What’s for Lunch? Dave’s Park Avery

In the past year I’ve probably bought my lunch at the same place no less than four days per week. Located in a small unincorporated part of Milan Township in Erie County Ohio is the crossroads of Avery. It’s the location for the Sandusky/Norwalk exit of 119 on the Ohio Turnpike (Interstates 80 and 90) and offers a slew of eight motel chains for lodging. This exit is the one used by a large percentage of tourist coming to the area for Cedar Point and the Lake Erie Islands. The one thing not in abundance at this exit are places to eat. Motorists on the turnpike see the McDonald’s and Subway signs and usually gravitate toward them; but many of those hungry travelers, probably most of them miss a wonderful little gem in a gas station called Dave’s Park Avery Store. If you’re lucky enough to be in this area for lunch from 11:00 am to 2:00pm grabbing a lunch here would be a treat you won’t soon forget. They offer a daily lunch special Monday through Friday which includes depending on the entrée, mashed potatoes, noodles or rice, a roll with butter and also depending on the entrée a vegetable. Honestly I haven’t gotten anything I didn’t like, though I do have my favorites – there are days I simply won’t miss (they distribute a monthly menu). Some of the thirty days of choices include: City Chicken, Swedish Meatballs, Chicken and Dressing, Tater Tot Casserole, Stuffed Peppers, Stir fry, Chicken Paprikash, Pork chops…the offerings cover an entire month with no repeats in any given month Every Friday is a rotation of hot sandwich choices for instance one Friday will offer Bacon or Mushroom Burger with chips, the next Friday might offer Meatball sun or Italian Sausage with chips and there is even a Friday that offers two soft tacos with nachos…then there is the Friday of my choice where I can get either two sloppy joes (though good but not my choice) or two thick cut fried bologna sandwiches…UMMM YES! Having grown up in rural West Virginia, bologna was a staple of many families. So I always have the bologna, which I cover in Miracle Whip and hot sauce before devouring! Some days I get chicken thighs and a bag of chips – they have the best fried chicken, don’t believe me ask the over one hundred people who completely devour every piece of it at our family reunion, Hillbilly Hilton – but of course that’s another story in of itself. Dave’s also offers in the winter; soups, macaroni and cheese and the best goulash ever! There is cold deli sandwiches, hot sandwiches such as hot dogs, hamburgers and even a Reuben. There is salads, pickles, boiled eggs and deserts of cookies and pies. If I sound like a promoter for them…you would be exactly correct! I love this place and I love the location in Norwalk as well. So if you’re ever in the Avery area of north central Ohio and need to grab a bite to eat, skip McDonald’s and Subway for a change and enjoy something delicious at Dave’s Park Avery Store. Located at the intersections of Kelly Road, Mason Road and US Route 250. Best of all for me…they are located less than a mile north of my office. The best kept secret in town, trust me!