Highland County, Ohio Restaurants have been doing farm-to-table long before it was cool or trendy.
I’m sharing more about great local restaurants and businesses in Hillsboro, Greenfield, and Leesburg in southeastern Ohio to visit while you are in the area.
This article is brought to you in partnership with Visit Highland County.
Where is Highland County, Ohio?
Highland County is located in southeastern Ohio, about an hour and 20 minutes east of downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.
For my first visit, I joined Heather from The Food Hussy, Casey from Casie La Vie, and Lindsay from Fueling Motherhood on a 24-hour adventure in Highland County.
I’ve been back to enjoy several more great meals since then, and I’ve added more local restaurants and businesses to my article grouped together by the city.
Greenfield, OH
Watch a Game at Catch 22 Sports Pub
250 Jefferson St, Greenfield, Ohio
Our first stop was lunch at Catch 22 Sports Pub where the food collectively exceeded our expectations. This is a great place for sandwiches, burgers, and flatbreads.
A few recommendations to try at Catch-22 are the following:
The Voice burger for spicy food fans, topped with jalapeños and sriracha mayo.
I recommend a side of their hand-cut regular or sweet potato fries and ask for the zesty sauce to dip your fries in.
The Buffalo chicken flatbread was so good! You can’t go wrong with any of the flatbread options.
Make sure that you try Catch 22’s Italian Sandwich with their giant onion rings.
Multiple TVs are displayed around the restaurant, making it a great place to grab a drink and watch a game. Catch 22 also hosts a variety of live events throughout the year.
Hillsboro, OH
Fun With Friends at The Alley Neighborhood Grille
1086 North High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio
This restaurant is deceptively larger than it looks outside.
There’s plenty of seating for large groups between the two restaurant/bar areas.
Alley Neighborhood Grill has TVs throughout the restaurant and bar if you are looking for a great place to watch a game with family or friends.
There’s a bowling alley next door with arcade games to check out before or after you eat.
If you’re looking for a few menu recommendations try the “famous fried mushrooms” and the cheese curds for your appetizers.
I enjoyed the “Blackened Mac” entree made with white cheddar macaroni shells, grilled blackened chicken, tomato, and green onion.
The Alley double-decker burger is another popular option similar to a “Big Boy” topped with a delicious homemade tartar sauce. Ask for extra tartar sauce to dip your fries in.
The Alley also serves hand-cut USDA prime steaks.
The Porch Carryout and Grill
421 N West St, Hillsboro, OH
We tried the Tuscan Zuppa, a cream-based soup with sausage, potatoes, and kale for an appetizer.
If you’re a fan of the Zuppa Toscana soup from Olive Garden you’ll LOVE the Porch’s version.
I HIGHLY recommend trying their buffalo chicken flatbread!
It’s made with Ranch aioli base, medium buffalo sauce, grilled chicken, provolone cheese & dill pickles.
The combination of flavors with the crunch from the pickles is seriously magic in your mouth!
The Porch hosts special events throughout the year including a weekly trivia night.
If you need a quick meal on the go you’ll want to check out the freshly made items in their carry-out refrigerator.
The Porch has a fenced-in outdoor patio that’s great for families with plenty of seating and a playground.
The back parking lot for The Porch is also a short walk to the new pickleball courts at Railroad Street Park.
The Patriot Public House
115 West Main Street, Hillsboro
You’ll find a wide range of American fare at The Patriot Public House.
We started with the smoked deviled eggs topped with candied bacon and jalapeno.
We opted for a loaded baked potato and macaroni as our sides with the Baby Back Ribs.
One of our favorite menu items was their chicken and waffles made with two crispy fried chicken filets atop a fluffy Belgian waffle served with candied bacon and bourbon maple syrup.
Make sure that you check out the great rooftop with a nice view of downtown Hillsboro.
There is also additional seating on the rooftop perfect for outdoor dining.
Sassafras Kitchen and Coffee Bar
137 North High Street, Hillsboro
(Check their website for days/times)
This sister-owned eatery features upscale comfort food, craft coffee, and cocktails. We were there for breakfast but I have no doubt that their lunch options are equally delicious!
You’ll find all the drink staples of a coffee shop, in addition to a great selection of unique flavor combinations that will pique your curiosity. There are even unique flavors of Affogato to try.
