AMEN CORNER SPORTS BAR & GRILL

My husband Jack and I are always on the lookout for casual pubs, and admittedly we're a bit picky about the ones we choose as "regular" hang-outs. At least three or four of our favorite beers must be available (preferably on tap), the seats must be comfortable (meaning whatever we sit on must have a back), the interior must have enough light that we can see the beer level in our glasses and -- last but hardly least -- the food must be delicious.

For all of these reasons, we're singing the praises of the Amen Corner Sports Bar & Grill in Girard, Ohio. No matter how often we stop here, each time I say to myself, "Self, you absolutely must come here more often."

Let me be a bit more specific. First, the atmosphere is very casual; the front door opens into the bar "room," where there are a few booths and tables, a few TV sets and, of course, the bar. Walk toward the back to find a large dining room for those who prefer that option. The decor for the most part is golf-related; golf course flags hang from the walls, and there's lots of dark wood and complementary dark green all around the rooms. Even the menu has a golf theme; appetizers are listed under "Teeing Off," and salads have the heading "Greens."

It's also a popular place; we usually go at off-peak hours just for this reason. Parking can be a bit bothersome as well -- it's really hard to find a spot on the street, but there's a lot behind the pub that has additional space.

As for the food, I could make a meal out of the appetizers with no problem at all. You'll find a few somewhat unique options like fried zucchini planks that come with a very tasty, and little bit zingy, Bistro sauce ($4.99), fried pickle spears ($5.99) and fried pretzel bites ($2.99). Other possibilities include a pound of steamed little neck clams for $7.99 and my favorite, hot banana peppers marinated in herbs, garlic and oil served with Italian bread ($3.99).

The hot peppers come in a relatively small bowl and are rather thinly sliced with lots of pepper seeds. At first bite, I declared them to be on the hot side; Jack tried a minuscule piece, quickly agreed and wouldn't touch another bite. Oh darn, I said, all the more for me! The flavor is wonderful -- and did I mention they're hot?

Another of our favorite appetizers is the Bruschetta, topped with chopped tomatoes, black olives and a variety of cheeses. There are four pizza-type wedges absolutely loaded with the "stuff" on grilled garlic bread -- very delicious and very filling.

If you're not sure what you want, try the appetizer sampler; you'll get onion rings, jalapeno poppers, mozzarella sticks, butterfly shrimp and zucchini planks -- all breaded and fried -- with that spicy Bistro, cocktail and marinara sauces for $9.99.

The wedding soup is quite good here, absolutely overflowing with veggies, greens, shredded chicken and meatballs in a delicious broth -- quite possible the best wedding soup Jack's ever had, he said -- and I tend to agree. But if you want a really terrific soup, try the house specialty sausage chili ($2.50 a cup). It's much like regular chili, but it has a real kick to it. It's packed full of sausage plus chili beans, onions, green peppers -- and it's wonderful!

There are plenty of choices when it comes to sandwiches and entrees, though I do feel compelled to pitch what amounts to a hissy fit over one item I love but, we were told at our most recent visit, no longer is available: Chicken Jambalaya, or chicken and Andouille sausage with green peppers and onions over rice. It is (or should I say was) so good that I rarely ordered anything else; a tasty red sauce peppered with small bits of the sausage and other goodies. It was a real treat for anyone who likes Creole-style foods -- and now it's gone. Please guys, consider bringing this delicacy back!

One of Jack's favorites is the hot roast beef open-face sandwich, with lots of relatively thick beef slices on Italian bread with mashed potatoes and lots of very tasty beef gravy ($5.95). Still another is linguine with clams -- oil, garlic and Italian herbs that comes with a tossed salad or soup for $11.99. The whole thing is topped with at least double the number of in-shell clams he's ever seen on an entree, although there were no discernible clams in the sauce itself. But the sauce is delicious and garlicky. Normally, he eats all the clams and has pasta left over -- but here, it was vice versa: He ate all the pasta and had clams left (of course, I was happy to get "rid" of them for him).

At one visit, I tried one of the daily specials, a 6-ounce char-grilled sirloin with my choice of fried shrimp or shrimp scampi, one side and soup or salad. For my soup, I chose that sausage chili once again; for my side, I picked spaghetti. The main course arrived on a large oval platter with the steak on one end, a bowl of four relatively large scampi in a tasty buttery sauce in the center and the spaghetti -- about the size of two fists -- at the other end, all nicely separated so nothing got mixed in with anything else. The steak was well tenderized and cooked fairly close to my order of medium rare (most restaurants, including this one, tend to err toward the side of medium). Although the spaghetti isn't the best I've had, it was very good, with a thick sauce of finely chopped tomatoes and peppers.

One of these days, I'm going to try the Bourbon Glazed Salmon and the Zing Chicken ($12.99 each); the latter features a chicken breast sauteed with minced hot peppers, onions and shallots in the three-cheese Alfredo sauce over penne and topped with roasted red peppers and minced hot peppers. My mouth is watering just writing about it!

On the sandwich side, there's plenty to choose from as well, including a build-your-own burger section (starting at $5.99 for the basic). There's a pepper and egg sandwich on a Kaiser roll, which also sounds great, as do the lunch specials of chicken or tuna salad on a croissant. When I noticed a fried balogna sandwich on deli marble rye with fries or hot chips, though, I just had to have it. The fries here are not spectacular, but they're good; the balogna had to be close to half an inch thick and the toasted bread was wonderful ($4.99). I will point out, though, that it comes barefoot -- and the only condiments on the table are mustard and catsup. So next time I get this sandwich, and there will be a next time, I'll order it topped with green peppers and ask for mayo on the side.

