ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — For as long as people can remember, the Crows Nest Restaurant and Lounge has been a popular destination in the Ashtabula Harbor district.
Ron Detore, who has co-owned the Crows Nest, 1257 Harmon Road, with his brother Nick for 18 years, said they were regulars long before the purchase.
“We used to come here every Saturday afternoon, and I would jump behind the bar and give Fritz a hand,” Ron said.
“Lawrence ‘Fritz’ Ferritto was the former owner, and when he decided to let it go, he offered the business to us.”
The brothers, along with their sister Judy Andrego, are no strangers to running a restaurant. They say it is in their genes.
“Our parents owned the East 6th Street Cafe, and we have personally been in this type of business for more than 30 years,” Nick said.
The Crows Nest Restaurant and Lounge has a faithful following that includes people from western Pennsylvania and the Youngstown area.
“We have good-quality food, moderate prices, a casual family atmosphere, and we have promoted many sporting events over the years,” Nick said. “Seasonally, we are big with the boaters and fishermen.”
While Nick and Ron are busy running the restaurant and lounge, it’s their sister Judy (Andrego) who is in the kitchen, keeping everything shipshape and delicious.
“Judy creates our wonderful soups, sauces and daily lunch specials,” Nick said. “We have served more than 2 million meatballs since we’ve been here; they are fantastic.”
“I love all the people I work with,” Andrego said as she smiled at her brothers. “And I can watch what’s going on in the kitchen for them.”
The three siblings all agree that working with family is great because they know they can count on one another.
“A restaurant owned by family will run it with more care because we want our customers to come back,” Ron said.
Barb Woodard has been a server at the Crows Nest since the Detore brothers opened, and she wouldn’t work anywhere else.
“I love it here. I love my customers and Ron, Nick and Judy,” she said.
“We have great employees and loyal customers who are our best marketing tool for bringing in new people,” Ron said.
The Crows Nest is a full-service restaurant that seats 200 people and offers tempting daily specials like various pasta entrees, pork chops, baked scrod and shrimp specials. It is also a popular spot for private parties.
The restaurant also offers a huge list of appetizers, chicken wings, soups and salads, burgers, sandwiches, pizza, dinners, pasta dinners, desserts and a full menu of beer, wine and soft beverages.
“We have met a lot of great people over the years, and many of our customers have become our good friends,” Nick said.
As a holiday special treat for Lights on the Lake revelers, the Detores are offering their parking lot for Crows Nest friend and customer Byron Sackett, who hauls his horses and wagons from Dorset Township just to give people an old-fashioned ride through the lighted annual holiday event.
“This is something that Byron wanted to do. He only charges $3 per person, and that covers their ticket in,” Nick said. “He’s not making anything by doing this. The amount only helps him recoup gas and expenses.”
Sackett will be in the Crows Nest parking lot 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 8 p.m., on Dec. 4 and Dec. 11. The two wagons hold 10 people each, and seats are on a first-come first-served basis.
“We had a blast last year. We all sang Christmas carols, and it just really gets you into the holiday spirit,” Woodard said.
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People flock to the Crows Nest Restaurant and Lounge
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