On our way home from our retreat this weekend we were invited by some friends to join them at a joint in Tiffin called Slim's. They didn't know anything about the place but had a gift certificate and we, again, fell in love with the name and excitedly joined them.

Just off the main highway on Main Street is a nothing fancy red exterior, 2-story bar, complete with a parking lot for snowmobiles. It has only a couple small windows in the joint making it so that upon entry ones eyes go dark and see nothing but smells of years and years of tobacco. This is really our kind of place.

It continued to be your typical small town bar, one waitress (bartender), locals in their snowmobile pants, and no real rules of engagement for how to order, etc. But above the smoky haze you could smell good ole fashioned bar style crinkled potato french fries cooking... heaven to my nose.

We moved to a back table and our party rose to 8 adults and two babies (save for the second hand smoke). I must say, I really appreciated their table tops. I would off hand guess they we pine 2x4 by 6' planks that were covered with a thick layer of clear gloss/lacquer, that really stuck out and you knew that the surface you were eating on was clean.

The menu was full of hearty fare: burgers, Philly cheese steaks, fried fish, mini tacos, cheese balls and onion rings. It did include a few rules of engagement though: " We apologize in advance for any screw ups... If you have any comments you can write them on the back of a twenty dollar bill and hand it to the bartender and they will take care of it personally." They also had great weekday deals for lunch but the weekend prices were still inexpensive.

Funny side note... Either a.) they weren't expecting a big lunch crowd or b.) they figured all who entered were family... but in the middle of the walkway was a beautiful, big, old wooden door with carvings of Native Americans on it being glued back together with huge 4' long metal clamps. 9" of said clamps were sticking out right on the path to our table just begging to decapitate one of us.

Soon enough, the waitress/bartender started shouting out orders, "Who had the Philly cheese and mini tacos?!" And the delicious food began arriving one by one every couple a minutes. I love this kind of fare because you honestly know that the food you are getting is not going to throw you any fast balls and you get what you get.

The O's shared their cheese balls and onion rings with everyone and they were exactly how you'd imagine them. The Philly cheese steaks came out looking delicious. The burgers were good and my fish and chips (i.e. crinkle cut french fries) were just right. If only we had all shared a round of Coors Light Silver Bullet in bottles*, it would have been a prefect meal.

I would highly recommend Slim's to any of you passing through Tiffin and find yourself hankering for some good bar food. Just watch out for clamps... oh, and the restrooms have questionable images on the doors.

*A random stranger from a small town in Kansas helped us out in a jam when out alternator went dead and the only thing he asked for in return was for us to get him "a six pack of Coors Light Silver Bullet in bottles." Thanks so much Shawn and Crystal for your kindness all those years ago!