With the first day of spring officially behind us, seasonal restaurants and drive-ins in the South Bend area are reopening. Many seasonal businesses that are reopening are actively hiring and will likely increase their hours of operation as the warmer weather becomes more consistent.
Here is a list of what drive-ins and walk-ups open.
Bonnie Doon Drive-in
Or: 2704 Lincoln Way W., Mishawaka
Famous forincluding hand-dipped sundaes, baskets of Bonnie burgers and classic car cruises.
Opening details: The drive-in aims to open in the spring, although an exact reopening date has not been specified.
Carlson Drive-In
Or: 118 W. Coolspring Avenue, Michigan City
Famous for: Gourmet hot dogs and a special root beer recipe.
Opening details:The drive-in has reopened February 11 and its hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. CDT. Orders can also be placed online at www.carlsonsdrivein.com
Drink ::Homemade root beer is not just a sign of the past
Cool races
Or: 501 Center Street, Michigan City
Famous for: Jamaican cuisine and bottled homemade jerk sauce.
Opening details:The restaurant reopened on March 8, and he plans to operate his food truck in the summer. Its hours (central time) are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Dari Fair
Or: 4012 Lincoln Way East, Mishawaka
Famous for: Soft serve ice cream, sandwiches and his famous Turtle Cone.
Opening details: The walk is still temporarily closed as operators work to rebuild the building after a water pipe froze and burst. An expected reopening date was not immediately known and readers can keep up to date by following its Facebook page.
Faulkner’s Catering BK Root Beer Drive-In
Or: 1020 Logan Street, Mishawaka
Famous for: Coney dogs, baskets of burgers and BK root beer served in frosted glass mugs.
Opening details: The drive-in reopened on March 26. Its new hours are Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Taste:Step back in time at the BK Root Beer Drive-In
Flavor gel ice cream
Or: 23834 US 33 and 1627 E. Bristol St., both in Elkhart, and 2950 Frontage Road, Warsaw
Famous for: Rotating flavors of her hand-dipped, soft-serve ice cream. Hot foods like burgers and hot dogs.
Opening details: The business reopened on March 4and its hours are Monday to Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
by Redamak
Or: 616 E. Buffalo St., New Buffalo
Famous for: Legendary burgers and Velveeta cheeseburgers that “made New Buffalo Michigan famous.”
Opening details: The restaurant will reopen on Friday April 1st. Its spring hours will be Thursday through Monday from noon to 9 p.m.
Simonton Lake Drive-In
Or: 3724 Cassopolis Street, Elkhart
Famous for: Pork tenderloins, burgers and a special root beer recipe served in a frosted glass mug. Root beer is also available in cans and take-out kegs.
Opening details: The drive-in reopened on March 7and its hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.
The ice cream chef
Or: 12479 Adams Road, Granger, and 502 W. Lincoln Ave., Goshen.
Famous for:Rotating Homemade Hand-Dipped Ice Cream Flavors. In 2012, the company won a 2012 online survey by the Indiana Office of Tourism Development and was named Indiana’s Best Ice Cream Shop. In 2015 and 2018, Thrillist.com included it on a list of the best ice cream parlors in the country, and it also regularly wins local readers’ choice awards.
Opening details: The Granger store reopened for the season on March 11 and its hours are Monday-Thursday 2-9 p.m., Friday 2-9:30 p.m., Saturday noon-9:30 p.m. and Sunday 2-9:30 p.m. The Goshen walk-in location is scheduled to reopen on April 13.
Continued:The Chief Ice Cream, based in Goshen, will open a store in Granger
Don’t see your favourite? Email me at [email protected] to let me know who opens and when. This list will be updated periodically online.
Contact Mary Shown at 574-235-6244 and [email protected] Follow her on Twitter: @maryshownSBT and @marketbasketSBT.
