Great food, scenic parks and plenty of fun things to see and do all four seasons of the year at reasonable prices make Ohio's Mahoning Valley a great place to live and visit. This blog is intended to showcase some of the possibilities in the hope that you'll join us soon -- and often!
Count my husband Jack and I among those who suffered hunger withdrawal pains back when the Chi-Chi's restaurants bit the dust. Often, we'd pop in the Niles location near Eastwood Mall for a margarita or pitcher of sangria; almost as often, we'd end up in the restaurant, where the seafood enchiladas were to die for. Alas, amigos, it was not to be forever.
Sometime thereafter, we learned that a new restaurant called O'Charley's would be opening at that location. Owned and operated by Covelli Enterprises of Warren -- one of a 50-store franchise agreement signed in 2005 between Covelli and O'Charley's Inc. of Nashville, Tenn. -- it would join the local casual dining family restaurant category. O'Phoo, we said -- not that we don't like these places, but do we really need another of the Applebee's, Chili's and Ruby Tuesday eat-alikes? No, we said to each other, it was doubtful we'd ever be regular customers. And by golly, we had to eat our words. From the very first visit, we felt right at home here. For openers, the atmosphere is far more pleasant than those other casual dining places. I love the dark, rich wood, old photos from the Niles area on the walls and booths that are arranged for optimal privacy. Greeters and servers are friendly and pleasant -- not the overly exuberant, excessively perky types who act as though they're your best friend the second you walk in the door. Another plus: A lack of the usual restaurant noise. There's no loud music to drown outconversation, no banging and clattering of dishes, no servers shouting out orders. In short, it's a comfortable place to enjoy a great meal in relative peace and quiet.
And then, of course, there's the most important part: The wonderful food.
Early on, we learned that salads here are not to be missed. At one lunch adventure, we made a halfhearted attempt at eating healthy, ordering soup and salads. Our server's suggestion swayed both of us toward the Chicken Harvest soup, which she described as "like chicken potpie in a bowl" (it's a menu regular). It was both one of the thickest and most delicious soups I've ever had -- I swear I could have turned the cup upside down without spilling any of those tasty noodles, vegetable bits and chicken -- and at $2.99 a cup, it was hearty enough to make a meal all by itself.
The salads aren't inexpensive -- the Pecan Chicken Tender (my choice) was $9.49 and the Cajun Chicken Jack picked was $8.99 -- but they were so large there was plenty left over to take home. Mine was Romaine lettuce topped with pecan-encrusted chicken "O'tenders" (what else?) plus mandarin oranges, crumbled bleu cheese, dried cranberries and honey roasted pecans. Add a tasty balsamic vinaigrette dressing -- all are served on the side here, by the way -- and I was in salad Heaven. Our conversation slowed to a crawl as I dived into my salad and Jack discovered the spicy blackened chicken, shredded cheeses and tomatoes on fresh greens, all spiced up with O'Charley's signature ranch dressing. Oh yes, the chicken on both salads was cut into manageable chunks and quite tasty as well.
These days, many restaurants are offering "twofer" deals, and O'Charley's is no exception. Not long ago, we were hungry and stopped in to take advantage of a two-meals-for-$14.99 offer. Needless to say, the first problem was deciding what to choose. We were tempted by several possibilities, including a Wild West Burger topped with melted Monterrey Jack cheese, crispy bacon, fried onion tanglers and "zesty" Cajun-horseradish sauce and the Cajun Shrimp & Grits (jumbo New Orleans-style shrimp sauteed and served with onions, peppers, tomatoes and chopped bacon over cheddar cheese grits). In the end, though -- recalling that yummy Chicken Harvest soup -- I decided on the Chicken Harvest Pot Pie, while Jack opted for the Prime Rib Philly sandwich with seasoned fries.
Neither of us was disappointed, and neither did we go home hungry. The sandwich consisted of thinly sliced prime rib on a toasted hoagy roll topped with sauteed mushrooms, onions, peppers and melted Monterrey Jack cheese. The pot pie, which I highly recommend, was a down-home mixture of pulled chicken, carrots, celery, peas and mushrooms in a creamy "harvest" sauce, all piled on top of smashed potatoes and topped with puff pastry. And the taste? To die for; and because the pot pie is so large, I was able to enjoy the other half back at home the next day.
We also noticed that O'Charley's is serving prime rib every day after 4 p.m., so since that's a favorite (and Jack's prime rib sandwich was so delicious), we definitely plan a return trip to try the whole enchilada (with all due respect and a tip of the sombrero to Chi-Chi's).
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the wonderful fresh-baked rolls with honey butter that accompany the entrees. They're a signature item and quite delicious. In fact, if you stop by O'Charley's Web site (see the address below), do check out the video titled "The Story of Our Rolls." It's hokey as all get-out, but very well done and brings home the point in an interesting, unique way.
O'Charley's also serves up a mean Sunday brunch, although not with the typical buffet. Instead, there are off-the-menu items ranging from a wonderful open-face spinach and mushroom omelette ($7.99) to a hefty hunk of that slow-roasted, prime rib rubbed with herbs and spices (10-ounce portion, $14.99). Sandwiches here are especially tasty; my favorite is the Mushroom Swiss Bacon Burger topped with just what you'd expect to find given the name ($8.49). And appetizers? Plentiful and delicious as well; here, I'm particularly fond of the Authentic Spinach & Artichoke Dip that comes with warm, crisp tortilla chips ($6.99).
While I'm on the subject of appetizers, I'll let you in on a little secret: If you find a restaurant you especially love, go to the Web site and, if possible, sign up to get periodic e-mails alerting you to special deals, happenings, and such. When I did just that at O'Charley's, I received a printable coupon within minutes giving me a free appetizer with the purchase of an entree. You don't have to use the coupons if you don't want to, but why miss out on the opportunity? I recommend creating a special "throw-away" e-mail address to use for this purpose so you don't clog up your primary e-mailbox (and then be sure to check it regularly, since most of the special deals and freebies come with expiration dates).
