GOOD EATS: M&M's Dairy Bell serves Chesapeake community

CHESAPEAKE -- Located in Chesapeake, Ohio, M&M's Dairy Bell is a small diner that has been a important piece of the local culture and community for years.

First opening its doors in 1951, the Dairy Bell was operated for many years by Ruth Brown and her family. At the end of each school year, children from Chesapeake Elementary come to the Dairy Bell for a free ice cream cone. The restaurant's signature burger, "The Panther Paw," takes its name from the mascot of the local high school.

"Ms. Brown was the original owner and started the place. I never had the opportunity to meet her before she passed away, but I hear she was very nice," said Sandy Belville, current manager of the Dairy Bell. "She became famous for her hot dog sauce recipe. It's a rather involved recipe that takes a couple of hours to make. We're known for our footlong hot dogs, which we have to special order."

Most menu items at the Dairy Bell, which is located at 595 3rd Ave. in Chesapeake, can be purchased for less than $5. A footlong frank costs $2.50 (add 30 cents for coleslaw or cheese), while a regular dog costs $1.35. A cheeseburger costs $2.45, while one with two beef patties goes for $3.60. Other specialty items include corn dogs, tuna fish sandwiches, beef barbecue and, of course, The Panther Paw -- a double cheeseburger with pepperjack cheese.

"The milk shakes remain one of our most popular desserts," Bell said. "We have 'frosty freezes,' which are similar to Dairy Queen blizzards with candy inside of them. There are also hot fudge brownies. Another unique dessert we offer is something called a 'Deep Purple,' which is half ice cream and half slush. You can get it in a number of different flavors, but we call it Deep Purple because of the school colors for Chesapeake High School."

The menu has been tweaked a bit through the years, but it remains largely unchanged.

"A lot of the menu is the same as it always was, but the previous owner added salads to the menu. We then added hot wings, baby burgers and a few other items," Belville said. "We offer a number of things like BLTs and tuna fish sandwiches that other restaurants don't have. We also have very good taco salads. We have our own recipe for taco meat."

Currently during the fall and winter months, homemade soups and chili are also available.

The Dairy Bell received some online attention in 2007 when the West Virginia Hotdog Blog (http://wvhotdogblog.blogspot.com/) gave the restaurant an award for "Best Hotdog Joint" in the Huntington area. In 2008, the Dairy Bell won an award again, however, this time it was for the "Best Hotdog Joint in the suburbs of Huntington." Both years the Dairy Bell has participated in the West Virginia Hotdog Festival, drawing large crowds to its booth.

M&M's Dairy Bell is currently open from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It is closed on Sundays.

Deliveries can be made to the Chesapeake and downtown Huntington areas between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Cash is the only accepted means of payment. For delivery or more information, call 740-867-8171.

Paul Sebert/For The Herald-Dispatch

M&M's Dairy Bell is located at 595 3rd Ave., in Chesapeake. It's been a community staple since 1951. Pictured from left to right are Janice Roush, Sarah Plybon, Casey Sowards, manager Sandy Belville, and frequent customers Darline and David Green.

Paul Sebert/For The Herald-Dispatch

M&M's Dairy Bell is located at 595 3rd Ave., in Chesapeake. It's been a community staple since 1951.

Paul Sebert/For The Herald-Dispatch

M&M's Dairy Bell, located at 595 3rd Ave., in Chesapeake, is known for its hot dog's. This one is topped with mustard, onions, sauce and coleslaw.