G&R Tavern in Waldo, Ohio: A Small-Town, Cash-Only Legend with a Global Reputation

Address: 103 N Marion St, Waldo, OH 43356

Phone: 740‑726‑9685

Website: gandrtavern.com

Service: Dine‑in ✅ · Takeout ✅

Note: Cash‑only (ATM on site)

G&R Tavern is a bar and restaurant located on Marion Street in Waldo, Ohio, a village in Marion County. The business has operated continuously since 1962 and remains family-owned. Ownership currently rests with Bernie Lewis, who, along with his late wife Joy Lewis, purchased the tavern in 1985. Day-to-day operations are managed by their daughter, Misty Mercer.

The tavern operates out of a brick building constructed in the early 1900s. Prior to becoming a tavern, the structure housed various retail uses, including dry-goods and lunch counters. The business is commonly referred to locally as “G&R,” reflecting the initials of its original owners.

Best known for its fried bologna sandwich—thick-cut and fried, typically served with pickles, onions, and melted Monterey Jack—and for homemade cream pies introduced by Joy Lewis and still baked fresh each morning.

Founding and Early Years

G&R Tavern was established in 1962 by George Yake and Roy Klingel, both now deceased. The tavern was intended as a neighborhood establishment serving local farmers, factory workers, truck drivers, and residents of the surrounding area. The name “G&R” was derived directly from the founders’ first names.

During its first two decades, the tavern functioned primarily as a local bar and lunch spot. It became known for simple food offerings, beer service, and its accessibility to workers traveling along U.S. Route 23. Its reputation during this period was built through repeat local patronage rather than advertising or promotion.

Ownership Transition and Menu Expansion

In 1985, Bernie and Joy Lewis acquired the business. Bernie Lewis, a former truck driver, had been a regular customer prior to the purchase. Under their ownership, the tavern retained its core identity while expanding its food offerings and customer base.

One of the most significant additions during this period was the introduction of homemade cream pies, developed by Joy Lewis. These pies became a permanent menu item and remain part of the tavern’s daily offerings. The kitchen continued to emphasize scratch-made food and limited menu items.

During this period, the tavern’s fried bologna sandwich emerged as its most widely recognized item. The sandwich consists of thick-cut bologna fried on a griddle and served on bread with cheese, onions, and pickles. The exterior signage identifying the tavern as the “Home of the Famous Bologna Sandwich” dates to this era.

Pictured here back in 2019 are the beloved owners, the late Joy Lewis (left) and her husband, Bernie Lewis, whose family continues to carry on the G&R Tavern, epic legacy in Waldo, Ohio.

Following Joy Lewis’s death, ownership remained with Bernie Lewis. Their daughter, Misty Mercer, assumed responsibility for daily operations. The business is now in its third generation of family involvement. Several employees have worked at the tavern for extended periods, and both staff and customers include multi-generational family connections.

Joy’s Legendary Pies — a taste of Waldo’s sweetest legacy.

Under their stewardship, G & R added homemade pies, brightened the interior, and introduced a kitchen rhythm that still defines the tavern today: simple food, made from scratch, served fast, no gimmicks. Joy’s cream pies quickly shared top billing with the bologna sandwich, and the tavern shifted from rough-and-ready bar to family-friendly institution without losing its soul.

Over the next four decades, the Lewises reshaped G&R from an EPIC neighborhood tavern into a regional institution — fresh paint on the walls, cleaner lines behind the bar, but the same handwritten menus and laughter echoing through the booths.

Generational Continuity

Following Joy Lewis’s death, ownership remained with Bernie Lewis. Their daughter, Misty Mercer, assumed responsibility for daily operations. The business is now in its third generation of family involvement. Several employees have worked at the tavern for extended periods, and both staff and customers include multi-generational family connection

Fame, Accolades, and Media Spotlight

Beginning in the early 2000s, G&R Tavern began receiving national media attention. In 2003, CBS Sunday Morning featured the tavern, highlighting the size and preparation of its fried bologna sandwich. Subsequent television coverage included appearances on The Travel Channel and Food Network, where the tavern was included in programming focused on regional American food.

Print coverage followed. The Chicago Tribune published a feature describing G&R Tavern as a destination for fried bologna sandwiches, contributing to increased regional and national visibility. Ohio-based publications, including Ohio Magazine, Columbus Monthly, and Salt Magazine, have also included the tavern in lists and articles focused on notable food establishments.

From there the shout-outs grew. The Travel Channel featured G&R on Roker on the Road, with Al Roker highlighting America’s best sandwiches — and detouring to Waldo for the ultimate fried bologna. Food Network likewise spotlighted the tavern in a special on sandwich heroes, affirming that folks drive from all over the country for bologna bliss.

By the 2010s, journalists were making pilgrimages: the Chicago Tribune ran “Bologna spelled R-E-S-P-E-C-T in Ohio,” impressed by how G&R elevated a humble meat into something craveable. The Tribune piece — and a travel follow-up — helped cement G&R as a must-stop on Midwest food road trips.

