Cafe Farina - casual old-school vintage vibe, serving up authentic Italian-American specialties and classic cocktails shaking to the beat of Italian music streaming through the restaurant. Using only the finest and freshest ingredients, both local and imported, Chef Joseph Farina features specialty Italian sandwiches, fresh pasta dishes, imported meats and cheeses, hand-cut steaks, and fresh seafood. Inspired by Chicago’s neighborhood joints and renowned Italian Delis, Cafe Farina is bringing a taste of Italian culture to downtown Michigan City!
Additional information
Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, Steak, Seafood
Hours of operation
Tue–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
Fri 11:30 am–10:00 pm
Sat 11:00 am–10:00 pm
Sun 11:00 am–9:00 pm
Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant
4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
4.9Food
4.9Service
4.7Ambience
4.6Value
Noise • Moderate
Loved For
Chicago / Illinois
Italian
Northwest Indiana
Best Overall
Northwest Indiana
Best Food
Northwest Indiana
Best Service
Northwest Indiana
Best Ambiance
Northwest Indiana
Best Value
Northwest Indiana
Great for brunch
Northwest Indiana
Neighborhood gem
Northwest Indiana
Romantic
Review summary
AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Cafe Farina is a delightful dining destination renowned for its "exceptional food," "fantastic service," and "vibrant atmosphere." The Italian cuisine, including "handmade pastas" and "delicious calamari," consistently impresses guests. Despite occasional noise and seating challenges, the restaurant remains a "hidden gem" in Michigan City, promising memorable experiences for every visit.
241 Reviews
m
margaret
Grand Rapids3 reviews
4.0
Dined 7 days ago
Overall 4
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 2
Erica, our server was wonderful and food always spot on.
However the table for 4 was too cramped against the wall- no room between the back of my chair and the person sitting behind me. Consider some type of draft barrier at the door… very cold each time it opened.
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T
Tim
St. Louis4 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 2, 2025
Overall 5
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 5
First time. Everything was superior. Great food, service, ambience. Real professionals! Will go again.
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A
Andrea
Chicago17 reviews
4.0
Dined on March 29, 2025
Overall 4
Food 5
Service 3
Ambience 4
Our waiter did not come and tell us there were no oysters for a long time. When we changed our appetizer order both our appetizer and entree came out. Our waiter also never offered us coffee or dessert. Food was good but service was not.
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BW
BrianW
Chicago4 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 15, 2025
Overall 5
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 5
Food and service was wonderful. The staff was attentive to our needs.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago3 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 8, 2025
Overall 5
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 5
Great service, fresh calamari, really cool ambience. Fairly priced.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco5 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 1, 2025
Overall 5
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 5
We had a great experience. The food was good. The customer service was awesome and I definitely will be going back.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco1 review
5.0
Dined on March 1, 2025
Overall 5
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 5
Delicious food great service. It was a Friday night so very busy, prompt service
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C
Cheryl
Chicago10 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 23, 2025
Overall 5
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 5
First time at this restaurant. It was recommended by a close friend. It was excellent. Everything from the ambiance, service, and food. Will definitely go again!
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R
Russell
West Palm Beach3 reviews
4.0
Dined on February 23, 2025
Overall 4
Food 5
Service 4
Ambience 4
Food and service were terrific but the 1/2 hour wait with reservations in very tight quarters was not good- obviously overbooked.
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C
Claire
Chicago1 review
5.0
Dined on February 14, 2025
Overall 5
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 4
Hidden little GEM! This place may not look like much from the outside, but my goodness what a fabulous little place! This was my first trip to the Michigan City/New Buffalo area and we needed some last minute Valentines Day reservations. We took the 430 as opposed to the 930 which were the only time slots available and spent 2+ hours enjoying dinner at the bar (our choice - they had a table for us) The bartenders were great - quick with a joke and had great personalities. Dinner was outstanding - 5 stars all the way. We will be back someday!
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FAQs
Cafe Farina is rated 4.8 stars by 241 OpenTable diners.
Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.