Best Restaurants to Try in Youngstown, Ohio

Mouth-Watering Menus in Youngstown

Youngstown, Ohio is filled with great restaurants!  We have our fair share of chain restaurants, but when I refer to “great restaurants,” I am referring to those that are local and family-owned.  These are the types of restaurants where you find some really awesome food!  It doesn’t matter if I am home or traveling to a new destination, I am always on the hunt for places the locals eat because that’s where you find the best food.

Youngstown Traditions

In the late 1800s, immigrants from all over the world came to Youngstown, Ohio to work in the steel mills.  There were large groups of Italians, Slovaks, and Hungarians who filled the area.  When you look at Youngstown’s various family-owned restaurants, you’ll find a lot of these ethnicities interweaved in the food they serve.  And there are foods here in Youngstown that are unique to this part of the country.  Wedding Soup and Brier Hill Pizza are both found on so many menus in this area.

Never had Wedding Soup?  The soup base is chicken broth and contains chicken, mini meatballs, spinach and sometimes pastina.  It’s delicious and a must-try if you’re in the area.

What about Briar Hill Pizza? During the depression, people relied on their gardens to supply them with the vegetables they needed.  In Northeast, Ohio, tomatoes and peppers grow well so they are readily available.  And flour was also easy to get.  Families from the Briar Hill area would make pizza dough and top it with sauce, tomatoes and peppers.  The pizza was finished off with grated parmesan cheese instead of the traditional mozzarella cheese because it was so much cheaper.  And so “Briar Hill” pizza was born!

Dinner Options

Youngstown is filled with great pizza options including Wedgewood Pizza, Avalon, Belleria and The Uptown to name a few.  You’ll see “Briar Hill” pizza on all of their menus! If you’re in the area, be sure to try at least one of these local pizza shops!

We seriously have some of the best restaurants in Youngstown, Ohio! If you’re looking for something other than pizza, try one of these hometown favorites:

Nicolinni’s Italian Restaurant (Boardman location)

This is my absolute favorite restaurant in the area!  They have a fantastic menu with some incredibly tasty options.  My two favorite dishes are their Chicken Parmesan and Chicken Marsala.  They have great flavor and portion sizes are generous.  They also serve bread and oil, which is phenomenal (you can even order their oil to go) as well as a salad topped with their house dressing.  If you’re looking for an appetizer, Mozzarella Marinara is my top choice.

Davidson’s Restaurant

I am a huge fan of restaurants with large menus.  I am not always sure what I’ll be in the mood for so I prefer to have options!  Davidson’s has a good-sized menu with some variety so it’s easy to find something everyone will like.  My favorite meal is Chicken Francaise—I have tried it at so many restaurants and Davidson’s version is still my favorite.  It’s a light, lemony chicken dish that is just fantastic.  My husband loves Reubens and one of his favorites is from Davidson’s too.

Coaches Burger Bar

If you’re looking for a good burger, check out Coach’s Burger Bar.  We’ve had a few different burgers on their menu, but I go back to their Patty Melt every time.  If you like a little spice, my husband usually picks their Sideline Fire Burger.  And even if you’re not feeling a burger, there also serve chicken, salads, etc.

Forty-10

This restaurant is a newer, family-owned restaurant, but they have one of our family’s favorite dishes—Yum Yum Chicken Noodle Bowl.  During COVID, many of the restaurants started offering family meal deals and the Yum Yum Chicken was on their take-out menu.  The meal comes with a pan of the Yum Yum Chicken, a salad and rolls and feeds our family of 5 (plus we have leftovers).  Our kids all LOVE this dinner so it’s a restaurant that is not to be missed.  And if you like a little spice in your life, try their Bobby Boo-Shay Mac and Cheese!

Homestead Kitchen & Cocktails

This restaurant is actually in Columbiana, Ohio, but it’s not too far outside of the Youngstown area so I’m including it!  This is also a newer restaurant that offers some interesting menu items along with micro-brews and cocktails.  We love their Crispy Brussels Sprouts and their Lemon Chicken Sandwich.  It’s funny how we become creatures of habit!  Although we try a variety of foods, we keep coming back to our favorites!  I would suggest you give this restaurant a try!

Dessert Options

If you’re looking for sweets, then look no further!  We have plenty of options available!

Handel’s Ice Cream

A trip to Youngstown without visiting Handel’s is no trip at all!  Handel’s serves up some extremely delicious homemade ice cream.  There are several flavors on the list so there is certainly something for everyone.  My top choice (and one of their most popular flavors) is Chocolate Pecan.  I also recommend their Spouse like a House (vanilla ice cream with peanut butter swirl and chocolate-covered pretzels) and coffee chocolate chip.  My husband is a die-hard Vanilla Oreo fan, while Michael likes Mint Chocolate Chip.  Cohen loves their Banana and Tyler likes either plain Vanilla or Buckeye.  You honestly can’t go wrong with any choice!

White House Fruit Farm

This local farm is known for their Blueberry Donuts!  They have a case full of different flavors, but my favorite is their apple cinnamon or their lemon (when it’s in season).  The kids like the ones topped with sprinkles or Oreos.  My husband loves donuts too, but I think his favorite White House offering is their beef jerky! 

Oh Donut Company

If you want more donuts, Oh Donuts offers a variety of donut flavors such as S’mores, Fruity Pebbles, Maple Bacon and more. They have other food too such as sandwiches, soups and salads.

One Hot Cookie

If you prefer Cookies, you can head right next door to One Hot Cookie for a sweet treat! Want more than just a cookie? Consider an ice cream sandwich, edible cookie dough, or a smashcup–filled with ice cream and a cookie! Check out their menu!

Bake Me Treats

We enjoy sweet treats from Bake Me Treats in Poland, Ohio. My kids are HUGE fans of macarons and they have several flavors! This summer we tried their cookies and cream macaroon ice cream sandwich and it was a hit! They offer a variety of delicious options so if you’re in the area, try them out!

Other Recommendations?

As you can see, you won’t run into a lack of good food in Youngstown!  And my list just scratches the surface! For those of you who are locals, what other restaurants would you suggest?