The Ohio State Fair's new food hall is a hit
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Mac and cheese topped with beef brisket, coleslaw and corn salsa from Sweet Carrot at the Ohio State Fair. Photos: Alissa Widman Neese
Though fairs are synonymous with rows of traveling vendors, I actually didn't visit one during my latest Ohio State Fair trip.
Dining the news: I left stuffed after visiting the new Food Hall on the first floor of the Ohio Showcase building and a couple other stops for local eats.
First, the food hall: It was packed. It feels like an instant staple, with its ideal combination of air conditioning and local restaurants.
What I ate: A bowl from Sweet Carrot (pictured above) with creamy mac and cheese, smoked beef brisket and coleslaw and corn salsa on top ($15).
- I never made it to this popular Grandview spot before it closed and became catering-only — and now I see what I missed.
- That mac and cheese is going to be my new summer tradition.
For dessert: Cheesecake Girl's adorable Buckeye shooter ($3) and a cake pop shaped like a corn dog ($6), unique to the fair.
Yes, but: One does not simply stop at one dessert during the Ohio State Fair.
- Next, I enjoyed a deviled egg flight ($18) outside the Ohio Agriculture Center, where the Ohio Poultry Association's quirky tradition now has a permanent stand.
The intrigue: I was fully prepared to hate the icing-topped birthday cake flavor, but it turned out to be a surprisingly tasty, protein-packed treat.
😅 … then I had a third dessert at the Dairy building.
The bottom line: The midway may get the attention, but some of the best bites are inside the Ohio buildings.
📍 Stop by: Through Aug. 9. Hours, tickets and parking. Daily schedule.
Go deeper: New Ohio State Fair buildings embrace Buckeye pride