Best road-trip restaurants in Ohio

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Cincinnati's flagship fine-dining room, a national top-100 French-Italian destination.

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James Beard American Regional Classic chili parlor slinging ways since 1940.

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Fourth-generation Findlay Market butcher making the city's benchmark goetta from a century-old recipe.

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Laid-back riverside pit shack beloved for peppery-bark brisket and jalapeno cheddar grits.

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Upscale chef-driven steak and seafood house anchoring the historic Westwood Town Hall district.

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Ohio barbecue cornerstone since 1951, famous for sauce-slathered ribs.

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Findlay Market favorite widely regarded as the city's best bowl of pho.

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The definitive local franchise for cinnamon-and-cocoa-spiced Cincinnati chili over spaghetti.

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Bright, locally-sourced breakfast spot that celebrates Cincinnati's goetta heritage.

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Candlelit subterranean speakeasy for rustic, pasta-forward Italian beneath Boca's red door.

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Bustling bistro pairing Belgian waffles and frites with a Cincinnati goetta twist.

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Kitschy, Diners-Drive-Ins-and-Dives burger institution loaded with gourmet toppings.

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Longtime family-run Hungarian kitchen turning out hearty, homestyle classics.

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Reopened Ethiopian institution serving home-style stews on injera since 1992.

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Stylish subterranean sushi counter serving some of the city's finest rolls with fish flown in.

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Cleveland's oldest restaurant, serving old-school Italian in Little Italy since 1918.

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Modern Jewish deli in a historic Hingetown firehouse pushing koji-cured meats.

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Michael Symon's take on distinctive, mustard-and-pickle Cleveland-style barbecue.

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Inventive modern-Mexican mainstay known for guacamole flights and tacos.

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Cleveland institution since 1964 famed for its towering hand-carved corned beef sandwich.

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Grand 1912 public market with dozens of vendors for meats, breads and hot ethnic bites.

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Wood-fired spot doing certified-proper Neapolitan pizza.

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Top Chef alum's tasting-menu spot spinning nostalgic Midwestern takes on Bengali cooking.

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Rustic bakery and coffee shop in a renovated garage, a Columbus brunch icon.

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Farm-to-table wood-fired pizzeria leaning gourmet with an audibly crisp thin crust.

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Boisterous German beer hall with long tables, giant pretzels and house-brewed lagers.

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Fast-casual gateway to Somali food in the city with the nation's second-largest Somali community.

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Beloved cafe in a 100-year-old gas station famous for its original pancake balls.

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A gracefully aging German Village bistro on Columbus's list of top dining rooms for decades.

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Cult-favorite backyard smoker turning out some of central Ohio's best brisket and ribs.

$$ · Lincoln Highway

A Columbus German Village institution that gives the Ohio Lincoln Highway stretch a substantial, historic city meal.

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Elegant French fine dining inside a restored 1853 church with a 700-bottle cellar.

$$ · Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Neighborhood brewpub with a patio, pub plates, and easy post-park energy on the south edge of Cuyahoga Valley.

$$ · Cuyahoga Valley National Park

The only winery operating inside a national park's boundary, pouring in an 1840s post-and-beam barn near Blossom Music Center. Flatbreads and tastings make it the valley's best golden-hour stop.

$$ · Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Scratch European-style pastry and brunch in Cuyahoga Falls, strong enough to anchor the morning before a Ledges or Brandywine Falls day.

$$ · Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Third-generation family spot since 1958, steps off the Towpath Trail in the middle of the park — the default refuel for cyclists and Scenic Railroad riders. Big patio, Monday wing night.

$ · Cuyahoga Valley National Park

A CVNP summer ritual on Riverview Road: roasted sweet corn dripping with butter from a farm stand that's worked this valley for generations. Cash only, seasonal, and exactly what a towpath ride calls for.

$$ · Cuyahoga Valley National Park

A Peninsula tavern right in the park corridor, with a huge beer list and reliable burgers for Towpath riders, Scenic Railroad days, and family groups.