This travel guide featured an ‘Ohio Foodie Bucket List’; check it out here

I thought I was dramatic until I stumbled upon this list of “21 Dishes in Ohio to Try Before You Die.”

Enjoy Travel, a national travel guide that creates “best of” lists around the country, created an “Ohio Foodie Bucket List” that highlights the 21 dishes you have to try while visiting here and living here. We Ohioans better get to it, because three of the restaurants listed are unfortunately either temporarily or permanently closed, so the list is already down to 18 (RIP beignets from Spice Kitchen + Bar, the whole pig’s head from Greenhouse Tavern, and the pierogis from Sokolowski’s University Inn!).

How many can you cross off the list? Personally, I’ve tried four of these dishes! And no, the Thurmanator is definitely not one of them.

18. Fried Chicken – Prosperity Social Club, Cleveland
“The retro-cool Prosperity Social Club has super Hungarian-style stuffed cabbage, fried chicken with mac-n-cheese and Southern greens, but it’s their fried chicken that you need to be eating. Food this good needs to be in every state.” -Enjoy Travel

17. Turtle Waffle – Wally Waffle, Akron
“This is the indulgent brunch to end all others. Wally Waffles delicious Turtle Waffle is made with chocolate chips and pecans cooked inside the waffle, topped with whipped cream and caramel.” -Enjoy Travel

16. The Parmageddon – Melt Bar & Grilled, Lakewood
“Ohio’s best grilled cheese? You betcha. Melt Bar & Grilled specialize in all things cheesy and toasted, with 10 locations around the state. The Parmageddon is a beast – potato and onion pierogies with sauerkraut and bubbling cheddar.” -Enjoy Travel

15. Fig Pizza – A Tavola Bar + Trattoria, Cincinnati
“The food all comes from family recipes and the authenticity shows. Pizzas come out of the wood oven with bubbling crusts and the perfect amount of char. Try their fig pizza: fig jam, fontina, prosciutto, balsamic arugula, parmigiano reggiano.” -Enjoy Travel

14. Ribs – Smoked on High, Columbus
“This top-notch barbeque restaurant does incredible slow-smoked southern meats that you won’t be able to resist. Get a half slab of pork ribs and some spicy brisket chili on the side for a real meat feast.” -Enjoy Travel

13. Oysters – The Guild House, Columbus
I can definitely second what Enjoy Travel has to say about these: “Incredibly fresh and beautifully presented, oysters here come with a peach granita and zesty lime. The Guild House is a perfect example of superb artisan American food. Oh, and make sure you save room for dessert.” -Enjoy Travel

12. Soup Dumplings – LJ Shanghai, Cleveland
“You’ll be slurping these tasty xiao long bao from LJ Shanghai every single day if you could – they’re just that good. Delicate dough is filled with a rich, hearty broth and dollop of meat. Divine.” -Enjoy Travel

11. Polish Boy – Banter, Cleveland
“This uber-cool wine and craft beer bar specializes in gourmet house-made sausages and Quebec-style poutine, and oh-boy is it tasty. Their Polish Boy (a native Ohio sandwich) with kielbasa sausage, BBQ and coleslaw is a serious cheat meal.” -Enjoy Travel

10. Chef’s Tasting Menu – Veritas, Columbus
I can vouch for this one, too. “The only exclusively tasting menu dining experience in the city, Veritas excels in creative dishes using carefully chosen ingredients. The 6-course tasting menu here is a real experience – think Ohio wagyu flank and a caccio pepe risotto.” -Enjoy Travel

9. Barberton-Style Chicken – Belgrade Gardens, Barberton
Barberton-style fried chicken was created by a Serbian couple who opened Belgrade Gardens 80 years ago. The droolworthy chicken comes with French fries, vinegar-based coleslaw, and a fiery mix of rice, tomato, and hot peppers known as “hot sauce.”

8. The Galley Boy – Swensons, Akron
“You have to hit up this iconic Midwest burger chain when in Ohio, but there’s one thing and one thing only to order. The Galley Boy is a juicy double cheeseburger prepared using two homemade sauces. Locals are willing to travel for miles for one, and we can see why.” Enjoy Travel

7. ALL of the pastries – Luna Bakery, Cleveland
“This European bakery’s signature items include French macarons, tarts, hand-decorated sugar cookies, decadent brownies, and yummy cupcakes. Super flaky and buttery, we can’t pick out just one treat to try – they’re all exceptional.” -Enjoy Travel

6. Smoked Salmon & Eggs – Blue Door Café & Bakery, Cuyahoga Falls
“This charming bakery does some of the best brunch in all of Ohio. Freshly baked pastries are European-style delicious, and they use only organic ingredients. Get the Smoked King Salmon & Eggs: toasted croissant, creamy local/ cage free & free range eggs, New Zealand king salmon, red onions & capers.” -Enjoy Travel

5. Homemade Root Beer – Root Beer Stand, Sharonville
This root beer stand is only open for the warm season, so you it could be the perfect summer road trip. “Cincinnati’s most beloved root beer spot – and possibly all of Ohio – is a local institution that’s been around since the ’50s. They make the root beer using the same equipment that’s been on hand since 1957, and it still tastes just as good.” -Enjoy Travel

4. Ice Cream – Jacky’s Depot, Maumee
Also only open during the warm season, “Jacky’s Depot has become Northwest Ohio’s go-to place for homemade, super-premium ice cream. There are unique flavours and old favourites in the dip case every day. Jacky’s Depot also makes Fresh Pops, gourmet ice pops made with fresh fruit and organic cane sugar, and gourmet Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches.” -Enjoy Travel

3. The Thurmanator – Thurman Cafe, Columbus
“This insanely huge dish is made up of a bun, mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickle, banana peppers, 12 ounce burger, bacon, cheddar, another 12 ounce burger, sautéed mushrooms & onions, ham, mozzarella & American cheese, bun, fries and a pickle spear. Just try to finish it.” -Enjoy Travel

2. 3-Way – Skyline Chili, Cincinnati
“The famous snack from Skyline is a deliciously messy 3-way (chili + cheese + spaghetti). The chili sauce is made with chocolate and cinammon, and tastes WAY more delicious than it sounds. Add kidney beans or diced onions to make it a 4 or 5-way.” – Enjoy Travel

1. Steak – Mancy’s, Toledo
“There’s a reason this Toledo classic has been going strong for more than 100 years. Steaks are aged and hand-cut on premise, seared at 1500 degrees and come with 1lb of creamy potato on the side. Order the New York strip with blue cheese and walnuts for a real treat.” – Enjoy Travel

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