Goddddddd, I really wanted to like this place. I really did. Was in Portage for work and found Valley on yelp. The farm to fork concept got me and I drove out for dinner. I sat at the bar. Bartender was friendly and attentive throughout. They have a good selection of martinis and specialty draft beers. I ordered the truffle fries and the chicken 3 ways. I opted for the spinach salad with apples, cheese and nuts for $4 extra instead of the house salad. The Salad came out quick. It was really good, the only thing was the dressing was a little too tart for me, however I still managed to devour the whole thing. As other Yelpers have suggested, the rest of my meal did take a while to come out. I say about a good 30-40 minutes. The couple next to me at the bar actually ordered 5 minutes after me and received their dishes first. Not sure of the process there. Also there were 4 cooks in the kitchen and at times 3 of them were sitting around. I kept looking over my shoulder every time a waiter walked by hoping it was my food! After doing this for a good 35 minutes my plate arrived. Chicken three way came with rice and carrots. The dish was just blah. It was good but wasn't great and not as good as it should be for a 30 minute wait. The truffle fries never came. The bartender told me she forgot to put it in. If I lived here, I may give it another shot, but since I only come and go for business there's better places for me to go.
(3)
Yako S.
We ate here one time. Portions were very small and salad was served on the plate with the meal! Meals took very long to exit the kitchen. You had to choose to eat your salad and then a cold entree, or eat the salad after the entree. Staff could not comprehend.
(2)
Shawn R.
The best part was the vegetable plate it was out of this world. The worst part was it is incredibly loud and I couldn't figure out why besides the lady screaming beside me. They have an excellent concept and it is very cool looking. The plating was not very appealing and the food was just average at best other than the vegetables, they were worth the adventure. I wouldn't write this place off because My son said his chicken was fantastic so I must try some of the other plates. At $70 for two it is a splurge for me but maybe in a couple paydays I will try it again.
(4)
Angie D.
Loved this place. The Brussel Sprouts were to die for and I hate Brussel Sprouts! Definitely worth a try if you just want good food.
(5)
Matt W.
Valley excels at fresh, uncomplicated fare; one of my favorite restaurants anywhere (and there are some noteworthy spots on my list). Service has always been outstanding, and they have a delightfully whimsical and tasty list of specialty martinis. My only minor gripe is that it can be a bit loud due to the open concept of the space; not the best spot for intimate conversations with dining companions. Overall, you can't go wrong with Valley...especially the truffle fries.
(5)
Katy J.
The beet salad is to die for! I will be back here again. The drinks and food are truly authentic, fresh, and a fun environment.
(5)
Rachelle B.
Everything about this place is amazing. I've been here twice and I can't wait to go back! The food is so fresh and delicious. The decor is beautiful. I love the laid-back, casual feel of the place too. The service is excellent. The servers are kind, informative and they don't harrass you. I also love how you can see the food being prepared and cooked. I've been telling everyone I know to come here, the Valley is perfect.
(5)
Max S.
Consistently good 'farm-to-table' restuarant I like to visit when in Valpo!
(4)
Amanda D.
Enjoyed my meal there! I had the Vegetarian dish - Broccolini sauteed with a San Marzano tomato broth, garlic puree, preserved lemon & Creole Quinoa - very good. People with me ordered the Dirty Bird - Miller Amish Country airline breast cooked a la plancha with braised and grilled leg quarter, served with Cajun style dirty rice & Valley gravy. The salads came out pretty quickly, but the other reviews are right; the foods came out after a while. Worth it, though! Looking forward to going back. Next time I'll want to sit at the chef's station and *watch* the process.
(4)
Katy H.
I have never not been pleased when going to Valley. The service is always amazing and the food is always fresh. There is a slight wait for your food, but it's never to the point of being a long wait. I've had something off of each seasonal menu and I've never not been pleased. One of my favorite places in Valpo for certain.
(5)
Jen S.
Local beer, foodie menu and large portions. My husband loved the truffle fries.
(4)
B. A.
Anniversary dinner, yum! Great food, very fresh! Local fresh! The ambiance is pretty small and rustic, I appreciate that. We went in around 10pm and was told by our server Erin only appetizers would be served because the food line had been broken down. Bummer! Maybe the disappointment on our faces inspired her to double check with the chef. Very glad she did because she came back with great news! Full menu! Between the two of us we shared fried pickles, potato soup, salad with champagne dressing, pork chop, steak, apple upside down cake, and drinks! Beyond pleased with the food, environment, and servers. It's nice to have quality food without a hefty price tag and the hassle of going to Downtown Chicago. I can't wait to give it another go! Oh, and Chef Jason was very kind!
(4)
Kelly L.
I've never had anything short of a great experience at Valley. Great beer selection and always a good and evolving menu. Friendly staff- Zach is especially awesome. Tables around me seemed to very much agree.
(5)
Jon G.
We just had a great meal tonight, good service, and $5 martinis. Who could ask for more. We tried a crusted Brie appetizer which was different and good. My wife had the vegetarian succotash which was delicious and enough to take leftovers home. I had the ribeye special which was prepared perfectly. The meal was really gourmet quality.
(5)
Greg M.
Atmosphere - Nice, modern spot. Tables were nice, solid wood. Tables are close together but not too close. All tables were full on Valentine's Day, but there was no wait. Everything was very clean. No smoking. Food - The only menu was a special Valentine's Day menu...probably to make it easier on the kitchen. Although, it was a few options to create your own 5 course meal. There was only 1 choice of soup and this was the only course I didnt like because the pumpkin soup was too strange for me. The Waldorf salad was great, the grilled Walleye was cooked well, and the spring rolls were wrapped in fresh rice paper. The deserts were tasty, but nothing special. Service - The waitress seemed like she had too mant tables and we didnt see her very much. We werent in any hurry so we didnt mind. She knew the answer to a couple questions I asked about the food. I believe they are well trained. Overall - I didnt like not having the entire menu to chokse from. Paying $55 dollars for a great 5 course meal wasnt bad, but those were not the choices that I woukd have otherwise made. The atmosphere was very unique and fun and I like supporting local farms and businesses. I will most likely be back, but not on a promotional day.
(4)
Tim R.
Awesome dinning experience. We went on a Monday evening my wife ordered the winter white chicken which she loved I had the burger which was done to perfection. The baby spinach salad I highly recommend my wife enjoyed the fried pickles and the apple upside down was a wow Pricey but I have paid more for a dinner last night in Chicago which was not half of the taste of this dinner
(5)
Kathy R.
We ate there lastnight for the first time with friends. I never read any reviews beforehand, but our experience seemed on par with others. We started at the bar with the truffle fries (which are crack cocaine) and the chicken tacos. Both were excellent and served fairly quickly. They even got us to our table ahead of when they said they would. Our server was friendly, but it seemed as though she was one of few on the floor and very busy. We ordered our food and waited and waited. Our salads finally arrived. I had asked for the dressing on the side, but it didn't come that way. I didn't send it back. It seemed trivial, they were busy, and the food was served by someone other than our server. The salad could've been delicious, but the vinegarette was so tangy that it was just not balanced (they also added too much, which is why I always order it on the side). By the end of eating it, I was making an involuntary sour-face. A little bit of soft cheese and a few nuts would've done the trick. The entrees took forever and we started to think that they would never come. Just as we started to stare our server down, who didn't notice us at all as she was walking by (and clearly focused on something else), another person brought them. I ordered chicken with root veggies. It was the BEST chicken I have ever had....perfectly cooked! Crispy skin and tender and full of flavor!! The root vegetables were very good, but only lukewarm. They probably had the plate ready to go and were waiting for the chicken to get done and that's how everything else got almost cold. All in all, I would have to say that it was one of the best meals I have had in a long time. We didn't order dessert. S'mores in a jar and fried Oreos sounded like a sugar coma waiting to happen. Instead, this farm-to-fork might want to consider seasonal fruit and/or pie to go with the Valpo Velvet Ice Cream they offer. That would go much better with their concept. (I'm almost quoting another reviewer, but that person was spot-on.) We walked out and went next door to the chocolate shop and each got a piece of candy instead. Would I go again? Yes, but not if I had any time issues and I might opt for soup instead of a salad.
(4)
Walter L.
This was our first time here and it was great. Was able to get a seat at the bar on a busy Saturday night. The "wise fashioned" was a delicious twist on a classic. Ordered pork pot stickers appetizers...The meat was great but the sauce was even better. My wife had the chicken special and liked it. I had the duck breast and it was phenomenal. The risotto was great as well. To top it off they had Journeyman whiskey and I am a new fan! We will definitely be coming back.
(5)
Kim D.
I don't always eat local, or organic, or even healthy. I don't know the effects of GMOs, but I'm pretty sure I don't want them. What I am sure of is, when I have the option, I want food that's fresh, healthy, sustainable, local, tasty, and recognizeable even to my great grandparents. That's why I come to places like this. The food is grown, or sacrificed ( :) ) close by, without the added garbage that is common, and oddly acceptable. Bravo! I will be back...tomorrow.
(5)
Melissa R.
Valley is by far the best restaurant in Valparaiso. Yes, it sometimes takes a little while to get your food, but that's because they make it fresh! If you want super fast you should probably go somewhere else. However, if you want local, delicious food this is the place to go. We have been here at least a dozen times, taken friends and family, and have never once had a bad experience. The food is incredible, the menu has interesting and well-developed options, and the service is always friendly. I agree with other reviewers that the dessert menu is severely lacking, but by the time I get to that course I am aways stuffed so don't really care.
(5)
John H.
My wife and I went here and shared the Chicken Skewers appetizer which we liked very much! The mushroom soup was very flavorful also. I had the Rib eye Steak and she had the Cowboy Pork Chop and we both enjoyed our meals and our Salad was also very good and everything was In good portions but we sat across from one another and had a hard time hearing each other however we both said we will go back!
(4)
Mrs. B.
Superb end of summer menu! Everything was fresh and amazing!
(5)
Heather D.
I've heard a lot about this place from friends and family and it seemed like something very unique for the area. I was not disappointed. We opted to sit at the counter by the chef's station. I think this is one of the best ways to enjoy the meal and lets you engage with the kitchen staff. What surprised me about the food was how simple and unpretentious it was. This is the type of place you can take a meat and potatoes type of person or a foodie. Both will be happy. The portions are huge and the plating is simple. I had the steak which was prepared with garlic butter and mushrooms. It was delicious and the twice baked potato disks were to die for. My friend had the pork chop which was roughly the size of her head and also very yummy. We got side salads with the meal and I am not a fan of salad. I opted for the spinach salad with the brown butter vinaigrette and nearly ate the whole thing. Any place that can get me to enjoy a salad is a winner. We got the sticky toffee pudding and deep friend Oreos for dessert. I can't believe we didn't explode at that point. The service was good and the chefs were friendly and passionate about what they were doing. The one thing that was annoying was the beverage program. They had a decent wine list and the draft list was fine, but I would have liked to see some local brews (Figure 8 is right up the street! Talk about supporting farm to table....). It was the martini list that left me baffled. It was basically a dozen martinis that catered to suburban moms. They were all fruity, girly options and just didn't go with the theme of the restaurant. Also, they were things you can get at any restaurant. My suggestion would be to pick a few alcohol staples (gin, rum, whiskey, tequila, etc) and make a cocktail based around each. You can rotate ingredients out by season. This is done at a lot of places in Chicago and I think it works well with the farm to table approach. Also, there really isn't a craft cocktail scene in Northwest Indiana and this could be the place to set the standard. Overall this is a fantastic restaurant and I think everyone in the area should eat here at least once. It's smart, simple food and well worth your money. Why pay money to eat at a chain restaurant when you can support you local businesses and farms by eating at Valley?
(4)
Patrick O.
Ate here the other night. I try to get here for one meal every time I get to valparaiso. Always sit at the kitchen bar. Chatting with the chefs, watching them cook, tasting little bites of this and that...this is one of the best eating experiences I know. Try it! You'll like it,
(5)
Reed H.
Tried this place twice. 1st time we went for breakfast. Got our drinks and were never served again. The chef started going crazy and yelling at his whole staff; we just walked out. We gave the place another shot. I had the Shrimp and Grits. I could have bounced the shrimp off the wall; so rubbery and overcooked. I expected good things, but this place just has nasty food.
