Catch a great fish dish in Lorain County!

Whether you are looking for a Friday fish fry or seasonal fish specials, you came to the right place!

Orchid Cafe Friday menu

THE FRIDAY FISH FRY

The Orchid Cafe at Miller Nature Preserve
2739 Center Road, Avon

(440) 937-0764

Fish Fry by Chef Mario Izzo 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Every Friday through April 18!

Matus Winery 
15674 Gore Orphanage Rd, Wakeman
(440)774-9463
Fish Fry Fridays through April 18 at 5:30pm
Dinner, Sandwich & Platter all served with fresh cut fries and coleslaw
Perch Dinner:  includes ½ lb perch. Choice of a glass of wine:  $20 pp OR bottle of wine of choice:  $28 pp
Perch Sandwich:  Choice of glass of wine:  $17 pp OR bottle of wine of choice:  $25 pp
Chicken Tender Platter:  Choice of glass of wine:  $15 per person OR bottle of wine of choice: $20
Clam Chowder $4

Nemo Grille, Avon

RESTAURANTS 

And here are a few local suggestions for restaurants that are well-known for their delicious seafood year round:



Cork's and Stubby's 
209 S. Main St., Amherst
(440) 984-7430
(440) 984-7432
Fine and Casual Dining: Shrimp, Scallops, Crabcakes, Salmon, Catch of the Day, Walleye

The Feve Bar & Grill 
30 S. Main Street, Oberlin
(440) 774-1978
Grouper Basket, Crab Cakes, Multiple vegan and vegetarian choices

Granny Joe's Ice Creamatorium
5598 Liberty Ave., Vermilion
(440) 967-3663
Perch Sandwich, Perch Dinner

Jackalope Lakeside
301 Lakeside Ave., Lorain
(440) 288-2051
Perch Sandwich, Perch Dinner

Moosehead Grill 
7660 Leavitt Rd, Amherst
(440) 985-7429
Salmon, Walleye, Tilapia

Mr. D's Restaurant & Bar at Ramada Elyria
1825 Lorain Blvd., Elyria
(440)324-5411
Perch Sandwich, Lake Erie Perch Dinner, Shrimp Basket

Nemo Grille
36976 Detroit Road, Avon
(440) 934-0061
Fine Dining: Sea Scallops, Salmon, Chilean Sea Bass, Perch, Tuna

Garden Restaurant at Oberlin Inn
7 N. Main St. | Oberlin
(440) 775-1111

Smitty's Place, Elyria

Typically offers a Fish Fry special each Friday

Smitty's Place
368 E. Bridge St, Elyria
(440) 323-9708
Perch Sandwich, Perch Dinner Combos

Strip, A Steakhouse 
36840 Detroit Rd., Avon
(440) 934-9900
Fine dining: Salmon, Ahi Tuna, Catch of the Day, Chilean Sea Bass

Stubby’s Pub & Grub 
114 Antioch Dr., Elyria
(440) 365-7882
Lake Erie Perch Dinners, crabcakes

Click…for a complete list of dining options.

And be sure to check out Fligner’s Market Facebook page weekly to see what great special they are offering on Fridays. You will likely see fish lunch specials.

Party like it's 2014!

How are you ringing in the New Year? If you haven't quite decided, we have plenty of Lorain County options for you!

FORMAL

If you are looking for a lavish New Year's Eve package maybe one of these events will catch your eye!

• Cork's and Stubby's is offering a four-course prix fixe menu, music, dancing, and cash bar. This event is pre-sale only, so be sure to make your reservation soon! Cost is $85 per person or $160 per couple.

•  A night at the Oberlin Inn will bring in your year with elegance and style. Come on out for a four course candlelit dinner, open bar, and dancing. Spend the night in a  tastefully appointed guestroom and wake up to a sumptuous New Year’s Day brunch.

• Spend the night at the Ramada after enjoying their New Year's party complete with a grand dinner buffet including open bar and dancing! 

• Main Street Vermilion is hosting their third annual party at German's on the 31st. Doors open at 7:30. $145 a couple. Dinner, dancing, open bar and a chance to win $2014! Complimentary local ride home. Call Larry at 440-653-7097 or German's at 440-967-1770 or order online. Only 100 tickets will be sold!

CASUAL

If you would prefer to bring in 2014 rocking your best jeans at a more relaxed get together, there are going to be plenty of hopping spots!

• In addition to their more formal bash, Stubby's is hosting a separate party with a $20 entry fee that buys you an appetizer/breakfast buffet and music to dance into the new year. 

• Fort's Tavern has a special New Year's menu including a wide selection of premium cocktails. DJ Kit will also be there hosting the party!

