DINING

All the 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives' restaurants Guy Fieri has visited in Ohio

Guy Fieri, host of the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."

Columbus-born restauranteur Guy Fieri frequently returns to Ohio, making stops to the Buckeye state more than two dozen times over the years.

"Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," which has aired on Food Network since 2006, has seen Fieri travel across the country and even the world, showcasing some of the best restaurants.

Fieri has frequently visited the Cincinnati and Cleveland areas, but a handful of Columbus restaurants have made appearances. Ohio restaurants have also appeared on the spinoff "Triple D Nation," which sees Fieri return to some favorite spots.

If you are looking for a new place to try, here are "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" eateries Guy Fieri has visited in Columbus:

Ena's Caribbean Kitchen

Sep 1, 2022; Columbus, OH, USA; Jerk chicken, mac ’n cheese, and rice are seen at Ena’s Caribbean Kitchen. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Scheller-The Columbus Dispatch

"Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" has featured Ena's Caribbean Kitchen a couple of times over the years. The restaurant, at 2444 Cleveland Ave. in Linden, featured its oxtails and jerk pasta earlier this year in an episode of "Triple D Nation" titled "Dishes Done Right."

Ena's first appeared on "Diners" in 2017, in a season 28 episode titled "Mom's Kitchen."

Pierogi Mountain

Sampling of pierogi and a beer at Pierogi Mountain.

Another restaurant with multiple appearances on DDD, Fieri featured Polish restaurant Pierogi Mountain, 105 N. Grant Ave. Downtown, in a 2022 episode of "Triple D Nation" titled "Culinary Kaleidoscope." He first visited the restaurant in 2017 for "Diners" in the episode "College-Town Champs." The restaurant has showcased its comfort food, including the much-raved-about pierogi, the chicken paprikash and more.

Ray Ray's Hog Pit

at Ray Ray's Hog Pit located in back of Ace of Cups. (Tim Johnson/Columbus Monthly)

Ray Ray's Hog Pit appeared on the show in 2017 as well. Fieri visited the barbecue eatery's food truck, trying its Mangalitsa brat burger and St. Louis spare ribs. The restaurant has five walk-up and food truck locations: 5755 Maxtown Road, Westerville; Flint Station, 225 Park Road; Ace of Cups, 2619 N. High St. in Clintonville; Land Grant Brewing, 424 Town St. in Franklinton; Nocterra Brewing, 41 Depot St. in Powell; plus one dine-in spot, at 1256 Columbus Road in Granville.

Momo Ghar

The jol momo at Momo Ghar [TIM JOHNSON/COLUMBUS MONTHLY]

North Market eatery Momo Ghar made an appearance on "Diners" back in 2018 on season 28, in an episode titled "Delicious Discoveries." The eatery, known for its Nepalese and Tibetan dumplings or "momos," opened in 2016 inside Saraga International Grocery store and has since moved to North Market Downtown, 59 Spruce St.

Fieri called Momo Ghar's Chicken Choila set "one of the most unique dishes" he has tried on the show.

Loops

Italian beef photographed at Loops, 1629 Northwest Blvd., on Wednesday, March 20, 2019. [Fred Squillante/Dispatch]

At 1629 Northwest Blvd. on the Northwest Side, Loops first appeared on "Diners" in 2017, in the season 27 episode "Sammies and Spice." The Chicago-style restaurant, which first opened in 2010, features Italian beef sandwiches, gyros, hot dogs and more. Loops also appeared in Season 1, Episode 41 of "Triple D Nation" in the episode "Poultry, Lamb and Jam" in 2022, sharing its meatball sub and gyro rolls with Fieri.

Sweet Carrot

Season 27 featured one more Columbus eatery, Sweet Carrot, which shuttered its remaining restaurant in 2021. The fast-casual comfort food eatery first opened as a food truck and later as a brick-and-mortar in 2015.

Where else has Guy Fieri visited in Ohio?

Fieri has visited over two dozen Ohio restaurants throughout "Diners" (with two new ones airing this month!) Here are the other Ohio spots Fieri has given a stamp of approval.

Lucky's Café, Cleveland

  • Aired Oct. 12, 2009: Season 7, episode 8, "Barbequed, Baked & Brined"
  • Aired May 22, 2020: Season 32, episode 6, "Takeout: Funky Finds in 'da House"
  • What Fieri tried: The biscuits and sausage gravy, housemade granola, Lucky's Reuben and baked mac-n-cheese

Parkview Nite Club, Cleveland

  • Aired Oct. 26, 2009: Season 7, episode 10, "Dives Worth a Drive"
  • What Fieri tried: The smoked salmon BLT

Geraci's Restaurant, Cleveland

  • Aired Nov. 16, 2009: Season 7, episode 13, "Legacies"
  • What Fieri tried: The pepperoni pizza

Sterle's Slovenian Country House, Cleveland

  • Aired Jan. 11, 2010: Season 8, episode 2, "Pizza, Pork & Paprikash"
  • What Fieri tried: The chicken paprikash and the wiener schnitzel

Melt Bar & Grilled, Lakewood

  • Aired Feb. 8, 2010: Season 8, episode 6, "By Request"

