We ate here for the first time based on the good reviews this place has received. The hamburger & fries I had were great  as was my wife's grilled checken. Service was good. This place is tiny. It's about 15 feet wide. But that adds to the ambiance. This place may be a hole in the wall but it is not a "greasy spoon" type of place. Nice selection of micro-brews.
Minor complaints:
1) No lettuce available. I may be a proletarian but the "greens" they put on the burger are not lettuce. But I guess they need to maintain their trendy image.
2) I was charged extra because I ordered my burger different then what is stated on the menu.
This is a regular spot for me and my lady. There is no better food in Chesterton, in my opinion. The black bean burger patties are so far and away better than any I've ever had. Not to mention, they don't restrict you to one type of burger if you're vegetarian. The salads are always fresh and crisp. They have a great selection of wines and beers and fresh homemade desserts daily. The prices are very reasonable. The restaurant is very small so be prepared for a wait on a busy night but Ill wait every time (and its not just because I am driving from Valparaiso).
Review Source:Octave Grill is beyond charming...about as cramped as a Chevette, with custom burgers well worth the premium price. You can get anything customized here. Toppings are as far from catsup and the like as you can get. This is an epicurean experience. It's a tad pricy, but oh-so worth it. The chairs don't match and look like something one got from a yard sale...and that's part of the charm. The extremely narrow dwelling has no side walls of its own...it was filled in between two pre-existing buildings when the alley was vacated. When you walk in, you know you are going to experience something unique, and the food lives up to the visual images of the environment.
Review Source:I'm basically just going to echo all the other reviews because they are true.
Small cozy place that sits about 25 people. They probably have more beer than seats, which is pretty awesome.
Started off with the goat cheese fondue. The cheese was melted perfectly and extremely creamy. It was served with Apple, pita chips, grill zucchini and some sort of bake break chips. They were all delicious.
Order the hmburaous burger medium rare. It was cooked perfectly. It was freaking delicious. Plain and simple. No need for all the details and adjectives. It was one of the best burgers I've ever had.
Sweet potato tots were amazing. I normally have sweet potato fries served with a maple syrup sauce but their honey mustard knocked any other sauce out of the window. Must try!
Place stay constantly busy the whole time I was there and actually had a wait list.
I would definitely recommend if you're looking for good burgers and great beers!
I have to go along with the other reviewers here and proclaim this place a must-go. I'm not big on beef, so went with the turkey burger with cranberry mayo and stuffing (dressing), which was listed on their specials board. Delicious. My husband got the black bean burger and said it was great. I skipped the beer, as we were driving, but I was impressed with the choices. This is a cozy space with limited seating, which wasn't a problem during our visit, but I can imagine it fills up fast on a Friday or Saturday night. A real gem.
Review Source:Came in on the Friday after Thanksgiving, after having spent 3 hours hiking in Indiana Dunes. We were pleasantly surprised by the warm and cozy atmosphere, and even more so after seeing the menu. They have a great variety of beers on tap and in bottles, and have  seasonal cocktails as well. They have a nice food menu, and I can believe it when someone says they have the best burgers in the region  - the one we ordered (the Hamburguesa) was absolutely delicious! The jambalaya was also flavorful and spicy in all the right ways.
So glad to have stumbled upon this little gem. We'll be going back soon!
Im a born-and-raised Northwest hoosier, and this is my all-time favorite restaurant in my home state.
Amazing considering their black bean burger is the only patty I've ever had! The best veggie burger I've ever had with so many accouterments. Last time I went I added local apple butter, but my former favorite add-on is kraut!
Their cocktails are quite upscale, but also quite pricey.
Their beer is just amazing. The flight is always a good idea :0
I'm down to leave Chicago right now to go back here.
After a day at the Dunes State Park Beach with the kids, we choose Octave Grill for dinner. This is the perfect place to go, even if you are hot and sandy. Â (Don't get me started about the Indiana Dunes State Park not having any facilities to shower-off!!) Â That is, IF you can get a seat - the place is tiny, tiny, tiny. Â I counted 24 seats. Â Really. Â I can't imagine what the wait must be like on a weekend. Â However, we were there on a weekday and didn't have trouble getting a table. Â If you want to go, I recommend phoning ahead to see if there is a wait.
