Get uptown for Uptown Grill

Uptown Grill, Athens' newest food establishment, opened a week and a half ago in the building that was formerly occupied by Grade A Notes. The walk-up window restaurant, which is right next to Buffalo Wild Wings, offers fantastic grilled items at affordable prices. According to an article in The Post, the restaurant was started by Stacy McClain, the owner of Copy Catz. The article notes that McClain and his girlfriend raise Angus cattle and he saw the vacancy next door as an opportunity to expand his business. Being that it's brand new and relatively unknown, I thought I'd check it out and give you guys a heads up.

(Photo credit: Stacy McClain, Uptown Grill)

My roommate, Ronnie Corey, had originally told me about it last week. Ronnie's from Philadelphia, and on his way to work one day, he noticed the place and saw that they had Philly cheesesteaks on the menu. Being from Philadelphia, Ronnie is as fanatical about Philly cheesesteaks as I am with my Chicago-style pizza. Ronnie, who hadn't had a Philly cheesesteak since he went home for winter break, was dying to get one so he, our buddy Greg Wilhelm, and I went earlier today for lunch to check it out.

As I mentioned earlier, it's only a walk-up window, like O'Betty's but without the inside portion. Immediately, we noticed how relatively inexpensive it was. The menu includes Angus burgers, Italian sausage, Philly cheesesteaks, chicken fajitas, grilled chicken breast sandwiches, veggie-burgers, and a banger, which is a type of bratwurst. All of these items are between $4.50 and $5. The only item that is over $5 is the Rancher's Delight, which is $8. The Rancher's Delight is a half-pound Angus burger with lettuce, tomato, onion, and cheese. Chips and drinks are also available for purchase.

Ronnie, without hesitation, ordered the Philly cheesesteak. I also ordered a Philly cheesesteak, and Greg ordered the banger. Inside the window, we saw the grill, where all of our food was made fresh right in front of us. We waited impatiently as the smell of the food and grill began to make us even hungrier. After receiving our food, we walked back to Greg's apartment to watch some TV and take our first bites of an Uptown Grill sandwich.

The food turned out to be delicious! I thought the Philly cheesesteak was great, however, Ronnie was quick to assure me that it was nothing like the real thing at Geno's or Pat's in Philadelphia. Despite lacking true Philadelphia authenticity, Ronnie did enjoy his sandwich.

"This Philly cheesesteak is really good, but it's nothing like Geno's or Pat's back home," he said. "At least I finally found a place in Athens where I can get one, and it's cheap, too."

Greg enjoyed his banger as well. We were all in agreement that Uptown Grill is definitely a cheap, affordable alternative to a Buffalo Wild Wings or Red Brick sandwich. It's also relatively fast if you're looking for a quick meal in between classes. If you're ever in the area and in need of a quick meal, I'd definitely check it out.

For more information, you can also check out their official Facebook fan page.

The Boss Hog Challenge at Kiser's BBQ Shack

106 people have attempted the Boss Hog Challenge at Kiser's BBQ Shack. Only 31 have left victorious. I've always had a curiosity about food challenges and wondered what it would be like to do one. My roommates, Matt Snow and Ronnie Corey, and my buddy, Greg Wilhelm, and I all went up to Kiser's on Thursday night so that I could attempt to tame this beast. Greg had been wanting to do the Boss Hog Challenge for a while, so he threw his name into the hat as well. As for Matt and Ronnie, they were there to heckle us and watch in pure amazement as Greg and I tried to eat what seemed to be the equivalent of three Thanksgiving dinners in under 30 minutes.

The Boss Hog Challenge consists of two half-pound angus burgers, three pieces of bacon, four ounces of cheese, a half pound of chopped pork, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, four ounces of barbecue sauce, and finally one pound of fries. All of this must be eaten in under 30 minutes. If you win, you receive a $10 gift certificate, a t-shirt, your picture on the wall in the restaurant, and ultimate glory. If you lose, you go home with nothing but a bad case of heartburn and indigestion. Having never done a food challenge before, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. After playing hockey for 15 years, I had never subjected my body to the intense pain that would eventually be brought on by the Boss Hog Challenge. But once that clock started ticking, there was no turning back.

Below is a picture slide show, revealing the worst 30 minutes of my life. All photos are courtesy of Matt Snow.

