Dining Guide to Unique
Ohio Restaurants & Eateries
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Dining Guide to Unique |
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Featuring unusual dining in Ohio. Welcome to Ohio's unique eateries and guide to Ohio eateries, restaurants and dining.
Your Guide to Ohio restaurants and eateries
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Luncheon menu served Tuesday through Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Located at 190 Alamo Road in Carrollton, Ohio
Phone 330-627-7980 for reservations
Bluebird Farm is nestled
in the rolling hills of Carroll County, Ohio. The restaurant is set in a
charming, century old farmhouse and specializes in delicious home cooked meals
and homemade desserts. Dining areas include a two-story glassed-in porch
providing a scenic view of the farm's picturesque surroundings and an outdoor
deck complete with a view of a waterfall cascading down the adjoining hillside.
English tea is served on Wednesdays from
After lunch, guests can stroll over to the gift shop housed in a restored pre-Civil War era barn, visit Susie's Museum of Childhood or walk the Nature Trail to see the covered bridge. After shopping and visiting the Museum, explore the 55 acres of natural beauty that make up Bluebird Farm. There are beautiful English gardens, an old-English gazebo, and a bubbling, relaxing waterfall located close to the restaurant and gift shop. In addition, there is an Indoor Garden Room that accommodates private parties and Attic Party Room above the museum that accommodates coaches.
When:
Show times are Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 8:00 p.m., Friday and
Saturday evenings at 8:30 p.m., Sunday Evenings at 5:00 p.m., Matinees are
Wednesday and Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Dinner is served two hours prior to
curtain. Ticket prices range from $28.50 - $49.00, plus a nominal processing
fee.
Location: 1275 E. Waterloo Rd., Akron, OH 44306
Phone: 330-724-9855 or 800-362-4100
Enjoy a great meal and Broadway musicals at the largest professional dinner theatre in the world. The Carousel combines the plush atmosphere of a luxurious New York City Supper Club of the 1940's with the glamour of a live musical comparable to any touring production. With 51,000 square feet, the Carousel can entertain over one thousand guests. Experience a night at the Carousel and talk about it long after. Carouse is a non-smoking facility.
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Carousel Dinner TheaterMaid-Rite Sandwich Shoppe
in Greenville, Ohio
One of the most unique eateries around, the Maid Rite lures hungry visitors from hundreds of miles away just to taste the legendary sandwich made just right in a modest shoppe located in the little rural Southwest Ohio towne of Greenville.
If any one place can reflect the city’s heart and soul, it is this miniscule eatery with a big attraction. From the looks of the outside, nobody in their right mind would want to eat there. This is because the deco of the exterior red brick is adorned with chewed bubble gum of a wide assortment of colors stuck to the walls in such density it is difficult to find a new spot to add to the “Wall of Gum,” as locals fondly refer to it. Consider it a tradition and try a Maid Rite sandwich anyway. There’s nothing like it.
Location: 125 N Broadway St. in Greenville, OH 45331
Phone: 937-548-9340
A Maid Rite sandwich can be compared to a very dry yet flavorful sloppy joe with a touch of onion, mustard and pickles.
Village Ice Cream Parlor (and restaurant) in Lebanon, Ohio
Phone:
513-932-6918
Location:
22 S. Broadway Lebanon, Ohio
Open daily 11am- 8pm (until 7pm Jan &Feb)
Founded
1969, this unique eatery features a full menu plus ice cream so
good you will even have cravings for the cold stuff in the middle of winter. It is truly an old fashioned parlor experience complete
with early 20th Century decor. In the midst of a classic Norman Rockwell
looking town, the parlor has attracted patrons from all around, including
President George W. Bush, Neil Armstrong and Woody Harrelson. Not only that,
it has been used for scenes in major motion pictures such as Milk Money
(1993) and Harper Valley PTA (1978).
It all started in 1969 when a group of local businessmen wanted to have a meeting place. They each pitched in and bought the building and made renovations. In 1978, Phyllis Hartsock purchased the parlor and was joined by her husband Dave as co-owners. Today, their two daughters, Sandy and Susie help run it.
