Though quite a trek from Chicago's north 'burbs, it's worth battling the traffic. The modern and attractive Center for Visual and Performing Arts enjoys a bucolic setting in Bieker Woods Park. In addition to an intimate 410-seat thrust stage theater and an art gallery, this facility has a pair of elegant dining rooms for banquets and special events, and also a gift shop featuring handcrafted items. We were participants in a 'group package' which included a hot multi-course lunch followed by a matinee performance of "Ghost." The meal, consisting of lemon rice soup, a choice of Chicken Tetrazzini or Beef Stroganoff, and chocolate cake, exceeded our expectations. Though basic, this 'comfort food' was yummy, attractively plated, and served at just the right temperature. They were a bit parsimonious with the rolls and a basket of crackers (the latter was whisked away as soon as we finished the soup), but otherwise the portions were ample and the servers were genial and attentive. Afterwards, we had time to explore the gift shop and art gallery. The restrooms are immaculate. The theater has comfortable seating with generous legroom and excellent sightlines. Although the scenery and props for "Ghost" were minimal, the performance was so absorbing that we soon became too engrossed to notice the bare-bones setting. We also enjoyed chatting with General Manager Richard, who likes to mingle with the guests. If only the staffs at other fine arts venues were as personable and informative. All in all, it was a perfect day. read more

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Food is NOT good. The chicken was dry. We were all begging for water to wash it down. when i mentioned it they blocked me. The drinks are also priced really high. read more

Attending a charity event and I feeling like family here. The family style food was delicious and appetizing to say the least. And the live music was so good, that I'd come back just for that read more

The Center For Visual & Performing Arts - Live music after a delicious family style dinner - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Munster, Indiana

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This review is just for the Easter Sunday Brunch...we have not been to regular Sunday brunches nor any of the shows that are held here during the year. For the Easter Sunday Brunch...it was just ok...not bad, but just ok. The Easter Brunch was sold out, so it was very crowded...they did a pretty good job with crowd control though. When you make your reservation you'll be assigned a time and they are good at getting you in on time...they control the flow very well. As is with most these days, people dressed all sorts of ways. The clientele didn't really dress up for Easter Sunday, but disregarding the blue jeans here and there, it was ok. Service was excellent, every table had a bottle of champagne and orange juice so the customers could make their own mimosas. The brunch is buffet style so all could eat at their own pace. Many of the items on the buffet tables were not labeled so one had to guess at times. Food was ok...many perfectly serviceable but some items were on the cheap side. The roast beef for example must have been a very cheap cut of meat. While it was cooked perfectly, it was tough and chewy. The breakfast items were the usual...and good. Nice crisp bacon, scrambled eggs two ways, etc. Could have used an omelet station, but would have needed a few cooks as the crowd was large. All in all it was pretty good and this venue is really very nice. I think we'd try a new place next year for a little variety. I prefer the brunch held at the Halls of St. George out in Schererville. read more

Please note that my review does not involve the brunch, which is an experience in deliciousness! I attended a performance in the cozy theater based on the life experience of Ann Landers. Wait, you have no idea who Ann Landers is? Hmmmm. The theater was cozy and the performance was top-notch! Why two stars, you say? At the age of 60, I significantly brought down the average age of the patrons. I sincerely appreciate your providing performance art for seniors, however, I strongly recommend that you also book performances that appeal to those in their 30s-50s in order to sustain your patron base! read more

Visually appealing! The Sunday brunch buffet is great and it included endless mimosas. The wait staff is always very nice. It can be crowded so make reservations. The only disappointing thing about the buffet is that turkey products were lacking. Not everyone eats pork. Label meat please!!! It's only fair we as consumers know what we are eating. read more

The Center For Visual & Performing Arts - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Munster, Indiana

