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A local’s guide on where to eat in Valpo. The small city of Valparaiso, Indiana, has a lot of great restaurants and sweet shops to choose from.
While I haven’t lived in the US since 2010, I go back to Valpo at least once a year. I make it a point to visit some of my favorite restaurants whenever possible and try a new one every time I’m home.
Where to Eat in Downtown Valpo
You’ll find almost all of the best restaurants in downtown Valpo within a few blocks of the square. I’ll start on Lincolnway west of the square and work my way east.
Lincoln Flats
Lincoln Flats is a great restaurant and bar. I visited for the first time on a trip home in December 2018 and again in January and December 2022.
Lincoln Flats is located in the building once occupied by Buck’s Shoe Repair, a Valpo institution from 1926 to 2009. It was opened by the grandson of Buck’s founder. With generous portion sizes, tasty food, and great service, it became an instant favorite. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Starters at Lincoln Flats
On our first visit, we had the Lincoln flatbread, which is a special that changes daily. Ours had chorizo and cheese on top. We also had an order of pig candy, which is a succulent thick-cut bacon cooked in brown sugar and sriracha.
Main Courses at Lincoln Flats
For our first visit in December 2018, we shared a bowl of poutine and a Thai salad. The poutine was different than what I was used to ordering in Québec but still delicious. The salad was huge and we ended up taking it home for lunch the next day.
On our second visit in January 2022, I had the pork chop, which is a succulent double-bone 14-ounce pork chop in brown sugar brine and a bourbon glaze. It’s served with maple bacon brussels and smashed confit fingerlings. It was a great meal.
Desserts at Lincoln Flats
We couldn’t leave either visit without being tempted to try some of the desserts. They all sounded amazing. On our first visit we ended up sharing an amazing bourbon walnut cake and a very good fruit cobbler. The walnut cake won hands down. On our second visit, we shared a lava cake and strawberry fritters. Both were excellent.
My Thoughts on Lincoln Flats
All of our meals were very reasonably priced considering the amount of food and drinks we ordered. Service was upbeat and friendly, and overall we enjoyed the experience. I’ll definitely make a stop every time I’m back in town from now on.
FLUID Coffeebar
A few steps further west down Lincolnway is FLUID Coffeebar, which has their roasting plant in Michigan City and another branch in Crown Point. This specialty coffee shop has a great vibe and friendly service.
Fluid has some creative coffee drinks that are excellent any time of day. My favorites are the voodoo latte (peanut butter, chocolate, milk, and espresso) and the Doncaster (sea salt butterscotch, oat milk, and coffee). You can get these cold or hot. They also serve traditional coffee drinks as well as sandwiches. I haven’t tried the sandwiches yet.
Ben’s Soft Pretzels
Next door at the corner of Lincolnway and Lafayette is Ben’s Soft Pretzels. This small franchise based out of Elkhart, Indiana, has locations all over the country. They offer Amish-inspired pretzels made fresh daily at each location. I normally don’t write about franchises, but this is much different than McDonald’s or Starbucks.
The Rolling Stonebaker
If you’re looking for pizza, The Rolling Stonebaker, located across the street from Central Park Plaza, will have some of the best you’ll ever eat. They specialize in gourmet thin crust pizzas. We tried two different kinds and were blown away by the quality.
Designer Desserts
Just west of the square on Lincolnway is Designer Desserts, where you can find all kinds of delicious cupcakes and cookies. Walking in and not buying something is almost impossible.
Meditrina
A block north of the square on Washington Street is Meditrina, a small Mediterranean restaurant with delicious and healthy food. Everything I’ve ever eaten there is excellent, and it’s one of the most popular restaurants in Valpo.
Old World Market
Old World Market on the southwest corner of the square sells all kinds of high quality imported foods and a great selection of cheeses and wines. Their products make excellent gifts.
Blockhead Beerworks
Across the street from Old World Market on the opposite corner is Blockhead Beerworks. In addition to their craft beers, they serve a wide variety of Asian specialties.
For starters, we had the wings, Philly egg rolls, and edamame. Everything was amazing but the Philly egg rolls stole the show for me.
