Welcome to Amish Door Restaurant & Village.

• Open Monday – Saturday 7am – 8pm
• Location: (Map It) 1210 Winesburg Street, Wilmot, Ohio
• Phone: 330-359-5464 or 888-264-7436

The Amish Door Restaurant & Village:  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.

Welcome to the Buckeye Express Diner in Bellville, Ohio.

• Open: daily from 11am – 8pm
• Location: (Map It) 810 State Route 97 in W. Bellville, Ohio
• Phone: 419-886-2900
• Web: https://buckeyeexpressdiner.com/

The Buckeye Express Diner in Bellville offers the unique experience of dining in an old train car attached to an old steam engine. Drivers along I-71 know the place because it sits atop a hill in the scenic backdrop of Northeast Ohio’s Mohican Country. The restaurant serves American comfort food indoors or out. Kids have a play area, too.

Burger lovers will want to try the Locomotive Buckeye Pounder. There’s also the Buckeye Mega Dog and Lake Erie perch. Pair it with deep-fried mushrooms and you’re bound to slip out an “Mm-mmm.” There are also plenty of salads and veggie wraps to choose from. Dessert comes in three types of cheesecake: blueberry, cherry, and strawberry. And drinks include fountain soda, slushes, beer, coffee, and tea.

All aboard!

Close Quarters – the world’s smallest bar – is located at (Map It) 31953 Lake Road in Avon Lake, Ohio. Be sure to confirm their hours by calling 440-933-5217 just to make sure you’re not greeted by a sign on the door that reads, “Gone Fishin’!”

Excerpt from a past edition of OhioTraveler

It’s all in a name. Close Quarters on Lake Road in Avon Lake, Ohio has been said to be the world’s smallest bar, second smallest bar, one of the world’s ten smallest bars by MSNBC, Budget Travel and others.

That said, for anyone who’s squeezed into the bar, they are better known for their delicious wings and burgers. The fries are pretty tasty too. Oh, and spirits. All of which may be considered some of the best kept secrets in Ohio travel. And for regulars, they’d like to keep it that way. After all, there are only so many seats to go around. No worries, every newcomer is received with open arms. If you do stop in, expect a very friendly atmosphere and be ready to join in the conversation and laughter. The quarters are too close not to. Consider it a private party and you’ve been invited to pull up one of 11 bar stools or 12 seats along the wall where you’re bound to knock knees with those turning out from the bar. Don’t be shocked if your picture is taken and put on the wall of fame.

The space or lack thereof is used well. Walls, ceiling, you name it, has interesting memorabilia and collectibles that can occupy your attention all night. Every nook and cranny of the joint has a surprise and a laugh waiting for your gaze. The bar takes up most of the room but it leaves a little corner for the kitchen and rest rooms are just one skip down the hall.

Don’t be shy, be sure to select an interesting tune from the jukebox and enjoy your time in the neighborhood where if everyone didn’t know your name upon entry, they will all holler it on your way out because you have just become a friend of Close Quarters.

By Frank R. Satullo, The OhioTraveler

Welcome to the Coblentz Chocolate Company in Walnut Creek, Ohio.

• Open: Monday – Saturday from 9am – 5pm (Closed Sunday)
• Location: (Map It) 4917 OH-515 in Walnut Creek, Ohio
• Phone: 800-338-9341
• Web:  https://coblentzchocolates.com

Coblentz Chocolate Company is an Ohio Amish Country staple known for its tasty, hand-made candies made with fresh ingredients such as dairy cream, nuts, and caramel. Premium quality chocolate is used in both their milk chocolate as well as their dark chocolate. Their signature offerings include Almond Bark, Cherry Cordials, Chocolate Caramels, and Peanut Clusters. The peanut clusters have had customers raving about them for over three decades. There’s a viewing area where customers may watch the chocolate workers crafting deliciousness. Also in that area is a mini museum-esque timeline with photos that tells the deep history behind the sweet facade. Come for a treat or take home a gift box. Select from a variety of themed assortments or customize your own. Oh, and there’s also a great sugar-free selection.

