Ohio’s food scene has far more range than its reputation suggests. You can eat dinner inside a former county jail in Wooster or grab lunch in a vintage railroad car off I-71. This guide rounds up 18 unique restaurants in Ohio, with current prices, hours and my tips for each one.
The list covers big cities and small towns, from fine dining and creative spots in Columbus to a $3.75 loose-meat sandwich in Greenville. Several of these restaurants are celebrating big milestones, including The Refectory’s 50th anniversary and Schmidt’s 140th year in German Village. I’ve also flagged where you’ll need a reservation, since a few of these book up weeks ahead.
👉 Pro Tip: If you’re visiting Cincinnati, I recommend this streetcar food tour with Findlay Market. It stops at six local spots and gives you a taste of the city’s food scene with a small group. I like it for sampling a wide range of Cincinnati food in one afternoon.
18 Most Unique Restaurants in Ohio at a Glance
Ohio’s food scene has more personality than people expect, and this quick table rounds up ten spots that stand out for their atmosphere, menu, or overall experience. If you’re planning a road trip or just want something different, this is an easy way to zero in on places that go beyond the usual comfort food.
| Restaurant | Best For | What Makes It Unique | Neighborhood/City |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Mike’s Place | Big appetites & Star Wars fans | Full-size homemade X-Wing in the parking lot and tables inside a bus | Kent |
| 2. The Refectory Restaurant | Romantic fine dining | French cuisine in an 1853 church with stained-glass windows, 50 years in business | Columbus |
| 3. Buckeye Express Diner | Families & OSU fans | Half-pound burgers in a scarlet-and-gray vintage railroad car | Bellville |
| 4. The Eagle OTR | Fried chicken fans | Free-range brined chicken with spicy hot honey in a lively beer hall | Cincinnati (OTR) |
| 5. Pier W | Special occasions & brunch | Cliffside dining room above Lake Erie, designed like a luxury liner | Lakewood |
| 6. Zanzibar Soul Fusion | Soul food & weekend brunch | Recipes dating to 1985, free mini muffins at every table | Cleveland (Shaker Square) |
| 7. Momo Ghar | Adventurous foodies | Himalayan dumplings made famous on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives | Columbus (North Market) |
| 8. Kengo Sushi & Yakitori | Intimate date nights | Chef’s omakase at a five-seat sushi bar in a two-dozen-seat room | Toledo |
| 9. Schmidt’s Sausage Haus | Hearty group meals | Family-owned since 1886, famous for the Bahama Mama and half-pound cream puffs | Columbus (German Village) |
| 10. Olde Jaol Steakhouse | History buffs & steak lovers | Housed in the 1865 Wayne County Jail, with dinner inside former cells | Wooster |
Each one brings its own vibe to the table, from quirky, over-the-top diners to more refined, one-of-a-kind dining rooms. If something catches your eye, keep going because the full guide below covers all 18 spots, with a closer look at what to order and the stories that make these places local favorites.
1. Mike’s Place
- 📍 Location: 1700 S Water Street, Kent
- 💲 Price range: $10 – $25 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American Diner / Breakfast / Pub Fare
- 🔥 Standout Features: Full-size homemade X-Wing Fighter, dining tables inside a bus and a boat, castle-themed hall, breakfast from 7 a.m. daily
- 🎯 Perfect For: Star Wars fans, big appetites, Kent State visitors, families, and I-76 road trippers
Mike’s Place in Kent is my top pick when someone asks me for a unique restaurant in Ohio with a sense of humor. A homemade, full-size Star Wars X-Wing Fighter has been part of the property since 1997, and it sits in the parking lot where you can walk right up to it. Inside, you might land a table in an old bus or a boat, and the back room is dressed up as a castle hall with a throne.
The menu is enormous and full of jokes, and portions are big enough that I plan on leftovers. I’d start with the California Curly Fries, which come loaded with chili, queso and sour cream in a taco shell. For a main, the Boss Bacon Cheeseburger Deluxe is a double patty stacked with bacon for about $13, and regulars rave about the corned beef.
As of 2026, Mike’s is open every day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and I think breakfast is the best time to visit. Evenings get loud, and service can slow down when the dining rooms fill up. On Kent State football Saturdays and graduation weekends, I’d arrive early or order pickup online.
