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By Lisa Abraham
Beacon Journal food writer
POSTED: 10:14 a.m. EDT, May 13, 2008
Get ready to open a few new menus.
The ever-evolving world of restaurants in the Akron area has some new offerings that include a brewpub, a tearoom, a wine bar and a place that gives new meaning to the phrase, ''I'm at the Office.''
• Ohio Brewing Co./Damon's Grille
It's been five years since it was announced that the Verich brothers of Warren intended to resurrect their defunct Ohio Brewing Co. in the O'Neil's building in the heart of downtown Akron.
Work on their space in the building has been progressing slowly for more than two years, but the doors finally opened on Sunday.
Ohio Brewing is the city's only brewpub. Brothers Chris and Michael Verich, both former state representatives from Warren, have set up their tanks to brew 450 gallons of beer at a time, including their signature Cardinal Ale, a past gold medal winner.
Diners have their choice of the Damon's Grille menu, which features the chain's signature barbecued ribs, or Ohio Brewing's offerings, many of which have been crafted by Executive Chef Eric Carcione, a Pennsylvania Culinary Institute graduate who most recently was cooking at the Salem Golf Club in Columbiana County.
Carcione said he incorporated Ohio Brewing's beer into many of the menu selections, including mussels in beer broth, beer cheese soup and beer-braised prime rib. The pizza sauce has Cardinal Ale in it, and Dessert Chef Mark Davis has plans for ice cream made with Ohio Brewing's Steel Valley Stout.
Most entrees on both menus are priced between $10 and $20, with some items higher.
Various parts of the Ohio Brewing Co./Damon's Grille are open from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. The coffee bar is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., the restaurant from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. for lunch and dinner, and the brewpub from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m., with a limited late-night menu.
Ohio Brewing is at 222 S. Main St. in downtown Akron. Call 330-376-3008.
• Southern Gardens Tea Room
Just hear a few words roll out of the mouth of tearoom owner Gail Billings, and you realize this belle knows a thing or two about the South.
The Savannah, Ga., native relocated to Northeast Ohio eight years ago to be close to her grandchildren. When she decided to open a tearoom, she abandoned the traditional Victorian theme for something she knows better: Southern charm.
She and her partner, Ron Becker of Medina, opened the doors to their white-wicker and antique-filled tearoom about a month ago across from the clock tower in the heart of the Portage Lakes area. Since then, they said, business has been bustling with the ladies-who-lunch crowd and a slew of Red Hatters who keep coming back.
They found their chef, Fawn Foster Hawkins, through their plumber, who mentioned that his daughter was a caterer and would be perfect for the job. Hawkins holds a degree in food and nutrition from the University of Akron, and operates Four Seasons Catering Co.
Hawkins likes to brag that her biggest achievement to date has been that her county health inspector was so pleased with her kitchen, he came back to order a pecan pie.
She has crafted a Southern-style menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts, all of which are less than $13. There are more than 50 teas on the menu.
For $19.95 a person, the tearoom offers a full tea celebration, including pimento cheese pinwheels, miniature sandwiches, breads, cookies and pastries. There's an antique store on site, and the tearoom does parties, including children's birthdays.
The tearoom is at 497 Portage Lakes Drive, Coventry Township, and is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call 330-644-8363.
• Uncorked Wine Bar
It's true, beyond the free appetizers you won't find much to eat at the Uncorked wine bar, but it does add a dimension to downtown Akron dining.
Nestled on Maiden Lane, just off East Market Street, the bar is owned by Jill Troppe, who also owns the adjacent Mocha Maiden coffee bar and Musica art space, in the self-proclaimed historical district that her husband, Tony Troppe, has developed at the edge of downtown.
Uncorked opened at the end of January, and manager Debi Cope said it's possible a kitchen that would serve all three venues could follow.
For now, Uncorked provides free appetizers for customers, who can purchase wine by the bottle or the glass. Uncorked also holds several tastings every month, and boasts a casual, relaxed space where customers can sit back and enjoy the wine.
Cope said the offerings include a lot of reds from all parts of the world, and focuses on wines that aren't available at the grocery store. Her collection is more international than California-centered.
Uncorked Wine Bar, 51 E. Market St., is open Thursdays from 6 to 10 p.m., Fridays from 4 to 11 p.m. and Saturday from 6 to 11 p.m. Call 330-374-1114.
• The Office
No, you won't find Dwight Schrute selling paper here.
But you will find the reinvention of a local dive bar, known for a long time as Melrose, into a modern neighborhood bistro.
Developers Steve Turner and Frank Caetta, who are purchasing a lot of property in the Temple Square area of Akron's North Hill, converted Melrose into the Office, a martini bar, about two years ago, but paid little attention to the menu, which offered basic bar fare — hot dogs, wings, burgers, fries and onion rings.