Welcome to the Covered Bridge  Pizza Parlor near Ashtabula, Ohio.

• Open: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. – midnight; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m.
• Location: Two Ashtabula area locations include 6541 South Main St. in North Kingsville, Ohio (Map It) and 380 East Main St. in Andover, Ohio (Map It)
• Phone: 440-969-1000 or 440-224-2252
• Web: coming soon

The Covered Bridge  Pizza Parlor in Ashtabula:  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.

Welcome to The Estate On Coffee Creek in Austinburg.

• Open Friday and Saturday 5pm to 10pm. Reservations are highly recommended
• Location: (Map It) 1591 State Route 45, Austinburg, Ohio
• Phone: 440-275-5022

The Estate On Coffee Creek in Austinburg:  Coffee Creek Estate is located in the heart of the Grand River Valley wine region of Northeastern Ohio. The Estate was constructed in 1840 by two gentleman returning from the California gold rush. The Estate took almost ten years to construct using hand carved beams, railroad track and tons of stone from the creek bed, which is the Estate’s namesake. Over the years the Estate has been home to prospectors, gentlemen farmers, steam engine builders, a safe haven for the underground railroad, an antique auctioneer, hosted location for the Betty Davis movie “The Dark Secrets of Harvest Home” and now chef Nicholas Kustala and somellier Giovanna Kustala are bringing yet a new chapter into the Estates long history with passion for great food and wine.

Welcome to the Guggisberg Swiss Inn in Millersburg.

• Location: 5025 SR 557, Millersburg, Ohio
• Phone: (Map It) 330-893-3600 or 877-467-9477
• Web: click here

The Guggisberg Swiss Inn in Millersburg:  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.

Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery in Hartville, Ohio

• Open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday thru Saturday (Closed Sunday and Wednesday). Bakery and Shops; hours are 10am – 8pm. Restaurant hours are 11am – 8pm.
• Location: (Map It) 1015 Edison Street NW in Hartville, Ohio
• Phone: 330-877-9353
• Web: https://hartvillekitchen.com/

The Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery in Hartville, Ohio has been serving homestyle cooking for more than 50 years. The meals are from scratch. The bakery uses the freshest ingredients for a wide variety of offerings. There’s even a candy shop. Before or after dining, enjoy 25,000 square feet of unique shopping at the Shops of Hartville Kitchen. Some finds include gifts, jewelry, handbags, apparel, and more. There’s even something for pets. It’s a unique dining and shopping experience.

Admission to the Hoppin’ Frog Brewery & Tasting Room is free. Must be 21 and over.

• Open:  Mon. 5-10 pm, Tues.-Wed. 3-10 pm, Th.-Fri. 3-11 pm, & Sat. 12 noon-11 pm
• Location: (Map It) 1680 East Waterloo Road (Route 224) in Akron, Ohio
• Phone:  330-352-4578
• Web:  www.HoppinFrog.com

Welcome to the Hoppin’ Frog Brewery & Tasting Room in Akron, Ohio. Rated Ohio’s Best Beer and Best Brewery in 2015 by RateBeer.com, Hoppin’ Frog is the place to be, so stop-by and taste what everyone’s talking about! It has great food and sensational hand-crafted beer.

There’s a lot going on at Hoppin’ Frog, from great beer and food specials, to fun nightly events.  These include Infusion Tower Tuesdays, Meet-The-Brewers and $5-Pint Wednesdays, Vinyl Record Thursdays, Feature Fridays, and New Arrival Saturdays.

The Tasting Room is clean and attractive, and has clean, inviting bar area featuring 24 taps at 3 specific temperatures, for the perfect glass of beer every time.  With half on-tap as Hoppin’ Frog beers, and half on-tap as some of the best beers from around the world, its always a beer-lovers treat.  They also have a rare and guest bottle list to match, with many exclusive Hoppin’ Frog offerings in 22-ounce bottles to drink there or to-go.

