When I started this blog months ago, one of the restaurants I wanted to write about was Pizza Terra, a casual spot with a wood-fired tiled oven in Burns Harbor. Lots of folks didn’t know about it then, or now. Friends begged me not to, fearing publicity would make the place too crowded to get into.

Well, Pizza Terra was in the news lately, when one of the restaurant’s two partners sued the other and took equipment and furniture out of the place. Lawsuits like this rarely have happy endings, so I was prepared for the worst. A sign on the door stating that the restaurant was ‘closed for remodeling’ did not prevent the lawsuit news from reaching loyal customers (first reported by the Chicago Tribune), who were devastated by the possibility the closing would be permanent.

Then a few weeks later, a settlement was reached, the talented chef, Jeremy Branshaw, became sole owner, according the the Tribune, and all seems to be back to normal (the restaurant did not respond to my inquiries). So now, you really should check it out.

Burns Harbor is about 11 miles west of Beverly Shores and is an easy stop to/from Chicago. It’s only a few miles from Bailey Homestead/Little Calumet River Trail in the National Park. From the outside, you’d never guess the restaurant had a menu so sophisticated and delicious.

Branshaw was previously a chef at Lucrezia in Chesterton, a restaurant that is solid but nothing special; he really shines here on his own, creating yummy pizzas, pastas, meat, salads and crostini (I love the smoked salmon with crispy capers). The regular menu is posted below.

Weekly specials recently included fusilli with black tiger shrimp, zucchini, pomodorini tomatoes and Calabrian pesto (shown above); seared strip steak with sticky rice (also above); and a starter of maple whipped goat cheese, candied bacon, dates, and toasted pecans with crusty bread.

There are a few cocktails (Aperol spritz is my fave) and a nice, short wine list (though during the height of a heat wave this summer a red was served unforgivably warm).

Pizza Terra is our go-to. Bonus: It’s open every day of the week for lunch and dinner, a rarity around here. And note that even without help from me, lots of people do indeed know about Pizza Terra; we had no problem at 5:30 on a recent Wednesday, but people were waiting when we left. Unfortunately there’s no bar.

Pizza Terra, 302 Melton Road, Burns Harbor