Lisa Abraham
Beacon Journal food writer
Swensons or Skyway? Belgrade Gardens or Whitehouse?
These food debates, which have been going on in the Akron area for generations, are going national.
The Food Network is rolling into town this week to stop at the four iconic eateries as part of the new show Food Feuds, hosted by Cleveland’s Iron Chef Michael Symon. The tentative air date is November.
The crew from the show is expected to make its first stop Wednesday morning at Whitehouse Chicken, 180 Wooster Road N., and later in the afternoon will head to Belgrade Gardens, 401 E. State St.
Whitehouse owner Brian Canale and Belgrade owner Milos Papich say they are both ready for their close-ups, and so is their chicken. Symon is expected to interview both, and his crew will tape them making their fried chicken.
Taping will take place at both restaurants, as well as throughout the city, where Symon will be conducting some interviews on the street about residents’ preferences.
Papich said he was thrilled to be part of the taping and to have the chance to show off his restaurant for a national audience. Canale also said he was excited about the show and the publicity it would bring to Barberton and Whitehouse Chicken.
Barberton Mayor Bob Genet said the national exposure was a great thing for the city, and noted that Lake Anna Park would be the picture-perfect location for Thursday’s finale.
Barberton-style fried chicken was brought to the area by Serbian immigrants. Papich’s grandparents were the first to open a chicken restaurant in Barberton in 1933. They began selling fried chicken dinners with their signature hot rice, vinegar-dressed coleslaw, and french fries. Hot rice is a combination of tomato sauce with peppers, served with rice or sometimes as a side dish over the rice. Canale said there are restaurants in Bosnia today that sell the same type of chicken dinners with similar sides.
Whitehouse, which this year celebrates its 60th anniversary, was opened in 1950 by Mary Pavkov, whom Canale affectionately refers to as ”Grandma Chicken.” Canale’s family also owns Hopocan Gardens in Norton, which has been in business for 74 years. Rounding out the current crop of Barberton-area chicken houses is Milich’s Village Inn in Norton, which opened in 1965.
”There are no overnight sensations here,” Canale said of the long-established businesses, which are part of the area’s heritage.
At the finale at Lake Anna, Symon is expected to announce his favorite of the two.
On Friday, Symon and crew will turn their attention to the burgers, taping at the Skyway Drive-in, 951 E. Turkeyfoot Lake Road in Green, and at the Swensons location at 58 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave., North Akron.
Swensons has been grilling burgers in Akron since 1934, when its first drive-in opened in Akron’s Wallhaven neighborhood. Skyway opened its original location in Fairlawn in 1952.
Swensons put out a call on its Web site for customers to show up at the North Hill location for the taping on Friday, and for the finale Saturday in High Bridge Glens Park in Cuyahoga Falls, spokeswoman Patty Palmer said.
The Skyway taping will take place at the Green franchise owned by Bob and Kelly Knapp, which has been open for 13 years.
”Obviously, we’re very excited about it. It’s a great thing to be able to host Michael Symon at our location,” Kelly Knapp said.
Knapp said she was confident Skyway would prove victorious, but she really didn’t view the show as a battle. ”It’s a great opportunity for both restaurants. We have a long-standing friendly rivalry,” she said.
If you want to watch the feuds in action, you can stop by for the taping of one of the finales:
– For the chicken, noon Thursday at Lake Anna Park (the park is bordered by West Lake, West Park, Sixth and Third streets), Barberton.
– For the burgers, noon Saturday at High Bridge Glens Park, 1817 S. Front St., Cuyahoga Falls.
Lisa A. Abraham can be reached at 330-996-3737 or labraham@thebeaconjournal.com.
I moved to Az. in 1995 and have yet to find chicken that comes close to Belgrades or Whitehouse….and as far as burgers go …..SWENSONS rule !
Terry,
I moved to AZ in 2004 and I have the same views. Nothing in the valley is remotely close to Belgrades or Whitehouse. When I visit back in Ohio, I get chicken and go to Swensons on the first day or 2 that I am there.
Greg
HA…A…HA….GREG….i KNOW WHO YOU ARE!
How could you possibly think that belgrades chicken is good? If you like over cooked, greasy garbage, then ok. I personally think it stinks. I would rather stay at home and cook than waste my money on that crap.
Wmms radio dj Maxwell ate at Belgrades and talked about how terrible it was…and how barberton chicken was supposed to be so good
I thnk that white house chicken beats belgrades hands down. belgrade chicken breading is tough and hard to eat
I think they needed add Tallmadge A&W in there too, the mozza burger rules.
Nobody has EVER talked about Skyway or Swenson’s vs A&W. It’s Skyway vs. Swenson’s in Akron. Period. I’m disappointed that they won’t be using the original Skyway for the show, but I’m confident Skyway will be victorious, as it should be!
I never even hear Skyway versus Swenson’s. I am always hearing Swenson’s versus Dilly.
You know, they didn’t even mention The Village Inn, although it is technically on the Norton/Barberton border. That is the best Barberton chicken.
It did mention Milich’s Village Inn in the paper.
Personally, I prefer Fiesta’s chicken to either of the others. But in the case of Skyway vs. Swenson’s I like Skyways onion rings but Swenson’s burgers.
it is disappointing that both burger joints originated in the west side of akron, yet the show is focusing on one in green and one in north hill. at least give a nod to the originals…and although i live walking distance to skyway…swen-burgers are the best.
I agree. It talks about the original loctions for both Skyway and Swenson’s. They are just down the road from one another. Why not go there? Swenson’s definitely gets my vote!
I think that Dilly’s Drive-in located in the Ellet area is better than Swensons or Skyway.
Ya, Dilly’s is way better than either!