For my main dish, I had the wok the line, which is noodles with teriyaki sauce, kalbi marinated ribeye, broccoli, scallions, and sesame. It was excellent and I’ll definitely be back to try more.
Uncle Menny’s
Just past Blockhead is Uncle Menny’s Greek’s Pizzeria, which is a pizza place that was formerly Greek’s Pizzeria. Greek’s has been in Valpo since well before I moved there. I haven’t had it in years, but I always had good experiences with the pizza. It’s located on Indiana Avenue just west of the square.
Furin
Furin is a Japanese restaurant on the north side of the square that serves excellent sushi and other Japanese specialties. It offers friendly service in a casual setting. We’ve tried several different sushi rolls over our many visits and have always been satisfied.
Ricochet
On the northeast corner of the square is Ricochet, which offers a good selection of delicious creative tacos as well as a few other Mexican-inspired dishes. The tacos are pretty filling, so two to three is enough for a full meal.
On our first visit, we tried the true romance, surf ninja, and crosshairs. For dessert, we split the churros with dulce de leche and cocoa pebbles. Everything was awesome and needless to say we’ll be back to try some more tacos.
Valpo Soup Company (Permanently Closed)
A few steps down the block is the Valpo Soup Company. They have a rotation of over 160 soups, with 6 different soups featured daily. There’s also a rotation of sandwiches and salads available, as well as fresh baked bread and cookies. You can check the website for the daily specials.
On our visit, we tried the cream of mushroom and the chicken noodle. Both hit the spot on a cold winter day. The cookie was a nice addition as well.
Chocolate Cafe (Permanently Closed)
Chocolate Cafe, run by the South Bend Chocolate Company, was on the east side of the square where Valpo Soup Company is now located. They claimed to offer the “world’s best hot chocolate” and an assortment of hand-made chocolates. Unfortunately, it was a casualty of the pandemic.
Blackbird Café
Back on Lincolnway east of the square is Blackbird Café, which serves good breakfast wraps, sandwiches, salads, chili, and coffee. It’s a great place to meet with friends or to sit and get some work done.
I’ve had breakfast wraps as well as soup and salad combos. Everything has been great. The coffees are decent as well.
Don Quijote
Across the street is Don Quijote, which is the one of the oldest restaurants in Valparaiso. They serve incredible Spanish food, and for several years it was only authentic Spanish restaurant in the state.
Tapas at Don Quijote
For the main course, the best things to eat at Don Quijote are the delicious tapas dishes. Get the mussels, octopus, and calamari if you like seafood. Don’t forget to give the jamón serrano and manchega cheese plate a try. Make sure to go with friends or family so you can share more plates!
Vegetarian dishes like cauliflower, mushrooms, artichokes, and more are great complements to the heavier dishes. The patatas bravas add a nice kick to the meal.
The gazpacho is a nice treat on a sweltering summer day. It’s a great way to start your meal when the weather is a little too hot to handle.
I’ve always been sucked in by the tapas so I haven’t tried the paella or any of the full main courses. I’ve also walked away too full to get a dessert. One day I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen!
Main + Lincoln
On the next block to the east is Main + Lincoln, which has a menu created by owner Chef George Djurovic. A Valpo native, Djurovic attended Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and apprenticed for Alain Senderens (1939-2017), one of the pioneers of Nouvelle Cuisine, at Michelin-starred restaurant Lucas Carton. After working at high-end restaurants in Chicago and New York City, he returned to Valparaiso in 2013 and opened Main + Lincoln.
On my first visit, I had the scallops and the burger and enjoyed both very much. On my second visit with family, we started with a dozen fresh oysters on the half shell and I had a delicious butternut squash soup.
For our mains, I had the Faroe Island salmon while Marisol had the sakura pork chop on a bed of polenta and porcini mushrooms. My dad had a steak and his wife had the Amish chicken. Needless to say, there was lots of sharing that night. Everything was amazing and service was excellent.
