Went here for the first time with my wife and friend. I was really excited to try this place, and it did not disappoint. The wine was the best I've had in a long time. The Esca burger was delicious. My friend loved the pear salad . Everything we had was great. It's great to see a restaurant like this in Valpo.
ian pineda
This is a great place to eat at. Yes, the food is pricey and serving portion is small, but the quality and taste of the food is outstanding! Quality over quantity anytime! Great atmosphere for a date night and great lunch if you want to eat outside. Service was good, can't complain, maybe be a little more smiley and nicer. We had the crab cake for appetizer and it tasted fresh not frozen, was a bit spicy for my wife, but i liked it! I had the hanger steak and was cooked perfectly and seasoned very well! The crispy potatoes that it came with was new to me and it did not disappoint. Salmon was very tasty! Will definitely come again and try out the other items on the menu. If you like quality food give this place a try.
Kid-friendliness: They had plastic sippy cups for kids to prevent their drinks from spilling when knocked over.
Erin Mathews
My husband and I came here for our 10 yr wedding anniversary. It was absolutely fantastic. The food was delicious. We got the Japanese fried chicken as an appetizer and it was amazing. I got the 14oz NY strip with Brussel sprouts and frites, and it honestly was one of the best steaks I've ever had! My husband got the scallops, which were the special that night and he just raved about them. We will be back next time we are in the area!
Tony Mitidiero
I consider myself to be a foodie. I ate out every meal of every day for about 18 years and did so in great restaurants.Get your behind HERE!!! These guys are fantastic! What proper dining establishment do you know that runs Pho in a short rib broth with 2 different meats in it as a special? Come on!!!The mussels had an off-the-chart sauce with the perfect amount of spice and amazing bread and the scallops were doused in butter from the heavens.Do yourself a favor and get here.
June Says
Hands down our favorite place in Valpo for dinner. The shrimp cakes are amazing. The kimchi is heavenly. The curry chicken, the tacos... it's all amazing. Haven't had a bad meal there yet. The staff is attentive, the atmosphere is great, the food is incredible. 5 stars all day long.We've eaten here several more times since this original review. Can't say enough good things. Try the mussels!
Kewlbuttons (Kewlbuttons)
This place has delicious food and atmosphere. It is small like most places in Valparaiso. Just off the main drag so not as crowded as other places, but it should be. I recommend reservations just in case.They have a small menu but have specials listed on their FB page. We got Japanese Fried Chicken for a starter. It was so flavorful. It came with spicy potato salad, that was actually spicy and delicious. My husband even thought it was spicy and he eats spicy stuff all the time. I got shrimp risotto. It was creamy and thick. Husband got chicken marsala. Came with ravioli filled with a creamy cheese with a hint of lemon. For dessert we had the gelato flight. Butter pecan, vanilla, and white chocolate raspberry served in espresso cups. Butter pecan was the best.
Ryan Jones
Wonderful place! Great atmosphere, prompt, generous service, and excellent entrées and sides with fresh, superb ingredients, made with a sophisticated attention to detail. The outcome is an excellent meal. I had a small side spinach salad with vinegrette, a small plate with fresh, good crust bread and olive oil for dipping. But the star was the delicious beef short rib ravioli with a meat red sauce with crimini mushrooms. It was amazing! I will be back and look forward to recommending to friends.
Char L
What an amazing dinner... and dessert! Great food, beautiful presentation, nice atmosphere... very well done! We will definitely be back! Exceptional experience. 5 Stars all the way!
Deborah Pace
Pros: Tasty food and good service.Cons: High prices and small portions.We enjoyed the pear salad, butternut squash ravioli, and short ribs ravioli, but we were hungry a couple hours later. We don’t eat big meals; these servings were just ridiculously small. Trendy, I guess, but not satisfying.
Vegetarian options: Not many, but they will accommodate
Allison
I had the seafood pasta and the ice cream trio and both were absolutely delicious. I’ll definitely be back!
Not very well marked but well worth seeking out. Small place and menu but what they offer is quite enjoyable. Careful attention to detail is obvious in each dish. Beautiful presentation and extremely flavorful. Highly recommended and I'll certainly be returning.
Erika Reyna
This place has such a nice ambiance. The food is amazing as well. Their chili was absolutely amazing. I had the pork tacos as an appetizer, which were delicious. Also had the pear salad, all those flavors on that plate! Flavors that just complement each other so well. EXPLOSION OF FLAVORS!!! Will be going again tonight.
Erika Will
First time in this restaurant & had the Seafood Pasta. The dish was very well prepared. Mussels & shrimp were fresh, sauce was light and well-seasoned. So good! Wait staff were pleasant & attentive. Atmosphere is relaxed, clean and comfortable. Our meal was finished off with the ice cream sampler. Refreshing way to finish a delicious & very enjoyable meal.
Angela Bannon
Myself and my husband carried out 3 dishes. We got the carbonara, seafood risotto and chicken Marsala. AMAZING! We tried this place on a whim and I’m so glad we did. Even came with bread that was delicious! Good job Esca Kitchen! Hopefully in the future the specials will be able to order for pick up as well. So satisfied!
