The best places to eat at are the places where you feel you belong. Fortunately, the Buckeye State is home to several local dives and hometown diners that make you feel right at home. Here are 13 small town restaurants in Ohio where nearly everyone knows your name:
- Carl’s Townhouse (Chillicothe)
Karla S./Yelp
Kelly N./Yelp Come for the nostalgic 1950s vibe; stay (and come back) for the cheeseburger basket and a slice of homemade pie. Carl’s Townhouse is located at 95 W. 2nd St., Chillicothe, OH 45601.
- Arch & Eddie’s (Jackson)
Arch & Eddie’s/Facebook
Arch & Eddie’s/Facebook This beloved local favorite features a variety of American, Italian, Mexican and seafood cuisine at affordable prices. The atmosphere is cozy, and the house setting will make you feel right at home. Arch & Eddies is located at 181 E Main St., Jackson, OH 45640.
- Nancy’s Main Street Diner (Grafton)
Cara L./Yelp Don’t make the mistake of skipping out on dessert or a fountain soda at this old-fashioned, beloved diner. Nancy’s Main Street Diner is located at 426 Main St., Grafton, OH 44044.
- Busy Bee Restaurant (Marietta)
Matt P./Yelp
Busy Bee/Yelp Where everything is homemade and the hometown diner atmosphere makes a breakfast here that much more heartier; Busy Bee Restaurant is located at 226 Gilman Ave., Marietta, OH 45750.
- Ditty’s Downtown Deli (Zanesville)
Ditty’s Downtown Deli/Facebook
Ditty’s Downtown Deli/Facebook This small breakfast and lunch shop serves up some of the tastiest fresh sandwiches in the area. With limited parking and seating, (but excellent service,) calling ahead can be a good idea to avoid a lunch rush. Ditty’s Downtown Deli is located at 61 S 4th St., Zanesville, OH 43701.
- The Coffee Cup (Massillon)
Coffee Cup/Facebook
Coffee Cup/Facebook Massillon’s oldest restaurant is proud to be Massillon’s oldest restaurant, (and rightfully so.) With breakfast served all day, hearty burgers and all meals made from scratch, you really can’t ask for anything better. The Coffee Cup is located at 426 3rd St. SE, Massillon, OH 44646.
- Nancy’s Home Cooking (Clintonville)
Nancy’s Home Cooking/Facebook
Nancy’s Home Cooking/Facebook This north-central Ohio neighborhood serves up hearty meals with an atmosphere that truly makes you feel at home. See what’s cooking at this beloved hometown diner, which is located at 3133 N High St., Columbus, OH 43202.
- The Steel Trolley Diner (Lisbon)
Michael K./Yelp
Jim C./Yelp At this local favorite diner, you’ll feel like you’re actually aboard a steel trolley. And with an exceptional burger selection and a legendary Oatmeal Pie, we know you’ll be making a trip back. The Steel Trolley Diner is located at 140 E Lincoln Way, Lisbon, OH 44432.
- The Blueberry Cafe (Bellbrook)
Jed M./Yelp
Nat S./Yelp After you find yourself stuffed from the most satisfying brunch of your life, “The Muffin Man” comes around to entice you with warm, homemade muffins you simply can’t resist—no matter how stuffed you are. The Blueberry Cafe is located at 72 Bellbrook Plz, Bellbrook, OH 45305.
- Carlyle’s Restaurant (Richwood)
Carlyle’s Restaurant/Facebook
Carlyle’s Restaurant/Facebook With made from scratch pies, home cooked daily specials and mouthwatering donuts, you simply can’t go wrong with Carlyle’s Restaurant. It is located at 5 N Franklin St., Richwood, OH 43344.
- G & R Tavern (Waldo)
G & R Tavern/Facebook
G & R Tavern/Facebook At G & R Tavern in Waldo, you’ll find what is arguably the best fried bologna sandwich in Ohio (and quite possibly the world.) It is located at 103 N Marion St., Waldo, OH 43356.
- Laroe’s Restaurant (Grand Rapids)
Laroe’s Restaurant/Facebook
Douglas D./Yelp You’ll find unbelievably delicious options at this quiet canal town’s most popular restaurant. (Pictured are the Baby Back Ribs.) Laroe’s is located at 24138 Front St., Grand Rapids, OH 43522.
