This place was so wonderful. I really love the truffle fries and the rest of the food was great. I don't feel it was overpriced but it is a bit up there. The drinks arent the absolute best but it will wash some food down. The customer service is great and the restaurant is actually nice for the most part. read more

The food and drinks were excellent. Definitely try the mango martini if you have a chance. I had the New York strip, which was perfectly cooked. Also recommend the truffle fries. You get a HUGE basket of them and will need several people to finish them all. The halibut is also great. The server, however, was awful. We visited on a rainy Sunday night when there were only about three full tables in the place, and our server was slow with everything. We'll visit again for the food though. It's worth going back for. read more

I have been to Parea quite a few times, as I am a frequent Valpo diner. It is an upscale restaurant offering contemporary American food (with some traditional Greek dishes), including seafood and steaks. When you walk in you will be able to sit either in the bar area or the dining room. On the bar side you will find TV's with sports on, a dark wood bar, high tables and windows that slide completely open and over look the patio (no screens, just fresh air). The dining room is quieter with intimate seating. On both sides the decor is contemporary and you may order from either menu. I have dined on both sides, but more often I will sit on the bar side. The dinner menu has many options to choose from (in my opinion the dinner menu is quite pricey...good but, pricey). From the dinner menu I have had the Blackened Sesame Ahi Tuna (yum - perfectly rare) with orange sticky rice (yum), braised bok choy (yum) and coconut curry sauce (meh). I was not a huge fan of the coconut curry sauce. However, I am not a big fan of coconut sauces to begin with. I have also had the Braised Pork Shank which is DELICIOUS! From the Bar (small plate) menu, I have had the Cuban Black Bean Soup which you must have when you visit. It is slightly spicy, so even if you can't handle much spice, you will still enjoy it. Other don't miss dishes are the: Truffled waffle fries, half moon pot stickers, taramasalata spread and the tirokafteri spread. The CROWNING GLORY is the 8 oz. Angus Chuck Burger served on the fresh pretzel roll. I'd say it's the best burger in town. Don't be swayed by the Parea Burger (has a fried egg and tazo ham on it)...it has too much stuff going on. UPDATE - I would avoid the grilled baby octopus - overcooked and chewy. Finally, my favorite cocktail they offer is the Blood Orange Manhatten. Enjoy! read more

Completely satisfied with every part of our experience at this restaurant. The menu has entrees that are Greek influence but more a steakhouse and seafood menu . The specials range from high end perfectly prepared steaks and seafood for 20 to 30 dollars to pub burgers and sandwiches for 10 bucks. We had steaks. My husband had the bone in ribeye which we both agreed was one of the best we have had in a long time in a restaurant. Appetizer saganaki sp? was amazing. Our server Scott was excellent. read more

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This is one of our favorite go to restaurants. It's never disappointing on anything I've ordered. Nice outdoor seating in summer and very attractive indoor seating. read more

While the atmosphere is great, the bar beautifully designed with a great selection of import beers, the food really destroys your palate and leaves you utterly dehydrated from the immense salt load added to the meals. Only the meager salads are left. As much as I would love to come here, I tremble when I realize that the food would just ruin my experience. Furthermore, many of my friends are vegetarian, and there menu is pretty limited, as are most of the menus here in downtown Valparaiso. read more

A breath of fresh air. From beginning to end the staff was as wonderful as the food. Even dining alfresco from the lounge was a treat! Real food, real atmosphere... really going to be back! Seared scallops in butter sauce and brazed beef tips and broccoli almandine were fabulous! read more

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Went today and was looking forward to eating there . The bread was hard and the food was not worth it. I had the lamb chops and the wife had the ribeye. Taste was bland . Don't waste your money . It's a high priced diner . Round the clock has better food . If the food was good the placed would have been packed. Clam chowder was the best I ever had . So I will go back just for that . read more

Stopped by for dinner at 5pm with my family during the popcorn festival. The door man said we could not go thru the bar as it was against the policy but we could enter he patio thru the exit so we did. My 6yo daughter had to go potty really bad and they denied us, the waitress tried to get us in but we were told no we could not use he bathroom as there was no way to the restroom that didn't take you thru the bar. I found a nasty alternative for my daughter and decided I would pay the bill and leave. As I was paying he bill the establishment let a grandmother walk thru the bar with a child. They are hypocrites and I would NEVER recommend this place to anyone with or without kids! read more