Bagel Street Deli: Bagelwiches and tin foil origami

The best part about Athens' local food scene is that there are so many restaurants that offer a variety of different things. One of the latest hidden gems that I have discovered is Bagel Street Deli. It's probably not really a "hidden gem" to most Ohio University students, but I call it one because I've been deprived of its delicious "bagelwiches" until this year. As a junior here at OU, I'm very disappointed in myself for never going into the small establishment on Court Street prior to this year. I'm even more disappointed that none of my friends had opened my eyes to this little place. Luckily, my roommate and I got our heads out of the gutters, and finally took the plunge and discovered what Bagel Street is all about.

Bagel Street Deli is by far one of the most unique restaurants on campus. It's brick-wall interior is covered in chalk drawings and writing from Ohio University students. Also, students have taken the tin foil used to wrap the sandwiches, and created origami-like figures and stuck them to the walls. The foil figures include things such as hearts, peace signs, beer mugs, and the traditional swan. Bagel Street Deli truly embodies Athens and Athens in turn has put it's own creative stamp on the restaurant.

(Photo credit: Rachel Ferchak, tin foil figurines on wall)

(Photo credit: athensbagels.com, chalk writing on walls)

The uniqueness of Bagel Street Deli doesn't stop at the atmosphere of the restaurant, either. The menu is truly one of a kind. In fact, I've never been to a restaurant before in my life that serves the types of things that Bagel Street does. Their menu consists of a variety of bagelwiches that are steamed so that the bagel becomes soft and all of the contents melt together into a gooey mess of deliciousness. They also offer salads that are so big that one could feed off of it for days. Interestingly enough, they also sell pickles, and have an annual pickle-eating contest where the winner gets their own sandwich named after them and put on the menu.

Earlier this evening, I ventured down Court Street with one of my buddies, Greg Wilhelm, who considers himself a BSD veteran. The few times I had been there before, I had always ordered the Southfork Ranch on a Pumpernickel bagel. The Southfork Ranch consists of turkey, bacon, Swiss cheese, lettuce, and ranch dressing. Greg's favorite is the NYC on a sesame bagel.

"The NYC is awesome," he said. "I love pastrami, and the addition of the spicy mustard always ends up being a good combination. Everything I've ever had here has been amazing, though."

According to Bagel Street Deli's website, there are over 20 varieties of bagels, over 10 different meat and tofu options, six flavors of cream cheese, and 40 different toppings, vegetables, dressings, and cheeses. For those out there who would rather not do the math; that's over 48,000 combinations! With that many combinations at my disposal, it would have been senseless to order the Southfork Ranch again. So this time, I ordered a Tegan Lee, but still on a Pumpernickel bagel. The Tegan Lee consists of turkey, ham, veggie cream cheese, cheddar cheese, cucumber, and tomato. It was delicious! I was skeptical of ordering a sandwich that had cream cheese as well as cheddar cheese but it turned out to be very good. I also ordered an Oweo, which is a famous dessert from BSD that I had heard good things about. The Oweo is two chocolate chip cookies that are steamed like the bagels. The cookies become soft and gooey, and cream cheese is spread in the middle. The Oweo might have been one of the best, and most delectable treats that I had ever eaten. Telling you about it however, just doesn't do it justice.

(Photo credit: Rachel Ferchak, the famous Oweo)

Look at that picture and tell me you don't want one!

From delicious bagelwiches, to hearty salads, to the delicious Oweo, Bagel Street Deli is unrivaled. It's one of the most vegetarian-friendly restaurants on campus, too, with its wide variety of tofu and veggie-only items. Think of it this way, out of the 48,000-plus combinations that you can try, you're bound to like something. Unless for some reason you hate bagels. That might be a problem. But even if that's the case, stop by Bagel Street Deli just for the experience. The atmosphere and ambience are enough to keep you occupied for hours. Don't end up like me; wishing you had stopped in earlier. Experience it while you can because these four years fly by fast.

An avalanche of pizza picking up steam in Athens

Pizza is one of those foods that I feel like everybody enjoys in one way or another. Whether it be deep dish, thin crust, pizza al taglio, brick oven, etc., there are always enough varieties of crust, sauce, and toppings to keep everyone happy. As noted in my post about O'Betty's, I'm very picky when it comes to pizza. Chicago-style pizza, in my opinion, is the end-all-be-all of pizza. Athens, however, is quickly earning a reputation for good pizza in the form of Avalanche Pizza. Avalanche has gained national recognition in recent years and has won various awards, such as first place at the USA World Pizza Championships in Salsomaggiore, Italy in 2009.

