These Ohio Food Spots Serve Portions So Big You Won’t Be Able To Eat Everything At Once
Nothing tests my optimism like a menu that quietly suggests a “regular” portion and then delivers a plate the size of a small tabletop. I have walked into Ohio restaurants convinced I was properly hungry, only to watch a server arrive with a meal that looked like it came with its own game plan.
If you have ever said, “I will finish it,” and immediately regretted your confidence, this list is for you.
Across the Buckeye State, big portions are not a gimmick, they are a love language served with a side of extra everything.
These are the places where breakfast skillets show up looking like they could feed a whole committee, sandwiches sit tall enough to cast a shadow, and desserts arrive with the kind of swagger that says, “Cancel your next snack.”
I have chased oversized plates from small-town counters to busy city favorites, and the pattern is always the same: you laugh, you eat, you surrender, and you leave with leftovers that deserve their own seatbelt.
Grab your appetite and accept your fate, because these fifteen Ohio food spots prove that one meal can easily become two.
1. Alexandris Restaurant, Wadsworth
Some breakfasts whisper; my first skillet at Alexandris basically filed for its own zip code.
I remember watching the server walk toward me with a cast-iron skillet piled with eggs, potatoes, meat, cheese, and a side of denial that I would ever finish it in one sitting.
Locals treat this family spot in downtown Wadsworth as their unofficial dining room, where omelets hang over the plate, pancakes overlap each other, and even the toast arrives in generous stacks.
By the time I surrendered and asked for a box, the table next to me was already comparing leftovers the way some people compare trophies.
If you want to test your appetite against the kind of portions that demand a nap, your next forkful belongs at 146 Main St, Wadsworth, OH 44281.
2. Nutcracker Family Restaurant, Pataskala
There is diner nostalgia, and then there is walking into a place where the plates look like they were designed for cartoon giants.
At Nutcracker Family Restaurant in Pataskala, my simple plan for a light breakfast turned into a full-scale strategy meeting about how to tackle a plate crowded with eggs, meat, home fries, and toast, all trying to escape the rim.
The 1950s decor, nutcrackers everywhere, and the smell of fresh coffee make it feel cozy, but the servings lean more heroic than cute.
Desserts sit in the case like a second challenge, and more than once, I have boxed up half my meal just so I could justify a slice of pie later.
When you are ready to accept that leftovers are part of the experience, head to 63 E Broad St, Pataskala, OH 43062.
3. The Blue Berry Cafe, Bellbrook
Some places serve pancakes; The Blue Berry Cafe serves flying saucers that happen to be made of batter.
I sat down in Bellbrook thinking I would politely split a stack and instead found myself staring at pancakes that overlapped the plate, a mound of berries on top, and enough whipped cream to qualify as a side dish.
The room buzzes with regulars who know better than to over-order, yet still somehow leave with containers full of cinnamon roll scraps and leftover potatoes.
Every bite tastes like someone’s favorite weekend tradition, and every plate looks like a dare to your future self.
If you like your brunch to come with a side of there is no way I am finishing this, set your GPS for 129 W Franklin St, Bellbrook, OH 45305.
4. Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery, Hartville
The first time I carried a tray at Hartville Kitchen, I felt like I should have trained for it.
This Hartville landmark is famous for homestyle comfort food that arrives in portions your grandparents would proudly call a proper meal, from thick slices of roast turkey with mountains of mashed potatoes to towering slices of cream pie that require their own negotiation.
I watched families pass plates around the table the way some people pass serving platters at a holiday gathering, and still, there were leftovers going into containers.
The attached bakery tempts you with loaves, pies, and cookies that somehow look both giftable and completely destined for your own kitchen counter.
When you want food that feeds you today and fills your fridge tomorrow, you will find it at 1015 Edison St NW, Hartville, OH 44632.
5. Der Dutchman, Plain City
There are generous portions, and then there is the moment at Der Dutchman when your broasted chicken arrives and you quietly accept you are not the main character here.
This Plain City favorite leans into Amish-style comfort food with plates full of noodles, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and vegetables that make the table look like a family gathering, even if you came alone.
I have watched servers balance multiple platters like seasoned acrobats while guests calculate how many meals they just bought with one order.
The dessert case does not play small either, lining up slices of pie so tall they almost qualify as architecture.
If your idea of a good time includes multiple rounds of just one more bite followed by a very serious to-go situation, point yourself toward 445 S Jefferson Ave, Plain City, OH 43064.
6. Boyd & Wurthmann Restaurant, Berlin
Breakfast in Ohio’s Amish country hits differently, especially when the plate looks like it could feed the whole buggy.
At Boyd & Wurthmann in Berlin, my standard breakfast arrived looking anything but standard, with eggs, meat, potatoes, and toast all competing for space beside a slice of fresh pie I absolutely did not need but ordered anyway.
Coffee cups rarely stay empty, and the friendly pace of the dining room hides the fact that these servings are serious business.
I have left here more than once, carrying a box that held my second breakfast and an afternoon snack disguised as leftovers.
For anyone who believes a small-town diner should send you out well-fed and smiling, the proof waits at 4819 E Main St, Berlin, OH 44610.
7. G & R Tavern, Waldo
Some sandwiches are sliced delicately; the fried bologna at G & R Tavern looks like it benched your entire lunch budget.
When I ordered the famous bologna sandwich in Waldo, I expected something modest, not a thick slab stacked on a soft bun with cheese and toppings trying to hang on for dear life.
Plates here lean toward the hearty side, with sides and pie that turn a simple stop into a full-on event, the kind where you start planning your next visit halfway through the first bite.
