Review of the Coffeehouse, Meeting Place on Market in Lima, Ohio

Lima, Ohio, which is where I originally hail from, always has been devoid of coffeehouses like one would expect to find in larger cities (or rather, in cities with more of an emphasis on culture and the like). However, for the past year, Lima, Ohio has been home to one of the most homey and comfortable coffee houses around with an extensive menu and genuinely positive and inviting atmosphere. It is called The Meeting Place on Market and is a pleasant break from the fast-food chains that dominate the rest of this once beautiful and historic town. Aside from their general atmosphere, The Meeting Place on Market has an amazing selection of unique and interesting dishes, fabulous prices (especially to those of us urbanites who are used to Starbucks' fares) as well as what seems like a real interest to provide the denizens of Lima, Ohio with somewhere to go to drink coffee, chat about art and politics, listen to music, and get a daily dose of culture and companionship. While it's difficult for me to get into the décor on any level since it looks like my grandma decorated the place, the positives outweigh any lack of sophistication in terms of the style of the place.

My three favorite things about The Meeting Place on Market in Lima, Ohio are (in order) the food, the coffee and unique coffee drinks they make, and the arts and other events they host. The food at The Meeting Place on Market isn't always perfect in terms of its preparation or balance of ingredients all the time (consistency is a thing with me) but there is always something new and interesting to try (and in Lima, Ohio, finding "interesting and new" things to try is something that doesn't seem to go over very well with most of the population). My favorite dishes at The Meeting Place on Market in Lima, Ohio include (again, in order) the Buffalo Chicken Pizza, which is just spicy enough to kill your stomach if you decide on an espresso afterwards, and the Orient Express Salad, which is perfect on a hot summer day. All of their wraps are good, although a little bland and in need of an extra kick but again, for Lima, Ohio, this stuff is as good as you're going to get. I am a big fan of their coffee, even if it's just their regular house blend and am also rather in love with the frozen mocha. One of the best things about the Meeting Place on Market in Lima, Ohio though is the fact that finally, there is a place where people can gather over the works of local artists. The gallery section is a great spot to discover that yes, there really are creative people in Lima, Ohio and their meeting room (which I used once with a group of my newspaper folk) was very nice and comfortable although sparsely decorated and a little like... well, a meeting room in an office aside from the scant kitschy decorations.

One of the best things about The Meeting Place on Market in Lima, Ohio, at least for out-of-towners like me is that there is free wireless internet that always seems reliable. It is close to the downtown convention center and is within walking distance of many of the important spots in downtown Lima, Ohio including Saint Rita's hospital, the Lima Public Library, the Allen County Museum, and ArtSpace (the one real gallery the city boasts). Until the Meeting Place on Market in Lima, Ohio opened last year, I never had anywhere to go in town that I felt comfortable sitting with my laptop and working or just drinking coffee and staring at the walls or people going by. Finally, thanks to the arrival of The Meeting Place on Market, I can get all of these things and can actually get up for a bit and stroll down historic (albeit slightly decayed) Market Street in downtown Lima, Ohio and check out the grand old houses and stop by the library for the heck of it. I was rather shocked that The Meeting Place on Market wasn't very busy any of the times I'd gone in there, aside from a few business-types, a few old women chatting over lunch, and giggling students in a corner. It is almost as though Lima, Ohio finally has something worth getting excited about but everyone in town is so used to hanging out at the crappy mall or McDonald's that they're afraid to try something new. Oh well, more space and more free and open plugs for my laptop, right?

The Meeting Place on Market in Lima, Ohio can be found at 220 West Market Street. They open early every weekday and around 9 on the weekends. One of the drawbacks about the Meeting Place on Market in Lima, Ohio is that they close so early on the weeknights. I wish they stayed open later than 8 p.m. since that's when it would be a good time for it to get a little busier, thus encouraging more people to come and hang out for the company as opposed to just the coffee and food.