Dayton Restaurant Tips by kdoc13 Top 5 Page for this destination

The Flying Pizza: The Flying Pizza

New York Style Pizza is the best! Unless you are from Chicago and love dough. The Flying Pizza is the closest thing to New York that you can get in the midewest.

They have three locations in Dayton, although the Downtown location sucks if you have to drive there. Best bet, go to the one in Centerville. It is south of town. The prices are a little bit higher than a Pizza Hut or Domanoes, but it is worth every penny.

Favorite Dish: I am a meat lover, which means I am fat. They have vegetarian stuff too, but the best pizza is this.
1) Extra Pizza Sauce
2) Double Cheese
3) Peperoni
4) Sausage (their sausage is great!)
5) Meatballs.

Yep, Meatballs. It sounds odd, but it is addictive!

Address: 421 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd (AKA St. Rt. 725)

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Take either I-75 or I-675 to the State Route 725 exit. Either way you have to go east. People on 75 should not freak when they see 675 signs, keep going. It is about a mile and a half to 2 miles past 675, across from a cadilac dealer.

Phone: 937-439-1234

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 5

Theme: Pizza

Seoul House: Seoul House

The Seoul House is my absolute favorite place to go for Korean food, outside of Korea. It was actually even better than some of the places I did go to in Korea.

From the outside, this rundown building can be decieving. It will look like no one is there. In fact, if you get there before 5pm, there won't be anyone there. So get there around 5:30, so you beat the smokers and people there to drink.

Inside, it is tiny. It looks like a bar. Probably because it is a bar. More people go there to drink than to eat. Which is too bad, because the food there is incredible! They have the usual assortment of Korean Specialties, Kalbe, Bulgogi, Bibimbop, various soups and fish things, even appetizers. And to wash it all down, the only place in Southern Ohio which has Korea's finest, OB Beer.

Favorite Dish: This is going to sound hard to pronounce, because it is. It is called Samgyupsal. Basically, it is little strips of pork which are brought to you, along with a grill (not because they don't want to cook it for you, but because it is better when it comes right off the grill, plus, its traditional Korean.) So, you take these strips, dip them in a sauce, wrap them in lettuce with some rice, a little garlic, some hot sauce and maybe a piece of kimchee or one of the little side dishes that come with it. Then you pop the whole thing in your mouth and crunch away. Sounds odd, tastes amazing. Especially if you like food that has a salty taste.

Address: 1864 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Fairborn Ohio

Comparison: about average

Directions: Take I-675 to North Fairfield Rd. Go north (towards the nutter center) at Col. Glen Highway, turn right. Keep going through 2 or 3 lights and it will be on your right, just past chicken and pizza.

Phone: 937-878-3553

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 5

Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim

The Pine Club: The Pine Club

The Pine Club has the reputation for the best steak in Dayton. There are stories of Presidents who have waited in line there, and how some celebs order it to go and have their "people" Pick it up for them if they are nearby. It's very good. I like it. I am not saying it is the best steak ever, but it is very very good.

As a student at the University of Dayton, I get to go to the Pine Club a lot! Not because I am a student, but because I am close. I actually took out a student loan to be able to afford places like this while going for my law degree. Not a great idea as far as debt goes, but quite a tasty way to get through college.

Favorite Dish: I love the Porterhouse, but it'll run ya 26 bucks. One of the tricks of the Pine club is the carryout. You can get one of the best hamburgers ever to go, priced under ten or a steak sandwich for about 13 with all the trimmings. All the kids at UD do that at least once. (Go Flyers!)

Address: 1926 Brown Street

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: I-75 to Edwin C. Moses Blvd. Exit, go east. Right on Stewart St., Right on Brown St. It will be on the left.

Phone: 937-228-5371

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 4

Theme: Steakhouse

Website: http://www.thepineclub.com/

The Grub Steak - Dayton: The Grub Steak - Dayton

The Grub Steak does not serve Gubs, they do serve steak though, and it is gooooood! It is a typical steak joint, but perhaps requiring dress a little better than the sizzler. Prices are average, compared to like a Lone Star, or a Champs. If you like meat, and I know you do, (unless of course you are a vegatarian, then you probably don't, but I digress....) this is the place to go for steaks and Ribs in Dayton.

Actually there is a really good soul food joint in West Dayton that has better ribs. But this place is in a neighborhood where someone isn't going to point a gun at you or try to purchase drugs from you.

Of course, if you are looking for the best ribs in S.E. Ohio, check out the Cincinnati pages for Montgomery Inn. It is worth the drive too.

Favorite Dish: The full slab of baby back ribs. Forget Chili's, this is where you go if you are on the North side of Dayton for Ribs!

Address: 1410 N Main St

Comparison: about average

Directions: From Downtown take Main Street north. Keep going for what seems like forever. It will be on the right, just a bit past Bond Street. If you see Fourth Ave. on your left, you have gone too far.

Phone: 937-276-4193

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Steakhouse

Website: http://www.yellowpages-ads.com/01252103

Skyline Chili: Skyline Chili

Having moved here from Canton Ohio, I was not prepared for the Southern Ohio fascination with Chili. Not even good Chili. It comes in two brands, Skyline, and Gold Star. Both are aquired tastes. Let me begin by saying, there is no beans in it (good!) and they ad chocolate to it (strange.)