Also as I mentioned before, O'Charley's has a very nice full bar -- and some absolutely wonderful drinks to go with it. We stop in every once in a while for Happy Hour (at the moment, it's from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., when select appetizers are half price, domestic draft beer is $2 and "basic" margaritas are $4. Well drinks are inexpensive, too, and last time I was there the bartender made a mean gin and tonic with lime. If you'd like something a bit fancier, you might try a tangerine pomegranate margarita, a glass of sangria, or perhaps a special Raspberry Limoncello, which is made with Chambord black raspberry, Caravella Limoncello, lemon and lime juice and a splash of cherry and served in a martini glass ($6.49). Yum!
If you go:O'Charley's 5789 Mines Road Niles, OH 44446 (330) 288-0066
Open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. (brunch served from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
If any restaurant has earned the right to be dubbed the "granddaddy" of casual sit-down eateries in the local region, it just might be Quaker Steak & Lube. Somewhere around a 25 years ago, it was, among other things, a popular gathering place for students and faculty members from the Penn State Shenango Campus in Sharon, Pa. (in the interest of full disclosure, I had the privilege of joining the fun with them on several occasions). The wings were delicious -- even if the joke was that they were plucked from notoriously teeny chickens -- and the beer was icy cold. If we wanted something more substantial, the burgers, steaks and seafood filled the bill nicely.
What a difference a quarter of a century makes! Not only have the wings thankfully grown to larger proportions, the number of restaurants has grown as well; today, there are 37 in about 12 states. Last year, Quaker Steak opened six new units, and another six (at least) are on tap for this year, according to company reports.
In fact, the origins of the motorsports-themed restaurant are reminiscent of what's happening today. This country's first gas crisis happened in 1974, sending prices sky high and resulting in the closing of gas stations. Two local "boys," George Warren III and Gary Meszaros, wanted a way to keep the memory of those old gas stations and gas-guzzling (and fast disappearing) muscle cars alive. They found it by opening Quaker Steak & Lube, where old cars were displayed. That theme has been carried out in all the restaurants; today, old cars and trucks, vintage motorcycles and more catch diners' attention -- generally hanging directly above patrons' heads from the ceiling. The food, too, is consistent throughout the chain; when we're on the road, my husband and I often will head to a Quaker Steak for lunch or dinner, whether we're in Columbus, Erie, Pa., or Newport News, Va., always knowing we're not in for an unpleasant surprise. As might be expected, the menu reflects the motorsports theme as well. The huge onion rings that are wonderfully crunchy on the outside and juicy tender on the inside are delivered on an "antenna"; signature sandwiches have names like Mustang Chicken, and kids chow down on Kids Lube Cruiser meals, served in a custom Lube Cruiser racing car they can take home.
The main attraction, of course, is the wings; more than 70 million reportedly are served up each year. That "Supercharged" sauce -- which back in the day was called "Atomic" -- is so hot that diners are asked to sign a release form before taking a taste. This, of course, means a die-hard heat-seeking freak like me would make a beeline to try them, right? In truth, no -- but it's not because I'm afraid of burnout. In fact, I'm not a big fan of barbecue-flavored wings at all; I'd much rather stick to flavors like Asian Sesame, Golden Garlic and Parmesan Pepper, which has the distinction of being my all-time favorite.
That is, until recently. Back when it was introduced, I fell in love with the flavor of the buttery sauce swimming with shredded parmesan cheese and cracked pepper. In fact, I actually craved it; more than once, I'd get a hankering for an order and beg my "driver" hubby to get me to The Lube as fast as he could -- there's a relatively new one closer to us in Austintown now. But then, everything went South as the sauce suddenly became a heavy, thick, clingy concoction that was so overpoweringly rich I could barely stand to eat a single wing, let alone a whole order -- even though the flavor remained close to the original. So if you're reading this, guys, please gimme back that original, and irresistible, parmesan pepper sauce -- this new version will never pass my lips again!
Of course, there's much more to enjoy at The Lube than the wings -- the burgers, steaks and seafood are just as good today as they were back in the days when I hung out with the college crowd. My hubby enjoys the newer grilled boneless wings -- usually in the ranch flavor ($7.99 for a single order) -- and one of my favorites, especially since the transformation of that parmesan pepper sauce, is the "Biker Chick" chopped salad ($8.99). It's romaine lettuce with dried cranberries, grilled boneless chicken and strawberries with Wildberry Poppyseed dressing -- and it's wonderful! When we're in the mood for sandwiches, our favorites include the corned beef reuben ($8.29) and turkey bacon club ($8.59). Another very new menu addition is the The flatbread pizza, called "Flatbed Flatbreads" in keeping with the automotive theme. They're available in Philly Cheese Steak, Southwest BBQ Chicken and California Veggie Ranch versions, and they're excellent.
The menu of course has evolved over the years, and it's quite possible more changes are in the works as evidenced by last month's hiring of Dudley McMahon in the newly created position of vice president of culinary development and purchasing. McMahon, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America who's accumulated considerable experience at chains similar in style to Quaker Steak & Lube, worked with Quaker Steak President and CEO Ken Cole for six years at the California-based Sizzler restaurants and for three at Damon's International in Columbus.
“Chef Dudley’s research and development, purchasing and operations experience will help us build on that heritage as The Lube continues to expand into new U.S. and international markets," Cole stated in a February news release, noting that Quaker Steak & Lube opened six units last year, and with at least that many scheduled for this year, the 37-unit chain’s growth is in high gear.
Exactly what Dudley will add to the organization isn't known yet, but we'll certainly keep our fingers crossed (hey, maybe he won't like that new parmesan garlic sauce either)!