- The Spot To Eat (Sidney)
OZinOH/Flickr Both literally and figuratively, this is the spot to go to for a tasty, classic cheeseburger in Sidney. What started out as a chuck wagon more than 100 years ago is now a stationary old fashioned eatery that will make you feel like you’ve temporarily stepped foot into a Happy Day’s episode. The Spot To Eat is located at 201 S Ohio Ave., Sidney, OH 45365.
Did we feature your hometown restaurant? What others would you add to this list?
Karla S./Yelp
Kelly N./Yelp
Come for the nostalgic 1950s vibe; stay (and come back) for the cheeseburger basket and a slice of homemade pie. Carl’s Townhouse is located at 95 W. 2nd St., Chillicothe, OH 45601.
Arch & Eddie’s/Facebook
This beloved local favorite features a variety of American, Italian, Mexican and seafood cuisine at affordable prices. The atmosphere is cozy, and the house setting will make you feel right at home. Arch & Eddies is located at 181 E Main St., Jackson, OH 45640.
Cara L./Yelp
Don’t make the mistake of skipping out on dessert or a fountain soda at this old-fashioned, beloved diner. Nancy’s Main Street Diner is located at 426 Main St., Grafton, OH 44044.
Matt P./Yelp
Busy Bee/Yelp
Where everything is homemade and the hometown diner atmosphere makes a breakfast here that much more heartier; Busy Bee Restaurant is located at 226 Gilman Ave., Marietta, OH 45750.
Ditty’s Downtown Deli/Facebook
This small breakfast and lunch shop serves up some of the tastiest fresh sandwiches in the area. With limited parking and seating, (but excellent service,) calling ahead can be a good idea to avoid a lunch rush. Ditty’s Downtown Deli is located at 61 S 4th St., Zanesville, OH 43701.
Coffee Cup/Facebook
Coffee Cup/Facebook
Massillon’s oldest restaurant is proud to be Massillon’s oldest restaurant, (and rightfully so.) With breakfast served all day, hearty burgers and all meals made from scratch, you really can’t ask for anything better. The Coffee Cup is located at 426 3rd St. SE, Massillon, OH 44646.
Nancy’s Home Cooking/Facebook
This north-central Ohio neighborhood serves up hearty meals with an atmosphere that truly makes you feel at home. See what’s cooking at this beloved hometown diner, which is located at 3133 N High St., Columbus, OH 43202.
Michael K./Yelp
Jim C./Yelp
At this local favorite diner, you’ll feel like you’re actually aboard a steel trolley. And with an exceptional burger selection and a legendary Oatmeal Pie, we know you’ll be making a trip back. The Steel Trolley Diner is located at 140 E Lincoln Way, Lisbon, OH 44432.
Jed M./Yelp
Nat S./Yelp
After you find yourself stuffed from the most satisfying brunch of your life, “The Muffin Man” comes around to entice you with warm, homemade muffins you simply can’t resist—no matter how stuffed you are. The Blueberry Cafe is located at 72 Bellbrook Plz, Bellbrook, OH 45305.
Carlyle’s Restaurant/Facebook
With made from scratch pies, home cooked daily specials and mouthwatering donuts, you simply can’t go wrong with Carlyle’s Restaurant. It is located at 5 N Franklin St., Richwood, OH 43344.
G & R Tavern/Facebook
At G & R Tavern in Waldo, you’ll find what is arguably the best fried bologna sandwich in Ohio (and quite possibly the world.) It is located at 103 N Marion St., Waldo, OH 43356.
Laroe’s Restaurant/Facebook
Douglas D./Yelp
You’ll find unbelievably delicious options at this quiet canal town’s most popular restaurant. (Pictured are the Baby Back Ribs.) Laroe’s is located at 24138 Front St., Grand Rapids, OH 43522.
OZinOH/Flickr
Both literally and figuratively, this is the spot to go to for a tasty, classic cheeseburger in Sidney. What started out as a chuck wagon more than 100 years ago is now a stationary old fashioned eatery that will make you feel like you’ve temporarily stepped foot into a Happy Day’s episode. The Spot To Eat is located at 201 S Ohio Ave., Sidney, OH 45365.
For more local dives in Ohio to try, check out our previous article, 12 Unassuming Restaurants To Add To Your Ohio Dining Bucket List.
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