I'm not sure how to begin my review so I'll start with the positives. I'll preface this by stating that I'm a local and have been visiting this establishment a few times over the course of 20+ years. Firstly, my most recent visit was Valentine's Day. I made reservations weeks in advance because I knew I could get in and was looking for a low key, simple experience. The host was friendly and prompt and we were seated immediately. Our server was friendly and prompt as well. All good things right off the bat. We ordered water and a bottle of wine to share. No problem at all. Honestly, we didn't have any problems during our entire visit. Since it's now owned by Navarre Group, my expectations are higher. They're a very good local restaurant chain. This location still needs some work. The food was okay. Just okay. The menu choices are the same as they were in 1977. This is the issue. Not everyone wants cheese curds as an appetizer. A bit more elevated would be better. We ordered shrimp cocktail. It was basic. $13.99 for (5) *more horseradish please. Fillet (6oz) for me medium. Hubs had ribeye (12oz) delmonico for him. He enjoyed his steak and had left over for home. Mine wasn't very tasty. Cooked well, but bland. Salad was great, homemade dressing was great too. The seasonal vegetables were okay, the presentation felt like nursing home food. To wrap this up, I'd love to see some elevated dishes along with the old favorites on the menu. *Navarre Group is known for this but it certainly doesn't show at this location. read more

Doc Pierce's Restaurant - Filet Mignon-6oz with seasonal vegetables - Steakhouses Near Me - Mishawaka, Indiana

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One of our favorite places to stop when in town. Doc Pierce's is a South Bend icon. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, the service is always stellar, and the food is fabulous. They are rather known for their French onion soup, and it did not disappoint today. Yum! read more

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Atmosphere is delightful and the food is great. Waitresses were very helpful and the bus boy on top of things! Good bartender too!

1st time eating at Doc P's tonight and it was GREAT! We went for early dinner. I had this steakhouse wedge salad and my husband got the steak and chicken combo. Service was good, our waitress was really friendly. I'll keep coming back again and again (and probably again) for this salad. 100/10 Girl Dinner IYKYK read more

Doc Pierce's Restaurant - Steakhouse wedge Salad - Steakhouses Near Me - Mishawaka, Indiana

Such a cute restaurant, although I agree with other reviews, that it needs a little updating/cleaning. The food was nothing special - pretty average. Service was slow, and server seemed unhappy - she wasn't "mean" but she just didn't smile - seemed tired. So much potential as it is unique, but I don't think I'd return. read more

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Its like a time machine coming in here. I used to come here as a kid with my parents and it has not changed one bit. Its exactly what you expect. I am glad when it sold they didn't change a thing. Although the carpet could use replacing lol. read more

Debatably the most iconic restaurant in St Joseph County and one of the most memorable. Better before getting involved in Navarre Group but still incredible nonetheless. The food is incredible with their onion rings being one of the best I've ever had. Whether it's the staff or the patrons, everyone has a positive memory and story revolving around this incredible establishment. read more

I had the spinach artichoke dip, it was very good, however I thought the amount was small for the price. Wife had a cheeseburger, it was ok, it was a frozen pre made patty. The tenderloin and the salads were huge. read more

The food was delicious but the service is incredibly slow. We arrived at 3:15. It was not that busy (maybe 4 or 5 tables). It took almost 10 minutes for someone to take our drink order. She dropped the drinks and practically ran from our table. After we got our food, she was almost nonexistent. We waited far too long for our bill so we could pay. It is very dark inside but that didn't bother us. When a restaurant is "dead" the service should be better. read more

Dive bar meets Mishawaka staple. Steak burgers, outside dining with a divy feel inside. This restaurant has been a love hate relationship. I've been here 3-4 times and my wife loves it, but I've had a couple good meals, and a couple not great. So first...good burger and good value. And the patio is great. Chill, cool, shade and I've always had good service here. The last time here was 4.5 stars. Good burger and service and all around great experience. This time the Ruben was better than ok but not 'good'. Not sure why but just lacking. Tasted like it came from a diner. The waitress was fine and took care of us. But order wasn't right. Missing salad. Pickles were supposed to be on the side. A few little picky items. So we'll keep coming and hoping for the 4+ star service. read more

