I travel for a living and try to find places that are locally owned. Most of my reviews are for hotels/motels and it is rare for me to write a review for places to eat unless they are exceptionally good or on the rotten side of bad. This place is on the exceptionally good side. Stopped in on a Friday night, seated immediately, and it was obvious that there were several 'regular customers' enjoying their meals. My mind had to to a double take at the selections....SO MANY, and each one sounded so good. Even better, had to do another double take to see the prices. A full turkey dinner meal for 9.95. WHAT? I mean a FULL meal, drink, soup AND salad, potato, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, warm roll, and dessert. I wish I had taken my phone in so you could see the menu selection and the prices. I ordered the turkey dinner, had the soup to eat in and the meal to go. Also ordered the Monte Cristo sandwich for tomorrows dinner. It came with coleslaw, and fries. 7.95. Of course I wasn't expecting much of a serving, but the serving size could feed two on the turkey dinner, and from what I saw of other patron's meals coming through all their portions are large. Got the stuff back to the hotel and the flavor was out of this world, as was the lemon rice soup that I had while there. Don't walk, RUN to Top Notch for you meal. The price is fantastic......the food huge in portion and the flavor......makes the mouth sing! read more

Horrible service. Not welcoming at all. First time certain food not cooked all the way. Second time, The server came by and said I'll get with you in awhile after waiting 10 min and watching her go to ever table but ours, we finally got up to walk out and then she came up and said she was ready. Won't go again read more

Old school family dinner with reasonable prices, definitely get more for your money here. One of the better places for breakfast in northwest Indiana. Have very good soups, especially their tomato rosemary and cream of cauliflower. read more

We have lived in the area for many years and have driven past this restaurant many times. We finally stopped in on Labor Day, as our normal "Go To" family diner was closed. We were immediately greeted and seated by the owner. It is a relatively small restaurant, but one thing we noticed right away was how clean it is. The floors, celiing, tables, counter tops etc were spotless. Cleanliness in a restaurant for us is imperative. We were pleasantly surprised at how well the interior of this restaurant is taken care of. The waitress took our order (Stuffed Tomato with Tuna & a Monte Cristo sandwich.) The order also included a choice of homemade soup. We had the lemon rice and a vegetable soup. Both were delicious. The food came out a short time later and in one word, it was FANTASTIC. The portions are HUGE, the presentation (yes, in a family diner restaurant) was excellent and the food came out piping hot and delicious! Now, for the best part. Our meal total price was less than $15 (plus we left a generous tip). Let's face it, 2 people can't eat at a fast food restaurant for that amount of money. And, at Top Notch you are getting "real" food, huge portions (we both had an extra portion to take home) and you can't beat the value. NOTE TO THE OWNER: Keep the quality, portion size and cost as it is now and you will have customers for life. We now regularly visit this restaurant (once a week) and have had many different things including Julienne Salad (Excellent!), Roast Turkey dinner (Fantastic!) and the Ribeye steak, which was enormous and delicious. When you order off the daily specials, you get soup AND salad, and a potato and a vegetable, a soft drink, dessert and fresh dinner rolls with your meal. It is literally more food than you can eat. Excellent! Now, we also tried a couple of things that we didn't think were great (this included the Ravioli, where the sauce was awful, as well as the French Dip sandwich, which was not very tasty. But, they have so many choices on their menu, with most everything else we tried registering a FANTASTIC on the taste and value meter. If you are looking for Top Notch quality food, an excellent value and a nice clean place to enjoy your meal, look no further than Top Notch Restaurant. Yummy! read more

It's home. Best breakfast, fried fish, French fries, soup. And it's cheap. if you don't like it, you're a snob. But sometimes the skinny waitress won't let you have mayo if you're overweight. read more

Never in my years of dining out have I ever had a worse experience. The service is nonexistent, the food is a even worse. My mom's omelette smelled fishy when it was simply egg and cheese. The host at the door is clueless and unhelpful. Completely brushed us off as if we weren't standing in front of his face trying to address our concerns. The waitress has a runny/chafed nose that she kept wiping with her hands!! We were pressed for time and hoping to get into Round The Clock or Sophia's down the street, but their wait was too long. We would have much rather have waited. No wonder why they weren't as busy. Awful, just awful. ZERO STARS. read more