(1)
Chambiges S.
I really love the concept of this restaurant: fresh, locally-sourced food prepared simply but elegantly. I've visited twice and look forward to returning. The truffle fries and pork chop are quite delicious. Most recently I enjoyed a skirt steak special with a chimichurri sauce. The flavors in each dish are interesting and combined with finesse, and are a welcome reprieve from the other boring dishes served in Valpo. The price-to-portion ratio is good and the restaurant has a pleasant atmosphere suitable for a date for two or a night out with friends. In short, I would definitely recommend Valley to family and friends for its small but nicely executed menu and its charming atmosphere and downtown setting.
(4)
Simon K.
In light of some of the reviews on here, let's start with the basics: this is an organic farm to kitchen restaurant. That translates to a bit of a different price point and experience than you might get at your local Applebee's. That said, there are some great things and some okay things here. The service was spectacular, very attentive and happy to handle a specialty request for my order. The salad (yes, it's just salad but you'd be surprised how much crappy salad you can get) was spectacular. Bar offerings are good but seems like the one bartender can get a bit overloaded. Alright now to the not do good. The kitchen needs some work on efficiency. Two pieces of chicken should not take 45 minutes on any night, but particularly not if the place isn't all full. The food looked delicious and was plated very attractively as I would expect in a place along these lines. Portions were larger than normal for a "foodie" place. One last thing, the place is noisy. Don't expect to have a quiet intimate dinner here. Overall I'd say a good experience. I hope some of the lagging things can be addressed, because I really want to love the place, but it's just not quite there.
(4)
Zack M.
After reading all other reviews I thought it might be a great place to try. They proved me wrong! In all fairness I can't review the food because we didn't stay long enough to eat. The bartender treated us horribly, very off putting almost conceded. When we asked the drink specials he simply pointed to the sign as if I was an idiot. As watched the staff walk around like zombies we noted one big thing, the staff looked miserable! Based on staff alone I will not go back simply because a dining experience is just that, an experience not just food alone.
(1)
Kelsey H.
Husband and I stopped here late on a Saturday night. We were seated at the last open table immediately but it seems like we got lucky as many were waiting after us. The atmosphere was great and our waiter was knowledgeable regarding the menu and equally enthusiastic. All of the food is locally grown/raised, even down to the drinking glasses that were made using sand from Lake Michigan. The menu is very small which was a little disappointing, but it was obvious they perfected each dish. For an appetizer we shared the truffle fries which were AMAZING. Husband had the pork chop meal which was delicious (even to two people who are not fans of pork chops) and the potato discs were creative and tasty (almost like a twice baked potato?). I had the squash soup with pesto and radish, which I really wanted to like but couldn't get into. It was obvious that it was made with fresh ingredients, it just wasn't my thing. I also had their signature salad that was very good. Their dressing was unusual and very tangy/vinegary but good. Our waiter was attentive without being annoying and even offered us $50 worth of concert tickets for a local show that night because he had received them as a tip and couldn't make it. Overall it was a great experience and we will definitely be back. I plan to watch their Facebook page for special features and plan a trip according to that. Would definitely recommend!
(5)
Brgr M.
I'm in the restaurant bizz for 25 years this year. I'm telling you just go and eat here, very good food. If they were in Chicago there wold be a 2 hours wait and a 2 week booking lead for this place.
(5)
Angela T.
First impressions of lunch: comfortable dining room, friendly service, thoughtfully prepared (& delicious) menu. I had the Indiana BLT which was elevated by chipped pork tenderloin, basil, and sourdough bread. I will be back for seconds!
I love this place. I love the concept of this place. I love the pork chops...always a great choice. They stuff you with food so try not to order too much before your main dish. I've had soup there every time and I always share it with my man because if I don't...I have no room. I wish they would take reservations frankly because it is hard to plan to go there and then not get in. The ONLY reason I gave this place a 4 star instead of a 5 was the past time I was there they refused to split up a bunch of smaller tables that were clumped together to accomodate us because they said they needed to keep it open IN CASE a large party came in. Not a good way to do business. You have customers NOW you seat them NOW you don't hope and wish on a star. Anyway, one time issue I hope...can't wait to go back!
I've eaten at Valley before and was so pleased, that I had planned to take my wife there on Valentine's Day. Per Valley's website, "reservations are not accepted". So we arrived when they opened and were denied a seat because they were booked with reservations. Even though, no seats were filled at all. Although Valley's food is so good and I appreciate the farm-to-fork aspect of the business, their miscommunication and mismanagement will be their downfall. If you can't stick to the claim that you accept no reservations, at least put an asterisk next the statement and let people know that there will be exceptions to this rule. We drove 45 minutes on Valentines Day, only to be turned away. I would have gladly made a reservation, had I known. I don't think we'll be visiting this restaurant again, nor would we recommend it to others, simply due to the mismanagement of communication.
(1)
Nick P.
Great atmosphere, into the whole local, Eco friendly thing, but way too expensive, and it took a really long time.
(3)
Mike S.
Outstanding that's all I have to say. Best in town!
(5)
Louis M.
Easily the best restaurant in Valpo. In short, this place could survive in a city much larger than Valparaiso with no problem. The food was made with very high quality ingredients, and tasted amazing. There was a nice focus on vegetables compared to other spots in the area. The beer list was diverse and local, and you can't beat the $3 Monday night draft special. Some of the best fries I have ever had, and the chicken and waffles is a great dish, surprising in its complexity. I liked the space and the wait staff was attentive. Additionally the prices are very reasonable for the food you get.
(5)
Ryan K.
Awesome food and very nice place, but their hours are completely random. Even if it says that they're open until 12, they just close whenever they please. As in tonight, when they closed at 9:42. Exactly the time we were hoping to get dessert. The lesson here is to call ahead to make sure they are in fact open.
(4)
Jessica M.
I have eaten at Valley twice for dinner. The first time I had the pork chop. It was a lovely, thick cut, on-the-bone pork chop and it was cooked nicely. It could have used some more seasoning (even if it was just a little salt and pepper before searing). All the dinner items come with a salad and two twice baked potato slices. The potatoes were very tasty. I ordered my salad with ranch dressing (I am not a fan of sweet dressing and the house dressing sounded sweet). When my meal arrived, our server told us that the were out of ranch dressing so they put the house dressing on my salad. I did try the house dressing and as I suspected it was on the sweet side and I didn't care for it. Knowing how I feel about sweet dressings, I would have preferred the server tell me that they were out of ranch and have me choose a different one. My boyfriend ordered the steak, once again it was a lovely cut of meat, cooked very nicely...but again kind of bland. Needed seasoning before searing. On our second visit, I was not particularly hungry so my boyfriend and I shared the pork chop and I felt the same way about my second pork chop as I did my first. However, this time we ordered appetizers, the table shared fried pickles (very, very yummy) and truffle oil fries (very yummy but a bit heavy for me). We also started with their special martini which was a spiced apple....mmmmmmmmmmm gooooooood! And then my boyfriend followed up with a Nerds Martini (how fun, but super sweet!) and I had a glass of wine. Our cocktails were a treat! I think the service is quite polite and friendly...but clearly novice. I think with some more experience it will be a place where I really enjoy the service. I love the concept of locally grown and raised food. I love the decor. The dinner menu is quite limited and my opinion is if you have so few items on your menu...you better bring it. They are almost there.
(3)
Laura E.
Fried gnocchi!! What!! My grandmother is rolling over in her grave!! Must not have seen the fried description, otherwise would have never ordered that. Others in our party had the pork chop which looked awesome. But was barely Luke warm throughout! Salted Carmel Martini was awesome, pork belly appetizer was good, but for the $$$, I would have to say disappointing. Cool environment, nice building, maybe as time goes on it will get better. Like the concept of the place. Will try again though.
(2)
Georgia C.
This has to be my new very favorite place to eat in Valpo! Been there twice and both times the food was really good. The eggplant parmesan is really good, as is the pork chop! Phenomenal. For dessert we got the fried banana which was really really good! Champagne vinaigrette for the house salad is a must try! Highly recommend!
(5)
Marietta R.
Without a doubt the best food I have had in Indiana. All of their food comes from Indiana, Illinois, or Michigan and is prepared in their open air kitchen. There is literally a "kitchen bar" where you can watch the chef prepare all of the orders. Not only that, he welcomes questions and comments while he cooks. They have great service with a knowledgable and friendly staff. This is the first review I have ever written for a restaurant so please do yourself the favor and try this place out!!
(5)
Ryan P.
Farm to fork is fully on display here and the chefs have a few tricks up their sleeves to make the local food wow your tastebuds!
(5)
Sara B.
I really want to like this place and have given it two tries. However, when I walk away $55 poorer, to go home to cook a second meal, I just have to give up. The wait staff, while friendly, is amateur and the food is mediocre. My boyfriend and I came in starving and actually left with food on our plates. I hope that this restaurant fixes these issues, because I'd like to see it survive. 1. The menu should be rotated. There are only five options and they haven't changed for three months. Why would someone come back? 2. If they are going to splurge for nice proteins (bluegill, local chicken), they should not put ICEBURG LETTUCE on the plate! I have had better salads at Burger King. 3. If there are five people in the kitchen, it should not take a half hour to get a meal 4. If a patron asks whether the soup is vegetarian, then warn him if you're going to put bacon on his fish. I'm sure there is a talented chef somewhere beneath the mediocrity. At the moment, however, I feel I could cook the same or better food at home and not spend $20 a plate. Some positives: 1. My glass of wine contained about a half a bottle--not the classiest move but I'm not complaining 2. The beer selection is solid
(2)
Brenda M.
This is a very customer-centric restaurant in a town of great restaurants so the expectation bar is high... this healthy, hyper-local farming newcomer has proven that he can dish with the best of them in flavor, creativity and mixology. We will be back again and again.
(4)
Steve A.
2 words: Pork Chop. Best ever. I guess that's 4 words. Oh, 2 more words: Tomato Tower.
(4)
Jennifer G.
Sat near the chef's station which is highly recommended. We enjoyed watching the guys do their thing and the chef and his staff were so friendly and enjoyable to talk to and observe. There are only a few items on the menu but that is to be expected with a farm to table concept like this and the items they do have are executed well. We tried the truffle fries, which were phenomenal and split the blue gill and chicken 2 ways. Both were fantastic. The fish was light and flavorful and the chicken was so moist. We also had the spinach salad as well as the house salad. The homemade dressings were perfect. I cannot wait to return to try the steak and those fried pickles!
(4)
Richelle S.
Love that Valpo has a restaurant focused on eating local! In general, Valley's attention to detail is impressive. The decor is trendy yet charming. The service is attentive. Valley's food is delicious and indeed fresh, and the presentation was great, too. My husband and I shared the tomato and zucchini soup, fried green tomatoes, side salads, pork chop, and twice baked potato. As a bonus, we happened to go on a Tuesday and enjoyed their $5 Tini Tuesday martinis. Definitely give it a try -- I don't think you'll be disappointed!
(5)
Barb M.
We have been to this restaurant 4 times and every time it was wonderful. Beautiful decor; upscale. The $ should only be $$ because it is so reasonable. The bar is comfortable and charming! All our meals were excellent including the blue gill, pork chops, and chicken. Mostly local, and very fresh ingredients.
(5)
Mopsie B.
What a treat to find Valley. I never thought I'd see a place like this in Valpo. Don't get me wrong, there are now a lot of great places in the downtown area but as someone who went to college here, I still think of it as a town where King Gyros was a gourmet night! Digressing, Valley is a a fairly large space but it seems intimate, which is nice. We arrived shortly before the opening time of 4, to find them already open for a pub crawl. The staff was extra nice and seated us by the front window and fireplace for our drinks. The crawlers left about 10 minutes later and we were able to enjoy a nice dinner for four. Everything we ordered was superb- bursting with flavors and freshness. My only complaint, if I had to make one, would be that the menu is pretty short. They don't have a lot of selections and of course, it's mostly local and seasonal. Our server was a trainee who seemed very unsure of herself. She didn't get anything wrong because she was under the close supervision of either the manager or some other capable guy, but she didn't have much of a personality and did not offer many opinions or suggestions when asked. That said, the whole experience was really pleasant. The place was rocking with people by the time we left. We probably spent close to two hours there. I had the walleye, which was outstanding. Others in my party tried the chicken, the pork chops and a salad. When they offer to put chicken on your salad, it is an entire Amish breast! For dessert, we had scoops of one of my favorite ice creams, Valpo Velvet. I'm so glad so many local businesses are now carrying it. It's the perfect topper to a delicious meal. Our server didn't even offer dessert, though. We had to ask. I'm not sure what else they had. I will also say that the bar selections here are really well done and I even noticed a special martini list. Didn't try it this time, but we'll definitely be back. One suggestion- I'd love to see a bread basket. Maybe some sort of locally sourced bakery would make it five stars for me! I wanted to buy a cool t-shirt but they were out of them, the hostess said. You don't pay your server, which is interesting. You pay the host. Kudos to Valley for bringing local/organic to Valpo!
