11 restaurants where you should eat in nice weather in Butler and Warren counties

Credit: Greg Lynch

Credit: Greg Lynch

There are a wide variety of outdoor dining options in the region, places serving ice cream, burgers and other American cuisine classics.

Here’s a look at what’s available and what’s on its way:

The Cone

This soft-serve ice cream, frozen yogurt and shaved ice stand destination at 6855 Tylersville Road in West Chester Twp. has been around since 1995, with a Mobile Cone since 2005. It was featured on a PBS documentary and a 2015 segment for Travel Channel show "Bert the Conqueror."

It has opened for its 25th season.

The Dip

Located at 1680 Gelhot Drive in Fairfield, The Dip was founded in 2008. It offers soft-serve ice cream, desserts, fruit smoothies and sandwiches that include hamburgers, pork or beef barbecue, grilled chicken, hot dogs and metts. There are several non-dairy options and the yogurt is fat-free and has no sugar added.

The Dip opened for the season on March 1.

Flub’s

Flub's Ice Cream has been a Hamilton hang out for friends and families since 1965. Locations now include 981 Eaton Ave. in Hamilton, 539 Wessel Drive in Fairfield (opened in 2006) and 4065 Hamilton Cleves Road in Ross Twp. (opened in 2016).

The business is already open for the 2019 season.

MORE: Flub’s famous ice cream now available in 3 Butler County locations

J&E Root Beer Stand

A fixture in Madison Twp. for decades, J&E Root Beer Stand serves sandwiches, deep-fried goodies, kids meals, ice cream and beverages. Located at 301 Germantown Road, it opened on May 1 last year.

There’s no word yet when opening day will be for 2019.

Jolly’s Drive In

Now in its 82nd year, Jolly's Drive-In operates two locations, one at 21 N. Erie Highway in Hamilton and the other at 165 North Brookwood Ave. on Hamilton's West Side. The restaurants offer burgers, hot dogs, side orders, popcorn and ice cold root beer.

Both locations opened in February.

The Jug

One of Butler County's oldest eateries, The Jug, made its debut at 3610 Central Ave. in Middletown in 1932. The menu includes Jug burgers, cheeseburgers, bacon cheeseburgers, chili fries, Coney dogs and root beer.

It opened for business this season on March 18.

MORE: Middletown mainstay opened on South Main then opened current location on Central.

Mr. Frosty

In operation for more than five decades, Mr. Frosty is a mainstay of Franklin. Located at 12 East 6th St., it offers offers ice cream, milkshakes, and food.

Swaffy’s Ice Cream

The new kid on the block among the region's fair-weather businesses, Swaffy's made its debut in 2018 at 646 S. Main St. in Monroe. The family-run, family-owned soft-serve shop started its second season March 8 for weekend-only (Friday to Sunday) hours.

When the weather gets warmer, the business plans to expand to weekday hours, as well.

Sweden Creme

Located at 2047 Pleasant Ave. in Hamilton's Lindenwald neighborhood, Sweden Creme has been owned and operated by a local family since 1951. All of its dairy and whips are whipped up from a belend only found at the businsess and its Dixie Burgers with sauteed onions, pickle and mustard are a community favorite.

It opened for the season in March.

Tucker’s Whippy Dip

Tucker's Whippy Dip is set to open sometime the week after Easter at 127 East Main St. in Mason. It opened in 1999 and serve soft serve ice cream, but its specialty is turning soft serves into animal creations.

Twist Ice Cream Company

Liberty Twp. welcomed the Twist Ice Cream Company in 2001 at 7813 Bethany Road. It's located on the north side of Green Crest Golf Course, giving it plenty of lawn space to accommodate families.

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