Although Oddfellows started as a blueprint for an alcohol and cigar shop, it has transformed into the ultimate local hangout.  

Since 2024, the smoke has cleared to make room for the smell of fresh pizza, the glow of arcade games and the crash of duckpin bowling pins. 

Upon walking into the establishment, customers will be taken aback by the unique interior design that helps make it pop out in an odd sort of way.  

The Portsmouth restaurant has only been open for two years, but it has gained significant popularity in Scioto County, mainly due to its family-friendly appeal. 

The building was bought by a local couple, Maddie and Jeremy Burnside, in 2019. Previously, Oddfellows served as a meeting hall for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal organization from which the restaurant’s current name originated. 

The Burnsides were close to selling the building after Jeremy was diagnosed with a terminal illness. 

“A year and a half later, he passed, and I was going to sell the building,” Maddie says. “My dad, while [Jeremy]was sick, had finished out the renovations.” 

Jeremy died in June 2022, and to honor him, Maddie had a mural of him completed on one of the restaurant’s interior walls so customers do not forget who helped bring Oddfellows to life. 

Wide shot of wall with murals of previous building owner (left) and Maddie Burnside’s deceased husband, Jeremy (right). | Photo by Jude Hannahs

Maddie eventually met her second husband, John Kehoe. Kehoe worked as a chef, and the two of them decided to pursue the dream Maddie and Jeremy had laid the blueprint for. 

Oddfellows lacks subtlety about making its brand visible to the public, with its logo and name being the first things a pedestrian may see when walking by the building.  

Compared to a lot of the other buildings on the same street, Oddfellows has a lively presence like none other.  

What both Maddie and John are proud of is the positive experience noted by locals in Portsmouth and from those farther out in neighboring counties such as Jackson County, Pike County and Adams County.  

“It’s definitely a family atmosphere,” John says. “It’s a good balance between a family restaurant and a bar. We’re definitely a restaurant with a bar, not a bar with a restaurant.” 

Maddie and John have made alternate menus for the spring and summer seasons, different from fall and winter. They do this so the menus reflect seasonal ingredients.  

For spring and summer, the menu shifts to lighter flavors and refreshing beverages. For fall and winter, Oddfellows opt for heartier ingredients and comforting soup specials.  

The Hogfather pizza dish. | Photo by Jude Hannahs

Pizza is not the only option on the menu. Oddfellows provides hungry customers with a wide range of appetizers, soups, salads, desserts and a kids’ menu. 

For newcomers, there are plenty of scrumptious options to choose from the menu that Maddie and John each think are great choices upon a first visit. Maddie’s favorite pizzas are the Reuben and the Brisket Bliss, while John prefers the Local Boomer as a specialty pizza. 

According to Oddfellows’ website, the Reuben is “house-made corned beef, tangy sauerkraut, and creamy Thousand Island dressing on an everything-seasoned crust.”  

As for the Brisket Bliss, it is made with “green peppers, caramelized onions, white cheddar and a tangy BBQ drizzle.” 

The second floor of the building is for weddings, parties, receptions and corporate events. As time progresses, the space will venture out to include other events. 

“We have an adult prom called the Odd Ball in March,” Maddie says. “In April, we have a comedy show coming out. Word is getting out more about the venue on the second floor.” 

With a little over two years under their belts, Maddie and John plan to expand Oddfellows to surrounding locations. 

“It was designed that way from the get-go,” John says. “We are looking at other places already and we’ve reached the point that it’s OK to begin looking forward at expansion.” 

It’s a unique type of restaurant, and for being in southeast Ohio, it generates a special presence among the population of Portsmouth.  

Oddfellows is open six days a week, with the exception of being closed on Monday. The website for the restaurant can be found here: https://pizzasandpins.com/. 

You can contact Oddfellows via email at hello@pizzasandpins.com and via phone at +1 (740) 529-2470. Interested in a visit? The address is 526 2nd St., Portsmouth, Ohio 45662.