Mr. Lee's - 8/10

Evilly good. This was my default restaurant for many years. Very Americanized in the best possible way. Most people get the #5 combo (General Tso's chicken) here, with good reason. The sauce is perfectly balanced, very nice tanginess. The breading stays crispy. The only downside is the feeling that hits your lower intestine about 60-90 minutes later.. ;-)

Pollyeyes - 9/10

Ok, it's not a Findlay restaurant, but it's worth the roadtrip. Pollyeyes has a full menu, but make no mistake - they only have one thing to eat. Breadsticks. Buttery sticks of love (BSOL), to be specific. They are a religion. They're enormous, and a half order (3 stix) are plenty for one person. I like the plain ones, but stuffed stix are also good, especially chicken and cheese, which is what the locals all get. So good.

Ming's Great Wall - 7/10

Most of their food is average, but they're the only place in Findlay that has a good Mongolian beef. Most of the rest of their food is fairly bland, though.

China Garden - 4/10

I've only been there once, with four people. Nothing was inedible, but nothing was good either. Not good odds. I haven't tried it since it moved.

Hunan Gardens - 7/10

Bland, but not too bad. I got a ginger chicken dish the last time I was there that was good. They also have some good tofu dishes. The empress shrimp is great at first, but too sweet for a whole meal. The kung pao shrimp is better.

For dinner, they have a deal for $7.50 which includes soup, crab rangoon, egg roll and a lunch-sized order of anything on the menu. Really good deal.

New China Inn - 2/10

I've only been there once, and both dishes were terrible. Utterly inedible.

Be Tran Eggroll (CLOSED) - 9/10

Ok, there's not much variety. But c'mon, it's a four-table restaurant with one person working there. :) The eggrolls are the stars here. Amazingly good. There are a handful of regular chinese dishes, all of which are very deep-fried chicken. The almond boneless is especially good. But try a few eggrolls first.

Update, 2006: Be sold the restaurant, and it's now back open as "Golden Dragon" (I think that's the name). I haven't been there since, but I will.

China Rose - 3/10

I've been there twice. The first time I got something that I liked, General Tso's chicken, maybe? The last time it was terrifyingly bad. The kung pao shrimp was slathered in a cloyingly sweet oily gravy. Inedible. The mushroom broccoli was edible but not good.

Hong Kong Buffet - 8/10

Yummy and cheap! There's a really good variety. Go for lunch, which is the same food for only $5.39!

Update, January 2006: For dinner, they have a new and crazy-good General Tso's shrimp, along with their always amazing plum shrimp.

Jac N Do's - 9/10

A Findlay classic. Very very thin and crispy crust, great sauce, and not too much cheese. Nice and cheap, to boot!

Depending on your taste, I'd recommend trying Joey Fratello's, too. Both are great in their own way, but Joey's wins in my book.

Greek Garden - 8/10

Mostly good stuff, but the gyros are especially good here. The meat is flavored oh-so-well.

Fillin' Station - 6/10

A sentimental favorite. Probably because it's Van Buren's only food place. Not the most brilliant food, but it's good. Sometimes only a breaded veal sandwich and a Reeses peanut butter cup flurry will do.

Oler's - 7/10

Delightfully tacky. Don't be afraid of the outside. Ok, be afraid. But eat there anyway. It's nothing brilliant, but it's good.

Spaghetti Shop - 7/10

The spaghetti is good, but the star here is easily the garlic bread. It's sweet and delicious. Get an extra loaf. Or three.

Tony's Restaurant - 7/10

Not bad if you're into "red state food". They have some nice grinders. Very good breaded mushrooms, too. And they've got the best ribs in town!

Vino's Italian Restaurant - 5/10

Not one of my favorites. They're ok, just nothing brilliant. Findlay really needs a *good* Italian restaurant. Skip the pizza.

Waldo Pepper's - 7/10

They're pretty good, but nothing brilliant. The cajun shrimp is good, as are the black-and-blue burgers.

Bistro on Main - 8/10

One of Findlay's better fancy restaurants. The one downside is price. They have decent lunch deals, but they're very expensive otherwise. The al forno is really tasty, especially minus the chicken. But I had that too many times, and I find myself not seeing much else that tempts me. Still, I'm being nitpicky - it's the best Italian in Findlay.

Japan West - 9/10

I only went here once before for teppanyaki - expensive, but tasty. But I went today for sushi over lunch and it was excellent. I got the lunch combo ($14), which came with three pieces of cucumber maki, three pieces of tuna maki, five pieces of nigiri (todays's were tuna, salmon, flounder, skate and shrimp), and a big dessert nigiri that looked like tamago but was quite sweet. The fish was some of the best I've had - incredibly fresh, with a beautiful texture. The wasabi was on the heavy side, but had none of the chlorine-like flavor I sometimes get at Asian Grill. The skate was very interesting - a very firm texture, almost like it was partially frozen (but it wasn't). I liked it a lot, but I'm sure it would be polarizing. I'll definitely be back soon!

Scrambler Marie's - 8/10

Findlay's best breakfast food. Pretty much everything there is good, but my favorite is the Southwyck. It has potato chunks, onions and cheeeese. Throw a couple of eggs on top. So good.

Wilson's - 6/10

They're salty. They're greasy. They should be terrible. But they're not. A guilty pleasure. Wilson's is a real Findlay institution.

Asian Grill - 10/10

Finally, Findlay has an excellent option for authentic Asian food. You won't find General Tso's chicken here, but you will find the full array of real Japanese, Thai and Korean food. While the teriyaki and sushi and other "safe" options are great, be adventurous and try some of the other stuff! The Pad See-Ew is amazing. [no more Thai food] The only downside here is the price - it's about $10-15 for most dinners, and there's no Saturday lunch menu.

Every meal comes with free bottled water, a salad with a beautiful gingery dressing, and a bowl of the best miso soup I've ever had.

The sushi is pretty good, aside from the tuna nigiri, which always tastes a little chlorinated to me. They also use more wasabi than most places in the sushi construction, but I've gotten to where I like that.

They originally had a great Thai menu, but got rid of that around the time Satang moved into town for some odd reason. ;-)

Update, April 2007: Their Tofu Teriyaki dish was amazing. The tofu was in big chunks, breaded in panko, and it gave it the most amazing texture.

Update, Spring 2009: I've fallen in love with their Spicy Pork on Rice dish from the Korean menu. Ridiculously good.

Cucina Di Betto - 7/10

Good Italian food in a spiffy but unpretentious atmosphere. Their prices are fair, and the food is tasty. The spinash-stuffed ravioli with alfredo sauce was especially amazing. The American-cake-style tiramisu was ok, but I'd try another desert next time.

It's definitely nothing fancy or original, but it's tasty all the same.

Bamboo Garden - 8/10

Now that Mr. Lee's seems to be gone, and I'm up in BG more often, I was delighted to find this gem. It's half-way between fast food chinese and "real" chinese. The food is really great, especially the General Tso's chicken (though the breading can be tough)! The prices are equally awesome - lots of $4.15 lunch specials that you probably won't even be able to finish. They also have two sizes of things, which is nice. Try the cheese wontons, too. *drool* So good.

One downside: they're slow as molasses. Even if you're going to eat in the restaurant, it's a good idea to call ahead your order 20-30 minutes ahead of time if you're eating during a peak time.

Satang Thai Cuisine (CLOSED) - 10/10

SAD NEWS: Satang closed its doors in June 2008.

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This has been a good year for Asian food fans in Findlay. There's a brand new Thai place that just opened Monday called Satang. It's on Tiffin Avenue where 12 joins up - right next to Mr. Lee's, and in the same spot that the other Chinese restaurant used to be. They have excellent food, and they really spiffed up the place. The spring rolls and the Gai Him Ma Pan were amazing. The curry was good, though too sweet for my taste. Good prices, too, most entrees are $6.95 for dinner. Highly recommended. Yum.

