Having already done all the damage they could in Loveland's restaurants, on December 6 the TTA Duo (again ably assisted by Rod Gossett) acknowledged their standing commitment to visit every eatery which met their criteria along the trail, and accordingly (if admittedly somewhat reluctantly) ventured north on the trail to Chubby's Pizza (and Whippy Dip!) in South Lebanon. Chubby's, a minimalist local establishment, presently is the only place serving lunch between Loveland and Morrow  (since the Monkey Bar in Fosters currently has yet to open its kitchen—but will be reviewed once it does). Thus, Chubby’s  very basic appeal derives far more from its status as an "eating outpost" within half a mile of the trail than from any potential claims to offering memorable cuisine. Located in a freestanding building it shares with The Whippy Dip (which is open only seasonally), Chubby's is basically a burgers & pizza establishment, yet it has a surprisingly broad offering from its only menu located at the counter where customers place their orders. Locals appear to call in and then take out their orders, while transients such as the TTA and other trail users seat themselves inside at one of the five tables in the snug (13’ by 23') eating area looking into the kitchen—where they strive to ignore the sad reality that good housekeeping is not one of Chubby's priorities. A number of outdoor tables are available between the front door and the street, but obviously only appeal during fair weather. Canned soft drinks are available, but no alcohol is served. Service was prompt and efficient; all orders were delivered hot and simultaneously.

Rod led off with a small pizza with pepperoni, mushrooms, black olives, banana peppers and extra cheese with a soft drink, all of which cost $12.75. He was content with it, but not particularly enthused. John and George each had burgers which had been previously prepared and kept in a steam bath awaiting orders—so getting them cooked as desired was naught but an impossible dream.  John took a double cheeseburger deluxe with onion rings and a soft drink, totaling $9.50. George lowballed at $5.88 for a bacon cheeseburger with a side of chips and soft drink.  Both allowed that while their sandwiches were at least edible, they were of nothing more than "snack bar" quality and taste. Overall, Rod was much more satisfied with his pizza than were John and George with their pre-cooked burgers.

Positives:  Broad menu offering, friendly and efficient service, moderate prices.
Negatives:  Average food, not particularly clean, restrooms well hidden (none of us could find them, though to be fair, we didn't ask, either), proximity to the trail not as close as other places where we have eaten.
Rating: The TTA felt Chubby's rated two bells. This rating by no means suggests that this is a place to avoid. In fact, if you are heading north on the trail through South Lebanon and really need to get something to eat, go for it. It will fulfill your needs. But, if you are heading south on the trail through South Lebanon and are feeling hungry, we’d say, hold off for 8.5 miles until you get to Loveland where you have a wider variety of (better) places to choose from.

Chubby’s Pizza
150 North Main Street, South Lebanon (From the trail's intersection with North Main Street, just cross the nearby bridge over the river and proceed less than half a mile to Chubby's  on your right.)
Phone: 513-494-1900
Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 
 

December 2017

On November 29 the TTA Crew, bolstered by the most welcome presence of Jeanne Corgiat, Janet Slater and Rod Gossett, returned to the heart of downtown Loveland to try the offerings at Fresh Press, which is located on the west (river) side of the bike trail directly across from the previously reviewed Works. Fresh Press, basically a breakfast and lunch restaurant, is located in a beautifully refurbished historic house which fronts directly on the trail, and offers bike racks both right at the trail and at the front door. Breakfast is served from 7 until 11, but may be had later upon request. Lunch offerings are limited, and tend to be a bit pricey. As the name suggests, emphasis is placed on healthy fare. No alcohol is served, but smoothies and coffee, including expresso, are available. A very extensive outdoor patio extends from the trail to the front door. Interior seating, while in a light and airy area, is limited. Orders are placed at the counter, and food is delivered to tables.

