Onion rings bring people back to the Warehouse

COSHOCTON – When John Larson got into the restaurant business in Coshocton nearly seven years ago, he made it a goal to create a diverse menu that featured offerings, along with signature onion rings that keep people coming back for more.

"People come from surrounding counties and throughout the area for the onion rings. They are pretty special. It's a recipe passed down from my parents," Larson said.

Though he worked in school administration most of his life, Larson was exposed to the restaurant industry by his parents, Oscar and Rosemary, who owned the Steak n' Stein in Zanesville. He brought their unique onion ring recipe with him to the Warehouse Steak n' Stein located at 400 North Whitewoman St. in Roscoe Village.

"I wanted to find something interesting to do when I retired. I fell in love with this location," said Larson, who is also the owner of Oscar Rose Steak and Seafood House in Coshocton.

Larson said his family recipe onion rings, that are made from large, white onions, were always popular in his parents' restaurant, and are definitely a number one dish for the Warehouse Steak n' Stein. They have the perfect balance of seasoning and crunch, and go perfectly with the Warehouse's Creole dipping sauce, Larson said.

"I think what makes them special is the preparation and the batter," he said. "We add just the right amount of our special seasoning. We like to think of it as the seasoning of love."

Larson explained that during the summer, the Warehouse Steak n' Stein typically goes through 300 to 400 pounds of onions per weekend to create the favorite dish.

The special onion rings are so popular that they were the food of choice for a national competitive eating contest that took place in Roscoe Village in 2013. The winning competitor from Connecticut ate 7 ½ pounds of the renown onion rings in eight minutes. "He came into the restaurant and ordered more food after the contest," Larson said with a laugh.

"They are excellent, and we sell a ton of them," said kitchen manager Jarred Giesey, who prepares the onion rings in the special batter and seasoning.

He said customers order the signature onion rings as an appetizer or to go with the many other offerings. "I'd say one out of every three tables orders onion ring. They are great by themselves, or with anything on our menu," Giesey said.

The Warehouse Steak n' Stein is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

About the series

The Coshocton Tribune will feature a local eatery and what fare makes it unique each week. If you have a suggestion or are a restaurant owner who would like to be featured, let us know at ctnews@coshoctontribune.com.