While there are eight towns in Dubois County, this article focuses on Jasper’s foodie fun. You won’t go hungry in Jasper, with all the great places to eat. Here are nine of my favorite places to eat in Jasper, Indiana, listed alphabetically.

Thank you to Visit Dubois County for partially hosting me for a great trip of food and fun.

Café Piña

Light floods the dining room through the large windows. The orange and green neon pineapple sign leaves no doubt that you’ve arrived at Café Piña, a fun café with a Mexican flair. If you love pineapple, this is the best place in town to get some version of it in a dish.

I found the best thing here was the deliciously fresh dishes. The menu changes seasonally, so most dishes have a limited time on the menu. You may not find what I had on the menu when you visit; however, you’ll find equally delicious food. I’d categorize this as great food. It was familiar yet different. For example, they have familiar pancakes, but pineapple pancakes are something you won’t find on every other restaurant menu.

What to Order

The piña colada pancakes take a favorite tropical vacation cocktail and turn it into a stack of three pancakes. However, I ordered a short stack because I wanted to try several things on the menu. The pancakes came topped with a sweet, toasted coconut rum sauce sprinkled with toasted coconut. Then, they add whipped cream and a pineapple wedge. It took me right to the Caribbean.

Vegetarians and vegans won’t be disappointed with dishes like the Summer Crush. This naturally vegan dish has falafel crushed in a spinach wrap that includes all veggie fixings, including diced cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, green onions, and bell peppers. They mix these veggies with crunchy romaine, fried cauliflower, and falafel. A creamy dill sauce brings the whole sandwich together.

Piper’s Pro Planning:  Café Pina is a bit tricky to find. From the parking lot, you’ll find it in the southeast corner of the Jasper River Center next to the Fairfield Inn.

Cranberries Family Restaurant

While they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Cranberries Family Restaurant is a great place for breakfast. Although the parking lot may look packed, check in at the host stand. It looked like it would take a while from the look of the parking lot, but we only had to wait about 10 minutes.

When I looked at the menu, I was expecting to see a variety of cranberry dishes. I was surprised that the only cranberry dish I found was the cranberry chicken salad on the daily specials menu. It turns out that the owner grew up on a cranberry farm in northern Macedonia, and that’s how the restaurant got its name. So, while you’ll find a nod to cranberries, it isn’t the menu’s focus.

They offer a variety of affordable lunch specials at a reasonable price. Many complete meal selections for lunch and dinner were in the $10 range.

Piper’s Pro Planning:  If you’re not feeling up to a night out but don’t want to cook, call Cranberries to place a carry-out order.

Los Bravos

Los Bravos serves authentic Mexican food at multiple locations throughout southern Indiana. The atmosphere is festive, with traditional Mexican fiesta paper decorations and a piñata to add to the ambiance.

What to Order

I had the traditional beef fajitas with onions and red and green peppers. They served the combination in a sizzling hot pan with steam rising for a freshly cooked meal. Combine the meat and veggies with all the trimmings from the traditional Mexican meal, and you won’t leave hungry. The portion size could have easily served two people. The friendly wait staff delivered my dinner to our table remarkably fast.

If you’d like a bit of entertainment, they make a version of their guacamole tableside. They also have a smaller side of the same dip they make in the kitchen.

Piper’s Pro Planning:  Los Bravos is a fun dining experience for a birthday celebration. The birthday person dons a sombrero while servers from around the restaurant join in with a Spanish version of “Happy Birthday.”

Oink Inc. Smokehouse and Southern Kitchen

Oink Inc. Smokehouse and Southern Kitchen offers Southern Smokehouse comfort with a twist. The award-winning sauces complement and balance the flavors of each dish. Being a Michigan girl, I loved the cherry chipotle BBQ sauces, where the smoke didn’t overpower the cherry flavor. It was a perfect balance.

What to Order

The Brisket Totchos begin with crisp tater tots, topped with queso and roasted poblanos. Then, they top that with chopped brisket, cherry chipotle BBQ sauce, and a green onion garnish.

If you can’t decide, try one of the meat combination plates, where you can choose two, three, or four different meats, along with two sides. At our table, one couple shared the four meat combo and still had leftovers.

I love tacos, and at Oink Inc., they come with three tacos to an order with your choice of smoked pork, smoked brisket, or grilled chicken as a protein. Then, they top them with Cotija cheese, pickled red onion, and a creamy slaw for a delicious mashup of BBQ and Mexican.

Piper’s Pro Planning:  If you’re starving, take the Totcho Challenge, which involves eating all four of their totcho flavors—Triple Pig Totchos, Brisket Totchos, Smoked Rueben Totchos, and Buffalo Chicken Totchos.

