Do you have any favorite food places that went out of business, and you still miss them to this day ? Yeah, we do too. This week, lifelong Daytonian, the Big Ragu, takes a trip down memory lane and talk about some restaurants we still mourn to this day. Eateries that used to shine in the Dayton area, which are now gone but not forgotten. Please join us in this of recollection of past Food Adventures. Feel free to add some places of your own, by commenting below.
Here is our list of restaurants that we wish had never closed. Our “Lost Food Gems of Dayton”
JED’S STEAK AND RIBS – Remember their salad bar? Sure it had croutons that tasted like crayons, but their steak burger and ‘make your own sundae bar’ were great childhood memories and huge innovations at the time. There were many Jed’s around the Dayton area, one was located on 725 in Centerville and is now a Goodwill store. We cannot find any photos or trace of this place online, can you?
SHUCKIN’ SHACK – One of our all-time favorite places was on North Main St. in Dayton. They would bring steamed clams out in golf ball baskets. At the raw bar you could sit and eat raw oysters and clams, and throw your shells into a trough. Who could forget their massive peel and eat shrimp, or fried smelts? This was the only place in Dayton that made you fell like you were in a wharf type restaurant in Florida.
THE PEERLESS MILL– The Miamisburg Restaurant with the old fashioned, old school menu. Inside it was like a mixture of Thanksgiving and Christmas everyday. We recall the incredible decor and churning wheel waterfall. This restaurant was warm and inviting, with a trickling water wheel in the lobby. The food was fantastic, and the service was always exceptional. It was a great place for family celebrations.
KEENG WHA – This Chinese restaurant used to be on the corner of Woodman and Dorothy Lane. They served Ragu’s favorite Chinese dish of all time: “Princess Prawns.” A popular place in the 80’s until the chef left, and it was all downhill until it closed in the mid 90’s.
BILL KNAPPS – The kids meal was filled with animal names like the “tiger” or the “elephant.” The best au gratin potatoes ever were served here in a tiny crock pot with browned cheese on top. Ragu loved the clam strips dinner and their signature chocolate cake. On Tuesdays is was a full meal deal where every entree came with salad, soup and dessert. INSANE ! There was a Bill Knapps on 48 near Loop Rd. in Centerville, one by the Dayton Mall, and another near what is now The Greene.
GIRVE’S BROWN DERBY– As kids, we felt like kings in this place. They had the largest salad bar in town and you could even order a kiddie cocktail. Ragu loved the kids menu fish dinner. Adults seemed to love the “Gus’ Steak” which came out with a wooden stake saying medium, or rare with on onion ring on top. There was a bar inside and even lobster tail dinners flowed freely. We felt the Brown Derby “jumped the shark” when it moved from Bigger Rd to the 725 location by the Dayton Mall. Big mistake, we really miss this food gem.
Woody’s Grocery Store in West Carrollton
WOODY’S GROCERY – We might say the bakery and seafood department was the best part of this West Carrollton icon. Also, we loved the deli with shaved Corned Beef and Swiss on hard rolls with poppy seeds on top. We remember a cashier named Don Baker who had hair like Elvis that never changed for years. Noone could forget the plaid dresses and bonnets worn by some of the female workers.
ELDER BEERMAN RESTAURANT – Who doesn’t love a place where you could get breakfast with Santa and the Easter bunny? Located upstairs in the Centerville store on State Route 48, our memories are also of the Friday night buffet. This was a place where the waitresses were “real” waitresses and they had the same staff for decades.
BURGER CHEF- To this day, we crave the Big Chef sandwich and their “works” bar where you could load up your burger with toppings! Remember that their regular hamburgers were stuffed into clear wrapping pouches and the steam marks would be on the plastic wrap? Bring back Burger Chef !!
CHICKEN LOUIE’S – A 24 hour chicken wing place? What a great idea ! This was a fixture on North Main Street in Dayton for over 40 years. Ragu would risk life and limb by ordering through the bullet proof glass at dusk. The related “Lou’s Broaster Hut on 3rd st had a special place in our heart.
