After a very busy holiday season, many on our local eateries will be taking some time off.  Here are one’s we know so far.  If you know of one, send us a note or list it in the comments below.

Ashley’s Pastry Shop
Closed for vacation through Jan 10th, will reopen Tues, Jan 11th at 7am 

Bakehouse Bread & Cookie Company
will be closed Jan 1 -11 and will reopen Jan 12th at 7am 

Bear Creek Donuts
Will reopen on Jan 7th

Grist Provisions
Will reopen at 10am on January 12th.

Hole N One Donuts
will reopen Jan 7th

Jay’s Seafood
Reopening Wednesday January 12th.

Jet Freeze
Will be closed 12/25-1/9 Reopening 1/10 12pm-7pm

Mamma DiSalvo’s
Will close Jan 1 – 11 and reopen on Jan 12th

Rumbleseat Wine
Closed Jan 1 – 6

Slyders Tavern
Closed through January 16th

Stone House Sweets Bakery & Coffee House
will reopen on Tues, Jan 11th

The Barrel House
Will be closed Jan 1st-6th.

The Dayton Woman’s Club
Will be closed January 1st – 14th

The Donut Haus
Will reopen on Jan 7th

The Winds
Closed for our winter break January 1-19, 2022. Will reopen Thursday, January 20 at 4pm for dinner.

Venecia Italian Restaurant

will be closed for vacation through January 19th. Will reopen on January 20, 2022, at 11 AM!

For another year plagued by the pandemic, we are pleased to report that less restaurants closed this year than in each of the previous 4 years.  Here’s a look back at those eateries we lost in 2021:

Heavenly Indian Grill, a kosher Vegetarian eatery featuring Chaat, tandoori, curries, and other South Indian specials was located on St Rt 741.  When  was Lexis Nexis employees began working from home, they saw a downturn in business and just couldn’t sustain the levels needed to succeed.

Gyro Palace on Airway closed in January, only to be replaced just a few months later by Gyro Maximus.

Even the chains felt the drop in business as Fuzzy Taco announced in January of 2021 that its Beavercreek location will be closing its doors permanently, like many other businesses throughout the pandemic. Fuzzy’s isn’t gone forever though, the restaurant has another location in Cincinnati.

Crossroads BBQ and More, the locally owned and operated  restaurant, which moved into a former Cadillac Jack’s space in Fairborn in April 2019, shut its doors in January as its owners announced on their restaurant’s Facebook page.

Mimi’s Cafe at the Greene closed in February after nearly 15 years in business.  When Mimi’s Cafe opened in 2007 the then fast-growing chain was owned by Bob Evans Inc. Bob Evans sold the brand to Dallas-based Le Duff America Inc. in 2013.  At one point they had almost 80 locations, but according to their website, they are now down to about 40 restaurants.

Sushi Hana, the  Japanese and Korean Restaurant located on Lyons Road since 2013 closed rather quietly in February.  At first it posted temporarily closed signs and then just never reopened.

St Anne The Tart, after two highly successful years in February they announced they were shutting down as  owner Megan Smith declared she’d “channel our efforts into new projects and begin looking for a space that will let us grow long-term in this new era of social distancing.”  Earlier this month Smith shared in an email that though she’s been looking she just hasn’t found a spot that’s right.  She did announce she is working on a cookbook and she was “putting all of my best effort and energy right now into a way in which we can still do community well together—something that feels in line with the ideals and mission we all seem to have in common.”

Lefty’s Eats & Espresso Xenia, a second location for this sandwich and coffee shop just didn’t seem to have the momentum to keep the Xenia spot afloat, as the owner announced the closing on their Facebook page in March of 2021.

Gigi’s Gyro’s in Miamisburg, which opened in August of 2018 and was slowly expanding to offer a number of international product for sale shut their doors for good in March of 2021.

Stillwrights, makers offine small batch moonshine, bourbon and rum  shut down in May of 2021.  In an unusual move Cincinnati Distilling Company bought Stillwrights brand after the Fairborn-based distiller announced its permanent closure in May.

Cafe 1610, the all vegan spot in Dayton that opened in the District Provisions spot on Wayne Ave in September of 2020 with three partners, Molly Blackshear, Xtine Brean and Cathy Mong, wasn’t open long before Xtine Brean stepped away from the business. In a video announcement on the Café 1610 Facebook in May of 2021  co-owner Molly Blackshear made the sudden announcement that Dayton’s only all-vegan restaurant would be closing at the end of the month, relocating, rebranding and “starting pretty much over in a sense.” In November they announced they would be doing some pop up shops under the Bee Vegan label.

Xuan Vietnamese, a small family owned eatery on Airway, was doing pretty solid business, until the pandemic.  His daily lunch rush from the base was gone.  Then in January  he came into work one day and smelled gasoline and saw “Fuck U China Virus” graffitied on the side of his restaurant’s building. He was shocked and he and his wife felt unsafe.  In late February a fire broke out and was being investigated as arson.  A rise in attacks against Asian-Americans combined with the economic impact of COVID-19 has left many Asian-American-owned businesses struggling. Xuan closed in May of 2021. But there is some happy news for Noop’s business.  He has now opened a stall at the 2nd Street Market, operating as HomeStyle Thai Bistro.