Accolades piled up. Ohio Magazine named G&R one of “30 Famous Ohio Food Spots” every Ohioan should try. Regional outlets — from Columbus Monthly to Salt Magazine — praised it as a preserved slice of Ohio food culture. G&R consistently tops lists of best bologna sandwiches in Ohio (many consider it the benchmark).

Beyond awards, it holds an average ~4.5-star rating across major review platforms, reflecting hundreds of glowing reviews. Local news and food blogs have featured G&R more times than you can count.

Despite the spotlight, Bernie and Joy Lewis remained modest. They often noted that the real benefit is how fame brings people to the area: curious travelers who discover other Marion County gems after stopping in Waldo. As Bernie puts it, “It isn’t just fame that the G&R gives to Waldo” — it’s community pride and an economic boost.

One fun angle: the global mix of visitors. Staff recall serving tourists from Europe, Asia, and Australia who found G&R via TV or press. A Facebook review from Guatemala praised the “friendly service, terrific food, unbelievable prices.”

An Australian fan says a G&R stop is tradition whenever she’s in Ohio. The tavern embraces the attention with good humor — walls of clippings and celebrity photos — and local campaigns like MarionMade! have saluted G&R for “bringing world fame to Marion.”

In short, the accolades aren’t just personal laurels — they’re shared victories for the hometown.

What the Customers Say: Reviews from the Heart

Ask anyone who’s eaten at G&R what stands out, and answers range from “that huge bologna sandwich” to “the friendliest folks around” to “it feels like home.” The sentiment is overwhelmingly affectionate. Many arrive skeptically — Can a bologna sandwich really be that good? — and leave as loyal fans planning their next trip back. Reviews read like love letters to small-town hospitality and comfort food.

A typical out-of-state traveler writes, “This place is hometown personified — friendly service, terrific food, unbelievable prices.” A Pennsylvanian notes, “People come from all over to have a fried bologna sandwich. Very nice people that work there as well.” Warmth from staff is a theme — “they treated us like family” appears often. Speed gets high marks, too; despite crowds, the kitchen keeps things moving without sacrificing quality.

The food inspires poetry. The bologna sandwich headlines countless anecdotes — “craveworthy,” “magical,” “nostalgic.” One longtime employee puts it plainly: “It reminds you of your childhood, but we do it so much differently.” Reviewers admit they’ve driven an hour or more just for the sandwich — and would do it again. Even skeptics come around after tasting the smoky, griddled edges and balanced toppings. The pies inspire their own devotion: “Save room for pie — one piece is enough to share for two,” advises a TripAdvisor review. Peanut-butter-and-chocolate is a headliner; fruit pies get raves for flaky crusts. A frequent comment: “We couldn’t finish our slices… but we loved every bite.”

What makes these testimonials powerful is sincerity. Many reviewers identify as second- or third-time visitors, or as families who make an annual pilgrimage. There’s a personal connection — people don’t just like the food; they feel fond of the place. It’s where birthdays happen, reunions unfold, and road trips detour — because it’s comforting and special at once. Even the rare constructive notes are mild: be ready to wait at busy times, and remember the cash-only policy. Some travelers lament arriving too late for pie — lesson learned: go early for the full selection.

Almost no one leaves unhappy. G&R has that intangible ability to make visitors feel part of a local tradition — even if they came from hundreds of miles away.

G&R Tavern may be a modest roadside eatery in a one-stoplight village, but it embodies what makes Ohio’s small-town culture special. It has history and heart in equal measure — owners who pour their lives into the place, staff who greet regulars by name, and a mental guestbook of memories: weekly after-church lunches, cross-country detours, first bites that become forever stories.

The journey from local hangout to globally recognized food destination is a feel-good story by itself. Yet through all the spotlight, G&R hasn’t lost sight of why people love it. It’s the simple joys: the snap of a perfectly fried bologna, the cold refreshment of a $3 beer, the crumbly goodness of a homemade pie crust, and the genuine smile from a waitress who’s been there 15 years and still loves it.

In the grand tapestry of American eateries, G&R is a vibrant patch of living Americana — a menu that’s a time capsule of comfort foods and a welcome that feels like home. It’s where high-school teams celebrate, retirees swap fishing stories, and curious foodies confirm that yes, the sandwich is worth the trip. In Waldo (population 326), you’ll find a tavern with a line out the door and fans across the globe. That paradox is the magic: by staying true to its roots, G&R became universally appealing. As one food writer put it, G&R offers “a bit of local flavor and history — and most important of all, the food is great!”

If you’re driving up U.S. 23 and spot the sign for Waldo, hit the brakes and drop in. Grab a stool or a window table. Order the bologna (you know you want to) and a slice of peanut-butter pie for later. Talk to the person next to you — they probably have a tip on which pie to pick. In a world that’s always rushing, G&R invites you to slow down and savor something familiar, done exceptionally well. You don’t need truffles or tweezers to touch people’s lives; sometimes it’s bologna, love, and a little Waldo magic. G&R Tavern proves the American roadside tavern is alive and well — and that even the simplest foods can inspire the greatest devotion.