So popular are the Quaker Steak restaurants that if you go at a "regular" lunch or dinner hour, it's likely you'll have a wait. A favorite "trick" of ours is arriving somewhere around 1:30 p.m. -- a bit late for lunch, but still in time to enjoy Quaker Steak's wonderful lunch buffet (which ends around 2:30). I'm not quoting prices for much here since they can vary depending on the restaurant location, but the lunch buffet goes for somewhere around $7.99 and is, in my opinion, a real bargain. Do be aware, though, that there's no buffet on Saturdays.
At our most recent visit, we filled up on meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, at least one flatbread pizza, clam chowder and cream of carrot soups, salads and a variety of desserts. Oh yes, and one flavor of boneless wings (Golden Garlic) and two of the regular wings (Ranch and Buffalo). The salad bar had a bowl of chopped lettuce as well as regular pulled-apart kind -- always a plus for me -- and the tomatoes are finely chopped as well (also a plus). Toppings included red raisins, hot banana peppers and jalapenos, and the several dressings including Hidden Valley Ranch (which I chose). I also tried some of the three-bean salad and a couple of the Tai-flavored chicken bites that weren't on the published buffet menu.
The green beans had a tasty seasoning and were deliciously interspersed with sliced red peppers. The meatloaf was tender and juicy, the gravy tasty. I got two ranch wings -- not necessarily my favorite, but good -- before our server told us if we wanted a flavor that wasn't on the buffet that day, they'd be happy to make up special orders of five or six of any flavor I wanted (we declined on this day, but the fact that it's an option sure is a great idea and one we filed away in our heads for the next time).
Among the several desserts were banana custard and fresh-fried dough that resembled a cross between elephant ears and curly waffles, the latter of which could be topped with a variety of temptations like cherries and chocolate sauce. The chocolate dipped pretzel sticks were tempting, but I forced myself to "settle" for a few chocolate-covered strawberries. At the end of our meal, our server delivered, as is customary, warm wetnaps to clean our sticky fingers and a couple of those yummy red Twizzler sticks.
If your appetite is bigger still, don't miss the buffet on Sundays. It, too, ends at 2:30 p.m., and it's all you can eat for $11.99. This is an especially great deal; if you order straight off the menu and get a wings-and-rings combo, for instance, it will set you back close to $11; so why not spend another buck and eat your heart out?
Buffet items the day we were there included fresh chef-cooked scrambled eggs with red peppers, onions and cheese, bacon strips and sausage links, buttermilk biscuits and thick white gravy, a waffle station with toppings like chocolate sauce, whipped cream and syrup and more -- and that's just the "breakfast" items. Ham slices, sausage and peppers, peel-and-eat shrimp, macaroni and cheese, hash browns and a salad table (the Caesar is especially good) and two kinds of wings were among the heartier fare (and yes, you can order other flavors of wings at this buffet as well).
It's always fun to eat inside the restaurants, but when the weather permits, it's even more fun -- for us, at least -- to sit outdoors. Both the Sharon and Austintown locations have open patios of sorts; while the views are less than spectacular, those yummy wings always seem to taste even better when they're mixed with fresh air and sunshine.
If you go:
Quaker Steak & Lube 101 Chestnut St. Sharon, PA 16146 (800) HOT-WING www.quakersteakandlube.com
Open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to Midnight; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Note: The site listed is the original Quaker Steak & Lube. There are a number of other locations, so check the Web site to find the one closest to where you are (or going to be). The full menu is available online as well.
Jeremiah was a bullfrog. And after visiting his very laid-back restaurant several times, he's definitely a good friend of mine!
Truth is, my husband Jack and I had driven past Jeremiah Bullfrogs Sports Bar & Grille in Austintown many times -- it's located in the Westin Center Plaza -- usually on the way to stop at the Panera Bakery Cafe for some of those wonderful Danish pastries or to have lunch at the Rotelli restaurant. Some day, we always said, we'll peek inside and see what it's like. That day finally arrived not long ago, when I had to make a quick run to Panera for a loaf of bread, after which we'd planned to head elsewhere to have lunch at one of our old familiar eateries. While I was at Panera, though, Jack wandered a couple of doors down to check out Jeremiah's.
When we met up 10 minutes later, I was greeted by an enthusiastic, "Wait till you see this place -- you're gonna love it!"
As it turns out, truer words were never spoken. But if my words aren't enough to be convincing, consider this: be Within a week and a half of that first visit, we made two return trips.
For openers, this is our kind of atmosphere; the interior is quite large with plenty of uncrowded seating at booths and tables. There's a full bar for times we just want to pop in for a beer or perhaps a munchie or two during the Happy Hour that takes place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily, and with more than 30 flat-screen TV sets, we're always within view of whatever we'd like to watch. All around the walls are cardboard cut-outs and ceramic bullfrogs -- and even a few of the lyrics to "Joy to the World," a song written by Hoyt Axton made wildly popular by Three Dog Night.
Other than liking what I saw inside, though, my first real clue that I'd be very happy here was looking at the menu and seeing Antone's salad listed there. For years, I've actually craved that salad -- chopped iceberg and romaine lettuce tossed with tune, salami, Romano and mozzarella cheeses. Wow, I wondered, what's up with that?
As it turns out, Jeremiah Bullfrogs is owned by the folks at Antone's -- there's a second location in Boardman -- so the pasta and other offerings here are familiar to Antone's regulars as well (Antone's, for the record, has been an area staple since 1961). We even noticed Antone's gift baskets filled with tempting goodies perched atop some of the partitions that delineate various seating sections. The extensive list of appetizers and wings, the latter including a Jim Beam Bourbon sauce, got Jack's attention first. He ended up getting the Froggers' Sliders appetizer ($7.49) which consists of four miniature hamburgers with onions, pickles, American cheese and fries. To that, he added a cup of tomato basil soup ($3.99).