It has been about ten years since we have been here for the Easter Brunch. The place was jammed as usual, having been sold out for several weeks. We were seated in a private room and were served by a terrific waitress named Becky. But I'd like to know-what the heck happened in the intervening years? The website promised different items than were available when we arrived. Even Becky quoted items such as an omelet station. Where was it? First the breakfast... The best area was the breakfast station. They had items such as waffles with toppings, good crunchy bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, and cheese blintzes. Around the corner... The salad "station" consisted of a mediocre lettuce mix (you know the kind-with shredded carrots and other stuff you pick out), a platter of raw veggies, cottage cheese, cole slaw and jello. Next the hot entrees... The fried chicken was moist inside, but the crust was soggy. There was chicken a la king (I think), rice with some kind of beef mixture?, bland veggies (straight out of a frozen GFS bag), and good mashed potatoes and gravy. Here's a thought: identify the entree options with some kind of signage, so that people will know what you're offering. We were also promised "Swedish" meatballs. They had meatballs all right, but these tasteless morsels were bathed in an Italian tomato sauce. (Not the Swedish meatballs I know.) Additionally there was mostaccioli and two selections in the carving station: ham (fine), and beef (tough and inedible). The finale was the dessert table... They have a wide array of bite-sized dessert options, i.e., cheesecake, eclairs. Also on the table were several lamb and crucifix-shaped pound cakes, which had slices previously cut from them. Looked good....but imagine my surprise when I asked one of the dessert chefs if she would cut a piece of either one for me. She said they had removed the spatulas because people were helping themselves to the cakes. She went on to say they were for decoration only and not for our consumption. Why have cakes on a dessert table if you can't eat them????? My daughter had the black forest cake which tasted as if it were soaked in its sauce. Yet again I had a big problem with the identification of items. There was a little "sugar free" sign on the table. What was sugar free? The apple or cherry pie? The angel food cake? Sorry CVPA-it'll be at least another ten years until we're back. read more

Our family used the catering services for a graduation party. If you are in Northwest Indiana, we would highly recommend their services for anybody interested in catering good quality food with excellent service. Kerry and the rest of the staff were very professional. Our guests complimented us on the food and desserts. I would not hesitate to hire this catering service in the future. We love to support local businesses. Very satisfied! read more

My family and I come here for the Sunday brunch. The staff is outstanding great service. The staff did a nice job removing used plates and filling our drinks. The Center offers enough breakfast, dinner and desert options. Highly recommend it. You won't be dissapointed. read more

Awesome experience while having brunch. The waitstaff was very accommodating and friendly. I loved the endless mimosas. Check out was good too. However, the meat selection should include a turkey sausage choice and maybe you should label the items that contain or that have been prepared with "Pork". There is a huge population that does not eat "Pork" or anything prepared with it. I would recommend this place and plan to attend again. read more

The Center For Visual & Performing Arts - My table - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Munster, Indiana

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I've taken my family here twice for the Sunday brunch in the last couple months. Kudos to the staff for their consistency. Based on the reviews, seems to have been a very good experience for a classier customer base since '05. The Center offers enough salad, breakfast, dinner and desert options to justify the entry fee. The tables are nicely preset and the food lines make amazing sense. Plus, the staff kept busy removing used plates and filling our water, OJ, coffee and champagne. Well done! Next time, I think we'll plan to stay for a show after brunch...although the piano man is a nice substitute for now. Just don't forget to drop a couple bucks in his enormous tip jar. read more

I love this place! And it's not just because my mom manages the building, I swear! Seriously, though, I've eaten brunch at the Center over and over again. The service is friendly and the buffet has widely-varied and high-quality foods. read more

Came here for a wedding just before Christmas. It was awesome! The food was incredible! Roasted chicken and lasagna was served and I didn't hear a single person complain about the food! Not sure if the DJ's were part of the venue but they were a little difficult to work with - just not very accommodating with requests. The bar staff was very nice! read more

A five star venue! The food was really good and reflected well the quality of the place. The service was slow but I really didn't care that much since it wasn't out of my pocket. I won't knock off the star for the service cause I really think that quality falls on the banquet manager for hiring people that are all sixty plus and a couple of teenagers for the heavy lifting when in reality the servers were really nice. It just seemed that there was some lack in experience (or preparedness) in setting up for 300 plus guests. However, as beautiful as the place was, and as good as the food was, I will still say this place is deserving of five stars if not four and a half. read more