On that same occasion, Jack tried the Philly steak stromboli, which comes with marinara sauce on the side for $6.95. It had to be close to a foot long, with a soft, pizza-dough-like crust wrapped around a ton of shredded Philly steak, onions, peppers, mushrooms and melted cheese. He was able to finish only about half; the rest we brought home, wrapped and stashed in the freezer, and a couple of days later (thawed and reheated) it tasted as good as it did in the restaurant.

Several varieties of pizza are served here as well, including a Monte Cristo; at $7.99 for a 12-inch, this one is a "white" with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella and ricotta cheeses that sounds delicious. So far, though, the only one we've tried the Brier Hill, with a thin crust (we always add pepperoni), and it's quite good.

Dessert? Quite honestly, we've always been so full after appetizers and/or entrees that we can't even think about it. But for those who crave something sweet to end the meal, check out "Ellie's Homemade Desserts" for $3.75 each (the cherry or strawberry cheesecake and peanut butter pie caught our eye, but our stomachs insisted there was no room.

If you go: Amen Corner Sports Bar & Grill
20 W. Main St.
Girard, Ohio 44420
(330) 545-5694

Iron Bridge Inn

Several times a year, my husband Jack and I take a leisurely drive over the border into Pennsylvania. Sometimes, it's to pick up a case of our favorite Yuengling Ale at the drive-through in Hermitage (the ale, made at America's oldest brewery, isn't sold in Ohio). Other times, it's to get photos in McConnell's Mill State Park or check out the bargains at the outlet mall in Grove City. Even more likely, it's to visit historic Volant and pick up a few bottles of those wonderful wines -- cherry in particular -- at the Volant Mill Winery.

Unless we're in a big hurry, which is unlikely in these semi-retirement days, we'll have a meal somewhere along the way, and often it's at the Iron Bridge Inn on State Route 19 not too far from Mercer. The Inn is without doubt our favorite eatery in the Springfield Restaurant Group stable that includes the Springfield Grille (Mercer, Boardman and Mars), Hickory Bar & Grille Grille (Hermitage), Rachel’s Roadhouse (outside Mercer not far from Rachel's and Springfield Grille) and the Log Cabin Inn (Harmony). We love the others too, mind you, but the casual, sort of "hunting cabin" atmosphere at the Iron Bridge Inn makes it particularly appealing to us. The Inn is within a few yards of an old green iron bridge, which, I suppose, is how it got its name.

The outside is "decorated" with lots of interesting old signs; a pretty rock garden with flowers greets visitors at the front entrance. Inside, there's plenty of dark wood, old photographs and yes, stuffed whole critters and critter heads on the walls as well as hanging plants and cozy fireplaces that roar when there's a chill in the outside air. Wood booths make dining a private affair for the most part, and real cloth napkins add a touch of elegance that also helps set this place apart. There are a couple of large dining rooms and a very nice bar, the latter toward the back as you enter the restaurant). One of the on-tap beers is Yuengling (now you really know why we love this place), served up in no-handle glass canning jars like the ones I'm familiar with that used to come from the Ball Corp. in Muncie, Ind., maybe 30 miles from my home town of Union City, Ind.

I must admit we're not strangers to the Iron Bridge Inn in an "official" capacity, either; we've made special trips for no less than three articles Jack or I wrote for The Business Journal of Youngstown, Ohio. As a restaurant reviewer for the newspaper many years ago, Jack wrote about our experience there; more recently, I included special Iron Bridge offerings in articles on salads and exotic appetizers. Not a subscriber to The Business Journal? Click here to check out the online version.

Our latest official visit, though, was for to collect information for this blog (oh heck, who's kidding who? We stopped there simply because we were in the area and love the place)! I'd be remiss if I didn't warn you that this place is almost always crowded, even during non-peak hours; typically, we time our travel to arrive somewhere between 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., and so far, we haven't had to wait for a table.

That's a bit more difficult on Sundays, though; there's an absolutely fabulous brunch -- actually their words, not mine, although I heartily concur -- that's served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Priced at a reasonable $14.99 per adult, it's almost standing room only. Seniors like us, I should add, pay a buck less, and kids 10 and under are $6.99 and there's plenty on the tables to keep their tummies filled. As with just about all brunches, you can eat your fill of delicacies like hand-carved roast beef and smoked ham, numerous "breakfast" treats like eggs Benedict and much, much more. If you can't get to the Iron Bridge for any other meal, this is the one to pick. Just don't eat much for at least two days before you visit -- it's far and away one of the most extensive Sunday brunch spreads I've seen in many moons!

If you go for a regular meal, or just pop in for drinks and a couple of appetizers, you'll find quite a few possibilities that make choosing a bit complicated. I won't go into the more exotic appetizers I wrote about in the newspaper article other than to say we heartily recommend the Tri-Muchroom Bourdelaise ($6.99) and the BBQ Prime Rib Quesadilla ($7.99). And, since I'm not a fan of hummus, I won't dwell on that one, either, although I have a friend who swears it's the best around (served with rosemary flatbread, it's $5.99). Sometimes, we'll share a platter of Sharon's Favorites, a compilation of potato skins, riblets, stuffed mushrooms and boneless wings for $10.99. Still another of my faves is the Jalapeno Stuffed Shrimp, or deep-bried shrimp stuffed with japapeno cream cheese with sweet & sour sauce ($6.99), but unless we're really, really hungry I don't get it because Jack isn't a hot peppers fan.