This is a laid-back, relaxed place. Â Almost an brew-pub environment...but with outstanding food quality. Â Hamburgers, sandwiches, etc. Â The food is homemade and really, really good. Â It's loud enough for the kids to be able to relax and be themselves. Â The music is really interesting - any WXRT fan will like. There's a large blackboard with a bunch of specials. Â Don't look at the menu. Just order the burger or patty melt on the black board!! Â All the beef is excellent, but the flavor combos they came up with were outstanding. Â There's a good craft beer selection - both on tap and in bottles.
The sweet potato tater tots are quite sweet and the kids loved them. Â I enjoyed the taco tots with our cream and guacamole on the side.
What a great dinner experience for us after a kid-centric day! Â I'm a BIG fan!
Octave Grill is a nice option in NW Indiana for a qualify burger. Grass fed beef with local cheeses. Good wine and beer selection - although limited. I had the cheddar burger paired with a Robert the Bruce Three Floyd's beer and tried my wife's chk guacamole burger. Chk was good but beef burger was just ok. Love the little place but wouldn't go out of my way to come here. If you're around though, hit it up.
Review Source:This place rules...easily one of my favorites in the region despite the small space. The revolving specials keep every experience as fresh as the food. I love their beer selections, and the menu hits a home run. I mean a burger with a bratwurst as a topping?! I think that says it all, as you can't go wrong with just about any item. The soups are always great, the sides (tots!)... I can go on, but I'll spare you the babble and just say that this place is highly recommended! Call ahead if you have more than 2 people though. Octave!
Review Source:I was very surprised coming into Octave Grill. The waitress was helpful and friendly. Â She explained everything on the menu and drink list. Â The vegan black bean burger is delicious. If you don't want the original black bean burger than you can have it on any other burger choices. Make sure to get the whole grain bun though since it is vegan, but not the other buns. Â The fried pickles are amazing. I wish I had gotten the sweet potato tots. Maybe next time! The side salad was kinder on my waist line this time.
Review Source:My husband and I were looking for a great break in our drive between Chicago and Kalamazoo, and searching yelp I identified this restaurant. Â I can say it definitely delivered on the reviews and our expectations and more. Â Certainly, it's a smaller space, and yes, you will be near other patrons. Â But the convivial atmosphere and great food and beers make that seem just part of the plan. Â
Burgers are excellent, perfectly cooked as requested and special requests (leave off onions, etc) were noted and honored. Â We also enjoyed a salad which was fresh, carefully constructed and full of amazingly flavored blue cheese, dried cranberries, diced fresh tomato and cucumber and candied walnuts. Â
Service was friendly and efficient, and they were quick to welcome newcomers and give some explanation to menu items along with recommendations for how much food to order based on our appetites. Â
An altogether memorable, delicious experience. Â We'll be back.
I love this place! Â Best black bean burger I have ever had and it is available in all the styles they offer the beef burgers. Â I always choose the sweet tater tots with the spicy mustard, they are so yummy. Â The beer, drink and dessert menu change often so if something sounds good to you while you're there, order it! Â It might not be there the next time you go. Â They frequently post specials on their Facebook page and quite a few times this has prompted me to visit because something sounded so good (damn you, Boulevard Chocolate Ale!). Â The place is TINY but I have never had to wait very long to be seated. Â The staff is very friendly and I enjoy the laid back atmosphere.
Review Source:I'm not sure how I've managed to work in Chesterton as long as I have without really hearing anything about this place, let alone eating there. I've probably passed it over 1,000 times. I should have tried it out long, long ago. It was mentioned to me once a long time ago by a co-worker, but I completely forgot about it until the other day when he brought it up again. I had no one to go with but I was determined to finally go... so I went alone. I bought a newspaper at the gas station beforehand though so I didn't look like a complete weirdo.
My friend mentioned that this place was small, and I could tell just from seeing it from the outside, but it doesn't fully hit you until you get in. Ten tables max. And their "bar" is pretty hilarious. It can't be more than 4 feet long. That being said, this place really has everything it needs. And its size helps out when it comes to ambiance. I was really surprised by the hipster feel of Octave Grill. I felt like I should have been in Wicker Park or something. We're talking chalkboard menu, selling local art on the wall, mismatched tables and chairs, Arcade Fire on the stereo. Full on hipster. It's fun though. I was just hoping the food was going to measure up. I heard a lot of good things about the burgers and at $11+ they were going to have to win me over.
