We spent the week at Beach Walk in Michigan City with a group of friends, and one night we all piled out to Shoreline Brewery to celebrate a trip that had gone about as well as a big group trip can go. Twelve of us walked in around 6 on a Tuesday and got seated right away near the back of the restaurant, at a table big enough that nobody had to eat off their neighbor’s plate. Easy start to the night.
Shoreline Brewery at a Glance
- Where: 208 Wabash St, Michigan City, IN 46360
- Price: $$ (appetizers $11-19, entrees $18-22)
- Vibe: Big brewpub dining room, even bigger patio, old-Wisconsin energy
- Order: Korean Bulgogi Nachos, Shoreline Poutine, Baked Soft Pretzel
- Skip: Whatever the steak and potatoes special is running that week
- Good for: Big groups, family dinners, a low-key weeknight stop
The Space
Shoreline Brewery is a big brewpub, the kind of large open room with a view into the brewing operation that feels like it got dropped into small-town Wisconsin without anyone noticing. The outdoor patio is even bigger than the dining room and looked like it was gearing up for live music that night, but it was chilly out, so nobody at our table put up a fight about sitting inside.
No complaints on the space itself. Service was sharp all night even with a table of twelve throwing orders at once, and nothing about the pacing felt rushed. If you’re planning a group dinner in Michigan City, Shoreline Brewery can handle it without breaking a sweat.
Korean Bulgogi Nachos: Order These
Do yourself a favor and order the Korean Bulgogi Nachos ($19). Seared steak, gojuchang beer cheese, house-fried wonton crisps, napa kimchee, finger hot chiles, scallions, cilantro, radish, and toasted sesame all piled together, and somehow it works as one dish instead of a jumble of toppings that happen to share a plate. We’re already bulgogi people around here, I grill bulgogi short ribs most summers, and this version held its own against homemade, which is not a compliment I hand out lightly.
My only real complaint is that we could have used more bulgogi on there. But between the wonton crisps and everything else going on in the dish, the whole table agreed this was the best appetizer we ordered, no debate needed. Easy recommend, and probably the one dish worth driving back to Michigan City for on its own.
Pretzel and Poutine
The Baked Soft Pretzel ($16) is a large Bavarian pretzel served with a beer cheese that did not disappoint, which is really all you’re asking a pretzel to do. We order these wherever we go because the kids always love them, and I’m always curious how a new place handles their beer cheese. This one delivered. It’s not the dish that’s going to win the table over, but it’s a very safe bet if your group is split on what to start with, kind of like the pretzel Revolution Brewing serves up in Logan Square with their smoke stack pizza, minus the smoked meat toppings.
The Shoreline Poutine ($11) comes with natural cut fries, Wisconsin white cheddar cheese curds, smoked pulled pork, and a black pepper ale gravy. It’s good. The pulled pork is a nice twist and the gravy has real flavor. But the last poutine I had was in Montreal, and this build isn’t quite the same. My preference is gravy on the fries first, then curds on top, so you still get that squeak when you bite in. Here the curds go on before the gravy, which means they end up half melted by the time they hit your fork. Still very good fries, still a good gravy, I just like my curds with a little more integrity.
Pizza
Shoreline runs a stone hearth oven for their pizzas (around $18 for an 11 inch pie), and I went with a straightforward pepperoni. Thin crust, good sauce, and pepperoni with a touch more heat than I’m used to, which I didn’t mind at all. I took my leftovers home the next day, and it reheated just as well two days later, which says something about how the crust holds up.
Our server’s favorite, the Caesar Salad Pizza, also made an appearance at the table. It’s essentially a caesar salad piled on a pizza crust, which sounded odd to me on paper, but everyone who tried it came away happy. I’m still steering clear of anything with lettuce on it these days for my own reasons, so I’ll take their word for it. If your table likes novelty toppings, this is the one to split.
Philly Cheesesteak, Steak and Potatoes, Fish and Chips
The Philly Cheesesteak ($18), shaved prime rib with roasted peppers, caramelized onion, beer cheese, and crispy jalapenos on a soft hoagie roll, went over well with whoever ordered it at our table. That wasn’t my plate, so I can’t give you a firsthand verdict, but there were no complaints and not much left on it by the time we cleared the table.
Somebody also ordered a steak and potatoes dish, a small cut of steak drowned in gravy over mashed potatoes with broccoli on the side, that I can’t actually find on the current online menu, so it may have been a special that night. Not the one I’d reorder, and not one I’d point you toward if you’re trying to decide what to get.
Rounding things out, several people at the table, adults and kids both, ordered the Fish and Chips ($22), English pale ale battered Atlantic cod with hand cut pub fries, apple dried cherry slaw, and a creamy tartar. Nothing crazy special here, but nothing to complain about either. Solid, reliable fish and chips if that’s what you’re in the mood for.
The Verdict
We had a great meal with even better company. Service was strong the whole night, the kitchen kept up with a table of twelve without missing a beat, and the food did its job, with the Korean Bulgogi Nachos running away with the night. My only wish is that the place had a bit more energy the night we went, but that’s what happens on a Tuesday. Weekends, especially with that patio filling up for live music, are probably a different story. Either way, we’ll be back next time we’re in Michigan City.
AntiFoodie Rating: 7.5/10
Shoreline Brewery FAQ
Is Shoreline Brewery kid friendly?
Yes. Kids at our table went for the pretzel and the fish and chips without any pushback, and nobody blinked at a table of twelve that included several kids.
Does Shoreline Brewery have outdoor seating?
Yes, a large patio that looked set up for live music the night we visited. It was too chilly for us to use it, but it looks like the better seat in warmer weather.
Do you need a reservation for a big group?
We didn’t have one and still got seated right at 6pm with a party of twelve on a Tuesday. For a weekend visit or a bigger group, I’d still call ahead to be safe.
What’s the one thing to order at Shoreline Brewery?
The Korean Bulgogi Nachos. Our whole table agreed it was the best thing we ordered, and it wasn’t close.
Is Shoreline Brewery worth the price?
Yes. Appetizers run $11 to $19 and entrees $18 to $22, which is fair for the portions and quality, especially for a brewpub with this much space and this level of service.
