From locally owned restaurants, to breweries, & everything in between, here are my top 7 recommendations for the best places to eat & drink in Delaware County, Ohio...
This post was created in partnership with Destination Delaware County Ohio. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.
If someone would have asked me at the beginning of May what my recommendation would be for a good travel destination in Ohio for foodies, Delaware probably would have not been the first Ohio city that would have come to mind for me. Having lived in the Columbus area for over 8 years, I was familiar with the Delaware area but didn't venture that way much when I was resident of Franklin County. I knew Alum Creek State Park was up that way, but that was about the extent of my knowledge of Delaware County.
That all changed when the kiddos & I visited the Delaware, Ohio area at the end of May earlier this summer. Over the past 10 years, the historic downtown area of Delaware has grown by leaps & bounds. And with this growth has also come the birth of a vibrant local restaurant & brewery scene.
While we definitely didn't get to experience all of the deliciousness that Delaware County has to offer during our stay, we did get a good enough taste of the area. From locally owned restaurants, to breweries, & everything in between, here are my top 7 recommendations for the best places to eat & drink in the county...
1. 12 West Food & Drink (12 West William Street, Delaware)
The flavors of the southwest & the comfort food of the Midwest meet at 12 West Food & Drink, a small eatery in downtown historic Delaware. Seating around 40 at any given time, this popular local spot can fill up quickly on most evenings of the week. And after dining there myself, it is definitely easy to see why locals flock to this spot.
After briefly glancing at the menu, I immediately gravitated towards 12 West's selection of Fresh Mex Tacos. I ordered a Crispy Pork Belly taco & a Grilled Snapper taco (both pictured above). My son went for the Smothered Chimichanga. No matter which delicious dish on the menu you decide to try first, be sure to wash it all down with one of their House Made Margaritas. But just a little warning to the wise- their margaritas pack quite the punch. ;)
2. Old Dog Alehouse & Brewery (13 West William Street, Delaware)
You wouldn't know it by stepping inside its doors, but the Old Dog Brewery & Alehouse is fairly new on the scene in historic downtown Delaware having only been opened for less than a year now. The outside of the building looks steeped in history while the inside has a clean, modernized, industrial look. The owners have a love for dogs & that is showcased throughout the restaurant in the decor.
The brewery part of Old Dog is actually a nanobrewery where they brew anywhere between 4-6 beers to be served on tap in-house. And as if that wasn't impressive enough, they also offer a full lunch & dinner menu with several tasty selections.
I went for the Beer Nachos smothered in an IPA BBQ sauce, hop infused pulled pork, & beer cheese (pictured above, left). And my daughter opted for their homemade macaroni & cheese with a side of fries (pictured above, right).
My son is always a sucker for the over the top burgers on a menu, so he ordered their Old Dog Burger- a half pound burger topped with garlic aioli, bourbon mushrooms, & pickled red onion straws.
3. Restoration Brew Worx (25 North Sandusky Street, Delaware)
Restoration Brew Worx in downtown Delaware is built around the premise that since they are local then they support local. And they mean it. This small local brewery & pub buys their cheese from across the street & their bread from a local bakery. They even feature art on the walls from local artists in the area.
In addition to their house-brewed beers, Restoration Brew Works offers a full menu of traditional pub fare with a modern, local flair. Their menu is crafted with their fresh brewed beers in mind. Each dish on the menu is created to pair perfectly with their hand-crafted brews.
Their menu changes seasonally, but one thing you will always find on their menu is their Original Pub Wings (pictured above, right). Their wings are slow baked & then finished in the fryer. And with sauces like Pineapple Habanero & Buttery Buffalo Garlic, these are definitely not your average bar wings.
But whatever you decide to order off the menu, be sure to ask your server which beer pairs best with your selection. Restoration Brew Worx typically keeps about a dozen of their own brews on draft at any given time.
4. Olivina Taproom (44 South Sandusky Street, Delaware)
While not a restaurant or a brewery, the Olivina Taproom in the historic downtown area of Delaware should be on your must-do list if you happen to be a foodie at heart. You can take your time to explore & taste the various olive oils & vinegars available for purchase in the taproom. The Tuscan herb infused olive oil & the blueberry balsamic vinegar were both taste test winners with my family. We may or may not have brought home a bottle of each. ;)
5. Olentangy River Brewing Company (303 Green Meadows Drive South, Lewis Center)
Olentangy River Brewing Company is a trendy coffee shop disguised as a brewery... or is it the other way around? Either way, both coffee lovers & craft beer enthusiasts will love the selections on tap & the atmosphere at this local brewery located in Lewis Center.
Situated in a renovated warehouse, Olentangy River Brewing was the first craft brewery to open in the Lewis Center area of Delaware County. Their 7000 square foot brewery space is where the craft beer magic happens. At any one time, they could be brewing over a dozen different beers at once.
With fun names like Ginger's 3 Hour Tour & I Can't Feel My Pants, you will definitely want to carve out a little time to sample a few of their freshly brewed beers from their rotating selection. My personal favorite was the Roosevelt Coffee Stout (pictured above, right) made from locally roasted coffee beans.
Of course if beer is not your thing, you can always visit the coffeehouse side of the brewing company for a latte or try their amazingly creamy frozen coffee.
6. Iguanas Fresh Mexican Grill (76 Powell Road, Lewis Center)
If you happen to be short on time while exploring Delaware County, but you aren't too keen on opting for fast food then Iguanas Fresh Mexican Grill is the perfect solution to curb your hunger. Iguanas offers sit-down quality Mexican restaurant fare in the same time it would take you to order & receive fast food Mexican. You can opt to eat your meal in the dining area or take it to go through their drive-thru.
I went for the Iguanas Fish Tacos (pictured above, left) while my son decided to order one of their traditional quesadillas (pictured above, right). We were really impressed by both the freshness & the bold flavors in our meals. Iguanas is definitely a great option when you are short on time on, but big on hunger.
7. Graeter's (3762 West Powell Road, Columbus)
Anyone who has lived in or visited Ohio enough is all too familiar with Graeter's Ice Cream. Graeter's has been making their small batch ice creams using the French pot process in Ohio since 1870! Yes, you all heard me right. They have been doing this ice cream making thing for almost 150 years now, so you all know that they must be doing something right.
Fortunately for those of you visiting the Delaware County area, there is a Graeter's Ice Cream shop located right in Powell. Their seasonal offerings, like the Key Lime Pie pictured above, are phenomenal. But you certainly cannot go wrong with some of their more popular classic flavors like Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip & Buckeye Chocolate Chip.
A stop at Graeter's for a scoop or two is exactly what you need to satisfy that sweet tooth while exploring Delaware County. :)
Have you visited Delaware County, Ohio before?
What are some of your favorite spots to eat & drink there?
For more information & to start planning your foodie getaway to Delaware County, Ohio soon, be sure to visit the Destination Delaware County Ohio site!
CLICK HERE to check out my full video tour of our room on Facebook. :)
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