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We came here at the recommendation of a family friend. I have mixed feelings about this restaurant, which is hard since I love to support family-owned businesses. Starting with the positives, the food was very good. I'm not sure why cooks struggle with medium-rare steaks, but I had no issues with the temperature of my steak. My caesar salad was excellent and I suspect a homemade dressing. I asked for horseradish and she had to make some up, which I appreciated. We were a large party and I told her initially not to worry about it, but she was very nice and made it up and brought it out fresh just a short while later. Overall her service was excellent. That being said, I felt like the restaurant needed a good scrubbing overall. The tables were clean and there were no issues with the dishes, but it just felt...well worn? The stained glass windows are lovely and have a unique charm. read more

This is our go to neighborhood dinner place! We love sitting outside in the summer evenings enjoying the chill relaxed vibe and excellent food! Very family friendly for my kiddos and good drinks for the adults. The service can be slow during busy times, however we are there to relax and enjoy the evening so it's no biggie to us. The waitresses are always friendly and make sure your drink is full! The historic inside is just so neat, the stained glass and lowered lights make it a wonderful dinner atmosphere. I would suggest this place over and over for the great burgers, dinner items and just plain awesome place to visit! read more

This place is completely overrated. Went yesterday for the first time order dinner to go. Order the steak and shrimp dejohnge. 28 buck, 32 with tax. It came with a very tough 8 oz steak and 3 small shrimp and very small baked potato and some basic small portion of mixed veg. I could've made this at home for a lot less and better. Save ur money. Go someplace else. read more

Today for lunch, we a met a friend at Doc Pierce's. We had a open faced meat loaf sandwich with fries, a chicken salad pita with a side salad and a French dip sandwich with French onion soup (cup). All of those things were very good, but the best thing that we ate was the large order of their outstanding and delicious onion rings (resembles donuts in appearance). They were a 5* treat. The restaurant has been open since 1977 in a historic building with lots of stained glass panels and light shades. The building has the date of 1873 placed at the top of the building outside. The service was excellent. read more

Tonight was the worst service we have ever received at Doc Pierce's. We had to ask several times for water. We asked for bread and never got it. Our server never checked on us after the food was dropped off. We waited 15 minutes after we were completely done to get our check. read more

It's kind of a dank, older building with loads of stained glass and dark wood paneling. It feels like you're entering a blast from the past honestly and it's hard to imagine that the food wouldn't be good. On this day, it was warm and sunny outside but there wasn't a table there so we settled on an inside booth. Thr waitress was reasonably friendly and offered us drinks shortly after we sat down. There is a lunch menu with a 1/2 Sammy and fries for $5.99, so my date chose that with a soda. I chose a pork tenderloin sandwich, which was decent, but lacked much flare. We had our lunches within about 15-20 minutes and everything was to our liking. I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to come here, but if I were driving past, I'd give it another go. read more

Cool old restaurant in downtown with very reasonable prices. I would highly recommend. Food was great and so was the service!

This is a nifty little restaurant in downtown Mishawaka. The food is pretty good and the ambiance is AWESOME! I would recommend it for a date, family dinner, or get-together with friends; any could fit in with this place. Make note of the days of the week the specials and special prices are on and plan your visit accordingly, or you could end up paying quite a bit for your meal or the dish you want may not be available at all. read more

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Clean restrooms. Great service. Fair pricing. But I hate to say it about this Mishawaka Gem but it's definitely went down hill over the years used to be real Good now not so much. IMO. French onion soup is on point. read more

Excellent service. Food is fresh and delicious. We love the clean, vintage ambiance. Great prices. Will definitely return and will recommend to others. read more

