Lunch @ FoodTopia

The webmaster of Findlay Eats Out! and I decided to have lunch at FoodTopia not too long ago. When I first heard of it, no real food category came to mind. If it weren't for the gyro picture on the window, I wouldn't have known anything until I read the menu.

To get it up and running, the restaurant was opened without much in the way of decor. After speaking with the main operator of the establishment (Deena), they are still throwing around ideas. Since the idea of Greek designs aren't quite popular, I'll throw the suggestion aside. There are more tables set up than I anticipated, but it wasn't packed. I think that was due to the reliance on word of mouth advertising. I can see that. Advertising isn't cheap, especially if you do business with the Findlay Courier.

Takeout From Paradise Pizza

OK, I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for a really good coupon. After all, who wouldn't want to save a few dollars? Somehow, a Paradise coupon came into my possession a while back and I found a window of opportunity to use it.

It's very important to note this is carryout and delivery only. As I walked in, they only have two waiting chairs across the counter. No dine-in option here. Upon reading their menu, they deliver to... Mt. Blanchard, Arlington, and Rawson?! Wow, I hope they have an insulated bag so the food doesn't get cold. That's the only thing I can think of that would allow them to go that far.

Tonight's selection was a 12" turkey sub. After I found a suitable location, it was dinner time! In a similar vein to Quizno's, they toast the bun. I like sub shops that toast the bread, as it adds a nice crunch to the sub. The rest of the ingredients didn't do much for me, though. It definitely could use more cheese. Overall, the sandwich was OK, but I'd rather have one made from Jac & Do's.

-Reviewed by Nate L

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Paradise Pizza & Subs is located at 542 6th Street (near the railroad tracks), and can be reached for carryout or delivery at 419-422-9200. 

Lunch @ Jim's Hot Dogs

I remember Jim when he used to own the gym up on the North side of town. Now I've come to find out he opened up a restaurant in downtown Findlay. Since I am a fan of hot dogs, today's lunch it was. The establishment itself is small and prone to traffic congestion. However, there is a small open area across the street, if the weather's good enough.

Locally owned and operated, Jim's Hot Dogs serve hot dogs, burgers, and breakfast Monday through Saturday. This will be more a lunch stop for me, but it's good to know. I decided on the "Findlay-style Dog," which is essentially a Chicago-style dog. The only differences I saw were the use of a regular bun (poppy seed is common for Chicago-style) and cross-cut jalapeno peppers instead of whole sport peppers. Overall, I enjoyed my dish and could taste all of the flavors in the hot dog. For a hot dog, that's pretty good.

Dinner @ Stevi B's

Stevi B's has been around in Findlay for a number of years, but only recently did I decide to have dinner there. Unfortunately, I stopped by during its peak operating hours (approx. 7:00p) on a Saturday night. It was loaded with kids running around and making lots of noise (as kids do). If you want a quiet meal out on a weekend, then I recommend you seek alternate dining plans.

The restaurant's primary focus is pizza buffet. If they don't have a pizza on the buffet table you want, then they make it and bring you out a slice. The only caveat is it has to be posted on the menu. I will say the employees were polite and answered all of my questions without hesitation and even recommended pizzas they enjoyed. That was very nice of them.

Dinner @ Rancho Fiesta

This is one of two restaurants owned by Lorenzo Sanchez, with the first restaurant being located in Mansfield. Even though I'm positive there are unrelated owners involved, Rancho Fiesta has a very similar atmosphere to La Charrita and Mi Tequila: brightly colored dining areas, Mexican songs playing in the background, a standard menu of quesadillas, burritos, fajitas, etc. I found the service to be polite and helpful. They didn't serve horchata, but he entertained my inquiry about it.

The entree that evening was the Quesadilla Suprema. From the menu, this quesadilla provides a "flour tortilla grilled and stuffed with cheese, beef tips, and beans. Served with lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream." The entree was priced at $7.69, which seems to be the norm around town for a dinner plate. It was large, and I would be willing to say filling for most people.

Dinner @ Cedar Valley Café

Hey! What do we have here? A Lebanese (& American) restaurant in Findlay. At least there are some silver linings after all. With the loss of the Big Jerk and Guru India, I was starting to get a little agitated with this town.

Since there is so much American food around here, I flat out ignored that section of the menu. I know it's there to appease people who may not want something different. Fortunately, I am not one of those people. My dinner started off with the national dish of Lebanon: Kibbie (or Kibbeh or Kubbeh or Kibbe). It was a delightful mix of beef, onion, and bulgur wheat. They were served in the traditional fried, torpedo-shaped croquettes with a cup of yoghurt.

Lunch @ The Old World Café

I tend to give locally owned and operated restaurants a bit of a break, especially when it's their grand opening. Such is the case for the long awaited Old World Cafe. For quite some time, the residents were left guessing on what "Old World" would actually be. All of my conversations surmised Italian, however it turns out to be Greek. This is wonderful news, as Findlay could stand to have another Greek restaurant.

We didn't have to wait long, but I'm thinking that was due to it being a weekday rather than the weekend. Our service was polite, but not aware their duties as waitstaff. If we order hummus, then remember to bring plates with which to rest individual servings and if a party orders Greek fries with feta, please check the order to make sure it's not Parmesan.