There is nothing better than comfort food. I have made it my mission to scout out some of the best must-have meals in small restaurants, in small Ohio towns. I found five more restaurants that are worth the drive.
Today, I head to an Ohio diner inside a renovated locomotive resurrected from a scrap yard in Virginia. When I heard that they served 10-pound burgers; I had to go see it for myself.
As I drive on I-71 North in Bellville, just shy of Mansfield, I see the Buckeye Express Diner from the freeway sitting like a beacon calling hungry people to find satisfaction with mouthwatering, delicious food.
What do I love about it? The Buckeye Express Diner hits every mark when it comes to a great comfort food dining experience: a creative venue in the locomotive; a fun atmosphere overflowing with Buckeye memorabilia;excited customers who enjoy marveling over each other’s impressive meals; a family-run environment where the owners welcome you like one of their own and really fantastic and delicious food. They serve it up fresh from 11am – 8pm every day.
I try the Woody Burger for lunch with horseradish and bacon sauce (a secret homemade recipe) with hand-cut sweet potato fries and a brown sugar dipping sauce. I even have leftovers to take home to extend the experience. Bigger appetites come in for the one-pound Buckeye Locomotive Burger or the Buckeye Mega Dog, which is a ½ lb. hotdog with ½ lb. of Coney sauce. There is a wide range of food choices from those burgers (thank goodness for the napkin dispensers on the tables) and fried bologna sandwiches to wraps and subs.
Hickie’s Hamburger Inn – New Boston
If you are looking for more burgers and you can manage to find Hickie’s Hamburger Inn on the edge of Scioto County, then you are in for a five-star treat! The notable small burgers are well known, as are the fries and gravy. Lines are fixtures in front of the restaurant on most days and diners quickly become a part of the Hickie’s family – sometimes even leaving with a hug from the owner.
Schmucker’s Restaurant –Toledo
If you’re in the mood for a one pound slice of pie, make a trek to Schmucker’s Restaurant in Toledo which has been in the family for three generations. Inexpensive homemade entrees include the hot beef platter and meatloaf and signature sandwiches like grilled fried bologna and Lake Erie perch. Pie options like pecan-cherry, strawberry, vanilla peanut butter, cherry berry, caramel-apple-walnut and strawberry rhubarb are available daily by the slice or whole pie.
New Riegel Café –New Riegel
It is not uncommon for visitors to the New Riegel Café to outnumber the 300 residents who live in the area. The New Riegel Café ribs are so well known that diners have come from as far as Japan and Germany to try them! Opened since 1953, the barbecue offerings have became legendary, but the New Riegel Bologna sandwich also holds a strong reputation among diners. Customers also come here for the heat & eat sausage and other take-out options. If you visit, bring cash, as credit cards are not accepted.
The Feve Bar and Grille – Oberlin
The Feve specializes in unique combinations creatively made from locally sourced food. You can select your level of spicy wings or select from a wide option of homemade wing sauces. Locals rave about the tater tots that are served up with dry seasoning choices ranging from Cuban to Tikka (Indian seasoning) to Stinky (garlic salt seasoning) as well as dipping sauces. You can find a delightful range of healthy options too, from the avocado melt to the coconut-curried sandwich and you can substitute tofu for meat options.
Many of the best comfort food restaurants are still family-run and some of them are so small they do not have websites and limited contact information. I suppose that is part of the charm of these small restaurants. Word-of-mouth recommendations are the best advertising and the only advertising that some of these places have relied on for generations.
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