Best Down Home Cooking Restaurant South Bend Near Me

Zack: Food: 4/5|Service: 4/5|Atmosphere: 4/5More

Alysia Boehner: Small but mighty! What a great menu and quality of food! We will be back!

Jocelyn Sandoval: One of my best friends and I stumbled upon this hidden gem and definitely did not regret it. It was both our first time & I couldn’t express enough how much I loved the atmosphere, the drinks & we were informed the menu is changed daily. The Chef, Vince, made a special appearance and asked how everything tasted & I absolutely appreciated him for doing so. The artichoke & jalapeño dip was the best dip I ever had as well as their grapefruit margarita. I also tried Venison for the first time & it was perfect!! Lastly for dessert, we got the Lemon bar cake & it was sooo delicious!! By far one of my top favorite restaurants!

David Sconyers: Had a vegetable risotto here that was absolutely phenomenal. Cute, hip atmosphere and a cozy vibe that deserves a look. The daily rotating menu just means the opportunity for great food is always there. Highly recommend.

Karen Haun: Food is always delicious & different. I love that the menu changes often. Beautiful old fire stationRecommended dishes Roasted Brussels and Bacon, Cauliflower Burger, Salmon and Pasta …More

Keith Fry: My wife and I dined there last night. Our first and last visit. We arrived at 430 Friday and were the first customers. Jay, our server, was quite pleasant and helpful. We ordered two shareables to start, Brussels sprouts and a Brie apple pastry. Normally, I wouldn’t complain about sub par flavors but being touted as made from scratch, coupled with the price, we were underwhelmed. We told Jay at the onset that we liked Rose Lily ( another fine dining establishment in South Bend), to which he replied people compare no. 6 with them. Well, I can’t believe that at all. The sprouts were par boiled to sogginess and although the pastry was top notch, the Brie seemed missing. I ordered the 55.00, 16oz bone in ribeye, medium rare, as an entree and nearly flung my plate from the table attempting to cut in. I’m dead serious. It was the toughest steak I’ve ever put a knife to. Further, the marbling was sinew and impossible to cut through. The flavor indicated to me that there was absolutely no aging involved as the toughness was leathery and the only flavors came from the butter, salt and pepper. A1 wouldn’t improve this steak.Feeling ashamed, (my own inadequacy), I attempted to eat about half before asking to have the chef attempt to cut it. The server, upon return said the owner cut it with the chefs kitchen knife and didn’t see my difficulty. Go figure. That told me all I needed to know about why there are bad and mixed reviews here. They did offer a New York strip to which I politely declined.Now, why this review? They did not take the meal off, but only 16.50. This set me to thinking about how nearsighted the owner of this establishment is. The meal was 150.00 plus with the 16.50 taken off and I would have given them another 150.00 try in the future to give them a chance at redemption.But that will not happen now.I won’t be a sucker but once.

Kathy Nguyen: Super lowkey place with a cute cozy atmosphere and friendly staff. Food and drinks were as amazing as it looks. My party of 6 definitely had a good time!I got the Kansas City Steak and it was cooked a perfect medium rare! The mashed potatoes and asparagus were also stars of the dish.Parking: Street parking but there were plenty of space

Edward Stech: Food: 5/5|Service: 5/5|Atmosphere: 5/5More

Kerigan Bermani: Owners and staff were all very kind, and attentive. The food was delicious! I ordered their land option of the day which was a roasted eggplant on rice with a yogurt sauce and other veggies. It was very good and food sensitivity-friendly. Definitely recommend supporting this local business!

ghgordon83: Good food and great atmosphere.Food: 5/5|Service: 5/5|Atmosphere: 5/5 …More

Heather Dudeck: This place has the best food in town! Cozy place! Will be back again!

Katy Harris: The food and drinks were delicious and the chef even came to our table and asked how everything tasted. Wonderful experience. We’ll definitely be back.

John L: Good foodVegetarian options: YesParking: Small parking area

Kevin McQuillen: Great food and service on a crazy busy night before a big game! The chef did an incredible job, everything so tasty!!

Eli Cantu: The food here is amazing!!Kid-friendliness: 21+ onlyParking: Small but appropriate for the restaurants size.

David Beke: All the dishes were excellent so far, accompanied with a very friendly and fast service even at busy times.The place is very cosy, however the tables are a little bit small.

June Hidde: I had cheesy eggs. They were good. Service was very goodWould definitely recommend. Small dinning area, make a reservation.

Vicki Preston: Food and service were awesome! Will definitely come back. Our waitress really went above and beyond!

Elisa Mesecar: Excellent food friendly staff

Joe Wooldridge: Always a great place to relax, eat and have a glass of wine. Food is 100% top notch as Chef Vince never disappoints! All of the staff are great as well, special shout out to Robin! If you are wondering, like we were, give them a try!!

