Facebook delivers yet again.
Just when you think you’ve hit up all of the local eating establishments in or near your town, a social media post comes across the radar, offering up a new option.
That happened to the Fat Man and family recently, though it’s not really a new option. It’s one that’s been close by for a number of decades. But only within the last few years has this particular establishment been focusing more on expanding its food offerings to the public.
The place in question? Hartman’s Grocery LLC, just south of the Interstate 70 overpass on Ohio Rt. 9 on the right-hand side heading south, just past the turnoff for Joella Drive. The official address is 67310 Warnock St. Clairsville Road and it is just outside St. Clairsville city limits.
I was skimming through the St. Clairsville community page on Facebook when a fellow group member mentioned Hartman’s and posted pictures of its menu.
A quick look-see through the establishment’s menu displayed a number of items that looked intriguing, so we decided to swing through.
The building itself is unassuming. There’s a Hartman’s sign on the building, but no 20-foot tall pole sign depicting the eatery’s logo. It looks like a rural community grocery store that just carries the essentials.
Inside, there are a number of tables and chairs along with a full-length bar. Hartman’s is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m., and Saturday from noon until 1 a.m. It’s closed Sundays. The kitchen opens for breakfast and serves until 7 p.m. when it closes
There’s a full-service breakfast menu that has a diner-style, greasy-spoon feel to its menu—one the Fat Man is preparing to sample at a later date.
We arrived around lunchtime, so we were greeted with options including fried appetizers, multiple types of French fries, sandwiches and subs, and different types of chicken, burgers, pizza, and also shrimp. Fridays, Hartman’s also offers Coleman’s fish.
We were surprised to see that many options, all at pretty decent prices.
The Food
The girlfriend and I are seemingly always on the hunt for another option for great-tasting burgers, so we both went that route.
She ordered the ½ pound bacon cheeseburger. The Fat Man ordered the same, except opting for the hot pepper cheese instead of the Swiss that she ordered.
I also spied the seasoned waffle fries, and considering that combined my favorite fry seasoning with fry shape, figured I’d give it a shot.
The daughter, predictably, continued her hunt for the best chicken tenders, pairing that with the regular house fries.
The bacon cheeseburgers were large, juicy, and packed with great flavor for a standard cheeseburger. The hot pepper cheese enhanced said flavor, and we both quickly realized Hartman’s would be a return trip.
The highlight, however, was the seasoned waffle fries. My order quickly diminished in size as not one, not two, but three hands were helping themselves to sample the flavor. Next time, everyone can get their own.
The daughter enjoyed the tenders, noting the crispy outside gave way to tender, juicy bites of chicken on the inside. The perfect cook. The regular fries, are also excellent, but not quite on par with the seasoned fries.
A whole host of drink options are available, from soft drinks and water to beer and wine, including a wine flight option. In talking with one of the owners, they started to expand the breakfast and lunch options in the last few years in order to attract more people. The food speaks for itself. It’s quite tasty and worth a look if you’re considering a place to sit down and enjoy a meal without having to spend a lot.
