Summaries of recently reviewed area restaurants, in the order in which they were reviewed, with the most recent at the top. To see previous Bill of Fare reviews on the Web, go to toledoblade.com and type “Bill of Fare” into the search box and click enter.
● Gradkowski’s, 1440 Secor Rd. in Gateway Plaza on the University of Toledo campus, is an upscale but casual restaurant with a contemporary menu that has Italian influences. The Pork Doughnut from the appetizer menu is different, and delicious. The Chicken Piccata and Eggplant Parmesan were delectable. $$$, 4 stars.
● Webber’s Waterfront Restaurant, 6339 Edgewater Drive, Erie Township, has been a big part of the southeast Michigan area for years. With many surf and turf options, diners should not have any trouble finding something they like on the menu. Grab a glass of sangria and enjoy the summertime surroundings Webber’s offers. $$$ 3.5 stars.
● Those who operate Blackberry Corner Tavern, 5975 N. Elliston-Trowbridge Rd., don’t put on airs. They simply want to run a great pizza joint that keeps the pub food and cold drink flowing. Housed in an old school building in the middle of nowhere, the restaurant has been around for decades, and packs its bar and back room daily with customers who like pizzas heavy with toppings, sandwiches, and cold drinks. $$ 3.5 stars.
● Amango, 5228 Monroe St., Toledo, is an unpretentious restaurant that reminds of us the joys of Vietnamese food. Open again after being closed several months for remodeling, the eatery specializes in delicious pan Asian cuisine ranging from such standard dishes as beef broth pho and bahn mi sandwiches, to sumptuous noodle bowls dressed with a delectable fish sauce. Vietnamense cuisine lacks the denseness of Korean food and eschews the glazes of Chinese. It’s lighter than its brethren, but no less satisfying. $$ 4 stars.
● Indian Jewel of Toledo, is known well for two things: delicious, flavorful food and sloth-slow service. It’s unfair to hold against the South Toledo restaurant, at 6711 Airport Hwy., the snail’s pace because that’s part of the experience. Although our food on two visits was not perfect, each dish received high marks for flavor. There’s a buffet-only lunch option served during the afternoon and a full-menu dinner service. Take with you your patience and either a loquacious friend or a good book, and enjoy some of the best Indian food in the region. $$ 3.5 stars.
● Loma Linda’s, 10400 Airport Highway, Swanton, doubles as a mediocre Mexican restaurant and area watering hole. This establishment has been serving food for decades. Loyal followers swear by its drinks as much as its food, which is tasteless and low quality. The tortilla chips, not made in-house, are served with subpar salsa, an omen of what’s to come. Many of its listless dishes are smothered in stiff American cheese. If you’re looking for bright, fresh Mexican food, keep looking. Our experiences include overcooked shrimp, chewy beef, and underwhelming guacamole. But the drinks, especially the margaritas, are cheap and delightful. $ 2 stars.
● Pete’s Piadina Grille, 10000 U.S. 20, Rossford, is much like a Chipotle or Subway with an Italian twist. The locally owned eatery features flatbreads and pastas layered with fresh ingredients of the diner’s choice for a quick and filling meal. $ 3 stars.
● Arturo’s Pizza Kitchen, 2507 Oregon Rd., Northwood, has been in northwest Ohio since 1988. From its fresh$$ 3 stars. dough to its savory sauce, an Arturo’s pizza can be quite the treat if all of the ingredients are fresh.
● La Scola Italian Grill, 5375 Airport Hwy., has an old-school feel with simply terrific cuisine. Whether you order traditional Italian dishes such as lasagna or fettucini alfredo, or weekly chef specials that range from short ribs to lamb, you will find it difficult to complain. Superior customer service and a welcoming environment completes the trifecta. $$$ 4.5 stars.
● Freeway Restaurant (formerly Freeway Drive-In), at 2665 Navarre Ave. in Oregon and open 24 hours a day, does good food well, particularly breakfast: plate-sized fluffy pancakes, killer cheesy omelets, piles of crispy bacon, and lip-smacking-good cinnamon-swirled French toast. Its lunch and dinner comfort-food meals were a bit less rewarding, with the country-fried steak dinner special and tried-and-true cheeseburger among the standouts. $$ 3.5 stars.
● Although Bangkok Cafe is easy to m$$ 3 stars.iss, the food is reason enough to seek out this tasty Thai restaurant at 3401 Woodville Rd., Northwood. Favorite dishes include chicken satay, beef jerky, pad sew ew, and cashew chicken (though almost everything was good). Don’t dine in if you’re in a hurry; plates are staggered in arriving at the table, and appetizers sometimes arrive after entrees.
● Fusion Bistro, 3136 Markway, Toledo, boasts on its website of having staff sushi chefs, despite being nestled in a middle class West Toledo neighborhood. Yet sushi is the one thing it doesn’t do so well; pedestrian is the best description for it. Instead, the eatery excels at pub food, especially its $8 12-inch pizzas which let you add on toppings for $1 each. You’ll also find 19 beers and a cozy after-work atmosphere. $$ 3 stars.
