If you're truly looking for that neighborhood bar/restaurant that offers generous hearty portions, amazing customer service, great prices, and only a 2-block walk to beautiful Lake Erie, then "Sparky's Place" will have you covered. This is one of Conneaut's most popular little hidden gems and I decided to stop by here for lunch. Located directly at the corner of Broad St. and Erie St., this place has been a fan favorite for locals and out-of-towners for many years.
Since Conneaut is a relatively small place, parking is relatively easy to find. I was staying in an Airbnb and decided to make the quick 5-minute walk here during the afternoon of Friday 9/15/2023 at around 1:05pm. Upon entering, I absolutely loved the 'dive bar' vibe this place had to it. There was a full bar with barstools surrounding it, multiple wooden tables & chairs, signs that read some of the local attractions, and a huge outdoor patio area; perfect for the more comfortable days and warm summer nights. Keep in mind that they are closed Monday & Tuesday but do open Wednesday through Sunday at 11:30am.
After being seated, my server/hostess Kelsey took my drink and food order. Speaking of drinks, this place has a very extensive selection of beer (lagers, porters, IPA, sours, etc.) all at very reasonable prices. Many of which are in between the $4-7 range for a pint. Since I wanted local, I ordered the "Butter Pecan porter" from Double Wing Brewing Co. out of Madison, OH for only a mere $4! My second beer was even cheaper than that as I went with an "Oni Girl Japanese style rice lager" from Masthead Brewing Co. out of Cleveland, OH. This was just $3! I have to say that their drink selection is arguably some of the best I've seen in a very long time. And I've been to my share of breweries, pubs, and bars throughout America.
However, their food menu is equally as impressive with a huge assortment of appetizers/small plates. This includes chips/dip, fried pickles, soft pretzels, garlic strips, Buffalo wings (available in a dozen flavors), bacon fries, and even Poutine, a Canadian classic. They also carry a nice variety of salads, soups, sandwiches, wraps, flatbreads, and burgers. Since I wanted one of their exclusive family-recipe dishes, I decided to go with their "Hamloaf Sliders" (priced at just $6 for the pair). This was thick cuts of hamloaf complete with sweet mustard sauce on a grilled Hawaiian roll and topped with a pickle.
Although this place was a fairly packed house for a Friday afternoon, my sliders came out in just 10 minutes. And I've got to say, the portions were very generous as this was absolutely delicious. The hamloaf was tender and seasoned to perfection. Definitely a nice alternative to your typical beef sliders. And my server, Kelsey was very accommodating making sure everything was up to par. Both beers were refreshingly delicious while the entire ambiance of this place hit all the high notes for me.
All in all, "Sparky's Place" is as good as it gets for me. If I lived closer, I would want to come here on a weekly basis and try everything on the menu. There was a jukebox playing cool tunes, TV's playing sports, and the entire atmosphere was very lively and upbeat. From what I heard, their business gives back to the community and is also very supportive of local law enforcement. With that said and done, I am giving this place a perfect five-star Yelp rating. read more