Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in South Bend

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants in South Bend? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Essence Restaurant + Bar

5.0

5 (509)

$31 to $50

American

Elkhart

About the restaurant

A culinary playground centered around unwavering hospitality and creatively curated cuisine, wine and spirits.

Welcome home.

Top review

Jennifer

Dined 3 days ago

We sat out on the patio for a different experience than the inside. It was perfect! The weather was beautiful. We had a view of the water and surrounding scenery. They even provided beverage hats to use if you felt the need, which we didn’t. Once again food taste, presentation, service, and ambience were all first rate.

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Popular dish

Sea Bass

Popular dish

Japanese Sweet Potato

Copper Rock Steakhouse - South Bend

4.9

4.9 (1143)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

South Bend

About the restaurant

Dining at Copper Rock Steakhouse is an experience like no other. Savor perfectly dry aged steaks, succulent seafood, gourmet desserts and more, paired with a selection from an award-winning wine list feature over 200 wines by the bottle and glass. Stop by the bar in Copper Rock Steakhouse for pre-dinner martinis or an after-dinner cognac. Copper Rock Steakhouse is a 21 and older dining establishment.

Top review

GregVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Great food as always except for the mashed potatoes. Very busy so some longer waits but to be expected.

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Grass-Fed Filet Mignon 7oz

Osteria Amici

4.9

4.9 (39)

$30 and under

Italian

Elkhart

About the restaurant

Now Open!
We are here to welcome you to a gathering of food and friends at Amici. As part of Navarre Hospitality and partnered with Paul Cataldo of Antiono's Ristorante, we are driven to provide excellent food, quality, and service, making you want to come back for more.

Top review

NANCY

Dined 2 days ago

Love the goat cheese appetizer, caprese salad and the rigatoni. All so good. Cory is a great waitress . Love everything about Amici

Cascade

4.9

4.9 (423)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

South Bend

About the restaurant

South Bend’s newest dining destination, Cascade, showcases fresh seafood, shellfish towers and prime steaks. Featuring signature cocktails, craft beer and an extensive wine program with over 400 selections. Floor to ceiling windows provide unparalleled views of the St. Joseph River. Modern yet understated décor, open kitchen and wood fired hearth are the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable evening. Join us on our large river side patio and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Cascade waterfall, Keepers of the Fire sculpture and river lights, or dine at our custom-built bar: with every seat enjoying uninterrupted views of the water. Private dining for groups of 8-50 people

Top review

LizVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Fantastic food and view! Our waitress Kim was amazing and really made our experience at Cascade extra enjoyable. We’ll be back for sure!

Artisan

4.9

4.9 (1338)

$31 to $50

American

Elkhart

About the restaurant

The culinary team creates dishes that reflect the freshest in season ingredients. With hospitality that exceeds expectations, Artisan staff foster a space that is inviting and comfortable.

Top review

Bruce

Dined 5 days ago

Micah was the best! He took time to explain every dish and made our anniversary a delightful experience. Artisan is one of our favorite spots and it has become an anniversary tradition since 2021.

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4.8

4.8 (1225)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

South Bend

About the restaurant

Rohr's is a modern tavern- a casual, warm gathering place with focus on bright, flavorful food. Imagine a classic steakhouse with a twist highlighting colorful vegetables, fresh fish and of course, signature steaks. Good food, excellent service and the warm smiles of familiar friends. This is Rohr's.

Please be aware that campus is undergoing multiple construction projects this summer that may impact
how you navigate campus by vehicle and on foot. A renovation project to the Main Circle on Notre
Dame Avenue has begun, closing the roundabout to traffic. Access to North Notre Dame Avenue will be
limited until mid-August and you may experience delays upon your arrival to campus. We apologize for
any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to welcoming you to campus.

Top review

StephenVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Great food. Great service. Great ambiance. For a while it was a little loud as some old friends separated. Would definitely go back, if in the area.

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Popular dish

Steak

Rocky River Tap and Table

4.8

4.8 (368)

$30 and under

American

Granger

About the restaurant

Welcome to Rocky River Tap and Table!
ocated in Granger, Indiana and named for a tributary of the St. Joseph River in Michigan, Rocky River provides a farm-to-fork experience featuring sustainably farmed products from nearby growers and a casual atmosphere. Partnerships with local farmers, brewers and winemakers paired with culinary creativity yield brilliant results. From the table enjoy anything from small plates and unique bar snacks to entrees and a variety of handheld sandwiches.
And from our taps…Indiana and Michigan are home to some of the best breweries in the country. From these, we’ve handpicked a menu of over 30 draft beers to enjoy with a snack or accompany your meal. Our wine list, along with many organic West coast wines, includes carefully selected wines from Southwest Michigan and Indiana wineries, enjoyed by the glass or bottle

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Jun 6, 2025

Excellent food, nice entertainment, good server, tho a little slow. Would definitely recommend!

West on Warren

4.7

4.7 (38)

$30 and under

American

Middlebury

About the restaurant

Family owned and operated, West on Warren Gallery + Grill is about more than just food and art -- every part of our restaurant is designed to build community. We are dedicated to providing a space where friends and family gather to enjoy the best food and drink in the most inspiring environment possible.

Located at 200 W. Warren Street (across the street from Old Hoosier Meats), in the newly renovated Filling Station Building (est. 1926). West on Warren Gallery + Grill graciously features clean urban design with original artwork, being in perfect harmony with the cuisine.

Top review

Cindy

Dined 7 days ago

We travel to the Elkhart area at least once a year and we always go to West on Warren at least once. It’s always a great meal and great service.

Carmela's at Macri's

4.8

4.8 (1244)

$30 and under

Italian

South Bend

About the restaurant

Our authentic Italian restaurant is full of Italian classics inspired by Carmela herself. Enjoy rich Italian favorites like homemade lasagna, chicken marsala and lake perch. Relax over a hearty meal of spaghetti and arancini or enjoy chicken parmigiana, one of our old world selections. Located right next door to our very own Macri's Italian Bakery, save room for an exquisite dessert selection! Open since 1978 and ran by the same family for 45 years. Join us at our one and only location Downtown South Bend, for the best authentic Italian!

Top review

Keith

Dined 3 days ago

We came from Columbia Citu (near Ft Wayne) to eat for our anniversary. It is definitely worth the trip.

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Yesterday's Food & Spirits

4.7

4.7 (994)

$30 and under

American

Granger

About the restaurant

Starting December 1st our hours have changed to accommodate the early birds.

Tuesday through Thursday we open from 5:00 pm until 9:30 pm
Friday and Saturday we open from 4:00 pm until 10:30 pm
**We are open later for drinks and desserts**

We will be closed for a family holiday from December 22nd to January 1st. We will reopen January 2nd at 5:00 pm.

Until then join us for some Christmas cheer!
From our family to yours, have a Blessed and beautiful season.

Top review

Sharon

Dined 2 days ago

We have been to Yesterday's many times and it has always been a good experience. Our server Jackson was excellent and went over the top taking care of us throughout our meal. It's a great place to celebrate Birthdays, Anniversaries and just for a nice night out. Of course our meals were done perfectly and the desserts are the best. The only problem is deciding which one to pick. Looking forward to our next visit.

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