More Roadfood in Wisconsin

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties
- Exploring Western Wisconsin

There’s just something about Wisconsin that I absolutely love but what’s funny is I cant quite pinpoint exactly what that is. My best guess is I spent some of the best years of my life at college in Madison and going back often triggers memories of those good times. But it’s more likely the natural beauty and the bar culture that really draws me in. Wisconsin isn’t winning any prettiest state in the union contests but it’s underrated and has lots of charm to it. The state touches two Great Lakes and the Mighty Mississippi winds its way along 230 miles of Wisconsin's western border. Milwaukee is very underrated as a city and Madison is one of the best college towns in the country. Add in all the delicious Roadfood (burgers, fish fry, custard etc) and it makes for a great place to escape to for a few days. Today we’re headed off to the area towards Minneapolis - about 5.5 hours from from Chicago.

Pics from Western Wisconsin 
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Dorine's Family Restaurant (Sparta)

First stop takes us to Monroe County along the LaCrosse River. Dorine’s Family Inn is found in the heart of Sparta. It’s a textbook Midwest breakfast and lunch spot serving up all the American diner classics. When I’m at a place like this with lots to choose from I like to check the google reviews to figure out what’s popular. Stuffed Hash Browns are mentioned more than 25 times and not just at Dorine’s but other breakfast spots in the area too. At Dorine's an entire section of the menu is dedicated to them. I chose the original stuffed hash browns which come with ham, mushrooms, green pepper, onion, and Swiss Cheese. Pictured below is the small version. This is Wisconsin after all.

Stuffed Hash Browns at Dorine's Family Restaurant 
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Ray's Place (Eau Claire)

Next stop was a spot long on my list. Ray’s Place has been serving drinks to the residential neighborhood in which it rests since 1949. Ray’s is a vintage Wisconsin tavern with some classic roast beef sandwiches. No they don’t look pretty but locals and visitors alike, myself included, will enthusiastically vouch for them. Roast beef debris in a thick brown gravy goes into a cheap bun with a full slice of raw onion. It also comes with a little plastic container of their made on site horseradish mustard. One bite and I was hooked on these tavern sandwiches. They also have an equally popular chipped ham sandwich which in turn produces a fantastic batch of split pea soup. Pure Wisconsin.

Roast Beef Sandwich at Ray's Place
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River Inn Bar (Chippewa Falls)

River Inn Bar is a textbook tavern down to the classic Old Style sign outside. The land where it sits has had a bar resting there in one way or the other since the 1940’s. The current owners of River Inn bought it in the early 2000’s and haven’t changed much. Locals pop in for all you eat chicken wings served Mon-Thurs but I don’t know how anyone can eat more than a few of these things. The fully intact broasted wings (flat and drum) are some of the biggest I’ve come across. I prefer smaller wings bc larger ones can be a bit tough but not these which were some of the juiciest I can recall with the meat coming right off the bone when bitten. Perfect when paired with an ice cold Spotted Cow.

Broasted Chicken Wings at River Inn Bar
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Ellsworth Creamery Coop (Ellsworth)

What’s a trip to Wisconsin without some cheese curds?!?! I feel like any cheese curds served freshly fried in a bar setting are pretty good but to reach the peak of cheese curd prowess they need to be extra fresh and battered on site - both of which are a thing at Ellsworth Creamery in Pierce County (one hour east of Minneapolis). This little area is considered the heart of Americas Dairyland with more than 180,000 pounds of cheese curds being manufactured here at Ellsworth Creamery on a daily basis. Ellsworth Cooperative was incorporated into a creamery back in 1910 with their primary product being butter. They actually didn't begin making cheese curds until 1968 but the popularity of these squeaky orange and white morsels was enough to make them the cream of the crop. Ellsworth has a bustling retail store with a selection of over 240 kinds of Wisconsin made cheese including the creamery’s own varieties. But the biggest draw is the Curd Wagon which sits outside during warmer months. Customers line up all summer long for some of the best fried cheese curds anywhere.

