On our recent Licking County adventures (read part one here), the folks from Explore Licking County recommended we check out a place called Snapshots Lounge in Granville for dinner.
We honestly didn’t know what to expect. We’ve dined in Granville before, mostly around the main street of Broadway. Snapshots sits on Weaver Drive, running parallel to Routes 16/37 (which take you from Columbus to Newark).
The bar and restaurant is an old house. On our first visit, we pulled up to it on a Friday evening and could barely find a spot. The spaces in front of and around the house were all filled. (We returned with the boys a couple weeks later, on a Saturday evening, and found the place a little quieter.)
And then we walked through the front door and found ourselves staring at the bar and the host stand. The host said we had about a 10-minute wait for a table, so we grabbed seats at the bar and enjoyed an Aperol spritz and a Millersburg Brewing French Ridge IPA.
The place was crowded with locals. Everyone was greeting each other. The bartender knew everyone’s names. Everyone chatted excitedly while they waited.
Eventually we were ushered to our table out back. We passed through the inside dining areas – really just the renovated rooms of the house. The walls are plastered with photos; owner Lucas Atwood is a professional photographer by training.
Behind the house, the backyard and garage have been turned into a spacious patio and a covered dining area.
Our table was located in the garage, which is decked out with the expected kitsch. Through the window, I could see younger kids playing in the grassy areas outside.
Snapshots’ menu features two pages, split into snacks, sandwiches, salads, and desserts. In many ways, you’ll find all the usual suspects: salsa and chips, hummus, nachos in the snacks section; grilled cheese, Italian, ham and brie in the sandwiches. Everything’s well executed and easy to like – the type of stuff that you’ll really savor sitting out on the back patio with a cocktail.
In addition to the regular menu, they offer 3-4 specials over the weekends. During our first visit, we sampled a lovely cheese plate (Beth’s love language).
On our return visit, they were running a caprese salad special, featuring those bright and beautiful summer tomatoes.
Simple nachos with house-made black bean and corn salsa.
But then there are these fun little surprises. Like oven-roasted grapes with rosemary. Or The Creep sandwich, named after a friend of Lucas’, with roasted pork, provolone, red onion, roasted mushrooms, and mayo.
When we returned with the boys, we dug into the fondue served with slices of bread and pears. And the bacon-wrapped smokies with a brown sugar glaze. Or even the simple CCB sandwich: the standard chicken cordon bleu combination of roasted chicken, slices of ham, Swiss, mayo, and dijon mustard.
All of it well done, nicely presented, and just fun to eat. Add in the eclectic atmosphere, and it’s a great destination, for couples, groups, and families.
During our first visit, Lucas plied us with the cheesecake. The recipe has been in his family for generations, he said. His mother comes in to the restaurant regularly and bakes it USING HER GREAT-GRANDMOTHER’S RECIPE.
And let me tell you something… that recipe has aged beautifully. Lucas offered us a couple bites on our first visit and we were impressed. So on our return we absolutely ordered another slice, topped with caramel.
I’m not qualified enough to be a cheesecake judge, but I know enough to call this perhaps the best we’ve had. Wonderful texture without being dry or heavy. Lovely sour cream layer with vanilla. Very creamy, not too sweet. We demolished that slice, and could have eaten five more.
If you want to visit:
Snapshots Lounge
1320 Weaver Dr. (map it!)
Granville, OH 43023
(740) 321-1391
Open Mon-Thurs, 11:30a-9p; Fri & Sat, 11:30a-10p
Find them on Facebook and on Instagram (@snapshotslounge)
