Chef Adam Heidt holds his culinary creation, the Homestyle Chicken Sammy, at Circle of Fifths
Chef Adam Heidt holds his culinary creation, the Homestyle Chicken Sammy, at Circle of Fifths, located at 45 E. Market St. in Akron. (Photo provided by Circle of Fifths)

Taste This: Homestyle Chicken Sammy ($14 as of July 30, 2025) at Circle of Fifths, located at 45 E. Market St. in Akron (330-302-8127).

Creator: Adam Heidt, chef 

Eye test: A boneless, hand-butchered chicken quarter is double fried and dressed in house-made buttermilk ranch and house-made pickles, all wedged into a brioche bun trying very hard to contain everything. Two hands are needed to hold the sandwich. Napkins are necessary. Perhaps a bib. 

What makes this item special: The buttermilk gives the chicken a firm texture and viscosity without a heavy coating. As a side bar, patrons can add a Pickle Pack for $6, which includes a rotating selection of mixed pickles made in house.

Process: Heidt is quick to mention the in-house butchering process as well as the house-made pickles and ranch dressing: “All cucumbers can be pickles, but not all pickles are cucumbers.” I nodded like I understood. Heidt’s double-fried chicken is brined in buttermilk and coated in house flour before being double fried into crispy, aromatic glory. The result is a sandwich that dares you to take a bite without making a mess.

Timothy Baxter mixes a cocktail at the Circle of Fifths bar in downtown Akron
General manager Timothy Baxter mixes a cocktail at the Circle of Fifths bar in downtown Akron. (Photo provided by Circle of Fifths)

Pairs with: Guest bartender Shaun Daugherty was on hand for Bartender Take Over — a Wednesday tradition where a rotating cast of local mixologists wow the crowd.  

The cocktail menu is as entertaining to read as it is to drink. Pickles are mentioned more than once — even on the drink slate. You could try There’s Some Pickles in This House if you fancy a pickle-tini with mezcal, vodka or tequila. Two patrons across from me each tried the No Pepino, which included tequila, house espresso-caramel liqueur, chocolate, white sage and lavender smoke. 

I thought the bar was on fire. It wasn’t. Just flair.

General Manager Timothy Baxter told me each drink is “approachable,” which I appreciated because some cocktails look like science experiments. Delicious ones.

The Homestyle Chicken Sammy served at Circle of Fifths, located in Akron
The Homestyle Chicken Sammy is served at Circle of Fifths, located at 45 E. Market St. in Akron. (Circle of Fifths’ Instagram profile)

Creator’s backstory: Heidt is part culinary wizard, part mad scientist (his words). He’s led this kitchen for a year and a half. He’s serious about food, fermentation and frying items to a golden perfection. Heidt previously worked in various kitchens throughout the city.

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About the company: Baxter, the general manager, describes the establishment as “the front door of the Akron Historic Art District.” The vibe? Midwest comfort food that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still tastes like a hug.

The Circle of Fifths website reads like a poem or love letter to Akron. The message is one of welcoming, inspiration and authentic invitation to explore a very unusual bar, restaurant and music scene: “Somewhere in time, you’ve been here before. A place that feels familiar even if it’s your first time through the door…”

How to buy: Circle of Fifths is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. And happy hour takes place Wednesday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.

Patricia Sheahan is a professor, student teacher supervisor, installation artist, educational consultant for the integration of the arts across all disciplines and a freelance writer. Sheahan enjoys more than four decades of education experience at K-12 schools in New York and Pennsylvania and higher education at Seton Hill University, the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, Penn State and most recently the University of Akron. Her favorite courses to teach are Social Justice Through the Arts, Ethics, Introduction to Critical Education, Classroom Management and Integrating the Arts K-12. Interests include visiting the Akron Art Museum, Akron Library, Civic Theatre, walking downtown to view murals and window light installations plus the stunning flower and plant arrangements, antiquing, especially from her own vendor space at The Brothers North Antiques in Medina. She also frequents Akron restaurants and local boutiques, travels and spends time with her family; a daughter and her newly blended family in North Canton, a son and his family in San Diego and a son in Dallas.