Lunch Break: Fried Bologna and Popcorn!
Sampling dishes and diners in and around Miami County.
Fried Bologna: Don’t Knock It Till You Try It
If you stumble across a little extra time on your lunch break this week, don’t hesitate to go to your local biker bar and family restaurant, Rip Rap Roadhouse. In the warmer seasons, Rip Rap is bustling with soccer teams, motorcycles, and the crowd from their adorable vintage-inspired shake shack. However, it’s also the perfect place to grab a quick bite to eat during a rainy autumn afternoon.
There are two options for seating with two different atmospheres. The restaurant's lower level is filled with biker memorabilia, fun signs, and wooden beams. There’s a perfect rustic vibe next to the bar and it makes you feel like you stepped into an old western movie with a modern twist. However, if said bar may be a little too tempting for an afternoon lunch, the upper-level seating has just as much decoration, with more family-friendly undertones.
Although the go-to order for most at a biker bar like Rip Rap would be one of their tasty variations on a classic cheeseburger, I decided to mix it up a little. Most restaurants may not offer this delicacy, so if you see it on the menu, it would be a crime to pass it up. The fried bologna sandwich may sound like a stretch for a tasty lunch, but Rip Rap has completely changed the game. The slab of bologna comes crispy on the outside and juicy within, layered between melted American cheese and sweet grilled onions, all topped with a fluffy hamburger bun. American cheese may sound underwhelming, but it’s the best cheese to pair with bologna.
That being said, Rip Rap does switch up some of the other staples on the sandwich. Traditionally, fried bologna comes with raw crunchy onions. Rip Rap’s choice to grill the onions adds a sweet touch to the savory sandwich. As if they hadn’t already perfected the dish, it comes with warm, seasoned homemade potato chips. Chips straight from the bag are usually how Fried Bologna sandwiches are served. However, this twist on the American delicacy sealed the deal. If you take my advice and try fried bologna, make sure you do so at Rip Rap Roadhouse; they definitely make this sandwich like no other.
A Snack For The Road
Whether you are in Troy for some weekend shopping or lunch with friends, run, don't walk to the tiny popcorn shop, Poppin Off. The adorable little store is filled with endless flavors of delicious popcorn, one of their most famous being “buckeye.” I purchased a bag of their delicious caramel corn, heavily drizzled with savory peanut butter and rich chocolate, and embarrassingly almost devoured the entire thing on the ride home.
Poppin Off - “Cookie Monster” popcorn
A single bag is more than enough for a family to snack on; however, if you’re planning on also purchasing a bag of their buckeye flavor, I would just skip to the tin. It may seem like a lot, and that’s because it is. But if you are like me, you will lose all self-control after your first bite. I wish I were exaggerating, but their popcorn is absolutely delicious. As well as being a yummy snack, their bags and tins are the perfect size for gifting or dumping into a bowl during game night, although it’ll probably be gone before the second quarter.
Popcorn isn’t your thing? Poppin Off also serves Tofts hard ice cream. Tofts may be a brand you haven’t heard before, and that would be because you usually can’t get it unless you go up north to Sandusky. This was part of the inspiration for the local shop itself. The store has only been open since 2019. However, the owners formulated plans for their shop in 2016 after visiting family in Sandusky, the home of Tofts Ice Cream. Since its opening, Poppin Off has been serving a multitude of sweet and savory popcorn flavors, and after my experience, I strongly encourage you to try every single one!