The quality of the food is irrelevant because of how inhumane two of the staff members were. One was the hostess and the other was our waitress. I came here with a friend who has difficulty speaking--she can certainly speak, but it just takes her longer to express herself. She asked the hostess a question, the hostess looked her in the eye and then blatantly ignored her. The waitress did the same thing. The waitress also messed up my friend's food order and did not offer to correct it, and instead told her to box it up and that she could just eat it at home. This made my friend feel like less than a person, which in my mind, is inhumane. I would never recommend this restaurant. We have *never* had this sort of experience at any of restaurant.
(1)
Buck O.
Very fun and cool establishment for that area! Beer and most of the food was great but we were extremely disappointed in our service. My daughter ordered a grilled cheese and that wasn't good at all, I really don't order that for any child! Fish bites, burgers, chips, & sushi is what the rest of us had! Plenty of sushi to choose from & would definitely go back to try more! We will be hopefully being served by someone else!!!
(3)
Sean R.
They would have gotten 5 stars, but they are a bit over priced for what you get. The food was good, however it took a bit of time to get the food and there wasn't many people in the restaurant. They have a decent bar area to eat and drink at if you prefer that. I still can't figure out the sushi bar here. It doesn't fit in with the rest of the food and restaurant. This place was recommended by the hotel for a good local restaurant, since this place is saturated with chain places.
(4)
Adam P.
This is a pretty cool place. Great beer selection. Foods good. I like most things here but you can't go wrong with one of the burgers or Caribbean chicken sandwich. Monday is a great day here - half off sushi. Lots of selection and good quality. The chefs work right at the bar so you can see everything getting made.
(4)
Carol K.
My husband and I ate here last night. Very good meal and the waiter was friendly and attentive. The sushi description in the summary threw me off. They have a regular menu also. Rainbow trout and steak were delicious.
(4)
Todd W.
Excellent food. Great wait staff. Excellent beer selection. Awesome dessert. I will definitely come back.
(5)
Shana B.
Our first experience at Chubby Trout. Overall we had a good experience and we plan to come back again. Make advance reservations if you can.. we all tried different seafood and fish appetizers, entrees and sushi rolls. Our favorites: Ahi tuna sesame appetizer, and the Mahi special.
(4)
Corina R.
Excellent sushi!!!! Waitress was a bit slow getting our drinks but other than...excellent!!!
(5)
Alisia A.
Visited this location while visiting a company in Elkhart. When we drove walked in I was a little hesitant but once we sat down and really looked around I began to really like it. I ordered the Special Of The Day which was Sesame Chicken Stir-Fry which was amazing! I hope they end up putting it on the menu because it was really good. The service was really good as well. The server was very attentive with us and always made sure we had everything we needed.
(4)
Crystal B.
Great food! Calamari strip appetizer was the best! Highly recommend. Sushi excellent also! Good beer selection.
(5)
Timothy W.
BEst FOOD in Elkhart, Best Sushi, too!
(5)
Joleen K.
Relaxing and casual atmosphere. I've had great service 95% of the time and have always enjoyed the food...can you say awesome carrot cake!
(4)
Chandrea O.
Recently decided to give them another try on their Sushi menu. Overall, not too bad. Now they serve Sushi throughout the week, so I'm able to fulfill some sort of craving. I definitely recommend the Hot Mama and Spicy Salmon roll.
(4)
Matthew M.
Wanted this place to be better than it turned out to be; alas. I guess sushi in northern Indiana is too good to be true. They were out of miso soup, which was quite disappointing to my vegetarian daughter, and there were no simple vegetable rolls on the menu, so she ended up eating grilled cheese with edamame on the side. What kind of sushi restaurant is out of miso soup? I take this as a warning that most customers don't venture to that side of the menu. Along the same vein, I ordered the seaweed salad, and it seemed -- I'm not sure... out of a can? Not fresh? Definitely chewier than expected. I got the spicy tuna and chicago rolls, and they were... well, they weren't terrible. Sushi miles from an ocean. The actual fish was good, but the total combination didn't add up. Wasabi was really, really weak, too. Also worth noting that these are large inside-out style rolls (uramaki) made with lots of rice (a thicker layer than I think I've seen anywhere), so I ended up quite full. (How does that joke go? "The food wasn't very good, and there was too much of it.") But meanwhile, my parents both ordered cooked fish dishes, and those seemed really good. Very attractive presentation, and nicely prepared. Oh, and I should add that the daily special, (raw) ahi tuna tostadas, were _awesome_ -- delicious and beautiful with edible flowers on top. Other observations: my daughter's first remark was that the place smelled funny, and she was right (smelled kind of like lingering tar from years of cigarettes?) so we sat outside, which was nice, although the ambiance is more "tables along the parking lot" than "nice restaurant". Service was quite detached and relaxed -- we didn't see our server for many long stretches (and I'm not quite sure of the system -- it seemed like each of the half-dozen outside tables had a _different_ server?). And she was nice enough, but not particularly friendly or attentive or have much to say (we had to ask if there were any specials). If we were in a hurry, or really looking to be treated to friendly service, that would have been irritating, but we weren't. So, bottom line here is that there's some good stuff, but don't get your hopes up about the sushi -- or the atmosphere.
(3)
Shanna M.
I love coming here for the 1/2 price sushi on Mondays. The idea of this place if a little funny. They serve American style seafood and with a name like Chubby Trout I was expecting your usual fried clams and white fish but the Sushi here is AWESOME. It is always delicious and they have a wide variety of sashimi and dozens of different styles of rolls. One top of the great food they have a really good selection of beer and mixed drinks.
(4)
Renee S.
Cody has left and Chef Gilberto is on top of the Sushi tonight and rocking it out!!! I'm sad Cody left, he was phenomenal. Gilberto smiles a lot. :)
(4)
Lyndon P.
Meh.....I had heard great things but our experience was just that...ok. Service was ok, food was ok, price was a little steep (had the walleye which was also just ok) but it's seafood, that's how it rolls. Maybe if we were sushi bar eaters we would have liked it better, but wife and I talked about it later and both think it's the way the place is set up, not sure how to describe it but just.....ok.
(2)
Marc G.
What a great find! My colleague and I stumbled upon this restaurant based upon a flyer in our hotel lobby. I'm so glad that we did. Drinks, food, and service were all excellent. The atmosphere is very unique - it looks and feels like a small-town neighborhood bar, but has a sushi bar right in the middle! I was slightly skeptical of ordering sushi in a bar in the middle of Indiana, but the rolls sounded so good, and what the heck, you only live once right? The sushi rolls I had tasted fresh and were well-executed. I would highly recommend the Chicago roll! My colleague got a seafood entree, and she thoroughly enjoyed it as well. The staff was very friendly, and offered us some great suggestions from both the food and drink menus. As for the drinks, they were great, and not unreasonably priced. They had an interesting selection of dessert drinks that my colleague indulged in, and she seemed quite happy with her choice! All in all I very much enjoyed my dinner at the Chubby Trout, and will definitely be back next time I find myself in the Elkhart area!
(4)
Chrissy B.
Solid restaurant with a great fish selection. I was told that this is the place you want to get sushi at in Elkhart, and it's excellent. Mondays is half priced sushi night, and they don't accept reservations after 6pm that night, and expect a wait. Weekends you'll want a reservation, but other weeknights you should be fine. Excellent beer selection.
(4)
Serena D.
We recently had our company Christmas party at Chubby Trout. First off they were the first local restaurant who was more than happy to have our group for the evening. They set us up in a corner for the party. Our waitress was excellent, food was delicious and i now have a favorite new beer. We will be back!!
(5)
Leslie C.
Fantastic sushi!!! We tried 6 different rolls and loved each one of them! Will defiantly go back and try the rest of the menu:)
(5)
M K.
it looked like a fun place with a decent size bar a little upscale then what I would've thought , I ordered the sushi when I got there they had to re-do waited almost 20 minutes for that and I was so surprised when I got it it was two very small rolls not worth the 20$ I paid for.
(3)
L R.
Terrible service. My sushi took over 40 to come out and came out well after the rest of my tables food. I got an apology but no compensation. The sushi was ok... Tons of rice and hardly any avocado or crab. My friends wrap was all lettuce and fell apart. My moms chicken sandwich was served on a soggy piece of bread. Cocktails were watered down. We ordered a second side of pita for our dip and never got it
(1)
Angie B.
We had dinner 2x and let's just say both times we received food poison . We will NEVER go back. Go at your own risk
(1)
M. Chris D.
Average- fish is very fried and over cooked- sushi was missing - everything - fish and rice is not sushi- I had three rolls- they were alllllll the same?? Sad- big drinks! That's a plus- prices were decent -
(3)
Derek Z.
First time eating here and I was tempted by The "Buffalo Bill", a bison burger with spicy mayo and pepper jack cheese. I ordered it medium rare and it was cooked correctly which I appreciate, as opposed to places that ask but then it just ends up being whenever they remember to get it off the grill. The spicy mayo added an good and interesting and nicely added another facet of flavor to the bison. Also I recommend upgrading the side from chips to fries- they were freshly fried, crispy, and hot. Overall a well done and presented meal, the menu has other delicious sounding sandwiches as well. The only downside was service was a bit slow, drinks were empty for a bit, however the waitress was very nice and it was a busy lunch time. I will be back.
(4)
E.S. K.
It's ok. We come here on occasion such as when I'm craving sushi but we don't want to go to an Asian grill. I've had other things from the menu and it's all ok but I typically get the sushi. I always leave hungry though because the sushi is so expensive and small portioned compared to other places. I just stick to 1 roll because I can't see spending upwards of $30 for just two rolls. Basically the food is good but overpriced. Nothing will wow you but nothing is terrible. Except the pretzels and the calamari. Those are terrible. A big negative about the place though are the acoustics. It's a very small place and there are usually several large parties that get very loud. I can never hear my date. They put up acoustic panels but it didn't really do anything to dampen the sound. If you're on a date and you're lucky you will be put on the west side of the restaurant which just has a couple booths all by themselves. If you're not lucky I hope you can read lips.
(3)
Phillip W.
Thank you, fellow Yelpers. We've been on the road for hundreds of miles...it's tough finding decent places in unfamiliar areas. We just had delicious, well-cooked burgers and excellent draft beers. The burgers were flavorful -- better than the one I had the other night in Nebraska, a place that prides itself on the quality of its beef -- so I am pleased. The draft beer selection was excellent: IPAs, pilsners...something for everyone. I had a great IPA from Kalamazoo. My wife had a Green Flash IPA. The service was actually friendly and helpful...I say actually because we currently live in an area that is overrun with tourists and dominated by lackluster restaurants that feature servers who think they're too cool to deal with us regular humans. So we're happy. And back on the road. Thanks, Chubby Trout! (BTW, great name).
(5)
David B.
Grilled ahi tuna outstanding. Chubby margaritas over the top great place great food.
(5)
Michael L.
Good stuff. Great beer selection. Good atmosphere. Good food. A little pricy but I would go again and probably again. Sat on the patio which lacks a little in the way of scenery which consists of a parking lot and a busy road but enjoyed the meal regardless. Service was really good.
(5)
Mary W.
Awesome! Did not expect this at all! Was visiting from out of town and saw the reviews and the enticing menu. The parking lot seemed full at 545 on a Monday night. I got the seafood linguini which was made to perfection! The service was quick. The server Makena was on the spot!
(5)
Mark M.
Very nice servers and the fish was excellent. The prices were reasonable for the food but the building and interior is old and outdated.
(4)
Joel B.
I don't eat sushi, so it took me a while to try this place. (Yes, I have tried it. No, I don't like it.) Once I finally tried this place I was pleasantly surprised to find their menu includes far more than sushi. I am not a fan of onion rings, but I tried theirs once when entertaining a client here and now I have to get them every time I come. My favorite thing to get is their Caribbean Chicken Sandwich. Few places can pull off a juicy chicken sandwich like this one. If you are looking for some place local to eat that is not your standard chain restaurant... this is a Great place to eat! (The only reason I could not give Chubby Trout a perfect 5 Stars is because every once in a while service has been a little slower than desired, but that is the exception more often than the rule.)
(4)
Kelly D.
I did not want to like this place. I've had sushi in many different locations and thought there was no way there would be acceptable sushi in Elkhart, Indiana. In fact we tried to go to another sushi place first but were turned away when the restaurant had bar-only seating available. Sushi at a place called The Chubby Trout? And the Comic Sans-esque typeface all over the restaurant?? Boy was I wrong. The sushi was fresh and delicious, and the Chicago Roll...tempura jalapeno and hot sauce and cream cheese...it was an incredible roll. The service was quick, and even the edamame was mind blowing. I was beyond happy with the sushi here, although it was a bit pricey. The only thing that almost knocked a star off was the wait staff. Upon walking in, the hostess and the other girls walking around waiting tables had a bit of a Mean Girls air about them. I commented to my friend that I felt like I was back in high school and these were the girls at the cool table that wouldn't have talked to me. Luckily I got over my 'not good enough for you' status and enjoyed some of the best sushi I've ever had!
(5)
Ty W.
We have started to go to a different restaurant in the area every Friday night! We arrived at chubby trout and were told it would be a 20 minute wait which we said fine we' ll go to the bar and have a drink, it was more like a 40 minute wait! Almost ate at the bar! Ordered appetizer called ? Baba shrimp which were good - a little on the Luke warm side,but edible. Main dish being a shrimp wrap which tasted like the appetizer was good. But, the best of all was the carrot cake for dessert, recommend you order for at least 4 people to eat. I think next time we' ll go for dessert only!!!'m
(4)
jeff h.
I had the Thai noodles with shrimp special for lunch and the crusted walleye for dinner and they were both excellent. The place was loaded with people eating sushi. I wish I had a chance to try it, but I was only there for a couple of days. This is probably the best place to go in the area. It came highly regarded and it was deserved.
(5)
Chris J.
We went here with friends last night and I really liked what I ordered (The Two Drunken Pigs...Two pork chops) because it was the best cooked meat that I've had in a long time. This was a solid portion of meat the potatoes and greens were nice. The thing that concerned me is that the atmosphere and menu seemed disjointed. I get the sort of fish shack story of the name and the pictures of Elkhart of old on the walls. I think that all seems to go well with the first part of the menu; the sushi part seems out of place. Sushi reminds me of a minimalist space; this is a cluttered yet homey place. My partner had the sushi and she didn't think that it was anything special (along with the spring rolls). The time to get out meal was a little long (maybe an hour), but the staff was generally friendly and the bread was a nice thing to nibble on while we waited.
(3)
Terrie M.
Outstanding find. Close to turnpike. Great service. Unique menu. Moderately priced. We loved it and will go back when on the road and passing through. Skip the chain restaurant, this is so much more & better meal.
(5)
Thomas K.
This place is a little overhyped in my opinion. The sushi is not buttery and soft sushi you would expect at a Japanese sushi bar. The pieces are also pretty small. On my last visit, I had a seared tuna salad. The greens were fresh, but tuna was mediocre. They serve huge desserts that could easily feed 3+ people. Service was decent. Overall a decent restaurant... Perhaps one of the better ones in Elkhart given the limited options, but nothing to write home about.
(3)
Pete T.
Had a group dinner here and was surprised to find a sushi chef. Sushi was as good. Service was a little slow, but we were a large group (14). Some tried the Chubby Trout, thought it was good. I tried the gumbo, not a classic gumbo but very flavorful and a good sized portion. Crab cakes, seared ahi appetizer, and drunken shrimp all disappeared quickly, because they were good. I don't visit Elkhart often, but I'd come back to try more.
(3)
Paul J.
I seriously want to know when all of you have been to the Trout - I mean, I have been here about 15 times and everytime I have been the service has been poor, poor, and poor. The service notwithstanding, the food is outstanding. These guys also own the Lake Shore Grill joint just down the road on Cassopolis in Elkhart. If you want very good fried fish, an outstanding beer draught selection, and far superior service, go there. Why they cannot replicate the service at their other place is beyond me. You might ask why I keep coming back? I work 2 minutes away and the food is great. After my first 5 experiences, I never go as the initiator, but I go willingly. :)
(3)
Sherry H.
Our experience was good. Sushi was good for the price during Monday 1/2 price day, but definitely not the best in Elkhart.
(4)
Brian J.
Over the last year or so, Chubbys has quickly moved up on our list of favorites. Excellent Service, Food and Drinks. Sushi has come a long way since my first review.
(5)
Eliza M.
When in Elkhart, dine here. Decent selection of draft beers--Founders, Oberon, New Belgium and more. The menu includes burgers, steaks, seafood, and --- sushi, which was a little weird for me. We tried the lobster pasta special, walleye, and trout. All were good and the portions were on the larger size. The chocolate cake dessert was the biggest dessert I've seen for ($7?) $8 in a long time. It was basically 2 pieces of cake with scoops of ice cream and whipped cream. Four people could have easily split it. Our waitress was young and perky. I would definitely eat here again when in town and avoid the chains (Applebee's, Red Lobster, Texas Roadhouse).
(4)
Erik L.
Excellent little local place. Just happened to see a 10% off coupon at my hotel and was intrigued by the name. Checked out the Yelp reviews and decided to give it a try while in the area for the weekend. Excellent sushi and a variety of California and other types of rolls. Eclectic mix of menu items that run the gamut steak to seafood with pasta too. Service was a little slow, but the place was slammed at the time we arrived. The Great selection of craft beers kept me entertained!
(4)
Nick C.
My favorite lunch place in Elkhart. Great service. Menu is just the right size. Food is excellent for the price!
(4)
Rob C.
We had dinner there on friday night and service was terrible!!! Over an hour went by after placing our order before our food arrived and it was cold!!!!! Really!!! We had the citrus salmon and Red Dragon roll. It was busy but not full. Drinks were hard to come by our server seemed to be too busy to fill our drinks. We did not have a good experience. Best of luck to anyone going.
(1)
Starr R.
This is a place that I want to be great, but the experience is often mixed. It's a really lively and LOUD atmosphere. A fun place to stop for a beer, with an excellent selection on tap. But the service can be mixed. One busy night we sat at the bar near the sushi chef. We ordered sushi - we never got it after about an hour wait. I can't really remember anything I ate there except the edamame appetizer. Another summer night we were seated in the back and the air was so cold, we opted to sit outside. This place has potential, but it's not there yet.
(3)
Laurie H.
The home cut chips are tremendous! Large beer selection available on tap. I had a cod poorboy. I'd have it again, but I would not rant to my friends about it. The calamari appetizer was exceptional. I think it's the best I've ever had. The sauce is divine - like a smokey New Orleans remoulade. The calamari was incredibly tender. My partner had the lake perch basket. It was quite delicate and flavorful. The fries were ok. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Becca G.
When your fiance's 77 year old grandmother tells you she's taking you out to dinner, you get ready to roll with the punches. Apparently Granny was well informed and I was pleasantly surprised by the Chubby Trout. I had the Mahi-Mahi sandwich and it was well prepared, if not just a bit small. My fiance had the moo-cow steak and while it wasn't anything extraordinary, it was cooked to order and served hot. His grandmother and aunt had fish baskets, although they were a bit expensive for fried fish, the breading was crisp and the fish tender. My only real complaint was with the fries. You can tell a lot about a restaurant by it's fries... A well done fry shows a true commitment to quality on even the most basic of restaurant staples. The Chubby Trout's fries were all stuck together, over fried and extremely over salted. The Chubby Trout seems like a great neighborhood hangout and I would go back on my next visit to try the sushi. Great atmosphere, I especially like the large black and white picture of the bustling metropolis of Elkhart in 1914!