The sisters can do no wrong when it comes to baked goods. Your biggest challenge is grabbing your sweet treat of choice before they run out for the day.
We lucked out and got the LAST Maple Bacon Pancake Muffin of the day to share. If you see this muffin is in stock, ORDER IT! Trust me, you’ll thank me later.
I also enjoyed the Rustic Breakfast Wrap made with country-fried potatoes, crispy bacon, 2 scrambled eggs, feta cheese, and rosemary garlic aioli on a wheat tortilla.
There are both sweet and savory options on the breakfast menu. I was also tempted to try the Pecan Praline French Toast.
The Avocado Toast is made with seedy bread topped with avocado spread, feta cheese, diced tomato, and pickled onions.
Be on the lookout for their special brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays.
Mimi’s Kitchen
118 East Main St., Hillsboro, OH
The Mimi’s Kitchen main location doesn’t have typical hours but items from Mimi’s Kitchen are available in 29 locations.
You need to check Mimi’s Kitchen hours via her Facebook group. Orders can be made at this number (740) 804-6272.
The wonderful cheesecake at Mimi’s Kitchen is credited to Grandma Bea’s cheesecake recipe.
Mimi’s Cheesecakes are WONDERFUL!
After one bite you’ll understand why.
“The cheesecakes are on a buttery crumb crust, thick and creamy, never dry, and topped with a decadent, slightly sweet, extremely addictive top layer.”
If you’re having difficulty deciding which flavor to try, you might want to get a box of mini cheesecakes.
These are also great to bring to social gatherings…if you decide to share.
Shop Local at Hillsboro Farmers’ Market
Downtown Hillsboro
108 Governor Trimble Pl, Hillsboro, OH
You can purchase food and goods from local farmers and artisans every Saturday from 9:00 AM- 1:00 PM at the Hillsboro Farmers Market from May 15 – October 15 each year.
You’ll find an assortment of fresh flowers, produce, homemade bread, gift ideas, decor, and more.
A few area businesses at the Farmers’ Market include Marshland Family Farms, Beech Ridge Berry Farm, and West Family Produce.
Find Your BBQ Supplies at Maplecrest Meats & More
547 S High St, Hillsboro Ohio
If you are looking for a top-notch meat selection for your next grill out or BBQ, look no further than Maplecrest Meats & More.
They sell a variety of deli meats, bread, toppings, and accessories in addition to bulk ground beef, freezer beef, and grass-fed pasture-raised meat.
Maplecrest Meats has a history with beef as a family-owned and operated farm that has been raising Angus cows since 1986.
You can even call and request to schedule a farm tour. I’ve visited the farm and I learned that every cow has a 23andme DNA genetic test performed.
Maplecrest Meats uses the top 15% of the breed for marbling and ribeye.
They offer locally farm-raised beef in the frozen section including fresh certified Angus Beef. (There is no difference in the quality, but you’ll save a little on the frozen meats.)
Now you can purchase high-quality meats at the Maplecrest storefront or get meats shipped from their online store.
Holtfield Coffee at Holtfield Station
620 S High St, Hillsboro, OH
It may seem odd to recommend a coffee shop inside a gas station but Holtfield Station is a staple in the local community.
I’m told this gas station is a daily stop for a specialty drink or hot sandwich for breakfast or lunch for many locals on their way to work or school.
Holtfield Coffee has traditional options in a coffee shop, seasonal coffee flavors, and homemade baked goods.
They even have custom flavors that can be added to a Red Bull.
If you’re in a hurry there is also a drive-thru for the coffee side and another drive-thru on the hot sandwich side.
U-Pick Apples at Karnes Orchard
8200 Worley Mill Rd, Hillsboro, Ohio
The original orchard on the property was established in 1876 and has an interesting family history.
Karnes Orchard has over 30 varieties of apples for guests to choose from.
You can pick apples in their beautiful orchard and in addition to apples, the family farm has peaches, pears, and cherries seasonally.
Keep up to date on their fruit availability for u-pick during the season on the Karnes Orchard Facebook page.
Make sure that you check out the scenic view of the area at the top of the orchard.
Or if you have less time you can select your apple varieties of choice, inside their store.
