Been coming here for 40+ years and I love it, the bbq sauce has a consistency of apple sauce and unique taste that I crave, been in the same family since it started, lots regulars and some of the wait staff has been there 40+ years and still do a wonderful job read more

I've eaten here for about 50 years, maybe 55. The fact that this place hasn't changed in all that time is amazing! No new tables, nothing that would suggest they were successful and putting money back into the business. However, I just adore this place! The COVID-19 vaccine (the vaccine itself) killed my ability to smell/taste anything, but I'm still driving over an hour each way to get some of these ribs. I was told, among many other things, to eat foods I remember well, to (hopefully) regain my sense of smell/taste. The aroma wafting through the air as you approach the café is intoxicating! I can't wait until I can actually enjoy the whole experience again. Beware! This is NOT your typical bar-b-que place! As many other reviews will attest, it's a very unique sauce. The pictures give you a good idea of the consistency... the flavor is smoked, garlic, onion, celery and a dash of tomato. Oddly, I think it's the celery that mixes with everything else to create the unusual, but wonderful, flavor. As for the wait staff, I always find I get what I give. If you drop by and expect them to give you a bj, you're at the wrong place. However, if you're nice, pleasant, and courteous... they will be just as nice. I'm so thankful that a place like the New Regal Cafe is still around! This is how it was when life was good... no guns at school, kids didn't talk back to their parents or their teachers, and great businesses stayed in the family and kept the same recipes forever. Obviously... I just can't say enough great things about this place! I'll love it forever and ever... even if I can never taste it like I used to. I'll keep trying! read more

Good rib joint. If you're looking for fancy, this is not it. It's just a good ribs and chicken place. The BBQ sauce is very unique and addicting, others have tried to duplicate it but are not successful! I've been going to this place since I was a teen and trust me.....that's a long, long, time! LOL read more

Stopped in and it's definitely kinda out there. Had to get the ribs and they were definitely tasty. Falling off the bone from simmering awhile in a sauce that's got a sweet taste but a little bit of the southwest style BBQ in it too. Not too fantastic but for the price, a definite deal! read more

New Riegel Cafe - Cafes Near Me - New Riegel, Ohio

See all

USED TO BE OUTSTANDING--NOW, ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE! When we used to go here as a family back in the day, it was a real treat and the ribs were the best. It's been about 3 years since we've been back and now, in honor of our now deceased parents, we decided to go back. It looks like the same hole in the wall, still have the gift shop and they still don't take the debit card; cash only and the menu is still listed on a single 5x7 stand-alone, still get the washcloth and still have to pay for drink refills. This is the only place we know of where the iced tea is more expensive than the beer. I asked that instead of laying my ribs directly on top of the french fries (which you always end up with limp, wet fries) that they put mine in a separate paper boat (you know, that little cardboard they serve everything, even your salad in). Well, with much anticipation, this hot spot was a major disappointment! Something has changed and in a bad way. My french fries were okay (without the meat drenching them) but the ribs and the barbecued chicken were awful! What happened? When the waitress heard our comments of disappointment, she wouldn't meet our eyes and stayed away until we stood up to leave and then finally gave us our bills. We keep talking about how bad it was this time around and can't stay off the subject. How could it have changed that much in 3 years? Would we recommend them? Not on your life. We've had better ribs on cheap buffets. read more

I love the sauce. Had ribs with sauce on the fries. If you want a salad you pay $2.10 extra. Got tap water to drink. Sometime these are ribs I just gotta have ! read more

New Riegel Cafe - Cafes Near Me - New Riegel, Ohio

We stopped at this place on our way back from Amish country to Bowling Green, OH. I'm glad we didn't drive the hour it would be from our house to go to this place. The ribs were good (and came out super fast; there were only 2 other tables with people when we stopped by at 5:30 on a Tuesday evening). The ribs fell off the bone. The sauce is this odd tomato/garlic/onion blend which is good, but if you don't dig that kind of sauce, this probably isn't the place for you. read more

Wow! Thanks to God and Al Gore for the internet! I used to come here in the early 1980's - now, I've found it again and can come back! Ribs to die for!!! ... and instead of napkins, a damp washcloth! That says, "THEY KNOW RIBS!!!!! read more