Aparently Chili is greek food. Yeah, I never saw that one coming either, oh well. But there is a lingo that goes with it. A coney typically comes with chili, the hot dog, a warm wet bun, mustard and a ton of onion. See the menu for variations on that. Then you get into...and I am not making this up a 2-way, 3-way, 4-way, or 5-way. And yes, this is a family restaurant. A two way is Chili and Spahetti. Not as disgusting as it sounds actually. 3-way you add cheese, 4-way you add onions, the 5-way you add beans. Then you also have the other traditional greek items such as burrito's, garlic bread, baked potato's and chicken wraps.

Favorite Dish: My favorite item is actually the Garlic Bread with Cheese. Get a large order and a small bowl of just the chili to cover it in, and you are going to be happy.

Three way's are also good. (again, I mean the chili.)

The only thing I would caution you about is that it doesn't taste like chili you have had anywhere else. Texans hate it! So did my stomach for the first couple of trys. But after a while you enjoy it, and strangely enough crave it. They put an addictive chemical in it which makes you crave it fortnightly.

Address: They are all over town.

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: See the web site for locations.

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.skylinechili.com/

Cafe Boulevard: Cafe Boulevard

One of Dayton's little hidden secrets is this spot, the Cafe Boulevard. It has French quisine, and a slightly American attidude. Great Martini's! There is a separate lounge area, but it is not very big. Mostly people go for the food. It is not a five star place, but it isn't all that much more expensive than an Applebees or the usual American junk.

The Menu and information on everything from a very interesting wine list, to the chef is on the web page. The menu changes seasonally, but has always been good no matter what time of the year.

Business casual will work most nights, but Fridays and Saturdays you will probably feel out of place without a jacket and tie.

Favorite Dish: It's all good!

Address: 329 E. Fifth Street Dayton, Ohio 45402

Comparison: about average

Directions: Everything in the Oregon District is on Fifth street. Every taxi driver can tell you how to get there. And since fifth street out of Dayton only goes one way, you can't really miss it if you downtown.

Phone: 937-824-2722

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: French

Website: http://www.cafeboulevard.com/

China Cottage: The Best Chinese in Ohio as voted by some magazine

It strikes you as odd that this little German building is home to what is considered to be the best Chinese food in Ohio. But once you enter, you in an unmistakenly Asian atmosphere. There is not really a dress code, but a collard shirt and a pair of dockers will make you feel at home.

The good thing about China Cottage is that it has an upscale feel to it, but not the price of a Thai 9 or Jays seafood. There is no bad thing. The service has always been great, and the food even better. This is not a typical buffet or hole in the wall chinese place. People go here for Prom.

The food runs the usual chinese route, everythign from fried rice to General Tso's chicken. But, it is the specialties that make it worth coming back for. Some of the harder to find menu items include a Rock Salt Pork, Mala Beef, and for the seafood types, a dozen ways of serving Prawn.

Favorite Dish: The Mala Beef. Bet without the Mushrooms though. It is a very spicy dish with green onions, beef, hot peppers and garlic in a brown sauce. Makes your head sweat, but makes your mouth happy. If you like spicy, you haven't lived until you have had the Mala Beef.

Address: 6290 Far Hills Avenue, Centerville Ohio

Comparison: about average

Directions: If you are downtown, take Main Street (St. Rt. 48) all the way south to Centerville. It is the german/ french challet looking building with all the Asian stuff in front of it. If you hit I-675, you have gone about a half a mile too far south.

Phone: 937-434-2622

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 5

Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim

Thai 9: Upscale Thai Food in Dayton?

Thai 9 is the best Thai food ever! And I have been to Thailand. The worst thing about Thai 9 is finding it. It is hidden in the Oregon District behind a record store. But finding it is worth it. Most Thai joints offer the usual Pad Thai, but theirs is just somehow...special.

It is an upscale place where the trendy types like to go. You will need a suit jacket, but could probably get away without having to do a tie, to get Thai! Ha ha ha.

Favorite Dish: As basic as it is, the Pad Thai is simply awesome!

Address: 11 Brown St. Dayton Ohio 45402

Comparison: about average

Directions: It is in the Oregon district, just as you go under "the bridge" and behind the record store to the right.

Phone: 937-222-3227

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 5

Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim

Jay's Seafood.: Jay's Seafood.

I am not good with seafood. I just don't like it. But even the smell of the food at Jay's is enough to make me crave it. This is probably the best seafood you will find in the midwest, period! Plus, Jay's has the best wine list of anyplace I have been to outside of New York or Chicago. The interior of the place is exactly as it looks in the picture. The place is just nice. And it is well worth the extra money if you are trying to show your girlfriend a good time. But, dress nice (suit and tie) or you are going to be out of place, and probably out of luck getting in.

Favorite Dish: Ok, not being a seafood fan (strange allergies) my favorite item is actually the Prok Tenderloin. It is served with a type of french sauce which just melts in your mouth, and a goat cheese potato cake. Yum! Plus you have not lived until you have had their Bourbon Pecan Pie.

Address: 222 E. Sixth Street, Dayton Ohio

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Near the Oregon District, Just south of the Neon Movies.

Phone: 937-222-2892

Price: US$41 and up

Rating: 5

Theme: Seafood

Website: http://www.jays.com/