Food was terrific! I had the Doc Chopsteak w mornay sauce...absolutely fabulous. Wife had mush & Swiss burger. Excellent. The side salads are about the best one could ask for: large, HOMEMADE croutons, cheese, tomatoes, fresh lettuce. Again excellent. Ambiance is really cool and woody-warm old tavern style. Stained glass and wood everywhere. Visited from west side Indy for a Trine University mens vball game at Bethel U...what a hidden gem this place is. HIGHLY recommend. Oh, prices actually really good as well. 5 stars read more

Visited here on a Tuesday night. They have a nice variety on the menu. The restaurant has a nice relaxed feel to it. My mom originally ordered the chicken salad but did not like it. It was covered in cheese and bacon. We both ended up with the cheeseburger special. For 4.99 you get a cheeseburger with fries. I added the salad for $3. The croutons here are amazing. I wish I could buy some to go. The burger was nice and juicy. The toppings were fresh. The fries were just ok. Will definitely return. read more

Doc Pierce's Restaurant - House salad - Steakhouses Near Me - Mishawaka, Indiana

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They are usually not amiss with the burgers here. For the most part they have been juicy and delicious. The meat party appears to be hand pressed and sizable, and come with the standard sides like lettuce, red onions, pickles, and tomatoes. Mayo, ketchup, and mustard are available as well as add ins like jalapenos or sauteed mushrooms. The dining room is a bit like a casino in that it's dark and you will never know what time of day it is. It's a bit like, "Cheers" in that it has a long bar and cheeky decor with stained glass lighting and lots of dark wood. The patio is delightful if simple, but there are beautiful ginko biloba trees outside and they try with a little fountain and potted flowers. Plenty of tables for a fairly intimate space and they have umbrella options for the sun or shade lovers. Today my burger was pretty good, but not jaw dropping, and my husband got the Reuben sandwich. He was not thrilled, but not totally disappointed either. The onion rings are worth a try, huge and sweet. The steak fries are legit. And I've had some of the best chicken strips ever at this place. Most of the time the service is good or at least acceptable. Rarely is it horrible. I'd say give it a try and make up your own mind, but it's not a place I'd steer you clear of, be assured I'd let you know. Grab a beer and a burger and enjoy your meal. read more

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Outdated menu and atmosphere. The last time I went I said "ok done trying" Poor food quality and a flashback to 70s-80s offerings. The outside seating area is nice during the season. The staff is very nice. Just needs sprucing with new ideas read more

Dark & Dirty is how I would describe this restaurant. We used to go to Doc Pierce's all the time before covid & enjoyed the food. We went back today for the first time in 2 years and were greeted by a smell we couldn't describe other than foul & when I went to the restroom it got even worse! Robert Irvine from Restaurant Impossible should come here for a makeover. Don't enter or exit through the rear exit or you might lose your lunch or dinner. We ordered a half order of onion rings because of the foul smell & left for the final time. We both agreed we couldn't have gotten any real food down & this place needs a good carpet cleaning & other updates done. For our money there are lots of other choices in Mishawaka that smell fresh when you walk in & usually you can smell good food cooking too. read more

Onion rings are a must! Going here is great and you have to get the onion rings they are made in house and huge and delicious! Also, the homemade chicken tenders are the best love them! It's a darker setting small and quaint with multiple nooks and even a small upstairs area with some tables. read more

This is a wonderful spot, that my mom loves to go to, when I visit her. We've been here twice, and they've never disappointed. Very friendly staff and very good food. read more

Were long time customers, upon entering tonight I got the sense something was different. The menu was different, Just printed on cardstock, no pictures, some normal menu items missing. The waitress brought out glassses of water, we observed employees filling the glasses by scooping them into an ice bucket with their bare hands, the straws were unwrapped and again were handled on the end we put into our mouths. Don't think the health department allows this. Overheatd various conversations between staff and customers. Clearly something has changed, so I asked, new owners. Not a good first impression.,,,, read more

Sadly the service was so slow along with the bar... Well it was hard to tell which was slower. Food was ok but not enough to compensate for the slow service read more

Good service, good food, cute interior. It's a great place for a sandwich and a beer in a sleepy Northern Indiana town

