Butt Shack BBQ

It has been a while since we have technically gone "diving".   Life, kids and daily routine can be used as excuses.  Probably the main reason for the absence of dive adventures is both moms being fulltime "Teen Chauffeurs".    Our fun time has been returning to our regular dives and the old reliable church festivals. Our daughters are sophomores now and loving the high school social life.   With new high school friends, we have learned to navigate rural Colerain Township and western areas of Hamilton County.  Tracy grew up here and I have been in the area for 26 years.  Within the last several months we have found secluded, rural areas only within minutes of major Cincinnati thoroughfares within Hamilton County. 

Late this summer one half of the dive team had an open Saturday evening to explore the interesting westside of the county..  Mickey and I dropped our charges off at a church festival in northwest Cincinnati and began driving.   A friend had recommended The Butt Shack Grill.  It is near Rumpke softball fields so it is fairly well known among the baseball and softball teams there.  The Butt Shack is located in New Baltimore, Ohio just west of the Great Miami River. Although New Baltimore is a mere 4 miles from the I-275 loop and suburban sprawl, it could have been any Midwest small town, isolated miles and decades from a large city. 

Street View

The Butt Shack was not hard to find since there were only a few blocks in town.  Close your eyes and let the smell of smoking ribs take you there.  Park around back and pass your ribs smoking in the rear.  The restaurant area is located below street level and is entered from the side.  We were told that you go to the Butt Shack for food and friends and not so much atmosphere.  The ceiling was low and the dining area smaller than you would expect. 

A team of little leaguers followed us in and quickly took over most of the remaining tables.

Simple and cozy interior

 Since ribs are only available Fridays and Saturday evenings, we both ordered a half rack with two sides. .  Mickey had originally ordered a full rack and the waitress highly recommended he reduce his order.  He did and was glad he did.  Our meal was served in plastic wicker baskets with a wax paper liner and sides in styrofoam cups.   They were perfectly smoked, moist and loaded with plenty of meat that fell off the bone.  The fact that we paid $14 for the rib platter was even more satisfying. 

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and would stop by again.  We did not linger.  The surroundings were functional but not conducive to lingering to watch the end of the game.  We felt we needed to eat and move on for the next group.

Good News:  The recent addition of the Greenhills Press boasted "Butt Shack Coming Soon".  We'll be excited to have one close to our home, ready to blog about the new location.  Will keep you posted.

 

Century Inn - Over Two Hundred Years

Another one of our regular haunts is hardly new.  The Century Inn at the Woodlawn/Glendale border was established in 1806 and still remains popular with thirsty patrons and locals.  Tracy, Mike, Mickey and I will not officially dive at the Century Inn since we have frequented it often together and with others. 

Last winter Tracy and I stopped in for a happy hour on a weekday evening.  After dropping her son at basketball practice it would have been silly and a waste of gas to drive all the way home.   We were delighted with $1.50 pint drafts and half off appetizers.  They were also promoting $2 margaritas, but it was a worknight.  The beer was cold, wet and promptly served as usual.  Neither one of us cared for the Nachos Supreme which was Texas chili over chips with a cheddar cheese sauce.  The onion rings were typical.  We may like to dive to out of the way locations but Buffalo Wings is still the best place for onion rings! That evening we were focused on conversation and relaxing brew, so we did not leave too disappointed but would make other choices next time.  Previous visits to Century Inn we have greatly enjoyed their pork chops, prime rib and pot roast.  I work close by and often take guests there for lunch.  The lunch time crowd is an interesting mix of retired folk, business people, blue collar workers and golfers from the nearby local links.  They all mingle and look equally at home. The atmosphere and food always delights.

It is difficult to say which season is best to visit the Century Inn.  The dark wood interior, cozy antique bar, low beam ceilings and original fireplace make for a delightful winter evening.  They have recently expanded the patio and added cornhole sets along the extensive backyard.  With strategically placed heaters and the occasional wind curtain, it is practically an all season deck.  There is a stage for live bands and plenty of TVs to follow all the sporting events.

Checkout their new website.  It is complete with menus, calendar of events and specials plus directions on how to find them on the former "Cincinnati - Hamilton Pike" now Springfield Pike.

We like the Century Inn for its cozy warmth in the winter and welcoming deck throughout the year.  The Inn is perfectly located halfway between our homes and the malls.   We will spontanteously drop in soon again as we pass by and will have a pleasant experience as always.

