16 Ohio Comfort-Food Restaurants Locals Keep Recommending In 2026
Ohio comfort food has a special talent for turning a “quick bite” into a full-on life choice. In 2026, locals are still steering friends toward the same dining rooms where gravy is practically a love language, and the pie case has main-character energy.
I’ve learned the hard way that in this state, recommendations come with a side of strong opinions, and I mean that as a compliment. These are the places people defend like a hometown mascot, the ones that turn first-timers into regulars before the second refill shows up.
From small-town counters to big-city classics, this list is packed with plates that feel familiar in the best way. Pull up a chair, bring your appetite, and let Ohio do what it does best: feed you like you’re part of the story.
1. Schmucker’s Restaurant, Toledo
The first time I walked through the doors at Schmucker’s, I knew I was in trouble the moment I saw the pie case smiling at me from across the room. Breakfast plans quietly turned into a full comfort-food strategy session.
Schmucker’s Restaurant sits at 2103 N Reynolds Rd, Toledo, OH 43615, and has been serving homestyle plates and legendary pies since 1948, which explains why half the city seems to end up here by mid-morning.
The counter stools are usually full of regulars who order without looking at a menu, and the staff somehow remembers everyone’s preferred potatoes.
My usual move is to start with meatloaf or hot roast beef and then accidentally leave room for caramel apple or chocolate peanut butter pie. By the time the last crumbs disappear, it feels less like eating out and more like borrowing someone else’s well-worn family table for an hour.
2. Tony Packo’s Cafe, Toledo
My first bite of a Packo’s dog made me suddenly understand why people collect signed hot-dog buns like souvenirs. There is something wonderfully unserious about a place that treats chili-topped sausages as a local treasure.
The Original Tony Packo’s Cafe at 1902 Front St, Toledo, OH 43605, has been feeding the Glass City since 1932 with Hungarian-inspired comfort food that never tries to be dainty. The famous Hungarian sausage, sliced and tucked into a bun with chili, mustard and onions, is still the star of the show, backed up by stuffed cabbage, paprikash and plenty of hearty sides.
Trays here tend to fill up fast with dogs, noodles and sides, then end up under walls of signed buns while everyone scans for familiar names. Before long, the whole scene feels less like a restaurant and more like a slightly quirky Toledo clubhouse that just happens to be very good at dinner.
3. Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery, Hartville
There are days when I do not want a menu, I want reassurance, and that is when I point the car toward Hartville. The closer I get, the calmer I feel, mostly because I know real mashed potatoes are in my future.
Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery at 1015 Edison St NW, Hartville, OH 44632, leans into homestyle cooking with serious commitment, serving from-scratch meals and big portions since the 1960s. Think baked chicken, pot roast, noodles over potatoes and enough side dishes to cover the table.
The attached bakery turns out cream pies and layer cakes that look suspiciously like they came from someone’s well-loved church cookbook.
Most visits end with leftovers in one hand and a box of pie in the other, plus a quiet promise to eat more sensibly tomorrow. Hartville Kitchen makes it remarkably easy to forget whatever is waiting in your fridge and declare this your new definition of home-cooked.
4. Der Dutchman, Plain City
On mornings when the idea of a modest breakfast feels unreasonable, I start plotting a trip to Plain City. Der Dutchman is where my good intentions go to sit quietly while I visit the buffet.
Located at 445 S Jefferson Ave, Plain City, OH 43064, this spot focuses on Amish-style comfort food, from fried chicken and real mashed potatoes to noodles, stuffing and a whole lineup of gravies that do not believe in portion control.
Breakfast brings cinnamon rolls, eggs, pancakes and biscuits that are hard to refuse, especially when the dining room smells like fresh-baked goods.
Plates here tend to grow ambitious, piled high with just one more scoop of something you swore you would skip. By dessert time, with cream pie calmly staring back from the plate, the only logical conclusion is that Plain City should count as a wellness retreat for the soul.
5. The Golden Lamb Restaurant, Lebanon
Whenever I want comfort food with a side of Ohio history, I end up planning a detour through Lebanon. The Golden Lamb is one of those places where the building itself feels like part of the menu.
The restaurant sits at 27 S Broadway St, Lebanon, OH 45036, inside Ohio’s oldest continuously operating inn, serving guests since the early 1800s.
The dining rooms hold portraits, antiques and enough stories to keep you occupied between bites of roast turkey, fried chicken, pot roast and other classics that never seem to go out of style.