(3)
LeRoy D.
Excellent experience. Waitress staff pleasant and efficient. Solid recommendations. Good calamari with great spicy cajun sauce, perch tender and moist, cajun pasta spicy and abundant. Beer selection wonderful. Will stop by when passing through every time. No need to look further.
(5)
Steve G.
Food is pretty good, but the beer menu is excellent. Spotty service when dining. I wish the Sushi portions were a bit larger, considering the price.
(4)
Brenda R.
I really LOVED the spinach artichoke dip. Would eat here a lot more if I lived here (instead of Texas: It's just too far to drop in from there!). The menu had a great selection... Service was great too.
(5)
Tim D.
Nice place with very good food. I had a filet mignon and the salmon with sweet mustard sauce. Both were excellent and cooked perfectly to order. I would recommend (great sushi selection, though we didn't order any last night). Our server (Hillary) was fantastic. Easily ranks in the best service I've ever had anywhere. We will definitely be returning to explore more of the menu.
(5)
Susan M.
Visiting from Texas, great menu, great food, good service. Hubby had te chubby trout and recommends it, we also loved the crab bisque, the steak, and the mahi mahi grilled sandwich.
(4)
David M.
I also travel, quite a bit, for my job and often ask the for a restaurant suggestion, at the front desk of the hotel. Often I am disappointed. NOT THIS TIME. It is only a 1 mile or so from the Hampton Inn and the gal, at the front desk, was right now. She new the menu cold and talked up the vast beer list! I had the swordfish special with roasted garlic, green beans, and crispy fries. My friend had the unusual combination of seard tuna and their three cheese, cheese sandwich...all great. Ashley, the manager, was very attentive and I cannot say enough good thngs about The Chubby Trout. I wish I had more work scheduled in Elkhart so I could sample more of the menu.
(5)
Sarah T.
We were visiting family in the area, and I located Chubby Trout on Yelp. Overall, a 4 star for the food. We have the walleye, which was good. Another in our group had sushi, and we all tried a roll - also very good. Service was friendly and attentive, but it was a very busy Friday night and food was slow to arrive...we didn't mind much as it allowed us time to visit. Expect a noisy bar like atmosphere. I would go back.
(4)
Sarah H.
This restaurant is always at the top of my list when we are brainstorming. Excellent menu. A breath of fresh air in the middle of chain restaurant hell.
(5)
Rachel S.
We met friends here on Feb 19. We had 2 appetizers, onion rings and hot chicken skewers. Both are made from scratch and were very good. I ate the almond crusted walleye, fabulous. My husband had fried perch; it was tender and not oily. The couple we were with had fried blue gill, and the special which was tilapia with a remoulade sauce. All the food was tender, juicy and had really good flavor. I've been to too many restaurants that reuse oil and don't change or filter it regularly. It was like everything was fried fresh and separate. We're definitely going back. They also had a full sushi menu, other seafood, and numerous micro brews. The portions were big.
(5)
E. W.
Friendly, well-meaning, though inexperienced staff. Ahi appetizer and miso soup were delish, pasta was so-so, creme brulee tasty. By far the best choice in area over-run with chain restos.
(3)
Pam B.
The almond crusted walleye is delicious! Anytime I make it to Elkhart, I make sure to stop in and enjoy this speciality. I look forward to this treat the entire trip from Vermont. I can't comment on any other menu item, because this is the only dish we ever order. Why mess with perfection? Today's experience was no exception. P. S. If you are there at lunch time, and it is not on the menu, just ask they will make it for you.
(5)
Kate O.
Fun And tasty menu. Great service. Nice atmosphere. Good beer selection. Good for the whole family. Can't wait to go back. The Drunken Pigs were tender and yummy!
(5)
Jerry F.
This place is the best. Loved the different sushi. The Chubby Trout dish is awesome. A must. Wait staff is knowledgeable. A little pricy but extremely worth it. Also many different exotic brews to choose from.
(4)
MK S.
If I can, I'd give the sushi 3 stars. The rolls were a little on the small side, especially for the price of average of $10 each roll, but they were tasty. I would definitely come back when they have half-off ($) sushi specials. Good ambiance, try to have a reservation since the restaurant is a little small and popular during the weekend. Good burgers, good service. We'll be back. :)
(4)
Travis P.
This was a much better restaurant than I expected to find in a midwestern city the size of Elkhart. I came here while in town for business. I suggest disregarding the negative reviews of the building itself, or the decor. Some of the best restaurants in the U.S. are total holes-in-the wall, but this one certainly isn't. In fact, it's a decent place for a casual family or business dinner, or a date. Lots of servers in the place on a Monday night, and a very good crowd. They have a great selection of microbrews on tap, including local Northern Indiana ones. The calamari appetizer was great, but be prepared for some serious garlic breath if you eat the sauce that comes with it. I had the Gumbo as my entree and while it was expertly prepared and really delicious, it was NOT Gumbo. It was not roux-based, and in fact there was no broth at all. It much more closely resembled Jambalaya or a sausage and tomato creole sauce over wild rice, with grilled shrimp on top. Like I said, it was delicious, and I'm a pretty discriminating eater of cajun/creole food. But it wasn't gumbo.
(4)
Christina S.
This was such a wonderful find! I travel a lot and put this into my GPS so I won't forget where it was. I'm writting this a month later and don't remember what I had but it was grand and I will go back!
(5)
Terry M.
The Chubby Trout has become the unofficial hangout for my friends. I appreciate their selection of craft beers, including many regional varieties. Their menu features burgers, sandwiches, steaks and pasta entrees. They're one of the few places in Elkhart County that serve sushi and it's pretty good, though I have a limited sample size with which to compare. Their location is nondescript -- they're around the corner from a busy commercial corridor, but they shine nonetheless.
(4)
Adam P.
I have been all over the country for business and every town I work in I try to find a family owned restaurant that is a one of a kind place. The Chubby Trout, in my opinion, is one of the best local family owned restaurants i have ever been to. The staff is extremely nice and accommodating. On Monday's they have half price sushi! Very very good! I have also had the New orleans pasta! Extremely well done!
(5)
Jessica S.
I went here when I was down in Indiana for work. We drove into the back and at first were not sure if we wanted to eat there. After we finally figured out how to get in it was great. Casual and you could tell full of locals. I think they were trying to figure out who were were. I of course had to have the "chubby trout" on the menu because that's what they are known for. The food was good everyone at the table enjoyed what they had. I'm glad when I was down there someone recommended it.
(4)
Kinsey W.
The chubby trout is pretty good but the portions are a little bit small. It was also very cold in the restaurant. I hope that their new restaurant, The Fat Tomato, is better.
(4)
Buck O.
Very fun and cool establishment for that area! Beer and most of the food was great but we were extremely disappointed in our service. My daughter ordered a grilled cheese and that wasn't good at all, I really don't order that for any child! Fish bites, burgers, chips, & sushi is what the rest of us had! Plenty of sushi to choose from & would definitely go back to try more! We will be hopefully being served by someone else!!!
(3)
Lyndon P.
Meh.....I had heard great things but our experience was just that...ok. Service was ok, food was ok, price was a little steep (had the walleye which was also just ok) but it's seafood, that's how it rolls. Maybe if we were sushi bar eaters we would have liked it better, but wife and I talked about it later and both think it's the way the place is set up, not sure how to describe it but just.....ok.
(2)
Taylor F.
The quality of the food is irrelevant because of how inhumane two of the staff members were. One was the hostess and the other was our waitress. I came here with a friend who has difficulty speaking--she can certainly speak, but it just takes her longer to express herself. She asked the hostess a question, the hostess looked her in the eye and then blatantly ignored her. The waitress did the same thing. The waitress also messed up my friend's food order and did not offer to correct it, and instead told her to box it up and that she could just eat it at home. This made my friend feel like less than a person, which in my mind, is inhumane. I would never recommend this restaurant. We have *never* had this sort of experience at any of restaurant.
(1)
Chrissy B.
Solid restaurant with a great fish selection. I was told that this is the place you want to get sushi at in Elkhart, and it's excellent. Mondays is half priced sushi night, and they don't accept reservations after 6pm that night, and expect a wait. Weekends you'll want a reservation, but other weeknights you should be fine. Excellent beer selection.
(4)
Serena D.
We recently had our company Christmas party at Chubby Trout. First off they were the first local restaurant who was more than happy to have our group for the evening. They set us up in a corner for the party. Our waitress was excellent, food was delicious and i now have a favorite new beer. We will be back!!
(5)
Leslie C.
Fantastic sushi!!! We tried 6 different rolls and loved each one of them! Will defiantly go back and try the rest of the menu:)
(5)
M K.
it looked like a fun place with a decent size bar a little upscale then what I would've thought , I ordered the sushi when I got there they had to re-do waited almost 20 minutes for that and I was so surprised when I got it it was two very small rolls not worth the 20$ I paid for.
(3)
L R.
Terrible service. My sushi took over 40 to come out and came out well after the rest of my tables food. I got an apology but no compensation. The sushi was ok... Tons of rice and hardly any avocado or crab. My friends wrap was all lettuce and fell apart. My moms chicken sandwich was served on a soggy piece of bread. Cocktails were watered down. We ordered a second side of pita for our dip and never got it
(1)
Angie B.
We had dinner 2x and let's just say both times we received food poison . We will NEVER go back. Go at your own risk
(1)
M. Chris D.
Average- fish is very fried and over cooked- sushi was missing - everything - fish and rice is not sushi- I had three rolls- they were alllllll the same?? Sad- big drinks! That's a plus- prices were decent -
(3)
Chandrea O.
Recently decided to give them another try on their Sushi menu. Overall, not too bad. Now they serve Sushi throughout the week, so I'm able to fulfill some sort of craving. I definitely recommend the Hot Mama and Spicy Salmon roll.
(4)
Alisia A.
Visited this location while visiting a company in Elkhart. When we drove walked in I was a little hesitant but once we sat down and really looked around I began to really like it. I ordered the Special Of The Day which was Sesame Chicken Stir-Fry which was amazing! I hope they end up putting it on the menu because it was really good. The service was really good as well. The server was very attentive with us and always made sure we had everything we needed.
(4)
Matthew M.
Wanted this place to be better than it turned out to be; alas. I guess sushi in northern Indiana is too good to be true. They were out of miso soup, which was quite disappointing to my vegetarian daughter, and there were no simple vegetable rolls on the menu, so she ended up eating grilled cheese with edamame on the side. What kind of sushi restaurant is out of miso soup? I take this as a warning that most customers don't venture to that side of the menu. Along the same vein, I ordered the seaweed salad, and it seemed -- I'm not sure... out of a can? Not fresh? Definitely chewier than expected. I got the spicy tuna and chicago rolls, and they were... well, they weren't terrible. Sushi miles from an ocean. The actual fish was good, but the total combination didn't add up. Wasabi was really, really weak, too. Also worth noting that these are large inside-out style rolls (uramaki) made with lots of rice (a thicker layer than I think I've seen anywhere), so I ended up quite full. (How does that joke go? "The food wasn't very good, and there was too much of it.") But meanwhile, my parents both ordered cooked fish dishes, and those seemed really good. Very attractive presentation, and nicely prepared. Oh, and I should add that the daily special, (raw) ahi tuna tostadas, were _awesome_ -- delicious and beautiful with edible flowers on top. Other observations: my daughter's first remark was that the place smelled funny, and she was right (smelled kind of like lingering tar from years of cigarettes?) so we sat outside, which was nice, although the ambiance is more "tables along the parking lot" than "nice restaurant". Service was quite detached and relaxed -- we didn't see our server for many long stretches (and I'm not quite sure of the system -- it seemed like each of the half-dozen outside tables had a _different_ server?). And she was nice enough, but not particularly friendly or attentive or have much to say (we had to ask if there were any specials). If we were in a hurry, or really looking to be treated to friendly service, that would have been irritating, but we weren't. So, bottom line here is that there's some good stuff, but don't get your hopes up about the sushi -- or the atmosphere.
(3)
Shanna M.
I love coming here for the 1/2 price sushi on Mondays. The idea of this place if a little funny. They serve American style seafood and with a name like Chubby Trout I was expecting your usual fried clams and white fish but the Sushi here is AWESOME. It is always delicious and they have a wide variety of sashimi and dozens of different styles of rolls. One top of the great food they have a really good selection of beer and mixed drinks.
(4)
Renee S.
Cody has left and Chef Gilberto is on top of the Sushi tonight and rocking it out!!! I'm sad Cody left, he was phenomenal. Gilberto smiles a lot. :)
(4)
Sean R.
They would have gotten 5 stars, but they are a bit over priced for what you get. The food was good, however it took a bit of time to get the food and there wasn't many people in the restaurant. They have a decent bar area to eat and drink at if you prefer that. I still can't figure out the sushi bar here. It doesn't fit in with the rest of the food and restaurant. This place was recommended by the hotel for a good local restaurant, since this place is saturated with chain places.
(4)
Adam P.
This is a pretty cool place. Great beer selection. Foods good. I like most things here but you can't go wrong with one of the burgers or Caribbean chicken sandwich. Monday is a great day here - half off sushi. Lots of selection and good quality. The chefs work right at the bar so you can see everything getting made.
(4)
Carol K.
My husband and I ate here last night. Very good meal and the waiter was friendly and attentive. The sushi description in the summary threw me off. They have a regular menu also. Rainbow trout and steak were delicious.
(4)
Todd W.
Excellent food. Great wait staff. Excellent beer selection. Awesome dessert. I will definitely come back.
(5)
Shana B.
Our first experience at Chubby Trout. Overall we had a good experience and we plan to come back again. Make advance reservations if you can.. we all tried different seafood and fish appetizers, entrees and sushi rolls. Our favorites: Ahi tuna sesame appetizer, and the Mahi special.
(4)
Corina R.
Excellent sushi!!!! Waitress was a bit slow getting our drinks but other than...excellent!!!
(5)
Crystal B.
Great food! Calamari strip appetizer was the best! Highly recommend. Sushi excellent also! Good beer selection.
(5)
Derek Z.
First time eating here and I was tempted by The "Buffalo Bill", a bison burger with spicy mayo and pepper jack cheese. I ordered it medium rare and it was cooked correctly which I appreciate, as opposed to places that ask but then it just ends up being whenever they remember to get it off the grill. The spicy mayo added an good and interesting and nicely added another facet of flavor to the bison. Also I recommend upgrading the side from chips to fries- they were freshly fried, crispy, and hot. Overall a well done and presented meal, the menu has other delicious sounding sandwiches as well. The only downside was service was a bit slow, drinks were empty for a bit, however the waitress was very nice and it was a busy lunch time. I will be back.
(4)
E.S. K.
It's ok. We come here on occasion such as when I'm craving sushi but we don't want to go to an Asian grill. I've had other things from the menu and it's all ok but I typically get the sushi. I always leave hungry though because the sushi is so expensive and small portioned compared to other places. I just stick to 1 roll because I can't see spending upwards of $30 for just two rolls. Basically the food is good but overpriced. Nothing will wow you but nothing is terrible. Except the pretzels and the calamari. Those are terrible. A big negative about the place though are the acoustics. It's a very small place and there are usually several large parties that get very loud. I can never hear my date. They put up acoustic panels but it didn't really do anything to dampen the sound. If you're on a date and you're lucky you will be put on the west side of the restaurant which just has a couple booths all by themselves. If you're not lucky I hope you can read lips.
(3)
Phillip W.
Thank you, fellow Yelpers. We've been on the road for hundreds of miles...it's tough finding decent places in unfamiliar areas. We just had delicious, well-cooked burgers and excellent draft beers. The burgers were flavorful -- better than the one I had the other night in Nebraska, a place that prides itself on the quality of its beef -- so I am pleased. The draft beer selection was excellent: IPAs, pilsners...something for everyone. I had a great IPA from Kalamazoo. My wife had a Green Flash IPA. The service was actually friendly and helpful...I say actually because we currently live in an area that is overrun with tourists and dominated by lackluster restaurants that feature servers who think they're too cool to deal with us regular humans. So we're happy. And back on the road. Thanks, Chubby Trout! (BTW, great name).
(5)
David B.
Grilled ahi tuna outstanding. Chubby margaritas over the top great place great food.
(5)
Michael L.
Good stuff. Great beer selection. Good atmosphere. Good food. A little pricy but I would go again and probably again. Sat on the patio which lacks a little in the way of scenery which consists of a parking lot and a busy road but enjoyed the meal regardless. Service was really good.
(5)
Mary W.
Awesome! Did not expect this at all! Was visiting from out of town and saw the reviews and the enticing menu. The parking lot seemed full at 545 on a Monday night. I got the seafood linguini which was made to perfection! The service was quick. The server Makena was on the spot!
(5)
Mark M.
Very nice servers and the fish was excellent. The prices were reasonable for the food but the building and interior is old and outdated.
(4)
Marc G.
What a great find! My colleague and I stumbled upon this restaurant based upon a flyer in our hotel lobby. I'm so glad that we did. Drinks, food, and service were all excellent. The atmosphere is very unique - it looks and feels like a small-town neighborhood bar, but has a sushi bar right in the middle! I was slightly skeptical of ordering sushi in a bar in the middle of Indiana, but the rolls sounded so good, and what the heck, you only live once right? The sushi rolls I had tasted fresh and were well-executed. I would highly recommend the Chicago roll! My colleague got a seafood entree, and she thoroughly enjoyed it as well. The staff was very friendly, and offered us some great suggestions from both the food and drink menus. As for the drinks, they were great, and not unreasonably priced. They had an interesting selection of dessert drinks that my colleague indulged in, and she seemed quite happy with her choice! All in all I very much enjoyed my dinner at the Chubby Trout, and will definitely be back next time I find myself in the Elkhart area!
(4)
Phillip W.
Thank you, fellow Yelpers. We've been on the road for hundreds of miles...it's tough finding decent places in unfamiliar areas. We just had delicious, well-cooked burgers and excellent draft beers. The burgers were flavorful -- better than the one I had the other night in Nebraska, a place that prides itself on the quality of its beef -- so I am pleased. The draft beer selection was excellent: IPAs, pilsners...something for everyone. I had a great IPA from Kalamazoo. My wife had a Green Flash IPA. The service was actually friendly and helpful...I say actually because we currently live in an area that is overrun with tourists and dominated by lackluster restaurants that feature servers who think they're too cool to deal with us regular humans. So we're happy. And back on the road. Thanks, Chubby Trout! (BTW, great name).
(5)
David B.
Grilled ahi tuna outstanding. Chubby margaritas over the top great place great food.
(5)
Adam P.
This is a pretty cool place. Great beer selection. Foods good. I like most things here but you can't go wrong with one of the burgers or Caribbean chicken sandwich. Monday is a great day here - half off sushi. Lots of selection and good quality. The chefs work right at the bar so you can see everything getting made.
(4)
Carol K.
My husband and I ate here last night. Very good meal and the waiter was friendly and attentive. The sushi description in the summary threw me off. They have a regular menu also. Rainbow trout and steak were delicious.
(4)
Todd W.
Excellent food. Great wait staff. Excellent beer selection. Awesome dessert. I will definitely come back.
(5)
Alisia A.
Visited this location while visiting a company in Elkhart. When we drove walked in I was a little hesitant but once we sat down and really looked around I began to really like it. I ordered the Special Of The Day which was Sesame Chicken Stir-Fry which was amazing! I hope they end up putting it on the menu because it was really good. The service was really good as well. The server was very attentive with us and always made sure we had everything we needed.
