Review: Skillet bowls, pierogi impress at Canal Fulton's Cast Iron Bar & Grille

Kelsey Davis, The Repository
Updated ·3 min read
The menu features build-your-own skillet dishes, pierogi, appetizers, fresh made steak burgers, beer-battered cod, chicken sandwiches, steak and pork chops and salads plus a kids’ menu and desserts.
The menu features build-your-own skillet dishes, pierogi, appetizers, fresh made steak burgers, beer-battered cod, chicken sandwiches, steak and pork chops and salads plus a kids’ menu and desserts.

LAWRENCE TWP. − I didn’t know much about Cast Iron Bar & Grille before visiting except that the newly opened restaurant’s Wednesday wing nights were already highly popular.

So I made plans to visit on a Tuesday to avoid the crowd. The small restaurant, featuring framed celebrity mugshots, was mostly full at 6 p.m.

Playing mostly country hits from a modern jukebox by the bar and featuring a welcoming, friendly staff, Cast Iron already feels like an established neighborhood bar.

Cast Iron Bar & Grille already feels like an established neighborhood bar.
Cast Iron Bar & Grille already feels like an established neighborhood bar.

Cast Iron starts your table off with a shareable helping of popcorn, which, if you're a fan, can be nearly impossible to stop snacking on once you get started.

With cast iron in the name, I thought it fitting to order a create-your-own skillet bowl. Skillet bowls have one base — mac and cheese, whipped potatoes, steak fries, a bun-less steak burger or breaded chicken (spicy available) — one cheese, toppings of your choice and any sauce on top.

The walls are adorned with framed photos of celebrity mugshots.
The walls are adorned with framed photos of celebrity mugshots.

I chose a bun-less steak burger ($12) with American cheese, tomato, onion, banana pepper and bacon, topped with ranch.

It came out super hot, thanks to the kitchen's 500-degree oven.

From the first bite, I knew this was the perfect choice. A great mix of flavors I love without the mess that sometimes accompanies a big, juicy burger. Every bite was slightly different, but all were bursting with flavor.

The create-your-own skillet bowls allow you to choose one base, one cheese, multiple toppings and one sauce. Here is a bun-less steak burger bowl topped with American cheese, tomato, onion, banana pepper, bacon and ranch.
The create-your-own skillet bowls allow you to choose one base, one cheese, multiple toppings and one sauce. Here is a bun-less steak burger bowl topped with American cheese, tomato, onion, banana pepper, bacon and ranch.

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The customizations for these skillets seem endless. I was curious about the whipped potatoes and steak fries as bases.

I rarely see pierogis on local menus, so it was an easy choice to order those also.

Cast Iron offers several variations of pierogi that sounded good, such as buffalo chicken, but I went with the more traditional potato, Gouda and bacon ($14). The dish is topped with a very generous amount of onions and features a piece of garlic bread.

Cast Iron offers several variations of pierogi. Here is the potato, Gouda and bacon, topped with onions and served with garlic bread.
Cast Iron offers several variations of pierogi. Here is the potato, Gouda and bacon, topped with onions and served with garlic bread.

The six pierogi might not look like a large portion at first glance, but once you start cutting into them, you quickly learn that they’re quite dense and provide more than enough to satiate your appetite. The pierogi were cooked to perfection and didn’t disappoint. If you’re a fan of onions, this is a choice you’re really going to love.

The menu also features fun apps such as iron skillet pizza fries, jalapeño popper skillet dip and an onion ring flight, plus a variety of fresh made steak burgers — a third pound each — beer-battered cod, chicken sandwiches, steak and pork chops and salads plus a kids’ menu. The iron skillet desserts also sounded delicious.

Cast Iron Bar & Grille, which opened recently in Canal Fulton, has already found success with its Wednesday wing nights.
Cast Iron Bar & Grille, which opened recently in Canal Fulton, has already found success with its Wednesday wing nights.

Cast Iron offers weekly specials, including wing night, all-you-can-eat crab night and senior night, to name a few.

Cast Iron Bar & Grille is at 2176 Locust St. in Lawrence Township and is open from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Find more information at facebook.com/CastIronBarGrille and restaurantji.com/oh/canal-fulton/cast-iron-bar-and-grille-/.

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Cast Iron Bar & Grille

Taste: I was impressed by the two dishes I ordered. 4.5/5 stars

Ambiance: The restaurant is small, but clean, and has upbeat music. 4/5 stars

Service: Our server was attentive and friendly. 4.5/5 stars

Concept: They’re doing something right because it already feels well established and comfortable. 4/5 stars

Price: Prices are close to similar spots with some nice deals and lower prices in the mix. 4.5/5 stars

Overall rating: 4.3 stars

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Review: Skillet bowls, pierogi impress at Cast Iron Bar & Grille