Biscuit hot spot in Copley, bubble tea in Stow: 7 June restaurant openings to know about
With all the foodie entrepreneurs in the Akron area, it's no surprise there are a handful of restaurant openings on the Summit County scene to report for June.
Whether you're into scratch-made Southern biscuits loaded with toppings, fine dining or bubble tea, diners are bound to find some good eats at new area restaurants.
We've checked out those new spots and also done some homework to bring you information on a couple that reopened after remodeling or restructuring within their organization.
The restaurants that follow are a sampling of openings in the county in June. To help make the list more complete, contact Beacon Journal reporters Kerry Clawson kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com and Tawney Beans at tbeans@gannett.com with tips on restaurants openings.
Whimsical Whiskers CatFae & Rescue
Having grown up around felines, Heidi Wiegel has always dreamed of helping Akron's stray cat population find homes.
That wish became a reality when she opened Whimsical Whiskers CatFae and Rescue in Coventry Township on June 8.
Patrons can pay an entry fee to interact with adoptable cats while consuming coffee, tea or smoothies. Pearl Coffee Company supplies Whimsical Whiskers with its Diana coffee beans. The cat café is also stocked with mini cheesecakes, tarts, Danishes and specialty cupcakes from Stacked Akron Bakery in Springfield.
Since its opening, four cats have been adopted and bestsellers on the food side of the business seem to be iced coffee and smoothies, according to Wiegel.
With a long line of cats waiting to enter the rescue, some of which are owner surrenders, she is hopeful that the café setting will make it easier for families to assess which cat best fits their family.
The entry fee is per half hour and starts at $10 per person or $25 per family of three or more on weekdays before 4 p.m. Weekdays after 4 p.m. and weekends are $15 per person or $30 per family of three of more. Kittens cost $200 and cats are $150. Home visits are performed three to four weeks after adoption.
Wiegel has already hosted a bingo night and is available for birthday parties, but hopes to host more events, such as book clubs, movie nights and cat yoga in the future.
3430 South Arlington Road, Suite A, Akron; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; 330-203-1813; whimwhiskerscatfae.com
— Tawney Beans
Vicious Biscuit
You could say the Akron area's gone a bit over the top recently, fully embracing Vicious Biscuit's over-the-top biscuit creations with the restaurant's first franchise ever in Copley.
The fast-casual, Southern-style brunch spot has local folks drooling over bold creations such as the Flame Thrower, a cheddar jalapeno biscuit with crispy fried chicken, Frank's Red Hot, white cheddar, Skully Sauce, candied bacon and cowboy candy (tequila pickled jalapenos).
The Southern restaurant, founded in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2018, had its grand opening in Montrose June 21 after running in soft-opening mode since early May. Local owners of the 164-seat franchise are Carl Albright of Medina, Curtis Fox of Norton, Dave Ost of Copley and Ken Troutman of Chagrin Falls.
The made-from-scratch, made-to-order brunch fare includes buttermilk and gluten-free biscuits in 16 variations. A new summer offering is the Caribbean Cordon Bleu buttermilk biscuit with grilled chicken and ham, white cheddar cheese, pineapple butter and pineapple salsa.
Lighter fare includes an egg white omelet, oatmeal power bowl, yogurt bowl and keto bowl. Craft cocktails also are on the menu.
3900 Medina Road, Copley; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; 330-576-3203; viciousbiscuit.com
— Kerry Clawson
LuCha
Bubble tea is somewhat of a passion for LuCha owner Charlene Xu.
No matter where she goes, it’s imperative for Xu to visit the community’s bubble tea shop.
“It’s like Starbucks for [other] people is bubble for me. It means a lot,” Xu said.
So, when she began attending Kent State University for her master's in hospitality management and found the campus a boba-barren wasteland, Xu knew it had to change.
In October of last year, the 25-year-old opened LuCha, a bubble tea and pastry shop near her home in Aurora. Its second location opened in Stow on June 18 — only a short drive down the road from Kent State’s campus.
LuCha uses brewed tea as opposed to flavored powders to make its drinks and often incorporates fresh fruit into them as well. Xu is also proud of the variety of milk alternatives she offers customers with dietary restrictions, which includes oat, soy, almond and low fat milks.
But LuCha doesn’t stop at serving tea, slush and coffee. Asian street foods like Portuguese egg tarts and Taiwanese pork sausages are available on weekends. Plus, cakes, buns and breads are also available for purchase thanks to Xu’s family, who start baking at 4 a.m. daily.