Texas Beef & Cattle Co, which had operated for five years on West Third Street in the Wright Dunbar neighborhood struggled during the pandemic to maintain the hep they needed to run the restaurant.  Inconsistent hours and that lack of help seemed to be the final nail in the coffin of this barbeque business.  According to their website, they are still doing catering.

Paradise Key Cafe, 1060 Patterson Road in the Breitenstrater Plaza  closed permanently in July of 2021.  The restaurant’s chief executive officer Jennifer Lynn Jones posted this on Facebook: “With a heavy heart, I am sorry to announce that Paradise in Kettering has closed its doors due to under performance. When we took over, we had hoped to bring the party to this location, but we just couldn’t quite get it to where it needed to be.” 

Las Piramdes, the Centerville eatery closed this summer on July 6. The 6290 Chambersburg Rd, Huber Heights location remains open.  Fabian Leon, son of one of the Las Piramides founders mentioned that the building had been sold. We’ve since learned that owners with Fireside Café in Liberty Township, purchased the building on 101 W. Franklin Street and will be opening The Brunch Pub.

Rapid Fired Pizza closed two underperforming units in August. Both 2001 E. Dorothy Lane in Kettering & 1200 Brown St. were shut down.

Have we missed one of your favorites that closed this year?  Leave us a comment below.

As many of you know I spent years working in the restaurant business.  After I left the business I made a commitment to help our local food service businesses by promoting them.  I don’t get paid to do this, it’s a passion project.  I know exactly how hard it is to run a business and how many times these owners walk into work ready to cook, but end up having to address broken equipment, staff no-shows and other daily dramas.  So I’ve made it my mission to support them by sharing their stories, specials and keeping you up to date on the latest restaurant news. Sure I may occasionally get a free appetizer or dessert from one of our local eateries, but that’s not why I do it.  I do it because I believe that these local restaurants are one of the things that make the Miami Valley so amazing. We are blessed to have so many local eateries, serving up so many different cuisines!

If you’ve every worked in the food business, you’d know it just grows on you.  The passion, hard work and pride that these business owners put into their job is amazing.  And very few of them will ever get rich doing it.  They just love to feed people and share their talents for making amazing food.  Watching them struggle through the last two years of COVID has been hard.  The sacrifices they’ve made to keep their doors open, working short staffed, 12 hour days and constantly worrying about how they can take care of their employees is ongoing.  I don’t think there has been a week that has gone by in the past two years that I haven’t been asked by a manager if I know of anyone that wants to work in one of their businesses.

This fall the masses have decided it’s ok to go back out to eat, local restaurants are breaking local sales records and yet it is still a struggle.  A struggle to get product in house, find and keep staff and to deal with customers that just don’t always get it.  Just this past weekend I was talking to a local owner and she shared her frustration with how some of her guests treat her staff.  She runs a scratch kitchen -meaning all recipes, dishes and products are produced from raw ingredients.  So when they start their prep for the day, they must guestimate quantities needed of each dish, and hope that supply chain issues allow them to get the product they ordered.  But as I’m sure you’ve heard in the news, many food products are limited, suppliers are having issues with staff for deliveries. Did you know food supplier Sysco recently dropped their smallest 25% of accounts, because they just couldn’t service them.  I’ve heard restaurant owners tell me that what used to be 3 hours of ordering for the week has often become 12-15 hours of trying to source product, pick it up when delivery isn’t available and paying almost double for a lot of these items.

Just recently Meadowlark owner Liz Valenti had to drive to Columbus to find the rice flour they use for their Eggplant Fries. So I share this with you all to ask you to please remember that we love that you are supporting our local restaurants, please remember to be kind to them as well.

Trashing a restaurant on an online review because they were out of your favorite brisket sandwich doesn’t help anyone.  Believe me, they were just as disappointed when their order came in that morning without the 4 briskets they ordered.  And while I’m on my soap box, before you keyboard warriors start complaining online, please contact the business and let them know of any complaints or issues you may have had during your experience.  They can’t fix what they don’t know about. And they want you to be a raving, happy customer.

So this holiday season, please extend some grace to those working hard to serve up great meals with smiling service!

Top 5 Reasons to Give A Restaurant Gift Card For The Holidays!

1. It’s what people want. With the majority of people stating that they would like to have a restaurant gift card for a gift, there is a good chance you will be giving people want they want.

2. They get a break. Those who receive a restaurant gift card will be happy to have the break and get an evening out. The majority of people would like to get a night out of their own kitchen and be waited on, as well as get a chance to dine on some great food.

3. You can’t go wrong. Sometimes people give gifts that end up being pushed to the back of a closet and never get used or they regift the at the next office Christmas party. That isn’t likely to happen with a restaurant gift card. The chances are good that the person will put that gift to use.

4. They are convenient. Shopping is not always easy, especially if you are busy and like to avoid the overly crowded stores during the holidays. Restaurant gift cards simplify your holiday shopping experience. They can also save you shipping charges if you are buying it instead of a gift that you would have to wrap and ship to someone.