Fried Cheese Curds at Ellsworth Creamery
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Stockholm Pie and General Store (Stockholm)

If you’re looking for a place to eat along the upper half of the Great River Road - this is your spot! I’d heard from those in the know that the tiny town of Stockholm (pop. 78) was home to some of the best pie in the country and I love river towns so I made a plan to stop on the way north into Minnesota. I originally planned to just try a few slices of pie but that plan was quickly scratched upon arrival as the chicken pot pie was calling my name along with pretty much every other piece of pie listed on the days fresh selection. Just like sandwiches with bread, a pie can only be as good as its crust and the crust on both of the pies I tried was outstanding. The chicken pot pie had some of the best pie crust I’ve ever encountered. It was extra flaky and full of flavor while being completely dry on the bottom. The fillings were also good but it’s the crust that takes this from good to great. I also tried the Bumbleberry on rec of the lady at the register and she earned a little extra on her tip as this was the best piece of fruit pie I’ve ever had and again it was all about that crust but also the local berries that go into it. It was so good I had to take a slice of the signature Stockholm Apple Pie to-go. I also liked the town of Stockholm itself, it’s as cute and quaint of a rivertown as you’ll come across. It’s pretty busy considering just how small it is in population but it’s a popular stop on the Great River Road in big part due to its most famous resident - that pie has been featured in many food pubs over the years and comes strongly endorsed by a guy I know who's ate his weight in pie across the country.

Chicken Pot Pie at Stockholm Pie and General Store 

Bumbleberry Pie at Stockholm Pie and General Store
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Foss Fine Meats (Sparta)

Bonus Stop back where we started in Sparta. Wisconsin has the best butchers and I always like stopping in at one of them whenever I find myself in the Cheese & Dairy State. It doesn't matter where in Wisconsin you are you're never that far off from a good independent butcher. Foss Fine Meats is a great example of what I'm talking about. It's an old school, small town spot dating back to 1939. I like to check online reviews to figure out what each butcher shop does well and all reviews pointed to the natural casing hot dogs at Foss Fine Meats. Those and the ring bologna are what they're known for with the hot dogs warranting a stop whenever I find myself near this place again. I'm a natural casing Vienna Beef guy thru and thru but I have a deep appreciation for all spots cranking out natural casing wieners like those found here. They make an excellent extra peppery product. 

Hot Dogs at Foss Fine Meats
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If you liked this post you might also be interested in:

Eating BIG in Minneapolis (and beyond)

Roadfood in Driftless Wisconsin

Eating BIG in Madison 

Bar Food in Wisconsin 

Friday Fish Fry in SE Wisconsin
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 See ya next time @chibbqking

Eating BIG in Central Illinois

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties 
- More Roadfood from the Land of Lincoln  

I have another post from the vault to launch as summer comes to end. This week we're going to head down to Central Illinois and check out some spots I've checked out down there from over the years. If you've ever wondered what constitutes Central Illinois it's the entire central third of the state, divided from north to south. The biggest cities include Peoria, Springfield, Decatur, Quincy, Champaign–Urbana, Bloomington–Normal, Galesburg, and Danville. It's not the most scenic part of the state nor is it the most entertaining but it does have it's charms including some cute little towns including a few along Route 66, there's the state capital and a few universities including the states largest institution - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It's also the home to the state fair and an area I find myself in now and then. Here's a roundup of some of the spots I've stopped at over the last few years 

Pics from Central Illinois (click all pics to enhance)
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Wally's Gas Station (Pontiac)

First stop is a place Illinois politicians love to swoon over - Wally’s Gas Station in Pontiac, Illinois is located just off I-55. Wally’s is known as the states “premier gas station” boasting a 30,000 square foot campus comprised of more than 75 pumps, four EV charging stations and a massive store where you can buy everything from beef jerky, popcorn, pastries, and bbq sandwiches and camouflage hunting gear too. If Wally’s sounds like Texas based Bucee’s that’s because it’s basically a knockoff. I’ve stopped here a few times over the years as it’s a great place to use the always clean bathrooms and grab gas but I really don’t see the appeal in their food and the snacks. Popcorn is popcorn…it’s fine. The brisket sandwich is akin to what you might get if Culver’s added one to their menu and they don’t stock lots of regional snacks like you usually find at these type of massive gas stations.