• Both Matus Winery and D&D Smith Winery will have music and are hosting pot luck diners. 

UNIQUE

Don't think all we have to offer you is the traditional New Year's Party!

• Bad Boy Bait, Tackle, & More is hosting a New Year's Eve and Archery Fun Shoot! The archery shoot will cost $10 for adults and $5 for teens and youth. The Shoot will be a Lucky Dip Shoot, but you don't have to participate to attend.

• Noon Year's Eve celebrations will be at all Lorain Public Library System locations so the kids aren't left out of the fun. The whole family can come enjoy! Register today at LorainPublicLibrary.org or by calling your local library (list here).

• Ghostly Manor is also hosting from 8-12:30 on New Year's Eve. You can choose a $20 VIP Package that includes admission, skate, scooter or roller blade rental, party favors, arcade tokens, slice of pizza, small drink, and choice of mini golf, motion theater or haunted house. There is also the $10 Special Package that includes, admission, quad skate rental, and party favors. For more info call 419-626-4467. 

After you bring in the new year, stay with us at one of Lorain County's awesome hotels, lodges, or bed & breakfasts! 

Shop small and score big...

Don Mould's Plantation

Visit Lorain County is a great place to start when looking to shop small and score big this Saturday or any day of the year! Lorain County boasts unique and quality shops to suit anyone on your holiday list. From a walk about Main Street in one of our many eclectic villages and towns, to a country drive to a fantastic out of the way shop that you have yet to discover.

With a simple click of our shopping link you will discover great shopping options. Many having those great deals you are hunting for this weekend and as a bonus, many Main Street Organizations have holiday events kicking off this Saturday making it the perfect day to explore our city centers and enjoy the festivities and shops all a-glow.

While you are out and about you are sure to work up an appetite! You are in luck, you are another click away from a palate pleasing experience. With so many dining options from which to choose, you can plan breakfast, lunch and dinner with ease and maybe a wine tasting in between!

Cork's and Stubby's 

Discover too much for just one day? Thought so! No worries, we have a couple clicks for that too...hotels, bed & breakfasts and lodges throughout the county await.

Small Business Saturday is a great excuse to get out there and shop small in a big way!

Gobble up a local Thanksgiving feast!

Looking for a no muss no fuss scrumptious Thanksgiving Day feast...a few Lorain County restaurants will serve up a great meal with all of the trimmings this Thursday! 

The Oberlin Inn is dishing up their feast by buffet or a served dinner. Seating every half hour between 11 and 4.  The Buffet Feast includes: slow roasted turkey, pork tenderloin with cranberry, sliced roast beef with mushroom sauce, battered fried white fish, 15 traditional side dishes and salad favorites, dessert table. The served meal includes a tossed salad, marshmallow sweet potatoes, herb sage dressing, home-style green beans, rolls and pumpkin pie.

Oberlin Inn reservations required call 440.775.1111.

Or choose The Lube! Quaker Steak & Lube in Sheffield and Vermilion; both are serving a great menu of your holiday favorites buffet style: chef-carved oven roasted turkey, chef-carved slow roasted beef sirloin, honey glazed ham topped w/pineapple, sweet potatoes in butter rum sauce, homemade stuffing, whipped potatoes & gravy, award-winning wings, green bean casserole, shrimp pasta in golden garlic cream sauce,  penne pasta w/bolognese sauce, New England clam chowder, Italian wedding soup, full salad bar, harvest dessert patch featuring pumpkin and pecan pies, and sugar free selections. 

Call for reservations Sheffield: 440.934.9464 Vermilion:440.967.3724

Want to burn off some of that meal with a family activity? Head to Rebman's in Lorain for family bowling from 5 to midnight.

Or take in a movie before or after dinner at the Apollo in Oberlin. Catch Frozen between 1pm and 9:30pm and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire between 12:30pm and 10:15pm.

And at the Lorain Palace Theater, THOR The Dark World is in 3D at 7pm!

Lastly, if you would like to step out and toast your family.... Fort's Tavern in Wellington will be open at 8:30pm. They have a spiced apple martini and 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale on tap.

Click here for a cornucopia of fun! Plenty of events happening over the holiday weekend! 
And if your house is as stuffed as your turkey for the holidays...your problem is solved with nearby lodging! 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Spotlight on Amherst, Ohio

Melody, Allie, and I spent a day exploring Amherst during the last week of July. Amherst is a great place to spend time in for a day or a week! There are so many things to do from shopping, to dining, to things for the kids.

Who can resist Kiedrowski's baked goods!

