Southwest Ohio and Environs (Open Chat)

May an elephant caress the Der Dutchman owners with his toes (and so forth).

Has anyone tried this place? Sammy's Gourmet Burgers & Beer in Springboro, in the old Encore restaurant space, near Dorothy Lane Market. It is a restaurant that combines American food with Mexican. This location is a branch of a place in Blue Ash. Reviews I have seen have been extremely mixed.

donw9876


Has anyone tried this place? Sammy's Gourmet Burgers & Beer in Springboro, in the old Encore restaurant space, near Dorothy Lane Market. It is a restaurant that combines American food with Mexican. This location is a branch of a place in Blue Ash. Reviews I have seen have been extremely mixed.

I've eaten there twice, and have been varying degrees of underwhelmed each time.  The first time was easily the worst, especially if you take into account only what I ordered, and not what my wife ordered.   But I'm getting ahead of myself.
 
On our first visit, we started off with an order of the Fiesta Fries, which are described thus: "our beer battered bottleneck fries covered in Mexican melting cheese, guacamole and salsa".  What we actually got was an indifferently put together plate of some tasty (but surely frozen and packaged) steak fries drowned in the ubiquitous-to-seemingly-every-area-Mexican-joint white queso dip and the house salsa, with a dollop of guac that looked and tasted processed. 
 
So, not a very auspicious beginning.
 
Moving on to dinner, the wife ordered the Hawaiian burger, cooked medium (and it came out as ordered), with fries.  I will say right here that this burger is the single best item that either of us has eaten in either of our visits to this establishment.  As a matter of fact, I filled my loving spouse with no small amount of enmity when I ate the leftover half of the burger later on that night, as she was saving it for her lunch the following day.  Anyway.  I ordered the Fajitas de Cerdo, which are basically pork carnitas with fajita fixin's, and these were, without doubt, the toughest, driest, most flavorless pork carnitas I've ever eaten anywhere.  I mean, come on, it's pork we're talking about here.  You have to work pretty hard to make pork flavorless.  But, this day at least, they certainly put in the time and effort to do so.
 
On our second visit, we both ordered burgers.  The wife got the Tex-Mex burger, which was decent, if unremarkable, and I ordered what is referred to on the online menu as the Ragita burger, but what is referred to on the menu in the restaurant as the Rajita burger.  It is described as being a burger with "Sammy's ragita chili sauce, Mexican melting cheese, ranchero cilantro dressing, lettuce and tomato".  The wife ordered her burger medium, I ordered mine medium rare (which the waiter said they'd have no problem doing), and both burgers came out medium well.  In addition, I detected zero sauce of any kind on my burger, and this time the "Mexican melting cheese" turned out to be plain ol' pepper jack.  In addition, and per the recommendation of the Cincinnati Bites blogger, we both ordered the garlic fries on the side, and what we got were the same uninspired, if tasty, steak-fries-from-a-bag, absolutely swimming in great pools of garlic butter.  It was almost comical.  Almost.  I mean, there's likely no bigger fan of garlic than me, but this was like someone asked the cook who prepared these, while he was preparing them, what "overkill" meant, and he said, "Laddie buck, instead of telling you what 'overkill' means, I'll show you!"  The leftover fries we took home after filled the car with an intensely garlicky, at times fishy odor.  Needless to say, they landed right smack in the bin once we got home.
 
As for the service at this place, the first time we were served by a slow, bored, half-heartedly polite Anglo teen boy, complete with obligatory floppy hair and contempt for anyone over the age of 25.  The second time, we had a very friendly Latino boy who worked his freaking ass off for us, and was rewarded accordingly with a very generous tip.
 
All in all, if I'm in the mood for Mexican, I'll either venture on down to Taqueria Mercado (arguably the gold standard of truly authentic Mexican food around here), Acapulco's just down the road, or if I want to stay up north, I'll either venture to Middletown's El Rancho Grande (where the food is pretty consistent, but the service, sadly, isn't), or up to El Toro, across from the Dayton Mall.  Several years ago, I also would've included Cazadores in Franklin in this list, but as long as the unconscionably obnoxious Freddy runs the place, we continue to avoid it like the plague it most certainly is.
 
Anyway, hope this helped.