Something like six big salads are on the menu as well as several "build your own" varieties that on their own aren't very expensive ($4.99 and $6.99, depending). To these, you can add grilled chicken breast, the house prime sirloin, grilled shrimp or seared tuna for a few bucks more. My choice is from the "as-is" menu -- the Asian Ahi Tuna Salad with seared tuna, Szechuan-marinated noodles, cashews, broccoli and Thai peanut vinaigrette over field greens ($11.99).

Of course, there are plenty of sandwiches, including a variety of paninis and burgers (try the Pittsburger, topped with coleslaw, fries, provolone cheese, lettuce and tomato on a ciabatta roll, $7.99). I'm nowhere near a vegetarian, but I don't eat lots of red meat, either; so the Portobello Wrap, with those delicious mushrooms rolled up in a tortilla shell with red onions, field greens, feta cheese and tomatoes with a side of balsamic dressing makes a great meat substitute for $6.99. The meat-and-potatoes guy who usually accompanies me, though, much prefers the Reuben, made with house-cooked corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing on grilled marbled rye bread for $7.49 (according to the restaurant's online menu, you can get it Panini style if you like, but that's not an option we've tried yet.

When it comes to entrees, the decision starts getting really tough -- except for me. The Iron Bridge boasts about serving the "best" prime rib in the world since 1979. I can't vouch for that claim since there are a handful of prime rib joints in a couple of other countries at which I haven't tried it yet (yes, that's a feeble attempt at humor), but I will proclaim, quite loudly, that this is the best I've had in many, many moons. A 10-ounce portion that's more than enough for me is $15.99, and you can pair it with soup or a salad and one side (among them apple sauce, fries, cole slaw, a baked potato) Fresh-baked bread comes with the territory as well.

If you like chicken, try the Iron Bridge Wellington, a chicken breast wrapped in a homemade pastry crust together with broccoli, cauliflower and Monterrey Jack cheese. It's topped with a delicious hollandaise sauce. Or, another favorite of mine is the Stacked Chicken Cordon Bleu, or chargrilled chicken breasts stuffed with ham and Swiss cheese, this time with a dijon hollandaise sauce on top.

Seafood lovers that we are, we don't go hungry here. The Scallops & Risotto are outstanding (it's a vegetable risotto with sun-dried tomato pesto, as is the Herb & Garlic Crusted Salmon perched on balsamic sauteed mushrooms and fresh spinach. One of these days I'm going to try the Fire Cracker Ahi Tuna, seared with sesame and accompanied with soy vegetable rice and "fire cracker" Asian hot sauce -- I mention it because it sounds wonderful, but I have to admit I haven't tasted it yet (although based on how good everything else is here, I'm certainly not worried).

If all this isn't enough, you'll find plenty of beef, ranging from a 6-ounce filet mignon to a humongous 24-ounce slice of that glorious prime rib. The chops and ribs are excellent as well, and I'm told by someone who likes lamb that the New Zealand Rack of Lamb is outstanding, too. For good old stick-to-your ribs fare, don't pass up Aunt Sandy's Meatloaf, served over garlic mashed potatoes with a mushroom demi-glace and fried onions.

I've never had a centimeter of room for dessert here, but the offerings are plentiful (all priced at a quite reasonable $1.79). Jack is always up for an ice cream sundae, which can be ordered with either chocolate or caramel topping.

If you go: Iron Bridge Inn
1438 Perry Highway
Mercer, PA 16137
(724) 748-3626
www.springfields.com/ibi_files/ironbridge.html
Open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar

Way back when I was growing up on a southwestern Ohio farm, there were three constants when it came to food: One, most of it would be made from scratch by my hard-working, but stay-at-home, mother. Two, potato skins always went into the garbage can or on top of the compost heap. And three, whoever got stuck with the chicken wings was the big loser.

My how things change! Oh sure, I made my fair share of "scratch" meals back when our two kids were youngsters; but well before they left elementary school, they were much more enthusiastic about a burger from Mickey D's or a burger at the long-since gone Silver Nugget in Niles than anything Mom could conjure up. And inexplicably, somewhere along the way, potato skins and chicken wings became delicacies for which just about everyone is willing to pay -- and a pretty penny at that.

We adults, of course, learned to adapt as well (and I admit it I never really missed all that kitchen duty very much). But while I've never quite warmed up to potato skins unless they're covered with so much "stuff" that the skins are well camouflaged, I have learned to love chicken wings. So it was that when Buffalo Wild Wings hit downtown Youngstown within easy walking distance of the building in which I worked, I was delighted. And when we got "our own" in the Great East Plaza in Niles, both my husband Jack and I did the Chicken Dance.

Over all these many years, the name has changed at least three times; once it was Buffalo Wild Wings and Weck (the "Weck" being a type of bun, if I recall correctly). All that got truncated to a more reasonable BW-3 for a while, and today the 600 company owned and franchised restaurants in 41 states are known as Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar (or B-Dubs, as many of the regulars call it). We've hit quite a few, from Toledo to Erie, Pa., to Columbus, Ohio.

Service has changed as well. Originally, customers placed their orders at a counter, then grabbed a seat until their names were called and they returned to the counter to pick up the goodies. Much later, a few locations did sort of a half-and-half maneuver, with servers on call to help out here and there and take orders for people who preferred that option. These days, a hostess or server will lead you to a table, take your order and deliver it, just like in any other sit-down restaurant. As in most bar-restaurants, there's a side close to the bar that's well stocked with high tables and chairs and another section or two with very large booths and tables for those who prefer to dine less out in the open.