Stuffing It - Followed Up

We have been away from official diving for awhile.  That is not to say we have not had chances to go out but getting our social schedules and kids activities synced has been a challenge.  Last summer we had fun following up with a home version of one of our favorite dive foods - stuffed peppers. It is sad to report that official diving opportunities have been few lately.  We are juggling one basketball team, three volleyball teams, two soccer teams and an overlap of indoor seasons.   With the cool fall temperatures setting in and while we are waiting for the next great dive, it is a perfect opportunity to reminsice about warmer summer times and our attempt at duplicating a dive experience.

Both Mike and Mickey enjoy vegetable gardening.  When banana peppers came into season Tracy and I started talking about the stuffed peppers we had at Hooligans during Mike's dive excursion.  (Tracy is by far the real cook and taste connoisseur of the group). We decided to try to duplicate.  Well duplicate ....and expand and improve the peppers of course. So on one warm July Saturday evening we gathered to stuff peppers, drink a few beers and enjoy great company.

Cast iron skillets on the gas grill did the trick.  It kept all the grease and smell outside. The evening turned into a wrap-it kind of night with the expected banana peppers and monterey jack cheese but then choices of shredded zucchini, pepper jack cheese, sauerkraut, ground beef, sausage, chopped onions. My college aged son Alex joined in the fun of the wrapping. Everything was tasty - well isn't everything deep fried tasty.  We each had our favorite combo and suggestions to add the next time - cream cheese, bacon, spinach, chocolate were just a few.  There was more food than we could all eat.  It was a wonderful evening of being stuffed.

We are anxious to return to our diving but regular and backyard adventures will have to do for now.

Diving Along Springdale Road

A brisk June evening was my turn to pick the dives.  Believe me there was plenty of thinking trying to find a combination that was unique and would still delight.  Finally relied on a recommendation of a coworker.  Scott knew what I was looking for since he was familiar with the Banklick and was quite impressed Tracy and I had ventured in. 

Mick is running late from work so we meet at Tracy's for happy hour beverages. First rule to change - my dive night, my turn to drive!  We jump on Cross County for a quick drive to Springdale Road and stop a bar at the top of hill called Trio Lounge.  Its a Friday evening, there seem to be only a few cars outside but we have our guys and are brave to venture in.  The regulars recognized us as newbies but were friendly.  The inside was neatly decorated with tv's, high tops and pool table but we went straight to the back deck.  We were delighted to find a raised spacious deck that overlooked a large wooden area.  Below the deck was an area for cornhole, firepit and more tables. There were grills out to be used with larger crowds or parties. The view and conversation kept us for a couple of beers before we left for our next dive. The Trio seemed a perfect place for a softball team on a Saturday afternoon.

We continued a short distance down Springdale Road, with comments that they had never been on this part of Springdale before.  We round a small bend and crest a hill to see the neon lights ot McCoys before us. McCoys must be popular with bikers since there is a No Colors sign on the door. There is a large fenced in back patio but we go inside which is large and open. 



Mind the livers!



We figured the best specials and items on the menu were the Ribs, Pork Chops and the Reuben since they were all sold out by the time we got there.  The $8 rib-eye special was available - with two sides you shouldn't be allowed to comment on it. Besides going to McCoys for the first time, Mickey talked Tracy into trying chicken livers for the first time. "Not bad" but I don't think she took a second one.

 

When we were done eating we went to the back patio, that is where all the people walking in the front were headed. There was a full bar in the back and a band setting up on a stage.  It was cozily lit, had plenty of tables and was very inviting.  It was a cool evening and it had been a work day for all so we called it a night.   We all agreed McCoys would be a great place to return to with a large group.  The inside was good for a family dinner or a post game meal for a team. It was deemed another diving success.



Bacalls and Soccer Camp Tradition

As mentioned at first, some of our regular neighborhood places we do not consider dives as part of our adventure but they each deserve to be written about.  One of those is Bacalls Cafe on Hamilton Ave in College Hill.

Tracy and I recently enjoyed Bacalls as one of our annual traditions.  While our girls were doing the McAuley High School soccer camp, we walked to Bacalls for a few beers and appetizers.  As other parents linger and watch the camp, we leave the McAuley parking lot looking like two fit and committed soccer moms, setting out for a brisk walk and brisk conversation.  On other evenings we would have walked the streets around McAuley, enjoying the brick, stone and cobble homes but this evening we head straight to Bacalls.

We like Bacalls for the quiet intimate dining and bar area. We sit at a high top in the bar where we can see the magnificent wooden bar. There are just a couple TVs so fans can keep up on the games but they are subtle enough not to disturb the evening.

