I will be returning from a business trip to Fostoria OH and will be traveling along 90E I will be leaving at around 9am (Chicago Time) That puts me near South Bend at lunch.

Thanks,

Bill

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=26602&hilit=rocco's+south+bend
Rocco's Restaurant
537 N Street Louis Boulevard
South Bend, IN 46617
(574) 233-2464

Jonathan, my husband, is from South Bend, IN. I can't claim much familiarity with the city as his parents moved to Ohio shortly after we met back in 1989. Next weekend we will be attending a memorial service there for a close family friend. John Fannin was a long-time teacher, coach, and assistant head-master at Stanley Clark Elementary School, not to mention one hell of a great guy. We plan to drink a few toasts in his honor at the Lasalle Grill on Friday night. I've never been - any recent reports or recommendations from the menu would be appreciated.

Thanks - Lynn

It's been I while since I was there last, but
I can't think of a better place for a cocktail.
I remember the steaks being tasty and the
desserts worth saving room for - especially
the molten chocolate cake.

Thanks, SCUBAchef. One of Fannin's favorite restaurants was Piero's in Vegas. He was known to enjoy both a fine cocktail and a great steak there - sounds like it will be fitting environs for those toasts.

Piero's
http://www.pieroscuisine.com/index.htm

It's really that great, and I know it's not what you are seeking, but I (and my family) really like the diner in the South Bend Farmer's Market. It is exactly, in the best of ways, what a place like that is supposed to be like. Maybe if you need to squeeze in a quick meal, you can give it a whirl.

LynnB wrote:Stanley Clark Elementary School

Really? Is it named after the bass player?

I am a grad of the first class. 6 8th graders in 1964, It was originally Cleland School. It was housed in the Coquillard mansion, then a Studebaker Mansion. Stanley Clark is named after a South Bend doctor who paid to have the name changed as part of a bequest in his will.

stevez wrote:

LynnB wrote:Stanley Clark Elementary School

Really? Is it named after the bass player?

I think the bass player is Stanley Clarke.

We very much enjoyed Lasalle Grill. Last Friday was the owner's 60th birthday and in celebration we were offered complimentary glasses of Chandon - a nice way to start the evening. We drove in after work, so had a relatively late reservation - 8:30 p.m., party of 6. Unfortunately, as a result, they were out of the oyster special starter I had my heart set on, and only 1 of the 2 people at our table was able to enjoy the halibut entree they both wanted. 2nd choices for the most part were well-enjoyed.

In lieu of the oysters, I had their shrimp cocktail to start. 6 generous sized, well-cooked (meaning not overcooked and nicely seasoned,) shrimp with homemade cocktail sauce and lemon wedges were priced fairly at $15. Others enjoyed their trio of bruschetta, beef tenderloin tartar, and a decadent order of crab "tater tots."

My walleye entree was a bit of a disappointment. It was pan-seared and came with potatoes and some veg I barely remember as it just wasn't noteworthy. A boring dish. Others had much better luck. Jonathan loved his stuffed pork chop, my FIL his duck, a friend the lamb chops, and my MIL was the lucky receipient of the last order of the halibut which looked great.

Service was top-notch, wine list quite good, the room comfortable. If I lived in South Bend and had the means, I would definately be a regular. FWI - per couple, with everyone having a starter and entree, one dessert, 3 coffees, and approximately 4 btls (we went by the glass,) of wine, the tab came to $130 before tip.

Lasalle Grill
http://www.lasallegrill.com/

I was in South Bend a week ago for a wedding.
We got in late in the evening, so we didn't have
a lot of options. We ended up at Nick's Patio.
Classic "Greek" diner fare. My wife got a waffle
and it was maybe the best waffle (pecan) that
I have ever tasted - perfectly crispy yet tender
inside, and very flavorful - not the usual blandness.
And a French Dip that I got was exceptional -
tender and flavorful. It could hold its own against
some of the better Italian Beefs I've had.

I'm a big French Dip fan, and I will definitely check out Nick's when I get the chance.

I know very little about Northern Indiana, and the South Bend area, saw a couple Irish games there back in the 1980's and saw Panic back in the 1990's.

South Bend Saturday served as a pit stop on the way east to the Shipshawana, Goshen, etc.

