The Ultimate Spaghetti Dinner

There’s a reason the Wednesday night spaghetti dinners at Fairlawn’s St. Thomas Eastern Orthodox Church are so wildly popular. The complete dinner is prepared from scratch by Bath’s renowned Vaccaro’s Trattoria—and it’s just seven bucks.

By: Mimi Vanderhaven
Date: 04/01/2008
What may be the best dining value in greater Akron isn’t served in a restaurant. You’ll find it in a church.

Every Wednesday from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. the staff at Fairlawn’s St. Thomas Eastern Orthodox Church serves the ultimate spaghetti dinner, including delicious pasta smothered in made-from-scratch sauce and two handmade meatballs (or choose an Italian sausage), warm Italian bread with butter, a crisp green salad served with balsamic vinaigrette, your choice of coffee, tea or water, and a refreshing lemon ice dessert. And, for just $2 more, enjoy a piece of homemade pie—like chocolate cream, Boston cream, walnut, pecan, and various fruit pies.

This is no ordinary sauce-from-a-jar church fundraiser. Every week this meal is prepared by Vaccaro’s Trattoria, the legendary upscale Italian restaurant in Bath. Don’t tell anyone, darling, but the spaghetti dinner you enjoy at St. Thomas on Wednesday evenings for $7 can be found on the Vaccaro’s menu for, well, a good bit more.

You can even add a bowl of the restaurant’s famous Italian Wedding Soup, prepared by family matriarch Linda Vacarro—for just $2.

And forget about the typical paper plates and plastic utensils. In this church you’ll enjoy your spaghetti on real china with genuine silverware. “Our Wednesday night spaghetti dinners have become a tradition for many people in Copley, Fairlawn, West Akron and beyond,” explains Father Jim Wright, who was ordained in 1982 and now serves the same parish in which he grew up. “Our hard working, all volunteer staff enjoy meeting new friends in the community.”

And no one is preaching.

“Our diners come from all religious backgrounds and faiths,” Father Jim adds. “Wednesday nights are about a great meal at a great price—and raising a little money for our building fund. We are very grateful to Vaccaro’s.”

And regulars often include local celebrities, like Mimi’s dear friend the legendary Paige Palmer.
“I’m there at least two Wednesdays a month,” smiles Paige. “It’s absolutely the best dining value in Northern Ohio. Although meat is not really a part of my diet anymore, I always enjoy a meatball at St. Thomas because they’re not heavy and hard. They’re light, fluffy and delicious. The best I’ve ever had.”

Parking at St. Thomas is both free and convenient, and there is rarely a wait, except during peak hours. If you’re in a rush, it’s best to dine before 5:30 or after 6:30. You can even get your ultimate spaghetti to go and take it home to enjoy.

St. Thomas Eastern Orthodox Church is located at 555 South Cleveland-Massillon Road near the I-77 overpass. For more information, call 330-666-8006 or visit www.stteoc.com. The ultimate spaghetti dinner is served every Wednesday evening from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Worship services are held in English on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m.

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