600554 Mon Mar 02 13:24:16 -0800 2009 49 8 Midwest 0 4466724 I am going to be in Dayton for work at the end of March and am looking for unique food experiences to try. I know I will at least go to either White Castle or Culvers, but I would Like to Limit the fast food consumption on this trip. I made this request in Des Moines a year ago and had a fantastic time trying some Salumi from La Quercia and drinking a fantastic Local Rye Whiskey Templeton's Are there any local only fantastic Experiences in Dayton? Let me know. Take Care - P. Mon Mar 02 13:24:16 -0800 2009 12588 Mattapoisett in LA 1 4466831 What can you get in Dayton you can't get in LA? Bored? Mon Mar 02 13:48:39 -0800 2009 4466724 90114 lemons 1 4467048 Pizza with salt on the bottom of the crust (Marion's) Mon Mar 02 14:49:57 -0800 2009 4466724 13907 FireRev 2 4467228 Sounds Interesting. Can you get it by the slice? Mon Mar 02 15:44:04 -0800 2009 4467048 12588 Mattapoisett in LA 3 4468413 No, it's thin-crust and cut into bite-sized pieces. You may get bored, lemons, but there are a lot of things you could catch in LA that you probably won't in Dayton. Tue Mar 03 04:23:11 -0800 2009 4467228 92112 Fibber McGee 1 4468440 You can get Cincinnati chili at many places in Dayton. It was an invention, I believe, of Bulgarians in Cincinnati. It's chili spaghetti, with cheese (three-way), raw onions or beans (four-way), or the works (five-way), all topped with oyster crackers on a ridiculously small plate that pretty much forces you to spill it all over the place. Unique flavor due in part to the use of cocoa or chocolate, with allspice and other spices. Skyline Chili is the best of the chains IMO, but other chains have their partisans. There are local places in Cincinnati that serve a better version, but I don't know about Dayton. Skyline is all over the place, however: http://skylinechili.com/locations.php#dayton Tue Mar 03 04:53:29 -0800 2009 4466724 13409 Jim M 2 4468627 Matta this place is almost a must. You won't find this stuff anywhere else in the country except in the freezer case in some places. It's a very unique experience. I get mine 3 way or coney dogs. The "Chili" is more of a spaghetti sauce and has a distinct taste. Put out all preconceived notions of what chili should be and taste like. The goofiest part of all is, it comes with an impossibly generous mound of cheese on top. We almost always stop for it when we're on the road since it's roughly dinner time when we go through there. I'm not saying you're gonna like it but if you want something unique........ DT Tue Mar 03 06:44:53 -0800 2009 4468440 11291 Davwud 3 4469929 I'm a little scared but if it is close I'll try it Tue Mar 03 12:44:10 -0800 2009 4468627 12588 Mattapoisett in LA 4 4470258 No need to be scared. The first time I tried it, it took about half an order before I absolutely loved it. Now I make it at home sometimes. It's not like you're gonna drop $25 on an order. Order something small as a taste and if it's for you, go for more. If it's not, chalk it up to experience. Even if I didn't like it, I would be more than happy to say that I gave it a try. DT Tue Mar 03 13:57:32 -0800 2009 4469929 11291 Davwud 5 4538711 i just saw this post and skyilne was my first thought. love it. miss it now that we don't live there anymore! Wed Mar 25 18:27:35 -0700 2009 4470258 99136 AMFM 1 4468597 One thing that you can get in Dayton that you often can't find in LA is good food at reasonable prices! Although I haven't been there myself, I have heard good things about Rue Dumaine in Centerville. Anne Kearney is a nationally known chef (James Beard award winner) from her years cooking/owning Peristyle in New Orleans and she has returned home to open her new place in Centerville. I believe the menu features regional dishes although the food has influences from all over. And I know that they are charging less than they did in their restaurant in N.O. http://www.ruedumainerestaurant.com/ The other thought would be Amish/Mennonite food. I believe there is a family style chicken restaurant in Waynesville that is Mennonite owned and has country style food. The name escapes me at the moment, but I'm sure others will know of it or another one like it closer in to town. (Having lived in LA for 35 years, I can't think of a family style chicken restaurant there. Just