(4)
Honest A.
Really enjoyed my first visit and I plan on returning...only tip to chef would be to have some sort of sauce sprinkled on the plate when serving your bluegill and potato dish. A little dry. Also, how about some nice bread served with dinners?? Not exactly a cheap dinner and would be a nice touch. Just saying. :-)
(4)
Andrea C.
By far the BEST restaurant in downtown Valparaiso! Fried green tomatoes are awesome. The truffle fries are delicious! Love the farm to table concept! Sitting by the chefs is a once in a lifetime experience! The shrimp linguine was outstanding! Menu changes as local ingredients are available.
(5)
Debbie S.
Drove an hour and a half to meet friends driving same - for a FABULOUS evening together - what a delicious meal - blew me away. I had the Steak, my husband had the chicken, friends had pork and chicken. All locally sourced, all prepared beautifully, wonderfully delicious. Decor is trendy and charming. Side salad was huge. Homemade icecream was excellent. I am gluten free and they were completing accomodating. Wished I lived closer - would visit often!
(5)
Matt G.
So this was one of the most unique meals I've ever eaten. I'm approaching 200 reviews on Yelp and I wanted to save this review to be #200 because the meal was so memorable, but reading some of the other reviews on here I feel I need to make haste. Forget some of the petty comments- this is a truly special restaurant. I wish I lived in Valparaiso so I could come here all the time. We came on a Saturday night and we didn't think we'd get in- my date told me she's tried 3x in the past and it's always packed. They don't take reservations, so we winged it. We totally lucked out and got a seat on the patio on a perfect summer evening- no wait. Now, someone pointed it out already, but there's a Christian radio station next door. Truthfully I barely even heard the music, but it is there. If you hate music of the Christian variety, you may want to sit inside. Personally I didn't even notice it. Loved the cocktail selections- they have a "real" mixologist working the bar here. We had the blueberry mojito and the Hendricks Gin and tonic with Elderberry liqueur. The drinks here are STRONG, and are definitely worth the money. Our waiter was awesome- he was definitely passionate about the food and the drinks, and he sold us on some selections. He also recommended wine to pair with our food- I always appreciate a waitstaff that can pair wine and food. We started with the spicy corn soup and a garden salad. Both were amazing- the garden salad tasted exactly as it should- just like it came out of my garden at home. The spicy ranch had a super flavor and only a hint of heat- just perfect. The spicy corn soup with creme fraiche was amazing, too. The local, fresh ingredients truly make the dishes shine, and the cooks know how just to treat the ingredients. Main dishes we had were bluegill tacos and the 12oz ribeye steak. Bluegill tacos. Yep- those fish you used to catch off the pier in the lake when you were a kid. I'd never had bluegill before, and I loved it. They give you 3 enormous tacos with a homemade corn salsa.... just outstanding. After the soup and salad I could only eat 2, but they were amazing. The 12oz ribeye was definitely the star. I will try to get a picture- this steak was beautiful. They served it with what was essentially a caprese salad on top of it. A huge honking steak with 3 huge slices of tomato with fresh mozzarella and basil. The steak itself was exceptional. For a ribeye there was almost no fat on it, yet it tasted exactly like a ribeye should. We loved this dish, and the presentation was so great. The potatoes were also amazing- the tacos came with spicy fries with smoked paprika. Spicy, salty, delicious. The potato with the steak was like a 1/4 potato sectioned and fried- it literally melted in your mouth. Overall this was a 5-star experience. It's not a 4-star restaurant or a 3-star Michelin, but for what it is and does, it's perfect. Service is exceptional, food is amazing. Valpo is lucky to have such a great culinary destination. I can't wait to come back in the next few weeks- there were a ton of things on the menu that looked phenomenal. Yay Valley!
(5)
Sherry S.
Excellent service, incredible food & one-of-a-kind cocktail menu. We finally made our way to trying Valley & wish we had sooner! We actually has reservations elsewhere on the square & left after taking a look at Valley's menu on line. They were packed but we were seated right away. Learned of the specials & received our drinks very quickly. We learned that we could split our entree for an extra $2.00 & they would be separately played with larger portions which was a wonderful surprise. Our food was INCREDIBLE! A sweet corn soup that was to die for, & perfectly cooked local salmon over a cornbread salad. We were very satisfied with all aspects of our experience & cannot wait to go back & see what other menu creations they have in the future.
(5)
Chris K.
Food is what you come for at a restaurant and here it is AMAZING!! I've been here twice now and have tried several dishes and everything has been a home run. So much flavor and always cooked to perfection. Service had always been good. I got Francisco both times he's a excellent waiter. Described and sold the specials very well so much that I got one both times. Only downfalls are price and wait. Both not horrible but a entree salad without any type of protein is $20. Yikes! Everything is made from scratch and local. Love the board over where you pay that shows where all the ingredients come from. GREAT LOCAL BREWS AS WELL!! I love 18th Street and Burn 'Em and they always have a beer from both breweries. Will be back again and again
(5)
Tad D.
I've been here three times now with very mixed results. Recently we had by far the worst experience, one that was just unacceptable. We waited at least an hour for our food. The restaurant was busy but not slammed. The entire time, the christian rock radio station next door was blaring their music. Yuck. No offer was made to buy our drinks or otherwise take care of us. We never had a manager approach us and offer his or her thoughts. Upon realizing that we hadn't seen our server in at least 30 minutes and the order was at 60 minutes, I went in search of staff. The hostess eventually made her way over and informed us that the kitchen was backed up. The waiter later also told us that they had a small kitchen and everything was made from scratch. Do I look like some kind of refugee from Long John Silvers who doesn't understand fresh made food? I just can't stand patronizing excuses and I probably won't be back.
(2)
Tammy R.
Pimento cheese app and fried green tomatoes. First was nice and spicy served with fresh cherry tomatoes, carrots, and cucumber. Latter had wonderful batter and served with some hot sauce. Great atmosphere.
(5)
Andy U.
My wife and I had dinner there the other weekend. We sat at the Kitchen Bar where we can watch them cook (cool concept). The cooks were friendly and let my wife try some of the fish. I had the pork chop, which was a good thick cut, but a tad dry on one side. I tried my wife's chicken and I thought it was excellent. It did take a while to get our food, but as it's a new establishment, I'm willing to let that slide this time. You do have to go to the hostess to pay which I found a little weird, but that isn't even enough to complain about. We will certainly be returning.
(4)
Nathan E.
I've been meaning to write a review for this wonderful restaurant for quite some time now. And so, without further ado, allow me to sing the praises of Valley Kitchen and Bar. I've dined at Valley numerous times and each and every experience has been a delight. It is, without a doubt, my favorite place to eat in Valparaiso. Although I wouldn't call it fancy, it is a very cozy place and I think the decor pairs well with their farm to fork ethos. Another plus is that I've found the waitstaff to be very friendly and knowledgeable. However, the food is the main attraction here. I usually have the fish but I've also had the pork chop and a ribeye. Every dish I've had has been cooked perfectly, plated beautifully and bursting with flavor. After each bite, I've thought to myself, "Oh my gosh, this is so fucking good!" (pardon my French). Chef Jason and his team work magic with the freshest local ingredients. On a recent visit, I was lucky enough to have the special, which was Indiana Game Risotto. The risotto was cooked perfectly and the rabbit and quail were both crispy and tender. This was probably the best meal I've ever eaten. How they fit so much flavor in there is beyond me. On another recent visit, my girlfriend and I were out for drinks and a light dinner to celebrate her birthday. In spite if the impending rainstorm, we opted for outdoor seating. I tried several of the drinks from their cocktail menu and all were very good. The truffle fries were out of this world. They were so crisp and flavorful. The weather held out until I was halfway through my dessert, which was a strawberry shortbread. Then the rain came down, hard. My back was getting soaked but I refused to move from under the umbrella for fear of my dessert getting rained on. Well, I couldn't just abandon it! Despite the rain and being drenched, we had a great time and another wonderful experience at Valley. If you enjoy excellent food at a reasonable price made with fresh local ingredients by people who care, stop in and see the fine folks at Valley Kitchen and Bar. By the way, I recommend having at least one meal at the kitchen bar. It's definitely worth it and you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Breanon M.
Best food ever. I have never had a bad meal or bad service. Jason is the man. All the waitresses and waiters are fantastic. I will always return here.
(5)
Lisa H.
It was just okay! My husband and I both had the pork! I don't think it was worth $22! The service was very attentive!
(3)
Cher W.
Excellent! Fried pickles are great! Steak, pork chops, soup was fabulous!! Service very good. Nice place.
(5)
Donna J.
I have been to small family owed restaurants across the country. And this is one of my favorite places to go while in NWI. Yes, the food takes about an hour, mom its cooked from scratch and to order. So if you are in a rush go elsewhere like to an Applebee's or a chain where you get frozen food with steroids, GMOs and pesticides and you get your food in 20 min. The staff is very knowledgeable and I have never had a bad meal or service. If you come try some cocktails, they are amazing!! Thank you Valley Team, see you soon!!
(5)
Jonathan G.
This place has decent food, but it honestly doesn't taste any better than any decent chain restaurant. The problem is that the prices for adult dinner entrees are outrageously high for the quality and quantity. Perhaps that works with folks who think they're "eating healthy" because it's farm-to-table, but the reality is that all food is farm-to-table. I ordered the chicken entree, which can't be that "healthy" since it appeared to be pan-fried and served over a very small quantity of pan-fried diced (they called them "forked") potatoes. My wife ordered the salmon entree, and it was a very small and very thin piece of salmon served over mostly onions. The kids meals were apparently supposed to come with a dessert element, but after volunteering that fact, the server then said that she had forgotten that they were out of ice cream and no alternative was offered (nor was the price reduced). Substantially unimpressed with both the food and service relative to the price charged.
(2)
Jessilyn P.
Food and customer service is excellent. There was a mix up its our order and whether we wanted our appetizers bright out with the rest of the meal (2 of us ordered just appetizers as our entrees) and the chef felt so bad our entire 4 person meal was comped. The manager came over and personally apologized to us and we hadn't even complained. That's real customer device! Steak was perfect, truffle fries amazing and drinks were on point.
(5)
Danielle P.
Delicious food, amazing comfortable atmosphere! I had the best pork lettuce wraps and the lemon poppyseed cake is to die for. The service is spectacular - can't go wrong!
(5)
Alex B.
I really wish there was a 1/2 star system on Yelp as I believe that "The Valley" is one of best restaurants in the Valpo square, but still has a few hiccups that keep it away from absolute perfection. Expect a full review soon.
(5)
Just M.
Stopped in on a Friday night for dinner... Was very happy with my meal. Had the chicken and waffles for an appetizer, winter vegetable soup, the ribeye with blue cheese sauce and chocolate cake with toasted marshmallows for desert. Everything was very good! The staff is very knowledgeable about the menu and the food is very fresh. I felt like I was in a trendy Chicago restaurant for half the price.
(5)
Elizabeth G.
Amazing food and prompt courteous service! A bit pricey but completely worth it. The menu is new since they create them seasonally. I had the ribeye for an entree and pork wraps for an app. Absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly. It was wine Wednesday and Riesling and Cabernet were half off. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Valpo as a must try!
(5)
Adrienne W.