When chef Louis Prpich came on board in November as manager, he found customers drinking $8 martinis and eating 99-cent hot dogs. Prpich believed if customers were willing to pay to drink, they'd likely pay for better food, too.
His new menu debuted in January, with a traditional bistro-style mix of soups, salads, appetizers and entrees. Since then, Prpich said, food sales have quadrupled and there's even a wait for a table some Friday and Saturday nights.
Entrees are priced between $15 and $20, with sandwiches, salads, and appetizers priced between $7 and $12.
The Office, 778 N. Main St., is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m to 2:30 a.m. The kitchen stops serving at 10 p.m. during the week and 11 p.m. on weekends. It's closed on Sunday. Call 330-376-9550.
• The Blue Fig
Recently, we said goodbye to Fairlawn's Luna Deli & Grill and hello to the Blue Fig.
Owner Mike Tabba revamped his West Market Street casual dining spot, adding a bar, televisions and a new menu.
The fare is casual, with traditional appetizers like spinach-artichoke dip and chicken wings, with a selection of soups, salads, hot and cold sandwiches and burgers. There's also a dozen or so entrees of fish, chicken, pasta and steaks, nearly all of which are in the $10 to $15 range.
It is still serving breakfast, although that menu has changed as well.
The new Blue Fig is at 2935 W. Market St., Fairlawn, and is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Call 330-864-6200.
• Printer's Cafe
Look behind Akron's St. Vincent's Church and you'll see old Akron Firehouse No. 3. Look inside the firehouse and you will find the new Printer's Cafe, part of the business No Minimum Printing.
The cafe opened a month ago, with operator Mary Ellen Welch providing a selection of soups, salads and sandwiches in addition to a large variety of cookies, cakes, pies and other homemade baked goods.
Welch, a Norton resident, said that after years of hobby cooking, she decided to try doing it professionally for her second career. ''I decided I wanted to do something I really love to do,'' she said.
The menu offerings are less than $10, a breakfast menu will debut in June, and Welch hopes to have patio seating soon as well.
There's a conference room on site and Welch will provide boxed lunches or other food and drink for business meetings. There's also free WiFi.
Printer's Cafe is at 60 S. Maple St. It's open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call 330-294-4087.
Lisa A. Abraham can be reached at 330-996-3737 or labraham@thebeaconjournal.com.
Get ready to open a few new menus.
The ever-evolving world of restaurants in the Akron area has some new offerings that include a brewpub, a tearoom, a wine bar and a place that gives new meaning to the phrase, ''I'm at the Office.''
• Ohio Brewing Co./Damon's Grille
It's been five years since it was announced that the Verich brothers of Warren intended to resurrect their defunct Ohio Brewing Co. in the O'Neil's building in the heart of downtown Akron.
Work on their space in the building has been progressing slowly for more than two years, but the doors finally opened on Sunday.
Ohio Brewing is the city's only brewpub. Brothers Chris and Michael Verich, both former state representatives from Warren, have set up their tanks to brew 450 gallons of beer at a time, including their signature Cardinal Ale, a past gold medal winner.
Diners have their choice of the Damon's Grille menu, which features the chain's signature barbecued ribs, or Ohio Brewing's offerings, many of which have been crafted by Executive Chef Eric Carcione, a Pennsylvania Culinary Institute graduate who most recently was cooking at the Salem Golf Club in Columbiana County.
Carcione said he incorporated Ohio Brewing's beer into many of the menu selections, including mussels in beer broth, beer cheese soup and beer-braised prime rib. The pizza sauce has Cardinal Ale in it, and Dessert Chef Mark Davis has plans for ice cream made with Ohio Brewing's Steel Valley Stout.
Most entrees on both menus are priced between $10 and $20, with some items higher.
Various parts of the Ohio Brewing Co./Damon's Grille are open from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. The coffee bar is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., the restaurant from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. for lunch and dinner, and the brewpub from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m., with a limited late-night menu.
Ohio Brewing is at 222 S. Main St. in downtown Akron. Call 330-376-3008.
• Southern Gardens Tea Room
Just hear a few words roll out of the mouth of tearoom owner Gail Billings, and you realize this belle knows a thing or two about the South.
The Savannah, Ga., native relocated to Northeast Ohio eight years ago to be close to her grandchildren. When she decided to open a tearoom, she abandoned the traditional Victorian theme for something she knows better: Southern charm.
She and her partner, Ron Becker of Medina, opened the doors to their white-wicker and antique-filled tearoom about a month ago across from the clock tower in the heart of the Portage Lakes area. Since then, they said, business has been bustling with the ladies-who-lunch crowd and a slew of Red Hatters who keep coming back.