Roscoe's for chicken and it's not at all the same thing.) Oh, and it's a chain, but there isn't anything exactly like it in LA and it's emblematic of Ohio style chain restaurants: Bob Evans. Biscuits and Gravy, Grits, SAusage and all that kind of food. Have fun. We have found lots of interesting places to poke around in in the Dayton area and I hope you have fun too. Tue Mar 03 06:33:33 -0800 2009 4466724 249199 dumas 2 4469046 I believe the Amish restaurant in Waynesville dumas is refering to is Der Dutchman. www.dhgroup.com It is a small chain of Amish style cooking that I believe is only in Ohio. If you go I recommend the shredded beef and noodles as well as the donuts and pies. Yum!! Tue Mar 03 08:56:11 -0800 2009 4468597 61424 qkalis 3 4469944 Der Dutchman seems its like what I'm looking for though it seems a little far from Downtown Dayton where I'll be but if traffic is not an issue It would be worth the trip Tue Mar 03 12:47:52 -0800 2009 4469046 12588 Mattapoisett in LA 4 4688113 The one thing I can GUARANTEE you can get in Dayton that you won't get in LA is around...there's no traffic even close to compare with LA. And Der Dutchman donuts are slap your mama good...Well worth the trip & the impending sugar coma. Fri May 15 17:36:17 -0700 2009 4469944 293070 Stacelings 3 5160975 Der Dutchman does a very good job recreating the food of the Amish , but their bread pudding is to die for. Id suggest a trip to Jungle Jim's for the experience and if you have room to carry a few items back to LA. Fri Nov 06 09:15:18 -0800 2009 4469046 22220 Kelli2006 2 4469969 Depending on how my Cholesterol is feeling I might do Bob Evans though if there is a local alternative to it that might be better. Tue Mar 03 12:54:12 -0800 2009 4468597 12588 Mattapoisett in LA 1 4468617 Well you can probably get them via mail order, but the Esther Price candy company is HQ'd in Dayton: http://www.estherprice.com/company_locations.asp My neighbor tells me if you take a tour you can get a ridiculous amount of candy on the cheap. Tue Mar 03 06:38:41 -0800 2009 4466724 227406 JohnE O 1 4468804 The things most folks who move away (including my brother in LA) seem to miss are Marion's pizza, MikeSells potato chips, and Esther Price chocolates. Marions and Cassanos are local chains that sell square cut, thin crust pizza with the previously mentioned salt on the bottom. Marions is cash only, they don't deliver, and there are multiple establishment. Cassanos delivers and takes plastic. Neither sells pizza by the slice, but Marions used to sell a "personal pizza" (maybe 4 inches) at lunch; not sure if they still do. Rue Domaine is good although not as good as Peristyle in NOLA was, IMO. Of course, the prices aren't as high, either. It's in the south suburbs of Dayton. We have an old-fashioned steak house called the Pine Club which is a local favorite. Also cash only, and no reservations. It hasn't changed since I was a kid (except it's now smoke free as are all Ohio public establishments). Dumas reported that there was no line the last time she was there (on a Weds eve, I believe) but I've always had to wait. Skyline Chilli and Graeters Ice Cream are both Cincinnati institutions, but Cinci is only 50 miles south of Dayton. There are multiple outlets of both in the Dayton area. I'm not really a fan of Skyline, but you may want to try it at least once; it is unique! Graeters biggest claim to fame in my opinion is that their chip ice cream has large, chewable chocolate chips; the Black Rasberry is many folks' favorite. Let us know where you'll be staying and we can provide more suggestions. Tue Mar 03 07:52:48 -0800 2009 4466724 18072 Niki in Dayton 2 4469974 I believe we'll be staying right in Downtown hopefully I will know exactly where soon. Tue Mar 03 12:56:25 -0800 2009 4468804 12588 Mattapoisett in LA 3 4471935 In Dayton, Third and Main Street is considered the center of downtown. The numbered streets (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) run east and west. Just a few blocks east of Main, on 5th Street, is the Oregon district. There are quite a few bars and some restaurants in the Oregon district. We like Jay's best of the restaurants; their chef, Justin White, makes killer short ribs! Jays is known primarily for seafood and has a good wine list; it may not be too special for someone