The beauty of being on a road trip is that you never eat at the same restaurant twice. Of course, if you fall in love with a place, it can be a bit of a bummer to say goodbye—but that’s part of the charm. You take it in stride and keep moving forward. I love trying as many different places as possible, and when better to do that than while on the road?
For this trip, we mostly searched for organic spots to get the best options for vegan or vegetable-forward dishes. I also paid attention to the aesthetic of the restaurant and checked out reviews before committing.
So here we go with all the restaurant stops along the way, starting from Minnesota, crossing into Wisconsin, then into Illinois, and finally Indiana. Yours, Pollybert
Stop 1: Breakfast at The Root Note – La Crosse, Wisconsin
Just after crossing the state line from Minnesota into Wisconsin, we searched for “organic coffee house” and landed on The Root Note in La Crosse. What a find!
The place had a lovely atmosphere, with a European vibe that wouldn’t feel out of place in Vienna’s 7th district. They had a self-service breakfast bar stocked with delicious options, perfect for a casual but thoughtful meal.
I ordered the Biscuit Sandwich with an over-easy egg, white cheddar, greens, and aioli, along with roasted mushrooms and onions. My friend went for The Green Thumb Crepe, filled with roasted asparagus and red onions, fresh spinach, and a whipped ramp pesto ricotta, topped with an over-easy egg and served with dressed greens. It was the perfect start to our culinary road trip.
breakfast @The Root Note
Stop 2: Dinner at Oromo Cafe – Chicago, Illinois
For dinner in Chicago, we stopped at Oromo Cafe in Lincoln Square. The menu had promise, but it turned out to be a bit of a mixed bag—some hits, some misses. I’m not sure the teenagers were all that impressed, but I did enjoy the beet and goat cheese salad. Everything was fresh, though, and the service was truly outstanding.
No photos this time—the food came in takeaway containers, which didn’t exactly inspire a photo op. Still, it was a great stop and a nice break from the usual chain fare.
Oromo Cafe Lincoln Square @Chicago
Bonus Stop: Drinks at Cindy’s Rooftop – Chicago, Illinois
We decided on a stop for drinks at Cindy’s Rooftop, which, yes—can be pricey—but you’re really paying for the view. And what a view it is! Overlooking Cloud Gate and Millennium Park, it’s a picture-perfect spot to take in the city skyline.
If you have more time, it’s definitely a place worth lingering for dinner. Unfortunately, we had to keep moving east that night, so drinks were as far as we got. Still, a lovely pause in the heart of Chicago before hitting the road again.
Aperol and Campari spritz @Cindy’s Rooftop
Stop 3: Dinner at The Goblin & The Grocer – Beverly Shores, Indiana
Near Indiana Dunes, we stopped for dinner at The Goblin & The Grocer in Beverly Shores. It turned out to be a fantastic choice.
We started with freshly shucked oysters, and they were absolutely fabulous—briny, fresh, and perfectly chilled. A strong start to the meal, and very welcome to find such great quality.
It was a cozy, inviting spot with a menu that felt thoughtful and locally inspired. Definitely worth a stop if you’re in the area and craving something a little more refined after a day outdoors.
freshly shucked oysters @Goblin & The Grocer
I loved my deconstructed Salad Nicoise with its seared tuna steak, and the Wild Wild West Burger sliders (Waygu, elk, boar & bison) come also highly recommended.
Salad Nicoise @Goblin & The Grocer
The teenagers were less impressed with the pasta though. Guido’s Chicken Piccata was drowned in capers, which made the pasta too salty, and the Goblin-onara pasta had huge chunks of not-quite-crispy pancetta, topped with a fried egg instead of being mixed in.
Guido’s chicken piccata @Goblin & The Grocer
Thankfully, there was Key Lime pie for dessert, which saved the day. This creamy custard cake was a definite winner and got cheers all around.
Key Lime pie @Goblin &The Grocer
Stop 4: Early lunch at Crow’s Nest – Kalamazoo, Indiana
On the day we crossed Indiana three times (I might have a slight trauma), we ended up at Crow’s Nest in Kalamazoo around noon—so not quite breakfast time. The place was already buzzing with the lunch crowd and seemed to be quite popular with the locals.
Breakfast, burgers, and sandwiches are available all day, and even though the restaurant was currently renovating on the lower level, it still felt just right for us on the upper level. We enjoyed different variations of eggs Benedict, as well as the vegan Kzoo stir-fry, which came packed with veggies, offered a choice of tofu or tempeh, was topped with hummus, and served with corn tortillas.
The stir-fry got high marks, while the eggs Benedict were just okay. Portions were huge, in case that’s something that matters to you.
vegan Kzoo stir-fry @Crow’s Nest
asparagus eggs Benedict @Crow’s Nest
Stop 5: Coffee at CoffeeDiCaro – Coldwater, Michigan
On our “Crossing Indiana” tour, we stopped at CoffeeDiCaro in Coldwater. At that point, we were still heading in the right direction—shortly after, we ran out of luck. This newly opened coffee shop has the friendliest owners and served excellent coffee, which kept me wide awake all the way until we finally arrived in Ohio.
newly opened CoffeeDiCaro @Coldwater
