Clay’s Cafe is an old-fashioned ice cream parlor and restaurant.
- Open: 10am – 9pm Monday through Saturday (closed Sunday)
- Location: (Map It) 808 West Main Street in Hebron, Ohio
- Phone: 740-929-2529
- Web: https://clayscafe.com/
Clay’s Café in Hebron, Ohio dates back to 1934. Their motto is homemade with pride. It’s a nostalgic small-town diner nestled into a neighborhood setting. The atmosphere is set by the staff – friendly and helpful. And the commentary from diners is in a word – delicious!
When West Main Street turns rather residential, there’s a modest yellow house with a sign out front with a big colorful picture of a sundae. The sign reads…
Clay’s Café
Old Fashioned Ice Cream
Restaurant
in the rear
Pull down the driveway. Tucked behind the house is a subtle yellow brick building with red brick patio seating complete with cute umbrella tables snuggled near flower planters. Inside is the historic ice cream parlor and diner.
Earl and Dorothy Cummins opened the Cummins Ice Cream shop here in 1934. The Clay family (Sherman and Evelyn) bought and renamed it in 1979. And until 1997 it was known as County Fair Foods. They still serve their Sherm Fries known as their famous “Fair Fries.” Their daughter Glenna and her husband Mark renamed the eatery Clay’s Diner in tribute to their family history and its connection to the historic National Road. Today, it’s the kind of place you overhear multigenerational families say, “My dad used to bring me here when I was a kid.”
But the house specialty didn’t come along until the year 2000. Clay’s stromboli has lit up the taste buds of a new generation. They fill their pizza dough with pepperoni, sausage, and cheese. Once it’s baked, it is smothered in garlic sauce. And served with their signature pizza sauce.
The menu not only features those famous fries, stromboli, and ice cream but a variety of options. These include a classic or build-your-own pizza. A patron favorite is Susan’s Zah. It has seasoned grilled chicken with ranch dressing, garlic sauce, and basil smothered in Swiss and mozzarella cheese. Be sure to have a napkin handy. It’s mouth-watering!
A favorite off the grill is their Homemade Pulled Pork Sandwich. This delight is slow-cooked and then drizzled with barbeque sauce on a grilled ciabatta roll. It comes with a side of slaw but this slaw takes a backseat to nothing! The slaw, the slaw is to die for!
They also offer your sub sandwich staples, build-your-own burgers, and plenty of appetizers (try the Deep-fried Cauliflower). A lineup of salads and their homemade soups will get things started. And to finish, we come complete circle to ice cream cones, splits, sundaes, shakes, oh, and cake, too.
By Frank Rocco Satullo, The OhioTraveler, Your Tour Guide to Fun!