Take your X-Wing photo before heading inside, because the cockpit stays locked. Mike’s is independent and family-owned, and it also offers catering for parties and events. If you’re driving I-76 between Akron and Youngstown, take the Route 43 exit north to reach it.
2. The Refectory Restaurant
- 📍 Location: 1092 Bethel Road, Columbus
- 💲 Price range: $80 – $200 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Classic French / Contemporary American Fine Dining
- 🔥 Standout Features: 1853 church building, 50th anniversary in 2026, five-course tasting menus, 700-plus wine selections
- 🎯 Perfect For: Anniversaries, proposals, special occasions, wine lovers, and French food fans
The Refectory in Columbus is where I’d book a milestone dinner in Ohio, and 2026 marks its 50th anniversary. The dining room sits inside an 1853 church, with its original hand-hewn beams and stained-glass windows still in place. Staff are gracious and unpretentious, and every table is lit by candlelight.
Chef Richard Blondin is a Lyon native who studied under Paul Bocuse, and the menu is posted fresh each day. I’d go for the Chef’s Five-Course Tasting Menu at $120 per person, with classic wine pairings for $80. Vegetarians get their own five-course tasting for $85, and the à la carte menu often features lobster bisque and rosemary garlic lamb chops.
The wine cellar holds more than 700 selections, and Wine Spectator gave The Refectory a Best of Award of Excellence for 2026. Dinner is served Wednesday through Saturday only, starting at 4:45 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. I recommend booking at least a week ahead for weekends, and there’s a 3% fee on credit card payments.
For a special night, check the Dinner Music Series calendar, which pairs dinner with live performances. On October 6 and 13, 2026, The Refectory hosts collaboration dinners with ROOH Columbus for $175 per person. Private rooms can seat groups from six to 60 guests if you’re planning a celebration.
3. Buckeye Express Diner
- 📍 Location: 810 State Route 97 W, Bellville
- 💲 Price range: $10 – $20 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American Diner / Burgers
- 🔥 Standout Features: Dining inside a vintage railroad car, steam locomotive on site, Ohio State theme, half-pound burgers with homemade fries
- 🎯 Perfect For: Ohio State fans, families with kids, I-71 road trippers, burger lovers, and train fans
Buckeye Express Diner in Bellville is my favorite quick stop on I-71 between Columbus and Cleveland. You eat inside a vintage red diner car parked next to an old steam locomotive, just off Exit 165. The interior is decked out in scarlet and gray, with Ohio sports memorabilia covering the walls.
Burgers are the main event here, and every Locomotive basket starts with a half-pound patty and homemade fries. I’d order the Woody Burger with horseradish bacon sauce, or split the Locomotive Buckeye Pounder, which stacks a full pound of beef with four slices of bacon and four slices of cheese. If you want something other than a burger, try the Lake Erie perch sandwich or the Buckeye Mega Dog, a half-pound Angus hot dog topped with coney sauce.
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👉 Send me cheap 2026 flightsAs of 2026, the diner is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday through Sunday until 7 p.m. Breakfast isn’t on the current menu, which makes this a lunch or early dinner stop. Hours can shift, and I always check the diner’s Facebook page for updates and daily specials before driving over.
Families will like the outdoor seating and the small playground beside the train. Save room for dessert, because the diner offers three flavors of cheesecake plus five kinds of empanadas. Beer and slushes are also on hand if you want something cold with your meal.
- Visit the Buckeye Express Diner website
- Read reviews of Buckeye Express Diner
- Read Next: 10 Awesome Spa Resorts in Ohio
4. The Eagle OTR
- 📍 Location: 1342 Vine Street, Cincinnati
- 💲 Price range: $15 – $30 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Southern Fried Chicken / Comfort Food
- 🔥 Standout Features: Free-range chicken brined in house, spicy hot honey, house-made Southern sides, craft beer and scratch cocktails, reservations on OpenTable
- 🎯 Perfect For: Fried chicken fans, OTR food crawls, groups and families, craft beer drinkers, and casual date nights
The Eagle in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood is where I go for my favorite fried chicken in Ohio. The birds are free-range and brined in house, and every order comes with spicy hot honey for drizzling. The space is a big, lively food and beer hall on Vine Street, with a blues soundtrack playing in the background.
I’d order a half chicken for about $16 and add two or three Southern sides to share. The spoonbread is my top pick, an iron skillet cornbread with maple butter, and the five-cheese mac and cheese comes in a close second. Groups of six or more can get the family meal for $24 per person, which includes salad, sides and chicken.
