Chubby Trout — Restaurant in Elkhart

The Chubby Trout: A Worthwhile Culinary Adventure

Upon entering The Chubby Trout, you’re greeted with warm smiles and an inviting atmosphere that feels like a welcome escape. The ambiance is cozy yet refined, offering an experience that balances casual dining with an upscale touch.

Dining solo, I took a seat at the bar, where I was promptly attended to by the delightful Meagan. Her attentiveness, charm, and knowledge of the menu elevated the evening. At her suggestion, I indulged in one of their house microbrews—Sandbar, a beautifully crafted blonde ale. While I don’t typically partake in beer, this one was an exception worth making. Its crisp, refreshing notes were so enticing that I found myself enjoying not just one, but two pints—an indulgence I didn’t regret.

For my first course, I was drawn to their Crab Pepper Bisque, a signature offering. While the $15 price tag initially caused some hesitation, the rich, creamy blend of crab, sweet peppers, and a gentle kick of spice—topped with succulent claw crab meat—completely justified the cost. Though the portion size leaned modest, the flavor profile was anything but. Each spoonful was a testament to the chef’s skill, delivering a truly indulgent experience.

Next, I ventured into their sushi offerings, guided once again by Meagan’s expertise. I opted for the Trio Roll, a rice-less masterpiece featuring salmon, red and white tuna, avocado, crab meat, and tobiko, all elegantly wrapped in fresh cucumber. The dish was perfectly balanced—light, fresh, and satisfying. Skipping the rice was a wise choice, allowing me to focus on the exquisite quality of the fish while keeping my carb count in check.

By this point, Meagan had convinced me to indulge in a third pint of the irresistible Sandbar, and I must admit—her persuasive charm made it impossible to decline. Blame her for what follows.

For my main course, I faced a delightful dilemma: the Chubby Trout—a dish featuring steelhead rainbow trout—or the Almond Walleye. Walleye is a rarity on menus across my travels, and the pairing with a citrus beurre blanc was too intriguing to pass up. Served alongside coleslaw and sweet potato fries, the walleye was tender and well-prepared. However, it lacked the boldness I was hoping for; a more generous drizzle of that citrus beurre blanc would have elevated the dish to greatness. While enjoyable, it fell just shy of extraordinary.

Final Thoughts: The Chubby Trout offers a solid dining experience with a few standout moments. The service, led by Meagan’s attentive and friendly demeanor, was exceptional, and the microbrews were a highlight worth returning for. While the walleye didn’t quite meet the lofty expectations set by the rest of the meal, the overall experience was enjoyable and deserving of praise.

I happily award The Chubby Trout four out of five stars. It’s a charming spot worth visiting, and with a few adjustments to certain dishes, it could easily rise to...

We have been regulars at chubby trout for some time now and have always had good experiences. I hate to leave a negative review but our trip tonight was terrible. We always come here for the sushi as usually it’s amazing. I always order two big rolls. When made correctly they are amazing and have a crunchy fried outside texture .When my rolls came out tonight I immediately knew something was wrong. I never send food back as I just hate being that person! Usually I will just eat something even if it’s not great. I had two or three pieces and just couldn’t eat anymore. There was no breading on the outside and no crunch. The rolls were soggy tasting. When the waitress asked how everything was I did make her aware that the rolls were not good. She stated she would have them remade. Waiting for a remake was not a problem for me! My boyfriend had already finished his meal as the remake was brought to the table which was not a big deal to me. However instead of bringing out two rolls it was just one roll…The waitress took away two rolls…The roll that was remade was definitely better than the first but still was not the normal crunchy outside texture. The waitress came back to check on us and I let her know the roll was better. She then proceeded to ask if it was just one of the initial rolls that were bad or if it was both. Both rolls looked exactly the same and both were taken away. I stated both rolls were not good and that’s why I sent both back. We waited but a second roll was never brought out… She did take the second roll off our check but I left hungry and disappointed. This really ruined our night. Attached is a photo of what this roll is supposed to look like and the rolls I sent back. I am frustrated because I know whoever made these knew they didn’t look right and sent them to our table anyway🥲. Another suggestion would be an online option to get on a waitlist. I’m not sure why this hasn’t happened yet but getting to the check in stand is always a nightmare as it’s always packed!! Driving 30 minutes and then having to wait 30 minutes for a table and then typically 40-60 minutes for sushi is a long stretch. Hopefully in the future this...

We like to patronize small privately owned restaurants. This was a wonderful experience! So, where to begin… next to the food, our server Liz absolutely made the evening. From suggestions to service, she is top notch, we’ll definitely ask for her the next time we visit. Now dinner was amazing. We started with the crab cakes and the side salad. The chunks of claw meat and seasoning, being pan seared just right then served with a whole grain aioli and lemon - literally melted in your mouth. The side salad was a beautiful array of greens with the right fresh vegetables to accompany . The dressings, made fresh, in house, complimented the sizable salad. Entrees? Wow! We ordered the ‘Fishin’ off the Pier Favorites’ which included the ‘Chubby Trout’, lake perch, coconut shrimp. The rainbow trout had a basil shrimp stuffing with white wine dill buerre blanc sauce that was phenomenal. The second entree was ‘A Mess O’ Perch. With somewhere between 10 and dozen ample sized perch filets, perfectly dusted and deep fried to succulent perfection. It would stand toe to toe with any Wisconsin Supper Club fish fry. Served with a tender tasty baked potato (I had other side choices, though chose to stay close to my roots) with butter and sour cream, though I opted for the rosemary ranch, and a side of vinaigrette coleslaw. While the task was daunting, he finished the perch. Of the combo, about 1/2 of it came home with us. Liz did recommend the triple layer strawberry shortcake. This is worth a trip on its own. While too full to eat it while we there, we are happy to report it didn’t last the evening. Thank you Liz and the Chubby Trout for a fantastic evening. We will definitely be back the next we’re...