Southwest Ohio and Environs (Open Chat)

NYPIzzaNut


Is anyone familiar with:

Antojitos Criollos

 
Here's a, uhm, colorful review: http://www.foodvsface.com...ollos-dayton-ohio.html

I saw that one ......lol

Hey, NYPIzzaNut - and anyone else who knows pizza - can you tell me where to get great pizza in Cleveland?  We're going to be there for a couple nights in about 10 days.  We all love Troni's, if that'll give you an idea what we're looking for.   We were spoiled by Pepe's and Sally's when we lived near New Haven for a while and love that type & NY style (not sure I can define that too well) pizza.  Thanks for any suggestions. 

Have no idea about pizza in Cleveland.  Maybe someone else does?

Buddy Roadhouse has been to Cleveland several times on business.  You could try sending him a PM.
 
Brad

I'll send Buddy Roadhouse a PM, thanks guys.

Cincy Flying Pig BBQ - at the former location of the Landen Smokehouse at 20 Mile Stand in Loveland:
 
http://www.urbanspoon.com...ng-Restaurant-Loveland
(mine is the review "No Flavor".)
 
What IS it with BBQ places around here? They smoke the meat but it does not TASTE like ANYTHING!!! Most of the barbecue places around Cincinnati act like smoke flavor is a deadly poison.

NYPIzzaNut


Has anyone tried Oinkadoodlemoo in Englewood or Kettering?

I've been to the one in Kettering.  Pretty decent.  Really enjoyed their hot bbq sauce.  Up in Englewood I'd probably choose Company 7 over Oinkadoodlemoo.

45013

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.

It was definitely a Lee's Famous Recipe.    Hopefully that won't keep you from checking it out.  Had dinner there with my wife and son last Friday and everything was great!  The Thai Hot & Sour soup was great!  Fried Banana for dessert. . . great!  Mongolian Beef. . . great!  The Thai Beef Salad was also very good.  Not quite as good as what we've had at Thai 9 but it was 1/2 the price.  I've had the Mee Curry twice and its awesome.   Lunch Specials daily til 2:30.

We paid a return visit to Goodies BBQ on Hamilton Avenue in North College Hill yesterday.  We feasted on rib tips, buffalo wings, half a bbq chicken, cornbread, collards, fried okra, potato salad, red beans and rice, chess pie and peach cobbler  - everything was  wonderful as always.  And reasonably priced. My favorite BBQ joint in Cincinnati area.

One thing that is extra special about Goodies is their hot and spicy BBQ sauce.  It is the best tasting sauce I have ever run across and it has quite a kick.

Anyone tried the Cherry House Cafe in Beavercreek?

NYPIzzaNut


Anyone tried the Cherry House Cafe in Beavercreek?

 
Is that the restaurant on Meadow Bridge Drive south of Dayton-Xenia Road east of the new Kroger gas station?  I went there back in February when I got my driver's license renewed.  I wasn't too shot with it, unfortunately.

That is it.  Do you recall what you disliked about the place?

NYPIzzaNut


That is it.  Do you recall what you disliked about the [Cherry House Cafe]?

 
It's not that I disliked it.  Rather, it was a more run-of-the-mill restaurant that wasn't earth-shatteringly delicious.

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NYPIzzaNut


That is it.  Do you recall what you disliked about the [Cherry House Cafe]?

It's not that I disliked it.  Rather, it was a more run-of-the-mill restaurant that wasn't earth-shatteringly delicious.

Our lunch group dined there this past Tuesday.  Several things disturbed me and a few items pleased me.
 
1 the hamburgers are precooked (per our waitress) and well done and warmed up when served - supposed hand made.  None of us partook of them.
 
2 I had the turkey club - the portions were skimpy and my sourdough bread was stale already on the top and bottom exposing pieces.
 
3 One of our group had the pulled pork sandwich - the amount of meat was very small and the sauce was horribly sweet.
 
4 One member had the reuben - again the portion of meat was very skimpy but the sandwich tasted pretty good.  It was ordered with sourdough bread and came with rye bread.
 
5 The other member of our group had the lasagna which does not include any meat but ground beef.  It was served up not even lukewarm and had to be returned for heating.  It was a miniscule portion also served with a large piece of garlic bread that was pretty tasteless.  But it came with a salad that was very good.  The owner/chef is a vegetarian which may explain a lot about the food.
 
