Where to eat in Dayton Ohio North of Middletown

From my experience the tables at pugs really arent designed to die on. Its so small that during the rush you would be jostled to pieces. Standard fast food eiitquite calls for bussing your own table. When those folks are busy there isnt a chance to wipe tables and offer fast, efficient service. We always eat in the car, summer or winter. Then I can get a kraut dog for dessert if im still hungry!
britt

Has anyone tried the new restaurant named Salsas on Airway rd? I am going to try it today. My favorite mexican food is from Taqueria Mixteca on 3rd street. Great Taco Stand! I will report back on Salsas...Russ

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Jackson

I really didnt like Marions Pizza the first few times I went but it has since grown on me. The round pizza with little or no end crust cut into little pieces is pretty good. Definatly a Dayton thing. However I think the two best pizzas in town are Rock-a-Fellas if it is hot. They seem to have a little trouble getting it to you right out of the oven for some reason. Maybe it is the young staff that doesnt pay attention to detail. And The Flying Pizza. They are both NY Style Pies...Russ

I am from the metro NYC area and the only pizza in the Dayton area I think that really resembles NYC thin crust pizzas in taste and quality can be found at Troni's Pizzeria and Restaurant in Kettering, at 1314 E. Dorothy Lane (tel 643 9921 / 643 9927). It is run by an Albania immigrant family, mom, dad, son and daughter. They have somehow learned the secret of making a great pizza and I would not go anywhere else in the Dayton area for a pie. They also offer Sicilian style pies. I have been to Flying Pizza and Roc-A-Fellas and both of their pies fall down because their crust is cakey and too much like all the chain crusts. I have found lots of pizza places in Ohio claim to make NY type pies but very very few really do. They normally fail due their crust being very bad to terrible.

Troni's is mentioned here at the Dayton Daily News Leadbelly blog:

http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/leadbelly/entries/2007/02/07/tronis_pizza_sa.html

For those not entirely sure what I am talking about this link will give a clear picture of what a NY thin crust pizza pie is supposed to be like:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York-style_pizza

This is the kind of pizza pie Troni's makes - and if that is what you really are looking for they are the place in Dayton to go. They are closed on Sundays.

Any chance the Breakfast Club reopened? They said in their sign that if they could find good help, they would reopen.

Went for the the fish special at Slyder's on Friday for the first time and can report it's the real deal. Fresh walleye with either mac & cheese or fries and coleslaw. The fish was lightly breaded and mild flavored with three good sized fillets being served. Not a mac & cheese guy I had their fries which are good but the coleslaw however was bland and tasteless. With drink and tax my tab was a very reasonable $7.86. Made for a very tasty lunch.

This weeks new place for lunch is suppose to be Tank's, I hear they have really good chili.

Jim

Russ,

Where on 3rd street is Taqueria Mixteca? I am on a quest to find authentic Tacos Al Pastor like I had from street vendors in Acapulco. The meat for Al Pastor is cooked on a spit much like gyros and shaved off as it gets done to make the tacos.

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by jmeinhardt

Russ,

Where on 3rd street is Taqueria Mixteca? I am on a quest to find authentic Tacos Al Pastor like I had from street vendors in Acapulco. The meat for Al Pastor is cooked on a spit much like gyros and shaved off as it gets done to make the tacos.

Jim

They serve a Carne Asada Taco that is similar and should fill the need. The street vendors in Mexico serve them that way with onions, raddishes, pico de gallo, cilantro,and limes on two warmed corn tortillias in wax paper.

Jim,
Taqueria Mixteca can be found at 1609 East 3rd Street, Dayton, OH 45403 · 937-258-2654.

There is also a great Mexican Grocery store on Troy Pike I will get the address for you tommorow.

...Russ

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Jackson

quote:

Originally posted by jmeinhardt

Russ,

Where on 3rd street is Taqueria Mixteca? I am on a quest to find authentic Tacos Al Pastor like I had from street vendors in Acapulco. The meat for Al Pastor is cooked on a spit much like gyros and shaved off as it gets done to make the tacos.