Jim V: Very friendly staff. Great food.Food: 5/5|Service: 5/5|Atmosphere: 4/5 …More

Alan Hogan: Food: 5/5|Service: 5/5More

robert young: Very nice. If in town give em a try..new breakfast hot spot....Really good open faced bbq pulled pork sandwich ... try it and thank me latter6/23still great food great location and people..

Lori Mustaikes: Burnt Belgium waffle ok fried potatoes very disappointed in my order will not be back.

Joe Anand-Obleton: This is an outstanding restaurant. It's a breakfast, brunch, and lunch type place. My husband Michael and I have been here four times now. The staff is friendly, welcoming, and they already remember us (as we're instant regulars). Worth special mention, Elena, Amber, Karla, and Meg are awesome (thank you for your great service)! The food is so good! We've tried a few different things, and they've all been great (chicken parmesan sandwich 🍗🥪, cheese grits 🧀, fried haddock🐟, cole slaw, side salad 🥗, french fries🍟, chicken tortilla soup 🍲, chicken corn chowder 🍲, and hot tea ☕).This is a must try in South Bend.

Jerrod Micola: Great food. Seriously great. The place is small, some would say cozy, I would not be one of them. They were able to accommodate our party of 6 rather quickly, so I can't complain. But it gets really busy and the wait is worth it. Can't say that for many places in South Bend.Food: 5/5|Service: 4/5|Atmosphere: 3/5 …More

Tyler Foley: I’ve probably been to L Street 500 times, and I can tell you in confidence that the owners are not rude at all. They’re both some of the nicest restaurant owners in South Bend. All the food is good, if not great. If it wasn’t good, I wouldn’t go there, and they wouldn’t have tons of regulars. Sincerely, a fat guy that knows more than you.

Amber Gill: Great people, great atmosphere, fast and tasty food

karina reith: Owners are rude

Jerry Roberts: Great service awesome food.Food: 5/5|Service: 5/5|Atmosphere: 5/5 …More

janice bloss: The place is clean. I didn't use the restroom though.We ordered chicago dogs, fries and salads. They should get poppyseed buns and sprinkle celery salt (but not too much).The fries were burnt and super salty. We had to ask for our salads when she brought our meal. Our server was too busy chatting with cooks and other server. The place is clean though.

NATURALLY DAY’S EYE: The shrimp and grits was a true Cajun surprise. It was good, however a lil on the spicy side of things. Service was great. It was much busier today than a month ago.

Daniel Wilde: It's the best food you will have in your life, in the best location, for the best price, hands down, forever and ever, amen.Food: 5/5|Service: 5/5|Atmosphere: 5/5 …More

Genny Johnson: Quick friendly and great tasteFood: 5/5|Service: 5/5|Atmosphere: 5/5 …More

Selenne Beltran: Do not get the chilaquiles here. They’re not good. The service is not the best either.

Kheran “Kerry” Joseph: This place is dope. Eat all the food!Food: 5/5|Service: 5/5|Atmosphere: 5/5Recommended dishes Toast, Avocado, Breakfast Burrito, Home Fries, Sopes, Chilaquiles Con Huevo …More

abby dabby: i got a grilled chicken and bacon with swiss club and some fries--everything was so hot and fresh, and the staff is so, so, so nice!! I can't wait to come back and try everything else!!

Angel Gomez: Great place! Great food! Nice wait staff!

David Smith: Our new go-to place for breakfast/lunch. We’ve made it a weekly tradition! Waitresses are great, food is always delicious, and it won’t break the bank. Highly recommend! P.S. Try the Cuban!

Tony Laskowski: Food: 5/5|Service: 5/5|Atmosphere: 5/5Recommended dishes Breakfast BurritoMore

Rosa A.: A true italian experience. We loved the food, and we felt in love with the chef Adele! The parmiggiano wheel spagetti is amazing, we will come back!Recommended dishes Cheese Wheel …More

Jerry Roberts: Great Service. The food is phenomenal. This is the best authentic Italian food in the Midwest.Food: 5/5|Service: 5/5|Atmosphere: 5/5 …More

Howard Shore: Nicely decorated and relatively quiet. Service started very slow but picked up as time went on. Both our meals were okay but a little disappointing. The pasta was tasteless and did not seem cool well. My Swordfish special was cooked properly but had no flavor and I got the soup of the day and found it to thick and heavy.