6 We got sides of loaded potato salad and broccoli salad both of which were fairly tasty.
 
7 We also had chicken pot pie soup which was pretty good.
 
8 Their home made potato chips also were very tasty.
 
9 For dessert we had very good muffins and cookies.

RantoulDavis

45013

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.

It was definitely a Lee's Famous Recipe.    Hopefully that won't keep you from checking it out.  Had dinner there with my wife and son last Friday and everything was great!  The Thai Hot & Sour soup was great!  Fried Banana for dessert. . . great!  Mongolian Beef. . . great!  The Thai Beef Salad was also very good.  Not quite as good as what we've had at Thai 9 but it was 1/2 the price.  I've had the Mee Curry twice and its awesome.   Lunch Specials daily til 2:30.

NYPIzzaNut


We paid a return visit to Goodies BBQ on Hamilton Avenue in North College Hill yesterday.  We feasted on rib tips, buffalo wings, half a bbq chicken, cornbread, collards, fried okra, potato salad, red beans and rice, chess pie and peach cobbler  - everything was  wonderful as always.  And reasonably priced. My favorite BBQ joint in Cincinnati area.

Here is a slideshow of the food with some comments from my compadre:
http://frankieleeee.wordpress.com/2011/04/
 

Some members here have mentioned the neighborhood Goodies BBQ is located in as being in a "bad area"  but frankly in the past 10 years that we have been going there (at least a dozen times) we have never seen or heard of anything that could be considered  a problem - oftentimes there are local police even dining there or picking up takeout orders and the customers we see and chat with are the salt of the earth.  As is Tony the manager and his staff.

Interesting report about Cherry House. I was right there on Meadow Bridge the other day at my dentists' and I was looking for it. I stopped at the DLM deli instead. Your report certainly contradicts all the online hype (I believe your review more.) BTW, Dorothy Lane's meat lasagna was far better than what you're reporting.

donw9876


Interesting report about Cherry House. I was right there on Meadow Bridge the other day at my dentists' and I was looking for it. I stopped at the DLM deli instead. Your report certainly contradicts all the online hype (I believe your review more.) BTW, Dorothy Lane's meat lasagna was far better than what you're reporting.

Troni's lasagna is also very good.

As is their pizza.

Yeah, yeah, Tronis.
 
NYPN, I'd be really interested to see what you thought of DLM pizza from their deli. The store at Springboro makes an awesome pie. While you scorn everyone but Troni's locally, this one is quite respectable. And it's *quite* cheap for carry out pizza so you are not investing much money in the experiment. AND... it is NY style (really) with the hand tossed crust, and is not the cracker crust square cut Marion's style that I usually hype.
 
I refuse to believe that anyone would call the pie from DLM dumpster diving. I was shocked how good it was.

donw9876


Yeah, yeah, Tronis.

NYPN, I'd be really interested to see what you thought of DLM pizza from their deli. The store at Springboro makes an awesome pie. While you scorn everyone but Troni's locally, this one is quite respectable. And it's *quite* cheap for carry out pizza so you are not investing much money in the experiment. AND... it is NY style (really) with the hand tossed crust, and is not the cracker crust square cut Marion's style that I usually hype.

I refuse to believe that anyone would call the pie from DLM dumpster diving. I was shocked how good it was.

You may not realize this but I do not get up thataway often - I live in Brown County and get to that area of Ohio on the average about once a month when our lunch buddy in Englewood chooses a place for us.  I think I have been in DLM all of twice ever and that was way before I heard anything about their pizza / lasagna being good.  i will try to work my way there before too much longer.  Can you get the pizza by the slice?

They do not sell the deli  pizza at their main location near Dayton Mall?  That is the location I have been to twice over the past decade. 
 

I wonder if we're talking about the same place. I meant Dorothy Lane Market - they have stores on Far Hills in Centerville near Whipp Rd. (maybe that's the near the Dayton Mall you meant), in Oakwood, and one in Springboro on 741 at Lytle-Five Points Road near the Dayton General Airport. I think the store in Springboro is the only one that makes pizzas.
 
They don't have slices. I think they could and should. Here's a link.I think they have a weekly special on the large for $8.99.
 
http://www.dorothylane.co...d%20service/pizza.html

donw9876


I wonder if we're talking about the same place. I meant Dorothy Lane Market - they have stores on Far Hills in Centerville near Whipp Rd. (maybe that's the near the Dayton Mall you meant), in Oakwood, and one in Springboro on 741 at Lytle-Five Points Road near the Dayton General Airport. I think the store in Springboro is the only one that makes pizzas.