We started our day out right, with doughnuts! I love doughnuts and baked goods so I was very excited about this first stop. We stopped at Kiedrowski's Bakery to hear polka music and check out their freshly baked goods. Melody and I got doughnuts and Allie got one of their famous Snoogles. Kiedrowski's specializes in Polish baked goods and their patented Snoogle.

Allie loves these flipflops!

 After spending some time in the bakery we were re-energized and ready for shopping! We made our way to downtown Amherst to check out some local shopping. Our first stop was The Mermaid's Tale, an adorable boutique that offers unique jewelry and gifts and a great Vera Bradley selection. We had our sights set on the purse selection the boutique has, one can never have too many! We browsed around while I snapped pictures of our finds. Another great place to stop is Ridgehill Collectibles. There you will find unique collectibles and products made in America.

Melody celebrating national hotdog day.

It happened to be national hotdog day, so we had to stop at Hot Dog Heaven to celebrate! Hot Dog Heaven is a great spot in town to grab your very own made-to-order hot dog and fries and a delicious dessert! Located near downtown, it's an easy walk or drive after shopping around. They have dollar dog hours daily and their fries are delicious with a little chili powder on them. I would also recommend trying their funnel cake fries, they're a great way to end any meal!

The chalk wall at the new Mercy playground.

After our delicious lunch we went to check out the new playground at the Mercy Health and Recreation Center. This new playground was specially built for children with handicaps that would not normally be able to play on a playground. There is an awesome tree house and a swing that are wheel chair accessible. The playground includes slides, a giant sandbox, a pond for fishing, and a group of teepees that offer fun educational activities inside. I thought the new playground was really cool, being at the age to play in it again would be awesome!

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Amherst.

 On our way to the Sandstone Village we stopped at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Amherst. It remembers the 98 people from Lorain County who gave their lives during the Vietnam War. This beautiful monument is located within walking distance of a local park. It's a great place to stop at on your daily walk.

Cheap gas at the Sandstone Village.

 The Sandstone Village is part of the Amherst Historical Society. This site has 10 historical buildings. We wandered around the grounds. The historic buildings are beautiful and have quirky details that were often amusing. When looking at the gas station we noticed the price of gas was 44 cents per gallon, I wish gas was still that price! We peeked in the windows of the Harris/Dute House, one of the oldest buildings in that location. There were so many old appliances in the kitchen! The caboose was closed up but while looking through the windows I was surprised to see how roomy it was. It reminded Allie and I of the Boxcar Children series. We also went to see the Blacksmith shop which is sometimes open to the public to see an actual blacksmith at work, and the Octagonal Barn which was used as a carriage house.

Amherst has many things to do any time of year from food to entertainment! The city of Amherst boasts so many great restaurants, I wish we had time to sample them all. Check out Visit Lorain County's dining listings for culinary options.

Signs of spring...

Another sure sign of spring is the 'Now Open' sign outside some of our favorite ice cream shops. We drive by them on the way to here and there and exclaim "I can't wait to have a milk shake" and "I hope they open soon!" Well, it's that time of year again! Although, we do have the good fortune of having a couple of ice cream shops indulge us the majority of the year...soon you'll have your choice of sweet treat shops.


Cowhaus Creamery summer hours are in full swing as of this week, get your fix seven days a week. Cowhaus handcrafts new-American style ice creams, sorbets and confections using artisan techniques, made slowly from scratch in small batches and is open ALL YEAR!  Yes, you can treat yourself anytime of the year...tromp through leaves, snow or blinding sun to get some of their hand-spun goodness.
Cowhaus Creamery is located in Oberlin at 55 East College St. 440.774.5425


Another area shop open year 'round is Granny Joe's Ice Creamatorium, but you can only get their sweet treats on weekends during the winter months. Good news! You can now fill your cravings any day of the week!! This former funeral parlor turned ice cream parlor is nestled among the quaint shops in downtown Vermilion and is walking distance to a great little beach and parks. They feature Toft's ice cream and a to die for breakfast and lunch menu. Granny Joe's Ice Creamatorium  is located in Vermilion at 5598 Liberty Ave.  440.967.3663


Take a step back in time and order up some nostalgia at Dog 'n Suds! Refreshed from it's winter break, they are now open and ready to serve up their famous frosty glass mugs of real draft root beer. Root beer floats are a favorite, made with their hand scooped ice cream. Their unique curb service takes you back in time as you pull up and press up a button for service and enjoy your order without leaving your car or take it to go.
Dog 'n Suds is located in Elyria at  2050 North Ridge Rd. 440.324.3636

K-Cream Korner will have you lined up down the street waiting for the windows to raise on April 10th for their beloved orange sherbet twist. Or maybe take on a mounding banana split at their outdoor picnic area. Conveniently located just blocks from Lakeview Beach makes it the perfect cool down stop after a day of fun in the sun!
K-Cream Korner is located in Lorain at 336 Oberlin Ave. 440.245.2631

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream...no need to yell, however; Romp's Dairy Dock is opening April 11th and will be ready with all your soft serve favorites! Sundaes, shakes, cones - enjoy yours in the shade or bask in the sun - grab a picnic table or spread out with your family in the grass. The Dairy Dock has something for everyone.
Romp's Dairy Dock is located in Vermilion at 5055 Liberty Ave. 440.967.4342

Hunt for a Brunch

Some of you may be hunting for eggs this weekend, but you won't have to hunt for a great brunch.

