Akron's legendary Diamond Grille serves up steaks, seafood and memories | Local Flavor

My personal bucket list is just about full of checkmarks.

And after checking the latest item off my Akron-centric bucket list, my tummy is full, too.

I've always wanted to ride on the Goodyear Blimp. I checked that one off recently thanks to the tiremaker celebrating 125 years in Akron, and I thankfully did not drop my phone out the window of the gondola.

Another item on the list was riding in a Soap Box Derby car down Derby Downs. Mission accomplished a couple years back, although I did forget to pull the brake and nearly crashed into the Goodyear Airdock.

I even once got to take batting practice − er, hacks − at the plate at Canal Park. The view was pretty, but my swings? Not so much.

One of the last items on my list was having dinner at Akron's legendary Diamond Grille.

There has always been something mysterious to me about the rather non-descript building with its iconic neon sign on the edge of downtown. Its reputation for exceptional steaks and history of feeding the who's who in Akron since the 1930s was a bit intimidating.

Tradition runs deep inside the Diamond Grille. Heck, even the bartenders behind the bar − the reason I was there in the first place on a Saturday night to write a story about them − have a combined 91 years of working at the place.

Like many, I was there on business and stayed for dinner.

I wasn't sure what to expect before I stepped inside.

Even that was a bit tricky, as I believe I may have inadvertently parked in the employee lot on the other side of the building on West Market Street.

But once inside, it felt like stepping back in time.

Owner Katie Stack, who with her husband, John, purchased the steakhouse from Ted and Nick Thomas Jr. in 2017, after Katie had worked there for more than seven years as a waitress, said they have spent the last six years working as much as possible to keep things the same.

The clock at the bar is same one from the 1940s, and the menu is pretty much the same as it has always been.

The biggest controversy among the regulars after the ownership change, Katie said, was when they repapered the men's restroom with the same patterned wallpaper sans the friendly graffiti.

Some regulars still jokingly ask for a Sharpie as they pass the long bar on the way to the men's room downstairs. The ladies, it seems, were far too refined over the years for such shenanigans.

Going to the Diamond Grille is like visiting a family friend.

Katie and the staff know pretty much every customer by name, as many have eaten there for decades.

But that's not to say they don't welcome strangers too − just make sure you call ahead to make a reservation.

Another tip is to remember that like another Akron landmark restaurant − Luigi's − the Diamond Grille is cash only.

And this serves as another testament to the loyalty of its longstanding customers.

This loyalty actually helped save the place when it was closed amid the pandemic, as some customers mailed in cash monthly to help keep the restaurant and its employees afloat in the economic turmoil, she added.

Once seated at our booth with a full view of the bar, we decided to order a drink.

My wife, Jennifer, picked the Lemon Drop cocktail ($13) made with vodka, Cointreau, fresh lemon juice and simple syrup.

I had an old fashioned ($13) with bourbon, muddled cherry, an orange twist and angostura bitters.

They were both delightful and helped calm our nerves eating out at such a fancy place with white tablecloths.

The menu is not huge at the Diamond Grille.

And that's not a bad thing.

This is a traditional steakhouse with seafood and chicken and even a burger option. Katie said the chefs in the kitchen take great care to ensure everything is served just right, from never-frozen meat to fresh seafood.

We looked over the appetizer menu and were tempted by the stuffed banana peppers ($16) and the French onion soup with Gruyere cheese ($10) but decided to save our appetite for the main course.

It was a wise decision.

I chose the Boston strip steak ($54) that came with a baked potato that was about the size of my head.

Jennifer opted for the scallops that were slightly smaller than my baked potato and a side of fresh asparagus.

Both dishes came with generous house salads, a tasty house dressing and warm, fresh bread.

When my steak arrived, Jennifer looked at our server and joked that in our house, we'd call that "a roast" because it was so big.

I quickly corrected Jennifer and said, "we'd never serve a roast that large to feed the entire family."

The best part of being married − aside from the whole loving each other forever thing− is getting to try each other's dishes when you eat out.

Sometimes we will spend way too much time strategizing in a restaurant, deciding who will order what with each side so we can try everything. It got to the point at On Tap where our regular waitress would serve us each half a Reuben and half a Greek salad since we were such creatures of habit and always shared our go-to dishes.

Jennifer loved the scallops served over toast at the Diamond Grille, and I did too.

The steak was absolutely incredible.

I felt undeserving of such a treat.

It was tender and cooked just right.

The steak was so big I couldn't eat it (even with Jennifer's help) in a single sitting.

And I didn't get to eat it all in a second sitting, either.

Our 6-foot-3-inch-tall teenage son got a whiff of it once we got in the door back home, and before I could yell, "Don't you dare microwave it, you warm it in the oven and don't overcook...," it was gone.

He too loved it and savored it in a single bite.

Our trip to the Diamond Grille made us wonder why we waited so long to go, and why I didn't sneak the leftovers into the house.

Craig Webb, who is pondering what should be next on his Akron Bucket List, can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Dinner at Akron's Diamond Grille should be on everyone's bucket list