Brisket Sandwich at Wally's
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Cazadores Tacos (Onarga)

I’ve probably visited as many towns in Illinois as anybody save for a select few and more times than not it’s bc I stopped in at a bar and or eating establishment in one of them. That’s how I ended up in the small town of Onarga, 95 miles south on I-57 in Iroquois County. I had heard there was some good tacos to be found here and although my visit was more than five years ago it doesn’t look like much has changed when I look and read updated pictures and reviews. It’s a no frills family run taqueria located in the middle of the corn fields. Both the steak and “al pastor” were above average and the salsas are made with produce from their garden when weather allows. It’s a great place to stop if you need a quick bite in the area as there aren’t a ton of other options outside typical fast food.

Taco at Cazadores Tacos
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Lucca Grill (Bloomington)

There’s a handful of legitimately good tavern style pizzerias in Central Illinois and Lucca Grill in Bloomington is my favorite of the bunch. Opened in 1936 it’s been in the same building for more than 80 years. The inside of Lucca Grill is super old school with an ornate tin ceiling, an antique mahogany bar, and walls lined with pics and memorabilia from another era. Lucca Grill has a full menu but you’re here for the pizza which is also old school in the best of ways. JFK visited in 1960 while on the campaign trail. Pizza is said to have first appeared in Central Illinois when it went on the menu at Lucca Grill in 1953. According to the always informative Road Tips blog it was the son of one of the owners who introduced it after a trip to St. Louis (Lucca Grill doesn't use Provel). At first they weren’t sure if the pizza would stick around but that it did and more than 70 years later it’s the most iconic pizzeria in the region. The pizza at Lucca Grill is everything you want in a tavern pizza - it’s thin, it’s crisp, and the sausage has hints of fennel. This place would hold its own 135 miles away in Chicago.

Sausage Pizza at Lucca Grill 
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Stango Cuisine (Champaign)

We passed on Chinese food to check out a Zambian spot in Champaign. University of Illinois has a huge Chinese student body and some good Chinese restaurants to boot but Stango Cuisine is the only restaurant in the state serving the food of Zambia and one of just a handful in the country. First up was a platter with a little bit of just about everything. This included beef stew, chicken curry, and a Hungarian sausage link that I learned is popular in Zambia. All that came with rice, roasted sweet potatoes, greens. We also tried the oxtail and it all it the hit the spot like I was hoping it would. Zambian cuisine is mostly based on nshima, which is a food prepared from pounded white maize that came with our tasting platter and also the oxtail. It reminded me of grit cakes and took on the taste of the oxtail gravy which was pretty great. Also of note was the Kabulangeti Beans served with each order, you could tell those were slow cooked. This was some of the best African food I've had in Illinois. 

Zambian Platter at Stango Cuisine 
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Wienerschnitzel (Champaign) 

Regular readers should know my stance on fast food by now. I’m not big on the easily accessible spots like McDonalds, Taco Bell etc. but I do like to try the regional fast food chains at least once. For whatever reason Wienerschnitzel is one of the few QSR’s (quick service restaurants) specializing in hot dogs. They were founded in 1961 by a former Taco Bell employee in Los Angeles. I’d never been to a Wienerschnitzel until I drove by their only location in Illinois and decided to stop bc why not as it’s quick and cheap and I very much like hot dogs as well as all forms of regional food. Chili dogs are Wienerschnitzel’s most popular menu item so I tried one of those and I actually liked it more than I thought I would. These are one of those things that seems to be better than the sum of its parts as the wiener is skinless and the tomato forward chili comes from a can, which they sell there at the store.