Amish
Door Restaurant & Village
Location: 1210 Winesburg Street, Wilmot, OH 44689
Phone: 330-359-5464
This restaurant is set in an oversized Amish style home that has a seating
capacity of 450. Patrons can choose from an extensive menu that has everything
from breakfast to dessert. All food is Amish style and guests can come for all
meals of the day to enjoy the coziness of an Amish home with an Amish meal. If
guests prefer they can also choose to have a full family sized Amish style meal
prepared instead of each person ordering for themselves. There is also a take
home menu featuring things such as bread prepared in the restaurant.
Big Ed's Main Street
Soda Grill
Location: 5502 Liberty Avenue in Vermilion, Ohio 44089
Phone: 440-967-4002
If you ever travel Route 6 along the Lake Erie shoreline and find yourself in Vermilion, stop for a bight at Big Ed's Main Street Soda Grill. Now, this old-fashioned soda fountain captured my heart at the door (and later my taste buds would follow). Big Ed's is a vintage 1930's style restaurant and soda fountain featuring tasty food, phospates and out-of-this-world soda fountain ice cream treats. As soon as you step through the door you feel like the world stopped and you got off at yesteryear. The walls are like a time capsule of 1930's, 40's and 50's cans, bottles, containers and other memorabilia and artifacts. The decore of the booths, tables, ice cream counter, and everything else emphasizes old-fashioned style, friendly and comfortable atmosphere, and memorable lunch or dinner.
Whatever you choose to eat, whether it's a burger, hot dog or soup, no doubt you'll be pleased. But before you ask for the check, make room and time to enjoy the best darn rootbeer float in Ohio!
Open: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. - midnight; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m.
Location: 4861 N. Ridge Road W (U.S. 20) or 4861 W. Prospect Road, Ashtabula, OH 44004
Phone: 440-969-1000 or 440-224-2252
The kid-friendly pizza parlors are nestled among the historic Ashtabula covered bridges. Ashtabula County is known as the Covered Bridge capital of Ohio. The spanning bridges offer an ambience to the pizza parlor and a nice back-drop for the Classic Car Cruise-Ins held on Thursdays throughout the summer months.
Elm Farm’s Once Upon A Sundae And America’s Dairy And Ice Cream Museum
Open
Location: 1050 W. Lafayette Road (500 ft. from corner of Rt. 42 and Lake Road), Medina, OH 44256
Phone: 330-722-3839
This is a place to enjoy America’s favorite treat at its finest. Savor an ice cream delicacy while learning about Ohio history. Elm Farm began in 1927 when Henry Abell purchased 100 acres of land in Medina. It was run as a dairy until 1950 when the family began its ice cream production... The Abell family still personally welcome visitors to the museum and the Victorian ice cream parlor, which features Elm Farm super premium ice cream made on the premises. The museum shows the evolution of ice cream from its beginning in Pre-Roman times to the present. On display is one of the largest collections of ice cream memorabilia, such as the one-of-a-kind prototype scooper and a complete 1905 soda fountain. Dairy trucks and other items from the Elm Farm and dairy are displayed and there’s an interactive area for children as well.
ETTA'S LUNCHBOX CAFÉ
Open: 11am - 8pm Monday through Saturday and 11-6 Sunday
Location: New Plymouth, Ohio on SR-56 about 10 miles East of Hocking Hills
State Park
Phone: 740-380-0736
This unique little eatery tucked in Southeast Ohio's Appalachian foothills is know for owner LaDora Quesely's collection of more than 800 lunchboxes spanning decades of pop-culture. You will most likely see "the one" you used to tote to school. The variety spans old coal miner metal boxes to the Muppets and Dukes of Hazard. The cafe offers soups, salads and sandwiches. You may also design your own pizza. For dinner, people rave about the open face sandwiches with mashed potatoes and gravy, pasta and more. Homemade desserts are a must. Whatever you order, you may have it packed to take along on your hike in nearby Hocking Hills State Park.