Momocho, Cleveland

  • Aired Mar. 22, 2010: Season 8, episode 9, "Twists And Traditions"
  • Aired May 15, 2020: Season 32, episode 5, "Takeout: Dinner & Dessert That Delivers"
  • What Fieri tried: The guacamole with house-smoked trout

The Turf Club, Linwood

  • Aired May 31, 2010: Season 9, episode 6, "Grilled, Smoked & Sauced"
  • Aired Mar. 9, 2015: Season 22, episode 15, "All Beefed Up"
  • What Fieri tried: The filet mignon chili with pork tenderloin and fresh herbs

Blue Ash Chili, Blue Ash

  • Aired Jun. 7, 2010: Season 9, episode 7, "Comfort Food with Attitude"
  • Aired Apr. 22, 2022: Season 1, episode 42 of "Triple D Nation" titled "Out of Bounds Burgers"
  • What Fieri tried: The 6-way with chili, spaghetti, beans, onions, cheese, and fried jalapeno caps; and the "9 napkin" chorizo burger

Melt Revival, Cincinnati

  • Aired Sept. 12, 2014: Season 21, episode 2, "Seriously Saucy"
  • What Fieri tried: The Veggie 3-way with spaghetti, the Redskins and the Yeehaw barbeque.

Island Frydays, Cincinnati

  • Aired Sept. 26, 2014: Season 21, episode 4, "Worldwide Flavorfest"
  • Aired Jun. 4, 2021: Season 34, episode 3, "Takeout: All Over the Menu"
  • Aired Jun. 30, 2023: Season 5, episode 2 of "Triple D" titled "Island-Inspired Eats."
  • What Fieri tried: The jerk chicken platter, the snapper with spicy Jamaican escovitch sauce and the brown stew chicken wrap

Taste of Belgium, Cincinnati

  • Aired Oct. 10, 2014: Season 21, episode 6, "One Street Wonders"
  • Aired May 13, 2022: Season 1, episode 43 of "Triple D" titled "Old Friends, New Flavors"
  • What Fieri tried: The Belgian waffle, the Belgian pretzel with a side of beer cheese and the Carbonnades, a traditional stew made with beer-braised beef

Senate Pub, Blue Ash

  • Aired Oct. 10, 2014: Season 21, episode 6, "One Street Wonders"
  • Aired Aug. 19, 2022: Season 4, episode 2 of "Triple D" titled "From Fried to Sides"
  • What Fieri tried: The "outstanding" Korean hot dog topped with braised short ribs and the crispy braised pig tails

Bakersfield OTR, Over-the-Rhine

  • Aired Oct. 10, 2014: Season 21, episode 6, "One Street Wonders"
  • What Fieri tried: The short rib tacos and the "killer" Milanesa chicken torta

Pho Lang Thang, Over-the-Rhine

  • Aired Nov. 14, 2014: Season 21, episode 9, "Soup-Centric"
  • What Fieri tried: Banh mi with housemade head cheese, roast pork and pickled vegetables

Rowley Inn, Cleveland

  • Aired Apr. 15, 2022: Season 35, episode 7, "Pickin' Up and Chowin' Down"
  • What Fieri tried: The bacon-wrapped tots and the Loco Moski, three pierogi topped with a burger patty, fried onions, over easy eggs and peppered gravy

Mabel's BBQ, Cleveland

  • Aired Apr. 29, 2022: Season 35, episode 8, "Food Network Super Chefs"
  • What Fieri tried: The pork belly, loaded fried potatoes and poppy seed coleslaw

Mason's Creamery, Cleveland

  • Aired May 20, 2022: Season 35, episode 10, "Chicken, Steak and Cake"
  • What Fieri tried: The Raclette ramen and the coconut pandan chiffon ice cream

Fat Cats, Cleveland

  • Aired May 27, 2022: Season 35, episode 11, "Flavor Expedition"
  • What Fieri tried: The chicken arroz caldo

Astoria Cafe & Market, Cleveland

  • Aired Jul. 8, 2022: Season 35, episode 12, "Surf & Savory"
  • What Fieri tried: The Octopus alla Karvouna (charcoal-grilled octopus) and the lamb, beef and ricotta meatballs

Good Company, Cleveland

  • Aired Jul. 15, 2022: Season 35, episode 13, "From Chicken to Chiles"
  • What Fieri tried: The Gabagool sandwich

Lucius Q, Cincinnati

  • Aired Jul. 28, 2023: Season 37, episode 9, "Top-Notch Toppings"
  • What Fieri tried: The Pendleton Porker with pulled pork, pork belly and onion bacon jam; and the BBQ 3-way, spaghetti topped with brisket chili

The Governor, Milford

  • Aired Aug. 4, 2023: Season 37, episode 10, "Stuffed, Sandwiched and Souped"
  • What Fieri tried: The Governor Tso chicken sandwich with chili 5 spice rub and the short rib grilled cheese with kimchi tomato soup

Kiki College Hill, Cincinnati

  • Airing Aug. 18, 2023: Season 37, episode 11, "Dumpling-icious"

Schoolhouse Restaurant, Camp Dennison

  • Airing Aug. 25, 2023: Season 37, episode 12, "Tasty Time Travel"

tmoorman@dispatch.com

@taijuannichole