Best Restaurants Open for Thanksgiving Dinner this year in Valparaiso – 2024

Wow, this place was absolutely fantastic. My wife is a huge book nerd so I knew this place would be perfect for her. After a long day of hiking, you are greeted by a bunch of books, friendly staff, and a great food and drink menu with a ton of great options. I got a filet with gorgonzola cheese on top, potatoes, and asparagus and every bite melted in my mouth. My wife got the blackened salmon with risotto and everything on her plate was delicious as well. For dessert, we got the apple blossom and it was the best way to end the meal. We were very full and happy after we were all done. A fantastic place to be at after a long day at Indiana Dunes National and State Parks.

I would have given Stacks 5 stars but the hostess was not accommodating and quite rude. It was our first time there and had reservations for 430 in the 21+ bar. Requested a booth but she denied us stating those are for 4 people. Mind you it was 430 in afternoon and there was another couple in a booth. So the entire time we dined at a tiny table BOOTHs were always open. After dinner, we sat at the bar. Which was very historic and enjoyable. AND I would definitely give the bartenders 5 STARS!!! Very friendly and welcoming!!! Food reasonably priced and good.

What an amazing rooftop deck they have built here. I came specifically because they had a vegan burger as the special and it was nothing short of amazing. The mushrooms had so much flavor. I really hope they will add this to the regular menu.

We happened onto this great spot on a perfect October Saturday and ate some excellent food outside in the sunshine. Our server, Cassandra, was a joy and everything we ordered was top-notch. We highly recommend the filet mignon small plate, as well as the grilled shrimp tacos. The fall cocktail menu was spot on...loved the caramel apple mule (complete with a caramel apple sucker/stirrer.) We were just visiting Valparaiso for the day, but would return in a heartbeat to this fun spot if given a chance!

Wonderful fast service and a great selection. We specifically came here for their keto burger and my husband wasn't disappointed. I got the BLT which was very yummy. The service was very fast, we got there around 5 and there was a seat available but the restaurant quickly filled up.

Really cool trendy spot. They didn't have a table right away so we sat at the bar. Drinks were good. Service was fast. Food was tasty we ordered fish tacos and chicken tacos -- both were real good. Got the chicken Alfredo and added broccoli -- it was huge and tasted great. Got 2+ meals out of it.

Great food at a great price. I'm too used to BBQ places skimping out on SOMETHING. Whether that's the bun, the quantity of meat, the side, etc. Very relieved this establishment doesn't. I got a sandwich that had double the meat I anticipated with a type of fry I've never seen anywhere else and it was unbelievable. The owner was super kind and checked to make sure everything was good with our food and made good conversation. Wish more BBQ places like this existed

This place is top notch. By far the best bbq in NWI. Everything we have had has been amazing. The owner and his family are so friendly and make you feel welcomed.

THIS PLACE IS AMAZING! best place I've ever gotten smoked meat from. Outside of the amazing taste of the food, they give you little sauces for your various items. My friend had dental work done and couldn't eat the brisket (VERY TENDER BTW) And they chopped her up some extra so she could. The customer service here is unbeatable. Will definitely Return.

Seven of our family and friends gathered to celebrate my son's confirmation. Pikk's is a great place to celebrate! The food is fresh, delicious and beautifully presented. The service was excellent. The exposed brick walls, high ceilings and tasteful lighting make for great ambience. I highly recommend Pikk's and will be back on another Sunday to try the pork belly Ramen which is on special with the bibimbap for a very affordable price of $16! I'm also looking forward to trying a Bloody Mary which my friend said was awesome!

Fantastic food. Fantastic service. My child, husband, and I had a fantastic father's Day brunch here. The good was phenomenal and my mimosa flight was Fantastic! Super child friendly too!

My very short experience here was not a good one. To say I was hurt and very disappointed is an understatement. My bridal shower had made reservations days prior to celebrate my upcoming wedding, so we were very excited to try the food here. Upon my arrival I sat down, ordered 1 drink and before I could even try it, the manager came out saying we were going to be cut off, this was after my DD / maid of honor had accidentally spilled a drink. Believe it or not, Accidents do happen. It wasn’t even 5 minutes after I had sat down that we were suddenly the target for nonsense. This was supposed to be a nice new experience as we are from out of town, and to be targeted for “drunken” behavior over us talking and laughing and one spilled drink is ridiculous and unnecessary. We decided to get our checks as we felt very unwanted here and kindly thanked our wonderful server and left. We did not feel the slightest bit of welcome. We decided to try peddlers down a ways and they were nothing but fun, kind and accepting and very sweet about our bachlorette gathering. We will never be coming back here again. For future events I would not recommend anyone to come here. Shame on this place for such a negative attitude.