Dinner here often turns into a slow walk through the halls, letting the portraits and old woodwork do their quiet storytelling. By the time the check arrives, you are not just full, you are pleasantly convinced that comfort food and history have been collaborating in this building for centuries.
6. Berardi’s Family Restaurant, Huron
I still remember the day I learned that the fries people raved about near Cedar Point came from a family restaurant in Huron. That discovery instantly turned Berardi’s into a non-negotiable stop on lake trips.
Berardi’s Family Restaurant at 218 Cleveland Rd E, Huron, OH 44839, stays busy for good reason, serving homestyle breakfasts, burgers, sandwiches and dinners along with those famously crisp fries that locals claim as a point of pride.
The vibe feels casual and friendly, with a steady stream of regulars who treat the place like a second kitchen.
Most meals start with a classic dinner plate and end with an empty fry basket that was allegedly going to be shared. Walking out to the parking lot, it is hard not to wonder if the real tourist attraction in Huron is actually hiding inside this dining room.
7. Berardi’s Family Kitchen, Sandusky
On days when I want comfort food close to the action but not inside the chaos, I aim for Berardi’s Family Kitchen in Sandusky. It feels like the calm cousin of every busy tourist spot nearby.
You will find it at 1019 W Perkins Ave, Sandusky, OH 44870, where the Berardi family has spent decades serving locals everything from big breakfasts to turkey dinners and, of course, those award-winning fries.
They are repeatedly voted among the best places in town for breakfast, lunch, homemade meals and desserts, which explains the mix of regulars and out-of-towners in the booths.
A typical visit means settling into a booth, ordering something with gravy, then double-checking that the fries are still as good as last time. By the time dessert decisions roll around, staying a little longer suddenly feels like the most reasonable plan of the day.
8. Blue Ash Chili, Blue Ash
Whenever I crave Cincinnati-style chili but want it in a place that feels unabashedly local, Blue Ash Chili pops into my mind. It is the sort of spot where the menu and the regulars both have strong opinions.
Blue Ash Chili’s long-running location at 9525 Kenwood Rd Suite 5, Blue Ash, OH 45242, serves classic three, four and five-way chili plates, hearty coneys and stacked double-decker sandwiches that do not skimp on fillings.
The place has drawn national attention over the years, yet still feels like a neighborhood hangout where families share booths and workers stop for a quick, filling lunch.
Most orders here turn into little chili feasts, with plates and coneys arriving side by side just to compare. You leave warm, full, and slightly convinced that stretchy waistbands were invented with this dining room in mind.
9. Camp Washington Chili, Cincinnati
Late-night cravings have a way of steering my car directly toward Camp Washington. The glowing sign, the stainless-trimmed building and the steady trickle of hungry people feel oddly reassuring.
Located at 3005 Colerain Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45225, this chili parlor has been serving the city since 1940 and still keeps long hours, staying open around the clock from Monday morning through late Saturday.
Inside, you find classic Cincinnati chili over spaghetti, loaded cheese coneys and simple breakfasts that hit the spot when most places are closed.
Most visits involve a four-way with onions and a chili dog on the side, followed by the familiar promise to behave at the next meal. Sitting in that bright dining room at midnight, surrounded by other late-hour chili fans, feels like joining a very cozy Cincinnati tradition.
10. Cap City Fine Diner & Bar, Columbus (Grandview)
When I want comfort food that got dressed up for a night out, I head to Cap City Grandview. It feels like someone took a classic diner and gave it a clever upgrade without losing the soul.
Cap City Fine Diner & Bar in the Grandview area sits at 1299 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, OH 43212, and has built a reputation for comfort food redefined, even winning local awards for being one of the city’s best spots for this kind of cooking.
Meatloaf with rich gravy, pot roast, chicken pot pie and towering desserts all show up here, each one familiar but with a polished twist.
Booths fill with people tackling plates that look like diner classics on their very best behavior, right down to the sides. Once dessert lands on the table, any plan for a small meal quietly disappears, replaced by the simple goal of enjoying every last bite.
11. Tommy’s Diner, Columbus
Some mornings in Columbus, only a real diner will do, and that is when I steer toward Tommy’s. The chrome, the neon and the steady clatter of plates make it very clear that breakfast is serious business here.
Tommy’s Diner sits at 914 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43222, where it has anchored the Franklinton neighborhood for more than three decades. Inside, you will find Greek-influenced favorites alongside American classics, from omelets and pancakes to gyro platters, patty melts and thick burgers.
