What can I get in Dayton, OH I can't find in LA?

Question

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.

Answer

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

Answer

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.

Answer

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.

Answer

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.

Answer

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.

Answer

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?

Answer

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?

-----
Jay's Seafood Restaurant
225 E 6th St, Dayton, OH 45402

Amber Rose Restaurant
1400 Valley St., Dayton, OH 45404

Answer

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.

Answer

Hey Matt

I just did a blog entry on Cinci chili if you're interested.

http://davwudsfoodcourt.blogspot.com/

DT

Answer

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.

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The Golden Nugget
2198 Queen City Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45214

Thai 9
11 Brown St, Dayton, OH 45402

Golden Nugget
PO Box 80, Boelus, NE 68820

Answer

If you like well prepared food (ie not overcooked, oversalted, etc) I wouldn't recommend the Der Dutchman. The only thing I ever ate and liked there were salads and a baked potato. The Pines is a great place to eat as long as UD doesn't have some big thing going on. I've always had to wait for a table, shoulder to shoulder crammed around the bar - but the steaks are yummy! Their Red White and Bleu salad is very good, too.

Answer

oops left this off....

Northeast of Dayton, in Yellow Springs is a little place called The Winds. The menu changes monthly and their food is great! Also in Fairborn is a little sushi/vietnamese place called Saya. Their salads and specialty rolls are fabulous - but does it rival LA sushi ?? probly not. The Wellington in Beavercreek is upscale and they have a great wine list.

Answer

Ok - if you get back to Dayton, try Tanks on Wayne Avenue. Great bar food: the Tankburger is 1/2 pound; also good wings, the fries covered with chili. It's also near Esther Price chocolates main store on Wane Avenue. I mail these to my family across the country and they always win the battle of the chocolates.
The Pine Club on Brown St near UD is an institution, no reservations and no credit cards and has the best lamb chops: two double cut chops cooked perfectly. 
Coco's on Wayne Ave near downtown has a good menu: I love the Ahi tuna and wasabi mashed potatoes. The Winds in Yellow Springs has great food and ambiance, and a nice outdoor patio in season. Rue Dumaine has excellent food cooked by owner,chef Ann Kearney of New Orleans fame, but the setting in a suburban strip mall in Centerville is not appealing. Avoid all the chain restaurants out at The Greene shopping mall and support the local establishments.

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Rue Dumaine
Centerville, OH, Centerville, OH

Pine Club
1926 Brown St, Dayton, OH 45409

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What can I get in Dayton, OH I can't find in LA?

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