Jim

They serve a Carne Asada Taco that is similar and should fill the need. The street vendors in Mexico serve them that way with onions, raddishes, pico de gallo, cilantro,and limes on two warmed corn tortillias in wax paper.

Jim,
Taqueria Mixteca can be found at 1609 East 3rd Street, Dayton, OH 45403 · 937-258-2654.

There is also a great Mexican Grocery store on Troy Pike I will get the address for you tommorow.

...Russ

I did not realize that they serve cilantro in Mexico on their food - I thought that was just something they did in the USA.

I lived in San Diego for 14 years cilantro is in everything served in Mexico. Maybe not in Mexico City or way down south. But all along Baja California it is...Russ

I am seeing it in a lot of American Chinese restaurants nowadays too.

Cilantro is the real deal and authentic. Real Mexican tacos are served on a small 3-4" corn or flour tortilla with a filling (usually meat) and simply garnished with finely chopped onion and cilantro. No lettuce or cheese. On the side you will usually have your choice of a red and green sauce and always limes. They squeeze lime on everything.

Of course I am sure there is some differences depending on which part of Mexico you are in.

Jim

I went to a place called Tony's at 2920 Wayne Ave 937-258-8550 in Dayton yesterday. It is a Pizza and Sandwich Joint on the corner of Wayne and Watervliet. I had the Philly Cheese Steak and an order of Giant Onion Rings. Unfortunatly they do not have Cheese Whiz so I opted for the Mozarella. The meat was very good and the cheese was fine. Not a true Philly. The onions and peppers were cooked properly and the sandwich was quite good. The only place it fell short was the bread. Too soft no real crust to speak of. Good bread is difficult to find in this area. But I think they could do a better job than what they are serving right now. The Giant Onion Rings were excellent and they were GIANT no false advertising here. The person I went with had the Philly Steak Salad. He said it was excellent and the portion was very generous. Next time I will try the special recipe sausage or the Giant Texas Tenderloin. The Family has been doing Fairs and Festivals for over 30 years. Desert menu includes Funnel Cakes, Deep Fried Oreos, Snickers, and Twinkies. Give it a try. Also the place is very clean and the staff was excellent....Russ

Russ

I pass Tony's On my way to Slyder's and have been wanting to give the place a try. The building has that special roadfood look to it if there is such a thing. I will have to give it a shot. Who could pass up a Giant Texas Tenderloin and a fried Twinkies for dessert! By the way, I thought you were going to give Slyder's a try?

I went to Kramer's today and was able to finally snag one of their Tuesday specials.... A Meatball Sub. In the past they have been sold out by the time I get there. I have to say it was pretty darn good. The meatballs were tender with plenty of garlic and the right amount of sauce. The bun was also perfect, toasted just right. Sometimes buns are over toasted and the do not hold together. It was served with a side of pasta salad that was passable but not great. With a can of Coke my bill was $7.10.

Jim

COld beer and Cheeseburgers? How about Foys diner downtown Fairborn. Every bit of the diner delites from breakfast served all day(except the stop hot cakes before lunch. Grease bugers and the works. I think foys own every square foot of the town square! You gotta see what they do for Halloween! Dont go into Foys butcher shop to buy meat!
britt

quote:

Originally posted by jmeinhardt

Russ

I pass Tony's On my way to Slyder's and have been wanting to give the place a try. The building has that special roadfood look to it if there is such a thing. I will have to give it a shot. Who could pass up a Giant Texas Tenderloin and a fried Twinkies for dessert! By the way, I thought you were going to give Slyder's a try?

I went to Kramer's today and was able to finally snag one of their Tuesday specials.... A Meatball Sub. In the past they have been sold out by the time I get there. I have to say it was pretty darn good. The meatballs were tender with plenty of garlic and the right amount of sauce. The bun was also perfect, toasted just right. Sometimes buns are over toasted and the do not hold together. It was served with a side of pasta salad that was passable but not great. With a can of Coke my bill was $7.10.

