Akron's Highland Square Users' Guide

Since I can never find parking on the west end of The Square, we'll start our tour on the east end. Michael Trecaso's Restaurant is the first stop on this Users' Guide. They serve food of some kind, but I wouldn't know because something far more important is served on the inside of this building: ice cream. Mary Coyle Ice Cream is located in the same building and ice cream is more important then pasta any day. They make unique flavors that are worth the visit to Highland Square.

Next door is Aladdin's Eatery serving super cheap Middle Eastern grub. We recommend going there with a friend or two and ordering several dishes and sharing. Aladdin's also offers really great smoothies and fresh juices. Next up is Annabelle's, which is great for cheap beer. They have great happy hour specials which make their cheap drinks even cheaper.

Angel Falls is the lone coffee shop in the square. They have tons of teas, great smoothies and Italian sodas. The patio is a fun spot to sit in the summer and watch the Highland peeps walk by. For a great meal, check out Two Amigos Mexican Grill. It's a nuevo Mexican restaurant with a big menu and a small dining room. Put your name on the list, leave a cell phone and head to one of the 3 bars on this block.

Vodka is the first bar you come to heading west from Two Amigos. It used to be called The In Between, but I guess the memo didn't reach the regulars. The name change and addition of a futon to sit on didn't seem to do much for this bar. I recommend moving on to The Bucket. The Bucket Shop has been around for over 70 years and serve up strong, 16 ounce mixed drinks. It is definitely worth the stop.

Dodie's Diner is famous for their breakfasts. They have great hash browns and omelets that you have to wait for during the weekends. Capri makes great pizza and wings. If you're throwing a party, you can order huge sheet pizzas and wings by the hundred. If you're craving Chinese, Platinum Dragon has cheap lunch specials.

If you want to do some shopping, check out Revival or Square Records. Revival is a vintage store that also sells some great new items like really awesome globe lights and Ikea-ish vases. If you love the sound of vinyl, Square Records is the store for you. Besides selling new and used records, Square Records also sells bowls, purses and other objects made from records worn beyond play.

Highland Square Directory