Printout: Etta's Lunchbox Cafe
Holbrook House
(Gifts, Antiques &
Tea Room)
Open: Tuesday – Friday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
(Afternoon Tea & Lunch by Reservation Wed – Sat 11a.m. – 3 p.m.)
Location: 321 West Sandusky Street
in Findlay, Ohio
Phone: 419-422-5087
Come to Holbrook House for a truly unique and special experience. Shop two
floors of distinctive gifts, home decor, framed art, tea-related items and
antiques. Share an exquisite Afternoon Tea or relaxing lunch with friends in
one of our gorgeous dining rooms. For more information such as menus and
directions, please call us. Holbrook House welcomes tour groups and specializes
in hosting parties for tea, lunch or other special events.
Swan House Tea Room
Open: Proper tea served by reservation Thursday through Saturday at 11 a.m. or
1 p.m. and gift shoppe open Tuesday through Saturday, 10-4
Location: 225 West Sandusky Street in Findlay, Ohio
Phone: 419-429-swan (7926)
The Swan House Tea Room is located in the heart of downtown Findlay in an
historic home built in 1865. The gift shoppe is filled with unique gift ideas,
home decor, tea-related items, and our fine premium loose-leaf tea. They offer
cream tea on Tuesday or Wednesday from 10:00-3:00 where guests may drop in for
tea and scones.
Proper tea is served in either our Crystal Room, with it's chandeliers and
elegant surroundings, or our Courtyard Room may be reserved for small
gatherings or parties of up to 16. Reservations are required to enjoy our meal
service of tea, scones, muffins and savories, tea sandwiches, and desserts.
The price is $16, and includes tax but not gratuity.
Frieda's Bakery
Location: 6927 Miami
Avenue in Madeira, OH 45243
Phone: 513-272-0939
Frieda's Bakery is a place where Cincinnatians can experience the best sweets
and cakes that Europe has to offer. Frieda's master pastry chef brings his
family recipes to customers in the Cincinnati area, serving authentic pastries
made from scratch. Frieda's is a sweet little place where European pastries
are made with love.
Frieda's Bakery is located in the heart of the Madeira business district, across the street from the Madeira Kroger, and just minutes from Cincinnati's Kenwood Towne Centre shopping mall. Frieda's is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday. Bakery Owners: Master Pastry Chef Armin Hack and his wife Melanie Hack.
Golden
Lamb
Open: Year round
Location: 27 S Broadway Street in Lebanon, Ohio 45036
Phone: 513-932-5065
The Golden Lamb has an appeal to history as it is Ohio’s oldest continuously
operated hotel, and is on the National Historic Register. It offers 18
overnight historic rooms. All rooms have antique furnishings, a private bath,
television and telephone, and each room is named after a famous guest that has
stayed in the room. The hotel has been visited by 12 presidents. The inn also
offers a tavern and a very popular restaurant for dining. The unique history
behind the Golden Lamb along with its antique furnishings gives in a unique
feel and makes for an enjoyable stay.
This historic English Manor inn in Granville,
Ohio has become a dining destination for lovers of great food throughout
central Ohio. Voted Best New Restaurant by Columbus Monthly magazine
this year, Granville Inn is a cherished landmark in the heart of this quiet New
England-styled village.
Offering a delightful selection of contemporary cooking rooted in classic
French traditions, our emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients, and the finest
meats and seafood, is complimented by a wine list of over 90 selections. Open
breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Each of our thirty guest rooms offers individual character and style through
their unique furnishings and décor. All rooms feature feather beds, plush
linens, luxurious guest amenities and modern comforts such as full, private
baths, cable television and high-speed Internet.
Escape to Granville Inn. Great taste in the heart of Granville only 10 minutes
North of I-70 East of Columbus.
