What do you get when you cross a history-filled but empty, old school bank with a vision for the future with a nod to the hey day of the jazz age?

The Blue Note Bistro and Lounge at 23 E. Ccntral Ave. in Downtown Miamisburg.

Owner Julie Delph, who you may know as the owner of Miami Valley Sports Bar, wasn’t content to just remodel that south suburb staple. She took on the task of creating a new business in historic downtown Miamisburg. Armed with an amazing shell of a building and a lot of ideas, Blue Note was born.

With a focus on live music and a jazzy ambiance, Julie + crew took on the detail enriched project of creating a vibe unlike any other in the Dayton area. Dim lights, cool tones and a lot of chill creates a feeling of stepping way back in time the second you walk in the door.

With sustainability being in the forefront of design decisions, you’ll be delighted to hear the back story of some of the permanent fixtures. The marble teller stations used as partitions, the wine cellar that was the actual safe, the antique pieces of furniture you find in the “speakeasy”, and all the way down to the brass light switches in the board room that has been buried under layers of paint for decades, each and every piece was well thought out to create a unique experience for customers in 2016 and beyond.

Ok, so it looks amazing, we all agree, but what about the food & service?

Let’s cut to the chase here, the food is ridiculous. I mean ridiculous as in “I could eat here every day”, *that* kind of ridiculous. Entrees are solid, drinks are well made and happily served. Apps are a treat- yes, you really DO want your Caprese Salad fried, you do, I promise.

If you have even a fraction of a sweet tooth, order light to save room for dessert. The truffles. THE DANG TRUFFLES!!! Seriously people, get the super-rich chocolatey decadence that are the Blue Note Truffles. No real words, just nom nom nom. Blue Note Bistro has the market cornered on desserts, thanks to pastry chef and general manager, Gene Bowling. If you have even the slightest enjoyment of cheesecake on any level, get it. Get it right now. You won’t be disappointed. The last one I had was a banana-strawberry concoction that I can’t fully describe but was amazing.

Their brunch is my new favorite, hands down, but to be brutally honest, I don’t want to tell you too much because I enjoy getting in quickly.

Ok, fine. First and foremost, reservations are appreciated. It’s a small business and we all want to set them up for success, so let’s just let them know in advance if we’re bringing a group. If you can agree to that, I’ll tell you about the good stuff.

Did we agree? Great!

YOU GUYS!!! BRUNCH IS THE BEST! It’s no real secret that brunch is the best meal of the week, but we’re going to move past that obvious fact for the purpose of this story.

Blood Orange Mimosas – amazing
Bloody Mary’s (extra spicy) – amazing
Their coffee (some crazy special blend, percolated the old fashioned way) – amazing
Eggs Benedict Oscar with asparagus – amazing
Quiche & Omelet of the day – yep, amazing
Biscuits & Gravy – I don’t know what the hell is in that gravy, but it’s legit the best I’ve had (though I do plan to do a Miamisburg side-by-side with Koffee Kup at a later date for confirmation)

But let’s talk about the chicken & waffles for a second. Yes, it’s trendy. Yes it’s popping up on a lot of menus lately. Yes, I know all of these things. But Blue Note is serving theirs with smoked chicken. You might not think it makes a difference but, wow. There’s this combination of the smokey & sweet that’s just… All together now… AMAZING.

I don’t even feel the slightest bit bothered by the amount of times I’ve used the word “amazing” here. Not even a little bit. It’s worthy. So worthy.

The upstairs parlor.

Here’s the deal, I’ve been there a few times now and I plan to be there regularly in the future. It’s my new spot. While I understand that it may be a bit off the beaten path, it’s worth checking out. It only takes one time. Their service has been on point every time, their food & drink is top tier, the music is unlike the norm, and the general coolness of the joint can’t be matched.

I am cordially inviting you to the coolest place to hit the Miami Valley recently. Come down to the Burg and experience this little gem…

… But don’t all come at once, because I’ll elbow you for a seat at the bar (in the nicest way possible, obviously).

Blue Notes Hours