As of 2026, The Eagle OTR opens daily at 11 a.m. and stays open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. It takes reservations on OpenTable, and I’d book ahead for weekend nights because walk-in waits get long. There’s no dedicated parking, and one visitor paid $8 for about an hour at the Mercer Commons Garage off Vine Street.
The Eagle has grown into a small chain, with a second Ohio location on North High Street in Columbus. A new location in Mason, near Cincinnati, is listed as coming soon. After dinner, I like walking a few blocks to see OTR’s Italianate buildings and Music Hall.
5. Pier W
- 📍 Location: 12700 Lake Avenue, Lakewood
- 💲 Price range: $50 – $120 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Seafood / Contemporary American
- 🔥 Standout Features: Cliffside Lake Erie and Cleveland skyline views, dining room designed like a luxury liner, Sunday brunch buffet, Wine Spectator award-winning wine list
- 🎯 Perfect For: Special occasions, Sunday brunch, seafood lovers, romantic dinners, and impressing out-of-town guests
Pier W in Lakewood is my pick for a special-occasion dinner with a view in the Cleveland area. The restaurant has sat on a cliff above Lake Erie since 1965, and the dining room is designed to look like the hull of a luxury liner. Ask for a window table when you book, since the lake and downtown skyline views are the highlight.
Seafood is the focus, and Pier W buys its fish directly from fishermen. I’d start with the lobster bisque for $18, then order the famous bouillabaisse for $48, a saffron broth loaded with lobster tail and Lake Erie walleye. For a smaller bill, the pan-seared Lake Erie walleye is $39 and gives you a taste of local fish.
Sunday brunch is legendary here, and OpenTable named Pier W one of its Top 100 Brunch Restaurants in America for 2026. The buffet costs $72 per adult and $38 for kids ages 5 to 11, with a carving station, raw bar and made-to-order omelets. Plan on business casual, since the restaurant asks guests to skip shorts, flip-flops and baseball caps.
On a budget, I’d come for happy hour in the lounge, Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The rooftop deck is closed for the season and reopens in spring 2027, and I’d save a warm-weather visit for sunset drinks up there. Valet is available Friday and Saturday nights, and a large self-park lot is open anytime.
6. Zanzibar Soul Fusion
- 📍 Location: 13225 Shaker Square, Cleveland
- 💲 Price range: $20 – $40 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Soul Food / Southern Fusion
- 🔥 Standout Features: Recipes dating to 1985, two Cleveland locations, free mini muffins at every table, 50-plus martinis and specialty drinks, weekend brunch
- 🎯 Perfect For: Soul food lovers, weekend brunch, pre-show dinners at Playhouse Square, groups, and date nights
Zanzibar Soul Fusion is my go-to for soul food in Cleveland, with recipes that date back to 1985. The original restaurant opened in historic Shaker Square in 2010, and a second location now sits downtown near Playhouse Square. Both serve Southern classics in a stylish, upbeat room with old-school soul music playing.
Meals start with complimentary blueberry and sweet potato mini muffins, and I’d follow them with the Soul Rolls for $12.95. For a main, get the chicken and waffles or the smothered turkey chops with candied yams and mac and cheese on the side. Save room for the peach cobbler or sweet potato pie.
As of 2026, the Shaker Square location opens at 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 11 a.m. Friday through Sunday. The downtown restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., which makes it the easier pick before a show at Playhouse Square. Both take reservations and waitlist sign-ups online, and I’d book ahead for weekend brunch.
The bar pours more than 50 martinis and specialty drinks, and the Kool-Aid served in a mason jar is a fun, nostalgic order. Shaker Square has its own stop on Cleveland’s RTA rapid transit line, which lets you skip the parking hunt. Columbus readers can order Zanzibar from its delivery-only kitchen there.
7. Momo Ghar
- 📍 Location: 59 Spruce Street, Columbus
- 💲 Price range: $10 – $20 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Nepalese / Tibetan / Dumplings
- 🔥 Standout Features: Handmade momos featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, jhol momo in spiced tomato sauce, vegan options, stall inside historic North Market
- 🎯 Perfect For: Dumpling fans, vegans and vegetarians, cheap eats downtown, North Market visitors, and adventurous eaters
Momo Ghar serves my favorite dumplings in Columbus from a small stall inside the historic North Market. Owner Phuntso Lama started with a tiny counter in an international grocery store, and a visit from Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives made her momos famous. The original grocery store spot has closed, and North Market is now the place to eat them in person.