Guggisberg
Swiss Inn
Location: State Route 557, Charm, OH 44617
Phone: 330-893-3600
The bed and breakfast is a family owned business opened in 1993. It
is located in Amish country and sits on top of a hill surrounded by
Amish farms. Though the inn is in the country it is still only
minutes away from all the Holmes County has to offer. The inn is
excellent at capturing the essence of Amish living as it is just two
miles north of Charm which is said to have more buggy traffic than
anywhere in the world. The inn offers many picnicking and hiking
areas as well as a wonderful view of a large duck pond. The inn also
offers a complementary breakfast and evening snack.
Herb's On
Lake:
Located in Avon Lake, Ohio between Cleveland and the
Lake Erie Islands, Herb’s On Lake has become favorite eatery and tavern for
fishermen and travelers along Route 6, known locally as Lake Road.
This stretch of road was once the main thoroughfare connecting Northeast Ohio to Northwest Ohio before I-90 was introduced, but still serves many today – especially fishermen and those looking for a beautiful scenic drive along the “old shore way.”
Herb’s, a rustic old roadside diner and tavern, beholds an atmosphere fitting for its lakeside location (although the view of the lake is obstructed by the homes built along the north-side of the road). The menu features American favorites and the delicious Herb’s Famous Burgers, cooked medium-rare – half pound with mushrooms and grilled onions.
In 1987, Herb’s On Lake opened after extensive renovations to accommodate a kitchen and large dining area were completed. The building was formerly a Victorian farmhouse, a grocery and various taverns.
If you have the opportunity to travel along Route 6 or can afford a quick three-mile detour off I-90 at the Avon Lake exit, stop in at Herb’s On Lake for a taste of North Coast dining. For hours, directions and further information, call 440.933.9730.
Open: Tuesday - Friday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sundays Closed
Location: 4128 Erie Street, Willoughby, Ohio 44094
Phone: 440-269-8380; fax # 440-269-8390
Lady Charlton’s Tea Parlour, decorated in fine Victorian style, is located in the heart of historic downtown Willoughby. Surrounded by antique shops, gift boutiques, pubs, and coffee bars, it provides a perfect place for shoppers and local business folks of both genders and all ages to relax for a few minutes with a soothing cup of tea or a bite to eat before charging back into the fray. They serve light lunches as well as an afternoon tea, and tea lovers can choose their favorite from a long list of offerings.
At the front of the shop a small gift shop offers dainty gifts, jewelry, books and magazines, stationery, china tea ware, tea paraphernalia, and 45 varieties of bulk tea, all arranged in attractive display cases. Stop in and say hi to co-owners Carol Clark and Janet Dell and have some tea. You’ll be glad you did!
Featuring a Farm Market & Bakery, Restaurant & Banquet Facilities, Gift Shop, The Butcher Block and Ice Cream Parlor, this is a unique shopping and dining destination. The rustic multi-leveled restaurant overlooks the 100 acre apple farm. Over 20 varieties of fresh picked apples can be purchased in the Farm Market & Bakery along with pies, strudel, pastries, apple cider and more. The Butcher Shop features over 300 kinds of homemade sausage, hand cut steaks, chicken, and pork. In the Gift Shop you'll find unique home decor and gift items. The Ice Cream Parlor is open April through October and offers 20 flavors of home made ice cream and 14 delicious flavors of frozen yogurt. In the Fall you can experience fun on the farm with a 3 acre corn maze, pick your own pumpkins, pick your own apples and horse drawn wagon rides through the orchards. Open year round. Closed Mondays.
The Millrace Restaurant
Location: Clifton Mill & Gorge in Clifton, Ohio
Phone: 937-767-5501
Hours of Operation: February Through November open weekdays 9am - 4pm and weekends 8 am – 5pm. November 25 Through January open weekdays 9 am - 2pm and weekends 8am - 2pm. Closed Christmas, New Year's, Easter &Thanksgiving Day.
Home cooking in a spectacular atmosphere, the Millrace Restaurant at Clifton Mill serves home-style cooking for breakfast and lunch. The pancake and cornbread mix are made right there at the mill. Fresh whole grain breads are baked daily along with homemade pies and cookies. Sit back and relax to the gentle sounds of the old mill wheel and the soft rhythm of the water gently cascading over the falls as you gaze out at the covered bridge and Clifton Gorge. Afterward browse through the gift shop decorated throughout with antiques from a bygone era. The Mill and Restaurant accommodate special events, parties, rehearsal dinners, etc.
