PEACH WEEKENDER

DINE Recently reviewed restaurants: 6-19

6/19/2014

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.

● Jo-Jo's Original Pizzeria, 4336 Monroe St. Comfort food is the name of the game at this Italian-American eatery, which has been serving up pizzas and hearty pasta dishes since 1957. You can get everything from sandwiches to fettucine Alfredo in steaming portions. Scarcity of parking and limited dessert offerings are among the few blemishes. On the plus side, half price pasta dinners on Tuesday and half price pizzas on Monday and Wednesday keep customers coming back. $$, 3 stars.

● Swig, 219 Louisiana Ave., prides itself on offering craft beers and hand-crafted sausages and cured meats, but the downtown Perrysburg gastropub should satisfy even the most routine eater and drinker. The menu is packed with everything from the unusual — a duck reuben, scotch eggs, or a gyro sausage ground out of lamb — to some of the old standbys. The pub opened five years ago and appears to have a cult following of those interested in the craft beer of the week. $$, 4 stars.

● Campus Pollyeyes, 440 E. Court St, Bowling Green, serves very good pizza, subs, salads, nachos, and more, but it’s the “world’s best stuffed breadsticks” that makes this eatery near Bowling Green State University stand out. $$, 4 stars.

● Hot Pot & Asian Grill, 4038 Talmadge Rd. brings the communal concept of do-it-yourself cooking, popular in China, to Toledo. Friends can join in cooking raw meats, fish, and vegetables in a spiced broth or on the grill. Newcomers may have difficulty learning the hot-pot method as staff do not clearly communicate the concept or cooking times. For those who do not want to work for their meal, a variety of prepared Chinese and Korean dishes are available. $$$, 2 stars.

● Pam’s Corner, 116 10th St., Pam’s brings something different to downtown, which is largely populated by pubs. The place has a simplicity about it that creates a welcoming atmosphere, with good vibes and even better food. The menu boasts mainly salads and sandwiches, and the restaurant serves up two homemade soups and chili daily. $-$$, 3 stars.

● For generations, Mancy’s Steak House, 953 Phillips Ave., has been the destination restaurant for fine dining in Toledo. Although the competition has increased over the years, Mancy’s still has a prominent spot at the front of the line thanks to well prepared, aged steaks and impeccable table service. Pick the house New York strip, a Delmonico, a filet, or any other steak — you can’t go wrong at Mancy’s. $$$$, 5 stars.

● Backyard BBQ & Booze, 2600 W. Sylvania Ave., excels at a meat-centric menu that includes Texas-style ribs, country fried steak, and glazed, smoked pork chops. Most portions are geared for Texas-size appetites. The cavernous eatery sports a country chic decor with plenty of elbow room for diners (it seats 250). It has a full bar, but few options for vegetarian diners. Still, it falls short on the generic sides (baked beans, coleslaw, muffins etc.), something to work on in its second three months. $$, 3 stars.

● River’s Edge at Carrington, 911 St. James Park Ave., Monroe, Mich. and River’s Edge Pizza, Pub & Grille, 135 Riley St., Dundee, both have good cooking, bars, and nearly identical menus (ribs, pizza & Italian, burgers, wraps, sandwiches, fish, salads). One backs up to the River Raisin’s dam in downtown Dundee, the other has a patio and dining room views of long greens at Carrington Golf Club in Monroe. And both are uniformly good with several homemade items, including soups, desserts, pasta sauces, and fine pizzas. $$, 4 stars.

● Lazeez Mediterranean Cuisine, 337 N. St. Clair St., has consistently good food, consistently good service. The restaurant holds its own among a plethora of Middle Eastern cuisine eateries in Toledo. Its most popular item, the chicken shawarma wrap lives up to its name. The baba ghanoush is flavorful and lemony — a must-try. It would be great to see the restaurant expand its hours into the evening and offer a dinner menu. $, 3 stars.

● Sakura Express, 1385 Conant St., Maumee, is the fast-food version of the popular Sakura Japanese Steakhouse on Monroe. Express offers teriyaki dishes and made-to-order sushi at reasonable prices. The wait is a bit longer than at a typical fast-food establishment, but the quality is worth every extra minute. $, 4 stars.

● Naslada Bistro, 182 S. Main St., Bowling Green, takes patrons on a journey throughout Europe with Bulgarian, Greek, and Italian dishes, including grass fed beef served in a traditional clay pot, stuffed grape leaves, mousaka, and panini. The chef goes to great lengths to offer gluten free and vegan options, for soups, bread, and pasta-based dishes. Leave Toledo behind and enter a world filled with spices, herbs, and belly-filling stews. A bonus, it also offers a kid's menu. $$, 3 stars.

● Father John’s Brewing Co., 301 W. Butler St., Bryan. While stone walls, themed rooms, stained-glass windows, and religious icons certainly are eye-catching, it's the top-notch beers and food that steal the show, and rightfully so. There are 16 different brews to choose from and the prime rib and bison strip loin are not to be missed. The menu changes with the seasons, and on the chefs' whims, so there are many reasons to make the hour-plus trip to Williams County. $$$-$$$$, 5 stars.