Order the jhol momo, the dish Guy Fieri tried, which comes as chicken dumplings in a spiced tomato sauce. Every plate of momos costs $14.50, including a Tibetan pork and cabbage version and vegan-friendly options filled with potatoes or vegetables. I like a half-and-half order to try two kinds, plus a side of alu dum, a Nepali potato salad, for $5.50.
As of 2026, Momo Ghar is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and until 5 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays. I’d arrive before noon on weekends, when the market fills up fast. The market’s parking lot closed during construction, and I park in a nearby garage instead.
North Market celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2026, and a big expansion is on the way. The Merchant Building next door is set to fully open in 2027, adding room for more vendors, a market-owned bar and an outdoor plaza. If staff offer to show you how to eat a momo, say yes, because it involves poking a small hole and pouring in the sauce.
8. Kengo Sushi & Yakitori
- 📍 Location: 38 S St Clair Street, Toledo
- 💲 Price range: $50 – $150 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Japanese Sushi / Yakitori
- 🔥 Standout Features: Chef-driven omakase at a five-seat sushi bar, custom-built yakitori grill, about two dozen seats, open kitchen
- 🎯 Perfect For: Sushi lovers, special-occasion splurges, date nights, yakitori fans, and dinner before a downtown event
Kengo Sushi & Yakitori in downtown Toledo serves the best sushi I’ve found in northwest Ohio. Chef Kengo Kato followed his father into sushi and trained in New York City before opening this Warehouse District spot in 2015. The room holds about two dozen seats around a small bar and an open kitchen, where you can watch the chefs work.
The big splurge is omakase, a chef’s-choice tasting of about 15 courses served at a five-seat sushi bar. It costs around $125 per person, and you can only book it by calling the restaurant at 419-214-0574. Omakase seats fill quickly, and I’d call at least two weeks ahead for a weekend.
Regular tables are first come, first served, and you add your name to a board by the front door. Waits can stretch past an hour on busy nights, and arriving close to the 5 p.m. opening gives you the best shot. From the à la carte menu, I’d order chicken thigh and pork belly yakitori plus a few pieces of nigiri, and grilled avocado if it’s on the board.
As of 2026, Kengo is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. and closed Sundays and Mondays. If the wait is too long, the same team’s Kato Ramen is right next door, serving bowls with custom-made noodles. You’ll also find their second sushi spot, Shobu by Kengo, inside Hollywood Casino Toledo.
9. Schmidt’s Sausage Haus und Restaurant
- 📍 Location: 240 E Kossuth Street, Columbus
- 💲 Price range: $15 – $35 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: German / Sausages
- 🔥 Standout Features: Family-owned since 1886, Bahama Mama sausage, half-pound Jumbo Cream Puffs, live polka four nights a week, historic landmark building
- 🎯 Perfect For: First-time Columbus visitors, German food fans, families, groups, and anyone with a sweet tooth
Schmidt’s Sausage Haus is the German Village restaurant I tell every Columbus first-timer to visit. The Schmidt family has been in the food business here since 1886, which makes 2026 its 140th year. The dining room sits in a historic landmark building with red brick walls and heavy wood beams, and live German polka plays four nights a week.
Order the Bahama Mama, a spicy smoked sausage that Columbus voted one of its official foods. The chicken schnitzel costs about $19, and I’d add German potato salad and the pretzel nuggets for the table. Finish with a Jumbo Cream Puff, which weighs half a pound and is big enough to share.
As of 2026, Schmidt’s opens daily at 11 a.m., closing at 9 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays and at 10 p.m. the rest of the week. It doesn’t take reservations, and I’d come for a weekday lunch to beat the weekend waits. The all-you-can-eat Autobahn Buffet has paused and returned over the years, so ask your server if it’s available that day.
If you can’t make it to German Village, Schmidt’s ships its sausages and cream puffs to your door. You’ll also find its sausage trucks at Columbus Crew and Blue Jackets games. Schmidt’s presents Columbus Oktoberfest at the Ohio Expo Center, which celebrated its 60th year in 2026.