Today, the Sahas have three more stores: Mozart’s (North Market); Café Mozart (on Indianola); and Café Amadeus (363 E. Town St.). They all offer free wireless Internet access and fabulous food, and the High St. and Indianola locations offer live classical music every weekend. They also hold a High Tea, with more than 20 teas and a mouth-watering display of canapés and pastries, each Tuesday through Sunday from 2 pm to 4 pm (reservations required).
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are also available, with choices ranging from Ham, Mushroom, and Swiss Omelet ($5.50) to Muesli ($3.50) to Eggs Amadeus ($4.50), and such lunch/dinner specials as Hungarian Goulash ($2.25 - $3.50), Mushroom and Asparagus Quiche ($4.50), three kinds of Schnitzel ($11.95 - $12.95), and Spaetzle with Spinach and Swiss Cheese ($9.95). More familiar fare, such as a burger, is also available.
And all four locations offer goodies like apple strudel, napoleons, petit fours, and tortes (including my favorites, tiramisu and lemon cream), available in individual servings or as whole desserts. Prices vary; call for details. Or stop by for a bite and pick up one of their popular mini gift boxes ($12.95 for 12 samples of their most popular items) while you’re there. If you don’t come away groaning in delight and repletion, you have more self-control than I do!
Location: Pataskala, Ohio at 63 East Broad Street
Phone: 740-964-0056
This 1950s-style family restaurant is reopening in June 2005 just in time for the summer travel season. It features Black and white tiled floors, neon, and old-fashioned jukeboxes cranking out the hits. Try the daily special. Breakfast, lunch and dinner served Tuesday through Saturday 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday & Monday 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Voted best brunch in Medina County by Medina Gazette Readers Choice Award, this restaurant is a renovated farmhouse rich with history dating back eighty years. It offers casual dinning in a warm country setting, including outside on the deck during the summer. Some of their more popular dishes are Chicken Marsala, Herb Crusted Talipia, and and Rack of Lamb. Whether you are having a burger or salad for lunch or enjoying a leisurely evening, they strive to make you feel comfortable while satisfying your palette. They also offer a full service bar. Call ahead for special events schedule, including live entertainment, Murder Mystery Dinner Theater and more. Private rooms are available for rehearsals, birthdays, business meetings. Reservations are recommended on the weekends and holidays.
59 Spruce St. (in the North
Market), Columbus, OH 43215
614-221-5433;
The first time I met Dan Cooper, owner/operator of Pure Imagination Chocolatier, he was hand-dipping bits of fruit in chocolate, and I couldn’t resist trying one or two. OK, I tried several, along with some dark chocolate drops, and they were fantastic. How did he do it?
His face lit up as he explained. Freshest cocoa beans. Pure cocoa butter. The highest grade of chocolate. His own secret recipe, heated three times at various temperatures. Then he broke off sheepishly. “Sorry, that’s probably more than you wanted to know. I love to talk about chocolate. I’m a chocolate geek!”
He sure is. He left high school to build a chocolate lab in his basement. He worked three jobs to save money for his business. He spent (rare) days off tracking down secondhand equipment, talking to other chocolatiers, and experimenting. And a decade later, his chocolates are a Columbus treasure.
I love his truffles, especially the Twist My Arm (dark chocolate ganache covered in milk chocolate) and the Mousse Au Chocolat Dark (dark ganache crème covered in dark chocolate), but he also has other goodies, too: buckeyes, cherry bombs, macadamia paws, pecan clusters, chocolate-dipped potato chips... yummy!
Dan does it all himself, from preparing the chocolate to hand-dipping the candies, and plans to keep it that way. He should probably hire a helper (besides his grandmother, who waits on customers at the shop), but doing it himself insures quality and keeps his recipes secret. And he only wants one shop. "Quality is a solitary calling," he says. "Pure Imagination will never be a chain."
