Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

Bryan Suddith

Quest To Find The Long Lost $10 Lunch

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I am cheap. Frugal. Especially lunch. I am not looking for fine dining and I am not checking the consistency of size in my diced onions. I am looking for some protein and carbs to get me through the afternoon. Even the cheap Chinese buffets are $11 or more for lunch. Inflation is testing restaurant owners and wallet conscious diners alike.

10 years ago you could find a $10 lunch pretty easily. In this post-COVID new Downtown Dayton era the $10 lunch is hard to come by while simultaneously avoiding the chain fast food joints.

Taco Garcia Mobil food truck at Huffman and East 3rd has been my go to downtown since 2019. Their prices have gone up but you can still snag two or three tacos and a Coke for around $10 or less. My usual order is one carne and two chicken and chorizo mixed. The chorizo gives some life to the chicken and the chicken gives some structure to the soft chorizo. It’s the perfect street taco in my opinion.

If I am not feeling tacos I make a run to Falb’s. Located on the corner of Chapel Street and Kiser for almost one hundred years you can’t spend more than $10 if you try. Pork Tenderloin and a salad and a Coke, $10. Burger, chili and a Coke. $10. Sloppy Joe and onion rings with a Coke, about $10. Tell Joe and Dwayne we sent you.

photo by Jim Chrissis

Closer to downtown, near the Arcade’s 3rd Street entrance you can stop by Olive Mediterranean Grill and get a Gyro and a drink for $10. I get it to go with a side of hummus and pita, you guessed it $10. The falafel platter, $10. It’s a plate sized for lunch and sized for my wallet. This menu is super accessible for meat eaters and vegetarians alike.


I am most excited about what the new owners at Kramer’s are doing. Located behind UD on Irving the new owners made some changes that have put them on my map for lunch. Wings, fries, soda $10. Burger, fries, soda, $10. 7″ pizza and soda, $10. Every day they have a special highlighting the menu. A hot Italian sub, chips and cold drink, $10 on Wednesday’s always has my attention. Don’t get me started on the happy hour specials during the week. It feels like college again.


So tell me, when the budget is tight and you need lunch, where can I find you getting a bite for $10?

Carmen’s Deli to close on April 28th

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I’ve never written a restaurant eulogy before. It saddens me to write this one.

Our beloved Haitham Imam, Dayton’s most gracious restaurateur is calling it quits. By chance I ran into Haitham, my neighbor, at the store this weekend when he told me, with a smile and a tear, that Carmen’s Deli would close on Friday April 28th. The 14 year run has come to an end.

Closing. Not remodeling. Not moving. Not exploring a new space.

Just closing.

Haitham, a Palestinian immigrant from Jerusalem, opened Carmen’s Deli back in 2009 then moved it in 2012 to what was then the Kettering Tower. Downtown has changed a lot since then and never more drastic than what we’ve experienced in the last three years. Kettering Tower is now Stratocache Tower and this is one of the unintended consequences of fewer people working downtown.

I’ll skip the rumors about Stratocache not being very interested in helping find a way to keep this institution afloat. For the record, Haitham never said a bad word to me about anyone. Not the empty Premier building across the street or the operators of Stratocache Tower. He simply thanked every patron for stopping in and waiting patiently.

Known for his smile and “thank you my friend for coming in today” and a long list of sandwiches including the falafel gyro and Reuben, both which topped my list of favorites. Haitham’s unceasing optimism and love for downtown was contagious. There was something about grabbing lunch where every sandwich and wrap was served with a side of love and gratitude.

I write this not so much as a goodbye, but rather a reminder of the good in our fair city. An immigrant coming to our city. Chasing his dream. Welcoming us into his special corner of downtown and feeding us with a smile. Let’s not forget that.

Here are three things you might not have known about Carmen’s Deli:
1) It was named after Haitham’s wife Carmen.
2) Haitham is a graduate of Sinclair’s Culinary Arts Program
3) Haitman is also employed by Sinclair and told me he will be working more there and you might find him cooking this summer for fans of the Dayton Dragons.

I’ll be there often over the next four weeks so I can thank him and grab one more falafel, one more reuben, one more burger, and hear him say “hello friend, good to see you” one more time.

Thank you my friend for feeding us these last 14 years. You and the deli will be missed.

Kettering City BBQ Opens Dec 1st!

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City BBQ is smoking in Kettering this week. For some of us BBQ fans the wait is over. Today I stopped by to see the place and grab some lunch a few days ahead of the official opening.
The building is great, a reimagined space that was formerly both Rapid Fire Pizza and built originally as a Krispy Kreme store and production facility.
This City BBQ location boasts a drive thru that many other locations in the region do not have.
Today we had the brisket sandwich and sampled three of their best sides, collards, corn pudding and the slaw. The surprise guest was the Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich that was topped with slaw, spicy mayo and pickles. Two sandwiches, three sides (big enough to share) and an iced tea came in under $30.00.
Their full menu, including the pulled pork, smoked chicken, sausage, and ribs will be available Thursday the 1st when they fully open to the public.