Avalanche is known primarily for their signature pies, which offer a wide variety of toppings and sauces. I've tried many of these signature pies and I've never been disappointed. When I eat Avalanche, I prefer to think of them as pies and not pizzas. I like them so much, and it makes me feel better about turning my back on Chicago, even if only temporarily. Other Chicagoans apparently feel the same way about Avalanche, as evidence suggests in this review from Yelp.com:

"Coming from Chicago to the Athens area I thought one of the areas that would take the biggest hit was food, specifically pizza and Mexican. Well I have to admit that Avalanche Pizza has made me forget most Chicago pizza, its that good. From adventurous toppings and combination's to great prices this is a very good place. The crust is crisp and tasty and the toppings are fresh. When you can get a one-topping thin crust pizza and you think it doesnt need [anythign] else, its a good pie. A great place for pizza."

The thing I love about Avalanche though, is the fact that their signature pies are very different than the pizzas that I'm used to. The biggest reason that I created this blog is because I enjoy trying new foods and new combinations.

One of my favorite pies from Avalanche is the Hot Tuna Pie. The Hot Tuna Pie consists of Asiago cream, hand-cut tuna, fresh mushrooms, artichoke hearts, roma tomatoes, and a wasabi "Ninja" sauce that takes the place of your traditional pizza sauce. The tuna is an interesting alternative and the Ninja sauce gives it just the right amount of kick. Other favorites of mine include the Avalanche Ranch and the Original BBQ Chicken Pie, which I ordered today while watching my beloved Chicago Bulls fall to the Cleveland Cavaliers in game one of the NBA Playoffs. Anyhow, the Avalanche Ranch features marinara sauce with roasted chicken breast, Italian Sausage, pepperoni, ranch dressing, and a half-pound of mozzarella and provolone cheese. The BBQ Chicken Pie, however, is easily my favorite pie on the menu thus far. It includes roasted chicken, marinara sauce, bacon, cheddar cheese, and sweet BBQ sauce.

(Photo credit: www.avalanchepizza.net, The Avalanche Ranch)

Other pizzas feature everything from shrimp, to potatoes, to taco meat. The possibilities are endless at Avalanche!

Avalanche Pizza owner, John Gutekanst, also has his own blog, The Pizza Goon, where he discusses the trials and tribulations of owning a pizza place and making pizza. It's a very interesting read for those interested in what goes on behind the scenes. Avalanche is also a positive influence in the Athens community. Gutekanst cooks bread in his pizza ovens at Avalanche to help feed the hungry in Athens and surrounding areas.




I may be from Chicago, but all that means is I know good pizza...er, I mean pie...when I see it. Avalanche Pizza offers great pies with fresh, interesting ingredients, delicious crust, and savory sauces. I would recommend it to any pizza lover in search of something new. Give it a shot! You won't be disappointed!

O'Betty's: Not your average hot dog

Maybe I'm biased, but I always thought that the best hot dogs were from Chicago. Having grown up there, I can honestly say that Chicago-style pizza is far and away better than any other pizza on this planet. I'm a firm believer in the mantra that, "Pizza isn't real pizza unless you have to eat it with a fork." Just as Chicago-style pizza is known for it's deep-dish style and obnoxious amounts of cheese and sauce, Chicago-style hot dogs are known for containing almost every topping under the sun. I say "almost" because O'Betty's in Athens, OH has seemingly transformed the world of your traditional hot dog toppings. Up until coming to Ohio University, I considered Chicago-style hot dogs to be the best. O'Betty's, however, has since become top dog.

A traditional Chicago-style hot dog consists of mustard, onion, sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, diced tomato, diced green pepper, and celery salt, but NEVER ketchup. Putting ketchup on a hot dog in Chicago is a cardinal sin. When my little sister and I order our hot dogs with ketchup, my dad gives us this look as if for a brief second he thought about disowning us from the family, but of course my father would never do that. So, what would my father say about a hot dog covered in...cole slaw? Jalapenos? Sour cream? He'd probably think I was joking, but at O'Betty's all of this is possible and let me tell you, I love it!

