Rax Roast Beef in Lancaster is one of the few of this fast-food chain’s locations still open.

Pam & Al’s Route 20 Diner – 1950’s style diner (built in 1953) with breakfast and lunch menu items, sandwiches, specials and lunch platters. 222 McPherson Hwy. (US 20) Clyde (419) 547-9947. Connect on Facebook.

Papa Boo’s – Pizza, burgers, pub grub and frozen drinks meet live music at Papa Boo’s, a laid-back hangout with a lakeside patio and boat dock at Buckeye Lake. 11356 Avondale Road, Thornville (740) 928-2667.

Pearl’s Diner – Homestyle cooking for breakfast and lunch and delicious homemade desserts. Their motto: “Visitors welcome, locals expected.” 12900 SR 664 S, Logan (740) 385-3663. Connect on Facebook.

Pickle Bill’s Lobster House – Founded in 1967, Pickle Bill’s Lobster House relocated in 1987 to its current location, which offers indoor, outdoor and even floating outdoor seating. Enjoy an eclectic atmosphere along with the best seafood selection around, including fish and chips, Lake Erie walleye and perch, calamari, Alaskan snow crab and whole Maine lobster. 101 River Road, Grand River (440) 352-6343.

Pilgrim Restaurant – Home cooking eatery with breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes. Friday lunch and dinner specials, all-you-can-eat fish fry. 1505 W. Main Cross St., Findlay (419) 422-7022. Connect on Facebook.

The Pink Cricket – The Pink Cricket Restaurant, established in 1938, moved to its current location in 1965 and has been a community staple ever since. Offers appetizers, wings, salads and soups, pizza, subs, sandwiches, pasta, fried chicken, steaks and more. 929 E. Main St., Lancaster.

Plank’s Café & Pizzeria – A community gathering place for decades, Plank’s Café & Pizzeria was founded in 1939, long before there was an area known as German Village in Columbus. The third generation continues to build on its legacy. Lunch, sandwiches, pizza and dinner menu items daily. 743 Parsons Ave., Columbus (614) 443-6251.

Poppy’s Diner – Burgers, sandwiches and subs done the right way, and a whole lot more, at Poppy’s Diner, the best diner in Springfield. Breakfast, lunch and dinner served, using fresh, local ingredients; dine in, carry out or delivery. 920 Selma Road, Springfield (937) 717-0173.

Provisions Bakery & Deli is located in an historic building in downtown Lancaster.

Provisions Bakery & Deli – Provisions Bakery & Deli serves breakfast and lunch with bakery items, sandwiches, coffee, beer and wine selections in an historic building in downtown Lancaster. 135 W. Main St., Lancaster (740) 654-2253.

The Pufferbelly Ltd. – Enjoy American comfort food specials inside a restored train depot and firehouse. 152 Franklin Ave., Kent (330) 673-1771. Connect on Facebook.

Rax Roast Beef – Rax Roast Beef, founded in Springfield, Ohio, in 1967, offers roast beef, ham, chicken and turkey sandwiches, sides and shakes. At its peak in the 1980s, Rax had more than 500 locations in 38 states. Now only a few Ohio locations remain:

• 800 E. Main St., Lancaster (740) 687-1563;
• 24585 US 23, Circleville;
• 543 E. Main St., Chillicothe;
• 758 E. State St., Georgetown;
• 2250 S. Third St., Ironton;
• 11306 SR 41, West Union.
• Two other locations are in Joliet, Ill., and Harlan, Ky.

Remo’s Italian Weinery – Italian-style footlong hotdogs at a former carryout started in 1957 that became a hotdog stand after their family recipe Italian-style hotdog sauce was a hit. The family-owned hotdog restaurant continues to serve footlongs, “half-dogs,” weiners and “pups in a cup,” all served with their famous sauce. 241 Second Ave., Gallipolis (740) 709-1679.

Ridgewood General Store – Breakfast and lunch specials, sandwiches, wraps and burgers. 101-105 E. Main St., West Lafayette (740) 208-2869. Connect on Facebook.

