***** THIS RESTAURANT IS PERMANENTLY CLOSED *****
Highway 40 was once The National Road, a way to cross the country east to west before the interstate highway system. It is now a side road parallel to I-70, so that millions of vehicles zoom by, oblivious to the existence of Henry’s. Even if you are on the two-lane and you do see Henry’s on the south side of 40, chances are good you won’t be inspired to stop. It looks defunct. It needs paint. The gas pumps that used to be outside are long gone. But a sign in the window says OPEN. And for those who persevere, walking in the door of this place is walking through the gates of Roadfood heaven.
The meals are just fine, very good country-style fare: baked ham, hot roast pork sandwiches with mashed potatoes and gravy, creamed chipped beef on cornbread, and universally acclaimed breakfasts. But it is pie that puts this unlikely knotty-pine-paneled roadside café on our must-eat map. Here are some of the best pies in Ohio, in the Midwest, anywhere: peach, banana, chocolate, peanut butter, cherry, coconut, etc. Butterscotch pie is thick and dense, full flavored the way only real (not from a mix) butterscotch can be; and it is crowned by creamy meringue. Custard pie is modestly thin, a sunny yellow wedge dusted with nutmeg: balmy, lightweight, melt-in-the-mouth tender. The flavor of the rhubarb pie is as brilliant as bright summer sun, intensely fruity, and balanced by a crust that flakes into luscious shards.
Other Nearby Restaurants
-
G&R Tavern
Waldo, OhioG&R’s thick-sliced bologna is a flavorful pork and beef blend that gets skillet-sizzled and packed into what may be the best bologna sandwich anywhere.
-
Golden Lamb
Lebanon, OhioA vintage hotel restaurant in antiques-rich Lebanon, Ohio, the Golden Lamb serves heartland square-meals lunch and dinner with Shaker sugar pie for dessert.
-
Pine Club
Dayton, OhioOne of America’s best steak houses, the Pine Club cuts and ages its own: glorious filets mignon, porterhouses & sirloins. And a sensational hamburger, too.
-
Six Hundred Downtown
Bellefontaine, OhioNamed for the temperature of its oven, Six Hundred Downtown specializes in interesting, unusual pizzas with crisp, chewy crust.
-
Fairborn Family Diner
Fairborn, OhioFairborn sports diner values: lots of food for little money, menu highlights including big omelets, pancakes, and country-fried steak smothered with gravy.
-
Bill’s Donut Shop
Centerville, OhioBill’s Donut Shop has all the classics: glazed, crullers, long johns, donut holes, etc. Highlights include glazed pretzels, caramel Persians and donut sticks.