Update, 4/3/06: This is now officially my favorite restaurant in Findlay. They recently overhauled their menu. The "Gai Him Ma Pan" seems to be gone, but the "Rad Na" is a new favorite. The "Ka Prow" is great if you don't mind crying from the spice. And of course, the usual pad thai is tasty. Just stay away from the fresh spring rolls. ;)

Update, 4/15/06: They have a new item called Gai Ra Yong that's now my favorite. It's breaded white meat chicken chunks in a brown chili onion sauce. So very yum.

Update, August 2006: They seem to have a new cook. There's a smaller menu and it's not quite as brilliant as before, but still crazy-good.

Update, January 2007: The food's gotten consistently better, including the amazing Rama in Jacuzzi. Unfortunately, service has been very slow the past few months. It's not unusual to wait 30+ minutes after ordering to get food, even when not busy. The wait for the check can be pretty long, too. Hopefully they staff up to speed this up.

Update, March 2007: They seem to have the kinks in service ironed out. I've been into the Panang Curry lately.

Rossilli's Restaurant - 7/10

Not bad, but too expensive for what it is. The food was good - the minestrone was nice and rich, the caesar salad was a little goopy, but good flavor. The shrimp and scallop dish ($16) with alfredo sauce was pretty good, though a little bland. The veggie dish with shiitake mushrooms ($13) was ok, but bland and with funky-tasting mushrooms and sundried tomatoes. The atmosphere is so-so. Kinda loud and cramped, with hard plastic on the tables, butter packets, etc. Also, service was a little slow, even on a Monday night. Not bad, but stick to Bistro for a better value and food.

Uraku Sushi - 8/10

[Photos]

I'd gone here once for a bento box dinner and wasn't at all impressed. I wrote it off and didn't come back until a dinner party a couple of years later. I was blown away. The first time must have been a fluke: their sushi is as good as I've had in Ohio. Their menu is nicely organized and varied.

The DancingEel was excellent, and artfully presented, with multicolored roe on top. The UnaAvo was also delicious - slightly warm, which sounds odd, but perfect. The Spicy tuna roll was good, but pretty much what you'd expect. The only disappointment was the toro, which was served partially frozen.

It's almost like discovering a new place - I can't wait to go back now!

Uraku Website

Update, Fall 2008: There's been a little slip in quality lately. It seems to depend somewhat on who's preparing the sushi - the owner (Day Jung) is better than the younger white guy. There are a lot of mixed-up orders, and items not matching what they should be - missing roe, for instance, or just the wrong contents. Things don't seem to match the pictures as much. Docking them a point for now, but I'm guessing this is just a short-term burp because they're expanding into the store next door.

Update, Winter 2008: The new dining room is open, and it's really beautiful.

Update, Spring 2009: All of the problems have been long-since ironed out. They're back on top of their game!

Update, Summer 2009: Quality has been slipping again. First, they tried an insanely confusing all-you-can-eat menu (which they've since axed, it looks like). But the past three or four times, the sushi itself has been skimpy on the good stuff, not as well-rolled, and often has missing or incorrect ingredients. I'm going to take a break for awhile and see if it bounces back this fall. On the plus side, the eternal reservations are looking really pretty!

Rose Thai - 9/10

Far-ish from Findlay, but notable because it's so good. The atmosphere is elegant, the prices are reasonable, and the food is amazing. The "Bangkok Chicken" was amazing, with a lightly sweet and spicy brown sauce. And they have drinkable wine available by the carafe. Not really better or worse than Satang, just different.

Update, 2010: Their Pra Ram Long Song is ridiculously good. It's basically Satang's old Rama in Jacuzzi dish.

Real Seafood Company - 8/10

Good, no-nonsense seafood at reasonable prices. I had the ahi tuna, and it was good, though maybe a bit overcooked for some tastes. I got it Shanghai-style, which has rice and a tasty soy ginger sauce. Fancyish vibe.

Mancy's Bluewater Grille - 8/10

Tasty seafood. The cold seafood appetizer was pretty good, but wasn't worth $34. The fish and chips were sinfully tasty. The ahi tuna was quite good if you're into nearly raw. The salmon with Hollandaise sauce was my favorite. The fettucini alfredo was very well-done as well, with minimal sauce. Great deserts, too. The german chocolate cake was as rich and buttery as physically possible, and the chocolate cheesecake was great too, though served too cold. Not a cheap place, but a decent splurge.

Blue Pacific Grill - 6/10

This is a make-your-own-stir-fry joint. The food was pretty good, though not up there with the venerable BD's Mongolian BBQ. They have a good selection of ingredients, and a so-so selection of sauces that dwells too much in sweet/spicy brown stuff. It's a little cheesy in the decor and presentation - misspelled magic marker writing adorns the seasoning shakers, etc. The real negative is the price. It's $11 per bowl! That's more than BD's. And even more negative, there's no way of knowing this until the bill arrives. It's good for getting that BD's fix without needing to drive to Ann Arbor or Columbus, but I'd rather save my appetite for the real thing at that price.

Update, Aug '06: It's $10/bowl at lunch! Rip-off.

Biaggi's - 9/10

This isn't especially local to Findlay, and it's technically a small chain, but this is the best Italian food in the area. They have fair prices, classy old-school atmosphere, and some damn fine food. My favorite thing about this place is the fact that they're adventurous and willing to use bold flavors (rather than a certain other Italian chain who shall remain nameless). Everything I've had there has been interesting and yummy. And the fried bread dipped in "Biaggi Butter" is a pleasure that can't be described. Mmm.

Update, April 2007: The food is still as amazing as ever, but the service has gone steadily downhill. They're in danger of becoming a victim of their own success. If you make a reservation on a weekend, be prepared to sit 30-40 minutes in the lobby anyway. This has been the case reliably over the past half a year or so, and really needs to be fixed.

Update, May 2007: Unfortunately, I can't recommend Biaggi's anymore. It's the same thing every time - get a reservation, arrive on time, be told that they're running 15 minutes behind, and 30 minutes later, you're taken to a table with nothing more than a "whoops, sorry for the wait". It ruins the experience to the point where it's no longer fun to go. Skip it unless you're having dinner at 4:45pm on a Monday night. Even then, bring something to read.

Update, July 2007: I'm happy to pass on that things seem to be better! I emailed the manager last time to explain the problems we've had, and he emailed back that specific things had been done to address the problem. Sure enough, a couple months later, after "anonymous" reservations, we were seated immediately at 7pm on a Saturday night. Kudos for being so responsive!

Update, September 2007: The quality has been slipping a little the past couple visits. The butternut squash ravioli (and apparently the chicken marsala) have changed recipes for the worse. Two times ago, the tiramisu was served still frozen. The lobster ravioli on the specials menu this week was the most uninspired dish yet: six tiny ravioli barely poking their heads up in a sea of cream sauce, stuffed with a little bit of overcooked lobster and nothing else on the dish, all for $15 or $16. The reservations problem does seem to be fixed, but the service seems to be getting a little rushed, and the food quality's been dipping.

Update, 2008: The past couple of visits have been much better.

Tony Packo's - 8/10

The same great food as the Toledo restaurant. Sometimes nothing but a Packo's chili dog will do. And now I can clog my arteries from the comfort of my own hometown.

El Zarape - 8/10

Simple and tasty Mexican grub. Nice steak fajitas! The standard burritos and enchiladas are bland (basically unflavored ground beef in the middle), but the bean burrito and cheese enchiladas are awesome.

San Francisco Oven (CLOSED) - 8/10

Excellent thin-crust pizza with a California style. This isn't strictly indie, as it's a small chain, but all the same, it's quite yummy.

Update, March 2007: They now have a few international items to represent the different ethnic neighborhoods in SF. It's a cool idea, but not executed very well. So far I've had the kung pao shrimp, which was tasty, but the portion was small for the price, and the shrimp still had their tails on, which made it very hard to eat. The Pad Thai wasn't very good - it was dry and bland, and they used angel hair pasta (!). Stick to the pizza. :D

Update, January 2008: They done gone and closed. :(

Revolver - 10/10

Findlay now has an actual hip restaurant. This place oozes with mid-century style. It's beautiful in its own very odd way. Each month has a new menu, with a few starter course options, a few salad/soup course options, and a few entree options.

They started us off with some small free appetizers - a beef carpaccio mixture on top of a small cracker, and a soup with fennel. Then came these wonderful warm rolls - nicely seasoned and packed with raw flour on the outside. Rooted in tradition, but a really unique take.

The food was fascinating. The sweet potato soup was rich and flavorful. The spinach agnolotti was the one dish I probably wouldn't get again - extremely interesting, but the novelty of the foamy citrus sauce died off by the end of the dish. The butternut squash and spinach fettucini was wonderful. The creamy texture of the wilted spinach with the squash puree was divine, and they even used squash in the fresh pasta dough. And the monkfish was lovely - very rich and sweet, with an off-the-chart sour orange zest and olive topping that actually worked.

For dessert, I had the butternut squash crème brulée with crème fraiche ice cream and cranberry biscotti. It was so good! The squash actually worked amazingly well, and the crème fraiche ice cream was one of those "why didn't I think of that?" moments.

The presentation of the food was beautiful. None of this two-foot-high tower stuff; just artfully arranged simplicity.

The quality of the service was the best I've ever had in Findlay, and one of the best anywhere. Right from the start, with reservations, they asked if anyone had dietary restrictions or food allergies. When we arrived, the chef/owner came out to introduce himself and to let Sara know that if none of the vegetarian options on the menu sounded good, he could prepare something special. Throughout the night, there was very attentive but not suffocating service. Even the greeter at the front door saw when tables were finishing dinner, and headed upstairs to get their coats out of check, waiting patiently.

The prices are quite good for food of this quality. Two appetizers, two entrées and one dessert came out to $54 including tip. They don't currently have a liquor license, but you can BYOB for no corkage until they get that in place. (Update: they've got their license)

Don't expect fettucini alfredo on the menu here. This is experimental cuisine, and there will be hits and misses. I'm giving a 9/10 for now, but this could easily become a perfect 10 as they get into the groove. I hope they're able to stay afloat without dumbing down their menu for small-town Ohio tastes. A rack of ribs is always good, but it's nice to be able to eat dangerously now and then.

Phone: 419-424-4020

Update, Jan 2007: Made it back again, and it was even better. Highlights were a free appetizer (a rye cracker with goat cheese, chicken and figs) and the onion soup. It was a thick and rich broth poured on top of a "63 degree egg" - soft "boiled" at a low temperature, leaving a very creamy texture. The scallop entrée was delicious, though not as inventive as some of their other food. Also thumbs up on the pear salad. And the ending pieces of fresh caramel with sea salt and paprika will make you want to never see a red-and-white mint in a plastic wrapper again. The prices crept up a little on the entrées since the first month, but it's still a worthwhile splurge. I should also note that it's next to impossible to get in on a weekend without reservations made well in advance, but we were the only ones there on a Monday night.

Update, Feb 2007: Awesome menu this month. They now have a few more entrée choices, including some at lower prices. The appetizer with shrimp and radicchio had strong bitter, sweet, sour and salty things going on in perfect balance. The gnocchi was also really good. For the entrées, the fettucini with hazelnuts and acorn squash was rich and lovely. And the chicken with blood orange and carrots was crazy good. It was the single most tender and juicy chicken I've ever tasted. The skin was crispy and flavorful, and the juice was unreal. It was a huge plate (half a chicken - yay leftovers!). We got both desserts; the lemon crème brulée was a really intense lemon flavor and was perfectly done, and the chocolate-crusted mousse was sinful - and included that amazing crème fraiche ice cream from December! An amazing meal.

Update, Mar 2007: The menu seems pretty much the same as last month's, but there were a couple of additions including a fabulous duck breast. It's thin slices of rare meat that are tender as can be, and not at all tough or gamey. It's with pistachios, asparagus and served on top of hand-rolled penne that was slightly flour-y tasting but good. And a bargain at only $14! The white bean soup was great, too - it's poured around a dollop of sweet pea mousse (weird, but trust me on this one!). The amuse bouche was interesting this month; it reminded me of a gourmet version of those peanut butter & cheese crackers. :D Same desserts as last month, too, but I didn't mind having another go at the chocolate-crusted mousse. ;-)

Update, Apr 2007: I had a tasty new pork chop dish. The meat itself was fine; a little less rare than I usually like, but nicely seasoned. But the bed of wheatberry "risotto" that it sat on was really interesting, with a very chewy texture and a cool flavor. There is also a simple and lovely asparagus dish with balsamic and gouda cheese. The amuse bouche was great this time; it was a shot of cherry juice with soda water and... basil. Much better than it sounds, I promise!

Update, May 2007: Started off with classic Revolver creativity: the amuse bouche was a shot of popcorn soup with almond and smoked paprika. They had a variation of the asparagus dish from last month with Gruyere cheese this time, and it was the best asparagus I've ever had. I finally splurged and got the NY strip steak entrée ($27), and it was worth every penny. It was served simply in a red wine reduction with basil oil around the sides. I ordered it rare, and it was perfect, complete with a wonderful salty crust. It's served with a side of the most amazing polenta on earth - a creamy texture with a cool smokiness. The new pasta dish was good, but pretty much the same as the old squash one. Something new and innovative would be cool. For dessert, more Revolver creativity - a rhubarb custard with pistachios. Highly recommended, with kind of a yogurty tang.

Update, June 2007: Lovely meal as always. The mango foam and fennel amuse bouche was very tasty, though had the unfortunate side effect of collapsing to nothing the moment it hit the mouth. The grilled peaches with white corn polenta and lavender-infused milk was definitely a hit, as was the grilled zucchini bread and goat cheese sandwich with ceylon cinnamon-tomato sauce (aka, super-gourmet grilled cheese and tomato soup). The morel gnocchi was fabulous; it's sad that they're almost out of season. The new vermicelli pasta with ratatouille was good, but a little bland for my taste. The Lake Erie walleye with smoked potatoes and rhubarb-butter sauce was definitely wonderful - tender and juicy fish with potatoes that will take you back to a campfire.

Update, July 2007: A spiffy amuse bouche with a cherry/beet foam with basil and white chocolate. As usual, perfect, and the crunch of white chocolate was a delayed-reaction dessert for a one-bite meal. The organic greens with bacon, maytag blue cheese and beets was awesome, especially the upside-down layer of cheese. The chilled cantaloupe and mustard green soup was also refreshing and tasty (seriously, it was!). Sara had Michael improvise a veggie dish that came out fabulously and was totally beautiful. The chicken dish this month was delicious - thin slices, cooked but not overdone. The texture was very tender, and reminded me a lot of turkey for some reason. My only complaint is that the braised chicken terrine on the side was too similar to the main dish. Something contrasting with a little acidity (think cranberry sauce for turkey) would have been even better. The blueberry tasting dessert was delicious, though a bit expensive for what it was ($9). I'd heard the chocolate crème brulée was to die for, and sure enough, I'm dead now. Yum. :)

Update, August 2007: The flood knocked them down for a week, but they're back! The menu is understandably a little smaller for now. The blackberry foam with pistachio amuse bouche was good, if a bit simple. The corn soup was definitely the star - the best soup I've had there. Rich and sweet but not too dense and filling, with generous amounts of crab meat. It's like a bisque dumped into a liquid corn tortilla. :D The halibut was fine, but nothing I'd get again. It was fairly bland and unimaginative by Revolver standards. They didn't have any veggie entrées, but Michael whipped Sara up a beautiful trio: green beans and heirloom tomatoes, baby carrots and brussel sprouts in a parsnip purée, and beets and rhubarb with goat cheese. Really lovely!

Update, September 2007: A very tasty watermelon gelatin, basil, crème fraiche and cracker amuse bouche. The warm sweet corn soup was different this month: now with vanilla, saffron and mascarpone. It was amazing, but the sweetness made it almost more of a desert choice, compared with the savory richness of the crab type. The star of the night was the amazing florida pink shrimp with lemon-parsley risotto and grilled radicchio. It's everything that makes Revolver genius: a bold and fresh take on relatively common ingredients. Citrus-flavored risotto? Seafood with cheese? More, please! Then came a special course of sliced heirloom tomatoes from Michael's garden with 25-year balsamic vinegar that was unspeakably tasty. The Salmon with braised lettuce and guanciale was definitely good, but like the halibut last month, wasn't very adventurous. The salmon was perfectly cooked and high-quality, there just weren't any bold flavors to make it stand apart. As time goes by, I find myself falling more in love with the ever-adventurous appetizers than the main courses! No veggie main course options again, so Sara's custom plate was just as cool and beautiful as last month's, while completely different. There were three dishes: one with beets and baby carrots, one with oil-cured olives, nuts and green beans, and an amazing mashed potato / gruyere concoction. Mmm.

Update, October 2007: Yay for fall at Revolver! The butternut squash foam amuse bouche with pomegranate was crazy good. The wild mushroom tart was meaty and very rich. The 64 degree egg with grilled sourdough bread and romaine lettuce was very odd, but very nice. I love the creamy texture of the egg against the toast, and an anchovy gave it lots of flavor. Sara's veggie combo plate was a definite hit, especially the inspired carrot/apricot/caper/almond dish. The spicy grilled fennel was tasty, but I wasn't as much into the smoked potatoes with gremolata - reminded me a little of car tires. The pekin duck brest was ridiculously good. Thin slices prepared nice and rare, paired with grilled pears and parsnips in a saigon-cinnamon-infused milk. Perfect. For desert, we got the tasty monkey bread with banana topping and a side of butternut squash and bourbon ice cream. Life's good.

Update, November 2007: I made the amateur mistake of finishing the soup, which was wonderful (Sweet Potato and Gala Apple) but as usual, insanely rich and filling. I did have room to finish my main course, but just barely. But what a main course it was: venison filet with brussel sprouts, pearl onions and buttercup squash purée. It was medium rare, and every bit as juicy and flavorful as I'd expect from Revolver - both embracing the gameyness of the meat but giving a break from it with the sweet purée. They have a way of making meats I don't normally enjoy taste amazing. A few quibbles about the menu, though. I've noticed it's both shrinking and becoming more stagnant. There were five options for a first course and five for a main course. Not a huge deal, but even as someone who only goes once a month, there was only one thing on each menu that I hadn't tried (not counting similar variations of previous dishes). Plus, there was no longer anything vegetarian on either menu. Michael always happily makes Sara an amazing custom dish (he previously was a chef at a vegetarian restaurant), and often they can make dishes without meat, but I could see where a newbie would be intimidated to ask. It's also getting a little more expensive, but good for them - it's still a bargain, and I'd rather pay more to have them maintain the quality. The full house on a random Wednesday night speaks volumes.

Update, December 2007: Another lovely meal! The Lake Erie walleye with shaved fennel, navel oranges, watercress, cilantro and ginger was very nice. But the Maine diver scallops with roasted cauliflower, capers, zante currants and almonds was divine. The scallops were perfectly done: a great crust on the outside, and firm but juicy on the inside, and the bed of veggies perfectly complimented it (though I hear the old apricot version was even better). They're putting sea salt on top of the crème brulée now (brilliant idea), and they offered a glorious lemony bread pudding with homemade egg nog as well. Yum.

Update, January 2008: My first time with a group. Yay for being able to sample more food. :) The roasted veal sweetbreads with braeburn apples and golden beets was a classic example of Revolver magic: making an ingredient that I don't normally like into something brilliant. The grilled squab was ok, but not as good as the sweetbreads. The Loch Duart Scottish salmon with fingerling potatoes and oil-cured olives was nice, though a little more done than I like salmon. The scallops were heavenly as always.

Update, February 2008: I forgot to post about these. I had the stellar Kung Pao shrimp and veal sweetbreads (drool) and the duck breast with garam masala. Very Asian. :) It's nice to see Revolver dipping their toes into Asian fusion cuisine, since Michael did it for years. They do it damn well.

Update, March 2008: The house-cured Bresaola with pummelos, rocket, whole grain mustard and grilled sourdough bread was lovely. It took awhile to eat, because I carefully assembled each bite to get the perfect proportions. Well worth it. :) Sara's special, the lemon gnocchi with wild mushrooms, was brilliant, especially the pan-fried crust on the gnocchi. So good. My grilled local pork loin with roasted mushrooms, braised radishes, purk belly and broccoli puree was great, too - especially the beautifully bright puree. My only quibble is that the pork loin was good, but bland next to the incredibly flavorful pork belly hidden underneath. :) For dessert, the ganache/marshmallow cake was ok, but lacked something - acidity maybe? Too rich or something. But the cheesecake (!) with grapefruit sauce on top was stellar.

Update, April 2008: Spiffy new font on the menus. :D We started out with a wonderful amuse bouche of a potato chip topped with carrot/Greek yogurt foam and chives. For the appetizer, the Lake Erie smelt with pickled red onions and fennel-cumin aioli kicked ass. I know it doesn't sound like it, but it was a deconstructed version of fish and chips! The grilled local asparagus with parmesean reggiano, poached quail eggs and truffle essence (and 25-year-old balsamic) was just as beautiful as the similar dish last April. The Mediterranean sea bass with smoked celery root, pea shoots and Greek yogurt was the best non-scallop seafood dish I've had since the monkfish. The fish dishes tend to be a little safe and bland, but this was great: crispy outside with lots of salt, and the yogurt gave it a tangy happiness. The smoked celery root didn't add much, but it didn't need help. :) The new desert was a sculpture of chocolate wafers separated by layers of frozen chocolate mousse, topped by passion fruit ice cream. Divine. :)

Update, May 2008: Four of us = more things to taste. :) A chickpea foam amuse bouche was nice, lots of hummus flavors, but not any sweet kicks. The sweet and sour pork belly with grilled pineapple and puffed brown rice first course was great. The pineapple was the star, especially with the topping. The pork was good, but for whatever reason drier and not nearly as good as the "Kung Pow" version. The Pekin duck breast with toasted orzo, slow-roasted fennel and merguez sausage was very nice. The duck was a little more done than usual, but the sausage orzo was sweet and wonderful. The infamous meatloaf with braised beef short rib, potato puree and red wine reduction was wonderful. Classic Revolver move: deconstruct a familiar dish and rebuild it from scratch with the same basic idea, but completely different approach. The desserts were the same as last month (with lemon ice cream instead of passion fruit). Damn good grapefruit-topped cheesecake!

Update, June 2008: I started off with the old standby, the organic greens with Maytag blue cheese, which was tang-tasic as ever. But the real star of the meal was the amazing local, dry-aged, grass-fed beef tenderloin with creamy polenta. Words don't exist to describe how amazing this steak was. The texture was the tenderest I've ever had, and the flavor was out of this world. The dry-aging process gave this such a complex, earthy flavor. I'll never want to eat a normal steak again. :)

Update, July 2008: I snagged the last order of the house cured bresaola with cocoa cardona goat cheese and Rachel's crackers for the first course. I had the bresaola once, but this is the first time since Italy that I had it. While not quite as amazing as it was there, I'm guessing the USDA would frown upon how rare it was in Italy. :D The cheese was a great combo. For my main, I had the Flint Ridge Farm rabbit with baby carrots, swiss chard, wheatberries and carrot reduction. I'd never had rabbit before, and of course, Revolver was a great place to try. It was delicious, but it truly does "taste like chicken". The white meat was like a very tender and juicy chicken breast, and the little pieces of dark meat were a bit richer and gamier than chicken. It was great, but not different enough to justify eating Peter Cottontail again. :) For dessert, we had the new option, a custardy cake from the Alsatian region of France called Clafoutis. There were raspberries in it, and a layer of chocolate at the bottom. Very good!