I have past by this restaurant many a time as the outside looks a bit sketchy. Once inside, I was pleasantly surprised. While some of the decor is dated-very dated, it looks like they have made a few upgrades. No matter how dated, as long as it is clean, I'm good with it. The server was a bit slow getting to our table, but once she got going, was incredibly attentive and friendly. The food was great. Sandwiches all around, and they were all tasty. Big piles of good fries and a cup of soup came with each sandwich. The chicken malibu sandwich was exceptional. The prices were decent. They had many lunch specials that were very reasonable. We will definitely be back. I guess the old saying is true, never judge a book by its cover. read more

The best prices around especially for breakfast and lunch! Plus Soup is only 2.25 for the Bowl and a roll so if you feel like a snack this is the perfect spot to go and have conversation with friends! read more

Cozy atmosphere and your typical diner. I got the chicken tender dinner deluxe and my friend got the turkey club deluxe with onion rings. Bacon was perfect on the club and the chicken tenders were good. The ranch on the salads was a little sour. I like mine with more of a garlic hint. Honey mustard was sweet and sour and a little runny but not what I like in a honey mustard. I'd say to work on those two. I'd also get my fries extra crispy because I like them more well done personally. The bread served was awesome. Could have eaten 12 rolls. Service was GREAT! Only $15 for a lot of food. read more

Oh, man. This place is a CLASSIC. I think that its outdatedness is possibly one of the most charming things in the world. Waitresses have to wear these pressed green dresses with white collars, and the inside looks like a good candidate for a scene of a Pulp Fiction sequel. I have been coming here for years. It is one of the only places that's open for twenty-four hours. Whenever I need to catch up with a good friend, we come here and drink coffee until we're ready to collapse. But the fact that it's one of the ONLY places open for twenty-four hours is not the only reason I love it: First, service is great. Coffee is piping hot, fresh, and refilled constantly. You will not get an incompetent waitress-- the waitresses have been here forever. Second, the food is really great. Go for the breakfast stuff. It's served all day, and it always hits the spot. I usually get one of the skillets. You really cannot go wrong with any of them. Prices can't be beat for what you get, either! Third, as I said, the ambiance is charming. I love being able to sit here with coffee for hours. No one rushes you, and no one cares that you are taking up a table. I love coming here, whether it's in the middle of the day with a friend or at the end of a night out for some breakfast. I hope this place never, ever closes! Not gonna lie, if I have kids ever, I'm making them come here with me when we visit Indiana. And I'm going to be obnoxious about it, regaling them with stories about coming here in high school with friends, after dances, after acting in plays, as soon as I got my first car, blah blah. So great. read more

This restaurant is fantastic ! Lynne the hostess was great it was very busy but she was calm cool and professional, she got my large party accomitated and she was friendly, food was delicious and services was outstanding! We will definitely be back Thank you ..TOP NOTCH !! Happy New Year.. read more

This is the type of place you go at midnight for a cheap cup of coffee and an omelette. Their food isn't great, but it's not terrible either. They have a decent variety of things to choose from on the menu as well. They used to be open 24 hours (and the sign still says 24 hours), but they now close at 1am. I believe it is also non-smoking now, for those who care. Good place to sit and talk with friends, but don't expect too much when it comes to the food. read more

I go here often for breakfast since I live walking distance to the restaurant. Friendly environment and sitting. The breakfast is good for a good price. The owner is always very inviting. read more

Glad to have this late night staple back! I really like the new decor and the no longer prevalent cigarette smell! Definitely needed an update so I'm glad it got one! In addition, the food is still awesome! The chops are huge as are the steaks and lasagnas! Noone better for dinner! read more

This is a great restaurant. The food is good. The prices are good. It's open late. I love the remodel. I worked here years ago. I have eaten here for 27 years. It's very clean, and unlike what another person said, I have never seen any bugs there, Ever! I love it and I'm glad it's back. read more

