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By: Jamie DePetris

Food Critic/Expert

Thank you so much Doug  & John for insisting I try Bandana’s. Get ready for my raves because this place is phenomenal!

Bandana’s is located at 930 Lake Rd  (18F) in Youngstown. You MUST put this place in your to go list (you will be amazed).

Mandy and I stopped in for lunch the day after my friends told me about it. How could I resist? They made it sound super good! And boy were they right.

We were greeted by Jill and able to meet the owner, Rob, who came out wearing a bandana! He also happens to be the chef, and an amazing one at that.

Bandanas is home to all of your comfort foods, but with an eccentric twist. It’s quite the exciting place for Youngstown.

Although we had a phenomenal lunch, this review is going to focus more on our following trip to Bandanas for breakfast, which they are most proud and known for.

Just a quick note on the lunch. To start, everything is homemade; EVERYTHING!

We had a basket of mozzarella balls and pizza logs, which were my favorite. The crust was paper thin with a whole bunch of yumminess inside (yes, yumminess)! Usually they are all crust and doughy on the inside, but these weren’t at all.

Also in the basket were deep fried pepperoni chips. Yep, you heard me right.

We also had potato skins, macaroni & cheese with broccoli, pesto chicken salad on a lightly toasted croissant served with fried grapefruit, and knock-your-socks-off New Orleans red rice and beans with smoked pork with homemade cornbread. I have never tried anything like that, but it was truly amazing (and was Mandy’s favorite).

We literally rolled out of there and could not stop talking about how much we loved one dish more than the next.

Now, onto breakfast. We returned two days later for the famous breakfasts we heard so much hype over.

We had the Polish scramble which is their house hash topped with the creamiest scrambled eggs I have ever had. I had actually asked Rob how he makes them and then tried replicating them myself the following day… but needless to say I was unsuccessful. Not even close.

 

 

Anyway, they were mixed with caramelized onions and cheese and finished with grilled kielbasa with a side of thick Italian toast (my absolute favorite egg dish ever), Greek hash which is Gyro meat mixed with those same scrambled eggs, tomatoes, spinach, actual chunks of feta cheese, and of course their own house hash served with warm pita and Tzatziki sauce (Mandy’s favorite), biscuits and gravy fresh baked giant flaky biscuit topped with the most flavorful creamy sausage and maple gravy topped with a fried egg.

Move over Bob Evans, Bandana’s throws yours right out of the window!

Last but definitely not least, French toast which consisted of two pieces of thick cut Challah bread dipped in a Grand Marnier and a cinnamon batter with maple butter.

 

 

Now, I am not shy about admitting I am a girl who loves her syrup! But these French toast needed absolutely no assistance. I did not need one drop of syrup. The maple butter is made with real maple syrup and actually glazed the Challah bread to a glisten the Grand Marnier and cinnamon batter are perfect together. You could actually define each separate flavor. I think the dish could win competitions it was so amazing.

I know it seems that I’m always praising the restaurants I review and, although that’s true, I am always totally honest.

I get so excited about food and I love to be able to share it with all of the readers of the Niagara Reporter.

I honestly believe Rob has that same excitement and thoughtfulness in creating, preparing and serving every item on his menu.

Go there have a few drinks (yes, even with breakfast), sit inside or on their fabulous patio or courtyard, and feel at home.  You need to get up and run to Bandanas! I promise you will be happy you did.

Make sure to tell them Jamie sent you!