Eating Out in Ohio

Note: As of December, 2006 the state of Ohio no longer allows smoking in businesses and enclosed public areas.

Bellbrook: Blue Berry Cafe, 72 Bellbrook Place, Phone (937) 848-5900 This is where the locals go. A sunny yellow interior, nicely decorated with a mini boutique to browse while you are waiting for a table. We ate here for breakfast and it was terrific. Generous portions, more expensive than most mom and pop places in the area but worth it. (6/2007)

Tuscany Grille , 129 W. Franklin St., Phone (937) 848-2226. We tried this nice little restaurant for Sunday breakfast. At this time they are only serving a limited buffet as an experiment and hope to expand the buffet if the idea is successful. The food was hot and good, the waitress friendly, the decor attractive. We'll be back. (6/2007) Edited 5/15/2009  This restaurant is out of business.

Brunswick:  Cozumel Mexican Restaurante, 625 Pearl Rd., Phone (330) 220-3335  Quesadillas and the chimichangas were good, margaritas were generous if a bit weak during Happy Hour. (8/2009)

Centerville: China Cottage, 6290 Far Hills Avenue, Phone (937) 434-2622 We ate here at the grand opening when the chefs prepared a special set of meals. Absolutely fantastic. The best value is the lunch menu. No buffets here, but the servings are generous. The restaurant has been remodeled and re-opened in the spring of 2007.

Doubleday's Bar and Grill, 199 E. Alex-Bell Rd., Phone (937) 436-4666 More restaurant than bar most nights, good food, great appetizers and soups, moderately priced (1/2006)

Cincinnati: Abby's Pub & Grill, 5753 Harrison Ave. # 1, (513) 574-6622 Great soup and sandwiches, a little pricey. A nice covered patio for eating outside when the weather is nice. The owner is a big fan of local sports which you'll discover upon reading the menu. A place to return to. (7/2008)

Angilo's Pizza , 6953 Harrison Ave. (513) 574-0777 A decent pizza, a small dining area. Supposedly their hoagies are quite good. Reasonable, friendly staff. (8/2008)

Barnesburg Tavern , 5761 Springdale Ave. (513) 741-1200 Great sandwiches in a newly opened storefront. The Barnesburg Tavern has moved and updated itself and the locals love it. A bit pricey for the area, but good specials every day. (8/2008)

Dena's Diner, 8375 Colerain Ave. (513) 245-2960 A small storefront restaurant serving breakfast and lunch only. Breakfast was fine, not exceptional. Reasonable. (8/2008)

Guido's Restaurant, 8007 Harrison Ave., Miamitown (513) 353-9900 Popular with the locals, they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. A little worn inside and you can't be in a hurry to get your food, but the wait is worth it for good, old fashioned home cooking. Try the fish hoagie. Or the specials. Breakfast is good too and the New York style cheesecake is tasty. Reasonable. (7/2008)

Home Like Restaurant, 6856 St. Rt. 128, Miamitown (513) 353-9828 We were disappointed in this local restaurant. We ate breakfast here and the eggs were badly overcooked. Pleasant outdoor seating. Popular with the locals. Reasonable. (8/2008)

LaRosa's Pizzeria , 5806 Cheviot Rd., Phone (513) 347-1111 Ohio-style pizza means lots of thick tomato paste based pizza-yum! They make great salads and their house salad with creamy garlic dressing will have you reaching for breath mints afterwards. (7/2008)

Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse , 925 Riverside Dr. (513) 721-7427 One of the most popular restaurants in Cincinnati, known for their ribs. Great service, great food, nice view of the river, expensive. A nice evening out when you are celebrating. (8/2008) 

 

NYPD Pizza , 5761 Springdale Ave. (513) 521-NYPD Carryout and delivery only, good pizzas, great hoagies. Reasonable. (9/2008) 

 

Red Squirrel Restaurant , 8227 Colerain Ave. (513) 741-4800 They serve a nice breakfast here and the place is always busy. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Reasonable. (8/2008)

Ron's Roost Restaurant ,3853 Race Rd. (513) 574-0222 Great mock turtle soup, good food. I was restricted to soft foods when we ate here, but the seven other people I was with said all their meals were great. Reasonable, popular with the locals. (7/2008) Edited 5/2011; the fish sandwiches are good as are the pork tenderloin sandwiches. Denny's aunt always gets the chicken salad on a croissant. Love the mock turtle soup. Attentive wait staff.