RAX ROAST BEEF – We loved the salad bar, which hilariously offered nacho cheese next to the pudding. The menu had a star, the “BBC” (the beef bacon and cheddar) which proves the theory that bacon makes everything better. But Rax lovers know that the cheese sauce made those sandwiches. We frequented the 725 store that is now a Tim Horton’s
ROCKY ROCOCO’S PIZZA– Chunks of roma tomatoes on their pizzas, made for a unique tasting pizza that was full of flavor.
JOE BISSETT’S GRUB STEAK– The killer menu item was the Princess Steak and a salad with blue cheese crumbles on top. We also rocked the “kiddie cocktail” on North Main St, Dayton. You may recall our article on the closing of The Grub steak HERE.
Lums – where hot dogs ruled
COZYMEL’S – Great place for happy hours with margaritas swirling in machines above the bars. You got lots of food at a great price here. This sorely missed place was located on 725 near McEwen Rd. in Centerville and became a Smokey Bones which is also now closed.
FARRELL’S – Across from Tri-County Mall in Northern Cincinnati, this place had a ‘sundae on a stretcher.’ The staff would sing happy birthday to customers on kazoos.
LUM’S – An obscure town favorite. They had hot dogs cooked in beer. Lum’s was located where Marion’s Pizza is now, in Town and Country shopping center.
PEASANT STOCK – Who could forget the ‘Peasant salad.’ Ragu loved the atmosphere at the restaurant in the Town and Country Shopping Center. Chef David Glynn served some great food out of this establishment.
We miss Thirsty Dog Brewery!
THIRSTY DOG – A great microbrewery restaurant on the corner of Alex Bell Rd and 48 in Centerville that served homemade chips in dog bowls. Ragu loved the Raspberry Light Beer, and the burgers and fish dinners were fantastic too.
HUNAN GOURMET – A long gone gem that was on 48 near Whipp Rd. We loved this place, especially their dry braised shrimp and sizzling rice soup. Some of their entrees were second to none. The building was razed about 8 years ago to build a coffee shop.
NOBLE ROMAN’S – We miss the real Noble Roman’s, not the stuff they are serving at the ‘new Noble Romans’ restaurants. The old restaurants were completely different. We miss the hand tossed pizza in the window, monster pizza, sicililan pizza and the hand rolled breadsticks with nacho cheese.
MARK PI’s CHINA GATE – The fried rice was addicting at this restaurant that was located upstairs in Town and Country shopping center. A great atmosphere for special get togethers, the decor on the glass is still there today, even though they closed in the 80’s.
Sambo’s was like a weird, kids version of Denny’s
ARTHUR TREACHER’S FISH & CHIPS – It was fried fish, so Ragu could live here. The Jersey Mikes on 48 in Centerville is where one of the Arthur Treacher’s used to be. We hear that some of these still exist in other states. Dear Fast Food Gods, Bring them back to Dayton ASAP, and don’t forget the vinegar.
SAMBO’S – They featured pancakes served with boysenberry syrup. This place was located at 48 near Loop Rd in Centerville until it closed in the early 80’s. It was known for their cheap prices and controversial menu caricatures. It was a weird, kid version of Denny’s on LSD. But you couldn’t deny, they had great breakfast food.
FOUR’S COMPANY – After the Arthur Treacher’s closed on 48 near Whipp Rd in Centerville, this short lived place served up giant beer battered onion rings. They were so full of beer you almost got buzzed by eating a few.
Dominic’s – A Dayton Original like us
TOTENKO – This place on the corner of 725 and 741 near the Dayton Mall was like a 70′s verison of PF Changs. We learned to use chopsticks here while wearing “toughskin” pants. A great restaurant until it closed because a food critic found roaches on her plate (TRUE STORY). That critic was Ann Heller, writing one of her first reviews for the Dayton Daily News/Journal Herald. This place turned into a Chi Chi’s which has since gone out of business too.
D’AMICO and MANZAS – An Italian eatery that was a mom and pop establishment. Incredible spaghetti dishes highlighted a top notch pasta menu. This spot is now Savona Restaurant.