This restaurant is so good! I was very satisfied with our meal and dining experience last night. We ordered the Atlantic salmon, 8 oz Filet Mignon and Rib Eye steak. Everything was delicious. The filet was spot on, cooked medium, juicy, tender and flavorful. No need to add any other sauces. I like how they provide vegetables and a type of potato on the side. I switched my garlic mashed potatoes to the truffle waffle fries and they were so good. The right amount of truffle oil that wasn't overbearing. The service was very good; attentive servers, didn't have to wait long for anything. The cheese cake at the end was a nice sweet ending to our wonderful meal. The ambience is nice as well, bathrooms are very clean. Definitely recommend this place for locals and out of town guests. P.S, Yelp says the place is not good for kids, but we had our 4 year old with us and the staff were all welcoming of her and there were other kids dining as well which did not seem like a problem. They do have a children's menu which the server will just tell you what they offer (the usual chicken tenders, spaghetti, etc). read more

I am giving Parea one star because of a very bad experience I just had this evening there. My husband and I have been going to Parea regularly for drinks over the past couple of months. We have always had a very good experience. Tonight, though, a man who I think is the manager was tending the bar. He has never been behind the bar any other time we've been there. I think he is the manager because I have seen him at Parea many times sitting at the bar on a laptop and talking with the bartenders and walking around behind the bar. My husband is allergic to beer and wine and will drink a vodka martini when we go to Parea. Because martinis are (obviously) so strong, my husband has asked twice before if he could order a half martini after he has already had a full one so as to not get too drunk. Parea has accommodated him twice before with this request, and the man who tended bar tonight, who I think the manager, was involved with his request in the past and approved it (the delightfully sweet and friendly bartenders who work there asked this man if it was ok). Tonight when my husband asked this man if he could get a half of a martini, because I wanted to have a third beer, the man behind the bar who I believe is the manager got upset. He said he would not do it. He said, "I've done it before but I can't do it anymore. It takes time to shake the martini." It takes time to shake a martini. He actually said this. I couldn't believe that he said this, and I said so to my husband. The woman sitting next to us said, "I heard that him say that," to which I apologized for complaining loudly enough for her to hear me. She said, "No, you're right. My jaw dropped when he said that," And so we left. I will NEVER set foot in Parea again. Ever. Even though it was my favorite bar in Valparaiso before this experience. And I will tell everyone I know about this experience. read more

Came here while my parents and I were in town from California. We parked and decided to walk around to find a place to grab a bite. We were jet lagged and starving, one horrible combination. Originally we were looking for a different restaurant but, happened to stumble upon Parea. It was probably the best thing to get in the way of our route to the other place! Ambiance when it comes to a sit down dinner is everything! This place was a dimly lit, cozy little spot with a rustic feel to it! But had a nice modern twist to it. We were looking to spend a nice evening just having quality time together and we got exactly that. We were greeted by a very welcoming hostess. Our server was great and attentive, it wasn't exaggerated though. Wish I can remember their names but dude looked like Sal from impractical jokers! We were given bread with a garlic and herb infused oil which was delicious. My father and I ordered the Fish and Chips, while my mother had the Chicken Alfredo. It was absolutely delicious! The Sriracha tartar sauce was some next level sauce. The perfect balance of creamy with that tang from the vinegar and then the spice hits you! The fish was not over battered and greasy! We are looking to buy house there for vacationing and Parea will definitely be a place we go as family very often. The staff and food were great! read more

Parea Restaurant - The portion was much larger before I snapped a photo. Our Fish and Chips were served in a bucket! Definitely worth it! - New American Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

Food was phenomenal! Pleasant surprise in the heart of downtown Valpo. My daughter got the Atlantic salmon and it was the star of the night!