We have been going to "Top Notch" since 1978. Chris, the owner, is almost always there. While "Not Perfect" you can expect a good quality, from a competent, friendly staff; at a reasonable price, in a recently remodeled restaurant. Our favorite Friday lunch is ocean perch. When our kids (and grandkids) come to visit, they want to and expect to, go to "Top Notch" for breakfast or lunch. read more

Great breakfast. Great omelette! The portions are good, and the food is hot and fresh. Friendly staff as well. We were served quickly. I would like to have breakfast here again. read more

cheap hot good food open 24/7... what more could you want? But really, i have enjoyed everything that I have had here, including greek skillet, irish skillet, asparagus omelet, fish sandwich, salmon plate, tuna melt. all of their soups are great, and the milkshakes are a hidden gem! read more

Nice family place great for breakfast or lunch. Service was good and food as well. In the area a safe bet.

Super outdated, ripped vinyl on the seats which makes them a bit uncomfortable. Service is just decent. But the Melting Pot skillet is Devine! read more

Hands down the best inexpensive dinner in the Region!! I've been going here since I was a kid.. Now I take my kids .. Big selection on the menu daily specials!! What else could you want from a dinner that's open 24 hours!! read more

This is one of the best stops on the Boulevard. Stop in and have one of the best meals in Highland. Highly recommended...

Great place we used to go here after church with a big group and SHelly is Awesome! No smoking now which is great! Love the veal cutlet, garlic salad dressing is so good cream of cauliflower soup and the rose tomato soup are good here. Neat little dive it could use a coat of paint and new interior and exterior LOL but that is what makes it so good too. read more

My parents and I love this place. It's generally our go-to when we decide to dine out. They have great soup, burgers, and the breakfast food is always great. read more

Came here when a nearby restaurant was filled. This place was surprising! The food here was equal if not, more tasty, compared to that of the other restraints food. The prices here are quite fair, possibly lower than the other restaurants. My family and I are definitely coming back! read more

Love the new look, however want the old crew back, they knew what you wanted before you even sit down. No more 24 hours which sucks. Miss you Jackie read more

For $10, I ate cottage cheese, a half fried chicken, baked potato, bread, and dessert. Not a bad deal, and, yes, I was stuffed.

This restaurant is okay, and I've had some good food from it in the past. The visits are mostly uneventful. However, I went in with my boyfriend and his sister at around 1 a.m. to eat. There was a man missing teeth who couldn't speak well standing there to greet us. I'd never seen him before, and we figured he was the host. He asked if we needed anything (?) and we said yes, a table for three please. He then told us the kitchen was closed, however we could order salad or soup and that was it. Other customers were currently eating and waiting for their meals, and we thought the restaurant was 24 hours. Needless to say, we ended up leaving and going to The Purple Steer down the street. Great experience there, not so much at Top Notch. I have no idea who that man was, and why they'd have someone like that be their first impression to customers. I've been back since once or twice, and he was nowhere to be found. The same experience as always. I don't try to make this my first priority when attempting to find a restaurant. Many, Many other and better choices in the area. read more

I was here many late nights as a PUC student.. You HAVE to try the Melting Pot Skillet!!!!

I should've known when the good breakfast places around here were busy and this horrible place had no one in the place! Against better judgment we decided to eat there. BIG MISTAKE! It took forever for our server to acknowledge us and when she did, she looked hungover and unkempt. When we were finally able to order, I ordered simple cheese and onion omelette. What did I get? Only cheese omelette and it smelled foul. I told the server and she said "I'm not charging you for it". The rest of food tasted old and over cooked. Ok so now to pay the check at the register where we waited for the manager to check us out over 5 minutes and it wasn't busy. No line or anything. I told him the server said that she wasn't going to charge for the omelette because if her mistake. He yelled across the place to her where she yelled back "I told her I didn't charge her for the onions(that I didn't get)!!!! I replied that this place isn't worth the argument. I quickly paid and vowed never to return to this dump again!!!! read more

You get a lot of food for the money. It's ok for a diner like atmosphere but there are better places in the area (Michael's on 45th). Won't be back. read more