(4)
Taylor F.
The quality of the food is irrelevant because of how inhumane two of the staff members were. One was the hostess and the other was our waitress. I came here with a friend who has difficulty speaking--she can certainly speak, but it just takes her longer to express herself. She asked the hostess a question, the hostess looked her in the eye and then blatantly ignored her. The waitress did the same thing. The waitress also messed up my friend's food order and did not offer to correct it, and instead told her to box it up and that she could just eat it at home. This made my friend feel like less than a person, which in my mind, is inhumane. I would never recommend this restaurant. We have *never* had this sort of experience at any of restaurant.
(1)
Buck O.
Very fun and cool establishment for that area! Beer and most of the food was great but we were extremely disappointed in our service. My daughter ordered a grilled cheese and that wasn't good at all, I really don't order that for any child! Fish bites, burgers, chips, & sushi is what the rest of us had! Plenty of sushi to choose from & would definitely go back to try more! We will be hopefully being served by someone else!!!
(3)
Sean R.
They would have gotten 5 stars, but they are a bit over priced for what you get. The food was good, however it took a bit of time to get the food and there wasn't many people in the restaurant. They have a decent bar area to eat and drink at if you prefer that. I still can't figure out the sushi bar here. It doesn't fit in with the rest of the food and restaurant. This place was recommended by the hotel for a good local restaurant, since this place is saturated with chain places.
(4)
Matthew M.
Wanted this place to be better than it turned out to be; alas. I guess sushi in northern Indiana is too good to be true. They were out of miso soup, which was quite disappointing to my vegetarian daughter, and there were no simple vegetable rolls on the menu, so she ended up eating grilled cheese with edamame on the side. What kind of sushi restaurant is out of miso soup? I take this as a warning that most customers don't venture to that side of the menu. Along the same vein, I ordered the seaweed salad, and it seemed -- I'm not sure... out of a can? Not fresh? Definitely chewier than expected. I got the spicy tuna and chicago rolls, and they were... well, they weren't terrible. Sushi miles from an ocean. The actual fish was good, but the total combination didn't add up. Wasabi was really, really weak, too. Also worth noting that these are large inside-out style rolls (uramaki) made with lots of rice (a thicker layer than I think I've seen anywhere), so I ended up quite full. (How does that joke go? "The food wasn't very good, and there was too much of it.") But meanwhile, my parents both ordered cooked fish dishes, and those seemed really good. Very attractive presentation, and nicely prepared. Oh, and I should add that the daily special, (raw) ahi tuna tostadas, were _awesome_ -- delicious and beautiful with edible flowers on top. Other observations: my daughter's first remark was that the place smelled funny, and she was right (smelled kind of like lingering tar from years of cigarettes?) so we sat outside, which was nice, although the ambiance is more "tables along the parking lot" than "nice restaurant". Service was quite detached and relaxed -- we didn't see our server for many long stretches (and I'm not quite sure of the system -- it seemed like each of the half-dozen outside tables had a _different_ server?). And she was nice enough, but not particularly friendly or attentive or have much to say (we had to ask if there were any specials). If we were in a hurry, or really looking to be treated to friendly service, that would have been irritating, but we weren't. So, bottom line here is that there's some good stuff, but don't get your hopes up about the sushi -- or the atmosphere.
(3)
Shanna M.
I love coming here for the 1/2 price sushi on Mondays. The idea of this place if a little funny. They serve American style seafood and with a name like Chubby Trout I was expecting your usual fried clams and white fish but the Sushi here is AWESOME. It is always delicious and they have a wide variety of sashimi and dozens of different styles of rolls. One top of the great food they have a really good selection of beer and mixed drinks.
(4)
Renee S.
Cody has left and Chef Gilberto is on top of the Sushi tonight and rocking it out!!! I'm sad Cody left, he was phenomenal. Gilberto smiles a lot. :)
(4)
Lyndon P.
Meh.....I had heard great things but our experience was just that...ok. Service was ok, food was ok, price was a little steep (had the walleye which was also just ok) but it's seafood, that's how it rolls. Maybe if we were sushi bar eaters we would have liked it better, but wife and I talked about it later and both think it's the way the place is set up, not sure how to describe it but just.....ok.
(2)
Shana B.
Our first experience at Chubby Trout. Overall we had a good experience and we plan to come back again. Make advance reservations if you can.. we all tried different seafood and fish appetizers, entrees and sushi rolls. Our favorites: Ahi tuna sesame appetizer, and the Mahi special.
(4)
Corina R.
Excellent sushi!!!! Waitress was a bit slow getting our drinks but other than...excellent!!!
(5)
Chandrea O.
Recently decided to give them another try on their Sushi menu. Overall, not too bad. Now they serve Sushi throughout the week, so I'm able to fulfill some sort of craving. I definitely recommend the Hot Mama and Spicy Salmon roll.
(4)
Marc G.
What a great find! My colleague and I stumbled upon this restaurant based upon a flyer in our hotel lobby. I'm so glad that we did. Drinks, food, and service were all excellent. The atmosphere is very unique - it looks and feels like a small-town neighborhood bar, but has a sushi bar right in the middle! I was slightly skeptical of ordering sushi in a bar in the middle of Indiana, but the rolls sounded so good, and what the heck, you only live once right? The sushi rolls I had tasted fresh and were well-executed. I would highly recommend the Chicago roll! My colleague got a seafood entree, and she thoroughly enjoyed it as well. The staff was very friendly, and offered us some great suggestions from both the food and drink menus. As for the drinks, they were great, and not unreasonably priced. They had an interesting selection of dessert drinks that my colleague indulged in, and she seemed quite happy with her choice! All in all I very much enjoyed my dinner at the Chubby Trout, and will definitely be back next time I find myself in the Elkhart area!
(4)
Chrissy B.
Solid restaurant with a great fish selection. I was told that this is the place you want to get sushi at in Elkhart, and it's excellent. Mondays is half priced sushi night, and they don't accept reservations after 6pm that night, and expect a wait. Weekends you'll want a reservation, but other weeknights you should be fine. Excellent beer selection.
(4)
Serena D.
We recently had our company Christmas party at Chubby Trout. First off they were the first local restaurant who was more than happy to have our group for the evening. They set us up in a corner for the party. Our waitress was excellent, food was delicious and i now have a favorite new beer. We will be back!!
(5)
Leslie C.
Fantastic sushi!!! We tried 6 different rolls and loved each one of them! Will defiantly go back and try the rest of the menu:)
(5)
M K.
it looked like a fun place with a decent size bar a little upscale then what I would've thought , I ordered the sushi when I got there they had to re-do waited almost 20 minutes for that and I was so surprised when I got it it was two very small rolls not worth the 20$ I paid for.
(3)
L R.
Terrible service. My sushi took over 40 to come out and came out well after the rest of my tables food. I got an apology but no compensation. The sushi was ok... Tons of rice and hardly any avocado or crab. My friends wrap was all lettuce and fell apart. My moms chicken sandwich was served on a soggy piece of bread. Cocktails were watered down. We ordered a second side of pita for our dip and never got it
(1)
Angie B.
We had dinner 2x and let's just say both times we received food poison . We will NEVER go back. Go at your own risk
(1)
M. Chris D.
Average- fish is very fried and over cooked- sushi was missing - everything - fish and rice is not sushi- I had three rolls- they were alllllll the same?? Sad- big drinks! That's a plus- prices were decent -
(3)
Crystal B.
Great food! Calamari strip appetizer was the best! Highly recommend. Sushi excellent also! Good beer selection.
(5)
Derek Z.
First time eating here and I was tempted by The "Buffalo Bill", a bison burger with spicy mayo and pepper jack cheese. I ordered it medium rare and it was cooked correctly which I appreciate, as opposed to places that ask but then it just ends up being whenever they remember to get it off the grill. The spicy mayo added an good and interesting and nicely added another facet of flavor to the bison. Also I recommend upgrading the side from chips to fries- they were freshly fried, crispy, and hot. Overall a well done and presented meal, the menu has other delicious sounding sandwiches as well. The only downside was service was a bit slow, drinks were empty for a bit, however the waitress was very nice and it was a busy lunch time. I will be back.
(4)
E.S. K.
It's ok. We come here on occasion such as when I'm craving sushi but we don't want to go to an Asian grill. I've had other things from the menu and it's all ok but I typically get the sushi. I always leave hungry though because the sushi is so expensive and small portioned compared to other places. I just stick to 1 roll because I can't see spending upwards of $30 for just two rolls. Basically the food is good but overpriced. Nothing will wow you but nothing is terrible. Except the pretzels and the calamari. Those are terrible. A big negative about the place though are the acoustics. It's a very small place and there are usually several large parties that get very loud. I can never hear my date. They put up acoustic panels but it didn't really do anything to dampen the sound. If you're on a date and you're lucky you will be put on the west side of the restaurant which just has a couple booths all by themselves. If you're not lucky I hope you can read lips.
(3)
Michael L.
Good stuff. Great beer selection. Good atmosphere. Good food. A little pricy but I would go again and probably again. Sat on the patio which lacks a little in the way of scenery which consists of a parking lot and a busy road but enjoyed the meal regardless. Service was really good.
(5)
Mary W.
Awesome! Did not expect this at all! Was visiting from out of town and saw the reviews and the enticing menu. The parking lot seemed full at 545 on a Monday night. I got the seafood linguini which was made to perfection! The service was quick. The server Makena was on the spot!
(5)
Joel B.
I don't eat sushi, so it took me a while to try this place. (Yes, I have tried it. No, I don't like it.) Once I finally tried this place I was pleasantly surprised to find their menu includes far more than sushi. I am not a fan of onion rings, but I tried theirs once when entertaining a client here and now I have to get them every time I come. My favorite thing to get is their Caribbean Chicken Sandwich. Few places can pull off a juicy chicken sandwich like this one. If you are looking for some place local to eat that is not your standard chain restaurant... this is a Great place to eat! (The only reason I could not give Chubby Trout a perfect 5 Stars is because every once in a while service has been a little slower than desired, but that is the exception more often than the rule.)
(4)
Kelly D.
I did not want to like this place. I've had sushi in many different locations and thought there was no way there would be acceptable sushi in Elkhart, Indiana. In fact we tried to go to another sushi place first but were turned away when the restaurant had bar-only seating available. Sushi at a place called The Chubby Trout? And the Comic Sans-esque typeface all over the restaurant?? Boy was I wrong. The sushi was fresh and delicious, and the Chicago Roll...tempura jalapeno and hot sauce and cream cheese...it was an incredible roll. The service was quick, and even the edamame was mind blowing. I was beyond happy with the sushi here, although it was a bit pricey. The only thing that almost knocked a star off was the wait staff. Upon walking in, the hostess and the other girls walking around waiting tables had a bit of a Mean Girls air about them. I commented to my friend that I felt like I was back in high school and these were the girls at the cool table that wouldn't have talked to me. Luckily I got over my 'not good enough for you' status and enjoyed some of the best sushi I've ever had!
(5)
Ty W.
We have started to go to a different restaurant in the area every Friday night! We arrived at chubby trout and were told it would be a 20 minute wait which we said fine we' ll go to the bar and have a drink, it was more like a 40 minute wait! Almost ate at the bar! Ordered appetizer called ? Baba shrimp which were good - a little on the Luke warm side,but edible. Main dish being a shrimp wrap which tasted like the appetizer was good. But, the best of all was the carrot cake for dessert, recommend you order for at least 4 people to eat. I think next time we' ll go for dessert only!!!'m
(4)
jeff h.
I had the Thai noodles with shrimp special for lunch and the crusted walleye for dinner and they were both excellent. The place was loaded with people eating sushi. I wish I had a chance to try it, but I was only there for a couple of days. This is probably the best place to go in the area. It came highly regarded and it was deserved.
(5)
Chris J.
We went here with friends last night and I really liked what I ordered (The Two Drunken Pigs...Two pork chops) because it was the best cooked meat that I've had in a long time. This was a solid portion of meat the potatoes and greens were nice. The thing that concerned me is that the atmosphere and menu seemed disjointed. I get the sort of fish shack story of the name and the pictures of Elkhart of old on the walls. I think that all seems to go well with the first part of the menu; the sushi part seems out of place. Sushi reminds me of a minimalist space; this is a cluttered yet homey place. My partner had the sushi and she didn't think that it was anything special (along with the spring rolls). The time to get out meal was a little long (maybe an hour), but the staff was generally friendly and the bread was a nice thing to nibble on while we waited.
(3)
Terrie M.
Outstanding find. Close to turnpike. Great service. Unique menu. Moderately priced. We loved it and will go back when on the road and passing through. Skip the chain restaurant, this is so much more & better meal.
(5)
Thomas K.
This place is a little overhyped in my opinion. The sushi is not buttery and soft sushi you would expect at a Japanese sushi bar. The pieces are also pretty small. On my last visit, I had a seared tuna salad. The greens were fresh, but tuna was mediocre. They serve huge desserts that could easily feed 3+ people. Service was decent. Overall a decent restaurant... Perhaps one of the better ones in Elkhart given the limited options, but nothing to write home about.
(3)
Pete T.
Had a group dinner here and was surprised to find a sushi chef. Sushi was as good. Service was a little slow, but we were a large group (14). Some tried the Chubby Trout, thought it was good. I tried the gumbo, not a classic gumbo but very flavorful and a good sized portion. Crab cakes, seared ahi appetizer, and drunken shrimp all disappeared quickly, because they were good. I don't visit Elkhart often, but I'd come back to try more.
(3)
Paul J.
I seriously want to know when all of you have been to the Trout - I mean, I have been here about 15 times and everytime I have been the service has been poor, poor, and poor. The service notwithstanding, the food is outstanding. These guys also own the Lake Shore Grill joint just down the road on Cassopolis in Elkhart. If you want very good fried fish, an outstanding beer draught selection, and far superior service, go there. Why they cannot replicate the service at their other place is beyond me. You might ask why I keep coming back? I work 2 minutes away and the food is great. After my first 5 experiences, I never go as the initiator, but I go willingly. :)
(3)
Sherry H.
Our experience was good. Sushi was good for the price during Monday 1/2 price day, but definitely not the best in Elkhart.
(4)
Brian J.
Over the last year or so, Chubbys has quickly moved up on our list of favorites. Excellent Service, Food and Drinks. Sushi has come a long way since my first review.
(5)
Eliza M.
When in Elkhart, dine here. Decent selection of draft beers--Founders, Oberon, New Belgium and more. The menu includes burgers, steaks, seafood, and --- sushi, which was a little weird for me. We tried the lobster pasta special, walleye, and trout. All were good and the portions were on the larger size. The chocolate cake dessert was the biggest dessert I've seen for ($7?) $8 in a long time. It was basically 2 pieces of cake with scoops of ice cream and whipped cream. Four people could have easily split it. Our waitress was young and perky. I would definitely eat here again when in town and avoid the chains (Applebee's, Red Lobster, Texas Roadhouse).
(4)
Erik L.
Excellent little local place. Just happened to see a 10% off coupon at my hotel and was intrigued by the name. Checked out the Yelp reviews and decided to give it a try while in the area for the weekend. Excellent sushi and a variety of California and other types of rolls. Eclectic mix of menu items that run the gamut steak to seafood with pasta too. Service was a little slow, but the place was slammed at the time we arrived. The Great selection of craft beers kept me entertained!
(4)
Nick C.
My favorite lunch place in Elkhart. Great service. Menu is just the right size. Food is excellent for the price!
(4)
Rob C.
We had dinner there on friday night and service was terrible!!! Over an hour went by after placing our order before our food arrived and it was cold!!!!! Really!!! We had the citrus salmon and Red Dragon roll. It was busy but not full. Drinks were hard to come by our server seemed to be too busy to fill our drinks. We did not have a good experience. Best of luck to anyone going.
(1)
Starr R.
This is a place that I want to be great, but the experience is often mixed. It's a really lively and LOUD atmosphere. A fun place to stop for a beer, with an excellent selection on tap. But the service can be mixed. One busy night we sat at the bar near the sushi chef. We ordered sushi - we never got it after about an hour wait. I can't really remember anything I ate there except the edamame appetizer. Another summer night we were seated in the back and the air was so cold, we opted to sit outside. This place has potential, but it's not there yet.
(3)
Laurie H.
The home cut chips are tremendous! Large beer selection available on tap. I had a cod poorboy. I'd have it again, but I would not rant to my friends about it. The calamari appetizer was exceptional. I think it's the best I've ever had. The sauce is divine - like a smokey New Orleans remoulade. The calamari was incredibly tender. My partner had the lake perch basket. It was quite delicate and flavorful. The fries were ok. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Becca G.
When your fiance's 77 year old grandmother tells you she's taking you out to dinner, you get ready to roll with the punches. Apparently Granny was well informed and I was pleasantly surprised by the Chubby Trout. I had the Mahi-Mahi sandwich and it was well prepared, if not just a bit small. My fiance had the moo-cow steak and while it wasn't anything extraordinary, it was cooked to order and served hot. His grandmother and aunt had fish baskets, although they were a bit expensive for fried fish, the breading was crisp and the fish tender. My only real complaint was with the fries. You can tell a lot about a restaurant by it's fries... A well done fry shows a true commitment to quality on even the most basic of restaurant staples. The Chubby Trout's fries were all stuck together, over fried and extremely over salted. The Chubby Trout seems like a great neighborhood hangout and I would go back on my next visit to try the sushi. Great atmosphere, I especially like the large black and white picture of the bustling metropolis of Elkhart in 1914!
(3)
LeRoy D.
Excellent experience. Waitress staff pleasant and efficient. Solid recommendations. Good calamari with great spicy cajun sauce, perch tender and moist, cajun pasta spicy and abundant. Beer selection wonderful. Will stop by when passing through every time. No need to look further.
(5)
Steve G.
Food is pretty good, but the beer menu is excellent. Spotty service when dining. I wish the Sushi portions were a bit larger, considering the price.
(4)
Brenda R.
I really LOVED the spinach artichoke dip. Would eat here a lot more if I lived here (instead of Texas: It's just too far to drop in from there!). The menu had a great selection... Service was great too.
(5)
Tim D.
Nice place with very good food. I had a filet mignon and the salmon with sweet mustard sauce. Both were excellent and cooked perfectly to order. I would recommend (great sushi selection, though we didn't order any last night). Our server (Hillary) was fantastic. Easily ranks in the best service I've ever had anywhere. We will definitely be returning to explore more of the menu.
(5)
Susan M.
Visiting from Texas, great menu, great food, good service. Hubby had te chubby trout and recommends it, we also loved the crab bisque, the steak, and the mahi mahi grilled sandwich.
(4)
David M.
I also travel, quite a bit, for my job and often ask the for a restaurant suggestion, at the front desk of the hotel. Often I am disappointed. NOT THIS TIME. It is only a 1 mile or so from the Hampton Inn and the gal, at the front desk, was right now. She new the menu cold and talked up the vast beer list! I had the swordfish special with roasted garlic, green beans, and crispy fries. My friend had the unusual combination of seard tuna and their three cheese, cheese sandwich...all great. Ashley, the manager, was very attentive and I cannot say enough good thngs about The Chubby Trout. I wish I had more work scheduled in Elkhart so I could sample more of the menu.
(5)
Sarah T.
We were visiting family in the area, and I located Chubby Trout on Yelp. Overall, a 4 star for the food. We have the walleye, which was good. Another in our group had sushi, and we all tried a roll - also very good. Service was friendly and attentive, but it was a very busy Friday night and food was slow to arrive...we didn't mind much as it allowed us time to visit. Expect a noisy bar like atmosphere. I would go back.
