Where to Eat in Sunbury, Ohio

Oak Hill Barbecue in Sunbury, Ohio, Serves Up Some of the Country's Best Barbecue!

Planning a visit to Central Ohio? Here’s a foodie paradise. Where to eat in Sunbury, Ohio in Delaware County. In this part of the Buckeye State, you will find delicious eateries with many owned and operated by young entrepreneurs the world should watch.

Joseph Sauvie, Owner & Operator of Surve Restaurant - Delaware County Ohio Aug. 26, 2019
Joseph Sauvie, Owner & Operator of Surve Restaurant – Delaware County Ohio Aug. 26, 2019.

Where to Eat Lunch and Dinner in Sunbury, Ohio: SURVE

SURVE in Sunbury opened in December 2018 by Joseph Sauvie who has a background in corporate food and beverage operations. The building housing SURVE was built in 1901 and Sauvie spent about a year renovating it, doing much of the work himself.

Chicken Salad & Brussels Sprouts - Surve Restaurant - Delaware County Ohio Aug. 26, 2019
Chicken Salad & Brussels Sprouts – Surve Restaurant – Delaware County Ohio Aug 2019.

Serving lunch and dinner, the restaurant has a small freezer to hold ice cream, otherwise, everything is served fresh. While enjoying lunch of chicken salad made with tender Gerber’s Amish Chicken and a side of roasted Brussels sprouts, I heard locals talking to each other about how much they enjoyed the restaurant and how it is their new favorite.

Sunbury Grill - Delaware County, Ohio, Aug. 25, 2019
Cassie Meyer with Her Brother and Owner Kenny White, Sunbury Grill, in Sunbury in Delaware County, Ohio, Aug. 25, 2019.

Where to Eat Breakfast and Lunch in Sunbury, Ohio: Sunbury Grill

Down the street from SURVE is Sunbury Grill for breakfast or lunch and you can have breakfast or lunch any time they are open. The eatery has been grilling for about 80 years and Kenny White purchased the Grill about seven years ago.

Sunbury Grill - Delaware County, Ohio, Aug. 25, 2019
See the Name Badge? Sunbury Grill in Sunbury in Delaware County, Ohio, Aug. 25, 2019.

Family owned and operated, they are known for their home fries which are crispy outside and tender inside. If you are overwhelmed with what to try, the server, who may be Cassie Meyer, White’s sister, will guide you. Save room for the sweet, fried pecan rolls.

Sunbury Grill - Delaware County, Ohio, Aug. 25, 2019
Sports Memorabilia in Sunbury Grill in Sunbury, Ohio., Aug. 25, 2019.

Sunbury Grill is another local favorite and by 8:30 a.m. on a Monday, all tables and booths were full during my visit. One couple began their anniversary celebration with a Sunbury Grill breakfast. An eclectic mix of memorabilia adorn the walls and seating areas including items celebrating the Ohio State Buckeyes and pop-culture. Name badges at place settings are part of the décor. It started when one patron’s name badge fell off. He was going to throw it away but after chatting with Kenny, it was stapled to the counter. More followed which adds more character to the diner.

Oak Hill Barbecue in Sunbury, Ohio, Serves Up Some of the Country's Best Barbecue!
Oak Hill Barbecue in Sunbury, Ohio, Serves Up Some of the Country’s Best Barbecue!

Where to Eat Lunch and Dinner in Sunbury, Ohio: Oak Hill Barbecue

Some of the country’s best barbecue is tucked away in a Sunbury, Ohio, neighborhood. Smelling the smoker about a quarter-mile away was a clue I was heading toward something delicious. Clint Long opened Oak Hill Barbecue five years ago and the casual roadside joint serves up flavorful lunches and dinners.

Oak Hill Barbecue - Delaware County Ohio, Aug. 27, 2019
This Smoked Cabbage is the Bomb! The Beef Brisket is Amazing, Too. Oak Hill Barbecue in Sunbury in Delaware County Ohio, Aug. 27, 2019

My beef brisket was tender and accented with a smoky flavor. My side dish was a cup of smoked cabbage which was equally tender. With its smooth, buttery texture and smoky, spicy and savory bite, I had no idea cabbage could taste this good. Whether you have crispy chicken, a burnt ends sandwich, or pulled pork, save room for either the wood-fired cheesecake or chess pie.

Old Dog Alehouse - Delaware County, Ohio, Aug. 25, 2019
Steak Tacos with Marinated Steak, Kimchi Slaw and Korean Barbecue Sauce at Old Dog Alehouse & Brewery in Sunbury, Ohio.