Update, August 2008: I forgot to post this right away, so it's a little fuzzy, but I finally had the Meatloaf with braised short rib, roasted tomatoes, niciose olives & green beans for myself, and it was very tasty. And the local pork belly with heirloom tomatoes, toasted brioche and baby lettuces was a wonderful deconstruction of a BLT. Oh, and they have a beautiful new patio outside!

Update, September 2008: To do. :)

Update, October 2008: They purchased a whole hog from Weirauch Farms in Jenera which they put to good use to make Gary Rossili's family recipe Italian sausage with potato gnocchi and tomato sauce. To keep up the pork theme, I also got the local bone-in pork loin with pickled pears, braised walnuts and creamed corn. The combination of these two was a total gut buster, but not too much to not try the new flourless cake dessert, which was an almost fudgy chocolate explosion. Mmmm. :) Oh, and the fries (fried in duck fat) were definitely worth getting!

Update, November 2008: Have I mentioned that their shot of spiced cider is a lovely way to start a meal? The Maytag blue cheese tortellini with braised red cabbage and roasted chestnuts makes the world a better place to live in. The wild Atlantic black bass with potato puree, nicoise olives and lemonette is the second-best fish dish I've had there (right behind that very first monkfish extravaganza). The presentation highlights the richness of the fish while giving it balance with the citrus. Really lovely. The butternut squash cheesecake was a little bit of a disappointment, but the flourless chocolate cake never disappoints!

Update, December 2008: Another spiced cider amuse bouche - definitely ok by me. :) The onion tart with poached farm egg and manchego cheese first course was the highlight of the meal. Sweet and deeply caramelized onions with a runny egg. The entree, crispy veal sweetbreads with braised oxtail, winter vegetables and potato gnocchi was definitely good, but not quite what I was hoping. The sweetbreads were a little more "typical" than usual, with that tongue-coating chalky texture, and they didn't play super-well with the oxtail (which was delicious). A good dish, it just could have been better with something else instead of the sweetbreads.

Update, January 2009: The spiced cider seems to have become the default amuse bouche, which is a great choice if I had to pick just one, but I miss the variety. A new sweetbread appetizer! The roasted veal sweetbreads with celeriac, preserved lemon and toasted sesame ($9) was maybe the best showing of this great ingredient yet - breaded and tender, without the chalky texture. The main course, a grilled skirt steak with truffled butter, greens & Revolver fries ($17) was delicious. A humble cut of meat (served with their amazing duck fat fries), perfectly cooked and far tastier than a filet mignon at an average restaurant. My only "beef" was with the presentation: very simple and unadorned, which I'd expect at Outback but I enjoy Revolver for their more creative twists on common dishes. That, and the portion size was far too large (another thing I'd expect more from a chain). The deserts are in a bit of a rut as well, but the goat milk cheesecake with grapefruit reduction is a damn tasty rut to be in. All in all, a better than average trip!

Update, February 2009: New amuse bouche! This time it was a olive puree with a potato chip. I heard the popcorn soup came back the next night. D'oh! The white Caribbean shrimp with pommelo, hominy and arugula was really lovely - very sweet shrimp. Ditto the Broken Arrow Ranch Axis venison with grilled escarole and sweet potato ravioli. Perfect combination of sweetness, meatiness and bitterness with perfectly-cooked venison (no gaminess at all). Same desserts.

Update, March 2009: You can't go wrong with pork belly here! The local pork belly with chili, fennel and orange was a great contrast of flavors, and the spiciness of the chili was an unusual (and welcome) thing at Revolver. I also tried the newest iteration of the Maine diver scallops with roasted cauliflower, arugula and curry-cider reduction - I don't know where they get their scallops, but I'll cry if their source ever dries up. :) Same desserts.

Update, April 2009: Special event - Stephanie Izard from Top Chef was cooking a 5-course meal for the night. It started out with a chilled sweet onion soup with Maine lobster and tarragon - very rich and the lobster was delicious, though a bit sweet. Next up, shaved brussel sprouts with goat cheese, trumpet royale mushrooms, basil, lemon, maple syrup and olive oil. A very interesting salad with a great balance of bitter, sweet, salty, sour and rich. The hand-harvested Maine scallops with crispy pancetta, sunchokes and pistachio-wild leek butter was my favorite - a masterpiece of pairing. Then the Sonoma County moulard duck breast with spring onions, asparagus, fingerling potatoes, fraises des bois and strawberry-rhubarb agrodulce was as good as it sounds. Finally, brown sugar cake with blueberry compote and blueberry-lemon ice cream brought me back to the glory days of super-creative Revolver deserts. Really tasty. All in all, a great meal, and it was truly interesting to see how similar in style Michael and Stephanie are, having come from the same culinary roots.

Update, May 2009: Oops! To do. :)

Update, June 2009: A very different but welcome first course option: a charcuterie plate with a number of cured meats and some pickled vegetables. The meats were kind of tough, but had great flavor, and the vegetables were actually quite good (and spicy!). The Dickman Farms chicken with parsley root puree, spring peas and roasted carrots makes me hungry just thinking about it. The spring peas were perfect.

Update, July 2009: Some cool new first courses! The tempura squash blossoms with zucchini bread and tomato-cinnamon sauce ($7) was a brilliant inside-out version of last summer's zucchini bread dish. The roasted veal sweetbreads with pickled ramps, snap peas, and serrano ham cream ($9) was generously proportioned, and cooked to perfection. Another hit was the grilled pork loin with hominy, oyster mushrooms and Spanish chorizo ($16), although the chorizo was a little tough. There was a new dessert option! And a damn good one - the clafoutis is back, and even better, with a creamier texture, while still being very light. One of my favorites yet.

Update, August 2009: Pictures are worth a thousand words, so I'm going to start posting some crappy iPhone pics to show how amazing this food is! Here are pictures of the menu and the food. They bought another heritage hog this year! The Thai BBQ Ribs from it were simply unreal - the best ribs I've ever had. Insanely tender, juicy, and the sauce was interesting and perfect. The walleye dish was good - the fish itself was kind of boring, but combined with the amazing beans and lemon rind, it added just what it needed. They had clafoutis with raspberry this time, which was a little tart, but tasty. And there was a great ice cream sampler dish to end on a very sweet note. :)

Update, September 2009: [Menu / Pics] The zucchini bread-stuffed squash blossoms with tomato-cinnamon sauce was everything that's beautiful about Revolver. The bonus sweetbreads with corn dish was also a welcome treat. :) For my main entree, the Dickman Farms chicken wasn't quite up to the level of Revolver quality that I'd expect - a little bland and dry, and the broth didn't really compliment the meal. The veggie special (three kinds of stuffed squash), on the other hand, was just delicious.

Update, October 2009: [Menu / Pics] The sweet potato soup got mixed reviews - I thought it was bland, but Sara liked it. The buttermilk fried chicken on the other hand, was just wonderful. The balance was very nice, the chicken was medium rare, and the kale was almost sweet. The scallops, well, Revolver knows scallops. :) Not quite as good as the old wine sauce versions, but still very nice. A new peach single-serving pie thingy was tasty and a change of pace.

Update, November 2009: [Menu / Pics] The potato gnocchi sounded weird, but there's no liquid broth, and it came out very tasty. The braised lamb shank represents everything that is pure and beautiful about food. Fall-off-the-bone tender, amazing flavor, generous marbled fat - perfection. Best lamb ever! The cheese plate was a nice change of pace for the end of meal. Very rich, but with a super-spicy rind (mustard-based?).

