Ye Olde Trail Tavern
Ye Olde Trail Tavern things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
Description
Casual spot for American fare & craft brews, plus TV sports, in a 19th-century tavern.
attractions: Glen Helen Nature Preserve, Glen Helen Association, The Yellow Spring, Village Of Yellow Springs, restaurants: Peach's Grill, Winds Cafe, Yellow Springs Brewery, Emporium Wines & Underdog Café, Miguel's Tacos, Bentino's, Sunrise Cafe, Ellie’s Restaurant at Mills Park Hotel, Dino's Cappuccinos, Dayton Street Gulch
Ratings
Description
Casual spot for American fare & craft brews, plus TV sports, in a 19th-century tavern.
Posts
Stopped in after a long day of hiking hoping to have a cocktail. We were seated right away -it’s a very old building with short ceilings and small tables but charming. We were greeted fairly quickly but after that getting a servers attention was difficult. We asked for an appetizer and straw for our water and got the straws about half way through our appetizer. We also ask about cocktails but were told it was beer and wine only (seems odd for a tavern) and I asked for a white sangria and the server responded we only have red…with no other offerings or for a beer/wine list so we skipped the drinks. The sauerkraut and bratwurst balls were some of the best I’ve ever had but $10 for four seemed a bit much considering the bourbon cheeseburger-that was delicious- with fries was only $10. The taste of the food was the redeeming quality for this visit. The service was very slow and the server acknowledged that the day had been frustrating for her; I’m guessing she was a manager because she brought out a side of the German potato salad “on the house” for our long wait times. The small table for two was very crowded with two plates on it and felt a bit claustrophobic and uncomfortable. The food was very good and I try to be understanding about slow service and the server at least acknowledged the issue so that’s why I rated 4 stars instead of 2 or 3.
LeeAnna McDanielLeeAnna McDaniel
10
Full disclosure- this review really only applies to tourists from out of town who may for one reason, or another find yourself one day in Yellow Springs. I'm writing this in case the owners ever feel the need to make a change. First off- There is only (1) place where public restrooms can be found and it's under the label "Yellow Springs Station" for those using Google Maps. Visitors to Yellow Springs will quickly discover that the inherent charm that may exist here, potentially only shines when there aren't hundreds of people looking around as though they were at Disneyland, or a Zoo. I bring this up because as a result - some (not all, but some) of the locals may not be as friendly as others, usually the ones trying to sell you something. Yes- this means that Ye Olde Tavern, along with all other businesses do NOT allow the use of their restrooms and some of their staff is friendly and some are - not so much. Inside the Ye Olde Train Tavern the decor is quite original (meaning untouched in many years) which meant: sticky, oily tables, menus and condiment bottles. This was hard to ignore, since there is no place to "wash your hands" and eventually you have to touch...things. Sadly, neither my guest, nor I brought any hand sanitizer, or Lysol with us, but we decided to stay nevertheless as there were many good reviews about this establishment. Although we were sat fairly quickly (Saturday 2:30pm is hardly rush-hour) we unfortunately waited a good 10 minutes for someone to come by and get our drink order. Worse yet, another 15 minutes passed before those drinks found their way over and then afterwards another 20 minutes before we could place an order. I made the mistake of ordering the Donar Kebap and my guest ordered the Ostern salad. 35 minutes later the salad (with no cooked ingredients mind you) arrived alongside my Donar Kebap that included a side of fries and a pickle. Fortunately the Kebap was wrapped in foil (hand-washing crisis averted), however good hygiene was the least of my concerns as I took a bite and immediately spat back out what appeared to be large chunks of cabbage stem, that tasted as if they weren't washed properly. Had I not lived in over 21 different cities and spend over 2 years living in Europe, I may not have tried hundreds of Donar Kebaps and I may not have noticed that: A) The flatbread tasted exactly like the mass-produced, overly-thick, pre-packaged nonsense that comes from Walmart, or Costco, but it was no where near the type of flatbread you would normally get with a Kebap. B) The cabbage and cucumber were 1/2" dice- making the texture so crunchy and unpleasant that it was difficult to distinguish between the ingredients and the overwhelming flavor of poorly washed dirty cabbage did not help the situation. C) The Donar meet- "beef and lamb" was so flavorless and dehydrated, which was amazing considering it was at room-temperature, that it tasted like someone purchased a ton of frozen, processed beef-lamb gyro meat (made from meat paste- see texture in photos) cooked it on an oven tray until one side burns, drained all of the fat/oil until it was dry, placed the meat in a container and then later (hours/days) pulled out a few slices, cut them into cubes and tossed them under the cabbage mixture. D) The Fries were delicious- couldn't tell if they were from a frozen bag, but based on the seasoning I would guess they were. Didn't change the fact that they were cooked properly and decently warm. I regret having to touch the ketchup bottle and am fairly certain condiments are still married when no one is looking. Suffice to say I did NOT eat most of my meal. I asked my guest how her salad was: to which she replied- Disgusting- mainly because of the flavor of the cabbage, but the dressing (while thick) was not the worst. She did not eat most of her meal either. Despite the unnecessarily long wait times and abysmal/horrid food, we paid in full, tipped well and left, never to return. If you find yourself here- maybe stick with a burger and fries.