The whole thing got started, by the way, by two men who moved from Buffalo, N.Y., to Kent, Ohio. They loved and missed their New York-style Buffalo wings when they couldn't find them around here. So, they started their own place, and the rest, as they say, is history. Buffalo Wild Wings, now headquartered in Minneapolis, is one of the 10 fastest growing restaurant chains in the country, according to corporate reports.

As the number of locations increases, though some things haven't changed much at all. Buffalo Wild Wings started as a fun and very casual eatery with a large bar, lots of beer, big-screen TV sets tuned to various sports events and interactive trivia games that pitted local players with players at other locations throughout the country. That's true to this day. And from the beginning, the focus was on chicken wings -- and although the menu has plenty of other goodies to offer, those wings are still flying high.

The choice of sauces, too, has grown -- to 14 at last count. They range from very mild (Sweet BBQ) to very hot (Blazin'); somewhere in between is the big reason I've loved B-Dubs right from the start -- Spicy Garlic. This thick, bright orange delicacy with a definite kick of heat is absolutely delicious; except for sampling a few other sauces when someone else offers me a taste, I've never ordered anything else. Many of the sauces are for sale in bottles, too, and I'll testify that they make terrific gifts.

Somewhat surprisingly, though, I rarely get that sauce on the regular wings (when I do, I ask for it on the side). As I said, it's very thick and spicy, and a little goes a very long way. Rather, my chicken of choice is the chicken tenders -- fairly heavily breaded and crispy, but juicy and tender white meat on the inside (there's a non-breaded "naked" version as well). You can get four for $7.59 and eight for $8.99, and the latter always seems like a better deal (besides, then I have some left over to bring home). At one time, everything purchased here was a la carte, which I always thought made eating here a rather expensive proposition unless all you wanted was wings. But now they've "packaged" baskets together so the tenders come in a basket with a choice of potato -- either the Buffalo chips or potato wedges. My preference is the former, and I love to dip them in that Spicy Garlic sauce.

Jack, who eschews anything that bites him back even a little bit, prefers the Teriyaki sauce; it's dark and rich and a bit tangy but packs minimal heat. He loves it with the breaded peppercorn-garlic popcorn shrimp -- half a pound for $7.79 with the same choice of potatoes. You can, by the way, swap out the potato side for a salad or onion rings for an additional 99 cents; last time we ordered our favorites -- in Oregon, Ohio, where we were staying while we attended the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse Festival at nearby Maumee Bay State Park -- that's exactly what we did. He chose his favorite thousand island dressing and I had bleu cheese, and I'm here to tell you those salads aren't exactly small. We also noticed, by the way, that the chicken tenders at this location were substantially larger than those served up at the back-home restaurants. I'm not sure what to make of that, but I figure it's worth mentioning. It's not worth driving three hours to get fatter tenders, of course, but knowing there's a difference means we might be willing to stray a bit farther from home to get more bang for our bucks.

Wings may be top dog at B-Dubs, but diners have plenty of other choices as well. On a recent visit to Austintown, Jack ordered another of his favorites, the chicken quesadilla. These grilled four tortillas stuffed with Cajun-flavored grilled chicken, pico de gallo and assorted cheeses makes a great, if a bit lighter, meal ($6.99). Besides that, the burgers here are terrific; my pick of the litter is the Black & Bleu, seasoned with Cajun spices and topped with (what else??) bleu cheese dressing.

Much newer to the menu are the Wild Flatbreads, sort of pizza-like concoctions ranging from a steak-and-potato flip (steak and mozzarella cheese topped with French fries, Southwestern Ranch dressing and Honey BBQ sauce sandwiched between the flatbread crust ($8.79). I admit I haven't tried this one yet, but I plan to do it soon: The Buffalo Chicken, which is topped with a blend of my favorite Spicy Garlic sauce and bleu cheese dressing with chicken, celery bits and mozzarella cheese ($7.99).

If you like wraps, you'll find several here as well. I'm not a big fan, but Jack has tried and liked a couple, including the Grilled Chicken, which wraps up the chicken plus several cheeses, lettuce and tomato with his favorite sauce ($7.49). We've also sampled some sandwiches -- I'm partial to the hickory-smoked pulled pork, which is tossed in the sauce of your choice (in this instance, I prefer the Honey or Sweet BBQ). If you're very hungry, you might try one of the "combo" meals, such as ribs with chicken tenders, popcorn shrimp or wings.

As I mentioned back in the beginning, the "Bar" part of the B-Dubs name isn't for nothing; you'll find a vast array of both draft and on-tap beer here. Sometimes, you get really lucky; at the Oregon location, for instance, we learned that 16-ounce drafts of Dos Equis -- definitely high on both our Top 5 beer lists -- were going for $3, so of course we took advantage of that opportunity several times over. Since you asked, we share the No. 1 preference as well, Yuengling, which (alas!) isn't sold in Ohio. Thank goodness we live within 15 minutes or so from a Pennsylvania drive-thru (and not all that far from that B-Dubs in Erie)!

If you go: Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar
950 Great East Plaza
Niles, Ohio 44446
330-505-2999
Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week
http://www.buffalowildwings.com
Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week; check the Web site for other locations including Youngstown, Austintown and Boardman.

TONY PACKO'S

Blogger's note: In the introduction to this blog at the left, I warned readers I'd stray from the local region from time to time. This is one of those times -- and if you're ever anywhere near Toledo, Ohio, I hope you won't miss this place.

