You'll Be Transported To A Hungarian Village At This Top-Rated Restaurant In Ohio
By Sarah McCosham|Published September 25, 2023
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
One of my best friends hails from Hungary. She came to Ohio as part of an au pair program, met her now-husband just weeks before her visa expired, and now, 15 years later, is a U.S. citizen with three beautiful daughters and thriving photography business. One of the most surprising things I’ve learned from her is how big of a Hungarian community there is in Ohio, especially in the Greater Cincinnati area where we live. Cincinnati (or Zinzinnati) is a proud German town with the biggest Oktoberfest in the country, but this part of Ohio is home to a robust Hungarian community, too. In addition to several Eastern European societies, clubs, and churches, Cincinnati is home to lots of pubs and beer gardens and arguably the best Hungarian restaurant in Ohio: Laszlo’s Iron Skillet.
Stuffed cabbage rolls, pork stew with spatzles, and schnitzel -- for my Hungarian friend, there's nothing better. And while she lives some 5,000 miles away from her childhood village in Hungary, she can enjoy a taste of home anytime at Laszlo's Iron Skillet.
Since 1973, Laszlo's Iron Skillet has been the premier Hungarian restaurant in Cincinnati, Ohio, known for its variety of authentic Eastern European cuisine and outdoor biergarten.
While the inside of this Hungarian restaurant feels like a cozy village pub, the outdoor biergarten is an especially magical place that, during a summer evening in Cincinnati, Ohio, truly feels like you've been transported across the pond.
In typical Eastern European fashion, most of these dishes are hearty and meat-forward. I tend to eat more vegetarian, so I always order a homemade pretzel -- these delicious morsels are made fresh daily and there's nothing better than one that's still hot from the oven!
In a nod to the "melting pot" that is America, Laszlo's has fun Hungarian-Zinzinnati fusions: the Glier's Goetta Bites and Pretzels is a tasty appetizer, and the Schnitzel Sandwich is a fun take on an American club sandwich.
What's truly lovely about Laszlo's, though, is how this Hungarian restaurant embodies the American pride immigrants feel when they come here. My friend is so proud to be a Hungarian-American, and that swelling pride is palpable at this cozy little restaurant.
Have you dined at this Hungarian restaurant in Cincinnati, Ohio, before? My friend absolutely loves it and *always* orders the Combo Platter — the stuffed cabbage rolls from Laszlo’s are her favorite! For her, it’s a little taste of home here in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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