Jim

I have tried to get over to Slyders and Tronis in the past 2 weeks but I ended up going to Atlanta, Cleveland and Pittsburg instead. I will get there for sure tommorow as I am headed that way...Russ

Tried Tank's on Wayne Ave. for lunch today. I've heard good things about Tank's and the parking lot is always full. We arrived just in time to get the last open table. I ordered "Tanks Road Kill Dawg" with chili and cheese and a cup of Tank's award winning (their words not mine) "Road Kill Chili" with cheese and onions.

The cup of chili came out first, very meaty, hardly any beans, good flavor. Not bad but hardly award winning, but then I like my chili with equal amounts of meat and beans.

Next came the "Road Kill" Dawg. I admit this monster looks impressive sitting on a plate. Surely enough to fill up most grown men. Again, pretty good, but for a dawg with chili and cheese I would rather have a Skyline cheese coney. I think this giant hotdog would have been better with sauerkraut on top and that's how I will order it next time.

Jim

Troni's Sicilian pizza with banana peppers and sausage - before being devoured this past Thursday! One of the finest pizzas I have had in Ohio in over 30 years!

quote:

Originally posted by NYPIzzaNut

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Jackson

I really didnt like Marions Pizza the first few times I went but it has since grown on me. The round pizza with little or no end crust cut into little pieces is pretty good. Definatly a Dayton thing. However I think the two best pizzas in town are Rock-a-Fellas if it is hot. They seem to have a little trouble getting it to you right out of the oven for some reason. Maybe it is the young staff that doesnt pay attention to detail. And The Flying Pizza. They are both NY Style Pies...Russ

I am from the metro NYC area and the only pizza in the Dayton area I think that really resembles NYC thin crust pizzas in taste and quality can be found at Troni's Pizzeria and Restaurant in Kettering, at 1314 E. Dorothy Lane (tel 643 9921 / 643 9927). It is run by an Albania immigrant family, mom, dad, son and daughter. They have somehow learned the secret of making a great pizza and I would not go anywhere else in the Dayton area for a pie. They also offer Sicilian style pies. I have been to Flying Pizza and Roc-A-Fellas and both of their pies fall down because their crust is cakey and too much like all the chain crusts. I have found lots of pizza places in Ohio claim to make NY type pies but very very few really do. They normally fail due their crust being very bad to terrible.

Troni's is mentioned here at the Dayton Daily News Leadbelly blog:

http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/leadbelly/entries/2007/02/07/tronis_pizza_sa.html

For those not entirely sure what I am talking about this link will give a clear picture of what a NY thin crust pizza pie is supposed to be like:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York-style_pizza

This is the kind of pizza pie Troni's makes - and if that is what you really are looking for they are the place in Dayton to go. They are closed on Sundays.

Our lunchbunch with the addition of my spouse (her birthday) had three pizzas at Troni's this past Thursday - the Sicilian one is pictured above.

The other two pizzas shown below are their regular pie (with green peppers and mushrooms)


..and their Old Fashioned Pizza which comes with 3 cheeses (Provolone, Romano and Mozzarella and Old Fashion Sauce which is a little spicy and has chunks of tomato with the sauce) - this one has pepperoni and sausage:
[img]http://www.2and2.net/files/47f85dd74e5b7.jpg [/img]

These two pies were excellent - while I prefer cheese pies I deferred to the other members to include toppings.

My wife and I went 90 miles each way to enjoy Troni's pizzas - none better in the area!

La Michoacana on Troy St. has excellent tortas-- huge sandwiches with all sorts of fillings from chopped steak to chorizo. They have lots of other offerings too, and so far I've liked everything I tried, except the barbacoa, which seemed somewhat dry and flavorless. Also great horchata.

