About a month ago, I sent out a schoolwide poll asking students questions about well-known and popular restaurants in the region of Dover, Ohio and New Philadelphia, Ohio. I received 87 responses to the poll from a few teachers and a lot of students.

     Out of the results, I came up with a few categories to mark these popular restaurants: top 3 most visited restaurants, best cafe and ice cream place, top 3 pizza joints, and overall favorites. The pizza joint category has 4, since 2 places tied for third. The most visited restaurants are the restaurants that had the highest number of people who have ordered from or visited the restaurant. Overall favorites are restaurants that were dubbed the 3 most voted as overall best place. Once again, 2 places tied for 3rd so there will be 4. Overall, I found 10 restaurants in total, 3 of them meet more than one category.

Taco Bell

Taco Bell meets the categories of top 3 most visited restaurants and overall favorites.

     Taco Bell is an American multinational fast food chain of restaurants which sells Mexican inspired foods like tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and nachos. The taco bell within this area allows dine in, pick up inside, and has a drive thru. DoorDash also does delivery for Taco Bell.

     “I love their chicken chalupas,” responded Angelica Gomez.

     “I love a Baja Blast with a Crunchwrap Supreme,” exclaimed Kaylyn Marlatt.

     “The crunchy tacos and the Baja Blast were so good,” said Heidi Perez Pu.

     “Wonderful customer service as they almost never get my order wrong,” commented Deacon Polen. Many people suffer from the wrong order setback from numerous fast food places. Knowing that this hassle is often not confronted at Taco Bell makes it seem worth the time to order the food and wait in the drive thru to pick it up or go inside and wait.

 Starbucks

Starbucks fits into the categories best cafe and overall favorites.

     Starbucks is a multinational chain of coffee shops. Starbucks is famous for its diverse amount of high quality drinks that it offers, as well as the names for each of them. It also has the option of inside ordering and pick up, as well as dine in or DoorDash. Starbucks also sells fun food options such as baked goods, sandwiches, and snacks. 

     Marques Perez complimented, “Good cake pops and amazing high quality drinks”. Vigo Varns and Violet Wagner both also enjoyed the cake pops and the drinks.

     Maddie Angstadt was really happy with Starbuck’s “many options of food and drinks.” Several other individuals complimented Starbuck’s high quality and high quantity options. 

     Basically, “Starbucks drinks taste the best!” acclaimed Aubrie Hindman. Faith Patchen, Violet Wagner, Evy Schwarm, Angelica Gomez, and Allie Parker also felt very similar about Starbuck’s drinks.

     A few others commented on specific menu items: Kyley Robinson liked their “amazing” venti Caramel Crunch Frappes. Noelia Sica “LOVED” the Iced Pumpkin Chai so much that the phrase was repeated twice. Mrs. Lentz liked the Pumpkin Spice Latte, Chocolate Mocha, and Spinach Feta Wrap

Domino’s

Domino’s is in the category of top pizza joints.

     Domino’s is an American multinational chain of fast food pizza joints. It is the world’s largest pizza company. Domino’s does delivery and pickup, but dining in is not really an option. Online ordering is often encouraged, but they also take orders over the phone. On the menu the restaurant sells pasta, pizza, sandwiches, different bread sides, beverages, and wings. 

     “I very much love stuffed crust pizza,” commented Kyley Robinson. “Their pizza tastes the best” stated Violet Ritenour. “I just like the wings,” mentioned Joslynn Clay

    “The cinnamon bites and lava cakes are the best alongside the pan made pizza,” responded Jakob Mahaffey.

McDonald’s

McDonald’s merges with the category top 3 most visited

     McDonald’s is an American Multinational fast food chain with thousands of locations globally. This is a classic for sure. McDonald’s sells many sandwiches, burgers, nuggets, fries, and various beverages. McDonald’s has a drive thru, inside pickup, dine in, and DoorDash available.

Dola Jeans

Dola Jeans suits the category of top pizza joints.

     The next top pizza joint is quite a unique one. This is a one of a kind new pizza place in Dover, Ohio and has no other restaurant sharing the exact same dishes. Dola Jeans is a dine-in restaurant and also does DoorDash, online ordering, and in restaurant pickup and ordering. This location is well known for selling Chicago-styled pizza, salads, and assorted snacks. 

     Mr. Miller said “[Dola Jeans has] fresh ingredients and tastes great!” 

     “It is a very fun style of pizza and is delicious too,” mentioned Max Cooley.

     “[Dola Jeans has a] variety of flavors that no other pizza place has,” complimented Aubrie Hindman.