Chili Dog from Wienerschnitzel 
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Krekel's Custard (Decatur)

It's coming up on 10 years since my semi deep dive into the smashed burger and it's original hub of Central Illinois. Since then the humble burger has gone international and no I'm not taking claim of that I'm just stating a fact. But since my post went live back in 2015 two of the better smashed burger spots have closed however they both reopened with great joy from their fans. It's tough to pick a single spot when it comes to the best smashed burger in Central Illinois but it's not as hard to pick the most iconic and successful of the bunch and that would be Krekel's. William Krekel, current owner Suzie Wichmann's grandfather, started the Krekel brand in 1949 in Decatur, Illinois. Today they have seven locations and I always like to check in at Krekel's Custard which is at 800 E. Wood St. in Decatur. They make the platonic smashed burger which is a McDonald's sized patty (get a double) smashed until the edges are crisp served up on nothing more than a cheap white bun with whatever toppings you want - mustard, onion, pickles are the way to go. Skip the frozen fries and pair your burger with a cone of custard - half lemon and half strawberry. As far as bang for your buck goes this is one of the best burgers not just here but anywhere. So until the Chicago Bears win another Super Bowl Krekel's is the best thing that Decatur has ever produced. A 1st Ballot Roadfood Hall of Famer.  

Burger and Custard at Krekel's Custard
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Maid-Rite (Springfield)

The story behind Springfield's Maid-Rite is a bit murky as there’s all sorts of years and numbers depending on who you ask or what you read. According to some it’s one of just a few early Maid-Rite's still standing. The Maid Rite chain is credited with creating the loose meat sandwich which is essentially a sloppy Joe without any sauce. It’s a hamburger made with loose meat. The first ever Maid Rite appeared in Muscatine Iowa circa 1926 but the Springfield Maid Rite is not a part of the Des Moines based franchise and claims to have risen in 1924 marking this year as their 100th anniversary. Not just that but they also claim their building, located along the historic Route 66, is the country’s first drive thru window as it was added to National Register of Historic Places in 1984. I stopped for a loose meat and a mug of made on site root beer and it was a fun stop despite the food being average at best. I didn’t like how the sandwiches are pre made but it’s a cool building to check out and the owner is a nice guy who saved one of Springfield's most iconic eateries.

Loose Meat Sandwich at Maid-Rite
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Illinois State Fair (Springfield)

The Illinois State Fair is going on right now so we’ll finish with a few of the spots I think are worth trying should you find yourself there. But if I’m being completely honest the Illinois Fair is lacking compared to some of its peers. For ex. the Minnesota State Fair puts Illinois to shame but in fairness it pretty much tops all the other 48 states too. I think one of the biggest problems the Illinois State Fair has is its location - again I'm only being honest. Being in Springfield means it’s three hours away from Chicago which in turn means it’s tough for some of the states best restaurants and festival related stands to make the trek down there for two weeks (the Minnesota State Fair is in Minneapolis). Nonetheless there’s still a few things I rec seeking out incl. the previously featured Vose Korn Dogs.

Korn Dog at Vose Korn Dogs

Vose Korn Dogs has been a staple of the Illinois State Fair since 1966. Founder Bob Vose worked the state fair as a young man and he liked it so much he decided to start up his own stand specializing in corn dogs. Cornmeal coated hot dogs on a stick are one of the great state fair foods and they’re said to have been created right here in Springfield at the Cozy Dog Diner along Route 66 though Vose’s are considered the standard. Owner Bob passed away in 2023 but his family continues running the stand which is open all summer and not just during the State Fair. I’m not the biggest corn dog booster but I always enjoy getting one from Vose Korn Dogs - the state fairs most iconic stand.

If you want some fries alongside your corn dog check out Cullers French Fries. Anyone that’s been to a county and or state fair in Illinois over the past 75+ years likely came in contact with this historic stand. Forest Culler started the business 72 years ago working the Champaign County and Illinois State fairs and the original trailer is now in a carnival museum in Florida. These days the family owns three trailers which make appearances at more than 30 seasonal events. They sell just one size of fries and no drinks. The only condiments on offer are salt and cider vinegar. Spuds are cut from fresh Russet Burbank (Idaho) baking potatoes by a machine that the family invented. The fries are then blanched in oil at one temp and moved to another basket of oil at a higher temperature for crisping. 