City Barbeque Kettering

2001 E. Dorothy Lane
Kettering, OH 45420

937-200-1006

Wizard of Za To Open On Brown Street

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Brown Street adds pizza to the line up with the addition of Columbus based Wizard of Za Pizza. Housed in the location formerly occupied by Zombie Dogs, the restaurant group behind Hunny Bee’s chicken and Fusion brought the Wizard to Dayton in a fun renovated space.
Wizard of Za pizza is not Detroit style as described by local pizza aficionado Jim Chrissis. He says this is a solid take on a Sicilian pizza with a really good focaccia base. Rumor has it the starter for the dough came to Ohio from Sicily. The dough is featured prominently in the artwork adorning the brightly painted walls.
We had the Pepperoni Pizza ($22 for the full size, feeds 3-4) with that extra charred cupped up pepperoni, red sauce, and mozzarella. We opted for the “Gimme It All” toppings which included parmesan cheese, olive oil, fresh basil and a hot honey drizzle. I will be back for this pie again soon. We sampled the cheesy bread, ($7 for a  large order) garlic knots ($5 for a small order)  and the meatballs ($7). The meatballs were full of flavor and the marinara was surprisingly spicy.
The menu has pizza for all tastes and an alternate vodka sauce is an option if you want to move away from the traditional red pizza sauce. Pesto, Hawaiian, Sausage, Cheese Pie and an all tomato pie make the list as well.  The menu offers full pizzas like we shared, personal sized pizzas as well as individual slices for a quick grab and go lunch. Very fitting for the location.
We loved seeing Killer Brownie as the sole provider of sweets on the menu. The only thing missing was a fresh salad offering.
Set to open early next week this is a great addition to the strip of restaurants that includes Fusion, Potbelly, BibiBop and Hunny Bee’s Chicken.

The Wizard of Za

1200 Brown St.
Dayton, OH 45409
Opens to the public Tues, Nov 15th.
Sunday-Saturday: 4pm-Midnight

BBQ Judge Bryan Suddith on BBQ

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I’ve written a lot about BBQ.

So today I write about it again. Today is National BBQ Day and my friends at the Kansas City Barbecue Society have been reminding me that May is National BBQ Month. I do love BBQ. I was just in South Carolina in March for bbq, judged a competition in Atlanta in April, judged a competition in Indianapolis later in April, and was in Austin last weekend eating bbq for fun.

In June I am judging contests in Ohio, cooking in a contest in Kentucky and judging another contest in Indiana. I spend a lot of time traveling to eat, cook and judge great bbq.

It doesn’t take a lot of of anything to make great barbecue. Just meat, fire, and time.  Three little things that when done right produces a great product. The best bite of barbecue I have ever had didn’t require electricity. Just a guy and a fire and long long hours tending to both.

Ribs. Brisket. Sausage and a beef rib from Austin’s La Barbecue.

Here are four things I have learned over the last 8 years traveling, eating, judging and studying American Barbecue.

First: The debate of Kansas City vs. Texas. Which is better? They are both crazy good. It’s a style difference. It’s like comparing deep dish pizza with a slice of thin New York City pizza. Both good. Not the same. All the major BBQ regions offer something unique about their region. BBQ is personal like that. It’s built on tradition and proteins that are local. Texas = Beef. Lots of it. Carolinas = Pork lots of it. My tip, don’t go to Greeneville South Carolina or Memphis looking for Brisket.

Aaron Franklin of Franklin BBQ with Bryan in Austin, TX

Second: Behind every good plate of barbecue is a family and that family has a story and barbecue is how they share that story. In South Carolina I ate at Mike and Jeff’s BBQ. Mike’s mom was the server, Mike’s sister was at the register and Mike was tending the coals at the smoker out front. Louie Mueller’s in Taylor Texas is operated by Wayne Mueller, grandson of Louie. His sister operates one of the hippest BBQ shops in Austin, La Barbecue.

SLAPS BBQ in Kansas City is run by brothers Joe and Mike and their mom is often in the store working the line. Payne’s in Memphis is still run by Flora Payne with her son and daughter at her side. She is still chopping pork at the lunch rush.

Third: BBQ is communal. It’s meant to be shared and eaten as a group. That’s my favorite. Order it all and share it family style. It’s a slow meal. It takes hours to prepare and there is no need to hurry to eat it.

Fourth: BBQ has a real legal definition. The United States Code of Federal Regulations defines BBQ, such as product labeled “Beef Barbecue” or “Barbecued Pork,” shall be cooked by the direct action of dry heat resulting from the burning of hard wood or the hot coals therefrom for a sufficient period to assume the usual characteristics of a barbecued article, which include the formation of a brown crust on the surface and the rendering of surface fat. The product may be basted with a sauce during the cooking process. The weight of barbecued meat shall not exceed 70 percent of the weight of the fresh uncooked meat.

So technically, if there isn’t a wood fire resulting in smoke or hot coals, it isn’t barbecue.

Here are the questions I am asked the most when people learn I have traveled a bit for some great barbecue:

Bryan, what’s your favorite in Texas, Memphis or Kansas City?

Texas: Must visits, Louie Mueller in Taylor Texas, Smitty’s in Lockhart, both Valentina’s and Interstellar in Austin. Snows in Lexington is worth it as well. (I plan to spend time in Houston soon).

Bryan (far right) with friends and Interstellar BBQ pitmaster Warren McDonald (back row) outside of Interstellar BBQ. Texas Monthly’s #2 ranked Texas BBQ joint in Austin.

Kansas City: My favorite is SLAPs and Q39. Please visit Kansas City Joes and Arthur Bryant’s for the experience.

Memphis: Payne’s is a must as is the Bar B Que Shop (try the spaghetti).

Bryan, what’s your favorite BBQ in Dayton?

I love what Curtis  is doing at Fatbacks BBQ and his brisket is full of flavor and is my favorite in town.

Flyby BBQ

It is hard to beat the ribs at Flyby BBQ at the Fairfield mall.

I have been so impressed by what Warped Wing Springboro is creating out of their Ole Hickory smoker and the pulled pork nachos and pork belly sliders are better than Dayton deserves.

