“LaDonna's features smoker, 'comfort food'”

LaDonna's features smoker, 'comfort food'

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 03:43 AM PDT

LaDonna's Cafe features pulled pork and ribs cooked in the restaurant's own smoker.

The wood smoker looks like a train engine and owner/chef Randy Baumgardt calls it the choo choo smoker.

"We're the home of the choo choo smoker," he said.

The restaurant, which opened Sept. 15 on Ohio Pike in Batavia Township, serves what Baumgardt calls "comfort food," with a menu that includes steaks, chops, jambalaya, sandwiches and Kentucky hot brown.

LaDonna's, which is named after Baumgardt's late mother-in-law, opened in a building that housed a former Mexican restaurant.

"I've lived in Amelia for 10 years," he said "I've been looking for a place to open of my own for years. It's convenient and close to home. A great location."

LaDonna's is the first restaurant Baumgardt has owned, but he has about 18 years experience working as a chef.

He took 10 years away from working in restaurants before deciding to return.

"Being in the restaurant business has always been my passion," he said. "I'm doing what I always wanted to do."

Baumgardt does the cooking, often working 15-hour days.

The smoker has to be fired up hours before the restaurant opens, he said.

"The ribs have to be cooked about five hours, the pork about 12 hours," he said. "I'm here 7:30 in the morning."

He sees the smoker, which is set up in the parking lot in front of the restaurant, as something unique that sets his establishment apart.

The smoker holds 18 racks of ribs or 100 pounds of pork at a time.

"The idea is to cook it low and slow, to give the meat a wood-smoked flavor," he said.

The restaurant seats 96 inside, with room for 40 on the patio when the weather is nice.

Prices range from $7.50 to $8 for sandwiches to $19.50 for a full rack of ribs.

On weekends, LaDonna's features live entertainment.