A Great Review of the Reel Bar
(Editor’s Note: When you go to the Reel Bar, remember to call it “Reel Bar”, not “The Reel Bar”!)
Food experiences when travelling are a joyful jumble of allergen friendly dining when a child is with you to crazy unique flavor experiences that let you taste the local richness and flavor of the area you are in. Put In Bay, a tiny village on South Bass Island offers a lot of fun choices, but not all are allergen friendly.
Reel Bar sits on the edge of downtown, out of the clustered jumble of craziness that awaits you as you get off the Jet Express and head for the town.
The village is well endowed with places to drink and places to eat, but if you have food allergies and want to really savor the vibrancy of the village, head to 461 Catawba Ave, Put-In-Bay, OH 43456. Whether you are craving breakfast from a drink hangover or just want a delicious lunch, dinner or even more drinks, The Reel Bar is waiting for you. Honestly, this is the best Put-in-Bay dining and bar experience with a splash of entertainment that you will have on the island.
Lavishly enjoy food out loud at a destination that offers “Reel Food, Reel Drinks, Reel Entertainment”.
THE OWNERS
Meet Andy and Angela, part owners of the Reel Bar, formerly known as Tony’s Garage. In fact this is a historic building in the area, but it was totally refaced and remodeled. The ‘REEL’ is all about the fishing, boating and the Lake Erie area, and the decor fits it well. Take a look at the boat on the ceiling, no you are not seeing things nor have you had one too many yet…..
LET’S START THE BEST PUT IN BAY DINING AND BAR EXPERIENCE
When you travel, you look for destinations, and destinations are worthy of a visit because they celebrate the feel of the area the best. In fact, the Reel Bar not only celebrates the feel of the area, the owners live there on the island, and really have the vibe, food, and spirit packed into the restaurant, bar, foods served, etc. Your Destination: The Reel Bar.
This is not just a pop-up place that just started, rather it serves the local fare, drinks that offer a bit of fun like the area, and entertainment that keeps that island spark moving on into the hours of the morning, why let a good party stop? It’s the Reel Bar, where one of the other owners, Ray Fogg, plays on almost a weekly basis throughout the summer.
LUNCH TIME
So, why not stop in to say hi and come when your belly is famished. Get there right before they start to get busy because you see, during the week the island begins to hop around 2:00 PM, weekends even earlier!
THE MENU – DRINKS FIRST OF COURSE
First up, a lovely beverage called ‘Oh Boy’ (Buddy Holly) – what’s in the glass that is so amazing? Absolut Citron, Powell Mahoney simple syrup, muddled lemons and Sprite… Happy Weekend after a few of these. Or maybe… Reely Fresh Squeezed Cocktail Recipe, simple yet effective: Vodka, fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
SOUTHWESTERN SALAD
This salad is a just a tantalizing treat guaranteed to make any foodie drool over. This is the newest item on the menu and it is packed with flavor. Greens topped with black beans, grilled corn, red onion, cheddar cheese, tortilla strips and then drizzled with bbq and ranch! The BBQ and Ranch swirl together amplifying each other’s taste!
CHICKEN TENDER PLATTER IN A BOWL
It’s finger licking good because you can see kids here every day licking their fingers! Chicken strips fried to perfection served atop a bed of fresh cut house fries rounded out with a choice of dipping sauce. What could be more delicious because it’s just plain good! Each bite provided comfort and flavor and lots of freshness.
PERCH TACOS
Not quite as good as the original perch tacos at The Goat Soup & Whiskey up the street, but darn good nonetheless! Who knew that the local fish, perch, served up on a fresh flour tortilla with a citrus slaw would steal the show? If you’ve had West coast fish tacos before, try these. The same but different, with a freshwater island twist.
We’ve all had awful seafood tacos out there but this one makes up for every other restaurant that you may have tried and failed miserably. No running sauce, a crunch that just makes you crave more and the fish, a thin fish filet that just tucks away neatly into the tortilla. Yes, this is the winner and with one of the suggested drink beverages above, ‘Oh Boy’ or a Reely Fresh Squeezed Cocktail, you are in bliss.
Testimonials
David S: “Best burgers on the Island hands-down, and an eclectic menu and live music rotation. Manager Andy takes time to get to know his customers, which is why we keep coming back. Also the best place to watch sports on the Island. Have I mentioned the BEER selection?”
Terri S: “Every visit has been wonderful, but the New Year’s Eve party blew us away! It was incredible! The decorations were great, the atmosphere felt very intimate, and the food was phenomenal. Andy, Angela and the entire staff did a superb job getting food out, and everyone was so happy and friendly. We’re hoping it was the start of a long standing island tradition for us. Thanks for an outstanding time!”
Brittany W: “One of my favorite places to hang out on the island. The fish tacos are delicious, the beer selection is great, service is always friendly. The Ray Fogg show is a must see. I hope Travis wins Lake Erie Idol!”
JUST GET TO THE EDGE OF DOWNTOWN
Once you get to your golf cart, jump in, get a morning libation, see the island, come back and dine here. Grab a bite to eat, listen to the music and enjoy Reel Entertainment and Reel Food, as you lavishly live, love, and travel in Put In Bay.
Finally, if you need WiFi (which is not an easy find on Put-In-Bay), pull in, have a drink, use the WiFi, it’s there and it works! Free!
For great pictures and the full story, check out https://danavento.com/best-put-in-bay-dining-and-bar/