With that said, I have had great BBQ at Oinka Doodle Moo, City Barbecue (same smoker as Warped Wing), Hickory River in Tipp City, Adam’s Rib in Eaton, Combs in Middletown, Just Q In in Cincy, Pickles and Bones in Milford, and many many more. Those three up top are just my favorites here in Dayton.

So go. Celebrate National BBQ day and find some barbecue. Find a spot you like and support your local Pitmaster.

Huber Heights Chicken Joint Gets New Owners and New Name

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Kyle Smith and Adam Price, owners of Springfield Ohio’s Chicka Wing, have purchased the Wiley’s Tenders and Fries spot on Brandt Pike in Huber Heights. Details of the purchase were not released but were finalized this week.
Kyle stated that crews are already in the store making some updates and preparing the spot to
re-open in the next few weeks under the Chicka Wing brand. New floors and a deep clean are top of the list along with new signage and branding. Chicka Wing, like the Wiley’s spot, will feature chicken wings. boneless wings, and fries. Kyle also stated the Brandt Pike location will open before the Springfield store. Chicka Wings promise a fast casual restaurant where all foods are prepped fresh and will not feature any frozen foods.
Check back here for opening date details and watch chickawing.com for updates in the coming weeks.

Quest For Dayton’s Best: Chicken Wings

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The Buffalo Wing was an economical snack created in response to late-night bar patrons looking for a quick snack. In the now famed Anchor Bar in Buffalo, more than 50 years ago, the Buffalo Chicken Wing was invented. PS. The guys who started BW’s (BW3’s) were students at Kent State from Buffalo and wanted that treat from home, so they opened a place.


Now…Dayton has no shortage of places to get wings. Everyone is getting in on the wing business but a few in the area do it right.


Quick disclaimer, I can’t in good faith review a wing produced by any chain that specializes in pizza. Wings that are 40 minutes old and delivered in a cardboard box is just wrong. Secondly, I left out two locally famous wing joints. For the record, I love having a tall beer and a plate of wings from Roosters or Frickers. I enjoy both equally. But…for this quest, I went to the little spots.
Today I am talking Dayton’s best wings, my favorites. A place where you can always get a great wing. The best if you will. Here’s where I land in my quest for the best of Dayton chicken wings.
1035 South Main Street
Centerville, Ohio 45458
Dayton Dragons Plaza
329 E. First St.
Dayton, Ohio 45402
Lock 27 is making magic one wing at a time. These are smoked. Deep-fried and full of flavor unmatched in Dayton. These aren’t the 10-cent wings of your college days. Crispy, but insanely tender and makes you wish you got two orders. The hot option comes in habanero peach and the mild option is a dry rub full of flavor without the heat. Lock 27 doesn’t stop there. They are making the bleu cheese dressing by hand with a little sriracha for an extra kick.
Grab one of their beers to accompany. Nothing better to wash down an order of these wings.


1001 S. Main St.
Englewood, OH 45322
These guys are more than brisket and pulled pork. Two reasons to make the drive north. Company 7 is smoking these wings in a wet marinade and then deep-frying to perfection when you order. These guys look like a standard naked wing until you take a bite. It’s the crispy fried wing you wish for with a smokey back-end you normally only get from a good slice of brisket or smoked pulled pork. The wing is one of a kind and is fall off the bone perfection so nothing is wasted.
Like Lock 27 you have options for beer to pair. Lock keeps 25 tabs of craft beers all the time. These wings are bold in flavor and will stand up to your favorite IPA or Dark Ale.


1443 N. Detroit
Xenia, OH
I like options. Nicks is a joint older than the chicken wing for which they’ve become famous. When I say options I mean options. Nicks offers their wings breaded or naked (no breading is my preference) and you can enjoy 14 different sauces.
Fire in ya Hole | Nick’s Secret Sweet Hot Damn | Original Hot | Spicy Garlic | Asian Cajun | General Zen’s | On The Fence | Sissy Sauce | Sweet Bourbon BBQ | Sweet BBQ | Sweet-n-Sour | Honey Mustard | Mild | Nick’s Dry Rub
I split my order between Original Hot and Sweet Bourbon BBQ. The BBQ is sticky and sweet with a hint of bourbon to keep it exciting. I like the hot with Bleu Cheese dressing. It’s the way the Anchor Bar intended.
Bonus…order your favorite wings with a waffle. Just try it. Something crazy good about a hot wing and a syrup-covered waffle and Nick’s does it right.


9496 Dayton-Lebanon Pike,
Centerville, OH 45458
2030 East Dorothy Lane,
Kettering, OH 45420
The World’s 2nd Best Wings. That’s how Archers bills them. These wings are huge and tasty. This is my go-to here in Kettering for a quick lunch. Available in Mild, Hot, Archer’s Style, Destroyer, Sweet BBQ, Hickory BBQ, and Chipotle BBQ. You guessed it, I get mine with the hot and always get the celery and bleu cheese. These are lightly breaded and deep fried. No tricks. Just good chicken with great flavor.
Keeping up with the theme of great wings and beer, Archer’s is no slouch in the beer area. They have 20 rotating taps but I stick with the Archer’s Ale. I’m a creature of habit and a good hoppy ale seems to work with the oil carried spice of a deep-fried wing.
703 Watervliet Ave
Dayton, OH 45420
I love this place. A) Everyone is treated like a local and B) the food is as fantastic as the service. I love these wings. Naked. Fried right. Big. Meaty. The hot option is just perfect. It’s worth noting that these wings come in under $10.00 and that is a deal in this post-pandemic chicken wing economy. Plenty of local beers on tap and plenty more craft beers by the bottle/can.
Here are a few more spots to get great wings in Dayton:
A very traditional wing that never leaves you disappointed. Cooked perfectly.
Hard to beat the prices here. If you are wanting 10, order 15. Thank me later.
This is a great pub that happens to have fantastic wings, and gyros, Reubens, burgers, and a bevy of deep-fried bar goodness. Try the wings first. Then go back again and again.
Go ahead. Tell me. Where should I be getting great wings here in Dayton that didn’t make the list? 
P. S.  Occasionally I make my own wings at home. I’m gonna share a secret with you. I have found the best recipe for getting my wings to restaurant quality. Alton Brown makes it easy for anyone to make at home, no deep fryer needed.

