I’ve had a hankering to get out of the house to check out the Akron-area food scene. I think we are all ready.
I loved getting carryout, and it was a great way to support restaurants during the pandemic. However, I really do miss the foo foo presentation of my food, a server bringing me a glass of wine and not having to wash the dishes.
I want to be pampered. And I want to have fun.
Here are 10 options to help get the the party started.
Lala’s in Coventry Township
Chef Dino Reed’s new summer appetizer menu at LaLa’s would have Food Network exotic chef Andrew Zimmern drooling. I had trouble narrowing my selection to just one. I’ve heard great things about the wild duck wings. That’s what I stopped in to try. Then I saw the tempura-battered rosemary-parmesan portobello mushroom fries and the grilled calamari steak topped with Greek relish on the menu. My head was spinning. Cajun-breaded frog legs, escargot and grilled sardines were also on the list.
I chose the duck wings, the portobello mushroom fries and the calamari steak. This trio would be great to share on date night as the portions are generous. I loved the Greek relish on the calamari steak and the tasty balsamic glaze on the wings. The mushroom fries were crispy, juicy and meaty.
Choosing a wine to accompany this amazing trio was the easiest decision of the night. Bring on the Bonfadini Franciacorta Brut, my favorite sparkling wine on the planet. It was a no-brainer at $29.99 a bottle. Even better at $19.99 with the Tuesday night $10 off special.
The Workz Speakeasy in Cuyahoga Falls
There’s a hidden treasure beneath the arcade games and duckpin bowling at The Workz in downtown Cuyahoga Falls. It has table seating for two and four people, bar seating for seven and a comfy couch for four. Reservations are suggested. Stop by the front desk and they will give you a clue on how to find a speakeasy hidden inside the former Front Street theater.
“Most of our drinks are from the 1920’s prohibition era,” said bartender Kelly Andrews, who was all decked out in period attire.
“We take great pride in handcrafting every drink,” she added.
Bartender Braxton Stein crafted me my first absinthe drink. It was super cool watching him caramelize the sugar cube with a torch. The drink’s flavors remind me of my cousin Staci’s Italian anise cookies. I could sip on this drink all night while listening to the roaring ’20s music.
Whiskey aficionados might want to try a cocktail made with a prohibition-style whiskey called Old Forester. Stein makes his version of a French 75, which he simply calls 75.
You can’t order a Bud Lite here; however, there is a mighty selection of craft beers and wines not available at the bar upstairs to go along with a separate food menu.
Russo’s in Cuyahoga Falls
Russo’s $14 black mission fig appetizer is a work of art. It’s almost too beautiful to eat.
Two huge black mission figs are stuffed with Ohio goat cheese, wrapped in Spanish Serrano ham and drizzled with aged balsamic and extra virgin olive oil. I love figs. The Serrano ham is the best I have ever tasted. With two figs, it’s double the fun and great to share, and a ravishing way to start any evening.
You’ll want to try a glass of Wildstock Pinot Noir from Dundee, Oregon, with this nibble. It also compliments the wonderful Crawfish Monica appetizer. This $14 pasta dish is loaded with a generous amount of tasty cajun crustaceans in a rich creamy creole sauce.
More:Russo’s carryout, Albarino wine perfect pair
An order of fried-green tomatoes is the only way to complete this heavenly appetizer trifecta.
Keep in mind that Russo’s will be closed for vacation July 1-7.
Beau’s on the River in Cuyahoga Falls
Beau’s on the River has 40 wines by the glass on their menu. Five curated wine flights have been added, including an Orin Swift wines feature.
The featured flight allows enophiles to sample 3-ounce pours of higher-priced wines made famous by California cult winemaker Dave Phinney. For $29, the flight includes 3 ounces of Mannequin chardonnay and Abstract blend, along with the 8 Years in the Dessert. A small sampling of nibbles is included with the tasting.
Other flights on the menu are the $14 Any Way But Chardonnay, the $15 Battle of the Blends, $13 Pinot Envy, and the $14 Italian Job.
El Patron in Akron
Head over to Akron’s newest Mexican hot spot, El Patron Tequileria & Cuisine, and try one of their three margarita flights.
“We rotate the flavors daily,” said owner Luis Escudero.
Some of the flavors include peach, mango, guava, raspberry, strawberry and watermelon. There are three different flights: $15 classic, $18 fruity and $18 spicy.
The classic flight is the traditional margarita with a dash of blue curaçao, sangria or traditional lime added on top.
The spicy margarita flight is the same as the fruity flight with an added Mexico City kick. That’s when bartender Abby tops it off with a dash of house-made habanero jelly.
I sampled the fruity flight of mango, strawberry and raspberry and couldn’t be happier. The tequila had nothing to do with my happiness. Honest. The flavors were vivid and refreshing. I could sip on the mango margarita on their beautiful rooftop patio any day of the week. Well, except Sunday. That’s the only day of the week they aren’t open.
Lock 15 in Akron
Lock 15 is known for having exceptional craft beer and great food. Their superb wine list will allow your wine-drinking significant other to tag along and have as much fun as you do. I look at it as a wine bar inside a craft brewery that has awesome food.