I have been going to Top Notch for about seven years. The food is great is has the greatest amount of food for your money. My only regret about going there is that now every other restaurant is not as good. read more

Great place to go anytime of the day or night!! You get amazing amounts of food for Very reasonable prices,some of the lowest around. They butcher their own meat,which not only gets you a great variety of amazing meats but is the reason why you can get a great steak dinner for under $20, while other places charge Way more for less quality and quantity. The service is fabulous and it is like walking into cheers,eveyone knows your name. The clientel is comprised of people who have been eatting there for years and years,and you almost always see a familar face. Not to mention Most of the Region's A-listers patronize this restaraunt often. The owners are ALWAYS on the premises making sure the customers are happy and that the restaraunt is running smoothly. OH,and they serve breakfast 24/7!! So,if you want a fabulous melting pot or a glorious slab of BBQ ribs,a fresh french dip,a tbone steak dinner with all the fixin's,or a wonderful Fresh fish dinner (the ocean and lake perch rival that of any "fish joint" around) head on down to Top Notch. read more

My husband, our two little boys, and I went to Top Notch for the first time tonight, and we'll never go back. Our experience was so bad that I actually decided to create a Yelp account because of it. The hostess was a teenage girl who seemed confused because it took her a little while to figure out where to seat us. We were there for a long time before anyone came to ask us if we wanted something to drink. I actually suggested that we leave at that point, but we decided to stay. We eventually got some water and our soups and salads, but then our waitress vanished. The cream of mushroom soup was actually good, but the salads (iceberg lettuce) were awful. The Italian and ranch dressings were very nasty. For our entrees, we ordered the chicken shish kabobs with rice, a ribeye steak, and the kids shared a 1/2 slab of ribs and 1/4 barbecue chicken. My shish kabobs were not actually shish kabobs. They were just baked chicken pieces (a thigh, breast, wing, and leg) on some rice that tasted sour. My husband's steak was almost all fat, with a sweet sauce, and canned mushrooms on top. My kids' chicken was so dry that they didn't want to eat it. The mashed potatoes were instant and the green beans were canned, neither of which had any flavor. We all still had full plates of food when we decided to leave, but we were trapped because our waitress wasn't around. I actually had to get up and ask for the check. When she came, she asked if we wanted the dessert that came with the meals. The kids wanted theirs, so we ordered one vanilla ice cream, one chocolate ice cream, and a chocolate pudding with whipped cream. The kids said their ice creams were good, but they're kids, and we're talking about ice cream here, so I don't know if it was good or bad. My pudding was so nasty. My husband said it was probably just a handi-snak, but those pudding cups are far better than what I got at Top Notch. I've never dislike pudding before. Our total was around $45.00 for this garbage. I feel so bad for telling my husband to pull into the parking lot. We didn't know where we wanted to eat, and I said, "Hey. We've never gone to Top Notch. Do you want to try it?" Our waitress, when we did see her, was kind and cheerful, but I did notice that she was coughing. I think she even coughed in her hand before she gave us our water. As for the decor, it looks like it's stuck in the 80's, but I don't mind that. I also thought the waitress' outfits were cute and old-fashioned. They wear dark green dresses with white collars and cuffs. I would not ever recommend this restaurant to anyone. We really feel like we wasted our money and our time, and to top it all off, my husband is feeling sick now. read more

