The Goblin Duneside Bar & Eatery — Restaurant in Michigan City

We saw the Goblin & the Grocer on Facebook, so we tried to visit last Sunday. We love supporting local restaurants.

PROS: Their graphics and social media game are strong. That can take so much time and intention, so I appreciate when it’s done well. The restaurant is beautiful. The few people we met were very kind. The menu looks very good.

CONS: The parking lot is a mess. They have too many parking stops for the size of the parking lot. It would help if they got rid of the centerline of parking stops. There’s not enough room for the spots they are trying to put in the limited space. It almost seemed as if to get the occupancy permit, they needed to have a certain amount of parking spots, so they crammed them all into a space unfit for it.

I love it when restaurants have an online booking through Yelp or Google. After searching for the Goblin & the Grocer on Google, a button says “REQUEST A BOOKING.” We did that and waited for a bit. Nothing ever returned to us via email stating the available times (as the site suggests.) It’s completely acceptable not to have an online booking feature, but unwise to have the feature activated through Google and not utilize it. We never received an email back after the submission.

We tried to call in advance to make a reservation, but the phone went to voicemail three times.

Once arriving at the restaurant with our large party of nine, we were told that there are few tables available for a group our size, but they could seat us eventually. The host said to us that a table of four people was sitting at their largest table but had been there for three hours. He expected them to leave anytime, but it could be “10 minutes, 30 minutes, or even 60 minutes.” That level of precision is not helpful. The host seemed stressed enough, so we didn’t want to push him on finding better solutions. There were other (smaller) tables available. The long-sitting party of four could have been politely asked to move to a four-top table to make room for a larger group. But, no effort was made to solve that problem.

There are few things more frustrating for waiting patrons than to see many open seats in the dining room. The G&G had a place right off the entrance with available seating, but it appears they are not using it. It would have been nice to have that room cordoned off or to have a sign suggesting that the place is not for patrons. As it appeared, it was an available room with open tables/seating that could have sat our party.

After waiting 20-30 minutes without any updates on when we would be able to be sat, we left. We really wanted to support the Goblin and the Grocer, but it’s probably not the right place for groups of five or more. It’d be better for parties of 2-3 people as there seems to be plenty of seating for that size. Just know that if you’re wanting to visit with other couples or larger families.

We do wish them well and hope they will have much success...

First, great staff and servers. Sat at the bar and the bartenders were friendly, helpful and really good at their jobs. 5 stars!

The atmosphere is ok. We went earlier in the evening (Saturday 5pm) for dinner and were seated right away. It was kind of quiet but it really started to fill up at about 6pm, so keep that in mind when timing your visit.

The food was - well, it wasn't boring. The menu is interesting. A lot of seafood. I'm wary of seafood so far from an ocean myself...

There are no sides, just one-plate meals. The appetizers were not very interesting to us, so we skipped them. The Mac and cheese appetizer would have been good but it was $25 for some reason so we skipped that too.

There were some soups, basic salads, and pastas, as well as pot pies and one was vegetarian! I assume these are seasonal. But I was excited as I prefer vegetarian meals. So I ordered that mushroom pot pie and my partner ordered the regular pot pie. When they arrived, the regular pie looked beautiful. Golden flaky crust, steaming. The mushroom crust was - unappetizing. It looked flat and uncooked. Turns out, it's not only vegetarian but also gluten free. Which is on me for not noticing. Overall the GF crust wasn't terrible but it wasn't great to eat or look at next to that beautiful regular crust. So, one ding for really bad presentation there, and the next ding is the filling. While the veg and mushrooms were cooked well and seemed very fresh, the gravy was thin and soupy in both pies. The strangest part was the overpowering flavor of something almost acidic. Lemon? Vinegar? A sour tangy taste took over the whole filling in both pies. No one could identify it. It was very unexpected and pretty off-putting to get that zingy flavor in a pot pie...

The atmosphere was a little weird. Sort of like it was trying to be upscale and hipstery, but its still in Beverly Shores... When I walked in a little scruffy after a few hours hiking the dunes, I definitely felt out of place in hiking boots and flannels. I thought this place was more for the campers down the road, but I guess it's for Chicago people who don't really want to leave Chicago... One good thing though, it's NOT full of TVs! The bar has like 1 TV and that was wonderful.

Overall, this place is fine - if you don't want to drive any farther to get a more substantial meal. If you prefer your pot pies with more of a familiar traditional flavor profile, or if you want a full dinner with variety after a long day, head down the road to Michigan City and see the...

Goblin & The Grocer is a captivating dining spot located ideally next to the Indiana Dunes, right across from the Ogden Dunes South Shore train station. This bar and grill not only offers high-quality dining against the stunning backdrop of the national park, but it also serves up truly memorable culinary experiences.

During our inaugural visit—which certainly won't be our last—the food was nothing short of spectacular. The ambiance strikes a perfect balance between relaxed and sophisticated, both inside and out, making it a comfortable spot for a refined meal. The patio is dog-friendly, adding to its charm and accessibility.

Service was both prompt and efficient, with our server providing exceptional attention that enhanced our dining experience. Although parking can be tricky due to the limited space in their lot, there is additional parking available across the street, which is helpful to know in advance.

The menu at Goblin & The Grocer is a parade of hits. The Bavarian Monster, a colossal one-pound pretzel served with assorted dips, is a standout and could easily become a benchmark for similar offerings elsewhere. My chicken piccata was richly sauced and packed with flavor, while my companion's tuna dish was expertly prepared, much to our delight.

While the prices reflect the high quality of the food, it is worth noting for those who are more budget-conscious. That said, the dining experience here is exceptional, and I am eagerly looking forward to trying their brunch. Goblin & The Grocer is highly recommended for anyone seeking a top-notch meal in a...