Chicago to Cleveland (stops along I-90) recommendations?

I've searched the board quite extensively, and could not get a read on any decent, non-chain restaurants to check out along Northern Indiana on our trip from Chicago to Cleveland. Maybe something for lunch or a early dinner. Preferably homemade pub grub type food and a cold beer?

You’d probably have more options taking I-94 through Northern Indiana, then maybe getting on the Toll Road east of Michigan City. Getting off I-94 at Chesterton/Route 49 and going north to Route 12 (eastbound) will get you to Bartlett's Gourmet Grill & Tavern, just east of the Dunes State Park, at about Beverly Shores, just before the Town of Pines.
http://www.eatatbartletts.com/menus/

This route has been covered extensively, both in threads specific to this trip and points East, as well as threads dealing with NW IN, Toledo, and excursions to Barberton, OH.

I make the trip from Chicago to Cleveland several times every summer. There's a good reason you don't see a lot of discussion about "decent, non-chain restaurants" in Northern Indiana. It is because there are very few. You'll be way better off putting pedal-to-the-metal and choosing your dining options in Ohio.

You don't say what time you're leaving Chicago, so gauging where you'll be around lunch time/early dinner is tough. The whole trip isn't too much more than six hours, so if you leave Chicago at 6:00am, you could potentially be eating lunch in Cleveland proper by noon.

Just west of Cleveland, right on the shores of Lake Erie, is the New Sandusky Fish Company. They've got tremendous fried fish, served as a dinner or sandwich, with a modest selection of sides. A couple of caveats:

1. All dining is outdoors, next to the main building. The local aquatic fowl have figured this out and become quite bold in their approach to diners. Avoid eye contact. Also, avoid dining near idiots.

On my last visit, I managed to distract the birds by flinging a few French fries far away from the picnic table area, sending them away from where I was. Minutes later a table full of mouth breathers sat down near me and started tossing food directly at my table, sending (literally) a gaggle of hungry, mean looking geese my way. Naturally, when they'd gobbled up all the scraps thrown by the morons, they started demanding tribute from me.

I got my revenge by eating up quickly, going to the trunk of my car, pulling out a baseball bat and beating them (the mouth breathers, not the geese) to death. Just kidding about that last part. Or am I...?

Anyway, simple solution; if the birds are out and about, eat in your car.

2. I don't recall them selling any booze, so BYO. I'm pretty sure there's a nearby liquor store where you can pick up some cold beers.

You didn't ask for any suggestions specific to Cleveland, but I can make plenty of recommendations in that area as well. Almost none of them involve angry waterfowl, or death by bludgeoning. Let me kow if I can help.

Have a great trip!

Buddy

New Sandusky Fish Company
235 E. Shoreline Dr.
Sandusky, OH
(419) 621-8263

I realize you specified I-90 but if you'd consider another route I have some suggestions. Taking US-30 adds only 25 miles to the trip and takes you through Fort Wayne, an underappreciated food destination. In addition to the Burmese options (completely unavailable in Chicago), you can find excellent coffee, superb sliders and topnotch tacos. Immediately next door to El Amish (the taqueria) is Mad Anthony's Brewing. I have no firsthand experience with the place but people seem to like it. For food and drink in an atmospheric old restaurant, I'd consider The Oyster Bar, a Fort Wayne fixture since the 1880s. I only stopped for drinks at their tiny bar but have a good feeling about the place and can't wait to get back for a meal.

You've probably already seen these threads but close to I-90 in Indiana, consider Goshen or Middlebury. You might have to be content with root beer though.

I would have to agree with Rene. You really have to get off of the interstate to find any decent food along the route. You have to remember that the effect of the turnpike was to discourage people from seeking out local businesses - and there are very few.

One classic near Toledo is Tony Packo's which has been covered at length in several threads.

Maumee Packo's Express
530 Illinois Avenue
Maumee, OH 43537
(419) 897-3647

If you want a really good sports bar, in the South Bend area are a few locations of a place called Between The Buns. Tons of TVs (including on each table) for sports, and all the typical deep fried favorites/pub grub stuff. They have great beer battered chicken fingers. Nothing fancy, nothing expensive here.

Between The Buns
http://www.betweenthebuns.com/

Easiest one for you would be the one in Elkhart on Route 19, just south of the Toll Road.

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:
Just west of Cleveland, right on the shores of Lake Erie, is the New Sandusky Fish Company.

1. All dining is outdoors, next to the main building. The local aquatic fowl have figured this out and become quite bold in their approach to diners. Avoid eye contact. Also, avoid dining near idiots.


New Sandusky Fish Company
235 E. Shoreline Dr.
Sandusky, OH
(419) 621-8263

Didnt really research this place in advance other than their address, their name kept coming up with Jolly Rogers up in Port Clinton. Did Jolly Rogers then Sandusky back to back just to be thorough, and whats 40 miles when you are logging over a 1,000 miles in a 36 hour food binge.

Cool spot right on the water - old school, aka the only school.:







Went with a perch sandwich and some walleye. Sandwich was good, fresh perch, well done, just not up to the Jolly Roger version a a short time earlier. Still solid. Walleye was really good.

Perch sandwich, rough lighting - cloudy day - be nice:





Gotta say I was kind of pissed I didnt buy any uncooked yellow perch to go to cook tonight for supper.

Liked this place alot.

Glad you liked New Sandusky Fish Company. Since you don't mention them, I assume your meal wasn't disrupted by birds or the dopes who would feed them.

Buddy

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:Glad you liked New Sandusky Fish Company. Since you don't mention them, I assume your meal wasn't disrupted by birds or the dopes who would feed them.

Buddy

I did forget to add a note about the birds, they were around(quite a few), luckily no one was turning the picnic table area into a feeding frenzy by feeding them. They sure weren't spooked by humans.