David Davis
The chicken risotto was good and the water was exit atmosphere was fantastic and the waitress was very attractive should try it it'll be worthy a romantic Italian dinner or if you significant love.
Went here for the first time with my wife and friend. I was really excited to try this place, and it did not disappoint. The wine was the best I've had in a long time. The Esca burger was delicious. My friend loved the pear salad . Everything we had was great. It's great to see a restaurant like this in Valpo.
This is a great place to eat at. Yes, the food is pricey and serving portion is small, but the quality and taste of the food is outstanding! Quality over quantity anytime! Great atmosphere for a date night and great lunch if you want to eat outside. Service was good, can't complain, maybe be a little more smiley and nicer. We had the crab cake for appetizer and it tasted fresh not frozen, was a bit spicy for my wife, but i liked it! I had the hanger steak and was cooked perfectly and seasoned very well! The crispy potatoes that it came with was new to me and it did not disappoint. Salmon was very tasty! Will definitely come again and try out the other items on the menu. If you like quality food give this place a try.
Kid-friendliness: They had plastic sippy cups for kids to prevent their drinks from spilling when knocked over.
My husband and I came here for our 10 yr wedding anniversary. It was absolutely fantastic. The food was delicious. We got the Japanese fried chicken as an appetizer and it was amazing. I got the 14oz NY strip with Brussel sprouts and frites, and it honestly was one of the best steaks I've ever had! My husband got the scallops, which were the special that night and he just raved about them. We will be back next time we are in the area!
I consider myself to be a foodie. I ate out every meal of every day for about 18 years and did so in great restaurants.Get your behind HERE!!! These guys are fantastic! What proper dining establishment do you know that runs Pho in a short rib broth with 2 different meats in it as a special? Come on!!!The mussels had an off-the-chart sauce with the perfect amount of spice and amazing bread and the scallops were doused in butter from the heavens.Do yourself a favor and get here.
Hands down our favorite place in Valpo for dinner. The shrimp cakes are amazing. The kimchi is heavenly. The curry chicken, the tacos... it's all amazing. Haven't had a bad meal there yet. The staff is attentive, the atmosphere is great, the food is incredible. 5 stars all day long.We've eaten here several more times since this original review. Can't say enough good things. Try the mussels!
This place has delicious food and atmosphere. It is small like most places in Valparaiso. Just off the main drag so not as crowded as other places, but it should be. I recommend reservations just in case.They have a small menu but have specials listed on their FB page. We got Japanese Fried Chicken for a starter. It was so flavorful. It came with spicy potato salad, that was actually spicy and delicious. My husband even thought it was spicy and he eats spicy stuff all the time. I got shrimp risotto. It was creamy and thick. Husband got chicken marsala. Came with ravioli filled with a creamy cheese with a hint of lemon. For dessert we had the gelato flight. Butter pecan, vanilla, and white chocolate raspberry served in espresso cups. Butter pecan was the best.
Wonderful place! Great atmosphere, prompt, generous service, and excellent entrées and sides with fresh, superb ingredients, made with a sophisticated attention to detail. The outcome is an excellent meal. I had a small side spinach salad with vinegrette, a small plate with fresh, good crust bread and olive oil for dipping. But the star was the delicious beef short rib ravioli with a meat red sauce with crimini mushrooms. It was amazing! I will be back and look forward to recommending to friends.
What an amazing dinner... and dessert! Great food, beautiful presentation, nice atmosphere... very well done! We will definitely be back! Exceptional experience. 5 Stars all the way!
Pros: Tasty food and good service.Cons: High prices and small portions.We enjoyed the pear salad, butternut squash ravioli, and short ribs ravioli, but we were hungry a couple hours later. We don’t eat big meals; these servings were just ridiculously small. Trendy, I guess, but not satisfying.
Vegetarian options: Not many, but they will accommodate
I had the seafood pasta and the ice cream trio and both were absolutely delicious. I’ll definitely be back!
Restaurantji Recommends
Not very well marked but well worth seeking out. Small place and menu but what they offer is quite enjoyable. Careful attention to detail is obvious in each dish. Beautiful presentation and extremely flavorful. Highly recommended and I'll certainly be returning.
This place has such a nice ambiance. The food is amazing as well. Their chili was absolutely amazing. I had the pork tacos as an appetizer, which were delicious. Also had the pear salad, all those flavors on that plate! Flavors that just complement each other so well. EXPLOSION OF FLAVORS!!! Will be going again tonight.
First time in this restaurant & had the Seafood Pasta. The dish was very well prepared. Mussels & shrimp were fresh, sauce was light and well-seasoned. So good! Wait staff were pleasant & attentive. Atmosphere is relaxed, clean and comfortable. Our meal was finished off with the ice cream sampler. Refreshing way to finish a delicious & very enjoyable meal.
Myself and my husband carried out 3 dishes. We got the carbonara, seafood risotto and chicken Marsala. AMAZING! We tried this place on a whim and I’m so glad we did. Even came with bread that was delicious! Good job Esca Kitchen! Hopefully in the future the specials will be able to order for pick up as well. So satisfied!
The chicken risotto was good and the water was exit atmosphere was fantastic and the waitress was very attractive should try it it'll be worthy a romantic Italian dinner or if you significant love.
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