French Fries at Cullers French Fries 

Then there's the Pork Patio. It’s been a part of the Illinois State Fair for more than 30 years. They have a handful of items made with Illinois farm raised pork including the popular pork on a stick. Last time I was down there they were sold out of the pork on a stick so I went with a pork chop sandwich which is nothing more than a pork chop in a bun but it’s pretty damn good with some mustard added on. I would definitely eat a few of these every year if I was a regular attendee of the Illinois State Fair. 

Pork Chop Sandwich at The Pork Patio 
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Tastee Treat (Taylorville)

A couple summers ago when I went down to the Illinois State Fair for the night with a friend who had to be there for Democrats day we took a ride the next morning to the small town of Taylorville to try an old school burger spot that I documented HERE. After that we hopped over to the Tastee Treat which was established back in 1964. This is your typical Midwest ice cream stand and I mean that in the best way possible. They don't make them this anymore. Seeing as how Tastee Treat is in Central Illinois I made sure to get the lemon soft serve which is a signature summer snack in these parts.

Lemon Soft Serve at Tastee Treat 
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If you liked this post you might also be interested in:

Smashed Crispy Burgers of Central Illinois

The Illinois Fried Chicken Trail

Eating BIG in Peoria

Illinois Fish Sandwiches

More Burgers in Illinois
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See ya next time @chibbqking

Eating BIG in Northwest Indiana

 Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties 
- Return to the Region 

It’s been awhile since I threw up some stuff on Northwest Indiana. The Region and beyond has always been a fascinating place to me thanks in part to its history. Going thru there can feel like stepping back in time in many ways such as visiting some of the older bars and restaurants in the area. Another thing that’s interesting about this part of Indiana to me is how it’s one of the prettiest parts of the state and also the most industrial which doesn’t necessarily translate to ugly but I wouldn’t describe factories, warehouses, and pollution as pretty. But go over the area where the Indiana Dunes National Park is at and it seems like it’s a world away from the casino and all the manufacturing.

Northwest Indiana

Over the years I’ve featured more than 50 spots I’ve stopped at while out this way but it’s been almost four years since I had a dedicated NWI post. Today’s post is a roundup of new (to me) spots I’ve visited over the last few years so no repeats so to say even though I still like to stop at spots like Schoop’s, Miner Dunn, Zel’s Roast Beef and so forth. My story on the 'Legacy of Lincolns Sandwiches' is one of the 5 most read posts in my blogs history while I’ve featured all of the areas popular crispy taco spots as well as a big roundup of where to get lake perch in the area and much more. But today’s post is never before featured eating establishments - some are old, others are new.

Northwest Indiana
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Munster Donut (Munster)

First stop is a great option if you’re passing through NWI early in the morning when only the casinos and gas stations are still open. Munster is notable for being the home to the Three Floyds Brewery but locals love Munster Donut just as much if not more than the brewery. It originally opened as Mister Donut in 1969 but the current owners, a pair of sisters, switched the name and not little else. They still use just one oven, one fryer, and one donut proofer while making fresh donuts throughout the day. 

Donuts at Munster Donut 
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The Taco Dive (Whiting)

Next we head over to Whiting, home to the Midwest's largest oil refinery and a spot with deep Chicago connections called The Taco Dive. The Mexican Inn once stood at the corner of 95th and Ewing on Chicago’s East Side. At the time of its closing it was the city’s oldest Mexican restaurant. Mexican Inn was a staple for families on the city’s Southeast side, popular for their crispy beef tacos which were made the old fashioned way as in corn tortillas stuffed with ground beef that are folded and held together with tooth picks while frying. This style of taco remains popular up here on both sides of the IL/IN border. In fact there’s a family connection between Taco Dive and the Mexican Inn. You can also find the unique soft cheese tacos which Mexican Inn was known for at The Taco Dive. These are enchiladas with nacho cheese like you would tend find at a Mexican restaurant in the 70’s. Anyone that enjoyed this combo from the old Mexican Inn will enjoy it from the new Taco Dive.