“I think I’ve died and gone to Heaven” probably isn’t the best way to describe an outstanding culinary experience. But if you ever get the chance to eat at Tony Packo’s, I think you'll understand.

If the name sounds a bit familiar, it should. Jamie Farr, who played Corporal Max Klinger on the popular show “M*A*S*H,” is a native of Toledo, Ohio. In one of the episodes, Klinger told a newspaper reporter that Tony Packo’s had the “greatest Hungarian hot dogs” – and the reference subsequently was written into five more shows plus the final episode in 1983.

About four years ago, my husband Jack and I had reason to visit Toledo, and since we were familiar with the “M*A*S*H” reference, the restaurant was at the top of our list of places to have a meal. Since then, we’ve been back several times -- twice accompanied by new-to-Packo's friends -- and we've placed a couple of orders for non-perishable goodies online to enjoy back at home as well.

In fact, Packo’s has been a staple in Toledo since Tony Packo, the son of Hungarian immigrants, opened a sandwich and ice cream shop in 1932 with his wife, Rose. In 1935, they needed more space and purchased a distinctive wedge-shaped building at the intersection of Front and Consaul streets. Today, there are five locations in the Toledo area, but if you're a first-timer, this is the only way to go.

Dining here is quite an experience; the restaurant retains an authentic ethnic flavor, complete with red-and-white checked oilcloth on the tables. You can’t miss what has become a Tony Packo’s tradition; when celebrities visit here, they “autograph” a hot dog bun, which is then hermetically sealed in plastic and hung on the wall (for the record, a server let us in on a secret -- the buns aren't real). Plenty of big names have been “hot doggers” here over the years, from Alice Cooper to Bill and Hillary Clinton to Jerry Seinfeld to The Donald (for the full story on how this came about, visit Packo's Web site).

Since what we eat here hasn't varied much over the years, I'll reference our most recent visit earlier this month, when we traveled to Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon, Ohio (just outside Toledo) to attend the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse Waterfront Festival. Since we couldn't check into our motel till mid-afternoon, once we'd made our initial tour of the festival grounds, we headed into town for a much-anticipated lunch at Packo's. And I must say, we certainly weren't disappointed -- not that for one second we expected to be. The menu isn't what I'd call expansive in terms of the number of choices, but there's more than enough here to satisfy any family member of any age. Hey, lives there a kid out there who refuses to eat hot dogs?

If you want, you can start with an appetizer; for something a bit different, try the fried pickles (Packo's original pickles and peppers breaded and deep fried and served with a choice of dipping sauces. Or, how about a "Chili Sundae?" No ice cream, but the restaurant's delicious chili layered with sour cream and shredded lettuce in a sundae glass with warm taco chips on the side.

The chili, in fact, is a huge part of my "to-die-for" reasoning; it's survived more than seven decades after its introduction, and it's absolutely delicious (with awards to prove it). Filled with finely chopped meat, chili beans and oodles of flavor, it packs a decent, but not off-putting, "heat" wallop.

The best way to get the full flavor of the Packo's experience, in my humble opinion, is to stick with one of the simple classics. On our most recent visit, for instance, we both ordered Tony Packo's Hot Dog Combo #1 (how's that for name originality)? No matter; what you get, for $8.49, is a famous hot dog with mustard, diced onions and "secret" sauce, a bowl or the chili (which now comes in regular, chicken or vegetarian) and your choice of one side dish. Not a chili lover, Jack substituted a bowl of chicken-and-dumpling soup, which was quite good. For sides, he picked the sauerkraut simmered in tomato sauce, while I insisted on the paprika dumplings with gravy -- for me, nothing else will do.

For the record, there are several varieties of hot dogs, including plain, so don't hesitate to ask for something different if you don't want the works. And if you love chili, you might try the Chili Mac, with the chili spread over dumplings and topped with shredded cheddar and onions. This delicacy comes with either cole slaw or creamy cucumber salad and bread and butter.

Another item of note: Those wonderful pickles. There are several varieties, all of which can be purchased in the gift shop or online. With each meal, though, you get my favorite -- the delectable Sweet Hot Pickles & Peppers. It's hard to describe the sensation of sweet pickle slices combined with hot, thick-sliced banana peppers on your tongue, but it's just wonderful.

It's rare that either of us has room for dessert after chowing down on all these goodies (plus a couple of beers), but if you do, there are a couple of don't miss items. Our favorite is the warm apple dumpling -- succulent apple slices in pastry flavored with cinnamon and other spices with the must-do option of adding ice cream (for $3.69), although the apple, cherry or "special fruit strudels are a quite acceptable alternative.

Once you're finished, be sure to stop in the gift shop. If you loved those pickles, I guarantee some of your friends will as well, and jars make great gifts. Plenty of other "stuff" awaits your perusal as well, from the requisite tourist T-shirts (I own two) to newer barbecue aprons. In the event you just can't bring yourself to waddle into the shop, though, be comforted by the fact that a few products, most notably the pickles, can be purchased back home in Giant Eagle supermarkets and Patton's IGA in Hubbard. Or, visit Packo's Web site and order online; just be aware that shipping costs are high for heavy, breakable items like pickles.

Finally, if you really want to be in the "with it" crowd, you can follow Tony Packo's (as I do) on Facebook and Twitter.

If you go:

Tony Packo’s
1902 Front St.
Toledo, OH 43605
(419) 691-1953
www.tonypackos.com
Open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday Noon to 9 p.m.