South
Bend Chocolate Company’s Chocolate Café And Museum
Open: Daily in May and September
Location: 820 Catawba Street, Put-in-Bay, OH 43456
Phone: 419-285-2268
The café serves coffee, chocolate, and desserts. The museum is based on the history behind making chocolate and can be visited while enjoying a collection of antique chocolate collectibles. In addition to various exhibits the museum also offers a short video to help educate about the history of chocolate making.
Printout:
Put-In-Bay RestaurantsThe Spot
Restaurant
Open: Monday - Saturday 7:00am to 9:00pm / Sunday 8:00am to 9:00pm (closes at
8pm from November 1 - March 31)
Location:
201 South Ohio Street in Sidney, Ohio 45365
Phone: 937-492-9181
Ohio is dotted with small towns known for cruising back in the day. But after your tank got low, there was only one place to go – THAT eatery.
Well in Sidney, Ohio, THAT eatery was THE SPOT both figuratively and literally. The Spot Restaurant started as a chuckwagon more than 100 years ago. It still serves up some of the tastiest cheeseburgers around.
“It was a fun going there after school and getting frosties and cokes and playing the juke box,” says Shirley (Clinehens) Ashabranner’s posting on thespottoeat.com. “I would save enough for my favorite cheeseburger. It came wrapped in a square of paper that said a hamburger from the Spot, with a pickle on top, makes your heart go flippity flop!"
If you ever yearned to visit the fictional Arnolds in the Happy Days TV show, the Spot Restaurant is as close as you can come. Even President George W. Bush stopped for a bite last time he was in Sidney, Ohio.
Spot Miller wheeled his chuckwagon into town in 1907 but Sidney officials restricted selling meals from the mobile eatery so Spot Miller kicked the wheels off and became a permanent fixture in town for generations to come, cooking up memories for all.
New owners bought the place from Spot Miller and had a grand vision of popping up in many spots across Ohio and beyond. The chain, Spot to Eat, opened in Athens, Urbana, Lima, Piqua, and Bellefontaine. Eventually, they all disappeared and only one SPOT exists today, the original!
Along the way, a more permanent building was built. Fire in the early 1940’s resulted in the exterior design seen today, including the neon sign hanging over the front door with the Spot trademark. Inside, the last renovation was 1976. In the 1950’s, the restaurant started a catering business that continues today.
The best memories shared of the best dishes served at The Spot Restaurant almost always include the tenderloin sandwich and old-fashioned cream pie!
Tony’s offers a famous sausage-and-sauce sandwich that was a product of the Great Depression when Tony opened the restaurant. The recipe is an original of Tony’s that he developed through experimentation in his kitchen. It remains a closely guarded family secret. Tony’s offers a variety of appetizers, chilies and soups, dinners, and desserts. Much of the menu contains chili and peppers in some sort of combination. The restaurant become famous during the airing of the show M.A.S.H. when Corporal Max Klinger, played by an actual Toledo native, was speaking of is home town Toledo and mentioned that Tony Packo’s had the best Hungarian hotdogs in the country. That event catapulted the restaurant to new levels and it now thrives in the Toledo area and has opened several other stores.
One of Ohio's unique shopping & dining attractions. Situated in a restored 19th century railroad station and 7 vintage train cars. Featuring a Gourmet deli and food market a 1950's era retro diner serving lunch and snacks and Ohio's largest bridal and special occasion gown salon.
Located in a Historic Building, formerly a stop for the Inter Urban Train called the CDM, which ran from Columbus, Delaware, & Marion. This unique glazed brick building was converted into a restaurant in 1994, and is now The Warehouse, Italian Dinners, filled with unique antique decor, and a homey atmosphere.
At The Warehouse, you can treat yourself to the delicious, authentic Italian food of the Old World. Taste sauces and food prepared from scratch in our kitchens just like Mama would have made. Let them pour you a glass of wine and bring you your favorite meal. At The Warehouse, you can step back in time to when things were a little simpler and there was always time for great food, family, & friends.
