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Jimmy’s Restarant and Lounge
4262 Portage NW
North Canton, Ohio 44720
Phone: 330-494-9096
Service:3
Cost:3
Overall:3
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Jimmy’s is relatively new to the area and I had gone in with my mother for lunch some few weeks ago, and resolved to go back with the review crew. I called ahead and spoke to Jimmy about accommodations because i did have some reservations about seating for our ample bellied selves. He was quick to assure me there would be plenty of room and looked forward to seeing us. When we arrived, we had a series of tables in a row reserved for us and the waitress was on the ball. The place, which as far as eateries in Belden Village go, is small and it was hopping but she kept us happy and put up with us. It wasn’t so loud to be obnoxious, though I have a feeling some of the other patrons around thought -we- might of been! I had the manicotti, which was very very good - the noodles were home made even. My only complaint was that when we were done, I was still a little hungry! Cost wise, it’s very good for what you get. Overall, a good experience and I would be glad to go back. Staff and owner alike are very friendly and eager to sit down with you and chat.
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John’s Bar and Grille
2749 Cleveland Ave Nw, Canton, OH, 44709
Service:3
Cost:3
Overall:3
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John’s is a local haunt that’s been around a good long time. They’re known for steaks and seafood and of course, alcohol. I had been there before with family awhile ago so it was nice to go back. The decor of the place is pretty standard - wood and low but ample lighting. The main restaurant is sectioned off from the main bar which helps to cut down on noise. The tables we were seated at were pushed together to make one long table but there seemed to be enough room for our group. The service was good, if I recall and I had a rack of ribs and my god, what a rack it was. I couldn’t finish it, that’s for sure. The over all cost of the meal was expected, a little on the expensive side but it is considered fine dining in the area. I wouldn’t mind trying lunch there some time.
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Scoring:
NYR - Not yet Reviewed
1 - poor, 2 - fair, 3 - average, 4 - good, 5 - excellent
Food:2.5
Decor:3
Service: 2.5
Cost:2.5
Overall: 2.5
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When we first arrived, it was easy to see that the place was busy. They boast having 30 screens to watch various sports events on - so yeah. We expected it to be busy. I was told by the passing waitress that until the game was over, they couldn’t seat such a large group (of 10).
As I was about to call Amy and inform her that there was only 3 minutes on the clock, which means the game had just started - the manager came by and said that it was our lucky night. A group was leaving and they had a table for us. Within 5 more minutes we were seated. The decor was interesting, sporting the trademark rooster everywhere along with quirky signs that read things like “God must love stupid people, he made so many” and “Help keep our streets clean, wipe your feet before you leave”. The wood was all nice and polished and the ceilings were vaulted. Nice to look at but very bad for sound. It was loud. We don’t like loud.
The waitress, one of many who served us, asked us to remember an assigned number so that she would remember what check to put our orders on. I’m sorry but a good waitress can remember what her tables order. You don’t say “hey, you’re number one and you guys are number two, remember that so I get it right”. We also had to ask her for things she forgot a number of times. It took almost 45 minutes for Amy to get her martini.
The food. Being a place that advertises they are “the place for wings”, I was seriously disappointed. The appetizers were very small for the price and the wing selection was limited to nine sauces that all pretty much were the same with varying degrees of hot. I had mac & cheese bites - which cost as much as Dan’s large burger. I also had the BBQ and Mild wings and a BBQ burger. The mild - was plain. There was little flavor and little spice. The BBQ sauce was, well, generic. The burger was large but just like any burger I can get anywhere in Belden Village. We sampled most of the wing sauces and the ones that were “hot” were all heat and no flavor. Very sad. $55 for two soft drinks, 35 wings, two very small appetizers and one burger. Meh.
Needless to say we ended up back at the Lizard later for dessert and more wings and drinks. Would I go back? Probably not, nor would I suggest it as a place to go on the spur of the moment. If I were with people who were going, sure, I’ll return but not on my own.
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Scoring:
NYR - Not yet Reviewed
1 - poor, 2 - fair, 3 - average, 4 - good, 5 - excellent
Food:4
Decor:2
Service: 2.5
Cost: 3
Overall: 3.5
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Going in, I expected it to be like all the other places we’ve been. You arrive, are seated by a hostess, look at the menu and order. It was more like, you go in - the menu is on the wall, you order at the counter, get a numbered ticket and find a place to sit. You get your own drink and plastic utensils. Very much like a fast food place. There’s a roll of paper towels at every table. I think a lot of people who haven’t been there will have the same surprised “ooooh kay” reaction that I did.
The food however, is not like fast food. Not by a long shot. I ordered a full rack of ribs with a baked potato and green beans. They have five sauces to choose from and I sampled two but didn’t do more than dip a few times. It wasn’t that the sauces were bad, they were very good - it was just that the dry rub on the ribs was that much better. The meat practically melted off the bones. Just the way BBQ should be. It’s no wonder they won awards at the Ribs Burn-Off this year.
There’s not much to be said about the service because there wasn’t any beyond the preparation of the food and taking our order. I will say it didn’t take more than 15 minutes for our food to be done.
The cost for what we got was good as well. We were full when we left and for our group - that’s saying something! I would certainly go back and recommend this place to others. I’d like to go in for lunch some time as well.
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Scoring:
NYR - Not yet Reviewed
1 - poor, 2 - fair, 3 - average, 4 - good, 5 - excellent
Food: 3
Decor: 4
Service: 2.5
Cost: 3
Overall: 3.5
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Little Chicago was given some rave reviews in the local newspaper, which is why we chose to try it as well. That said, it lived up to most of the Rep’s commentary.
Let’s start with decor. Downtown Canton, which is where this bistro is located, is a dump. City officials and communities are doing their best to restore things but it’s a slow process. There’s just very little appeal to downtown right now. Little Chicago is a little bandaid on a big sore. With it’s pressed tin ceilings and dark wood it’s very comfortable. The various photos of gangsters and 20’s era celebrities adds a little flavor as well. The pub section has a large bar and a good number of big screens that patrons can watch various games on and the dining area is sectioned off by a set of large, thick glass and wood doors. It too has it’s own bar and a much more quiet atmosphere. We arrived at 6:30 (reservations are required, BTW) and it wasn’t too busy. By 8:30 when we left it was getting hard to hear, even in the dining area.
The service? Well, our waitress was doing her best but she had to be reminded a few times of things, and some things (like the iced tea - which I found to be terrible) were asked to be taken back and replaced with something drinkable. I’m sure others will comment more on this later.
The most important part - food. I ordered linguine with clams in a red sauce, sans sliced onions. I should have ordered the steak. Not that my meal wasn’t good - it was very good but Ralph makes the exact same dish, better. We had an antipasto appetizer which was a nice sized tray consisting of cubes of cheese, rounds of fresh mozzarella and cubes of meats, along with olives, peppers and a bed of lettuce garnished with what I think was Italian dressing. Very tasty. Unfortunately, when we left, we were still a little hungry and there were no dessert options on the menu.
The cost of the night came to just over $50, so a little pricey but not as much as some other place’s we’ve gone. The portions could be a little larger but then, we’re a large group of large people. Heh. Would I go back? Yeah maybe. It’s one of those once in awhile places though.
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