My husband and I were excited to try this place because of the farm to fork concept. Our favorite in the region is 54 Main Bistro in Hobart which is also a farm to fork establishment and we wanted to see if this was just as good! We stopped in on a Tuesday night (May 2015) and it was very quiet. It seemed as if there were more people working than customers. Their service was prompt. They switched all of our silverware after every course whether it was used or not which I thought was a little strange. Obviously I like cleanliness in a restaurant but this was a little excessive and probably inefficient. Maybe because it seemed as if some of the employees needed something to do in order to stay busy? We ordered the fried pickles as an appetizer which were awesome (I am a pickle fanatic). The salads were also really good. My husband ordered a steak and I had a pork tenderloin. The waitress told me that my meal was recommended medium rare so I went with it although it is usually not my thing. I thought that was strange for a pork dish. It was way too rare for my taste. My husband liked his steak but he said it wasn't the best. Overall, not a bad meal. It was a little pricey but reasonable in comparison to others like it. They had a larger menu than I expected but still obviously not a good choice for those who are seeking a menu with lots of variety.
(3)
Joe B.
Where do I even start?! Jeez... Best food in the verse. Friendly, personable staff, ungodly talented chef (Jason is the man), killer drinks (and specials)... C'mon! You tell me where else you can score delicious, perfectly cooked and presented food, made with fresh local ingredients, and served happily by some nice lady or dude who isn't any weirder than yourself. Nowhere, thats where. Eat at the Kitchen. Worth every single penny, every single time. Everywhere else is just lame now.
(5)
Eileen T.
RESTAURANT NINJAS!: just finished your water? Wait 5 seconds, someone will refill it! Just finished your beer? Wait 5 seconds, someone will refill it? Finished your salad? Wait 5 seconds, someone will clear your plate and bring you a new fork! Baby spinach salad is fantastic. Truffle fries are a must! Hubby's ribeye was tender and flavorful. My winter succotash was delicious!
(5)
Patrick G.
My rating isn't relative to other Valpo resturants, which would give it a higher score. Overall the experience was fine, but cost too much and lasted too long. I dont mind waiting for a top notch place, but after the hour long wait (as the only party waiting) and another 45 minutes from ordering to first bite. The food was just fine.
(2)
Ben W.
On our way back to Chicago after a fun day visiting friends, we decided to check Yelp and find a place for dinner. We found Valley and we are glad we tried it! The staff was attentive, fun and offered suggestions. They also accommodated a few requests for our kids. My wife had the Agnolotti with a berry salad. The pasta was delicious and the salad had an appetizing mix to match. I had the cowboy cut pork chop which was a good sized portion perfectly prepared. All of the ingredients are locally sourced and noted on a chalkboard up on the wall. Kudos to the staff (Zach and Brett and the rest)! We'll be back.
(5)
Jeff H.
In Valpo for the evening for work and found this spot as a potentially good option on Yelp. It was crowded when I arrived and think there were a number of small company Christmas parties being celebrated. I found the last seat at the bar and it took the bartender about 10 minutes to finally get over to me and get me a beer. So reviews that discuss wait times are correct! Once I got my drink, things started to thin out a bit. I got the root vegetables with chicken for an entree that comes with a side salad. Salad was a bit more imaginative than just plain mixed greens, but could have used a few more veggies. But chicken and root vegetable medley was EXCELLENT. And at $17, well worth the price. None of the desserts looked great to me (I considered the Upside Down Apple Pie but I never like desserts with alcoholic sauces and this came with a rum sauce) so I settled on the S'mores. Definitely an inventive dessert. A layer of graham cracker crumbs topped by chocolate cake, topped by marshmallow fluff, all in a capped mason jar and they actually fill the top with smoke before they seal it so that when you open it you get a puff of campfire smoke! Taste didn't wow as much as the presentation. I think they need more graham cracker and less chocolate cake as a potential starting point, but was worth it to get it just for the unique presentation. If I'm in in Valpo again, I'll definitely be back. Can't be many better options in this town than this one.
(4)
Ken M.
Valley K&B acquired what was formerly Strongbow. That's great news! Can't wait to see what the kitchen turns out with more resources. Front of house will present greater challenge; unresolved issues will become greater. But that's not for awhile and there's plenty of time for training and growing. Can't wait to see what happens.
(3)
K J.
Great service and great food. Takes longer to serve because all cooked to order. Well worth it if you are not in a rush.
(4)
Shilpa S.
We reached late and only had the limited menu with starters and desert... But the food was amazing!! We had the pumpkin soup, hazelnut baked Brie and Pecan Cobbler... And they were all to die for.... Must try! Would love to come back someday for more...
(5)
Aaron I.
Thankfully Valley seems to have moved on from twice-baked potatoes with every entree. It's still pricey, but the food and ambience are excellent. Also a great place to sit at the bar have drinks and appetizers.
(4)
Brittany K.
Not only my favorite restaurant in valpo. My favorite restaurant anywhere. The food is seasonal so you can always expect a new experience. The produce, glassware etc are all local or small businesses. Everything is just fresh. Fresh food, fresh atmosphere. Farm to table has never been done better.
(5)
Melissa C.
Visited The Valley on an early Saturday evening with my boyfriend. We were uncomfortably welcomed by the hostess, and that's as far as my negative comments go because everything else was wonderful. Our server, Kayla, was attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. Thank you Kayla, as I am a server and know what it means to be appreciated:) We started with the fried pickle chips. I typically do not like fried pickles and quite frankly have never eaten one I've liked, but here, delicious! Next, we tried the soup of the day, Asparagus, just needed a tad more salt. Finally we shared the Spring Chicken dish, juicy, flavorful and enough for two for sure. As I'm writing this review, a staff member brought us a sample of the Salted Carmel Chocolate Tart. Wow, the perfect blend of sweet, salty, savory, crunchy and chocolatey!!!!!! We will most definitely be back with friends.
(4)
Kev F.
This place is excellent! There's only one issue to contend with...It is a very loud restaurant. Other than that the food is outstanding, the service is excellent and the ambience is wonderful. I had the open face mushroom ravioli and it is easily the best vegetarian dish I've ever eaten! If you've ever been to Portland, OR, this place has a hip, Portland-esque feel to it. Will definitely come back again!
(4)
Brian B.
Meals all always spot on and good... but... when the new menus come out, its always pretty much the same thing with a different ingredient... not knocking the place.. its prob the best upper scale place in town since 157 was forced to close..
(4)
Mathew E.
Everything was delicious. Service was good. A little pricey compared to serving size but overall a great experience.
(5)
Maja B.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Valpo. The atmosphere is easy and comfortable, and the food is delicious. Their menu changes often, but I'm always able to find something I like. Most recently, I had their steak. It came served with onion rings and triple baked mashed potatoes, which were to die for. On Sundays, kids eat free, so that's usually when we go. Definitely recommend!
(5)
Micaela J.
Amazing martinis! Excellent food! Love that it's local. Constantly changing the menu depending on the season. The outdoor patio seating is great in the summer. They have a very local farm-to-fork feel with just about everything. Only thing: it's VERY expensive.
(4)
Amy Z.
Most delicious dinner I've ever had. Got the walleye, which was incredible and had the spinach and asparagus soul... Also insanely good. This meal takes longer than most places only because they make everything to order, all local and fresh, so it's definitely worth it. It's a little more pricey than most quick dinners out, but the quality more than makes up for the cost. Will be coming back often!!!
(5)
Edy M.
We went to Valley tonight for dinner. We ordered the truffle fries which were amazing. They are a generous portion and full of flavor. My kids had the pizza and chicken strips, and they both enjoyed their meals. My husband and I both ordered the walleye dinner. It was served with a potato cake and stir fried vegetables in a asian type coconut sauce. The flavor was extraordinary! However, and its a big however, my fish had probably 30 bones in it. My husband's had 3 which I could live with. But come on? I only ate half of my fish and every single bite I put in my mouth had one or more bones on it. My napkin was covered in fish bones. It really prevented me from enjoying my meal like I should have. When I told my server that fish hadn't been cleaned properly and about all of the bones he took my plate and told me he would tell the chef. Then when he finally came back with my bill I was charged full price. He never even apologized. I was in such shock that they feel that is acceptable I paid it and went on, but I am definitely not in a hurry to return. Also, our server was very attentive with our drink refills, but our food took forever to come out. I believe we even waited upwards of 15 minutes for 2 scoops of ice cream for our kids. I have to still give 3 stars because the flavors were so amazing. I really wish they would have rectified the situation because I really loved the food otherwise.
(3)
Jo K.
Havent dined there in a while. Last night I had the Pork Chops. They were amazing!! Proabably the best I have had. My husband had the ribeye and was also really pleased. I also loved their drink menu. Very refreshing creative choices! I think they need a bigger place!
(5)
Deb L.
This place has great food and a friendly atmosphere! The food is very fresh. Service is excellent. Drinks are very good also. The food is definitely worth the prices. One of the best restaurants in the area! Highly recommend. The menu is small, but everything on it is excellent. They change up the menu quite often, which is a plus. Great desserts also! Probably the best food in Valpo!!!!
(5)
Samantha Z.
I love the food here and the decor. I wish there was some more out door space for dining but you can only do so much! The food has always been good. I'm a huge fan of their fried pickles and martinis are fun, tastful, and not as expensive as some other local places I've been. However service is hit or miss. I've had a couple wonderful servers but had one server who was not attentive to my table at all. (Mind you it was not busy or crowded - there were maybe 5 other tables with patrons) I probably waited around 15 minutes after he brought water to ask if we wanted to order. He was quite catty as well. "Well if you aren't going to order food I need to take the menus." And my favorite from the evening "I need you to pay to now I'll be leaving soon" Granted this is one bad experience but one bad egg in a restaurant can hurt it.
(3)
Todd T.
My new favorite restaurant in Valparaiso. Consistently great service and food. I've had the ribeye and the open face ravioli. They are well-known for their truffle fries, and the reputation is well-deserved. We are lucky to have this place in Valpo, and hopefully, judging by the crowds, they will be around for a while. Try it for dinner, you won't be sorry,
(5)
Nathan S.
New favorite Valpo restaurant! Have been there a handful of times and the food is always good- plus the farm to fork concept is fantastic! Also, a great selection of beer on tap. Pickle chips are an app worth trying and don't leave without getting the fried bananas or fried oreos for dessert.
(5)
John H.
Service was great, as was the food. Would've given it 4 stars had it not been for two things. First, the place is noisy as hell inside. Certainly not a place for a quiet dinner. Secondly, the bar is understafffed. Had to wait a bit for our table, so decided to grab a drink. 15 minutes later, I was finally served by the single person who fufills all waitstaff orders and orders from patrons at the bar. Seems waitstaff orders (for tables) take precedence too.
(3)
Margaret S.
My family met for dinner here on a Friday (all adults) and my husband and I loved it so much we returned on Sunday for dinner again! I had Blue Gill both nights and it was fabulous. I am a vegetarian who eats fish and this was the best Blue Gill I have ever had. The second night they did put bacon on it and when I told the server I wouldn't eat it she brought me a new dinner in no time. The first night we all ordered and Blue Gill and the second night we brought friends who order the steak. They were very impressed with the steak and it was cooked exactly as ordered. The potatoes are very good as others have commented. I had a grape pop martini that was tasty as well. I don't care for very sweet drinks and this martini was just right. We will be returning again and again to this restaurant
(5)
Bob B.
Had supper at Valley tonight. Will not be in a hurry to return. Bluegill was plain. It did not have a sweet bluegill flavor. Potato was nothing special. Salad was some romaine mixed with iceberg. Really? Iceberg lettuce? My wife said she will try lunch but with the limited supper menu she is not in a hurry to go back either. Nice interior but not enough to bring me back in.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Andrew Q.
Goddddddd, I really wanted to like this place. I really did. Was in Portage for work and found Valley on yelp. The farm to fork concept got me and I drove out for dinner. I sat at the bar. Bartender was friendly and attentive throughout. They have a good selection of martinis and specialty draft beers. I ordered the truffle fries and the chicken 3 ways. I opted for the spinach salad with apples, cheese and nuts for $4 extra instead of the house salad. The Salad came out quick. It was really good, the only thing was the dressing was a little too tart for me, however I still managed to devour the whole thing. As other Yelpers have suggested, the rest of my meal did take a while to come out. I say about a good 30-40 minutes. The couple next to me at the bar actually ordered 5 minutes after me and received their dishes first. Not sure of the process there. Also there were 4 cooks in the kitchen and at times 3 of them were sitting around. I kept looking over my shoulder every time a waiter walked by hoping it was my food! After doing this for a good 35 minutes my plate arrived. Chicken three way came with rice and carrots. The dish was just blah. It was good but wasn't great and not as good as it should be for a 30 minute wait. The truffle fries never came. The bartender told me she forgot to put it in. If I lived here, I may give it another shot, but since I only come and go for business there's better places for me to go.