Papa Johns

     Papa Johns, the third largest American international pizza chain, is mainly a pickup or delivery type pizza joint. There is no inside for customers to go, but simply a small drive thru window. People can order using the app, online, or call in to place an order. Papa Johns sells pizzas, various sides, deserts, and beverages. Some students enjoyed specific items on the menu.

     “I like the dipper pizza,” said Violet Wagner.

     “I just like the stuffed crust,” said Sarobbe Compton

     Deacon Polen agreed and added, “I love their desserts too.”

     “They always have high-quality pizza and the garlic sauce is fire,” exclaimed Hudson Ott.

Pensos

Pensos matches the category of top pizza joints.

     Pensos’ Pizza is an old local pizza joint that has been around since 1936. This place sells pizzas, salads, appetizers, sandwiches and more. Orders can be taken over the phone, and pickup is inside. There is a small location to dine in as shown above. The Dover location has recently been taking card payments. Here is what some people said about it.

     “The staff are very sweet and talkative, and the pizza is iconic and very good,” Sophia Hoffmann complimented.

     “Their pizza is great but the family feel of a mom and pop shop makes it very welcoming,” said Alison Linkenhoker.

     Overall, Mrs. Rees summed it up as, “It’s HOME.” 

Miller’s Creamery

Miller’s Creamery represents the category of best ice cream place.

     Miller’s Creamery is a family owned ice cream place that has 3 locations in Ohio: Millersburg, Dover, and New Philadelphia. It is well known for selling ice cream cakes, ice cream, and other foods such as sandwiches, sloppy joes, and soups. Most people will go inside and order to go, or dine in. Miller’s also does custom ice cream cake orders by email. More information is available online or in one of the 3 locations.  Miller’s garnered lots of praise.

     “Amazing ice cream and fun flavors of the week,” commented Allie Parker.

      “There are a ton of menu options and the family that owns the stores is very sweet and hard-working,” said Sophia Hoffmann.

     “[Miller’s] HAS THE BEST ICE CREAM” shouted Maddie Angstadt.

      Violet Ritenour really enjoyed “the inside vibe and the ice cream flavors.”

      “Coconut avalanche is the best!” claimed Mrs. Lentz.

       “[Miller’s has] A huge selection of amazing desserts to choose from,” Kacy Ireland commented.

      “[I like] Sherbert of the week [and] their milkshakes. The food is very yummy!!” Kilee Galigher complimented.

Pulp

Pulp meets the category of overall favorites

      Pulp’s full name is Pulp Juice and Smoothie Bar. It is a franchise with over 60 locations within the USA. Pulp’s menu focuses on healthy items including wraps, bowls, and smoothies. People can dine in, DoorDash, or order for pickup inside of the restaurant. Pulp also has a drive thru for people in a hurry. It is a great place for people looking for vegetable and fruit based foods.

      “I love their wraps and smoothies,” praised Maddie Angstadt.

      “The smoothies are delicious,” agreed Maddie Minnis.

      “Their wraps [and] smoothies are so good and the inside is cute,” said Briana Bergeron. That is 3 comments on the smoothies alone, which does take up a large portion of the menu.

      “I have only ever had the Red Bull Mango Bombs and it’s the best drink to ever bless my tastebuds,” acclaimed Eden Beal.

Texas Road House

Texas Roadhouse holds 3 categories: Best sit down restaurant, overall favorites, and top 3 most visited. It is also in a bonus category of being the largest restaurant in this article. What a record breaker!

     Texas Roadhouse is the most popular and the most visited restaurant according to my poll. Texas Roadhouse is a steakhouse restaurant chain that presents Texan and Southwestern styled food. This is a huge restaurant with one of the biggest restaurant parking lots in the Dover-New Philadelphia area. This restaurant sells hand-cut steaks, ribs, other main meat dishes, a variety of sides and appetizers, beverages, and their iconic rolls. They are so big that they have an online waitlist, a drive thru for pick up, and a large dine in area.

     “The rolls are *chefs kiss* the most amazing thing I’ve ever eaten,” complimented Kyley Robinson

     “The rolls are top tier,” adds Abby Linkenhoker.

      Alison Linkenhoker, Maddie Minnis, John Idoine, and Noelia Sica all agreed about the rolls.

     Students also enjoyed other aspects of the restaurant:

      “This place has a fun atmosphere and the fries and drinks are delicious,” answered Sophia Hoffmann.

      “The waiters are so nice and the food is great!” added Catarina Raymundo Velasco 

      These are all fun and exciting options.  Which one might you try?  Will you go to a large restaurant like Texas Roadhouse, order some pizza from Dominos, try the drive thru of a fast food place like McDonald’s, or perhaps check out a place with healthy options such as Pulp?

     Whether you plan on dining in or picking up, take your time to decide.  There are many options to choose from.