There have been many places we’ve enjoyed over the course of this little 13-year adventure we’ve been on, but only a handful when the chatter on the drive home is as much about how we enjoyed the people we met and the overall welcoming and fun atmosphere of the place just as much as the food.

I mean, nothing is going to top the incredible most-information-we’ve-ever-received-in-the-course-of-30-seconds welcome we received at Hoppy Dude all those years ago – as well as the envelopment into their regular crowd that followed – but I’m also thinking about now infamous nights out at the old Howie’s on Portage Lakes, the first time we went to the now closed Blue Rock in Hudson, or the Old Stone Jail in Norton.

Unfortunately most of these conversations also tend to involve commiserating that the place is more than a 15 minute drive away from our house. Which is definitely the case with Roadside Pub & Grille.

Insert collective sigh here.

Yep, this place is so far away that Shane has been waiting to pick it until just the right alignment of the stars that would allow us to leave early enough to get there and enjoy it for a bit while still getting home before those of us who have to get up early for work the next day and require a certain level of sleep to function turn into cranky pumpkins.

That all may be just Shane, TBH. But he’s also the driver so we kind of have to follow his rules.

Me, on the drive there: wow, I’m not sure I’ve ever driven on route 76 until it ends, so this really is an adventure.

And then we were getting serious Annex vibes as we got out of the car. It’s a house, on a corner, and I think it’s even the same color scheme on the outside.

The skepticism was real.

Luckily the comparisons end there. Inside there’s a large bar in the center of the space, with low top tables all around so plenty of seating in an open space. It didn’t seem too busy when we walked in, just a small group seated at the bar and one other table off to the side.

We chose a bigger table toward the back because, well, we like food. And I mean, given the adventure we took to get there it’s a wonder Shane hadn’t gnawed off an appendage yet so we figured we would be ordering a small banquet.

Our server was also the bartender and she not only gave us a pleasant welcome as soon as we entered but also came over to our table quickly to greet us and give us menus.

We learned her name was Rhonda, and when she discovered it was our first time visiting she was very quick to give us the low down on favorites. She said they are known for their pizzas – including a Reuben pizza that’s new but seems to be a good seller – and that the wings are also popular.

The table sitting near us overheard her list and said they were also first time visitors and they vouched for the wings. Peer to peer marketing is strong here it seems.

As if we needed some other form of convincing, Wednesday is also wing night – 89 cents each wing, dine in only and you can order whatever amount you want as long as it’s more than five.

So let’s recap: best items here are pizza and wings? This may be Shane’s heaven.

He ordered a medium meat lovers pizza, along with six of the dry rub ranch wings and six garlic parm.

This is why we needed that table.

Because that’s enough variety for one night, Ted and I both ordered the Roadside Romanburger. I think it should be obvious what it is from the title, but if you need help just think of the specialty item at a little place that rhymes with Mr Fiero and you should be all set.

Ted of course got his without cheese. We both got the chips and I also got a side salad.

Ted also got wings, which I guess could be considered a side? But I mean for the special price call it whatever you want I guess.

I liked my sandwich. I could only finish half because, to quote Ted, “this is a substantial sandwich.” But it was very good. He and I both agreed that often times the salami on a Romanburger can overtake the flavor of the entire sandwich, but that wasn’t the case here. The sauce was good without being overwhelming and even though it was definitely not something to be eaten without a healthy stack of napkins nearby it should be noted that both Ted and I were wearing white and survived unstained.

Shane really liked his wings. They were large for a wing special and the sauce/flavor was really good. He thought the pizza was OK. It didn’t make a top “insert number of the week here” list, but for a bar pizza it was decent.

As she was collecting our food baskets and plates, Rhonda invited us to move up to the bar if we planned to hang out for another round or two, which felt like moving up to the adult table at a family gathering or being given the nod to sit with the cool kids in the lunchroom at school.

This move is also the exact opposite our pet peeve, the assumption that we want to leave as soon as we take our last bites of a meal and delivery of the check without asking if we want to stick around longer.

You had us at “more drinks at the bar?”, Rhonda. Thank you.

I can for sure see us making our way back here again. It may not be soon, given the trek it is for us to get there and back, but that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten this place. The food was good and they have lots of different daily specials so if wings aren’t your thing be sure to check out what might be on special another day. But the welcoming atmosphere, good music mix on the TouchTunes and conversations with those around us for the evening was what really stood out. Sometimes walking into these little out of the way places where you know there are regulars and everyone knows everyone else on a given night can be intimidating, but don’t let that assumption stop you from giving this place a chance.

Picked by: Shane