The Top Restaurants In Toledo, Ohio

One of many excellent Italian options in and around Toledo, Ciao! stands apart due to its authenticity and creativity. The restaurant offers a culinary voyage through Italy, from the fragrant grilled dishes of Tuscany, to the fresh flavours and salads of Naples and Capri. There is also a weekly changing menu which focuses on seasonal fare and creative twists on traditional Italian dishes. During the warmer months, diners can enjoy their food on the outdoor patio, overlooking a landscaped garden and a herb garden, the latter of which regularly features in the restaurant’s own dishes.

A Toledo institution since 1945, family-owned and run Cousino’s Steakhouse prides itself on maintaining the same quality of food, comfort and service since its opening. The restaurant offers a surprisingly varied menu for a steakhouse, from European-inspired appetizers such as baked brie and jalapeño poppers, to a large, fresh seafood selection. It is the steaks however, which have truly established Cousino’s as a Toledo staple, quality cuts of meat are aged and carefully prepared before being grilled over an open flame, resulting in perfect, succulent steaks. This combination of delicious fare and a cosy setting makes Cousino’s the perfect destination for a relaxing, hearty meal.

Located in Toledo’s Hollywood Casino, Final Cut Steak & Seafood is the ideal spot for fine-dining elegance in Toledo. Situated on the banks of the Maumee River, diners are afforded a striking view of the water to accompany their meal. There is a strict emphasis on high-quality at Final Cut, particularly when it comes to their signature steaks – only hand-selected, corn-fed beef is chosen, meat which has been naturally aged for up to four weeks in order maximise flavour and intensity. Steaks are then grilled over coals in order to create a seared finish and seal in the juices.

Final Cut Steak & Seafood, 1968 Miami Street, Toledo, OH, USA, +1 419-661-5200

Located in bustling downtown Toledo, Manhattan’s seeks to bring a slice of New York into this Ohio city. The wooden floors, exposed brick floors and bright artwork, including a painted mural of the New York skyline,recall the aesthetic of traditional local New York bars, while the menu playfully references New York place names, such as the SoHo scallop BLT salad or the South Street Cedar Plank. Chef Ian Regent also translates New York’s cosmopolitan edge with his unique and rustic European-inspired dishes, the monthly wine dinners allowing diners to try a variety of wines, each of which is carefully and creatively paired with a dish.

The Maumee Bay Brew Pub is the home of the Maumee Bay Brewing Company, a local brewery which creates a variety of unique, delicious beers, from light, hoppy IPAs to rich, smoky stouts. Large tanks of the brewery’s beers stand in the pub and beer memorabilia line the walls, making it the perfect stop-off for the beer aficionado. A hearty menu accompanies the beers, from wood-fire pizzas to build-your-own burgers and there are various recommendations as to which beer goes with which meal, making each visit a gastronomical adventure. The Maumee Bay Brew Pub is located in the ballroom of the previous Oliver House, a grand historic hotel dating back to 1859.

Paying tribute to Toledo’s identity as a waterside city, the Real Seafood Company menu focuses on a range of seafood options from all over the United States. House specialities include miso glazed Chilean sea bass and fried gulf shrimp, as well as a broiled, barbecued or grilled ‘fresh catch’ option. There is also a 6ft raw bar, offering a variety of fresh clams, mussels and other shellfish. The authentic menu and atmosphere is topped off by the restaurant’s location on the city’s docks, with picturesque views over the Maumee river.

Having only opened in 2012, the Registry Bistro is a new acquisition to Toledo’s ever-growing gastronomical scene. The bistro is intent on bringing back an old-school elegance and charm to dining out. The location is a great asset to this goal. Set in the historic Secor hotel, the modern bistro boasts warm-coloured, wood floors, French windows and Juliet balconies, offset by modern twists such as industrially designed concrete pillars. This juxtaposition between contemporary elegance and tradition is evident in its menu, chef Erika Rapp creates eclectic, modern dishes adapted from American and European classics, each as artfully presented as the restaurant’s interior, making the experience of dining at the Registry Bistro a luxurious one.

Rosie’s Italian Grille is a local Toledo treasure, offering authentic Tuscan cuisine in a beautiful, atmospheric setting. The interior’s Mediterranean aesthetic immediately sets a warm, romantic mood with rustic stone feature walls, wood panelling and luxurious draping. An outside patio area with wrought iron gates, small fountains and vibrant flowers completes the Tuscan summer mood. The food complements the surroundings, traditional Tuscan pizza with the dough infused with cheese and spices sits alongside a number of seafood pastas, accented with a variety of rich, full-bodied wines mainly from the Californian region.

Rosie’s Italian Grille, 606 N McCord Road, Toledo, OH, USA, +1 419-866-5007

Tony Packo’s Café has the somewhat unusual distinction of being both a restaurant and a famous pop culture reference. In 1976, Corporal Max Klinger on the TV show M*A*S*H, played by Toledoan Jamie Farr, namedropped Tony Packo’s in a conversation about Toledo. The showrunners liked the name so much that it was featured in a further five M*A*S*H episodes. Today, the restaurant still serves the same Hungarian-American fusion food which made it popular enough to be mentioned on television, including the famous Tony Packo’s hot dog, served with mustard, onions and shredded cheese. The restaurant also features a wall of autographed hot dog buns, a tradition started by Burt Reynolds and continued by dozens of celebrities over the years.