Tacos at The Taco Dive
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State Line Pizza (Hammond)

Seeing as how Northwest Indiana is basically an extension of Chicago there’s alot of Pizza History in these parts. State Line Pizza is a mini chain with a few locations including the original in Hammond. It gets its name from its location on State Line Avenue separating Illinois and Indiana. The original location is basically takeout only though there’s a counter inside where you can stand and eat your pizza though nobody does that as this is a real locals type of place so the majority of the customer base lives in the area. State Line uses an old Fauld’s Oven which was a popular line of pizza ovens made in Chicago back in the day. Even though the company is no longer in service there’s still quite a few spots that rock an old Fauld’s oven. I met Bob, the pizzamaker, who’s been here for more than 30 years and he showed me a couple of bullet holes in the oven from an attempted robbery more than 30 years ago. I can usually tell if I’m going to like a tavern style pizza just by looking at it and I thought the pizza here looked good in a few of the pictures I saw. It looked thin and crisp and quite delicious and despite online reviews being a mixed bag I thought it was a pretty solid pizza. The sausage was flavorful, sauce not sweet and it had some of the crunchiest crust I can remember. Since 1957.

Sausage Pizza at State Line Pizza in Hammond 
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Asian Kitchen (Hammond)

This generically named Asian restaurant serves some of the best Vietnamese food in Indiana. Asian Kitchen sits in a busy strip mall and you'll find people from all walks of life in there as was the case on my visit. I can tell if an Asian restaurant is worth trying with a quick glance at the menu and a few unique offerings at Asian Kitchen put it onto my radar. But when I finally visited just last week I decided to try the Pho (Vietnamese beef noodle soup) since it was my first visit and the smell of it coming from the kitchen was too good to pass up on. I got the Dac Biet which comes with a little bit of everything including sliced eye round steak, brisket, meatball, flank, tripe, and tendon. The broth was flavorful and just as important it was hot and all of the herbs and veggies served on the side to personalize your bowl were crisp and pungent. This place could hold its own on Argyle in Chicago.

Dac Biet Pho at Asian Kitchen
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Indian Kitchen (Gary)

I read a piece in the Washington Post last year about all the Indian restaurants starting to sprout up along the country’s busiest highways. The reason behind of which is a growing Desi trucker population. In this article the author Meena Venkataramanan goes onto explain that the majority of these Indian truckers are Punjabi hailing from the region spanning northwest India and east of Pakistan. According to one stat Punjabis make up 20% of the U.S trucking industry and that number is only growing. So it’s only fitting that these Punjabi Dhaba’s as they’re called are starting to pop up across the country. You can find one sitting right off I94 in Gary in the area where all the big gas stations are bunched together with a few fireworks shops and what not. I was put onto Indian Kitchen by Mike Sula at The Reader who told me he had some really good Baingan Bharta here so I took note for the next time I was out that way which was just recently. I arrived to a small line of clientele, all Indian men, and a large workforce of at least eight people shifting in and out of the trailer and the kitchen in the building behind it. One guy pulled up in a minivan and left with an order of more than five bags worth of food strategically placed throughout. I had a hard time deciding what to try so I went with my go-to dish for judging an Indian restaurant - Dal Makhani (black lentils, kidney beans and cream among other things depending on the recipe). I added an order of Tawa Roti and also got vegetable pakora (fritters) as an app. I was happy with all of it and will plan on going back.

Vegetable Pakora at Indian Kitchen
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Pizza Terra (Burns Harbor)

I got word of some good food to be found at Pizza Terra which is in Burns Harbor not far from Indiana Dunes National Park. Wood fired pizza is the main act here but the rest of the menu was tempting me to try a couple other things including a big old plate of linguine topped with an extra crispy chicken parm, pomodoro, and melted mozzarella that can easily feed two for just $16. Bone Marrow Arancini was also excellent albeit a bit misleading as I expected there to be bone marrow inside the arancini but it was still delicious mixed into a bolognese paired with a taleggio fondue. As for the wood fired pizza we got the namesake Terra with wild mushroom, caramelized onions, taleggio, spinach, and a black truffle fonduta that tasted as elegant as it sounds. I thought Pizza Terra was reminiscent of Stop 50 in nearby Michiana Shores and The Rolling Stonebaker in Valparaiso making the Northwest Indiana area a bit of a hot spot for wood fired pizza on top of Lake Perch and Crispy Tacos.