Needless to say, I wasted little time ordering the Antone's salad (with Antone's Italian dressing) as a side to my sausage penne marinara, one of the daily specials ($6.99). The pasta was loaded with green peppers, onions and plenty of sausage and marinara sauce and quite delicious. The salad, though, was a surprise. Yes, I'm very familiar with what I'd describe as my favorite-ever salad. What I didn't expect was the size; as a side, I figured it would be a relatively small portion.
Not so! In fact, it was so large -- and so mouth-watering -- that I scarfed up the entire thing and had no room for that wonderful pasta! Oh well, I reasoned, the pasta would be great for lunch the next day. It was, but I had to share it with Jack.
Jack's four sliders would have been about two too many for me, but he managed to eat all four. The fries were quite good as well, and there were plenty of them to share. The soup is an absolute standout; very very thick, full of finely chopped tomatoes and spices and, in short, just wonderful.
As we neared the end of our first meal here, I looked longingly at the list of "signature" hot chocolate drinks, all $4.95 and very "adult" beverages with tempting names like "Chocolate Cherries" (with Bailey's Irish Creme, grenadine and hot chocolate). Oooh, I signed -- no room left today. Maybe next time!
Next time we stopped in -- maybe a week later -- Jack simply had to have another cup of that great tomato basil soup. Our server pointed out that a cup is $3.99 and a bowl is just a dollar more, making the latter a much better deal (and yes, Jack agreed). To that he added a beef brisket sandwich with fries ($7.99) and one of the $5.99 pitchers of domestic draft beer. The brisket was delilcious, topped with hot peppers,mozzarella cheese and vinegar cole slaw on a grilled ciabatta hoagie. He did find a few hot pepper rings, which he fished out and gave to me.
Meantime, I decided to go big-time. For the month of February, Jeremiah's was offering half-slabs of their "Almost Famous" ribs accompanied by fries and slaw for $8.99, and that Jim Beam bourbon glaze sounded great. But then, I saw the chicken francaise and -- not being a huge ribs fan -- I went in that direction. For an extra 99 cents, I substituted that wonderful Antone's salad for the regular slaw, and chose pasta with red sauce for the second side. I could have had the pasta topped with the francaise sauce to "match" my chicken, but somehow that sounded like overkill.
The pan-fried chicken breasts were lightly breaded and topped with a delicious lemon wine sauce. The portions seemed a little small for the $11.99 price tag, but they were extremely tasty and satifying (besides, I'd filled up on that Antone's salad once again). This time, though, I didn't have any of the entree left to take home.
After a second great experience here, we returned once again -- and the third time was a charm as well, at least for me. This time, one of the daily specials was three bone-in ribs with four wings, fries and cole slaw for $6.99. Aha, I said, now I can try that Jim Beam bourbon sauce! Not being terribly hungry, Jack decided on the "Big Ol' Pepper and Egg sandwich $6.99; it was made with four eggs, hot, sweet or mixed peppers (he got the sweet), mozarella cheese and mayo on toasted Italian bread. Once again, he couldn't resist that tomato-basil soup -- he went straight for the bowl this time, asking for two spoons so I could help him finish it (as if he needed any).
The "regular" (non-vinegar) slaw is not finely shredded, but the sweet mayo dressing rivals my own -- which I consider to be the best in the world, for the record. The wings are on the small side and very, very crispy -- I chose the garlic sauce -- and at first, I thought they'd be too crunchy for me to eat (those of us who still have most of our teeth realize that the older they get, the more vulnerable they become). But they weren't too bad, and the garlic sauce was quite delicious and loaded with small pieces of garlic.
Turns out the Jim Beam sauce is delicious as well, and the the ribs were so fall-off-the-bone tender that it was impossible to pick one up -- I was "forced" to eat them with a fork. I should also note that the fries are quite tasty here as well, and I'm not a big fan of French fries. They are so plentiful, however, that we've never been able to come close to polishing off even a single side order.
As for Jack's egg sandwich, the best I can say is he was less than enthusiastic. To start, it was so large that it was virtually impossible to pick it up even though it was cut in half. The eggs were cooked rather like a pancake and almost brown on both sides -- more than a little overcooked and very lacking in flavor. That's one sandwich we won't try again, but there are plenty more on the extensive menu for us to try next time, and the next and the next!
Editor's Note: This update was added to the Jeremiah Bullfrogs review on March 5, 2010.
More recently, the sun decided to peek out (finally!) so Jack and I headed south through farm country to try out the replacement lens he just got for his Canon Digital Rebel XSi camera. On the way home, we were hungry and ended up at Jeremiah's, which has become an old standby. Once again, we weren't disappointed.
We had a coupon from the Entertainment Book that gave us a buy one, get one free lunch (up to $7 off), and when our server said it was good on anything from the list of entrees for the day, we stopped looking at the less expensive sandwiches and went straight to the good stuff. And boy, was it ever good!
For my entree, I chose the haddock at $9.99 -- broiled instead of fried -- which came with one side (mashed potatoes) and either fries or a tossed salad (the latter, with some of that wonderful Antone's House Italian dressing that's the same as on my favorite Antone's salad I mentioned earlier). Meanwhile, Jack couldn't resist the stuffed flounder at $11.99; knowing full well that I'm not a big fan of fries, he got those so we could share.
First came some of that wonderful fresh-baked bread, along with plenty of butter packets -- very unusual since at most restaurants you're lucky to get two or three. My salad was almost as good as the Antone's salad -- I've concluded that the dressing is close to half the appeal here. It's absolutely delicious.
