New Owners at Jimmy’s Italian Kitchen, Same Great Food

Italian Food in an old Taco Bell Building?  Answer: Hell Yes !

Would you ever think a full service Italian spot would work in an atmosphere like this?  Jimmy’s Italian Kitchen is doing just that.  They pull it off, and the food will soon make you forget about anything else.

The restaurant has just changed ownership, but Jimmy has kept it “all in the family.” And in Italy, the family is a good thing.  What can you expect with the new ownership?  The answer is the same filling, homemade Italian comfort food that Jimmy has been cranking out of that kitchen for years.

So, you want a Food Adventure like the Old World that you can sink your teeth into?  Then get ready to experience a diamond, that not many Dayton foodies know about.

But you.. you know.. because  your Food Adventures Crew has the scoop from many visits to Jimmy’s.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Mira is the new owner and a relative of Jimmy.   She took over the restaurant about 2 weeks ago, so Jimmy could focus 100% on his new restaurant in Huber Heights called “DeRoma.”

— The family who owns the restaurants immigrated to the United States over the past 15 years.  They are part Italian, part Albanian and part Croatian.  They cooked in Italy for decades before moving to Dayton.  Their time in Europe is the biggest influence on the restaurant’s Italian and even NY Style recipes.

— The same family owns other popular Italian places in town like Palermo’s and Troni’s 

— Yes, the restaurant is a former Taco Bell building on 3002 Woodman Dr., but don’t let that stop you from visiting

— Jimmy’s Italian Kitchen has a decent wine selection, Italian Beer, and freshly prepared daily meal specials.   The specials are mouth watering, one-of-a kind creations.

— All dinners are served with a choice of salad or homemade soup (chicken vegetable or tomato barley).  Take a tip from Hungry Jax – get the chicken veggie soup.  It is from scratch and like your grandma used to make.

— Due to limited seating and a cult following of regulars, it is best to call ahead and make reservations, especially for groups of more than four.

Whether a birthday party, or a quiet dinner for two, you gotta know what to order.  So, here are the best of the best.   Or as we say, our patented.. “Must Eats.”

 

 

MUST EATS:

 — CALAMARI APPETIZER:  Squid loops deep fried to perfection and served drizzled with olive oil and dashed with Parmesan cheese.  Crunchy, rich deliciousness that must be dipped in the accompanying side of marinara made in-house.

 

— PEPPERONI ROLL: You hardly see these in Dayton.  And this one might be the the best one in town.  Pepperoni and sausage rolls are common place in New York City or Upstate NY.   In Ohio, they are hard  to find.  Try this specialty that is usually only found at Italian house parties.

 

— MANICOTTI: or “monocot” as some Italian foodies say, is a must eat at Jimmy’s Italian Kitchen.  These tubes of cheese filled pasta come with choice of  meat side (a meatball or Italian sausage).  This meal is served scorching hot, and fresh from the oven.  Good thing they serve those addicting buttery rolls to dip in the sauce to test the dish until it cools.  Although he loves all of Jimmy’s must eats, The Big Ragu says this is his favorite dish.

 

— PIZZA: From pepperoni to anchovies, you cant go wrong with this crust, made fresh daily.  The key to their great pizza?  It’s the tangy, housemade tomato sauce.  “The King” goes on record as this being his favorite must eat at Jimmy’s Italian Kitchen.

 

— EGGPLANT PARMESAN: A real, authentic recipe that is phenomenal.  This huge meal consists of Fried Eggplant doused in mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce, with a side of pasta.  This delicious plate is guaranteed to fill up even the biggest appetites!

 

— CANNOLI:  Jimmy’s spin on the traditional Italian dessert is a heavy drizzling of chocolate sauce on top.  Everything else is pretty much traditional, especially the mascarpone-ricotta cream filling.  Mangia !  whoops, wrong country …Eat up!

 

Honorable Mention:  A non traditional dish, popular in Poland sticks out on the menu, PIEROGIES. They are divine.  These potato filled dumplings are not common in Dayton area restaurants.  These are worth a try for those who are true Food Adventurers.

Stay tuned in coming months for a non-traditional menu addition by Mira….  homemade cabbage rolls.

 

The taste of Italy is in every bite of Jimmy’s Italian Kitchen.  The dishes are hearty, from the pasta choices to the soups.  Get your carb fill, or go for a soup and salad.  Either way the key ingredient is good tasting food in an unique building on Woodman Drive.  Ciao, from Food Adventures Crew !

Check out the photo gallery below where we ate it all from Stromboli to Wheat Gnocchi and even Veal Marsala !

Want more Food Adventure fun from The King, Chef House, Hungry Jax and The Big Ragu ?  Then join the masses following our Facebook feed by clicking HERE !

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