from LA (although the historic bar inside Jay's dates from the 19th century and is gorgeous), but it's good and reasonably priced. It's also walking distance if you're staying downtown (I think there are only two hotels downtown, and one of them is right on Fifth St at the edge of the Oregon district). There's also a tiny little diner like place called Smokin on the corner of Fifth and Patterson that specializes, of course, in smoked food. This time of year (Lent), they'll have smoked fish. The smoked pork chops and burgers are also good. Wed Mar 04 05:25:40 -0800 2009 4469974 18072 Niki in Dayton 1 4471025 Everyone has already had really great suggestions. I'll agree that you have to try Skyline. In the Cincinnati area Skyline's are like Starbucks in the rest of the country. Outside SW Ohio you'll be lucky to find anyone who's heard of the stuff. If you find a local breakfast place odds are you'll find Goetta on the menu. Worth a try if its available. Its a mixture of ground meat and steel cut oats, sliced and cooked on the griddle. Tue Mar 03 17:56:56 -0800 2009 4466724 101346 angs9 2 4471866 I really haven't seen Goetta at all in Dayton. At least not in the breakfast places I've gone to. You may be able to do the Ann Heller (local restaurant critic) thing and order it when it's not actually on the menu. Close to downtown for breakfast is the Brunch Club, which has a good selection for breakfast and also lunch. They close at 3, I believe. Same as the Golden Nugget, which is just a bit South of the Brunch Club. Both places get packed. Wed Mar 04 04:41:23 -0800 2009 4471025 92112 Fibber McGee 1 4471842 Just wanted to give a plug for Esther Price's a box of "Nut & Chews". They are by far our favorites! Also wanted to mention that southwestern Ohio is the home of DeKuypers' cordials, schnapps, and the like, so if you're into that sort of thing, the range is readily available here. And of course, it's big bourbon country around here and some good brands (sort of local but not exactly) are Woodford Reserve (near Lexington) and Jim Beam (Cincinnati ). And Angostura bitters (and the Pernod distillery just closed.) are made around here. I'm not sure if any beers are still brewed around here, maybe Sam Adams? Wed Mar 04 04:18:22 -0800 2009 4466724 249199 dumas 1 4538700 So today I'm in Dayton. Lunch was nothing Special. we went to Uno's Downtown for a salad since it is right next door to where we are working. But tonight we went to Jay's and it was worth it. My colleague had the Bake Haddock which was topped with a garlicky crumb topping. It was a little bit overcooked (I'm sensitive to this) but he got a little tarter sauce which balanced the dryness. I had the Prix Fixe Menu with Soup, Plank smoked Salmon Which was one of the best pieces of salmon I've had, that went well with the root Veggies it was on top of and a fabulously tangy Key Lime pie for desert . The one Miss was the caramelized Pear and Roasted Cauliflower Brie Soup. It had some flavor of Cauliflower and brie but not of pear. The soup had a thick dairy skin mixed in which was like they were finishing the end of a pot, and it had a cold creamy center like they added heavy cream to finish filling the bowl and forgot to reheat and stir. I thought the Idea was excellent but by luck of the draw I had something that wasn't quite there. BTW I'm Guessing Salt on Bread (not Just Pizza) is a Dayton thing. The rolls At Jay's Were Doused in Salt which If you aren't expecting it, its a bit odd. but after the roll was craving something more like a Pretzel roll I've had @ some Bakeries. Also, I was wondering If Amber Rose might be worth it to check out for Lunch tomorrow. I was given it as a rec, but someone told me today that it "Wasn't worth the Schlep to that part of Town" But I am interested in the Menu, so what do you think? Wed Mar 25 18:24:43 -0700 2009 4466724 12588 Mattapoisett in LA 2 4539468 It's worth the schelp. It's not that far from downtown, and the turtle soup is great. Thu Mar 26 04:18:46 -0700 2009 4538700 92112 Fibber McGee 2 4539597 I haven't been to Amber Rose in ages, but I've always enjoyed their food (Eastern European). If you are a big eater, try a cup of the turtle soup and then the Lithuanian sampler. Thu Mar 26 05:51:19 -0700 2009 4538700 18072 Niki in Dayton 1 4544349 I can't believe no one mentioned