● At Dégagé Jazz Café, in the historic Commercial Building at 301 River Rd., Maumee, Chef Joseph Jacobsen is committed to a rotating menu that introduces eaters to culinary delights outside the mundane food characters chicken, beef, or pork. He elevates rustic fare like catfish, duck, even the earthy, nutty beech mushrooms, and wild game to culinary characters that tango with homemade pickled onions and vegetables, velvety cheeses, bacon jams, collard greens, and a mash of bright pureed root vegetables. The menu aims to please all taste buds, vegan, and gluten free. The bonus is the relaxed atmosphere and jazz bands that perform every night after 7:30. You can sit up close in the lounge or be entertained by the music in the outdoor patio and main dinning room. $$$ 4.5 stars.
● Sidon Lebanese Grille Bakery has found a new home in Toledo, and the community could not be happier. Finally, a new tenant calls 4625 Bancroft home. Sidon offers a great mix of breakfast, lunch, and dinner products piping hot off the grill or from its stone-fire oven. The adjacent market is great for shopping as well. $$ 4 stars.
● Aidriana’s, tucked into a Sylvania Township strip mall at 6060 Regency Ct., has the makings of a go-to favorite restaurant. The New American-style food is expertly prepared and presented, and the atmosphere is laid-back and warm while still feeling upscale. Open since December, the restaurant has some kinks to work out, like updating signage and improving on a front-of-house presence. $$ 3.5 stars.
● Kobe Bay, 18 Main St. (On the Docks), left us confused after two visits to the restaurant. Opened in October, Kobe Bay’s fresh, Asian-influenced food options were good enough, but lack of a customer base and poor service had us worried for its future. $$$ 2.5 stars.
● Luckies Barn Grill, 3319 Navarre Ave., Oregon, is the sort of place you go to take a load off or have a drink. It’s a neighborhood roadhouse, with rustic décor and meat. Lots of meat. If you enjoy a good burger, fried chicken bombs, or rack of ribs, this is the place for you. It can get a tad loud with theThe French dip disappoints). The eatery makes no apologies for its down-home style, and its customers don’t seem to mind in the least open seating plan, and not all sandwiches are created equal. ($$ 3.5 stars..
● The Weaver family has been serving inventive pizza pies since they took over the restaurant side of Charlie Nyitray’s business in 2011. Charlie’s Homemade Pizza and Italian Cuisine at 6600 Sylvania Ave. in Sylvania serves up classic and specialty pizzas, from cheese to the Bluto, a festival of meats, on a fluffy dough or crisp thin crust, both champions in our eyes. Sometimes the overabundance of toppings does result in the pizza losing its edge. It also serves up Italian-inspired dishes that can be hit or miss. Overall, if you and your family are looking for a hearty meal on the cheap, you can’t go wrong with Charlie’s. $$ 3.5 stars.
● Steady as ever, the Avenue Bistro’s delicious food, clean atmosphere, and live music will keep you coming back for more. The restaurant knows its base, and has found a nice niche in northwest Ohio. $$$ 4 stars.
● Tiger Bakery, with locations in West Toledo and Sylvania Township, has been serving up authentic and delicious Mediterranean food in a deli-style restaurant and shop for decades. With dozens of options daily, from individual pies and sandwiches to a variety of salads and sweets, you won’t leave disappointed or hungry. $ 3.5 stars.
● Revolution Grille, 5333 Monroe St., is a gem tucked away in West Toledo that offers exceptional cuisine made from fresh, local ingredients and inventive craft drinks in a friendly atmosphere. Chef Rob Campbell boosts steaks, fish, chicken, and vegetables with sauces and spices that delight the palate. The menu changes constantly. $$$ 4.5 stars.
● Sunrise Skillet, 1855 S. Reynolds Rd., offers plenty of reason to wake up in the morning. The diner offers an array of omelets, skillets, Belgian waffles, pancakes, sandwiches, and more. Expect friendly service and delicious, yet affordable, food. $ 4 stars.
● Rockwell’s Steakhouse and Lounge, 27 Broadway. Housed in the historic Oliver House, its upscale roots as a premiere hotel are still visible in its clubby atmosphere. Yet, there is no snobbery here. You can dress up for an evening on the town or dress down. The steakhouse wet ages meats for two weeks and puts a straightforward emphasis on their preparation. From theatrical and pleasing hors d’oeuvres to captivating side dishes and desserts, this is a place to experience the best dining Toledo has to offer. $$$$ 4.5 stars.
● At Jim Shull’s Rib-Cage, 144 Chesterfield Lane, Maumee, you are sure to find something to enjoy with its eclectic menu of ribs, pastas, steaks, and seafood. The restaurant also caters to your tastes in atmosphere. As you enter to the left, there is a lounge to catch a sports game, sip a cocktail, or listen to the music. To the right is an emphasis on fine$$$ dining for the more intimate dining experience. 3.5 stars.