The official meal this weekend is the brunch! Whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner foods you seek...we've got a few good ideas for you.

In the Oberlin area try The Feve's famous brunch from 9-2:30 Saturday and Sunday or head just down the street, maybe breakfast with the Easter Bunny at 9am Saturday morning (reservations required) and a buffet from 11-5 on Sunday at The Oberlin Inn.

DeLuca's Place in the Park in Lorain is taking reservations for brunch on Sunday 11-2. And before you ask, sorry DeLuca's brunch at Rose Cafe is all sold out! Sorry, but no worries, if a meal with a view is what you crave... Jackalope Lakeside is having a wonderful buffet on Sunday 11:30-5:30 with a side of Lake Erie view!

Jackalope Lakeside

You'll find quite a spread at Wood & Wine in Avon with their buffet on Sunday from 11-6. Or if you're looking to kick back Sunday afternoon, head to Quaker Steak & Lube in Sheffield and belly up to their buffet from 11-5:30. 

Brunches and buffets aren't your style?...click HERE for a listing of other dining options around Lorain County.

Have a great weekend and eat well!

Catch of the Day Specials are Off the Hook!

Cork’s and Stubby’s, Amherst

Whether you’re observing Lent or just want to take advantage of all the great seafood this season has to offer, Lorain County has an abundance of yummy options. Check some out below:

Quick and Delicious Restaurant
All you can eat fish Wednesdays and Fridays
Seafood clams, shrimp, catfish are .50 off during Lent.
311 S. Main St, Oberlin
440.774.1973

Smitty's Place
Fridays - perch sandwich - $7.25 and perch dinner  $12.50
368 E. Bridge St, Elyria
440.323.9708

Fish Fries

Matus Winery 
Unky Ray’s Fish Fry – March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29th  5:30pm
Perch dinner includes 1/2lb. yellow perch, french fries, coleslaw & garlic toast $15
1/2 perch dinner (includes fries & slaw) $9
Jumbo shrimp dinner includes 8 jumbo shrimp, french fries, coleslaw & garlic toast $12
Perch sandwich platter (includes fries & slaw) $12
Chicken tenders platter (includes fries & slaw)  $10
Clam chowder $4/bowl
15674 Gore Orphanage Rd, Wakeman
440.774.9463

Paper Moon Winery
Fish Fry - March 1
Perch, fries, cole slaw, roll $13
Reserve by calling 440.967.2500 or online here.
2008 State Road
Vermilion, OH 44089

A few other suggestions:

Jackalope Lakeside Restaurant

On Fridays, check Fligner’s Facebook page to see what great special they are offering. You will likely see fish lunch specials.

Another delicious dining experience with a menu full of seafood and Friday Lenten specials is the Jackalope Lakeside Restaurant. Best to check their Facebook page for current info.

And here are a few local restaurant suggestions for restaurants that are well-known for their delicious seafood year round:

Cork's and Stubby's 
209 S. Main St.
Amherst, OH 44001
(440) 984-7430
(440) 984-7432
Fine and Casual Dining: Shrimp, Scallops, Crabcake, Salmon, Catch of the Day, Walleye

The Feve Bar & Grill 
30 S. Main Street
Oberlin, OH 44074
(440) 774-1978
Grouper Basket, Crab Cakes, Multiple vegan and vegetarian choices

Moosehead Grill 
7660 Leavitt Rd
Amherst, OH 44001
(440) 985-7429
Salmon, Walleye, Tilapia

Nemo Grille 
36976 Detroit Road
Avon, OH 44011
(440) 934-0061
Website
Fine Dining: Sea Scallops, Salmon, Chilean Sea Bass

Strip, A Steakhouse 
36840 Detroit Rd.
Avon, OH 44011
(440) 934-9900
Fine dining: Salmon, Ahi Tuna, Catch of the Day, Chilean Sea Bass

Stubby’s Pub & Grub 
114 Antioch Dr.
Elyria, OH 44035
(440) 365-7882
Lake Erie Perch Dinners

Bon appétit!