I LOVE this place...had Sunday Brunch with my daughters girl scout troop...AMAZING...wonderful variety....lunch type things as well...as in meats...not ALL pancakes and eggs..although the breakfast part is extensive...lots of fruits and great mini desserts...also went to see 2 plays there...WONDERFUL...EVERY seat is great...super professional...great parking...also you can browse the art in the open galleries for free...which is nice...great gift shop as well...also saw an art show there..again...very well displayed...GREAT JOB! A MUST SEE!! read more

My wedding was all that I could ever imagine having it at the Center for Visual & Performing Arts!!! The ceremony was outdoors, the cocktail hour was in the Art Gallery, and the dinner was in their beautiful Banquet Room!!! The food is/was absolutely DELICIOUS & AMAZING! The staff was top kntoch. I loved working with Lillie!!! She is a gem. As a matter of fact, she's a diamond. Her personality pulled me and my husband right in. She paid attention to detail. She is just amazing!!! Weddings never really go exactly how you want them to go, but having my wedding here was near to perfect as it could get!!! read more

This was such a nice treat to see the art and talent of entertainment with the banquet hall and theater. Live acting on stage is something I'm not used to watching and to see the pictures of actors on the wall gives me a Chicago vibe. The gift shop is cool, and I walked through the exhibit Steel and Bones it was called with metals bent and altered into sculptural transformations manipulated farm tools to inspire nature and industry. I really enjoyed Sarah Barnhart Fields and Sharon Gilmores made from discarded materials expressing nature and industry. Downstairs I haven't been but I'd like to see the art classes sometime they bring to the community. read more

This place is superb. The Banquet Hall and services are awesome. I've been to quite a few events here and I've always found it to be a fine place. They have a delicious weekend brunch too. There's alot of Art, and it's a joy to observe as well. read more

All I can say is what a disappointment. Eggs from a bag. Can't even get a fresh egg or omelette. This is supposed to be a professional chef. Meats for breakfast were like warm. Brunch menu was chicken a stuffing. Enchiladas Mexican chicken. Rice whipped potatoes ham and some kind of beef. Was tough to say the least. Again I like my food hot. Not like warm. I mentioned this to the owner and his response to cold eggs was "really". There are other buffets in the area serving a lot better breakfast for 1/3 the price. I will never return an will be blasting them on social media locally. Go elsewhere read more

Beware of the bar!! My wifew and I attended our 50th HS class reunion there. Before dinner I ordered a bourban and water (bar brand) and a diet pepsi and was charged $14.50. After dinner I ordered and the same and was charged $17.00. Next year I suggest we take our business elseware. read more

I was expecting a lot more for the higher charge for the brunch. Food was average at best. For the amount paid one would think you could have a custom omelet made, but no, eggs were from a bag. YUK! The meat for breakfast was average to say the least. Seems like the same stuff one can get at old country buffet. Food was not very hot and lukewarm food is not that appetizing. This will be my first and last time coming here. Sorry and this is my hometown. read more

Awesome brunch! About the best I ever had anywhere, and what a surprise to find it right here in our area. Have taken family and out of town friends there, and all rave about it. Really great we have this diamond in our area, and it is in a beautiful setting, with a very pleasant neighborhood and forest-type of setting. read more

If you want a GREAT wedding, have it at the Center of Visual and Performing Arts in Munster! The staff was amazing: they listened to what we wanted and made suggestions that we loved. From helping us to plan the details of the reception down to the attention given by the wait staff, they all went out of their way to make it perfect. We had the Italian buffet, and Chef Joe was great to work with. Everyone has been talking about how good the food was. The elegant setting and the charming staff provided us with a beautiful and lasting memory of our daughter and new son-in-law's wedding. read more

I called and left a voicemail to have a banquet at the facility. No one bothered to return my call. Very unprofessional. One star at least for doing me the favor of not having me waste my money on their facility. read more