Workshop To Present a Slam-Worthy Story

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Story Slam Dayton kicks off it’s 6th season with a “Storytelling for the Stage” workshop on Tuesday, August 17th from 7-8:30pm at Wiley’s Comedy Club

Modeled after The Moth storytelling events, the open mic event welcomes storytellers of all ages and experience levels to share a story from the stage. Story Slam stories are 1st person true stories told live and are all centered on monthly theme.

Slam tellers all join together on stage as winner is announced.

The August 17th  workshop, led by Story Slam producer Bryan Suddith, who is a 4 time Moth winning storyteller.  It will cover the basics of crafting a 5 minute personal story for the Story Slam stage. The 90 minute class will give you the tools to create a story, practice and a chance to take the stage with confidence under the lights.   Register online to confirm your spot for just $10. Each registration also comes with a ticket to a Story Slam event during the upcoming year.

Story Slam happens on the 3rd Tuesday of each month and they’ll kick off the season on Sept 21st. A theme is announced for each month and stories should relate to that theme. Past themes have included Nature, Missed Connections, Swipe Left, In Control, and Creeped Out. Admission is just $5 plus a 2 item minimum in the showroom.

 

Bryan’s Updated Quest for the Best Wings

By

The Buffalo Wing was an economical snack created in response to late-night bar patrons looking for a quick snack. In the now famed Anchor Bar in Buffalo, more than 50 years ago, the Buffalo Chicken Wing was invented. PS. The guys who started BW’s (BW3’s) were students at Kent State from Buffalo and wanted that treat from home, so they opened a place.
Now…Dayton has no shortage of places to get wings. Everyone is getting in on the wing business but a few in the area do it right.
Quick disclaimer, I can’t in good faith review a wing produced by any chain that specializes in pizza. Wings that are 40 minutes old and delivered in a cardboard box is just wrong. Secondly, I left out two locally famous wing joints. For the record, I love having a tall beer and a plate of wings from Roosters or Frickers. I enjoy both equally. But…for this quest, I went to the little spots.
Today I am talking Dayton’s best wings, my favorites. A place where you can always get a great wing. The best if you will. Here’s where I land in my quest for the best of Dayton chicken wings.
1035 South Main Street
Centerville, Ohio 45458

 

Dayton Dragons Plaza
329 E. First St.
Dayton, Ohio 45402

 

Lock 27 is making magic one wing at a time. These are smoked. Deep-fried and full of flavor unmatched in Dayton. These aren’t the 10-cent wings of your college days. Crispy, but insanely tender and makes you wish you got two orders. The hot option comes in habanero peach and the mild option is a dry rub full of flavor without the heat. Lock 27 doesn’t stop there. They are making the bleu cheese dressing by hand with a little sriracha for an extra kick.
Grab one of their beers to accompany. Nothing better to wash down an order of these wings.

 

1001 S. Main St.
Englewood, OH 45322
These guys are more than brisket and pulled pork. Two reasons to make the drive north. Company 7 is smoking these wings in a wet marinade and then deep-frying to perfection when you order. These guys look like a standard naked wing until you take a bite. It’s the crispy fried wing you wish for with a smokey back-end you normally only get from a good slice of brisket or smoked pulled pork. The wing is one of a kind and is fall off the bone perfection so nothing is wasted.
Like Lock 27 you have options for beer to pair. Compnay 7 keeps 25 tabs of craft beers all the time. These wings are bold in flavor and will stand up to your favorite IPA or Dark Ale.

 

1443 N. Detroit
Xenia, OH
I like options. Nicks is a joint older than the chicken wing for which they’ve become famous. When I say options I mean options. Nicks offers their wings breaded or naked (no breading is my preference) and you can enjoy 14 different sauces.

 

Fire in ya Hole | Nick’s Secret Sweet Hot Damn | Original Hot | Spicy Garlic | Asian Cajun | General Zen’s | On The Fence | Sissy Sauce | Sweet Bourbon BBQ | Sweet BBQ | Sweet-n-Sour | Honey Mustard | Mild | Nick’s Dry Rub

 

I split my order between Original Hot and Sweet Bourbon BBQ. The BBQ is sticky and sweet with a hint of bourbon to keep it exciting. I like the hot with Bleu Cheese dressing. It’s the way the Anchor Bar intended.
Bonus…order your favorite wings with a waffle. Just try it. Something crazy good about a hot wing and a syrup-covered waffle and Nick’s does it right.
9496 Dayton-Lebanon Pike,
Centerville, OH 45458

 

2030 East Dorothy Lane,
Kettering, OH 45420

 

