Spring 2021 UT:10 News Extras:

Ye Olde Durty Bird

April 22, 2021
by Keegan Shannon
The atmosphere felt appropriate; a downtown gastropub and eatery. The weathered brick walls yielded a cozy familiarity. There were also plenty of windows to let in the light, making for a unique blend. The atmosphere has earned a five out of five for that wonderful balance. 

“I think a majority of our popularity is the great food and the large menu. The diversity, y’know, whatever your food mood, we gotcha covered” said Julie Ketterman, general manager co-owner of Ye Olde Durty Bird. “There’s a lot of favorites, there is not just one. Our smoked gouda mac and cheese is popular, it’s a signature dish.” 

The fries had a perfect golden hue with the occasional darker end. The mac and cheese looked beautiful as well. Served in a small bowl, the crumbs on top really set off the appearance of this dish. Appearance of the food also earns a five out of five. 

The fries were perfect. They had been lightly salted, but not completely doused in seasonings. The mac and cheese was also great. I was a big fan of the breading on top; but the small pieces of bacon and tomato within the dish had made it feel more filling than it actually was. The flavor of this meal also got a five out of five. 

The menu for Ye Olde Durty Bird was among one of the most expansive I had seen. It was almost overwhelming the amount of items to choose from. From appetizers to the main course and of course the alcoholic beverages; there was no shortage of supply here. 

Food options and sides received a five out of five as well, and I was happy to award Ye Olde Durty Bird a perfect score.

Grindhrs Coffee Co.

April 15th, 2021
by Keegan Shannon
The atmosphere was relaxed with a modern Toledo twist. The corner view of Erie and Adams street was enjoyable to watch, but I felt that some boardgames or jigsaw puzzles could have been beneficial. So the atmosphere got a three out of five.

For this review, I had ordered a standard 16 ounce latte – one of several drinks and variations on the menu.

I loved the design in the foam on top. It added a little extra value to the drink in my opinion. So appearance got a five out of five.

The flavor was smooth and creamy – and the temperature not boiling hot – a pet peeve of mine. So the latte got a five out of five.

Among the different drink variations, ice cream was also incorporated in the different styles and flavors.

“I think, probably the fact that we have ice cream has really drawn a lot of interest. Something that we've planned from early on, we didn't want to have blenders or like frappes and things like that that are really popular, because, y'know, we want to do something different and a little more modern” Rebecca Ferstle, co-owner of Grindhrs Coffee Co., said.

The ice cream, combined with the options of almond, oat or soy milk, mean that there was some variety to be had here.

They were also the only downtown coffeeshop to use Uncommon Coffee from Saugatuck Michigan.

So drink options receives a three out of five.

Overall, I think Grindhrs Coffee Company has earned a B. Being a new business, there's plenty of room for improvement – but what they had was on the number.

Fowl and Fodder

April 1st, 2021
by Keegan Shannon“Fowl & Fodder Downtown is a community-based, locally sourced, scratch made kitchen and we try to keep things as local or as regionally based as we possibly can” said Alicia Wagner, owner of Fowl & Fodder Downtown.

“Whether that's bringing in local artists, local vendors, or just really supporting our neighbors here. We just really want this to be a welcoming place and be as local as possible” she continued.

Since it opened, the restaurant has become a unique force to be reckoned with in the glass city.

“We're really trying to revolutionize food in the four one nine, and that's a mission of Fowl & Fodder Downtown” Wagner said.

“We also have the new duck egg hash, which is really interesting, and a patron has told me, y'know it's a 12 out of ten, so that's something that's very popular as well.”

Interested in giving my taste buds a test, I ordered the duck egg hash for myself. The smell of the fresh duck egg was tantalizing. The meal also comes with duck leg confit and potatoes, both of which were tender and warm. The cabbage added a wonderful crunch. And the hint of sweet soy sauce added a beautiful tinge to the flavor. This meal has easily earned a five out of five for its complexity and flavor.

Atmosphere for Fowl & Fodder received a four out of five. I think the natural light from the windows and all of the art really made it a bright space.

Appearance of the food got a two out of five. Perhaps it would have looked better on a plate, but in a take-out box it looked a bit scrambled and lost some marks.

Food options and sides got a four out of five. There was no shortage of new things to try at this restaurant. But many of these dishes were foreign to me. Be aware you will likely be trying something new here.

Overall I think Fowl & Fodder has earned a B. Their passion cannot be denied and the abundance of meals on the menu has garnered the respect of many Toledoans.

The Blarney 

April 8th, 2021
by Keegan Shannon
The atmosphere of a restaurant is one of the first things you notice when you walk inside.
I got a very cozy feeling from this place. The stained-glass windows and carved wood were right up my alley, so atmosphere got a five out of five.

Since I was visiting during Lent, I had decided to order something off of the seasonal Lent menu.

“Yeah, every year we do a Lent menu and every single year we do a lobster roll, and that is above and beyond what people come here for during Lent” Bill Kline, Managing Partner of the Blarney Irish Pub, said.

“Just focusing on making sure that we're doing the right Christian Catholic thing” he said.

I ended up choosing the beer-battered haddock sandwich, with fries.

The food looked appetizing. I loved the stamped logo on the bun, and the fries looked great. So, appearance received a four out of five.

The fries were very crispy. They certainly weren't burnt, but a happy medium. However, I found the seasoning to be a little too much for my taste.

A nice brioche bun can make a sandwich, and this was no exception. The beer-battered haddock was extremely juicy, but mild in flavor. So, the sandwich and fries got a three and a half out of five.

The menu for The Blarney is expansive. There was good amount of things to choose from here with lots of the food being inspired from traditional Ireland. So food options and sides got a four out of five.

Overall, I think The Blarney Irish Pub has earned a B.

My overall experience was pleasant, and if you’re looking for an Irish pub to cozy up in, look no further.

The Stubborn Brother

March 25th, 2021​
by Keegan Shannon
On the outskirts of University Hall stands The Stubborn Brother Pizza Bar.

Andrew Mancy, Bar Manager, says that the Stubborn Brother Pizza Bar was established in 2018, and that they had their 2 year anniversary this past month.

"My mom grew up on the east coast, which is very popular and famous for their east coast style of pizza. They wanted to bring that same style of pizza to the Toledo Ohio area," he said.

The interior of the restaurant has been decorated with various accoutrements reminiscent of Toledo's industrial past.

"The name Stubborn Brother is after my dad. He's part of a small restaurant group here in Toledo, and his brothers decided that they did not wanna’ open a, ya’ know, smaller pizzeria. So he said well if you guys kinda’ don't wanna’ help me with this, I'm just gonna’ do it myself. So, he called it the Stubborn brother kinda’ based off the fact that he's stubborn and wanted to do something then did it" Mancy said.

Since its opening in 2018, the restaurant has been proud of itself for its selections of New York style pizza.

“The public has, I think, loved this restaurant. We’ve been very busy since open, to be honest” Mancy said.
Atmosphere gets a four out of five. I enjoy the Toledo theme and I think they blend it well with a traditional bar setting.

As for my review, Appearance also gets a four out of five. The food looked good. It wasn't presented in a particularly flashy way, which I think worked for a restaurant like this.
The food tasted five out of five. The pepperoni pizza was delicious and the slices were huge. Pepperoni coverage was perfect and the crust was crispy without being thin crust level.
Options and sides also received a five out of five. There was plenty to choose here from different pizza toppings to Stromboli and pasta.
Overall, I think stubborn brother pizza bar earned an A. This is a place I’d recommend to anyone with pizza on the mind.

The Business Behind GameStop Stock



February 25th, 2021
by Alec Levine