Then the entrees were delivered, and oh my! My piece of haddock was quite substantial and swimming in a wonderful buttery sauce. Noticing that the mashed potatoes were plain, our server immediately asked if I'd like gravy (yes, ma'am). It arrived in short order -- a thick brown -- and it was excellent. And, it was plentiful enough that when I'd finished the mashed potatoes, I tried dipping a fry in the gravy bowl and discovered yet another treat.
My fish was quite tasty, and while it perhaps could have used 30 seconds less under the broiler, it was flaky, tender and nowhere near as overcooked as I find at most restaurants. Jack's flounder, though, was nothing short of outstanding. He raved ("This is the best meal I've had in a long, long time," he uttered when he came up for a breath between bites). It was wonderful; the stuffing was very flavorful, and whatever sauce was on top -- sort of a Hollandaise taste -- really made it outstanding. In short, it's a highly recommended dish and our complements went to the chef -- who for the record turned out to be the husband of our server (who said this is a favorite dish of hers as well).
This just in: Thanks to Mike Costarella, host of The Valley View, we'll be bringing some of this blog's restaurant reviews to listeners now and again. If you haven't tuned in to this interesting and informative talk radio broadcast that features interviews with "happening" people, now's the time to get in on the action. If you're a Facebook member (and if you're not, sign up -- it's free), enter The Valley View in the search box and add it to your list of friends! Mike will issue a notice each time a new show airs. For the record, Mike says the cute logo was drawn by his daughter.
Similarly, many thanks to Art Byrd and editor/writer Michele Ristich Gatts for promoting this blog in the "A Byrd's Eye View" free e-newsletter! Want to know what's going on in the Mahoning Valley's entertainment scene? Read well-thought-out reviews of movies, TV shows and such? Sign up to get this must-read e-newsletter (did I mention it's free?) by sending an e-mail to artbyrdagain@yahoo.com -- just add "SUBSCRIBE" to the subject line (minus the quotes, of course)! If you'd like to learn more about Art, check out the profile article on the YSU graduate in the Winter 2010 issue of the Youngstown State University Magazine.
But wait, there's more! As I write this (on Feb. 18, 2010), I just finished reading Art's new blog, "A Byrd's Eye View." You won't want to miss this, either -- and while you're there, sign up to follow Art on Twitter!
No bones about it: Smokey Bones has a new owner, but the food and atmosphere remain top-notch -- at least for now.Quite honestly, I was almost heartbroken back in 2007 when the former owner of Smokey Bones Barbecue & Grill, Darden Restaurants, sold the franchise. Darden, you may know, also owns the popular Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants, which are favorites of mine among the chain gang. Perhaps a year earlier, my husband and I discovered the Smokey Bones on South Avenue in Boardman, taking great pleasure in having a late lunch there when we made the trip from Niles to the Southern Park Mall or The Shops at Boardman Park (or both). The ribs here were absolutely the best anywhere -- even beating out our old favorite, Damon's -- and we were afraid that if the new owner of Smokey Bones, an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, didn't shut the whole thing down, everything would change for the worse.
So far, so good. Oh, I admit there are a few changes I wish hadn't been made, most notably that wonderful hot sauce that packed a real kick when added to ribs or the delicious pulled pork seems to have gone by the boards. As for what could happen next, the jury's still out: We're waiting to see if the Boardman restaurant -- one of 68 locations in 17 states -- gets revamped as several others have been. The redesign, company officials say, replaces the "log cabin" decor with a "More contemporary restaurant setting, high-definition flat-screen TVs, new employee uniforms" and more.
I'm okay with the latter two, but quite honestly, I love the mountain lodge-like atmosphere. "Contemporary" I can find anywhere -- just go to any Applebee's, Chili's, Ruby Tuesday or TGI Friday's, all of which are practically interchangeable as far as I'm concerned. If that kind of change comes to Boardman -- and I sure hope it doesn't -- I'll clue you in. Meantime, I'll still recommend the place for both the relaxed, friendly atmosphere and the great food.
My husband Jack and I are fairly regular visitors to Mill Creek Park -- one of the Mahoning Valley's greatest treasures, in my opinion -- but we don't always drive all the way through to the U.S. Route 224 side in Boardman. Recently, we did -- and since it was past lunchtime, our thoughts turned to Smokey Bones. So, we headed in that direction, looking forward to some of that wonderful pulled pork (me) and smoked beef brisket (Jack). Looking at the menu for the first time in a few months, we encountered another change, this time something called "value-priced" meals. Immediately, my shackles went up: Certainly not a concept new in the industry -- everybody from McDonald's to hoity-toity restaurants are advertising these so-called deals -- but I'm definitely not a fan, so I'm going to digress for a minute.
This concept is a good deal for the restaurants, which are scrambling to stay afloat in a terrible economy, but for customers, not so much. What seems to be happening is that restaurants are serving up entrees that cost less than their "regular" fare in the hope that price-conscious customers will continue to eat out. Here's an example: A restaurant sells a dinner entree of meat loaf, potatoes and a side for $10.95. Now, there's a "value-priced" option -- same entree -- for $8.50. And now comes the problem. First, they typically raise the price of the "old" entree by a buck or two; what used to cost $10.95 now is $11.95 or $12.95.
The value-priced option is smaller portions -- understandably. But at almost every restaurant where we've encountered these new "deals," the portions have been cut by close to half. The price, however, certainly isn't cut by half -- making the so-called value pricing actually cost more on a per-bite basis than the higher-priced version.That's particularly upsetting for customers like us, who expect that any entree we buy that costs more than $5 will render enough leftovers to take home for another meal. Now, if we want leftovers, it will cost us a couple of bucks more than usual; and if we spring for the "value-price" meal that's half the size but more than half the price, we'll have nothing left at all.