Round the Clock (Permanently Closed)
Across the street is old standby Round the Clock. They have good diner food and one of the best breakfasts you can find. It can get packed on Sunday mornings but it’s worth the wait.
Valpo Velvet
A trip to Valparaiso isn’t complete without a stop at the Valpo Velvet Shoppe. They serve the best locally made ice cream in Indiana.
Valpo Velvet has over 60 flavors to choose from and also serve milkshakes, sandwiches, soups, and salads. In addition to the ice cream shop, Valpo Velvet is sold in several stores and select restaurants throughout Northwest Indiana and northern Illinois. The shop is typically closed in January.
History of Valpo Velvet
Valpo’s favorite ice cream has an interesting history. The company was founded as the Valparaiso Home Ice Company in 1920 by Fred Bartz. It was primarily an ice delivery company but also offered ice cream and dairy products. A year later, a contest was held to name the ice cream and Valpo Velvet won. Bartz moved operations to the current location on Monroe Street in 1937. The building was constructed in 1900.
Herbert Brown purchased Valparaiso Home Ice Company in 1947 and kept the Valpo Velvet name. He created new flavors and ran the company until he sold it to his son, Gordon, in 1971. Gordon sold the majority of the dairy part of the business to Dixie Dairy in 1973, but held on to the ice cream equipment. In 1974, he opened Brown’s Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant and manufactured ice cream until his death in 1995.
In 1997, Gordon’s sons, Mike and Mark, closed the restaurant and remodeled it into a sandwich shop, which allowed more room for ice cream production. The Valpo Velvet Shoppe opened on June 8 of that year and continues to put smiles on faces to this day.
Map of Where to Eat in Downtown Valpo
Where to Eat Outside Downtown Valpo
Just because a restaurant isn’t in the trendy downtown area doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting. Here are a few suggestions on where to eat outside downtown Valpo.
Albano’s Pasta Shop
Albano’s Pasta Shop, which opened in November 2018, offers homemade pasta dishes, salads, and some great appetizers at reasonable prices. They’re located west of downtown on Lincolnway. (Note: all photos below are from Albano’s old downtown location next to Meditrina. I’ll update with new photos when I have a chance to visit the new location.)
We popped in one afternoon for lunch when we couldn’t get a table at Meditrina. We tried the chorizo wrapped in bacon and dates to start, and I had the butternut squash tortellini. Marisol had the mushroom tortellini. Portion sizes are filling and the food was excellent.
Suzie’s Cafe
Next, just off US 30 is Suzie’s Cafe. They serve great breakfasts, nice lunches, and have an amazing bakery. Service is friendly and very efficient. I had a delicious French toast combo, and I’d be happy to visit again.
Tommy B’s Clubhouse
Further south of downtown Valparaiso along Route 2 is Tommy B’s Clubhouse. It’s a bar and restaurant in the Aberdeen neighborhood. Some of the best dishes are the perch sliders and flatbreads, but they also have great burgers, wings, and pizzas. Service is friendly and prices are reasonable.
The clubhouse burger is a monster. It has an angus beef patty topped with caramelized onions, bacon, pepper jelly, fried pickles, and cheddar cheese. It definitely put me in a food coma.
Tomato Bar
East of downtown between Valparaiso University and the city’s shopping district is Tomato Bar. They offer excellent craft pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and calzones in a fun setting. Service is great and prices are reasonable.
El Amigo
Along Calumet Avenue in north Valparaiso is El Amigo. This hole-in-the-wall has delicious authentic Mexican favorites. I always like the tacos and burritos, but they also have good tamales and tostadas. The combo plates are filling, and everything is priced reasonably. You can dine in, but I usually do take out orders.
Le Peep
A little further north along Calumet Avenue is Le Peep, which serves a variety of breakfast and lunch dishes. I wasn’t impressed at all with my breakfast on the morning I visited, and I probably won’t be back. I ordered the avocado toast with eggs and the avocado was not fresh at all. Marisol had a skillet and the vegetables weren’t fully cooked. Although service is friendly, it’s not worth eating there in my opinion.
Map of Where to Eat Outside Downtown Valpo
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