Chesterton, Indiana, is an amazing place to settle down and raise a family. It’s been named one of the 10 safest cities in Indiana and has numerous high-quality public schools. The city also offers affordable real estate with quality housing options.
When people move to a new location, one of the first things they look for is the restaurant and dining life. If you’re new to Chesterton or you’ve lived here for years, be sure to check out these amazing local eateries and unique restaurants.
Chesterton Brewery
Image via Flickr stu_spivack
Chesterton Brewery is a family-friendly and veteran-owned restaurant, with a full bar and brewery, that gives back to vets in need. While they have traditional fares like chicken wings, hamburgers, and catfish platters, this local restaurant is known for its popular barbecue-inspired chow.
Begin with an appetizer or two, like their Brigade Fries, homemade fries topped with smoked pulled pork and jalapeno cheese. You may also enjoy their soft pretzels with warm beer cheese. When it comes to burgers, sandwiches, and platters, each plate comes with lettuce, onion, tomato, pickle, and your choice of fries, homemade chips, or jalapeno coleslaw. A few of their sandwich selections include catfish, pulled pork, or smoked chicken. Their platters offer fish or meat like cod, ribs, pulled pork, and brisket.
Each burger, sandwich, or platter adds your choice of sauces, such as buffalo, mango habanero, bourbon, brew crew, or super hot.
Do you enjoy tacos and macaroni and cheese? Well, Chesterton Brewery has some of the best. Choose soft corn, flour, or hard shells with brisket, pork, or chicken. Their homemade mac and cheese is delicious. As one customer wrote, “Mac and cheese is the best option, it comes with a lot of food. I can enjoy it for another day as leftovers. Get it every time!”
Appetizers are priced at $9, burgers and sandwiches go from $10 to $15, platters range from $13 to $23, tacos are $3 or $4 apiece, and the homemade macaroni and cheese is $10.
Ivy’s Bohemia House
Ivy’s Bohemia House serves eclectic fresh-from-scratch cuisine right in downtown Chesterton. Here, brunch, lunch, and dinner are served in a charming old house with an inviting ambiance, where you can enjoy Mediterranean, Eastern European, and Cajun-inspired food. Also, the restaurant offers award-winning service and a cozy space, so you will not only eat dinner but also enjoy a relaxed and pleasant experience.
Some of their customers’ favorites include their Polish platter, Reuben sandwich with house-made corned beef, and their cajun specialties like cajun crab cakes or the French quarter salad. Ivy’s Bohemia House also has a vegan, keto, and gluten-free menu for those with dietary requirements.
Their lunch and dinner menu includes a variety of appetizers like house-made chips and salsa, falafel and hummus, and baked brie en route. Other popular offerings here include soup and salads, such as spinach apple salad, and the house tomato basil bisque. Classic sandwiches and burgers at this outfit include the restaurant’s famous Cubano, gourmet grilled cheese, and grilled portabella cap burger. All of their pasta dishes, like the crab ravioli and smoked mozzarella and the potato gnocchi, are served with garlic bread.
Experience the amazing fare at Ivy’s Bohemia House by feasting on one of their house specialties. Try the Glumpki, stuffed cabbage with mashed potatoes, the Polish platter, which includes Polish sausage, pierogi, haluski, sauerkraut, and glumpki, or the Smokey Boho chicken breast.
Every one of their old-school cocktails is created with house-made simple syrup and fresh lemon and lime juice. They always feature a curated wine selection and a beer list with many microbrews and regional favorites.
Appetizers range from $5 to $12, soup and salad are priced $4 to $13, sandwiches and burgers go for $12 to $14, pasta dishes are $12 to $18, and the house specialties are priced $9 to $17.
Octave Grill
The Octave Grill features grass-fed beef, house-made desserts, and craft cocktails and beer. They pride themselves on delivering a unique dining experience to their guests.
Enjoy appetizers like the goat cheese fondue, made with capriole goat cheese, warm pita, zucchini, apples, and crackers, or the perch cakes, created with the finest lake perch, dill caper tartar sauce, and enchilada sauce. Add a grilled chicken breast or black bean patty to any house salad. Their specialty salads are amazing as well. Try the Granny Goat, which includes greens topped with pickled red onions, capriole organic goat cheese, bacon, granny smith apples, and dijon dressing. The Diana is a mixture of greens, dried cranberries, green island blue cheese, cucumber, tomato, candied walnuts, and a citrus vinaigrette.
You should check out the creative hamburgers at this spot. The Chanute is built with crimini mushrooms, Carr valley hot pepper jack, bacon, blue cheese sauce, greens, tomato, and onion. The Figgy Piggy is topped with fig jam, capriole organic goat cheese, bacon, and greens. The Octave Grill also has some quality sandwiches like the Adrian, which is house-smoked pulled pork, slaw, and house-made barbecue sauce, on a brioche bun, and the Swine Mountain, which includes a fried chorizo link, smoked pulled pork, bacon, ham, Saxon Creamery smoked gouda, grilled onions, and barbecue sauce on a pretzel roll.
Appetizers begin at $4.50, salads start at $5.00, hamburgers range from $10 to $12, and sandwiches go for $8.25 to $11.25.
Val’s Famous Pizza and Grinders
Val’s Famous Pizza and Grinders makes quality, fresh food that is flavorful and tastes great. Serving American/Italian style food, they are a community restaurant that welcomes out-of-town guests and local visitors alike. Enjoy lunch or dinner in their family dining area, or reserve the 45-seater porch.
Their specialty pizzas include the Chesterton Fire topped with Italian beef, spicy rope sausage, pepperoncini, and hot giardiniera peppers, or the Romano Ranch prepared with ranch sauce, three pieces of cheese, spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes. If you prefer grinders and stuffed sandwiches, check out The Bomb, which is slow-cooked Italian beef and cheese basted with garlic butter and served with a side of pizza sauce, au jus, and pepperoncini. Val’s Spagoni dishes, spaghetti baked in a homemade bread bowl covered with cheese, include traditional, chicken broccoli, barbecue chicken, and veggie.
Specialty pizzas begin at $12.45, stuffed sandwiches start at $3.95, and spagoni dishes begin at $7.75.
These restaurants are only a few of our favorite eateries in the Chesterton, Indiaba, area. Did we miss any of your favorite diners or bistros? If so, be sure to let us know. Steiner Homes is proud to be part of a supportive community, and we highly recommend you visit these local cafes and eateries.