I hate to be the first to give this place a bad review but I just don't get it. My bf & I went here after hearing such good things about it. He had gone a couple times years ago & thought he had remembered liking it so he took me. I am sitting up late at night hours after going feeling like I am going to throw up. I ate maybe 2 or 3 ribs..they were tough & had a weird tangy tomato like sauce..not BBQ. The "wet", greasy fries were a huge turnoff. There were no sides to choose from besides fries & salad. I make ribs at home that are far superior & I am not one to toot my own horn because I love to go out to eat. My bf just said "I hate wasting money like that" We took home leftovers because we couldn't bear to throw them away after shelling out $35 with tip. Hopefully I can doctor them up for him but I definately won't be eating them. And they don't take credit cards...which is just weird to me being a previous store owner. Why would you turn away business? read more

Don't bother, service is horrible! Started going to this restaurant in the early '70's, have had some subpar experiences in the past but it's gotten so much worse. We are done. read more

We decided to eat here yesterday evening while passing through from Columbus to our home in NW Ohio. Husband dined here years ago with coworkers and liked it. My husband, daughter, and I were warmly greeted by someone at a table and were told to choose our table. That is the only positive experience of our visit. We noticed many diners and busy servers. A simple menu was displayed on table. Selections were meats served with fries and celery. Salads were optional. Sandwiches were available. We waited to be acknowledged by a server. We waited. And waited. A couple that came in after us had already placed their order with a waitress. After no acknowledgement whatsoever from wait staff, we decided to leave. The woman that greeted us said "Thank you" as we left. Strange. We are from another small town and enjoy supporting small town businesses, but ended up at a Bob Evans. read more

How can anyone not rate this place a 5 star? It boggles my mind. The gem of northwest Ohio small town restaurants. The ribs and sauce are one of a kind. The fries are soaked in the rib juice. The bread is the perfect accent. The wet towels are classic. And who will ever forget the bowling game!?? read more

Throwback to a different era. A unique sauce, juicy chicken. People come from far and wide for the chicken in ribs. Bring cash because they dont take credit cards. You cant eat at the bar, those stools are for people waiting on pickup orders read more

Very good food. Great price. They are famous for ribs and my husband and I both got them. The place has a neat mom and pop vibe and has very friendly staff. read more

The worst ribs I have ever had in a restaurant. So salty! The sauce was nasty. Customer service was bad, but not as bad as the ribs.

My hubs-to-be grew up going to New Riegel so he has always raved about the ribs. I got the chicken and it was extremely, extremely salty. The sauce is not standard BBQ sauce..it is more like a tangy onion-tomato sauce. Fries are good. This place is nothing much to write home about decor-wise..just an unassuming little institution that only takes cash. Very inexpensive. read more

The ribs are not our favorite, but the sauce is just phenomenal and the beef is our favorite! We get sauce on our fries too!! Cold beer and great homemade salad dressings. read more

Stopped in for lunch... A mistake. My wife ordered the trout. When it came, she said it tasted old. Since the smell permeated most of the restaurant, I have to agree. I had a KoKo burger. I ordered it medium.. Got well done. It was dry and very average. Finally, my wife ordered lemon with her water... never came. Avoid this place for lunch. read more

It is with a "Heavy Heart" that I write this review. I have been going to new Riegel for at least 45 years, but due to circumstances I haven't been there for @ 15 years - we went last Saturday night - 8/10/2019 - WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!!! The ribs don't even taste like they've been barbecued, or even seen the hot side of a fire. They taste like they've been par-boiled, then splashed with what they call barbecue sauce. The Barbecue Sauce tastes like warmed over tomato juice with no seasonings except for an over-abundance of salt. Needless to say, I won't be going back. What a shame to have such a wonderful restaurant and menu ruined for God only knows what reason. Whoever made the changes to the menu and cooking style needs to be shot. MY RECOMMENDATION: DON'T GO THERE !!!!! read more

I finally just went to New Riegel Cafe. Great ribs and chicken. Soft and tender. The barBQ sauce certainly one of its one. Different from any kind I had before. read more