Wow, great review! Thanks. There are a million places where you can get a pretty good burger and great fries. No need to put up with that sort of experience.
It sounds like their food preparation is inept and service sucks. It would be an easy trip for us but those easy trips are usually the worst experiences.
 
We have done OK at that Cazadores but I have read newspaper reviews of people getting p*ssed and walking out because of terrible service. The Cazadores south of Mason on 42 is very good, though.

Rabkin
 
I have not been to Taqueria Mercado in sometime but one of my good friends has and he tells me they have gone downhill as far as their big burritos are concerned.  What is your take on them currently and in the past?
 
When I was going there more regularly I always totally loved the lunch of lengua burritos, refried beans and rice with horchata.
 
 

donw9876


Wow, great review!

 
Thanks so much! 

donw9876

We have done OK at that Cazadores but I have read newspaper reviews of people getting p*ssed and walking out because of terrible service. The Cazadores south of Mason on 42 is very good, though.

 
I believe that's the location where the brothers who own the local Cazadores mini-chain, and who used to run the location in Franklin with pretty great success, now spend all their time running.  Too bad, really, as the guy they have running the Franklin store (the aforementioned Freddy (last name unknown to me), who started out as a pretty good server at the place) is, for us, intolerable.  To be fair, one of the owners (Sergio) still ventures to the Franklin location every Wednesday, since it's Freddy's night off.  Knowing this, a couple months ago the wife and I decided to give the place a try again after a looooooooooooooong absence (seriously, when the place opened, and for a few years after, we'd go to the place at least once a week, many times, even more than that; but Freddy's "personality" became so unbearable for us that we quit going to the place altogether, and before our visit a couple months ago, we hadn't been in at least two years, and probably longer than that).  Freddy wasn't there, and that was certainly a good thing.  However, our service was inattentive at best, the prices had gotten higher, the portions had gotten smaller, and they'd seemingly given up on trying to add anything approaching "seasoning" or "spice" to the food at all (and this was a restaurant that, even in its salad days, could've stood to season/spice up the food a touch).  We determined that our visit a couple months ago would, sadly, be our last.

NYPIzzaNut


Rabkin

I have not been to Taqueria Mercado in sometime but one of my good friends has and he tells me they have gone downhill as far as their big burritos are concerned.  What is your take on them currently and in the past?

When I was going there more regularly I always totally loved the lunch of lengua burritos, refried beans and rice with horchata.

I haven't been down to Taqueria Mercado in several months, and I've never actually eaten one of their burritos, as my usual order is tacos, a torta, or their truly excellent (and, to me, who's had this dish at nearly every Mexican restaurant he's ever frequented round these parts, revelatory) chilaquiles.  I hope (hope, hope, HOPE) that what you've heard about their quality's not entirely accurate, as I love the heck outta the place, and I don't fancy driving over the river to get my autentico fix.  (Though, having said that, there is a place in Hamilton, who's name escapes me at the moment, that I was recently made aware of, and that serves tacos/tortas, etc., with all the meats that Taqueria Mercado serves, plus stuff like cabeza.  Does anyone know what the H I'm even talking about, and, if so, have you tried it?)
 
Found what I was talking about: El Valle Verde.  Anyone tried it?

Rabkin
However, our service was inattentive at best, the prices had gotten higher, the portions had gotten smaller, and they'd seemingly given up on trying to add anything approaching "seasoning" or "spice" to the food at all (and this was a restaurant that, even in its salad days, could've stood to season/spice up the food a touch).  We determined that our visit a couple months ago would, sadly, be our last.

 
Franklin and Middletown business and eating establishments in general have a tough time providing good service. That whole area has a strong ghetto mentality - entitled thinking, sloppiness, and minimal effort. Chains area there are usually a better bet than indies, with occasional exceptions. It's a shame to say "let's just go to O'Charley's" because we can't trust anyplace else.

Rabkin, (or anyone else) what's your opinion of Acapulco in Lebanon?

Rabkin

NYPIzzaNut


Rabkin

I have not been to Taqueria Mercado in sometime but one of my good friends has and he tells me they have gone downhill as far as their big burritos are concerned.  What is your take on them currently and in the past?

When I was going there more regularly I always totally loved the lunch of lengua burritos, refried beans and rice with horchata.

