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I never envisioned writing a post about Burns Harbor, Indiana. There’s no real reason to visit, but one restaurant changed my mind.
History of Burns Harbor
Burns Harbor, founded in 1966, is a tiny industrial town in Northwest Indiana. It was first settled in the middle of the 19th century and named for Randall W. Burns. He was one of the leaders of the construction of the Burns Ditch, which connected Lake Michigan to the Little Calumet River.
The town is home to a former Bethlehem Steel (now Cleveland-Cliffs) plant, which opened in 1964, as well as the Port of Indiana, which opened in 1970. The Bethlehem Steel plant was controversial as it was built over some of the most unique natural formations and finest sand dunes in the area. A section of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, now Indiana Dunes National Park, was established to the east in 1966. For a more detailed history of the town, check out the official website.
Where to Eat in Burns Harbor
The only reason I’m actually writing about the town is one restaurant at the corner of US 20 and State Road 149.
Pizza Terra
Driving past Pizza Terra, which opened in 2022, you’d never guess the food would be so delicious. This small unassuming place features a menu full of wood-fired pizzas, gourmet pastas, creative crostinis and appetizers, and daily specials. They have a pizza oven imported from Italy, friendly service, and very fair prices. It’s well worth going out of your way for!
For starters, try one of the crostinis. We had the whipped feta, crispy chickpea, sun-dried tomato, and honey, and it’s excellent. The big ass mozzarella stick is phenomenal but it’s definitely on the heavy side you’ll need a big group to share. We also enjoyed the sautéed mussels, which have Italian sausage and come smothered in either pomodoro or white wine and garlic.
The gourmet wood-fired pizzas are the star of the menu. They’re all 12 inches with 6 slices. We’ve had the pepperoni, which is topped with roasted garlic, fresh mozzarella, chili oil, honey, ricotta, and pecorino. The fennel sausage is also very good. It contains red sauce, roasted bell pepper, and whole milk mozzarella.
If you’re looking for an amazing pasta dish, you’re in luck. The mafaldine features shaved ribeye, black trumpet mushroom, confit garlic, and crème fraiche. The chitarra is tossed with shrimp, calamari, mussels, lemon, garlic, and nduja butter. The pappardelle is mixed with bolognese and torn burrata, while the spaghetti has pomodoro sauce, big hearty wagyu meatballs, and shaved pecorino.
IF you’ve save room for dessert, you’re in for a treat. The tiramisu is amazing and so is the peanut butter cake with an Oreo crust.