We tried Pesto's for the first time and had a great experience! The restaurant is darkish, done in green, brick and burgundy. We had a fly at our table that we could NOT get rid of. Our booth was very comfy. Service was outstanding. Our server was beyond polite and kept a check on us. She kept our drinks filled and our food came out piping hot. We had the sampler platter (OMG!) and the spaghetti plate. The salad dressing was amazing and the ministroni soup was delicious. The sampler platter was huge and there were plenty of leftovers. The spaghetti plate came with a homemade sauce that was great. Would definitely recommend this place. We went for lunch and the prices are very reasonable.

Pestos Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria offers a delightful dining experience with classic Italian dishes, generous portions, and a bustling, friendly atmosphere. My visit was impressive from the start. Despite not having a reservation, we were seated within 20 minutes, and once seated, service was fast and efficient. The warm bread served with oil and balsamic vinegar was an absolute highlight—so good that I almost filled up before my meal arrived. For my appetizer, I had the cream of prosciutto soup, which was a creamy, flavorful delight. I had never tried this soup before but would definitely order it again. For the main course, I went with the veal parmesan. The portion was huge and topped with melted cheese over a bed of angel hair pasta. The veal was tender and delicious, though I found the pasta a bit dry due to the lack of sauce. That said, it was still a satisfying dish and a great value overall. The lively atmosphere makes Pestos a great spot for a casual date or dinner with friends. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth a visit.

Best Italian food I've ever had. Way better than Olive Garden. Service is amazing. I'll definitely be going back. You get more than money worth. My boyfriend and I both had the Seafood Alfredo

This place has excellent food and service. The only downfall is it's quite small so it might be worth asking if they take reservations if you don't want to wait or to call ahead and see if they are busy. Even if there is a wait I would absolutely feel its worth making a visit happen. I travel for work extensively, mostly within the united states but also outside of the country and this place has prepares their falafel better than anywhere I have had it in the past. Unfortunately like a lot of restaurants I come across I probably won't be able to come back here much if at all as work is what brought me here in the first place. If I'm for any reason back in the area though, I will absolutely be returning. For Anyone local I encourage you to give this place a try, you won't be disappointed.

Hadn’t been to Meditrina in a while and recently dined there twice in one week it was so good. This small quaint restaurant has been around for years and our recent visit reminded me why. Consistently great fresh food, fair prices, and helpful friendly staff. We had the feta stuffed dates, cucumber yogurt dip, paprika chicken, chicken shawarma pita, chicken shawarma dinner (added tabbouleh), and snapper dinner special. Another past favorite is the fatoush salad with chicken. You really can’t go wrong with any dish. Also try the plum-wine cooler! If you’ve never been to Meditrina or haven’t been there in a while, give it a visit!

Sat outside on a beautiful day. I wasn't that hungry so just had an appetizer. Toasted bread, balsamic eggplant, white beans and cherry tomatoes. It might not look great but it was delicious. Had a mango iced tea (unsweetened) with it. A perfect light lunch! I've never had a bad meal there.

My husband and I stopped by Martini's for a bite to eat. We had just returned from a trip to Maryland where we were unable to get any seafood. Saddened by that turn of events, we were excited to try the Blue Crab Fondue. It did not disappoint. It was warm and creamy. The bread was buttery and toasted perfectly. We indulged in cocktails while we enjoyed the lemon rice soup, a wedge salad (the gongazola cheese set it off), and our entree. We both enjoyed our meals: the Reuben with sweet potato fries, the Fried Groupier Sandwich. All of our food was freshly made and excellent quality. Our server Summerly was the best!

We were looking for a good place to celebrate our 42 wedding anniversary. The menu looked so inviting, but the food was not. I had a rib eye and my wife had a NY strip. Steaks we full of grissel and lacking in flavor. The salads were not fresh and the salad dressing was mostly oil. The waitress was friendly, but not at all attentive. I don't believe we'll be back nor can we recommend Martini's. Massively disappointing.

Martinis catered our wedding this past August. The food, service, and bartenders were great! All of our guests commented on how good the food was. The staff were so helpful and professional. We couldn’t have picked a better business to cater our wedding!

The food here is absolutely delicious! I have many food allergies and the chef/owner was able to customize something to fit my allergies and still make it amazing! As someone with food allergies, I so appreciated how thoroughly and well my server and the chef handled them; I felt completely confident that my food would be both safe for me and amazing. I will definitely make a point of stopping in anytime I’m nearby!

The food is always delicious here. Never had a bad meal. My fiancée and I usually go for special occasions. Love sitting at the bar and watching the kitchen flow like an orchestra. My favorite restaurant.