I haven't been down to Taqueria Mercado in several months, and I've never actually eaten one of their burritos, as my usual order is tacos, a torta, or their truly excellent (and, to me, who's had this dish at nearly every Mexican restaurant he's ever frequented round these parts, revelatory) chilaquiles.  I hope (hope, hope, HOPE) that what you've heard about their quality's not entirely accurate, as I love the heck outta the place, and I don't fancy driving over the river to get my autentico fix.  (Though, having said that, there is a place in Hamilton, who's name escapes me at the moment, that I was recently made aware of, and that serves tacos/tortas, etc., with all the meats that Taqueria Mercado serves, plus stuff like cabeza.  Does anyone know what the H I'm even talking about, and, if so, have you tried it?)

Found what I was talking about: El Valle Verde.  Anyone tried it?

First I heard of it - it appears there is one on Vine St in Cinci too.

donw9876




Franklin and Middletown business and eating establishments in general have a tough time providing good service. That whole area has a strong ghetto mentality - entitled thinking, sloppiness, and minimal effort. Chains area there are usually a better bet than indies, with occasional exceptions. It's a shame to say "let's just go to O'Charley's" because we can't trust anyplace else.

Word.
 
The restaurant (actually not a restaurant, but a carry-out place) that could serve as the "poster boy", as it were, of the phenomenon you rightfully decry above: Shaddock's Pizza & Pony Keg in Middletown.  The people who work there are so mind-blowingly rude that it's almost akin to performance art. 
 

donw9876


Rabkin, (or anyone else) what's your opinion of Acapulco in Lebanon?

I don't think I've tried that location.  Unless it's the Mex place that's located in the building that used to be the Bill Knapp's, just round the bend from King's Island.  If it is that place, I have tried it, a couple times, and it's good, but nothing special.  Just your run-of-the-mill southwest Ohio locally owned-and-operated Tex-Mex fare.

That's Viva Tequila you described (former Bill Knapp's right on the entrance ramp). We've hit it a couple of times and we like it OK.
 
Acapulco is on North Columbus Avenue in Lebanon, opposite the Kroger Marketplace complex.I really liked it when it first opened, but I have told my wife I don't want to go back - the food is basically varying shades of refried bean mush and soggy everything. Everything there tastes the same after awhile.

donw9876


That's Viva Tequila you described (former Bill Knapp's right on the entrance ramp). We've hit it a couple of times and we like it OK.

Acapulco is on North Columbus Avenue in Lebanon, opposite the Kroger Marketplace complex.I really liked it when it first opened, but I have told my wife I don't want to go back - the food is basically varying shades of refried bean mush and soggy everything. Everything there tastes the same after awhile.

Hmm.  So, really, not much like the Fairfield location?  Not that I think Acapulco in Fairfield is the be-all and end-all when it comes to Mexican restaurants, of course, just that it seems to take the items typically found on these southwest Ohio Tex-Mex eateries' menus and make rather more flavorful versions of them than the other places do.
 
Did you ever try the Casa Tequila there on Rt. 4 before it closed down?  If so, what were your (or anyone else's) thoughts?

donw9876


Has anyone tried this place? Sammy's Gourmet Burgers & Beer in Springboro, in the old Encore restaurant space, near Dorothy Lane Market. It is a restaurant that combines American food with Mexican. This location is a branch of a place in Blue Ash. Reviews I have seen have been extremely mixed.

I tried the Blue Ash location about a year ago because I saw they serve Nathan's hot dogs. Dog was good, but the bun was terrible. It started breaking up on the first bite.
 
For just a hot dog and a drink, my lunch was $9 after tip, which is why I haven't been back.

Which Mexican restuarant is the one in the strip mall on Rt. 4 with the Mexican grocery store and the bakery attached? That's definitely the best Mexican I've had in the SWOAE area.

Bonk


Which Mexican restuarant is the one in the strip mall on Rt. 4 with the Mexican grocery store and the bakery attached? That's definitely the best Mexican I've had in the SWOAE area.

That is Taqueria Mercado.  Have you had their big burrito lately?

Spotted when we drove to Wally World to buy more Chinese stuff last night -
 
http://www.patriotsteakhouse.com/
 
In the building along US 42 next to Wal-Mart, in the space that formerly housed the forgettable Tin Duck Tavern and the even less remembered "Landing Bistro". 
 