Owsley’s Lounge

Owsley’s Lounge, located in the Jasper River Center next to the Fairfield Inn, offers an upscale neighborhood bar atmosphere. They offer bar food to accompany their cocktails. Check out their complete martini menu for something unique.

What to Order

A favorite of the bar crowd is the traditional fried chicken wings in either the BBQ or Buffalo versions. Other hot foods include chili, nachos, and sliders. You’ll also find the usual bar snacks like popcorn, pretzels, and chips. You can make an after-work snack, cocktail, or light meal from the menu.

If you purchase food from other restaurants or bakeries at the Jasper River Center, you can bring it to Owsley’s and accompany it with one of their beverages.

Piper’s Pro Planning:  Call a babysitter. Owsley’s Lounge is exclusively for adults 21 and over.

Parlor Donuts

Parlor Donuts makes their donuts in small batches throughout the day, always fresh.

What to Order

My first taste of Parlor Donuts was the Campfire doughnut, a buttery layered doughnut reminiscent of a cronut, the cross between a croissant and a donut. The pastry came topped with all the ingredients of a s’more—chocolate glaze, mini marshmallows, graham cracker crumbs, and a chocolate syrup drizzle. While the toppings made it a delicious bite, the layered pastry made it like nothing I’d ever had. It was so good!

Piper’s Pro Planning:  Since they make every donut to order, place your order beforehand if you’re ordering more than two dozen. There are many locations, so note where you place your order.

Retro Mexican Cuisine

Retro Mexican Cuisine, a new addition to the Jasper area, features a large, covered patio, perfect for sipping a margarita.

What to Order

I ordered Abuela’s guacamole for the table. This was my first time seeing this type of guacamole on a menu, and it was deliciously different. While it had the typical avocados, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and lime often found in guacamole and the occasional jalapeno, they added serrano peppers for a bit of added zip. What made this dish a standout was the addition of mangos and strawberries for some added sweetness. The fruit was a delightful twist that I’ll add to my Taco Tuesday guacamole at home. I thought it was one of the best things on the menu.

My entrée was the Retro Fajitas Poblanos, a traditional fajita with a twist. I had the steak, but the other protein choices were chicken and shrimp. The chef used grilled poblano pepper strips instead of the traditional red and green bell peppers, which was part of the twist. Sautéed onions and Pico de Gallo were also in the mix. The second part of the twist was the chef tossed the meat and veggies in a cream sauce. Then, it came with tortillas and all the traditional fajita toppings. I liked the innovative use of the poblanos, which added a very mild zip to the dish, with a touch of smokiness. A similar dish is available as a bowl.

Piper’s Pro Planning:  During the warm months, call ahead and make a reservation to sit on the patio.

Schnitzelbank Restaurant

Schnitzelbank Restaurant, serving authentic German food, ranks as one of Indiana’s top 10 locally owned restaurants. The Schnitzelbank Restaurant has a charming Olde World ambiance that celebrates Jasper’s rich German heritage, complete with themed server attire and décor that enhances the German dining experience. Add the working Glockenspiel, and you might imagine yourself in Bavaria.

What to Order

Our hosts ordered the Kraut Balls for the table, something I haven’t had before. They’re the chef’s specialty, with ground beef and pork, sauerkraut, and seasonings mixed with cream cheese, then rolled in breadcrumbs and fried. They come six to an order, and they were deliciously different. I typically don’t care for sauerkraut, but in this dish, the flavor wasn’t dominant.

Schnitzelbank Restaurant offers a robust salad bar with various salads and salad ingredients. The Wunderbar Salad Bar could be a complete meal, so I suggest you survey what’s on the salad bar before you place your order. You may decide to go with just that for a lighter meal. It would be perfect for lunch.

They feature a quarter of a fried chicken, deep-fried to perfection, using the same famous house recipe since 1961. It has stood the test of time.

If you’re in the mood for something lighter, try the mini Bratzel. One bratwurst served on a pretzel bun, covered with sauerkraut, then drizzled with a honey mustard sauce. It comes with your choice of a side.

Piper’s Pro Planning:  The Hanselmans also own the award-winning Hampton Inn next door. The hotel ranks as the top Hampton Inn in the United States and Canada. The restaurant is across the parking lot from the hotel.

The Next Chapter

Located next door to the historic Astra Theatre and Astra Alley, The Next Chapter is the perfect place to grab coffee and spend time working or enjoying a new book. Owned and operated by the Smith family, they believe everyone has a story, and even though their business is a combination bookstore and coffee shop, it’s not about the coffee and books but rather what happens in the conversations over the coffee and books.

They offer muffins, pastries, and other light grab-and-go options if you need sustenance during your visit.

Piper’s Pro Planning:  While you’re there, check out the books by local Indiana authors.