We're About To Do Something New!

We know that it's been a very long time since we've kept up with Findlay Eats Out; however, we've got something new and exciting in store for you all! We'll keep you posted on Facebook and Twitter, so be sure to check back and see what changes we're making to the site, and to find out what we're going to be bringing to all of our faithful Findlay restaurant lovers.

From the Daily Docket

In today's Public Record, we noticed the following bit of news:

A total of $1,508 was reported missing Monday from a back office at Waffle House, 1103 W. Trenton Ave.
Via The Courier 

 We absolutely feel that whomever took the money should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  However, we also feel that the time this employee has already spent working at Waffle House should count towards their sentence.  Now that's hard time.

From the Daily Docket

We noticed this Public Record entry in today's paper:

A suspected counterfeit $20 bill was discovered Thursday at McDonald's, 731 W. Trenton Ave.

Via The Courier 

 While counterfeiting is a serious crime, we can almost see the customer's side of this; it's possible that the patron felt that paying for artificial food called for artificial money.

From the Daily Docket

We read another amusing docket entry in today's paper:

A Michigan man was arrested for public indecency after exposing himself to a family eating at a Tiffin Avenue restaurant Wednesday.
Via The Courier

It is unfortunate that there is no further explanation given; we are curious as to what events led up to this, and what the offender's excuse was. We'd like to imagine his parting words were, "I'm a veteran! And a diabetic! Applebee's has rats! I found a whole rat in my Cobb salad!"

Chuck E. Cheese Development Moving Right Along

As we reported previously,  Chuck E. Cheese has plans to build a $3 million dollar restaurant in Findlay, slated for completion in late 2010 or early 2011.  Our previous post centered on their request for funding from the Findlay Revolving Loan Fund, and now the plans are up for review.

Findlay City Planning Commission today will review a site plan for a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant on 912 Interstate Drive, across the street from Carmike Cinemas. The commission will meet at 9 a.m. today in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building. The restaurant plans were filed by developer George Whitson.
Via The Courier

 As usual, we'll be sure to keep you informed of any news regarding the development.

Bedrock Cafe Closed?

  With nobody there, and nobody answering the phones, it seems as if the Bedrock Cafe, located at 2227 Tiffin Ave., has closed its doors!  No warning was given, but considering that no marketing was done to promote the opening, we're not surprised.  We reviewed the place a while back, and found it to be middle of the road-not amazing, but not too bad, either.  However, our readers almost unanimously had bad experiences.  Here are a few of their comments:

I was a little disappointed. It turned out to be quite the Midwestern bland restaurant with an dull menu. If this is the image the Bedrock Cafe is going to project, people will have no problem going down the road a bit to Cheddar's. As much as it pains me to say it, this restaurant needs to step up its game.  -Nate L.  

The service was ok, the food nothing special at all,same choices as many other restaurants around, nothing unique or different, once was enough for us. - Gina S.

Overall we felt the prices were high and the food was "average" at best, the service for us was far below our expectations and we will probably not be returning. - Julie

I had to come find your review. Today, I think I had my worst dining experience ever, my displeasure and frustration with this establishment is almost beyond words right now......what a joke! Bed Rock Cafe in Findlay is a horrible place to eat. I had better service from my grade school lunch ladies than today! - Jay Yeater

With reviews like that, I guess their closing was destined to be.  What a shame-in our opinion, if they had opened in the mall or as a diner, and properly marketed themselves, they could have really done well for themselves.  Que Sera Sera, as the saying goes.

As of this moment, the Bedrock Cafe's closing is only gossip-we can't get a hold of anyone to confirm or deny anything.  If any of you have more info, please share it with us in the comments section, or email us at findlayeatsout@gmail.com.

Vito's Under New Management

Sources tell us that Vito's Pizza has just hired a new General Manager.  Their former GM, who has been with them since their opening last summer, stepped down due to health problems and will now serve as one of their two Assistant Managers.

While we don't know the name of the newly hired manager, we have it on good authority that he boasts more than 15 years' experience in a General Manager capacity.  With credentials like that, we're sure he will be a competent and successful addition to the Vito's team.

