South Bend Foodies
Roc's
Are you a sports fan? Do you like a good hand pattied burger or lightly breaded wings? Do you love a great neighborhood bar? If so, then check out Roc’s new location! Rocco has upped the ante at his new location located in downtown Mishawaka. While it’s the same great menu and memorabilia there are some major changes. Families will love the dining room that is two levels. The dining room is spacious and there are flat screen TVs to watch your favorite sporting events. There is also a new bar area that is a sight to behold. It reminds me of a pit with endless memorabilia covered walls and plenty of flate screen TVs that will grab your attention. Roc’s now boasts a full bar with plenty of drink specials and the kitchen offers daily food specials as well. The service is great as many of those working here came over from the old location. Ok, what else do you need to know? Roc’s bar is smoking and naturally the family dining is not. OH and wait till you use the restrooms. The hall you walk down that is looooong, I admit, I laughed. Restrooms are clean, in case you were wondering. Roc’s is great for groups, families or folks just wanting to drink some beer and wonder how he collected so many sports items!?
Address: 102 Lincolnway East, Mishawaka, IN 46544
Phone: 574-252-5780
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am – 12am Fri-Sat 11am – 2am
Date of Visit: November 8, 2011
LaSalle Grill
UPDATE: January 2011: La Salle Grille is still creating impeccable mouth watering dishes for their customers. I still have not been disappointed. On my most recent visit I broke away from my usual steak order and opted for the Hardwood Grilled Amish Chicken Breast. I am a little disappointed with myself for not trying this entree after all the years I have been dining here! The chicken was moist and flavorful and delicate. You will be wooed by its delightful scent and the sides that may change from time to time will make the dish a "must have again!"
I visited one of the areas finest restaurants for a quick bite and a drink recently. LaSalle Grill located in downtown South Bend. What a treat this restaurant is to dine and just chill with your friends. The menu changes frequently and they update on the website daily. They offer downstairs dining in a more formal atmosphere. A quiet bar is set off from the rest of the dining patrons on the first floor. They also have on the fourth floor, Club LaSalle. Here you can enjoy an open floor plan with a well stocked bar and great service. Club LaSalle offers the same menu but with a more casual flare. Often, you can experience live bands with some of the areas hottest talents playing a wide range of music. You are able to smoke cigars and cigarettes in the Club. If you did not bring a cigar you can step into another room and purchase your favorite and enjoy with your cocktail. La Salle Grill is a Four Diamond AAA restaurant and locally owned. Reservations are preferred for main dining room but you can take your chances and head upstairs to Club LaSalle to dine as well.
LaSalle Grill
114 West Colfax Ave.
South Bend, IN 46601
574-288-1155
Type: American Contemporary
Price: $$$
Hours: 5-Close Monday through Saturday
Location: Downtown South Bend
Smoking: Only in Club LaSalle
_________________________________________________________________________
Cakewalk – handcrafted specialty cakes
If beauty is in the eye of the beholder then I saw beauty and it tasted delicious. Cakewalk is a specialty cake company that makes special occasion and wedding cakes. Cakewalk uses the finest freshest ingredients to create one of a kind cake for their customers. I have heard so much about them that I asked owner Alexis Davis if she could create my birthday cake. Much to my surprise she agreed. I know that they are very busy so I picked my cake flavor, Champagne, and went with their Swiss Meringue Buttercream frosting. I left the decorating up to Alexis.
Upon receiving the cake I knew that I was falling in love. The cake was beautiful! The frosting was cream colored and decorated with pink accents and a vine wrapped around the cake. I let the cake sit out for a bit as the frosting is stiff until it is more room temperature and I impatiently waited until I could cut the first slice. Much to my chagrin there was a layer of strawberry mousse filling in the cake!! I took my first bite and I knew that I was in love. I savored this moist and heavenly cake. The frosting was rich and flavorful, the strawberry mousse light and the champagne flavored cake all combined to make a decadent treat.
Just so you know. Cakewalk offers six basic cake flavors and nine deluxe. There are about 15 homemade fillings if you would like to add a layer in your cake. There are 6 frosting flavors to choose from as well. Since this is a creative process if you are searching for something different just ask them. Cakewalk just may be able to accommodate your special flavor request.
If you are looking for some incredible delicious edible art then Cakewalk should be your next stop for a cake for your birthday, wedding, party, any time you need a special cake to celebrate. Really, I don’t think you even need a special time to order a Cakewalk cake!
Cakewalk, LLC
309 W. Jefferson St.
Plymouth, IN 46563
574-936-3801
Type: Handcrafted specialty cakes
Price: Depends + custom orders
Hours: Appointments only
Location: Plymouth
Soho Japanese Bistro
On a whim, I stopped into Soho Japanese Bistro the other day for dinner. The restaurant is still spot on. I had the Teppanyaki Grill experience, you know where they make your food in front of you. I always enjoy the experience but hate the smell afterwards on my clothes. However, the restaurant is large and if you would prefer to order off the menu you can sit in the dining room area and enjoy your experience there. They also have a small sushi bar where you can dine. The bar is small and I do not suggest dining there but Soho claims to have the largest craft beer menu in Michiana. The restaurant is clean and spacious with a water wall on the front wall. They are open for lunch and dinner daily but closed between 2-4pm Monday through Friday. The restaurant is the second for this West Chester, Ohio (Cincinnati) business.