Lunch at Pizza Terra
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Wagner's Ribs (Porter)

The last time I ate at Wagner’s Ribs was a handful of years before they moved to their current location so although I’ve been here before it was around 20 years ago give or take. As the name suggests they’re popular for ribs which are pretty good if you can find joy in the baked until the meat is falling off the bone variety. I’m not sure the baby backs here ever see any real smoke but they’re still tasty albeit not true bbq. But even you don’t like baked ribs slathered in sauce I still recommend stopping here for the lake perch dinner as it might be the best plate of lake perch in all of Northwest Indiana. Wagner’s lightly breads small and tender pieces of Canadian Yellow Perch and pan fries them in butter. The end result is lake perch that taste like it came from the late great Phil Smidt’s which I never got to visit but I know good lake perch when I have it and Wagner’s is my pick for best in NWI (Tiebel’s is also top tier). It’s not cheap at $31 for a dinner which includes 8 pieces and 2 sides of your choice but it is worth it. You can also get a half order of lake perch and a half slab of ribs with two sides for the same price. Please note it’s 21+ and they can get busy but it’s a big space with a huge patio so they can really pack them in during summer months but best to call ahead in season.

Lake Perch / Ribs at Wagner's Ribs 
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Brooks Family Corned Beef (Michigan City)

Next stop might be my favorite of them all as far as recently opened dining options in Northwest Indiana. Brooks Family Corned Beef is hidden within in a large strip mall that includes a now defunct Carson Pirie Scott building in Michigan City. I saw some pictures online and noticed the way the corned beef comes in chunks (my preferred style) as opposed to slices so I checked them out just recently. I was very much impressed with their Reuben sandwich which comes on marbled rye. It was perfectly put together down to both sides of the bread being crisp while the cheese was completely melted. They also make corned beef egg rolls and although it’s a takeout only operation they have a few throwback video game machines for you to play while you wait for your food. Cool spot.

Reuben Sandwich at Brooks Family Corned Beef 
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Carlson's Drive-In (Michigan City)

It seems like every lake town in the U.S. has a seasonal drive in. In Michigan City that’s Carlson’s Drive In. This real deal drive in opens at the end of every February and closes for the season in early October. Carlson’s is known for their all beef Eckrich Farms Hot Dogs topped with a tomato forward chili sauce and also made on site root beer. The latter of which is why you stop here. Since 1947.

Chili Dog and Root Beer at Carlson's Drive-In
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Ritz Klub Tavern (Michigan City)

I’m a little late to the party at Michigan City’s oldest tavern (est. 1890) but better late than never. I’d read good things about some big ass burgers served here so me and some friends rode over one day last summer while we were up in Michigan City for the boat race. The namesake Cheeseburger at the Ritz Klub is 3/4 lb of heavily seasoned, lightly smashed fresh ground beef served with a pile of fresh cut fries and it’s a damn good bar burger served up in a timeless setting. 

Cheeseburger at Ritz Klub Tavern
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Cool Runnings Restaurant & Bar (Michigan City)

A couple summers ago I got word from a reliable source about some jammin’ jerk chicken at Cool Runnings in Michigan City. With jerk chicken being my favorite prep of chicken I made sure to stop in last summer with a couple of friends on our way into Long Beach. I really like the setup which has the feel of a Northwoods Tavern except it’s decorated like an island bar and there’s reggae and what not on the jukebox. I kind of knew we were in for a treat not just bc my friend who knows good jerk chicken told me it was good but also bc there was a dense cloud of smoke hanging over the restaurant. I was right in my assessment as a plate of the jerk chicken with mac and cheese plus rice and peas was a banger. Cool Runnings has two locations including another in South Bend.

Jerk Chicken at Cool Runnings 
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If you liked this post you might also be interested in:

Eating BIG in Southwest Michigan

Eating BIG in South Bend (and beyond)

Eating / Drinking Tour of Hegewisch
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