They found their chef, Fawn Foster Hawkins, through their plumber, who mentioned that his daughter was a caterer and would be perfect for the job. Hawkins holds a degree in food and nutrition from the University of Akron, and operates Four Seasons Catering Co.
Hawkins likes to brag that her biggest achievement to date has been that her county health inspector was so pleased with her kitchen, he came back to order a pecan pie.
She has crafted a Southern-style menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts, all of which are less than $13. There are more than 50 teas on the menu.
For $19.95 a person, the tearoom offers a full tea celebration, including pimento cheese pinwheels, miniature sandwiches, breads, cookies and pastries. There's an antique store on site, and the tearoom does parties, including children's birthdays.
The tearoom is at 497 Portage Lakes Drive, Coventry Township, and is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call 330-644-8363.
• Uncorked Wine Bar
It's true, beyond the free appetizers you won't find much to eat at the Uncorked wine bar, but it does add a dimension to downtown Akron dining.
Nestled on Maiden Lane, just off East Market Street, the bar is owned by Jill Troppe, who also owns the adjacent Mocha Maiden coffee bar and Musica art space, in the self-proclaimed historical district that her husband, Tony Troppe, has developed at the edge of downtown.
Uncorked opened at the end of January, and manager Debi Cope said it's possible a kitchen that would serve all three venues could follow.
For now, Uncorked provides free appetizers for customers, who can purchase wine by the bottle or the glass. Uncorked also holds several tastings every month, and boasts a casual, relaxed space where customers can sit back and enjoy the wine.
Cope said the offerings include a lot of reds from all parts of the world, and focuses on wines that aren't available at the grocery store. Her collection is more international than California-centered.
Uncorked Wine Bar, 51 E. Market St., is open Thursdays from 6 to 10 p.m., Fridays from 4 to 11 p.m. and Saturday from 6 to 11 p.m. Call 330-374-1114.
• The Office
No, you won't find Dwight Schrute selling paper here.
But you will find the reinvention of a local dive bar, known for a long time as Melrose, into a modern neighborhood bistro.
Developers Steve Turner and Frank Caetta, who are purchasing a lot of property in the Temple Square area of Akron's North Hill, converted Melrose into the Office, a martini bar, about two years ago, but paid little attention to the menu, which offered basic bar fare — hot dogs, wings, burgers, fries and onion rings.
When chef Louis Prpich came on board in November as manager, he found customers drinking $8 martinis and eating 99-cent hot dogs. Prpich believed if customers were willing to pay to drink, they'd likely pay for better food, too.
His new menu debuted in January, with a traditional bistro-style mix of soups, salads, appetizers and entrees. Since then, Prpich said, food sales have quadrupled and there's even a wait for a table some Friday and Saturday nights.
Entrees are priced between $15 and $20, with sandwiches, salads, and appetizers priced between $7 and $12.
The Office, 778 N. Main St., is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m to 2:30 a.m. The kitchen stops serving at 10 p.m. during the week and 11 p.m. on weekends. It's closed on Sunday. Call 330-376-9550.
• The Blue Fig
Recently, we said goodbye to Fairlawn's Luna Deli & Grill and hello to the Blue Fig.
Owner Mike Tabba revamped his West Market Street casual dining spot, adding a bar, televisions and a new menu.
The fare is casual, with traditional appetizers like spinach-artichoke dip and chicken wings, with a selection of soups, salads, hot and cold sandwiches and burgers. There's also a dozen or so entrees of fish, chicken, pasta and steaks, nearly all of which are in the $10 to $15 range.
It is still serving breakfast, although that menu has changed as well.
The new Blue Fig is at 2935 W. Market St., Fairlawn, and is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Call 330-864-6200.
• Printer's Cafe
Look behind Akron's St. Vincent's Church and you'll see old Akron Firehouse No. 3. Look inside the firehouse and you will find the new Printer's Cafe, part of the business No Minimum Printing.
The cafe opened a month ago, with operator Mary Ellen Welch providing a selection of soups, salads and sandwiches in addition to a large variety of cookies, cakes, pies and other homemade baked goods.
Welch, a Norton resident, said that after years of hobby cooking, she decided to try doing it professionally for her second career. ''I decided I wanted to do something I really love to do,'' she said.
The menu offerings are less than $10, a breakfast menu will debut in June, and Welch hopes to have patio seating soon as well.
There's a conference room on site and Welch will provide boxed lunches or other food and drink for business meetings. There's also free WiFi.
Printer's Cafe is at 60 S. Maple St. It's open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call 330-294-4087.
Lisa A. Abraham can be reached at 330-996-3737 or labraham@thebeaconjournal.com.
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