SUNRISE INN

I'm not a native of northeastern Ohio -- I was born in Indiana and grew up on a small farm on the southwest side of the Buckeye State -- but I've lived in this neck of the woods ever since I left home to start college at Kent State University way back in 1959. A few years later, I married a guy from Niles, and that's been my home ever since.

One of the disadvantages of living in rural Ohio way back when (although of course I didn't realize it at the time) was an almost total lack of ethnic food. For the most part, we grew what we ate, all lovingly cooked from scratch by a hard-working Mom who was proud to call herself a "housewife." To this day, I clearly remember my first taste of what was called "pizza pie" -- an oven-warmed triangle of red sauce topped by too-hot melted cheese that was sold to the kids at the public swimming pool in Union City, Indiana, for the first time when I was in junior high. It was totally new, totally delicious, and my introduction to the wonderful world of Italian food.

Then when I hit the city of Niles, with its large Italian population, I thought I'd died and gone to Heaven. I lost count of the times we went to the long-gone Jerry's Inn or still popular Alberini's Restaurant for what my husband Jack and I still call the best-ever pizza. Spaghetti and meatballs? Speaking as someone who grew up on cans of Chef Boyardee, I couldn't get enough of the "real" thing.

All this brings me to the subject of this blog, Sunrise Inn in Warren, Ohio -- because for years, it's been my absolute favorite place for spaghetti. To me, the sauce is absolutely wonderful, and the best I've had anywhere; relatively thick and slightly sweet, it has a flavor beyond compare. We've gone there with regularity for many years, and I've never been disappointed.

That's not to say, though, that we haven't tried -- and loved -- other things, not the least of which is the Sunrise Inn pizza. On many occasions, we've stopped in just to sit at the bar for a couple of beers and a couple of slices of bar pizza -- most often the old-fashioned Old World (sometimes known as Brier Hill), topped with a wonderful red sauce, slightly spicy pepperoni and sprinkle cheese. Once in a while I'll try a slice of deep-dish, spinach or veggie pizza -- all delicious -- but in the end the hands-down favorite is the Old World.

We're also quite fond of several other entrees, some Italian, some not; one of my favorites, for instance, is tortellini -- cheese or spinach, your choice, both delicious -- for $8.99. Jack regularly opts for lasagna, which stands at least 4 inches high and covers most of a plate counting the spillover sauce. And Chef Boyardee be darned, the ravioli here is absolutely wonderful. Still another hard-to-go-wrong items are eggplant parmesan and seafood linguine with either red or white sauce -- although lately the latter has become a Friday-only option.

Sunrise Inn is also the go-to place for garlic chicken; that and pizza are popular take-out items. Every time we eat here, we watch quite a number of folks come in to pick up orders they've called in. My preference is the four-piece all dark (Jack prefers the same but all-white) for $7.65; both come with a large Texas potato slice and cole slaw.

Recent years also have brought the addition of roasted prime rib, available for $9.99 on Thursdays and Sundays. It's wonderfully flavored and cooked to perfection -- and at least for me, there's always plenty left for lunch or dinner the next day.

Also more recently is the addition of "Eleven for Eleven" on the menu; as you might expect, there are 11 entrees priced at, well...On a recent visit with friends Jerry and Barb (and a $25 certificate we snagged from Restaurant.com), it was this menu that got our full attention. Consider the following:

Tuna Lorenz, yellowfin tuna suteed with capers, mushrooms, carrots and broccoli in lemon-sherry-butter sauce (for me); Seafood Marinara, Blue Island mussels, black tiger shrimp, tilapia and chopped clams sauteed with garlic in marinara sauce over linguine (Jack); Chicken Monterrey, two breasts with green peppers, artichoke hearts, diced tomatoeas and green onions in garlic butter sauce with Monterrey Jack cheese over rice pilaf (Jerry); and Blackened Pork Chops Au Blu, center-cut chops with blackened seasoning, blue cheese, bacon and caramelized onions over crispy potatoes (Barb).

Needless to say, we sampled each others' entrees, and every one of us said we'd have been quite satisfied with any of the others' choices. The chicken was especially tasty (I love artichoke hearts), and the chops were juicy and tender -- what's not to love about blue cheese?

It goes without saying that we all came back for more; this time, Barb's choice was the "Po Boy" crabcake with remoulade, lettuce, tomato, red onion and cole slaw on a boule for $8.69, while Jerry opted for chicken parmesan, or strips of chicken with onion, peppers, pineapple chunks for $9.39. I stuck with my favorite meat-filled ravioli with toasted garlic bread ($8.99), while Jack, who wasn't quite as hungry, decided on a small order of spaghetti for $7.49 but added mushrooms for an additional 99 cents plus a cup of the delicious tomato bisque.

Everything was absolutely delicious as usual, but Barb was astounded at the size of the crab cake (for the record, it was the biggest one I've ever seen, even on the Atlantic Coast). It tasted even better, although she was able to eat only about half and took the rest home. Noticing that the same crab cake is on the dinner menu, we asked about it -- and our server told us the dinner has not one, but two, of the same huge crab cakes (you'll find it on the Eleven Under Eleven menu).

On still another visit, this time with a coupon for up to $8 off on two dinner entrees from the Entertainment Book, I couldn't resist that "Under Eleven" menu and just had to try the linguine-tuna primavera, with mushrooms, onions, broccoli, carrots and peas in light cream sauce topped with toasted almonds. It was, in three words, to die for. Jack, however, decided on the more classic lasagna, adding a salad for 99 cents.