Taste of the Mediterranean across from the Dayton mall has good Lebanese food and they now offer a lunch buffet. The grocery store next door has delicious phyllo pastries for dessert. :)

The roadfood listing has Kathy's Kitchen in Germantown, which is a very casual homestyle place. Good pie too, but not as good as Mom's in Red Lion.

And while it's tough finding decent bbq in Dayton (I consider City BBQ to be okay, but nothing like ribs down south), Hook's BBQ on N. Gettysburg has a mean slab of ribs. They do sauce it for you and wrap the whole slab along with slices of white bread to soak up the sauce in butcher's paper. The hot version means hot here. Most people get carry-out. Sides were all right, but nothing to write home about.

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Jackson


Also does anyone have favorite Sushi Places?

The sushi situation in Dayton isn't terribly encouraging. I-Zu on N. Dixie was good for Japanese (nice bento box lunch deals), but I haven't been there in a while. Their sushi sort of went up and down. It was decent the last time I tried it.

quote:

Originally posted by NYPIzzaNut

Troni's Sicilian pizza with banana peppers and sausage - before being devoured this past Thursday! One of the finest pizzas I have had in Ohio in over 30 years!

I will be headed to Troni's tonite and I am looking forward to a great Pizza as I havent had a great one in a very long time...Russ

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Jackson

Has anyone ever tried Wympee's on third street for a Burger?...Russ

I just did this past weekend. It had been quite a few years, but the burger I had was excellent. I don't know if this was any indication of anything, but far more people were there at noon on Saturday to buy scratch off lottery tickets than they were to eat. Slyder's makes a better burger, though.

White Tower is long gone. besides the aforementioned Yummy Burger/White Lotus operating out of the one on third, the one on Fifth is now a Smokin's BBQ joint, the same one that never got back on track after a fire in Kettering.

I just got back from Troni's. I ordered a Large Pepperoni and Garlic New York Style and a White Pizza with Garlic also. We also ordered 6 Garlic Rolls. The atmosphere was not impressive very simple no frills at all. I drove past the place the first time as is sits in a 4 tenant sort of strip. I walked in and instantly knew I was in the right place. The smell of proper pizza dough is one of those things that leaves an impression in ones mind for life. The service was adequate at best. I ordered the pies and waited. The rolls came and were excellent. It took a while for the pizza to come to the table. This was another good sign. It came to the table lava hot and bubbly with a crust I have never seen in this town. Smelled great and tasted excellent. Hands down the best Pizza I have ever had in Ohio. The place is only 13.6 miles from my house and I have lived here for a decade. Shame on me and thank you Roadfood. The white pizza was excellent. The white pizza was ordered for my daughter who met us at Troni's. If you love Pizza and live in the area or even remotely close to the area you must try it. Never shall I eat at Rock-a-Fellas or Flying Pizza again. NYPIzzaNut I thank you for finding this gem located at 1314 E Dorothy Lane Kettering Ohio 937-643-9921 NamedTroni's

...Russ

Pug's on Wilmington may have changed hands. A banner has been put up over the sign and I think it read "Chicago Gyros and Dogs". If that is the case Pug's will be missed.

On another note, a co-worker told me he went to the Breakfast Club for lunch Tuesday. I had read that this road food icon had closed last year. This is the first I have heard of it's re-opening.