The Lock 15 burger was looking too irresistible. The burger was juicy and flavorful inside the soft brioche bun. The house pickles, smoked cheddar and horseradish aioli add layers of yummy flavor. The house-made chips are addicting.
There are many can’t-miss wine pairings on the menu. I chose a $9 glass of Bouchon merlot since merlot is an awesome food wine. My server was extremely helpful with my beer selection as hops and lagers are way out of my realm of expertise. The Cascade Locks American Pale Ale was a great choice for the Lock 15 burger, even for a wine guy like me.
Filia Cellars in Wadsworth
![A bottle of Isabella cabernet from Filia Cellars and a carryout pizza from Tavanello's next door on Saturday, June 12, 2021 in Wadsworth, Ohio. [Phil Masturzo/ Beacon Journal]](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2021/06/21/NABJ/e500eb9c-328e-4a87-bbfb-f72848aa1a0f-Filia.jpg?width=300&height=415&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
It’s a short drive out to Wadsworth to visit Filia Cellars. The tasting room is inside a 1864 Gothic Victorian house. Owner/winemaker Lisa Locklear is a gracious host, who knows most of her customers by name.
I sampled the current vintage of the two red wines she named after her daughters, Hannah and Isabella. The grapes for these wines come from Crimson Hill vineyard in Lake County, California, which is owned by her father and winemaker, Gregory Graham.
The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic prevented Locklear from blending grapes for the $25 Isabella cabernet, so this year’s wine is 100% cabernet — and 100% delicious, I might add.
Locklear recommended picking up a pizza from Tavanello’s Pizza, which is a couple doors down from the tasting room. Rod Tavenello has been at that location for 45 years. What a great pie from an unforgettable guy. The $7 meatball stromboli is great as well. Tavanello still uses the 1918 mixer he bought off Barberton Olympian Jeep Davis in 1965 to mix his dough. And yes, I already made a return trip to see “Pops” and pick up a couple bottles of Isabella next door.
Chowder House in Akron
I’ve been getting lots of tasty vibes about the new Chowder House in the Merriman Valley. Chef/owner Louis Prpich found a creative way to incorporate the eclectic work of artist Jimmy VanHoose into the new place on Weathervane Lane.
“It has more of a Cape Cod vibe,” Prpich said.
I saw the $14 Twisted Noodles appetizer on the menu and had to try a bowl.
“It’s our best selling appetizer,” Prpich said.
It’s a generous bowl of chilled sesame noodles, seared ahi tuna, wasabi, fresh ginger, a few nibbles of red bell pepper and a teriyaki drizzle.
Don’t bother looking for chicken fingers or mozzarella sticks. Prpich has seafood delights like lobster crepes, crab cakes and Savannahs Best — cajun shrimp and scallops over a bed of grits with bacon and cheddar.
I found a $8 glass of Zabu Nero d’avola from Sicily to be incredibly delightful with my noodles. This wine has good rich cherry and plum flavors to compliment the spice of the appetizer.
Check out their cozy outdoor patio and bar, where they are hosting Shuck & Roll In the Valley every Thursday from 6-9pm. They will be featuring Korean BBQ, seafood boil and signature beer from R. Shea Brewing to go, along with live jazz and blues music.
Vaccaro’s in Akron
Of course I had to include something sweet.
Vaccaro’s Trattoria owner Raphael Vaccaro makes his gelato with a lot of love and passion. Every scoop takes me back to the boot. That’s where they make it best.
Vaccaro makes two flavors daily, so it’s hard to predict which flavor will be available when you arrive.
“I have access to 18 flavors at all times and I’m always changing it up,” said Vaccaro, who buys his flavorings from Fabbri, one Europe’s premier flavoring companies.
I had a scoop of Frutti di Bosco, which translates to fruits of the forrest. It’s an out-of-this-world combination of blackberry, red current, raspberry and strawberry. The dessert becomes magical with an added drizzle of Borsci Marzano appartivo. It’s a rum- based liquor infused with herbs, roots and spices made in the Puglia region of Italy. You can add a shot to your after-dinner coffee as well.
Jenks Building in Cuyahoga Falls
Stop in at the Jenks Building on Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls to browse the eclectic artwork scattered in the 92-year-old former Shriber Auto Parts and Machine Shop. There’s everything from antiques and fresh-baked bread to Pendelton Blankets and puppet shows.
Pick out a bottle of wine curated by local wine specialist Daryl Spansky, then pick out a glass, and head upstairs for a game of billiards with a friend.
I couldn’t resist the $15.99 bottle of Cappone Chianti Classico. It’s kind of a subtle way to intimidate your opponent during a friendly game of pool. By the way, the wine was tasty.
You can also catch some live blues and root-based music 5-7pm Thursday to Saturday, with additional hours 2-4 pm Saturday..
Jenks Building is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and is closed on Sunday and Monday. If you are still thirsty at closing time, head across the street to Beau’s on the River.
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