CJ SCJ S
00
We stopped in to eat after seeing some intriguing reviews online. I will say the food we had WAS on point and good. They have some good unique options and are going for a German theme on the menu. The fried Sauerkraut balls are very good. Nothing really unique about the pretzel bites though. The Reuben I had was very good, my wife tried the Late Night Johnny and it was okay. The chili has a unique flavor almost like a marinara base but I liked it. They have a good beer selection. Our waitress, Whitney was friendly and very helpful but the young lady who sat us as our "hostess" made us feel like we were just a bother. We were seated and pretty much had menus thrown down in front of us. I would have understood if they were busy but they weren't. The bartender while we were there threw coasters at the "hostess" with a full bar and customers, I felt this was extremely unprofessional. The historical building was kind of cool to experience but the decor could have been better thought out. The interior of the building needs some quality repairs done to it but should be mindful of the history. Overall the front of the house where we were seated had a regular small town local bar feel to it, that combined with a jukebox hanging on the wall blaring modern rap and teens music took away from the historical feel that the building could offer. Despite my criticisms, I would probably return again to try some of their other menu items but would ask to be seated in the back of the house or weather permitting outside around the fire pit. This place is under new ownership for the past three years and I think with a few changes could really improve the experience. I really would love to see this place become one of those "must stop" locations as it has the potential to be.
Scott MillerScott Miller
00
Ate here for lunch on the way out of a 2 day camping trip. Walked right in on a Saturday, no wait. We got the Pork Bites for an appetizer, and they were absolutely excellent. I got the bourbon burger, and it was solid. Better than average, but not the best I have ever had. Their german potato salad side is EXCELLENT, as well as their fries. My girlfriend got the wings, and they were surprisingly good. They are smaller wings with crunchy thick breading, yet they have a surprising amount of meat on them. They were also delicious. Overall a great experience. However, a bit pricey for lunch. Very reasonable prices for dinner, though. The reason this didn’t get 5 stars- the booth seating is HORRIBLY uncomfortable. Its awful. Im a bigger guy, and not only is it a tight fit with the table, but these stools HURT my butt. NOTE: Star rating based on my own formula consisting of flavor, cost, facilities, service, and overall satisfaction. Reviews are subject to change based on future visits.
Austin McKeeAustin McKee
60
5 years later and still never went back to Yellow springs because of the town's generally unwelcoming behavior towards dogs. Edited this with review to show people that there are businesses that do welcome your pets. The attached photos are of the Town Hall bar and grill in the short North area of Columbus... dogs are welcome to come in and sit in the booth with you and they even bring you a freshly baked dog biscuit when the menus come out! Went to yellow springs for the day with our 5 pound Yorkie and 10 lb Brussels griffon and this place in particular and yellow springs as a whole... Is one of the most pet-unfriendly places I've been... if they want to act like a bunch of hippies in this town they ought to take a lesson from Asheville NC, one of the best laid pet friendly hippie Hangouts in the country. Yellow springs is a real bummer.... like I'm going to tie my 5 pound Yorkie to the fence while I eat as the waitress suggested. Take your $100 elsewhere if you have a pooch :-(
Bob BaemelBob Baemel
20
The Ye Old Trail Tavern (Ohio's oldest tavern) was today's lunch location. Sitting on their patio felt like snagging a VIP seat to the best people-watching spot in town, all while basking in the comfiest warm air. The fish and chips were perfect! The fish? Crispy on the outside, melt-in-your-mouth inside. And those chips? Couldn't stop munching on them. They were a little light with the small sample of cole slaw...could have provided more Then came my wife's BLT - thick, crispy bacon with the freshest tomato and lettuce, all hugged by perfectly toasted bread. Service was chill and on point, making the whole vibe just right. Whether you're here for the fish and chips, that BLT, or just to chill and soak in the scene, the Tavern is a good choice. Only knock is they have just one fryer so if a lot of people order fish, it will slow your order down. Can't wait to hit up this spot again!
Camp SampCamp Samp
10
Nearby Attractions Of Ye Olde Trail Tavern
Glen Helen Nature Preserve
Glen Helen Association
The Yellow Spring
Village Of Yellow Springs

Glen Helen Nature Preserve
4.8
(977)Click for details

Glen Helen Association
4.8
(492)Click for details

The Yellow Spring
4.8
(71)Click for details

Village Of Yellow Springs
4.6
(33)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Ye Olde Trail Tavern
Peach's Grill
Winds Cafe
Yellow Springs Brewery
Emporium Wines & Underdog Café
Miguel's Tacos
Bentino's
Sunrise Cafe
Ellie’s Restaurant at Mills Park Hotel
Dino's Cappuccinos
Dayton Street Gulch

Peach's Grill
4.3
(857)$$
Click for details

Winds Cafe
4.2
(376)$$
Click for details

Yellow Springs Brewery
4.7
(305)Click for details

Emporium Wines & Underdog Café
4.6
(274)$
Click for details