Attention Food Blog Followers: There’s a culinary treat you need to experience!
An early 1900s building in the heart of Lima (Ohio) houses a restaurant and bar that is more than a place to visit for phenomenal food; it’s hands-down the most interactive restaurant I’ve ever found. ZINUM 12 isn’t just a place to stop for the best appetizer I’ve ever had– hello, BUFFALO CHICKEN EGG ROLLS!– it’s a place that makes you feel young, and that’s difficult to leave without a long-lasting memory.
First Impressions
Approaching the historic building housing Zinum 12 immediately makes me feel comfortable, and the numerous board games in the window make me smile. I already know I’m about to have a great time.
Opening the door, the amount of space and the number of Jenga games sitting on tables throughout the restaurant blows me away. Zinum 12 is a good time waiting to happen, and that’s clear from my first step in the door.
Upon entering, I see a stage to the doorway’s right and quickly learn that Zinum 12 is known for live music every Friday and Saturday night. In a spacious side room, past the stage, are two billiard tables, a cornhole set, and a fireplace in the middle of the wall. Everything I see in the first ten seconds of stepping into Zinum 12 lets me know that this is a place that encourages loud voices, lots of laughter, and guests who want to stay for a while.
A Step Inside
As if their game-devoted room isn’t enough to entertain, Zinum 12 offers darts, Giant Jenga, an impressive beach-themed bar, a cantina-looking covered patio, and a courtyard with such vibrant colors, lights, and style that it immediately conjures thoughts of Spanish Harlem– I haven’t felt the vibe and mood I experienced in the back courtyard since my time in Puerto Rico.
Add a stunning choice in lighting fixtures and an array of seating, and you have a destination, not just a food-fix. Honestly, I have never taken so many inside pictures of a Positively Delicious food blog stop as I did with Zinum 12 because everywhere I looked inside Zinum 12 had a different story to tell that I wanted my readers to hear.
The Menu
Now for the food!
I’ve never been to a restaurant where they give you the overflow that happens when they make your drink. When my FROZEN STRAWBERRY MARGARITA found its way to me, so did a tall glass containing what didn’t fit in the margarita glass. Some may say this isn’t financially wise on Zinum 12’s part. After all, if you give me more to drink at one time, I don’t need to order as much. But I say this type of thoughtfulness and generosity converts someone from a guest to a loyal and repeating customer.
Now it’s time to talk about Zinum 12’s BUFFALO CHICKEN EGG ROLLS! When I received the Zinum 12 referral, it came with an extra tip: THE BUFFALO CHICKEN EGG ROLLS ARE THE BEST! So naturally, I needed to see if I would arrive at the same conclusion– and I did! These egg rolls are tasty and crispy on the outside, and the inside contains the creamiest buffalo chicken dip I’ve ever had in my life. Even my guest agreed that out of all the food we tried, this seemingly simple appetizer catapulted itself to the top of the ‘reasons we want to return’ list.
I also sampled the BUFFALO CHICKEN NACHOS, COWBOY BURGER, and THE STACKER BURGER. Not only were the morsels of food I tasted out-of-this-world delicious, their menu still make my tastebuds dance.
And if you’re looking for an exciting take on a burger, look no further. Zinum 12 uses different combinations of the following on their signature burgers– onion rings, mozzarella sticks, sweet onion jam, queso, jalapeno poppers, deep-fried tater tots, maple bacon cream cheese jam, fried pickle straws, parmesan fries, bacon bourbon jam, cajun shrimp infused mac & cheese, and many more scrumdiddlyumptious morsels of yumminess.
But if you’re not a burger enthusiast, that’s OK! Zinum 12 is known for its QUESADILLAS, WINGS, WRAPS, CAJUN SHRIMP, and drinks– bottles, tap, wine, soda, juice, and lemonade.
Final Thoughts
I missed Zinum 12 before I even paid the bill.
The phenomenal server helping my guest and me answered all my questions– even though she had no idea I wrote food blogs. She talked to us about how Zinum is the owner’s name spelled backward and how 12 is the owner’s favorite number. She let us know that the only way for someone to get their name on the wall is to consume six shots and six chasers for $12. She talked to us about how the fries are homemade and that Zinum 12 opened just 14 short months ago. She was hospitality at its finest.
After eating and a couple of rounds of billiards, it was time to return home. Not only did I smell the sweet deliciousness of Zinum 12 the entire ride– thanks to the generous portion sizes that made a to-go box a must– but I felt grateful. Zinum 12 reminds me of my younger years while exciting me about how much my children will love to visit.
Zinum 12 is a place you go for a fun date. It’s a place you go on your own. It’s a place you bring your children to for lunch. It’s a place you bring big groups to with lots of different personalities. It’s a place you sit back and simply enjoy the surroundings, and it’s a place you get up and have some fun.
The moral of the story is that sometimes food is merely what fuels your body, while other times food is the catalyst to a memory… to a moment that you’d revisit over and over again if life worked like a DVD with scene selection.
Zinum 12 is a memory-maker, and I hope it climbs to the top of every ‘must-visit’ food lovers list.
The following photos are courtesy of Zinum 12’s Facebook page:
