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| - This is one of the outer West Side's best kept secrets. Every time I go to Henry's, I am amazed that there are not crowds lining up out the door. Maybe it's hard to find (turn in at the Avon Police Station lot and keep going!), but boy, is it good. Paul, the owner and chef, has a very finely tuned palate and a talent for hiring sincere, efficient and friendly staff. The menu is a little overwhelming when you first try to take it in, since you will want to try everything on your first visit. Of course, you won't be able to accomplish that. It all sounds so delicious, and it is. Try the onion soup. It is the perfect realization of the classic: not too thick nor too thin, beefy and oniony (with the onion cut into dice instead of those hard-to-eat slices!) the crouton isn't too thick, the cheese is just right and doesn't control the dish. This is the way Henry's does every dish they cook. Every element is well considered and thought out. The seafood is fresh and the meats are succulent. The vegetable sides are fascinating and different. Where can you get okra as a side dish? Collard greens? Brussels sprouts? Henry's. Where can you get lightly roasted plump oysters with a fresh Ohio sweet corn relish? Henry's. Where can you get the creamiest, yummiest grits subtly flavored in so many ways (bleu cheese, goat cheese, and on and on, all in tune with what they are served with)? Henry's. Where can you get an entree that is perfectly sized so that you can actually have soup, salad, main course and a bite of a great dessert (they may get their desserts from the gourmet shop/bakery next door) and not feel like Orca the whale? Henry's. In addition, Henry's doesn't rake you over the coals on the wine pricing. Here is an example of a special we had the other night: Huge sea scallops dusted with allspice, cinnamon and cloves, seared perfectly, on a bed of creamy bleu cheese grits and topped by a dollop of caramelized fresh pear. Unbelievably delicious. You owe it to yourself to make it there. Every person we've ever taken there loves it and goes back repeatedly. They have a really wonderful patio. There's lots of parking. Hurry, go to Henry's before you can't get in!
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