Instead of encouraging us to visit more often, it's a real turn-off.Here's an example from Smokey Bones: My hubby's favorite smoked beef brisket. If he wants what I assume is the same size he used to get, he'll pay $11.49 (which includes two sides), more costly than it used to be, but he had more than enough left so we could enjoy a couple of sandwiches back home the next day. At our most recent visit, he chose the same entree from the "more bones for your buck" section -- at a cost of $8.79. Needless to say, he was able to polish off every single bite with some room left over -- and nary a crumb to take home for later. I experienced the same thing with my choice of that wonderful hand-pulled pork; with two sides, the "value-priced" portion is $8.29 compared with $10.29 for the larger size. I, too, scarfed down every bite and went home empty-handed. Next time we're here, we'll go for the bigger enchilada, which is by far the better deal.
That aside, the food at Smokey Bones is delicious -- although I do wish they'd put the bottles of barbecue sauce back on the tables as they used to be. Both the brisket and pulled pork arrived scantily basted with sauce and we needed more; fortunately, just as we were about to trip our server, she stopped to ask if we wanted some extra sauce. How fast can you get it here? was our reply. I'm also fond of the so-called St. Louis sauce, which remains available on the ribs but wasn't among the sauces our server delivered.
What did come, though, was something I overheard another server call "new Carolina Gold" sauce -- so I poured a little on my plate to sample. In fact, it's quite good (although I wouldn't want it on ribs or pulled pork). Golden yellow and a little on the sweet side with a kick, it's great for dipping French fries.Speaking of the sides, the fries are quite good -- and I'm not a big fan of fries. Jack got those and the tasty cinnamon apples, which he saves for "dessert," as his two sides.
I'm also happy to report that my favorite steamed broccoli is still perfectly cooked to my liking -- still bright green but tender yet well short of mushy. My second side was baked beans, which are cooked in a wonderful smokey barbecue sauce with bits of pork and absolutely yummy.
As I said before, I like the atmosphere here; there's a large bar plopped in the middle of everything, with a circle of TV sets tuned to various sports events right in the center in full view of everyone who bellies up and quite a few of those who prefer tables or booths. Tall beers were going for $2.50 the day of our last visit -- a good deal that convinced us to go for it instead of settling for soda or plain water. We sat at one of the booths that offers a personal TV tuner -- nice to be able to get sound with whichever event we want.
Smokey Bones also has a Happy Hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to closing on weekdays, when appetizers are half price and Mini Porkies -- three pulled pork sliders in a choice of hickory smoked, sweet BBQ or mustard BBQ sauce (or any combination or even one of each) are just 99 cents (they're regularly three for $6.99).Barbecue is perhaps the main attraction, but the salads sound wonderful too. A special favorite is the Nutty Chicken Salad ($9.49), with chicken fingers warm over field greens with goat cheese, candied pecans, dried cranberries, red onions and fresh strawberries with honey Dijon dressing and more pecans.
For the record, Smokey Bones emphasizes take-out as well; party packs and barbecue by the pound can be called in and picked up on the fly to feed four or 400 (or more). Side dishes, like my favorite baked beans, can be purchased in pints and quarts; a dozen of the restaurant's signature Hot Bag O' Donuts, with chocolate and strawberry dipping sauces, go out the door with you for $7.49.
At our recent visit, we also learned about a new feature we like a lot: the Smokey Bones loyalty card, which our server pitched to us as we were paying the bill. To be honest, now that retailers on every corner hand these out like candy, trying to keep track of them (much less find room for all of them in a wallet or purse) is getting to be quite a hassle. But this one offers some dandy rewards that put it a cut above most of the others; one point for every $1 you spend, and once you rack up 200 points, you get $20 to spend any way you want. When you register the card online, you get 100 points and the promise of a free appetizer.When I registered ours, the 100 points -- plus just under 23 more to account for what we spent for lunch the day the card was issued -- were dutifully posted as promised.
A day later, though, I'd heard nothing about the free appetizer. Because joining these programs is guaranteed to bring an almost-instant "Welcome" e-mail from the issuing company -- and because half of the links at Smokey Bones' Web site don't work well, at least with the Firefox browser -- I was a bit concerned when I didn't hear a thing about the free appetizer by the end of the following day.I needn't have worried; the next morning, the welcome e-mail arrived, together with a coupon for that free appetizer. Granted, the expiration date was less than a month away, but there were no other strings attached except a limit of $9.
So, as long as we can find time to head back to Boardman before the end of February, we'll cash it in, perhaps pitching in the extra 29 cents to get the great-sounding Blazin' Shrimp -- fried saltwater shrimp tossed in a "fiery" sauce, served on a bed of crispy onions and drizzled with sweet rib glaze. My mouth is watering already!
It's also worth mentioning that when you sign up for a Smokey Bones loyalty card (as is the case at most restaurant Web sites), you'll get occasional e-mails with special offers and other news of interest. I always advise folks to get a "throw-away" e-mail address -- perhaps from AOL, Hotmail or Yahoo! -- to use when you buy online and register at various sites so you won't clog up your regular e-mailbox. That only works, though, if you remember to check your inbox regularly!
If you go:Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill 6651 South Ave. Boardman OH 44512 (330) 965-1554 www.smokeybones.com
Long before the economic crunch hit, my husband Jack and I have been big proponents of eating-out discount programs like the Entertainment Book and Restaurant.com. Although having to shell out meals at less than regular price probably makes them far less popular with the restaurants than with consumers, I speak from experience when I say they do help bring in customers who otherwise might not come. For us, such was the case at Marino's Italian Cafe in Austintown.
Yes, we've noticed the sign before -- the restaurant is across Mahoning Avenue from the Skate Zone, where we've taken our grandkids to roll around every once in a while -- but for whatever reason, we've never stopped in. All that changed about a year ago, when we were returning from one of our photo-seeking forays in Mill Creek Park and decided we were hungry but didn't want to spend a fortune. Oh wait, I said -- let me flip through the Entertainment Book coupons I keep at the ready in my purse. Spotting one that would give us $5 off if we spent $20 at Marino's, we said what the heck, let's give it a try -- it's right on our way home. That visit, I hasten to add, may have been our first but certainly was not our last.