The kitchen also makes everything fresh, so it has become very popular – especially for those who want to drink more than one beer.  It is much like the brewery, small but effective, with a focus on the highest quality.  The menu changes with the seasons, and includes fresh daily specials.  Their food is always a welcome compliment to the high quality craft beer being offered, to nicely round-out your Hoppin’ Frog experience.

Welcome to Jake’s On Lake in Avon Lake.

• Location: (Map It) 32485 Lake Road, Avon Lake, Ohio
• Phone: 440-933-8304
• Web: www.jakesonthelake.com

Jake’s On Lake  is located in Avon Lake, Ohio between Cleveland and the Lake Erie Islands. It 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.”

It’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 burgers, cooked medium-rare – half pound with mushrooms and grilled onions.

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 Jake’s On Lake for a taste of North Coast dining. For hours, directions and further information, call 440.933.9730.

Welcome to Lady Charlton’s  Tea Parlour in Willoughby.

• Open: Tuesday – Friday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays Closed
• Location: (Map It) 4128 Erie Street, Willoughby, Ohio
• Phone: 440-269-8380

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!

Welcome to Cleveland Little Italy’s favorite restaurant and bakery: Mama Santa’s Restaurant & Presti’s Bakery.

Having explored Ohio for years covering the roads less traveled, I get hungry. Any road warrior knows that discovering something mm-mmm good is a big part of the traveling experience.

I’ve also spent a few years in Europe and traveled Italy from top to bottom, big cities, small villages and an island. To boot, my surname is Sicilian. That said, I’d say I’m somewhat qualified to identify a good a pizza pie and cannoli.

I grew up in the Cleveland area and my grandparents’ houses were near downtown. Over the years, I have made more than a few trips to Murray Hill known as Cleveland’s Little Italy. Although festivals there are wonderful I enjoy the laid back days when the pavement is cooler and the crowds are thin enough not to get bumped from the sidewalks.

Much like overseas in the old country, parking is not easily found. You will have to walk. Trust me. That’s a blessing. Many people refer to Little Italy and other ethnic neighborhoods as a cultural experience. Not me. A real neighborhood has its own personality!

I love the food, the art, the shops and the people around Murray Hill. The conversation is lively and the laughter is hearty. The stroll by foot from shop to shop is full of sights that make you feel a part of something outside your normal world.

But at some point, you need a bite to eat. And if you like pizza, try Mama Santa’s Restaurant for the best darn pizza in Ohio. For dessert, walk down the street to Presti’s Bakery for the best darn cannoli in Ohio. I’ll even go a step further and say that these two are even better than anything I had in the mother country.

Mama Santa’s reminds me of the little eateries I’d grab a bite at off the beaten path in Italy. It’s cozy. Nobody is in a hurry. Relax. Stay a while and engage in conversation over some soft drinks or beer and a tangy pizza that is chewy and crisp at the same time. Oh, and the price is shockingly economical and may not seem fair …to the merchant… considering your taste buds will continue to explode with flavor with each lick of the corners of your mouth after the pie is gone.

If you have fancy-schmancy tastes, go elsewhere. Mama Santa’s is reserved for the people who enjoy the little things in life. If you haven’t been there in umpteen years, no worries, it’s probably exactly as you remember it, right down to the music serenading off the walls.

After a bite like that, you need to walk it off. And there’s plenty to see, do and buy on Mayfield Road and Murray Hill. Browse through the art galleries and specialty shops for Italian pottery, jewelry, designer clothes or dresses.

Eventually, your nose will take over your internal GPS system and lead you to Presti’s Bakery. They have just about any Italian dessert under the sun and coffee to chase it. They also serve deli sandwiches and breads. But the creamy ricotta-filled cannoli is as they say, “to die for.” And it’s been that way for more than 100 years.