Update, December 2009: [Menu/Pics]

Update, January 2010: [Menu/Pics] The gnocchi is love.

Update, February 2010: [Menu/Pics] The duck sausage dish is a really cool deconstruction of baked beans. The cobia was delicious, and more interesting than the usual Revolver fish fare. Desserts abound!

Update, March 2010: [Menu/Pics] Whoa, the mushroom appetizer was stellar. I'd never had bone marrow before, and they nailed it - melt-in-your-mouth (literally) texture, with a nice crispy shell. Another highlight was the miso beans from the veggie dinner, delicious. The lamb was ok, but a little boring and lacking in lamby character. The couscous was great, though.

Maria's Tacos - 6/10

Nothing overly special here, but they serve tasty fast-food Mexican fare that's a notch above Taco Bell. One downside; the food wasn't especially hot (even though it was 6:15pm).

The prices are low, which is a mixed blessing. Especially with Chipotle coming in later this year, they're going to face an uphill battle. I hope they change their target market to a couple notches more upscale. Use fresher ingredients, serve it piping hot, and make their own tortillas rather than the uniformly bland shells-in-a-box. I'd go way more often for that, even if it were three times the price.

It's got potential, and I can see going there now and then for a bite after Open Mic, but it needs some work.

Update, November 2009: Based on the comments below, I gave it another shot at their new location (a smaller place down the street with no indoor seating). I'm less impressed, actually. The hard taco was average at best, stingy on the meat, nothing special - I'd have been happier at Taco Bell. Ditto the steak burrito - there were a few pieces of bland steak chunks floating in a sea of beans. Aside from tamales (which I'd like to try) and taquitos (which I have no interest in trying) in the combo area, the menu is strictly tacos and burritos, and for those, you'll do much better at Chipotle. I'd love to recommend the local indie alternative, but I just can't in this case.

Rancho Fiesta - 7/10

This is fairly average Americanized Mexican fare, served in a casual atmosphere (the almost unchanged shell of the former Chi-Chis). The beef chimichanga was especially good, with an almost pastry-like flakiness to the crust, and juicy beef that wasn't overcooked. Fast service, low prices, nice and clean.

There's nothing in particular I'd complain about, but to me, it scratches the same itch as Chipotle, but they have these guys beat hands down in flavor and freshness. Their menu is fairly long, but not especially varied or interesting. I'd much rather see them offer some authentic regional cooking, as Abuelo's has successfully done. The McMexican field is just too crowded.

La Charrita - 8/10

Tasty Mexican food with a decent selection of regional specialties. I've only been there once so far, but I definitely plan to return. The Mole Poblano was very good. They didn't go overboard on the chocolate or sweetness; the chile is up-front here.

It's a nicely decorated and stunningly clean place - it almost feels like I'm the first customer. The service is good, if a little too efficient. I've had longer meals at McDonald's. :D The prices are quite reasonable, with combo platters around $6.50 and most dinner entreés clocking in from $7-10.

Rocking U - 7/10

Standard midwest food with a tex-mex flair. Known for their pizzas. They've been blantantly ignoring the no-smoking law, but they're also a good supporter of the local music scene, so I'll call it even.

Flores Cafe - 8/10

Fairly typical Americanized Mexican fare, but done very well. The cheese enchilada was tasty - very smooth, and not too cheesy and stringy. The tamal was moist and flavorful. The taco was excellent - very meaty and fresh. I can't wait to try the premium tacos. The atmosphere is very casual (order at the counter, they bring it out) and super-friendly. And it's at the old Books on Main building, so you can have a surreal dining experience if you were a regular there. :)

The salsa bar is especially wonderful. As you're waiting for your food, you can grab some chips and choose from 7 different salsas. The Mango Habanero is especially recommended. I bought a jar ($3.99 for 8oz). They were running low, he asked if it was ok to wait because they had to process the fresh mangos. And you can really taste the difference.

The barbacoa taco special is ok, but the meat is too sweet and salty. I'd have liked it a little less "concentrated" and with a little bit of a sour balance. The shrimp taco special is good, but a little watery. They now have menudo on weekends! I can't wait to try.

City Barbeque - 7/10

One of a small chain of simple but tasty barbecue joints. It's a fast-food style arrangement, but they have the real deal. The pulled pork sandwich was yummy. Great prices, cool place.

Tandoor Cuisine of India - 9/10

Wonderful Indian food. They have a great buffet for lunch (for only $6.99!), and a la carte for dinner. The mattar paneer is the best I've ever had. The chicken and lamb curries are also fantastic (especially with some naan to soak up the sauce). The chicken saagwala is unspeakably good, and the bhindi will make an okra lover of you for sure. It's in a run-down area of town (across from Southwyck), but don't be scared off - it's beautiful inside. Highly recommended.

Tip: They don't tend to bring the check unless you ask. It's normal to go up to the register when you're done. Grab some "after-dinner mint" fennel seeds while you're there! Website

Poco Piatti - 7/10

A tasty place to go for a light meal. They serve small servings of dishes meant to be shared. You order a couple, then order a couple more, etc. The Insalata Caprese was tasty, though the tomato was hard and the balsamic was too sweet. Definite thumbs-up for the pumpkin gnocchi in a roux-based cream sauce, as well as the Thai shrimp with a sticky and sweet basil coconut sauce. A good variety of good food in a casual but nice atmosphere.

El Vaquero - 6/10

Uninspired Tex-Mex fare. *shrugs*

Casa Barron - 5/10

Below average Tex-Mex food. Terrible service. Smoking ban violations. Not recommended.

Navy Bistro - 7/10

Great location, especially if you sit outside facing the river. Unfortunately, that's the best part. The food was decent, though overpriced for what it is. The beef soup of the day was thin, salty and light on the beef. The pizza was interesting, with a winey flavor that I liked but Sara didn't. The penne bolognese was tasty, though it was served at almost room temperature. The service was equally cold and rushed. Really, not a bad meal, just disappointing given the price range.

Old Town Buffet - 7/10

Really tasty Americanized Chinese buffet, sure to appease the foodie with a guilty sweet tooth for breaded chunks of meat in sticky brown sauces. This has a slight quality edge over Findlay's Hong Kong Buffet. The Friday night buffet (~$9) featured crab legs (didn't try), and a few other tasty seafood dishes. There's passable sushi and a Mongolian chef (didn't try). The dessert selection is typical, but fresh and good. And it's a very popular place, so the turnover meant fresh food. This was a pleasant surprise!

Byblos - 9/10

A popular spot for excellent Lebanese food. The spartan exterior and downtrodden neighborhood gives no warning of the classy look and amazing food inside. The meal starts off with a basket of pita, which was good, but not warmed and there's nothing to dip it in by default. The hummus is excellent, but if there are only two people, $6+ is too large a serving. The laban (homemade yogurt) was tart and tasty. For entrees, the roast shank of lamb was amazing. Probably the best lamb I've ever had - flavorful, not too gamey, and melt-in-your-mouth tender. For dessert, the rice pudding was nice, but it was flavored with lavender, which kept making me think of cleaning products. But overall, an excellent meal. Great prices, too. Can't wait to go back!

Joey Fratello's Pizzeria - 10/10

I'd passed by this place many times, and kept meaning to go, but the interior is intimidating from the outside - only a couple tables in view, and no menu. Luckily, there are more tables hiding behind the counter, and it's set up very nicely for dining in.

Pizza's a really personal thing - everyone has their own tastes. If you're into medium thickness crust with the perfect balance of crunchiness and chewiness, sweet sauce full of fresh tomato flavor, and lightish cheese (like I am), you'll love this. I have a soft spot for Jac 'n Do's, but this is definitely the best pizza I've had in Findlay. It even rivals my favorite pizza anywhere: Mio Vicino in the South Bay in California. The "Primo" is awesome - pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, green peppers and onions. More please. The cheeseless pizza Neapolitan is zen perfection - a half hour later, you can pick up a slice and it'll be straight as a rule, and crunch in your mouth. Great prices: only $6.45 for a good-sized personal pizza. Add to that the incredibly friendly staff that really make you feel like you're at home, and you've got a winner.