the KILLER BROWNIE! Sold at Dorothy Lane Market (one in Oakwood on Main isn't too far from you) it is my favorite thing to get when I go home. Brownie, caramel, chocolate, yum. Fri Mar 27 13:00:10 -0700 2009 4466724 277937 cm211200 2 4555140 My family hails from N. of Dayton near Sidney and I grew up on Turtle Soup. Is their turtle soup spiced w/ allspice and horseradish? Turtle Soup is worth crossing state lines for. i had it in New Orleans years ago and it was a close approximation, but not as spiced as I prefer. Tue Mar 31 13:32:15 -0700 2009 4544349 125489 aboyer 3 4557097 I believe that is indeed allspice I taste with it at the Amber Rose, but I can't recall any horseradish. I've never heard of Turtle Soup being popular in and around Logan County. is that something some of the eateries serve up there? It's not in a restaurant, but the canned mock turtle soup made by Werthman or Woerther's or something like that is really good. If you can look past the can. You'd be able to season to your tastes, too. Wed Apr 01 07:29:39 -0700 2009 4555140 92112 Fibber McGee 4 4557514 It's Worthmore's Mock Turtle soup. I have to bring a bunch home to my mom in Philly every year. You should be able to find it in any Cincy/Dayton Kroger's. Wed Apr 01 09:22:56 -0700 2009 4557097 227406 JohnE O 5 4557688 it's so weird - my family totally ate this growing up in cincy (even the canned) and i had no idea it was local! Wed Apr 01 10:19:05 -0700 2009 4557514 99136 AMFM 5 4558187 Worthmore's. Yes, that is it. And Kroger's is where I have purchased it. Boy, it's tasty. Wed Apr 01 12:26:59 -0700 2009 4557514 92112 Fibber McGee 4 4558670 I don't know about Logan County. But a little town (blink and miss) called Kettlersville has a bar and grill called the K Village Inn. It's the only place in town to eat. Anyway, I make a habit of going there for Turtle Soup when I'm visiting. There serve up some good pies and fried onion straws as well. It's worth a decent drive IMO. When I was a kid, there was a place over in Minster called the Town House, which was where I originally ate Turtle Soup. They have been closed for years though. It makes my mouth water talking about T Soup! I couldn't do canned though. Wed Apr 01 14:39:42 -0700 2009 4557097 125489 aboyer 5 4560197 I've driven through Kettlersville but never have really stopped. Thanks for the tip, this is what this site is about. Or it should be, at least. Thu Apr 02 04:14:03 -0700 2009 4558670 92112 Fibber McGee 6 4560248 Amen, Fibber! It's now on my radar, too....thanks! Thu Apr 02 04:55:43 -0700 2009 4560197 18072 Niki in Dayton 5 4560213 Three Cheers for the K-VILLE INN! I can' believe I just saw this. I'm a hardened NYC foodie-- and Turtle Soup at the K-Ville makes my mouth water. I love it so much I keep the restaurant's number in my cell phone here in Brooklyn, so I can think of the soup and dream. They also have good fried gizzards/mushrooms. This is definitely the place to eat in Shelby County. Thu Apr 02 04:29:17 -0700 2009 4558670 204567 trasteverina12 6 4560507 Another rec. That's cool. I travel from Dayton to the Detroit area once a month to visit family, so I'm always looking for places off of I-75. In the years I've been doing it, I've visited quite a few, but I'll have to add it to my list for sure. Thu Apr 02 07:03:13 -0700 2009 4560213 92112 Fibber McGee 7 4560674 T..12, I'm a little shocked that this humble little estab. has reached Brooklyn! Of course, I'm in Kansas City, which ain't exactly down the street. But, when I think of things that Foodies should try before they die, Turtle Soup at K Vill is one of them. My mom grew up just down the street from K Vill and my grandparents were once part owners of the restaurant. I don't really know anything about its present ownership or the recipes though. I just know that it's THE place to go eat when I'm visiting grandma in Anna. FWIW: they will sell quarts of the soup to you to go. I will get some and freeze individual servings to haul back to KC with me. Try their tenderloin sandwich. Hand breaded, the size of your head, and delicious w/ a bowl of soup. Fibber, on the other side of I75 in Jackson Center, there's a place called Cafe Veranda that serves up some fine food also. It's more high end though. It's in a converted home on the main drag through town near the Airstream