Disregard anyone who doesn't give this place five stars. Some people get it and others don't. New Rigel Cafe is an institution and the food is the reason. The ribs and house dressing are like nothing else in the world. I moved away from Upper Sandusky 25 years ago and New Riegel is our first stop when we visit home. If you want shrink wrapped suburban smiles go to Chipotle and get listeria. I will be heading north outta Carey on my way to the best ribs ever. And the staff is nice too, you just have to...get it. read more

After moving to Nevada from Willard Ohio I desperately miss the ribs. There is nothing on this earth like the bbque sauce.. I want to have several orders shipped. Next time we come home to visit family New Riegel will be one of my spots to visit. In the meantime I need to find out if you ship the ribs. I am in definate withdrawel there is no place on this earth that has ribs that good. read more

I love hole in the wall places, especially hole in the wall places with good food, cold beer and ambiance. It had probably been two decades since I'd been to the New Reigel Café. It was a nice day for a road trip, so the family and I made the jaunt 1.5 hr. drive down to the village, picking my parents up along the way. My parents live closer and eat there off and on a few times a year and my mother says that you have good nights and bad nights regarding the food. On this night we may have drawn the short straw. I understand people love this place, but our food was semi-warm, the ribs were fairly tender, but gristly and greasy. The sauce was completely tasteless, lifeless and bizarre. I understand some love their unique sauce, but to me it looked and tasted like stewed tomatoes, mashed into a liquidly, watery mess and then bathed over the ribs with no flavor. Definitely not what one thinks of these days when eating rich, sticky, tasty BBQ. Yes, it's their own recipe and they've probably been doing it this way for 60+ years, but I was disappointed. I guess the ribs themselves tasted ok, but they don't appear to be smoked, or finished on a grill. Purists would probably say they are cooked country style for tenderness? Maybe my memories of eating there 20 years ago remembered something completely different? The ribs come on a bed of fries, but by the time your food gets to you, the fries are completely soaked and lifeless. To me this is just a waste of food and the fries might have been good to start, but were inedible and soggy. The salad is just iceberg lettuce with a side of dressing. I'm not expecting an $8 chopped salad with fixings, but not worth the extra $2. Best thing about our meal was the Old Milwaukee on draft for less than a soda. The service was fine, the beer was cold and I appreciate the country charm of the place. It's a simple bar and dining room and you'd expect the grease to be dripping down your arms, but only if the food was tasty. We came away not impressed and it will probably be another 20 years before trying it again. The trip back through Findlay to Dietche's Ice Cream totally saved the evening, but that is another story. read more

Not the usual ribs you would get around here. People either love them or hate them. My whole family has gone there many years so we grew up on it. The only downsides are no credit cards or fountain pop read more

This is my home town so I am probably biased, although I never ate there till I was 30. We do take out & always get great portions. I like the bar-b-q chicken best. The ribs are good also. We had great service for a rehearsal dinner! Affordable too. read more

Decided to stop in because it's ranked #1 on Urban Spoon and it has great reviews. I really wanted ribs, until they came and I smelled the sauce. It tasted absolutely NOTHING like barbecue sauce and it had celery seed in it...enough celery seed to kill a horse! Who puts that in barbecue sauce?! I couldn't eat it and had to just send it back and get the check. Truly, truly awful. read more

You can't go to new riegel expecting BBQ cuz it's not your typical bbq. This is more of a garlic/ chunky oh shut up and try it yourself kinda sauce :) it's a family tradition for us, my son is the 5th generation to go to this place. It does have paper boats instead of plates, you get a wet wash cloth for your hands and face (cuz your an idiot if you eat ribs w/ your fork) and you won't find a cob salad for miles LOL just simple good food. When I was younger they even had paper straws. It's worth the drive!!! now I will say some days the ribs are tougher than others but that is a risk w/ any rib place. Go and enjoy this landmark!!! read more

We had heard a lot about this place and being new to the area were very excited to try it. The excitement left after the first bite. The ribs are definitely boiled and are nothing like any traditional BBQ you would have ever eaten. To be honest there was not anyone in our party who finished there meal. I am totally surprised by the positive reviews. I would never waste the time or money to eat there again. read more

Oh my lord, I forgot all about new Riedel café. This place is absolutely amazing their ribs have won awards for their amazing sauce. They also have very delicious chicken and their homemade bologna is out of this world. Its a little bit of a drive but worth every minute of travel. read more