A lot of people visit the Valley and are surprised to find that there aren’t a ton of chain restaurants in the area, but who needs chain restaurants when you have a variety of local restaurants that offer the best food?! Here's a list of my favorites:

Barry Dyngles

Okay, yeah the name sounds funny, but the food is freakin’ fabulous. BD’s is located in Austintown and offers catering as well. The menu offers a variety of BBQ favorites and comfort food, but my favorite? The pulled pork nachos. Major heart eyes.

Station Square

This area is full of great Italian restaurants, but Station Square on Belmont Avenue is one of my favorites because their sauces are awesome, they offer a wide variety of food, and they carry gluten free noodles. If you’re gluten free, you know how big of a blessing that is.

Jib Jab

Do you like hot dogs? How about hot dogs with cheese? And chili? How about chili cheese fries? Then this is your place. The food is so famous that Vice President Mike Pence has visited Girard to enjoy it. I swear, I could eat twelve chili cheese dogs and have no regrets.

Vernon’s & V2

Vernon’s and V2 are owned by the same person, and they offer some of the best pizza and pasta options in the valley! Vernon’s is located in Warren, and V2 is located in downtown Youngstown. If you’re looking for a relaxed restaurant, hit up Vernon’s, but if you’re looking for more of a bar scene, hit V2. You’ll probably find your favorite Odyssey author enjoying a glass of wine there on Wine Wednesdays, when bottles are half off!

MVR

Another solid Italian option! I love their vodka sauce, but they don’t offer gluten free noodles so I haven’t been there in a while, but I encourage you to go and enjoy their hot peppers and bread and pastas!

The Avalon Downtown

The Av has arguably the best pizza in the valley, and they double as my favorite bar because they’re casual and always nice. They even offer gluten free pizzas to go with my Coronas. The regular pizzas are thick and their sauce is on the sweeter side, which I love! You can find them in downtown Youngstown, too.

Mizu

If you love Japanese cuisine, Mizu is your place! There are two locations, but I prefer the one in Boardman as opposed to Niles because the customer service is always way better. They offer a wide sampling of sushi, sashimi, and hibachi, plus they have a fully stocked bar! Head in on a weekday for their lunch specials!

Charlie Staples

Another BBQ joint, but Charlie’s offers a New Orleans-esque experience. I’m a big fan of their atmosphere, and their food is top notch, too. It’s located not too far from YSU, and Charlie makes sure to season that BBQ sauce with a full cup of love for every customer. Try their Big Bertha; it’s the biggest potato in the world, stacked with cheese, sour cream, and meat. You’ll leave twelve pounds heavier than when you got there.

Suzie’s Dogs and Drafts

Suzie’s offers a variety of hot dog options; you pick your bread and what kind of dog you want, then add on any numbers of toppings. Have you ever wanted to try crickets on a hot dog? Yeah, me neither, but you could at Suzie’s if you were feeling adventurous (or drunk) enough.

The Federal

Also located in downtown Youngstown, The Fed offers a variety of burgers and sandwiches during the day and turns into a hoppin’ bar at night. Just try to get there early if you want to eat, because it gets pretty packed! They offer fried green beans (yum) and sweet potato fries (double yum).