Columbus: Graffiti Burger (Grandview), 1505 West Fifth Ave, Phone (614)488-3665. Think Five Guys decorated by a graffiti artists and you'll have Graffiti Burger. Build one yourself or order one of their creations. Here you have a choice of sizes of french fries, also, which is nice. A fun place with good burgers, popular with the local white collar crowd. (5/2011)

Local chains we hit when in Ohio: Frisch's, Skyline Chili, Steak & Shake, Logan's Steakhouse, Longhorn Steakhouse, IHop, Subway, Perkins, Captain D's Seafood

Dayton: Marion's Piazza, 711 Shroyer Rd. Phone (937) 293-6991 Marion's Piazza gained its fame in the 60s when the owner invited the cast members of Dayton's Kenley Players to stop by after the show for pizzas. The walls of the Shroyer Road location are lined with autographed photos of notable actors from the 60s which is great fun for us older folks. Marion's serves a unique thin crust pizza with the toppings chopped up small and the cheese underneath the toppings so that all the "stuff" has a tendency to drop off. You just scoop those up with your fingers and stuff 'em in your mouth. Plus they cut their pizza in the standard Dayton way; in squares. They have a good selection of hot sandwiches, too. The deluxe steak sandwich with cheese is one of our favorites. It's a great place to meet with friends and it's kid-friendly and group-friendly, too. (6/2007)

The Pine Club, 1926 Brown St. Phone (937) 228-7463 (12/2004) Great steaks, cash only.

Delaware:  23 Delaware Diner, 755 US Hwy 23, Phone (740) 417-9201  Denny enjoyed his country fried steak and fried eggs, served with hash browns and rye toast.  I had the Western omelet which was cooked to brown-ness which I hate.  Good flavor otherwise.  So the meal was uneven for us.  Reasonably priced, diner setting. (09/2012)

 Corner Cafe, 535 Sunbury Rd. Phone (740) 369-0377 We had an average breakfast at average prices. The owner didn't turn the heat on until we were leaving and it was very cold inside the restaurant. Accepts credit cards(9/2007)  Edited 9/2010: we tried this place again for breakfast and the food was worse than before.  Not recommended.

Famous Jack's Diner, 755 US 23N, Phone (740) 369-6677 Lunch here was a tasty fish sandwich that was moist and substantial, although served with just a bun and tarter sauce. Denny's cheeseburger was good, his chili average. The onion rings were a bit greasy. The setting is an old fashioned diner with a couple of pictures of winners of the Little Brown Jug. Accepts credit cards. (9/2007) Edited 5/2011: Denny and I ate Sunday breakfast here. The menu is limited and the food is just average. Edited 10/2012: Sold.  Now the 23 Delaware Diner.

Shorty's Pizza, 554 W. Central, Phone (740) 362-5555 Good deluxe pizza (everything except anchovies) and good Italian subs (hoagies) and good breadsticks. Order at the counter, clean up after yourselves. It's worth it.(8/2009)  Edited 5/2011:  Still good. 

 

Jefferson: Hau Po, 14 S. Chestnut St., Phone (440)576-3138 The only Chinese restaurant in town, they appear to be used to carry-out orders over folks who dine in. You order at the counter and then seat yourselves in the separate dining area. The food was decent, not highly spiced (I assume for local tastes but we prefer a good spicy meal!) and surprisingly not large portions for a lunch special. It took the edge off my desire for Chinese and was in the “better than many” category but certainly not the best. (5/2011) Cash only, no credit or debit cards taken here. Several banks in town, one credit union and Thorne's grocery store will give you cash when you buy groceries (plus with their grocery card you get ten cents off per gallon at their fuel pumps)

Jefferson Diner, 20 N. Chestnut St. Phone (440) 576-1977 Popular with the locals, always busy. We had Sunday morning breakfast here. The menu is not as extensive as some but the food is well prepared (other than using American cheese on my Denver omelette). Homemade bread for a little extra charge. Reasonable and pleasant. (5/2011) Cash only, no credit or debit cards taken here.

Kettering: Apple Station Restaurant, 3002 Woodman Dr. Phone (937) 253-6303 Serving homestyle breakfast, lunch and dinner at very inexpensive prices. I hope this one sticks around. (8/2006) Edited 7/2009: Out of business, see Jimmy's Italian kitchen

China Cottage, 3718 Wilmington Pike, Phone (937) 294-4724 Great staff, great food, moderate prices. No buffet. Our personal favorite (12/2005)

Frisch's Big Boy, 2860 Wilmington Pike, Phone (937) 297-0833 A brand new Frisch's to replace the one that closed-yay! Bright and airy with 50s kitsch, they have all the old standards and some new wraps.