West Side Market in
Cleveland
Featuring Johnny Hot Dog
The West Side Market in Cleveland provides an old-world shopping experience featuring an indoor and outdoor marketplace that spans the cultural diversities of the world’s ethnic foods.
Resting on the West Bank of the Cuyahoga River overlooking downtown Cleveland, this 1912 multicultural landmark features more than 100 stands selling some of the best, and in many cases – rare, delicacies around. Patrons will find wide varieties of fresh seafood, meat, vegetables, fruit, bakery items, herbs, pastas and a whole lot more. From a tourist’s viewpoint, it’s like traveling the world within a city block.
Upon arriving, the historic complex can’t be missed in all its grandeur – from the clock tower to the Neo-Classical/Byzantine style architecture. Inside, it’s a meeting of the nations’ old-world commerce – conversations mixed with transactions and always bustling with crowds of people spanning the spectrum of humanity. Newcomers may want to grab a gourmet coffee and pastry and ascend to the balcony overlooking the cavernous building to observe the activity below or take in the beautiful décor of the ornate interior design. Navigating the isles, kids are sure to notice the boars’ heads, pigs feat and other oddities presented as entrees.
Outside, stroll along the extended open-air marketplace where just about every fresh produce grown under the sun is laid out in a striking medley of color. Steering through the sea of people is an experience itself. Whether coming to people-watch, join in the social mixture, or do some exotic grocery shopping, don’t leave before trying a hot dog or sausage sandwich at Johnny Hot Dog, Cleveland’s oldest hot dog stand.
For more information, call (216) 664-3390 to plan to see the West Side Market.
The farm was started in 1869 and is still owned and operated by the Young Family! Young’s hosts over one million guests each year. Young's is a working dairy farm with two restaurants (one is a large dairy bar and quick serve food restaurant, the other is a sit down, home-cooked, table service restaurant), two gift shops, two miniature golf courses, batting cages, golf driving range, the best homemade ice cream in the region, friendly service, great food, family fun activities, group & company picnics, off site catering and FUN!
City Barbeque: A BIG DO ABOUT OHIO 'CUE By Judith Fein and Photos by Paul Ross
The world is divided up into two kinds of people. Those who slobber over ribs, brisket on a bun and pulled pork, and those who are indifferent to the sweet smoke of BBQ.
If you are in the latter category, this article will be about as interesting to you as a review of the Albanian cement industry. If you are the former, you will be on the road to Columbus quicker than I can say "rack of ribs and a side of slaw."
City Barbeque is to Columbus what dim sum is to Hong Kong. If you miss it, you'll roam in the Valley of Regrets for the rest of your life.
About two years ago, my husband Paul and I were traveling around Ohio, and someone mentioned to us that Columbus had great 'cue. We laughed. You go to Texas or Kansas City for BBQ, but Ohio? Paul is travel editor of Fiery Foods and Barbecue Magazine, and he knows BBQ the way other men know sports. Just to be polite, we headed for Columbus for some smoky dining, figuring it would be the butt of some future joke.
Well, the joke was on us. Owner Rick Malir became a BBQ fan in college, went to the country's best smokeries, attended the national cook-offs, ate his body weight in ribs and pulled pork every few months, and hired the best Pit Masters he could find. He set some paper towels on the table for wiping up the slobber, performed the proper alchemy to create great sauces, added killer Mac and Cheese to the menu, and opened the doors of his joint.
We must have spent two hours at City Barbeque, and we weren't reading Joyce's Ulysses. We were pigging out, and slogged to the trough for seconds and thirds. Then, depression set in. We returned home to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and we kept dreaming about those ribs, corn pudding, greens with pork, baked beans, Texas smoked sausage, hickory-flavored brisket, turkey breast and pig.
One day, we decided to call City Barbeque and ask if they could send us a care package. To our surprise, they said they shipped 'cue all the time, all over the country. You order whatever you want, and two days later it lands on your doorstep, in a big box, frozen like Otzi the Iceman. All you have to do is defrost, heat and serve.