The young entrepreneur has her eyes set on another LuCha location, possibly in Akron’s Highland Square neighborhood.
4301 Kent Road Unit 33, Stow; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday; 234-571-0090; luchacafe.com
— Tawney Beans
Stirling
This upscale restaurant, which opened June 11 in Akron, has a comfortable elegance in everything from its warm woodwork and relaxing seating to its excellent service and adventurous food.
Owner David Glenny and chef Amy Wanek met through a mutual friend and forged a connection to begin a new chapter in their restaurant careers, offering a new fine dining spot in the Merriman Valley. At Stirling, the small menu changes monthly, with inventive appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts that are both delicious and feature gorgeous presentations.
July's menu "chapter" is Summer on the Coast, including seafood such as lobster gnocchi and scallop risotto. The August menu chapter will be Picnic on a Farm.
The book theme carries over to the restaurant's cocktails, named after literary classics. Even the bill comes to the table in a leather-bound book.
1288 Weathervane Lane, Akron; 4 to 9:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 4 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; closed Sunday and Wednesday. 330-701-9303; stirlingakron.com
— Kerry Clawson
Spennato's
After 11 months of remodeling, Spennato’s finally reopened its doors at the Italian eatery’s new location on Olde Eight Road.
Spennato’s serves up Italian classics such as parmigiana and lasagna, as well as various pizza options. Another bonus is its extensive wine menu, with over 50 options to sip from.
Chef and co-owner Egidio DiPaola is from Italy and, following a six-year service in their Navy, moved to the U.S. in 1978. He opened Spennato’s in its former location on Northfield Road in 2005 but moved because of rising rent and a lack of building maintenance.
Though he grew up as a farmer’s boy near Monte Cassino, Egidio now runs the beloved restaurant alongside his wife, Mary Randall; son, Anthony DiPaola; and daughter-in-law, Stephanie DiPaola.
“We make everything from scratch,” said Egidio DiPaola. “The chicken parm, we buy the chicken, we pound it, we coat it and we sell it. We buy the steaks and pasta, we don’t make the pasta; the rest we make every day.”
9415 Olde Eight Road, Northfield; 3 to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 12:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday; 330-468-8688; spennatos.com
— Tawney Beans
Parasson's
Parasson's Italian Restaurant reopened its East Waterloo Road dining room June 10 after it had offered carryout and delivery only since summer 2021.
The move came after Parasson's recently closed its Barberton and Stow locations to consolidate its restaurants at a single Akron location. The Parasson's in Akron's North Hill area on North Main Street closed in 2017.
Tony Parasson, president and son of the late founder, said the restaurant spent more than $125,000 on a new parking lot and lighting. Exterior renovations are expected to occur throughout the summer.
He said on the restaurant website that the Waterloo Road dining room was chosen because it's centrally located between Barberton and Stow and has always been the former chain's busiest location. The restaurant is also planning some renovation work on the exterior of the building over the summer.
959 East Waterloo Road, Akron; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; 330-724-9375;parassons.com
— Kerry Clawson
The Ardmore Coffee House
This cozy coffee shop has drinks, treats and seats that foster a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere.
One the menu are hot and cold coffees and teas as well as some baked goodies from Malila Baking Co., a micro bakery that creates Japanese-inspired cheesecakes and large gooey cookies.
Thanks to June's high temperatures, the shop's current bestseller is cold brew coffee with cold foam. Every cup of joe from Ardmore is made using beans from Akron Coffee Roasters.
Many customers also enjoy its Chai tea, which is made from scratch in house.
Admore's has a couch and armchair with potted plants placed above them in the back of the shop, which is painted in a deep regal blue. Accent walls adorned in flowers cover the coffee-making area and the opposite wall.
The upholstered bench seating, plush sofas and butcher block table tops make for an interesting, yet comfortable space for those looking to work, meet friends or just drink coffee with a sweet treat solo.
"The space itself really is just such a relaxed, welcoming, comfortable place to do your work or meet with friends," owner Michael Moran said. "I think the space really is our most unique and best feature. Our coffees and stuff are great as well, but we're not reinventing the wheel there. The community just didn't have a great neighborhood coffee shop where you could just go and hang out and that's was my goal."
55 Ghent Road, Fairlawn; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily; ardmorecoffeehouse.com
— Tawney Beans
Got a story recommendation? Contact Beacon Journal reporter Tawney Beans at tbeans@gannett.com and on Twitter @TawneyBeans. And follow her adventures on TikTok @akronbeaconjournal. Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Wait ends for Vicious Biscuit, Stirling openings; cat café opens