(3)Yako S.
We ate here one time. Portions were very small and salad was served on the plate with the meal! Meals took very long to exit the kitchen. You had to choose to eat your salad and then a cold entree, or eat the salad after the entree. Staff could not comprehend.
(2)Shawn R.
The best part was the vegetable plate it was out of this world. The worst part was it is incredibly loud and I couldn't figure out why besides the lady screaming beside me. They have an excellent concept and it is very cool looking. The plating was not very appealing and the food was just average at best other than the vegetables, they were worth the adventure. I wouldn't write this place off because My son said his chicken was fantastic so I must try some of the other plates. At $70 for two it is a splurge for me but maybe in a couple paydays I will try it again.
(4)Angie D.
Loved this place. The Brussel Sprouts were to die for and I hate Brussel Sprouts! Definitely worth a try if you just want good food.
(5)Matt W.
Valley excels at fresh, uncomplicated fare; one of my favorite restaurants anywhere (and there are some noteworthy spots on my list). Service has always been outstanding, and they have a delightfully whimsical and tasty list of specialty martinis. My only minor gripe is that it can be a bit loud due to the open concept of the space; not the best spot for intimate conversations with dining companions. Overall, you can't go wrong with Valley...especially the truffle fries.
(5)Katy J.
The beet salad is to die for! I will be back here again. The drinks and food are truly authentic, fresh, and a fun environment.
(5)Rachelle B.
Everything about this place is amazing. I've been here twice and I can't wait to go back! The food is so fresh and delicious. The decor is beautiful. I love the laid-back, casual feel of the place too. The service is excellent. The servers are kind, informative and they don't harrass you. I also love how you can see the food being prepared and cooked. I've been telling everyone I know to come here, the Valley is perfect.
(5)Max S.
Consistently good 'farm-to-table' restuarant I like to visit when in Valpo!
(4)Amanda D.
Enjoyed my meal there! I had the Vegetarian dish - Broccolini sauteed with a San Marzano tomato broth, garlic puree, preserved lemon & Creole Quinoa - very good. People with me ordered the Dirty Bird - Miller Amish Country airline breast cooked a la plancha with braised and grilled leg quarter, served with Cajun style dirty rice & Valley gravy. The salads came out pretty quickly, but the other reviews are right; the foods came out after a while. Worth it, though! Looking forward to going back. Next time I'll want to sit at the chef's station and *watch* the process.
(4)Katy H.
I have never not been pleased when going to Valley. The service is always amazing and the food is always fresh. There is a slight wait for your food, but it's never to the point of being a long wait. I've had something off of each seasonal menu and I've never not been pleased. One of my favorite places in Valpo for certain.
(5)Jen S.
Local beer, foodie menu and large portions. My husband loved the truffle fries.
(4)B. A.
Anniversary dinner, yum! Great food, very fresh! Local fresh! The ambiance is pretty small and rustic, I appreciate that. We went in around 10pm and was told by our server Erin only appetizers would be served because the food line had been broken down. Bummer! Maybe the disappointment on our faces inspired her to double check with the chef. Very glad she did because she came back with great news! Full menu! Between the two of us we shared fried pickles, potato soup, salad with champagne dressing, pork chop, steak, apple upside down cake, and drinks! Beyond pleased with the food, environment, and servers. It's nice to have quality food without a hefty price tag and the hassle of going to Downtown Chicago. I can't wait to give it another go! Oh, and Chef Jason was very kind!
(4)Kelly L.
I've never had anything short of a great experience at Valley. Great beer selection and always a good and evolving menu. Friendly staff- Zach is especially awesome. Tables around me seemed to very much agree.
(5)Jon G.
We just had a great meal tonight, good service, and $5 martinis. Who could ask for more. We tried a crusted Brie appetizer which was different and good. My wife had the vegetarian succotash which was delicious and enough to take leftovers home. I had the ribeye special which was prepared perfectly. The meal was really gourmet quality.
(5)Greg M.
Atmosphere - Nice, modern spot. Tables were nice, solid wood. Tables are close together but not too close. All tables were full on Valentine's Day, but there was no wait. Everything was very clean. No smoking. Food - The only menu was a special Valentine's Day menu...probably to make it easier on the kitchen. Although, it was a few options to create your own 5 course meal. There was only 1 choice of soup and this was the only course I didnt like because the pumpkin soup was too strange for me. The Waldorf salad was great, the grilled Walleye was cooked well, and the spring rolls were wrapped in fresh rice paper. The deserts were tasty, but nothing special. Service - The waitress seemed like she had too mant tables and we didnt see her very much. We werent in any hurry so we didnt mind. She knew the answer to a couple questions I asked about the food. I believe they are well trained. Overall - I didnt like not having the entire menu to chokse from. Paying $55 dollars for a great 5 course meal wasnt bad, but those were not the choices that I woukd have otherwise made. The atmosphere was very unique and fun and I like supporting local farms and businesses. I will most likely be back, but not on a promotional day.
(4)Tim R.
Awesome dinning experience. We went on a Monday evening my wife ordered the winter white chicken which she loved I had the burger which was done to perfection. The baby spinach salad I highly recommend my wife enjoyed the fried pickles and the apple upside down was a wow Pricey but I have paid more for a dinner last night in Chicago which was not half of the taste of this dinner
(5)Kathy R.
We ate there lastnight for the first time with friends. I never read any reviews beforehand, but our experience seemed on par with others. We started at the bar with the truffle fries (which are crack cocaine) and the chicken tacos. Both were excellent and served fairly quickly. They even got us to our table ahead of when they said they would. Our server was friendly, but it seemed as though she was one of few on the floor and very busy. We ordered our food and waited and waited. Our salads finally arrived. I had asked for the dressing on the side, but it didn't come that way. I didn't send it back. It seemed trivial, they were busy, and the food was served by someone other than our server. The salad could've been delicious, but the vinegarette was so tangy that it was just not balanced (they also added too much, which is why I always order it on the side). By the end of eating it, I was making an involuntary sour-face. A little bit of soft cheese and a few nuts would've done the trick. The entrees took forever and we started to think that they would never come. Just as we started to stare our server down, who didn't notice us at all as she was walking by (and clearly focused on something else), another person brought them. I ordered chicken with root veggies. It was the BEST chicken I have ever had....perfectly cooked! Crispy skin and tender and full of flavor!! The root vegetables were very good, but only lukewarm. They probably had the plate ready to go and were waiting for the chicken to get done and that's how everything else got almost cold. All in all, I would have to say that it was one of the best meals I have had in a long time. We didn't order dessert. S'mores in a jar and fried Oreos sounded like a sugar coma waiting to happen. Instead, this farm-to-fork might want to consider seasonal fruit and/or pie to go with the Valpo Velvet Ice Cream they offer. That would go much better with their concept. (I'm almost quoting another reviewer, but that person was spot-on.) We walked out and went next door to the chocolate shop and each got a piece of candy instead. Would I go again? Yes, but not if I had any time issues and I might opt for soup instead of a salad.
(4)Walter L.
This was our first time here and it was great. Was able to get a seat at the bar on a busy Saturday night. The "wise fashioned" was a delicious twist on a classic. Ordered pork pot stickers appetizers...The meat was great but the sauce was even better. My wife had the chicken special and liked it. I had the duck breast and it was phenomenal. The risotto was great as well. To top it off they had Journeyman whiskey and I am a new fan! We will definitely be coming back.
(5)Kim D.
I don't always eat local, or organic, or even healthy. I don't know the effects of GMOs, but I'm pretty sure I don't want them. What I am sure of is, when I have the option, I want food that's fresh, healthy, sustainable, local, tasty, and recognizeable even to my great grandparents. That's why I come to places like this. The food is grown, or sacrificed ( :) ) close by, without the added garbage that is common, and oddly acceptable. Bravo! I will be back...tomorrow.
(5)Melissa R.
Valley is by far the best restaurant in Valparaiso. Yes, it sometimes takes a little while to get your food, but that's because they make it fresh! If you want super fast you should probably go somewhere else. However, if you want local, delicious food this is the place to go. We have been here at least a dozen times, taken friends and family, and have never once had a bad experience. The food is incredible, the menu has interesting and well-developed options, and the service is always friendly. I agree with other reviewers that the dessert menu is severely lacking, but by the time I get to that course I am aways stuffed so don't really care.
(5)John H.
My wife and I went here and shared the Chicken Skewers appetizer which we liked very much! The mushroom soup was very flavorful also. I had the Rib eye Steak and she had the Cowboy Pork Chop and we both enjoyed our meals and our Salad was also very good and everything was In good portions but we sat across from one another and had a hard time hearing each other however we both said we will go back!
(4)Mrs. B.
Superb end of summer menu! Everything was fresh and amazing!
(5)Heather D.
I've heard a lot about this place from friends and family and it seemed like something very unique for the area. I was not disappointed. We opted to sit at the counter by the chef's station. I think this is one of the best ways to enjoy the meal and lets you engage with the kitchen staff. What surprised me about the food was how simple and unpretentious it was. This is the type of place you can take a meat and potatoes type of person or a foodie. Both will be happy. The portions are huge and the plating is simple. I had the steak which was prepared with garlic butter and mushrooms. It was delicious and the twice baked potato disks were to die for. My friend had the pork chop which was roughly the size of her head and also very yummy. We got side salads with the meal and I am not a fan of salad. I opted for the spinach salad with the brown butter vinaigrette and nearly ate the whole thing. Any place that can get me to enjoy a salad is a winner. We got the sticky toffee pudding and deep friend Oreos for dessert. I can't believe we didn't explode at that point. The service was good and the chefs were friendly and passionate about what they were doing. The one thing that was annoying was the beverage program. They had a decent wine list and the draft list was fine, but I would have liked to see some local brews (Figure 8 is right up the street! Talk about supporting farm to table....). It was the martini list that left me baffled. It was basically a dozen martinis that catered to suburban moms. They were all fruity, girly options and just didn't go with the theme of the restaurant. Also, they were things you can get at any restaurant. My suggestion would be to pick a few alcohol staples (gin, rum, whiskey, tequila, etc) and make a cocktail based around each. You can rotate ingredients out by season. This is done at a lot of places in Chicago and I think it works well with the farm to table approach. Also, there really isn't a craft cocktail scene in Northwest Indiana and this could be the place to set the standard. Overall this is a fantastic restaurant and I think everyone in the area should eat here at least once. It's smart, simple food and well worth your money. Why pay money to eat at a chain restaurant when you can support you local businesses and farms by eating at Valley?
(4)Patrick O.
Ate here the other night. I try to get here for one meal every time I get to valparaiso. Always sit at the kitchen bar. Chatting with the chefs, watching them cook, tasting little bites of this and that...this is one of the best eating experiences I know. Try it! You'll like it,
(5)Reed H.
Tried this place twice. 1st time we went for breakfast. Got our drinks and were never served again. The chef started going crazy and yelling at his whole staff; we just walked out. We gave the place another shot. I had the Shrimp and Grits. I could have bounced the shrimp off the wall; so rubbery and overcooked. I expected good things, but this place just has nasty food.
(1)Chambiges S.
I really love the concept of this restaurant: fresh, locally-sourced food prepared simply but elegantly. I've visited twice and look forward to returning. The truffle fries and pork chop are quite delicious. Most recently I enjoyed a skirt steak special with a chimichurri sauce. The flavors in each dish are interesting and combined with finesse, and are a welcome reprieve from the other boring dishes served in Valpo. The price-to-portion ratio is good and the restaurant has a pleasant atmosphere suitable for a date for two or a night out with friends. In short, I would definitely recommend Valley to family and friends for its small but nicely executed menu and its charming atmosphere and downtown setting.
(4)Simon K.