10. MILKWEED table + market
- 📍 Location: Kent (Near Kent State University)
- 💲 Price range: $25 – $45 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Farm-to-Table / Seasonal American
- 🔥 Standout Features: Seasonal rotating menu, local ingredients, community-driven spirit, airy plant-filled space, craft beer selection.
- 🎯 Perfect For: Farm-to-table enthusiasts, college town dining, seasonal food lovers, craft beer fans, and community-minded diners.
Discover seasonal, farm-to-table excellence at MILKWEED table + market in the heart of Kent. This hip, community-driven restaurant changes its menu based on the freshest local ingredients, ensuring every visit offers something new and exciting.
The airy, inviting space features hanging plants, vintage books, and communal tables that encourage lingering. Watch for their Heritage Pork Chops and inventive veggie dishes like roasted beet salad with whipped feta. Pair your meal with local craft beer or one of their creative spritzes.
11. Thirsty Pony
- 📍 Location: 1935 Cleveland Road, Sandusky
- 💲 Price range: $15 – $35 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American Pub Fare / Pizza / Wings
- 🔥 Standout Features: Cedar Downs off-track betting theater, 17 house wing sauces, brick oven pizza, 15 beers on tap, bowling and laser tag in the same complex
- 🎯 Perfect For: Cedar Point visitors, families, sports fans, groups, and horse racing fans
Thirsty Pony in Sandusky is my go-to meal before or after a day at Cedar Point. It sits inside the Cedar Corner entertainment complex near the park entrance, next to Cedar Downs, an off-track betting theater where you can watch and wager on live simulcast horse racing. The restaurant is part family diner and part sports bar, with more than 20 TVs showing the day’s games.
The menu is huge, and I’d start with jumbo wings tossed in one of 17 house Frickin’ wing sauces. Burgers are hand-packed and never frozen, and the brick oven pizzas come with unlimited toppings. Perch and walleye are on the menu too, which I like for a taste of northern Ohio.
Thirsty Pony pours 15 craft and micro brews on tap, and there’s a Little Pony menu for kids. After dinner, you can bowl at Cedar Lanes or try laser tag and axe throwing in the same complex. Carryout is available by calling 419-626-6761, and the restaurant has an app for skipping the line.
Summer weekends near Cedar Point get packed, and I’d eat before 5 p.m. or after 8 p.m. to avoid the rush. Open since 2001, Thirsty Pony is a longtime favorite with Cedar Point workers too. Each winter, the restaurant hosts a Polar Plunge that raises money for Special Olympics.
12. Boca
- 📍 Location: 114 E 6th Street, Cincinnati
- 💲 Price range: $75 – $150 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: French / Italian Fine Dining
- 🔥 Standout Features: Cincinnati Magazine’s No. 1 restaurant for 2026, former Maisonette space, pommes soufflées, beef Wellington for two, private dining
- 🎯 Perfect For: Anniversaries, pre-theater dinners, wine lovers, food-focused travelers, and special celebrations
Boca in downtown Cincinnati is where I’d book a big-night dinner in southwest Ohio. Chef and owner David Falk opened it in 2001, then moved it in 2013 into the Sixth Street building once home to the Maisonette, the city’s legendary French restaurant. Cincinnati Magazine ranked Boca No. 1 on its Best Restaurants 2026 list, and you’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the red front door.
The menu blends Italian and French cooking, and staff suggest three to four plates per person to build your own tasting-style meal. Start with the pommes soufflées “1949,” puffed potato crisps that revive a Maisonette classic, served with béarnaise for about $15. For the main event, I’d share the beef Wellington for two or order the Red Heritage Chicken with truffle risotto for $44.
As of 2026, Boca serves dinner Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Plan on $150 to $300 for two people, depending on wine and dessert. I’d book a week or two ahead for weekends, especially before a show at the nearby Aronoff Center.
Wine is a big part of the experience, and Boca hosts special pairing dinners during the year. On October 13, 2026, Chef Falk welcomes Champagne Laherte Frères for a seven-cuvée dinner at $295 per person. If you can’t get a table, Falk’s Domo service delivers ready-to-bake dishes like Sotto’s lasagna to homes near downtown.