(4)
Sarah H.
This restaurant is always at the top of my list when we are brainstorming. Excellent menu. A breath of fresh air in the middle of chain restaurant hell.
(5)
Rachel S.
We met friends here on Feb 19. We had 2 appetizers, onion rings and hot chicken skewers. Both are made from scratch and were very good. I ate the almond crusted walleye, fabulous. My husband had fried perch; it was tender and not oily. The couple we were with had fried blue gill, and the special which was tilapia with a remoulade sauce. All the food was tender, juicy and had really good flavor. I've been to too many restaurants that reuse oil and don't change or filter it regularly. It was like everything was fried fresh and separate. We're definitely going back. They also had a full sushi menu, other seafood, and numerous micro brews. The portions were big.
(5)
E. W.
Friendly, well-meaning, though inexperienced staff. Ahi appetizer and miso soup were delish, pasta was so-so, creme brulee tasty. By far the best choice in area over-run with chain restos.
(3)
Pam B.
The almond crusted walleye is delicious! Anytime I make it to Elkhart, I make sure to stop in and enjoy this speciality. I look forward to this treat the entire trip from Vermont. I can't comment on any other menu item, because this is the only dish we ever order. Why mess with perfection? Today's experience was no exception. P. S. If you are there at lunch time, and it is not on the menu, just ask they will make it for you.
(5)
Kate O.
Fun And tasty menu. Great service. Nice atmosphere. Good beer selection. Good for the whole family. Can't wait to go back. The Drunken Pigs were tender and yummy!
(5)
Jerry F.
This place is the best. Loved the different sushi. The Chubby Trout dish is awesome. A must. Wait staff is knowledgeable. A little pricy but extremely worth it. Also many different exotic brews to choose from.
(4)
MK S.
If I can, I'd give the sushi 3 stars. The rolls were a little on the small side, especially for the price of average of $10 each roll, but they were tasty. I would definitely come back when they have half-off ($) sushi specials. Good ambiance, try to have a reservation since the restaurant is a little small and popular during the weekend. Good burgers, good service. We'll be back. :)
(4)
Travis P.
This was a much better restaurant than I expected to find in a midwestern city the size of Elkhart. I came here while in town for business. I suggest disregarding the negative reviews of the building itself, or the decor. Some of the best restaurants in the U.S. are total holes-in-the wall, but this one certainly isn't. In fact, it's a decent place for a casual family or business dinner, or a date. Lots of servers in the place on a Monday night, and a very good crowd. They have a great selection of microbrews on tap, including local Northern Indiana ones. The calamari appetizer was great, but be prepared for some serious garlic breath if you eat the sauce that comes with it. I had the Gumbo as my entree and while it was expertly prepared and really delicious, it was NOT Gumbo. It was not roux-based, and in fact there was no broth at all. It much more closely resembled Jambalaya or a sausage and tomato creole sauce over wild rice, with grilled shrimp on top. Like I said, it was delicious, and I'm a pretty discriminating eater of cajun/creole food. But it wasn't gumbo.
(4)
Christina S.
This was such a wonderful find! I travel a lot and put this into my GPS so I won't forget where it was. I'm writting this a month later and don't remember what I had but it was grand and I will go back!
(5)
Terry M.
The Chubby Trout has become the unofficial hangout for my friends. I appreciate their selection of craft beers, including many regional varieties. Their menu features burgers, sandwiches, steaks and pasta entrees. They're one of the few places in Elkhart County that serve sushi and it's pretty good, though I have a limited sample size with which to compare. Their location is nondescript -- they're around the corner from a busy commercial corridor, but they shine nonetheless.
(4)
Adam P.
I have been all over the country for business and every town I work in I try to find a family owned restaurant that is a one of a kind place. The Chubby Trout, in my opinion, is one of the best local family owned restaurants i have ever been to. The staff is extremely nice and accommodating. On Monday's they have half price sushi! Very very good! I have also had the New orleans pasta! Extremely well done!
(5)
Jessica S.
I went here when I was down in Indiana for work. We drove into the back and at first were not sure if we wanted to eat there. After we finally figured out how to get in it was great. Casual and you could tell full of locals. I think they were trying to figure out who were were. I of course had to have the "chubby trout" on the menu because that's what they are known for. The food was good everyone at the table enjoyed what they had. I'm glad when I was down there someone recommended it.
(4)
Kinsey W.
The chubby trout is pretty good but the portions are a little bit small. It was also very cold in the restaurant. I hope that their new restaurant, The Fat Tomato, is better.
(4)
Timothy W.
BEst FOOD in Elkhart, Best Sushi, too!
(5)
Joleen K.
Relaxing and casual atmosphere. I've had great service 95% of the time and have always enjoyed the food...can you say awesome carrot cake!
(4)
Travis P.
This was a much better restaurant than I expected to find in a midwestern city the size of Elkhart. I came here while in town for business. I suggest disregarding the negative reviews of the building itself, or the decor. Some of the best restaurants in the U.S. are total holes-in-the wall, but this one certainly isn't. In fact, it's a decent place for a casual family or business dinner, or a date. Lots of servers in the place on a Monday night, and a very good crowd. They have a great selection of microbrews on tap, including local Northern Indiana ones. The calamari appetizer was great, but be prepared for some serious garlic breath if you eat the sauce that comes with it. I had the Gumbo as my entree and while it was expertly prepared and really delicious, it was NOT Gumbo. It was not roux-based, and in fact there was no broth at all. It much more closely resembled Jambalaya or a sausage and tomato creole sauce over wild rice, with grilled shrimp on top. Like I said, it was delicious, and I'm a pretty discriminating eater of cajun/creole food. But it wasn't gumbo.
(4)
Christina S.
This was such a wonderful find! I travel a lot and put this into my GPS so I won't forget where it was. I'm writting this a month later and don't remember what I had but it was grand and I will go back!
(5)
Terry M.
The Chubby Trout has become the unofficial hangout for my friends. I appreciate their selection of craft beers, including many regional varieties. Their menu features burgers, sandwiches, steaks and pasta entrees. They're one of the few places in Elkhart County that serve sushi and it's pretty good, though I have a limited sample size with which to compare. Their location is nondescript -- they're around the corner from a busy commercial corridor, but they shine nonetheless.
(4)
Adam P.
I have been all over the country for business and every town I work in I try to find a family owned restaurant that is a one of a kind place. The Chubby Trout, in my opinion, is one of the best local family owned restaurants i have ever been to. The staff is extremely nice and accommodating. On Monday's they have half price sushi! Very very good! I have also had the New orleans pasta! Extremely well done!
(5)
Jessica S.
I went here when I was down in Indiana for work. We drove into the back and at first were not sure if we wanted to eat there. After we finally figured out how to get in it was great. Casual and you could tell full of locals. I think they were trying to figure out who were were. I of course had to have the "chubby trout" on the menu because that's what they are known for. The food was good everyone at the table enjoyed what they had. I'm glad when I was down there someone recommended it.
(4)
Kinsey W.
The chubby trout is pretty good but the portions are a little bit small. It was also very cold in the restaurant. I hope that their new restaurant, The Fat Tomato, is better.
(4)
Timothy W.
BEst FOOD in Elkhart, Best Sushi, too!
(5)
Joleen K.
Relaxing and casual atmosphere. I've had great service 95% of the time and have always enjoyed the food...can you say awesome carrot cake!
(4)
Pam B.
The almond crusted walleye is delicious! Anytime I make it to Elkhart, I make sure to stop in and enjoy this speciality. I look forward to this treat the entire trip from Vermont. I can't comment on any other menu item, because this is the only dish we ever order. Why mess with perfection? Today's experience was no exception. P. S. If you are there at lunch time, and it is not on the menu, just ask they will make it for you.
(5)
Kate O.
Fun And tasty menu. Great service. Nice atmosphere. Good beer selection. Good for the whole family. Can't wait to go back. The Drunken Pigs were tender and yummy!
(5)
Jerry F.
This place is the best. Loved the different sushi. The Chubby Trout dish is awesome. A must. Wait staff is knowledgeable. A little pricy but extremely worth it. Also many different exotic brews to choose from.
(4)
MK S.
If I can, I'd give the sushi 3 stars. The rolls were a little on the small side, especially for the price of average of $10 each roll, but they were tasty. I would definitely come back when they have half-off ($) sushi specials. Good ambiance, try to have a reservation since the restaurant is a little small and popular during the weekend. Good burgers, good service. We'll be back. :)
(4)
jeff h.
I had the Thai noodles with shrimp special for lunch and the crusted walleye for dinner and they were both excellent. The place was loaded with people eating sushi. I wish I had a chance to try it, but I was only there for a couple of days. This is probably the best place to go in the area. It came highly regarded and it was deserved.
(5)
Rachel S.
We met friends here on Feb 19. We had 2 appetizers, onion rings and hot chicken skewers. Both are made from scratch and were very good. I ate the almond crusted walleye, fabulous. My husband had fried perch; it was tender and not oily. The couple we were with had fried blue gill, and the special which was tilapia with a remoulade sauce. All the food was tender, juicy and had really good flavor. I've been to too many restaurants that reuse oil and don't change or filter it regularly. It was like everything was fried fresh and separate. We're definitely going back. They also had a full sushi menu, other seafood, and numerous micro brews. The portions were big.
(5)
E. W.
Friendly, well-meaning, though inexperienced staff. Ahi appetizer and miso soup were delish, pasta was so-so, creme brulee tasty. By far the best choice in area over-run with chain restos.
(3)
Chris J.
We went here with friends last night and I really liked what I ordered (The Two Drunken Pigs...Two pork chops) because it was the best cooked meat that I've had in a long time. This was a solid portion of meat the potatoes and greens were nice. The thing that concerned me is that the atmosphere and menu seemed disjointed. I get the sort of fish shack story of the name and the pictures of Elkhart of old on the walls. I think that all seems to go well with the first part of the menu; the sushi part seems out of place. Sushi reminds me of a minimalist space; this is a cluttered yet homey place. My partner had the sushi and she didn't think that it was anything special (along with the spring rolls). The time to get out meal was a little long (maybe an hour), but the staff was generally friendly and the bread was a nice thing to nibble on while we waited.
(3)
Terrie M.
Outstanding find. Close to turnpike. Great service. Unique menu. Moderately priced. We loved it and will go back when on the road and passing through. Skip the chain restaurant, this is so much more & better meal.
(5)
Thomas K.
This place is a little overhyped in my opinion. The sushi is not buttery and soft sushi you would expect at a Japanese sushi bar. The pieces are also pretty small. On my last visit, I had a seared tuna salad. The greens were fresh, but tuna was mediocre. They serve huge desserts that could easily feed 3+ people. Service was decent. Overall a decent restaurant... Perhaps one of the better ones in Elkhart given the limited options, but nothing to write home about.
(3)
Pete T.
Had a group dinner here and was surprised to find a sushi chef. Sushi was as good. Service was a little slow, but we were a large group (14). Some tried the Chubby Trout, thought it was good. I tried the gumbo, not a classic gumbo but very flavorful and a good sized portion. Crab cakes, seared ahi appetizer, and drunken shrimp all disappeared quickly, because they were good. I don't visit Elkhart often, but I'd come back to try more.
(3)
Paul J.
I seriously want to know when all of you have been to the Trout - I mean, I have been here about 15 times and everytime I have been the service has been poor, poor, and poor. The service notwithstanding, the food is outstanding. These guys also own the Lake Shore Grill joint just down the road on Cassopolis in Elkhart. If you want very good fried fish, an outstanding beer draught selection, and far superior service, go there. Why they cannot replicate the service at their other place is beyond me. You might ask why I keep coming back? I work 2 minutes away and the food is great. After my first 5 experiences, I never go as the initiator, but I go willingly. :)
(3)
Sherry H.
Our experience was good. Sushi was good for the price during Monday 1/2 price day, but definitely not the best in Elkhart.
(4)
Brian J.
Over the last year or so, Chubbys has quickly moved up on our list of favorites. Excellent Service, Food and Drinks. Sushi has come a long way since my first review.
(5)
Eliza M.
When in Elkhart, dine here. Decent selection of draft beers--Founders, Oberon, New Belgium and more. The menu includes burgers, steaks, seafood, and --- sushi, which was a little weird for me. We tried the lobster pasta special, walleye, and trout. All were good and the portions were on the larger size. The chocolate cake dessert was the biggest dessert I've seen for ($7?) $8 in a long time. It was basically 2 pieces of cake with scoops of ice cream and whipped cream. Four people could have easily split it. Our waitress was young and perky. I would definitely eat here again when in town and avoid the chains (Applebee's, Red Lobster, Texas Roadhouse).
(4)
Erik L.
Excellent little local place. Just happened to see a 10% off coupon at my hotel and was intrigued by the name. Checked out the Yelp reviews and decided to give it a try while in the area for the weekend. Excellent sushi and a variety of California and other types of rolls. Eclectic mix of menu items that run the gamut steak to seafood with pasta too. Service was a little slow, but the place was slammed at the time we arrived. The Great selection of craft beers kept me entertained!
(4)
Nick C.
My favorite lunch place in Elkhart. Great service. Menu is just the right size. Food is excellent for the price!
(4)
Rob C.
We had dinner there on friday night and service was terrible!!! Over an hour went by after placing our order before our food arrived and it was cold!!!!! Really!!! We had the citrus salmon and Red Dragon roll. It was busy but not full. Drinks were hard to come by our server seemed to be too busy to fill our drinks. We did not have a good experience. Best of luck to anyone going.
(1)
Mark M.
Very nice servers and the fish was excellent. The prices were reasonable for the food but the building and interior is old and outdated.
(4)
Joel B.
I don't eat sushi, so it took me a while to try this place. (Yes, I have tried it. No, I don't like it.) Once I finally tried this place I was pleasantly surprised to find their menu includes far more than sushi. I am not a fan of onion rings, but I tried theirs once when entertaining a client here and now I have to get them every time I come. My favorite thing to get is their Caribbean Chicken Sandwich. Few places can pull off a juicy chicken sandwich like this one. If you are looking for some place local to eat that is not your standard chain restaurant... this is a Great place to eat! (The only reason I could not give Chubby Trout a perfect 5 Stars is because every once in a while service has been a little slower than desired, but that is the exception more often than the rule.)
(4)
Kelly D.
I did not want to like this place. I've had sushi in many different locations and thought there was no way there would be acceptable sushi in Elkhart, Indiana. In fact we tried to go to another sushi place first but were turned away when the restaurant had bar-only seating available. Sushi at a place called The Chubby Trout? And the Comic Sans-esque typeface all over the restaurant?? Boy was I wrong. The sushi was fresh and delicious, and the Chicago Roll...tempura jalapeno and hot sauce and cream cheese...it was an incredible roll. The service was quick, and even the edamame was mind blowing. I was beyond happy with the sushi here, although it was a bit pricey. The only thing that almost knocked a star off was the wait staff. Upon walking in, the hostess and the other girls walking around waiting tables had a bit of a Mean Girls air about them. I commented to my friend that I felt like I was back in high school and these were the girls at the cool table that wouldn't have talked to me. Luckily I got over my 'not good enough for you' status and enjoyed some of the best sushi I've ever had!
(5)
Ty W.
We have started to go to a different restaurant in the area every Friday night! We arrived at chubby trout and were told it would be a 20 minute wait which we said fine we' ll go to the bar and have a drink, it was more like a 40 minute wait! Almost ate at the bar! Ordered appetizer called ? Baba shrimp which were good - a little on the Luke warm side,but edible. Main dish being a shrimp wrap which tasted like the appetizer was good. But, the best of all was the carrot cake for dessert, recommend you order for at least 4 people to eat. I think next time we' ll go for dessert only!!!'m
(4)
Starr R.
This is a place that I want to be great, but the experience is often mixed. It's a really lively and LOUD atmosphere. A fun place to stop for a beer, with an excellent selection on tap. But the service can be mixed. One busy night we sat at the bar near the sushi chef. We ordered sushi - we never got it after about an hour wait. I can't really remember anything I ate there except the edamame appetizer. Another summer night we were seated in the back and the air was so cold, we opted to sit outside. This place has potential, but it's not there yet.
(3)
Laurie H.
The home cut chips are tremendous! Large beer selection available on tap. I had a cod poorboy. I'd have it again, but I would not rant to my friends about it. The calamari appetizer was exceptional. I think it's the best I've ever had. The sauce is divine - like a smokey New Orleans remoulade. The calamari was incredibly tender. My partner had the lake perch basket. It was quite delicate and flavorful. The fries were ok. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Becca G.
When your fiance's 77 year old grandmother tells you she's taking you out to dinner, you get ready to roll with the punches. Apparently Granny was well informed and I was pleasantly surprised by the Chubby Trout. I had the Mahi-Mahi sandwich and it was well prepared, if not just a bit small. My fiance had the moo-cow steak and while it wasn't anything extraordinary, it was cooked to order and served hot. His grandmother and aunt had fish baskets, although they were a bit expensive for fried fish, the breading was crisp and the fish tender. My only real complaint was with the fries. You can tell a lot about a restaurant by it's fries... A well done fry shows a true commitment to quality on even the most basic of restaurant staples. The Chubby Trout's fries were all stuck together, over fried and extremely over salted. The Chubby Trout seems like a great neighborhood hangout and I would go back on my next visit to try the sushi. Great atmosphere, I especially like the large black and white picture of the bustling metropolis of Elkhart in 1914!
(3)
LeRoy D.
Excellent experience. Waitress staff pleasant and efficient. Solid recommendations. Good calamari with great spicy cajun sauce, perch tender and moist, cajun pasta spicy and abundant. Beer selection wonderful. Will stop by when passing through every time. No need to look further.
(5)
Steve G.
Food is pretty good, but the beer menu is excellent. Spotty service when dining. I wish the Sushi portions were a bit larger, considering the price.
(4)
Brenda R.
I really LOVED the spinach artichoke dip. Would eat here a lot more if I lived here (instead of Texas: It's just too far to drop in from there!). The menu had a great selection... Service was great too.
(5)
Tim D.
Nice place with very good food. I had a filet mignon and the salmon with sweet mustard sauce. Both were excellent and cooked perfectly to order. I would recommend (great sushi selection, though we didn't order any last night). Our server (Hillary) was fantastic. Easily ranks in the best service I've ever had anywhere. We will definitely be returning to explore more of the menu.
(5)
Susan M.
Visiting from Texas, great menu, great food, good service. Hubby had te chubby trout and recommends it, we also loved the crab bisque, the steak, and the mahi mahi grilled sandwich.
(4)
David M.
I also travel, quite a bit, for my job and often ask the for a restaurant suggestion, at the front desk of the hotel. Often I am disappointed. NOT THIS TIME. It is only a 1 mile or so from the Hampton Inn and the gal, at the front desk, was right now. She new the menu cold and talked up the vast beer list! I had the swordfish special with roasted garlic, green beans, and crispy fries. My friend had the unusual combination of seard tuna and their three cheese, cheese sandwich...all great. Ashley, the manager, was very attentive and I cannot say enough good thngs about The Chubby Trout. I wish I had more work scheduled in Elkhart so I could sample more of the menu.
(5)
Sarah T.
We were visiting family in the area, and I located Chubby Trout on Yelp. Overall, a 4 star for the food. We have the walleye, which was good. Another in our group had sushi, and we all tried a roll - also very good. Service was friendly and attentive, but it was a very busy Friday night and food was slow to arrive...we didn't mind much as it allowed us time to visit. Expect a noisy bar like atmosphere. I would go back.
