Canal Tavern of Zoar

We haven’t had the chance to eat here yet but we know the chef Natalie. She is amazing and her pierogies are a must have! We will definitely eat here once the Ohio weather allows us to bike there.

Exquisite culinary delights are hard to come by in the Dover area, but the Canal Zoar Tavern met my highest expectations. We enjoy dining here regularly and leave pleased each time. Whether you want steak, salmon, or German spaetzle, your taste buds will be in heaven. In addition to a wonderful, upscale menu, the staff is friendly and welcoming and each visit feels like visiting old friends.

My husband and I ate here for New Years Eve dinner. Staff was very friendly and service was excellent. We ordered the 6 oz filet and the 10 oz strip steak. Delicious! Both were served with green beans and scalloped potatoes. We will definitely go back to sample the menu. The building is very old… approx. year of 1829. Homemade ice cream for dessert was also very good. Don’t think twice, just plan on eating here!

We rode our bikes from Cleveland to Zoar, putting on 94 miles! When we made it to Zoar, it was past closing time. We were so hungry, we decided to ask if they would be willing to serve us anyway. Natalie, the chef, was amazing! Not only did she stay with us for an extra two hours, she made the most amazing meal of salmon, mashed potatoes, soup and hot wine. All of this in the most charming, historic space. I can’t recommend this place highly enough. It will certainly be our go to anytime we find ourselves in Zoar. But do make sure Natalie is working. She is the best!

Good hearty food and decent prices, if we weren’t traveling we would have had leftovers. I had the bruised pork which was tender and well seasoned with delish cheesy grits. My husband had the shrimp which were too salty (thins is really my only complaint) it was a lovely old world charm and an excellent patio area. The staff was really friendly and the owner greeted us as we left which was nice. If you’re on this part of the tow path it’s a good stop.

What a pleasant surprise. Me and a few of my friends were in Dover and found this place on Unilocal.When we first approached the restaurant (it is a house from the 1800’s) it didn’t look like it was open but so happy it was. From start to finish the food was outstanding. The spätzle and sausage were delicious. The meatloaf was like nothing I’ve ever had. Everything is made in house from scratch. The server and chef were so nice. All of us agreed that we would drive back from Cleveland to eat here again!

Way off the beaten path, but so grateful we found this gem! German and American mix of cuisine, but it was all fantastic! Steak, short ribs, schnitzel, and walleye special were all out of this world.
It is a small place, but amazing experience! Make reservations! Wish we lived closer so we could be regulars!

Wow. The food here is out standing. I had a meatloaf in a pastry crust. (One of our waitress’s favorites). All fresh food put to the hand of a talented chef.

What an experience!!!
The owner of this location has cut out all of the stops! High End, High Quality, Excellent Service, Historic Location… it goes on and on.
We dined with a group of family and made reservations in advance. The host was exceptional and confirmed the reservation prior to our arrival. We entered thru an old door with a handle and latch from likely a hundred years ago. The cool factor was already high. The atmosphere was shabby chic and full of CLASS!
We were greeted by an exceptional FOH staff and our server was on point. Quick service and laid back atmosphere kept dining and conversation upbeat and happy. Our food was top notch and cooked and prepared with attention to every detail. The chef has his game on lock!!!
The patio is absolutely one of a kind. Outdoor bar and stage with plenty of seating options. The place even had dining upstairs and offered catering for events. A wedding party was upstairs during our visit.
COMPLETELY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU MUST MAKE YOURS!!!
TAKE THE TRIP, RELAX, AND ENJOY THE DECOR AND EXQUISITE FOOD!

EXCELLENT Night out for my wife and me! The food was delicious, the atmosphere is very relaxing, and calm. The build is historical and I am looking forward to going back and getting to see the whole place. Food cost more than your average franchise restaurant but it is worth every penny. If you’re from the area or just coming through you have to stop.

Went in for our first wedding anniversary dinner. Called ahead to make reservations. Reserved a spot in the cellar. This restaurant is in a tavern that dates back to 1827, and we sat in the actual cellar. It was so quaint. Note: sitting in the cellar was chilly. It is the cellar, so it is cold. Not a problem for us, just added to the ambience of being in a wine cellar. Ordered house cabernet, two beers, two entrees, soup, pretzle bread, and a desert and the total was $ 56. I ordered the pork tenderloin (I had this at Taste of Tusc in March, which they won the Peoples Choice award on their pork tenderloin), with green beans and the potato that is cut up a bit and then deep fried so it is crispy and then dunked in some garlic butter. My meal was FANTASTIC! Husband ordered the pork spaetzle with green beans some sort of a southern stew soup (which was pretty darn tasty too). Ordered the french silk pie. It was more like a thick chocolate mousse. And it was yummy. I love chocolate though. Their ice cream is homemade and looked great too, will get next time! Waitress brought the bill and said the pie was on the house. Thank you! Went out back to finish drinking our wine and beer on the deck outside. They have an outdoor bar/​eating area that has a stage. (Must have music) This was our first time eating in this establishment, but we will definitely be back. Fab service and great food. Thank you for making our first wedding anniversary special.

The perfect combination of historic beauty and first-​rate food. My wife had an extraordinary perch dish (nightly special), and I enjoyed the meatloaf w pastry crust (don’t ask me how to spell it!). Started with a salad w homemade smokey vinaigrette and some delectable pretzel-​type bread. Servers were very attentive and made the experience that much more enjoyable. Take a walk across the bridge over the Tuscarawas to let your food settle after enjoying your meal at this truly unique destination.

Went back again this weekend. This is a must visit place if you live in Stark county.

My family and I love this place. The food is wonderful and the ambience is nice. We just moved to the area and we plan on going there often!

Perfect service, ambiance and food. don’t miss it… the pea soup was to die for? The salad perfect and the blt was amazing!

