TREATS: Sugar Luv

SugarLuv is a treat shop in Cuyahoga Falls. It's a tiny hidden gem of a place that specializes in truffles and other chocolate related delights. Truffles are fun treats because they're tiny and under a dollar. They also melt in your mouth which is fun. SugarLuv's flavors are all over the board from cookie dough, peanut butter, espresso, and IPA hops -- yes, a chocolatey booze flavored snack.

The staff is (mostly) friendly, kind, and willing to help you select the best treats. They're patient and they'll give you a free salted caramel candy if it's your first time in the store.

In the past few months, they've experimented with selling other treats such as cookies, gooeybars, cupcakes, and chocolate dipped pretzels. They also sell a small collection of craft beers in bombers. Truffles and beer sound like a pretty good time to me.

And for the price, it's worth trying out.

Visit SugarLuv:
Website: sugar-luv.com
Address:
410 Chestnut Blvd
Cuyahoga Falls, 44221
Phone number: 330-474-9869
Hours:
Sunday & Monday: Closed
Tuesday - Friday: 12:00 - 7:00
Saturday: 12:00 - 5:00

ETHNIC: Cilantro

While it's impossible to find sushi in Akron after 2:00 P.M. it's not impossible to find good sushi before and after. Most sushi places close from 2-5 to prepare for dinner -- I get it, but it's the worst when you're craving sushi at 2:01.

Cilantro is beautiful inside. It truly looks like a highend eatery, but don't let their fancy decor scare you off. The prices are completely reasonable and considering the quality of their food, I don't mind.

I mostly go to Cilantro for their sushi, edamame, and miso soup, but they also have a huge selection of traditional thai dishes. All dishes have customizable spiciness if spice isn't your thing. It's vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free friendly.

For what it's worth, Cilantro's sushi trumps House of Hunan (which is right around the corner) by a long shot.

Visit Cilantro:
Website: Cilantrothai.com
Address:
326 South Main Street
Akron, Ohio 44308
Phone number: (330) 434-2876
Hours:
Mon - Thu: 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
Fri: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Sat: 4:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Sun: 4:30 pm - 9:30 pm

DRIVE-IN: Swenson's

Swenson's is your classic old fashioned drive-in restaurant. It's a NEO staple and for good reason. When most people think Akron, they think: galley boy. The galley boy being their award winning sandwich and claim to fame. It's a double cheeseburger with two special sauces. The recipe is a secret, but it's been said that the burgers are made with brown sugar -- hence the sweet and delicious taste.

Swenson's has all the typical drive-in foods: burgers, chicken nuggets, milkshakes, fries, fish -- anything fried. But don't let that stop you from eating here. It might be typical ideas of food, but the food is far superior. For instance, the potato teezers (spicy cheese + potatoes breaded and fried) are out of this world. Their seasonal pumpkin milkshake is hands down the only pumpkin treat that actually tastes like pumpkin. Actually, the shakes at Swenson's are noteworthy all on their own. as they are ridiculously delicious.

In keeping up with my tradition of discussing vegetarian options, Swenson's has a "Salad Boy", my personal favorite. That is a handmade veggie burger with lots of vegetables on top, special sauces, and a wheat bun. It's huge and seriously good. I can only eat about half of it. There's also the "Veggie Special" which is a whole bunch of veggies on a bun. It's also delicious. Plus they have salads and grilled cheeses. My point? We vegetarians are not left out here!

Besides the seriously delicious eats, there's something very charming about a drive-in and Swenson's is definitely doing it right. They've been featured on Food Network shows. Which is always nice to have a little Akron claim to fame. There are several Swenson's locations throughout the area and this past summer they opened up a food truck and if that's not enough, watch the below video where four kids drive ten hours to eat a Galley Boy. The look on their face after their first bite says it all, "eat at Swenson's".

Visit Swenson's:
Website: Swensonsdriveins.com
Address: There are TONS of locations. Pick whichever one is closest to you.
Hours:
Sunday through Thursday 11 am - 11 PM
Friday through Saturday 11 am - 1:30 am

MEXICAN: Tito's

Either it's really hard to find good Mexican or I'm picky. I'd say it's 50/50. If there's a restaurant even remotely resembling Mexican, I'm there. Most Mexican restaurants in the area are really dirty, a little too quick in bringing out the food, and mediocre in quality. Luckily for all of us, Tito's exists. Tito's is tucked away in Fairlawn right by the mall and it's a true gem.

