Restaurants in Highland County, Ohio 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.
And I’ve been back to enjoy several more great meals since then.
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 would recommend a side of their hand-cut regular fries or sweet potato fries. Make sure that you ask for the zesty sauce to dip your fries in.
The Buffalo chicken flatbread was so good! I have a feeling that 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.
There are multiple TVs 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.
New Micro Brewery in Highland County!
Right next to Catch 22 there is a new microbrewery called Scotty’s 22- Brew offering 5 different beers in 5 different styles.
We got to preview the space adjacent to Catch 22 during our visit.
The community is really excited to have their first brewery in Highland County.
Stop in for a Sweet Treat at Batter Up Bakery
40 E. Main St. Leesburg, OH
If you are craving a sweet treat, Batter Up Bakery has you covered!
Batter Up Bakery offers freshly baked brownies, cupcakes, handmade donuts, as well as 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 I was pretty excited that we were able to enjoy 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.
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 visit in time for a hot glazed donut, you will experience magic in your mouth.
I also recommend trying their cream horn pastries and macarons made in house.
Breakfast or Lunch at The Daily Grind
122 S High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio
The Daily Grind is a café and bakery serving up both breakfast and lunch. Their baked goods are made fresh and from scratch daily. They locally source whenever possible from area farmers.
For lunch they also offer fresh and creative sandwiches and seasonal soups and salads.
There is a nice selection of coffee and teas to choose from that can be ordered hot or cold. I opted for the honey almond latte that was just the right amount of sweetness.
We ate breakfast prior to our visit or I definitely would have tried one of their made-from-scratch muffins or cookies.
I definitely want to stop by for lunch during my next visit!
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.
You’ll find an assortment of fresh flowers, produce, homemade breads, gift ideas, decor and more.
A few of the area businesses at the Farmers’ Market include Marshland Family Farms, Mother Cluckers Farmhouse (awesome name), 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 farther 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.
Maplecrest Meats uses the top 15% of the breed for marbling and ribeye.
They offer locally farm-raised beef in their frozen section and fresh certified Angus beef. (There is no difference in the quality, but you will save a little on the frozen meats.)
Now you can purchase their high quality meats at their storefront or get meats shipped from their online store.
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 also fill up your belly and your 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 would 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.
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 seasonly.
Keep up to date on their fruit availability for u-pick during the season on their 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 too!
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 with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting on top to bring back to my family and they LOVED them.
Fun With Friends at The Alley Neighborhood Grille
1086 North High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio
This restaurant is deceptively larger than it looks outside.
There is plenty of seating for large groups between the two restaurant/bar areas.
Alley Neighborhood Grill has lots of tv throughout the restaurant and bar if you are looking for a great place to watch a game with family or friends.
Before or after you eat there is a really nice bowling alley next door with arcade games for kids.
If you are looking for a few menu recommendations try the “famous fried mushrooms” and the cheese curds for your appetizers.
For an entree, I highly recommend the “Blackened Mac” made with white cheddar macaroni shells, grilled blackened chicken, tomato and green onion.
The Alley double decker burger is another popular option that’s similar to a Big Boy that comes topped with a delicious homemade tartar sauce. Make sure that you ask for extra tartar sauce to dip your fries in.
Breakfast or Lunch at Cafe 28
8 East Main Street, Leesburg, Ohio
This cafe is a great place to grab a specality 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.
A few of their lunch menu items to try are the 3 cheese panini, turkey bacon club, and chicken salad on croissant.
The Porch Carryout and Grill
421 N West St, Hillsboro, OH
For an appetizer we tried the Tuscan Zuppa, a cream based soup with sausage, potatoes and kale.
If you’re a fan of Zuppa Toscana 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 and crunch from the pickles is seriously magic in your mouth!
The Porch hosts a lot of 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 fresh made items in their carry out refrigerator.
Mimi’s Kitchen
118 East Main St., Hillsboro, OH
Mimi’s Kitchen main location doesn’t have typical hours but items from Mimi’s Kitchen are available in 29 locations.
This is why you need to stay up to date on Mimi’s Kitchen 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 a hard time 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.
Where to Stay in Highland County
Woodhaven Farm Bed and Breakfast
9228 Fall Creek Road, Leesburg, Ohio
If you are looking for a bed and breakfast that feels like a country retreat, you’ll want to check out Woodhaven Farm Bed and Breakfast.
The bed and breakfast is located on a private 40-acre farm, where you can “choose your own adventure.” Relax and read a book, bird watch, hike the trails or learn about farm life from the owners.
In the morning, you can enjoy a farm fresh breakfast without the cooking or cleanup.
The eggs for breakfast are locally sourced at their chicken coup located within a few steps of their front door.
You can meet the chickens who helped contribute to your breakfast. As a city slicker, I love learning more about where my food comes from and the farming process from the owners.
Are You Ready for a Foodie Adventure in Highland County Ohio?
The hardest part now is deciding which place you want to visit first.