I'd assumed by the glitzy logo and polished look that this was a chain, but this is a Findlay original. Kudos!

Maggie's - 7/10

I'm sure you've seen that hole-in-the-wall restaurant just south of Levis Commons. You know - that one you're too afraid to go into, but always seems to have a thousand cars in the parking lot. Some kind of Mafia hangout or secret casino? Not that I know of. But they serve some great food with a Hungarian twist.

I've only been there for the weekend brunch buffet. It's mostly what you'd expect in terms of food, but it's tasty. Normally, they have two items of the day that you can choose from, served family style with "free refills".

Unfortunately, I suspect I may have gotten sick from this. I can't say for sure, but later that day, I started feeling really nasty, and I spent a couple of days on the couch (and the toilet, if you know what I mean). The food on the buffet was lukewarm at best, so it's probably a bacterial playground. That said, I'm still not ruling out going again. It was really good. :D

Guru India - 8/10

First, let me say how insanely happy I am that Findlay now has an Indian restaurant. It's maybe my favorite kind of food, and the nearest one was 40 miles away. And it looks like we have a great one, at that!

We went there on their first day open (5/23/08). The mango lassi (a rich mango-and-yogurt smoothie, basically) is one of the best I've had. We got an order of vegetable samosas, which were great, if not as spicy as I'm used to. For the entrées, we got the lamb vindaloo (delicious, though the lamb was a bit tough and fatty) and the shahi paneer, which was brilliant. Creamy, sweet, sour, wonderful. The naan bread was wonderful - lots of wheaty taste and not at all greasy.

Which I should mention - everything here seemed very healthy. Indian food is one of those cuisines that tends to be fairly artery-clogging. Here, both the naan and samosas were not oily, and there were no oil slicks on top of the main dishes, either. Granted, the "bad" stuff tastes so good, but kudos for not giving into the pressure to bathe everything in tubs of ghee.

I'm only giving this 9 stars for now, but I fully expect it to work its way to 10 as they work the kinks out. The service was a little scattered (which makes sense on their first night open), the lamb was a little tough, we were charged for an order of naan even though the menu says it comes with the dish, and their prices are somewhat high ($10-$16 for most entrées). But they do have a buffet every day for lunch (and all day Sunday) with 4 veggie mains and 4 meat mains, with other stuff. That would probably be a much better value. Can't wait to try that!

Kudos to Guru India for taking a chance with adventurous food in a small, conservative town, and daring to do it right.

Update, July 2008: One possible problem: both times we went for dinner, we were overcharged. Tonight, it was $29.99 for the $24.99 vegetarian-dinner-for-two. I'm hoping they were just honest mistakes, but keep an eye on your check, and please post if the same thing happens to you.

Bangkok Kitchen - 7/10

Tasty Thai food served in a humble strip mall setting. This isn't quite as fancy (or brilliant) as Rose Thai, but it's worth a try anyway. The fried tofu appetizer was a little bland, but the crispy coating on the tofu reminded me a lot of Chicken McNuggets. :) The noodle dish with tomatoes, peanuts and cilantro was good, but the eggplant entrée in the vegetarian section was fantastic. The dessert of Thai red banana wrapped in sweet sticky rice with black beans, steamed in a banana leaf and served hot was very interesting. It tasted a bit like blueberries. I'm not sure I'd get it again, but it's definitely something to try!

South Side 6 - 8/10

Talk about exceeding expectations! This is a typical booze-heavy mini-mart on the outskirts of town with one small exception: a very popular Lebanese take-out restaurant on one wall. I'd heard rumblings about it for awhile, so I grabbed a swig of Pepto and drove up. They have a small menu, but the food is cooked to order by a frantic kitchen staff, and served with a wave goodbye, because they have no tables. Outside in your car, you'll dig into tasty staples like gyros and falafel. Yum!

Myles' Pizza Pub - 8/10

Tasty thick-crust pizza. If you're not into super-cheesy pizza (I'm not), be sure to ask for light cheese. But this is great-quality pizza - a nice substantial crust, super-flavorful sauce that's not too sweet and has a spicy, almost Mexican-y taste (cumin?), and the toppings are great.

Deepam India - 9/10

This place is definitely a gem. Tucked back in an out-of-the-way strip mall, this is an Indian grocery store with a deli-style counter and a few tables. Despite the low expectations, the food is excellent. Their menu board has a listing of the options - the main ones are a $5.99 vegetarian combo (roti, rice and two veg mains), $6.99 meat combo (same), and a $7.99 sampler where you can pick any five. The food is displayed in a refrigerator, and after the very friendly and helpful co-owner/cook comes over to describe what's available that day, you pick and it's heated up and brought out to your table. (Don't worry - Indian food doesn't suffer from the "leftover" syndrome at all.) The food is lovely - very authentic, spicy and delicious. The stuffed eggplant is great, with tons of fresh masala flavor. The lamb curry is amazing, probably my favorite, but the bhindi (okra) gives it a run for its money. Try a mango lassi to cool down, made with homemade yogurt. To top it off, the food is prepared with healthiness in mind, rather than the usual glistening with ghee (ok, both have their place.. heh). This is a great place.

Tea Tree Asian Bistro - 8/10

Pretty good overall. Spiffy atmosphere, classy service and great food, but the prices are really quite high for what's essentially a Chinese restaurant. The first trip for dinner was really good - the caramelized orange beef ($17) was excellent. The second trip for lunch was less so. I ordered the Szechwan Jalapeno Pork with its "flaming brown sauce", which was labeled with three peppers (the hottest). It arrived, and there was barely the slightest hint of heat. The waitress said it was the right dish, and sent it back to the kitchen to spice it up. I joked that they would play a joke on me and make it inhumanly spicy. It came back barely spicier than before. (Sara: "maybe they did try to play a joke"). I'm guessing it was a fluke, though, because the wonderful hot and sour soup was a lot spicier than the pork. Oh, and they serve you these wonderful and deadly fried wonton peels dusted with sugar. It looks like a ton when they bring them out, but for better or worse, I guarantee you they'll be done by the time you leave.

Bistro Wasabi (CLOSED) - 8/10

Good-quality sushi that doesn't skimp on the fish content. The prices are a tiny bit high, but you get more of the good stuff. The spicy maki rolls are good, but very spicy, so be ye warned. :)

Website

Baker's Delight - 10/10

Ok, it's not a restaurant, but it is a Findlay culinary treasure. They make the best doughnuts ever. This one is almost a rediscovery; I'd gone here fairly often back in the 90s, but I moved away for a few years and then came back. When I tried it again - and I don't think this is my imagination - they tasted ten times better. Show up early for the best selection and freshness. The raised chocolate-glazed with sprinkles is my favorite. :)

Shin's Chinese Fusion - 9/10

Great quality Chinese food, located in the former Satang Thai Cuisine storefront. Their prices are fairly reasonable - most rice/soup/main combos are $4 for lunch and $6 for dinner - but the quality is higher than you'd expect. The meats taste, well, real. The spicy bean curd is amazing, with very soft and juicy tofu cubes floating in a sausage gravy. The happy family was good as well, especially if you order it spicy. Be brave and try the hot and sour soup - it's the best I've had anywhere. They serve a ton of food, so plan accordingly.

Mancy's Steakhouse - 8/10

Toledo's most legendary house of meat worship. This is an old-school steakhouse; don't expect any fancy arugula salads or French pan sauces. The meat delivers: very tender and flavorful, dry-aged and great quality. The 14 ounce New York strip steak ($25ish) - their specialty - was very flavorful. The 7 ounce filet mignon ($25ish) was melt-in-your-mouth tender. The bread was good, but the rest of the sides were below average. The salad was an iceburg fest, onion straws were fairly cold and too breaded, and the fries were downright oily. The atmosphere is dark and romantic, but not pretentious. The prices are high, but not out of line for the quality. Definitely worth a try!