This restaurant was average at best. We ate at the bar on a slower weekday night, but the bartender never checked with us which was our largest complaint. I figured on a slow night, there's no reason our drinks should not be refilled. Likewise, our food took forever to arrive, which was odd considering it was a slow night. We ordered side salads which were small and didn't have many toppings. My husband had the cajun shrimp. I would recommend you avoid it unless you like bland seafood. The breading was almost burnt and there was no flavor. We were highly disappointed in that. I got the cajun pasta which was really good. It was a huge portion. We took leftovers home, but I would not do that in the future. When reheated the butter separated from the cream sauce so my noodles were swimming in grease which was very unappetizing. Overall, I would recommend you try it once. The food was hit or miss, but it did have a very nice atmosphere and a lot of potential. read more

I went to Parea last weekend, honestly, pretty excited to eat in an upscale environment in Valpo. The place is pretty nice on the inside, gorgeously decorated, and very clean. Our waiter was a young girl, that was FANTASTIC. One of the best waiters I've ever had, she was excellent. Our water glasses were never empty, and she was very prompt in checking on us. I ordered the caprese sandwich, and honestly, the check was tough and dry and the bun didn't seem fresh. My husband ordered the lamb, which was very good. But also very expensive. The entire establishment seemed very overpriced. I was also hoping for more options on the menu. I ordered a lemon sorbet for dessert that was inedible and not enjoyable at all. I've been to much better restaurants... but I think Parea could work if they lowered prices and expanded their menu a bit. read more

I just been here once. Food was impressive, kinda expensive. Definitely Greek owned. I was impressed. I would go back.

1 star for location 2 stars for food Other than that nobody running the ship!!! 7/19/14 - horrible service and way too long between courses. A lot of pissed off diners that night. Manager was in kitchen all night and would not come to table when I requested to see him. Sad for such a interesting place. read more

I added a tip but meant to put a review. I absolutely love this place. Ambience is fun. Looks upscale but without the high cost associated with nice places. Food is amazing. Try the ribeye! Staff are friendly and courteous too. Best place in Valpo. read more

Parea definitely impressed. Our waiter, Scott, was amazing. He was very attentive and helpful. The food was served quickly and tasted great. My boyfriend ordered the chicken souvlaki and I ordered the Chicken alfredo. The portions were huge.The bread that came with the meal was delicious as well and the olive oil/garlic sauce is wonderful too! I was really impressed with the decor of the restaurant as well. I will definitely be back again! read more

A classy kind of casual in downtown ValPo. It also has a pretty large bar with a sports bar theme & plenty of TVs to see the Hawks play. Sorry I'm showing my Chicago loca read more

Party of 6 on a Sunday night, slow night, seated right away. Great service, friendly and efficient. Food was very good, salmon with mashed potatoes excellent, truffle waffle fries tasty. Everyone else enjoyed their food, burgers and pasta. Manager or owner stopped by twice to check on us. Will be back, very impressed. read more

This has long been our favorite restuarant in Valpo but i have to say their menu has changed and so had their cook. Took some friends their a couple of weeks ago and was dissapointed. We order Calmari and it was rubbery. Then i ordered my usual favorite , the Parmesean crusted Chicken (which was no longer on menu) but they accomodated me. It wasnt the same. Pasta sauce was funny tasting and chicken was little burnt. My husband was very unhappy with his meal also. Sad to say im not sure this place is going to hold on. They do have an awesome bar though! read more

I keep trying Parea because I love the outdoor seating area, but always leave disappointed with the food. On two separate occasions, my husband and I had to send entrees back because they were SO undercooked. We really are not picky people and try to be good patrons, but my steak and husband's hamburger were raw inside. read more

Bad,bad,bad! When you walk into a restaurant and you don't smell anything good cooking just the musty old building smell you should just turn around and leave. The rib eye steak was poorly cooked, tough and full of fat, horrible! The grilled chicken was dry and very salty. No thought or quality ingredients were put into the meal. Will never go back! read more

Great food in a very upscale setting. I just love the great service and food; a must for a late dinner. Then stay for the best-mixed drinks in Valparaiso. read more