They don't have slices. I think they could and should. Here's a link.I think they have a weekly special on the large for $8.99.

http://www.dorothylane.co...d%20service/pizza.html

The Far Hills store is the one I was talking about.

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

There's a Romeo's in Dayton--Beavercreek, at 3854 Kemp Road in an old shopping plaza.  I went there April 25; it was OK.

RantoulDavis


A new restaurant has opened in Yellow Springs.  Today was the first day I'd noticed it being open.  It's called CJ's Southern Cooking and it's on Xenia Ave (US-68), south of the village in the old KFC/Taco Bell location.  Went there today and enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich, chips, fried cod basket, slaw, fries, and beans & rice (shared).  All were very good.  Order at the counter and they'll bring it to your table.   Prices are reasonable as are the portions.   Here's an article that appeared in the local paper about 3 weeks ago.  I have no affiliation.

ysnews.com/news/2010/06/cj%E2%80%99s-to-cook-up-%E2%80%98bama-food

I tried to go to CJ's Southern Cooking in "YSO" today, and I found out that it was closed.

Re: CJ's -  I saw this a while back:
 
http://ysnews.com/news/20...o-support-cj%E2%80%99s

Has anyone been to Sultan's Mediterranean Cuisine in West Chester?

My wife and I lunched at Song Long Vietnamese Restaurant in Roselawn yesterday and learned the owner and his wife will keep the restaurant open for a couple more years before retiring.  A younger son may take over for them once they retire.

Our Lunchbunch group ate today at CJ Chan A Chinese and Japanese Restaurant in Dayton today:
 
http://www.mycjchan.com/
 
We enjoyed it very much and partook of menu items from both menus - details to follow shortly - I personally loved the food for the most part.  Especially one of my personal favorites that they did very well - Singapore Mai Fun.

I forgot to mention this, but on Monday I ate at Linda's Restaurant in downtown Xenia at 51 E. Main Street.  (See http://urlnew.com/9k for the Google Street View.)  I decided on a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, fries, and Dutch apple pie.  I'll probably go back for another dish, perhaps the chili dog.
 
Interestingly, this place sells RC products.  No Coke or Pepsi.

On Sunday I decided to try Dakota's Roadhouse in Washington Court House.  (It's where US 22/62 exits from US 35; it's near the Home Depot and Wal*Mart.)  Here's the website:  http://www.dakotas-roadhouse.com/ .  The place is closed on Monday's, and Monday is one of my off days, so I had no choice but to go on Sunday.  There are five other locations in the area.
 
The place has a South Dakota theme.  South Dakota, Dakota's Roadhouse, get it???  I decided on two 3.5-ounce medallions over rice, French fries, and fried apples.  Then I opted for their seven-layer chocolate cake for dessert.  It's HUGE; you have to see it to believe it!  Needless to say, I didn't finish my dessert.  That said, my main course was delicious!
 
I may go back in the future.
 
 

Anyone tried any of the J Gumbo's locations?

The sodium content of their food is astronomical - from what I see of their nutrition labeling.

We tried J Gumbo's in White Oak yesterday.
 
The food bears little or no resemblance to Cajun food.

The Fireside Inn in Georgetown was purchased by the owners of the Country Inn recently - have not been back there as yet since they were bought out.
 
The bbq stand on 32 and Eastwood is now open for the season again. (Open Thurs thru Sunday)

http://www.middletownjour...staurant_makes_it.html
 
The Meadowlark Restaurant has relocated - I love their portabello mushroom sandwich and their potato frites - our lunchbunch will be there next week.

On Saturday (my off day for Memorial Day) for lunch I decided to try Taqueria Mixteca at 1609 E. Third Street east of downtown Dayton.  The deciding factor was the Big Daddy's gas station next door, for which I wanted to get a picture of the sign by the street for DaytonGasPrices.com, a GasBuddy site.  I got a VERY detailed pic of the sign.  Inside was a brown menu with bright yellow prices, characteristic of Arby's restaurants in the 1980s.  (The waitress I asked did not know.)  I decided on the quesadilla, which was HUGE for $3.50.  (Or was it $3.75?)  Not bad considering the price.  However, I thought they were a little too heavy on the onions.

