A MUST if you love fresh, deli style food!!!!! Â
My mom and I were on our way to the outlet mall yesterday and we wanted something different than the chain restaurants in the area. Â We found Panini Panini on Yelp! and thought we would try it.
We were SOOO glad that we decided to try something new! Â The staff was very friendly and you can definitely tell their passion for their restaurant because it comes across in their mannerisms and in their food. Â We both had the lunch combo - a half sandwich and soup. Â It was a lot of food for the price and everything was incredibly fresh and delicious!
I was impressed that they also had pasta dishes with very interesting combinations that I've only seen at different delis/cafes in Chicago. Â I wish I lived closer so that I could sample other dishes on a regular basis. Â
We will absolutely be going back to Panini Panini on our next trip to Michigan City!
10/01/12
OMG!!!!!What a great place. Bonnie is wonderful and the food is so fresh and different. This is not your Grandma's sandwich shop. Such wonderful combinations that are so delicious and unique. My husband had the Pot Roast sandwich and I had the Penne with Italian sauage. GRRRREAAATTT soup. Wonderful dessert. I can't say enough  about this great little Bistro. And it was very clean. We will be going back. We're on vacation in the area and checked the great reviews on Yelp  and there we were driving right passed it, made a quick turn and  stumbled into a Foodie's dream come true. The owner, Bonnie, made us feel like we were old friends sitting in her kitchen, having wonderful conversation and great food. Please go do yourself a favor and stop in for a great surprise!!!!! I wonder if Oprah and Gail know about this place, if not somebody should tell them.
Donny and Marie
This place was excellent and the service is fantastic! Â They know about gluten free, dairy free & egg free restrictions. Â I had the chicken pesto sandwich w/o the bun, a cup of tomato soup and glass of chardonnay. Â The server gave me a free piece of flour less chocolate cake on the house! Â My husband had the lobster BLT and the french onion soup. Â We sat outside on the back patio because it was such a beautiful day. Â It's rather small in there and you will likely have to wait in line if you go at lunch time, but the food and friendly staff make it worth it. Â We will certainly go back next time we're in Michigan City.
Review Source:We have been visiting Michigan City for 10 years and have been consistently disappointed by the lack of independently-owned shops that serve proper meals with creative and healthy, fresh options!
On the advice of Yelp we hit Panini Panini on our way out of town yesterday and we were so HAPPY that we did.
We arrived at 2:00 p.m. and there were 4-5 tables of guests, everyone seems quite pleased with their meals. Service was friendly. The lady even handed the kids tops for their sodas since we were sitting out back (bee season) which I thought was really thoughtful. She also gave the adults cups with lemons for water, since we didn't order drinks. LOVED the sunny backyard patio.
There were so many choices on the menu board. I got the Portobello, husband got a lobster BLT and girl child got the Madame Croquette- all based on Yelp recommendations! We have a son with severe multiple food allergies, but he opted not to eat since a meal in a restaurant requires an interview with the cook and reading lots of ingredient labels. I will do this in advance next time so he can eat with us.There were only 2 people working, so we didn't want to pull them from their work, since they were both quite busy.
The meals are served on handsome wood boards and all of our sandwiches came with melon slices and a green salad- so pretty.
The only thing I would change, and I didn't read it in time, but I see it now in another review: My portobello sandwich was slathered in a creamy sauce (mayo?) that was not listed on the menu board, so I only ate the half of the sandwich that didn't have mayo on it. Had it been listed, I would have definitely asked them to hold the mayo. They did leave off the Blue Cheese and leave my salad undressed, both at my request. The sun dried tomatoes were yummy and all 3 of us loved our different breads.
The salads only have two dressing options. My husband liked the house (something creamy) but I ate my plain as the only other option was oil/vinegar, which is not for me.
Next time, we will definitely order more desserts to go. My daughter had an Eclair and loved it. Our meal was about $45 plus tip for 2 adults, one child.
Let's keep places like this is business, especially in Michigan City (because we visit often!) If Michigan City doesn't work out, I would urge to owners to consider coming to Chicago! (How about Oak Park?)