How do you say, "bad restaurant" in Greek? Oh, yeah. "KAKÓ ESTIATÓRIO." Hopefully, someone will get the message and close this place. It is bad on so many levels. First, though, a word about the good review of Parea that's on this website. My guess is that it was written by (A) the owner's wife, (B) someone the owner paid, or (C) someone who had their tastebuds removed as a child. Those are the only explanations. Let's begin with drinks. "The Blood Orange Manhattan" had no "essence of blood orange" in it. C'mon, 'fess up. The Malbec that my wife had would have made an Argentine cry with shame. Main ingredient? H2O. PLEASE STOP READING THIS AND WAIT FOR 45 MINUTES BEFORE RESUMING. THAT'S HOW LONG WE WERE WAITING FOR WHAT CAME NEXT: (Okay, according to the waiter, the reason for the long wait was an unexpected spike in business. What? It was 6:30 PM on a Saturday night! If you DIDN'T expect business then, when would you? Ay Caramba! This must have been on page 2 of the Waiter's Excuse Dictionary.) How about a real Grecian delight for an appetizer...Spanikotiropita, or Greek Spinach Cheese pie. Not hard to make, Spinach, feta cheese and Phyllo sheets, brush with butter and bake. If I can make it, why can't the cook here do the same? These appetizers were straight from the freezer section of Wiseway and thrown under a broiler to brown the tops. They came to the table on a bed of shredded, wilted lettuce. Um, no tzatziki sauce? Nope, just dry, tasteless wedges from the chefs at Wiseway. Speaking of shredded wilted lettuce, add three matchsticks of red pepper, 2 slices of cucumber and two tomato wedges with the core left on and you've got the salad. About as appetizing as something you'd find in a pet rabbit's food bowl. Now, here's what really makes this a class A kakó estiatório: I ordered Fettucine Alfredo with shrimp. The first shrimp was uncleaned, the mud vein clearly visible. What did the waiter say? "Oh, I saw the chef cleaning them this morning. He must have missed one." Well, no, he actually didn't clean any of them! Five big shrimp sitting on my plate with their intestinal tracts (and contents therein) happily intact. The waiter disappered and came back with a plate of newly cleaned and sautéed shrimp. I took a bite and the iodine-tinged taste of a crustacean long since called to it's maker filled my mouth. Hmmm, what else can I say about this overpriced monument to seriously inept (and dangerously unhealthy) food preparation? Oh, yeah, no water was offered and neither was bread. The waiter did offer dessert but something out of the display case at Town & Country is not my idea of haute cuisine. My advice? Call Gordon Ramsey. At once. read more

Delicious! Used the Groupon deal on a Wednesday night. It was slow but we got excellent service. I had the ribeye and my husband had the sirloin. Both were cooked to perfection. Loved the bread, pitas, and garlic oil that is given to each table. Definitely will be going back! read more

Went to Parea's on a Friday November 16, 2012. What a mistake. My bone in ribeye steak was tasteless, which was unfortunate because it was a really nice cut of meat. My wife ordered pork chops which came out under cooked. She sent the pork chops back and they were no different. All the waitress could say was that is how the new cook prepared them based on his previous job. Food was over priced based on the poor service and the quality / taste received. MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT!!! read more

I love this place. This is where I got engaged and had my one-year anniversary :) very friendly staff and they brought out a dessert saying congratulations. read more

OMG I was so very impressed with the entire experience I had on my birthday! The food was first rate, the staff was so sweet and efficient! Hanna seated us exactly where we wanted and was able to answer all the questions we had being first timers! Serena was a wonderful server describing the food that we were interested in and the food was by far the best I've had in a long time! My husband loved the stuffed avocado, the seared scallops were precisely finished off! And the bone in ribeye was the best I've had in years, such a robust flavor and was perfectly cooked! Great portions! Fabulous lemon rice soup too! Thank you very much for a wonderful evening! read more

Came in early on Tuesday evening because my extremely picky, hard to please, gourmet, foodie father - in - law (whom i love!)was in town from Denver. I could not have been more proud of our town's food offerings! He was amazed at what a variety was offered, just around the courthouse square. We picked Parea because my husband and I have been there many times and really loved the cocktails and appetizers. Parea did not disappoint! The oysters and dolmades appetizers were perfect in taste and temperature. The CEO martinis were mixed so well, that we each had 3!!! (Yes, we had a DD!) The halibut was firm, flavorful and fantastic and I cannot even describe how good the beet risotto was besides "mouthwatering" and I don't really care for beets!!! We were too full to try desserts, but we really wanted to eat more of the delicious food! Luckily, the servings are so big that i had a take home box for the next days lunch. Highly recommend this gem in our town. Food and drinks are out of this world good and the prices are reasonable! read more