The World’s 2nd Best Wings. That’s how Archers bills them. These wings are huge and tasty. This is my go-to here in Kettering for a quick lunch. Available in Mild, Hot, Archer’s Style, Destroyer, Sweet BBQ, Hickory BBQ, and Chipotle BBQ. You guessed it, I get mine with the hot and always get the celery and bleu cheese. These are lightly breaded and deep fried. No tricks. Just good chicken with great flavor.
Keeping up with the theme of great wings and beer, Archer’s is no slouch in the beer area. They have 20 rotating taps but I stick with the Archer’s Ale. I’m a creature of habit and a good hoppy ale seems to work with the oil carried spice of a deep-fried wing.
703 Watervliet Ave
Dayton, OH 45420
I love this place. A) Everyone is treated like a local and B) the food is as fantastic as the service. I love these wings. Naked. Fried right. Big. Meaty. The hot option is just perfect. It’s worth noting that these wings come in under $10.00 and that is a deal in this post-pandemic chicken wing economy. Plenty of local beers on tap and plenty more craft beers by the bottle/can.
Here are a few more spots to get great wings in Dayton:
A very traditional wing that never leaves you disappointed. Cooked perfectly.
Hard to beat the prices here. If you are wanting 10, order 15. Thank me later.
This is a great pub that happens to have fantastic wings, and gyros, Reubens, burgers, and a bevy of deep-fried bar goodness. Try the wings first. Then go back again and again.
Go ahead. Tell me. Where should I be getting great wings here in Dayton that didn’t make the list? 
P.S.
COccasionally I make my own wings at home. I’m gonna share a secret with you. I have found the best recipe for getting my wings to restaurant quality. Alton Brown makes it easy for anyone to make at home, no deep fryer needed.

Quest for $10 Lunch Downtown

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Affordable housing. That’s the supposed guarantee that redevelopment doesn’t become gentrification.  It’s a promise that there will be affordable housing so normal people can live in or near the newly redeveloped hip spaces that cost more than the suburbs.

I want that for food.

Affordable dining. With the introduction of “nicer” dining in downtown, Jollity, the Biscuit place, Sueno, and others, the hunt for a good lunch under $10 downtown are becoming scarce. Even that little Chinese buffet is almost $10 now for what is a less than stellar lunch buffet.

So, in good faith, here is my list of best lunches downtown for under $10.

Carmen’s Deli  (Stratocache Tower)
Carmen’s Deli Falafael Gyro for $7.95. I eat this at least once a month. No sides are necessary. With all the fresh veggies on top of that pita and crumbled Falafel, you can skip the chips or salad.

 

Benjamin’s The Burger Master  (North Main)
Beans and Cornbread with a wing or two at Benjamin’s Burger Master. If southern/soul food isn’t your thing, you can score a burger and fries well south of $10 there. It’s on Main street and delightful every time.

 

Blind Bob’s  (Oregon District)
Blind Bobs for a BLT and chips. Again, no-frills, just a great sandwich for a great price. When it’s colder I go for the Grilled Cheese with a cup of chili (or the pickle soup). You are still out the door for under $10.

 

Taqueria Garcia Mobil
7 Huffman Ave, Dayton, OH 45403 (937) 554-8196 (calling ahead speeds things up)
Tacos are $2.50 each now, but three will fill you up, leaving room for a can of cola and you’ve just had the best tacos for under $9.00. I like the chicken and chorizo mix or I get the steak. Get the street taco with cilantro and onion, skip the cheddar, lettuce, and sour cream. This ain’t Taco Bell.

Falb’s Restaurant (Over by Children’s Hospital)
If you have a minute for a short drive out of the business district, and you want a burger, or breaded pork tenderloin, with onion rings and a Coke for less than $8, get to Falb’s. Eat like a king for under $10 there. Check their daily specials.

Canal Street Arcade and Deli 
My final go-to when I can’t break the bank is the Club sandwich, half size, at Canal Street Deli. Grab a bag of chips and lunch is completed for about $9.00. My bar tab usually ruins this. A beer while you wait, a beer with lunch, cancel your one o’clock, and get another beer while you play a quick round of Golden Tee while heading to the door. Allegedly.

Where are you finding a bargain for lunch? Let us know in the comments.

Fair Food Elevated

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Visitors to the Montgomery County Fair are going to have some choices to make when it comes to lunch and dinner.

Grumpy’s BBQ and their chopped brisket!

Sure, you can find funnel cakes and all manner of fried foods and frozen drinks, but did you know that Gourmet Corndogs are a thing? I found awesome bbq today with Grumpy’s BBQ. They are local, came down from Greenville and they are serving up some awesome chopped brisket, more than the bun could handle. With a half dozen sauces, pickles, peppers and onions, you can top it the way you like. Big sandwich, big dring and slaw, $10.00.

Two soft tacos from Taco Depot

Tacos at a fair? Yes indeed. Taco Depot from Bellefontaine (pronounced Bell Fountain) Ohio are serving up pretty loaded soft tacos for $3.00. A great lunch that won’t break the bank. They invited me back for a wet burrito. Imagine a burrito made with beef and beans, then rolled, then covered in nacho cheese sauce? Get an extra napkin and carry that thing to a picnic table to eat with a fork.

Back to that gourmet Corndog. I’ve got my eye on the Reuben corndog from Bite Me, find this yellow truck and go fancy with your next corndog. No matter what you want, you are sure to find it. Soul food, fried pork tenderloins, deep fried desserts, you’ll find it all at the fair. Now through Saturday night!

 

Bite Me

 

Dayton’s Newest Food Celebrity

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People often assume it is all about the food when I travel for bbq or to judge barbecue competitions. I will stipulate that the food is good, but the people I meet are more interesting than the food.

This past weekend was no exception. I was in Franklin Indiana for the Hoosier BBQ Classis, a KCBS sanction Master Series competition. This two-day competition brought more than 50 teams from across the midwest to a small town in South Central Indiana. I was most excited to see a few of my favorite teams, like Ale Yeah from Columbus Ohio, and the BBQ Bus father-son duo from Chicago.