For dinner Saturday I decided on the Captain 9's restaurant in Germantown at 1361 W. Market Street (OH 725).  Known for its fire department theme, I wanted to try their pizza.  (I went there back in February and had a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, which wasn't too bad.)  I noticed that the parking lot was full.  However, that was for a country music festival next door and I had no problem at all waiting at Captain 9's.
 
I ordered what was a small pepperoni pizza (10 inches diameter).  I saw that they use a conveyor belt oven.  I enjoyed my pizza, which was cut into 16 squares with a crust somewhere closer to thick than thin.

^ I got a small Captain 9's pizza once after hitting the trails at Germantown Reserve. It's decent for a non chain pizza.

Troni's is calling...

NYPIzzaNut
Troni's is calling...

 
Yes. I do have to get back there, even with the mess that is Wilmington & Dorothy Lane.
 
We had a "NY pizza" from Pie Pizzaria in Springboro a few nights ago. It's hand tossed, and fairly authentic. Much better than average. But it made me hungry for the real thing.

One more thing I like about going to Troni's, with the construction there,  is that generally speaking the other drivers are very considerate and will let you in and out of the place.

You must be rubbing off on me. I have gotten increasingly critical of local pizza. The vaunted Milano's is another Sysco crust place and no big deal. The "authentic Shed recipe" pizza at Harrigan's Pub is Ok but again it has the industrial crust that came out of a machine. Pie's pizza is pretty good, at the 90% percentile for local places, but just not that savory to me.

Dewey's and Troni's - that is all you need.

Picked up another take out pizza pie last night - one of the best ever!
 
Looks like lots of urbanspooners like the joint:
 
http://www.urbanspoon.com...izza-Restaraunt-Dayton

NYPIzzaNut


Our Lunchbunch group ate today at CJ Chan A Chinese and Japanese Restaurant in Dayton today:

http://www.mycjchan.com/

We enjoyed it very much and partook of menu items from both menus - details to follow shortly - I personally loved the food for the most part.  Especially one of my personal favorites that they did very well - Singapore Mai Fun.

 
We tried CJ Chan's back in March and thought it was okay.  The place was packed and service was somewhat disorganized, but that's not surprising for a busy weekend meal rush.  I was a little annoyed that the waiter got one of our sushi orders wrong, then argued about it and didn't offer to take it off our bill.
 
They used plenty of nice, fresh vegetables in the stir-fry, but our dishes were otherwise forgettable-- a decent execution of Americanized Chinese food, and that's about it.  The whole table liked the General Tso's tofu the best, deep-fried squares of tofu in a sweet and spicy dipping sauce.  Not a bad meal, but I don't think I'd bother driving up north to go again.
 

I'll third the endorsement of the House of Sun.  @NYPIzzaNut: House of Sun's Chinese food concentration leans towards Taiwan flavors, while King Wok in Clifton leans towards Hong Kong, aka Cantonese cuisine.  I'm especially fond of the Chinese breakfast on the weekends, especially the homemade dumplings and scallion pancakes with stewed beef, and the beef stew noodle soup, as you had in your picture.  I live out of town, but try to make it up there, monthly.

I am hopeful of making a return visit to House of Sun one of these days.
 
My last experience at King Wok left much to be desired, though.  They oversalted everything.

Anyone familiar with Sankalp Indian Restaurant in Sharonville?

NYPIzzaNut


Anyone familiar with Sankalp Indian Restaurant in Sharonville?

 
I ate there for the first time last week. At $9.99, the lunch buffet is more expensive than most, if not all, of the other Indian restaurants in the area, but it does offer several dishes not seen on most other buffets (including some Indo-Chinese fare like fried paneer, which I have only seen once before at a Dublin, OH restaurant that was strictly Indo-Chinese), as well as freshly cooked naan and dosas (a southern Indian crepe, essentially) brought directly to your table, whether you want them or not.  Waiters were somewhat inattentive when it came to refilling my glass of water, which was slightly frustrating, but not a deal-breaker.
 
It won't be called Sankalp for long, by the way. There is a fishbowl for suggestions for a new name located at the main entrance, and the winner will receive a gift card.

NYPIzzaNut


Anyone familiar with Sankalp Indian Restaurant in Sharonville?

IIRC, Polly Campbell ate there and reviewed it for either the Enquirer or a sister publication.
 