(4)
Sarah H.
This restaurant is always at the top of my list when we are brainstorming. Excellent menu. A breath of fresh air in the middle of chain restaurant hell.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Taylor F.
The quality of the food is irrelevant because of how inhumane two of the staff members were. One was the hostess and the other was our waitress. I came here with a friend who has difficulty speaking--she can certainly speak, but it just takes her longer to express herself. She asked the hostess a question, the hostess looked her in the eye and then blatantly ignored her. The waitress did the same thing. The waitress also messed up my friend's food order and did not offer to correct it, and instead told her to box it up and that she could just eat it at home. This made my friend feel like less than a person, which in my mind, is inhumane. I would never recommend this restaurant. We have *never* had this sort of experience at any of restaurant.
(1)Buck O.
Very fun and cool establishment for that area! Beer and most of the food was great but we were extremely disappointed in our service. My daughter ordered a grilled cheese and that wasn't good at all, I really don't order that for any child! Fish bites, burgers, chips, & sushi is what the rest of us had! Plenty of sushi to choose from & would definitely go back to try more! We will be hopefully being served by someone else!!!
(3)Sean R.
They would have gotten 5 stars, but they are a bit over priced for what you get. The food was good, however it took a bit of time to get the food and there wasn't many people in the restaurant. They have a decent bar area to eat and drink at if you prefer that. I still can't figure out the sushi bar here. It doesn't fit in with the rest of the food and restaurant. This place was recommended by the hotel for a good local restaurant, since this place is saturated with chain places.
(4)Adam P.
This is a pretty cool place. Great beer selection. Foods good. I like most things here but you can't go wrong with one of the burgers or Caribbean chicken sandwich. Monday is a great day here - half off sushi. Lots of selection and good quality. The chefs work right at the bar so you can see everything getting made.
(4)Carol K.
My husband and I ate here last night. Very good meal and the waiter was friendly and attentive. The sushi description in the summary threw me off. They have a regular menu also. Rainbow trout and steak were delicious.
(4)Todd W.
Excellent food. Great wait staff. Excellent beer selection. Awesome dessert. I will definitely come back.
(5)Shana B.
Our first experience at Chubby Trout. Overall we had a good experience and we plan to come back again. Make advance reservations if you can.. we all tried different seafood and fish appetizers, entrees and sushi rolls. Our favorites: Ahi tuna sesame appetizer, and the Mahi special.
(4)Corina R.
Excellent sushi!!!! Waitress was a bit slow getting our drinks but other than...excellent!!!
(5)Alisia A.
Visited this location while visiting a company in Elkhart. When we drove walked in I was a little hesitant but once we sat down and really looked around I began to really like it. I ordered the Special Of The Day which was Sesame Chicken Stir-Fry which was amazing! I hope they end up putting it on the menu because it was really good. The service was really good as well. The server was very attentive with us and always made sure we had everything we needed.
(4)Crystal B.
Great food! Calamari strip appetizer was the best! Highly recommend. Sushi excellent also! Good beer selection.
(5)Timothy W.
BEst FOOD in Elkhart, Best Sushi, too!
(5)Joleen K.
Relaxing and casual atmosphere. I've had great service 95% of the time and have always enjoyed the food...can you say awesome carrot cake!
(4)Chandrea O.
Recently decided to give them another try on their Sushi menu. Overall, not too bad. Now they serve Sushi throughout the week, so I'm able to fulfill some sort of craving. I definitely recommend the Hot Mama and Spicy Salmon roll.
(4)Matthew M.
Wanted this place to be better than it turned out to be; alas. I guess sushi in northern Indiana is too good to be true. They were out of miso soup, which was quite disappointing to my vegetarian daughter, and there were no simple vegetable rolls on the menu, so she ended up eating grilled cheese with edamame on the side. What kind of sushi restaurant is out of miso soup? I take this as a warning that most customers don't venture to that side of the menu. Along the same vein, I ordered the seaweed salad, and it seemed -- I'm not sure... out of a can? Not fresh? Definitely chewier than expected. I got the spicy tuna and chicago rolls, and they were... well, they weren't terrible. Sushi miles from an ocean. The actual fish was good, but the total combination didn't add up. Wasabi was really, really weak, too. Also worth noting that these are large inside-out style rolls (uramaki) made with lots of rice (a thicker layer than I think I've seen anywhere), so I ended up quite full. (How does that joke go? "The food wasn't very good, and there was too much of it.") But meanwhile, my parents both ordered cooked fish dishes, and those seemed really good. Very attractive presentation, and nicely prepared. Oh, and I should add that the daily special, (raw) ahi tuna tostadas, were _awesome_ -- delicious and beautiful with edible flowers on top. Other observations: my daughter's first remark was that the place smelled funny, and she was right (smelled kind of like lingering tar from years of cigarettes?) so we sat outside, which was nice, although the ambiance is more "tables along the parking lot" than "nice restaurant". Service was quite detached and relaxed -- we didn't see our server for many long stretches (and I'm not quite sure of the system -- it seemed like each of the half-dozen outside tables had a _different_ server?). And she was nice enough, but not particularly friendly or attentive or have much to say (we had to ask if there were any specials). If we were in a hurry, or really looking to be treated to friendly service, that would have been irritating, but we weren't. So, bottom line here is that there's some good stuff, but don't get your hopes up about the sushi -- or the atmosphere.
(3)Shanna M.
I love coming here for the 1/2 price sushi on Mondays. The idea of this place if a little funny. They serve American style seafood and with a name like Chubby Trout I was expecting your usual fried clams and white fish but the Sushi here is AWESOME. It is always delicious and they have a wide variety of sashimi and dozens of different styles of rolls. One top of the great food they have a really good selection of beer and mixed drinks.
(4)Renee S.
Cody has left and Chef Gilberto is on top of the Sushi tonight and rocking it out!!! I'm sad Cody left, he was phenomenal. Gilberto smiles a lot. :)
(4)Lyndon P.
Meh.....I had heard great things but our experience was just that...ok. Service was ok, food was ok, price was a little steep (had the walleye which was also just ok) but it's seafood, that's how it rolls. Maybe if we were sushi bar eaters we would have liked it better, but wife and I talked about it later and both think it's the way the place is set up, not sure how to describe it but just.....ok.
(2)Marc G.
What a great find! My colleague and I stumbled upon this restaurant based upon a flyer in our hotel lobby. I'm so glad that we did. Drinks, food, and service were all excellent. The atmosphere is very unique - it looks and feels like a small-town neighborhood bar, but has a sushi bar right in the middle! I was slightly skeptical of ordering sushi in a bar in the middle of Indiana, but the rolls sounded so good, and what the heck, you only live once right? The sushi rolls I had tasted fresh and were well-executed. I would highly recommend the Chicago roll! My colleague got a seafood entree, and she thoroughly enjoyed it as well. The staff was very friendly, and offered us some great suggestions from both the food and drink menus. As for the drinks, they were great, and not unreasonably priced. They had an interesting selection of dessert drinks that my colleague indulged in, and she seemed quite happy with her choice! All in all I very much enjoyed my dinner at the Chubby Trout, and will definitely be back next time I find myself in the Elkhart area!
(4)Chrissy B.
Solid restaurant with a great fish selection. I was told that this is the place you want to get sushi at in Elkhart, and it's excellent. Mondays is half priced sushi night, and they don't accept reservations after 6pm that night, and expect a wait. Weekends you'll want a reservation, but other weeknights you should be fine. Excellent beer selection.
(4)Serena D.
We recently had our company Christmas party at Chubby Trout. First off they were the first local restaurant who was more than happy to have our group for the evening. They set us up in a corner for the party. Our waitress was excellent, food was delicious and i now have a favorite new beer. We will be back!!
(5)Leslie C.
Fantastic sushi!!! We tried 6 different rolls and loved each one of them! Will defiantly go back and try the rest of the menu:)
(5)M K.
it looked like a fun place with a decent size bar a little upscale then what I would've thought , I ordered the sushi when I got there they had to re-do waited almost 20 minutes for that and I was so surprised when I got it it was two very small rolls not worth the 20$ I paid for.
(3)L R.
Terrible service. My sushi took over 40 to come out and came out well after the rest of my tables food. I got an apology but no compensation. The sushi was ok... Tons of rice and hardly any avocado or crab. My friends wrap was all lettuce and fell apart. My moms chicken sandwich was served on a soggy piece of bread. Cocktails were watered down. We ordered a second side of pita for our dip and never got it
(1)Angie B.
We had dinner 2x and let's just say both times we received food poison . We will NEVER go back. Go at your own risk
(1)M. Chris D.
Average- fish is very fried and over cooked- sushi was missing - everything - fish and rice is not sushi- I had three rolls- they were alllllll the same?? Sad- big drinks! That's a plus- prices were decent -
(3)Derek Z.
First time eating here and I was tempted by The "Buffalo Bill", a bison burger with spicy mayo and pepper jack cheese. I ordered it medium rare and it was cooked correctly which I appreciate, as opposed to places that ask but then it just ends up being whenever they remember to get it off the grill. The spicy mayo added an good and interesting and nicely added another facet of flavor to the bison. Also I recommend upgrading the side from chips to fries- they were freshly fried, crispy, and hot. Overall a well done and presented meal, the menu has other delicious sounding sandwiches as well. The only downside was service was a bit slow, drinks were empty for a bit, however the waitress was very nice and it was a busy lunch time. I will be back.
(4)E.S. K.
It's ok. We come here on occasion such as when I'm craving sushi but we don't want to go to an Asian grill. I've had other things from the menu and it's all ok but I typically get the sushi. I always leave hungry though because the sushi is so expensive and small portioned compared to other places. I just stick to 1 roll because I can't see spending upwards of $30 for just two rolls. Basically the food is good but overpriced. Nothing will wow you but nothing is terrible. Except the pretzels and the calamari. Those are terrible. A big negative about the place though are the acoustics. It's a very small place and there are usually several large parties that get very loud. I can never hear my date. They put up acoustic panels but it didn't really do anything to dampen the sound. If you're on a date and you're lucky you will be put on the west side of the restaurant which just has a couple booths all by themselves. If you're not lucky I hope you can read lips.
(3)Phillip W.
Thank you, fellow Yelpers. We've been on the road for hundreds of miles...it's tough finding decent places in unfamiliar areas. We just had delicious, well-cooked burgers and excellent draft beers. The burgers were flavorful -- better than the one I had the other night in Nebraska, a place that prides itself on the quality of its beef -- so I am pleased. The draft beer selection was excellent: IPAs, pilsners...something for everyone. I had a great IPA from Kalamazoo. My wife had a Green Flash IPA. The service was actually friendly and helpful...I say actually because we currently live in an area that is overrun with tourists and dominated by lackluster restaurants that feature servers who think they're too cool to deal with us regular humans. So we're happy. And back on the road. Thanks, Chubby Trout! (BTW, great name).
(5)David B.
Grilled ahi tuna outstanding. Chubby margaritas over the top great place great food.
(5)Michael L.
Good stuff. Great beer selection. Good atmosphere. Good food. A little pricy but I would go again and probably again. Sat on the patio which lacks a little in the way of scenery which consists of a parking lot and a busy road but enjoyed the meal regardless. Service was really good.
(5)Mary W.
Awesome! Did not expect this at all! Was visiting from out of town and saw the reviews and the enticing menu. The parking lot seemed full at 545 on a Monday night. I got the seafood linguini which was made to perfection! The service was quick. The server Makena was on the spot!
(5)Mark M.
Very nice servers and the fish was excellent. The prices were reasonable for the food but the building and interior is old and outdated.
(4)Joel B.
I don't eat sushi, so it took me a while to try this place. (Yes, I have tried it. No, I don't like it.) Once I finally tried this place I was pleasantly surprised to find their menu includes far more than sushi. I am not a fan of onion rings, but I tried theirs once when entertaining a client here and now I have to get them every time I come. My favorite thing to get is their Caribbean Chicken Sandwich. Few places can pull off a juicy chicken sandwich like this one. If you are looking for some place local to eat that is not your standard chain restaurant... this is a Great place to eat! (The only reason I could not give Chubby Trout a perfect 5 Stars is because every once in a while service has been a little slower than desired, but that is the exception more often than the rule.)
(4)Kelly D.
I did not want to like this place. I've had sushi in many different locations and thought there was no way there would be acceptable sushi in Elkhart, Indiana. In fact we tried to go to another sushi place first but were turned away when the restaurant had bar-only seating available. Sushi at a place called The Chubby Trout? And the Comic Sans-esque typeface all over the restaurant?? Boy was I wrong. The sushi was fresh and delicious, and the Chicago Roll...tempura jalapeno and hot sauce and cream cheese...it was an incredible roll. The service was quick, and even the edamame was mind blowing. I was beyond happy with the sushi here, although it was a bit pricey. The only thing that almost knocked a star off was the wait staff. Upon walking in, the hostess and the other girls walking around waiting tables had a bit of a Mean Girls air about them. I commented to my friend that I felt like I was back in high school and these were the girls at the cool table that wouldn't have talked to me. Luckily I got over my 'not good enough for you' status and enjoyed some of the best sushi I've ever had!
(5)Ty W.
We have started to go to a different restaurant in the area every Friday night! We arrived at chubby trout and were told it would be a 20 minute wait which we said fine we' ll go to the bar and have a drink, it was more like a 40 minute wait! Almost ate at the bar! Ordered appetizer called ? Baba shrimp which were good - a little on the Luke warm side,but edible. Main dish being a shrimp wrap which tasted like the appetizer was good. But, the best of all was the carrot cake for dessert, recommend you order for at least 4 people to eat. I think next time we' ll go for dessert only!!!'m
(4)jeff h.
I had the Thai noodles with shrimp special for lunch and the crusted walleye for dinner and they were both excellent. The place was loaded with people eating sushi. I wish I had a chance to try it, but I was only there for a couple of days. This is probably the best place to go in the area. It came highly regarded and it was deserved.
(5)Chris J.
We went here with friends last night and I really liked what I ordered (The Two Drunken Pigs...Two pork chops) because it was the best cooked meat that I've had in a long time. This was a solid portion of meat the potatoes and greens were nice. The thing that concerned me is that the atmosphere and menu seemed disjointed. I get the sort of fish shack story of the name and the pictures of Elkhart of old on the walls. I think that all seems to go well with the first part of the menu; the sushi part seems out of place. Sushi reminds me of a minimalist space; this is a cluttered yet homey place. My partner had the sushi and she didn't think that it was anything special (along with the spring rolls). The time to get out meal was a little long (maybe an hour), but the staff was generally friendly and the bread was a nice thing to nibble on while we waited.
(3)Terrie M.
Outstanding find. Close to turnpike. Great service. Unique menu. Moderately priced. We loved it and will go back when on the road and passing through. Skip the chain restaurant, this is so much more & better meal.
(5)Thomas K.
This place is a little overhyped in my opinion. The sushi is not buttery and soft sushi you would expect at a Japanese sushi bar. The pieces are also pretty small. On my last visit, I had a seared tuna salad. The greens were fresh, but tuna was mediocre. They serve huge desserts that could easily feed 3+ people. Service was decent. Overall a decent restaurant... Perhaps one of the better ones in Elkhart given the limited options, but nothing to write home about.
(3)Pete T.
Had a group dinner here and was surprised to find a sushi chef. Sushi was as good. Service was a little slow, but we were a large group (14). Some tried the Chubby Trout, thought it was good. I tried the gumbo, not a classic gumbo but very flavorful and a good sized portion. Crab cakes, seared ahi appetizer, and drunken shrimp all disappeared quickly, because they were good. I don't visit Elkhart often, but I'd come back to try more.
(3)Paul J.
I seriously want to know when all of you have been to the Trout - I mean, I have been here about 15 times and everytime I have been the service has been poor, poor, and poor. The service notwithstanding, the food is outstanding. These guys also own the Lake Shore Grill joint just down the road on Cassopolis in Elkhart. If you want very good fried fish, an outstanding beer draught selection, and far superior service, go there. Why they cannot replicate the service at their other place is beyond me. You might ask why I keep coming back? I work 2 minutes away and the food is great. After my first 5 experiences, I never go as the initiator, but I go willingly. :)
(3)Sherry H.
Our experience was good. Sushi was good for the price during Monday 1/2 price day, but definitely not the best in Elkhart.
(4)Brian J.
Over the last year or so, Chubbys has quickly moved up on our list of favorites. Excellent Service, Food and Drinks. Sushi has come a long way since my first review.
(5)Eliza M.
When in Elkhart, dine here. Decent selection of draft beers--Founders, Oberon, New Belgium and more. The menu includes burgers, steaks, seafood, and --- sushi, which was a little weird for me. We tried the lobster pasta special, walleye, and trout. All were good and the portions were on the larger size. The chocolate cake dessert was the biggest dessert I've seen for ($7?) $8 in a long time. It was basically 2 pieces of cake with scoops of ice cream and whipped cream. Four people could have easily split it. Our waitress was young and perky. I would definitely eat here again when in town and avoid the chains (Applebee's, Red Lobster, Texas Roadhouse).
(4)Erik L.
Excellent little local place. Just happened to see a 10% off coupon at my hotel and was intrigued by the name. Checked out the Yelp reviews and decided to give it a try while in the area for the weekend. Excellent sushi and a variety of California and other types of rolls. Eclectic mix of menu items that run the gamut steak to seafood with pasta too. Service was a little slow, but the place was slammed at the time we arrived. The Great selection of craft beers kept me entertained!
(4)Nick C.
My favorite lunch place in Elkhart. Great service. Menu is just the right size. Food is excellent for the price!
(4)Rob C.
We had dinner there on friday night and service was terrible!!! Over an hour went by after placing our order before our food arrived and it was cold!!!!! Really!!! We had the citrus salmon and Red Dragon roll. It was busy but not full. Drinks were hard to come by our server seemed to be too busy to fill our drinks. We did not have a good experience. Best of luck to anyone going.
(1)Starr R.
This is a place that I want to be great, but the experience is often mixed. It's a really lively and LOUD atmosphere. A fun place to stop for a beer, with an excellent selection on tap. But the service can be mixed. One busy night we sat at the bar near the sushi chef. We ordered sushi - we never got it after about an hour wait. I can't really remember anything I ate there except the edamame appetizer. Another summer night we were seated in the back and the air was so cold, we opted to sit outside. This place has potential, but it's not there yet.
(3)Laurie H.
The home cut chips are tremendous! Large beer selection available on tap. I had a cod poorboy. I'd have it again, but I would not rant to my friends about it. The calamari appetizer was exceptional. I think it's the best I've ever had. The sauce is divine - like a smokey New Orleans remoulade. The calamari was incredibly tender. My partner had the lake perch basket. It was quite delicate and flavorful. The fries were ok. We will definitely be back.
(4)Becca G.
When your fiance's 77 year old grandmother tells you she's taking you out to dinner, you get ready to roll with the punches. Apparently Granny was well informed and I was pleasantly surprised by the Chubby Trout. I had the Mahi-Mahi sandwich and it was well prepared, if not just a bit small. My fiance had the moo-cow steak and while it wasn't anything extraordinary, it was cooked to order and served hot. His grandmother and aunt had fish baskets, although they were a bit expensive for fried fish, the breading was crisp and the fish tender. My only real complaint was with the fries. You can tell a lot about a restaurant by it's fries... A well done fry shows a true commitment to quality on even the most basic of restaurant staples. The Chubby Trout's fries were all stuck together, over fried and extremely over salted. The Chubby Trout seems like a great neighborhood hangout and I would go back on my next visit to try the sushi. Great atmosphere, I especially like the large black and white picture of the bustling metropolis of Elkhart in 1914!
