The Rail celebrated six years of championing Ohio-sourced burgers and beers on Thursday, July 20, at its first location outside Summit Mall in Fairlawn.

Since its doors opened in 2011, The Rail has been on the right track with diners. Three essential ingredients make this spot unique for Northeast Ohio residents, according to its proprietor, Mike Mariola: fresh, local food; refreshing beverages for the whole family, and an owner’s passion for serving the best Ohio has to offer.

Mariola is no stranger to running a successful restaurant. In 2008, he opened The City Square Steakhouse, which remains a staple in downtown Wooster today. Mariola’s plan for expansion, inspired by the steakhouse’s successful bar menu, brought The Rail, a casual sit-down restaurant best known for locally sourced burgers, craft beers and milkshakes, but growing to offer much more than that, keeping with the same “all-Ohio” focus.

The Rail has grown dramatically since the day it first opened. Within six years, the restaurant now has four locations in Ohio, with additional growth in the Columbus market slated for 2018. This year, Mariola’s team also embarked on a new adventure with Ohio Beer Garden, located next door to The Rail in North Olmsted with a focus on brewing camaraderie.

“As our restaurants continue to grow, we remain locally-owned, which many don’t realize. ‘Local’ is at the heart of all we do here, and we’re really proud of that,” Mariola said. “We’re also excited to continue broadening our menu beyond gourmet Ohio burgers to include more options for local proteins, sandwiches, salads, appetizers and healthy sides. Plus, you can’t beat having the largest selection of Ohio craft beers and cocktails in the area.”

Each of The Rail’s signature sandwiches bring a local flavor to customers’ plates. Fan favorites include the customizable “Rail Burger,” the “Local Yokel” and the “7th Heaven Burger.” All burgers and sandwiches are accompanied with a side of crisp, golden fries. Other side options include house-made chips, sweet potato fries, onion rings and new to the menu, house-made tater tots with sriracha ketchup, and a delicious grilled asparagus plate.

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What sets The Rail apart, Mariola said, is its pairing of authentic burgers with hand-dipped milkshakes or Ohio craft beers, and a courteous staff who’s knowledgeable and proud about what they’re serving. Customers looking to take their beer-drinking experience to the next level are encouraged to join in on Ohio Beer School at any of The Rail’s locations, where they can enjoy $12 beer and appetizer tastings hosted by a different Ohio brewery each month.

Overall, Mariola and his team are proud to see how far The Rail has come and look forward to continued growth in the future.

ABOUT THE RAIL

The Rail is a full-service American restaurant with four locations throughout Northeast Ohio – Akron, Canton, North Olmsted and Strongsville. Since it was crafted by award-winning chef Mike Mariola, The Rail has focused on serving quality burgers and sandwiches, appetizers, shakes, Ohio craft beers and more to satisfied customers. The Rail is also home to Ohio Beer School, and details are available at therailburger.com. The kitchen is open for lunch and dinner daily, and the Akron location is outside Summit Mall at 3265 W. Market St., Fairlawn, Ohio, 44333.

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