St. James Restaurant: Avilla, IN - Northern Indiana's Oldest Restaurant

In doing research last year for my new book, Unique Eats and Eateries of Indiana, I made my way all around the state visiting potential restaurants to include in the book. Among them was the oldest restaurant in Northern Indiana, St. James Restaurant.

It's history goes way back to the late 1800s when it was an early hotel with an eatery. By the 1940s it had started to deteriorate, but was brought back by new owners Bill and Evelyn Freeman. They added on over the years and made improvements. 

It features a beautiful bar and some stunning stained glass in the bar and dining room. One long-time specialty and customer favorite that has been their menu since the early days is their broasted chicken. They're also known for their impressive seafood options. You'll also find a long list of other options, from ribs to prime rib to casual sandwiches. There is a touch of German flair to the menu and the German potato salad is a side you need to try - but there are several other sides worth trying that differ from the run-of-the-mill sides in other restaurants.

It's a place definitely worth taking a detour for. You'll leave full and smiling after a stop at this small town historical gem.