In light of some of the reviews on here, let's start with the basics: this is an organic farm to kitchen restaurant. That translates to a bit of a different price point and experience than you might get at your local Applebee's. That said, there are some great things and some okay things here. The service was spectacular, very attentive and happy to handle a specialty request for my order. The salad (yes, it's just salad but you'd be surprised how much crappy salad you can get) was spectacular. Bar offerings are good but seems like the one bartender can get a bit overloaded. Alright now to the not do good. The kitchen needs some work on efficiency. Two pieces of chicken should not take 45 minutes on any night, but particularly not if the place isn't all full. The food looked delicious and was plated very attractively as I would expect in a place along these lines. Portions were larger than normal for a "foodie" place. One last thing, the place is noisy. Don't expect to have a quiet intimate dinner here. Overall I'd say a good experience. I hope some of the lagging things can be addressed, because I really want to love the place, but it's just not quite there.
(4)Zack M.
After reading all other reviews I thought it might be a great place to try. They proved me wrong! In all fairness I can't review the food because we didn't stay long enough to eat. The bartender treated us horribly, very off putting almost conceded. When we asked the drink specials he simply pointed to the sign as if I was an idiot. As watched the staff walk around like zombies we noted one big thing, the staff looked miserable! Based on staff alone I will not go back simply because a dining experience is just that, an experience not just food alone.
(1)Kelsey H.
Husband and I stopped here late on a Saturday night. We were seated at the last open table immediately but it seems like we got lucky as many were waiting after us. The atmosphere was great and our waiter was knowledgeable regarding the menu and equally enthusiastic. All of the food is locally grown/raised, even down to the drinking glasses that were made using sand from Lake Michigan. The menu is very small which was a little disappointing, but it was obvious they perfected each dish. For an appetizer we shared the truffle fries which were AMAZING. Husband had the pork chop meal which was delicious (even to two people who are not fans of pork chops) and the potato discs were creative and tasty (almost like a twice baked potato?). I had the squash soup with pesto and radish, which I really wanted to like but couldn't get into. It was obvious that it was made with fresh ingredients, it just wasn't my thing. I also had their signature salad that was very good. Their dressing was unusual and very tangy/vinegary but good. Our waiter was attentive without being annoying and even offered us $50 worth of concert tickets for a local show that night because he had received them as a tip and couldn't make it. Overall it was a great experience and we will definitely be back. I plan to watch their Facebook page for special features and plan a trip according to that. Would definitely recommend!
(5)Brgr M.
I'm in the restaurant bizz for 25 years this year. I'm telling you just go and eat here, very good food. If they were in Chicago there wold be a 2 hours wait and a 2 week booking lead for this place.
(5)Angela T.
First impressions of lunch: comfortable dining room, friendly service, thoughtfully prepared (& delicious) menu. I had the Indiana BLT which was elevated by chipped pork tenderloin, basil, and sourdough bread. I will be back for seconds!
(5)B W.
This place is really good. Not sure if it's 4 or 5 stars, but it's delicious. I had a sweet corn linguini with a corn cob stock. Really well executed and unique. My wife and I also split the veggie side which was not your standard sauté. Well seasoned and correctly prepared. Kids meals were great too. Small menu, but the chicken tenders taste great and are definitely hand made and fresh.
(4)Angela M.
I love this place. I love the concept of this place. I love the pork chops...always a great choice. They stuff you with food so try not to order too much before your main dish. I've had soup there every time and I always share it with my man because if I don't...I have no room. I wish they would take reservations frankly because it is hard to plan to go there and then not get in. The ONLY reason I gave this place a 4 star instead of a 5 was the past time I was there they refused to split up a bunch of smaller tables that were clumped together to accomodate us because they said they needed to keep it open IN CASE a large party came in. Not a good way to do business. You have customers NOW you seat them NOW you don't hope and wish on a star. Anyway, one time issue I hope...can't wait to go back!
(4)Earlie C.
A very nice place with locally sourced/grown food. That, in itself makes a difference in the quality of the food you receive. All the servers are in flannel/plaid for a farm-like "feel". An awesome bar with upland being the iconic beer. No adjuncts here. Must have appetizers: Baked Brie, Truffle Fries. Absolutely delicious. The Broccoli Soup was very Pilsner heavy. Tasted like I was eating warm broccoli soup with half a bottle of Pilsner Urquell in it. I have had the Pork Chops - Which were pretty good, a bit chewy in the middle, the Blue Gill - which was only... okay, and the Ravioli - also very good. The double baked potatoes were... beyond amazing. There are some changes that could make this place a bit better. The iceburg lettuce side salad is pretty ridiculous. It needs to go. Another reviewer said they'd had better salads at Burger King or something - Funny and somewhat true. And the menu. I understand it's seasonal, but more options would be really nice. Five things (entrées) on the menu limits you if you have the taste for something else. Before you go, make sure you check their menu on their website. Being that you are, indeed limited in what you can order... Make sure something on their menu actually appeals to your palate.
(4)Josh S.
I've eaten at Valley before and was so pleased, that I had planned to take my wife there on Valentine's Day. Per Valley's website, "reservations are not accepted". So we arrived when they opened and were denied a seat because they were booked with reservations. Even though, no seats were filled at all. Although Valley's food is so good and I appreciate the farm-to-fork aspect of the business, their miscommunication and mismanagement will be their downfall. If you can't stick to the claim that you accept no reservations, at least put an asterisk next the statement and let people know that there will be exceptions to this rule. We drove 45 minutes on Valentines Day, only to be turned away. I would have gladly made a reservation, had I known. I don't think we'll be visiting this restaurant again, nor would we recommend it to others, simply due to the mismanagement of communication.
(1)Nick P.
Great atmosphere, into the whole local, Eco friendly thing, but way too expensive, and it took a really long time.
(3)Mike S.
Outstanding that's all I have to say. Best in town!
(5)Louis M.
Easily the best restaurant in Valpo. In short, this place could survive in a city much larger than Valparaiso with no problem. The food was made with very high quality ingredients, and tasted amazing. There was a nice focus on vegetables compared to other spots in the area. The beer list was diverse and local, and you can't beat the $3 Monday night draft special. Some of the best fries I have ever had, and the chicken and waffles is a great dish, surprising in its complexity. I liked the space and the wait staff was attentive. Additionally the prices are very reasonable for the food you get.
(5)Ryan K.
Awesome food and very nice place, but their hours are completely random. Even if it says that they're open until 12, they just close whenever they please. As in tonight, when they closed at 9:42. Exactly the time we were hoping to get dessert. The lesson here is to call ahead to make sure they are in fact open.
(4)Jessica M.
I have eaten at Valley twice for dinner. The first time I had the pork chop. It was a lovely, thick cut, on-the-bone pork chop and it was cooked nicely. It could have used some more seasoning (even if it was just a little salt and pepper before searing). All the dinner items come with a salad and two twice baked potato slices. The potatoes were very tasty. I ordered my salad with ranch dressing (I am not a fan of sweet dressing and the house dressing sounded sweet). When my meal arrived, our server told us that the were out of ranch dressing so they put the house dressing on my salad. I did try the house dressing and as I suspected it was on the sweet side and I didn't care for it. Knowing how I feel about sweet dressings, I would have preferred the server tell me that they were out of ranch and have me choose a different one. My boyfriend ordered the steak, once again it was a lovely cut of meat, cooked very nicely...but again kind of bland. Needed seasoning before searing. On our second visit, I was not particularly hungry so my boyfriend and I shared the pork chop and I felt the same way about my second pork chop as I did my first. However, this time we ordered appetizers, the table shared fried pickles (very, very yummy) and truffle oil fries (very yummy but a bit heavy for me). We also started with their special martini which was a spiced apple....mmmmmmmmmmm gooooooood! And then my boyfriend followed up with a Nerds Martini (how fun, but super sweet!) and I had a glass of wine. Our cocktails were a treat! I think the service is quite polite and friendly...but clearly novice. I think with some more experience it will be a place where I really enjoy the service. I love the concept of locally grown and raised food. I love the decor. The dinner menu is quite limited and my opinion is if you have so few items on your menu...you better bring it. They are almost there.
(3)Laura E.
Fried gnocchi!! What!! My grandmother is rolling over in her grave!! Must not have seen the fried description, otherwise would have never ordered that. Others in our party had the pork chop which looked awesome. But was barely Luke warm throughout! Salted Carmel Martini was awesome, pork belly appetizer was good, but for the $$$, I would have to say disappointing. Cool environment, nice building, maybe as time goes on it will get better. Like the concept of the place. Will try again though.
(2)Georgia C.
This has to be my new very favorite place to eat in Valpo! Been there twice and both times the food was really good. The eggplant parmesan is really good, as is the pork chop! Phenomenal. For dessert we got the fried banana which was really really good! Champagne vinaigrette for the house salad is a must try! Highly recommend!
(5)Marietta R.
Without a doubt the best food I have had in Indiana. All of their food comes from Indiana, Illinois, or Michigan and is prepared in their open air kitchen. There is literally a "kitchen bar" where you can watch the chef prepare all of the orders. Not only that, he welcomes questions and comments while he cooks. They have great service with a knowledgable and friendly staff. This is the first review I have ever written for a restaurant so please do yourself the favor and try this place out!!
(5)Ryan P.
Farm to fork is fully on display here and the chefs have a few tricks up their sleeves to make the local food wow your tastebuds!
(5)Sara B.
I really want to like this place and have given it two tries. However, when I walk away $55 poorer, to go home to cook a second meal, I just have to give up. The wait staff, while friendly, is amateur and the food is mediocre. My boyfriend and I came in starving and actually left with food on our plates. I hope that this restaurant fixes these issues, because I'd like to see it survive. 1. The menu should be rotated. There are only five options and they haven't changed for three months. Why would someone come back? 2. If they are going to splurge for nice proteins (bluegill, local chicken), they should not put ICEBURG LETTUCE on the plate! I have had better salads at Burger King. 3. If there are five people in the kitchen, it should not take a half hour to get a meal 4. If a patron asks whether the soup is vegetarian, then warn him if you're going to put bacon on his fish. I'm sure there is a talented chef somewhere beneath the mediocrity. At the moment, however, I feel I could cook the same or better food at home and not spend $20 a plate. Some positives: 1. My glass of wine contained about a half a bottle--not the classiest move but I'm not complaining 2. The beer selection is solid
(2)Brenda M.
This is a very customer-centric restaurant in a town of great restaurants so the expectation bar is high... this healthy, hyper-local farming newcomer has proven that he can dish with the best of them in flavor, creativity and mixology. We will be back again and again.
(4)Steve A.
2 words: Pork Chop. Best ever. I guess that's 4 words. Oh, 2 more words: Tomato Tower.
(4)Jennifer G.
Sat near the chef's station which is highly recommended. We enjoyed watching the guys do their thing and the chef and his staff were so friendly and enjoyable to talk to and observe. There are only a few items on the menu but that is to be expected with a farm to table concept like this and the items they do have are executed well. We tried the truffle fries, which were phenomenal and split the blue gill and chicken 2 ways. Both were fantastic. The fish was light and flavorful and the chicken was so moist. We also had the spinach salad as well as the house salad. The homemade dressings were perfect. I cannot wait to return to try the steak and those fried pickles!
(4)Richelle S.
Love that Valpo has a restaurant focused on eating local! In general, Valley's attention to detail is impressive. The decor is trendy yet charming. The service is attentive. Valley's food is delicious and indeed fresh, and the presentation was great, too. My husband and I shared the tomato and zucchini soup, fried green tomatoes, side salads, pork chop, and twice baked potato. As a bonus, we happened to go on a Tuesday and enjoyed their $5 Tini Tuesday martinis. Definitely give it a try -- I don't think you'll be disappointed!
(5)Barb M.
We have been to this restaurant 4 times and every time it was wonderful. Beautiful decor; upscale. The $ should only be $$ because it is so reasonable. The bar is comfortable and charming! All our meals were excellent including the blue gill, pork chops, and chicken. Mostly local, and very fresh ingredients.
(5)Mopsie B.