We ordered enough for a battalion of BBQ nuts, and invited 23 of our foodie friends. Some are famous, some are anonymous, and they all share a craving for great comestibles. They were incredulous: BBQ in a box from OHIO???! We staked our culinary reputation on it.
Our kitchen counters looked like a wedding reception--platter after platter piled high with pig and associates. Our amigos loaded up their paper plates, slathered the whole thing in City Barbeque original and spicy sauces, and sat down to eat.
An hour later, there was one toothpick-sized sliver of pulled pork left. And here are the unexpurgated comments of our friends:
Michael and Margie O'Reilly , owners of Pranzo and the O'Keeffe Café, two of the best and most beloved restaurants in Santa Fe:
"The sausage was smoky and the hot sauce--WOW." (Michael) I thought it was just fabulous." (Margie)
Wes Studi, famed Native American actor and musician, and his wife Maura, an actress and jazz singer: "The sauce is breathtakingly pungent and the meat falls off the bone" (Wes). ""The brisket was a surprise because it was tender, not chewy, and the greens were very good. The regular sauce was very good too." (Maura)
Danny and Louise Rubin. He wrote the movie "Ground Hog Day" and she is a web designer and architect. "I was so enjoying the company during the meal that I just noticed all the food disappeared from my plate." (Danny) "You should have ordered three times as much." (Louise)
Diego Mulligan, radio talk-show host, and Jennifer Hanan, who places guests on talk shows all over the country. "The Prairie Fire sauce is the kind of decadence Middle America has needed for so long. This is a religious experience. I am sure there is some rabbi who will bless this." (Diego) "Even this vegetarian liked it. I ate more meat tonight than I have eaten in 20 years. It was so good that it makes me think twice about not eating meat." (Jennifer)
Kitt Miller, artist, cook and day trader and Greg Hoel, artist: "I just can't believe that it came in a bag….like Stoeffer's. And when it came out, it tasted like it was just cooked in the oven. It makes me wanna sing Swannee. (Kitt) "Oh…the sauce. And Oh…the brisket." (Greg)
David Wolf, owner of Wolf's Bagels, composer, and Phyllis Wolf, program director for the Jewish Community Center in Albuquerque: "Well, the corn pudding was wonderfully moist and I'm still 'pungenting' the aftermath of the sauce. Together, they are dancing in my mouth." (David) "After you told us to try a rib, I went to the kitchen to find one chewed-up and discarded rib on the serving platter. I guess that speaks to whether or not people liked them!" (Phyllis)
Gary (lawyer and musician) and Linda Storm (artist and teacher):
"I would say the meal was salubrious." (Gary) "A total surprise for me was that the Mac and Cheese was the best I ever had." (Linda)
Erika Eckerstrand (Swedish potter and beader): "This was my first American BBQ. I love it!"
Tone Forrest (stage and film actor and bass player), and Judith Bever (artist):"Best collard greens I've had since I came to New Mexico and I loved the corn pudding." (Tone) "I second what was said about the Mac and Cheese and the hot sauce was tangy, saucy, and had heat." (Judy)
John Rochester (investment broker and actor) and Larry Fodor (artist): "The only thing missing for me was those big, fat, gluey slices of white bread." (John) "The food is as colorful as the folk art on your walls." (Larry)
Brett Goldberg (owner of Computer Medics) and Deborah Finklestein (writer and teacher): "The first serving was as good as the sixth." (Brett) "I think too often a spicy sauce has no flavor. I was very pleased. Also, often a meal focuses on the main dish. They focus on the whole experience. It was amazing." (Deborah)
My husband Paul stood up and gave the guests an after-dinner blessing: "Be full, "he intoned. "Be very full."
SIDEBAR:
We're not the only ones who slobber over City Barbeque. They now have eleven restaurants in Ohio, five in Columbus, two in Dayton, two in Cincinnati, one in Toledo and one in Findlay. But wherever you are, you can take advantage of Barbecue by Mail. website: citybbq.com. Phone: 1-866-411-4227 (4BBQ)