I feel compelled to add that entrees come with fresh-baked Italian bread; it's hard to resist, but be careful. It's quite dense, and consuming a slice or two can fill you up before your meals arrive. We've learned to pace ourselves, taking the leftover bread home for later.

If you go:

Sunrise Inn
510 E. Market St.
Warren, Ohio 44481
(330) 392-5176

GASOLINE ALLEY

Wouldn't you like to get away where everybody knows your name? How about a place where everybody knows what you like to drink as well? Both are hallmarks of Gasoline Alley in Niles, where you're a "regular" if you've been there a couple of times. All we have to do is grab a booth, and almost before we're settled in our seats, a smiling server -- who most likely is the bartender as well -- is on the way with a Sam Adams, a Michelob Ultra and one glass (the latter two for me).

Of course, that's a small problem if you've decided on something else that day -- once in a Blue Moon I prefer one of those, and occasionally a Bud Lite Lime sounds appealing. When that's the case, be forewarned that you need to yell out your change in drinking habits early on!

Gasoline Alley basically is a fun neighborhood pub and a popular gathering place for friends; a bar takes up most of one side of the place, with booths on the other side and a row of small round tables in the center aisle (and yes, it can get a bit crowded and noisy, especially in the evenings). There's nothing on tap here, by the way; for beer, it's bottles only, but there's a full bar. A couple of TV sets are always going, menus are on each table and a big whiteboard on the wall lists daily specials. The decor is decidedly, well, gasoline -- old license plates cover the walls and old-time gasoline company neon signs hang from the ceiling like Polly Gas and Johnson Gasolene. At the back, there are a few additional booths and a couple of full-size, though presumably nonworking, gas pumps.

Neighborhood bar notwithstanding, Gasoline Alley has a reputation for great food -- definitely the primary reason my husband Jack and I stop here at least once a week (well, that and the fact that it's very close to home). The Alley is best known for burgers, chili and wings; the latter two have won awards. Those items also are among our "standards," although we've been known to venture away from those to try one of the daily specials, like a delicious green pepper and egg sandwich on a sub-style bun ($3.75). Another favorite that's offered occasionally is sloppy joes -- they're quite delicious, so if you see them on the specials board, don't hesitate to dive in.

My usual burger is the Hot Rod, a bacon cheeseburger with hot pepper cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo. The full platter, with a side of those wonderful Idora Park-style fries that are best when sprinkled with vinegar, is $6.50. Jack's burger of choice is the Alley Platter, 1/4-lb. burger with grilled onions and melted cheddar cheese (the platter, with fries, also is $6.50). The chili dogs are delicious too -- topped with New Castle dog sauce -- and at just $1.75 we can pig out on two or three. If we're really hungry, we'll add an order of those Idora-style fries, which are topped with crumbled bacon, green onions and melted cheddar cheese -- it's so big we've never been able to finish it.

The clam chowder ($2.75) is quite good here as well, but I'm partial to that award-winning chili. A 12-oz. bowl is $3.35 and so thick and meaty that it makes a meal in and of itself -- absolutely perfect on a cold winter day. I had a big bowl, in fact, on the way home from the movies to see "Sherlock Holmes" back on Dec. 13 (it was about 3:30 on a Wednesday afternoon and the place was almost completely filled -- yes, this is a popular place). Still another favorite of mine is the Cincinnati chili, or spaghetti topped with chili just like I used to love when I was growing up in southwestern Ohio not far from Cincy ($7.75 gets you a huge plate of the stuff plus a large slice of yummy toasted, buttered garlic bread).

Still another of Jack's favorite sandwiches is the plain old BLT -- a very basic sandwich but one they do well here. He always asks for, and gets, the bacon crisp, very little lettuce and lots of mayo. One of my picks that was on the specials-of-the-day board is a bourbon chicken sandwich with fries; the bourbon sauce was especially delicious, so I hope to see that one back on the board soon.

The wings here are truly special; large, plump and juicy with plenty of great-tasting sauce choices. Our favorites are, in rank order, garlic butter, Louisiana garlic butter and teriyaki. Usually, we get two different flavors, 10 of each for $6.25. Buckets of 50 go for $25, and I should note that there's always someone at the counter picking up a take-out order. My guess is that wings are by far the most popular item on the menu, but plenty of other choices -- including a substantial list of appetizers like deep fried veggies and mac-and-cheese bites and tasty sandwiches -- are yours for the asking as well. You won't need to raid your kids' piggy banks to eat here, either; the prices are among the most reasonable you'll find anywhere.

If you're going for the first time, you won't go wrong by ordering chili, wings or burgers -- always on the menu and always delicious. But when you go back, don't hesitate to be a bit more adventurous and try a different kind of sandwich -- say the hot sausage or a couple of those chili dogs with New Castle sauce -- or one of the daily specials. You'll be glad you came!

If you go: Gasoline Alley
500 Vienna Ave.
Niles, Ohio 44446
(330) 652-0555

Korner Restaurant

On the outside, the Korner Restaurant isn't likely to be called an architectural marvel. But don't be fooled; the number of cars and trucks in the parking lot -- and number of tables filled with obviously satisfied diners inside -- tell the real tale here. In fact, it's hard to beat for good, stick-to-your-ribs food served up in a pleasant, family-friendly atmosphere.

In the interest of full disclosure, this place was recommended by friend and host of "The Valley View," Mike Costarella. But the fact is, we'd eaten there more than once before he spoke up. Not long before the first of our two "official" visits, for instance, we stopped with friends on our way home from sipping (and buying) some wine at the Mastropietro Winery in Berlin Center. Although at that time we weren't thinking about tracking what we had to eat, I do recall that the four of us agreed that whatever it was we ate was delicious.