Golden Nugget Pancake House, 2932 S. Dixie Phone (937) 298-0138 Open for breakfast and lunch only, terrific food, great staff, very reasonable. Our favorite restaurant for breakfast. Currently closed after an attic fire but will be rebuilt, sadly missed (12/2004) Edited 5/2007: The Nugget is now open for business in a spanking new building, same owners, same staff, same great food.

Hibachi Grill, 1760 E. Stroop Rd., Phone (937) 643-3333  Nice selection of Chinese and American foods in a buffet style setting.  Good selection of sushi, freshly made.  Blue crab served in place of King Crab but nicely seasoned.  The fried shrimp is excellent.  Recommended. (09/2012)

Jimmy's Italian Kitchen, 3002 Woodman Dr. Phone (937) 293-9133 I had my first stromboli here and I certainly liked their version. Denny's sandwich (I forget what it was called) of sausage and goodies went down easily, too. Philly Cheesesteak and Gyro served open face on flatbread and are excellent. We'll be back to try their pizza, which has gotten some good reviews. (5/2009)

LaRosa's Pizzeria , 2801 Wilmington Pike, Phone (877) 347-1111 This new branch of LaRosa's was a disappointment; the hoagies (Philly Steak and Baked Royal) were simply okay and the thin crust pizza's crust was limp and soggy. We'll save our pizza jones for the Cincinnati branches.

Young Chow, 20 W. Stroop Rd., Phone (937) 298-5672 Take out only, no buffet. Good, filling, typical American/Chinese menu. I like the chicken, shrimp and broccoli in garlic sauce. Take advantage of the lunch menu deals for the best value. (8/2006)

Lumberton: 68 Family Restaurant, 8295 US 68 Phone (937)486-2111 Popular with local residents, we had breakfast here two or three times. It's good, filling, cheap. (5/2008 and 2009)

Middleport: Millie's Restaurant, 39239 Bradbury Rd. Phone (740) 992-4466. The only place to eat breakfast on Sunday for miles. The breakfast menu was very limited. Average fare, a little higher priced than to be expected for the area. (9/2006)

Moraine: Treasure Island, 4250 Chief Woods Dr. Phone (937) 299-6161 Steaks, seafood, sandwiches. Good food, moderately priced (12/2005)

Oakwood: The Oakwood Club, 2414 Far Hills Ave., Phone (937) 293-6972 Seafood and steaks, pricey but worth it. Go for the surf and turf (filet and lobster tail) and be sure to try the warm dark rye bread in the basket. (5/2006)

Pomeroy: Fox's Den Pizza, 518 E. Main St. Phone (740) 992-9040 A decent pizza,a little pricey. The breaded mushrooms are pan-fried instead of deep-fried. Pass on those.(9/2006)

Port Clinton: Bell Mell Pizza, 307 Fulton St. Phone (419) 732-7337 This is a neighborhood bar, not a pizza joint. However, the deluxe pizza was cheesy and good, as were the deep fried mushrooms. The iced tea was bottled, but the owner has replaced all the ceiling tiles and some of the paneling on the walls since Ohio became a non-smoking state, so the bar didn't reek of smoke. There is a very nice covered wooden patio outside where you can smoke. Cash or Checks only. (9/2007)

Fish Tales, 3266 NE Catawba Rd. Phone (419) 797-3474. The best breakfast we've had for a while. This small restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch only, catering to the locals and fishermen by providing bag lunches for carryout. We had the chorizo omelets and the waitress substituted french toast for regular toast at no charge. The special of pancakes with "spirited" cherries sounded good and a lady at the next table had a yogurt parfait with granola that was tempting also. We'll be back the next time we're in the area. Credit cards accepted. (9/2007)

McCarthy's Sports Pub and Restaurant, 101 Madison St., Phone (419) 732-8800. Some Irish specialities and your standard fish and chips. We saw lots of folks noshing on Buffalo-style wings. Denny chose a hot dog stuffed with cheese, wrapped in an Angus hamburger which was wrapped with bacon then covered with bbq sauce. He said it was good. Shudder. The fish of the fish-and-chips was good, but I didn't care for the deep fried thick chips. Reasonable, with good service. (8/2006)