It is an appetizer kind of night.  Tracy and I love onion rings, Bacalls offers onion straws which are tasty but no comparison to onion rings.  We do like their ranch fries made with waffle fries. I also ordered their blackened quesadilla which is loaded with sauteed onions and green peppers, a side of black bean and corn salsa tops this one off.  The beers are big, cold and served promptly. We reluctantly admitted it was time to head back to camp, it is all too tempting to linger longer in this laid back cafe.
Although soccer is what brought us together, it is not what keeps us together anymore. It is still comforting to continue some of the same soccer traditions while we can. Our girls have done the McAuley camp for five years.  As they enter high school next year, there is just one more year of soccer camp for them.  There are many more years of T and L walking over to Bacalls as one of our favorite, close neighborhood bars.

Back Diving at "The Chicken"

We returned to our first regular dive adventure of 2011 in March, it was Tracy's Mike turn.  Mike's only problem with diving is deciding which one to pick. He has long list of suggestions ready.  The first stop was for appetizers at Hooligans on Highland Avenue near Pleasant Ridge.  During the summer months it is a busy place with sand volleyball leagues.  This relatively early March evening it was quiet. 

Mike brought us to Hooligans for one specific appetizer - the stuffed banana peppers.  The Taste of Cincinnati award winning peppers are stuffed (full!) with jack cheese wrapped in an egg roll, then deep fried. The thick marinaro sauce worked well with the peppers.  The service was poor but we were not shy about  helping ourselves to ordering at the bar.  The peppers made up for the service, they were the perfect way to start the evening. Any return to Hooligans would be specifically for the peppers.

The next stop had been a regular stop for Mike and Tracy but was new to us.  We had heard of it and were anxious to try it out - Chicken on the Run on Ohio Avenue in a qiuet Deer Park neighborhood.  It  is most commonly referred to as just 'The Chicken'.  The inside was open and perfect for large groups, there were many families and teams enjoying The Chicken that night. The restaurant had grown over the years and had taken over the business next to it.  This backroom was full of arcades making it a favorite place for kids.  We didn't notice if there was even chicken on the menu - I doubt it.  The cheeseburger was great as anticipated and the onion rings did not disappoint.  The atmosphere is one that only small local bars can duplicate.  Especially when one can leave and step into a quiet neighborhood of small cape cods and wonder how many of these small local places we have lost. It is no wonder that The Chicken is so popular with crowds of all ages.

"The Chicken" scored points with Mickey on the beer selection. Unfortunately he had difficulty holding his beer that night - literally. Mickey's slippery fingers almost gave Mike a beer bath from across the table.  The waitress was more than happy to replace his beer and see that he didn't have any more problems that night.

On the way to The Chicken, we had noticed a new place on Montgomery Road just north of Pleasant Ridge.  It was outside of the business district so the lights and crowd was easy to notice.  After The Chicken we stopped to check out HD Beans and Bottles Cafe. It is what its name implies a coffee shop with a selection of over 80 bottled beers.  There was a small back room set up for live music on Friday and Saturday nights.  That evening the large crowd was there for a fundraiser for the local Catholic school, Nativity.   Although the coffee smell was tempting we all stuck with beer, and just enjoyed the aroma.

It was a nice place to visit but I wasn't sure if it was a coffee house, a bar, or a sandwich shop with carryout.  It felt like it was searching for its identity. 

Another successful evening of diving and feeling back in the groove.  With warmer weather around the corner, we can't wait to explore outside patios.

  

Regular Dives - Walt's Barbeque

Slowly getting back into regular diving weather.  Volleyball season is over, outdoor soccer season has started.  But with warmer weather it seems easier to venture out on weekend evenings, even after a day full of tournament games.

This time blogging about another one of our regular places to meet and eat - Walts Barbeque on Colerain Avenue.  Walts is a super casual, family barbeque restaurant which should not be a surprise since the building is a red barn.  The red barn is hard to miss on busy Colerain Avenue.

All the meat is slowly smoked. It is hard to decide between the brisket, ribs, chicken, pulled pork, and even turkey.  The best bet is go for the three meat combo feast!  Every time we go, we leave with plenty of leftovers, good for at least one more full meal.  It will take several trips to work your way through the selection of 15 hot and 7 cold sides.  Some of our favorites are red beans and rice (Mike!), green beans (Tracy), collard greens (Mickey) and baked potato casserole (Lisa). Walts is a great place to have the table order a variety of items and eat them family style.

The motif is definitely gitchy piggish barbeque with plenty of pig humor decorating the walls.  The atmosphere is open and can be a bit loud - it is a barn.  There is a smaller dining room, in the bar area.  We love Walts for the good food, quick service and great value. And oh yeah, for the great company that comes along with it.