DOMINIC’S – The iconic location on South Main Street in Dayton whose manicotti was incredible. The real attraction here was the house salad dressing with so much garlic flavor that you breathed fire for 2 days afterward. Ask any Daytonian who was around in the 70’s/80’s, they knew the only place to go where strong garlic breath was excused.
GROUND ROUND– Throw your peanut shells on the floor. Ragu loved their all you can eat Friday night fish fry. Remember the scale at the Wilmington Pike site where the cost of a kid’s dinner was a penny for each pound they weighed?
BAJA FRESH – Do you still crave their fish tacos like we do? The now defunct Dorothy Lane and Kettering Blvd location claimed to not have refrigerators, because they served everything fresh. We were sad to see this short-lived restaurant go.
PHIL AND JERRY’S FOOD-A-RAMA – Legendary Centerville grocery that had annual anniversary parties where a hot dog and a coke were around 20 cents. In business for over 30 years, they had a great seafood section.
Matchbook from Westward Ho on Brown Street
JOE’S IS A FISH HOUSE – This seafood spot on Loop Rd and State Rt 48 offered a one of a kind Sunday brunch that would knock your socks off. It featured smelts and steamed mussels. The restaurant was only open a couple of years, but it made an impact on us in the early 80’s.
WESTWARD HO – South Main Street cafeteria style restaurant that had drink glasses as big as your head. The food was good, the patrons were old, yet this was still a hoppin’ place. We used to visit the magic store across the street called the “Magic Hat,” after eating.
PO’ FOLKS – Fried food all over the menu, made this one of Ragu’s faves. The fried clams and fried okra were so good. The one we frequented was on the corner of Wilmington Pike and Dorothy Lane.
D’Lites – The first ‘Healthy Fast Food’
FAZIO’S GOLDMAN ONTARIO’s DISCOUNT FOOD STORES – This was the best place to shop with bellbottom pants in the 70’s for groceries. Good deals and wide collars were the norm at this place!
D’LITES- The first place ever to offer healthy fast food! We weren’t sure how healthy it was, but Ragu loved their burgers and smoothies at the location of 48 and Whipp Rd. Another short lived place, that we feel had great food.
CHMIELS GROCERY STORE – Now a Big Lots store in Centerville, this place had some incredible pastries. Their bakery was almost as good as Woody’s.
Kettering Village Inn – closed but not forgotten
KETTERING VILLAGE INN – A mom and pop Italian eatery known for no frills and good food. This spot is now an “OinkadoodleMoo” restaurant on the corner of Stroop Rd and 48 . KVI had great pizza and pasta dishes. This one is really missed.
ANTONIO’s – An Italian restaurant once owned by the DiPasquale Family. When Villanova’s Basketball team would come to town in the 1980’s, legendary coach Rollie Massimino would always eat here. They had incredible ravioli dishes. Their marinara sauce was out of this world. Sweeney’s Seafood House is now located where Antonio’s operated.
KING COLE RESTAURANT – One of the most elegant dining places in Dayton at the bottom of the Kettering Tower. Known for gourmet steaks and seafood, this was a hot spot in the 70’s and 80’s.
What places do you still think about? Casa Lupita? Charley’s Crab? Tequila Willie’s? Let us know any and all of them by commenting below! Check out the photo album below for even more restaurants that are “Closed but Not Forgotten.”
Please visit Food Adventures on Facebook. Check back every Thursday for a new “Food Adventure” article on DAYTON MOSTMETRO.COM
What restaurants do you miss? WHO DID WE LEAVE OUT? Please comment below !
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Parkmoor Drive-in. Easy side of Dayto, not sure if the exact licayion
Keith, my Grandparents lived near a Parkmoore on Linden near Coventry Rd. Could this be the one you’re remembering. There was a Liberal food store nearby.
I do not believe that you had the Goody Goody restaurant on Salem Ave. Great hamburger and Onion soup plus other specialities.
Let us not forget The Barnsider and the China Girl on North Main!!!!
I don’t remember hot dogs at Lum’s but I sure remember the French fries. There was some sort of garlic salt, I think? Anybody know the recipe?