I'll try and find it and post a link.
EDIT: Yep, here it is:

http://cincinnati.com/blo...n-tastes-and-textures/
 
I do eat regularly at the norther Indian not far up the street on the east side in a tiny strip mall and it is among my favorites locally.

(I'm assuming that anything under I-70 and west of US 23 fits the definition of "SW Ohio"... right?)
 
Ha Ha Pizza, Yellow Springs 
 
My brother and I were in Yellow Springs this weekend and we tried Ha Ha Pizza. The last time I stopped here was with a work lunch bunch in 1996 and at the time it was OK.
 
Here's the bottom line: it's more like "ha ha, customers!" Avoid this place.
 
Relatively expensive, hideously slow service, and mediocre product. It just wasn't that busy, either.
 
Sitting down to being asked for our drink and food order was about 15 minutes. 10 minutes after that to actually get drinks. About 40 minutes after we ordered we got our food. We sat down a few minutes after 3 and it was not until 4 PM that we actually got our food.
 
The calzone was stuffed with ricotta  - it looked like a shell full of cottage cheese, and it oozed a ton of water. (If I made something like that at home I'd scrape it in the trash and start over.)  The pizza crust (wheat) was pure mediocrity and I ate the bare minimum to get at the toppings. The crust edges I left uneaten, they had the mouth feel of stale crusty bread. Calzone, personal pizza and two teas were just below $20 - exorbitant for the amount and quality of food and the wait.
 
Too much hippie culture baggage, not enough substance, mediocre food, and very poor value. It appears that 90% of their business is dumb middle class tourist teenagers who are "making a counterculture statement" by eating here.
 
It's pretty much what you'd expect from the graphic they have in their menu of a generic Italian like chef smoking some sort of "cigarette" thing and enjoying it too much.
 
Maybe the Freak Brothers own the place...

Has anyone been to Joya's Bistro in Beavercreek yet?

I thought about posting this as a RoadTrip (on "Where Should I Eat"), but, it really isn't. I wish it could be a longer trip, but time and $$$ are limited. I will be taking my daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren to COSI, in Columbus, OH. We have certain plans, but a couple of options are open, and I think people on this particular board may be able to help me. This trip will be limited to two days.
 
I want to take the back roads, and will be taking different routes from Cincinnati to Columbus, and back. The plan is to take US 22/ OH 3 to Columbus. Leaving in the morning, we will pass through Montgomery, Morrow and Wilmington around breakfast time. Anything good and different? Chains abound, and that is easy. Anyone have any suggestions for a good breakfast stop?
 
I plan on getting to Columbus in the early afternoon, and going to COSI. Lunch suggestions are open (before, or after COSI), but I plan on Schmidt's for dinner, and a stop at the Book Loft, with other stops in German Village. I'm thinking North Market, but maybe the next morning.  Jeni's Ice Cream is a definite, at some point.  Breakfast, the next morning is still up in the air. Monetary constraints may keep us to the hotel breakfast, but open for ideas.
 
On the way back, we are going to Yellow Springs. We've been to The Jersey Dairy Farm (but may go back), and Clifton Mill (probably not this trip). My daughter and son-in-law really want to check out Yellow Springs. Lunch suggestions, maybe?
 
Then, back down US-42 to Cincy. I know almost every good place to eat on this route. I've traveled this route many times, so, unless there is something new, I don't need suggestions on this leg of the trip .
 
I know it's not much, but trying to turn my grandkids on to travelling the back roads, and finding good, independent businesses. Any suggestions for good shopping, or other stops along these routes are greatly appreciated!!!
 
 

I would suggest this place for breakfast in Montgomery:
 
http://www.ophmontgomery.com/location.html
 
A chain but like no other breakfast place.  Simply amazing.
 

NYPIzzaNut


I would suggest this place for breakfast in Montgomery:

http://www.ophmontgomery.com/location.html

A chain but like no other breakfast place.  Simply amazing.

I have actually been there... Not a good experience. I had to wait a long time to get seated. Then, I ordered eggs, that were overcooked. I'm not a fan of "sweet" breakfasts. 
 
Maybe,  I would have been better off ordering their sweeter offerings, like the "Dutch Baby". With the grandbabies, and the wait, and the overcooked eggs, ... not the best breakfast experience ever...

But, it may be worth trying again.