At first glance, the restaurant doesn't look very imposing, and even with the big sign, it's easy to miss tucked away in a small plaza amid huge gas stations and big-chain eateries that crowd the corner of Mahoning Avenue and State Route 46. Inside, though, the atmosphere is very cozy, decorated with what I'd call "typical" Italian decor -- wine bottles, paintings of beautiful scenes from Italy and such. It's the food, though, that keeps us coming back.
I should mention for those like us who enjoy a glass of wine, beer or other libation with their meals, Marino's has a full bar. Also, carry-out is available in small quantities or to feed a crowd; how about a two-foot pepperoni, sausage or spinach roll for $14.95 or a quart of wedding soup for $7.99? Or a full spectrum of penne pasta, meatballs, chicken, potatoes and green beans for $6.99 per person? In addition, there's an on-site banquet room and hall for both formal, fixed-menu and buffet-style dinners, and if you want, they'll come catering at your place as well.
Ah, but back to that eat-in food. On our most recent visit, we weren't in the mood for pizza, although the six listed on the menu, especially the Brier Hill topped with tomato sauce, green peppers and Romano cheese, were tempting (they're priced from $5.99 to $7.99 for the small size). We did, however, pay special attention to the appetizers (in no small part because we needed to spend $20 to get that $5 off). Several were appealing, including sauteed greens -- spinach with olive oil, garlic and white wine for $1.99 (add hot peppers for another buck). Another one I plan to try next time we're here is the roasted red peppers and fresh mozzarella dressed in Italian vinaigrette at $5.99.
This time, though, it was no contest: I admit to going bananas over hot peppers in oil, the hotter the better. Here, they were going for $3.99 as an appetizer; yes, our server assured me, they really are hot. Then, it was time to choose our entrees. This was a late lunch for us, so it would serve as our "big" meal of the day. As such, we ignored the tasty-sounding sandwiches (perhaps an Italian sausage link with green peppers and Mozzarella cheese for $6.49) and went straight to the meat of the matter.
As expected, there are several pasta dishes here, from spaghetti to manicotti to tortellini to ravioli, all with sauces that sounded quite delicious. Neither my husband nor I are big on veal, so we ignored that section -- and we can get steaks and chops just about anywhere. No, we said, we're here to satisfy our taste buds, which at that moment were demanding Italian. For Jack, the choice was a no-brainer; one of his favorite dishes is linguini with red clam sauce (more correctly Linguini con Vongola). With red or white sauce, it's priced at $11.99. It took me longer to make up my mind, but in the end I zeroed in on Spinach Ravioli, or ravioli filled with spinach and Italian cheeses with marinara sauce ($10.99). Both of us ordered a cup of wedding soup with our entrees as well.
Soon after we ordered, though, came a real treat: A basket of two fresh-baked, delicious warm rolls. They're a bit on the large side, so we figured one would be plenty. In fact, they were so delicious (butter is baked in) that we gobbled them up in very short order and yes, we told our server when she asked, please bring us two more! According to the Web site (the URL is at the end of this article), they're baked each morning by "Mama Marino." Well, Mama, you do yourself proud with these babies!
As we devoured the rolls, I found another good use for them -- dipping small chunks in the light but very garlicky oil of my dish of hot peppers. Now I'm here to say that no, as hot peppers go, these aren't what I call hot; that's substantiated by the fact that Jack was able to put a tiny piece of one on a bread chunk and eat it without grabbing for a glass of water. Still, they pack a fair amount of zing; they're slightly crisp without tasting raw. The flavor, though, is to die for (hence sopping up every last drop with the bread once I'd polished off all the peppers).
The wedding soup is filled with greens, shredded chicken and lots of other good stuff in a very flavorful broth. I didn't run across any of those tiny meatballs, and I don't think Jack did either -- but we sure didn't miss them when it came to taste or filling us up. On our list of favorite wedding soups, this would be close to the top.
Then came our entrees; Jack's linguini with red clam sauce arrived on a lovely oval plate with a raised rim -- I'm told by a friend who knows about such things that the raised rim eliminates the need for twirling pasta on a spoon; instead, he says, "real" Italians use a fork to push it up against the rim and twirl it there. Nice theory, but neither of us is a "twirler" -- in our view, way too much of that good sauce is lost that way -- so it's a moot issue.
But I digress. The linguini was punctuated with a few tiny clams still in their shells, and there were lots more swimming in the tasty sauce. I, however, was both surprised and impressed with my Spinach Ravioli. Instead of the expected eight or 10 small rounds, there were just four, each at least 5 inches in diameter -- the biggest I've ever seen. They were smothered in tomato sauce filled with diced tomatoes and wonderful Italian spices. The filling, too, was delicious -- melted cheeses that oozed out with every bite (mostly Ricotta, I'd guess) -- and chopped spinach. Thanks to all those rolls, hot peppers and soup, I managed to finish only one before I had to call it quits. Jack finished a little more than half of his linguine, so in the end we had plenty to bring home and enjoy later!
The Mahoning Valley region of Ohio is perhaps most often thought of as part of the so-called "Rust Belt" -- if it's thought of at all. Tucked up in the northeastern corner of the state about 15 miles from the Pennsylvania border, it's arguably best known for a former U.S. Representative who spent time in jail, the "Mob" and shuttered steel mills. I know that how? Because every single time we travel to another state -- any other state -- and tell folks we meet where we're from, it's guaranteed that we'll get a question about one or all of the above.
