Sean Marriot - Owner

Unless you live in Van Buren, you may not have heard of the Dragon's Lair, although that is about to change. Having done no advertising, the town's new restaurant has become wildly popular on merit alone and through word of mouth.

The reason is simple: Great food and atmosphere at a very affordable price. Owner Sean Marriot, a native of Van Buren, came back to his hometown a year ago to transform the empty building on Main into the first sit-down restaurant in the community since 1902. Taking almost a year, he painstakingly restored and had the establishment remodeled from an empty shell into a fun and inviting atmosphere. The building has been in his family for years, but was originally built as a livery for the small Van Buren community. With the passing of time, businesses and organizations have come and gone and most recently the building has sat unoccupied.

Deciding on a name was challenging; Sean almost called the restaurant "Buckeye Crossing" because the Van Buren intersection of Main and Market, just a few feet north of Dragon's Lair, is famous as the midpoint between OSU and Ann Arbor. 

"People make a pilgrimage every year to the intersection on the way to the game, whichever state it's in."

Marriot is a self-proclaimed Buckeye Fan, so the name was very tempting. Ultimately, he wanted something to tie the eatery to the community (an idea that is very important to Marriot) and decided to accompany the medieval theme of the school. Dragon's Lair was a perfect fit, because it's not too close to the school, but similar. "Because I will be serving beer, I didn't want to use the Black Knight theme"…(to connect them too close), so Dragon's Lair was a good transition.

Sean insists that everything be made from the best ingredients. Unlike typical pizza recipes, Sean's dough takes three days to process. The meats are of the highest quality, many imported, and the cheese is a secret blend of a proprietary mixture. His signature sauce is sweet and delicate. My kids, who prefer pizza with little or no sauce, decided it was one of their favorite parts of the meal.
Sean offers what is considered classic pizza restaurant menu, but the flavor and service is anything but typical.
"People will call and order a half pound of dragon eggs (similar to buffalo wings), then call back later and order three pounds"

By the end of September, the Dragon's Lair should be serving beer with pizza, a must for games on the big screen TV. Of course, during the Buckeye games, Marriot will offer food and drink specials. In the near future, he hopes to expand the restaurant south into the building next door, and house a separate non-smoking area.

Sean has years of culinary experience, which is obvious after tasting anything from the menu at Dragon's Lair. But his real specialty may be the comfortable atmosphere and exceptional customer service offered each patron. Marriot's philosophy is to treat everyone like family, which is not too difficult in a community where everyone seems to know just about everyone. As more and more people discover the wonderful taste and value of Dragon's Lair, Marriot's family will continue to grow.

Dragon’s Lair is located at 109 South Main Street Van Buren, OH 45889  Telephone 419-299-3620.