The walls are filled with memorabilia, and the staff moves with the kind of efficiency that comes from serving regulars for years.
A big breakfast plate here has a way of carrying you through most of the day, whether you planned that or not. By the time the coffee refills stop, Tommy’s tends to feel less like a one-time stop and more like the beginning of a standing date with your appetite.
12. Slyman’s Restaurant, Cleveland
The first time I saw a corned beef sandwich at Slyman’s, I honestly thought the plate had to be a prank. Then I watched someone finish one and realized Cleveland takes its sandwiches very seriously.
Slyman’s Restaurant at 3106 St Clair Ave NE, Cleveland, OH 44114, has been famous for towering corned beef since the 1960s, drawing everyone from office workers to visiting celebrities.
The menu covers breakfast, deli classics and daily specials, but the signature sandwich is the headliner, stacked high enough to require a strategy.
Most smart diners arrive hungry, order the corned beef with a pickle and take a moment to figure out the best angle of attack. Walking back out onto St Clair, it is hard not to feel like you just passed an unofficial initiation into Cleveland comfort culture.
13. Lucky’s Cafe, Cleveland (Tremont)
Whenever I want comfort food that still feels a little creative, I find myself wandering into Tremont toward Lucky’s. The patio in good weather and the cozy dining room in winter both work equally well for my brunch cravings.
Lucky’s Cafe at 777 Starkweather Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113, blends farm-to-table ingredients with hearty dishes, serving breakfasts and lunches that feel both thoughtful and indulgent.
From thick biscuits with gravy to loaded omelets, seasonal soups and baked goods from their pastry case, the menu leans into the idea that comfort food can be carefully sourced.
The place regularly earns high marks and best brunch mentions around town.
Strong coffee, something involving potatoes and a pastry you did not plan on is the default combination here. By the time the check appears, any leftover stress usually feels like it stayed outside on the sidewalk.
14. Grumpy’s Cafe, Cleveland (Tremont)
There is something delightfully ironic about a place called Grumpy’s that sends people out smiling. Every time I walk in, I feel the pull of both the specials board and the dessert case.
Grumpy’s Cafe at 2621 W 14th St, Cleveland, OH 44113, has been part of the Tremont scene for years, serving what they happily describe as Cleveland-style comfort food.
The menu covers big breakfasts, creative scrambles, hearty sandwiches, salads and daily specials that tend to lean rich and satisfying rather than dainty.
The colorful walls and local art give the room a relaxed, neighborhood feel.
Loaded breakfast plates, bottomless coffee and a bit of people-watching are the usual ingredients for a visit. Walking back out onto West 14th, it is very easy to understand why the regulars keep recommending this place to anyone who even whispers the word brunch.
15. Buckeye Express Diner, Bellville
The day I spotted a bright red train car sitting on a hill off I-71, I knew exactly where I was eating. Buckeye Express Diner looks playful from the road and gets wonderfully serious once the food arrives.
You will find it at 810 State Route 97 W, Bellville, OH 44813, right off Exit 165, serving classic diner comfort inside a railcar packed with Ohio memorabilia. The menu leans into burgers, fries, hearty sandwiches and simple dinners that feel tailor-made for road-trip appetites.
It keeps daily hours from late morning into the evening, which makes it an easy stop whether you are heading north or south.
A window seat, a big burger and a pile of fries turn a basic highway break into something closer to a mini field trip. Leaving the parking lot, the interstate suddenly feels much more manageable with that kind of fuel on board.
16. Taste of Belgium, The Banks (Cincinnati)
Whenever I want comfort food that comes with a Belgian accent, I make my way toward the riverfront. Taste of Belgium at The Banks is my go-to when only a waffle piled with toppings will do.
This location sits at 16 W Freedom Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202, and remains one of the brand’s key spots as the company focuses on a smaller group of Cincinnati restaurants.
The menu centers around Liège-style waffles, waffle-based breakfasts, hearty sandwiches, frites and bistro plates that lean rich and satisfying.
Despite recent restructuring, the kitchens are still busy turning out scratch-made dishes for locals who keep recommending it as a comfort stop.
A waffle breakfast paired with a side of frites turns into a full-on Belgian-inspired feast faster than you can say just a snack. Stepping back onto the riverfront walk afterward, the city feels brighter, and the only real question is when to come back for round two.