CheeZburger Cafe

All four of us got in the van and headed up Interstate 275 to 12092 Montgomery Road to CheeZburger Cafe.

When we drove up Michael was excited but the rest of us...no so much.  He was excited that there were TV's in some of the booths.

 

I liked the chair seats that were painted like cheeZburgers, some of the backs were painted like footballs.

Each table had at least two checkerboards...that was right up Michael's alley.  Very kid friendly.  Cincinnati Reds pennant on the wall from back in the day...1975.  And there is a Wall of Fame/Shame...something about a Triple Threat Challenge.

Everyone chose something different. Mark had a Mainliner...a burger with tarter sauce and other fixings.  Emmy had a Veggie Burger with every vegetable topping there was on the menu.  Michael had his all time new favorite...the Bacon Cheezburger.  I finally decided on the Bleu Onion Burger.  Then we shared a basket of waffle fries.

Michael loved everything about the place...two thumbs up for him.  He has decided that we need to go back again to get ice cream, a shake or 'a delicious fruit smoothie' because he knows that I love all of those.  Emmy and Mark were not impressed at all.  I would bring my grand kids back for a burger.  If you want to see the entire menu just lick on the link at the first of the post.  Kids eat free on Tuesdays after 4PM. 

I don't know where we well end up for our next eating adventure...all I know for sure it that I am not going to be the one choosing.  I think we need to share the love.

Magee's

Last week Mark came home so excited (actually I think he called from the truck once he had lunch) about a place we needed to check out...Magee's on 129 West Main Street in Hillsboro, OH.

I loved it when I saw the wooden screen door on the front door. When you walk in if you are a 'stranger' you get the looks. We got the looks. The booth we found had a Formica top and everything you can imagine ever wanting to have with your lunch.

Mark said that we would need a larger booth than these because all of our food was not to to fit on one of these little tables lining the back portion of the side wall.

Perfect spot..right by the grill. And I am telling you the smell was wonderful! See that white bucket on the left. That is a bucket of hash browns. All you have to do it take a huge hand full and slap it on the grill, use the red kechup container filled with melted butter, then cover them with one of those heavy weight things and watch them cook. The burger patties are pressed out by hand...old school!

The counter is the fun place to be. All the regulars fill the counter first. Easiest access to conversations with the waitresses. One customer even brought a box of chocolates to share at the counter. I love people that share chocolate!

First up...homemade Cole slaw. Delicious!

Hot tea for me today...freezing snow whipping around outside all morning. Love the little hot water pitcher...and the cup...it almost went home with me but I restrained myself once again.

The beans soup was perfect! Peep, you will love this when you come to visit. But be ready for a long car ride to get there.

Mark had the chili....yummmmmmm.

Double Cheeseburger Platter...that's a big bunch of meat! I just had a single and it was to die for.

I couldn't pass up a piece of homemade pie! There were more blackberries squished into this crust then I have ever seen. And the crust....just perfect. Then heat it up in the microwave and add a big scoop of ice cream. They almost had to roll me out the door.


I'm ready to go back anytime. Everyone was friendly and the food was good and 'homey' if you know what I mean. I plan to get up early and make it for the breakfast rush...I hear that the blueberry pancakes are out of this world! But you have to get there between 8AM and 2PM or you miss it all. But then again the fishtail sandwich sounds pretty interesting!

And nothing has changed in this diner since 1962. And eat...you will!

Oh...we have decided that if we are going to be trying new places every other weekend we better eat smart during the two weeks in between or we will be as big as the barns I love to photograph.

CopperBlue (A Grub Shack)

Last night on a whim, after driving by this new place when picking up empty wine bottle for the bottle tree (another blog altogether), I notice this new place was open. Not too many cars in the parking lot so I got on the phone and called Mark to make a last minute date. Emmy was working all weekend and Michael was at a friends house for the night...why not...practicing for that empty nest that will come some day. So we set off for 900 Main Street, Milford.


Boy, was I shocked...in just about an hour the parking lot was full! When we entered a very polite hostess greeted us and handed us a menu so we could check out the idea behind the restaurant. It is a good story and if you click on the picture above you will be able to read about it.