Photo from instagram.com/bluesmokeblaire

Then I learned that Dayton Ohio’s own Erica Blaire, team Blue Smoke Blaire, would be in attendance with her mom for the contest. Still relatively unknown to most of Dayton, she has been the subject of lots of talk in Dayton’s online foodie community in recent weeks.

It only took one minute and I was able to find her among the dozens of other teams cleaning up after Saturday’s contest. Every team knew exactly who she was and where she was set up. One knock on her RV door and were sitting by her cooling smoker on Saturday afternoon chatting all things BBQ.

First of all, she is not like the other competitors on the KCBS circuit. Most of the field looks like me. Late 40’s, early 50’s, caucasian, a little overweight, and mostly male. Erica is none of the above. Dark skinned, decidedly prettier than the field, Law School grad, and formally trained as a sommelier. And. And. She’s featured on the current season of Food Network’s BBQ Brawl, Season 2.

Erica is not a caterer, she is not a seasoned competitor, but just like those other teams set up around her, she is passionate about perfecting the art and science of barbecue. And just like those other teams, she is generous with her time, stories, and her hospitality overflows. That is why the other teams have so quickly come to admire her and have welcomed her to the BBQ competition family.

Her journey is not the story I’ve heard from a hundred teams. Like her brand of BBQ, it is uniquely Erica. She holds a Psychology Degree from Wright State and attended Law School at Rutgers, followed that by practicing criminal defense in Miami Florida. Looking for a new challenge, she moved to Napa and pursued additional training as a Sommelier. That training further fueled her love for all things food and drink taking her to San Diego California putting that training to work in the finest SoCal resort hotels.

It was her return back home to Ohio where the bug for BBQ hit. As she told me, it was her dad that encouraged her to pursue BBQ. So she did. She jumped right into the deep end in the midst of the pandemic entering virtual and in-person contests.

Photo from instagram.com/bluesmokeblaire

While still a practicing attorney and new mom, it was her contribution to The Pitmaster’s Cookbook that put her on the map. This award-winning cookbook was a project that grew from a social media pitmaster group. Soon after, one thing leads to another, and she finds herself in Austin Texas cooking for Bobby Flay, Michael Symon, and Eddie Jackson for the 2nd Season of BBQ Brawl.

My love for BBQ has put me in the pits and kitchens in Austin, KC, and Memphis. I’ve met Tootsie and Clay, Aaron Franklin, Miguel Vidal of Valentina’s, Joe from SLAP’s, and chatted with Flora Payne in Memphis, but they were all BBQ famous before I ever met them. Erica is just getting started and soon you’ll hear her name and you’ll know that means Blue Smoke Blaire BBQ and Dayton Ohio.

Join me in following Erica’s journey on the Food Network, bluesmokeblaire.com, or at instagram.com/bluesmokeblaire.

Catch Season 2, Episode 2 of BBQ Brawl on Food Network this week. I’ll be watching and rooting for Erica, one of Dayton’s own, telling everyone I know, that I know her.

Quest for The Best Soul Food

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I grew up just south of Dayton. In between Springboro and Lebanon and I grew up eating beans and cornbread on Sundays. The cornbread was made in a cast-iron skillet, and the beans were cooked all day on the stovetop. Sometimes the beans, or peas, would have a piece of ham, most times not. My little brother and I ate them with a wedge of onion. Fried potatoes were cooked in an electric skillet in lard or Crisco.

At my grandma’s apartment in Alabama fried okra, canned tomatoes that she put up, and a “mess” of greens were always part of Saturday dinners. She never cooked on Sunday. I always classified these foods as southern. A roasted chicken, a ham bone in a pot of peas, and that cornbread, white cornmeal, no sugar, baked in a skillet with lard. I now can make that cornbread and will sometimes buy a quart of buttermilk so I can eat soak the cornbread in a glass of the buttermilk and eat it with a spoon like my dad did.

It wasn’t until I was older that I learned in the north this is called soul food. Soul food scholar, author and fellow BBQ Judge Adrian Miller, says this about soul food:

“My contention is soul food is really the interior cooking of the Deep South that migrates across the country. I think of soul food as an immigrant cuisine and ultimately a national cuisine, because black folks just landed in all parts of the country.” -Adrian Miller

My grandma was born in Georgia, poor, lived in Alabama for the last 75 years of her life and worked in cotton fields, factories, and kept house for an old rich guy in the little city where she raised 7 kids on her own.

Like many others, she took the cheapest and least desirable foods and made created meals that created some of my favorite memories with my cousins and Alabama family. After her death, I began to search out the foods that reminded me of her table and the recipes my mom took from her mother-in-law’s kitchen. I have found two places that fit the bill perfectly here in Dayton.

Benjamins The Burger Master
1000 N Main St Dayton, OH 45405

When I need some beans and greens, my first stop is Benjamin’s Burger Master on Main. Most of you go there for the burger, but I go for the cornbread, collard greens, and pintos, or soup beans they always have on the line for lunch. There are always bbq ribs, made like my mom did in the crockpot, and fried chicken wings as well. But I am there for the memory of those soup beans poured over a piece of cornbread with a dash of hot sauce. When I close my eyes I can taste and smell the memories of that little eastside apartment where my cousins gathered in the tiny kitchen.

Huffies BBQ
925 McArthur Ave Dayton, OH 45417

Recently my work has me working on Edwin C Moses and that means Huffies BBQ is around the corner. This family-owned spot has been there forever. Literally. Their menu has it all. Black-eyed peas, pinto beans, fried okra, collard greens, ribs, and chicken. I had the greens, peas, and bbq ribs recently and the flavors were all there. There’s more to the menu, including burgers and fries, but that’s not what I am after when I am there.