We had the pleasure of dining at Main + Lincoln last night for the first time and what an experience!!! We started off with a glass of wine and an old fashioned. Their wine list is phenomenal and covers a variety. Cocktail was made well. We started with a half dozen oysters and one of their specials, the bone marrow. Their bone marrow dish one of the best things we've consumed in a long time. Wow! For dinner, we shared their special, scallops and risotto. Amazing! We are still talking about it, which prompted me to write this review. Our server was friendly and prompt. Everyone working there was actually. The restaurant was clean. Atmosphere was open and friendly and it was not noisy. We were able to have a conversation easily. Will definitely be back. We're looking forward to trying the salmon. Or another special. Fantastic experience!!

On a weather rich day, this place's outdoor seating really shines, and on dreary evenings the indoors are plenty welcoming. It's like a being in a Norman Rockwell painting - lots of regulars, the aesthetics of the food and drink make your eyes salivate, and very yuppie (not in a bad way perse, but there's too many golf polos to not point this out). Overall, I feel the drinks and starters are just better than the mains. Pricing on quality beer and cocktails is just better than the surrounding eateries without sacrificing quality. And the appetizers are more fun and flavorful than I've come to expect from a place like this. Yet every time I've been here, I feel like I'm overpaying for a good-but-not-great entree. As a date spot to get to know someone or just catch up with your posse? Excellent choice, would always recommend. Seeking a gastro pub experience to entertain your pallette? It'll do, just wouldn't be my first pick.

First time here. Service was great. Food was so flavorful! Dessert was amazing! My husband got the burger and I got the Rueben. For dessert we had the deep fried Oreos & deep fried cheesecake (a MUST!) I ordered a drink called the “caddy shack” was skeptical and even that was amazing! Kudos to the bartenders. Sad we didn’t try this place earlier. We will be recommending to friends and family and we will be back.

Food is good here. Cocktail and wine are also good, even amazing. We really love the buffalo cauliflower and burgers. The pork bowl is gods, but pascal sometime I cannot out my finger on. I do miss the buddy bowl, but there are plenty of good ops on the menu.

I visited Le Peep on a weekend mid-day as I was passing through town. The atmosphere is very light and airy with lofty ceilings, large windows throughout the building and light color decor which is very pleasant. Staff were all fast, attentive and pleasant. I ordered French toast, bacon, potatoes and poached eggs which can often be hit or miss at some restaurants. Le Peep poached eggs were done perfectly so I would give these 5 stars. I would say the bacon, potatoes and French toast were all good but not the best you've had. The portion sizes were great and you will not leave hungry. The French toast was made with Texas toast slices. I prefer my French Toast dense, with a bit more cinnamon hit and with a thicker syrup with more maple flavor. The potatoes were good. I always cover mine in ketchup so its hard to say if anything was lacking in flavor. The bacon was similar to the French toast in that it was satisfying but not the best you've had. All in all, I enjoyed the light and fresh atmosphere of the restaurant, staff and food. I left full, but I wished for a bit more commitment to defining flavors on some items. I would definitely come back and give some other items on the menu a try.

We stopped in for breakfast and ordered: a Diet, a classic Mimosa, a side of Biscuits & Gravy, the Meat Pen(w/corned beef hash and toast), and the Denver Omelet with English muffin. It was all fine. That's the word I would definitely use...fine. Everything needed a decent amount of salt and pepper added to give it some flavor. The biscuits were on the verge of being garbage...they had a few hard/stale spots. We picked around that, which was fine because, imho, they didn't put enough gravy on top. It is a beautiful and clean space with very friendly staff members. But, the food isn't strong enough to bring me back again...especially when it was $55(after tip).

Le Peep in Valparaiso is a bustling breakfast spot with a large dining area that’s clearly popular among the locals. Be prepared for a bit of a wait; we waited about 30 minutes to get a table, but once we were seated, our server was quick to take our drink order. After receiving our drinks, there was another 10-minute wait before she came back to take our food order. Fortunately, the food arrived promptly after that, within 5-8 minutes, and everything was served hot and together. I ordered the Eggs Benedict, which was decent, though the eggs were on the smaller side, and I’ve had better versions elsewhere. My wife had the special Countryside Omelet, and she enjoyed her meal quite a bit. Overall, the food is good, but not exceptional. Le Peep is clearly a popular breakfast destination, and while the food is solid, the service could be more attentive, especially given the wait times. I would return if others wanted to go, but it wouldn’t be my first choice on my own. A good spot if you’re looking for a lively breakfast atmosphere, but expect some delays.