O'Betty's has been a favorite between my friends and I since I was a freshman. Upon entering the small establishment, you'd think you were in a hippie hangout or a museum dedicated to the twentieth century burlesque era, rather than a hot dog restaurant. The restaurant is so small that I'd be willing to bet that it seats 20-25 people at full capacity.

(Photo credit: http://obettys.com) Restaurant interior

Despite its small size, O'Betty's has a very inviting environment. The cooks and clerks are as friendly as they come. Everytime I'm in there, they are always talking to me and asking me about my day, while cooking my food.

My roommate goes there practically two times a week, and by now he's established himself as one of the regulars.

"I go there so much that the workers know that I'm ordering a Dixie with fries before I even open my mouth," he said. "O'Betty's is by far my favorite restaurant in Athens."

The walls are lined with photos that pay homage to great burlesque stars. In fact, each hot dog is named after a burlesque star. Names range from Syra, Dixie, Lily, Varla, and many more. They also have a section that is a hot dog museum of sorts. The hot dog museum contains hundreds upon hundreds of historical hot dog items.

(Photo credit: http://obettys.com/) The Hot Dog Museum

On my trip to O'Betty's earlier this evening, I decided to try something different. My go-to hot dog is the Mata Hari, a hot dog smothered in cole slaw and chili sauce. It's delicious, and it was tough to try something new, but I was feeling rather adventurous. I went with the Tempest. The Tempest is a prime example of how O'Betty's is not your average hot dog place. It is a hot dog covered in jalapenos, hot habanero salsa, sour cream, and sharp cheddar cheese. These are two of the many outrageous combinations that O'Betty's features on its menu. Other toppings include sauteed mushrooms, mayo, swiss cheese, baked beans, bacon, and many more. Don't worry all of you traditional hot dog lovers out there, they offer "normal" hot dogs as well. The fries are also some of the best fries I've ever had, and the chili-cheese fries look like a meal rather than a snack. The food is affordable, too, ranging from $2.50 to $3.25 for a hot dog, and $2 to $3.50 for fries depending on the size and the type.

So, there you have it. O'Betty's is delicious, affordable, and a great overall dining experience. I'm not the only one who thinks so either. O'Betty's has won numerous awards and gained acclaim from other food bloggers such as CMH Gourmand. Trust me, if you're ever in the mood to try something new or exotic, or if you simply just love hot dogs, check out O'Betty's. They have such a wide variety of toppings that something on the menu ought to catch your eye. Hell, maybe I'll even convince my dad to try a hot dog covered in jalapenos. Nah. Probably not. He can stick to his guns and order a Salome. It's O'Betty's code name for a Chicago-style hot dog.

Let the blogging begin

Hi everyone,

My name is Matt Schuldt and I'd like to introduce you to my blog: Delectable Athens.

Delectable Athens is a blog dedicated to exploring and analyzing the various local restaurants and food establishments in Athens, OH. The great thing about local restaurants, in my opinion, is the creativity and variety of the menus. Many local restaurants around the country are known for signature dishes or offering unique cuisine that one wouldn't find at many other establishments. If you look at local restaurants in Athens, there are a plethora of places with signature or nontraditional dishes. At O'Betty's Red Hot, you can order a hot dog covered in cole slaw or baked beans. At Red Brick Tavern, you can order a three-pound hamburger called, "The Monster." These are only a few of the obscure dining experiences that Athens has to offer. I look forward to experiencing these restaurants as well as offering an insight into the history and atmosphere of these places.

I got the idea for my blog from the TV show, Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives on the Food Network. For those who haven't seen the show, it's hosted by Guy Fieri, the host of the new NBC gameshow, Minute to Win It, with the spiked, bleach-blonde hair. Anyhow, Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives is a show where Fieri travels the United States going to various local restaurants and trying signature dishes and interviewing customers and chefs. The restaurants are almost always located in a small town, and the restaurants always have some sort of unique dish that they are known for. I thought applying the show's concept to Athens would be interesting and something that everyone can relate to. Who doesn't love food? I'm excited because I now have a reason to go eat and sample all of this delicious food.

I hope everyone enjoys the blog and finds it entertaining and interesting. I look forward to embarking on this culinary journey and interacting with everyone in the blogosphere.

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

~Matt