There is no better way to explore a new city than taking a food tour, and Fort Wayne Food Tours delivered a 5-Star Experience during my recent trip to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Now in its 2-year of guiding their guest to delicious food experiences at local restaurants and sharing whimsical historical background about Fort Wayne, they also inspire you to step out on your own and explore.
The 3 1/2 tour takes you to five different gastronomical locations to experience the best of what Fort Wayne, Indiana has to offer. Mostly visited by the locals, you get a first-hand experience that takes you beyond the menu with visits by the chef and/or owner of the restaurant you are visiting. Insight into how and perhaps why the food is prepared, the best way to enjoy your meal and exciting tidbits about the restaurant.
During your 1.25 mile walking loop through downtown Fort Wayne, your guide, local historian, and owner of Fort Wayne Food Tours, Randy Harter takes you past many historical landmarks sharing trivia and nostalgia that will keep you entertained between meal stops. Randy is very entertaining in his delivery of Fort Wayne history, often pausing to point out landmark details that you may never discover without his guidance.
Though you could certainly visit every restaurant on Fort Wayne Food Tours agenda on your own and Fort Wayne would love for you to do so, you would miss out on these specially prepared samples provided during the tour.
Don Hall's Old Gas House Restaurant & Bar
The first stop on our tour, and it started out impressively. After introductions and a bit of background information from our guide Randy, we started to eat!
Beautiful filet with garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed mushrooms along with a glass of wine. The filet was masterfully prepared and divinely delicious.
Don Hall's Old Gas House Restaurant & Bar
305 E Superior Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
(260) 426-3411
Park Place on Main
After a short walk, we found ourselves sitting at the bar of Park Place on Main chatting with the manager until the chef brought out our first sample.
Shrimp Ceviche artfully served in a liquor glass with Shrimp, red, green, yellow bell peppers, red onion, citrus, chili paste.
Followed up with a spectacular Bone Marrow Crostini with Demi glaze and Long Island Strip Steak with Kohlrabi Mash!
200 E Main St Suite 120
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
(260) 420-8633
Hoppy Gnome
Our next stop, warmly received by our group of food lovers and beer enthusiast. The Hoppy Gnome serves up and impressive food and beer selection that will keep everyone in your group happy.
First off, ordering some beer (not included in tour), a delightful Colis Smoked Porter delivered to my seat with a smile!
Samplings included a 48-hour braised Borracho Short Rib with Honey Stout Glaze, Mole Sauce, Black Bean & Corn Relish, Pickled Peppers served with their spectacular Caramel Apple Salad (Arugula, granny smith apples, gorgonzola, toasted almonds, prosciutto, brown butter caramel vinaigrette).
A hearty dish of their in House Potato Salad finished of the sampling nicely.
203 E Berry St.
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
260-422-0070
JK O'Donnell's Irish Ale House
Rounding out Fort Wayne Food Tours food sampling was a traditional Irish Shepard's Pie filled with Lamb, carrots, green peas and onions in a traditional gravy, topped with mashed potato. Served with a Scotch Egg Hard boiled eggs wrapped in sausage, deep-fried and served with honey mustard sauce
121 West Wayne Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
260 420-5563
DeBrand Fine Chocolates
A fabulous way to finish our Fort Wayne Food Tours!
Waiting for us at our last stop were plates of delectable chocolates. With scratch made centers and creative chocolate coatings, we certainly hit the jackpot here.
878 Harrison Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
(260) 969.8353
Fort Wayne Food Tours 5-Star Experience
From the second Randy introduced himself to the final goodbyes an hour and a half later, there were constant smiles from our group. Randy is gifted with the ability to make you feel appreciated and welcomed during his Fort Wayne Food Tours. The walking was mildly easy with plenty of stops to point out the local history between our food adventures. The food was just spectacular, with generous quantities, fresh ingredients, and delivered by proud patrons of the culinary arts. Randy Harter has discovered and enthusiastically shares some of the must-visit restaurants in Fort Wayne with servings that bring to life the adventurous soul of the region's diversity and hospitality.
Highly recommend taking this food tour!
Go hungry, or you will explode with the multi-course servings!
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Tickets – (260) 201-4033
Tour Questions – 1.800.656.0713
If you are interested in more food tours, then these will be of interest to you!
Spectacular Wine and Food Adventure with Carmel Food Tours
Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA – Food Tour
Of course, you can follow all of my travel adventures here: Never to Old to Travel
Full disclosure: Visit Fort Wayne tourism and Fort Wayne Food Tours hosted me for this tour without stipulation. All thoughts, photos, and opinions are my own.