Worst service and ownership/ management in town!! Recently stopped in for dinner, owner (the one that looks like Peter Lory) watching the register two waitresses, three tables filled. Shortly after standing , waiting to be seated as the sign reads, the owner nodded to where the menus were and for me to seat myself. I sat in the main middle section, when a man seated with his family in the next section started yelling to the owner that they were ready to order their food. The owner once again nodded towards the kitchen saying she will be there soon. By this time, I am waiting to order, when a waitress passes and tells me that she off work in 5 min, and the other waitress will wait on me. Knowing it's going to be a little while as she still had not gotten to the family still waiting to order in the next section, I patiently wait. All along just watching the first waitress talking and laughing it up with the owner register. Thinking to myself, it would have taken her 30 seconds to help this, obviously,very busy other waitress ..... but, whatever. I continue to patiently wait. Finally, the waitress arrives at the family's table in the next section and takes their order. I see the owner nod again, signalling her to my table. She appears to be heading towards me, But, instead, stops at the register to chit chat and laugh with the owner and the waitress ending her shift. This went on for five minutes, still holding the first table's order in her pouch and completely ignoring me sitting there. Short on time, I decided to leave and go somewhere else. On my way out, she perks up and says "I can get your order!" for which I reply "No thanks, I'm short on time", and she replies "Poor Baby!". The owner just stood there and said nothing to his employee for disrespecting his customer. I and my family has gone and loved this place for years.... but, under the prior management. We will never patronize this business again. Worst experience ever with service and management of an establishment! read more

Worst mashed potatoes I have ever eaten. Why four stars? The best hash browns I have ever eaten. How about a 20oz filet mignon for under $18.00? yes 20oz we asked. The morning offerngs are too good ffor so little two 2inch pork chops two eggs, toast, and hash browns for less than $10.00. The food is good, the food is plenty, the waitresses are friendly, the owners come to your table to say hello. If you walk away hungry you did not order a meal. Now that it is non smoking you can really enjoy your meal.I am on my way to pick up dinner and I know it will be good. and you can call ahead for pick ups if you want to eat at home. read more

This restaurant has been a good restaurant for good food at an affordable price. While the place is outdated, it didn't matter, as it was kept clean, & always had friendly staff. The reason I did not give it a 5 is because on October 5th, 2014, Top Notch closed up, claiming to be closed for remodeling. It is January 3rd 2015, & no work has been done to the restaurant yet. After running into 2 former employees of Top Notch at a competing restaurant while dining, I was told that the owners gave them no notice of any kind that the restaurant was even being closed. They closed up early Sunday night, October 5th, & it was the night crew that found the place locked up. Except for Christmas Day & maybe Thanksgiving, this restaurant never closes. That was wrong for the owners to not tell anyone about the place closing, whether it's temporary, or permanently. Those 2 former employees (one waitress & one hostess) said that if the restaurant does reopen (doubtful, since no work has been done in 3 months), & they get a call to return, they said that they won't return. I can't blame them. At least when the Wheel in Hammond has closed temporarily, the owners were upfront as to why they're closing temporarily. If the owners of Top Notch do reopen, they might not do well after word gets out how they handled the situation. Most of the former Top Notch customers went up the street to The Purple Steer since Top Notch's closing. read more

one of few places open 24 hours here....THANK GOD it is......... i needed coffee lots :-) ......... have eatin here lots late nite.......breakfast and full menu 24 hours.....grilled ham an cheese....... 2 sides of bacon :-) ...... club sammich tonite....... and was excellent......my deffinate late nite snack.....they actually roast their own turkeys...... hope they are dead first though......... shudder......but was great.... turkey, perfect bacon... summer so so ripe tomatos.....fries well done thank you very much......the boy had a cheeseburger with ACKKK bbq sauce on it.......but i finished HIS fries.....had a great salad...... blu cheese with actuall blu cheese bits in it......lots more coffee..... service was great......read a review from Rachel H. so i tried to get the boy to order a butt steak just so i could hear him say * i wanna butt steak* hahahaha..... he doesnt get my humor .......maybe he will with the next girl haha.... movin on...... since last an only date.,,,,,, thanx for the coconut cream pie to end an otherwise boring evening......im sure i was just as boring as he was ..... oh well :-))))))) read more

this was the worst valentinesdinner ever...the meat was not done like we ordered and then I sent mine back and it came back to me just likeIi sent it back....couldn't even eat it, asked for a to go carten and the waitress didn't even ask why i did eat my steak......it will be a verrrrrrrry long time before i go back there and say good things about the place. the lady at the cash register didn't even ask how our meal was..and the kicker was...it wasn't even busy!!!! unbelieveable..........I will never send my friends here again..should have wetnt across the street or down the street to a better place......;-(.........not very friendly either.......i'm sorry if it was busy I could see it but they were not even busy....... read more