I ordered a beer and went with the burger of the month, which was a lamb burger seasoned with thyme topped with spinach, red pepper, goat cheese and lime aioli. It pretty much sounded like my perfect burger, so I had to go with it. I also got a side of fries. The food came pretty quickly and I dove in. The burger was fantastic. The flavor was great and it was cooked perfectly. I happily ate the entire thing. The fries weren't as fantastic though. They too had a good flavor, but they were kind of soggy and overly greasy. My biggest regret was not coming with another person though. I would have liked to try out an appetizer and another drink, but being alone... I decided getting out of there ASAP. I have a reputation to maintain. I will be back though, and I'll be bringing friends.
Best burger in the region. By far. If I ever opened a restaurant, this is exactly what I would want it to be. It's small and has a personality. Grass raised beef will run you around $10 bucks a burger. It's well worth it. Haven't had tots in forever. Delish. Also, there's an awesome draft (not garbage American adjunct beer) list most of the time. Get the hot pants burger. It's amazing.
This place definitely needs a website.
This was the 4th time I have been here, so I decided it was time to write a review.
The burgers are phenomenal. Â I get mine medium rare and the flavor really comes out when it's not overcooked. Â Grass-fed beef and locally made cheeses make all the difference! Â I usually order the gouda bbq burger, but have sampled others from my friends plates and they all have been good. Â Instead of the regular fries, sub taco tots or the buffalo fries for a special treat. Â
They have tons of craft beers at different times, and if it's on tap, they'll let you try it before you buy. Â Their drink menu is small, but inspired. Â Overall, you MUST go here if you want a great casual, organic dining experience.
Nom, nom, nom. So delicious! We were driving through Indiana, stopped to see a friend, and he recommended this spot for dinner. One of the best recommendations ever!
The restaurant itself is very small. When we walked in, all the tables were full, but the hostess/server took our name and cell phone number and said she would call us when a table was ready. And after a quick beer down the street, we got the call that our table was ready.
The beer and cocktail list were impressive. No lengthy by any means, but impressive. When you have quality offerings, a few of said quality offerings is all you need. I was torn between a cider cocktail and a beer I had never heard of before. I went with the beer.
The appetizers were almost overwhelming. Again, not a lengthy list, but they all sounded yummy. We finally narrowed it down to two and went with the buffalo fries and goat cheese fondue. Absolutely loved both!
For the burger, we went with sharing the Holy Trinity. Again, absolutely loved it! A unique combo of flavors that were subtle enough to compliment the burger as opposed to overwhelm it. The bun and toppings were all perfect. And the sweet potato tots on the side were also great.
Of course, we couldn't pass up dessert. We split the white chocolate chip brownie with vanilla ice cream. Pretty basic as far as their dessert offerings went, but I totally loved it. I'm extremely picky about my brownies and this one was a true winner.
I love finding (or getting recommendations for) unique spots like this in random towns. The ambiance was great - casual with just a hint of hip and trendy, and a nice dose of charm. And the service was prompt, friendly, and thorough.
All in all, an excellent place for a burger. And, perhaps surprisingly, one of the best burgers I've ever had. Next time I'm swinging through Indiana, I will be making sure I eat here.
Never would have thought there would be a cool little eatery like this in downtown Chesterton. Does it make me want to move back? Not quite, but it gives a great option for good food and a few nice beers on draft when i'm visiting home.
Beer cheese soup was a good way to start. Ignoring Yelp logic to order a burger, i couldn't resist the jambalaya which ended up being very tasty, but next time i'll probably try one of their burgers.
It's like one of those popular little places with limited seating and great food you would find in a big city, but it's a little place in little old Chesterton. Sweet.
I guess it was about time that I reviewed Octave... I don't go out to eat a whole lot, but Octave is definitely a treat. Â It's one of the very few places I bring friends when they decide to make the hoooorrible trek from IL to visit me in IN (sarcasm, please note the sarcasm). Â
What's great about Octave is the food; uniquely executed burger and sandwich choices (including a burger of the month.. in July I think it was a special burger of the week!), I've never had the appetizers but any place with hummus is a-ok, and they make a good mixed drink (the beer selection is probably good.. you'd have to ask my boyfriend). Â Check out the chalkboard wall in back for daily specials, desserts, and drinks. Â Of course the best part out of all the food is the side dish option of tater tots! Â Sweet potato tater tots for an extra $1!!