The dining room feels relaxed and unpretentious, which only makes the oversized sandwiches that much more surprising.
If you have ever wondered what it feels like to face a sandwich that might actually defeat you, you will find your opponent at 103 N Marion St, Waldo, OH 43356.
8. Slyman’s Restaurant, Cleveland
Cleveland mornings get serious in a hurry when a corned beef sandwich is taller than your coffee thermos.
At Slyman’s Restaurant, I watched my sandwich arrive in layers of corned beef so generous the bread seemed mostly symbolic, and I instantly knew half of it would be tomorrow’s lunch.
Regulars line up early, trading stories about who has seen the biggest sandwich and which combination they swear is the best.
The rhythm feels like a deli should, quick and bustling, but the portions slow you down in the best possible way.
Whenever I need a reminder that a simple sandwich can become a multi-meal situation, I head back to 3106 St Clair Ave NE, Cleveland, OH 44114.
9. Wario’s Beef and Pork, Columbus
Arena District crowds may come for the games, but my biggest victory in Columbus involved a sandwich that barely fit into its wrapper.
Wario’s Beef and Pork builds East Coast-style sandwiches that feel like they were engineered for maximum flavor and minimum empty plate, packed with shaved beef, pork, cheese, and toppings that spill out the sides.
I tried to pick mine up gracefully and ended up committing to the full two-hand, lean-over-the-table approach, already certain I was taking the rest home.
Lines form quickly during lunch, and it is hard not to eye other people’s orders while pretending you still have room for more.
On days when a regular sandwich just will not do, I aim straight for 111 W Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215.
10. The Spot Restaurant, Sidney
Small-town squares are charming enough, but The Spot in Sidney gives its burgers and pies the starring roles.
My first burger here came out looking like it had been rehearsing for a food commercial, thick and juicy with a generous side of fries that made the plate feel cheerfully crowded.
Then the pie arrived, and suddenly I understood why people talk about this place as if it were a rite of passage rather than just a lunch stop.
There is a friendly, old-school diner energy, with plenty of regulars who clearly know their way around the menu and the dessert list.
When I want food that feels classic but portioned for a serious appetite, I end up back at 201 S Ohio Ave, Sidney, OH 45365.
11. Hamburger Inn Diner, Delaware
The smell of grilled burgers and cinnamon rolls should be illegal this early in the morning, but Hamburger Inn Diner does not apologize.
In downtown Delaware, I sat at the counter and watched plates loaded with burgers, hash browns, eggs, and those famous rolls crowd every inch of the surface in front of hungry regulars.
My own plate disappeared under a burger and sides so generous I briefly questioned whether I had misread the menu.
Then the warm cinnamon roll showed up, and the idea of finishing everything in one sitting turned into wishful thinking.
For anyone who loves classic diner comfort with portions that guarantee a second round later in the day, the answer waits at 16 N Sandusky St, Delaware, OH 43015.
12. Mr Wonderful’s Chicken & Waffles, Maple Heights
Some meals feel like a hug; Mr Wonderful’s Chicken & Waffles feels like a full family reunion on a plate.
When I ordered a wings and waffle combo here, the plate arrived so loaded I had to take a second just to map out my strategy, crunchy chicken stacked beside a waffle that easily counted as its own meal.
The Sweet Jesus glaze, crispy skin, and all the classic sides make every order feel wildly generous, especially once the containers for leftovers show up.
Guests drift in and out with that satisfied, slow-moving energy that only comes from really good comfort food.
If your idea of a good day includes perfectly fried chicken, a serious waffle, and plenty to reheat later, you need to remember 5354 Lee Rd, Maple Heights, OH 44137.
13. StuffedEnuff, Columbus
The name StuffedEnuff sounds playful until you realize it is more of a promise than a slogan.
My plate in Columbus arrived heavy enough that I instinctively used both hands to set it down, loaded with lamb chops, sides, and enough cornbread to make me reconsider my dinner plans for the rest of the week.
Review after review mentions large portions, and it is easy to see why once the yams, greens, mac and cheese, and rice start crowding the edges of the tray.
By the time I finished, I had created a carefully layered leftovers box that looked like a mini version of the original plate.
For days when you want soul food that keeps feeding you long after you leave, the move is 3761 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH 43224.
14. Ridiculous Eatz Black Owned, Columbus
The name Ridiculous Eatz had me curious; the first bite had me completely on board.
In northwest Columbus, plates stacked with loaded fries, massive sandwiches, wings, and Cajun-inspired comfort food come out looking like they were designed to challenge your capacity in the nicest possible way.
I remember opening a takeout container in my car and laughing, because what I had technically ordered as dinner obviously included tomorrow’s lunch.
The late-night hours make it an easy choice when cravings show up, and the steady flow of regulars proves the portion reputation is well earned.
Whenever I want food that leans bold in both flavor and sheer volume, I follow the craving straight to 1940 W Henderson Rd, Columbus, OH 43220.
15. Wally Waffle, Akron
Some breakfasts are quick; breakfast at Wally Waffle in Akron turns into an event the moment your waffle hits the table.
Mine arrived dressed with toppings and sides that almost hid the waffle itself, plus eggs, bacon, and potatoes joining in like supporting characters who forgot their place.
The menu is playful and creative, but the servings stay firmly in the come hungry category, with waffles that sprawl across the plate and combinations that could easily be shared.
I walked out feeling like I had eaten brunch and a late lunch at the same time, with half a waffle tucked neatly into a box for later.
For a morning that leaves you full, happy, and carrying leftovers, the right move is 845 W Market St, Akron, OH 44303.