13. Jimmie’s Ladder 11
- 📍 Location: 936 Brown Street, Dayton
- 💲 Price range: $15 – $35 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American Pub Fare / Italian / Cajun
- 🔥 Standout Features: Restored 1892 firehouse, Dayton Fire Department memorabilia, patio and upstairs seating, private party rooms, 15th anniversary in November 2026
- 🎯 Perfect For: History buffs, University of Dayton visitors, casual dates, group celebrations, and patio lovers
Jimmie’s Ladder 11 in Dayton lets you eat inside a restored 1892 firehouse on Brown Street. It was one of the last horse-drawn firehouses in Ohio, and it stayed in service into the 1980s. Dayton Fire Department photos and memorabilia line the antique wood walls.
The menu mixes pub classics with Italian and Cajun dishes, and portions are generous. I’d start with the Paisano Pasta Chips or the Creole Cheesecake, a savory starter regulars rave about, then order the Reuben, which locals say is piled sky-high. Gluten-free bread and buns are available for sandwiches and burgers.
As of 2026, Jimmie’s opens daily at 11 a.m., closing at 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. It takes online reservations, and I’d book ahead on University of Dayton event weekends since campus is close by. I like the patio on warm evenings, and there’s upstairs seating inside too.
Jimmie’s opened on 11/11/11 and marks its 15th anniversary on November 11, 2026. The restaurant has celebrated past anniversaries with multiday parties featuring live music and food and drink specials, and I’d watch its events page for this year’s plans. Groups can book one of two private spaces, The Greenhouse or The Party Loft, for parties and rehearsal dinners.
14. The Haunted House Restaurant
- 📍 Location: 13463 Cedar Road, Cleveland Heights
- 💲 Price range: $20 – $40 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Horror-Themed American Comfort Food / Brunch
- 🔥 Standout Features: Movie theater ticket booth entrance, free popcorn at every table, costumed horror characters, fog-filled potion bowl cocktails, weekend brunch
- 🎯 Perfect For: Horror fans, Halloween outings, birthday groups, families, and themed-dining lovers
The Haunted House Restaurant in Cleveland Heights is my top pick for horror fans, and it feels like Halloween all year long. You check in at a movie theater ticket booth, then walk past murals of horror icons like Beetlejuice and Jason Voorhees on the way to your table. Every table starts with movie theater butter popcorn, and costumed characters like Michael Myers sometimes stalk the dining room.
The menu is American comfort food with horror movie names, and brunch is served on weekends. I’d share the Scooby Snacks, loaded nachos with pulled chicken and sweet chili queso, then order the Lurch Burger for about $21. Drinks are part of the show, and the Haunted Potion Bowls are poured in front of you with fog spilling over the rim.
As of 2026, the restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday, with weekend brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dinner starts at 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and at 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Reservations are on OpenTable, and I’d book right away for October, since weekends sold out completely last Halloween season.
Reviews of the food are mixed, and I’d come for the experience, which is a blast for birthdays and group outings. The restaurant is family-friendly and offers vegan dishes like the Ecto Burger. It opened in 2021 in the former Melt Bar and Grilled space at Cedar and Taylor Roads.
15. Olde Jaol Steakhouse and Tavern
- 📍 Location: 215 N Walnut Street, Wooster
- 💲 Price range: $20 – $80 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Steakhouse / American Tavern
- 🔥 Standout Features: 1865 Wayne County Jail, dining in former cell rooms, Certified Angus Beef steaks, casual tavern with covered patio, private bourbon room
- 🎯 Perfect For: History buffs, date nights, anniversaries, steak lovers, and College of Wooster visitors
Olde Jaol Steakhouse and Tavern in Wooster lets you eat dinner inside the 1865 Wayne County Jail. The building served as the sheriff’s headquarters until 1977, and local preservationists saved it from demolition in 1979. The restaurant says it was also the site of Ohio’s last public hanging, and “Jaol” is pronounced “jail.”
The building holds two dining options, and I’d pick based on the night you want. The steakhouse sits in the old jail downstairs, with exposed brick walls and tables set inside former cell rooms. The casual tavern has its own menu of burgers, perch and fried pickles, plus a covered patio for warm evenings.
In the steakhouse, I’d order a Certified Angus Beef ribeye and start with the fried mushrooms. Expect to pay around $50 for a steak, and about $150 for dinner for two with drinks. There’s also a private bourbon room for groups and special occasions.
