Ohio has deep German roots, and you can still taste them today at restaurants that have been serving schnitzel, bratwurst, and warm pretzels for generations. Some of these places sit in old brick buildings with long histories, while others feel like a friendly neighborhood spot where the recipes have barely changed.
If you grew up in Ohio, chances are a few of these names bring back memories of family dinners and big plates of comfort food. For everyone else, this is your guide to finding the real deal.
From Columbus to Cleveland and a few small-town surprises in between, here are eight spots worth knowing about. Grab your appetite, because these kitchens take their traditions seriously and their portions even more so.
1. Schmidt’s Sausage Haus, Columbus, Ohio
Few names carry more weight in Ohio German dining than Schmidt’s, a fixture in the historic German Village neighborhood of Columbus. The Schmidt family has been connected to the sausage business in the area for well over a century…