Ringside Cafe – This small, cozy bar and grill is the oldest eatery in downtown Columbus, dating back to 1897. Ringside specializes in “heavyweight” burgers named after famous boxers, in addition to sandwiches and salads. Ringside Cafe is located at 19N Pearl St., in the middle of the block between E. Gay, E. Broad and N. High streets.

Ritzy’s – Remember Ritzy’s? The sons of the operator of this 1980s chain restaurant restarted at this location. With a 1940s diner-style theme, Ritzy’s serves burgers, sandwiches, chili, onion rings, shoestring fries, milkshakes and ice cream treats. 4615 N. High St., Columbus (614) 754-8960.

Rhonda’s Emerald Diner – Traditional diner food offered in a spacious old school train car, with indoor and outdoor seating. Breakfast served all day; sandwiches, platters, blue plate specials, shakes and much more. 825 N. Main St., Hubbard (330) 534-7600. Connect on Facebook.

Rod’s Capricorn Inn Restaurant – Established in 1976, Rod’s is a “simple American diner with a 48-year heritage of serving the most unapologetically awesome burgers.” Their specialty is the Rod Burger. 6660 SR 730, Wilmington (937) 382-4357. Connect on Facebook.

Rosalie’s Restaurant – Rosalie’s Restaurant is known for years in this northeast Ohio community for its good food and service. It’s now gaining fame for having one of the youngest persons in charge, 18-year-old Samantha Frye. Frye started working there as a dishwasher and bought the eatery in April 2023. Read more about this story. 989 N. Wooster Ave., Strasburg (330) 878-5896. Connect on Facebook.

Route 571 Diner – Breakfast plus daily lunch and dinner specials in this family-run diner. Pizza served every day, dine-in or drive-thru window. 8975 SR 571, Arcanum (937) 569-0112. Connect on Facebook.

Sam & Ethel’s Restaurant – “Good Food…Good Times…Good Memories.” Sam & Ethel’s has home-cooked food with warm surroundings that makes you feel at home. Open for breakfast and lunch. 120 E. Main St., Tipp City (937) 667-0113. Connect on Facebook.

Schmidt’s Sausage Haus und Restaurant in German Village has been a tradition in Columbus since 1967.

Schmidt’s Sausage Haus – Since 1967, Schmidt’s Sausage Haus has been serving German-American cuisine in an authentic setting in the heart of German Village. Their Bahama Mama sausage, German potato salad and jumbo cream puffs are legendary. 240 E. Kossuth St., Columbus (614) 444-6808.

The Scioto Ribber – Casual, family owned and operated barbeque joint and steakhouse in operation since 1978. Steaks, Texas tenderloin, ribeyes, barbeque, pulled pork, homemade potato chips and more. 1026 Gallia St., Portsmouth (740) 353-9329. Connect on Facebook.

Schmucker’s Restaurant – Started in 1948, Schmucker’s Restaurant is in its third generation of family ownership. The diner-style restaurant’s motto is “Good Food at a Reasonable Price.” Huge variety of cream and fruit pies available daily, along with sandwiches, burgers, homestyle dinners, salads and breakfast. 2103 Reynolds Road, Toledo (419) 535-9116.

Scott’s Diner – “A Traditional Diner with a Contemporary Twist.” Scott’s Diner offers breakfast and lunch, including meat loaf, corned beef hash, soups, salads, sandwiches and burgers. 41 E. Main St., New Concord (740) 801-1730.

Scottie’s Den – Subs and sandwiches, burgers, soups, salads, sides and desserts. Dine in or takeout. 33 E. Muskingum Ave., Dresden (740) 754-9106. Connect on Facebook.

Shade on the Canal – This longtime restaurant, known locally just as Shade’s, is located near the old Ohio & Erie Canal bed. It became Shade’s Restaurant in 1939. Shade’s offers pub grub, sandwiches, wings, pizza, salads and soups. 19 S. High St., Canal Winchester (614) 837-9873. Also locations in Athens, 994 E. State St. (740) 566-1009, and Heath, 850 S. 30th St. (740) 788-9287.

Smith’s Boathouse Restaurant – Established in 1946, Smith’s Boathouse Restaurant offers a wide selection of high-quality seafood and steaks and other seasonal menu items, in a cozy, family-friendly atmosphere. 439 N. Elm St., Troy (937) 335-3837.

Southside Diner – A ‘50s-‘60s diner-style restaurant with homemade meals, daily specials, sandwiches, breakfast and unbeatable desserts. 620 S. Main St., Mt. Vernon (740) 392-1282. Connect on Facebook.

South Street Grille – Elevated casual dining in downtown Ashland. Steaks, seafood, hand pattied burgers, vegetarian options, salads, huge kids menu. South Street Grille has something for everyone in a completely renovated historic building. 121 South St. W., Ashland (419) 496-0735.

Speedtrap Diner – The “Place Where Cool People Eat,” Speedtrap Diner is known for its burgers, “Underground Sandwiches” and breakfast all day long. Opened in 2004, the Speedtrap has a cool ‘50s-‘60s vibe and a deliciously different menu, including Tater Kegs, deep-fried cinnamon rolls and French Toast. 310 E. Main St., Woodville (419) 849-3665.

The Spot Restaurant – The Spot has offered casual eating with freshly ground beef burgers and homemade pies since 1908. Curb service and dine-in. 201 S. Ohio Ave., Sidney (937) 492-9181.

The Steer Barn Restaurant serves customers in a rustic but upscale atmosphere in an authentic 1897 barn.

The Steer Barn Restaurant – A fixture in Wyandot County since 1965. The Steer Barn Restaurant serves steaks, cocktails, seafood and more in a rustic but upscale atmosphere in an authentic 1897 barn. 1144 E. Wyandot Ave., Upper Sandusky (419) 294-3860. Connect on Facebook.

StowNut Donut & Diner – A family-run diner founded in 2003, StowNut Donut & Diner has a ’50s ambience and a family atmosphere. Breakfast combos and specials, waffles, pancakes, omelets and breakfast pizzas. Donuts, cinnamon rolls, bear claws, danish, muffins, cannoli and cream horns. 3055 Graham Road, Stow (330) 676-1300.

Studebaker’s Country Restaurant – Studebaker’s Country Restaurant serves breakfast all day long, with home-cooked lunch, dinner and daily specials. Try their broasted chicken. 416 N. Main St., New Carlisle (937) 845-1399.

Sugar n’ Spice Diner – Sugar n’ Spice Diner serves breakfast and lunch specials with original wispy-thin pancakes, huge fluffy omelets, signature sandwiches and specials. A Cincinnati tradition since 1941.

• 4381 Reading Road, Cincinnati (513) 242-3521 (temporarily closed for repairs).
• 1203 Sycamore St., Cincinnati (Over The Rhine) (513) 762-0390.
• 10275 Summit Parkway, Blue Ash (513) 447-6453.

Sumburger Drive-In Restaurant – Order a Sumburger and other casual lunch and dinner menu items at this classic diner-style restaurant that has been serving customers since 1953. The restaurant moved from its longtime drive-in location on W. Bridge Street in 2016. 20 Executive Center Drive, Chillicothe (740) 772-2532.

Sunbury Grill – This small diner located on the square in Sunbury has small-town friendliness and great food, like sausage gravy and biscuits, omelets, reuben sandwiches and bacon, egg, lettuce and cheese sandwiches. 38 E. Cherry St., Sunbury (740) 965-2900. Connect on Facebook.

Sunrise Cafe – Local. From Scratch. With Love. That’s what you’ll be served from the kitchen at Sunrise Cafe, from breakfast to dinner and dessert. 269 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs (937) 767-7211.

SUZ-E-Q’S Restaurant – SUZ-E-Q’S Restaurant is a “mom and pop burger shop” that’s open year round. Burgers, hot dogs, pizza, ice cream and much more. 401 W. Main St., Cardington (419) 864-8378. Connect on Facebook.

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