We drove nearly an hour to get to this sandwich shop, which we found was rated on the internet as among the best in the Chicago vicinity.  First, the owner's wife was running the counter and was a gracious as could be!  The huge selection of sandwiches were all large, fresh, unique, beautifully presented, very nicely-priced, and *absolutely* delicious.  The soups were a delight to the palate.  And the pastries were devastating--reminded me of my visits to Paris.  This all-American bistro serves only lunches, and we found it still buzzing both inside and on the outdoor patio at 1:45 pm.  If you call ahead when you are about five minutes away, they're kind enough to watch for an emptying table and place a "Reserved" sign on it for you. I'd guess the whole place seats about 40.  Don't miss it if you are in the area:  1720 Franklin St, Michigan City, IN 46360.  Phone number is 219-873-1720.  Web address is <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.Panini-Panini.com&s=37a7b41f0d72c188e7c9a197da0897988b98bc18e691dd2e3cf5b77ed030643e" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.Panini-Panini…</a>.
Review Source:I don't know what's the big deal about this place. Â The sandwiches were mediocre to tasteless. Â Ordered the pot roast sandwich and it was chewy and sinewy. Â The bread was on the stale chewy side without the crisp crust.
So to top it off here's the experience that left a bad taste. Â When I was paying for my meal a woman received her carryout, grabbed some plastic silverware and started to leave the restaurant. Â The cashier/owner called her back and had to complain to her that the bag already had silverware in it. Â Trying to tell her that she didn't need to take any more silverware. Â As the woman apologized and left the cashier mumbled to the next customer something to the effect of dumb people. Â So I thought that was a little class less but pretty much dismissed it.
After we finish our ho hum meal we started to leave. Â My teenage daughter went to the pop machine and started to get some ice to fill her water jug. Â It was really hot that day and we were going back to her softball game. Â As she was filling the cashier started in again. Â Trying to get her attention to stop her. Â She didn't hear her and took about 2 cups of ice. Â As she got outside a man who I assume was the owner chased her outside and started yelling at her that she was stealing ice. Â (We're talking about 2 cups of ice now.....) Â He proceeded to rant about having to pay $30/day to buy ice and that he's trying to run a business. Â She was startled because here was this man yelling at her for taking maybe $0.01 worth of ice. Â If it went unused would have melted anyway.
So hence my low rating based on how this establishment treats it's customers and how little they care about the community. Â To yell at a teenager for taking 2 cups of ice shows how penny pinching and miserly this owner is. Â Obviously we will not be visiting this place again anytime soon.....
One of only a couple gems in Michigan City.
I really hope this place can last and people see it for what delicious food it is.
Truth is it probably seems pricey to many not from Chicago.
If you are from the area expect to pay more for lunch, but also expect the best lunch you can get in Michigan City in the form of a sandwich.
The owners seem very passionate about their business and even gave us a free dessert as we were leaving. Will definitely have this place in mind in the future.
Don't believe the ingredients listed on the menu board. My sandwich had a bunch of mayonnaise-based sauce on it, and nothing about it was mentioned on the listing. And I got it to go, so it was too late to get a refund by the time I drove somewhere to eat and opened the box. If you can't put up a proper description of your food, don't own a restaurant.
Review Source:I love this restaurant! This is my go-to lunch spot whenever I'm hitting up the outlet mall in Michigan City. I am constantly impressed by the quality, freshness and creativity that the team here can produce. Everyone I've ever taken here loves it. Everything is great...the croque madame with its sublime garlic sauce, the succulent portobello panini...the list goes on.
But for the love of God, don't ask for ketchup! Today I was at the counter ordering some pastries to go when a man came up and asked for ketchup for his meatloaf sandwich. The owner told him in no uncertain terms that they had no ketchup and if he was looking for ketchup he was in the wrong place. I felt a little sorry for the man who walked away looking embarrassed, but honestly, that meatloaf sandwich is heaven on a pretzel bun. Putting ketchup on it would be like spray painting over a Vermeer. Be classy, DON'T ASK FOR KETCHUP HERE.
We discovered this little gem of a restaurant while on vacation last summer. Ate there twice in 3 days. Last week when driving to Chicago for the weekend we set our GPS for Panini Panini for lunch. It was every bit as good as we remember. The lobster BLT is a homerun. The Croque Madame is mouthwatering! The desserts - unforgettable. Especially the flourless chocolate cake. Â I honestly can't think of anything they could do to take their food up a notch. Definitely a destination for us!
Review Source:Amazing to find this place in Michigan City! I ordered the prosciutto sandwich which has cantaloupe on it, ridiculously delicious. Charming atmosphere, the owners are wonderful. Everything is made in house, pot roast, turkey, everything. And she gave us a free eclair...delicious.
I will go here a lot. The only downside is the hours....not open early enough or late enough that my husband can come with me!
