Garrettsville – Garrett’s Mill and Brewing Company is open under a new name and new ownership, featuring an executive chef dedicated to offering “affordable upscale dining with a twist.” Garrettsville’s founding structure at 8148 Main Street — established by Colonel John Garrett in 1804 to grind farmers’ grain — once again has opened its doors, offering a dining room with a view of rushing Silver Creek.
Executive Chef Jeremy ‘Jay’ Barnes has created a broad-based menu of modern takes on classic American lunch and dinner favorites, ranging from creative hamburger combos to fine dining surf & turf selections. Barnes enjoys creating decadent desserts and pastries, too, from crème brûlée to cheesecakes. (With his eye on re-opening the ice cream shop downstairs, he also is experienced in making homemade ice creams, gelatos and sorbets.) Focused on generous portions at the restaurant, Barnes says, “I don’t want anyone to leave here hungry!”
Weekly specials offer more exotic dishes featuring Asian, French, Creole, Italian, Irish, Russian and other ethnic cuisines. The chef will also accommodate vegetarian and vegan appetites. Barnes and his righthand man, Sous-Chef Sean Carey, are dedicated to creating “affordable, higher-end, casually classy food. I think we can please everyone with our broad spectrum of food selections.”
Rounding out the team, Barnes is thrilled with his entire kitchen staff, chief bartender, hostess, waitresses and Brewmaster Brian Koptis. With everyone bringing their talents together, he expects great things at the mill. While the restaurant and bar opened for business on February 21, the brewing company is waiting for final state licensure to start serving its signature beers. In the meantime, the bar is serving guest brews and Koptis is able to craft small batches for original recipes Barnes creates for the restaurant menu (think specialty BBQ sauces and beer batter for chicken wings).
Barnes is a Portage County native who grew up in the restaurant business (He and his three brothers are all either cooks or chefs). His parents owned Aurora Pizza & Pasta in Twinsburg, and he started washing dishes there when he was 9 years old, moving on to every other position in the restaurant. Barnes’ grandfather was “an old Italian cook who taught me a lot of recipes, as well,” he adds. Barnes went on to cook for several restaurants in Aurora, then was trained in the culinary arts at Auburn Career Center and LeCordon Bleu in Pittsburgh. At the age of 23, he was just nine weeks from graduating when he accepted the executive chef position at Mario’s in Aurora. Barnes has been king of the kitchen ever since, most recently at the Whiskey Barrel in Streetsboro.
While Barnes is the chief spokesman for Garrett’s Mill and Brewing Company, owners Brian and Shelley Buchanan of Mercer, Pennsylvania keep a lower profile. The Buchanans are experienced restauranteurs, having previously owned and operated Dairy Queen franchises.
Garrett’s Mill and Brewing Company is open from noon to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 8pm on Sundays; (Closed Mondays); 4 to 9pm on Tuesdays; 4 to 9pm on Wednesdays; and noon to 9pm on Thursdays. It can be reached by phone at (330) 527-8080; and online via Facebook.
