Shoreline Brewery & Restaurant

I have reviewed Shoreline before, and my reviews have varied, as has my experience.  I've been present during times where my food has sit under a hot lamp for at least 15 minutes (that's being generous, it was more like 20 minutes).  Crispy fries become soggy, once fresh food, ruined, but still warm.  Then I have been there for the good times,  good beer in a local scene, hip shows with snazzy bands, and occasionally some of the best pub food around.

The times have changed, so has Shoreline.  I say for the better. The beer is still some of the best in NWI. They have started bottling their beer (Sum Nug and Beltaine), but it's a tad expensive.  They have eliminated some, if not all, of the frozen foods, no more boneless nuggets (I miss that sauce though) and wantons filled with creme cheese and jalapenos.  Instead, you will find home-style comfort food, seafood, and pub classics alike.  I do like a diverse menu new menu, it get's rid of things that are too far on either side (having mac and cheese and sushi on your menu is just weird).

That being said,  I visited Shoreline recently, and my GF and I had a quiet meal (not usual) of two burgers.  We both got them medium, with cheddar, and fries crispy.  The burgers were at our table pretty quickly, they were hot, fresh, and DELICIOUS!  The fries were also crispy.  This was one of the best burgers I've around these parts.  These beef was juicy and delicious, the cheese was melty and complimented the burger well, and the pretzel roll was fresh and delicious as well.  The fries were amazing.  I am excited by the menu make-over, and hope the food stays consistent.

The price of the food is adequate, and drinking the beer in house is of average brewery prices.  We ended up with a bill of about 30 bucks after two burgers with cheese, a beer for me, and a soft drink for my lady.  Was worth every penny.

Pros: Good Beer, Good Food, Great Atmosphere
Cons: Location is a little bit of problem,  I personally love it, but for the general public, it may seem a bit hidden away.  People tend to look at Lighthouse Mall or NIPSCO as they go by Shoreline on Route 12.  I personally drove by it many times without knowing what it was or even noticing it had a sign.

I wanted to like Shoreline.  Sometimes, however, a place falls short of expectations.  I liked the look of the place, but first impressions count.  Being seated at a hi top that was just washed with a dripping wet cloth didn't bode well; the menu literally stuck to the table.  And they weren't even busy.  

Oops.

The place had a good, hip local vibe, with just the right volume settings on the music; and the natives seemed friendly enough.  I started with one of their house brews.  The beer had a delightfully high alcohol content, but was bitter in the extreme.  When I told my server I was not a fan, she recommended a brew I might find more appealing...which turned out to be the beer I HAD ORDERED IN THE FIRST PLACE!  

Oops.

I was hungry, so I ordered the Hoosier Pork Tenderloin Sandwich.

Oops.

The sandwich arrived at table - and it was ENORMOUS.  But not willing to substitute quantity for quality, I would not order this item again.  The breading was surprisingly under seasoned, and the toppings were gloppy.  The large bun disintegrated as I attempted to eat it.  The French fries had obviously been parked for a while; lukewarm, oily, overcooked and droopy.

Sometimes I am tempted to chalk up a disaster like this to an "off night".  In this case, though, I really see no reason to ever return.

This brew pub is a little off the beaten path -- about a block north of Rt. 12 on Wabash Street in Michigan City, Indiana -- so it seems to get two kinds of business: the locals who already live in the area, and beer geeks who have heard about its brews and want to try them. (Count me in the second category.)

They always have 12 beers on tap along with seasonal selections. I tried their Beltaine Scottish ale, which is their top-selling beer and won them silver medals in the 2006 and 2008 World Beer Cup competitions. It was nice, dark and smooth with a caramel undertaste. My husband likes his beer hoppy, so he went with the Sum Nug India Pale Ale, which features both Summit and Nugget hops (hence the name). They also have something called Discombobulation Celebration Ale, which I've just gotta try the next time we're here, if they still have it. It's a super-strong beer known as barley wine, which is actually any beer that's over 7% alcohol.  

The décor is basic but comfortable, with several big-screen TVs. The menu is unexpectedly good, with typical pub grub like burgers and sandwiches, but also some surprises like spicy cheese-stuffed tortillas, seafood entrees, and Scotch eggs (a hard-boiled egg covered with sausage and deep-fried, which you usually only find in authentic English pubs). They also have a store where you can buy T-shirts, accessories, and brewing ingredients such as grains, hops and yeast. They even have a Ms. Pac-Man video game in the lobby!

At about $4 per beer, Shoreline Brewery is a great bargain, too (until they get "discovered").  We're definitely coming back here the next time we're in the area.