Manufacturing Plant(they offer tours). Their crab cakes are delicious and they are very nice folks. Check them out also. Thu Apr 02 07:55:11 -0700 2009 4560507 125489 aboyer 8 4611355 I appreciate the rec for Jackson Center. I made another turtle soup discovery this weekend. At the Carthagena Cafe, located inside Niekamp's Farm and Flea Market on US 127 just South of Celina (it lists a St. Henry's address) they had Turtle Soup yesterday and it was excellent. Mon Apr 20 09:47:23 -0700 2009 4560674 92112 Fibber McGee 9 4623341 Very interesting about the soup! O.K. I just have to add this about turtle soup: The biggest canner of turtle soup in the country (in the '50s and 60's) was located right in Saint Henry, Ohio, The Beckman and Gast Co. in Mercer County. Sometime ago they dropped the soup from their lines though, and now can tomatoes and green beans. (Probably dropped because turtles were/are endangered in many areas of the country). I just read on Wiki that President Taft (from Cincinnati) had a special chef at the White House who prepared the soup. One more thing: when we lived in L.A. I ordered Turtle Soup for a first course at an important catered dinner party at our home and the caterer refused to prepare it (Peggy Dark at Kitchen for Exploring Foods) because of the endangered issues which I didn't know about at the time. (And she thought I was c-r-a-z-y for asking for it.) So Turtle soup definitely is something special around these parts. I think we had crab bisque. Boring! Thu Apr 23 16:31:34 -0700 2009 4611355 249199 dumas 1 4669055 Hey Matt I just did a blog entry on Cinci chili if you're interested. http://davwudsfoodcourt.blogspot.com/ DT Sat May 09 12:58:48 -0700 2009 4466724 11291 Davwud 2 4687611 Gee, Davwud, I can't believe you did one of your first food blog entries on 'Cincinnati Chili' and you're from Ontario Canada!?! Makes me laugh a little that people outside of this region care anything at all about the chili here. Some people really love it, though. I did note that my Cook's Illustrated Cookbook editors (can't remember which one) mentioned they came to Cincy to try the Chili and create a highly edited rendition of it for their cook book series! At least you didn't come here to eat Gizzards! Love your blog, Davwud, and I look forward to more entries! Fri May 15 14:14:02 -0700 2009 4669055 249199 dumas 3 4687880 Thanks. I had two more places to do but my memory card got screwed up and I lost the pictures. DT Fri May 15 16:07:42 -0700 2009 4687611 11291 Davwud 4 4688285 curious where you got the statistic about the cheese consumption per capita. not arguing just curious as i would agree there is a crazy amount of cheese on cincy chili. which i happen to love but happen to eat sans cheese. ;) Fri May 15 19:00:53 -0700 2009 4687880 99136 AMFM 5 4689395 The owner of the establishment told me. He also said that their cheese is made especially for Skyline. It's aged to be just into the medium (or old, I forget) category. It's still pretty mild but qualifies. DT Sat May 16 09:58:40 -0700 2009 4688285 11291 Davwud 6 4689513 Thanks. I am a native who lives in Virginia now and misses Skyline terribly but I'll agree it's its own thing! :) :) :) Sat May 16 11:04:07 -0700 2009 4689395 99136 AMFM 2 4688186 Nice blog entry. You reminded me of something I totally forgot, which is that Skyline has a pretty damn good hot sauce. Nice heat and good flavor. Fri May 15 18:07:00 -0700 2009 4669055 227406 JohnE O 3 4689396 Thanks DT Sat May 16 09:58:48 -0700 2009 4688186 11291 Davwud 1 5159663 My two favorite places to eat in Dayton are The Meadowlark and Brio. First Watch is fantastic for breadfast as is The Golden Nugget. There are a lot of nice restaurants down on The Green near Brio. Also, Thai 9 has amazing Thai food. Thu Nov 05 17:51:00 -0800 2009 4466724 290845 KristieB 2 5160244 Although I do like them both, Brio and First Watch are chains. They're not limited to Dayton. The Golden Nugget is on Dixie and Dorothy Lane in Kettering. While I am sure the one in Nebraska is fine, it is not the one KristieB is talking about. Places are being automatically linked, regardless of whether they're the right location or not. Golden Nugget has a big menu, excellent breakfasts and sandwiches and long lines waiting for a table. Fri Nov 06 03:44:06 -0800 2009 5159663 92112 Fibber McGee