What I don't like as much is the minimal seating. Â The restaurant probably has ... 10 tables?? Â Let me do a mental count... I think you can fit 26 people in there. Â Maybe 30. Â The biggest table I've seen was three little tables combined to seat 6. Â So it's small and it's popular so it can get crowded and there will most likely be a wait if you come at a busy time.
End note, I love the different salt and pepper shakers on each table!!
I can not rave more about Octave. I first stopped in for a burger last fall. It was fantastic. They do a perfect medium burger and the grass fed beef makes all the difference.
I have tried almost every burger on their menu. I highly recommend the Hot Pants and the Holy Trinity. But make no mistake I have never had a bad burger here. In face, I often say that they have ruined me when it comes to burgers. I have not been able to find a better burger else where. The black bean burger is also a favorite of mine when I eat here.
The desert menu is rotating and always good.
Amazing, who would have thought coming from Chicago where the high end burger shops are a dime a dozen I would be taken to this little place and be blown away. Â
Came here with a few friends for a bite to eat on a Friday and were lucky to be seated in no time. Looking over the menu my mouth watered with all of the choices. From signature burgers to chicken and other items on the sandwich side it was hard to decide. We started with chili cheese fries for the table and then contemplated the burger. I wanted to see if their meat could stand on its own merit with a cheese burger but it was recommended to have one of the many other ones listed, lucky for me a buddy had always wondered that as well so we split a cheese burger and the... It is slipping my mind. damn
Cheeseburger - Cheddar w Bacon was cooked to the temp requested and was great. Other burger (I have to get the name of it) was amazing making me wish I didn't have to share.
Beer selection was great for a place of this size with some amazing brews on tap and in bottles. With the help of the waitress and an owner they provided 2 great selections of their ever changing menu to go with the burgers and complement a crisp fall day.
Service was impeccable going over the menu and answering questions as they came up.
In such a small space they have created a welcome and cool place. Well worth the trip and can see a return visit.
Holy moly. I've been living in Chicago for the past two years and who knew that I had to travel to a sleepy little town in Indiana to have food this good?
This place has plenty of meat options and my husband loved their grass fed beef, but their black bean burger rocked my socks off.
We had a seasonal fried green tomato appetizer that was better than the fried green tomatoes we had in New Orleans. Lavender infused vodka tonic? Oh yeah. Whatever you do, save room for dessert. I almost left my husband for the frozen key lime pie.
My only suggestion is to go for an early dinner, there aren't very many tables and a line was forming as we headed out.
Fantastic burgers. Â This is a tiny restaurant - it's only 10' wide and has six to eight tables. Â The food they serve is mainly grass-fed burgers and a creative variety of tater tots. Â The toppings for the burger are top-notch: good cheeses, mushrooms, guacamole, etc.
Basically, this is a small, local gourmet fast-food place that serves simple food of the highest quality. Â The waitstaff were polite and efficient.
My only complaint is that the restaurant itself was a bit loud - due partially to the acoustics, but mostly to the drunken, noisy six top next to us. Â I wouldn't expect them to be there next time :)
Interstate 94 is a road that I travel often and I hoped to get dinner at Red Cup Cafe in Chesterton. However, Red Cup closed early (second time this has happened when I've tried to go there) so I checked Yelp for another Chesterton recommendation and found Octave Grill.
Ed, our server, was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable and the kitchen was very fast.
The food is great with house made dressings and sauces, grass-fed beef for the burgers, cheese from Fair Oaks farms, and a great selection of beer and mixed drinks.
We got there before 5 so we ordered 2 appetizers from the Happy Hour menu. The goat cheese fondue was delicious and the Cajun tater tots were crispy and spicy. Both were great with the lavendar margarita.
My daughter got the burger of the month with the mango salsa, bacon, and jerk mayo and I had the Hamburgesa with guacamole, bacon, and ancho sauce. Both were very tasty. My only complaint is that they could have had a few spicier burger selections. In addition to burgers, they had salad, soup, sandwiches, and a few entrees.
Surprisingly, Chesterton seems to have a lot of exciting food stuff going on and it is well-worth the short drive off I-94 or the Indiana toll road (it's in between the two roads).