Unfortunately, we found the kitchen to be overwhelmed by our party of five; each order was delivered individually, with complete service for the table spanning at least ten minutes. As a result, any hot dishes delivered first were cold by the time the last person was served. All offerings are served in generic plastic-coated pressed cardboard tubs, lacking any aesthetic appeal. Eating utensils were all plastic, with the knives incapable of cutting a strip of bacon. 

Jeanne ordered the Avocado Sweet Toast with eggs for $10 from the breakfast menu, while Janet picked an Arugula and Sweet Potato half-salad for $5, accompanied by a Deep Purple Smoothie for $8. Both Jeanne and Janet found their food a bit heavy on the vinegar. Janet liked her smoothie better than her salad. Both ladies’ orders were delivered significantly later than their dining companions’. John and Rod both ordered turkey sandwich wraps. John's was chipotle style with bacon and fries on the side, which set him back $15. Rod's club style with veggie chips was $13. Both were deemed "OK," though perhaps not worth the prices charged. Rod found the veggie chips tasteless and offered more of them to the group than what he ate himself. George, wanting something lighter for $8, asked for two eggs sunny-side-up and soft bacon. What he got was two eggs over easy and well-done bacon, all of which was stone cold by the time the ladies got their food.

If you like eating healthy or have food allergies, then this is a good place to stop when out and about on the trail in Loveland. It’s probably not the place to go with a large group, however. Rod noted that it had the feel of eating at a food truck: place your order and wait for your food while the next person steps up to order.

The Positives: GREAT proximity to the trail, attractive setting, pleasant personnel, and a light healthy menu for serious runners and bikers. 

The Negatives: Fairly high prices, slow kitchen response, poor dinnerware.

Our participants' ratings of Fresh Press varied depending upon their individual experiences, and ranged from 2 to 3 1/2. The group finally agreed upon an overall rating of 3 bells.

Fresh Press Juicery & Coffee
111 Railroad Avenue, Loveland, OH 
Phone: 513-677-2600
Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

November 2017

Motivated by an enthusiastic recommendation from a loyal reader of earlier reviews, on November 15 the Trail Taste Adventure Crew (John and George), assisted by Joe Hermann, backtracked south from central Loveland to the previously overlooked Branch Hill Coffee Company, located just a couple of hundred yards west of the trail on Bridge Street and diagonally across that street from the previously reviewed Kirby's. Branch Hill Coffee specializes in basic American breakfast and lunch fare, and also offers a wide variety of muffins, scones and other baked goods. No alcohol is served, but a heavy duty and very impressive espresso machine stands ready to provide a wide variety of coffee drinks. Drive-through service is available (see photo of menu lineup), so trail visitors should be aware of such traffic as they make their way into the intimate 16-by-19-foot interior eating area. In that space is the counter to place your orders as  Branch Hill Coffee lacks a wait staff. Customers can take their orders outside in fair weather to a number of tables on the non-drive-through side of the building, or choose one of the only three 4-person tables or two 2-person tables inside.

Service was both prompt and congenial, and all personnel were helpful, personable and knowledgeable.

Joe led off, and chose the $9.75 Salad Trio: scooped portions of tuna salad, egg salad and chicken salad atop a bed of greens. He devoured every scrap, and pronounced it excellent. John picked a $5.95 breakfast burrito (in today's world, another basic American breakfast dish), and was quite satisfied with it. George, seeking something lighter, ordered a $4.75 bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup which was long on chunks of chicken, thick noodles and fresh veggies but disappointingly short on flavor. He didn't bother to finish it.

Positives: Good people, efficient service, excellent coffee, comfortable atmosphere, bike rack out front and good food reasonably priced.

Negatives: Minimal interior seating, no table service, no alcohol served and rest rooms must be accessed from the exterior, much like an old gas station.

The group agreed the positives significantly outweighed the negatives, so the Branch Hill Coffee Co. receives four bells.

Branch Hill Coffee Co.
371 Bridge Street, Loveland
Phone: 513/774-7774
Hours: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

November 2017