Explore Ohio--and find the best place for ribs, period!

Ohio is filled with places to see and things to do that seldom make the tour books, but WOW you—or at least me--when you find them.

For example, I’d heard about this certain ribs place in New Reigle, Ohio for years. “New Reigel for ribs! Yes, you don’t want to miss it.”

So, where the heck is New Reigle? Well you have to get a good map—one that will pick up even the smallest towns in Ohio, because New Reigle is one of those. Then you will want to find Fostoria, Findlay and Carey—all in sort of north central Ohio. Then look a little south and west of Fostoria, north and west of Carey and east of Findlay, and woolah! There it is.

Finding the town does not, however, mean you find the rib place. It seems to merge with the other few commercial buildings in the town.

On my recent and first trip to New Reigle, I had to actually ask someone at one the other eating places in town where the rib place was. The person in that eating place pointed across the street to an opposite corner and told me, “It’s right there.”

I went over, and it did not at all look like a famous place. It looked like a routine place, a white non-significant building. Cars parked on the street up and down and around it, but they were not packed. There was nothing in the sign over the front of the white building to suggest its fame.

Even inside the décor, no décor is not a good word for the “rib place is simply a place to eat. There is a bar with a shuffle board that you push coins into play on one side of a wall. On the other side are the tables and people eating, ribs, of course.

The standard rib order is $7.50, and the price includes French fries. Add ons are soft drinks, tea and coffee—and there are no free refills, a sign clearly states. Other rib orders can run up to $15, and with my appetite I was tempted to go for the heavy weight.

But, all the average or even above average ribs fan needs is the $7.50 order. They come marvelously flavored and cooked. They are packed in a paper dish—with plastic knives and forks and a paper napkin.

Yet, they truly are ribs as good as you will eat anywhere. Anywhere. Walk away from a meal of those ribs, and you will know you have eaten enough, maybe a little more than enough and that you have had a great meal.

Funny, though. As genuine as the place feels. I ordered iced tea, and guess what the waitress brought me? One of these new bottles of iced tea—and at a hefty price.

Still, go for the rib place in New Reigle, if you get anywhere close to it. Many people do. You will find food there that you definitely will not find in one of those plastic restaurant feelings, none at all! Hours for the ribs are after 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and then noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays. Oh, yes, you will need cash. The place does not take credit cards or checks.

Ah, ribs! Ah, New Reigle!*

Name of the ribs place? Can’t tell you. I get there by going from Columbus, Ohio to Carey, Ohio—about 90 miles. Stop in Carey and ask how to get to New Reigle. Once in New Reigle, do as I did: ask where the ribs place is.

Good luck and good eating!

*Pronunciation of the place varies. People in nearby Carey called it New Riggle. Someone else called it New Regal. Then there New RIgle. I have no idea which is right.