I might not be able to get past how amazing the sweet potato tots were. I opted for the burger of the month that was written in green chalk on the ever so big chalkboard wall. It had mango salsa and Havarti cheese from a local dairy farm and I might say it was worth every penny. I went during happy hour so all the appetizing appetizers were half price, what a deal.
Let's talk atmosphere. All of the plates and serving platters are definitely thrifted, which I think is rather cool. They also have salt and pepper shakers that the museum in Gatlinburg would be jealous about. Most of the art on the wall is from local artists. Overall this place has lots of vintage inspired charm along with some delicious eats and drinks. I'd say it's worth the trek to Chesterton for those who are not from around here!
This might be the best veggie burger I've ever had. Â Taco tots as a side? Â Yes please. Â A seasonal chalkboard menu? Â Hell yes. Â
Lavender lemonade - good christ. Â I wasn't sure, but my awesome server, Ed, told me it was delicious, so I went with it. Â Boy howdy am I glad I did!
Local Indiana beer makes my stomach happy, and the special cocktails are always awesome. Â Everyone here cares about what they are doing, and it comes through in the food and drinks.
Sweet Jesus, this place is great. Â I have a proclivity for seriously-prepared rich and savory food, and this place hit the spot. Â I had the Chanute burger ($10.50) and ranked among the best burgers I have had the pleasure to devour. Â
The beer selection is great too, nothing boring in this lineup, and something for everyone. Â These folks that run this place definitely like their beer.
I do not give 5 stars lightly, but this place definitely deserves every one. Â This is a small, capably run restaurant where they clearly give a shit about ingredients, preparation, presentation, and service. Â
We Yelped this place while driving across the country. Â If you're slogging it down I-80, it's worth the detour. Â Really worth it.
Even as a vegetarian, I can attest to the fact that this little burger place is fantastic! Â We found it on our cross-country road trip using Yelp, and we were not disappointed.
They have local beer, amazing desserts, and a selection of burgers and veggie burgers that will rock your world. Â All of the beef is Ohio, grass-fed beef, and the black bean burgers are homemade and delicious. Â
You can get any variation of the burgers with meat or in the black bean variety, and there was a ton to choose from. Â You can actually eat a burger topped with fried cheese if you wish.
Our server, Ed, was friendly and helpful, and we really enjoyed talking with him. Â You can tell that it's a restaurant run by foodies that use nothing but very high-quality ingredients
Don't even walk by the restaurant if you're on a diet (though, the salad was very tasty too).
A small gem in the heart of Chesterton! Â 5 craft brewed beers on tap and every one a winner. A select drink list, this week: watermelon lemonade with vodka, lavender margaritas, black cherry mojitos. Â Wow!
They also have great food and try to use locally produced ingredients. Fresh crisp salads, homemade soups, locally raised beef burgers with toppings like walnut pesto and goat cheese. They also offer one of the nicest hand cooked bean burgers I have tried and fantastic coleslaw. ( I am sort of a coleslaw junky). Small selection of desserts worth leaving room for. I tried their handmade cornmeal cakes with a berry compote. Very nice!
Great hours too! Â It has been so hard being a late night person in Chesterton. Not any more. Octave opens at 3pm during the week and stays open till 10pm! Â Weekends noon till midnight. Very sweet! Â One issue for some may be the size. It is small and cozy. We like this, others may not.
Really nice beer selection on tap (Three Floyds, Dogfish Head, Bells), and an interesting wine list and an unusual selection of bottled beers.
The food was very good. I had the special burger with goat cheese and aioli and mushrooms. The berry shortcake was wonderful. It is an imaginative menu, and I look forward to going back many times.
The space is very small, sort of a loft aesthetic, and they are open very late for our area (midnight on weekends). I really enjoyed the unpretentious feel. Good food, good drinks, very reasonable prices, good conversation.
My brother and I had a great lunch here..I can't wait to try dinner. We started with an order of Hummus and Edamame which was really good. We both had the Denver Burger and it was cooked as specified and was awesome...I had a homemade strawberry lemonade w/ vodka and my brother had a microbrew...they seem to have a good beer selection. Â
The place is really small..with small tables...but really cute and it is nice to have a casual grill with liquor in downtown Chesterton...
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