What a treat to find Valley. I never thought I'd see a place like this in Valpo. Don't get me wrong, there are now a lot of great places in the downtown area but as someone who went to college here, I still think of it as a town where King Gyros was a gourmet night! Digressing, Valley is a a fairly large space but it seems intimate, which is nice. We arrived shortly before the opening time of 4, to find them already open for a pub crawl. The staff was extra nice and seated us by the front window and fireplace for our drinks. The crawlers left about 10 minutes later and we were able to enjoy a nice dinner for four. Everything we ordered was superb- bursting with flavors and freshness. My only complaint, if I had to make one, would be that the menu is pretty short. They don't have a lot of selections and of course, it's mostly local and seasonal. Our server was a trainee who seemed very unsure of herself. She didn't get anything wrong because she was under the close supervision of either the manager or some other capable guy, but she didn't have much of a personality and did not offer many opinions or suggestions when asked. That said, the whole experience was really pleasant. The place was rocking with people by the time we left. We probably spent close to two hours there. I had the walleye, which was outstanding. Others in my party tried the chicken, the pork chops and a salad. When they offer to put chicken on your salad, it is an entire Amish breast! For dessert, we had scoops of one of my favorite ice creams, Valpo Velvet. I'm so glad so many local businesses are now carrying it. It's the perfect topper to a delicious meal. Our server didn't even offer dessert, though. We had to ask. I'm not sure what else they had. I will also say that the bar selections here are really well done and I even noticed a special martini list. Didn't try it this time, but we'll definitely be back. One suggestion- I'd love to see a bread basket. Maybe some sort of locally sourced bakery would make it five stars for me! I wanted to buy a cool t-shirt but they were out of them, the hostess said. You don't pay your server, which is interesting. You pay the host. Kudos to Valley for bringing local/organic to Valpo!
(4)Honest A.
Really enjoyed my first visit and I plan on returning...only tip to chef would be to have some sort of sauce sprinkled on the plate when serving your bluegill and potato dish. A little dry. Also, how about some nice bread served with dinners?? Not exactly a cheap dinner and would be a nice touch. Just saying. :-)
(4)Andrea C.
By far the BEST restaurant in downtown Valparaiso! Fried green tomatoes are awesome. The truffle fries are delicious! Love the farm to table concept! Sitting by the chefs is a once in a lifetime experience! The shrimp linguine was outstanding! Menu changes as local ingredients are available.
(5)Debbie S.
Drove an hour and a half to meet friends driving same - for a FABULOUS evening together - what a delicious meal - blew me away. I had the Steak, my husband had the chicken, friends had pork and chicken. All locally sourced, all prepared beautifully, wonderfully delicious. Decor is trendy and charming. Side salad was huge. Homemade icecream was excellent. I am gluten free and they were completing accomodating. Wished I lived closer - would visit often!
(5)Matt G.
So this was one of the most unique meals I've ever eaten. I'm approaching 200 reviews on Yelp and I wanted to save this review to be #200 because the meal was so memorable, but reading some of the other reviews on here I feel I need to make haste. Forget some of the petty comments- this is a truly special restaurant. I wish I lived in Valparaiso so I could come here all the time. We came on a Saturday night and we didn't think we'd get in- my date told me she's tried 3x in the past and it's always packed. They don't take reservations, so we winged it. We totally lucked out and got a seat on the patio on a perfect summer evening- no wait. Now, someone pointed it out already, but there's a Christian radio station next door. Truthfully I barely even heard the music, but it is there. If you hate music of the Christian variety, you may want to sit inside. Personally I didn't even notice it. Loved the cocktail selections- they have a "real" mixologist working the bar here. We had the blueberry mojito and the Hendricks Gin and tonic with Elderberry liqueur. The drinks here are STRONG, and are definitely worth the money. Our waiter was awesome- he was definitely passionate about the food and the drinks, and he sold us on some selections. He also recommended wine to pair with our food- I always appreciate a waitstaff that can pair wine and food. We started with the spicy corn soup and a garden salad. Both were amazing- the garden salad tasted exactly as it should- just like it came out of my garden at home. The spicy ranch had a super flavor and only a hint of heat- just perfect. The spicy corn soup with creme fraiche was amazing, too. The local, fresh ingredients truly make the dishes shine, and the cooks know how just to treat the ingredients. Main dishes we had were bluegill tacos and the 12oz ribeye steak. Bluegill tacos. Yep- those fish you used to catch off the pier in the lake when you were a kid. I'd never had bluegill before, and I loved it. They give you 3 enormous tacos with a homemade corn salsa.... just outstanding. After the soup and salad I could only eat 2, but they were amazing. The 12oz ribeye was definitely the star. I will try to get a picture- this steak was beautiful. They served it with what was essentially a caprese salad on top of it. A huge honking steak with 3 huge slices of tomato with fresh mozzarella and basil. The steak itself was exceptional. For a ribeye there was almost no fat on it, yet it tasted exactly like a ribeye should. We loved this dish, and the presentation was so great. The potatoes were also amazing- the tacos came with spicy fries with smoked paprika. Spicy, salty, delicious. The potato with the steak was like a 1/4 potato sectioned and fried- it literally melted in your mouth. Overall this was a 5-star experience. It's not a 4-star restaurant or a 3-star Michelin, but for what it is and does, it's perfect. Service is exceptional, food is amazing. Valpo is lucky to have such a great culinary destination. I can't wait to come back in the next few weeks- there were a ton of things on the menu that looked phenomenal. Yay Valley!
(5)Sherry S.
Excellent service, incredible food & one-of-a-kind cocktail menu. We finally made our way to trying Valley & wish we had sooner! We actually has reservations elsewhere on the square & left after taking a look at Valley's menu on line. They were packed but we were seated right away. Learned of the specials & received our drinks very quickly. We learned that we could split our entree for an extra $2.00 & they would be separately played with larger portions which was a wonderful surprise. Our food was INCREDIBLE! A sweet corn soup that was to die for, & perfectly cooked local salmon over a cornbread salad. We were very satisfied with all aspects of our experience & cannot wait to go back & see what other menu creations they have in the future.
(5)Chris K.
Food is what you come for at a restaurant and here it is AMAZING!! I've been here twice now and have tried several dishes and everything has been a home run. So much flavor and always cooked to perfection. Service had always been good. I got Francisco both times he's a excellent waiter. Described and sold the specials very well so much that I got one both times. Only downfalls are price and wait. Both not horrible but a entree salad without any type of protein is $20. Yikes! Everything is made from scratch and local. Love the board over where you pay that shows where all the ingredients come from. GREAT LOCAL BREWS AS WELL!! I love 18th Street and Burn 'Em and they always have a beer from both breweries. Will be back again and again
(5)Tad D.
I've been here three times now with very mixed results. Recently we had by far the worst experience, one that was just unacceptable. We waited at least an hour for our food. The restaurant was busy but not slammed. The entire time, the christian rock radio station next door was blaring their music. Yuck. No offer was made to buy our drinks or otherwise take care of us. We never had a manager approach us and offer his or her thoughts. Upon realizing that we hadn't seen our server in at least 30 minutes and the order was at 60 minutes, I went in search of staff. The hostess eventually made her way over and informed us that the kitchen was backed up. The waiter later also told us that they had a small kitchen and everything was made from scratch. Do I look like some kind of refugee from Long John Silvers who doesn't understand fresh made food? I just can't stand patronizing excuses and I probably won't be back.
(2)Tammy R.
Pimento cheese app and fried green tomatoes. First was nice and spicy served with fresh cherry tomatoes, carrots, and cucumber. Latter had wonderful batter and served with some hot sauce. Great atmosphere.
(5)Andy U.
My wife and I had dinner there the other weekend. We sat at the Kitchen Bar where we can watch them cook (cool concept). The cooks were friendly and let my wife try some of the fish. I had the pork chop, which was a good thick cut, but a tad dry on one side. I tried my wife's chicken and I thought it was excellent. It did take a while to get our food, but as it's a new establishment, I'm willing to let that slide this time. You do have to go to the hostess to pay which I found a little weird, but that isn't even enough to complain about. We will certainly be returning.
(4)Nathan E.
I've been meaning to write a review for this wonderful restaurant for quite some time now. And so, without further ado, allow me to sing the praises of Valley Kitchen and Bar. I've dined at Valley numerous times and each and every experience has been a delight. It is, without a doubt, my favorite place to eat in Valparaiso. Although I wouldn't call it fancy, it is a very cozy place and I think the decor pairs well with their farm to fork ethos. Another plus is that I've found the waitstaff to be very friendly and knowledgeable. However, the food is the main attraction here. I usually have the fish but I've also had the pork chop and a ribeye. Every dish I've had has been cooked perfectly, plated beautifully and bursting with flavor. After each bite, I've thought to myself, "Oh my gosh, this is so fucking good!" (pardon my French). Chef Jason and his team work magic with the freshest local ingredients. On a recent visit, I was lucky enough to have the special, which was Indiana Game Risotto. The risotto was cooked perfectly and the rabbit and quail were both crispy and tender. This was probably the best meal I've ever eaten. How they fit so much flavor in there is beyond me. On another recent visit, my girlfriend and I were out for drinks and a light dinner to celebrate her birthday. In spite if the impending rainstorm, we opted for outdoor seating. I tried several of the drinks from their cocktail menu and all were very good. The truffle fries were out of this world. They were so crisp and flavorful. The weather held out until I was halfway through my dessert, which was a strawberry shortbread. Then the rain came down, hard. My back was getting soaked but I refused to move from under the umbrella for fear of my dessert getting rained on. Well, I couldn't just abandon it! Despite the rain and being drenched, we had a great time and another wonderful experience at Valley. If you enjoy excellent food at a reasonable price made with fresh local ingredients by people who care, stop in and see the fine folks at Valley Kitchen and Bar. By the way, I recommend having at least one meal at the kitchen bar. It's definitely worth it and you won't be disappointed.
(5)Breanon M.
Best food ever. I have never had a bad meal or bad service. Jason is the man. All the waitresses and waiters are fantastic. I will always return here.
(5)Lisa H.
It was just okay! My husband and I both had the pork! I don't think it was worth $22! The service was very attentive!
(3)Cher W.
Excellent! Fried pickles are great! Steak, pork chops, soup was fabulous!! Service very good. Nice place.
(5)Donna J.
I have been to small family owed restaurants across the country. And this is one of my favorite places to go while in NWI. Yes, the food takes about an hour, mom its cooked from scratch and to order. So if you are in a rush go elsewhere like to an Applebee's or a chain where you get frozen food with steroids, GMOs and pesticides and you get your food in 20 min. The staff is very knowledgeable and I have never had a bad meal or service. If you come try some cocktails, they are amazing!! Thank you Valley Team, see you soon!!
(5)Jonathan G.
This place has decent food, but it honestly doesn't taste any better than any decent chain restaurant. The problem is that the prices for adult dinner entrees are outrageously high for the quality and quantity. Perhaps that works with folks who think they're "eating healthy" because it's farm-to-table, but the reality is that all food is farm-to-table. I ordered the chicken entree, which can't be that "healthy" since it appeared to be pan-fried and served over a very small quantity of pan-fried diced (they called them "forked") potatoes. My wife ordered the salmon entree, and it was a very small and very thin piece of salmon served over mostly onions. The kids meals were apparently supposed to come with a dessert element, but after volunteering that fact, the server then said that she had forgotten that they were out of ice cream and no alternative was offered (nor was the price reduced). Substantially unimpressed with both the food and service relative to the price charged.
(2)Jessilyn P.
Food and customer service is excellent. There was a mix up its our order and whether we wanted our appetizers bright out with the rest of the meal (2 of us ordered just appetizers as our entrees) and the chef felt so bad our entire 4 person meal was comped. The manager came over and personally apologized to us and we hadn't even complained. That's real customer device! Steak was perfect, truffle fries amazing and drinks were on point.
(5)Danielle P.
Delicious food, amazing comfortable atmosphere! I had the best pork lettuce wraps and the lemon poppyseed cake is to die for. The service is spectacular - can't go wrong!
(5)Alex B.
I really wish there was a 1/2 star system on Yelp as I believe that "The Valley" is one of best restaurants in the Valpo square, but still has a few hiccups that keep it away from absolute perfection. Expect a full review soon.
(5)Just M.