Tucked out of the way in Zoar, OH, this unassuming place is a hidden gem. Great ambiance, excellent cuisine, and attentive, friendly service sets this place apart from other fine, casual dining experiences. My wife ordered the eggs benedict with home fries during Sunday brunch and I had pan fried catfish with cheesy grits and grilled vegetables. Both of our dishes were flavorful and impeccably prepared.
After we ate we took a tour of their wine cellar, which is still in use under the dining area. There is also an outside seating area with a stage for local bands to play on. Overall, we were quite impressed and will be coming back again.

Found this great spot while visiting the NFL Hall of Fame… great atmosphere — great meal. A little our of the way but worth it!

Other reviews have touched nicely on the ambiance, so I will stick to the quality and value of the food. We are from Cleveland, and self-​proclaimed foodies. We enjoy five-​star dining, but it usually comes with a high sticker price. At Canal Tavern the cuisine is on par with some of the best establishments of the big city, but at far more affordable prices.
We’re big believers in ordering off the specials menu, so if you visit and an entrée grabs you, get it! Both times we’ve visited CToZ we’ve been graced with amazing entrée specials that just melt in your mouth. From pork and beef, to seafood and sides, everything is prepared to perfection. Example: goat cheese polenta, amazing. Example: the potato pancake specials, delectable.
Their wine list is notably good (I suggest the Firelands Riesling), as is their modest beer list. If you’re looking to spend a special occasion out away from the glaring lights of town, this is a great destination dining experience. You’re as welcome in jeans and a tee-​shirt as you will be in more formal attire. Just come hungry, because you’ll want to taste it all. PS: the beignets/​ice cream dessert, wow!!!

If you are like me, I avoid «chain restaurants» like the plague. I don’t want prepared foods or cheap imitations of traditional fare. Basically, if I want stuff out of a can or box, I’ll go to WalMart.
I want «Chef» created food. No mass developed, marketed or sold. Food to me is the stuff of soul. A good chef follows recipes. A great chef creates them and folds his own style and flair into each dish. One such chef, Cameron Krahel, calls the Canal Tavern of Zoar home. The restaurant is part of a historic inn from the time of Ohio’s Canal Days and in the region my family settled in the mid 1700’s which feels like home every time I visit.
The Canal Tavern is steeped in history and that history combines German/​American with «nouveau» cuisine. As a starter, I ordered «Pan Seared Scallops» served with an heirloom tomato salad, with a smoked onion and garlic vinaigrette. It was simply delicious.
For my main, I had «Braised Lamb Shank» with red wine, tomato, garlic and celery. The tavern advertises the dish fork tender and indeed it was. I have ordered dozens of «braised’ dishes in restaurants over the years and more often than not, they come out either dry or mooshy. Not here. I would rate this dish as one of the top 10 braised Lamb dishes I have ever had.
My partner in crime had «Hackbratentorte», a beef and pork meatloaf baked in a pastry crust (Wellington style) with spices and vegetables served over potato pancakes and a hearty sauce. Her dish was remarkable as well.
All in all, the «Canal Tavern of Zoar» is a rare find not only in bigger cities, but to be nestled in the historic Tuscarawas River Valley makes it a diamond and not in the rough either. It’s highly polished and gleaming with great food, historic settings and an outside patio (weather permitting) that is truly fun filled.
I have been to Canal Tavern many times since this first review and nothing has changed. I brought my sister and her husband here (he is owner of the exclusive ‘Strand House’ in Manhattan Beach, CA) and they simply loved it!

Here’s the scene: We opened the heavy, rustic door (by pulling on a string to lift the latch) and stepped into the warmly-​lit interior of the lovingly restored Canal Tavern of Zoar. As we walked past the bar and into the cozy main dining room with a heavy snow falling outside, the ambiance immediately evoked the history of the building and the old German village of Zoar. With exposed brick walls and wood beams, the tavern has an old, rustic feel and yet is very comfortable and inviting.
Of course, all of this pleasing décor would be worth little without fantastic food and drink, and the Canal Tavern does not disappoint. The menu is packed with traditional German specialties that reflect the local history — as well as the owner’s own heritage and time spent in Europe — that are rendered perfectly by the chef. Too often when eating in German restaurants, you get overly basic and poorly executed versions of pop-​culture German dishes. Not at the Canal Tavern!
We enjoyed the cheese and sausage plate as an appetizer, which included the Tavern’s own delicious German-​style mustard. For the main course, my wife ordered cabbage rolls and potato pancakes, and I had pork chop over spaetzle and a side of broccoli. The food was perfectly cooked and seasoned, showing a sophistication that is frequently lacking from German cuisine in America — but not Germany! We shared the beignets and ice cream for dessert, both made from scratch in-​house, and were not disappointed. The beignets had the perfect consistency — not too heavy — and the vanilla ice cream was rich, creamy and had some additional flavor hints mixed, all in perfect balance.
I also loved the Zoar Star Lager. The owner mentioned that this beer was created uniquely for the Canal Tavern by Millersburg Brewing Company. Again, this beer is an excellent rendering of a traditional German lager — clearly a theme for this restaurant.
Service was also outstanding. The staff are attentive without being intrusive and very knowledgable about the menu choices. We went on a Saturday night, and the place was very busy, so I’d recommend reservations on the weekend.
Bottom line — I feel lucky to live within an easy drive from the Canal Tavern of Zoar. Maybe it’s a little farther than the restaurants I typically visit, but the quality of the food and the experience are well worth the extra few minutes in the car. I will certainly return, and look forward to trying the outdoor bier garten in the summer, as well as the downstairs rathskeller — all-​stone arched walls & ceiling! If you haven’t already tried the Canal Tavern, put it on your «must-​visit» list. You won’t be disappointed.