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 (519)

$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

Rosalie

Dined 3 days ago

Wonderful experience. Great food. Our server was attentive and took good care of us. Looking forward to my next visit.

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Popular dish

Sea Bass

Popular dish

Japanese Sweet Potato

Copper Rock Steakhouse - South Bend

4.8

4.8 (1152)

$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

Christopher

Dined 4 days ago

Great service, great food, attire of patrons leaves a little to be desired but overall a good experience.

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4.8

4.8 (54)

$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 Antonio's Ristorante, we are driven to provide excellent food, quality, and service, making you want to come back for more.

Top review

lori

Dined 4 days ago

The food was delicious! The ambience was great! All in all we had a fabulous time!

Cascade

4.9

4.9 (440)

$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

Douglas

Dined 5 days ago

Very good food with excellent service and ambience.

Artisan

4.9

4.9 (1351)

$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

ScottVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Beautiful ambience with pleasant informative staff and delicious and interesting dishes.

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4.8

4.8 (1235)

$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

Kayla

Dined 7 days ago

The food and ambiance was amazing. I was, however, taken aback by my server taking my plate away when I still have a pretty decent serving of steak frites remaining and was not offered a to-go container…

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Rocky River Tap and Table

4.8

4.8 (369)

$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 16, 2025

.half price bottles of wine night, great bonus to a wonderful meal!

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 on Jun 7, 2025

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 (1246)

$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

Chuck

Dined 5 days ago

Our table was ready upon arrival! The setting was very nice and our server was very good. Everyone was pleased with their menu selections and our overall dining experience was Great! Thank you for a wonderful time!

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Yesterday's Food & Spirits

4.7

4.7 (999)

$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

Daniel

Dined 3 days ago

An absolutely wonderful experience as usual, our waitress was exceptionally attentive.

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