Restaurants

We asked, you answered. Here are some of your favorite Valley comfort foods

By Alyssa Weston for Mahoning Matters

Updated March 19, 2022 11:04 PM

Shown here is a bowl of Beauchene’s Poutine from West & Main restaurant in Warren, one of Mahoning Matters readers’ favorite comfort food dishes in the Mahoning Valley. (Photo provided)

Last week we asked local Facebook denizens about their favorite “go-to” menu item at local restaurants. We got more than 80 responses!

We got the idea from Robert Dennick Joki, Youngstown LGBTQIA+ activist and founder of Rust Belt Theater Company, who made a similar Facebook post.

Many of us have a specific dish we turn to — perhaps it’s during celebrations, maybe it’s to help us out of tough times. Either way, food can have a large impact.

Food can be tied to a memory, or a feeling. Food can be cultural, or a way to show love. So we were interested to see what our readers would deem their “favorites.”

Here’s what our commenters had to say:

Mahoning County

From the menu: “Fall-off-the-bone meaty pork ribs, grilled then basted in our original BBQ. Available in half and full rack.”

Order up: Baby back ribs from Barry Dyngles

1601 S. Raccoon Road, Austintown
Open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 8 p.m.
330-259-4788

From the menu: “Fried golden brown, melted provolone & parmesan, choice of pasta and sauce.”

Order up: Zucchini parmesan from Blue Wolf Tavern

1295 Boardman-Canfield Road, Boardman
Open Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday noon to 8 p.m.
330-726-1736

From the menu: “Tender sliced beef or chicken cooked with onions and bell peppers. Served with guacamole, beans, with cheese, tomato, and flour tortilla.”

Order up: Steak fajitas from Calavera’s Mexican Bar & Grill

5511 Silica Road, Austintown
Open Monday to Friday, 11 a.m to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; and Sunday noon to 9 p.m.
330-505-9140

From the menu: “Breaded chicken, mozzarella cheese, served over a bed of pasta with sauce.”

Order up: Chicken parmigiana dinner from Carchedi’s Cafe

30 E. Water St., Lowellville
Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
330-536-6077

From the menu: “Includes french fries, coleslaw and Charlie’s Famous Saucey Bread.”

Order up: BBQ chicken dinner from Charlie Staples Bar-B-Que

372 W. Rayen Ave., Youngstown
Open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
330-743-7427

From the menu: “Topped with bacon, pepper jack cheese, BBQ sauce and an onion ring.”

Order up: Cowboy burger from Dickey’s

27 N. Meridian Road, Youngstown
Open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
330-799-0058

From the menu: “Shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber inside, avocado eel sauce on top.”

Order up: Austintown roll from Hanami Express Japanese Restaurant

1520 S. Raccoon Road, Austintown
Open Monday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 10 p.m.
330-793-8888

From the menu: “Napa Grocery rotates through various Roman style pizzas each week, some varieties include margherita, spicy sausage, spicy sopressata, mushroom, prosciutto, potato, pepperoni, artichoke and pineapple.”

Order up: Roman-style pizza from Napa Grocery

4350 Boardman-Canfield Road, Canfield
Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
330-286-3136

From the menu: “Pan-fried Gerber farms breasts, baby spinach, homemade hot peppers, aged provolone, rigatoni, marinara, Parmigiano-Reggiano.”

Order up: Y-Town chicken from The Village Pump

5231 S Canfield-Niles Road No. 4, Canfield
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
330-286-3677

From the menu: “Served with herbed flat bread and imported olives.”

Order up: Edamame hummus from V2 Wine Bar Trattoria

100 W. Federal St., Youngstown
Open Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
330-742-5595

Trumbull County

From the menu: “Boneless chicken simmered in a mild cream sauce. Garnished with almonds and cashews.”

Order up: Chicken korma from Bombay Curry & Grill

5400 Youngstown Warren Road, Niles
Open Tuesday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and Sunday noon to 9 p.m.
330-544-4444

From the menu: “Our creamy macaroni and cheese, topped with pulled pork, cheddar cheese, BBQ sauce and two onion rings.”

Order up: Mess plate from Cockeye BBQ

1805 Parkman Road NW, Warren
Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
330-369-4227

Order up: Grandma square (slice) from Pizzeria Brandolino

2 Youngstown Warren Road, Niles
Open Tuesday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
330-349-1074

From the menu: “½ pound of brisket, 1 leg quarter, ½ pound of pulled pork, pickles, onions, BBQ sauce and 3 reg sides.”

Order up: Cowboy plate from Southtown Smokehouse & Saloon

375 Wilson Sharpsville Road, Warren
Open Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 11 p.m.; Friday,noon to 12 a.m.; Saturday, noon to 1 a.m.; Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.
330-469-6850

Order up: Rusty’s Grilled Jumbo Reuben from Sunrise Inn of Warren

510 E. Market St., Warren
Open Sunday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Friday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
330-392-5176

From the menu: “Crispy fries, topped with slow braised short rib, red wine demi glace, fried cheese curds, shishito peppers, local farm fresh fried egg.”

Order up: Beauchene’s Poutine from West & Main

187 W. Market St., Warren
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (kitchen closes at 9 p.m.); and Sunday for brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
330-974-1665

This story was originally published March 19, 2022 at 12:00 AM.