Hall Of Fame
All of the places below I highly recommend. They are all in Fort Wayne unless otherwise noted.
Restaurants
Area 33
In Noble County, Highway 33 and 100E. If you find yourself 25 miles northwest of Fort Wayne and just want to kick back and have a beer and some bar food, Area 33 is exactly what you’re looking for. The beer is cheap and the bar food just right. Wednesday is wing’s night, draws a crowd.
Asakusa
On Lima Road, just north of Washington Center. Japanese. C’mon, get the sushi! It won’t hurt you. The atmosphere is light wood and booths, the clear soup is tasty, the sushi fresh, and the service fine. You won’t go wrong here. There are also plenty of cooked dishes if you’re afraid of sushi.
Azteca
On State Street, just east of Spy Run. Tex-Mex. Lots of people really like Azteca. I’m not one of them. It’s good enough, but nothing makes it stand out. They have consistently good food and service, and great beer specials on tap. The margaritas are recommended. It can get really busy.
Bagel Station
State Street, east of Anthony Blvd. Bagels, sandwiches, salads, desserts. Some disparage Bagel Station’s bagels as not authentic, too bready, and so on. But it’s the best you’ll find around here, everything is very fresh, the bagels are good, the salads are interesting. Hot pastrami on a salt bagel with swiss cheese and hot mustard? Life doesn’t get much better than that.
Cerulean
Winona Lake, Warsaw area. The Winona Lake area is a bit precious, but Cerulean is a gem. Maybe the most innovative place around.
Chapell’s
Used to be on Broadway, but for some bizarre reason moved to where Opus 24 used to be. Seafood. Good seafood and a nice atmosphere. The cole slaw is creamy, horsradish-y tasty treat. They’ve moved to the former Joe’s Crab Shack on Coldwater.
Clara’s
At State and Wells. Pizza. Go upstairs, pick up the phone and order a Royal Feast.
Club Soda
On Superior between Clinton and Lafayette. Steaks, seafood, martinis. Jazz and martinis, and good food too. Can get noisy and crowded, so it’s not particularly a romantic destination.
Cork and Cleaver
On Washington Center, just west of Coldwater. Steaks and seafood. The salad bar is exceptional. Very good food, reasonably priced. They get busy, you’ll need reservations at popular times.
Eddie Merlot’s
Jefferson Pointe. Steaks. A big time steak house. Think Ruth Chris’s or Morton’s of Chicago. Great food, great service, great wine list, and prices to go along with it. The atmosphere is elegant, if a little overdone. A perfect destination when you want to impress. Free valet parking is a nice touch, but don’t be cheap, you’ll spend a hundred or two on dinner, it won’t hurt you to slip the valet a nice tip.
Hartley’s
Hartley’s has closed. R.I.P.
Italian Connection
On Taylor between Broadway and Ardmore. Italian. Probably the hardest restaurant to find in Fort Wayne. A tiny dark building with hardly any lighting or signage in a hard times industrial and residential area. The food is great, and they host occasional special themed dinners that match anything Charlie Trotter can do. The homey neighorhood decor is a delight.
Joseph Decuis
Downtown Roanoke. Modern Creole cooking. Neck and neck with Marko’s as the best place to eat in the area. Much pricey than Marko’s, much more extensive wine list. The atmosphere is very nice, it’s a great destination for a romantic or celebratory dinner.
Lexy’s
Sherman and Spring. Carryout pizza. The service can remind you of the “soup nazi” Seinfeld episodes, but that’s part of the experience. An “Everything” with extra cheese is bliss in a 12 inch circle.
Magic Wand
On Highway 33 in Churubusco. Hometown drive-in. I spent my glory days “chopping the Wand,” so I’m biased. Get a breaded cheeseburger or a breaded tenderloin to know that fried food is actually nirvana
Markos on 2nd
On 2nd Street in downtown Decatur. Southern fusion. Simply put, the best restaurant in the area. Southern fusion cooking, reasonable prices and a moderately priced wine list. Make reservations before you make the drive to Decatur.
Mosaique
Mosaique has closed and been replaced by something else that sounds good, but I haven’t been there. Located in Warsaw, 30 miles or so west of Fort Wayne
Opus 24
Opus 24 has closed. R.I.P. Chappelll’s has moved there, evidently believing they can succeed in this location.
Paula’s
On Main Street, west of downtown. Seafood. Paula’s changed owners recently, and it’s just getting better every time I go there. Lunches are great, the specials are usually nothing short of exceptional. Reservations are in order, even for lunch.
Pho 888
On Illinois Road, in the strip mall hell in front of the Target store at the corner of Thomas and Illinois. A new (in 2010) Vietnamese restaurant. Airy and light and clean. Saigon (just below) has better pho, but is sorely lacking otherwise.
Saigon
2000 block of South Calhoun. Vietnamese Pho in Fort Wayne? Believe it! Order the number 11 (they just changed their menus, I think it’s a 17 now) and a Vietnamese coffee and you’ll be very happy. Open for lunches and until 7 most evenings.
Taiwan Express
Sherman and Goshen. Chinese. A few booths, a booming drive through and carryout business at lunch from the local businesses. Good Chinese-American food, a bargain with most lunches around 5 dollars. The empress chicken is a hot and sour masterpiece.