I give it 73 days, 4 hours and 17 minutes of operation until it closes. Ok, so I'm kidding. It actually looks pretty good. Now, if they can only execute. The food, not the customers, I mean.
 
The name and branding seems to be cashing in on the retro conservative fad (the "Ronald Reagan Cowboy Ribeye"?)
 
 

How can the James Madison Filet be their "Single Best Selling Steak"?  The place isn't even open yet.  Jeebus!  This restaurant's been serving customers exactly 0.0 days so far, and it's already annoying the urine out of me (as far as the cutesy names go...let's just not go there, shall we?).  Of course, if the place ends up serving a tasty steak with good service and with a decided lack of pretentiousness (not exactly looking very promising on that score thus far), I'll be the first to come on here and eat my words, happily.
 
As it stands now, though?  I'm starting up the Official Patriot Steakhouse & Tavern Death Clock™ right now.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20101128/NEWS01/11280347/Der-Dutchman-won-t-reopen-in-Waynesville
 
This article explains the owner's rationale for not reopening this location.  Basically it was not a thriving piece of their business and they are better off without continuing its operation.  Hmmm..

Rabkin
How can the James Madison Filet be their "Single Best Selling Steak"?  The place isn't even open yet.  Jeebus!  This restaurant's been serving customers exactly 0.0 days so far, and it's already annoying the urine out of me

 
I didn't catch that.
 
Just once, it would be nice to see a new restaurant attempt to open in Lebanon that was not dripping with pretension. I think naive investors with huge egos move into the area, take one look at Broadway, and go "awww! cute! This town REALLY needs a Thai/Mexican fusion place! People will drive for 100 miles to try it!!!!!!" They don't get that the section 8 mentality drives this town much more than foodie mentality.
 
The result is generally and creates Kitchen Nightmares level mediocrity.
 
I've love to see a plain old diner and burger place open on the downlow in some decrepit space and charge cheap. Wait, we have the Breakfast Club, never mind, and it's not even decrepit.

NYPIzzaNut


http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20101128/NEWS01/11280347/Der-Dutchman-won-t-reopen-in-Waynesville

This article explains the owner's rationale for not reopening this location.  Basically it was not a thriving piece of their business and they are better off without continuing its operation.  Hmmm..

 
"Our business there has not really thrived" ? WTF? The (huge) parking lot was usually at least half full most weekends. I don't know, maybe overall, the traffic was poor. One word always comes to mind with the Dutchman - busy. OTOH, maybe this comment attached to the article gets to the heart of it: "Wow...I can't believe he would rather take the money instead of laboriously rebuilding in order to serve dinner to a bunch of cheap complaining 90-year olds."
 
It's not like they are outside Cleveland, what the hell did they expect?

I guess they are doing much better at their four other locations for some reason or other.  Surely the geezer brigades frequent those locations also.

Seems Romeo's Pizza (out of either Cleveland or Toledo--I get conflicting sources) has opened 3 stores here in the Cincy area.
 
I'll likely give 1 a go next week, but considering the stronghold LaRosa's has on the local market, I'll be surprised if they stay around long and "cut bait" vs. fish.
 
http://www.urbanspoon.com...omeos-Pizza-Cincinnati
 
jjjrfoodie

I would think just about anything would be better than LaRosa's pizzas..

Barbecue.  Seems like BBQ is on fire in these parts.  Went to Smoking Aces in Xenia a few weeks ago.  It was OK but I wouldn't got far out of my way to get their.  Also revisited City Barbecue near Fairfield Commons, order the brisket sandwich, and found it to be a excellent as usual.  Hope to try out one of the Oinkadoodledoo locations (Englewood & Kettering?) as what I've heard sounds encouraging.   But my stellar find last week was the very recently opened Company 7 in Englewood, just a minute or two N of I-70.  This place is serious about their barbecue.  Oddly eating in there involves two options.  Full table service or cafeteria line service.  The seem to be advertising that you can save 15-20% by avoiding a tip and using the line.  Again, odd.  I had a half slab, fries and my daughter the pulled pork.  We shared their #1 Alarm Rookie sauce.   All was just fabulous.  Fans of Q, check it out.  Currently closed on Sundays as they've been serving so much food they are stressing their suppliers.
company7bbq.com

jjjrfoodie


Seems Romeo's Pizza (out of either Cleveland or Toledo--I get conflicting sources) has opened 3 stores here in the Cincy area.

