By Hannah Poling

The Paddock Pub has recently been recognized as the number nine “Under the Radar Restaurant” in Ohio. With the content caption of ‘that steak though’, the TikTok page honored The Paddock Pub and Links Event Center with number nine.

The account, WeAreOhio, shares travel destinations and has a following of 160,500. The post has been seen by more than 321,000 times.

“We were away on vacation when we heard,” said Paul Clark, who founded the restaurant with his wife in 2020. “I’m not sure how or why we got chosen as number nine, but we are honored and super excited to have been chosen.”

After retiring from a 30-year career in rubber manufacturing, Paul was looking for a new chapter in life. He found it in an unexpected place; a shuttered pub closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With no formal culinary training, but a lifelong love for cooking, Paul took a leap of faith.

“With my wife Shelly Clark’s blessing and full support, we went all in,” he shared. “We purchased the pub and reopened in June of 2020.”

The pub now operates with the help of their children: Shalynne Allen as General Manager and Jacob Clark as Kitchen Manager.

“From day one we have strived to make as much as possible from scratch. All our salad dressings, real mashed potatoes, homemade biscuits & gravy, sauces…. Many items that other restaurants buy from suppliers we hand make,” Clark said.

The menu is pub fair and comfort food with rotating menus to associate with the seasonal food supply.

As for the community that helped make all this possible, Paul offered a heartfelt thank-you.

“We would love to thank the local community and our regulars who have supported us from the beginning. We are blessed to have the customers (friends) in the state of Ohio supporting our success,” Paul added.

The Paddock Pub calls the Groveport Municipal Golf Course home and offers an event center with outside catering.

Now known for its steak, the pub is also known for its impressive collection of inflatables down its entrance drive during the holiday season.