May 18, 2012

Ben and Joy's, Mt. Sterling, Ohio, near Deer Creek State Park



In Mt. Sterling, Ohio, revisit the 1950s and have a great breakfast or lunch (or supper) at Ben and Joy’s Restaurant on the corner of the main intersection in town (Rts. 62 & 56).  Sandwiches are around $4.00. Grilled cheese and grilled bologna (how long since I’ve had that!) for $2-something. 
           
The lunch buffet was $9.00—a good deal. We were there a little after 1:00, and, though the food was a bit tepid, it was tasty. The fried perch and chicken were moist and tender, in spite of sitting out awhile, and the baked beans were excellent. There was plenty to choose from at the salad bar.

When we entered, the place was still about half full, and it seemed every customer was local. The familiarity and good cheer among the people were right out of Mayberry. I’ve eaten at quite a few Mom & Pops, but no place surpasses Ben and Joy’s for an amiable atmosphere and good food.

About 7 - 10 days ago, these wildflowers were all over south-central Ohio, along two-lane roads and at the park itself. What are they?

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I see places like this and think of Blandinsville, Illinois -- the first place I ever heard of or tasted twice-baked potatoes and biscuits and gravy. Fond memories.

Banjo52 said...

AH, What could be better? Or a better place to discover them? And someday you're gonna write about Indiana and Illinois . . . right?

Jean Spitzer said...

Yellow.

I actually have never eaten many of the foods you mention, so it wouldn't be nostalgia for me, but discovery.

Kitty said...

aw, that's nice. I love places like that. Though the grilled cheese and bologna sounds....not so healthy

It sounds like a restful place to be, and to while away a summer day. Blissful!

Banjo52 said...

Jean, thanks. I was thinking purple.

Jean and Kitty, yeah, it ain't health food, but the taste plus the nostalgia . . .

Pasadena Adjacent said...

Whenever I see store fronts that look like those, empty and quaint, I start running real estate numbers through my head and art studio fantasies. Or a nice place to age and die. I have many trailer courts in SoCal and beyond that I think might work. Peoria; I could go gray AND have river front property.

Guilty pleasure: Ramona and I used to go to the nearby Temple City (founded by mormons) and order double fried fries. Then they dumped the lunch counter. Haven't had them since

Pasadena Adjacent said...

Ramona's my mother - Big Fred is my father

Banjo52 said...

PA, the end of double-fried fries is a tragic story (tho' I've never had them, maybe never heard of them till now).

I don't know about Illinois, but southern Indiana and Ohio might have great deals for the kind of retreat you're thinking about. Marietta, Ohio is esp. promising. Portsmouth, Ohio has seen better days and might have great deals on the river. Leavenworth and Corydon, Indiana on the river--very, very small, but . . . Evansville, IN is bigger, but not too big, and might be cheap and has a university. Don't mean to take your quip too seriously--I'm just sayin' . But come on, you couldn't part with SoCal at this point . . .

Rune Eide said...

I ever I come to Ohio I shall know where to eat ... :-)

So far I have only visited Michigan, California, Washington (state), New Jersey and New York.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

I like Reno. I saw a trailer park right past where the Dohner party tragedy on the way to Lake Tahoe that was rather appealing. You are right - nit would be alien for a western girl to leave her western town

Brenda's Arizona said...

Grilled bologna? Why?

Banjo52 said...

Rune, I'd be interested to hear what cities or towns in those states. But please don't ask how many places I've been to in Norway (or all of Scandinavia).

PA, I've never been to the Tahoe area either, but I've heard good things.

Brenda, I enjoy your conciseness. However, try it. I haven't had it for decades, but I used to love it. Of course, I loved Spam too, and now it's basically a virus.

Brenda, grilled anything . . .

Brenda, if you have to ask the question . . .

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