The best restaurants in Licking County

Fast-food chain serving fried fish & shrimp combo meals along with gumbo & funnel cakes.

Chain selling crispy pizzas featuring provolone cheese & lots of toppings, plus oven-baked subs.

Casual counter-serve chain for build-your-own sandwiches & salads, with health-conscious options.

Fast-food chain serving Mexican-inspired fare such as tacos, quesadillas & nachos.

Counter-serve chain specializing in sub & club sandwiches, plus signature potato chips.

Long-running pizzeria chain turning out a menu of standards, including strombolis & calzones.

Casual counter-serve chain for build-your-own sandwiches & salads, with health-conscious options.

Veteran pizza parlor providing various pies, subs & salads in a spacious, laid-back setting.

New Jersey–based counter-serve sandwich chain serving jumbo subs filled with cold cuts & toppings.

Long-running pizzeria chain turning out a menu of standards, including strombolis & calzones.

Casual restaurant offering Mexican fare, including design-your-own burritos, tacos & bowls.

BBQ chain eatery featuring house-smoked meats, stuffed baked potatoes & classic sides.

Counter-serve chain serving up a menu of specialty or custom pizzas for takeout or delivery.

Traditional pizzeria chain also serving loaded breadsticks, wings, subs, strombolis & calzones.

Counter-serve smokehouse chain offering classic barbecue fare in down-home settings.

The Club at Forest Hills is a restaurant and pub open to the public attached to a covered driving range, so you can chase a bucket then chase it with burgers, pizza, wings, and a cold beer. Low-key vibe, patio hangs, and space for casual get-togethers when you need it.

From the Newark newsletter, October 25, 2026

When dinner indecision hits, Hot Head Burritos lets you build exactly what you’re craving, with burritos, bowls, and tacos piled high then finished with a choose-your-mood sauce lineup.

From the Newark newsletter, October 13, 2026

Casual pizzeria serving pies, stromboli, and other comfort food for lunch and dinner.

Lively chain steakhouse serving American fare with a Southwestern spin amid Texas-themed decor.

Pizza Cottage keeps it classic with pies, calzones, subs, and wings made with top-shelf ingredients, and they’ve got the hardware to prove it, landing on Pizza Today’s Hot 100 and earning Best Pizza in Licking County. Bonus points for their Eat Pizza. Raise Dough.

From the Newark newsletter, September 18, 2026

Craving comfort without the fuss, Royal Thai in Heath has you covered with pad Thai, rich curries, stir fried noodles, and fried rice, plus duck dishes when you want to upgrade dinner. Put it on your this-week list and let the spice level do the talking.

From the Newark newsletter, September 26, 2026

Just a quick hop from Newark in Alexandria, Johnstons LakeHouse Pizza turns out super-thin pies and hearty subs, plus that locally loved cheezy bread and fresh salads. Dough is made fresh daily, toppings are on point, and it’s the kind of laid-back spot you’ll order from on repeat when weeknights get busy.

From the Newark newsletter, September 12, 2026

Capuano's Pizza House keeps it simple and legit with scratch-made dough, fresh ingredients, and time-honored recipes that taste like someone actually cares. Classic pies plus subs, salads, and a few Italian comfort hits... the perfect midweek reset for Newark folks who want reliable, no-fuss deliciousness.

From the Newark newsletter, October 9, 2026

Puerto Vallarta Restaurant nails the essentials with sizzling steak, chicken or mixed fajitas, creamy cheese dip, and that just-right side of rice. When you need an easy dinner play this week, their online ordering has you covered for pickup or delivery. Zero fuss, maximum flavor, local-approved comfort.

From the Newark newsletter, September 20, 2026

Ray Ray's Hog Pit Granville keeps locals happy with St. Louis ribs, smoked wings, and the legendary Meatsweats box loaded with brisket, pulled pork, jerk chicken, ribs, and a handmade hot link. Finish strong with mac & cheese, collard greens, and banana puddin because vegetables can be fun too.

From the Newark newsletter, September 15, 2026

Hot Head Burritos lets you build burritos, bowls, and tacos like a choose-your-own dinner adventure, then finish with a lineup of sauces to match your mood. When you need something fast and satisfying this week, this Pataskala spot keeps weeknights tasty and gloriously low-effort.

From the Newark newsletter, October 6, 2026

The Oak Room at The Granville Inn serves refined, seasonal Ohio cuisine in a timeless setting of stone walls, warm wood, and candlelight. Go this week for a leisurely brunch, unwind by the fireplace, or post up on the patio with a thoughtful cocktail and even better conversation.

