Incredible food in the Hocking Hills
Within the last month, Dave and I have dined at the 3 top restaurants in the Hocking Hills. This is unusual behavior for us, but we need to keep on top of the dining situation for the sake of our current and future Marsh Hollow guests. It's a a great job.
Last week, we did a double whammy: dinner at Glenlaurel Inn on Friday night, followed by lunch at the Grouse Nest on Saturday after a long hike up Long Hollow. Glenlaurel has undergone a change in management. The previous proprietor, Michael, was a wonderful innkeeper, and had more poems in his head than anyone I've ever known. I can reassure you that the new owners and innkeeper have followed in Michael's fine tradition. We enjoyed an excellent 5 course meal. Speaking for myself, the Mahi mahi was excellent. And the dessert was a chocolate molten thing that was to die for. Plus, it's a dry township, so we got to bring our own wine. "A+" for Glenlaurel Inn. The inn itself is lovely and out in the middle of nowhere!
On Saturday, along with our friends Diane & Sherwin, we mapped out a multi-stage geocache which we hope to post at geocaching.com. Needless to say after all that hiking around in the woods and through streams, we were hungry. Dave suggested the Grouse Nest, and it turned out to be a great suggestion. We all enjoyed our meals, but I can report that the butternut soup was DELICIOUS. It was served with a hard roll and butter. That actually would have been enough for lunch, but I added on the turkey wrap - also quite tasty and big enough for 2 people. Diane took her 2nd half and mine, so that she and Sherwin could have a quick lunch before they left for home on Sunday. "A" for Grouse Nest lunch. We have been here for dinner quite a few times. Give them an "A" for dinner too! The restaurant itself is nice, but kind of generic. Well, the cathedral ceiling is nice. Friendly staff, of course.
Earlier in January, we decided to drive over to the Inn at Cedar Falls, which has always been a favorite, particularly because it's in an old log cabin, which has been expanded into a nice size restaurant. Among the 3, the Inn at Cedar Falls wins the ambience contest. Rustic & charming. The food was also very good, especially the chocolate mousse! Very fine dining, indeed. Give the Inn at Cedar Falls an "A" too.
Etta's General Store & Lunchbox Cafe is not "fine" dining (and I'm sure the restaurants above are confused about being included in the same article as Etta's), but it is a great place for lunch and a bit different than any other restaurant around here. I was there on Tuesday with friends (Beth, Beth, Julie & Kathy) and we all had great homemade lunches. I had chicken corn chowder - wonderful. And a BLT. Where did they get such good tomatoes in the middle of winter? I understand that they will also pack a lunch for you to take on your hike. Hundreds of lunchboxes are on display. We sat near "The Man from Uncle" lunchbox, and with the combined brain cells of all 5 of us, were able to name the actors and the characters they played. Not immediately, but after much deep thinking. And to think I was so-o-o in love with Illya Kuryakin. But who wasn't!
It's a little bit out of the way, but if you're going to Lake Hope via Route 56, Etta's is a great place to stop. Be aware: it's funky! But it gets an "A" in its own little category.
There are plenty of other great places to eat in the Hocking Hills, but the 3 "inns" are very special. And Etta's is unique. Come down to Marsh Hollow sometime, and splurge on a great restaurant or two.
Mary at Marsh Hollow
Last week, we did a double whammy: dinner at Glenlaurel Inn on Friday night, followed by lunch at the Grouse Nest on Saturday after a long hike up Long Hollow. Glenlaurel has undergone a change in management. The previous proprietor, Michael, was a wonderful innkeeper, and had more poems in his head than anyone I've ever known. I can reassure you that the new owners and innkeeper have followed in Michael's fine tradition. We enjoyed an excellent 5 course meal. Speaking for myself, the Mahi mahi was excellent. And the dessert was a chocolate molten thing that was to die for. Plus, it's a dry township, so we got to bring our own wine. "A+" for Glenlaurel Inn. The inn itself is lovely and out in the middle of nowhere!
On Saturday, along with our friends Diane & Sherwin, we mapped out a multi-stage geocache which we hope to post at geocaching.com. Needless to say after all that hiking around in the woods and through streams, we were hungry. Dave suggested the Grouse Nest, and it turned out to be a great suggestion. We all enjoyed our meals, but I can report that the butternut soup was DELICIOUS. It was served with a hard roll and butter. That actually would have been enough for lunch, but I added on the turkey wrap - also quite tasty and big enough for 2 people. Diane took her 2nd half and mine, so that she and Sherwin could have a quick lunch before they left for home on Sunday. "A" for Grouse Nest lunch. We have been here for dinner quite a few times. Give them an "A" for dinner too! The restaurant itself is nice, but kind of generic. Well, the cathedral ceiling is nice. Friendly staff, of course.
Earlier in January, we decided to drive over to the Inn at Cedar Falls, which has always been a favorite, particularly because it's in an old log cabin, which has been expanded into a nice size restaurant. Among the 3, the Inn at Cedar Falls wins the ambience contest. Rustic & charming. The food was also very good, especially the chocolate mousse! Very fine dining, indeed. Give the Inn at Cedar Falls an "A" too.
Etta's General Store & Lunchbox Cafe is not "fine" dining (and I'm sure the restaurants above are confused about being included in the same article as Etta's), but it is a great place for lunch and a bit different than any other restaurant around here. I was there on Tuesday with friends (Beth, Beth, Julie & Kathy) and we all had great homemade lunches. I had chicken corn chowder - wonderful. And a BLT. Where did they get such good tomatoes in the middle of winter? I understand that they will also pack a lunch for you to take on your hike. Hundreds of lunchboxes are on display. We sat near "The Man from Uncle" lunchbox, and with the combined brain cells of all 5 of us, were able to name the actors and the characters they played. Not immediately, but after much deep thinking. And to think I was so-o-o in love with Illya Kuryakin. But who wasn't!
It's a little bit out of the way, but if you're going to Lake Hope via Route 56, Etta's is a great place to stop. Be aware: it's funky! But it gets an "A" in its own little category.
There are plenty of other great places to eat in the Hocking Hills, but the 3 "inns" are very special. And Etta's is unique. Come down to Marsh Hollow sometime, and splurge on a great restaurant or two.
Mary at Marsh Hollow
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