Soho Japanese Bistro
7225 Heritage Square (shopping center)
Granger, IN 46530
574-272-2292
Type: Japanese
Price: $$
Hours: 11-2 and 4-10 M-F Sat 11-11 Sun 12-9
Location: Granger
Smoking: No
_________________________________________________________________________
Yesterday’s Fine Food & Spirits
If I could make Yesterday’s my everyday spot, I would. This restaurant is located in Granger in an old rambling house. It is different but wonderfully cozy and friendly. When you walk in the owner, Evonne, one of the owners, will most likely greet you and sit you in one of the four rooms they have set up for service. One of these offers bar seating and an old fireplace that in the winter is a favorite place to be seated by. The décor is random, I mean there is a Christmas tree on the ceiling in the bar area. They also have a great outdoor patio that comes alive in the summer with music, games, food and fun. The food is some of the freshest in the area and it may take you a few minutes to wrap your head around the amount of items offered in the menu. Bill, Evonne’s husband, is the chef and he wants you to know that your order is made fresh to order for you. The food ranges from prime rib to a Chicken and Pistachio Roll Ups. Just viewing the menu online will make you want to try this local restaurant!! What they don’t show you online or even mention is the HOMEMADE desserts. They are decadent and large and I would suggest sharing one or take it home. If you eat it all, you will be look like a pig! There is no other way to put. Although, reservations are not necessary I would suggest you call ahead on holidays, football weekends and if you have a large group. May I suggest the Bu Bu II, The Mob, Hey Wally, The Coop, The Black n’ Blue…you get the picture. Now stop by and discover it for yourself!
Address:
12594 S.R. 23
Granger, IN 46530
574-272-7017
Toll Free: 866-672-7017
Type: American
Price: $to $$$
Hours: Monday - Thursday 4 - 9:30pm
Friday 4 - 10:30pm
Saturday 11 - 10:30pm
Location: Downtownish Granger
Smoking: No (but allowed outside on the patio)
George and Tammy Pesek have arrived in Mishawaka with the soft opening of their newest restaurant Corndance Tavern. The restaurant located on Grape Road that I have mentioned as a haunted location of the ghosts of restaurant pasts is now ALIVE. Upon entering you will venture into a warm cozy atmosphere with many personal touches such as photos he has taken and the woodwork in the bar and dining area that Chef George created himself.
But I know you want to know my thoughts on the food. Let me say that my visit was quite nice. I am impressed that in two weeks they have been open that they staff was quite knowledgeable and helpful in menu and drink offerings. There are still kinks that need to be worked out but none that I witnessed.
Check out the chalkboards that show the specials for the day. It is quite varied and will peak your interest. Tammy Pesek says that she wants folks to feel comfortable and walk up to the board or down to the Chef's station and look around at the food being prepared.
Back to the food. I loved it! However, I like food with a lot of flavor. There are foods that I was told were a bit more bland but whyyyy would you want to go that route? Garlic is abundant on the on menu and incorporated in many of the dishes. I checked the menu on their original Culver location and it is about 95% the same with a few variances.
For a starter, I would suggest the Ultimate Starter. Roasted whole garlic, olive oil, parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh bread. Crackers would be nice with this appy as well. I was so immersed in Garlic goodness I begin concocting how I could make this at home.
I ordered one of the specials which was the 8oz. Bleu Cheese encrusted bison filet with a blackened shrimp and tobacco onions. I believe that it was about $28. It was quite flavorful and the bison was prepared perfectly. It was a delight to behold and even better to taste., Most of the menu items come with two sides. I chose the Bean Medley with General Tso sauce. Nice, not too plain and fresh tasting. The second side was the White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes. The taters were good but did not pack a cheesey punch. That is not necessarily a bad thing as the steak and the sauce on the beans had a lot of flavor.
I believe that folks will be able to find something on this menu to gnaw on! There are soups, salads, fish, chicken, quail, pasta and pizza. Let me note that there is a wood fired pizza oven but due to health regulations (our tax dollars at work) they were informed that they could not burn wood in the WOOD BURNING PIZZA OVEN. Whatever. The pizza was still looking good to me.
Finally, because this is not really a review for me, you should know that the Peseks have a farm with real bison and other animals. They also have real gardens. You will notice both on their menus. They may buy from others but these folks believe in sustainability and that is quite refreshing to see in this area. Here is how they put it, "We source the majority of our food from local organic farms, Amish farmer markets, and our own American Bison Ranch."
Anyways, I could go on and on but I am not, because this is not a real review. Later this year, after they work out all the kinks, that I did not notice, we will have an official review and a "What's for Dinner?" In the meantime, patronize this business and tell me what you think. I am off base, slightly crazy or what?!
_________________________________________________________________________________