Inside, it is always hopping with people that just can’t get enough. Take-out boxes are hanging over table edges with all walks of life chatting and laughing while they sample their purchases. The large glass front window allows light to pour over the blond wood floors.

After an enjoyable, slow paced, conversation rich, appetizing afternoon in Cleveland’s Little Italy atop Murray Hill, it’s time to find that precious parking spot a casual walk away and reenter the modern world and its hustle and bustle – all the while, yearning for a return before even leaving.

For more information to plan a visit to Murray Hill, visit www.littleitalycleveland.com. Mama Santa’s Restaurant is located at 12305 Mayfield Road in Cleveland, OH 44106 (Map It). Call (216) 421-2159. Presti’s Bakery & Café is located at 12101 Mayfield Road in Cleveland, OH  44106 (Map It). Phone (216) 421-3060.

By the taste buds of Frank R. Satullo, the OhioTraveler

Welcome to Mapleside Farms in Brunswick.

• Location: (Map It) 294 Pearl Rd in Brunswick, Ohio
• Phone: 330-225-5577
• Web: www.mapleside.com

Mapleside Farms in Brunswick, Ohio:  Featuring a farm market & bakery, banquet facilities, group catering, gift shop and Ice Cream Parlor, this is a unique destination. The rustic multi-leveled building 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 three-acre corn maze, pick your own pumpkins, pick your own apples and horse drawn wagon rides through the orchards. Special events are scheduled throughout the year. Open year round. Closed Mondays.

Welcome to Rego’s Brickhouse Pizza

• Open: Monday-Thursday 11:00am-9:00pm, Friday & Saturday 11:00am-10:00pm, and Sunday 1:00pm-8:00pm
• Location: (Map It) 326 New 4th St. in Fairport Harbor, Ohio
• Phone: 440-853-8346

Rego’s Brickhouse Pizza is a small, family-owned restaurant in the quaint waterfront village of Fairport Harbor. It’s here, on the corner of New Fourth Street, that pizza is made the old-fashioned way, every single day. It all begins with a brick of yeast and then the dough is hand rolled. It’s then covered in a simmering Italian sauce that is also made fresh daily. The ingredients are purchased from the local market and even the mozzarella is grated fresh daily.

Nothing beats homemade, and that rings true for the rest of the menu items as well, including soups, salads, and of course, meatballs and sausage. Rego’s has become well known for their Family Pasta Meals, offered Mondays and Tuesdays for dine in customers. They also offer unique heart shaped pizzas, which can be ordered any day of the week.

Rego’s Brickhouse Pizza is situated off the beaten path in the center of a residential neighborhood. It offers free delivery anywhere in town, and extends that service to five neighboring communities, and to the myriad marinas along the Grand River. They even deliver to the beach at Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park. Rego’s Brickhouse Pizza is named after the original Brickhouse Pizza that owner David Rego started in Whittier, California.

Welcome to Swensons Drive In located at seven sites in Greater Akron, Ohio.

• Open daily
• Locations: Seven locations in the Akron area. Click the following for addresses, hours and phone numbers – West Akron, North Akron, Stow/Kent, Montrose, Seven Hills, Jackson, North Canton
• Web: swensonsdriveins.com/

Swehttp://swensonsdriveins.com/nsons Drive-In Restaurants in Greater Akron, Ohio: Business Insider named it the 21^st best burger joint in America. It’s no wonder this historic regional fast-food chain is a favorite in Northeast Ohio. It features about 20 different milkshakes and its signature, Galley Boy, double-cheese burger with two secret sauces topped with an olive. Wesley T. “Pop” Swenson started the first Swensons Drive In in 1934. Stop in this old-fashioned drive-in restaurant for a taste of the past. Just park, leave your lights on and a car hop will take and deliver your order to you at your car window.