in Chicago.

And if you need a pizza, Tony's in Valpo is legendary.

Enjoy the vale of paradise........!

Crispy... thanks for the rec's re: Valparaiso dining. We might just eat in Merrilville and do some grocery shopping there before heading to Valparaiso (wife's playing w/ the symphony tonight).

So... is your moniker an obscure reference to this guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht-hHfkM ... re=related

I wish it were so! There are worse pedigrees than sugar coated sugar......