Skyway sucks, Dillys sucks and you suck. Swensons all the way!
If you could get Skyway onion rings at Swenson’s, it would be a perfect world!
Bazinga! Life would be perfect if I could get Belgrade’s chicken and cole slaw with Skyway onion rings and Swenson’s Burgers. Maybe throw in something from DeVita’s and I would die a happy woman.
What about Swenson’s potato teezers?
hey debc… ME TOO
meetcha for lunch on my next trip home!?!
Perhaps Michael Simon can talk about how all the young chefs coming up through high school in Cleveland hated Akron………Sorry my mistake that would be that idiot from Akron…… : )
Whitehouse rules!
I’m with johnny o – I’ll take Milich’s over Whithouse/Hopocan or Belgrade any day. Belgrade’s chicken is usually over cooked and tough, WH/Hopocan’s chicken meat must be bathed in brine somewhere along the process – way too salty for my taste.
Swenson’s burger, Double Cheese or Galley boy. NO one makes them better!!!
Swenson’s burgers no question. However, Skyway has the best onion rings.
Skyway… give me a break.
I grew up on Whitehouse Chicken. Grandma Chicky is my Great-Grandmother. Many places have tried to imitate Barberton chicken and none have compared. Go Whitehouse!!!!! Make Grandma proud!!!
What about the potato teezers at Swensons. I could eat 10 orders.Mmmmmm
Hopefully Belgrades will clean their restaurants before the visit. The last two visits there we were disgusted by how filthy both Belgrades had become, but especially the one in Barberton. Dirt and filth were dropping from the torn up ceiling into open pots in the kitchen, the staff was incredibly rude and the food has gone very downhill. Hopefully they clean up their act before they make Barberton look bad!
Jamie – Seriously?? – “Hopefully they clean up their act before they make Barberton look bad!” I don’t think cleaning up a couple of restaurants is going to help.
Lynne….that’s funny! Good point! ha ha In all seriousness though, Barberton does have some very pretty areas.
The best part of Barbertucky is in my rearview mirror.
I love Belgrades the best…but I think it just depends on what end of town you grew up in. I grew up on the north end and we always went to belgrades, but friends that grew up on the west side love Millich’s.
Ok.,she said, filming Wedsnesday.,does that mean this Wedsnesday???
I grew up in manchester ate at the village and whitehouse prefer village inn a little bit more moved to fl in 2002 can’t find no chicken down here that comes close, when up home still go to the village with the kids looking foward to the show
The first thing I do is go to Swenson’s when I come up form Flordia have to have my burger fix. NO one makes a burger like Swenson’s thats lunch, for supper the whole family has to go to Belgrades, NO one makes chicken like Belgrades. Grew up on it and wish that I could have it down here. Barberton is the Chicken capital of the world. See you at Christmas have my burger and chicken waiting. you rock
Dilly’s is the best. Swensons and Skyway ain’t got nothing on Dilly’s! Best food and best prices in town!
What about Bob’s Hamburger on East Ave.? They put McDonald’s out of business. Now that’s a HAMBURGER!!
been to swensons twice and both times they couldnt get the order right..
I can’t believe that they are NOT using the original Swenson’s and Sky-Way. THIS is a CRIME. Franchise vs original doesn’t cut the mustard pardon the pun.
I moved away from Akron about 26 years ago, and the first place i stop when i go home is SWENSONS the burgers there are just DELICIOUS,there’s no other way to describe them.
Genine (Columbus,Ohio)
I left in ’05. The Double Dilly burger is great… the Galley Boy…Fabulous! I also miss the Hamburger Station six pack. No place in the states has burgers like the greater Akron area! Not SW Fla. or Houston, Tx. Somebody please flash freeze one of each and send them to me! Waaahhhhh!
I am sure the Food Network did not choose locations, but Swensons and Skyway each made the decision for themselves. Swensons is my favorite for burgers- Galley Boy, Onion Rings and large California to go please. As for Whitehouse vs Belgrade my parents took us to both in the late 60′s and throught the 70′s. They both taste the same to me, fries are cooked the same way and the hot rice is delicious at both- that’s a tough call. I think they are still both fried with lard. I could be wrong about that.
Been too many years since I have been ‘back home’, may have to plan a weekend and make sure we hit Swensons, best damn burger in the world, bar none.
We love Barbertons chicken, Belgrades is the best ever. We have been eating
there for years.
I think it is so poetic that almost all the postings are from people who “use to live in the area” – put’s things in perspective doesn’t it?
Moved to Florida 40 years ago, always stopped at Belgrades on our way into Cuyahoga Falls for a visit. Usually made it back 2 or 3 times before the week was over and we came back home. I’ve been able to copy the hotsauce but can’t come close to frying the chicken. Working here for years meeting the public seems everyone from in or around your area knew all about Belgrades and loved that chicken! That’s what we miss the most as we have tried to find a similar chicken around here to no avail.
Moved to California 25 years ago and I still have to say – Swensons at Wallhaven is clearly the best! Have to have a Galley Boy, onion rings and a hot fudge malted milkshake whenever I am back in Ohio. Coming back soon, so Swensons will definitely be on my itinerary!
My nephew is Brian Canale and I love Whitehouse chicken. I live in Chicago and look forward to going back home to Barberton (especially for the chicken). Can’t get that good chicken here in Chi town.
OMG, I got to see Michael Symon at the Belgrades taping, I was right next to him…. I’m glad Belgrades won, I LOVE, LOVE, Belgrades….. He wouldn’t sign any autographs, so I guess the hand shake was OK…I missed the one at Swensons ….which I was there too….. But of course, Swenson’s came through for all of us Swenson’s eaters…… WAY TO GO…. BELGRADES AND SWENSONS!!!