I very much enjoyed your site. I went through it completely, comments and all. I found your site by looking up info on Totenko’s. I worked there for a little over a year as a in-between job. My younger brother met his future wife there. They both worked there till it closed. They fed employees working during shift, lunch or dinner, for free. If looking for “exotic seafood” Totenko’s “real Japanese” was the place to find it. The first free meal i had was looking at me while i chewed. I wasn’t used to heads with eyeballs in my food, however all of it was awesome. Four places i did not see mentioned by anyone were: The WE up on Salem Ave. in Dayton for authentic Vietnamese, Henny Penny Chicken in the back of Miamisburg on old 25A, Beef Chief on SR 741 in West Carrollton, no pressed meat there, and a place people took their children for their birthday, The Music Palace on Rt 4 in Springdale. They played a giant pipe organ while it rose up through the floor to where all could see while they ate. Let me tell you, no young child ate any food while they could see or hear that organ. That place was really cool. Thank you for a nice trip down memory lane.
Westward Ho was on Brown St. near Wyoming St.
Sandys, Fours Compant had the greatest burgers.
Another great burger was at McNallys on Franklin St. in Centerville.
The Press Box on South Ludlow St.
J Alexanders.
Suttmillers Supper Club….many of Ed Sullivan TV Show guests would say they would be performing at Suttmillers in Dayton Ohio…
Does anybody remember and maybe have a picture of a place called Penguins on Salem Ave.?
What about the Rib House or the steak house on Meeker and Heathcliff in Butler Township.I know it is still open but the food has taken a dive in the last decade. Ive been there 4 times in the past 5 years or so and every time the food was terrible. I know there wasn’t a single grain of salt on my steaks. But I kept going back because I wanted it to just be a fluke.
Where was Kuntz’s Cafeteria located? Was that the one that was on Troy street? I STILL miss Dominic’s on Main and the old Surf and Turf on North Main street. How about the Red Room? Or the King’s table?
I remember the Red Room on main street, it was a night club and lot of stars performed there, Then there was a supper club “Canasta, forgot the spelling, sorry, the owner was Greek and owned a bowling alley, Anyone remember those?
What about Shields Barbecue on Salem ave? They were open late after midnight on weekends
What was the name of the Greek restaurant that sat opposite the Airforce Museum on Springfield Street in the 60’s – 70’s
I love reading this!!!!!!! Please keep up the good memories. Thank You,
Does anyone remember the Key Hole restaurant on Salem Ave or maybe North Main St?
Anyone remember the dinner club Cajun restaurant (also had big name shows) in the oregon district early 80’s?
Does anyone remember a Duff’s Smorgasbord in Kettering and I’m thinking on Far Hills/48
Trying to remember a cafeteria on Far Hills I think just south of Dorothy Lane on the west side! Help! Maybe in the 70’s!
Culp’s Cafeteria was if Far Hills just south of Dorothy Lane.
Neil’s Linden House, on Linden, near Smithville.
Does anyone remember the “Bellview Terrace”, or the Highview Terrace” in the late 50’s or early 60’s? It was in the country and eating on the screened-in porch was wonderful with a view of hills and fields. They served two meals, the chicken or the ham, an unusual concept, but the meals were wonderful. I remember scalloped potatoes. So much trouble! My grandmother Ruth Lambert was the manager. I wish I had asked her more questions when I had the chance, sigh.
Tem-Tee Inn (smorgasbord)
David’s Buffet
Yum Yum
Upper Krust
The Carillon Cafeteria. I think it was on S. Dixie, just north of W. Dorothy Ln. On the other end of the spectrum was L’Auberge, previously The Inn, and before that The Yum Yum Inn.
Special place 1960s-70s 2 or 3 blocks south of Wilmington/ Smithville split. Smorgasbord with fried chicken featured. Many pubs there since including now. Thinking across from SISCA / car wash. Can u help me remember name? Fond family memories.
