Unearth The Voyage
Ohio might surprise you with its restaurant scene. Beyond the usual burger joints and pizza places, the Buckeye State hides dining spots that feel like stepping into another world, from underground tunnels to actual castles, vintage train cars to haunted horror houses. These aren’t just places to eat; they’re full experiences that make your meal unforgettable.
1. The Haunted House Restaurant – Cleveland Heights
Horror fans, this one’s your dream brunch spot. Pennywise might greet you from a dark corner while monster-themed cocktails arrive at your table in fog and theatrical flair. The whole place feels like walking onto a scary movie set, but with bacon and pancakes.
Both brunch and dinner hours let you pick your fright level—daytime visits are spooky-fun, while evening meals amp up the creepy factor. Active bookings mean you should reserve ahead; this place fills up fast with thrill-seekers.
From cobwebs to creaking floors, every detail commits to the theme. Even if you scare easily, the playful vibe keeps things entertaining rather than truly terrifying.
2. The Refectory – Columbus
Dining inside a 19th-century church sounds formal, and The Refectory delivers exactly that elegant, reverent atmosphere. Stained glass windows cast colored light across white tablecloths while soaring wooden beams stretch overhead like a cathedral.
The hushed tones and careful service make every meal feel like a special occasion. This isn’t a place for rushed eating—courses arrive slowly, plated like art, giving you time to soak in the historic surroundings.
Fine dining here genuinely transports you to another era. The building’s sacred past adds gravity to your meal, turning dinner into something almost ceremonial without feeling stuffy or uncomfortable.
3. The Golden Lamb – Lebanon
Since 1803, The Golden Lamb has welcomed guests through the same doors that once hosted presidents and famous writers. Creaky floors announce your arrival as you step into what feels like a living history museum where you can actually order dinner.
Period rooms upstairs preserve centuries of Ohio hospitality, while downstairs the dining room serves classic American fare with recipes older than your great-grandparents. Every corner holds antiques and stories from another lifetime.
Ohio’s oldest continuously operating inn doesn’t just preserve history—it lets you taste and touch it. Eating here feels like time travel, minus the science fiction gadgets.
4. The Astro – Cleveland (Tower City)
Space travel meets Cleveland dining at this cosmic adventure from the creators of The Haunted House Restaurant. Walk through doors decorated with sci-fi murals that look pulled from your favorite alien movies, then grab a seat at the “MIB” bar where everything feels intergalactic.
Staff uniforms mimic spaceship crew members, and the menu plays along with galaxy-inspired dish names. Reservations keep the experience smooth, so you won’t wait long before blasting off.
Every corner holds a new detail—glowing panels, futuristic lighting, and props that transport you light-years away. It’s dinner theater without the show, because the room itself is the star attraction.
5. Schmidt’s Sausage Haus – Columbus (German Village)
Bavarian hall energy hits you the moment you enter this German Village landmark. Long communal tables buzz with conversation while servers navigate the crowd carrying platters piled high with sausages and, famously, cream puffs the size of your head.
Dirndl-style touches and Old World charm create nostalgia even if you’ve never been to Bavaria. Operating daily with recent buffet additions, Schmidt’s keeps the festive atmosphere going year-round, not just during Oktoberfest.
Jumbo cream puffs steal the show—seriously, they’re massive and worth saving room for. The bustling, friendly chaos makes solo diners and large groups equally comfortable in this Columbus institution.
6. Hofbräuhaus Columbus – Columbus (Grandview Yard)
Munich came to Columbus, complete with on-site brewing tanks and oompah bands that keep feet tapping through dinner. Keg-tapping nights turn into rowdy celebrations where strangers become friends over shared steins and pretzel platters.
The massive hall captures authentic beer hall vibes—loud, lively, and unapologetically fun. Current 2025 hours and events keep the calendar packed with traditional German festivals and modern craft beer releases.
Long wooden tables encourage mingling, and servers in traditional outfits navigate the controlled chaos with impressive skill. Whether you’re a beer enthusiast or just hungry for schnitzel, the immersive atmosphere makes every visit feel like a mini vacation to Bavaria.
7. The Copper Mug Bar & Grille at Landoll’s Mohican Castle – Loudonville
Castles in Ohio? Absolutely. Landoll’s Mohican Castle rises from the woods like something transported from medieval Europe, and The Copper Mug dining room doubles down on the fantasy with dark-academia decor and stone walls.
Surrounded by forest, the setting genuinely makes you forget you’re in the Midwest. Candlelit tables, heavy wooden furniture, and views of the surrounding trees create an atmosphere that’s both romantic and slightly mysterious.