Panini Panini is a hidden gem on the south shore.  The interior is eclectic with  African art tastefully displayed under lighting that takes one to a corner bistro in Paris.  Artfully prepared panini loaded with the finest ingredients around tease the palate with their rich aroma.  The bread is baked in house.  The wine menu is great, and, and, the owner and workers exude an indescribable joy that only comes from people truly dedicated to service.  Panini Panini is now a required stop when in the area.
Review Source:I did my research prior to the weekend to see which spots were good and Panini Panini was the highest-starred place and they definitely deserve it. Â
We arrived shortly before lunch and the place was already starting to fill up with a lunch crowd. Â I ordered the salami sandwich that came with chive cream cheese, olive topping and sun-dried tomato. Â This is a fabulous sandwich. Â All of the flavors came together and was amazing. Â If you liked salami as a kid (and I did), then this is the grown-up version of a salami sandwich. Â
Even though the sandwiches come with a mini salad, I upgraded and ordered the Spring Greens with Blue Cheese. Â Definitely a must try as well.
My 2 girlfriends were equally impressed with their sandwiches. Â With it being Lent and a Friday, my one holy friend chose the Caprese Panini and said it was one of the best she's ever had.
The other girlfriend chose the Chicken Pesto sandwich and loved it too. Â Since there are not many other non-chain restaurants in the area, we wanted to go back on Sunday but they were closed. Â
Keep up the good work Panini-Panini, we'll be back!
Love this place! Â I have been here several times and have always had a great experience. The food is wonderful. Who ever is in the kitchen clearly knows what they are doing. And the service is always great. I love the owners wife. The lady that always takes the orders, she is wonderful. You have to try this place.
Review Source:I'm originally from this area and the food options depress me when I'm home for a visit. However, this is amazing. I chose Panini Panini for lunch twice in the five days I was in town. This is the type of versatile menu you see in cute college towns or cozy neighborhood shops nestled in a big city. It's definitely not something MC has had much of, but thank goodness for it! Â It's hard to explain the menu, but think Panera Bread (x1000) + European influence. Awesome.
Street parking in front and there's also a lot around back. Seating area is limited so you might have to take your meal to go on a busy weekday during lunch. Plan about $8-11 per meal for lunch - worth every penny. Staff is friendly, knowledgable, great to be around.
I will always make a stop here when I visit my hometown. *Note* closed on Mondays (I made that mistake).
Nothing against Michigan City, but it was a pleasant surprise to find a place this all-around nice here! Â Not only did they have fresh-tasting, high quality ingredients for their sandwiches and salads, but they even had some little extra twists you might not except at a sandwich shop. Â Bacon-wrapped dates? Â Um, yes please!
On trips to and from Chicago, Michigan City has sometimes been a break point. Usually, we just hop off the highway and try to find something decent. Â The problem is, though, that even within a few miles of the highway, it's entirely chains and some pretty small strip malls.
If you want to good stuff, keep driving just a little bit more. I am a sucker for a really good sandwich, and Panini Panini has got that down. I managed to eat more corned-beef-and-slaw than I can usually bit into my stomach just because it was so very good (and not overly greasy). Â There's a nice little patio area as well. Â
Although the space feels more like a cafe/coffee bar than a wine bar they do also have a beer & wine license, which might be nice if we hadn't been hitting the road so quickly.
The desserts looked pretty phenomenal. I'll save room next time!
This was FANTASTIC! I came in with a group of 6. We ordered a variety of sandwiches and soups including the chicken salad, portobello, and the California along with tomato and squash soups.
Everything was fresh and delicious! The dishes looked beautiful and tasted wonderful. We had the creme brulee for dessert. It was huge but we greedily ate every scrumptious bite.
The woman working the counter was extremely hospitable and made us feel at home. Even though we live over an hour away we will be back! There is a reason this place has so may rave reviews.
A little touch of Europe right in Michigan City, In. Â Who would've thunk it??? Â I have never had a bad meal here. Â Everything is excellent. Â I must say, after reading all the reviews, I've never been given a free sample of anything but no matter, that won't keep me away. Â Just came back from lunch of butternut squash soup - yum, yum - and a half a reuben. Â Excellent. Â Thankfully, they are always busy so I hope that means they'll be here for a long time. Â AND, they've added help so you get your food faster!!!!
Review Source:While driving cross-country from Napa to Charleston we had a wonderfully delicious surprise when we stopped for lunch in Michigan City, IN.
Menu items are served with fresh fruit & a small salad of mixed greens (not just Romaine). Everything we had was fantastic! Quiche, Croque Madame, pastries... Yumm! Â Bonnie, the owner along with her husband, was the perfect hostess. The influence from her time in Paris is evident in the standard of food served. Thanks for a great road trip memory!
