2008 NOTABLE DINING & LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Some of the South Bend restaurants I would recommend:

Fiddlers Hearth--Irish, Scottish,English food--I think they have GREAT food and wonderful atmosphere!!!  www.fiddlershearth.com

Hacienda--Tex-Mex Food--This is a local favorite. If you are looking for authentic Mexican food...this isn't the place...but the food is still great and the salsa and chips overflowith (A FEW DIFFERENT LOCATIONS--one near IU, South Bend and Mishawaka)

East Bank Emporium—(DOWNTOWN SOUTH BEND) this one has funky hours--the food is good and it is right on the East Race over looking the river. www.eastbankemporium.com

Club Noma--Asian Fusion--Is a little on the expensive side but the food is good and the atmosphere is something you would see in New York City. They have a jellyfish tank and WONDEFUL Martinis
if you like that stuff.

LaSalle Grill--All kinds of food--this one is EXPENSIVE--I have never been to it myself but people that I know that have gone think it is great. (DOWNTOWN SOUTH BEND) www.lasallegrill.com

The Chocolate Cafe--They sell South Bend Chocolate--they have ice cream and small foods like sandwiches and salads--I think it is a nice place--(DOWNTOWN SOUTH BEND--across from the College Football Hall of Fame)

Oaken Bucket--Near IU campus--their hamburgers are supposed to befamous. :) The food is pretty good and prices reasonable.

Ricco's Filling Station--Cubian Food--this one is rather strange since
it is located in a gas station--but the owner is a chef and is Cubian, and has the BEST Cubian sandwiches and soups.

We have the chain restaurants also: Red Lobster, Chili's Applebees,TGI Fridays, Etc...They seem to be more abundant in Mishawaka or South Bend south side.
We also have a slew of Irish Pubs
Notre Dame is Irish territory. Fiddlers is one of them and I think the best
but I can give you a list of possible other places.

Places to visit:

University of Notre Dame--IU and Notre Dame are huge rivals. However,the campus is so beautiful and historic. They also have a small museum on the campus called the Snite. It is kind of cool. www.nd.edu

If you like college football, we have the College Football Hall of Fame. It is located downtown. I am not a football fan but I have been there a long time ago and I thought it was pretty cool.
http://www.collegefootball.org/

If you like cars then you might want to check out the Studebaker National Museum...South Bend is the birthplace of the Studebaker. We have conventions once in a while where Studebaker owners drive in to town and park at the museum. It is actually pretty cool. www.studebakermuseum.org

South Bend also makes the Hummer...but there really isn't a place to view them other than those who have the money to own them and drive them around. :)

We have a zoo. It isn't very big but it is one of the oldest in the
state. Potawatomi Zoo...pretty close to the IU campus. www.potawatomizoo.org

Lake Michigan isn't far from South Bend...about 45 minutes. It might
be too cold...but the dunes are interesting and the lake is beautiful
and the area towns lining the lake have really neat art shops.

If you like to gamble, there are gambling boats about an hour away in
LaPorte. Indiana is like the 3rd or 4th largest gambling state. It isn't something I am proud per se but they are there and can be fun.

Also, Nappanee is about 45 minutes southeast of South Bend. People who
visit the area like to see the Amish communities that live near by. Amish Acres is located in Nappanee. It can be rather touristy but people seem to like it. I actually grew up Bremen, a small town just west of Nappanee and had Amish neighbors...so the Amish thing wasn't a huge deal for me. People just are intrigued by it. As I am getting older, I admire their simple life. http://www.amishacres.com

I hope that helps you!

Trish Miller - IVFF Publicist