I'll likely give 1 a go next week, but considering the stronghold LaRosa's has on the local market, I'll be surprised if they stay around long and "cut bait" vs. fish.

http://www.urbanspoon.com...omeos-Pizza-Cincinnati

jjjrfoodie

 
Think this was mentioned in the Cincinnati thread, but there's one on Ohio 125 just east of I-275 in the old Garzelli's location.
 
I tried it, and I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to pizza, but I thought it was pretty average. I like Marco's a lot better, but I had the pizza so I will give it another shot at some point.

NYPIzzaNut

Bonk


Which Mexican restuarant is the one in the strip mall on Rt. 4 with the Mexican grocery store and the bakery attached? That's definitely the best Mexican I've had in the SWOAE area.

That is Taqueria Mercado.  Have you had their big burrito lately?

 
I've only been there once, and neither of us got the burrito. I've been wanting to go back -- it's kind of a hall from Anderson and Chester's is also near there -- but it would give me an excuse to visit Jungle Jim's.
 
Speaking of which, it's looking good for Jungle Jim's adding a location in Eastgate where Bigg's used to be. Good news for all foodies.

That really will be convenient for us Brown County folks.

Has anyone tried the cafeteria at IKEA in West Chester?

Pearl Bay is near the 5 Points intersection at 133 E Dayton Yellow Springs Road.  I can't recall what it was in it's former life.   The menu also offers some Malaysian specialties as well as Thai.  While I was disappointed not to see any green curry/coconut milk options (just red and yellow curry), I was floored by the one dish I've eaten there, Mee Curry, a Malaysian dish with chicken, shrimp, tofu, tomato, potato and onion in a curry broth.  The fresh spring rolls were also excellent, soft rice paper wrapped around shrimp, rice noodles, basil & cilantro.   Can't wait to go back

NYPIzzaNut

 Has anyone tried the cafeteria at IKEA in West Chester?

 
I realize this is a late reply, but I have eaten there on several occasions, and it is hit or miss. The Swedish meatballs have been great, and they have been terrible. I have found that the best meals there are the buffets/smorgasbords they do a few times a year. There was a chilled crawfish one in September (a traditional festival dating back hundreds of years, apparently) with a ridiculous amount of appetizers, side dishes, and desserts, a cheese plate with all sorts of breads and crackers, and most of the usual cafeteria dishes like the Swedish meatballs. The dill cucumber salad is the best I have ever had. It was all-you-can-eat for $10. I highly recommend subscribing to their e-mail newsletter in order to get a heads up on when the next one will be.

dlawson

NYPIzzaNut

Has anyone tried the cafeteria at IKEA in West Chester?

I realize this is a late reply, but I have eaten there on several occasions, and it is hit or miss. The Swedish meatballs have been great, and they have been terrible. I have found that the best meals there are the buffets/smorgasbords they do a few times a year. There was a chilled crawfish one in September (a traditional festival dating back hundreds of years, apparently) with a ridiculous amount of appetizers, side dishes, and desserts, a cheese plate with all sorts of breads and crackers, and most of the usual cafeteria dishes like the Swedish meatballs. The dill cucumber salad is the best I have ever had. It was all-you-can-eat for $10. I highly recommend subscribing to their e-mail newsletter in order to get a heads up on when the next one will be.

We enjoyed the  Swedish meatballs a great deal - will subscribe - thanks for the tip!  I do not recall anyone mentioning this before.

Opening of Jungle Jim's Eastgate is now projected to be early in 2012.

11:15 AM Friday, January 14, 2011
LEBANON — A recently opened downtown restaurant has temporarily shut down, according to a note on the eatery’s door.
 
Visitors to the Silver Street BBQ on Silver Street found the doors to the sit-down barbecue restaurant locked this week.
No lights were on inside the restaurant, but seating inside the building remained intact, including condiment carts on every table.
 