(3)LeRoy D.
Excellent experience. Waitress staff pleasant and efficient. Solid recommendations. Good calamari with great spicy cajun sauce, perch tender and moist, cajun pasta spicy and abundant. Beer selection wonderful. Will stop by when passing through every time. No need to look further.
(5)Steve G.
Food is pretty good, but the beer menu is excellent. Spotty service when dining. I wish the Sushi portions were a bit larger, considering the price.
(4)Brenda R.
I really LOVED the spinach artichoke dip. Would eat here a lot more if I lived here (instead of Texas: It's just too far to drop in from there!). The menu had a great selection... Service was great too.
(5)Tim D.
Nice place with very good food. I had a filet mignon and the salmon with sweet mustard sauce. Both were excellent and cooked perfectly to order. I would recommend (great sushi selection, though we didn't order any last night). Our server (Hillary) was fantastic. Easily ranks in the best service I've ever had anywhere. We will definitely be returning to explore more of the menu.
(5)Susan M.
Visiting from Texas, great menu, great food, good service. Hubby had te chubby trout and recommends it, we also loved the crab bisque, the steak, and the mahi mahi grilled sandwich.
(4)David M.
I also travel, quite a bit, for my job and often ask the for a restaurant suggestion, at the front desk of the hotel. Often I am disappointed. NOT THIS TIME. It is only a 1 mile or so from the Hampton Inn and the gal, at the front desk, was right now. She new the menu cold and talked up the vast beer list! I had the swordfish special with roasted garlic, green beans, and crispy fries. My friend had the unusual combination of seard tuna and their three cheese, cheese sandwich...all great. Ashley, the manager, was very attentive and I cannot say enough good thngs about The Chubby Trout. I wish I had more work scheduled in Elkhart so I could sample more of the menu.
(5)Sarah T.
We were visiting family in the area, and I located Chubby Trout on Yelp. Overall, a 4 star for the food. We have the walleye, which was good. Another in our group had sushi, and we all tried a roll - also very good. Service was friendly and attentive, but it was a very busy Friday night and food was slow to arrive...we didn't mind much as it allowed us time to visit. Expect a noisy bar like atmosphere. I would go back.
(4)Sarah H.
This restaurant is always at the top of my list when we are brainstorming. Excellent menu. A breath of fresh air in the middle of chain restaurant hell.
(5)Rachel S.
We met friends here on Feb 19. We had 2 appetizers, onion rings and hot chicken skewers. Both are made from scratch and were very good. I ate the almond crusted walleye, fabulous. My husband had fried perch; it was tender and not oily. The couple we were with had fried blue gill, and the special which was tilapia with a remoulade sauce. All the food was tender, juicy and had really good flavor. I've been to too many restaurants that reuse oil and don't change or filter it regularly. It was like everything was fried fresh and separate. We're definitely going back. They also had a full sushi menu, other seafood, and numerous micro brews. The portions were big.
(5)E. W.
Friendly, well-meaning, though inexperienced staff. Ahi appetizer and miso soup were delish, pasta was so-so, creme brulee tasty. By far the best choice in area over-run with chain restos.
(3)Pam B.
The almond crusted walleye is delicious! Anytime I make it to Elkhart, I make sure to stop in and enjoy this speciality. I look forward to this treat the entire trip from Vermont. I can't comment on any other menu item, because this is the only dish we ever order. Why mess with perfection? Today's experience was no exception. P. S. If you are there at lunch time, and it is not on the menu, just ask they will make it for you.
(5)Kate O.
Fun And tasty menu. Great service. Nice atmosphere. Good beer selection. Good for the whole family. Can't wait to go back. The Drunken Pigs were tender and yummy!
(5)Jerry F.
This place is the best. Loved the different sushi. The Chubby Trout dish is awesome. A must. Wait staff is knowledgeable. A little pricy but extremely worth it. Also many different exotic brews to choose from.
(4)MK S.
If I can, I'd give the sushi 3 stars. The rolls were a little on the small side, especially for the price of average of $10 each roll, but they were tasty. I would definitely come back when they have half-off ($) sushi specials. Good ambiance, try to have a reservation since the restaurant is a little small and popular during the weekend. Good burgers, good service. We'll be back. :)
(4)Travis P.
This was a much better restaurant than I expected to find in a midwestern city the size of Elkhart. I came here while in town for business. I suggest disregarding the negative reviews of the building itself, or the decor. Some of the best restaurants in the U.S. are total holes-in-the wall, but this one certainly isn't. In fact, it's a decent place for a casual family or business dinner, or a date. Lots of servers in the place on a Monday night, and a very good crowd. They have a great selection of microbrews on tap, including local Northern Indiana ones. The calamari appetizer was great, but be prepared for some serious garlic breath if you eat the sauce that comes with it. I had the Gumbo as my entree and while it was expertly prepared and really delicious, it was NOT Gumbo. It was not roux-based, and in fact there was no broth at all. It much more closely resembled Jambalaya or a sausage and tomato creole sauce over wild rice, with grilled shrimp on top. Like I said, it was delicious, and I'm a pretty discriminating eater of cajun/creole food. But it wasn't gumbo.
(4)Christina S.
This was such a wonderful find! I travel a lot and put this into my GPS so I won't forget where it was. I'm writting this a month later and don't remember what I had but it was grand and I will go back!
(5)Terry M.
The Chubby Trout has become the unofficial hangout for my friends. I appreciate their selection of craft beers, including many regional varieties. Their menu features burgers, sandwiches, steaks and pasta entrees. They're one of the few places in Elkhart County that serve sushi and it's pretty good, though I have a limited sample size with which to compare. Their location is nondescript -- they're around the corner from a busy commercial corridor, but they shine nonetheless.
(4)Adam P.
I have been all over the country for business and every town I work in I try to find a family owned restaurant that is a one of a kind place. The Chubby Trout, in my opinion, is one of the best local family owned restaurants i have ever been to. The staff is extremely nice and accommodating. On Monday's they have half price sushi! Very very good! I have also had the New orleans pasta! Extremely well done!
(5)Jessica S.
I went here when I was down in Indiana for work. We drove into the back and at first were not sure if we wanted to eat there. After we finally figured out how to get in it was great. Casual and you could tell full of locals. I think they were trying to figure out who were were. I of course had to have the "chubby trout" on the menu because that's what they are known for. The food was good everyone at the table enjoyed what they had. I'm glad when I was down there someone recommended it.
(4)Kinsey W.
The chubby trout is pretty good but the portions are a little bit small. It was also very cold in the restaurant. I hope that their new restaurant, The Fat Tomato, is better.
(4)Buck O.
Very fun and cool establishment for that area! Beer and most of the food was great but we were extremely disappointed in our service. My daughter ordered a grilled cheese and that wasn't good at all, I really don't order that for any child! Fish bites, burgers, chips, & sushi is what the rest of us had! Plenty of sushi to choose from & would definitely go back to try more! We will be hopefully being served by someone else!!!
(3)Lyndon P.
Meh.....I had heard great things but our experience was just that...ok. Service was ok, food was ok, price was a little steep (had the walleye which was also just ok) but it's seafood, that's how it rolls. Maybe if we were sushi bar eaters we would have liked it better, but wife and I talked about it later and both think it's the way the place is set up, not sure how to describe it but just.....ok.
(2)Taylor F.
The quality of the food is irrelevant because of how inhumane two of the staff members were. One was the hostess and the other was our waitress. I came here with a friend who has difficulty speaking--she can certainly speak, but it just takes her longer to express herself. She asked the hostess a question, the hostess looked her in the eye and then blatantly ignored her. The waitress did the same thing. The waitress also messed up my friend's food order and did not offer to correct it, and instead told her to box it up and that she could just eat it at home. This made my friend feel like less than a person, which in my mind, is inhumane. I would never recommend this restaurant. We have *never* had this sort of experience at any of restaurant.
(1)Chrissy B.
Solid restaurant with a great fish selection. I was told that this is the place you want to get sushi at in Elkhart, and it's excellent. Mondays is half priced sushi night, and they don't accept reservations after 6pm that night, and expect a wait. Weekends you'll want a reservation, but other weeknights you should be fine. Excellent beer selection.
(4)Serena D.
We recently had our company Christmas party at Chubby Trout. First off they were the first local restaurant who was more than happy to have our group for the evening. They set us up in a corner for the party. Our waitress was excellent, food was delicious and i now have a favorite new beer. We will be back!!
(5)Leslie C.
Fantastic sushi!!! We tried 6 different rolls and loved each one of them! Will defiantly go back and try the rest of the menu:)
(5)M K.
it looked like a fun place with a decent size bar a little upscale then what I would've thought , I ordered the sushi when I got there they had to re-do waited almost 20 minutes for that and I was so surprised when I got it it was two very small rolls not worth the 20$ I paid for.
(3)L R.
Terrible service. My sushi took over 40 to come out and came out well after the rest of my tables food. I got an apology but no compensation. The sushi was ok... Tons of rice and hardly any avocado or crab. My friends wrap was all lettuce and fell apart. My moms chicken sandwich was served on a soggy piece of bread. Cocktails were watered down. We ordered a second side of pita for our dip and never got it
(1)Angie B.
We had dinner 2x and let's just say both times we received food poison . We will NEVER go back. Go at your own risk
(1)M. Chris D.
Average- fish is very fried and over cooked- sushi was missing - everything - fish and rice is not sushi- I had three rolls- they were alllllll the same?? Sad- big drinks! That's a plus- prices were decent -
(3)Chandrea O.
Recently decided to give them another try on their Sushi menu. Overall, not too bad. Now they serve Sushi throughout the week, so I'm able to fulfill some sort of craving. I definitely recommend the Hot Mama and Spicy Salmon roll.
(4)Alisia A.
Visited this location while visiting a company in Elkhart. When we drove walked in I was a little hesitant but once we sat down and really looked around I began to really like it. I ordered the Special Of The Day which was Sesame Chicken Stir-Fry which was amazing! I hope they end up putting it on the menu because it was really good. The service was really good as well. The server was very attentive with us and always made sure we had everything we needed.
(4)Matthew M.
Wanted this place to be better than it turned out to be; alas. I guess sushi in northern Indiana is too good to be true. They were out of miso soup, which was quite disappointing to my vegetarian daughter, and there were no simple vegetable rolls on the menu, so she ended up eating grilled cheese with edamame on the side. What kind of sushi restaurant is out of miso soup? I take this as a warning that most customers don't venture to that side of the menu. Along the same vein, I ordered the seaweed salad, and it seemed -- I'm not sure... out of a can? Not fresh? Definitely chewier than expected. I got the spicy tuna and chicago rolls, and they were... well, they weren't terrible. Sushi miles from an ocean. The actual fish was good, but the total combination didn't add up. Wasabi was really, really weak, too. Also worth noting that these are large inside-out style rolls (uramaki) made with lots of rice (a thicker layer than I think I've seen anywhere), so I ended up quite full. (How does that joke go? "The food wasn't very good, and there was too much of it.") But meanwhile, my parents both ordered cooked fish dishes, and those seemed really good. Very attractive presentation, and nicely prepared. Oh, and I should add that the daily special, (raw) ahi tuna tostadas, were _awesome_ -- delicious and beautiful with edible flowers on top. Other observations: my daughter's first remark was that the place smelled funny, and she was right (smelled kind of like lingering tar from years of cigarettes?) so we sat outside, which was nice, although the ambiance is more "tables along the parking lot" than "nice restaurant". Service was quite detached and relaxed -- we didn't see our server for many long stretches (and I'm not quite sure of the system -- it seemed like each of the half-dozen outside tables had a _different_ server?). And she was nice enough, but not particularly friendly or attentive or have much to say (we had to ask if there were any specials). If we were in a hurry, or really looking to be treated to friendly service, that would have been irritating, but we weren't. So, bottom line here is that there's some good stuff, but don't get your hopes up about the sushi -- or the atmosphere.
(3)Shanna M.
I love coming here for the 1/2 price sushi on Mondays. The idea of this place if a little funny. They serve American style seafood and with a name like Chubby Trout I was expecting your usual fried clams and white fish but the Sushi here is AWESOME. It is always delicious and they have a wide variety of sashimi and dozens of different styles of rolls. One top of the great food they have a really good selection of beer and mixed drinks.
(4)Renee S.
Cody has left and Chef Gilberto is on top of the Sushi tonight and rocking it out!!! I'm sad Cody left, he was phenomenal. Gilberto smiles a lot. :)
(4)Sean R.
They would have gotten 5 stars, but they are a bit over priced for what you get. The food was good, however it took a bit of time to get the food and there wasn't many people in the restaurant. They have a decent bar area to eat and drink at if you prefer that. I still can't figure out the sushi bar here. It doesn't fit in with the rest of the food and restaurant. This place was recommended by the hotel for a good local restaurant, since this place is saturated with chain places.
(4)Adam P.
This is a pretty cool place. Great beer selection. Foods good. I like most things here but you can't go wrong with one of the burgers or Caribbean chicken sandwich. Monday is a great day here - half off sushi. Lots of selection and good quality. The chefs work right at the bar so you can see everything getting made.
(4)Carol K.
My husband and I ate here last night. Very good meal and the waiter was friendly and attentive. The sushi description in the summary threw me off. They have a regular menu also. Rainbow trout and steak were delicious.
(4)Todd W.
Excellent food. Great wait staff. Excellent beer selection. Awesome dessert. I will definitely come back.
(5)Shana B.
Our first experience at Chubby Trout. Overall we had a good experience and we plan to come back again. Make advance reservations if you can.. we all tried different seafood and fish appetizers, entrees and sushi rolls. Our favorites: Ahi tuna sesame appetizer, and the Mahi special.
(4)Corina R.
Excellent sushi!!!! Waitress was a bit slow getting our drinks but other than...excellent!!!
(5)Crystal B.
Great food! Calamari strip appetizer was the best! Highly recommend. Sushi excellent also! Good beer selection.
(5)Derek Z.
First time eating here and I was tempted by The "Buffalo Bill", a bison burger with spicy mayo and pepper jack cheese. I ordered it medium rare and it was cooked correctly which I appreciate, as opposed to places that ask but then it just ends up being whenever they remember to get it off the grill. The spicy mayo added an good and interesting and nicely added another facet of flavor to the bison. Also I recommend upgrading the side from chips to fries- they were freshly fried, crispy, and hot. Overall a well done and presented meal, the menu has other delicious sounding sandwiches as well. The only downside was service was a bit slow, drinks were empty for a bit, however the waitress was very nice and it was a busy lunch time. I will be back.
(4)E.S. K.
It's ok. We come here on occasion such as when I'm craving sushi but we don't want to go to an Asian grill. I've had other things from the menu and it's all ok but I typically get the sushi. I always leave hungry though because the sushi is so expensive and small portioned compared to other places. I just stick to 1 roll because I can't see spending upwards of $30 for just two rolls. Basically the food is good but overpriced. Nothing will wow you but nothing is terrible. Except the pretzels and the calamari. Those are terrible. A big negative about the place though are the acoustics. It's a very small place and there are usually several large parties that get very loud. I can never hear my date. They put up acoustic panels but it didn't really do anything to dampen the sound. If you're on a date and you're lucky you will be put on the west side of the restaurant which just has a couple booths all by themselves. If you're not lucky I hope you can read lips.
(3)Phillip W.
Thank you, fellow Yelpers. We've been on the road for hundreds of miles...it's tough finding decent places in unfamiliar areas. We just had delicious, well-cooked burgers and excellent draft beers. The burgers were flavorful -- better than the one I had the other night in Nebraska, a place that prides itself on the quality of its beef -- so I am pleased. The draft beer selection was excellent: IPAs, pilsners...something for everyone. I had a great IPA from Kalamazoo. My wife had a Green Flash IPA. The service was actually friendly and helpful...I say actually because we currently live in an area that is overrun with tourists and dominated by lackluster restaurants that feature servers who think they're too cool to deal with us regular humans. So we're happy. And back on the road. Thanks, Chubby Trout! (BTW, great name).
(5)David B.
Grilled ahi tuna outstanding. Chubby margaritas over the top great place great food.
(5)Michael L.
Good stuff. Great beer selection. Good atmosphere. Good food. A little pricy but I would go again and probably again. Sat on the patio which lacks a little in the way of scenery which consists of a parking lot and a busy road but enjoyed the meal regardless. Service was really good.
(5)Mary W.
Awesome! Did not expect this at all! Was visiting from out of town and saw the reviews and the enticing menu. The parking lot seemed full at 545 on a Monday night. I got the seafood linguini which was made to perfection! The service was quick. The server Makena was on the spot!
(5)Mark M.
Very nice servers and the fish was excellent. The prices were reasonable for the food but the building and interior is old and outdated.
(4)Marc G.
What a great find! My colleague and I stumbled upon this restaurant based upon a flyer in our hotel lobby. I'm so glad that we did. Drinks, food, and service were all excellent. The atmosphere is very unique - it looks and feels like a small-town neighborhood bar, but has a sushi bar right in the middle! I was slightly skeptical of ordering sushi in a bar in the middle of Indiana, but the rolls sounded so good, and what the heck, you only live once right? The sushi rolls I had tasted fresh and were well-executed. I would highly recommend the Chicago roll! My colleague got a seafood entree, and she thoroughly enjoyed it as well. The staff was very friendly, and offered us some great suggestions from both the food and drink menus. As for the drinks, they were great, and not unreasonably priced. They had an interesting selection of dessert drinks that my colleague indulged in, and she seemed quite happy with her choice! All in all I very much enjoyed my dinner at the Chubby Trout, and will definitely be back next time I find myself in the Elkhart area!
(4)Phillip W.
Thank you, fellow Yelpers. We've been on the road for hundreds of miles...it's tough finding decent places in unfamiliar areas. We just had delicious, well-cooked burgers and excellent draft beers. The burgers were flavorful -- better than the one I had the other night in Nebraska, a place that prides itself on the quality of its beef -- so I am pleased. The draft beer selection was excellent: IPAs, pilsners...something for everyone. I had a great IPA from Kalamazoo. My wife had a Green Flash IPA. The service was actually friendly and helpful...I say actually because we currently live in an area that is overrun with tourists and dominated by lackluster restaurants that feature servers who think they're too cool to deal with us regular humans. So we're happy. And back on the road. Thanks, Chubby Trout! (BTW, great name).
(5)David B.
Grilled ahi tuna outstanding. Chubby margaritas over the top great place great food.
(5)Adam P.
This is a pretty cool place. Great beer selection. Foods good. I like most things here but you can't go wrong with one of the burgers or Caribbean chicken sandwich. Monday is a great day here - half off sushi. Lots of selection and good quality. The chefs work right at the bar so you can see everything getting made.
(4)Carol K.
My husband and I ate here last night. Very good meal and the waiter was friendly and attentive. The sushi description in the summary threw me off. They have a regular menu also. Rainbow trout and steak were delicious.
(4)Todd W.
Excellent food. Great wait staff. Excellent beer selection. Awesome dessert. I will definitely come back.
(5)Alisia A.
Visited this location while visiting a company in Elkhart. When we drove walked in I was a little hesitant but once we sat down and really looked around I began to really like it. I ordered the Special Of The Day which was Sesame Chicken Stir-Fry which was amazing! I hope they end up putting it on the menu because it was really good. The service was really good as well. The server was very attentive with us and always made sure we had everything we needed.
(4)Taylor F.
