As a child, I found there were three categories of restaurant my family would go to when we dined out. Not in terms of the type of cuisine they served or even whether they were casual or formal, but more in terms of our dining experience and whether we dined there again.
The first category were restaurants that we enjoyed and would return to on a regular basis. These are the sorts of restaurants where fond memories are made. They were favorite places for gathering with relatives or celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, or sometimes just a little treat we’d give ourselves at the end of the week.
The second category were restaurants that we tried out of curiosity or perhaps due to a lack of better options but found ourselves disappointed with and never returned to. Whether it was due to the quality of the food or because of poor service, we only ever spoke of these restaurants if something memorable — though by no means good — happened when we dined at them.
However, the restaurant I am reviewing today falls into a third category. That of restaurants we enjoyed and, in some cases, planned on returning to but never did. This could be for a variety of reasons such as the location being out of the way or perhaps a change of ownership, but these particular restaurants were the gastronomic equivalent of one-hit wonders.
Located at 5580 E. Clinton St. in Albany, just off Ohio State Route 32, Ray’s Harvest House can be easy to miss when you’re zooming by at 60 miles per hour on the highway.
I remember my family passing by it many times and being curious but only going to grab a bite there one chilly fall day after we’d stopped to pick up some pumpkins at Libby’s Pumpkin Patch.
Despite fall having started around a week prior to my visit to Ray’s Harvest House, the weather certainly didn’t feel very fall-like as I got out of my car and made my way across the parking lot. I arrived at a pretty slow time, where I was among one of the only customers at the restaurant.
However, as I dined and enjoyed my meal, the restaurant rapidly began filling up. By the time I left, nearly all the booths and even some of the tables were occupied. Judging by the rapport many of these customers had with my server, they were obviously regulars.
The interior of Ray’s Harvest House feels like something from a bygone era of small-town Americana. There are a handful of pictures on the walls, but other than that, you won’t find much in the way of decoration.
None of this is intended as a slight against Ray’s Harvest House, mind you. I find this sort of small-town diner atmosphere relaxing. It gives you a chance to take a deep breath and appreciate the simpler things in life, such as a warm bowl of chili.
In contrast to the chili I ordered at Shade on State St., the chili at Ray’s Harvest House isn’t served piled high with cheese and onions. It came with a few packages of saltines and was primarily made with kidney beans and ground beef.
The chili didn’t have any noticeable heat to it, but the tender and flavorful beef was very pleasant and paired well with the beans. In a way, it reminded me of a very filling and hearty tomato soup. This chili would probably go great with a grilled cheese sandwich on a chilly fall morning.
Next up were my beer battered onion rings, which were crisp and golden brown. I was impressed that Ray’s Harvest House was able to cook them in such a way that they were extremely crispy but not burnt.
Sure enough, part of the reason for this was the beer batter. By using carbonated beer, a reaction takes place between the cold beer and hot oil. This ensures a lighter, puffier texture, along with enhancing the crispiness and ensuring the batter remains crisp for longer.
Be warned, the onion rings at Ray’s Harvest House are made to order, so you should let them cool before you tuck in. Trust me on this.
I had trouble deciding between the pulled pork sandwich and a burger, so I decided to split the difference and went for the Big John Burger. This burger comes with smoked pulled pork, homemade cole slaw and onion rings, before being topped with tangy barbecue sauce and served on a toasted kaiser bun.
You can order either fries or homemade potato chips with your burger and while I was tempted to try the homemade potato chips, I was in the mood for fries. I was not disappointed by my choice, as these fries were every bit as crispy and expertly cooked as the onion rings I had earlier, plus they were dusted with a delightful mix of spices.
My Big John Burger lived up to its name. Despite being a single patty burger, I found myself having to clamp down on my burger in order to fit it in my mouth. I’m guessing the generous layer of pulled pork I received made up for the lack of a second patty.
I took one bite of the Big John Burger and found myself instantly in love. The burger tasted like the sort you’d enjoy at a family barbecue, with the smokiness of the burger patty being further enhanced by the smokiness of the pulled pork and the tanginess of the barbecue sauce.
While the coleslaw on the burger was crispy, crunchy and not overly vinegary, I found it was somewhat overpowered by the other flavors. Though in the case of a burger, I suppose the lettuce — or coleslaw, in this case — is mainly there for texture as opposed to flavor. In this regard, it served its purpose.
Finally, I completed my meal with a slice of Sue’s German Chocolate Cake. Don’t be fooled by the name: this particular dessert originated from Dallas, Texas. It was named after Samuel German, an American chocolatier who developed a sweet, yet dark baking chocolate.
The chocolate flavor in my cake was noticeable, but not nearly as strong as I was expecting. The frosting layer on top was very thick and was bursting with coconut flavor.
Before tip, I paid $31.32 in total. Interestingly, if you’re a member of OUCU Financial, you will receive a slight discount of 5% off your meal.
If you are in the mood for a home cooked meal or are just wanting some food that’s finger-licking good, Ray’s Harvest House will be right up your alley. Just make sure you go back for seconds sooner rather than later.
Ray’s Harvest House is open Monday-Sunday from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. To contact Ray’s Harvest House, call 740-698-0333.