From a vintage yellow and red camper, Kevin Frentner is serving up his special hot dog creations at Mania Coney Island at the corner of Hanna and Lasselle streets.
Frentner calls it a Lafayette-style or Detroit Coney and adds that it’s a mix of “beef, heart, and passion served in a natural skin casing.” The rest is a secret as he transitioned them into his one-of-a-kind Mania taste.
Mania Coney Island has Detroit-style Coneys, cole slaw dogs, Chicago-style dogs, and nachos. Some combos are less than $5.
Watch for smash burgers, and there are other items not on the menu, like sloppy joes, wraps, and specials of the week.
Mexican eatery on deck at Jefferson Pointe
Riviera Maya Mexican Grill has their eyes on Jefferson Pointe.
No word on when, but we do know where. They’ll occupy the space that once housed Tucano’s Brazilian Grill.
The Indiana-based chain operates five central Indiana stores, including Anderson, Columbus, and Fishers. The restaurants are known for their authentic cuisine, art, and live music. They have a full-service bar that includes margaritas, of course.
Maya is one of seven “first-to-market new tenants” RED Development announced would join Jefferson Pointe late last year. Those other six tenants are Chicken Salad Chick, Carters, Techy, Yats Restaurant, Kids Empire, and Pita Way.
Browse the eats at the Allen County Fair
You’ve heard of the carnivore diet. Well, some people love a carnival diet.
Sorry for the dad joke, but if that’s you, the 2024 Allen County Fair continues through Sunday at Allen County Fairgrounds, 2726 Carroll Road.
There’s all the fun that a fair offers: live entertainment, rides, and a wide range of fair foods. There’s a free ice cream social Thursday at 7 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. is the Handmade and Homegrown Market, which includes locally produced foods.
There is an admission fee, but get special offers and a schedule of events online at theallencountyfair.com.
Grab a bite at Old Settlers Days
Old Settlers Days in Columbia City are also going on this week, running through Saturday.
The midway and concessions are downtown with Whitley County Pork Producers serving sandwiches from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday at the corner of Main and Van Buren streets, but there are plenty of other events around the county.
Woodlands Senior Center, 710 N. Opportunity Dr., has a daily menu of favorites like pizza, corn dogs, root beer floats, and cheeseburgers.
Take a trip off the beaten path …
You can’t get more off the beaten path than Billy’s Downtown Zulu, 18000 Lincoln Highway East with a Monroeville address.
Just north of U.S. 30 at the intersection of Paulding Road and Lincoln Highway, this hometown joint boasts a relaxing feel. It’s part sports bar, but it’s low-key enough to have a quiet conversation without being blasted by the sights and sounds of big screens.
There’s a nice selection of comfort food like burgers, chicken strips, and notable Mexican-American dishes.
The service was great; even the servers who didn’t assist me made it a point to engage me. Before I left, the owner proactively asked me about my visit. He had no idea who I was, but he still wanted to make sure I was delighted. I get the feeling that’s the norm.
Billy’s is open Tuesday-Thursday from 4-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday from 4-11 p.m., and Sunday from 4-9 p.m.
Openings around the area
- Sol de Mexico Bar and Grill, 5830 Challenger Parkway, has moved into the space that was home to Job Site Bar & Grill and Kaysan’s 5th Down. Sol de Mexico is open Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- Panda Express is now open in Auburn, 1140 W. 7th St. Located at Auburn Crossing, it’s open 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. There are 40 Panda Express locations in Indiana, including four in Fort Wayne.
- Rita’s Italian Ice, 6312 Covington Road, is now open. They celebrated last week with the first 50 guests winning a year’s worth of treats. Owners also donated 20 percent of their total sales to the Community Transportation Network.
- Although they’ve been open a few months, Kuehnert Milk House, 6532 W. Cook Road, held its official grand opening on June 15. Inside were their variety of milk, ice cream, and cheese curds to take home, as well as ice cream and pizza to eat on-site. Outside, you could do crafts, pet a calf, or see where the dairy comes from. The Milk House is open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday.
Off the Eaten Path is the Whatzup weekly column that covers Northeast Indiana’s restaurant and food news. Send your news items to info@whatzup.com.
