By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
The name may indicate a certain familiarity that locals can appreciate, but Old 30 BBQ at the Golf Club of Bucyrus is new to the area both in looks and menu.
Different and unique is the perception patrons get immediately upon entering the restaurant at 1330 East Mansfield St., and that’s exactly what co-owners Breck Baker, Austin Smith and Connie Smith were after with their latest venture.
“It’s new here, it fits a need like when we opened Baker’s,” said Breck Baker in reference to the pizzeria and sports bar on North Sandusky Avenue in Bucyrus.
The restaurant, which celebrated an official Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday just prior to the lunch hour, has received rave reviews during its month-and-a-half long soft opening. The inside of the old clubhouse at the golf course has been completely remodeled along with additional outside seating and performance stage for occasional live music, weather permitting.
“When you walk in it’s a place you can’t really find unless you go to Columbus or Cleveland or the bigger cities,” Austin Smith said. “It’s country themed, country vibes, you don’t really see much in a restaurant.”
The menu is as unique to the area as the décor`. The flavor is purely southern barbeque on the diner’s choice of meat to go along with a full selection of sides and appetizers.
“You can’t really get good barbecue anywhere around here,” Austin Smith said. “So we definitely wanted to tap into that market.”
Austin Smith, along with Tyler Haldeman, are managing the day-to-day operations.
“He (Haldeman) has been really great,” Baker said. “He’s been right with us all along.”
So have the contractors, according to Connie Smith.
“We’re so thankful for Dave Burgin and Kiess Electric,” Connie Smith said. She and Baker were quick to add others like Alan Young Plumbing, Carl Eichler and Lyle Biederman.
“FC Bank was really big in helping us with this,” said Baker.
Old 30 BBQ opens at 11 a.m. six days a week. It is open until 10 p.m. on Sundays, 11 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, and 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings. It is closed on Mondays.
More information on Old 30 BBQ can be found on its Facebook page.