I think southern food, soul food, is a lot like bbq. It takes a lot of time and love to create something special from foods that are often overlooked as cheap or difficult.

There has been a bevy of places that create some amazing food that gets close. Eden Spice in West Carrolton has the best fried cabbage. Stuffed Enuff on North Dixie didn’t survive the pandemic- but is still doing pop-ups,  and Fat Boyz BBQ hits all the right notes as well if you find them around town.

Where do you go for soul food and when can we meet for lunch?

Fatbacks 2.0

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No one is more excited about the return Fatbacks Barbeque than me. For more than five years this little spot on Linden Avenue has been my favorite go-to barbecue spot. Today would’ve been the eighth anniversary of the restaurant formally owned and operated by Larry “Bub” Britton.

There has been a passing of the keys (and pit) to the new proprietor Curtis Fackler. Curtis is a friend and former student of Bub’s. Curtis is a New Carlisle native who has big plans for Fatbacks while keeping the charm and menu the same as it was under Bub’s ownership.

Curtis took the keys it recently and I had a chance to sit down with him to  talk BBQ and specifically the future of Fatbacks.

Curtis told me he has already began to make some tech upgrades including new point of sale system that will allow online ordering and is investigating adding Uber Eats to increase local awareness of this locally known and adored bbq spot.

Curtis said there are no changes planned for the menu and mentioned that he is looking into more local sources for the beef and pork. Curtis is also coaxing as many of the staff back as possible. The longtime pitmaster has already agreed to return. That kind of knowledge and skill isn’t easy to come by.


Curtis lives just blocks away from the Linden Ave address where the restaurant operates and is home base for the popular Fatbacks Catering business.

During our chat I learned that the he and his partners are waiting on final health department inspections and certifications. Red tape can take time but the kitchen and smoker are ready to go on short notice. Under Larry’s coaching they have started ordering food and supplies for the upcoming grand re-opening.

Curtis Fackler

I asked Curtis if folks will be seeing Bub around the shop in the coming weeks. He said that Bub is committed to a successful hand off and will be around for an undetermined amount of time but will always have a seat at FatBacks.

I did learn a few more facts about the owner and what we can expect in 2021.

1) He’s a big Red’s fan and we may see some sports memorabilia among the Pig Hall of Fame collection that adorns the walls

2) He’s working to finishing the Fatbacks food truck that Bub started (he estimated its 90% ready)

3) Pending approval from the health department we can expect to be eating brisket, ribs and those famous pig pops in Mid-March.

Happy 8th Anniversary to Fatbacks and best wishes for a great year ahead.

Bryan’s Quest for the Perfect Superbowl Menu

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Superbowl Sunday is like Thanksgiving for me.  I love to cook for a holiday and the Superbowl is one of the top 5 foodie holidays for me. Instead of an entree and sides, its a day dedicated to small bites and appetizers.

I got a note today from Brock Mastersons with their Superbowl Party pack. They listed all their favorites bundled up for one price. Meatballs, stuffed mushrooms, veggie tray, charcuterie, mac and cheese and a bacon wrapped shrimp app. Feeds 6 fans and all for less than $90.00

That has me thinking. This Sunday it’s just me and the missus and she hates when I call her the missus, how would I spend $90 for the perfect Superbowl meal.

This is how I would roll:

Wings from Lock 27 Centerville
I’ve written about these and declared them the best in Dayton. My favorite in Dayton. Smoked. Deep fried. Peach habanero sauce. Ridiculously perfect. $14

Spinach Crab Dip from Christopher’s in Kettering
This Spin dip is next level. Spinach artichoke dip, claw crabmeat and baked, served with fried naan bread chips. $9

Chips and Dip.  From the Trolley Stop in the Oregon District
Maybe COVID has me jonesing for patio time and beer at Trolley at sunset on warm summer’s evening. Or that dip is just a wonder of culinary creativity. Either way. Its on the menu along with their nacho’s. The chorizo and queso blanco, not the veggie kind. $5.5 for Mike Sell’s and dip, $8.5 for the Macho Nachos.

So we’ve knocked out wings and plenty of dips and chips and we are only $38 dollars in.

Adding a pizza to this menu would be gluttonous, but what if one of our college kids showed up with a friend? Be prepared, that’s the Boy Scout way. So I’d go with Junior’s Pizza on Wilmington Pike in Kettering.  His pizza is a Dayton style, but heftier like Ron’s in Miamisburg or Joe’s in Riverside. I keep it classy, Pepperoni and extra cheese.
A medium two topping only sets you back $15, so add the fried pickles. They can’t be beat for $6.50 more.

We are at $60 and the only thing missing are beverages and some veggies.

Kettering’s Eudora Brewing Company is how we wrap this up.
I like the Bees Knees. Its kinda hoppy. Not too strong and has a slight sweet finish and I like that. A growler for two, the hummus plate and the fabulous Grape and Goat salad comes in at about $30.


That’s a good day and a menu to please all ages, all palates and we got some veggies in there too.

Bryan’s Favorites for 2020

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Confession: I am 8 weeks overdue for an article here at Dayton Most Metro.

I’ve been working on my latest piece in my Quest for the Best series. See past Quests here. I just can’t pull the trigger. Calling a place the best is hard to do. Too much drama from the local foodie scene when you label it the best.

My Quests started a long time ago. 5-6 or 7 years ago I created a Pad Thai crawl. My group ponied up $50 and we ate Pad Thai 5 times in one afternoon. Eat. Rest. Drive. Eat again. Repeat. Started at noon at the Greene and finished at Thai 9 at 5:00. A while later I wrote it up as my quest to find the best Pad Thai in Dayton. I don’t recommend that volume for anyone in a day.