A hand-written sign hung in the restaurant’s door reads “Closed for remodeling and building maintenance to reopen 3/15/11. Thanks, Management.”

http://www.western-star.c...wners-say-1054445.html
 
(Bold added by me - to be closed two months for remodeling, and the joint is less than a year old??? Judging from my one experience eating there, I'd say they are in deep doo-doo...)

Two small reports:
 
Porky Capone's BBQ in Lebanon (on West Main Street in the Ameristop gas station plaza): I've been there twice now. The food is a real bargain: a serving of pulled pork, either loose or on a bun is enormous, and is only $4. The macaroni and the "meaty beans" are very good. They just need more penetrating smoke flavor - for now, ask for lots of bark. Eat-in is possible but it's pretty spartan. This place has lots of potential and is a great value.
 
Sammy's Gourmet Burgers & Beer in Springboro is in front of Dorothy Lane Market on Rt 741, in the old Encore restaurant building. This place is an odd hybrid: it's a combined TGI O'Charleybee's style burger and American food place combined with a Mexican restaurant. The menu has both types of food. Like a Mexican restaurant they serve you chips and salsa. I got the smallest Mexican entree I could find, the taquitos. Service was friendly, good and fast and the food was quite good. Nothing sucked on this visit. This place is a notch more expensive than most local restaurants and is comparable to Max and Erma's across the street.

I went to SmoQ (pronounced "smoke") for lunch today, primarily because they are doing half off sandwiches and salads at lunch (11:00A-2:00P Monday through Friday) for the entire month of February. They opened in the old Karlo's Bistro Italia spot next to Pappadeaux and the movie theater in Springdale about six weeks ago. The interior wasn't updated much, if at all. You can find the menu and all other relevant restaurant information at www.smoqbbq.com
 
Let me first say that I am not sure that the "upscale BBQ" approach is going to work, especially when the BBQ was not the standout of the meal. The brisket was fatty, cut too thick, and mostly flavorless. The three sauces (Carolina hot, Kansas City sweet, and Memphis mild, the last of which actually tastes like something out of Memphis for once) on every table helped as far as flavoring goes, but really shouldn't be necessary considering the restaurant's namesake. Fortunately, everything else about lunch was very good to great. The house salad (spring mix, candied pecans, apples, red onions, cheese, bacon) was delicious, as was the sweet and doughy cornbread muffin, which was a nice change of pace from the crumbly stuff found at most places. The mustard slaw that topped the sandwich was also very good, as were the saratoga (or "hickory") chips. The half price, of course, was my favorite part of the meal. The sandwich and chips were $4, and the salad added another $2. At $4.50, my beer (Dogfish Head 90 Minute on draught) was the most expensive item on the bill.
 
The flavorless brisket has me a bit concerned about how their pulled pork might taste, but there are enough other non-BBQ sandwich options (bison meatloaf, breaded or blackened catfish, half pound burgers) to keep me occupied, and at $4 or less, I suspect I will be back several times this month.

dlawson


I went to SmoQ (pronounced "smoke") for lunch today, primarily because they are doing half off sandwiches and salads at lunch (11:00A-2:00P Monday through Friday) for the entire month of February. They opened in the old Karlo's Bistro Italia spot next to Pappadeaux and the movie theater in Springdale about six weeks ago. The interior wasn't updated much, if at all. You can find the menu and all other relevant restaurant information at www.smoqbbq.com

Let me first say that I am not sure that the "upscale BBQ" approach is going to work, especially when the BBQ was not the standout of the meal. The brisket was fatty, cut too thick, and mostly flavorless. The three sauces (Carolina hot, Kansas City sweet, and Memphis mild, the last of which actually tastes like something out of Memphis for once) on every table helped as far as flavoring goes, but really shouldn't be necessary considering the restaurant's namesake. Fortunately, everything else about lunch was very good to great. The house salad (spring mix, candied pecans, apples, red onions, cheese, bacon) was delicious, as was the sweet and doughy cornbread muffin, which was a nice change of pace from the crumbly stuff found at most places. The mustard slaw that topped the sandwich was also very good, as were the saratoga (or "hickory") chips. The half price, of course, was my favorite part of the meal. The sandwich and chips were $4, and the salad added another $2. At $4.50, my beer (Dogfish Head 90 Minute on draught) was the most expensive item on the bill.

