Here's our list of places to eat near Notre Dame University, South Bend. Whether you're a student, a tourist, or a local, you know that the area around Notre Dame Stadium has some of the best local restaurants in the city. In this guide, we've put together a list of the best restaurants near the stadium that are easy to get to before or after a game. These restaurants were chosen because they get great reviews, have unique menus, and are cozy. This guide has everything, from burgers and pizzas that will make your mouth water to authentic Mexican and Asian food. So, this guide will help you find the best restaurants near Notre Dame University, whether you want a quick bite or a sit-down meal.
For a list of hotels closest to the Notre Dame stadium, please click here
Legends of Notre Dame
Legends is now open to the public with a revamped menu and bar serving a large selection of shareables, burgers, salads, and sandwiches. The space continues to honor Notre Dame's history, legend, and lore.
Positive review
Everything about the food was great. Everyone in our group agreed with this, whether they had the Short Rib Burger, the Reuben, or the Salmon. The staff was professional and kept in touch with us just enough so we didn't feel smothered, but enough to make sure we were taken care of. This place to eat is definitely worth a visit!
Negative review
Two students joined us on Saturday night. Giant pretzels and chicken nachos were wonderful appetizers and drinks. The kale salad was bland, and the steaks were undersized and unappetizing. Yummy krinkle fries. My salad was created with salmon instead of chicken. My chicken sandwich came without aoili mayo. Even though it wasn't crowded, they put 5 of us at a booth for 4. Rohr's serves fine dining. Sports bar eats and beverages are amazing in Legends. It's fantastic for family meals but expensive for students. Glad it's back on ND's menu!
Rohr's Notre Dame
Rohr's has been reimagined as a contemporary pub, a cozy hangout where friends may enjoy light, tasty fare in a relaxed atmosphere. Think of your favorite steakhouse, and now picture it with a modern twist that features an array of fresh veggies, fish, and of course, iconic steaks. There will be some throwback touches at the new Rohr's for Notre Dame fans, as well as some exciting new offerings for those searching for variety. Enjoyable fare, friendly faces, and top-notch service. In its place stands the brand-new Rohr's.
Positive review
This place is pretty cool. The best thing is always food. Stay is very friendly and can make meals for you based on what you like. When we went there, we were on a nutrition journey, so we had a lot of rules about what we could order. They were very nice and did everything they could to meet our needs. Marie, who works there, is a real sweetheart. You are amazing.
This place is on the University campus and is almost always busy (especially on football days and days when students drop off and pick up their classes).
Make sure to book early.
After 3:30 p.m. until dinner time, the menu gets smaller. So be aware. Still, we had many options.
Negative review
I got sick from eating something bad. Rohr's is where my son and I ate dinner. We both got the salmon, and I added a small lettuce salad to my meal. Good service was given quickly (Kristen). But 4 hours after eating, I had the worst food poisoning and vomiting I've ever had. I was sick for 8 hours straight. I know that these things don't happen on purpose, but I would really like the kitchen to look at how they clean and wash food and how they keep their staff clean. The next day, I was too sick to go to the ND Admitted Student Events, and I couldn't do anything for 24 hours.
Cafe Navarre
The food at Café Navarre comes in French, Italian, and Spanish styles. The overall style is described by food that is simple, full of flavor, and good for you. The menu at Café Navarre also has more fresh fish options than most other restaurants in the area. Outside seating available.
Positive review
I recently went to this lovely restaurant and had a great meal there. We started with some great cocktails, and for an appetizer, we chose the arancini. The delicate crispness of the coating on the outside was amazing! This is the best arancini I've ever had. I chose the short ribs as my main dish, and wow.......really tasty! (Their winter menu was just made, and it's great. So many great options.) Then, for dessert, we decided to share a flourless chocolate cake. It was a little hard and might have been tastier if it was not so chilled. Maybe a bit warmer. But all in all, it was a great dinner, and Lois, our server, was so kind and helpful.
