The Pioneer Eats Here series was excited for DeKalb County because of the number of high-quality local restaurants to choose from. With the tightest race in the series so far, Shorty’s Steakhouse in Garrett won the Best Restaurant in DeKalb County!
Shorty’s was established in 2020. Before Shorty’s it was a local bar named Klugs. The name Shorty’s came from the head chef, Lisa, who had the nickname Shorty as she was of short stature. For many years, the location was just the main dining room but in 2019 Shorty’s expanded its space by adding on the side room, as well as the patio. There is much lore when it comes to the location. The bar itself has been said to have come from the 1893 World Fair when one of the three pop-up bars was deconstructed and moved into the location.
Shorty’s attributes its success to its standards of service and food quality. They strive to have consistent dishes going out that guests come back for.
Here are our thoughts on the meal and overall experience at Shorty’s.
Ashton – NY Strip with BBQ Chipotle Grilled Shrimp & Queso Smashed Potatoes
“I got the Chargrilled New York Strip served with chipotle BBQ grilled shrimp, queso mashed potatoes, and asiago grits. The steak was perfectly cooked, juicy, and was well-seasoned. The steak was topped with BBQ shrimp, which was a nice complement to the steak and potatoes, and what I think was chimichurri. Whatever it was, it was delicious. The queso potatoes were excellent, and grits were light and cheesy.”
Callie – Cheeseburger
“I had the Shorty’s Cheeseburger with no cheese. Just by looking at this burger, you can tell that it was made in a steakhouse! The patty itself was juicy and flavorful on its own, but the toppings made it really shine. The steak fries were a great addition to this plate. I’m not always a steak fry lover, but these were perfect!
The service team at Shorty’s went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. They even threw in a free dessert for me since we had dined in celebration of my birthday! Things like that are not necessary, but they really go a long way to make a lasting impression.”
Hannah – Pasta Primavera
“Shorty’s created a wonderful dinner atmosphere that felt high-end while keeping their small-town hospitality at the forefront. I ordered the Pasta Primavera which featured sautéed spinach, tomato, mushrooms, and brussel sprouts, all tossed in a garlic olive oil linguine. I was drawn to this dish because I loved the combination of unique vegetables paired with a simple garlic flavor. I could tell they paid attention to detail with everything beautifully plated. Our team also ordered the chocolate cake, which was a table favorite.”
Brice – Ribeye with Garlic Mashed Potatoes
“Everyone has their preference, but I’m a medium-rare guy when it comes to steak. It was cooked to perfection and was seasoned well. The same can be said for the mashed potatoes. They had the right amount of garlic flavor, not overwhelming, and were a delicious complement to the steak.”
Jonathan – Pan Roasted Corvina over Creamy Roasted Red Pepper and Spinach Risotto & Cheeseburger Soup
“I had one of the specials that day which was a crusted white fish over risotto. It was excellent! The fish was cooked perfectly and the seasoning on the risotto really made it with just the right amount of heat. I would certainly order it again. The cheeseburger soup was a pleasant surprise. The pickle flavor magnified the soup. I should also add that I tried a bite of Ashton’s and Brice’s steaks. Yeah, I’d order them too!
Additionally, the place was beautiful – very elegant with outdoor seating (which the weather wasn’t ready for yet) beautiful setting, and really nice people working there.”
Team – Smoked Gouda Crab Cakes, Chocolate Cake, and Peanut Butter Pie
We ordered the crab cakes as an appetizer. They were very good. The smoked gouda elevated the overall flavor profile of the crab cake.
The chocolate cake looked like it cut right off the cake in Matilda. It was very, very good. It was moist with frosting that was on the thicker side, which had us all going back for multiple bites.
“I chose the chocolate cake to share, and GOOD THING I decided to share because this was a huge piece of cake! It was very rich and delicious, and I will be dreaming about it for the foreseeable future,” Callie said.
The peanut butter pie was also excellent and as a peanut butter lover, it was a perfect end to a great meal.
This blog series was created to highlight the best restaurants in Northeast Indiana. If you missed out on voting the first time, make sure to follow our social media to vote for your favorite restaurant in one of our 11 counties.
Previous stops in this series: Caruso’s in Steuben County, Albion Ale House in Noble County, Fulton & Main in Adams County, and Botanas Locas in Kosciusko County.
Brice Vance is the copywriter for NEI, and he might have found his new favorite steakhouse in Northeast Indiana.
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