---

Vito's Pizza is located at 1500 North Main St. (next to Family Video), and can be reached for carryout or delivery at 419-422-VITO (8486).  They are open Mon.-Thurs from 2:30pm-Midnight and Fri.-Sun. from 10:30am-Midnight.  You can also order online, and view their full menu at www.Vitos.com.

From the Daily Docket

Listed in the Public Record today was an interesting tidbit:

An employee of Denny's, 1051 Interstate Court, was cited for possession of marijuana Wednesday after her wallet containing the drug was left at the hostess stand.
Via The Courier

This is a new one-usually it's the late night Denny's customers getting arrested.  Stay classy, Denny's!

Chuck E. Cheese's Opening In Findlay?

  According to City officials, grant money is currently being sought by the Findlay Revolving Loan Fund to aid in the the building of a $3 Million Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant.  Currently plans call for construction on an Interstate Drive lot (across the street from Carmike Cinemas), and the restaurant could be open by late 2010 or early 2011 (via The Courier).

  Chuck E. Cheese's, a 33 year-old company with over 540 locations worldwide, operates entertainment-themed restaurants where kids (and adults) can play video games, enjoy rides, eat pizza, and trade in their hard-earned game tickets for cheap, mass-produced plastic toys.

The Big Jerk Will Be Closing Forever!

We first heard of this via Twitter (thanks @jayyeater for the tip), and we confirmed it on their Facebook fan page;

The Big Jerk, located at 227 1/2 N. Main St. (at the corner of Center St.) will be closing their doors on March 21st!

Owned and operated by Michael and Debi Bulkowski, the same folks who run Revolver, The Big Jerk only opened just a few months ago. The mod, fun decor is complimented by their eclectic menu of jerk-style and Thai-style sandwiches, and they had been gathering a bit of an underground following. Another interesting aspect of the business is the fact that they remain open until 3am on the weekends to accommodate the bar crowd.

Sadly, it appears that an underground following just isn't enough to keep a restaurant open in this economy. We urge all of you to visit them before it's too late- they are open Tuesday-Thursday from 4pm-10pm and Friday-Saturday from 4pm-3am.

Wilsons Won't Be Closing, After All

So, it looks like one of Findlay's most beloved downtown eateries will remain open, despite their publicly aired problems. Back in December, Wilson's restaurant was fined $2,100 by OSHA for an unsafe hamburger patty machine. The local news outlets reported at that time that due to the fine, as well as the reduced business caused by the the economic downturn, the restaurant was unsure of its financial future.
However, Wilson's has now paid the fine and replaced the patty machine, and now feels a bit more confident about their future. According to co-owner Pat Baker,

"We don't want to close (Wilson's). We are going to work to keep it open,” Baker said. “It would be a shame to see it go after all these years.” On Monday, Baker said things are getting better for Wilson's as the weather improves. “It's like every other business, you know, you go through this ... we do this almost every year and then as the weather picks up, we pick up,” she said. “So this has been something we have gone through every year.”
via The Courier

Open since 1936 and a common stop for celebrities and politicians visiting Findlay (including Senator George Voinovich, former Vice President Dan Quayle, and singer Johnny Mathis), we are sure they won't be going anywhere soon...despite our own opinions of their food and service (which we didn't feel appropriate for a news entry, but promise we will share in a review soon enough).

---

Wilson's is located at 600 S. Main St. downtown, diagonal from the Marathon building, and their phone number is 419-422-5051.

Shake-Up @ The Landing Pad

Our sources tell us that a longtime manager of The Landing Pad, Dawn Faeth, has left the restaurant due to a planned move. We saw the ads in The Courier a while back, and wondered who they were going to bring in to take over her job; it seems as if they have filled the position internally, promoting former server Amber Terry.

While those of you who frequent The Landing Pad will likely miss Dawn, don't fret. We remember Amber from her days behind the bar at (the now defunct) TKO's Restaurant & Sports Bar, and we have full confidence that she'll be a star in her new role.

---

The Landing Pad is located at 1123 Trenton Ave., in the new Wal-Mart plaza. Their phone number is 419-425-0250 and, while their website is currently "Under Construction," you can visit their Facebook fan page.

Do you have any gossip, news, or information you'd like to share with us (and the rest of Findlay)? Shoot us an email at findlayeatsout@gmail.com and we'll post it up for you anonymously - leaving out any incriminating evidence, of course.