It's really nice and clean inside. The food comes out in the appropriate amount of time. The staff is wonderful. And the enchilada's are the best, ever. No, really. They're spicy with just the right amount of cinnamon in the sauce. This is a dream flavor combination. I've never tried anything here that I didn't like.

Even better? This place is ridiculously cheap and the owner is always around making sure that the service and quality are up to his standards.

Tito's recently started serving a Saturday and Sunday breakfast. I haven't been yet, but I hear it's almost better than their dinners. Might have to do another post on that...

Visit Tito's:
Website: titosmexicangrille.com
Address:
25 Ghent Road
Fairlawn, OH 44333
Phone Number: 330-835-9801
Hours:
Mondays thru Thursdays 11:00am to 10:00pm
Fridays and Saturdays 11:00am to 10:30pm
Sundays 11:00am to 9:00pm

(Photo from Tito's website)

COFEE: Angel Falls

I am a self-proclaimed coffee snob and I believe that the world is a better place because coffee exists. I'm not a huge fan of sugary coffee beverages that don't taste like coffee. Ahem, Starbucks. Which is why I'm thankful that coffee shops like Angel Falls exist.

Angel Falls is in the heart of Highland Square aka the most hip place in Akron. Angel Falls roasts all of their own coffee in downtown Akron. Which means it's extra local, extra fresh, and extra delicious. Like I mentioned above, I'm not a huge fan of sugary lattes, but the "cafe con leche" an Angel Falls original is the best drink on the menu. The "cafe con leche" is made from all fresh ingredients -- no syrups and it tastes like coffee (duh) + warm cinnamon milk. In addition to coffee, Angel Falls has loose leaf tea. I'm not a huge tea drinker, but if I drink tea, it must be loose leaf. There is an entire wall to choose from, but my personal favorite is the lemon grass chai.

Photo c/o Angel Falls general manager Zak Waryas

This place has one of the best coffee shop environments, it's cozy, the lighting is perfect, the music isn't cliche or loud. The baristas are hilarious and the internet is free. As general manager, Zak Waryas puts it, "If you are in Akron, Angel Falls Coffee Company is the place to go for fresh artisan roasted coffee. It is the place for the local community to hang out. It is the place for delectable desserts. It is the place for local artists. The hard work and dedication that we put into the shop makes Angel Falls an Akron staple. A must visit."

Visit Angel Falls:
Website: angel falls on Facebook
Address:
792 W. Market St., Akron, Ohio 44303
Phone number: (330) 376-5282
Hours:
Monday - Thursday, Sunday 7 - 10
Friday & Saturday 7 - 12

ITALIAN: Mr G's

I am including this semi-embarassing photo to give you an idea how large the pizza's are

I'm very picky when it comes to pizza. I want my pizza to be thin and crispy like New York street slices. I also want it to be savory, slightly sweet, and not out of a cardboard box. As a vegetarian, pizza can be pretty boring -- cheese on cheese? Boring. So, I tend to look for places with lots of options.

For starters, their pizza comes in three categories: New York-Style, traditional, and gourmet. Naturally, I go straight for the NYC style pizza. The pizza comes in three sizes, medium, large, and x-large. The traditional pizzas are pretty traditional, so no need to explain those. But the gourmet? This is game changing pizza. The mac and cheese pizza is the most delicious and artery clogging creation in the world. What I really love about their pizza section is that you can make your own or it's really easy to pick one of their pre-made pizzas because they cater more to the veggie lovin' pizza eater than the triple meat eater. All pizza's also come with salads and bread sticks.

Clearly, Mr. G's is all about the pizza, but they also have incredible authentic pasta dishes, calzones ("they're like pizza's that are harder to eat"), chicken wings, subs, soups, and appetizers. The menu here is HUGE, but the prices are affordable.

The lunch specials are also ridiculously cheap and 100% worthwhile if you aren't ready to commit to an x-large mac and cheese pizza just yet.

After reading this review on The Patch, I learned that Mr. G's is BYOB. Now if that doesn't get you there, I don't know what will.