Where to Eat Lunch and Dinner in Delaware, Ohio: Old Dog Alehouse & Brewery

Not too far from Sunbury is Delaware. Executive Chef Braden Henderson is part of a group who owns Old Dog Alehouse & Brewery in downtown Delaware. The building dates to the late 1800s. The alehouse opened in November 2018 and offers indoor and outdoor drinking and dining. Dogs are welcome on the patio and during my visit, a dog rescue was there meeting and greeting patrons in hopes of finding their fur-ever homes.

Old Dog Alehouse - Delaware County, Ohio, Aug. 25, 2019
Executive Chef Braden Henderson of Old Dog Alehouse in Delaware, Ohio, Aug. 25, 2019.

The food menu is refreshingly creative and I chose the Steak Tacos with marinated steak, kimchi slaw and Korean barbecue soft in soft shells. They were sweet and sour with a spicy bite. The Parmesan fries are popular with patrons, too. While enjoying lunch, dinner, or Sunday brunch, sip the Louie’s Paw, a pale ale and the pub’s signature beverage.

Old Dog Alehouse - Delaware County, Ohio, Aug. 25, 2019
Grapefruit Radler Mimosa at Old Dog Alehouse in Delaware, Ohio, Aug. 25, 2019.

Delaware County’s Vine & Bine Trail

Old Dog Alehouse & Brewery is part of Delaware County’s Vine & Bine Trail, a way to sip and celebrate the area’s wineries and breweries. Six breweries and four wineries are on the trail and many incorporate local ingredients in their beverages. Look for #vineandbinedelco on social media to follow the conversation about this delicious trail.

The Coffee Vault in Delaware County Ohio, Aug. 26, 2019
Sip Coffee in a Fomer Bank Vault at The Coffee Vault in Galena, Ohio, Aug. 27, 2019.

Where to Eat Breakfast, Lunch and Sip Coffee Near Sunbury, Ohio: Coffee Vault

And speaking of sipping beverages, The Coffee Vault in the town of Galena serves coffee and light bites in a former bank which left behind the vault. Sip and savor your cup of Joe in the vault or walk the spiral staircase downstairs to a cozy, brick-walled setting where the telecommuters gather.

Images of Delaware County, Ohio on Flickr

Delaware County Ohio Aug. 25 - 27, 2019

Where to Eat in Sunbury, Ohio

Destination Delaware County Ohio
34 S. Sandusky St.
Delaware, Ohio 43015
Tel: (740) 368-4748
www.visitdelohio.com
#vineandbinedelco

SURVE
6 E. Cherry St.
Sunbury, Ohio 43074
Tel: (740) 936-5080
www.survesunbury.com
Monday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday & Saturda: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sunbury Grill
38 E. Cherry St.
Sunbury, Ohio 43074
Tel: (740) 965-2900
https://www.facebook.com/Sunbury-Grill-381782361941053/
Monday – Saturday: 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Oak Hill Barbecue
60 N. Columbus St.
Sunbury, Ohio 43074
Tel: (740) 965-4227
www.oakhillbarbecue.com
Tuesday – Sunday: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Closed Mondays.

Old Dog Alehouse & Brewery
13 West William St.
Delaware, Ohio 43015
Tel: (740) 990-4506
www.olddogalehouse.com
Sunday – Wednesday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

The Coffee Vault
9 W. Columbus St.
Galena, Ohio 43021
Tel: (740) 936-8116
www.facebook.com/thecoffeevaultgalena
Tuesday – Friday: 6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Disclosure:

I was a guest of Destination Delaware County Ohio, however, opinions are my own and this post has not been reviewed by the destination.

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Solo Travel Girl

Jennifer A. Huber is the voice behind Solo Travel Girl. She's an award-winning travel and outdoor blogger and writer in Southwest Florida. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., a hiking trail led her to a career path in the tourism industry for more than 30 years. She spent a decade with a park management company in Yellowstone, Death Valley, and Everglades National Parks. She founded the travel blog, SoloTravelGirl.com with the goal of inspiring others to travel alone, not lonely. Jennifer holds a Travel Marketing Professional certification from the Southeast Tourism Society, is a certified food judge, member of the NASA Social community, and alum of the FBI Citizens Academy. In 2023, she was a finalist in AARP's Benefits Badass competition. When not traveling, she is either in the kitchen, practicing her photography skills, or road tripping with her dog, Radcliff.

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