As of 2026, the steakhouse opens at 4 p.m. and is closed Tuesdays and Sundays, while the tavern opens at 11 a.m. for lunch. I’d book a cell room table ahead for a date night or anniversary. Downtown Wooster is a two-block walk away if you want a stroll before or after dinner.
16. The Whitehouse Inn
- 📍 Location: 10835 Waterville Street, Whitehouse
- 💲 Price range: $20 – $50 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Steakhouse / Prime Rib / American
- 🔥 Standout Features: Tasting Table’s pick for Ohio’s best prime rib, presidential-themed menu, smothered prime rib, Sunday brunch, full bar
- 🎯 Perfect For: Prime rib lovers, Toledo-area day trips, family dinners, road trippers, and group events
The Whitehouse Inn, just outside Toledo, is where I’d go for prime rib in Ohio. Tasting Table named it the state’s top prime rib restaurant in 2026, and prime rib has anchored this family’s restaurants since 1983. The menu has fun with the town’s name, with cuts and dishes named after presidents and Washington titles.
Prime rib comes in five sizes, from the 6- to 8-ounce AARP cut up to the 32-ounce Presidential. I’d order the Speaker of the House and get it smothered, which adds sautéed mushrooms, onions and melted mozzarella on top. French onion soup and a twice-baked potato are my picks for sides.
As of 2026, the Whitehouse Inn is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with brunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reservations are by phone at 419-877-1180, and I’d call ahead for Saturday dinner, when walk-in waits have stretched past two hours. Lunch portions can cover two meals, and I think a weekday lunch is the easiest way to try the prime rib without a wait.
Oak Openings Preserve Metropark is nearby if you want a hike before dinner. The inn also hosts private dinners for up to 35 people and caters events for up to 500. It’s an easy detour for anyone driving across northern Ohio on I-90.
17. Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop
- 📍 Location: 125 N Broadway Street, Greenville
- 💲 Price range: $5 – $15 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Loose-Meat Sandwiches / Drive-In
- 🔥 Standout Features: Family-owned since 1934, famous Gum-Wall, $3.75 loose-meat sandwiches, handspun shakes and malts, drive-thru
- 🎯 Perfect For: Road trippers, cheap eats, nostalgic food fans, families, and quirky roadside stops
Maid-Rite Sandwich Shoppe in Greenville has served loose-meat sandwiches since 1934, and it’s still owned by the same family. The brick exterior is covered in decades of chewed gum, a tradition dating to the late 1930s that the shop calls the Gum-Wall. I bring a stick of gum to add my own piece, since sticking one to the wall is a rite of passage for first-timers.
The Maid-Rite is steamed, seasoned loose beef on a soft bun, topped with your choice of mustard, pickle and onion. It costs $3.75, and I’d get two or try the Big Jim, which adds ham and cheese for $6. Skip the ketchup, which purists consider a no-no, and pair your sandwich with chips and a handspun peanut butter or cherry shake.
As of 2026, the drive-thru is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the dining room is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The shop stops taking orders at 8 p.m. sharp, even if you’re already in line. The drive-thru stays busy, and I’d go mid-afternoon between the lunch and dinner rushes.
Greenville sits about an hour from Dayton, and it’s an easy detour on a western Ohio road trip. Mental Floss named Maid-Rite the best burger in Ohio in 2017. Call-in orders are welcome at 937-548-9340 if you want to skip the wait.
18. Black Forest Cafe
- 📍 Location: Oregon
- 💲 Price range: $15 – $35 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: German / American
- 🔥 Standout Features: German specialties (schnitzel/sauerbraten), cozy Black Forest theme, beer garden possibly, homestyle cooking.
- 🎯 Perfect For: German food fans, comfort food seekers, casual dinners, trying schnitzel/sauerbraten, and cozy vibes.
Get a taste of Germany in Oregon at the Black Forest Cafe. This spot offers authentic German specialties alongside American favorites in a cozy setting, with charming Black Forest-inspired decor – think cuckoo clocks or dark wood accents. Expect hearty, homestyle dishes.
Look for German classics like crispy schnitzel (Wiener or Jäger style). Tangy sauerbraten with red cabbage and spaetzle, or various German sausages with sauerkraut, are also excellent. They might feature German beers or a pleasant beer garden.
- Visit the Black Forest Cafe website
- Read reviews of Black Forest Cafe
- Read Next: 12 Fun & Exciting Things to Do in Ohio
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