Had some basic info on Pejza's Lydick Tavern(FB page, but they arn't tweeting and no website - its all good), read it was a Polish bar that might be a spot right up my alley. Classic from the moment you drive up.





we sat at the bar, but a laid back dinig area is off to the right as you walk in:



High Life, Beam, and a bar snack of a housemade cheese spread and a basket of crackers($3). Set me right for the days special a basic corned beef sandwich on rye bread($4.5). Simple is best in my world, fatty(in a good way) juicy corned beef, soft rye, some horseradish.. magnificent.:



I know not very Polish so far, it was the day before st. pats so everywhere takes their handat corned beef it seems. We did have some of their pierogis, I am new to this item, but i really liked theirs, a slightly crisp exterior, tender doughy inside, I though these were good and a food item I need to try more of. I liked mixing some of the kraut filled pierogi with some of the cheese one. I read they do a midwekk Polish dinner, if I am ever in this area on such a night Id be hard pressed to not try it.

Grubseeker approved.

Pezja's Lydick Tavern
26444 Edison Road
South Bend, IN.

I read grubseeker's review and was interested in visiting Pejzas since it is near me and I never heard of it before. The bar was packed though a few tables were still open . Like so many bar restaurants there is a Friday night fish fry. The fish is called "swai" which I never heard of before. The waitress said that was what everyone came for on Fridays so I thought for 10 bucks what the heck. The fish was so the most mild fish I ever had to the point of being rather just texture for the breading. I wouldn't order that again but I would definately go back.The place was unbelievably clean and orderly and service was attentive. The beers in bottle and on tap were the usual suspects. The pierogi order was one large fried cheese filled hunk. Not like any pierogi I have had before maybe more on the order of a fried ravioli. Still and all I would definately be back order something different on the menu. Hope others try it when in the area but it sure seems like it has a good local following. Thanks for the headsup.

trudie wrote:I read grubseeker's review and was interested in visiting Pejzas since it is near me and I never heard of it before. The bar was packed though a few tables were still open . Like so many bar restaurants there is a Friday night fish fry. The fish is called "swai" which I never heard of before. The waitress said that was what everyone came for on Fridays so I thought for 10 bucks what the heck. The fish was so the most mild fish I ever had to the point of being rather just texture for the breading. I wouldn't order that again but I would definately go back.The place was unbelievably clean and orderly and service was attentive. The beers in bottle and on tap were the usual suspects. The pierogi order was one large fried cheese filled hunk. Not like any pierogi I have had before maybe more on the order of a fried ravioli. Still and all I would definately be back order something different on the menu. Hope others try it when in the area but it sure seems like it has a good local following. Thanks for the headsup.

right on,

I know I had fun there, just the type of place I hang out in. Id like to find a way to be in the area on a night when they do their Polish menu.

Stopped into Satay House in South Bend's sister city Mishawaka a month or so back. It's owned by two ladies one of whom is from Thailand and the other Malaysia. Seeing as we dont have many Malaysian options in Chicagoland it seemed like the perfect lunch stop while in the area.


Mishawaka, IN

Pretty empty upon entering what was obviously a fast food franchise at one point. There were two ladies enjoying soup and conversation but they were quick to pop up and seat us with menus. Before the order was even made a homemade egg roll on the house was brought out. It turned out just to be the start of a very tasty meal you wouldn't expect to be eating on the outskirts of Amish Indiana.


Chicken Satay

First order up. Had to go with a starter of their namesake satay. This is one of a few Malaysian dishes on offer. I usually don't order satay all that often when out and that may be because I've never had meat served on a stick that tasted like this. I loved the thin cut extra fragrant strips of chicken with a powerful peanut dipping sauce so much I almost ordered more and fought myself off the rest of the time spent dining. That's because there were a couple of other Malaysian offerings I wanted to try from the menu. Those being an order of the roti and also the chicken rendang.


Chicken Rendang

I really liked both of these, especially together. The roto was flaky towards the middle but nice and crispy around the edges and made for the perfect mop for the rendang sauce which was very pleasing on a cool fall day. The flavor depth was better than any other rendang I've tasted but unfortunately my experience is limited. One of the owners (The Thai lady) was doing the cooking and making sure we enjoyed everything. She was showing how everything is made with fresh high quality ingredients by flaunting some of her farmers market gets from earlier that morning. She was a real sweetie proud to back her restaurants dishes. Maybe you can do better in the area as far as eating out goes, I don't know, but I do know you can do much worse. Check them out.


Malaysian in Mishawaka

Satay House
213 E McKinley Ave
Mishawaka, IN 46545
(574) 254-7660