We paid attention to the details on our first official visit, noting the colorful Fiesta dinnerware, including coffee mugs ready for filling already on our table. Fiesta, for those who might not know, is made by the Homer Laughlin China Co. of Newell, West Virginia, across the Ohio River not far from East Liverpool. The silverware at the restaurant is "packaged" in little paper bags -- a very neat and tidy idea. The red brick building exterior is carried over to some of the interior walls, and the wood trim is painted in complementary turquoise, blue and maroon. Immediately, we felt we were in a "home-town" kind of place; diners were conversing with other diners -- even those who sat at other tables -- and the atmosphere was low-key and comfortable.

In addition to a diner-style service counter, there are a couple of rooms with tables and booths plus a back room that has a long table to accommodate groups; in fact, it was in use at our lunch visit by, we were told, some local government officials. Specials are listed on boards; one that caught my eye on this occasion was a chicken salad sandwich with lettuce and tomato with French fries or soup for $4 and the beef barley and chicken rice soups of the day.

Immediately, I zeroed in on one section of the menu: The "7 Under 7" -- dinners priced at $6.99 each. Still another menu insert lists meals for those who need or want to be nutrition-conscious; called "Delicious and Nutritious," the foods listed include information on protein, carbs, fat and calories. We saw a bevvy of sandwiches and wraps, ranging in price from $2.49 for grilled cheese to $4.99 each for a couple of fancied-up hamburgers. Several varieties of pasta and salads are offered as well, also at good prices.

My husband Jack first considered a tuna salad wrap at $4.99 and the open-face roast beef with potatoes and vegetables from the $6.99 menu, but after much deliberation, he ended up ordering an open-face hot roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy for $5.99. My decision was made far more quickly; once I saw the grilled ham and pierogies with a veggie on the $6.99 menu, that was all she wrote. For the record, it was the pierogies, not the ham, that turned the tide; I'll follow those wonderful stuffed goodies anywhere.

Immediately, our server brought a basket of bread and crackers and our drinks -- diet Coke and unsweetened iced tea, respectively, at $1.29 each. Jack's open-face sandwich arrived on a very large oval platter not much later; although it seemed to him there was plenty of gravy to go around, our server asked him if it was enough to suit him (it was). His vegetable of choice was corn, and there was plenty of that as well. The beef, he said, was exceptionally tender and flavorful, and the potatoes tasted "real."

My plate also was large, filled with three large pierogies topped with grilled onions; before bringing it, our server asked if I wanted sour cream, and since I answered in the affirmative, she brought that as well. Also on the plate were three ample-sized triangles of grilled ham, unexpectedly topped with a few mandarin oranges. The ham was wonderfully grilled and had a great flavor. For a side, I ordered the mixed veggies -- broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and zucchini. The entire meal including soft drinks totaled $18.10, and for that amount we left with very full stomachs.

Our son Scott and daughter-in-law Lilla recently moved into a new house in Cuyahoga Falls, inviting us and a few other family members and guests to a very informal housewarming party shortly thereafter. On the way home, we decided to stop at the Korner Restaurant for dinner. Although we weren't very hungry -- we'd been well fed at the party, after all -- we figured we'd get something that would reheat well for lunch the next day.

This time, we were more familiar with the menu, so decisions came more quickly. Jack immediately zeroed in on the bourbon beef tips with caramelized onions, mushrooms and a bourbon glaze ($10.99). For sides, he chose a garden salad with Thousand Island dressing plus macaroni and cheese. Ever the seafood fanatic, I settled on baked Norwegian cod -- a baked filet "lightly seasoned" for $9.99. I, too, picked a garden salad (but with Italian dressing) plus a cup of the chicken-rice soup that was a special that day.

Our salads featured crisp greens plus some tomato, chopped onions, carrots and celery; the chicken-rice soup was on the creamy side with onions, carrots and rice, none of which overwhelmed the tasty broth. As expected, Jack was able to bring home plenty of the delicious beef tips as well as more than half the mac-and-cheese (which I in particular enjoyed devouring once we got back home). For the record, it was made not with the expected elbow macaroni, but rather with small-size rigatoni, and the sauce was creamy and delicious.

The Norwegian cod was a good-size plank that was almost too lightly seasoned to have much flavor, but the lemon and tartar sauce compensated. I always find that once you get more than half an hour from the ocean, you can expect that fish will be cooked far longer than necessary, so I wasn't at all surprised that it happened here as well. That said, it was quite good. Better still, I was able to eat only about half of what was on my plate, and I'm happy to report that the rest ended up chopped and added to the linguine with white clam sauce I made for dinner the following day.

As we were eating, I noticed that a couple of the servers' t-shirts proclaimed, "Small Place, Big Taste" -- apparently the restaurant's motto. On our way out, I noticed some ground and whole-bean coffee sold by the bag (16 oz. ground for $6.95), a house blend "Gourmet European Roast Coffee" with the motto on the bag as well. Coffee-lover that I am, I bought one, and it's quite good. It's an all-purpose down-home morning coffee as opposed to French roast and stronger blends like I buy at Starbucks, but it seemed to me to be a cut above the basic grocery-story Maxwell House variety and well worth buying again next time we head for the Korner -- which will be soon. Hope to see you there!

If you go: Korner Restaurant
9177 Mahoning Ave.
North Jackson, Ohio
(330) 538-9963

Open Wednesday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. ; closed Monday and Tuesday.