Stopped in on a Friday night for dinner... Was very happy with my meal. Had the chicken and waffles for an appetizer, winter vegetable soup, the ribeye with blue cheese sauce and chocolate cake with toasted marshmallows for desert. Everything was very good! The staff is very knowledgeable about the menu and the food is very fresh. I felt like I was in a trendy Chicago restaurant for half the price.
(5)Elizabeth G.
Amazing food and prompt courteous service! A bit pricey but completely worth it. The menu is new since they create them seasonally. I had the ribeye for an entree and pork wraps for an app. Absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly. It was wine Wednesday and Riesling and Cabernet were half off. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Valpo as a must try!
(5)Adrienne W.
My husband and I were excited to try this place because of the farm to fork concept. Our favorite in the region is 54 Main Bistro in Hobart which is also a farm to fork establishment and we wanted to see if this was just as good! We stopped in on a Tuesday night (May 2015) and it was very quiet. It seemed as if there were more people working than customers. Their service was prompt. They switched all of our silverware after every course whether it was used or not which I thought was a little strange. Obviously I like cleanliness in a restaurant but this was a little excessive and probably inefficient. Maybe because it seemed as if some of the employees needed something to do in order to stay busy? We ordered the fried pickles as an appetizer which were awesome (I am a pickle fanatic). The salads were also really good. My husband ordered a steak and I had a pork tenderloin. The waitress told me that my meal was recommended medium rare so I went with it although it is usually not my thing. I thought that was strange for a pork dish. It was way too rare for my taste. My husband liked his steak but he said it wasn't the best. Overall, not a bad meal. It was a little pricey but reasonable in comparison to others like it. They had a larger menu than I expected but still obviously not a good choice for those who are seeking a menu with lots of variety.
(3)Joe B.
Where do I even start?! Jeez... Best food in the verse. Friendly, personable staff, ungodly talented chef (Jason is the man), killer drinks (and specials)... C'mon! You tell me where else you can score delicious, perfectly cooked and presented food, made with fresh local ingredients, and served happily by some nice lady or dude who isn't any weirder than yourself. Nowhere, thats where. Eat at the Kitchen. Worth every single penny, every single time. Everywhere else is just lame now.
(5)Eileen T.
RESTAURANT NINJAS!: just finished your water? Wait 5 seconds, someone will refill it! Just finished your beer? Wait 5 seconds, someone will refill it? Finished your salad? Wait 5 seconds, someone will clear your plate and bring you a new fork! Baby spinach salad is fantastic. Truffle fries are a must! Hubby's ribeye was tender and flavorful. My winter succotash was delicious!
(5)Patrick G.
My rating isn't relative to other Valpo resturants, which would give it a higher score. Overall the experience was fine, but cost too much and lasted too long. I dont mind waiting for a top notch place, but after the hour long wait (as the only party waiting) and another 45 minutes from ordering to first bite. The food was just fine.
(2)Ben W.
On our way back to Chicago after a fun day visiting friends, we decided to check Yelp and find a place for dinner. We found Valley and we are glad we tried it! The staff was attentive, fun and offered suggestions. They also accommodated a few requests for our kids. My wife had the Agnolotti with a berry salad. The pasta was delicious and the salad had an appetizing mix to match. I had the cowboy cut pork chop which was a good sized portion perfectly prepared. All of the ingredients are locally sourced and noted on a chalkboard up on the wall. Kudos to the staff (Zach and Brett and the rest)! We'll be back.
(5)Jeff H.
In Valpo for the evening for work and found this spot as a potentially good option on Yelp. It was crowded when I arrived and think there were a number of small company Christmas parties being celebrated. I found the last seat at the bar and it took the bartender about 10 minutes to finally get over to me and get me a beer. So reviews that discuss wait times are correct! Once I got my drink, things started to thin out a bit. I got the root vegetables with chicken for an entree that comes with a side salad. Salad was a bit more imaginative than just plain mixed greens, but could have used a few more veggies. But chicken and root vegetable medley was EXCELLENT. And at $17, well worth the price. None of the desserts looked great to me (I considered the Upside Down Apple Pie but I never like desserts with alcoholic sauces and this came with a rum sauce) so I settled on the S'mores. Definitely an inventive dessert. A layer of graham cracker crumbs topped by chocolate cake, topped by marshmallow fluff, all in a capped mason jar and they actually fill the top with smoke before they seal it so that when you open it you get a puff of campfire smoke! Taste didn't wow as much as the presentation. I think they need more graham cracker and less chocolate cake as a potential starting point, but was worth it to get it just for the unique presentation. If I'm in in Valpo again, I'll definitely be back. Can't be many better options in this town than this one.
(4)Ken M.
Valley K&B acquired what was formerly Strongbow. That's great news! Can't wait to see what the kitchen turns out with more resources. Front of house will present greater challenge; unresolved issues will become greater. But that's not for awhile and there's plenty of time for training and growing. Can't wait to see what happens.
(3)K J.
Great service and great food. Takes longer to serve because all cooked to order. Well worth it if you are not in a rush.
(4)Shilpa S.
We reached late and only had the limited menu with starters and desert... But the food was amazing!! We had the pumpkin soup, hazelnut baked Brie and Pecan Cobbler... And they were all to die for.... Must try! Would love to come back someday for more...
(5)Aaron I.
Thankfully Valley seems to have moved on from twice-baked potatoes with every entree. It's still pricey, but the food and ambience are excellent. Also a great place to sit at the bar have drinks and appetizers.
(4)Brittany K.
Not only my favorite restaurant in valpo. My favorite restaurant anywhere. The food is seasonal so you can always expect a new experience. The produce, glassware etc are all local or small businesses. Everything is just fresh. Fresh food, fresh atmosphere. Farm to table has never been done better.
(5)Melissa C.
Visited The Valley on an early Saturday evening with my boyfriend. We were uncomfortably welcomed by the hostess, and that's as far as my negative comments go because everything else was wonderful. Our server, Kayla, was attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. Thank you Kayla, as I am a server and know what it means to be appreciated:) We started with the fried pickle chips. I typically do not like fried pickles and quite frankly have never eaten one I've liked, but here, delicious! Next, we tried the soup of the day, Asparagus, just needed a tad more salt. Finally we shared the Spring Chicken dish, juicy, flavorful and enough for two for sure. As I'm writing this review, a staff member brought us a sample of the Salted Carmel Chocolate Tart. Wow, the perfect blend of sweet, salty, savory, crunchy and chocolatey!!!!!! We will most definitely be back with friends.
(4)Kev F.
This place is excellent! There's only one issue to contend with...It is a very loud restaurant. Other than that the food is outstanding, the service is excellent and the ambience is wonderful. I had the open face mushroom ravioli and it is easily the best vegetarian dish I've ever eaten! If you've ever been to Portland, OR, this place has a hip, Portland-esque feel to it. Will definitely come back again!
(4)Brian B.
Meals all always spot on and good... but... when the new menus come out, its always pretty much the same thing with a different ingredient... not knocking the place.. its prob the best upper scale place in town since 157 was forced to close..
(4)Mathew E.
Everything was delicious. Service was good. A little pricey compared to serving size but overall a great experience.
(5)Maja B.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Valpo. The atmosphere is easy and comfortable, and the food is delicious. Their menu changes often, but I'm always able to find something I like. Most recently, I had their steak. It came served with onion rings and triple baked mashed potatoes, which were to die for. On Sundays, kids eat free, so that's usually when we go. Definitely recommend!
(5)Micaela J.
Amazing martinis! Excellent food! Love that it's local. Constantly changing the menu depending on the season. The outdoor patio seating is great in the summer. They have a very local farm-to-fork feel with just about everything. Only thing: it's VERY expensive.
(4)Amy Z.
Most delicious dinner I've ever had. Got the walleye, which was incredible and had the spinach and asparagus soul... Also insanely good. This meal takes longer than most places only because they make everything to order, all local and fresh, so it's definitely worth it. It's a little more pricey than most quick dinners out, but the quality more than makes up for the cost. Will be coming back often!!!
(5)Edy M.
We went to Valley tonight for dinner. We ordered the truffle fries which were amazing. They are a generous portion and full of flavor. My kids had the pizza and chicken strips, and they both enjoyed their meals. My husband and I both ordered the walleye dinner. It was served with a potato cake and stir fried vegetables in a asian type coconut sauce. The flavor was extraordinary! However, and its a big however, my fish had probably 30 bones in it. My husband's had 3 which I could live with. But come on? I only ate half of my fish and every single bite I put in my mouth had one or more bones on it. My napkin was covered in fish bones. It really prevented me from enjoying my meal like I should have. When I told my server that fish hadn't been cleaned properly and about all of the bones he took my plate and told me he would tell the chef. Then when he finally came back with my bill I was charged full price. He never even apologized. I was in such shock that they feel that is acceptable I paid it and went on, but I am definitely not in a hurry to return. Also, our server was very attentive with our drink refills, but our food took forever to come out. I believe we even waited upwards of 15 minutes for 2 scoops of ice cream for our kids. I have to still give 3 stars because the flavors were so amazing. I really wish they would have rectified the situation because I really loved the food otherwise.
(3)Jo K.
Havent dined there in a while. Last night I had the Pork Chops. They were amazing!! Proabably the best I have had. My husband had the ribeye and was also really pleased. I also loved their drink menu. Very refreshing creative choices! I think they need a bigger place!
(5)Deb L.
This place has great food and a friendly atmosphere! The food is very fresh. Service is excellent. Drinks are very good also. The food is definitely worth the prices. One of the best restaurants in the area! Highly recommend. The menu is small, but everything on it is excellent. They change up the menu quite often, which is a plus. Great desserts also! Probably the best food in Valpo!!!!
(5)Samantha Z.
I love the food here and the decor. I wish there was some more out door space for dining but you can only do so much! The food has always been good. I'm a huge fan of their fried pickles and martinis are fun, tastful, and not as expensive as some other local places I've been. However service is hit or miss. I've had a couple wonderful servers but had one server who was not attentive to my table at all. (Mind you it was not busy or crowded - there were maybe 5 other tables with patrons) I probably waited around 15 minutes after he brought water to ask if we wanted to order. He was quite catty as well. "Well if you aren't going to order food I need to take the menus." And my favorite from the evening "I need you to pay to now I'll be leaving soon" Granted this is one bad experience but one bad egg in a restaurant can hurt it.
(3)Todd T.
My new favorite restaurant in Valparaiso. Consistently great service and food. I've had the ribeye and the open face ravioli. They are well-known for their truffle fries, and the reputation is well-deserved. We are lucky to have this place in Valpo, and hopefully, judging by the crowds, they will be around for a while. Try it for dinner, you won't be sorry,
(5)Nathan S.
New favorite Valpo restaurant! Have been there a handful of times and the food is always good- plus the farm to fork concept is fantastic! Also, a great selection of beer on tap. Pickle chips are an app worth trying and don't leave without getting the fried bananas or fried oreos for dessert.
(5)John H.
Service was great, as was the food. Would've given it 4 stars had it not been for two things. First, the place is noisy as hell inside. Certainly not a place for a quiet dinner. Secondly, the bar is understafffed. Had to wait a bit for our table, so decided to grab a drink. 15 minutes later, I was finally served by the single person who fufills all waitstaff orders and orders from patrons at the bar. Seems waitstaff orders (for tables) take precedence too.
(3)Margaret S.
My family met for dinner here on a Friday (all adults) and my husband and I loved it so much we returned on Sunday for dinner again! I had Blue Gill both nights and it was fabulous. I am a vegetarian who eats fish and this was the best Blue Gill I have ever had. The second night they did put bacon on it and when I told the server I wouldn't eat it she brought me a new dinner in no time. The first night we all ordered and Blue Gill and the second night we brought friends who order the steak. They were very impressed with the steak and it was cooked exactly as ordered. The potatoes are very good as others have commented. I had a grape pop martini that was tasty as well. I don't care for very sweet drinks and this martini was just right. We will be returning again and again to this restaurant
(5)Bob B.
Had supper at Valley tonight. Will not be in a hurry to return. Bluegill was plain. It did not have a sweet bluegill flavor. Potato was nothing special. Salad was some romaine mixed with iceberg. Really? Iceberg lettuce? My wife said she will try lunch but with the limited supper menu she is not in a hurry to go back either. Nice interior but not enough to bring me back in.
(3)