From the Newark newsletter, October 10, 2026

Station is the Granville spot where breakfast sandwiches, fresh-baked treats, and quality coffee share patio space with a cold beer when the day calls for it. It’s community centric, big on local partnerships, and the kind of relaxed hangout you start calling your regular.

From the Newark newsletter, September 12, 2026

Since 1973, Johnnies Villa Pizza has been the go-to when you want a classic pie with endless topping combos, plus eight subs and salads to keep the peace at home. Thinking low-key dinner or feeding a crew... their catering-friendly menu makes it easy.

From the Newark newsletter, August 13, 2026

Overlook Restaurant - Virtues Golf Club Restaurant keeps it classic with steaks, salads, and burgers, plus a lineup of beer, wine, and cocktails. Casual, comfortable, and perfect for catching up with friends after work or after a round, it’s an easy local go-to near Newark.

From the Newark newsletter, September 13, 2026

Relaxed pizzeria known for thin-crust pies, salads, subs and wings.

When the craving hits for straightforward Mexican cuisine without the trek, La Paloma Restaurant in nearby Heath keeps it simple and satisfying. It’s the kind of low-key spot you put on your weeknight rotation, reliable when you want familiar flavors and zero fuss.

From the Newark newsletter, October 18, 2026

When you want an easy win, Nick's Village Pizza rolls out pies, stromboli, subs and those loaded taters, plus a separate bar for the grown ups. Bring the crew for the roomy dining room and old-fashioned ice cream bar serving Velvet Ice Cream, or just swing through the drive-thru.

From the Mount Vernon newsletter, October 18, 2026

When you want a pie that tastes like someone obsessed over dough stretch and sauce balance, Stone Brother's Pizza delivers on the whole gourmet-meets-tradition thing. Locally owned in Utica with dine-in, carry-out, and delivery, plus wings, pastas, salads, and sandwiches when the crew can't agree.

From the Mount Vernon newsletter, October 15, 2026

Craving hometown comfort that actually lives up to the hype? Pizza Cottage keeps it simple... award-winning pies (they’ve been named best in Licking County), craveable wings, and fun twists like the BLT pizza, all from folks who treat you like family and pour back into the community.

From the Newark newsletter, October 20, 2026

Outpost of a casual chain serving American comfort food & specializing in chicken wings.

Crossroads Pub and Grub is the kind of cozy, no-fuss hang where burgers, boneless wings, and hearty sandwiches meet a cold beer on the patio. Friendly crew, lively vibe, and they’ll even host your next birthday or team shindig if you don’t want to clean up.

From the Newark newsletter, September 11, 2026

Casual counter-serve pizzeria dishing up brick-oven pies with a variety of toppings, plus calzones and subs.

Whether you want a relaxed brunch by Buckeye Lake or a low-key dinner with friends, The Blue Heron Kitchen & Pub delivers lake-inspired seafood and American classics made with Ohio ingredients, a friendly bar for solo bites, reservations when you need them, and fun weekly specials to keep things fresh.

From the Newark newsletter, October 15, 2026

Kanji Japanese Steakhouse brings the spectacle right to your table with hibachi chefs who flip, sizzle, and serve up meats and veggies, plus a premium sushi lineup, a curated sake selection, and great cocktails. If you need an easy win this week, make it a Kanji night.

From the Newark newsletter, October 3, 2026

For a laid-back spot locals actually go back to, Tequilaville serves comforting Mexican favorites, warm chips with salsa that keeps disappearing, and margaritas that hit the sweet-salty spot. Bonus, they’ve earned a Clean Plate Award, which kind of says it all.

From the Newark newsletter, October 24, 2026

Locally owned eatery serving pizzas, salads, calzones, subs, and appetizers.

Hot Head Burritos in Heath keeps lunch interesting with made-to-order burritos, bowls, and tacos plus a lineup of sauces that range from mellow to make-you-sweat. Easy online ordering, quick counter service, and catering when the whole crew is hungry... it’s a handy go-to around Newark.

From the Newark newsletter, September 11, 2026

That craving for a no-fuss pie ends at Panther Pizza & Bakery, where crispy pizzas, award-winning stromboli, and legit sweet treats hit the spot. It’s the kind of to-go comfort you keep on speed dial, with salads and subs when the crew can’t agree on toppings.

From the Newark newsletter, October 29, 2026