How we got there:
What a great little sandwich shop! Â I recently made a cross country drive and was rolling through Michigan City around lunch time on day 2. Â We pull of the freeway and I begin yelping what may be good for lunch in the area and this came up. Â We were driving up to the neighborhood and began thinking "hmm, this doesn't look too promising..." but then we walked up to Panini Panini and were delighted! Â
The food:
They had an incredibly interesting menu with something to please everyone. Â The panini are served on delicious bread (mine came on a pretzel roll... yum! Â I had the "california" veggie sandwich which was delicious and my better half got the "prosciutto." Â A really nice touch is that the sandwiches are served on wooden planks with a small salad and a slice of cantaloupe. Â
It was a great lunch and got our afternoon started on the right foot!
This is one of those places where I am exceptionally thankful for the Internet. Wife and I found ourselves looking for a place for lunch on our way to the outlet mall and discovered this excellent place through Yelp.
I had a pastrami sandwich on a pretzel roll with some of the best tasting course-ground mustard I've ever had. My wife has the chorizo empenadas and loved them. The food here is excellent to say the least.
On top of that the woman who took our order was one of the nicest people you'd like to meet. She told my wife, "make sure you get refills before you leave, its hot out there!"
I should have asked where she got her msutard.
What, surely not? A European cafe making superb sandwiches in a sea of QSR?
This pleasant cafe, with chalkboard menus on its high brick walls, serves excellent sandwiches (empanadas are pretty good too), and proper Tare Au Citroen as well. One tip..if you want water ask for tap or you will get a bottle.
Service from the counter is excellent and one just hopes that it will survive in a town where every single chain is represented. This place is a real gem.
We were looking to grab a sandwich in Michigan City and stumbled upon this little gem. Panini Panini offers dozens of sandwiches (though I have to admit, very few paninis), soups, and pastries.
At the staff's urging, I went with the chicken salad sandwich, which had a wonderfully strong curry flavor to it. Sandwiches come with a small salad, which helps cushion the price (about $8-10). The house dressing, however, is a bit too creamy for my tastes. Might be a good idea to ask for it on the side.
The tomato soup was good, although certainly not any different than Campbell's makes it. We ordered flourless chocolate cake to-go, and enjoyed a complimentary croissant covered in chocolate and almonds at the restaurant. The croissant was still warm and absolutely delicious.
We arrived at 11:30 a.m. on a Saturday, and were amazed at the sudden rush of people who arrived at noon and stood in line to order. I definitely recommend timing your arrival to avoid the crowds - not only are tables limited, but it takes about 10 minutes to receive your food after placing an order.
Panini Panini has a few pastas available, as well as a small wine selection, so it may be a good choice for dinner as well.
Panini Painini has a wonderfully delicious menu!
I have had great expereinces, as well as a not so great experience. The food is great. I love the Chorizo and Black Bean Empanadas and also the fresh Tomato, Basil, Mozzarella Salad.
The pastries and desserts are a treat. The female owner usually gives away a little tast of something sweet to entice me to purchase more.
The last time I was in, my credit card was accidentally overcharged. I called the next day when I noticed the mistake  and spoke to the male owner. He was extremely rude and not helpful to resolve the issue.
I do intend to return to Panini Panini, with hopes of doing business in a personable manner.
Wow! Â Well I moved to Michigan City in August 2009 and just tried Panini Panini within the last month.... I can't believe all this lost time that I could've been eating here! Â Amazing!
The first time I went with my 7 year old daughter and were both pleasantly surprised by the freshness and wonderful quality of the food and the outstanding service by the lady, not sure of her name... maybe owner's wife?
The next time I went was with my boyfriend and his mother and again not a disappointment! Â It was actually better than the first time! Â They had a daily special of a sandwich with tilapia, avocado, pear, pesto and cheese! Â Who would ever think about putting this combination together?! Â It was DELICIOUS! Â
With all of the fast and processed food chains Panini Panini is an ultra delight and one of my favorite restaurants ever! Â Run and eat there, it's sooo worth it!
Love this place.
I have meetings here all the time and absolutely love eating here. Â Quiet, pleasant atmosphere, friendly service, and unique takes on sandwiches of a major variety.
Their quiche, tacos afrikaan, and bacon-wrapped dates are among my must-haves! Â They also have a nice selection of off-the-beaten-path wine and beer as well.
If you sit there long enough, she keeps bringing you little fruits and veggies and nuts and things. Â Very cute!
Wireless internet and an outdoor patio are both a plus!
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