Tag Archives: uptown

Bodega Restaurant in Athens, OH

 

I arrived early for lunch at the Bodega in Athens, Ohio.  A well-known restaurant located in Uptown, it is a perfect stop for local students attending Ohio University.  The Bodega is a part of a co-operative, opened in 1986 under the Casa Nueva name as a restaurant.  The business continued to grow to include a salsa and later expanded to add The Bodega with its own kitchen.

I found a place at the bar to place my order and was handed a polyethylene coated piece of paper with the number 13.

In the corner of the restaurant is an electrical, back-lit board which displays a number when an order has been completed.  Once the number is displayed on the “Bingo Board”, there is a small pass-through to pick up the food.

Until my food was completed, I was happy to enjoy a Pineapple Hurricane made with orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine and pineapple infused alcohol.

My grilled chicken burrito arrived with a side of chips and salsa, which was absolutely fresh with the perfect amount of heat.  I met a couple of students who had just arrived to the restaurant preparing for their last test of the day.  This was the last day of the semester for the students and many would be making the journey home.

As I finished the last of my burrito, the restaurant was filling up with students, so I grabbed my leftovers and headed back to The Plains to wait for my niece and nephew to return home.

Have you visited The Bodega inside of Casa Nueva?  What did you order?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my visit to one of Athens’ best restaurants and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Casa Nueva – The Bodega
4 West State Street
Athens, OH  45701
Telephone:  740 592 2016

What to Eat:

Each day the restaurant prepares fresh salsas and ingredients for their wraps and burritos.  Each menu item is made to order and each selection comes highly recommended.

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth af Fluff Bakery in Athens, Ohio

Strolling past Fluff Bakery in Uptown Athens, a sweet smell of sugar and chocolate chips was escaping the door each time it had opened.  I had just eaten lunch with my niece and nephew and they loved the idea of stopping for dessert.

Opened in 2010, Fluff Bakery offers cookies and cakes as well as sandwiches, salads and local craft brews. I couldn’t pass up the decadent chocolate cupcake with chocolate icing, chunks of chocolate and chocolate syrup while the kids selected a large chocolate chip cookie and red velvet whoopie pie.

We took a seat at one of the tables and it didn’t seem long until we had finished our baked goods, so I asked them if they wanted to pick up something for the next day, and of course, we chose a more selections to have after lunch.  With a few more days in town, we may have decide to stop by Fluff Bakery for lunch.

Have you visited Fluff Bakery in Athens?  What did you order?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my stop at Fluff Bakery and wishing you many Happy Travels.

What to See and What to Do: 

Fluff Bakery
8 N. Court Street
Athens, OH 45701
Telephone:  740 249 4286

O’Betty’s Red Hot in Athens, Ohio

House sitting for my sister in Athens,  I wanted to try a couple of local hot spots for lunch and decided on O’Betty’s.  Also known as O’Betty’ Red Hot, I wasn’t quite sure if I would even like a Red Hot, but I thought it was a clever name and made plans to stop by the cute little restaurant in Uptown.

O’Betty’s first opened in 2003 within the college campus of Ohio University and has been a staple of students and locals over the years.  Serving meaty franks (usually smoked or cured), they are dyed to give them their red color, hence the name Red Hot.   Using fresh ingredients and served in “toasted and steamed honey buns”, the topping combinations are what keep the students coming back.

A Red Hot, also known as a Texas hot, is a term coined in Rochester, NY which refers to a “pork, beef or pork/beef combination hot dog.” 

Stepping through the door I was welcomed with an aroma of steamed buns and fried potatoes.  Studying the menu above the counter, I found humor in the names of their red hot selections paying tribute to famous burlesque stars.  From the classic Gypsy “High Class” to the modern Tempest “Stormy Weather”, there were so many options that I had a difficult time making my selection. I decided to try the Dixie “Hubba-Hubba” which was topped with homemade chili sauce, onion, cheddar cheese and stadium mustard.

As I waited for the servers to complete my order, I browsed the hot dog display which included vintage signs, wiener dog paraphernalia and hot dog-related merchandise.  While hot dogs seem as American as baseball and apple pie, they are first historically mentioned by ancient author, Homer, describing casings filled with ground meat and spices. Vienna and Frankfurt have taken ownership of this delicacy claiming its invention in the 1800s and calling them “dachschund sausages.”  In 1987, Frankfurt celebrated the hot dog’s 500th anniversary.

Americans claim the invention of the hot dog and bun combination. Charles Feltman came up with a novel idea by serving the hot dogs wrapped in a bun to keep from burning their patron’s hands. So this is apparently how the hot dog became a favorite meal for baseball games.

The artwork and items on display were incredibly fascinating. The collection provides a historical and educational look at the invention of the red hot and its evolution over the years.

I was even more amazed by the multiple awards O’Betty’s had won since 2004 with their latest award in 2015.  They were also listed as one of “15 Mouthwatering Restaurants in Ohio You Have to Try” written by Katie Quinn, a local Ohio writer.

I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into this amazing hot dog fully loaded with toppings.  They say the hot dog has an outer casing that makes your first bite “snap.”  The servings were quite generous so I saved half for later, but it was definitely difficult to pull myself away from eating the whole dog.  I can’t wait to check off all of the menu items and look forward to some new inventions.

Have you had the opportunity to dine at O’Betty’s Red Hot?  Which hot dog did you select?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.

What to See and What to Do:

O’Betty’s Red Hot
15 W. State Street
Athens, OH  45701
Telephone:   740 589 6111

Where to Eat:

O’Betty’s Red Hot
15 W. State Street
Athens, OH  45701
Telephone:   740 589 6111

What to Eat:

Check out O’Betty’s Red Hot Menu to find your favorite hot dog:
http://www.obettys.com/hot-dogs.html

You can also design your own hot dog creation!

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