Karina Gomez: Really good food, just a little too expensive for our budget...but really good food.Dine in: Yes Outdoor seating: No Takeout: Yes …More

Bethany Hussung: Truely amazing, authentic Italian food prepared by an accredited Italian chef. All of our food was amazing. You will not regret offering your patronage. My ravioli had fresh truffle on top and was packed with amazing flavor and my husbands veal was tender and masterfully prepared. The parties are amazing as well. It was well worth the trip and we will be back.

Bobbi Craven: Came here for a bridal shower and the food was amazing! The stuffed mushrooms were my favorite! Definitely need to keep this place in mind!

Owen Fischler: I don't give 5 star ratings anymore unless I am truly awed by the experience. Ciao's was beyond any expectations I could have imagined. Everything is homemade and spectacular. Instantly one of my most favorite places to eat. Simply the VERY BEST!

Lucas Misra: This is a fine dining establishment. The service is fantastic, and the main courses are bursting with flavor. Adele is a superb Italian chef, bringing a genuine Italian experience to South Bend. Don’t forget to pass up on her pastries! The tortq di Napoleone was a perfect post dinner treat.Dine in: Yes Outdoor seating: No Takeout: Yes Delivery: No Curbside pickup: Yes …More

Becky Phung: So good! The pasta comes out hot and fresh. The bread also has a good crunch and is great when you hear it back up at home. Call ahead of time to make sure there are tables available.

B P: Ciao’s in South Bend, Indiana is a culinary oasis. I live in a part of Florida that is fortunate enough to have excellent restaurants, many award winning, and I’ve traveled in Italy. Ciao’s ambiance, knowledgeable servers and fresh, perfectly prepared food is second to none.I started with Cozze Piccante(Spicy Mussels) and Burrata. The mussels were perfectly cooked and the spicy tomato sauce that enveloped them complimented the briny succulence of the bivalves. The Burrata was served with arugula and what at first glance was an anemic tomato. I learned not to judge a tomato by its color. The greens were fresh and the perfect compliment to the the rich, creamy cheese but the tomato was bursting with the flavor of summer and made the dish spectacular. We then had Pheasant Tortelli and Bronzino al Forno. Though Adele, the chef/owner, gently tried to steer us to complimentary entrees, we stayed true to our individuality. My husband had the Pheasant and I had the Bronzino al forno. I had never had Pheasant and loved the gaminess of the pheasant stuffed tortelli paired with the earthy mushroom cream sauce. It was not a heavy dish but brought to mind Fall and forests. My Bronzino al forno was summer on a plate. The fish was perfectly prepared in a light lemon herb sauce that enhanced the fish without overwhelming the delicate fish.If you have been to Italy or if you want to experience fresh Italian fare at its finest, make a reservation at Ciao’s.

Alexander Shapiro: My wife and I went to Ciao's the other day. We ordered antipasto Italiano, parmigiana di Melanzane, and that day's special, beef, which came with rice and vegetables. Sadly, parmigiana di Melanzane, rice, and vegetables were overcooked to the point of losing almost all taste. Antipasto Italiano was slightly better, but for some reason featured cheddar (I have nothing against cheddar, although it is by far not my favorite, but it is by no account Italian). As for vegetables and fruit, it only had two sliced strawberries of modest quality. As for beef, it simply had too much fat on it. So, the whole dinner was somewhere between tasteless and unpalatable. Judging by other reviews, perhaps it simply wasn't there day, but still — you can't fail on three out of three dishes if you have any idea about what you're doing. And, well, decor is a matter of taste, but to my taste it was the opposite of cozy or pleasant. So, given the quality and the atmosphere, I think it's on the same level as a random burger place (and perhaps should be priced accordingly).

D: First time here. Love the atmosphere! Super friendly staff. Great prices for the quality and quantity of our dinners. All homemade pasta. Cheese wheel presentation was unique and worth the extra money! 💕 Would definitely return!

Conner Balciunas: Great food and atmosphere, the little pastries are great!

E. R. Meeks: The new Ciao’s restaurant is so delicious! We went on the recommendation of an Italian friend and the pastries and pasta are perfection!

Chris Owsianowski: So excited to see Adele back where she started, an ABSOLUTE Treasure in South Bend. Truly authentic Italian, it feels like my Mama's Kitchen and home!Mil garcias 🍷

Tim Borgerson: Most authentic Italian food in south bend. Adele is a fantastic chef who puts a great deal of thought and care into her menus. We had a tasting menu with pheasant ravioli and wrapped beef short ribs. All pasta was fresh.

James Christopher: I was doing some work there and Adele made me some desserts and chicken parm that just made me melt. Absolutely amazing.

Ilaria Schnyder Schnyder von Wartensee: Best food in South Bend!

Paula Garis: The food was fabulous, can't say enough about the quality and quantity of homemade from scratch dining, try it!

Natalia Salamanca: The food is great and desserts as well! Very recommended.