“You’re not in Ohio anymore” becomes the unofficial motto once you settle in for dinner. The castle experience extends beyond the meal—many guests book overnight stays to fully embrace the fairy-tale immersion.
8. Ghost Baby – Cincinnati (Over-the-Rhine)
Four to five stories underground, Ghost Baby hides in 19th-century lagering tunnels that once stored Cincinnati’s famous beer. Candlelight flickers off brick archways while jazz musicians fill the subterranean space with smooth melodies that echo perfectly off stone walls.
USA Today named it one of 2025’s “Bars of the Year,” and one visit explains why. The 21+ lounge feels like discovering a secret world beneath the city—intimate, atmospheric, and utterly unique.
Cocktails arrive with theatrical presentation worthy of the dramatic setting. Reservations are smart because word spreads fast about hidden gems this special, especially ones that deliver both exceptional drinks and unforgettable ambiance.
9. Olde Jaol Steakhouse & Tavern – Wooster
Dinner behind bars takes on new meaning at this converted county jail where original cells remain intact. Iron bars and thick stone walls remind you of the building’s law-enforcement past while you cut into a perfectly cooked steak.
The speakeasy-style Prohibition Room adds another layer of historic irony—drinking in a former jail feels deliciously rebellious. Slightly eerie touches keep the atmosphere interesting without going full haunted-house.
Wooster’s unusual dining spot proves that historic preservation can be delicious. The novelty never overshadows the food quality, which holds its own against any traditional steakhouse while offering way more conversation-worthy decor.
10. The Treehouse – Cleveland (Tremont)
A full-grown tree winds through the center of this Tremont pub, its branches spreading across the ceiling like natural architecture. Cozy nooks wrap around the trunk, creating intimate spaces that feel plucked from a fairy-tale forest.
The whimsical design never feels gimmicky—instead, it creates genuine magic. Lively patio seating extends the off-world vibe outdoors during warm months, though the indoor tree steals every photo.
Locals and visitors alike gather here for the enchanting atmosphere as much as the drinks and food. It’s proof that Cleveland holds surprises beyond what most people expect from an industrial Midwest city.
11. Buckeye Express Diner – Bellville
Perched on a hillside, this vintage train car serves meals with a side of railroad nostalgia. A full locomotive sits nearby among roadside oddities that make the whole property feel like stumbling onto a quirky movie set.
Inside, the narrow dining car layout preserves authentic train-travel vibes. Booth seating lines the windows where you can watch traffic roll by instead of countryside, but the illusion still works.
Open daily for daytime hours, Buckeye Express attracts road-trippers and locals seeking breakfast or lunch with character. The retro charm and unusual setting make even simple diner food taste more adventurous than usual.
12. Tin Goose Diner – Port Clinton (Liberty Aviation Museum)
Shiny stainless steel gleams under retro lighting at this restored 1950s diner attached to an aviation museum. The classic American diner aesthetic gets bonus points for its proximity to vintage aircraft—you might spot a historic plane through the windows.
Running seven days a week with current posted hours, Tin Goose serves comfort food in surroundings that transport you to mid-century America. Chrome details, vinyl booths, and checkered floors complete the time-capsule experience.
Aviation enthusiasts especially love the double attraction of great burgers and airplane history under one roof. Even if you’re not into flight, the diner’s authentic restoration makes it worth the Port Clinton trip.
13. Tony Packo’s Café – Toledo
Walls covered in signed hot-dog buns sound bizarre until you see them—then it’s pure pop-culture genius. Celebrities and regular folks alike have left their mark on buns that now decorate every available surface at this Toledo icon.
Made famous by TV references, Tony Packo’s feels like stepping onto a set that somehow became real. The quirky tradition started decades ago and continues today, creating a living scrapbook of visitors.
Beyond the novelty, the Hungarian hot dogs and chili genuinely deliver flavor that’s kept locals loyal for generations. It’s touristy and authentic simultaneously, which perfectly captures Toledo’s unpretentious charm and hidden coolness.
14. Pins Mechanical Co. – Columbus (multiple)
Adult playground describes Pins perfectly—duckpin bowling meets vintage arcade games in industrial spaces filled with exposed brick and metal beams. Retro games line the walls while bowling balls roll down compact lanes designed for maximum fun.
Multiple Columbus locations keep the vibe accessible, though the original 16-Bit downtown closed in March 2025. Pins locations remain open and thriving, drawing crowds who want to play while they eat and drink.
Old-school ambiance combines with modern craft cocktails and elevated bar food. It’s entertainment dining where the activities matter as much as the menu, creating memorable nights that feel refreshingly different from typical restaurant outings.
