Steamers - North Lima

As I have explored Southside food over the past year, I can now name the Market Street Extension (how dated is that) triumvirate: Café Capri, Johnny’s, and Steamers. All of these guys are great giving a different spin to somewhat the same type of food. I think I have to finally give it a name because you really don’t see it to such a great extent in other parts of the state or the country, for that matter. Let’s call it Youngstown Italian Tavern Food.

Steamers is in a North Lima building that has a history for those of us who have lived here all of our lives. The original building was the restaurant portion of a high end fifties modern Holiday Inn. My father used to drive out there to make reservations when we made our weekend trips when I was a kid. Occasionally he would take the family there for Sunday dinner. It was a pretty space back then. When the Holiday Inn sold the facility, the restaurant and the motel operations were separated out. The restaurant was Smaldino’s for years. When my son was small, he called it Little Dino’s because he couldn’t remember the name but understood puns. Terminally cute!!!!

When it became Steamers, the restaurant got a major upgrade. I am not familiar with the owners, but they did a bang up job on the place. I have only been to Steamers once before, and that was few years ago. My car wants to go another direction than towards North Lima when looking for a place to eat. It is on the outer limits of the area restaurant perimeter!! Maybe it’s time to permanently punch it into the Garmin!

There are a lot of good things to say about Steamers. It is friendly. It is convivial. I called the day before my visit for reservations and was told that they do the call ahead sitting thing, but he said he would put my name down for the next day rather than making me call back like some places do. Super nice on the phone! The “ta-da” girls who man the hostess station were actually friendly, welcoming and accommodating, a big plus for me! So many places they are not. The bartenders are friendly. They pour a good drink. The atmosphere is fun. The space, especially the bar area, is extremely attractive. AND we probably had the best waitress in years who would do anything for us. She paced the meal well and didn’t give us the bums rush to turn the table over. Efficient, friendly, even cracked a few jokes with us…when you get a good waitress, you know it!! Prices are certainly comparable to anywhere else. Great portions. What’s not to like?

Steamers takes Youngstown Italian Tavern food and gives it a twist with an emphasis on fish. I assume it takes its name from the steam stations at the bar wherein various shellfish are steamed for serving in front of the patrons. It was kind of neat to watch. The menu has an entire section for its steam bar appetizers. There also many fish items on the menu.

Steamers has a wonderful menu offering a wide variety of choices from the steam bar selections to fish to steaks and chops to the usual Italian selections you find locally. Here is the thing. My dinner was very good…but I have had what I ordered better at other places. Therein lays the problem selling that type of Italian food in Youngstown…the competition is fierce. That being said, my wife said here dinner was terrific, but she had fish!! Plus the place was packed with families and friends having a great time enjoying good food. And it is always busy so they must be doing something right.

Here is the grossly unfair result. Everything else about Steamers is so outstanding…a very good Italian dinner isn’t good enough when you are expecting “wow”. So here is what I am going to do. Steamers is at the top of the list of places to visit again, and soon! I don’t give meatball ratings on the basis of one visit so I will reserve the score until I go there again. Next time, I am going to try something else that may give me that “wow” factor, and I am more than sure I will find it because these folks try hard.

In the meantime, put this on your “must do” restaurant and bar hopping list. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Steamers
10078 Market Street

North Lima, Ohio 44452
330.549.9041