Visit Mr. G's:
Website: mrgspizzaandwings.com
Address: 2955 West Market Street
Fairlawn, OH 44333
Phone number: 330-836-1111
Hours:
Monday & Tuesday: 4 pm to 10 pm
Wednesday & Thursday: 11:30 am to 10 pm
Friday & Saturday: 11:30 am to 11:00 pm
Sunday: 12 pm to 10 pm

LUNCH/DINNER/BEER: The Lockview

The Lockview is located in the center of downtown Akron. It once was a dive bar/music venue and the owner, Danny Basone, renovated the place to be a successful restaurant. It also has one of the biggest beer selections in Akron and it's a cheese lovers dream. Why you ask? It's basically all gourmet grilled cheeses. Basone often jokes that he, "invented the grilled cheese!"

How could a grilled cheese be gourmet? Well, for starters, there are thirteen different grilled cheeses. My personal favorite is the apples, bacon (minus bacon for me), and cheddar cheese. Closely followed by the mashed potato, bourbon gravy, and cheddar cheese sandwich (comes with American, but I don't believe in American cheese). There's a grilled cheese for everyone and if you're boring, there's a basic just cheese sandwich.

If you're not a cheese fan, don't worry, the Lockview has multiple handmade soups, salads, burgers, pasta, and chicken sandwiches. The veggie burger is made from scratch and if you're a vegetarian, you know how hard it is to find a non-frozen veggie burger.

On Monday afternoons, the Lockview offers an amazing special called, "MONDAY'S SUCK" and all dishes are 50% off. It's an incredible deal because most of the dishes are already cheap.

During the summer the Lockview opens their rooftop patio so guests can soak up the sun, listen to live music, and get a wonderful view of downtown Akron while consuming lots of cheese.

If beer and appetizers are your thing, Lockview has a huge selection of craft beers, top shelf liquors, and delicious appetizers ranging from hummus, deep fried pepperoni, and sweet potato fries. There's something for everyone and if you're lucky, you might be there during their random "happy hours". Where all appetizers are half off.

Visit the Lockview:
Website: lockview.com
Address:
207 South Main Street
Downtown Akron, 44308
Phone number: 330-252-5128
Hours:
MON-THURS: 11am - 11pm
FRIDAY: 11am – Midnight
SATURDAY: Noon – Midnight
SUNDAY: FOUR – TEN
Bar is open until two a.m.

BREAKFAST: The Blue Door

The Blue Door is located in Cuyahoga Falls and it's easily the best breakfast place in town and don't take that lightly because breakfast is kind of my thing.

What makes it so special? Well, everything. For starters, every ingredient is locally grown. Any item that is imported is local to that region. There is no corn syrup in the restaurant -- not even in the ketchup. Everything in the restaurant is made in the restaurant -- nothing is boxed or deep fried. The actual menu is limited, but each day the restaurant rolls out a new menu of specials. The specials range from dishes full of duck to decadent quiches to Jameson French toast (yes, the whiskey). The dishes are original, decadent, delicious, and nicely portioned.

In addition to the delicious breakfasts, the Blue Door also offers lunch. Their lunches are as well crafted as their breakfasts. The main focus isn't on lunch, but every day they do offer at least three different lunch items.

They also has one of the best bakeries in town. The artisan pastries, pies, and savory scones are on a rotating schedule, but their chocolate croissant is the main attraction. Seriously. I have dreams about this pastry. That's how good it is.

Each day their owner posts a detailed specials menu on their Facebook page, ran by owner Michael Bruno. Bruno says, "We take each and every comment that you have very seriously. Honestly, to own a restaurant, you have to have eyes in the back of your head." The Facebook also acts as a way for the cafe to stay in touch with customers and get consistent feedback about the food, menu, decor, and anything else.

One thing that makes or breaks a breakfast place for me is the coffee because what is breakfast without a good cup of coffee? The answer is nothing. Blue Door clearly understood this because they partnered up with Angel Falls Coffee and crafted their own roast. And yes, if you're wondering, Angel Falls is the best coffee in Akron.

Blue Door is vegetarian friendly, healthier than most breakfasts, and well priced. The atmosphere is cozy and the staff is friendly.

There's absolutely nothing about the Blue Door that I don't love. Still don't believe me? Read the many reviews on Yelp.

Visit the Blue Door:
Website: bluedoorcafebakery.com
Address:
1970 State Rd
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44223
Phone number: (330) 926-9774
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.