5. Many restaurants are offering bonus cards with purchase, so you can even get a little something for yourself!

We’ll keep updating this list as we hear more.

Another Broken Egg– Receive a free $10 bonus gift card for every $50 bought online.

Applebee’s– Now through January 2, get a $10 bonus card when you buy $50 in gift cards from Applebee’s. Bonus cards may not be redeemed on the day they are issued and have an expiration date of 2/28/22.

Auntie Anne’s – Now through December 31, every purchase of $25 in Auntie Anne’s gift cards or eGift Cards under one transaction will earn you a free $5 eReward Code! Each $5 eReward Code is valid for redemption through 3/27/22 and must be unlocked in the Auntie Anne’s app to be redeemed.

BIBIBOP Asian Grill– Get a $5 Bonus Card with every $25 gift card purchase made in-store from BIBIBOP for a limited time.  This offer is ONLY available IN-STORE!

BJ’s Brewhouse– Buy $100 in egift cards get a $25 bonus card, plus receive a 20% off VIP Card.  Give $50 in egift cards, get a $10 bonus card.

Bonefish Grill– Receive a $10 bonus for every $50 you spend on gift cards through Dec 27th.

Bravo Italian Kitchen– Receive a $10 bonus card for every $50 gift card purchase

Buffalo Wild Wings– Purchase $30 in gift cards get a $5 bonus through Dec 31st.

Carrabba’s Italian Grill– online gift card sale  10% off through 11/15.

Chuck E Cheese- When you buy $50 in Chuck E. Cheese gift cards from now through December 25, you’ll earn a $10 bonus card free (limit 4). Bonus cards are valid from December 26, 2021 to February 28, 2022, and can not be used toward birthday parties or group events.

Cheesecake Factory – Get a $15 Promo Card with purchase of a $50 gift card online now through December 31.  The Promo Card is valid from 1/1 – 3/31/22

Chili’s – get a $10 Bonus Card with the purchase of $50 in gift cards now through December 31.  The Bonus Card is redeemable through 2/11/22

El Meson– $50 Gift cards come with will receive a bonus $10 gift card.  Over Black Friday Weekend, the first 50 $50 gift cards purchased online will randomly receive a bonus gift card worth up to as much as an additional $50 dollars!

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill – Get a $20 Bonus FREE with your $100 Gift Card Purchase

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse– Select your favorite egift card design at any dollar amount and save 10% on purchase through November 15th when you use gift code FPS10%

McAlister’s Deli – Get a $5 Voucher with a $25 gift card purchase through 12/31.  The Voucher is valid from 1/1 – 2/28/22.

Melting Pot – As part of the Thanks and Giving campaign, donate $10 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital today and receive a $20 Donate & Dine Card for a future visit at Melting Pot.

Noodles & Company – Buy $25 worth of gift cards and get a $5 Bonus Card through December 31.  The Bonus Card is valid from 1/1 – 1/12/22

O’Charley’s – Buy a $50 gift card for just $40 when you order online  now through December 31.

Old Scratch Pizza– Spend $50, get a $10 bonus card

Outback Steakhouse –  get a $10 Bonus Card with the purchase of $50 in gift cards now through 12/27.  The Bonus Card is redeemable from 1/1-2/6/22.

Panda Express – Get an online coupon code for a free bowl when you buy $35 or more of gift cards online from Panda Express through December 13

Panera Bread – For every $50 in gift cards purchased now through December 31, you’ll get a $10 bonus card from Panera Bread. Bonus cards can be used multiple times until the $10.00 is depleted or the promotion expires. Bonus cards are valid online or in-café from 1/1/22 to 1/31/22.

Penn Station –  Buy $30 or more in Gift Cards and Get a Free Small Sub Card.  Offer valid Nov 25 to Dec 24

Planet Smoothie – For every $50 in gift cards purchased online get a $15 Bonus Card now through December 31.

Red Lobster – Buy $50 in Red Lobster gift cards from 11/1/21-12/31/21 and receive a bonus coupon for $10 off a minimum $30 purchase to use January through February of 2022 (excluding 2/14/22). Red Lobster will also offer 10% off online gift card purchases of $100 or more starting Black Friday, November 26 through Cyber Monday, November 29.

Red Robin –  Now through 12/31/21, get a $5 Bonus Buck Reward for every $25 you spend on gift cards at Red Robin. Bonus Buck Rewards will be delivered via email and are valid 1/1/22 – 2/28/22.

Rusty Bucket – Get a $10 Bonus Card with the purchase of $50 in Gift Cards

Sea Jax Tavern – Get a $10 bonus card when you buy $50

Taco Bell – Get 10% off the purchase of $25 or more in gift cards at Taco Bell now through December 25.

Texas Roadhouse – Now through December 31, guests will receive a $5 reward card for every $30 in gift cards purchased at Texas Roadhouse.

The Caroline – we’re giving YOU a $20 gift card for yourself when you buy $100 in Caroline gift cards during the week of November 22nd through November 27th!