Jim

In todays Dayton Daily News Go section 4/11/08 there is a great article called Under the radar far above average. It talks about little known restaurants in the Dayton area that serve excellent food that you need to try out. Like Chin's Ginger Grill, Nelly's Chicken,Treasure Island Supper Club and many more. Excellent article pick up todays paper you wont be dissappointed.....Russ

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Jackson

I just got back from Troni's. I ordered a Large Pepperoni and Garlic New York Style and a White Pizza with Garlic also. We also ordered 6 Garlic Rolls. The atmosphere was not impressive very simple no frills at all. I drove past the place the first time as is sits in a 4 tenant sort of strip. I walked in and instantly knew I was in the right place. The smell of proper pizza dough is one of those things that leaves an impression in ones mind for life. The service was adequate at best. I ordered the pies and waited. The rolls came and were excellent. It took a while for the pizza to come to the table. This was another good sign. It came to the table lava hot and bubbly with a crust I have never seen in this town. Smelled great and tasted excellent. Hands down the best Pizza I have ever had in Ohio. The place is only 13.6 miles from my house and I have lived here for a decade. Shame on me and thank you Roadfood. The white pizza was excellent. The white pizza was ordered for my daughter who met us at Troni's. If you love Pizza and live in the area or even remotely close to the area you must try it. Never shall I eat at Rock-a-Fellas or Flying Pizza again. NYPIzzaNut I thank you for finding this gem located at 1314 E Dorothy Lane Kettering Ohio 937-643-9921 Named Troni's

...Russ

I wish I could take credit for locating Troni's but that honor goes to the female member of our lunchbunch trio, Willie, who is is from that neck of the woods. (She does not post here nor is she a certifiable pizzanut!)

BTW our lunchbunch group was in West Chester yesterday at WG Grinders ( a pretty forgettable experience) BUT afterwards we went to Fratelli's Pizzeria - which is just a little less than a mile down the road - they advertise themselves as having New York style pizza.

I got a large cheese pie to take home and tried a slice in the parking lot before departing for home. It was not much good - it reminds me of the kind of garbage that Flying Pizza and Roc-A-Fellas serve up. The crust is not crusty nor really chewy like real NY pizza should be like. It also had several large air bubbles which really detracted from the appearance/taste of the pie. They get $12.95 for their large 18 inch pie. They open at 4 PM on weekdays and we got there about 5:30 PM so their ovens should have been heated up to do their best for the pies. Never again will they see me in their joint.

Here are the articles featured in The Go Section of The Dayton Daily News.

http://www.activedayton.com/dayton/content/story/restaurants/guides/hiddengems_middle.html

http://www.activedayton.com/dayton/content/story/restaurants/guides/hiddengems_budget.html

http://www.activedayton.com/dayton/content/story/restaurants/2008/04/09/hiddengems.html#comments

Very good stuff...Russ

The Breakfast Club is now called The Brunch Club. All I have heard is the name change is the only thing that is different, and I can verify it is still always busy when open. The Breakfast Club remains in Lebanon.

One place that needs mentioning is Voltzy's, a little stand located in a parking lot (between Mustang Sally's and the tire place) on South Kettering Boulevard in Moraine. Once you get past the concept of the 100 Ounce+ Cheeseburgers, the sandwiches are great and the homemade cold weather soups outstanding.

Speaking of under the radar, Sherer's Ice Cream on North Main is closing.

"One place that needs mentioning is Voltzy's, a little stand located in a parking lot (between Mustang Sally's and the tire place) on South Kettering Boulevard in Moraine. Once you get past the concept of the 100 Ounce+ Cheeseburgers, the sandwiches are great and the homemade cold weather soups outstanding.

Speaking of under the radar, Sherer's Ice Cream on North Main is closing."

Man, how could I forget to mention Voltzy's?!? This is probably the most unique food experience in Dayton - a trailer in a parking lot. I love the burgers and soups, and Voltzy himself is crazy fun.

On the Sherer's note, sad to hear.

Voltzy's is a great place. I havent been there for about a year. He always remembers you and is very nice. Excellent Burger. And has alot of good stories to tell...Russ

Hi Russ,

Joe's Pizzeria - Pizza Restaurant is my favorite. They make great pizzas and there price is good.
I came know about this restaurant using a restaurant search engine http://www.boorah.com/restaurants/OH/dayton/joes-pizzeria/FB080B3D70.html. After reading the reviews and having a wonderful experience there, I ended up liking Joe's Pizzeria.