Here's a quick review of our eating experiences during our recent trip to Findlay, Ohio:
Stix
We went here at the suggestion of Danielle in Findlay's Convention and Visitors Bureau office, who told me it might appeal to more "adventurous eaters". That description, as well as the idea that it was a local business, rather than a chain restaurant, sold us on the idea of giving this Asian fusion place a try.
Stix surprised me a bit with its creative menu in a smaller downtown like Findlay, but I'm sure the fact that Findlay is a college town helps by providing a diverse population of diners hungry for the restaurant's creative cuisine.
I opted for Stix' version of bibimbap, a classic Korean dish of veggies and meat served atop rice in a hot stone bowl and topped off with a cracked egg. The contents of the bowl sizzled as I stirred them to mix in, and cook, the egg before digging in.
I had the chicken version with veggies featuring seaweed salad, fresh spinach, julienned carrots and a bit of purple cabbage, all seasoned with Asian peppers and spices.
It was my first time eating bibimbap, and certainly not the last time, I'm sure.
Meanwhile, Tim loves duck and eagerly ordered a duck dish as his entree.
We'd started off the meal with a lettuce wrap app, but instead of the iceberg lettuce and shredded chicken I usually see in this dish elsewhere, this version of the popular app had Bibb lettuce and large chunks of seasoned seafood with a few pickled onions and a dipping sauce.
All tasty and a bit out of the ordinary, but our only regret may be that we didn't leave room for a desert like the sampler of homemade ice cream I spotted on another review.
Opened in April of 2014 and owned by Renz and Lala Salanga, Stix offers a menu that blends Asian tastes like Thai, Japanese, Lao, Vietnamese, Mexican and Filipino into a creative smorgasbord of tastes for lunch and dinner.
Stix does not have a liquor license, but diners can BYOB if they wish.
Even without alcohol, the restaurant is not a fast-food affair and can be on the spendy side. Looking for a good deal here? You might want to try visiting on $2 Taco Tuesdays, when Stix offers options like chicken, tofu and pork belly tacos.
You can connect with Stix on Facebook where the restaurant lists occasional menu specials.
Logan's Irish Pub
We stopped by Logan's for lunch at the suggestion of my blogging friend Aaron.
This restaurant opened in 2009 and offers lots of traditional pub fare in a classic, dark-wood Irish pub decor.
Fortunately, we arrived hungry as the menu featured lots of hearty Irish dishes like Shepherd's Pie, corned beef and cabbage, bangers and mash (sausage and mashed potatoes) and something called Boxty Dinner (which features Irish potato pancakes).
We grabbed a seat by the window up front, where we could people-watch in the heart of downtown Findlay while we waited for our meal.
Tim opted for a fish and chips dinner, while I ordered Logan's panko crumb-topped Mac'n'cheese. Both dishes were tasty and plentiful...we certainly didn't need dinner later on in the day!
We visited Logan's on a quiet weekday afternoon, but I got the idea that the bar could be pretty lively during weekend evenings when Logan's often hosts live entertainment or groups of footy fans wanting to watch the latest Major League Soccer games on television.
Connect with Logan's on its Web site or on Facebook.
George House Coffee and Tea
Since my buddy Aaron is the coffee king as far as I'm concerned, featuring lots of reviews of indie coffee houses at his The Adventures of elATLboy blog, he was my go-to person when seeking a suggestion for where we could find coffee and ice tea in Findlay...which is how we ended up visiting George House (twice) for our caffeine fix while visiting the town.
This local business, opened in 1993, sits on a corner just across the street from the University of Findlay campus.
George House is a quiet sanctuary for those who want to study or simply browse through the business's selection of used books up front for a treasure to buy and take home. It also looked like a popular meeting place for small study groups and friends who want to linger over their brews among the books.
The back end features the coffee operation and a small selection of gifts, coffee beans, teas and spices for purchase.
The business also stresses green options like recycling and encouraging customers to bring in their own mugs to use.
The service, like a lot of indies making up your drinks from scratch, is a bit on the slow side, but definitely friendly and helpful.
I ordered two iced unsweetened green teas during my first visit here, and when I returned the next day, the woman behind the counter remembered me, remembered what I ordered the day before and suggested that I try an unsweetened flavored green ice tea that I enjoyed.
Check out Aaron's review of George House and connect with the business on Facebook.
Be sure to also check out my Midwest Market Basket feature about Findlay's fab Dietsch Brothers house-made ice cream and fine chocolate stop!
© Dominique King 2015 All rights reserved
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