The quality of the food is irrelevant because of how inhumane two of the staff members were. One was the hostess and the other was our waitress. I came here with a friend who has difficulty speaking--she can certainly speak, but it just takes her longer to express herself. She asked the hostess a question, the hostess looked her in the eye and then blatantly ignored her. The waitress did the same thing. The waitress also messed up my friend's food order and did not offer to correct it, and instead told her to box it up and that she could just eat it at home. This made my friend feel like less than a person, which in my mind, is inhumane. I would never recommend this restaurant. We have *never* had this sort of experience at any of restaurant.
(1)Buck O.
Very fun and cool establishment for that area! Beer and most of the food was great but we were extremely disappointed in our service. My daughter ordered a grilled cheese and that wasn't good at all, I really don't order that for any child! Fish bites, burgers, chips, & sushi is what the rest of us had! Plenty of sushi to choose from & would definitely go back to try more! We will be hopefully being served by someone else!!!
(3)Sean R.
They would have gotten 5 stars, but they are a bit over priced for what you get. The food was good, however it took a bit of time to get the food and there wasn't many people in the restaurant. They have a decent bar area to eat and drink at if you prefer that. I still can't figure out the sushi bar here. It doesn't fit in with the rest of the food and restaurant. This place was recommended by the hotel for a good local restaurant, since this place is saturated with chain places.
(4)Matthew M.
Wanted this place to be better than it turned out to be; alas. I guess sushi in northern Indiana is too good to be true. They were out of miso soup, which was quite disappointing to my vegetarian daughter, and there were no simple vegetable rolls on the menu, so she ended up eating grilled cheese with edamame on the side. What kind of sushi restaurant is out of miso soup? I take this as a warning that most customers don't venture to that side of the menu. Along the same vein, I ordered the seaweed salad, and it seemed -- I'm not sure... out of a can? Not fresh? Definitely chewier than expected. I got the spicy tuna and chicago rolls, and they were... well, they weren't terrible. Sushi miles from an ocean. The actual fish was good, but the total combination didn't add up. Wasabi was really, really weak, too. Also worth noting that these are large inside-out style rolls (uramaki) made with lots of rice (a thicker layer than I think I've seen anywhere), so I ended up quite full. (How does that joke go? "The food wasn't very good, and there was too much of it.") But meanwhile, my parents both ordered cooked fish dishes, and those seemed really good. Very attractive presentation, and nicely prepared. Oh, and I should add that the daily special, (raw) ahi tuna tostadas, were _awesome_ -- delicious and beautiful with edible flowers on top. Other observations: my daughter's first remark was that the place smelled funny, and she was right (smelled kind of like lingering tar from years of cigarettes?) so we sat outside, which was nice, although the ambiance is more "tables along the parking lot" than "nice restaurant". Service was quite detached and relaxed -- we didn't see our server for many long stretches (and I'm not quite sure of the system -- it seemed like each of the half-dozen outside tables had a _different_ server?). And she was nice enough, but not particularly friendly or attentive or have much to say (we had to ask if there were any specials). If we were in a hurry, or really looking to be treated to friendly service, that would have been irritating, but we weren't. So, bottom line here is that there's some good stuff, but don't get your hopes up about the sushi -- or the atmosphere.
(3)Shanna M.
I love coming here for the 1/2 price sushi on Mondays. The idea of this place if a little funny. They serve American style seafood and with a name like Chubby Trout I was expecting your usual fried clams and white fish but the Sushi here is AWESOME. It is always delicious and they have a wide variety of sashimi and dozens of different styles of rolls. One top of the great food they have a really good selection of beer and mixed drinks.
(4)Renee S.
Cody has left and Chef Gilberto is on top of the Sushi tonight and rocking it out!!! I'm sad Cody left, he was phenomenal. Gilberto smiles a lot. :)
(4)Lyndon P.
Meh.....I had heard great things but our experience was just that...ok. Service was ok, food was ok, price was a little steep (had the walleye which was also just ok) but it's seafood, that's how it rolls. Maybe if we were sushi bar eaters we would have liked it better, but wife and I talked about it later and both think it's the way the place is set up, not sure how to describe it but just.....ok.
(2)Shana B.
Our first experience at Chubby Trout. Overall we had a good experience and we plan to come back again. Make advance reservations if you can.. we all tried different seafood and fish appetizers, entrees and sushi rolls. Our favorites: Ahi tuna sesame appetizer, and the Mahi special.
(4)Corina R.
Excellent sushi!!!! Waitress was a bit slow getting our drinks but other than...excellent!!!
(5)Chandrea O.
Recently decided to give them another try on their Sushi menu. Overall, not too bad. Now they serve Sushi throughout the week, so I'm able to fulfill some sort of craving. I definitely recommend the Hot Mama and Spicy Salmon roll.
(4)Marc G.
What a great find! My colleague and I stumbled upon this restaurant based upon a flyer in our hotel lobby. I'm so glad that we did. Drinks, food, and service were all excellent. The atmosphere is very unique - it looks and feels like a small-town neighborhood bar, but has a sushi bar right in the middle! I was slightly skeptical of ordering sushi in a bar in the middle of Indiana, but the rolls sounded so good, and what the heck, you only live once right? The sushi rolls I had tasted fresh and were well-executed. I would highly recommend the Chicago roll! My colleague got a seafood entree, and she thoroughly enjoyed it as well. The staff was very friendly, and offered us some great suggestions from both the food and drink menus. As for the drinks, they were great, and not unreasonably priced. They had an interesting selection of dessert drinks that my colleague indulged in, and she seemed quite happy with her choice! All in all I very much enjoyed my dinner at the Chubby Trout, and will definitely be back next time I find myself in the Elkhart area!
(4)Chrissy B.
Solid restaurant with a great fish selection. I was told that this is the place you want to get sushi at in Elkhart, and it's excellent. Mondays is half priced sushi night, and they don't accept reservations after 6pm that night, and expect a wait. Weekends you'll want a reservation, but other weeknights you should be fine. Excellent beer selection.
(4)Serena D.
We recently had our company Christmas party at Chubby Trout. First off they were the first local restaurant who was more than happy to have our group for the evening. They set us up in a corner for the party. Our waitress was excellent, food was delicious and i now have a favorite new beer. We will be back!!
(5)Leslie C.
Fantastic sushi!!! We tried 6 different rolls and loved each one of them! Will defiantly go back and try the rest of the menu:)
(5)M K.
it looked like a fun place with a decent size bar a little upscale then what I would've thought , I ordered the sushi when I got there they had to re-do waited almost 20 minutes for that and I was so surprised when I got it it was two very small rolls not worth the 20$ I paid for.
(3)L R.
Terrible service. My sushi took over 40 to come out and came out well after the rest of my tables food. I got an apology but no compensation. The sushi was ok... Tons of rice and hardly any avocado or crab. My friends wrap was all lettuce and fell apart. My moms chicken sandwich was served on a soggy piece of bread. Cocktails were watered down. We ordered a second side of pita for our dip and never got it
(1)Angie B.
We had dinner 2x and let's just say both times we received food poison . We will NEVER go back. Go at your own risk
(1)M. Chris D.
Average- fish is very fried and over cooked- sushi was missing - everything - fish and rice is not sushi- I had three rolls- they were alllllll the same?? Sad- big drinks! That's a plus- prices were decent -
(3)Crystal B.
Great food! Calamari strip appetizer was the best! Highly recommend. Sushi excellent also! Good beer selection.
(5)Derek Z.
First time eating here and I was tempted by The "Buffalo Bill", a bison burger with spicy mayo and pepper jack cheese. I ordered it medium rare and it was cooked correctly which I appreciate, as opposed to places that ask but then it just ends up being whenever they remember to get it off the grill. The spicy mayo added an good and interesting and nicely added another facet of flavor to the bison. Also I recommend upgrading the side from chips to fries- they were freshly fried, crispy, and hot. Overall a well done and presented meal, the menu has other delicious sounding sandwiches as well. The only downside was service was a bit slow, drinks were empty for a bit, however the waitress was very nice and it was a busy lunch time. I will be back.
(4)E.S. K.
It's ok. We come here on occasion such as when I'm craving sushi but we don't want to go to an Asian grill. I've had other things from the menu and it's all ok but I typically get the sushi. I always leave hungry though because the sushi is so expensive and small portioned compared to other places. I just stick to 1 roll because I can't see spending upwards of $30 for just two rolls. Basically the food is good but overpriced. Nothing will wow you but nothing is terrible. Except the pretzels and the calamari. Those are terrible. A big negative about the place though are the acoustics. It's a very small place and there are usually several large parties that get very loud. I can never hear my date. They put up acoustic panels but it didn't really do anything to dampen the sound. If you're on a date and you're lucky you will be put on the west side of the restaurant which just has a couple booths all by themselves. If you're not lucky I hope you can read lips.
(3)Michael L.
Good stuff. Great beer selection. Good atmosphere. Good food. A little pricy but I would go again and probably again. Sat on the patio which lacks a little in the way of scenery which consists of a parking lot and a busy road but enjoyed the meal regardless. Service was really good.
(5)Mary W.
Awesome! Did not expect this at all! Was visiting from out of town and saw the reviews and the enticing menu. The parking lot seemed full at 545 on a Monday night. I got the seafood linguini which was made to perfection! The service was quick. The server Makena was on the spot!
(5)Joel B.
I don't eat sushi, so it took me a while to try this place. (Yes, I have tried it. No, I don't like it.) Once I finally tried this place I was pleasantly surprised to find their menu includes far more than sushi. I am not a fan of onion rings, but I tried theirs once when entertaining a client here and now I have to get them every time I come. My favorite thing to get is their Caribbean Chicken Sandwich. Few places can pull off a juicy chicken sandwich like this one. If you are looking for some place local to eat that is not your standard chain restaurant... this is a Great place to eat! (The only reason I could not give Chubby Trout a perfect 5 Stars is because every once in a while service has been a little slower than desired, but that is the exception more often than the rule.)
(4)Kelly D.
I did not want to like this place. I've had sushi in many different locations and thought there was no way there would be acceptable sushi in Elkhart, Indiana. In fact we tried to go to another sushi place first but were turned away when the restaurant had bar-only seating available. Sushi at a place called The Chubby Trout? And the Comic Sans-esque typeface all over the restaurant?? Boy was I wrong. The sushi was fresh and delicious, and the Chicago Roll...tempura jalapeno and hot sauce and cream cheese...it was an incredible roll. The service was quick, and even the edamame was mind blowing. I was beyond happy with the sushi here, although it was a bit pricey. The only thing that almost knocked a star off was the wait staff. Upon walking in, the hostess and the other girls walking around waiting tables had a bit of a Mean Girls air about them. I commented to my friend that I felt like I was back in high school and these were the girls at the cool table that wouldn't have talked to me. Luckily I got over my 'not good enough for you' status and enjoyed some of the best sushi I've ever had!
(5)Ty W.
We have started to go to a different restaurant in the area every Friday night! We arrived at chubby trout and were told it would be a 20 minute wait which we said fine we' ll go to the bar and have a drink, it was more like a 40 minute wait! Almost ate at the bar! Ordered appetizer called ? Baba shrimp which were good - a little on the Luke warm side,but edible. Main dish being a shrimp wrap which tasted like the appetizer was good. But, the best of all was the carrot cake for dessert, recommend you order for at least 4 people to eat. I think next time we' ll go for dessert only!!!'m
(4)jeff h.
I had the Thai noodles with shrimp special for lunch and the crusted walleye for dinner and they were both excellent. The place was loaded with people eating sushi. I wish I had a chance to try it, but I was only there for a couple of days. This is probably the best place to go in the area. It came highly regarded and it was deserved.
(5)Chris J.
We went here with friends last night and I really liked what I ordered (The Two Drunken Pigs...Two pork chops) because it was the best cooked meat that I've had in a long time. This was a solid portion of meat the potatoes and greens were nice. The thing that concerned me is that the atmosphere and menu seemed disjointed. I get the sort of fish shack story of the name and the pictures of Elkhart of old on the walls. I think that all seems to go well with the first part of the menu; the sushi part seems out of place. Sushi reminds me of a minimalist space; this is a cluttered yet homey place. My partner had the sushi and she didn't think that it was anything special (along with the spring rolls). The time to get out meal was a little long (maybe an hour), but the staff was generally friendly and the bread was a nice thing to nibble on while we waited.
(3)Terrie M.
Outstanding find. Close to turnpike. Great service. Unique menu. Moderately priced. We loved it and will go back when on the road and passing through. Skip the chain restaurant, this is so much more & better meal.
(5)Thomas K.
This place is a little overhyped in my opinion. The sushi is not buttery and soft sushi you would expect at a Japanese sushi bar. The pieces are also pretty small. On my last visit, I had a seared tuna salad. The greens were fresh, but tuna was mediocre. They serve huge desserts that could easily feed 3+ people. Service was decent. Overall a decent restaurant... Perhaps one of the better ones in Elkhart given the limited options, but nothing to write home about.
(3)Pete T.
Had a group dinner here and was surprised to find a sushi chef. Sushi was as good. Service was a little slow, but we were a large group (14). Some tried the Chubby Trout, thought it was good. I tried the gumbo, not a classic gumbo but very flavorful and a good sized portion. Crab cakes, seared ahi appetizer, and drunken shrimp all disappeared quickly, because they were good. I don't visit Elkhart often, but I'd come back to try more.
(3)Paul J.
I seriously want to know when all of you have been to the Trout - I mean, I have been here about 15 times and everytime I have been the service has been poor, poor, and poor. The service notwithstanding, the food is outstanding. These guys also own the Lake Shore Grill joint just down the road on Cassopolis in Elkhart. If you want very good fried fish, an outstanding beer draught selection, and far superior service, go there. Why they cannot replicate the service at their other place is beyond me. You might ask why I keep coming back? I work 2 minutes away and the food is great. After my first 5 experiences, I never go as the initiator, but I go willingly. :)
(3)Sherry H.
Our experience was good. Sushi was good for the price during Monday 1/2 price day, but definitely not the best in Elkhart.
(4)Brian J.
Over the last year or so, Chubbys has quickly moved up on our list of favorites. Excellent Service, Food and Drinks. Sushi has come a long way since my first review.
(5)Eliza M.
When in Elkhart, dine here. Decent selection of draft beers--Founders, Oberon, New Belgium and more. The menu includes burgers, steaks, seafood, and --- sushi, which was a little weird for me. We tried the lobster pasta special, walleye, and trout. All were good and the portions were on the larger size. The chocolate cake dessert was the biggest dessert I've seen for ($7?) $8 in a long time. It was basically 2 pieces of cake with scoops of ice cream and whipped cream. Four people could have easily split it. Our waitress was young and perky. I would definitely eat here again when in town and avoid the chains (Applebee's, Red Lobster, Texas Roadhouse).
(4)Erik L.
Excellent little local place. Just happened to see a 10% off coupon at my hotel and was intrigued by the name. Checked out the Yelp reviews and decided to give it a try while in the area for the weekend. Excellent sushi and a variety of California and other types of rolls. Eclectic mix of menu items that run the gamut steak to seafood with pasta too. Service was a little slow, but the place was slammed at the time we arrived. The Great selection of craft beers kept me entertained!
(4)Nick C.
My favorite lunch place in Elkhart. Great service. Menu is just the right size. Food is excellent for the price!
(4)Rob C.
We had dinner there on friday night and service was terrible!!! Over an hour went by after placing our order before our food arrived and it was cold!!!!! Really!!! We had the citrus salmon and Red Dragon roll. It was busy but not full. Drinks were hard to come by our server seemed to be too busy to fill our drinks. We did not have a good experience. Best of luck to anyone going.
(1)Starr R.
This is a place that I want to be great, but the experience is often mixed. It's a really lively and LOUD atmosphere. A fun place to stop for a beer, with an excellent selection on tap. But the service can be mixed. One busy night we sat at the bar near the sushi chef. We ordered sushi - we never got it after about an hour wait. I can't really remember anything I ate there except the edamame appetizer. Another summer night we were seated in the back and the air was so cold, we opted to sit outside. This place has potential, but it's not there yet.
(3)Laurie H.
The home cut chips are tremendous! Large beer selection available on tap. I had a cod poorboy. I'd have it again, but I would not rant to my friends about it. The calamari appetizer was exceptional. I think it's the best I've ever had. The sauce is divine - like a smokey New Orleans remoulade. The calamari was incredibly tender. My partner had the lake perch basket. It was quite delicate and flavorful. The fries were ok. We will definitely be back.
(4)Becca G.
When your fiance's 77 year old grandmother tells you she's taking you out to dinner, you get ready to roll with the punches. Apparently Granny was well informed and I was pleasantly surprised by the Chubby Trout. I had the Mahi-Mahi sandwich and it was well prepared, if not just a bit small. My fiance had the moo-cow steak and while it wasn't anything extraordinary, it was cooked to order and served hot. His grandmother and aunt had fish baskets, although they were a bit expensive for fried fish, the breading was crisp and the fish tender. My only real complaint was with the fries. You can tell a lot about a restaurant by it's fries... A well done fry shows a true commitment to quality on even the most basic of restaurant staples. The Chubby Trout's fries were all stuck together, over fried and extremely over salted. The Chubby Trout seems like a great neighborhood hangout and I would go back on my next visit to try the sushi. Great atmosphere, I especially like the large black and white picture of the bustling metropolis of Elkhart in 1914!
(3)LeRoy D.
Excellent experience. Waitress staff pleasant and efficient. Solid recommendations. Good calamari with great spicy cajun sauce, perch tender and moist, cajun pasta spicy and abundant. Beer selection wonderful. Will stop by when passing through every time. No need to look further.
(5)Steve G.
Food is pretty good, but the beer menu is excellent. Spotty service when dining. I wish the Sushi portions were a bit larger, considering the price.
(4)Brenda R.
I really LOVED the spinach artichoke dip. Would eat here a lot more if I lived here (instead of Texas: It's just too far to drop in from there!). The menu had a great selection... Service was great too.
(5)Tim D.
Nice place with very good food. I had a filet mignon and the salmon with sweet mustard sauce. Both were excellent and cooked perfectly to order. I would recommend (great sushi selection, though we didn't order any last night). Our server (Hillary) was fantastic. Easily ranks in the best service I've ever had anywhere. We will definitely be returning to explore more of the menu.
(5)Susan M.
Visiting from Texas, great menu, great food, good service. Hubby had te chubby trout and recommends it, we also loved the crab bisque, the steak, and the mahi mahi grilled sandwich.
(4)David M.
I also travel, quite a bit, for my job and often ask the for a restaurant suggestion, at the front desk of the hotel. Often I am disappointed. NOT THIS TIME. It is only a 1 mile or so from the Hampton Inn and the gal, at the front desk, was right now. She new the menu cold and talked up the vast beer list! I had the swordfish special with roasted garlic, green beans, and crispy fries. My friend had the unusual combination of seard tuna and their three cheese, cheese sandwich...all great. Ashley, the manager, was very attentive and I cannot say enough good thngs about The Chubby Trout. I wish I had more work scheduled in Elkhart so I could sample more of the menu.
(5)Sarah T.
We were visiting family in the area, and I located Chubby Trout on Yelp. Overall, a 4 star for the food. We have the walleye, which was good. Another in our group had sushi, and we all tried a roll - also very good. Service was friendly and attentive, but it was a very busy Friday night and food was slow to arrive...we didn't mind much as it allowed us time to visit. Expect a noisy bar like atmosphere. I would go back.
(4)Sarah H.
