Monday, March 21, 2005

New Riegel Cafe -- Ohio's Best BBQ

Best ribs in Ohio. Period. End of story.

I have had ribs from all over the state and found many good ones, but there is something about getting BBQ from New Riegel Café in tiny New Riegel, Ohio, that takes the cake.

New Riegel -- all 220 people -- is the essence of quiet small-town life. A large Catholic church, a small "community" store, a bar, a bank, and the Cafe. Not much else, and the people of New Riegel like it that way. Just like thousands of other small towns all over Ohio and throughout the Midwest.

New Riegel Cafe


What makes New Riegel different is the Cafe.

I was in a Strat-O-Matic baseball league with a guy that lived between Dayton and Cincinnati, and when he found out that I'd lived in Tiffin. The first question was "Have you ever been to New Riegel?" People come from all over the state to enjoy a hearty-meal at the Cafe.

What should you expect. Great food, but really not much else. The ambiance of the place is 20th century bar motif, in other words it is your typical small-town diner. Uncomfortable wooden benches, or long-tables with uncomfortable chairs. The waiting room - always crowded - is not well-planned and you are often pressed into a corner. A gift shop sells items, but the only thing that I've been interested in is the wall that has all the news clippings on the Cafe. Neil Zurcher's One Tank Trips made a trip to New Riegel along with numerous other food editors over the years.

The place doesn't take reservations, barely has a menu. Up until about 3-4 years ago the only menu was the one printed on the wall; they must have gotten tired of being asked because now each table has a small stand with the menu on it. Not sure why though, only New Riegel rookies need to look at it. Personally, I'm a rib-and-a-half with extra sauce, the wife rotates between ribs, chicken, and shrimp. The salad is a couple bucks extra and is really not worth the money -- lettuce with a couple slices of carrots -- but the homemade salad dressing are worth the extra cost. The house, a sweet-and-sour, is excellent.

Service is a regional joke. "So what do you want?" is a common statement. They aren't there to be nice just to get you on to the food. The dinner is served in paper-tubs and you don't even notice.

If you were ranking New Riegel on all the pieces, it would not look very good. But the food out-weighs everything. It is a wonderful place to eat and honestly one of my favorite places to go.

If you head to New Riegel take cash, as they do not accept any form of plastic. The meals are reasonable, the 1-1/2 order of ribs is about $11. No free refills on drinks.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sitting her in Tallahassee and having a craving for the New Riegel ribs, I found your website. That sauce is like no other sauce on earth. I lived in Tiffin too and the only reason to return to the region is to enjoy those famous ribs.

Anonymous said...

I was born in Tiffin, and the owner of the New Riegel Cafe is my great-Uncle. My mom worked for him years ago when she was first married. We live in SW Ohio now, and stop in to see Uncle Pete & Aunt Hildegarde and have some of those great ribs, whenever we are near. Extra sauce on the ribs and sauce on the fries please. Yummmmmm!

Anonymous said...

i lived about 5 miles from new riegel on 591. i can still remember when i was young my father bring home the ribs, it comes with two pieces of bread and butter. i remember the 8 of us kids fighting over that bread.

Anonymous said...

Native Northern Ohioan here---the ribs at the New Riegel Cafe are the best on the planet! I have had ribs at many good restaurants, near and far...well, ok, they are all pretty good, but, then there is the New Riegel Cafe head and shoulders above the rest.

Anonymous said...

I grew up in Sycamore. As a kid, we ate at New Riegel on average 3 times every 2 months. Our standard New Years Eve meal was to go to NR for ribs and either to Tiffin for a movie or back home to play euchre. Such fond memories.

These ribs are the only ribs I ever ate ANYWHERE. It took me until my early 30's to really enjoy ribs elsewhere. Now I live in 550 miles away; I am having a rib craving as I type this blog.

Until I can get back to home again, I will just be content munching out on my Ballreich's!!!

Anonymous said...

I am back to visit my Grandmother and am making a trip to New Riegel's after 20 some years. I STILL remember how good those ribs are and can't wait to introduce my husband and daughter to them.

Anonymous said...

I have been going there for 30 years. I have spent so much money there I might even own a large share of the place by now. I am now in California and REALLY missing them. Has anyone ever requested long distance take-out orders? The fries under the ribs that soak up the grease are called "surprise fries", and standard ordering cadence is, "double order extra sauce salad with house dressing". Mints on the way out. I'm hungry!!!

Anonymous said...

According to my mom I had my first New Reigel experience when I was about 3 yrs old. I grew up in a large family, most of whom lived in the same small town. If you were going to New Reigel to get ribs, you better call grandma & grandpa & the brothers and sisters or you were in the dog house. New Reigel provided some of my most cherrished memories. It was one of the things that was "GOOD" about life. It was a place where our family would meet and everyone was in a good mood and happy to be there. Part of the reason everyone was in a good mood was becuase we knew we were about to experience the BEST RIBS ANYWHERE. How lucky were we to only live 30 minutes away. And what's great about New Reigel Cafe is, it hasn't changed. It's a tradition that can be passed down. Except the wooden salad bowels, I do miss those.

sambetta21 said...

