Get the most out of dad’s visit this weekend with this guide to fine dining in Athens
With a number of dads flooding the bricks this weekend, many students may look to try out the often expensive cuisine of Athens that their wallets can’t normally support.
It’s not often that one gets to enjoy — worry-free — an $18 to $20 entrée at one of the many uptown eateries, but parents can make those dreams possible.
Bill Justice, owner of 9 Tables, 9 N. Shafer St., said the restaurant usually only serves nine tables a night but these special weekends are the only times tables are turned, or set up to be used again after one group has finished. Reservations will be taken for 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
At 9 Tables, a five-course meal is $50 and a seven-course meal is $75. Justice said patrons don’t need to dress up to come and that the establishment is BYOB.
“We’re more expensive, but you’re at dinner longer and actually have time to talk with whomever you go out to dinner with,” Justice said. “Instead of being rushed out, you can come here, spend the night catching up and have good food to go with good company.”
Without planning, students can face full houses and long waiting lists.
For these weekends, reservations are key. Nearly every restaurant accepts and recommends making reservations. Casa Nueva, 6 W. State St., does not accept reservations, but a worker said they are always prepped and ready for the influx of patrons.
At Salaam, 21 W. Washington St., which offers Mediterranean and other worldly dishes, reservations can only be made for parties of five or more people. Mark Burhans, the owner and chief financial officer of the restaurant, recommends walk-ins to aim for an early or late dinner — either at 5:30 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.
“We’re open until 9:30 p.m., so we’ll serve until 9:30 p.m. and will stay until you’re done,” Burhans said.
At Lui Lui, 8 Station St., Andrea Molnar, part owner, said she schedules extra people to balance out the busyness.
Molnar said they serve a steak special for $19 because steak is “popular with the dads” — a sentiment shared by other restaurants — and added the $10 brick-oven pizza is also a popular option.
Under Ohio state law, a person under the age of 21 can drink alcoholic beverages if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Some restaurants did not want to comment on whether or not they abide by this exception, but at both Zoe and Sol, the manager and owner, respectively, said the restaurants observe this part of the law.
Photo IDs are compared to make sure the underage person belongs to the adult. However, parents can only buy for their children and not for their children’s fellow underage friends, said James Farley, front-of-house manager at Zoe, 24 E. State St., which serves entrées ranging from $11 to $30.
Sol, 33 N. Court St., will have a mini Ohio Brew Week where customers can choose different samplers of Ohio craft brews. Sol serves Cuban cuisine with entrées ranging from $9 to $19.
“We look forward to and count on those (OU special) weekends to boost our business,” Todd Wilson, owner of Sol, said. “It helps us get through the slower periods in winter with the weather and students going home.”
@buzzlightmeryl
mg986611@ohio.edu