This restaurant is always at the top of my list when we are brainstorming. Excellent menu. A breath of fresh air in the middle of chain restaurant hell.
(5)Rachel S.
We met friends here on Feb 19. We had 2 appetizers, onion rings and hot chicken skewers. Both are made from scratch and were very good. I ate the almond crusted walleye, fabulous. My husband had fried perch; it was tender and not oily. The couple we were with had fried blue gill, and the special which was tilapia with a remoulade sauce. All the food was tender, juicy and had really good flavor. I've been to too many restaurants that reuse oil and don't change or filter it regularly. It was like everything was fried fresh and separate. We're definitely going back. They also had a full sushi menu, other seafood, and numerous micro brews. The portions were big.
(5)E. W.
Friendly, well-meaning, though inexperienced staff. Ahi appetizer and miso soup were delish, pasta was so-so, creme brulee tasty. By far the best choice in area over-run with chain restos.
(3)Pam B.
The almond crusted walleye is delicious! Anytime I make it to Elkhart, I make sure to stop in and enjoy this speciality. I look forward to this treat the entire trip from Vermont. I can't comment on any other menu item, because this is the only dish we ever order. Why mess with perfection? Today's experience was no exception. P. S. If you are there at lunch time, and it is not on the menu, just ask they will make it for you.
(5)Kate O.
Fun And tasty menu. Great service. Nice atmosphere. Good beer selection. Good for the whole family. Can't wait to go back. The Drunken Pigs were tender and yummy!
(5)Jerry F.
This place is the best. Loved the different sushi. The Chubby Trout dish is awesome. A must. Wait staff is knowledgeable. A little pricy but extremely worth it. Also many different exotic brews to choose from.
(4)MK S.
If I can, I'd give the sushi 3 stars. The rolls were a little on the small side, especially for the price of average of $10 each roll, but they were tasty. I would definitely come back when they have half-off ($) sushi specials. Good ambiance, try to have a reservation since the restaurant is a little small and popular during the weekend. Good burgers, good service. We'll be back. :)
(4)Travis P.
This was a much better restaurant than I expected to find in a midwestern city the size of Elkhart. I came here while in town for business. I suggest disregarding the negative reviews of the building itself, or the decor. Some of the best restaurants in the U.S. are total holes-in-the wall, but this one certainly isn't. In fact, it's a decent place for a casual family or business dinner, or a date. Lots of servers in the place on a Monday night, and a very good crowd. They have a great selection of microbrews on tap, including local Northern Indiana ones. The calamari appetizer was great, but be prepared for some serious garlic breath if you eat the sauce that comes with it. I had the Gumbo as my entree and while it was expertly prepared and really delicious, it was NOT Gumbo. It was not roux-based, and in fact there was no broth at all. It much more closely resembled Jambalaya or a sausage and tomato creole sauce over wild rice, with grilled shrimp on top. Like I said, it was delicious, and I'm a pretty discriminating eater of cajun/creole food. But it wasn't gumbo.
(4)Christina S.
This was such a wonderful find! I travel a lot and put this into my GPS so I won't forget where it was. I'm writting this a month later and don't remember what I had but it was grand and I will go back!
(5)Terry M.
The Chubby Trout has become the unofficial hangout for my friends. I appreciate their selection of craft beers, including many regional varieties. Their menu features burgers, sandwiches, steaks and pasta entrees. They're one of the few places in Elkhart County that serve sushi and it's pretty good, though I have a limited sample size with which to compare. Their location is nondescript -- they're around the corner from a busy commercial corridor, but they shine nonetheless.
(4)Adam P.
I have been all over the country for business and every town I work in I try to find a family owned restaurant that is a one of a kind place. The Chubby Trout, in my opinion, is one of the best local family owned restaurants i have ever been to. The staff is extremely nice and accommodating. On Monday's they have half price sushi! Very very good! I have also had the New orleans pasta! Extremely well done!
(5)Jessica S.
I went here when I was down in Indiana for work. We drove into the back and at first were not sure if we wanted to eat there. After we finally figured out how to get in it was great. Casual and you could tell full of locals. I think they were trying to figure out who were were. I of course had to have the "chubby trout" on the menu because that's what they are known for. The food was good everyone at the table enjoyed what they had. I'm glad when I was down there someone recommended it.
(4)Kinsey W.
The chubby trout is pretty good but the portions are a little bit small. It was also very cold in the restaurant. I hope that their new restaurant, The Fat Tomato, is better.
(4)Timothy W.
BEst FOOD in Elkhart, Best Sushi, too!
(5)Joleen K.
Relaxing and casual atmosphere. I've had great service 95% of the time and have always enjoyed the food...can you say awesome carrot cake!
(4)Travis P.
This was a much better restaurant than I expected to find in a midwestern city the size of Elkhart. I came here while in town for business. I suggest disregarding the negative reviews of the building itself, or the decor. Some of the best restaurants in the U.S. are total holes-in-the wall, but this one certainly isn't. In fact, it's a decent place for a casual family or business dinner, or a date. Lots of servers in the place on a Monday night, and a very good crowd. They have a great selection of microbrews on tap, including local Northern Indiana ones. The calamari appetizer was great, but be prepared for some serious garlic breath if you eat the sauce that comes with it. I had the Gumbo as my entree and while it was expertly prepared and really delicious, it was NOT Gumbo. It was not roux-based, and in fact there was no broth at all. It much more closely resembled Jambalaya or a sausage and tomato creole sauce over wild rice, with grilled shrimp on top. Like I said, it was delicious, and I'm a pretty discriminating eater of cajun/creole food. But it wasn't gumbo.
(4)Christina S.
This was such a wonderful find! I travel a lot and put this into my GPS so I won't forget where it was. I'm writting this a month later and don't remember what I had but it was grand and I will go back!
(5)Terry M.
The Chubby Trout has become the unofficial hangout for my friends. I appreciate their selection of craft beers, including many regional varieties. Their menu features burgers, sandwiches, steaks and pasta entrees. They're one of the few places in Elkhart County that serve sushi and it's pretty good, though I have a limited sample size with which to compare. Their location is nondescript -- they're around the corner from a busy commercial corridor, but they shine nonetheless.
(4)Adam P.
I have been all over the country for business and every town I work in I try to find a family owned restaurant that is a one of a kind place. The Chubby Trout, in my opinion, is one of the best local family owned restaurants i have ever been to. The staff is extremely nice and accommodating. On Monday's they have half price sushi! Very very good! I have also had the New orleans pasta! Extremely well done!
(5)Jessica S.
I went here when I was down in Indiana for work. We drove into the back and at first were not sure if we wanted to eat there. After we finally figured out how to get in it was great. Casual and you could tell full of locals. I think they were trying to figure out who were were. I of course had to have the "chubby trout" on the menu because that's what they are known for. The food was good everyone at the table enjoyed what they had. I'm glad when I was down there someone recommended it.
(4)Kinsey W.
The chubby trout is pretty good but the portions are a little bit small. It was also very cold in the restaurant. I hope that their new restaurant, The Fat Tomato, is better.
(4)Timothy W.
BEst FOOD in Elkhart, Best Sushi, too!
(5)Joleen K.
Relaxing and casual atmosphere. I've had great service 95% of the time and have always enjoyed the food...can you say awesome carrot cake!
(4)Pam B.
The almond crusted walleye is delicious! Anytime I make it to Elkhart, I make sure to stop in and enjoy this speciality. I look forward to this treat the entire trip from Vermont. I can't comment on any other menu item, because this is the only dish we ever order. Why mess with perfection? Today's experience was no exception. P. S. If you are there at lunch time, and it is not on the menu, just ask they will make it for you.
(5)Kate O.
Fun And tasty menu. Great service. Nice atmosphere. Good beer selection. Good for the whole family. Can't wait to go back. The Drunken Pigs were tender and yummy!
(5)Jerry F.
This place is the best. Loved the different sushi. The Chubby Trout dish is awesome. A must. Wait staff is knowledgeable. A little pricy but extremely worth it. Also many different exotic brews to choose from.
(4)MK S.
If I can, I'd give the sushi 3 stars. The rolls were a little on the small side, especially for the price of average of $10 each roll, but they were tasty. I would definitely come back when they have half-off ($) sushi specials. Good ambiance, try to have a reservation since the restaurant is a little small and popular during the weekend. Good burgers, good service. We'll be back. :)
(4)jeff h.
I had the Thai noodles with shrimp special for lunch and the crusted walleye for dinner and they were both excellent. The place was loaded with people eating sushi. I wish I had a chance to try it, but I was only there for a couple of days. This is probably the best place to go in the area. It came highly regarded and it was deserved.
(5)Rachel S.
We met friends here on Feb 19. We had 2 appetizers, onion rings and hot chicken skewers. Both are made from scratch and were very good. I ate the almond crusted walleye, fabulous. My husband had fried perch; it was tender and not oily. The couple we were with had fried blue gill, and the special which was tilapia with a remoulade sauce. All the food was tender, juicy and had really good flavor. I've been to too many restaurants that reuse oil and don't change or filter it regularly. It was like everything was fried fresh and separate. We're definitely going back. They also had a full sushi menu, other seafood, and numerous micro brews. The portions were big.
(5)E. W.
Friendly, well-meaning, though inexperienced staff. Ahi appetizer and miso soup were delish, pasta was so-so, creme brulee tasty. By far the best choice in area over-run with chain restos.
(3)Chris J.
We went here with friends last night and I really liked what I ordered (The Two Drunken Pigs...Two pork chops) because it was the best cooked meat that I've had in a long time. This was a solid portion of meat the potatoes and greens were nice. The thing that concerned me is that the atmosphere and menu seemed disjointed. I get the sort of fish shack story of the name and the pictures of Elkhart of old on the walls. I think that all seems to go well with the first part of the menu; the sushi part seems out of place. Sushi reminds me of a minimalist space; this is a cluttered yet homey place. My partner had the sushi and she didn't think that it was anything special (along with the spring rolls). The time to get out meal was a little long (maybe an hour), but the staff was generally friendly and the bread was a nice thing to nibble on while we waited.
(3)Terrie M.
Outstanding find. Close to turnpike. Great service. Unique menu. Moderately priced. We loved it and will go back when on the road and passing through. Skip the chain restaurant, this is so much more & better meal.
(5)Thomas K.
This place is a little overhyped in my opinion. The sushi is not buttery and soft sushi you would expect at a Japanese sushi bar. The pieces are also pretty small. On my last visit, I had a seared tuna salad. The greens were fresh, but tuna was mediocre. They serve huge desserts that could easily feed 3+ people. Service was decent. Overall a decent restaurant... Perhaps one of the better ones in Elkhart given the limited options, but nothing to write home about.
(3)Pete T.
Had a group dinner here and was surprised to find a sushi chef. Sushi was as good. Service was a little slow, but we were a large group (14). Some tried the Chubby Trout, thought it was good. I tried the gumbo, not a classic gumbo but very flavorful and a good sized portion. Crab cakes, seared ahi appetizer, and drunken shrimp all disappeared quickly, because they were good. I don't visit Elkhart often, but I'd come back to try more.
(3)Paul J.
I seriously want to know when all of you have been to the Trout - I mean, I have been here about 15 times and everytime I have been the service has been poor, poor, and poor. The service notwithstanding, the food is outstanding. These guys also own the Lake Shore Grill joint just down the road on Cassopolis in Elkhart. If you want very good fried fish, an outstanding beer draught selection, and far superior service, go there. Why they cannot replicate the service at their other place is beyond me. You might ask why I keep coming back? I work 2 minutes away and the food is great. After my first 5 experiences, I never go as the initiator, but I go willingly. :)
(3)Sherry H.
Our experience was good. Sushi was good for the price during Monday 1/2 price day, but definitely not the best in Elkhart.
(4)Brian J.
Over the last year or so, Chubbys has quickly moved up on our list of favorites. Excellent Service, Food and Drinks. Sushi has come a long way since my first review.
(5)Eliza M.
When in Elkhart, dine here. Decent selection of draft beers--Founders, Oberon, New Belgium and more. The menu includes burgers, steaks, seafood, and --- sushi, which was a little weird for me. We tried the lobster pasta special, walleye, and trout. All were good and the portions were on the larger size. The chocolate cake dessert was the biggest dessert I've seen for ($7?) $8 in a long time. It was basically 2 pieces of cake with scoops of ice cream and whipped cream. Four people could have easily split it. Our waitress was young and perky. I would definitely eat here again when in town and avoid the chains (Applebee's, Red Lobster, Texas Roadhouse).
(4)Erik L.
Excellent little local place. Just happened to see a 10% off coupon at my hotel and was intrigued by the name. Checked out the Yelp reviews and decided to give it a try while in the area for the weekend. Excellent sushi and a variety of California and other types of rolls. Eclectic mix of menu items that run the gamut steak to seafood with pasta too. Service was a little slow, but the place was slammed at the time we arrived. The Great selection of craft beers kept me entertained!
(4)Nick C.
My favorite lunch place in Elkhart. Great service. Menu is just the right size. Food is excellent for the price!
(4)Rob C.
We had dinner there on friday night and service was terrible!!! Over an hour went by after placing our order before our food arrived and it was cold!!!!! Really!!! We had the citrus salmon and Red Dragon roll. It was busy but not full. Drinks were hard to come by our server seemed to be too busy to fill our drinks. We did not have a good experience. Best of luck to anyone going.
(1)Mark M.
Very nice servers and the fish was excellent. The prices were reasonable for the food but the building and interior is old and outdated.
(4)Joel B.
I don't eat sushi, so it took me a while to try this place. (Yes, I have tried it. No, I don't like it.) Once I finally tried this place I was pleasantly surprised to find their menu includes far more than sushi. I am not a fan of onion rings, but I tried theirs once when entertaining a client here and now I have to get them every time I come. My favorite thing to get is their Caribbean Chicken Sandwich. Few places can pull off a juicy chicken sandwich like this one. If you are looking for some place local to eat that is not your standard chain restaurant... this is a Great place to eat! (The only reason I could not give Chubby Trout a perfect 5 Stars is because every once in a while service has been a little slower than desired, but that is the exception more often than the rule.)
(4)Kelly D.
I did not want to like this place. I've had sushi in many different locations and thought there was no way there would be acceptable sushi in Elkhart, Indiana. In fact we tried to go to another sushi place first but were turned away when the restaurant had bar-only seating available. Sushi at a place called The Chubby Trout? And the Comic Sans-esque typeface all over the restaurant?? Boy was I wrong. The sushi was fresh and delicious, and the Chicago Roll...tempura jalapeno and hot sauce and cream cheese...it was an incredible roll. The service was quick, and even the edamame was mind blowing. I was beyond happy with the sushi here, although it was a bit pricey. The only thing that almost knocked a star off was the wait staff. Upon walking in, the hostess and the other girls walking around waiting tables had a bit of a Mean Girls air about them. I commented to my friend that I felt like I was back in high school and these were the girls at the cool table that wouldn't have talked to me. Luckily I got over my 'not good enough for you' status and enjoyed some of the best sushi I've ever had!
(5)Ty W.
We have started to go to a different restaurant in the area every Friday night! We arrived at chubby trout and were told it would be a 20 minute wait which we said fine we' ll go to the bar and have a drink, it was more like a 40 minute wait! Almost ate at the bar! Ordered appetizer called ? Baba shrimp which were good - a little on the Luke warm side,but edible. Main dish being a shrimp wrap which tasted like the appetizer was good. But, the best of all was the carrot cake for dessert, recommend you order for at least 4 people to eat. I think next time we' ll go for dessert only!!!'m
(4)Starr R.
This is a place that I want to be great, but the experience is often mixed. It's a really lively and LOUD atmosphere. A fun place to stop for a beer, with an excellent selection on tap. But the service can be mixed. One busy night we sat at the bar near the sushi chef. We ordered sushi - we never got it after about an hour wait. I can't really remember anything I ate there except the edamame appetizer. Another summer night we were seated in the back and the air was so cold, we opted to sit outside. This place has potential, but it's not there yet.
(3)Laurie H.
The home cut chips are tremendous! Large beer selection available on tap. I had a cod poorboy. I'd have it again, but I would not rant to my friends about it. The calamari appetizer was exceptional. I think it's the best I've ever had. The sauce is divine - like a smokey New Orleans remoulade. The calamari was incredibly tender. My partner had the lake perch basket. It was quite delicate and flavorful. The fries were ok. We will definitely be back.
(4)Becca G.
When your fiance's 77 year old grandmother tells you she's taking you out to dinner, you get ready to roll with the punches. Apparently Granny was well informed and I was pleasantly surprised by the Chubby Trout. I had the Mahi-Mahi sandwich and it was well prepared, if not just a bit small. My fiance had the moo-cow steak and while it wasn't anything extraordinary, it was cooked to order and served hot. His grandmother and aunt had fish baskets, although they were a bit expensive for fried fish, the breading was crisp and the fish tender. My only real complaint was with the fries. You can tell a lot about a restaurant by it's fries... A well done fry shows a true commitment to quality on even the most basic of restaurant staples. The Chubby Trout's fries were all stuck together, over fried and extremely over salted. The Chubby Trout seems like a great neighborhood hangout and I would go back on my next visit to try the sushi. Great atmosphere, I especially like the large black and white picture of the bustling metropolis of Elkhart in 1914!
(3)LeRoy D.
Excellent experience. Waitress staff pleasant and efficient. Solid recommendations. Good calamari with great spicy cajun sauce, perch tender and moist, cajun pasta spicy and abundant. Beer selection wonderful. Will stop by when passing through every time. No need to look further.
(5)Steve G.
Food is pretty good, but the beer menu is excellent. Spotty service when dining. I wish the Sushi portions were a bit larger, considering the price.
(4)Brenda R.
I really LOVED the spinach artichoke dip. Would eat here a lot more if I lived here (instead of Texas: It's just too far to drop in from there!). The menu had a great selection... Service was great too.
(5)Tim D.
Nice place with very good food. I had a filet mignon and the salmon with sweet mustard sauce. Both were excellent and cooked perfectly to order. I would recommend (great sushi selection, though we didn't order any last night). Our server (Hillary) was fantastic. Easily ranks in the best service I've ever had anywhere. We will definitely be returning to explore more of the menu.
(5)Susan M.
Visiting from Texas, great menu, great food, good service. Hubby had te chubby trout and recommends it, we also loved the crab bisque, the steak, and the mahi mahi grilled sandwich.
(4)David M.
I also travel, quite a bit, for my job and often ask the for a restaurant suggestion, at the front desk of the hotel. Often I am disappointed. NOT THIS TIME. It is only a 1 mile or so from the Hampton Inn and the gal, at the front desk, was right now. She new the menu cold and talked up the vast beer list! I had the swordfish special with roasted garlic, green beans, and crispy fries. My friend had the unusual combination of seard tuna and their three cheese, cheese sandwich...all great. Ashley, the manager, was very attentive and I cannot say enough good thngs about The Chubby Trout. I wish I had more work scheduled in Elkhart so I could sample more of the menu.
(5)Sarah T.
We were visiting family in the area, and I located Chubby Trout on Yelp. Overall, a 4 star for the food. We have the walleye, which was good. Another in our group had sushi, and we all tried a roll - also very good. Service was friendly and attentive, but it was a very busy Friday night and food was slow to arrive...we didn't mind much as it allowed us time to visit. Expect a noisy bar like atmosphere. I would go back.
(4)Sarah H.
This restaurant is always at the top of my list when we are brainstorming. Excellent menu. A breath of fresh air in the middle of chain restaurant hell.
(5)