The flavorless brisket has me a bit concerned about how their pulled pork might taste, but there are enough other non-BBQ sandwich options (bison meatloaf, breaded or blackened catfish, half pound burgers) to keep me occupied, and at $4 or less, I suspect I will be back several times this month.

Our lunch group went there shortly after they opened, with some trepidation on my part but I found the food and service to be exceptional.  I particularly enjoyed the fried green tomatoes and fried okra and the brisket and rib tips.  They were more than accomodating to our many special requests.  I will be back with the spouse for sure before long.

Service was excellent there; I forgot to note that in my post. My wife and I will be going back for catfish sandwiches at lunch today, as a matter of fact. They do all-you-can-eat catfish (platters) on Friday nights, and I am very curious to see if that is a worthwhile deal. (Polly Campbell seems to think it is.) I may have to pony up for a side dish or two at full price, too.

http://frankieleeee.files...der-chicken-gumbo1.jpg
 
I found smoQ's corn chowder and gumbo to be exceptional too.

Regarding Silver Street BBQ in Lebanon:
 
http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/fb.ashx?m=632345
 
A "For Sale" sign has been sighted in the front window. The place is apparently kaput.

RantoulDavis


Pearl Bay is near the 5 Points intersection at 133 E Dayton Yellow Springs Road.  I can't recall what it was in it's former life.

 
I have driven past this place a number of times, and to me it looks like an old Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken restaurant.

http://www.patriotsteakhouse.com
 
We ate here during the third week of February, 2011.
 
My steak was cooked medium, and was cooked perfectly. It had a light butter flavor, and was quite nice. We got clam chowder that was very good. Everything service wise was fairly competent and service was good. With an important exception that I will note.
 
The ribs were another story. My partner had a real problem just sawing through them to separate a rib from the rest of the rack. They were extremely tough. To me the meat had the texture of a pork chop, not ribs. I wondered if they left the silver skin on the ribs!
 
Now, here's the FUBAR and kicker to the tough ribs. The owner came around to our table near the end of our dinner and asked how our dinner was. I gave it to him straight. He then explains how their staff was calling into question that evening that the ribs were satisfactory when they were making them. Apparently they did not roast them "low and slow" to soften the meat, IE, the oven was basically cold or barely warm. And then they slapped them on a grill. 
 
He did *not* offer to comp us for that dinner, even partially, and did not ask if there was anything he could do. He just sympathized with us as to how tough they were like it was an act of God. And this is the owner.
 
The guy really really should have asked if it "really was" OK that we got the food in this state and could he make it up to us?  I have a big problem with a place serving dreck and then just selling it to the customer even after they acknowledge that it was sub-par. Wtf? Absolutely clueless and not service oriented. As far as I'm concerned they ruined a batch of ribs and they should have said that they were out of them. But they served them anyway.
 
Ok, maybe the guy just forgot and was tired. Whatever. 15 bucks for crap, have a nice day.
 
Sadly, this place is still at the 95th percentile of independent places that attempt to make a go of it in Lebanon - it's better than most here. The ribs, and particularly the owner's non response to the problem, for me, killed the experience.
 
In Lebanon it just might become a local staple due to isolation. Which is OK. Just avoid the ribs. I definitely don't recommend making a drive here unless you are in the immediate area. No reason to.
 
On the positive side, the menu says that they will serve any returning service member a free dinner, and the decor is really sleek.

I liked how the menu on their website (online well before the doors ever opened and a single steak served) they had captioned one of their steaks as "their most popular".   That right there kinda kills the place for me.

I found a recent article in the Western Star about the place opening and it named the owner. I Googled a little and I found that he was the owner of the former Steakhouse of Springboro, which closed about five years ago. It seems like the current menu is from his old place. I remember that that place made a big deal about its clam chowder, too. He's been in that business and he should know better.
 
I don't personally have a problem with blowing smoke, if you can deliver. This place delivered crap and then didn't make it right.

That helps - thanks - I don't recall there being anything on the website to explain how a steak they had never served was their most popular :-)
 

Has anyone checked out Aunt Flora's Soul Food in Silverton?

Has anyone tried Oinkadoodlemoo in Englewood or Kettering?

I have another barbecue question: does anyone here have anything to say about KD's Barbecue on Marshall Road in Kettering?