We decided that if we were going to write a blog about Eating Our Way Thru OHIO, we should be willing to try new things. I swallowed hard and said okay. I'm not to adventurous...not at all!

We asked to see the kids menu...I think Michael would give this a two thumbs us...so guess we are just going to have to come back again....I hope it is sooner than later...the hot rolls are to die for! They are almost dead on Mark's grandmothers rolls.

I guess I am going to have to get over the embarrassment of taking pictures in public. I felt really strange. Now I really have to get familiar with the setting on the camera. The decor is very comfortable. The wait staff wore crocs and jeans with a bright green smock. They are all friendly and the service was just right.

Mark and I split the Wedge Salad. I was refreshing and half was filling. Come to think of it, we split everything.

Mark ordered the Blackened Meatloaf and after researching I suggested that he order the fries. Good choice...we split those too. The meatloaf was different from the meatloaf I make. It seemed a little mushy...like the meat had been ground too fine. The taste was good...earthy and spicy.

I ordered the Spicy Burger with grilled caramelized onions. And it was to die for. The pickles were delicious too. And I didn't mind the ketchup and the little bit of red in the meat. It was all good. And then there were the sweet potato tater tots. A little sweet and a little kick from the Cajun seasoning.

You can't miss the big blue sign that hangs out front. The atmosphere was nice...no one was a hurry, very laid back. We were in and out in little over an hour for under $25.00. We definitely plan to make a return visit but not until we have tried a few other new places on our list of many. I never realized how many places there are to eat. I don't get out much!

On The Road in Adams County, Ohio

Mark and I took a little road trip that you can read about on our family blog, The Ellis Family Cincinnati, trying to find and document The Clothesline of Quilts. When we travel we usually take all kinds of snacks with us. This time we were in such a rush because Emmy said that she would watch Michael as long as we were back by 5:30PM...all we left with was something cold to drink. Usually when we go to Adams County we stop at all of our favorite Amish Businesses. Miller Brother's was the first stop...actually it was the Bakery... This shot is thru the front windshield as we were pulling away. I couldn't take the chance of losing my half of the turnover by getting out of the van...if you get my drift. I wish I had taken the camera in so you could see all the cakes, pies, breads, turnovers, horns, cream cakes, and rolls, but it was so crowded you could hardly walk between the gift items.
This puppy is the size of Mark's hand. So we decided just to get one, just one...but it would have been nice to have another two or three because they were so fresh and so delicious...and it was gone before we hit the main road. Bryce you would have loved it...blackberry and lots of them!

I let Mark get the first bite because I was blowing my free hot coffee. I can't even begin to tell you how light a flaky the crust is...and the filling is just the right amount of blackberries and sweetness.

Around 1PM we started to get really hungry but on the back roads of Adams County there aren't too many places to stop to eat. I had high hopes of eating at The White Star Restaurant on Main Street in Peebles. But since it was New Year's Eve they were closed so I guess that will have to wait for another day. Mark whipped into the parking lot of a little store. The parking lot was really crowded...everyone probably getting all the groceries needed for New Year's Eve parties. This little grocery store is not like any I have ever seen. Everything was fully packed neatly and tightly in boxes. There was one way in and one way out...like a maze of food boxes. And at the check out...you buy you bags for 3 cents each, if you want them. If not you roll your card to a bar type thing and unload your groceries into whatever you want. We chose my arms.

We drove for awhile looking for a picnic table but no luck so Mark just pulled off the side of the road into a construction company's driveway. We weren't there very long before a lady in a really big loud truck pulled up beside us to ask if everything was okay. All I could do was nod my head because my mouth was so full. You can't really see the sandwich but it was awesome...a taste from my childhood. We dined on a thick sliced bologna and potato chip sandwich slathered with mustard on Old Fashioned Heiner's Bread. As a side, as Michael would say, we had a Slim Jim and some peanut butter crackers. Mark opted to have his chips with dip. And for dessert, an Almond Joy for Mark and a Snickers for me.

I'd say it was a great day and a perfect way to start our newest blog. We need to go back at some point and find the two quilts that we didn't have time for. Maybe then we can try the White Star Restaurant or some of the other [places that the 'locals' eat.

Check out the reason we were on the road at Pressing My Seams Open.