The signs next to the apples can help you decide the best variety depending on how you want to use them.
Be on the lookout for their fry pies on the weekends and I’d also recommend picking up a few gallons of their apple cider or slushies too!
Leesburg, Ohio
Stop in for a Sweet Treat at Batter Up Bakery
40 E. Main St. Leesburg, OH
Batter Up Bakery has you covered if you’re craving a sweet treat!
Batter Up Bakery offers freshly baked brownies, cupcakes, handmade donuts, seasonal and bake-to-order specialties.
Their team has impressive cake decorating skills and I have no doubt they can create whatever you dream up.
Batter Up Bakery is committed to high-quality, locally sourced fresh ingredients using local farms for fresh eggs, milk, seasonal fruits, and vegetables.
The following seasonal fruits transition from summer to fall in the following order:
- Strawberry
- Blueberry
- Peach
- Apple
- Pumpkin
Basically, they give you an excuse to stop by often.
I love strawberries and was excited to discover several pastries made with fresh strawberries from a local farm during our visit.
They even have strawberry fritters which I was told is one of the more time-consuming pastries to make at the bakery.
We got to witness their from-scratch methods during our visit. They don’t take shortcuts and the results are worth it when you taste them.
If you happen to time your visit for a hot glazed donut, you’ll experience magic in your mouth.
I also recommend trying their cream horn pastries made in-house.
Leesburg Dairy Barn
54 E Main St, Leesburg, OH
Enjoy a great meal inside a fully restored timber frame barn that was relocated to Leesburg and dates back to the 1820s.
We visited right when it opened, before the lunch rush and I snapped a picture before the crowds arrived. This is a popular place to eat but there is additional seating outside and a carryout option.
A few recommendations on the menu are the following:
The Mac & Cheese Bits were my favorite but Cheese Curds and Wagon Wheels (round tater tots) are also great appetizers to share.
THE Leesburger, a “Back to Tradition” double smash burger with housemade Leesburger sauce, lettuce, bacon, and onion (Add Ghost Pepper Jack for an extra kick).
This burger is messy in a good way and worth every bite!
The chicken tenders with homemade Lion sauce are delicious and very juicy.
And of course, no visit is complete without your dairy treat of choice.
I tried the vanilla soft serve topped with ‘Raymond’s Crunch”, a combination of sprinkles, peanuts, and crunchy crumbles.
Breakfast or Lunch at Cafe 28
8 East Main Street, Leesburg, Ohio
Cafe 28 is a great place to go for a specialty coffee, breakfast, or lunch.
They also have flavored Red Bull which is pretty unique but I opted for their honey lavender latte.
We tried some of their breakfast and lunch menu items during our visit and their biscuits and gravy was a table favorite.
We also tried a few of their lunch menu items, the 3 cheese panini, turkey bacon club, and chicken salad on a croissant.
Try a Crazy Shake at Terry’s Pizza & Ice Cream
1505 US 50, Lynchburg, Ohio
Pizza and ice cream at a Marathon gas station? Yes, don’t knock it til you try it!
People travel far and wide for their crazy shakes and pizza at Terry’s Pizza and Ice Cream where you can fill up your belly and gas tank.
I highly recommend their pickle pizza. It sounds odd but it is sooo good!
During the summer the lines for the giant milkshakes can get really long so I recommend ordering your pizza ahead of time while you wait in line for your shake.
There is outdoor seating with some picnic tables outside and a counter bar with a few small tables inside near the ice cream area.
Grab a Sandwich or Baked Good at The Country Crust Bakery
4918 State Route 41, Bainbridge, Ohio
This is a great lunch stop with lots of fantastic baked goods. The hardest part is narrowing down all of your choices.
The pretzel sandwiches are AMAZING at this Amish bakery.
I really enjoyed their Reuben pretzel sandwich pictured above.
They don’t have indoor seating so grab a BUNCH of napkins if you order this sandwich because it can get messy. You can grab a seat at one of the outdoor dining tables or picnic tables nearby.
I bought some of their giant cinnamon rolls topped with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting bring back to my family and they LOVED them.
Looking for More Things to Do in Highland County Ohio?
Check out these articles on more things to do in Southeastern Ohio.