NYPIzzaNut


Has anyone tried Oinkadoodlemoo in Englewood or Kettering?

 
I have!  I've been there about ten times.  All but one time to the Kettering location since I live in Beavercreek which is next door.
 
I tried JD's Frozen Custard when I was at the Englewood location, but it wasn't very good IMHO.  Culver's is much better.  (Heck, so is McDonald's with the McFlurry!)

45013

NYPIzzaNut


Has anyone tried Oinkadoodlemoo in Englewood or Kettering?

I have!  I've been there about ten times.  All but one time to the Kettering location since I live in Beavercreek which is next door.

I tried JD's Frozen Custard when I was at the Englewood location, but it wasn't very good IMHO.  Culver's is much better.  (Heck, so is McDonald's with the McFlurry!)

What dishes do you like most at the bbq place?

NYPIzzaNut


What dishes do you like most at [OinkADoodleMoo]?

 
I like the smoked beef brisket ("moo") on a bun with the spicy BBQ sauce ("Sizzlin'") the most.

That is usually my choice if they do it right.  Followed by rib tips.

donw9876


I have another barbecue question: does anyone here have anything to say about KD's Barbecue on Marshall Road in Kettering?

BBQ, it ain't.  Tastes like oven-roasted meat with sauce poured on. They do have some decent non-Q junch specials, but not worth going out of the way to get. I used to have lunch there on occasions when I worked right up the road.

THANK YOU! You saved me a wasted lunch trip. KD's gets glowing online reviews but you just described 99% of the stuff that is presented as so-called Q around here.
 
The Bar-B-Q Hut on Wilmington in Kettering (I know from experience, we tried it once) is another place that sells you an enormous wad of flavorless roasted pork on a platter sized bun and proclaims it "BBQ".

donw9876


I have another barbecue question: does anyone here have anything to say about KD's Barbecue on Marshall Road in Kettering?

 
I have!  KD's Kettering Barbecue IMHO is rather tasteless compared to OinkADoodleMoo and City BBQ. 
 
However, I think it would be worth it to mention the wallpaper in the men's restroom has the design of an old map of the state of Wyoming!

Following up on the IKEA all-you-can-eat buffets mentioned earlier in this thread, the Easter one is scheduled for the evening of Friday, April 15. I haven't seen an e-mail about it yet, but there were flyers at the cafeteria registers today. Tickets must be purchased in advance, $9.99 for adults and $2.49 for kids 12 and under, and there are two dining times, 5:00-7:00 p.m. and 7:00-8:30 p.m. The menu is as follows:
 
Swedish ham, assorted herring, gravad lax with mustard sauce, smoked salmon with horseradish sauce, whole poached salmon, hard boiled eggs with shrimp, shrimp with cocktail sauce, Swedish cucumber salad, red beet salad, tossed green salad, assorted cheeses, meatballs and lingonberries, Prinskorv sausage, boiled potatoes with dill, Jansson's Temptation, crisprolls, crispbread, dinner rolls, assorted desserts and cookies, coffee, tea, and fountain beverages.
 
Your guess is as good as mine on what "Jansson's Temptation" is, but I'm sure a Google search would provide the answers. I had every intention of going...until my wife reminded me that it is on her birthday. We'll see if I can talk her into postponing birthday dinner until Saturday. 

Local business family plans to buy and reopen Der Dutchman
 
http://www.western-star.c...-dutchman-1101630.html
   

WAYNESVILLE — A local prominent business family has announced plans to buy and reopen the Der Dutchman restaurant.
 
Kyle Fields, a spokesman for Fields Family Enterprises, said his company is in serious negotiations to buy the land where Der Dutchman once stood on U.S. 42 and hopes to reopen a similar family-style restaurant in its place.
“We’re cautiously optimistic we can get this done,” Fields said. “We have big aspirations for the property.”
 
Fields Family Enterprises is a family owned and run company that operates a variety of businesses, mostly medically based, in Waynesville. The company’s businesses include Fields and Waynesville Pharmacies and it plans further development of its central location along 415 S. Main St., near U.S. 73.

 

This should be interesting.

Is anyone familiar with:
 
Antojitos Criollos
3937 Linden Avenue
Dayton OH
 
It has  Puerto Rican / Latin American cuisine.