Negative review
Disappointing dinner. Despite exorbitant costs, the meal was salty, overdone, and uncreative. Many items were returned. The server was friendly, but he asked a lot of questions I wouldn't anticipate from a high-end restaurant, such "How's everything taste?" "Is everything still tasting okay?" and "Are you all doing well?" (as they claim to be and as the high menu prices suggest). We were in a booth with irritating music and poor illumination. High-back booths don't evoke fine dining, and it was awkward with our coats and my mother's cane. The host didn't welcome us or take our outerwear. He indicated the coat room close to the bathrooms. Never return.
For a list of hotels closest to the Notre Dame stadium, please click here
Chicory Cafe
This restaurant and coffee shop has a New Orleans motif and serves dishes like jambalaya and po'boys, among other local specialties.
Positive review
Great variety of food and a comfortable, laid-back atmosphere. This has a New Orleans feel, and we got the cheap, warm, and delicious Biegnets, of course. The coffee was great, the jambalaya was great, and the mac and cheese was hot and bubbling. Nothing but good things to say!
Negative review
Pretty disappointed. They wrote on the boards that they were out of a lot of things, including the day's special. Very overwhelming and hard to understand. The drinks were awful. We paid too much for the food we got. The beignets, too... What a joke. The person who took our orders didn't look clean. The music started almost an hour early, which is annoying if you want to talk to someone. Never, ever want to go back. What a muddle!
Ruth's Chris Steak House
At Ruth's Chris, we try to make it a place where families can enjoy fine dining. Our guests are not allowed to wear clothes that show their underwear, tops that show too much midriff or cleavage, offensive graphics, cut-off shorts, gym clothes, sweatpants, or tank tops. In our bar areas, you can wear hats and clothes that show support for a team. When guests come into the dining room, we kindly ask them to take off their hats. Please make sure everyone in your group knows what our rules are. Management keeps the right to decide how these rules should be understood. We appreciate that you understand and are there for us.
Positive review
As always, it was a great time. I had a ribeye with a blue cheese crust, lobster Mac and cheese, and a shrimp cocktail. And drank a Buffalo Trace whisky sour to wash it down. I can't wait until the next time I get to travel. I don't have anything like this where I live, so coming here to eat is a treat.
Negative review
The lobster bisque was ice cold and tasted awful, but I ate it because I was so hungry. The crusted pecan sweet potatoes were way too sweet. I asked for a side of bernaise sauce, but they said they didn't have any because they had already closed the kitchen after we had eaten. This was bad service. Too often, the waitress came over to try to hurry us up and get our food. If the management lets everyone leave quickly, they shouldn't take reservations after 10 p.m.
Carmela's at Macri's
Our real Italian restaurant is full of classic Italian dishes that Carmela herself came up with. Rich Italian dishes like homemade lasagna, chicken marsala, and lake perch are available for you to try. Spaghetti and arancini are hearty dishes, and chicken parmigiana is an old-world favorite. Our very own Macri's Italian Bakery is right next door, so save room for a delicious dessert! Since 1978, the same family has run the restaurant. Come to our only location in downtown South Bend for the best real Italian food.
Positive review
When I landed in South Bend, this was the first place I stopped for food and it was fantastic. This was real, homemade food, and it simply melted in your mouth. Deliciously authentic Italian flavor. As a matter of fact, I was so impressed with the bakery that I returned the following day.
Negative review
We took out two dinners and two appetizers. Dinner cost $70 and I pre-tipped. The employee was very annoyed that she had to carry our food out to us. She served us with a drink and her own food, which was unacceptable. The food was average for the price. No return.
The Lauber
A contemporary eatery located in the East Bank neighborhood that offers a dining experience that is hand-crafted and integrates South Bend's long and illustrious past with it.
Positive review
We came here with the family for dinner (5 of us). At first, it seemed like they were short-staffed because no one came to take our order for a long time. Lucky for us, Natalie pulled over and took great care of us. I had the rigatoni with chicken, and it was delicious.
Negative review
Based on the reviews, I was excited to try this place, but I was VERY let down. We had to wait at least 10 minutes before a waiter paid us any attention. We couldn't even hear the people we were with because it was so loud. All of the food was terrible. Most of the chips on the nachos were just plain chips, and the pizzas had NO toppings. I got the show stopper, which was covered in oil and had two dollops of tomato jam and a bunch of arugula on it. It was like eating arugula on soggy bread. The fries and sandwich buns were both burned.