Classic Restaurants of Fort Wayne

Chow down on the best foodie memories, and the places that provided them, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

With an abundance of appetizing eateries comes a wealth of memories. George Motz, author of Hamburger America, refers to Powers as "one of the greatest slider emporiums in America." The Hobby House provided the first restaurant experience for Dave Thomas, known worldwide as founder and pitchman for the Wendy's hamburger chain. Nine Mile Restaurant, which first opened as a tavern in 1837, competes for recognition as Indiana's oldest bar. During a campaign stop one month before his assassination, Robert F. Kennedy boasted that Zoli's on Broadway made "the best food I ever ate." Authors Keith Elchert and Laura Weston celebrate the savory and the sweet sides of the Summit City.

Former book editor at Fort Wayne Newspapers and former multimedia editor for the News-Sentinel in Fort Wayne, Laura Weston serves on the board of the Allen County Friends of the Parks. Keith Elchert is the editorial page copy editor for the Journal Gazette in Fort Wayne and president of the Indiana Lincoln Highway Association. Its previous books include Tiffin (Arcadia Publishing, 2014) and Honest Eats: Celebrating the Rich Food History of Indiana's Historic Lincoln Highway (MT Publishing, 2016).