I repeated that same format with a taco crawl, four stops, three hours. I’ve done epic 8 or 10 restaurant crawls in Kansas City in 48 hours. Same in Memphis. Austin. Once did 4 BBQ places in one day here in Southwest Ohio.

In case you are wondering, my favorite BBQ in all of Southwest Ohio is either Just Q’in (Walnut Hills) or Combs BBQ in Middletown. Here in Dayton I like most all, City, Oink, Smokin, Fat Backs, and FlyBy are all legit and doing good stuff with BBQ here. If I didn’t list a local brick and mortar store in Dayton just now, that was on purpose. Either I don’t like it, or it doesn’t count as a BBQ spot for me.

Bryan tackling the beef rib at Franklin BBQ, Austin Texas

I later wrote about the best Reuben in Dayton. I had Reuben sandwiches at 17 restaurants over an 8 week period. That’s two a week or more for two months. I thought I found the best. I really just found my favorite.

All this to say, in recent weeks and months I have seen the worst in foodies when the subject of “Wheres the Best?” arises in a conversation.

If I have learned anything its that best is subjective. There are no standards for  best Pad Thai and when you factor in regional tastes or the chef putting it together its impossible to decide on the standard for best. Same with biscuits and gravy. Or tacos. Tacos people! Tacos are more regional in Mexico than pizza in the US.

What people are asking, when they ask for the best, is this: What is your favorite?

Asking that question takes away the debate. My favorite my not be your favorite. But no matter what the sauces are, or the cut of meat, my favorite is still my favorite.

In third grade, Jennifer Whitley quietly smoked the rest of Mrs. Hopkin’s class in the 50 yard dash. She was not the best runner. She was simply the fastest runner in the class that day. And for many days and years ahead. There’s a difference. Best. Fastest. Favorite. That is also the day I learned I would never be on the track team.

When we say best, we say favorite, and when we say favorite, we often mean personal or nostalgic. I am an unabashed Skyline Chili guy and Cassano’s pizza guy. I love them both. Unashamed.  Those two places were a big deal in the small town I grew up in. I have close personal memories of dining with my family at the Lebanon London Bobby’s and later Cassano’s pizza. Up here, closer to Dayton, Marion’s is an institution. For many of the same reasons.

Recently I had the best service and the best complete dinner I’ve had this year. It was at Jay’s Seafood in the Oregon district. I had never been there. My tastes tend more to Abners, Taco trucks and low brow BBQ, not fine dining.

But. Jay’s did not disappoint. If I shared the menu with you, someone would tell me how they got better scallops or white fish or spinach salad somewhere else in town. Maybe the fried oyster was not the best. But it was perfect for me. Delightful crispy fritter with a well cooked tender oyster tucked inside. Having lived in Florida on the coast and in Louisiana near the coast, it was as good as I ever had. If I called it the best, someone would call me out for knowing nothing about fried oysters. If there was a technical error, it was never observed under the lighting of perfect and attentive service, a romantic dining room and gorgeous dinner partner.

I’ve had similar perfect nights at Mamma Disalvos, Treasure Island, Oakwood Club, Pine Club, and Thai 9 has never let me down. Some will comment and disagree with my experience, saying theirs wasn’t the same. Your experience and my experience don’t have to be the same for them both to be true.

So, for my best of list this year I offer this instead, my favorite foods and where to get them:

Italian – Mamma Disalvos
Deli – Zink’s Centerville (Pork tenderloin is ridiculous)
Burger – Disalvo’s Deli (Thursday’s only)
Taco – Garcia Mobil truck (3rd and Huffman)
Pizza – Cassano’s or Old Scratch
Pad Thai – House of Thai (Beavercreek)
Cuban Sandwich – El Meson (best con gris too)
Biscuits and Gravy – Tanks or Mom’s (if you know you know) (Franklin Ohio)
Falafel – Carmen’s Deli
Reuben – FlyBoys Deli
Fried Chicken – Krispy Krunchy Chicken, Gas station, Stroop and Far Hills
Bakery – Big Sky
Chili – Slyder’s Tavern
Wings – Lock 27
Patio – Trolley Stop (I can’t wait to be there again)
Bar – Lily’s

I know what is going to happen. People are gonna see this list. They are going to comment, sure that is good, but have you had…..? The chances are I have. I probably really have tried your spot. So let’s remember. I’m not saying the best. I am saying this is my favorite.

Falb’s tenderloin and rings.

For the record, Zink’s makes a fantastic burger, always cooked perfect. Carmen’s Deli makes a great Reuben. FlyBoy deli has a reuben pizza that will have you rethinking your life. It’s that good. Tank’s burger and those fries. Killer. Thai-9 has my favorite Red Curry and their sushi is top notch. Yummy Burger has great Pad Thai if a burger isn’t your thing. Company 7 has great wings and bbq too. Jimmy’s Ladder 11 has a shrimp po’ boy that reminds me of Baton Rouge. For a burger and beer, its hard to have a better experience than Blind Bob’s and their wings are legit too.  Fastest lunch under $10? Falbs.

My favorite calamari ever was at Oakwood Club, my most memorable black and bleu burger came from there too, same night. That night was a celebration. Friends. Drinks. War stories. The food just came and we shared and ate. I remember the people as much as the calamari, cocktails and that burger that arrived just as the kitchen was closing. Are there better burgers? Maybe, but that night, well that can’t be done again. You see, the calamari was just one part. It was the experience as much as the perfect cut, tasty tempura or the accompanying sauce. Favorite. Not best.

So, tell me your favorite, leave a comment and tell me yours!