Been coming here for 4 years now and the food still tastes amazing. Steak compares to RPM Italian Chi restaurant from Chicago's River north neighborhood. Food is a little over priced but it's def worth a try! read more

We were pleasantly surprised at the unique menu offered here. Food was excellent and the service attentive. Atmosphere in the dining room nice for a meal and conversation, would recommend to friends and family. read more

Great place for food, friends, & fellowship I frequent Parea's often & their food is top notch!! They have two sides, a restaurant side (that is very eloquent) and a bar side (where you can just relax & hang out). Order from their full bar or one of the 110+ beers (Draft or bottle, domestic, small craft beers, etc...). You can watch the game on one of 9-10 televisions. The music is loud enough to hear, but not overbearing so conversations are not affected. Great atmosphere! Did I mention that the food is great?! No matter whether you order their steaks, seafood, appetizers, salads, pasta, or the specials~you won't be disappointed! The owner/manager goes the extra mile to make sure you are satisfied and served well! The food is priced well, but may seem on the pricey side, but it is well worth it!! read more

My husband and I loved it and we went there several times for a night out. We made a special reservation for Valentine's Day 3 years ago. We both got food poisoning, it must have been in the dish my husband ordered which had several types of seafood because he was sick for 2 days. We have never gone back. read more

Stopped in for a couple drinks and dinner with a friend before a movie. Exceptional service! I was trying to find a gluten free meal off the menu and Dimitri, the owner went above and beyond to find something safe and delicious. If he wasn't sure on something he double checked the ingredients for me and also informed me he had some gluten free noodles so he could make something with those as well. I ended up getting a cajun pasta dish with shrimp with a side salad and it was amazing! Good portion sizes as well. I will definitely return. Yay! read more

This restaurant was excellent. They had good food and excellent service. The friendly staff was knowledgeable and attentive. From the bread basket with pita chips and bread, the scallop appetizer to the Filet dinner, they all tasted excellent. We will definitely return here. It is a little expensive but worth it. read more

My boyfriend and I went back to Parea for the second time since our previous review. The service Saturday night (feb. 21st) was good. However, my food was not up to standard. I ordered the porkchop and polenta with broccoli. The broccoli was the best part. I was presented with two thin boneless pork chops (I have previously had this as a bone-in chop at the same restaurant). Inexplicably, the chops were both cut 1/2 way through the middle (as if my boyfriend had cooked them at home and checked to see if they were done). Also, they ironically were already over-cooked. More than that, the polenta was not cooked properly. It was crunchy. Like raw cornmeal crunchy. When I sent the raw cornmeal polenta back, our server reported to us that the chef said it's supposed to be crunchy. (The manager also nicely parroted this back to us.) So, clearly no one at Parea has ever had polenta (or grits) before. Why is it on the menu? I have no idea. Honestly, I would just like some professional food from Parea. The service was good (nice and attentive) but not great--because the manager should know what's going on in the kitchen. If my boyfriend can make the food better (and he isn't a culinary school grad), then i don't think Parea's sub-par food is worth $20 an entree. I had a bad experience and it was followed by more bad ones. Sorry guys, Parea is not worth the trip. read more

Tried to give this place at least five tries but it's just not good. Insanely over priced for what you get. I ordered the Beef Stroganoff, only because my filet last time was underwhelming -- Chili's could have done a better job than what I was served. I actually had to add salt to my pasta just to taste anything. My boyfriend got the chicken Alfredo, because his ribeye last time wasn't good -- waaay over done. I could have made better at home with a jar of store bought Alfredo sauce. I'm convinced there are Applebee's reject line cooks back there charging $18 for a bowl of beef stroganoff. Best part of Parea? The waitress. She was a sweetheart. Do yourself a favor and head two doors down to Valley. You'll pay the same amount but get an unbelievable meal out of it. read more

Parea Restaurant - The one piece of beef in my "beef stroganoff". Def not worth the $18 they charged for it. - New American Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

Great trendy menu for the area. Staff was welcoming and fast. Came here for valentines dinner, girls night, and a quick bite after a trip to Home Depot and never disappointed! Wish this place was in Chesterton. read more