Sometimes it’s completely worth exiting Interstate 77 to indulge in some homemade food, even if it means you’re late. A prime example is exit 28 in Caldwell, home to three family restaurants, Kathy’s Kitchen, Patty’s Place and Lori’s Family Restaurant, serving dishes from biscuits and gravy to spaetzle and cherry crumble pie. 

Kathy's Kitchen

An old beige building with the sign “Restaurant” sits facing the Noble County Courthouse. Nearly hidden on the building’s side is a sign with red letters, “Kathy’s Kitchen.”  

It’s an ordinary building with a seemingly normal entrance, but upon entering, it is clear customers go for comfort and comfort food.  

Located at 426 Cumberland Street. in Caldwell, the family-owned restaurant is open Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the exception of Sundays, when the establishment is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

The commitment to long hours and a menu that serves all-day breakfast, lunch and dinner is part of Kathy’s Kitchen’s tradition. Before it became Kathy’s Kitchen, the building saw multiple restaurants and businesses go through it.  

Kathy's Kitchen has a variety of affordable and delicious specials listed colorfully on a chalkboard near the front of the restaurant. Photo by McKenna Christy.

Michael Smith, the owner of Kathy’s Kitchen, was born and raised in Caldwell. He had plans to go into the oil industry until he was offered the chance to take over the restaurant after Sherm and Sherry Archer ran a restaurant in the same building for 27 years.  

“This has been a restaurant for 50 years,” Smith says. “We got some really awesome customers.” 

Naturally, there are crowd favorites on Kathy’s menu, such as:  

  • “The Breakfast Mess:” made up of potatoes, cheese and sausage gravy, and costs $6.25 for a full order and $3.50 for half.  
  • The “Big, Tiny,” which sits between two pieces of Texas toast and is topped with grilled onions, barbeque and mozzarella for a price of $5.95.  
A close-up of Kathy’s Kitchen’s “Breakfast Mess,” which costs $6.25 for the full order and $3.50 for a half order. Photo by McKenna Christy.

Beyond the food, Savanna Harriman, manager of Kathy’s Kitchen and Smith’s fiancée, says she relishes serving the people of Caldwell through service and giving people quality company. 

“I have a group of four men. They come in here, and I can tell you exactly when they’ll be here, what they order (and) everything,” Harriman says. “It’s awesome.”  

  

Lori's Family Restaurant

Inside the building located at 17020 McConnelsville Road, Judd and Roman Lori, brothers and owners of Lori’s Family Restaurant, can be found greeting customers from across the room and inviting them to make themselves at home.  

The warmly lit restaurant was opened by Judd and Roman’s parents in 1987. The Lori brothers were born and raised in Caldwell and are part of its fabric. In fact, Roman coached Smith of Kathy’s Kitchen when he played high school football.  

As brothers, it could be assumed that Judd and Roman might find themselves at odds when running Lori’s, but it is the opposite.  

“A lot of families have people move away and go away, but I get to see my brother every day,” Judd says. “I see my mom and dad every day, and it’s awesome. (I’m) just very blessed in that way.”  

A spread of food at Lori’s Family Restaurant, including biscuits and gravy served with a side of home fries. Photo by McKenna Christy.

Judd and Roman’s mom and dad eat at the restaurant every day just as the locals do. When Judd and Roman go on vacation, they look forward to getting back to the restaurant for a meal.  

“Whether it’s the people we work with or the people that come through the doors to eat, that’s what I like to do,” Roman says. 

For a meal at Lori’s, no one can go wrong with: 

  • Biscuits and gravy served with a side of home fries for $7.99  
  • Hot beef sandwich with a side mashed potatoes for $11.49 

Open from Sunday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Lori’s provides a space for people to come hungry and leave full and fulfilled.  

Patty's Place

Patty Fraley has worked in the restaurant industry since she was 15 years old. Fraley, who was born and raised in Caldwell, started as a dishwasher at a restaurant her mom baked pies at.  

After holding managerial roles at various restaurants, she started Patty’s Place, located at 46855 Marietta Road, in October 2013.  

Fraley worked at the restaurant formerly owned by the Archer’s and that is currently Kathy’s Kitchen. She also babysat Roman and Judd when they were younger.  

A slice of lemon pie, or heaven, at Patty’s Place. Photo by McKenna Christy.

Fraley’s husband, Allen Fraley, is a Noble County Commissioner and looks at his wife in complete awe of all the work she has done in developing Patty’s.  

“She has probably become the highest volume sit down family restaurant in all of Noble County,” Fraley says. 

“To say I’m proud of her would be an understatement.”  

 

Try some of the following pies for $3.59 a slice: 

  • Caramel apple delight  
  • Cherry crumb  
  • Lemon 

“They are made from scratch, from the crust to the filling, and we make anywhere from 15 to 20 pies every day,” Patty says.  

All pies are cut into seven pieces and people can call in advance to pick them up. Other menu hits include the turkey or ham club sandwiches served with French fries for $7.99.   

But in addition to the homemade fare found at Patty’s, open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, is the local connection.  

“It’s almost like a community within the community,” Allen says. “And if somebody doesn’t show up for a week, then everybody at the other tables start talking.”