Welcome to the first installment of Pioneer Eats Here!

This is a blog series set up to highlight the best restaurants in Northeast Indiana. If you missed out on voting the first time, follow our social media to vote for your favorite restaurant in one of our 11 counties.

First up, Steuben County. As soon as we opened the voting, it was clear that Caruso’s would be a top vote-getter, and as it turns out, they ended up winning by a wide margin.

Caruso’s Restaurant began in 1976 when Joe and Barb Caruso purchased Doc Caccamo’s Pizzeria. Caruso’s Restaurant started as a two-person operation, with Joe in the kitchen and Barb in the dining room. Their children grew up learning and working in the business through high school. Liat, Lisa and Dan eventually purchased the restaurant from their parents, making it a second-generation family-owned and operated business. On some evenings, there are three generations of the Caruso family working.

“It’s been run by the same family for 48 years and family is there every day as part of the team doing our best to deliver consistent product and service. We do our best to attract and retain an awesome staff and invest in continued education and training,” Dan Caruso said.

Our marketing team was excited about the quick trip up I-69 and as soon as we pulled into the parking lot, we knew were in for a special evening. The place was already filling up fast and by the time we left, there was a 30-minute wait.

Luckily, we were able to get a table quickly. Our waitress, Mary, who also manages the front of the house for the restaurant, was great to us our entire stay. During our visit, she was also waiting on one of her regular guests. It’s safe to say that Caruso’s has several regulars who frequent the restaurant.

“We are humbled by seeing the same families and faces continually making Caruso’s a regular part of their dining out options. We work hard to earn their loyalty and appreciate all the amazing support the community gives us!” Dan Caruso said.

Our marketing team ordered an array of items to get a good sampling of the menu. Here are their thoughts on their meal and overall experience at Caruso’s:

Callie – Glazed Salmon & Fresh Pear Salad

“Wow, this was special!

I am someone who loves a salad that includes a fruit, candied nut, and vinaigrette dressing and this salad delivered on all fronts. The salmon was deliciously glazed and cooked perfectly. Since I have a dairy allergy, I omitted the gorgonzola cheese on top, but I did not miss it in the slightest. The rest of the ingredients paired well without it. In my opinion, the star of the show was the maple mustard vinaigrette that comes on the side. This unique dressing really brought the whole dish together with a bit of sweetness to perfectly compliment the salmon glaze.

I am a salad lover at heart and this one in particular quickly climbed to the top of my list of favorites. I cannot wait to go back to order it again and again!”

Brice – Chicken Parmigiana

“The chicken was very tender and juicy with a breading that was seasoned very well. The marinara was excellent and there was enough mozzarella on top for each bite until the end, which, as a cheese lover, made me very happy. The signature breadstick included with the meal was buttery, soft and a nice compliment to the dish. It was also a good way to soak up the extra sauce.”

Hannah – Signature Spaghetti

“We were met with such hospitality from the moment we walked in the door and throughout our whole meal. I was especially impressed with their attention to my dietary restrictions. We got there right at dinner time and from the constant flow of people, I could tell this was a popular spot in town which assured me it was going to be a great meal! Overall, we had a wonderful time. The food was amazing, and the service was amazing. I would highly recommend it!”

Jonathan – House Pizza

Jonathan ordered the pizza and ate two pieces, but I was the lucky one who took the rest of it home. So, I think I would be a better judge of how good the pizza was. Well, my son ate most of the leftovers, so you’d have to ask him. Considering he ate it all, that should be a win for Caruso’s and for my household since my son actually finished a meal and didn’t want a snack after taking two bites.

Anyway, Caruso’s was a great way to kick off the Pioneer Eats Here series. Consider them the next time you make your way up to Steuben County. Be on the lookout on all our social media platforms to vote for the best restaurant in our next county.

Brice Vance is the copywriter for NEI and is more than likely going to add a few unwanted pounds because of this blog series.