El Grecos Pizza Village on Salem Ave. operated by George starting in the 60’s, a greek chef that liked mexican food. it was operated by a few other people after his passing but was a victim of the Covid closings. great tacos, burritos, pitas and a greek style salad dressing that I still wake up in the mornings thinking about!
A really fun website going back in time via restaurants of yesteryear. I was a foodie and drinkie, if there was such a word. I was in marketing and lucky enough to have an unlimited expense account and bosses that liked the food/drink hobby as much as I did. Thus yours truly was always looking for great grub places.I really liked the great places that had live entertainment to go along with the food. A number of those places have already been named but the entertainment wasn’t necessarily highlighted.
A few great places that weren’t mentioned were some of my favorites. To name a few: the Colony Club, originally Sullivans Colony Club. Sullivan built it after selling his very famous steak house, the Pine Club on Brown street. Next owner of the Colony Club was Don Reynolds’s, a Carpet store owner, who became a very well liked owner maitre de. Great food and wonderful live musical entertainment. Of course Suttmillers, already mentioned had the greats of entertainment coming over from Memorial Hall as they were starring live with the Kenley Players performances. Took my 16 year old son, he was in high school acting, to see Ed Ames, and what a show he put on. Another great restaurant, be it private, was the Racquet Club, atop the Kettering Tower. They served a Steak Diane, out of this world. I always enjoyed another off the beaten path restaurant called the Tall Timbers. It was north of downtown several miles. It had very good food and was well attended.Another not mentioned was in the Oregon Disrict called Grammar’s. It was decorated to resemble a beer garden and the food was German style. The food was very authentic and delicious. The entertainment was a strolling violinist and a piano accompanist. They could play just about anything you could request. Great musicians.
A few more very good restaurants:The Kings Table, The Pewter Mug, The Sftockyards. One of the finest on Main Street across from the Schuster Center was Kitty’s. Fabulous food and service overall. A very short lived restaurant, only open for a few years.
There were a number of others but their names escape me. Dayton has certainly had many fine restaurants over the years.
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Country Squire in Huber Heights. Kuntz Cafeteria in Dayton.
There was a steak house on a side street near Kettering Hospital. Had shrimp cocktail with sauce that would clean your sinus. Great steak too. Cant remember the name
A couple I did not see mentioned was Steak and Ale (Elsa’s now) on Far Hills. The Tall Timbers rt 202 I think. Another one that was good was Alex’s on rt 725.
I remember almost all the restaurants that Ragu mentioned, what an assortment of memories and stories from each one! I recall there was a short lived restaurant in the Oregon District named Plums offering great scratch lunches and dinners accompanied with a variety of pianists playing on a concert grand piano in a local art gallery setting. Plums restaurant, I believe off of Fifth Street, was a bustling restaurant with a bar that disappeared from the Dayton scene as quickly as it opened in the early 1990s. We always loved going to the Trolley Stop for a drink and a sandwich on weekends. The Oregon District was a lively place and really hasn’t lost its appeal! Thanks for sharing the memories of all the wonderful food and beverage establishments Dayton, Ohio has offered throughout the years!
Does anyone remember Sacksteder’s?
I worked at Jed’s Steak and Ribs, AND Antonio’s in Centerville! First, Antonio’s. It was my first job. I bussed tables. The best part of the job was that you got to eat a meal before you worked. The food was so fantastic. My family is Italian and I had not ever eaten such amazing Italian food. I wish it was still there. It was kind of a “fancy” restaurant. I remember the waitresses made what seemed like a LOT of money in tips there. Second, Jed’s Steak and Ribs. What a great place. Yes, they were one of the first to do a salad bar. It was such a draw. People could not get enough of the salads, the steaks, the sandwiches. I worked in the kitchen for a long time and loved it. Such comaraderie back there. I first did sandwiches (we had microwaves before they were available to consumers) and then I was the expediter in the kitchen, calling out orders and assembling them for the waitresses to take to tables. Our manager was Mr. Hill. He was very cool and created a relaxed, dedicated, fun atmosphere. Then he left and the owners took over and made everyone feel like they were on pins and needles. I was made a waitress and it wasn’t my thing. So I eventually left. It was a great job during high school.