Website

Tokyo Steakhouse - 8/10

Pictures

Tasty sushi in a pleasant environment. The quality is good, everything was very tasty. My only issue is that their prices for the fancier sushi are a couple bucks higher than the competition, and the portion sizes are a little smaller. The basic sushi, on the other hand, was very fairly priced and very generous with the fish (huge chunks of fish in the $4 salmon roll). The King Roll ($13) was my favorite overall. For my money, Asian Grill has the edge. On the other hand, they're still very good, and they're open Sundays. :-)

Eve - 8/10

Let me start by saying that if my score was based on the food alone, this would have gotten a 9 or a 10. The Thai Barbecued Chicken was succulent, with an amazing peanutty sauce on a bed of coconut milk-infused rice (though one piece was more tender than the other). The Alaskan Halibut on a bed of pesto risotto was very interesting, and successfully kicked the stale don't-mix-fish-and-cheese adage in the face. Unfortunately, the service was terrible. Starting off, our reservations for the patio were moved indoors. Our waitress, while fairly friendly, was almost always off tending to other tables and was impossible to reach. They offer flights of wine tastes - all six wines were average at best, two were corked (one very badly), and the one that they (happily) replaced was only slightly less corked. Another waiter clumsily sent a big tray of mostly-full glasses smashing into the ground next to us, luckily avoiding any serious disaster. After waiting around 10 minutes with the dessert menus, we decided to give up and just get the check. I'd go back there again, because the food was great, but at a $30+ entree restaurant, the service was not even in the ballpark.

Koto Buki - 10/10

Absolutely delicious sushi. A couple of our standbys to the south have been slipping a little recently, so this was a very happy find. The Kotobuki Roll (avocado, cucumber and crab, topped with eel and avocado) was probably the best sushi I've ever had. Just a perfect balance. The No Name Roll (spicy tuna, cream cheese and avocado deep-fried with sweet sauce) wasn't far behind - so wrong, and yet so right. The Spicy Tuna roll lived up to its name and was a savory treat. The only slight disappointment was the Diablo Roll (shrimp tempura and cucumber topped with broiled spicy scallops and cheese), which was fine, but a little out there for me. The prices are on the high end, but worth every penny. I can't wait to go back.

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Koreana - 9/10

A classy little hole-in-the-wall Korean restaurant. Sign #1 that you're on the right track: it was filled with Koreans having dinner. Sign #2: when I actually like the appetizer dishes. There was a nice assortment of kimchee and other dishes, none of which were over-the-top sour, and ranged from decent to really delicious. For the mains, the Bulgogi was decadent. The Kalbi short ribs were good, although tough around the bone. Really delicious food!


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Mi Tequila - 8/10

Good Tex-Mex food with some Mexican dishes as well on the good-sized menu. The Mole Poblano was quite good.

Jack and Jin's - 7/10

Menu and Photos

A very promising Thai restaurant. I was very saddened when Satang closed down, so any replacement is a good one. The decor here is simple, but very clean and charming. The people seem friendly and welcoming.

I unfortunately didn't see any Pra Ram Long Song / Rama in Jacuzzi dishes with peanut-based sauce, which tend to be my favorite. I got the Spicy Bamboo Stir-Fried, which was similar to Satang's Gai Him Ma Pan - a delicious light basil sauce. The Thai Rad Na was ok, but the sauce was oily and a little sweet for me. The tofu was delicious, though.

Update, April 2010: I truly wish I could recommend Jack and Jin's. Unfortunately, I've had a good sampling of the menu items and I just can't find anything that's worth going for. The main problem is that the menu is so limited. They have the basic curry selection (which doesn't interest me, because I can whip up great curries at home in no time). There are noodle dishes, which are ok. The stir-fried entrées, though, are almost all identical. All but one on the current menu feature "brown sauce", and the other is a sweet-and-sour sauce pulled right from a Chinese restaurant. I still have hope that they're going to reevaluate their menu and add something more interesting, especially in the entrée department. In the mean time, it's back in the car for Rose Thai in Toledo.

Royal Buffet - 8/10

This is somewhat interchangeable with Hong Kong Buffet down the street, which is to say it's good, but oddly similar. Fairly elegant design. They opened recently, so it was packed and the food was all very fresh. My biggest beef is the relative lack of "Chinese" food. Most of the tables are full of crappy bacon-wrapped wieners and mac and cheese. Not a lot of veggie options, either. What's there is good. The chicken, in particular, was more tender and higher-quality than most. There's a hibachi section as well as sushi, neither of which I tried this time around. There's a big and tasty-looking dessert section, but I was too full. I'll definitely be hitting them up again!

Balance - 6/10

Website I had such high hopes for this, and I still have hopes for the future, but they've got a way to go. It's all heavy on the concept and light on the execution. It's basically Chipotle for Chinese food. I'll ignore the silly and unnecessary renaming of the five classic Chinese American dishes they offer (because clearly "Nuts4pao" makes so much more sense than Kung Pao). If the food is good, who cares what it's called. Unfortunately, it wasn't. The Kung Pao chicken was a major disappointment. There wasn't even a hint of sweetness to the sauce. The chicken was grilled strips, which was probably supposed to be a feature, but it ended up making it taste too smoky and dry, which was even worse because the sauce was so smoky. The Wok in the Park veggie stir-fry was better, with a nice sauce. The tofu was ok, but bland and dry. The brown rice was excellent, though, not a common feat. Even the dine in orders are served in to-go containers with plastic silverware, and the containers are so deep that it's hard to eat without dipping your hand in it. That said, I'll probably try again. They'd just opened, so I'm sure there were some kinks, and I get the feeling they will improve quite a bit. I'll update this when I do.

Nagoya Japanese Steakhouse - 10/10

Picture I'd say this is the best sushi in Northwest Ohio, served in a beautiful (if slightly cavernous) environment. The first time I went, I had the rack of lamb. It was delicious and amazingly tender (but the portion was way too big). The sushi, though, is the star of the show. The LA Roll is probably the best raw roll I've had anywhere. Amazing freshness and texture to the fish, with none of that chlorine taste I get a lot of. The Yummi Yummi roll truly lives up to its name, even though it's fried. The aioli sauce goes great with it. The Dancing Eel roll is typical, but delicious. The Bagel roll was good, but outclasses by the others. It's not perfect - the service is a little slow at times, and the prices are higher than some other places (but you definitely get what you pay for). Great place.

1st Wok - 7/10

[Picture] Good fast food Chinese. A little slow in comparison to others, but the food is good and fairly priced. Not worth a special trip, but great for a quick meal if you're in the area.

Dragon Chef - 8/10

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Brand new place, with a pleasant interior and relatively quick service. I've been noticing a number of local Chinese places with very similar (identical?) menus - their menu is basically the same as 1st Wok in Perrysburg and Bamboo Garden down in BG. The food is about the same, as well, which is to say typical Americanized Chinese fare (which is to say, delicious and horrifying at the same time). I tried the General Tso's Chicken (my benchmark), and they nailed it.

Cedar Valley Cafe - 8/10

Website

Findlay seems to attract more than its fair share of interesting ethnic restaurants, and this is the latest on the list. This is an early review after one visit, and it's going to take awhile to really get a feel for this, since I'm relatively new to Lebanese cuisine. The soups were very interesting - the lentil was good, but the lemon rice soup was very tasty and completely different from anything I'd had. The veggie combo #1 ($10) was great - the stuffed grape leaves dipped in hummus took me to a good place. The Chicken Ghalaba ($13) was my least favorite - tasty, but nothing super interesting. I can't wait to try more things.