Taj Mahal
Also in that strip mall beside Times Corners at Jefferson and Getz. At the other end from Opus 24 and Fresh Market. Indian. If you don’t go for Indian food you’re missing one of the world’s best cuisines. You are missing explosions of flavors and textures, and an obsession with freshness and quality of preparation. Taj Mahal is very consistent, the food is always good. They also have an adjoining grocery store where you can buy mideastern goodies you won’t find elsewhere in Fort Wayne. Never had Indian food? Order some naan, raita, and chicken vindaloo. You’ll be happy.
Taste of India
At Coldwater and Washington Center, in the shopping mall with Wal-Mart. Indian. Their lunch buffet is very good. It features a changing selection of good and fresh Indian food. Although my friend Sandeep said the gulab jamun (Indian doughnuts served in a rosewater syrup) were too soft.
Tokyo Seoul
In Westland Mall, across from Times Corner. Westland Mall is a grim, desolate mall and I doubt Tokyo Seoul can long survive in such an accursed place. But ignore the setting and you’ll enjoy the best Korean food in Fort Wayne, and fine Japanese food too.
Yokohoma
Formerly on Coldwater, just moved north somewhere. Japanese. Another very good Japanese restaurant, just a few miles from Asakusa. I’ve never had a bad meal at either one.
Zesto
The original is on Broadway, but they have branches all over now. Ice cream. Zesto is only open in the summer, and I like that. I’m a big fan of doing things at the proper time, and serving food in season. Like tomatoes, ice cream just doesn’t taste good in the winter. Zesto’s has a creamy, rich, smooth soft serve that has no equals, and tastes all the better for only being available half the year.
Grocery Stores
Egolf’s IGA
On the south side of Churubusco. The meat counter is the best!
Fresh Market
Also in that strip mall beside Times Corners at Jefferson and Getz. At the other end from Taj Mahal. Although I tend avoid national chains, Fresh Market is quite nice. They have a extensive meat counter, a decent selection of cheeses, and good service. Given the name “Fresh Market” you’d think they be oriented around fresh produce, but their produce selection and quality isn’t the best thing about them. They appear to be doing a good business, and as I wander around there I wonder where were all these people when Herrington’s was in business?
Georges
Broadway and Taylor. It’s worth the trip just for the avocados. They have a wide selection of Hispanic produce, cheese, meats, and dry goods, as well as a good selection of olives, olive oils, and middle eastern food. They have a bakery next door which is like heaven. And the prices are great.
Jamisons Meat Market
Three locations, North Anthony, Highway 14 and Scott Road (this one moved, I’m not sure where), and Dupont and Coldwater. Good meat market, nice and fresh beef, pork, and chicken. A good selection frozen lamb, veal, duck, and so on. Plus they stock a nice variety of non-mainstream wines for $20 a bottle and less. In general they match Fresh Market in quality, beat them in price, and are locally owned.
Scott’s
R.I.P. Scott’s, Scott’s we hardly knew ye. I had my issues with Scott’s but since they’ve been taken over by Kroger’s the stores have gotten really bad. The food selection is worse, the meat is downright scary, the cashiers indifferent, and the baggers scarce. I’ll be doing my shopping at Fresh Market.
Wine Stores
Wine Time
Wine Time used to be in Jefferson Pointe but is moving, location TBD. Fort Wayne’s only real wine store. More detail here in my post
Cap N Cork
A chain in Fort Wayne. Some stores are iffy, but the store at Lima and Dupont, managed by Tom is excellent.
Other
DeBrand Chocolates.
Several locations, including Coldwater just south of Washington Center. Fine chocolates, and it’s a great place to stop for a dessert too. A DeBrand truffle is what you will eat every day in heaven.
Hyde Bros
Stop it! Step away from the big box chain book stores, log off of Amazon, and head down Wells Street to Hyde Bros. I’m a tolerant person, but if you don’t like Hyde Bros I don’t want you here.
Amy’s Beauty Salon
On Sherman just north of Spring. Absolutely the best hair cutter ever. No walk-ins, so make an appointment – 422-2300
Dr. Nancee Lougheed
Counseling. Located in Aldersgate UMC, Times Corner area. Is your heart troubled? Wonder why you keep doing the things you hate? Problems in your love life? Make an appointment with Nancee. She’s everything a counselor could and should be. A good friend, a trusted confidant, an impartial adviser, and someone who will tell you what you don’t necessarily want to hear. Her waiting list is long, and her fees high. Both are worth it.
Arbor Farms Nursery
Plants and trees. Located on Coldwater north of DuPont. The best plants, trees, and other landscaping goodies in Fort Wayne. Owners Dave and Raquel care about the plants, the customers, and their business. You’ll get the good stuff here. Caveat lector, Debbie works here. Or maybe that’s just further evidence of their excellence.
Reynolds Construction
Owner Tim Reynolds does good work with stone, concrete, and excavating at good prices. He’s a guy you can trust to do a job on “time and materials.”
Copp Farm Supply
Need farm stuff? Equipment, chemicals, seed, corn burners? You won’t go wrong at Copp’s. Dowell Road south of Columbia City off of 205.
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