Lunch options in South Bend?

We will be going from Chicago to Goshen this Saturday for arrival before 2 PM. The route will use the US 31 and US 20 bypass from the toll road over toward Goshen. South Bend seems like a good place to stop for lunch in terms of timing. Looking at Streets and Trips I see just about every chain fast food and family dining restaurant in the region along Western Avenue or near the Business 31 interchange. However, we want something better albeit fairly quick. Because of activities that afternoon and evening, we don't want beans or large amounts of garlic/onions. El Paraiso Taqueria's shrimp soup might work, but Bruce's communications problems there give me pause.

Any suggestions for an edible lunch?

I am not sure if it is still around, but a few years ago after an ND game we went a bakery/cafe that was pretty good. It was Macri's. I remember it being towards the downtown area. Good luck

uosullivan wrote:I am not sure if it is still around, but a few years ago after an ND game we went a bakery/cafe that was pretty good. It was Macri's. I remember it being towards the downtown area. Good luck

Macri's Bakery is okay, but the restaurant food is fair at best. I quit going there about 7 years ago after 3-4 lunches. I worked 2 blocks away. I was never that impressed. Panera Bakery out on Grape road is much better.

I would go there sometimes and buy a stick of salami and a couple of rolls. Not a bad lunch.

I've been racking my brain for some lunch options, but I'm stuck on Mexican. The south side of town is even worse. Although, there is a little taquiera on Michigan Ave called Rosale's thay has pretty good tacos, burritos, etc.

The other Place El Paraiso does have good food that does not include beans. The dinners include beans, but you can order ala carte. I like a couple of tacos with roasted jalapenos on the side. Sopas, tortas, and menudo are also options.

ekreider wrote:Any suggestions for an edible lunch?

Fiddler's Hearth just may meet your requirements.

Here is a copy of a post I made a couple of years ago.

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Having never been to Ireland I can't attest to the authenticity of Fiddler's Hearth. Fiddler's Hearth is an Irish Pub that has opened in South Bend, IN during the past year. I finally went and am glad I did.

My wife and I went to dinner tonight and will say the ambience was what you would expect. Rough older tables setup throughout. All mismatching, including chairs. Live music later in the evening but a nice comfortable background of Celtic music playing. Not loud, just enough to hear and have a good conversation. Beverage menu was good. I had a Bass Pale Ale and enjoyed it.

For dinner my wife had Bangers and Mash which is a traditional Irish banger sausage served with chunky mashed potatoes & hearty Guinness gravy. Plus a side vegetable which was broccoli. My wife chose a ham and potato soup to go with it. I enjoyed a spoonful but I had salad. While she did not particularly care for her meal (picky eater). I tasted hers and thought it was very good. The only reason I didn't get it was I had heard the Fish & Chips were great and we try to order differently. My wife liked the fish & chips much better.

The Fish & Chips were large cod fillets battered in a malt vinegar and beer batter, deep fried, and served with chips. The meal was served wrapped in wax paper and then wrapped with copies of the local newspaper. The tartar sauce was very good. The cod was excellent. Moist, tender, flaky and not greasy. Fries had a very good flavor also. We did not have desert. Dinner was 24.03 for both of us. Prices are less before 5:00 pm, which I will remember.

I will return and try the Molly Malone Stew which looks very good. The menu is fairly extensive and I look forward to several future meals. Fiddler's Hearth is open every day and has a Sunday brunch.
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P.S. I did return later and tried the Molly Malone Stew which was excellent.

any good pork tenderloin sandwich places in/near South Bend?

Sweet Willie wrote:any good pork tenderloin sandwich places in/near South Bend?

Possibly over in Elkhart county at some of the Amish restaurants. I know I wouldn't order one from a chain restaurants. The non-chain restaurants I usually eat at in South Bend are usually ethnic. I've not heard of any good ones at any of the local bars. I'll check around. I would be glad to check a place out with you.

We made the choice between Mexican and Fiddler's Hearth at the last minute in favor of the latter.

Wife had the smoked salmon salad. The salad was topped with a large piece of salmon fillet that was quite succulent with smoke flavor notable only in the outermost portions. I have gotten the same effect by quickly hot smoking salmon. They claim home-smoked.

I had the fish and chips. As Bruce notes above, they are wrapped in wax paper and then the South Bend Tribune. The cod was the best I have had since St. Andrews Fish and Chips closed in the late 1970s. Malt vinegar was offered and accepted. The chips were another matter. They were cut in large slices from russet potatoes. Everything came out of the fryer very hot and a bit greasy. The short time the chips spent wrapped up in wax paper covered with newspaper seemed to allow grease to soak in while some internal steaming was going on. The first couple of bites were pretty good, but then sogginess set in.

The room has a pleasant rusticity. We would go back if the occasion arose.

bump for Elkhart? spending 12+ hrs there t'row.

Cosimo and Susie's A bit of Italy is a bit of Taylor Street in Mishawaka. Italian food in the South Bend/Mishawaka area doesn't get any better. They serve a fabulous meat lasagna on Friday's & Saturday's(it may be in the evening only). If you had the time, The LaSalle Grill in South Bend is one of the finest places to eat in the city. Their blue cheese topped filet medallions along with one of their excellent side dishes is a favorite of the CSD family. Unfortunately, they open at 5:00pm and reservations are a must.

Cosimo & Susie's A Bit of Italy
2446 Miracle Lane
Mishawaka, IN
574-258-4911

LaSalle Grill
115 West Colfax
South Bend, IN
800-382-9323
www.lasallegrill.com

CSD