We arrived at Doc Pierce's because I have never had the food and my wife said it was pretty good. As I walked into the place you could sense that the place was old and had been around for awhile. I researched some of the details of the place and read that the Stained glass was purchased from the small neat town of Nashville, IN. (Not Tennessee) I thought it was neat it was in there around 40 years later after it the restaurant was open. However, I thought the old carousel horse was kinda creepy. Looked like it was recovered from Chernobyl. I had ordered the Steak and shrimp entree with mushrooms and vegetables as my side. It was delicious. I ordered my steak to be medium, and when it came out.....it was a perfect medium. The food was delicious. The adult beverage was perfectly made as well. Having been a server / bartender for 10 years of my life I can appreciate a well made cocktail. The Old fashion was on point. The reason I gave the place 3 stars wasnt because the service was bad. The service was good. It was the side bar conversations I heard the servers talking about. I could hardly hold a conversation at my table. Loud conversations AND yelling to the back kitchen was a bit unprofessional. A couple servers would talk like adults to their tables then turn around and started talking hood or street with slang. It kind of showed me the type of people that come in there. Overall much to be desired when it comes to staff professionalism. read more

Doc Pierce's Restaurant - An Old Fashion - Steakhouses Near Me - Mishawaka, Indiana

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The GM Dawn cannot perform basic management tasks. There is mold in the walk in coolers and surrounding the kitchen. Broiler tray/pan is worn out and 30 plus years old. The expo for your food sits less than 3 feet from the dishwasher area which is ABSOLUTELY RANCID IN SMELL AND NEVER CLEANED PROPERLY. THIS RESTAURANT IS RAN BY Matt from Navarre Hospitality Group now and they are complete crooks. They won't fix or update anything at Doc pierce RESTAURANT. It's a shame one of Mishawakas oldest restaurants is in despair due to Poor management and absolute neglect over the past few years. I worked there about a year ago and I was fired after filing an osha complaint. Fk you Matt and Dawn you're slums and you fired me for doing what's right and letting everyone know that you are terrible Management. read more

Great menu, atmosphere and drinks. Food is consistent and the prices are what you would Expect. read more

Ambrosia chicken & rice is delicious!! Drinks were wonderful and service was great!!! The ambiance is spectacular as well!

Really good food. Dressy or not feeling. Great customer service and people. Would definitely recommend.

Foods still great, rustic interior, been coming here since I was little before the new owners. Prices on food have gone up since the new owners took over but worth it. Although management and especially the servers are condescending and rude. It ruins the food and atmosphere of the supper with a rude, disrespectful servers. I deff miss the old management. read more

Great food, service and value! I would highly recommend! Beer ice cold and waitress smoking hot!

I was a teenager the first time I came hear with my parents. It was always great food and still is. Even now when there are many more dining options, Doc Pierce's still delivers excellent quality and atmosphere. read more

We've dined at Doc's since it opened in 1976. Over the decades they've had many entrees with which we fell in love. More recently, however, since the restaurant was sold, the menu has changed, and many of the much-loved items are gone. And since the sale, the prices have jumped skyward rather rapidly. The food we had this last week was actually okay, but rather generic in nature. I suspect Mr. Janowski is attempting to aim Doc Pierce's at a new, younger clientele. I can understand that, but even a younger clientele would have appreciated many of the entrees that he has eliminated. Overall Doc's was a disappointment. Where it was one of our regular, go-to haunts in the past, it won't be on that list now. There are too many other great places to dine in our area. read more

Atmosphere & décor has not changed from its 1976 opening date - very, very dark, outdated and not particularly clean. Two years ago I went and my food was mediocre. Went back a couple weeks ago and it was terrible. All three appetizers were sloppy - the fries were a soggy undercook glob of starch; onion rings fell apart as I picked them up; shrimp skewer was rubbery and unappealing. My entree - fettucine alfredo - was a tasteless, overcooked blob. Side of steamed broccoli was also overcooked and not seasoned = tasteless. The other diners were mostly over 60 - probably there for the nostalgia of when they were 21 and Doc's was good. Nothing could persuade me to go back. Ever. read more