● Shawarmaholic, 3344 Secor Rd., .$$ 3.5 starsis the latest addition to Toledo’s thriving Middle Eastern food scene. In business just over a year, the cozy eatery boasts everything from gyro and grape leaves to full meals of beef, chicken, and vegetarian Mediterranean staples. The spit-roasted meat is sometimes a tad overcooked, but what you get for your money is amazing: heaping plates of halal-prepared food and pieces of pita bread the size of a small dinner plate. This place delivers the sort of value a budget-conscious diner will love.
● The Maumee Bay Brew Pub, 27 Broadway, serves some of the best craft beer in northwest Ohio, and also some really good food. Start off with a giant pretzel. It’s a pub favorite and you’ll need a brew or two to wash it down. Pizzas and burgers are the pub’s specialties, and they don’t disappoint. Plus, the beer hall is a fun place to hang out with friends. $$ 4 stars.
● Thai Basil, 1855 S. Reynolds Rd., reminds diners that there is some great Thai food out there in Toledo — you just have to find it. The downfall was inconsistency in working with the less experienced Thai food connoisseur about spicing levels, but the food overall was exceptional in flavor and presentation. Highly recommended is the traditional Pad Thai and many of the establishment’s appetizers. $$ 3.5 stars.
● Tea Tree Asian Bistro, 4100 Chappel Dr., Perrysburg, offers an Asian dining experience. The food is good, but it’s the atmosphere that drives the prices. Half-priced sushi from 5 p.m. to close on Tuesdays and Thursdays is a bargain that shouldn’t be missed. $$$-$$$$ 3 stars.
● At Ideal Hot Dog, you know what you’re getting into from the chili mac to the franks. With locations at Alexis and Heatherdowns, the restaurants have been in the city for years and will continue their tradition of serving up comfort food to Toledoans. $ 2.5 stars.
● Sabor Brazilian Grill Desserts, 4751 Monroe St., charts new dining territory in Toledo with its modified Brazilian steakhouse theme, but don’t expect food that celebrates the spice of life. Most dishes are tasty in a low key fashion, with minimal spiciness and an emphasis on steak, lamb, chicken, vegetarian, and rice, lots of rice. That said, it’s likely to be a favorite with those who don’t need their taste buds to do the samba. Think simple foods at a highly reasonable price. $$ 3.5 stars.
● Piada Italian Street Food, 3330 W. Central Ave., is Italian food fast, but not necessarily fast-food Italian. The assembly-line themed restaurant churns out piadas, bowls of pasta, Italian sandwiches, and salads using fresh, colorful ingredients in an on-the-spot environment similar to its Mexican food counterpart, Chipotle. This chain holds steady in its efforts to give its patrons a decent meal, quickly. $$ 3.5 stars.
● South Side 6, 737 S. Main St., Bowling Green, is more than the typical six-pack shop. It boasts the “best gyro in the world” and dishes out tasty, generously portioned Mediterranean and American entrees for takeout and delivery. The Hummus Heaven, a layered dip with sizable chunks of grilled chicken, parsley, tomatoes, onions, and then topped with crispy seasoned pita chips, shouldn’t be missed. $-$$ 3.5 stars.
● Berger’s Olde Tyme Bar and Grill, 1742 W. Laskey Rd., is a neighborhood bar that places as much emphasis on its food and oversize burgers as its drinks. It serves good ol’ American grub and specialty burgers as well as hot submarine sandwiches, salads, chicken wings, and all the fried food greats: onion rings, deep-fried green beans, and mozzarella sticks. Open since 1993, it has been known to cater to the factory and plant crowd, giving the working man and woman a place to unwind after a hard day’s work. And we salute them for that. Unpretentious, warm, and inviting, you can find a spot among their giant booths to kick back, refresh in a cold brew, and nosh on some burgers and fries. $-$$ 3.5 stars.
● Los Dos Gallos, 5327 Dorr St., lacks in the décor you find at other restaurants. However, the inexpensive lunch/brunch experience was a hit, only to be disappointed by the overcooked meat options at dinnertime. If you go on the right day, take advantage of Los Dos Gallos’ specials and it could make for a good night out in Toledo. $$ 3 stars.
● Poco Piatti, 3155 Chappel Dr. in Levis Commons, at times reminds you of an assembly line of food that has lost its individual touch. Despite this, the restaurant offers enough menu items for everyone to find their niche, and there was more great than not-so-great. Diners choose from a vast menu of small plates and entrees, including traditional hummus, tuna, lamb sliders, kafka, and kabobs. The pillowy bread is not to be missed. In the end, this Mediterranean eatery is worth visiting. $$-$$$. 3.5 stars.
● Treo, 5703 Main St., Sylvania, wouldn’t be out of place in one of Manhattan’s trendier neighborhoods, say Tribeca or SoHo. The delicious food spans Italian, American, and French-inspired dishes, and the atmosphere is amiably upscale and pleasantly low key. Your biggest challenge will be deciding what dish to order — pasta? beef Wellington? filet mignon? — or to skip dinner altogether and go for the decidedly affordable Sunday brunch menu. $$-$$$. 4.5 stars.