Port-and-Starboard Restaurant, 128 W. Perry St., Phone (419) 732-7161 Want a good breakfast? This is the place for you. Great omelets, good pancakes, and if you ask that the toast/pancakes be skipped, they reduce the bill. Our kind of place. (9/2006)

Springboro: Young Chow, 232 West Central Ave., Phone (937) 748-8400 Take out Chinese. My favorite is chicken, shrimp and broccoli in garlic sauce. Spicy hot and sour soup. Best value is the lunch menu. No buffet. (6/2007)

Spring Valley: Mammaw's Restaurant, 3291 U.S. 42, Phone (937)862-4144 Friendly folks, a tiny little place right on the highway--we thought we found a winner. Until Denny bit into his beautifully cooked chicken fried steak and discovered it was cooked in old, off-tasting oil. Avoid this one. (6/2007)

Waynesville: Der Dutchman Restaurant, 230 North St.Rt. 42 Phone (513) 897-4716 Amish meals served family-style at your table, plus a nice breakfast buffet on weekends. Reasonable, filling and good. (9/2006 and 7/2007)  Edited 11/2010:  Der Dutchman has burned down and will not be rebuilt.

Village Family Restaurant, 144 South Main St., Phone (513) 897-8835 Surprisingly affordable for this "antiques capitol of the US" tourist locale. Homestyle meals at reasonable prices. The fried perch and fried shrimp are great dinner meals (the house salad was a bit wimpy and limp, though) and a late lunch of a steak sub and an Italian Stallion baked sub was oh, so good after a long day on the golf course. (7/2007)

Westerville:  Giammarco's Pizza and Pasta, 7097 Ohio Rt. 3, Phone (614) 895-8890  Tucked into a strip mall, this small restaurant has food with big flavors in large portions and it's all very good.  There were four of us and we sampled lasagna, pasta with Italian sausage, lobster ravioli, spaghetti aglio e olio.  Yum.  Highly recommended.  (9/2010)

Wilmington: Buffalo Wild Wings, 143 Fairway Dr. Phone (937) 283-9464 Although this is a chain, we were in the mood for an alcoholic beverage on this night so we stopped by. It was prom night and in Wilmington, OH BWW is "upscale" dining. The Buffalo Chicken sandwich was crispy outside and tender inside and I liked their skinny fries. Denny had some delicious ribs and wings. My first taste of a mojito was probably not a genuine mojito, but it was very tasty on a warm night.

Country Corner Restaurant, 3669 SR 380, Phone (937) 655-9064 Formerly a drive through beer place that has expanded to include a small dining area, you'll get a decent breakfast here at a reasonable price. The menu is limited, but the food is well cooked and tasty. (5/2008)

Country Kitchen Restaurant, 3150 SR 350, Phone (513) 932-7680 Breakfast here was good, although both the toast and the bacon could have been a lot crispier. Reasonably priced and very popular with the locals, especially around lunch time. We'll have to try that. (5/2008)

General Denver Hotel , 81 W. Main St., Phone (937) 383-4141 We had high expectations of this one, since it's a newly remodeled hotel in downtown Wilmington. We met friends for breakfast and we were only the third table seated on a Sunday morning. The four of us each tried something different and no one raved about their food. It was simply okay and not too expensive. The dining room needs pictures on the walls, although the bar area is quite nice with its antique bar from Victoria Station in Cincinnati. I wanted this place to be better than it was. (6/2008)

Generations Pizzeria and Pub, 1342 Rombach Ave. Phone (937) 382-3845 There is no pub at the pizzeria. This is a neighborhood pizza joint where young soccer/baseball/football/sports teams come after the big game. The pizza was simply okay, the buffalo chicken wings were pan-fried instead of deep fried and not all the way done (yuck!) and the salad that the waitress said was big enough for two really wasn't. It's fine for families with kids, but I'm sure there's a better pizza somewhere out there in Wilmington. (5/2008)

Max and Erma's ,123 Gano Rd., Phone(937)283-3201 Max and Erma's does dinners well, not so good on Sunday breakfast. Four of us enjoyed various meals for dinner which weren't outrageously expensive, although their drinks are overpriced. Their Sunday breakfast buffet is pathetically small and apparently is simply to get the business of the folks staying at the hotel. Pass on breakfast. (6/2008)