Ido Bar & Grill
1537 S. Main St.
Phone: (330) 773-1724
Open: Tuesday thru Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Website: https://www.idobar.com/
Lots of Akron foodies who prioritize dine-in experiences over drive-thrus know about Ido Bar & Grill. For years, this locally owned favorite at 1537 S. Main St. in Firestone Park has offered an equally welcoming and casual atmosphere, highlighted by a menu that blends American and global flavors.
After all, not all burgers are made fast.
Ido, as we know it, prides itself on presenting a laid-back, tavern-style environment. It’s an ideal spot for families with kiddos, the singles bar crowd and those looking for an old-school diner experience.
Ido has been a staple in the Akron community since 1998 — but it originally opened a century ago as Ido Café. Its namesake derives from the street adjacent to the restaurant, Ido Avenue, which was at one point called Ida Avenue, named after Ida J. Neal, daughter of the Thorntons (for whom Akron’s Thornton Street is named).
All that said, the correct pronunciation of Ido is “Ida” but with an “oh” sound at the end. No, the restaurant is not named after weddings (“I do”), though it wouldn’t surprise me if some regulars met their future spouses at this cozy joint.
Its burgers stand out, blending gastro-pub creativity with down-home charm. The pimento burger, for example, is stacked sky-high, topped with fried green tomatoes, dill pickle chips, sweet onion and bacon jam. The classic Ido burger is a juicy blend of Angus chuck and beef brisket topped with grilled mushrooms, onions and American cheese.
Other staples on the menu include the Italian burger, a hoagie-meets-hamburger fusion with salami, Italian dressing, cheese, lettuce tomato and onion, and the Ranch burger, which packs a crunch with crumbled bacon, fresh seasoned onion straws and, of course, the Midwestern favorite: ranch dressing.
The cost of a burger averages around $13, with specialty burgers going up a bit in price. With fast food burgers creeping toward the $10 range these days, Ido’s $10 burger night (Wednesdays) is a popular weekday option.
Ido is also known for its seafood, from shrimp and grits to lobster brie dip. You can get the best of both worlds with a surf ‘n’ turf smash burger loaded with battered shrimp, cole slaw and chipotle aoli.
Though limited, Ido does offer vegetarian options such as the candied pecan salad, deep fried pickles and pierogis. Really, though, the burgers are this restaurant’s bread and butter (or bread and beef).
2nd place:
Bob’s Hamburg
1351 East Avenue, (330) 253 BOBS (2627)
3rd place:
The Merchant Tavern
1824 Merriman Rd., (330) 865 9510