We now live near Las Vegas Nevada,formerly from Willard and Plymouth Ohio. We use to go to New Riegel all the time just for the ribs.. How I crave them now. Nothing out here compares to them. Wish I had the recipe. If anyone is even close to please email me sambetta21@netscape.net
Penny Howell

Anonymous said...

1 large onion chopped fine
2 pieces celery chopped fine
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
1 1/2 cup chili sauce
1 cup applesauce
3 tablespoon worchestershire sauce
dash tobasco
2 tablespoon celery seed
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 1/2 cup ketchup
salt and pepper to taste
simmer 1 hour

Anonymous said...

My great grandmother lived in New Riegel her whole life and we would get ribs every time we went. If you get them to go on a Saturday, the trick is to go, order them in, and take them out. They use a different sauce for to gos on Saturday. My Gram died last April, but we've still made the trip from Cincinnati to get ribs and go visit her in the cemetery a few times.

Unknown said...

I've made the recipe posted above and it's a ringer for New Riegel's "secret" sauce. Use it on grilled chicken, ribs or even beef roast. Yum.

Anonymous said...

I echo the sentiments of others! I think these are the best ribs I've ever had (and I lived in Texas 30 years :) and I love the local ambience, drinking a beer and playing shuffleboard while you wait. I tell everyone about this place. Unfortunately, I now live in Portland and my folks moved to Texas. I wish they would provide the recipe. I'd be in hog heaven :)

Anonymous said...

I grew up in Fostoria,Ohio but now live in southern California. After readinng these comments, my mouth is watering for some of those special ribs. My relatives still live in Fostoria and we go back regularly. New Riegel for ribs is always one of the first things on our agenda. We will be going back again in 2 months. I just sent my Mother a check (for Easter) with instructions to use it to take some of the relatives for ribs. She is 90 years old and had recently requested to "go for ribs."

ulukinatme said...

I don't know if the recipe posted above tastes like New Riegel, but I know its missing at least one key ingredient: garlic. These ribs are so delicious no matter how you cut it.

Many restaurants claim the title "Best Ribs." I eat ribs whenever I go out to a restaurant that serves them. Half the time these places smother the meat with half a bottle of BBQ saunce and thats all you taste. Not these ribs, they have their own unique sauce and it can change your perception of what ribs should taste like.

I've been eating these ribs for as long as I can remember, and while only a few restaurants will have ribs that can come close in taste and meatiness, the New Riegel Cafe is still king! Its a 1 to 1 1/2 hour drive from Dayton to get these, and its always worth it when the craving arises.

Anonymous said...

Don't go for lunch like I did last week. No ribs. Took some ribs too go. Paid lots more for them, but they were darn good.

eriequest said...

I live in Columbus and went to the New Riegel Cafe for the first time. Quaint and I have to say those ribs are the best...anywhere! yummy +

Anonymous said...

The above recipe is soooo close....but it is missing something. & I cant quite put my finger on it.If i figure it out i'll post it here.

Anonymous said...

btw i added fresh garlic cloves & apple cider vinegar & it still lacks that grand old new riegel flavor.

Anonymous said...

The owner Mr. Boes passed away recently, but the ribs still live on at the moment. I am not sure who is running the place but they are still very good. The tip on order in and take out is the best tip ever. I like to go close to closing time and eat in. No wait, best ever. Usually about 8:50 pm and you are done eating and drinking 2 beers by 9:30pm and all for only$15 for the Rib and a half as mentioned ealier. Make the trip its worth it. Many Careyites visit it every week.

Anonymous said...

I've been going here for years and have found nothing close. My mouth waters at the thought of New Riegel Ribs! The only thing I miss from when I started going there for ribs was the homemade ketchup they had.

Anonymous said...

I grew up in NR and while their ribs are yummy their service and attitude are not the best. If you can stand the rudeness (and good luck getting extra sauce) its a tastey meal!!

Anonymous said...

Additional recipes that I've found, but still aren't quite right. Any ideas?

Recipe 1

1 large onion chopped fine
3 celery stalks chopped fine
1/2 cup brown sugar (more to taste)
1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
1 1/2 cup chili sauce
1 cup applesauce
3 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1 dash tobasco
2.5 tablespoon celery seed
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 cup plain tomato sauce
1/2 cup of Apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
simmer 1 hour and blend if needed

Recipe 2

1 cup ground celery
1 onion, minced
1 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons vinegar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon dry mustard
3 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 large bottle ketchup, rinsed with 1/3 cup water
mix all ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes


Dr. Donn said...

Been going there since the 60's, back then when you entered town the only fragrance was garlic. That is no longer the case,the current sauce is built around celery seed. CASH only!

Anonymous said...

Another:
1 Large Onion (chopped fine)
3 Pieces Celery (chopped fine)
2 Tablespoons minced garlic
1 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Teaspoon liquid smoke
1 1/2 Cups chili sauce
1 Cup applesauce
3 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Dash tabasco sauce
1 Tablespoon malt vinegar
2 Tablespoons celery seed
1/4 Cup lemon juice
1 Tablespoon dry mustard
1 12oz bottle of beer
1 1/2 Cups ketchup
Salt & pepper to taste
Simmer 2 hours