Add in a reputation for somewhat lousy weather, and it's enough to make a body wonder why anyone would want to visit, much less live here. But I don't see it that way. I've been in this part of Ohio for close to 50 years now, and while I'd love to see more sunny days, I firmly believe this is a great place to be. The cost of living is remarkably low compared with other parts of the country. It brings together the best of the city and country; cornfields and other amber waves of grain dot the landscape right along with interesting museums, shopping centers and parks.
Oh sure, the weather can be iffy -- if you don't like what you see, just wait 5 minutes, we're fond of saying. But on the other hand, it never gets boring, and not much compares to walking along a tree-lined path amid brilliantly colored foliage on a crisp fall day. Besides that, within an easy hour-or-so's drive we can be walking barefoot on a sandy beach, climbing an historic lighthouse or trolling for wildflowers in one of at least 15 state and national parks.
Then there's the food. My husband Jack and I travel as much as we can, and when we do, we love to eat. We've had dinner at some pretty well-known restaurants in quite a few states, and you know what? Every single time, we say to each other, "This is great, but there's nothing here that's better than what we can get back home every single day."
Of course, I can't discount the familiarity factor and learning to love what you're used to; there's a reason they call it Home Sweet Home. Still, we've always insisted that the Mahoning Valley's cuisine is pretty hard to beat. And just for the record, we include the Shenango Valley in that sweeping declaration; just over the Pennsylvania border are plenty of other fantastic restaurants and attractions just waiting to be discovered by me and you.
I do admit to one exception to my "home" rule, though: As seafood moves inland, it tends to lose ground. Not surprisingly, absolutely nothing compares to fresh-from-the-ocean "lobstah" at The Lobster Dock in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, the huge, almost no-filler-added crabcakes from The Crab Claw in St. Michaels, Maryland, or the steamed spiced shrimp at Awful Arthur's Oyster Bar on the North Carolina Outer Banks. That said, there seems to be a direct correlation between distance from water and how long fish is cooked; by the time you reach mid-Ohio, all too often it's barely recognizable. Sorry, Charlie, but the fish is dead. No need to kill it again (and again!) by leaving it on the grill or in the oven till it's tough and tasteless.
The reason for this blog is to showcase some of the eateries and other treasures our little part of the world has to offer. There's no set schedule for updates, but the plan is to add something new every couple of weeks. For the most part, what you'll see is what we get in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in Ohio and Mercer and Lawrence counties in Pennsylvania. But once in a while -- especially since I'm an official "Ohio Ambassador" charged with promoting what the Buckeye State has to offer -- I'll stray into other parts of Ohio (and maybe even another state or two) to bring you a look at a special restaurant or attraction we've found.
If reading about these places entices you to come visit, that's wonderful -- y'all come on down (or up, or over as the case may be). And if you have questions about anything you see here or want to suggest a favorite restaurant of your own, zap me an e-mail. I'm always up for a new adventure!
Just for the record, I've had a bit of experience at not only eating and traveling, but writing about it as well. I wrote about local restaurants and travel for The Business Journal in Youngstown for several years (and Jack penned 100 "Dining Out" restaurant reviews for that newspaper over a period of four years). Besides that, I've posted similar "stuff" on a number of travel Web sites since then.
In the interests of full disclosure -- and the letter of the blog law -- I'll emphasize here that no one associated with any restaurant pays me, or gives me free meals, or in any way influences what I write here. As I mentioned before, I'm open to suggestions for places to visit -- but whether or not I go there or write about it is completely my choice. I'll also say, though, that while I don't mind pointing out a flaw or two here and there, my purpose is to showcase what's good about the region's restaurants and attractions. As such, I'll stick to what my mama always taught me: If you can't say something good about somebody, don't say anything at all.
I'll try to add something new here every couple of weeks, give or take, so check back often. If you want to be notified when a new entry is made, there's a place here to sign up for that as well. And finally, if you'd like to see some of my photos, you're invited to visit my galleries at Zenfolio. Enjoy!
g at that location. Owned and operated by Covelli Enterprises of Warren -- one of a 50-store franchise agreement signed in 2005 between Covelli and O'Charley's Inc. of Nashville, Tenn. -- it would join the local casual dining family restaurant category. O'Phoo, we said -- not that we don't like these places, but do we really need another of the Applebee's, Chili's and Ruby Tuesday eat-alikes? No, we said to each other, it was doubtful we'd ever be regular customers.
hose other casual dining places. I love the dark, rich wood, old photos from the Niles area on the walls and booths that are arranged for optimal privacy. Greeters and servers are friendly and pleasant -- not the overly exuberant, excessively perky types who act as though they're your best friend the second you walk in the door. Another plus: A lack of the usual restaurant noise. There's no loud music to drown out conversation, no banging and clattering of dishes, no servers shouting out orders. In short, it's a comfortable place to enjoy a great meal in relative peace and quiet.
us was disappointed, and neither did we go home hungry. The sandwich consisted of thinly sliced prime rib on a toasted hoagy roll topped with sauteed mushrooms, onions, peppers and melted Monterrey Jack cheese. The pot pie, which I highly recommend, was a down-home mixture of pulled chicken, carrots, celery, peas and mushrooms in a creamy "harvest" sauce, all piled on top of smashed potatoes and topped with puff pastry. And the taste? To die for; and because the pot pie is so large, I was able to enjoy the other half back at home the next day.
hile for Happy Hour (at the moment, it's from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., when select appetizers are half price, domestic draft beer is $2 and "basic" margaritas are $4. Well drinks are inexpensive, too, and last time I was there the bartender made a mean gin and tonic with lime. If you'd like something a bit fancier, you might try a tangerine pomegranate margarita, a glass of sangria, or perhaps a special Raspberry Limoncello, which is made with Chambord black raspberry, Caravella Limoncello, lemon and lime juice and a splash of cherry and served in a martini glass ($6.49). Yum!
